Book Review: The Thorn And The Sinking Stone By CJ Dushinski

The Thorn And The Sinking Stone
Author: CJ Dushinski
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Released: March 10 2015
Review Source: Entangled Teen

Warring families. Forbidden love. And danger they can’t escape…

Daggers. Roses. Cowboys. Boat Men. Survivors of Earth's Last War, four “families” vie to rule the dreary streets of Rain City through violence and blood. Valencia Hara, Princess of the wealthy Black Roses, is raised in warrior ways with sharpened steel. But she is no ordinary Rose. She is Cursed—tainted with the ability to see seconds into the future…

To avenge his father's death, Sebastian Leold, of the rival gang Two Daggers, must face off against the Black Princess, he with his dagger, she with her katana sword. Yet a secret from a shared past leaves him unable to kill beautiful Valencia; nor can she kill him. For they once knew each other beyond their blood feud…and they have more secrets in common than they know.

But in a world filled with vengeance and violence, there can be no room for love…

A gang of Black Roses and a gang of Two Daggers, what happens when two of them befriend one another? What if they're so different than the rest of their family, but know that they must be part of this gang? What if one of them has a 'curse' that in actuality could be considered a blessing?

I enjoyed this book, it reminds me of Romeo and Juliet in a more fantasy-like setting. I bet Dushinski was heavily influenced by Romeo and Juliet, but I'm glad she was because the book was really enjoyable. I love Sebastian. I know that everyone who reads The Thorn and The Sinking Stone will, but it's because his core values are admirable. From the first time you read about the Daggers you can tell that Sebastian isn't like the rest of his gang.

I really liked that Dushinski switched between the Roses and the Daggers. This way we were able to see what was happening within both gangs. It heightened the anticipation of what was to come as the story progressed. It also helped to heighten the relationship that formed between Sebastian and Valencia. It's always nice to get both sides of a relationship, especially one such as theirs. AKA the star-crossed forlorn lovers.