Reviews

A Hunger of Thorns by Lili Wilkinson

Only show reviews with written explanations

hadders88's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

faefolkreads's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

"Girls are not nice. Girls are wild and fierce and powerful, and I will not let anyone take that away. Not ever again.'

This was a really enchanting story with the wildness of freedom at its heart, layered in a story of first love, magic, communities, the patriarchal fear of womens magic, monsters and self discovery.

The story was wonderfully and disturbingly grimly told, not shying away from the darker side of magic, corruption and self. I struggled with this story a bit because the FMC's level of obsession and refusal to acknowledge the faults in the person she's obsessed with genuinely made me uncomfortable, and was hard to get through at times. I listened to the audio, and as good as the voices were I found the overall narration sounded very young and girlish, which didn't quite mesh with the teenage angst of the main character and made the story drag.

***Thank you to Netgalley for an audio of this book in exchange for an honest review***

heyitsmeg777's review against another edition

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3.0

NOTE: Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC!

I've always enjoyed stories revolving around witches. I'm not sure if it's because of the magic aspect, or because they're misunderstood and each witch tale has a different spin to it but either way, I like reading them and each time I get the chance to read one before it's release date... well, that's even more good news.

However, there are good witchy tales, bad witchy tales, and some that fall flat somewhere.

Short Summary: A jaded daughter of a witch sets off to go search for her best friend in a place that nobody remembers.

Long Summary: Maude is the daughter of a witch, but in a land that is being rid of magic, all that remains are weak glamour spells and the old legends of great magic that used to roam around the land. Her mother was one of the few who resorted to seeking dangerous magic that made her part of a rebellion.

And her best friend Odette always hungered for the same dangerous magic, enough to leave Maude behind and break her heart. And now, she's disappeared and everyone thinks that Odette is dead.

Everyone except Maude.

Because apart from her, an acquaintance of her, Rufus tells her about the Sicklehurst, the place that everyone seems to forget except him and a few others. And perhaps the place that everyone forgets exists may be the answer to find Odette and to discover more about the dangerous magic that everyone fears.

But perhaps the Sicklehurst must be forgotten because as everyone says, curiosity kills the cat... and Maude may not be strong enough to survive the dangers of Sicklehurst and all its secrets.

Okay, this book was a slow start for me. Essentially, it ends up being predictable that Maude was in love with Odette and that there would be lost girls involve as well as an evil corporation, so while the concept of Mettle is pretty cool, the story itself ends up being mostly predictable. The ending itself is supposed to be a promise for more to come, but really, if I were to pick up the possible next book, It would only be because of Rufus.

Just him because all I wanted to do with both Odette and Maude was slap them in the face.

Overall: 3/5 Stars

heyitsmeg777's review

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3.0

I've always enjoyed stories revolving around witches. I'm not sure if it's because of the magic aspect, or because they're misunderstood and each witch tale has a different spin to it but either way, I like reading them and each time I get the chance to read one before it's release date... well, that's even more good news.

However, there are good witchy tales, bad witchy tales, and some that fall flat somewhere.

Short Summary: A jaded daughter of a witch sets off to go search for her best friend in a place that nobody remembers.

Long Summary: Maude is the daughter of a witch, but in a land that is being rid of magic, all that remains are weak glamour spells and the old legends of great magic that used to roam around the land. Her mother was one of the few who resorted to seeking dangerous magic that made her part of a rebellion.

And her best friend Odette always hungered for the same dangerous magic, enough to leave Maude behind and break her heart. And now, she's disappeared and everyone thinks that Odette is dead.

Everyone except Maude.

Because apart from her, an acquaintance of her, Rufus tells her about the Sicklehurst, the place that everyone seems to forget except him and a few others. And perhaps the place that everyone forgets exists may be the answer to find Odette and to discover more about the dangerous magic that everyone fears.

But perhaps the Sicklehurst must be forgotten because as everyone says, curiosity kills the cat... and Maude may not be strong enough to survive the dangers of Sicklehurst and all its secrets.

Okay, this book was a slow start for me. Essentially, it ends up being predictable that Maude was in love with Odette and that there would be lost girls involve as well as an evil corporation, so while the concept of Mettle is pretty cool, the story itself ends up being mostly predictable. The ending itself is supposed to be a promise for more to come, but really, if I were to pick up the possible next book, It would only be because of Rufus.

Just him because all I wanted to do with both Odette and Maude was slap them in the face.

Overall: 3/5 Stars

cydchristine96's review against another edition

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4.0

I don’t usually listen to audiobooks but I knew I had to listen to this book. It was easy to immerse myself in this world. This book created what felt like a darker alice in wonderland type tale, it felt almost like a dangerous fever dream with the highest stakes and secrets.

I really liked Maude even if at times she did seem lonely and desperate to please people, but I think that made her seem more genuine and kind. Odette was awful but redeemed herself, rufus was loveable and loyal to a fault, but it’s ginger & winnie stole the book for me really - ginger was abrupt but fearful and sincere at times with a loyalty you didnt expect and winnie was fearless, brash and endearing because of her direct and wild nature.

I really thoroughly enjoyed this world, the family secrets layered under years of a secret world built by the power of imagination and darkness. I look forward to reading/listening to more of this authors work!

bookb1itch's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious 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

4.5

this is the second of this year's CBCA shortlisted YA books I am reading (listening to on audio). I really enjoyed the story and am looking forward to re-reading it. Odette and Maud's friendship and falling-out was a little annoying, but probably because it felt so real. I especially liked the references to plants and birds, and the importance the cats had in the family home. Loved that Maud having 2 grandmothers who are "still hot for each other" was completely normal. And Rufus wins best sidekick award.

Content Warnings