A compelling YA fantasy set in a book lover's dream world-- or is it nightmare? I have a track record of being grumpy about romanticized fictional portrayals of libraries, but I enjoyed the edge of danger to this one. This is exactly the kind of fantasy/adventure-without-too-much-romance I would have eaten up with a spoon as a teen, and I can definitely find an audience for it among my teen readers now.

Full disclosure – I was one of the people who didn't fall in love with Rogerson's debut novel An Enchantment of Ravens so you can imagine my surprise and utter happiness to be captivated with Sorcery of Thorns from page one. The heroine Elisabeth has grown up in one of the Great Libraries and can speak to magical grimoires (spell books), which if provoked can transform into monsters. Wardens protect the kingdom from their power and Elisabeth longs to become one of them. When the library's most dangerous grimoire is mysteriously released, Elisabeth doesn't hesitate but then gets charged with the crime. This sets her on an unexpected path as she forced from her home and faces people and experiences that make her question everything she's been ever taught. The first one being sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn and his demonic servant. She was raised to believe all sorcerers are evil and he clearly doesn't know what to make of her so when they find themselves teaming up to unravel the mysterious attacks against the Libraries, not only is it action-packed but it's also just flat-out fun. The banter is spot-on and I was genuinely laughing out loud at their interactions (and swooning too, of course). Part of Elisabeth's charm is that she's been so sheltered within the library so she's guileless, curious and passionate about the things she believes in. In contrast, Nathaniel has a past and reputation that's been a heavy burden to bear and her appearance completely shakes up his life. I loved them and the dynamic between them and Nathan's demonic servant (did not expect to adore him as much as I did!). The entire story is just well-executed, well-paced and clever. I didn't know how badly I wanted a magical library book until I read this!

Do I recommend? Absolutely! Definitely for anyone who loves fantasy.

I really enjoyed this story. The cover alone was enough to draw me in. Nice action scenes and a sweet story of friendship. I highly recommend!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book, which I voluntarily chose to review.

I loved this book! Somehow the premise filled my head with ideas of fugitives on the run through magical woodlands as they attempted to clear their names and that is not at all the case. It was so much more urbane and domestic. I still enjoyed it immensely.

The book's cast is casually diverse with mentions of characters of color and varying sexual orientations without drama and fanfare. The story is fast paced and fun with a satisfying ending. I was thrilled that there were no secret saviors or chosen ones so to speak.

Sorcery of Thorns is the very first book that I have had the pleasure of reading by Margaret Rogerson, (even though I have had a copy of An Enchantment of Ravens sitting on my shelf for way too long), and I was super excited to have the opportunity to review a copy of this book. I didn’t really know what to expect going into this book, but I absolutely loved everything about the story!

To get this started, I have to say that this book has a really great storyline. It is all about sorcerers and magic, and great libraries and magical grimoires. It was all very interesting, and some parts of the story made me think of the Dr. Strange movie, if you, (like me), are into that kind of thing. I was so fascinated with this story, that I few through the pages a lot quicker than I expected to. I was really surprised to find out that this was a standalone novel. That was both refreshing and a little disappointing, as I would love for this story to continue on and on! (Though I am really happy with the way things wrapped up in the end.)

Another thing I love about this book is that it has a lot of great characters. I love the main character, Elisabeth, is smart and fierce, and I love her love of books and knowledge SO much. I also really liked Nathaniel, as he was mysterious and magical, and had just the right amount of snark. BUT, the character that *really* made the story for me was Silas. Silas was probably my most favorite part of the story, and I wanted to know SO much more about him as I read the book. I’m not even going to tell you any more about him, but if you need just one reason to read this book, read it for Silas. (Though, I know you’d love the magic and book parts of the story as well!

Overall; I very much enjoyed pretty much everything about Sorcery of Thorns, and I can’t wait for my finished copy to arrive so I can add it to my collection! I am also now really excited to read An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret as well, and I am hoping to get to that as soon as I possibly can. If you love a good read about magic and books, do check out Sorcery of Thorns!

Happy Reading!

All. The. FEELS! I’ve never been a fan of standalone books. Most of the time it’s because I feel rushed through the story, the characters aren’t fleshed out and the climax happens and then there is no closure. Y’all Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson is none of that. It is a standalone YA fantasy unlike anything I’ve ever read. I’m not sure I’ll be able to put everything I’m feeling into words. This book is written for us book nerds. A librarian is the heroine, books literally come to life, and MAGIC….lots and lots of magic.

Elisabeth is an orphan, a ward of the Great Libraries, left at their doorstep as a babe and raised among the shelves by librarians and wardens. Naturally she is a curious young woman, constantly finding herself in trouble of some kind, and fully devoted to the books she was raised with. Her devotion is fanatic level, but think about it a sec. When you are raised to believe in one way, isn’t it natural to defend that way with your life? This is Elisabeth. Raised to believe that all magic is evil and that the libraries protect against that evil, she finds herself at a crossroads when she meets a young sorcerer.

Nathaniel Thorn first encounters Elisabeth when he visits Summershall (the library where she was raised and now works). Needless to say he was intrigued by the “menace” as he calls her, and when events lead to her being framed for possible murder, he’s the one that insists on escorting her to the main town for trial. I love Nathaniel. To be honest, you really don’t know where he stands. It’s kind of obvious to the reader his infatuation with Elisabeth, but he hides it from her well. He is a deeply broken man, and the only surviving member of his house. His magic is green (like the color of emeralds and I kept picturing him in Slytherin robes throughout the book) and his demon is alabaster white. I was fascinated by him, as much as Elisabeth is.

The plot of the story revolves around someone releasing class 8 and above books, turning them into monsters that kill those that get in their ways. The question is why and how are they breaching the Great Libraries. In addition to that, Elisabeth is being introduced to life outside the library’s walls. While overwhelmed she is enthralled with the beauty of it all. She also learns that good and evil cannot be equated to white and black but really shades of gray. Then there is that touch of romance that is oh so sweet.

Overall I really enjoyed Sorcery of Thorns. The writing is flawless, and the imagery jumps off the pages. Silas who I didn’t mention above is my favorite character, and you’ll understand why when you read it. I highly recommend this book to any lover of historical fantasy.

This book was one that went up and down to me. I liked it at parts and other times I was asking myself why am I reading this? In truth, the story was drawn out to much and there was many things that were just not explained, they were just expected for us to accept them. The characters were likeable but a little flat. However, it is a good read but not one I would rush to put at the top of my pill.

Content Warning: Death, Summoning

"If she does not suffer from the lack of company, I fear it is because she sees grimoires as her friends in place of people."

If there were ever a book to warm a book lover’s heart, Sorcery of Thorns would certainly be one to do so! Do you like a book about books? Well, look no further. Not only is Sorcery of Thorns brimming with magic, sorcery, demons, and the like, but books--grimoires to be specific--take front and center.

Elisabeth Scrivener (an ironic name, no less), was raised in the great library. Having been taken in as a orphan, she grew more accustomed to books than people. What I noticed shortly into this read was that, while Elisabeth always remains front and center, the weight shifts from her to another character. This shift takes place about halfway through the story, and gives a sort of disjointed feel in the story’s arc. I did like, however, that the story wasn’t all about the main character. It felt similar to how Brienna in The Queen’s Rising and it’s sequel is stationed.

Besides Elisabeth, Nathaniel and Silas are the other more prominent characters found in the story. Nathaniel, a sorcerer, and Silas his...aid...become entangled with Elisabeth when a grimoire is disturbed and breaks free from the library, wreaking havoc. Elisabeth, sworn to protect the world from these monstrous books, sets out to stop the creature, but is blamed for the entire incident. This leads to an investigation of the library, and in turn, uncovers a deadly plot that a powerful figure has in mind. In order to stop more bad from happening, Elisabeth begins to question what she has grown up knowing, and if this knowledge is actually the truth.

This story represents how we may grow up knowing one thing, but that doesn’t exactly make it true or the right thing. Furthermore, the idea that something is only black or white, good or evil, is challenged and dissected.

"He wasn’t attempting to disguise the fact that he was evil, only clarifying the nature of his misdeeds. Strangely, that made her feel that she could trust him, in this matter at least."

This, in particular, is represented by (my favorite aspect of this entire book) Silas’ character. He’s complex, mysterious, and allegorical. Beautifully written, his character brings about its own unexpected difficulties with his upfrontness and honesty. While the reader is told he is one way, one hopes that he’ll magically change his nature. But he can’t. What I thought was so interesting, and applaud-worthy, was how Rogerson wove so many ideas into one. I like how she kept many typical ideas about demons (i.e. they are bad, their service requires a grave cost, they aren’t human, etc.) and used it to further the complexity of her story.

Despite the majority of what I liked, two things stood out to me that caused issue. First is the world-building. While there were some details given, there could, and should have been so much more included in the setting. I felt that I could figure out where I located, but the surroundings were murky and not instrumental in any way. Secondly, that odd shift halfway through the book that I mentioned earlier simply didn’t sit well with me. I believe it is because the plot progression also slows quite a bit at this point, and makes the read disjointed. Even with these issues, however, I really enjoyed this story. The characters, the topics, and how they all interacted was engaging, and very enjoyable.

Vulgarity: None.
Sexual content: Kissing only.
Violence: Moderate, but with minimal gore.

My Rating: ★★★★

What a fun book this is! This stand-alone novel is a bibliophile’s dream meal! From beginning to end, Sorcery of Thorns, follows Elisabeth, who’s an apprentice librarian (guardian of books and grimoires.)

The language in the book is beautiful, and the world of the Great Libraries, magic, sorcery, grimoires, and palaces come to life in vivid detail and description.

The characters are memorable, and because of the depths I dove into the world, I sometimes expected Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas to be walking around next to me at the park.

Books have personalities; books have levels; books are keys; books have hearts; books have choices! A little taste from Rogerson’s work.

“Books, too, had hearts, though they were not the same as people’s, and book’s heart could be broken: she had seen it happen before. Grimoires that refused to open, their voices gone silent, or whose ink faded and bled across the pages like tears.”

I will read this book again and recommend it to anyone else who has a love for books, magic, and the power of the written word to change worlds.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and Margaret K. McElderry Books via NetGalley for an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Rogerson hit another one right out of the park with Sorcery of Thorns. I had high expectations after how Enchantment of Ravens kept me, well, enchanted. And I can say this sophomore novel did not disappoint. Rogerson's style draws you in immediately, thrown into an unfamiliar world that you have to figure out as you go along. Which is similar to the experience of our main character, Elisabeth, who is thrust into the wide world for the first time towards the beginning of the story. Having grown up entirely in the Great Library of Summershall, she is unfamiliar with the world outside, and wholly unprepared for her understandings of the ways things work to be totally shaken. Following her discover all the mysteries and deceptions this world can contain is exciting and keeps you hanging on to every page, a feeling I am coming to associate strongly with Rogerson's work. Her unique fantasy worlds are fascinating and I would love to continue to dive even further into this world. The magic system will keep you questioning just what is going on the whole way through, and you'll be hard pressed to put this book down until you reach the end.

Sorcery of Thorns just sort of snuck up on me. I came here for the magic and the libraries full of monster books, and I stayed for the bisexual sorcerer and his friendship with a GOODGOOD demon, and the quiet girl who grew up willing to fight evil when everyone else didn't want to. It was wonderful, and I didn't want to stop reading, and I refuse to believe that the story is over, especially after that ending. 😭

Elisabeth Scrivener was raised in a Great Library. She grew up among the stacks, and she learned how to take care of the grimoires within them. But she didn't want to be a librarian; she wanted to become a Warden, someone who protected and fought as well. Someone the people could count on to keep them safe, and get rid of the dangerous tomes if necessary. Yet when she does just that, she's accused of treason, and she's basically kicked out of the only home she's ever known. But she doesn't stop FIGHTING. She refuses to be cowed by the assholes who don't believe her, and she knows that something's wrong. She follows her convictions, even when it's impossible, and she's willing to do whatever it takes to right the wrong that started centuries ago. With the help of a reluctant sorcerer, Elisabeth becomes the person she never knew she could be: a perfect mix of a warrior and a librarian.

Nathaniel Thorn doesn't care about much, certainly not this disaster of a girl who makes him feel more than he'd like. He's the only one left of the Thorns; it's almost like they're cursed. The necromancy in their bloodline is horrible and it takes too much out of them. It takes more than it gives, tbh. And because of what happened when he was younger, and because he felt that he was partly at fault, he doesn't think he can love. Or be loved back. At least not without consequence. So he pushes everyone away, and he's the talk of Austermeer. But Nathaniel has a well of goodness and compassion inside of him. He just needed to recognize that in himself, and to remember that life held little meaning if he didn't live it. He was scared, of course he was, but he did what he thought was right, even if it cost him. Something he had in common with Elisabeth, who taught him to see the beauty in the darkness.


“It’s an honor to fight by your side, Elisabeth, for however long it lasts. You’ve reminded me to live. That’s worth having something to lose.”


Ugh, their romance was so sweet and lovely. And it helped that they had a bit of a matchmaker in Nathaniel's servant. To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of demons. They just tend to be one of the few supernatural creatures I stay away from in books. But Silas is the actual fucking best. Of course, he'd say that he isn't, because he can't let anyone know that he's got a soft heart. That he cares. It's such a lie, because in every action and interaction, you see just how much he loves Nathaniel. And how much he comes to care for Elisabeth. But it's really Silas and Nathaniel's friendship that hits you right in the fucking feels. Silas is all he has, but so too is Nathaniel the only one who really knows the real side to the demon. And because of that, this book ended up making me cry. These characters became some of my absolute fictional favorites, and I would die for them. I love one (1) proper demon. 😭

I was completely hooked from the beginning. This had all the makings of a favorite: a bookworm lead with a heart of bravery, a queer boy who's charge is some of the darkest magic in the world, and a villainous immortal willing to give up who he is for them. There were just as many tender moments as funny ones, and it just became my fucking everything. Sorcery of Thorns is enchanting and magical and PRECIOUS.

[this review will be up on my blog, acquadimore.wordpress.com, on June 3]

What I love the most about Margaret Rogerson's books is how they don't take themselves too seriously. It was true for An Enchantment of Ravens, and it's true for Sorcery of Thorns too - the humor in them is effortless and makes everything feel lighter. 16-year-old me would have had so much fun with this.
I mean, I loved this book now too, but it's the kind of novel for which I want a time machine, so that I could give it to 16-year-old Acqua. This is the way I want YA fantasy to be: funny, and on the lighter side, without needing to shy away from dark themes from time to time; enjoyable for adults but mostly aimed at teens.

Sorcery of Thorns is the story of Elisabeth, who was raised in - and in a way, by - a magical library, and it's the story of how she got drawn into a scheme much bigger than herself, involving sorcery, demons, and the power of books.
Elisabeth took a while to grow on me. At the beginning, her voice reminded me a lot of Isobel from AEOR and didn't really stand out to me, but the way she went at things and defeated them, sometimes out of pure stubbornness, made me love her. The romance also grew on me after a lukewarm start - Elisabeth and the bisexual disaster of a sorcerer named Nathaniel are one of the best m/f couples in YA fantasy, and how could I not love them, when Nathaniel started calling Elisabeth "you menace" (I mean, he's right. Elisabeth is unstoppable.)

But I have to be honest, the main reason I liked this book wasn't the romance, or the beautiful descriptions of magical, terrifying libraries, or even the amount of casual queerness (there's an aro side character and I love her).
The main reason is Silas, Nathaniel's Inherited Demon™, who tries to convince Elisabeth for most of the book that he is a dignified powerful demon who totally doesn't care about humans, especially not Nathaniel, no, why would you think that
And the thing is, he doesn't care like a human would, but in his own way, he definitely does. Margaret Rogerson strikes the "doesn't feel like a human, but definitely feels" balance perfectly, which I already knew from her portrayal of the fair folk in her debut, but here the dynamic was even more interesting. Silas is such a compelling combination of "terrifying and beautiful and powerful, but also caring (in a demon way) and exasperated by teenage humans".

When I wrote what I want from YA fantasy, I said that I wanted books to not shy away from difficult themes, too, and this book did that - it talks about how easy it is for young women in difficult situations to be dismissed as crazy, as "difficult" themselves. It was hard to read, but it's what made seeing Elisabeth succeed even more satisfying.

One thing that didn't work for me, however, was the pacing. It's not that this book is slow, I just felt weird about it. Almost as if things took too long to get started and then became too quick all of the sudden, but multiple times through the book. I have to say that overall my favorite kind of YA fantasy is the one that is closer to 300 pages than to 500.
Also, it was a really predictable read, which is why I think I would have loved it even more at 16, when I hadn't read as much of this genre. However, I didn't mind that too much, because I don't consider predictability a flaw when the storyline is what makes sense for the book and the foreshadowing isn't heavy-handed.

I loved An Enchantment of Ravens so much that I was basically here just for Margaret’s name on the book. The promise of magical books in a library was just an added bonus.

I loved Elisabeth. She’s smart and maybe a little uncertain, but she leaps before she looks and I loved being in her head. Nathaniel was all hard crunchy shell with a marshmallow center and he deals with some serious trauma by being prickly and adorable. And I don’t have words for Silas. I loved the juxtaposition of a demon servant and everything that it means.

Plot wise, I did struggle a bit in the beginning. There was a good portion of world building and of course a lot of new words and phrases to go along with the magic system. Once the mystery started unfolding and I settled into the story, I couldn’t get enough. It’s the slowest of slow burns, but as usual, I’m here for the longing filled glances across the room.

Overall, this is a unique story and I was captivated from the very beginning. I will say the ending is equal parts maddening and insanely satisfying. I would have liked even just one more paragraph.

**Huge thanks to Margaret K McElderry for providing the arc free of charge**

Margaret Rogerson’s Sorcery of Thorns captivates with its luscious world-building, an exciting plot, and dynamic characters. Orphaned and left on the doorstep of the Great Library of Summershall, Elisabeth Scrivener grew up surrounded by a treasure trove of books. Elisabeth has worked hard to earn her place, apprenticing until she can convince the Director of the library that she is ready to become a warden, tasked with protecting both the library and the dangerous books they keep in their underground vaults. When Elisabeth happens upon a theft, she stumbles upon a scheme to rob the six Great Libraries and bring about a cataclysmic end. With no one to turn to, Elisabeth reaches out to the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn and his demon servant. A decision she may come to regret as she’s been taught that magic is inherently evil and those who practice it, while bound by the laws of the land, are capable of acts of great malevolence.

Rogerson proved what a great world builder she was in her debut An Enchantment of Ravens. In her sophomore novel she once again impresses. Every setting is vividly drawn from the Gothic and ominous library vaults to the enchanting and mysterious Thorn Manor. Even the small glimpses we get of the Otherworld feel fully formed, readers peeking into a universe whole and dark, yet undeniably alluring. Booklovers will be in rapture of Rogerson’s magical world, where books speak and have mercurial personalities. The most dangerous whisper words of temptation, taking in the weak-minded and manipulating them. Dark sorcery of the past gifted the world with grimoires, but produced grotesque tomes made from human parts. And when one of these books is damaged, it sets free a monster capable of killing all in its path.

Though Elisabeth has grown up surrounded by all the knowledge books contain, her world is very small. She learns that not everything is black and white. That it is not magic that can corrupt, but greed and power. She’s a brave heroine with just the right amount of recklessness, making you cheer, but also keeping you on the edge of your seat. Nathaniel makes the perfect love interest, he is mysterious but sardonic enough not to come across as too rigid. Much of who he is has been defined by the mistakes of his ancestors, making him a reluctant ally. Elisabeth becomes a catalyst for change in him, forcing him to finally confront the nightmares of his past. Nathaniel is also bisexual, which is something I still find really refreshing since male bisexual characters as so rare. Sorcery of Thorns also has a great pair of minor characters. Katrien, Elisabeth’s best friend, though she doesn’t get a lot of page time, is her equal in curiosity and propensity for trouble. I wouldn’t mind a companion novel devoted to her. But it’s Nathaniel’s demon servant Silas who stole my entire heart. He has been more of a friend and caretaker to Nathaniel, though it goes completely against his nature to care. He is complicated and dangerous and yet still comes across as the kindest of all the characters.

Sorcery of Thorns is a lush fantasy which will cast a spell on readers and its surprisingly unrelenting action scenes will have you racing to the end.

This novel is so delightful and unexpected. Books are actually ALIVE. They do have to stay in the magical library, and some books are nicer than others. There are special librarians who take care of the books. Elizabeth (an apprentice librarian) ends up finding herself implicated of crime and fighting a conniving sorcerer. I really cannot believe how much I smiled during this book because it is so good! There is romance, death, action, magic, personified grimoires, demons, amazing world building, and so much more.

I am always a little disappointed when a highly anticipated book ends up falling short on me. From the moment I laid eyes on the cover of Sorcery of Thorns I just knew I had to read it. I was lucky when the publisher approved me on NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book pre-publication. (Please note that this review was written on: May 17th)

The idea behind this book was really interesting. I love the grimoires and how they were alive, how there were different levels and how the was a whole society who was dedicated to being their keepers. Other then that, Sorcery of Thorns really didn't have much to offer me.

I liked Margaret's writing style and her writing flows nicely. But I strongly believe her characters could have used a bit more fleshing out. Elisabeth was the only character that was well fleshed out and rounded. I would have loved to see the characters on a more deeper level. Characters most of the time make or break or book for me and poorly developed characters really make it hard for me to enjoy a book.

I am not saying that Sorcery of Thorns was a horrible book. It simply wasn't for me. I read a few other reviews after finishing this book and though it wasn't my cup of tea it is well loved by so many other readers. I do recommend you to give this one a shot, it is intriguing and it does have a slow burn romance (Which I LOVEEEEEEEEEEE!)

I loved the libraries in this book and wanted to stay there the whole book, but was a bit disappointed by how little time was actually spent there. I felt a little frustrated just existing in the world around the libraries. I loved the characters and their growth.

Summary
Elisabeth grew up in the Great Library among grimoires - magical books who whisper to her from behind their iron chains. But when the Great Library is attacked, Elisabeth has to work with the only people that don't think she's the attacker - an evil sorcerer and his demonic servant. Now they're trying to stop a centuries long plan to destroy the world.

Overview
This is a fantasy novel told in third person from Elisabeth's POV. It's a high fantasy (it does not take place in the known world) with a low magic system (magic exists but does not have many explicit rules). This does have (very briefly) mentioned queer rep as well as a light romance.

Content Warnings: Death, PTSD

What I Liked
1. Silas is one of my new favorite side characters of all time. I absolutely loved him. His character had so much depth and heart. I loved watching his warring sides - he is a demon who has somehow grown to truly love humans but can't survive without consuming part of their life. It was such a unique character concept and I adored it.
2. I loved the concept of the sentient books, or grimoires. I have never read anything like this and found it completely captivating. The grimoires had personalities and character arcs. I can't explain how much I loved this concept.
3. I thought the romance in this was really well written and sweet. I appreciated the slow(ish) burn - this had insta-attraction, but definitely no insta-love. You could tell immediately that they wanted each other, but it took quite awhile for them to act on it. And by the time they did, I 100% shipped it.
4. This book was overall really well paced. There was lots of action without it feeling to rushed or easy and I never wanted to put this down. I absolutely flew through the last half of this.
5. This ending made my Silas loving heart so happy.

What I Didn't Like
1. I wish the sorcerer's magic was explained a little better. Overall it was pretty vague as to what the limitations and rules were. But this is definitely a personal preference thing! If you aren't big into high magic systems, this is won't be an issue for you at all!

Overall I loved this novel! It had the perfect balance of action-packed fantasy with a hint of romance. I loved all the political sabotage and twists with intense, well written battle scenes. And the unique take on a library setting was amazingly executed.

I received a free copy from Margaret K. McElderry Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In Sorcery of Thorns Margaret Rogerson offers quite a journey for her readers. Foundling Elisabeth Scrivener is raised in the Great Library of Summershall, a space that holds grimoires that range in power from Classes 1-10. The higher the number, the greater the power. The Great Libraries are designed to contain these powerful items, protecting the grimoires from the world and the world from the grimoires.

Elisabeth's unlikely journey begins when one of the grimoires in Summershall turns into a Malefict, a corruption of the power which manifests as a terror that can wipe out villages. As Elisabeth is pushed into the world of sorcery, a world that she has always been told is evil, she meets Nathaniel Thorn, a snarky sorcerer with the frightening power of necromancy, and his demon, Silas. With the aid of many unlikely heroes, Elisabeth discovers a centuries old plot that threatens everything she has ever cared about.

Rogerson expertly offers small, seemingly unimportant details throughout the novel that provide the reader with information that becomes crucial as the novel moves toward the conclusion. Additionally, the world building is exquisite. Like most fantasy novels, there is a map that helps orient you to your location, but Rogerson uses this as a supplement and not a crutch. Her descriptions of each location are rich and vivid, providing the reader with a feel for each new region.

Elisabeth is written as a strong female character, but Rogerson avoids the trap of granting Elisabeth powers without explanation. Within the small details that Rogerson provides, the reader certainly gets a sense that Elisabeth is special since she seems to have an innate sense of grimoires and even the library itself. When side character Katrien offers an explanation of only two sentences, it is very believable because Rogerson's hints have already offered enough of a frame for the information.

As a reader, I particularly appreciated that Elisabeth was granted the ability to stand on her own on many occasions. Though there is eventually a romance for Elisabeth, the fact that it functioned as a side plot allowed me to really root for a satisfying conclusion. Allowing Elisabeth to earn the respect of those around her offered a different version from many YA novels.

Overall, the tone of this book reminded me a great deal of Uprooted. Though this is a standalone, should Rogerson ever decide to return to Austermeer I would absolutely read another installment. And that closing line...what a gift! For me, this will probably land in my top ten books for 2019.

"FWPTJYHNTJGMLWPQYTNVLMXSKQAOLPMCBRTROPAAVNCURTEPGHGSDZMVGWRQPNCBUYUYW!!" Why, yes, that IS gibberish for, "WOW, THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING...EVERYTHING I EVER WANTED IN A FANTASY AND MORE!!"

This story left me reeling! And I so mean that in the absolute best way possible. It's one of those that you can't put down and never want to stop reading and can't bear for it to end. Yet you HAVE to continue and you HAVE to get there because you HAVE to know why everything is happening and who is doing it. (The latter half we find out relatively early.) So yes, this mystery aspect of the story was great and suspenseful, but it's not even the best part.

No, the best part was the world Rogerson created. A world of sorcery in which grimoires are sentient beings...that can turn malicious. A world in which magic is the result of a bargain between humans and demons. And that magic is deemed evil. It was refreshing to read a fantasy that wasn't filled with fairies or vampires or werewolves (or any other creatures) falling in love with a virgin human girl. No. This was a richly created story filled with breathtaking descriptions, feminist undertones, a smart, kick ass female heroine, a broody sorcerer, hidden evil, powerful demon companions, and yes, there's even some room in there for romance. Again, that was another aspect that had me cheering; the romance is there, but definitely not the focus of the story. It was a subplot, but so well done that you couldn't help but enjoy it and root for it to come to fruition.

I adored Elisabeth. She was an atypical fantasy main character. More than a breath of fresh air, more like a tornadic rush of uniquity. She wasn't afraid of being different. While she did want to fit in with her world, she also wasn't embarrassed by her oddities. She was closer to a modern day girl than any other I've read in popular YA.

As for the story: from the very first page, I was drawn in. Compelled. It was almost as though this book was a grimoire itself and had cast me under a spell. And since I had no real expectations, I was beyond thrilled to have discovered something so magical and wondrous. From the death of the Director to the final battle scene, it's a marvelously woven tale. It has all you could want: humor, intensity, magic-filled beings, romance, take no crap females, action...and there are hidden messages here too. Not necessarily subtle, but I was more than okay with that. This book is so well-written I could weep with joy. Nothing is drawn out. The pacing is on point. The characters are relatable, believable, REAL. I didn't feel like there were gratuitous scenes thrown in for word counts and readers' expectations. Everything felt honest and purposeful toward the story. I can't possibly put into words how utterly enthralled I was. It was killing me, because as much as I wanted to get to the truth, I also never wanted it to end. It's one of those worlds you could get lost in forever. You could read about it and its characters until the end of time and never get sick of it.

This is a complete story. A standalone, which is seemingly rare in this day and age. It's also one of the few times I wish there was more to come. Even as satisfying as the ending was (and it is, believe me!), I still wanted MORE. What happens next? Where is Silas? What about Nathaniel's magic? I mean, one can draw their own conclusions, but again, I have to stress how much I adored these characters and their journey. I knew it was over, but the spoiled reader inside me wasn't ready to give them up. I can absolutely let my imagination do its thing, but would I read more of these guys? Or even a Katrien spinoff? *wink, wink*

I think it's quite obvious that I loved this book. Sorcery of Thorns is, without a doubt, my top read of 2019...and my uncontested favorite in recent memory. An outstanding, exceptional, superior fantasy, Rogerson nailed her sophomore release. I'd rate this with infinite stars.