Review: The Thorn and the Blossom by Theodora Goss

Publisher: Quirk Books

Release Date: January 17, 2012

Number of Pages: 82

How I Got This Book: ARC sent by Quirk

My rating: 3/5

Goodreads Summary:

"One enchanting romance. Two lovers keeping secrets. And a uniquely crafted book that binds their stories forever.When Evelyn Morgan walked into the village bookstore, she didn’t know she would meet the love of her life. When Brendan Thorne handed her a medieval romance, he didn’t know it would change the course of his future. It was almost as if they were the cursed lovers in the old book itself . . .The Thorn and the Blossom is a remarkable literary artifact: You can open the book in either direction to decide whether you’ll first read Brendan’s, or Evelyn’s account of the mysterious love affair. Choose a side, read it like a regular novel—and when you get to the end, you’ll find yourself at a whole new beginning."

First, a big thank you to Quirk Books for sending me this beautiful book for review!

Review:

The Thorn and the Blossom is a unique reading experience because it is an accordian style book that opens with one side being Brendan's story and the other side being Evelyn's story. To honor that uniqueness, I am only giving ONE side of the review - Brendan's side. For the other half of the story (Evelyn's story), you will have to go visit my friend Tristen at Totally Booked Solid! I will be sharing Brendan's perspective.

Brendan is working in his father's antique bookstore in his hometown of Clews, when in walks a lovely American tourist, Evelyn. He feels an immediate attraction, and even a sort of connection, to her. He offers to show her around the village, and it is obvious that their connection runs deeper than either of them could ever have suspected. Their love story may have even been mapped out centuries ago. However, after their first kiss, Evelyn inexplicably runs from him...and out of his life. He is baffled and hurt, but he eventually moves on with his life. But, can we run away from our destiny? Evelyn and Brendan are brought back together years later when she is hired at the college where Brendan teaches. Their romance picks up once again...but Brendan has a secret. What will happen when he confesses his secret to Evelyn? Is their love truly meant to be?

This book brings together has the feel of a medieval fairy tale romance but in a contemporary setting. Goss' writing style is very poetic, yet easy to read. However, I feel like the story was too short. There was so much that could have been expanded on, and so, for me, the story had a lot of potential, but it didn't quite follow through. I think this book makes an excellent gift book, especially for those who love poetry, fairy tales, and medieval romance. It would be a beautiful addition to any fairy tale lover's library.

You can find a video trailer for The Thorn and the Blossom on Youtube, and gain a deeper understanding of the unique features of this book. And don't forget to check out Totally Booked Solid to read Evelyn's side of the story!

This review is also posted on Goodreads, Facebook, Amazon, and linked to Totally Booked Solid.