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The Princess of Thornwood Drive
Two sisters are trapped on opposite sides of reality in this entrancing and deeply moving debut novel that weaves together a contemporary narrative with a parallel fantasy world.
One year ago, a tragic car accident killed 22-year-old Laine’s parents and left her 18-year-old sister, Alyssa, paralyzed and nonverbal. Now—instead of studying animal nutrition or competing as one of the few equestrians of color—Laine is struggling with predatory banks, unscrupulous health care organizations, and rude customers at the coffee shop where she works. That’s why when Lake Forest Adult Day Center offers to take care of Alyssa, free of charge, Laine is relieved.
Alyssa isn't relieved, though. After all, in her mind, there was never a car accident. Instead, she and her parents—the king and queen of Mirendal—were attacked one year ago in the forest, her parents kidnapped while she was cursed, and now must spend her days in Lake Forest's Home for Changels—a temple caring for mortals such as herself. Perhaps there, she could meet other changels who show her how to embrace her new life.
However, there is a dark prince at Lake Forest, one who has taken a peculiar interest in not only Alyssa but her sister as well. And while Laine struggles to make ends meet on an everyday basis, Alyssa finds herself leading a battle that threatens to destroy not only her and her sister but their entire kingdom.
One year ago, a tragic car accident killed 22-year-old Laine’s parents and left her 18-year-old sister, Alyssa, paralyzed and nonverbal. Now—instead of studying animal nutrition or competing as one of the few equestrians of color—Laine is struggling with predatory banks, unscrupulous health care organizations, and rude customers at the coffee shop where she works. That’s why when Lake Forest Adult Day Center offers to take care of Alyssa, free of charge, Laine is relieved.
Alyssa isn't relieved, though. After all, in her mind, there was never a car accident. Instead, she and her parents—the king and queen of Mirendal—were attacked one year ago in the forest, her parents kidnapped while she was cursed, and now must spend her days in Lake Forest's Home for Changels—a temple caring for mortals such as herself. Perhaps there, she could meet other changels who show her how to embrace her new life.
However, there is a dark prince at Lake Forest, one who has taken a peculiar interest in not only Alyssa but her sister as well. And while Laine struggles to make ends meet on an everyday basis, Alyssa finds herself leading a battle that threatens to destroy not only her and her sister but their entire kingdom.
336 pages, Paperback
First published September 19, 2023
17 people are currently reading
4315 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
November 6, 2023
This one was hard hitting and I had to sit on it for a day so the right words could come. But I really liked this author's writing style and how is was straight forward but still had plenty of imagery. It was very unique to contrast the real world events with that of the fantasy world.
Full review below
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Full review below
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December 28, 2023
Thank you, GCP and NetGalley, for the e-ARC copy.
I've never read a book like this one where it is not only dual POV but also dual realities. With one being an alternate one, the reader has to pay close attention to how things shift from one reality to another based on which main character is present. It made for a very interesting reading experience, to the point where, in the beginning, I was very confused and relied heavily on the imagery that the author wrote.
Two sisters that share the same tragedy but have two different physical outcomes. Laine is now struck with anxiety in her day-to-day life. Alyssa is physically disabled and is now under the care of Laine and the facility Laine chose for her. But what happens when Laine is not there? The unthinkable. Laine and Alyssa fought to survive not only loss but abuse.
This story was a page-turner for me, mainly because I was trying to figure out how the two worlds would come together in the end. I have mixed feelings about Laine and how she went about handling the care of Alyssa. Who's to say what happened could've been really preventable? But what I do know is that if Laine had not been so caught up in "romance," she could've put more energy into being the overseer of Alyssa's care. I believe the guilt kept Laine alive when it wasn't her burden to bear.
The Princess of Thornwood is a unique, refreshing, new kind of work of fiction that tackles the loss of parents, inequities in the healthcare system, sense of identity, ill treatment of the disabled, and many more. That being said I do recommend this book, but the reader would benefit from having a key/ word bank at the beginning of the book so they can focus more on the contents of the story and not so much deciphering everything said.
4.5/5
I've never read a book like this one where it is not only dual POV but also dual realities. With one being an alternate one, the reader has to pay close attention to how things shift from one reality to another based on which main character is present. It made for a very interesting reading experience, to the point where, in the beginning, I was very confused and relied heavily on the imagery that the author wrote.
Two sisters that share the same tragedy but have two different physical outcomes. Laine is now struck with anxiety in her day-to-day life. Alyssa is physically disabled and is now under the care of Laine and the facility Laine chose for her. But what happens when Laine is not there? The unthinkable. Laine and Alyssa fought to survive not only loss but abuse.
This story was a page-turner for me, mainly because I was trying to figure out how the two worlds would come together in the end. I have mixed feelings about Laine and how she went about handling the care of Alyssa. Who's to say what happened could've been really preventable? But what I do know is that if Laine had not been so caught up in "romance," she could've put more energy into being the overseer of Alyssa's care. I believe the guilt kept Laine alive when it wasn't her burden to bear.
The Princess of Thornwood is a unique, refreshing, new kind of work of fiction that tackles the loss of parents, inequities in the healthcare system, sense of identity, ill treatment of the disabled, and many more. That being said I do recommend this book, but the reader would benefit from having a key/ word bank at the beginning of the book so they can focus more on the contents of the story and not so much deciphering everything said.
4.5/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2023
{3.5 stars}
I loved the concept of this one. Two sisters fighting for one another, each on a different side of reality. One has had profound brain damage leaving her unable to participate in the regular human world but in her head is trapped in a fantasy kingdom where she is a princess who must save the kingdom. The other is living in our everyday reality with the heavy responsibility of taking care of her disabled sister after the accident that injured her and killed her parents. The sisters desperately love one another but are each struggling with the burdens placed on them in their realities.
The likability of the characters was what I struggled with the most. Laine, the sister in the "real" world, had a huge chip on her shoulder and constantly made decisions based on her emotions. She was dealing with anxiety and panic attacks, and I love a main character with real world mental health struggles. But most of the story, I felt like, she should have just had someone else be the guardian of her sister. The whole thing may have turned out differently if she could face that fact. In the end, she got there but the damage was done. Definitely made it hard to read. But that said, this is one of the most unique stories I've ever read, so it gets major points for originality.
Thanks to Forever and Grand Central Pub for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.
I loved the concept of this one. Two sisters fighting for one another, each on a different side of reality. One has had profound brain damage leaving her unable to participate in the regular human world but in her head is trapped in a fantasy kingdom where she is a princess who must save the kingdom. The other is living in our everyday reality with the heavy responsibility of taking care of her disabled sister after the accident that injured her and killed her parents. The sisters desperately love one another but are each struggling with the burdens placed on them in their realities.
The likability of the characters was what I struggled with the most. Laine, the sister in the "real" world, had a huge chip on her shoulder and constantly made decisions based on her emotions. She was dealing with anxiety and panic attacks, and I love a main character with real world mental health struggles. But most of the story, I felt like, she should have just had someone else be the guardian of her sister. The whole thing may have turned out differently if she could face that fact. In the end, she got there but the damage was done. Definitely made it hard to read. But that said, this is one of the most unique stories I've ever read, so it gets major points for originality.
Thanks to Forever and Grand Central Pub for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.
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October 9, 2023Thanks to GCP and Forever for the copy of this book!
Khalia Moreau's debut is such an innovative idea: two sisters trapped apart from each other, one in the contemporary world and one in a parallel fantasy world. The story is told in alternating POVs between the sisters, and walking through scenes from both of their POVs is fascinating becasue their realities are so different! There are lots of magical creatures included in this book and a dark prince. Note there's a sexual assault trigger warning.
Khalia Moreau's debut is such an innovative idea: two sisters trapped apart from each other, one in the contemporary world and one in a parallel fantasy world. The story is told in alternating POVs between the sisters, and walking through scenes from both of their POVs is fascinating becasue their realities are so different! There are lots of magical creatures included in this book and a dark prince. Note there's a sexual assault trigger warning.
November 7, 2023
This was a wholly unique, genre-defying debut about the bond between two sisters who face a tragic family accident that kills their parents and has 18 year old Alyssa paralyzed, unable to communicate with her older sister Laine in the present. Alyssa in fact has a whole other life in an alternate fantasy universe where she is a princess with the kind of agency she doesn't have in the real world.
Told in alternating POVs, this book deals with some heavy topics from the burdens of being a caregiver to the vulnerabilities of disabled people subject to the unscrupulous practices of our very flawed healthcare system.
I loved the strong, Black female protagonists and look forward to reading whatever this author writes next! Recommended for fans of books like Laurie Frankel's One two three. This was also good on audio with dual narration by Jasmine Walker and Marlo Su.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary digital copy and Libro.fm for an ALC in exchange for my honest review!
⚠️CW: sexual abuse
Told in alternating POVs, this book deals with some heavy topics from the burdens of being a caregiver to the vulnerabilities of disabled people subject to the unscrupulous practices of our very flawed healthcare system.
I loved the strong, Black female protagonists and look forward to reading whatever this author writes next! Recommended for fans of books like Laurie Frankel's One two three. This was also good on audio with dual narration by Jasmine Walker and Marlo Su.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary digital copy and Libro.fm for an ALC in exchange for my honest review!
⚠️CW: sexual abuse
May 15, 2024
4.5 stars
Debut author Khalia Moreau has written a fantasy novel the likes of which I’ve never read before. The Princess of Thornwood Drive is attention-grabbing, entertaining, and sad all at the same time. When I read the blurb, I was intrigued, and rightfully so. The story takes place in two realities leaving you to wonder where they will intersect.
A year ago, a car accident claimed the lives of twenty-two-year-old Laine Highland’s parents. The accident also left her eighteen-year-old sister Alyssa severely injured. Alyssa is unable to walk, speak, or do any tasks for herself. She spends her days in a wheelchair, trapped inside her mind. Alyssa’s mind has conjured up a world where she believes her family is royalty and an evil man has kidnapped her parents (the king and queen of Mirendal) and placed a curse on her. In reality, Laine finds herself working as a barista, yet barely being able to cover the bills and struggling to take care of Alyssa the way she should be taken care of. She gets a lifeline when Lake Forest, an adult day care center, offers for Alyssa to attend free of charge. But things are not what they seem.
The Princess of Thornwood Drive blends Lanie’s real-world reality with Alyssa’s fantasy world. Told in first person dual points of view, you get to experience what the sisters are experiencing with overlapping details. For the most part, the characters are fleshed out pretty well. Khalia writes them in a way where you either like them or get the creepy crawlies.
The Princess of Thornwood Drive mixes Trinidadian lore with fantasy, to create a story about family (birth and found), hope, love, and healing. Khalia makes you feel invested in the sisters and their lives, with the hope that things will work out. Readers should be aware that there are mentions of SA and unaliving one’s self both off the page.
**Received a copy of the book from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it.**
Debut author Khalia Moreau has written a fantasy novel the likes of which I’ve never read before. The Princess of Thornwood Drive is attention-grabbing, entertaining, and sad all at the same time. When I read the blurb, I was intrigued, and rightfully so. The story takes place in two realities leaving you to wonder where they will intersect.
A year ago, a car accident claimed the lives of twenty-two-year-old Laine Highland’s parents. The accident also left her eighteen-year-old sister Alyssa severely injured. Alyssa is unable to walk, speak, or do any tasks for herself. She spends her days in a wheelchair, trapped inside her mind. Alyssa’s mind has conjured up a world where she believes her family is royalty and an evil man has kidnapped her parents (the king and queen of Mirendal) and placed a curse on her. In reality, Laine finds herself working as a barista, yet barely being able to cover the bills and struggling to take care of Alyssa the way she should be taken care of. She gets a lifeline when Lake Forest, an adult day care center, offers for Alyssa to attend free of charge. But things are not what they seem.
The Princess of Thornwood Drive blends Lanie’s real-world reality with Alyssa’s fantasy world. Told in first person dual points of view, you get to experience what the sisters are experiencing with overlapping details. For the most part, the characters are fleshed out pretty well. Khalia writes them in a way where you either like them or get the creepy crawlies.
The Princess of Thornwood Drive mixes Trinidadian lore with fantasy, to create a story about family (birth and found), hope, love, and healing. Khalia makes you feel invested in the sisters and their lives, with the hope that things will work out. Readers should be aware that there are mentions of SA and unaliving one’s self both off the page.
**Received a copy of the book from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it.**
November 9, 2023
The Princess of Thornwood Drive is a genre-blending, dual POV book that follows two sisters, Laine and Alyssa. Laine's POV is written as a contemporary novel, whereas Alyssa's is fantasy. Alyssa was in a car accident a year prior, which killed both of her parents and left her paralyzed and nonverbal due to a brain injury. Alyssa is clearly cognizant of the world around her, but with a bit of a fantasy flair.
This book was not what I was expecting, but it ended up being very beautiful and emotional. There are numerous trigger warnings, particularly off-page sexual assault. The writing was well done and engaging, and I very much enjoyed it. It was a quick story - nothing went too far in depth - but I still enjoyed it.
I am curious how disability activists would feel about this disability rep. There is something very spoiler-y that I think is a bit questionable, and I felt a bit uncomfortable about it. It's nowhere near Me Before You levels of bad, but it still feels... slightly off. This added to the emotions of the ending, but after thinking about it, it left me with a slightly bad taste in my mouth and I am docking it a star for that reason.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was not what I was expecting, but it ended up being very beautiful and emotional. There are numerous trigger warnings, particularly off-page sexual assault. The writing was well done and engaging, and I very much enjoyed it. It was a quick story - nothing went too far in depth - but I still enjoyed it.
I am curious how disability activists would feel about this disability rep. There is something very spoiler-y that I think is a bit questionable, and I felt a bit uncomfortable about it. It's nowhere near Me Before You levels of bad, but it still feels... slightly off. This added to the emotions of the ending, but after thinking about it, it left me with a slightly bad taste in my mouth and I am docking it a star for that reason.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 31, 2023
It took me a minute to follow the plot, but once I did, I was sucked in. Part 2 onwards really starts to fall into place, and pacing feels right. Conceptually, this was an interesting plot, and the world building was fascinating. Alyssa was an active character even though her injuries could have made her a passive side character. The vibrancy of the creatures and symbolism of what I think was akin to colonialism was again really interesting. I loved the infusion of the Caribbean lore that was woven in. Laine was such a fighter, and I really appreciated the exploration of caregiver/survivor guilt and stress. I was rooting for her to catch a break and sobbed at the ending. The mistreatment of the changels was heartbreaking.
Besides the pacing one thing that I thought was a bit wonky was the colorism both characters experienced. I couldn't tell if this was intentional that at times they loved and appreciated their skin color while other times not.
Thank you to Hachette for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
CN: financial insecurity, microagressions, survivors guilt, death of parents, depression, anxiety, panic attack, rape, medical malpractice and manipulation, death
Besides the pacing one thing that I thought was a bit wonky was the colorism both characters experienced. I couldn't tell if this was intentional that at times they loved and appreciated their skin color while other times not.
Thank you to Hachette for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
CN: financial insecurity, microagressions, survivors guilt, death of parents, depression, anxiety, panic attack, rape, medical malpractice and manipulation, death
May 28, 2023
This was astonishingly great, fierce, and moving. Clapping for the author.
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January 12, 2024I'll be here if you need me
May 18, 2024
Thank you to Forever and Angela Man for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was such an intriguing blurb, paired with a gorgeous book cover that I couldn’t resist. I was especially interested in how the author was going to make two stories work when they were so different—one a contemporary timeline, while the other was a fantasy.
To start with, it’s almost like reading two separate but adjacent stories that intersect. Laine’s story is the contemporary one. She is 22 and buried under the weight of grief, the responsibility of caring for her younger sister who is paralyzed and nonverbal, and survivor’s guilt as well. Alyssa, on the other hand, is aware of what’s going on around her, but escapes the limitations of her body by spending time in a fairytale-type world that is infused with light, magic, and curses. Both women have aspects of their Caribbean heritage play a role in their storylines.
Both women were interesting in different ways, and I have to admit that the world-building in Alyssa’s chapters was outstanding. I found it extra interesting how there was overlap between the fantasy world that Alyssa retreats into and the real world that both of them live in. At first, the story is a little confusing, but once it really gets going, it wasn’t difficult to follow. And while the voices between the characters were significantly different, the backgrounds for their chapters were also extraordinarily different, so that it was never hard to differentiate between the narrators.
Overall, this was a well-done story that touches on some very difficult topics. In addition to losing their parents and facing grief, Laine is facing survivor’s guilt, while Alyssa is facing the harm that can occur in institutions, such as overuse of medications and sexual assault of a disabled person. However, there was a strange part of the story involving colorism that I wasn’t quite sure how to interpret. But for the most part, the story was the kind that held my attention, and it was done well, featuring two strong, biracial female main characters, who were strong in different ways.
This was such an intriguing blurb, paired with a gorgeous book cover that I couldn’t resist. I was especially interested in how the author was going to make two stories work when they were so different—one a contemporary timeline, while the other was a fantasy.
To start with, it’s almost like reading two separate but adjacent stories that intersect. Laine’s story is the contemporary one. She is 22 and buried under the weight of grief, the responsibility of caring for her younger sister who is paralyzed and nonverbal, and survivor’s guilt as well. Alyssa, on the other hand, is aware of what’s going on around her, but escapes the limitations of her body by spending time in a fairytale-type world that is infused with light, magic, and curses. Both women have aspects of their Caribbean heritage play a role in their storylines.
Both women were interesting in different ways, and I have to admit that the world-building in Alyssa’s chapters was outstanding. I found it extra interesting how there was overlap between the fantasy world that Alyssa retreats into and the real world that both of them live in. At first, the story is a little confusing, but once it really gets going, it wasn’t difficult to follow. And while the voices between the characters were significantly different, the backgrounds for their chapters were also extraordinarily different, so that it was never hard to differentiate between the narrators.
Overall, this was a well-done story that touches on some very difficult topics. In addition to losing their parents and facing grief, Laine is facing survivor’s guilt, while Alyssa is facing the harm that can occur in institutions, such as overuse of medications and sexual assault of a disabled person. However, there was a strange part of the story involving colorism that I wasn’t quite sure how to interpret. But for the most part, the story was the kind that held my attention, and it was done well, featuring two strong, biracial female main characters, who were strong in different ways.
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January 28, 2024
Trigger & Content Warnings
Sexual assault of a disabled person
Anxiety & panic attack
Death of both parents in a car accident
Car accident resulting in traumatic mutism & paralysis
Sexual assault of a disabled person
Anxiety & panic attack
Death of both parents in a car accident
Car accident resulting in traumatic mutism & paralysis
June 11, 2024
I absolutely loved this book through and through. There are heavy elements; but there is also hope and human connection; love. It is inspiring and full of hope that our world needs.
Thank you, thank you for writing this masterpiece!
Thank you, thank you for writing this masterpiece!
November 7, 2023
The Princess of Thornwood Drive is told through the lenses of two sisters trapped apart from each other, one in a contemporary world and another in a fantasy world.
The story is told in alternating POVs between both of the sisters, and describes how their realities are so similar but different at the same time.
With one sister, Alyssa, who was paralyzed after the accident and is nonverbal. And her older sister, Laine, who had to rearrange her life to now be the guardian and caretaker of her younger sibling.
The way in which the author structured this novel was very innovative and unique. At the core of this book is the bond of two sisters who are grappling in their own ways to overcome the grief associated after a tragic family accident.
There was so much intertwined into this novel from the burdens of caregivers to the vulnerabilities of disabled people subject to unmentionable practices of the flawed healthcare systems.
I loved every minute of this one and am looking forward to reading more of this author's works!
The story is told in alternating POVs between both of the sisters, and describes how their realities are so similar but different at the same time.
With one sister, Alyssa, who was paralyzed after the accident and is nonverbal. And her older sister, Laine, who had to rearrange her life to now be the guardian and caretaker of her younger sibling.
The way in which the author structured this novel was very innovative and unique. At the core of this book is the bond of two sisters who are grappling in their own ways to overcome the grief associated after a tragic family accident.
There was so much intertwined into this novel from the burdens of caregivers to the vulnerabilities of disabled people subject to unmentionable practices of the flawed healthcare systems.
I loved every minute of this one and am looking forward to reading more of this author's works!
February 25, 2024
✨ PRINCEMAN REVIEW ✨
📝 22-year-old Laine is struggling to keep everything afloat. A year ago, her family was in a devastating car accident that left both her parents dead and her 18 year old sister paralyzed and nonverbal. While Laine is trying to pay the bills and do what's best as far as care for sister, she finds Lake Forest Adult Center, a place that offers free services for Alyssa during the day. Alyssa on the other hand has no idea about the accident. Instead, her parents were kidnapped in the dark forest of Mirendal. Alyssa knows she must reach her sister in time to alert her on how to save her parents and kingdom before it's too late.
What I 🤍:
💕 Love Story Between Sisters
🧌 Fantasy Mixed with Reality
😢 ALL THE FEELS
♥️ Love Triangle
🐎 Strong, Biracial FMC
If you need a book that will forever stay on your mind, THIS IS IT. I absolutely loved Laine and Alyssa in this book, and I was hooked right from the first chapter. The story bounces back and forth between the two sisters in a Duel POV. While Laine is in present day, dealing with the aftermath of the accident, Alyssa is in a fantasy world on a quest to save her family and kingdom. Both sisters were determined and strong, and their love for one another was the best part of this story. Be warned, some REALLY HEAVY events and topics are brought up in this book, and I loved watching the sisters fight for vengeance.
Prince's Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steaminess: 🔥🔥 (Off-Page, Insinuated)
Read if ➡️: You love emotional reads, family dramas
Read 📅: Anytime
CW ⚠️: Death of Loved Ones, Nonconsensual Interactions
I will never forget reading this story, although, I probably won't ever read it again because of how emotional it is. If you need a cathartic release, read this book. I cried HARD! Also, you can feel the struggle and pain these sisters faced. Moreau has personal experience of a family member living paralyzed and being unable to communicate, which in my opinion, makes the writing even more powerful.
This is Moreau's debut novel, and I hope she writes more! Thank you to Forever Publishing for an ARC of this book.
🌟 My review will be posted soon to my instagram page (@LifeWithPrinceMan).
📝 22-year-old Laine is struggling to keep everything afloat. A year ago, her family was in a devastating car accident that left both her parents dead and her 18 year old sister paralyzed and nonverbal. While Laine is trying to pay the bills and do what's best as far as care for sister, she finds Lake Forest Adult Center, a place that offers free services for Alyssa during the day. Alyssa on the other hand has no idea about the accident. Instead, her parents were kidnapped in the dark forest of Mirendal. Alyssa knows she must reach her sister in time to alert her on how to save her parents and kingdom before it's too late.
What I 🤍:
💕 Love Story Between Sisters
🧌 Fantasy Mixed with Reality
😢 ALL THE FEELS
♥️ Love Triangle
🐎 Strong, Biracial FMC
If you need a book that will forever stay on your mind, THIS IS IT. I absolutely loved Laine and Alyssa in this book, and I was hooked right from the first chapter. The story bounces back and forth between the two sisters in a Duel POV. While Laine is in present day, dealing with the aftermath of the accident, Alyssa is in a fantasy world on a quest to save her family and kingdom. Both sisters were determined and strong, and their love for one another was the best part of this story. Be warned, some REALLY HEAVY events and topics are brought up in this book, and I loved watching the sisters fight for vengeance.
Prince's Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steaminess: 🔥🔥 (Off-Page, Insinuated)
Read if ➡️: You love emotional reads, family dramas
Read 📅: Anytime
CW ⚠️: Death of Loved Ones, Nonconsensual Interactions
I will never forget reading this story, although, I probably won't ever read it again because of how emotional it is. If you need a cathartic release, read this book. I cried HARD! Also, you can feel the struggle and pain these sisters faced. Moreau has personal experience of a family member living paralyzed and being unable to communicate, which in my opinion, makes the writing even more powerful.
This is Moreau's debut novel, and I hope she writes more! Thank you to Forever Publishing for an ARC of this book.
🌟 My review will be posted soon to my instagram page (@LifeWithPrinceMan).
March 17, 2024
Forced myself to finish, cause I wanted to like it soooo much.
Fantastic and frank coverage of the dismissal that Laine receives for being an equestrian of color. Sympathetic delving into the minds of people trapped by hereditary or medical conditions, unable to communicate or function in the world. Amazing empathy for a young woman doing everything she can to give her sister the best care available, and what happens when that’s too good to be true.
Really, so much good in this book, and so much to slog through.
Loved wanting to bring everyone to the ‘coffee bar’ on an equal playing field. This book is making me look closer at people, knowing that the surface is only that, not only the color of skin but the sadness, burdens, and pain that you can’t see.
Part engrossing and engaging (Laine’s story, I love her, and want to hang out), part tepid fantasy hallucination (Alyssa), a worthy attempt to create an alternate and drug induced parallel fantasy which covers up a heinous abuse. Was the rape part where the beautiful women of color are dipped into the magical pond to become ringletted-blonde blue-eyed princesses? That was a bit much.
I look forward to more from this author.
Fantastic and frank coverage of the dismissal that Laine receives for being an equestrian of color. Sympathetic delving into the minds of people trapped by hereditary or medical conditions, unable to communicate or function in the world. Amazing empathy for a young woman doing everything she can to give her sister the best care available, and what happens when that’s too good to be true.
Really, so much good in this book, and so much to slog through.
Loved wanting to bring everyone to the ‘coffee bar’ on an equal playing field. This book is making me look closer at people, knowing that the surface is only that, not only the color of skin but the sadness, burdens, and pain that you can’t see.
Part engrossing and engaging (Laine’s story, I love her, and want to hang out), part tepid fantasy hallucination (Alyssa), a worthy attempt to create an alternate and drug induced parallel fantasy which covers up a heinous abuse. Was the rape part where the beautiful women of color are dipped into the magical pond to become ringletted-blonde blue-eyed princesses? That was a bit much.
I look forward to more from this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2023
Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy.
I want to start with the trigger for this are listed right away, but the way Moreau handled this topic kept the reader at a bit of a distance from the actual events. This was a uniquely told story about two sisters, Laine and Alyssa. Laine is under a lot of pressure to provide for Alyssa after she's left paralyzed and nonverbal after an accident that kills their parents. The grief in this story was palpable. Laine was under so much pressure, and I could feel the stress of life on her. Alyssa also shared her POV through a fantasy world that was easy to follow and I thought it was an interesting way for Moreau to handle this sensitive subject. The fantasy and real world were such a great way to juxtapose these POVs. I've never read a book told like this, and I applaud the author for doing something wholly unique. I will be thinking about this storytelling for a while and I am interested in seeing what this author comes up with next.
This is dually narrated, and I highly recommend going with the audio. Both performances were excellent!
I want to start with the trigger for this are listed right away, but the way Moreau handled this topic kept the reader at a bit of a distance from the actual events. This was a uniquely told story about two sisters, Laine and Alyssa. Laine is under a lot of pressure to provide for Alyssa after she's left paralyzed and nonverbal after an accident that kills their parents. The grief in this story was palpable. Laine was under so much pressure, and I could feel the stress of life on her. Alyssa also shared her POV through a fantasy world that was easy to follow and I thought it was an interesting way for Moreau to handle this sensitive subject. The fantasy and real world were such a great way to juxtapose these POVs. I've never read a book told like this, and I applaud the author for doing something wholly unique. I will be thinking about this storytelling for a while and I am interested in seeing what this author comes up with next.
This is dually narrated, and I highly recommend going with the audio. Both performances were excellent!
November 10, 2023
I will say I didn't exactly know what to expect when i went into this book,
This is the story of two sisters living the same life in alternate realities. After a tragic accident, the older sister Laine has to take care of her younger sister Alyssa who has been left paralyzed and nonverbal .
Laine is focused on what to do , financial issues and world issues. While Alyssa is transported ( in her mind) to the kingdom of Mirendal, an imagined fantasy realm, where she struggles as a cursed princess.
When an adult day center offers to care for the younger sister, the two siblings are faced with a new situation that will change their lives.
The author does a great job of bringing together the parallel experiences of both sisters.
It was unique and well written. But I didn't like the ending.
Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc. All opinions are my own.
This is the story of two sisters living the same life in alternate realities. After a tragic accident, the older sister Laine has to take care of her younger sister Alyssa who has been left paralyzed and nonverbal .
Laine is focused on what to do , financial issues and world issues. While Alyssa is transported ( in her mind) to the kingdom of Mirendal, an imagined fantasy realm, where she struggles as a cursed princess.
When an adult day center offers to care for the younger sister, the two siblings are faced with a new situation that will change their lives.
The author does a great job of bringing together the parallel experiences of both sisters.
It was unique and well written. But I didn't like the ending.
Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc. All opinions are my own.
February 12, 2024
Sisters Alyssa and Laine are living in two sides of reality. Laine is barely holding it all together after her parents were killed in a car crash and her sister Alyssa was injured and can't walk or talk. Alyssa is living in a different reality where her parents were kidnapped and Alyssa is cursed. Laine is working two different jobs and is caring for her sister. She's dealing with anxiety and guilt from the accident. A care facility has offered to care for Alyssa during the day. Alyssa meets other changels at the temple/care center and they can communicate via mindlink.
This was a heartbreaking fantasy novel. I'm still digesting and thinking about what I just read. It definitely kept me intrigued and hooked. I read it in one sitting. That cover is gorgeous.
This was a heartbreaking fantasy novel. I'm still digesting and thinking about what I just read. It definitely kept me intrigued and hooked. I read it in one sitting. That cover is gorgeous.
November 5, 2023
4.5 - “I trust in the strength everyone has lent me. I trust in the strength of my sister.”
Thank you to Libro.fm and Forever Publishing for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
This was unlike anything I’ve ever read. It’s such a unique, compelling story and I was dying to know what was going to happen next. A year after a car crash that killed her parents and left her younger sister, Alyssa, paralyzed, Laine is just trying to keep her head above water. The trajectory of her life has changed so dramatically and the trauma she has endured has rooted deep within. Juxtaposed with Laine’s reality is Alyssa’s; in her mind there was never a car accident and her parents are the king and queen of Mirendal. The alternating perspectives are realities are fascinating and add this incredible depth to the story.
The way this book blends a modern reality with a fantasy world is nothing short of astounding. I was a bit wary of reading it and there were so moments where I was bit confused, but I really enjoyed how unique this story is. Laine has such an incredible character arc. Her story is both tragic and triumphant.
The audio is produced well and having dual narrators for Laine and Alyssa really helped me to keep things straight. They both bring out the emotions of each character. This one is definitely worth checking out!
Thank you to Libro.fm and Forever Publishing for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
This was unlike anything I’ve ever read. It’s such a unique, compelling story and I was dying to know what was going to happen next. A year after a car crash that killed her parents and left her younger sister, Alyssa, paralyzed, Laine is just trying to keep her head above water. The trajectory of her life has changed so dramatically and the trauma she has endured has rooted deep within. Juxtaposed with Laine’s reality is Alyssa’s; in her mind there was never a car accident and her parents are the king and queen of Mirendal. The alternating perspectives are realities are fascinating and add this incredible depth to the story.
The way this book blends a modern reality with a fantasy world is nothing short of astounding. I was a bit wary of reading it and there were so moments where I was bit confused, but I really enjoyed how unique this story is. Laine has such an incredible character arc. Her story is both tragic and triumphant.
The audio is produced well and having dual narrators for Laine and Alyssa really helped me to keep things straight. They both bring out the emotions of each character. This one is definitely worth checking out!
November 8, 2023
I went into this book skeptical if I would be able to reconcile the two perspectives since one is disconnected from reality, but I ended up loving this book. I felt like this book looked at so many things: grief, family, hope, love and so much more. I ended up feeling so attached to these two characters who had been through so much. This was one of the most unique books I have read because of the two very different perspectives, with one existing in a magical version of our world, and the author did a good job of tying the two together. What a great book that I was not expecting to love as much as I did. This book has great characters, an interesting plot and so much emotion.
October 11, 2023
Very impressive debut! I’ve never read anything like this. I loved how the two sisters contrasted each other and the ways that their worlds intertwined. However, I thought that Alyssa’s chapters were occasionally hard to follow and I wish there was a bit more foreshadowing on Laine’s side. But overall, the unique approach to telling this story really worked for me. (thanks to Libro.fm for the ALC!)
November 16, 2023
This was such an interesting book. Being in the medical field also made it so fascinating...I've often wondered how patients who are non verbal, what they are thinking, how they are feeling. I enjoyed the fantasy aspect of this book with the alternating real world story line. Then the added Carribean/Trinidad glimpses were so descriptive and entertaining. This is a great one for fantasy readers. Thank you Read Forever Publishing and Grand Central Publishing for the book to read & review.
Read
June 21, 2025The dual storytelling depicting two realities is a clever idea, but this was a miss for me. In trying to portray two different perspectives, both lacked depth for me so I didn't feel engaged, and the emotional beats landed. Didn't love the ending too, unfortunately.
dnf
December 6, 2023Temp? DNF The audiobook for this is just not good IDK if the echo is supposed to be there I don't like it and the volume keeps shifting. might try in another format later
March 25, 2024
I really liked this! Two very different parallel stories, one with very gritty real-world problems (check trigger warnings before reading), and one in a fantastical land. They intersect cleverly and we get some point of view from paralysed and nonverbal Alyssa. A really interesting approach and well-executed.
March 26, 2024
This is a book that picked up a lot of steam as it went, certainly for me personally. The parallel worlds of Laine and Alyssa work amazingly well, and it is a powerful suggestion of what magic can be. The impressions we make, the ways we make people feel, the simple power of our thoughts - they have an impact. What a beautiful reflection on the people we love with and the people who have left us.
October 8, 2023
This was such a heartbreaking and interesting read. I really enjoyed how the story was told. Each sister tells the story with Laine’s chapters rooted in reality, and Alyssa’s rooted in fantasy. The way the story weaves back and forth was engaging. I do wish the pacing was a little different, with a lot of stuff unfolding quickly at the end. But overall, a good book.
This book features a lot of heartbreak and cws including death of parents; sexual assault of disabled individual; anxiety and panic attack.
This book features a lot of heartbreak and cws including death of parents; sexual assault of disabled individual; anxiety and panic attack.
Read
January 17, 2024This was definitely interesting, and I'd recommend it for any adult who wants similar feels to the ones we got in 2007 when watching Pan's Labyrinth. It was sadder than I expected and a bit disappointing in its resolution but touched on a lot of stuff I don't see often enough in contemporary fiction, in a way that felt really authentic. There was no Fix The System Ex Macchina or saviors, and some things were realistically left unresolved or semi-resolved. I loved the Caribbean mythology woven into both storylines and felt the fantasy worldbuilding was refreshingly different from the usual European-inspired medieval-meets-renaissance fantasy standard of most fantasy in the western world.
This book was also a great example of what you could actually call New Adult Literary Fiction if New Adult hadn't been destroyed before it got off the ground, so I also appreciate it on that level for talking about actual young adults as opposed to teens, going through actual young adult things, not teen things or young adult things rejiggered to appear to be teen things in order to fit into the current state of YA, which is awful, but I digress...
The audiobook was a bit uneven; the woman doing Alyssa's part seemed to have difficulty pronouncing basic words now and then (pretty sure I heard "kindered" instead of "kindred" at one point), and the director and producer clearly were not always paying attention because sometimes there was this weird back echo for no reason and other times the echo seemed to be there for actual effect; it just felt like a kind of sloppy production that changed rooms or mics a lot or something. So ehh on that, but a pretty solid novel.
This book was also a great example of what you could actually call New Adult Literary Fiction if New Adult hadn't been destroyed before it got off the ground, so I also appreciate it on that level for talking about actual young adults as opposed to teens, going through actual young adult things, not teen things or young adult things rejiggered to appear to be teen things in order to fit into the current state of YA, which is awful, but I digress...
The audiobook was a bit uneven; the woman doing Alyssa's part seemed to have difficulty pronouncing basic words now and then (pretty sure I heard "kindered" instead of "kindred" at one point), and the director and producer clearly were not always paying attention because sometimes there was this weird back echo for no reason and other times the echo seemed to be there for actual effect; it just felt like a kind of sloppy production that changed rooms or mics a lot or something. So ehh on that, but a pretty solid novel.
January 7, 2024
A unique and original story. The story is told by two sisters and I found the two perspectives almost made this feel like two different books, different stories. Laine's world is the one we know. She's a bit prickly, working multiple jobs and fighting for care for her sister. Her sister, Alyssa, unable to communicate her thoughts and opinions to Laine, is in a world with kings, queens, and fairies. I had to pay extra attention to Alyssa's chapters, to marry what she was experiencing in her world and try to find the similarities to it in Laine's world (almost like translating it). I found the two worlds fascinating in the ways they were similar and the ways they were different. I like that everyone spoke in a different rhythm and cadence in Alyssa's world.
The plot, however, is deeply saddening. Each new reveal made me even more sad and I felt Laine's fire and anger. I felt Alyssa's want to fight and succeed.
My copy had discussion questions and in there, it asked if I wish it had ended different. A little, I do. It was all just so deeply saddening but a really fascinating, well-told story.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
The plot, however, is deeply saddening. Each new reveal made me even more sad and I felt Laine's fire and anger. I felt Alyssa's want to fight and succeed.
My copy had discussion questions and in there, it asked if I wish it had ended different. A little, I do. It was all just so deeply saddening but a really fascinating, well-told story.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
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