NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A darkly enchanting fantasy about a lying witch, a cursed prince, and a sinister prophecy that ignites their doomed destinies—perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince . “Everything you want from an enemies-to-lovers fantasy starring morally gray characters.”— BuzzFeed Violet is a prophet and a liar, influencing the royal court with her cleverly phrased—and not always true—divinations. Honesty is for suckers, like the oh-so- not charming Prince Cyrus, who plans to strip Violet of her official role once he’s crowned at the end of the summer—unless Violet does something about it. But when the king asks her to falsely prophesy Cyrus's love story for an upcoming ball, Violet awakens a dreaded curse, one that will end in either damnation or salvation for the kingdom—all depending on the prince’s choice of future bride. Violet faces her own choice: Seize an opportunity to gain control of her own destiny, no matter the cost, or give in to the ill-fated attraction that’s growing between her and Cyrus. Violet’s wits may protect her in the cutthroat court, but they can't change her fate. And as the boundary between hatred and love grows ever thinner with the prince, Violet must untangle a wicked web of deceit in order to save herself and the kingdom—or doom them all. Gr 9 Up—Eighteen-year-old Violet Lune is one of only nine Seers remaining in the world. After one of her visions saved the life of Prince Cyrus, she was lifted into the royal court to help King Emilius with carefully worded predictions of the future. Prince Cyrus, as a frequent victim of his father's manipulations, has no respect for Violet or her visions—but he is the subject of a well-known curse that could throw his kingdom into ruin. His return to the capital without a bride has put everything in jeopardy, as her dreams and visions become more alarming. Cyrus sets himself at odds with Violet and her role in the royal court, even as circumstances draw them closer together. The kingdom will rise or fall based on his love life, and Violet finds herself an integral part of it. The enemies-to-lovers romance ties neatly into the political intrigue, as Violet works to control her power and maintain her place at court, but ultimately romance is the only thing holding the story together. Characterizations and worldbuilding lack the nuance needed to carry the intrigue to a thrilling conclusion, leaving the sequel to pick up many loose ends. There is some racial diversity, with Violet's mother hailing from an Asian-coded country. VERDICT Atmospheric and steamy, Chen's debut is a secondary purchase for libraries where Shelby Mahurin's Serpent & Dove has been popular.—Emmy Neal “Everything you want from an enemies-to-lovers fantasy starring morally gray characters.”— BuzzFeed “Gina Chen delivers a biting fantastical twist on fairy tales.”— POPSUGAR   “A rare YA fantasy with a difficult, prickly and nigh-on unlikeable heroine, Violet Made of Thorns feels like a breath of fresh air from its first pages.”— Paste Magazine   “Curses, magic, fate, and forbidden romance combine into an unputdownable YA novel that fantasy lovers will obsess over.”— Brightly "Beautifully vicious. Perfect for the fairytale reader who has always wanted the heroine to grow sharp teeth and bite Prince Charming."—Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights "An enchanting dark fantasy."—Sabaa Tahir, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Ember in the Ashes series "Fantasy fans—rejoice! Violet Made of Thorns introduces us to a lush land where dark curses and magic reign.”—Erin A. Craig, New York Times bestselling author of House of Salt and Sorrows " Violet has everything: court intrigue, cruel witches, aloof but hot princes, ambitious girls who will do anything to win."—Victoria Lee, author of A Lesson in Vengeance and The Fever King "A sharp, witty story told in an unforgettable voice."—Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author of For the Wolf "Entrancing from start to finish."—Joan He, New York Times bestselling author of The Ones We're Meant to Find "Chen weaves a delightful, sparkling tale of a sharp-tongued antiheroine who will have readers rooting for her from page one."—June CL Tan, author of Jade Fire Gold "Searing... Employing evocative prose, passionately antagonistic romance, and a snarky first-person narration, Chen borrows familiar fairy tale elements and crafts them into a uniquely dark fantasy."— Publishers Weekly "A refreshing change from typical high-fantasy settings... Diverting and atmospheric."— Kirkus Reviews “Chen’s world is imbued with classic fairy tale elements... but she brings a fresh modernity to the story, with commentary on celebrity and imperialism that is both thoughtful and entertaining.”— BCCB "Debut author Chen has a winner here, with a rough-around-the-edges protagonist that readers will eventually root for despite her thorns." — Book