Mundie Moms

Monday, January 12, 2015

Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay, Book Review & Giveaway



By: Stacey Jay
Published by: Delacorte Press
Released on: December 9th, 2014
Source: book from publisher to review
Rating: 5 Stars - I Loved It!
Purchase from: Amazon | B&N
Add it to Goodreads

Game of Thrones meets the Grimm's fairy tales in this twisted, fast-paced romantic fantasy-adventure about Sleeping Beauty's daughter, a warrior princess who must fight to reclaim her throne.

Though she looks like a mere mortal, Princess Aurora is a fairy blessed with enhanced strength, bravery, and mercy yet cursed to destroy the free will of any male who kisses her. Disguised as a boy, she enlists the help of the handsome but also cursed Prince Niklaas to fight legions of evil and free her brother from the ogre queen who stole Aurora's throne ten years ago.

Will Aurora triumph over evil and reach her brother before it's too late? Can Aurora and Niklaas break the curses that will otherwise forever keep them from finding their one true love?


This is a fantastic fairy tale retelling! Fans of fantasy, and fairy tale retellings will enjoy this new release from author Stacey Jay. Princess of Thorns is a fast paced, epic adventure with the right kind of romance. In one word, this is book is awesome! It is a truly unique story, and one I loved.

This Princess Aurora is my kind of heroine! She is independent, fearless, strong, and isn't afraid to do the impossible, which is saving her brother Jor. She's also clever. In this dangerous world ruled by an ogre Queen, no Princess or young women should travel alone. So she sets out disguised as her brother. Aurora's strengths will definitely come in handy on her journey, and will help her fulfill her prophecy. Thankfully she doesn't have to go at it alone. She has Niklaas. These two have one well written relationship. I loved it.

I like the way Aurora's character is written.
Princess Aurora is the daughter of Sleeping Beauty. But it's not the Sleeping Beauty you might be thinking of. No, this isn't Disney's story of Sleeping Beauty, though I do love that story. This story starts off with Aurora's mother blessing her with fairy magic, before she dies protecting her. Okay, maybe it could be Disney story. But it's not. We all know that fairy magic is both a blessing and a curse. The blessing is her strength in battle, which definitely comes in handy when you're on an impossible quest to save your brother. The curse is one that will never allow Aurora to love. For all her strengths, Aurora also has her flaws. This blessing and curse make Aurora a fierce character who's become very independent, and stubborn. Maybe a little too much of both. Though I can't say that I blame her. She has grown up relying on her skill/blessing, she doesn't need to help from anyone. Since she's cursed with not being able to truly fall in love with a man, she doesn't have the need to get close to anyone.

Thankfully Niklaas starts to change that. I loved Niklaas's character. Niklaas and Ror, which Aurora introduces herself to him as, since she's disguised as a boy, have a great relationship. Niklaas himself is on a quest to break his own curse, which is another fabulous fairy tale retelling within Aurora's own story. He needs Ror's sister to break. Niklaas is a Prince. Only Prince and a Princess can marry... right?! Maybe. These two really need to get married..... Okay, sorry, back to my review. Together the two set off to in a way, help each other. I like that Niklaas was a great contrast to everything Aurora is. While she's guarded, he's open and honest. He's a skilled fighter as well, but in a different way than she is. He was so easy to love right off the bat. I like that he didn't let her off the hook with some of the things she does through out the story, even after he learns her true identity.

The way Aurora and Niklaas's relationship is written is fabulous! Seriously, I love how their relationship developed. Their banter is AESOME! It's been awhile since I've read a relationship like theirs. It made me laugh, want to scream at the two of them in frustration, slap them both, and of course it also made me sigh. Okay and I might have been grinning ear to ear at the ending, which by the way was perfect! I like what the two offer each other, and what they both get out of their relationship. They change each other for the better, without forcing the other to make changes. I liked that they both complimented each other's weaknesses and strengths.

One thing is for certain, both of these characters are as stubborn as you can get. It sure was enjoyable seeing which one would cave first.  I liked that Stacey Jay allowed her characters to fight through their feelings for one another. Especially after Niklaas learns who Aurora really is, and she learns of Niklaas's fate. I liked that it wasn't love at first site for neither of the. Instead it was one that developed naturally as they start out as friends. Over the course of their traveling together it gradually turned into something else. Thank you Stacey Jay for not rushing their relationship! This is how you write a relationship!

The fantasy aspect of this story is great! The world is one full of magic, ogres, a prophecy, and at the heart of the story is an epic love story that I really didn't want to end. Stacey Jay did a great job at making it easy for me to visualize this world. Being that it is a dangerous place, I understood why Aurora's mother gave her the blessing her did. Aurora is the briar born child who can fulfill or break the prophecy. And so is her brother, which is why Aurora's quest is that much more critical. Everything that Aurora has been giving and the lessons she's learned along the way, help prepare her for the task she has to accomplish. Saving her brother and beating the feared ogre queen are no easy task.

Princess of Thorns is a book that fans of fairytale retellings and fantasy will enjoy!
Thank you to the publisher, I've got 1 copy of the book to giveaway! To ENTER TO Win, leave me a comment with your name below. *US residents only* Winner will be announced here on the blog on 1/19 (standard Mundie Moms giveaway rules apply).


Mundane Monday #232 - Will, Tessa & Jem


Happy Mundane Monday!


The Infernal Devices fans will want to check out Cassandra Clare's latest Tumblr post. In answering a fan question, she has shared some fabulous quotes from The Infernal Devices series featuring Jem and Tessa. You can read all the quotes here. This is one of the quotes I snagged from her post, because, well, Will is also in it. While I adore Jem, I love Will. 

Jem gave her a wistful look. “Must you go? I was rather hoping
you’d stay and be a ministering angel, but if you must go,
you must.”
“I’ll stay,” Will said a bit crossly, and threw himself down
in the armchair Tessa had just vacated. “I can minister angelically.”
“None too convincingly. And you’re not as pretty to look at
as Tessa is,” Jem said, closing his eyes as he leaned back against
the pillow.
 - Clockwork Angel, page 343

You can read many more Jem & Tessa quotes via Cassandra Clare's post here

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