The Name Beneath the Thorns

This story contains themes of: assault, attempted rape, cheating, child abuse, depression, domestic violence, extreme violence gore, homophobia, incest, offscreen rape, self-harm, sexual assault abuse, statutory rape, suicide, explicit imagery

Story Notes

At six years old, Briar loses more than her home. Adopted against her wishes and renamed Maisie Vale, she is taught to stay quiet, hide her strange gift, and become whatever her new family demands. Only her formidable grandmother, Odette, refuses to forget the child beneath the borrowed name.

By fourteen, Maisie has learned to survive through relentless ambition. She works while attending high school and college full time, runs track, performs music in secret, and escapes into the stories she writes. Behind every achievement is the hope that, if she becomes exceptional enough, she might finally become free.

Then five young men begin seeing the parts of her that everyone else ignores.

Soren remembers her true name. Harlan prepares for every need she forgets. Bastian gives her shelter when home becomes unbearable. Elias challenges her brilliant mind and speaks of a future she is afraid to imagine. Cairn turns his anger into creation and stands beside her when others refuse. Together with her fearless chosen sister, Zara, they become the family Maisie was never allowed to have.

When the boys discover her hidden manuscript and publish it under the name Briarwood, Maisie’s private account of survival becomes an unexpected bestseller. By graduation, she has three successful novels, three college degrees, and a child on the way—but freedom does not erase what came before.

Years later, a devastating betrayal leads her adoptive family directly to the home she built. They recognize themselves in Briarwood’s work and drag her into a public legal battle designed to expose her identity, seize her success, and return her to their control.

To protect her children and the people she loves, Maisie must finally testify.

Behind a mask and a screen, she will tell the truth they tried to bury. She will reclaim the name stolen from her. And with five promises bound into a single ring, she will create a family the law—and the world—can no longer deny.

She was born Briar.

This time, the name will remain hers.

Copyright

The Name Beneath the Thorns

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, stored in a retrieval system, or shared in any form or by any means—including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or scanning—without prior written permission from the author, except for brief quotations used in reviews, articles, or other uses permitted by copyright law.

This is a work of fiction inspired by personal experiences. Names, characters, locations, organizations, businesses, schools, events, timelines, and identifying details have been invented, altered, combined, or fictionalized for narrative and privacy purposes. Any resemblance to persons not intended to be portrayed, living or deceased, or to actual places and events is coincidental.

This novel contains depictions of trauma, abuse, mental-health struggles, sexual content, violence, and other mature subjects. A complete list of content and trigger warnings appears at the beginning of this edition.

First Edition

Author: Noxious Massacre

Cover design: [To be finalized]

Editing: [To be finalized]

Publisher: [Independently published / Publisher name]

ISBN: [To be assigned]

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