The Thorn Queen (The Rose Bargain, Book 2)

By Author / Illustrator

Sasha Peyton Smith

Genre

Fantasy

Age range(s)

14+

Publisher

Electric Monkey

ISBN

9780008657512

Format

Hardback

Published

23-04-2026

Synopsis

Bridgerton, The Selection, and The Cruel Prince collide in this royal-inspired romantasy; the sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller The Rose Bargain.

Wed to one brother . . . In love with the other.

Having won the hand of the faerie King Bram, Ivy is now Queen of England. But with his ascension to the throne, Bram unleashed the fae into the human world. After hundreds of years of being kept from their favourite playthings, the Others are looking to make up for lost time . . . and they do, with wicked revelry that sweeps through the country.

To survive, Ivy acts the sweet, devoted wife. Behind the smile, she plots to banish her husband, save her sister Lydia, and reunite with the love of her life, Emmett. Yet Emmet and Lydia are trapped in the Otherworld, where the fae games are deadlier than ever, and a queen must play most viciously of all - or see herself dethroned.

Forbidden romance, deceptive bargains, and lethal court intrigue intertwine in this mesmerizing fae romantasy sequel that will captivate fans of Once Upon a Broken Heart and Belladonna.

"A deliciously dark and romantic fantasy" Stephanie Garber, on The Rose Bargain.

Also in the series: The Rose Bargain (book 1)

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Reviews

Linda

The Thorn Queen is the captivating conclusion to the dark and romantic The Rose Bargain. Once again, the author delivers a mesmerising story filled with magic, intrigue, and romance. The story drops the reader straight back into the action, picking up exactly where The Rose Bargain left off.

The sequel takes us across England in 1848 before transporting us into the Otherworld, where the Fae reign. However, this is not enough for the cruel faerie king, Bram. Now that he has both Ivy and Lydia as his wives, he is determined to decide which one truly loves him so Bram cruelly sets the sisters against each other in a set of trials to see who wins first and is worthy of being his queen.

Lydia truly loves her king but Ivy finds herself in a dangerous position; married to Bram, yet in love with his brother, Emmet. Should her secret be revealed, the consequences could be devastating. Will she be able to banish her cruel husband from the human world and reunite with the one she truly loves? Or will she be forced to sacrifice her sister Lydia in the process?

The author's imagination and magical world-building truly shine in this novel. The story is packed with twists and turns, deceptive bargains, forbidden romance, and wicked fae trickery. Due to the dark and more violent antics of the Fae world, the book is best suited to readers aged 14 and above, who will find themselves completely engrossed from beginning to end.

I have loved every page of this concluding instalment and would be thrilled to see a spin-off featuring some of the book's side characters so that I can once again delve into this magical world. This book is perfect for fans of Belladonna and the Once Upon a Broken Heart series.

432 pages / Reviewed by Linda Brown, school librarian