Scan barcode
A review by onthesamepage
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I've been on the fence about trying this author for a very long time. The covers for her books always catch my eye because I adore the artwork, but then every time I'd consider picking them up, I'd see mixed reviews and hesitate. I don't always have the best track record with YA fantasy, and I've become more careful about which books I try from that specific category. What really pushed me over the edge and made me pick up the book are the following:
1) Alienor mentioned that she really enjoyed it. This is important because we have similar taste in a lot of books.
2) A Clockwork Reader compared it to Ghibli's Howl's Moving Castle. I'm a simple person, you comp something to a Ghibli movie I love, I will be immediately convinced I need it in my life.
The comparison to Howl's Moving Castle isn't super accurate, but I understand where it comes from. The dynamic between the main trio in the book is reminiscent of the way Sophie, Howl, and Calcifer interact. The strength of this story is definitely in the characters and the relationships. The romance between Elisabeth and Nathanial is really sweet, but the found family aspect is even stronger.
For Nathanial and Silas specifically, I think Black Butler is a good comparison, so if you enjoyed that, you might also have a good time with this book.
I was invested and engrossed in the story, but I did find it relatively easy to guess who the villain was. However, that didn't detract from my enjoyment, because I had no idea what their overall plan was and how everything would pan out. Plus the setting really appealed to me—magical libraries and books that can turn into monsters, what's not to love?
If I had written this review shortly after finishing the book, I'd probably be able to go into more details, but alas, the past me decided this would be a problem for future me, and this is all I'm currently capable of. Maybe I'll add to this on reread, because I do think this is one I'll pick up again eventually.
1) Alienor mentioned that she really enjoyed it. This is important because we have similar taste in a lot of books.
2) A Clockwork Reader compared it to Ghibli's Howl's Moving Castle. I'm a simple person, you comp something to a Ghibli movie I love, I will be immediately convinced I need it in my life.
The comparison to Howl's Moving Castle isn't super accurate, but I understand where it comes from. The dynamic between the main trio in the book is reminiscent of the way Sophie, Howl, and Calcifer interact. The strength of this story is definitely in the characters and the relationships. The romance between Elisabeth and Nathanial is really sweet, but the found family aspect is even stronger.
For Nathanial and Silas specifically, I think Black Butler is a good comparison, so if you enjoyed that, you might also have a good time with this book.
I was invested and engrossed in the story, but I did find it relatively easy to guess who the villain was. However, that didn't detract from my enjoyment, because I had no idea what their overall plan was and how everything would pan out. Plus the setting really appealed to me—magical libraries and books that can turn into monsters, what's not to love?
If I had written this review shortly after finishing the book, I'd probably be able to go into more details, but alas, the past me decided this would be a problem for future me, and this is all I'm currently capable of. Maybe I'll add to this on reread, because I do think this is one I'll pick up again eventually.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders