Absolutely loved this glimpse of Alyrra’s life before Thorn. It’s honestly so sad and heartbreaking reading how Alyrra’s mother and brother treat her. It makes me just as angry as I was reading Thorn. That people that evil and heartless and selfish can exist, and that they actually experience joy when they hurt someone else. It’s awful. This short novella really shows the power in the found family. Family is not just blood, it’s people who make you feel safe and cared for, it’s people who you can be yourself around, and it’s people who you can depend on to not leave you behind when times are tough.