Two sisters reunite in the napoleonic era and seek to find the source of their flower magic (the magic is more complicated than that, but that is what it kinda boils down to).

I’ve enjoyed Fox’s works before but this one didn’t reach me in the same way. I didn’t really connect with either sister and wish almost it was separated into parts instead of just back and forth chapters. Or maybe even just one sister.

Amid the battles and horrors of the Napoleonic, two women with a connection to flowers find their histories are intertwined in a way they couldn’t imagine.

Cornelia leaves her cruel uncle's household, and joins the Napoleonic army. As her connection and magic to flowers grows, so does her ability to heal, but she is unsure of what her connection to this secret language of flowers is.

Lijsbeth lives in indentured servitude, subject to abuse and the tyranny of her master. When fate allows her respite and the chance to show her spectacular flower arranging gift, she falls in love with an English soldier. As war forces the two women into contact, it also brings up memories and secrets, and more about the language of flowers that connects them both.

I really loved this latest novel by Hester Fox. It is full of love, pain, horror, whimsy, joy, family, found family, and the secret language of flowers.

There is some triggering content in this book, also listed in the beginning of the book.

I absolutely adored that each chapter begins with a flower and something about its meaning. It was such a clever and creative element that enhanced the story of the two women. I also loved the sort of whimsy that followed each Cornelia and Lijsbeth, despite the pain and horror of the things they lived through.

While each of their stories started as seemingly separate threads, the story so carefully wove their stories together, or arranged them like Lijsbeth's beautiful flower arrangements, until the full power of each woman was able to shine.

I also really loved the quietness of the novel. There is a lot going on, and some of truly horrific, but it is framed within the mundane and everyday, the quiet work of women behind the scenes. While Cornelia is a little more flamboyant in how she lives her life, her life and love is full of quiet moments, mundane moments. And of course, Lijsbeth is a servant, meant to be seen and not heard.

This whole element of the quiet, unsung lives of women, and yet how great their impact is, was a beautiful motif for me in this novel.

I also really appreciated the queer representation and how beautifully Hester Fox added it into the novel. It was a very compelling part of the story, and it was beautiful to see queer joy set so firmly amid the sorrow that both women experience in each of their own stories. And I just really love Henri and Sophie too.

I appreciated how Hester Fox chose to represent war and human suffering. War is so terrible and tragic. There really are no winners in war, and Hester Fox eloquently describes that idea so well.

I really loved and enjoyed this poignant and beautiful novel.

Thank you to Hester Fox and NetGalley for this eARC. My review is my unbiased and honest opinion.

I love how this author can blend historical accuracy, engaging characters and the paranormal together in a rich mix of story that just pulls you in and keeps you interested until the end. The Book of Thorns is no exception.

I was drawn into this book from the very first pages. This tale of two sisters with some very special abilities was so very engaging, even though this is not a time period or setting I would generally gravitate to. So that made this book so special for me, not only did I get to enjoy this story of two women who can communicate with flowers (and the author makes this very fresh and interesting), I learned a bit about Waterloo too.

The story is told in alternating points of view between the two sisters. They are twins, but don't know each other. Not only do they possess a fortitude for survival -- they interact with the plant life around them. The prose is vary smooth and draws you in quickly, which makes it so easy to get immersed in the story. I needed to know what was going to happen next.

I really enjoyed The Book of Thorns. I found it engaging and fresh, romantic and tragic all at the same time. Definitely recommended.

Easy and overall enjoyable read. I believe that the story is somewhat falsely advertised as being about sisters when the sister connection is truly only a subplot of this book. I enjoyed the romances but felt that the handling of the sister’s hardships in life was not well developed enough. I also feel that the commentary about war and men was not well developed and oversimplified. Loved the flower magic!

Review is published on goodreads on May 2nd

Thank you to NetGalley, HTP/Graydon House & Hester Fox for the digital galley of The Book of Thorns in exchange for an honest review.

I am normally a Hester Fox fan, but this one was not my favorite. It wasn’t bad, but it just didn’t really grab me like her previous novels have. I will be rating it down the middle at 3-Stars.

I love the gothic feel to all of Fox’s books and that was lacking in this book. It was also a bit slow for me and hard to keep my interest. It felt like the focus was more on the Napoleonic War than the story of the sisters & their flower language. I definitely wasn’t looking for a war-featured story. Based on the synopsis given for this book – it was just very misleading in making the reader think they were getting one thing, but actually giving another. I kind of feel catfished.

For someone reading it blindly with zero expectations, it might be a better book, but I had lots of expectations for both the author the story I thought I was getting.

This book was just okay. I think I expected a little less magical realism than was in the book, so it through me off while I was reading.

I also could not get invested in the characters no matter how much I tried to. I also found it oddly placed to have had a throuple so casually placed within the story. I don't mind it, but it was not what I expected from a historical fiction.

The flow/pacing/timeline of the book also felt a bit off. One second it's present day and the next it's days or weeks in the future - literally in the next paragraph.

I don't know what I was fully expecting, but this was not it for me.

You're in for a treat with this magical story of two sisters, weaving in history, flowers, war, love. Rich in characters as told by Cornelia, a woman desperate to lead her own life and to get away from an abusive uncle and Lijsbeth an orphan in France during the return of Napoleon. These two women share a gift of flowers and the power they hold unbeknown to each other. Fox delivers a wonderful story and you will feel for Cornelia as she struggles to support herself and Lijsbeth as discovers herself and love. A fascinating tale which I highly recommend.

This story unfolds against the backdrop of 1815, providing a dual POV of two young women entrenched on opposite sides of the Napoleonic Wars. Two sisters separated in childhood, with different upbringings, unaware of each other’s existence.

Cornelia, raised by her unsavory uncle with intentions of arranging her marriage, embarks on a journey to Paris, driven by dreams of a luxurious life as a literary figure and finding her estranged mother. However, her aspirations are put on hold as she finds herself alone and hungry, far away from the prestige and social standing that she’s been accustomed to her whole life. She is discovered by a soldier for her artistic talent and taken to a military camp North of France where she is to document flora, while she secretly embraces her innate naturalist inclinations in healing wounded soldiers.

Lisbeth is a young woman who, at a very young age, was brought from the orphanage by Madame and Monsieur van den Berg to be a companion for their son, Isidore, the playmate who is now a man exploiting her vulnerability. When Lisbeth’s self-defense almost costs Isidore’s life, she is cast from the family to work for Mme. Dubois and her five daughters. Lisbeth has a talent for arranging flowers hence she is tasked with adorning the household for extravagant gatherings aimed at securing matches for Mme. Dubois's daughters.

Both sisters have not only a talent to see the beauty of flowers, but possess a magical way with them. Ultimately, this mystical connection reunites them amidst perilous circumstances after years of separation. Despite enduring hardships and discrimination in a patriarchal society, both women find love in the most unexpected places and are able to not only survive in the given circumstances of war, but find happiness.

It is truly a wonderful book written with the most exquisite artillery of quotes to fawn over. It’s filled with turmoil, loss, and sadness, but with hope and love as well. However, it took me much longer than usual to finish the it, and I had the urge to stop reading it on multiple occasions. It was long and tedious, especially towards the end. Nevertheless, for enthusiasts of historical fiction infused with magic, intricate love triangles (i.e. throuples), and LGBTQ+ themes, this book offers a beautiful journey worth exploring.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Hester Fox and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for this review.

Quotes:

“She has unnerved me, thrown me into that delicious, heartpounding state that comes from meeting someone whose good opinion suddenly means everything.”

“Everywhere Death has tainted the land. Already scavengers have come, while blood is still warm in the bodies of the dead. They pry boots off bodies, inspect medals and sabers.”

“But war can never lead to peace. There is always a loser, and men’s pride will not allow them to go quietly. Besides, what good is peace if all the good men have died?”

“Rocket fire and gun smoke hang in the air, but everyone is making a pretense of keeping busy, pretending that they do not hear the sounds of war. Pretending that all is well.”

“I wonder what it is that makes men so cruel. Surely a bruised ego cannot solely account for such anger? Is it not enough to shed blood and conquer the world, but they must see also see a woman who only ever tried to do good brought to her knees? Their domination must be total, their sovereignty complete.”

“But beware, a garden cannot be planted and expected to thrive if it is not watered. Once declared, you must tend to your love if it is to flourish. And I beg of you, remember you yourself are worthy of your own love, and if a romance cannot blossom without tending, then your own character—nay, even your soul—can likewise not grow without true introspection and the courage to change when circumstances demand it.”

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing for the copy of this book.
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Read if you like: historical/magical realism
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In this book we have two main characters, Cornelia and Lijsbeth, both who are impacted by the Napoleonic Wars. They both have a way with flowers that help bring these two women together.
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I loved the concept for this book and I was completely immersed in the last half, but it was hard to get into and I wish the first part was faster paced. Overall though an interesting read!

Another lovely book from Hester Fox, who is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. This time, the setting is 1815 Europe: amidst Napoleon's escape from Elba, two long-lost sisters are drawn into the fray and united through their affinity for flowers. I found myself wanting to know more about this period of history. The floriography craze that swept Europe at this time was also interesting, and it is a stroke of genius how Fox tied that real-life trend into this magical little book. At times, this story had some parallels to Pride & Prejudice, which was fun to spot. The narrative switches between the perspectives of the two sisters, Cornelia and Lijsbeth, and I was equally fascinated by both storylines. Wanting to see how the two perspectives would come together also kept me engaged. If you enjoy historical fiction with romance and gothic elements, Hester Fox and this book in particular must be on your TBR. I'm happy to report that both the ebook and audiobook for this title are on Hoopla!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Graydon House for the early copy in exchange for my honest review.

I love Hester Fox books they never disappoint me in capturing my attention and my mind into the book she wrote. This book was absolutely enchanting. Regency period with two magically inclined sisters on the opposite sides of the Battle at Waterloo. I loved it!!! I will always by Hester Fox books she is an auto buy for me for good reasons!!!
I just reviewed The Book of Thorns by Hester Fox. #TheBookofThorns #NetGalley
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4 stars

I was initially going to rate this 3.5 stars. But after finishing, I have decided on a full 4 stars. I quite enjoyed it and liked it a lot. There is a good story line and plot. Character building and world building is done well and memorable. I was thinking this was going to be more of a fantasy novel than it turned out to be. I would say a better description of this is historical fiction with some fantasy themes.

There is "magic" in this world. So that counts as fantasy.

Overall, a really good read following two POVs, one for each of the sisters. The author paints a war-torn world where love is found and lost. There is joy, heartache, love, and tears, all in this novel. I would definitely read more from this author, and would recommend this book to others. Very well done! I will likely buy the physical copy for my trophy shelf. ;)

So when I first tried to read this book, the formatting was absolutely horrendous on my ebook (reading via kindle app on ipad and had never experienced anything like it before). I love this author's newer works so I ordered it on principle and will update my goodreads once I have actually been able to read it. Three stars because I will probably end up rating it 4/5 once I've been able to actually read it. I'm not sure if this was a Netgalley issue, a publisher issue, an ebook issue, an ipad issue, or what, but it was really not great,

If you’re a fan of historical fiction and witches, then you have to pick up a book by Hester Fox. I have yet to be disappointed by her incredible storytelling and weaving these two elements together for a seamless and captivating story. As far as historical fiction novels go, Fox continues to deliver an immersive and completely mesmerizing atmosphere. You’re transported to that time period, to that city or town, and you really feel the characters as they navigate their surroundings. In THE BOOK OF THORNS, we get the perspective of two sisters on different sides of the Battle at Waterloo, both possess the same incredible gift, and we are taken on a journey full of heartbreak, betrayal, overcoming adversity, and the lovely addition of flowers and magical realism.

I had really high hopes for this based on the synopsis! Unfortunately, I made it halfway through and could not go on. I did flip to the last two chapters to see how it would end, as I was curious, but not enough to keep reading through the meat of it.

I am not a romance reader. I will just say that up front. This story of two sisters separated and both having a magical touch with flowers was very engaging. When one of the sisters' story became entwined in multiple love interests at the same time, I could not keep going. I was barely hanging on with one of the relationships at a time, but when it felt like it was becoming a 3 way, it went out of my range.

If romance is a fun genre for you and multiple partners is not a turn off, by all means, grab this historical fiction/fantasy and enjoy! This was just not the right book for me.

I did enjoy her last book, so I am still curious to see what comes next for Hester Fox!

Thank you to the publisher, Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Cornelia Shaw, a talented naturalist, runs away from home to escape her cruel uncle and finds herself penniless and stranded in France, far from Paris where she intended to go. With no options left, she agrees to join Napoleon’s army which is gearing up for a great battle and her healing abilities help many, but also draw suspicion as she struggles to keep her near magical skills with flowers a secret. As the army draws closer to Waterloo, Cornelia makes a startling discovery through her connection with the flowers – she has a long lost sister, Lijsbeth, who seems to have a similar ability to hers, and she is on the opposite side of the war, working as a servant to a family in Brussels. Determined to find each other and understand the power they both have, the sisters reunite at the peak of the war

I read The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by the same author last year and rather liked this style of historical fiction, with a bit of fantasy and mystery woven in, so I was curious to see what this book would be like.

I don’t think I’ve ever read a novel set during the Napoleonic wars, so I did enjoy the historical setting of this story. However, there wasn’t that much attention on this aspect at all which I found a bit disappointing for a historical fiction novel and the book was clearly more focused on the characters and the magical aspect.

The magic system was fascinating, especially how Cornelia could communicate with and grow flowers, though I do wish more time had been spent explaining it clearly. I loved how each chapter started with introducing a flower and its hidden meaning. I’ve read a bit about Victorian flower language in the past so it was fun to learn more about it.

This was actually quite a short book, but for some reason it took me forever to get into it and even longer to finish it. While it was well written, the story didn’t manage to hook me until close to the 75% mark and the pacing was on the slower side too. Even after this point, despite things moving much faster, and there being more action-packed scenes, it never felt particularly gripping.

I definitely enjoyed Cornelia’s POVs much more than Lijsbeth’s and most of the story was really about her anyway. Cornelia’s arc moved much more rapidly while Lijsbeth’s didn’t actually start moving until well past the halfway mark. Nonetheless, both MCs were quite well developed for such a short book, and the same goes for the secondary characters too, who, despite not having POV chapters were complex and had a significant role to play in the story.

The romances didn’t quite work for me as they all seemed entirely too abrupt and convenient, based on proximity with no real development. I felt like this story would have done equally well had this element been entirely removed.

The last several chapters moved very quickly and there were some great twists, but the ending wrapped up the major plot points quite well, but it was a bit open with a few unanswered questions, leaving room for a possible sequel, though I doubt there will be one.

Overall, this was an entertaining read, though not up to the standard of the author’s previous book. If the mix of genres interests you, I would recommend this book.

Warning! Spoilers ahead!


This book is not like what the synopsis states. I still stuck through it but it wasn’t something I ended up enjoying enough. It’s my first book by this author and I’m hesitant to pick up others if the synopsis is going to be so off from what the story is actually about.

This book tells a story about 2 sisters chance meeting as a war is brewing. One sister finds love and the other falls for two people (male and female). So if you like LGBTQ+ stories you might enjoy this but it was a shock that I wasn’t expecting. I would recommend this story because it really highlights historical events in a new light that I never thought of but didn’t feel like a mystery more like a fiction of two lives in a dangerous time in history.

Hester Fox continues to prove herself an incredible writer historical fiction fantasy. There are so many things going on in this book and Fox incorporates them all effortlessly and beautifully. I absolutely loved the flower/plant-based magic system and I loved learning more about it. I also really enjoyed getting to know the characters in this book and am continuously thrilled by how she brings her stories to life. Fox has some gorgeous prose that really makes this a readable novel that I find easy to connect with and immerse myself in. I continue to enjoy Hester Fox's work immensely and will continue to keep looking forward to her work!

DNF @46%. This was such a bummer to DNF as I really loved Fox's Heir of Blackwood Library from last year but unfortunately this one was just not doing it for me.

Part of it is I think the blurb is somewhat misleading. The blurb promises two lost sisters reunited to solve a mystery and I was particularly interested in picking this one up for the mystery plot. But at just under halfway through the book there was no mystery plot in sight. In fact at 46% in it felt like there wasn't really much of any plot happening and the two sisters didn't feel like there were on trajectories to be reunited at all and I really just found it to be very boring. Cornelia's storyline has a romantic plot happening but I don't feel the connection between her and either of her love interests and the intro of turning her two love interests into one big throuple felt very forced and I did not get the feeling either of them were into the idea. Lijsbeth's chapters are giving even less at this point. There is also a romantic storyline developing there but again it's not one that I'm feeling the connection at all. Partially because Lisjbeth doesn't speak but there hasn't at this point been much of an attempt to show a connection developing between her and her potential love interest through any other ways of communicating.

At this point in the book I took a look at some other reviews as I do try harder to not DNF arcs versus other books so I was hoping maybe I'd see that the plot was just about to start picking up and I just needed to give it another chapter or two but the consensus seemed to be that the plot promised by the blurb didn't happen until very close to the end and and the romances are really the main focus of the book. And since I was uninterested in either of the romances I decided at this point to just put it down.

I will say that I did enjoy the flower languages bits that we were getting at the beginning of each chapter and we did get some instances of some magical realism-esque flower magic that I did like as well.

Quick and Dirty
-historical romance with magical realism and mystery
-bisexual rep/polyamorous relationship
-Napoleonic War era
-dual POV sister story
-🌶️🌶️/5 open-ish door romance

Swipe for the full synopsis!

What Worked
Let me start by saying that I really enjoy Hester Fox’s work, and this book is no exception. I love that I can count on Fox for a historical mystery rich with gothic vibes and some degree of magical realism/witchcraft. Her latest is a bit of a departure from previous novels which focused more on gothic settings/vibes, but her brilliant writing and character development still shine in Book of Thorns. I was caught off guard by the degree of romance incorporated into the novel, but I enjoyed it overall. The polyamorous relationship felt progressive as historical fiction goes, and I’m happy to say that I found it believable and compelling. The fast-paced nature of the book kept me engaged and eager to see what happens next, a commonality this book shares with others by the author. I felt connected to and invested in both sisters, Cornelia and Lijsbeth, storylines and wanted to spend more time with them both, a mark (IMO) of good character development. The flower magic was creative and intriguing, and it connected them to their long-lost mother in a way I found moving. Highly feminist and full of beautiful imagery, this is one of Fox’s best!

What Didn’t Work
As noted by several other reviewers, the synopsis is a bit misleading. We are led to believe the sisters know about each other and their powers, neither of which is true. While the reader knows almost immediately that the two women are connected in some way, they do not realize they are sisters until later in the book, leaving you wondering how they will “work together” to resolve the drama.

Read This If
Anyone who enjoys a steamy (barely open-door) romance with queer rep and magical realism will find this one compelling!