Elisabeth gave him a skeptical look. “Most of the time when you say that, it turns out that actually—” 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.

She couldn’t make out his face, but she got the impression he was trying his best not to look at the layer of ash coating the foyer’s tiles—or, for that matter, notice the dustbin juddering its way determinedly toward the parlor. He continued softly, “It is a yearly tradition among sorcerers, meant to uphold the relations between houses. Every winter, a different magister is chosen to host the ball.” Elisabeth didn’t hear the rest, because Nathaniel had hastily drawn her inside and slammed the door behind them. To her obscure relief, he only said, “Not necessarily, miss. Ancient spells such as the ones laid down in this manor’s foundations often grow temperamental with age. I believe it is more likely that something has occurred to trigger a minor modification to the wards. Sorcerers have added their own clauses over time, some of which are quite specific. Can any of you think of anything out of the ordinary you have done in the past twenty-four hours?” Mysteries of Thorn Manor takes place a few months after the end of Sorcery of Thorns. Elisabeth and Nathaniel are living a mostly quiet and mundane life in the manor, until the day they wake up to the manor having barricaded itself against the outside world. No one can come in or leave the manor, and things only seem to get worse when violent topiaries and deadly winds get thrown into the mix. Elisabeth and Nathaniel must figure out why the manor reacted this way, and how to fix it before somebody gets hurt. If you loved the Hogwarts Library . . . you’ll be right at home at Summershall' – Katherine Arden, New York Times bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale

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We also learn a bit more about Nathaniel’s immediate family in this book. In Sorcery we learned that his mother and brother had died, and his father had been killed by Silas at some point after this while Nathaniel was still a child. In this novella we learn more about what exactly happened and also what Nathaniel’s family was like before everything went wrong. This is, ultimately, a lighthearted novella, but Rogerson also found room within it to deal with this heavy topic in a way that didn’t feel unnatural or shoehorned in and that didn’t subtract from the overall story. Synopsis: 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! He grinned at her, looking unfairly handsome in just his nightshirt, with his sleeves billowing and his dark hair whipped in every direction by the wind. “Anyway, all of this must have something to do with the manor’s wards. Look at the street past the gates, it’s completely normal.” Rogue magical wards trap Elisabeth Scrivener and her companions inside Thorn Manor in this novella that revisits the world of Sorcery of Thorns (2019). She felt, with a passion that tore at her, that she could make a real difference: that given the chance, she could find a way to protect both humans and books equally.

If you loved the Hogwarts Library . . . you’ll be right at home at Summershall' – Katherine Arden, New York Times bestselling author of The Bear and the NightingaleMysteries of Thorn Manor is an unexpected gift to readers who will rejoice at the prospect of spending more time with the beloved characters from Sorcery of Thorns in a light-hearted fantasy romp brimming with fun, whimsy and romance. Mercy skidded into view at the end of the hallway. Her face hardened at the sight of the approaching forces. Bravely, she raised her mop. I am more than happy to report that my babies haven't changed one bit. They are every bit the chaotic good they've been in the first book, and just as witty and lovable. Sweet, sweet Elisabeth is a cure for the soul, with her compassion and loyalty, and the way she keeps dotting on Nathaniel like he is the most precious thing in the world (because he is!) and how much she cares for Silas and Mercy, unfazed by the fact that he is a literal demon and she is a servant girl that most would never look at twice. Standing there, she must have made a sound. He looked up and paused, taking her in. He didn’t appear at all surprised to find her holding a sword at the entrance to his bedroom. His eyes were very dark, his hair slightly damp. Her stomach performed a sort of effervescent tumble, like an ice cube dropped into a fizzing glass of champagne. Isn’t it better to have help?” she blurted out. “It’s just—it’s a big house. You don’t have to do everything alone.” You don’t have to do it at all, she didn’t add, for the matter had already been raised, and Silas had insisted on resuming his role as a servant with a strange brittle intensity that had put an end to the discussion immediately.

Silas insisted on drawing Elisabeth a bath, which she had to admit wasn’t unwarranted as she watched the water in the copper tub turn brown, swirling with bits of leaves. At least he hadn’t made her wash her hair; he had relented to her protestations with a sigh, and placed an ivory comb on the nightstand instead. So it would appear,” said Nathaniel cheerfully. “How terribly inconvenient. It’ll take me weeks to sort this out.” This was quite literally one of the softest short stories I have ever read. I fell so hard for Elisabeth and Nathaniel in Sorcery of Thorns, and this little companion story only confirms why that was so incredibly right of me. They're happy, they're courting, they're finally ice skating... and they're so domesticated that I may need a few moments to restart my heart from all the soft.

She wasn’t so sure about that, but she moved toward the other side of the bed anyway, hung up her dressing gown, and slipped beneath the covers. Demonslayer went beside the nightstand, within easy reach. “No kissing,” she said. “Just in case.”