Book Review | Sorcery of Thorns

Sorcery of Thorns
Margaret Rogerson
453 Pages
5/5 Stars

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, 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.   

"Dreadful things roam the shadows while the human world sleeps."

Sorcery of Thorns is a captivating and whimsical young adult fantasy novel. It's a standalone novel with a strong plot that will have you enthralled from beginning to end. This tale of magic, demons and libraries is told from the point of view of Elisabeth (third person), a young apprentice working to protect the world from the books, and the books from the world. 

I really enjoyed Rogerson's storytelling; her writing is very poetic and descriptive. What I liked especially is that I wasn't left with huge info-dumps to consume, instead, everything felt relevant and I didn't feel like I was wasting time on parts that I had no interest in. As far as fantasy novels go, it's very classic and it's easy to say that Sorcery of Thorns is laden with tropes, but Rogerson easily makes them feel fresh and new.  

Elisabeth is compelling, brave and fierce; my favourite kind of character. She has this balance of vulnerability and world-weariness that just carries her journey of self-realisation and discovery perfectly. Almost instantly, Rogerson begins to undermine everything Elisabeth (and the reader) has been taught and everything she knows about herself. Elisabeth takes it in her stride and pushes forward with her cause, and it is her determination, strength and growth that makes her such a fantastic character. 

I easily fell for Nathaniel Thorn. He's enigmatic, handsome, rich and beset by a tragic past - a classic literary figure. Nathaniel's seductive manner, quiet confidence and charm make him an interesting character - you would almost expect him to be a Gatsby figure, but instead he leads a solitary life. His only companion is Silas, the demon who exchanges the gift of magic for years of life, and his mansion, now cold and empty, is a haunting reminder of the loss of Nathaniel's family.

My favourite character is Silas. I couldn't help but love him, even though I was never sure whether he was on the side of good or the side of bad. He rarely shows emotion and maintains his mysterious demeanour throughout. I was devastated when I thought he wasn't coming back at the end of the book and I was so relieved when the ending was left open. 

"Night fell as death rode into the Great Library of Summershall."

Overall, I loved every aspect of Sorcery of Thorns. It's everything I love in a fantasy and more; it has brilliant characters, a thrilling plot and a slow burn romance. The only disappointment I had was that this book is a standalone with no current plans for a sequel, despite the satisfactory and fulfilling ending. I honestly have fallen in love with the world Rogerson has created and I will certainly be reading more of her work.

Have any of you read Sorcery of Thorns? If you have let me know what you thought of Elisabeth's story in the comments below. As always, thanks for reading and I'll see you in the next post.