The Thorn and The Blossom by Theodora Goss

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When Evelyn Morgan walked into the village bookstore, she didn’t know she would meet the love of her life. When Brendan Thorne handed her a medieval romance, he didn’t know it would change the course of his future. It was almost as if they were the cursed lovers in the old book itself . . .

The Thorn and the Blossom is a remarkable literary artifact: You can open the book in either direction to decide whether you’ll first read Brendan’s, or Evelyn’s account of the mysterious love affair. Choose a side, read it like a regular novel—and when you get to the end, you’ll find yourself at a whole new beginning.

I have been a fan of Theodora Goss's strange yet elegant fantasy short stories for some years now, so when I found about The Thorn and The Blossom, I was immediately interested. And when I heard about its unique, two-sided format, which correlated with the love story being told twice, each from the different perspectives of the protagonists, I was even more smitten.

I was overjoyed to receive what appeared to be the finished (or very close to it) copy: a beautiful hardcover tome in its own case, with woodcuts by Scott McKowen and the pages bound together in accordion-style. This is one gorgeous book; however, as other reviewers have noted, one that should be handled carefully or the pages might come apart. I think its delicate physical nature complements the otherworldly theme of fairies and magic hiding just below the surface of the ordinary world.

The Thorn and The Blossom has Goss's trademark style: subtle, layered writing with unexpected fantastical touches. Goss expands upon the Arthurian legend of Gawain and the Green Knight and the Green Man folklore to tell the star-crossed love story of modern day Evelyn and Brendan. The parallels between the myths and the present day are not broad or obvious; I love the depth of Goss's literary interpretation. An actual Book of the Green Knight (referred to in the story), with annotations and criticism, would make a fantastic companion piece.

Upon reading both versions of same story and reflecting upon them a day later, I felt the urge to reread. It's the kind of novel that gets more meaningful with each subsequent reading. The fantasy aspects here are subdued, hinted at but never fully emerges at the forefront, the progression of the thwarted relationship between Evelyn and Brendan is the centerpiece.

"'Gawan noticed that Elowen had collapsed. The spell had taken all her strength, and she lay dying. She promised him that they would be together again, that death could not defeat their love. But Morva had fallen in love with Gawan as well, and she was unaffected by Elowen's magic. Upon seeing them pledging their love to each other, she shrieked with anger and cast he own curse: Elowen could not be with the man she loved for a thousand years. With her last breath, Elowen told Gawan that she would be with him again after the thousand years had passed:

"'"Have patience, love, and we shall meet again
As surely as wild roses have their thorns
For weary years eventually pass."'"

While The Thorn and The Blossom was a lovely read, I felt that Goss's talents are better showcased in a short story format. A bit of the magic and tension are somewhat lost in a lengthier medium.

Some sites have labeled The Thorn and The Blossom as young adult, which is misleading. The protagonists are college age at the beginning and the story spans 10-15 years, so there are some sophisticated themes that will resonate more with older readers.

Read some of Theodora Goss's short stories.



Thank you very much to the Amazon Vine program for providing a copy for me to review!