The Secret World of Briar Rose

Name: The Secret World of Briar Rose
Price: 46.98 AUD
Availability: PreOrder
ISBN: 9798217113026

Cindy Pham

$51.95 $46.98

Hardback

Forthcoming
Pre-Order now

QTY:

English

Kokila
02 June 2026

Fantasy & magical realism (Children's&YA); Traditional stories (Children's&YA); Personal & social issues: racism & multiculturalism (Children's&YA)

A lush and immersive queer “Sleeping Beauty” retelling about escapism, grief, and dreaming of a better world, as imagined by YouTube star Cindy Pham

The deluxe first edition features a classic fairytale-inspired embossed jacket, custom designed colored edges, gorgeous illustrated endpapers, and a gold foil-stamped case!

“The emotional depth of the characters adds many layers to the search for identity, overcoming grief, and finding belonging; the book shows how hope, love, and redemption can exist in this darkness.”—School Library Journal, starred review

One hundred years have passed since the last heir of Gyldan fell into eternal slumber and doomed the once-mighty kingdom to poverty and invasion. At least, that’s what the fairy tales claim.

Corin is a jaded thief who doesn’t believe in fables, even when she searches Gyldan’s underground tunnels to find her younger sister, Elly, who ran away to find the sleeping princess in hopes of a better life. Corin’s conviction is challenged when she discovers the ruins of the ancient castle, maintained by beings from the kingdom’s golden age, who protect a hidden portal into Princess Amelia’s subconscious. Following Elly’s voice, Corin jumps in the portal and seals the entry behind her.

Inside the lush world of Amelia’s dreams, the sisters reunite for a new adventure as they meet Briar Rose, Amelia’s whimsical alter ego, and Malicine, a sharp-tongued demon with a gift for magic. But as they explore ice castles, sunflower mazes, and star-filled oceans, Corin suspects Briar Rose is hiding darker secrets behind her “perfect” paradise—and that there are some things her subconscious can’t bury forever.

By: Cindy Pham
Imprint: Kokila
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 219mm, Width: 149mm, Spine: 29mm
Weight: 522g
ISBN: 9798217113026
Pages: 400
Publication Date: 02 June 2026
Recommended Age: From 14 years
Audience: Young adult , Preschool (0-5)
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Cindy Pham is a queer Vietnamese-American author of fantasy books. Based in New York City, she works as a full-time designer while moonlighting as a fiction writer and content creator. Her YouTube channel, Read With Cindy, has amassed over half a million subscribers and focuses on books, movie reactions, and candid commentary. The Secret World of Briar Rose is her debut novel.

Reviews for The Secret World of Briar Rose

Praise for The Secret World of Briar Rose by Cindy Pham: A 2026 Publishers Weekly Summer Reads Best Books List ★ ""The emotional depth of the characters adds many layers to the search for identity, overcoming grief, and finding belonging; the book shows how hope, love, and redemption can exist in this darkness."" —School Library Journal, starred review “Somberly beautiful.” —Kirkus Reviews “Intersectionally diverse, emotionally complex characters navigate a hope-fueled, twist-riddled plot in this empathetic exploration of identity, grief, forgiveness, and mental health.” —Publisher’s Weekly