Violet Made of Thorns

The best part about being the Seer isn't the tower or the amenities or the access to the King. It's how easily everyone believes what you say."

What it's about:
Violet is the court Seer for the kingdom of Auveny - an orphan plucked from the streets after she foresaw and prevented the death of Prince Cyrus when they were both children. She also regularly lies on the King's behalf, making fake prophecies that support his actions and goals. 

But true prophecy has continued to follow Prince Cyrus and he was subject to one by another Seer foretelling that who he gives his heart to will either lead to the kingdom's doom or salvation. With the King's health failing, Cyrus planning to fire Violet from her position when he ascends to the throne, a strange black rot spreading throughout the countryside, political tensions between Auveny and their neighbours threatening war, and the council & populace pinning all their hopes on Cyrus selecting a curse-breaking bride soon, tensions between Seer & Prince are running high. Violet's visions are telling her that she will die unless Cyrus does, but although they hate each other, she doesn't think she wants him dead. 

“There are no love stories found upon the throne. Only secrets and schemes and spider-fingered kings.”

What I thought:

• I really enjoyed the setting but I would have liked more in-depth world building, such as more about the Fairywood, and the source of the Seer's powers. This is hinted at but not expanded on so I'm hoping it will come more into play in the sequel.
• Despite being book 1 of a planned duology, the main arc of this story is pretty much resolved, with enough plot threads left hanging to intrigue me to want to read on without leaving things on a huge cliffhanger. 
• The story is told from Violet's POV. She is cynical and distrusting, but I liked her all the same.
• I adored the characters of Camilla and Dante.
• Like Violet, I found Cyrus frustrating yet compelling (I would have gotten out of my own way sooner though, tbh). The enemies-to-lovers chemistry and sexual tension between them worked well.
• The book provides a map of the Sun Capital, where the palace and seer's tower reside, but doesn't have a map of the wider kingdom and it's various “dominions” nor the wider world, which I would have found helpful to refer to when the dominions, Fairywood and other countries were being discussed.
• There are nods throughout to ‘traditional' fairytales - Cinderella, Beauty & the Beast, which helped contribute to the fairytale feel of the story.
• This was an easy and enjoyable read that I could see myself rereading and I will certainly be looking out for the sequel.

“Our entanglement wasn't inevitable in the way of the stars, but in the way you can only toss so many lit matches at a powder keg before one catches - and I should have stopped tossing matches.”