I am a member of the American Library Association Reading List Award Committee. This title was suggested for the 2020 list. It was not nominated for the award. The complete list of winners and shortlisted titles is at <a href="https://rusaupdate.org/2020/01/2020-reading-list-years-best-in-genre-fiction-for-adult-readers/">

I had a very difficult time with this story, it was very different from what I expected. I was looking for something with more adventure and action to the story. I compare this book to watching a game of chess because that is what the story was, a game of political chess. There were some moments that made me continue, I did really want to see how the game would end and who would come out on top, I just felt that Rory did not have any issues to overcome, everything seemed to easy for her. Her character was u retesting but she didn’t truly grow over the course of the book. This story just kind of missed the mark for me

DNF @ 6%

Nothing was grabbing me to pull me in and excite me about what the story was opening up to. The pacing felt slow and I couldn’t keep my attention on it. I’d like to try again at some point, but I’m setting it aside for now.--October 2019
Unfortunately, my previous statement hasn't changed as I've attempted to get into the book again with no luck.

Yes it safe to say that one of the reasons I wanted to read How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse was the title and the hook "The Princess Bride meets princess Leia" . I mean can you blame me. It is safe to say that the hook was accurate with regards to the book. Rory Thorne was a delightful read and had me in stitches a few times. Rory is such an endearing character to read thrust into hazardous political landscape. I also enjoyed all the space jargon but I did find that it could be a turn off to those not used to science fiction genre.

Overall How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse was a quaint little space opera with hints of fairy tale added in.

This book was so much fun, I loved it. Rory Thorne is a princess who, as a baby, was blessed with 12 fairy gifts and cursed with 1 - the ability to see through pretense and thus know when someone is lying. Her world spins off its axis after her father is assassinated, and she is sent to live on a far flung space station, where she will be forced to marry the prince. The prince, however, is not so much an issue - her real problem is the Regent, who wants to use Rory to cement his own rule. I loved the narrative voice - this book is told by a third person narrator who is chronicling the history for us, but who is snarky and opinionated. I also loved Rory - she is smart and brave but also impatient. She is also skilled at arithmancy. which is a combination of magic and hacking, and which was really cool. Rory has a fiercely loyal advisor and bodyguards to help her make her way through treacherous political situations, as well as an unexpected maybe-ally in the Regent's son. I tore through this book and while it didn't end on a cliffhanger per se, I can't wait for the next one.

Rory Thorne is the first girl to be born in the family of Thorne in hundreds of years. She receives gifts from thirteen different fairies, one of which is being able to see people's true intentions. Rory is accompanied by her body-maid Grytt in her adventures.

It's hard to summarize this book because there is so much going on, and I don't want to give out any spoilers. In the end, I found myself idolizing Grytt and wishing I had more information about Rory's childhood. Regardless of the three star rating, I have given the book, I am excited for the next volume.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

The Book: The first in a duology, How Rory Thorne Broke the Universe starts out with a hard fairy tale line: the new princess is born to the Thorne family line, and fairies come to bestow gifts on her. One fairy is pretty teed off that her invitation… got lost in the mail, let’s say, but there’s no spindle and no curse here. She bestows a dubious gift on the princess; the gift to see through lies of flattery and kiss-uppance. Rory is the first female baby to be born to the Thorne line for a while, so her birth throws things into a bit of a tizzy; it’s a tizzy that’s even more stirred up when a terrorist attack kills her father and the king of a neighboring planetary federation. Her mother gives birth to a male Thorne heir around the same time, which gives us an antagonist to watch out for in the next book.

Rory’s betrothed to the prince of the neighboring federation, and sent to live there while she waits to turn 18 and become his wife. Meanwhile, the Regent - not her betrothed’s mother, since she also managed to get killed off - is a sleazy minister with his own power game at play. Rory, her body-maid (a badass half-cyborg named Grytt), her Vizier, Rupert, and two guards under Grytt, Thorsdottir and Zhang, keep an eye on things, because the Regent is up to no good. When the Vizier is arrested after trying to poke around and find out the Regent’s deal, Rory takes over and discovers a plot that will have major consequences for Rory, her family, and their corner of the universe. She enters her own Game of Thrones to outwit, outplay, and outlast the Regent.

Rory Thorne is a great character. She’s a smart, savvy teen princess who is ready to defend herself and throw down with anyone who gets in her way. But the book falls a little flat for me. There’s a great deal of worldbuilding, but tends to drone on at points and left me putting down the book to find something else to pique my interest between chapters.

Is it YA? It’s definitely YA crossover material. Nothing too violent or overt for teen audiences, but it may not hold your usual readers’ attention.

The snacks: Enjoy with a curry (Rory Thorne’s specialty in the kitchen); Thai or Indian: your choice.

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I knew when I read the synopsis, I had to request this book. I felt it in my bones (LOL). I wasn't wrong. I have fallen in love with this book !and hopefully this series. I love Seanan McGuire this book might just be up there with Toby's series. Rory Thorne is such a delightful and energetic character she bounces off the pages! More please!
#MustRead

Although this book took me a little longer than I would have liked to finish, I really enjoyed the hell out of it. The narrator is engaging and super voicey, and yes, I laughed a lot. The world was right up my street: space! planets! dangerous planets! dodgy royalty and, of course, magic. The magic system is unique, the concept of arithmancy is very cool, and I’m here for a genre mash-up, exploring the sciency™ side of the arcane.

I enjoyed Rory the most, that by just being born she turned her world on its head, twisting the well-loved "prince has to get married to save the realm" trope. Both she and the Vizier enchanted me. And Gryt! I need a Gryt in my life.

I look forward to more from this author!

Ultimately, I enjoyed this. But it feels long and wordy at times, especially at the start. The narrator is more self-aware than I'm used to in many books, so it was jarring at times (some forced "foreshadowing," etc.). And there were passages of explanation and definition that seemed to drag the story down. Once I was able to get into "Part 2" and beyond, the pacing and engagement picked up a lot. I loved Rory, which helped me keep with this when otherwise I might have set it aside. Her relationship with the two guards she works with was terrific - I would happily read more tales of their adventures. The love interest didn't really develop into much, and I never felt any real chemistry there, so I was fine with that. While this looks like part of a series, there's not really a cliffhanger or anything else left open ended. I was satisfied with the conclusion.

Fun fantasy update with fairytale elements reimagined. Space opera fun with a female lead. For people looking for an adventure.

4.5

Rory Thorne is the first female born to her name in generations. Therefore, if following tradition, she must be blessed by the fairies on her naming day ceremony—because ensuring she has beauty, grace, and a talent for playing the harp is a must. Already predisposed to buck tradition, however, Rory is blessed by not just twelve fairies, but a thirteenth fairy crashes the party to impart the gift (curse) to “find no comfort in illusion or platitude, and to know truth when you hear it.” Luckily, the twelfth fairy comes to the rescue and grants Rory courage.

Which is great because several years later, after an assassination attempt, a war breaks out between the Thorne Consortium and The Free Worlds of Tadesh that lasts for years. Until it is determined that an alliance can be reached by, you guessed it, MAWAGE! Specifically between Rory and Crown Prince of the Free Worlds Ivar once they both come of age. In the meantime, as an act of goodwill, Rory takes up residence on Tadesh and what she discovers will send the Multiverse spiraling before it is ultimately, you know, Destroyed.

Rory Thorne is a wonderful twist on traditional fairy tales, yet also a lovely homage. Almost like a progression from where fairy tales originated to where they’ve gone (or are going) as we, as a society, also progresses. Turning the “traditional” women’s role waiting to be saved by the prince trope on its ear.

The story utilizes the “Chronicler” or this kind of omnipresent narrator who is relaying Rory’s story to us, the reader. There’s often a dry tongue-in-cheek tone to the “voice” which was delightful, and I thought gave a lightness to the story. While I, overall, loved this writing device, I felt like it caused me to really need to focus on each and every word and sentence. Not a bad thing, honestly, but also doesn’t lend itself well, at least for me, if too many things were going on in the background while I was trying to read. I think that’s why it ultimately took me a little longer to finish the story. Because the story itself is engaging and relatively fast-paced. While the action is mostly relegated to political maneuvering, I don’t think it slowed it down whatsoever.

What really stood out for me were the concepts of alchemy and arithmancy and the connection between magic and science. It really encompasses the whole idea of this science fiction and fantasy world really well. I mean some could argue that the idea of science itself is a form of magic. That is, depending on your definition of magic. I was especially interested in the idea that both alchemy and arithmancy are things that can be taught, like a school subject. No one is limited by an inherent gift, everyone seemingly has the opportunity to excel at these sciences, but some people are more adept than others. I want to spend more time exploring these ideas and hopefully we’ll get that in the sequel.

Overall, Rory Thorne was a very satisfying read. I honestly wasn’t ready for it to end, and I look forward to seeing what happens next since, you know, she DESTROYED THE MULTIVERSE (not a spoiler it’s in the title)!

This quirky sci-fi kept me engaged throughout the read. I enjoyed the sense of humor throughout as well. I don't have too much to say about this particular one though. It's not a new favorite, but it wasn't bad. The humor was fun, and I liked seeing the references of some of my favorites. I feel like I may have just read this one at the wrong time, and do plan to revisit it again after some time away.

There wasn't a girl born to the Thorne line in 200 years...until Rory. Cheated out of her queenly inheritance by a much younger brother, Rory is shipped off to a marriage alliance that will end the war between her nation and that of her enemy. But trouble is afloat in the Free Worlds of Tadesh, and it's up to Rory and her people to figure it out and stop it. Save the prince. Avoid a marriage. Easy right?

Damn I loved this.

It was very much The Princess Bride meets Sleeping Beauty in space with a dash of the Vorkosiverse and comedy of manners, and I was THERE for every single minute of it.

I loved the narrative voice—of the omnipresent narrator and their storytelling tone. I loved all of the good guys—Rory especially but also the Vizier and Gryt and particularly Thorsdittor and Zhang.

The stakes are very high, with a very evil Regent (who is evil precisely because of his mastery of bureaucracy), and much of the politicking was just delightful. I also liked the magic element, which added a nice fantasy element (I love science fantasy novels).

It reminded me very much of Bujold's middling Vorkosigan books, with slapdash humor built around etiquette and manners and the breaching or observing thereof.

This definitely isn't for everyone (see: narrative voice, slowish plot), but if you delight in comedy of manners type books and love science fiction, this just might be the book for you.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

The blending of fantasy and science fiction creates a richly detailed and sumptuous world. Eason imagines a far-flung multiverse inhabited by xenos (aliens) and humans who have some distant memories of a time when they lived in one solar system, or maybe even on one planet. There is courtly intrigue, political shenanigans, and a magic of sorts; arithmancy is a learned skill that involves manipulating the mathematical principles which underlie the structure of the universe.

Describing a book as “The Princess Bride meets Princess Leia” (as the cover does) is making a bold claim, but as they say in fairy tales, if the glass slipper fits… Certainly How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse features a headstrong and brave princess who (mostly) has to come to her own rescue (“Into the garbage chute, flyboy!”); and the an anonymous, witty chronicler relaying her story to us has a style reminiscent of S. Morgernstern’s. By the time I finished reading it, I was certainly hooked, and ready to see where in the multiverse Rory and her gang of (more or less) loyal co-conspirators end up next. Thankfully, a sequel is on the way—whether sci-fi or fantasy, some things never change.

I started this while on a plane flight between Phoenix and Las Vegas, and was so intrigued right from the start that I was annoyed that my flight only lasted about an hour. I wasn’t able to get back to it until my later flight from Las Vegas to Houston, but once I fell back into the story I couldn’t stop reading.

How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse is a YA/NA fantasy, science fiction, fairy tale trope retelling featuring a spunky, intelligent, crafty heroine who finds herself alone in enemy territory and must outsmart and outplay pretty much everyone around her, with only the help of a few members of her own royal household.

Gifted by the faeries at her naming with thirteen blessings, she is going to need every single one of them to rescue herself from the plot to take over the throne by an unscrupulous regent.

This story starts readers out at Rory’s birth and follows along for the first 16 years of her life as she grows, learns, and becomes the badass who is promised in marriage to a prince on another world. I loved that readers get the whole backstory of Rory and her family before being thrown into universal political intrigue. But once Rory enters into foreign territory, trust me, you won’t want to put this book down.

The worldbuilding is topnotch, the characters diverse and interesting, and I truly felt like I was on an epic adventure in deep space. This is exactly what I need on a late night plane flight. I am more than ready for whatever comes next in this world.

First of all, thank you DAW and NetGalley for an eARC of this book!

I'm a sucker for a good space opera, and after taking a few days to mull it over, I can finally review it! Set in a world when Rory Thorne, first-born daughter of the Thorne Consortium. First in line for the throne and granted with gifts from 13 faeries, Rory is educated in princessly manners, until her father is assassinated, and her pregnant mother gives birth to a son, set to take the throne.

A war wages out when the assassination also takes out the king of her to-be-betrothed, she is set to marry Prince Ivar, where her counsel is taken prisoner, and her betrothed is not who he seems to be.

Befriending the youngest son of the Regent Moss, Rory and her guards do everything in their power to unmask the treachery on Urse.

Though I loved the brilliance of Rory and how she came into her own despite having the Thorne throne taken from her, I felt at time that the details and backstory of the universe was more tell than show. I did not get a lot of descriptions about the spaces or what the people looked liked, so it wa sdifficult at times to imagine everything. I did enjoy the story and the ending to the first book in the Thorne Chronicles, so I will definitely continue on this journey! Also, wayyyyy too many dashes. No one should ever use that many dashes in any given paragraph or sentence. It got too confusing!

The writing style of this book was perfect for a fairytale-inspired story! I did have some trouble connecting with it, especially with the sci-fi elements, but it still felt like a good choice for the story. The mix of magic and science fiction was really interesting to see played with.

Overall, it didn't work with me a ton, but I can see a lot of people enjoying this one!!

How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse is one of those books that surpasses your expectations. It is not only delightful, clever, but also entertaining. Consistently playing with fairy tale tropes and convention, Rory Thorne is a fast paced read. How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse is exactly what I needed to read. There's just the right amount of snark, of cleverness, and humor. Taking fairy tale tropes, Eason turns them around on their head. Not only does Eason subvert our expectations, but also seems to question the tropes themselves. There's such a flair for writing and Rory's perspective jumps off the pages. It's a perfect storm in the making.

I had a hard time getting into this one. I'm wondering if it was the pacing of the story or the story itself. Usually, I burn through a book in one day, being unable to put it down, but this book took me several days to get through because I kept getting board with the story. I loved the characters. They were fun and colorful. The world was interesting and full of scifi elements. I could only give it a three star. It just wasn't right for me.