Dark, gripping, and utterly unique, this atmospheric historical fantasy from critically acclaimed author Laura E. Weymouth is perfect for fans of The Hazel Wood and Caraval.**Violet Sterling has spent the last seven years in exile, longing to return to Burleigh House. One of the six great houses of England, Burleigh’s magic kept both the countryside and Violet happy. That is, until her father’s treason destroyed everything. Now she’s been given a chance to return home. But Burleigh isn’t what she remembered. Wild with grief, Burleigh’s very soul is crying out in pain. As its tormented magic ravages the countryside, Vi must decide how far she’s willing to go to save her house—before her house destroys everything she’s ever known. A house left unchecked will lead to ruin.__ But I will not let it ruin me. **
Review
“[A] moving 19-century fantasy… With lush prose and an eye for atmospheric detail, Weymouth adeptly spins a tale in which the heroine is torn between passion and purpose, destruction and duty.” (Publishers Weekly (starred review) )
“Weymouth’s prose is lush and evocative, filled with palpable descriptions and compelling mystery… Spellbinding.” (Kirkus Reviews)
“Weymouth captures a feisty character in Violet, a well-bred girl who doesn’t take no for an answer. Rich in language and imagery with characters readers want to get to know better, this title’s a keeper.”
(ALA Booklist)
“A piercing, luminous tale of legacies and devotion, and the many faces of home: a place you remember being loved, a place you fight to protect, and a place that may eat you alive.” (Rosamund Hodge, author of Cruel Beauty )
“Lyrical and inventive, this story of heart and home, of love lost and found again, is sure to stay with readers long after the last page is turned.” (Megan Bannen, author of The Bird and the Blade )
“A Treason of Thorns is an original, engrossing YA fantasy that explores the bonds of family, the cost of freedom, and what truly makes a home. Built like a rolling clap of thunder, Weymouth’s tale is spun of dark magic, unspoken love, and finding the balance between fate and freedom.” (Sarah Henning, author of Sea Witch & Sea Witch Rising )
“A Treason of Thorns is a fierce and haunting book that grew brambles around my heart and held me captive. I could not escape the power of its wild magic, or the raw, indomitable spirit of its heroine as she fought to redefine the meaning of home.” (Margaret Rogerson, New York Times bestselling author of An Enchantment of Ravens )
From the Back Cover
A HOUSE LEFT UNCHECKED WILL LEAD TO RUIN. BUT I WILL NOT LET IT RUIN ME. Violet Sterling has spent the last seven years in exile, longing to return to Burleigh House. One of the six Great Houses of England, Burleigh’s magic always kept the countryside well. And as a child, this magic kept Violet happy, draping her in flowers while she slept, fashioning secret hiding places for her, and lighting fires on the coldest nights to keep her warm. Everything shattered, though, when her father committed high treason by trying to free Burleigh from the king’s oppressive control. He was killed, and Vi was forced into hiding. When she’s given a chance to go back, she discovers Burleigh has run wild with grief. Vines and briars are crumbling the walls. Magic that once enriched the surrounding countryside has turned dark and deadly, twisting lush blooms into thorns, poisoning livestock, and destroying crops. Burleigh’s very soul is crying out in pain. Vi would do anything to help, and soon she finds herself walking the same deadly path as her father all those years before. Vi must decide how far she’s willing to go to save her house—before her house destroys everything she’s ever known.