This book was unlike any other I’ve read by this author. In a way it felt like she cut herself open and bled onto the page. Please, please be mindful and take seriously her trigger warning at the beginning of the book. Usually, as someone who often reads dark romance and obsessively watches horror movies, nothing sets me off. But this book did. I probably should have stopped reading at some point but the author (who is my favorite author and will remain so) has such a beautiful way of writing that draws you in that you don’t want to put it down. I’m not sure I’d call this horror exactly. Most of the present day sections are a little more psychological thriller than edge of your seat horror. The past timeline sections were the parts I found hard to read. There is a twist at the end, well rather several, that I found quite clever. One was quite sweet and the other one I had wildly thought earlier in the book “what if…” and was smugly satisfied to see that I was right. Overall, I would read anything this author writes… but this book definitely will not be for everyone. Again, be mindful of the trigger warnings and don’t lob them off like I did.

I have a weird relationship with this author, some of her books I love and some of them are just okay to me. I absolutely loved her last book. The Madness, so I was very excited to dive into this book, but unfortunately it’s one that I struggled with. I do think it’ll be widely loved among readers, it just wasn’t a ‘me’ book.

I was so excited for this one, the synopsis and premise had so many appealing things. Unfortunately for me it was just missing that extra spark. I feel the book is advertised as something it is not and I believe that is what is the most disappointing. There were many missing elements and the ending just didn't do it for me.

Picked this up for the toxic friendship dark academia vibes and was just uncomfortable for the entire thing.

I picked this up because the synopsis sounded really interesting; it gave off strong urban legend vibes (an entity called "Glass Man," invoked through a mostly made-up game, starts haunting two schoolgirls), it involved supernatural shenanigans of the kind made popular by well-known authors such as Stephen King (the two girls meet again in adulthood, one is an author, and they have to face the entity again), and it promised some nice moments of friendship, several instances of coming-of-age situations, and warned of some "adolescent abuse".

The book does not deliver any of those things. Nothing of what I said is vital to the plot. "The Thorns" is simply not the book the synopsis describes. First of all, there's no "Glass Man," not in any meaningful way - forget games and hauntings; the (very rarely mentioned - four or five times?) words "Glass Man" name simply a vague threat which plays absolutely no role in the novel. Second, there's nothing supernatural in the book: there's just plain old girl angst, girl cliques, and lots of bullying. Third, what happens in adulthood has nothing to do with any "Glass Man" or whatever happened in the school: the 'friendship' is purely toxic and destructive, it involves mental issues (NB: not psychological horror!), and the fact that one of the women is an author, is nothing but mere lip service to standard literary tropes - to spice things up a bit in an otherwise dull story of female infighting. Finally, and far more serious than anything else, the book's "adolescent abuse" is the extended descriptions of intimate sexual relations of a 28-year-old man with a thirteen year old girl. The descriptions are not graphic or violent - but they are disturbing, mostly because the author takes great care to portray the girl as giving consent. Those moments were chilling and really horrific: the girl is no Lolita, she's a traumatized, intelligent and caring little girl (her body hasn't even matured fully) who allows herself to be manipulated into (yes, I see the contradiction as well) a very sick sexually abusive relationship. She's also confused enough to start a sexual relationship with a boy at the same time, but I won't go into that. Perhaps this kind of experiences explain why the same girl, as a woman, never sounds any different in adulthood: she's always acting and speaking as if she's mentally stuck in early adolescence, sounding like a 13yo girl throughout the book.

So what's the book about? It's about mental instability and toxicity among women. The ending has a very predictable 'twist' about the relationship between the two girls, a turn of events not worth the investment (this is a big book, after all!). Noone who's read a healthy number of psychological thrillers is going to be shocked by the ending. So be warned: unless you enjoy sentimentalist displays of adolescent confusion, on multiple levels, don't pick up this book.

Somehow, I neglected to write a review for this book. Must have been a bad week for me because I finished this on October 28, and I really enjoyed The Thorns.
Told in the past when Bethany’s mother sent her to boarding school, and in the present. She is now a successful writer, struggling with a disability and an awful case of writer's block.
Stacey was her best friend, possibly her only friend when she was in school. Yet something tore them apart. When she receives an email from Stacey, she is thrilled to reconnect. But as their shared past is revealed, it seems that their relationship was not all sunshine and roses.
I don’t want to divulge too much, but I will say I was very surprised at how this story came together. Lots of potential triggers, but if you can get beyond them, a gut-wrenching story lives between these pages.

This was a really interesting look at how toxic friendships form, thrive, and shape the adult lives of women. It took me a while to get into the story, but the writing was well-done and well-paced.

I couldn’t put this thriller down, constantly on edge as the story twisted and turned with every chapter. The suspense kept me guessing, and just when I thought I had it figured out, another shocking revelation changed everything. It was a wild ride from start to finish, leaving me wanting more. A must read before the year is out!!!

I can’t really say this story was for me. I didn’t care for the writing style and the twist at the end didn’t do it for me. I will say that it did keep you on your toes whether you were enjoying it or not and there’s something to be said of that. Some parts are uncomfortable and felt like the writer wanted to shock the reader but if you like that kind of thing, then this is just for you! Thanks NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC!

“She makes things out of other things—she turns them into something better. I wonder if that’s what she did with me. Took what I was and made me better.”

I’ve said this before, but if you are a fan of psychological horror, Dawn Kurtagich is the author you NEED to read. I’m not sure why she floats under the radar, as all of her books are creepy, disturbing, and oh so DARK!

The Thorns begins with a note from the author that the plot for this book is written from many of her own experiences at boarding school. It includes trigger warnings for the reader, so I will include them for you before my review:

Trigger Warnings: Darker themes, specifically bullying, sexual violence, gaslighting, self-harm, chronic pain, minor alcohol and drug abuse, reference to animal harm, and mental health crises.

Bethany is an award winning author of the Sally Chronicles. She is struggling to write the last book in the series to make her deadline when her husband is unexpectedly called away for business in South Africa. Despite the fact that she relies on his constant help to remember to take her pills and to get around on crutches and a wheelchair, she tells him she will be fine while he is away.

However, as soon as he is gone, she stops taking her pills and begins to remember her experiences at boarding school seventeen years ago.

Told in alternating perspectives between past and present, Bethany is forced to confront the truth about her obsessive and abusive friendship with Stacey, the inspiration for her FMC in the Sally Chronicles.

Visceral and deeply personal, The Thorns is a heartbreaking story that sheds some light on the author’s inspiration to write Horror novels. I truly hope that the most brutal parts of this plot are fiction. Kurtagich grabs ahold of the reader and doesn’t let go until the shocking twist is revealed at the very end. This would have been a five star read, but I was left wanting a bit more from the ending.

Highly recommend!

4.5/5 stars rounded down

Expected publication date: 4/1/25

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer publishing for the ARC of The Thorns in exchange for an honest review.

Touch a line, you break your spine.

Stacey is the dusty air, the cracked soil, the drought. To fourteen-year-old Bethany Sloane, she’s everything.

Abandoned by her mother at a remote African boarding school, Bethany will do anything to stay in Stacey’s good graces. And that means learning the rules of each twisted game.

Touch a crack, you break your back.

Seventeen years later, Bethany is a bestselling author. Disabled now, she can’t remember what happened back in the bush. But there’s no mistaking Stacey Preston’s name in her inbox.

Glassy, glassy, cut my arsey.

That email brings Bethany’s childhood rushing back. The Glass Man was just a story the Thorns invented, a game of wits. But every game has its rules—and consequences for breaking them. To stay alive this round, Bethany needs to play right into Stacey’s hands.

Dark and disturbing, The Thorns explores the horrifying world of adolescent abuse, controlling friendships, and blinding obsession.

Interesting concept. Really enjoyed the story. The characters were amazing. will recommend to others.

PROVE YOU LOVE ME

I completely went in blind and I think that is the best way when reading thrillers. After reading The Madness I needed more from this author immediately!

I felt on edge the entire book. I didn't know what was real and what wasn't. The twist towards the end was not was I was expecting at all! I was close with my theory but nope I was wrong! I ended the book feeling giddy. I don't know what that says about me but I do know I am obsessed with Dawn Kurtagich now.

3.8 stars rounded to 4 for this story of toxic female friendship.

In a timeline split between “then” and “now” author Bethany Sloan who is disabled in some way we aren’t quite certain about and who is suffering from writer’s block is being lovingly tended to by husband Bruce when her old friend from boarding school, Stacey, re-enters her life. They’ve had no contact for many years but Bethany’s life is quite isolated and she is both thrilled and conflicted about having Stacey in her life again…

Because according to the “then” sections Bethany’s friendship with Stacey was obsessive; Bethany idolized Stacey who could be cruel to her as young girls so often are. We learn things adult Bethany may have blocked. Why is Stacey back now?

Oh, how I wish I had gone to boarding school! I think it would have been a TOTAL disaster for me and within two weeks I would have had no friends at all and would have ended up a pariah and likely far more psychologically damaged than I already am. I know myself well enough to know that I am best in small doses. But some books make it all look so very cool!

Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed this dark book of controlling friendship (I had some unhealthy friendships in my own young life) but I can see this might not be for everyone. The setting is quite interesting too; the author captures the thirsty, barren landscape well and it mirrors Bethany’s want. Good stuff.

This was not horror. And I could tell it was at least trying to be a thriller but the twists were too predictable. This was, at most, A coming-of-age drama and that is not something I would choose to read.

Thorns by Dawn Kurtagich is a darkly atmospheric masterpiece that lingers in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page. Kurtagich’s haunting prose creates a world that is both beautiful and terrifying, immersing readers in a tale of love, loss, and resilience. The characters are deeply layered, their struggles and growth resonating powerfully against a backdrop of creeping dread and mystery. The plot is flawlessly paced, with twists and revelations that keep you enthralled until the very end. This is storytelling at its finest—a chilling, emotional journey that is nothing short of perfection. A must-read for fans of gothic horror and dark fantasy.

I was really excited to read this book because it had a lot of story elements that appeal to me. Like overly dependent friendships between young girls, explorations of trauma, and characters reuniting as adults to reckon with something that happened in their youth. The story of Bethany and Stacey when they were young girls at a boarding school in South Africa definitely kept me engaged. However I ended up not being too keen on the present day storyline.

The setting of the school and the land where Bethany and her friends played was richly described. It really helped that portion of the story to come to life. There are some horrific things that go on in Bethany’s childhood that are explored in depth, such as sexual assault. The past sections of the book were so visceral, I felt like I was deeply immersed in Bethany’s life.

However, I never ended up feeling that connected with what was happening in the present storyline when Bethany and Stacy reconnect. The way that storyline was written kept me feeling like I was at arm’s length from the characters and their inner feelings. Perhaps that’s because the author was having to keep the reveals of what happened between them and others in the past. Everything in the past felt so real and grounded while everything in the present felt nebulous. I can see why it was written that way, but it held me back from feeling like I was fully invested in the story. Also, some of the reveals just felt extremely obvious.

I’m definitely open to reading more from Dawn Kurtagich in the future. The friendship she crafted between Bethany and Stacey was extremely compelling. And I enjoy writers who don’t shy away from covering difficult subjects in their stories. I think if this book sounds interesting then you should give it a shot. The past storyline offers up something very interesting.

This book is a tough, emotional read, diving deep into themes of trauma, toxic relationships, and abuse, with a focus on the impact. It’s beautifully written and definitely pulls you in, but be prepared for some heavy, disturbing content that can be hard to stomach. I don't think I was the intended audience for this book.

I did not mean to request this book but i do not want to mess with my feedback ratio. The title sounds interesting and the premise is intriguing and i may read it one day but it was not my intention to add this to my shelf. My apologies!

This was an incredibly heavy read, so please make sure to review the trigger warnings listed for this book before checking it out.

We follow Bethany Sloane, a best-selling, disabled author who is trying to survive her current life with her husband while also trying to escape her traumatic past. The story jumps between the ‘now’ and the ‘then’ as it paints the whole story of how Bethany got to where she is now. When she was thirteen, her mother enrolls her at a boarding school in South Africa where she meets Stacey, the school’s most popular girl. Bethany is so desperate to fit in with Stacey that she will blindly endure all of Stacey’s dangerous ‘games’ just for a seat at her table.

This story highlights a lot of dark themes, such as exploring the impact of toxic relationships with a deep focus on PTSD, mental/physical abuse, obsession, the vulnerability of adolescence, and the trauma of trusting the wrong people. My heart broke constantly for our main character as she continued to fall deeper into the dark influences around her.

Overall, I feel that the thriller elements were developed well, and the writing was fantastic. It took me a while to get into this one, but when it picked up, I struggled to put it down. It’s a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and it reminded me heavily of Kate Elizabeth Russell’s ‘My Dark Vanessa.’ If that is a book you felt was an important read to gain an understanding of the influence adults have on children, then you may appreciate this one as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Dawn Kurtagich has become an instant buy/read for me and was I very thankful to get an advanced copy of her newest book.

It is a VERY dark and disturbing psychological thriller/horror that takes a long, hard look at abusive relationships, SA, and obsession during childhood. The chapters alternate between a grown up Bethany and Bethany as a child.

There is a fully detailed note on trigger warnings which was nice. I tend to stay away from child SA, but the details are left out. It is however no less dark and disturbing without them.

This book forces you to experience another’s trauma in a way that grabs you and forces you to see all the pain. It is beautifully written without any feeling of it being done for shock value, but perhaps more for healing and closure.

Thank you Thomas & Mercer well as NetGalley for allowing me to read this eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

I very much look forward to see what Dawn writes next