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Eternal Thorns
In a Forest of Thorns Love is Both Poison and Cure...
When Silas Ashworth is exiled to the mysterious Thornhaven Manor for exposing his noble family's corruption, he expects a cold, empty estate on the edge of the forbidden Eldergrove. What he finds instead is a house alive with ancient magic and a forest guarded by Thorne - a powerful spirit whose ethereal beauty is matched only by his bitter hatred of the Ashworth name.
As Silas uncovers the truth about his ancestor's devastating betrayal of the forest realm, he finds himself drawn to the vengeful guardian in ways that could either heal centuries of division or destroy both their worlds. But darker forces are stirring. Every moment Silas and Thorne spend falling in love gives strength to an ancient shadow entity that feeds on their connection - one that could corrupt everything they're fighting to protect.
With time running out and corruption spreading through the forest, Silas must make an impossible walk away from the one he loves to keep him safe, or risk everything to prove that some loves are worth fighting for - even if they might cost you everything.
A spellbinding MM fantasy romance about redemption, sacrifice, and the price of choosing love even when you know it might destroy you.
When Silas Ashworth is exiled to the mysterious Thornhaven Manor for exposing his noble family's corruption, he expects a cold, empty estate on the edge of the forbidden Eldergrove. What he finds instead is a house alive with ancient magic and a forest guarded by Thorne - a powerful spirit whose ethereal beauty is matched only by his bitter hatred of the Ashworth name.
As Silas uncovers the truth about his ancestor's devastating betrayal of the forest realm, he finds himself drawn to the vengeful guardian in ways that could either heal centuries of division or destroy both their worlds. But darker forces are stirring. Every moment Silas and Thorne spend falling in love gives strength to an ancient shadow entity that feeds on their connection - one that could corrupt everything they're fighting to protect.
With time running out and corruption spreading through the forest, Silas must make an impossible walk away from the one he loves to keep him safe, or risk everything to prove that some loves are worth fighting for - even if they might cost you everything.
A spellbinding MM fantasy romance about redemption, sacrifice, and the price of choosing love even when you know it might destroy you.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 17, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 20, 2025
I really wanted to love this book, but I feel like it repeated itself a lot and the relationship between Thorne and Silas came out of nowhere but at the same time fizzled out. I loved all the secondary characters, they were great. I think a better edit to take the repeats out would be good, it annoys me to reread the same thing over and over again. I think taking that out and adding more relationship development and chemistry would go along way to making this a 5 star read.
July 31, 2025
I don’t know how to review this book.
Great world building? Yes
Great MCs? Yes
Great writing style? Yes
Interesting story? Yes
But I did I fall in love with it? No
If I’m rating this has a “fantasy” book then it would sure rate high. But as an MM romance, it is shocking.
To have such an amazing character like Thorne all built up in this wonderful new world and yet fall short on the connection, passion, romance and intensity between the two MCs (considering it was a slow burn for almost 60 percent of the book and yet I was waiting for that slow burn feeling to come but got what? - nada, nothing, zilch!)
One star for great side-kicks (Kai, Rowan, Briar) and another star for making me love Thorne. But as an “MM Fantasy Romance” it left me high and dry.
Would I read the next book? Yes. The story has great bones and the writing has great potential.
Side note: Would we ever get Kai his own book (pleeease)?
Great world building? Yes
Great MCs? Yes
Great writing style? Yes
Interesting story? Yes
But I did I fall in love with it? No
If I’m rating this has a “fantasy” book then it would sure rate high. But as an MM romance, it is shocking.
To have such an amazing character like Thorne all built up in this wonderful new world and yet fall short on the connection, passion, romance and intensity between the two MCs (considering it was a slow burn for almost 60 percent of the book and yet I was waiting for that slow burn feeling to come but got what? - nada, nothing, zilch!)
One star for great side-kicks (Kai, Rowan, Briar) and another star for making me love Thorne. But as an “MM Fantasy Romance” it left me high and dry.
Would I read the next book? Yes. The story has great bones and the writing has great potential.
Side note: Would we ever get Kai his own book (pleeease)?
January 5, 2025
I was provided an ARC of this book by Ken Sanchez for review, all thoughts and feelings are my own.
Silas Ashworth is the heir apparent to a noble family, but being a noble isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, especially if you have a sense of justice. After exposing the corruption his family is involved in, he is exiled to the family’s remote holdings of Thornhaven, an abandoned manor house where strange things happen to people who stay there.
Thorne is an ancient fae Guardian of the Eldergrove, the forest surrounding Thornhaven Manor. Thorne remembers when fae and humans worked harmoniously together, until he was betrayed by Silas’ ancestor. Ever since then he has built up a hatred for the Ashworth line and will do everything in his power to ensure that they will not harm his forest again.
Except, a prophesy is stirred, and a dark power is watching, waiting, for its chance to strike. Will Thorne be able to overcome his hatred and learn to trust this new Ashworth who comes seeking answers?
This is an enemies to lovers tale which centres around the themes of trust and love conquers all. It has a wonderful magic system that is easy to understand and a cast of characters that are easy to fall in love with.
Silas is level headed and seeks knowledge for understanding, while Thorne struggles to let the past go and recognise that not all feelings should be rejected because of what has happened in the past.
The Author, Ken, has written an excellent tale of overcoming the odds and has created a wonderful world to write a story in. He does tend to over explain things a bit making some aspects of the story a bit confusing (those these get cleared up quite quickly as you progress through the narrative) and I have realised that once he has a really good description of something you can expect the same description to pop up a few times!
My emotions reading this story were all over the place! I was so happy through most of it watching the characters develop, but then when doubt creeped it I was a bit heart breaking.
I felt that the development of the relationship between Silas and Thorne was a bit rushed. You could obviously tell that Thorne was struggling with his own ability to trust, yet he did so quickly and without hesitation, even though he has had centuries to build up a solid defence. I would have liked to see more of the act of breaking down those walls by Silas.
My standout characters by far were Rowan and Kai, Thorne and Silas’ best friends! Their use of sarcasm really bought some hilarity to the situation everyone found themselves in!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am glad it was my first one for 2025. I look forward to reading more from Ken in the future
January 9, 2025
Great start to a promising series!
The themes of conflict, betrayal, and the eventual growth of trust and understanding between Silas and Thorne, set the tone for an good enemies-to-lovers story...
Silas Ashworth; the heir to the Ashworth family, is introduced as someone who is disillusioned with his noble heritage. His strong sense of justice leads him to expose the corruption and dark dealings within his own family, an act that results in his exile to Thornhaven Manor, a remote and eerie estate long abandoned by the family. Thornhaven is known for its strange and dangerous reputation, especially concerning the unexplained fates of those who stay there.
Thorne; a powerful and ancient fae Guardian of the Eldergrove (the forest surrounding Thornhaven). Thorne’s backstory is steeped in betrayal—his deep resentment towards the Ashworth line stems from a betrayal by Silas’s ancestor, which led to a centuries-old conflict between the fae and the family. Thorne has lived with this hatred for generations, fueling his desire to protect the forest at all costs.
Enter the collision between these two characters: Silas, exiled and seeking answers, and Thorne, who harbors deep mistrust of the Ashworths. Hints dropped at a prophecy and a looming darkness, suggesting that Silas’s arrival at Thornhaven is not coincidental, and that there may be more at play than either of them realises...
Looking forward to the next in the series and hopefully a book about Kai, the bestie!
The themes of conflict, betrayal, and the eventual growth of trust and understanding between Silas and Thorne, set the tone for an good enemies-to-lovers story...
Silas Ashworth; the heir to the Ashworth family, is introduced as someone who is disillusioned with his noble heritage. His strong sense of justice leads him to expose the corruption and dark dealings within his own family, an act that results in his exile to Thornhaven Manor, a remote and eerie estate long abandoned by the family. Thornhaven is known for its strange and dangerous reputation, especially concerning the unexplained fates of those who stay there.
Thorne; a powerful and ancient fae Guardian of the Eldergrove (the forest surrounding Thornhaven). Thorne’s backstory is steeped in betrayal—his deep resentment towards the Ashworth line stems from a betrayal by Silas’s ancestor, which led to a centuries-old conflict between the fae and the family. Thorne has lived with this hatred for generations, fueling his desire to protect the forest at all costs.
Enter the collision between these two characters: Silas, exiled and seeking answers, and Thorne, who harbors deep mistrust of the Ashworths. Hints dropped at a prophecy and a looming darkness, suggesting that Silas’s arrival at Thornhaven is not coincidental, and that there may be more at play than either of them realises...
Looking forward to the next in the series and hopefully a book about Kai, the bestie!
January 27, 2025
At its surface Eternal Thorns is the story of Silas, banished from his family home for exposing his family’s dirty laundry. But what appears to be an ignored estate, the farthest away from his family he could possibly be, turns out to hold secrets that have been buried for generations.
What transpires from here is the discovery of a danger that could destroy all Silas knows, and standing in the way of his understanding is the Guardian who harbours suspicion and mistrust from one of Silas’ distant relatives.
But reading further into the book, it is really about accepting the hard parts of someone else, learning to love them for all their faults and flaws and using those differences as a strength.
I was super engaged by the world that was built in this book, from the descriptions of the forest realm, to the fey that inhabit it, it was all really vivid to me. And the cast of side characters, Kai, Briar and Agnes were all incredibly written (I want to have tea with Agnes 😂). But it’s really Silas and Thorne who naturally hold your attention, watching them learn from each other, breaking down walls that have held strong for centuries and learning to have trust again, that was the warmth that this book brought to me.
What transpires from here is the discovery of a danger that could destroy all Silas knows, and standing in the way of his understanding is the Guardian who harbours suspicion and mistrust from one of Silas’ distant relatives.
But reading further into the book, it is really about accepting the hard parts of someone else, learning to love them for all their faults and flaws and using those differences as a strength.
I was super engaged by the world that was built in this book, from the descriptions of the forest realm, to the fey that inhabit it, it was all really vivid to me. And the cast of side characters, Kai, Briar and Agnes were all incredibly written (I want to have tea with Agnes 😂). But it’s really Silas and Thorne who naturally hold your attention, watching them learn from each other, breaking down walls that have held strong for centuries and learning to have trust again, that was the warmth that this book brought to me.
February 16, 2025
Eternal Thorns by Ken Sanchez is an enchanting enemies-to-lovers tale that explores themes of trust, healing, and the transformative power of love. The story is set against a rich backdrop featuring a wonderfully crafted magic system that’s easy to understand, which makes it even more enjoyable to get lost in.
Silas, the level-headed character, is driven by a thirst for knowledge and understanding, while Thorne, his counterpart, grapples with the weight of his past and struggles to move forward emotionally. Their dynamic is compelling, as Thorne’s journey of learning to accept love, despite his past, contrasts beautifully with Silas’s calm, patient nature.
The chemistry between the two builds gradually, making their relationship feel earned and meaningful. The cast of supporting characters is also a joy to follow, adding depth to the story and making it easy to become invested in their world.
If you're a fan of character-driven stories with a magical twist and a strong, slow-burn romance, Eternal Thorns is definitely worth picking up! I loved it and can’t wait to see what Ken Sanchez has in store for future books.
Silas, the level-headed character, is driven by a thirst for knowledge and understanding, while Thorne, his counterpart, grapples with the weight of his past and struggles to move forward emotionally. Their dynamic is compelling, as Thorne’s journey of learning to accept love, despite his past, contrasts beautifully with Silas’s calm, patient nature.
The chemistry between the two builds gradually, making their relationship feel earned and meaningful. The cast of supporting characters is also a joy to follow, adding depth to the story and making it easy to become invested in their world.
If you're a fan of character-driven stories with a magical twist and a strong, slow-burn romance, Eternal Thorns is definitely worth picking up! I loved it and can’t wait to see what Ken Sanchez has in store for future books.
February 4, 2025
When the weight of the world is on your shoulder. This is how Silas felt when he was sent to Thornhaven Manor. To right the wrongs that an ancestor caused. Thorne a forest guardian not willing to forget and forgive
Silas was an endearing character him wanting to do the right thing got him into this conflict. The way he took to everything so naturally, they way his mind worked, he was instantly likeable. Thorne had a lot of issues when it came to the new Ashworth heir and it was understandable.
From the first page I was drawn into the world, watching Silas as he was unravelling the history felt I was there, following his footprints as he got closer to the truth. Seeing what he did to Thorne and the way Silas affected Thorne's powers.
There is an intensity to this book that had me reading, not stopping wanting to see what will happen next, which at times got broken up with a comment from Kai or Rowan. I loved those guys, their snarky comments not only made me laugh, but grounded Silas and Thorne.
This was a good start to this series and I am curious to what will happen next.
Silas was an endearing character him wanting to do the right thing got him into this conflict. The way he took to everything so naturally, they way his mind worked, he was instantly likeable. Thorne had a lot of issues when it came to the new Ashworth heir and it was understandable.
From the first page I was drawn into the world, watching Silas as he was unravelling the history felt I was there, following his footprints as he got closer to the truth. Seeing what he did to Thorne and the way Silas affected Thorne's powers.
There is an intensity to this book that had me reading, not stopping wanting to see what will happen next, which at times got broken up with a comment from Kai or Rowan. I loved those guys, their snarky comments not only made me laugh, but grounded Silas and Thorne.
This was a good start to this series and I am curious to what will happen next.
January 19, 2025
This is one of those books where I read the reviews and think “did we read the same book?”
World-building? There was an outline of what may be a pretty cool world. One where maybe the magic is gone but just hidden and this series is supposed to be about its reemergence? Kinda hard to tell with the lack of detail or explanation of literally anything.
This book was kind of like listening to my mom tell me about a movie. Like, now I don’t need to see the movie to know everything that happened, but I still don’t have a clear picture of the movie. Ya know?
Also, the book was weirdly repetitive. Entire sentences and ideas were repeated verbatim multiple times in the book. Like, yep, I didn’t forget that from last chapter, or the chapter before that.
The rest of this series will be a hard pass for me.
World-building? There was an outline of what may be a pretty cool world. One where maybe the magic is gone but just hidden and this series is supposed to be about its reemergence? Kinda hard to tell with the lack of detail or explanation of literally anything.
This book was kind of like listening to my mom tell me about a movie. Like, now I don’t need to see the movie to know everything that happened, but I still don’t have a clear picture of the movie. Ya know?
Also, the book was weirdly repetitive. Entire sentences and ideas were repeated verbatim multiple times in the book. Like, yep, I didn’t forget that from last chapter, or the chapter before that.
The rest of this series will be a hard pass for me.
Did Not Finish
January 22, 2025DNF @ 41%
There is a whole lot of various characters standing around and saying, "An ancient shadow has been awoken," "an ancient trust has been betrayed," "an ancient betrayal is still hurting my feelings," and "the ancient magic is about balance," but that's about it
God forbid the characters actually DO something. During the few times that progress toward something is made, it all happens way too easily. "Instinctive" understanding of ancient, complex magic just ends up feeling cheap, and the main character, Silas, is so perfect that he's boring. I really wanted to like this, but the pacing was too slow and the writing repetitive.
There is a whole lot of various characters standing around and saying, "An ancient shadow has been awoken," "an ancient trust has been betrayed," "an ancient betrayal is still hurting my feelings," and "the ancient magic is about balance," but that's about it
God forbid the characters actually DO something. During the few times that progress toward something is made, it all happens way too easily. "Instinctive" understanding of ancient, complex magic just ends up feeling cheap, and the main character, Silas, is so perfect that he's boring. I really wanted to like this, but the pacing was too slow and the writing repetitive.
February 9, 2025
I wanted to love this book a lot more than I did. Again, I wish I was reading this as an editor and not a reviewer. There is so much potential, and the bones of the story are solid, and the language of it was gorgeous. But, wow, does it repeat itself a lot!
We don't need every plot point described by every single character (except Kai, I'd love his take on anything. He was a delight).
I just can't imagine reading 2 more books of this. I have to imagine that a good editor would have gotten the entire trilogy down to one truly exquisite and concise story.
Shame we're not getting that story.
We don't need every plot point described by every single character (except Kai, I'd love his take on anything. He was a delight).
I just can't imagine reading 2 more books of this. I have to imagine that a good editor would have gotten the entire trilogy down to one truly exquisite and concise story.
Shame we're not getting that story.
January 14, 2025
Very well-written. Silas and Thorne, the way they accepted love once they understood was so good. I enjoyed every sentence in this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2025
Really liked the book, especially the fantasy theme that runs through it. Highly awaiting the next book.
May 31, 2025
A (large) bit heavy handed, and in desperate need of an editor (the Kindle edition has all kinds of repeated pages and typos), but charming in its way. I do enjoy the world built here.
June 14, 2025
Awwwwww. Fantastic atmosphere, plot, and characters! Loved it.
January 9, 2025
A beautiful start to this series. I enjoyed Silas and Thorn, but the real standout for me was Kai. I hope to see more of him in future books. His character, along with Briar, were probably my two favorites!
February 2, 2025
Thank you Ken Sanchez for this ARC. This review is entirely my own.
This is hands down the best romantasy I have ever read! This story is vibrant, well written and the characters were brought to life.
Silas and Thorne are such different characters but you can see how well they fit. You root for them from page one. This story is relevant for the world today. This story was brought to life in such a way that you are transported to this world and you do not want to leave.
I cannot wait to continue this series.
This is hands down the best romantasy I have ever read! This story is vibrant, well written and the characters were brought to life.
Silas and Thorne are such different characters but you can see how well they fit. You root for them from page one. This story is relevant for the world today. This story was brought to life in such a way that you are transported to this world and you do not want to leave.
I cannot wait to continue this series.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews