The description is pretty and the characters are well-written. Unfortunately, this book was archived before I could finish reading it, but I hope to come back to it soon!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!!

Flower and Thorn by Rati Mehrotra is a captivating YA fantasy that reimagines 16th-century India with a touch of magic and wonder. The novel’s unique approach to magic—conveyed through enchanted flowers—adds a delightful layer of natural beauty to the story. As a dedicated YA book, it delivers a refreshing change of pace and reignites a love for reading. Mehrotra's storytelling truly captivated me and made this book a standout in the genre.

The main characters in this book kept doing out of character things which got the story out of whack. The main plot twist was clear from a mile away, if not its extent.

Thank you so much for the chance to read an ARC copy of this book before it's publication date.
This book was enjoyable to read, with a unique plot. Looking for more from this author.

3.5/5

I've enjoyed Rati Merohtra's books in the past, and I liked how this reimagined a historical India with magic. I liked the characters and the plot, but the book did struggle to keep my attention fully. I found myself accidentally skimming sections.

"Flower and Thorn" by Rati Mehrotra is a thrilling adventure filled with magic, intrigue, and danger. Irinya's journey as a flower hunter is captivating, and the richly imagined world of the Sultanate adds depth to the story. Mehrotra skillfully weaves together elements of fantasy and politics, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. With its engaging characters and gripping plot, "Flower and Thorn" is a must-read for fans of epic fantasy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Certain flowers have magical properties and only flower hunters can find them in the Rann. Irinya is a flower hunter. Her naivete leads her to betray a friend when she hands over a rare magical spider lily to a handsome stranger, believing he will use it to save the kingdom. To protect her clan and to win back her friend's trust, she will have to find the stranger and make him keep his promises.

Flower and Thorn's magic system is what kept me going even as the story required a fair amount of patience. I was intrigued by the magical flowers and even moreso by Irinya's unexpected gift. The Rann was also an interesting place with the amount of supernatural danger lurking in it. It helped immensely that the writing was descriptive because the vivid depictions of places made it a transportive read.

Patience was needed because the book was slow-moving and Irinya was not the most likeable character (at least not in the beginning). She was naive and the choices she made did not endear her to me. I appreciated her desire for redemption and attempts at saving her clan. Eventually I became invested enough in her journey to stop thinking about the pace, which helped me enjoy the book much more.

This story sounded so unique, and I am so happy I gave it a chance.

It was an absolutely beautifully written world with such a cool plot. And honestly I enjoyed it being a standalone.
We have so many epic fantasy series out lately. And it wa just kind of nice to have a 1 and done story for once.

I absolutely loved Irinya. She was such a well written character, and I found her so relatable at times even too.

This book was paced just right, and offered a good story while staying new and fresh.

Totally a 5 star read for me

I love reading historical fantasy books because I always learn while reading. FLOWER AND THORN is set in the Gujarat Sultanate in early sixteenth-century India at the time of the Portuguese invasion and the beginning of European colonization of the Indian subculture, according to the author Rati Mehrotra. So, while the book is heavy at times, the author used fantasy to ask ‘what if?’ and change the narrative of the past with magic, which I found alluring and to make a fantastic story. Plus, it’s nice to have a satisfying standalone fantasy novel.

I love Mehrotra’s descriptive writing. I could easily visualize the colors, scenes, and each flower in my mind, and the descriptions helped enhance the story for me.

I enjoyed the history mixed in with the fantasy, and for an actual book nerd like me, it was neat to look up things afterward to learn more about what FLOWER AND THORN introduced me to.

Thanks, Wednesday Books and Netgalley, for the arc!

Content warnings: gore, body horror, familial death, grief, misogyny

This was a good YA novel, that I would recommend to those who think it sounds interesting!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

The world building is fantastic. The imagery often leaps from the pages.

Twisting Indian history with magic is an interesting plot line.

The rest of the story didn't capture my attention. I found myself skimming page after page seeking something but never finding it.

Overall, this is a good book, and I can see the appeal for many readers of fantasy and YA.


Thank you for NetGalley and publisher for the eARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.

This YA Fantasy intrigued me with it's beautiful cover, and the fact that it is stand-alone!

Young- Adult Fantasy/ Romantasy.

3.75 stars

I am such a bad reviewer (a retired one lol). I had gotten an eArc of this but didn't get to it until now so I read it on a physical copy.

I've read the author's Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove and had an enjoyable experience so I thought why not pick up her newest release? As like the previous book it took me about two or three chapters to be fully engaged with the story and then after that I was hooked. The author has such rich prose with lovely sentences spilling over the pages. She does not employ the popular short, staccato style of prose which is prevalent in books recently. In essence, this means that while the plot and pacing is not slow, the abundant depth of world building, descriptions, and character development might feel slow to some readers.

The concept of flowers possessing magical powers to cure is awesome. I love this idea and it's one of the things that'll get me to pick up a book. Not to mention that these flowers are sentient and can choose who they want to give their powers to is another nice touch. Also, having a historical fantasy where India is fighting off the invaders and colonizers that are trying to claim their land is a storyline I totally root for.

I wish there had been more scenes with Irinya and her love interest as I wasn't fully convinced by them at the end. Sure, their friendship is very well established and I loved their interactions but that transition from friends to feelings needed a bit more space in the story. In fact, I think Irinya had more scenes with another male character than our main love interest.

Give this a thumbs up for sure.

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-ARC! I will be reviewing and/or showcasing this book on my social media accounts when I can. Thanks again very much appreciated and looking forward to this book!

Rati Mehrotra had my heart in her Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove so I was so happy to hear about her coming out with another standalone fantasy! I can attest once again to her exceptional talent for worldbuilding. In Flower And Thorn, her mastery shines through, as the world she creates feels immersive and thoroughly realized, just as it did in her previous work. This book is set in an alternate history resembling India during Portugal's invasion, where rare, magical flowers possess life-altering capabilities. AND THE FRIENDS TO LOVERS SUBPLOT. I SCREECHHHH. Friends to lovers is actually really growing on me recently. Enemies to lovers who??

I will admit, it was the cover that really sucked me into this book, but the writing and characters kept me engaged, and I ended up enjoying it a lot! So far I've really liked everything I've read by Mehrotra, and I'm excited for whatever they will come out with next.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for granting me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I got about halfway through the book, but it really just was not my thing. It sounded great in theory and the description was pretty interesting, but I couldn't bring myself to get invested in the story, as I did not love the writing style or the main character.

When a book opens with a description of a rotting corpse and continues with an unlikeable protagonist, I don't think it can be saved.

A lush fantasy set in the deserts of India. Irinya is a flower hunter, one who braves the deadly Rann in search of the magical flowers whose proceeds help to keep her people afloat. They are nomads in a dangerous desert, dealing with unscrupulous lenders, and now they also have to worry about India's precarious situation with the Portuguese. When Irinya's hunting partner, Fardan, finds a rare flower that could turn the tide of the war, Irinya makes a choice which will change the course of her life. Along her journey, she will experience betrayal, leave her kul for the first time, meet royalty, and maybe change the world.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read. A desert isn't typically what I would consider the most beautiful of settings, but this one definitely fits the criteria. It's magical and deadly. I love the idea of rare magical flowers, only able to be found by a select group of people. Great worldbuilding. I know little about India's history, so this fantasy rendition was quite interesting. Irinya is a strong female protagonist, but she also makes mistakes and has to learn from them. I enjoyed the romantic subplot and the political intrigue as well. This was a lovely standalone fantasy, though I wouldn't be upset if we ever hear from any of these characters again.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.