Mysteries of Thorn Manor reintroduces us to the world of Sorcery of Thorns in a sequel novella that will delight multitudes of devoted readers who never expected another outing in Austermeer. What happy news that we are being treated to a new adventure from the glorious mind of Margaret Rogerson featuring fan favourites Elisabeth, Nathaniel and most importantly, the demon Silas!
The open ending of Sorcery of Thorns, which was released as a standalone, allowed us to imagine whatever future we wished for our beloved characters, but that is cold comfort compared to actually witnessing their happily-ever-after. After all the upheaval and angst of the climactic conflict in Sorcery of Thorns, many readers wished for just one extra scene to set our hearts at ease that all would be well…then in the midst of COVID isolation, while searching for an escape from depression, Margaret Rogerson found her way back to this world and thus, Mysteries of Thorn Manor was born and all our prayers answered.
Welcome to a cosy, heartwarming novella whose premise echoes the enforced isolation that everyone who has been through the pandemic will be familiar with, but in a fantastical context far removed from its inspiration and with low-stakes drama that never makes you fear true harm will come to our heroes. The author’s intention was to write a comforting slice-of-life story to catch us up with Elisabeth and her companions when they’re going about life as normal without being under the threat of imminent death or forced to thwart a catastrophic plot against the kingdom. Of course, there must be a little conflict for the protagonists to resolve, which comes in the form of malfunctioning wards magically trapping the residents of Thorn Manor indoors and preventing them from leaving with animated topiaries and a forceful magical gale to keep them imprisoned. This is a bothersome predicament, but you get the sense it’s just another Tuesday from the mild irritation and resigned determination displayed by the main characters.
Elisabeth’s trusty sword Demonslayer proves no match for the lively topiaries and it becomes evident that neither weapon nor sorcery will free them from the wards, which bizarrely react with even greater violence whenever Elisabeth and Nathaniel engage in more than a chaste kiss with one another. Their search for answers turns inwards as Nathaniel hunts down family grimoires that have recorded every update to the wards for several centuries to try and determine what has triggered the magical maelstrom.
This mystery is a fun background story element with heaps of humorous potential and tasty world-building tidbits, but it comes second to the character dynamics and relationships. Elisabeth and Nathaniel have a tentative unspoken understanding between them, but they are still dancing around those three little words, a slight amount of nerves about the extent to which their feelings might be reciprocated or not as well as uncertainty as to what the future might hold in store for them both. It’s a delightful state-of-affairs that allows for swoony romantic clinches along with a very light sprinkling of pining before heart-melting love confessions. And of course with sardonic, self-deprecating Nathaniel Thorn as half of our pairing, there is no shortage of witty banter and hilariously mocking commentary along the way.
As for Silas, he truly is the emotional anchor of this novella. After his sacrifice in Sorcery of Thorns, we mourned for him alongside Nathaniel and Elisabeth, then rejoiced at the hint of his return on the final page, but were left without satisfactory proof of his survival—well, what a feast we are given in Mysteries of Thorn Manor with all the additional Silas content a fan could hope for! There are wonderful found family sentiments entwined throughout the story as he readjusts to his place by Nathaniel and Elisabeth’s side with the new servant Mercy an initial thorn in his side until he comes to accept her presence. The most poignant scenes in this story revolve around Silas, particularly in relation to his immortal nature meaning that he is always the one left alone in the end after typically short human lifespans are snuffed out. It’s commonly believed that demons view humans as no more than insects, but Silas’s behaviour betrays the exact opposite with the depth of caring and concern he displays to a chosen few. The audience will savour every moment of platonic intimacy in his scenes with his Master and Mistress.
Mysteries of Thorn Manor is an unexpected gift to readers who will rejoice at the prospect of spending more time with the beloved characters from Sorcery of Thorns in a light-hearted fantasy romp brimming with fun, whimsy and romance.
Mysteries of Thorn Manor is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of January 17th 2023.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
In this sequel novella to Sorcery of Thorns, Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas must unravel the magical trap keeping them inside Thorn Manor in time for their Midwinter Ball!
Elisabeth Scrivener is finally settling into her new life with sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn. Now that their demon companion Silas has returned, so has scrutiny from nosy reporters hungry for gossip about the city’s most powerful sorcerer and the librarian who stole his heart. But something strange is afoot at Thorn Manor: the estate’s wards, which are meant to keep their home safe, are acting up and forcibly trapping the Manor’s occupants inside. Surely it must be a coincidence that this happened just as Nathaniel and Elisabeth started getting closer to one another…
With no access to the outside world, Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas – along with their new maid Mercy – will have to work together to discover the source of the magic behind the malfunctioning wards before they’re due to host the city’s Midwinter Ball. Not an easy task when the house is filled with unexpected secrets, and all Elisabeth can think about is kissing Nathaniel in peace. But when it becomes clear that the house, influenced by the magic of Nathaniel’s ancestors, requires a price for its obedience, Elisabeth and Nathaniel will have to lean on their connection like never before to set things right.
