Book Review: The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo
1Title: The Language of Thorns
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Release date: September 26th 2017
Publisher: Imprint
Goodreads Synopsis:
Love speaks in flowers. Truth requires thorns.
Travel to a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young mermaid's voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a lovestruck boy's bidding but only for a terrible price.
This collection of six stories includes three brand-new tales, all of them lavishly illustrated with art that changes with each turn of the page, culminating in six stunning full-spread illustrations as rich in detail as the stories themselves.
Review:
Amaya and The Thorn Wood - 5/5 stars
A brilliant opening to a collection of deliciously dark and captivating short stories. Ayama is such a fierce and interesting character. I love when you follow the 'outcast' character, because when they do something amazing it just blows your mind and makes you root for them even more. Love it. My favorite short story out of the six.
The Too-Clever Fox - 4.5/5 stars
This story was just full of charm. I've not read her Grisha trilogy yet but even then I still immensely enjoyed this short story. The one thing that stood out most for me were the illustrations. The ones included for this short story were so cleverly done, they speak a thousand words and tell the tale so beautifully and deceptively.
The Witch of Duva - 4/5 stars
This one was a little short and fairly fast-paced, so I couldn't connect with the characters and the story very well. Regardless, Bardugo's writing was gorgeously eerie and the descriptive language in this one was so rich, it was impossible not to devour the whole story. Also, this gave me MAJOR Over the Garden Wall vibes (a show I adoooore! <3 )
Little Knife - 4/5 stars
This was my least favorite out of the collection. The ending didn't provide the best closure, and frankly, it was a little boring. BUT the message was undoubtedly powerful and empowering.
The Soldier Prince - 4.5/5 stars
This one enchanted me from the start. A magical and heartbreaking twist on The Nutcracker. So, so magical and swoon-worthy <3 .
When Water Sang Fire - 4.5/5 stars
The finale was a punch to the gut. Leigh Bardugo has the most twisted originality I've ever come across, and I love that about her. She's boss at writing gritty, clever fantasies, and i'm always up for it. But at the same time they pack a punch and makes sure that you'll never let go of the characters. My heart always breaks for her characters, and only Bardugo's characters can make me feel this way.
if you're interested in buying The Language of Thorns, you can click here to shop the book at Book Depository - i receive a small commission if you use the link! :)