Book Review: Thorns Duet By Rina Kent
Red Thorns & Black Thorns By Rina Kent
Books 1 & 2 in The Thorns by Rina Kent.
Tropes: Dark Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Mafia, Pen Pal, Second Chance, Forbidden Romance, Secrets & Mystery, Sports
Summary:
The Thorns Duet follows Naomi, a fiercely independent college student who finds herself drawn into a dangerous game with star quarterback Sebastian Weaver. He’s rich, arrogant, and everything Naomi despises, until he reveals a darker, more possessive side that uncovers parts of herself she never knew existed.
But what starts as a reckless bet quickly spirals into something darker, sexier, and far more complicated. With secrets, lies, and an emotionally-charged push-and-pull between two broken characters, Red Thorns ends in a jaw-dropping cliffhanger—only to be followed by the emotional wreckage and intense chemistry of Black Thorns.
If you're looking for morally grey characters, steamy tension, and dark romance at its finest—this duet is a must-read.
💚 LD
I absolutely loved this duet! Naomi was everything I hoped for and more—fierce, complex, and completely captivating. I was already intrigued by her character after reading The Lies and Truths Duet, so getting her full backstory felt like unlocking a whole new level of Rina Kent's universe.
This duet definitely leans darker than some of her other series, with a thrilling atmosphere and that signature Rina Kent suspense. Red Thorns had me hooked from page one, but that ending? My jaw actually dropped.
The spice in this series is intense and unapologetically raw. Some scenes weren’t exactly my usual vibe, but they were incredibly well-written and added so much depth to Naomi and Sebastian’s volatile chemistry.
My only small critique is the beginning of Black Thorns—the time skip was a little jarring and shifted the emotional tone a bit. But once I adjusted, I was all in again. The final chapters had me completely wrecked in the best way.
This duet is deeply underrated. If you love tension, emotional depth, shocking plot twists, and a touch of obsession, The Thorns Duet needs to be on your TBR ASAP.
“Now I know what you truly are,” he says. “And what is that?” “Tsundere.” “What?” “It means someone who’s hot and cold. Violent on the outside, despite being soft on the inside.”
🤍 AD -
You know a book is really good when you physically can’t put it down—and that’s exactly how I felt with this duet. I tore through Red Thorns in one sitting and was immediately desperate to start Black Thorns after that cliffhanger.
Sebastian and Naomi’s relationship is anything but conventional. It’s dark, complicated, and totally addictive. There’s so much mystery woven into their story, and Rina Kent keeps the tension high from beginning to end.
Black Thorns was even more emotionally intense. The time skip added a sense of weight and heartbreak that made their reunion even more powerful. The angst, the steam, and the emotional rollercoaster—it all came together perfectly.
Sebastian has easily become one of my favourite Rina Kent love interests. This man is unhinged, possessive, and completely obsessed, in other words, the perfect dark romance anti-hero.
A must-read for fans of enemies-to-lovers with a psychological edge.
“My beast found the perfect prey in her and there was no stopping or holding back.”
💙 AG -
I wasn’t immediately hooked with this duet, I actually put it down after the first 30 pages. But once I picked it up again and gave it another go, I got completely sucked into Naomi and Sebastian’s world.
Naomi is such a fiery, bold heroine, and her dynamic with Sebastian is electric. Their chemistry is top-tier, and I didn’t expect the level of intensity the spice brought—it was definitely darker and more intense than The Lies and Truths Duet, which surprised me in the best way.
The story had so many layers. I kept trying to figure out everyone’s motives and secrets, and that plot twist at the end of Red Thorns? I had to stop reading just to process it.
The shift in Black Thorns threw me off at first, but I actually loved how the story evolved. The time skip made the characters more complex, and the tension between them was stronger than ever.
This duet is such a hidden gem. If you love plot-driven dark romance with obsession, emotional twists, and steamy scenes, The Thorns Duet should be next on your reading list.
“Two wrongs don’t make a right. And we’re too deviant and forbidden to ever be right.”
