Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen

Pages: 368 

Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton 

Released: 26th of July 2022 

Violet is a prophet and a liar, influencing the royal court with her cleverly phrased—and not always true—divinations. Honesty is for suckers, like the oh-so-not charming Prince Cyrus, who plans to strip Violet of her official role once he’s crowned at the end of the summer—unless Violet does something about it.

But when the king asks her to falsely prophesy Cyrus’s love story for an upcoming ball, Violet awakens a dreaded curse, one that will end in either damnation or salvation for the kingdom—all depending on the prince’s choice of future bride. Violet faces her own choice: Seize an opportunity to gain control of her own destiny, no matter the cost, or give in to the ill-fated attraction that’s growing between her and Cyrus.

Violet’s wits may protect her in the cutthroat court, but they can’t change her fate. And as the boundary between hatred and love grows ever thinner with the prince, Violet must untangle a wicked web of deceit in order to save herself and the kingdom—or doom them all.

What I Have to Say 

This book was a refreshing change from the usual fantasy books I read. It was just so different. I loved the main character so much. She had such a strong voice and she didn't care about being liked or what was right and good at all. It was just so cool to see a character that was unashamedly out for herself and herself alone. 

I liked how much the prophecies were a part of everything, how every moment of the book seemed to hinge on how each character reacted to the prophecies, both real and fake. It was predictable in some respects, but in others it entirely wasn't, leaving me guessing as to what would actually come to pass by the end of the book. 

I also loved the relationships between the characters. They all felt so natural and real, especially Violet's relationship with Cyrus, which is filled with what happened on the past, who they were as children especially, as well as their present personalities. It made it complex and interesting. 

If you don't mind dislikeable characters and you're looking for something that's just a bit different to read, Violet Made of Thorns may be just up your street. 

My thanks go to Hodder and Stoughton and Netgalley for providing me with this copy for review.