Seven Deadly Thorns is going to be an absolute hit come release in November, and I’ll take that to the bank.

Not only has Amber Hamilton’s debut YA novel encapsulated a complex fantasy world of rivalling kingdoms, murderous mists and one very mischievous gargoyle, it’s given this reader a dark academia novel that she for once enjoys.

Viola Sinclair has secrets that she’s kept hidden her whole life, secrets that once caught the wrong hands begin to spiral her world to unimaginable bounds. Viola scores a bargain with none other than Roze Roquelart, the crowned Prince, and together they have seven days to uncover the truth about the Kings death.

For if they don’t succeed the consequences will be deadly.

The writing was exceptional and kept me on my toes at all time questioning what could possibly come next, and the chemistry between Viola and Roze was pulpable, so much so I couldn’t put it down until it’s last words. I’m unsure if Hamilton has designed this world for just a standalone, but if she were to continue with a sequel the foundations have certainly been laid (I very much hope for the latter)

If you are a lover for fantasy, dark academia, and (my favourite) forced proximity, I highly recommend Seven Deadly Thorns.

Thank you to NetGallery and Bloomsbury for this eARC in exchange for an honest review, and a big thank you and congratulations to Amber Hamilton for delivering a phenomenal debut – Saint Waffles deserves his own novel next.

OVERALL RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
SPICE RATING:🌶️🌶️ 2/5
Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury for an ARC of Seven Deadly Thorns by Amber Hamilton!
This book is amazing. A powerful stand-alone book.
The mystery plot combined with the slow burn romance makes for such a fantastic read!
I had so many questions going when starting this book and i loved i had no idea what was going to happen. All my questions were answered by the end of the book, and it was even better than I expected!
This book is set in such an interesting richly layered world, with an undercurrent of tension and mystery that will have you on the edge of your seat wondering what is going to happen next.
There were Snow-White and The Huntsman references throughout – evil queen, magic mirror, a huntsman. These were quite subtle though.
The romance had me swooning. I was rooting for our FMC and another character at the beginning, but I quickly jumped on the Roze bandwagon. Our beautiful tortured MMC.
Roze’s backstory was quite interesting and different from anything I’ve read before, which was refreshing.
Viola was great FMC, I enjoyed watching her come into her powers and learn to love them. I loved the plot twist at the end regarding her backstory – I had a feeling something like that was coming but it was hard to pinpoint exactly what was going to happen. I love a book that makes you think and theorise what is going to happen.
Roze and Viola together - *swoon* - love them. I love how much they despise each other at the beginning (or do they?) and then slowly learn that they are more alike than they think. I love how protective Roze is of Viola and the unhinged lengths he goes to to protect her. AND who doesn’t love a HEA?
It was quite gory in some parts for a YA read. Also, there was one bedroom scene that was quite spicy for what i would classify as suitable for YA.
The writing is eloquent and easy to read. The author used lovely descriptive terms that evoked the imagination.
The author’s writing was reminiscent of Stephanie Garber for me. So, if you’re a fan of her writing, you will love this one!
I would definitely recommend this book

A magical and immersive read. This novel takes the bones of a classic fairytale and builds something fresh and layered, blending two magical kingdoms and the tensions between them.

At times, there was a touch of info-dumping, but it helped flesh out the world and rarely pulled me out of the story. As a fan of dark academia, I was drawn in completely. I’d love to see more of the secret society and hidden artefacts explored in future books.

#SevenDeadlyThorns #NetGalley