In Thorns of Fate, the first installment of The Thornforged Chronicles, Elora’s sheltered life at the Miros Institute shatters when the man who protected her is taken away. She had been rescued from slavery by Tehven, who had protected her at the Miros Institute, spared from the cruelty that every other student experienced under Headmaster Thorn. Thorn is determined to shape Elora into his ultimate weapon when that protection is no longer there. Elora discovers that alchemy is about transforming elements and enduring transformation within as she battles to survive under his merciless rule. She is determined to free herself from Thorn’s machinations, but this comes at a cost. Is she ready to make the sacrifice for her freedom?

With haunting prose and a gripping emotional arc, Miranda Howman delivers a tale of rebellion and the harrowing cost of power in a world where even the strongest are forged through suffering. I was mesmerized by the worldbuilding. It is an impeccable, vividly drawn world of magic and the clash of forces. The conflict is clever as we witness a young heroine struggling to free herself from those who would break and use her. The storytelling is superb, and the gripping narrative voice melds with the exciting dialogue to create an enjoyable read. Thorns of Fate features vivid imagery and well-detailed elements of the setting. You have a strong sense of place, navigating the school of magic with its unique rules. As a fantasy fan, this book utterly captivated me—the intriguing characters, the atmospheric writing, and the ingenious plotting ground the story.

Thorns of Fate by Miranda Howman kicks off The Thornforged Chronicles with a brutal, emotionally charged tale of transformation and survival in a magic-drenched empire. We're with Elora, who begins the story with protection and privilege under her mentor, Tehvan, but that safety is ripped away when she’s thrown into the cruel world of the Miros Institute. This is a training ground for Empire Alchemists where magic, pain, and fear rule under the merciless Master Thorn. As Elora is tested, reshaped, and pushed toward becoming a weapon of the state, she struggles to hold onto her values and sense of self. But in a place where the line between strength and cruelty blurs, she’ll have to decide whether staying human is even possible. This dark fantasy hits hard and doesn’t flinch from the cost of power.

Author Miranda Howman writes with an intensity that gets under your skin. I was completely wrapped up in Elora’s inner struggle—her refusal to break, her quiet acts of resistance, and her raw emotional journey through fear, betrayal, and defiance. The setting is both magical and monstrous, and the Miros Institute gave me major dark academia vibes with a horror twist. There’s a constant tension between who Elora was and who she’s being forced to become, and that question—what will you sacrifice to survive?—really stuck with me. The writing is visceral and gritty, and the characters are morally layered in ways that keep you guessing. Overall, Thorns of Fate is a gripping and uncompromising dark fantasy that will speak to readers who love stories about power, trauma, and identity forged in fire.