Name: Apiecalypse Jen's review of How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse by K Eason
Item: How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse
Rating: 4
Author: Apiecalypse Jen

K Eason

First in a duology that reimagines fairy tale tropes within a space opera--The Princess Bride meets Princess Leia. Rory Thorne is a princess with thirteen fairy blessings, the most important of which is to see through flattery and platitudes. As the eldest daughter, she always imagined she'd inherit her father's throne and govern the interplanetary Thorne Consortium. Then her father is assassinated, her mother gives birth to a son, and Rory is betrothed to the prince of a distant world. When Rory arrives in her new home, she uncovers a treacherous plot to unseat her newly betrothed and usurp his throne. An unscrupulous minister has conspired to name himself Regent to the minor (and somewhat foolish) prince. With only her wits and a small team of allies, Rory must outmaneuver the Regent and rescue the prince. How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse is a feminist reimagining of familiar fairytale tropes and a story of resistance and self-determination--how small acts of rebellion can lead a princess to not just save herself, but change the course of history.

How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse

Anna Bold

K. Eason

Apiecalypse Jen

Cindy Lieberman

A moderately fun novel that borrows heavily from fairy tales, but gives the princess (Rory) significant agency over her person and her future. More fantasy than hard science despite her enhanced tutor and some space travel.

Elizabeth Hagenlocher

** spoiler alert **
           I loved this book almost instantly. The writing style, though some may find slow, was exactly my cup of tea. It was at times conversational, historical, and personal. And we moved seamlessly from character to character, in whichever way best served the narrative. 

The plot was a slow-burn political intrigue, and the politics kept me interested. That’s not always the case. It was like reading a game of chess.

And the characters! I found Rory and the Vizier yo be the most compelling characters, and I couldn’t get enough. The other characters were equally well-rounded, thigh Zhang and Thorsdottir occasionally fell a little flat.

What made me give a 4-star review and not a 5 was because of the ending. For all of the careful maneuvering of the first 75%, the end was far too rushed. 
Spoilers***
After Rory was captured, I expected more to happen. And a few interesting things certainly do, but then we’re transported three months into the future, and a somewhat neat (and predictable) ending occurs. There is a little bit of conflict, but it wraps up conveniently. 

And THEN, after the book ends the narrator basically gives us a “happily ever after” synopsis. Albeit in line with the other fairy tale elements, it seemed like a cop out. The author will have to do some maneuvering in order to begin the following book. If the front cover didn’t claim it to be a chronicle, I’d be (semi)satisfied that the book was a stand-alone

Love the story, love the characters, love the politics. Even the framing device of this book as a historical retelling is fun. The only thing that brought down the score for me was the rushed ending. After the climax, so much additional information is simply stated instead of showcased in the same way I'd come to love. And the whole "multiverse breaking" actually happens in those last pages, though it's suggested only because of the previously explained events. Fair, but give me the juicy details, please! At least one scene to sum up, instead of just a listing of events like at the end of an inspirational biopic.

Paul Camper

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received the e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse

Author: K. Eason

Book Series: The Thorne Chronicles

Rating: 3/5

Recommended For...: sci-fi, fairytale retellings

Publication Date: October 8, 2019

Genre: YA Sci-Fi

Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed

Publisher: DAW

Pages: 416

Synopsis: Rory Thorne is a princess with thirteen fairy blessings, the most important of which is to see through flattery and platitudes. As the eldest daughter, she always imagined she’d inherit her father’s throne and govern the interplanetary Thorne Consortium.
 
Then her father is assassinated, her mother gives birth to a son, and Rory is betrothed to the prince of a distant world.
 
When Rory arrives in her new home, she uncovers a treacherous plot to unseat her newly betrothed and usurp his throne. An unscrupulous minister has conspired to name himself Regent to the minor (and somewhat foolish) prince. With only her wits and a small team of allies, Rory must outmaneuver the Regent and rescue the prince.
 
How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse is a feminist reimagining of familiar fairytale tropes and a story of resistance and self-determination—how small acts of rebellion can lead a princess to not just save herself, but change the course of history.

Review: Had to DNF at 73%. The book is good, it has some great plot and world building. The book also sticks to some fairytales very well, but towards the end I guessed how the book would end (I skipped ahead and was right) and I just became uninterested in it after that point. It was a bit cliché and predictable to me.

Verdict: It’s good but not for me right now.

Anna Bold &
How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse by K Eason

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Anna Bold &How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse by K Eason

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Anna Bold &
How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse by K Eason