A review by chaosreadsthings
Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid

5.0

Born a wizards-daughter in a time where magic is viewed as nothing more than a novelty, Marlinchen Vashchenko has been sheltered her whole life. Never allowed to venture outside of her house, the only time she sees others is when they visit their home, allowed through the gates by her papa's approval - and the number of coins they've brought. One night of escape with her older sisters thrusts Marlinchen onto a horrifying path of self-discovery that unveils harsh truths and kept secrets.

Juniper & Thorn is a cozy dark fantasy that draws you in with whispers and takes hold of you with claws. The tone and pacing of the story is melodic making it easy to lose yourself in the reading. It's reminiscent of traditional fairy tales with grim elements that catch you off guard and keep you reading with fascinated horror.

I love, love, loved this book! This was definitely a 5 star read for me. Reading it was like wrapping up with a warm blanket. I loved the edge between old and modern with the world building, the inclusion of various creatures, and the fact that Marlinchen was something altogether unexpected as a character.