Rating - ⭐⭐⭐1/2
"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 is the sequel novella to Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson.
I honestly had no idea that book was even happening until maybe one or two months prior to the release. Granted, I did want one after how the first book left me hanging, but it was unexpected nonetheless. It is a short book, so I can only go into so much detail (hence why this is a mini-review), but I can sum up my experience with only a few words: was okay but not necessary. I didn't dislike this, but it didn't give me much. I don't really know why Rogerson used the plot that she did to continue the story because not much particularly interesting happens in this. There was just a whole lot of nothing between the start and the end goal.
On one side it was interesting seeing characters that were very minor in the first book have a more important role in this one. But the book focused largely on Elisabeth and Nathaniel's relationship which I didn't care too much about. In all honesty, I feel like the romance would be a lot more interesting had it been a poly relationship between them and Silas (because that would be the kind of diversity I would like to see more often).
So, overall, I think I would have liked an entirely new book rather than a short sequel even though it does clean up the air a bit after the last book.
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