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A Fairy Tale Retold #5
Ten Thousand Thorns
What if Sleeping Beauty was a martial artist?
For a hundred years, Princess Morning Light has meditated in a hidden temple surrounded by ten thousand thorns. Could her long-lost sword skill be the key to stopping the Vastly Martial Emperor?
Rebel leader Clouded Sky doesn’t believe in the old legends of Ten Thousand Thorns Temple. But as bounty hunters and imperial guards close in, the martial princess may be Clouded Sky’s last hope.
Who can he trust—and who is planning to betray him?
If you liked the martial arts and fierce female characters of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, you’ll love this action-packed retelling of Sleeping Beauty!
For a hundred years, Princess Morning Light has meditated in a hidden temple surrounded by ten thousand thorns. Could her long-lost sword skill be the key to stopping the Vastly Martial Emperor?
Rebel leader Clouded Sky doesn’t believe in the old legends of Ten Thousand Thorns Temple. But as bounty hunters and imperial guards close in, the martial princess may be Clouded Sky’s last hope.
Who can he trust—and who is planning to betray him?
If you liked the martial arts and fierce female characters of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, you’ll love this action-packed retelling of Sleeping Beauty!
115 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2017
17 people are currently reading
357 people want to read
About the author
Suzannah Rowntree
34 books596 followersHi! I live in a big house in rural Australia with my awesome parents and siblings, drinking fancy tea and writing historical fantasy fiction that blends real-world history with legend, adventure, and a dash of romance.
If you like the historical fantasy of Gail Carriger, S. A. Chakraborty or Naomi Novik, you'll probably like my stories too!
You can visit me online at https://suzannahrowntree.site
GOODREADS FRIEND POLICY: I'm afraid I don't accept every single friend request I receive, unless we already know each other, or it looks like we have tastes broadly in common. However, please feel free to follow and interact.
If you like the historical fantasy of Gail Carriger, S. A. Chakraborty or Naomi Novik, you'll probably like my stories too!
You can visit me online at https://suzannahrowntree.site
GOODREADS FRIEND POLICY: I'm afraid I don't accept every single friend request I receive, unless we already know each other, or it looks like we have tastes broadly in common. However, please feel free to follow and interact.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 13, 2018
I have a new favorite indie fantasy author to watch. Three cheers for Suzannah Rowntree! I've previously read her short stories / novelettes (of which Death Be Not Proud was my favorite!), and this month I snapped up her novella Ten Thousand Thorns. (A Sleeping Beauty retelling set in ancient China with a heroine who's a martial arts champion?! Sign me up yesterday!)
Three things you should know about Rowntree:
- Her writing is crisp and clear and changes--every story I've read by her so far has its own texture, rhythm, and ... taste? If you can taste a story, then each one of these will satisfy you in a different way.
- She sets her stories all over the world, in all different points of history. I love it. I LOVE IT. Death Be Not Proud was set in New Zealand, I think, during what would equate to the US Roaring Twenties (I'm not sure what it would be called in NZ). Ten Thousand Thorns is draws on historical China as a setting and is told in the Wuxia tradition (I think). Read the sample if you want to know what I mean.
- She invariably gives the story twists I didn't see coming. Even in Ten Thousand Thorns, when I kind of new how it would end, I was very happily surprised a couple of times, and burst out laughing at the revelation of the Thorns (and Clouded Sky's response).
Ten Thousand Thorns itself was a delightful read, and I can't wait for what Rowntree has coming next!
Three things you should know about Rowntree:
- Her writing is crisp and clear and changes--every story I've read by her so far has its own texture, rhythm, and ... taste? If you can taste a story, then each one of these will satisfy you in a different way.
- She sets her stories all over the world, in all different points of history. I love it. I LOVE IT. Death Be Not Proud was set in New Zealand, I think, during what would equate to the US Roaring Twenties (I'm not sure what it would be called in NZ). Ten Thousand Thorns is draws on historical China as a setting and is told in the Wuxia tradition (I think). Read the sample if you want to know what I mean.
- She invariably gives the story twists I didn't see coming. Even in Ten Thousand Thorns, when I kind of new how it would end, I was very happily surprised a couple of times, and burst out laughing at the revelation of the Thorns (and Clouded Sky's response).
Ten Thousand Thorns itself was a delightful read, and I can't wait for what Rowntree has coming next!
my-books
October 21, 2017I had ridiculous amounts of fun writing this action-packed Sleeping Beauty retelling. Can't wait to share it with you all on November 30th!
March 7, 2020
i love this book. totally different from The City Beyond the Glass, and yet it has the same underpinning depth as CBG.
joyful, fun, and unexpectedly deep, this is the best of wuxia
joyful, fun, and unexpectedly deep, this is the best of wuxia
October 29, 2018
Goodness, this book was a fun ride!
I know admittedly little about Asian culture, and there are sadly few fantasy books that utilize this setting. So when I saw that Suzannah Rowntree was writing a retelling of Sleeping Beauty set in China, I was excited and begged to beta read it. (Okay, Suzannah is a very nice person and didn't actually make me beg. But I would have, had it been necessary.)
What I love about Ten Thousand Thorns is how entertaining the fights are. I love action movies, but have always found it difficult to get that same excitement from written action scenes. I didn't have that problem at all here. With the addition of two intriguing and likable main characters, it made this novella an excellent piece of fiction that fills a sadly sparse area in the fantasy genre. (Seriously, ya'll. We need more Asian-inspired fantasy stories!)
I received an e-book copy of this book for free from the author. It has not affected the honesty of my review in any way.
I know admittedly little about Asian culture, and there are sadly few fantasy books that utilize this setting. So when I saw that Suzannah Rowntree was writing a retelling of Sleeping Beauty set in China, I was excited and begged to beta read it. (Okay, Suzannah is a very nice person and didn't actually make me beg. But I would have, had it been necessary.)
What I love about Ten Thousand Thorns is how entertaining the fights are. I love action movies, but have always found it difficult to get that same excitement from written action scenes. I didn't have that problem at all here. With the addition of two intriguing and likable main characters, it made this novella an excellent piece of fiction that fills a sadly sparse area in the fantasy genre. (Seriously, ya'll. We need more Asian-inspired fantasy stories!)
I received an e-book copy of this book for free from the author. It has not affected the honesty of my review in any way.
May 19, 2018
For a fairy tale I'm not particularly fond of, Perrault's Sleeping Beauty in the Wood has inspired (and keeps inspiring) some extraordinarily creative and gorgeous retellings, that invariably end up in my favourites shelf.
Rowntree's is one more. It's a rather short, but by no means incomplete, reworking of the tale set in a land called All-under-heaven that is very obviously Imperial China round the 12th century or thereabouts. The plot involves the fugitive third-in-command of a failed rebellion against the Very Martial Emperor who's trying to return to the wild mountains to reconnect with the remainder of the rebel troops, after the Emperor has ambushed and beheaded the two higher-ups, and en route he pauses at a village where an astoundingly skillful maiden terorrises the villagers with her continuous beating of everyone brave (or suicidal) enough to challenge her to hand-to-hand combat. Clouded Sky, the rebel, feels compelled by his warrior code to duel with Iron Maiden to protect the people (he thinks), but whilst he's getting the beating of his life for his heroics, Imperial troops and a bounty hunter barge in on their duel and try to arrest both, so they are forced to team up, fight as a duo, and flee afterwards, going in search of the mysterious Ten Thousand Thorns Temple, where a legendary princess carrying an all-powerful golden sword, is rumoured to be deep in trance-like meditation and awaiting the hero to wake her up.
That's about everything that's recognisably Sleeping Beauty, the rest is pretty much its own original storyline, which reads like recasting the French fairy tale in the world of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The style is exactly like one of those mad-action-and-madder-badassery martial arts films, and I definitely could imagine Clouded Sky & Iron Maiden as the protagonists of that film. The fight sequences are unrealistically fantastical, and that's the point, and there's enough banter and humour to keep one interested till the surprise ending. The romance is very subtle, a trademark Rowntree characteristic, and it's a detail I've grown fond of, because there's already many other romantic retellings to cover that area.
Rowntree's is one more. It's a rather short, but by no means incomplete, reworking of the tale set in a land called All-under-heaven that is very obviously Imperial China round the 12th century or thereabouts. The plot involves the fugitive third-in-command of a failed rebellion against the Very Martial Emperor who's trying to return to the wild mountains to reconnect with the remainder of the rebel troops, after the Emperor has ambushed and beheaded the two higher-ups, and en route he pauses at a village where an astoundingly skillful maiden terorrises the villagers with her continuous beating of everyone brave (or suicidal) enough to challenge her to hand-to-hand combat. Clouded Sky, the rebel, feels compelled by his warrior code to duel with Iron Maiden to protect the people (he thinks), but whilst he's getting the beating of his life for his heroics, Imperial troops and a bounty hunter barge in on their duel and try to arrest both, so they are forced to team up, fight as a duo, and flee afterwards, going in search of the mysterious Ten Thousand Thorns Temple, where a legendary princess carrying an all-powerful golden sword, is rumoured to be deep in trance-like meditation and awaiting the hero to wake her up.
That's about everything that's recognisably Sleeping Beauty, the rest is pretty much its own original storyline, which reads like recasting the French fairy tale in the world of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The style is exactly like one of those mad-action-and-madder-badassery martial arts films, and I definitely could imagine Clouded Sky & Iron Maiden as the protagonists of that film. The fight sequences are unrealistically fantastical, and that's the point, and there's enough banter and humour to keep one interested till the surprise ending. The romance is very subtle, a trademark Rowntree characteristic, and it's a detail I've grown fond of, because there's already many other romantic retellings to cover that area.
December 4, 2017
My favourite fiction wins at several levels: it is entertaining, and able to communicate big ideas with simplicity. This novella succeeds at both levels.
I thought at one point this novella might have bitten off more than it could chew. But no. It’s got extraordinary thematic richness, but never loses its “lightness skill” (kind of like its heroine). Like the Narnia books, people will read it because it’s just fun and satisfying. But also like those books, it is asking and answering huge questions.
The action scenes pulsate, dance, and carry the reader along effortlessly. Fight scenes can be done so badly, even by good writers, so kudos there.
And kudos for biting off and successfully chewing some of the thornier (metaphors and puns all of the place here, sorry) issues we are struggling with today, rather than the same themes that get endlessly and rather stalely rehashed in many allegorical fantasies by Christians.
I thought at one point this novella might have bitten off more than it could chew. But no. It’s got extraordinary thematic richness, but never loses its “lightness skill” (kind of like its heroine). Like the Narnia books, people will read it because it’s just fun and satisfying. But also like those books, it is asking and answering huge questions.
The action scenes pulsate, dance, and carry the reader along effortlessly. Fight scenes can be done so badly, even by good writers, so kudos there.
And kudos for biting off and successfully chewing some of the thornier (metaphors and puns all of the place here, sorry) issues we are struggling with today, rather than the same themes that get endlessly and rather stalely rehashed in many allegorical fantasies by Christians.
March 16, 2018
What a delightful story this is! I know little about Chinese fantasy other than having watched Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon long ago, yet this novella totally charmed me. (The names of the martial-arts stances sometimes cracked me up--they were so fun!)
The setting is richly drawn, the characters grow and deepen, the martial-arts action scenes are magnificent, and clever plot twists enhanced my enjoyment of this story!
A story that entertains as well as challenging a reader to think is well worth the read.
Highly recommended!
The setting is richly drawn, the characters grow and deepen, the martial-arts action scenes are magnificent, and clever plot twists enhanced my enjoyment of this story!
A story that entertains as well as challenging a reader to think is well worth the read.
Highly recommended!
December 12, 2020
4.5 / 5
i was pleasantly surprised by this. first of all, i thought the writing style was cool. it was like the way chinese would sound if it were english, if that make sense (i’m chinese american). it was exactly what you expect it to be, a chinese-inspired sleeping beauty retelling. i looove a good retelling, and giving this a chinese spin made me really happy. i really liked the twists and the story overall felt really solid to me. it was fun and i really enjoyed this.
i was pleasantly surprised by this. first of all, i thought the writing style was cool. it was like the way chinese would sound if it were english, if that make sense (i’m chinese american). it was exactly what you expect it to be, a chinese-inspired sleeping beauty retelling. i looove a good retelling, and giving this a chinese spin made me really happy. i really liked the twists and the story overall felt really solid to me. it was fun and i really enjoyed this.
November 30, 2017
She has done it again. If you have followed my blog for any amount of time, you know I am a huge fan of Suzannah Rowntree’s fairytale retellings. I have little background in fairytales, except the ones Disney made famous, but Suzannah not only introduces me to the ones I am unfamiliar with but delivers a new spin on the familiar. Ten Thousand Thorns takes Sleeping Beauty to China in an exciting spin as a martial arts epic. It is beautiful, epic, adventurous, and thoughtful.
Following the journey that Clouded Sky and Iron Maiden undertake, I never knew for certain if this Sleeping Beauty retelling would play out how I expected it would. And, if I am honest, it did not play out how I expected it to. AND I LOVE THAT! This utterly unique retelling will keep you guessing and engrossed, while delivering all of Rowntree’s storytelling trademarks: real characters, vivid world building, and hints of allegory.
Following the journey that Clouded Sky and Iron Maiden undertake, I never knew for certain if this Sleeping Beauty retelling would play out how I expected it would. And, if I am honest, it did not play out how I expected it to. AND I LOVE THAT! This utterly unique retelling will keep you guessing and engrossed, while delivering all of Rowntree’s storytelling trademarks: real characters, vivid world building, and hints of allegory.
December 14, 2017
I knew I would like this story, so I kept reading it even though the first chapter or two made me feel as though I might not be part of its target audience. Ultimately, I was glad I did.
The author's choice to retell "Sleeping Beauty" as a story told in the style of a Chinese Wuxia adventure poses a number of challenges. The genre, best known to most Americans through films like *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon* isn't something most of us are accustomed to reading. Ms. Rowntree chooses to tie her tale closely to her Chinese sources, which initially makes it feel quite foreign. In fact, it is so foreign--so full of language and phrases that sound awkward (even, I must admit, corny) to a modern Western ear--that some readers may become uncomfortable and feel that the text turns the characters and culture into stereotypes. It's the kind of writing that politically correct Americans would prefer come only from Chinese people so as to avoid the question of cultural appropriation and cultural sensitivity.
Yet the flip side of stereotype is archetype. Like tales of Zoro, King Arthur and his knights, or any other band of chivalrous warriors, Wuxia heroes seem to be unabashedly ready to enter into picturesque single combat while grappling with their own ideals; all without the least bit of self-consciousness. Furthermore, the author writes with clear affection and enthusiasm for her source material. As I grew accustomed to the language and the fairly extensive terminology, I was fascinated to realize that the story's martial arts could be seen as a highly-developed magic system. This made them feel more relatable and less "foreign." Ultimately, the story transcends the setting, and the Wuxia-style values provide the author with a way to examine universal themes in a fresh-feeling way.
As a fairy tale retelling, the novella is top notch. It manages to hit the key notes of the original story in a satisfying way while providing the reader with plenty of surprises. As a romance, it is also satisfying. I appreciate the culturally-appropriate restraint with which our hero and heroine interact. It's fun to see Ms. Rowntree grow as an author. Her character development is what makes this story surprisingly moving. I knew I would like the novella because I knew I liked the author, and I'm glad I stuck it out even though I am not a Wuxia person.
The author's choice to retell "Sleeping Beauty" as a story told in the style of a Chinese Wuxia adventure poses a number of challenges. The genre, best known to most Americans through films like *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon* isn't something most of us are accustomed to reading. Ms. Rowntree chooses to tie her tale closely to her Chinese sources, which initially makes it feel quite foreign. In fact, it is so foreign--so full of language and phrases that sound awkward (even, I must admit, corny) to a modern Western ear--that some readers may become uncomfortable and feel that the text turns the characters and culture into stereotypes. It's the kind of writing that politically correct Americans would prefer come only from Chinese people so as to avoid the question of cultural appropriation and cultural sensitivity.
Yet the flip side of stereotype is archetype. Like tales of Zoro, King Arthur and his knights, or any other band of chivalrous warriors, Wuxia heroes seem to be unabashedly ready to enter into picturesque single combat while grappling with their own ideals; all without the least bit of self-consciousness. Furthermore, the author writes with clear affection and enthusiasm for her source material. As I grew accustomed to the language and the fairly extensive terminology, I was fascinated to realize that the story's martial arts could be seen as a highly-developed magic system. This made them feel more relatable and less "foreign." Ultimately, the story transcends the setting, and the Wuxia-style values provide the author with a way to examine universal themes in a fresh-feeling way.
As a fairy tale retelling, the novella is top notch. It manages to hit the key notes of the original story in a satisfying way while providing the reader with plenty of surprises. As a romance, it is also satisfying. I appreciate the culturally-appropriate restraint with which our hero and heroine interact. It's fun to see Ms. Rowntree grow as an author. Her character development is what makes this story surprisingly moving. I knew I would like the novella because I knew I liked the author, and I'm glad I stuck it out even though I am not a Wuxia person.
November 26, 2021
Such love. Such beauty. Such richness.
December 2, 2017
Ah, I really enjoyed this one.
The writing is clear and crisp, and it truly draws you in; almost as if you are watching a movie - seeing the shadows, hearing the clash of weapons, and watching the action.
Some of the descriptions were quite perfect: ‘she moved as lightly as a dandelion seed blowing on the wind’ for example. The characters are delightful (apart from the villains, of course), the heroine in particular. And it was obvious that Rowntree has done her research into the historical period.
Everyone was saying Very Wise And Poetic Sayings, which gives me life goals because I would very much like to drift around and say things like ‘truly, one happiness scatters a thousand sorrows’ (...and then crack out some 'Awkward-Octopus-Strikes-Thrice-And-Falls' martial arts move, afterwards, of course.)
There were some PLOT TWIST! moments that I enjoyed, and I found the way that the fairy tale was retold to be unique and quite clever.
Altogether, I found this story to be an action filled martial arts adventure, garnished with the perfect touch of swashbuckling charm.
The writing is clear and crisp, and it truly draws you in; almost as if you are watching a movie - seeing the shadows, hearing the clash of weapons, and watching the action.
Some of the descriptions were quite perfect: ‘she moved as lightly as a dandelion seed blowing on the wind’ for example. The characters are delightful (apart from the villains, of course), the heroine in particular. And it was obvious that Rowntree has done her research into the historical period.
Everyone was saying Very Wise And Poetic Sayings, which gives me life goals because I would very much like to drift around and say things like ‘truly, one happiness scatters a thousand sorrows’ (...and then crack out some 'Awkward-Octopus-Strikes-Thrice-And-Falls' martial arts move, afterwards, of course.)
There were some PLOT TWIST! moments that I enjoyed, and I found the way that the fairy tale was retold to be unique and quite clever.
Altogether, I found this story to be an action filled martial arts adventure, garnished with the perfect touch of swashbuckling charm.
November 29, 2017
An empire entangled in civil war. Martial arts warriors torn between allegiances. A legend of a princess who wields indomitable power, meditating for a thousand years until she is woken…
Our hero is a warrior forged by his sect to uphold justice and freedom as heaven’s mandate. His highest calling is to surpass the material realm and attain enlightenment, but his duty is also to serve and protect his people. In these increasingly tumultuous times, and following the death of his brother, Clouded Sky realises he cannot pursue enlightenment until he discharges his obligation to his people.
But defying the emperor is no straightforward undertaking. Clouded Sky must join league with an impudent peasant girl and find his way to the Temple of Ten Thousand Thorns, before the emperor’s Imperial Sword gets there first.
But once woken, whose side will the mysterious princess really be on?
Ten Thousand Thorns is the latest novella in Rowntree’s succession of fairytales retold, which are written in a tantalising mixture of fact and fantasy to delight readers of any age. This is no less a lively adventure, with a few twists and turns, fun and sometimes silly dialogue, and a character who must learn to change or he will not succeed.
I enjoy Rowntree’s style, the way she puts the exotic setting on show in a realistic way, yet retains all the myth and mystery of a good fantasy. Her characters don’t just come out of the bad bean jar or the good bean jar (because, as Don Quixote would tell you, “In the world there must surely be of all sorts”): they have to discover good and evil for themselves, test their own motives and choose which route to take through the tricky traverse they face.
Our hero is a warrior forged by his sect to uphold justice and freedom as heaven’s mandate. His highest calling is to surpass the material realm and attain enlightenment, but his duty is also to serve and protect his people. In these increasingly tumultuous times, and following the death of his brother, Clouded Sky realises he cannot pursue enlightenment until he discharges his obligation to his people.
But defying the emperor is no straightforward undertaking. Clouded Sky must join league with an impudent peasant girl and find his way to the Temple of Ten Thousand Thorns, before the emperor’s Imperial Sword gets there first.
But once woken, whose side will the mysterious princess really be on?
Ten Thousand Thorns is the latest novella in Rowntree’s succession of fairytales retold, which are written in a tantalising mixture of fact and fantasy to delight readers of any age. This is no less a lively adventure, with a few twists and turns, fun and sometimes silly dialogue, and a character who must learn to change or he will not succeed.
I enjoy Rowntree’s style, the way she puts the exotic setting on show in a realistic way, yet retains all the myth and mystery of a good fantasy. Her characters don’t just come out of the bad bean jar or the good bean jar (because, as Don Quixote would tell you, “In the world there must surely be of all sorts”): they have to discover good and evil for themselves, test their own motives and choose which route to take through the tricky traverse they face.
November 27, 2017
Fairytale retellings can be one of the trickiest to write about; still, a lot of authors find inspiration from these stories and rewrite them from a new perspective. To me, it’s not about how true to the original fairytale the story should stay but the ability of the author to flesh out beloved characters and twist the fairytale into a story that will leave readers knowing more about the characters’ backstories, their motives, and their downfalls.
Ten Thousand Thorns does exactly that. This novel is an Asian retelling of the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty. But unlike the original folk tale, Ten Thousand Thorns doesn’t allow its heroine to remain a whispered persona.
What made Ten Thousand Thorns stand out for me was the involvement of Chinese martial arts in this retold kingdom. It took the entire fairytale in a whole new and refreshing direction!
Iron Maiden is such an admirable character. Her dedication and loyalty to the princess won me over! I’m so glad the author gave a heroine a more active role in this story rather than allowing Sleeping Beauty to simply remain the only female, and asleep at that!
Then, we have our hero who is the complete opposite of a Prince Charming. Sure, he was a deadly martial artist but next to Iron Maiden, Clouded Sky seemed like a novice. In fact, he had no desire to wake up a presumed mythical person. Our hero was filled with self doubt, was downtrodden, and reluctant. Unlike the princes I grew up reading whose only goal was love and saving the princess, Clouded Sky had a more personal stake in the quest.
The antagonists, Imperial Sword and Second Brother were just as interesting with much more to lose in their own quest for Princess Morning Light. It’s unfortunate, though, that the author didn’t dwell more on how they came to serve the Emperor and their own backgrounds as martial artists.
With Ten Thousand Thorns, the author gave us enough to understand and follow the story but I think readers would have benefited with understanding the war. The author glossed over them from time to time but what I wanted as a reader was the working of its politics and how the normal citizens were affected. While the Asian influence in the story was distinguishable, I would have liked to have read more of the culture beyond the martial arts.
I found Ten Thousand Thorns to be a very enjoyable read that gave a unique take to the Sleeping Beauty tale. Suzannah Rowntree’s language stays true to the fairytale prose I’ve grown up with. Her prose was creative, and rhythmic making her a writer to look up to.
I received an ARC at no cost from the author, however, all opinions are my own. Follow me at Camillea Reads and on IG: biblio.khaleesi for more bookish adventures.
Ten Thousand Thorns does exactly that. This novel is an Asian retelling of the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty. But unlike the original folk tale, Ten Thousand Thorns doesn’t allow its heroine to remain a whispered persona.
What made Ten Thousand Thorns stand out for me was the involvement of Chinese martial arts in this retold kingdom. It took the entire fairytale in a whole new and refreshing direction!
Iron Maiden is such an admirable character. Her dedication and loyalty to the princess won me over! I’m so glad the author gave a heroine a more active role in this story rather than allowing Sleeping Beauty to simply remain the only female, and asleep at that!
Then, we have our hero who is the complete opposite of a Prince Charming. Sure, he was a deadly martial artist but next to Iron Maiden, Clouded Sky seemed like a novice. In fact, he had no desire to wake up a presumed mythical person. Our hero was filled with self doubt, was downtrodden, and reluctant. Unlike the princes I grew up reading whose only goal was love and saving the princess, Clouded Sky had a more personal stake in the quest.
The antagonists, Imperial Sword and Second Brother were just as interesting with much more to lose in their own quest for Princess Morning Light. It’s unfortunate, though, that the author didn’t dwell more on how they came to serve the Emperor and their own backgrounds as martial artists.
With Ten Thousand Thorns, the author gave us enough to understand and follow the story but I think readers would have benefited with understanding the war. The author glossed over them from time to time but what I wanted as a reader was the working of its politics and how the normal citizens were affected. While the Asian influence in the story was distinguishable, I would have liked to have read more of the culture beyond the martial arts.
I found Ten Thousand Thorns to be a very enjoyable read that gave a unique take to the Sleeping Beauty tale. Suzannah Rowntree’s language stays true to the fairytale prose I’ve grown up with. Her prose was creative, and rhythmic making her a writer to look up to.
I received an ARC at no cost from the author, however, all opinions are my own. Follow me at Camillea Reads and on IG: biblio.khaleesi for more bookish adventures.
November 11, 2017
A wonderful adaptation of "sleeping beauty" with plenty of action and characters,who were playful and thoughtful! written so well,didn't catch the "fairytale" subplot till near the end..It was an enjoyable read.
April 30, 2020
3 1/2 stars. The concept was fun, though I might have enjoyed it more as a Saturday afternoon movie than as a book. Still, I recommended this one to my husband, as I think he'd enjoy the wuxia fights, and wouldn't mind as much as I do that it didn't really engage emotions and tug on heartstrings.
There's little 'content' to be concerned about. There is fighting, death, betrayal--everything you'd expect from a wuxia martial arts movie--but nothing I'd consider graphic. I enjoyed the way the author portrayed and used the flavor of Chinese philosophies to make her own points, but I also think some young readers would benefit from a discussion of history vs story on that topic. That said, I think some middle graders would definitely be able to enjoy this story!
There's little 'content' to be concerned about. There is fighting, death, betrayal--everything you'd expect from a wuxia martial arts movie--but nothing I'd consider graphic. I enjoyed the way the author portrayed and used the flavor of Chinese philosophies to make her own points, but I also think some young readers would benefit from a discussion of history vs story on that topic. That said, I think some middle graders would definitely be able to enjoy this story!
April 24, 2018
It started a little slow, but really paid off. Fairy tales generally teach a moral lesson. This tale teaches a powerful message of victory for those who have ears to hear, or perhaps "eyes to read."
September 27, 2023
If you are like me and have never read anything in the style of a Chinese martial arts epic before, this novella is the perfect introduction to the genre. Here is an author who clearly loves wuxia, and wants you to love it, too. It was so much fun to read - exciting and picturesque, with compelling character development. And a couple of really great Easter eggs, too.
November 12, 2018
Some books just “sing”.
Others…don’t work for some people.
What if Sleeping Beauty was a martial artist?
For a hundred years, Princess Morning Light has meditated in a hidden temple surrounded by ten thousand thorns. Could her long-lost sword skill be the key to stopping the Vastly Martial Emperor?
Rebel leader Clouded Sky doesn’t believe in the old legends of Ten Thousand Thorns Temple. But as bounty hunters and imperial guards close in, the martial princess may be Clouded Sky’s last hope.
Who can he trust – and who is planning to betray him?
If you liked the martial arts and fierce female characters of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, you’ll love this action-packed retelling of Sleeping Beauty!
The People in Front
The book has two leads. Clouded Sky is a young fugitive – a martial arts disciple trying to resist the invading emperor’s forces, while grieving his commander and brother’s deaths at said emperor’s hands. Undeserved misfortune? Check. Save-the-cat moment? Check (he agrees to help the village he’s passing through).
The Iron Maiden, on the other hand, makes her first appearance by throwing the village chief through the tavern wall. Then she berates the tavern waitress, and holds the chief hostage until somebody fights her. Then she kicks Clouded Sky’s butt…several times.
This gal is undeniably a character with secrets – and mad skillz – but her first impression was not someone I would root for.
That said, the story arc does change things.
Clouded Sky falls for her. (I know – can’t we have a relationship without sexual tension? But it does set up a little dilemma at the very end.)
Beyond that, everybody’s secrets unravel at a steady pace. While the revelations aren’t too shocking, the set-ups and pay-offs are well tied together.
Clouded Sky is forced to abandon his angst and face his deepest fears – until heroism emerges.
The Happy
The story itself is not so much based on historical China, as on an anime-inspired version of China. There is much kicking butt (mostly Iron Maiden kicking people’s butts) and the best blows are so fast they cause a physical wind to blow. In a campier version of this story, words like “Blam” and “Pow” would probably materialize at each hit.
Once you adjust to this physics-defying world, it’s great.
Speaking of adjusting: the author does a good job easing us into the mindset of these non-Western, non-modern people. Without paragraph dumps of “This is how the world works” – and without dragging us through actions and dialogue where we are totally lost about what’s happening – Ms. Rowntree presents us with some foreign concepts and mannerisms, but allows us to pick up the significance from context.
One other thing I liked was the subtle way she included each element of the source fairytale, re-casting it to fit the setting of the re-telling. Her way of plotting these stories always makes it more like a clever scavenger-hunt for interested readers, rather than beating you over the head with Hey this is a fairytale, like you’ve already seen!
The Grumpy
It’s interesting to me that Ten Thousand Thorns is billed as the author’s “most popular fairytale retelling”, since in my opinion Death Be Not Proud is better than this – and Prince of Fishes is better than that.
For one thing, the descriptions (both of the settings and the characters) felt more fleshed-out and real in Death Be Not Proud. This makes sense, since the setting was near the author’s own Down Under – rather than Thorns‘ mystical Oriental setting.
However, I also noticed at least four errors in the text. I don’t mention this to beat up on indie authors, but because it’s a departure from Ms. Rowntree’s usual standard of work. After all, if she’s now paying for professional cover design…I would think she had the line-editing down pat.
And as for the secret character revelations…I guessed like two out of four of them. Was I supposed to?
The Way of the World
Even Dorothy Sayers, my highly esteemed idol of authorship, had her “off” books.
And, manifestly, Ten Thousand Thorns worked for many people. If you’re tired of princess stories with no fight scenes – and way too much mooning or drama – this might be your ticket. (Clouded Sky does a little mooning…)
If you read (or tried to read) The Book of Five Rings and had no idea what he was talking about, this will show you stance-based Oriental martial arts in action.
Look out behind you! Scratching Monkey Gets the Early Worm! Ha ha!
DISCLAIMER: I received a FREE e-copy of this book through a promotion from MyBookCave. I was not required to write a book review of any kind, and all opinions are solely my own.
[Review originally published at KimiaWood.com]
Others…don’t work for some people.
What if Sleeping Beauty was a martial artist?
For a hundred years, Princess Morning Light has meditated in a hidden temple surrounded by ten thousand thorns. Could her long-lost sword skill be the key to stopping the Vastly Martial Emperor?
Rebel leader Clouded Sky doesn’t believe in the old legends of Ten Thousand Thorns Temple. But as bounty hunters and imperial guards close in, the martial princess may be Clouded Sky’s last hope.
Who can he trust – and who is planning to betray him?
If you liked the martial arts and fierce female characters of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, you’ll love this action-packed retelling of Sleeping Beauty!
The People in Front
The book has two leads. Clouded Sky is a young fugitive – a martial arts disciple trying to resist the invading emperor’s forces, while grieving his commander and brother’s deaths at said emperor’s hands. Undeserved misfortune? Check. Save-the-cat moment? Check (he agrees to help the village he’s passing through).
The Iron Maiden, on the other hand, makes her first appearance by throwing the village chief through the tavern wall. Then she berates the tavern waitress, and holds the chief hostage until somebody fights her. Then she kicks Clouded Sky’s butt…several times.
This gal is undeniably a character with secrets – and mad skillz – but her first impression was not someone I would root for.
That said, the story arc does change things.
Clouded Sky falls for her. (I know – can’t we have a relationship without sexual tension? But it does set up a little dilemma at the very end.)
Beyond that, everybody’s secrets unravel at a steady pace. While the revelations aren’t too shocking, the set-ups and pay-offs are well tied together.
Clouded Sky is forced to abandon his angst and face his deepest fears – until heroism emerges.
The Happy
The story itself is not so much based on historical China, as on an anime-inspired version of China. There is much kicking butt (mostly Iron Maiden kicking people’s butts) and the best blows are so fast they cause a physical wind to blow. In a campier version of this story, words like “Blam” and “Pow” would probably materialize at each hit.
Once you adjust to this physics-defying world, it’s great.
Speaking of adjusting: the author does a good job easing us into the mindset of these non-Western, non-modern people. Without paragraph dumps of “This is how the world works” – and without dragging us through actions and dialogue where we are totally lost about what’s happening – Ms. Rowntree presents us with some foreign concepts and mannerisms, but allows us to pick up the significance from context.
One other thing I liked was the subtle way she included each element of the source fairytale, re-casting it to fit the setting of the re-telling. Her way of plotting these stories always makes it more like a clever scavenger-hunt for interested readers, rather than beating you over the head with Hey this is a fairytale, like you’ve already seen!
The Grumpy
It’s interesting to me that Ten Thousand Thorns is billed as the author’s “most popular fairytale retelling”, since in my opinion Death Be Not Proud is better than this – and Prince of Fishes is better than that.
For one thing, the descriptions (both of the settings and the characters) felt more fleshed-out and real in Death Be Not Proud. This makes sense, since the setting was near the author’s own Down Under – rather than Thorns‘ mystical Oriental setting.
However, I also noticed at least four errors in the text. I don’t mention this to beat up on indie authors, but because it’s a departure from Ms. Rowntree’s usual standard of work. After all, if she’s now paying for professional cover design…I would think she had the line-editing down pat.
And as for the secret character revelations…I guessed like two out of four of them. Was I supposed to?
The Way of the World
Even Dorothy Sayers, my highly esteemed idol of authorship, had her “off” books.
And, manifestly, Ten Thousand Thorns worked for many people. If you’re tired of princess stories with no fight scenes – and way too much mooning or drama – this might be your ticket. (Clouded Sky does a little mooning…)
If you read (or tried to read) The Book of Five Rings and had no idea what he was talking about, this will show you stance-based Oriental martial arts in action.
Look out behind you! Scratching Monkey Gets the Early Worm! Ha ha!
DISCLAIMER: I received a FREE e-copy of this book through a promotion from MyBookCave. I was not required to write a book review of any kind, and all opinions are solely my own.
[Review originally published at KimiaWood.com]
September 7, 2020
A fascinating Wuxia retelling of the evergreen classic of Sleeping Beauty.
Ten Thousand Thorns is a gripping narration that keeps the reader on the edge of the seat. You might think that it is a familiar tale but the author retells it so efficiently that unique twists are sprung on the unsuspecting audience.
The author, Susanah Rowantree, has done a fantastic job in transforming one of the most useless Princesses in fairytale history to one of the most badass ones till date.
This is one of those rare stories where the heroine actually surpassed the hero in martial combat. I loved the attitude of the hero. Though his manly ego is wounded by his crushing defeat in her hands, he is humble enough to seek her instruction for his own betterment.
The action sequences are breathtaking with plenty of wuxia action reminiscent of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The author has clearly done meticulous reading on wuxia Asian fantasy and melds the European Sleeping Beauty original into its Asian setting effortlessly.
I loved her use of wuxia terminology in the right context such as Shidi, Shifu, Shimei...etc. Great work, author! We need more and more such fabulous works from you, hopefully in the different Asian settings e.g. Korea
SPOILERS AHEAD - The hero, the Prince is a martial artist- Bandit who is on the run from an imperial order of the Emperor who seeks his capture. Hot on his trail are two antagonists – one who is the Imperial Sword (the newly appointed Commander) and the other an infamous Assassin who wields venomous knives.
In an unforeseen twist, our hero is saved by the heroine – she is an extraordinary martial artist who sends goons flying by a revolving kick. The heroine is literally and figuratively kickass. The heroine has an outrageous mission in mind – she seeks to awaken the Princess from her century-old meditation in the Ten Thousand Thorns Temple.
The Princess or the Chinese Sleeping Beauty was a great martial artist who went into a state of deep meditation. She alone knows the technique of the Dragon Slaying Sword. The heroine and the hero set off on this mission to awaken the Princess while handling the imperial soldiers, betrayals and the "thorns" of the dreaded eponymous Temple itself.
In a welcome twist in the same light as Maleficent, the Maleficent of this tale is no evil fairy bitter at being not invited for the princess's birthday. The Maleficent is Lady He, a graceful goddess who cast the spell (not curse) upon the Princess only so that she would realize her true potential.
The real identity of both antagonists - Second Brother and Imperial Sword were pretty much predictable but the reveal was still very interesting although a tad melodramatic (in a good way!)
Ten Thousand Thorns is a gripping narration that keeps the reader on the edge of the seat. You might think that it is a familiar tale but the author retells it so efficiently that unique twists are sprung on the unsuspecting audience.
The author, Susanah Rowantree, has done a fantastic job in transforming one of the most useless Princesses in fairytale history to one of the most badass ones till date.
This is one of those rare stories where the heroine actually surpassed the hero in martial combat. I loved the attitude of the hero. Though his manly ego is wounded by his crushing defeat in her hands, he is humble enough to seek her instruction for his own betterment.
The action sequences are breathtaking with plenty of wuxia action reminiscent of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The author has clearly done meticulous reading on wuxia Asian fantasy and melds the European Sleeping Beauty original into its Asian setting effortlessly.
I loved her use of wuxia terminology in the right context such as Shidi, Shifu, Shimei...etc. Great work, author! We need more and more such fabulous works from you, hopefully in the different Asian settings e.g. Korea
SPOILERS AHEAD - The hero, the Prince is a martial artist- Bandit who is on the run from an imperial order of the Emperor who seeks his capture. Hot on his trail are two antagonists – one who is the Imperial Sword (the newly appointed Commander) and the other an infamous Assassin who wields venomous knives.
In an unforeseen twist, our hero is saved by the heroine – she is an extraordinary martial artist who sends goons flying by a revolving kick. The heroine is literally and figuratively kickass. The heroine has an outrageous mission in mind – she seeks to awaken the Princess from her century-old meditation in the Ten Thousand Thorns Temple.
The Princess or the Chinese Sleeping Beauty was a great martial artist who went into a state of deep meditation. She alone knows the technique of the Dragon Slaying Sword. The heroine and the hero set off on this mission to awaken the Princess while handling the imperial soldiers, betrayals and the "thorns" of the dreaded eponymous Temple itself.
In a welcome twist in the same light as Maleficent, the Maleficent of this tale is no evil fairy bitter at being not invited for the princess's birthday. The Maleficent is Lady He, a graceful goddess who cast the spell (not curse) upon the Princess only so that she would realize her true potential.
The real identity of both antagonists - Second Brother and Imperial Sword were pretty much predictable but the reveal was still very interesting although a tad melodramatic (in a good way!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2019
Originally reviewed over at the The Grimoire Reliquary.
This one, I was surprised by. I purchased it as a part of the recent Asian-inspired Fantasy Sale. Took me a while to get used to the setting, the way the characters addressed one another but about 15-20% in, I was all in. Fun characterisation, a somewhat predictable plot twist (though no lesser for it), good action scenes, this is a great retelling of Sleeping Beauty.
A few things struck me about it: this is most definitely a great introduction to Chinese military epics, the genre known as wuxia. I’ve heard more and more of it of late, but until this, I hadn’t been properly introduced. I think it’s a good way to go about acquainting yourself with wuxia, on account of the familiar fairy-tale elements with the unique genre twist. Certainly, this is a love letter by someone who enjoys Chinese epics and knows them well enough to create an amalgamation that bleeds with respect towards its inspirations.
Iron Maiden was a really fun character to read about — I would read a whole novel with her as the lead, if I had the opportunity. Good antagonists, whose interactions between one another were filled with tension. Clouded Sky was a very flawed protagonist, crippled by self-doubt and loss, very much unwilling to go awaken some princess-y sort resting in a mountain.
Most of the twists and turns along the story (save one) were predictable – my suspicions as to the identities of both villains came true without any surprise. My biggest criticism here is, the revelations felt somewhat choreographed. Loved the play on the novella’s title, though (you guys who’ve read this know wot I mean!).
I found this an enjoyable enough read to add more of Suzannah Rowntree’s works to my To-Read list; my score for The Thousand Thorns is a very respectable 3.5 (scored up to 4 on Goodreads)! I’m really looking forward to finding out what else Rowntree has in store for her readers!
Pre-Review Blabber:
Really fun retelling of the Sleeping Beauty - more detailed review to come on my blog, The Grimoire Reliquary soon.
This one, I was surprised by. I purchased it as a part of the recent Asian-inspired Fantasy Sale. Took me a while to get used to the setting, the way the characters addressed one another but about 15-20% in, I was all in. Fun characterisation, a somewhat predictable plot twist (though no lesser for it), good action scenes, this is a great retelling of Sleeping Beauty.
A few things struck me about it: this is most definitely a great introduction to Chinese military epics, the genre known as wuxia. I’ve heard more and more of it of late, but until this, I hadn’t been properly introduced. I think it’s a good way to go about acquainting yourself with wuxia, on account of the familiar fairy-tale elements with the unique genre twist. Certainly, this is a love letter by someone who enjoys Chinese epics and knows them well enough to create an amalgamation that bleeds with respect towards its inspirations.
Iron Maiden was a really fun character to read about — I would read a whole novel with her as the lead, if I had the opportunity. Good antagonists, whose interactions between one another were filled with tension. Clouded Sky was a very flawed protagonist, crippled by self-doubt and loss, very much unwilling to go awaken some princess-y sort resting in a mountain.
Most of the twists and turns along the story (save one) were predictable – my suspicions as to the identities of both villains came true without any surprise. My biggest criticism here is, the revelations felt somewhat choreographed. Loved the play on the novella’s title, though (you guys who’ve read this know wot I mean!).
I found this an enjoyable enough read to add more of Suzannah Rowntree’s works to my To-Read list; my score for The Thousand Thorns is a very respectable 3.5 (scored up to 4 on Goodreads)! I’m really looking forward to finding out what else Rowntree has in store for her readers!
Pre-Review Blabber:
Really fun retelling of the Sleeping Beauty - more detailed review to come on my blog, The Grimoire Reliquary soon.
December 14, 2017
Another great read from Suzannah Rowntree! Not only is Ten Thousand Thorns a page-turning adventure - filled with mystery, suspense, terrific action scenes, a lot of humor, and sweet romance - but it features an endearing reluctant hero and a smart, battle-ready heroine. I was completely taken in by a plot twist I didn't see coming (always a great moment for a reader!). All this - and it's also one of the most creative retellings of Sleeping Beauty I've come across. But you don't need to be a fairy tale fan to enjoy this well-written story!
The only pang of disappointment occurred when I reached the end and realized the author hadn't included any notes. In some of her previous works she unfolded information about genre and history in author notes that helped me appreciate the story even more. In the case of this work, I'd love to know more about the genre (and its conventions - particularly where/if the author departed from them), because I'm not familiar with it at all. So, I'm voting for author notes in the next edition!
The only pang of disappointment occurred when I reached the end and realized the author hadn't included any notes. In some of her previous works she unfolded information about genre and history in author notes that helped me appreciate the story even more. In the case of this work, I'd love to know more about the genre (and its conventions - particularly where/if the author departed from them), because I'm not familiar with it at all. So, I'm voting for author notes in the next edition!
July 20, 2018
I wasn't sure what this story was going to be like - an oriental version of Sleeping Beauty - hmmm? I loved it. I started it and I couldn't put it down.
The players in our story all had names that took me awhile to get used to - our heroine was Iron Maiden, a premier martial artist; and our sleeping beauty was Morning Light (and several other titles of honor), and our hero was Clouded Sky. Eventually his name made sense to me, especially nearer the end of the story when he had choices to make. Iron Maiden was easy to understand, she was on a journey to find a hero to help her wake Morning Light so that she could help save the people from the evil Emperor.
There were some surprises at the end, things I didn't expect at all, and that keeps a story fresh and exciting. There were also things I suspected and found I was correct about - I like that too.
Now to stop speaking in the cadence of the story in my head! You know it's a good story when you can't get the flow out of your head after you are done!
This is a clean read, although violent with marital arts fights.
The players in our story all had names that took me awhile to get used to - our heroine was Iron Maiden, a premier martial artist; and our sleeping beauty was Morning Light (and several other titles of honor), and our hero was Clouded Sky. Eventually his name made sense to me, especially nearer the end of the story when he had choices to make. Iron Maiden was easy to understand, she was on a journey to find a hero to help her wake Morning Light so that she could help save the people from the evil Emperor.
There were some surprises at the end, things I didn't expect at all, and that keeps a story fresh and exciting. There were also things I suspected and found I was correct about - I like that too.
Now to stop speaking in the cadence of the story in my head! You know it's a good story when you can't get the flow out of your head after you are done!
This is a clean read, although violent with marital arts fights.
November 30, 2017
This was a very nicely told twist on Sleeping Beauty. I really liked Clouded Sky's development and Morning Light was fun and refreshing. Watching the way they related to each other change over the course of the story was the best part for me. Not having much familiarity with martial arts-type books didn't stand in the way of my enjoyment.
I really wasn't expecting some of the twists and turns. I appreciated that the main characters were multi-faceted. Not every single thing is wrapped up within the story, but there was enough closure to be satisfying. If there ever is a sequel I will want to read it.
I voluntarily reviewed and ARC of this story.
I really wasn't expecting some of the twists and turns. I appreciated that the main characters were multi-faceted. Not every single thing is wrapped up within the story, but there was enough closure to be satisfying. If there ever is a sequel I will want to read it.
I voluntarily reviewed and ARC of this story.
September 24, 2019
It's decent! I expected something more, but it's not like it failed to deliver. Worth reading, but not rereading in a while. For me personally, to many crazy names. I got lost sometimes, what is what, who is who. Nevertheless, short and entertaining.
The book is a retelling but if it wasn't stated in the synopsis I wouldn't have guessed it's a retelling. I wouldn't have made that connection at all. Asian culture is full of rich and magical and fairy-tale-like stories so this one sounds just like one of them.
The book is a retelling but if it wasn't stated in the synopsis I wouldn't have guessed it's a retelling. I wouldn't have made that connection at all. Asian culture is full of rich and magical and fairy-tale-like stories so this one sounds just like one of them.
November 6, 2018
Interesting
I enjoyed reading this Sleeping Beauty retelling. The world was imaginative and the characters relatable. There was lots of action, though I struggled to imagine most of the martial arts moves since they were named rather than described. Things like Heaven-Relying Dragon Slaying Sword Skill. It leaves a lot more work for the reader to see the action than if the details of what the move looks like were included.
I enjoyed reading this Sleeping Beauty retelling. The world was imaginative and the characters relatable. There was lots of action, though I struggled to imagine most of the martial arts moves since they were named rather than described. Things like Heaven-Relying Dragon Slaying Sword Skill. It leaves a lot more work for the reader to see the action than if the details of what the move looks like were included.
June 4, 2018
My favorite of the novellas. Loved the Chinese setting and the story!
September 10, 2019
This book was both excellent and awesome. While not terribly long, it read like a full length novel. Very absorbing. I will most definitely be looking into the author's other works.
May 21, 2021
One of my all time favourites by Rowntree.
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