It is a hot or miss for me when it comes to Hester Fox. I liked some of her other novels, but this one was a drag in terms of telling, then subject matter.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. The premise of this book sounded excellent but it fell flat. The writing is superb but it tended to drag. Hoping for more from Fox's next book.

Not my favorite Hester Fox book. I think I prefer when she say sticks a bit closer to the gothic. The writing was as gorgeous as is usual for Fox. It took awhile for it to pick up, and I never felt all that invested in the stories of either sister.

The subtitle of The Book of Thorns by Hester Fox reads "an enchanting tale of two sisters connected by magic." However, the story is not really about the sisterhood or the magic. This is a dark story of war, abuse, survival, murder, and vengeance, not a story of sisters united across time and place because of a shared gift. Reader beware: The book also includes some explicit scenes. I walk away, sadly not the reader for this story.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2024/05/the-book-of-thorns.html

Reviewed for NetGalley and a publisher’s blog tour.

The Book of Thorns is the story of two sisters set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars. Cornelia was raised s her uncle's ward. He is a cruel man and is looking to marry her off to an unsuitable suitor. Cornelia doesn't want this for her life and runs away to France. War has broken out and this is not a safe place for a young woman traveling alone with no means of support. A chance meeting as Cornelia is sketching wildflowers enmeshes her as a naturalist in Napoleon's army.

Lijsbeth is an indentured servant with the gift of flower arranging. The flowers literally communicate with her. Lijsbeth is sent to another home as the son of her last placement has an unhealthy interest in her, so the mother sends her away.

I agreed with the message that this book is sending that women throughout history (and even today) have not had agency over themselves or their bodies.

I was hoping more for a story of sisters with a touch of magical realism as they are connected through the magic of flowers. What I found was a boring story that focused on the behind the scenes aspects of war. The romantic aspects were off-kilter with the introduction of a "throuple" with three of the characters.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

Two sisters reunite in the napoleonic era and seek to find the source of their flower magic (the magic is more complicated than that, but that is what it kinda boils down to).

I’ve enjoyed Fox’s works before but this one didn’t reach me in the same way. I didn’t really connect with either sister and wish almost it was separated into parts instead of just back and forth chapters. Or maybe even just one sister.

Amid the battles and horrors of the Napoleonic, two women with a connection to flowers find their histories are intertwined in a way they couldn’t imagine.

Cornelia leaves her cruel uncle's household, and joins the Napoleonic army. As her connection and magic to flowers grows, so does her ability to heal, but she is unsure of what her connection to this secret language of flowers is.

Lijsbeth lives in indentured servitude, subject to abuse and the tyranny of her master. When fate allows her respite and the chance to show her spectacular flower arranging gift, she falls in love with an English soldier. As war forces the two women into contact, it also brings up memories and secrets, and more about the language of flowers that connects them both.

I really loved this latest novel by Hester Fox. It is full of love, pain, horror, whimsy, joy, family, found family, and the secret language of flowers.

There is some triggering content in this book, also listed in the beginning of the book.

I absolutely adored that each chapter begins with a flower and something about its meaning. It was such a clever and creative element that enhanced the story of the two women. I also loved the sort of whimsy that followed each Cornelia and Lijsbeth, despite the pain and horror of the things they lived through.

While each of their stories started as seemingly separate threads, the story so carefully wove their stories together, or arranged them like Lijsbeth's beautiful flower arrangements, until the full power of each woman was able to shine.

I also really loved the quietness of the novel. There is a lot going on, and some of truly horrific, but it is framed within the mundane and everyday, the quiet work of women behind the scenes. While Cornelia is a little more flamboyant in how she lives her life, her life and love is full of quiet moments, mundane moments. And of course, Lijsbeth is a servant, meant to be seen and not heard.

This whole element of the quiet, unsung lives of women, and yet how great their impact is, was a beautiful motif for me in this novel.

I also really appreciated the queer representation and how beautifully Hester Fox added it into the novel. It was a very compelling part of the story, and it was beautiful to see queer joy set so firmly amid the sorrow that both women experience in each of their own stories. And I just really love Henri and Sophie too.

I appreciated how Hester Fox chose to represent war and human suffering. War is so terrible and tragic. There really are no winners in war, and Hester Fox eloquently describes that idea so well.

I really loved and enjoyed this poignant and beautiful novel.

Thank you to Hester Fox and NetGalley for this eARC. My review is my unbiased and honest opinion.

I love how this author can blend historical accuracy, engaging characters and the paranormal together in a rich mix of story that just pulls you in and keeps you interested until the end. The Book of Thorns is no exception.

I was drawn into this book from the very first pages. This tale of two sisters with some very special abilities was so very engaging, even though this is not a time period or setting I would generally gravitate to. So that made this book so special for me, not only did I get to enjoy this story of two women who can communicate with flowers (and the author makes this very fresh and interesting), I learned a bit about Waterloo too.

The story is told in alternating points of view between the two sisters. They are twins, but don't know each other. Not only do they possess a fortitude for survival -- they interact with the plant life around them. The prose is vary smooth and draws you in quickly, which makes it so easy to get immersed in the story. I needed to know what was going to happen next.

I really enjoyed The Book of Thorns. I found it engaging and fresh, romantic and tragic all at the same time. Definitely recommended.

Easy and overall enjoyable read. I believe that the story is somewhat falsely advertised as being about sisters when the sister connection is truly only a subplot of this book. I enjoyed the romances but felt that the handling of the sister’s hardships in life was not well developed enough. I also feel that the commentary about war and men was not well developed and oversimplified. Loved the flower magic!

Review is published on goodreads on May 2nd

Thank you to NetGalley, HTP/Graydon House & Hester Fox for the digital galley of The Book of Thorns in exchange for an honest review.

I am normally a Hester Fox fan, but this one was not my favorite. It wasn’t bad, but it just didn’t really grab me like her previous novels have. I will be rating it down the middle at 3-Stars.

I love the gothic feel to all of Fox’s books and that was lacking in this book. It was also a bit slow for me and hard to keep my interest. It felt like the focus was more on the Napoleonic War than the story of the sisters & their flower language. I definitely wasn’t looking for a war-featured story. Based on the synopsis given for this book – it was just very misleading in making the reader think they were getting one thing, but actually giving another. I kind of feel catfished.

For someone reading it blindly with zero expectations, it might be a better book, but I had lots of expectations for both the author the story I thought I was getting.

This book was just okay. I think I expected a little less magical realism than was in the book, so it through me off while I was reading.

I also could not get invested in the characters no matter how much I tried to. I also found it oddly placed to have had a throuple so casually placed within the story. I don't mind it, but it was not what I expected from a historical fiction.

The flow/pacing/timeline of the book also felt a bit off. One second it's present day and the next it's days or weeks in the future - literally in the next paragraph.

I don't know what I was fully expecting, but this was not it for me.

You're in for a treat with this magical story of two sisters, weaving in history, flowers, war, love. Rich in characters as told by Cornelia, a woman desperate to lead her own life and to get away from an abusive uncle and Lijsbeth an orphan in France during the return of Napoleon. These two women share a gift of flowers and the power they hold unbeknown to each other. Fox delivers a wonderful story and you will feel for Cornelia as she struggles to support herself and Lijsbeth as discovers herself and love. A fascinating tale which I highly recommend.

This story unfolds against the backdrop of 1815, providing a dual POV of two young women entrenched on opposite sides of the Napoleonic Wars. Two sisters separated in childhood, with different upbringings, unaware of each other’s existence.

Cornelia, raised by her unsavory uncle with intentions of arranging her marriage, embarks on a journey to Paris, driven by dreams of a luxurious life as a literary figure and finding her estranged mother. However, her aspirations are put on hold as she finds herself alone and hungry, far away from the prestige and social standing that she’s been accustomed to her whole life. She is discovered by a soldier for her artistic talent and taken to a military camp North of France where she is to document flora, while she secretly embraces her innate naturalist inclinations in healing wounded soldiers.

Lisbeth is a young woman who, at a very young age, was brought from the orphanage by Madame and Monsieur van den Berg to be a companion for their son, Isidore, the playmate who is now a man exploiting her vulnerability. When Lisbeth’s self-defense almost costs Isidore’s life, she is cast from the family to work for Mme. Dubois and her five daughters. Lisbeth has a talent for arranging flowers hence she is tasked with adorning the household for extravagant gatherings aimed at securing matches for Mme. Dubois's daughters.

Both sisters have not only a talent to see the beauty of flowers, but possess a magical way with them. Ultimately, this mystical connection reunites them amidst perilous circumstances after years of separation. Despite enduring hardships and discrimination in a patriarchal society, both women find love in the most unexpected places and are able to not only survive in the given circumstances of war, but find happiness.

It is truly a wonderful book written with the most exquisite artillery of quotes to fawn over. It’s filled with turmoil, loss, and sadness, but with hope and love as well. However, it took me much longer than usual to finish the it, and I had the urge to stop reading it on multiple occasions. It was long and tedious, especially towards the end. Nevertheless, for enthusiasts of historical fiction infused with magic, intricate love triangles (i.e. throuples), and LGBTQ+ themes, this book offers a beautiful journey worth exploring.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Hester Fox and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for this review.

Quotes:

“She has unnerved me, thrown me into that delicious, heartpounding state that comes from meeting someone whose good opinion suddenly means everything.”

“Everywhere Death has tainted the land. Already scavengers have come, while blood is still warm in the bodies of the dead. They pry boots off bodies, inspect medals and sabers.”

“But war can never lead to peace. There is always a loser, and men’s pride will not allow them to go quietly. Besides, what good is peace if all the good men have died?”

“Rocket fire and gun smoke hang in the air, but everyone is making a pretense of keeping busy, pretending that they do not hear the sounds of war. Pretending that all is well.”

“I wonder what it is that makes men so cruel. Surely a bruised ego cannot solely account for such anger? Is it not enough to shed blood and conquer the world, but they must see also see a woman who only ever tried to do good brought to her knees? Their domination must be total, their sovereignty complete.”

“But beware, a garden cannot be planted and expected to thrive if it is not watered. Once declared, you must tend to your love if it is to flourish. And I beg of you, remember you yourself are worthy of your own love, and if a romance cannot blossom without tending, then your own character—nay, even your soul—can likewise not grow without true introspection and the courage to change when circumstances demand it.”

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing for the copy of this book.
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Read if you like: historical/magical realism
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In this book we have two main characters, Cornelia and Lijsbeth, both who are impacted by the Napoleonic Wars. They both have a way with flowers that help bring these two women together.
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I loved the concept for this book and I was completely immersed in the last half, but it was hard to get into and I wish the first part was faster paced. Overall though an interesting read!

Another lovely book from Hester Fox, who is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. This time, the setting is 1815 Europe: amidst Napoleon's escape from Elba, two long-lost sisters are drawn into the fray and united through their affinity for flowers. I found myself wanting to know more about this period of history. The floriography craze that swept Europe at this time was also interesting, and it is a stroke of genius how Fox tied that real-life trend into this magical little book. At times, this story had some parallels to Pride & Prejudice, which was fun to spot. The narrative switches between the perspectives of the two sisters, Cornelia and Lijsbeth, and I was equally fascinated by both storylines. Wanting to see how the two perspectives would come together also kept me engaged. If you enjoy historical fiction with romance and gothic elements, Hester Fox and this book in particular must be on your TBR. I'm happy to report that both the ebook and audiobook for this title are on Hoopla!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Graydon House for the early copy in exchange for my honest review.

I love Hester Fox books they never disappoint me in capturing my attention and my mind into the book she wrote. This book was absolutely enchanting. Regency period with two magically inclined sisters on the opposite sides of the Battle at Waterloo. I loved it!!! I will always by Hester Fox books she is an auto buy for me for good reasons!!!
I just reviewed The Book of Thorns by Hester Fox. #TheBookofThorns #NetGalley
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4 stars

I was initially going to rate this 3.5 stars. But after finishing, I have decided on a full 4 stars. I quite enjoyed it and liked it a lot. There is a good story line and plot. Character building and world building is done well and memorable. I was thinking this was going to be more of a fantasy novel than it turned out to be. I would say a better description of this is historical fiction with some fantasy themes.

There is "magic" in this world. So that counts as fantasy.

Overall, a really good read following two POVs, one for each of the sisters. The author paints a war-torn world where love is found and lost. There is joy, heartache, love, and tears, all in this novel. I would definitely read more from this author, and would recommend this book to others. Very well done! I will likely buy the physical copy for my trophy shelf. ;)

So when I first tried to read this book, the formatting was absolutely horrendous on my ebook (reading via kindle app on ipad and had never experienced anything like it before). I love this author's newer works so I ordered it on principle and will update my goodreads once I have actually been able to read it. Three stars because I will probably end up rating it 4/5 once I've been able to actually read it. I'm not sure if this was a Netgalley issue, a publisher issue, an ebook issue, an ipad issue, or what, but it was really not great,

If you’re a fan of historical fiction and witches, then you have to pick up a book by Hester Fox. I have yet to be disappointed by her incredible storytelling and weaving these two elements together for a seamless and captivating story. As far as historical fiction novels go, Fox continues to deliver an immersive and completely mesmerizing atmosphere. You’re transported to that time period, to that city or town, and you really feel the characters as they navigate their surroundings. In THE BOOK OF THORNS, we get the perspective of two sisters on different sides of the Battle at Waterloo, both possess the same incredible gift, and we are taken on a journey full of heartbreak, betrayal, overcoming adversity, and the lovely addition of flowers and magical realism.

I had really high hopes for this based on the synopsis! Unfortunately, I made it halfway through and could not go on. I did flip to the last two chapters to see how it would end, as I was curious, but not enough to keep reading through the meat of it.

I am not a romance reader. I will just say that up front. This story of two sisters separated and both having a magical touch with flowers was very engaging. When one of the sisters' story became entwined in multiple love interests at the same time, I could not keep going. I was barely hanging on with one of the relationships at a time, but when it felt like it was becoming a 3 way, it went out of my range.

If romance is a fun genre for you and multiple partners is not a turn off, by all means, grab this historical fiction/fantasy and enjoy! This was just not the right book for me.

I did enjoy her last book, so I am still curious to see what comes next for Hester Fox!