Violet Made of Thorns was one of my anticipated releases and I was happy to be able to receive an arc copy to read. I’m settling on a rating of a 3.5 stars rounding up for now cause I liked it but had some gripes too.

I like Violet as a protagonist and the asian rep she presents. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect before since the synopsis sounded like a western fantasy but the author was asian. While others might not like that the book didn’t provide more representation I was okay with it. I also think that it was unique to see a fantasy book where the main character was this fantasy world's equivalent to a Chinese diaspora. I do agree that the representation was minimal but I didn’t see it necessary for it to be a big focus either unless the author wanted it to be.

One thing emphasized about this book is its morally gray characters. It’s emphasized how Violet does bad things and isn’t a good hearted person. She is a flawed main character that isn't liked by others, which I like. But she isn’t really as bad as the book tries to convince us she is. It felt more like all this big talk and there should have been more showing. Cyrus is also an equally flawed male lead who is also morally gray. I was frustrated with Cyrus with towards the end of the book and he was too self righteous and childish for my liking. He was annoying but not irredeemable and has room to grow.

I do think the romance could have been done better. Enemies to Lovers can be hard to do and I wished that with a romance that it very important to the plot was developed more. I would like it if they had shown more of them before they were on bad terms. I thought that the main characters having a kind of casual no strings attached relationship was fine but they rushed too much into the romantic confessions. I also did not expect the semi graphic steamy scenes. I’m fine with them but some lines gave me pause and I question what I’m reading.

“He plays with the tail end of my braid dangling between us–and yanks it so I topple onto him.”

Like would that not hurt? I was listening to the audiobook while reading along with my ecopy and went back a few times.

This book was pitched as for fans of “The Cruel Prince” and “Serpent and Dove” and other reviewers express they disagreed and that it was inferior to both. I enjoyed Cruel Prince and have never read Serpent and Dove but I can kind of see the Cruel Prince similarities but I do feel that you would disappointed to read it for that. I did not read the with these comparisons in mind which is probably why it didn’t bother me that much. For me I think its best to ignore comparison pitches and author blurbs.

Overall I really liked Violet Made of Thorns. I love fairytales and retellings and this world is very much influenced by that. Though the world building is light and could be more explored. Any issues I had with the book did not I hope the sequel could flesh out and better develop the world, characters, and story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for the arc review copy.

Book one of what will be a duology at minimum, and it was a pretty decent read. I appreciate that the author forewarned of how prickly Violet was going to be as a character because that was necessary. Part of me wanted to slug her half the time and the other part really does sympathize with her situation, of which some are of her own making and others can be traced to her being brought into the palace at such a young age. Cyrus had his moments of frustration as a character too. I do look forward to seeing how this author develops the characters and hopefully there is some redemption because they’re just both really annoying. Story was fun, kind of reminded me of some of the other books I’ve read, but not necessarily in a bad way. I hope that the second book really picks up.

When author Chloe Gong endorses a book, I rush to read it, no questions asked. And her review of VIOLET MADE OF THORNS made this debut by Gina Chen one of my most anticipated reads of the year. It holds up, too — Chen has crafted something new and exciting. This is a story built on the backs of danger and deceit, where nothing and no one is exactly as they seem.

Bold and cunning Violet is our protagonist, a self-described opportunist gifted with the ability to see the future through touch. Ever since she was a child, Violet has worked in the employ of a king who has no qualms with using her as a medium for his own agenda, manipulating her to help him control and coerce others. But Violet isn’t without fault — the Seer is hiding an agenda of her own, one that is fueled by her desire for survival and the preservation of a life of luxury that her magic has provided for her. The very skill that sets her apart is the one that often leads her into trouble, which is complicated by her tendency to stir up conflict with the king’s son, Prince Cyrus, who likes to see her ruffled. Heir to the throne, Cyrus is open about his hesitation around Violet, who he knows is his father’s vessel for control. The prince also recognizes that Violet is loyal to herself first and foremost. He makes it no secret that he wants her out — something which he can’t achieve as long as his father is in charge, but all bets are off once he ascends the throne. As a royal, naturally Cyrus is also facing a whole host of problems of his own — the largest of which is the increasing pressure to marry, which he has little interest in doing until he finds true love.

Add in some eerie visions, a malicious being haunting dreams, one arranged marriage with an imposter, a befuddling curse, a mysterious witch, a looming threat of war and a series of illicit trysts between two MCs — who are either arguing or making out — and you’ve got VIOLET MADE OF THORNS. An addictive tale, the world in a VIOLET MADE OF THORNS is center to a web of deceit, self-preservation and growing confusion.

The story moves so quickly it should never be accused of being boring — it’s very much the opposite — but it does fall short at juggling several plot-lines and concurrent mysteries in a way that is seamless and well-integrated. The conclusion leaves the reader with way too many questions. From romance to rose bushes, author Gina Chen works to pack in several nuances to the text, when it might be better off cutting out the noise and focusing on doing more with less.

And yet, part of its saving grace is its complexity — which is made all the more effective by intricate characters and relationships that are easy to get invested in.

Violet is a powerhouse, a force of nature and fiercely independent. She’s intriguing entirely on her own. It’s refreshing to read an MC like her — she knows her worth and fights like hell in the name of self-preservation. She is not gentle or demure or full of doubt; Violet is someone who clawed her way out of obscurity in order to be the person she wanted. She does not walk around with rose-colored glasses, assuming the best of everyone. Rather, she does the opposite — Violet has a lot on the line and she knows it, which means when it comes down to it, she has no qualms about playing dirty to get what she wants. Frankly, she is chaotic and selfish and often scrambling to stay one step ahead and all of these traits make her delightfully and realistically HUMAN. She is also prone to some fairly rash and questionable decisions — but then again, who can say they haven’t made some bad calls? This is exactly what makes her so easy to relate to. You just don’t come across protagonists like her in the world of YA. (More MCs like Violet, please.)

Cyrus is also a little all over the place. On the surface he is flawless and fun, but below his royal facade, he is skeptical and calculating. We don’t get to see much of this side of him until later into the story, and even then, it doesn’t really measure up to Violet’s in terms of depth or dimension. Their antagonistic relationship also doesn’t ring completely true at the start. Following their first bickering encounter, readers are told all about the drama between the two, but not shown much of a logical reason beyond the divide, aside from pettiness and a subtle likelihood of simmering attraction. You realize as the story progresses that this was intentional — their shared frustration was masking a buried, doomed attraction that manifests after they cross a line they shouldn’t.

From that point on, we witness as they swiftly descend into something more physical than mere verbal sparring matches, leading to a pseudo-relationship which is a little rushed and at times cloyingly difficult to root for. It would have been more satisfying if we were given insight into their feelings, more shared moments where the line between enemies and lovers is toed, more perspective into the history that tangled them together. Cyrus can also be a little irritating. It’s clear he lusts for, but doesn’t trust, Violet, but beyond that, who is he, really? And why should we want them to end up together? From where the book was left off, I think it’s safe to expect at least a sequel, where I hope to see more context with backstories and motivations across the board. When it’s carefully done, the enemies to lovers trope can be sinfully delicious, which was not fully the case here, but close enough.

Still, the best part of VIOLET MADE OF THORNS is the writing itself. It’s no wonder Chloe Gong, reigning queen of gorgeously-written YA, is a fan of Gina Chen’s prose. Every sentence is stunning, every detail elevating the text, every scene meticulously set. Some books are both labors of love and testaments to great skill. VIOLET MADE OF THORNS is one of those books.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review.*

Welp, flew right through this one is less than 48 hours!

Violet is the Seer of the kingdom of Auveny but also a survivor. Plucked from the slums of the Moon District, she'll do whatever she has to to maintain her elevated status and stay in the king's good graces. Sometimes that requires her to lie with the prophecies that she sees. When all her lies and omissions begin to be too much and an impending darkness is heading for the Prince Cyrus, one foretold and desired by the Fates and gods themselves, Violet is unsure whether following her heart is going to save anyone, least of all herself. A morally gray character, her greatest desire is to protect herself. But as the growing desire between her and Cyrus muddy up her futures, a man who she resents, she's unsure which thread to be following and which future will save her. Will it be their salvation or their damnation?

Great buildup & loving characters. There's still some confusion between the main antagonist and not a lot of explanation of the magical elements. However, the hope is that will be better explained in the sequel!

Stop promoting books as other YA fantasy books 2k23! I really really really wanted to like this book. I mean I love The Cruel Prince and I love Serpent & Dove, but Violent made of Thorns just was meh to me. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy this book, I just wasn't overall enthralled to read it. Honestly the rating is probably 3.5/5 for me.

Violet Made of Thorns is everything that you love about fairy tales without many of the problematic stereotypes and tropes! I was hooked by the writing in the first chapter and could not put it down. The main character, Violet, is a Seer plucked from the streets and moved into a luxurious new life as a royal advisor. Perhaps, my favorite thing about this is the way Violet is written- ambitious, opportunist, intelligent, and distrusting. Her personality reflects her backstory. She grew up with nothing and is always waiting for it to be taken away. Similarly, Prince Cyrus was raised in a world where he is constantly on display, gossiped about and frequently deceived. He is also a reflection of that upbringing. I was a bit upset when the book ended because I thought it was a standalone. However, I am thrilled to learn it is a series and cannot wait to see how Cyrus and Violet handle the many challenges they faced at the end of the book.

Violet is the king’s Seer, though she doesn’t always tell the truth when it comes to divinations. Cyrus is the king’s cursed son and the bane of Violet’s existence. After the king asks Violet to falsely prophesy Cyrus’s engagement to put the kingdom at ease, Violet awakens a curse and finds herself entangled in a confusing relationship with Cyrus.

I absolutely enjoyed reading about Violet! This was told from her point of view so we got to really know her thoughts. She often acted in her own self interest which led to some interesting plotlines. I loved the romance between her and Cyrus, too. It was so angsty!

I’ve been in a romantic fantasy mood lately so I’m really glad I picked this one up!

The characters in this fairytale retelling were so well developed that I thoroughly enjoyed this book so much. I loved the fantasy and world building and put this on a to order list for my library the second I finished the book!

Thank you #netgalley for an early read of #violetmadeofthorns

One of my favorite new fantasy novels of 2022. There is a fairytale-influenced-story-with-a-prickly-heroine shaped hole in my heart that Violet Made of Thorns slotted itself right into. I love a standard fairy tale retelling, but what I love even more is a book that takes fairy tale conventions and weaves it's own new story. Chen took these very recognizable elements like fairy magic, a cursed royal family, finding a wife via ball, and absolutely breathed new life into them. I was spellbound.

This was an excellent book with thoroughly developed characters. It had me intrigued with every page and I could not wait to read more.

I had the chance to read an early copy of VIOLET MADE OF THORNS (thank you, Gina!) and it is not only one of my favorite books of 2022, it is one of my favorite books of all time.

Violet is prickly, sharp-tongued, and pragmatic--and I loved her. Despite growing up in Auveny, she has forever felt out of place in regards to the rest of the court/society due to her exterior--her mother was from another land--and due to her interior nature. I rooted for her so hard.

And the romance, oh my god. Thanks to the clear writing, I instantly understood from the start why Violet and Cyrus would be at odds with each other, but it was especially fascinating to dig even deeper as the story progressed to truly understand their characters and their relationship, how they saw themselves vs. how the other saw them. Also, the hate make-outs--yes, that's plural--were amazing, and I'll just leave it at that.

Heady, romantic, and just plain *fun*, this is a story that I'll be thinking about for the rest of time. I went to three different bring-your-own-book book clubs at three different libraries to recommend VMOT. I talked it up to the bookseller when preordering it and then talked it up to a different bookseller when picking it up today. And you better believe I've been telling everybody else I know all about it.

So excited for Gina and all the wonderful things happening for VMOT, and I can't wait to read what else she has in store!

Another book with a beautiful cover, and a beautifully effed in the head MC. I seriously can’t get enough of these morally grey gals and their fck the world mentalities. Violet is the epitome of damaged souls. She carry’s the worlds biggest chip on her shoulder I have come across to date. And I am here for it. I want to tell you that her character development ends up with her coming into her own and proving the world wrong but she definitely came out more messed up then she went in. Cyrus is my new love to hate leading man. He’s a pompous ass, who definitely was spoon fed some concoction to make him just this side of a narcissist. Now that’s not to say he didn’t grow on me in any way, cuz he did. These two have the most dysfunctional enemies to lovers arc I’ve seen in fantasy in a long time. But again, I’m here for it. What really got me tho in this novel was the plot being a kick back to the gods meddling and savage nature lane. I don’t know why I’m so drawn to the idea of the gods just wanting to watch the world burn but it definitely makes for some of the more interesting plots. The magic system was done well and I always enjoy an MC realizing her abilities under the most dire of situations, especially if it’s in a fit of rage. I will say that I am impressed with the ending for the fact that if you want to stop here you’re good. There’s just enough there to tether the rest of us on to book number two. I will absolutely be waiting with as much patience as I can muster for the next book to see how this plays out.

If you liked Malice, A Deadly Education, or The Cruel Prince then this one is for YOU.

Uuh I loved me some morally gray MCs!! I say give me more of Violet's sass and lies any day of the week. Unapologetic/often-times-rude-because-they-refuse-to-follow-convention Slytherin girls are my catnip.

Violet is the kingdom's seer. She is the real deal, got her job by saving the prince when he was a little kid (saved him from being trampled). Ever since then, she was taken in and raised in the castle side by side the prince and princess. Her standing is solid, as long as she goes along with the kings demands, and figures out a way for the prince's curse (he must find this future queen who is supposed to save them from the bad things) to be fulfilled.

“I don’t have the luxury of being nice. The only people who are nice are those who have never had to claw for anything they’ve wanted.”

Violet is a pragmatist. The king needs her to embellish some prophecies in order to ease the kingdom's worries? Sure. As long as she stays on his good side there is nothing Violet wont do to survive. This in turn makes her an adversary to the prince, who is more of an idealist, and hates the way his father has influenced Violet. At odds, it is hard to come to agreements between these two, and they are forced to work together towards a common good that might or might not involve the princes' survival. Not that he knows, as Violet keeps a lot of secrets close to her chest... Secrets that at the end of the day, might lead to her doom.

I just enjoyed the hell out of this book. The arguments between Violet and the prince brought me life, the princess (queer rep ✓) is insatiable and a little too self involved, but she is also a good person overall and catches on quick when things around her are not what they should be. There is also a third friend, the responsible one, the one that hails from another kingdom and brings some perspective to the group. Together they all have to work together to fulfill a prophecy and keep the kingdom from falling apart and war to come to their footstep. On top of that Violet is at odds with their deities, who are not as benevolent or as caring as those around her seem to think...

“I will survive destiny by my own means.”

I am most definitely reading the sequel. The romance is very enemies to maybe lovers; I think the second book will have to work harder to get me to a place in which I think these two are actually in love and not just in lust (though the scenes were they clash and give in are top tier). I am here for it!

I loved not only Violet's prickly personality, but also the ways that she examined the questions of destiny, especially the cause and effect between prophecies as stated, and their outcomes.

I'm really glad this gorgeous cover caught my eye because it ended up being one of my favorite reads of the year. I'm a sucker for fairytale retellings, especially when it involves some witty dialogue and is told from the flawed view of a cool morally grey character. I absolutely fell for all of the characters here, probably because they were flawed, and am awaiting a sequel because surely there's more, right?!

A dazzling, dark story of political intrigue, magic, and romance, VIOLET MADE OF THORNS is the perfect fantasy read for lovers of morally gray characters.

I read VMOT in less than 24 hours, and that is a testament to how incredible the story and Chen’s writing is. I was immediately hooked from the very first page, and I couldn’t put the book down. Chen’s writing is fast-paced and vicious, with just the right amount of magic.

Violet has quickly climbed the ranks as one of my favorite morally gray characters. She is a flawed heroine who is not afraid to go after what she wants, or to put herself first. She makes some pretty terrible choices, and defends her right to make them. With her position as Seer, she has the world at her fingertips – or does she?

I loved Cyrus and Violet’s relationship. The tension was palpable, and could be cut with a knife. Their scenes together left me wanting more, and left me screaming when I got just that. They are not exactly enemies to lovers (more hate to love), but they made every insult hit its mark, leaving not only each other, but also me, wounded.

VMOT is a dark YA fantasy with twists and turns you may never see coming, and is a story that will leave you desperate for more. Gina Chen impressed me so thoroughly, and I cannot wait to see what is to come of our Sighted Mistress and Prince Cyrus!

Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen is dark and enchanting, with elements that twist the typical fairytale elements and with characters that are morally gray with a sizzle and spark between the main protagonist and her prince. Violet is an unexpectedly sharp character with an unforgettable voice and a court full of cut throat machinations. 

One of the reasons I love the story is because it changes the Cursed Prince trope, with love seemingly impossible between Violet and Cyrus and yet, these two transform from enemies to lovers even as they snap and betray each other, even as the kingdom discovers the rot at its core. The court is full of intrigue and witchcraft is portrayed both as something dark but also as something powerful and fighting the notion that it ultimately leads to evil. While Violet is dark and full of enchantment, her choices are complex and never about evil. The story plays with the idea of choices, digs deep into the well of loyalty and love, and twists all the fairytale concepts. 

If you love non-traditional fairy tales where the story is dark and enchanting, the heroine sharp and independent and with a prince who isn’t what you expect, this novel is for you, especially young adult audiences. I loved diving deeply into this story, it is rich, complex and sizzling with heat.

🤯 ARC Book Review🤯📚📚📚 ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

Have you read this yet? If not you should proceed to this purchase link Happy Pub Day was 7/26!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09KGMS6K2/
Last year my fave book of the year was a debut called Iron Widow ,
This year my fave debut so far is by @actualgina #violetmadeofthorns .
I was literally blown away.

Let's start with the map..(which I will share in my stories) this world rivals the Bridge Kingdom, Midscape , the Grishaverse...it is detailed , like we are transported back to medieval Europe at the time of castles 🏰. I got lost in the descriptions of this world much like I did in Caraval (@stephanie_garber created a world no one really wants to leave) and the magic ..is unique .

Let's unpack the main characters:
I have been waiting for a female main character like Jude from the Cruel Prince or Lara from the Bridge Kingdom. Violet is not waiting for her Prince charming to save her, because damn it she is the author of her destiny. We do see a huge character ARC for her, but to be fair she was forced to grow up in royal politics and she knew how cut throat her king was, and she had no trust in her Princey to be any different.
Prince Cyrus deep down was not as courageous as she needed him to be , and she in brutal fashion was not going to go down without a fight.
They seem to hate each other or that's what they wish you to believe.
Morally Grey MMC and FMC ..do they want to kill each other or kiss each other?
This enemies to lovers trope did not disappoint. Down to the very brutal end.

Other highlights
Masquerade ball ..👨‍🍳💋
Hedgerow maze in the moonlight
Evil witch that rivals Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty, I really loved the nods to my fave fairy tales: Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast..all had little bits carefully woven throughout.
Fae beasts ...that come from the Fairywood..oh my the scenes at the end...🤯
A prince that is as hot as Jacks , Dante and Cardan combined ..Cyrus I can't wait for book 2. Will she kill him in the end..all fair in love and war..don't betray a witch because it will never end well.

I’m going to keep this review short because I don’t honestly have much to say.

I was reading this book and realized early in that I was bored. I was skimming pages instead of reading them and when I went back to reread the pages, I realized I hadn’t missed much anyway.

Not saying it’s poorly written, it just doesn’t stand out to me. Some might like this but it’s just not for me.

For one, the characters. I don’t think characters should always be likeable. Some people have hard lives and it makes them hard, teaches them to look out for themselves and to always make sure they’re taken care of before all else. They aren’t sunshine and daisies and that’s fine.

What I dislike is a character that doesn’t grab me, doesn’t jump off the page. In short, the characters are flat. I don’t care that Violet has sharp edges and doesn’t shy away from them. I don’t like that she’s just flat. Same with the prince, and Dante. No one in this book jumped out at me.

Another thing I’ve seen in other reviews is the book picks up in the second half. I’ve also heard that exact same thing said about football games. And it’s only acceptable there. A book needs to grab you and carry you from page one, and I’ve read a lot that have so I know it’s possible. This didn’t. And reading a book to “get to the good parts” is one of the most frustrating things for me.

On a positive note, I did like that Violet has her period. The book shows her waking up with bloody sheets and that’s something super normal that isn’t shown in books enough. It also gets kind of mature so that's something readers should be aware of.

All in all, I’m giving it two (2) stars. It wasn’t the worst writing but even at the sentence level, it was flat. I don’t think this book will flop it'll just flop for me.

I received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to them and the publisher.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I enjoy fairy tales. And I also enjoy stories with imperfect characters. Violet Made of Thorns is a great mix of the two!

The classic fairy tale elements are here- the good looking prince, the wicked witch trying to wreak havoc on the country, the poor girl who has been elevated to a high position (in this case, the kingdom's Seer). True love trying to battle its way through obstacles. But as you read, there are some serious questions about whether this is actually going to work out, and, even more, whether it even should work out!

And the main characters are certainly imperfect. Violet is hasty, often doesn't really think things through before she acts, and makes no secret that she's more interested in survival in the good life she now has than she is in abstract virtues! She has no problem with lying about what she sees in her prophesies, if that's what the king wants. The prince, Cyrus, is rather lazy, apparently relying on his looks more than any sort of traditional virtues, and is also perfectly happy to try to use sex to get his own way. Violet is torn between Cyrus and the king, since both want her to lie to support their chosen positions, and neither one of them seems to have a problem with betraying her if it suits their own interests.

All in all, a nice, convoluted fairy tale - I enjoyed it. I'd be shocked if there's not a sequel, since the book clearly leaves lots to be discussed, and I'll certainly read it when/if it comes out!