A Treason of Thorns audiobook

Finally, a book that utilises my niche passion for English stately homes.A TREASON OF THORNS is a beautiful book set in an alternate England where Great Houses channel magic through the land. It's a really cool and unique idea that ties in neatly to my nerdy love of English stately homes, so there was no way I could not be invested. I loved Weymouth's debut THE LIGHT BETWEEN WORLDS, and this has a similar quintessentially British vibe to it. Weymouth builds up Burleigh House (also I keep writing Burghley House and then having to correct myself, but the joke of the similarity between the names is even in the novel so I loved that) and the surrounding area beautifully. It is more of a fairytale-esque novel; it has a lack of worldbuilding in places and I would have liked to have seen more development, but it gets away with it because the fairytale vibes prop it up. I was very fond of the central cast of characters: Violet and Wyn, Espie and Alfred. Violet was a great heroine to follow, Wyn was soft, Alfred was also soft, and Espie was actually my favourite. Weymouth's male characters are just soft, lol. I love it.I've seen criticisms that the pacing was a little on the slow side - personally I wasn't overly affected by this, but perhaps it did falter a little in the middle. Though I did have to put this book down in the middle for a while to catch up on work, I had no problems getting back in. All in all, I thought this was an easy read and I really enjoyed it. I do think it's one of those books where you can say there was potential for more, but nevertheless it also works well as it currently stands. Laura Weymouth's ideas continue to intrigue me, and I look forward to her next work. TL;DR: An easily-read YA fantasy standalone about magical Great Houses set in an alternate England, this one is sure to appeal to fans of quintessentially British-esque fairytale fantasy.Thank you to the publisher for a review copy!

Magical, mystical, enchanting, and with a setting that will sweep you back to old England, A Treason of Thorns will keep you engaged from the beginning clear to the action packed ending. Legends and lore, magical bindings, endearing stories of home, both those we are born to and those we create, and becoming who we want to be rather than what is expected of us, A Treason of Thorns was beautifully done with effortless writing that was every bit as wonderful and emotional and it is magical. *ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz Laura always has the best book covers, hands down. This one is absolutely stunning, the colors, detailing, it draws your eyes and leaves you starstruck. A Treason of Thorns is hands down one of the most unique books that I have read in a long time, dark, mysterious and utterly unique A Treason of Thorns will have you entranced until the very last page. When Violet was a child her father, the caretaker of Burleigh house was accused of high treason and sentenced to spend the rest of his days in Burleigh house, without his key that helps him channel the house magic forcing himself to channel house magic through himself. Burleigh is one of the six Great Houses in the country and it's magic keeps the land healthy and prosperous. Violet and the house servants are exiled, but Wyn, Violet's childhood friend is forced the face the sentence with her father. Ripped from everything she has ever known Violet must learn a new way of life. In the years leading up to this Violet's father taught her the ways of the house, so when he passed on she would become Burleigh's caretaker. Only Burleigh house is failing and Violet only has the summer to prove that she can save her beloved house before it is destroyed by her Godfather, the King. Full of mystery, a determined girl and a bitter sweet romance A Treason of Thorns is a book that will stay with you long after you finish it. The magic system and the Houses in this book is amazing.The complexity of it, but described in ways that doesn't make it confusing at all, Weymouth did an amazing job in keeping me intrigued and wanting to know more about Burleigh House and the magic surrounding it. Burleigh's personality is one that is quite unique. The House does respond to its surroundings and does what it can to help Violet and keep her safe. It's temperamental and its moods change in the flash of an eye. I think Weymouth did a great job giving something as inanimate as a house its only personality and characterization, especially when it is the main focus of this book. I really enjoyed Violet's character. From page one she shows her dedication to her Burleigh. Nothing comes before the House, not even family. Upon returning to her beloved home it is in shambles and Violet is determined to save it before it is too late. As she works on repairing her relationship with Wyn, she teams up with the most unlikeliness of partners to do what needs to be done. The only way to save Burleigh house is to find it's deed, the very crime that her father was punished for. Overall I really enjoyed A Treason of Thorns. This book lived up to every expectation I had and more. Weymouth's prose is beautiful and will suck her readers in. I can't recommend this book enough. So please, pick it up and read it!

So when people say "I'd read this author's grocery list," Laura is that author for me. The writing in this (and The Light Between Worlds) is just so luxurious. It just pulls me in so I feel all of the world and connect with the characters with each step of their development. Her writing is PERFECT for Gothic fantasies and histories. Her and Lyndsay Faye have such iconic writing with that tone and I just cannot get enough of their stuff (literally. I've read basically all of their publications I can get my hands on). Now that I've read this the day after it came out, I'm in this horrible position (same one I'm in with Moïra Fowley-Doyle). Please join me:1. find an author early in their career2. read all their books.3. complain there are no more books4. then complain when you find an author that you're 10 books behind on and decide to not event try and catch up on those.We need to discuss what witchcraft (Laura called it "soup magic" on Twitter), Laura Weymouth has been doing to get 2 of the most gorgeous book covers known to man. They're both stunning on my bookshelves but they also are wonderful representations of the content itself.As I expected from this, Violet's whole story just continuously crushed me. She has a wonderful heart but has been put in a terrible position. I felt everything she did and wanted to fight most of the other characters in her honor. The weird situations of Burleigh and it's unbinding throughout the whole book was a bit confusing to me at times but it all wrapped together beautifully at the end. All that confusion was like -0.5 stars but then she threw in multiple timelines and earned like 500 stars back. That's how I rate, okay? Deal with it! I was expecting the ending to be as devastating to me as The Light Between Worlds (for real, read that book if you haven't. It's amazing.). Now the ending was by NO means happy but it didn't leave me scream crying for answers the way The Light Between Worlds did. I don't know that she can ever write something as amazing as that book for me (especially since it was also a surprise as hell amazing debut). I would LOVE for this world to be expanded on in companion novels. There's other houses in England, there's the origin story of the houses being bound in England AND there's houses bound all over the world in different manners (discussed in the book). I would throw so much money at the publisher for that content!Come for the dark Gothic fantasy magic in England. Stay cause Burleigh grew ivy and locked you in.

“What if we don’t have to be what we were told to become?”I think this is the central question of A Treason of Thorns, a book about the roles we’re born to play and the ones we choose for ourselves. Just as in her debut The Light Between Worlds, Weymouth beautifully explores our longing for home, especially a home that has been lost or changed. But the novel is also a hopeful rumination on the homes we choose for ourselves and the love we pour into them.In addition to its compelling themes, the premise of A Treason of Thorns is totally original, the setting is immersive, the prose is beautiful, and characters are likeable. The ending is deeply satisfying, and I finished it with the best sort of tears.Bonus points for a sentient house, a gothic atmosphere, a brave main character, and a sweet romance.

3.5 StarsI'm a bit torn when it came time to rate this book. Overall, I enjoyed the story and the characters but I did find that I started to get a bit bored and just wanted some action to happen. I also found myself confused at times with the magical elements of the house and between the binding and unbinding and what happened to this house or that house...I kind of just zoned out.I especially enjoyed the side characters but would have liked them to be a bit more prevalent in the story since they really helped set the story.

This book was perfect—from the swoons romance to the palpable atmosphere to the amazing characterization (of a HOUSE, which is quite a feat). The heroine is plucky and prickly and I love her.

Sigh... I...don't know... What do I say about a sentinel House that is alive, lives and breathes, has a heart with memories, and is magical ? What do I say about a House whose caretaker was to be Violet, but where her father altered everything so she could be spared?What do I say about the author Laura E. Waymouth whose imagination brought out a fantastical plot of a House working its magic via a caretaker who had the key? Just BRILLIANT!! House and mortar made their foray... Violet was supposed to be the caretaker of Burleigh House after her father's death, but the King, in his love for games, prevented just that. Father was accused to treason, and Violet was exiled for 7 years. When she returned, she had the whole summer to renew the House without being the caretaker, as ordered by the King or the house would be ash. Stones and mortar would crumble away... Laura's writing had a rocky edge to it where the crevices formed the pathways of this book. Everything was decided by the House which was the central character. Lives revolved around it trying to save it from itself and its destructive magic. Complexities of the magic was the way of life in Burleigh House where memories hid the truth. Magic and mortar held the sway... The author took a different route while etching Violet's character. She was beautiful and kindhearted, but her first love was always the House. She had the power to sift through the House's memories to find the clues. Warm, loving characters surrounded her, and help was given to her from unexpected corners. Wyn was central to all that and more. His life source filled the crevices of the House, and his love filled the heart. Blood and mortar laid the way... Soon that led to my niggles too. The magical system, though alluring initially, grew repetitive when told oft times. The magic was made to sound more complex than it actually was. Ideas and mortar were the delay... Overall, the atmosphere of the book was haunting as if the House was waiting for me to enter. There was a sense of welcome on reading the first few pages. The story and writing bound me to the House, the characters, my heart. Words and mortar filled my day...

I really loved this book I liked how unique it was and I really loved the characters I have no idea why anyone would call Violet a Mary-Sue she is one of the best characters I have read about lately. I really love the characters especially Violet and Wyn I loved how their relationship developed from friends to more. These two characters have been through so much they are so self sacrificing for each other they would do anything so the other could survive. They have suffered so much but came out of it better than they were before after it was all over. I really loved the plot it was unique about a sentient house that our main character Violet is trying to save she ends up having to save more than just the house. So overall I really loved this book I would read more by this author.

I give this book 5 stars because I wrote it

This is a gorgeously magical book, with a fierce heroine whose voice I loved. Isabel Sterling is determined to save the House she loves - and the boy she loves, too - and I loved her strength and determination as well as the magical system in which the Great Houses of England are given literal magical powers and individual personalities (but also a subjection to the whims of the king that can BURN). The symbolism is fantastic, and the relationship between Isabel (as would-be Caretaker) and her House, Burleigh, is SO powerful.The only thing that took away any of my personal enjoyment as I read was that the details of the alternate history never quite lined up for me, speaking as a total history geek/long-time alt-history reader. Personally, I wished that more of that larger history had been given so that I could understand which century this was meant to take place in (alt-17th-century? alt-19th-century? I kept shifting between which era I guessed) and how history as a whole had changed because of this HUGE change in the structure of British society which had also apparently led to a change in the ruling family of England and their European alliances many centuries ago (while still leaving every British place name exactly the same and referring to one of the exact same novels of social satire having been written by the exact same author, which baffled me). However, this is a YA novel, not an adult one, and I cannot imagine any teen readers (or, for that matter, any adult readers who aren't history geeks like me!) being bothered by those very small and niggling questions in the historical worldbuilding. Far more importantly: I truly loved all of the characters, and Isabel's relationships - with her foster family, with her (wonderful) love interest, with her neighbors, and most of all, with her House, Burleigh, are SO well done, so intense and powerful, that they absolutely carry the book. I cheered for Isabel (and Wyn, her love interest) all the way, and I really enjoyed their story.

A Treason of Thorns by Laura E. Weymouth4.5 / 5 avocados Read full review and more here!Thank you to the FFBC Team for allowing me to take part in this blog tour!.Hiya bookish people!.Okay, so, the concept of this novel? Amazing. The plot of this novel? Astounding. The execution of this novel? Excellent. Laura E. Weymouth has somehow created a plot I didn’t even know I wanted, and left me wishing more authors wrote about Great Houses and their connections to characters. With writing that is super easy to get into, and a world that has me lost in nearly every way, I am in love. But, as there always is with love, I have had to make some slight sacrifices..Violet, Vi, our main heroine and honestly a girl who deserves so much. I felt so in touch with Vi, but I couldn’t place her in the story. Perhaps it was the lack of vanity, and perhaps it was just me needing to be able to visualise her more, but I felt that Vi easily could have been anyone. She was raised to be a certain girl with certain beliefs and morals, and then she became that. And while I love her, she did lack a little bit of depth outside of Burleigh..Apart from this, I must say that all authors need to take note of how Laura ended her novel. Now don’t get me wrong - I love a dramatic and tear-flowing ending as much as I love chocolate and Disney movies, but I honestly needed a nice, relatively happy ending for once, and Treason of Thorns provided..- Emma :)

Laura E. Weymouth was one of the first authors who really gave me the feeling she understood depression and what it feels like. I was therefore very excited to read her second novel to see if once more she would surprise me with overwhelming emotions and a beautifully written character arc for the main character(s).And although I didn't end up crying, like I did with her previous book, I would say that this book totally lived up to the expectations. Once again Weymouth manages to create a unique atmosphere and to describe emotions, and how they can change from one end to the other within an instant, perfectly. I think that somewhen while reading this book I fell in love with a house. Yes, you read that right.But not just with the house. Also with Vi, her passion, her fire, her love, her determination, her willpower. Her complicated feelings towards the house, that loves her and that she loves, that hates her and that she hates. and her complicated feelings towards Wyn, are written down so beautifully that it's easy to connect with her, to understand her and to feel for her.And even though not much happens action-wise in this book, the emotional development of Vi and her house kept me on the edge of my seat. The love triangle, let's just call it that, because I totally think that's what it was and to make it even better: It was one where they all loved each other, actually, was so painful to watch and I just kept on hoping and hoping that somehow they'd find a way out of the impossible choice Vi had to make! It's a really wonderful atmospheric book about what it truly means to love and how heartbreaking loving something or someone can be.

Thank you to HarperTeen and Edelweiss who continue to trust me with their books.Last summer I had the chance to read THE LIGHT BETWEEN WORLDS while on vacation in the UK. I was so enthralled by it that I rushed through touring the sights in London and Scotland just so I could go back to the Airbnb to read it. I couldn't wait to get back home to review it. After, I became a lifelong fan of Laura Weymouth. If you have a chance, add her on Twitter. She is the sweetest author I have ever had the opportunity to converse with on social media!I don't know how she does it, by Laura takes us into a world where a girl is devoted to a magical house in England. After the father was accused of treason and sentenced to house arrest, Violet was sent away only to return some years later after the caretaker's death. When she arrives, she finds the house in disrepair. After being told she's to "cure" the house in a specific timeframe, Violet realizes the depth of her devotion to the sentient building and to those she loves. With sweeping emotional turmoil, Violet navigates the world of secrets her father had built up and first love to discover that her fate is not sealed and that she can be whatever she wants to be, despite the promises she made. This premise is unique in that it brings us to a world built entirely around this house, that seemingly has emotions of its own. Violet's devotion borders on obsession. She almost loses sight of what is truly important, and I think, at least to me, that s the lesson I took from it. This may not be what Laura intended, but we all see stories differently and relate to them in a way that coincides with our own emotions in real life. It is also a testament to finding our place in the world, and just like in THE LIGHT BETWEEN WORLDS, Violet pours her heart and soul into what she loves and what she believes will ultimately make her happy. Upon asking Laura what her inspiration for the story was, she told me that it was partly based on The Crawley family and their devotion to their home in DOWNTON ABBEY. She sprinkled in some magic and TREASON OF THORNS came to be. Part of me can see that, and another part was reminded of THE HAUNTING OF HILLHOUSE (the show on Netflix) and how these people were drawn to this house that would or would not ultimately decide their fate. Though not as horrific as the show, TREASON OF THORNS gave me a gothic feel. It was beautifully written (as always) and drew me in from page one. I cannot express how much I adore Laura's writing, but I know she will always be one of my favorites. Plus, LOOK AT THAT COVER.

There's a thing that happens to me sometimes, with the very best books--my eyes don't want to fully focus on the page. It's like I can't quite take it all in.This was one of those books. Weymouth's first book was amazing for me as well. I will buy her books going forward.