Violet Made of Thorns

This book title and cover drew me in i'm not going to lie. I love it all so much - its right up my street. I loved how witty and sassy the main character Violet was. She took no prisoners and instantly took over the story. I love protagnists who don't scare away/
I enjoyed the romance wholeheartedly. I loved the love to hate relationship and i cant wait to see what happens with them in book two. The plot was exciting and intriguing and i loved the worldbuilding. Id say this was a unique dark fantasy with a protaganist you'll either hate or love.

Received this books as an ARC in exchange for an honest review so here we go 💕

Rating: 5/5⭐️

Violet sees the world to clearly - and that’s not only because she has some seer talents. She’s a prophet and a liar, influencing the royal court with her cleverly phrased divinations. She’s there to save herself and no one else. Cyrus is our oh-not-so Prince Charming who plans to strip Violet of her official role once he’s crowned king and holds a few secrets of his own - including his own heart. But when the king asks Violet to falsely prophesy Cyrus’s love story, Violet awakens a dreaded curse - one that will end in either damnation or salvation for the kingdom. After all, there’s always a price for defying destiny.

I absolutely devoured this really well and beautifully written book! It was so captivating and entertaining, that every single free moment I had were quickly devoted to continue reading. This is a great YA fantasy debut for Gina Chen! And I want to say that I love the book cover! It’s absolutely stunning!

Violet is not your typical heroine and Cyrus much less your typical Prince Charming but together they do form a good team - even if they don’t want to! Most of the time it’s full of mischief and lies and it would be very helping if for once they were just honest with each-other…! And of course with lot of forbidden romance in the mix!

What a delightful surprise! Beauty and the beast has always been my favourite fairytale and it was just beautiful the way this magical tale gets it’s own spin and twist in this amazing darkly enchanting story! All the little details between a beast mask with horns, rotten and poisoned thorns full of prophesies and curses, dark red roses that resemble blood and a war that seems inescapable!

I cannot wait to see the rest of Violet and Cyrus’s story unfolded! And the next book cannot come quick enough!

Keep an eye on my bookstagram (@maria_bookshelf) as I’ll be posting this review and a lovely photo to go along, in the middle of April!

Well written with an enchanting storyline and well developed characters who e like marmite and I totally fell in ,love with them. The world building is also excellent with vivid descriptions and rich imagery that made me feel like I could jump into the pages - and if I could have - I would. A really enjoyable read that makes me excited for what is to come.

Actual rating: ★★★★.75

Well shit. Now I have to wait until 2023 for the sequel. This cover! 😌👌 Violet made of thorns is a great and very entertaining debut. As a major fan of morally grey characters, enemies to lovers and dark fantasy this book was perfect for me. People who hate and kiss each other? 😈 Yes please.

Cyrus, a cursed prince who's kingdom's fate relies on him choosing a bride, wants to marry for love. He has been stalling for too long so the king, with the help of his seer, sets him up with a noblewoman. But the seer–Violet– has dreams and visions. The prince's bride is not who she seems to be. Together they work to unravel the secrets to prevent something terrible from happening.

The burning question: Is Violet made of thorns similar to The cruel prince? Not really in my opinion, other than the enchantments and intense love/hate relationship between Cyrus and Violet. I'd say it's a bit more romance focused.

The story is inspired by multiple fairytales. I noticed subtle references to Cinderella, Beauty and the beast and Sleeping Beauty.

I loved Violet for being brutally honest and an unapologetic liar at the same time. Cyrus is a pretentious ass lol. He and Violent were always bickering at the beginning. Later they start to get along better. Sometimes. He wants to have her gone but Violent, well... She's determined to keep her position as the kingdom's seer. Then we have Dante, Cyrus' best friend and confidant,who was also a favorite. He's the neutral middle ground between them. And lastly Camilla, Cyrus' twin sister, a supportive sapphic queen. 😏

The pacing was moderate from the beginning the 2nd half however was packed with twists.

What I was missing were the ✨fantasy names✨ (at least for the main characters) . The names were flowery (and modern?) It felt weird. Then again roses, vines, thorns were significant to the story so maybe it was going for that kind of vibe

A fun romp that cuts through the glittery fairytale tropes with a cynical knife.

Violet Made of Thorns is the beginning of a duology that follows our titular Violet, a seer working for the Auveny royals and who has had to deal with the demands of a cutthroat court through mastering the art of lying and shielding her heart from others. However, a prophecy delivered by the previous seer's dying breath about Prince Cyrus, his bride, a curse and the kingdom's fate has left the kingdom anxious. As a "solution," she's delivered a fake prophecy by the order of the king about Cyrus's love story, only to be haunted by dreaded dreams and different prophecies. Fate does not seem to be on her side, nor Cyrus's; they defied it once, can they do it again?

The writing voice is very Violet: straightforward with little glamour, reflecting her cynical outlook and pride. There's a chance that Violet might be an "unlikable" protagonist but it doesn't matter: I have enough love for her to balance out the hatred.

From the very beginning, Violet and Cyrus have been drawn to each other except with teeth bared and sharp comebacks. It was quite enjoyable to read their banter and seeing how, slowly, the layers of their hatred were peeled back to reveal their true feelings. Ugh, all the brief but stolen glances and snarls and will-we-burn-each-other-or-save-each-other thing is addicting to read.

Quick-fire notes:
- I love how self-aware the book is about a couple of the tropes it's using, to the point that it's purposeful on the characters' end (ahem, for example, "happens to pose the right way, which highlights the beauty of the character's features, which enchants the POV character"). Again, quite fun to read, especially mixed in with deadpan humor!
- The book pulls elements from several fairytales, notably Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella, but the way it twists and remixes them feels fresh and intriguing.

I'm excited to see what's next in store!

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for providing me with the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What an absolutely fantastic story! Dark, whimsical, and with just the right amount of humor and vitriol, Violet Made Of Thorns is an epic fairy tale that takes all the typical tropes of children's fairy tales and throws them out the window. The book follows Violet, a very morally gray witch who is ambitious and power-hungry, struggling to save her own skin against a prophecy that threats the kingdom with blood and doom. Throw in a sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance, and you get an unforgettable tale of fickle hypocritical Prince Charmings, cruel and cunning kings, twisted politics of men and gods, and a powerful witch in the midst of all that frenzy.

There are so many things I loved about this book! Let's start with the world-building, cause that's always a strong factor for me whenever I pick up any fantasy. The world-building in Violet Made Of Thorns was spectacular--everything from the stunning descriptions of The Sun Continent, The Palace, and the slums of The Moon District was so beautifully detailed that I couldn't help but feel like I was being carried away to this fantasy, imaginary world.

The magic system was very intriguing as well. The question of fate and destiny, and the role of "gods" is a constant theme in the novel; throughout the whole book, Violet makes the reader question how much of our future is in our own hands, and how much of it is predestined by a higher power.

The characters were also incredibly well-developed. Our main protagonist Violet was unforgettable; I loved her icy cynicism, her snark, and her realistic worldview. Her true opposite is the love interest, Prince Cyrus, who constantly tries to choose kindness over violence but ultimately ends up making decisions that are also cruel and unjust. The supporting characters were adorable too--I loved Dante and how his story arc further explored and expanded on the themes of colonization and xenophobia that are apparent in the Sun Continent. And though I wish Camilla was given a better story than simply being comic relief, I adored every scene where she was present.

At the end of the day though, it's the plot of Violet Made Of Thorns that will keep you turning the pages. At it's heart, it's a romantic fairy tale, but not the kind you would read to children. I loved the parallels to well-known Children's stories like Cinderella, Beauty & The Beast, Sleeping Beauty, and Jack And The Bean Stalk that the author incorporated; they were delightful to read and added whimsical magic to the overall story.

The ending was super cleverl! Not quite a cliff-hanger, the novel has an open-ending that perfectly wraps up the first book while stile leaving room for further sequels too.

Dark and enchanting, Violet Made Of Thorns is a delightfully seductive fantasy that will have you mesmirized from page one. I strongly recommend this to everyone!

Violet Made of Thorns is the fantasy debut I’ve been waiting for this year.

Right from the offset this book is different from what I expected. Violet is brash, cunning and independent. The story unwinds very quickly into tales of deceit, forbidden romance, fate and prophecy.

Between the characters you get a sense of a very strong bond. Violet and Cyrus feel for each other yet wouldn’t hesitate to become each other’s ruin and the others like Camilla and Dante for example aren’t lacking on secrets of their own.

This book is absolutely riveting. It had me glued to my kindle wanting more. Gina Chen has done a remarkable job creating this fantasy world full of secrets and unexpected twists.

I can’t wait for the books release, I have already preordered a physical copy and I can tell you now that I’m beyond excited to see what Gina has to offer in the future. This duology is the start of something great.

Ever since I came across this book on netgalley I knew I just HAD to read it. I was lucky enough to be approved to read the arc and let me tell you… best seven hours I’ve ever spent. You won’t regret reading this.

Big thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I’m a sucker for a pretty book, so the cover of Gina Chen’s debut novel, Violet Made of Thorns, really drew me in but the synopsis had me HOOKED! The contents didn’t disappoint either!

Enemies to lovers. Morally grey anti-heroine. A dark, modern twist on fairytales with nods to Cinderella and Beauty & the Beast (I especially loved the Cinderella reference).

I really appreciated reading a book about a non-white protagonist. A lot of fantasies tend to be centred around white or ‘ethnically ambiguous’ characters which is fine BUT we love diversity!!

Violet was brilliant. Flawed, but brilliant nonetheless, and I think it’s something that made her feel more relatable. She’s a liar and an opportunist whose decisions are heavily influenced by her own interests.. but she’s not a villain and she doesn’t want to hurt others. She’s not perfect and she doesn’t try to be, which is why I love her!

The enemies to lovers trope is STRONG in this one. Here’s what Chen wrote about her two leads:

“Witchy types and princely types never
seem to get along - something something fairytale archetypical rules - and these two are no exception. Separately, they're pretty good at their roles; together, they're a white-horse carriage galloping off a cliff. But their futures are entwined as Seer and king, as well as in divine machinations, and they deal with this very, very badly.”

There’s a fine line between love and hate, and the characters were dancing on this line until the very end.. to the point where I wasn’t sure WHAT the ending would be.

“Sometimes I want to kiss him and sometimes I want to ruin him, but most of the time, I want those actions to be one and the same”

There are SOOOOO many amazing quotes I’d love to share from this book but I don’t want to spoil anything so all I can say is FIVE STARS!!!!!!

This is the first book in a planned duology but it definitely still stands on its own; the future of the characters is left uncertain but in a way that doesn’t leave you hanging.. which will hopefully make the wait for the 2nd book less painful! 🥲

OH MY GOSH!! This book was incredible, I devoured it, the ending took me by surprise, I'm DYING for book two, I need it now 😭

5 ⭐️

This was so good! The MC is mostly grey and interested primarily in her own survival, she gave me Katherine from TVD vibes, but she’s also cunning and intelligent. I found the world and all the characters interesting, the plot was a little weak as far as inciting incidents go, but I still enjoyed this a lot. It had fairy tale vibes but it was still gritty and I enjoyed the romance a lot too. I hope there’s a second book in this world/series!

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review

4,5 stars!!
This book was beautiful from start to end.
The story began calmly, mainly introducing the protagonist and her cynic way of seeing the world, but it gradually changed, becoming more intricate, as the thorny vines of the title, with more parts of the story that conveyed in the main path, transforming this into a tale of magic, mysteries, lies and manipulation.

But despite the story being so well orchestrated and stuctured, and the plot so catching and interesting, the part I loved the most about this novel, since the beginning, stayed the protagonist.
Violet is a mood, she always seems so fed up, almost unsefferable about the constant inchoerence and falsity of the court, she cannot be anything else but cynic and, because of this, terribly relatable. And also incredibly funny.
She may be all beauty and grace and false niceties with the king and those who pay her for her fortune reading, but her inner monologues are a whole other story, and nothing can't stop her from pissing off Princey or calling him an idiot on a regular basis, even in front of the whole court.
She is now the queen of my existence.

Cyrus, on the other hand, even tho he is too made up of falsities to please the public, is secretly more of a dreamer, who believes in true love, that he has already found it and it is just a matter of time since shewill realise and accept it too. And this will cost him highly, for his whole life, yes, but during this specific summer even more. I honestly can't wait to see if and how his perspective of life will change in the next book after all that has happened.
I was asked to specify that one of the best things about him is his sister Camilla (princess Camilla definitely is NOT the one who asked me to)

Also the dynamic of their relationship... the "I hate you"-"I hate you more"-*instant violent make out*-vibes are immaculate.

I honestly can't find anything that I would have preffered to be done in a different way, maybe something more about the backstory of the Witch or Nadyira? But what we had and knew actually seemed already enough, and in any case we could and definitly hear more about th Witch in the next book, so...
I think this is one of the best things of the book, the story is already so interesting on its own, it has you in its grip, and some scenes are so unexpected that there really isn't room for flaws

Gina Chen has crafted the perfect twisted fairytale for those who love morally grey characters, romance and schemes.

Violet Made of Thorns is fast paced with a simplistic writing style that made it a quick and highly entertaining read. Whilst this book is described as a dark fantasy, I found that it was often light hearted, with humour scattered throughout.

Violet, our morally gray anti-heroine, was everything I expected her to be. She was selfish and cynical and I loved it! Prince Cyrus, her mortal enemy and love interest, was an amusing character and I enjoyed their enemies to lovers dynamic.

There were also some interesting side characters, specifically Dante and Camilla, who I am very excited to see more of in the sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I mean... where do I even begin! I absolutely LOVED this book! I have been so obsessed with the enemies to lovers fantasy genre and haven't found a book that has given me this many goosebumps since The Cruel Prince. I am so happy I got to ARC this book because it has become one of my all time favourites. I can't wait for it to be released so I can add a hardcopy to my bookshelf.

The main protagonist was strong as nails and full of fire. I absolutely adored the way Violet managed to find strength even when she felt so lost in both her duties and her life. She stands by the decisions she makes and doesn't let anyone push her around, not even the spirits.

The enemies to lovers romance is everything I needed and more! Cyrus and Violet's bickering and their ability to get on each other's nerves to a point of desire gave me shivers every time they were together. They are both so equally stubborn it causes rifts between them in almost every meeting, but also drives their want for one another.

Overall I absolutely loved this book. The cover art, the plot, the romance, the EVERYTHING - It was perfect! It gave a great conclusion to the novel while still leaving room to explore more to the story and the romance. This tale is far from over, but I am so grateful the author gave us a proper ending to the book and not just a huge unfinished cliffhanger. Gina is definitely a new up and coming author to keep your eye on! Thank you Gina for the amazing read and I look forward to book 2!

"People exhaust me".

This line itself could single-handedly persuade me to rate this book with 5 stars. XD

On a serious note, I have a lot of thoughts so let's start from the beginning, if that makes sense. I dived into the book without reading the blurb and boy! did that work in my favor. I wasn't a fan of the language and the writing but gradually the icy cold tone of the narration started making sense because that's supposed to be a reflection of the female lead's character. Soon, we are introduced to the main love interest who manages to earn my ire quite early. None of the characters are too impressive or exactly heroic but they are all very interesting and convincing. I loved that the heroine is such a cynic and is insistent on only ever using her head, all the while ignoring her heart-- because that's such a breath of fresh air. Oh, by the way, she is a Seer.

Okay, one of the most interesting things I noticed about this book is that it combines tropes from all of our favorite fairy tales, sometimes twisting them, sometimes subverting them and I have read a lot of retellings but never have I ever encountered such a clever combination of all the tropes into one smooth and delicious enemies-to-lovers romance. And when I say all I really mean all-- from girls trapped in towers, cursed-princes-turned-beasts to midnight balls and spiteful witches.

In the midst of all the revelry, there is also an undercurrent of commentary on colonialism, manipulation of public opinion and the nature versus culture debate. The only blatantly visible flaw in the book is the lack of world-building which leaves much to be speculated about the magic system and I had to fill in a lot of gaps by myself, almost in the manner of a willing suspension of disbelief.

All in all, a great leisure read and may be picked up by anyone looking for a quick and fun read.

P.S. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Oh man I loved it!! You had me at enemies to lovers .I loved every single thing about this book. Not my usual style so when I come across a gem like this I appreciate it. Would definitely recommend and can't wait for the book 2.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Wow!!

Violet & Cyrus are probably 2 of my fave characters to read about this year. The story is gripping and very easy to read, I cannot wait for the second one

Violet is a prophet and a liar, influencing the court as Seer with her cleverly phrased - and not always true - divinations. Honesty is for suckers, like the oh-so-not-charming Prince Cyrus, who plans to strip her of her title once he's crowned.
After the king asks her to falsely prophesy Cyrus's love story for an upcoming ball, Violet awakens a dreaded curse about the prince's future bride. Her wits may protect her in the cutthroat court, but they can't protect her against fate - nor the doomed attraction growing between her and the Prince. BRILLIANT… If I could I would give it more than 5 stars. Excellent.

I couldn't stop reading this book! I loved how open they were with the romance and the characters didn't batter an eyelid over being with anyone regardless of sex (was more seer and royalty shouldn't date) and how the main character was so morally grey, she was doing things that she thought was right and wasn't always striving to be a saint. The romance was explosive and fun without being too explicit, the plots and magic were well done and I enjoyed digging deeper into the world. Looking forward to book 2!

Of course, is this only my personal opinion on the book and just because I give this rating to the book doesn’t mean, that everyone will have that opinion. I received this ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own!

This book immediately gave me Cardan and Jude in Wicked King Vibes and I am here for it! But please don’t mistake this comparison for lack of originality. This story is still fantastic on its own.
The writing style is comfortable and easy to read. I would say that you can also read this book if English is not your native language and you want to dip your foot into reading English fantasy. I really enjoyed my reading time.
I had some problems with the world-building at the beginning. The world is not overly complex like a high fantasy book, but I like to know where I am while reading, so: Thanks for the map!
The plot was really good and fast-paced and if I didn’t need sleep that night, I would have devoured it in one sitting.
I like the characters a lot, especially Violet, because she is a strong female protagonist, who isn’t a mindless mess in terms of men.
Yes, there is some spice in this book but nothing overly erotic so I think it still fits into the YA Genre.
I am excited for the next book in this duology and also to see what other book ideas Gina Chen will come up with.

Conclusion
Perfect for Fans of Cruel Prince in need of a nice Enemies to Something Fantasy Story.

If you want to read more of my reviews check out my blog ( https://paulajosina.wordpress.com/ ) or my Instagram ( @bloggerinthejogger)

Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen is the start of a new ya fantasy duology.

Violet is a prophet and seer in this world. This gives her a special position that provides her a good life. But she is kind of an anti-heroine who doesn’t always tell the truth. This was so unique and seeing Violet‘s flaws from the beginning made her so much more relatable.

She works for the kingdom and the king really likes her. But the prince is the exact opposite and can’t stand her and Prince Cyrus would rather get rid of her immediately. Cyrus was also such a fascinating character and I loved him as well.

Violet and Cyrus just know how to push each other’s buttons, but at the same time there are sparks between them. However, that is the last thing they need as the land is under a curse and no one can mess with fate. I just loved every page of this book and I already can’t wait to buy a physical copy and reread it while waiting for the next installment. Also one of my favorite stories is the folk of the air series and this book kind of gave me the same vibes and I was all for that.

Overall, Violet Made of Thorns not only has amazing characters, but also an enemies-to-lovers and dark fairytale vibe and that made it my new favorite. 5 stars.

(ARC kindly provided in exchange for a review.)

"To be remembered as someone good, you have to do good.
To be remembered as someone great, you have to get elbow-deep in bullshit and come out looking spotless".

"Violet made of thorns" was a very enjoyable read. The characters felt real and envoked vivid emotions from compassion to irritation to heartfelt sympathy again.
The plot took lots of unexpected turns – and inspiration taken from famous fairytales (Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast and definitely some others!) didn't make the story predictable at all! Up to the last page I wasn't sure how the book was going to end.

The main heroine is truly a person with gray morals, which she proves every step of the way. I disagreed with her a lot but it was as if I disagreed with a real person, and it was such an invigorating feeling to get from a book character.
The prince is obviously appealing, and it isn't a bad thing. I felt like the main two make a good couple, and they could form a nice team once they get used to working together more. Especially Violet.
Thus far, as it was wisely noted in the book, "more sparks fly from friction, not cooperation".
I'll be glad to know what the autor has in store for them in the sequel.
Side-characters, Dante and Camille, felt thought-through and stood out with their curious opinions and tastes. I wonder how their destinies unravel in the second installment.

You'll love this book if you enjoyed "The Cruel Prince" and the hate to love dynamics between Jude and Cardan.

Big thanks to Gina Chen, her publishers and NetGalley for letting me read this marvelous romantic fairytale! #VioletMadeOfThorns #NetGalley

Violet & cyrus are literally goals, I loved this books and can't wait to see where the next book takes us.
Thank you to both Hodder & Stoughton publishers and Netgalley for providing this ARC for review.

4.5 ⭐️


Thank you so much to the publisher and author for granting me an Arc! I was absolutely thrilled when I was approved for an e-copy through NetGalley!🥀

Victoria is a gifted seer and liar, twisting prophecies at her will to survive. The king favours her, but Cyrus, the crown prince, made it clear that she wouldn’t be there when he ascends the throne. When the king makes Victoria lie about a prophecy involving his son’s love life, she accidentally awakens a deadly curse that threatens to destroy or save the kingdom.

This is the second book in a row that I read a character named Victoria who is an anti-heroine and I absolutely loved it. Victoria is an opportunist, with a well-written Arc, and her relationship with Cyrus was just *chef’s kiss*. I enjoyed every interaction between them and found myself wanting to read more of it. It’s been a while since I read a book this good in that trope. The tension and hatred was blended in a way that left me confused about how the characters felt about each other.

This was the perfect enemies-to-lovers, filled with all the angst and banter, in a picturesque world. I look forward to reading more of Gina Chen’s works.

I recommend this for anyone who likes dark fantasies with enemies to lovers trope 🥀

<i> The fate of an era rests on our lips. I speak prophecies that could crown kings, and his kiss could decide empires when bestowed on the right person.</i>
I went into this book blind. Read the blurb, thought it sounded right up my street and my gosh did I absolutely LOVE it.

<i> Violet Made of Thorns </i> is a dark fairytale with a morally grey main character who is flawed and messy, selfish and cynical. But oh-so incredible in every way. This story is absolutely perfect for fans of fairytale retellings, as Gina Chen expertly sprinkles well known fairytales throughout this story, crafting them into something new and wholly unique. The world set up gave me big Ella Enchanted vibes (the Ann Hathaway movie) with the set up of universities and gossip mags, fan clubs and politics. <i> Everyone has heard of the miller's kind daughter who marries richly, or of the maid who coaxes the man out of the beast, of the faithful girls locked in towers waiting for their knights. </i> It was fun and rich, layers of beautiful world building and politics and a Enemies-to-Lovers storyline I am in awe of.

I adored Violet, her sarcasm and her outlook on life <i>' I'm not kind either. Kind people get eaten alive in this world. </i>  Having grown up on the streets, then taken in at the age of 11 to be the Royal Seer, witch Violet knows how to tell people what they want to hear, how to lie and grapple and claw to get herself on top.<i>Better to run with wolves then be devoured by them </i> She is opportunistic, stubborn and proud.
And there is no one she is more stubborn and prideful around then the not-so- charming Prince Cyrus. The chemistry between these two is INTENSE, and it takes enemies-to-lovers to a whole new level - they are absolute enemies whilst they are lovers, and they aim to ruin each other however they can <i> 'I understand now how he wants me as much as he hates me: I'm the splinter in his heart, digging deeper with every attempt to remove me.' </i> Cyrus is noble and stubborn, hating the way his father is trying to expand their kingdom, how there is a curse resting on his shoulders that his (still need to find her) bride will either save or damn their kingdom. He dislikes the frivolity and vanity of the socialites, but most if all he hates what his father has turned the orphan Seer Violet into.
The relationship between them is unpredictable and dangerous. Nothing like a sprinkling of forbidden love and the edge of betrayal to spice up an already precarious situation.
<i> I don't know how to be soft. I barely believe in love. But I am the worse thing in Cyrus's life and nothing has tasted sweeter.</i>

This incredible story has prophecy's and deception, princes and witches, magic and politics, curses and romance. What more could you possibly want?

I wanted to thank Netgalley and HodderBooks infinitely for this ARC sent in exchange for an honest review on this book. Thanks!

Here I am talking once again about an ARC, a book that I read in preview.
This time we talk about Gina Cheng's Violet Made of Thorns which will be released on July 26th!

Before leaving you my impressions, the plot and what this book is about:
- Fantasy YA (duology)
- Prophecies and curses (even a little fairytale)
- Enemies to lovers, angst
- Morally gray seer and a cursed prince

Do you understand why I was immediately carried away by this plot? Everything told me "read me", but above all the fact that she was the one a little more "corrupt". Sweet memories of when I read The Bridge Kingdom last summer, but it was a very different thing.
Plot, development and characterization of the characters all travel together. I must say that it is a book that has a very fast pace, but not pulled away for this, quite the contrary. I usually prefer this type of rhythm due to the fact that you remain attached and interested in the development of the plot.
The whole book revolves around the curse of Cyrus which we understand is very important, not only for him, but for the whole kingdom. Despite this, our protagonist is Violet. I really loved her character. I would be lying saying that she is a new character, because lately I have read more and more about protagonists like her. Simply that they have a goal and are only interested in achieving it, it is not important how and through whom, the important thing is to achieve it. A little corrupt, absolutely shrewd. So, nothing, I really appreciated her. It is also because Violet is a "seer", that is, she sees into the future - an element I LOVE - and I must say that this element is perfectly matched with the character, but above all the personality of our protagonist. "Yes, of course, I see things in the future, but I can always lie for my own gain!" Adored.
As I said the plot of the book focuses a lot on eliminating this prophecy. In fact it will run out once Cyrus, who is the Crown Prince, finds love (I KNOW). Well at this point since apparently the prince is a bit slow, they decide (Violet and the king) to kind of create a kind of combined falling in love, which obviously doesn't work but the whole thing is fun.
Violet and Cyrus obviously can't stand each other - come on you understand there is no need for me to explain it to you - so it's a constant help, but I don't trust you, you betrayed me how can I trust you etc etc - all like this until the end of book, I wanted to throw them something aaaaaa

"Figure out what you want. Figure it out, so I can ruin you properly."

All this is also surrounded by other characters that I adored, like Camilla, the sister of Cyrus, simply iconic.
For me it was a super enjoyable read and I was glad I guessed I would like it! This book had intrigued me since November, from the first time I had read the plot on Goodreads, and it was a totally satisfying read.
I would say it is a book of court plots, magic and fairytales, angst (the boy fall first), scene shots and truly unforgettable protagonists.
Violet I think she will stay with me for quite some time!

Violet Made of Thorns is a book which I never knew I needed.

Violet is an anti-heroine - depending on how you perceive her narration, she could also be considered a heroine. Violet is a Seer who twists truths and tells lots of untruths. She has Chinese-based heritage and a sharp tongue which makes the story even more refreshing. She’s headstrong and does things her way.

The plot was filled with all the traditional fairytale tropes with wicked twists and turns. The characters were diverse and I loved the mysterious and magical aspects in this book.

VMOT will leave you breathless, wanting more and I can’t wait to see what the sequel brings .

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC!

Violet Made of Thorns was one of my most anticipated releases for 2022 and it did not disappoint! I loved it!
Dark Fantasy with enemies to lovers, strong female MC, intriguing world building and political intrigues. This book was not at all as I imagined but I fell in love it really quick and couldn’t put it down!
Violet became one of my favourite MC! All the characters were really well written and the representation was amazing.
The magic system was definitely my favourite! Beautiful dark fairy tale with interesting take on Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast.
I recommend it for all YA readers especially for those who enjoyed Cruel Prince!

Violet Made of Thorns is a beautifully written novel with a cunning main character, a magical world, an enchanting tale, political scheming, and enemies to lovers. It truly is perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and The Shadows Between Us.

"The best part about being Seer isn't the tower or the amenities or the access to the king. It's how easily everyone believes what you say."

As soon as I saw the phrase “a prophet and a liar” used to describe Violet I knew I had to read this book. Violet was an orphan living on the streets until she had a vision of the prince and decided to use it to claw her way to a home. However, the work didn’t end there as now she has to ensure she can keep that home. Gina Chen cleverly weaves Violet’s backstory through the main plot in a way that allows us to understand and empathise with how Violet came to be morally grey.

I love the cleverness of Violet. She learned early the power of words and under the guidance of the king, she uses her words to shape politics. But I also found her frustrating as she is very much a lone wolf that refuses to seek the aid of others.

"You once asked what I'm afraid of when it comes to you. It would be the same reason you should be afraid of me. We could ruin each other, and we would not hesitate to do so."

Oh, the romance really gave me Cardan and Jude vibes! Except where Violet is a cut-throat character determined to get and stay ahead, Cyrus is her antithesis. They are total opposites, yet they can’t seem to keep their hands off each other. “I can fix her” x “I can make him worse” may be my new favourite trope. However, similar to The Cruel Prince, I found myself wishing for more romance.

“Kings and curses, girls and gods – these are the making of tales.”

The question of the story is can you escape destiny? Prophecies are a key part of the plot and oh boy, they are beautifully written. The lyrical nature of the writing made me very happy, and the story had a fairytale quality overall. I personally liked the worldbuilding, I feel it was just enough to show us the nature of the world, the magical forest, and the creatures within. I'm looking forward to the second book!

<i>I received this ARC thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.</i>

<b>"The best part about being Seer isn't the tower or the amenities or the access to the king. It's how easily everyone believes what you say."</b>
Even thou for the whole book I've felt like it's just the beginning and I didn't even noticed when it all passed, I have to admit, it was quite an adventurous ride! And I couldn't pinpoint a twisted relationship more true to statement that there's little difference between love and hate. Digging for some antiheroine and a whole truck of fairy dust? Here we go!
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<b>"Better to be pleasantly surprised than vulnerable. I've clawed my way up to the very pinnacle of this kingdom, and it's a long fall down."</b>
Violet wasn't born to be a disney princess. She's got there all on her own. Saving a prince in their childhood, lead by a vision she had she's been brought to the castle to work as a new Seer for the king. Great timing, as soon after that they've lost their current one, that left with a terrible prophecy on her deathbed. Having cursed prince isn't an easy nut to crack, so the King starts to spin his own tales using the new Seer at his service.
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<b>One fairy, all right, you're cute. <i>Five</i> fairies? Five fairies, you're trouble!</b>
You might've thought that as Violet is prince's savior, they become friends and happily grow up together in castle. You couldn't get it more wrong, actually there's noone Violet hates more than Cyrus. And vice versa. Or at least that's what they keep telling each other. In the kingdom of Auveny they live, surrounded by magical woods and other realms, magic is sold of between people and fairies, which help them to get glamoured into their dream looks, or just have people look after you with loving eyes. That's the strategy of royal twins too, when they run arroound their kingdom and making everyone adore them in preparation of succesful ascension to the throne. Violet watches all of this from her own place, making a statement with everything she acts. If you've loved boldness of Celaena Sardothien, or self-assertion of Jude Duarte you'll fall in love with Violet's attitude!
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<b><i>They will never love you as you wish them to.</i>
Maybe cruel is the best thing I can be.</b>
Reading this book I could literally feel characters having conversations that've felt quite modern in their meaning, thou the book is set in more medieval style fantasy type, but oh boi I loved all the 'Yasss slay queen' moments they had, it was really refreshing to feel relatable in thoughts and conclusions characters make. It also contains quite a chunk of making out, that indeed felt intense at times, but I was actually enjoying it, especially when the love-hate part was involved. It might've even feel disturbing few times, but that's all that makes it even more involving, if only I had time I'd devour this book in one sitting!
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<b>"You've already figured out a plan, haven't you? Tell me how, Violet. Spin me gold."</b>
I don't want to mumble too much about the plot itself, as you'd loose all the anticipation you're building up reading the book, trying to figure out where the hell all the troubles are going to lead our characters, so please just trust me on this -- if you've loved Cruel Prince, A Curse so Dark and Lonely or Defy the Night, you're going to adore the story of Violet and Cyrus, when they're trying to bring each other to ruin, solid 5 stars for me!

𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Violet Made of Thorns
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Gina Chen
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Young Adult, Fantasy
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Dark and whimsical, Violet Made of Thorns is an enchanting story. In this tale we follow Violet, a Seer who sees what cannot be seen and speaks in truth and also in lies (often influenced by the King). Cryus, the Prince, however, wishes to strip her title when he takes the throne.


I loved Violet! She may be considered an unlikeable protagonist, but I found her realistic, relatable, and can't help but root for her! She's flawed and cynical but she also a fighter and isn't afraid to go after what she wants. Cyrus, the cursed prince, is an interesting character. He's more of the dreamer who wishes to marry for love and yet is unaware of his privilege. I enjoyed Violet and Cyrus's interactions and their CHEMISTRY. The tension, their banter, the angst... It's so delicious 🤌

Not only did I love the characters, I was also invested in the story and plot. I wanted, no, NEEDED to know everything! I'm already in agony waiting for the next book.

𝐆𝐔𝐒𝐇:
• I loved the characters, their interactions, the lore, and the development of the plot. I couldn't put the book down because I was so invested in this book!
• Violet, the protagonist, is such a compelling character. She doesn't always make the "best" choice, but she makes the best of what she has. I
• Character relationships. Not only the romantic ones but also the platonic relationships. I enjoyed them all. (But yes did I love the chemistry between Violet and Cyrus I won't deny this)

𝐈𝐧 𝐚 𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
✔ enemies to lovers
✔ dark and modern twist on fairytales
✔ flawed messy protagonist

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬: fate and destiny, touches on colonisation, xenophobia, manipulation

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫: fans of fairytale retellings, flawed protagonist,

𝐂𝐖: death, violence


Thank you to @NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 𝐌𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠: 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐣𝐨𝐲.𝐜𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞

4.5⭐

Violet Made of Thorns follows Violet, Auveny's Seer, who influences her court and kingdom with well phrased, and not entirely true, divinations and sights of the future. When Violet is asked to falsely predict that Prince Cyrus will fall in love at the upcoming ball, Violet learns that she has awoken a dreaded curse, one that will only end in either salvation or damnation for her kingdom. Will Violet seize control of her own destiny, or give in to the increasing attraction and tension growing between her and Cyrus?

I LOVED this book and I loved Violet even more! She's unapologetically confident, can be a little ruthless and selfish, but she's so funny and a breath of fresh air. I was expecting more of a 'morally-grey' persona but she's not quite that, she moreso has the constant dilemma of choosing between good and evil. And whilst I really liked her as the lead, I unfortunately felt slightly indifferent about her love interest, Prince Cyrus. It was certainly a great enemies to lovers dynamic - full of betrayal, hatred, and lust - but there was something about Cyrus' character that fell flat for me. Which in truth is incredibly annoying as the tension between these two felt palpable, and it is definitely up there as one of the best enemies to lovers books I've read. The romance in this book was still probably the highlight for me though!

I adored the blend between fantasy and fairy tale; it doesn't necessarily follow a specific tale but instead borrows elements from them, which I absolutely loved. I do think this book lacked world building and providing details regarding the neighbouring cities and kingdom's, I think if this aspect was dwelled upon a little more thoughout the book it would have been perfect. This also goes for the curse that is frequently mentioned, I feel like it could have been expanded on and utilised more.

Dubbed by the author as a "𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴" and if that doesn't do it for you then idk what will!

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I started following the author a few years ago on Twitter because I saw a commissioned artwork on the author's feed. I was so excited when the news came that the rights were boughten.
It has everything that I love in a novel: Enemies to lovers, palace intrigue, a fairytale-inspired world, an antiheroine, and prophecies.
Violet Made of Thorns is a romcom with fairytale worldbuilding that reminded me of Shrek and Ella enchanted. And it was funny! The pacing was slow, so those who like a quicker story might be disappointed. Personally, I liked it, though I would have preferred a little more palace intrigue.
I liked our main characters very much, their relationship was so much fun. The only thing that was confusing was their reason to resent each other. I thought that our main character will be an antiheroine, but Violet was just a girl with logical thoughts, and she saw the world as what it was. She was not ambitious at all.
In contrast, Cyrus was the one with the more questionable intentions. We were told that He would be a good king and that He always keeps the interests of the kingdom in mind. But we never see what he is actually doing to achieve those things.
Overall, Violet Made of Thorns was the perfect summer read, and I can't wait to read the sequel, I know it will be so much fun!

Violet Made of Thorns is a truly captivating story about a morally grey witch, precisely a seer who can see people´s past and future threads when she touches them with her hands. As a little girl, she saved the crown prince and clawed herself into the palace, now living in her own seer´s tower and serving the king, at the same time scheming for her own advantage.

Some may find Violet to be not exactly a pleasant heroine to root for but I could relate to her pretty easily. She´s unapologetically herself… brash, sarcastic, and cunning and I loved her witty and snarky remarks. And Cyrus, oooh, this sometimes absolutely infuriating - at least for Violet - prince charming charmed the hell out of me. I guess I will never learn… always falling for the hot & cold sexy male heroes. The hate-love relationship between them is like the finest wine. Note that I write hate-love like this and not ´hate-to-love´ on purpose because this book takes enemies-to-lovers to a new level as they are both at the same time. There is a lot of sexual tension, angst, and banter. The author, Gina Chen, called this an “I can fix her” versus “I can make him worse” relationship which is absolutely correct. It explains their dynamics so well. The romance is intoxicating in the best way. I´ll be impatiently waiting for another dose now.

Speaking of their dynamic, let´s not forget the fact that Cyrus has to find a wife and Violent does not miss a single opportunity to comment on all the single ladies who are eager to marry a prince and the tabloid flyers such as Gilda´s Gab or Lace´s Things, studying Cyrus´s body to the point of it becoming an anatomy lesson. Honestly, after all the excellent ´hate kissing´ scenes there, who wouldn´t want an anatomy lesson with him, right? This whole marriage hunt brought a bit of a comedy into it and I could not be happier about it. I enjoyed it very much.

The side characters - princess Camilla and the prince´s and now also Violet´s friend Dante got into my heart as well. Camilla, Cyrus’s lesbian twin sister, was so… wow. This girl knows how to party, apparently loves anything sweet, wears lavish dresses, knows how to handle a fight, and calls people out for their… feelings? Dante does that too. I love characters like that. I guess I need a spin-off with her at the center.

The plot was intriguing. I could not wait to find out what´s gonna happen next. I loved how the book included fairytale references and how it works will well know fairytale tropes, turning them upside down to create something totally fun and new. I can honestly say that it was keeping me on my toes because I could never be sure if my theories will come true.

Overall, I fell in love with this fairytale-like cunning heroine & charming prince perfection. It´s got everything I could possibly want to completely fall in love with - great heroine, hot & cold prince, court machinations, magic, witches, secrets, prophecies, a curse, danger, magical wood, fairies, the right amount of action, incredible chemistry between characters, a bit of humor. It kept me hooked from the first page to the very end. I could not put it down and devoured the book in 2 days.

I think that fans of The Cruel Prince and Serpent & Dove could love it. It has got the angst and court intrigue of the first and well, Violet´s behavior reminded me of Jude and Lou as well - both being sharp-tongued heroines. In my eyes, it totally lives up to the hype. Also, I have a feeling that Violet Made of Thorns may appeal to those who liked These Hollow Vows because it also works with elements such as a masquerade ball, enchantments (enchanted dresses, shoes…), and fairies (but the fairies here are actually small radiant beings with wings and fairy dust) and that mentioned fairytale tropes, but also to those who do not fancy that book because Violet Made of Thorns does its own very refreshing take on these elements.

At last, I can say that the story is quite wrapped up enough at the end - there is not a cliffhanger that could slowly make you go crazy till the sequel comes out. I wonder where it will go from here and I am excited to see what happens to Cyrus and Violet next. I smell some more witchy-cursey troubles and I can´t wait!


Special thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for sending me an electronic reading copy in exchange my honest review.

5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the e-arc for an honest opinion.

Please take in mind it’s my opinion, and everyone is allowed to have one.

I absolutely loved this book! This was such an unique read. It was something I haven’t read before, once you read the book the title of the book make sense (which was fun to discover).

I liked how it involves so many things, beasts, witches, magic, royalties. The whole plot was something I didn’t see coming which was so great.

The banter between Cyrus and Violet was chefs kiss, I loved it. The pull and push you’d think that would become irritating but actually that made the book so much better. Violet is also such a great character, like her character development.

I honestly can’t wait for another book!

[RATE: 4.5/5] This is just honestly SO GOOD I'm actually surprised by how much I loved it and flew through the book??

Like, I knew from the blurp it was a morally grey witch and supposed it'd be a love/hate romance with the cursed prince. But damn it was so well done, from the beginning to the very end of this book they stayed true to themself and it's something that lacks a lot in that kind of plot!!

I loved both characters (Violet and Cyrus). Their personalities stayed the same yet they still changed and had a developement throughout the book - it's something hard to be done and it was done well. I couldn't guess any of the other's next move because of that, because you wish they'd do something but then they'd do the opposite (and it's not a weird move from them). I am still surprised with the whole ending and I actually loved it so much lol

Also loved their love/hate relationship (and we need to call it that way), loved their banter/fight, their funny moments together, the tension between them, too.

The story was really good. I got confused sometimes hence why I'd give it 4.5 stars and not full 5 stars but that's not a big problem. We got everything we wanted from reading the blurp: the divinations, the gods, the curses, and the beasts. I also really liked how magic worked overall in the story, like the glamours and such. There were funny moments and serious and dark ones too, so it just feels satisfying.

I have a problem tho. Book one is not out yet that I already want to read book 2. Big problem ugh.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for giving me this ARC!

First of all I want to say that I LOVE THIS SO MUCH AND CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK!

Every thing I like in a fantasy world/book/story I could find it here. From little fairy, curse, prince charming, witches, beautiful ball, gown, dance and so much more! I can feel the fairy tale feeling in this book. I'm not saying this book is a retelling book but you can find some fairy tale element in this book like from Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast.

The world building itself I can say just so so and nothing really special because the author not really focusing to explain the world but I can get the vibes of fantasy world in this book. Like tower for the witch, palace, ball hall, mysterious forest and etc.

The story is so GREAT! From the very beginning we have been introduced to the curse that will be the main theme of this book and how to break it. The events that occur in this book are all very well and intensely explained. Non-stop we will be exposed to conditions that make the situation even more dangerous, especially when the real enemy has begun to appear. Without being given a break, we are immediately invited to jump into the real problem and because this is the first book, don't expect to see a happy ending story here because everything is still hanging and the main conflict is still wide open. I can't wait for the sequel!

And the best part of this book is the characters. I fell in love with Violet and Cyrus! If some reviewers say this is enemies to lovers, I'm sure it's more of a Love & Hate relationship. Violet is a Seer, a fortune teller in the kingdom, a witch. She devoted herself to the King. While Cyrus is a prince. It's impossible for the two of them to be together right? Our main character, Violet, is not an ordinary character who will become a great person but she is a witch who can destroy everything in the kingdom.

At the beginning of the book, they are described as hating each other because they always argue endlessly. There was never a sweet word that emerged from the two. But seeing what Violet thought of Cyrus changed my view too. Violet once saved Cyrus' life and because of that he was brought to the palace. Both hate each other especially Cyrus because he hates the current Violet. But, at other times they can't resist being "seduced" with each other. Their relationship is absolutely amazing! I LOVE THEM even when they want to kill each other but at the same time they want to kiss each other. The tension that exists between the two never stop! I don't want to spoil too much about either of them but I highly recommend reading it because it's SO GOOD!

full review will be coming on my blog near publication date!

“Once, a girl saved a prince who was meant to die.”
“They grew up together. Their paths diverged. It was in their nature to loathe each other, for a palace-raised prince and a girl plucked from the streets are two very different creatures”

Firstly, let me thank the publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, and NetGalley, for allowing me access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is truly a fairy tale type story where we follow Violet, a seer, who acted upon what she saw in a vision to save Cyrus, the prince of Auveny and heir to the throne. After being brought to the kingdom, the current Seer soon passes leaving Violet to take her place. Before the seer’s departure, she speaks of a prophecy relating to blood, war & roses, the only way to break the prophecy is for the prince to find and marry his true love.

Obviously not everything goes to plan along the way. We learn of enchanted woods, fates, witches and we meet some interesting people throughout. Not only that, but Violet has visions of her own and she soon has to make decisions on where her loyalties lie and what matters to her most: her life or the kingdom and those around her.

There is plenty of magic, curses and beasts throughout this book which makes is a truly enchanted read.

Characters:
Violet, as mentioned, comes from a poor background with no mention of parents. She’s had to learn quickly how to fend for herself. Violet is a feisty character who doesn’t suffer fools gladly and has a sharp tongue to match.

Cyrus, the prince. He is as charming as he is handsome and, at first, may come across as a little stubborn and naïve despite that fact that he is heir to the throne but things start to become clearer the further into the book you get.

Camilla, the princess and sister to Cyrus. One of my favourite characters and not what you’d expect a princess to be like (other than the way she dresses in the most lovely clothes and is picture perfect) some of her dialogue and comments are brilliant and the pages are a joy when she is within them. She is also the Sapphic representation for this book!!

Dante, Cyrus’ best friend and part-time advisor (unofficially) He seems to be the one who speaks sense. Dante is technically an outsider as he was not born within Auveny, however you will learn his story as you read the book.

General comments:
The curses, masked balls, magic, enchanted forests and fairies REALLY make this book feel like a magical fairy tale. There is a strong tension between Violet and Cyrus right from the start, in more ways than one.

Some of the banter and dialogue between characters is really funny and refreshing. There is good character progression also, you can really feel them changing and growing with one another. There is some betrayals throughout the pages and political views on what I best for the kingdom.

I’d say this book features a few generic YA tropes, including hidden identities, enemies to lovers, slow-burn and forbidden romance but they’re written really well and you just want it to happen, and when it does! *ugh* <3

This book isn’t ‘spicy’ in any way. There are a few kissing scenes and eventually a scene which alludes to sex but it’s not graphic not does it actually mention that it happens, you just know it did.

The last third of this book was my favourite as so much happened and I just HAD to keep reading to find out what was going on. Some of the decisions will infuriate you, but the decisions have purpose and I PROMISE that everything makes sense.

Just to add, I read this on my Kindle, I never ever annotate books, but this one I just HAD to highlight any parts that I loved and wanted to go back and read again.

Summary:
Overall, Gina Chen has written a brilliant debut book and I think a lot of people are going to love this, especially if you’re a YA fantasy lover who is a sucker for a handsome prince and a Sapphic princess.

Overall I’d give this 4.5/5 stars.

“What do I say to a prince who kissed me, then told me to get the hell out of his kingdom, then protected me from a beast, before getting engaged overnight?”

This book has very quickly jumped to my top reads of 2022 so far and definitely into some of my favourite fantasy reads ever. I enjoyed the storyline and the plot unfolding, the dark and mysterious vibes are immaculate and the constant underlying tension between Violet and Prince Cyrus was literally frustrating, but in a way that did not deter you away from the book. The overall pacing of the book was good, however, the end felt very quick which I can excuse as the book was beautiful. The overall magic blended in well with the world-building, however, I would have liked to see what other magic was in this world other than fairies and witches.

“He kisses me like nothing else matters, and I kiss him like I believe it”

Although the relationship develops as friends to lovers (kind of), there are very many elements of enemies to lovers as they both voice their dislike to each other frequently. A part of me wants them to just be together and gets frustrated when they push each other away, but the chase and suspense of the relationship also makes it fun and exciting. I wouldn’t personally compare it to Serpent and Dove, other than the witch and royalty elements, The Cruel Prince I sort of understand in terms of romance structure, but I do think it is quite different and shouldn’t be put in the same categories.

“Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like I matter to you.”

Aside from the romantic relationship, I found Violet’s and Camilla’s relationship fun to read about and wish they were closer and had more time together. Also, she and Dante, although the plot twist was something I felt was a bit predictable for him, wish he had some more character development.

“We could ruin each other, and we would not hesitate to do so”

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and can’t wait for the next one. I loved the romance and the characters and hope to see more plot developments in the next book and see how the relationship between Violet and Cyrus turns out.

Thank you NetGallery for the e-arc.

This book has to be my favourite release of 2022 so far. It checks all of my requirements for an amazing YA fantasy book: a well-fleshed out and likeable heroine, a tight but interesting plot, a well-developed fantasy world with its entire system mapped to perfection, and of course, an enemies-to-lovers relationship so good that they're literally enemies while they're also falling in love, and even when they're in love they're still enemies, like, hello?????

Although the publisher comparing Violet Made of Thorns to The Cruel Prince gave me overly high expectations going into the book (I have been waiting to get the ARC from NetGalley for ages and had been looking to its publication for the entire year), I was still enthralled by the world and the plot. I read the whole book in one sitting, and I can't wait for the sequel to come out.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

There better be a second book! I cannot live without finding out what happens next (I know that sounds dramatic but I feel nothing else I say will give the book the justice it deserves!). Absolutely gripping from start to beginning.

Okay, hear me out: this is how the Cruel Prince should have been written. Fans of Reluctant lovers, this book is just right for you. But in this story you can actually see why and what they love about each other. Violet is not the soft hearted, good heroine we are used to see. She is though, she has faced many challenges in her life and she is ready to do everything she needs to not to end up in the streets again. And if that means lying, so be it.. The point is that Prince Cyrus can see the girl she could have been if his father had not made her do bad choices, if only she had decided to go against him once. It’s difficult for them to accept there’s more to their relationship than despise, but it’s there: crystal clear for everyone to see.. if only there wouldn’t be a prophecy about how Cyrus’ wife will save them all (no pressure right?!)..

The writing style is very beautiful, I loved way in which myths, stories and prophecies intertwine and how the characters are able to actually exploit them at their benefit. I am quite bored of good and predictable characters, the ones that spark my attention and make me stay up late reading are the kind we find in this story!

It's harder to write about something you like like than something you don't.
I finished reading this ages ago. I just couldn't find the words to express how good of a story it was and how much a enjoyed the story
An extraordinary ,fairytale romance, "The Seer and the Prince".
A girl dominating in a world of man, asserting her right and using her wits and power to keep her position.
I love the verbal sparring and how she has to have the last word. Reminds me a bit of myself sometimes 😉 and I especially like how she doesn't listen to a thing the prince tells her to do. I especially enjoyed how she refuses to give up what she wants. Too many times in books you see the female protagonist eventually give in "for the greater good". I think she deserves to be a bit selfish.
It was also refreshing to see the prince bow down to her and eventually come to respect her. Not expecting her to change for her or anyone else.
So my fellow readers if you're looking for some spectacularly firecracker type of summer reading . Put this one on your TBR! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved Violet's character and the aspect that she was a seer who had to constantly lie. She's a strong character and she clearly speaks her mind. I loved especially that even though she was employed by the king and had a high status, she didn't care about it. I also loved her hate-love relationship with Cyrus. It was sooo good. I can't wait for more by this author.

From the moment I heard about Violet Made of Thorns, I knew this would be one book that I would enjoy. And like many of Violet’s prophecies, that came true. (sorry I had to say this hehe)

Reading Violet Made of Thorns was the most fun I’ve had reading a fantasy lately. I loved how high-intensity the book felt. It kept me on its toes and second-guessing so many of the character’s motives. Gina Chen has spun a brilliant world and magic system, giving us just the perfect amount of information that helps make sense of what is happening. Violet Made of Thorns fees like a dark, vicious fairy tale; one that you don’t want to stop reading.

Our main character Violet is the Seer in the Court of Auveny, with the ability to see threads and visions of the future by holding someone’s hands. She is so well-written and well-rounded; I greatly enjoyed Violet as the protagonist. She’s selfish and ambitious and looks out for herself as she navigates the Court. I loved how she remained true to herself and her own goals till the end and never backed down from what she wanted. Characters like her are my favourite.

Prince Cyrus is interesting for sure; he despises Violet and you can clearly see it in the way they interact with each other. But there is an underlying current of something there and as the story progresses, we slowly get to see what that ‘something’ is. Even though we just got to view Cyrus through Violet’s perspective, I loved his character development too. Their romantic interactions…*chef’s kiss*

THAT ENDING MADE ME SCREAM. And it only made me want Book 2 asap.

As I said above, Violet Made of Thorns is a brutally vicious fairytale, with selfish characters, uncertain prophecies and a cursed prince. This is one fantasy tale that is unputdownable.

{AD|GIFTED} I admit I was a little put off by the mixed reviews I saw on here but I absolutely adored this YA fantasy romance. THIS is how you write a fleshed-out, ambitious character with questionable morals. Whether you agree with Violet's choices or not, they are always true to her character and entirely believable.

An enemies-to-lovers romance can sometimes be a miss if the focus leans heavily towards the romance element but the dynamic between Violet and Cyrus was perfectly balanced between hate and love. There are no major cliffhangers which I liked, yet the story is set up for book 2, and I can't wait to find out what Violet does next. I'd highly recommend this one!

Omg.
I think this might be my new favourite upcoming book.

The world building and character creations within this were just captivating. I loved that our main character female had a bit of a grey area and I'm not going to spoil it here but yep, loved the slight redemption arc.
I tore through this in a day, I just couldn't put it down.
The ending definitely left space for a sequel but the small short story gives some closure as well, it's so open ended and closed at the same time.

I can't wait for my finished copy to arrive.

Violet is a Seer, able to tell someone’s future through touch, for the King of Auveny. Her cleverly phrased prophecies help the King to sway the royal court but when asked to lie about a prophecy involving Prince Cyrus, she gets more than she bargained for.

As my first reading of a fantasy book, I absolutely loved this book. I read it in about two days because I couldn’t put it down.

Violet, the main character, is cynical, selfish and kind of mean and yet she is incredibly lovable and as relatable as a fantasy character can possibly be. All of the characters are well written and Violet’s friendships with Princess Camilla and Dante work just as well as her enemies to lovers journey with Cyrus.

One of the best things about Violet Made of Thorns is just how stunning the imagery and worldbuilding is and how Gina Chen weaves fairytale elements into the story; the beautiful fairytale-like prose at the end has me hoping for a sequel.

Also, I want, more than anything, to get my hands on Violet’s cloak that changes to match the sky.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for letting me read this arc.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Gina Chen for writing one HECK of a book. This was one of my most highly anticipated books of 2022... and it did NOT disappoint. My gosh, am I obsessed with this book.

Violet is potentially my new favourite anti-hero. She is such a beautifully crafted character with so much depth and determination. She has ugly sides, ones she refuses to shy away from and I LOVE her for it.

I love, love, love the magic in this novel. I love how the different magic works and all of the rules around Violet's Sight are just wonderful. I love how it works and how it's woven into the plot. It's just so wonderfully done.

The world! Yes, yes, yes. I just love it. I want to see more of it - more of the court, more of the grounds. Show me all of the fairywood and all that lurks within it. I would genuinely read a book just showcasing all of the places in this world.

Now my favourite thing about this book... The romance. This is how you write enemies to lovers. I have so many emotions about this romance & all of them good. Many of them can be translated as excited screeches and a void of sadness because I neeeeed another book already. I need more of these characters and this world and this magic.

Basically, I'm just in love with this book.

A book I couldn't put down. Violet is an amazing heroine, witch, seer as you like. Her no hold comments to the Prince, her portrayl of girl power made for an interesting read. I just love her use of 'Pincey'. The world building was perfect, and the interlinking fairy tales made the story perfect. Maleficent, The Beast, Sleeping Beuaty and the thorns, faires and magic. A perfect Fanatsy story for all.

This was honestly one of my fav reads of this year. The heroine, the fierceness of her, I want her to be my best friend. LOVE LOVE LOVE!! Please write book 2 right now I need it.

★★★★★ 4.5/5

Main character Violet is a witch and a Seer for the king. As a child she was plucked from poverty after saving the prince, and Violet has learned when to tell the truth, and when to lie behind veiled words of prophecy. With a prophecy already foretold by the Seer before Violet regarding prince Cyrus, time is running out to change the future of the kingdom that seems set to happen.

Lying to the prince and those around her at the king’s orders, Violet must ensure that not only is her own destiny ensured, but the prince’s too. As a skilled liar and manipulator, Violet schemes her way through the court, prepared to do whatever necessary to keep her place at the palace, even if it means losing a part of herself in the process.

Violet Made of Thorns is everything I wanted it to be. With magic and court dynamics, a main female character with questionable morals, and even a love/hate relationship. I really liked the interesting take on prophecies and magic, and how Violet knows what she wants and is unafraid to play dirty to get it. There’s an author’s note on Violet, and despite the author referring to Violet as ‘unrelatable’ I found myself relating to her and her personality a lot.

I also liked Violet’s relationship with Cyrus, and how it wasn’t enemies to lovers, or even rivals to lovers, and because of this I can see why the book is being marketed as for fans of The Cruel Prince. There are some similarities between both books, but Violet Made of Thorns stands out on its own in a very different world.

As for the plot it’s full of dark and even at times sinister vibes, and moves at a decent pace. I do hope there’s more world-building in the sequel as whilst there’s enough to get the first book going, I definitely wanted a lot more, and I definitely want more of Cyrus’s sister, Camilla. I also liked that despite the fact there’s a second book to come, this first book doesn’t end on a massive cliffhanger, but there’s still enough to clear up to justify a sequel.

Did I like the book? Yes

Did I love it? Yes! It’s another favourite from this year.

Would I recommend it? Definitely. If you like your heroines morally grey and even selfish, with magic and royalty involved, this is for you.

A kind thank you to the publisher for the e-ARC.

Violet Made of Thorns has been one of my most highly anticipated releases of 2022, and it did not disappoint. It was captivating, and the main characters made reading the book addicting because WHAT ELSE COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG? and WHAT WILL VIOLET/CYRUS ARGUE ABOUT NEXT?

Answers to these questions are: Everything and Everything. No, I'm not kidding.

First of all, to whomever made up the title, congratulations! This is the cleverest title I've seen in a long while. If you read the book, you'll totally get it.

The main character, Violet, is a compelling heroine, unapologetically looking out for herself. I cannot tell you how much I appreciated her. Someone who puts herself first, partly because she's worth it dammit, and partly because nobody else will. I guess, she's an anti-heroine, in that sense, but personally I don't like the word: she's the heroine of her own story and life. Why is looking out for herself be considered anti-anything? Violet is whip-smart, and I love smart characters.

Our male lead, Cyrus, gave as well as he took while he bantered with our Violet, and oh their banter was so entertaining. It's actually one of the best parts of this book. While I'm not the biggest fan of the 'most beautiful guy in the whole kingdom', I felt like his description was done in a somewhat refreshing way. There was a reason behind his otherwordly charms, so to speak, and I really liked that. I have a feeling that he will evolve in the next book. Please be more like Cardan and not Cal.

If you want a hate-that-I-want-you romance, look no further. The Violet/Cyrus relationship was phenomenal in that I-love-arguing-with-you-so-much-that-I-want-to-kiss-you kind of way.

I also really liked the side-characters! Dante, our witty, humorous, bookworm, was always a delight, and I always squealed inwardly when he appeared. In fact, I'd love a spin-off series about him. He was so intriguing. I loved how he maintained his friendship with both Violet and Cyrus, and how he carried himself, in general. He was also the voice of reason for the most part, and I'm a sucker for those characters. Camilla, the funny, entertaining sister of Cyrus, was a breath of fresh air, and she always provided a reprieve from the serious wicked curse solving business.

The world was queernorm, and I loved that. A female character getting with many girls. A male character being attracted to guys. In general, I also appreciated how the book treated attraction between any characters, like it was a normal human behavior. The characters just were and lived their lives as they wished. Except for some curses, witches, a bloodthirsty king, and thorns, that is. The story also tackled imperialism, and I felt that it was done very, very well.

While this book is definitely not the Asian dark fantasy that people have promoted it as, Violet Made of Thorns is a unique, refreshing fantasy with an Asian mc and dark magic. Influences and elements from various fairytales were in the text, and while it's not a retelling, it reads like a fairytale story, in the vein of Brigid Kemmerer's The Cursebreaker series and The Cruel Prince. That said, the world-building is what I felt could have been developed further in terms of the society and the magic system. Maybe it was me, or maybe it was the author's intention, but I didn't fully grasp the society's DNA make-up, so to speak. In terms of the magic system, I was a little surprised at the presence of the fairies and their woods, along with ambrosia-the food of Greek gods. Many different elements were weaved together in an interesting way, and while I don't need to understand everything, I wish we had gotten more clarifications by the end of the story. It is a duology, of course, so we should probably get all our answers in the next book (I'm already so excited!) but I felt like the world-building could have been explored more. It'd also be nice if we left the tower and the palace for a change of scenery. I really want to visit the magical forest. Yes, I loved the fairies, if that wasn't clear.

As for plot twists, there were many, and I loved them all!!!! The pace was okay, but I think it's because we stayed in one place that some readers can feel it was off. I was by the edge of my bed the entire time I read the book. I loved the plot. Though, one character's decisions at the end of the story shook me, because they felt out of character. I was like, Wait, is HE really saying THAT? Albeit little confused, I went with the flow, and enjoyed how Violet dealt with it all. Violet is a force to be reckoned with. I loved her.

I'm sorry if I rambled, but Violet Made of Thorns is a spectacular book, and yes, I took my sweet time exploring it and imploring you all to read this beauty!!! I LOVED this book, and I LOVED Violet!!! I'm certain that many readers will resonate with this heroine.

CANNOT WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL!!!

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for providing me an eARC of this book in return for an honest review.

A bit of Cinderella. A pinch of Beauty and the Beast. And a fairytale in it's own right.

In Violet made of Thorns we follow Violet Lune, a wild, sharp-tongued, non-apologetic Seer. She's clever and quick-thinking, not afraid to lie and manipulate the truth to keep her position.
She's been in service to the crown since she was a little girl, after saving the crown prince's life when they were young. But a life is owed and the Fates are clear on that.

A curse rests on Prince Cyrus, her former friend and...thorn in her eye. Excuse the pun. He refuses to get married to break the curse and save the kingdom from falling. The longer they wait, the more trouble rears it's head. The fairywood slowly becomes impossible to control. Monsters emerge and war is moments away from arriving at their doorstep.

This book exceeded my expectations and often I felt like I was reading a classic fairytale. If fairytales had semi-graphic spice...

I loved the whole cast of characters. Violet, an anti-hero, looking out for herself first and foremost. Cyrus. Prince Charming is a perfect nickname for this cocky, frustratingly swoon worthy prince.

The worldbuilding I wish we would've explored more. We hear of conflict in and with other places, but stay firmly in the capital of the Kingdom. I hope that if we get a sequel, that we go into the fairywoods and neighboring lands.

Violet Made of Thorns is a story I'd been looking forward to reading since before the UK publisher had even been announced. Morally grey characters with hate/love romance and fairytale vibes? Of course I was hooked on that idea! And Gina Chen delivers in this 100%.

Our main character, Violet, is a morally grey witch who can see the future. Once an orphan who is just trying to survive, she was able to foresee a future where the Prince is killed, leading her to save him and gain a position in the palace due to her innate powers. 

Prince Cyrus grows apart from her the longer she’s in the palace, he can’t stand the person she becomes as she happily lies for the king to keep her position as his Seer. Cyrus’ main issue is her ambition that drives her to do this… but that ambitious streak had been there since she planned to save him because she knew he looked important. 

I loved Violet’s attitude throughout, she’s very realistic around the world around her and understands that the world is run by wolves. Cyrus, in stark contrast, is a boy prophesied by a former Seer to bring ruin and yet he’s an optimistic ray of sunshine who only wants peace…well, peace and Violet. Or sometimes he just wants Violet gone. He’s understandably confused about wanting a forbidden love who has come to represent all he dislikes about the court. If you enjoyed the romance in The Cruel Prince, just go and preorder this book right now because you won’t be disappointed at all. 

If you enjoy fairytale stories or royal court set stories, you’ll really enjoy this book. If you enjoy both, you’ll likely fall in love with the world like I did. 

The story is told from Violet’s point of view, so we get extremely sassy descriptions of members of the court and those who comment on the court gossip and scandals. Overall, Violet is headstrong and not afraid to dance around things to achieve things for herself. Some of the things she had the guts to say had me almost cheering for her, and although she's unrelatable in the sense of being more of an antiheroine rather than a typical either sweet or courageous main character in a fairytale... I genuinely would love to be more like Violet. She comes across as sassy and confident and I loved seeing that! 

Other notable characters, who I enjoyed so much I'd happily read more about them in a side story, are Camilla (Cyrus' female twin) and Dante (Cyrus and Violet's close friend from another land). Camilla is another character who goes against the typical portrayal of royalty, her main interest lies in who she can lie with and she's a hilarious character. Also, she's one of my favourite sapphic Princesses now. Dante is... a busy scholar. His reactions throughout to Cyrus and Violet are mostly similar to that of an exasperated parent.

In terms of content, there is a little spice (helping to add to the existing romance subplot) and a couple of scenes during which the main character intentionally cuts herself (for magical purposes).

I think this story is the start of duology, and honestly I just hope we get treated to even more than just one more book in this world because Chen has created an enchanting world with a well of magic and an array of amazing characters, it's hard to believe that this is a debut.

Witches and magical creatures, prophecy and fate, a morally gray heroine, enemies to lovers - this book ticks a lot of boxes I love!

I thoroughly enjoyed this dark and modern fairtytale, following Violet the seer as she tries to understand the curse that hangs over the kingdoms prince, deciding whether she should do what's best for herself and for her king. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys romantic fantasy.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

Gosh, this book has everything I love! Deliciously morally grey characters, magic, betrayal and political intrigue; Violet Made of Thorns in a truly brilliant YA novel.

As the Seer to the King, Violet will manipulate and lie to ensure she cling on to her position in court. She needs to ensure that "Charming" Prince Cyrus is married before the end of the Summer and is willing to sugar coat her visions to push him in the right direction. An ancient curse, cursed nightmares and lots of plot twists ensured that I really couldn't put this book down.

Chen takes all the Fairytale troupes and uses them cleverly in this novel. You're constantly second guessing the motives of the characters who will do whatever it takes to keep themselves at the top while war and destruction looms ever closer. I loved Violet's character and the endless snipping with Prince Cyrus and I'm seriously hoping there'll be a sequel as I really need to know what's going to happen next.

Fans of the Cruel Prince would really enjoy this novel. Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this amazing novel!

I’d like to start out by thanking Netgalley and the publisher, Hodder & Stoughton, for providing me with an ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

Violet Made of Thorns is a wickedly enchanting fantasy debut, and definitely for anyone who loves books that remind them of fairytales. Whilst the beginning was a tad slow, I breezed through the rest of the book with ease, and am now left with a gaping void in my soul, that can only be filled with the sequel.

Let’s start out with one of my favorite aspects: the characters and their dynamics. Violet was an incredibly captivating protagonist and quickly cemented herself as one of my favorites. She’s cunning and very self serving, in a way that girls in fiction rarely get to be, especially when they’re also the (anti)heroine. And even though she’s selfish, you fully understand why she is, in a way that also makes you sympathize with her a great deal. She was such a compelling character and I enjoyed every moment spent in her head.

What makes the story even more compelling is her relationship with Cyrus, the prince. Now the author herself pitched their relationship as “I can fix her” meets “I can make him worse” and it was, it really was and it was perfect. I, like many others, love enemies-to-lovers relationships, and especially theirs. I think a part of what made them so compelling to me is that you couldn’t quite tell which of the two they were, even as they started getting together. To me they became kind of enemies AND lovers at the same time, as I wasn’t quite sure if they were going to kiss or kill each other. Their banter was also wonderful and refreshing, and I loved every scene where the two of them interacted.

The buildup was, as I mentioned, quite slow. But not so much that it really bothered me though, especially with the amount of twists and turns further into the story, as well as an ending that really packs a punch and I’m very excited to see where this story goes in the sequel.

This review has also been posted on my Instagram (@Kratist0) and can be found under my highlight titled “reviews”.

I rated this book 4.5 🌟 but rounding it up to 5 🌟 on GoodReads because this is a truly fantastic debut novel.

This book surprised me in the best possible way. From very early on in the book, I was hooked. The writing was so well done that it felt so easy slipping into this world and it allowed me to swallow up the pages.

I really like Violet’s character a lot. She doesn’t see herself as good but neither does she see herself as a villain. It’s more that she does what she needs to in order to survive in the palace and retain influence with the King. In this world, it isn’t necessarily the good people who are the people of power or influence. Those in charge are in that position because they’re able to manipulate the truth for the good of the country.

I really enjoyed the instant connection that you see between Violet and Cyrus. There’s a lot of resentment from Cyrus’ side as the King preferred Violet so he hates that he has feelings for her. You can see how easily she gets under his skin and he gets under hers.

I love how magic is represented in this world. It reminded me of Cruel Prince. The way magic is represented in this book is almost nostalgic with faeries and glamours. I also loved the fairytale elements within the book and I was super excited to pick up hints from fairytales that I know and love.

The ending took my breath away!! The betrayal and reveals really came together at the end. And I’m super excited for the direction that book 2 may possibly go in. This truly was a stunning debut novel and I’m super excited to see what Chen will come up with next.

Thank you to Netgalley, Hodderscape and Gina Chen for sending me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A review will be posted on publication day, 26 July, on @mysisterstolemybook bookstagram page.

After so many years of reading and after so many books I know quite well what books I like and what books I won't like. When I heard about this book it was love at first sight. I recognized all elements I love in a story. Of course, I also fell a little for the pretty cover (who doesn't?), but I mostly fell for the summary. I never thought I'd be granted an arc by the publisher via Netgalley, but I did get it and it couldn't make me happier.

Everything about this story works. Even though there is a fairytale vibe, the story is more than simply a fairytale. This book is an epic fantasy. This book is a romance. This book is not one thing. It's many things. I think that there is something in this book for almost every reader. (There are always exceptions, I'm very sorry if that happens to be you!) And once I started reading it was almost impossible to put the book down.

That's partly because it was quite fun to recognize all the nods towards famous fairytales. Since most of those nods are embedded in the tale so naturally I'm pretty sure I might have missed quite a few, but I at the very least recognized Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, the Goose Girl and Sleeping Beauty. Mostly this story simply borrowed an element or one iconic scene, but those elements and moments are that iconic that it still works.

I also really liked the characters in this story and mostly because they were so beautifully flawed. They made mistakes, they messed up, they lied, they betrayed, they hurt. They simply did what they had to do to survive in a world that was far more complex than I had expected. And in this story hate and love are two different sides of the same coin, but I bought it. I bought that those two people needed each other like they need air.

I hope there will be more! (There has to be more!)

Gina Chen threw all my favourite things into a melting pot and really said "it's Christmas in July". DO NOT miss this book.

Universe: How many fairytale influences do you want in your book?
Gina Chen: Yes.

I'm usually wary of hyped books, but you should believe in the hype for Violet Made of Thorns. It's exactly as amazing as it sounds.

Violet was everything I wanted in a protagonist and more. She's cynical, cold, and ruthlessly ambitious – but also afraid to trust, to love. Fantasy needs more protagonists like her. Give me allll the morally grey, stabby girls. Though Violet did call him 'Princey' one too many time in my opinion, Cyrus was just as delightful. Their dynamic and banter was one of the best parts of this book, and their relationship arc (enemies to lovers, of course) was SO good. There was a biiiit of steam here (nothing explicit, but not fade-to-black either), and I absolutely need more in the sequel.

As well as the characters and relationships, Violet Made of Thorns does politics and worldbuilding very well. I loved the magic system: Seers like Violet having Sight, their visions through people's threads, the magical wood and witches' curses – all of it. I think it's here that the fairytale inspiration really shines through, and if you like retellings, then you'll no doubt enjoy this book. Besides the magic, there's a lot of politicking too: scheming, lies and half-truths, brewing wars, and more – and it's all remarkably done.

Overall, I adored Violet Made of Thorns and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone. I'm already eagerly awaiting the sequel!

Not even a chapter in and I knew this book was going to be phenomenal. You know its a great book when you have to return back to the real world and you feel so groggy. It's that immersive. I was very unaware of what was happening around me at all times.

This story is INCREDIBLE and I couldn't get enough of it. I kept checking where I was in the book to make sure that it wouldn't be finished quickly. The relief I had was palpable when I saw I was at 30% or so because I knew there was so much more to enjoy before it was over.

Violet is the perfect little villain. She lies and she's deceptive but she has a big heart (as much as she tries to deny it). The had to fight for her spot and now she has to continuously fight to keep it. Her character growth is so natural you don't even see it happening until you compare her to the start of the book (that's how you know its done right!).

Now, my favourite part was the romance. The enemies to lovers. The push and pull. IT WAS WRITTEN SO WELL. I would compare it to Jude and Cardan and even Feyre and Rhys....it was that good. The desire and the tension was just *chefs kiss*. The moment they gave in to it was like letting go of a breath you didn't even know you were holding. For them and for the reader (aka me).

The plot twists were a little predictable but there were still so many elements where you didn't know what was going to happen next. I highly HIGHLY recommend picking this up because its phenomenal.

Firstly I’d like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!! 😍❤️

Violet made of thorns one of my most anticipated rates of 2022 and it did not disappoint me at all 😍❤️ As a fairytale lover it had everything that I was expecting and a lot more as well. The characters play the parts so well, every single one of them fit into an archetypal part in fairytales that you read as a child but Gina Chen has completely revamped the idea and come and made her own!! ❤️❤️ There’s so much more intertwined in the story and I just couldn’t get enough!! 😍😍

Violet is a Seer but she isn’t a very honest one, the king has made it that she embellishes prophecies to make them how he wishes them to be. She has a strange relationship with Prince Cyrus which I don’t want to give away too much about but I will say that one of my favourite tropes is in play in this book which obviously makes me love it even more 😍😍 I’m a sucker for enemies to lovers and Violet’s hatred towards Cyrus is absolutely perfect. Their relationship is very enjoyable if you’re a fan of the trope 😂❤️

It’s super dark and witchy, it’s got all the faeries, it’s a fantasy about royals, it’s got all the magic and the romance is brilliant (and it’s also a tiny bit spicy which I didn’t expect but I loved as well 😏😏). I just think it’s a brilliant read!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for sure!!