This advance reader copy was provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. I read the first 25% and didn't feel the story was designed to grab the reader and engage them in the story right away. I feel the plot and character design were well-written, but I don't think it was a good fit for me.

"Princess of Thornwood Drive," is a captivating blend of contemporary struggles and fantastical elements, masterfully intertwining two parallel narratives. The story revolves around two sisters, Laine and Alyssa, who find themselves ensnared in drastically different realities following a life-altering tragedy.

The author skillfully uses these dual narratives to explore themes of grief, resilience, and the power of perception. The contrast between Laine's fight against everyday adversities and Alyssa's fantastical battle against dark forces in a parallel universe is not just a narrative device but a profound commentary on how individuals cope with trauma.

However, I did have some issues with the novel. The romance did not click for me, and I really wanted a different ending for the one of the sisters.

In conclusion, "Princess of Thornwood Drive" is a compelling debut that weaves together two distinct narratives into a rich tapestry of emotion and imagination.

Absolutely brilliant. The dual POV was done exceptionally well and so creatively. I have never read another book like this one and will definitely have future books from the author on my TBR.

I honestly didn't know what to expect when I read the synopsis, but the premise intrigued me and I'm so glad I took the chance on it.

I think this book does a tremendous job at showing the everyday challenges a caregiver experiences when taking care of a loved one, and fighting for their loved one. Laine loves Alyssa fiercely and only wants the best for her, to the point of sacrificing her own health and dreams to do so.

Experiencing the story through Alyssa's POV was remarkable and as noted, incredibly creative. And while perhaps unintentional, is a reminder that for people in positions similar to Alyssa's, we don't know how they experience the world, how they see it; we don't get the benefit of their perspective and truly appreciate how vulnerable they are.

No notes. No suggestions. Just brilliant.

I will say I didn't exactly know what to expect when i went into this book,

This is the story of two sisters living the same life in alternate realities. After a tragic accident, the older sister Laine has to take care of her younger sister Alyssa who has been left paralyzed and nonverbal .

Laine is focused on what to do , financial issues and world issues. While Alyssa is transported ( in her mind) to the kingdom of Mirendal, an imagined fantasy realm, where she struggles as a cursed princess.

When an adult day center offers to care for the younger heroine, the two siblings are faced with a new situation that will change their lives.

The author does a great job of bringing together the parallel experiences of both sisters.

It was unique and well written. But I didn't like the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc. All opinions are my own.

The Princess of Thornwood Drive is a genre-blending, dual POV book that follows two sisters, Laine and Alyssa. Laine's POV is written as a contemporary novel, whereas Alyssa's is fantasy. Alyssa was in a car accident a year prior, which killed both of her parents and left her paralyzed and nonverbal due to a brain injury. Alyssa is clearly cognizant of the world around her, but with a bit of a fantasy flair.

This book was not what I was expecting, but it ended up being very beautiful and emotional. There are numerous trigger warnings, particularly off-page sexual assault. The writing was well done and engaging, and I very much enjoyed it. It was a quick story - nothing went too far in depth - but I still enjoyed it.

I am curious how disability activists would feel about this disability rep. There is something very spoiler-y that I think is a bit questionable, and I felt a bit uncomfortable about it. It's nowhere near Me Before You levels of bad, but it still feels... slightly off. This added to the emotions of the ending, but after thinking about it, it left me with a slightly bad taste in my mouth and I am docking it a star for that reason.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Forever and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC! The author does a good job of shielding the reader from the triggering events. There is a level of separation between the events based on how the author narrates. This story of two sisters, battling grief in two different realities, I love stories told in alternating points of views and this one is no different. I haven’t read much fantasy in a while so this was a great reconnection to the imagery that comes with the genre.

This book features two sisters grappling with a changed world in different ways. After a car accident brought tragedy in their lives, the older heroine ends up having to take care of her younger sister, who ended up paralyzed and nonverbal after the event. The two heroines viewed their new reality in opposite ways: the older heroine is focused on reality and the younger heroine is focused on living in a fantasy realm. When an adult day center offers to care for the younger heroine, the two siblings are faced with a new situation that will change their lives.

This is the first Khalia Moreau book that I've read. The story was interesting with two heroines and their views about the worlds that they are inhabiting after the tragedy that changed their lives. I liked that the story has multiple perspectives and how the story progression moved along. I would have liked a bit more details in certain areas of the story, but my personal preference wasn't a detriment to my enjoyment of the book. Overall, an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.


** Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own. **

Two sisters in different worlds: Laine in the present trying to keep her sister safe and cared for after a paralyzing accident; and Alyssa, living in her fantasy world without paralysis and brain damage. Sensitive and amazingly well written, the love of sisters is uplifting and effective.

"The Princess of Thornwood Drive" is a captivating debut novel by Khalia Moreau that seamlessly blends contemporary realism with an enchanting fantasy world, creating a deeply moving narrative that explores the bond between two sisters trapped on opposite sides of reality.

The story revolves around 22-year-old Laine, who is grappling with the aftermath of a tragic car accident that claimed their parents' lives and left her younger sister, Alyssa, paralyzed and unable to speak. As Laine navigates the challenges of an unforgiving world, including financial struggles and societal pressures, she grapples with the decision to entrust Alyssa's care to the Lake Forest Adult Day Center, a decision that brings forth unforeseen consequences.

In a parallel narrative, Alyssa's consciousness is transported to the kingdom of Mirendal, a vividly imagined fantasy realm, where she grapples with her own set of challenges as a cursed princess. Moreau masterfully weaves together the sisters' parallel experiences, showcasing the stark contrast between their daily struggles and Alyssa's fantastical journey within the kingdom.

The intricate world-building and vivid imagery employed by Moreau lend depth and richness to the narrative, immersing readers in a world of magic, intrigue, and political turmoil. Alyssa's journey of self-discovery and resilience in the face of adversity is both inspiring and heart-wrenching, while Laine's unwavering dedication to her sister's well-being highlights the enduring strength of familial bonds.

Moreau's prose is lyrical and evocative, seamlessly transitioning between the contemporary setting and the fantastical realm, creating a seamless fusion of two distinct worlds. The complex themes of love, sacrifice, and the resilience of the human spirit are skillfully interwoven throughout the narrative, leaving a lasting emotional impact on readers.

While the novel skillfully explores the emotional depth and complexities of the sisterly bond, some aspects of the plot could have been further developed to enhance the overall impact of the story. Nonetheless, "The Princess of Thornwood Drive" remains a poignant and enchanting tale that captivates the imagination and tugs at the heartstrings, making it a compelling read for fans of contemporary and fantasy fiction alike.

I went into this book skeptical if I would be able to reconcile the two perspectives since one is disconnected from reality, but I ended up loving this book. I felt like this book looked at so many things: grief, family, hope, love and so much more. I ended up feeling so attached to these two characters who had been through so much. This was one of the most unique books I have read because of the two very different perspectives, with one existing in a magical version of our world, and the author did a good job of tying the two together. What a great book that I was not expecting to love as much as I did. This book has great characters, an interesting plot and so much emotion.

A story of two sisters who, although they live together, live in two very different worlds. Laine lives in a contemporary world filled with stress, bills, and a heavy guilt surrounding the accident that left her sister paralyzed and nonverbal and killed their parents. Meanwhile Alyssa is living in a fantasy world full of magic, mythical creatures, and a looming darkness that she must face to save them.

I loved the bond between the two sisters, even if they aren't able to truly interact or communicate. Their stories are separated by reality and fantasy, but each half so closely parallels the other while some moments blur the lines between them.

This story tackles a lot of topics, but they're all blended together really well. From horseback riding to problems with the healthcare system, family tension to romance, classic fantasy elements and Trinidadian folklore, grief and guilt, and there were twists that I didn't see coming without feeling like they came out of nowhere. There are a lot of details and different elements, but they were written cohesively so that they all added something to the story.

The writing is descriptive without being flowery. Each sister's story was compelling and I was eager to find out what was going to happen at each turn. Once the story established itself, I was hooked. There are emotional moments, intense moments, and some moments that had me laughing out loud. This is a beautifully written, bittersweet debut.

When I started this book I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but then it all clicked for me. I finished this book after midnight, because once I got into it; I couldn’t put it down. It also left me in tears. I loved to connection between Laine and Alyssa even in the circumstances that they were in. I was so touched by how the book ended for both sisters. They both got their happily ever afters, maybe not in the best way, but I felt that it was in a way that was the best outcome for both. I would highly recommend this book to everyone.

Short synopsis: After Alyssa and her parents are in a car accident, she’s left in a paralyzed and nonverbal state under the care of her sister Laine.

My thoughts: Here’s what I liked about it: The unique perspective of both sisters, each in a different form of reality. I loved Laine’s fierce love for her sister and her desire to find the best care and situation possible for her.

What I didn’t like: the different realities didn’t seem to compliment each other, while I felt it was unique I just wish the fantasy/real life blended a bit better. I didn’t like the ending. It felt a bit too rushed and wished it would have been different.

That being said, I do like a messy book, and this was messy and had some heavy material in it. The epilogue did help a bit but I was just left underwhelmed. But this is a me issue, I’m sure lots of others will really love it.

Read if you love:
- Sister love
- Unique perspective
- Fantasy/real life blending
- Justice

This book was an experience, in a good way.

I haven't been reading a lot of fantasy book this years, I've mostly focused on just romance. This was so refreshing and different to the books I have been reading this year. I liked the different POVs and the fantasy elements.

It was a very unique read. I do recommend.

CW: SA

Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc version of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Unique concept, cool writing style and great main characters.

One year post life altering accident where Laine’s parents were killed in a car crash and her sister was injured to the point of now being non verbal and paralyzed. Laine is trying her best to work enough to keep their family home and pay for Alyssa’s hospital bills. When she is approached for an opportunity for Alyssa to stay at an adult care facility while Laine works she couldn’t be more relieved. Alyssa’s pov is much more fantastical and in her view her parents didn’t die they were kidnapped and it left a curse on the kingdom-she must battle the evils of the land to get her parents back.

This was such an intriguing book. I enjoyed both sisters pov after I understood the differences in realities and the imagery of Alyssa pov that kind of super imposes itself onto the more contemporary reality. Overall I enjoyed this but didn’t love the ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever Grand Central Publishing for an eARC.

Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy.
I want to start with the trigger for this are listed right away, but the way Moreau handled this topic kept the reader at a bit of a distance from the actual events. This was a uniquely told story about two sisters, Laine and Alyssa. Laine is under a lot of pressure to provide for Alyssa after she's left paralyzed and nonverbal after an accident that kills their parents. The grief in this story was palpable. Laine was under so much pressure, and I could feel the stress of life on her. Alyssa also shared her POV through a fantasy world that was easy to follow and I thought it was an interesting way for Moreau to handle this sensitive subject. The fantasy and real world were such a great way to juxtapose these POVs. I've never read a book told like this, and I applaud the author for doing something wholly unique. I will be thinking about this storytelling for a while and I am interested in seeing what this author comes up with next.

This one was hard hitting and I gotta sit on it for a day so the right words can come. But I really liked this author's writing style and how is was straight forward but still had plenty of imagery. It was very unique to contrast the real world events with that of the fantasy world.

I loved the concept of this one. Two sisters fighting for one another, each on a different side of reality. One has had profound brain damage leaving her unable to participate in the regular human world but in her head is trapped in a fantasy kingdom where she is a princess who must save the kingdom. The other is living in our everyday reality with the heavy responsibility of taking care of her disabled sister after the accident that injured her and killed her parents. The sisters desperately love one another but are each struggling with the burdens placed on them in their realities.

The likability of the characters was what I struggled with the most. Laine, the sister in the "real" world, had a huge chip on her shoulder and constantly made decisions based on her emotions. She was dealing with anxiety and panic attacks, and I love a main character with real world mental health struggles. But most of the story, I felt like, she should have just had someone else be the guardian of her sister. The whole thing may have turned out differently if she could face that fact. In the end, she got there but the damage was done. Definitely made it hard to read. But that said, this is one of the most unique stories I've ever read, so it gets major points for originality.

Thanks to Forever and Grand Central Pub for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

Since Alyssa roused from a two-month coma a year ago, the only discernible thing she’s said is “King. Queen. In the forest.”

The Princess of Thornwood Drive was a debut fantasy novel about two sisters, one who survived a car accident that killed their parents and the other who now takes care of her. Laine is the older sister and feels immense guilt, blaming herself for the accident, and now along with all the medical bills and stress of trying to take care of Alyssa, who was left paralyzed and nonverbal, she's battling panic attacks. Dropping out of college, she works as a barista and part-time gives horse riding lessons, trying to keep afloat with enough money to keep her house. A house that her uncle wants and is just waiting for her to sell to him before foreclosure. Getting a small break, Alyssa qualifies to be sent to an adult care center for free during the day, called Lake Forest. There they seem to take care of Alyssa and Laine is delighted when it seems to be helping her and Alyssa has a break-through, saying “Go” when Laine is trying to decide if she should go on a date with a doctor there.

“Evil runs rampant here. Most of us who come never leave,” Veranda says matter-of-factly.

Told in alternating point-of-views, Laine's is set in the real world and when it's Alyssa's chapters, we get the fantasy. In Alyssa's mind, she's a princess in a land called Mirendal and their parents were kidnapped while Alyssa was cursed on their way to visit Laine. Alyssa is now a changel and can't physically or verbally communicate with others, unless they are also changels. When Alyssa is at the healing tower for changels (Lake Forest) she can telepathically talk with the other patients. Here is where the ominous tone creeps in and the other patients warn her of the “Dark Prince” and a chamber where you go to be punished. The chamber comes into play pretty quickly and it sends Alyssa to another plane of reality where she can be physical and verbal. She meets another patient there named Wren and he helps her navigate the world as they meet goblins, fairies, mermaids, and other beings on their journey to find a way to help Alyssa communicate with Laine.

“There are two mortals of interest who have walked into your life. One set your heart bitter, unhinged you. The other is a scholar with much power.” Judging by the way Laine’s eyes widen, Marcella is onto something. “What else?” she asks. “What else did you learn? “You will love both in time, but you must be very careful. One of them is a wolf. He will try to destroy you.”

I thought the switching of realities was done well, it's pretty much a straight timeline, the driver just changes from Laine's reality pov to Alyssa's fantasy pov but the car never stops, there were some cool additives I liked, Laine talking about Alyssa before the accident and how she liked Harry Potter and studied some Latin (gives depth to the creation of fantasy world), and the “Oz-ness” of the characters, same characters in both the sister's realities but dressed up different. There was also some added Trinidadian folklore with Laine “communicating” with a jumbie always sitting on her shoulder and I liked how it brought a little bit of fantasy to her pov to meld the story together even more. There were hints that I started to catch and as I read this as an arc, I don't want to give too much away but readers should also be warned that I thought this read thematically pretty closely to The Lovely Bones. Alyssa is eighteen in this story but sexual assault (readers don't “see” it) is definitely a content warning.

If I hadn't already read the aforementioned Lovely Bones, I'd probably be a little more fascinated with how the author incorporated details and melded the plot, with how Alyssa lost in her mind could look like and the journey to communicate with Laine. I thought at times some of the dialogue didn't feel quite natural, the middle slowed in pace some, and the light romance with Alyssa and the character of Wren ended up feeling not needed to me. The ending did pack a few punches with some thriller and emotion that will bring a lot of tears. If you're looking for speculative fiction that incorporates some interesting new elements and takes you on an emotional ride, this debut would be one to pick up.

This was a wholly unique, genre-defying debut about the bond between two sisters who face a tragic family accident that kills their parents and has 18 year old Alyssa paralyzed, unable to communicate with her older sister Laine in the present. Alyssa in fact has a whole other life in an alternate fantasy universe where she is a princess with the kind of agency she doesn't have in the real world.

Told in alternating POVs, this book deals with some heavy topics from the burdens of being a caregiver to the vulnerabilities of disabled people subject to the unscrupulous practices of our very flawed healthcare system.

I loved the strong, Black female protagonists and look forward to reading whatever this author writes next! Recommended for fans of books like Laurie Frankel's One two three. This was also good on audio with dual narration by Jasmine Walker and Marlo Su.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary digital copy and Libro.fm for an ALC in exchange for my honest review!

CW: sexual abuse