In this delightful sequel novella to the New York Times bestselling 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 the estate’s wards, which are meant to keep their home safe, are acting up and forcibly trapping the Manor” 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.

This short novella takes place two months after the first book’s epilogue. Was it necessary? Not really. Did I absolutely love it? Yes!!

I adored being back in this world with my favorite characters. The author described it as, “a bonus novella with a lighthearted mystery/romance plot, perfect for anyone who wants to spend more time with Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas and see what their daily life is like without any life-threatening plots looming overhead.” And that’s exactly what it delivered.

It was such a delight getting to know the characters even more and uncovering some hidden secrets along the way. The novella retained all the charm, romance, witty banter, and fun storytelling of the first book. While I wish this had been a full-length sequel, I was just happy to revisit this world and spend more time with these lovable characters. In a way, this short story made the overall storyline feel more complete.

This was a fun, lighthearted companion story—definitely not as dark as the original book, but it fit perfectly as a bonus read. Highly recommend picking it up after book one! (Also, the narrator from the first book returns for this one, which was a nice touch for consistency.)