I just finished reading Briar Rose by Jane Yolen last night and wow, what a ride! 🏰✨ This retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale weaves in themes of memory, trauma, and the impact of history in such a beautifully poignant way. The way Yolen blends the fairy tale with the haunting realities of the Holocaust is both powerful and moving.

The story follows Rebecca, a young woman trying to uncover the truth about her grandmother, who told the tale of Briar Rose as a way to shield her from the horrors of her past. As Rebecca digs deeper, she discovers a connection between the fairy tale and her grandmother’s experiences during World War II. The dual narrative, shifting between Rebecca’s journey and the dark fairy tale, creates this captivating tension that kept me flipping the pages.

The characters are so well-crafted, especially the juxtaposition of the magical world of Briar Rose and the stark reality of the Holocaust. It’s a perfect mix of enchanting and heartbreaking, and Yolen’s lyrical prose makes the emotional weight of the story hit hard. If you’re a fan of fairy tales with a twist, this one’s definitely for you!

If I had to nitpick, I wished some parts had been explored a bit more, especially the backstory of some secondary characters, but overall, it’s a must-read that stays with you long after you close the book.