Name: Violet Made of Thorns
ISBN: 9780593427569

Gina Chen

A darkly enchanting fantasy debut about a morally gray witch, a cursed prince, and a prophecy that ignites their fate-twisted destinies—perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and Serpent & Dove.

Violet is a prophet and a liar, influencing the royal court with her cleverly phrased—and not always true—divinations. Honesty is for suckers, like the oh-so-not charming Prince Cyrus, who plans to strip Violet of her official role once he’s crowned at the end of the summer—unless Violet does something about it.
 
But when the king asks her to falsely prophesy Cyrus's love story for an upcoming ball, Violet awakens a dreaded curse, one that will end in either damnation or salvation for the kingdom—all depending on the prince’s choice of future bride. Violet faces her own choice: Seize an opportunity to gain control of her own destiny, no matter the cost, or give in to the ill-fated attraction that’s growing between her and Cyrus.
 
Violet’s wits may protect her in the cutthroat court, but they can't change her fate. And as the boundary between hatred and love grows ever thinner with the prince, Violet must untangle a wicked web of deceit in order to save herself and the kingdom—or doom them all.

Violet Made of Thorns

Minnie Mazuera

When truth is relative, you make yourself the axis.

Courtney Passio

I’d like to fill up a plate with food and leave. 

I’m just having the best time picturing this scene!! 🤣

The first thing I hear is Lord Ignacio calling Lord Oronnel “boil-brained” and, in retaliation, Oronnel calling Ignacio’s dyed wig an “aborted squirrel. 

fc ♡

"Perhaps if you were a more accurate Seer, I wouldn’t question it,” Cyrus presses on amid the titters; our public scuffles are an all-too-familiar sight. “Can you even say where my so-called journey ends?”

 “Not up your own ass, so maybe you should pull your head out.”

 Laughter bubbles through the crowd—Camilla practically guffaws—as color splotches Cyrus’s face.

I mock a curtsy. “Earn my respect and I’ll treat you with respect.”

Cyrus snaps out of it and tries to climb in. I’m on my feet in a blink, blocking his way with my whole body. 

 I nearly yank the door closed onto his fingers, but he wedges it open. “You’re always right, I’m always wrong, now and forever—”

 It’s the panic, not his words, that convinces me.

The carriage jerks into motion and my head hits the ceiling. The door slams shut and I tumble into Cyrus in a mess of elbows, nearly toppling both of us onto the floor.

 He catches me around the waist before we do.

 My vision steadies and I’m dimly aware of the sweat dampening my side and the fact that I’m crushed into his bare chest. 

“Well, congratulations, Princey, you can’t even control your own admirers!” 

Cyrus glares at me and I offer him only a tiny, bitter smile back. “You can let go now, by the way.”

 It takes a second for him to register that I am in his lap and that his arm is pinned around my middle. He was red from running, but his flush deepens into a scarlet just before he drops me on the carriage floor

"What are you so afraid of when it comes to me?” 

A blink and measured breath later, the expression is gone. “You’re imagining things,” he says, stepping away

"My curse,” he utters like an accusation. “My ruin.”

“I don’t hate you. It takes too much effort. But someone should.”

I scoff. “If you want me to list all the reasons I resent you, grab another bottle of wine.”

His breath leaves the barest fog in the night. “You once asked what I’m afraid of when it comes to you. It would be the same reason you should be afraid of me. We could ruin each other, and we would not hesitate to do so.”

“Because you haven’t slept, probably. Princey, I don’t think it’s even dawn yet.”

 “I’m tired,” he says again, “of everyone lying to me and thinking they can get away with it.”

“I’m not leaving for feelings you’re ashamed of.” 

His eyes flutter shut. “For a Seer, you don’t see the outcomes very clearly. What will happen when others find out there’s something more between us?” 

“Just because you used tongue doesn’t make it commitment, Princey. It was once.”

 “I still have no place for a Seer who is an opportunist first.”

 “Like that ever mattered.” I surge past the doorway, stabbing a finger into his chest; Cyrus sucks in a breath. It was just like this, how we kissed that night

what I really want is to look Cyrus in the eye when I best him. To strip away every trick and cunning smile of his until people see what I see. 

I want Prince Charming to fall from grace.

I understand now how he wants me as much as he hates me: I’m the splinter in his heart, digging deeper with every attempt to remove me.

Wrenching him by the back of his head, I pull Cyrus off me, panting.

 His eyes are wide and dark. I remember his words from the labyrinth: We could ruin each other, and we would not hesitate to do so.

 “Figure out what you want.” I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. “Figure it out, so I can ruin you properly.”

"I don’t even like Cyrus,” I mutter, one last protest. 

“If that didn’t stop either of you from throwing yourselves at each other before, why would that stop you now?”

Sometimes I want to kiss him and sometimes I want to ruin him, but most of the time, I want those actions to be one and the same.

“You could have anyone. Why do you want me? Why, after all these years—” 

He only laughs, weary and strained. “It wasn’t after. It was always.”

issa

millena

This is ok-ish at best and mediocre at worst. The only thing the book manage to do is entertaining me a bit and thanks to the I-write-like-I-talk writing style. 

Honestly I didn’t understand where the blooming attraction between the two characters was coming from? It felt so rushed and very unbelievable. I never compare stories but honestly this book tried so hard to recreate the Jude/Cardan dynamics. Well l, it failed. 

The world building felt very rudimentary. We have a map at the beginning of the book with places that are not mentioned at all lol. 

The ending was not great, the pacing ok also what with the overuse of italic words to make a point ? That’s lazy and I couldn’t help but notice it and be bothered by it.

Amira BEN

This is ok-ish at best and mediocre at worst. The only thing the book manage to do is entertaining me a bit and thanks to the I-write-like-I-talk writing style. 
Honestly I didn’t understand where the blooming attraction between the two characters was coming from? It felt so rushed and very unbelievable. I never compare stories but honestly this book tried so hard to recreate the Jude/Cardan dynamics. Well l, it failed. 
The world building felt very rudimentary. We have a map at the beginning of the book with places that are not mentioned at all lol. 
The ending was not great, the pacing ok also what with the overuse of italic words to make a point ? That’s lazy and I couldn’t help but notice it and be bothered by it.

It was a little slow at first but then it got really good 

Stella

mirin

4.5 stars because i was wary at first and then it engULFED ME

i love violet's snark remarks and i love cyrus and her together. 
gina chen i need book 2 NOW

Lara Engle

This book has some typical first novel problems and more. The pacing is really rough. It's so slow in the beginning and the ending is rushed and unsatisfying. The characterization is shallow and uneven. And the first-person narrator is not interesting. I thought about three-quarters of the way in that it was getting better, but it got worse. Add three overly descriptive awkward sexual encounters to the mix and it's a definite no from me.

i don’t know how to feel about him being an asshole to her all the time just because he had feelings for her flop

the ending….?

i don’t know how to feel about him being an asshole to her all the time just because he had feelings for her flop

Gillian Rose

Um, I loved this book?!? I've been in a weird reading mood this year where I have truly enjoyed a lot of books but none of them felt very five star for me. But this one? The fairy tale elements, the overall vibes of the book and how both leads were pretty morally grey, but the CHEMISTRY between them. I was mesmerized. Not only were Violet and Cyrus so fun to read, but I also adored Camilla and Dante, truly incredible supporting characters. The world was fascinating to me. I love love loved this and can't wait to see what happens next.

The first in a darkly enchanting fairytale-tinged fantasy duology about a morally grey witch, a cursed prince, and a prophecy that ignites their fate-twisted destinies, perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and Serpent & Dove.

There’s always a price for defying destiny.

Violet is a prophet and a liar, influencing the court as Seer with her cleverly phrased – and not always true – divinations. Honesty is for suckers, like the oh-so-not-charming Prince Cyrus, who plans to strip her of her title once he’s crowned.

After the king asks her to falsely prophesy Cyrus’s love story for an upcoming ball, Violet awakens a dreaded curse about the prince’s future bride. Her wits may protect her in the cutthroat court, but they can’t protect her against fate – nor the doomed attraction growing between her and the prince . . .

I thought this was going to be dark with morally grey characters...but it was just mid. "Perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and Serpent & Dove" also wasn't a good comparison...I didn't get either of those vibes tbh.

I liked the story in theory, the writing was nice but just something was missing! It just felt so shallow? Like there would have been so much more depth and world building but it just all felt very surface level. I saw someone say it was enemies to lovers but it was more...employee/boss to occasional fling with mildly graphic "romance" scenes...

I could see how this was based on so many fairy tales all at once and even though I think this could have worked, it just didn't. I was just kinda boredddd...I wanted to love this so badly but I just felt neutral about most of it for most of the book.

I probably won't be picking up the sequel :')

This is nothing like any book I've read before. It's darkly twisted, but in an amazing way! You'll let yourself get carried away in this new fantasy world and love the independent heroine, who doesn't shy away from showing the prince his place 

Vivien Luisa Seifert

Emily B

3.5 STARS:

This one was pure fun. It wasn't the deepest or the most complex, but it was so entertaining!

The main draw is definitely the romance. From their first interaction, Violet and Cyrus have so much chemistry. And they did not go where I thought they were going. Their relationship was the reason I kept coming back. The vibes of the book were very fairytale-ish, but with more darkness to it than I was expecting. It helped to make up for some parts that were a bit lacking.

Other than that, though, every other element was rather simplistic. The world-building was minimal. The characters had layers but were not too deep. And the plot was very straightforward (mostly; that ending was rather twisty). Still, there was enough there that I enjoyed it. Violet was very prickly, but I found it more endearing than annoying. The only big complaint I would have was that she didn't seem to have grown by the end of the book.

Overall, while not my absolute favorite, I can recommend this if you just want some mindless fun. I will be continuing the series because I am just so interested in where Violet and Cyrus go from here. They have quickly cemented themselves as one of my favorite couples!

Violet is the kind of slightly unlikable, self sufficient, scrappy main characters that truly shine in YA fantasy. I was never quite sure if I wanted her to win. 

Prince Charming and the Witch, who have known and despised each other all their lives, navigating a new chapter for the fate of the kingdom. There is a bit of court politics and descriptions into the relations with other lands but it was not tedious or overwhelming. 

This book was very entertaining and well done. It feels like a set up for future books but also the story has an ending, for now. 

Once I got toward the last 75% I could not put it down and desperately wanted to know where it was going. 

Megan BV

I quite enjoyed this book.

Violet is the kind of slightly unlikable, self sufficient, scrappy main characters that truly shine in YA fantasy. I was never quite sure if I wanted her to win. 

Prince Charming and the Witch, who have known and despised each other all their lives, navigating a new chapter for the fate of the kingdom. There is a bit of court politics and descriptions into the relations with other lands but it was not tedious or overwhelming. 

This book was very entertaining and well done. It feels like a set up for future books but also the story has an ending, for now. 

Once I got toward the last 75% I could not put it down and desperately wanted to know where it was going. 

I feel so conflicted on this book. The beginning was really good and interesting, but it felt poorly developed and like I was thrust into a world with no help whatsoever. I know a lot of people despise info-dumps, but sometimes an info-dump can be incredibly helpful.

Cyrus and Violet's relationship is weird. There's no build-up, or tension really. I've said it once and I'll say it again, it is not enemies to lovers when it's just the two of them being mean to each other until they suddenly kiss.

The ending was good and action packed, but everything else felt rushed. 

I fully expected to love this book, but it really was disappointing. I still have higher hopes for the next one, but my enthusiasm has been dampened.

Holly

I feel so conflicted on this book. The beginning was really good and interesting, but it felt poorly developed and like I was thrust into a world with no help whatsoever. I know a lot of people despise info-dumps, but sometimes an info-dump can be incredibly helpful.

Cyrus and Violet's relationship is weird. There's no build-up, or tension really. I've said it once and I'll say it again, it is not enemies to lovers when it's just the two of them being mean to each other until they suddenly kiss.

The ending was good and action packed, but everything else felt rushed. 

I fully expected to love this book, but it really was disappointing. I still have higher hopes for the next one, but my enthusiasm has been dampened.

Actual rating: ★★★★.75

Well shit. Now I have to wait until 2023 for the sequel. This cover! 😌👌 Violet made of thorns is a great and very entertaining debut. As a major fan of morally grey characters, enemies to lovers and dark fantasy this book was perfect for me. People who hate and kiss each other? 😈 Yes please. 

Cyrus, a cursed prince who's kingdom's fate relies on him choosing a bride, wants to marry for love. He has been stalling for too long so the king, with the help of his seer, sets him up with a noblewoman. But the seer–Violet– has dreams and visions. The prince's bride is not who she seems to be. Together they work to unravel the secrets to prevent something terrible from happening. 

The burning question: Is Violet made of thorns similar to The cruel prince? Not really in my opinion, other than the enchantments and intense love/hate relationship between Cyrus and Violet. I'd say it's a bit more romance focused. 

The story is inspired by multiple fairytales. I noticed subtle references to Cinderella, Beauty and the beast and Sleeping Beauty.

I loved Violet for being brutally honest and an unapologetic liar at the same time. Cyrus is a pretentious ass lol. He and Violent were always bickering at the beginning. Later they start to get along better. Sometimes. He wants to have her gone but Violent, well... She's determined to keep her position as the kingdom's seer. Then we have Dante, Cyrus' best friend and confidant,who was also a favorite. He's the neutral middle ground between them. And lastly Camilla, Cyrus' twin sister, a supportive sapphic queen. 😏

The pacing was moderate from the beginning the 2nd half however was packed with twists. 

What I was missing were the ✨fantasy names✨ (at least for the main characters) . The names were flowery (and modern?) It felt weird. Then again roses, vines, thorns were significant to the story so maybe it was going for that kind of vibe? 

Arc provided by publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

From the author's website:

Content Warnings:
one instance of parent harming child physically, themes of emotional manipulation fantasy-typical levels of violence, including death and body horror
self-harm in a ritual/magical context
some instances of casual racism

Other Notes:
non-explicit sexual content, does not fade to black

Take your favorite fairy tale and picture it in your mind's eye. Do you see it? The way the prince and princess overcome an evil villain and find true love along the way? Got it? Good.

Now take that tale, and twist it. Bend it until the lines blur between the heroine and villains. Until the love is barbed and tainted between the prince and his princess. Sometimes, the best fairy tales aren't bathed in gold and end in "happily ever afters". 

Gina Chen takes all those special moments and deceptive turns that we love traditional fairy tales for, and completely flips them on their heads. Chen creates characters with complex and dimensional feelings that you can't help but root for. Violet, our main protagonist (of sorts), burns with ambition, pride, and a bit of magic. Cyrus is cunning, courageous, and too soft-hearted for his own good. Together, these two light the matches for ruin. 

While this book was a bit slow to start and didn't quite capture my attention until a few chapters in, the ending had me open-mouthed and wanting more. Chen excellently placed red herrings throughout the book, which made the reveals that much sweeter. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. 

Cassie Burke

Take your favorite fairy tale and picture it in your mind's eye. Do you see it? The way the prince and princess overcome an evil villain and find true love along the way? Got it? Good.

Now take that tale, and twist it. Bend it until the lines blur between the heroine and villains. Until the love is barbed and tainted between the prince and his princess. Sometimes, the best fairy tales aren't bathed in gold and end in "happily ever afters". 

Gina Chen takes all those special moments and deceptive turns that we love traditional fairy tales for, and completely flips them on their heads. Chen creates characters with complex and dimensional feelings that you can't help but root for. Violet, our main protagonist (of sorts), burns with ambition, pride, and a bit of magic. Cyrus is cunning, courageous, and too soft-hearted for his own good. Together, these two light the matches for ruin. 

While this book was a bit slow to start and didn't quite capture my attention until a few chapters in, the ending had me open-mouthed and wanting more. Chen excellently placed red herrings throughout the book, which made the reveals that much sweeter. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. 

This book wasn't so good as I thought it would be, but was stil good. I can't decide if I like Cyrus or not, he seems like a real ass sometimes. But the rest of the story was good. I didn't like the ending tho....

And am I the only own who liked Dante more than Cyrus and was shocked about the reveal at the end?

Eslie

This book wasn't so good as I thought it would be, but was stil good. I can't decide if I like Cyrus or not, he seems like a real ass sometimes. But the rest of the story was good. I didn't like the ending tho....

And am I the only own who liked Dante more than Cyrus and was shocked about the reveal at the end?

fun fantasy with a good ending. enjoyable and easy read.

paloma

The synopsis of Violet made of Thorns promised a lot of elements that I love in YA fantasy: A strong-minded heroine, enemies-to-lovers romance, a curse, and cut-throat politics. Unfortunately, the story fell flat for me, leaving me unsatisfied.

The plot started of promising with an immediate antagonism between Violet, the heroine, and prince Cyrus. Furthermore, the reader is soon introduced to the political situation and the curse. The rest of the book is focused on the dynamics between Violet and Cyrus. Those scenes were my favourite of the book due to their quick banter. However, the focus on the love story resulted in less page time for the politics and the curse which made both with unfounded. Due to the lack of foundation for the politics and the curse, the plot lacked urgency. My main issue with the plot was the sometimes-irrational development. I could not always understand the consequences of events. Lastly, the final confrontation in the end felt rushed and inconsistent.

The main characters, Violet and Cyrus, were interesting enough. Violet is a strong-willed heroine who has a pessimistic worldview. While it took me some time to warm to her, I respected her from the beginning of the story. Cyrus is the idealistic crown prince who is unnecessarily harsh towards Violet. I was intrigued by him due to his hypocrisy. The interactions between Violet and Cyrus were my favourite part of the story. However, I need a bit more depth in their characters. Furthermore, I found Cyrus characterisation to be inconsistent. The side characters were one-dimensional. Characters who were supposed to be the villain were not as frighting or evil due to the lack of character development.

I die enjoy the writing style of Gena Chen. Her writing felt accessible, and it did not pull me out of the story. In general, the writing was sharp and direct. Chen’s writing shone during the interactions between Violet and Cyrus. Furthermore, the visual descriptions were excellent. It was easy to visualise the surroundings and the characters. The whole story was written from Violet’s perspective, but through her gift other perspectives were presented. This made the reading experience more interesting.

The fictional world was not distinguishable from other YA fantasy stories. It was set in the capital of a kingdom and there was some mention of other countries. However, the world was not described in sufficient detail to make it stand out. I wanted more information about the magic system, the politics, and the logistics of the capital. Despite the lack of development, the magic was fascinating. I liked that the magic was connected to dreams and visions of the future.

In conclusion, I enjoyed my time reading Violet made of Thorns especially the dynamics between Violet and Cyrus. The book could be improved by more development of the plot and the world. However, I am enough intrigued to read the sequel.

Rating breakdown: plot (3.6/5), characters (2.5/5), writing (4.1/5), worldbuilding (2.8/5), overall enjoyment (2.5/5)

Trigger warnings: Graphic violence, murder.

Lisa van der Heijden 

 

Title: Violet made of Thorns

Author: Gina Chen

Pages: 364

Published: July 2022

Rating: 3.3/5.0

 

The synopsis of Violet made of Thorns promised a lot of elements that I love in YA fantasy: A strong-minded heroine, enemies-to-lovers romance, a curse, and cut-throat politics. Unfortunately, the story fell flat for me, leaving me unsatisfied.

 

The plot started of promising with an immediate antagonism between Violet, the heroine, and prince Cyrus. Furthermore, the reader is soon introduced to the political situation and the curse. The rest of the book is focused on the dynamics between Violet and Cyrus. Those scenes were my favourite of the book due to their quick banter. However, the focus on the love story resulted in less page time for the politics and the curse which made both with unfounded. Due to the lack of foundation for the politics and the curse, the plot lacked urgency. My main issue with the plot was the sometimes-irrational development. I could not always understand the consequences of events. Lastly, the final confrontation in the end felt rushed and inconsistent.

 

The main characters, Violet and Cyrus, were interesting enough. Violet is a strong-willed heroine who has a pessimistic worldview. While it took me some time to warm to her, I respected her from the beginning of the story. Cyrus is the idealistic crown prince who is unnecessarily harsh towards Violet. I was intrigued by him due to his hypocrisy. The interactions between Violet and Cyrus were my favourite part of the story. However, I need a bit more depth in their characters. Furthermore, I found Cyrus characterisation to be inconsistent. The side characters were one-dimensional. Characters who were supposed to be the villain were not as frighting or evil due to the lack of character development.

 

I die enjoy the writing style of Gena Chen. Her writing felt accessible, and it did not pull me out of the story. In general, the writing was sharp and direct. Chen’s writing shone during the interactions between Violet and Cyrus. Furthermore, the visual descriptions were excellent. It was easy to visualise the surroundings and the characters. The whole story was written from Violet’s perspective, but through her gift other perspectives were presented. This made the reading experience more interesting.

 

The fictional world was not distinguishable from other YA fantasy stories. It was set in the capital of a kingdom and there was some mention of other countries. However, the world was not described in sufficient detail to make it stand out. I wanted more information about the magic system, the politics, and the logistics of the capital. Despite the lack of development, the magic was fascinating. I liked that the magic was connected to dreams and visions of the future.

 

In conclusion, I enjoyed my time reading Violet made of Thorns especially the dynamics between Violet and Cyrus. The book could be improved by more development of the plot and the world. However, I am enough intrigued to read the sequel.

 

Rating breakdown: plot (3.6/5), characters (2.5/5), writing (4.1/5), worldbuilding (2.8/5), overall enjoyment (2.5/5)

 

Trigger warnings: Graphic violence, murder.

VIOLET MADE OF THORNS is compared to two of my favorite YA fantasy books: 

, but this, along with the huge social media hype, may have unfairly raised my expectations. The premise is definitely the book’s biggest strength. We have two characters who can’t seem to stand each other and yet lust for one another, and a curse to break. Those are all elements I love in any book, so if you do as well, I think this is worth a try.

 is a book that should be binged. I read this one in 10 days to pace myself for a read-along, but I think it would be enjoyed more when read swiftly. The beginning is quite slow, and it has a messy introduction to the world-building and characters, which made me struggle to get into it. This might have been easier to stomach with a strong characterization, but unfortunately I think both main characters promise more than they give. While both fall in the “morally gray” spectrum, Violet feels more ruthless in her mind than she does in her actions, and Cyrus struggles to break through due to a shortage of scenes with him in the first half of the book. I can’t say these issues really get resolved, however around the halfway mark I started to enjoy myself. Coincidentally (not), it’s when there were more interactions between Cyrus and Violet.

Now here’s the sad thing: the dynamic between Cyrus and Violet works, and so I’m sad we didn’t get to experience it fully from the start. Once the passion ignites between them, the hate-angst and unpredictability of their encounters was exciting to read, and crowned by great banter and kissing scenes. You just have to warm up to them and trust that these two really don’t like each other, because you hardly get to see those “why do I want to kiss you and slap you at the same time?” moments 

 the two characters admit to an attraction. This makes their interactions enjoyable, but not yet as memorable as those of the couple they wish to evoke (Jude and Cardan).

Admittedly, because of the convoluted world-building, I was more interested in the relationship than I was in the plot. However, the climax of the story offers some great twists and promises interesting scenarios for the next book. With how things leave off, I think the sequel will offer opportunities to better explore the world and magic as well as the nature of Cyrus and Violet’s relationship. Without spoiling, I think it hits a sort of reset button… and I’m excited to see where it goes.

Chiara Vitale Zelaia

VIOLET MADE OF THORNS is compared to two of my favorite YA fantasy books: The Cruel Prince and Serpent & Dove, but this, along with the huge social media hype, may have unfairly raised my expectations. The premise is definitely the book’s biggest strength. We have two characters who can’t seem to stand each other and yet lust for one another, and a curse to break. Those are all elements I love in any book, so if you do as well, I think this is worth a try.

My advice: Violet Made of Thorns is a book that should be binged. I read this one in 10 days to pace myself for a read-along, but I think it would be enjoyed more when read swiftly. The beginning is quite slow, and it has a messy introduction to the world-building and characters, which made me struggle to get into it. This might have been easier to stomach with a strong characterization, but unfortunately I think both main characters promise more than they give. While both fall in the “morally gray” spectrum, Violet feels more ruthless in her mind than she does in her actions, and Cyrus struggles to break through due to a shortage of scenes with him in the first half of the book. I can’t say these issues really get resolved, however around the halfway mark I started to enjoy myself. Coincidentally (not), it’s when there were more interactions between Cyrus and Violet.

Now here’s the sad thing: the dynamic between Cyrus and Violet works, and so I’m sad we didn’t get to experience it fully from the start. Once the passion ignites between them, the hate-angst and unpredictability of their encounters was exciting to read, and crowned by great banter and kissing scenes. You just have to warm up to them and trust that these two really don’t like each other, because you hardly get to see those “why do I want to kiss you and slap you at the same time?” moments before the two characters admit to an attraction. This makes their interactions enjoyable, but not yet as memorable as those of the couple they wish to evoke (Jude and Cardan).

Admittedly, because of the convoluted world-building, I was more interested in the relationship than I was in the plot. However, the climax of the story offers some great twists and promises interesting scenarios for the next book. With how things leave off, I think the sequel will offer opportunities to better explore the world and magic as well as the nature of Cyrus and Violet’s relationship. Without spoiling, I think it hits a sort of reset button… and I’m excited to see where it goes.

I need to stop getting too hyped up from the hype, because more often than not this year it has led me astray.

 was a nice read that is definitely more enjoyable if you read quickly—which is not what I did, as this was this month’s book for the Book Talk With Wifey readalong on IG. If you read it fast, you won’t have time to linger on the things that fell a bit short, and you’ll likely be concentrating on all the positive aspects of the book.

Reading it while following the readalong’s schedule, I found the first half of the book to be a little slow. The setting was cute and with a modern fairytale vibe that reminded me a little 

, but what sparked my interest above everything else were the interactions between Violet and Cyrus. Their hate/lust—and eventually love—dynamic was really addicting, but their scenes were too brief and sporadic for me to truly grasp 

 they hate each other, which is ultimately what frustrated me about the first half of the book. I mean, on Violet’s part it’s pretty straight-forward—Cyrus acts like a self-righteous prick with her—but for Cyrus it took me almost the whole book to maybe understand his true motive. I would have loved for there to be more scenes and banter between the two, because I truly believe their dynamic is the book’s strongest point—as proven by the second half of the book, which sees the plot picking up and more scenes between the couple.

In the end, I enjoyed this book enough to be curious about the sequel, but seeing the hype, I’d been expecting to find a new favorite ship and, unfortunately, Cyrus and Violet are not there yet for lack of scenes and build-up.

Maria Elena Vitale Zelaia

I need to stop getting too hyped up from the hype, because more often than not this year it has led me astray.

Violet Made of Thorns was a nice read that is definitely more enjoyable if you read quickly—which is not what I did, as this was this month’s book for the Book Talk With Wifey readalong on IG. If you read it fast, you won’t have time to linger on the things that fell a bit short, and you’ll likely be concentrating on all the positive aspects of the book.

Reading it while following the readalong’s schedule, I found the first half of the book to be a little slow. The setting was cute and with a modern fairytale vibe that reminded me a little Ella Enchanted or Shrek, but what sparked my interest above everything else were the interactions between Violet and Cyrus. Their hate/lust—and eventually love—dynamic was really addicting, but their scenes were too brief and sporadic for me to truly grasp why they hate each other, which is ultimately what frustrated me about the first half of the book. I mean, on Violet’s part it’s pretty straight-forward—Cyrus acts like a self-righteous prick with her—but for Cyrus it took me almost the whole book to maybe understand his true motive. I would have loved for there to be more scenes and banter between the two, because I truly believe their dynamic is the book’s strongest point—as proven by the second half of the book, which sees the plot picking up and more scenes between the couple.

In the end, I enjoyed this book enough to be curious about the sequel, but seeing the hype, I’d been expecting to find a new favorite ship and, unfortunately, Cyrus and Violet are not there yet for lack of scenes and build-up.

The first half (~175 pages) were pretty good. Fun banter, interesting characters, and a mysterious presence spouting prophecy. The next 100 pages were just tedious. The same banter becomes annoying and the characters didn't even bother actually trying to solve the problem at hand. If Violet didn't want to tell anyone about the entirety of her prophecy she should have at least started working on her magic because you know an evil presence is trying to convince her to kill people?? But no she just wallows in self pity. Then the ending is just rushed which makes sense since this book was originally a stand-alone but is now getting a sequel? We at least deserve a proper ending to book 1 rather than the "fairytale" chapter we got at the end. I just.... this book was so disappointing. Maybe the sequel will be better but this one just didn't do it for me.

Cassidy Webb

Warning: May Contain Spoilers

The first half (~175 pages) were pretty good. Fun banter, interesting characters, and a mysterious presence spouting prophecy. The next 100 pages were just tedious. The same banter becomes annoying and the characters didn't even bother actually trying to solve the problem at hand. If Violet didn't want to tell anyone about the entirety of her prophecy she should have at least started working on her magic because you know an evil presence is trying to convince her to kill people?? But no she just wallows in self pity. Then the ending is just rushed which makes sense since this book was originally a stand-alone but is now getting a sequel? We at least deserve a proper ending to book 1 rather than the "fairytale" chapter we got at the end. I just.... this book was so disappointing. Maybe the sequel will be better but this one just didn't do it for me.

Laura Kehoe

This was such a fun, fast read! If you love snarky, amoral characters, enemies to lovers, and magic, then this is a book for you!

I instantly loved Violet. She was not exactly a good person, but her actions made sense and she always kept things interesting; even when I wanted to smack her for being an idiot! And the rest of the characters were equally infuriating and entertaining.

The world Chen created was also so fun and interesting. I loved the magic system and the politics in this book. It all felt very real, like I could step right into this world.

I'm so glad I had the chance to read this book. It was exactly what I wanted and was so much fun. I can't wait to see where the story goes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

This is probably closer to a 3.75 ⭐️ read. I had a lot of fun with this book. The tension between the two main charterers was great, and I loved that Cyrus had been in love with her the whole time. But I struggled with some of this book. The worldview of Violet is interesting but I think Chen takes it too far to the point of unbelievability in some sense? Maybe it’s also in part why I struggle with YA sometimes, as an adult, some of their choices and thought processes are so clearly wrong I can’t understand how anyone could believe certain things are plausible. I’m excited that there’s a second book though and I will definitely be reading! Interesting and captivating quick read for sure. 