But...there's so much more to learn about Violet! 3.5 stars

I enjoyed this one; it wasn't too syrupy and had enough conflict to be interesting as well as a cast of characters I could be invested in. But it felt like the beginning of a story as opposed to a full one, so I say it's a good book, but it feels like we only got a sliver of the world that could be. Much like Violets dreams.

*Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children’s Books, and Delacorte Press for the eArc!


After reading the premise of this book and seeing the cover (WHAT A COVER), I knew I would love this book. I could not put it down!

It gave me everything I love:

- An unapologetic anti-heroine MC
- Enemies to Lovers that leans more on the enemies than lovers
- Amazing side characters (Camilla!!)
- Queer Rep
- Fairytale retellings (this one is a mashup)
- A masquerade ball!!

The Cruel Prince comp is right on the mark and fans of that series will love this!



CW (taken from author's website, mild spoilers):

- one instance of parent harming child physically, themes of emotional manipulation
- fantasy-typical levels of violence, including death and body horror
- self-harm in a ritual/magical context
- some instances of casual racism

Other Notes:

non-explicit sexual content, does not fade to black

**Thank you, Netgalley and publisher, for giving me an electronic ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

I love fairytale retellings and this one had them all and it was Violet that did the saving. I loved the ending of the story and I hope there is a sequel! Catastrophe was one of my favorite characters and I need more of her.

Violet Made of Thorns, by Gina Chen, is a fairytale fantasy about a witchy court seer who deals with a cursed prince and court machinations amongst a flurry of backstabbing and betrayals.
This was a wonderful book! The heroine, Violet, was a sassy and very flawed character, who you can’t help but love. I loved the classic enemies-to-lovers trope this book employed, and adored the male lead—cursed prince Cyrus.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a little fairytale romance with their fantasy.
4/5 well-earned ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks very much to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

A fantastic antiheroine retelling. I loved the dark, realistic aspects of the story where it isn't always sunshine and rainbows for our characters. It was gritty and human, just perfect for a quick read. Thank you for the ARC. Would highly recommend this book!

Violet Made of Thorns is a delightful debut from Gina Chen! Violet is strong and fierce but also flawed. I loved her character and it was refreshing to see a morally grey character. I also enjoyed the banter between Cyrus and Violet. The other side characters, Camilla and Dante were also fun characters who had strong personalities. I would love to see more of them in the sequel! The only thing I wished for is that this book was longer. I felt that the ending was a little rushed and would have liked to see more development with the world and also see more of the past when the main characters were younger. Overall, this is a fun read, and would recommend it! Can't wait to read the sequel!

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book!

Violet Made of Thorns is a book that, at its core, is about power, what one is willing to do for it, and how lies and deception can shape a person. While I'd most likely give this book something closer to 3.5 stars, the characters were truly what sold this story to me. Violet, while most definitely not your typical plucky heroine, always trying to do the right thing, isn't nearly as horrible as she could be. She looks out for herself, true, but I think it would be a stretch to call her truly selfish, especially with all of the fond feelings she has for the people around her. Mostly I see her as the result of what happens when fear is driven into someone when they're young. How she was immediately thrust into a new society at such a young age, with a King dictating what she should and shouldn't do.

Mostly, I just loved Violet and Cyrus (Dante and Camilla too). I loved their banter. I loved how obviously they were in love. I loved how pathetically they both fought it, and most of all, I love that despite all of that, they really made it difficult for themselves. As we expect.

My biggest gripes with the series come in the form of the world at large, and the world building. It feels a little murky at times, with the plot meandering, and the places being described seeming a little too flimsy. I have high hopes that the second book in this duology will help to clear things up, because otherwise, this is a book you read for the characters, not necessarily the world.

A fun, voice-y YA fantasy with more focus on character than on plot. I love that Violet is deeply flawed—and almost more importantly, stuck in one impossible situation after the next. What would a "good" character do in such a situation? What's the *right* thing? Violet makes no attempt to answer that—she's too busy surviving. I was less interested in Violet and Cyrus' relationship than I was in Violet's own characterization, so I couldn't get fully invested.

I received a digital advance copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The way in which Chen told this story worked incredibly well. I definitely found it entertaining and I think it’s actually a good sign that I wanted Violet Made of Thorns to be longer because I would’ve liked more details about the world, the magic, and the characters (of course). I became attached to the characters rather quickly and hope to see more from this author.
Full review to come on YouTube.

Thank you NetGalley and team for this ARC.

I was a little nervous to start a new series knowing that there may be a cliffhanger. With that said - I loved this book.

The heroine in this book is genuinely the most unique and sincere character I’ve ever read. She’s good and bad and flawed and insecure all in the most authentic genuine way. You will be angry at her but then immediately forgive her because she’s just human who is a result of all of her circumstances.

I loved the mystery, in the edge of your seat, what is next type of mystery.

The world building is so straight forward yet complex.

It took me a bit to get sucked in because the writing was often stunted and made the flow stunted (only reason why it isn’t 5 stars).

I could say so much more on this (the good and the bad) but then I’d spoil it. Just read it !!

I enjoyed this enchanting and character driven book. It was well written and moved at a nice pace. I recommend to anyone interested in YA fantasy.

After a slow and semi-predictable start, this book managed to hook me. My only qualms are wishing that our heavily marketed morally-grey protagonist was a little more sinister, and that the romance and relationships were a bit more of a reluctant slowburn - though Violet and Cyrus captured the reluctance and anger at their attraction to each other quite perfectly in the end. The romance scenes were a little heavier than what I'd expect in a YA, but still not graphic or inappropriate. A very happy medium.

I adored the fantastical plot happening, and was far more interested in the impending war, identity shenanigans, and murder plots than the front-and-center romance, which surprised me. I'm very impressed by the worldbuilding in this series and cannot wait to see where it goes in the sequel. The magic system also got off to a slow start, but ultimately became an enjoyable read.

Side characters like Dante and Camilla usually become my favorites, and this was no exception. I especially loved the diversity of the main cast in regard to both racial background and sexual identities.

Overall, it took me a long while to like this book but once it hooked me, I couldn't put it down. I'll be eagerly awaiting the next installment.

Gina Chen has quickly become one of my favorite authors and it’s only her debut novel. This dark faerie tale has strong Holly Black vibes and any fans of Black will fall in love with this world as well. The concept of the morally grey character not just being the love interest, but the main character, is such a great concept and I find myself cheering Violet on as she navigates power, politics, love, and prophecies; even as she makes questionable life decisions in the name of political ambition. With a dark prophecy looming over the kingdom, Violet must use both her Seer & her deception skills to play a dangerous game of maintaining political power while deciphering who she can & cannot trust in order to save the kingdom from prophetic ruin.

Additionally, not only are the main characters written dynamically and many-faceted, the side characters also have strong personalities and I would read a series based on Camilla alone. There is also a variety of sexual orientations, both main & side characters representing, and a refreshing lack of heteronormativity in Chen’s world that makes the diversity feel validating and authentic. Also, for fans of the “enemies to lovers” trope, this book hit that nail directly on the head. The dynamic between love interests is rough and jagged, never pretending to be something it’s not and I couldn’t get enough. As for spice, the more adult scenes are not quite “fade to black”. They are written just vague enough, but also blushingly intimate; a balance I didn’t know I would like until now.

Nothing but rave reviews for this book. I am so happy to find it is part one of duology and I already look forward to the release of book two in 2023. This is definitely one to pre-order.

the worldbuilding here is a treat, and so is our main character, who feels absolutely no obligation to be nice for the sake of it. maybe it's just me, but i personally love a petty leading lady. maybe it's because i, too, will cut my own nose off to spite my face if need be? violet is a delight to read as she does what she has to, and i love that our enemies-to-lovers trope here is somewhat tempered by her unwillingness to just do things because she likes a guy. it's good to see the suspension of disbelief with a lower threshold for this type of relationship for once! looking forward to more of this world from chen.

I received this ARC from NetGalley. When I first started reading this book I was not sure what to think, but the more I read, the more and more I enjoyed the story. I love that the main character is strong and fierce, just trying to survive in her world. I think this story shows that the story we hear is not always the truth.

I loved Violet purely because she isn't a good person and has so many flaws, but that made her so much more likable and real. To quote her, she said something similar to, "I hate how people are being nice to me because now I have to be nice back". She possessed a different kind of strength since she had to claw her way up to her current status and continuously had to fight to keep that position. The storytelling and world building was enchanting, and I hope to read a sequel in the near future. The only negative that seemed out of place was the romance. Violet and Cyrus have hated each other for ~8 years and all of a sudden they realize they like each other? It just didn't seem believable. Minus that, this was an engaging read. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.

Violet Made of Thorns is a dark YA fantasy with teeth. Marry a brutally selfish and flawed antiheroine with a not-so-charming prince and you get an enemies-to-lovers thriller that will in parts exhilarate you in its viciousness and exhaust you because you want a happy ending for them but have no idea how the author will manage it ... believably.

I will urge YA lovers to read this one and form their own opinion of it.

5/5 stars
Recommended for people who like: fantasy, antihero/ines, morally gray characters, enemies to lovers, hate to love, curses, fairytales, magic, East Asian-coded representation, LGBTQ characters, The Cruel Prince, court intrigue

This review has been posted to Goodreads and my bookstagram as of 12/4 and my book review blog as of 3/24.

The setting was interesting. It takes place largely within the confines of the palace, but we get to hear about neighboring lands as well as the kingdom across the sea. While the veneer is fairly peaceful, the realm is obviously in a time of change, with shifting balances between magic and humans. It becomes especially interesting when it is revealed what Violet does, and doesn't, know about the events transpiring.

I'm interested in the clairvoyance magic that's in the books and how the Fates do or don't play a role in it. As the book continues, it almost seems as if there are plenty of ways to change fate, if only you have the insight (and Violet does). But then Chen turns things on their head and things aren't quite what they seem. I'm definitely interested in learning more about the Seer abilities in the next book, as well as how the prophecy/curse plays out, since this book really just covers the beginning.

Violet is the morally gray antiheroine of the story. She is more than ambitious and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her position, which I liked about her. From her time as a street orphan and then her time as the palace Seer, she's been able to see underneath the veneer people put on to the world beneath. This has certainly made her cynical, but from what we get to see of the world, it doesn't seem without due cause. I liked that she was willing to claw her way to the top, and I felt there was real recognition in her that part of her would always somewhat resent the royal family for just being born into it. At times I do wish she listened to her heart a little more, but I also LIKE Violet as she is and think her choices make her both more real and a more interesting character.

Cyrus is...less likable from the beginning, largely because we see things from Violet's POV and she doesn't like him too much. Admittedly, he does seem to be brash, cruel to Violet, and generally unthinking of why certain things are currently the way they are. However, that isn't to say he doesn't also have a softer side, and he cares a surprising amount about his own integrity. I think I disagree with his decisions a lot more than I disagree with Violet's, and though I can't see inside Cyrus' head for his reasoning, there are just some things he does/says that seem to be borne of something that mixes spite and slight amounts of idiocy and an over-belief in the truth. By and large, I do like his character, though.

Everyone loves a good hate to love-but-I'll-still-stab-you, and Violet and Cyrus really do fit the bill perfectly. They resent each other at first, but are also attracted to each other in a way neither of them seem to like that much. Their romance actually reminded me a lot of Jude and Cardan's from The Cruel Prince, with Violet as Jude and Cyrus as a somewhat nicer Cardan. I liked seeing Violet and Cyrus together, particularly when they loosen up a bit and let the sparks fly, but also just when they're arguing or getting along. Violet is too practical to do things just for love, though, and I like how Chen makes that aspect of her work with the romance.

Camilla, Cyrus' twin, is pretty much the opposite of him. She's much more friendly and open, though she has her times for being prickly. She revels in the opulence of being royal, but she also seems to understand more about real life than her brother does. She provides a nice friend for Violet and her sparky personality provides for some interesting scenes.

Dante is an advisor/scholar/tutor in the royal court. He's the same age as the others, I believe, and is dually Violet's and Cyrus' friend. Being from a neighboring kingdom, Dante understands Violet's feelings of loneliness and the struggle it takes to survive in the world they're in. He's gentler than the other characters, but still pragmatic, and I think he provided a nice break from some of the other big personalities in the book.

Overall I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one. I'm curious to see what Violet will do and how each of the characters deals with the world and the things that transpired here.

4.5 stars!

I love rooting for the anti-heroine. There’s something about the character being flawed and realistic in a way, but still is trying to sort of do right, even if it’s sometimes selfish. And that wickedly thin line between love and hate. How we love to vacillate between the two.

Violet is the seer in the Sun Capital. She had saved the prince, Cyrus, when they were young, after a vision showed his death. Years later, Violet is his kingdoms prophet and liar. She manipulates everyone with her sharp witted tongue – if you phrase things just the right way, they won’t question you. But Cyrus wants her gone, once he is crowned King - he doesn’t want her to be King’s puppet anymore. But there was a curse put upon the prince and Violet’s job is to ensure the kingdom that the curse will be broken, and soon.

I love Violet because she doesn’t play the weak and simple minded, damsel in distress. She is almost villain like in her heroism. This dark fantasy took many twists and turns that I did not see coming. The cast of characters is vast (but manageable), leaving you to wonder whose side they are really on. And Violet and Cyrus’ relationship was so messy and yet exquisitely perfect. Can’t wait to read the second book in this series. Definitely grab this book today!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book is refreshingly different from your typical YA novel. It has both a strong anti-hero and an enemy to lovers arc (and somehow enemies while lovers arc?) that sets this book apart from others. It's so refreshing to have a main character that can be selfish and make morally wrong decisions, rather than the typical perfect heroine.
Violet is my favorite part of this book. As the title suggests, she's a thorny main character and has quite a few rough edges. Yet you can't help but cheer her on, even when she doesn't make the "right" decisions.
Her and Cyrus' relationship is a fun one to watch as they try to determine what they feel for each other. Cyrus isn't your typical "Prince Charming," either, which adds to the complexity of their relationship.
The magical fantasyland setting of the book was amazing, as well. I can't wait for the sequel!