I had a hard time getting into this book - if I didn't know and trust Hogarth as an author, the several chapters at the beginning of a young man with a debilitating and rapidly worsening disease trying to hide his problems from his friends and teachers would have turned me off entirely - a real slog. But it is a Hogarth and I trusted her to make this more than wallowing - and oh, it is! The world is incredibly rich - as the story goes on, we (and Morgan) uncover layer after layer after layer. He's very stubborn in his beliefs - I find it odd that he has less trouble with "elves exist" than with "kings might not be entirely bad". But part of what we're uncovering is the history that Morgan knows, and the parts of it that he _doesn't_ know. These elves are really nasty - the worst of the Eldritch don't approach the more casual stuff they do just for fun (some Chatcaava come closer, but still not as bad). The whys of that are another thing that Morgan keeps discovering more and more about. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, it would go off in another direction entirely. The King is amazing, on multiple levels. The elves differ widely - even leaving the King aside, there are very different people differently formed by that history Morgan keeps uncovering. I really want to read the next one - Evertrue and Vigil are going to be dealing with some very interesting old/new facts... Not at all like the Peltedverse, except that it's a rich and complex world filled with rich and complex people, and cultures clashing all over the place, in large and small ways. Definitely worth reading. ( )

Having spent as much time as I have in Hogarth's Pelted universe, stepping outside of it--no matter how sure I am of her talent--is a little unnerving. The Blood Ladders trilogy is definitely not the Peltedverse, and AN HEIR TO THORNS AND STEEL is book one of Morgan Locke's adventure into worlds he truly never believed to be completely real.

Morgan Locke is a student at Leigh University, studying philosophy and ancient legends. It's a prestigious school, and not one where any type of weakness is to be tolerated--which is problematic, because Morgan has suffered from intense chronic pain and seizures for most of his life. For the time being, he knows what pattern they follow and has managed to keep his friends and teachers in the dark as to his condition, but as it progressively gets worse...it becomes harder and harder to explain away. So when a curious twist of fate accompanied by two incredibly unlikely messengers comes by with a chance to turn his entire world upside down and maybe...just maybe...bring him a tiny amount of relief, it's a hard-pressed battle for Morgan to take the risk and jump into the unknown and likely unreal...or stay with the devil he knows.

Now, having not lived with chronic pain, I can't speak to the level of agony Morgan goes through. The attacks are constant and debilitating, and the amount of the book they consume truly emphasizes how much of Morgan's life has been chewed up by this. Others I've seen say that it slows the plot down, and I'd argue that it does--and it should. Morgan's entire life has been weighed down by this; it wouldn't make any literary sense to see time flying by. I've lived my whole life with someone with chronic pain, and I can absolutely believe every moment that Morgan endures. It also allows me to celebrate with him in the moments he is free of the pain.

I'm truly baffled by some of the reviews I've seen for this book. I will say that yes, there is a level of depravity in the elves that is truly unsettling, and it does border on a level of uncomfortable that makes me want to put the book down. But that's the point. We're supposed to see the dark sides along with the light, and it's certainly true that Kelu spends more than enough time telling Morgan how awful the elves are. And yes, their relationship with the genets is equally unsettling. Often times, relationships (and I use the term lightly) like this are.

Nothing about this book is meant to be easy. Morgan's life is a struggle, the balance between worlds is a struggle...and all in all, this is a very thought-provoking book with a brilliant world in the making. It's a smart book which will make you hope you have a dictionary nearby. It's a touching book which can have you laughing one moment and in tears the next. It's a perfect example of Hogarth's brilliant storytelling, and it is absolutely recommended. These are real characters who you will form real relationships to, and at the last page you will already be reaching for the next book.

Rating: **** (Recommended) ( )