Love speaks in flowers. Truth requires thorns.

Travel to a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young mermaid's voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a lovestruck boy's bidding but only for a terrible price.

Inspired by myth, fairy tale, and folklore, #1 New York Times–bestselling author Leigh Bardugo has crafted a deliciously atmospheric collection of short stories filled with betrayals, revenge, sacrifice, and love.

Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans, these tales will transport you to lands both familiar and strange—to a fully realized world of dangerous magic that millions have visited through the novels of the Grishaverse.

This collection of six stories includes three brand-new tales, all of them lavishly illustrated with art that changes with each turn of the page, culminating in six stunning full-spread illustrations as rich in detail as the stories themselves.

REVIEW 

When I finished this book, I was left with two thoughts: that was unexpected and wow, Leigh Bardugo's writing abilities shine in short stories. Personally, I am not a fan of short stories. Too often have I been fooled into buying these books, only to discover that they add nothing to the actual plot. But nevertheless, I decided to crack A Language of Thorns open one night - with the sole intention of just scanning through it - but I later found myself completely enthralled within just a couple of pages. 

Filled with stories as dark and intricate as its stunning cover, these stories are perfect to capture your attention for hours. I was nearly halfway done by the time I finally looked up again, sparing the last few stories for days to come because I had grown fond of reading one story every night. Bardugo successfully destroyed the short story curse hanging over my head, allowing me to see the beauty of fairytales and folklore within existing fictional worlds. It helped grow the Grisha Universe, adding new depth and history to an ever-growing world. I've always said that I admire when writers are able to create history, folklore and myths, entire cultures and religions. That's IMAGINATION at it's finest. And A Language of Thorns was definitely imaginative. 

While most of her stories are inspired by traditional fairytales we've all grown up with - Little Mermaid and Hansel and Gretel - you wouldn't be able to tell right away, unless you're a classic cartoon fanatic (like me). The author successfully honoured the greats but overhauled them to create intense, poetic and dark storylines with unexpected turns on almost every page. New lessons are taught, often translated into beautiful quotes that stay with you long after you've turned the last page.