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Alexandrine

Wonderful, magical atmosphere of a fairy tale

Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2019

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"Tower of Thorns" is a second book in the Black & Grim series. It was as good as the first one. So, let me list all the things I enjoyed about this book:

1 - the atmosphere of magic and danger

What I simply adore about this book is the atmosphere of a fairy tale, a very odd fairy tale with magical creatures, cruel and mischievous fairies, dangerous curses. The author uses the Celtic mythology with the Fairy Folk, elves and changelings and draws her readers into their world. And there is no guaranty of a happy ending.

2 - two amazing main characters

There is not enough phrase to express how wonderful Grim and Blackthorn are. They are two broken people, suffering heavily from PTSD, trying to create a new life for themselves. They are too wounded to even consider love or open affection, but they are fiercely loyal and protective of each other. Blackthorn can be extremely snappish, but she is also strong, intelligent and vulnerable. Grim is so protective and devoted to her, it was impossible not to care for them.

3 - an intriguing puzzle to be solved

Just as in the first book, in "Tower of Thorns" Grim and Blackthorn have to find a solution to a puzzle that no one else could solve. There is a course involved, dangerous magic, tons of lies, secrets and devious intentions.

4 - a growing affection between Blackthorn and Grimm

The author masterfully shows how a reluctant friendship develops into something much deeper and stronger. The plot thickens slowly and also the relationship between Blackthorn and Grimm develops slowly, almost reluctantly. I have great hopes for Blackthorn and Grimm. They deserve a happy ending!

To sum up, I was enchanted by this book. I am looking forward to reading the last book in the series.

Blackthorn and Grim a Slow Building Romance? I Hope So

Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2018

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No matter how many old stories a person knows, there is no preparation for finding yourself right in the middle of one.

This can’t be truer for our main characters Blackthorn and Grim. This time they find themselves is a tale that is a little bit of a mash up of Beauty and the Beast with Sleeping Beauty with some twists and a few little people. I like the fairytale aspect of this story, how it feels like a story within a story. But we the reader only learn small parts at a time and have to be patient to get to the ending and learn the moral and peril of the story along with Blackthorn and Grim.

I have to say that I love Blackthorn and Grim together. They both have extreme trauma in their pasts and have found a friendship and balance with one another. But dare I hope that it is growing into more than friendship…I dare, oh I dare. I ship them so much and really hope that both can heal a little from the past to be able to move on with the other. But still it is good to see how they have grown together and understand the other.

Grim is the best! He is the kindest soul and just the giving way he thinks about Blackthorn is fantastic. He is always giving when it comes to her and always kind. No matter if he might be a little jealous that a man from her past has found her and they can’t spend as much time together he is happy that she is happy.

“About happy endings. Folk like a story to finish well. Doesn’t matter if that’s true to life or not. Helps to hear about folk being content. About good folk getting what they deserve. While you’re listening you can believe, for a bit, that you’re good too. Worth a happy ending.”

Blackthorn again struggles with the promise made to Fey creature Conmael to help any who ask and not leave the borders of the land she is in for seven years. She still has a strong desired to see Mathuin, the man who destroyed her entire life punished and she will again struggle with the need for vengeance and the right thing to do.

Some of this was dark. Grim’s feelings about his own past and the struggle he has dealing with it. His feelings of not being enough for Blackthorn. But there is always hope and I loved how this story progressed not only the character development of Grim and Blackthorn but also the overall plot of Mathuin.

This is a slow rolling story with a lot of character development and so it won’t be for everyone. There is no Disney HEA either if that is what you are looking for. But there is a fairytale feel and it isn’t quite a Grim fairytale either. I’m happy to be in the in-between with Grim and Blackthorn yet again. After the ending I’m holding out a lot of hope that those two will find their way from this friendship to something much much deeper. Because they of course deserve a little, not a lot of happy after all that they have been through.

ShoppingQueen

Meh...

Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2020

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I...um...basically liked the first book, but this one wasn't even good on book 1's level. I got annoyed a lot of the time. Many times, I wasn't on board with the fact that Blackthorn STILL intended to go seek revenge, even though the fairy's condition explicitly stated that she can't do that. I believe I recall him saying that if she leaves the kingdom she had moved to, he'd send her back to the prison--back in time, I believe, to the moment of her execution. I'd be pretty afraid of the fairy's warning if that were me. This caused me to believe that Blackthorn is stupid and I had trouble respecting her. Craft-wise, I'd say this book has motivational issues, because the whole time I'm screaming in frustration, "WHY?!!!!" Even worse, it might have continuity issues, if the author had forgotten that the fairy told her that condition. Yikes. Did Blackthorn not remember the terms of the deal? Who the crap knows? And I felt bad for Grim, whom she intended to abandon. Blah! I'm not coming back for book 3.

Top reviews from other countries

Tales of a Librarian

Blackthorn and Grim are back

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 17, 2016

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This was an enjoyable addition to the series - there aren't many of Marillier's books I haven't enjoyed - and sweeping, heroic tale of love, loss and betrayal in the grand tradition of the celtic myths and legends. I still love Blackthorn as a character - essentially good but very much marked by her troubled past. In this book Grim was particularly endearing. It was great to learn more about his mysterious past. Having said that, something didn't quite sit right for me with this book. Yes, I worked out what was going on fairly quickly but then I have read a lot of folklore and mythology so it's no surprise that I would pick up on that. Besides you read Marillier for the story not the clever twist. I think ultimately it was that the part of the third narrator - Lady Geilys - left me rather cold. I disliked the character and I didn't really care what happened to her other than I wanted that situation to end for narrative purposes. I also found myself becoming extremely irritated with Blackthorn for being so willfully stupid. I can see that was what we are meant to think, that her bitterness has swallowed up her common sense. However it just didn't track with the events of Dreamer's Pool. It feels as if each step should take Blackthorn further away from her desire for retribution - and we are left feeling this at the end of book one. Somehow she's snapped back to myopically wanting Mathieun's downfall over everything again in this book. Considering how suspicious she is naturally I also thought she swallowed the friend's story a bit easily too. Still this book does have a satisfactory if happy-sad ending and you do feel as if she might have taken some steps forward. I hope that we don't get the same snap-back to revenge at the beginning of the next book! I really liked the tantalising hints about Conmael and I will definitely be reading the next one.

jess

beautifully written

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 23, 2018

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The second in the Blackthorn and Grim series. Like Dreamers Pool, the plot line is obvious and easily worked out, there were no real surprises regards that but I'm beginning to think that the plot is secondary in this series. The main focus seems to be on the development of the characters. Blackthorn is still seeking her revenge whilst being held to Conmaels bargain and here she is tested by the reappearance of an old friend who offers the chance. This is obviously not how it seems but Blackthorn and Grim don't pick up on it. Again she is asked to aid someone with a problem and whilst the ending offers no surprises either we discover more about Grim. Their relationship , I feel , takes a huge leap and that appears to be what these tales are about. Admittedly there were points that I thought , oh get on with it as there is an awful lot of detail that I questioned the relevance of but it is relevant to the two main characters.
The only thing I haven't worked out is why Conmael helped Blackthorn in the first place! Again beautifully written with the only surprise being that I continued to read it having realised the plot early on.

Apple

A wonderful sequel

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 12, 2018

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This was even better than the first book, if that’s possible! It’s such a bitter sweet tale of wasting life living in a dream and that when that dream is realised it can never be as perfect as imagined. A tale of stubborn love and unrealised love, where no one is evil or pure but shades of both. The themes of the first book are carried forward also as Blackthorn and Grim struggle to accept their past. I absolutely adore Grim and loved finding out about his past. I spent most of the book wanting to cuddle him to death. I do wish the scene with the curse had been more dramatic and scary but that is only a minor fault.

A. J. Reeve

Superb and completely absorbing

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 9, 2018

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Brilliant as always. Superb read, the only down side is it has to finish!! I truly hope the saga of Blackthorn and Grim continues for many books to come. Thank you Juliet Marillier for yet another totally encompassing world.

Alexandrus

Love this series

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 14, 2019

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A really interesting read and nicely paced story.

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