What do you think?
Thorns
A deadly contagion spreads throughout the world, while scientists grapple to find a cure before it's too late...
Dr. Monica Cucinotta works on the front lines of a hospital in Cassino, Italy, dealing with a deadly contagion that causes thorns to erupt along the surface of the body. When Monica becomes infected with the virus and must leave the hospital, she begins a journey across the dark landscape of a pandemic world where she meets the best and worst of humanity that tests her belief in science and faith as she struggles to return home to her loved ones.
Dr. Monica Cucinotta works on the front lines of a hospital in Cassino, Italy, dealing with a deadly contagion that causes thorns to erupt along the surface of the body. When Monica becomes infected with the virus and must leave the hospital, she begins a journey across the dark landscape of a pandemic world where she meets the best and worst of humanity that tests her belief in science and faith as she struggles to return home to her loved ones.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2026
About the author
Gregory Bastianelli
8 books85 followersGregory Bastianelli , a New Hampshire native, graduated from the University of New Hampshire where he studied writing under instructors Mark Smith, Thomas Williams and Theodore Weesner.
He worked for nearly two decades at a small daily newspaper where the highlights of his career were interviewing shock rocker Alice Cooper and B-movie icon Bruce Campbell.
He is the author of the novels, "Jokers Club," "Loonies," "Snowball," "Shadow Flicker," and "October."
His pulp horror novella "Lair of the Mole People" appears in the anthology "Men of Mystery Vol. II"
He lives in New Hampshire.
He worked for nearly two decades at a small daily newspaper where the highlights of his career were interviewing shock rocker Alice Cooper and B-movie icon Bruce Campbell.
He is the author of the novels, "Jokers Club," "Loonies," "Snowball," "Shadow Flicker," and "October."
His pulp horror novella "Lair of the Mole People" appears in the anthology "Men of Mystery Vol. II"
He lives in New Hampshire.
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September 7, 2026Okay so the pitch here is actually pretty sick: it's COVID, except instead of a cough you sprout rose thorns and the roots snake through your guts and choke your lungs out like a Chia Pet from hell. That's a monster. I'm in. Problem is Bastianelli takes that idea and hangs a Lifetime movie on it about an Italian ER doc trying to get home, and by home I mean she walks. Gets thrown off a bus, catches a tomato to the chest (this comes up roughly nine hundred more times), then hoofs it across Lazio one village at a time, bumping into a lonely British widow with a lot of cats, a smiling priest with a face like a pincushion, a family with a rifle and a very bad idea, and so on and so on. Honestly some of it rules. There's a thing with a baby early on that made me put the book down and go hail yourself, you sick bastard. But the guy writes like he's billing by the hour. Everyone she meets asks about the blood on her shirt and gets the exact same tomato line, and I swear the Oxford vaccine gets name-checked more than most of the cast. The Venice dolphins are in here. "The new normal" is in here. He says in the acknowledgments he started it during lockdown and buddy, it reads like a sourdough starter you forgot in the back of the fridge. The thorns don't actually DO anything for 250 pages except itch while Monica has the same four thoughts in a slightly different order, and then there's a scene about two thirds in that's somehow the grossest and the dumbest thing in the book at once, and how fast it gets shrugged off had me ready to chuck my Kindle in the river. Great monster. Nobody driving.
September 8, 2026
Think COVID was scary? Try Thorns... Seriously disturbing, and a great read. I highly recommend this book. I discovered Bregory Bastianelli by accident in my local library, and then I had to read all of his books. Try it and see for yourself.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'Thorns' by Gregory Bastianelli.
'Thorns' discusses/includes some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Gregory discusses/includes S.Assault, Attempted r~~e, violence, a pandemic, upsetting scenes with a minor, animal mutilation and scenes of horror.Please read with care.
CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULES AND GRAB THIS PAGE TURNING, GRIPPING AND SINISTER HORROR!! I CAN GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!
This is the second book I have read by this extremely talented author and I cannot wait to read more! I have also read 'October' by Gregory which I would also highly recommend.
OMG!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE, LOVE, LOVED THIS BOOK, AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, GOTHIC, HAUNTING, HORRIFIC AND PAGE TURNING EXPLOSIVE MUST READ!!!
This book is extremely well written with vivid and evocative descriptions that really put you in the storyline, feeling the hair on your arms raise and putting you on the edge of your seat!!! The storyline is just as stunning as the cover!!!
The first thing I have got to say is another absolutely HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to the amazing author Gregory Bastianelli on yet another brilliant success!! I absolutely loved this addictive, explosive, creepy, horrific, sinister page turner!!! Before going any further into my review I will warn you that this book has clearly been inspired by the COVID pandemic, contains the scenes previously mentioned and is most certainly NOT for the light hearted!! However, if you have read up to here and still want to sink your teeth into this gritty page turner then feel free to read on! I will say that as an animal lover the part with the cat was quite upsetting but as a horror lover I have come to expect the unexpected and in regards to what was going on it is a case of survival. It is also a highly emotive read, even for me, and I am quite a tough skinned person but as a parent myself and putting myself in Monica's position and having to stay away from my child is unthinkable. However, as I said I love a good horror book and regardless of all I have said so far I seriously LOVED IT!!! Gregory has taken what happened during the COVID pandemic and made it even more horrific than it was and considering how bad it was it goes to show how dark and vivid an imagination Gregory has. I thought the concept was brilliant giving the virus the twist where instead of causing damage of the lungs it infects it's victims with vines and then thorns that erupt through the skin making that person infectious and also giving them a death sentence as there is no cure! After Monica's thorns are revealed where she is working in the hospital she is dismissed and sent home. She catches the bus as she usually does but when she goes to help a mother she inadvertently reveals the thorns on her wrist and is thrown off the bus. What follows is her dark, scary, violent, heart-breaking, eye opening and horrific journey as she tries to get home to her family. On her way she is kidnapped, sees a homeless man being abused, has to operate on a child, helps someone move bodies, is assaulted, sees what may come of her child and that is just to name a few things she has to go through in order to get home. I wont go any deeper into the storyline as I do not want to give anything away to future readers and the publisher has done a brilliant job of telling you what you need to know in the synopsis. Therefore, if you want to know more then you will just have to grab a copy for yourselves! With a plot filled with terror, horror, sacrifice, compassion, kindness, empathy, society, humanity, darkness, selfishness, fear, pain, virus, suffering, determination, devastation, family, anxiety, dread, post-apocalypticism, thorns, gore, survival, drama, danger, body horror, mutilation and so much more what on Earth, or is it Hell, are you waiting for? As i said before this is NOT for the faint hearted but is definitely a MUST read for any horror fans!! Gregory makes Stephen King look like a fairy tale writer!! I do have to admit that although I felt sorry for Monica I did also feel like I wanted to throttle her on many occasions!! On one hand she refuses to hug her Dad or shake hands with some people but on the other she is quite happy getting into vehicle with people she know she is highly likely to affect/expose them to the virus!! I just found her character to be so frustrating at times! However, at the same time, I cannot really judge how someone would react in a situation when I could not say I would do any different if it meant me getting to see my loved ones again! I was completely immersed in the storyline and loved the psychological and horror elements throughout. I devoured it in just one sitting of a few hours as I just could not put it down so I would definitely recommend that you clear your schedules before you start reading it! I love that Gregory showed both sides of humanity from kindness and compassion to selfishness and violence. We see characters that help Monica, others who are violent to her, some that use her and others that turn their backs.
It truly had the perfect amount of horror, society, suspense, gore and everything else that you could ask for!! If you are going to get this book I would HIGHLY recommend the hardback which not only has absolutely stunning cover art but also spray painted edges, it truly is a beauty! I loved getting to meet all the different characters and Gregory has done an absolutely brilliant job of creating so many different characters with unique personalities, strengths, quirks and weaknesses. His vivid and emotive writing skills really brings the characters to life and makes the reader hate, fear or pity them going to show how realistic these characters are. The virus, settings and atmosphere are all perfect for the storyline and Gregory's fantastic emotive and evocative writing skills really suck the reader into the story ensuring they can see the horror all around them and feel the chill up their spine. You have truly got to grab a copy of this fantastic horror today!!! I absolutely LOVE horrors and for me the creepier the better but, although I have found some great horror books out there, I struggle to find many filled with enough to creep me out!! That was up until I read this book and Stephen King eat your heart out because this is absolutely packed with a storyline and horror that I have never come across and as I have read hundreds of horrors and seen hundreds of horror movies THAT is truly hard to come across but Gregory absolutely slam dunks it!! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS Gregory!! I remarkably became very quickly attached and invested in the characters and loved seeing the dynamics and interactions between them all. Even though Monica annoyed me at times I was still rooting for her throughout. Well done Gregory on creating such a memorable, unique, diverse and multi layered group of characters that will stay with me for a long time!! This is one of those books that I picked up and within a quarter of the book I realised I was wasting time lying to myself saying just one more chapter and I will do X, Y or Z as there was no way I could put it down!! Each and every chapter ended in a way that I had to know what was going to happen next so I ended up walking around with my book glued to my hands and unable to take my eyes of the pages until I had completely devoured the book within a few short hours. This book has definitely shot to my top horror book of the year and I would be absolutely shocked if anything managed to knock it off this spot as it just had absolutely everything a horror fan could want or ask for!! I honestly loved absolutely everything about it from the characters to the settings and it was just one heck of an amazing read!!! If you love horrors, post apocalyptic, viral, thrillers, suspense, well do you know what if you love reading then grab a copy of this book today and you will not regret it!!! It has got to be one of, if not the best horror book that I have ever read!!! I absolutely love, love, LOVED the unique storyline!! This book will suck you in and keep you gripped in the pages until your thrown out at the end with a racing heart!! A truly unforgettable one in a million page turner!!!!
Clear your schedules before turning a single page as this book is truly unputdownable!!! However, I recommend you read this in the day with company although I still couldn't guarantee you wouldn't have nightmares!!
This book is one the BEST horror books I have ever read !!! This book really is a truly unique page turner that I picked up and had devoured within a couple of hours!!! It had absolutely everything you could ask for and more!!!
Well done Gregory Bastianelli on another absolutely addictive and explosive page turner!! This is why you are in my top 3 favourite horror author list!!! Congratulations on another absolutely fantastic success and here is to what is guaranteed to be many more 🥂
Overall an absolutely addictive and action packed suspense filled and chilling horror that will keep you turning the pages until you've devoured the book in hours!!
#Thorns #GregoryBastianelli #FlameTreePress #RandomThingsTours #RandomTTours
@GregoryBastianelli @FlameTreePress @RandomThingsTours @RandomTTours
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Review for 'Thorns' by Gregory Bastianelli.
'Thorns' discusses/includes some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Gregory discusses/includes S.Assault, Attempted r~~e, violence, a pandemic, upsetting scenes with a minor, animal mutilation and scenes of horror.Please read with care.
CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULES AND GRAB THIS PAGE TURNING, GRIPPING AND SINISTER HORROR!! I CAN GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!
This is the second book I have read by this extremely talented author and I cannot wait to read more! I have also read 'October' by Gregory which I would also highly recommend.
OMG!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE, LOVE, LOVED THIS BOOK, AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, GOTHIC, HAUNTING, HORRIFIC AND PAGE TURNING EXPLOSIVE MUST READ!!!
This book is extremely well written with vivid and evocative descriptions that really put you in the storyline, feeling the hair on your arms raise and putting you on the edge of your seat!!! The storyline is just as stunning as the cover!!!
The first thing I have got to say is another absolutely HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to the amazing author Gregory Bastianelli on yet another brilliant success!! I absolutely loved this addictive, explosive, creepy, horrific, sinister page turner!!! Before going any further into my review I will warn you that this book has clearly been inspired by the COVID pandemic, contains the scenes previously mentioned and is most certainly NOT for the light hearted!! However, if you have read up to here and still want to sink your teeth into this gritty page turner then feel free to read on! I will say that as an animal lover the part with the cat was quite upsetting but as a horror lover I have come to expect the unexpected and in regards to what was going on it is a case of survival. It is also a highly emotive read, even for me, and I am quite a tough skinned person but as a parent myself and putting myself in Monica's position and having to stay away from my child is unthinkable. However, as I said I love a good horror book and regardless of all I have said so far I seriously LOVED IT!!! Gregory has taken what happened during the COVID pandemic and made it even more horrific than it was and considering how bad it was it goes to show how dark and vivid an imagination Gregory has. I thought the concept was brilliant giving the virus the twist where instead of causing damage of the lungs it infects it's victims with vines and then thorns that erupt through the skin making that person infectious and also giving them a death sentence as there is no cure! After Monica's thorns are revealed where she is working in the hospital she is dismissed and sent home. She catches the bus as she usually does but when she goes to help a mother she inadvertently reveals the thorns on her wrist and is thrown off the bus. What follows is her dark, scary, violent, heart-breaking, eye opening and horrific journey as she tries to get home to her family. On her way she is kidnapped, sees a homeless man being abused, has to operate on a child, helps someone move bodies, is assaulted, sees what may come of her child and that is just to name a few things she has to go through in order to get home. I wont go any deeper into the storyline as I do not want to give anything away to future readers and the publisher has done a brilliant job of telling you what you need to know in the synopsis. Therefore, if you want to know more then you will just have to grab a copy for yourselves! With a plot filled with terror, horror, sacrifice, compassion, kindness, empathy, society, humanity, darkness, selfishness, fear, pain, virus, suffering, determination, devastation, family, anxiety, dread, post-apocalypticism, thorns, gore, survival, drama, danger, body horror, mutilation and so much more what on Earth, or is it Hell, are you waiting for? As i said before this is NOT for the faint hearted but is definitely a MUST read for any horror fans!! Gregory makes Stephen King look like a fairy tale writer!! I do have to admit that although I felt sorry for Monica I did also feel like I wanted to throttle her on many occasions!! On one hand she refuses to hug her Dad or shake hands with some people but on the other she is quite happy getting into vehicle with people she know she is highly likely to affect/expose them to the virus!! I just found her character to be so frustrating at times! However, at the same time, I cannot really judge how someone would react in a situation when I could not say I would do any different if it meant me getting to see my loved ones again! I was completely immersed in the storyline and loved the psychological and horror elements throughout. I devoured it in just one sitting of a few hours as I just could not put it down so I would definitely recommend that you clear your schedules before you start reading it! I love that Gregory showed both sides of humanity from kindness and compassion to selfishness and violence. We see characters that help Monica, others who are violent to her, some that use her and others that turn their backs.
It truly had the perfect amount of horror, society, suspense, gore and everything else that you could ask for!! If you are going to get this book I would HIGHLY recommend the hardback which not only has absolutely stunning cover art but also spray painted edges, it truly is a beauty! I loved getting to meet all the different characters and Gregory has done an absolutely brilliant job of creating so many different characters with unique personalities, strengths, quirks and weaknesses. His vivid and emotive writing skills really brings the characters to life and makes the reader hate, fear or pity them going to show how realistic these characters are. The virus, settings and atmosphere are all perfect for the storyline and Gregory's fantastic emotive and evocative writing skills really suck the reader into the story ensuring they can see the horror all around them and feel the chill up their spine. You have truly got to grab a copy of this fantastic horror today!!! I absolutely LOVE horrors and for me the creepier the better but, although I have found some great horror books out there, I struggle to find many filled with enough to creep me out!! That was up until I read this book and Stephen King eat your heart out because this is absolutely packed with a storyline and horror that I have never come across and as I have read hundreds of horrors and seen hundreds of horror movies THAT is truly hard to come across but Gregory absolutely slam dunks it!! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS Gregory!! I remarkably became very quickly attached and invested in the characters and loved seeing the dynamics and interactions between them all. Even though Monica annoyed me at times I was still rooting for her throughout. Well done Gregory on creating such a memorable, unique, diverse and multi layered group of characters that will stay with me for a long time!! This is one of those books that I picked up and within a quarter of the book I realised I was wasting time lying to myself saying just one more chapter and I will do X, Y or Z as there was no way I could put it down!! Each and every chapter ended in a way that I had to know what was going to happen next so I ended up walking around with my book glued to my hands and unable to take my eyes of the pages until I had completely devoured the book within a few short hours. This book has definitely shot to my top horror book of the year and I would be absolutely shocked if anything managed to knock it off this spot as it just had absolutely everything a horror fan could want or ask for!! I honestly loved absolutely everything about it from the characters to the settings and it was just one heck of an amazing read!!! If you love horrors, post apocalyptic, viral, thrillers, suspense, well do you know what if you love reading then grab a copy of this book today and you will not regret it!!! It has got to be one of, if not the best horror book that I have ever read!!! I absolutely love, love, LOVED the unique storyline!! This book will suck you in and keep you gripped in the pages until your thrown out at the end with a racing heart!! A truly unforgettable one in a million page turner!!!!
Clear your schedules before turning a single page as this book is truly unputdownable!!! However, I recommend you read this in the day with company although I still couldn't guarantee you wouldn't have nightmares!!
This book is one the BEST horror books I have ever read !!! This book really is a truly unique page turner that I picked up and had devoured within a couple of hours!!! It had absolutely everything you could ask for and more!!!
Well done Gregory Bastianelli on another absolutely addictive and explosive page turner!! This is why you are in my top 3 favourite horror author list!!! Congratulations on another absolutely fantastic success and here is to what is guaranteed to be many more 🥂
Overall an absolutely addictive and action packed suspense filled and chilling horror that will keep you turning the pages until you've devoured the book in hours!!
#Thorns #GregoryBastianelli #FlameTreePress #RandomThingsTours #RandomTTours
@GregoryBastianelli @FlameTreePress @RandomThingsTours @RandomTTours
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https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3...
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https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/profile/a...
August 17, 2026
Thorns by Gregory Bastianelli
4🔮orbs
Pub. Date: Aug 11, 2026
Flame Tree Press
Strangled from within…
💡 Orbs Prologue: As the Director General of the World Health Association, it is Orb’s duty to make the unpleasant announcement of a deadly new contagion descending upon all of humanity. Standing behind the podium, the brightly shining bulbs cast the only reasonable semblance of light in an otherwise terribly dark time. “Hello, ladies and gentlemen. I am here on behalf of the WOH to warn you of an extremely dangerous virus that is currently erupting upon every continent. No one is safe! Once again, I must stress, no one is safe! A simple exchange of bodily fluids will render previously normally healthy citizens mortally sick in the wake of this disease's devastation. As time goes by without a vaccine, we will see a significant rise in the number of deaths, so please take the necessary precautions. We advise those infected to be quarantined in your local hospital for further examination by professionals. Your local government will provide more details upon further questions. Thank you..."
🧐 A small glimpse: In Gregory Bastianelli’s novel Thorns, readers follow the life of Dr. Monica Cucinotta. In this bizarre apocalyptic-type world, the people of Italy are introduced to the Thorns, a deadly contagion. To Monica, serving the citizens of Cassino is her main priority, but as it stands, this is where things get complicated. She has contracted Thorns, a virus that sprouts stems that weave their way through the human body. The actual thorns puncture the epidermis and thus cause excruciating pain and distress along the way. There is no cure! As Monica treats the first wave of patients afflicted with Thorns, she inadvertently also becomes the newest victim of this deadly outbreak. This creates an issue! The hospital decides that she can no longer work because of her ability to pass the strand to others. While this would seem brutal enough, she is also having to quarantine from her husband and son, playing upon the reader's emotions. What Bastianelli creates is a tense world where just surviving becomes the main goal. The majority of the story focuses on an extended trip to meet up with her father in her childhood home. Through tumultuous circumstances, Monica takes us on a journey through the backcountry in Italy, and what we see is a world thrust into chaos.
👍 Orbs Pros: Strong FMC! Monica is brave in the face of everything thrown at her. She exudes everything you want in a leader, and for as grim as the story is, she becomes the ultimate beacon of light. Incredibly emotional! Man, this one was a difficult one to swallow! The topic hits hard, specifically after we lived through COVID! Somehow fascinating! Perhaps I am a glutton for punishment, but this novel mesmerized me. I found myself amazed at just how utterly horrific the tale was and yet how wonderfully irresistible it was. Perhaps Bastianelli’s fabulous prose is one reason. Or the fabulous connection between Monica and me bubbling to the surface as I wolfed down word after word, wondering what might happen to “my” heroine! I loved the Italian location!
👎Orbs Cons: The subject matter! Look, the nature of this book is a rough subject for some. This book is based upon a fear that really hits home, and that stark reality makes it even more difficult to endure. It’s grim! No getting around that! And yet, there is something so lovely about courage in the face of certain death. My sole real gripe is how she managed to stay more “alive” than her patients. Meaning, it just seemed like her symptoms were dulled down, and that this enabled her to make a fantastic voyage. And I get it; you have to make the story work. However, some of the believability factor went out the window for me.
Highly Recommended! As we searched for food and any fluid I could drink that wasn’t contaminated, we made our way home, just Monica and I. There were many detours along the way, all reminiscent of The Last of Us, which I happily devoured. This is to say, dear reader, if you want a story that teases our mundane innocence and scares the beejeezus out of you, look no further!
💡 Orbs Epilogue: Slowly gathering my weak limbs, I used the guardrails to guide my body down the steps and off the platform. It had been a week since I had noticed a series of four tiny bumps protruding from my upper forearm. Their rosepetal red, volcanic peaks seemed hell-bent on puncturing the skin like crocodile teeth poking through in hopes of a bit more sunlight. As the Chief of the WHO, a conspiracy theorist might think I have access to some secret vaccine for this strange virus, and yet they would most definitely be wrong. I am dying. I feel the thorns weaving their way in and out of vital organs, squeezing arteries, and supplanting my normal way of life. How do I tell my family? Do I tell them? Or should I make this transition alone and check myself into the nearest hospital and die in the dingiest of basements without so much as revealing the health conditions to anyone? Yes, this is best for everyone. Standing dumbfounded, Orb then realizes for the first time that reality has indeed dealt him a bleak hand. So I begin to hail an adjacent taxi and promptly instruct the cabbie to head to the nearest hospital with tears streaming down my face…
Many thanks to Flame Tree Press for the ARC through NetGalley. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
4🔮orbs
Pub. Date: Aug 11, 2026
Flame Tree Press
Strangled from within…
💡 Orbs Prologue: As the Director General of the World Health Association, it is Orb’s duty to make the unpleasant announcement of a deadly new contagion descending upon all of humanity. Standing behind the podium, the brightly shining bulbs cast the only reasonable semblance of light in an otherwise terribly dark time. “Hello, ladies and gentlemen. I am here on behalf of the WOH to warn you of an extremely dangerous virus that is currently erupting upon every continent. No one is safe! Once again, I must stress, no one is safe! A simple exchange of bodily fluids will render previously normally healthy citizens mortally sick in the wake of this disease's devastation. As time goes by without a vaccine, we will see a significant rise in the number of deaths, so please take the necessary precautions. We advise those infected to be quarantined in your local hospital for further examination by professionals. Your local government will provide more details upon further questions. Thank you..."
🧐 A small glimpse: In Gregory Bastianelli’s novel Thorns, readers follow the life of Dr. Monica Cucinotta. In this bizarre apocalyptic-type world, the people of Italy are introduced to the Thorns, a deadly contagion. To Monica, serving the citizens of Cassino is her main priority, but as it stands, this is where things get complicated. She has contracted Thorns, a virus that sprouts stems that weave their way through the human body. The actual thorns puncture the epidermis and thus cause excruciating pain and distress along the way. There is no cure! As Monica treats the first wave of patients afflicted with Thorns, she inadvertently also becomes the newest victim of this deadly outbreak. This creates an issue! The hospital decides that she can no longer work because of her ability to pass the strand to others. While this would seem brutal enough, she is also having to quarantine from her husband and son, playing upon the reader's emotions. What Bastianelli creates is a tense world where just surviving becomes the main goal. The majority of the story focuses on an extended trip to meet up with her father in her childhood home. Through tumultuous circumstances, Monica takes us on a journey through the backcountry in Italy, and what we see is a world thrust into chaos.
👍 Orbs Pros: Strong FMC! Monica is brave in the face of everything thrown at her. She exudes everything you want in a leader, and for as grim as the story is, she becomes the ultimate beacon of light. Incredibly emotional! Man, this one was a difficult one to swallow! The topic hits hard, specifically after we lived through COVID! Somehow fascinating! Perhaps I am a glutton for punishment, but this novel mesmerized me. I found myself amazed at just how utterly horrific the tale was and yet how wonderfully irresistible it was. Perhaps Bastianelli’s fabulous prose is one reason. Or the fabulous connection between Monica and me bubbling to the surface as I wolfed down word after word, wondering what might happen to “my” heroine! I loved the Italian location!
👎Orbs Cons: The subject matter! Look, the nature of this book is a rough subject for some. This book is based upon a fear that really hits home, and that stark reality makes it even more difficult to endure. It’s grim! No getting around that! And yet, there is something so lovely about courage in the face of certain death. My sole real gripe is how she managed to stay more “alive” than her patients. Meaning, it just seemed like her symptoms were dulled down, and that this enabled her to make a fantastic voyage. And I get it; you have to make the story work. However, some of the believability factor went out the window for me.
Highly Recommended! As we searched for food and any fluid I could drink that wasn’t contaminated, we made our way home, just Monica and I. There were many detours along the way, all reminiscent of The Last of Us, which I happily devoured. This is to say, dear reader, if you want a story that teases our mundane innocence and scares the beejeezus out of you, look no further!
💡 Orbs Epilogue: Slowly gathering my weak limbs, I used the guardrails to guide my body down the steps and off the platform. It had been a week since I had noticed a series of four tiny bumps protruding from my upper forearm. Their rosepetal red, volcanic peaks seemed hell-bent on puncturing the skin like crocodile teeth poking through in hopes of a bit more sunlight. As the Chief of the WHO, a conspiracy theorist might think I have access to some secret vaccine for this strange virus, and yet they would most definitely be wrong. I am dying. I feel the thorns weaving their way in and out of vital organs, squeezing arteries, and supplanting my normal way of life. How do I tell my family? Do I tell them? Or should I make this transition alone and check myself into the nearest hospital and die in the dingiest of basements without so much as revealing the health conditions to anyone? Yes, this is best for everyone. Standing dumbfounded, Orb then realizes for the first time that reality has indeed dealt him a bleak hand. So I begin to hail an adjacent taxi and promptly instruct the cabbie to head to the nearest hospital with tears streaming down my face…
Many thanks to Flame Tree Press for the ARC through NetGalley. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 28, 2026
This is possibly the most depressing book I've ever read, and I've read The Road and On the Beach, which up to now I'd considered the most depressing books ever written. Thorns is set in Italy during a pandemic. One doctor, Monica, contracts the contagion and is sent home. The book details her one-day journey to reach her house.
The virus produces a network of filaments within the body, feeding off the organs, the outward manifestation of which is small spikes which poke through the skin and resemble thorns. The patients typically die within a few weeks of being infected. There is no cure. They die in horrendous agony, and the only treatment available to the doctors is to sedate them below their pain threshold, so they are little more than comatose and waiting to die. No one knows how the infection is spread; evidence appears to show that even talking to someone could infect you through tiny droplets of spit.
So why was this book more depressing than The Road and On the Beach, both of which not only detail the end of the human race, but the end of all life on planet Earth, every plant, every animal. Well because in Thorns we have as our MC Doctor Monica and not the father in The Road, desperately battling to keep his son alive and the flame (of hope) he believes the boy carries. Because we have Doctor Monica as a MC and not any one of the characters in On the Beach, who at worst party through the end of the world, and at best plant their spring bulbs into soil that will soon be irradiated and bulbs that will never flower and spring that won't come. Hope. Both these previous end-of-the-world novels somehow resound with hope, even when everything is hopeless: the authors celebrate the human spirit, even at the end of all things. Not so for Dr Monica. I've never read a more annoying MC. She was so self-righteous I was willing her just to die and get the story over more quickly.
If ever there is a horror story trope, it's the stupid person who does the one thing we'd never do: open the door; go into the basement; don't bother to take a weapon... whatever that thing is that you never want to do, that's what Dr Monica does. I give her her title every time because that's what she does. Being a doctor is her be all and end all. She trips merrily around infecting herself (despite her husband begging her not to for the sake of her baby), and everyone else around her. She gets on a bus for the 'uninfected' by deceit and when they discover her (visible thorns), she actually picks up a dropped baby's bottle and hands it back to the mum. She finds a young American tourist (uninfected) and shares a water bottle with him. She accepts an invite into an Englishwoman's home and drinks from her cups. And finally,
What the heck did I just read?
There's nothing new in this novel about pandemics or apocalyptic scenarios.
I almost recommend this book as a hate read if you too want to discover the most selfish, stupid MC in any novel ever. Two stars, because I did finish it (skim reading a lot of it as the writing is very pedestrian and dull), and the Italian countryside was lovely.
The virus produces a network of filaments within the body, feeding off the organs, the outward manifestation of which is small spikes which poke through the skin and resemble thorns. The patients typically die within a few weeks of being infected. There is no cure. They die in horrendous agony, and the only treatment available to the doctors is to sedate them below their pain threshold, so they are little more than comatose and waiting to die. No one knows how the infection is spread; evidence appears to show that even talking to someone could infect you through tiny droplets of spit.
So why was this book more depressing than The Road and On the Beach, both of which not only detail the end of the human race, but the end of all life on planet Earth, every plant, every animal. Well because in Thorns we have as our MC Doctor Monica and not the father in The Road, desperately battling to keep his son alive and the flame (of hope) he believes the boy carries. Because we have Doctor Monica as a MC and not any one of the characters in On the Beach, who at worst party through the end of the world, and at best plant their spring bulbs into soil that will soon be irradiated and bulbs that will never flower and spring that won't come. Hope. Both these previous end-of-the-world novels somehow resound with hope, even when everything is hopeless: the authors celebrate the human spirit, even at the end of all things. Not so for Dr Monica. I've never read a more annoying MC. She was so self-righteous I was willing her just to die and get the story over more quickly.
If ever there is a horror story trope, it's the stupid person who does the one thing we'd never do: open the door; go into the basement; don't bother to take a weapon... whatever that thing is that you never want to do, that's what Dr Monica does. I give her her title every time because that's what she does. Being a doctor is her be all and end all. She trips merrily around infecting herself (despite her husband begging her not to for the sake of her baby), and everyone else around her. She gets on a bus for the 'uninfected' by deceit and when they discover her (visible thorns), she actually picks up a dropped baby's bottle and hands it back to the mum. She finds a young American tourist (uninfected) and shares a water bottle with him. She accepts an invite into an Englishwoman's home and drinks from her cups. And finally,
What the heck did I just read?
There's nothing new in this novel about pandemics or apocalyptic scenarios.
I almost recommend this book as a hate read if you too want to discover the most selfish, stupid MC in any novel ever. Two stars, because I did finish it (skim reading a lot of it as the writing is very pedestrian and dull), and the Italian countryside was lovely.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was depressing af. It's a solid pandemic story with all the trimmings, every familiar trope of the genre used and used again, in order to make the same point from different angles: no matter what you do, you're gonna die. Though it's bleak and anxiety-inducing, it eschews tragedy and drama, going for detailed and honest psychological portrayal instead. The result is a slow exploration of a society collapsing, as seen from an-on-the-ground perspective. Taken widely, "Thorns" may be construed as harrowing, apocalyptic, medical horror - or even not horror at all, the emphasis being so much on the social and the emotional elements of the story, rather than on body horror, gore, or dread. In fact, the issue is seldom the effect of isolation or the cost of survival. The book, however, does allow a tiny glimpse of hope.
Thorns is a sort of virus transmitted by contact (later on, orally as well). The symptoms are deadly and untreatable: thorns come out of the skin, their roots growing inward, penetrating the vital organs in order to feed, ultimately killing off the host. Though fatal, the infection makes for some memorable images - especially since it respects neither gender nor age of the infected. Eventually, even the site of the virus' manifestation extends beyond the skin, thorns appearing through the sclera of the eye, or inside the mouth and the tongue. The story itself is set entirely in central Italy, and follows an infected female doctor who's forced to leave the hospital she works in, and go back home. Her journey through the small Italian towns and the endless abandoned fields, mostly on foot for reasons that have to do with the social impact of the virus, takes a number of days, and the chronicle of it fills the pages till the predictably sad ending.
Despite the occasionally strange wording and the somewhat clunky sentences, the writing is mostly clear and the book is an easy read from start to finish. The doctor's journey back home figures a ton of characters and a variety of situations (sexual assault and kidnapping included). Admittedly, they're all very familiar to readers of apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, but they're all conveyed with great skill and a sober face. However, anyone who picks this up should be aware that this isn't a typical contemporary horror story: no explanation of the virus is provided (or even attempted), no earth-shattering reveals come up at any point, and even the characters themselves never stray from well-motivated, rationalized behaviors, often risking charges of one-dimensionality and predictability as a result.
The book's strong on emotion and psychological insight, weak on imaginative development of premises or reaching of unexpected conclusions. Still, I enjoyed the calm and meditative pacing. It was a nice change-up from my usual fare of angry, intense, and heavy horror reads.
Thorns is a sort of virus transmitted by contact (later on, orally as well). The symptoms are deadly and untreatable: thorns come out of the skin, their roots growing inward, penetrating the vital organs in order to feed, ultimately killing off the host. Though fatal, the infection makes for some memorable images - especially since it respects neither gender nor age of the infected. Eventually, even the site of the virus' manifestation extends beyond the skin, thorns appearing through the sclera of the eye, or inside the mouth and the tongue. The story itself is set entirely in central Italy, and follows an infected female doctor who's forced to leave the hospital she works in, and go back home. Her journey through the small Italian towns and the endless abandoned fields, mostly on foot for reasons that have to do with the social impact of the virus, takes a number of days, and the chronicle of it fills the pages till the predictably sad ending.
Despite the occasionally strange wording and the somewhat clunky sentences, the writing is mostly clear and the book is an easy read from start to finish. The doctor's journey back home figures a ton of characters and a variety of situations (sexual assault and kidnapping included). Admittedly, they're all very familiar to readers of apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, but they're all conveyed with great skill and a sober face. However, anyone who picks this up should be aware that this isn't a typical contemporary horror story: no explanation of the virus is provided (or even attempted), no earth-shattering reveals come up at any point, and even the characters themselves never stray from well-motivated, rationalized behaviors, often risking charges of one-dimensionality and predictability as a result.
The book's strong on emotion and psychological insight, weak on imaginative development of premises or reaching of unexpected conclusions. Still, I enjoyed the calm and meditative pacing. It was a nice change-up from my usual fare of angry, intense, and heavy horror reads.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was provided for review by Random Things Tours. Thank you!
Trigger Warning: body horror, death of a child (mentioned), death of an animal (mentioned, character finds animal), suicide (mentioned, character finds body), kidnapping, assault, attempted rape
A strange and deadly virus is sweeping across Italy and across the globe. No one knows exactly where it came from or even how it’s transmitted. What is known is that the virus spreads quickly and those who contract it are fated to a painful death.
Doctors like Monica Cucinotta face an uphill battle every day they go into work. Patients come in droves and their resources are stretched painfully thin. Fewer and fewer providers are left to care for the sick as they too succumb to the illness. When Monica becomes infected, she is forced to leave the hospital and must try to make her way home in the next city. But with the roads closed and the few vehicles on the road refusing passage to an infected, the journey of a few dozen kilometers might as well be the journey of a million.
Ask anyone about the Covid 19 pandemic of a few years ago and you will hear tales of empty shelves and empty streets. Only those deemed necessary were allowed on the roads and many had to carry paperwork on them in case they were stopped. It was a time of frightening unknowns as scientists and doctors fought an enemy no one could see.
It is quite obvious that Thorns was inspired by the Covid 19 pandemic. Even the author himself has said as much when asked about it. From the desolate city streets to overflowing hospitals, so much of the background story pulls from the real-life events of only a few years ago.
While Monica may be a fictional character, the fear and frustration she feels throughout the story is palpable and real. The almost strangle hold she keeps on herself to remain professional slips piece by piece as she tries to make her way home to her family. Every setback is heart breaking for her and for us the reader.
Thorns by Gregory Bastianelli is a very good read but also a very difficult one. The subject matter hits very close to home, and the picture it paints of humanity isn’t always the most flattering. This is definitely one I can recommend to my readers, just make sure you are in the right frame of mind for it.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is a post-apocalyptic novel set in a world devastated by a deadly virus that causes thorns to sprout from its victims before eventually killing them and has left society in ruins. Following the aftermath of the outbreak, the story follows Monica, a doctor in an Italian hospital that is overrun with thorns victims. She herself has become infected and the hospital is forced to let her go. She then goes on this epic journey to return home to her husband and young son before the virus takes her out.
I went in to this anticipating some kind of gruesome horror about this outbreak, but actually it is much more of a bleak, character-driven post-apocalyptic story about survival and the human condition. In many ways, it reminded me of The Road by Cormac McCarthy, with its exploration of a world stripped back to its most basic elements and the way people behave when society's rules no longer exist. This book definitely shows us humanity at both its best and its worst. You see incredible acts of kindness, compassion and sacrifice alongside cruelty, selfishness and desperation. It really makes you question what people are capable of when faced with the complete collapse of everything they know and just how far they will go in an attempt to save those closest to the.
One thing I did wish we had more of was context around the virus itself. We know the devastation it has caused, but I would have liked more information about where it came from, how it spread and what happened in the early days of the outbreak. We actually get so very little context about it and other than it being the reason for her journey, it feels really pointless to the story. You literally could substitute it for any other devastating pandemic illness and the story would still work the same.
I guess it was okay, it was certainly interesting exploration of survival, morality and the choices people make when pushed to their limits, but if you go into this expecting a horror novel, this definitely isn't it.
I went in to this anticipating some kind of gruesome horror about this outbreak, but actually it is much more of a bleak, character-driven post-apocalyptic story about survival and the human condition. In many ways, it reminded me of The Road by Cormac McCarthy, with its exploration of a world stripped back to its most basic elements and the way people behave when society's rules no longer exist. This book definitely shows us humanity at both its best and its worst. You see incredible acts of kindness, compassion and sacrifice alongside cruelty, selfishness and desperation. It really makes you question what people are capable of when faced with the complete collapse of everything they know and just how far they will go in an attempt to save those closest to the.
One thing I did wish we had more of was context around the virus itself. We know the devastation it has caused, but I would have liked more information about where it came from, how it spread and what happened in the early days of the outbreak. We actually get so very little context about it and other than it being the reason for her journey, it feels really pointless to the story. You literally could substitute it for any other devastating pandemic illness and the story would still work the same.
I guess it was okay, it was certainly interesting exploration of survival, morality and the choices people make when pushed to their limits, but if you go into this expecting a horror novel, this definitely isn't it.
Review of advance copy
A horror story that is definitely haunting, but not in the way I was expecting. When I read about a deadly contagion in the book description, my mind went straight to the usual tropes, with fast-paced scenes where the survivors need to escape from the infected and whatnot. But, this book is different. It’s a slow burn, with the reader following the literal odyssey of Dr Monica Cucinotta trying to get home after being dismissed by her work hospital for being infected.
The story is also an exploration of humanity's reaction to an event that is as unexpected as it is brutal, with no hope of ending. Dr Monica’s journey becomes a pilgrimage across some Italy’s villages where every stop becomes a Russian roulette game the farther she gets. And this is where I think the writer succeeds, in instilling into the reader an anxious expectation of what would happen next to Monica, who would she meet next, would they help her or show their worst? It was also so frustrating (intentionally I might add), seeing Monica’s destination getting away from her every time instead of closer.
The contagion in itself was also very effective, I mean, thorns coming out of your body leading to excruciating pain. Brutal!
The range of characters was also varied and surprising, adding to the suspense of what their intentions could be.
The ending as well was also bleak and in tune with the whole book which made me feel dread, desperation and grief, but in a very different way to the horror books I usually read.
This is a story that explores a hard and still too close to memory theme, reflecting on the various behaviours of society in the face of fear and hopelessness.
This is a book that’s not what I expected, but that grew on me more as I reflected on it after finishing it.
Thanks to Flame Tree Press and Random Things Tours for a copy and this is my honest opinion.
The story is also an exploration of humanity's reaction to an event that is as unexpected as it is brutal, with no hope of ending. Dr Monica’s journey becomes a pilgrimage across some Italy’s villages where every stop becomes a Russian roulette game the farther she gets. And this is where I think the writer succeeds, in instilling into the reader an anxious expectation of what would happen next to Monica, who would she meet next, would they help her or show their worst? It was also so frustrating (intentionally I might add), seeing Monica’s destination getting away from her every time instead of closer.
The contagion in itself was also very effective, I mean, thorns coming out of your body leading to excruciating pain. Brutal!
The range of characters was also varied and surprising, adding to the suspense of what their intentions could be.
The ending as well was also bleak and in tune with the whole book which made me feel dread, desperation and grief, but in a very different way to the horror books I usually read.
This is a story that explores a hard and still too close to memory theme, reflecting on the various behaviours of society in the face of fear and hopelessness.
This is a book that’s not what I expected, but that grew on me more as I reflected on it after finishing it.
Thanks to Flame Tree Press and Random Things Tours for a copy and this is my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was clearly inspired heavily from the lived experiences of Italian people during the Covid pandemic. Especially the earlier (pre-vaccine) everyday lives of those afflicted with the virus as well as those in the medical professions attempting to treat and contain the spread, as well as their risk of exposure and navigating the governmental shutdowns and regulations. Italy being one of the most heavily hit countries, makes for the perfect setting to draw inspiration from in terms of writing a novel about a deadly incurable contagious worldwide pandemic from the POV of a Doctor infected by the virus and her experience of attempting to return home from her workplace at a hospital in a town a short bus trip from her hometown during the stay-at-home lockdown imposed by the Italian government midway through the pandemic. During a period when large portions of the population had already died from the pandemic. How a short drive from one town to another by bus on an average normal day can turn into a long arduously journey home on foot through the countryside during the collapse of civil society.
How a female doctor’s journey home can turn into a horror story due to a series of variables such as; her health, gender, and professions.
I enjoyed the narrative itself, but felt that it didn’t offer any real new insights into the apocalyptic viral outbreak narrative. I enjoyed reading it, was captivated by the story, and invested in finishing the novel. It offered nothing exciting or exceptional to the genre itself so I couldn’t really give it a higher rating than a 3. It is still a good book and a fun read. I got this book as an epub review copy from the publishers through NetGalley.
How a female doctor’s journey home can turn into a horror story due to a series of variables such as; her health, gender, and professions.
I enjoyed the narrative itself, but felt that it didn’t offer any real new insights into the apocalyptic viral outbreak narrative. I enjoyed reading it, was captivated by the story, and invested in finishing the novel. It offered nothing exciting or exceptional to the genre itself so I couldn’t really give it a higher rating than a 3. It is still a good book and a fun read. I got this book as an epub review copy from the publishers through NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In Thorns we are thrown right into the middle of a highly contagious, untreatable, and terrifying pandemic known as thorns. Our FMC is Dr. Monica, who practices in the ED at a hospital in Cassino, Italy.
Monica has seen firsthand the devastating effects thorns has on its victims. Thorns erupt from the body while the roots wind through the body piercing and feeding in whichever organ it comes into contact with first and eventually killing its host. It is a terrifying, brutal contagion that is baffling scientists.
To make matters worse, Monica is infected and understands her demise. Soon enough her superiors are made aware and Monica is sent home. We then follow Monica’s tragic and grueling journey home from the hospital.
While the book’s plot follows Monica’s trek home, we also read of her past memories where she is reminiscing her life with her husband and young son. It is heart-breaking as she comes to terms with the eventuality of leaving her loved ones behind due to the thorns.
Monica encounters several individuals on her journey who test her limits as a woman and a doctor. It is unfathomable to ponder everything she went through while just trying to make it home.
I loved this book so much. It is reminiscent of Covid yet so much more terrifying. Once an illness is physical (like the Black Death), humans become more frenzied. Altered appearances trigger fear responses. Human ethics and morality are questioned and tested. It becomes a volatile environment. The author did a spectacular 10/10 job demonstrating these feats 👏🏻
There are triggers in this book so please check those out prior to reading.
I highly recommend this book to all of my friends who love sci-fin and medical horror. It is fantastic and unforgettable!
Monica has seen firsthand the devastating effects thorns has on its victims. Thorns erupt from the body while the roots wind through the body piercing and feeding in whichever organ it comes into contact with first and eventually killing its host. It is a terrifying, brutal contagion that is baffling scientists.
To make matters worse, Monica is infected and understands her demise. Soon enough her superiors are made aware and Monica is sent home. We then follow Monica’s tragic and grueling journey home from the hospital.
While the book’s plot follows Monica’s trek home, we also read of her past memories where she is reminiscing her life with her husband and young son. It is heart-breaking as she comes to terms with the eventuality of leaving her loved ones behind due to the thorns.
Monica encounters several individuals on her journey who test her limits as a woman and a doctor. It is unfathomable to ponder everything she went through while just trying to make it home.
I loved this book so much. It is reminiscent of Covid yet so much more terrifying. Once an illness is physical (like the Black Death), humans become more frenzied. Altered appearances trigger fear responses. Human ethics and morality are questioned and tested. It becomes a volatile environment. The author did a spectacular 10/10 job demonstrating these feats 👏🏻
There are triggers in this book so please check those out prior to reading.
I highly recommend this book to all of my friends who love sci-fin and medical horror. It is fantastic and unforgettable!
July 18, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5)
Thorns by Gregory Bastianelli is clearly inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic, but with a horrifying twist. Instead of a virus alone, those infected develop thorns that erupt from their bodies, an external manifestation of the catastrophic damage happening internally. There is no cure, and infection is essentially a death sentence.
The story follows a doctor working in a hospital during the height of the outbreak. After becoming infected herself, she’s dismissed from her job and begins a long journey home, witnessing firsthand the devastating impact the disease has had on the people and communities she encounters along the way.
I really enjoyed the premise and the long walk style journey through a collapsing world. Where the book lost me was with the main character. She was outraged by people who knowingly risked infecting others, yet continued treating patients after realizing she was infected herself. Even after leaving the hospital, she repeatedly exposed others throughout her trip home. That contradiction made it difficult for me to connect with her. I also found it a little frustrating how often she felt compelled to announce that she was a doctor. While I understand why that might matter, it didn’t seem like the smartest move in a world where people were desperate, dying, and willing to do almost anything for help.
Overall, I enjoyed the concept more than the execution. The premise was compelling, and I liked seeing how the pandemic transformed society, but I struggled with the main character’s decisions and motivations.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thorns by Gregory Bastianelli is clearly inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic, but with a horrifying twist. Instead of a virus alone, those infected develop thorns that erupt from their bodies, an external manifestation of the catastrophic damage happening internally. There is no cure, and infection is essentially a death sentence.
The story follows a doctor working in a hospital during the height of the outbreak. After becoming infected herself, she’s dismissed from her job and begins a long journey home, witnessing firsthand the devastating impact the disease has had on the people and communities she encounters along the way.
I really enjoyed the premise and the long walk style journey through a collapsing world. Where the book lost me was with the main character. She was outraged by people who knowingly risked infecting others, yet continued treating patients after realizing she was infected herself. Even after leaving the hospital, she repeatedly exposed others throughout her trip home. That contradiction made it difficult for me to connect with her. I also found it a little frustrating how often she felt compelled to announce that she was a doctor. While I understand why that might matter, it didn’t seem like the smartest move in a world where people were desperate, dying, and willing to do almost anything for help.
Overall, I enjoyed the concept more than the execution. The premise was compelling, and I liked seeing how the pandemic transformed society, but I struggled with the main character’s decisions and motivations.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First, a trigger warning: if pandemic stories or anything that feels a little too close to COVID-esque lockdowns aren't your thing, you may want to skip this one.
Apocalyptic fiction is one of my favorite genres, especially when it revolves around a strange new disease, and Thorns delivers a really original concept. The story follows a doctor who becomes infected while treating patients and then desperately tries to make it home through an Italian town under strict lockdown.
What I appreciated most was that this isn't really a book about the disease itself. It's about people. Gregory Bastianelli does a fantastic job showing both the very best and the very worst of humanity under impossible circumstances. There are moments of compassion, selfishness, fear, sacrifice, and hope, and together they make for a surprisingly emotional read.
The only thing I found myself wanting was a little more background on the disease itself. I love the science behind outbreaks and would have happily taken more explanation about how it worked. But I also recognize that wasn't the point of this story. At its heart, this is a deeply human, character driven apocalypse with plenty of emotion. I wasn't expecting it to hit me as hard as it did, but it ended up being a bit of a tear jerker.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Flame Tree Press, and Gregory Bastianelli for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Apocalyptic fiction is one of my favorite genres, especially when it revolves around a strange new disease, and Thorns delivers a really original concept. The story follows a doctor who becomes infected while treating patients and then desperately tries to make it home through an Italian town under strict lockdown.
What I appreciated most was that this isn't really a book about the disease itself. It's about people. Gregory Bastianelli does a fantastic job showing both the very best and the very worst of humanity under impossible circumstances. There are moments of compassion, selfishness, fear, sacrifice, and hope, and together they make for a surprisingly emotional read.
The only thing I found myself wanting was a little more background on the disease itself. I love the science behind outbreaks and would have happily taken more explanation about how it worked. But I also recognize that wasn't the point of this story. At its heart, this is a deeply human, character driven apocalypse with plenty of emotion. I wasn't expecting it to hit me as hard as it did, but it ended up being a bit of a tear jerker.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Flame Tree Press, and Gregory Bastianelli for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thorns is the name of the fast spreading, highly contagious disease that is rapidly causing suffering and death across the globe. There is no cure, there is no treatment.
Hospitals are overrun, businesses are closed, nobody is allowed to be out in public without a valid reason. Food is scarce, funerals are not allowed, bodies are piling up. One courageous doctor who stayed on at the hospital, choosing to live there so as not to infect her family, gets fired when it is learned she has contracted Thorns. This is her story as she tries to make her way home in such perilous times.
Along the way, she will reflect on how she came to be in this situation, looking back on her choices with both resolve and regret. She will be met with kindness, contempt, and several dangers as she comes into contact with survivors and other infected people while coming to terms with the probability of her own death.
I usually avoid books that revolve around pandemics, diseases, viruses, etc but being a fan of the author's previous works, I could not keep myself away from this one. Highly recommended to those who are ready to handle it. It may be a difficult subject for some. This is an anxiety inducing medical horror that brings stark reminders of those first early, panic-stricken days of Covid, except that unlike COVID, there have so far been no survivors.
My thanks to Flame Tree Press for the ARC
Hospitals are overrun, businesses are closed, nobody is allowed to be out in public without a valid reason. Food is scarce, funerals are not allowed, bodies are piling up. One courageous doctor who stayed on at the hospital, choosing to live there so as not to infect her family, gets fired when it is learned she has contracted Thorns. This is her story as she tries to make her way home in such perilous times.
Along the way, she will reflect on how she came to be in this situation, looking back on her choices with both resolve and regret. She will be met with kindness, contempt, and several dangers as she comes into contact with survivors and other infected people while coming to terms with the probability of her own death.
I usually avoid books that revolve around pandemics, diseases, viruses, etc but being a fan of the author's previous works, I could not keep myself away from this one. Highly recommended to those who are ready to handle it. It may be a difficult subject for some. This is an anxiety inducing medical horror that brings stark reminders of those first early, panic-stricken days of Covid, except that unlike COVID, there have so far been no survivors.
My thanks to Flame Tree Press for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
"ʟɪғᴇ ᴀᴛ ʜᴏᴍᴇ ᴅᴏᴇsɴ'ᴛ ғᴇᴇʟ ʀᴇᴀʟ. ɪᴛ sᴇᴇᴍs ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ғᴀᴄ̧ᴀᴅᴇ, ʟɪᴋᴇ ɪ'ᴍ ᴘʟᴀʏᴀᴄᴛɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴡɪғᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀ. ɪᴛ sᴇᴇᴍs ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ. ɪ ғᴇᴇʟ ɢᴜɪʟᴛʏ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ʜᴏᴍᴇ. ɪᴛ ᴏɴʟʏ sᴇᴇᴍs ʀᴇᴀʟ ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ʜᴇʀᴇ."
With the most gorgeous cover and unique concept, ᴛʜᴏʀɴs mesmerized me from the very first moment. I've never read anything like this before and I had the absolute best time with this novel. It was both a hopeful and tragic tale, I highly recommend it to everyone.
This story felt terrifyingly realistic, like in some dystopian future it could actually happen. The deadly contagion that causes thorns to erupt along the surface of the body. The author did a spectacular job describing every tiny detail, you could feel how the thorns break through your skin. I got the chills just thinking about it! I saw everything clearly playing out in my head like a movie, I would definitely love to see this book becoming a movie or even better a TV show someday.
It was heartbreakingly devastating to read about how the main character, Monica got infected, about the baby and his young mother. The background details were immaculate and so sad. This is not the kind of story you want to rush through, no. This is the kind of book you want to absorb every single detail of. I wished it would last forever, I truly would love if there was a sequel to this novel. I need more!
I highly recommend reading this novel to everyone, it is truly a must read that became my new favorite.
With the most gorgeous cover and unique concept, ᴛʜᴏʀɴs mesmerized me from the very first moment. I've never read anything like this before and I had the absolute best time with this novel. It was both a hopeful and tragic tale, I highly recommend it to everyone.
This story felt terrifyingly realistic, like in some dystopian future it could actually happen. The deadly contagion that causes thorns to erupt along the surface of the body. The author did a spectacular job describing every tiny detail, you could feel how the thorns break through your skin. I got the chills just thinking about it! I saw everything clearly playing out in my head like a movie, I would definitely love to see this book becoming a movie or even better a TV show someday.
It was heartbreakingly devastating to read about how the main character, Monica got infected, about the baby and his young mother. The background details were immaculate and so sad. This is not the kind of story you want to rush through, no. This is the kind of book you want to absorb every single detail of. I wished it would last forever, I truly would love if there was a sequel to this novel. I need more!
I highly recommend reading this novel to everyone, it is truly a must read that became my new favorite.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In "Thorns," the world is suffering from a terrible pandemic. With a 100% fatality rate, painful thorns appear on the surface of the victims' flesh, and thorn roots grow inward, wrapping around and strangling the host's vital organs. The protagonist, ER doctor Monica, works on the front lines treating victims of the thorns at a hospital in Italy. After becoming infected with the virus, Monica leaves the hospital. Along the way, she faces the best and worst people humanity has to offer. The goal: make it back home to say goodbye, one final time, to her husband and son.
I gave this book two stars because it has an intriguing premise with the novel nature of the virus but unfortunately, that's where my interest stopped. The main character, Monica, is shown to be passionate about helping others and a devoted mother/spouse. Beyond that, her charcter is fairly one-dimensional. The story, with Monica's journey home, is repetitive, predictable, and not that exciting. Most frustrating is there is no mention of the origin/initial cause of the thorns. They are just there. Throughout the story, there were sentence fragments and (hopefully not) strange grammatical choices which I do hope are cleaned up come publication time.
I have not read any other Bastianelli novels, but this is one that was fairly difficult to get through. Some people will enjoy it but it wasn't for me.
I gave this book two stars because it has an intriguing premise with the novel nature of the virus but unfortunately, that's where my interest stopped. The main character, Monica, is shown to be passionate about helping others and a devoted mother/spouse. Beyond that, her charcter is fairly one-dimensional. The story, with Monica's journey home, is repetitive, predictable, and not that exciting. Most frustrating is there is no mention of the origin/initial cause of the thorns. They are just there. Throughout the story, there were sentence fragments and (hopefully not) strange grammatical choices which I do hope are cleaned up come publication time.
I have not read any other Bastianelli novels, but this is one that was fairly difficult to get through. Some people will enjoy it but it wasn't for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
THORNS – by Gregory Bastianelli
The Horror reader in me loves the premise of this book, wherein the bodies of those exposed to the deadly contagion erupt with thorns.
Here is where my internal trepidation for our main character, the infected Dr. Monica Cucinotto, turns to loathing.
Knowing she has the disease, she purposely leaves the hospital, a place that is filled with the infected from top to bottom, to stay with her elderly father.
Wait for it . . .
Because she does not want to expose her husband and son to the disease.
Make this make sense.
She also rides on a bus filled with people, visits an unknown to her elderly woman’s house to get water, use her phone, and use her bathroom.
What?????
This is a Doctor who knows the ramifications of her actions, not someone who may or may not know better.
I had to go back and reread the synopsis to see if the Doctor’s plight, due to her oblivious decision-making, is somehow foretold, or if she is intended to be seen as a victim.
Unfortunately, it appears to lean towards the latter, thus resulting in a DNF for me at 40%.
Do I look forward to reading more of Bastianelli’s work?
Yes, of course!
Just because this book did not work for me, does not mean that I won’t read more by this author.
Thank you, NetGalley and Flame Tree Press, for providing me with an eBook ARC of THORNS at the request of an honest review.
The Horror reader in me loves the premise of this book, wherein the bodies of those exposed to the deadly contagion erupt with thorns.
Here is where my internal trepidation for our main character, the infected Dr. Monica Cucinotto, turns to loathing.
Knowing she has the disease, she purposely leaves the hospital, a place that is filled with the infected from top to bottom, to stay with her elderly father.
Wait for it . . .
Because she does not want to expose her husband and son to the disease.
Make this make sense.
She also rides on a bus filled with people, visits an unknown to her elderly woman’s house to get water, use her phone, and use her bathroom.
What?????
This is a Doctor who knows the ramifications of her actions, not someone who may or may not know better.
I had to go back and reread the synopsis to see if the Doctor’s plight, due to her oblivious decision-making, is somehow foretold, or if she is intended to be seen as a victim.
Unfortunately, it appears to lean towards the latter, thus resulting in a DNF for me at 40%.
Do I look forward to reading more of Bastianelli’s work?
Yes, of course!
Just because this book did not work for me, does not mean that I won’t read more by this author.
Thank you, NetGalley and Flame Tree Press, for providing me with an eBook ARC of THORNS at the request of an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The publisher categorizes Gregory Bastianelli's Thorns as horror and a mystery/thriller. Unfortunately, nothing could be farther from the truth. While the nature of the contagion itself is horrifying - thorns which pierce the victim's skin from the inside while invading and destroying their organs with their filaments - the story of Dr. Monica Cucinotta's trek home is boring, repetitive, and filled with sentence fragments and awkward grammar. The room in the hospital where the most ill patients are kept is "an aberration of normality"; Monica stands up and "becom[es] eye level with [a] signpost"; her "mind sp[i]n[s] in circles, "[c]ould be the effects of the wine still imbued her"; a mortician "adorn[s] his black mask." Had I not felt obligated to finish reading the book in order to provide feedback, I would have given up on it long before reaching the halfway mark.
Were it not for the novel nature of the disease, for which I gave it an extra star, Thorns would have been only a one-star read for me. The description of the book tells you all you need to know; don't waste your time reading the book.
I received a free copy of Thorns from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Were it not for the novel nature of the disease, for which I gave it an extra star, Thorns would have been only a one-star read for me. The description of the book tells you all you need to know; don't waste your time reading the book.
I received a free copy of Thorns from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review | 4⭐️
I AM HORRIFIED.
Thorns is the kind of horror that gets under your skin because it doesn’t rely on monsters or ghosts. The real terror comes from the fact that it feels possible. It takes the fear and uncertainty we've all glimsed and opens the curtains fully into a much darker space.
Monica is not an easy character to root for. She is compassionate and driven by a genuine desire to save people, but her choices constantly made me question where the line is between sacrifice and selfishness fell. She wants to help others but at her core shes trying to save herself.
The hospital scenes are some of the most haunting parts because the horror feels so grounded in reality: overwhelmed systems, impossible decisions, and people trying to hold on to their humanity as everything collapses.
The scariest moments almost gave me vibes of the TV show Black Mirror, especially the episode Nosedive, where the protagonists life slowly unravels along with her sanity. There are moments of kindness, but also moments that show how quickly desperation can bring out the darkest sides of humanity.
A genuinely terrifying read. Not because it feels supernatural, but because it feels possible.
I AM HORRIFIED.
Thorns is the kind of horror that gets under your skin because it doesn’t rely on monsters or ghosts. The real terror comes from the fact that it feels possible. It takes the fear and uncertainty we've all glimsed and opens the curtains fully into a much darker space.
Monica is not an easy character to root for. She is compassionate and driven by a genuine desire to save people, but her choices constantly made me question where the line is between sacrifice and selfishness fell. She wants to help others but at her core shes trying to save herself.
The hospital scenes are some of the most haunting parts because the horror feels so grounded in reality: overwhelmed systems, impossible decisions, and people trying to hold on to their humanity as everything collapses.
The scariest moments almost gave me vibes of the TV show Black Mirror, especially the episode Nosedive, where the protagonists life slowly unravels along with her sanity. There are moments of kindness, but also moments that show how quickly desperation can bring out the darkest sides of humanity.
A genuinely terrifying read. Not because it feels supernatural, but because it feels possible.
Review of advance copy
Fascinating, gripping, desperately sad.
Monica is a Dr working through a pandemic. The thorns growing as part of the infection sound bizarre and other-worldly. It did also take my brain to the myth we were told as kids how eating apple seeds would cause an apple tree to grow in your stomach. 😆
It's interesting how we get Monica's view as a Dr and as someone infected with a knowledge of the prognosis. To add insult to injury, she's stranded and needs to get back home. She travels through this odd dystopia with empty places, infected people and savage people operating out of fear. She needs to travel quite a distance and we do find ourselves on the edge of our seats waiting to see if someone will help or if she'll succumb to illness.
It's all quite sad as you want Monica to succeed. She's a good person and has supported people through a terrible time. She's just trying to see her family but obstacles keep appearing and each one shows us her strength and determination. She's a great character!
This is the first book I've read of Bastianelli and won't be the last. I'm curious to find out what other journeys he can take us on. He's been described as the 'messiah of macabre' and as a lover of horror stories I think it'd be rude for me to not pick up another of his books.
Monica is a Dr working through a pandemic. The thorns growing as part of the infection sound bizarre and other-worldly. It did also take my brain to the myth we were told as kids how eating apple seeds would cause an apple tree to grow in your stomach. 😆
It's interesting how we get Monica's view as a Dr and as someone infected with a knowledge of the prognosis. To add insult to injury, she's stranded and needs to get back home. She travels through this odd dystopia with empty places, infected people and savage people operating out of fear. She needs to travel quite a distance and we do find ourselves on the edge of our seats waiting to see if someone will help or if she'll succumb to illness.
It's all quite sad as you want Monica to succeed. She's a good person and has supported people through a terrible time. She's just trying to see her family but obstacles keep appearing and each one shows us her strength and determination. She's a great character!
This is the first book I've read of Bastianelli and won't be the last. I'm curious to find out what other journeys he can take us on. He's been described as the 'messiah of macabre' and as a lover of horror stories I think it'd be rude for me to not pick up another of his books.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I enjoyed Thorns. It is a well-written pandemic story with some tense moments. The beginning felt a bit slow to me, but once the doctor began her journey home I became invested. I only wish that the book had been longer. It ended a bit abruptly, and I would have liked more details about the future of the characters and the pandemic crisis.
The other thing that kept this book from being a perfect read for me was the lack of caution the doctor had about spreading the disease. She was worried about entering her family's home due to not wanting to potentially expose them, but yet she touched and even shared drinks with seemingly healthy strangers she met. She had compassion for her patients and others, so it seemed conflicting that she didn't make a better effort to avoid close contact with people on her journey.
Overall though, I am glad I read it. There were some thrilling, tense encounters between the main character and people she met on her trip home, with some body horror elements as well.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC. All thoughts are my own.
The other thing that kept this book from being a perfect read for me was the lack of caution the doctor had about spreading the disease. She was worried about entering her family's home due to not wanting to potentially expose them, but yet she touched and even shared drinks with seemingly healthy strangers she met. She had compassion for her patients and others, so it seemed conflicting that she didn't make a better effort to avoid close contact with people on her journey.
Overall though, I am glad I read it. There were some thrilling, tense encounters between the main character and people she met on her trip home, with some body horror elements as well.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC. All thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
It's been almost two years since I last read this author, but I remember so vividly reading October, that as soon as I spotted this new release, I jumped at the chance to read it.
First off, I cannot go without saying how absolutely stunning this book is.
I love the metallic finish and that stark but simple cover image really catches the eye.
Now, given the nature of this read - it's definitely a traumatic one - I'm not sure I should be saying this, but I absolutely had the best time in this book.
This author's writing style just draws you right into this dystopian world and I was completely hooked from start to finish.
The really scary thing about this story is that it really doesn't sound too beyond the realms of reality - ok, thorns erupting on the skin might sound a little outlandish, but who knows what contagion will manifest in the future?
What matters is that this feels so real as you're reading.
The atmosphere is set from the first pages and I was so completely immersed I actually had chills - especially as the descriptions were so vivid and visceral.
This was very much a study of the human will to survive and the breakdown of society rather than any great cause or cure story, but I loved delving into all these psychological elements - very thought-provoking and possibly highlighted how terribly I'd cope in this situation.
Another great read and an author id love to read more of in the future.
First off, I cannot go without saying how absolutely stunning this book is.
I love the metallic finish and that stark but simple cover image really catches the eye.
Now, given the nature of this read - it's definitely a traumatic one - I'm not sure I should be saying this, but I absolutely had the best time in this book.
This author's writing style just draws you right into this dystopian world and I was completely hooked from start to finish.
The really scary thing about this story is that it really doesn't sound too beyond the realms of reality - ok, thorns erupting on the skin might sound a little outlandish, but who knows what contagion will manifest in the future?
What matters is that this feels so real as you're reading.
The atmosphere is set from the first pages and I was so completely immersed I actually had chills - especially as the descriptions were so vivid and visceral.
This was very much a study of the human will to survive and the breakdown of society rather than any great cause or cure story, but I loved delving into all these psychological elements - very thought-provoking and possibly highlighted how terribly I'd cope in this situation.
Another great read and an author id love to read more of in the future.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thorns
Horror, Thriller
Gregory Bastianelli
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book is categorised by the publishers as a horror/thriller but I don’t think it really fits into either of those genres. Yes, there were moments that were tense due to the situations Monica found herself in and the spreading virus was disturbing, but it was more apocalyptic than anything else.
I wanted to know more about the virus/thorns and the origins and whether a cure was found etc, but the whole book focused on Monica's journey trying to get home. I found a couple of things were mentioned and then never addressed again.
The plot itself was a bit boring at times, which is a shame because it had so much potential.
*Thank you to @Netgalley, the author, and the publishers for providing this ARC. This is my own opinion and an honest review, which I am leaving voluntarily*
Horror, Thriller
Gregory Bastianelli
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book is categorised by the publishers as a horror/thriller but I don’t think it really fits into either of those genres. Yes, there were moments that were tense due to the situations Monica found herself in and the spreading virus was disturbing, but it was more apocalyptic than anything else.
I wanted to know more about the virus/thorns and the origins and whether a cure was found etc, but the whole book focused on Monica's journey trying to get home. I found a couple of things were mentioned and then never addressed again.
The plot itself was a bit boring at times, which is a shame because it had so much potential.
*Thank you to @Netgalley, the author, and the publishers for providing this ARC. This is my own opinion and an honest review, which I am leaving voluntarily*
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I really enjoyed the concept of this book and how the author was able to use the Covid Pandemic to create something that was far scarier! The imagery of the thorns on the skin really did unsettle me, so praise to the author and their descriptive writing for this!
I felt on edge for Monica throughout as we followed her on her journey, at some points I really did fear for her. I really enjoyed the pacing of the book as it kept the tense atmosphere throughout. I did find myself becoming irate at some points for Monica’s decisions, but that just shows I was invested.
With it being a horror, I did hope for things to be a little more unsettling but that for some it could be the perfect balance. There is a dark reader in me, so I’d have just liked to have been pushed a little further.
Overall an enjoyable, atmospheric read that I flew through!
I felt on edge for Monica throughout as we followed her on her journey, at some points I really did fear for her. I really enjoyed the pacing of the book as it kept the tense atmosphere throughout. I did find myself becoming irate at some points for Monica’s decisions, but that just shows I was invested.
With it being a horror, I did hope for things to be a little more unsettling but that for some it could be the perfect balance. There is a dark reader in me, so I’d have just liked to have been pushed a little further.
Overall an enjoyable, atmospheric read that I flew through!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
If you're a fan of apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic novels, this is the read for you.
Set in Italy, it's a classic pandemic story in which we follow a Doctor, who's forced to leave her job after contracting a deadly disease in which thorns burst through the skin, with their roots making their way deep into the body and organs, eventually also erupting through the eyes and inside the mouth.
As the Dr makes her way through the landscape of Italian villages, she encounters some of the best people along the way, but also some of the worst in a tale that's both heart-wrenching, but also full of hope.
So make sure to pick your copy in to follow the Dr through a collapsing Italian society.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
Set in Italy, it's a classic pandemic story in which we follow a Doctor, who's forced to leave her job after contracting a deadly disease in which thorns burst through the skin, with their roots making their way deep into the body and organs, eventually also erupting through the eyes and inside the mouth.
As the Dr makes her way through the landscape of Italian villages, she encounters some of the best people along the way, but also some of the worst in a tale that's both heart-wrenching, but also full of hope.
So make sure to pick your copy in to follow the Dr through a collapsing Italian society.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book packs quite a punch, especially given we are only just recovering from the COVID-19 epidemic. It's a powerful story and, as someone who worked in healthcare through the last pandemic, this story is frighteningly real.
It's a gripping, page-turning read that's so imaginable, it's chilling (I'm not sure I would ever have imagined I'd be saying that 6 years ago!). Clearly inspired by the Italian experience during COVID-19, it's a pandemic story with a gruesome and frightening twist. Set in post-apocalyptic Italy, it focuses on the people living in the moment and the narrative is very much character-driven. The author captures the spectrum of people affected by this terrible disease - the infected, their loved ones and those who have been fortunate enough to remain uninfected, including the fear of the unknown.
A great read that left me 😱. Thank you
It's a gripping, page-turning read that's so imaginable, it's chilling (I'm not sure I would ever have imagined I'd be saying that 6 years ago!). Clearly inspired by the Italian experience during COVID-19, it's a pandemic story with a gruesome and frightening twist. Set in post-apocalyptic Italy, it focuses on the people living in the moment and the narrative is very much character-driven. The author captures the spectrum of people affected by this terrible disease - the infected, their loved ones and those who have been fortunate enough to remain uninfected, including the fear of the unknown.
A great read that left me 😱. Thank you
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A devastating apocalyptic tale of one woman's journey home after contracting a deadly virus. Monica's tale is sad, and the people she meets along the way are equally without hope for their future. There are few resolutions but the ending felt just right. I could absolutely see these scenarios playing out during the Covid 19 pandemic.
What didn't work for me was the writing. It felt choppy and disjointed. I thought the story might be translated into English but I was wrong. I would've also liked less 'memory scenes' as they slowed the story down a bit.
Arc from Flame Tree Press via Netgalley.
What didn't work for me was the writing. It felt choppy and disjointed. I thought the story might be translated into English but I was wrong. I would've also liked less 'memory scenes' as they slowed the story down a bit.
Arc from Flame Tree Press via Netgalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you for the opportunity to preview Thorns. This is written as a journey during a strange pandemic. This illness produces victims to get internal and external thorns in their body.
Horrific so when a young doctor who dedicated her career to saving lives shows signs of the deadly disease she is cast off to a faraway place to live till the disease strikes her and she dies.
But this is more than a horror story and is written in a very compelling way. Can she outlive the pandemic or is she doomed like all others stricken by THORNS.
Good read. Scary too! 3.5 stars
Horrific so when a young doctor who dedicated her career to saving lives shows signs of the deadly disease she is cast off to a faraway place to live till the disease strikes her and she dies.
But this is more than a horror story and is written in a very compelling way. Can she outlive the pandemic or is she doomed like all others stricken by THORNS.
Good read. Scary too! 3.5 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thorns by Gregory Bastianelli is a terrifying story that shows the tricky balance of three key elements; work and family, horrific pain and beauty, and hope and hopelessness.
You guys… this book broke me.
The body horror mixed with grief horror is such a powerful combination. Like the deadly disease within these pages, this book will prick your skin and leave you forever changed.
Check out my full review here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/thorn...
You guys… this book broke me.
The body horror mixed with grief horror is such a powerful combination. Like the deadly disease within these pages, this book will prick your skin and leave you forever changed.
Check out my full review here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/thorn...
July 30, 2026
I honestly didn’t know what to expect when I went into this read, whether it would be the tale of Dr Cucinotta and her experience working in a hospital during a devastating pandemic or a wider tale.
But what it was the tragic haunting tale of a woman desperate to get home to her husband and son, the people she met on her desperate walk back, the lengths people go to for their loved ones or companionship when the world around them is dying.
This isn’t a book full of drama but a journey, a journey of sadness, hope, fear and acceptance. This is not a horror story of blood and gore but a desperate tale that send shivers and haunts you as it continues.
A very interesting take on a pandemic writing, an unrelenting tale which leaves you hoping for a peaceful end for Dr Cucinotta. You can easily read this in one sitting as you are captivated by the journey.
But what it was the tragic haunting tale of a woman desperate to get home to her husband and son, the people she met on her desperate walk back, the lengths people go to for their loved ones or companionship when the world around them is dying.
This isn’t a book full of drama but a journey, a journey of sadness, hope, fear and acceptance. This is not a horror story of blood and gore but a desperate tale that send shivers and haunts you as it continues.
A very interesting take on a pandemic writing, an unrelenting tale which leaves you hoping for a peaceful end for Dr Cucinotta. You can easily read this in one sitting as you are captivated by the journey.
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