Reviews

Thornbound by Stephanie Burgis

cloudsinthecupboard's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

outi's review

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

voxeldoodle's review

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

brandypainter's review

4.0

I found this to be an excellent sequel to [b:Snowspelled|34913546|Snowspelled (The Harwood Spellbook, #1)|Stephanie Burgis|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1499436670s/34913546.jpg|56176342]. I love all of these characters so much, and even came to appreciate one I didn't think I was possible to like in this book. I enjoyed watching Cassandra and Wrexham figure out how to be married, which is harder than just being in love. I wish we could have gotten a little more of that, but was overall pleased with the continued development of their relationship.

tessisreading2's review

3.0

This is another sweet light cozy fantasy book, but personally I didn’t enjoy the arguments about sexism in Burgis’s alt-regency society - women are politicians, men are magicians, and therefore, some hidebound traditionalists are arguing, our heroine’s efforts to teach magic to more women will cause men to enter politics and in turn overthrow a 1,700 political tradition and begin subjugating women. It’s too on the nose - in this Angland they learn “men were too emotional and irrational to be trusted with practical government” while women are too rational to deal with magic - but at the same time most regency details are the same. Like, explain corsets if women are in charge, please, or the benign sexism with which most male magicians seem to treat Cassandra. While eventually

Spoiler

we learn the woman making these arguments had her own reasons to be an arch-conservative, the arguments she is making are not treated as out-of-the-norm by anyone else

.

All of the trials racked up against Cassandra feel tedious in this one. Burgis isn’t funny enough to give us moments of levity to lighten the drama, although it sometimes feels like she’s trying. Cassandra herself is stubborn to the point of idiocy - I get it, that’s part of her character setup, but it doesn’t feel like she’s grown since she lost her magic through her own stubbornness.

This was fun and pleasant but, like its predecessor, ultimately unmemorable.

blodeuedd's review against another edition

3.0

I do like these because they are short, and short can be so good at times. They also work while being short.

This is a historical fantasy where there is magic, fae and elves. Angland is ruled by women, and they marry mages, and it is the men who has to care for their reputations. It is an intriguing world, I do want to learn more about elves and fae.

Cassandra has magic and was allowed to study, and I can't believe it but I kind of agree with the women politicians. If she is allowed, and more is allowed, then men can become politicians too, and then men can rule Angland, just as they do the rest of the world. I do see their point in not wanting more women to study. But at the same time women have the right to be mages too, and the same goes for men who do not want to be mages.

So in this one she is trying to start her school for female mages. But the politicians are not happy, the mages are not happy, Cassandra has no magic anymore, her husband is away all the time, and it is bluebell season...that is not good.

It is an amusing book set in an interesting world.

I liked her voice, it felt so very English and the "time."

terapsina's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

hermelina's review

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted 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

4.0

ginnikin's review

A nice ending to the series. I still liked [b:Spellswept|36655733|Spellswept (The Harwood Spellbook, #0.5)|Stephanie Burgis|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1536399258s/36655733.jpg|58430351] best, I think because of Amy and possibly because of 3rd person POV instead of 1st. I found this one a bit frustrating because it was clear that Cassandra wasn't letting Jonathan speak the same way Westgate hadn't let her speak. The frantic pacing, which was on purpose and successful, left me feeling a bit stressed.

kitvaria_sarene's review

5.0

I keep telling you just how much I enjoyed Snowspelled, now I finally got around to the sequel.

And I loved it even more!

Cassandra is a wonderful main character, and I love how she is both willing to go head first through walls for things she feels are important. And on the other hand she also cares deeply about her friends and family, and tries to do right by everyone. Even by incredibly annoying and self important weather wizards...

This book dipped even more into the topic of "women's rights" than the first, and that is always a plus for me. If it's done with plenty of female characters who I can actually look up to? That's obviously the best.

The romance was well done. It didn't overshadow the book at all, but was a small and fitting part of the story. Because as much as Cassandra loves her new husband, there's just so much other stuff to do and organise! So it felt quite realistic and cozy to me.

If you like Jane Austen style books, with strong female characters, fae and magic, and plenty of friendships, look no farther. Do yourself a favour and read this series!