2023 Reread: Oh wow. So much better on my second read. One of the most genuinely well written, magical, creative, immersive, entertaining, heartwarming, beautiful, big and powerful fantasy novels I've ever read. Surprisingly funny, too, in spite of its tackling of serious subject matters.
A massive, marvellous well done to the author.
Final Score: 4/5
Original Review:
'Elisabeth lit up. "Grimoires," she breathed, even more delighted than before.
Nathaniel's expression grew odd. "You like this place?"
"Of course I do. It has books in it."'
Damn that cover's awesome.
Even better is that it isn't a lie (mostly) - there actually is an arse-kicking, perturbed-looking female lead with a pretty sword, and vines, thorns and purple roses bloom wherever and whenever she fights. The magic is from the male lead, but it's still a beauty.
'Sorcery of Thorns' is a special case for me. Because it starts out good, then it gets confusing and weird, but then slowly but surely it picks itself back up again, and it keeps on climbing higher and higher, soaring towards one of the best YA climaxes I have read in a long time. It's one of the best YA fantasy climaxes, period. Except for the last two pages, which almost made me reconsider giving it good praise, but what the hay - the last few hundred pages are too entertaining and heartfelt for the little things to taint, with ink blots, this glorious beast of a book.
So this book - a great big fantasy novel - is a case of me going through so many ups and downs whilst reading, losing heart one moment but loving it the next, that I did end up staying in love, warts and all. Like being in a real life relationship with a person. Regardless of flaws and mix-ups, it has heart, and it tries very hard to get better all the time, with successful, admirable results.
Nothing is perfect, after all.
It's wonderfully well written, despite some confusion in the worldbuilding: It's alternative historical fiction in the 1800s, where magic is real, powerful and widely known. As are demons. But these are feared yet revered as well? And it's all ping-pong and dice-rolling when it comes to gender politics and roles. The tome is charming and surprisingly funny as well. I simply could not put it down. What genuinely exciting days it has been for me reading it.
Mainly I wanted to read 'Sorcery of Thorns' because of the promise of a strong fantasy heroine driving her own story and personal journey, and because of the premise which features books, called Grimoires, as sentient beings - monsters, even, just like 'The Monster Book of Monsters' from 'Harry Potter'. But in spite of knowledge being literally dangerous in this world, the heroine, Elisabeth Scrivener, loves them, and loves libraries and grew up in one, covered in pesky, pesty booklice.
I won't reveal much more, since I want as many readers as possible to pick 'Sorcery of Thorns' up blind like I was, and experience its magical, frustrating but worth it journey as open as a good book. Or as pure and wondering as a newborn.
All I'll say is that Elisabeth is as complex, complicated, adorable yet sharp as her story. She's sixteen, tall for her age, a little clumsy, very funny at times, strong physically and wilfully (except when she isn't, thus one aspect of the confusing continuity issues), uses a sword, Demonslayer, given to her by her female Director, and starts out as a single-minded library warden's apprentice, then through great character development grows into so much more for her world.
Elisabeth is assertive, very brave, and gets stuff done. I had my doubts about her sometimes, when she is dependent on the protection provided by two male characters, the equally complex magister, or sorcerer, named Nathaniel Thorn, and his not-so mysterious servant Silas. She'd be dead without the constant help of those guys. People have a habit of talking about her as if she isn't in the room and conscious; though she does have her own habit of being rendered unconscious at the end of a chapter - a typical fantasy cliché. But Elisabeth, Nathaniel and Silas make an engaging, entertaining team, and whatever Elisabeth goes through, whenever she is used and abused, she gets back up and never gives up. Understandably, she has slight PTSD and anxiety, which could have been explored a lot more, admittedly.
One of the most subversive things about Elisabeth's character is that she isn't a chosen one of a prophecy, and she isn't related by blood to anyone special. She's an orphan whose parents remain unknown throughout the entire book - we get no clues whatsoever to the circumstances of her birth. It is because of where she grew up and her own actions that mark her as "special". It is nurture rather than nature that makes her a hero. Take note, Hollywood.
Her best friend is fellow librarian apprentice Katrien, a dark-skinned, eager mad scientist girl who is also coded as asexual. She acts as the fourth edition to the team whenever she can help Elisabeth as she's in danger.
Nathaniel is Elisabeth's love interest, predictably. A super-tragic, bad boy love interest at that. But their romance is slow-building and natural, and they work well off of each other. Their banter is hilarious and touching; I love characters that are in a dark place and are depressed, but still able to tell facetious jokes to hide their pain. Plus, in a wonderful twist, Nathaniel is bisexual! I swear his relationship with Silas is deeper than we are explicitly shown.
The book doesn't drown in overdescriptions of kissing, thank the moon and sun. Elisabeth and Nathaniel - YA love between a hot magic boy and a strong girl that I feel warmly about. I never thought I'd be rooting for them, but that's what good writing and characters do.
Elisabeth doesn't only love books: she becomes a freedom fighter. A saviour of the reviled and an enemy of a rich and powerful man in society. She does learn and grow stronger over the course of the book; she's worthy of the moniker "heroine".
Bonus: Therein lies a cute fluffy white demon cat, whom Elisabeth dubs Sir Fluffington. Nuff said.
'Sorcery of Thorns' isn't as subversive as it could have been, with its race and sex rep, and there is one antagonistic character who is scarred and hard of hearing, and only briefly shows up. Its moments of sheer brilliance and cleverness are jarring when taking the confusing worldbuilding into account.
But dang it, it's powerful entertainment. An ideal coming-of-age fantasy story, that reminds me of why I love fantasy. It's a dark, huggable gem that leaves me giddy and willing to forgive its shortcomings. A beautiful, dramatic, loving monster that can be tamed.
Never judge a book by its cover (even if the cover turns out to be as good as the book), or by its first impressions.
Final Score: 3.5/5
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