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The Book of Thorns
In the midst of the Napoleonic Wars and the rise of the floriography craze in Europe, two sisters separated at birth are bound together by a secret language of flowers passed down to them by the mother they never knew.
When Cornelia leaves her cruel uncle’s home to join Napoleon’s army as a traveling naturalist, her ability to heal any wound and bring soldiers back from the brink of death earns her praise — and exposes her to those who would exploit her powers for themselves.
Meanwhile, Lijsbeth lives in indentured servitude, her only respite her time spent flower arranging. When she meets a young English soldier and falls in love, Lisjbeth must decide whether to flee the clashing of two great armies at Waterloo or risk everything by staying. As the English and French armies collide in Waterloo, the sisters finally cross paths on opposite sides of the war.
With the sisters reunited on the battlefield, they must work together to solve the mystery of their mother’s death, while surviving the war raging around them.
When Cornelia leaves her cruel uncle’s home to join Napoleon’s army as a traveling naturalist, her ability to heal any wound and bring soldiers back from the brink of death earns her praise — and exposes her to those who would exploit her powers for themselves.
Meanwhile, Lijsbeth lives in indentured servitude, her only respite her time spent flower arranging. When she meets a young English soldier and falls in love, Lisjbeth must decide whether to flee the clashing of two great armies at Waterloo or risk everything by staying. As the English and French armies collide in Waterloo, the sisters finally cross paths on opposite sides of the war.
With the sisters reunited on the battlefield, they must work together to solve the mystery of their mother’s death, while surviving the war raging around them.
328 pages, ebook
First published April 2, 2024
172 people are currently reading
11659 people want to read
About the author
Hester Fox
10 books2,106 followersHester Fox is a full-time writer and mother, with a background in museum work and historical archaeology. She is the author of such novels as The Witch of Willow Hall, A Lullaby for Witches, and The Last Heir to Blackwood Library. She lives in a small mill town in Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 270 reviews
November 11, 2024
This was outstanding.
Back at my thing:
-loml
-seven
-Cornelia Street
-mad woman
-Robin
-Timeless
Also, a spoiler for the best death in a historical novel to ever exist:
“Everyone’s voices are far away, and I cannot do anything except stare. It’s a rose, deep red, its head blossoming out of the major’s mouth.
William rushes over, slamming him on the back to try to dislodge the flower. But the thorns are dug in deep, and it will not budge.
Blood is pouring forth from the major’s mouth now, and he falls to the floor, his body stiff and jerky as he convulses. William finally gets purchase on the flower and is able to pull it out, but not without tearing at the flesh of the major’s tongue and throat. The major screams in agony.
He will never tell another lie again.”
Back at my thing:
-loml
-seven
-Cornelia Street
-mad woman
-Robin
-Timeless
Also, a spoiler for the best death in a historical novel to ever exist:
“Everyone’s voices are far away, and I cannot do anything except stare. It’s a rose, deep red, its head blossoming out of the major’s mouth.
William rushes over, slamming him on the back to try to dislodge the flower. But the thorns are dug in deep, and it will not budge.
Blood is pouring forth from the major’s mouth now, and he falls to the floor, his body stiff and jerky as he convulses. William finally gets purchase on the flower and is able to pull it out, but not without tearing at the flesh of the major’s tongue and throat. The major screams in agony.
He will never tell another lie again.”
July 24, 2025
Set during the events of the napoleonic war, two stories of heartbreak converge towards love and salvation. This is a novel heavy with the life experiences of women at a time when wilful blindness rules against the inconveniences of truth and justice. When fear and superstition override the burden of proof, reliance upon demonstrable science or consistent and credible accounts are put on the back-burner. Indeed, hardly any proof is needed beyond statements from cruel, ego-bruised people against those who refused to submit to their dehumanisation and whose credibility is neither checked nor cross-examined except to ascertain their social standing. While the trials and conflicts demonstrate to a modern reader the importance of due process, they serve as a reminder of the potency of charming smiles, loud voices, network and class to manipulate others into setting victims further down the course of complete loss of control over their lives—it is just another exercise of power to those hungry for it, with or without their own insecurities.
Evidently, some parts of the book are painful to read though pale in comparison to the reality of that time and to some extent, today. Thankfully, in this fictional tale, the women avail themselves of the consolation of magic. Emotionally intense moments of love, fear, hope and despair arrive hot and cold amidst mottling sunlight in the countryside where the burning stench of battle is near. Often times, there is an overarching anguish of standing at a precipice of happiness after a lifetime of ill-treatment just to see it dissolve as one gets close, much like holding onto soft sand that trickles through one’s fingers.
Romance at a time and place too close to battle hits different; mortality is profoundly felt which prompts a reorganisation of priorities. Liberty in the fullest sense thrives in the suspension of consideration for stifling societal expectations because one may never get a chance to love so fiercely again. What else do we have to live for other than for love when death is so close?
“In this cold world, we will go on with or without love. If you are lucky enough to have someone whom you love, wouldn’t you rather go on? If not for yourself for their sake? “ Worth the cost of gritting through the absurdities of life? It may very well be as the novel shows.
Some passages descend like a shroud of cold air only for a rekindling of fire lit by magic running in the blood of kinship. Perhaps in today’s speak, that magic is love. Indeed, love can guide the lost, compel reparations or courage, fix the broken and to do anything and everything else about which one would not even dare to dream otherwise. That’s how to fight monsters wearing the faces of people.
Evidently, some parts of the book are painful to read though pale in comparison to the reality of that time and to some extent, today. Thankfully, in this fictional tale, the women avail themselves of the consolation of magic. Emotionally intense moments of love, fear, hope and despair arrive hot and cold amidst mottling sunlight in the countryside where the burning stench of battle is near. Often times, there is an overarching anguish of standing at a precipice of happiness after a lifetime of ill-treatment just to see it dissolve as one gets close, much like holding onto soft sand that trickles through one’s fingers.
Romance at a time and place too close to battle hits different; mortality is profoundly felt which prompts a reorganisation of priorities. Liberty in the fullest sense thrives in the suspension of consideration for stifling societal expectations because one may never get a chance to love so fiercely again. What else do we have to live for other than for love when death is so close?
“In this cold world, we will go on with or without love. If you are lucky enough to have someone whom you love, wouldn’t you rather go on? If not for yourself for their sake? “ Worth the cost of gritting through the absurdities of life? It may very well be as the novel shows.
Some passages descend like a shroud of cold air only for a rekindling of fire lit by magic running in the blood of kinship. Perhaps in today’s speak, that magic is love. Indeed, love can guide the lost, compel reparations or courage, fix the broken and to do anything and everything else about which one would not even dare to dream otherwise. That’s how to fight monsters wearing the faces of people.
July 16, 2024
This story unfolds against the backdrop of 1815, providing a dual POV of two young women entrenched on opposite sides of the Napoleonic Wars. Two sisters separated in childhood, with different upbringings, unaware of each other’s existence.
Cornelia, raised by her unsavory uncle with intentions of arranging her marriage, embarks on a journey to Paris, driven by dreams of a luxurious life as a literary figure and finding her estranged mother. However, her aspirations are put on hold as she finds herself alone and hungry, far away from the prestige and social standing that she’s been accustomed to her whole life. She is discovered by a soldier for her artistic talent and taken to a military camp North of France where she is to document flora, while she secretly embraces her innate naturalist inclinations in healing wounded soldiers.
Lisbeth is a young woman who, at a very young age, was brought from the orphanage by Madame and Monsieur van den Berg to be a companion for their son, Isidore, the playmate who is now a man exploiting her vulnerability. When Lisbeth’s self-defense almost costs Isidore’s life, she is cast from the family to work for Mme. Dubois and her five daughters. Lisbeth has a talent for arranging flowers hence she is tasked with adorning the household for extravagant gatherings aimed at securing matches for Mme. Dubois's daughters.
Both sisters have not only a talent to see the beauty of flowers, but possess a magical way with them. Ultimately, this mystical connection reunites them amidst perilous circumstances after years of separation. Despite enduring hardships and discrimination in a patriarchal society, both women find love in the most unexpected places and are able to not only survive in the given circumstances of war, but find happiness.
It is truly a wonderful book written with the most exquisite artillery of quotes to fawn over. It’s filled with turmoil, loss, and sadness, but with hope and love as well. However, it took me much longer than usual to finish it, and I had the urge to stop reading it on multiple occasions. It was long and tedious, especially towards the end. Nevertheless, for enthusiasts of historical fiction infused with magic, intricate love triangles (i.e. throuples), and LGBTQ+ themes, this book offers a beautiful journey worth exploring.
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Hester Fox and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for this review.
Quotes:
“She has unnerved me, thrown me into that delicious, heartpounding state that comes from meeting someone whose good opinion suddenly means everything.”
“Everywhere Death has tainted the land. Already scavengers have come, while blood is still warm in the bodies of the dead. They pry boots off bodies, inspect medals and sabers.”
“But war can never lead to peace. There is always a loser, and men’s pride will not allow them to go quietly. Besides, what good is peace if all the good men have died?”
“Rocket fire and gun smoke hang in the air, but everyone is making a pretense of keeping busy, pretending that they do not hear the sounds of war. Pretending that all is well.”
“I wonder what it is that makes men so cruel. Surely a bruised ego cannot solely account for such anger? Is it not enough to shed blood and conquer the world, but they must see also see a woman who only ever tried to do good brought to her knees? Their domination must be total, their sovereignty complete.”
“But beware, a garden cannot be planted and expected to thrive if it is not watered. Once declared, you must tend to your love if it is to flourish. And I beg of you, remember you yourself are worthy of your own love, and if a romance cannot blossom without tending, then your own character—nay, even your soul—can likewise not grow without true introspection and the courage to change when circumstances demand it.”
Cornelia, raised by her unsavory uncle with intentions of arranging her marriage, embarks on a journey to Paris, driven by dreams of a luxurious life as a literary figure and finding her estranged mother. However, her aspirations are put on hold as she finds herself alone and hungry, far away from the prestige and social standing that she’s been accustomed to her whole life. She is discovered by a soldier for her artistic talent and taken to a military camp North of France where she is to document flora, while she secretly embraces her innate naturalist inclinations in healing wounded soldiers.
Lisbeth is a young woman who, at a very young age, was brought from the orphanage by Madame and Monsieur van den Berg to be a companion for their son, Isidore, the playmate who is now a man exploiting her vulnerability. When Lisbeth’s self-defense almost costs Isidore’s life, she is cast from the family to work for Mme. Dubois and her five daughters. Lisbeth has a talent for arranging flowers hence she is tasked with adorning the household for extravagant gatherings aimed at securing matches for Mme. Dubois's daughters.
Both sisters have not only a talent to see the beauty of flowers, but possess a magical way with them. Ultimately, this mystical connection reunites them amidst perilous circumstances after years of separation. Despite enduring hardships and discrimination in a patriarchal society, both women find love in the most unexpected places and are able to not only survive in the given circumstances of war, but find happiness.
It is truly a wonderful book written with the most exquisite artillery of quotes to fawn over. It’s filled with turmoil, loss, and sadness, but with hope and love as well. However, it took me much longer than usual to finish it, and I had the urge to stop reading it on multiple occasions. It was long and tedious, especially towards the end. Nevertheless, for enthusiasts of historical fiction infused with magic, intricate love triangles (i.e. throuples), and LGBTQ+ themes, this book offers a beautiful journey worth exploring.
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Hester Fox and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for this review.
Quotes:
“She has unnerved me, thrown me into that delicious, heartpounding state that comes from meeting someone whose good opinion suddenly means everything.”
“Everywhere Death has tainted the land. Already scavengers have come, while blood is still warm in the bodies of the dead. They pry boots off bodies, inspect medals and sabers.”
“But war can never lead to peace. There is always a loser, and men’s pride will not allow them to go quietly. Besides, what good is peace if all the good men have died?”
“Rocket fire and gun smoke hang in the air, but everyone is making a pretense of keeping busy, pretending that they do not hear the sounds of war. Pretending that all is well.”
“I wonder what it is that makes men so cruel. Surely a bruised ego cannot solely account for such anger? Is it not enough to shed blood and conquer the world, but they must see also see a woman who only ever tried to do good brought to her knees? Their domination must be total, their sovereignty complete.”
“But beware, a garden cannot be planted and expected to thrive if it is not watered. Once declared, you must tend to your love if it is to flourish. And I beg of you, remember you yourself are worthy of your own love, and if a romance cannot blossom without tending, then your own character—nay, even your soul—can likewise not grow without true introspection and the courage to change when circumstances demand it.”
March 29, 2024
Oh, my heart. Just when I thought Hester Fox couldn’t get any better, she brings us an epic tale of two sisters on opposite sides of the Battle of Waterloo. Cornelia and Lijsbeth’s stories are heart-wrenching yet hopeful as they draw from their tragic pasts and their flower-based magic to solve the mysteries behind their estranged sisterhood.
Betrayal, loss, love, redemption, and justice collide in this masterpiece of a novel. If you loved Thackeray’s Vanity Fair, you won’t want to miss The Book of Thorns.
PS: I loved the queer rep in this novel!
Betrayal, loss, love, redemption, and justice collide in this masterpiece of a novel. If you loved Thackeray’s Vanity Fair, you won’t want to miss The Book of Thorns.
PS: I loved the queer rep in this novel!
April 19, 2024
The Book of Thorns is a vivid, layered and fascinating story about two sisters who find themselves on either side of the Napoleonic Wars, but are tied together by their magical connections through the language of flowers.
I found my heart bleeding for both sisters as they endured so much cruelty at the hands of men, but through their resilience they both were still able to find a way to take control of their destinies.
I also enjoyed how the infusion of magical realism added an enchanting touch to the darker narrative, as the sisters work to uncover their family’s mystery amidst so much turmoil and hardships.
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
Dual POV
Historical Fiction
Magical Realism
Sisterhood
Resilience
Feminism
Mystery
Bit of Romance
Gothic
Thank you Graydon House for this gifted copy on exchange for my honest opinions.
I found my heart bleeding for both sisters as they endured so much cruelty at the hands of men, but through their resilience they both were still able to find a way to take control of their destinies.
I also enjoyed how the infusion of magical realism added an enchanting touch to the darker narrative, as the sisters work to uncover their family’s mystery amidst so much turmoil and hardships.
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
Dual POV
Historical Fiction
Magical Realism
Sisterhood
Resilience
Feminism
Mystery
Bit of Romance
Gothic
Thank you Graydon House for this gifted copy on exchange for my honest opinions.
November 30, 2023
What can I say except this is my favorite Hester Fox book yet! She’s hit her stride with gorgeous prose, and while this book is a slight deviation from her gothic classics, it’s bursting with romance, heartbreak, feminist commentary, and the most incredible botanical magic system. I was completely swept away.
July 8, 2025
“In the midst of the Napoleonic Wars and the rise of the floriography craze in Europe, two sisters separated at birth are bound together by a secret language of flowers passed down to them by the mother they never knew. When Cornelia leaves her cruel uncle’s home to join Napoleon’s army as a traveling naturalist, her ability to heal any wound and bring soldiers back from the brink of death earns her praise—and exposes her to those who would exploit her powers for themselves.
Meanwhile, Lijsbeth lives in indentured servitude, her only respite her time spent flower arranging. When she meets a young English soldier and falls in love, Lisjbeth must decide whether to flee the clashing of two great armies at Waterloo or risk everything by staying. As the English and French armies collide in Waterloo, the sisters finally cross paths on opposite sides of the war.
With the sisters reunited on the battlefield, they must work together to solve the mystery of their mother’s death, while surviving the war raging around them.”
You know what this description doesn’t say? That this whole book is about a thruple. I really wish publishers would be more transparent about stuff like this. Thought I was reading a totally standard historical fiction/magical realism tale of two sisters and instead I pick up triad-normalizing weirdness. It was not for me, to say the least.
Meanwhile, Lijsbeth lives in indentured servitude, her only respite her time spent flower arranging. When she meets a young English soldier and falls in love, Lisjbeth must decide whether to flee the clashing of two great armies at Waterloo or risk everything by staying. As the English and French armies collide in Waterloo, the sisters finally cross paths on opposite sides of the war.
With the sisters reunited on the battlefield, they must work together to solve the mystery of their mother’s death, while surviving the war raging around them.”
You know what this description doesn’t say? That this whole book is about a thruple. I really wish publishers would be more transparent about stuff like this. Thought I was reading a totally standard historical fiction/magical realism tale of two sisters and instead I pick up triad-normalizing weirdness. It was not for me, to say the least.
May 11, 2024
Meh! Interminable.
And so gallantly heterocentric; in fact, Fox's inclusion of a polyamorous threesome (one man, two women) is crudely done, exasperating in its lack of character motivation or dramatic function.
Puff candy.
And so gallantly heterocentric; in fact, Fox's inclusion of a polyamorous threesome (one man, two women) is crudely done, exasperating in its lack of character motivation or dramatic function.
Puff candy.
March 1, 2024
First my thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity for an ARC copy of this beautiful novel 🫶
I had not read any Hester Fox novels before this one but I may have to remedy that after reading this.
This book is a wonderful blend of historical fiction, ~witchy~, power of female love/friendship/emotion, and greed of man. Told from the perspective of two sisters with the same beautiful and powerful gift.
This novel is a beautiful depiction of women, their deep love and ability to be selfless to care for the needs of others. How when they love, they love fully. It also shows how deeply they can hate and hold grudges, what they are willing to do to those who hurt the people they love. Both women have to actively choose to see the good around them throughout the story and focus on the people they love to be able to move forward, and if that isn’t something to practice in your daily life, I don’t know what is.
In my opinion, this book is the embodiment of the “Women” meme from Little women. I didn’t anticipate growing to love the characters as deeply as I did, but what can I say but… women!
***spoilers***
I so strongly found myself screaming at Cornelia at the beginning to kill her Uncle AND Reeves and the way they treated her. I really hoped they would get their comeuppance and found myself ecstatic finding out that they both were taken care of in the end. I’m glad Cornelia was the one who was able to get revenge on her Uncle.
I loved following her story and the love she found with Henri and Sophie. I’m so glad she was able to find happiness with Sophie in the end and see the gift that Henri left her in her book.
My heart broke for Lijsbeth and the horrors she dealt with for so many years. When she found William I was so happy for her and was worried it was too good to be true. While I don’t think I personally can forgive William for what he did to Cornelia, I’m glad everything worked out for them in the end and Lijsbeth was finally able to have the family she longed for. (What can I say I’m a woman who holds grudges lol)
When the sisters finally came to terms with their gift, and fully embraced its beauty and terrible power, I couldn’t have been more happy for them. The gift appearing when the women felt love or anger, to me, is a physical depiction of women’s emotions and their capacity for how deeply they feel.
How tremendous, beautiful, is their love; how formidable, fierce, is their anger.
I had not read any Hester Fox novels before this one but I may have to remedy that after reading this.
This book is a wonderful blend of historical fiction, ~witchy~, power of female love/friendship/emotion, and greed of man. Told from the perspective of two sisters with the same beautiful and powerful gift.
This novel is a beautiful depiction of women, their deep love and ability to be selfless to care for the needs of others. How when they love, they love fully. It also shows how deeply they can hate and hold grudges, what they are willing to do to those who hurt the people they love. Both women have to actively choose to see the good around them throughout the story and focus on the people they love to be able to move forward, and if that isn’t something to practice in your daily life, I don’t know what is.
In my opinion, this book is the embodiment of the “Women” meme from Little women. I didn’t anticipate growing to love the characters as deeply as I did, but what can I say but… women!
***spoilers***
I so strongly found myself screaming at Cornelia at the beginning to kill her Uncle AND Reeves and the way they treated her. I really hoped they would get their comeuppance and found myself ecstatic finding out that they both were taken care of in the end. I’m glad Cornelia was the one who was able to get revenge on her Uncle.
I loved following her story and the love she found with Henri and Sophie. I’m so glad she was able to find happiness with Sophie in the end and see the gift that Henri left her in her book.
My heart broke for Lijsbeth and the horrors she dealt with for so many years. When she found William I was so happy for her and was worried it was too good to be true. While I don’t think I personally can forgive William for what he did to Cornelia, I’m glad everything worked out for them in the end and Lijsbeth was finally able to have the family she longed for. (What can I say I’m a woman who holds grudges lol)
When the sisters finally came to terms with their gift, and fully embraced its beauty and terrible power, I couldn’t have been more happy for them. The gift appearing when the women felt love or anger, to me, is a physical depiction of women’s emotions and their capacity for how deeply they feel.
How tremendous, beautiful, is their love; how formidable, fierce, is their anger.
December 5, 2023
I think I went into this book with the wrong expectations. I expected more of a focus on the magic, and the two sisters. Instead, I found most of the first two thirds of the book taken up by romance plots that I found thin and under-characterized, and very little else. I did enjoy the dynamic of the sisters, but it took up a much smaller portion of the book than I would have thought.
I wouldn’t exactly call this book a straight forward romance, as there is too much hardship and pain for it to fit the conventions of the genre. I would mostly class it with women’s war fiction.
Overall, if you’re looking for historical romance (high on atmosphere and angst, low on deep characterization or plot) this might be for you, but it wasn’t for me.
eArc provided by harlequin publishing and NETGALLEY in exchange for my honest review.
I wouldn’t exactly call this book a straight forward romance, as there is too much hardship and pain for it to fit the conventions of the genre. I would mostly class it with women’s war fiction.
Overall, if you’re looking for historical romance (high on atmosphere and angst, low on deep characterization or plot) this might be for you, but it wasn’t for me.
eArc provided by harlequin publishing and NETGALLEY in exchange for my honest review.
April 4, 2024
I was slightly disappointed by this book on the whole. I was ‘promised’ a book about two sister that are able to speak/ communicate through flowers and are trying to figure out why they have this power. (Which is cool by the way. )What I got was two stories about sisters who didn’t even know the other existed until almost the end of the book; and their trials as women in 1815 who are able to make flowers appear at will.
And don’t even get me started on the romantic relationships the sisters had which made absolutely no sense at all.
It was a decently quick read so there is that but I’ll probably add it to the give away pile. Not worth the space in my bookshelf.
And don’t even get me started on the romantic relationships the sisters had which made absolutely no sense at all.
It was a decently quick read so there is that but I’ll probably add it to the give away pile. Not worth the space in my bookshelf.
May 22, 2024
3.75 the plot does not match the synopsis at all. i was promised a sisterly bond moment during the trials and tribulations of war but they didn’t even meet until the last 30 pages of the book. the surprise poly couple was a slay tho
December 18, 2023
First, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC copy.
I read Hester Fox's The Last Heir to the Blackwood Library earlier this year, really enjoyed it's gothic vibes, and gave it 4 stars. When I saw a new book of hers offered on NetGalley, I jumped to request it. Unfortunately, I didn't like this one quite as much and felt like it was a step down from Blackwood Library. That's not to say I hated it or anything, but I felt disappointed it wasn't as gripping as Blackwood, and I missed the gothic feel. I was hopeful this would be more focused on the sisters and their flower magic, but it's really more of a love/Napoleonic war story. As far as the war story goes, it was bad timing that I read this not long after I read Katherine Arden's excellent The Warm Hands of Ghosts, a book which sketched WWI so realistically it was hard to put from my mind, and consequently, the war descriptions in this book suffered in comparison.
As far as the plot, while the sisters' magic and sisterly bond is a factor, it's not nearly as much of the story as the love stories are. The love stories felt fairly abrupt as in most cases the characters simply meet and are instantly "drawn to each other." ***Spoilers to follow - one main character has a polyamorous relationship which, to me, felt more like she essentially pressured her other two partners into it. The plot conveniently positions the other two as former lovers to make the situation more palatable to them, but I never got the sense that the other 2 partners truly wanted each other. They both just seemed to be there for the main character, who herself even comments on her selfishness in forcing this choice onto her partners and that the two of them don't love each other like she loves them. Then, when she loses one of them, she claims she will never love again while the remaining partner that she also allegedly loves is standing right next to her. The character's attitude toward the whole situation just rubbed me the wrong way. *** End spoilers
I did enjoy the language of flowers and the sisters' parallel journeys, their similarities and differences, and how they served as foils to each other. Those issues just weren't the bulk of the story. I'd like to read more by this author, but this one wasn't my favorite.
I read Hester Fox's The Last Heir to the Blackwood Library earlier this year, really enjoyed it's gothic vibes, and gave it 4 stars. When I saw a new book of hers offered on NetGalley, I jumped to request it. Unfortunately, I didn't like this one quite as much and felt like it was a step down from Blackwood Library. That's not to say I hated it or anything, but I felt disappointed it wasn't as gripping as Blackwood, and I missed the gothic feel. I was hopeful this would be more focused on the sisters and their flower magic, but it's really more of a love/Napoleonic war story. As far as the war story goes, it was bad timing that I read this not long after I read Katherine Arden's excellent The Warm Hands of Ghosts, a book which sketched WWI so realistically it was hard to put from my mind, and consequently, the war descriptions in this book suffered in comparison.
As far as the plot, while the sisters' magic and sisterly bond is a factor, it's not nearly as much of the story as the love stories are. The love stories felt fairly abrupt as in most cases the characters simply meet and are instantly "drawn to each other." ***Spoilers to follow - one main character has a polyamorous relationship which, to me, felt more like she essentially pressured her other two partners into it. The plot conveniently positions the other two as former lovers to make the situation more palatable to them, but I never got the sense that the other 2 partners truly wanted each other. They both just seemed to be there for the main character, who herself even comments on her selfishness in forcing this choice onto her partners and that the two of them don't love each other like she loves them. Then, when she loses one of them, she claims she will never love again while the remaining partner that she also allegedly loves is standing right next to her. The character's attitude toward the whole situation just rubbed me the wrong way. *** End spoilers
I did enjoy the language of flowers and the sisters' parallel journeys, their similarities and differences, and how they served as foils to each other. Those issues just weren't the bulk of the story. I'd like to read more by this author, but this one wasn't my favorite.
March 24, 2024
Gorgeous and compelling as always. A new setting for Fox, who usually sets her stories in New England or England. She chose France during the Napoleonic Wars for this one, and she did a lot of research for both life on a military encampment at this time, as well as the language and metaphorical meaning of flowers. I highlighted several sentences because this book was so good. You all can read the synopsis, but know that like all Fox's books, it's fascinating and fun in equal measure.
April 2, 2024
I love this author's novels but this one was a mixed bag.
I was fascinated by the magic system, how Cornelia was able to manipulate and communicate with flowers. Cornelia is a strong willed and interesting woman and I liked her.
The plot is mostly the story of Cornelia: how she ran away, the Napoleonic wars. At around 3/4 we meet Cornelia's sister and we learn about the balance between the powers of the sisters.
There's a sort of open point that makes me think this could be the first part of a duology as there's a lot of questions which aren't answered.
It was an entertaining story, i enjoyed it but i was left wondering.
3.5 upped to 4
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I was fascinated by the magic system, how Cornelia was able to manipulate and communicate with flowers. Cornelia is a strong willed and interesting woman and I liked her.
The plot is mostly the story of Cornelia: how she ran away, the Napoleonic wars. At around 3/4 we meet Cornelia's sister and we learn about the balance between the powers of the sisters.
There's a sort of open point that makes me think this could be the first part of a duology as there's a lot of questions which aren't answered.
It was an entertaining story, i enjoyed it but i was left wondering.
3.5 upped to 4
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
April 2, 2024
I’ve read several of this author’s books. This one is so different from the previous ones. It follows two women, each tied to flowers. It has a little of a mystical feel to it and some romance. I can’t say it’s my favorite of hers.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy
April 30, 2024
Ugh, this was so disappointing. I've read and loved all of Fox's other books, and this was my least favorite by far. Based on the description, I thought this was a story about two sisters reuniting and discovering their powers together. What I got was a book that mainly focused on a thruple. I couldn't connect with either of our main characters and almost DNF'ed, but I had the audiobook so I kept bumping the speed up. I still enjoyed the atmosphere and Fox's writing style, but the plot wasn't for me.
Read
April 3, 2024DNF at 50%.....omg this was so boring, literally nothing has happened besides the MC waffling between her male and female lover.
August 26, 2024
“𝘼𝙢𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙖 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙 - 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙.”
Ok, I actually enjoyed this book. I’m quite surprised as I don’t usually like the writing style that’s used in this book. I’d describe it as an older style of English? But I’m glad I kept reading. Once I got to about the 30% mark I was hooked in.
This is a magical realism story set in the historical time period of the Napoleonic wars. It follows the povs of 2 sisters that don’t know about each other due to being separated at a young age. You follow their two different journeys, both including romance. My fav being Cornelia’s story.
Thank you to @HQ Aus for this #gifted copy! I’m so very grateful 🫶
Ok, I actually enjoyed this book. I’m quite surprised as I don’t usually like the writing style that’s used in this book. I’d describe it as an older style of English? But I’m glad I kept reading. Once I got to about the 30% mark I was hooked in.
This is a magical realism story set in the historical time period of the Napoleonic wars. It follows the povs of 2 sisters that don’t know about each other due to being separated at a young age. You follow their two different journeys, both including romance. My fav being Cornelia’s story.
Thank you to @HQ Aus for this #gifted copy! I’m so very grateful 🫶
May 1, 2024
Gah! This was stunning 🖤⚘
April 4, 2024
The Book of Thorns is a story that brings a fantasy element to the Napoleonic wars. A story of two sisters trying desperately to find their place in a world that see’s them as nothing more than property, and what could happen when they try to break out of the chains of society that bind them.
This is a weird book for me because as a whole I enjoyed it, especially the ending, but in parts it felt a little disjointed for me and I did struggled to like one of the MC’s. Cornelia is someone who has grown up in a world where she wants for little. But that hasn’t come without it’s consequences, seen as nothing more than a hindrance by her Uncle, one he would marry off for the right price. She has had to fight off unwanted suitors since she came of age, and the last straw is her Uncle trying to marry her off to his friend who is more than twice her age. She knows she must act, and so she runs away to France. But she could never anticipate what she finds there. War has broken out and France is not a safe place for a young woman to be travelling alone, let alone an English woman. Swept into Napoleons army, it’s there she learns the truth about herself, about her power, and it’s there that she finds love for the first time in the most unlikeliest of places.
Lijsbeth is an indentured servant, someone bought to be a companion for their only child, but once a sibling came along was treated as nothing better than a servant, a hindrance. She hasn’t grown up like Cornelia, instead she has come from a place where her very body is not her own, where trouble waits behind every corner. When she meets a young English soldier she knows it’s too good to be true, no one could truly want her, truly love her, but she decides to risk everything for a chance at love. When the two sisters cross paths, the mystery of their pasts starts to unravel, a past that could lead to dangerous consequences for both siblings, especially if they allow others to learn of their powers. Because people can be understanding until faced with something different, something unnatural, something that brings whispers of the word witch.
Lijsbeth was a character I instantly bonded and empathised with. Someone who has grown up thinking she has no control over her own life, her own body, someone resigned to the shadows. Cornelia on the other hand was someone I struggled to like. Don’t get me wrong, she has her moments and there were certain scenes when I couldn’t help but feel for her, but she just seemed so selfish in parts, only thinking about her own happiness. Alongside these two we are introduced to a multitude of side characters from both sides of the war. Some were easy to warm to, but others instantly got my back up and it turned out I was right not to trust them
This is a story that shows the fickleness of men. How easily women can be pushed away, discarded as soon as they become more trouble than they’re worth, once they outlive their usefulness. It’s not an easy story, there is on page sexual/physical assault as well as references being made to past instances, there is verbal abuse, slurs, and yet, despite all that, it’s a story of hope, of the things that can grow out of war, the love that can be found, even in the darkest of times. And it’s a story of two young women who thought they were alone in the world, only to find each other at a pivotal point in both of their lives. It’s also a story that shows the fragility of the male ego compared with the fragility of flowers, and how both can become incredibly dangerous if given the chance.
Fox’s writing style is one I have loved from her first book, and her descriptions absolutely brought the world of war torn France/Belgium to life. The war brings an added element of danger to an already dangerous book, not only for our two main characters, but for the people they love. Fox never shy’s away from the horror, from the monotony of war, the endless marching, the danger and she uses it to ensure we empathise with her characters. You can tell she did her research into the language of flowers, and I really enjoyed the little introductions to different flowers we got at the start of each chapter. But this book goes one step further and makes these flowers magical, giving them the ability to heal, to harm, it adds to the drama and darkness that permeates this story, and the magic added a layer of enchantment to the tale.
I thought the ending was so well done. It really ratchets up the drama in the last few chapters and I was on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen, but I enjoyed how, despite it not being a traditional happy ending, it was upbeat in it’s own way, bittersweet if you will. If you like your fantasies with a historical spin, queer and on the darker side, I would definitely recommend giving this one a go.
This is a weird book for me because as a whole I enjoyed it, especially the ending, but in parts it felt a little disjointed for me and I did struggled to like one of the MC’s. Cornelia is someone who has grown up in a world where she wants for little. But that hasn’t come without it’s consequences, seen as nothing more than a hindrance by her Uncle, one he would marry off for the right price. She has had to fight off unwanted suitors since she came of age, and the last straw is her Uncle trying to marry her off to his friend who is more than twice her age. She knows she must act, and so she runs away to France. But she could never anticipate what she finds there. War has broken out and France is not a safe place for a young woman to be travelling alone, let alone an English woman. Swept into Napoleons army, it’s there she learns the truth about herself, about her power, and it’s there that she finds love for the first time in the most unlikeliest of places.
Lijsbeth is an indentured servant, someone bought to be a companion for their only child, but once a sibling came along was treated as nothing better than a servant, a hindrance. She hasn’t grown up like Cornelia, instead she has come from a place where her very body is not her own, where trouble waits behind every corner. When she meets a young English soldier she knows it’s too good to be true, no one could truly want her, truly love her, but she decides to risk everything for a chance at love. When the two sisters cross paths, the mystery of their pasts starts to unravel, a past that could lead to dangerous consequences for both siblings, especially if they allow others to learn of their powers. Because people can be understanding until faced with something different, something unnatural, something that brings whispers of the word witch.
Lijsbeth was a character I instantly bonded and empathised with. Someone who has grown up thinking she has no control over her own life, her own body, someone resigned to the shadows. Cornelia on the other hand was someone I struggled to like. Don’t get me wrong, she has her moments and there were certain scenes when I couldn’t help but feel for her, but she just seemed so selfish in parts, only thinking about her own happiness. Alongside these two we are introduced to a multitude of side characters from both sides of the war. Some were easy to warm to, but others instantly got my back up and it turned out I was right not to trust them
This is a story that shows the fickleness of men. How easily women can be pushed away, discarded as soon as they become more trouble than they’re worth, once they outlive their usefulness. It’s not an easy story, there is on page sexual/physical assault as well as references being made to past instances, there is verbal abuse, slurs, and yet, despite all that, it’s a story of hope, of the things that can grow out of war, the love that can be found, even in the darkest of times. And it’s a story of two young women who thought they were alone in the world, only to find each other at a pivotal point in both of their lives. It’s also a story that shows the fragility of the male ego compared with the fragility of flowers, and how both can become incredibly dangerous if given the chance.
Fox’s writing style is one I have loved from her first book, and her descriptions absolutely brought the world of war torn France/Belgium to life. The war brings an added element of danger to an already dangerous book, not only for our two main characters, but for the people they love. Fox never shy’s away from the horror, from the monotony of war, the endless marching, the danger and she uses it to ensure we empathise with her characters. You can tell she did her research into the language of flowers, and I really enjoyed the little introductions to different flowers we got at the start of each chapter. But this book goes one step further and makes these flowers magical, giving them the ability to heal, to harm, it adds to the drama and darkness that permeates this story, and the magic added a layer of enchantment to the tale.
I thought the ending was so well done. It really ratchets up the drama in the last few chapters and I was on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen, but I enjoyed how, despite it not being a traditional happy ending, it was upbeat in it’s own way, bittersweet if you will. If you like your fantasies with a historical spin, queer and on the darker side, I would definitely recommend giving this one a go.
July 3, 2024
I throughly enjoyed every page of this book
May 7, 2024
Not my favorite of hers. It was difficult to keep characters straight, especially the French ones.
January 2, 2024
The Book of Thorns
🌕🌕🌕🌕/5
“The world is still a cruel place, but if I let myself only see the thorns, then I will miss the sweetness of the rose.”
This was an emotional, heartbreaking story set in 1815 during the height of the Napoleon war and the famed era of Floriography (the language of flowers) that was used by many to convey secret messages to loved ones.
It follows two estranged sisters (Cornelia and Lijsbeth), and their stories are set on opposing sides of the war. One sister a mute, overlooked servant and lower class, the other a privileged woman who is an independent, intelligent naturalist. They both hold a secret power within them, a magical ability to commune with flowers. As their powers grow so does their relationship to find one another and their lost mother.
Triggers: War, miscarriage, rape, death.
Tropes: History, Polyamory, Magic, Gothic
Mood: Emotional, Inspiring
What I Liked:
🌹It was beautifully written. There are many references to flowers and their meanings that foreshadowed each chapter.
🌹 The main female characters are well developed and their experiences allowed them to further their growth and self discovery.
🌹 The historical narrative was accurate and well executed. The world building is strong.
🌹 The use of earth magic was imaginative and mysterious.
What Could Have Been Improved
🌹 The forced proximity between Henri and Sophie. Cornelia could have been more mindful of the situation.
🌹 There should have been more time investigating the matter of their missing mother. That plot line seemed to have lost its importance.
Final Thoughts:
I definitely recommend the book. It is one of my favourites this author has written. It will stay in your heart forever.
🌕🌕🌕🌕/5
“The world is still a cruel place, but if I let myself only see the thorns, then I will miss the sweetness of the rose.”
This was an emotional, heartbreaking story set in 1815 during the height of the Napoleon war and the famed era of Floriography (the language of flowers) that was used by many to convey secret messages to loved ones.
It follows two estranged sisters (Cornelia and Lijsbeth), and their stories are set on opposing sides of the war. One sister a mute, overlooked servant and lower class, the other a privileged woman who is an independent, intelligent naturalist. They both hold a secret power within them, a magical ability to commune with flowers. As their powers grow so does their relationship to find one another and their lost mother.
Triggers: War, miscarriage, rape, death.
Tropes: History, Polyamory, Magic, Gothic
Mood: Emotional, Inspiring
What I Liked:
🌹It was beautifully written. There are many references to flowers and their meanings that foreshadowed each chapter.
🌹 The main female characters are well developed and their experiences allowed them to further their growth and self discovery.
🌹 The historical narrative was accurate and well executed. The world building is strong.
🌹 The use of earth magic was imaginative and mysterious.
What Could Have Been Improved
🌹 The forced proximity between Henri and Sophie. Cornelia could have been more mindful of the situation.
🌹 There should have been more time investigating the matter of their missing mother. That plot line seemed to have lost its importance.
Final Thoughts:
I definitely recommend the book. It is one of my favourites this author has written. It will stay in your heart forever.
May 3, 2024
Oh, my goodness! Utterly beautiful.
I listened to the Audible audiobook narrated by Ell Potter and Fiona Hardingham.
THE BOOK OF THORNS is a story set during the Napoleonic Wars and follows the lives of two sisters, Cornelia and Lijsbeth, who were separated at birth and now find themselves on opposite sides of the war. As the English and French armies fight in Waterloo, the sisters' paths cross, revealing their connection through magic. Cornelia and Lijsbeth share a deep knowledge of plants and possess botanical magic.
The book is full of historical details, all well-researched and expertly woven into the narrative by the author. However, at its core, the story is about love, including a romantic throuple and the bond between siblings. It also includes secrets, betrayal, and redemption, with a solid feminist thread running throughout. The book has strong vibes of Vanity Fair.
Although The Book of Thorns is slightly different from Hester Fox's usual gothic novels, I was not disappointed. It feels like a book the author was passionate about creating, with an organic shift in her writing style.
I listened to the Audible audiobook narrated by Ell Potter and Fiona Hardingham.
THE BOOK OF THORNS is a story set during the Napoleonic Wars and follows the lives of two sisters, Cornelia and Lijsbeth, who were separated at birth and now find themselves on opposite sides of the war. As the English and French armies fight in Waterloo, the sisters' paths cross, revealing their connection through magic. Cornelia and Lijsbeth share a deep knowledge of plants and possess botanical magic.
The book is full of historical details, all well-researched and expertly woven into the narrative by the author. However, at its core, the story is about love, including a romantic throuple and the bond between siblings. It also includes secrets, betrayal, and redemption, with a solid feminist thread running throughout. The book has strong vibes of Vanity Fair.
Although The Book of Thorns is slightly different from Hester Fox's usual gothic novels, I was not disappointed. It feels like a book the author was passionate about creating, with an organic shift in her writing style.
February 4, 2024
An 1800s tale of a noble woman from England and a servant from Brussels (both of whom have a unique affinity for flowers) as they chase love, fight against the laws and lusts of men, and struggle to figure out their true heritage - all while Napoleon makes his way to Waterloo...
I really enjoyed this book, especially the reveals and twists towards the end!! If you've ever read Pamela or Tess of the D'Urbervilles and wished they got to do a bit more vengeance, you'd like this!
The flower symbolism throughout was clever and lovely. I loved our main characters. I was rooting for them from the very beginning! Pacing was good, and all the characters were well developed, even the less important ones had complexity. Despite the 1800s setting, this book explored polyamory, sapphic love, women's rights, PTSD, and selective mutism. I really enjoyed how the book handled these issues as well. The ending was satisfying and well deserved!
I really enjoyed this book, especially the reveals and twists towards the end!! If you've ever read Pamela or Tess of the D'Urbervilles and wished they got to do a bit more vengeance, you'd like this!
The flower symbolism throughout was clever and lovely. I loved our main characters. I was rooting for them from the very beginning! Pacing was good, and all the characters were well developed, even the less important ones had complexity. Despite the 1800s setting, this book explored polyamory, sapphic love, women's rights, PTSD, and selective mutism. I really enjoyed how the book handled these issues as well. The ending was satisfying and well deserved!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2023
This was nothing like I expected, but not in a good way. I read Hester Fox's last book and it was quite good but this felt very different. While it was a quick read, I found that nothing really happened until 70+% of the way through then it kinda just... ended. Like a lot of the other reviews I've read, you would think this be a nice story about long lost sisters and their shared magics with the flowers but it was more of a muddle of 2D love stories that just happened to have long lost sisters.
Not my favourite, and while I'm grateful to have gotten and ARC for this I'm also glad I didn't put too much weight into needing to read it.
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC!
Not my favourite, and while I'm grateful to have gotten and ARC for this I'm also glad I didn't put too much weight into needing to read it.
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC!
Want to read
December 6, 2023ARC received!! Thank you so much, Graydon House!!!
I always look forward to new releases from Hester Fox. She's my Gothic Atmosphere Queen. I can't wait to start!!!
I always look forward to new releases from Hester Fox. She's my Gothic Atmosphere Queen. I can't wait to start!!!
September 13, 2024
2.5 Stars really
Oh good lord, it’s been a very long time since I’ve written a full and proper review but what this book put me through - it’s warranted. I have worked through my 7 stages of grief with this one. Let me be clear, I did not hate it. In fact, I liked major parts of it but the bad parts were really bad.
Where I’ve landed with this book is basically that it had so much potential but overall was poorly executed. The story telling was messy. Reading the blurb of this book and then reading the actual book are two different experiences. For a bit of context, the book is split between the perspectives of Cornelia, a spirited English lady, and Lijsbeth, a Dutch housemaid and florist. I will say right off the bat I really, really hated Cornelia. We’re talking on the verge of hate but I’ll try not to go that far. Lijsbeth on the other hand, LOVE HER.
The main reason I struggled with Cornelia as a character is because I found her to be stupid, an idiot, and frustrating. Let me explain. :) The first point in the book where I felt… we’ll say irritated by her, was when she first arrives in France. I’d argue most, if not all, of the decisions she made were dumb, which is unfortunate because I think the author wants us to see her growth throughout the book and I don’t I see her as a stupid kid most of the time and a poorly developed character.
Lijsbeth, however, is the complete opposite. Her character growth is beautiful and wonderful - not necessarily perfect but believable. We first meet her as a timid, mute housemaid for a horrible family and we end the book with her having found her voice and happiness. I don’t want to give away too much because her storyline is the storyline worth reading in this book and if anyone who reads this review and wants to read the book should experience her story firsthand.
The heavy focus on the romance plot lines surprised me. I did not expect that and it was jarring because the romance plot line is heavy and runs from beginning to end. This isn’t a bad thing but I wasn’t expecting it. Here’s my main issue with the romance plot line - actually only with Cornelia’s romance plot line - don’t incorporate a relationship/romance plot if you’re not going to flesh it out and give it depth.
I really think this story would’ve been best told through a duology. It’s not that Cornelia and Lijsbeth each needed their own book but that the author needed more time, more literary space to make the overall story better.
Oh good lord, it’s been a very long time since I’ve written a full and proper review but what this book put me through - it’s warranted. I have worked through my 7 stages of grief with this one. Let me be clear, I did not hate it. In fact, I liked major parts of it but the bad parts were really bad.
Where I’ve landed with this book is basically that it had so much potential but overall was poorly executed. The story telling was messy. Reading the blurb of this book and then reading the actual book are two different experiences. For a bit of context, the book is split between the perspectives of Cornelia, a spirited English lady, and Lijsbeth, a Dutch housemaid and florist. I will say right off the bat I really, really hated Cornelia. We’re talking on the verge of hate but I’ll try not to go that far. Lijsbeth on the other hand, LOVE HER.
The main reason I struggled with Cornelia as a character is because I found her to be stupid, an idiot, and frustrating. Let me explain. :) The first point in the book where I felt… we’ll say irritated by her, was when she first arrives in France. I’d argue most, if not all, of the decisions she made were dumb, which is unfortunate because I think the author wants us to see her growth throughout the book and I don’t I see her as a stupid kid most of the time and a poorly developed character.
Lijsbeth, however, is the complete opposite. Her character growth is beautiful and wonderful - not necessarily perfect but believable. We first meet her as a timid, mute housemaid for a horrible family and we end the book with her having found her voice and happiness. I don’t want to give away too much because her storyline is the storyline worth reading in this book and if anyone who reads this review and wants to read the book should experience her story firsthand.
The heavy focus on the romance plot lines surprised me. I did not expect that and it was jarring because the romance plot line is heavy and runs from beginning to end. This isn’t a bad thing but I wasn’t expecting it. Here’s my main issue with the romance plot line - actually only with Cornelia’s romance plot line - don’t incorporate a relationship/romance plot if you’re not going to flesh it out and give it depth.
I really think this story would’ve been best told through a duology. It’s not that Cornelia and Lijsbeth each needed their own book but that the author needed more time, more literary space to make the overall story better.
March 8, 2024
3.54 ★
the prose is stunning, but there are sometimes oddly structured sentences. like i don't understand what “Perhaps you do not with anyone else to know what you’re about?” is supposed to mean? maybe this means something in 1800s english, but there are quite a few sentences that appear illogical to me.
the characters are lovable, but not necessarily well written.
lijsbeth, especially, is an archetype—her story plays out like a 2014 wattpad book about a frumpy y/n discovering herself after the football player calls her pretty. she also doesn't actually *do* anything at all throughout the book. everything happens *to* her and then she just goes along with it. the only time she shows any agency is towards the end when she tries saving her sister.
cornelia is more proactive, but in the sense that she's impulsive and does things that don't make sense. her whole relationship with sophie is very ??? i'd never be against an mff relationship ending up exclusively lesbian but ??? cornelia does not like sophie. at all. she's vicious and mean, which i'd love under other circumstances, but not when she's putting down her lesbian lover to uplift her man.
the ending is also very... i can't say forced? because that's one thing this book doesn't do; everything is subtle and flowery. it's just unserious wish fulfillment. in the end, there's a whole spiel about how lijsbeth can't believe she married this random guy who barely knows her, and immediately the husband is like "you can tell me anything you want and i'll love you" and that's it, then they get a happily ever after with a newborn daughter. cornelia ends up with sophie, which is also very question mark. the only reason i can imagine for sophie taking her back is that there were probably three outed gays total in 1815.
the plot is nonexistent, except for cornelia's prison arc in the second half of the book, and even then, she shares the povs with lijsbeth. so this book has actual action about 25% of the time. at best. for a war story, there is a surprising lack of depth to any character or any relationship.
however, i inhaled this in a little more than two hours, so i can't say it wasn't addictive. if you like pretty writing, mindless romance, and period dramas, i'd totally recommend.
the prose is stunning, but there are sometimes oddly structured sentences. like i don't understand what “Perhaps you do not with anyone else to know what you’re about?” is supposed to mean? maybe this means something in 1800s english, but there are quite a few sentences that appear illogical to me.
the characters are lovable, but not necessarily well written.
lijsbeth, especially, is an archetype—her story plays out like a 2014 wattpad book about a frumpy y/n discovering herself after the football player calls her pretty. she also doesn't actually *do* anything at all throughout the book. everything happens *to* her and then she just goes along with it. the only time she shows any agency is towards the end when she tries saving her sister.
cornelia is more proactive, but in the sense that she's impulsive and does things that don't make sense. her whole relationship with sophie is very ??? i'd never be against an mff relationship ending up exclusively lesbian but ??? cornelia does not like sophie. at all. she's vicious and mean, which i'd love under other circumstances, but not when she's putting down her lesbian lover to uplift her man.
the ending is also very... i can't say forced? because that's one thing this book doesn't do; everything is subtle and flowery. it's just unserious wish fulfillment. in the end, there's a whole spiel about how lijsbeth can't believe she married this random guy who barely knows her, and immediately the husband is like "you can tell me anything you want and i'll love you" and that's it, then they get a happily ever after with a newborn daughter. cornelia ends up with sophie, which is also very question mark. the only reason i can imagine for sophie taking her back is that there were probably three outed gays total in 1815.
the plot is nonexistent, except for cornelia's prison arc in the second half of the book, and even then, she shares the povs with lijsbeth. so this book has actual action about 25% of the time. at best. for a war story, there is a surprising lack of depth to any character or any relationship.
however, i inhaled this in a little more than two hours, so i can't say it wasn't addictive. if you like pretty writing, mindless romance, and period dramas, i'd totally recommend.
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