DNF @ 36%. This feels a little bit like crimson moth in a way ( The weilder & the weilder hunter.. COME ON) , with more complicated magic and not as unique with all of that still being said. I LIKED Kiera Azar's writing, and found it really easy to read but i could not find anything gripping about her characters that made me actually have the will to keep going. I LIKE her writing, but not THIS story. Maybe its me? Romantasy all blends together anymore.

and that isn't to say it'd bad, but it didn't feel special and super unique either.

Thank you Harper Collins & Netgalley for the oppertunity to read this arc for a review!

Thorn Season is such a strong debut novel, and I had a fantastic time with it. This is the kind of YA that younger me would’ve gone absolutely feral for. Older me still had a great time, and I’ll definitely be grabbing the next book the second it comes out.

Alissa is a great character—clever, opinionated, and (let’s be real) kind of mean sometimes. She’s not perfect, and that’s exactly what makes her so compelling. Her grief is messy and ugly and handled terribly, which felt painfully real in a way I really appreciated.

The magic system is creative and adds so much to the world without ever feeling confusing. The supporting cast shines too. There’s more than one interesting man here (shocking, I know), and they actually have personalities outside of being the love interests. Everyone is scheming, everyone has secrets… and then those secrets have secrets.

The pacing is fast and keeps you hooked, but the romance is the slowest of slow burns (and I mean that as the highest compliment). It makes every little moment count.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books and Storytide for the opportunity to read and review this arc.

This book ultimately wasn’t for me. While the first 10% or so had me intrigued, it slowed down significantly from there and at 30% I found myself feeling bored.

I really struggled with all of the court intrigue and politics, and it became hard to follow along because I just wasn’t interested. There was also a lot of name dropping of characters with very little context and it really would take me out of the story. I needed more action to keep my attention. All that said, I did enjoy the magic system and felt it was a very unique concept.

I think people will either really love this, or really dislike it depending on what they look for in a fantasy/romantasy read !

Thank you to HarperCollins, Netgalley, and Kiera Azar for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was soooooo nostalgic and is definitely something 13-year-old me would’ve loved. I gave it one extra star purely for the nostalgia, but in reality this was more of a 3.5 star read. Some plot twists were decent, but most of them were extremely predictable. I also wanted to throttle the fmc during some parts of this, but she was very well written for the most part. This book is set during debutante season with nobles, and court intrigue, and secret magic, and it was all so fun! I’ll probably read the next book.

I devoured this book. Thorn Season reminded me of an entrancing mix of The Crimson Moth and Red Queen and kept me utterly entranced from the very first chapter. Alissa was witty and vivacious, and I couldn't seem to look away as her antics unfolded. She was wholly unpredictable and fearless in the best kind of way, a complete juxtaposition from her status as a Lady. The deep way that she loved and the betrayal that she experienced were tangible emotions that left me absolutely breathless and I felt a connection to her character that surprised me with its intensity. I honestly was taken aback by how much I enjoyed her story and how easy it was to lose myself in her world. I loved the way that Kiera Azar paced the suspense and conflicts so that there wasn't a single dull moment. Every single interaction held weight and felt important in a way that had me desperate to reach the conclusion. The plot raced along so fluidly I almost forgot that I was reading at times and the twists and turns made it impossible for me to predict what would happen next. I am absolutely desperate for more and can't wait to find out how Alissa chooses to make her next move.

The beginning of this book really drew me in. I thought it was well done and very interesting, with a hint of darkness. The world felt like it was being built really well, so all of these things made me excited to keep going. Unfortunately, I started losing my faith in it after the first fifty pages or so.

I love political intrigue. I find the twistiness and plotting and scheming to be so interesting. Once Alissa went to court, I had a feeling that things weren't going to live up to my expectations. The plot felt predictable, but at the same time I kind of lost the main issue. Her goals seemed a little foggy and I think that's due to all the different plot points that were being thrown at us--which I think was in an attempt to create that political intrigue. Unfortunately, for me, it only served to weaken the story.

The romance was odd. I enjoyed Keil's character, but Garrett has me confused (he's also technically her cousin). And Erick was never a real option (he also feels weak as an antagonist--I'm not scared of him, despite all the awful things he's done). Then Keil disappears to save Alissa and never comes back. Honestly, all three of them could be written off and a new guy could come in and the story might be better for it. A romantic element only served to take away from the main focus of the story rather than enhance it.

The twists weren't shocking. I think Azar is simply trying to do TOO much. It feels like a debut novel, though not in a good way...

I have a lot of issues with Alissa's character development, too. About midway through her entire personality flipped. I understand the reasoning for it and the inciting incident, but someone doesn't going from calculating to murderous that quickly. Not to mention she didn't really feel much emotion toward it after? It felt really glossed over. Yes, she's killed someone before this, but that was a mercy killing, not out of anger and revenge. Those actions both have negative impacts, but they also change the character in different ways. And let's not forget about how she flipflopped back to her original, rational self after all the rage wore off.

I really wanted to love this, but unfortunately it missed the mark for me. I still love the beginning and think it was very strong, I just wish I could have been as obsessed as I hoped to be. The deluxe edition is also gorgeous, so kudos to whoever designed it!

Wow wow wow! What a book! I read this in a night. It was so good! I love when authors come up with a new type of magic system unable to explain and describe it well. The FMC did annoy me a lot because she has this magic could get her killed and she just wants it everywhere knowing the consequences yet still does it, but the poor girl goes through so much betrayal between her friend, her father and her lover. I didn’t think there could be any more betrayal, but it just keeps on packing.
The author was able to do it in a way too, where it wasnt very obvious and you felt betrayed right along with our female main character. I’m really excited to see where the author is going to take this next.

UTTERLY OBSESSED!!
When I read the synopsis of this book it seemed good, but I was blown away by how much I loved it! The story never had a dull moment. Every single character was very well thought out and complex. While it's a fantasy romance, it actually stayed true to young adult. The FMC I did find annoying at times, but I also feel like that stays true to the young adult category. I enjoyed the magic system and the world building, even though it wasn't very complex. There were so many twists, some I saw coming and some I didn't. This actually has an FMC who is clever and who can think for herself. I don't even know where to begin to describe the MMC, because there are multiple. One of them is only in half the book, which was a little bit of a letdown, but also genius because I cannot wait for book 2! I think this will be one of those that bookstagram will be obsessed with.
I really need to stop reading arcs because this one isn't even out yet and I am already dying for the next book!

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for allowing me to read and review this arc.

Wow, wow, wow!
Being that this book is marketed as Romantasy, I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did, but by the second half, I was hooked!
This book strikes a nice balance between romance and plot. There are 3 love interests, and even though it’s obvious who Alissa likes the most, she has chemistry with all three men, and as the story unfolds, very different dynamics develop among each of them.
This story and world didn’t feel like anything too unique if anything, it brought me back to the nostalgia of reading a YA fantasy published in the mid-2000s (The Red Queen, The Selection, etc.)
This book shines when it comes to the political intrigue and characterization. There were so many twists and turns that it was hard to know whose alliances were with who, and what side everyone was on.
I thoroughly enjoyed Alissa’s character arc, as she goes from being a sheltered noble's daughter to a scheming player in the ruthless “game” of court politics. That being said, Alissa also came across as very human. It was refreshing to see a YA heroin who, as cunning and intelligent as she was, also make mistakes and have flaws.
Overall, this was a strong debut novel with great writing that kept me hooked until the last page, and I cannot wait until I get my hands on book 2!

*Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC!

4.5⭐️ This was such a fun book. I really enjoyed it! I liked the fun twists in the book and how it makes you excited to read the next book. Can't wait to see where this goes!

Thank you so much to the author, Netgalley, and the publisher for providing this ARC.

3.75⭐️ rounded up

For a debut novel, this was a really fun read that teen me would have devoured. The magical system is totally unique but easy to grasp and follow throughout the story. I loved the simple, yet detailed enough world building for you to understand without being overwhelmed. The setting gives YA Bridgerton vibes with magic.

As a YA novel, I would classify this more as a fantasy romance than romantasy as the romance isn’t really the biggest plot of the story. In fact I was hoping for more between the men pining for the fmc. The romance was pretty predictable but it also set the scene for more in the next two books. I’m curious to see where our fmc lands and what happens next!

Thank you Harper Collins and NetGalley for an arc!

This is how to do a confident, grounded heroine. As a courtier and secret wielder, Alissa is aware of her strengths and weaknesses and attempts to use them effectively. She bluffs and blunders and meets strong personalities toe to toe, asserting her agency without falling into the trap of sassy caricature.

The strong characterization extends to the rest of the cast, and I've gotta say, I was taken by surprise. Just when I thought I knew it all, the story zigged instead of zagged. For example, the pattern of childhood friends divided into witch and witch hunter? Solid, we've seen that. But when the hunter openly knows what she is? That's an extra interesting dynamic, with an element of guilty obsession that took me right back to the webcomic The Hand That Once Fed (iykyk).

If you're on the fence, give it a shot. I think you'll be surprised.

This YA novel is a fast paced and emotional fantasy that follows Alissa, a young woman hiding her forbidden specter powers in a kingdom where Hunters will kill her if she is discovered. From the opening scene, the tension never lets up. I enjoyed how the story blended high stakes action with friendships, betrayal, and a complicated connection with multiple love interests. The writing is vivid and cinematic, and the worldbuilding feels very detailed. Thorn Season has a dark fairytale quality that makes it hard to put down.

I flew through this book and finished it in 3 sittings, it was fast paced and the magic system was unique and it just kept me invested throughout. The FMC was intelligent, persistent and it was enjoyable to follow her story, she overcame a lot of hardships and had me rooting for her pretty quickly. There is a bit of a love triangle or square but its not super fleshed out and I felt it was too obvious who the endgame will be which makes me not as invested in the relationship as I want to feel more tension with at least 2 options. Its probably because I am not rooting for the obvious choice, I wanted more moments for them. I will say it took me a bit (about 20%) to get into it but once it gripped me I could not put the book down. I am looking forward to the next installment that will hopefully expand the world and the magic system even more.

I received an eARC thanks to Netgalley and Storytide, HarperCollins. All opinions are my own.

This story swept me up right away!

There was such a unique magic system, where Wielders harness a dangerous Spectre that can caress, fight, or kill.

I really loved Alissa, and it was no surprise that every man seemed drawn to her, especially as she grew so much throughout the book.

The chemistry was so good! I definitely picked my favorite MMC.

Overall, the author did a fantastic job keeping me hooked!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the free ARC.

Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for a digital ARC.

TLDR: a lot of fun despite some cliches and tenuous world-building

In Alissa’s world, some people like her are Wielders– they have the rare ability to extend themselves outside of their body in near-invisible tendrils that can kill or caress. These Wielders are killed by Hunters, which now include Alissa’s childhood friend. Alissa has survived until her eighteenth will by sheer force of will, trapping her powers inside of herself. But when Alissa is kidnapped and becomes a pawn to those seeking the artifact that helps Hunters find their prey, everything might change…

This is a really enjoyable read if you’re looking for a main character with development, a slow-burn romance, and a unique kind of magic. The Wielders’ telekinesis powers fill a nice niche– they’re very easy to understand and don’t require a complex magic system, but I’m hard-pressed to think of another example of this kind of magic and its complexities in other books. The descriptions of Alissa trying to use her powers and restraining them are really well executed, and it’s an interesting parallel to her attempts at politics. I really loved that she was irrevocably shaped by an event in her past that’s alluded to multiple times, and we get the satisfaction later of finding out what that event is– it makes perfect sense, and the reveal works well.

The romantic rectangle(?) was less engaging. It felt like every man of a certain age was besotted with the main character. Another reader pointed out their enjoyment of the series increased once one of the love interests exited the book.

I don’t demand a lot of world-building in romantasies and love to be thrown into the action, but the first chapter felt shaky and I found myself nitpicking small things rather than enjoying myself. When we first meet her, Alissa tries to frantically scrub a Hunter’s Mark from her friend’s door, but we don’t find out much later that she’s from a noble house (I thought she had much humbler origins since she describes her father toasting his own sesame biscuits). Wouldn’t she have people for this? Pages later, we find out that her friend Marge has been gone for a week. What’s the point of removing the mark then? Her friend Tari is the second character we meet and is immediately characterized as loyal but not always reliable, but we barely see her for the rest of the story. It felt like a bunch of odd false starts in just the first chapter, but it’s worth soldiering past that because it quickly improved for me– and the last 30% or so is really engaging.

And yes, this is the first book in a series– there’s some closure to the story arc but a lot of dangling threads.

What a debut! I can honestly say a YA has not hit like this for me in a long time! This is a definite recommend if you enjoy the writing style and vibes of Suzanne Collins. I find that typically I have a harder time consuming YA or even upper YA novels because the FMCs can feel 1 dimensional and flat. This was not the case! Set in a royal court during debutante season, this was a tale of persecution of Wielders, the minority “magic” users of the world. Hunters are the executioners tasked to destroy any with Wielder abilities. Our main character Alissa is an heiress to a Hunter family AND a Wielder herself! This was rife with court intrigue, corruption, allies with questionable morals, hidden side character motivations, well done slow reveal world building, and it left me guessing and shocked and alarmed at backstabbings and surprise allies! This magic system is unique and interesting to watch develop as the story unfolds. Our FMC starts off relatively naive, however she undergoes a truly well done character arc and development, which I loved cheering her through! This book had a great mystery aspect as well, with sleuthing that I legitimately enjoyed unraveling with our FMC. This book had zero spice, but I did not miss it at all as the YEARNING was top notch! The banter was spot on, and sweet moments were done well without being overly cloying or age inappropriate. There are dark sequences dealing with death and torture however, so upper YA would be my recommendation for teen readers. However I think this is enjoyable for adult readers as well! My only complaint - I had no idea this wasn’t a stand alone, and now have to wait for book 2!! Thank you to Kiera Azar, NetGalley and Harper Collins for this eARC!

This is such a great debut for fans of YA novels!

You get court intrigue, multiple love interests(who will it be?), forbidden magic, and the hunt for a mystery object before it's too late! The stakes are high for this FMC. I had such a great time reading this! It was more of a nostalgia type read for me though because at times the FMC acted younger than her age which probably wouldn't have been as noticeable if I had been the target age for this book. About half way in, the stakes got higher and the FMC became more likable. I can't wait to continue in this series to see what happens next!

Thank you so much to HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for the eARC! The above review is 100% my genuine honest opinion.

i’ll be honest, at first i wasn’t sure how i was going to feel about this book just because it has a lot of tropes we’ve seen before: war against magic, enemies to lovers, love triangles, all that. so i wasn’t sure if it would feel like anything new. but oh my god, by the second half i was hooked.

the scheming and plotting were so well done, and I really grew to love the main character. the way she planned and plotted reminded me so much of jude duarte from the cruel prince. and the main antagonist was so well done in that by the end of the book i absolutely despised him and need him gone immediately.

if i had one critique, it’s that i wish there had been a little more worldbuilding. there’s so much potential there, and i wanted to see more of it fleshed out. but still, this book completely won me over. and the second book cannot come fast enough, i need it.

awesome and addictive romance with some interesting ideas and some very fun, if a little monotonous, plotting. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.