Review: Jack of Thorns (Inheritance Book 1) by A.K. Faulkner

Jack of Thorns by author A.K. Faulkner is a surprisingly complex and powerful novel that blends the bizarre with the brutally honest.

While many authors compromise plot integrity, character depth or meaningful social commentary in exchange for steamy scenes and snappy dialogue, this book steps away from that basic design. Still working as a fast and furious summer read, Faulkner also delivers a serious bit of writing that tackles subjects with real emotional weight.

After a lifetime of feeling like an outsider, Laurence Riley has slipped into a pattern of addiction, succumbing to temptation rather than facing the psychological turmoil of his psychic abilities. After meeting Quentin, however, there is an immediate fascination, as the English aristocrat seems to have his own secrets hidden behind those chiseled features. Doing their best to leave their history behind, the pair slip into the early days of romance, but their shadow selves are quickly revealed in dramatic fashion.

While the dynamic swings of fresh love can make for great storytelling, it isn’t always unique, but Faulkner throws a major curve into the mix. A trickster god of fertility is summoned by Laurence and a dangerous deal is struck, but the price is more than the young American florist is willing to pay. The two young men, in the throes of nascent (albeit subdued) passion, must find a way to harness their own psychic powers and prevail over the sex-hungry deity, and their own issues surrounding intimacy, trust and self-worth.

The two main characters may initially come across as one-dimensional, but Faulkner slowly excavates their depths as the story unfolds. The titular character Jack of Thorns is also a wildcard in the prose, and juxtaposes well against the manic energy of the occasionally strung-out Laurence and the semi-pretentious airs of Quin.

Some readers may pick up this book for a guiltless escape into an erotic romp, but the personal issues that color nearly every page are also relatable and tactfully examined. Drug addiction is not easy to write about, nor are sexual disorders, feelings of alienation or childhood trauma, but Faulkner has a skilled hand and a clear head when it comes to these areas. Without putting these trigger topics at the forefront of every scene, navigating intense emotions is a running theme on the page, which is valuable for readers of any age or privilege.

Although the subject matter is engaging and the plot is unique, the writing does stumble at times, coming off as overly simplistic in terms of word choice, sentence structure, and detail. Critical moments are sometimes given as much space and focus as seemingly inconsequential scenes, which flattens the narrative peaks and valleys that could better build suspense. The grammatical issues, and the distracting errors in colloquial language, particularly from Quentin, can also make the writing come across as sloppy.

Overall, this is an ambitious story that addresses challenging topics relevant for anyone struggling with self-doubt. Mixing the paranormal with the deeply personal, A.K. Faulkner has delivered a bold debut novel with Jack of Thorns in what stacks up to be a thrilling new series.