By Margaret Rogerson
“It was always wise to be polite to books, whether or not they could hear you.”
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publish Date: 4th June 2019
Title: Sorcery of Thorns
Author: Margaret Rogerson
Publisher: Simon and Schuster UK Children’s
Book: Standalone
Genre: Fantasy
Found: Netgalley/Instagram
Rating: 5 Voodoos
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.-Netgalley
I really enjoyed this book! I loved Elizabeth#s connection to the books and how her view of the world changed throughout her journey.
Also, Nathaniel and Silas’s relationship really reminded me of the dynamics of the anime/manga Black Butler – though I’ve only read the first book and seen the live action film [ BUTTER KNIVES!] they both had the same vibe, as well as most of the same components.
I was anxious of Elizabeth being accused of the crime she didn’t commit, because of who accused her and the world she lives in. It’s mentioned in this book several times how the word of man trumps that of a woman and that always makes me so ANGRY! Especially, especially when it’s a clever woman and a stupid man.
However, luckily in this case the exact right person was the one to transport her to her trial.
I loved the chemistry that Nathaniel and Elizabeth had from the start. You could feel it, even when Elizabeth didn’t like him. I do love a good hate-to-love storyline. And banter! They had great banter, could have done with more to be honest, because there can never be enough banter.
The best way to describe this book is cute. It was nice and soft and comfy. Which is probably not the kind of descriptions you want your book to have – especially when it’s got monsters. Yes, the monsters could have done with a little more GRRR! But I really enjoyed not being super anxious, these guys were very competent and they were able to get stuff done.
I loved that Elizabeth’s past was a mystery and that her importance wasn’t to do with who her ancestors were but with who she was specifically. Also, her surname really tickled me – it’s also the name of a writing program!
Nathaniel’s back story was interesting too and it explained a lot about his character and I liked his arc too.
This book heavily focuses on our three main characters and thus Elizabeth’s other friends don’t get as much development as they could have – but then this IS a standalone and you always have less space in those to get to know people. Anyway, it was only the main 3 I cared about – I really enjoyed seeing them become a family without they really realising it. It was so lovely.
I know there’s a lot of mutterings about the epilogue, but I really liked it, I don’t care. I wish it was longer even! What was different? What did it mean? What was going to happen next? So many questions I want answered that aren’t necessary at all.
I want more of this world! More of these characters!
I also want one of these libraries….
(These are notes for myself so I don’t forget later, as I think I would otherwise)Things I liked:
- The banter was good
- Silas
- Amount of books involved
- Atmosphere was clearly set
Things I disliked:
- I was not sure what the motive of the antagonist was until the reveal time, which really took away from the build up
- Amount of times I read “intensified”
- While the stakes theoretically were high, it never felt like it
- The lack of real consequences & the amount of “take-backsies”. The latter
First we have Elizabeth, a library apprentice of sorts. She’s tall, fierce, yet has the gentlest of hearts. Time and time again, she charges headfirst into danger and drags us with her,
ARC provided by Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review.
“Knowledge always has the potential to be dangerous. It is a more powerful weapon than any sword or spell.”
I don’t know about you, but I feel like I’ve been looking for a story all about someone living in a library, surrounded by magical books, while also going on adventure after adventure, for my entire life. And I truly believe that not only did Margaret Rogerson give me that, she is giving the YA literature community a …more
June Owlcrate Box. Well, I already have the book but this one has a purple cover soo.. keep them both! =D Click on link below the pic to see the goodies.
I made some bookmarks today.
She wasn’t a wielder of chains; she was a breaker of them. She was the library’s will made flesh.
I never do this, but I’m going to give you all a TL;DR for this review, just in case you’re in a hurry and need me to get the point across quickly: This is one of the best books I have read in my entire life, and if there is any single book I could beg you to purchase this year, it is Sorcery of Thorns.
“Knowledge always has the potential to be dangerous. It is a more powerful weapon than any s
i know i wont be the only reader who sees a little bit of themself in elisabeth; for being able to relate, on such a personal level, to her love of books, for seeing them as companions, and forever feeling at home in their company/in a library.
and this story is every bit deserving of having such a remarkable character. there is so much balance to
This book is Howl’s Moving Castle’s cousin and I was LIVING throughout it.
I LOVED THIS. Margaret Rogerson is well on her way to becoming a new favourite author of mine. This was a follow-up novel done RIGHT.
RTC!
Jul 30, 2019 11:57AM
Aug 17, 2019 08:11AM