A book about books and sword-wielding librarians | Review: Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

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Sorcery of Thorns

• Publication Date: 4th June, 2019
• Hardcover: 456 pages    
• Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult Buy: Book Depository | Wordery

All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery—magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather. She hopes to become a warden, charged with protecting the kingdom from their power.

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.

Should You read Sorcery of Thorns?

“Night fell as death rode into the Great Library of Summershall.”

Both of Margaret Rogerson’s books have been blessed by the cover gods. If you haven’t seen the cover of Enchantment of Ravens or heard about it, you can click on this link. I also loved the synopsis which promised me a book for bibliophiles/book dragons and there’salong with sorcery, demonic servants, a conspiracy. I had to read this, obviously. So, did Sorcery of Thorns deliver on its promise? Let’s find out..

The book starts with the introduction of the protagonist Elisabeth, who’s an apprentice at The Great Library of Summerhall but dreams of being a warden. She and the Director of The Great Library are seen transporting a highly dangerous grimoire(book of magic spells) into a vault. If the grimoire is not safely sealed, it could transform into a Malefict(a demon).

Elisabeth, unlike all other apprentices, grew up in the library. Books were quite literally, her friends as these books can talk, express joy and anger, cause mischief and destruction.

One night, Elisabeth wakes up only to find the library doors wide open and her beloved Director lying dead with her sword lying by her side. Looking further ahead of her, Elisabeth watched as a grimoire- now turned Malefict- walked towards the village of Summerhall. Sword in hand, Elisabeth rushed towards the path the Malefict/grimoire had taken and managed to slay the demon, thus saving hundreds of lives. However, she wasn’t hailed as a heroine by everyone as the next day, Elisabeth was accused of the following crimes:

• murdering the Director
• letting a highly dangerous grimoire escape
• Destroying the grimoire when it turned into a malefict.

“All Sorcerers are evil.”

Since Elisabeth destroyed a grimoire, she would be tried at the Magisterium, where the Chancellor(of Sorcerors) would decide her fate. It is none other than Nathaniel Thorn, who has come to escort her to the Magisterium. Nathaniel, to Elisabeth, is unlike sorcerers she’s read about and still, she’s not relieved because she doubts that she’ll see the Great Library or her friends ever again. Elisabeth’s doubts now intensify as she uncovers a far greater conspiracy that could well be the end of minkind. Will she be able to find the real killer of the Director? Will Elisabeth succeed in stopping what’s to come?

I liked Sorcery of Thorns far better than Enchantment of Ravens but it has it’s problems. I didn’t have any problems with the pace or the plot of the book; however, this book had the same flowery descriptions that annoyed me and benefitted the story to no end. I liked Elisabeth until she can’t help but repeat how handsome both Nathaniel and his demon butler(/slave) Silas are. She can’t help but repeat her descriptions of their “prettiness” even when they’re/ she’s in danger. I mean, why….It’s SO not necessary. When I was able to get past all of these, I became invested in the story and particularly Nathaniel’s backstory. He’s funny, tries to help Elisabeth and also battles his past demons. For the curious ones, Nathaniel describes himself as bisexual in one instance only.

“I haven’t sacrificed virgins for my perfect cheekbones, if that’s what you mean.”

The story takes place in the past and in a fictional place that reminded me of England. I loved the classification of the grimoires and the way they’re descibed as humans. The story revolves around books as I said before.when’s there’s someone like Elisabeth who loves books, there are others who want to either misuse books or use books to their advantage. If you can look past all the unnecessay dialogues, some action scenes, you’ll love Sorcery of Thorns as well as I did.

Overall, I recommend this book to you if you love books about books, great libraries, sword-wielding librarians, handsome but not evil sorcerers and a “good” demon butler.

Thanks to the publisher for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

VERDICT: 

About the Author:

Margaret writes fantasy for young adult readers. She lives near Cincinnati, Ohio, and when she’s not reading or writing she enjoys drawing, watching documentaries, making pudding, gaming, and exploring the outdoors in search of toads and mushrooms. Website 

What do you think? Have you read Sorcery of Thorns? If not, do you want to? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

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