hello the dark fantasy of my DREAMS

the cruel prince walked so this could RUN, the vibes were immaculate.

This was such an intense read and I absolutely loved the cast of characters, each one more morally gray than the last. I usually don't agree with comp titles but this one was spot on, this fits nicely into the genre The Cruel Prince occupies. Violet was a great lead and her dynamic with Cyrus was hilarious to read. She's driven and determined to not let anything get in her way and I was so here for it.

I also really did like the magic system! I'm a big fan of not showcasing faeries and their magic as super appealing, I much prefer the somewhat evil interpretation, and this was done really well! The ending was fantastic and I can't wait to find out what happens next!

I think the comparisons to other series were a tad off, but this is still worth checking out if you've got a thing about seers. Overall, the story was somewhat confusing. There were lots of characters and information thrown in and all of it was not always explained. There are a lot of plot twists but they didn't have the "WOW" factor for me because I sort of guessed some of them ahead of time. The main characters by themselves were compelling but their romance - not so much. I felt more like it was lust than love? Especially since Cyrus is portrayed as a f-boy but was deemed honorable in other aspects...I feel like there could have been a better twist on that. Again, this book meshes stuff together that just doesn't work, but by themselves or as separate plot points, it very well could have. I would pick up the sequel just to see where it goes.

Thanks NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! Gina Chen's Violet Made of Thorns is a solidly enjoyable fantasy novel to add to your collection. The writing of the characters Cyrus, Camilla, and Violet are great, though with Dante there could have been a bit more for my taste. The plot was interesting to follow and it felt a bit rushed at the end it was still worth it!

Violet Made of Thorns is one for the fairytale lovers. Its not a retelling but more so borrows from instances within classic fairytales and gives it a little twist. I really loved that aspect of the book; it was like an easter egg hunt!

There were a lot of elements that I enjoyed in this book. In particular Violet's sarcasm and banter with Cyrus, and her overall negative view of the world. The enemies to lover arc was fairly well done, though the ending of it was a bit too rushed and almost a little disappointing. I'm curious as to how it will play out in the sequel. I also had a difficult time with Cyrus. While I loved their chemistry, his actions were confusing. I know its meant to be confusing, but it almost felt illogical and hard to believe. I honestly kept waiting for something more of a plot twist. I think we needed more from him to get to where it ended up.

Overall, I still really enjoyed this book. The kingdom/politics stuff is surface level and more of a driving point for the romance, but it was still fun and interesting. I liked the idea of Sighted magic and hope we get to see more of it in book 2. Again, Violet's sacrasm and overall world view is amazing to read. There were quite a few times I snorted in agreement with her.

3.5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte/Random House for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to @netgalley and @delacortepress and @randomhouse for the E-ARC!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and thought it was a solid fresh take on fairytales where we watch the anti-heroine fight for her survival rather than the usual "chosen one" saving the kingdom. There are truly no heroes in this story and I kind of loved that.

Violet is the Seer for the Sun Capital. She doesn't mind lying and is happen to prophesize what is needed if it keeps her in her job. The king asks her to lie about his son's true love and she has no problem doing that but the Fates have other ideas for Cyrus. Violet has a lot of difficult choices to make and she must make them soon before the Fates make them for her.

The characters: violet is prickly to say the least. She's out for her own survival only and will pretty much do anything to save herself. She's cunning and smart and she also hates the prince Cyrus. Cyrus wasn't totally my favorite but he was a fun "prince charming". Camilla is also the best side character and I love her. The Other side characters though didn't really go beyond 1 dimensional and I was a little disappointed in that.

The plot: I felt that the plot was a bit slow going in the beginning but it does pick up. This book mostly revolves around the political aspects of everything as well as the romance. I liked how different this plot was and was thoroughly impressed once it really got going. It felt like you never really knew what violet was going to do or how far she was willing to go.

For fans of stories like Maleficent, fairy tale reyellings, anti-heroine MCs, dark fantasy, enemies to lovers with a little bit of steam and a little bit of Jude from the Cruel prince vibes!

Overall, this book was refreshing and I felt it was very unique. I love stories where the main character isn't perfect and definitely has a bit of a murdery side. I also loved the true enemies to lovers fashion this had.

A new twist on an old fairy tale. Violet is a seer who has used her gift to carve a better life for herself. She saves the life of the prince and now has become the king's tool to shape his kingdom how he sees fit. Violet is ok with this as she has the life she has always dreamed of. However her relationship with Cyrus, the prince she saved, is anything but harmonious. She has some hard choices ahead of her based on her dreams.

This novel offered a lot. I have to admit that I thought this book was going in the way of one fairy tale and it actually alluded to another one which was an interesting twist. There was romance, mystery, and twists. Anyone who enjoys fantasy will like this book.

Thank you to Penguin Random House for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I truly enjoyed reading Violet Made of Thorns, and Violet's character is interesting and different as Chen makes an effort to not "file away Violet's sharp edges." Unfortunately, I did find the chemistry between her and her love interest a little lacking and under-developed. Same with many of the other characters in general -- Violet is the only one with any character development throughout the whole book, but luckily, she is engaging enough to carry the story on her own. The twists on fairy-tales makes it a fun read, with some little details stuck in and some bigger plot twists coming as well. I thought the pacing was a little off at the end after it being pretty steady throughout the book. So many things happened all at once without much payoff and really seeing what was going on. At first I thought it was going to be a series how it was paced, then everything was (sorta) wrapped up so I thought it was a solo, then I finally looked at her website and she says it's a planned duology. The good news is, despite some flaws I really enjoyed it which is one of the themes of the book. I wish it was a little longer in developing the end better, but I'll definitely keep the sequel on my radar for 2023 as well.

Violet Made of Thorns feels like a book that's going to be successful. As a reader, I felt like it had an engaging story and really incorporated some of my favorite storytelling threads - subverted fairy tales, an antiheroine, a mysterious prince, and some very nice tension. I've seen this being compared to The Cruel Prince, and I think they have a couple similarities, but Violet Made of Thorns still felt like its own story and not as though it was created with the same DNA.

I really loved the story's lead, Violet. She was very clearly being pulled in many directions and the choices she makes to survive aren't always what a reader would want her to choose. And honestly, that's what I liked about her. She was surprising and nothing she did felt predictable.

Prince Cyrus is someone I hope we get more development of in the next book. He's clearly very central to the story, but I want more time with him in the book to understand his motivations. We're always seeing him through Violet's eyes, and because of the way she views the world, I'm not sure we're always getting a reliable narration on Prince Cyrus. I'm eager to see what Chen does with his character in the next book.

Overall, I truly loved this magical story with fierce girl at the center, and I'm excited to pick up the next one and continue on.

Enemies to Frenemies with a dash of love thrown in. The first in a series by a new author there is a lot going on.
I didn't know it was a new series but it didn't frustrate me. Violet and Cyrus can't get out of each other's way and they need to find a way to work together in order to stop a prophecy, embrace the magic around them and thwart a King bent on domination. Add in spies, evil witches, magical creatures, a cursed wood and the machinations of a court dependent on magic and you have a recipe for compelling reading. I would like Violet and Cyrus to be more likeable but part of the reason why the story works is because they have foibles and flaws which make then seem more real. I am vested now and can't wait to see where the next story takes us!

Violet Made of Thorns was of my most anticipated for 2022 and it is now one of my favorite YA reads this year. I loved our main character, Violet, who may not be everyone's cup of tea. She has walls built up to the skies and is a selfish character just trying to survive. She was a refreshing YA protagonist.

I also loved the main love interest and their relationship. It's never pure and simple with those two. They are both constantly dancing around all the polictics in this world. Their banter is fun. Side characters like Camilla were always a joy on page. I wish one of the side characters had more development, but we'll likely see them in later books.

Fae don't play a huge role in this series, which I was a little sad about, but I loved everything else about this book. I can't wait to see where the second book goes. If you like complicated and flawed enemies-to-lovers and fantasy polictics I highly recommend Violet Made of Thorns.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's, Delacorte Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was at the top of my most anticipated for 2022 and it did not disappoint. The story is a roller coaster of exciting plotting and wonderful characters. I can't wait to share it with others and buy the fancy copy for myself! A must have for YA libraries!

Decent book but not something I would reread. I felt it lacked depth. Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

This was just ok. It had a lot of good qualities, but it just didn't feel fully developed. The characters were a bit shallow and often were contradictory in their actions and words. There was very little gravity and peril for the perceived danger that was supposed to be happening. It all just didn't quite go far enough to set itself apart from all the other YA fantasy books out there.

This was an interesting fantasy debut. There were some aspects I really enjoyed, and others that I did not.

Violet is a Seer in an official position serving the King and the Kingdom of Auveny. She saved the Prince, Cyrus, as a child by using her gift. Cyrus and Violet grow to "hate" each other because of the favor Violet gains from the King. But in saving a boy who was Fated to die, Violet unleashes a series of events that cause the fairy wood to rot, beasts to rise and hunt, and sets kingdoms on the path to war. She also gives false prophecies to help the King, namely, regarding Cyrus's future bride, despite the hate-love relationship between her and the Prince.

There are some interesting twists in this book that turn classic fairytale tropes on their head. I thoroughly enjoyed Violet as a witty, morally gray, ambitious character. The chemistry between Cyrus and Violet is devastating, of course. But otherwise, the plot, the worldbuilding, and the secondary characters are somewhat lackluster. This is the first in either a duology or series, so I would expect characters to get their due in the next book, but some of the political machinations shown became somewhat repetitive (prep for the ball, meeting with the dukes, palm readings for the kingdom's ladies hoping to win the Prince's heart, rinse & repeat, & repeat). Nevertheless, Violet is lovable in spite of her crankiness, and she shines as a main character.

Gina Chen!!!!!!!!!! You have spun such a deliciously dark, spicy, and magical tale. I am in awe and obsessed with the entirety of Violet Made of Thorns.

To the fantasy lovers out there, this should immediately go to the top of your most anticipated reads lists! Coming your way on July 26th!

"The land will bloom red with blood and roses and war. The prince - his heart will be damnation or salvation. His choice may save us all. His bride - it is up to her! A curse, a curse, accursed curse - gods, be wary -" Gina Chen (Violet Made of Thorns)

Violet Lune is a Seer for the Sun Capital. She looks into the towns people's threads and helps them to see their future. She brings prophecies to comfort a kingdom, but her prophecies are not always true. Deceitfully spun, and encouraged by the King, Violet announces to the court and kingdom of Prince Cyrus' love story, soon to unfold at an upcoming Ball. When she does this, the dreaded curse spoken of by the last seer before her death is awakened, along with some very dark and creepy visions of the Prince that she may or may not be feeling attracted to.

Everyone wants Violet to bend to their will (including the Fates), to be a damsel in distress and to make decisions for a Kingdom that has never accepted her. This is her story, and whether or not she will follow her own path, or the path set before her by the King, the Prince and the Fates.

I can tell you that this book had me shook. And the supporting characters, like Camilla (the princess and Cyrus; twin), and Dante are brilliantly written. You will fall in love with more then just Violet in this book. The curse plays out in a way I never could have guessed, but I'm so glad Gina Chen spun this magical tale! I can't wait to dive into this world again and again.

Thank you to NetGalley, Gina Chen and Delacorte Press for this ARC. All opinions are my own, freely given.

Violet Made of Thorns is a dark fantasy that follows Violet, the resident seer of the Sun Capital. Prince Cyrus will be assuming the role of King once his father steps down, but in the meantime, he takes it upon himself to be a “thorn” in Violet’s side. They have a relationship full of angst, yet they are drawn to each other, with a feeling of loving to hate each other.

The story was a little slower than I am used to, but the overall premise was promising, it just didn’t uphold the expectations of the description of the story. Violet was a strong character, but the rest seemed not fully formed. I was disappointed by the overall story, which was sad because I feel like it had so much promise.

boring flop characters that feel like 2-d caricatures of the tropes they’re supposed to fulfill
i think we as a population need to move away from trope-based fiction because it’s worsening story quality and that’s exactly what happened with this book
word building is confusing and lackluster, cyrus is boring, camilla is boring, violet kept saying she was corrupt but like where was that energy for 75% of the book girl
i need to stop requesting ya fantasy on netgalley

I’ve never read anything like Violet Made of Thorns. It’s just so refreshingly original as a fairy tale starring a heroine all too content to playing the villain of the story. Violet is a badass. I adore her. She’s just a wonderfully flawed character with dubious morals, full of a world of anger and resentment at her situation at the beck and call of a king that is both a father figure to her as well as a tyrant.

The premise is great. Violet is a seer, someone who might usually be seen as a marginal figure in a fantasy narrative who now takes center stage, who has edges and vulnerabilities and courage. Who is selfish and certainly made of thorns. This story definitely has a satisfying romance, but I really think it’s so much more than that, containing all sorts of mystery, magic, and political machinations and intrigue.

Gina Chen truly nailed it with this one. Thank you, NetGalley, for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“To be remembered as someone good, you have to do good. To be remembered as someone great, you have to get elbow-deep in bullsh*t and come out looking spotless.”

4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5) I really enjoyed this one! Violet claws her way from an orphan to a position of authority- an important Seer at court. She has the kings ear and he has her under his control. A balance she delicately maneuvers to her advantage. Sometimes she is truthful, sometimes she is not. Who will know?

Violet is my favorite morally grey character lately! She does what’s best for her and has no guilt. I loved her as the POV and seeing into her thought process. If it benefitted her, she’d do it. If it didn’t she’d word her vision or prophecy so it would. She was terribly flawed but owned up to her decisions and mistakes.

Her position becomes precarious when the king asks her to lie, this time specifically about his son Cyrus who she loves to hate. Now Cyrus, he was a favorite too. Especially his relationship with Violet. I kept wanting to call them enemies to lovers but I think it’s more than that! Somehow, they hated each other while they were lovers! I’m laughing cause it was just fun. It was the perfect spin that made me love this romance and all it’s difficulties. They treated each other more like bickering siblings so when it would take a turn it just made me laugh. It was the true description of a love/hate relationship with so much unpredictability that kept me turning pages.

While I loved the romance and all it’s layers, there was plenty other excitement also. From Violet’s visions, she can see war coming and the many things that happen in this war. Cyrus is supposed to die, beasts are attacking the kingdom, a questionable princess is supposed to save the kingdom and marry Cyrus and so much more. I was entertained throughout and looked forward to reading. The end did not end on a huge cliffhanger (thank you Chen!) but was so well-written that I’m already looking forward to book 2.

And here’s me on my soapbox a bit; The synopsis for the book (see at the top of the page) says it’s for fans of Serpent and Dove and The Cruel Prince. I don’t agree. This book is good enough to stand on it’s own without trying to drag people in who like those two books. And honestly, this isn’t all that similar to them anyway.

Thank you to Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for the gifted copy!

The book releases July 26, 2022.

Overall a quick and fun read. I loved Violet and her drive to do what’s best for her. I wish there was more character development for all the characters and more time spent building the tension of the romance. I personally don’t really agree with the comparison of The Cruel Prince (a true enemies to lovers book) but instead more of a typical YA romance fantasy.