The duet that slowly drags us one step closer to the Legacy of Gods universe.
Sebastian Weaver has it all—star quarterback, campus golden boy, rich, cocky, and painfully aware of the effect he has on everyone around him. Naomi wants absolutely nothing to do with him, convinced she’s immune to his charm.
She couldn’t be more wrong.
What begins as a reckless bet quickly spirals into a toxic cocktail of obsession, temptation, power, and desire. Every chapter blurs the line between control and surrender a little more, pulling Sebastian and Naomi into a relationship that’s equal parts addictive and destructive.
Classic Rina Kent.
Black Thorns picks up immediately after the brutal ending of Red Thorns, forcing Sebastian and Naomi to deal with the fallout of everything that tore them apart. Love twists into obsession, trust becomes almost impossible to rebuild, and they’re left wondering whether broken hearts can actually be mended—or whether some scars are simply meant to stay. Expect even more angst, possessiveness, secrets, emotional damage, and enough chaos to keep the pages flying.
I really wanted this duet to hit because I originally fell headfirst down the Rina Kent rabbit hole thanks to God of Malice. As many of you know, I actually paused the Legacy of Gods series after God of Wrath just so I could read all of her earlier books in order. So far, though, nothing has managed to dethrone God of Malice, God of Pain, or God of Wrath for me… but I’m still searching for the one that does.
One thing Rina Kent never fails at? Writing chemistry that practically crackles off the page. She somehow turns every intimate scene into something packed with tension, banter, and anticipation instead of feeling repetitive or skippable. It’s one of the reasons I keep coming back to her books.
Now… this duet definitely had me raising an eyebrow more than once.
I absolutely loved that Sebastian is the one who falls first—and falls infinitely harder. That dynamic will never get old for me. He’s easily the strongest part of this duet and, honestly, the main reason I kept turning the pages. His obsession, vulnerability beneath all that arrogance, and unwavering devotion made him impossible not to root for.
That said, the relationship started losing some of its impact as the story went on. The obsessive push-and-pull that hooked me in the beginning eventually became repetitive, and after a while I found myself wishing for more emotional development instead of another cycle of the same conflict.
And then came the second book…
If you thought the traumatic scene in Red Thorns was the hardest part to get through, Black Thorns somehow managed to frustrate me even more. The seven-year separation genuinely broke my heart—but not in the romantic, yearning way I think it intended. Years ago I probably would’ve swooned over that kind of longing. Now? I’m just annoyed they lost seven years they could’ve spent together.
Seeing Naomi married to another man, trapped in an unhappy life because of circumstances and power plays, simply wasn’t my favorite direction for their story. The forced marriage and kidnapping-adjacent vibes didn’t work for me, and I spent most of the second half wishing Sebastian and Naomi had become a real couple much sooner instead of spending years apart.
Don’t get me wrong—I still enjoyed the duet.
Could it have been shorter? Absolutely.
Could it have benefited from more plot progression and a little less repetitive spice? Probably.
Did Sebastian completely carry this duet on his broad quarterback shoulders? Also yes.
Overall, I had a good time, even if this isn’t anywhere near my favorite Rina Kent story. And if nothing else… I’m officially one step closer to finally reading God of Ruin, which feels like the real reward here.
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