Reviews

The Thorns Remain by J.J.A. Harwood

historydragonsandmagic's review against another edition

3.0

This is a historical fantasy that takes place in Scotland and includes the Fae. It is a very slow book. Which is not necessarily a bad thing. It is more character centric than plot centric with themes of greif, class struggle, family and friendships. However, for me as much as I wanted to love this book, it was a difficult read. I felt there was A LOT of repetition in description of the interactions with the Fae. Many of the descriptors were used multiple times and I felt as if I was reading the same interaction over and over again. If you love character studies with very slow pacing, this book may be for you.

ellemelle's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

simona_alderson's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

melinoedevours's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

_myliteraryobsession's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

kindle_jenner's review against another edition

2.0

I wanted it to be so much more. Story concept is 10/10 but execution was a 2/10. I still have so many questions.

123zoeg's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Really really loved this!

the_bookishmum's review against another edition

5.0

The Thorns Remain is a fantastic tale based around the Fair Folk of Scottish mythology. If your friends were taken, what would you give to get them back? This is a question Moira Jean must face after a night in the woods leaves her friends trapped in the Fae world in the never-ending dance, with her being the only one left behind and the only one who remembers that they’re missing.

There was so much to love about this book, told from Moira Jean’s perspective. I particularly loved how inhuman the Fair folk felt. They felt dangerous and as though they were looking at human’s as little more than insects to be played with.

Moira Jean and Mrs Iverach were my favourite characters but, I’m not going to lie, I couldn’t help but fall in love with the Dreamer too despite his flaws.

I was completely enraptured by this story and very sad that it has come to an end.

I am so grateful to #Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read the ARC with no obligation to review.

saminanagrani's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

alionavoychuk's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? No

4.5

The thorns remain by J.J.A. Harwood was exactly what I needed at the moment. It is a fantasy romance with human heroine, fae hero, who doesn’t understand humans at all, and an ensemble of decidedly weird, magical creatures-not all of them good.

My favourite thing about this book was the fae. Unlike most works out there, this one doesn’t paint them as superior, more beautiful humans with impossible powers. The Fae here - and the MMC - feel like the uncanny and cunning creatures from old tales that will smile at you one moment, and eat you another. 

I loved it. 

The plot begins when MMC kidnaps the female lead’s friends, so they are forced to dance without stopping; our main girl’s goal is to get them all back. To do that, she agrees to a deal with the male lead: for each of her friends’ lives, she will give something in return.

There is a LOT of magical creatures, and some of them get the spotlight at some point. The book also explores themes of grief and family.

If the feeling of reading a darkish fairytale is what you’re after, then give it a go! However, if you’re looking for a romantic book with steamy action and a traditional HEA - then you should probably skip it. 

In the end, what truly made this book a 4.5 star read was the MMC.

Even though he did some questionable  things to FMC (no violence), by the end of it, I truly rooted for him. 

A creature who lived in a world of lies and illusions, who could have anything he wanted… a someone who didn’t know love. His desperation to keep FMC close was pitiful and heartbreaking, and I loved every second of it