Violet made of thorns is a twisted love story. With beats, witches, murder and hate. I loved every minute of this book and while I thought I knew what would happen I was pleasantly surprised. I’m looking forward to book 2 to see how this story continues to play out !

Violet Made of Thorns was a refreshing read especially when it came to characters and world building. Violet who became the royal seer for the Auvenese the country lives with the fate of the last seer that has to do with the Prince and the country. Something that was never completed before she died.

Fast Forward Violet the country still hangs on the existence of the fate is in the future of the prince cyrus and the what the past seer said before she died. Violet keeps making excuses for him and his future until soon the excuses will run out. The last one is by the end of the summer he will find a bride. To make sure the kingdom feels secure but will he?

I loved this book so much I hung on to every word I also loved the introduction and the formatting. Please June 26/2022 pick up this book and its enjoyable characters and its unique complex story writing.

I was so shocked that I was able to get an ARC of one of my most anticipated reads of the year so naturally, I had to read it IMMEDIATELY. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's/Delacorte Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I love the dark fairytale, the extremely morally grey protagonist, the enemies to lovers (I'm a big fan of enemies to lovers only in fantasy), and lots of politics!

Violet doesn't shy away from her selfishness and willing to do certain things for the sake of her own self-preservation and in a fairytale story like this, it was a breath of fresh air. There were certain things that I didn't really understand or felt that weren't fully resolved and the ending was a little rushed, but overall, it did not disappoint! I'm excited to keep diving into this world.

I wasn’t sure how this book would go, after all the plot was so similar to so many other novels that I worried it would be too much of the same, but I’m happy to say this book very much stands on its own. The pacing and writing quickly pulled me into this world and Violet had me unable to look away. I love the fairy tale nods in a book that can otherwise seem so otherworldly. That world is vivid and manages to be completely unique in a genre that has done so many similar versions of stories like this. Violet of course stands out for managing to be so genuine and intriguing. The reader cannot help but root for her. I cannot wait to read this author’s next book!

The book opens with a well written author’s note about Violet and her flaws and the importance of showing all of her which makes the author’s choice to write this book in a way that limits it to adult readers unfortunate. The author wrote she needed to see flawed characters during her coming of age so I wish she had not limited the audience for this book. For the most part it’s actually a very chaste novel with some kisses described and that would have been enough for the plot but unfortunately there is a scene that goes further and frankly did not need to. Without that scene, and the unnecessary references to a princess going through other women in a reckless manner, and the odd choices of random crass dialogue that are jarring in the book this story would have been a great read for younger readers. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

**3.5 STARS**

Content Warning: Self Harm

This was an interesting story! It’s a dark fantasy, with an enemies to lovers trope, infused with different fairy tales – the ones I could pick out right away was Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast.

Violet is a Seer for the Kingdom of Auveny. She was brought into that position when she saved the Prince Cyrus’ life when they were young. Violet grew up under the protection and tutelage of the king and she’s been very appreciative of it to Cyrus’ discontent and irritation. Violet is supposed to be the unrelatable, unlikable character but I like her. She doesn’t fawn over Cyrus, she’s blunt and rude but I understood her motivation to survive in court. She’s an antiheroine. But Violet is a liar, and she’s obedient to a king who is trying grow the Kingdom by overtaking their neighbors, and she helps him if this means she has a position at court. I understood her fears – she doesn’t believe in love because it can hurt her. She’s practical about things, until Cyrus calls her out on it.

I enjoyed a bunch of the characters like Cyrus who is supposed to be Prince Charming, his sister Camilla who is fun, his best friend, Dante is Violet’s closest friend and a scholar among other things – it will be interesting to see what happens with all these characters in the next book. I think the villain did pretty good in playing off of Violet’s insecurities and manipulating her that way.

I love the escalating tension between Violet and Cyrus, it’s off the charts because of their whole enemies to lovers/forbidden love kind of thing going on. Cyrus is a Prince and of course his father wants him to get married soon. Falling for and marrying the Seer he loves and hates is not an option and complicates everything between them. There is a lot of power play going on in the story which I enjoyed as well. The power play between Violet and Cyrus – she wants a part in the kingdom and gets it by being obedient to the King. Cyrus doesn’t believe in his father’s plans of conquering every neighborhood kingdom – he wants to be a fair and just ruler and doesn’t like that Violet has become his dad’s pawn in making things happen. Does Violet let all she’s worked for die because she’s falling for Cyrus or does she continue helping the king to keep her position secure? Does Cyrus let her go so that he can put his kingdom and people first?

There were some small issues I had with the story. World building was a bit confusing, or it needed more world building. There were some moments I was just confused about what was going on, maybe because it was moving from one fairy tale to another? Not sure. And the ending seemed rush – a lot happens with the Witch of Nightmares, Cyrus and Violet but I guess we will find out what happens in the next book. I hope there is more world building and less confusion in book two.


Why you should read it:
*enemies to lovers, escalating tension between Violet and Cyrus
*a dark fantasy fairytale – combines a few fairytales like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty
*Violet is the antiheroine but I liked her morally gray character

Why you might not want to read it:
*needs a bit more world building
*not into antiheroines

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this dark fairytale fantasy, even though I did get confused at times. The tension between Violet and Cyrus was my favorite part since I love an enemies to lovers romance trope. I enjoyed Violet’s character as an antiheroine and look forward to seeing more growth from her. The other characters like Camilla and Dante help show off Violet with people she actually liked to be around and whenever they were together with Violet, I found their banter really fun. There are still a lot of unanswered questions I have after the story ended so I look forward to reading the next book.

"Violet Made of Thorns" is a book that has made me write, and rewrite, this little review multiple times. It's frustrating.

The plot: Violet is a Seer. In her world, there are few people with these gifts and they tend to be kept/employed by rulers. In Violet's case, she's the Seer of a king whose family encountered her as a child. In particular, young Violet saved a prince from a street accident, intertwining her history with that of the Prince (Cyrus) and his family from that point on. At the king's bidding, Violet's prophecies (unsurprisingly) often support the government's needs, including pressuring the prince to marry. But not her, of course--in addition to the class issue, Violet and Cyrus hate each other, with Violet sarcastically referring to him as "princey" often.

What's good: This is an enemies to lovers story which flips the typical dark role from the male lead to the female. (Violet has a lot of Elphaba energy, I think.)

What's iffier: I felt like the book rushed its ending a bit and there's no real emotional resolution to certain scenes.

In addition, the ongoing theme of Violet not being good enough, Violet being a liar, etc. annoyed me because Violet was an orphaned child essentially raised at the court of a politician who used her. Worse, because of her gifts, she essentially grew up with a thick wall of difference separating herself from others. So of course she's not blurting out the fullness of her prophecies; of course she's not boldly yelling out whatever, no matter what it might do to her social position. That's not being a pathological liar, or really morally grey--that's just being human.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

So, the Netgalley and Random House gods blessed me with access to this title, one of my most anticipated of the year. And let me tell you, I would bet much of what I own that this book will be a Booktok sensation, that it'll be a book subscription box treat, that everyone is going to go wild for this. And it's well-deserved.

I'm not saying this is my favorite book of all time, but I am saying that this book is wildly different from what you would expect from a YA book, with a heroine you want to root for but all the while know she's making all the wrong decisions. People are saying this is the next Cruel Prince. In many ways, I agree. It follows a morally-gray heroine who has always behaved selfishly because she doesn't belong and it's the only way she thinks she can protect herself and her interests. She has a feud with a prince whose life she saved seven years prior, who bears animosity towards what she has become, despite wanting her all the same. But he wants to change her in order to save her, while she wants to keep herself from being manipulated and controlled. It's a mess, in the best possible way.

The romance is heavily present, which I didn't mind as much as I normally do. Normally, enemies to lovers has amazing banter and tension and angst until you get to the lovers part, and then it becomes disappointing. But here? They become lovers while they're still enemies. She seeks him out and admits that she wants him because she doesn't trust him, because he doesn't trust her. She chokes him while she pleasures him. They are enemies first and foremost, and that remains for the whole book. It's brilliant, and so much more believe. And although this book ends at a good spot, it leaves you wanting so much for the sequel, because their relationship is far from resolved, especially because Violet is still unsure of what she wants, and what she's willing to give up to have it.

4 stars but I'm rounding up because the arc of the heroine (antiheroine?) shocked me and I like being surprised

Rating:⭐⭐⭐,5

Elements of classic fairytales are combined with dark magic and court politics in order to deliver a dark fantasy where in the end, the witch gets Prince Charming.

We’ve often come across retellings of Cinderella or Beauty and The Beast, however, in the case of Violet Made Of Thorns, we have a very cleverly written spin-off where the princess is a fraud, the witch is the “hero” of the story and the prince isn’t as ideal and faultless as everyone thinks.

To be more specific, I really enjoyed the character development in this book because it overturns certain stereotypes and expectations concerning classic fairytale characters. For example, Cyrus isn’t our stereotypical Prince who is brave, kind, devoted to his king and his country and straight-forward with his feelings and actions. Who is actually like that, to be honest? Cyrus is forced to adopt this façade in court and towards his subjects, however, in reality he is a character who struggles to come in terms with his duties, the expectations of the court and his feelings towards Violet. He is overtaken by desire and ultimately, he is willing to sacrifice anything and anyone in order to reach closer to his goals.

Violet, is the type of main female character you don’t usually come across in books, namely because she is imperfect in the sense that she is pessimistic, cold and conniving at times, self-serving and prioritizes her survival in court over her wants and feelings. However, many of us can relate with Violet because, self-preservation no matter the cost, is an instinct we all have. However, as the author mentions in her letter to the reader “Hiding that truth in our fiction sends the message that we ought to run away from the ugly parts of ourselves rather than face them.” In that sense, Violet is the true heroine, not because she is brave enough to face an external evil but because she is brave enough to face the evil and ugly parts in herself and rise victorious.

And then, there’s the “enemies to lovers” part of the story. To be honest with you, I much preferred the “enemies” part of their relationship compared to the “lovers” part. Their antagonism, their conflicts and disagreements enhanced the tension and the undeniable attraction between the two. However, the romantic scenes, apart from the first one in the tower felt a little rushed to me. Indeed, this were stolen moments for the both of them, however I would prefer a little more detail in these scenes. Nonetheless, I enjoyed that the author cleverly implemented in their relationship a timeless dilemma that is, whether a partner should sacrifice themselves, their position or their aspirations for the sake of love. Indeed, there was desire and sexual tension between them but we could never expect a fairytale kind of love out of these two characters neither could we expect from people who prioritize themselves above all else to suddenly make a 180 degree turn and fully commit to each other. That’s also a reason why I liked the way the book ended. Undeniably they have feelings for each other, however, the ultimate reason that led to their unison is that it benefited both of them, taken into consideration these current circumstances, where Cyrus needs Violet’s blood in order not to turn into a monster and Violet wants to earn a new place in court now that her trustworthiness as a Seer is compromised.

“Mine to ruin. Mine to love. I hate him. But don’t I love him, too?”

I absolutely loved this! Violet is such a refreshing main character and I love that she’s the more morally grey one in the “relationship”. She’s a little self serving and not afraid to lie, but she knows that and just wants what’s best for herself. Cyrus is a charming prince, but Violet is his weakness and brings out the worst in him - that doesn’t sound like a good thing but it just works. The way Gina does enemies to lovers is *chef’s kiss*. I believe this is YA but there are definitely some scenes that verge on spicy.

I also loved the magic system and how Violet is a seer who doesn’t realize the extent of her powers. The Fates speak to her and appear in her dreams and it’s actually kind of dark and creepy. There are also beasts and fairies and witches and fates and prophecies etc! Also some great twists and betrayals. I will definitely be getting a physical copy and cannot wait for the next one.

Thank you so much to Random House/Delacorte & NetGalley for the ARC!

I was mesmerized from the very first page.
The world building is spectacular. You need a book that doesn’t feel like you’re reading? This is it.
I can say without hesitation that this is the best enemies to lovers I’ve ever read.😍

The writing style was absolutely beautiful and I felt like I could see the whole story perfectly.

This book is not a retelling but there are still several nods to classic fairytales that I loved.

I’ve never read anything like Violet Made of Thorns but I think fans of Cruel Prince or These Violent Delights would love it too.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC! I preordered a physical copy and I can’t wait!

This has been my favorite book of 2022 by far.
5 stars (if it wasn’t obvious)

Wow, what a ride! I had absolutely no idea what I was in for when I started this book. I really thought it was going to be fun and light, but it turned out to be much more dark and twisty. It’s like a familiar fairytale on one hand, but also completely new and fresh on the other.

This book reads as older YA for sure, with some very welcome spicy scenes and a more politically driven plot. I loved how the world-building unraveled rather than knocking me over the head as can happen in fantasy. The world was filled with fairies, witches, and magic, and I adored it in every aspect; fun and dark alike. I was also quite intrigued with the commentary on colonialism and the conquer’s mindset. I like how it’s presented as not necessarily an obvious evil, just as it often is in the real world.

Violet herself is a very different kind of heroine. I had such a tough time working her out, and honestly, by the end of this book I still couldn’t predict what she would do next. I felt that her views of the world were super relatable, though her actions? Not so much... I can already see her being a new favorite in the genre!

The romantic dynamic feels much like Jude/Cardan, but somehow doesn’t come off as a copycat. Their relationship is quite different in it’s origin, and you see that more and more as the story plays out. I love The twists and turns so much, and can’t wait to see what happens in the sequel.


The side characters were really enjoyable (particularly Dante and Camilla), they have depth and feel very three dimensional. This fact remains true until the end of the book, and I’m just as excited to see how their stories wrap up as the leads. You can tell that, while this may be a debut for the author, they have writing experience.

This book would be perfect for lovers of The Cruel Prince, Uprooted, classic fairytales, and Xianxia/Wuxia dramas. I really enjoyed this book, and I have a hard time imagining that it won’t be hyped!

HUGE thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an e-arc of one of my most anticipated releases of 2022.

Violet Made of Thorns is a dark fairytale filled with court politics, deception, harrowing battles, and difficult choices. Violet is morally grey all the way. She's selfish, knows it, and doesn't shy away from it. As Seer, she finds herself a pawn of the king, telling prophecies to help shape his story and build his empire, but also to help her own selfish gain.

Taken away to court at a young age, Violet and the kingdom are battling with a wicked prophecy foretold by the previous Seer. This weaves in a tale of enemies to lovers.

I'm excited to see what happens in the next installment of the duology.

This story is perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince, Kingdom of the Wicked. I believe it is listed as YA, but does border NA d/t language. No explicit spicy scenes.

Such a good book, I think people are gonna really love this one. Keep me wanting more the whole way through. Thank you!

I love a story with a prickly protagonist and Violet was so sharp and cutting. There was good tension between her and the love interest and while I loved the premise of a Seer being forced to lie in order to keep her job, I found it harder to believe that Violet would be so critical of the prince but so blind to the king manipulating her. Sure everyone has their blind spots, but her place in court really relied on her relationship with the king and so I would expect her to observe the way he works as well as she does everyone else.

All of that said I did enjoy the story and I found the characters compelling and most of their reactions very believable given their backgrounds. I will definitely be reading the second part of this duology.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eArc of Violet Made of Thorns!

I loved every minute of this fantastic story and there's honestly not much more to say. The characters were all complex with differing morals and goals, and the world building was phenomenal. The story is something I'd expect more from an established author, and this being Gina Chen's debut novel just makes it that much more impressive! I did notice a couple of spelling/grammatical errors, but just one or two minor changes is easy enough to fix before the final printing is done.

To anyone interested in morally grey protagonists, immersive high fantasy, and political intrigue, keep an eye out for this when it hits shelves July 26th!

I loved this book! A fresh, exciting YA fantasy featuring Asian diaspora MC and all her prickliness. I loved how similar it is to other YA fantasy but at the same time, it's not. VMOT tackles themes such as empire, environmentalism, and assimilation expertly, weaving social commentary into an enthralling and lush world. I found myself squealing for Violet and Cyrus and loved all their interactions. I'm super excited for the sequel!

Everyone clear your August schedules and make room on your TBR list because Gina Chen has written a spellbinding debut novel. I'm talking dark magic. Charming princes. Enemies that you Just Want To Kiss Already. The whole shebang, all behind one incredibly beautiful cover. To be completely transparent, when I saw this book being compared to the Cruel Prince I was skeptical--that's a hard promise to live up to. But! Reader, they were right. This book will enchant you and leave you desperate for book 2 as soon as you reach the last page. I loved the characters, I loved the romance, I loved the dialogue. And I loved that I could read it 4 months before the release date, so many heart eyes to RH and NetGalley for the privilege :-).

I thought this was an overall good book. I saw the cover and title and knew almost immediately it would be something I would enjoy. I really love the enemies to lovers trop, and this book had that, which is big draw for me! The only real critique I have for this book is I feel like there could've been more. I'm not sure if this book is going to have sequels, but this book feels like the first book in a series to me. Overall, I love the Cruel Prince vibes I got from this, and I enjoyed reading it.

Have you ever wanted to get swept up in a fairytale where the hero could easily be seen as the villain? Do you want to escape to a world where little fairies make you pretty for a ball? This is the book for you! This story has all the elements I love. Court politics, fairies, two magic systems, a hot lesbian princess, and a will they won't they romance. I adored the morally grey main character and the fact that the right path for her wasn't always obvious. This was the first ARC I've ever been approved for and I can't believe I got so lucky to get a five star read! I'll definitely be following this author's work in the future. I can't wait for the sequel!

Violet Luner is a prophet, a seer, taken off the streets after saving Prince Cyrus when they were both much younger. But there usually is only one seer at a time in the city and Violet takes that role after the seer who currently was serving the King dies. As a young seer just taken off the streets she is not completely sure on what to do. She is easily influence to lie as the King tells her to on what she does happen to see.
Prince Cyrus was saved by Violet. He brings her in to the palace as she did see his death and saved him. Now he wants her to lose her title. Upon the death of the old seer a procpecy was given upon her death bed. The prince must marry or terrible things will happen.

I loved Violet. She is spunky and isn’t afraid to say what she wants to Cyrus. I found her more relatable then other characters in YA Fantasy books. The only problem i have IS I DIDN’T KNOW THIS WAS GOING TO BE A DUOLOGY!!! Why do I do this to myself. The wait for the next one will be bearable as it doesn’t really leave on a cliff hanger but there are things that I need to know and the wait is going to stink! I appreciated the LGTBQIA+ representation and can’t wait to pick up a physical copy upon release