Thistle & Thorne

By: Ann Aguirre

Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang

After a catastrophic spill turns the country into a vast chemical wasteland, those who could afford it retreated to fortresses - self-contained communities run by powerful corporations. But for Mari Thistle, life on the outside - in the Red Zone - is a constant struggle. To protect her family, Mari teams up with the mysterious Thorne Goodman. Together, they'll face an evil plot in both the underworld of the Red Zone and the society inside the fortresses that could destroy those on the outside...for good.

©2013 Julie Moffett (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Loved it!

Where does Thistle & Thorne rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Its deff a keeper, one that I am sure I will listen to over and over again.

What other book might you compare Thistle & Thorne to and why?

Outpost and Enclave. Also great books that got me hooked on this arthor. This is the 3rd book I have read by her and I am sure I will be reading everything from her here on out.

What does Lauren Fortgang bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Great job!

Any additional comments?

It was a great short story. There was so much packed into this short story that I was really surprised. Normally I walk away from a book of this length thinking that if they just added a little more it could of been better. This was such a great surprise when I was not saying that to myself. I can not wait to read more by this aruthor!

Loved this Story

I have read other books by this author but this is a new series for me. I wish there was more background information, I felt a little like I was missing something. But all in all I really liked this new story. I look forward to reading more.

A bleak post-apocalyptic novella

Originally posted at Fantasy Literature.

Mari Thistle is just trying to survive and take care of her two younger siblings. Because she lives in the Red Zone and not in the safety of the walled and guarded fortresses where the rich people live, she has to take on some dangerous jobs. Her latest job, which involves sneaking into one of the fortresses and stealing something, has gone bad and she knows she’s likely to be killed by Stavros, the boss who hired her. When she’s rescued by a guy named Thorne Goodman who’s planning to challenge Stavros’ leadership, she finds herself caught in a brutal turf war.

Thistle & Thorne is a novella which was originally published in the post-apocalyptic anthology ‘Til The World Ends earlier this year by Harlequin/Luna. You’re probably thinking it’s a romance, which is what I was expecting, too, but, if anything, Thistle & Thorne is an introduction to two characters who are just starting to trust and admire each other. Both have learned from prior experience that nobody can be relied upon. In Thorne’s case, that means even family. If there’s any romance for Thistle and Thorne, it’s subtle and it’s just beginning.

Set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where the poor live hand-to-mouth and have no hope for ever attaining a place in the beautiful corporation-managed fortresses, Thistle & Thorne is dark, dreary, and oppressive. There aren’t any ideas I haven’t seen before in this type of fiction, but Ann Aguirre creates sympathetic protagonists who feel real and whose lives are interesting, even if they’re always bleak. At the end I certainly hoped that life would improve for Thistle and Thorne and that there might be a future romance. If Ann Aguirre writes any more about these two, and I won’t be surprised if she does, I think I’ll tune in.

Thistle & Thorne was published separately in audio format and was performed by Lauren Fortgang who was fabulous. It’s just over three hours long.

A Great Short Story

What did you love best about Thistle & Thorne?

I loved the Genre of Dystopian and the characters.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Thistle & Thorne?

The action parts were the most memorable.

What does Lauren Fortgang bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She was a great narrator and very nice to listen to while relaxing.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The family ties of the main character made me think of my family.

Any additional comments?

This short story was a fun book to listen to. But VERY short. It is well worth the money if you enjoy Dystopian books. The author is an exceptional writer and very creative.

💗💗💗

The story was great, and the narrator was phenomenal!
I’ve listened to so many truly awful narrators lately that I’d forgotten how great narration enhances the listening experience.
I know this was just a novella but I really wanted to hear more.
Highly recommended.

Very Action Packed Short Story

Would you listen to Thistle & Thorne again? Why?

Maybe.

Have you listened to any of Lauren Fortgang’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Lauren Fortgang is a new reader to me and I can't wait to hear her in more. She has a great voice. She sucks you into the story and doesn't rush read like some authors do.

Any additional comments?

I very much enjoyed this short story. I LOVED Ann's other books so much I purchased the paperback versions shortly after listening to the audiobook verision. Its worth a listen if you like Dystopian books. This author is an amazing story teller and very creative in all her works. I am a huge fan of her books Enclave, Outpost and Horde. I have not yet listened to her other stories but I will. This is a VERY short story but very fun to listen to.

best short story I've heard in a long

The narrator is pretty darn good. Ive read a lot of audiobooks and this one has a theme I've never read before. we have The Haves and the Have Nots but in this dystopian world, one small female is able to take care of her family. this is not your typical Romance. And in fact I felt this book was the beginning of a series about this world, about Miss thistle and Mr Thorne, Thistles two sisters and the snake zone.
story was to short to use an audible credit but if you're on Audible Escape it's absolutely perfect.