Author: Margaret Rogerson
In this sequel novella to Sorcery of Thorns, Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas must unravel the magical trap keeping them inside Thorn Manor in time for their Midwinter Ball!
Elisabeth Scrivener is finally settling into her new life with sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn. Now that their demon companion Silas has returned, so has scrutiny from nosy reporters hungry for gossip about the city’s most powerful sorcerer and the librarian who stole his heart. But something strange is afoot at Thorn Manor: the estate’s wards, which are meant to keep their home safe, are acting up and forcibly trapping the Manor’s occupants inside. Surely it must be a coincidence that this happened just as Nathaniel and Elisabeth started getting closer to one another…
With no access to the outside world, Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas – along with their new maid Mercy – will have to work together to discover the source of the magic behind the malfunctioning wards before they’re due to host the city’s Midwinter Ball. Not an easy task when the house is filled with unexpected secrets, and all Elisabeth can think about is kissing Nathaniel in peace. But when it becomes clear that the house, influenced by the magic of Nathaniel’s ancestors, requires a price for its obedience, Elisabeth and Nathaniel will have to lean on their connection like never before to set things right.
Mysteries of Thorn Manor takes place about two months after the epilogue in its predecessor, Sorcery of Thorns. It does not read as a true sequel, which means if someone wants to only read the first story, it would still be complete; however, this was a very fun light-hearted story with a mystery plot and some romance. Elisabeth Scrivener and Nathaniel Thorn are settling into their life at Thorn Manor, except one day the manor shuts itself off from the outside world and they must find out how to fix it.
Not only does Nathaniel and Elisabeth get to shine further in this story, but their demon companion Silas also returns. The novella is full of fun moments between the three characters either through their interactions or through them as individuals. The romance between Elisabeth and Nathaniel blossoms more in this story and I loved their banter. They had great chemistry, and I loved their connection. It is nice catching up with all these characters as they have a great sense of familiarity. I enjoyed that even though it has been a while since I read the first novel, it was easy enough to fall back into the story and be apart of the world again.
Even though the story is not necessary to read, for me, to fully understand the first novel, it is a very enjoyable read and one that is the cherry on top to the original story. The pacing is enjoyable although, like most novellas, I do wish it was longer. The book manages to cover everything well, but I just loved the story and characters where I could read more about them. The stakes in this story aren’t very high, but it still has a sense of mystery and fun. Overall, this was a fun addition to the series and it would be fun to read more adventures involving these characters in the future!
**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and Margaret K. McElderry Books for the opportunity to read this novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
chonkybooksreview.com 
This one felt like a warm hug of a story — I loved that the stakes weren’t high, that the characters were funny and familiar, and I loved that we got to see more of Silas. Great review!
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