The first couple of chapters were hard to read honestly. The characters are quite juvenile, even for a YA story. It felt like they behaved as if they were in modern day high school, not a high fantasy royal court. I also found certain details to be irrelevant. Just as an example, I didn’t see a reason for the character to mention her period every time it comes. It’s unnecessary, just as mentioning that I have to use the bathroom every time I wake up is unnecessary. The character “relatability” also felt forced and the writer didn’t allow for the reader to come to their own conclusions on any of the mystery.
However, I pushed through all that and found the story to be intriguing. I wanted to know more about Cyrus’ plans, and how Violet will grow. I have high hopes for the second book and I do intend to read it when the author releases it. As long as the story grabs me, I can get past a lot of issues, and this story grabbed me.

Thanks NetGalley and Random House Children's/Delacorte Press for the e-arc.

This book is a pretty good twist on a tale as old as time. Violet is a Seer in a royal court telling prophecies and sometimes lies. But the last seer predicted a curse on Prince Cyrus and war for the land, Violet is working hard to prevent the curse from coming true, even as her own dreams and prophecies are becoming more and more violent. She's fighting against the fates and the arrogant Prince Cyrus, just trying to hold it together.

I like this twist on Beauty and the Beast. It was well-written and fast paced, though predictable. Part of the predictability is just due to the source material being so widely known. I did like that this was a darker re-telling with more grey areas. But the romance and twists were easy to figure out. I would read more from this author though, I just hope the next book is more original.

Violet Made of Thorns was a thrilling fairy tale reimagining that kept me guessing. Violet is a seer, who came into her role at a very young and impressionable age. She is taken in by the king of Auveny and his family to be their new seer. She inherits a prophecy that dooms the prince and is influenced by the king to lie about the future of the Sun Capitol. Violet is a cynical and stubborn young woman, who sees the cracks in the glamor of noble life that others chose to cover up or ignore. When a witch threatens Auveny, Violet's lies come back to bite her, and the people she is trying to save don't trust her.

This book includes all of the best things about YA fantasy! A stubborn, strong heroine, romance, betrayal, and plot twists that keep the end of this book a complete mystery. It's interesting to watch Violet navigate the politics of court, where she is given a lot of of power for her age, but must learn to recognize when she's being manipulated. Readers are able to see Violets thought process as the book progresses, which normalizes the fear, worry, self-doubt, and second guessing anyone would experience in her position.

I love the factor of having a prophecy to allow to play out, or fight against. However, I felt there was just something missing that I can't quite put my finger on. I think I just wanted for more of this. I loved this book and feel it's perfect for YA readers. If there's a sequel to this book, I will be thrilled. I'd also be interested to see other stories from different parts of this world. This book takes place within the castle and capitol city, but I hope the author explores other parts of this world in other books.

I read this book as an ebook and advanced reader copy. I volunteered to read this book as the description looked interesting and my review is my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc.

I really enjoyed this story. Mainly all the angsty attraction going on. If you like the relationship dynamic of Jude and Cardan, you’d like this. I also loved how the MC looked out for herself before anything else. It’s hard to find books truly like that. I do wish there was a more substantial plot. It was a nice, easy read, but I was never at the edge of my seat or wholly invested. Hopefully the bigger developments occur in the second.

This is one of those books that you only get the pleasure of reading once every few years. One that just checks all the boxes of everything you love to read. Violet was such a perfect anti heroine. I loved her attitude and her snark. I loved her banter and her twisted sense of decision making. This enemy to lovers saga was so great. One where they just can't stop betraying and distrusting throughout. I do think this book could have been a trilogy and we would have gotten better world building that way. TBH though I am so in love with this boom I don't even care. It is wonderful!

BRILLIANT. Absolutely addicting in every fantastical way. A page turner from the beginning and I’m absolutely a new fan.
This is a hate to love you but I must have you so let’s duel love story that’s not quite a love story kind of story.

Thank you thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this phenomenal book. I cannot wait until release day and the next one!!!

Ah, I love a good antiheroine. I know Violet is not going to be the type of main character that everyone loves or even enjoys but she was perfect for me. Her wit, her confidence, her wonderful horrible lies, and un apologetic nature was just fun to read for me. I've said it before and I'll say it again - it is almost always the characters that make or break a story for me and "Violet Made of Thorns" did not disappoint.

Honestly, my only real complaint (which isn't much of one) is that I would have liked just a tad more world-building thrown in. I could go on and on about Violet and Cyrus but I couldn't really say much about their actual world. I'm hoping we'll find out more with book 2! Which was also a surprise for me as I went in thinking this was a standalone and was surprised (in a good way) to find out we'll be getting more!

Rescuing a prince, was possibly, the worst mistake a Seer like Violet could make or was it?

This act of kindness, destined Violet to become the Seer to King Emilius, the father of Prince Cyrus. She became loyal to the King… and loyal to lying. She was clever and witty. She influences the royal court with her sometimes true divinations. She would make up visions in order to protect the Kingdom. But there was one goal in mind, Cyrus becoming the King. To be King, he needed a Queen. Unfortunately, there was a a prophecy that cursed happiness for them both. Despite meeting his match, Violet was still made to choose… Die or Live and the Prince dies…

Violet’s character felt strong at times and cowardly at others. She was secretly obsessed with the Prince. She didn’t want to believe it. She wanted to remain stoic.

Prince Cyrus felt lazy and less ambitious. Instead of proving his worthiness to take over the Kingdom, he wanted to show his muscles and wink at the ladies. He didn’t like the ladies necessarily, but he loved being liked by them.

I did like the banter between Violet and Cyrus. But their relationship evolving felt distant.

There was shock factor involved in the ending battle of the story. There were parts that I didn’t expect and thought that overall it was a decent fantasy.

The reading experience of this book was fantastic. I thought the writing and the world building was well done. I flew this book very quickly because I couldn’t figure out what was coming. I thoroughly enjoyed the chemistry between the characters and the romance.

Violet is a fantastic character. I feel like there is definitely a need for more characters like her. She is flawed, unapologetic and looking out for her own best interests.

I cannot wait to read more from Gina Chen.

*I voluntarily read and received an eARC of this novel from NetGalley for my honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

**Minor spoilers**

I unfortunately didn’t get far in this work - seriously reading it. I skimmed most of the novel to be able to say I gave it a chance. I honestly would have DNF’d it as I am prone to do with novels I don’t get into.
I love a good anti-heroine, magical plots and thwarted fates but from the beginning interactions with the characters I wasn’t bought in. (Cyrus’ marriage & the owed fate) The relationship between Cyrus and Violet seemed shallow despite them having known each other for years prior. It felt lacking and their dialogue sometimes felt cringe. The writing style overalls felt choppy but was lyrical at times. The occasional information dumping was not to my taste either.

I don't know how I feel about this one... The book is advertised for the cynic, but I honestly felt like it was just The Throne of Glass series meets A Curse So Dark and Broken with a dash of fairy tale magic thrown in.

Violet is interesting, sure, but there's nothing new or groundbreaking about her - she's more one dimensional than anything. There was representation all over the place, which is great. The story is super character driven, which if the character is interesting, works well. But the only thing that Violet seems to be concerned about is how to spin any situation into something that works out for her.

And, to be completely honest, I'm still trying to figure out what's going on with the Curse thing and the Beasts and everything else.

I liked this book, it really is not a bad book at all.
The story follows Violet a seer. All her life she has been working for the king and he has always asked her to lie to the court. The thing is that the prince is cursed and that he has to marry to break the curse. The king has organized an arranged marriage for the price and he should marry this girl because Violet tells him to. After Violet lies to the prince she starts getting all these visions about him and how he has to die for her to be alive etc. Strange monsters start appearing and the kingdom starts to seem to go to ruin.
I loved Violet! She was an amazing main character. With her thoughts and her lies and her insecurities. I liked her a lot.
Cyrus is the prince and he is quite alright (very hot though). I loved him throughout all of the book.
NOW The issue I had with the book: the romance... it just wasn't what I was promised. I was told this was enemies to lovers and it's weird I don't like you to lovers, still interesting.
I will definitely want to read the sequel to this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a requested advanced copy for review. All opinions are my own.

Wow this was fantastic! There's magic, morally grey characters, mysteries, political machinations, plots, and an evil witch. Not to mention this takes enemies to lovers to an entirely new level. I've never read a book where the MCs both hate and love each other in equal measure throughout the entire story. It is frustrating, it is hot, and it is amazing.
There are just so many layers to Violet and the entire story. She's an outsider, she's a pawn, she forges her own plans, she's integral to both the king and Cyrus' plans, she has more magic and power than she realizes, she makes terrible choices and choices that make sense. Cyrus is also willing to do whatever it takes to see his plans through, and when they clash, there are absolute fireworks.
The whole story is so well done. I think this is being labeled as YA, but honestly it's a super mature YA with the themes and everything else on the page. Either way, I highly recommend it.
While there isn't a cliffhanger and the story wraps up pretty well, it does set up for a sequel and I'm excited to see what could be next!

4.5 stars

"Violet Made of Thorns" is different than other young adult fantasy because the main character is not instantly likeable or relatable. Violet keeps the reader off their balance because her choices and reactions are not typically self-sacrificing and selfless. In a way, those qualities make it hard to relate and root for the success of Violet. I found myself not caring if she came out on top of a situation or if something bad happened to her.

It was hard for me to get rooted into the book. I'm not sure if it is because the world building was lacking or if it was because of the disconnect I felt with the main character, Violet. Don't get me wrong, some of Violet's inner monologue I totally agreed with and related to (like her views on love, or her feelings about people), but overall I did not feel a connection with her or her world. I like the side characters: Dante, Camille, and Cyrus. But I did not feel the tension/passion between Violet and Cyrus that there usually is in an enemies-to-lovers trope. I did not see why there was so much hate between the two (it was explained, but I didn't feel like the level of hate matched the reason - it was excessive and dramatized in my opinion). I did not see why Cyrus liked Violet and vice versa. It just felt forced. One of my main gripes was when Violet would call Cyrus "Princey"...she does this a lot and it is just so juvenile and low brain energy. Either get a better "insult" or just say "Prince" sarcastically. The use of "Princey" took me out of the narrative every time.

I wish there was more depth and exploration about the dying faewood and I wish the little faes had more spotlight. Maybe that will happen in the second book. There will be a second book the way the the book ended, but it was not a hard cliffhanger.

Overall, the last 10% of the book kept my attention and glued to the pages, but most of the book I was not invested. I did not feel rooted or connected to the world or characters. I see the potential in this story and the characters, but maybe I was not in the right mindset (I just got done reading a well done high fantasy series before this book). Hopefully the second book will catch my attention more.

This was such an wonderful read! I couldn't put it down.

Crawling her way up from nameless orphan on the gritty streets of the Moon District to the Kings official Seer, Violet is the anti-hero you root for, while your heart breaks for her and the people she is closest to.
Cyrus is the crown prince, but is cursed with a dark prophecy.. The King is not above manipulating any and everyone that stands in the way of his greed.

A Violet made of Thorns is full of raw emotion, allowing you to see both sides of the coin. I absolutely loved it.
Violet is relatable to those who find it hard to.find relatable characters. She's flawed and closed off, who makes pretty terrible decisions a majority of the time, but still stands by those decisions. Violet struggles to find and hold onto things that come easily, like hope, love, trust.

The cover art is spectacular, the female Asian lead, as well as the friends to enemy to Lovers trope is the perfect blend.
This book is said to be likened to The Cruel Prince, but I don't really see it.
Five golden stars for Gina Chen, I cannot wait to read more!

This was a very fascinating fantasy read for me. And, I find myself really loving and enjoying it. The plot line, the pacing and the word building was absolutely perfect. Moreover, the characters were fairly interesting too. Overall, it’s a 4 stars read for me.

If it was possible to rip my heart out for this book, I would do it without hesitation.

I will have to confess that I didn't expect to like this book, but Gina Chen nailed the delivery she promised, and I couldn't be more surprised at how I adored it. Violet Made of Thorns is an enchanting book with a refreshing take on the sub-genre of dark fairytales that mildly reminds me of The Cruel Prince.

VMOT has every trope you could dream of: strong Asian female protagonist, REAL enemies-to-lovers with delightful banter, royal setting, prophecies, and betrayals. The way the author put everything together results in a compelling story with strong twists and turns, and an incredible dynamic between the characters, both platonic and romantic. I would do anything for Violet and Cyrus, and I would sell a kidney to kiss Camilla. That's how much I love the characters.

After Goodreads, this is supposed to be a duology, and honestly, I know all too well the pain of waiting for the sequel of a book that is not yet released. My grabby hands need the sequel, like, yesterday. 4.75/5 - a surprising coup de coeur.

Many thanks to Delacorte Press and Netgalley for this advanced copy. This review contains my opinion only.

This book releases in July, and I know it will be an instant hit. Violet is a Seer for a King Emilie. She was brought to the kingdom after she saved Prince Cyrus’s life when they were just kids. Violet and Cyrus hate each, which stems from jealously on both of their parts.

Then Violet starts having dreams/visions of the terrible things to come, beasts start invading the land, and throw in a cursed prince who has to get married or else he would die.

Definitely put this on your TBR list for the summer.

I'm a big fan of the morally ambiguous dark fairytale antiheroine. It's good. I nom it up with a spoon. I was really excited to read this one and (for the first time in a while with ARCs) I was not disappointed! Violet is a heroine you'll love to hate, and even though I felt like the romance was kind of rushed towards the end, I'm loving the enemies-to-lovers trope with Cyrus. Overall, I'm very much looking forward to the next book!

I thought this book was good. I really enjoyed the way Gina Chen wrote the visions that Violet saw. I also liked the characters in the story. Cyrus and Dante were my favorite (besides Violet). I did start to get a little bored in the middle but the ending was really good. I did not see it coming.