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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Even though I found this book a bit too flashy with words sometimes, after finishing it I understood why it was that way. This book has a lot of characters and a lot going on so it's something to take your time with and drown yourself in the story! it feels slow at times, but you are dealing with a lot of different things going on so don't rush it, it's worth the read, it's worth the patience you should give it, and I can't wait to get to book 2.
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
You ever thought The Secret History needed smut? Look no further than A Lesson in Thorns by Sierra Simone! Not that I was one explicitly looking for smut in The Secret History (especially considering the relationship between two fraternal twins that come to mind) but this hits all of the lure of dark academia while also providing a wonderful twist to the romance and erotica genre. It does portray polyamory and kink, though a brutally honest portrayal, with some characters getting everything wrong. But in a genuine way, one that they want to grow from.
My biggest complaint is that the main problem regarding why they don’t just all become a polycule and call it a night is that miscommunication prevents them from doing so. Poe is smart, why doesn’t she tell Auden and Saint to sit their asses down and talk shit out with her so they can makeup and have the threesomes they so obviously crave?
Also, one again because I feel like this needs to be shouted from the rafters: THAT’S NOT HOW HYMENS WORK!
My biggest complaint is that the main problem regarding why they don’t just all become a polycule and call it a night is that miscommunication prevents them from doing so. Poe is smart, why doesn’t she tell Auden and Saint to sit their asses down and talk shit out with her so they can makeup and have the threesomes they so obviously crave?
Also, one again because I feel like this needs to be shouted from the rafters: THAT’S NOT HOW HYMENS WORK!
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is one of those books I’m embarrassed to have read, but also had some fun with?
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
-dark academia
-6 people
-very kinky
This is a rebrand, and the first in the series.
This gave me Cruel Intention vibes without being Cruel (so far). Poe is trying to find out what happened to her mom, and ends up back at the last place with the last people she thought she’d be with. Thornchapel. They find books about what used to happen, rituals, and they decide that sounds like a good idea. What happens after they complete a ritual? Do they remain friends? What secrets get revealed? I can’t wait for the next one! This does end on a little cliffhanger.
emotional
mysterious
tense
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is erotica with a storyline. I went into this completely blind, and I suggest everyone should. This was not my introduction to Sierra. I’ve read the New Camelot and Lyonesse series. I’m familiar with and love her writing style. It’s unique, eloquent, and different and I know it’s always going to be a good read for me.
Sierra could teach a master class in show, don’t tell. Her use of descriptive language is eloquent and beautiful. This book drew me in from the prologue. As with every book of hers, there is incredible world building. Every book I read plays like a movie in my head while I’m reading, but Sierra’s books take that to a whole new level. Thornchapel is a character in and of itself and you want to uncover all its secrets.
This book is sensual, captivating, intriguing, and addictive. It can be hard enough to develop two main characters you connect with in a book. This has six, and you fall in love with every single one. They are all incredibly well-developed with layers upon layers. I really just don’t have enough good things to say about this book.
3.5 Stars
Okay… so even though this was freaky and weird, maybe this was exactly what I was looking for? It follows six friends - Proserpina, Saint, Auden, Becket, Rebecca and Delphine of Thornchapel, in the town of thorncombe. As kids, Proserpina/Poe, Auden and Saint get married to each other at a chapel ruin and all of them have been drawn to the place ever since.
Poe, comes back to Thornchapel for a job at the mansion’s library and to figure out her mother’s disappearance where she has a reunion with all her friends from past, as adults. And they are all attracted to each other and want to bed each other, maybe all at once?
I’ll call this book a gothic mystery erotica. Even though the writing style is not as polished, the mystery was only set up for all of them to fuck and for no other reason, it’s super slow in the first half and the characters are unbelievable; I sort of had fun.
Okay… so even though this was freaky and weird, maybe this was exactly what I was looking for? It follows six friends - Proserpina, Saint, Auden, Becket, Rebecca and Delphine of Thornchapel, in the town of thorncombe. As kids, Proserpina/Poe, Auden and Saint get married to each other at a chapel ruin and all of them have been drawn to the place ever since.
Poe, comes back to Thornchapel for a job at the mansion’s library and to figure out her mother’s disappearance where she has a reunion with all her friends from past, as adults. And they are all attracted to each other and want to bed each other, maybe all at once?
I’ll call this book a gothic mystery erotica. Even though the writing style is not as polished, the mystery was only set up for all of them to fuck and for no other reason, it’s super slow in the first half and the characters are unbelievable; I sort of had fun.