Margaret Rogerson offers readers a lush library setting full of living books and a thrilling magical fantasy adventure with a librarian and magician in Sorcery of Thorns. In this standalone fantasy, we are thrust upon the world of Austermeer, a land of magicians and Great Libraries that hold some of the most powerful living books in the land; kept there for safekeeping. These grimoires are kept locked away and protected by wardens, keepers of the books within the Great Libraries.
It is in one of these Great Libraries that we meet Elisabeth, a young apprentice hoping to one day become a warden, protecting the citizens from the dangers of the grimoires. Raised a foundling, the one thing that she knows to be true is that sorcerers are evil. However, after an act of sabotage releases a powerful grimoire and her attempt to intervene only implicates her in the crime, she must rely on the help of sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn and her demonic servant. Finding themselves in a conspiracy spanning centuries, they must unravel the threads of lies and help save not only the Great Libraries, but the world. Everything that Elisabeth has known about the libraries, sorcerers, and the grimoires will be challenged, and she’ll also find out she’s more powerful than she thought she could be.
Now that I have poorly summarised a story that I enjoyed from beginning to end, let’s talk about some thoughts that I had while reading this story. I saw a tweet somewhere that gave them Howl’s Moving Castle vibes, and I 100% agree with that tweet.
I loved the characters, they felt very genuine, especially Elisabeth. There’s a naivety to her that isn’t stupidity, but mostly due to the circumstances around which she has been raised. The most important aspect about her is that she grows, learns, and adapts from the situations she’s put in without losing herself in the process. Nathaniel was a character I was surprisingly charmed by, although I did feel him to be a tad curmudgeon-ish at times.
The story flows very quickly, and I found myself devouring page after page with longing to find out where the journey was headed. Something that I loved about Sorcery of Thorns was that it felt very unexpected. Darkness hides in very surprising places, and of course we can never forget about those grimoires. I adored them. They’re some of the best objects in the book, at times ferocious and definitely to be feared, and at other time like petulant puppies nipping at your heels. I kind of want one. Ms. Rogerson gave the grimoires such unique personalities, I’m sure each reader will finish the book with a favourite.
There were a couple of things that I would have loved to see further explored in Sorcery of Thorns, especially Elisabeth’s origins. There were a couple of parts where I feel knowing a little more about her would have been great explanations to some of the things that are going on in the book. And this is just the librarian in me, but I would have loved to get some more descriptions of the other great libraries. Buuuut, that’s a personal thing.
The romance did not overpower the story, and I really liked that. The moments were perfectly sprinkled throughout the story, teasing little tidbits that I loved. Like with An Enchantment of Ravens, I feel like this would be perfect to turn into a duology, or a little longer to explore the world. This book leaves the reader wanting more. This is one of those stories you really don’t want to end, although the ending of this story is delightfully perfect. It was unexpected, or for some it might be, but I felt it was a perfect ending to the book. I felt very satisfied with the ending, and I think other readers will appreciate it as well.
I’m going to rate Sorcery of Thorns a 9/10. It was a story full of adventure, magic, whimsy, and with a delicious smattering of romance that kept me going until the last page. If we had a little more story about Elisabeth and explanation of some of the mysteries surrounding her, I think it would have given the book more depth, and flow even better. However, as a standalone book I’m excited for it to hit the shelves in June. With the cover art by Charlie Bowater, it will make a stunning addition to any shelf…and will look especially beautiful next to An Enchantment of Ravens!
Sorcery of Thorns is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers as of June 4th 2019.
Will you be reading Sorcery of Thorns? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery—magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather. She hopes to become a warden, charged with protecting the kingdom from their power.
Then an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire. Elisabeth’s desperate intervention implicates her in the crime, and she is torn from her home to face justice in the capital. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.
As her alliance with Nathaniel grows stronger, Elisabeth starts to question everything she’s been taught—about sorcerers, about the libraries she loves, even about herself. For Elisabeth has a power she has never guessed, and a future she could never have imagined.
what is the setting of this book?