Margaret Rogerson

Elizabeth je šestnáct a je učednicí v jedné z šesti magických knihoven. Brzy by však měla studovat na strážce. Jak se ale zdá, osud s ní má jiné plány. Fantasy plná nebezpečných knih a dramatických rozuzlení. Elisabeth vyrůstala v jedné z austermérských veleknihoven. Od malička procházela kolem spoutaných grimoárů - kouzelných knih, které se po osvobození změní v běsnící monstra z kůže a inkoustu. Když při útoku na veleknihovnu jeden z nejmocnějších grimoárů uprchne, Elisabeth se ocitne uprostřed gigantického spiknutí a je obviněna ze zločinu. A co hůř, k soudu ji bude doprovázet čaroděj Nathaniel Thorn, který je ztělesněním čirého zla... Nebo je vše jinak? Nakladatelská anotace.

Kouzla rodu Thornů

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.

Sorcery of Thorns

SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

camie⁷ 𓂃⊹ ˚ ༘`✦

“You wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me.”

“You’re right. I would be alone in my study, utterly miserable, spending my final hours unaware that demons were about to overrun the world. 

I like this version better. The one with you in it.”

they're so precious i cannot take this anymore!!!!!!!

“He never once looked at her in return. But every once in a while, when her back was turned, she could have sworn she felt his gaze settle upon her, as tentative as the brush of a butterfly’s wing.”

no b!tch i'm rooting for u you're my badass heroine

“She was no hero, just a girl in a nightgown who happened to be holding a sword.”

Aimee :)

"Most people grow out of fairy stories," he said. "Why did you carry on believing, when the rest of the world did not?"

"What is the point of life if you don't believe in anything?" she asked instead.

Was that what it meant to lose someone? The pain never went away. It just got... covered up.

Was that a thing people did-- just gave up? When there was do much in the world to love, to fight for?

"You belonged in the library, as much as any book."

Hans

Elena M.

Was that what it meant to lose someone? The pain never went away. It just got… covered up.

For these were not ordinary books the libraries kept. They were knowledge, given life. Wisdom, given voice. They sang when starlight streamed through the library’s windows. They felt pain and suffered heartbreak. Sometimes they were sinister, grotesque—but so was the world outside. And that made the world no less worth fighting for, because wherever there was darkness, there was also so much light.

“When terrible things have happened to you, sometimes the promise of something good can be just as frightening.”

She was back where she belonged, surrounded by the whisperings and rustlings of pages; the sweet, musty smell of books.

“You like this place?”“Of course I do. It has books in it.”

She now understood that the world wasn’t kind to young women, especially when they behaved in ways men didn’t like, and spoke truths that men weren’t ready to hear.

She had never known that hope could hurt so badly, like blood rushing back to a deadened limb.

“I never did answer your question.” He set off toward his tent. “If you don’t believe in anything,” he said over his shoulder, “then you have a great deal less to lose.”

“Most people grow out of fairy stories,” he said. “Why did you carry on believing, when the rest of the world did not?” She wasn’t sure how to answer. To her, his question made little sense—or if it did, it wasn’t a kind of sense she wished to understand. “What is the point of life if you don’t believe in anything?” she asked instead.

If I fail, I will die. Then at least I’ll have a use. They can bury me in the garden to feed the radishes.

From the internationally bestselling author of An Enchantment of Ravens comes a breathtaking fantasy story of magic, power and slow-burning love. This is the perfect read for fans of Cassandra Clare, Leigh Bardugo, Alexandra Bracken and Holly Black! '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 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, if provoked, 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, 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. 'An enthralling adventure replete with spellbinding characters, a slow-burning love story, and a world worth staying lost in' – Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Heart-racing fantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of An Enchantment of Ravens

Eslie

a gruesome, tortured, deadly thing, monstrous but not beyond love, capable in the end of this final act of redemption.

The books was by far one of the best things in the storie. I just loved how the grimoire has their own personality and everything,  its awesome

For these were not ordinary books the libraries kept. They were knowledge, given life. Wisdom, given voice. They sang when starlight streamed through the library’s windows. They felt pain and suffered heartbreak. Sometimes they were sinister, grotesque—but so was the world outside. And that made the world no less worth fighting for, because wherever there was darkness, there was also so much light

Said every bookworm ever;) I love this qoute 

“Of course I do. It has books in it.”

“You’re a proper monster, Silas,” she murmured, caught halfway in a dream. “I’m glad of it.”

The library no more belonged to Ashcroft and his plot than Elisabeth belonged to the unknown parents who had brought her into this world. It possessed a life of its own, had become something greater than Cornelius had ever intended. For these were not ordinary books the libraries kept. 

They were knowledge, given life. Wisdom, given voice. They sang when starlight streamed through the library’s windows. They felt pain and suffered heartbreak. Sometimes they were sinister, grotesque—but so was the world outside. And that made the world no less worth fighting for, because wherever there was darkness, there was also so much light.

“I dragged you into this,” she said. “You wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me.”

“You’re right. I would be alone in my study, utterly miserable, spending my final hours unaware that demons were about to overrun the world.” He returned and slumped beside her, tipping his head back against the stone. “I like this version better. The one with you in it.”

Briefly, he shut his eyes. “The last month has been the happiest time of my life that I can remember since I was twelve, the fiends and the blood drinking and the imminent threat of a demonic apocalypse notwithstanding. I think—I think I was a bit dead already, before you came along.” He turned his head, taking her in. 

“It’s an honor to fight by your side, Elisabeth, for however long it lasts. You’ve reminded me to live. That’s worth having something to lose.”

The magic, the characters, the lessons learned. Reminded me of why I love fantasy so much.

Monserrat Navarro 

How do I deal with the heat? Read books about magical libraries

Annabella

Linara K.S

A typical YA FANTASY, that I enjoyed. I wish it were more original in some of the plot points BUT this remains an enjoyable read.

(3.5) The start was amazing. I loved it. But towards the end, it started getting boring. I did not like the ending. I felt like to make it more moving, someone had to die and they just did not let him die. OH WOW THE LIBRARY PROTECTED YOU?!?1!11!!1!!11

Anna 

na kouzla rodu thornů jsem se chystala zhruba rok a strašně moc jsem se na to těšila. moje očekávání byla ale někde jinde. 
doufala jsem v něco podobného mýtonošům, nebo dejme tomu lovcům stínů. prostě složitý magický systém, vykreslení celého světa do detailů atd. bohužel tady mi přišlo, že ten svět moc propracovaný nebyl. 
co jsem si z něho odnesla, je to, že existuje hlavní město a města v jeho okolí, s tím že všechna města mají knihovny, ve kterých jsou knihy, a že ty knihy jsou bytosti samy o sobě. no a taky jsou tam čarodějové, kteří kdysi vládli světu a nyní jsou spíš na okrasu. jo a ještě démoni, kteří žijí na onom světě. to je vše. nic moc mi to neřeklo, svět mě nedokázal pořádně vtáhnout do děje a já jaksi plavala na povrchu, než abych se do čtení ponořila nějak víc. rozhodně tomu nepomáhal ani fakt, že mi hlavní hrdinka přišla tak trošku naivní a hloupoučká. občas si pokládala absurdní otázky. 
shrnula bych ji tímto úryvkem z knihy:
„Mé (očividně vtipně myšlené) poznámce se začali smát. Došlo mi, že to považují za vtip.“
já nevím, prostě mi nesedla. 
nathaniel byl supr, v hodně ohledech mi připomínal lokiho. silas byl asi nejzajímavější postavou v celé knize, rozhodně by mě zajímalo víc o jeho životě na onom světě.
jinak ale nic moc. průměrný zvrat a předvídatelný konec. 
já chápu, že sestavit fantastický svět ve standalone knížce je umění, ale i tak si myslím, že by stačilo jen pár detailů o jeho fungování přidat a pár detailů ohledně toho, co dělala elisabeth čtrnáct dní v kuse, zase odebrat, a fungovalo by to lépe.
budu hodná a řeknu, že je chyba asi ve mně a v mých očekáváních epické fantasy s živými knihami.
.
bohužel 3,5*/5*

absolutely adored this book!! amazing world-building, slow-burn (but worth it) romance, and entirely magical overall

5 ⭐
this was lovely and easy and it made me laugh and cry and I loved it :]

Amanda

Sadly disappointed in this one. The atmosphere and world building was beautiful but thats where the magic ends. The pacing was too slow for most of the book then ramped up and rushed the ending. I didnt finish the epilogue and I didn't remember much at all; each time I went back to it I had to look back a page or so to remember what happened. Romance was forced and the villain was cheesy and the threat did not seem genuine. Couldn't connect to the characters or story.

Hanna Rybchynska

4.5 stars

This book is a great adventure! It reminded me of some good old high fantasy books.

This is a world where all the magic can be stored in the books. Here books are like some kind of living things. We follow the path of an apprentice librarian - Elisabeth, whose primary goal is to protect the books from the Sorcerers. All her life the library taught her that Sorcerers are evil and they use demons-salves to conjure magic. One night, she woke up and one of the books was transformed into the monster. This monster kills the director of the library and then wants to kill the people of nearest village. of opening the book, because she already had a bad past. And she is sent to Sorcerers to be judged! From that part an on her adventure beggins! 

As I said this is a book of fantasy and adventure. Of good and evil and all the gray areas. She realizes that sometimes evil is not evil and good is not good. And obviously she descovers that she is more that she though! 

A great book! I honestly recomend it to people who like high fantasy :)

I'm not actually sure if anything happened during this book. 

Addison Miller

envee

introducing; the blandest characters you'll ever meet

I heard good and bad things about this, so i was scared going into it. Quickly i found myself really enjoying the storyline as well as falling in love with the characters. I absolutely adored the world and everything in it, it was very unique and emotional. However, it’s not my absolute favourite because it didn’t impact me as much as a 5 star would. And towards the end i found myself being less impressed by the storyline, or that it was over too quickly. But nevertheless it was a great read with beautiful characters.

I avoid YA fantasy nowadays because they usually have so much romance elements and not much plot going on. I love meself a good romance, but in a fantasy I want a strong plot and characters that I can root for. And this had both. 

Honestly, I loved the plot and the characters so much. And it being a stand alone was the cherry on top. 

nuha ✨️

This book was a delight to read. 

I avoid YA fantasy nowadays because they usually have so much romance elements and not much plot going on. I love meself a good romance, but in a fantasy I want a strong plot and characters that I can root for. And this had both. 

Honestly, I loved the plot and the characters so much. And it being a stand alone was the cherry on top. 

Ambrose. 𓂃 ࣪ ˖ ִֶָ 𐀔

** spoiler alert **
           This was such a delightful read. A concept I've never seen before, but was so well executed. I honestly had no idea what I was getting into when I picked up this book, but boy, did I love it instantly.

The only thing I was disappointed about was the romance, since it felt dull and there wasn't much chemistry between the leads. Personally, I feel like it would have done better without the side romance at all, or had Elisabeth's love interest was Silas instead. He was so much more significant to the story, and even had better chemistry with her than she did with Nathaniel. Safe to say I completed this novel with Silas being my favorite character.

Either way, this book was amazing, and even moved me to tears during the last few chapters. Though it may be slow paced, it was still worth the time by the end of the novel. Margaret's writing was also as magical as I expected. Though if I were to compare this to her other novel— An Enchantment of Ravens— I would definitely pick Sorcery of Thorns as superior. I hope to also read her other works soon!

A Freckled Bookwyrm

I have been trying so hard to get back into reading and this finally did it for me! This book is a real page turner, I stayed up late just read another chapter. It is a great stand alone book...although would LOVE a sequel. However it stand well on it's on and the end is satisfying with just enough to make you wanting more. The story is captivating, funny, light and real joy to read. I look forward to next thing this author may but out.

liana

4⭐️

⚠️THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS⚠️


Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson is a YA fantasy book, a stand-alone book but with a short novella afterwards called Mysteries of Thorn Manor.
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 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.



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






  ➸She now understood that the world wasn’t kind to young women, especially when they behaved in ways men didn’t like, and spoke truths that men weren’t ready to hear.



The characters:
Except for the villain, I think all the characters were likable, but I just want to talk about the three main characters:
First and foremost, Elisabeth Scrivener, an orphan who grew up in a Great Library and spent her entire life surrounded by books. I love her so much, she’s such an intelligent character, with strong will and her big heart and sense of justice makes her stand out as a true hero, which I admired. She’s quick-thinking, not afraid to fight and give her life to save innocents and/or the people she loves, and she doesn’t let societal rules or sorcerers get in the way of that. Maybe the fact that she directly knew how to use a sword without any practice whatsoever wasn’t too much believable, but everything happened so fast that I just think there was no time to practice when you have to save the world with your boyfriend and his demon. Also, in some ways I could identify with her and her passion and adoration for books and I particularly loved all the beautiful things she said about them.
Secondly, we have my favorite character of them all: Nathaniel Thorn is incredible. His past is really hard for him, considering he witnessed his father’s death and his mom and sister died in a car accident, but the bond he has with Silas, his demon servant who became his raised him after the tragedy, is so heartwarming. He’s so sarcastic and his banters are the best. When he meets Elisabeth, he’s pretty much reserved, but despite Nathaniel’s insistence that he’s not “good,” Elisabeth refuses to believe there’s anything but a kind heart underneath all the snark and they slowly fall in love with each other. He’s handsome and really kind, but his attitude is the best. I love that his magic is green and that it depends on Silas’s. *directly adding him to my list of infinite crushes*.
And last but not least, Silas aka Nathaniel’s demon and a fluffy white cat with astonishing yellow eyes and so handsome you can’t even breathe. The fact that his true form is A CAT it’s enough for me to love him. Considering he’s a demon (and I loved all the original info the author gives you about them to get to know him better) and cannot feel any emotions, he will 100% protect his master Nathan (and also Elisabeth) with his life. His attitude is so good, he’s grumpy almost all the time but he has a pure soul. In conclusion: I want a demon who’s actually a cat in my life.



  ➸You belonged in the library, as much as any book.



My opinion:
This book was just amazing. I loved everything about it. The romance, the plot, the unique magic system, the grimoires, the sarcastic comments, the humor, the three main characters, etc.. Maybe this book was inspired by these two others and I didn’t know, but it felt the plot was like The Beauty and the Beast mixed with The Chronicles of Narnia and I loved that. This stand-alone did not disappoint at all: the authors writing is spectacular, the worldbuilding is so beautiful you can actually notice Rogerson’s fondness of the book. The magic system really impressed me, and I loved how the grimoires had their own minds and how they could communicate with Elisabeth basically because they all knew she belongs in the library just like them. Elisabeth, Nathaniel and Silas’s friendship where the three manage to form a found family of sorts, despite their differences, is wonderful. Elisabeth, as an apprentice of the Great Library, is supposed to shun all sorcery, but finds herself falling for the most eligible one, Nathaniel, and learns to care for his demon companion as well. Their developing relationship should be difficult due to their differences in society, but it feels natural and comfortable. The three have great banter that often made me laugh. Also, Elisabeth and Nathaniel have such fabulously flirtatious slow-burn and beautiful romance with perfect conclusion, and I think they just fit together perfectly. 
I won’t lie: it took me two weeks to finish this book, and not because of it, but because Fourth Wing gave me a huge reading slump and every time I wanted to read, my mind went completely blank and I was incapable of understanding any word of it. That does not mean the book was bad, on the contrary: it was surprisingly good!

If I have to say something bad about it and why I didn’t give it 5 stars would be:
1. The chapters were too long sometimes.
2. Even though the worldbuilding is perfect, it is also too detailed (everything was so meticulously described and it threw me off because it wasn’t necessary at all).
3. I thought it would’ve had much more romance, and I think it would’ve been better to balance it with all the constant action. 
4. It was too fast paced, and that sometimes didn’t give me enough time to gather all the information + get to know the characters better. 
5. Because of the reading slump I was going through, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I would’ve liked but it still was really great.



  ➸You unmanageable, contrary creature. You have made me believe in something at last. It feels as wretched as I imagined.



If you like and want to read a good slow burn romance, with stunning worldbuilding, full of magic with a touch of mystery and a strong FMC, this fantasy book is for you.

But before reading, check the trigger warnings as there may be some topics that can be hard for some people (tw such as: death of parents, grief, misogyny and sexism, death, confinement, gaslighting, injury detail, violence, etc.).



  ➸It's an honor to fight by your side, Elisabeth, for however long it lasts. You've reminded me to live. That's worth having something to lose.










(English is not my first language, if you find any mistakes please let me know).

This is book is amazing. Roberson makes you feel for the characters, especially Silas and his numerous sacrifices. I love the romance in this, just enough to make you love the couple. I loved that the book was plot based rather than romance based. It has such a strong main character and the banter between Elisabeth and Nathanial always made me laugh. 

Alexandria New

Ena Kalkan

I really wanted to like this more than I actually did. It just ended up unfortunately losing my interest at the very end. I still wanted to finish the book but it just took me a lot longer than I anticipated.

Mel 

LOVED THIS! 
Nathaniel, Silas and Elisabeth are just an amazing trio and I loved seeing them bond and their journeys come together. They definitely heightened my love for this book! I also found the Grimoires to be so fascinating and unique. 
It definitely felt like a classic fantasy! I would compare this book in terms of feel to Sabriel. I recommend going into this one knowing little. It is also increasingly fast-paced so if you’re feeling a reading slump coming definitely read this one.

Entertaining and fun. Loved it. Magical libraries ftw. 

Megan BV

Janice

Marvelous. I am in love. I have officially found my new favourite book.

This book did have a single part that was boring or slow-paced. Everything in there just made sense, it had a purpose. I also really love how despite there being a romance, it was a very small part of the book. Also the romance felt really natural. 

Back to the story, the storyworld is very intricate which is funny considering that there isn't even that much information given about the world but somehow it is written in such a way that you just understand how the world works. And I love that, I mean who wants an info dump?

All in all, the book read very smoothly, had a fascinating story and somehow managed to avoid all the things I don't like in books (fantasy where romance takes over too much, info dumps, boring "filler" etc.). I would definitely recommend it!

nuélle

Nina Verhaaff 

I liked the beginning but the middle and end part wasn’t that exciting

Sorcery of thorns was everything I could want in a book and more. A strong and brave protagonist, a dark haired bi sorcerer and a quiet and loyal demon ? Sign me up ! I loved the writing, the world building and the adorable scenes with Nathaniel and Elisabeth. I loved that the grimoires took on their own personality and that they were 'alive' in general. The ending wasn't as action packed as I would have liked but it still made me want to cry at some points 

Kouzla rodu Thornů

Reviews

Highlights