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speculativeshelves's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5
Sleeping Beauty is one of my favorite Disney films and Prince Phillip has always been one of my favorite Disney Princes so I was very excited to see a book told from his perspective.
Prince of Thorns & Nightmares does an excellent job of expanding the film's story and the characters of both Phillip and Aurora who, despite being integral characters to the film's plot, never feel like the main characters (Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather have always felt like the film's protagonists to me). The story fits seamlessly into the plot of the film adding interesting layers and twists that will probably remain in the back of my mind the next time I rewatch Sleeping Beauty. In particular I loved the twist this book gives to Phillip/Aurora's romance and the song "Once Upon a Dream" (and the banter between the two of them was top notch).
My only issue with this book was I struggled a bit with the pacing in the first half. While I enjoyed the first half's plot (particularly in hindsight as there was a twist I enjoyed), I didn't find it as compelling as the second half outside of the scenes between Phillip and Briar Rose. It feels very much like a condensed quest story of its own (almost as if it's the first book in a duology) and while there were interesting elements there wasn't enough time in the story to have me truly invested in that part of the book.
Highly recommend this series to any Disney fans looking for new takes on their favorite stories and characters. Ultimately this one was a lot of fun and while I haven't read it, I'm sure the previous book in this series (centered on Prince Eric) is also great.
Sleeping Beauty is one of my favorite Disney films and Prince Phillip has always been one of my favorite Disney Princes so I was very excited to see a book told from his perspective.
Prince of Thorns & Nightmares does an excellent job of expanding the film's story and the characters of both Phillip and Aurora who, despite being integral characters to the film's plot, never feel like the main characters (Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather have always felt like the film's protagonists to me). The story fits seamlessly into the plot of the film adding interesting layers and twists that will probably remain in the back of my mind the next time I rewatch Sleeping Beauty. In particular I loved the twist this book gives to Phillip/Aurora's romance and the song "Once Upon a Dream" (and the banter between the two of them was top notch).
My only issue with this book was I struggled a bit with the pacing in the first half. While I enjoyed the first half's plot (particularly in hindsight as there was a twist I enjoyed), I didn't find it as compelling as the second half outside of the scenes between Phillip and Briar Rose. It feels very much like a condensed quest story of its own (almost as if it's the first book in a duology) and while there were interesting elements there wasn't enough time in the story to have me truly invested in that part of the book.
Highly recommend this series to any Disney fans looking for new takes on their favorite stories and characters. Ultimately this one was a lot of fun and while I haven't read it, I'm sure the previous book in this series (centered on Prince Eric) is also great.
maabark's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so cute! It was a nice change of pace to read a story from Phillips perspective and his journey to defeating Maleficent.
I especially enjoyed the references to the movie (animated one.) I also enjoyed the banter between Briar Rose and Phillip! I felt like Briar Rose’s character got fleshed our more along with Phillip. I would recommend reading this book if you have a love for Disney, Maleficent, or you just enjoy feel-good stories.
I especially enjoyed the references to the movie (animated one.) I also enjoyed the banter between Briar Rose and Phillip! I felt like Briar Rose’s character got fleshed our more along with Phillip. I would recommend reading this book if you have a love for Disney, Maleficent, or you just enjoy feel-good stories.
pizzamyheart's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
1.75 is being generous. After Prince of Song and Sea i had hopes for this one to be good too. It wasnt. This book was a complete waste of time. Phillip is a horrid character. Whiny. Annoying. Horrid. Similar to book 1. The best friend is a female warrior who trains with the prince. She was a much better love interest than Aurora. In fact I wish Aurora told Phillip no and went odd with the friend.
The only reason it got .75 stars was the inventive way to tie in to the once upon a dream song. Aside from that this book is best used as kindling.
The only reason it got .75 stars was the inventive way to tie in to the once upon a dream song. Aside from that this book is best used as kindling.
gkepps's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kaymae96's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book! I love getting to know Phillip and even Aurora more! Older Disney movies left a lot of characteristics to the imagination and this book definitely filled the holes Disney left. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to see who's perspective we get next!
elle4352's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Prince of Thorns & Nightmares is a YA, fantasy novel that attempts to add background to Prince Phillip and add new context to the events of Disney's "Sleeping Beauty"
Things you'll find:
*A selfish, careless, rude prince*
*Three new fairies*
*Why is the bodyguard even here?*
*The Disney Novel Curse (characters don't match their on-screen counterparts)*
*Sigh* THIS book. I read the prior installment to this series "Prince of Song and Sea" last January and, while I wasn't thrilled by it, it was an okay start to the Disney Prince series. I figured maybe the series would progress a little as more titles came along so I decided to try this second book about Prince Phillip.
This Prince Phillip is the worst type of man. He's selfish. He's snarky. He's self-deprecating. He's rude. He knows he has issues, and knows he needs to fix them for his own sake and the sake of everyone around him that he treats poorly, but refuses to take any accountability for what he does or do anything to rectify the internal conflict that's eating him alive, and instead chooses to sulk all the time and give up before he even begins. I understand writing flawed characters with the intention of making them more relatable or more endearing, HOWEVER in order for this to be effective, the reasons for your character being a jerk need to be airtight.Phillip is awful to be around because he has daddy issues and feels like it's unfair that he has to marry Aurora and be her knight in shining armor. The father/son conflict here never truly resolves in a healthy, constructive way on page. We're more or less told Phillip begins to stand up for himself, and then King Hubert just shrugs like "whelp okay then" and lets him do what he wants to do.
And when presented with a life or death decision for not only Aurora, but the ENTIRE KINGDOM and many lives, Phillip's initial response is "yeah well I want to have my last few days as a bachelor to myself and to do what I want so that's too bad"(paraphrase). There's no coming back after that, he's a terrible, selfish person!
Not to mention he's horrible to Briar Rose/Aurora in his dreams every night when they meet. He always instigates every argument with her, and seemingly because she's just inquisitive and sweet. An actual quote from the book is "If she hadn't mentioned it, he probably would've done it, but he disliked that she suggested it first". So you're just not going to do something because she suggested it and you don't like her? Childish. And we're supposed to forget all of the snarky, mean comments once we catch up in the storyline to the events in "Sleeping Beauty" and the author decides to use actual dialogue from the film so now Phillip's suddenly gone through all this character development (with no conflict or confrontation with his demons) and is decent? No.
Another direct quote:
"Only you would think people being interested in your life is like pressing a pillow over your face. You said practically the same thing to your father after the tournament before you threw your life away. You're so scared to love anyone and disappoint them like you do your father that you don't even love yourself, no matter how self-centered you pretend to be. It's cowardice."
This is an internal conflict that I think could've been dealt with in a way that poised Phillip to be a somewhat insecure, but dutiful and loyal son, who struggles with his identity and with the idea of forming independent thoughts and dreams for the future in the midst of having his life decided for him and playing out in front of him like a pre-written novel. Instead, we get a grown man throwing a tantrum for 250 out of the 432 pages, very reminiscent of real-life men who desperately need therapy, but refuse to go and help themselves because they think they know better and are content with treating everyone around them horribly.
I've never in my life wanted Maleficent to win and imprison him so badly.
Since Phillip is our protagonist, and he's terrible, the rest of the book really couldn't be redeemed. Like other reviewers mention, this book's modern language and banter doesn't fit the setting of a 14th-century fairytale nor the 1950s script. There was an attempt to give Briar Rose/Aurora some personality, but that personality seemed to be that of a 16-year-old on a Netflix sitcom so that was jarring. The new fairies were not horrible additions and Johanna the bodyguard was...present, but for what reason I couldn't tell you (except to make the reader wonder if Phillip is secretly in love with her because he cares WAY more about her and keeping her safe then he does at any point in this novel for Briar Rose/Aurora). King Hubert doesn't seem to care whether his only son and heir lives or dies, so long as he's a good knight at the end of it. This book is just not a great follow-up in this series.
Overall, this one isn't for the Disney girls and if it's not for the Disney girls, I'm not entirely sure who it's for. But reading about selfish men in Disney Prince bodies was not on my 2024 Book Bingo card.
Things you'll find:
*A selfish, careless, rude prince*
*Three new fairies*
*Why is the bodyguard even here?*
*The Disney Novel Curse (characters don't match their on-screen counterparts)*
*Sigh* THIS book. I read the prior installment to this series "Prince of Song and Sea" last January and, while I wasn't thrilled by it, it was an okay start to the Disney Prince series. I figured maybe the series would progress a little as more titles came along so I decided to try this second book about Prince Phillip.
This Prince Phillip is the worst type of man. He's selfish. He's snarky. He's self-deprecating. He's rude. He knows he has issues, and knows he needs to fix them for his own sake and the sake of everyone around him that he treats poorly, but refuses to take any accountability for what he does or do anything to rectify the internal conflict that's eating him alive, and instead chooses to sulk all the time and give up before he even begins. I understand writing flawed characters with the intention of making them more relatable or more endearing, HOWEVER in order for this to be effective, the reasons for your character being a jerk need to be airtight.
And when presented with a life or death decision for not only Aurora, but the ENTIRE KINGDOM and many lives, Phillip's initial response is "yeah well I want to have my last few days as a bachelor to myself and to do what I want so that's too bad"(paraphrase). There's no coming back after that, he's a terrible, selfish person!
Not to mention he's horrible to Briar Rose/Aurora in his dreams every night when they meet. He always instigates every argument with her, and seemingly because she's just inquisitive and sweet. An actual quote from the book is "If she hadn't mentioned it, he probably would've done it, but he disliked that she suggested it first". So you're just not going to do something because she suggested it and you don't like her? Childish. And we're supposed to forget all of the snarky, mean comments once we catch up in the storyline to the events in "Sleeping Beauty" and the author decides to use actual dialogue from the film so now Phillip's suddenly gone through all this character development (with no conflict or confrontation with his demons) and is decent? No.
Another direct quote:
"Only you would think people being interested in your life is like pressing a pillow over your face. You said practically the same thing to your father after the tournament before you threw your life away. You're so scared to love anyone and disappoint them like you do your father that you don't even love yourself, no matter how self-centered you pretend to be. It's cowardice."
This is an internal conflict that I think could've been dealt with in a way that poised Phillip to be a somewhat insecure, but dutiful and loyal son, who struggles with his identity and with the idea of forming independent thoughts and dreams for the future in the midst of having his life decided for him and playing out in front of him like a pre-written novel. Instead, we get a grown man throwing a tantrum for 250 out of the 432 pages, very reminiscent of real-life men who desperately need therapy, but refuse to go and help themselves because they think they know better and are content with treating everyone around them horribly.
I've never in my life wanted Maleficent to win and imprison him so badly.
Since Phillip is our protagonist, and he's terrible, the rest of the book really couldn't be redeemed. Like other reviewers mention, this book's modern language and banter doesn't fit the setting of a 14th-century fairytale nor the 1950s script. There was an attempt to give Briar Rose/Aurora some personality, but that personality seemed to be that of a 16-year-old on a Netflix sitcom so that was jarring. The new fairies were not horrible additions and Johanna the bodyguard was...present, but for what reason I couldn't tell you (except to make the reader wonder if Phillip is secretly in love with her because he cares WAY more about her and keeping her safe then he does at any point in this novel for Briar Rose/Aurora). King Hubert doesn't seem to care whether his only son and heir lives or dies, so long as he's a good knight at the end of it. This book is just not a great follow-up in this series.
Overall, this one isn't for the Disney girls and if it's not for the Disney girls, I'm not entirely sure who it's for. But reading about selfish men in Disney Prince bodies was not on my 2024 Book Bingo card.
pcronn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
alongm3240's review against another edition
5.0
Once again, this author did a FANTASTIC job filling in so much back story to such a classic Disney fairytale, Sleeping Beauty!!! Except this story is all about Prince Phillip and how he came to be Princess Aurora's true love!!! If you love this tale, then this book is a MUST read!!!! 5 DREAMY STARS for Prince of Thorns & Nightmares!!!!
akikocafe's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
sonisoni's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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
4.5
other things i loved? lesbian married wizard (um yes), prince philip's bestie is a woman knight who just wants to write poetry and epics? sign me up!!
only thing i would have like to be changed is the dialogue. majority of the book it just felt too modern and like come on this is supposed to be the 15th century!!