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Alphabet of Thorn

by Patricia A. McKillip

4.02 · rating details · 1,609 ratings · 160 reviews

In the kingdom of Raine, a vast realm at the edge of the world, an orphaned baby girl is found by a palace librarian and raised to become a translator. Years later, the girl -- named Nepenthe -- comes in contact with a mysterious book written in a language of thorns that no one, not even the wizards at Raine's famous Floating School for mages, can decipher. The book calls ...more

Paperback, 291 pages

Published February 1st 2005 by Ace (first published February 3rd 2004)

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Mar 03, 2009

Jon rated it

Recommended to Jon by: SciFi & Fantasy Book Club March 2009 Selection

Shelves: fiction, fantasy, read-in-my-40s

A coming-of-age tale for nearly all the characters involved in this novel. An orphan raised by the royal library as a transcriptor. The young Queen of Raine so to be crowned after the sudden death of her father the King. A minor son of the Second Crown sent to the magician's Floating School. Another library-raised orphan who is love struck by the first. Even the legendary figures from ancient history move through their adolescent struggles via the tale been translated. All these lives weav...more

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Mar 25, 2009

Robin rated it

Recommended to Robin by: GoodReads Sci-fi/Fantasy Group

Shelves: fantasy

I'll write a full review when I have more time but a quickie review....

When the book first started I was not "captivated". There were no characters I really fell in love with and the plot seemed slow to get going. That being said I thought the writing itself was very lyrical and poetic and there were a number of pasasages that caught my eye.

I stayed with the book because it was a group read - and around 1/2 way my opinion of it changed. By the end of the book...more

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Mar 17, 2009

Shannon rated it

Shelves: fantasy, 2009, time-travel

This is one of those books I came to reluctantly (for a book club here on Goodreads) and found myself pleasantly surprised by - a bit like the cover, really, which I hated at first and then slowly came to appreciate, especially as you start noticing all the little details in it that correspond so artfully to the story, in particular the city of towers built into the cliff, which you can hopefully see in the background.

Nepenthe is an orphan, found as a baby at the edge of the cliff ou...moreThis is one of those books I came to reluctantly (for a book club here on Goodreads) and found myself pleasantly surprised by - a bit like the cover, really, which I hated at first and then slowly came to appreciate, especially as you start noticing all the little details in it that correspond so artfully to the story, in particular the city of towers built into the cliff, which you can hopefully see in the background.

Nepenthe is an orphan, found as a baby at the edge of the cliff outside the royal palace and adopted, like many other orphans, by the Royal Librarians. Growing up in the underbelly of the palace amongst books and languages as a gifted transcriber, Nepenthe is content and happy with her life, and wonders little about her heritage. A chance meeting with a handsome young wizard-in-training from the Floating School, Bourne, brings a book written in a language of thorns into her hands - a book that speaks to her and her alone.

As their friendship blossoms into young love, Bourne becomes concerned by how obsessed Nepenthe is with translating the thorns. Yet he does what he can to help her understand the story they tell, a story of Axis and Kane, figures of myth and legend long past. The thorns reveal a version of their story that not only has never been heard of before, but is full of contradictions and misplaced time that discredit its veracity. Still, Nepenthe is possessed of a drive to finish translating it.

When the king of the Twelve Crowns dies and his young and dreamy daughter, Tessera, becomes Queen, the threat of civil war stirs the ancient sorceress Vevay to keep a close watch on the realm. When she receives the cryptic message to beware the thorns, it takes Tessera to explore her newly awakened magical gift to uncover the truth, but it might be too late.

After a slow start, the story picks up and tells a memorable, age-old tale of devotion, war, magic, love and human foible with some new quirks. The story of Axis, the mighty warlord who conquered the known and unknown world, and his cousin, mistress and mighty sorceress, Kane, who ensured success at every conquest, is told as a parallel story, leading inexorably closer to the truth and the climax at the same time as the "present" story - the twist of time is handled deftly and smoothly. I'm not convinced of the logistics of Axis' empire, but it's not really the point of the story.

This is one of those fantasy tales that delves only into the most pertinent details, leaving the edges fuzzy and dreamlike. It certainly adds a mystical, mythical quality, though I'm one of those readers who likes to know, and chafes a bit at being guided through a fantasy world by an author who only lets you see what they want you to see. So at times, the story felt vaguely disappointing, and I wasn't sure for the first few chapters where it was going, but overall it was a pleasure to read. (less)

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Jul 12, 2008

Zachary rated it

Shelves: fantasy

This is the first book I've read by Patricia McKillip. Her writing is top-notch and she does a great job of not falling into the same traps as other fantasy authors - too much background and description, lifeless cookie-cutter characters, more emphasis on world-building than storytelling or character development... none of that here. The whole book had a dreamlike quality to me, with just enough description to entice my imagination and any background details that needed to be related woven into ...more

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Mar 02, 2009

Amy rated it

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, read-in-2009

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Alphabet of Thorns is a coming of age story for several different characters. There's a young translator Nepenthe. A young mage, Bourne. The newly crowned queen, Tessera. And a couple from ancient history, Kane and Axis.
The way the characters and the story are presented is interesting. The points of view keep shifting from character to character. One point of view describes historical characters; the conflict of this novel hinges on how the historical characters relate to the cast of...moreAlphabet of Thorns is a coming of age story for several different characters. There's a young translator Nepenthe. A young mage, Bourne. The newly crowned queen, Tessera. And a couple from ancient history, Kane and Axis.
The way the characters and the story are presented is interesting. The points of view keep shifting from character to character. One point of view describes historical characters; the conflict of this novel hinges on how the historical characters relate to the cast of modern characters.
An interesting theme is how all of the young adults are slowly getting to know their skills and character. Bourne does not realize the extent of his magic talents; he is also in a difficult situation because his uncle is engaged in a treasonous plot against the Queen. He is also in a budding relationship with Nepenthe. Nepenthe is compelled to translate a book in private, keeping the results to herself as much as possible. Tessera is a young queen and is developing a strong magical talent, unbeknown to her adviser. Her adviser just thinks she is silly and not skilled enough to deal with the political challenges of running a large kingdom. Kane is a young woman very much in love with a powerful king, Axis, but unable to have a normal relationship with him. Instead she becomes a powerful mage and helps him conquer numerous kingdoms.
The repeated use of words, alphabets,text, translation, and language is a very powerful theme throughout this book. Nepenthe is a foundling adopted by a library; her name starts with N because the children found before her were named for the previous letters in the alphabet. Words come to life for Nepenthe, Bourne, and Tessera in their attempts to understand their various parts of the world. The book that Nepenthe is translating is the key that ties the whole story together.
Another thing I liked is the way historical figures assumed to be male are found to be female. Kane, the most powerful magician of all time, and a legend, is found to be female. Mermion, the legendary ruler of Raine, is a woman. And in this story, despite the naked agression of Axis, the most powerful characters are the women - Nepenthe and Tessera.
The descriptions of magic are mystical and mysterious. There doesn't seem to be anything scientific about the magic in this world; the study of magic seems to be more philosophical. The ability to travel through time that Kane discovers is used in a horrific way, to let Axis find an infinite number of kingdoms to conquer.

Nepenthe showed great bravery and loyalty to her friends in rejecting her parents' attempts to conquer her world. And Tessera's use of magic to hide her kingdom also shows promise of her future leadership potential. I was somewhat dissatisfied with the mercy shown to Kane at the end of the story. Although I can have some sympathy because of the impossibility of the life she led, she was basically an enabler of a very immoral, power hungry king. She seemed to be the only one he truly cared about; she could have been a stabilizing influence, but instead she just kept finding new worlds for him to conquer. Although I guess it is pragmatic to want an all powerful mage to be close to you and happy, so you know she's not plotting to try again to conquer your kingdom.

I liked this book. It was a quick read (less than a day) and it had several well-developed characters I'd like to read more about. I recommend it for any adult who likes fantasy. Bourne and Nepenthe are involved in an obvious (to me as an adult) sexual relationship - nothing specific or graphic is mentioned, it was just very much implied. But that's not why I will not give it to my daughter yet. (She's nine but reads Harry Potter, Inkheart, etc.) I think the narrative style is too complex for her to understand. Hopefully she'll be ready for it in a couple of years. (less)

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Mar 03, 2009

Thomas rated it

Recommends it for: Escapists

Shelves: fantasy

Until I grasped the plot, this was a great book. After I got it, I kept thinking that the author should wrap it up. Eventually she does, in a satisfying way. In other words, it's a pretty good book, but be warned that the exposition lasts until the last two chapters or so. Action fans need not apply.

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Sep 13, 2008

Sabrina rated it

Shelves: dark-fantasy, fantasy

Every time I read a McKillip book I know I am in the hands of a master storyteller. Her stories have the weight of history and mythology behind them, even if those histories and mythologies are solely of her own creating. Her writing is very prose-like and works wonderfully for her unique storytelling style. I always feel like I am waking from a dream when I finish one of her novels or coming up for air after being underwater for a long time. It's very disorienting, but I think that's why I ...more

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Feb 25, 2009

Cathy marked it as did-not-finish

Shelves: did-not-want-to-finish

Too vague, not what I was in the mood for. Will try again. Did have wonderful memories of The Riddlemaster of Hed while thinking about it. I still love those books and the main character, even after 25 years.

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Mar 03, 2009

Libby rated it

Shelves: read-in-2009, fantasy-fairytale-and-myth

This novel is an intriguing fairy tale involving a foundling girl raised in the Royal Library of Raine, the fictional setting of the story. At the outset, Nepenthe is now a young woman and a skilled translator with a gift for unusual alphabets. By chance, she comes into the possession of a book written in an alphabet seemingly comprised of intricately woven brambles and thorns. The book mysteriously takes hold of her and she develops an obsession with translating the work. From there, a multi

...more

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Oct 19, 2008

Kristine rated it

Shelves: children-s, sci-fi-fantasy

I haven't read many of Patricia McKillip's books. I read the Riddlemaster series long ago as a child. I picked this one up out of sheer boredom from the library. I know it's a children's book, but some younger books are still appealing to adults. This one is not.

The characters Nepenthe and Bourne are okay, if barely two-dimensional. The subplot of Axis & Kane is poorly handled and confusing. And the young Queen of Raine is barely tolerable. I didn't like the writing style, with its f...more

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Mar 12, 2009

Zen rated it

Shelves: scifi-fantasy, teen-or-young-adult

A very soothing book with tension points interspersed. Different from your standard fare.

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Jan 27, 2009

LynAnne Smucker rated it

Just a really well written classic fantasy story. One of the great things about this is the description of the library that Nepenthe lives/works in as a translator of strange texts and the richness of McKillip's language. The is a quote about how Nepenthe came to grow up in the library which is below the palace of the rulers of Raine, built into cliffs along the sea. "A librarian had found the baby sitting abandoned on the sheer edge of the world; the librarians kept her. That proved shre...more

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Nov 08, 2011

Jessica rated it

Shelves: favorites

This book... this book crept into my heart and tangled itself around it, not like thorns, but like the embrace of a long lost lover. Patricia McKillip is a sorcerer of the written word. She creates worlds and people that feel alive and real even when everything is soaked up in magic. She weaves stories and poetry and magic together with the expertise of a goddess. There is always something about her books that reaches beyond the ordinary life and shakes your soul awake.

Magic and bea...more

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Sep 09, 2011

Noah rated it

Shelves: fantasy-literature

There is a lot to this book that I've come to understand as very characteristic of McKillip: thoughtful, considered characters; a semblance, though not full description, of history as a backdrop for the story; mystical realms where magic is fully integrated into the world though also exist side-by-side and, at times, bound to, the purely non-magical. And, most of all, I appreciated Alphabet of Thorn for what I love about McKillip's writing and books the most: her both lack of attempt to describ...moreThere is a lot to this book that I've come to understand as very characteristic of McKillip: thoughtful, considered characters; a semblance, though not full description, of history as a backdrop for the story; mystical realms where magic is fully integrated into the world though also exist side-by-side and, at times, bound to, the purely non-magical. And, most of all, I appreciated Alphabet of Thorn for what I love about McKillip's writing and books the most: her both lack of attempt to describe things for which words are not enough, that exist in a world where words have no meaning. Indeed this is what, in my mind, is the true goal of fantasy (and possibly, in a way, all fiction as well).

But Alphabet of Thorn also does what I wish McKillip would move away from, something that has characterized, it seems, most to all of the books she has written in the last ten or so years. There are too many voices, too many main characters, leaving the reader (or me, at least) to either choose a favorite and dread seeing the others or to feel disconnected from them all. Or, at times, both. I liked Nepenthe, though I thought Bourne was undeveloped. I enjoyed some aspects of Tessera but I disliked Vevay. Also, McKillip just plain doesn't get into her worlds enough, which is surprising to write, as her worlds are so full and so lively. But I really felt with Alphabet of Thorn how much further she could push her worlds and, through that, how much she could further her characters and her plots. In short, I get the feeling that there's simply so much more story surrounding the characters and their world that McKillip just doesn't get to, either because she's so concerned with writing other voices (an interesting tactic, but not necessary or even good in every book) or because all of her books come to only about 300 pages. And (although I won't spoil it) I really didn't care for her ending in Alphabet of Thorn. Some characters suddenly change, some give up things that they've sought for the entire plot, and with no explanation. I was left very disappointed at the end of this book, which, I think, is why I gave it only three stars.

But, still, I love McKillip's writing. She's gotten at something that is the purpose (again, I think) of all fantasy writing: to describe the indescribable, to journey in a world completely beyond us and our own world, to experience in a story, with developed characters, that which underlies our world and which informs, in the end, all our inspiration. She's there, but I just don't think developing it enough when she gets out of it. Though that's saying a lot. I've never met McKillip and I have no conception of her compositional practices, but she really does seem to me to be on the cusp of some beautiful things. I just wish they were more in her stories and characters and not, in my opinion, resigned to a few amazing passages and side-stories.(less)

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Aug 02, 2011

Zak Oglesby rated it

I picked Patricia A. McKillip's book, The Alphabet of Thorn, up while searching for something new to read one day at the library. When I sat down and began the book I was surprised and concerned by the pacing of the story.
The Alphabet follows the story of Nepenthe, a girl with no past and what seems like to no future. She lives within the depths of a great library working on translating ancient languages for people all over the world. When she mets a wizard in training and gains a myster...more

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Jul 29, 2011

Rose rated it

Most people know by now that anyone who says you can't judge a book by its cover is lying. Unabashedly. No, you can't tell exactly how good it will be, but you can get a general idea of what the book will be. A book with a half naked man on the cover, will, for instance, probably not be completely factual, whereas a book with a man smiling and displaying his briefcase will probably not contain the most stimulating prose you've ever read. It will probably be about economics, or business, or somes...more

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Mar 09, 2011

Kathy Davie rated it

I’m not sure if it’s an alphabet or a language of which McKillip writes. She describes an alphabet using thorny lines but when she writes of Nepenthe analyzing the individual “letters”, it sounds more like each letter is a word in a language. A minor detail as the alphabet is simply a background for the tale of the orphan, Nepenthe, and how she and her obsession with the alphabet of thorns affects the lives of everyone around her.

McKillip writes so lyrically of a kingdom undergoing ...more

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Jan 11, 2011

Milli rated it

Looks like this book has plenty of fans and haters both. I'm one of the fans. I thought it was beautifully written, and I especially loved the poems. I liked how the author left some things, such as the nature of Kane's magic, unexplained, which helps the reader suspend reality for a little bit and get lost in her world. And I loved the character of Kane. I've never come across anyone like her in other books and I thought she was brilliant.

I'm giving it four stars, however, because of ...more

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Jul 13, 2010

Elfdart rated it

i think that this is one of the better written books i’ve had an opportunity to come in contact with, her writing style is just amazing. i mean, no offence, but the plot is not the most fascinating i’ve come across… it’s focus is on a librarian who’s trying to translate a book written in some foreign language. kind of dry sounding. but the author does a phenomenal job at capturing a sense of passion and obsession that one can’t help but get drawn in to.
my one complaint about this author i...more

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Aug 17, 2011

Gem rated it

Recommended to Gem by: Kelly

Shelves: fantasy, magic

I feel "dithery" about this book. It was recommended to me by a friend, as a "fairy tale-esque" fantasy - but it was not as fairy tale-esque as I was expecting. I found the writing slow and, although beautifully descriptive and lyrical, half the time I didn't have a clue what McKillip was harping on about (particularly in the beginning third of the book). Don't get me wrong - I enjoyed McKillip's ability to give us a fantasy world with all it's history and magic without expla...more

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Sep 03, 2010

Aubrey rated it

Shelves: fairytale-fantasy

OK, so I'm going to just lay it on you- I'm very careful with the fantasy books that I choose to read, because I HATE overly descriptive fantasy books about people in a made up lands with stupid names who go on adventures and blah, blah, blah... Those kinds of books really grate against my patience. I need something with a solid foot into reality or at least a strong foundation that is COMPREHENSIBLE. This novel made me wary because even though it came to me with high praise, it started off sl...more

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Dec 17, 2011

Ann Marie rated it

I know I have read this book before...but the cover I do not recognize...I got into the story right away and then I kinda got seperated for several chapters but then I got sucked right back in so...it was a good change of pace story...light reading...I could picture it...I was there...but I swear I remember the cover having some sort of floating chunk of earth with perhaps a very large tree on it...if anyone can help me out here I would appreciate it...I would hate to think I have read this befo...more

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Nov 05, 2009

Laura rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy

Alphabet of Thorn has a dreamlike quality. McKillip is recognized for her 'lyrical prose' and this book delivers in that area. This is the story of a scholarly young woman working away in the depths of the Queen's library. She discovers a secret language in the 'alphabet of thorn' and in unraveling its mysteries discovers the truth of her own beginnings.

If a person was to judge a book by its cover I would love it just based on that. The artwork of Kinuko Craft is beautiful and we...more

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May 30, 2008

Logan rated it

Shelves: favorites, fantasy, 2007

An absolutely captivating tale of passion and power. Myth, history, and legend tangle together in the story of an emperor and mage who loved each other and together conquered death, the world, and time. The ending left me relieved and heartbroken.

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Nov 10, 2011

Helen rated it

The writing style is wonderful, although it can get...how should I put it? Too conceptual? Her descriptions can get a bit difficult to create a mental image of, and sometimes be slightly confusing. (Why do they keep mentioning fish? Oh, they're not literally fish, but a type of alphabet!) But I think the point is to "feel" her descriptions instead of trying to "picture" them. Haha.

However enchanting the writing is though, I thought the payoff of the actual story w...more

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Jan 08, 2009

Joe rated it

Shelves: high-fantasy

Patricia A. McKillip is a wonder of an author. It's like she writes her own language with every book, and this one is especially in love with linguistics itself. I've never read anything like her, and neither have you.

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May 17, 2007

Karen rated it

Shelves: fiction, fantasy, re-read

McKillip writes prose that seems more like poetry, rich, detailed and many-layered. One of my favorites of her books; I reread it often. We have talents that are not visible to those around us, or even to ourselves.

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Oct 03, 2011

Diane rated it

Recommends it for: Fantasy readers

I thought this book was wonderful! To me this is exactly the type of book that I think of when I think of the Fantasy genre. It is mind boggling that someone could have such an inventive mind to be able to write such a book as this. I thought all of the characters were well realized and I liked each of them. I really loved Bourne and Nepenthe. I even liked Axis and Kane. I guess I just found the book to be quite romantic. The whole storyline was quite compelling and kept me reading through to th...more

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Mar 29, 2009

Ann rated it

I haven't read any Patricia McKillip since her Riddlemaster books (1980's) but from other reviews I've read about her more recent books, I think that this was a good choice to reintroduce myself to her works.

Alphabet of Thorns is essentially a fairy tale made more immediate with a cast of interesting characters who come across as very real people in their strengths, foibles, vanities, and virtues. Nepenthe, the main character, was found and raised by the Royal Librarian's of Raine, a...more

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Nov 16, 2011

Doyin rated it

· review of another edition

When I picked up this book and saw the reviews describing the author as one of the great fantasy writers of all time, I kinda rolled my eyes and thought "I'll be the judge of that."

By the end of this book, I was misty eyed. This book was just riveting. McKillip has a way with words and knows how to tell a good story. I was lost a little in the beginning at first, because there were so many stories being interwoven, but everything fell into place beautifully in the end. And wh...more

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About Patricia A. McKillip

Patricia Anne McKillip is an American author of fantasy and science fiction novels, distinguished by lyrical, delicate prose and careful attention to detail and characterization. She is a past winner of the World Fantasy Award and Locus Award, and she lives in Oregon. Most of her recent novels have cover paintings by Kinuko Y. Craft. She is married to David Lunde, a poet.

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Quotes from Alphabet of Thorn

“Once I used my powers. Now I feel like a dancing instructor, reminding the queen whom she is dancing with at this hour and with which foot she should begin.'
'Be thankful,' Gavin advised with a laugh, 'that so far the music is still being played and everyone is trying to dance in harmony.” — 2 people liked it

“That's the beginning of magic. Let your imagination run and follow it.” — 2 people liked it

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