A Lesson in Thorns

By: Sierra Simone

Narrated by: Sara Ormenyi

Length: 10 hrs and 15 mins

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

This book...

This book will have you sucked in at the first chapter. I started reading Paranormal themed books at a very young age, but stopped a few years ago because they started being the same plot line or poorly written. I’m so glad I gave in to this one. The narrator did a good job but the flow of the book is what did it. This author can Not just write, she draws you in to the world like a warm blanket you never want to leave. I’ve already listened to this twice and haven’t been able to forget it. As soon as I finished it I grabbed up the second book and wasn’t disappointed. You won’t be either.

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...

Hope they recast for the next books

Some of my favorite audio books are by Sierra Simone so I was excited to give this one a try. The narrator for his book killed it for me (in a bad way). There were so many mouth sounds, and she was so breathy it was highly distracting. The sample seemed ok, but once I was into the book I couldn’t focus they were so noticeable. Sometimes she also seemed to over act and sounded really corny.
The story starts slow in the beginning and is setting up for the other books in the series. It picks up more towards the end leaving you wanting to know more. The book was like reading a really long prologue. So it left me curious enough to want check out the second book. This book on its own wasn’t anything remarkable so I’m baffled by the ratings. Some of my favorite books are part of a series where when rated individually they are ok, but as a whole the series is amazing. I hope that’s the case with these books. Also I’m not sure if maybe the narration is the reason I didn’t like it more. It was hard to connect and get into the story with the narration.

It’s like I was being read the script to a bad lesbian BDSM for dummies porno at high speed! hotness level 2 on a scale of 1-10

Not sure where the 9 five star recommendations came from, but here’s an HONEST review!
Let me start by saying that I love Sierra’s past work. The American Queen series and Priest were amazing, hot, and I loved every minute. (Except for Guy Locke’s narration 🤮) That being the case I was ecstatic when this book became available on audible. That was the most exciting moment of the whole book, the moment it was released. Everything from there was excruciating! First of all the first thing I thought upon hearing the first chapter was OMFG please tell me this is a mistake and that the narrator is going to get better. Well, that was not the case. This narrator goes in my top 5 for worst narrators ever! She reads soooo fast that you can’t even grasp what’s being said. I like to visualize the story as I listen, but being that it was read in record breaking speed I was not able to. Second and MOST annoying are the mouth noises. Yup!!! You heard me. You get to enjoy hours of a speed reader making mouth noises. She has no variation from character to character, so everyone sounds the exact same. Ok enough about the horrible narrator. Let’s move onto the story. I know that Sierra likes to tell “fairytales” that being said it’s nice to have a story that is somewhat believable. I can’t tell you how many times I rolled my eyes at this story. Well, what story there was. It felt like I was being read the script of an awful Porno, but there was hardly any sex. I thought there would be mystery or something to make me want to keep listening. Nope, just a ridiculous, completely unbelievable fairytale about 6 people who are all sexually connected. Oh that sounds fun doesn’t it? 6? Yeah no, it had potential to be super hot. Unfortunately the HUGE sex scene (insert sarcasm) we waited the whole book for was in fact 2 GIRLS getting it on. WHOAAAAA Nelly! What I thought was going to be an entertaining orgy was a couple of lesbians. I do not in fact like to listen to lesbians having sex. 🤮 no where in the description does it hint that this is going to be the outcome. So 1) awful narrator 2) ridiculous story 3) no hot sex (unless girls are your thing) 4) it was like a bdsm handbook was being read to me. Like I’m ok with bdsm In a book, but please don’t treat me like I’m dumb and have never listened to bdsm. I don’t need explanations. If I had to sum up this whole book it would be this: bad lesbian porno with bdsm for dummies. Ok so that makes it sound a little hot. I guarantee it’s not. There was absolutely nothing that would make me want to continue with book 2. I am so relieved it’s over. I hate to dnf a book, but I was so close so many times. I just kept hoping that the end would be worth all the pain. It wasn’t. Sierra, I love you, but your taste in narrators is just plain awful and this is not your best work. Sorry love. Pretty sure that’s why there’s no reviews, no one knows how to sum up what was just listened to. 😖 If you plan on making book 2 into an audio you’d be foolish not to switch narrators.

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.

I’m so disappointed

I expect so much from SS and this was horrible. It was 99% sexual frustration across 5 people. “I want to, but I can’t” over and over. It was maybe 3 chapters of introduction lengthened to a full book. I had to increase to a ridiculous speed hoping it would get somewhere. Only the last 30 minutes was interesting. It is supposed to be a 4 book series but it obviously isn’t if the first book is so unsatisfying. I’m just sad. Lost faith in SS

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

Narrator nearly ruined the story

The story was good, if not a little verbose at times. I nearly DNF multiple times because of the narrator. I feel intimately knowledgeable of every breath she took, and every drop of saliva in her mouth during the duration of this story. Seriously, every line had a deep inhale and and audible spitty swallow *cringe* . It was disgusting. Please don't cast this woman ever again unless she has lessons, or better recording equipment. Her inflections and actual narration were great, I just couldn't get past the sound of her spit to really enjoy the story.

Slightly Paranormal and Mysterious, Very Kinky

Sierra Simone is a writer with an exceptional way with words. She creates a complex and curious world within this new series. Slightly paranormal exceptionally kinky, 6 childhood friends reunited as adults and strangely drawn in by the power of Thornchapel.

Having read some of Sierra Simone's other work I was not surprised to see the religious undertones woven throughout this novel. She finds comparison between pagan rituals and catholic scripture and rites that seems natural in this context. This seems to be a theme with her writing and while it did add some mystery to the story, I did find parts to be a little slow.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Sara Ormenyi, who is a new to me narrator. I initially found her narration very abrasive. The first chapter was read very fast, very monotone and I was very concerned this was going to be a DNF. What I found, was that there were 2 different kinds of chapters in this book. There was a 3rd person narrative scattered throughout the main first person POV of Poe. Once she started narrating from Poe's perspective, I noticed an increase in performance, characters had their own accents which were relatively easy to discern, and I was able to enjoy the book more. For anyone considering this book on audio, give yourself a few chapters to decide. If you are like me I think it will be worth it. This is the first book in a series and not a standalone, it ends in a cliffhanger.

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 🔥!

This just gets getting better and better

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. We will need the next in the series soon...

This was the start of something dark and dirty...

The story/characters were very complex and if I'm honest I really had to pay attention to keep up with everything to start with. But the detail was perfection and I was left eager for the next book!!

The narrator had a great voice and did well portraying all the characters. But for some reason, and very distractingly, I could hear every "extra sound" the narrator made. I'm only assuming this is an equipment issue. However, I powered through, but could understand if there are others who couldn't, especially if listening through earphones like I did.

Wow

You know how sometimes you go into a book thinking this is going to be fantastic and it blows even your highest expectations out of the water. This does that. I knew it would be good. I just didn’t have any idea how good it would be. I wish I could listen to it for the first time again just to savour how amazingly good it is. Can’t wait for the next one.

Holy freakin HOTNESS!!!

Mind blown and swept away. Story telling at its very best. My introduction to Sierra Simone and holy freaking WOW!! This story is incinerated but not than that it captures you heart, mind and soul.
The narration is PERFECTION especially how the story allows multiple perspective.
I need book 2 now!!

This is a lot

I don't even really know how to review this. Because it took a while to get going. But when it did go, MAN DID IT GO. There's so many characters and backstories that we dont really get into, and there is so much drama dripping from practically every one (Becky seems the least dramatic) There is a lot of diversity in this book. LGBT, mixed race characters and black characters, also religious diversity. Just what I've come to expect from a Sierra simone book, I find here. And I'm so gripped by each of the characters (except Poe who annoyed me a little) and I find I do actually want to know every little thing about them. Sierra has me hooked and ready for the next 3 books in this series. Bring it on.