Praise and reviews for Between Two Thorns are below.
Click here for reviews of Any Other Name
Click here for reviews of All Is Fair
“Emma Newman has built a modern fantasy world with such élan and authority her ideas of why and how the seemingly irrational world of Fairy works should be stolen by every other writer in the field. Her characters are complex and troubled, courageous at times and foolhardy. This book of wonders is first rate.”
– Bill Willingham, Eisner Award winner, and creator of Fables
“Emma Newman has created a reflection of Bath that reminds one that charming is not safe. Between Two Thorns shows the darkness beneath the glamour of the social Season. Learning to be a young lady has never seemed so dangerous.”
– Mary Robinette Kowal, Hugo Award winner, and author of Shades of Milk and Honey and Glamour in Glass
“With a feather-light touch, Emma Newman has crafted a very English fantasy, one brilliantly realised and quite delightful, weaving magic, mystery and parallel worlds together with ease. Newman may well be one of our brightest stars, The Split Worlds: Between Two Thorns is just the beginning of a remarkable journey.”
– Adam Christopher, author of Empire State and Seven Wonders
“Between Two Thorns is magical, exciting, and clever. It manages to conjure a world that feels completely natural but also mysterious, sometimes dangerous, sometimes funny, combining several different kinds of urban fantasy into one story, and capturing a lovely sense of modern Britishness that is reminiscent of other fantastic British fantasy. I’m eagerly awaiting the sequel!”
Victoria Hooper, Fantasy Faction
"With all the bank holidays coming up and the weather slowly starting to get warmer, I suggest finding a little place in the sun and while away the time reading this. A word of warning, make sure it is somewhere comfortable though as once you start this magical book, you won’t be going anywhere until you finish it. Absolutely brilliant."
Geek Syndicate
"I’m actually very glad this is the beginning of a series because I want more of this world, more of these characters and more of this insanity. Newman has created a great complex universe that seems to have a million different stories embedded into its walls. In a world full of supernatural and urban fantasy books, Between Two Thorns stands out as the start of a uniquely developed series that deserves everyone’s full attention."
Leslie, Working for the MANDROID
“Two words I would use to describe the book – charming and fairy tale. This is a fantastic urban fantasy novel, carrying on the publisher’s trend in putting out some great genre fiction.”
The Founding Fields
"There is a depth and complexity to the Split Worlds that allows a large number of different stories to be told. .. Newman has done the sort of ground work that will support a lengthy series of books, perhaps many series. I hope that she gets to write them."
Cheryl Morgan
“An enchanting novel from Emma Newman, an urban fantasy that has no sign of tattooed women in leather pants. A headstrong scion and an investigator discover dark doings in the outwardly genteel world of Bath’s secret mirror city.”
– Paul Weimer, SF Signal
“Between Two Thorns really was an unalloyed pleasure to read and it’s hard to write a review for it that isn’t just gushing … Newman has created a unique blend of urban, historical, and crime fantasy clothed in a Regency veneer. Between Two Thorns is delicious, engrossing, and enchanting and, so far, my debut of the year.”
– Mieneke van der Salm, A Fantastical Librarian
“a modern fantasy that playfully mixes magic and interesting characters into an intriguing mystery.”
– John DeNardo, Kirkus Reviews
“Treading similar thematic ground to the likes of Clive Barker’s Weaveworld and Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere, Emma Newman’s first Split Worlds novel still manages to be a wonderfully iconoclastic affair. I feel like I’ve only been given a tantalising glimpse through a fantastical doorway.”
– Pablo Cheesecake, The Eloquent Page
“Wow, what a book! I can’t remember when was the last time I enjoyed reading something so much … a stunningly original take on the Faerie myth and worthy beginning of one of the most exciting fantasy series on the market today.”
– Kris at Upcoming4me
“Missing people, kidnap, three wishes, charms, deception and Grand Tours collide in a story that’s part fairytale, part fantasy, part Jane Austen, with a sprinkling of bonkers brilliance.”
– Sarah Watkins, And Then I Read a Book
“This novel draws you in from the very first, tempting you with magical creatures set against present day Bath. I tried only reading one chapter just to test the writing style, etc but found myself, a few hours later, having read a vast amount of the book … It sits beautifully within my favourite type of fantasy novel, fairy tale within the present day.”
– Sarah Bruch for SF Crowsnest
“The sensory language was fantastic – especially when we were in the Nether or in Exilium. That’s where Newman really shines the most – showing us entirely new worlds that are only connected by a thin string, and that are absolutely gorgeous to behold.”
– Usagi at Birth of a New Witch
“I enjoyed every minute of these split worlds. The fairy-tale mythology, fantasy, sci-fi-mystery, police procedural, romance and all the other genre-bending elements worked together seamlessly.”
– Merikay Noah, Popcorn Reads
“Good fantasy is the ability to not only tell a good story set in a different world – but to create that world with beautiful worlds. Evoke it in the reader’s mind. Where it comes alive and leave the impression as if one visited there. Newman definitely has a gift for that.”
– Deniz Yildiz, Closet Geeks and Slow Mo
“What I want from an alternate, magical reality is a mix of the expected and the surprising, and Between Two Thorns does a good job of delivering that, primarily through the use of some off-beat points of view and the addition of some unique flourishes.”
– Steven M. Long
“This was a well-crafted fantasy novel which makes a great start to a new series … I can’t wait to see what happens next.”
– Rebecca at Book Chick City
“Between Two Thorns is an excellent read and I highly recommend it to fantasy fans looking for something a bit different, particularly in the form of merging modern day settings with fantasy worlds.”
– Tsana Dolichva, Tsana’s Reads
“gimme the next book! This one wraps up most, but not all, of the mysterious web that Newman weaves – just enough threads are left dangling to keep me intrigued, so I’ll definitely be buying the second book to find out where those threads lead.”
Lisa, Over the Effing Rainbow
“This is a book that contains MANY THINGS. This can be tricky sometimes … [but] Newman managed to corral the different worlds, characters and machinations to deliver an engaging read that left me wanting more.”
– Kathy at Kindle-aholic’s Book Pile
"So much mystery! So many plots afoot! I feel rather like a fish on a hook, here. Once again – well played, Ms Newman. If you enjoy tea and cake with your intrigue, then The Split Worlds is well worth getting into. I'm happy to say I'm glad I did."
– Lisa, Over the Effing Rainbow
“This book is filled with action. There are murder attempts, upheaval of patriarchal structures and plenty of threats circulating amongst the characters. The world building continues to be phenomenal and the writing is beautiful. I really can't get enough of this series.”
– Leah Woods, review on Uncorked Thoughts
“Another fantastic installment to The Split Worlds series, I loved book two even more than book one and think this series is definitely one to watch. The ending of the novel had me completely on edge and closed with such a big bang that I was completely in shock. I definitely didn’t see some of the twists coming and the level of treachery from several of the characters is unbelievable, even from those characters I’d grown to love. This series is fantastically written, with Newman knowing just how to grab the reader’s interest before delivering one hell of an emotional punch. I am excitedly awaiting book three, and luckily I won’t have too long to wait.”
– Rebecca, reviewing for Book Chick City
"I gave up sleep to finish this book and was very glad I did… I've read many period romances that gloss over the realities of living in a society where you really have no rights. I think this book conveyed well the horror of having the rights most of us take for granted stripped away, and does it without being preachy about it."
– Review by the Kindleaholic
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