It's a sweet story, however it's hard to root for the MC finding Odette when all we hear the first three chapter is how awful she was and how the lead still loves her anyway. It's a sweet sentiment but as the story progresses it's hard to really connect with her desperation to find Odette. Perhaps this feeling of loyalty and longing for a lost friend is more common with younger readers.
The world has a Narnia feel, where it's beautiful but you sense something sinister from the beginning.
Overall, it's enjoyable.

A really fabulous take on a combination of decaying industrialism and a world of magic under seige by capitalism, with a lot of fairy tale elements, some old, some new, thrown in.

Wilkinson can spin a tale for sure. I was lured in by the clever narrator/main character, Maude. She set the scene perfectly. The threat of a quest and an imaginary world held high hopes. Somewhere in the Sickelwood, though, it fell apart for me. It was a story within a story within a story. It was one too many stories for me. Rufus and Maude were likable enough, but Odette and the others didn’t encourage any fond sentiment. In the end, this one fell flat. Hopefully others enjoy it more, as it is very well written.

This was a ride of epic proportions. HUNGER OF THORNS has got it all — it’s a little eerie, with a whole lot of flashbacks and hidden spells and monsters and romance and mind games to break through. (Not to mention the many inventive characters you get to meet.) HUNGER OF THORNS is like THE HAZEL WOOD, yes — if THE HAZEL WOOD was ten times more complex.

Maude is a witch in a world where witches are reigned in, monitored and punished if they explore their power. Her best-friend Odette, who she hasn’t spoken to since Odette unceremoniously ditched her, is missing and no one knows where she is. No one but Maude, who sets off on a perilous quest to save her from a magical land that everyone else is spelled to forget.

Maude’s aided by a slew of characters — some that support and others that hinder her gallant rescue attempt. Nan and Halmoni are her stand-in parents; they’ve been taking care of her since her Mam died. Rufus is Maude’s friend; he is wholesome and kind and positively brimming with plant knowledge. Winnie and Ginger and Lyr are all side characters that live in Sicklehurst, a power plant mystical forest mashup, which is pretty treacherous. It also happens to be where Maude is sure she’ll find Odette. And so begins her adventure.

This is a fast-paced story with lots of representation that just straight up smashes the patriarchy, and it is so worthy of adoration just because of that. HUNGER OF THORNS doesn’t just deliver some important messages though — it makes a little literary magic.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review!

A very pretty novel that I enjoyed the premise of, and (barring some of the marketing) landed the execution. The characters are fun and the atmosphere is encompassing, however, I feel the book description and cover market the book to a slightly higher grade-level audience than might actually engage with the text in the way the author seems to hope for.

Thank you, NetGalley and Delacorte for providing me with a digital arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A Hunger of Thorns is an exquisite narrative of the magic of inner empowerment, friendship, love, and storytelling. Wilkinson’s descriptive, lyrical writing style easily sweeps readers away on main character Maude’s quest to metaphorically “slay the dragons” she usually confronts in her own stories. While it is clear inspiration was taken from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, A Hunger of Thorns’ originality comes from its amalgamation of discourses on sexuality and feminism as well as a unique take on fairy tale elements. I cannot rave enough about the book and its twists!

My only qualm about the story is my brain wanted this story to take place in a different time period than the present. Much of the story pulled me into a different world entirely and then there would be mention of hoodies or WiFi that was jarring to my personal reading experience. Other than that, this is a story I definitely would recommend to others.

A Hunger of Thorns is a magical fantasy. If you are a fan of The Hazelwood or Among the Beasts and Briars, I think you'd enjoy this.
Not everyone has magic, but some do and it this world it has been highly regulated and commercialized. Maude comes from a family of witches, but she lost her magic when she hit puberty, and her mother was taken by the auditors and is labeled a traitor.
When her former friend, Odette, goes missing, Maude embarks on a fairy tale like journey to save her.
This was definitely dark and violent at times.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Children's Publishing for an early copy for review.

A Hunger of Thorns is a fourth through eighth grade adventure of self-discovery and friendship for Maude, our 12-year-old heroine. Maude is a witch who had powers until she reached menses. The adventure begins sometime after the death of Maude's mother and she is being raised in a loving home by her coupled grandmothers. She is grounded and self-aware. Maude though not cut from the same cloth as her neighbors and classmates, harbors no sadness at being "different". Maude accepts herself and her life as it is. Life with her grandmothers is stable and consistent. The grandmothers' one rule: Stay away from Sticklehurst.

Everyone in their village is not magical, but everyone does possess a gift. Maude has the gift of brilliant storytelling. Her classmate Rufus has the gift of insight into one's heart and soul. He understands people and sees what motivates them, which give him wisdom beyond his age. He sees Maude for who she is and wants only to be her friend.

Maude's former best friend, Odette, goes missing. Maude thinks she can win back Odette's friendship if she finds her. Rufus and Maude conclude the most likely plat to look is Sticklehurst.

I highly recommend this book for grades 4-8 because of its strong, independent, believable characters who are not treated as lesser people because they are children..

What I liked most was the tasteful depiction of innocent pubescent exploration. Well done.

I love this author and I absolutely loved this book!! I read this book so fast and I can't believe its over already. This books story is so gripping and full of action. I will be recommending this author and book to everyone I know.