Heart of Thorns: A Beauty and the Beast Retelling by Katherine Macdonald Review

When I started my blog the first book I reviewed was The Rose and the Thorn by Katherine Macdoanld. The book was a Beauty and the Beast retelling told from the perspective of Rose. The story was beautiful and haunting full of magic, mystery, and of course true love. It became one of my favorite books of all time and Katherine Macdonald became a favorite author. So a few she released a companion novel of the same tale told in Thorns (the beast) perspective I was impatient to read it. When I finally got my hands on it I was so excited. Upon finishing it though I confess I found it a little but lacking. When I asked myself why this was at first I wasn't completely shore. The story was as good as it had been before, the characters were just as well written and the setting was as hauntingly beautiful as I remembered it. So why did I find it to be not as enjoyable? 

Warning this book summary reveals major spoilers to The Rose and the Thorn. If you don't want to be spoiled then come back after you have read it.

The story begins with a lonely beast who lives by himself in an enchanted castle. When he was a mere baby he was cursed to become a beast in both body and mind by his evil aunt Moya. Although his mother the faerie queen Eilinora was able to restore his sanity she could not break the curse on his body. Only the love of a women could do free her son. However if the women her son loves does not love him back he will die. To make matters worse Moya was too powerful to be killed forcing Elinora to imprison her within a mirror in her castle. However, knowing there was a chance her evil sister may escape someday Eilnora eventually sealed herself to keep her sister imprisoned for as long as she could. For years some years the beast grew up with his three faerie caretakers Margaret, Ophelia, and Ariel in an abandoned faerie castle which opens a portal to the human world twice a year. As the years past six maiden had come to the castle and all had failed to fall in love with him. Even Grace the kindest of them could not break the spell. And with each year the magic began to fade and eventually so did the faeries. Left alone in his castle the beast longs to break his curse and live in the world of man. When Rose, a beautiful fierce young women stumbles into his castle his world begins to change. Although she is initially reluctant to befriend him and wants to go home to her beloved family she eventually warms up to him. She gifts him with the name Thorn and as wildlife and light return to the palace (along with the sprite forms of Margaret, Ophelia, and Ariel) Thorn finds himself falling in love with her. But does Rose feel the same way? Can she love him despite the dangerous secrets he is secrets from her? And can they survive the wrath of Moya who may will do anything to kill them? Find out by reading the book.

It was nice to see Thorns side of the story as you learn more about him and his tragic past. The reader and feel just how lonely he is. With his mother and three faerie caretakers (his only friends growing up) gone from his life and possibly dead he lives by himself. The six previous girls who stumbled upon his castle were mostly cruel to him. Even the kinder ones such as Grace didn't try to hard to get to know him let alone fall in love with him. So when Rose comes into his life he is feeling extremely helpless. But after Rose almost dies while ice skating love and pining begins to grow between them. Thorn feels guilty for keeping secrets from Rose (and occasionally lying to her) about his true identity and the mindless monster he becomes every first full moon night. His fears are understandable due to the previous girls reactions and made me eager to see him get a well deserved happy ending.

Rose was just as good a character as I remembered. She is fierce, kind, and bookish. It was nice to read about her through a different set of eyes. Heart of Thorns also did a wonderful job showing just how perfect Rose and Thorn were for each other as they struggle with their emotions. While in The Rose and the Thorn Rose knows she wants to be with Thorn but doesn't see a future for them because of his animal like form. She doesn't know about his curse and that her love could give them the ending she so desired without her having to choose him or her family. She thinks Thorn knows her feelings and the battle that is brewing within her. In Heart of the Thorns we learn that Thorn really wasn't sure if Rose felt the same way he did. He longs for her but is afraid of rejection knowing it could literally kill him. Their romance is so sweet and it was nice seeing both characters sides of the story.

Now after reading this review you may ask why did I find Heart of Thorns less enjoyable. Well to be honest I felt it needed newer content. It is basically the same story just told by a different character. There are some more secrets revealed such as Thorn's strange dreams of Grace and the truth of how his mortal father died but other than I felt it was just the same story. Now that is not necessary a bad thing. I still really enjoyed reading it and I found Katherine Macdonalds writing just as wonderful as before. But I had also just reread The Rose and the Thorn so I felt like I was reading it a third time. Perhaps reading both books one right after the other was the problem. Someday when I reread Heart of Thorns I will see if that was the problem.

Overall though this was still a fantastic book. Despite my complaints I still really enjoyed the story. If your interested in this book that I recommend give it a try. That said Heart of Thorns reveals big spoilers from The Rose and the Thorn early so read if you haven't read The Rose and the Thorn keep that thought in mid. I give this book 4 stars. Until next time. Emma.