Thorns — Lucretia Stanhope

Manipulation. Corruption. Betrayal. The first of the next generation in the most powerful elemental witch line comes of age under the control of the vampire grand master, Matvei. Rose becomes dissatisfied with the court life offered to her as a royal heir, and Matvei takes the opportunity to encourage her to follow a warrior path. Yet despite her unnatural ability on the training field, she finds herself frustrated at being coddled and handed mundane tasks at the order of her father, while less able soldiers are assigned the missions she applies for. However, instincts tell Rose that her new onsite assignment is less benign. With the ultimate goal of proving she belongs on the dangerous missions, she doesn't report her initial findings and begins to single-handedly unravel a deepening layer of treachery hidden underneath the idyllic façade. To face the bleak reality of awareness and survive, she will need to draw on more than her training. Will Rose prove worthy to her heroes, or more importantly to herself? Or will the witches she is investigating bury her along with their secrets?