Juliet Marillier is, and has been for a very long time, one of my favorite authors. Her books always feel like you’re reading a fairy or folk tale, and the writing tends to be lyrical. They’re always well researched, and having read all of her books published thus far, I have yet to be disappointed by a single one.

Tower of Thorns is the second book in her Blackthorn and Grim series. You would certainly want to read the first book, Dreamer’s Pool, before reading this one – it’s not a standalone novel by any means. Instead, along with the fairy-tale-esque storyline, it goes into a much deeper understanding of both Blackthorn and Grim (especially Grim), and their pasts, which is very satisfying.

The story revolves around a woman whose land is besieged by a monster in a tower that screams from dawn until sunset, reverberating throughout the entirety of the land she holds ownership over. Over the course of two years, animals have died, crops have failed, and people have fled as a result of this curse. Having been laughed out of one court, the woman, Lady Geiléis, seeks help from the Dalriada, and Blackthorn and Grim travel home with her to try and untangle the mystery of the tower and the shadow that has fallen over the area around it.

An old friend of Blackthorn’s from her past, Flannan, also appears in the story, providing quite a bit of internal conflict for both of our heroes and another view into their past and present.

The third book in this series, Den of Wolves, is due to come out in November of this year, and I already have it on my pre-order list. Anyone with a love of historical fantasy or a fondness for fairy and folktales, or even mystery, will enjoy this series.