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The Thorns We Inherit
Not yet published
Expected 7 Apr 26A dark gothic fantasy with a slow-burn romantic thread, perfect for readers of One Dark Window and Anathema, with the lyrical atmosphere of V.E. Schwab.
Aurelia Moirae never asked for power—or for the gods who carved her bloodline to come calling.
After her world collapses, she is dragged into Nyxarra: a cursed city of mist and shadow, ruled by ancient grudges, blood bargains, and dangerous magic long thought buried. What begins as a desperate mission to save her brother quickly unravels into something far more perilous.
With a haunted warrior at her side and a beautiful monster at her throat, Aurelia is forced to confront magic that wounds, devotion that destroys, and the truth of what she was born to inherit.
The mist watches.
The shadows remember.
And the gods move their pieces long before you realize you’re playing.
Trapped in a realm shaped by forgotten oaths and shifting power, Aurelia becomes the center of a deadly struggle: a prince who wants to own her, a warrior who would burn kingdoms to protect her, and a legacy that refuses to stay buried. Power is a curse. Love is a risk. And survival comes at a cost she may not be willing to pay.
The Thorns We Inherit is a dark gothic fantasy romance centered on trauma, devotion, and the cost of legacy. It follows a woman drawn into a dangerous political and magical web while fighting to save the last family she has left. The story leans into lush, atmospheric worldbuilding and a slow-burn romance grounded in agency rather than destiny, with an emphasis on inherited stories—those we’re born into, and those we choose to rewrite.
“The thorns we inherit do not ask permission. They prick, they scar, they remind us that beauty was never meant to be harmless. And neither were we.”
For readers drawn to gothic romantasy, morally gray devotion, and heroines who have been called too much, too strange, too dangerous—and still loved anyway.
532 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 7, 2026
238 people want to read
About the author
Lindsey Hart
1 book25 followersLindsey is a writer who’s been reading and storytelling for as long as she can remember. Originally from the Midwest, she now lives in Southern California with her son, partner, and two cats. When she’s not mom-ing, working in tech, or reheating her coffee, she’s writing gothic fantasy and stories full of tension, magic, and characters who don’t always make the right choices—but she loves them anyway.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5⭐️ if you are looking for a unique, thought-provoking, character-driven gothic fantasy story with well-explored lore and lush worldbuilding that will intrigue and shock you while the romantic subplot keeps you giggling and on your TOES?!
Put this on your 2026 release radar IMMEDIATELY (or go sign up for an ARC!)
Tropes/themes:
✨goddess/universe creation lore
✨prophecy/chosen one
✨journey to heal one’s family
✨diverse cast/found family
✨forced proximity
✨mental health rep
✨vampyres & goddess blessed magic
✨slow burn & potential love triangle? (This ones not a real trope im kinda manifesting)
I’ve had the privilege of being one of Lindsey’s beta readers since her first concepts and it’s been an honor and a wonderous experience to see her story grow to the incredible book that it is today. From her very first renditions, it was so glaringly obvious that Lindsey was TALENTED and now in its ARC form, I truly believe it wil be a Fantasy romance story that fully stands out as a unique reader favorite when it debuts.
Her prose is so poetic; think a mix of V.E. Schwab and Sarah A. Parker. The descriptions and attributes she so eloquently delivers in her stories really showcase a style of writing you don’t see enough in recent publications. You can FEEL so many of the character’s emotions and turmoils; i feel more sensitive readers could even start tearing up within the first few chapters (looking at a few friends here hehe).
This is definitely a Fantasy romance, not a romantasy, meaning you should noooot go into this book expecting a fast paced spicy story - the development is a little slower paced in the first half of the story, particularly when it comes to our character development and worldbuilding. The world slowly reveals itself to you, while our character motivations are explored from the get-go, but its these foundations that make any romantic moments or high-stakes action in the second half of the story all the more exciting.
I’d say the spice rating is 1🌶️ from the few scenes we had, with mild suggestives here and there.
Aurelia is a badass main character who’s always relied on her strength and growing that strength to protect her hardened heart so SHE can protect her only loved ones - but our girl’s got a soft heart to her too. And a fierce mouth…maybe a temper too HAHA but that led to some very amusing moments. If you like a fiery fmc who doesn’t cower easily, you’ll definitely like her.
Malachi and Kaelith are our MMCs and even though Lindsey is my friend, I’m not convinced she’s not gaslighting me about who our MMC is. I think both of them are very droolworthy even though they might have some VERY questional opposing morals, kind of like a sun vs night personality here.
Our side characters also all had their own moments and I’m excited to see where some of their paths go in future books.
If you’re a gothic fantasy, dark fantasy, lover of healing journeys, fan of baddie fmcs, or just overall want a unique story to add to your 2026 tbr, I promise you this one won’t disappoint.
Put this on your 2026 release radar IMMEDIATELY (or go sign up for an ARC!)
Tropes/themes:
✨goddess/universe creation lore
✨prophecy/chosen one
✨journey to heal one’s family
✨diverse cast/found family
✨forced proximity
✨mental health rep
✨vampyres & goddess blessed magic
✨slow burn & potential love triangle? (This ones not a real trope im kinda manifesting)
I’ve had the privilege of being one of Lindsey’s beta readers since her first concepts and it’s been an honor and a wonderous experience to see her story grow to the incredible book that it is today. From her very first renditions, it was so glaringly obvious that Lindsey was TALENTED and now in its ARC form, I truly believe it wil be a Fantasy romance story that fully stands out as a unique reader favorite when it debuts.
Her prose is so poetic; think a mix of V.E. Schwab and Sarah A. Parker. The descriptions and attributes she so eloquently delivers in her stories really showcase a style of writing you don’t see enough in recent publications. You can FEEL so many of the character’s emotions and turmoils; i feel more sensitive readers could even start tearing up within the first few chapters (looking at a few friends here hehe).
This is definitely a Fantasy romance, not a romantasy, meaning you should noooot go into this book expecting a fast paced spicy story - the development is a little slower paced in the first half of the story, particularly when it comes to our character development and worldbuilding. The world slowly reveals itself to you, while our character motivations are explored from the get-go, but its these foundations that make any romantic moments or high-stakes action in the second half of the story all the more exciting.
I’d say the spice rating is 1🌶️ from the few scenes we had, with mild suggestives here and there.
Aurelia is a badass main character who’s always relied on her strength and growing that strength to protect her hardened heart so SHE can protect her only loved ones - but our girl’s got a soft heart to her too. And a fierce mouth…maybe a temper too HAHA but that led to some very amusing moments. If you like a fiery fmc who doesn’t cower easily, you’ll definitely like her.
Malachi and Kaelith are our MMCs and even though Lindsey is my friend, I’m not convinced she’s not gaslighting me about who our MMC is. I think both of them are very droolworthy even though they might have some VERY questional opposing morals, kind of like a sun vs night personality here.
Our side characters also all had their own moments and I’m excited to see where some of their paths go in future books.
If you’re a gothic fantasy, dark fantasy, lover of healing journeys, fan of baddie fmcs, or just overall want a unique story to add to your 2026 tbr, I promise you this one won’t disappoint.
October 4, 2025
can’t wait for this to drop! ❤️🔥😭
December 2, 2025
Wow. There is so much I want to say about this book!
The Thorns We Inherit is deeper, darker, and leaning more towards epic fantasy/romanasty than your standard dime a dozen Romanasty. The world is lush, thick with mystery, and emotional depth and draws you in right away. The way love is portrayed and described feels very real, not cliche. It feels very much like stepping into another world. I absolutely loved every minute of it!
This is a story about Aurelia, our FMC, on a mission to save the last family member she has left- her brother. What starts out as a dangerous mission quickly unravels into something much bigger as she is thrown into a new world of politics, secrets and prophecies where she becomes a key piece on the chessboard of this dark and mysterious world.
The author has a distinct voice and writing style that is unique, poetic and compelling. I'm amazed that this is her debut novel!
There is an action/fantasy plot that blends seamlessly with a romance plot with delicious tension, yearning and spice. The two plots are intertwined in a way that feels natural and compelling.
Our heroine is strong, fierce, relatable and also tender hearted. Aurelia reminds me of Ciri from The Witcher meets Tomb Raider (in personality and skill, not the tomb raiding part). The world building in this book is very smoothly incorporated into the plot and feels more like story telling than dry world building information. There are no dull moments in the whole book, I was 100% engaged the entire time which is saying something because I get bored easily!
There is so much I want to say about the book that I haven't quite been able to put into words so I will edit this review as I continue to marinate on this story but I absolutely love it and I'm already looking forward to being back in this world in book 2!!!
Thank you so much for letting me be an early reader, it was an absolute joy!
The Thorns We Inherit is deeper, darker, and leaning more towards epic fantasy/romanasty than your standard dime a dozen Romanasty. The world is lush, thick with mystery, and emotional depth and draws you in right away. The way love is portrayed and described feels very real, not cliche. It feels very much like stepping into another world. I absolutely loved every minute of it!
This is a story about Aurelia, our FMC, on a mission to save the last family member she has left- her brother. What starts out as a dangerous mission quickly unravels into something much bigger as she is thrown into a new world of politics, secrets and prophecies where she becomes a key piece on the chessboard of this dark and mysterious world.
The author has a distinct voice and writing style that is unique, poetic and compelling. I'm amazed that this is her debut novel!
There is an action/fantasy plot that blends seamlessly with a romance plot with delicious tension, yearning and spice. The two plots are intertwined in a way that feels natural and compelling.
Our heroine is strong, fierce, relatable and also tender hearted. Aurelia reminds me of Ciri from The Witcher meets Tomb Raider (in personality and skill, not the tomb raiding part). The world building in this book is very smoothly incorporated into the plot and feels more like story telling than dry world building information. There are no dull moments in the whole book, I was 100% engaged the entire time which is saying something because I get bored easily!
There is so much I want to say about the book that I haven't quite been able to put into words so I will edit this review as I continue to marinate on this story but I absolutely love it and I'm already looking forward to being back in this world in book 2!!!
Thank you so much for letting me be an early reader, it was an absolute joy!
December 27, 2025
What do I do with my life after getting a sneak peek..🫠
I finally have my hands on the ARC😍 not getting any sleep tonight!
I finally have my hands on the ARC😍 not getting any sleep tonight!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dark romantasy? Gothic? Mysterious?
Period, I'm sat. Gagged. All of the new age adjectives for excited, here for it and obsessed.
Lindsey crafted such a phenomenal story with her ability to provide the reader with so much detail as far as settings, characters and environments.
For example:
"Rows of black roses, moon-pale lilies, and violet blooms kissed with frost stretched out in careful lines."
ARE YOU KIDDING?! As a certified outdoors hater, you would find me only ever in that garden.
Aside from the intricate details she provides with setting a scene, Lindsey also wrote her characters with so much depth. We have Aurelia, our FMC. Her only care is to protect and save her little brother. As we go on that journey with her, we get so much insight to her inner thoughts, feelings and fears which enables the reader to feel connected to her in their own way. Our MMC, Malachi, the yearning king, I'll tell ya. Malachi is written with so much mystery and vulnerability, he is this big, tough general, but he also has no qualms showing his soft side when needed, especially for those he cares for.
Santiago, he is the MVP of the story for me. While the story contains some darker themes and messages, Santiago brings the humor and lightheartedness to the story. I honestly didn't expect him to be such a prominent character at the beginning of the story, but I can't imagine what the story would have been without him. Live, laugh, love, Santi <3
My final point I want to touch on is Lindseys writing as a whole. As I mentioned earlier, she makes great use of detail, however, her writing in general is extremely poetic and at times, lyrical. Everything is written with a purpose, with a deeper meaning. If there is one thing I love in a book, it's a heavy hitting, thought provoking one-liner and she delivered, several times.
Thank you Lindsey, for the opportunity to read this book early and I can't wait for everyone else to experience it.
Period, I'm sat. Gagged. All of the new age adjectives for excited, here for it and obsessed.
Lindsey crafted such a phenomenal story with her ability to provide the reader with so much detail as far as settings, characters and environments.
For example:
"Rows of black roses, moon-pale lilies, and violet blooms kissed with frost stretched out in careful lines."
ARE YOU KIDDING?! As a certified outdoors hater, you would find me only ever in that garden.
Aside from the intricate details she provides with setting a scene, Lindsey also wrote her characters with so much depth. We have Aurelia, our FMC. Her only care is to protect and save her little brother. As we go on that journey with her, we get so much insight to her inner thoughts, feelings and fears which enables the reader to feel connected to her in their own way. Our MMC, Malachi, the yearning king, I'll tell ya. Malachi is written with so much mystery and vulnerability, he is this big, tough general, but he also has no qualms showing his soft side when needed, especially for those he cares for.
Santiago, he is the MVP of the story for me. While the story contains some darker themes and messages, Santiago brings the humor and lightheartedness to the story. I honestly didn't expect him to be such a prominent character at the beginning of the story, but I can't imagine what the story would have been without him. Live, laugh, love, Santi <3
My final point I want to touch on is Lindseys writing as a whole. As I mentioned earlier, she makes great use of detail, however, her writing in general is extremely poetic and at times, lyrical. Everything is written with a purpose, with a deeper meaning. If there is one thing I love in a book, it's a heavy hitting, thought provoking one-liner and she delivered, several times.
Thank you Lindsey, for the opportunity to read this book early and I can't wait for everyone else to experience it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Thorns We Inherit shows all shapes of beauty. A deeper meaning where you feel the emotions, scars that tell a story, makes you feel seen, silence, and acceptance.
You enter Nyxarra that felt atmospheric. This world felt rich and lush where you can feel the chills in the whispering woods. A welcoming fog that feels like it’s listening to you. Ready to claim you that feels dangerous but yet ancient as if the mist is watching.
This realm felt like a trap but a shifting power that’s dangerous ready to bloom or burst. Aurelia is our center. Fierce and relatable. She was sent something more powerful and dangerous. A curse with unspoken truths. She embodies emotion, rhythm, scars that tell a story wrapped around her body, and yet beauty.
This was an enthralling and lyrical writing style that felt so unique and raw that we don’t get a lot in fantasy romance books. Lindsey absolutely delivered something richer and you can feel she wanted to tell a story that could mean something to you. Something more powerful to remember and hold onto. That it’s okay to have these wounds, hidden scars, and love that costs.
It was well enriched that left me speechless. Especially both of our MMCs. Malachi and Kaelith were both mesmerizing yet spine-chilling. I loved both of them I mean why choose right!? Their character descriptions felt original. Malachi may be dangerous and mysterious but the softness in him made you awe. He was alluring and sexy. Then you have Kaelith. He is a collector and powerful man that steels it, yet you don’t want to make a bargain with him. He is intriguing and treacherous but something about him keeps you wanting more. Both of them made my pulse flare that I craved more of!
I loved the moments we got between Malachi and Aurelia because their eyes not only meet but their souls dance. The tension was shown between the pages and Lindsey did a fantastic job pulling you in from start to finish 🥀🖤
You enter Nyxarra that felt atmospheric. This world felt rich and lush where you can feel the chills in the whispering woods. A welcoming fog that feels like it’s listening to you. Ready to claim you that feels dangerous but yet ancient as if the mist is watching.
This realm felt like a trap but a shifting power that’s dangerous ready to bloom or burst. Aurelia is our center. Fierce and relatable. She was sent something more powerful and dangerous. A curse with unspoken truths. She embodies emotion, rhythm, scars that tell a story wrapped around her body, and yet beauty.
This was an enthralling and lyrical writing style that felt so unique and raw that we don’t get a lot in fantasy romance books. Lindsey absolutely delivered something richer and you can feel she wanted to tell a story that could mean something to you. Something more powerful to remember and hold onto. That it’s okay to have these wounds, hidden scars, and love that costs.
It was well enriched that left me speechless. Especially both of our MMCs. Malachi and Kaelith were both mesmerizing yet spine-chilling. I loved both of them I mean why choose right!? Their character descriptions felt original. Malachi may be dangerous and mysterious but the softness in him made you awe. He was alluring and sexy. Then you have Kaelith. He is a collector and powerful man that steels it, yet you don’t want to make a bargain with him. He is intriguing and treacherous but something about him keeps you wanting more. Both of them made my pulse flare that I craved more of!
I loved the moments we got between Malachi and Aurelia because their eyes not only meet but their souls dance. The tension was shown between the pages and Lindsey did a fantastic job pulling you in from start to finish 🥀🖤
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews