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!

I had a really hard time getting into this book and ultimately DNF.
Admittedly, the enemies to lovers trope is one that is hit or miss for me, but mostly I had a hard time sinking into the magic of this novel and understanding what the rules and mythology were.

This was AMAZING!! The most exciting thing about Asian inspired fantasy is the history authors embed within the book and I read this with the biggest smile on my face. The characters were interesting and intriguing the minute you meet them and listening to their voices and their way of dealing with things was incredible. The romance was nothing short of amazing and I cannot wait to see what the author does in the future. 5/5 very happy stars!

I love, love, loved this book. It's one of those books that comes with a curse because I read it SO EARLY and now have to wait SO LONG for the next one which I knew going in but I still couldn't help myself. It was sexy and dark and kept me turning the page as I raced to see what would happen (and if Violet and Cyrus would just kiss already).
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm a sucker for books with damaged heroines - girls covered in thorns who protect their hearts by lashing out, who have to fight and claw for everything they have. Who aren't the most likable. Sometimes I wanted to shake Violet because I care about her and wanted her to see that others do too.
The ending of this book did NOT go how I expected. Every time I thought I had reached the ending it kept going and growing far beyond where it had begun. I thought there would be more of a cliffhanger and there was one, but I also like the ambiguity in the way the story ended. I would almost (almost) be happy if it was a standalone novel but also I'm curious to see where it goes next. Plus, I desperately need more Cyrus.

Violet Made of Thorns is a story that feels like it takes small pieces of fairytales and weaves them into a magical tapestry.

I loved Violet. She is not a perfect MC. She is someone who has fought for everything that she has and she might have had to do some not so great things because of it. I really enjoyed watching how her inner conflict plays out throughout the book. She might seem like a morally gray character but she is not evil. So even though she looks at situations with how they will impact her (which many people do) she also has a conscience that nags at her from time to time. She’s also just so fiery.

I think Cyrus is the type of the character that wants to fall into the prince charming, save the world category. It often is why he and Violet bump heads so much. There is much more to him though than what Violet perceives on the surface.

Their complicated relationship really fuels a lot of the book. Are they enemies to lovers? Are they enemies that are lovers? Are they just toxic friends. Wait what is going on here. It was fun to read it play out and how they are always that one piece shy of going one direction or the other. I really enjoyed their story.

The rest of the plot is really intriguing. A prince cursed by a witch, someone stealing the prince by pretending to be someone else, people turned to beast….so many of these things we’ve seen in fairytales. I just really like the unique way they are portrayed in this story. It takes some politics and puts them in there too, for an explanation as to why some of these things happen. Especially with the borders and the woods.

I really liked the book. I’m really excited for the next installment. I don’t want to have to wait for it but I guess I don’t have much choice.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Violet Made of Thorns has a lot of different fairy tale influences. I liked the story, but thought the ending was a little rushed. I was hoping for a little more backstory, a little more romance, and a little bit more of the minor characters being developed. I'm left with a lot of questions. Maybe they'll be answered in a following book? I did enjoy the story. I will recommend it to my students and purchase it for the library.

THIS BOOK- OMG! I stayed up until 1 am to let this story finish unfolding and it was WORTH IT!!! I cannot wait for the next book to come out! The writing style made the story come across as very elegant and mysterious, and I loved the world building. I fell in love with the snarky main character quickly, and don't even get me started on the love interest. I will be recommending this book to everyone I see.

Filled with romantic entanglements and magical intrigue, Violet Made of Thorns is a must-read for fans of the fantasy genre.

All other hate-to-love/enemies-to-lovers books: YOU LOOOOOVE ME

Me: I do. I really do.

Violet Made of Thorns shifts its gaze to the books: hold my beer.

A quick note before I dive into this novel of a review: I would die for this cover. The UK cover is also I-would-die-worthy. If you haven't seen it, go now! Whatever editions of this book release you know I will have them all. *crossing my fingers for Fairyloot*

I just took a long exhale because buckle it, kiddies!

When I read comp titles such as Cruel Prince and Serpent and Dove, I know I'm getting some angsty romance and this did not disappoint. Enter, Violet. She's the court's official seer-able to see premonitions of people's futures. But her standing in the king's favor is rocky since Prince Cyrus seemingly hates her ever-living guts despite the fact that she once saved his life.

Let me sneak in here with a quick thought about Cyrus. I wanted to smooth away that scowl every time he came on the page. What is about brooding, angry boys that just....UGH

Violet's prophecy about Cyrus and his inevitable death isn't one she can just skip across, so when the king asks her to lie about Cyrus's intended bride, she goes along with it, if only to appease him and keep her place in the palace. But her own self-serving plans go awry when her feelings for Cyrus take a very sharp yet sexy turn.

"I am the worst thing in Cyrus's life and nothing has tasted sweeter."

Okay, let's get to the world-building. There are some familiar magic systems, but what I loved about this was the threat of the Fairylands and the horrifying monsters created from humans. I won't get too deep into this because I want to keep it spoiler-free, but I did not expect that ending!

The romance was vicious with lust on both ends burning the other alive. That's all I can say about it without drooling on my keyboard. If you truly love enemy to lovers, you will devour this chemistry.

Isn't it true that many people enjoy love/hate or enemies to lovers so much is because it's amazing to see someone fall for another person, flaws and all. They love each other because of their flaws. They need each other because they see who they are without pretenses.

Violet is a fully-realized character. She embodies self-confidence and strength. I think it's because I am so much like her that I immediately connected to her character.

"My curse, my ruin, my Violet-my heart is yours. It was always yours. Take it."

I don't know if I can live without reading the sequel NOW. There is soooo much to work with and Violet and Cyrus' story is just beginning.

Final thoughts: if my house was burning down and I could only grab one book to save, it would be this one.

Really enjoyed this book! I’m a sucker for a twisted fairytale like story. I really liked Violet. I would describe her as prickly. She doesn’t take crap. She isn’t the same like other girls vying for Prince Cyrus’ affections. She doesn’t want to have any feelings for Cyrus. She has a lot to sort through and is an unusual heroine but I really enjoyed her character. Also I was getting enemies to lover vibes like Jude and Cardan. The dynamic of I really don’t like you but I’m going to kiss you anyways. Loved Camilla and the friendship between Dante and Violet.

The only thing about the story is sometimes it felt a little disjointed. It wasn’t as smooth as I wish because there is a lot going on and a lot of jumping around to different plot points. It wasn’t hard to follow necessarily but I wish it was a little bit smoother in how everything played out. Lots of great twists and turns though. Ending was good as well.

Overall, really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the next one.

*Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Enter Violet, a liar, a deceiver and a seer. Enter Cyrus, the cursed Prince who plans to strip Violet of her title once he is crowned. But with the King nothing above of twisting a prophecy he unknowingly makes Violet unlock an old curse.

Honestly, why do I do this to myself and read a book that is one, not even released yet, and two the first in a series! That will not have the second out for foreverrrrrrr. But alas, here we are. I saw “for fans of The Cruel Prince” and when I tell you I clicked that request button with so much force, what I really mean is I punch my computer into oblivion to get this book 😂 Morally gray main character? YES PLEASE! Cursed prince, um hello, do you know me?! GIVE IT TO ME!

Right, the review - it was AMAZING! Violet is an insanely relatable character to us broken and damage hearted peasants. She is flawed, and she knows it. She makes decisions that are not always the right ones, but god does she do it with every piece of her. She not only does this, but the wall around her is so undeniably made of steel, bricks and mortar, and thorns.. so so so many thorns. She doesn’t trust or even believe in love as easily as others do. And it makes you love her even more. I can’t remember the last time I absolutely devoured and loved a character so much as I do Violet. And Prince Cyrus 🤌🏼 perfect enemies to lovers!

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher.

I really enjoyed this one. It's a quick and light read and was just what I needed after my last book.

Violet sort of annoyed me at the end, but she made things right so I guess we will see what happens in the sequel. I do enjoy a good fairytale story so this one was fun to read.

From magic to beasts, this one had me intrigued with every chapter I read. I had to keep reading because I just had to know what happened next.

I do hope a book box picks this up. I would love a finished copy with extras.

No need to say, but I'd recommend this one if you need a light read or to get out of a slump.

Violet Lune is a Seer, a person who has the Sight and it able to read possible futures and people's memories. She works for the king, who raises her as a Seer who deceives people. Due to this, Violet is a liar. A liar who happened to save the prince's life when they were children. Enter Prince Cyrus. Cyrus and Violet are kind of mortal enemies in a love-hate relationship, so like it's a work in progress. In the midst of tension and upcoming war, Violet is our main (anti) hero who prioritizes herself over men. An icon.

WOOWWWW!! I haven't read a YA fantasy book in so long, and I've forgotten the magical appeal that it holds. Violet Made of Thorns is a YA fantasy that takes elements of known fairytales, and spins wonder, magic, and a sprinkle of evil into a brilliantly creative debut novel. Gina Chen is an absolutely master at writing a main character who is flawed, ambitious, and just might be the villain of her own story. I absolutely adore the girlboss energy in this book, and I cannot wait to read the second book.

This YA Fantasy story follows Violet, the Royal Seer, and Cyrus, the Prince. Seers are especially rare and Violet ends up in Court after saving the Prince's life when they were children. There, she is demanded to see visions, Prophecies and all of that stuff to help the Kingdom. We quickly see that she lies most of the time and doesn't really tell anyone about what she really sees, which isn't pretty. There's a curse around Cyrus and his true love. However, Cyrus and Violet can't stand each other but they'll have to find a way around the curse somehow.

Overall, this was an interesting premise and had potential. I found some of the twists interesting and kept me engaged. However, my problem was that I didn't completely love the main characters and I wasn't into the romance either. Other than that, it was pretty good.

(thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)

Unfortunately this book was a miss for me. There was something about the writing that didn't draw me in or make me want to continue reading past the first 100 pages. I did skim the rest of the book and it confirmed me suspicions that it was more or less the same. The dialogue was awkward, the characters were unlikable.

3.5! This book was a dark, YA fantasy that I thoroughly enjoyed. I thought the main character was compelling. This book definitely kept me interested throughout. I think I would have liked a little bit more in terms of romance, but I think that is more about me and less about the book.

I will definitely keep my eyes out for the second book in this duology. Happy reading!