Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for allowing me an eARC to read this book early. This has hands down become my favorite book of the year and I am thirsty for the next installment! The world building and character development were top notch and I haven't experienced a book this good since reading The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller. Fans of magic, romance, intrigue and an amazing magic world will gobble this up, just like I did. The twists and turns were always a surprise and I truly felt like I had fallen into the world that Kiera had created. I can't recommend this highly enough!

This story follows Alissa, a young lady with a magical power called a Wielder, a feared ability. Only a few people know about her powers including an old childhood friend, who became a Hunter, the same group that hunts people like her. This season she is supposed to spend it in court held by the King of the nation. Court will be interesting this season, an ambassador from a foreign nation is visiting, a nation that openly supports Wielders!

This world is intriguing with the unique court and political systems. I like the main character, she is cunning and sassy. Though, I feel like the explanation of the magic system and her powers is lacking. I know people are afraid of it and she doesn’t know much since she can’t share it with others, but I feel like I don’t fully understand what her powers even are. The story is interesting and is start of a series that I’m already eagerly expecting.

This book is a wonderful story and would recommend! Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins Children’s Book for the digital copy of this book for review. Available Sept 02, 2025

*ੈ✩‧₊˚Rating*ੈ✩‧₊˚
5/5 Stars

˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗Tropes˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗
🪙 Unique Magic System
🧭 Enemies To Lovers
🪙 Forbidden Magic
🧭 Slow Burn
🪙 Cunning Fmc

💭 Thoughts-
This book was another great book, like my last read, I loved it! This book had it all! It had the court intrigue, the betrayal, the endless hidden agendas, and the political intrigue, and it was all done so well! It kept me wanting more and more, and I ended up staying up way too late to finish this because I could not put it down! As a girlie who loves romance and always needs some in every book she reads, I was left wanting some more in this one because I do feel the romance is definitely a sub-plot in this one which a lot a people like I just was left wanting more of it. All in all though a great book that I’d totally recommend!

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(Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)

OMG, where do I even start? I'm calling it now - Thorn Season will be one of my top reads for this year. Thank you Kiera Azar, Storytide / HarperCollins, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. Once I finished reading I immediately placed a preorder for a deluxe edition.

First off, this is a breathtakingly, show-stopping, debut novel from Kiera Azar. From the moment I picked it up I didn't want to stop reading, it pained me to have to pause for sleep. Thorn Season is super fast paced, spinning teacups of a tale - except unlike a normal ride it dizzyingly drops you off at a different place every chapter. The foreboding paired with the action packed, whirling storyline makes it a super addictive read.

I can NOT wait for this trilogy to continue and to say I'm obsessed with Alissa, Keil, and Tari would be an understatement. I'm excited to learn more about Ansora and hopefully see the return of many a character. I have thoughts and theories about how this trilogy will unfold. I'm excited to be wrong, like I was various times while reading Thorn Season, and devour the many twists and turns that are sure to come.

Well…I was really looking forward to “Thorn Season” because I kept hearing it was gripping and world-building like “A Court of Thorns and Roses”. In my opinion, “Thorn Season” is very surface in terms of character depth, connections/relationships, and certainly low-grade with world building. For me, the writing was quite flat and didn’t really draw me in at all. I was hoping to have a story that described the Rose Season and something that painted pictured for me to envision. Sadly, I found it extremely difficult to tell what this world look like, what time period it could have been. Apart from the few corset references, there really weren’t any descriptions of the the physicalities of the world or the people.

This book does hit the mark with political elements. If you enjoy stories that a fueled by political warring and worlds at conflict in their government, this book will satisfy! Azar does a great job setting up the struggle with the monarchy and also adds several plot twists throughout.

Overall, I think this book feels like it’s in the early development stage and needs to be reworked to add depth and layers to the characters, the world, the story, etc. It could be fantastic…it just isn’t there yet.

To say I'm obsessed with Alissa is an understatement. Her narration paints her as a strong, clever and intelligent woman. Alissa has been hiding her identity as a Wielder her entire life after she was born into the noble hunters lineage. She is then summoned into the courts debutante season which is reminiscent of Bridgerton and the selection. She is going undercover in the King’s court to try to save herself and her people, with her best friend, a foreign ambassador, and a power hungry king, she must navigate Rose Season and survive the most vicious thorns. I was excited to read this once reading the blub. The book contains court, magic, rivals to maybe lovers and tons of secrets. The magic system and the plot were very well developed and created beautiful imagery thru the book. If you enjoy strong women and magic join The Thorn Season. BRING ON BOOK TWO!

Thank for for NetGalley and the publishers for giving me this arc for my honest review.


I was really interested in the story but I felt as though the author couldn’t describe the magic “ spectator” in a way that wasn’t confusing. I felt like she needed to elaborate on the magic system as a whole alittle bit more

A whirlwind story with no shortage of twisty plot turns, Kiera Azar’s THORN SEASON is a show-stopping debut.

This book was impossible to put down. I really see this being having a huge following. I seriously couldn't help but continue to read and wanted it to never end.

Oh. My. Goodness. I LOVED IT SO MUCH! I'm buying the deluxe version when it comes out and reading it again because I know things were added and/or changed most likely. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT! I can not WAIT for this series to continue. I loved the setting, the mystery, the suspense, the action, the love interests, THE TENSION! Kiera's writing was so good and this book had me so intrigued, it was a heart-pounding fast paced book for sure! I'm excited for this trilogy.

A romantic fantasy that keeps you on the edge of your seat! Expect a love triangle that’s good that you don’t know who to root for. So excited for the next book!

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exhange for my honest review!

I'm afraid I quit at the 20% mark. The pace the book set was DIZZYING. It felt like the narrative went from 0-100 in no time. There's SO MUCH in here. Rose Season, Capewells, the FMC's lineage, Garrett, the FMC's friends, hunters, hunter's marks, King Erik, the FMC's father's treachery and on and on and on. The author lands on a topic, takes a nibble and then - while you're thinking you have a minute to stop and smell the roses - you look up and, welp, she's 60 miles in the opposite direction. I was always left scrambling to catch up. I could never find purchase in this story - this was a runaway train and I was barely clinging to the caboose. It was as if the author was given a strict number of pages in which to tell her story, and she was working overtime to make sure everything got in there. The tale just doesn't breathe. It was a frankly exhausting read.

This is a small note, but I kept getting hung up on the word choice of "spectre". I struggled to even imagine what it was was, how it worked, what its rules were bc I kept thinking "ghost...?"

I could not put this down, not me turning into a night owl to finish this book so quickly!

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for this arc!

This was a fun read. The magic system was unique and I really felt a connection forming with the characters. Our main character, Alissa, is someone that you can't help but root for. There were bits that had me on the edge of my seat. I am really interested in seeing where this story goes and how these characters grow. This is a solid debut and I will definitely be picking it up when it comes out later this year!

Wow! I was in a slump and decided to pick this one up and I’m so glad I did. It absolutely had me hooked. The romance, the backstabbing, the twists… just perfect. The magic system and the world building were incredibly interesting. I’m really looking to see where the next book takes us after that ending!

Thank you to NetGalley, Kiera Azar, and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read this eARC!

This book needs to be on your TBR if you’re into: unique magic systems, fierce yet imperfect heroines, and fantasy stories that feel both fresh and familiar in the best way. It’s technically YA, but it reads so well that I think any fantasy fan will be hooked.

Oh, and if you’re the kind of reader who ends up rooting for the villain… trust me, you’ll be all in.

I’m already eagerly waiting for the sequel, and I’ve been recommending this to all my book-loving friends!

Thank you so much for allowing me to read this! The selection was one of my favorite series so hearing this book was a mix between that bridgerton and shadow and bone I knew this wouldn’t disappoint. This is perfect for readers looking for unique magic, political/court drama, and enemies to lovers. While I wish there was more romance I am looking forward to reading the next book

Born into a family of Hunters whose job is to eradicate all magic from the land, Alissa has been hiding her identity as a Wielder her entire life. When she discovers the compass that reveals specters is missing, she goes undercover in the King’s court to try to save her people. With a childhood best friend, a foreign ambassador, and a power hungry king, she must navigate Rose Season with all thorns out.

I was so excited for this romantasy debut by Kiera Azar! She weaves together a bustling, mysterious court so well. I loved learning about the families, side characters, and lore behind Daradon’s kingdom. The magic system was easy to understand and dive into, and the love SQUARE?? Keeping us on our toes, I will say I had to root for different men at different times. The only frustration I had was with the FMC, who swung so extremely on the pendulum of her emotions and actions. However, as she is 18 years old and dealing with major transitions and grief, I think it painted a rather realistic picture. Honestly, the king was written VERY well and with great complexity, and I can’t wait to see Azar develop the rest of her characters in a similar manner. I am very curious to see where the next book brings us!

Thank you to HarperCollins for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Man the ARC gods must be on my side because this is another banger!

Thorn Season is full of court politics, secret missions, betrayal, and a reallllllly well written villain (who I was kind of into??).

This was a suspense filled, fast paced read. Alissa is a great FMC. She’s strong, but makes mistakes and is deeply flawed. The two love interest MMCs are written just as well, one morally grey, the other more gentle and kind. Side characters added a lot of depth to the story, and I’m looking forward to learning more about them in book two.

I do wish that we got more world building for the magic system, rebellion, and royal family. I am hopeful that what was revealed in book one will be built upon in book two. I took notes so that I’m well prepared for when we book two comes out ☺️

This was a slow start but the second half of the book had me on my toes. I just could not stop reading. There was a lot of worldbuilding in beginning and Alissa (our heroine) just trying to figure out the puzzle pieces of the theft she was trying to solve. So bear with it because it's worth it when things start to make sense!

If you liked Crimson Moth/Heartless Hunter with political castle intrigue, check this out. It's not exactly the same, but people having some sort of magic ability and being persecuted is the main theme.

Can't wait for the next book! Let's be honest here, I can't wait to see the Alissa with her potential love interest!

3.5 stars rounded up

There’s a lot to love about Thorn Season! Alissa Paine is both a noblewoman but she’s also secretly a wielder of specters. If the wrong people found out about her magic, she would be killed. This existential threat paired with conniving court drama made for a solid backdrop for a story of mystery and betrayal.

Alissa’s certainty about the world around her was frustrating. Her vocabulary and scheming felt much more mature than an 18 year old, but her self-assuredness was VERY age appropriate. Despite being so headstrong, I never really could get a solid read on Alissa as a character.

Overall, I enjoyed this enough that I will plan to read the next book in the series when it comes out! It was a good read with lots of twists and turns. Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.