Title: The Thorn QueenSeries: The Rose Bargain #2
Pages: 368
Publication Date: April 14, 2026
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Fantasy
Synopsis:
Wed to one brother.
In love with the other.
Bridgerton, The Selection, and The Cruel Prince collide in this Victorian-inspired romantasy; the sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller The Rose Bargain.
Having won the hand of the faerie King Bram, Ivy is now Queen of England.
But with his ascension to the throne, Bram unleashed the fae into the human world. After hundreds of years of being kept from their favorite playthings, the Others are looking to make up for lost time—and they do, with wicked revelry that sweeps through the country.
To survive, Ivy acts the sweet, devoted wife. Behind the smile, she plots to banish her husband, save her sister Lydia, and reunite with the love of her life, Emmett.
Yet Emmet and Lydia are trapped in the Otherworld, where fae games are deadlier than ever—and a queen must play most viciously of all. Or see herself dethroned.
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I had high hopes for The Thorn Queen after reading and loving The Rose Bargain, the first book in the duology. I have to say, it didn’t disappoint. The story went in a slightly different direction than I expected, and it was fantastic. I loved the different points of view, the different worlds, and how everything came together. It was such an engrossing story, and it broke my heart a few times with the complicated relationships, secrets, and betrayals. It was definitely an emotional roller coaster!
The story picks up where The Rose Bargain left off, and there’s never a dull moment for Ivy, the new Queen, who is trying her best to hold everything together with little support from Bram. Lydia and Emmett are in the Otherworld, and they’re facing their own obstacles. Time passes differently there, so a couple of years have passed for them when it’s only been a short time for Ivy. Oof, there were parts of their stories that devastated me, and I truly wondered how they would all find happiness in the complicated mess that was made of their lives. There’s a ton of deception, manipulation, political intrigue, trials, and deadly situations, and nothing is really clear. I felt for all of them!
I adored the main romance! It was full of yearning, and there are so many wonderfully romantic declarations, which is always a fave of mine, especially when the MMC makes professions. And boy does he!! It was positively swoon-worthy, and so important to hear, especially after everything they went through. I also loved the sisterly relationship between Ivy and Lydia. They have such an incredible bond, and it was interesting to see how each woman (and their relationship with each other) grew and changed when they were separated and when they were together.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It was engrossing and immersive, and the character development and love story really stood out. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
“You make me exist.”
“Maybe that’s all love is. Just something you endure.”
“I would have endured one thousand years bearing the loss of you if it meant I got to hold on to the memories of what we had.”
“I want to fight for you. Will you let me fight for you?”
Sasha Peyton Smith is the New York Times best selling author of The Witch Haven and The Witch Hunt. She’s passionate about well-curated road trip playlists, soup recipes, and stories about complicated girls. Originally from Utah, she now lives in Washington D.C. with her partner and collection of porcelain hands.
