Review – Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Title Sorcery of Thorns

Author Margaret Rogerson

Description from Amazon

All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery—magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather. She hopes to become a warden, charged with protecting the kingdom from their power.

Then an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire. Elisabeth’s desperate intervention implicates her in the crime, and she is torn from her home to face justice in the capital. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.

As her alliance with Nathaniel grows stronger, Elisabeth starts to question everything she’s been taught—about sorcerers, about the libraries she loves, even about herself. For Elisabeth has a power she has never guessed, and a future she could never have imagined.

Initial Thoughts

Please see my hype post for my full excitement, but this book sounded awesome.  It’s a book about books!  How could I not love it?

Cover Art

Also, please see my full explanation regarding my feelings on the covers of this book here.  I love both covers.  The colors are amazing.  And, after reading this book, I have to admit, green is the right color for this cover.

Favorite Character

Silas.  He was perfection.  Obediant and orderly and honest to a fault.  He told Elisabeth that he was not to be trusted and his motivations were purely selfish.  He never pretended to be anything more than he was.  I absolutely loved his character.

Some Things I Loved

• The libraries.  They reminded me so much of the library in Harry Potter.  From the leatherbound volumes attached to chains to the books that could talk and move about.  I loved the magic contained in each grimoire and I loved the scenes they created.  Elisabeth’s love of the grimoires reminded me of Hermione and her love of books.
• The banter.  I can totally see why FairyLoot decided to use this book for their Broody Banter themed box.  Everyone was so witty and I really enjoyed that.

Some Things I Wasn’t Crazy About

• The big reveal.  I figured out the “big surprise reveal” quite early on in the story.  No spoilers but there are SO MANY hints dropped during the story about the real motivation of the villain.  I found the surprise factor a bit lacking.
• The ending.  I didn’t love the cliffhanger part of the ending.  This is pretty clearly a standalone novel so I felt that the way the story ends, is a smidge incomplete.

Final Thoughts

I really liked this book.  I thought it had a cool premise, solid characters, and a sound conclusion.  The main plot was a bit transparent but I enjoyed the story nontheless.  It think it was a great choice for all of the book boxes that chose it this month.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Recommendations for Further Reading

• An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson — I haven’t read this one yet but from what I understand, the writing style is quite similar.  If you enjoyed Margaret Rogerson’s writing, check this book out.
• A Treason of Thorns by Laura E. Weymouth — this is a story of a girl who loves the great house she grew up in.  Both stories have main characters willing to put the happiness of books (or houses in this case), before their own needs.  If you enjoyed the love Elisabeth has for her books, you will enjoy reading Violet’s story.
• A Curse of Thorns by Nicole Mainardi — another story of a girl in love with books.  This is a Beauty and the Beast retelling but our Belle character lives in a world where books are not treasured as they should be and she fights to protect them.