LitPick Review
Elisabeth Scrivener is left as a baby on the doorstep of one of Austermeer's great libraries. From a young age, the wardens and teachers of the library teach Elisabeth that sorcery is a wicked thing that she should avoid at all costs. When a powerful Grimoire is set free of the library, there is no time to think before she must act. Her act of heroism causes Elisabeth to be blamed for a crime she did not commit. In turn all of those she trusts turn their backs on her, with the exception of her best friend, Katrien, who is willing to help her in any way possible.
Ultimately the only person Elisabeth can turn to is the powerful sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, a man she has been taught is evil and should never be trusted even in the most dire of situations. Elisabeth has no choice but to trust Nathaniel if she wants to ever return home and become a warden for the great libraries. But as things come into the light, there might not be a library to which to return.
Opinion:
Sorcery of Thorns is a great young adult novel for anyone who loves fantasy and sorcery with a touch of romance. I love every character this novel has to offer. Each has a uniqueness that is magical and intriguing. I find Elisabeth to be very relatable in the sense of her adoration for books and Grimoires. I enjoy that while Elisabeth is an orphan, she is not a Little Orphan Annie type. Elisabeth does not spend the entirety of the book trying to find her parents or even thinking about them. Elisabeth not only accepts but embraces the fact that she is raised by the library staff.
Nathaniel is easily one of my favorite characters. He is funny, charming, and intelligent. His character development is gradual, and it is interesting to read how he changes throughout the book. I also love the Grimoires. They each seem to have a back story, and it makes the narrative feel more real. The author amazes me with her ability to pull the reader into the story. I am able to perfectly picture the scenes in my head, due to the way she describes the setting and characters.
One area I feel could be improved upon is the style in which the book's opening is written. I often found myself rereading passages, because the wording is very ornate. However, this seems to dissipate as the story progresses. Sorcery of Thorns author Margaret Rogerson has a gift for world-building, which should appeal to anyone who loves the works of author Sarah J. Maas. I find Sorcery of Thorns to be similar in style to Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series. I truly enjoyed reading Sorcery of Thorns and highly recommend it to others.
