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The House of Binding Thorns

Aliette de Bodard

Ages 16+

480 pages · Released Mar 10, 2026

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The House of Binding Thorns parent’s guide: what’s inside

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A note for parents

This is an adult-oriented dark fantasy set in a morally complex world of intrigue and power struggles. The book contains mature themes including addiction, violence, and sexual content involving a character described as sadistic, making it unsuitable for most teens under 16. While it offers rich worldbuilding blending Vietnamese mythology with Parisian gothic fantasy, the content is primarily designed for adult readers comfortable with darker, grittier fantasy.

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From the publisher

Paris, turn of the century. The magical factions known as Houses intrigue in the ruins of the city to gain power over their rivals. Among these, House Hawthorn is on the rise: now fully recovered from a bloody coup of twenty years earlier, it is now sending a delegation to the Annamite dragon kingdom under the river Se... Paris, turn of the century. The magical factions known as Houses intrigue in the ruins of the city to gain power over their rivals. Among these, House Hawthorn is on the rise: now fully recovered from a bloody coup of twenty years earlier, it is now sending a delegation to the Annamite dragon kingdom under the river Seine, hoping to secure a prestigious marriage between sadistic Fallen angel Asmodeus and an imperial prince. Madeleine, a former alchemist working to beat her drug addiction, goes with the delegation and finds herself amidst the plots and dangers of the Annamite culture. Dragon prince Thuan is undercover in House Hawthorn, trying to find the source of a destructive drug traffic. And in the Houseless areas of Paris, Françoise, lover of Asmodeus's Fall-sister, wants protection for their unborn child. As the waters of the Seine rise and the intrigues of West and East come to a head, those three will have to choose between their own safety, and that of House Hawthorn... Praise for Dominion of the Fallen and Aliette de Bodard: " Incredible... one of the most original fantasy settings I've seen." — Adrian Tchaikovsky, Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author of Children of Time " Rich, emotional, gripping." — SciFiNow "A dark saga of ruined cities, fallen angels, and awakening dragons... a must read... an intoxicating blend of gothic mystery, apocalyptic fantasy, and Vietnamese myth—meaty, singular, and satisfying." — Joel Cunningham, Barnes and Noble

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  • Fiction

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ISBN 9781625677846 · JAB Books

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