Thornspell

As much as I love reading fairytales, there's always the sense that I'm only getting half of the story. There's never any character development, explanations on where those magical artifacts come from, or why the bad guys act so villainous beyond the fairly rudimentary: "they're evil." In fairytales, things just happen, with little or no back-story. Which is why I've always appreciated authors who consider the missing pieces to any fairytale and fill them accordingly with their own ideas. Donna Jo Napoli has built her career on this technique, with wonderful fleshed-out fairytales such as Spinners and Zel, retellings of the Rumplestiltskin and Rapunzel stories, among others. And now Helen Lowe gives similar treatment to "The Sleeping Beauty," telling the tale through the point of view of the Prince. In the fairytale, the (often nameless) prince simply turns up at the end of the story to administer the life-giving kiss. Here, his name is Sigismund and he's got to *work* in order to deserve the princess awaiting him. Young Prince Sigismund also loves fairytales and stories of enchantment, but never expects himself to be part of such a tale. Yet after a meeting with a strange and lovely lady at the castle gates, the arrival of a mysterious new master-at-arms, and a barrage of unusual dreams that haunt his sleep, Sigimund swiftly comes to the realization that he's a key player in a story that has been awaiting him for nearly one hundred years. But the wicked faie who cast the spell in the first place is not going to be defeated so easily, and makes sure that Sigismund's quest isn't as simple as cutting through some wild thorns to reach the sleeping princess. Sigismund must first contend with her subterfuges and traps, all of which are carefully plotted in order to distract him from his task (and we finally get a better motivation for her actions than the usual "angry at not being invited to the party" excuse!) Furthermore, Lowe finds a clever way to incorporate the princess into the plot of the story so that she is not simply the trophy-wife to be claimed at the conclusion of the story. Altogether, "Thornspell" manages to keep the basic plot-points of the original "Sleeping Beauty" fairytale intact whilst wrapping them in an entirely new perspective. One thing that quickly became apparent when reading "Thornspell" is that nothing and nobody are what they seem, and there are plenty of twists, secrets and disguises to keep the reader guessing. Because there are so many dreams and visions that Sigismund experiences throughout the course of the book, it is sometimes difficult to tell what is actually happening, and what's going on inside his head - and yet this seems to be precisely the point, tying in with the theme of the mutability and changefulness of the old stories, and even the setting itself. "Thornspell" takes place in the distant past, filled with plenty of magic and other fantasy elements, and yet there is mention of historical and

I am over half way through Helen's wonderful book. It is really hard to put down, and I have only done so because I have to sleep or work. The book's magic seems to merge with my dreams carrying me into the story and keeping it alive while I sleep! Helen's way with words is exquisite, and the story line is rich and deep as are the characters, I can't wait to get home from work and read more about the hero Sigismund, the thorny wood and how he deals with the evil Margravine and her cronies. This is a book for all ages to enjoy (I am 44).

This is a beautifully executed story. The characters are engaging and develop well throughout the course of the book. Prince Sigismund is a thoughtful hero who faces some pretty tough challenges as the story unfolds. Its an exciting mix of high fantasy, and "real" people facing real problems, with plenty of action to keep you interested along the way. The characters are well realised, and suprisingly complex - which appeals to me as a reader. For me the climax of the story comes with the final duel between Sigismund and Florian outside the belvedere, but even at that stage there is still the Magravine to be faced! I thoroughly recommend this story.

This is a sweet retelling of Sleeping Beauty from the point of view of the prince, and Helen Lowe does an excellent job with it. She avoids the various traps of insipid political correctness while giving us a story that honors the qualities of Prince Charming as well as his princess. The author never talks down to the reader. Though it's touted as a young adult book, I'm 42 and enjoyed it. I suppose "young adult" means that it's a shorter book than the typical adult fantasy. Otherwise, it was just as compelling. By the end of the book, I was craving a sequel. I want to hear more about these characters. Keep writing, Helen!

Thornspell is a great read. I love the angle of telling the story behind a fairy tale. The characters are engaging, the plot moves along with energy and imagination, and the ending is full of suspense and satisfying twists. The book is aimed at Young Adults, and no one is going to mistake me for young ever again (sigh), but I found it great fun. Highly recommended.