Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson, is the coming of age tale of one Elizabeth Scrivener; a child of the Great library of Summershall. Whilst other orphans are sent to train as apprentice librarians once they turn thirteen, Elizabeth was found abandoned on the Great Library’s front doorstep as a baby.
Growing up amongst magical texts Elizabeth dreams of completing her apprenticeship and of following in the footsteps of her mentor, the Director. But when the Book of Eyes is brought to the Great Library of Summershall nothing will ever be the same again.
Malevolent and powerful, the book’s escape from the library’s vault changes everything for Elizabeth, and not simply because she has a chance to meet sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn once again.
Young, mysterious and powerful, Nathaniel is the only surviving member of his family. And, although he may be one of the countries most eligible bachelors, he’s a sorcerer, none the less.
And Sorcerer’s, they are not to be trusted, especially by an apprentice librarian who knows too well the dangers magical books – or Grimoires – hold.
“She had grown up on tales of sorcery: armies raised from mass graves to fight on the behalf of kings, innocents sacrificed in gory rituals, children flayed as offerings to Demons.”
Excerpt From Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
Sorcery of Thorns tells the story of Elizabeth’s journey from the small and rural backwater of Summershall, to the City of Brassbridge; and the jeopardy she finds herself in when she’s framed for the murder of her beloved mentor. Hers is a tale of courage and resilience, in a world which nods back to the latter days of the nineteenth century.
Margaret Rogerson weaves words to create a world of gaslit opulence, of cobbled streets and handsome cabs, of magnificent houses, with gothic spires and gargoyle sentries, and of magick. And, of course, there are nods to Elizabethan England given that spells are cast in Enochian, the supposed language of angels invented by John Dee. Influences weaving their way throughout the novel are undoubtedly from tales of Gothic horror, but there are nods to Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock, in the characterisation of Nathaniel Thorn, and there’s more than a smidge of Bruce Wayne‘s influence too. But the butler and major-domo here isn’t Alfred; but Silas.
“Elisabeth wondered why she had only just noticed how beautiful he was, almost ethereal, as though he were spun from frost or alabaster in place of flesh and blood. She had never seen anyone so beautiful, never known it was possible; a lump formed in her throat simply looking at him.“
Excerpt From Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
Against this backdrop a young woman struggles to foil a terrible plot which endangers the land of Austermeer, facing a formidable foe who hides in plain sight amongst the top echelons of society, imperiling all Elizabeth has ever held dear; and all her hopes and ambitions too.
There is more than a dash of romance amongst the spell-casting and intrigue in this novel. But, the strongest bonds here are those of friendship. Wonderful, magickal friendships! Rogerson’s characterisations are a true strength, particularly amongst the supporting characters, matched by her detailed, descriptive world building.
A fast paced read, which ably skirts predictability.
A truly enjoyable tale, as magical a text as any of the Grimoires housed on the shelves or in display cases of the Great libraries of Austermeer.