Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Sorcery of Thorns

by Margaret Rogerson

A New York Times bestseller!

“A bewitching gem...I absolutely loved every moment of this story.” —Stephanie Garber, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Caraval series
“If you loved the Hogwarts Library…you’ll be right at home at Summershall.” —Katherine Arden, New York Times bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale

From the New York Times bestselling author of An Enchantment of Ravens comes an “enthralling adventure” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) about an apprentice at a magical library who must battle a powerful sorcerer to save her kingdom.

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.

Then an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire, and Elisabeth is implicated in the crime. 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.

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

5 of 5 stars

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Will there come a day when I don't read (and immediately fall in love with) a book about magical libraries and books? Maybe. But today is not that day! Sorcery of Thorns, by Margaret Rogerson, is a fantastic magical journey, one that I wish lasted longer.

As an infant, Elisabeth was left on the front steps of one of Austermeer's Great Libraries. The Director chose to let her stay, and thus she grew up knowing the wonder – and dangers - of books. Elisabeth understands their uses and knows full well how dangerous they can be when provoked, or worse, damaged.

An act of sabotage cost her library the loss of their Director and put Elisabeth in a lethal situation. Somehow, despite doing her best to save the day, she's the one looking guilty. Still, to protect the rest of the libraries, she must learn how to stand up once again and fight.

“It was always wise to be polite to books, whether or not they could hear you.”

Why didn't I read Sorcery of Thorns sooner?! I honestly think that novels surrounding magical books are my weakness – I will love every single one I read. So I don't know why it took me so long to read this, but I know that I immensely enjoyed it.

Austermeer's Great Libraries were immediately a point of fascination for me, naturally. I loved Elisabeth's perspective on them, as being the only person to grow up in them, she sees them quite a bit differently than most. I'm not ashamed to admit that a small part of me is jealous of her experiences in that department.

The stakes are high, and the magical elements made the tale all the more interesting, as did the potential love interest, Nathaniel Thorn. He managed to add tension, humor, and even more threat to the table.

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

I know and understand that this is a standalone novel – but I would honestly love to see more of the world (and libraries) developed throughout Sorcery of Thorns. I feel like there's so much more that Margaret Rogerson could do here. That being said, I'm probably just going to happily read whatever she writes next, regardless of what world it is set in.

Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 29 March, 2021: Finished reading
  • 29 March, 2021: Reviewed