REVIEW: A Lesson in Thorns by Sierra Simone

 

A Lesson In Thorns (Thornchapel #1) by Sierra Simone
Cover Reveal: March 13th
Release Date: March 21st
Cover Designer: Hang Le
Image: Trevillion Images

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OUR REVIEW:

Shel: Ughhhh. I’m totally helpless against anything and everything Sierra Simone. You wanna know my kryptonite? It’s her writing and, honestly, who she is as a person. I admire what she stands for and I’m enamored with the worlds and characters she creates. So from this gushiness you might be able to...maybe...perhaps? ascertain my happiness at the new series she’s publishing—and the sweet agony it’ll be to wait for every book to be released. You might especially appreciate that now that I’ve finished book one, A Lesson in Thorns, I’m in that severe book hangover stage I tend to fall into when I finish one of her novels (which means I instantly texted Court who was on vacation and demanded she start reading it NOW!!). Court: Which I did immediately! And for all that is holy, you all...must read this book immediately. I had no idea really what I was getting myself into, but now I am deep into book hangover mode as well...a finished book that I was trying to savor but could not get enough of...and whew. It was a wild ride that sucked us in from the very first page.

Shel: This Thornchapel Series feels so very British —broody and moor-y and dark and gothic. The cast of characters—Poe, Auden, Saint, Becket, Rebecca, Delphine, their families and the Thornchapel Estate(because these last two things seem to always add to the atmosphere or looming in the background)— are interestingly entwined. From their childhood “wedding” to their current post-college years that have all brought them back to where they first met, they each have stories that ache with melancholy and longing until they’re all with each other which is when they all seem to finally be able to breathe. Court: We were dropped into their world in the perfect place though. We don't know a lot, but neither do they...so we get some mingling from the past and with 6 sort of main characters that all have to much to bring to the table we have a lot of meat to get into and a lot of webs to unravel. I am entranced by Thornchapel estate as well...and with all of their individual issues. Poe is a great character's head to be in a lot of the time, though...and she is cataloguing what seems to be the library for all libraries and that is amazing too.

Shel: The growing tension between all of these characters, sexual and otherwise, was pitch perfect. I found myself devouring every word because I couldn’t stop myself and I needed, so badly, to see how the tension would break. And break it did..it was magnificent in its symbolism and naughtiness and the deep level in which all the characters seemed to connect.  Court: Sierra Simone is so talented that a only a kiss really turned things up a notch. Then we got more. and more. and more. and wow. I am so in love with this story and mirror what Shelley has said. Her characters are deep, and every scene has so much meaning.

Shel: Other things I enjoyed—Sierra Simone has been really great in making her stories sex positive, kinky af, and she continues to diversify the race and sizes of her characters. All wins in my book. Court: Agreed. They all are so different but have so much that brings them together. I was interested to see how some things would go when certain details were revealed...and I am more enthralled than ever.  Shel: Let me also add that I loved the literary references (Auden, anyone), the mythology references, the name Becket (a reference to Thomas Becket maybe?), and co-mingling of Christian and pagan rituals--so smart! And for those of you who read the New Camelot series, you'll recognize a name too (don't you love it when authors throw those fun things in?!!) Again, win, win, win!!!

Shel: Speaking of winning, I'm so excited for all of you who get to experience this novel for the first time. And I promise not to spoil anything in my enthusiasm for this new series--I’ll leave the discovery of these characters, their stories and connections for you because you’re going to have so much pleasure in getting to know this group all on your own. That being said, I will say that I’m intrigued about what’s happened in the past, what secrets will be revealed, and how it will all be resolved. I’m looking forward to seeing if Sierra Simone keeps Poe as her main narrator with only certain chapters  giving us insight into other characters and their struggles. I’m also wondering if the Markham name has anything to do with the Markhams from the Ivy Series. So many questions and thoughts...
Court: All of these things, y'all. I love Auden and I love Saint and I love Becket (I love the girls too, but these boys are tortured y'all...) and the girls have their stuff...but they are so much more open and honest and aware of who they are. The scenes are beautifully written, and I had such an enjoyable time reading this book. An erotic breakfast club, if you will, in a very beautiful place figuring out their past and their issues.

Shel: Finally, the ending was the absolute perfect cliffhanger because it..just was. Read it. You’ll see. 

If you’re a Sierra Simone fan you are going to LOVE this book. If you’re not a fan, what the hell?! Court: YES! What Shelley said x 1000. I REALLY enjoyed and inhaled this book...and well...I cannot wait for the next one to come out! 

Blurb Once upon a time, six children stumbled upon a wild place hidden deep in the moors, shrouded by secrets and fog. There we played a game among the roses and the thorns that would change us forever, that would follow us the rest of our lives. A game that ended with a hard kiss in the rain and tattered flower petals fluttering from above…

And twelve years later, we’re back.

The heir. The dreamer. The priest. The genius. The socialite. The saint.

I’m not going to dream of a forgotten place covered in thorns every night. I won’t be enchanted by Thornchapel and its glossy, glamorous people. I’m not going to fall in love or have my heart torn in two.

I’m not telling the truth.

Because as this place slowly tightens its coil of secrets and thorns around us, as we uncover the knotted mysteries that grow here, the six of us begin to unravel into filthy, holy pleasure and pain. Fulfilling the promise we once made as children in those whispering ruins, and awakening a fate that will either anoint us or leave us in ashes…

    

About the Author: Sierra Simone is a USA Today Bestselling former librarian (who spent too much time reading romance novels at the information desk.) She lives with her husband and family in Kansas City.

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