Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for this ARC.

I had such a great time reading it even if I feel like it didn't totally reach my expectations.
I think I was way to hyped when I asked for it and was waiting for something world changing when it was a perfectly simple but enjoyable YA.

The plot was interesting, the love triangle was perfectly written and entertaining.

There is a few trigger warnings but I feel like Teens who loves Enemies to lovers and Love Triangles will enjoy it.

File this under one of those books I know pre-teen and teen me would have really loved. As an adult, I did like it, but felt it was a tiny bit too derivative and predictable for me to absolutely love. Still, as a YA release, I think this is a great read.

When I started, I immediately felt this was very much a throwback to titles like The Selection, Red Queen, and other 2010s releases. Its familiarity was quite evident, but not in a bad way. Fantasy romance only has so many variations when it comes to stories, tropes, and settings. It isn’t the most original, but the author executes her vision well and puts her own spin on some classic elements.

In the kingdom of Daronda, the FMC, Alissa Paine, is a noblewoman born a Wielder — someone with telekinetic-like abilities — in a world that actively hunts and seeks to eradicate every Wielder. Ironically, her family bloodline also belongs to the Hunters, a group dedicated to killing Wielders. So, she hides her powers, living in constant fear of being found. Now that she’s eighteen, she must participate in her Rose Season, where she’s presented at court and swears fealty to King Erik, the icy, vicious regent, who forms a strong interest in her.

Like I said, these story elements are all very well-trodden ground. Wielders are hunted and forced into hiding, though there are kingdoms where some still live freely. The setting is a gritty high fantasy world — dark enough to feel dangerous without tipping into full-on grimdark.

On the worldbuilding front, I’d say it felt a bit generic for a fantasy romance setting. Not bad, just serviceable. It didn’t blow me away with uniqueness, but it did enough to support the story and the dark atmosphere, which was well done! The constant paranoia and tension felt genuine, especially in how Alissa had to conceal her true nature at every turn. Her fear was almost palpable.

That said, my biggest issue was with the three prominent male characters, who were all framed as romantic options for the FMC, and how they were incorporated into the story.

These were: Garrett, the estranged childhood best friend who clearly still cares; Keil, the mysterious Wielder who helps her understand her powers; and Erik, the cold and ruthless king of Daronda.

I just found this constellation… boring. It was obvious early on who the true viable option was, so having all three share romantic moments with her felt a lot like reading a formulaic romance manhwa/manga — you know who the endgame is, and the others just feel like filler or distractions.

This book really shines when it focuses on Alissa scheming, playing “the game,” and involving herself in political intrigue. Watching her transform from a sheltered noble daughter into someone who literally learns to wield power was genuinely satisfying. Her time at court hit all the notes I love: fancy dresses, balls, balcony drama, gossipy courtiers — all the good stuff!

I also really liked the variety of female characters, who were mostly layered and nuanced. The one exception was Tari, Alissa’s best friend, who felt clumsily inserted and underdeveloped. She came across more like a cardboard cutout with the “FMC’s BFF” label slapped on than a fully realized character.

As the book drew to a close, the last few chapters really built to a crescendo, with lots of twisted, thrilling elements. A few emotional moments landed especially well, helping me connect with Alissa more deeply.

Overall, following her arc was genuinely entertaining, and her slow hardening was well portrayed.
It all ends on a compelling, intriguing note that sets up the next book perfectly — and yes, I’m definitely reading the sequel when it comes out!



Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was everything I didn’t know I was missing in my life. Everything was SO SO good. I couldn’t put it down. I put my 1 year old to bed, started reading and couldn’t stop. It wasn’t the baby keeping me up until 3am, it was the brilliant magnificent book. I cannot wait to get my hands on book 2. The fact that I have to wait probably years is enough to make me cry. I don’t know how any book is going to top this for me any time soon.
Texting our YA purchaser now to tell her we need a bajillion copies for the library.

3.75 rounded up.

Thorn season follows Alissa who is a wielder. She suppresses her powers as wielders are hunted for their power by the Capewells aka the hunters. Alissa hides in plain site as she is herself a Capewell. She has never met another wielder until she comes across Keil in an interesting chain of events. Keil is an ambassador for the king.

There are several options for love interests in this story as you have Keil, her childhood best friend and “hunter” Garret, and she has even caught the eye of King Erik.

There is twists and turns, betrayals, and a lot of political intrigue. Out of the three love interests I am really enjoying her tension with Keil and I would like to see a lot more of him.

The side characters are very important in this story and play a big part in piecing together the overall plot and story and the missing compass. I loved her relationship with her dad and how even though Garret was keeping some secrets from her, he was extremely loyal to Alissa.

I want to know more about the ending and I also need more of Keil!! I am hoping to see Alissa come more into her own and be able to understand her power better in the next book.

This story started off fast paced to me but I got a little lost in the middle and I wanted to connect more to the characters. I feel like we will find out a lot more in book 2.

This story is for you if you enjoy
✨ Magic
✨Hidden identity
✨Wielders vs Hunters
✨Political intrigue
✨Secrets and Betrayals
✨Multiple possible love interests
✨Lots of enemies
✨Twists and turns

Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

3⭐️
Thoughts: pretty cool concept! I liked the writing style and magic system but the characters didn’t have much depth and the plot was a little dry at times. The latter half of the book was kind of confusing and the main character was very unlikable. Sadly, I don’t think I’ll be reading the next book in the series when it comes out.

Genre: fantasy
POV: first person, past tense
Tropes: love triangle, enemies to lovers

Age rating: 13+
Violence: semi-descriptive murder, lots of talk of death, kidnapping
Romance: a little bit of innuendo, a couple of semi-descriptive kisses
Drinking/drugs/smoking: champagne, wine, brandy, a sedative called ‘nightmilk’
Language: 2 b@stard, 3 d@mn, 3 h3ll
Other: mention of a side character having “no preference in gender when it came to partners”

Trigger warnings:
- death
- murder
- blood
- genocide
- death of parent

Publish date: 2-September-2025
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for providing an e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thorn Season is the first book in a new YA romantic fantasy about a world where magic users are hunted by the ruling noble elite. Alissa Payne is the daughter of one of the nobles, but her mother was his mistress and the one who gave Alissa her magical gift, a spectre. Spectres are almost like magical entities that are an extension of the human they are attached to. Now that she is of age Alissa is expected to participate in a season long event moving nobles into the Kings palace and vie for his hand. This book quickly sets up Alissa with three love interests including an Ambassador with secrets of his own; her former childhood best friend who dared to become a Spectre Hunter even knowing that Alissa has a Spectre; and of course the King.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins/Storytide for the opportunity to read and review this book which I am giving 3⭐️.
This book started out fast paced and ok but quickly slowed down into infodumps, predictability and what felt like a bloated rehash of stories we have already seen before. There was a long stretch of this book where I just wanted to DNF it but I made it through. I have no desire to read the next two books in this series and would only really recommend it to a reader who hasn’t read much of this genre before.

This book has enough twists and turns to keep things interesting. There is a bit of a love triangle, but it doesn't get too tiresome. The ending sets it up for a sequel, which I look forward to reading.

I love, love, loved this book and need the entire series, like yesterday!

Well written, intriguing, action packed. I just can't praise it enough! Desperately waiting for the next book!

Full of intrigue, magic, and danger, Thorn Season absolutely blew me away!

There are so many things to adore about Thorn Season. The side characters were developed nicely, especially Carmen, Tari, and Erik's characters. It goes without saying that Alissa's (the main character) character was well developed. Her motivations were, not clear because they sometimes morphed and muddled, but they were logical. She wanted to protect the wielders and gain power, and sometimes these motivations caused her to do stupid but understandable things. I like how she makes a mixture of mistakes and clever plots; it makes her seem more human, more fallible. Back to the side characters, they also had some great motivations that added plenty of depth. I won't say more about their desires because that would end up spoiling some pretty major plot points.

Speaking of plot points, the premise and execution of this book was incredible. The premise, the idea of wielders, hunters, betrayal, and court politics mixed together is interesting in itself, but the execution is what truly made it unique. The way the plot wove together and the way the characters danced around each other made the story complex and interesting. Helping the plot along was the wonderful worldbuilding. The various countries and the tensions between might only be the most basic of international information, but it still made the world feel a little more lived in. Inside the country of Daradon, the various provinces and other internal politics/structure added even more intrigue. All these politics, and dangers, and characters combined to create a compelling story that sets up the world for a truly spectacular series. Fans of good worldbuilding, good characters, and good politics will most likely enjoy Thorn Season.

It is a great YA read! I normally do not do YA much anymore but this surprised me in a good way, cant wait for the rest of the people to talk about this one with!

3.5 stars rounded up to a 4. I very much enjoyed Thorn Season! Overall the story is so addictive and the magic system is super fascinating, I was hooked immediately. This book is a great start to the series.

I was really intrigued by all of the characters. Some of them were so multifaceted that I kept flipping between how I felt about them and it was pretty jarring at times; for example, there were several moments where I thought the FMC was just terrible and the villain was kind of attractive...What are these feelings? Do I need therapy?? (Probably). Seriously though, I don’t know if that was intentional, but it definitely messed with my head. But in a good way! It kept me on my toes.

I was hooked immediately and didn’t want to put it down. Somewhere around the middle though, I lost focus, as it felt a bit slow and like there were several plot holes, but at the 75% mark I was full-on back in it and it finished pretty strong for me. I do want to continue the series so I can find out what happens to several of the characters. The last couple chapters and the epilogue in particular made me very curious about what’s to come. I’m excited for the next installment!

Thank you to Harper Collins, Kiera Azar, and NetGalley for the eARC!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

What a refreshing read with a ending that will leave you wanting more! First, thank you so much to Netgalley for the eARC.

If you love a good Romantasy, a unique magic system, and a sprinkle of Bridgerton, this is for you! Alissa Paine, an heiress living in the Kingdom of Daradon, has a future that isn’t a clear. In Daradon, Wielders- people with the ability to exert incredible power through a tendril that can pick locks and be of an extra hand in battle, are feared and hunted. While she comes from a line of hunters, she carries a big secret, she is a wielder herself. As her 18th rose season is approaching, she goes against her father’s wishes and joins court, looking to find a way to stop the huntings and save her people.

Court might be the most dangerous games yet. Through her season, she is hit with hidden intentions, a neighboring kingdom’s ambassadors tunneling his way into her heart and the eye of the king set on her. For a wielder looking to not draw intention, Alesia has to work through self control, others agendas, and her own beliefs in her people and herself to survive, thorns and all.

Okay THIS. I am absolutely predicting to be to one of the next books to blow up. I loved the original powers, world building, and characters. I loved how Kiera made this book YA and stick to YA concepts. Each character was lovable and hated as they should be. The plot twists and growth of the story was lined up well and set up for amazing reveals. I am so excited for the world to read this! If you liked Powerless, Bridgerton, and compulsiveness to know what’s going on like Fourth Wing, you will love this!

This book was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Alissa is a wielder and in her land that means she is hunted. She’s never even met another wielder until she meets Keil, who is an ambassador at court. As she steps into her eighteenth season, she moves into court and catches the king’s eye— the king who would kill her if he knew what she was. In order to survive, she makes an agreement with her childhood friend to try to find a way to save the wielders in her kingdom.

The story pulled me in and kept my interest. I liked the characters. Enjoyable read.

This was an enjoyable young adult romantasy book. This one took a little bit for me to get into, but after a while I felt invested in the characters and the story. I liked the author’s world building and the unique magic system that was created. This book had some twists and turns and the ending has me curious as to how the story will continue in the next book. Overall this was a great start to a new series.

Read this if you like:

📖 Forbidden magic
📖 Unique magic systems
📖 Slow burn stories
📖 Court intrigue
📖 Enemies to lovers

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.

Thorn Season is an impressive romantasy debut that captivated me from start to finish. Kiera Azar crafts a richly detailed world filled with magic, intrigue, and a slow-burning romance that feels both fresh and compelling. The characters are well-developed and their emotional journeys are beautifully woven into the fantasy setting. As a debut author, Azar shows remarkable skill in balancing world-building with character growth and romance. This book is a must-read for fans of fantasy with a strong romantic core. Support BIPOC authors and debut authors!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thorn Season by Kiera Azar

Thorn Season swept me into a dark, enchanting world where danger and beauty coexist in every shadow. Kiera Azar’s storytelling is immersive and atmospheric, crafting a tale that’s both haunting and deeply emotional.

I was captivated by the richly drawn characters—complex, fierce, and vulnerable. The protagonist’s struggle to navigate a world filled with magic, betrayal, and difficult choices felt raw and compelling. Azar’s prose is vivid and evocative, painting scenes that linger long after reading.

What I appreciated most was the balance between intense world-building and the emotional journey at the heart of the story. The twists kept me guessing, while the underlying themes of trust, resilience, and identity gave the narrative real depth.

Thorn Season is perfect for readers who love fantasy with a darker edge, where every thorn hides a secret and every season brings a new challenge. It’s a gripping, unforgettable read that I highly recommend.

I loved reading Thorn Season by Kiera Azar. It pulled me in and kept my attention. I also love the cover the artist did a great job.

I had suspected this book would be right up my alley, and I was so right!

The world building and magic system were easy to follow and crafted such an atmospheric background for all of Lady Alissa's adventures. While I wouldn't say that it was anything fully new to the fantasy scene, this book reminded me of some of my favorite YA fantasies. I got Crimson Moth and The Selection vibes, which I definitely wasn't mad about. The plot was really engaging throughout, and it wasn't long until the twists and turns started and I was absolutely hooked. I was constantly trying to solve the mystery alongside our main character, but I couldn't have thought of that iconic of an ending if I tried!!

Also, let me just say...Keil reminded me of Aaron Warner from Shatter Me and I ATE IT UP. Alissa's character arc throughout the book was so complex and so entertaining that I couldn't put the book down because I needed to know how far she was willing to go. The politics of the book were easy to understand, making up some of my favorite scenes with Alissa; you could see her start to learn how to play the game when it came to the ruthless king and his court. With that being said, I think I would have still liked to see more character development for almost all of the characters, including Alissa. At times they felt a little 2D and some of Alissa’s decisions felt left-field for her, but I am hoping with the next book in the series we get more character-building.

I think overall this book was incredibly entertaining and definitely left me excited for the next one!

Thank you NetGalley & HarperCollins for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve just finished Thorn Season by Kiera Azar, and it was an absolutely thrilling journey from start to finish. Alissa Paine has quickly become one of my favorite heroines—her strength, complexity, and emotional depth kept me glued to every page.

Her complicated relationship with Garrett tugged at my heart constantly. The depth of his loyalty surprised me and made me deeply appreciate his character. But the shocking revelations and Alissa’s tumultuous interactions with the charismatic Ambassador Keil truly elevated the stakes. Discovering Keil’s hidden royal lineage and witnessing their emotional kiss made me desperately root for them—even though Alissa felt she couldn’t leave with him.

Alissa’s ambition to control the King to achieve her goals added fascinating complexity. But when he cruelly attempted to murder an innocent, I was proud when Alissa’s power instinctively reached out against him—even though Keil heartbreakingly took the blame to protect her.

The twists continued relentlessly: Alissa’s discovery that Briar betrayed and murdered her father, captured Garrett, and planned to hand them both to the King had me breathless. Even more shocking was finding out the King possessed the compass all along, orchestrating the very deaths he pretended to avenge, and cruelly pursuing Alissa, knowing she was a Wielder the entire time.

The dramatic climax—with Perla’s help freeing Alissa from imprisonment and Alissa finally escaping with the compass—left me hopeful yet desperate for more answers. Alissa’s quest to uncover the origins of the compass has me eagerly anticipating future adventures.

Thorn Season was a gripping, emotional whirlwind filled with intrigue, romance, betrayal, and unexpected courage. I truly can’t wait to see what lies ahead for Alissa in future books!

Thorn Season by Kiera Azar is a lush, addictive fantasy debut that blends the intrigue and glamour of Bridgerton with the dark political machinations of Game of Thrones. And just enough magic and secret-society mystique to keep you on edge.

Lady Alissa enters her 18th rose season, the court’s formal debut for eligible noblewomen, not just as a prospective bride, but with secret motives of her own. Her father governs a province under the rule of the dangerously magnetic (and slightly sadistic, but in a hot way?) King Erik, whose court simmers with power plays and hidden agendas.

Romantic tension crackles throughout: there's Garret, her former childhood best friend turned complicated enemy and ally; and an intriguing but mysterious visiting ambassador with whom she shares an inexplicable, electric connection. One that hides a chilling secret neither of them fully understands… yet.

This story is tension incarnate, full of twists, slow-burn romance, dangerous liaisons, and courtly suspense that had me hooked from page one. By 70%, I was actively trying to slow down to make it last, but by 85%, I was glued to the page until 2 am. I need book two like air.

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If this book can be marketed right, I foresee this being the next big sensation! My only criticism is that the word "slaughter/slaughtered" was used a little too frequently.