This is a wonderful follow up to Sorcery of Thorns! If you're like me, Sorcery of Thorns left you wanting more and needing to know how life would turn out post-saving the world for Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas. I'm so pleased to say that Mysteries of Thorn Manor absolutely delivers! I loved catching up with the characters and getting to spend time with them while they were trapped in the manor. The pacing is more relaxed and the story focuses on the emotional development of the characters and their relationships. Instead of desperately fighting to save the world, they're tasked with setting the manor's wards to rights, which involves a good deal of exploring and encounters with feral grimoires, wild topiaries, and murderous gowns! I loved every minute of this novella, from the madcap adventures to the quiet moments of bonding, the romantic interludes and the sweet realizations. As a fan of Silas, I was practically beaming every time he was on page, which is often! All in all, a thoroughly satisfying tale for fans of sentient books, spooky houses, girls with swords, magical boys, and suave demons.

This was a fun, fresh return to the magical world of Sorcery of Thorns.

I adored being back in this world—the sentient books and house were just fantastic, and their clever shenanigans made me laugh more than once. I forgot how much these books feel like a variant of Hogwarts, and how much I love it. Margaret’s signature banter hits the mark, and it was such a treat to see Elisabeth and Nathaniel again. I enjoyed the insight into Silas’s character—I had mixed feelings about him in Sorcery of Thorns—and the hilarious mundane interactions between the characters were a delight.

Sadly though, the ending was pretty abrupt and felt like some missed opportunities for some prime Elisabeth/Nathaniel moments. Additionally there were some jokes/references to Nathaniel wearing a dress (why?), and an entirely unnecessary appearance by one of Nathaniel’s former (male) lovers. I love this world and these characters, but the tokenism is just……… why?

So, a fun novella in a world I love deeply, with some mild frustrations.

Profound thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc!

-A

This was delightfully fun. My face was a big stupid grin the entire time I read. It’s perfect for a cute follow up to the main book! I adored the romance and all the Silas moments. This is an absolute must read after you finish Sorcery!

I loved Sorcery of Thorns so much when I read it, and its been a while since I read it. I hadn't brushed up on the story before starting this novella, but I didn't really feel like I missed much since I remembered the basics of the original story. However, I wouldn't recommend reading this as a standalone, since there would definitely be spoilers if you hadn't read the first book beforehand, and you would probably struggle with following.

This is a sweet, fluffy, and romantic novella that was the perfect followup to the tumultuous events of Sorcery of Thorns, and I loved getting a little more of Elisabeth, Nathaniel, Silas, and even Mercy and Katrien. In this story, they're trapped inside the manor as a result of a magical cyclone that seems to have something to do with the wards and a magical curse of some sort, and they have to figure out why it's happening and how to stop it. In order to do that, they explore the manor and learn more about the secrets hidden within, and discover that the cyclone seems to worsen whenever they kiss.

The story has a tiny bit of action, some romance, and even a bit of discovery about the history of Nathaniel's family, as well as some touching moments between all of the characters in the story. I loved all of it, and it was the most perfect novella I could have asked for. But the best part was the way that it hints towards ... ANOTHER BOOK!

This book felt like a warm hug! As a fan of Sorcery of Thorns, I loved getting to follow the characters in a more low-stakes adventure. All of the characters felt like themselves, and Silas was especially compelling to read about with the additional pieces of demon lore and Nathaniel’s family history. I’ll be pitching this in tandem with Sorcery of Thorns to all my fantasy loving teens!

I am going to be completely honest here. What was the point of this novella. All this could’ve been in the book; making it a little longer, and having some of it be the epilogue. I don’t mean to sound harsh, but all this waiting for this little bit. It just didn’t make sense to me why this was written. Then for the main event between Elisabeth and Nathaniel, that we’ve all been waiting for. It was like “oh okay, well there’s that.”
I’m sorry what…
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC

I got approved for an ARC of this one yesterday around 3:00 pm. It is now 2:00 pm the next day, and I’m already done with this. Whoops. Destiny and I were supposed to buddy read it, but honestly, Mysteries of Thorn Manner just FLIES by as you read it. Those not even 200 pages barely feel like anything at all by the time you’re done. And I don’t mean that in a bad way at all — this was a delightful novella, and I’m so, so glad that I got the chance to read it a little early.

For those you that don’t know, I am a huge fan of Margaret Rogerson’s books (though i still need to read Vespertine!). She’s primarily a YA author, and her books tend to have fairly low stakes, with sweet romances in them. It’s hard to discuss this book without mentioning anything from Sorcery of Thorns, which is the first book in the series. You can read my review of that one here. ANYWAY, Mysteries of Thorn Manner picks up pretty much where Sorcery of Thorns left off, and does not bother to explain to you anything about that novel. It’s just assumed that you’ve read it, and honestly that works 1000% here. No time to waste on that when we have such a short (but delicious) page count!

Elizabeth and Nathaniel are dancing around the edges of what their relationship means, and very quickly it becomes apparently that Thorn Manner wants them to decide what they are and what they mean to each other. There’s barely any plot to this, but I was a-okay with it, because overall, this is a silly, cozy fantasy book. I (like Destiny) was giggling through the whole novella. There’s almost zero stakes really felt, but again, it doesn’t matter. This book exists purely to bring a smile to your face, especially if you are a fan of Rogerson’s past work.

I loved this, and wish it was about 5000 more pages, personally.

This might actually be the cutest, most perfect happily-ever-after I've ever read and it could NOT have been more perfect for these characters. I read this in one sitting, and it has all of the gorgeous writing style, whimsy, and unputdownable charm that Margaret Rogerson is known for. This bite-sized romp had the perfect amount of plot to support the romance and humor and I was grinning, swooning, and laughing out loud from start to finish. I love Elisabeth, Silas, and Nathanial so much and it just warms my heart so much to watch them be so playful and intimately comfortable after all the action in <i> Sorcery </i>. There is loads of witty banter, ice skating, the sweetest behind-closed-doors kisses, a prudish old lady ghost, and grand romantic gestures. It really is every bit as sweet and fun as <i> Sorcery </i> fans have been hoping for. I can already tell that there will be several re-reads in my future because I already miss this world and these characters so much. Seriously such a perfect cozy winter fantasy!!!

This book picks up pretty much where Sorcery of Thorns left off. Sorcerer Nathaniel and librarian Elisabeth are trying to figuring out what they mean to each other when the manor takes offense. The gardens go crazy, keeping everyone out, but locking Nathaniel, Elisabeth, Mercy, and Silas inside. They eventually figure out that the wards require Nathaniel to court Elisabeth. Nathaniel must also prepare for the Midwinter Ball which he is being forced to hold.

Mysteries of Thorn Manor reintroduces us to the world of Sorcery of Thorns in a sequel novella that will delight multitudes of devoted readers who never expected another outing in Austermeer. What happy news that we are being treated to a new adventure from the glorious mind of Margaret Rogerson featuring fan favourites Elisabeth, Nathaniel and most importantly, the demon Silas!

The open ending of Sorcery of Thorns, which was released as a standalone, allowed us to imagine whatever future we wished for our beloved characters, but that is cold comfort compared to actually witnessing their happily-ever-after. After all the upheaval and angst of the climactic conflict in Sorcery of Thorns, many readers wished for just one extra scene to set our hearts at ease that all would be well…then in the midst of COVID isolation, while searching for an escape from depression, Margaret Rogerson found her way back to this world and thus, Mysteries of Thorn Manor was born and all our prayers answered.

Welcome to a cosy, heartwarming novella whose premise echoes the enforced isolation that everyone who has been through the pandemic will be familiar with, but in a fantastical context far removed from its inspiration and with low-stakes drama that never makes you fear true harm will come to our heroes. The author’s intention was to write a comforting slice-of-life story to catch us up with Elisabeth and her companions when they’re going about life as normal without being under the threat of imminent death or forced to thwart a catastrophic plot against the kingdom. Of course, there must be a little conflict for the protagonists to resolve, which comes in the form of malfunctioning wards magically trapping the residents of Thorn Manor indoors and preventing them from leaving with animated topiaries and a forceful magical gale to keep them imprisoned. This is a bothersome predicament, but you get the sense it’s just another Tuesday from the mild irritation and resigned determination displayed by the main characters.

Elisabeth’s trusty sword Demonslayer proves no match for the lively topiaries and it becomes evident that neither weapon nor sorcery will free them from the wards, which bizarrely react with even greater violence whenever Elisabeth and Nathaniel engage in more than a chaste kiss with one another. Their search for answers turns inwards as Nathaniel hunts down family grimoires that have recorded every update to the wards for several centuries to try and determine what has triggered the magical maelstrom.

This mystery is a fun background story element with heaps of humorous potential and tasty world-building tidbits, but it comes second to the character dynamics and relationships. Elisabeth and Nathaniel have a tentative unspoken understanding between them, but they are still dancing around those three little words, a slight amount of nerves about the extent to which their feelings might be reciprocated or not as well as uncertainty as to what the future might hold in store for them both. It’s a delightful state-of-affairs that allows for swoony romantic clinches along with a very light sprinkling of pining before heart-melting love confessions. And of course with sardonic, self-deprecating Nathaniel Thorn as half of our pairing, there is no shortage of witty banter and hilariously mocking commentary along the way.

As for Silas, he truly is the emotional anchor of this novella. After his sacrifice in Sorcery of Thorns, we mourned for him alongside Nathaniel and Elisabeth, then rejoiced at the hint of his return on the final page, but were left without satisfactory proof of his survival—well, what a feast we are given in Mysteries of Thorn Manor with all the additional Silas content a fan could hope for! There are wonderful found family sentiments entwined throughout the story as he readjusts to his place by Nathaniel and Elisabeth’s side with the new servant Mercy an initial thorn in his side until he comes to accept her presence. The most poignant scenes in this story revolve around Silas, particularly in relation to his immortal nature meaning that he is always the one left alone in the end after typically short human lifespans are snuffed out. It’s commonly believed that demons view humans as no more than insects, but Silas’s behaviour betrays the exact opposite with the depth of caring and concern he displays to a chosen few. The audience will savour every moment of platonic intimacy in his scenes with his Master and Mistress.

Mysteries of Thorn Manor is an unexpected gift to readers who will rejoice at the prospect of spending more time with the beloved characters from Sorcery of Thorns in a light-hearted fantasy romp brimming with fun, whimsy and romance.

Let me start this review by saying I absolutely cannot believe it’s been more than three years since Sorcery of Thorns came out! I remember loving it despite not really liking Margaret Rogerson’s debut, so I was excited to hear that she was coming out with a sequel novella. Returning to familiar characters, Mysteries of Thorn Manor is bound to thrill fans of Sorcery of Thorns as we continue Elisabeth’s story.

Truthfully, what I just described was pretty much all I remember of the first book. I tried to reread before jumping into this book, but I really did not have the attention span or motivation to read it again. Honestly, though, that turned out to be okay because Mysteries of Thorn Manor is more fluff than any extension of plot. This novella was more fun and cute than what I expected, but that’s okay.

If anything, this story reminded me that I likely enjoyed Sorcery of Thorns more for its characters than anything else in the book. I loved returning to this world and seeing Elisabeth and Nathaniel again, as well as Silas! It was great seeing their rapport again, especially on the romance side. The three of them really balance each other out; Elisabeth and Silas remain level-headed while Nathaniel bounces off the walls.

The romance was also so adorable and is more of the center of this book. I really loved their dynamic; I don’t want to spoil what happens in this book, but the premise is just so funny and they (especially Nathaniel) handle the conflict in a very amusing manner.

Mysteries of Thorn Manor honestly read like a fanfiction one-shot, but I honestly really enjoyed that. I’m sure I speak for many others when I say it’s always fun getting domestic scenes of our favorite duos. If you liked the characters of Sorcery of Thorns, I think you’ll definitely enjoy this novella!

The primary audience for this book is people who read Sorcery of Thorns and wanted more Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas. If you loved that book, like I did, and you wanted a sort of epilogue to their story, then you, like me, will be quite pleased with this. If you've never read Sorcery of Thorns, go read that first and then come back to this.

Oh my goodness, I adored this novella!! Sorcery of Thorns was one of my favorite books, so getting a little bit more of Elisabeth and Nathaniel and Silas - chef’s kiss!! I adore them all so much, and what a fun little adventure they have! Ahhhh! I don’t want to give spoilers, so I’ll stop there, and just say that I will absolutely recommend this novella to anyone who has read the book and hope I can squeal with them over the contents!

Sorcery of Thorns is one of my all time favorite books and I was thrilled to read this novella set in that world with my favorite characters. It was such a treat to see them again and to learn what happens to them after the book had ended.

Elizabeth is just as delightful in this story as she is in the book. She is really coming into her own as person with many skills. I love how she handles the grimoires in the Nathaniel’s library. She also appears to have some skills in getting the house to behave itself as well.

Nathaniel is also coming to terms with his relationship to magic as well as Elizabeth. I just adored his attempts to woe her, including the blackberry jam flood. Even with his health issues he is still able to handle whatever the house chooses to throw at him. It is very obvious how he feels about Elizabeth and it was so fun to see him show his feelings to her and to the house.

Silas was also just as charming and helpful as always. He is so devoted to Nathaniel and to Elizabeth, but he also has his ways of manipulating them. I loved watching him develop a relationship, or perhaps an understanding with Mercy, who I also adored.

The story is short, but it held so much in the development of the characters. The storyline of one of the Thorn ancestors holding both Nathaniel and Elizabeth to task about their relationship was adorable. I loved the wardrobe that attacked them as well as the garden topiary. The house also was a bit of a star in this book, with the way it tried to hide some of the secrets it held from the couple.

If you enjoyed the original novel, than you are going to enjoy this one too. There is even a short chapter from Silas’s point of view at the end that many of you will be thrilled by as it hints at a further story to come.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you, like me, adored Sorcery of Thorns, then you must read this little novella. It’s short- easily read in a day- and very fun. It’s funny, touching, romantic, and continues the story in a grand fashion. And yes, it does resolve THAT cliffhanger from the first book.

If the author wants to continue writing stories and books set in this universe, you won’t hear a single complaint from me.

Margaret Rogerson’s books are charming. They are written with characters that you want to cheer for even if they do not deserve it. In the novella we revisit the characters from a Sorcery of Thorns, Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas. They must unravel a spell that is wreaking havoc upon the manor. It is not really a stand alone and should be read as a companion to the novel.

A cute continuation of a story that will make reader who were into the romance happy. There is still some of the magic from the original story and I love the incorporation of the family lore.

This was the perfect little follow up to Sorcery of Thorns. I loved getting a glimpse of what's going on with Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas. If this is the last we see of them, it's a lovely send-off but I would read anything Margaret Rogerson writes about this world.

Mysteries of Thorn Manor is the short and sweet follow-up I was hoping for after the ending of Rogerson's "Sorcery of Thorns". everyone wants to know that their heroes and heroines get the happily ever after and in this novella we get that with all the wit and charm that kept me reading the original book. While I did love reading about Elisabeth and Nathaniel, lets all be honest and admit that what we really want is Silas's story. Give me an entire series of Silas serving the Thorns over the generations.

Cute. Light. Fun romance and more insight into the characters. Not a lot of action, but that wasn’t part of its goal.