Two sisters separated by birth share a connection via flowers set amongst the Napoleonic Wars. Cornelia, grew up in her uncle's home, and following an announcement she is to become engaged to a man whose first wife succumbed to death in suspicious circumstances, she flees for the continent and finds refuge as a naturalist among Napoleon's troops as he attempts to reclaim his empire following his initial exile. Lijsbeth was plucked from an orphanage as a young companion for a wealthy family's son. When a sibling eventually joins the family, Lijsbeth becomes relegated to a servitude and passed from household to household.

This story is at times quite frankly brutal. It does not shy away from the harsh realities that women as a servant or as an upper class female would have faced. It can be quite moving and romantic at times and at others quite unconventional. The life of Lijsbeth particularly made for a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Eventually, after darkness must come light and this principle is best illustrated through Lijsbeth's sublime character arc.

It is wonderful to come across more stories set in this time period but in places beyond London or New York City and that wonderfully examine what life may have been like for females. The historical fiction genre is oversaturated by novels set in WWI or WWII and, I for one, would like to see more books such as this one. Raw, real and incredibly well researched.

The magic aspect of their bond was perhaps not as delved into as someone who traditionally reads fantasy books may like but it was an interesting way of keeping the sisters connected while adding unexpected moments to the story.

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

My what a beautiful book.

I have never read a Hester Fox book before but after reading this one I would gladly read her again. I have not found myself reading very much historical fiction, but I simply could not put this down.

This novel follows two sisters separated at birth on opposite sides of the battle of Waterloo. I immediately loved Cornelia and Lijsbeth, both being are intelligent and strong women, in a society that does not believe they are, or should be so. The side characters were rich full. There is also Poly/Queer representation in this novel.

This book navigates the complexities of relationships and loss. It deals with the topics of trauma, abuse, and pregnancy loss, so if you are sensitive to those topics, do read with care.

The prose is absolutely stunning. It's romantic, and beautiful, and bursting with feminist commentary. There is heartbreak, despair, and pain. But there is also so much beauty, courage, strength and hope. The flower language magical realism was conducted perfectly and tied the story together beautifully. I had a wonderful time reading this.

Thank you so much to Graydon House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this novel. All opinions are my own.

Hester Fox’s THE BOOK OF THORNS continues in her previous themes of empowered women characters navigating often male spaces, but this new work diverges from the traditional gothic setting to one of more action and movement, Napoleon’s battlefield. Two sisters separated in childhood slowly reconnect through their sensual and magical connection to flowers and the natural world. More representative than her previous titles, Fox’s THE BOOK OF THORNS successfully brings to life both a character who is bisexual/polyamorous and a character with a disability.

A captivating tale on love and loss, and the lengths one will go to ensure love survives.

Set in the Napoleonic era, The Book of Thorns is told from the perspective of two long-lost sisters -- Cornelia and Lijsbeth. Unaware of each other's existence, both sisters harbor a unique ability to communicate with flowers and grow them through magic. As events unfold, they gradually realize their connection and endeavor to reunite despite finding themselves on opposing sides of the battlefield.

"The Book of Thorns" gently weaves an enchanting narrative that is easy to read filled with beautiful and descriptive prose. Having been separated, both are brought up very differently. Cornelia is extremely headstrong, coming from wealth while Lijsbeth remains timid most likely due to her speech impediment and that she survived horrible experiences growing up as a maid. However, Fox's portrayal of the female experience during this tumultuous war period offers a poignant reflection on resilience and choice in a time when women had little agency. Both women take control of their destiny as they find themselves in very different circumstances, especially once their worlds collide.

One of my favorite things One particularly charming aspect of the book is the inclusion of floral symbolism at the beginning of each chapter, providing subtle hints of the events to come.

There will be tears and heartbreak but also tender and blissful happiness throughout. I will be reading more Hester Fox in the future! Read if you like Sarah Penner (The Lost Apothecary, The London Seance Society), historical fiction, magical realism and strong, resilient female characters.

Thank you Netgalley, Hester Fox & Harlequin Trade Publishing | Graydon House for an advanced e-copy of this book. Get your copy on April 2nd, 2024!

Interesting historical fiction about two sisters- Cornelia and Lijsbeth. Set during the Napoleanic Wars this sees the sisters, who have been living apart and in far different circumstances, experience life and love. And flowers. It's high on the story of the sisters and light on the historical detail (not an entirely bad thing and the atmospherics are good). Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. An enjoyable read.

4/5 stars
Recommended if you like: romantasy, historical fiction, historical fantasy, romance

Big thanks to Netgalley, Graydon House, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is the second eARC I requested hoping it would have Emily Wilde's vibes and the second book that has thus disappointed me. This book wasn't bad, but my four stars are really a neutral 4. In my opinion, the summary is quite misleading in terms of the contents of this book. Reading the summary makes it sound as if Cornelia and Lijsbeth are more aware and in tune with their floral powers than they actually are, makes Cornelia sound more interesting than she is, and gives Lijsbeth more agency than she has. As a result, I found myself disappointed in how the book and characters progressed, though I feel the last 10% or so does deliver on these promises...but too little too late.

It is also disingenuous to say "they must work together to solve the mystery of their mother's death and father's disappearance," which is one of the lines in the summary that drew me in. Neither girl thinks their mother is dead. Cornelia was told her mother ran off to France with a lover and Lijsbeth was a foundling with no notion of who her mother is. Cornelia thinks her mother's first husband is her father and she already knows he's dead; I don't believe it comes up for Lijsbeth. Lijsbeth does discover a deeply buried family secret and the 'mystery' of her and Cornelia's fatherhood is revealed, as are their mother's whereabouts, but it's hardly a central part of the story and the two definitely don't work together to discover it.

For starters, Cornelia is not a naturalist and her healing capabilities are barely touched upon. Rather she is someone who knows plants talk to her and that she can make them grow, and thus utilizes these skills to do her art and write a column on floral arrangements. I actually thought this was interesting and would've liked to see it explored more, alas it's hard to mail your articles when you're traveling with an army in the 1800s. Aside from this, Cornelia is shown to be very flirty and somewhat fair-weathered. She does engage in a polyamory relationship, but she is heavily selfish with her feelings and frankly the entire situation is a bit of a manipulative mess (on her part, mind you).

Cornelia's main plot is leaving her uncle and traveling with Napoleon's army in the hopes of finding her mother somewhere in France. She does continue to draw and tries to write her columns, though as mentioned it's a bit difficult when traveling with an army and relying on snail mail. A lot of her story revolves around her two lovers and their relationship with one another. I did like the three of them together because they were happy, but the relationship was definitely imbalanced.

Lijsbeth is a maid in a terrible household though she gets some reprieve when she's sent to another home to teach the daughters the art of floral arrangements. She isn't aware of her ability to make flowers grow or talk to them, but she begins to get suspicious when her arrangements take on a life of their own. While the Battle of Waterloo does draw near and have impacts on Lijsbeth's life, she doesn't really have the choice to go or stay, she does what the household she works for does. Conveniently for her, this means she crosses paths both with her sister and with a suitor from the British army. Lijsbeth's life definitely sucked so I'm glad she does get her chance at happiness. While I did root for Cornelia, Henri, and Sophie, despite the flaws of that relationship, Lijsbeth and William's relationship felt much more balanced, despite how little they knew each other.

I liked reading about Lijsbeth and Cornelia finding each other and getting to know each other. Their love for one another is clear instantaneously and they both have a desire to grow their relationship. I wish we could've gotten more scenes with the two of them together.

There are mentions of sexual assault throughout the book and there is one on-page rape. That being said, it's a blink-and-you-miss-it situation and I didn't even realize the sexual assault had gone that far until the character is revealed as being pregnant. But it should be noted that these things occur.

Despite the war and magic and multiple love stories, I felt this book dragged a bit. It was particularly hard for me to get to the 33% mark since that was the portion of the book that setup the rest of it. I felt those parts were slow and I think it could've been condensed somewhat. The second third went a bit faster and had more substance to it, which I appreciated. Then the final third had a lot going on and I wished the rest of the book had carried that magic and tension (and character growth). I almost wish the book had started at 70% and then continued from there to show the girls' lives after everything.

Overall this was an okay novel. It's definitely not what the summary makes it sound like and the plot is very romance heavy vs. action and magic heavy. It's a fine book if you're looking for romance though.

Cornelia Shaw, penniless, stranded in France and desperate after escaping her cruel uncle, she allows herself to be recruited to Napoleon’s Grande Armée. They bring her on as a naturalist, and her near-magical ability to heal any wound with herbal mixtures invites awe amongst the soldiers. But behind Cornelia’s vast knowledge of plants & flowers is a secret she keeps hidden—the flowers speak to her through a mysterious connection she has felt since childhood. One that her mother taught her to heed, before she disappeared. Then, as Napoleon’s army descends on Waterloo, the flowers sing to her of a startling revelation: a girl she almost remembers—her sister, lost long ago, who seems to share the same gifts. Determined to reunite with Lijsbeth despite being on opposite sides of the war, Cornelia is drawn into a whirlwind of betrayal, secrets, and lies. Brought together by fate and magic at the peak of the war, the sisters try to uncover the key to the source of the power that connects them as accusations of witchcraft swirl and threaten to destroy the very lives they’ve fought for.

The story is told in the alternating viewpoints of Cornelia and Lijsbeth, so you not only see each of their origin stories, but you also get to watch as they slowly make their way towards one another, unknowing that the other exists. They were almost opposite sides of the same coin - despite the fact that Cornelia grew up with their uncle in a fine house and was used to fine things, he mistreated her and was determined to marry her off, no matter how repugnant the man might be. Lijsbeth was sent to live in an orphanage and then she became a maid and was known for her spectacular floral arrangements. She was sexually abused by her employers and only knew a life of cruelty. This book was captivating, and if you are a fan of historical fiction, then you will definitely want to check it out.

Hester Fox is hit or miss for me and unfortunately this one was a miss. I was hoping the sisters' stories would intersect in a bigger way but they don't even see each other in person until close to the end of the book. I also didn't really care for Cornelia as a character - she came off self-absorbed and I felt like she treated both her love interests cavalierly and I don't know why Sophie would even bother with her in the end. Not as magical as I was hoping for.

This gothic mystery story takes place during the Napoleonic Wars in the 1920’s, and is about two sisters separated as children and bound together by a secret language of flowers. It is part historical fiction, part mysticism and part romance. The story is told through a split narrative of the sisters, Cornelia who is forced to participate as a naturalist for the army of Napoleon and Lijsbeth who is a housemaid. They are brought together by fate and magic at the peak of the war, as the sisters try to uncover the key to the source of the power that connects them as accusations of witchcraft swirl and threaten to destroy the very lives they've fought for. It is full of mysticism, romance, ghosts, and haunted houses, trials of war and death and reinvention. There are many odd characters are throughout the entire story.
I enjoyed this very much. It is an easy read, as Hester Fox’s writing flows effortlessly. Her portrayals of the circumstances of war are poignant, and I felt part of the narrative. She generates feelings of empathy, love, and hate within us through her tale. The story escalates continuously throughout the book leading up to an unexpected and climatic ending. I recommend this one. I gave it 4 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Graydon House, for my free digital copy for review.

"Book of Thorns" encapsulates the quintessential elements of a Hester Fox novel, immersing readers in a meticulously crafted historical tapestry interwoven with poignant storytelling. The vivid historical backdrop brings to life the arduous journeys of Colette and Lijsbeth, portraying their struggles and triumphs with palpable authenticity. Both protagonists epitomize the unwavering resilience of women navigating adversity, fearlessly shaping their destinies amid harsh realities.

The seamless integration of the language of flowers with elements of magical realism adds an enchanting dimension to the narrative, infusing it with a subtle touch of fantasy. A skillfully executed plot twist unveils a revelation that intricately binds the story's threads, leaving readers captivated by its ingenuity. Despite the trials and tribulations, the book culminates in a hopeful and realistic note, evoking a lingering sense of warmth and optimism.

"Book of Thorns" delves deep into the complexities of human greed, while exploring themes of sisterhood, feminism, and overcoming personal obstacles. It offers a captivating blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and gothic elements, making it a compelling read for those drawn to multifaceted narratives with rich thematic depth.

This was such a refreshing gothic fantasy compared to the usual high, epic fantasies I usually read. I absolutely loved the dual POV. The combination of the plot, romance, and magic made for a truly wonderful and unforgettable novel. This is in my top 10 fantasy/magic novels for the year so far and will honestly probably stay there. It was so easy to read and follow along, making it truly that much more enjoyable!

The Book of Thorns was a whimsical floral filled historical fiction with dual povs and lots to love. I enjoyed both of the characters from the different settings and their personalities. The floral/flower theme of this book added something so light and airy to the dark and dreary themes of war, loneliness, and lack of family both of our MC's saw. I haven't read any historical fiction set around the Napoleon era and it was such a breath of fresh air. If you like historical fiction, magical realism, women centered stories, or dual povs, please pick this one up! You won't regret it!

The Book of Thorns is a story that brings a fantasy element to the Napoleonic wars. A story of two sisters trying desperately to find their place in a world that see's them as nothing more than property, and what could happen when they try to break out of the chains of society that bind them.

This is a weird book for me because as a whole I enjoyed it, especially the ending, but in parts it felt a little disjointed for me and I did struggled to like one of the MC's. Cornelia is someone who has grown up in a world where she wants for little. But that hasn't come without it's consequences, seen as nothing more than a hindrance by her Uncle, one he would marry off for the right price. She has had to fight off unwanted suitors since she came of age, and the last straw is her Uncle trying to marry her off to his friend who is more than twice her age. She knows she must act, and so she runs away to France. But she could never anticipate what she finds there. War has broken out and France is not a safe place for a young woman to be travelling alone, let alone an English woman. Swept into Napoleons army, it's there she learns the truth about herself, about her power, and it's there that she finds love for the first time in the most unlikeliest of places.

Lijsbeth is an indentured servant, someone bought to be a companion for their only child, but once a sibling came along was treated as nothing better than a servant, a hindrance. She hasn't grown up like Cornelia, instead she has come from a place where her very body is not her own, where trouble waits behind every corner. When she meets a young English soldier she knows it's too good to be true, no one could truly want her, truly love her, but she decides to risk everything for a chance at love. When the two sisters cross paths, the mystery of their pasts starts to unravel, a past that could lead to dangerous consequences for both siblings, especially if they allow others to learn of their powers. Because people can be understanding until faced with something different, something unnatural, something that brings whispers of the word witch.

Lijsbeth was a character I instantly bonded and empathised with. Someone who has grown up thinking she has no control over her own life, her own body, someone resigned to the shadows. Cornelia on the other hand was someone I struggled to like. Don't get me wrong, she has her moments and there were certain scenes when I couldn't help but feel for her, but she just seemed so selfish in parts, only thinking about her own happiness. Alongside these two we are introduced to a multitude of side characters from both sides of the war. Some were easy to warm too, but others instantly got my back up and it turned out I was right not to trust them

This is a story that shows the fickleness of men. How easily women can be pushed away, discarded as soon as they become more trouble than they're worth, once they outlive their usefulness. It's not an easy story, there is on page sexual/physical assault as well as references being made to past instances, there is verbal abuse, slurs, and yet, despite all that, it's a story of hope, of the things that can grow out of war, the love that can be found, even in the darkest of times. And it's a story of two young women who thought they were alone in the world, only to find each other at a pivotal point in both of their lives.

Fox's writing style is one I have loved from her first book, and her descriptions absolutely brought the world of war torn France/Belgium to life. The war brings an added element of danger to an already dangerous book, not only for our two main characters, but for the people they love. Fox never shy's away from the horror, from the monotony of war, the endless marching, the danger and she uses it to ensure we empathise with her characters. You can tell she did her research into the language of flowers, and I really enjoyed the little introductions to different flowers we got at the start of each chapter. But this book goes one step further and makes these flowers magical, giving them the ability to heal, to harm, it adds to the drama and darkness that permeates this story, and the magic added a layer of enchantment to the tale.

I thought the ending was so well done. It really ratchets up the drama in the last few chapters and I was on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen, but I enjoyed how, despite it not being a traditional happy ending, it was upbeat in it's own way, bittersweet if you will. If you like your fantasies with a historical spin, queer and on the darker side, I would definitely recommend giving this one a go.

This book is beautifully. Historical fiction with a magical spin. I was rooting for both female characters the entire novel. Really needed good things to happen for them. Loved how the beauty and power of nature is central to the story.

Is historical magical realism a thing? Because that's this. A twist of magic when it comes to flowers with a showing of emotions.

Cornelia escapes the oppressive, violent burden of her uncle in Sussex to try and escape to Paris but finds herself swept up with Napoleon's army and on her way to Brussels. Along the way she finds out that she's tougher than she gave herself credit for, that even if she's terrified of love she can still feel it, and feel it for more than one person.

Lijsbeth is in Brussels, a silent servant who is badly abused by the men around her. Brussels is bracing for war and hosting the English, and Lijsbeth is caught up in a desire to hide and a desire to escape. She's a great character that proves being quiet has its own power. Her love story is softer, but her pain is harsher.

Everything they go through is leading them to each other, to the possibility of light after so much darkness in their lives.

This book surprised me, but I was hooked in the end and invested in the happiness of the leads.

I absolutely loved this story of magical realism about two sisters separated by space but still inextricably linked through the language of flowers. What interesting characters and storyline -- so true of Hester Fox's incredible writing. Highly recommended!

2.5 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Unfortunately, I can’t suffer any longer. DNF @ 30%. I was given the impression this would be a gothic fantasy mixed with historical fiction. I enjoyed the flower headings at the start of each chapter, but at times, the foreshadowing was a bit too heavy handed.

Once the romance elements started to unfold, I couldn’t hold back my cringe. It was hard to connect to the characters and sometimes the motivations/character development seemed to lack complexity. Also found it odd that Sophie and Cornelia were so quick to trust each other. And don’t get me started on Lijbeth’s lack of backbone…

Wish there was more magic around the floral elements in the story. Thought that was going to have a larger role in the book as well. :(

To avoid being forced into a marriage, Cornelia flees her abusive uncle’s home and lands herself in France right before the Battle of Waterloo. Alone and starving, she encounters a French soldier who recognizes her talent for identifying and drawing flowers. He hurries her back to camp where he hopes to introduce her to Napoleon himself. Cornelia uses her knowledge of the natural world to help heal the injured. She finds love and experiences painful loss. Perhaps most mysterious of all is the stranger in her dreams and in the locket she has worn around her neck since she was a young girl.

I enjoyed the language of flowers in each of the chapters that gave a foreshadowing of what was to come.

Though there are elements of mystery and the paranormal, Hester Fox’s “The Book of Thorns” does not have the creepy factor that I usually associate with the gothic genre.

This book would be great for those who enjoy mysteries with a touch of the paranormal.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and Graydon House, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book sounded so good. I was excited about the fact that the flowers "spoke" to Cornelia, even vibrating when they were trying to warn her of danger. But then, as I kept reading, I realized that the book was less about the magical fantasy and more about a lesbian relationship and a threesome. I am by no means a prude but I am not interested in reading about a threesome, or a lesbian relationship. Needless to say, I did not finish this book. I will rate it at 1 star as I did not like the fact that the book description did not disclose the overwhelmingly LGBTQ theme. I would not have requested the complementary ARC from NetGalley and Harlequin had I been aware. So, thank you but no thanks. This review is my own opinion. I hope I have not offended anyone.

The author’s prose for this darkly whimsical and war based historical fiction is absolutely gorgeous! I found myself highlighting multiple sections and quotes and really enjoyed how elegantly the writing incorporated the story’s theme of flowers. This absolutely made me want to pick up other books by this author so I’ll for sure be adding more Hester Fox to my reading list after reading The Book of Thorns.

Some thoughts after finishing:
I wish the magical elements of this book had been explored just as equally as the romantic interests. The details that were given about the sisters’ special gifts were so conceptually intriguing but still felt very underdeveloped by the end of book.

This book also explores a polyamorous relationship in a historic setting and while the earlier build-up dynamics were truly beautiful, the resulting “throuple” proposition seemed forced upon to some of the participants and I wish this had also been developed further before any actions were taken. I felt the depth of the characters’ connection was a bit diminished after this and there was a definite favorite in the eye of the main character so it made me sad for the lesser favored partner.

Overall, this was a very pretty and well-paced story! I read it in less than a day and would have happily read more had it been even a hundred pages longer!