Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

I love fairy tale retellings! And this is why I was drawn to this book. I think it was an intriguing idea to have the sleeping beauty curse not be completely broken when rosalin woke up from her kiss. I feel like it wasn’t executed as I was hoping for. It almost felt like the storyline didn’t flow very well. It had the aspects of a fairytale retelling that I always like. Characters that aren’t in the original, things aren’t as they seem, and misunderstandings. Overall, it was a cute and fast paced middle grade retelling.

sadly, before i could download this title, netgalley took it off their catalog. that means i can’t review this one. HOWEVER, i will be checking in with my library to see if i can get a copy and review it that way

Loved this fresh take on the sleeping beauty tale. Sometimes they can feel a little redundant but this was fresh, full of life and worthy of a second read.

Ah, yes. Middle-grade fantasy. My one true love*.

*That will never betray me, hurt me, or lie to me the way character regression, hype, and insta-love do.

What even is there to say about this book? 'Thornwood' is an excellent Sleeping Beauty retelling (not that I remember reading any apart from this one) that spins an unexpected twist: what if the princess of the story actually had a little sister? And what if things were not at all as they seemed...

Briony is your classic middle-grade protagonist: plucky, a little snarky, but ultimately kindhearted with a dash or two of insecurity. Reading this book through her perspective and voice gave it a little something that I doubt would have been there if it was written in an omniscient third person.

Speaking about the characters. they were pretty solid on their own, even though Briony is the only one who really undergoes any sort of character growth over the course of the story. While I do wish that some of them (or at least, one in particular) had their background expanded upon a bit more, the reveal regarding a certain character's true identity left me flabbergasted (and also not caring about any deficiencies the other characters had). I absolutely did not see that plot twist coming despite the subtle hints that were left here and there, and I loved every second of it.

The plot was a bit convoluted and could be a bit confusing at times. There were some times where I was having to mentally retrace where the characters had been and what they had done in order to keep track of what was going on, which definitely pushed me out of the mood/atmosphere that the book was setting up.

The same could be said of the world-building. It wasn't as clear as it should have been, especially when certain plot twists were revealed pertaining to the landscape and setting of the book. Of course, that being said, the writing was atmospheric and really worked with the novel, and made for an enjoyable reading experience.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this to other fans of fantasy and middle-grade readers. It's quite different from many of the retellings I've read, and I'm really excited for the rest of the books in Leah Cypess' series and everything that they will entail.

Fairytale retellings are plentiful and this one didn't stand out to me. Neither the plot or the characters were terrible memorable.

Fractured fairytales, sisters who don't see eye to eye and princes who are not what they seem.

That sums up this fast-action story about what really happened when Sleeping Beauty awoke from her fairy-induced sleep. One hundred years of sleep didn't improve the trust between sisters Briony and Rosalin, but they will have to put those differences aside if they are to survive the Thornwood. They only people they can trust are each other.

This book is humorous and perfect for readers who like fantasy and retold fairy tales. It is quickly paced and all the action takes place within a day. There are no perfect princesses in this story and there certainly aren't any damsels in distress.

All characters are presumed white. There is discussion of class on a level kids will understand and relate to. This was a fun book and perfect for libraries who are looking to update their retold fairytales.

I love fairy tale retellings, and Sleeping Beauty is one of my favorites, so I knew I had to read this MG book! I'm happy I did! This was a really unique take on the original tale, with twists (including the ending) that I did not see coming at all! Overall, I would definitely recommend reading it! And I'm looking forward to reading more retellings by this author!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

3.5 stars

I was so delightfully suprised at how much I ended up liking this book. The plot is fast paced and intrguing. It's very engaging and really just did a good job aaaaaah.

A complaint I often have for Fairytail Retellings is they try and make stories better in a way and critique the stories but it feels very surface level and can kinda loose some charm and interesting stuff about the origins of the fairytail but I think the way they expanded and twisted the sleeping beauty tale was well executed.

My biggest issue are the characters. I debated between 3 and 4 stars cause I was blown away by the story but felt kinda lukewarm about characters and often they are what carry a book for me personally. Having characters I emotionally connect with is a personal priority.
The characters weren't really bad but I found the main character to be quite anonying in the beginning. Not like other girl vibes and again like before when I complained other Retellings, tries to kinda critique the fairytale which is not inherently wrong but the way they go about it does not sit right with me.

Also the older sister could be a bitch though It felt more intentional and the times when she was being a loving older sister and towards the end of the book when she's vulnerable really resonated with me. I will say I did like when our main character self reflected on how self absorbed she was and was very much appreciated.

The other characters I dont have much to say, most are pretty one-note. Edwin was nice. I also kinda like that the fairies for the most part lack any affection or empathy towards humans.

Thornwood by Leah Cypess is the first book of the new middle grade fantasy Sisters Ever After series. Thornwood is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty done in a new and creative way of making the main character of the story actually the little sister of the family. This first book is only a start to the series featuring siblings that didn’t become the star of their own show.

Briony has lived her whole life in the shadows of her older sister, Rosalin. When it was told that Rosalin was cursed and that on her sixteenth birthday she would prick her finger sending the entire castle into a hundred year sleep of course everyone focused on Rosalin and breaking the curse. Unfortunately though the curse did happen and now as Briony awakens she wants to know just how this curse managed to overtake them and how they are going to escaped the castle that has held them captive.

Of course I am a lot older than the intended audience of this series but I actually really enjoyed the story. I always find myself drawn to retellings and my favorites are those that do something new and different than just re-writing every event we had before and this one did that in a cute way. I found Briony very rambunctious and fun to follow along as she navigates her own journey in the book. I’ll definitely be interested in seeing what the author comes up with next and expecting another fun, creative journey.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Briony is Sleeping Beauty's younger sister. Well, she is Rosalin's sister, but Rosalin is destined to be the Sleeping Beauty we've all read about. This story is a bit different, though. Told primarily through Briony's point of view, this story explores what happens when the curse doesn't exactly go as everyone thinks it will, and isn't entirely broken when the "prince" awakens Sleeping Beauty.

I really wanted to love this book, but it was a struggle for me to get through. I didn't like any of the characters, except perhaps the village book who snuck in so he could get cursed. I felt like there were a lot of ways the writer could have made this a really enjoyable book, but it fell short. It's hard to get into a story when you don't feel like rooting for any of the protagonists.

When I saw that Thornwood provides us a twist on Sleeping Beauty, I knew I had to read it, having been pleasantly surprised by Disney's Once Upon a Dream in the past. In this story we are seeing the point of view of Briony, the sister to Rosalin (this stories Sleeping Beauty). While this is the classic story, it feels like Cypress took what we already knew and expanded on it, making it deeper and more thought out.

This is a perfect middle grade book for those who love fairytales.

Most people know the story of Sleeping Beauty. Well, they think they know. But what if Sleeping Beauty had a sister? and what if that sister was the key to getting her sister away from the wrath of the Fairy Queen? That would bring a new spin to an old tale.

A fun retelling of an old classic. The bickering sisters bring a relatable element to the classic fairy tale, and Briony makes for a fun narrator. I especially enjoyed the twist ending that brings the story a little closer to readers.

From the first I heard of this book, I was super excited about it. I read a couple of Leah Cypess’s YA books and loved them, so I felt pretty sure I’d adore this one, too. Plus, it’s a book about sisters! I love those! And a reimagined fairytale. I love those, too!

The voice in the story was spot-on. I believed in Briony from the very first line, and loved her fun, determined personality. The sisters have a lot of conflict between them, and it’s really clear that especially for Rosalin, at least part of this is that she’s afraid to get close to people because she knows she’s going to die. I loved that Briony never stops hoping and trying to do something to stop the curse.

There was a moment toward the middle where I wasn’t sure where the story was going. It seemed unclear what Briony’s goal was, and that maybe slowed the story down a little bit. Her goal does become really clear late in the story, and things get pretty intense, so I felt like things pulled together really well in those last few chapters.

I kind of wish there had been a little bit of setup for the next book included in this one, mostly because I’m really curious about it. There’s one brief reference that made me wonder if the next will be a Rumpelstiltskin retelling?? I’m up for that! Or another story, of course.

Fans of The Princess Who Flew with Dragons by Stephanie Burgis or Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George will love the adventure and sister relationships in this one.

This is a Debut Middle Grade Book, and this is the first book in the Sisters Ever After Book series. This is a Sleeping Beauty retelling. This book is told from the point of view of Briony who is the sister of the very pretty Princess that is going to sleep from 100 years. I really enjoyed this book, and I found this story fun to read. This was a short middle grade book, but I found it to be well-written. This book was a super quick read from me. There was a couple of twists in this book, and I found both of the twist to be really well done. I did not see either of the twist coming, but after knowing what they are I can see some people seeing them coming. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Random House Children's) or author (Leah Cypess) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

Resisting a fairytale is impossible so when I saw Thornwood was available, I jumped at the chance to read it. Leah Cypess gives us a terrific twist on the Sleeping Beauty story that readers won't soon forget. The tale is told from the point of view of Briony, the sister of Rosalin (Sleeping Beauty) as we're given a new perspective on a classic. While recognizable, Cypess gives the story her own details, villains, and challenges. Additionally, she pops in some surprises that add to the depth of the plot. We also get to meet a few new characters besides Briony, who enhance the quirkiness and humor of the novel. This is book one of the Sisters Ever After series so readers can look forward to more like this from Leah. Those who love a fairytale, especially a spin on one, will love Thornwood.

4 stars = Great! Might re-read.

Enjoyed this fresh take on the Sleeping Beauty story. I liked Briony and Edwin from the start. I did not enjoy how dismissive everyone was of Briony - not just her ability to make an impact on the problems they were having, but dismissive of her as a person. I get the need to have middle grade protagonists save themselves, but I prefer the supportive sort of surrounding cast.

One of the pieces that set this apart is how the rest of the people in the castle respond to the trouble they are in and the impact their feelings have on the sisters by the end. I have read a *lot* of re-imagined fairy tales, and I enjoyed this one and the ways the author worked the story to have it stand on its own in the crowd.

A cute if uneven fairy tale adaptation, with writing at the lower middle grade level. I appreciated the reframing of the fairy tale to focus on the effects of the drama on side or background characters, the twist toward the end was nicely surprising, and the general take on the Sleeping Beauty story was interesting (the idea of the world modernizing while the residents of the castle slept especially). Nevertheless, I felt as if Briony was along for the ride through so much of the story rather than being the main actor in it, Rosalin seemed to be characterized as petty or entirely selfless depending on the requirements of the story, and some of the scheming seemed a bit convoluted.

It's certainly no Two Princesses of Bamarre, but offer to those ready to move up from the Rainbow Magic fairy series.

Actual rating 3.5

This was a fun reimagining of Sleeping Beauty. I really did love that our main character is the younger sister whom nobody is really concerned with, and never shows up in the stories. I loved that she knew something was wrong after they awoke from the spell. And it was up to her to figure it out.

However, I felt that there were parts of the story that dragged. I really felt that the characters had multiple times to figure things out but were being obviously obtuse. Also, the reveal came way too close to the end of the book so it didn't feel like we got enough resolution. Instead, we got a quickly thrown-together epilogue.

I loved the concept and I definitely want to read more in this series, since it appears that this is the first book in a Sisters Ever After series.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Brief Review:

Briony is the lesser-known younger sister of Princess Rosalind, better known as Sleeping Beauty. When Briony suddenly wakes up on the floor of a room with a spinning wheel, she immediately knows that the curse has come true and Rosalind has pricked her finger, sending the entire castle into a century-long nap. But why did Briony wake up before her sister? And after the foretold Prince kisses Rosalind, why is the castle still surrounded by a dense forest of thorns? It’s up to Briony, along with her new friend Edwin, her sister, and the surprisingly incompetent Prince Varian to figure out how to defeat the thornwood. Along the way, they gradually learn that Rosalind’s curse was actually just a part of a far larger feud amongst the fairies. In order to save her family, friends, and servants, Briony must sort through all of the half-answers and cryptic clues that her sister’s fairy godmother has been gradually feeding her over the course of the book. This fractured fairy tale will appeal to fans of the genre, especially Liesl Shurtliff’s (Fairly) True Tales series. The familiar story is given numerous twists that make it particularly appealing to the tween audience including a few additional characters who are likable and relatively believable, an atypical and almost sinister depiction of the fairies, realistic themes of sibling rivalry and sibling love, and enough complexities and setbacks to maintain an exciting, fast-paced plot for the duration of the novel.

Long Review:

In this novelized retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story, Briony is the younger sister of the beautiful, tragically cursed princess Rosalind. The royal family has lived in fear for longer than Briony has even been alive, but now it’s finally Rosalind’s sixteenth birthday, and they just have to make it through one more day before they can be sure that Rosalind is finally safe. The king decides to throw a huge party for his older daughter’s birthday to celebrate the end of the curse. But when Briony suddenly wakes up on the floor of a room with a spinning wheel, she knows that Rosalind didn’t escape the curse after all. Despite all of her parents’ precautions, Rosalind has pricked her finger on a spinning wheel and everyone in the castle has fallen asleep for a hundred years.

But Briony gradually realizes that the curse didn’t play out exactly as predicted. Why is she the first person in the castle to wake up, and why is she the one who wakes up in the room with the spinning wheel? And after she finds Rosalind just as the foretold prince kisses her, why is the castle still surrounded by a dense forest of thorns? Besides that, Briony can’t help instinctively disliking Prince Varian. He later confidentially admits that he isn’t actually a prince at all and that he doesn’t even know how to use his magical sword. He explains that Rosalind’s fairy godmother gave him the sword and led him through the thornwood and that he doesn’t know how to get rid of the thorns now. He also says that it’s been a lot more than one century since Rosalind and Briony fell into their magical slumber. In fact, Briony learns that the nearby village is now a tourist destination whose economy mainly relies on the princes who have each wanted to try rescuing the legendary Sleeping Beauty.

Meanwhile, Briony meets and befriends a boy named Edwin who came to the castle shortly before Rosalind pricked her finger. Although most of the palace servants had simply failed to show up for work that day in order to avoid the curse, Edwin did the opposite. He snuck into the castle for the purpose of being caught in the century-long nap so that he could escape his reputation as the “village dolt”. But now, he joins forces with Briony, Rosalind, and Prince Varian to figure out how to escape the castle while the king, queen, and servants continue to sit around and hope that the thornwood will go away on its own.

As the four young people try multiple methods of escape, and Briony has a few bizarre encounters with her sister’s fairy godmother, they gradually learn that Rosalind’s curse was actually just a part of a far larger feud amongst the fairies. Rosalind’s fairy godmother simply used Rosalind as a pawn in her scheme to imprison the fairy queen. And it was working while Rosalind was asleep. But the thornwood is controlled by the fairy queen herself, not by the curse. Now that the curse has been lifted and Rosalind is awake, the thornwood wants to consume her. Briony is sure that there has to be another solution. Nobody is able to tell her what it is; in order to save her family, friends, and servants, Briony must sort through all of the half-answers and cryptic clues that the fairy godmother has been gradually giving her.

This fractured fairy tale will appeal to fans of the genre, especially Liesl Shurtliff’s (Fairly) True Tales series. It takes a very familiar story and gives it several twists that make it particularly appealing to the tween audience including a few additional characters who are likable and relatively believable, an atypical and almost sinister depiction of the fairies, occasional passages of dry humor, realistic themes of sibling rivalry and sibling love, and enough complexities and setbacks to maintain an exciting, fast-paced plot for the duration of the novel. This book is evidently the first in a new fairy-tale-themed series about sisterhood.