fantasy and science fiction book reviewsThistle & Thorne by Ann AguirreThistle & Thorne by Ann Aguirre

Mari Thistle is just trying to survive and take care of her two younger siblings. Because she lives in the Red Zone and not in the safety of the walled and guarded fortresses where the rich people live, she has to take on some dangerous jobs. Her latest job, which involves sneaking into one of the fortresses and stealing something, has gone bad and she knows she’s likely to be killed by Stavros, the boss who hired her. When she’s rescued by a guy named Thorne Goodman who’s planning to challenge Stavros’ leadership, she finds herself caught in a brutal turf war.

Thistle & Thorne is a novella which was originally published in the post-apocalyptic anthology ‘Til The World Ends earlier this year by Harlequin/Luna. You’re probably thinking it’s a romance, which is what I was expecting, too, but, if anything, Thistle & Thorne is an introduction to two characters who are just starting to trust and admire each other. Both have learned from prior experience that nobody can be relied upon. In Thorne’s case, that means even family. If there’s any romance for Thistle and Thorne, it’s subtle and it’s just beginning.fantasy and science fiction book reviews

Set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where the poor live hand-to-mouth and have no hope for ever attaining a place in the beautiful corporation-managed fortresses, Thistle & Thorne is dark, dreary, and oppressive. There aren’t any ideas I haven’t seen before in this type of fiction, but Ann Aguirre creates sympathetic protagonists who feel real and whose lives are interesting, even if they’re always bleak. At the end I certainly hoped that life would improve for Thistle and Thorne and that there might be a future romance. If Ann Aguirre writes any more about these two, and I won’t be surprised if she does, I think I’ll tune in.

Thistle & Thorne was published separately in audio format and was performed by Lauren Fortgang who was fabulous. It’s just over three hours long and currently costs $4.95.

Audible.com Release Date: February 1, 2013. After a catastrophic spill turns the country into a vast chemical wasteland, those who could afford it retreated to fortresses – self-contained communities run by powerful corporations. But for Mari Thistle, life on the outside – in the Red Zone – is a constant struggle. To protect her family, Mari teams up with the mysterious Thorne Goodman. Together, they’ll face an evil plot in both the underworld of the Red Zone and the society inside the fortresses that could destroy those on the outside…for good.

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  • Kat Hooper

    KAT HOOPER, who started this site in June 2007, earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience and psychology at Indiana University (Bloomington) and now teaches and conducts brain research at the University of North Florida. When she reads fiction, she wants to encounter new ideas and lots of imagination. She wants to view the world in a different way. She wants to have her mind blown. She loves beautiful language and has no patience for dull prose, vapid romance, or cheesy dialogue. She prefers complex characterization, intriguing plots, and plenty of action. Favorite authors are Jack Vance, Robin Hobb, Kage Baker, William Gibson, Gene Wolfe, Richard Matheson, and C.S. Lewis.

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