I tore through this. Amber Hamilton’s new YA romtasy is her debut novel and is incredibly fast paced. It’s set up with some of my favourite pulpy romance tropes and offers all the romtansy favourites.

It’s structured around a week that makes up the titular seven deadly thorns as our MMC Roze is tasked to assassinate our FMC Viola. With a school setting, fake dating and secrets galore, this incredibly fast paced novel offers a breakneck pace through the best hits of Romantasy tropes. A sort of Snow White and the Huntsman retelling, complete with hearts in boxes and references to The Brothers Grimm.

It’s overall a fun time, but its pacing is so fast paced I didn’t full gauge the ending and I do think I probably missed something’s in all of the action.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for the ARC. My review is reflective of my own opinions.

This was an intriguing read - a mix up of Snow White vibes with the Huntsman, poison and a cute fairytale-esq interlude section every now and then, with dark-academia elements (although the school aspect is more of a setting and we don't learn much about it), and forbidden romance.

Whereas I did like the pairing between Roze and Viola, I did find parts of the novel happened rather aburptly. Without spoiling it, I would have enjoyed seeing the Kole situation play out slightly differently - I think he got the short straw and what happened to him was convient to allow the development between Roze and Viola. But perhaps, I just like angst, and lots of character drama, and other readers will enjoy this neat tie up of conflicts. I think readers in particular will appreciate the twists and slow world development.

I liked the secret societies and political intrigue - hopefully in book two we will see more of the secondary characters, because there were a few I quite enjoyed! Please give me more Waffles - a cute little gargoyle that gave me angry pug vibes!

I think it's important to remember that the characters are young adults, so the enemies to lovers aspect will be more school drama, and angst, although, saying that, Roze is a delicious protaginist who has quite a few touch her and die moments!

As always, my opinions are simply that, and shouldn't dissuade you from giving this book a try, especially if you like slow-burn enemies to lovers and plots that follow neatly from a to b to c. I'm not surprised to see that this book has received high ratings; this very well may be your next five star read!

This gave me real Harry Potter vibes, maybe there’s a lot of dramione fan fiction around at the moment but I did get real elements of Hogwarts etc. too. It was an enjoyable read, but I really wanted more world building to understand the houses and school more. Overall there was some really good atmosphere, and I was invested in the plot but it the world building needed amping up a tad. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc

I loved this book, the plot hooks you instantly and builds the instant connection with both lead characters. Structurally, this book differs from other fantasies and doesn’t have an extended exposition of world building, this is naturally introduced as you read which means that as a reader you are constantly engaging with the world. Whilst the enemies to lovers was clear from the beginning, the added tension of his ‘curse’ separates this book from others in a busy genre. The inspiration from classic fairytales roots this book in nostalgia.

The only thing that lets it down is the ending seems rushed in comparison to the rest of the book. The final version of the queen seems out of place and the epilogue leaves the reader wanting more detail!

Fantastic read, will absolutely be recommending!

4.5 🌟 thank you to netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this early. was amazing story. really enjoyed the universe and the plot. loved the characters and I hope to read more from this author in this series 🙏

I was OBSESSED with this book. I read it in one sitting. I don’t know what the author has put in it but I couldn’t put it down. I originally wasn’t sure when I read that it was another forced marriage trope but about 10% in it was clear that this was not just the same as other Romantasy.

The relationship between Roza and Viola is gorgeous and I especially love Roza as a character, he’s dark and charming and rude. My only gripe would be that he’s blonde, but personal preference.

I really enjoyed the setting, it was very easy to visualise!

One of my favourite books I’ve read this year I think.

I went into this book blind. I had skimmed a few reviews, and seen the painted covers, and thought the concept was really cool.

The story is told from the perspective of Viola Sinclair, a girl with a big secret. In a kingdom where magic is outlawed and punishable by death, she fights to keep her own magic a secret from everyone. But when the Queen learns of Viola’s magic, she tasks her personal assassin with killing Viola.

Enter Roze Roquelart, the dark prince and assassin. What should have been an easy task for him, ends up more complicated than anyone could have imagined. When he discovers that Viola, and her magic, might be more useful than he thought, he does everything in his power to try and spare her life.

It felt like reading a Snow White inspired Throne of Glass, with a sprinkle of dark academia. There might be better comparisons, but I will be the first to admit I’m not well-read in the genre!

The FMC, Viola, is a layered character. Very intelligent and complex, with a murky and troubled history. I can imagine having to hide who you truly are from so many people, all the time, would be exhausting and terrifying.

The MMC, Roze, is a morally grey individual that has more to him than meets the eye. As the plot continues, we get to see more of his driving factors and personality.

I truly wish there were more elements of world-building, including the academia parts. Maybe it was just me, but I didn’t fully understand how the houses worked. I think there was also only one scene where they were in class, which is strange because the story mainly takes place over a seven day period. If there were more scenes, I can’t recall them!

I loved the supporting characters, Saint Waffles is amazing and I wish I could have my own pet gargoyle!

The ending felt a little rushed and random, but on reflection, it does make sense. I hope that there will be future books that explore the side characters, or even the future of the main characters.

If you enjoy TOG, Snow White and any of the below tropes I think you’d really like this book!

- fake engagement
- forced proximity
- enemies to lovers
- dark academia vibes

*Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) | Bloomsbury YA for providing me with this ebook in exchange for an honest review*

This book had me hooked even from the dedication page. Seven deadly thorns is a new fave absolute forbidden fruit for me and I can't even begin to describe how much I loved it. Every character was beautifully stitched into a canvas of dreadful adventures that blew my mind away. Aside of the amazing world building I was feeling Saint Waffle's wrath, and Roze's vulnerability. I loved every page, every dialogue tag. I mean, EVERYTHING!
If you skip this book you're missing out!

PS NetGalley, I would highly suggest to add more stars to your rating system, because I'd rate Seven Deadly Thorns, Seven Deadly Stars.

This book is a wonderful combination of tension, magic and mystery and definitely gives One Dark Window x Arcana Academy vibes - the atmosphere is gothic and dark and I do love an academy-set fantasy!

Twists and turns that I didn’t expect had me NEEDING to know what happened next!

Viola is a wonderful character, strong willed yet with her own darkness and secrets that haunt her steps🖤 I loved her internal struggles and how she learns to accept every part of herself!

Roze was such a complicated character, and I loved how he and Viola have to work together, yet bicker at least 90% of the time! They really push each other to their limits, in more ways than one!

Fake engagement, murder, forbidden magic and political intrigue, this was honestly amazing!! I can’t wait until this is out in the world and I feel so honoured to have had the opportunity to read this early

If you're drawn to moody campuses, forbidden magic, and slow-burn tension that simmers just beneath the surface, Seven Deadly Thorns will absolutely ensnare you. Amber Hamilton weaves a haunting tale of love, secrets, and inner monsters both literal and emotional that doesn’t just invite you in; it drags you down the ivy-covered halls and dares you to stay.

The characters are flawed, complex, and magnetic especially the brooding love interest (yes, that one). The romance is steeped in longing, but what really sets this book apart is the rich academic backdrop laced with shadows and thorns, where knowledge is power and every truth has a price.

It’s not just a read it’s a vibe. And it lingers long after the final page.

Highly recommend if you love:

Enemies-to-lovers tension

Dark magic systems

Academic settings with a gothic twist

Emotional stakes that hurt so good

Seven Deadly Thorns is a Snow White retelling with a precious little gargoyle (all hail Saint Waffles). I love the ‘he is hunting her but they fall in love’ trope, so i knew i would fall head first for this book.

The writing style was lovely and it was definitely fast paced, something was always happening and I found it hard to put down. I really enjoyed the academic setting but I wish there was a little more world-building to fully flesh things out and to help the reader feel more immersed in the world.

I liked the side characters, particularly Ed, he provided great comic relief. The mystery was intriguing, and I loved the slooooow burn romance. We know Viola and Roze have a long history of school yard bullying and general hatred of each other, but as we don’t really see this on the page you have to remember this as the reader for the enemies-to-lovers element to seem believable.

I am a sucker for anything enemies-to-lovers, dark academia, forced proximity and fake relationship, so I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The fact that the whole book took place over only 7 days made for a fast-paced read with lots of adventure, intrigue, and secrets.

Overall the author has done a great job with this book and I am excited to see what happens in book 2.

Thank you Bloomsbury and Amber Hamilton for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I loved this book! I was hooked from the very first interaction between Roze and Viola. Their chemistry felt so charged, the perfect slow burn. Roze takes 'i'd kill for her' seriously!

-Enemies to lovers
-Magic & Mysteries
-Slow burn
-Forced proximity
-Secret societies
-Fake engagement
-Strong & Smart FMC
-Dark academia
-Badass (but adorable) pet Gargoyle - Waffles!!

I would have liked more on the Grimmstone's, especially with how things were left with them, so I'm hoping for book 2! Ed provided great comedic relief.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury for the ARC.

The best way can describe this is if a Dramione fanfic had a child with Snow White. This read was reminiscent of new releases like Rose in Chains or the Irresistible Urge to Fall for your Enemy, but with a new twist of a Snow White retelling, magic, secret societies, and next level yearning. The MMC is, in all essence, Draco Malfoy mixed with Jacks from Once Upon a Broken Heart; he is cursed making his touch and kiss deadly, and is very much so Enemies to Lovers assassin turned soft for good girl. The FMC is Hermione with a touch of shadow daddy powers, sort of giving Marie from Gen V, haunted by her powers and the damage they can do.

The kingdom is dying due to this poisonous mist, barley being held back by magical wards, and the evil queen is hunting down all magic wielders to confine it to the upper class; similar to Powerless. The Mist is sort of like the Mist in From Blood and Ash, or maybe the horror movie The Mist. All of these moving parts in this story, with the Dramione undertones, the magic systems in place, and the SLOW burn enemies to reluctant allies to lovers makes for a completely unique and engaging story.

Amber Hamilton's «Seven Deadly Thorns» came to me via NetGalley and Bloomsbury as an advance copy (eARC), for which I am grateful. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and mine alone.

The book is presented as a dark academia story with many secrets, betrayals, and a pet gargoyle (the gargoyle was a big draw, I won't lie). All of this makes for an addictive retelling of Snow White with a lot of potential. However, I don't think it managed to live up to expectations.

Viola is one of the brightest students at the Academy, but she has a secret that is punishable by death: she has shadow magic. When the Queen discovers this, she sends her Hunter, who is also the prince, to eliminate the threat in just seven days. To ensure that he complies, she tattoos him with a rose with seven thorns that will disappear with each passing day. If he fails in his mission, not only will the last thorn fall, but so will the prince. This sets in motion a story full of political intrigue where absolutely no one is what they seem.

I usually start my review by commenting on the characters, but I think this book demands that I begin by discussing time. The entire story unfolds over seven days, and the author conveys a sense of urgency, as there are many secrets to reveal and much trust to build within a short time. This is both a strength and a weakness of the story. The sense of urgency means that there is never a dull moment; something is always happening. However, for this very reason, some elements remain very superficial. I will explain the elements for this last point throughout the review.

The protagonist, Viola, possesses the strength that comes from knowing she is intelligent; however, she also has a problematic past that remains very present. She is capable of putting even the most feared student in their place. Although she has a strict moral code, she is not a flat character or one who fits into a single category. She is a complex protagonist with many facets that are revealed as the story progresses. In addition, she is constantly struggling with her magic. Not only is it forbidden, but it has proven to be deadly. This creates an endless tug-of-war between fear and the “usefulness” of her magic, which can be tedious to read. Given the limited (internal) time, I think this, rather than adding to the complexity of the character, hinders her development.

Roze — the love interest, prince, and Hunter — is, as is usual in this type of book, a tortured protagonist with many secrets and a complex past. However, unlike other stories, his first encounter with Viola, as narrated in the book, shows him to be vulnerable and imperfect. He is another character with power, but with limitations that are evident from the start. There is one specific aspect of this character that I would have liked to see changed. Still, the author favored the trope of the “experienced male protagonist” instead of the originality of two teenagers discovering each other (which, in my opinion, was much more consistent not only with the character but also with the comments of some secondary characters).

Developing a romantic relationship in seven days, where you also have to build trust from scratch, is complicated, to say the least. However, I think the author did well. There are moments of tension, doubt, complicity, and admiration for one another that give way to greater depth in the relationship. Are there some scenes that seem rushed? Yes (I refer to one of the final revelations whose resolution was instantaneous). There are also questions such as “was it really hatred or masked love?”, which are not very consistent with the premise.

The setting is clear: an academy with dark elements in a kingdom surrounded by a deadly fog. The world-building, on the other hand, is not so clear. And here is my main reason for my rating: I find the world confusing and, at times, incoherent. I don't feel that the author gives all the details that explain some of the events (including the ending). Yes, in retrospect, I see the clues, but I don't think they are enough to justify the conclusion. Additionally, many of the motivations based on elements of the world that seem far-fetched aren’t clear to me. Some scenes are more convenient and a bit forced into the world than coherent, leading to a dump of information that would have been better to discover little by little.

Now, those plot twists should be illegal. If you're looking to read for the vibes, this is the perfect book because it delivers excitement in spades. I can guarantee you are not going to see many of them coming.

Finally, I wanted to highlight something that I found particularly positive. This is a book that will both engage and entertain you, and its simple writing style is a testament to that. However, some phrases make you think beyond the story of the book. All the characters are gray, which makes you question what makes something right or wrong; it highlights the importance of perspective. In the end, we are all villains in someone's story.

This is a book like its protagonists, with potential but imperfect. If you're looking for an addictive story, this is the book for you. You'll enjoy it and devour it, but remember not to overthink it. It's all about the vibes.

A very unusual version of Snow White - no dwarves and Snow White is a prince called Roze who also turns out to be known as the Huntsman who very touch is poison. Set in an alternate world based on the medieval Spanish kingdoms of Aragon and Castile, Roze must face his mother, the evil Queen to protect Viola, a brilliant student at the Vandenberghe Academy who has dark and forbidden secrets of her one. No one is who they appear to be in this alternative version of the fairytale. I hope there is more to come in a follow up installment!

This is a fantasy Snow White retelling and I couldn’t not put it down! Read in just under 24 hours and I loved everything about it!
It’s hard to do these reviews without giving spoilers but as a brief breakdown-

An enemies to lovers romantasy where the huntsman is sent to find and kill all witches who are in hiding. Viola, an orphan in a prestigious school, gets roped in to the plot after he discovers her secrets.
She makes a deal with the huntsman to help him discover the kings killer in return for her life. They have seven days to do it and embark on a passionate journey where they find even more secrets that go much deeper than they first thought

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Seven deadly thorns was nothing short of extraordinary. This book single-handedly rescued me from going into a reading slump. The plot gives and gives and gives, I've been craving a book with this much substance for a while now. The romance is so deep and unwavering, I absolutely adored it. The characters are just as deep and unforgettable.

Don't skip this one, this is destined to be one of the big romantasy hits of 2025.

Perfect if you loved The Cruel Prince or the knight and the moth (mostly because of the gargoyles iykyk).

Thank you so much for the e-arc. All thoughts are my own.

‘I think I’ve been looking for you my whole life,’ 

All I'm saying is Amber Hamilton has written a masterpiece with Seven Deadly Thorns, I loved every second of this book, it truly has me in a chokehold. For a debut novel, this book is written SO incredibly well, with all the twists and turns, and the exciting thriller/mystery aspects, and even the character development we see with both Viola and Roze!

If you love a morphed Snow White retelling, with fake relationships, court politics and royals, forced proximity, dark academia, a smart as hell fmc, forbidden romance... with a he's trying to kill her plot👀 you'll love every moment of Seven Deadly Thorns and more!!

Oh, and I cannot forget the most important character: Saint Waffles. He's a precious little gargoyle who you'll adore and he deserves every ounce of love :')

If you took the ingredients for Snow White, The Cruel Prince and Harry Potter and mixed them all together, you’d have Seven Deadly Thorns. There was a lot to love here, the author writes beautifully and Saint Waffles the gargoyle is super cute. However with enough plot crammed in for at least three books, the pacing is super fast and hard to follow at times. I also found it odd Viola didn’t realise the Queen had magic as soon as Roze revealed his cursed tattoo…An enjoyable read but I personally would’ve preferred a slower pace and more world-building.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

Fake engagement. Forbidden magic. An assassin prince and a girl with shadows in her blood. I devoured this.

This book was like stepping into a dark fairytale where the thorns are sharp and the kisses burn. Viola Sinclair is on the run for a power she didn’t ask for, carrying grief and fire beneath her skin. Roze Roquelart is the Queen’s monster on a leash—beautiful, bitter, and deadly. And when they’re forced into a fake engagement to play nice at a deadly academy, well... cue the slow-burn chaos I live for.

The tension? Immaculate.
The banter? Sharp as a poisoned dagger.
The vibes? Dark academia meets magical revolution.

What really pulled me in was the emotional depth beneath all the politics and curses. Viola isn’t just powerful she’s human. Her grief felt real. Roze, too, has layers beneath his cold exterior, and watching those peel away, bit by bit, was just chef’s kiss.

The pacing hit a sweet spot, never dragging, always pulling you toward some secret or kiss or betrayal. The world-building is rich but not overwhelming, with whispers of rebellion, secrets in the shadows, and a haunting magic system that feels both dangerous and sacred.

This is one of those books that reminds me why I love YA fantasy: found power, reluctant allies, enemies-to-lovers that actually make sense, and a world where even the broken things bloom.

Final thoughts:
A beautifully written, sharply plotted, emotionally rich fantasy. If you like your romances tangled in curses and thorns, and your heroines soft but strong, Seven Deadly Thorns deserves a spot on your shelf.