Sorcery of Thorns

Summary:

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. (Summary and cover courtesy of goodreads.com)

Review:

This was a book that I went into with low expectations, but was pleasantly surprised all around.  Elisabeth works in a library as a warden and in so many ways it reminds me of Garth Nix’s “Lirael”.  The library is not a safe place, but a place that must be defended and will challenge you.  Elisabeth is a spunky heroine with a great sense of humor and even has a touch of a Gail Carriger point of view.  Elisabeth does have a major love interest, but also a strong friendship as her foundation and provides comfort in a time of ambiguity.

As her world is thrown into upheaval, Elisabeth is forced to question everything she’s ever known and try to figure out a new right and wrong.  The ending of the book was entirely unpredictable to me and that was much appreciated.  I’d highly recommend this book for a fun pick-me-up read that is a perfect standalone.

Warning: Contains violence.

Rating: 5 stars!

Who should read it? Fantasy and literary lovers!