This novel follows the venturesome teen Maude on her journey to find her childhood best friend, Odette, who has mysteriously gone missing. Maude and Odette had spent hours happily engaging in stories about princesses and ‘dark lords and dragons’ in a magical forest until Odette deserted Maude four years ago when Maude lost her magic.

A Hunger of Thorns begins with Maude’s tedious life with her two grandmothers, getting ready to go to a vigil to locate Odette. After attending, Maude comes to the staggering realisation that her late mother’s paper moth is more than origami. As it begins to fly away she follows it. It leads her into the forgotten ruins of Sicklehurst, an abandoned power plant built over an ancient magical forest.

I especially enjoyed the part where we meet an intriguing yet devious character in Sicklehurst and see a glimpse into the life of a creature who lives in that deserted woodland.

As I met new characters and further immersed myself in this story, I became deeply enthralled. It’s an exciting adventure and I would definitely recommend this book for fantasy lovers.

Reviewed by Georgia, Year 8, St Ursula’s College, Kingsgrove NSW
Age Guide 12

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lili Wilkinson is the award-winning author of eighteen books for young people, including The Erasure Initiative and After the Lights Go Out. Lili has a PhD from the University of Melbourne, and is a passionate advocate for YA and the young people who read it, establishing the Inky Awards at the Centre for Youth Literature, State Library of Victoria. Her latest book is A Hunger of Thorns.

Visit Lili Wilkinson’s website