A Lesson in Thorns

I went in completely blind for this and honestly I would recommend you to do the same. All you need to know is that there is free for all  orgies involved, an almost gothic vibe to the setting, and great spice, (especially if you would enjoy reading voyeur/exhibitionist dynamics)

I loved how unique this was, I've definitely never read anything like this before and it kept me hooked throughout.

The only two things i would complain about this firstly, what was up with our main character's necrolepsy? I understand it's something the author suffers from and wanted to represent that in a character, and she just didn't do it right. There's heavy mentions of it in the beginning and it's almost like she forgot about it in the second half. I wish it was consistently represented throught, it just didn't feel realistic.
Secondly, I wish the dynamics among the different characters were clearer. Something about the way the characters each feel about each other just felt like it wasn't fully fleshed out for me. Maybe that's just because this is the first in the series and maybe later on we find out more about them all. 


Overall, I'm glad I picked this up from having it in my tbr for years and Sierra Simone didn't disappoint.

3.5

Really wish we'd been given more backstory of the connection between all six of the main protagonists. It would have made the tension and struggle between their strained relationships a whole lot sweeter to read and the climax scene (no pun intended) a whole lot more deserved and gratifying (again, no pun intended).

The writing was lustrous and vivid, and it brought to life the manor and chapel with great ease. This is a short first installment of the series and could have been fleshed out with more historical context and less secrecy but I understand it fits the tone of the narrative. And I don't mind when the main character(s) has secrets from other characters, but when the secrets being withheld from the reader are so obviously being dangled in front of your face that waiting for anything pertinent to come to light becomes the sole reason you continue reading, then it's no longer giving credit to the story, just a plot device that's pushing the story forward.

I hope we get more of their background in future installments to greater invest in the seemingly unbreakable connection they all have because right now, it's style without substance.

Unexpectedly fun and sexy.

All in all, this book is dreamy and ritualistic in a lose-yourself-in-the-feelings kind of way. I didn't come to this book looking for a pagan orgy but when I found myself there I didn't run screaming. There were details I didn't love or even like, but the overall sexy mystery feeling was enough to convince me that I need to read book two. Let's say 3.5 stars but I'm rounding down for now.

Na dit boek weer overal te hebben zien opduiken op o.a. Goodreads en BookTube, wou ik Sierra Simone nog één kans geven. Helaas, toch niet echt mijn ding.

Het boek is mooi geschreven, poëtisch, dreigend en atmosferisch. Maar los daarvan is het verhaal een aaneenschakeling van toevalligheden, zonder diepgang of plot.
De personages zoeken een excuus om met elkaar te slapen en doen dit voor de meest bizarre reden.
Op zich zou ik dit boek derhalve kunnen afschrijven als een breinloos, sexy tussendoortje, ware het niet dat ik het niet heb voor masochisten en dit boek me dus in dat departement ook helemaal niks deed.

Dus naast de mooie, vlotte schrijfstijl had dit boek mij niks te bieden en ik ben dan ook niet van plan deze serie verder te lezen. (Bovendien krijgt het tweede deel echt slechte recensies)
Dus ja, een vluggertje, zonder al te veel plezier.

3.5/5 stars