The Castle Behind Thorns

(Hardback)

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Description

Stories don't know everything.

When Sand wakes up alone in a long-abandoned castle, he has no idea how he got there. The stories all said the place was ruined by an earthquake, and Sand did not expect to find everything inside torn in half or smashed to bits. Nothing lives here and nothing grows, except the vicious, thorny bramble that holds Sand prisoner. Why wasn't this in the stories

To survive, Sand does what he knows besthe fires up the castle's forge to mend what he needs. But the things he fixes work somehow better than they ought to. Is there magic in the mending Or have the saints who once guarded this place returned

When Sand finds the castle's lost heir, Perrotte, they begin to untwine the dark secrets that caused the destruction. Putting together the piecesof stone and iron, and of a broken lifeis harder than Sand ever imagined, but it's the only way to regain their freedom.

With gorgeous language and breathtaking magic, Merrie Haskell's The Castle Behind Thorns tells of the power of memory, story, forgiveness, and the true gifts of craft and imagination.

Reviews

"Haskell effortlessly weaves together internal and external forces, leading to a tense climax. Subtle parallels to 'Sleeping Beauty' are omnipresent, but Sand and Perrotte's work of restoring the castle, avenging old wrongs, and forgiving once-bitter enemies takes its own, novel course." -- The Horn Book

"Exploring a range of weighty subjects, from the horror of war to the difficulty of forgiveness, Haskell makes every subplot and character count, reinforcing the story's elaborate metaphorical and thematic structure." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"The developing relationship between the two main characters is portrayed realistically; it's often as prickly as the thorns that surround them. Fans of Gail Carson Levine's and Shannon Hale's fairy tale adaptations will enjoy the adventure and mystery here." -- School Library Journal (starred review)

The Castle Behind Thorns is a graceful and enchanting fantasy that celebrates the healing magic of kindness, friendship, and love. I was utterly charmed. -- Rae Carson, author of the Girl of Fire and Thorns series

"A warm and lovely story about friendship, magic, the long shadow of the past, and blacksmithing." -- Robin McKinley, Newbery Medalist author of THE HERO AND THE CROWN and THE BLUE SWORD

Utterly magical . . . a fairy tale about healing a broken castle, a broken soul, a broken country, and a broken heart. -- Catherine Gilbert Murdock, acclaimed author of Dairy Queen and Princess Ben

Sand and his passion will resonate with readers of all ages--I adored him just as much as my young patrons will. -- Ally Watkins, Youth Services Librarian, Central Mississippi Regional Library System

A subtle and engaging parable of healing, The Castle Behind Thorns offers its readers a window into the human metaphor which lies at the roots of fantasy and magic. -- Kenny Brechner, DDG Booksellers

I loved everything about this book! From the characters to the themes, it all worked together to form a really fun and interesting story. I think it would make an excellent book club book, it just lends itself to detailed discussion. -- Faith Hochhalter, Children's Book Specialist, Changing Hands Bookstore

Author Bio

Merrie Haskell wrote her first story at the age of seven, and she walked dogs after school in order to buy her first typewriter. She now lives in Saline, Michigan, with her husband and stepdaughter and works in a library with over 7 million books, which she finds to be just about the right number. She is the author of The Princess Curse and Handbook for Dragon Slayers. Find her online at www.merriehaskell.com or on Twitter (@merriehaskell).