Chen, Gina. Violet Made of Thorns. Hodder and Stoughton, 2022. 978-1-399-70777-0. 359 p. $18.99. Grades 12 and up.
Violet is a prophet with a problem… She’s a liar. The soon to be crowned Prince Cyrus is aware of this and has told her his plan for getting rid of her. However, Violet has no plans of going back to where she was before she became the King’s prophet so she forms a plan. But that plan causes a deadly curse that can either end in the kingdom being destroyed, or Violet can figure out a plan. There is one slight problem with this curse which is that it requires Violet to spend time with Prince Cyrus who hates her, or does he? Violet needs to figure out where she stands with the Prince so she can save the kingdom and her own skin.
THOUGHTS: This was a super fun enemies to lovers fantasy novel with minimal fantasy world building. If you are looking to get into fantasy or aren’t the biggest fan of it, this might be the read for you! There are some intense sexual scenes, so this is not for readers under grade 12.
Fantasy Mary McEndree, Lehigh Valley Regional Charter Academy
Violet is a seer, and although she does have visions, most of her prophecies are lies to please the king and his agenda. After saving Prince Cyrus when he was just a child, Violet was brought to the castle to replace the previous seer who died after prophesying a curse upon the kingdom. Violet fuels the rumors about the curse after she announces the prince will meet his true love at the upcoming ball, a plan set in motion by the king. However, Cyrus has always seen past Violet’s deceptions, and Violet has always been immune to his charms. The night of the ball doesn’t go as planned, and Violet unknowingly awakens another curse that could threaten them all. Forced to work together, Violet and Cyrus cannot deny the attraction between them despite their better judgment. In the end, the curse, and their love, could be their salvation or their destruction.
THOUGHTS: Violent certainly draws the line between a heroine and a villain in this morally gray story of lies, deceptions, curses, beasts, and prophecies. I’d recommend this one to fans of Holly Black’s Cruel Prince series, since Violet and Cyrus have a similar relationship as Jude and Cardan. Violet is a strong, clever, and unapologetic seer who will do anything to survive in the deceptive world she belongs in, and some of her choices will surprise readers until the very end. There are some romantic scenes within the novel, but nothing overly descriptive or out of place for a YA novel.
Fantasy Emily Hoffman, Conestoga Valley SD