This one’s a dark, magical adventure you won’t want to put down. Maude is a witch who’s lost her magic, and she’s on a mission to find her best friend, Odette, who went after forbidden magic and hasn’t been heard from since. Everyone thinks Odette’s gone, but Maude isn’t buying it.

The story takes her to Sicklehurst, this creepy, abandoned power plant built over an ancient magical forest—basically a perfect setting for some serious fantasy vibes. The magic is strange and dangerous, and the whole world just pulls you in. Maude is a great lead—she’s tough but not perfect, and you really feel her desire to get her friend back and reclaim her magic.

This book was written for you if:
1. You love dark, atmospheric fantasy with strong female characters.
2. You enjoy magical worlds that are a little bit creepy and totally immersive.
3. You like stories about friendship, loss, and finding your power.

"The tug of home is strong, the comfort of the familiar. But if you stay home all the time, stories never happen. Sometimes you have to break something in order for the story to leak out through the cracks."

Maude and Odette were once inseparable. Odette was drawn to Maude's magic, and Maude loved telling Odette stories, letting her imagination and spells run free to fuel their hours of play. When Maude's mother was found treasonous for refusing to follow official limitations of magic placed on witches, Odette was the one who stuck up for Maude on the playground. Their childhood idyll was not to last. At age twelve, Maude lost her magic and subsequently her best friend. Four years later, Odette is missing, and Maude might hold the key to finding her. While she may have promised her grandmothers not to follow in the wake of Odette's reckless darkness, she has a yet older promise to keep-- one made between little girls to always rescue each other, princes be damned.

As Maude searches for Odette, determined to do right by her friend no matter how things ended between them, memories start to surface. The stories she once told her friend have more weight than she could have imagined. She will have to navigate her own creations, her grandmothers' worry and wrath, and magic deep and dark, all without access to the mettle that would make her powerful in her own right. As she adventures, her determination doesn't waver, even when her friend Rufus, a redhead who can see through all kinds of glamours, tells her stark truths about how Odette has always met her devotion-- with expectation and even derision.

The world is a fascinating blend. From the cozy witches' cottage where Maude lives with her grandmothers to the abandoned power plant in the woods, the world crackles with magics big and small. Corporate magic powerhouses, soulless shopping malls, and a school meant to iron out unruly impulses in the children it serves add to an eclectic, entrancing picture. Magic lives and breathes here, but it's limited by the sanitized version that's allowed-- all surface-level baubles and no truly earth-shattering power. The auditors who control its use may seem like benign bureaucrats, but when Maude's mother was found breaking the rules, she was carted off to a detention center and drained of her magic until she died, all in the span of a week.

The story has a major message about the dangers of not letting ourselves and others, especially as girls, be our full, wild selves. While it may feel safer to accept limitations to ease the comfort of others, closing off parts of ourselves is detrimental to us and to our communities. There are a lot of applications that work for that idea, I think. In this case, we see Maude come to understand how she's been living as a shadow of who she could be. She's been so intent on recapturing the happiness she once experienced in childhood that she hasn't been able to see it clearly. Her understanding of her relationship with Odette has become a warped, unsustainable thing, hungering for what can't be. So while Maude's journey is to save Odette, she also has to save herself and learn when to let her former friend and the past she represents go.

There were a few moments in the questing that I found a bit circular, asking Maude to try again instead of moving forward. I also think that while the relationships between Maude and her friends shine because of all their complications and variations of quality, others suffer in the telling. A big emotional moment is rushed, and I was surprised to discover I wasn't hit as hard as I was expecting because other aspects of the adventure still sat at center stage. All the same, I think this book is a dark, entertaining adventure with a lot to offer. It shines a light on girlhood, on friendship, and on toxic bonds that hold all parties back. These themes make for a fascinating read. Thanks to Delacorte for my copy to read and review!

was not able to get into this book at the time it was due to be reviewed and was not able to finish reading. i am grateful to have been given the opportunity to read this book early and have heard nothing but good things about this author.

Hunger of thorns review

Maude lives in a world where magic is real but closely controlled and farmed to create buyable tricks and beauty glamours. She lives a peaceful and humble life with her grandmothers who practice approved magic, the rest being strictly policed by the “auditors”. Even though Maude’s mother died trying to fight a society that uses her their magic as a non renewable resource, her main concern is not magic, but the attention of her friend/obsession Odette. Odette went missing, and even though they aren’t really friends anymore, Maude is determined to find her.

This book… I could have finished it, but by 30% I knew it wasn’t going to be a favorite. And life is too short and TBRs too long to spend on mid books. Half of the time in this book is spent on flashbacks, so the pace is glacial. And even with the societal conflict, the bulk of the story takes place in an abandoned power plant built on top of an enchanted forest. There was just a narrative disconnect, lots of threads that were not linked, and no interesting mysteries besides the fate of Odette. As the power plant setting started to become interesting, Maude ran home. Then we have to sit and wait for her to make her way back to the plot again.

I put the book down and days later I felt no pull to pick it back up. Again, life is too short and my tbr is long. So I must move on.

A Hunger of Thorns by Lili Wilkinson didn't disappoint. I loved everything about it. Thank to you NetGalley for the ARC!

"I cry out for every girl who was told to comb her hair and wash the mud from her face. To keep herself contained. To be ashamed of her voice, her hair, her flesh. To be quiet and good and nice. Girls are not nice. Girls are wild and fierce and powerful, and I will not let anyone take that away. Not ever again."

There were several moments in the last handful of chapters that had me in tears. The quote above had me sobbing. For this book, I kept switching between an audio and a physical book so I could keep going while driving. I was actually reading and listening for the above quote and the narrator's passion as she read those lines just really hit my emotions.

I found this book so interesting with how the storytelling further created the world. It never went in the direction I expected based on reviews, but it made me want a second book to find out what happens with all of the various characters.

Can we all just say how great Rufus is? He is clearly in love with Maude but never pushes it or lets that interfere with how he treats her after she basically rejects him. I feel like a lot of stories that I've read recently, the rejected characters becomes a villain and it was just so refreshing that it wasn't the case with them.

Maude's growth throughout the book was incredible. She was flawed from the start and still a badass. She recognized her mistakes and admitted (at least to herself) when she knew she was in the wrong. She truly grew as a person by the end and I just want more adventures and storytelling from her.

The only thing I did not really care for in this book was the redhead trope. It felt lazy and unnecessary.

A Hunger of Thorns by Lili Wilkinson got me to select it because of the plot/cover. However, I did not get sucked in to the story or enjoy the characters like I was hoping for.

In this captivating fantasy romance, the author weaves a beautifully intricate world filled with magic, adventure, and an undeniable chemistry between the protagonists. From the very first page, readers are drawn into a richly imagined landscape where the stakes are high, and love transcends boundaries.

The characters are delightfully complex, each facing their own trials and transformations. Their journey is not just about romance; it’s about self-discovery and the courage to embrace one’s true self. The chemistry between them crackles with tension, making every shared moment feel electric and deeply meaningful.

The plot is expertly crafted, balancing moments of heart-pounding action with tender, intimate scenes that linger long after the book is closed. The author’s lyrical prose brings the settings to life, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in the beauty and danger of this enchanting world.

Overall, this book is a delightful escape that deftly combines elements of fantasy and romance. It’s a testament to the power of love and the strength found in vulnerability. Perfect for fans of the genre, it’s a story that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a magical journey of the heart!

This dark fairy tale fell a little short of expectations. I liked the magic system and the characters, although I would have liked to have seen them a little more fleshed out I didn't feel like I really understood what was going on until the end.

This was such a good one! The background of the mc is really well done and watching her navigate the loss of not only her best friend but magic all at once was so powerful.

Not a bad premise, but the writing and plot both dragged. The characters were hard to relate to, and the book would’ve benefited from some major fat trimming.

I would have loved to see more of a wild side to our young protagonist, but I know she had to arrive there slowly, VERY SLOWLY.

The weird obsession over her former friend is weird. Also the over explaining of every object was irritating. DNF at 70%.

Had potential but the writing was lacking.

I loved this feminist fairytale turned on its head. All things witchy appeal to me in a story, and this one with a mysterious edge and a premise that challenged the long- held traditions of princes saving princesses did not disappoint !

I'm still reeling from the emotional impact of A Hunger of Thorns by Lili Wilkinson. This book is a masterclass in storytelling, weaving together a complex tapestry of magic, mythology, and human emotion. From the opening pages, I was swept up in Maude's journey, and I couldn't help but be fully invested in her struggles and triumphs.

Maude's story is a deeply moving exploration of the complexities of identity, friendship, and the power of storytelling. Her journey is fraught with challenges, from grappling with her own lost magic to confronting the toxic relationships that have shaped her life. But it's her inner strength, resilience, and determination that ultimately drive her forward.

The world-building in this book is nothing short of breathtaking. Wilkinson's prose is evocative and immersive, transporting readers to a richly detailed world of myth and magic. The descriptions of the world around Maude are vivid and evocative, drawing me in and refusing to let me go.

One of the things that truly sets this book apart is its thoughtful exploration of the darker aspects of human relationships. Maude's struggles with her own inner demons and the toxic relationships that have shaped her life are both deeply relatable and uncomfortably honest. It's a testament to Wilkinson's skill as a writer that she's able to tackle these complex themes with such sensitivity and nuance.

The story itself is expertly crafted, with a pace that's both deliberate and propulsive. The twists and turns are expertly timed, building towards a crescendo that left me breathless. And yet, it's not just the plot that makes this book so compelling – it's the characters, too. Maude is a complex, flawed protagonist who is both relatable and admirable, and her relationships with those around her are nuanced and multifaceted.

Overall, I'd highly recommend A Hunger of Thorns to anyone who loves fantasy, mythology, or just great storytelling. This book is a true masterpiece, and I'm still reeling from its emotional impact.

"A Hunger of Thorns" offers a compelling premise with its tale of forbidden magic and political intrigue, but falls short in execution. While the world-building shows promise, the pacing feels uneven, and the characters lack depth, making it difficult to fully invest in their journey. Despite its shortcomings, the novel still manages to provide moments of intrigue and suspense, making it a decent read for fans of the fantasy genre.

This book didn't pull me in the way I was hoping, which made it take me a very long time to finish. I just found the characters to be distant and separate from me as a reader, which isn't my preference.

This is exactly what I wanted in a fantasy book. Maude's character is complicated and explored in such a way that kept me reading well into the night. Witches are always a trope that pulls me in and I loved how witches are presented. The writing is gorgeous and the pacing is perfect.

Extra points for the grannies. I loved them!

This book was a treasure. I can't wait to see what else the author does in her career.

This book just didn’t grab me like I was hoping it would. I don’t feel invested in the characters which left me even less invested in the story. I was really hoping to like this one too.

I was so excited for this book but it fell a little flat for me. It was slow paced but I was intrigued to keep reading it to see where it was leading. Unfortunately not one of the books that stuck with me.