Immortal Rose
by Alexandra Bracken
Blurb:
From Alexandra Bracken, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lore, comes a stunningly original adult fantasy. Set in a sumptuous world ruled by magical perfume, this achingly romantic, slow-burn love story will shatter your heart and leave you breathless.
Members of the ancient House Rosebourne have a strange gift born of a fairy ancestor: the ability to infuse fragrance with magic capable of manipulating mind, body, and emotion.
When a shocking murder leaves the kingdom of Albion vulnerable to a coup, royal spymaster Hugh Thornton seeks the one person who can help: Viola Lockwood, the last living Rosebourne and secret heir to a fraught legacy.
Livid at the silver-eyed aristocrat who had her thrown in jail to force her compliance, Viola nevertheless comes to an agreement with him. In exchange for crafting Immortal Rose, the singular perfume capable of saving Albion, illegitimate Viola can seize the life—and fortune—that should have been hers.
As Hugh and Viola race to find the perfume’s lost fairy ingredient, hidden deep in Albion’s dark underbelly, neither can deny the scorching attraction building between them—especially as the attempts on Viola’s life grow increasingly brazen.
But a terrible truth lurks in the heart notes of their kingdom—and while every bargain has a cost, Immortal Rose may demand more than Hugh and Viola can ever pay.
My Review:
Viola is fiercely stubborn, independent, and absolutely lovable.
I admired her resilience in a world that constantly underestimates women, and I
loved watching her slowly learn to trust others. Her fairyborn magic, which
lets her connect emotions to scents and tastes, was such a unique touch. The
descriptions were so vivid I could practically smell and taste everything!
And Hugh? A man who YEARNS. Beneath his cold exterior is a deeply caring, protective, morally gray man, and watching him fall harder for Viola had me kicking my feet! Their relationship was incredibly swoon worthy and easily became one of my favorite book couples.
I also loved the magical perfumes, the mystery, the twists, and
the truly fun found family. The first half was a little slow for me, but the
second half completely made up for it. The twists and ending have been living
in my head ever since!
The narration made the experience even better. Nicola Barber and
Christian Coulson did such an incredible job bringing Viola and Hugh to life.
Their performances captured the characters' personalities, emotions, and
chemistry so well that I felt completely pulled into the story. Their voices
made the romantic tension, emotional moments, and twists even more immersive,
and I genuinely loved listening to them tell this story.
If you love character driven fantasy, immersive worldbuilding, unique magic, and a romance that will make you SWOON, you absolutely need to read this!
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