I was expecting this to be a historical romance with some fantasy. But that was not at all what I was expecting! It was more of folklore horror. Something in the vein of Holly Black (but more creepy sinister).

This was so good. Starts out a touch slow, but picks up momentum. The ending seemed a little lackluster after all the tension build-up, and fever-dream climax. But not bad, definitely on a happy note.

The folklore was excellent. And I want more stories like this one. I don't know The Ballad of Tam Lin well enough to tell if this is a retelling, or just a nod in that direction.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book for review!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this eARCH.

3.5/5




I have mixed feels about this book and I enjoyed it overall, but there were a few issues that forced me to pause and return to earlier parts to see if I missed something.

The beginning of the novel was very slow for me and I struggled to keep interested in it. I could only read a few pages at a time before I got bored/confused and stopped. I would say it took about 50 pages before it really hooked me. The romance was okay, but I wanted more from it. I loved the idea of The Dreamer and thought his character was well crafted, but I wasn’t satisfied with the resolution of the problems that existed between the two main characters. I also found it difficult to get behind the main character being irritated with The Dreamer after finding out the things he had done, even though Moria Jean had willingly entered some of the agreements. Additionally, I felt like it ended really abruptly and there could have been more time spent in certain parts.

However, there were many things I enjoyed about this book. First and foremost, I adore how the fae were portrayed. I’m other fae books I have read, they are either good or evil and there is no in between. The fae in this book were pretty neutral overall. I also like how it stuck to the more traditional fairytales of the fae and their appearances which was refreshing in comparison to what I have read in the past. I really enjoyed the brownie character, just because it was meant to be an ugly little creature but it was an adorable little helper throughout. I enjoyed the world building for the most part, but I wish we would have spent more time in the fae realm rather than the real world.

Overall, I liked Moira Jean as the main character and thought it was a great book. I feel like it’s for a certain niche of readers, but I would definitely recommend it to a friend for a fun read.

Overall, I found this book enjoyable. I will say, it was very slow to get started, and also quite confusing in the beginning. About a third of the way in, the story seemed to meld together and I found my interest piqued. This story almost has a dark Wizard of Oz feeling by the end. It was an enjoyable experience, though I do feel the ending was rushed. I would have liked The Dreamer’s motivations and internal conflict to have been more central. The odd beginning and rushed ending are what took this down to a 3 star read for me. That being said, it was still a good read and I would be interested in other works by this author based on this experience.

The Thorn Remains- 2.25⭐️ 1.5🌶️

1919. In a highland village forgotten by the world, harvest season is over and the young who remain after war and flu have ravaged the village will soon head south to make something of themselves.

Moira Jean and her friends head to the forest for a last night of laughter before parting ways. Moira Jean is being left behind. She had plans to leave once – but her lover died in France and with him, her future. The friends light a fire, sing and dance. But with every twirl about the flames, strange new dancers thread between them, music streaming from the trees.

The fae are here.

Suddenly Moira Jean finds herself all alone, her friends spirited away. The iron medal of her lost love, pinned to her dress, protected her from magic.

For the Fae feel forgotten too. Lead by the darkly handsome Lord of the Fae, they are out to make themselves known once more. Moira Jean must enter into a bargain with the Lord to save her friends – and fast, for the longer one spends with the Fae, the less like themselves they are upon return. If Moira Jean cannot save her friends before Beltine, they will be lost forever

✨My Opinion✨

This was an interesting step into a world of Celtic fae mythology. I admit that the setting and time period was hard to nail down at first with only references to “the war” and “the flu” as clues. As someone who isn’t personally familiar with Scotland, everything was so vague. I wish there had been more definitive aspects of the setting and time period in the authors descriptions of clothes and cultural references.

Throughout the first 1/3 of the book was so heavily focused on grief, the bargaining set up, and lore. Quite frankly, I was bored. There wasn’t much going on. By 30% there was no indication if the book was starting to lean toward fantasy romance or just standard fantasy. That’s a long time for me to not understand the tone of the book.

Once the plot settled in and got moving, it was a decent read. But a great drinking game would have been to take a shot every time the main character said her family split up after her father died and she was so alone all the time, because her mom was so busy working.

The LGBTQ rep felt disingenuous and pasted in with no lead up or follow up, which made it feel like it was just to check a box, rather than it being an original plot choice.

The ending was rushed and so one sided that it left glaring questions all over the place and truly had the FMC’s character development backslide. It could have used 50-100 more pages to wrap everything up.


*thank you Magpie, Harper 360 and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

This book actually surprised me. It was well written and I actually grew quite fond of the old Irish folklore and wives tales. The plot was adventurous and had hints of romance, but nothing more than a peck, sadly. The book had hints of ACOTAR under the mountain scenes and was a refreshing unique read I’d would think young adult fantasy readers would enjoy.

My recommendations for this book would be to slow down the plot a little bit, I felt like Moira wasn’t the only crazy person. I also felt crazy and didn’t trust anyone throughout the book because it was difficult to follow with all the bargains and her already busy life. Then there were some parts of the plot that were semi developed but just left open ends - like the owners of the house/village, her old lover, and just lack of depth for the fae world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for this arc.

The Thorns Remain was an absolutely beautiful story. From the rich language to the character building, I was hooked instantly. In truth, I did not have high hopes for this book, but as I continued reading, I felt myself rooting for The Dreamer. Moira Jean was fierce, strong, and quick-witted in her interactions with him and by the end I was left hoping for sequel.

I look forward to reading more from the author!

The Thorns Remain
by J.J.A. Harwood

Pub Date: May 2, 2023

*Thank you to NetGalley, Harper 360 & Magpie for this ARC!*

First things first, the cover of this book is beautiful. Second, if you so much as breathe the genre historical fantasy in my direction, ima come running.

I was eager to dive into this tale of Scottish folklore and am excited to report that it finally got me out of my reading slump! The story was the perfect mix of spooky imagery, wild world building, and a protagonist to root for.

Moira Jean is a young woman who has to navigate life in a small village in the Scottish Highlands after the affects of the war and when the flu is at an all time high. What she doesn’t know, is that the remaining villagers aren’t the only beings present. Her and her friends make the unfortunate mistake of colliding worlds with unknown fae and it’s Moira’s task to save them all or let them be lost forever.

This is the first fae-related book I’ve read in a while where I felt like I encountered true ‘other-worldly’ creatures in a story unlike one I’ve read before. I admire the authors ability to capture visuals that are otherwise impossible for me to describe, nor imagine. Although slow to start, once it picked up it became a fun, creepy, entertaining read that I’m glad I got experience.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

The Thorns Remain has the makings of a great fae story, but unfortunately it falls short. The author does a good job of building the atmosphere with descriptions of the various fae beings, and I really enjoy the setting of the Scottish Highlands post-WWI. Moira Jean is a compelling main character, particularly with regards to her admirable determination to save her friends and neighbors.

However, the pacing feels a bit off, and the story seems as if it’s building to something bigger than what ultimately happens. In addition, it seems to me that the epilogue doesn’t cover nearly enough territory post-climax - there should be a few chapters of wind-down instead. All in all, it feels kind of…flat. I enjoyed it, but it was also a drag at times.

Thank you, Magpie and NetGalley, for the advanced copy of The Thorns Remain.

Let me start by saying that fantasy is not always my cup of tea. It has to really draw me in, and I need a bit of realism in my fantasy. This did that for me. It was well-written, and the characters were well-rounded. The story did seem to drag in certain areas, and I felt that some things were repeated, but overall, it was an enjoyable fantasy read. I am debating whether to add the hardcover to my collection. It is such a beautiful book, and I could see myself re-reading this one.

Moira Jean is our protaganist. She lives in a highland village in 1919 which has been ravaged by war and flu. Her boyfriend being a casualty of war derails her plans of leaving the village. On a night following a day spent working hard in the fields, Moira and her friends decide to have a get-together in the nearby forest. Unbeknownst to the group, the fae are watching and the Lord of the Fae is ready to take the spirits he needs to pay tribute to the Queen. In order to save her friends, Moira Jean must make a deal with the Lord and follow through before the Fae holiday of tribute. With a village against her and only the village outcast truly there for her, will she be able to save her friends or lose them forever?

DNF the first chapter. I thought this book was listed for adults. The language & characters feel younger. I received this eARC from NetGalley for my unbiased review. Thank you.

For the sake of NetGalley, I gave this book a 3 star review since I am torn on how to rate it but have to include a rating in my review. However, I will only be posting my review and not including a star rating on social media, since I am so torn about what to rate this book. I don’t want that to distract my friends and followers from picking this book up.

Review I will be posting on social media:
I’m so torn about how to rate this one. On one hand, I DEVOURED the book from ~20-85%. Once the story started to pick up, I was hooked. As the deals between The Dreamer and Moira Jean started to unfold, I found myself more intrigued about how everything would come together. I was highlighting *so much* in my app, especially The Dreamer’s quotes. And then the ending happened. 😅 And it was fine? I feel like part of the problem with my reading experience is I came into this book thinking it would be like Sarah J Maas/Holly Black/other fae plot lines. And unfortunately (for me), this one reads more along the “traditional” fae plot. That is in *no way* a bad thing, if you know that going in. I feel like if you know it’s going to be the typical fae are “tricksters / can’t understand humans / can’t be trusted” vs my incorrect “tricksters who don’t understand humans but could with the humans help” thoughts, you’ll enjoy this book! The writing style was great. The incorporation of fae folklore was SO interesting. (I had no idea how diverse the fae world was.) I thought Moira Jean was strong and selfless, and I felt for her (until the end.) I loved her heartbreaking backstory. I was just a smidge disappointed with how everything came together. Again, my personal preference! I feel like this book is really enjoyable and could be someone’s new favorite if they enjoy traditional fae / villager loose acquaintance plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I could not finish this book. It was so, so boring. I really wanted to like it, the premise sounded lovely. The cover is also beautiful.

A story about folklore and Fae? Sign me up! This book was refreshing. This isn't a romance, although there is loss and mourning of a loved one. This is simply about old-school Fae messing and bargaining with humans, and I loved it. A wonderful read that I will recommend to young adults, adults, and highschoolers who love folklore and Fae!


From the Publisher
From the Sunday Times bestselling historical fantasy author of THE SHADOW IN THE GLASS comes a tour-de-force of faerie bargains, perfect for fans of THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LA RUE, MEXICAN GOTHIC, and TEN THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARY

A dance with the fae will change everything

1919. In a Highland village forgotten by the world, the young people who remain after war and flu will soon head south to make something of themselves.

Moira Jean and her friends venture to the forest for a last night
of laughter before parting ways. Moira Jean is being left behind. She too planned to leave once – but her lover died in France and, with him, her future. The friends light a fire and dance. But, with every twirl about the flames, strange new dancers thread between them, music streaming from the trees.

The Fae have joined the dance.

Suddenly Moira Jean finds herself all alone, her friends spirited away.

For the Fae feel left behind and forgotten too. Led by the darkly handsome Lord of the Fae, they are out to make themselves known once more. Moira Jean must enter into a bargain with the Lord to save her friends – and fast, for the longer they spend with the Fae, the less like themselves they will be upon return. If Moira Jean cannot save her friends before Beltane, they will be lost forever…

Bewitching, threaded with Highland charm, and sparkling with romance, this fairy tale will carry you away.

Finally, a book about the Fae like I’ve never read before! If you’re looking for a story about a young mortal woman being whisked away into the Fae realm to live happily ever after… this book is not for you.

Historical, Fantasy, dare I say a bit of a thrill? I rather enjoyed our strong main character Moira Jean. This story follows Moria Jean’s life, living in a tiny Highland village in 1919 with dreams of moving onto something bigger. Her dreams were crushed by the death of her fiancée and she is currently in the midst of her grief and trying to keep up with her normal day to day.

Moria Jean and her friends decide to gather around a campfire in the woods after a long days work. A bottle of whisky, and some conversation later they decide to dance… and the Fae join them.

Moria Jean awakes in her bed, and later finds out that her friends never returned from their late night rendezvous and everyone in the village has fake memories. She realizes she’s going to have to do everything in her power to save her friends.

I loved reading a Fae book that was so unlike the others. One thing that threw me off was the “chapters” in this book. They were actually parts and were all very long. It took me a little bit to get into this book because of that, to me it felt like I didn’t have a stopping point in the middle of the parts. I am someone who prefers to stop on chapters, so it took me a while to get through this book because I had to make sure I had uninterrupted time to finish each part. Once I was able to make time to sit and read this part for part without interruptions, I was hooked. I read until my eyes got so tired that I had to stop. The writing was very descriptive, beautiful and it kept me hooked.

I want to say a big Thank You to Netgalley, JJA Harwood and Harper 360 for providing me an ARC of this book.

#booksta #bookstagram #reader #ereader #arcbook #arc #advancedreadercopy #fantasy #historical #romanceish #book #bookworm #arcreader #bookreview #review #netgalley

A fae fantasy for fans of the darker, creepier side of faerie lore.

It’s 1919 and Moira Jean and her mother live in a small community that works together to tend the land and care for a large estate owned by wealthy landlords. During a night of merriment in the nearby forest, Moira Jean and her friends are visited by strange and dangerous creatures. Only Moira Jean returns home. Determined to rescue her friends, Moira Jean faces off with a beautiful and terrifying faerie lord.

Judging by the image on the cover featuring a couple dancing, I did expect this to fall more into the Romantasy subgenre than it actually did. Instead of swooning about romantic prospects, I found myself actually getting a little spooked by the fantastical host of creatures (especially when reading this before bed!) Though this was initially a surprise, it turned out to be a welcomed one.

The early 20th century Scottish Highland setting paired with the various creatures from Under the Hill really worked for me and even reminded me a little of Heather Fawcett’s “Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries” (which happens to be one of my most-loved reads of the year so far!)

The novel also features an exploration of grief and loss and their integral role in the human experience. This made for a tense and sometimes emotional reading experience and I was definitely invested in Moira Jean’s journey. With these kinds of emotional elements at play, I did expect to wallow in a really powerful catharsis at the end of the novel. And while I do think I got a bit of that, I think ultimately it could’ve packed even more of a punch.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Book Name: The Thorn Remains
Author: JJA Harwood

ARC
Thank you to Harper 360 and Netgalley for an ARC of JAA Harwood’s The Thorn Remains

Stars: 4
Spice : NA

Standalone
Slow Paced
Single FMC POV
Low Fantasy Folklore Adventure set in 1919

Similar to the recently published novel “Emily Wildes Encyclopedia of Faire” by Heather Fawcett and "An Enchantment of Ravens" by Margaret Rogerson

- Topics
- Grief & Letting Go
- Folklore & Fae
- Finding Your Place in the World
- Mother Daughter Relationships
- Toxic Relationships
- Tropes
- Miscommunication and Secrets
- Tam Lin “retelling”
- Bargains and Riddles
- One sided love
- Enemies to lovers (ish)
- Thoughts.
- Cozy Vibes (not quiet a cozy fantasy)
- Random Bi Representation (70 ish percent in)
- Pacing Issues
- Not exactly HEA but compelling end

I iked the concept and I really tried to love this book. It felt at times more like reading stage direction than a novel and it was really hard to get into the story.

The Thorns Remain by JJA Harwood, a good telling of almost the classical fey warnings, DON'T TRUST THE FEY!
When things start to go topsy turvy and you are emotionally compromised just remember - DON'T TRUST THE FEY!

Thank you NetGalley as well as the publishers for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I am a sucker for anything with Fae and dark romance so this was perfect for me. It felt more character driven than plot driven, which I personally am a fan of! I highly recommend this.

The things I love about this book- the cover, it being set in Scotland, the Gaelic aspects of it. It just wasn’t what I was expecting. I thought there would be more romance and it was just not for me- she was sad from losing the man she loved and then was dancing around the fire which turned into her having to make bargains with a Lord to save her friends. And it was just an odd story to me, and I just couldn’t get into it unfortunately.