Dickens & Rumi
Cover of THE LANGUAGE OF THORNS

book

THE LANGUAGE OF THORNS

Leigh Bardugo

A collection of otherworldly fairy tales. (Ages 12 to 17)

Ages 13+Source checked

Why this age? The stories use sophisticated language and feature frightening creatures, danger, cruelty, death, betrayal, and morally complex choices. Most sexual content is absent, but the dark fairy-tale intensity suits mature middle-grade or teen readers. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended age13+

Strongest cautions

  • Frightening scenes4/5
  • Death of a character3/5
  • Violence3/5

Strongest positives

  • Creativity & curiosity5/5
  • Positive messages4/5
  • Courage & resilience3/5

What’s in it?

Death of a character3/5
Why this rating?

Death and deadly consequences occur in several stories, including tragic or unsettling outcomes, but are framed as fairy-tale themes rather than realistic grief narratives.

Graphic injury1/5
Why this rating?

Occasional mild descriptions of injury or dark fantasy imagery.

Strong language1/5
Why this rating?

Minimal usage of mild or archaic language.

LGBTQIA characters1/5
Why this rating?

Brief or subtle inclusion of diverse relationships.

Religious themes1/5
Why this rating?

Features folklore-based belief systems and myth-like elements.

Romance2/5
Why this rating?

Contains light, peripheral romantic elements typical of folklore.

Frightening scenes4/5
Why this rating?

Dark forests, monsters, curses, dangerous figures, and unsettling supernatural events create a consistently eerie and sometimes intense fairy-tale atmosphere.

Violence3/5
Why this rating?

Fantasy violence, persecution, battles, attacks, and threats recur across the tales; some characters suffer seriously, though detail is generally storybook rather than graphic.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

Characters repeatedly confront monsters, injustice, loss, and social constraints, often showing bravery through sacrifice and principled resistance.

Creativity & curiosity5/5
Why this rating?

Highly imaginative, inventive, and visually evocative storytelling.

Diverse representation2/5
Why this rating?

Diverse characters are presented within the context of the fantasy world.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

Explores the structure and motifs of classic folklore.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Empathy, friendship, mercy, and care are important counterforces to exploitation and prejudice, even when kindness carries difficult costs.

Positive messages4/5
Why this rating?

Stories emphasize compassion, autonomy, resisting prejudice, the costs of greed and cruelty, and the importance of choices and consequences.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

Resourceful protagonists show loyalty, persistence, and moral growth, though some characters make dangerous or ethically compromised choices.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What was the most imaginative idea in the story, and what would you add to it?
  2. Which moment felt most tense or frightening? What helped the characters handle fear?
  3. Which choice in THE LANGUAGE OF THORNS would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in THE LANGUAGE OF THORNS, and what caused that change?
Discuss this title with other parents

Community reactions

What families noticed

Add your perspective

Sign in from the homepage to rate this title.

Where to get it

Find in a libraryBuy on Bookshop.orgBuy on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate and Bookshop.org affiliate, Dickens & Rumi may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

If you liked this

Try something nearby

Related by age fit, format, and catalogue context.

You’re hereTHE LANGUAGE OF THORNS
THE KEEPERDavid BaldacciAges 12+THE FINISHERDavid BaldacciAges 10+Dark Lord of DerkholmDiana Wynne Jones · 1998Ages 14+Drowned Ammet (Dalemark Quartet, Book 2)Diana Wynne Jones · 1977Ages 12+

These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

Report an incorrect rating