Currently Reading│Book Beginning : Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay

Currently Reading #39

Name: Princess of Thorns
Author: Stacey Jay
Number of Pages: 400 pages in Hardcover
Published: December 9th 2014
by DelaCorte Press
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Retellings, Romance

Game of Thrones meets the Grimm’s fairy tales in this twisted, fast-paced romantic fantasy-adventure about Sleeping Beauty’s daughter, a warrior princess who must fight to reclaim her throne. Though she looks like a mere mortal, Princess Aurora is a fairy blessed with enhanced strength, bravery, and mercy yet cursed to destroy the free will of any male who kisses her. Disguised as a boy, she enlists the help of the handsome but also cursed Prince Niklaas to fight legions of evil and free her brother from the ogre queen who stole Aurora’s throne ten years ago. Will Aurora triumph over evil and reach her brother before it’s too late? Can Aurora and Niklaas break the curses that will otherwise forever keep them from finding their one true love?

Hopefully, I’ll post two reviews (Imitation & Deviation. Finally.) before Sunday so I’ve decided to start reading this since I can’t wait any longer. I really love retellings so this would be a treat indeed. A lot of my friends have already read the book and they’ve found it so good. Anyway, here’s a five star, three star and one star review respectively. Got them from book lovers on Goodreads.

PRINCESS OF THORNS is a compelling read for any fairytale fan. It stitches several together (including Little Red Riding Hood) while still managing to do its own thing. Jay isn’t so devoted to nodding to tales that she forgets the story she wants to tell. It helps that her characters are not the half-sketched things of fairytales. Aurora, Niklaas, and the Ogre Queen are all forceful characters.
— Liviania of In Bed with Books

As an irregular fantasy reader, I found this book to be really easy to get into. The reader is pulled in from the start with some serious action and funny dialogue–but then, the pacing kind of slows to a snail’s pace. It felt like the author focused so much on pulling in the reader, that the middle was kind of drawn out and forgotten. By the end, I was just happy to see the story conclude after all the crap the characters had to face. Despite the slow pacing in the middle, there were some situations that could have been drawn out more so we could learn more about the setting and the world the characters inhabited. If this makes any sense: The story felt rushed, even if it was slowly paced.
— Dayla of Confession of a Book Addict

I’ve found with Stacey Jay’s books that I either really love them or I really hate them. I read about 85% of this book and I just couldn’t finish it. I wasn’t connecting with the characters and the story line was equal parts boring and upsetting. He’s gotta break the curse, she’s gotta save her brother, there’s evil things happening. So forth and so forth.
— Jessie of Jessie Reads Everything

I must admit that readers do have mixed feelings about the book as per the reviews I’ve read. I’m not bothered a bit though. Also noticed that most readers rated the book as four so that’s quite fair I believe. Anyway, happy reading to me. Really hoping I’ll be back to my usual routine on reading and on my blog. Apparently, the holidays ruined it. Haha! Book review to follow. 😀

Book Beginnings on Fridays is hosted by Rose City Reader, where we share the first sentence (or so) of the books we are reading, along with initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

Here’s the book’s beginning:

“Prophecy foretells that in the last days of the long summer, the Age of Reaping will dawn with the rise of the living darkness. The four kingdoms will dwell in shadow, and the souls of man feed the First One’s hunger for a hundred years.”

What a creepy way to start a book. Don’t you think? I wonder who the First One is and let’s strangle the one who foretold that prophecy. Lol! I find prophecies really creepy so I’ve never tried to pay any fortune-teller a visit. I’m just a scaredy cat, I know. Would you or did you? 😀

What do you think of the book’s beginning? You could share book beginnings on your current read too. Comment the link of your own Book Beginnings on Fridays so I can check it out and have an idea of amazing books that I would want to read. Come on! Join us! 😀