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aroacereader 's review for:
Sorcery of Thorns
by Margaret Rogerson
3.5 stars rounded to 4
I'll have this review in a list form because I'm lazy:
-I really enjoyed the fantasy and magical elements in SoT, as I was extremely intrigued by the grimoires and how they were all so unique and the way in which they worked and functioned.
-I don't really have any strong feelings towards Elisabeth. I did, however, really enjoy reading her struggle in reconciling what she has been taught all her life and what she is presently discovering and learning. I do think that the reveal of why she is special could have been a bit more fleshed out and discussed; instead of it being glossed over and brought up only when the plot needs it.
-Nathaniel was honestly a joy to read most of the time, but there were a lot of scenes with him that were all CHARACTER ANGST which I enjoyed immensely (sorry nathaniel) as I got to know him more and the odd yet heartfelt dynamic between him and Silas.
-(warning minor spoilers) Silas!! I am a sucker for the trope where the supernatural usually cold and emotionless character has a hidden soft side and is actually caring and loving now matter how much they deny it and pretend otherwise. Some of my favorite lines were from scenes with him and Nathaniel.
-Also, Cat!Silas was a JOY.
-Kat from paperbackdreams mentioned this as well but all the characters should be dead. period. You have to do a lot of suspension of disbelief in the latter half of the book; as the characters go through a lot of trials and tribulations that should have left them with at least broken bones but they always get out unscathed (well, except for Nathaniel; he does get his ass kicked quite a bit)
-This is sort of an expansion on the previous point, but there were so few lasting consequences for the characters' actions that it made for a kind of unexciting read at times.
-There were some goddamn convenient things that happen that help Elisabeth in her quest, and she didn't have to work for them at all, so it was clear that these things were simply to progress the plot forward without having the characters work for that movement. (warning, mild spoiler ahead) The most notable example of this for me was the scrying mirror Elisabeth found oh-so-conveniently behind a cabinet in Nathaniel's house.... like are you being forreal???
-I actually liked the romance and found Elisabeth and Nathaniel's romantic interactions and dialogue very cute and tender at times. I did find that we didn't stay in the "enemies" part of the "enemies-to-lovers" arc very long, which I feel like could have benefited the story a little and made the romance just that bit more satisfying.
-My last major critique in this mess of an unstructured review is that there were too many points in the book where it felt like the conclusion but it obviously wasn't. The overgrown ruins scene comes to mind as does Elisabeth's arrival to Ashcroft manor. I recognize that this point is very subjective so take it with a grain of salt.
In conclusion, this was a fun, mostly lighthearted read that made me chuckle a few times. I'd recommend it if you're looking for something not too serious in the fantasy department.
I'll have this review in a list form because I'm lazy:
-I really enjoyed the fantasy and magical elements in SoT, as I was extremely intrigued by the grimoires and how they were all so unique and the way in which they worked and functioned.
-I don't really have any strong feelings towards Elisabeth. I did, however, really enjoy reading her struggle in reconciling what she has been taught all her life and what she is presently discovering and learning. I do think that the reveal of why she is special could have been a bit more fleshed out and discussed; instead of it being glossed over and brought up only when the plot needs it.
-Nathaniel was honestly a joy to read most of the time, but there were a lot of scenes with him that were all CHARACTER ANGST which I enjoyed immensely (sorry nathaniel) as I got to know him more and the odd yet heartfelt dynamic between him and Silas.
-(warning minor spoilers) Silas!! I am a sucker for the trope where the supernatural usually cold and emotionless character has a hidden soft side and is actually caring and loving now matter how much they deny it and pretend otherwise. Some of my favorite lines were from scenes with him and Nathaniel.
-Also, Cat!Silas was a JOY.
-Kat from paperbackdreams mentioned this as well but all the characters should be dead. period. You have to do a lot of suspension of disbelief in the latter half of the book; as the characters go through a lot of trials and tribulations that should have left them with at least broken bones but they always get out unscathed (well, except for Nathaniel; he does get his ass kicked quite a bit)
-This is sort of an expansion on the previous point, but there were so few lasting consequences for the characters' actions that it made for a kind of unexciting read at times.
-There were some goddamn convenient things that happen that help Elisabeth in her quest, and she didn't have to work for them at all, so it was clear that these things were simply to progress the plot forward without having the characters work for that movement. (warning, mild spoiler ahead) The most notable example of this for me was the scrying mirror Elisabeth found oh-so-conveniently behind a cabinet in Nathaniel's house.... like are you being forreal???
-I actually liked the romance and found Elisabeth and Nathaniel's romantic interactions and dialogue very cute and tender at times. I did find that we didn't stay in the "enemies" part of the "enemies-to-lovers" arc very long, which I feel like could have benefited the story a little and made the romance just that bit more satisfying.
-My last major critique in this mess of an unstructured review is that there were too many points in the book where it felt like the conclusion but it obviously wasn't. The overgrown ruins scene comes to mind as does Elisabeth's arrival to Ashcroft manor. I recognize that this point is very subjective so take it with a grain of salt.
In conclusion, this was a fun, mostly lighthearted read that made me chuckle a few times. I'd recommend it if you're looking for something not too serious in the fantasy department.