This book couldn't be more different from An Enchantment of Ravens, but just like her debut work, Margaret Rogerson has woven a magical and beautiful tale.

I really don't know how she does it. I often complain about fantasy standalones because they often are unable to craft a world and make it compelling enough in the one book and also deliver a compelling storyline. However, Margaret Rogerson manages to spin a story full of great characters, a beautiful world and a heart wrenching story every time. She's 2/2 people.

Sorcery of Thorns follows Elisabeth Scrivener, a girl who's grown up in one of the Great Libraries, which houses the magical and dangerous grimoires. Some are so dangerous that when provoked, a monster of ink and leather will leak from the pages. The job of a warden of the library is to protect the grimoires and to prevent the Malefictums from harming people. This is who Elisabeth has wanted to be since she was a child. When she's implicated in sabotaging the library she's grown up in and unleashing a grimoire, she is taken to the capital to face her alleged crimes only to find that she is at the center of a conspiracy. She must team up reluctantly with a sorcerer, Nathaniel Thorn, and his demonic servant, Silas, in order to get to the heart of the conspiracy and save the kingdom from ruin.

This world is goshdarn magical. Elisabeth works in a magical library full of sentient magical books (of course with the caveat that there are huge booklouse *shudders*). There are demons and magic and sorcery. This is the kind of world that I almost wished I lived in if I didn't think that I'd probably die. I love all the world building and how the reveals and the plot are so intricately tied into the history of the world that Rogerson has built. I'm a huge fan of stories that involve conspiracies and great world building and an established sense of history.

The characterizations are always on point too. Elisabeth is strong willed and dedicated to doing the right thing. She realizes that people don't believe her when she says that she didn't do the thing and yet she soldiers on to get people to realize it anyway. Nathaniel is frickin sassy and I love him. He has a tragic past and has a quiet strength to him as well. He's also bisexual and has a hilarious bit where he talks about how he was attracted to the prince until he grew a weasel for a mustache on his lip. Margaret Rogerson managed to get me to empathize with a demon (not like that's hard) but I love Silas too and he's an entire ass mood. Elisabeth's friend Katrien is hilarious as well. She's a great friend and always seems to be getting into mischief herself.

They are so freaking accurate and hilarious.

Another thing that I really loved about this book is that for a fantasy novel, it really has nothing to do with royalty at all. Sure Nathaniel is from a House that has history and he's kind of an aristocrat, but there's only really a brief mention of a prince. This book is more about Elisabeth and the libraries and also partially about Nathaniel and demons.

Some of the problems that I felt with An Enchantment of Ravens, where I felt that there were hints at the world that weren't explored, I didn't feel in this book. I felt really sufficiently satisfied by all the world building in this book. And while I didn't mind the claim of "no plot" in An Enchantment of Ravens, there was most definitely a lot of plot and action in this book. In a way, while both books are very similar in the beautiful writing and world and characters that Rogerson's created, An Enchantment of Ravens is a lush dessert and Sorcery of Thorns is a satisfying and fulfilling main course.

This book was so magical and beautiful and devastating. I love all the characters dearly and this world is stellar and I love this book a lot. Definitely one of my favourite things that I've read this year and of all time. I'm excited for whatever else Margaret Rogerson has brewing in her head because at this point it's guaranteed to be magical and beautiful and highkey likely to ruin me.

I first read Sorcery of Thorns as an eARC (gifted by Simon and Schuster Canada) and I absolutely loved it. However, I could put my thoughts into words to actually review it. So here's my review three years later, just in time for the novella release in January!

I'll be honest, I still don't really have the words review this properly. I feel like the book has put a spell on me in a way. I think about Sorcery of Thorns and I think light, funny fantasy about a librarian and a magician saving the world. However, the book itself has some very dark themes - demons, torture, violence, murder. And yet I think of the book so fondly, one might think it's a cozy, bright fantasy. That, I think, is a testament to Margaret Rogerson's writing, her characters, and the world she built in SOC that makes this book so loveable despite the absolutely reprehensible actions of her villain.

Elisabeth is an absolute delight. She has an air of mystery around her - why are books friendly to her? How did she survive the attack on her library? - but she also has an element of chaotic badassery to her that makes her so much fun to read about. Her adventures, while grueling, are so interesting and intense, you can't help but be sucked into the story. Despite her upbringing and the events of the books, Elisabeth is a ray of sunshine that can't be knocked down.

On the flip side, Nathaniel is a loveable grump and he hesitance towards CARING ABOUT PEOPLE gives me so much pain, but also I love him. His appreciation of and entertainment from Elisabeth's chaos is the best and he won my adoration through just jumping on the chaos train with her. Like if she's going down, he's going down with her.

Silas remains my favourite character. That is all I have to say about that.

Magical books. Like does magic get better than that? I loved how there's a whole world of book magic within this world of demonic magic and outlawed magic. The books have their own diseases, pests, and personalities and it's so comprehensive and descriptive that it felt real and natural. It's honestly one of my favourite elements of the story and I kind of wish it was expanded on a bit more (but it also makes sense that it wasn't cause they were always on the go).

As a whole, this story is a magical train wreck full of fumbles and errors and lost broken people who find love and win wars together and I enjoyed every minute of it.

TW: death, torture, gaslighting, blood, violence, forced institutionalization, confinement, misogyny, panic attack, mentions child death and death of a parent

Rep: bisexual MMC, aroace secondary character

Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 4.5/5
Writing: 5/5
Pacing: 4.5/5
Overall: 5/5

eARC gifted via NetGalley by Simon and Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. The characters are well thought out and complex. I liked the character development of Nathaniel, and how his trauma manifested & was explored. I didn't love the ending

I loved this book so much! I'll pretty much buy anything from this author at this point and will reccomend customers in my store do the same!

This was such a great read! I loved the character developments and interactions; I could not put the book down. I absolutely adore Rogerson’s writing and can’t wait for what comes next.

I tried multiple times, but this book is just not for me. I never felt attached enough to the characters to care about what would happen to them. The MC is not very smart and I was getting annoyed about everything having to be explained to her.

4.5 Stars
I am so late with this review, but I did it, so I am so pleased.
This book was enjoyable and had so many beautiful descriptions, and scenery/imagery, like this author is an artist!

This world was a reimagined victorian world with librarians, warriors and books that hold monstrous power, sorceries that bind themselves to demons and a political system that was corrupted within. I am obsessed with this world!
Bonus I saw the appeal of Silas and half wanted that couple - especially since I didn't get enough of Nathanial, in my opinion.

My only qualm with this book is that it felt very long and drawn out or too slow at times, and I wanted the action or story to pick up, it even affected my enjoyment, and I thought I would just DNF, BUT THEN it would give me the best things to keep me going. So I guess that is both a good thing but mostly a lousy point.

Fantastic book with incredible plot! The whole library aspect made me so happy and I loved the characters so much. Also the bi rep for the male love interest made my little bi heart happy!

I think I was expecting a lot from this book because it was so hyped up, that when I read it I honestly could understand why everyone loves it so much. Not that it’s a bad book I just think it’s not worth the hype it’s getting for me. I can definitely say that the characters is what made me continue withe the book, they were actually really well written and well thought out. Aside from that world building is my least favourite part of the book, too much info dump. A 3 star read.

Loved it! The books and libraries were so very enchanting and I loved the learning experience the protagonist went through. Highly recommend for fantasy bookworms! :)

I could have sworn I had posted something about this book. Been a few months so I'll do my best to write something.

DNF at 35%

I love books and book related stories so that was one thing that definitely drew me in to the story. I was really invested into it because the book started really nice and went right into action but then it slowed down and I'm fine with slow downs but it got too slow and barely anything happened and I lost interest. So far, I have tried to read the book twice and I just couldn't.

I did received a physical hardcover copy fromn one of the monthly book subsciptions I got so the book is sitting on a shelf, hoping I'll pick it back up again. I hope I will.

The cover is gorgeous and I still think I'd like it if I give it my all?! 3rd time's the charm, they say. We'll see about that. One day. I'm not giving up hope.

Rogerson drew me into the world of Sorcery of Thorns right from the beginning. Her prose sweeps you away into this dark and beautiful world filled with magic and horror. I loved the concept of the library and the living books; it may seem an easy way to endear yourself to a book lover but Rogerson never makes it feel cliched.

The world instantly came to life through the eyes of Elisabeth. Her passionate relationship with Nathaniel and her intriguing relationship with Silas were all wonderfully done and they never overshadowed her main goal. She always stayed focused on the bigger issues.

My biggest critique would be that the ending felt lacklustre. After building up such a rich world it felt like the conflict was too easily solved; it was too fast and the final resolution didn't feel earned. It felt like we were building to a bigger climax but it never reached the heights I hoped it would.

Overall Sorcery of Thorns is still a strong novel that is sure to enchant YA readers.

I put off reading this book for quite a while, because I could just tell it would be giving me a book hang over and man was I correct. I really enjoyed the unique world building, the magic systems and all the characters. The only thing I took stars off for, was that it wasn't very clear the age of the main protagonist as she kept mentioning being 14 and it took way to long to figure out she was actually 16. I can understand why this book is a stand alone and it works perfectly, but I can't help but wish we could join these characters again on other adventures because this one was so much fun!

I really enjoyed this one!! I loved the premise behind it, that books have feelings, and the way you treat them reflects how they'll react. As an avid book reader and bookseller, I enjoyed that aspect of the book. I liked the main character very much, she was so strong and smart. I also liked that she grew up learning one perspective, and learned to change her view on everything through experience and growth. Also, she grew up in a library, what a dream!! The love story in this was good, I enjoyed Nathaniel as a character and as a love interest as well. Silas as a side character was fantastic, I loved him so much! All three characters were so great together, and I like how they became a team, especially given all of their different backgrounds. I really liked this world that Margaret created, it was so easy to imagine and I loved it for that. I can't wait to read more of her books now.

The best kind of books are the ones that leave you simultaneously satisfied and desperate for more, and Sorcery of Thorns was no exception. I don’t think I’ve ever described a book this way before, but this one was nothing short of enchanting. It was this amazing combination of beauty and reflection with magic and adventure.

If I could have sat down and read this book in one sitting I would have. It was paced phenomenally and there was always something to keep you turning the pages. From the exciting and magical (no pun intended) overarching plot, to the truly lovable characters this book had no shortage of reasons to keep you reading. It was also so easy to do so because the writing itself flowed so well and was easy to devour.

I also must appreciate the way that this book was an ode to book lovers everywhere. It’s not surprising that a book centred around libraries would attest to the wonder and magic contained within stories, but Sorcery of Thorns did it in a way I’ve never seen before, and did it naturally at that.

This is honestly such a great read that perfectly paired all the things you want in a YA novel and more!

I adored this book! I read her other one and really felt that the writing was amazing but the story wasn't for me. I loved that libraries were at the center of this story, and that there was bisexual representation. Elizabeth was a great main character I just wanted more from her and Silas, their 'friendship' really made this story for me!

Sorcery of Thorns is one of those books to which I would be immediately drawn: it is about magical books, the setting takes place in buildings that are mysterious and are pretty much libraries, and there is a system of magic that is unique and different. While I am not a huge fan of YA literature, I truly did enjoy this novel from beginning to end, and was somewhat disappointed to learn this was a standalone as I became quite involved in the lives of the main characters and would love to read more about their adventures. But it is what it is.

First of all, I thought Elisabeth was a great character and really enjoyed her personality. She was tough, but not mean, going after what she wanted, but still thought about others and their needs. She has grown up in a library and has always wanted to be a warden, someone who protects the kingdom from the power of books if they are provoqued into transforming into monsters that could destroy entire towns or villages. Some of the books are very much alive and could do some very bad things, which is quite an interesting concept in this book. When an attack one night goes badly, Elisabeth is sent away, under the protection of Nathanial Thorn and his demon Silas, and a host of new adventures happen to this trio who eventually work together to discover what is actually happening at the libraries and what was behind the attack that sent Elisabeth away. Silas is by far my favourite character in this novel and I love how the author developed his personality as she explained the bond between Nathanial and Silas and how the magic system worked. Nathanial is part of an old magical family who pass down their demons from one generation to the next which helps keep the bond between the family and the demon intact. Having a demon loose upon the world would not be a good thing for the people. And the author gives the reader a good glimpse as to the chaos that could arise if such a thing were to happen. Anyhow, the characters were complex, interesting, sarcastic, fascinating, and intriguing, and I was invested in all of them but for different reasons.

The plot was extremely fast which didn't really bother me too much except that you didn't really get to absorb a scene before you were thrust right into the next one. Right from the beginning Elisabeth is defending her library against an evil book monster and someone who betrays them, and is then sent away to prove her innocence and is thrust right into some major conflicts in the city so the action just keeps right on going. The author does a great job explaining the magic system as well as the people involved so there is little confusion as to who is who and what is what. I think the only issue I really had was the lack of world-building. I really felt there should have, and could have, been more details given about the world as they were a bit disjointed and murky which is why when the plot slowed down towards the middle, it also seemed a bit disjointed and murky. Luckily, there were only a couple spots where this happened and the plot and flow picked up rather nicely again. I began to root for Nathanial and Elisabeth right away, but not necessarily as a romantic couple, just as friends as she desperately needed someone on her side who believed in her and who believed that something terrible was happening. I thought all of the twists and turns worked out rather well, and I liked how the author faced the dark pasts of the characters without flinching and allowed them to explore their feelings and what they were dealing with on their own terms, some of which I don't think is quite fully resolved, leading me a very faint hope there may yet be a sequel to this book.

Sorcery of Thorns was a well-written book about two people who needed to help each other discover what they could truly be and who they really are. I enjoyed the twists and turns and thought the action was a lot of fun. The idea of magical books and libraries was interesting and I liked how the author treated the books. (I was actually getting sentimental over a book sacrificing itself towards the end.) I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves books (!!) and a fun tale involving a boy, a girl, and my favourite demon, Silas. To the author, please, please, please write a sequel!!

This book was an automatic approval for work (I work at a bookstore). I had a hard time reading this book as much as I wanted to love it... and then I realized it was because I was reading it on eBook format. As soon as I picked up a hardcover of the book, it was a lot easier to enjoy.

The main chapter was interesting, she loved books and learning, some of it took place in a library, there are demons... what more could a girl ask for? 😂

Where do I begin to formulate my thoughts about Sorcery of Thorns? This book was everything I wanted and more. It definitely lives up to the hype surrounding it, and it might be my favourite book of the year. If I could sum up this book in the shortest way possible it is truly chef kiss worthy.

Rogerson crafted such an enchanting and rich world that I am hungering for more from it. A world with books that have souls, spirits, books that are thriving with life? Sign me up. I want to know why the grimoires are created. Is every single book a grimoire? Who was the first to create one? There are so many questions but it’s okay that these ones are unanswered, as Rogerson leaves more to be desired – despite the claim this will be a standalone novel.

The characters are also complex and real – there’s no flatness here. I think Silas was my favourite character – the strange dichotomy between him being a literal demon and a familial figure for Nathanial was so well done and interesting. He’s also a bit sassy which adds even more to his character. I also loved Nathanial and the journey he went on emotionally during the story. He was so used to relying solely on Silas he refused to let anyone else in plus that slow burn romance was just…so well done. The development of his relationship with Elisabeth is so natural and real that it didn’t even feel like a book sometimes. Plus he’s bisexual so we love a queer king!!

Elisabeth is also such a strong character. Her connection to the grimoires and the libraries added such depth to her traits and her character. It also contributes to her flaws and how she handles conflict. By the end of the book we really see her develop into a stronger version of herself after Elisabeth overcomes so many hurdles and obstacles that push her down and label her as an outcast or failure.

The world-building is so immersive I want to move in immediately. Reading it I pictured Austermeer like Scotland it was so atmospheric. I have no idea if Rogerson was inspired by any particular area of the world but I was able to relate it a place I loved. Being able to relate and immersive yourself in the world of a book is important, but especially in fantasy novels. Rogerson’s world really adds to my love for this book. Her execution of the world is like the ice cream to the cake.

The plot itself was good. The antagonist wasn’t surprising but I think that’s because Rogerson sets it up well. I also thought it was important that she focused more on Nathaniel’s family and the plot surrounding his and Elisabeth’s relation with necromancy. If she had just focused solely on the antagonist plot it would have felt a bit more cliche or stale. But her balance between the two works well for the whole book.

Margaret Rogerson did it again. As with her debut, An Enchantment of Ravens, Margaret has once again fashioned a dark and whimsical world worthy of being its own fairy tale. A world of sentient books possessed by demonic hands, and warrior librarians meant to keep them bound in chains. The main character, Elisabeth, is a delight as the narrator., but it was her eventual companions, Nathaniel and Silas, that absolutely stole the show, seemingly plucked from a page in Howl's Moving Castle. The story, while a little slow for me around the middle mark, both opened and closed in a masterful rush. Margaret's work will eternally grace my bookshelves.