Thorn and The Bone Knife- Intisar Khanani

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For Princess Alyrra, choice is a luxury she's never had ... until she's betrayed.

Princess Alyrra has never enjoyed the security or power of her rank. Between her family's cruelty and the court's contempt, she has spent her life in the shadows. Forced to marry a powerful foreign prince, Alyrra embarks on a journey to meet her betrothed with little hope for a better future.

But powerful men have powerful enemies--and now, so does Alyrra. Betrayed during a magical attack, her identity is switched with another woman's, giving Alyrra the first choice she's ever had: to start a new life for herself or fight for a prince she's never met. But Alyrra soon finds that Prince Kestrin is not at all what she expected. While walking away will cost Kestrin his life, returning to the court may cost Alyrra her own. As Alyrra is coming to realize, sometime the hardest choice means learning to trust herself.

My thoughts:

This was a book I read at a work. I read for a while in darkness (that is what ebooks are great for), get back to it the next day, and the day after. Except, today I was all NOOOO. I can not stop now! But I had to. So I did what anyone would do, I continued the book at home. I just could not let it go. I loved the "silence" of it all...

Alyrra was not your kick-ass, cool, assertive heroine. She was quiet, walked in the shadows and I liked her for it. She was a princess, but hated her home. As a princess she was sent to marry a stranger, but was betrayed, and made into someone else. But then, she liked that. It gave her a freedom she never had. It made her work hard, it made her make great new friends. All while the intrigues at the court was far away. But sometimes way too near.

Grr, Valka was such a bitch!!!! What a backstabbing bitch.

The prince. Yes I did expect some sort of romance, but there was none. He lived his life, she lived hers (re-telling of the goose-girl, figure it out.) But I must confess I did want her to hook up with this man she met.

I did not care if the world building was not splendid. It needed not be. She did not see the whole world. She did not see a lot in fact doing what she did. But she saw the city, and I could see it.

And sure, she did not do much. She was caught in a spell and wondering what she could do, or wanted to do. But in the end I think she will be happy, or I hope so. A good ending.

Conclusion:

This might just be one of the better freebie indie books I have ever downloaded. I recommend it. A good YA fantasy book.

Cover

Different

Kindle Edition, 246 pages
Published May 30th 2012 by Intisar Khanani
YA, fantasy
Own

Rae knows how to look out for family. Born with a deformed foot, she feigns indifference to the pityand insults that come her way. Wary of all things beautiful, Rae instantly distrusts their latest visitor: an appallingly attractive faerie. Further, his presence imperils the secret her sister guards. But when the local townspeople show up demanding his blood, Rae must find a way to protect both her sister’s secret and their guest. Even if that means risking herself. 

My thoughts:

Not much to say, it was very short. I did not get the whole Faerie thing. Yes in her other book she mentions them but no one sees them, and now he came from the king's city..was this another world?

Anyway, the story about Rae, who has a clubfoot, who meets a Faerie. Who protects her sister. And then the end.

I wish it had been longer

Kindle Edition, 35 pages
Published October 22nd 2012
The Theft of Sunlight 0.5
Fantasy, YA
Own