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.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Where to begin!? I've read over 3000 novels - a third of which would qualify as Young Adult or Fantasy Romance - in my capacity as an educator and bibliophile, and when I tell you that this book surprised me in multiple ways, that is a feat!

The writing style took a moment to sink into, but once immersed, I stayed immersed through the end. The pacing was excellent, the FMC was complex and three dimensional, the side characters were mostly well-fleshed-out, and the romance was exquisite. As mentioned, there were several reveals I truly did not see coming, and the author kept me guessing right up through the very end.

I would recommend this book, especially to readers of YA and NA fantasy, romantasy, and anyone who likes to be a bit surprised during the reading experience. I will certainly recommend this title to my students, and I will likely purchase a copy for my classroom library, as well.

the vibes were vibing in this and I can't WAIT for the next one, you don't know the next thing that's going to happen and that's what makes this book amazing.

KIERAAAAAAAAAAAAA THE QUEEN YOH ARE! You left such a craving of desire in our mouths. Those words don’t mess around. The way you transport us and make us feel every word. Thank you!

Marketing this as " Shadow and Bone meets the Selection" was such a wonderful choice, because this book is exactly that. I remember the way reading both of those series when I was younger made me feel and this book gave me the exact same feeling. Its magical, enchanting and the mystery was good.

The idea of Wielders and their "spectres" was enjoyable. The idea of it being a "physical power" that they can almost project was unique to me, and I feel we don't get that much in fantasies so it was refreshing to read. The world building that came along with the Wielders, like them being hated and hunted in the Kingdom was typical and not unique at all, but it contributed to the story very well.

I loved Alissa, she was stubborn especially when it came to the king liking her, but she was constantly on edge when it came to protecting herself and her family. She didn't want anyone to find out she had powers, not even Keil who's also a Wielder which added to her character. I'm hoping in the next book there is more between her and Keil because I think their romance can be wonderful.

This book is filled with court politics, and a few twists and turns and is definitely a book you'll love if you like the books its marketed to be like. I know I loved it!

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was magical! Filled with so much political intrigue that left my head spinning at times, unexpected secrets, and a magic system that felt familiar and easy to understand while still being different enough to feel fresh and new. And the villain! I've never had such wildly conflicting feelings towards someone who is so clearly the bad guy in our FMC's tale, and I feel guilty saying that he had me swooning. The action scenes in this -specifically the last 5% of the book- had me PANICKING with my heart in my throat. I'm obsessed with Thorn Season and can't wait to continue the series! Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

I wish this one worked for me, but it took well over 70% through this for the plot to finally pick up and really get going.

But that saying you'll find: A cat and mouse game, and not the one you think you're watching. Powers hidden in plain sight, that would mean execution if found out. Alluring ambassador who come from a place of freedom for that power, with a hidden identity. Political subterfuge, all the players are closing in around them.

Lady Alissa is a weilder hiding in plain sight, she can push her specter outside her body and it can physically manifest. But she's suppressed her power her entire life, and her and her father have tried to shield and protect her from being discovered. It's her 18th season and she must proclaim fealty to the king. A King who has designs on making her his bride. She finds herself in a triangle of problems, trying to get a dangerous took that could lead to her discovery out of the hands of vigilante hunters.
A foreign ambassador who could set her free in more than one way becomes an unexpected ally in all this. And one wrong move could find herself hunted.

I wish this progressed just a little faster for me.

Wow! I was not 100% sure where this book was going when I started it. But it certainly took off a few chapters in when we learn a secret our FMC and her father have been keeping since she was born. They've been keeping it for good reason considering what her father's side of the family gets up to in the dead of night. But our girl has a few other loyal friends who also help her navigate this year's Rose Season, where the King will possibly choose a wife. Which means any and all high born ladies are headed to the palace to show the King the kind of Queen they can be. But not all is as it seems when our FMC is kidnapped by who I hope our MMC turns out to be (not enough of him for my liking...more please). As it happens he's one our FMC could share her closely guarded secret with if only they could trust one another. There are many a plot twist and turn in Thorn Season including one heck of a cliffhanger in the epilogue/bonus chapter that has me wanting book two ASAP please and thank you!

Great start to a new fantasy series. I was really intrigued with this one from the get go and it kept my interest throughout. I think the author does a great job of character development and I could feel the love and hate for some of them while reading. King Erik I'm looking at you! I adore Kiel and cannot wait to see more of him in the second book. I think the whole magic user/magic hunter trope is great and there is plenty of intrigue and betrayal involved. I do wish the author would have gone into more detail about the magic system as I think it would have made the story that much better. I'm still a bit unsure what a "specter" is at this point. This book has secrets and surprises and revenge which leads to a great overall plot.

I'll definitely picking up the second book when it publishes.

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

5⭐️

WOW. I am stunned. I came into this book not really knowing what to expect and any type of expectation I could’ve had immediately was exceeded because I loved this! This may quite well be one of my top reads of the year? I’m going to try and keep my thoughts cohesive and as spoiler free as possible but it may be hard because my brain is just 🫨

First and foremost, this book is so twisty- there’s a central mystery and you’re fed information a little bit at a time in a slow release and when you finally get to the big picture, there’s so much going on and it all clicks in to place so beautifully and you realize it was all laid out in front of you the whole time. Everyone is guilty or apart of some scheme or plot, and the political intrigue and scheming from everyone alone kept me so invested- I simply couldn’t put this down! I definitely thought things would go a certain way and when they didn’t I was on the edge of my seat.

I also LOVED the FMC Alissa- she’s definitely what I would consider morally grey in the best way possible and in the way which you want to root for her and succeed. There was also some cat and mouse going on which is one of my favorite tropes So if you love that, you’ll love this. I loved her banter with one of the male characters, and said male character may be a new book boyfriend?? I need the next book immediately and I need more from them!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc, all thoughts and opinions are my own.