“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

This one was a little bit of a tougher read for me.

First of all, it's not horror. I'm not sure why it's even listed that way. Horrible? Absolutely. Horror? Nope.

It is a coming of age, if you like that sort of thing.

For me, the twisty bit was really kind of obvious early on. As a result, the reveal of that didn't really do anything for me.

As for our girls? Did not like. I definitely felt for our main character (my God, how we hurt our girls in this world), but I never, ever grew to like her.

Overall, it did keep me reading, but it wasn't truly for me.

*Rounded up from 3.5 stars*

The Thorns is a deep dive into abuse, trauma, and dangerously toxic relationships that is deeply disturbing. This is not a casual thriller; there are some major triggers in these pages that the author warns you about in the very beginning of the book. If you as a reader suffered abuse as a child, I would warn you to be very careful jumping into this book. That being said, the topics, while painful, are handled well, and this story feels like it's saying meaningful things about subjects that are often avoided.

My rating of this book is based more on my personal reading preferences than on any lack of good writing or plotting; I went into this book thinking it was more of a thriller, and hadn't expected the deep dive into child abuse. The book is so well done I didn't want to DNF, so I powered through it, and overall, I am glad I read this story. However, the subject matter is not what I gravitate towards or personally enjoy as a reader, and that's the only reason I'm giving it 3.5 stars. It is a well-written story, and you can tell the author put a lot of herself into this book, and I have to applaud that.

While The Thorns was not for me, I know there are readers who would really enjoy this book! I would recommend The Thorns to readers who enjoy heavier-topic thrillers or memoirs, or fictional explorations of trauma & growth past PTSD.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an arc!

"Dark and disturbing, The Thorns explores the horrifying world of adolescent abuse, controlling friendships, and blinding obsession."
Boarding school friends who share a secret game and an imaginary creature during an extremely difficult time in one of the girl's (Bethany) life. Many years later, now that Bethany is an author and disabled, she receives an email bringing the imaginary creature back into Bethany's life. Definitely check your trigger warnings on this one. This book was tough to read because of the content, and it definitely made me feel a lot of feelings in relation to the subject.

Before this story even begins, the author writes a letter to the readers, warning them about topics that will be discussed. Right from there, I knew this one was going to be difficult.

Bethany Sloane is a prime example of PTSD. Abandoned by her mother, Bethany is at a remote African boarding school and desperate to fit in with Stacey, the head 'cool' girl. To do this, she must learn all the rules of Stacey's twisted games.

In the present, Bethany is a best-selling writer. She is now married to a wonderful man, but still haunted by her past, and questions how she became disabled. Then one day, Stacey emails her.

Stacey's games are still dangerous and Bethany is still desperate to be part of it all.

This was a hard read, due to the nature of topics it covered. It's about obsession and possessiveness. It's about an abuse of power, but by adults and by a peer. There is an implied sexual relationship included and it...was uncomfortable to say the least.

I don't know that I can recommend this, but I don't know that I shouldn't. It's a topic that should be addressed, but maybe not like this.

Thanks to NetGalley and the pu

The story was intriguing, dark and disturbing. The writing was unlike anything else, and OMG the twist was mind-blowing!
I really enjoyed reading this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC.

how horrifying can a story get?

thank you Thomas & Mercer for providing this book for review consideration via netgalley. all opinions are my own :)

this book is a deep dive into suffering, a light shining on the awfulness of the world and the torture of being trapped in your mind. how can one live under so much violence, inside and out? this is a story of it — quiet, loud, terrible, complex.

entering the mind of a tortured, deeply hurt young girl, living in a boarding school in africa, the author explores how obsession and abusive influence can ruin a life so, so easily. desperate to belong, bethany falls deeper and deeper into darkness, losing herself, finding it back, forced to stumble into the worst the world has to offer — and it tears her apart.

the writing was what struck me at first. unique, as metaphoric as it is clear, with words spinning around beautifully. it hurts, it catches you, holds your throat and makes you look. this isn’t just fiction.

this story hurt my soul, my heart, my mind. it’s amazingly well told, the double timeline playing with you easily. the characters are haunting, the images, too. the five stars came easily.

watch out for Glass Man, friends

Very interesting way to tell a story. It's definitely been done a lot, telling a story of the past while also showing the present day but I really like the way this one handled the storytelling convention.

Okay I honestly don't even know how to review this without getting into spoilery territory but while I wasn't the biggest fan of the writing style, the ending had me SHOOK TO MY CORE. If you say you guessed the twist, no you did not you are lying.

I need everyone to read it to see if we all experienced it the same.

thank you netgalley for the review copy!

While I did enjoy it, this is not my favorite of Dawn Kurtagich’s books. I found it a bit slow and predictable.