Darkly enchanting and fiercely imaginative, Seven Deadly Thorns is a gothic romantasy that blends fae lore, forbidden magic and emotional depth. The story follows a cursed heroine navigating a treacherous world of thorns, secrets and seductive danger, where every choice carries weight and every alliance comes at a cost.

Amber Hamilton’s prose is lush and evocative, painting a world that is both beautiful and brutal. The atmosphere is rich with tension, and the romance simmers with slow burn intensity. The characters are layered and morally complex, with motivations that keep the reader guessing and emotional stakes that feel genuinely high.

Themes of power, desire and redemption are woven throughout, and the plot balances intrigue with introspection. It is a story that embraces its darkness while offering glimmers of hope, perfect for readers who enjoy high stakes fantasy with a romantic edge.

I've been struggling with fantasy lately so I was nervous going into this.
But this was exactly what I needed. The pacing was perfect for me. Not too slow but not too fast. The writing was easy to fly through and still stay invested.
While I do think the relationship between the characters could have had more build I still loved the chemistry they showed.
The world itself was interesting. Im hoping with a sequel we see that build more.

One last thing. Waffles, my boy.

This was a mix between Dramonie fanfiction and Snow White, and I was here for it! The enemies-to-lovers slow-burn romance was well done. You felt Roze and Viola's animosity toward each other, and the buildup to them protecting each other was well done. I also loved that neither of them was completely good or bad, and everyone in the world (except for Roze's mother, maybe) was completely cast in grey. I did NOT call the shocking truth Viola is hiding from Roze before it's revealed, so I was just as shocked as he was! I absolutely devoured this book, and truly hope there's more, since the ending felt extremely rushed and it didn't feel like it was completely wrapped up at the end. This could stay as a standalone with us left wondering at the ending, but I truly hope Hamilton gives us more of this world, since it feels like there's so much left unfinished.

Side note - I want so much more of Saint Waffles. The little hellion guardian gargoyle was so much fun!!

A fantasy that is gripping right from the start with a beautifully morally grey assassin (is there any other!) Viola has hidden her shadow magic her whole life and try's to be just an ordinary student. When her secret is discovered, the Queen sends the notorious Huntsman to kill her within seven days, or he will die! A fabulously fast paced romantasy that is full of intrigue, secrets and plenty of plot twists. This is dark academia at its best, with echos of the Cruel Prince court intrigue and the yearning you find in the Shadow Hunters. But Waffles the pet gargoyle absolutely steals the show!

This book swept me up in its world. Dark addictive and dripping with fairytale vibes -though honestly I didn’t really catch the Snow White resemblance that everyone kept pointing out. To me it stood strongly on its own which I actually appreciated.

Our heroine Viola, was such an interesting character to follow. I loved her stubbornness and determination, even when it got her into trouble (which… let’s be real, it often did 😅). She’s headstrong to a fault but that’s what made her feel real she wasn’t perfect and her flaws made her growth more satisfying.

Then there’s Roze. Broody, sharp-tongued, and full of secrets. He was definitely one of my favorite parts of the story, but I’ll admit that at times he reminded me a bit too much of Jacks from Once Upon a Broken Heart, and since I didn’t love that similarity, it pulled me out a little. That said his chemistry with Viola was magnetic, and I couldn’t stop rooting for their moments together.

The plot itself is packed with danger and curses and that deliciously tense slow-burn romance that keeps you flipping pages way past bedtime. It definitely is a YA fantasy romance at its core full of that fast-paced, emotional energy that makes you want to devour it in one sitting.

If I had one tiny critique, it would be the ending. It wrapped up fine, but I found myself wishing it had just a little more — more intensity, more payoff, or even just a stronger punch to match the energy of the rest of the book.

Tropes you’ll find here:
Dark fairytale vibes
Morally gray love interest
Stubborn heroine
Slow-burn romance
Enemies-to-lovers tension
Deadly bargains & curses
Found family threads

Overall Seven Deadly Thorns gave me everything I want from a YA fantasy romance: atmosphere, angst, and a cast of characters I won’t forget soon. If you love your stories dark, magical, and a little dangerous, this one is definitely worth adding to your TBR.

“𝙞 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨. 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙞 𝙨𝙖𝙬 𝙞𝙩, 𝙞 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙩. 𝙞 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙧𝙖𝙥 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙩. 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙙𝙧𝙪𝙣𝙠 𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩”

in the cursed kingdom of aragoa, magic comes with the ultimate price: death. even the halls of vandenberghe academy aren’t safe. when viola sinclair’s dangerous shadow magic is exposed, the queen gives her assassin a new mission and marks him with a cursed tattoo - a seven-thorned rose, each thorn counting down the seven days he has to kill viola. fail, and he dies instead

the assassin? roze roquelart - spoiled prince, arrogant classmate, and viola’s sworn enemy. only, instead of ending her life, roze strikes a deal. he needs her magic, and to get it, he’s willing to spare her… and even fake an engagement. forced together, viola and roze must face lethal secrets, growing desire, and the truth that could shatter aragoa - and themselves

-

what a book. i devoured this in just two sittings and was hooked from the first page

the worldbuilding was atmospheric and well written, pulling me straight into the story. i felt such a strong connection to viola, and watching her grow throughout the book was one of my favorite parts

and roze… he might wear the mask of a villain, but never towards her. the protectiveness he shows viola from the start had me swooning / his character was such a highlight for me

the plot twists kept me guessing, and the final reveal completely threw me. i genuinely questioned everything i thought i knew, and i loved that shock factor

the reason it’s not a 5-star read is the pacing - especially the ending. everything wrapped up a little too suddenly, with the last few pages feeling rushed. i wasn’t sure if this was meant to be a standalone or the start of a series, and that left me a bit unsatisfied

tropes you’ll find inside:
🥀 enemies to lovers
🥀 dark academia vibes
🥀 fake engagement
🥀 secret societies
🥀 slow burn
🥀 forced proximity

“𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙤 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙞’𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞’𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 - 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜”

Seven Deadly Thorns was such a captivating book that takes you on this beautifully written dark-academia journey. The writing hooks you from the very beginning and you won't want to put this down. If you love enemies to lovers (which I do) you will love this and be completely absorbed. Amber did an amazing job with this book from the world-building to the characters.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this book.

Seven Deadly Thorns captivated my mind, body, and soul. It transported me on an unforgettable journey, and I can’t stop thinking about it. Amber Hamilton’s writing was simply brilliant. From the very beginning, I was hooked.

The journey of Rose and Viola was expertly crafted, and I felt like I was right there with them every step of the way. While the book draws inspiration from multiple fairy tales, it manages to stand on its own and create its own unique world. In my opinion, this is a 5-star read, and I look forward to more of Amber’s work.

I loved this book so much. The dark academia vibes and the magic. Strong characters and female friendships.

I was lucky enough to receive this as an eARC on NetGalley and I am beyond glad that I did because I really enjoyed this book!
I LOVE an enemies to lovers trope so I knew I was going to at the very least be entertained, but this had so much more!! I loved so many of the characters - even the ones I don’t think I was supposed to like!
I really recommend this book! I wish that we had slightly more time to let our main characters be happy because I just wanted to give them both a hug to be honest!!
Also I now want a pet gargoyle! I definitely recommend this book and I hope this won’t be the last I get to see of this universe!!

Seven Deadly Thorns is a dark and atmospheric fantasy that immediately draws the reader into its world. The writing is vivid and immersive, with descriptive detail that brings both the settings and the characters to life. The author has created a narrative that balances tension and intrigue with more intimate, emotional moments, making the story compelling on multiple levels.

The protagonist is particularly well realised, with flaws and vulnerabilities that make their journey both relatable and engaging. The supporting cast adds depth to the story, with shifting loyalties and complex motivations that keep the reader guessing. Themes of temptation, power, and moral conflict are woven throughout in a way that feels thoughtful and meaningful, adding richness to the central plot.

There were points where the pacing felt uneven, with certain sections developing more slowly than necessary while other key events moved past a little too quickly. A few of the side characters could also have benefited from greater development, as their storylines did not always feel as well-rounded as the main narrative.

Despite this, Seven Deadly Thorns is an accomplished and enjoyable read. It combines strong characterisation with an intriguing storyline and an evocative sense of place. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy dark, character-driven fantasy, and I am very interested to see what the author writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the opportunity to read and review this book.

My main issue with the book was that it was giving vibes of The Cruel Prince - which I didn’t enjoy at all - the relationships come across under cooked However there are likeness to HP also which kept me going but then the houses aren’t developed enough. I just think I’m comparing them to other similar stories I either don’t like or like so much it’s not living up to th standards which is obviously my issue.

Except for the above I believe the book is ok overall - when she was not using the above tropes etc I did enjoy it. I’m hoping the next book is more reliant on this than anything else - I found the Snow White elements probably as the best part. The world building needed more umff But I did love Waffles

Seven deadly thorns oh my god the first part i was so hooked i thought it will be a 5 star book but after it hit a certain part i felt like i was reading a different book, but not different good. But it did felt wholesome after i finished it. Waffles was so cuteeeeee.


Thank you to the publisher for the arc

Firstly i want to thank Netgalley and the publishers - Bloomsbury Publishing PLC - for the opportunity to read and arc of this book.
4 stars, i really enjoyed it. It gave me both Snow White vibes and Beastly vibes (the film Beastly).
In this gothic, dark academia, YA romantasy we follow our FMC Viola Sinclair who has hidden her magic for 17 years.
When her secret is discovered "The Huntman" is sent to kill her- he has 7 days and if he fails he will be the one to die...
I enjoyed both main characters and i liked the world building but i was slightly confused about what actually happened at the end. Not sure if it was just me or if its one of those books where the reader can kind of interpret the ending themselves.
Overall really good and i recommend it.

This enemies to lovers set in an apocolyse where you are killed if you go outside, and all magic is outlawed is everything you could want.

Viola Sinclair is a student at Vandenberghe Academy, but unlike most its alumni, she is not from a noble house. But she has a brilliant mind, and a few loyal friends, but even they dont know her secret. But one day, when she confront known bully Prince Rose, her secret is noticed, and then her life is forfit.

But what happens when the man sent to kill you decides to keep you alive, even if it is detremental to his own life?

A great book of magic, love, anger and passion. A must read.

I did really enjoy this book, and the characters and the plot. The world building wasn't the best - there were some glaring holes and definitely aspects that would have been really interesting to read more about. However, overall it was a solid fairytale retelling and I really enjoyed it.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

This is pitched as Cruel Prince meets Powerless. One of which I would give 5 stars and the other 1. Somehow the mathematics here has worked out and this came out at an inoffensive 3 for me.

This is a rather medium book. The premise is fairly interesting - what’s left of the kingdom has been trapped inside the castle and whatever tunnels have been dug into the rocks by some mysterious and deadly mists. Viola, despite being a commoner is allowed into the most prestigious (and I am now assuming… only ?) school, where she is known for being super smart, and if you were to ask the prince, super annoying. Viola is secretly a meiga (witch), and in this kingdom being trapped by magical mists, the queen has for some reason decided anyone magical is evil and must die. An interesting choice when surely magical people are your best shot at getting rid of some magical mists? The prince is tasked with killing her, and the typical shenanigans ensue - near death! Betrayals! Secrets! Mysteries! The gay best friend! There’s also a gargoyle called Saint Waffles who functions as a kind of magical guard dog? He’s alright actually.

Hamilton mentions in her acknowledgments that she is very grateful to have had an editor all but beat her over the head until she actually did some world building. I would like to gently kiss that editor on the forehead and wrap them up in warm blankets. If I had read one more “romantasy” with absolutely zero effort on the fantasy part I would have had to quit reading forever. There is an attempt to create some background here, but it is largely delivered by monologues from people who have no business monologuing. At one point there’s a written conversation in which someone finds the time to write essays and essays about what happened 30 years ago. I also struggle to place what sort of time period/world this is supposed to be taking place in. It seems to be a world entirely separate to our own except for 2 latin words used a few times, and then towards the end, a character quotes Sappho out of nowhere. It’s never mentioned again. It seriously threw me.

There are times where the prose is somewhat overdone… we get the phrase ‘snow-white ash’ as a description of Roze’s hair. Simply one of those words would have done. We are also told his eyes are the colour of shattered glass… Not sure that works.

Viola was rather flat as a character. She doesn’t seem to /want/ anything with her life. She just sort of seems to not want to die, but not even that urgently. We’re told that she’s smart but she doesn’t seem to get anywhere with her ‘research’ and then suddenly makes these huge leaps that don’t seem to follow from anywhere. Without giving spoilers, she just believes every piece of information she is told, however outlandish, without critically thinking about a single thing.

All in all I’d describe this whole thing as inoffensive. Buffet food at a work event you weren’t that fussed about going to. Not the worst but you wouldn’t specifically go to this event for the food again you know? I’m not filled with rage in the same way I am after most modern attempts at romantasy (@powerless) but I did not once giggle or have to fight bad a grin. Medium!

4.5 ⭐

I honestly didn't expect to love this book as much as I did.
I read it almost in one sitting while sick at home with a heavy headache and a runny nose. The fact that I was so hooked despite being ill says a lot. It's a great book for a debut!

I loved both the FMC and MMC. They are both clever, cunning, and dark in their own way. The yearning was off the charts. I was waiting for a kiss like a glass of water in the desert!🫣😆

The pacing and story were fantastic, with a plot that had some great Snow White vibes and a killer twist at the end. The conclusion, though, left me feeling a little confused. It felt rushed, and I wanted more time with the two main characters and their friends—but that's only because I liked them so much and wasn't ready to say goodbye.

Thank you, Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley, for this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Bloomsbury for allowing me to read this arc!

I completely devoured this book within 24 hours. I couldn’t put it down and was hooked on this fast paced, dark academia, romantasy storyline from the very first page. This story was full of twists and turns and adventure. Essentially this story takes place in just seven days contributing to how fast I read this. Nothing was too drawn out but also nothing was too rushed. A full rounded story was written that had both a beginning and a satisfying end. However, I do wonder what happened to other characters at the end of this book. I’m not sure if there will be a sequel but there is definitely a story or continuation that could be explored for one.

An absolutely brilliant debut from this author and I’m excited to read more from her.

4⭐️

Really enjoyed this one!! Think everything was done well - the plot, characters, romance and the world building were all so good. I’m a sucker for an enemies to lovers and this was paced perfectly (the tension!!) it was a fun magic system and the political side of the story was also well fleshed out. Also shout out to Waffles ❤️