Book Review: A Lesson in Thorns by Sierra Simone

A Lesson in Thorns (Thornchapel #1)

by Sierra Simone

Release Date: March 19, 2019

Source: Gift

Goodreads

When librarian Poe Markham takes the job at Thornchapel, she only wants two things: to stay away from Thornchapel’s tortured owner, Auden Guest, and to find out what happened to her mother twelve years ago. It should be easy enough—keep her head down while she works in the house’s crumbling private library and while she hunts down any information as to why this remote manor tucked into the fog-shrouded moors would be the last place her mother was seen alive. But Thornchapel has other plans for her... 

As Poe begins uncovering the house’s secrets, both new and old, she’s also pulled into the seductive, elegant world of Auden and his friends—and drawn to Auden’s worst enemy, the beautiful and brooding St. Sebastian. And as Thornchapel slowly tightens its coil of truths and lies around them, Poe, Auden and St. Sebastian start unravelling into filthy, holy pleasure and pain. Together, they awaken a fate that will either anoint them or leave them in ashes… 

I tried to go into this one with not too high of expectations. We all saw this book take over booktube and bookstagram and everyone was just RAVING about it. I didn't want to overhype it for myself, but I was definitely excited to finally pick it up. 

When this book began, I was sucked into the story. I absolutely loved the gothic setting in an old English mansion and a ruined chapel. There was a lot of mystery and magic and intrigue surrounding what happened there 12 years ago and now with the six kids are back as adults. I really like that we got first person POV with Poe, but we also got 3rd person limited chapters for the other characters. Poe was so intriguing and unique and I loved her dilemma and struggle to come to terms with her feelings for both Saint and Auden. The relationships in this book were so interwoven and complicated and I loved it!

That being said, this book was definitely more of a relationship driven novel. With the mysterious atmosphere and this ritual looming in the future, I did expect more of a plot and more secrets to come to light. There were some secrets revolving around the family and, seeing as Poe was working the library, I expected so many more answers and a much more complex past than we got. While I know that we have a book two and will probably get some more answers, I wish it had a more complex level of secrets and answers than what we got. 

I'm so happy I finally read this book. I am definitely intrigued by what's going to happen in book two. If you want a unique romance that doesn't stray away from the steam, you have to pick this up.