⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ – Thorn Season

Alissa Paine has the kind of life people at court envy…money, family name, the promise of a perfect debut. What no one knows is she’s a Wielder, and that’s exactly what her Hunter family has spent generations hunting down. One slip, one wrong move, and she’s done for.

The book drops you into a world of gowns, politics, and sharp-edged magic. The magic itself is interesting—pretty to look at, but deadly if you’re on the wrong side of it. Alissa’s caught between trying to survive court life and figuring out who she can actually trust, which is harder than it sounds when everyone has their own game. There’s romance in the mix, but it’s tangled up with all the secrets and danger.

I’ll be honest, there were a few points where the pace slowed down and I had to push through, but the tension always picked back up. By the last few chapters, I was fully invested in how it would all shake out. It’s a solid start to the series, and I’m curious to see where it goes next.

Thorn Season is a book that feels very much of our time. Lady Alissa Paine seeks to hide her powers as a Wielder in a land where Wielders are persecuted - while participating in the rose season intended to find a wife for the cruel Prince Erik.

I was trying to put a finger on why I liked this book so much, and I really appreciated that the women in this book are given the complexities and morally grey characterisation that is so often given to men in fantasy novels. For better or worse, most of the men are exactly what they seem - it's the female characters who provided hidden depths and nuances, whether Alissa's romantic rival Perla, best friend Carmen or enemy Briar.

The book also had interesting things to say about the idea of privilege, of solidarity and what we owe our community when others are being oppressed. I think it is a great read for YA audiences examining their role in the world and will be a great book for fans of the Rose Bargain and the Crimson Moth. Thanks to Harper Collins for the early copy.

This kind of story is the sort of book that makes me both love and hate NetGalley; I need the sequel NOW, yet the first hasn't even been published yet.


Thank you NetGalley and Storytide for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was so exciting from start to finish. I was invested by the first chapter and would have read the entire book in one sitting if I hadn’t had to go to work. I am so impressed that this is a YA debut. The overall story reminded me a bit of Heartless Hunter (The Crimson Moth) since the FMC has to hide her power and is in constant danger and risk of discovery. There is some romance and tension in the story, but it definitely wasn’t the focus of the plot, which I really appreciated. There are multiple layers of secrets and schemes going on. I enjoyed the espionage and the attention to detail. There are things that the FMC notices that didn’t quite pan out the way I was thinking, so I didn’t feel like I already knew what was going to happen next. The FMC is fairly flawed and selfish, but there is some slow character growth and it felt more true to reality than if she had a sudden change of heart. I’m already hoping that one of the special edition book boxes picks this up because I am dying for a SE copy of this.

Thank you to Netgalley, Kiera Azar, and Harper Collins for the ARC of this book. It was an absolute pleasure to read.

I think Azar's passion (and romance) really shines through this book; she took great care in her characters and offers a fresh off the press gossip sheet. But I could not get myself to care in the slightest when each paragraph was ending with some kind of slapping realization or rose-themed epiphany. Once, I rolled my eyes so hard I saw stars.

And yet, I feel like I was falling for another one of the classic blunders of current publishing: lets make a book so damn beautiful (and it <i>is</i> beautiful to look at, with sprayed edges and embossed covers, and special editions galore) at the determinant of editing writing. Zingers are not enough-- and my goodness there were so many damn zingers. It almost relies on you to have read hundreds of regency romances (which I have) to understand the stakes, whilst also under explaining anything that makes it special.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC of Thorn Season in exchange for my honesty opinion and rating!

I loved this read and honestly I think that this is an amazing YA release, let alone an impressive debut release. As a highly analytical reader some points were a tad predictable for me but there were still a lot of twists and turns that I did not expect at all. Plot twists that made me confused, mad, thrilled, etc. but all in positive ways in terms of progressing the plot and keeping the reader intrigued. The implication of “Wielder” and “Wholeborn” and the way that the social economy are in this book truly give a darker aspect of this book. Especially in the sense that a good amount can be compared to many types of discrimination and socioeconomic spaces both in history and in current times, all without bringing the un-comfortability of fully bringing in certain political aspects.
I will say there were a lot of times where the FMC did irritate me a lot with her actions closer to the mid/end of the book whereas a reader it felt like her jumps to certain conclusions did not fully make sense, nor some of her actions. But understanding the depictions of her mental state at the time I did try to give some leeway in that aspect.
I love the multilayered aspects of the side characters, and I will say that is something that I do think a good amount of YA books do lack in putting a lot of the side characters in certain stereotypical bubbles. However, with this book I feel like all of the characters introduced brought their own true personalities and twists and turns which brought so much more to the plot and the “Omg!!” moments. I love how some of the typical romantasy tropes are apparent in this book but not at all in the typical way that we are used to, instead she makes them her own and she does so in a strong manner.
The world building and descriptions of both the environment and the FMC’s emotions were both very intriguing. The world building was beautiful and lush, especially when explaining how her power physically felt for her in interacting with the world and elements around her. Now as far as her emotions and her actions with said emotions I think that is what truly made the book so much easier to fall into and feel a connection with. Her rage, her sadness, her fear, misplaced emotions from being strung in multiple directions, everything was delved into with so much depth and description that it felt like you could feel all of those things with her both physically and mentally.

The ending chapters really ramp up the action and change the pacing fast but in a great way, I wouldn’t have guessed how it would have ended and the epilogue was so intriguing, I cannot wait for the sequel of this book as I will for sure be continuing this series!!

I am sorry to say I found this book disappointing. First of all the publisher does this book a huge disservice by setting up comparisons to Fourth Wing and ACOTAR, which it is nothing like, and nowhere near in league with. I was excited about magic and romance, which if you came for don’t bother, because you will find no romance and very little magic. I found the term wielder annoying and almost the entire story is written about efforts to keep this magic hidden. This story is more of a mystery where Alissa is searching for something, and the sleuthing is done mostly off page and wrapped up with everything laid out exposing what we did not see which is frustrating. I was bored and had to force myself to get through this. Almost every character is annoying and there is no emotional connection. There is a constant reference to an incident in her past that is not explained until the end and the constant reference to this unknown event was just annoying. I have no interest in reading the sequel of this story and it very much ends on a cliffhanger.

DNF @ 4%

This felt exactly like another book to me. I've read it. It's not original or different or new. It's a cookie cutter "girl with illegal powers is loved by everyone". The loss of the mother figure, the magic system, none of it was new to me

I wish the author the best but it's a nah from me

Thanks so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Alissa Paine has been forced to hide her Wielder powers her entire life. But in order to save her father, others life her and herself, she puts it all on the line by joining Court for her eighteenth season in order to search for a magical artifact that can identify those with Wielding powers. But its Thorn Season, and the King makes his intentions to wed her clear early on.

Full of political intrigue, immaculate world building, sharp dialogue and the most romantic yearning between two characters I’ve ever witnessed, this YA Romantasy debut blew me away. The writing is do very sharp. The characters are presented in all their glory, full of flaws and (with few exceptions), so very understandable. The side characters are so fully fleshed out, particularly Tari, Garrett, Carmen and Perla. What really stands out to me is that Alissa never waits for a man to save her. Her chemistry with Keil is quite possibly the best demonstration of yearning that I’ve ever witnessed (with a toucb of “who did this to you?” thrown in just to make me swoon). And that ending?!? I can’t wait for the next entry in this series.

You need to add this to your TBR now. It comes out September 2nd, and trust me, you’ll want a copy.

This book!! You would have to pry it from my corpse to get it away from me. My every thought for the past 24 hours since I have finished, has only been this book. I am obsessed. Our FMC Allissa is absolutely amazing and every single way. She’s strong and she’s not perfect which makes her so relatable. Keil is absolutely perfect. He is so sweet. The plot is plotting in the twist were twisting. I was shocked multiple times the betrayal of this book that nobody can be trusted feel of it was done amazingly. I love books with a good political intrigue, and this one blew it out of the water. The politics in this book were so well done.
If you like…
Political intrigue
Forbidden magic
Rivals to lovers
Then I highly suggest this book even if you don’t like those things I highly suggest this book because this book will be the book that makes you like these things. That is how good this book was make sure to pre-order this baby and I hope you enjoy the ride!

DNF at 14%

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC but unfortunately this one wasn’t for me.

It was SO boring. 🥱 I read 65 pages and I was not interested or impressed. We have yet another girl who has “illegal” powers and who is loved by her childhood friend, the new mysterious magic wielder AND the king. 🤨

And it feels like the only real plot is that she’s not supposed to have magic.

No thanks. I’m out.

What a fun fantasy with bachelorette vibes!

A YA romantasy debut with a love triangle where each character holds their own secrets. I was fully immersed in the story and the magic system from the start of the book.
Alissa is our morally grey heroine who has powers that she is hiding & is the daughter of a nobleman. While hiding under the noses of the Hunters, she fights for her and her people's freedom by entering the Rose Season in order to secure the king's hand.

I really liked the rivals to lovers romance that has been brewing and excited to see how it develops in the next books!

Oooh the hidden truths and betrayals. This was a great and enjoyable read! I am looking forward to the next book.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this eARC!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. - Freya, arc & monthly book box pick reviewer (athenafreyag on Instagram)

MY BRAIN CELLS ARE SCATTERED INTO THE VOID, AND ONLY KEIL'S SPECTRE CAN BRING THEM BACK!! SERIOUSLY, THIS IS PHENOMENAL!!! NOBODY SHOULD LET 2025 GO BY WITHOUT HAVING READ THORN SEASON. HOLY MOLY, I DEVOURED THIS!!!!!!

Initial thoughts: I was instantly intrigued by the premise! Persecuted Wielders of Spectres that are like threads used for various purposes from lock picking to killing! A young woman born into a Hunter family but being a Wielder herself! I was immediately sold!

What I liked 🤩: I loved everything. It should be criminal for a book to be this good. I am a fast reader, but I haven't read this fast in a loooong while. I just couldn't put it down. I just HAD TO READ everything and see what happens. THORN SEASON IS ONE OF MY TOP READS OF THE RECENT YEARS, not just 2025. It literally scattered my brain cells and I couldn't function for hours after finishing it because HOLY MOLY WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!

Alissa is the pov we follow, and she is absolutely glorious. I loved how she gets things done. She thinks and controls and manipulates and schemes and PLANS!! She lies because she has to. She protects because she wants to, but what I loved the most about her was how self-aware she was and aware, in general. She saw both sides of the coin. She understood the motive even though she couldn't understand how some people did certain bad things. She got several things right, and others wrong. In my opinion, it was the perfect balance of being a smart, competent mc and of delivering plot twists.

Keil is the beacon of light here. He is good like purely and irrevocably good. He risks his life to protect others, people he doesn't even know. Despite his power, he is so soft. I just want to hug him and keep him in my pocket.

The romance is delicious. The banter is out of this world and had me laughing, giggling, smirking, and smiling the entire time. Alissa and Keil push and pull, give and take, and every exchange is sizzling and delightful. This is a YA, but the characters are over 18, which is why I call it sizzling.

The rest of the characters were fabulously crafted and developed. The illustrious king. The best friend. The rival competitor. The charming queer Princess. Keil's "entourage". The rest of the court. Everyone is unique, and has a purpose. No one is there for decorative purposes lmao

I loved the worldbuilding and the plot!! Some plot twists I had seen coming, but most of them I was screaming over. I was left reeling and screaming for most of the book. Lovely experience, I assure you. I just love a plot that I cannot predict, a plot that leaves me breathless and unable to find brain power in order to predict. And Thorn Season delivers that! The worldbuilding was also refreshing. I've never read about anything remotely similar to a Spectre, a thread that you can do maaaaany things with.

I also enjoyed how the author conveyed oppression and rebellion. Alissa had a pessimistic view, believing that nobody in her country cared for Wielders and nobody would ever protect them much less take their side and stand up to tyranny. Keil saw the good in people. He saw the demonstrations, the small and ah hidden acts of compassion, and believed that there was hope. No spoilers here, but I loved the contrast of their views and how the author expressed it all.

EVERYTHING about this book is PERFECTION. I NEED BOOK 2 NOW 😭😭😭😭😭😭HOW CAN I COPE NOW WITHOUT THEM???

What I didn’t like 🙃: ARE YOU KIDDING? THIS BOOK HAS BEEN ENGRAVED ON MY BONES.

Overall: Kiera Azar is Wielder of Sharp and Sexy Storytelling, and she has already become an autobuy author for me. If you love Crimson Moth/Heartless Hunter, well, Thorn Season is the sister of that story, in my opinion. Shadow and Bone meets The Selection is also accurate, but it just reminded me of Crimson Moth in the best way. Thorn Season is the YA fantasy of the year, a book impossible to put down. It catapulted itself to my top 5 YA fantasy of all time and top 10 reads of all time. Thorn Season is NOT to be missed.

SE info: This is the fairyloot October YA pick, and I am sooo grateful!! I am renewing with passion and joy! The first US edition has sprayed edges, and there is a magnificent exclusive Waterstones edition, too.

A gorgeous, smart, and romantic debut! I loved it so much. I was completely enthralled by Thorn Season.

I love court politics and this had plenty. Each character had motives they acted on. Alissa was an active participant in the scheming.

Alissa was a strong MC that I was immediately rooting for. Her dynamic with Garrett was so interesting to be honest. I might be in the minority 🤷‍♀️. The prince was interesting and the other noble was too.

It was a great addicting read that I definitely recommend to anyone who loves romantasy.

Kiera is an amazing writer and this book proves it. A well paced and tbought out plot, the characters were easy to love too.

This book was amazing. I was fully invested the entire time, and I literally couldn’t stop thinking about it.

I thought that the world-building was strong and the pacing was perfect. I was always engaged in the events of the story and the characters.

Alissa was a great main character to read. I’m really excited for what happens next!

DNF @ 26%

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thorn Season is the start of a YA romantasy trilogy filled with debutantes, twists, and a unique magic system. Unfortunately, it just wasn't the story for me.

I don't have anything bad to say about this story. Though I only got 26% in, I already noticed a fast-paced plot with a somewhat dark, whimsical setting and fascinating character dynamics. I'm not surprised at all that this is becoming a new romantasy favorite for a lot of readers. However, I think this book made me realize that I'm not all that into books that include debutante seasons.

I do also feel like this book tries a little bit to hard to include the tropes and banter so many romantasy readers love. I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing for some people, but it isn't something I love. For anyone who absolutely loves romantasy or readers who are new to it, I think the writing and tropes will make this book really fun.

The element of this book I found myself most intrigued by was the magic system. Some people in this world are 'Wielders' and they're constantly trying to escape the Hunters who consider them to be dangerous. Our main character Alissa is a Wielder born into a family of Hunters and it has formed her into an incredibly brave and strong character who is easy to love. The complexity of her life does a great job setting up for a twisty story full of betrayal and action.

Though this story may not work for my personal taste, I know the audience for this book is quite a significant one. I won't be shocked if this becomes one of the new romantasy sensations. If the rest of the book is anything like the portion I read, readers are in for a wildly fun ride of twists, action, and addictive characters and relationships. Anyone looking for a fairytale setting and unique, complex magic system should get their hands on this book.

Review on Goodreads (sophreadingbooks https://www.goodreads.com/sophreadingbooks) as of 7/28/2025

I was absolutely obsessed with this book. Thorn Season has everything I love in YA fantasy - political intrigue, strategy and schemes, power plays, time at court, and a morally gray, strong willed, determined female main character who will stop at short of nothing to shape her own destiny.

Alissa, a heiress, is living a secret life. She's a Wielder, someone who is in possession of magic, and also a community that has always been hunted for their abilities. Due to the efforts of her father and some self-control, she's remained hidden from the Hunters, the group who's mission is to eradicate every Wielder in the kingdom. Now that she is being summoned to the court for her debutante season, Alissa is surrounded by the very people who would kill her if they discovered her true identity. Once at court, Alissa finds herself caught between admirers--the brutal King renowned for his violence against Wielders, a foreign ambassador with questionable motives, and an old childhood friend responsible for her first heartbreak. Will she be able to keep her identity hidden while navigating all the sudden interest in her? She has more to lose than she initially realizes, and the cost of survival may be more than she's willing to pay.

This book was addicting. I thought the characters and world building were fantastic, and appreciated the well-developed, thoughtful plot. There were times when I could see where the plot was going and expected a reveal, but also times the plot twist caught me by complete surprise and had me shocked. Pretty much from the first page, I was invested in what happened next. I also loved Alissa, characters like her are why I love YA fantasy books. She was angsty, strong, ambitious and knew the importance of fighting for what you believe is right. As a 27 year old, I find inspiration in her strength, and I wish this book would have been around when I was a teenager so that a younger, more insecure version of myself could have taken something away from her too. Her love interests were also part of what made the story so engaging. I feel like normally when I read books with multiple love interests, it's pretty clear who the heroine favors and by default, the author. That was not the case here! At her core, Alissa chooses herself over and over. It is never clear what action that choice is going to lead her to take, which kept the romantic subplot fresh and engaging. I think this may be the first time I've ever read a "love triangle/square" book where I haven't had a standout favorite who I want the main character to end up with. I almost wish I hadn't read an advanced copy of this book, because now I have to wait even longer for the sequel. I highly recommend Thorn Season to lovers of YA fantasy, court politics, forbidden magic, betrayal and strategy, and strong, morally gray female characters. A huge thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! Expected publication is September 2, 2025.

I loved reading Alissa’s story: the strong control she has over her power, and the relationships that impact her life. The characters intrigued me, as did the implied social issues. I recommend reading this one. It does end on a cliffhanger - and I eagerly am waiting for the next book.