Haskell effortlessly weaves together internal and external forces, leading to a tense climax. Subtle parallels to ‘Sleeping Beauty’ are omnipresent, but Sand and Perrotte’s work of restoring the castle, avenging old wrongs, and forgiving once-bitter enemies takes its own, novel course.” — The Horn Book
“Exploring a range of weighty subjects, from the horror of war to the difficulty of forgiveness, Haskell makes every subplot and character count, reinforcing the story’s elaborate metaphorical and thematic structure.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“The developing relationship between the two main characters is portrayed realistically; it’s often as prickly as the thorns that surround them. Fans of Gail Carson Levine’s and Shannon Hale’s fairy tale adaptations will enjoy the adventure and mystery here.” — School Library Journal (starred review)
The Castle Behind Thorns is a graceful and enchanting fantasy that celebrates the healing magic of kindness, friendship, and love. I was utterly charmed. — Rae Carson, author of the Girl of Fire and Thorns series
“A warm and lovely story about friendship, magic, the long shadow of the past, and blacksmithing.” — Robin McKinley, Newbery Medalist author of THE HERO AND THE CROWN and THE BLUE SWORD
Utterly magical . . . a fairy tale about healing a broken castle, a broken soul, a broken country, and a broken heart. — Catherine Gilbert Murdock, acclaimed author of Dairy Queen and Princess Ben
Sand and his passion will resonate with readers of all ages—I adored him just as much as my young patrons will. — Ally Watkins, Youth Services Librarian, Central Mississippi Regional Library System
A subtle and engaging parable of healing, The Castle Behind Thorns offers its readers a window into the human metaphor which lies at the roots of fantasy and magic. — Kenny Brechner, DDG Booksellers
I loved everything about this book! From the characters to the themes, it all worked together to form a really fun and interesting story. I think it would make an excellent book club book, it just lends itself to detailed discussion. — Faith Hochhalter, Children's Book Specialist, Changing Hands Bookstore
2014-02-26
Faint echoes of "Sleeping Beauty" and "Snow White" waft up from this new fantasy. Sand (short for Alexandre) wakes in the ashes of a fireplace, in a castle in which every room and object has been broken: the Sundered Castle. He doesn't know how he got there, but a vicious, active wall of thorns keeps him within. Son of a blacksmith, he goes about attempting to mend whatever he can, and when he finds the body of a girl, he rearranges her limbs carefully—and she awakens. Perrotte has been dead—or asleep—for over 25 years. Like Sand, she is about 13; unlike him, she is of noble birth. The first half of the tale is about mending everything in the castle, Perrotte and Sand working together through the forging and firing and hammering. The second half, however, gets rather muddled. Perrotte withholds her complicated and violent political history from Sand, as well as the news that a knight will be coming through the thorn barrier to plunge her back into it. It's possible that two saints whose broken relics Sand mends hold the key to the future. These elements do not hang together as well as the beautifully sustained central metaphor of blacksmithing. Moreover, Sand and Perrotte seem much older than 13, and the ending preaches loudly. Still, it stands alone neatly, and the lore of blacksmith work is carried through with vivid energy. (Fantasy. 9-12)
