Synopsis

Love speaks in flowers. Truth requires thorns.

Travel to a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young mermaid’s voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a lovestruck boy’s bidding but only for a terrible price.

Inspired by myth, fairy tale, and folklore, #1 New York Times–bestselling author Leigh Bardugo has crafted a deliciously atmospheric collection of short stories filled with betrayals, revenge, sacrifice, and love.

(Via Goodreads)

About the Author:

Leigh Bardugo  is a #1 New York Times-bestselling author of fantasy novels and the creator of the Grishaverse. With over one million copies sold, her Grishaverse spans the Shadow and Bone Trilogy, the Six of Crows Duology, and The Language of Thorns— with more to come. Her short stories can be found in multiple anthologies, including The Best of Tor.com and the Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy. Her other works include Wonder Woman: Warbringer, and the forthcoming Ninth House. Leigh was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Southern California, graduated from Yale University, and has worked in advertising, journalism, and even makeup and special effects. These days, she lives and writes in Los Angeles, where she can occasionally be heard singing with her band.

(Via author’s website)

My Impressions

In stories from the likes of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, the young maiden always receives and overcomes a series of awful and often demeaning challenges in order to marry some vapid prince and live happily ever after with him in the castle. Right? But what if she didn’t? What if someone thought to call into question the faults and foibles of the other characters in these fables and let the heroes make different ethical choices? The fairy tale-style short-stories from Leigh Bardugo‘s The Language of Thorns do just that, twisting and darkening, but also enlightening by illuminating familiar plot devices and calling them into question. Fairy tales have a tradition of presenting moral conclusions and this collection sticks to that tradition, but with a modern spin.

For example, a girl chosen multiple times by her family to slay a monster in the pursuit of riches, even after they have more than enough. A toy soldier brought to life for the amusement of selfish teenagers, but wishing to pursue a will of his own. A forest witch accused of stealing young girls who uses a gingerbread girl to find the real killer. A friendship ending in betrayal and beginning the villainy of the tale to come after.

There wasn’t a thing I disliked about these stories. Breathtaking artwork curls across the corners and along the borders of the pages. Fascinating stories sprawl across the length and breadth of Bardugo‘s imaginary world of the Grisha universe, wearing the coats of familiar fables but revealing themselves as something different and beautiful beneath.

I would recommend The Language of Thorns to anyone who loves fairy tales. This book is also for anyone disenchanted with their rehashed moral themes.

My rating: 5/5 stars
Goodreads rating: 4.48 stars

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