• A Lesson in Thorns

  • Thornchapel, Book 1
  • By: Sierra Simone
  • Narrated by: Sara Ormenyi
  • Length: 10 hrs and 15 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (323 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
A Lesson in Thorns  By  cover art

A Lesson in Thorns

By: Sierra Simone
Narrated by: Sara Ormenyi
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $24.95

Buy for $24.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

When librarian Poe Markham takes the job at Thornchapel, she only wants two things: to stay away from Thornchapel’s tortured owner, Auden Guest, and to find out what happened to her mother 12 years ago. It should be easy enough-keep her head down while she works in the house’s crumbling private library and while she hunts down any information as to why this remote manor tucked into the fog-shrouded moors would be the last place her mother was seen alive. But Thornchapel has other plans for her...

As Poe begins uncovering the house’s secrets, both new and old, she’s also pulled into the seductive, elegant world of Auden and his friends-and drawn to Auden’s worst enemy, the beautiful and brooding St. Sebastian. And as Thornchapel slowly tightens its coil of truths and lies around them, Poe, Auden, and St. Sebastian start unraveling into filthy, holy pleasure, and pain. Together, they awaken a fate that will either anoint them or leave them in ashes....

From the author of the USA Today bestselling New Camelot series comes an original fairy tale full of ancient mysteries, lantern-lit rituals, jealousy, money, murder, sacred torment, and obsessions that last for lifetimes....

A Lesson in Thorns is the first of four books in the Thornchapel series.

©2019 Sierra Simone (P)2019 Sierra Simone

Featured Article: Steamy Listens as Irresistible as Fifty Shades of Grey


Fifty Shades of Grey has been a prominent title in erotica for nearly a decade. Considering that it's a wildly romantic story in which character development and sexual dynamics play equally strong roles, it’s quite a standout in its genre. Ask any fan and they’ll tell you that it’s not always easy to find something that has the same kind of tension and payoff as the Fifty Shades trilogy. Here are some books and series that fans of Fifty Shades are sure to love.

What listeners say about A Lesson in Thorns

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    177
  • 4 Stars
    75
  • 3 Stars
    46
  • 2 Stars
    14
  • 1 Stars
    11
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    160
  • 4 Stars
    58
  • 3 Stars
    43
  • 2 Stars
    14
  • 1 Stars
    16
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    162
  • 4 Stars
    69
  • 3 Stars
    38
  • 2 Stars
    11
  • 1 Stars
    11

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing. Just start reading already.

Fascinating. This book is beautifully written and so very sexy. The characters are well developed, interesting, complex, relatable - yet fanciful in many ways too. Authentic tension is masterfully wound without any stupid gimmicks or flimsy unreasonable character choices.

This book is gripping, smart, hot, fresh. It flies by and leaves you wanting more.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Devoured every word!

I just devoured this book. Listened to the whole thing straight through. Such complex and interesting character's. This book just gives you a little taste of their back story. Can't wait to listen to Feast of Sparks and learn more about them. Also, of course, this book has plenty of 🔥!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wow!

Loved loved loved it. Beautiful writing, rich characters and delicious plot. I’ll be reading/listening to the other two books for sure!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Not my favorite from Sierra Simone

The narrator wasn’t great. The swollen noise bothered me. Story was hard to follow at times.
Love Sierra Simone priest series and America Queen series. I’m giving this series a chance!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Hard to get into at first but overall, intriguing

I love Sierra Simone books and got hooked with the American Queen series...this was different and I did not care for the narrator...six characters to deal with and very intriguing...of course I have to wait for the next book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

FAVORITE AUTHOR


I loved the feel of this book. The power that emanates from Sierra Simone’s magical storytelling ability. I was swept up in the storm of the first few chapters. The history and magic of what happened to characters at Thorn Chapel. I wanted to know them — to understand the lore. The story reads like a classic in the making.

The writing is decadent, as always.
The storyline is vibrant and creative.
The air of mystery and suspense added another level that I didn’t expect, but enjoyed all the same.

All in all its an amazing setup to something greater and I’m hooked. I can’t wait for more. Though it did feel a little dense at times and a bit heavy on the setup. Other than those minor hiccups, it’s a wonderful read and I definitely recommend it to fans of this author’s work.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • J
  • 08-11-22

Absolutely believe the hype

My book group has raved about this series FOREVER! I always assumed it was just like a mystery suspense type deal but it is all that plus all the great filth you can imagine. I'm happy I finally bought this one!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love the story! Narrator NOT AT ALL!

Started the book this morning. Love Sierra Simone and the storyline is good it has me sucked in but the narrator is killing it for me. I don't know how much of hearing her swallowing or making smacky little sounds I can take. Of all the narrators there are that are so good and the new duet narration that makes books so much better why oh why this one girl narrator who is absolutely horrible and no distinction between characters. She's killing me!!!! PLEASE STOP SMACKING YOUR SPIT IN THE MICROPHINE AND SWALLOWING SO LOUD!!! YOU RUIN THE WHOLE THING!!!! She totally does that in the middle of a sentence or scene and it just makes it all broken up like you can't really get into it at all. She is really really really bad. Idk if I will continue this series if she is in all the books. 🙄 Absolutely horrible like nails on a chalkboard.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

Twisted but so damn good

Sierra Simone does it again, what an exquisite erotica story, she just writes with a sensuality that is not easy to achieve. Six friends getting back together, the mystery of Thornchapel will captivate you. It’s so hard to write a review for a book that has everything so well done, a beautiful masterpiece. Will need the next in the series soon...

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved every minute.

I originally wondered how I was going to have 9 free hours to listen to this but.. you make time. A polyamorous style love triangle and bisexual experiences narrated perfectly? Couldn’t ask for more.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!