Book Review: Thorns Among Shadows
Thorns Among Shadows: A Rapunzel Retelling by Ally Kelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I will admit that fantasy is not my most-read genre. For me to give a fantasy story five stars is a big deal, but Thorns Among Shadows earned every one of them. I was actually startled when the story ended, because I didn’t realize I’d devoured it so quickly.
There’s a lot to like. Flipping the traditional roles and having the girl save the prince was refreshing. And she didn’t just luck into it – Meira had to really work hard to find and rescue the love of her life, Prince Gaelen. And the prince didn’t ruin the effort by trying to negate or diminish her accomplishments. This really is a power couple, well matched and complimentary to each others strengths and weaknesses.
Author Ally Kelly’s writing skills are top-notch. The writing flowed like silk. I wasn’t pulled out of my immersion in the story even once due to awkward writing, typos, or formatting errors. It’s clear that she’s put in the work to ensure that readers are given a well-crafted story. As a bonus, there’s also a short story after the main one.
I also want to mention her involvement with a writing community called Worldsmyths. As a writer myself, I know the importance of being able to collaborate with other writers, and recruit them to help with feedback and advice during the writing process. The way she describes Worldsmyths impressed me a lot. Ally Kelly writes what she’s passionate about and has the support of others who share those passions. What a great way to live your life!
Lori Alden Holuta
Lori Alden Holuta lives between the cornfields of Mid-Michigan, where she grows vegetables and herbs when she’s not writing, editing, or playing games with a cat named Chives.
