3.5/5 rounded up

Any author that can write a fulfilling standalone automatically gets brownie points in my book. It was so easy to get swept up in Mehrotra's lush world, and I love the way flowers are incorporated to bestow powers unto the characrers, primarily Irinya. These flowers not only bestow a boon upon those that drink the tinctures they are made from, but they also come at a cost. This uniqueness is something that I really enjoyed! I would love to come back to this world that Mehrotra has created.

Irinya had a lot of growth from the beginning of the book towards the end, and it was much needed. She went from a girl clueless of the world around her, to being brave and determined to make things right. I did not agree with a lot of the decisions she made, but once she realized she messed up, she stopped at nothing to make them right. One of the cons (but also a pro in a way) with her as a character was her quickness to speak up. In some situations she speaks up, especially in that where she is trying to hide her identity, it got her into much more trouble than she initially bargained for. However, this was needed in order for her to learn how things are in the world she lives in. I can't fault her too much for this, but there is a right and a wrong time to speak up. The instalove attraction with another character at first, and believing every word he said, seemed a bit of a stretch too. Fardan has much more patience with Irinya reciprocating his feelings than I ever could.

I do hope that Rati Mehrotra decides to come back to this world. It was lush, magical, and dripping with beauty. I will definitely be keeping this author on my radar.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

Overall: Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rep: found family, friends to lovers

Thoughts
Neutral thoughts:
I thought that this one was okay. I've read Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove and I prefer that one over this story. But the lore in this one about all of the flowers? I LOVED, it was so good! But the overall plot I was not invested in and I unfortunately found myself checking out of the story multiple times and having to skim/reread sections 😭

But I would still recommend to give this one a try! The writing is super easy to read and it really is fast paced.

Travel to India in this fantasy novel by Mehrotra. Join Iriyna, a flower-hunter, as she attempts to save her kul, family, and nation. Iriyna has grown up in the salt flats of the Rann and knows the magical powers of flowers, but a great debt leads to an even more challenging life. That is until a nobleman comes to visit with an idea to form a cooperative, allowing flower hunters across the Rann to name the price for flowers. Iriyna gives the man a precious silver lily which promises power and the ability of the user to save the nation. This seems like a great plan until the man does not return. Iriyna embarks on a journey to discover what happened to the man and the silver lily.
Mehrotra brings everything a reader could want strong female leads, magic, love, suspense, fighting, deception/betrayal, and friendship. The magic and beauty of the flowers and landscape transport you into the land of the novel.

DNF. I really liked the premise but the writing did not work for me at all. It wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished reading and gave it a low rating.

Flower & Thorn is a clean, exciting, high stakes YA fantasy book. It’s more like magical realism meets revisionist history, rather than a full fantasy, as the magic elements are low. Content wise, it is fully appropriate for the age group it’s advertised for!

As always with YA books, I look at content and themes first. Content wise, other than one kiss and a little violence, we are a-okay. Zero language to contend with. For themes you’ve got staying humble, keeping your promises, and controlling what you can in the present instead of being wrapped up in the future.

The book is set in 16th century India and complete with real historical figures. Mehrotra added magical flowers, Indian legends, and one heroine willing to go to any length to recover what was stolen from her village. I love the hints of magic, strong women, and community. I also love all the Indian food and culture than RM brings into her books, it’s just not something I read a lot of so it’s interesting!

As cultures clash with the invading Portuguese and between rural and urban in changing times, it was fun to see the main character get deeper and deeper in with the crazy (but handsome) Wizer and the court intrigue. She was in over her head but did a great job keeping cool and using her brain in lethal, high pressure situations. I always like Mehrotra’s characters too. Here we have a strong young women who make mistakes but come back stronger, and one hopeless flirt who is a lot more patient than I would be 🤣

I totally recommend Flower and Thorn for people who like fast paced YA fantasy with high stakes set in a different country.

Thanks for checking out my early book review of Flower and Thorn by Rati Mehrotra! I received a digital advanced copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and as always, all opinions are my own ♥️

"Flower and Thorn" by Rati Mehrotra is a fantasy novel with a promising premise that ultimately falls somewhat short of its potential. While the story has moments of intrigue and adventure, it struggles to fully captivate the reader.

The world-building in the book is interesting, with a desert setting and a focus on magical flowers. The concept of flower hunting and the mysterious mist of the Rann salt flats are captivating elements that initially drew me into the story. Irinya, the protagonist, is a likable character with a strong desire to find her missing mother and improve her life through flower hunting. Her determination is admirable, and her relationship with her childhood friend adds depth to the narrative.

However, the plot suffers from a lack of consistent pacing. The story starts off well with the discovery of the priceless silver spider lily, but it loses momentum as Irinya is tricked by an imposter. The journey to recover the flower feels somewhat disjointed, and there are moments where the plot meanders, making it challenging to stay fully engaged.

Additionally, some of the character motivations and actions are not always clear or well-developed. Irinya's decision-making, in particular, at times feels inconsistent with her established character traits.

Despite these shortcomings, there are aspects of "Flower and Thorn" that shine. The world-building, while not fully realized, has potential, and the magical elements are intriguing. Irinya's quest to mend the broken heart of her childhood friend adds an emotional layer to the story, and the themes of loyalty and determination are commendable.

In conclusion, "Flower and Thorn" by Rati Mehrotra is a fantasy novel with an interesting premise that may appeal to readers who enjoy stories with magical elements and desert settings. While it has its moments of charm, the inconsistent pacing and character development prevent it from reaching its full potential. It's a decent read for those looking for a light fantasy adventure, but it falls short of earning a higher rating.

*Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honesty review!*
Posted to: NetGalley, Goodreads, and The StoryGraph
Posted on: 15 September 2023

3.4 (rounded down to 3) out of 5 stars.

This wasn’t a favorite read of mine. I don’t know if it just caught me in a slump or what, but I found myself not really enjoying this as much as I thought I would- and I kinda hate that! ‘Flower and Thorn’ has such an interesting idea. I love the magical flowers theme where each flower has a different property to them (healing, manipulating, etc) but I kind of wish the more vague ones were explained more? Or maybe I just missed it, but like the silver spider lily has the ability to win wars but how? We know jasmine heals and we see our main character make a tincture with it. Hibiscus controls yet the petal of the bluestar counters it- so how does the spider lily work? Or is it just something that *is* and we as readers have to just go with it?
I’m definitely asking for more here than what I normally would, but when it plays a huge part of the story, I’d like a bit more understanding behind it. Like the lotus too- beyond it being rare and ‘must never be found’, we don’t really understand much about it either (though for this one, that’s kind of the point I guess?)

The characters were… they were okay. I found Irinya to contradict herself a lot. She’d say or believe one thing, but easily do the opposite. The kickoff to everything was also just- unbelievable? I won’t ruin too much, but it does happen within the first few chapters. I just found Irinya’s decisions to be very annoying sometimes. She does grow to be a bit better, kind of learning after betrayals and all, but there’s still moments enough that made me put the book down. The other characters also fell a little flat to me. I guess I wanted to see more interactions that helped sway and make each other? Some of the characters felt like they were there just for the sake of pushing the story along, which happens! It doesn’t make them *bad* characters, just left me wanting more from them somehow.

It’s never really explained why Irinya can talk to flowers/hear them. I would’ve loved that aspect to play more into the story actually as *that* was also interesting. The dialogue tags got a bit repetitive. I specifically wrote ‘this girl wants to shout a lot- let👏🏼her👏🏼shout👏🏼’ in my review notes if that says anything. There was more tell not show when it came to the speaking side of the story. That’s where characters lacked I think, or where it just became a little repetitive to me.

All in all, it sounds like I’m trashing this story but it’s pretty okay! I really just think it caught me in a bad slump between reads and that’s where my over-criticalness of it stemmed. I don’t really see myself re-reading this, but I’m grateful nonetheless for the opportunity to read and review it. I think it’s a fine read, and I just wish I could’ve loved it more.

I very much enjoyed how unique and creative Flower and Thorn is! The writing, plot, and characters are all beautifully written. I did not want to put this one down, and finished it within one day!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for this advanced copy! You can pick up Flower and Thorn on October 17, 2023.

What a beautiful, immersive world. Rati Mehrotra crafted a stunning story in a setting that felt so real (likely because it features actual locations in world history, with a magical twist). From the Rann to the cities of the sultanate, every moment felt visceral and transportive. The world in this book sucked me in from the beginning, but Irinya's trials kept me riveted throughout.

I loved her growth throughout the story. Irinya was relatable from beginning to end, as we watched her naively trust a stranger, leave her family to fix her mistakes, and return with new perspectives but with the same heart and spirit. Her mistakes and triumphs propelled the story spectacularly, and her relationships with other characters incited so many emotions within me.

Especially when it comes to the wazir. I loved Fardan from the beginning, but throughout the book, I went back and forth on my feelings for the wazir. Could we trust him? Was his kindness real or contrived? How could he care about Irinya's fate but not the sultana? I'm glad Irinya came to a decision about him by the end of the story, but her struggle to place him into a hero/villain box added so much depth to her and the wazir's characters. In real life, people are rarely purely one or the other, and the same goes (mostly) for the wazir.

And, of course, this magic system was unbelievably cool. The flowers and their different purposes were so fascinating, as was the power dynamic for flower hunters in this world. I'm glad this story wrapped up so neatly as a standalone novel, but I could read so many more books about how the flower hunters and kuls fare after the ending.

All in all, an incredible, diverse, immersive YA historical fantasy. Don't hesitate to pick up Flower and Thorn this October!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

True rating: 4.5 stars

Flower and Thorn follows Irinya, a young flower hunter who must leave her nomadic family in search of a magical flower a stranger took after tricking her. The story spans the dangers of the desert, jungle, and city Irinya must traverse to reclaim the flower that could not only change her peoples' lives, but the lives of all of India.

I highly recommend if any of these key points and tropes sound interesting to you!
🌹Standalone fantasy
🪷 Alternate history -> India during Portugal's invasion but where flowers are rare, magical things that can change a person's life
🌹High stakes
🪷 Power hungry & morally grey villains
🌹 Beautiful imagery of the various places our MC goes
🪷 Friends to lovers subplot

Rati Mehrotra has created another lush standalone fantasy. If you're looking for standalones, I 100% recommend both Flower and Thorn and her previous work, Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove. Though I have to say, I liked Flower and Thorn a little bit more!

I loved the settings described in this story, and how our characters travels went. The stakes felt high, the characters' ambitions and goals felt important, and the twists (especially the political ones) were amazingly written.

I love how the story ended, though I did have some lingering questions that the author seemed to hint there would be answers to that we never truly got. Our MC has a different connection to flowers (and animals) than other flower hunters, and early in the book it seemed that our character was going to discover more about this but it just never happened. Our main character, while I rooted for her, aggravated me a bit sometimes because she would say things she knew she shouldn't- and likely wouldn't have gotten away with in those situations. It was frustrating sometimes, and other times I liked her outspokenness. It was a mixed bag. I loved the romance sub-plot and how it played out, I thought it was incredibly sweet and had me kicking my feet towards the end.

The representation of women in power was also a plus for this story. The way the politics of the story wrapped up couldn't have gone better. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more by this author.

A flower hunter discovers a rare species in the dessert like land she inhabits with her people but when a wealthy merchant from an outisde city visits them and the flower dissapears- Irinya finds herself on a much more dangerous mission involving politics, shifting alliances and the desires of her own heart.

A well written YA standalone, Flower and Thorn easily mixes south Asian culture, magic and romance in this story about a young woman learning to survive on her own. Irinya is resourceful and determined, an easy character to root for and her journey through Ahmedabad serves as a perfect backdrop for the political tensions and colonial history that forms he root of the story.

YO.

This book had me enthralled. I was torn between a 4 and a 5-star rating, we'll just say 4.5 yeah? But seriously, it's been a hot minute since a book has completely sucked me into its world and I gladly let myself be taken. This was just so fun to read. I feel like it did a really good job of veering off the beaten path, so many books have the same scenes done over and over but this was surprisingly fresh and took me for a total ride through its various twists and turns.

I'll try to go through this with only light spoilers and will make sure to mark those :)

The Good:
Our main girl Irinya- LOVE HER. Dude, the author did an awesome job with this character, she was real, she was flawed, I wanted to shake her at the beginning when she plucked that flower and by the end, I wanted to take her to a spa day and split a pizookie with her (that girl deserved an entire month to chill after that fiasco). And can we talk about how her entire inner monologue wasn't focused on obsessing over guys??? Like, she found Kavi attractive and admittedly did make a stupid decision but not based on some insta-love for him but rather because she really believed that in doing so it would save her kul- not to mention the war with the Portuguese. She was always focused on the bigger picture, the politics over her own feelings or thoughts which was so refreshing. Also her humor?? Love it. Understated, some of her funniest lines were said in her own head. And- SLIGHT SPOILER I would say don't read this if you haven't read it yet, not because it's a big plot point but because there's nothing like reading it unexpectedly in the book trust me **** holy guacamole guys when she saw Deven again and legit yeeted her boots at his face I lost it dude, that was truly a gift to read, thank you Mehrotra ********


Another thing, that made me want to shout with joy: her relationship with Imshan Khan. I will admit, I did have mixed feelings about the ending but one thing I was SUPER relieved for was that Mehrotra did not romanticize toxic relationships or manipulation. I love good morally grey characters, even love them as a character's love interest but nothing kills a book so thoroughly as setting up a character with another that is toxic and play it off as them just being "morally grey". Just no. So, I thoroughly enjoyed Irinya calling him out on all his crap.

All the wonderful female characters. Bholi Masi, the Sultana, Miraben, Tarana, fantastic. All the characters were super well written tbh.

Vereena.

The SETTING. I thought I wouldn't like it at first because I'm alwasy just kinda eh to books that are based with real life places but I quickly forgot that with this book because the setting was so much more. The magic flower thing was so cool, I loved all the differences with the cultures, like the fancy city folk scoffing at the idea of Chir Batti when the locals all know better.

I could go on and on honestly. But I'll move on.

The Eh;
The ending. Don't get me wrong, I still loved it. Like I LOVED it but....it kind of wrapped up in maybe too perfect a bow? Maybe I'm becoming heartless but I like messy endings. SPOILER COMING UP HERE ********* I have to admit, I was kinda hoping for a Imshan redemption. I really liked him at first-obviously by the end that was toast- but if Mehrotra ever wanted to write another series where Imshan suceeded with his flower (maybe he did end up in an alternate timeline after all) and he goes back in time and has to deal with the repercussions of his actions, both good and bad, and ends up becoming a better person in the end... I would be first in line to read it. Just saying.

The romance. I mean, they were cute but honestly I think I would have preferred if they stayed friends.


Some last minute warnings:
- some violence (most sword fighting, some poison dart situations, also an execution that's pretty awful but not described too graphically)
- fairly clean with the romance only some suggestive language and kissing

Just go read it :) it's a good book to lose yourself over

I read this one in one sitting on a plane and I ADORED IT.
An absolutely unique magic system where flowers are magic that can both heal and kill, and a girl determined to protect those she loves from being taken advantage of by those who only want power.
Also, PORTAL MAGIC and the cutest love story ever. 10/10.

I received an advance copy from the publisher, all opinions are my own and a review was not required.

In the 16th century in the Indian state of Gujarat, seventeen-year-old Irinya Dewa is one of the best flower hunters of her nomadic tribe. She and the other flower hunters, including her longtime best friend, Fardan, brave the Rann salt flats in the Kutch desert to bring back magical jasmine, sunflowers, roses and more. The tribe give the flowers to the middleman who offers them just enough money so the tribe can get by, but the businessman always seems to be demanding more from Irinya and the others.

One day Irinya and Fardan venture in the desert and see a foreign man dead in the sand. In his hand he holds a bluestar, although Irinya and Fardan can’t believe he managed to find the rare flower. That discovery is the first of many that Irinya and Fardan make, the most notable being that of Kavi Kampilya who says he represents the high government of Gujarat and wants to make life better for the tribes and the flower hunters.

Irinya is enamored with Kavi who reciprocates her attention. Despite Fardan glowering in the corner, Irinya believes Kavi’s promises. She breaks an important one of her own when she shows Kavi the location of the rare spider lily flower, and when it, as well as Kavi, go missing Irinya realizes she’s made a terrible mistake.

Her determination to get the spider lily back will take Irinya far from the desert into the city and the governmental seat of Gujarat where talk of war with the Portuguese is everywhere. As Irinya follows leads to find Kavi, she realizes the fate of all flower hunters might be the key to saving India from foreign invaders once and for all.

Author Rati Mehrotra does an admirable job balancing a clearly Indian story with a narrative that makes it accessible to all audiences. While the book drags in some scenes, and Irinya’s fixation on her missing mother can get tedious, for the most part the novel is delightful. The roundabout history lesson readers will get about how the Portuguese invaded India and plundered it of its natural resources is worth the read.

This book was absolutely captivating from the very first chapter. I was shocked, honestly because I don’t usually get THAT involved. Loved!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked the world building in this book. But I admit that it wasn't for me. It was overly descriptive sometimes and it took me out of the book.

4/5 ⭐️
I think this book is great for anyone who like Spice Road but more specifically, the classic tales from 1001 Nights. The way the story was told felt more akin to how classic folk tales and fairytales are told than a traditional story arc, but it added to the experience.
This story I believe is inspired by or takes places in 1600s India (sorry I’m sadly not well versed in Eastern history as I should be), but it adds in this magical element with the flowers, making it into a fantasy alternative history. We watch as the main character rights her wrong by going on this fairytale like quest. There’s women empowerment in this story and a slight love triangle that reminded me a little of Mal and the Darkling. But there was also elements when it came to the court politics that reminded me of House of the Dragon.
I will say the first third to half was a little slow. I think it really started picking up after she meets the morally grey wazir.
Overall, I’m definitely going to be recommending this story to any fan of a classic fairytale/folktale but want it in long, novel form.
Thank you to NetGalley & Wednesday Publishing for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

This book has such a great setting, and the magic system is excellent! Set in 16th century India, it ponders what could have happened if there were magical flowers that could have saved India from colonization. I loved the magic system around the flowers, mystical items that were dangerous to harvest and find, with a nursery rhyme-type poem that warns of their abilities and dangers! The setting and magic system were so immersive that I really loved the story, even though the characters fell flat at times. I wish she would have fleshed out the characters more. There were a few instances with the characters that were instrumental to the plot but felt very rushed. But overall, it was an immersive read that I really enjoyed! I love Rati Mehrotra's standalone fantasy novels and can't wait to see what she writes next!

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Flower and Thorn is the beautiful and riveting tale of the flower hunter Irinya. Irinya has always wanted to be a flower hunter and is faced with an impossible choice when her best friend finds a rare and valuable flower. A government impersonator promises to use the power of the flower to save lives, but he tricks Irinya into parting with it. Devastated, the only way she can make it right is to track this man down and recover the flower. Will Irinya find the flower in time and be able to save her people?

Flower and Thorn is filled with gorgeous prose and sensory details that will make the reader feel they are right there with Irinya. The storytelling feels timeless and classic. Irinya is a wonderful heroine who is fierce, loyal, and possesses intricate knowledge of flower magic. The flower magic system was very creative and detailed. Flowers provide power and all have different uses, which forces Irinya to choose what and who is most important to her. Irinya must disguise herself and her purpose to find her way back to the flower that could change the fate of a kingdom. Readers who seek excellent magic systems, friends to lovers, and beautiful prose will love this book. I’m looking forward to what Rati Mehrotra writes next!

Thank you so much to Rati Mehrotra, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc

Flower and Thorn has instantly become one of my favorite books of the year. The imagery, the plot, the characters---all of it---astounding. I couldn't stop reading and I finished this book in a day. It's a slow-burn, but I needed to know what was going to happen. I was HOOKED!