Is The Thorn Queen Worth Reading?

Ada’s Score

4.4

Sasha Peyton Smith returns with a lush and intricately plotted conclusion to her acclaimed series, placing Ivy Benton on the throne of England with no illusions about the power games surrounding her. Ivy must simultaneously scheme to dethrone the husband she never chose, protect her beloved sister, and find her way back to Emmett — the true love the crown conspired to keep from her. Smith's prose is as richly atmospheric as ever, conjuring a gaslit world of magic, political intrigue, and fierce female agency. The Thorn Queen is a deeply satisfying conclusion that delivers on every promise its predecessors made.

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Ada Brief

“Atmospheric, romantic, and thrillingly plotted — Ivy's fight for the crown is everything a fantasy finale should be. Smith sticks the landing.”

Series Finale Pick

Queen of England, Prisoner of a Throne She Never Chose

Ada Brief

AI reading intelligence

“Atmospheric, romantic, and thrillingly plotted — Ivy's fight for the crown is everything a fantasy finale should be. Smith sticks the landing.”
Ada

Series Finale Pick·1:10

Queen of England, Prisoner of a Throne She Never Chose

Sasha Peyton Smith brings her series to a stunning close with The Thorn Queen, giving Ivy Benton a finale that is equal parts heartbreaking and triumphant. Ivy is queen, yes, but she is also a sister, a woman in love, and a soul fighting for something that actually matters — and Smith never lets the grandeur of the setting swallow the intimacy of her story. This is a finale that earns its ending, and it will stay with you long after the last page.

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Ada’s reservations

Smith's atmospheric finale delivers on romance but overstuffs the plot with political machinations — the pacing suffers under the weight of too many threads. Readers wanting streamlined closure may find satisfaction buried under excess.

Ada’s score reflects both strengths and reservations.

Book Details

Language: English

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ISBN: 9780063372573

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Ada’s Score

4.4

Ada’s editorial score — not an aggregate of reader reviews.

Common Questions About The Thorn Queen

Is The Thorn Queen worth reading?: Atmospheric, romantic, and thrillingly plotted — Ivy's fight for the crown is everything a fantasy finale should be. Smith sticks the landing. Ada rates it 4.4 out of 5.
What are the main weaknesses of The Thorn Queen?: Smith's atmospheric finale delivers on romance but overstuffs the plot with political machinations — the pacing suffers under the weight of too many threads. Readers wanting streamlined closure may find satisfaction buried under excess.