Kingdom of Ash and Briars

Reviewed by: Kara Reiman - Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: April 4, 2017

Review

Hannah West's "Kingdom of Ash and Briars" is a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairytale, told from the point of view of the fairy, or in this case a wizard, who takes care of Princess Rosamund after she has been cursed by another wizard. The book starts off showing us how the main character, Bristal, a teenager, comes into her powers and learns how to use them. I would have been more interested if the book had avoided the fairytale reboot and delved more into this original magical world, but once the princess is cursed by Tamarice (the wicked fairy in the original tale) the book seems to plod along. Not a bad book, but not a must buy. ~Reviewed by Kate Radke

Overall Book Score: fair