Review of 'Juniper & Thorn'

A gruesome curse. A city in upheaval. A monster with unquenchable appetites.

Marlinchen and her two sisters live with their wizard father in a city shifting from magic to industry. As Oblya’s last true witches, she and her sisters are little more than a tourist trap as they treat their clients with archaic remedies and beguile them with nostalgic charm. Marlinchen spends her days divining secrets in exchange for rubles and trying to placate her tyrannical, xenophobic father, who keeps his daughters sequestered from the outside world. But at night, Marlinchen and her sisters sneak out to enjoy the city’s amenities and revel in its thrills, particularly the recently established ballet theater, where Marlinchen meets a dancer who quickly captures her heart.

As Marlinchen’s late-night trysts grow more fervent and frequent, so does the threat of her father’s rage and magic. And while Oblya flourishes with culture and bustles with enterprise, a monster lurks in its midst, borne of intolerance and resentment and suffused with old-world power. Caught between history and progress and blood and desire, Marlinchen must draw upon her own magic to keep her city safe and find her place within it.

Review

Juniper & Thorn takes a turn at retelling one of the Grimm’s lesser-known fairytales, The Juniper Tree, in a gothic form, tackling various forms of abuse.

Storytelling

Let the reader be warned; the novel may be triggering for some as it deals with emotional and physical abuse. However, Reid does an exemplary job of tackling these issues with tact, leaving the characters stronger and the reader hopeful.

Juniper & Thorn follows Marlinchen, the youngest daughter of the town’s only wizard. Progress has come, and the time of relying on magic has left the father bitter. Incredibly xenophobic and against progress and innovation, he keeps three daughters locked away in the house. They take customers and perform their magic under the watchful eyes of their father, but these girls have no freedom from his watchful gaze.

Some scenes are uncomfortable here. Reid uses subtext to indicate Sevas has suffered sexual abuse and grooming from his “agent,” whereas Marlinchen was physically harmed under her father’s gaze. Reid does not get into detail with these scenes, carefully crafting them to highlight the emotional distress and PTSD the characters have suffered due to this. While not explicit, it makes the reader uncomfortable, as it should, and thankfully does not detract from the evolving plot.

Complex

Juniper & Thorn can be seen as a survivor’s story. Marlinchen and Sevas are survivors of abuse. Some readers may view the hyper-sexualization of their relationship with distaste, but I found it empowering.

These characters had no freedom, were trapped by their guardians and exploited for their talent and gifts. Yet, together they found the inner strength they had. They choose to be with one another and give their bodies to one another. This is probably the most significant act of defiance these characters can show, empowering them.

By taking this big step and saying “my body, my choice,” these characters find within themselves the power to stand up for themselves, the strength to turn away from their abusers with their heads held high. Such a powerful and complex journey for these characters, even emotionally, leaves the reader feeling triumphant.

Final Thoughts

Juniper & Thorn is not for everyone. I admired the storytelling and enjoyed the retribution at the end, but this is a novel that will trigger some readers and leave others uncomfortable. So reader, be warned, the narrative is thoughtful and compelling, but the issues it tackles are tactful and emotional.

• Writing Quality : 9/10
• Character Development : 9/10
• "Couldn't Put It Down"-ness : 8/10
• Intellectual Depth: 10/10
• Originality: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 4 out of 5.

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About the Author

Cynthia Bujnicki graduated from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature and Publishing. She has always loved to read since she was a child. A contributing writer for YA Fantasy Addicts, she is also the Editor-in-Chief for Cyn's Workshop. She lives in sunny South Florida with her husband, son and daughter and their two cats.