A review by nymnphi
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

adventurous emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I loved this book in 2019 and I love it still in 2023. Sorcery of Thorns was my introduction to Rogerson's work, and what an introduction it was! The characters are brilliant (Nathaniel Thorn is an icon, the legend, and the moment), the setting is immersive, and the magic system is creative and makes sense. I enjoyed every second of it and wholeheartedly recommend it. However, I do have some critiques: 

• Be prepared for a lackluster villain and climax. The twist on my first read caught me WAY off guard but that's just because I was a) 15 and b) a gullible little rascal. For many (including me on my second read-through), the reveal of the saboteur was predictable. Their motives for being evil did not convince me both times, especially considering (minor spoilers)
  their high status, fame, wealth, and pre-exisitng power.
  The climax dragged on a little too long as well.
• The pacing can be a little slow. There is a shockingly high amount of "filler" chapters in this book that can be skipped with little to no repercussions (cough cough, the asylum chapters, cough cough). But, where the book lacks in pacing it 100% makes up for with its characters. Nathaniel, Elisabeth, and Silas are absolutely fantastic, which sucks considering the shaky plot overshadows their fantastic characterizations. 
• However, Elisabeth's "specialness" is a little cringe-worthy at times. The explanation as to why Elisabeth is literally able to survive falls that would normally kill another person is a little silly. In my opinion, I would have preferred to have her be completely normal save for (minor spoilers)
  her unique connection to the libraries she was raised in.
  Minor issue, I just thought it was a little TOO "chosen one" to be believable. 

Overall, this is a fantastic book that I just can't seem to escape from. If I'm ever in a slump, I'll read Sorcery of Thorns just because of how immersive and entertaining it is. I hear there is a sequel (?) too, so I can't wait to see if there have been any improvements made since then.