Scan barcode
annashiv's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars. I really enjoyed the first hundred pages or so, but then it seemed to drag a little and by the end I was just bored. There were some great ideas in it and great potential, but it just wasn't executed in a way that it needed. The writing just wasn't quite there. Maybe because this is the author's second novel? I don't know. The chemistry between characters was also just not there. The villain was cliché and boring, and I got really annoyed how she told us explicitly that the villain believes he is the hero or whatever. You shouldn't have to say that, and it just made it feel contrived. Some parts of the story feel like they could have been cut. Really the only thing I liked consistently was Silas. He was easily the best part but even his story didn't feel fully fleshed out somehow. I think the book might have been better if it had been written from his perspective or if he had been the romantic interest.
krln's review against another edition
4.0
overall a really fun book, even though the ending was a little too convenient, it definitely didnt ruin my enjoyment of the book. i really liked the character dynamics
kaulhilo's review against another edition
5.0
omg okay so i really loved this! when i went into it, i wasn’t expecting much (see: disappointment over enchantment of ravens) but one of my dear friends said she really liked it, and i had to see it for myself. and trust me, it was so worth it. the main character, elisabeth, is someone you like from the very start — she’s easy to fall into, and so very brave and wonderful, or as nathaniel would say, a menace. she surprised me at every turn with her strength and how smart she was, and how, despite not knowing otherwise, she still makes the right choices again and again. we love 1 talented womans
nathaniel was well, to be honest - a very ya male mc, for lack of a better description. he’s smart, powerful, haunted, and witty with one liners available for every turn of fate. (he reminded me of will herondale at least a dozen times— and anything that’s reminiscent of will is appreciated in this house) all of that, i loved him so very very very much and he genuinely made me laugh so hard at the most grim moments and im just! yes! i love you nathaniel thorn
silas......baby.....no words. just. no words. i really hope the reunion alluded at the ending actually happened and now all three of them are together and happy *forever* even if silas wants to commit suic*de looking at nathaniel’s clothes hehe
just one question - if silas comes back will he still have to take some of elisabeth’s life in order to bind to her again? or have the rules changed, since silas is changed?
side note: i’m really wondrous at how elisabeth chose to “free” silas....a moment most satisfying in my career....if it hadn’t happened, i know i would’ve spent a long time thinking about what if it had - which side silas would’ve chosen, and how it would’ve gone down. and now i don’t have to wonder, because we know :-)
the plot was so so! so! so! so! good i loved how it centered around books and libraries and how elisabeth’s attachment to both leads her to be the savior the world needed — everything felt so homely and the writing absolutely transports you inside the book somehow, where you’re walking with the wardens and reading grimores that talk.
all in all, i really loved this book and all the characters so much, even if some of the aspects are already pretty common in ya. i know i gave it 5 stars, but like.. i’m mentally adding 5,000 more.
nathaniel was well, to be honest - a very ya male mc, for lack of a better description. he’s smart, powerful, haunted, and witty with one liners available for every turn of fate. (he reminded me of will herondale at least a dozen times— and anything that’s reminiscent of will is appreciated in this house) all of that, i loved him so very very very much and he genuinely made me laugh so hard at the most grim moments and im just! yes! i love you nathaniel thorn
silas......baby.....no words. just. no words. i really hope the reunion alluded at the ending actually happened and now all three of them are together and happy *forever* even if silas wants to commit suic*de looking at nathaniel’s clothes hehe
just one question - if silas comes back will he still have to take some of elisabeth’s life in order to bind to her again? or have the rules changed, since silas is changed?
side note: i’m really wondrous at how elisabeth chose to “free” silas....a moment most satisfying in my career....if it hadn’t happened, i know i would’ve spent a long time thinking about what if it had - which side silas would’ve chosen, and how it would’ve gone down. and now i don’t have to wonder, because we know :-)
the plot was so so! so! so! so! good i loved how it centered around books and libraries and how elisabeth’s attachment to both leads her to be the savior the world needed — everything felt so homely and the writing absolutely transports you inside the book somehow, where you’re walking with the wardens and reading grimores that talk.
all in all, i really loved this book and all the characters so much, even if some of the aspects are already pretty common in ya. i know i gave it 5 stars, but like.. i’m mentally adding 5,000 more.
lululem's review against another edition
4.0
”I knew you talked to books. I didn’t realize they listened.”
this was the perfect escapism book <3
the characters were the best. silas has my heart forever. the book made me laugh and cry and the world was simply amazing. the romance was a beautiful slow burn. loved it. ate it up. cutie pies.
matcha_pages's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I adored it! It was a wonderful blend of magic, mystery, whimsy, self discovery, humor, friendship, and love. It's rare to find books that pay equal attention to atmosphere and plot, Sorcery of Thorns beautifully develops both.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
carry's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
itssimone's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
cassadunn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
kokechii's review against another edition
4.0
Edit: giving it four stars after all!
This felt like reading a different version of Howl's Moving Castle, with Nathaniel being Howl and Elisabeth being Sophie and of course Silas being Calcifer. I LOVED the world imagined, even the ghastly grimoire books. Overall I think I was a tad bit too old for this, as the character ages constantly kept rising up in my mind, but the action and the writing pulled through. The solution, once it came, with Elisabeth realizing what she needs to do at the Royal Library - I was so happy in a indescribable way. For sure, Silas was the outstanding character in the book for me, he was not charming at all and yet... here I am, charmed thoroughly. And I loved loved loved the ending, got goosebumps reading it.
This felt like reading a different version of Howl's Moving Castle, with Nathaniel being Howl and Elisabeth being Sophie and of course Silas being Calcifer. I LOVED the world imagined, even the ghastly grimoire books. Overall I think I was a tad bit too old for this, as the character ages constantly kept rising up in my mind, but the action and the writing pulled through. The solution, once it came, with Elisabeth realizing what she needs to do at the Royal Library - I was so happy in a indescribable way. For sure, Silas was the outstanding character in the book for me, he was not charming at all and yet... here I am, charmed thoroughly. And I loved loved loved the ending, got goosebumps reading it.