"𝓞𝓱, 𝓘 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓘'𝓭 𝓮𝓷𝓳𝓸𝔂 𝓶𝓪𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓷 𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓶𝔂 𝓸𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾, 𝓵𝓪𝓭𝔂 𝓐𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓼𝓪. [...] 𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓪𝓷 𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓭𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓫𝓮."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars.

I genuinely cannot believe this is a debut book - it is incredible! Hooked from page one, I fell in love with the main character, the magic system and the world itself instantly.

Kiera Azar has created a brilliant tale, showcasing a strong, gritty FMC who I was routing for from the beginning. The pacing was exceptional, I was gripped the entirety of the book and struggled to put it down for a second in anticipation of what was going to happen next.
The last 40% of the book really showed how much Alissa, our main character had developed and grown throughout the story and her intelligence, cunning and determined nature really shined. I just love a scheming heroine!
Extremely good writing, nothing felt forced or out of place. Kiera Azar has now become an auto-buy author for me and I wait in anticipation for book 2! I have even pre-ordered Thorn Season for a friend who I KNOW is going to fall in love with this book and Kiera's writing.

Thank you Harper Collins UK, Kiera Azar and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Goodreads review - Live: 05/09/2025
Fable review - Live: 05/09/2025
Instagram review - Live: 05/09/2025
Amazon review - Live 11/05/2025
Waterstones review - Live 05/09/2025

4.5 stars

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the early copy of this amazing debut of a book. I loved this book so much, I was having a great time reading this book. I can't wait for the next one to come out.

Utterly brilliant, what a debut!! This has been an absolute delight to read and I must say quite a nice change as it's YA but that doesn't take away from the fact that the characters in this book are brilliantly written, the plot is engaging and so many twists!!
Alissa is such a brilliant character and I love that she's got a bit of a dark side too which makes a nice change to all sunshine and rainbows for an FMC. Alissa is ready to bleed for what she wants and make others bleed too!
Keil is dreamy and really looking forward to Alissa and him hooking up (please please please). The king (Erik) honestly made me think of Joffrey from GoT, I absolutely hated him but in the best way haha he was so well written!! Garrett was a lovely touch as a brotherly figure and their complicated relationship.
Honestly did not expect to enjoy this as much as I have!
Great character development and plot, will be looking forward to book 2!

this was one of those books that had all the potential in the world but just fell flat for me. I wanted more.
books like these - fantasy romances need to stop being compared to larger scale books when they have nothing similar plot wise. how this book can be compared to ACOTAR is beyond me besides having ‘thorn’ in the title.
the world building was non existent which I think was my main issue with this book. what do you mean some people had powers and some don’t? why? what do you mean they are being hunted? why? what happened to make people want to hunt them? what do you mean there are other kingdoms? where? who! do they work they same? there were so many questions & I literally didn’t know any of those answers by the end of the book.
three stars for the vibes really. I liked the characters and I although I thought the ending was alright, I cared enough about the characters to see the authors intent.
not sure I’d continue with the series though.

<i>Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!</i>

I’m calling it now, Thorn Season is going to be the hot new ya book of the season! (Pun intended). I honestly could not put it down.

For fans of The Rose Bargain, Crimson Moth, and maybe Throne of Glass (gave similar vibes), Thorn season is full of mystery, hunters, court politics, debut seasons, betrayal, lust, banter and one absolutely DIABOLICAL ending!

The pacing was immaculate, the plot was intriguing, the magic system refreshing, and our FMC Alissa was someone I spent the whole book rooting for. Keil, one of our MMC was elite, the banter, the tension, the yearning! Erik, another MMC, was wicked, and I still don’t fully understand his motives and end goal (which is driving me insane). Our (final?) MMC, Gareth, poor dude, I just wish he’d grow a backbone.

There was some graphic torture that could be a bit much for a ya book, but there was no spice (which we love for ya books) and it was simple to follow.

Although Thorn Season is by no means revolutionising the genre, it did hit the spot and I was vibing the entire time. I am extremely eager to see where the story goes and am not so patiently waiting for the sequel to come out!

Thanks NetGalley and HarperCollinsUK for this arc.

I don’t have a whole lot to say about Thorn Season, except that it completely blew me away. The pacing was flawless; the plot never slowed, and I found myself glued to every page. The action scenes were sharp and perfectly executed, and the twists kept me on my toes. I truly never saw them coming.

This is easily one of the best romance fantasies I’ve read in a long time. If you’re a fan of Throne of Glass or The Plated Prisoner series, this will be right up your alley. The FMC was perfection from beginning to end: layered, compelling, and absolutely unforgettable. No notes, no critiques, just a desperate need for more.

This story follows Lady Alissa Paine, who has to conceal her own magic in a kingdom where all wielders are being hunted while attending the Rose Season at court. When a secret cabal of Wielders abducts her, she must navigate a deadly game of political maneuvering between a ruthless monarch and a charming foreign ambassador, all while keeping her secret intact.

From the first page, I was fully invested in Alissa and the supporting cast. The female characters are especially well written. Each woman carries her own agency, whether she’s a rival vying for influence or an ally forging unexpected bonds. Their relationships feel authentic and layered, moving beyond simple tropes to reveal motivations shaped by loyalty, ambition, and survival.

The magic system, centered on Spectres as tangible extensions of will and emotion, is intriguing and I'm curious to explore that even more. Coupled with a sprawling world of competing noble houses, covert factions, and foreign envoys, the political stakes remain high and unpredictably tense. The pacing builds steadily, grounding us in the delicate etiquette of court before unleashing surprising twists and revelations that kept me turning pages.

Overall, Thorn Season was very entertaining. It is a thrilling blend of sharp intrigue, empowered heroines, and a magic system begging for deeper discovery. I’m eager to see how Alissa’s power evolves, how the shifting alliances play out, and what else lies ahead in this expanding world. If you love character-driven fantasy with high stakes and a heroine you can root for, this debut is a must-read.

I really enjoyed this new fantasy book and cant wait for the next book in the series. This is a unique magical system and world building where some people are born with 'spectres' which are invisible magical auras that can be manipulated to unleash their power. It is quite a complex system and I felt the first part of the book was a 'wordy' as this and some of the politics of the world were introduced to us. Once I got past this I was fully immersed in the story and the characters. There were so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming and really kept the pace of the book moving quickly. And I was on the edge of my seat for the last 100 pages or so! One of the best fantasy books I've picked up in a while! Really looking forward to jumping back into the court intrigue and magical world in the next book in the series

This book deserves to be the next big fantasy craze ! This is an amazing story with characters that I am obsessed with, I can’t wait for the next instalment in the series

I think this book has a lot of potential and I know a lot of people are loving it. For me, the start was very confusing. I don't personally love when fantasy authors drop terms around as if we already know everything in the world without explaining them.
It was a very familiar story And that's not a bad thing but I think I personally am at a point where this romantasy love triangle era is becoming too repetitive for me.

“What did crowns and kingdoms matter when he’d already made me a god in his arms?”

Thorn Season by Kiera Azar was a wild ride. 🌹⚔️

We’ve got:
✨ a persecuted people (the Wielders) hiding what makes them powerful
✨ a heroine stuck between survival + rebellion
✨ a glittering but deadly royal court during Rose Season
✨ two dangerous men circling her (one a ruthless king, the other a beguiling “ambassador” with very sticky fingers 👀)

From page one, I was HOOKED. Alissa Paine is impulsive, brave and carrying the heaviest secret possible: she’s a Wielder born into a family of Hunters who would kill her if they knew. Talk about ✨drama✨.

Honestly, Alissa had me rooting for her the whole way through. She’s constantly balancing masks, plots and her own impulses—while never knowing who she can actually trust. That paranoia? SO well done. Every twist had me snapping my head back and forth like I was at Wimbledon 🎾😂.

And then Keil enters the chat… oh lord, Keil. 😮‍💨 The man kidnapped her, then showed up at court as an ambassador with those golden eyes?? Like please. My toxic trait is I immediately forgave him. Their banter? Chef’s kiss.

"Don't flatter yourself. My irritation is reserved for people who actually matter."
"And what about that wonderful sneer on your lips? Is that reserved just for me?"

I was done for when he used his spectre just to hold her hand. DEAD. ☠️

And don’t get me started on that closet scene.
"She's gone...But we can stay a while longer, if you like." 🥵🥵

Their chemistry is off the charts. The push-pull, the sneaky touches, the way he can’t help teasing her until she’s spitting fire—LORD.

But it wasn’t just romance. I loved the Wielders’ spectres—such a unique magic system! Seeing how differently each character used theirs was fascinating.

Lye especially cracked me up and I would have loved to have seen more from him - hopefully in book two:
“Good thing you didn’t see me walking around without a mask. People have been known to swoon.” 😂

Side characters also shone—Tari was an absolute ride-or-die bestie, Garret was complicated (and honestly frustrating half the time, even though I think he meant well?? sigh…), and Briar and Erik? Both top-tier dicks. No notes. 🙃

And can we take a moment for Alissa’s dad and the way he loved her mum? 🥺 My heart:
“She wanted to swing her legs over the highest balcony and watch the sunset. And all I ever wanted was to make her happy.”😭😭😭

The political intrigue and mystery of the “copycats” kept the tension simmering—every time I thought I had it figured out, nope, another curveball. The pacing was fast, the court scenes deliciously vicious (Alissa saying, “Court is filled with charming vipers. But we are vipers all the same” —ICONIC), and the ending has me desperate for book two.

If I’m nitpicking why it’s not a 5⭐—sometimes the plot felt a little too tangled and I wanted a few more quiet moments to really sit with the characters. But honestly? For a debut, this was such a strong start.

Overall:
🌹 Enemies-to-lovers tension ✅
🌹 Found family vibes with Keil’s crew ✅
🌹 Dangerous politics + betrayals ✅
🌹 A heroine who refuses to play nice ✅

If you love court intrigue, banter sharp enough to cut glass, and a romance that will have you screaming into your pillow at 2am—Thorn Season is definitely one to pick up. 💋

Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

I have heard plenty about this upcoming release, and I’m pleased that it thoroughly lived up to expectation! It introduces a fascinating magic system in which those gifted with power (known as Wielders) refer to their abilities as ‘spectres’. The world-building is genius, and I found myself especially drawn to the main character, Alissa. Those with magic are persecuted and killed, in the name of the King. After eighteen years of concealing her true Wielder nature, Alissa leaves the safety of her home and braces for a season at court, navigating danger and intrigue, in an attempt to solve a mystery and save Wielders. Risking everything, she finds herself pursued by three very different men, each with his own motives. This adds to the tension and peril, as Alissa desperately tries to survive. The narrative flows seamlessly, and I loved the author’s elegant storytelling style. I am eagerly anticipating the sequel, and am keen to see the rumoured upcoming special edition!

In Daradon, to be a Wielder is to be hunted.  Having a spectre is a death sentence and Alissa Paine is all too aware of this.  Born into a family of famous hunters, in a kingdom ruled by a ruthless young King determined to eradicate Wielders, Alissa bears a terrible secret.  She has been forced to hide her own spectre from the world.  When she attends court for her eighteenth season (Rose Season), King Erik has his eyes firmly set on her.  However, a mysterious stranger forces Alissa to confront her secrets and sets off a chain of events that will change her life.

Thorn Season is the first instalment in Kiera Azar’s YA romantasy trilogy, typified by court intrigue, magical suspense and romantic yearning.  Azar perfectly captures the inner struggle of our main character with her often towing the line between what her inner spectre wants and what is expected of her.  The writing is fast paced and well structured.  The book is great for fans of political fantasy in a court setting.  The magic system was incredibly unique, and the world was well built, allowing us an insight into the inner workings of the nobility and the dark underbelly of the court. 

My only criticism was that sometimes the connections between the characters felt a little muddled at times.  This was perhaps because the court system was so detailed.  A little more attention to the history of Daradon and how the key players fed into this would have made this a 5 star read for me.

This one is perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince, The Rose Bargain and ACOTAR.  Overall, this was a fantastic first instalment; ending on a cliffhanger that will no doubt have readers desperate for book two! 

Thank you to Harpercollins Children’s, Netgalley and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thorn season
“Not all wielders were born afraid. Because not all wielders were born criminals.”

🌟 rating: 4
📚 Genre: YA fantasy with romance
🗓️ Publication date: 11-09-2025 ———Arc received from harpercollinsuk
🌺 Tropes: Court intrigue, betrayal, hidden identity, slow burn
👫 POV: Single point of view
🌶️ level: -
#️⃣ pages: 464

Thank you harpercollinsuk for providing me with this arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow this book was such a ride for me, the plot twists, the world building, the characters. I really enjoyed this book. I think it is very strong and that it will become a hot for sure. But the main strength of this book is the writing. The author’s writing quality is top-notch, so I really appreciated this as unfortunately (Definetly with more popular books) this sometimes isn’t the case.

Alissa (our FMC) was very likeable but sometimes I felt she was a bit to smart and resourceful for an 18 year old that was going through what she did. And Keil (our MMC, at least I think) was amazing and so intriguing. He doesn’t have as much screentime as the average MMC but he is still very much present and I hope to see more from him in the next book.

I feel this book is perfect for fans of powerless, crimson moth and the rose bargain. I cannot wait to see everyone’s responses to this book once it releases and will be patiently waiting for book 2.

I was very excited for this book as it is a highly anticipated read for 2025. However, for me, this fell short. I struggled at times to continue reading but I hoped it would get better the further it went. This wasn't the case. For me, I found it boring a lot of the time. The action I wanted wasn't there. It wasn't a bad read, but it definitely wasn't for me. It was well written and very plot driven, and I don't want to take away from that. I did enjoy the concept and how Wielders are hunted, but I don't feel there was enough information about why they were being hunted. They just were and we had to accept it. There is potential in this book.

Kiera Azar’s Thorn Season introduces readers to a glittering but dangerous court, where secrets and betrayals bloom as viciously as roses. Alissa Paine, daughter of a Hunter family sworn to destroy Wielders, hides the most dangerous secret of all: she is one herself. Summoned to court for her debut Season, Alissa finds herself navigating a world of ambition, manipulation, and forbidden power, all while caught between a cruelly magnetic king and a charming foreign ambassador whose agendas are as sharp as their smiles.

This debut delivers plenty of intrigue, with twists and betrayals that keep the tension alive, particularly in its latter half. Alissa is an engaging protagonist, torn between her lineage and her survival, and her struggle to balance power with restraint adds genuine depth. The political stakes and romantic entanglements bring an addictive pull, and the ending sets up the series with just enough shock to leave readers eager for more.

Where Thorn Season falters is in its execution. The worldbuilding, though intriguing in concept, especially the idea of Wielders and their power, often feels thin, leaving much of the setting and politics sketched rather than fully realised. The pacing leans heavily on dialogue and court drama, which sometimes slows the momentum in the first half, while the love interests veer toward familiar archetypes without always breaking free from trope-driven beats. Still, the tension between them and Alissa’s personal stakes give the story its emotional spark.

For readers who enjoy YA romantasy full of court intrigue, dangerous attraction, and heroines forced to play a deadly game to survive, Thorn Season will certainly entertain. It may not reinvent the genre, but as a debut it shows plenty of promise, and I’ll be curious to see how Azar expands both the world and the characters in the next installment.

I really enjoyed this debut! The pacing was generally great throughout with a driving plot line and some intriguing characters along the way. The concept of the spectres and how they worked took me a little time to get to grips with, but I enjoyed this magic system and the world created around it. I'm really looking forward to the sequel!

THORN SEASON - KIERA AZAR

This book is utterly brilliant, and I genuinely can't believe that it's a debut. Everything about this book is addictive - from its characters to its masterful pacing - and I stayed up SO late every night while I was reading Thorn Season.

I'm not always the biggest fan of first-person narratives, but Alissa, the FMC and our POV, is written so well. Complex and clever, we are given access to Alissa's thoughts and reactions, but she also withholds information, making the book's many, many twists and turns all the more shocking.

Set in a deadly world where Wielders (a unique twist on magic here) are literally hunted and put to death, Alissa has been hiding in plain sight, protected by her father's role and status. Things take a turn when she's summoned to the royal court for the debutante season, and is given what seems to be an impossible task.

The first book is young adult and while there certainly is romance, it's steamy and definitely takes a backseat to the plot, which will keep you guessing right until the very last page. I need the second book immediately!

Thank you to Kiera Azar, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC.

Release date: 11 September 2025

Review score: 5/5

TWs: d*ath, vi*lence, t*rture, injury detail

Thorn Season is a really fascinating book with magic, selection vibes and several potential love interests.
The beginning was perfect to me. Although you are thrown into a new world, the world becomes completely familiar after a few pages and it’s very easy to find your way around. I often have problems remembering names and separating characters from each other. But this was done really well here, as the characters were well introduced and easy to remember.
What I didn't like so much was the royal setting. I could never really visualise this world, as I could not picture the protagonist in this world either, so I found these chapters a little more difficult to read.
The ending is written in an exciting way, so it's easy to get through the pages.
It‘s not a five star book for me because the middle of the book felt very long to me and I liked the beginning and end much better.

This story is the epitome of YA high stakes fantasy that grips you by the throat right from the start. If you think you have to wait for half of the book the have some secrets revealed, you‘re gravely mistaken. 20% in and your head will be spinning because as you learn with main character Alissa - so much is not as you have been made to believe. But don’t worry, there will be more plot twist along the way. As a fan of fast storytelling this was right up my alley. I couldn’t relate to all of the stuff that Alissa was up to because she got in some stupid situations that could have been avoided or played safe, but I guess that is how young adult life is. Alissa lacked some deeper characterization in my opinion. Also I felt some fact were continuously repeated which was annoying from time to time. But this is my only complaint. While we had a love triangle (or even quadruple if we count the cruel king), I enjoyed that this story wasn’t that much about love but more about Alissa and her search for what is right and a life without hiding.