I adored The Rose Bargain, so I of course had to read The Thorn Queen. And it’s everything I wanted. The Thorn Queen is superb and what a sequel! Keep reading this book review of The Thorn Queen for my full thoughts.
Summary
Having won the hand of the faerie King Bram, Ivy is now Queen of England.
But with his ascension to the throne, Bram unleashed the fae into the human world. After hundreds of years of being kept from their favorite playthings, the Others are looking to make up for lost time—and they do, with wicked revelry that sweeps through the country.
To survive, Ivy acts the sweet, devoted wife. Behind the smile, she plots to banish her husband, save her sister Lydia, and reunite with the love of her life, Emmett.
Yet Emmet and Lydia are trapped in the Otherworld, where fae games are deadlier than ever—and a queen must play most viciously of all. Or see herself dethroned.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
The Thorn Queen is raw, haunting, and emotional. It’s a sequel that examines the ways that trauma changes us and asks us whether true love in a moment is worth the pain. The Thorn Queen explores mercy, love, and how to be a good ruler. And if you ever were in doubt, these are capital F Faeries with their cruelty and their recklessness. I have always loved how The Thorn Queen examines immortality and how it would change us to have these endless days. Days to fill with entertainment and knowing nothing lasts. In The Thorn Queen, Lydia and Ivy are pitted against each other in trials but also as they have to reckon with the distance of time and the cruelties they’ve endured.
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We don’t know the sisters anymore. The things they’ve experienced has hardened them, made it hard to trust, and they don’t know how strong they’ve had to become. I loved the way The Thorn Queen balances action with the thematic exploration of what love is worth. What constitutes an act of mercy. With some chapters from other side characters, this sequel is a twisty story which will keep you guessing. It’s full of characters who want you because they think they can have you, about what we have to do to survive and when we want someone to save themselves. I had such high hopes for The Thorn Queen after loving The Rose Bargain and 100% fulfilled!
Find The Thorn Queen on Goodreads, Storygraph, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.