cazisreading 's review for:

A Lesson in Thorns by Sierra Simone

3.75

medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Picked this up as a re-read last month in honour of the series' re-release. This was my first time checking out the audiobook, and Sara Ormenyi was a delight to listen to, each character felt so distinct and her portrayal of each matched what I had envisioned when reading the novel. There are moments when her breathing and swallowing between sentences becomes quite noticeable to the point where it took me out of the narrative briefly at times, but she has a great lyrical voice for this type of story.

I love the aesthetic of this series and the spooky, gothic vibe I get with the way Sierra Simone describes all the different locations of Thornchappel House.  Having already read the entire series before, I think one of my favourite things about the first book is that it does prioritise plot over smut - we have a few moments between characters leading up to the Ritual, and of course, the Ritual itself, but the tension building and the relationship development between various characters is done so beautifully I could happily sit and read about the mythology and the pining and angst for days on end. Sierra has such a gorgeous writing style and it’s conveyed so well in this novel and adapted beautifully for the audiobook. There’s something uniquely cosy about this read, I cannot wait to continue to listen to the rest of the audiobooks.