Sorcery of Thorns

[Brittany]

Elena, Jo and I are reading this one if anyone else wants to join in!

[Elena]

I've just started and already love the descriptive language. It's so vivid!

[Jo]

I'll be starting it tonight! Can't wait, I've heard such good things.

[Jo]

I read the first chapter this evening, and I've definitely already got a good feeling about this one! I wasn't very keen on her other book An Enchantment of Ravens, but this seems much more my speed.

[Brittany]

So good that you both are liking it so far!

[Jo]

Chapter 2: (view spoiler)[ So Elisabeth must have some sort of magic or special ability with the grimoires right? That seems to be what this is hinting at. Also the magister is 100% going to be the love interest. I'm liking her friendship with Katrien too, Katrien seems like she's going to be a lot of a fun. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Jo]

Chapter 3 (I swear not all of these are going to be one chapter at a time, it's just the way I seem to be going at the moment! I had a lot of work to do this evening, training for my job and prepping for my Spanish class tomorrow, so I could only fit one chapter in): (view spoiler)[ So Magister Thorn seems very funny, I get the feeling that I'm going to like him. I think Elisabeth feels the same way.....(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

Totally fair Jo! And not a problem :) I like having more updates to read when I get to it anyway!

[Jo]

I'm glad!

[Jo]

Chapter 4: (view spoiler)[ Ooh this was a very exciting chapter. Someone let loose the dangerous Grimoire from the beginning of the book and it killed the Director. Elisabeth had to fight it and it was all very exciting, though I get the sense she might be in trouble considering she was the one to archive the book and it was let out. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Elena]

Jo wrote: "Chapter 2: [spoilers removed]"

Oh yeah! I agree on every point. (view spoiler)[Special ability with grimoires, the library thing overall is such a good idea! Love it. I'm also waiting for something spicy to happen with Elizabeth and Magister in the future when she is not so young (otherwise it's at the very least strange :D). I also like Kat but don't get who or what she is. Some kind of demon? Ghost? Just a person? There is definitely something about her. (hide spoiler)]

[Elena]

Jo wrote: "Chapter 4: [spoilers removed]"
At this point I was so into the story and even though I literally had no time to read, I just squeezed it into breakfast, walking, even yoga daily routines and read up to chapter 14 while doing those :D

[Jo]

I've not read any over Friday and Saturday, but hoping to get some more in tonight.

[Jo]

Chapter 5: (view spoiler)[ So Elisabeth's def being set up and I feel like Warden Finch has something to do with it? Like he seemed way too happy about her being imprisoned not to. Sure, he loved the Director but I can def see him being involved in the whole thing somehow and not expecting the Director to actually die. Or maybe he wasn't in love with her really and wanted her out of the way to take power? Either way, he seems shady and I bet he was involved in this somehow. Also I'm convinced now that Elisabeth has some kind of magic, because the fact that she stayed awake whilst the entire library was asleep is definitely sus. She's going to the Magisterium now as part of her punishment so I'm guessing we will learn more there. I'm kind of sad to be leaving the Library so soon, I hope we come back! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

Jo wrote: "Chapter 2: [spoilers removed]"

I am going to love going through all these spoilers (view spoiler)[ Totally agree the magister is going to be the love interest. I am looking forward to knowing more about the grimoires too and it does seem like she has some type of affinity for them.
I hope we get to see more of Katrien, she seems like an interesting one (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

Jo wrote: "Chapter 4: [spoilers removed]"

I too liked it (view spoiler)[ The fight with the released grimoire was neat. It is sad to see knowledge destroyed like that though. I would have liked to get to know the director a bit more before she was killed off. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

Jo wrote: "Chapter 5: [spoilers removed]"

YES! (view spoiler)[ My thoughts too. Finch never liked Elizabeth and is happy to use this as the excuse to get rid of her. And sure he loved the director but she was never going to be his and he benefits from her death my becoming director himself so I too feel like he was involved with the release of the grimoire.
Elizabeth definitely has a magic of some form or anti-magic maybe? Or the grimoires that like her protect her in some way? But there is something going on there for sure.
As curious as I am about the Magisterium and everything to do with the sorcerers, it did feel too quick to be leaving the library. I want more info and more of the atmosphere here. Maybe some more about what apprentices and wardens do or their daily lives. Just more. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

I'm in chapter 6 somewhere, listening to the audio, which so far is really good, I am quite liking this narrator. So dont be surprised if some of my spelling is off for characters and such.
I don't have anymore thoughts to add right now aside from the ones I put in response to Jo's spoilers.

[Jo]

Chapter 6: (view spoiler)[ So Nathaniel is the one who came to take Elisabeth to the Magisterium, no surprises there. She thinks he is the one who sabotaged the grimoire and that he wants to kill her, but I think that would be way too easy. He has no reason to want to kill her, they only met once and he barely seems to remember her. Silas is definitely non-human, maybe a demon? I don't know why Nathaniel doesn't want Elisabeth to know what he is though, he must be dangerous then? (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

Jo wrote: "Chapter 6: [spoilers removed]"

Agreed no surprise (view spoiler)[ It was always going to be him bringing her. I do wish he would say something to help Elizabeth be more comfortable though. As amusing as it is that she truly things he drinks the blood of orphans and all that it would be nice to have a little better communication soon. I think he does remember her just isn't treating her any differently because of it. He absolutely isn't the one who sabotaged the grimoire there's no purpose to that.
I'm assuming Silas is a demon and he doesn't want her to know because it would either terrify her or something about that type of contract isn't totally legal or normal. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

I'm a few minutes into chapter 7. Enjoying the book so far

[Brittany]

Partway into chapter 8 (view spoiler)[ Love the grimoire that Katrien snuck out into Elizabeth's suitcase! And how it wants to show Elizabeth all about the demon summoning. Hope she reads more of that soon and realizes what Silas must be. I really want to know more about the demon contracts.
Also appreciate that she finally figured out that Nathaniel was teasing her with the comments about how evil and nefarious he is. And that she is coming to the understanding that if he didnt sabotage the director who did.
I was also right that Nathaniel did know who she was and that was why he came to collect her. He was curious about the feral librarian and sorry about the loss of the director.
Sad about the wood spirits and how Nathaniel's ancestor destroyed the land. Hope there is a way to heal the land somewhat and at least save the ones that are left. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

Start of chapter 11 (view spoiler)[ And the plot thickens. Her library was not the first one that was sabotaged. Another one was attacked in the same manner with a level 8 grimoire.
The fight with the fiends was neat. Love that she picked up an iron bar and started swinging with it. Also that she wouldn't let that boy die. And now because of it she is no longer on trial but is to go meet the chancellor.
Glad that Elizabeth now knows that Silas is a demon and that he is feeding on Nathaniel's life force. Makes for an interesting demon/master relationship and the fact that they appear to get along so well even though Silas killed Nathaniel's father is impressive. I'd like to know more about their relationship and how exactly it works though. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

Start of chapter 13 (view spoiler)[ Nathaniel is told how he must breed repeatedly, poor guy. His value is only in keeping the Thorn line alive. Curious what all he and the chancellor talked about before he left with nothing more than a terse goodbye to Elizabeth.
Not sure what to think about the chancellor. Good that he says he will put in a word for Elizabeth to be trained as a warden after her apprenticeship is over but something still feels off.
Elizabeth just found the chancellor's demon. Curious how this meeting will go since the demon was waiting for her to arrive and calling her with music. (hide spoiler)]

[Jo]

Chapter 7: (view spoiler)[ There's definitely something fishy going on with Silas, the way that Elisabeth seems to forget things when she's around him and is convinced not to escape. Also the Thorn family's magic speciality is Necromancy which sounds very cool but also potentially dangerous for Elisabeth. Also it was super sweet that Katrien snuck that grimoire into Elisabeth's luggage. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

Part way into chapter 15 (view spoiler)[ So my assumption that there was something off with Ashcroft was correct. He's the one who killed the director and he is working on a much larger plan. His staff includes many lesser demons and I too am curious what exactly he is offering them.
He's made Elizabeth to look crazy and sent her off to a terrible type of institution. Love the way she hid in the hedge. Wondering how and why Mercy snuck out to try and find and help Elizabeth. Want to know more about the demon goblin/imp thing that Hedge is and how they are going to escape him exactly.

Also kind of curious why Nathaniel has not made a reappearance of any kind. I dont think that he would have believed the rumours of her being crazy so wonder why he didn't attempt to visit to see for himself. (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

Somewhere in Chapter 17 (view spoiler)[ Sad that Mercy didn't escape with her. Seems silly that she chose to go back to the institution when it is obvious she had the other girls are being used and abused.
Love that Silas saved Elizabeth from the criminals in the street and convinced Nathanial to take her in. What exactly Silas feels with the trouble brewing has me curious. He knows there is something about Elizabeth though.
Glad Nathaniel believed her about what is going on with Ashcroft. I get what he is saying about taking it to the Collegium is pointless as nobody would believe her. It sucks but its true. Currently though she is getting mad at him for telling her to give up.
I want to know what exactly Nathaniel's father did. Something went wrong before Silas killed him but what. And was the killing actually a mercy? (hide spoiler)]

[Elena]

Brittany wrote: "Partway into chapter 8"
I had the same thoughts at this point :) and was so into the book!

[Elena]

Brittany wrote: "Start of chapter 11"

I love how the contract works. (view spoiler)[I sounds so reasonable. And the line with demons is so good! Though Sil feeds on years of life I like him. There is this thing about not being evil, just a different race and different means to live or survive. (hide spoiler)]

[Elena]

Brittany wrote: "Somewhere in Chapter 17"

Oh this moment in the street! It was soooo good!

[Elena]

Ok. I finished the book a couple of days ago. But because of the heat wave I was too lazy to go to goodreads and write something.
I loved the book and read it very fast though it was a really busy week.
(view spoiler)[The main story line was predictable but that's not the point. The books is good for the side-twists. Like when Silas saves Elizabeth and Nathaniel, the grimoires help to defeat the evil creature, but my favourite is the line about demons, Silas in particular. I can't remember even one book with such a story. Like when the demon is bounded with the contract he acts like a caring friend but when unbound - like an evil creature. And Silas... he's just so cute! I love that even in his 'full' form he had feelings :). And yeah, it was sad to learn that Nathaniel lost his magic. It's always sad :( (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

Awesome that you loved it Elena! I thought I'd be done by now but keep ending up doing other things so haven't listened as much as expected. Its so good though

[Brittany]

Start of Chapter 23 (view spoiler)[ Was good to hear why Silas killed Nathaniel's father. I was right it was a mercy in a lot of ways. He was trying to use necromancy to bring back his wife and other son while Nathaniel was hiding there. I know Silas says not to make him out to be anything but a demon serving his own purposes but there is certainly something good in there. Although taking 20 years of Nathaniel's life while he was so young and grieving was a little much.
Loved Elizabeth's reaction to Silas being with her at the library in cat form. And the whole break in to steal the codex as well. So cool that she somehow ended up inside it and that the author really did go to the otherworld and trapped himself inside to hide from his so called friend. Can't believe the carelessness Elizabeth took with the codex though and I hope it isn't too horribly damaged with all that wax.
The scrying mirror is so cool and I am glad that we get more Katrien this way even if it is only in small doses. (hide spoiler)]

[Elena]

Brittany wrote: "Start of Chapter 23"

(view spoiler)[
I totally agree with you on the reaction to Silas in the library and carelessness with the codex. Considering the fact she was with books for her whole life. But at the same time it's understandable as how could she predict to be 'sucked into' the book?
And at the point with mirror I finally got that I was very wrong on thinking that Kat wasn't a human :D
(hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

Elena (view spoiler)[ Oh I agree that she could never have guessed she would be sucked inside a book. Just seemed careless to have the candle that close in the first place, she should know better. Especially with a class 6 grimoire. Nobody needs a malefict.
Fair about Kat! At that point have to assume she is human, I didnt really think otherwise but I did like your thoughts on it (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

Somewhere in Chapter 32 (view spoiler)[ The fact that you can change a malifict back to a grimoire is something that should be used more often.
currently just escaped the dungeon in the great library of harrow. Silas is such an intriguing demon, he gave his life to save Nathaniel's when he could have let him die and take those 20 years of his life. More proof that Silas really does care just cannot help his hunger. When they resummoned him, which I knew they would be because how could they not, I do believe he did not want to take so many years from either of them but could not help himself. Was good to have him back though.
The fact that the house looks after its master when they are injured or anything is super cool. Love the gargoyles and everything.
Happy that Nathaniel and Elizabeth have admitted they matter to each other and all that. Their romance is cute. He now has an actual life again and she has found something more valuable than being a warden. Which is good because as things stand she can never be one now since she has a demon mark.
Stupid old librarians and not having brains of their own, not listening to anyone or anything outside of their normal. Frustrating but not surprising. And of course no news had yet reached the library from the city too far away.
Sucks that Pendergast gave up his secrets to Ashcroft but again not surprising. Although I wouldn't have thought pain would work that well when he doesn't have a body or nervous system to feel it with? I had realized long before that the purpose of the attacks on the libraries was to make a pentagram, and was going to have some kind of summoning involved. (hide spoiler)]

[Jo]

On Chapter 10. (view spoiler)[ Chapter 9 was really exciting, the fiend fight! Was on the edge the whole time wondering how things would work out. Thankfully both okay. And though I'm not really a big romance person, the switching from use of the last name to first name when the character is worried someone they love is going to die is always a winner. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

Finished it! So good glad I finally read it. Nothing too surprising but so well written and I enjoyed the characters (view spoiler)[ Love how Silas overcame his demonic hunger to save his humans. Also that at the end Elizabeth realized he was only Silas now and was able to summon him back.
The way the library wanted to fight back with Elizabeth was amazing. I want a sentient library to fight my battles with! Sad that so many books destroyed themselves though.
Nice that Nathaniel can finally be a normal person instead of the importance of the Thorn legacy and all that. I really liked him and Elizabeth together their banter and the way the seem to bring out the best in each other was great. (hide spoiler)]

[Jo]

Chapter 10: (view spoiler)[ So evidently the attack on Summershall wasn't the first as there has been an attack at another Library, Knockfeld which was very similar. Obviously the one at Summershall, the perpetrator aimed to frame Elisabeth, but why? And how is it related to the other one? I think it's safe to assume that the two are linked, but it seems unlikely now that it was Warden Finch as I reckon the same person was responsible for both and I can't see why he would want to attack anyone at the other Library. Perhaps there is a team of people working to sabotage the libraries? The mystery definitely thickens!

Also poor Nathaniel. Lost his entire family by the age of twelve and bound to the demon who killed his father, it seems strange that he and Silas are so close! Maybe it's a protection mechanism? I don't know but there's definitely something off about Silas in general. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Jo]

Up to Chapter 16, I've read quite a few chapters since I last commented so a lot has happened. (view spoiler)[ Okay so Elisabeth arrived at Chancellor Ashcroft's house and he seemed very nice at first but it turns out Ashcroft was responsible for the attack on Summershall and is definitely up to something extremely shady. She seems able to resist Lorelei's (Ashcroft's demon) glamour, for some reason which I assume is linked to her special connection with the grimoires. Anyway, Ashcroft tried to convince everyone that she was crazy and stole all her memories whilst trying to get information about what she knew about the attack on Summershall. When she gave him a fake memory, he sent her to an asylum to get rid of her, but she managed to escape. It's all been quite exciting, I look forward to seeing where things go next. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Jo]

Up to Chapter 19. (view spoiler)[ Nathaniel's library had LADDERS. LADDERS. It's one of my bookworm dreams to one day have so many books and such tall shelves that they need ladders! Anyway, Silas saved Elisabeth from almost being killed by some street criminals, and is it wrong that kind of love him even though he's a demon? He seems great, aside from the feeding off Nathaniel's life thing.
Nathaniel wasn't very happy that Silas brought Elisabeth to his house, and I'm not sure why? I was getting the feeling before he left her with Ashcroft that he liked her, and I still am getting those vibes, so I'm not really sure why he's avoiding her? Maybe because he likes her? Is there some deeper reason why he's been avoiding marriage, it definitely seems like there's something more to his avoidance of her anyway.
Elisabeth's being doing research into the Codex Daemonicus and it turns out that it's at the Royal Library, but in order to get it, she's going to have to steal it....ooh things are getting exciting! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Brittany]

Still loving your updates Jo! Also Iove Silas' character its just so well done

[Jo]

Thanks!

[Jo]

Up to Chapter 20. (view spoiler)[ So Elisabeth has got a job working at the Royal Library in order to steal the Codex Daemonicus but naturally it's going to be trickier than she expected as it's in the restricted section of the library. Nathaniel has sent Silas along to watch her, and of course one of Silas' forms is a fluffy white cat, because why not have a demon be a cute cat? Also the mirror Elisabeth has been using to contact Katrien is an illegal magical object that's been banned for like 150 years, so it's not going to be good for her if anyone finds out that she has it. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Jo]

Up to Chapter 21. (view spoiler)[ Poor Nathaniel witnessed Silas kill his father (which he did to protect him, though perhaps not entirely for moral reasons since he did take twenty years of his life) and still has nightmares about it. Master Hargrove came through for Elisabeth and she now has Demonslayer and the keys to get into the Royal Library. Silas is going to help her break into the restricted archives. This should be fun! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Jo]

Up to Chapter 22. (view spoiler)[ I'm still intrigued as to why Elisabeth is so unique to the grimoires, this is the second one that's mentioned it. The theft of the Codex seems to have gone smoothly though they're not out yet. Elisabeth stumbled across the transfer of a Class Ten grimoire about Necromancy, which they're sending to the super secure vault in the Harrows Great Library.....which of course is the next one marked for Ashcroft's plan. I would hazard a guess that this necromancy grimoire is the one he wants since if released, it would cause death and destruction, which seems like the kind of thing that Ashcroft is aiming for right now. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Jo]

Up to Chapter 23. (view spoiler)[ So Elisabeth has discovered the secret behind the Codex.....the author trapped himself inside to avoid being mind wiped by Cornelius Ashcroft (an ancestor of the current Ashcroft). Unfortunately the Codex turned into a Malefict before she could get any information as to what the current Cornelius may be planning.....wonder how she gets out of this one. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Jo]

Up to Chapter 25. (view spoiler)[ So basically the reason that Elisabeth is so unique to the grimoires, because she grew up in the library, she's basically absorbed some of their magic, as she was around them all the time growing up. Meanwhile Ashcroft has attacked another Great Library, meaning that Harrows is the only one left, so Elisabeth and Nathaniel are planning to ambush him at the Royal Ball and reveal everything that he's been doing. Why do I sense this is going to go horribly wrong? (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Elena]

@Jo because such plans never end up as planned :DDD