I really enjoy Sierra Simone’s books and Lessons in Thorn is not an exception. It’s a very easy story line but it’s told in different points of view which is kind of confusing if you’re not fully engaged with the story . It is well developed and characters are very different and interesting, this story is full of mystery and the spice in it is very entertaining. I would highly recommend checking trigger warnings before reading it and also it ends in cliffhanger, so be prepared.

Listen, if you’re in the mood for something dark, messy, and wildly addictive, A Lesson in Thorns is precisely that. I went into this book expecting spice (it delivers), but I didn’t expect it to be emotionally heavy.

The story follows Proserpina (yes, the names are extra; just lean in), who comes back to this mysterious estate called Thornchapel after being gone for over a decade. And, of course, she immediately gets tangled up with the two guys she left behind: Auden, the hot, arrogant golden boy, and St. Sebastian, who is broody, damaged, and impossible not to obsess over. Together, their dynamic is intense. There’s history, resentment, desire, and this shared sense that they’re all circling something bigger than just the three.

This book is bright, sexy, and the kind of book that stays in your head long after you close it. Just check the content warnings because this book is not afraid to push limits.

I wanted to like this book but I had a hard time with it. The prologue was one of the most confusing prologues I’ve read so that didn’t start out well for me. The spice was good but it’s hard for me to get into a book when I find majority of the characters winy and unfortunately for me, that was this book. I think most people will love this book, it just wasn’t for me. And this is coming from someone who LOVED the Priest series by this author.

* I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date: 4 March 2025

I requested this book purely based on my love for Sierra Simone’s book Priest.

This one had 6 characters who spent a summer together as children and reunite after many years apart as adults.

This was more of a slow-burn type romance as most of the action doesn’t happen until the last 1/3 of the book. The beginning felt very info-dump heavy and I found it to be a bit of a struggle to get into, unlike Simone’s other books I’ve read. Eventually the plot did pick up, but I just didn’t quite click with this book like I’d hoped I would.

4.5 stars

I don’t know where to start with this book. It was so interesting and quite a bit different from most of the books I’ve read. I’ve read plenty of Sierra Simone’s books and know her stories are quite horny, but this was horny in a different way. I’m sure as this series progresses I’m going to go from thinking of the books as “contemporary romance” and they’ll end up “erotic romance”. Almost all of the elements were there for it to tip that way, but surprisingly there was way less actual on-page sex than it seemed, even while I was reading it. There is so much anticipation, tension, and chemistry between every single one of these six characters. What an amazing writer this author is.

The main POV of this story is Poe, who grew up in America. She knows the rest of the characters due to one summer when her family and their families all gathered at Auden’s family’s estate in England. While the adults were up to who knows what, the kids bonded. Turns out the kids should have been paying more attention because whatever their parents were doing is directly influencing their lives now, even while most of the parents are no longer alive. Poe is back in England and reunited with her playmates from the past. We get the POV of the other characters every few chapters to help supplement the limited knowledge Poe has of their surroundings since she hasn’t been back in the 12 years since that carefree summer. One of those secrets is my biggest contention with this story, as everyone seems to know of something that happened between Auden and Saint many years ago, but Poe is kept in the dark…and she knows there is a secret and they know she knows, so it’s all very intentional. But, I knew going in that was the case so I cannot hold it against the book that I decided to read it anyway.

The mystery of the parents, the house, and the town is written beautifully. It’s creepy but not scary. It’s curious but doesn’t seem to be dangerous, at least not in the conventional sense. Even with a great story as the baseline for this series, the tension is the star of the show. The feelings evoked by two characters just sitting on the same couch are unreal! I was swept up in their lives and trying to figure out how all of this sexual energy would be released…if it ever would.

I’ll warn you, when this book is over the story is in no way finished. There’s not even a real HFN or HEA. Things have been figured out on certain fronts, but there is so much more work to be done…in their personal lives and in figuring out the secrets of Thornchapel.

4.5 stars

The gothic atmosphere and dark academia vibes in this were sooo good! Sierra’s writing is beautiful and the way she managed to weave the stories of six distinctive characters together was so well done. There were definitely characters I liked reading about more than others (hellooo Saint) but I felt like they all had a place in the story.

This is VERY hot and steamy and includes kink, polyamory, and queer romance. While the relationships felt like the main focus, but the plot was very intriguing as well with the disappearance of the MC’s mother and the mysteries surrounding Thornchapel. The ending had me wanting to know more and I would love to continue the series.

Thank you to Bloom and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest

While slow moving and besides me wanting to know the ending, the book was good. While I felt it dwelt on things it could have been shorter. I love Sierra’s books and who couldn’t love Saint? Poe seems to always feel just on the outside even with her relationship with brooding Auden and Saint. As old houses go, we know there are secrets and some are beginning to show themselves.

A very intriguing start to the series! We meet the six characters and get to know each of them well, even while the story is told in Poe’s point of view. There’s a lot of world building for a new series, which is understandable, but at times I really wanted progression in the story. We end with more questions than answers similar to the New Camelot series. Overall enjoyed this one - Simone weaves themes of religiosity into her books like no one else and does it so well.

I read a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I read this series before it was traditionally published over 2 years ago, and I still think about them. Sierra Simone's voice is truly unlike any others I have ever read, and it is constantly making me feel EVERYTHING. Sierra Simone masterfully weaves together lyrical prose, deep emotional connections, and an intoxicating blend of mystery and sensuality. The novel is heavy with themes of forbidden desire, self-discovery, and the power of ritual.

I will say the author doesnt choose a bad cover the original is just as good as the new releases
5 <b>Convivificat</b> Stars
Sierra Simone has become my go to auto read author since I read American King (and I was sooo behind on picking that up I can’t risk it again). This story is about 6 children’s summer and their lives now as adults( 12 years later). There is so much character growth, pain and learning that occurs in this book that I cant event put into words what this is even about. This story is about so much, so many secrets, so much pain, confusion, loss and change.
This book looks at 6 peoples lives present, past and future and the reader tries to figure out how it all flows.
The heir. (Auden)
The dreamer. ( Poe)
The priest. (Becket)
The genius. (Rebecca)
The socialite. (Delphine)
The saint. (Saint Sebastian)

I loved Poe and Saint the most because of how broken and lost they are. But I also like how the erotica was developed into a story. The scenes were MM, FF, MF, MMF and each one was its own level of kink. There is BDSM, there is vanilla.and there is everything in between but the majority of the book is not erotica so keep that in mind. This book is almost 350 pages and is book 1 of 4 .. and I literally cannot even fathom how their story will ever end it is so filled with mystery.. AND THAT CLIFFY OMGGGGG

I literally stayed up till 1 am reading this book.. my poor brain needs so much coffee today

A Lesson In Thorns by Sierra Simone
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4🌶🌶🌶🌶

Man I loved this book! I've read a lot of Sierra's other books and this one continued the trend of great reads. I love that she can have intense spice but not lose the compelling storyline.

I wish I could articulate how enthralling this book is, but I simply don't have the words. Sierra is brilliant, I was completely invested in the story of these six friends. Their relationships and history are twisted and screwed up and it just adds to the story! The dark academia themes and plot twists in this story were brilliantly done as well. This book also examines more complex topics such as the social co structure and stigma surrounding sex and virginity, and also promotes sex positivity and safe kink practices. We all know with Sierra that the spice be spicing, that part was fantastic as always lol. I can't wait to read the next book in this series!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bloom for this free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Content warning from the author:
🥀 kinky AF
🥀 second chance
🥀 enemies to lovers
🥀 dark academia vibes
🥀 FF & MMF (& MMMFFF)
🥀 crumbling old manor house
🥀 angst

CONTENT WARNINGS: pretty boys pouting and staring at the rain, old library filled to the brim with moldering manuscripts full of secrets, aggressively bisexual, ritual deflowering of virgins.

CONTENT WARNINGS ALSO FOR: kink, angst, blood, jealousy, archival minutiae, Latin words,
tragic backstories, murder, Prosecco, and a dog.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

I enjoyed the first part of this book. Then there was so much going on that it got confusing. I honestly don’t know what was going on by the end.

I was left with so many questions that I want answered but I probably won’t finish this series. It was just ok but there wasn’t much that actually stood out. It also felt like there was too many things crammed in that it started feeling jumbled and confusing.

I love this author but this particular book wasn’t for me.

3/5 stars because I actually loved the beginning I just wish it had stayed like that.

This story is beautifully written and compulsive to read. Sierra Simone has a way with words. She writes so poetically and polished even when the scene is filthy and unhinged. I love to read her stories. This was no exception. The characters are fantastic and the story is ethereal. Poe is actually an interesting female lead, and both Saint Sebastian and Auden are interesting in their own right. I am excited to read on in the series. Saint reminded me a little of the Veep in the Camelot series and I looooved that series. Highly recommend!

Spicy, MM, MMF, FF, FFM, mostly female main character first person point of view but other characters are 3rd person point of view, contemporary romance. Full of mystery, angst, and SPICE. Well written and enthralling. Go in blind and enjoy the twists, turns, and sumptuous steam.

I love Sierra Simone’s writing but this wasn’t my favorite. The setting was great, loved the maze.

This book felt forced and the characters relations felt forced and the reasons they were back in Thornchapel felt unusual. Like Poe being into bdsm despite being a virgin, yet she’s constantly feral.

I just didn’t feels any connection with the characters what so ever. The characters just felt rushed and underdeveloped with this one.

Overall I do love Sierra Simone’s writing but this one wasn’t for me.

Sierra Simone is famous for writing books that are smut (in the best sense) that really are about so much more. Fans of her other series will loves this as it delivers just what we expect from this author.

The plot is twisty enough to keep you invested, there is something to tie the spice together. The world building is solid and even contains some hints about overlap with other beloved series. The character development is stunning and really shows the intertwined lives of these young adults and the odd pasts that brought them all back to their childhood meeting place and mythos. The spice is spicy without being gratuitous. The sexual awakening serve a narrative purpose (though they would be amazing even if it were just for fun!) and add to the overall atmosphere of the novel. Add in a dash of mysticism and local superstition, this book is sexy and spooky...a perfect combination.

The rest of the series is already on my TBR list and thankfully this NetGalley ARC is for a new edition and the following books in the series are available, because I won't be able to wait long to see what happens!

What you'll get:
🥀dark academia vibes
🌹crumbling old manor
🥀enemies to lovers
🌹second chance
🥀angst
🌹kinky AF
🥀FF& MMF (& MMMFFF)

Okay, at first I wasn't sure where this was going. It is very plot heavy for the first 20% of the book. This actually worked out very well. I grew to love the character development, and this helped explain more of what was going on in the background.

Then ... The erotica hit. And boy did it hit HARD! I wouldn't say it was the most outlandish spice I've encountered but it was done very well. To some this will trigger than and it will be very eye-opening.

My favorite favorite part was the atmosphere. I wish I could live in this crazy place and be sucked up in the walls of the library. There is a mystery waiting to be solved, it's dangerous, and beautiful all rolled into one.

📖 4/5
🌶️ 5/5

This was an intriguing start to a four-book series that blends fantasy, spice, and mystery into one slow-burning story. A Lesson in Thorns revolves around a group of friends who shared one unforgettable summer at Thornchapel. Years later, they reunite in the same mysterious place, only to find that while the house remains the same, everything between them has shifted. Each character harbors secret desires, but the question is: will they allow themselves to act on them?
The writing is beautifully done, as I've come to expect from Sierra Simone, and the atmosphere she creates around Thornchapel is lush and immersive. The mystery element is intriguing, with an unexpected twist at the end that took me by surprise. However, despite these strengths, I found the pacing painfully slow—if I could compare it to anything, it would be molasses. The slow burn is very slow, and while I can appreciate tension, I felt like the story could have been told just as powerfully with fewer words.
Having read other books by this author, this one wasn’t quite what I anticipated. I was left surprised that the ending felt so conclusive—almost like a standalone—so I'm genuinely curious what the next books in the series have in store. Though tempted to peek, I’m the type who likes to go in blind.
Overall, A Lesson in Thorns was good, but not great for me. I enjoyed the concept, the writing, and the gothic vibes, but the drawn-out pacing made it tough to fully fall in love.
Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books, NetGalley, and Sierra Simone for the opportunity to review this advanced reader copy and provide my honest feedback.

I originally read A Lesson in Thorns when it was indie published and it quickly became one of my favorite series of all time. I was so excited that I got to do a re-read for the Bloom re-release & it was even more fun to read the second time around! The dark academia setting of Thornchapel is such a vibe! Each of the six main characters are all wildly different but they fit together so perfectly. It felt like the tension and chemistry between everyone had literal sparks flying out of my kindle.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bloom, and Sierra Simone for sending me an early copy!

I just finished A Lesson in Thorns and WOW. I mean… 🥵🥵🥵 This book is scorching. Sierra Simone has mastered the art of writing tension so thick, so forbidden, that you feel like you’re intruding on something sacred. The spice? Let’s just say this book does not shy away from intensity, it’s raw, sensual, and absolutely intoxicating.

But what truly sets this book apart is the atmosphere. The gothic setting of Thornchapel feels like a character in itself: haunting, mysterious, and laced with an undercurrent of something both magical and dangerous. Sierra Simone’s prose is lush and poetic, weaving mythology, history, and sacred rituals into every page. The way she blends themes of fate, desire, and longing with ancient mythological influences? It’s mesmerizing.

And the characters & Their relationships are layered with yearning, pain, and an almost unbearable amount of tension. Every glance, every touch, every whispered word means something, and that’s what makes this book so special. The emotional stakes are just as high as the physical ones, making this more than just a steamy read, it’s an experience.

If you love dark academia, forbidden romances, and stories dripping with mythology and sensuality, A Lesson in Thorns is a must-read. It’s hypnotic, haunting, and will completely consume you.🔥