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tregina's review against another edition
2.0
I was not surprised when I learned that the author had previously written several short stories in the same world as this novel because that was the part that I found the most interesting: the fundamental worldbuilding underlying the characters, particularly the relationship between the Great Families and their patrons and minus most of the rest of Nether society. The strictures of the society and the the abuse that Cathy suffered are just violently overwrought, and the choices that were made in building those parts of the society didn't necessarily serve the story. Yes, there would obviously be clear differences between the mundane realm and the Nether (without even getting into the fae realm), and it does make sense that in a place where people don't age, they would be stuck in the past, but the way it was portrayed was a caricature of the way it might have been.
The book also ended without wrapping up several of its storylines, which rubbed me the wrong way. It's one thing to set up an ongoing situation for a series, but it's quite another to end what is presented as a complete novel on a cliffhanger regarding one of the main plots affecting its protagonist.
I loved Emma Newman's Planetfall so I was surprised by this. Its on the strength of my admiration of the author's other work that I'm willing to carry on and see where this series goes.
The book also ended without wrapping up several of its storylines, which rubbed me the wrong way. It's one thing to set up an ongoing situation for a series, but it's quite another to end what is presented as a complete novel on a cliffhanger regarding one of the main plots affecting its protagonist.
I loved Emma Newman's Planetfall so I was surprised by this. Its on the strength of my admiration of the author's other work that I'm willing to carry on and see where this series goes.
c_morning's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
marylu412's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
halcyone's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted at The Cozy Armchair.
I don’t often pick up a book dealing with this topic, but I have a soft spot for faeries, and Between Two Thorns promised to be a particularly ambitious story. There are two worlds, our world and its mirror, the Nether, where the Fae-touched live a Victorian-esque life with no electricity and antiquated values.
The story switches POV between three main characters: Max, who is an Arbiter aka Magical Cop; Cathy, the runaway who is dragged back to Aquae Sulis by the Lord Poppy, the fae that is her family’s patron; and Will Iris, Cathy’s reluctant fiancee. These characters live in a complicated, fascinating world, and it’s clear that Newman put a lot of thought into the little details.
The worldbuilding was excellent, and I loved all the fantasy elements. It might be confusing at first, but I could appreciate the way information was subtly provided without obvious exposition. This might push away some readers, which I can also understand. One other thing: although I enjoyed the writing style, the pacing was fairly slow, especially at the start. This is a book that delves into political/social intrigue, so the characters do a lot of talking. A lot.
I liked it, but one criticism I do have is that it wasn’t clear where the plot was going until the 50% mark. So, it takes a fair bit of patience to warm up to Between Two Thorns. I wasn’t discouraged because I was really intrigued by the mystery and this stagnant society in between worlds. Once the plot picked up the pace, it was very compelling. Although some elements are pretty obvious, it didn’t detract from me being interested in how the “villains” would be exposed.
There are a variety of characters in Between Two Thorns and not very many are likeable. Max’s POV was a bit tedious. I was more interested in the people around him than Max himself because of his inability to emotionally connect. This is due to his being an Arbiter; in order to be objective, his soul has been removed and stored. But the story from his side got even better as it converged with Cathy’s. One point of contention: Why do Arbiters have authority? In general, it’s accepted that the fae and the people in the Nether fear Arbiters, but it’s never really clear how they were established as this police force.
Anyway, I was able to relate to Cathy more. I could understand her desire for freedom, her desperate bid to get away from the stifling life in the Nether, and her struggles. Yes, she makes some rash decisions, and she does tend toward self-pity, but overall I did find her a strong character. I don’t completely blame her for refusing to blend in even a little because it would mean giving in. Even though Will (who I had issues with but appreciated his role) made sense with his suggestions, Cathy bending to his advice would negate her prior rebellions.
Honestly, Sam was the most interesting character, probably because he was the most human out of everyone, even Cathy. Unfortunately, he’s a pretty minor character, but I hope he’ll show up in the sequel.
Speaking of sequels, it’s clear that this is the first in a series. The ending was extremely open-ended, which did not work for me here. I wish there had been more of a conclusion rather than being left teetering on the edge of a cliff, knowing something more interesting is just out of reach. But, Between Two Thorns still kept my interest and proved to be an overall enjoyable read despite its shortcomings. I’m definitely interested in book 2 because all those questions need to be answered!
I don’t often pick up a book dealing with this topic, but I have a soft spot for faeries, and Between Two Thorns promised to be a particularly ambitious story. There are two worlds, our world and its mirror, the Nether, where the Fae-touched live a Victorian-esque life with no electricity and antiquated values.
The story switches POV between three main characters: Max, who is an Arbiter aka Magical Cop; Cathy, the runaway who is dragged back to Aquae Sulis by the Lord Poppy, the fae that is her family’s patron; and Will Iris, Cathy’s reluctant fiancee. These characters live in a complicated, fascinating world, and it’s clear that Newman put a lot of thought into the little details.
The worldbuilding was excellent, and I loved all the fantasy elements. It might be confusing at first, but I could appreciate the way information was subtly provided without obvious exposition. This might push away some readers, which I can also understand. One other thing: although I enjoyed the writing style, the pacing was fairly slow, especially at the start. This is a book that delves into political/social intrigue, so the characters do a lot of talking. A lot.
I liked it, but one criticism I do have is that it wasn’t clear where the plot was going until the 50% mark. So, it takes a fair bit of patience to warm up to Between Two Thorns. I wasn’t discouraged because I was really intrigued by the mystery and this stagnant society in between worlds. Once the plot picked up the pace, it was very compelling. Although some elements are pretty obvious, it didn’t detract from me being interested in how the “villains” would be exposed.
There are a variety of characters in Between Two Thorns and not very many are likeable. Max’s POV was a bit tedious. I was more interested in the people around him than Max himself because of his inability to emotionally connect. This is due to his being an Arbiter; in order to be objective, his soul has been removed and stored. But the story from his side got even better as it converged with Cathy’s. One point of contention: Why do Arbiters have authority? In general, it’s accepted that the fae and the people in the Nether fear Arbiters, but it’s never really clear how they were established as this police force.
Anyway, I was able to relate to Cathy more. I could understand her desire for freedom, her desperate bid to get away from the stifling life in the Nether, and her struggles. Yes, she makes some rash decisions, and she does tend toward self-pity, but overall I did find her a strong character. I don’t completely blame her for refusing to blend in even a little because it would mean giving in. Even though Will (who I had issues with but appreciated his role) made sense with his suggestions, Cathy bending to his advice would negate her prior rebellions.
Honestly, Sam was the most interesting character, probably because he was the most human out of everyone, even Cathy. Unfortunately, he’s a pretty minor character, but I hope he’ll show up in the sequel.
Speaking of sequels, it’s clear that this is the first in a series. The ending was extremely open-ended, which did not work for me here. I wish there had been more of a conclusion rather than being left teetering on the edge of a cliff, knowing something more interesting is just out of reach. But, Between Two Thorns still kept my interest and proved to be an overall enjoyable read despite its shortcomings. I’m definitely interested in book 2 because all those questions need to be answered!
rosieclaverton's review against another edition
3.0
Good fantasy drama with gilt of historical influence to make it shine. Like the worldbuilding and setup, great mix of characters with a variety of large, intriguing flaws. Interested in where this series takes us next.
eyreguide's review against another edition
3.0
This story weaves together three plot threads. It starts with the mundane (human) Sam who is witness to something he should never have seen, next is Cathy who is from the mirror world and wants to leave behind the restraining Victorian values that world embraces, and then there is the mystery that Max, as Arbiter, must investigate because someone is wreaking havoc among the people who are in charge of policing the people in the mirror world. The world-building is ambitious and detailed, and while I really enjoyed the ideas it set forth (especially the Victorian world that must be awfully restrictive when compared to the freedoms of today) I found the story frequently confusing, and it was only in the last third of the book, when Cathy was having a conversation with someone just as clueless as I was, that things started to become clearer. I wish there had been more explanation in the beginning.
I also had a problem with how the story brings together the lives of the three main characters. Points of view frequently shifted, and although I thought it was clever how some of the action all illuminated each other, often the pace of the story slowed and had to ramp up again. It made it even more difficult to understand what was going on when I was switched to new characters. I think this story would have benefited from a more straightforward plot devleopment.
But I did actually enjoy this story. When the puzzle fitted together, I thought the story was pretty interesting and there were some really fun, eccentric characters that I wanted to see more of. Cathy's grumpiness was a little too much sometimes for me, but it was explained well and made sense for the position she was put in. It would have been much fun to see more of the odd pairings of Cathy, Sam, Max, and the Sorcerer - like if they had to work together more - which is why (in addition to the cliffhanger) I am interested in checking out the next book in this series.
I received this book from the publisher or author for a fair and honest review. I was not compensated for this review.
I also had a problem with how the story brings together the lives of the three main characters. Points of view frequently shifted, and although I thought it was clever how some of the action all illuminated each other, often the pace of the story slowed and had to ramp up again. It made it even more difficult to understand what was going on when I was switched to new characters. I think this story would have benefited from a more straightforward plot devleopment.
But I did actually enjoy this story. When the puzzle fitted together, I thought the story was pretty interesting and there were some really fun, eccentric characters that I wanted to see more of. Cathy's grumpiness was a little too much sometimes for me, but it was explained well and made sense for the position she was put in. It would have been much fun to see more of the odd pairings of Cathy, Sam, Max, and the Sorcerer - like if they had to work together more - which is why (in addition to the cliffhanger) I am interested in checking out the next book in this series.
I received this book from the publisher or author for a fair and honest review. I was not compensated for this review.
patchworkbunny's review against another edition
4.0
Sam was just looking for a place to empty his beer-filled bladder when he stumbles onto something he should in the grounds of the museum in Bath. Meanwhile, in London, Cathy is living a nice normal life with a nice normal boyfriend, until the day her secrecy charm is removed by Lord Poppy, patron to her family. For Cathy is fae-touched and is hiding out from her family and their parochial views. The there’s Max, a soulless Arbiter who is tasked with keeping the Mundane safe from the fae and trouble is brewing but he doesn’t know what…
Between Two Thorns took a while to get into but by the end I absolutely loved the characters; even the ones I hated at the start. There are a lot of characters, the narrative jumping from story to story and until it starts to weave together, it is a lot to take in and remember. I would have liked a bit more time spent on character development of a few rather than trying to give equal parts to so many. For instance, there was quite a lot of time establishing Sam’s relationship with his wife which didn’t pan out into anything. Perhaps it’s meant for another book, especially the mystery around his wedding ring. Max's circumstances were confusing at first too although I loved his gargoyle sidesick. To be honest, I kept getting Sam and Max mixed up, I think it was the three-letter names as their characters are not meant to be similar at all.
The fae of the Split Worlds are an ironic take on flower fairies. Each family is assigned a flower name but in true faerie fashion, they are anything but benevolent and rather fond of mischief and mind games. I did quite like Lord Poppy though; he seemed fair and at least found Cathy interesting, whilst the rest of her society thought her a bit odd for having Mundane values.
The contrast between Mundanus and the Nether is central to the story. Cathy is from a society family (think of Austen era) and is expected to be a meek, obliging woman and be married off to a match that would further their standing. Having learned about the freedoms of Mundane women in forbidden books as a child, Cathy runs away and goes to university, very much against her family’s wishes. Whilst she is a perfectly normal, modern woman to the reader’s eyes, she is seen as an outcast in the Nether. As her basic rights are taken away from her, you feel her frustrations.
Overall, it’s a fun and, at times, charming book if you don’t expect too much from it. The series has potential to be quite interesting and as said before, I really did start to love the characters and their world. And then it stopped. It’s one of those books where I felt I had to check I wasn’t missing pages because it didn’t feel like an ending at all. I don’t mind loose ends but, I don’t know, it was all too sudden, just when the pace was picking up.
Between Two Thorns took a while to get into but by the end I absolutely loved the characters; even the ones I hated at the start. There are a lot of characters, the narrative jumping from story to story and until it starts to weave together, it is a lot to take in and remember. I would have liked a bit more time spent on character development of a few rather than trying to give equal parts to so many. For instance, there was quite a lot of time establishing Sam’s relationship with his wife which didn’t pan out into anything. Perhaps it’s meant for another book, especially the mystery around his wedding ring. Max's circumstances were confusing at first too although I loved his gargoyle sidesick. To be honest, I kept getting Sam and Max mixed up, I think it was the three-letter names as their characters are not meant to be similar at all.
The fae of the Split Worlds are an ironic take on flower fairies. Each family is assigned a flower name but in true faerie fashion, they are anything but benevolent and rather fond of mischief and mind games. I did quite like Lord Poppy though; he seemed fair and at least found Cathy interesting, whilst the rest of her society thought her a bit odd for having Mundane values.
The contrast between Mundanus and the Nether is central to the story. Cathy is from a society family (think of Austen era) and is expected to be a meek, obliging woman and be married off to a match that would further their standing. Having learned about the freedoms of Mundane women in forbidden books as a child, Cathy runs away and goes to university, very much against her family’s wishes. Whilst she is a perfectly normal, modern woman to the reader’s eyes, she is seen as an outcast in the Nether. As her basic rights are taken away from her, you feel her frustrations.
Overall, it’s a fun and, at times, charming book if you don’t expect too much from it. The series has potential to be quite interesting and as said before, I really did start to love the characters and their world. And then it stopped. It’s one of those books where I felt I had to check I wasn’t missing pages because it didn’t feel like an ending at all. I don’t mind loose ends but, I don’t know, it was all too sudden, just when the pace was picking up.
firefox's review against another edition
4.0
My feelings about this book changed every couple of pages but to be honest, the build up, the start and the end made up for the dodgy middle part so I'd happily grab the rest of the series.
crimsonsparrow's review against another edition
4.0
A unique blend of modern mystery and classic fantasy, with fun and endearing characters, murderous plots, and maybe a bit of romance thrown in for good measure...
It is a pleasure to hear the story told by the author herself in the audio rendition, and the plot moves quickly - perhaps even a little abruptly in places. However, it makes for a quick, fun read while also managing plausible connections - and wrestling - with real life.
Be prepared to end on a bit of a cliffhanger, though...
PG13 for language and adult references. Trigger warning for domestic violence and misogynistic themes.
It is a pleasure to hear the story told by the author herself in the audio rendition, and the plot moves quickly - perhaps even a little abruptly in places. However, it makes for a quick, fun read while also managing plausible connections - and wrestling - with real life.
Be prepared to end on a bit of a cliffhanger, though...
PG13 for language and adult references. Trigger warning for domestic violence and misogynistic themes.