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.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It has such a unique magic system and the political intrigue was top notch. It had a few slow moments but once it hit 50% it was a whirlwind and I couldn’t stop reading!

Content Warning: violence, death, grief

+ I didn’t know what to expect with this one – honestly I requested the arc because I was so in love with the cover! But I love when a book cover is beautiful and the story is just as good! The political intrigue and mystery about a certain object really kept me on my toes, especially in the second half of this book.

+ Alissa is an heiress and King Erik has his eye on her. In this Kingdom of Daradon, Wielders are being hunted because they have power that isn’t allowed. Alissa’s families are renowned hunters, but they don’t know but only a select few that she’s a Wielder herself, just in hiding, except she hasn’t done a good job at that. Alissa is beautiful, cunning, has the King’s ear, plays court politics well, and she loves her father. I found her character fascinating. She’s tough, and I can’t see what happens for her next.

+ The court politics was really what kept me invested in this book. I enjoyed the mystery and plot twists. Alissa and the King seemed to be playing a cat and mouse game. The King is a real villain even though at first, it doesn’t seem like it. But his character is written so well, that I hate him so much. He is the kind of evil that comes in a pretty package.

+ There wasn’t a lot of romance in this story but I didn’t mind it at all. In the beginning I thought it would be a love triangle, but I don’t think it will be. But I could be wrong. Garrett, her ex-best friend is an interesting character with a rough childhood. And Keil, an ambassador from another kingdom where Wielders are allowed, looks like the one who will be Alissa love interest. They do a lot of flirting in this book but not much else.

~ Alissa talks about her specter a lot but I couldn’t fully grasp what it was except that it is power. I would have loved more history about it, and to learn more about what Wielders can do.

Final Thoughts:

It took my two days to read this book and the second half of the book had me hooked. I love the political intrigue and how Alissa navigates court. The politics, the magic, the complicated characters and the beginnings of a romance was melded together in an entertaining book. The power play between her and the King kept me riveted. I can’t wait to see what happens in book two!

A very political based YA fantasy. Slight love triangle situation wasn’t my favorite. The middle part between 35-50% got really slow and boring for me- possibly because I don’t love when there is no action and it’s just planning political thoughts, etc. I think the blurb comparing it to ACOTAR and FW is a stretch, it’s fun and the end really picks up, but I never felt a huge draw to love our FMC or truly pulled into this world.

This was ok, but nothing really wowed me. It was very average in the way that these enemies-to-lovers, regency vibes, magic-filled YA romantasy's are. I think my biggest let down of this book was the magic system. Toward the beginning you're not really told in depth what the magic or 'specter' in this book is, which is cool, I figured it would be fleshed out more as the book went on. It was in a way, but I could never get a grasp on what exactly the author was describing it to be. Maybe it's just me that didn't understand, but it just frustrated me throughout the book that I couldn't fully realize what the author was trying to do with the magic system.

Thank you to Storytide and NetGalley for the eARC!

Thorn Season is a gripping, tense fantasy that tells the story of Alissa, a Wielder, who hides her true nature in a land that puts Wielders to death. Caught up in royal intrigue, she finds herself the object of a cruel king's desire. Will she be found out? Will she fall in love? Will she be betrayed? In the end, Thorn Season is not a stand alone and we must wait for the next book to find out. The wait will be painful, because this series is a good one.

I received an advance reader copy for free. All opinions are my own.

This page turning fantasy will appeal to readers who love court intrigue, magic, and romance. Alissa was born a Wielder in a kingdom where it is outlawed and results in death while being born into a family of hunters. She has reached the age of 18 while learning how to control her specter (magic) some, but does not really understand how to weild it well. Now she must attend the Rose Season at court. While there she must control her specter so that she does not die because of it, but has gained the attention of the attractive, but cruel, king who is seeking a wife, the mysterious handsome ambassador from a neighboring kingdom where wielders are allowed, and her former best friend, Garrett, who needs to find a missing magic object. Will Alissa survive the Rose Season and will she be able to survive the three men?

It took me a minute to get into the story, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. The twists and turns of the story were great and kept me wanting to read without stopping. The interactions between Alissa and the three men were compelling and I wasn't sure who to completely root for at first. I think this would be a great addition for a middle school or high school library.

Thank you SO MUCH to HarperCollins Children’s Books | Storytide and to the author, Kiera Azar, for an eARC of Thorn Season!

I made a commitment to myself that I was not going to request any more ARCs on Netgalley because my percentage was SCARY looking, but then Baileyreadsthings on Instagram posted about this book being available… long story short, I apparently am not good at keeping commitments to myself. I am SO SO SO SOSOSOS glad I requested this book because I am OBSESSED! This book, the suspense, the mystery, the r-o-m-a-n-c-e, WHEW!

In Daradon, Wielders are hunted and persecuted by Hunters for being different - for holding magic. Alissa Paine is born into a wealthy, Hunter family; however, Alissa is a Wielder herself. Alissa is required to attend this year's Rose Season since she is officially 18-years old, and search for a missing object to help those around her she cares about and to hopefully help the future of Wielders. Alissa finds herself in close contact with the King who despises Wielders and with an Ambassador from a foreign kingdom.

The ending of this book left me craving more. Kiera Azar - What did you put in this book?! When is the next coming? AHHH I was telling everyone around me to preorder and read this book when it comes out (September 2!!) so we can talk about it!

PREODER THIS BOOK NOW

This debut by Kiera Azar is everything you could want in a fantasy book. There is the adventure, the political intrigue, the mystery and the anticipation of will she be caught being a wielder; that really make you not want to put the book down until you finish it at 3am and realized you have to go to work in 3 hours. I liked that Alissa's story wasn't completely predictable, at times I thought I knew what was going to happen and was totally surprised when something else occurred instead. I think everyone is going to want to read this book when it comes out. Fans of Bridgerton who love the debutante storyline will love this.

Somethings I felt were cons about the book were in the magic system and the world building. The magic system is kinda unique to things that I have read but it is kind of just there we get some explanation on how it feels for Alissa but not enough to really satisfy someone like me who avidly reads books with magic systems. Lastly was the world building. While I can envision this all happening in the book and enjoy the read I feel like this was an opportunity to create a solid unique world but we don't get that. The focus is more on the story and the characters not the surrounding or a lot of detail that would lend to world building. Even though these were things that could have been better it did not take away from the novel being a great lil YA novel coming out in the fall

I was able to download an advanced reader copy on Netgalley. Initially the pretty cover drew my attention but the description sounded right up my alley. Of course I wanted to read a book described as a combination of Fourth Wing and A Court of Thorns and Roses!

The beginning started out a little slow but, before long, I was having trouble putting the book down. I was cheering for Alissa and loving the slow burn and political intrigue. The ending left me anticipating the second book of the series!

I have already ordered my beautiful first edition with the sprayed edges. This is a strong debut for Kiera Azar.

Marketed as Shadow and Bone meets The Selection and Bridgerton this book was a must read from the start.

But seriously - this book had a chokehold on me from the first few pages!! The politics, the intrigue, the secret agendas - the plot twists and reveals!! Seriously!! This book keeps the reader engaged and turning pages as quickly as eyes can read the words!!

This book is so well written and engaging I expect to see it become the next tik-tok sensation!!

4,5 stars.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts are my own.

What a great read! I really enjoyed the story, the characters and the magic in this book, and I can't wait to get a copy for my shelf.

I loved the writing and I think the author did such a good job with all the descriptions of everything from the delicious-sounding food to beautiful decorations and majestic dresses. It created such a vivid picture that really helped immerse you in the world.

The dialogue was really well written as well. All the courtly intrigue and the hidden meanings behind sharp words. And Alissa was so good at that. She was so clever and sharp, and I loved her as our FMC. Oh, and her and Keil's scenes were *chef's kiss*. Their banter was perfect and a lot of fun, and I can't wait to read more in the next installment! I'm looking so much forward to continuing this series and for everyone to read this book. I think it will be a hit!

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!

Now Playing:

⊹ ࣪ ˖Game Of Survival By Ruelle˖࣪ ⊹
0:01 ❍─────── 4:28
↻ ⊲ Ⅱ ⊳ ↺
Volume: ▁▂▃▄▅▆▇ 100%

(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