Author Kiera Azar Introduces Us to Her Buzzy YA Fantasy Debut Thorn Season

This year has been full of throwbacks, whether we’re talking fashion (baggy fits!), music (Oasis reunion!), or film (there’s a Naked Gun movie in theaters again!). In the world of publishing, it’s been a great time to be a fan of old school YA literature, from dystopian to fantasy, with everything from love triangles to magical boarding schools thrown in for good measure. And author Kiera Azar’s forthcoming debut, Thorn Season, feels like the best of the YA fantasies we were all so obsessed with a few years ago, a richly plotted story set in a sprawling magical world bursting wiith peak Leigh Bardugo and Laini Taylor vibes. 

Described as Shadow and Bone meets The Selection, Thorn Season is being positioned as one of the biggest YA fantasies headed our way this Fall. The first installment in a twisty romantasy trilogy that follows a magical heiress with a dark and persecuted secret who must navigate a world of complicated political intrigue

Here’s how the publisher describes the story:

In the Kingdom of Daradon, a persecuted few are Wielders, in possession of a magical Spectre–a shimmering thread that can extend beyond their visible body to give a loving caress, pick a lock . . . even kill. Feared for this ability, Wielders have always been Hunted.

Alissa Paine, heiress and daughter of a Hunter family . . . is also a Wielder. At eighteen, Alissa knows she’s escaped execution thus far only due to painful self-control and the efforts of her beloved father.

Summoned to the harsh and glittering royal court for the debutante season, Alissa finds herself caught in a web of intrigue and betrayal—and caught between two equally dangerous men: one a brutal ruler with the handsome face of a fairy-tale prince, who would destroy her if he knew the truth—and the other a beguiling foreign ambassador with secret agendas of his own.

With the threat of discovery lurking around every corner—and romance becoming an increasingly dangerous temptation—Alissa will find that she has more to lose than her secrets. It’s Rose Season at the palace, but to survive she’ll need to become the most vicious of thorns. . . .

Thorn Season won’t hit shelves until September 2, but ahead of the novel’s release, we had the chance to sit down with Azar herself to get the details about what to expect from her debut fantasy — and we’ve even got a brief sneak peek at the story itself! 

Paste Magazine: Tell us about Thorn Season! What can readers expect from this story?

Kiera Azar: In the world of Thorn Season, Wielders are Hunted for their ability to Wield a powerful extension of themselves, known as a spectre. We follow the story of Alissa Paine, a noblewoman who was born into the Hunter family, and was also born a Wielder. 

After spending a lifetime hiding her power, she’s drawn into the glittering royal court, where the risk of exposure is higher than ever. Readers can expect court intrigue, scheming characters, a rivals-to-lovers romance, and all the danger and tension that comes with the hidden identity trope.

Paste: Introduce us to your heroine, Alissa Paine. Where did the inspiration for her character come from, and what kind of emotional journey does she go on over the course of this novel?

Azar: The inspiration for Thorn Season came from a dream I’d had about a Wielder born into a family of Wielder Hunters, so Alissa’s life was very fully fleshed in my mind from the beginning. But the more she interacted with her world, the more she took the shape of the fierce, cunning, courageous heroine we see on the page today! 

In the end, I knew I wanted to tell this story through the lens of a character who, through her journey towards self-acceptance, would gladly operate within the greyer areas of morality to obtain the life she deserved.

Paste: I know that you were an actress on Netflix’s Shadow and Bone—which I’m still mad about getting canceled, by the way—did that experience influence the kind of novel you wanted to write?

Azar: I had a wonderful time on Shadow and Bone! I’d already been writing Thorn Season for about a year before auditioning for the show, so being able to step into the world of such a brilliant YA fantasy series was a phenomenal experience, especially as a new writer within the same genre. I’ll never forget the magic of seeing a book come to life in such a rich and immersive way!

 Paste: What about this book excited you the most while you were writing it? Is there one specific character or moment in Thorn Season that you can’t wait for readers to experience for themselves?

Azar: I love writing tension, so I’m usually having the most fun during the polishing-up period, when I can really revel in the charged energy of a moment, and add in all the layers of conflict (emotional or otherwise). I’m especially excited for readers to experience the romance of Thorn Season, which manifests in my favourite way—with all the yearning and sizzling chemistry I love reading myself!

Paste: Romantasy is everywhere right now—what do you think it is about this genre that speaks to so many readers at this moment?

Azar: I think the romantasy genre possesses that magical quality of highlighting not only the richness of romantic relationships, but of all relationships—whether it’s with family, friends, or even the relationship with oneself. 

I love that the depth of emotion in these stories is universal, and can resonate with readers beyond time period or setting.

Paste: Are you yourself a big fantasy and/or romantasy reader? What are some of your favorites in the genre?

Azar: I absolutely adore reading fantasy and romantasy! Some of my favourites include The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer, the Caraval series by Stephanie Garber, and the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy by Laini Taylor.

Paste: Thorn Season is the first installment in a trilogy — now that this one is almost out in the world, are you working on the sequel? How is that experience different from writing this debut?

Azar: Yes, the Thorn Season sequel is in the works! Writing book two as a debut author has definitely felt like a new venture, and yet sinking back into Alissa’s story has felt wonderfully familiar. I can’t wait for readers to discover more about the Thorn Season world!

But you all can get a sneak peek at Thorn Season right now — with a snippet from Chapter 3 below.

   3   

Father used to read me fairy tales—stories of strapping young heroes who slayed monsters and rescued damsels, all without getting a speck of blood on their hands.

The gods had sculpted King Erik after those heroes. That same power and grace sang in his every movement—honed his knife-sharp bone structure, then generously softened it with romance: fair star-burst lashes framing his frost-blue eyes and a lush mouth that flirted on the edge of swollen, like he’d either just returned from a heady kiss or was about to engage in one.

But it was those clean hands that cemented his fairy-tale image: never stained by the blood he’d spilled.

My skin crawled at the cold feel of them—one clasping mine, the other settling at the dip of my waist—as he led me in a dance. I hoped Father couldn’t see us. The sight of me in the king’s grasp would be hell on his rash.

“I felt it my duty to rescue you.” King Erik smirked, his voice low and sultry. Dressed in his usual finery—silver-embroidered indigo, with a cape fastened at his shoulders—he stood out like a pillar against the twinkling pink backdrop. “You looked terribly affronted. That was one of Briar’s boys, wasn’t it?”

The king wasn’t much older than Garret, but I knew what he’d meant. One of Briar’s boys. As if she’d molded him herself.

“It was, Your Majesty.”

“I hope he wasn’t bothering you.”

“No more than usual,” I said, and regretted it instantly. Because Erik’s gaze tightened over my shoulder, closing in on a target.

I didn’t know what exactly compelled me to clunk forward, digging my heel into his polished

boot. But I exhaled when his icy attention slid off Garret.

“My apologies,” I said. “I rarely dance.”

The king smiled, all warmth and tolerance. “You may step on my toes as often as you wish. You’re saving me from dancing with Lady Perla.” He whispered intimately, “It’s like dragging a wet fish across the dance floor.” At my false laughter, his smile grew sharper. More satisfied. “I’m fortunate you’ll be joining court this year, Lady Alissa. I’m far too dependent on your trampling feet to let them wander off now.”

Here we go. I’d grown accustomed to Erik’s appreciative glances since I’d come of age.

I’d grown equally accustomed to batting away his flirtations like swatting flies.

“I’m afraid Your Majesty will have to manage without me,” I said, laughing again. “Though I’m certain your shoes will thank me.”

His head tilted—a predator prickling with awareness. “This is your eighteenth season, no?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Then I assume you’re unaware of Rose Season’s origins. You see, the tradition began so each new generation of nobles could swear fealty to the Crown.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” I maintained my smile. “I look forward to the ceremony at the end of the season.”

“But you won’t be remaining at the palace in the meantime?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

He licked his lips, his wry smile glistening. “Forgive me, Lady Alissa. I feel myself growing offended, and I doubt that’s what you intend.”

My specter twitched at his tone—falsely playful, dark with mean- ing. The anxious thrum of my pulse grew palpable where my palm pressed his.

You’ve always thrived here, Garret had said. Because court had always enthralled me—the schemes and secrets, the verbal warfare that sent my specter zipping with a little thrill. In different circumstances, I might’ve joined court despite Father’s wishes. But it wasn’t court he wanted to keep me from.

It had always been the king.

“We have a large house, Your Majesty,” I said, thick with apology. “I couldn’t bear to leave my father alone in it for so long.”

“By all means, tell him to join you.”

“You wouldn’t like that, Your Majesty.” Another empty laugh. “You have enough Verenian nobles cluttering your halls for Rose Season. Craftspeople can be a fussy lot.”

“Ah, that’s why you don’t stay? For fear of cluttering my halls?” He twirled me to a swell of music. My twisting skirts dragged me off-kilter, but he steadied me against him—a wolf keeping hold of its prey. “I’m relieved, Lady Alissa. My imagination had quite run away with me. I’d believed you were deliberately avoiding my company.”

I faltered—just for a moment. Then I lowered my lashes. Plastered on a brave, wobbling smile. “You read me too well, Your Majesty, though it’s not your company I wish to avoid. I hear you’re hosting a Wielder at court this year.”

He quirked an eyebrow. “I’m hosting an Ansoran at court.” 

“Aren’t they mostly Wielders?”

“In this case, it’s of no consequence. It would be against any creature’s interest to lose control within my walls.”

I clenched my jaw behind my smile. Allegedly, a specter’s natural tendency was to extend outside a Wielder’s body—like a plant moving toward light, or a muscle craving to be stretched. It was therefore argued that specters might execute their Wielders’ desires even without conscious intention. That a specter’s free-flowing nature made it uncontrollable. Dangerous.

And that, in being unable to manage such volatile power, Wielders were no better than beasts untethered.

So why, after two centuries of slaughtering Wielders under the Execution Decree, would the kingdom welcome a foreign Wielder now? If this was of no consequence, why did people like Marge still have to die?

“You mustn’t worry yourself,” Erik said, in true hero fashion. “The creature wouldn’t do you any harm. And if it tried”—he twirled me again, dragged me firmly back—“where else could be safer than right here, beside your king?” His gaze dropped to my lips, heavy with suggestion.

I stilled. Flirtations were a regular part of the script. But the look in his eyes was something new . . . Something that made my blood spike with the threat of danger.

He gave a slow, curving grin. “I’ve startled you.”

“No, Your Majesty.” My chest fluttered rapidly, still trapped against his. I had to crane to meet his stare. “You could never startle me.”

I already know what you’re capable of.

Erik leaned down, and I fought the instinct to recoil. “My advisors are campaigning for Lady Perla.” His breath rippled against my ear; his fingers splayed across my back. “But I believe they’ve overlooked another, far more pleasing option.”

He pulled away, and I knew what he saw: the color draining from my face like wet paint dripping down a canvas. The young king was looking to reaffirm his power over the kingdom.

Because apparently, he was searching for a bride. 

Thorn Season will be released on September 2, but you can pre-order it right now.

Lacy Baugher Milas writes about Books and TV at Paste Magazine, but loves nerding out about all sorts of pop culture. You can find her on Twitter and Bluesky at @LacyMB