Sorcery of Thorns (Sorcery of Thorns, #1) in What's the Name of That Book???

Sep 05, 2019 Trin rated it liked it

Shelves: 2010s, american-lit, fantasy, ya

I adored Rogerson's debut, and in comparison I'm sad to say I struggled with this sophomore effort. It's much slower out of the gate than An Enchantment of Ravens. With this story, Rogerson has set herself up for much more worldbuilding--as opposed to the standard, if vivid, faerie of Ravens--and I think she struggles with it. The setting is vaguely 19th century but an alternate universe with magic and demons; there's a conflict between wardens--keepers of magical books--and sorcerers that's nev ...more

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Jun 29, 2019 Emma rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned

"Knowledge always has the potential to be dangerous. It is a more powerful weapon than any sword or spell."

Books are always dangerous things, but especially so in Austermeer's Great Libraries where magical grimoires whisper beneath iron chains that prevent them from ensorcelling any who stray too near. Releasing a grimoire could lead to disaster if it has time to run unchecked and transform into a monstrous creature of ink and leather.

Elisabeth grew up among these creatures and more as a foundli "Knowledge always has the potential to be dangerous. It is a more powerful weapon than any sword or spell."

Books are always dangerous things, but especially so in Austermeer's Great Libraries where magical grimoires whisper beneath iron chains that prevent them from ensorcelling any who stray too near. Releasing a grimoire could lead to disaster if it has time to run unchecked and transform into a monstrous creature of ink and leather.

Elisabeth grew up among these creatures and more as a foundling in one of the Great Libraries. Her dreams of remaining there and earning her status as a librarian are dashed when a grimoire is unleashed and she is blamed.

Desperate to clear her name and discover the true culprit, Elisabeth forms a risky alliance with the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn. Together they uncover a far-reaching conspiracy to destroy the Great Libraries and possibly the rest of the world.

Elisabeth has always known that sorcerers are evil. Who else would be able to use magical grimoires to summon demons and perform magic? But as Elisabeth realizes Nathaniel might be the only person she can trust, she will have to question everything she thought she knew about sorcerers, demons, and herself if she hopes to save all that she holds dear in Sorcery of Thorns (2019) by Margaret Rogerson.

Rogerson's sophomore novel is a delightful standalone fantasy filled with all of my favorite things. While the story is often plot driven as Eilsabeth tries to discover the culprit behind attacks on the Great Libraries and clear her name, this story really shines when focusing on the characters.

Elisabeth's world is very small at the start of this novel. The Great Library is all she has ever known and, for the most part, all she thinks she needs. It is only as she begins to work with Nathaniel that she realizes some of her deepest held beliefs might be fundamentally flawed. This kind of character development could feel heavy-handed or leave readers with a small-minded protagonist in the hands of a lesser author but Rogerson pulls it off expertly.

Nathaniel is the sarcastic, brooding, bisexual male lead of your dreams complete with his undying loyalty to servant Silas who is one of the best friends found in fantasy literature (and also canonically asexual).

Throughout the course of the novel, all three main characters struggle to transcend what is expected of them and their chosen identities to become something better and, in doing so, try to save each other and their world. Sorcery of Thorns is a charming adventure with a carefully managed plot filled with twists and turns as well as thoroughly enjoyable world building and powerful friendships. Highly recommended.

Possible Pairings: Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken, The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow, Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, Lirael by Garth Nix, Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor, The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud, A Treason of Thorns by Laura E. Weymouth, Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White ...more

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Jul 28, 2022 Wealhtheow rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, ya, romance

Like all other apprentices in one of the Great Libraries, Elisabeth is an orphan. Unlike the rest, she grew up from infancy in her library, and has an unusual affinity with the powerful magical books the libraries are designed to hold. After one grimoire goes bad and only Elisabeth can manage to defeat it, she's bundled off to the capital as part of the investigation. There she gradually begins to trust and even love the scary sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn and his demonic manservant, Silas. Eventuall Like all other apprentices in one of the Great Libraries, Elisabeth is an orphan. Unlike the rest, she grew up from infancy in her library, and has an unusual affinity with the powerful magical books the libraries are designed to hold. After one grimoire goes bad and only Elisabeth can manage to defeat it, she's bundled off to the capital as part of the investigation. There she gradually begins to trust and even love the scary sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn and his demonic manservant, Silas. Eventually they team up to save the world.

Nathaniel is written to be absolute catnip for a particular type of reader. He's basically what you get if all the most attractive components of Howl (of Howl's Moving Castle), modern adaptations of Mr. Darcy, and fanfic versions of Draco Malfoy were combined. Here's an early description of him, "The emerald cloak billowed at his heels, and the wind tangled his dark, silver-streaked hair. His grey eyes were just as pale and piercing as she remembered...A faint, bitter smile tugged at one corner of his mouth." Here's the next, "He wore a white undershirt, open at the throat, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The light of the hallway's sconces had revealed a long, cruel scar twisting across the inside of his left forearm. Riding outside all day had left his cheeks flushed and his lips reddened, which gave him a startlingly debauched look, enhanced by his disheveled hair and cynical, penetrating gaze." It escalates from there; before long Elisabeth's marveling at how his emerald coat hugs his trim waist, being disconcerted when he merely sardonically raises an eyebrow at danger, or pitying his sad dark family past. It was, alas, too heavy handed for my tastes. I appreciated that Elisabeth is canonically taller and stronger than most other people, which is a rare skillset for a female character, but disliked that she is very naive and very very dumb. Literally an entire plan of hers is to confront the "expert at manipulating people" bad guy at a public ball and assume that will solve everything. Obviously this doesn't work and he tries to kill her, at which point she gets the upper hand and he's like, "oh no don't kill me, killing is wrong!" So she spares him and he immediately escapes, kills countless more people, and starts the end of the world. Maybe think for three seconds, Elisabeth.

The main character is basically a battle-librarian so I thought I would love this, but instead I found myself frustrated more often than not. ...more

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Apr 19, 2020 junia rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Oh what a fun book! I love Silas. Heh.
To be honest though, it's a tried and true plot with similar tropes from books about the otherworld. But very fun. But also the first 3rd was so predictable that I just skimmed a lot.

But yeah almost exactly like Howl's Moving Castle and then the demon characteristics are very similar to other books (most recent coming to mind are the Kingkiller Chronicles).

But I LOVE THE IDEA OF BOOKS COMING TO LIFE!

In a sense, Elizabeth's a more badass version of Belle fro ...more

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Apr 18, 2020 Teresa Jensen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya-fantasy, evergreen-2022

When librarian intern Elisabeth kills a rogue book, she is also accused of murdering her director. She is transported by a sorcerer to the capital for trial. She has been taught that sorcerers are evil but she ends up working with him to uncover a plot to destroy their world.

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May 07, 2019 Laura rated it really liked it

Shelves: mt-bookpile-2016-2020, old-reads

I loved the magical library and that Elisabeth had such a close relationship with the books. The mystery of who she is and how different she is from others in the library isn't fully explained but it's clear that there's something to be explored there. When she leaves the safety of the library and heads to the capital that difference helps; the relationships she forges with Silas and Nathaniel are a lot of fun. Sadly, that Big Battle Scene does seem rushed and a little difficult to follow. But t ...more

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Dec 23, 2019 Sarani Rangarajan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Unexpectedly good

Probably safe for a YA or teen audience, this is world with great worldbuilding and flawed but good and realistic characters. Would recommend. Would read next book in series.

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