#46 Briarheart by Mercedes Lackey

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This YA retelling of Sleeping Beauty is certainly a bit different. The main character is Miriam, the older non royal half sister of Aurora. Miriam’s father was the King’s Champion and best friend. When he died the King married his widow and that is how you have a non-royal older sibling. The kingdom is small, but they do plan for invasions. Miriam is training to be a baker so if they are invaded, she can hide in one of the town bakeries.  At Aurora’s christening everything is done to make sure no one is not invited but of course that doesn’t work out when one of the Dark Fey hides from the Kingdom so they don’t know to invite them to the ceremony.  Miriam loves her little sister and throws her body in front of the curse being hurled and surprisingly destroys it and doesn’t die in the process.  At this point now everyone is full defense mode to protect the baby from the fey that will come back and curse her.  Miriam becomes part of her sister’s guard and does some growing up along the way.    The book is set up to be the first book in the series but doesn’t leave you hanging at the end.  This was an interesting retelling of the story and I’m interested to see where it goes. 

 

Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Edelweiss