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hailey2510's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 ⭐️
I wasn’t totally sure what was going on the entire time, but I think I liked it? It was a bit confusing. That could have just been me reading it way too fast though.
I wasn’t totally sure what was going on the entire time, but I think I liked it? It was a bit confusing. That could have just been me reading it way too fast though.
hellobookbird's review against another edition
4.0
I believe in wolves—in con men and crowned men who wear wickedness as if it were a talent. Who don’t ask for judgment before devouring what’s theirs. They know the future is no better than a roll of rigged dice, so they may as well do the rigging.
Pulled from the streets at a young age, Violet is now a prophet for the royal court. The King knows that where common sense and royal mandates can't secure compliance with the populace, a prophesy can. While she can look into the threads of Fate, Violet more often provides influenced divinations at the king's behest...something that places her at odds with Prince Cyrus who dreams of ruling with integrity and justice.
When the King asks her to falsely prophesy Prince Cyrus' one true love (said to either be the kingdom's salvation or its ruin in breaking the kingdom's curse), it becomes apparent that it is only the start. With the Fates screaming for blood, the king trying to use the opportunity to expand his borders and the prince trying to oust her from her position, which path will she choose where she isn't devoured?
“Can you even say where my so-called journey ends?” “Not up your own ass, so maybe you should pull your head out.”
Despite how much I liked this, to compare this to [b:The Cruel Prince|26032825|The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air, #1)|Holly Black|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574535986l/26032825._SY75_.jpg|45959123] is a disservice. There was neither the depth of plots nor the power differences between their struggles. The banter was closer to [b:Serpent & Dove|40024139|Serpent & Dove (Serpent & Dove, #1)|Shelby Mahurin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549476128l/40024139._SY75_.jpg|61991324] but I also wouldn't rate it on the same caliber. If you go into this expecting either of those, you will be disappointed.
To be remembered as someone good, you have to do good. To be remembered as someone great, you have to get elbow-deep in bullshit and come out looking spotless.
While I feel like the love-to-hate could have been done better, I think what I liked the most was the difference in perspectives between the two. Prince Cyrus is the optimist, the dreamer and wants justice and integrity to be the anchors of the court. Violet is a realist, an orphan that got to where she was by working within the systems already in place...and she knows they are neither just nor honest. Cyrus views Violet as an instrument of the king. Violet views Cyrus as someone who has never had to work for what he's been given.
Understandably, they hardly see eye to eye. This was great for tension throughout but it seemed to go back and forth quite a few times.
Spoiler
Like seriously, wtf on throwing her under the bus last minute when you'd gotten so far and worked to win her friendship and loyalty??? Exactly HOW was it for her benefit??? Can men stop making decisions for women that's "for their benefit" when it's really their desires that get in the way all the time???Recommended for those that enjoy any type of hate-to-love and unraveling vague prophecies.
I started writing a story about a heroine who saw the world too clearly. She was brash, cynical, and unexpectedly personal. - Gina Chen
enchanted_reading's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
solskxn's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
eponineeurydice's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Okay, this was good! Not as good as I'd hoped... I had very high expectations. But it was a great storyline with an interesting voice... I just couldn't quite get attached to the romance and the characters. I guess I don't really know my reading tastes as well as I thought I did. But... it really was a cool story with great characters. There were some amazing moments, and some that I didn't love. I wish I'd loved it more, though; I guess I'm just disappointed that it wasn't a five-star. But it's still a great book. :)
chelsea_96's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Hear me out
It wasn’t bad; it just didn’t hold my attention. Which is hard to do with adhd but other books do hold my attention.
From looking at my entries (there’s a lot) it wasn’t particularly eventful.
It was steady paced and focussed on how stubborn the MFC is. I’m not going to spoil it for you. There was a open mouth gape with a “WHY DID YOU DO THAT” at the author moment (that’s not a bad thing) and there was times I laughed
But there’s a cliffhanger, it ends on something I’m really curious to find out what happens. I may be giving it 3 stars but I also want the second book to find out what happens next.
It wasn’t bad; it just didn’t hold my attention. Which is hard to do with adhd but other books do hold my attention.
From looking at my entries (there’s a lot) it wasn’t particularly eventful.
It was steady paced and focussed on how stubborn the MFC is. I’m not going to spoil it for you. There was a open mouth gape with a “WHY DID YOU DO THAT” at the author moment (that’s not a bad thing) and there was times I laughed
But there’s a cliffhanger, it ends on something I’m really curious to find out what happens. I may be giving it 3 stars but I also want the second book to find out what happens next.
kuiper656's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
inaraexplains's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
softcalico's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Violet Made of Thorns is a story about a girl who fights her way to make her place in the world. Given the gift of sight, she becomes an important asset to the king. As she grows up, she learns how to play politics and how to spin a lie to get what she wants.
Violet is a headstrong, hard-hearted girl who is determined to scratch and claw her way into importance. She knows the power she has and has learned to wield it in such a way that both serves the king and her own wants. Prince Cyrus is a wrench thrown into all this, having a love/hate relationship with Violet. When Violet is given a prophecy about Cyrus, she puts everything into fighting against it.
This book was mostly enjoyable, except for the fact that it was frustrating to watch Violet dig a hole for herself with her deceit. However, I empathize with her because I feel like I may make the same decisions she did. It's refreshing to read a book where the heroine is not obsessed with doing the right thing. The romance also kept me on my toes, never knowing which direction it would take. Violet and Cyrus were very well fleshed out, but I feel the side characters could have been fleshed out a little bit more.
Overall, if you want a darker fairytale with an anti-heroine, this is the perfect book for you.
Violet Made of Thorns is a story about a girl who fights her way to make her place in the world. Given the gift of sight, she becomes an important asset to the king. As she grows up, she learns how to play politics and how to spin a lie to get what she wants.
Violet is a headstrong, hard-hearted girl who is determined to scratch and claw her way into importance. She knows the power she has and has learned to wield it in such a way that both serves the king and her own wants. Prince Cyrus is a wrench thrown into all this, having a love/hate relationship with Violet. When Violet is given a prophecy about Cyrus, she puts everything into fighting against it.
This book was mostly enjoyable, except for the fact that it was frustrating to watch Violet dig a hole for herself with her deceit. However, I empathize with her because I feel like I may make the same decisions she did. It's refreshing to read a book where the heroine is not obsessed with doing the right thing. The romance also kept me on my toes, never knowing which direction it would take. Violet and Cyrus were very well fleshed out, but I feel the side characters could have been fleshed out a little bit more.
Overall, if you want a darker fairytale with an anti-heroine, this is the perfect book for you.