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  • A Lesson in Thorns

  • Thornchapel, Book 1
  • By: Sierra Simone
  • Narrated by: Sara Ormenyi
  • Length: 10 hrs and 15 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (44 ratings)
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A Lesson in Thorns

By: Sierra Simone
Narrated by: Sara Ormenyi
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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

What listeners say about A Lesson in Thorns

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

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.

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2 people found this helpful

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

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.

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2 people found this helpful

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

LOVED it

I really loved this book. It was magical and intriguing. I’m curious to see where it goes next. Not super spicy but hopefully it’ll get spicier as the series goes on

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

Drawn from the first chapter

I’ve wanted to read this book for so long but somehow it sat on my list for a while and when I finally picked it up, I was captivated and charmed from the first page.

It’s got everything: great plot, amazing characters who keeps you wondering, slow burn that is very sexy, kink and magic that is cleverly weaved into contemporary world.

Loved it and can’t wait to read the next book.

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

Not for me

I was really intrigued by the premise, but once I realized I was only listening to figure out the mystery and get to more of the rituals and wasn’t really paying attention to any of the relationship dynamics/sexy times then I knew this series wasn’t for me.

Narration: While there are six main characters, there is only one POV and one narrator for this book. Appropriate narration.

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

The narrator's voice is terrible

I'm not going further as the narrator' voice is terrible. No passion, no interest.

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

slow, wordy, not that dirty

This is going to be a LONG series. It had the potential to be dirty but nothing much really happened until the very end. I am interested in the next book BUT the pace better start picking up or I will not make it through 4 books.

The narrator has a good reading voice but OMG I could hear every breath she took and it was insanely distracting. Hopefully she gets better breath control in the next book. I might recommend reading this and then you can skim over some of the boring sections as well.

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

Magical, mysterious and erotic!

A Lesson In Thorns is a magical and mysterious story that had me wanting to rush through and uncover all of the mystery and at the same time wanting to read as slowly as possible and just revel in the beautiful phrasing and imagery.

“...this whole place is cloistered in a strange, timeless little bubble? Like a Sarah Waters novel but with pizza delivery?”

The story begins with six children discovering a hidden path at the center of a maze which leads to a crumbling chapel. Twelve years later in the midst of renovations the six are together again and the strange connection and call to the place and each other has only become stronger in the passing years.

“...pretend he’s not unraveling. Pretend he isn’t growing a tree of thorns inside his chest and that those thorns don’t have names.”

A Lesson In Thorns is a beautiful story that definitely had my insides burning up with the completely erotic storytelling.
-4 Stars!-

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

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...

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

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.

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