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thebookishnarwhal's review
This book is an absolute captivating debut! The Princess of Thornwood Drive by Khalia Moreau is a mesmerizing tale straddling the boundary between reality and fantasy.
Meet Laine and Alyssa. They are two sisters who find themselves ensnared in parallel worlds. One is mundane and the other is magical. Laine is burdened after a tragic accident and her dreams of studying animal nutrition and equestrian pursuits fade as she works at a coffee shop, trying to make ends meet. Alyssa, paralyzed and nonverbal from said tragic accident, inhabits a different reality. A reality where she was never in a car accident and instead, believes herself to be the cursed daughter of the king and queen, residing in a home for mortals like herself.
Moreau's prose is both lyrical and grounded. She connects the mundane with the fantastical, creating a rich tapestry of emotions. The bond between the sisters, tested by fate and circumstance, forms the heart of the novel. Moreau's narrative voice resonates, leaving readers eager for more. She is sure to be a rising star in the literary world.
As someone with a younger sister, I found myself unable to leave the twins on this journey. I was unprepared for what a thought-provoking exploration of family, identity, and resilience this story is. Readers who appreciate magical realism and contemporary fiction will find solace in this enchanting debut.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Meet Laine and Alyssa. They are two sisters who find themselves ensnared in parallel worlds. One is mundane and the other is magical. Laine is burdened after a tragic accident and her dreams of studying animal nutrition and equestrian pursuits fade as she works at a coffee shop, trying to make ends meet. Alyssa, paralyzed and nonverbal from said tragic accident, inhabits a different reality. A reality where she was never in a car accident and instead, believes herself to be the cursed daughter of the king and queen, residing in a home for mortals like herself.
Moreau's prose is both lyrical and grounded. She connects the mundane with the fantastical, creating a rich tapestry of emotions. The bond between the sisters, tested by fate and circumstance, forms the heart of the novel. Moreau's narrative voice resonates, leaving readers eager for more. She is sure to be a rising star in the literary world.
As someone with a younger sister, I found myself unable to leave the twins on this journey. I was unprepared for what a thought-provoking exploration of family, identity, and resilience this story is. Readers who appreciate magical realism and contemporary fiction will find solace in this enchanting debut.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
kaydub23's review against another edition
emotional
sad
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Heartbreaking and really well done when it came to reality and the story being told.
Will say though that the magical dream state got a bit much and started losing me in the middle before it drew me back in again and crushed the finish
Will say though that the magical dream state got a bit much and started losing me in the middle before it drew me back in again and crushed the finish
akiharu_cosplay_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
4.0
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
The Princess of Thornwood Drive is an interesting fantasy drama story that gives me vibes of being close to a classic, but in a fantasy realm. It gives an interesting perspective on the lives of sisters where one has become a paraplegic and one that is taking care of her full time. It explores the concept of how someone who is paraplegic is still within our lives, but are more active participants then what one might thing. This is a darker tale, so even though it might spoil the book at points, know that there are some triggers that you might want to be aware of.
The story ultimately follows Laine who lost both of her parents in an accident, and is taking care of her sister who was left as a paraplegic from the accident. So we see her trying to navigate the world after this tragic event. She isn’t well off, so having to work and take care of her sister is a challenge that she faces. The beauty of this story is that it also follows Alyssa, the sister who can’t communicate within her new realm of existence. She has an active part of the tale and it is fascinating to see.
I love how this book brings new life to the view of disability, and I can see this book being very impactful for the right people. I also love the inclusion of different aspects of the Trinidadian culture. As someone who has not known about this culture it did go a little over my head, but it was still fascinating to see the representation. I do think this is a great story for those who might have a family member who has lost the ability to talk and move, as this gives a lot of perspective on modern medical practices and also gives a glimpse into a different way of thinking.
This is a solid read. It is all about family and trying to navigate the world of what it is like to have a family member who is paraplegic. The culture is so interesting to see, and I saw myself getting invested in this story. If you are looking for something fantastical but real I highly recommend giving this one a try.
cleches's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, and Panic attacks/disorders
88_iris_blis_88's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
kaylajcj's review
adventurous
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
booksandprosecco's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jaxbemusing's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
I didn't quite know what to expect when I requested an ARC of this book, but I was intrigued by the concept of a story told from a dual POV - one based in reality and the other in a fantasy world. It was a quick-paced story, especially towards the end, that kept me turning the pages to uncover the truth.
The juxtaposition between Laine and Alyssa's POVs was so well executed. Despite having different experiences, you could see each sister's side and how they were connected. This story deals with some heavy topics (death of parents, crippling guilt, panic attacks, a corrupt health care system, the weight of being a sole caregiver, and off-page sexual assault), but did so in a way that was thoughtful and engaging.
I did feel the worldbuilding could have been heavier in the beginning. For example, I never fully understood how Alyssa was able to travel between planes in her world and I wanted to understand the magic system better.
I typically do not read trigger warnings and because of this was shocked when this came into the story. I've been sitting with the ending for a couple of days and I'm still not sure how I feel about it.
Overall, I think this was a compelling debut from Moreau. I enjoyed her writing style and look forward to reading more from her in the future!
--------
Thank you NetGalley & Forever Publishing for this ARC. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The juxtaposition between Laine and Alyssa's POVs was so well executed. Despite having different experiences, you could see each sister's side and how they were connected. This story deals with some heavy topics (death of parents, crippling guilt, panic attacks, a corrupt health care system, the weight of being a sole caregiver, and off-page sexual assault), but did so in a way that was thoughtful and engaging.
I did feel the worldbuilding could have been heavier in the beginning. For example, I never fully understood how Alyssa was able to travel between planes in her world and I wanted to understand the magic system better.
I typically do not read trigger warnings and because of this was shocked when this came into the story. I've been sitting with the ending for a couple of days and I'm still not sure how I feel about it.
Overall, I think this was a compelling debut from Moreau. I enjoyed her writing style and look forward to reading more from her in the future!
--------
Thank you NetGalley & Forever Publishing for this ARC. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
lisalovesbooks21's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75