Review: Terrific but not a Young Adult Book
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 24, 2012
I think this novel should not be labeled Young Adult. Sexual scenes include details about "erection" and a girl straddling a boy.  The relationship between sexual partnering and status is not a concept age appropriate for early teenagers.  Adulterous relationships and a classical notion of "bastard" are all concepts invoked, as well as sex between family members.  Involuntary sex under the influence of magic compulsion is rape in my book, and it happens several times. The combination of all of these factors makes me think the book is better targeted at adults rather than teens.  Only the age of the protagonist makes this a Young Adult book at all.  Violence is limited but graphic.  -- The book is fantastic.  The main character starts out ignorant of the soap opera challenges of life in Desire, where old jealousies and alliances hide behind the most casual of contacts. Thistle slowly figures out her role in town.  This device allows the author to enter the story with all of the challenges in place, the reader learning about the magic, the conflicts and opportunities along with Thistle.  Roger Zelazny used the same technique inNine Princes in Amberwhere Corwin slowly learns who his friends, enemies and family are.  --