The Princess of Thornwood Drive
The debut novel of Brooklyn-based doctor, Khalia Moreau.
Books provide the ultimate adventure with doors to new worlds and experiences on every page. Here’s what I’ve been reading lately.
Brief:
Lain’s life has fundamentally changed. One year ago, a car accident claimed the life of her parents and forced her into a caretaker role for her sister, Alyssa. At 18, paralyzed and non-verbal, Alyssa believes the accident to be an attack on the royal family of Mirendal, of which she is the younger daughter, and her parents, the King and Queen. In her mind, she is cursed, and their parents are kidnapped.
Instead of being a carefree undergrad with aspirations of becoming an equine veterinarian, Laine is engulfed with guilt, anxious about mounting bills, and annoyed with feisty regulars at her second job, a coffee shop. Meanwhile, Alyssa’s concerns include mythical beings, dark forests, and an evil prince.
Both sisters are determined to keep each other safe, even at the risk of their own well-being. Though their circumstances differ, their journeys are deeply intertwined, and the dangers they face are equally real, even when worlds apart. This becomes especially clear after they receive an offer from Lake Forest Adult Day Care Center.
My Take:
I was caught off guard by this book. It bounces back between dark and light. The colorfulness of the cover art is paired with the heaviness of the book’s themes. An enchanted landscape of possibility plays opposite to the constricting realities of the real world. And there’s a continuous bounding between romance and icy encounters. Up until the end, I was kept guessing, and I audibly gasped at one particularly shocking part. I truly didn’t anticipate the ending.
It’s heartbreaking, really. While you are pulled into a fantasy land, the novel still doles out spoonfuls of bitter reality. With relatable characters and everyday situations, Moreau left me feverishly page-turning and questioning whether everything will truly turn out well in the end, as so often is not the case in the real world.
I really enjoyed that this tale is told from the perspective of both sisters. It gives Alyssa, who is otherwise a shell to outsiders, a robust inner world and solidifies how alike and different these women are. Sometimes, you get both of their views on the same event. Through those windows, you realize it’s not just blood that bonds.
What unites them, and truly all of us, is the courage to take the next step, even when unsure, because love is often worth the risk.
Intrigued? Check Out:
“Saltwater Kissed” by
“We Love You, Charlie Freeman” by Kaitlyn Greenidge.
Let Me Know:
What’s the last sci-fi or fantasy book you’ve read?
Is Brooklyn in the house?
Do you judge a book by its cover?
I’ve never delved into sci-fi but I’m intrigued by this one. And I absolutely judge books by their covers.
The last sci-fi book I read (if you can call it that) was Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah -T