The Path of Thorns
Ratings11
Average rating4
A lush and twisted dark fairy tale suffused with witchcraft, dark secrets and bitter revenge from the award-winning author. Exquisite, haunting and at times brutal, readers of Naomi Novik and Erin Morgenstern will be entranced.
Alone in the world, Asher Todd travels to the remote estate of Morwood Grange to become governess to three small children. Her sole possessions comprise a sea chest and a large carpet bag she hangs onto for dear life. She finds a fine old home, its inhabitants proud of their lineage and impeccable reputation, and a small village nearby. It seems an untroubled existence, yet there are portraits missing from the walls, locked rooms, and names excised from the family tree inscribed in the bible. In short order, the children adore her, she becomes indispensible to their father Luther in his laboratory, and her potions are able to restore the sight of granddame Leonora. Soon Asher fits in as if she’s always been there, but there are creatures that stalk the woods at night, spectres haunt the halls, and Asher is not as much a stranger to the Morwoods as it might at first appear.
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9 released booksSourdough Universe
Sourdough Universe is a 9-book series with 9 released primary works first released in 2010 with contributions by Angela Slatter and A.G. Slatter.
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The Path of Thorns is a story that weaves together a dysfunctional family, murder, witchcraft, wolves, a spooky country manor house, a little romance and some dark secrets. This is an atmospheric, gothic, modern fairytale. It has so many subtle layers that skilfully weave together and a delightfully morally grey heroine. The family dynamics and toxic friendships are so intriguing I could not look away. I loved the ride and highly recommend.
Contains spoilers
Not for me, the concept seemed interesting, but the book was a bit all over the place and I didn't feel invested in the characters or their relationships. A lot of things got introduced and were either solved extremely quickly e.g. the father of the main character, who immediately got killed and didn't have any other impact on the story or were simply irrelevant e.g. Eli being a werewolf. I would have preferred it if the book went more into the motivations and emotions of the main character, she is in a lot of difficult and emotionally impactful situations, but I never really felt an emotional reaction, were told she's impacted sometimes, but for me at least it did not hit.
