Overall: 🐢🐢🐢🐢
Storyline:
Writing Style:
Character Development:
World-building:
“Knowledge always has the potential to be dangerous. It is a more powerful weapon than any sword or spell.”
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
The Story:
Margaret Rogerson’s Sorcery of Thorns is a glimpse into a world where libraries not only house books but help protect the world from magic. Elisabeth Scrivener is a young woman who grew up in one of the Great Libraries and learns that there are dangerous powers within the grimoires that the Libraries have. Only the corrupted sorcerers, who sell their souls to demons, read these books and deal in the unforgivable acts of magic. However, when grimoires begin to wake up and sorcerers are poking around, Elisabeth is caught up in all the trouble. Now facing banishment from her only home, Elisabeth wonders what she can do to prove her innocence. Will the Libraries prevail or will magic be the only way out?
Key Elements:
Fantasy, Young Adult, Magic, Library, Books, Romance, Sorcerers
Why This Rating?
I was thrilled with the concept of having books, magic, and libraries as a forefront of the storyline. As a bibliophile, I loved seeing the use of books and grimoires so prevalent and interactive with the characters. Typically I see a single book as the focus and even then the books being personified is rare. It was a small thing that really helped bring some of the little details out and give the story more depth.
Unfortunately, I did feel like there were moments that were really rushed. The scenes didn’t get a chance to flex out all the things that they wanted to say. I understand that a book needs to keep its storyline moving along and not drag behind in details that don’t mean much is an important thing to remember while writing.
The sub-plot of a romance was really fun to watch spill out across the pages. Because it isn’t the primary takeaway from the novel, the subtle hints that are dropped between the two characters make it all the more sweet. The urgent situations that keep springing up allows for the little jokes and looks to slide by without taking over the scenes. It is well written and beautifully incorporated into the book.
Get ready for a lot of action and continuously staying busy while reading. Most of the time reading, I felt like I was always being tugged around somewhere in their world. Whether it was to another library or a city, the characters were always on the move. The story never let you feel bored, which can be a huge feat to achieve in a story. I was constantly learning new things about the world, the history of the areas, and the backgrounds of so many different people. I really helped expand my view of this world that Rogerson created.
I really hope that this author considers writing a second book! It leaves on such a bittersweet note. A part of me says that I am content the way that everything is summed up and tied off, but there is that other half screaming that I want to know what happens next to everyone! That is, of course, the part of me that never wants a story to end and I just want the worlds I become a part of to live forever, never ending.
Time to get lost in the next story!
