THORN SEASON, by Kiera Azar, Storytide, Sept. 2, 2025, Hardcover, $24.99 (young adult, ages 14 and up)
A girl must hide a deadly secret while wooing the king in Thorn Season, the first book in a new romantasy trilogy by Kiera Azar.
In the Kingdom of Daradon, a persecuted few are Wielders, in possession of a magical Spectre–a shimmering thread that can extend beyond their visible body to give a loving caress, pick a lock . . . even kill. Feared for this ability, Wielders have always been Hunted.
Alissa Paine, heiress and daughter of a Hunter family . . . is also a Wielder. At eighteen, Alissa knows she’s escaped execution thus far only due to painful self-control and the efforts of her beloved father.
Summoned to the harsh and glittering royal court for the debutante season, Alissa finds herself caught in a web of intrigue and betrayal—and caught between two equally dangerous men: one a brutal ruler with the handsome face of a fairy-tale prince, who would destroy her if he knew the truth—and the other a beguiling foreign ambassador with secret agendas of his own.
With the threat of discovery lurking around every corner—and romance becoming an increasingly dangerous temptation—Alissa will find that she has more to lose than her secrets. It’s Rose Season at the palace, but to survive she’ll need to become the most vicious of thorns. . . . —Synopsis provided by Storytide
Thorn Season is a book that feels familiar and new at the same time. It calls to mind other romantasy series like Shadow and Bone and The Selection, using familiar YA romantasy tropes, but author Kiera Azar still is able to craft a story that holds interest.
Azar’s world where Wholeborns (people without magic) rule and persecute Wielders (those with magical powers) has a unique magical system that isn’t exactly clear initially but grows and expands as Alissa learns to embrace what she keeps hidden.
Alissa is a strong narrator who has lived a complicated life and understands the stakes. She’s well developed and has a strong story arc.
The three potential love interests — Garrett (estranged childhood best friend); Keil (an ambassador from another kingdom who is a Wielder); and Erik, (king of Daronda).
Garrett feels a lot like a necessary plot element that Azar needed to move the story forward but didn’t care about enough to fully flesh him out. Erik is brutally ruthless. He has some surprising layers, but stays in his lane. Keil is the most compelling of the three. He’s mysterious and challenges Alissa at every turn. If it weren’t for him, the story wouldn’t work.
There are a number of strong supporting female characters that build interest toward the end. I expect we’ll see more of them in the following books.
Thorn Season isn’t a one-sitting read, but it is well paced. And the ending chapters build to something that really sets up the next book. I’m excited to see where Azar takes readers next.
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