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Thorn
On a cold day deep in the heart of winter, Rowan’s father returns from an ill-fated hunting trip bearing a single, white rose. The rose is followed by the Huntress, a figure out of legend. Tall, cruel, and achingly beautiful, she brings Rowan back with her to a mountain fastness populated solely by the creatures of the hunt. Rowan, who once scorned the villagers for their superstitions, now finds herself at the heart of a curse with roots as deep as the mountains, ruled by an old magic that is as insidious as the touch of the winter rose. Torn between her family loyalties, her guilty relief at escaping her betrothal to the charming but arrogant Avery Lockland, and her complicated feelings for the Huntress, Rowan must find a way to break the curse before it destroys everything she loves. There is only one problem―if she can find a way to lift the curse, she will have to return to the life she left behind. And the only thing more unbearable than endless winter is facing a lifetime of springs without the Huntress.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 29, 2019
107 people are currently reading
4326 people want to read
About the author
Anna Burke
8 books1,066 followersAnna Burke enjoys all things nautical and generally prefers animals to people. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found walking in the woods with her dogs or drinking too much tea, which she prefers hot and strong—just like her protagonists.
She lives in Massachusetts with her wife, dogs, and too many houseplants. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College, where she now teaches in their Popular Fiction MFA program. She is also the Director of Education for the Golden Crown Literary Society.
You can follow her on Twitter @annaburkeauthor.
She lives in Massachusetts with her wife, dogs, and too many houseplants. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College, where she now teaches in their Popular Fiction MFA program. She is also the Director of Education for the Golden Crown Literary Society.
You can follow her on Twitter @annaburkeauthor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 270 reviews
December 27, 2019
4.25 Stars. Now that the holidays have calmed down some I can finally get back to reading. I’m still working on reading some books that were published in ‘19 before the year is over. I decided to read my first Anna Burke book. Since I will be reading her new book next month, a Sapphic Robin Hood (I mean how awesome is that, I can’t wait!) so I decided to read Thorn now to get a feel for her writing style. I’m happy to say that I really enjoyed this.
I’m a big fan of fairytale retellings, so a Sapphic Beauty and the Beast retelling felt right up my alley. While I have read quite a few retellings, I can’t seem to remember reading another B and the B retelling before so that was another reason I was hopeful for this. However, I was the age of 9 when Disney’s Beauty and the Beast came out. It was a big deal for me and I think my mother might have loved that movie even more than I did since we watched it enough. B and the B has a strong place in my heart so while I was excited to read this I was a little wary about how this would hold up. I’m glad I had nothing to worry about and that it was everything I was hoping for.
This is a darker version or B and the B (although the Disney version is a little dark towards the end anyway). This had a darker theme through it but it didn’t make the story feel heavy or depressing. The “Beast” was an enchanted woman who is Mistress of the Hunt. I won’t give anything away but she is scary and a badass so when Rowen’s father makes a terrible mistake, it is Rowan who must pay the ultimate price.
Since this is WLW there is a romance of course. It plays out well for the circumstances and the characters do have chemistry together. The sex scenes are fade to black but nothing was taken away from the intimacy the characters shared. I’m so used to the Disney B and the B that a sex scene in this book might have messed with my head anyway.
If you are a fan of fairytale retellings, this story should be in your collection. It is well imagined enough that it feels plenty new why still holding on to some of the magic from the original story. Burke’s writing is top notch and it makes me even more excited to read her new book Nottingham: The True Story of Robyn Hood.
I’m a big fan of fairytale retellings, so a Sapphic Beauty and the Beast retelling felt right up my alley. While I have read quite a few retellings, I can’t seem to remember reading another B and the B retelling before so that was another reason I was hopeful for this. However, I was the age of 9 when Disney’s Beauty and the Beast came out. It was a big deal for me and I think my mother might have loved that movie even more than I did since we watched it enough. B and the B has a strong place in my heart so while I was excited to read this I was a little wary about how this would hold up. I’m glad I had nothing to worry about and that it was everything I was hoping for.
This is a darker version or B and the B (although the Disney version is a little dark towards the end anyway). This had a darker theme through it but it didn’t make the story feel heavy or depressing. The “Beast” was an enchanted woman who is Mistress of the Hunt. I won’t give anything away but she is scary and a badass so when Rowen’s father makes a terrible mistake, it is Rowan who must pay the ultimate price.
Since this is WLW there is a romance of course. It plays out well for the circumstances and the characters do have chemistry together. The sex scenes are fade to black but nothing was taken away from the intimacy the characters shared. I’m so used to the Disney B and the B that a sex scene in this book might have messed with my head anyway.
If you are a fan of fairytale retellings, this story should be in your collection. It is well imagined enough that it feels plenty new why still holding on to some of the magic from the original story. Burke’s writing is top notch and it makes me even more excited to read her new book Nottingham: The True Story of Robyn Hood.
January 27, 2019
'ARC generously provided by Bywater Books in exchanged for a fair review'
**'Good fiction is always about what's going wrong..Heroes and heroines are boring and forgettable but villains are much more interesting..'
3.5stars!
If readers are looking for something with a utopian flavor to it but is nicely fused with both fantasy and fairy tale culture of witches,bears,wolves,mountain men etc.,'THORN' might just fit the bill because its also raw,propulsive and unfailingly profound. The premise hinges towards telling of a cute love story with an intriguing plotline and it also includes a breathtaking tale that captures the wondrous beauty of nature and love -- and the darkness of superstition,spells and fear.
The nice part of Ms.Burke's storyline is that Rowan appears equally realistic and enamored. To Isolde or The Huntress,she's beautiful,perfect and stubborn apart from everyone else but we as readers see that she's strong-will,mature,rather independent from her sisters and under all that anger is kind of shy. She is not portrayed as a raging beauty unlike Isolde but is someone who will fight for Love and this is something that makes The Huntress crush on her even more touching.
Then there's Avery, who Ms.Burke sets up as having a nasty attitude so that we are as frustrated with and annoyed by him as well as some villagers are. When he meet Rowan again after she return to the village that his reaction changed from Loving to displeasure -- especially when he finds out that she had fallen in love with The Huntress and did not love him anymore.
It's well written and is unexpectedly good. A recommend story to everyone!
**'Good fiction is always about what's going wrong..Heroes and heroines are boring and forgettable but villains are much more interesting..'
3.5stars!
If readers are looking for something with a utopian flavor to it but is nicely fused with both fantasy and fairy tale culture of witches,bears,wolves,mountain men etc.,'THORN' might just fit the bill because its also raw,propulsive and unfailingly profound. The premise hinges towards telling of a cute love story with an intriguing plotline and it also includes a breathtaking tale that captures the wondrous beauty of nature and love -- and the darkness of superstition,spells and fear.
The nice part of Ms.Burke's storyline is that Rowan appears equally realistic and enamored. To Isolde or The Huntress,she's beautiful,perfect and stubborn apart from everyone else but we as readers see that she's strong-will,mature,rather independent from her sisters and under all that anger is kind of shy. She is not portrayed as a raging beauty unlike Isolde but is someone who will fight for Love and this is something that makes The Huntress crush on her even more touching.
Then there's Avery, who Ms.Burke sets up as having a nasty attitude so that we are as frustrated with and annoyed by him as well as some villagers are. When he meet Rowan again after she return to the village that his reaction changed from Loving to displeasure -- especially when he finds out that she had fallen in love with The Huntress and did not love him anymore.
It's well written and is unexpectedly good. A recommend story to everyone!
April 9, 2020
If you're in the mood for an f/f "Beauty and the Beast" + "Frozen"-like fairy-tale romance, this hits the mark and is high on quality. The prose definitely was in the vein of "Once upon a time..."for adults and had a lot of beautiful passages.
I enjoyed this more than Anna Burke's first book "Compass" because the leads had more chemistry and the narrative didn't seem as meandering. The ending did leave me with some questions but that didn't detract from my liking of the novel.
Well done and recommend.
I enjoyed this more than Anna Burke's first book "Compass" because the leads had more chemistry and the narrative didn't seem as meandering. The ending did leave me with some questions but that didn't detract from my liking of the novel.
Well done and recommend.
March 14, 2019
I always have misgivings about the retelling of fairy tales (especially ones with Disney movies) but Thorn had enough difference and divergence that I could enjoy it for it's own merits without seeing Belle bopping around in her pretty yellow dress or hearing Angela Lansbury singing in my head. Three sisters anxiously await their father's return from a winter hunting trip but he's been gone longer than he said he would. Rowan, the eldest daughter, is to be married off to Avery Lockland who is the son of one of the men her father is hunting with. She knows she won't be happy with him but she doesn't have a choice. Finally her father returns, frozen and near death. He's brought Rowan a gift; a cutting of a rose. The Huntress realises that one of her roses has been cut and follows the man she had mercy on to retrieve it.
It's cold and bleak and the writing is very evocative of the wolves, bears and pervasive icy weather. The story unfolds giving pieces of information of Rowan's past and the Huntress' curse. Rowan's point of view is in first person so we're privy to her thoughts and what she's going through but the Huntress gets a prelude in third person in the beginning of each chapter. It makes her much more enigmatic and it suits the theme of the story.
I enjoyed the pace, the writing and the story.
It's cold and bleak and the writing is very evocative of the wolves, bears and pervasive icy weather. The story unfolds giving pieces of information of Rowan's past and the Huntress' curse. Rowan's point of view is in first person so we're privy to her thoughts and what she's going through but the Huntress gets a prelude in third person in the beginning of each chapter. It makes her much more enigmatic and it suits the theme of the story.
I enjoyed the pace, the writing and the story.
May 22, 2019
To be honest I was fully prepared to not like this book since Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney movie and I was worried about the story getting butchered. Turns out all my worrying was for nothing because Anna Burke took the movie's concept and completely made it her own. In fact I think I actually prefer her version of why the Huntress got cursed in the first place. It just made so much more sense!
If you're a fan of Beauty and the Beast but looking for something a little darker that packs an emotional punch then there's a good chance you will love this story. The author certainly did a fantastic job of describing an icy world full of dangers around every corner.
She also gets extra points for writing so many scenes that take place in my favorite room; the library. Because let's face it, who wants the prince when you can have the library?
If you're a fan of Beauty and the Beast but looking for something a little darker that packs an emotional punch then there's a good chance you will love this story. The author certainly did a fantastic job of describing an icy world full of dangers around every corner.
She also gets extra points for writing so many scenes that take place in my favorite room; the library. Because let's face it, who wants the prince when you can have the library?
February 24, 2020
If you have ever wanted to see what a true Ice Queen is like, look no further than Thorn by Anna Burke. You will find the ultimate of Ice Queens in the pages of this novel.
Thorn is a retelling of the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast with a WLW slant to it. The “Beast” in this tale is a stunningly beautiful, but cold and cruel Huntress who has been cursed to live in perpetual winter. All of her companions were turned into hunting animals, and she has roamed her lands for untold number of years hunting with them. That all changes when Rowan’s father makes a terrible mistake, and Rowan (the tale’s Beauty) pays the price and becomes entangled in the curse.
I have always loved fairy tales, and this is one of my favorites. This retelling is a rather dark version of the story, and fits in perfectly with the setting and the characters.
I am in awe of Ms. Burke’s descriptions in the story. She makes these characters and the setting real. From the colors of the winter scenes, the feel of the ice, snow and wind, the sounds of the wind howling and the voices in those howls, the smell of the stew cooking over a wood fire, the feel of the furs on the bed, etc. These vivid descriptions make the story real. I felt as though I was right there.
Another brilliant part of the story is when we get to see bits of the Huntress’ and Rowan’s thoughts in their own words, usually in a flashback moment. It was amazing how the words of the Huntress could send cold chills up my spine, and I could feel the longing and sadness in Rowan’s thoughts. All of this adds up to a beautifully written, absolutely gorgeous novel that I’m sure you will not want to miss.
Thanks to Bywater Books for allowing me to read this book for an honest review.
Thorn is a retelling of the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast with a WLW slant to it. The “Beast” in this tale is a stunningly beautiful, but cold and cruel Huntress who has been cursed to live in perpetual winter. All of her companions were turned into hunting animals, and she has roamed her lands for untold number of years hunting with them. That all changes when Rowan’s father makes a terrible mistake, and Rowan (the tale’s Beauty) pays the price and becomes entangled in the curse.
I have always loved fairy tales, and this is one of my favorites. This retelling is a rather dark version of the story, and fits in perfectly with the setting and the characters.
I am in awe of Ms. Burke’s descriptions in the story. She makes these characters and the setting real. From the colors of the winter scenes, the feel of the ice, snow and wind, the sounds of the wind howling and the voices in those howls, the smell of the stew cooking over a wood fire, the feel of the furs on the bed, etc. These vivid descriptions make the story real. I felt as though I was right there.
Another brilliant part of the story is when we get to see bits of the Huntress’ and Rowan’s thoughts in their own words, usually in a flashback moment. It was amazing how the words of the Huntress could send cold chills up my spine, and I could feel the longing and sadness in Rowan’s thoughts. All of this adds up to a beautifully written, absolutely gorgeous novel that I’m sure you will not want to miss.
Thanks to Bywater Books for allowing me to read this book for an honest review.
July 4, 2020
Anna Burke! You are great!
I like how this author takes her own spin on classic stories, creating unique and very welcome reads that take me into another world completely. I also happen to quite enjoy winter (enter every Canadian joke here), so the fact it the main environment was perpetually winter actually delighted me. Add to the fact we are going through another armpit-like sticky gross heatwave, I would WELCOME some romps in snowbanks. I equally liked both MCs and found myself completely wrapped up in this from start to finish. I can't wait to see what the author has up her sleeve next.
4.25/5.
I like how this author takes her own spin on classic stories, creating unique and very welcome reads that take me into another world completely. I also happen to quite enjoy winter (enter every Canadian joke here), so the fact it the main environment was perpetually winter actually delighted me. Add to the fact we are going through another armpit-like sticky gross heatwave, I would WELCOME some romps in snowbanks. I equally liked both MCs and found myself completely wrapped up in this from start to finish. I can't wait to see what the author has up her sleeve next.
4.25/5.
February 11, 2019
Rowan is the daughter of a merchant who unknowingly gives her a cursed rose taken during an ill-fated hunting trip. The rose was in a land of eternal winter inhabited by a mysterious woman called the Huntress. Furious at the merchant for killing her wolves and stealing her rose, the Huntress irrupts into the merchant's house and takes the rose back along with Rowan. Trapped in the Huntress's realm of eternal winter and curse, Rowan will have to choose between her family loyalties and her growing feelings for the Huntress.
Following my new year resolution to read more books out of my comfort zone, I chose a genre that I seldom read: fantasy. 'Thorn' is a retelling of 'Beauty and the Beast'. In this novel, according to the author, bravery and not beauty defines Beauty. As in her previous book 'Compass Rose' Ms. Burke is very poetic in her metaphors, this time changing naval comparisons for winter ones. Her depiction of the freezing landscape with its vast gamut of whites, menacing beasts and dimmed sunlight acts as an ideal backdrop to this beautiful story.
This novel is written in first person from the point of view of Rowan except for a few short sections written in third person point of view from the Huntress. Both main characters are well-rounded and believable and the reader cannot help but feel the pain of both: the Huntress as a victim of her own arrogance and Rowan as a casualty of her father's weakness. Underneath lies a heavy criticism to the patriarchal system, in which women are traded as goods in the name of their fathers' interests, and the conflict between family loyalties and a woman's search for true love.
'A rose for a rose, a thorn for a thorn'. With each repetition of this mantra, the reader sees this phrase in a different light. The tone of this novel shifts back-and-forth from poetic and romantic as a rose, to hurting and heartbreaking as a thorn. Similarly, the pace changes from slow-burn romance to fast paced thriller. This book has been a pleasure to read and shows that Anna Burke is quickly becoming more than a promising writer.
Overall, a very good lesfic retelling of the classic 'Beauty and the Beast'. A tale of suffering, bravery and love conquering all. 5 stars.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
Following my new year resolution to read more books out of my comfort zone, I chose a genre that I seldom read: fantasy. 'Thorn' is a retelling of 'Beauty and the Beast'. In this novel, according to the author, bravery and not beauty defines Beauty. As in her previous book 'Compass Rose' Ms. Burke is very poetic in her metaphors, this time changing naval comparisons for winter ones. Her depiction of the freezing landscape with its vast gamut of whites, menacing beasts and dimmed sunlight acts as an ideal backdrop to this beautiful story.
This novel is written in first person from the point of view of Rowan except for a few short sections written in third person point of view from the Huntress. Both main characters are well-rounded and believable and the reader cannot help but feel the pain of both: the Huntress as a victim of her own arrogance and Rowan as a casualty of her father's weakness. Underneath lies a heavy criticism to the patriarchal system, in which women are traded as goods in the name of their fathers' interests, and the conflict between family loyalties and a woman's search for true love.
'A rose for a rose, a thorn for a thorn'. With each repetition of this mantra, the reader sees this phrase in a different light. The tone of this novel shifts back-and-forth from poetic and romantic as a rose, to hurting and heartbreaking as a thorn. Similarly, the pace changes from slow-burn romance to fast paced thriller. This book has been a pleasure to read and shows that Anna Burke is quickly becoming more than a promising writer.
Overall, a very good lesfic retelling of the classic 'Beauty and the Beast'. A tale of suffering, bravery and love conquering all. 5 stars.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
April 10, 2019
I'm not a fan of fairy tales but surprisingly I liked this one. It is retelling of Beauty and the beast and author did a great job.
3.5*
3.5*
May 5, 2019
I’ve been dying for a lesbian fairytale retelling that feels like a fairytale. And, holy hell, does Anna Burke ever deliver with Thorn.
There are a lot of contemporary fairy tale retellings, many of which are excellent. Thorn, however, takes the core of the Beauty and the Beast story and reinterprets it in a way that maintains some of the spirit of the original story while presenting something entirely new.
Full review: https://www.thelesbianreview.com/thor...
There are a lot of contemporary fairy tale retellings, many of which are excellent. Thorn, however, takes the core of the Beauty and the Beast story and reinterprets it in a way that maintains some of the spirit of the original story while presenting something entirely new.
Full review: https://www.thelesbianreview.com/thor...
January 12, 2020
I love winter.
Rowan's father goes on a hunting trip and is away longer than expected. Meanwhile his daughters keep up the small cottage while they await his return. He has actually gotten himself into some trouble with a huntress who is quite upset that he and his traveling companions have been hunting her lands for pelts. She decides to let him go because otherwise death would be mercy. Later, the huntress realizes that he stole a rose. She goes to the cottage to make him pay. She kidnaps Rowan, because suffering her loss would be more fierce than death.
This is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I like that it is dark and gritty. There is no whimsy here like that of the Disney movies.
There were a lot of layers to this story. Rowan never felt like she belonged with her family after her merchant father lost his ships, her mother died, and they had to move away from her city and into the mountains. Her father betrothed her to a man that Rowan didn't want to be with to secure their family's place in the new village. Once captured, she had to go through the conflicting feelings of being held captive yet feeling free. The cursed huntress is cold and unfeeling after years of owning winter. The irony being that the one person who can melt her will destroy her.
I loved how Rowan was no shrinking violet. She had her own feelings and exacted her free will. And the huntress allowed it. I especially liked how Rowan took in the helpless wolf pup and the relationship that grew from that.
As far as the relationship between Rowan and the huntress goes... It was OK. I was never really convinced that Rowan fell for the huntress out of free will. I too, was concerned that it was only the magic of the rose. I wish there would have been more time between the two of them that made me see why Rowan developed such strong feelings. It was mostly attraction. I definitely felt that.
Overall it was an interesting retelling of a well known story. It was different enough to stand on its own without too much comparison.
I recommend this to people who like to read about romance, magic, fairytales, wolves, cold, curses, hunting, outdoors, and body heat.
Rowan's father goes on a hunting trip and is away longer than expected. Meanwhile his daughters keep up the small cottage while they await his return. He has actually gotten himself into some trouble with a huntress who is quite upset that he and his traveling companions have been hunting her lands for pelts. She decides to let him go because otherwise death would be mercy. Later, the huntress realizes that he stole a rose. She goes to the cottage to make him pay. She kidnaps Rowan, because suffering her loss would be more fierce than death.
This is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I like that it is dark and gritty. There is no whimsy here like that of the Disney movies.
There were a lot of layers to this story. Rowan never felt like she belonged with her family after her merchant father lost his ships, her mother died, and they had to move away from her city and into the mountains. Her father betrothed her to a man that Rowan didn't want to be with to secure their family's place in the new village. Once captured, she had to go through the conflicting feelings of being held captive yet feeling free. The cursed huntress is cold and unfeeling after years of owning winter. The irony being that the one person who can melt her will destroy her.
I loved how Rowan was no shrinking violet. She had her own feelings and exacted her free will. And the huntress allowed it. I especially liked how Rowan took in the helpless wolf pup and the relationship that grew from that.
As far as the relationship between Rowan and the huntress goes... It was OK. I was never really convinced that Rowan fell for the huntress out of free will. I too, was concerned that it was only the magic of the rose. I wish there would have been more time between the two of them that made me see why Rowan developed such strong feelings. It was mostly attraction. I definitely felt that.
Overall it was an interesting retelling of a well known story. It was different enough to stand on its own without too much comparison.
I recommend this to people who like to read about romance, magic, fairytales, wolves, cold, curses, hunting, outdoors, and body heat.
January 5, 2020
After reading Princess Princess Ever After graphic novel, I needed another fairy tale and thanks to Natalie Imbruglia, I picked this one up. My first by Anna Burke, and Compass Rose will be read sooner or later.. According to Carrie, I will love one of the characters.
Torn, yes, a retelling of The Beauty and The Beast with strong women, wlw romance, a not so repulsive Gaston but the cutlery, cookwares and household items were missing so if you're looking forward to that then open up the ikea/williams sonoma homepage and feast yourself.
This was a 2⅛ stars read in the beginning, the leads didn't have enough page time and there were more looks than dialogues between them so I'd say the first third of the story was a little bit less interesting to me, but the story really took a leap ahead once the leads were 'rubbing injuries' regularly. The second half just blew me away. A-mazing with a capital A, especially towards the kill the beast scene. That adrenaline rush scene itself, deserved a few bling², what is it with me and killing scenes🤔. I didn't care much for the merchant but the bond between him and his eldest daughter made this book a bit more special to me.
So, a fairy tale retelling, yes or no. The author has given me a moving, romantic and passionate story. It is a tale of deception, bitterness and loneliness, and also a beautiful story about compassion, forgiveness and, under the most difficult of circumstances, finding that one person who loves you for everything you are and everything you are not. The person who is destined to give you the kind of happily ever after you didn’t believe existed.
When you are surrounded by pain, death, and despair, love and devotion become even more important. It's worth fighting for and this quote by the author really moved me.
" You can’t have a rose without thorns. It wouldn’t be a rose." - Wow.
Beauty and The Beast can be categorized as a love triangle. You have the beauty, the beast, and the library. The library, hands down!
Torn, yes, a retelling of The Beauty and The Beast with strong women, wlw romance, a not so repulsive Gaston but the cutlery, cookwares and household items were missing so if you're looking forward to that then open up the ikea/williams sonoma homepage and feast yourself.
This was a 2⅛ stars read in the beginning, the leads didn't have enough page time and there were more looks than dialogues between them so I'd say the first third of the story was a little bit less interesting to me, but the story really took a leap ahead once the leads were 'rubbing injuries' regularly. The second half just blew me away. A-mazing with a capital A, especially towards the kill the beast scene. That adrenaline rush scene itself, deserved a few bling², what is it with me and killing scenes🤔. I didn't care much for the merchant but the bond between him and his eldest daughter made this book a bit more special to me.
So, a fairy tale retelling, yes or no. The author has given me a moving, romantic and passionate story. It is a tale of deception, bitterness and loneliness, and also a beautiful story about compassion, forgiveness and, under the most difficult of circumstances, finding that one person who loves you for everything you are and everything you are not. The person who is destined to give you the kind of happily ever after you didn’t believe existed.
When you are surrounded by pain, death, and despair, love and devotion become even more important. It's worth fighting for and this quote by the author really moved me.
" You can’t have a rose without thorns. It wouldn’t be a rose." - Wow.
Beauty and The Beast can be categorized as a love triangle. You have the beauty, the beast, and the library. The library, hands down!
July 21, 2021
Thorn is a magnificent story, backdropped by a beautifully somber atmosphere, and offers a subtle yet powerful ending that stays with you for days to come.
February 27, 2019
A loose retelling of the Beauty and the Beast. Although it should be The Brave and the Beast. Beauty - thankfully- isn’t important here at all. And it is in fact the Beast who is beautiful.
Beauty and the Beast as a fairy tale has a number of problems that have been written about many times. But it is also a story that ticks some of my most beloved tropes: slow burn romance, enemies to lovers, redemption through love, and in many of the retellings: throwing off the shackles of patriarchy. Yay!
In this story we see both Rowan’s (Beauty) and the Beast’s point of view. And I really welcomed that. There is a dreamlike quality to the enchanted keep and animals. There is little of the customary cruelty of the Beast.
The author uses language beautifully, and evokes moods and landscapes, feelings and action, that are rich and easy to see, with the delicate use of just the right words. A real pleasure to read.
If you like fairy tales, and love, and lesbians, and kick ass women, then have a read!
Beauty and the Beast as a fairy tale has a number of problems that have been written about many times. But it is also a story that ticks some of my most beloved tropes: slow burn romance, enemies to lovers, redemption through love, and in many of the retellings: throwing off the shackles of patriarchy. Yay!
In this story we see both Rowan’s (Beauty) and the Beast’s point of view. And I really welcomed that. There is a dreamlike quality to the enchanted keep and animals. There is little of the customary cruelty of the Beast.
The author uses language beautifully, and evokes moods and landscapes, feelings and action, that are rich and easy to see, with the delicate use of just the right words. A real pleasure to read.
If you like fairy tales, and love, and lesbians, and kick ass women, then have a read!
November 10, 2019
This was bloody brilliant! I love how the Huntress is surrounded by a pack of wolves ‘cause I love wolves. Rowan is as smart as Belle, fearless and strong. The fact she was always different and falls in love with a woman is the brilliance in this Beauty and the Beast retelling.
February 25, 2020
4.5 stars, this is a loose retelling of the beauty and the beast tale. Growing up in the world,we share fairy tales. This masterful revision gives us the opportunity to see love in more than the heteronormative constraints of the fairy tale world we're used to. This is a must read, I appreciate a GR friend recommending this to me.
This is the first book I've read by this author, but it will not be my last by far.
This is the first book I've read by this author, but it will not be my last by far.
January 29, 2019
“Thorn” is a lesbian feminist fairy-tale with a vengeance, highlighting the power and vulnerability of women, the expectations of society and the literal battles, both emotional and physical, that women fight to be themselves.
In true fairy-tale style, the evil ice queen rides a bear, leads a pack of wolves and exacts an awful revenge on anyone who dares enter her lands to take what is hers. Yet under the frightful cold exterior is a woman trapped by her own arrogant narcissism into one too many acts of cruelty which has been punished by the local witch. To escape she must lose everything she holds dear, and that which she cannot bear to lose.
Our Cinderella is the wealthy merchant’s daughter fallen on hard times, reduced from the high life of the city to a small cottage and meagre living, sold off to the local lord for his sons betrothed to cement her father’s mercantile ambitions. Mourning the loss of her beloved mother, her father’s act of kindness on her birthday enslaves her to the evil Queen and life in the barren castle at the heart of winter.
Full of passion, love and loss, one woman must lose everything to regain herself, the other must risk everything to become the woman society has repressed.
Anna Burke’s second novel is so far from the first as to be incredible. From “Compass Rose”, Sci-Fi fantasy in a future drowned world, to a twist on a classic Ice Queen fairy-tale set in a medieval landscape. And yet the world-building, character development, complex interpersonal relationships and deeply entwined use of nature as both a proactive setting and physical presence are so strong in both that when you recover your wits and think about both books you can see the powerful similarities.
The writing is exquisite. The imagination behind both books is awe inspiring. And even more when you reach the end and realise that without ever making a “thing” about it Burke has subverted the whole but having women take all the major characters; the men are ineffectual wanna-be’s in secondary roles.
An epic romance, a dramatic adventure, an exploration of what women are capable of, both good, bad and ugly. And all wrapped up in a story worthy of a blockbuster Netflix fantasy. Just brilliant – Ms Burke is one to watch.
In true fairy-tale style, the evil ice queen rides a bear, leads a pack of wolves and exacts an awful revenge on anyone who dares enter her lands to take what is hers. Yet under the frightful cold exterior is a woman trapped by her own arrogant narcissism into one too many acts of cruelty which has been punished by the local witch. To escape she must lose everything she holds dear, and that which she cannot bear to lose.
Our Cinderella is the wealthy merchant’s daughter fallen on hard times, reduced from the high life of the city to a small cottage and meagre living, sold off to the local lord for his sons betrothed to cement her father’s mercantile ambitions. Mourning the loss of her beloved mother, her father’s act of kindness on her birthday enslaves her to the evil Queen and life in the barren castle at the heart of winter.
Full of passion, love and loss, one woman must lose everything to regain herself, the other must risk everything to become the woman society has repressed.
Anna Burke’s second novel is so far from the first as to be incredible. From “Compass Rose”, Sci-Fi fantasy in a future drowned world, to a twist on a classic Ice Queen fairy-tale set in a medieval landscape. And yet the world-building, character development, complex interpersonal relationships and deeply entwined use of nature as both a proactive setting and physical presence are so strong in both that when you recover your wits and think about both books you can see the powerful similarities.
The writing is exquisite. The imagination behind both books is awe inspiring. And even more when you reach the end and realise that without ever making a “thing” about it Burke has subverted the whole but having women take all the major characters; the men are ineffectual wanna-be’s in secondary roles.
An epic romance, a dramatic adventure, an exploration of what women are capable of, both good, bad and ugly. And all wrapped up in a story worthy of a blockbuster Netflix fantasy. Just brilliant – Ms Burke is one to watch.
November 15, 2019
Add this to your snow day reading lists! A retelling of Beauty and the Beast where Rowan is traded to the Huntress for her father's life. Wolves, winter, and maybe a love story....
March 9, 2020
A lesbian re-telling of Beauty and the Beast. I liked it! I found it a little hard to get into the rhythm of the book initially, but once I did, it was smooth sailing. An imaginative work.
July 30, 2019
this was SO beautifully written i have tears in my eyes ohmygod.
December 11, 2023
Beautifully written, as always. But this seemed very novella-like in the sense of it just lacking to leave any lasting feelings. I sympathised with the characters but felt zero attachment, I liked the take on the retelling but wasn't really invested. Still very atmospheric.
June 29, 2019
Beautifully written. Great retelling. I felt as though I were in an actual fairytale
April 8, 2022
3 stars
This was definitely an interesting take on the classic fairytale. I enjoyed reading it, but can't say I was dazzled by it or will ever read it again
This was definitely an interesting take on the classic fairytale. I enjoyed reading it, but can't say I was dazzled by it or will ever read it again
September 17, 2022
A Sapphic Beauty and the Beast, need I say more? This book has been a pleasure to read.
January 6, 2019
Me first book commentary of 2019! Whaa?! Honestly, never thought I'd be able to finish today but me fingers just kept on flapping on the keyboard until it was done! This book just has to be read by everyone, imho! And what an amazing surprise it was for me indeed because.... Ok, let's back up a little...
A holiday gift surprise fell onto me lap whilst I was on holiday, courtesy of the very kind and generous Salem West of Bywater Books (Ta, mate! 🙏🏻😃)! Yes, it was in the form of a book (me fav form! Yay!)!
"Thorn" by Anna Burke.
Never read anything by this author ever before.
Wow. To say the book captivated me was an understatement. I was hooked, lined and sinkered. From the first paragraph. Literally.
Me love for beautiful literary texts in the form of storytelling was instantly satiated by Burke's aesthetically structured, lyrical passage. And it was only the prologue! So you can just imagine me utter glee...!!! *yes, I'm a shameless nerd of literary, poetic words that flow like lyrics to a song, that's me! So I knew Burke got me good!*
"Thorn" is a retelling of the classic fairy tale, "Beauty and the Beast," with a lesbian twist. Obvs. And just like Karin Kallmaker's brilliant retelling of "The Little Mermaid," "A Fish Out Of Water," which became the sole recognised "The Little Mermaid" for me, Burke's "Thorn" has now become me only recognised "Beauty and the Beast" tale! Yup.
A RESOUNDING MUST-READ!!
Thanks to Ms. West, Anna Burke is now on me list of new authors to watch. I will be looking out for her books from now on starting with her debut novel, "Compass Rose." Yup, I am ready!
Meanwhile, if you wanna read about me love for Burke's lyrical, literary storytelling, me full commentary here... In Bugs’ Own Words
A holiday gift surprise fell onto me lap whilst I was on holiday, courtesy of the very kind and generous Salem West of Bywater Books (Ta, mate! 🙏🏻😃)! Yes, it was in the form of a book (me fav form! Yay!)!
"Thorn" by Anna Burke.
Never read anything by this author ever before.
Wow. To say the book captivated me was an understatement. I was hooked, lined and sinkered. From the first paragraph. Literally.
Me love for beautiful literary texts in the form of storytelling was instantly satiated by Burke's aesthetically structured, lyrical passage. And it was only the prologue! So you can just imagine me utter glee...!!! *yes, I'm a shameless nerd of literary, poetic words that flow like lyrics to a song, that's me! So I knew Burke got me good!*
"Thorn" is a retelling of the classic fairy tale, "Beauty and the Beast," with a lesbian twist. Obvs. And just like Karin Kallmaker's brilliant retelling of "The Little Mermaid," "A Fish Out Of Water," which became the sole recognised "The Little Mermaid" for me, Burke's "Thorn" has now become me only recognised "Beauty and the Beast" tale! Yup.
A RESOUNDING MUST-READ!!
Thanks to Ms. West, Anna Burke is now on me list of new authors to watch. I will be looking out for her books from now on starting with her debut novel, "Compass Rose." Yup, I am ready!
Meanwhile, if you wanna read about me love for Burke's lyrical, literary storytelling, me full commentary here... In Bugs’ Own Words
September 2, 2020
3.5/5 stars
As someone who used to love all things beauty and the beast and binge all the books even closely related to it, I can’t believe I haven’t snatched this up yet. This was a solid read. It was atmospheric, exciting and had fantastic character connections. Despite this, I really didn’t love it as much as I was expecting to. I found the plot to be a bit all over the place at times and found it really hard to engage with the story-telling. I also pretty much forgot that I read this book a couple of days ago, which is not the best sign. Still, I enjoyed the book and did enjoy all the ways it adapted the classic and seemingly overdone story of the beauty and the beast. It was full of heart, winter and a subtly angsty romance.
As someone who used to love all things beauty and the beast and binge all the books even closely related to it, I can’t believe I haven’t snatched this up yet. This was a solid read. It was atmospheric, exciting and had fantastic character connections. Despite this, I really didn’t love it as much as I was expecting to. I found the plot to be a bit all over the place at times and found it really hard to engage with the story-telling. I also pretty much forgot that I read this book a couple of days ago, which is not the best sign. Still, I enjoyed the book and did enjoy all the ways it adapted the classic and seemingly overdone story of the beauty and the beast. It was full of heart, winter and a subtly angsty romance.
March 11, 2019
4.5.
After reading an anthology of queer fairy tales that left me not overly impressed this book was a welcome discovery. A reimagining of beauty and the beast that was creative but still true to the underlying tale. For some reason the beauty and beast story is a favourite to retell in lesfic but Burke elevates it beautifully with her distinct style.
After reading an anthology of queer fairy tales that left me not overly impressed this book was a welcome discovery. A reimagining of beauty and the beast that was creative but still true to the underlying tale. For some reason the beauty and beast story is a favourite to retell in lesfic but Burke elevates it beautifully with her distinct style.
June 27, 2021
You can’t have a rose without thorns. It wouldn’t be a rose.
This!! This is what I want out of a fairy-tale retelling. This was an absolutely gorgeous f/f rendition of Beauty and the Beast, one that moved with lyricism and power and really striking imagery. The style of the writing does lean towards poetic, but it's still simple and accessible. I loved the wintry motif, the setting, the animals, and just the way the author handled different points of view. This is fairly short, because it's written with a subtlety that gets us straight to the core of the story, while still adapting the tale for this unique world and situation. I loved that the Beast in this case is a Huntress, and her backstory is really unique and fitting. There's some mild body horror-esque stuff involving plants and flowers that I freaking adored. I really liked the romance, especially that there were a couple nods to the animated film. Beyond the B&B aspects, there are some extremely choice tropes in here, thanks to the wintry setting, and I ate it up.
I did find myself wishing this was paced a bit better; I wish we had more page time of Rowan and the Huntress growing closer. I mentioned that this was subtly-written, and perhaps that was to its detriment a little. There are certain things that we, the readers, will know because we're familiar with the original story, but a few times I had to wonder, "Well, I know X, but why isn't Rowan wondering about it?" Or, "Why did she take so long to question that?" Not a big deal, but I do think a few things could have been spoken about more plainly, and on page.
Still, extremely beautiful, dark and complicated. I would love it for the writing alone, and I loved it more because of the characters. Absolutely recommended.
Content warnings: .
January 10, 2024
4 Stars
This Beauty and the Beast retelling should have been the original. This was far more interesting and darker than the Disney one.
The elements from the movie the author substituted with wolves and bears were so scintillating (I was glad there were no talking furniture in this book). Another noteworthy mention was the everlasting winter. It’s summer right now in Australia as I read this book. Hot, dry and offensive. When a book can make you forget about the disgusting heat and believe in white, cold, forest-y snow with the smell of pine and wild animals lurking about? That is just genius right there.
This Beauty and the Beast retelling should have been the original. This was far more interesting and darker than the Disney one.
The elements from the movie the author substituted with wolves and bears were so scintillating (I was glad there were no talking furniture in this book). Another noteworthy mention was the everlasting winter. It’s summer right now in Australia as I read this book. Hot, dry and offensive. When a book can make you forget about the disgusting heat and believe in white, cold, forest-y snow with the smell of pine and wild animals lurking about? That is just genius right there.
August 2, 2022
I am going to pay a price for setting aside all other things just to finish this book. It was arresting and I couldn't, didn't want to have my thoughts wondering without knowing.
Great retelling of Beauty and the Beast and very happy with the sapphic retell.
I will be rereading this in my future, look forward to examining and appreciating once again the experience.
Great retelling of Beauty and the Beast and very happy with the sapphic retell.
I will be rereading this in my future, look forward to examining and appreciating once again the experience.
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