BOOK REVIEW: Garden of Thorns and Light by Shylah Addante

A dark little fantasy that will keep you guessing until the end.

I’ve had this one sitting on my audible TBR shelf for a few months and finally decided to give it a go. This is book one of what is expected to be a new series. I’ve seen that there is a book 2 planned, and all I have to say is that there better be! She legit cannot just end it the way she did without there being a book 2. Yes, this is a cliffhanger ending AND the book came out almost three years ago!

Before I get too far ahead of myself, I’ll give you a little synopsis. Ever since Amethyst was “almost stolen” when she was six, things haven’t been easy for her. Her mother went missing, presumed dead, at the same time as Amethyst’s “almost” disappearance and for the last ten years has been raised by a father who doesn’t know what to do with her isolation, nightmares, and overall  perceived instability. So, she has a choice this summer - go to a residential treatment center or spend the summer with her estranged grandmother in the small rural town of Morgan Springs, Pennsylvania. Needless to say, she picks granny. Well, things continue to get stranger for Amethyst as she physically begins to have signs that she is not quite right. Thorns begin to poke through her skin and her blood seems a little greenish. Is this all connected to the monster who tried to steal her all those years ago?

This is a fantasy through and through, and I really did enjoy it. There were moments that the lack of communication drove me crazy. I hate how people think if they just don’t talk about things then they can pretend it doesn’t exist. It’s like parents don’t want to have certain conversations with their children because they don’t want to “introduce” ideas to their kids. Guess what - parents aren’t introducing anything to their kids; however, they are helping their kids learn how to make good choices and recognize the difference between fiction and reality. Anyways, I digress. But this is my frustration with her father and Gran.

I liked Amethyst for the most part, and I have great empathy for her in what she’s been through. But, she is sprouting thorns! When she got to Morgan Springs as her sulky, angsty teen self, I knew things wouldn’t be unicorns and rainbows, but still it’s frustrating when it’s all passive aggressive and adults expect a traumatized 16 year old to tell them they are growing thorns when asked “everything good?” What did these people think was going to happen?

Amethyst just wants to understand what is happening without people thinking she’s crazier than they already do - she’s scared. Her father already wants to send her to a treatment center, and why is Gran all of sudden now willing to spend time with her? The heart of this story is a tale of acceptance, belonging, self-discovery, the pain of secrets and ultimately family. These thematic ideals are woven together from page one and are on display in almost every decision Amethyst makes.

However, when Absynth comes into her life, Amethyst is so desperate for these things, that it’s not hard to understand why she believes what she’s told. Absynth is the first person to tell her anything to help her with what she is going through! There is a predictability there that as a reader you can see right through all of it, so even though Amethyst was at times annoying, her behavior makes sense. Absynth is probably the character I think was developed the best because of how she engages with those around her, her motivations and just overall creepiness. How she can change on a dime.

Note to self - this is a fantasy with fae, but it is not a fairy tale presentation of them. This is a different look at fae, and it has a very dark undercurrent! I won’t spoil it more than to say that the title of the book mentions thorns and lights, and I have already discussed the thorn part! And, you can’t over look the word choice. The words “almost stolen” are clearly and purposely used. Addante didn’t use the words “almost kidnapped.”

The only other really important characters are her Gran and Ben, a local teenager, who seems to have a connection to the fae as well. Like any YA, fantasy book, the infatuation between Ben and Amethyst is quick, but again…1. They are teenagers, do you even remember how quickly you went from hot to cold over someone? And 2. Go back a couple paragraphs, why wouldn’t she be even more blinded by a cute boy who is actually engaging in normal conversation with her? She has spent 10 years being snubbed and pitied.

Clearly, the characters really do drive the story here, but there were a few plot points that stood out to me:

1. Gran’s pots

2. The scenes in the Garden. I really do love this garden. 

3. The concept of the lights...creepy and disturbing as hell, but creative

4. Amethyst and Gran’s trip near the end of the book to a different garden.

5. The conclusion of the book…yes, I “hated” it, but it is what it is. It’s meant to be a cliffhanger. 

It’s a well paced story with many twists and turns, some you will see coming and others will definitely make you turn the page.

Where does this land on my bookshelf?

I’d place it on the middle shelf. Will I read the sequel when it eventually comes out? Probably. I’m not a fan of cliffhangers, but they are successful as I do want to figure out what is happening with everything that went down. It’s a great little dark fantasy with fae that are more made from nightmares than from Disney. If you have an audible subscription this is a free download, so it wouldn’t hurt to check it out. Go ahead and add it to your TBR.

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