Okay, this blew my mind. I wasn't expecting the ending. It was so fucking good! This story primarily made me feel three things- hopeless, angry and disgusted. And I mean that in the best and the worst way possible. I had to put it down multiple times just to pace around the room and stop myself from not gauging my eyes out is quite high. The only time I smiled and felt happy lasted for like 30 seconds before I felt hopeless again.

Bethany’s obsession with Stacey was absolutely fascinating to read. The dual timelines added so much depth, and by the end, everything clicked into place. You understand why adult Bethany is the way she is. Honestly, I just felt so bad for her. What she went through at such a young age was both horrifying and heartbreaking. I wanted nothing more than to reach into the book and give her a hug. (Why is that not possible yet?!)

And the unpredictability? Impeccable. Nothing about this story was cliché or expected. It kept me on edge the entire time.

Also, shoutout to the short chapters. Absolute lifesaver. More books should take notes. I really hope this book gets the recognition it deserves. Because wow... just, wow.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dawn Kurtagich for the opportunity to read this.

WOW. I absolutely LOVED this book! I was hooked immediately, and I devoured it in one sitting, I honestly couldn't put it down.

Bethany and Stacey were great main characters. They were both interesting, charismatic, smart, and complex.

The Thorns was full of drama, emotion, friendship, betrayal, and crazy twists I didn't see coming at all. I was riveted throughout. I found some parts hard to read because of Bethany's young age. Although I thought Dawn handled these parts sensitively, and she wasn't overly descriptive, which was well done.

This is the first book I've read from Dawn Kurtagich. She is a very talented writer, and I'll definitely be looking up all her previous books while waiting impatiently for her next.

I very highly recommend.

5 well deserved stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The premise attracted me due to the main character having writer's block and hatred for the character that made her famous.

And from there, the plot completely lost me.

I thought the toxic friendship was interesting and that's a topic that is not explored enough in fiction AND non-fiction.

However, the story and rotating timelines became confusing and I ended up skimming the last quarter of the book. I still am unsure what really happened to the main character and the "friends."

This story has a lot of potential triggers for people and the author did specify this at the beginning of the story.

I just did not like at all the 13-year-old's relationship with the nearly 30-year-old.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an e-copy of THE THORNS to review.

I rate THE THORNS one out of five stars.

Dawn Kurtagich is one of the bravest authors I know. And with The Thorns, she does not flinch away from the darkness, but pulls it out into the light. Be prepared. This novel tackles some difficult subject matter, which Kurtagich mentions in her author's note at the beginning of the book. And while there were times I had to take a break and put the book down to catch my breath, Kurtagich's lyrical voice and her taut, fearless storytelling kept bringing me back. This is a deeply affecting story--raw and visceral.

Taken to a remote boarding school in the South African bush, Bethany Sloane is abandoned by her newly remarried mother, and forced to confront her deepest fears and vulnerabilities when she befriends Stacey, a bold, charismatic girl whose approval she covets. Things get toxic. Dangerous. Stacey is a force of nature, and she pulls Bethany into her orbit completely.

Fast forward years later. Bethany is now disabled, and a bestselling author, who's trying her best to put the scars from her troubled girlhood behind her. And then, she receives an email from Stacey, who longs to reconnect. What happens next will have your head spinning and your emotions ratcheting up and down as the secrets in Stacey's and Bethany's past unravel, layer by layer.

If you enjoyed novels like Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood (my personal favorite of hers), The Lord of the Flies, and White Oleander, you will appreciate the brutal beauty of this brave coming-of-age story. The Thorns did nothing but increase my admiration for an author I already respect greatly--it is a masterful, important work of fiction.

I don't usually give feedback on a book that I did not finish, but I think I have to. The characterization of an adult man having sexual intimacy with a child, told from the child's perspective, was very difficult to read. The relationship between the main character and the "best friend" is so toxic that it was extremely uncomfortable. I could not see a path to this becoming enjoyable at all. And I would have had to slog through the entire book of these pieces to come to any conclusion or payoff, and I just couldn't do it. I would not recommend it, or at the least, I think readers should be aware of its challenging content.

Okay, this was my second book by Dawn Kurtagich and I jumped at the chance to read it because I absolutely ADORED her previous book, The Madness.

This one - completely different vibe! And I LOVED it!

We've got a bit of a slow burn here, swapping between timelines from childhood to adulthood, and we all know that's right up my alley (or if you didn't, now you do). And while I won't spoil it....THE REVEAL?! Absolutely blew my mind.

The one absolutely touches on some heavy subjects, but it was done so well and with such purpose and it really shines a light on trauma and mental health. A perfect read for May!

This was an unsettling fast paced story! I really liked the writing style and the ending was good. I would highly recommend this! Special Thank You to Dawn Kurtagich, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a traumatic read that one way or the other will leave its mark with its reader. Exploring toxic friendships and obsession, this felt a little too real in the world of teenagers and the struggles they face. As the pages were turned, this became unsettling but hard to look away from. This author has a unique talent for telling a tragic story that will stay with you long after the last page is turned. Four stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer, for this ARC.

This book was really good, but also disturbing in that it explores how teens fall prey to abusive friendships.
I really enjoyed the storyline, and was happy with how it ended.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC

first off: MAJOR WARNING FOR CSA.

i'm a fan of dawn kurtagich's previous work, so picking this one up felt like a no-brainer. what appealed to me the most about the prospect of reading this is kurtagich often writes her horror experimentally - through prose, but also sometimes documents and so on. the thorns subverts her standards and we're given a past/present narrative into the life of bethany sloane, both at age 13 in boarding school and in her present day as a writer who hates her main character.

at the crux of this story is a toxic relationship between bethany and her "twin" from school, stacey, who can best be described as a but she's a bit of a baby psychopath. toxic female friendships are something that seem to be taking place in a lot of books lately, but i don't know that i'd say this book did it any better or worse than others. mostly, i was just frustrated by our main character's neediness and i never quite understood why she was so specifically obsessed with validation from stacey who was always constantly in another scheme to hurt her friends.

i really hoped the "glass man" this book talks about would turn into a larger narrative streak, but at the end of the book i'm not really sure why it was even included in this. i wanted a bigger paranormal slant, but mostly there were these threads of this "glass man" and the thorns skewed throughout the story but they never really fit into it.

i really didn't love the twist at the ending. i suspect it'll be pretty divisive with most readers. but it's a pretty lazy trope, in my opinion. i wish i'd enjoyed this more!

My perception is that this is a book about trauma and the long-lasting mental health effects, rather than any supernatural game or horror story. Towards the end this is treated more explicitly, but it is a very superficial treatment. The portion of the book allocated to it felt rushed and superficial.

I felt that there was nothing supernatural or suspenseful about the book and, although that doesn't bother me personally, the addition of elements that are meant to bring that layer into it was a complete from the story that is actually present. There is no 'game', only manipulation of two friends by the third. I will say, the toxicity of this friendship is the part of this book which is very well done in my opinion and I wish this had been the focus of the book.

Finally, though the tension certainly builds towards the end, the final confrontation is not a shocking twist but is extremely confusing to me, and deeply unsatisfying. The end needed more foreshadowing to be believable, or less foreshadowing to be a twist.

Reading The Thorns was like watching someone open old wounds.


I had to sit with my thoughts for some time before sharing.

**I’ll be vague in my review about the particulars of this book. I’ll mention one of the things that the author put in her trigger warning and one element of the story which I expected but wasn’t included.
If you’d like to go in knowing as little as possible, just know I liked this book. The story was captivating and upsetting at times. The subject matter can get dark so just keep that in mind if you decide to read this.

Full review:

Once I heard about this book, I was intrigued. Far from finding it boring, I found some parts to be unsettling. I’d highly recommend reading the author’s trigger warning at the beginning of the book.

I’ve previously read two other books by the same author (And the Tress Crept In and The Madness) both of which I really enjoyed. Although this book wasn’t quite what I was expecting, I’d still say it was a good book. Based on the description, I thought the story would have supernatural elements (it had none). The author mentioned in her author’s note that SA would be involved. Although it’s not described graphically, it plays a significant part in the narrative.

This is one of those books where terrible things happen to the main character. It’s well written but I’ll say again, some parts are definitely hard to read.

I don’t know if I can say I enjoyed reading every part of this book. I definitely enjoyed some parts. Especially those dealing with toxic female friendships, complicated relationships between mother and daughter, and the perils of being a teenage girl. Like the song says, “hell is a teenage girl”.

After finishing this book, I felt like I’d been sucker punched. Then I immediately wanted to read it again. Which I’ll absolutely be doing at some point because, and I can’t stress this enough, that ending was a lot. If I’m honest, I would have preferred a slightly different ending. In my mind, I see things working out in another way.

As far as the audio book goes, I’d highly recommend listening to it. The narrator does an excellent job in creating different voices for the characters. The narrator handled all the disturbing scenes so well. I can still hear the way they did one particular voice. Kudos for the creepy voice acting, it paired perfectly with this book.

Overall, I enjoyed The Thorns. I’d recommend to those who love thrillers, those who love or are new to horror, and those who enjoy stories about toxic friendships. In some ways this book reminded me of the movie Heathers, just more horrific.

Thank you so much to Thomas & Mercer, Brilliance Audio, NetGalley, and the author for providing me with an eARC and audio book for review.

Prepare to be utterly captivated and deliciously disturbed by "The Thorns" by Dawn Kurtagich! This isn't just a book; it's an experience that will burrow under your skin and linger long after you've turned the final page. Kurtagich weaves a darkly enchanting tale that blends psychological thriller with gothic horror, creating a narrative so immersive and unsettling that you'll question the very nature of reality.

The story of the haunted Thorn siblings is a masterclass in atmosphere and suspense. Each page drips with a sense of foreboding, drawing you deeper into their twisted world. The writing is lyrical yet sharp, painting vivid and often unsettling images that will both mesmerize and haunt you. The characters are complex and deeply flawed, their secrets and motivations unfolding like petals of a thorny rose, beautiful yet dangerous.

What truly sets "The Thorns" apart is its ability to evoke genuine unease. Kurtagich doesn't rely on cheap jump scares; instead, she crafts a slow-burning dread that seeps into your bones. The psychological tension is palpable, and the blurring lines between sanity and madness will leave you questioning everything. This is a book that will challenge you, provoke you, and ultimately, leave you utterly spellbound. If you crave a read that is both intellectually stimulating and viscerally thrilling, "The Thorns" is an absolute must-read.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

I'd read Dawn Kurtagich's grocery list, if we're being honest. This book was tense, dark, disturbing, and disquieting. I HIGHLY recommend you check it out!

2.5 rounded up. I usually like obscure, read-between-the-lines fiction but the writing style and execution pulled me out of this way too often. Around the 30% mark, I either got used to it or it was used more effectively, but then the drawn-out conclusion was disappointing.

Energy: Messy. Bold. Interrupted.

🐺 Growls: The flowery, obscure writing style was too distracting. The similes and metaphors are so densely packed, it lost impact and was kinda annoying.

🐕 Howls: Plot-wise the premise didn’t land; I had a lot of questions about the plot holes. Abrupt shifts and vague references to things we don’t know about.

🐩 Tail Wags: The pit-in-your-stomach discomfort around the characters’ adolescence and relationships. How it portrayed the inner world of a vulnerable teenage girl navigating trauma, sexual awakening, and abandonment. The raw realism (mostly).

Scene: 🇿🇦 Settlers, South Africa. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 London, England.
Perspective: An action-adventure secret spy novel author – as an adult when a former schoolfriend reaches out to catch up, and back when they were with the schoolfriend at a remote boarding school.
Timeline: Then & Now. ☀️ Hot and dry season.
Fuel: Learning about the main character and her past. Why doesn’t Bethany like to be looked at? Why doesn’t she remember much of her childhood? Is her husband worried about her or being too controlling? Was her bff a loyal friend or toxic and manipulative?
Cred: Unbelievable to nonsensical

Mood Reading Match-Up:
Devil’s thorn. Tractor tire. Taste of peanut butter. Corn tower. Glassman. Dry sandpaper air. Alcopops. Deep sorrow and furious rage.
• Deep in their minds, almost like overhearing confessions, observing from afar (first person)
• Flowery, convoluted, maximalist writing with lots of metaphors
• Morally grey, naïve, emotionally chaotic characters
• Dark boarding school fairy tale vibes and high school drama
• Unreliable memory and distorted reality
• All-show-no-tell storytelling
• Heavy mix of longing, neglect, trauma, desire, and jealousy
• Twisted friendships, “I can change for them”, and predatory relationships
• A little obsession, a lot of angst
• Dark, messy, literary coming-of-age

Content Heads-Up: Adult/minor relationship (grooming, predatory, pedophilic). Animal death (snake). Alcohol use, intoxication. Death. Fire, fire injury (burns, scarring, deaths). Nicotine (cigarettes). Parental distancing, rejection, abandonment. Psychiatric break. Rape (first time, adult with minor). Separation anxiety. Sexual assault and harassment (of teen). Sexual content (make outs; consenting).

Rep: South African. South African British. British. Cis. Hetero. Queer. Pale, cement grey, brown, lobster red, and milky skin tones. Wheelchair and walking aids user.

📚 Format: Advance Reader’s Copy from Thomas and Mercer and NetGalley.

Everything Dawn Kurtagich writes is sheer perfection. Reading the author's note in the beginning gives you a LOT to think about in this story while the characters go through what they do. This was something that I could pick up and be fully invested in until I'm finished. I don't know how quickly I did it, but I flew through this baby. After reading a lot of flops, this one was a great story with a satisfy ending.

Obsession, manipulation, toxicity. These are the horrors in this book and they felt extremely horrific to me. I had to slow my reading down and put this down several times because it was so much to take in emotionally. The audiobook was exceptional! So I would really recommend reading it that way. It also made Bethany feel very close to me and very real. The ending was well done, but not the ending I wanted. I have seen it done in other horror novels and I didn't like it then either, but the ending sticks with me. I hesitate to say I enjoyed this because there is a lot to not enjoy, but it was a haunting story that was very well told and will stick with me.

The book starts with a trigger warning and I honestly wasn't sure if I wanted to continue. I generally like thriller and suspense novels, but knowing some of the dark themes that lay ahead, I had to stop and really consider if I wanted to go on this journey.

The story is dark and disturbing in parts. It's hard to read in places but also compelling. It's not for the faint of heart, but I still enjoyed it and would encourage anyone interested in it to read the trigger warning.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me. I found it a bit confusing and boring. I just didn’t really get into the story either.

I hope others love this one but it wasn’t for me!

This was such a well written and intense read. Past and present view points are my absolute favorite way to read a book, and we explore Bethany's adolescence years and the abuse and trauma she not only suffered from the hands of an adult, but also the controlling relationship with her best friend. It's sad to see how Bethany suffered as an adult with what happened in her younger years, but honestly the ending was such a twist and shock that I actually smiled because that was probably the one happy part in everything she went through. There's some definite trigger warnings so make sure you read those, but I definitely recommend this one!