Alphabet of Thorn (Alphabet of Thorn) is the tale of Nepenthe, a foundling abandoned on a cliff edge by her mother who is brought up to be a scholar in the large library at Raine. One day a strange book written in an alphabet of thorns is brought to the library to be translated, and Nepenthe becomes addicted to decoding the story in its pages. Little knowing where that story will go, or what that ancient story will mean for both her library home and the kingdom containing the library.

I like stories within stories, and McKillip resolves both storylines in a satisfying way. A beautiful read.