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Darya Cristescu has been living a charmed life. She has the perfect boyfriend, is just about to turn nineteen and will soon graduate from the St. Bastian Institute for Magic and the Supernatural.

All that goes belly up when she’s framed for a crime she didn’t commit. Luckily, the authorities know exactly who set her up: the demon warlock she helped send to prison only a few short months ago. What they don’t know is how he managed to orchestrate everything whilst bound by wards and magical blocks.

Eager to assist in the investigation, Darya makes the tough decision to leave her family, her friends, and most importantly, her boyfriend behind and go undercover to the Prison of Thorns. She must pretend she’s been found guilty and sentenced to serve time, all the while gaining access to Vasilios, earning his forgiveness and trust, and figuring out how he managed to frame her.

However, nothing goes according to plan. In the cutthroat microcosm of the prison, Darya and Vasilios are forced to become allies. She learns about his past and the strange dimension he came from, making the realisation that it might not have been him who framed her but someone else entirely. And when all is said and done, Darya finds herself changed utterly, no longer the protected daughter of the most powerful couple in Tribane, but a woman who survived the horrors of prison hand in hand with the one person she used to consider her very worst enemy.

Thorns is book #2 in L.H. Cosway’s Blood Prophecy Series. It is necessary to read book #1, Foretold, before reading this installment.

275 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 13, 2022

28 people are currently reading
273 people want to read

About the author

L.H. Cosway

56 books5,917 followers
L.H. Cosway lives in Ireland. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favourite things in life include writing stories, food, musical comedy, and of course, books. She thinks that imperfect people are the most interesting kind. They tell the best stories.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LHCosway

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LHCosway

Mailing List: https://lhcoswayauthor.com/newsletter/

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lhcosway13/

Website: www.lhcoswayauthor.com

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
Profile Image for lila.
158 reviews2,585 followers
May 1, 2023
— 5 stars ☆

my emotions while reading this book: ✨🙈😌❤️‍🔥😭

i read this way back in december but i'm only now reviewing, lol. but this is one of my fave book series ever, it just gives me nostalgia for some reason. also, warning!! this has a love triangle, but i feel here it was executed in such a good way, somehow? and it just clicked with me here.

and vas can have me anytime. 😌
Profile Image for L.H. Cosway.
Author 56 books5,917 followers
Read
August 30, 2023
Thorns-Live

Now live!!! The 2nd book in the Blood Prophecy Series, Thorns: A Prison of Thorns Novel, is available now👇

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMJTS9CR
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3hWAcGB
Barnes & Noble: https://geni.us/kY6za5h
Kobo: https://geni.us/xKQFu71
Smashwords: https://geni.us/Kcz2SAu


BLURB:

Darya Cristescu has been living a charmed life. She has the perfect boyfriend, is just about to turn nineteen and will soon graduate from the St. Bastian Institute for Magic and the Supernatural.

All that goes belly up when she’s framed for a crime she didn’t commit. Luckily, the authorities know exactly who set her up: the demon warlock she helped send to prison only a few short months ago. What they don’t know is how he managed to orchestrate everything whilst bound by wards and magical blocks.

Eager to assist in the investigation, Darya makes the tough decision to leave her family, her friends, and most importantly, her boyfriend behind and go undercover to the Prison of Thorns. She must pretend she’s been found guilty and sentenced to serve time, all the while gaining access to Vasilios, earning his forgiveness and trust, and figuring out how he managed to frame her.

However, nothing goes according to plan. In the cutthroat microcosm of the prison, Darya and Vasilios are forced to become allies. She learns about his past and the strange dimension he came from, making the realisation that it might not have been him who framed her but someone else entirely. And when all is said and done, Darya finds herself changed utterly, no longer the protected daughter of the most powerful couple in Tribane, but a woman who survived the horrors of prison hand in hand with the one person she used to consider her very worst enemy.

Thorns is book #2 in L.H. Cosway’s Blood Prophecy Series. It is necessary to read book #1, Foretold, before reading this installment.
Profile Image for Yodamom.
2,208 reviews215 followers
December 20, 2022
Magical, heart thumping and it ended too soon, I want more ! You know a book is good when it ends and you feel like you just started in a minute ago. This author can make you love/hate like no other. She is a wizard with character development. She took a vile creature and made him a heartthrob. Twist twist :D

Oh Peter I think I'm leaving your team and sitting at a new table.
Darya, girl has gotten herself into a caged nightmare. Her privileged life did not prepare her for prison. Hardcore nasties, power struggles, her worst enemy (a man she betrayed), beings that were put there by her father. The things that happen here will leave have your pulse racing.
It's not all bad, there are some wonderful new characters to meet, and some to meet in a new way. Vasilios, I liked him before, even after the you know what happened. I liked the spark that flashed in book one. He's back and I'm wanting that old spark even more as we get to know him. He can't be as bad as everyone thinks right ?
This book was a total escape read and I loved it. Book #3 I need you !
Profile Image for Carvanz.
2,379 reviews896 followers
December 12, 2022
This author performed pure magic by taking a villain, a character I despised, and turning him into a romantic figure. A hero, even. I’m totally blown away.


https://www.gamersdecide.com/sites/default/files/authors/u160018/image2_2.jpg


I never saw this series unfolding in this way. This book was interesting until it hit the point where Darya was framed for murder and then I was totally captivated and unable to put this down. With the sweep of the computer keys, Ms. Cosway shined a light on Vasilios making me see him in a whole new way. He had not changed, at all. He was still the villain, but there was so much more below the surface making me fall in love with this bad boy.


https://conscienhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Blood.jpg


This story is edged with darkness as the prison is home to degradation, violence and a blind eye from the authorities. There is drama and angst along with the unveiling of a new romantic interest. While this is definitely a love triangle going on, the story does not revolve around it. I’m very anxious to get the next book to learn what lies in store for these characters.

Heroine POV
Safe
Triggers
Steam
Profile Image for Dali.
2,087 reviews591 followers
December 13, 2022
Thorns is book 2 of the Blood Prophesy series by L.H. CoswayIt is a young adult paranormal romance.

Tropes:
✔️ forced proximity
✔️ love triangle
✔️ enemies to lovers

Dayra Cristescu’s life is as close to perfection as it can be. She has loving parents, friends, super cute boyfriend, is about to graduate and most likely get her dream job until she’s framed for murder. And although the authorities know it wasn’t her, they’re still asking her to the supernatural prison of Thorns.

Undercover to aid the investigation Dayra accepts the assignment to earn Vasilios’ trust under the guise of being guilty in order to gain his trust and figure out how he’s capable of wielding magic inside the blocks and wards of the prison.

But once on the inside, everything goes sideways and is truly forced to work with Vasilios in order to survive. In doing so she also learns about him. She learns to trust the man she once considered her enemy.

I loved this story and will have a book hangover for a while. I loved the world building, I could picture the entire story as a movie in my mind’s eye.

I loved Dayra’s character development. She was strong before, but after that mission she’s forced to grow. I love that she never gave up even in the direst of circumstances, especially since the danger is very, very real throughout the story which served to make it more thrilling.

As for Vasilios, I had empathized with him and his suffering in the previous book. My heart felt for him and his lost innocence all over again, but we’ll see how it turns out in the next book. All I’m saying for now is that I’m #teamVailios.

I wish I had the next book in my hands now! I can’t wait to see what happens.

★ I received an ARC of this title from the author. The excerpts are from that copy. I am voluntarily reviewing this title.
Check out all my book edits over at Instagram
Profile Image for maggieandteddy.
1,223 reviews143 followers
January 8, 2023
Great second book. Wow. Darya is a badass. I loved how much more confident she is. I loved the turn this series took. Vasilios' character may have been the same, but I got to see way more of his POV. Or I guess Darya gets more of his POV. It was fun guessing who/what was the bad guy (person, being).
I took a lot of time with this book. My family & I were sick through the holidays, so this was a great diversion. Such a page turner. The chapters are long and the world continues to build. I could totally picture the setting. This is 1st person POV - all from Darya's POV. I hesitate to give too many details/spoilers.
Darya is 1/2 witch & 1/2 vampire. She has trouble fitting in, but in the new setting, she really does have the disadvantage. I loved the appearance of a certain "mean girl" character. There's some dry humor and wise- cracks. I love LH Cosway's writing & I'm so looking forward to book 3.
The heat is mild, but there's a lot of attraction between Darya and Vasilios.
There's a cliff hanger. I do not mind at all. It's rare for me to say that. Ms Cosway is so worth it.
But I still cannot wait.
Profile Image for Sara Ann.
680 reviews
December 5, 2022
I am utterly speechless. I did not want this book to end. It was such a slow burn and messed with my brain and heart… so many feelings right now.

Where to start?

Peter versus Vasilios. I JUST CAN’T CHOOSE!! Why must you make both men so perfect, Cosway? My heart wants both men.

When I started the novel I was 100% Team Peter and thought “there is no way Vasilios can change my mind.” Nope. I was wrong. Soooooo very wrong. He slowly makes his way into your heart and before you know it you’re like “aw man, I like him.”

Darya is just as amazing as she was in Foretold. She’s a fighter, a lover, and won’t give up until she uncovers the truth behind a Murder and brings that person to justice.

Sven may be a murder, but I really like him too. I NEED him to have a happily ever after. PLEASE!!

Now is the part where I usually go over my pros and cons of the novel. There are way too many pros but I will highlight my favorites and mention some minor cons (they are super small and are based on my novel preference).

PROS:
1. Everything. The novel kept me intrigued for hours. I did not want to put this down. I was literally fighting sleep while reading this. I needed to know what would happen next and just kept flipping those pages.
2. The story line was like nothing I’ve read before and I honestly did not see most of the events coming. For many books, people can say “oh yeah, that’s cliche or I’ve read that before.” Not this one. You will be on edge the whole time (in a good way).
3. The characters. They are each so different and have their own background and baggage. It just adds to the overall story.
4. That vision of the future. I don’t even know how to unpack that but whoa. I can’t wait to see how everything unfolds.

CONS:
1. Now, this is something small: I’m not usually a fan of prison books so seeing Darya hurt and defenseless at times and denying Vasilios’s help and protection irked me. Now, this is not Cosway’s fault. Her writing is brilliant. This is just something I’m not a fan of. I don’t like when innocent people are hurt or taken advantage of (possessions being stolen, not allowed to shower, etc).
2. SPOILER: When Belinda hinted at Peter and Angela taking care of his brothers I wasn’t sure how to feel about this. Quite honestly, I was jealous for Darya. Hopefully more will be reveled in Blaze (the next book).

If you have read Foretold, you need to finish Darya’s story. When this novel finished I literally screamed “No! Nooooo this cannot be finished! I can’t wait until April for the next novel! I need more Vasilios, Sven, and Darya!”

It has been a while since I’ve read a book I loved this much. Cosway, keep your brilliant novels coming. Your fans need more!

**An ARC was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**
Profile Image for Maria.
283 reviews11 followers
December 7, 2022
This book was fantastic! I didn’t want it to end!!!!I am absolutely loving this series!!!! Questions were answered but now new ones have arisen. I desperately want to know what happens next!!!! Definitely recommend this book and the entire series!!!!!
Profile Image for Angie Reed.
808 reviews9 followers
December 13, 2022
Darya has been framed for her friends murder. Being given the opportunity to help find her friends killer she soon learns that things are not what they seem. Darya soon learns her life has a very different path but can accept this? I can’t wait to see what happens next!!
Profile Image for Patricia Noblet.
Author 7 books40 followers
December 11, 2022
LH Cosway manages once again to amaze me, among other things by making a hateful character into an endearing and romantic character.
In the first book of the Blood Prophecy trilogy, Vasilios and Sven were the villains of the story, we had good reason to hate them, but in this second book, we scratch the dark surface to come across a bit of light. By discovering the life they led until their arrival in the world of Darya, we can only pity them and feel empathy. The author makes us feel empathy thanks to her perfect writing.
We knew that Vasilios liked Darya very much, but here we witness the depth of his feelings. He does not make beautiful declarations, he does not seduce her with romantic dinners and there remains a dark side in him, but he proves again and again his feelings with his actions, his need to protect her even by weakening himself sometimes.
Darya who knows love with Peter has reason to be lost. Peter is perfect for her, he is truly wonderful, but when she finds herself in prison with Vasilios, she gets to know him and becomes more and more troubled by him. I hate love triangles so to be honest I was very scared with this book.
I take the risk of spoiler to tell you that there is no infidelity strictly speaking. Which I greatly appreciated! In this book, LH Cosway has chosen to show us Vasilios in a different light, to create a touching and powerful alchemy between him and Darya, to gently arouse feelings.
Darya finds herself in prison after a murder linked to her but of which we do not know who is the culprit. Our heroine is incredibly brave for her young age.
I loved discovering this extraordinary prison, the clans, the customs. Cruelty reigns, the guards don't care if the inmates hurt each other, but amid all the darkness, Darya finds unlikely support from her enemies.
LH Cosway has chosen a dark and cold environment for the setting of a budding love.
I suspected from the beginning that the culprit of the murder was not the one everyone thought, but I had not imagined the outcome for a second. It was a wonderful surprise.
But the end is not really one. We have to wait for the third book to know the future of our heroine. With which hero will she make her life? Peter or Vasilios? Will she follow the fate predicted for her or will she make different choices? Will she become a leader? Save victims? Dominate the world?
Thorns is so addictive, you read it very fast and at the end, you want more ! I can't wait to have my questions answered!!!
Profile Image for Mel.
803 reviews66 followers
January 4, 2023
4 stars!

Thorns throws us back in the paranormal world created for Blood Prophecy and Blood magic and back into Darya’s life. Things seem to be going well for her and Peter but things can change in a blink of an eye. After feeling like someone is following her, Darya finds herself in trouble and accused of murder. If she is going to figure out the truth, then she needs to go where the real suspect is – The Prison of Thorns.

When Darya enters the Prison of Thorns, it’s not at all what she thought. It’s a rollercoaster of emotion because her world is flipped upside down. She doesn’t have the protection she is used to and she has to side with the one person she considered her enemy.

Thorns just got better and better with every page I turned. I was on the edge of my seat while the anticipation of what was to come grew within me. There are twists I never saw coming and feelings I didn’t know I’d feel. I hate love triangles and though it’s not exactly what I was expecting, it’s building up to one that can surely break hearts. My heart was confused at times and I found myself wanting something else entirely.
Is your future all that you hoped it would be?

“No. It’s nothing like what I’d hoped. It’s nothing like anything I could possibly imagine”

It only seems that ways because you haven’t experienced the journey yet. Once you do, it will all make perfect sense.

It’s amazing how can one vision can change everything. I never thought I’d feel the way I do and now I’m even more invested in these characters. I need to know what happens.

There is still a lot of magic in the series and I enjoyed the new elements that the prison brought to the story. I liked that Darya is pushed to the limits and tested as she always is, and I loved seeing old characters and new. I cannot wait for more!!

*ARC generously provided by the author*


Profile Image for Caroline F.
2,397 reviews52 followers
December 16, 2022
I loved this story so much and it left me reeling a little bit by the time I got to the end.

In book 1 (which you must read first) we see Darya fall in love with Peter – a beautiful and sweet first love. However, there were indications of a little frisson with the half-demon/half-warlock, Vasilios Girard, which spark to life even more in this second book.

”With every day that passed, I grew closer to him. I felt like we were no longer on opposing sides but instead on the same team.”

When Darya accepts an assignment from the Guard to enter the Prison of Thorns, in order to find evidence that would incriminate Vasilios, she knows it will be a pretty tough life inside. However, she’s comforted by the fact that she can be extracted quickly if her life is endangered. Unfortunately, once inside, not only are things much harder than she expected, but the more time she spends with Vasilios, the more her view of him changes, and she’s doubting that he’s guilty of the crime for which she’s been framed. And then there’s the thrilling chemistry that grows between them. Darya possesses Vas’ mark – a mark that was put in her from the first moment he saw her and wanted her. This mark is almost a living thing between them and also makes Vas’ powers stronger. I found the connection between them so breathtakingly exciting and, at times, heartrendingly tender, that I was ready for Darya to cast Peter aside and go for it with Vas!

”There was a wildness to me now, a wildness I’d never experienced with Peter. I felt like I could eat Vasilios alive, tear him to shreds, and consume every part of him until he and I were one, bonded together.”

I admired Darya’s hardiness, tenacity and courage. She was also pretty stubborn, which went a long way to steel her backbone! Vas was sometimes taciturn, sometimes gentle, sometimes possessive. His back story was heartbreaking but he was as resilient as they come. I think they really suited each other – Darya is such a strong character that I think she needs someone of equal stature to hold their own with her. This story had a fantastic storyline with elements of magic, intrigue, and intense attraction. As the story sped to its concl

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Profile Image for phoebess.
1,521 reviews98 followers
December 13, 2022
The second book in this series threw us a curve-ball in form of “not everything is as it seems” twist. Having Darya question her relationship with Peter and her leaning toward Vas was an intriguing and surprising change in the storyline. (Let’s be honest, not many authors would dare to stray from the everlasting first love in their stories, even though it would feel like a natural turn of events.)
As always, the old and new characters were beautifully written and it was no hardship to fall in love with them all over again.
Only thing that did not work for me was the mysterious murderous tree plot twist. It was over so suddenly, I was left wondering what the hell happened and why. I would appreciate if there was some more investigation into it before jumping to conclusion about it.
But this little speck of dirt did not lessen my enjoyment of reading this book at all. I could not get enough of it and was left wondering about what could happen in the next book.

I received a free copy of this book and gave it an honest review.
Profile Image for Pamela Lilley.
2,201 reviews39 followers
December 25, 2022
Wow! Continuing Darya Cristescu’s adventures with another murder mystery that takes her to the Prison of Thorns, and her old enemy Vasilios. The Prison of Thorns is no ordinary prison, it’s full of supernaturals, it’s guarded by supernaturals, and the prisoners lose all their powers upon entrance, or do they? Some of the prisoners take an immediate dislike to Darya, the vampires especially, and although she proves herself to be a worthy advocate, not going down without a fight, she’s no match for a bunch of bloodthirsty vampires. Surprisingly she finds sanctuary in the one person she never expected to. Lots of action (some particularly gruelling scenes), and some intense moments between Darya and Vasilio, which I loved by the way. There are so many little twists and turns, making it impossible to predict what’s going to happen next. I can’t wait for book 3. I received an advanced copy of this book. This is my honest review.
260 reviews3 followers
December 8, 2022
I love, love, love this series and the story is so amazing that I just couldn’t read fast enough. It’s very well written and I think it’s one of the best books I’ve read this year.

Darya is strong and capable but being framed for murder and being sent to prison is no party. She has to leave her boyfriend and her parents to investigate how her enemies are capable of using magic in the Prison of Thorn. She has to fight to keep the vampires and shape shifters away and at the same time get close to her enemies to prove that Vasilios was the guilty one. Only he’s nothing like she anticipated and he’s the one to repeatedly help her. She’s carrying his mark and as the story progresses she grows more and more attached to him. She even takes a liking to Sven, the demon that killed her teacher and almost killed her blood donor. He’s actually being nice in a strangely emotionless way. I think I need a deep dive into his story.

The story ends in a cliffhanger and I don’t know what will tide me over till April next year. I need to cast a spell to speed things up.
Profile Image for Anima.
2,747 reviews52 followers
December 11, 2022
Amazing as always! Darya is forced to pay for a crime she didn’t commit but it’s for a good reason. It sort of has 60 Days In vibes because she’s going undercover in the Prison of Thorns. Her time there is just as you’d expect to be for prison, fighting off vamps, learning the “gangs” and trying to survive. She makes unexpected allies and learns more about herself. It’s a highly entertaining story but you must read Foretold first. Darya is strong, funny, and innocent until doing hard time made her grow up. I was fortunate to receive an advanced copy from the author and have written this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for KDRBCK.
7,379 reviews67 followers
December 9, 2022
Thorns by L.H. Cosway is the second instalment in the Blood Prophecy Trilogy. This is not a stand-alone, I recommend to read the books in order. The previous book is Foretold.
Thorns picks up right where Foretold was left off.
The St. Bastian's Institute for Magic and its student body.
This fast paced read full of twists and turns leads to the conclusion in the next book, coming soon.
I thoroughly enjoyed this second book, recommend it and can't wait how things will play out for the characters and their loved ones.
Profile Image for Marta.
158 reviews4 followers
December 16, 2022
Omg! I love this book much more than the first one in the series.
I remember reading Tegan’s Blood when it first came out and I suffered each time the book ended. Partially because I hate waiting, but I also have this anxiety of unfinished story. It’s a real thing.
Now I’m finding myself in the same situation! I simply want more! Got hooked on the story and waiting until April 2023 for Blaze feels like torture.

Overall, story flowed well and I felt invested in the characters. I love baddie to hero stories, reminds me of Damon from The Vampire Diaries 😂
Vasilios as a character is brilliant! We finally find out more about him and his life prior to arriving in Tribane, we find out what makes him tick and reasons for his choices.
Darya is also growing on me, it’s difficult to relate to someone so young, and her choices are sometimes questionable, but she learns and grows in this book.
I won’t spoil anything, but I highly recommend this book! It’s a quick read and be warned! You will want more 😂👍

#TeamVas

I received a free copy of this book and and gave it an honest review.
Profile Image for Dannie Lopez.
12 reviews
July 18, 2023
Ugh f me up 😩 it was so good , thank you to this author for creating this masterpiece
Profile Image for Kristina.
21 reviews23 followers
December 8, 2022
OMG this book was an emotional roller coaster! Such a great slow burn between Darya and Vas! I must admit I have been rooting for him since the first book so I was very happy to read their connection and learn more about him. The story was great and now I cannot wait to read the next one because boy what a cliff hanger!!!
Profile Image for Ally72.
92 reviews
January 1, 2023
Thorns, the latest novel from L.H. Cosway is the second book in the Blood Prophecy series. I’d definitely recommend reading, Foretold, the first book before diving into Thorns. It continues right after Foretold ends without a time jump in between. Darya Cristescu, our heroine is almost ready to graduate from her magic school, but a terrible crime occurs before she finishes. She is falsely accused by many and decides that she must find out who is responsible and clear her name. Darya is able to make a deal with authorities to go undercover at the Thorns prison. Imagine Prison Break but for the supernatural.
Darya has to use all her abilities to survive both physically and mentally. As a reader, you hope she will be alright but you’re also fighting alongside her to win each feat. While there, several characters from the first book appear including Vasilios, who readers will remember from the climatic ending of Foretold. He and Darya become close and soon Darya finds herself rethinking all that she had known to be true about herself and her future. Thorns ends on a cliffhanger and will make any reader anxious for the third book, Blaze coming in 2023.
I read Thorns in two days and the chapters just flew by. That is the genius of L.H. Cosway. Her words just flow so smoothly that you forget you’re even reading fiction. A story like Thorns, which is a continuation of an already established supernatural world, immediately hooks you back to that place. You remember why you loved the first book so much and can’t wait to dive back in. Darya, like all of L.H.’s heroines, is tough yet sensitive and you root for her during every struggle. Peter, Darya’s boyfriend, is still an essential part of the storyline even though he is absent for most of the plot. I love Peter and I’m hoping for a happy ending for these two. I can’t wait to see what happens to Darya next and how her choices affect her loved ones!
Profile Image for Nightbird Novels.
1,138 reviews25 followers
January 5, 2023
3.5 Stars

** Thorns is book two in the Blood Prophecy trilogy, and should be read after book one, Foretold. This review may contain spoilers if you are not yet caught up in the series. **

Life has returned to normal for Darya Cristescu. She and her boyfriend Peter are doing great, school is advancing along nicely, and the demon Vasilios is living behind bars. But when she wakes up with blood on her hands.... Darya finds herself in a world of trouble...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thorns is book two in the Blood Prophecy trilogy, and it will bring Darya to a very unfortunate turning point in her life. Accused of murder, and sentenced to serve time in the infamous, Prison of Thorns… her powerful parents will be utterly powerless to help her now…

Darya may still be a student at St. Bastians, but when she is sent to the Prison of Thorns, her life will be changed forever. And while Darya may have a mission to achieve while incarcerated, it doesn’t take long for her to fall into favor with her once sworn enemy… the demon-warlock Vasilios.

This book was an in-depth dive into Darya being a prisoner and how she survives life in the Prison of Thorns. It showed her incredible strength, and a small glimpse into the power she may someday have, but more importantly, it completely changed the course in which she expected her life to take. There is no love lost between Darya and Vasilios, but the more time they spend together, the more Darya starts to realize that Vasilios may not be the bad guy she thought he was…

I love where the storyline for this trilogy is going, and I can’t wait to see what book three will bring. Darya firmly believes that she and her boyfriend Peter are headed for their own happily ever after, but Vasilios is a game changer that she never saw coming…

The Blood Prophecy series will conclude with Blaze, set to release in April 2023.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.

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http://nightbirdnovels.com/2023/01/04...

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Profile Image for Kahea.
2,261 reviews123 followers
December 22, 2022
***5 Stars***

*Heavy sigh*

No, the sigh has nothing to do with the story, (hopefully obvious by the rating) but the fact that as this is the second book, not the last, I have to keep this review vague as all get out. But I have actually written notes for myself, so when the next one comes out, I’m good to go.

But as for this book. I still love Darya. She’s stubborn, sweet and determined and I think she becomes a little more…worldly and mature in the Prison of Thorns.

And speaking of…the prison and how things work there were done well and while I definitely wouldn’t want to be an inmate there, it gave depth to the world at large. As for the inmates, they are definitely quite interesting. Serg may just be my fav, but as much as Vasilios and Sven are the “bad guys” I ended up liking them.

Quite a bit happens in this book and a few were surprising. There are a few things that I’m interested in seeing if what I think will happen, happens…and outside of Vas and Sven, there is one character that I was surprised at how much I liked in the end. So, with all that has happened ~ and looks like will happen, I cannot wait to get my hands on Blaze!

~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~
Profile Image for Melissa.
3,101 reviews22 followers
December 22, 2022
Summary: Darya and Peter still together. Darya senses someone stalking her. A gray shadow that leaves behind a stink of rotten eggs. This entity poisons her water. She wakes up to a bloody dagger in her hand, and Belinda dead in a pool of blood. She is sentenced to the Prison of Thorns to go undercover. Get close to Vassilios who she thinks framed her. She comes to realize Vassilios may not be responsible but Red Armand who had imprisoned he and Sven for over a century in Oreylia. In prison she is shown her future by an elf named Sarison, in it she is in love with Vassilios and they have a child together, a son (poor Peter.) Vassilios always said Darya was his soul mate and she realizes that may be true. Especially with how his “mark” pulses in her chest whenever she is close to him. Vassilios and Sven have a plan to escape and Darya goes with them. But just as they escape they are found by Red Armand who steals Sven and Vassilios back to Oreylia to work in servitude. Darya vows to go to Oreylia to save their lives just like he saved hers when they escaped. 5++++++stars!!!!!
Profile Image for RomanceBookLoverinSeattle.
1,113 reviews15 followers
December 14, 2022
Thorns is book two in the Blood Prophecy series, a young adult fantasy series and takes you on along with Darya as she goes undercover into the Prison of Thorns to uncover who tried to frame her for murder. I'm usually not a fan of love triangles, but I'm absolutely loving this series. This has a lot of what I like and look for when I book up fantasy/paranormal books set in either academies or prisons. Darya meets up again with Vasilios and Sven and has to figure out if she can prove Vasilios is behind framing her, or if things aren't at all what she thought they were. As we follow along on her journey in the Prison of Thorns, we meet a whole cast of new characters that are both intriguing and entertaining and read as both Vasilios and Darya try to fight their intense chemistry. The cliffhanger at the end has me anxiously awaiting the next book in this series, Blaze, which releases in April. Can't wait for that one!
Profile Image for Vi.
617 reviews
May 18, 2023
After solving the murder mystery and getting the guy, happy ending right? The sequel opens up with a paranormal field day and friendly competition but something ominous is making Darya nervous.

When Belinda is dead and Dayna is framed, she decides to go to the suspect villain, Vasilios. Volunteering to go to the Prison of Thorn, Darya is task to finding how he is able to influence outside the prison.

This next arc focuses in the Prison, which isn’t chaos but organized into factions - witches, vampire, and elf’s.
Being around Vasilios, Darya starts wondering if she was wrong that he isn’t the villain she painted him to be.

I really enjoyed this sequel even more than the first. I thought Peter and her were cute but there is something about a moral grey villain that’s hotter lol

Also the prophecy and looking into the future was interesting!

The sequel leaves off in a cliffhanger. Darya is going to Oreylia next!
Profile Image for Bookgrl.
341 reviews3 followers
December 13, 2022
Why? 💔🤦‍♀️
Foretold left me wanting more Peter and Darya. I love (not past tense) love them.
But this isn't Foretold.
This is Thorns.
And no matter how you sell it, Thorns hurt.
I have an heartbreaking idea to where this story is going and it's gonna hurt. But I'm all ready to go for the ride.
Darya is in for some life changing experiences. Where she is at in this book is going to change how she sees everyone and everything. Peter and Vas included.
In most triangles you know who is going to be the heart broken one and the one who gets the girl. In most cases for me, my ship always won. I don't think it's going to happen this time though. 😰.
When I ship, I ship hard. 😂
Seriously, I cried, my poor heart. But this is just a testament to how great LH"s writing is.
I don't know where this story is going even if it's not going where my heart wants to go, I trust LH to make it worth while.
Profile Image for Melenareads .
3,292 reviews79 followers
December 14, 2022
Thorns is a fantastic addition to L.H. Cosway's Blood Prophecy series! I don't read much paranormal romance, but I am hooked on the series and the one it was spun off from.

There's magic, vampires, and more, and I thought the paranormal aspects of the story were so interesting. The characters were still relatable in many ways, but everything felt heightened as Darya went undercover to figure out how she was framed for a crime. I really liked getting more of Darya's story and seeing how she is changed by her experiences.

This book should not be read as a standalone, but this series is definitely a must read. I can't wait for the next book.

Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
Profile Image for arcticbooklover.
319 reviews15 followers
December 20, 2022
Never a boring minute reading Thorns. When first one thing settles a bit down and you think you have figured out what's about to happen next something new is happening and none of your thoughts makes sense anymore. And the more I read, the more I want to go back and reread the Blood Magic books again where it all stated with Darya’s parents.

I have a love hate relationship with cliffhangers, I hate stories ending without a solution, but on the other hand I know I'll be getting more Darya and Vasilios.
I'm so curious how this all will end. Will Darya go back to her old life, or will the future she saw be her new life.. ahh, the suspense!
91 reviews
December 19, 2022
Thorns book 2 of 3.

Darya comes into her own in this fabulous tale. The prison of Thorns is the setting. Darya agrees to go into the prison undercover working for the guard. Nothing goes as planned and she finds out a lot about herself and others ! This book as everything from magic to psychic Elf’s , Demons and Vamps and shapeshifters and Ghosts! It takes off and doesn’t stop until the last page. It’s a wild ride so hold on tight and get ready to be take into it’s spell. I loved this book! Can’t wait for book three!
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