Broken Thorns

The Strong Gods

by Eden Hudson

In the brutal Kingdom of Night, elite fighting men known as Thorns train with blood magic and blade to protect their lords. Some boys become Thorns for glory, others for a steady meal.

Some do it to escape their bloody pasts.

Twins Saint Daven and Saint Galen would have been executed for murder if they hadn’t volunteered to become Thorns. After what they’d done, the blanket pardon offered in return for enlistment was their only hope.

Little do the Saints know, the rebellious lord they’ve just been soul-bound to serve is hiding a secret even deadlier than theirs…

…the sort of secret that could topple a kingdom.

Broken Thorns is a novel set in The Strong Gods universe, part of the brutal new Sword & Sorcery series from eden Hudson.

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ebook

Published June 6, 2025

About the author

I am being forced against my will by Goodreads to have a capital E at the beginning of my name, even though the correct spelling is "eden." So there's that.

But also . . .

I am invincible. I am a mutant. I have 3 hearts and was born with no eyes. I had eyes implanted later. I didn't have hands, either, just stumps. When my eyes were implanted they asked if I would like hands as well and I said, "Yes, I'll take those," and pointed with my stump. But sometimes I'm a hellbender peeking out from under a rock. When it rains, I live in a music box.

But I'm also a tattoo addict, coffee junkie, drummer, and aspiring skateboarder. Jesus actually is my homeboy.

Reviews

[John Stonebraker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mostly loved the book. I read this prequel after the first two of the main series, and I think that may just be the right place to read it. If you're a fan of the series, definitely include this in your TBR list.

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a very powerful prequel this is, set in the Kingdom of Night this is a brutal sword and sorcery epic novel. In this kingdom those who are powerful in blood magic and want to be trained as warriors enlist as thorns. Some do so to avoid poverty and guarantee a solid meal daily, others do it for glory, however in the case of the twins, Saint Daven and Saint Galen they enlisted to get away from being executed for a murder they committed. Enlisting seemed to be their only hope, however little did they know that the lord who had bound their soul was a rebel planning treason. His reasons were ideological and seemed to be the right thing to do, he aimed on dethroning the king and changing their evil society in order to free the thorns. But treason is treason, and always extremely dangerous, so it seems the twins went from the fire into the ftying pan. This is a very exciting book, it is dark and kept me intrigued right through till the very end, and I now look forward to reading book 1 of the series because this introduction definitely whet my appetite for more. I love dark epic fantasy and it does not get any darker than this and I am a real sucker for a rebellion! The loyalty of the thorns even if not completely by choice is amazing.

[Viking Jam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: Dang, this was good even though it devolved into YA fluids spraying everywhere. Awesome cover art btw. What still bugs the fug outta me, is why Kelena is still jammin' up a good story line. She somehow survived to wuvs again and ride your last nerve. She still evolves as all good characters do.

While Kelena is busy sucking the life out of every chapter and Alaan, the other MCs are just too awesome to contain. You know what? I love the idea of continuing on with Lathe in another series. She could be anything, anywhere. Pirate on the seas, thief on land, rescuer of close-rats and slayer of Gods. Izak could still be the dumb motherfkr. Just add St. Galen and you have the best of the best.

I am thrilled this series continues on in part IV.

I did not receive this novel for a free and honest review.

4.6/5