This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service by clicking a link that on this site I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank You for supporting Books Beauty and Life! For more info check out my privacy policy and terms and conditions pages.

I received this book for free from the Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Sting of Thorns
Series: Dark and Otherworldly Series #2
by Kristen Brand
Find the Author: Website, Twitter, Goodreads, Amazon, Pinterest
Published by Independently Published
on September 15 2020
Genres: Fantasy, Fantasy & Magic, Fiction, Love & Romance, Paranormal, Paranormal, Occult & Supernatural, Romance, Romantic
Amazon

Sting of Thorns by Kristen Brand is the second novella in the Dark and Otherworldly series. Sting of Thorns is an adult paranormal romance. Make sure you check out the first book Poison and Honey before you dive into Sting of Thorns. See my review of Poison and Honey Here.

Sting of Thorns Summary

Sting of Thorns starts right where  Poison and Honey ended. Leigh sacrifices herself to save the humans from the Dwencanti people. Now she sits in a dungeon belonging to the man she just betrayed but also admitted under the influence of a truth potion that she was in love with him. Leigh’s future is looking bright.

Instead of torturing Leigh, the queen decided to make her useful and send her and Dredarion on a quest to find the Evensong Sword. Dredarion up until this point believe the Evensong Sward was a myth. There is a war brewing with the Rashrang and Dwencanti Kingdom. The queen believes the only way to survive a war with the Rashrang is with the Evensong Sword.

The sword is believed to be hidden in the human world. Queen Eirenga of Dwencant wants Leigh to use her connections with the humans to find the sword. To make sure Leigh doesn’t escape from Dredarion and also making sure she helps him find the sword. The Queen puts a cursed seed of a vine in Leigh’s finger that will steadily grow and sprout thorns out of her skin as it grows until it reaches her heart. Then it will slowly squeeze her heart until she dies. Queen Eiregna claims she will reverse the curse as soon as Leigh returns with Dredarion and the sword. So on they go, into the human world, to find a mythical sword, right after Leigh stomped on Dredarion’s heart by lying and betraying him. Sounds cozy.

Sting of Thorns Review

characters

We get introduced to Leigh’s crew who organized the human rescue in Poison and Honey. Garrett, Salvador, Wendy, and Tariq were the people station in the human world handling that side of the rescue. I love a book with a group of close-knit friends who work together. It’s always a good time when they play off each other, with their different personalities and witty banter. Plus it was hilarious to pair this group with Dredarion’s social skills.

Writing/Plot

So the only thing I was not happy about is that its a novella. I really like to sit in a book for a few more hundred pages. But if this is what Kristen Brand will give me, I’ll take it.

The twist at the end was definitely foreshadowed and guessable. But it really just sets it up for the next in the series. Because of this, I cannot wait to read the next book to see how this plays out.

Atmosphere

The world only got better. There are new creatures and the introduction of the Rashrang.

Intrigue

Again this was a super fast action-pack read. I am enjoying the romance on top of the action-adventure fantasy plot.

Romance

I loved how Dredarion really tried to deny his feelings for Leigh the whole quest. I had a good time watching him try over and over again to convince himself that he didn’t care for Leigh. Also I had a good time watching Leigh squirm because she admitted to Dredarion under the truth potion that she was in love with him.

Enjoyment

This was a fun fast read. It gave me a much-needed break from the 500+ page books that I have been reading. It had a nice angsty romance that I have been craving. With each book, Kristen keeps adding a layer to the world that draws me in. I am so excited for the next book. I cant wait to see how everyone handles the twists at the end.

Are you planning on reading Sting of Thorns by Kristen Brand? Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Related Posts