Thorn Season is a beautifully written debut which really hooked me in the last 20%. Before I was interested, but it was like a turning point by the end! Keep reading this book review of Thorn Season for my full thoughts.
Summary
In the Kingdom of Daradon, a persecuted few are Wielders, in possession of a magical Spectre–a shimmering thread that can extend beyond their visible body to give a loving caress, pick a lock . . . even kill. Feared for this ability, Wielders have always been Hunted.
Alissa Paine, heiress and daughter of a Hunter family . . . is also a Wielder. At eighteen, Alissa knows she’s escaped execution thus far only due to painful self-control and the efforts of her beloved father.
Summoned to the harsh and glittering royal court for the debutante season, Alissa finds herself caught in a web of intrigue and betrayal—and caught between two equally dangerous one a brutal ruler with the handsome face of a fairy-tale prince, who would destroy her if he knew the truth—and the other a beguiling foreign ambassador with secret agendas of his own.
With the threat of discovery lurking around every corner—and romance becoming an increasingly dangerous temptation—Alissa will find that she has more to lose than her secrets. It’s Rose Season at the palace, but to survive she’ll need to become the most vicious of thorns. . . .
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
The most compelling theme in Thorn Season was Azar’s exploration of our complicity. We are often so wrapped up in what we need to feel safe, how to look out for ourselves, but what happens when we could do something and we don’t? How much are we complicit and when will we act? In the world of Thorn Season there’s magic wielders and those without. The world is aligned in fear and legality against the wielders so for Alissa who is a secret magic user, she tries to remain silent. But how much longer will the dam of secrets, the weight of silence, and the dam of her power hold? The piece of ourselves which is criminal for existing.
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And while this was my favorite theme, it doesn’t really pick up for me until 20% towards the end. There’s plenty of action, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the romantic ‘interests’ or side characters. I liked the intrigue of the world we had with the hunters, wielders, and the balance but I wanted a bit more depth. Since this is a series opener, I think we have a good shot of seeing more in the sequel especially considering the ending! In Thorn Season, will our love be held against us? To hold us hostage in the cages of our own making?
It has some really gorgeous lyrical writing in places as Alissa explores her relationship to her own power and future. I’d definitely be intrigued in a sequel, it just falls a bit short from love due to I think some of the pitfalls of a series starter. Find Thorn Season on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.