Ratings
Content Warnings: N/A
Introduction
After the events of Sorcery of Thorns, we once again follow Elisabeth and Nathaniel as they attempt to corral the unruly wards that prevent them from leaving the manor. The shrubs are alive, bizarre weather encompasses the house, and clothing has a heated vendetta to satisfy. Is it Nathaniel’s nightmares fueling the unrest, or is there more unrest in the home than they thought?
Mysteries of Thorn Manor is a short and fun book. There is no real danger looming overhead to destroy the world this time around, as Elisabeth and Nathaniel adjust to life after the events in the previous book.
You can think of this little novella as a filler, of sorts.
Pros
- A cozy, quick read
- The banter
Cons
- Rushed/unexplained actions
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Plot
The plot of Mysteries of Thorn Manor is simple and straightforward: the house doesn’t like the informal courtship Elisabeth and Nathaniel are hosting. Or, more specifically, Silas is impatient and wanted them to be engaged already.
While the duo doesn’t know all of this is Silas’s doing, they still embark on an adventure to solve the mystery around the manor, from fighting off out-of-date fashion to vines creeping into the home and hidden rooms.
The story is quite silly, but fun and adorable enough to have you swooning at the 3 impossible tasks Nathaniel sets out to accomplish.
It is only at the end of the book do we see a possible continuation of the series through demons attempting to kill Silas for his actions in the previous book.
Characters
There isn’t really any character growth in this little book, as it only takes place over 10-11 days. However, it is nice to see Mercy partaking in the plot and adding a new dynamic to the original trio.
All the characters are a joy to read, and it is great to see how life was going after book 1. Their banter and Nathaniel’s witty comments made the book fun.
Writing
The writing for Mysteries of Thorn Manor is on par with its predecessor. The descriptions are whimsical and vivid, for the most part. There are some scenes, like Elisabeth running out the door to fight shrubs, that was off. Especially the announcement that they are engaged. Is it a rouse to get Felix off of Nathaniel’s back or did he actually pop the question off-screen?
Regardless, the overall experience of the book is great and the awkward transitions/scenes didn’t hinder it too much.
Final Thoughts
This is a short and sweet review as there wasn’t much to dive into. With that being said, I loved seeing what happened after Sorcery of Thorns. I have been thinking about this world and its characters ever since finishing the first book. So it was wonderful to dive back in and experience the whimsical and witty nature of Elisabeth and Nathaniel.
I recommend this book if you’re itching for more Nathaniel and Elisabeth or just want a quick read between bigger books.
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What did you think of the book? Did you like it or could you have done without it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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