Tower of Thorns

Blackthorn & Grim, Book 2

By: Juliet Marillier

Narrated by: Nick Sullivan, Natalie Gold, Susannah Jones

Length: 15 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

Award-winning author Juliet Marillier's "lavishly detailed" (Publishers Weekly) Blackthorn & Grim series continues as a mysterious creature holds an enchanted and imperiled ancient Ireland in thrall.

Disillusioned healer Blackthorn and her companion, Grim, have settled in Dalriada to wait out the seven years of Blackthorn's bond to her fey mentor, hoping to avoid any dire challenges. But trouble has a way of seeking out Blackthorn and Grim.

Lady Geiléis, a noblewoman from the northern border, has asked for the prince of Dalriada's help in expelling a howling creature from an old tower on her land - one surrounded by an impenetrable hedge of thorns. Casting a blight over the entire district, and impossible to drive out by ordinary means, it threatens both the safety and the sanity of all who live nearby.

With no ready solutions to offer, the prince consults Blackthorn and Grim. As Blackthorn and Grim begin to put the pieces of this puzzle together, it's apparent that a powerful adversary is working behind the scenes. Their quest is about to become a life-and-death struggle - a conflict in which even the closest of friends can find themselves on opposite sides.

©2015 Juliet Marillier (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

Enchanting characters that will win you over.

A medieval mystery series, Blackthorn and Grim are two dispossessed souls trying to do go in a world they no longer believe in. Blackthorn because of a deal made with the Fae, and Grim because he'd follow her anywhere. I have enjoyed the mysteries, though at time I felt they could move on a bit faster. Nonetheless, I enjoy the language and the characters enough to be content.

I'd listened to the first Blackthorn and Grim book by Marillier a while back. It is done with a full cast and when I heard Grim for the first time (though the voice actor is delightful) I cringed. I didn't think I'd like him enough to stand a whole book with him. But thanks to Marillier, by the time I was done with that book, I liked Grim. And a third of the way through this one, I loved him. The relationship between stubborn Blackthorn and her "lump of a man" is something you find yourself rooting for, though her obtuseness about his feelings at the end was a bit unbelievable. After all, she is supposed to be wise.

Nonetheless, I am looking forward to the next installment to see what trouble they can get up to now. If you like fantasy and a bit of romance, you'll love these books.

hard to put it down

I enjoyed this book even more than the first. the drawn out storytelling lent suspense, though I guessed some of the surprises. I love the characters of Grim and Blackthorn, both are highly flawed and do not see their own self worth, but each sees the good in the other. Looking forward to more in yhhis series.

loved this book!

This series is wonderful. It had the perfect mix of fantasy, realism, character development, and a wonderfully sweet and budding romance. There are so many dark fantasy books out there that have so much dark you just feel sad afterwards, but this series has a wonderful mix of charming, heart-wrenching and heart warming scenes. I'm not saying it was all rainbows and butterflies, but ending each book left me with wonderful feelings of satisfaction. I highly recommend this series. To anyone and everyone.

Terrific

I love this series it is very addictive and I can’t stop listening.i even listen to it right before I go to sleep.

Winding Story

I really like Blackthorn and Grimm. They balance each other well. I also like the contrast between the narrators. It helps keeps the energy going as this book has a slow and steady pace. It does a great job building and layering. What I also like is that it isn't overly grandiose in the story. So far between books I don't feel like each is trying to top the next, rather, different and progressed the over all story and not just the arc created in each book. I am curious to read the next book in the series.

Much, much better than the first in the series.

The first in this series was good, but jumped the shark. This? Marillier figured it out with this book. Desperately awaiting more installments in the series (though I am happy to wait a long time if that's what's needed to make another gem like this one)

Captivating

Midvale mysterys fok lore some love tossed in moral delimas life or death situations performance a bit monotone and slow

yet another wonderful book

Again Juliet Marillier has woven a story to love that can be read and re-read over and over. Can't wait for the next one.

Lovely story

The Blackthorn and Grim characters are so very believable. I know there are times when I react just like Blackthorn does when my sweet and loyal husband says something i don’t want to hear. Ms Marillier weaves a tale that is a good mystery, a lovely fantasy and a relatable love story. I’m hooked!!

Grim and Blackthorn ☺

Beautiful! I enjoyed reading this. It is a masterpiece and I am about to buy book 3 , right now! Wonderful, wonderful book!😀