I was expecting a supernatural horror, instead I got a disturbing story about abuse and neglect.

My main problem with this book is the way it's being marketed. In my opinion the blurb is misleading, since the horror/supernatural plot we're promised is actually barely there. We don’t read almost anything about it until halfway through the story.
Instead, the plot focuses mainly on the abuse that the main character suffered when she was young and attended a remote boarding school.
Everything that happens during Bethany’s flashbacks is terrible and horrifying, and even if there were trigger warnings I didn’t expect that to be the main focus of the story.

In addition to that, I suspected early on what the revelation at the end would be, and while I appreciated the progressive "descent into madness" style of chapters as we approached the revelation, it felt a bit tedious since it was a bit obvious where the hints were leading.

Having read a couple of works from this author, I have to conclude that her books are sadly not for me.

“Memories injure as much as the source, only they’re worse because they linger longer.”
This was such a heavy read, I feel like the heat and the wind, and the sand, and devil thorn’s left a mark on me. Such a beautiful and vulnerable writing. There are a lot of triggers, so please read the trigger warning at the beginning, it is so important; it doesn’t spoil anything, just lets you know how heavy the themes of this book are. There is a sinister presence throughout the narrative of the story that makes us question the state of mind of our main character. There are chapters for NOW and THEN that blends good together, they are absolutely needed. That makes the end so much powerful, that’s an ending that breaks you to shreds. This is and it isn’t a ghost story –it is more of psychological descent to the hell we all have inside of us that only specific circumstances will let lose. This book is very reminiscent of Jawbone by Monica Ojeda. I haven’t read from this author before, but I will absolutely check out her works. 4.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with the ARC.

The synopsis presents this novel as a promising thriller, offering readers a gripping narrative filled with suspense, meaningful friendship, and adolescent abuse delicately woven into the plot. The reality, however, is quite different.

Psychological thrillers have always intrigued me for their ability to build a lingering sense of unease that intensifies as the story unfolds. I don’t mind particularly dark scenes, as long as they are well-integrated into the narrative and serve the plot. In this case, though, the genre is handled in a very superficial way, with little alignment to what one would expect from a psychological thriller.

The entire novel revolves around women who seem to hate each other, with toxic friendships and detailed depictions of abuse toward minors that feel repetitive and uncomfortable. Bullying is also present, alongside a threat so vaguely defined it fails to leave any real impact on the story’s progression.

What we have here is a tale of emotional and mental instability, of women tearing each other down, with an attempt at a psychological thriller ending that ultimately falls flat. So, what’s worth salvaging in these pages? The premise remains intriguing, and some of the descriptions do offer momentum at key points in the narrative. There's also a glimpse into the toxic dynamics that can develop in certain friendships, which could have been explored with more depth.

However, none of this is enough to elevate the story or engage the reader in a thriller that, in execution, proves to be disappointingly mismanaged.

I picked up the book because the synopsis sounded intriguing: a remote boarding school, toxic friendships, and obsession. Sounded good.

In the present, Bethany Sloane is a 32-year-old bestselling and award-winning author struggling to write the last book of her popular series. She is married, disabled, and seemingly medicated for anxiety. One day, she receives an email from Stacy, who wants to reconnect.

In the past timeline, Bethany Sloane is a thirteen-year-old girl who was pretty much abandoned by her mother at a remote boarding school in South Africa. She quickly gets very attached to Stacey, another student at the school, who seems to know all the rules and haunting stories. The friendship is super toxic.

The book also deals with CSA, and while my arc doesn't have the specific trigger warning, I am glad to report that it is included in the final version. This aspect of the book made me, as expected, very uncomfortable. Since it's a very prominent part of the story, I ended up putting down the book every time it dealt with that abuse.

I think I will settle on a 3-star rating, because while I didn't love it, I ended up being pretty much immersed in the story, which I consider a plus.

Unfortunately, this book didn’t capture my attention and I wound up DNF’ing it around the 10% mark. It wasn’t anything in particular, but neither did the current day nor the past settings entice me, and I simply wasn’t invested in the relationship between the main character and the “top” mean girl, and found them both to be unrealistic and annoying - both as children and adults.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for providing me a copy for review.

I had high hopes for this novel, but as I was reading it, I felt myself quickly losing interest. Although there were aspects of it I enjoyed, there was a lot of the story that just didn’t hold my attention. The plot was promising and maybe it would’ve been different had I not listened to the audio book on Kindle Unlimited but it unfortunately wasn’t for me. I’ll give it another try in a few months because the premise is up my alley and should be something I enjoy.

This is a heavy, complex novel whose characters are teenage girls at boarding school, which deals with some very adult issues. Many readers will know Dawn Kurtagich from her previous books (And the Trees Crept In, Teeth in the Mist, The Dead House, The Madness), which are primarily in the young adult category, so I expect many admirers of her writing will seek this book out but should be aware of the content. Kurtagich includes a detailed trigger warning at the start of the book, explaining she was inspired to write it from personal experience. In that context, this isn’t traditional horror compared to her prior novels; instead, it depicts personal horrors that I’m shocked she has been able to write about in a way that is with her usual literary eloquence. I applaud her ability to do so.

Some readers will find the novel very triggering; it includes themes of emotional and physical abuse, self-harm, mental illness, molestation, and underage sex.

The Thorns is the harrowing story of Bethany, who once attended boarding school in remote, desert South Africa, but begins in present-day London with an email from her long-lost school friend Stacey. Friendship is a confusing word in The Thorns, especially for thirteen-year-old Bethany, who is elated when Stacey first says she's her best friend, and hears "aren't you two the pair of twins?" But dominant, fearless Stacey dictates everything about their relationship, and Bethany constantly seeks her approval, forcing herself to be braver, bolder, talking her into doing things--playing Stacey's dangerous physical and psychological games--that she wouldn't otherwise, sometimes to the point of physical torture and degradation. The email from Stacey jumpstarts a reckoning for thirty-two-year-old Bethany--now disabled but married with a successful career as an author--with her traumatic and abusive past. It's clear that Stacey stirs up old emotions and memories, and she reverts to feeling like a child, which causes her to stop writing, feel differently about her husband, and evaluate her entire life.

Bethany's childlike desire for attention and love, spurred on by feelings of abandonment (from being left at boarding school at an early age), leads her to seek out negative connections, and she has a constant need for approval. Her lack of self-esteem allows Stacey to take advantage of her, and her naivety and innocence lead her into some of the more alarming situations in the novel. Bethany has no understanding of how morally wrong and abusive the behavior that is being committed upon her, due to her confused feelings and immaturity (and it's unclear whether Stacey does or if she is mentally unstable). Bethany's need to connect with her closest friend is pathological; she constantly wrestles with the obsessive nature of her friendship, and her story reflects how this adolescent desire to fit in can have such terrifying consequences.

In <i>The Thorns</i> there is little recognition from authority or parental figures of the harm done (barely any acknowledgement of what’s happening at all), so this adds to the feelings of uneasiness and discomfort, certainly frustration. Although the two timelines are intertwined, the chapters set at the boarding school need so much psychological energy and attention that they are the overwhelming focus of the book. There's no break from the heaviness and darkness of the material, despite the sun-drenched desert setting.

This is an emotional read about a toxic friendship enveloped in indescribable trauma in a unique setting. I think it will be hard for any reader to come away from such an intense story without some visceral reaction.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for my digital review copy.

This was a miss for me, I wanted to love it but did not (unfortunately). The synopsis was very misleading, and the synopsis is what drew me to the book.

3.5 stars

The Thorns by Dawn Kurtagich  is a horror novel about a girl sent to a boarding school.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Harlequin Trade Publishing | Graydon House, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 

My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Three girls met at boarding school in South Africa.  They called themselves The Thorns, after the devil's thorn plants known to the area.  Stacey Preston was their leader, and both Bethany and Bernadette hang on her every word, vie for her attention.   The games they play get twisted, and consequences are harsh.

Years later,  Bethany is now disabled,  living in London with her husband Bruce, but has some mental blocks as to what happened back in school. She is a best-selling author, trying to finish her novel, but can't seem to kill off her main character.

Then Stacey reappears in her life.




My Opinions:
Okay.  I'm not sure how to proceed with this review.  I think I hated it 50% of the time, but was just compelled to keep going.  The writing is good, even when the topics were so dark.


It is told through Bethany's eyes, in the Then (school) and Now (a disabled author).  This worked really well.  I wish there had been something likeable about Stacey, or Bethany, or even Bernie.  I liked Rowan and Gert, but other than that....where were the adults in this book?

The book looked at childhood friendship and naivety.  But it also looked at dependency, bullying, and abusive, controlling relationships during childhood, as well as sexual abuse.  Ultimately, it looked at mental illness.

Bottom line, this was an uncomfortable read.  It is dark, disturbing, and somewhat depressing  psychological horror.  If you are looking for light-heartedness and a happy ending, look elsewhere.  The book was really sad.  It is hard to rate a book that didn't sit well with me.  I love horror, but this was horrific.  However,  the suspense kept me turning those pages, waiting for Bethany to stand up for herself, waiting for her to let Stacey go.  In the end, the book kept me interested, kept me there.  Even though I couldn't really connect with the characters, I really wanted to know what finally happened to Bethany, but was afraid to ask.  I still am.

WOW. This is coming of age horror up there with Stephen King and Ronald Malfi. It deals with heavy issues (all kinds of abuse, check triggers), but Dawn Kurtagich is a brilliant writer and I always felt like I was in good hands, even when it got dark. This isn't a mystery or thriller, so don't go in expecting wild twists, but if you want an exploration of feral girlhood and toxic relationships/friendships, pick this up

I absolutely loved The Madness by Dawn Kurtagich which is a great gothic horror thriller. The Thorns is a twisted tale involving the friendships of boarding school students, obsession and abuse/trauma. I was pulled into this story because of an unreliable narrator along with shifting timelines. Refer to the trigger warnings because this book does deal with some heavy topics including toxic relationships, mental health, sexual abuse and rape. I had an inkling about the ending about 60% in, probably a breadcrumb left by the author because I’m no sleuth. I enjoyed this dark and disturbing tale and will continue to read the author’s future books. ARC was provided by Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley. I received an advance reading copy free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Such a haunting read overall, it was a very dark and creepy read that kept me hooked all the way through.

3.5 stars. I was impressed with The Thorns, even if I found the execution a bit messy and predictable.

Using a dual timeline structure, Dawn Kurtagich introduces readers to Bethany Sloan. In the “now” chapters, Bethany is a successful writer living with her loving husband Bruce in London. She’s struggling with writer’s block, agonizing over how to finish her award-winning series of novels, when her school friend Stacey re-enters her life. As teenagers, Stacey and Bethany met at a remote boarding school in South Africa, and in the “then” chapters it swiftly becomes clear that their friendship was far from healthy. In fact, it was toxic: marked by obsession, bullying, and abuse. With Stacey back in her life, Bethany is forced to confront the trauma of her adolescence once and for all.

The Thorns is an incredibly dark book, dealing overtly with themes like abuse of all kinds (physical, sexual, emotional, substance), self-harm, and mental health crises. Through the characters of Bethany and Stacey, Kurtagich reveals the dark heart of girlhood, in all its cruelty and vulnerability. The narrative, inspired by Kurtagich’s own experiences at boarding school, feels intensely personal. She completely captures the mindset of a teenage girl struggling with self-worth and how to relate to an expanding world of increasingly adult experiences. Bethany is one of those characters who you want to both hug and lecture about making better choices, but she is sympathetic all the way through. And The Thorns is an incredibly atmospheric book, with an arid, desolate setting that perfectly complements the book’s overarching themes.

I was intrigued by the “urban legend” feel of the description – the frightening “Glass Man” and his cruel games – but sadly, he barely makes an appearance in the book. In fact, the Glass Man references have no bearing on the plot at all, and I’m not sure why they were even included…maybe to add a horror element? But this isn’t a scary book, and while it’s deeply psychological and incredibly dark, it doesn’t really read like a thriller. It’s a coming-of-age novel more than anything else, about how every emotion is experienced in the extreme, how everything feels simultaneously confusing and upsetting and glorious, and how the mind copes and seeks to protect itself when dealing with trauma at such a pivotal point in a young woman’s development. The book feels a bit crowded with all of this going on, somewhat hectic and overwrought. I predicted the final twist very early on, and I think many readers will.

This won’t be a book for every reader, but if you are willing to travel with the author into some incredibly dark corners of the human psyche, it’s a worthwhile, meaningful read in the end, despite a few hiccups. Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for the early reading opportunity.

I was thrilled to be able to read an advanced copy of this one through NetGalley, and it did not disappoint (although I knew it would be amazing. I will read anything this woman writes.) This story absolutely gutted me, and I won’t lie — it was a hard read at times. But the writing and overall eerie tone of the book made it just so enjoyable, I couldn’t stop! The Thorns is one of those books where you can tell that something is wrong, but you can’t put your finger on what it is (aka my favourite type of book).

After loving Kurtagich’s teen horror novels growing up, I’m thrilled to say that I think I like her adult writing even more!

Thank you net galley for allowing me to read this book in advance in exchange for an honest review, this book was interesting and definitely kept me guessing

3.5/5
Thank you @netgalley @amazonpublishing #partner for the gifted copy of this eArc!

The Thorns is a dark and atmospheric novel that delves into themes of obsession, power, and manipulation. It definitely has a mysterious and eerie atmospheric vibe as we follow a group of characters caught up in a twisted, obsessive situation. Dawn successfully creates an unsettling tone and because these characters were younger I felt sad for them most of the time. The rituals and mind games within the group are disturbing and left me feeling a little empty in side. It’s a mom thing in my own brain because I would just be so sad if my kids acted like this. At times, this one did feel somewhat redundant but overall I did think this book was intriguing. I am definitely excited to read more by this author and still have The Madness sitting on my shelf to read!

This moves back and forth in time to tell a story of abuse and toxic female relationships. Bethany, now an author, based one of her characters on Stacey, who she met at boarding school but they haven't been in touch for years. But now all of it- all the awful- is coming back. This is well written but it's also disturbing in its portrayal of the abuse. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Didn't enjoy it but others might.

Thank you Netgalley & Thomas & Mercer for an eARC♥️

The story is centered around Bethany, a bestselling author who's forced to confront her past when an old friend, Stacey, reaches out after 17 years. Their reunion is awkward and unsettling, and it's clear that their friendship was complicated.
What struck me was the way the author explored the nuances of adolescent relationships. Bethany and Stacey's friendship was intense and all-consuming, but also toxic and damaging. It was clear that they were both struggling to survive in a difficult environment. Dawn Kurtagich’s portrayal of their relationship was so raw and honest that it felt almost uncomfortable to read at times.
The writing is evocative and immersive, and I appreciated how the author wove together the different threads of Bethany's story. The result is a narrative that's both haunting and thought-provoking. I loved how the author used the African boarding school setting to explore themes of isolation, trauma, and resilience.
I'm not gonna lie, this book deals with some heavy themes, and it's not always an easy read. But it's also a really important one, and it's stuck with me long after I finished reading it. The author's willingness to tackle tough subjects head-on is admirable, and the result is a book that's both challenging and rewarding.

3.5 stars!

"The Thorns" is a dark and twisted tale about an author who reconnects with an old boarding school friend and is forced to confront their shared past and the imaginary creature they thought they left behind. The story follows Bethany Sloane, who will do anything to stay in the good graces of her friend Stacey, including playing twisted games with dark consequences. Seventeen years later, Bethany receives an email from Stacey, bringing back memories of their traumatic past. As Bethany tries to navigate the dangerous game Stacey is playing, she must confront the horrifying world of adolescent abuse, controlling friendships, and blinding obsession.

This book was quite intense! It sheds light on how easily influenced young people can be and how much they crave approval in order to fit in. The content of this book made it challenging to read, primarily due to its manipulative nature, triggering themes, and almost obsessive behavior portrayed.

I found it difficult to fully immerse myself in this story. The characters, Bethany and Stacey, are both young and complex individuals who are not easy to connect with. Certain parts of the book were hard to digest, particularly the inappropriate relationship between a 13-year-old and a 28-year-old. It was disturbing to even consider that the young girl seemed to be accepting of it. Readers should be aware that there are many intense themes present in this book that may be triggering for some.

If you are drawn to stories about complicated, often toxic friendships, mental health struggles, and heart-wrenching narratives, then this book may pique your interest.

Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Bethany is all grown up- an author who is married and currently struggling to finish a book series that has reached critical acclaim status many times over. As she falters between losing her creativity and vision of ending her book series, she finds herself reconnecting with Stacy. I can't even go into explaining Bethany and Stacy's friendship- it's genuinely so nuanced and double stacked that you'd just have to read this in its entirety to understand. Stacy attends an African boarding school with Bethany, and after being forced by her mom to attend a place she really didn't want to, the latter finds herself latching on to Stacy in the way all lonely fourteen year olds probably would. It's not very healthy nor are the girls old enough to understand the true duplicity that can come from such a relationship- but the games they play are just for the two of them. From the description alone, I'll fully admit I misidentified the role Glass Man and the thorns would play in this story- if you go into this one expecting a visual and visceral explanation of a fun childhood urban legend, you're apt to be quite disappointed. Dawn writes so beautifully in this one, and I loved everything that wasn't said as much as I did the things that were. I think it'll be fun to see everyone's interpretation of the grief, abuse, and malice intention in The Thorns- but unfortunately, I don't think everyone will understand the plot and what it took to reach such a conclusion. Bethany and Stacey shared beautiful moments within that end up so horribly ugly that I'll be hard pressed to forget such a thing anytime soon. Thank you so much to the publisher for approving me for the eArc, and even bigger thanks to the author herself for sending me a physical copy once the former fell through! All opinions are my own.