The Castle Behind Thorns

Sand wakes up in a cold fireplace inside an ancient castle, with no memory of how he got there. The castle is split and shattered, with every object inside broken into pieces, and thorns surround the entire structure. As the son of a blacksmith, Sand begins to repair broken items throughout the castle while trying to understand the mystery of his arrival. His solitude in the castle is interrupted by the appearance of Perrotte, the daughter of a noble family, who has her own connection to the castle's curse. Sand and Perrotte work together to uncover the castle's history and the events that led to its current state. Their investigation reveals connections between magic, death, and the power of forgiveness. The story explores themes of healing - both physical and emotional - while examining how past actions ripple through time. This middle-grade fantasy tackles questions about the nature of friendship and the possibility of second chances.

Readers describe this as a quiet, character-driven fairy tale that focuses on themes of forgiveness and healing rather than romance or action. Many note it works well as a standalone middle-grade novel. Readers appreciate: - The unique take on Sleeping Beauty without relying on typical fairy tale tropes - Well-developed characters, especially Sand's personal growth - Historical medieval French setting with accurate details - Thoughtful exploration of anger and forgiveness Common criticisms: - Slow pacing, especially in the first third - Limited action or excitement - Some found the ending rushed Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (40+ reviews) "A quiet book that lets you sit with the characters and their emotions," notes one Goodreads reviewer. Another mentions "the story moves at the speed of ivy growing up castle walls - slow but purposeful." Multiple readers recommend it for ages 10-14 who enjoy character-focused fantasy.

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🏰 While many stories feature princesses trapped in thorny castles, this tale uniquely focuses on a 13-year-old blacksmith's apprentice who must solve the mystery of why he's trapped inside. 🌹 The thorny barrier in the book was inspired by the wall of thorns in "Sleeping Beauty," but author Merrie Haskell deliberately chose to write about medieval France rather than a fairy tale kingdom. ⚒️ The protagonist's knowledge of blacksmithing is based on extensive research into medieval metalworking techniques, including visits to modern-day blacksmith shops. ✨ The book explores themes of forgiveness and healing, not just of people but of inanimate objects—everything in the castle was broken and must be repaired for the spell to be broken. 📚 Merrie Haskell worked as a library assistant at the University of Michigan while writing this book, which gave her access to valuable historical resources for research.