Rating: 3.5 /5

Don't let the gorgeous cover decieve you, The Princess of Thronwood Drive is a book with a lot of heavy subject matter.

After a car accident that kills her parents and disables her sister, Laine, is forced to leave school and become the caretaker for her younger sister, Alyssa. Alyssa is almost entirely non-verbal, but she lives in a realm outside of the real world that mimics it. Seeing herself as a princess, Alyssa is trying to find her parents and make her voice heard. Laine on the other hand is trying to survive with the hand she's been dealt.

As someone who's lost a sibling in a car accident, I found this book heartbreaking and also realistic. It's hard to grabble with the sudden death of a loved one. I thought Moreau craftly displayed that without making it read like trauma porn. Although the subject matter is heavy, the glimpses into the alternate universe with Alyssa helped to break up the trauma felt by Laine. Ultimately this is a book about overcoming grief and the bonds of sisters.

This was Moreau's debut and it shows her chops as a writer. I'd definitely read more from her in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

4.5 Stars

Debut author Khalia Moreau has written a fantasy novel the likes of which I’ve never read before. The Princess of Thornwood Drive is attention-grabbing, entertaining, and sad all at the same time. When I read the blurb, I was intrigued, and rightfully so. The story takes place in two realities leaving you to wonder where they will intersect.

A year ago, a car accident claimed the lives of twenty-two-year-old Laine Highland’s parents. The accident also left her eighteen-year-old sister Alyssa severely injured. Alyssa is unable to walk, speak, or do any tasks for herself. She spends her days in a wheelchair, trapped inside her mind. Alyssa’s mind has conjured up a world where she believes her family is royalty and an evil man has kidnapped her parents (the king and queen of Mirendal) and placed a curse on her. In reality, Laine finds herself working as a barista, yet barely being able to cover the bills and struggling to take care of Alyssa the way she should be taken care of. She gets a lifeline when Lake Forest, an adult day care center, offers for Alyssa to attend free of charge. But things are not what they seem.

The Princess of Thornwood Drive blends Lanie’s real-world reality with Alyssa’s fantasy world. Told in first person dual points of view, you get to experience what the sisters are experiencing with overlapping details. For the most part, the characters are fleshed out pretty well. Khalia writes them in a way where you either like them or get the creepy crawlies.

The Princess of Thornwood Drive mixes Trinidadian lore with fantasy, to create a story about family (birth and found), hope, love, and healing. Khalia makes you feel invested in the sisters and their lives, with the hope that things will work out. Readers should be aware that there are mentions of SA and unaliving one’s self both off the page.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

The Princess of Thornwood Drive is an interesting fantasy drama story that gives me vibes of being close to a classic, but in a fantasy realm. It gives an interesting perspective on the lives of sisters where one has become a paraplegic and one that is taking care of her full time. It explores the concept of how someone who is paraplegic is still within our lives, but are more active participants then what one might thing. This is a darker tale, so even though it might spoil the book at points, know that there are some triggers that you might want to be aware of.

The story ultimately follows Laine who lost both of her parents in an accident, and is taking care of her sister who was left as a paraplegic from the accident. So we see her trying to navigate the world after this tragic event. She isn’t well off, so having to work and take care of her sister is a challenge that she faces. The beauty of this story is that it also follows Alyssa, the sister who can’t communicate within her new realm of existence. She has an active part of the tale and it is fascinating to see.

I love how this book brings new life to the view of disability, and I can see this book being very impactful for the right people. I also love the inclusion of different aspects of the Trinidadian culture. As someone who has not known about this culture it did go a little over my head, but it was still fascinating to see the representation. I do think this is a great story for those who might have a family member who has lost the ability to talk and move, as this gives a lot of perspective on modern medical practices and also gives a glimpse into a different way of thinking.

This is a solid read. It is all about family and trying to navigate the world of what it is like to have a family member who is paraplegic. The culture is so interesting to see, and I saw myself getting invested in this story. If you are looking for something fantastical but real I highly recommend giving this one a try.

This fantasy novel was amazing!

It is a dual point POV from sisters Laine and Alyssa.
A year ago an tragic accident killed Laine and Alyssa's parents, and paralyzed Alyssa. Alyssa is unable to speak or do anything for herself, and Laine feels responsible for this.
Meanwhile, in Alyssa's head they live in a fairy land where they are both princesses trying to get back to their parents, who happened to get kidnapped. In Alyssa's mind, she spends her days at Lake Forest's Home for Changels, a place where they care for people like herself. However, Alyssa is really staying in a day nursing home while Laine works.

There is a dark prince who is after Alyssa and she must fight to show Laine what is going on before it is too late.

So I definitely appreciated how Laine and Alyssa's POVs were very similar. With whatever Alyssa said in her chapters, you could see it happen in the real world through Laine's POV.

I usually don't read fantasy books and this book made me want to continue reading more fantasy books.

I definitely recommend this one.

This book is an absolute captivating debut! The Princess of Thornwood Drive by Khalia Moreau is a mesmerizing tale straddling the boundary between reality and fantasy.

Meet Laine and Alyssa. They are two sisters who find themselves ensnared in parallel worlds. One is mundane and the other is magical. Laine is burdened after a tragic accident and her dreams of studying animal nutrition and equestrian pursuits fade as she works at a coffee shop, trying to make ends meet. Alyssa, paralyzed and nonverbal from said tragic accident, inhabits a different reality. A reality where she was never in a car accident and instead, believes herself to be the cursed daughter of the king and queen, residing in a home for mortals like herself.

Moreau's prose is both lyrical and grounded. She connects the mundane with the fantastical, creating a rich tapestry of emotions. The bond between the sisters, tested by fate and circumstance, forms the heart of the novel. Moreau's narrative voice resonates, leaving readers eager for more. She is sure to be a rising star in the literary world.

As someone with a younger sister, I found myself unable to leave the twins on this journey. I was unprepared for what a thought-provoking exploration of family, identity, and resilience this story is. Readers who appreciate magical realism and contemporary fiction will find solace in this enchanting debut.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Sisters Alyssa and Laine are living in two sides of reality. Laine is barely holding it all together after her parents were killed in a car crash and her sister Alyssa was injured and can't walk or talk. Alyssa is living in a different reality where her parents were kidnapped and Alyssa is cursed. Laine is working two different jobs and is caring for her sister. She's dealing with anxiety and guilt from the accident. A care facility has offered to care for Alyssa during the day. Alyssa meets other changels at the temple/care center and they can communicate via mindlink.

This was a heartbreaking fantasy novel. I'm still digesting and thinking about what I just read. It definitely kept me intrigued and hooked. I read it in one sitting. That cover is gorgeous.

A unique and original story. The story is told by two sisters and I found the two perspectives almost made this feel like two different books, different stories. Laine's world is the one we know. She's a bit prickly, working multiple jobs and fighting for care for her sister. Her sister, Alyssa, unable to communicate her thoughts and opinions to Laine, is in a world with kings, queens, and fairies. I had to pay extra attention to Alyssa's chapters, to marry what she was experiencing in her world and try to find the similarities to it in Laine's world (almost like translating it). I found the two worlds fascinating in the ways they were similar and the ways they were different. I like that everyone spoke in a different rhythm and cadence in Alyssa's world.

The plot, however, is deeply saddening. Each new reveal made me even more sad and I felt Laine's fire and anger. I felt Alyssa's want to fight and succeed.

My copy had discussion questions and in there, it asked if I wish it had ended different. A little, I do. It was all just so deeply saddening but a really fascinating, well-told story.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Very impressive debut! I’ve never read anything like this. I loved how the two sisters contrasted each other and the ways that their worlds intertwined. However, I thought that Alyssa’s chapters were occasionally hard to follow and I wish there was a bit more foreshadowing on Laine’s side. But overall, the unique approach to telling this story really worked for me

It took me a minute to follow the plot but once I did I was sucked in. Part 2 onwards really starts to fall into place and pacing feels right. Conceptually this was an interesting plot and the world building was fascinating. Alyssa was an active character even though her injuries could have made her a passive side character. The vibrancy of the creatures and symbolism what I think was akin to colonialism was again really interesting. I loved the infusion of Caribbean lore that was woven in.

Laine was such a fighter and I really appreciated the exploration of care giver/survivor guilt and stress. I was rooting for her to catch a break and sobbed at the ending.

This was such an interesting read. We get Laine's perspective of the accident that killed her parents and left her sister in a semi-vegitative state as well as her sister Alyssa's perspective, where she believes her parents are the king and queen of a different realm named Mirendal and that they were kidnapped. It's an interesting perspective of the alternate reality that the accident left Alyssa living in and how not everything is as it seems.

Thank you, GCP and NetGalley, for the e-ARC copy.

I've never read a book like this one where it is not only dual POV but also dual realities. With one being an alternate one, the reader has to pay close attention to how things shift from one reality to another based on which main character is present. It made for a very interesting reading experience, to the point where, in the beginning, I was very confused and relied heavily on the imagery that the author wrote.

Two sisters that share the same tragedy but have two different physical outcomes. Laine is now struck with anxiety in her day-to-day life. Alyssa is physically disabled and is now under the care of Laine and the facility Laine chose for her. But what happens when Laine is not there? The unthinkable. Laine and Alyssa fought to survive not only loss but abuse.

This story was a page-turner for me, mainly because I was trying to figure out how the two worlds would come together in the end. I have mixed feelings about Laine and how she went about handling the care of Alyssa. Who's to say what happened could've been really preventable? But what I do know is that if Laine had not been so caught up in "romance," she could've put more energy into being the overseer of Alyssa's care. I believe the guilt kept Laine alive when it wasn't her burden to bear.

The Princess of Thornwood is a unique, refreshing, new kind of work of fiction that tackles the loss of parents, inequities in the healthcare system, sense of identity, ill treatment of the disabled, and many more. That being said I do recommend this book, but the reader would benefit from having a key/ word bank at the beginning of the book so they can focus more on the contents of the story and not so much deciphering everything said.

Two sisters fight for each other in their own way as they deal with the aftermath of a terrible accident that killed their parents and an incapacitating brain injury to the youngest sister. Laine, the older sister, lets what she sees as her guilt overwhelm her decision making, pulling back from friendships and dreams as she takes multiple jobs to pay for her sister's care and never asking for help. Alyssa, trapped in her brain injury, lives in an alternate world where her parents were monarchs who were kidnapped, and she was cursed, and she must find them while rescuing the kingdom from a Dark Prince.
Not only are the characters captivating, but the same events seen through alternate realities is exceptionally well done, and adds extra depth and plausibility to the narrative. Alyssa seems younger than her abbreviated at 18 years life, and certainly has a one-track mind (We have to save the King and Queen!!!), but that may just be in comparison to her sister's chaotic life and repressed emotions. The bond between the sisters is palpable and the true heart of the book. A very original way to present a very difficult situation. Highly recommended.

I really loved the unique, alternating perspectives of two sisters, in the aftermath of a tragic accident that resulted in the deaths of their parents. Both sisters were stuck after the tragedies, with Alyssa stuck physically in a wheelchair and Laine stuck in a coffee shop job to pay the bills while caring for her sister, after dropping out of college. They also are stuck in their separate realities, with Laine narrating her perspective of worry, stress, and anxiety/panic attacks, while Alyssa is non=verbal, but experiencing reality within a fantasy world that resembles a combination of Harry Potter and a fairytale. Together, they love and support each other through another shocking event, where Laine must overcome her fears to do what is right for her family, including meeting with the uncle that she has feared was eager to evict her from her family home. While Alyssa must confront the truth of what has happened to her parents, what is happening to her at her care facility and how to prevent others from being hurt in the future. Just like many fairytales, not all stories have happy endings, but this story ends with some hope for the future. This story would have easily been a 5 star for me had there been more character development of who they were before the accident (murky picture of who their parents were, how the uncle was and who they were to each other and who they were as individuals). I look forward to reading more from this author! The author's note was also very interesting as to how/why she incorporated pieces into the story.

I’m a marketing and publicity associate Forever, so I am reading this for work! Aaaaaaand there's a character limit on reviews here are some more words

I didn't quite know what to expect when I requested an ARC of this book, but I was intrigued by the concept of a story told from a dual POV - one based in reality and the other in a fantasy world. It was a quick-paced story, especially towards the end, that kept me turning the pages to uncover the truth.

The juxtaposition between Laine and Alyssa's POVs was so well executed. Despite having different experiences, you could see each sister's side and how they were connected. This story deals with some heavy topics (death of parents, crippling guilt, panic attacks, a corrupt health care system, the weight of being a sole caregiver, and off-page sexual assault), but did so in a way that was thoughtful and engaging.

I did feel the worldbuilding could have been heavier in the beginning. For example, I never fully understood how Alyssa was able to travel between planes in her world and I wanted to understand the magic system better.

I typically do not read trigger warnings and because of this was shocked when this came into the story. I've been sitting with the ending for a couple of days and I'm still not sure how I feel about it.

Overall, I think this was a compelling debut from Moreau. I enjoyed her writing style and look forward to reading more from her in the future!

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Thank you NetGalley & Forever Publishing for this ARC. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This story follows two sisters, Alyssa and Laine. Laine is guardian and care taker of Alyssa who is now non verbal and paralyzed following a car accident the killed the pair’s parents. Alyssa, the younger sister, believes that there was never a car accident and that their parents are King and Queen of Mirendal.
This was a great debut novel with a unique plot that will keep you engaged. I definitely look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Thank you Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Forever and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This BIPOC book tells an amazing story of two sisters who had to deal with same differences issues and fascinating experiences from different POVs. I really enjoyed this fantasy—literary touching many issues, triggers and differences. I know for sure that I’ll be reading the author’s future books! This debut is well-written and I highly recommend this one to you guys! 4.5⭐️

This was a wild ride. I listened to it on audio, and I highly recommend it in audio! The narrators are brilliant, and it fully immersed you into the story.

The two timelines/realities was such a interesting take on a horrifying story. There are some TW's that you must be aware of before starting it, and the ending isn't what you're going to think it is.

I wished Moreau made the two realities a bit more clear, but it was good to have some confusion on which reality might be the right one.

This book is wild!!!! And unique and weird and I kinda loved it and kinda didn’t. It is just so strange and different and I needed to know what happened so badly. The two different realms/timelines/multiverses were so interesting and I loved how they mirrored each other. The sexual assault storyline was absolutely horrific. I have to admit the end wrecked me and I was legit sobbing.

I do appreciate that Moreau took from her real life experiences - especially with Alyssa’s experiences and accident. This story had so many beautiful parts and I’m still a little confused lol.