Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
Genres: Fantasy (YA)
Pages: 456
Goodreads
All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery—magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather. She hopes to become a warden, charged with protecting the kingdom from their power.
Then an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire. Elisabeth’s desperate intervention implicates her in the crime, and she is torn from her home to face justice in the capital. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.
As her alliance with Nathaniel grows stronger, Elisabeth starts to question everything she’s been taught—about sorcerers, about the libraries she loves, even about herself. For Elisabeth has a power she has never guessed, and a future she could never have imagined.
You guyyyyyysssss! This one totally lived up to the hype for me and BOY did I need a great read! I didn’t know how to organize my thoughts on this one so I’m doing bullet points for things I liked & didn’t like (yep, there were some things I didn’t like but it didn’t really change my overall opinion of the book)!
THINGS I LOVED
- The world-building is amazing! Ok, it’s not perfect but I really felt like the author brought the world to life. Instead of just generic descriptions of a town, there was just the right amount of visuals to really get a feel for the people who lived there. Plus, there was a press! I don’t know why that added to world-building to me, it’s such a small addition, but I really enjoyed that there was this sort of modern-day thing included in this fantasy world that made the gossip and news spreading feel more real.
- It had a lot of unexpected twists. I can’t spoil things, but there are 2 main plot points that I thought were going a totally different direction than what ended up happening. I’m glad that it didn’t go the typical route most fantasy books go, it was refreshing! If you’ve read the book & want to know what I’m talking about: View Spoiler »
- Silas. Honestly, that’s it. If he wasn’t in this book, it would not have been as good. I wouldn’t have particularly rooted for anyone because he was the best developed and most entertaining character.
THINGS I DIDN’T LOVE
- Elisabeth’s background isn’t really there. I wanted more about her history working in the library. For example, she has no problem fighting a grimoire early on in the story and she does so almost with ease – how did she feel so comfortable holding a sword? Did she have training? Was it just second nature? On the same token, it’s awesome she wasn’t the cliche timid library girl, but I just wanted a little more of her before the story picked up.
- There was the cliche “let’s use the upcoming ball as a time to turn the plot around” storyline. I’m really sick of this in books. Why does there always have to be some luxurious party happening for the main characters to get some bright idea for a heist/drama/reveals/etc.? Luckily, there was a bit of a twist on this one, but still…
- I wanted more non-plot driving scenes between Elisabeth and the other characters. While it progressed the story fairly quickly since almost every scene that was really dived into served a purpose to the main event, I wanted more of the character/relationship development to be shown. For example, there’s a time when she mentions going shopping for a dress with a character – which would have been a perfect, even if short, scene to boost my attachment to their relationship, instead it was briefly mentioned. I just wanted more!
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| Overall: | 4.5 / 5 |
16 Comments
Yay for unexpected twists! I can’t wait to read this one! I won a giveaway for it so I’m so excited!
Genesis @ Whispering Chapters
That’s awesome! I hope you enjoy it 🙂
Great review!!!! I loved this book too <3
I had the same thought as you, that if she had never held a sword then how was she so good with it? But then later on in the book when she got a job as a maid she was watching the apprentices training with swords. So she got training, she just doesn't get a sword of her own until she becomes a warden. At least I think that is what it meant? So if she became an apprentice at 13 and she was 17 in the book then she had 4 years of sword training I think.
Ohhhh hmmm I must have blindly read that part. It’s not very specific so I’d still want more but that explains it a little lol
YES MOLLY! I loved this book so much! Silas was such a fantastic character and I would really love more books about him. I definitely would have enjoyed more information on Elisabeth’s backstory though.
YAY! I’m SO GLAD I liked it because I was going to be really sad if it didn’t live up to the hype hahah and yesssss Silas.
I cannot WAIT to read this! Everyone seems to be loving it and I put it straight onto by fall TBR. But I do agree about the luxurious party/ball being the “big event” in books. Did everyone watch Cinderella too much as a kid or something?
EEE I hope you like it! But yeaaaaahhh, I mean, like I said in the review, there’s a slight twist but STILLLLL I’m so sick of the ball/masquerade/party/coronation or whatever other big parties you can think of haha too much Cinderella, indeed!
So happy to hear you enjoyed this one so much and that it lived up to the hype for you, yay! I’ve heard a lot of great things about it and the world sounds fantastic, I can’t wait to discover it 🙂
I hope you like it if you get a chance to read it!
I don’t read a lot of fantasy, but I actually own this one. Guess I should read it! Great review!
It’s a good one! I hope you like it if you read it 🙂
I thought that my hype over this book was running out and that it was more based on that gorgeous cover/premise but the more reviews I see about it the more keen I am on giving it a go. Also, yikes, I never noticed how many books use the “let’s use the upcoming ball as a time to turn the plot around” storyline/trope but now that you mention it I’m over here thinking about it and… oh my gosh. IT’S A LOT. And now I’m not going to unsee that, haha!
Flaws aside, I’m glad you enjoyed this one like you did! I have a feeling it’s going to end up a new favourite for me as well and I definitely need to get my hands on it. Pinky promise I’m not making grabby hands at its beautiful cover. (The bad news is that I am so I am now a liar. But, can you blame me? Haha!)
Great review!
Definitely read it! I meaaaan, it’s not perfect – some things could have been better – but overall, it was a great read!
& OK YES. It’s everywhere and I am glad I have no pointed it out so you can never unsee it hahahah I was tired of being alone in this annoyance 😀
I hope you like it when you get to it!
This was supposed to be part of my very ambitious July TBR but I was unable to read it due to the lack of time and fantasy books really need all my undivided attention so I could pay close attention to details and events. My friends enjoyed this book and I’m lost whenever they talk about it. I plan to read this soon before 2019 ends. I HAVE TO.
hahaha oh man! TBRs never work for me because I never stick to them lol I hope you get to it soon!