Belle from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is a girl after my own heart; you can buy her love with books. But in all seriousness, many of us cite Belle as our favorite Disney Princess because we all want to live in an enchanted castle she embodies our deep-rooted passion for all things literary. As bookworms, there is nothing we like more than seeing our own love of books reflected back at us, whether that be through movies, friends, or (you guessed it) books. It’s safe to say that we book bloggers have a particular soft-spot for books about books and Margaret Rogerson’s second novel, Sorcery of Thorns, is exactly that. So today, I’m crawling out of the dusty woodwork to SHOUT AT YOU to politely discuss all the reasons I. Need. You. To. Read. It.
Why You Should Read Sorcery of Thorns
1. It’s a love letter to book lovers
It’s got magical libraries! MAGICAL!! LIBRARIES!! I mean, as far as I’m concerned, libraries are already magical. But that’s only in the poetic, metaphorical sense. In Sorcery of Thorns, they are actually magical. SO. COOL. And as if that wasn’t enough to get me excited, it also features a girl who speaks to novels and grimoires like some kind of freaking Book Whisperer. I want to be a book whisperer. Oh, and librarians are called wardens. (From this moment on, I will now address librarians as wardens.)
It’s official: Rogerson has created the perfect story for literary lovers. With a plot that spotlights the literal magic of the written word, what more could our book-loving souls ask for?
2. There’s a magical magic system
I know I’ve already used the word “magic” a bajillion times in just these last two paragraphs alone, but I would really be doing this book a disservice if I didn’t talk about its magic system at least once! I adore the idea behind “aetherial combustion” and the need for demonic bargains about as much as Olaf adores summer (and just like Olaf, I could sing a whole song about it. But don’t worry, I’ll spare your ears the pain). In short, I give the worldbuilding in Sorcery of Thorns an A+++++++. (Is it even legal to have that many pluses?)
3. Amazing squad goals
So we’ve got Elisabeth, our leading lady and resident sword-wielding bookworm. (So cool, amirite?) Next comes Nathaniel, who is the epitome of the mysterious love interest with a tortured past. (And despite that being horribly cliche, somehow I don’t even mind?) And lastly comes Silas. Oh, Silas, my dapper demon sidekick who can as easily kill you as fix your cravat. Rogerson has truly proven herself to be the Queen of Witty Banter with these three characters, because they share some of the most fun, engaging, and sarcastic dialogue I’ve ever read.
RELATED READ: WHO WOULD ELISABETH SCRIVENER BE BEST FRIENDS WITH?
4. It’s not a series!
In this age of trilogies and duologies, it’s a rare thing indeed to stumble across a YA fantasy novel that is not part of a series. The fact that Sorcery of Thorns is self-contained is not only as refreshing as a glass of lemonade on a hot summer’s day (it’s cold right now and I’m fantasizing about the beach, alright?) but it also means I don’t have to wait two agonizing years for the next book to come out. (No more horrible cliffhangers! Yay!)
5. The Relationships Grow Naturally
Although this book isn’t only about the romance – there’s a fleshed-out plot and plenty of action – I was 1000000% invested in this naturally-building Slow Burn. Also, can we just take a moment to appreciate the fact that this book has the best Meet Cute? It involves a falling bookshelf. Need I say more?
Not only that, but the friendship between Silas and Nathaniel was so sirloin-steak-tender and lollypop-sweet. They bicker like an old married couple and the dynamic between them was just… So!! Finger!! Lickin’!! Good!! *mwah*
About Sorcery of Thorns
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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.
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Did I convince you to read Sorcery of Thorns? Why or why not?
Have you read Sorcery of Thorns? Did you like or dislike it?
What are some of your favorite books about books?
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Oh I loved this book! Also we need more Fantasy stand-alone’s! Those are so good!
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I haven’t yet read her first one but instantly fell in love with Sorcery of Thorns, from the very first page! It was a wild ride.
I’ve been putting off reading ‘Sorcery of Thorns’ and I have no idea why. I definitely need to pick this up ASAP
I’m about to start the author’s previous book, I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about her works and I can’t wait to read them! The magical libraries and world building sounds really well-developed here!
You had me hooked at magical libraries! 😍🤗
Hoohoo :)
THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE BOOKS AND I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING!!!! ♥
I loved this book! It was so good and interesting, and I love books about books too! I really enjoyed seeing the relationships form, and I’m glad I agree with everything you said! I almost forgot about this book before I read it, and I think it deserves a bit more love 💕 Great review, Kat!
You definitely convinced me to read this. And Belle is definitely 100% everything you said. She loves books so much, and she is so lucky to have that endless, amazing, wonderful library!!! Great review Kat!
Can I get a HELL YES x5? Because yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes again. This book is truly amazing, and all of these reasons are exactly why I’m a blubbering mess anytime I think about it.
Having already read and ADORED this book, your reasons to read this book are spot on! I think that any book that includes books will capture my attention, but this one was truly a book lover’s dream come true!
I loved the fact that this book was a standalone! It was one of the (many) reasons I was so excited for it to come out! I’ve come to learn that I’m really not a big fan of series. So this book was a welcome change, since it’s rare to find a fantasy standalone.
I also think that Silas alone deserves his own category because of how wonderful and complex he is! Although to be fair, all of the characters were great. I just have a soft spot for Silas!
This was one of my favorite books of 2019!! I absolutely love that it was a standalone!
Yess!! I absolutely adore Sorcery of Thorns! And I think that it’s a perfect representation of what makes the YA fantasy genre good 🥺🥺 i keep saying this, but I would literally die for Silas! We really need a Silas spin-off!
Also, I love that you mentioned that this book is a standalone, because I suck at reading series, and I feel like a lot of other people do too! So I love that Sorcery of Thorns delivers a satisfying and complete story arc in just one book.
P.S. I keep saying this, but Sorcery of Thorns is literally the love child of Howl’s Moving Castle and The Infernal Devices—THERE’S NO BETTER WAY TO DESCRIBE IT OKAY.
I’ve not read this book yet (though you have convinced me to add it to my TBR) but it really reminds me of Air Awakens. That’s another book set in a library, this time following a girl who discovers she has magical powers. There’s a growing relationship with a grumpy prince, and the threat of a magical war. It’s the first in a series and I need to read the rest!