Jack of Thorns

Fantastic LGBTQIA+ urban fantasy read! (Bambi) Laurence works at his mother's flower shop in San Diego's Gaslamp District. He's a lonely drug addict, praying at the altar of Cernunnos, the God of the Green, in his pagan religion. When he succeeds in summoning this god, he feels the whole trajectory of his life begin to change, but not toward the better. Cernunnos reveals that Laurence has godlike powers too, which explains the psychic vision that came to Laurence in the midst of his last overdose. The God of the Green devises several nasty plans to grow and shape Laurence's powers, involving lots of sex and debauchery. Laurence would have agreed to such plans a few months ago, but a blooming romance with Quentin, Lord of Banbury and self-exiled British royalty, shows Laurence that their might be a different way to use his powers.

I loved how this book started as a contemporary romance and then bit by bit the holes are filled with magic, this was a gripping book with fascinating main characters whose secrets I enjoyed learning.

AL Faulkner is a new voice for me, but offers a compelling narrative in Jack of Thorns. The science fiction and supernatural elements play an effective support role in a character-driven story.

A really enjoyable read, and hopefully the start to a great series with a pair of completely dysfunctional but loveable characters. Quentin might be a little of a cliche for the romance genre (dark secret, scars from his past, unwilling to open up), but there’s a reason that’s a cliche - it really works! Laurence is a great character (as is his super badass mother) and really holds it together throughout.

I confess, the first 20% I wasn’t sure about - it felt very traditional romance - but once the fantasy elements started to come out (and in fact end up as the main aspect of the plot by the end) I really grew to enjoy the book and look forward to reading more!

This was a crazy premise, I loved the story from the summary and it does not disappoint. The characters were interesting and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

Laurence Riley is an easy going florist with the power to make things grow. He can also see the future, which manifests one terrifying night when he ODs and is left for dead. Now, he’s trying to keep his life together, which is hard with a stalker ex-boyfriend dogging his heels.

Quentin has been brought up in a life of extreme privilege as an English lord. Now traveling the world and trying to forget his past, a chance encounter with Laurence leads to something more. However, Quentin has secret powers of his own, powers that he’s not even aware of, but protect him violently.

Attracted to Quentin, desperate to improve his life and gain control of his powers, Laurence accidentally summons a fertility god who calls himself Jack. But Jack is darker and more dangerous than Laurence can handle and quickly turns on Laurence. He’s hatched an evil plan that threatens the world. Laurence and Quentin both have to master their powers to face something greater than themselves.

I really enjoyed this book. I felt so hard for Laurence and his struggle with drugs and sobriety and addiction. I wanted to slap his ex-boyfriend who wouldn’t leave him alone. And I loved his dedication to being better than he was before and how he really tried so hard.

I also liked Quentin a lot, but it was a little harder. In the beginning, when he’s formal and unsure, he refers to himself as “one” all the time and it really grated. It was just so annoying because I couldn’t keep track of what he was saying. But as he relaxed and got to know Laurence better, his speech patterns changed and he was easier to deal with. I also liked his insecurities and fears that manifested in phenomenal power that he couldn’t even acknowledge. And I like how uncomfortable he is with even the idea of intimacy and sex; you don’t often come across that in books and it’s almost never a man who has these hang-ups. It made me really like him a lot.

I genuinely couldn’t put this book down at the end. I was so engaged and excited to see what was going to happen next. The villain was scary, the plot compelling, and the characters were great.

I honestly haven't read many books in the fantasy genre beyond YA novels. If you take a contemporary story line that includes LGBTQ, M/M Romance, fantasy and magic -- you find the intriguing and delightful, Jack of Thorns. I loved the characters, especially Lawrence and Quentin (Banbury). Author Amelia Faulkner has created an enchanting story that builds from reality, then catapults us into a fantastical situation with ease. I just want to say that even though Lawrence and Quentin are close in age, I kept picturing Quentin as much older because of the way he talks. His proper British kept bringing some well-known British actors to mind. That doesn't matter in regard to the story-- if Quentin was older, it still works perfectly for me. The chemistry between the two is a smoldering, slow-burn delight.

I can't even imagine what direction Faulkner will go in the next book, but it will surely be fascinating.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The first couple of chapters were a little iffy. The MC is drug addict and the love interest is an over the top British aristocrat, so takes a while to get used to.

Laurence or Bambi is a gay florist and accidentally summons a god. Quentin is an out of control psychic. Jack feeds on sex. There isn’t any in this book, but there is subtle trigger warnings from both main characters. Dan was a nasty piece of work.

Ends on a HFN. Once the story gets going things fall into place. It’s sweet, crazy and full of gods and magic. This one is more hurt/comfort friendship. Great introduction to a new series.

The start of this book grabbed my attention and by the end of the prologue I couldn't put this one down. The author did well with the imagery in the story as I could picture being there and what was happening and by the middle of this one I was wishing I had the rest of the titles in this wondrous series. This book did not leave my hand after I started! I was at work and could not put this title down. It was just that good!!!

The characters in this one. Laurence and Quinn were some of my favorite characters. They weren't perfect and flawless. But I found myself rooting for them all thought the story. The secondary characters were well rounded and there. They fit their roles well.

The POV in this one changed. The author did a really good job with the POVs, the story flowed well and I really enjoyed the two she chose. The overall story was done well. The story in this one was full of action, romance, paranormal, fantasy and again I could not put it down!! I really don't understand how to review this title fully without giving away far too much. I need a support group for this title it was just so good.

Overall, it was hit out of the park and I need the next 5 titles now!! I need them all!!

Go Into This One Knowing: Dual POV, Heavy Drug/Alcohol/Addiction/Overdose, Threat of Rape

This book kept me hooked and I don't know why.
Well I think I do.
What hooked me most was all this secrecy that the characters had. That there are still many things that were left without answers and many doubts, that surely in the following books I will have the answers(I need to read them like RIGHT NOW)
I loved that everything started quite contemporary but little by little the magic became more and more important in the life of the characters as in the story. I always like it when everything is revealed little by little.
I love Bambi, I love that he is a character far from being perfect as a person. Well, actually Quentin is too, both of them still have a lot to learn, both together and separately.

Before reading Jack of Thorns I pretty much had an open mind and a very small idea of what I was to expect within the pages' content. While reading, I quickly realized my small idea barely touched the surface of what I thought was going to happen and what the book morphed into. I was pleasantly surprised at what I got. This was debauchery, magic, redemption and a story of hope, all rolled into one. So multi-faceted, it sparkled.
I was so hooked, I read it in one day and in one sitting.
With how it ended, I am very much looking forward to the next installment in the series.

‘Jack of Thorns’ tells the story of Laurence Riley, a florist struggling with an addiction he has no control over, the mind games of his ex-boyfriend, and his ability to see into the future. Jack claims he can help. However, unable to meet the terms of the agreement, Laurence falls for another, who just so happens to be struggling with his own supernatural abilities.

I wasn’t sure about his title at first, not really feeling up to reading something with as much Sexual Content as the summary suggested online. However, desperate to keep up to date with my Netgalley bookshelf, I knew I had to delve into it sooner rather than later. So, I decided it would be my next read. I just didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did.

The characters themselves are wonderful to read. Laurence and Quentin are further apart than they could possibly be, but it’s their differences that draws them to each other. Laurence is an addict, struggling on a day to day basis, yet Quentin has his own problems too. They work together, with addictive dialogue and interesting history that makes me just want to keep reading.
Laurence is a personal favourite, even though I wasn’t sure about his personality at first. He has his faults, yet isn’t one to hide away from them; he owns up to his mistakes and manages to overcome them throughout the story.
Quentin however, was a character who irked me at first. With the repetitive use of the third person in his dialogue (“one”), he was a stereotype of the British culture. However, he eventually overcame his snobbish personality trait halfway through the novel and was eventually easier to handle reading about.

The story itself felt a little slow-paced at first, yet quickly sped up to an interesting climax. Although, it felt more like a completed story, there are a few unanswered questions which are presumably explained in the sequel to the series. The novel uses elegant language, with detailed description and a simple format, allowing us to follow the story easily. The use of the two point of views was interesting, allowing me to understand Quentin and Laurence a lot more with closer range into their lives.

Overall, I enjoyed this introduction to the Inheritance series. Laurence and Quentin’s story was interesting to follow and I’m looking forward to reading the next instalment.

I have to say the description of this book was a bit misleading. Usually a book description gives a hint of what is to come in the book, maybe the beginning of the plot and it grows from there. However this description is literally the entire action plot of the book. It doesn't come to fruition until the end- and everything else in the book leads up to it. Despite that, I did really enjoy the book. I like the significant amounts of character development of the two main characters, and the building up of the two of them from a strange friendship into a relationship. I also like the reveal at the end, and the fact that there is still a lot of mystery surrounding Quentin. I can't wait to read the next one to see what else Laurence and Quentin go through, and how they're relationship continues to grow.

I have to admit it took me a while to get into this book, not because it was bad or anything just it seemed a lot to grasp at first. But as pages went by I found myself really loving the characters, their story, the magic of this book and most of all the mystery in the storyline. I know there's another book to come so I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.
I do have to say I didn't like too much how Quentin talked and I hoped to get some answers why not just the general ~he's a lord they're weird they come from a different social class~ but it wasn't too bad it put me off the book.

this book was really really good in the end! at first i had trouble getting into it as it was a little slow but as the plot picked up i was a goner. i love mlm paranormal novels!

Loved this book. It captured my attention from the start and every chapter made me want to read more. The characters of Lawrence and Quentin are captivating and cannot wait to read the next book.

Well, I'm not sure where to start with this one.

For the first 1/3 of the book, I wasn't sure it was going to be for me. When Quentin was introduced, the way he was portrayed was jarring, to say the least. I almost thought I'd have to DNF because I thought that I couldn't possibly stand to have to read in that tone for an entire novel. However, I stuck with it and the more invested I became in the story and the mythological/old gods aspect, the less I noticed. It became quite endearing, in fact. The contemporary romance aspect alone might not have worked, but once gradually intertwined with the magical elements, I was hooked.

I liked that Laurence's addiction was covered completely rather than briefly mentioned and disregarded later in the story. It played a large part and wove into everything else that was happening very naturally. The characters, while not entirely likeable all the time, really began to grow on me. If anything, the fact that they weren't perfect made them more real and loveable.

I'm very glad to have been given the opportunity to read this and look forward to reading the next instalment.

Wonderful book!
Really liked reading this fresh and outstanding book. It was a real pleasure to read it.
Thanks for the publisher for the opportunity to read this in advance

This is an ARC I've picked up at least twice in the past but couldn't quite get into it. But this time around I was determined and I was pleased to realise that this was another delightful surprise in the book/ARC department. I requested this one because I loved the cover, title and description but the start of the book was a lot darker than I thought it was going to be, especially when Laurence almost dies of a drug overdose and when he's recovered, he's being hounded by an ex-boyfriend who can't take the word 'no' for an answer.

But I ended up really enjoying this book. I loved the growing relationship between Laurence and Quention, how their paths crossed and how they became friends even while the attraction was simmering behind them. Laurence's mother was delightful and even his ex-boyfriend provided interesting conflict. Jack is a wonderfully creepy antagonist and I really loved learning about how he came into Laurence's life and how they got rid of him now.

The plot was interesting and I was rooting for Laurence and Quention all the way through. I loved the reveal of their powers and what it meant between them, as well as how they reconciled each other's secrets and powers with their own. The romance is a slow-build one and I was invested completely by the end.

Definitely a series I would continue with, though the start was a little dramatic for me.

4.5 stars!

This was an interesting start to a new dark urban fantasy series. Laurence and Quentin are great MCs, and Jack is a nice villain counterpoint to them. I will warn you, this is a very slow burn romance, so don't expect anything steamy between Laurence and Quentin. It's easy to get caught up in the story, and you'll be turning pages dying to see how things play out. I'm looking forward to seeing what's in store with this series!