“I’d rather be sweet and useless than sharp and dangerous.”  
 
🌹 Brambles is a quick glance into the life of Alyrra before the events of her main story in Thorn. In Brambles we get to see Alyrra make a choice out of kindness, and see the consequences that come along with that.

Brambles is a great short story, and if you’re a fan of Thorn I would definitely suggest this little snippet for more of the world you already love! This one gets 4 stars from me and has me itching to reread Thorn! 🌹

“I’ve got a secret…wouldn’t you like to know it?”

Brambles reveals the origin of princess Alyrra, and how she came to be reviled by her  family and her court. What they consider to be betrayal, others consider an act of bravery and honesty. Life at court is perilous, full of secrets and schemes, and Alyrra doesn’t seem cut out for it, unlike her mother and brother. She will learn quickly that in Adania, all actions have consequences, and something as small as an act of integrity has the power to change the course of her future forever. 

Consider me hooked! Right from the first sentence, Intisar Khanani had my attention, and she kept it the whole time I was reading. I went into this book blind, drawn in by the simple but pleasing cover. I didn’t realize until the last page that it was a short prequel to the main book, Thorn, which was released earlier this year. 

Brambles is a succinct introduction to the kingdom of Adania, and provides a glimpse into young princess Alyrra’s life and the people that surround her. For a short story, the characters are well developed, and you can see Alyrra’s growth over the course of five chapters. I appreciate how the author lets the story flush out her characters as it develops. We get insight into the princess’s personality by her thoughts and actions, rather than a few simple descriptors thrown out at the beginning of the first chapter. I was impressed in the depth that Intisar Khanani was able to create in only 40 pages. 

Brambles unfolds quickly and, while a bit predictable in its story arc, is a satisfying read that made me bond with Alyrra and feel disappointed when it ended all too soon. It left me wanting more, which is exactly what you want from a prequel. As soon as I was finished I added Thorn to my Reading List. 

If you like Young Adult Fantasy and want to sample a new author without committing to a full novel, I recommend reading Brambles.

I loved Thorn so much and it was wonderful being back in this world and especially being able to see exactly what happened which led to to the events in Thorn. Despite it being a short story it gave the main character a lot more depth and we can see why later she would be so conflicted about things. 
It's a great story and i highly recommend reading this after you read Thorn.

I needed to read a novella at the moment and I was so happy when reading this. I mean I enjoyed the book and definitely think it’s a great prequel that will help people understand the backstory of Thorne.

After reading Thorn earlier this year and really loving it I was really excited to read more in this world. I really loved the characters and learning where they started and how they came to get to where they were at the beginning of Thorn was really intriguing. I did think overall it was a little short and I would have liked for it to be a little longer and delve a little deeper into where the characters were at that point in the story however it was a short quick read that was sweet to find out more information about this world. I don't think this is necessary but it was good fun. 
4 out of 5 stars.

Set as a prequel to Thorn, this lusciously written novella continues to captivate and engage in the same way its predecessor did.

3.5 stars

This short Novella follows Alyrra, many years before we start following her in Thorn and gives a good insight into her psyche and how she came to be who she is. The writing as in thorn is stunning and so atmospheric, and alyrra is such an easy character to care about. 

I feel like this would be a really good thing to read if you are unsure about reading Thorn and want to get a taste of the writing and the characters, however having read Thorn myself I thought it was slightly redunant as we didn't really find out anything new and it was very short - I would have loved for it to be a bit longer to get to know a bit more about Alyrra and her past.

I received this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. 

Oh wow, I do love a good prequel novella. And for one of my favourite books of the year too. This really sets up the relationships between Alyrra, her family and Valka that we see in Thorn. 

This perfectly shows why Alyrra is so disdained and abused by her family, and how she comes to hide with the servants, or even how she meets the wind. And the back story for the relationship between her brother and Valka was fascinating. I have loved to have seen a little into Valka’s full plan and motivations, what her friends mother caught her doing, and what her brother’s motivations were as well, even though this works as a single point of view. I basically just want all the stories told multiple times! I love this universe so :D

Short and perfectly sweet. A must read if you loved Thorn. 4 stars.

This is a little bite of a story that shows the crucial events that happen before THORN. A central event in the main book is Alyrra shaming noblewoman Valka over a theft, and this historical event impacts their entire interaction.

While THORN does explain what happened, BRAMBLES brings more emotion to it, as it's no longer a recounted tale. It also does a good job of also setting up her isolation and the coldness of her family.

It's very difficult to rate a short story, especially one that fits into a larger series. When I requested this e-arc, I didn't realise this was the case, so it's my fault. I got so intrigued by the description, the fantastic setting, and political intrigue, that I didn't realise it was a sort of prequel. while I was not already familiar with these characters, the story felt quite interesting and intriguing and I might go on to read the full-length novels soon, lets see!
#NetGalley

After reading Thorn, I was a little surprised. The story was simple and not too profound. It was enjoyable and beautiful to read. I always like to read retellings of fairytales and this story was no exception. When I found out there would be a short prequel, I really wanted to read it. It'll come out this December, a few months before the second book in the Daunthless Path will be released.

This prequel tells the story of Alyrra, a few years before everything that happened in Thorn. It was an enrichment to read about this character, several years younger and how her brother and mother turned against her. Alyrra’s  kindness and loveliness are very well written and forthcoming. Despite her losing everything due to her honesty, she’s not all alone after all. This prequel makes me long to read the next book soon!

After reading Thorn, I was really excited when I saw that this little story was coming out. I absolutely loved Thorn and this novella tells us the reason why Valka and Alyrra's brother hate her so much. We get told a little bit about it in Thorn itself but not so many details. This novella gave us all the missing details and I really enjoyed being back in this world, even if it was only for a short while. This definitely helped me understand all of the characters even better. Although it was fun to be back, it wasn't really necessary to get into the world and the characters as Thorn was very well written on its own.

I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Brambles is a novella set before the book Thorn by Intisar Khanani, which is based on the tale of the Goose Girl. The novella seemed to be an in-depth character study, particularly focusing on Princess Alyrra, and how she came to be disgraced in her family. 

"Know this," my mother says softly. "You have chosen your future. I must keep the throne for your brother, and if that means you fall for your stupidity, then fall. There is no one here who will catch you."

I went into this novella not really knowing what to expect, but I was hooked in straight away! I haven't read Thorn, but I was able to understand everything and I think this is a good introduction into the fantasy world. The characters all have such vivid personalities, especially Valka and Alyrra's brother. I hated Valka so much! Intisar Khanani portrays court politics and scheming very well, which is one of my favourite parts of a fantasy book. Alyrra shows herself to have a heart of gold - she is so young but she knows she should use her privilege to stand up for what is right. I felt so much sympathy for her, especially at the end of the novella. I'm definitely intrigued to learn more about her.

"I may have fallen, fallen from my family and, no doubt, from the court's favor - but I am far from alone."

I will say that even for a novella, this is extremely short. I read it in one sitting - it only took me about 10 minutes to read it. So it's a fun quick read, but I would have liked it to be a bit longer to see even more plot and character development. At times, it was hard to read about Alyrra's mistreatment and the schemes of Valka and Alyrra's brother. It seemed to end quite abruptly as well, and I was expecting a little more. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading this novella and now I do want to check out the author's books. 

3/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review!!!!

I really liked this insight look to the world of Thorn. I read it a few years ago, I loved it, and now I travelled back to this wonderful world in an amazing way.

It's a short story, very easy to read, and completes some information that I find very interesting about the characters of the main book. 

Read it, you won't be dissapointed!

I read Thorn many years ago and truly enjoyed it. Brambles is a prequel to the novel Thorn and is a very insightful book. For anyone who has read or will read Thorn, this book is definitely worth the read!!



Thank you to NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

I was a big fan of Thorn which is the story that follows this and always did wonder at the background story between Alyrra and Valka. 

Alyrra in this story is exactly how we first meet her in Thorn. Though in this, she has a good relationship with her mother, brother and Valka. 

There’s not so much needed in terms of world building as you will have presumably read Thorn first but it’s nice to see some other people that are friendly with Alyrra. Even her first encounter with the wind that helped her in Thorn. 

I think this story reinforces Thorn in showing Valka as a manipulative character and is willing to hurt people to make a point, even before the incident. The same goes with her brother, he is cruel and callous. 

Alyrra on the other hand, not trained in politics or malice, shows kindness and while that ostracises her from her family, she gains the love and respect from those deemed less than her. 

Loyalty through love is much stronger than loyalty through fear and malice. 

Thank you Intisar for giving us this little insight into Alyrra’s life pre-Thorn. It filled a little gap and it was lovely to dive back into her world.

The story of a princess who, through one act of kindness, finds herself at the mercy of her cruel and merciless brother. 

This is pitched as a prequel of sorts to Thorn, which I haven't read. I don't think that took anything away from my reading experience however, as I found Alyrra to be a well rounded protagonist who has strong moral values. For such a short read, I felt drawn to her as a character and wanted her to escape her brother's wrath. I could also see the early formation of loyalty and friendship between Alyrra and her servants. She's kind, and honest and good. Everything you should want in a princess, but not in this kingdom. In this kingdom, it pays to be cruel. 

We get hints of world building, and it really had me intrigued to read Thorn with all the talk of political machinations and alliances that dictate how the court and outside kingdoms work. It was very easy to read too. I flew through this little story in under an hour, and was hooked in from the start. 

A great introduction to a fascinating fantasy fairy tale with strong villainous characters and a sweet protagonist.

Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars

This novella is a prequal to the author's full-length novel, "Thorn". 

Alyrra is a young princess to a throne that will never be hers. Not that she wants it. Her old desire is to float under the radar of her abusive older brother & neglectful mother. She is content being "helpless, mousey, & dull" if it means she is never the target of her brother's "pranks". . . Until a "harmless prank" become a death sentence. Alyrra must decide if the life of an innocent servant is worth the wrath of her diabolical, conceited, psychopathic brother.

It was very hard for me to rate this book. The author's writing and creativity definitely deserve 4+ stars! But I had a hard time connecting to the characters. However, I think I am at a distinct disadvantage because I have not read "Thorn". The reader is expected to know the characters & their personality traits before picking up this short prequal.

That being said, I will be reading "Thorn" ASAP! The world of "Brambles" is full of intrigue & contention. Though the kingdom may be small & modest - the corruption in the nobility could rival any world power. I loved getting a small glimpse into Intisar Khanani's world and this novella did its job by planting the seed of need for more, more, more of these characters!

Bittersweet, heartbreaking

We make choices everyday day from the moment we open or eyes in the morning.  But what happens if one of those choices we make would literally change others lives irrevocably.  You could leave things the way they are and be happy living day-to-day or risk the ire of those around you to change the known.

Alyrra is unwanted and unloved, but those around her are very good at pretending otherwise. It's all about politicking you see. They are good at it and she is not. Bless her little heart.  Ruling others is about taking what you desire, not what Alyrra believes which is serving others. She is a lost cause, but her brother and his bethrothed aren't done using her yet.  Then Alyrra is confronted with a terrible choice. A choice to remain true to her family or true to herself.  Which will she choose and will she survive when all is said and done?

Expect to shed a year or two while reading this prequel to "Thorn". I had forgotten how much the story of Alyrra called to me and pulled me in.  I most definitely will be reading both again.

** Thank you NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to review this ARC.  These are my opinions and are freely given **

this was a great short story that left me wanting more, the characters were great and at the end I look forward to the next book in the series.