TEN THOUSAND THORNS by Suzannah Rowntree

I'm back! Finally picking up my Author of the Month features again after several months hiatus. I'm excited to share with you my thoughts on Suzannah Rowntree's incredible fairy tale retellings, starting with . . .

What if Sleeping Beauty was a martial artist? For a hundred years, Princess Morning Light has meditated in a hidden temple surrounded by ten thousand thorns. Could her long-lost sword skill be the key to stopping the Vastly Martial Emperor? Rebel leader Clouded Sky doesn’t believe in the old legends of Ten Thousand Thorns Temple. But as bounty hunters and imperial guards close in, the martial princess may be Clouded Sky’s last hope. Who can he trust – and who is planning to betray him? If you liked the martial arts and fierce female characters of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, you’ll love this action-packed retelling of Sleeping Beauty!

What a delightful story this is! I know little about Chinese fantasy other than having watched Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon long ago, yet this novella totally charmed me. (The names of the martial-arts stances sometimes cracked me up--they were so fun!) The setting is richly drawn, the characters grow and deepen, the martial-arts action scenes are magnificent, and clever plot twists enhanced my enjoyment of this story! A story that entertains as well as challenging a reader to think is well worth the read.

Don't miss any of my upcoming reviews for Suzannah Rowntree's incredible retellings!