You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
the fmc is sarcastic, closed off, and a bit asocial. & she’s also a virgin. the mmc is the grandson of a former politician, rich, and the star quarterback. he was dared to take her virginity in order to “bring her down a notch”.
it sounds cliche, but it’s really worth the read. you can predict the plot, but there’s little things woven in that make you think. (her mom, her dad, sebastian’s parents, asher & reina’s situation, sam miller, etc) & when rina said this was a dark romance, she literally meant it. their kink is not for everybody, but it didn’t deter me.
it left on a cliff hanger so you have no choice but to read the second book.
i’m sure all my questions will be answered in the second book, but wtf was the point of akira?
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence
Moderate: Racism, Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Abandonment
i wasn't able to rate it more bc there are some questionable things that I'm not the right person to speak about since I'm not Asian but it bugged me a little bit like the line between what is racial fetishism and what is not its thin so.. just something to think about it.
also the.. uhm.. the kind of play they had.. its questionable. I could understand some people odnt feel comfortable with it and I think it's kind of the type of theme that you should be very careful about how you write it. and rina totally lacks the ability to properly aboard these themes (in general, she never made it I guess)
Four Stars
“The promise in his words is like my worst nightmare and my most coveted dream.”
Red Thorns might just be one of my favorite Rina Kent books. I absolutely loved Sebastian Weaver and Naomi Chester. While it was similar to other of Rina’s books it had a special something that really drew me in. I literally couldn’t put this book down, that’s how much I loved it.
Naomi Chester is not your typical high school cheerleader; she actually hates being in social settings and honestly just strongly dislikes being around people. She is very secluded and likes to stay home with her manga and true-crime docs. In that sense I relate to her, minus the manga but overall, I found myself relating to Nao quite often. Underneath all of her layers Naomi was actually one of the sweetest fmcs, she just needed to find herself and who she could truly be herself with.
Sebastian Weaver was literally a jerk but in the best way? I can’t even describe It, but I still loved him. He comes from a rich, powerful, and ignorant family but he is so much better than his grandparents who raised him. Seb lived with his uncle who practically raised him, and I just loved their dynamic so much, they had the cheesiest yet best almost brotherlike relationship. I adored Sebastian SO much; he had such a way with everything I was just jaw dropped the entire time. One thing I especially loved about Seb was how much he cared and watched over Naomi, before they even knew each other he already had his eyes set on her.
This couple just had my whole heart, everything about them held my heart. Every time Seb called Nao Tsundere I yelled, like I just couldn’t look past how cute they were. Sebastian definitely fell way harder, and I loved him for it. I honestly think they might be my favorite or top 3 favorite RK couple, they just mean so much to me and I can’t even describe it. AND THE SPICE??? TOP TIER I MUST SAY!!
The storyline the book followed was pretty easy to grasp but the ending left me shocked. The cliffhanger came out of nowhere and the family drama that was appeared was so random. The book felt a little more character based than plot based which is why I feel as if the ending came out of nowhere. I wont lie though, the ending made me a little emotional, it was definitely a rollercoaster.
The Akira penpal plotline is interesting to me because he is so indecisive on his treatment to Naomi, I would get confused on how he really feels about her. He did have some valid points sometimes though, even when he was being completely uncalled for.
The ReinaAsher crumbs we got in this book brought me right back to All The Lies and made me miss it so much. The book takes place before and a little during All The Lies and I loved how they tied in with one another.
Overall, Red Thorns was a good fast paced book that anybody who loves a good dark romance would enjoy. It starts off the series really well and ends with an insanely frustrating cliffhanger which made me start the next book right away.
Rina Kent has created two outstanding characters in Sebastian, the Quarterback and popular town golden boy and Naomi a second-generation Japanese immigrant who is a cheerleader but is excluded and has always felt different and socially isolated. What they both have in common is that they are adept at wearing a mask to hide their real feelings and this becomes more obvious as the books progress. Written in dual-perspectives this allows readers a deeper insight into each character’s inner thinking and feelings and I love how the author explored all types of sexual and sensual expression by these characters. The plot blew my mind and I have no idea how Rina Kent firstly came up with it and then kept it all together enough to write it down. It is an intense dark romance filled with twists and turns which then take a 180 jump just for fun. I had planned to review Red Thorns and Black Thorns separately but to be honest after the cliffhanger at the end of book one I doubt anyone would not continue the rest of this amazing duet.
The Thorns Duet is full of passion and heat as well as beautiful moments between brilliantly written characters. This duet blew my mind as it drags you in and spits you out gasping at the other end. I would definitely recommend it for readers who enjoy darker reads with intense relationships.
Por mucha curiosidad que tuviera de que había sucedido con Naomi y Sebastián debo de confesar que entré a esta bilogía con poca motivación porque por culpa de "lies & truths duet" yo ya sabía como terminaría este libro pero igual me sorprendió.
No me esperaba para nada que ellos dos terminarán teniendo una relación... de ese estilo. Nunca vi a Nao donde podría involucrarse o tuviera estas fantasías, quede en shock pero fue interesante y me gustó como Rina trató muy bien el tema.
Hablando más en detalle de Nao; fue un personaje que disfruté pero en ocasiones, bastantes ocasiones, solo me daban ganas de dejarla inconsciente para que parara de pensar y decir estupideces pero igual la amo y sufro si ella sufre.
El personaje de Seb también me sorprendió muchísimas porque tenía una imagen totalmente diferente a como él es realmente. No lo amé por el final que tiene pero me gusta.
En fin eso es todo, este libro es el segundo que leo estando en el reto de 24h y no sabéis el sueño que traigo encima (actualización: escribí la reseña y me olvidé subirlo, y terminé quedándome dormida) [4,5/5⭐️]
I love Naomi. She has the biggest attitude and isn't afraid to tell people what she thinks. Sebastian is sinister with a golden boy exterior. Him and Naomi are perfect for one another. Their dark interiors match each other's.
The whole element of the stalking has brought this story to another level. Not only is she dealing with Sebastian and his domineering ways, but she's also having to constantly look over her shoulder. Naomi experiences so much fear throughout the book.
I cannot wait until Black Thorns. After that cliffhanger, I need to know what happens!