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Book Review By Harriet Klausner
Firethorn by Sarah Micklem



Scribner, Jun 2004, 125.00, 383 pp.
ISBN: 0743247949

When the wellborn dame who employed her died and she was raped by one of her blood employers, fifteen years old low caste mudfolk orphan Luck moved into the wilds of Kingswood. There she began eating berries which caused hallucinogenic reactions. No longer feeling like a lowborn drudge, she renames herself Firethorn and gives thanks to a Goddess for gifting her with special skills.

During the Upside Down Days, Firethorn meets Blood, Sire Galan. She agrees to serve as his sheath and bedmate as he joins the King's army in Marchland. Firethorn and Galen begin to fall in love, but her loyalty and his trust are tested by his sexist-caste prejudicial superior and his odious malevolent cousin even as her healing powers and other adept proficiencies surface that may separate the pair even further.

Harriet Klausner


Plot & Themes
Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Romance Yes
Romance plotlets: - two lovers coping with tough mission
Inner Struggle Yes
Plotlet: - coping with mental/magical powers
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10 %
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40 %
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10 %

Main Character
Identity: - Female
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status:
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
Earth setting: - during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript
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