A Lesson in Thorns

I was so sucked into the book the entire time. I could not put it down. I finished this book (the first one), and immediately went to the second book. It’s been so long since I’ve found a book series where I’m still pulled in, just by reading the start of each following book.

Wow! Unlike anything I’ve ever read before. I was fascinated. Kathy

I’ve read a ton of Sierra Simone’s books so clearly I’m a fan. I read reviews for Lesson in Thorns and was eager to purchase and begin reading. I HATED it. Smart, beautiful, bisexual Poe who is a little sex monster is one of the most annoying characters I’ve ever encountered. The only character who I thought was written and described well was Saint. Do yourself a favor and pass on this one. Now, I’m gonna go reread Priest.

WOW....... what an incredible read. I’m not sure what to feel except that this book was sensual, erotic, intriguing, mesmerizing, addictive, and captivating. I felt like I was on a heightened journey with all six characters. It was also very hypnotizing to be held captive by six different and charismatic characters. Every time I thought that I could stop reading and be productive, the book waved it’s magic torc and lured me back to reading. I’m not sure what to say about the book except that it’s a must read. Sierra Simone is exquisite in her storytelling. Her words cascade off the page and into your soul. It penetrates deep and resonates with a glimmer of paranormal and fantasy all mixed into a cauldron of sensual erotic tension. Auden, Delphine, Rebecca, Becket, Saint, Prosepina, and Thornchapel are all woven together. They share a past, an experience that, while it was 12 years ago, resonates with each other. Now as adults they come back together and their pilgramage to find out the mysterious hold that the thorn chapel has over them begins. This story has much going on......there are 6 characters, in an English manor that is filled with secrets and it’s own inner voice that speaks to all six. Each character is fascinating and intriguing. There is much to learn in the 12 years that has alluded their time together. There are secrets and yearnings, lust and love, hurt and hatred and a missing person. There are many sub plots all revolving around the story that flow with comfort and ease. As you get comfortable with all the characters they become mesmerizing and you can’t get enough of them. Did I really tell you anything about this book, No. I think you should go in and organically let the story unfold. It’s a little complicated in the beginning keeping track of the characters but it very quickly feels as if they are connected to your being. This author and her imagination, her connection to religion, her eroticism and her eloquent and intellectual way of storytelling is exquisite and not to be missed!! A Best of 2018 in my books for sure.

A Lesson in Thorns is a story of six people who began their friendships as children, and now 12yrs later they’re all back to where it started... Thornchapel. The place in itself calls to each of them individually, and they find pieces of themselves that changes them for good. Sierra has always had a way of writing that brought religion, spiritually, love, tragedy and hotness that no one else can, and A Lesson in Thorns she takes it to a new level. I was totally caught up in this story and can’t wait for the next installment!

4.5 stars for - A Lesson In Thorns - book one in the Thornchapel series by Sierra Simone. This book is nothing short of epic with characters that are interesting and endearing in ways you never see coming. What started off as innocent childhood games years before when they were kids turns into steamy hot rituals as adults, written in ways only Sierra can bring to life. Six vastly different people were brought together again for the express purpose of restoring Thornchapel to it's former glory. This book explores sexuality in many forms -meaning group sex, man-on-man and female-on-female are all something you may read so consider yourself warned if that is not your cup of tea. Twelve years have passed since these “friends” have seen each other and many things, both good and bad have happened since. Some friends are much closer than others and everyone has something to lose. With them all holding on to a secret or two about what and who they want and exactly why they are there to begin with things are bound to get more intense and scandalous too. Hang on to your seats for a lesson you won’t soon forget!

Strap on your vibrators, girls, because A Lesson in Thorns is quite possibly the hottest book you will read this year … if ever. Sierra Simone plays with the idea of Imbolc, a Gaelic festival that, depending on your source, is either religious or pagan. If you have read any of her books, then you know that if there is one thing Sierra Simone does, it’s God colored with pagan. You meet six people: Rebecca, Delphine, Proserpina, Becket, St. Sebastian, and Auden. Those names, by the way, are significant, as is the name of Becket’s dog, Sir James Frazer. You might want to look them up prior to reading so that you can see how clever Sierra Simone is. The first time you meet these people, they are children; a time jump takes you to them as fledgling adults preparing to celebrate Imbolc. You have weddings, you have couplings, you have wish fulfillments and crushed hearts. You have love that has percolated until it is ripe and bursting. You have fluidity, both in terms of religion and sexuality. You also have beautiful, lyrical, sublime writing. I highlighted so many passages as I read this that it is easier to find the words I left behind. Every page is breathtaking. You feel as if Sierra Simone is writing you a poem, a ballad that tells a tale you didn’t know you needed to read. The sexy times, dear readers, are exquisite. The perfect amount of detail, the perfect pacing, the perfect fueling of your arousal. Enjoy the layers. Enjoy the friendships, romances, hurts, and pains. Enjoy the complexities of these characters, their feelings, their thoughts. Enjoy Sierra Simone’s purposeful prose. It will invigorate your senses. And it will make you hunger for the next book in the series.

Six friends reunite after 12 years at Thornchapple. Thornchapple is a place of secrets, mysteries and ancient pagan rituals. A Lesson in Thorns will keep you enthralled from beginning to the end. The book is brilliant, Ms. Sierra Simone is brilliant. The book is part of the Thornchapple series and it ends in a cliffhanger. Review copy was received for a honest opinion.

Well Sierra didn't disappoint, well maybe the only disappointment is that we have to wait til June for the next book. Want to know a secret? I felt DUMB throughout this whole book. I used the "look up" feature more often with this story than I have with all books combined by about 100x. But another secret, I LIKED IT. I liked learning new words. So Thank You. Thank you for expanding my vocabulary. Thank you for creating a world and using words not like other stories. Ok onto the book, I don't want to give any spoilers. But the one thing I was hoping for didn't happen, but I have a feeling it will within the next 3 books. While there was angst, it wasn't angsty if that makes any sort of sense. You could feel the tug and pull, the want and the holding back. You get answers, but are left with more questions. This story will make you think (see above where I had to look up words). At the end you are hurting for Poe, you are aching for Auden, you feel for Saint, you start to love Delphine, you are confused by Becket, and you want to learn more about Rebecca. ~I volunteered to read an advance copy.

An absolutely extraordinary book by Sierra Simone about six kids coming back to a place where there are dark secrets. The first chapter is them doing a mock-wedding. Proserpina serves as the bride and Auden and St. Sebastian marry her. Then they all scatter to the four corners of the earth (America and the UK), and later Prosperina is hired as a librarian for Thornchapel. There's a lot of pain here. I don't know if there's a whole bunch of healing exactly but definitely people are finding some of the answers that they need to move forward. Overall, I can't wait for the rest of the books.