Product guide

Bitterthorn by Kat Dunn: Sapphic Gothic Fantasy

Bitterthorn is Kat Dunn’s sapphic Gothic fantasy about Mina, a duke’s daughter who offers herself as the next companion to a witch living in a sinister castle. Its fairytale-inspired mystery, romance and dark atmosphere are central to the book’s appeal.

At a glance

A sapphic Gothic romance framed as a dark fairytale inspired by Beauty and the Beast.
Follows Mina as she enters a witch’s castle and investigates the fate of previous companions.
The listing states that the book was nominated for the Carnegie Medal for Writing and shortlisted for the Nero Book Award.

Price

£7.10Save 21%

Reference price: ~~£8.99~~

Price checked: 12 Nov 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

Combines a sapphic love story with Gothic atmosphere and a mystery about the witch’s former companions.
A 368-page paperback-sized reading option, with the listing giving its dimensions and weight.

Technical specifications

10 specifications

Publication details
Publisher	Andersen Press
Publication date	4 May 2023
Edition	1st
Language	English
Print length	368 pages
ISBN-10	1839132957
ISBN-13	978-1839132957
Reading age	14 years and up

Dimensions and weight
Dimensions	12.9 x 2.2 x 19.8 cm
Weight listed	290 g

What to know before buying

The premise includes a sinister witch, a generational curse and Mina’s perilous captivity, so the tone is dark rather than light fairytale fantasy.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Readers seeking sapphic Gothic romance with a fairytale-inspired setting.
Fans of dark fantasy centred on an eerie castle, a witch and a gradually unfolding mystery.
Readers aged 14 and up, as indicated by the listing.

Less suited to

Readers looking for a light, non-Gothic fairytale or a story without romance and peril.

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.4 / 5 · 634 ratings

5 stars55%55%
4 stars31%31%
3 stars13%13%
2 stars1%1%
1 star0%0%

Customer feedback highlights the honest love story, haunting Gothic atmosphere, characterisation and well-crafted writing. The supplied summary also describes engaging pacing and plot twists. For readers drawn to the listed sapphic romance and castle mystery, these reported reactions suggest the emotional relationship and atmosphere are key strengths. Aggregate ratings are broadly positive, but do not establish that every reader will respond the same way.

Positive themes

Customers praise the love story and haunting Gothic atmosphere.
The supplied feedback highlights the writing and characters.
Customers describe the pacing as engaging and mention twists in the plot.

Frequently asked questions

What is Bitterthorn about?

Mina, a lonely duke’s daughter, offers herself as a witch’s companion and becomes caught up in the mystery of what happened to the companions before her.

What kind of story is Bitterthorn?

It is described as a sapphic Gothic romance and dark fairytale, with a sinister castle, an ancient curse and a mystery.

How long is the book?

The listing gives a print length of 368 pages.

What age is the book listed for?

The listed reading age is 14 years and up.