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We Call Her Rose
Collin is clever, calm, and kind; qualities that serve him well living under an oppressive regime. But after he meets Rose - the stunning symbol of the Utopian Shroud - he decides to fight for love while fighting for his life. As Rose, Collin, and the Utopian Shroud try to stop the tyrannical rule of the Complot, Collin realizes there's more to romantically-ever-after than he thought. If he wants to hold the heart of Rose, Collin has to give up knowing the truth - because Rose's true identity must remain a secret for the Shroud to save Canuckia.
317 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 15, 2023
7 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Stefanie Barnfather
10 books29 followersSTEFANIE BARNFATHER [she/her] is a Canadian author. You Know What I Think? (2022) – Stefanie’s debut dystopic collection – hit the top spot on the Calgary Herald’s bestselling fiction list. Her horror craft articles have been published by Unleash Lit and she led an authentic idea generation workshop at When Words Collide. When she isn’t writing novels, she's sharing short stories, micro-fiction, and poems on Substack.
Stefanie is a member of the Alexandra Writers' Centre Society and the Writers' Guild of Alberta. She's represented by Creative Edge Publicity.
Stefanie is a member of the Alexandra Writers' Centre Society and the Writers' Guild of Alberta. She's represented by Creative Edge Publicity.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 29, 2023
Unlike other dystopian novels that focus on pain and an overwhelming sense of depression, We Call Her Rose paints its world as subdued and melancholic. It’s not a place where people have completely given up. It’s worse. It’s one where people bought in to the forces and ideals that ruined the world and keep them subjugated.
Collin is an interesting character at the center of this broken world. He’s kind and thoughtful, sometimes naïve and insecure, but always sees the better nature of people. Rose, the other main character and the symbol of the resistance, is essentially a flawed superhero. She’s a strong leader, driven, practical, idealistic, capable without being reckless, and is focused on making a better world for everyone. It’s these two who carried me though this story in a way I didn’t expect yet felt I should have. Their budding affection – and the trials they face that threaten to tear them apart – provides an authenticity and humanity to the story and still does what one would expect from a love story: act as a beacon of humanity and goodness in an otherwise bleak world.
I expected there to be a greater focus on the antagonist in order to bring out more of Collin’s and Rose’s respective characters, but realized there really didn’t need to be. Rose and Collin are wonderful foils for each other, which creates an interesting romantic dynamic when they try to rein each other in.
Barnfather does a fantastic job of subverting expectations and creating a vivid world through her characters. Their vulnerability, pain, joy, cruelty, hope – and more – are explored through a solid and sometimes humorous love story that feels more realistic than it does fictional.
Collin is an interesting character at the center of this broken world. He’s kind and thoughtful, sometimes naïve and insecure, but always sees the better nature of people. Rose, the other main character and the symbol of the resistance, is essentially a flawed superhero. She’s a strong leader, driven, practical, idealistic, capable without being reckless, and is focused on making a better world for everyone. It’s these two who carried me though this story in a way I didn’t expect yet felt I should have. Their budding affection – and the trials they face that threaten to tear them apart – provides an authenticity and humanity to the story and still does what one would expect from a love story: act as a beacon of humanity and goodness in an otherwise bleak world.
I expected there to be a greater focus on the antagonist in order to bring out more of Collin’s and Rose’s respective characters, but realized there really didn’t need to be. Rose and Collin are wonderful foils for each other, which creates an interesting romantic dynamic when they try to rein each other in.
Barnfather does a fantastic job of subverting expectations and creating a vivid world through her characters. Their vulnerability, pain, joy, cruelty, hope – and more – are explored through a solid and sometimes humorous love story that feels more realistic than it does fictional.
August 14, 2023
Having previously read and enjoyed Stefanie Barnfather's first short story collection, "You Know What I Think?", I was eager for her debut novel's release. Happy to say I was not disappointed in the least.
The author's writing is smart and fast-paced, quick to draw me in to the storyline and introduce me to the world she's built and the characters she's populated it with. I was quite happy to let her take me on this journey of her imagination, to sweep me along with her characters as their story changed and evolved, nimbly passing me between both Collin's and Rose's alternating points of view.
I think it difficult enough these days to write ANY dystopian-style story, without of course ending up tripping over literary ground already littered with the scattered tropes we've all seen umpteen times, whether in movies or TV. What I love about this author's handling of the dystopian concept here is that she doesn't mire us either too deeply or for too long in the brokenness of all that has occurred. We're given what appear to be more broad brush strokes of those previous horrors, of the lives lost and the fractured civilization-as-we've-known-it background. The dystopia is more the canvas upon which the heart of the novel is painted, and that heart belongs to love. And to hope as well.
Her main characters, individual, well-rounded, and solid, are navigating their way through more than saving the land (Canuckia), and perhaps even the world at large. They are also fighting their way toward a beacon that, in some ways, we all are. Toward healing, understanding, love, and peace. It's a bold venture, but not impossible, and one that Stefanie Barnfather has charted very well.
The author's writing is smart and fast-paced, quick to draw me in to the storyline and introduce me to the world she's built and the characters she's populated it with. I was quite happy to let her take me on this journey of her imagination, to sweep me along with her characters as their story changed and evolved, nimbly passing me between both Collin's and Rose's alternating points of view.
I think it difficult enough these days to write ANY dystopian-style story, without of course ending up tripping over literary ground already littered with the scattered tropes we've all seen umpteen times, whether in movies or TV. What I love about this author's handling of the dystopian concept here is that she doesn't mire us either too deeply or for too long in the brokenness of all that has occurred. We're given what appear to be more broad brush strokes of those previous horrors, of the lives lost and the fractured civilization-as-we've-known-it background. The dystopia is more the canvas upon which the heart of the novel is painted, and that heart belongs to love. And to hope as well.
Her main characters, individual, well-rounded, and solid, are navigating their way through more than saving the land (Canuckia), and perhaps even the world at large. They are also fighting their way toward a beacon that, in some ways, we all are. Toward healing, understanding, love, and peace. It's a bold venture, but not impossible, and one that Stefanie Barnfather has charted very well.
August 9, 2023
Wow! We Call Her Rose by Stefanie Barnfather is a deeply complex dystopian tale that boils down to one thing, love. Complete with maps and a historical timeline Barnfather's story unfolds in the oppressed land of Canuckia, circa 2140. The citizens of Canuckia have endured many hardships over the past 50 plus years, from wars to natural disasters. Now the citizens are expected to be full of gratitude as the government eases burdens by managing all aspects of life. It takes a strict government to maintain such strong control and not all the citizens are happy with the compromise of freedom for safety.
I truly enjoyed the complexity of this story. One part feisty heroine, one part love struck fool, this is a story of love, hope and redemption. There is a great cast of supporting characters to get behind who are full of whit, humor, intelligence and bravery. The futuristic dialogue and setting are easy to fall into as Barnfather spins her tale of triumph. I really found this story to be unique and inspiring.
I truly enjoyed the complexity of this story. One part feisty heroine, one part love struck fool, this is a story of love, hope and redemption. There is a great cast of supporting characters to get behind who are full of whit, humor, intelligence and bravery. The futuristic dialogue and setting are easy to fall into as Barnfather spins her tale of triumph. I really found this story to be unique and inspiring.
September 13, 2025
I first read the prequel to this book, so I had to dive into the next one! I really love the history and lore that Stephanie has created with this series. I want to read a whole History Book on it. The story itself I enjoyed. There was some romance, secrets, political intrigue, futurism. And in this one, we get a happy ending. Looking forward to reading the next book set in Canuckia! I don’t think this will be the last we hear from Ericka…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2024
This book speaks to the way of the world today. This is what could potentially happen if our timeline doesn’t shift. So well written and the love story of Collin and Rose kept me hanging on to the very end. This is the first book I’ve read by Stephanie Barnfather, but it won’t be the last!
April 28, 2025
Grand dystopian book by Stefanie Barnfather. Rose is leading a revolution against the evil government. She has seen so much corruption that it is difficult to trust anyone as there are spies everywhere. Fascinating world the author has created. There is hope for the future but it is all up to Rose to lead decent folks on the right path.
February 20, 2025
A Thumbs-up, Smile-Worthy Dystopian Romance
In 'We Call Her Rose' by Stefanie Barnfather, we meet Collin Clark in Pat’s Provision Plaza, where he works. Days pass slowly in Canuckia’s capital, Oakland, as Collin observes how Complot officers prowl around, watching citizens’ movements and keeping law and order. Collin isn’t a troublemaker, but he secretly admires the Utopian Shroud—a rebel movement planning to overthrow the government—and follows Canuckia’s covert chat channel, ‘Lurk’, for updates on the rebellion.
Because despite what she loudly broadcasts, Prime Erika Graham, at the helm of the Complot, doesn’t prioritise mercy and justice. Ordinary citizens don’t dare to speak up. There is one law: Prime Graham’s law. The Utopian Shroud wants to end the cruelty and corruption and restore people’s fundamental human rights and dignity. Rose is one of these rebels, toughened by her hatred for the blatant injustice and driven to help her fellow Canuckians.
The moment Collin looks into Rose’s hazel eyes, he immediately knows there is something about her. Rose doesn’t share his admiration. She thinks he is an idiot. The two can’t be more different: Collin is sweet and goofy and says what he feels without a second thought, while Rose is edgy, impatient and guarded. It unnerves her to discover that Collin is actually clever, very clever.
Yet despite Rose’s attempt to shake Collin off her trail, he is adamant about discovering more about the mysterious woman who has such a wild effect on him. The problem is that Rose isn’t keen on revealing her secrets and letting Collin in. Putting your trust in someone is risky business in a place where things aren’t all they seem. Rose herself is well disguised behind her layers. And love? Love is equally risky. Besides, Rose has bigger problems, like helping her friends topple a dictator.
Barnfather cleverly weaves the love story between Collin and Rose through their alternating POVs as they navigate the distorted realities around them. The author has done an excellent job with her characterisations. Both the main and supporting characters are well-drawn, and though they live in a world ruled by a sadist (sensitive readers may find some scenes disturbing), the humour drives the plot forward with ease. For instance, Prime Erika Graham makes you laugh because she is absurd and despicable. It isn’t easy to pull off a comical villain, yet Barnfather never lets you forget that Erika embodies a system that makes people believe they’re the saviour while ripping their hearts out.
The purpose of dystopian literature, after all, is to make us look at ourselves from a distance, in this case, the year 2140. This futuristic stage has all-too-familiar characters. Here, lawmakers and politicians are not the voice of the people; they have become the only voices feeding propaganda and misinformation.
How would love be in such a world? How would life be for ordinary people? Are we heading towards such a place with our eyes shut tight?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The characters are vulnerable and human, and the story is clever, witty and, at times, heartbreaking.
'We Call Her Rose' will leave you pondering but feeling good. I highly recommend this immersive and entertaining read.
In 'We Call Her Rose' by Stefanie Barnfather, we meet Collin Clark in Pat’s Provision Plaza, where he works. Days pass slowly in Canuckia’s capital, Oakland, as Collin observes how Complot officers prowl around, watching citizens’ movements and keeping law and order. Collin isn’t a troublemaker, but he secretly admires the Utopian Shroud—a rebel movement planning to overthrow the government—and follows Canuckia’s covert chat channel, ‘Lurk’, for updates on the rebellion.
Because despite what she loudly broadcasts, Prime Erika Graham, at the helm of the Complot, doesn’t prioritise mercy and justice. Ordinary citizens don’t dare to speak up. There is one law: Prime Graham’s law. The Utopian Shroud wants to end the cruelty and corruption and restore people’s fundamental human rights and dignity. Rose is one of these rebels, toughened by her hatred for the blatant injustice and driven to help her fellow Canuckians.
The moment Collin looks into Rose’s hazel eyes, he immediately knows there is something about her. Rose doesn’t share his admiration. She thinks he is an idiot. The two can’t be more different: Collin is sweet and goofy and says what he feels without a second thought, while Rose is edgy, impatient and guarded. It unnerves her to discover that Collin is actually clever, very clever.
Yet despite Rose’s attempt to shake Collin off her trail, he is adamant about discovering more about the mysterious woman who has such a wild effect on him. The problem is that Rose isn’t keen on revealing her secrets and letting Collin in. Putting your trust in someone is risky business in a place where things aren’t all they seem. Rose herself is well disguised behind her layers. And love? Love is equally risky. Besides, Rose has bigger problems, like helping her friends topple a dictator.
Barnfather cleverly weaves the love story between Collin and Rose through their alternating POVs as they navigate the distorted realities around them. The author has done an excellent job with her characterisations. Both the main and supporting characters are well-drawn, and though they live in a world ruled by a sadist (sensitive readers may find some scenes disturbing), the humour drives the plot forward with ease. For instance, Prime Erika Graham makes you laugh because she is absurd and despicable. It isn’t easy to pull off a comical villain, yet Barnfather never lets you forget that Erika embodies a system that makes people believe they’re the saviour while ripping their hearts out.
The purpose of dystopian literature, after all, is to make us look at ourselves from a distance, in this case, the year 2140. This futuristic stage has all-too-familiar characters. Here, lawmakers and politicians are not the voice of the people; they have become the only voices feeding propaganda and misinformation.
How would love be in such a world? How would life be for ordinary people? Are we heading towards such a place with our eyes shut tight?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The characters are vulnerable and human, and the story is clever, witty and, at times, heartbreaking.
'We Call Her Rose' will leave you pondering but feeling good. I highly recommend this immersive and entertaining read.
October 1, 2024
I really loved We Call Her Rose as it was an unusual and unique romance novel. It showed how love can blossom and grow despite the challenging circumstances of a dystopian world. It felt hopeful and I liked how the narrative was written too - like someone recording their story for a memoir or for the sake of having it documented. There are some hard topics in this book, but there was only one chapter where I found it particularly hard to read. I did like Rose's character development in particular. It was also nice to see the return of some of the characters I read about in Beneath The Birch Trees and see where they have progressed to and understand some of the links between the books. That said, both are great standalone novels and do not need to be read in order.
August 21, 2024
What an invigorating story!
This book is amazing. It shows how love can bloom in a dystopian world.
It's not just a love story, though. It focuses on a broken world filled with tragedies, and honestly, it has the potential to happen, which is terrifying.
But how detailed the author got is incredible. You can see how much she put into this story.
I loved it fully!
Also, it gets bonus points as it takes place in a dystopian Canada, which is a rare find.
This book is amazing. It shows how love can bloom in a dystopian world.
It's not just a love story, though. It focuses on a broken world filled with tragedies, and honestly, it has the potential to happen, which is terrifying.
But how detailed the author got is incredible. You can see how much she put into this story.
I loved it fully!
Also, it gets bonus points as it takes place in a dystopian Canada, which is a rare find.
July 9, 2023
an awesome story! excellent character development. breathtaking events. this book has it all. action, adventure, twists and surprises. oh, yeah ... a love story, too 😁❤️
The author knows how to put gripping scenarios on a page so you see them in your mind's eye. Bravo, Author!
The author knows how to put gripping scenarios on a page so you see them in your mind's eye. Bravo, Author!
April 29, 2024
I had no idea what to expect when I picked up this book at comic con the other day. All I knew was that Stefanie was an absolute sweetheart and I wanted to support a fellow local author, and wow this book was a really fun ride. I devoured it in two days and I can't wait to read the short story collection I also grabbed from her. Stefanie writes beautifully thought our characters and she made a very political uprising story easy to digest and thoroughly entertaining.
September 27, 2024
Another dystopian book by Stefanie Barnfather. There are so many dynamic characters in this book. I loved getting more of Sahar and Heather’s stories. This book is full of hope. I’m looking forward to the next ones.
May 19, 2024
In her latest book - We Call Her Rose, the talented Stefanie Barnfather has created yet another literary work of art. Believable and well crafted characters Collin and Rose take readers on a dystopian adventure of a lifetime. Enduring hardship, finding love and hope along the way and ultimately redemption. A love story for all hearts.
November 20, 2023
The process of reading this book took me several months because of the problems I had with concentrating. Stefanie wrote an intricate and wonderful tale of romance and science fiction. The characters were flawed and broken. The world somewhat familiar yet not at all. The storytelling was very impressive and appreciated. Skillful and wonderfully woven through its elaborate words. Thank you Stefanie. You made this tale amazing
June 20, 2023
“Forever. I lost my fear, my awkwardness, and my awe. … In that moment, my confidence came back, because I knew I would do whatever that fierce female asked.”
Seeing the word Dystopian on a book title, one imagines it is set in a world plunged in darkness and pain. And, there is that. But, at its heart, this is a love story. And it is a story of hope. And joy.
I greatly enjoyed the earlier work of Stefanie Barnfather, “You Know What I Think,” for its imaginative storytelling. “We Call Her Rose” takes that to an even greater level.
Once I started the book, I couldn’t stop. Stefanie deftly moves back and forth through the perspective of her two leading characters. We feel the pain and strength of the strong leader Rose, and we can laugh at the antics and feel the struggles of the vulnerable, compassionate Collin. It’s set against a cruel futuristic setting, and their story of survival and triumph in that world is what gives the book its kick.
Stefanie has a brisk writing style. Her story keeps moving from start to finish. But her many characters are all engaging. I was into the story all the way through.
My criticism, if I had one, would be that I wanted more. I could see that book (hint) spinning off in so many directions based on the world Stefanie has created. Some of the supporting characters could have entire books written just about them. I would have loved to know more about the back story, and have gotten more info on the major book events that were taking place off stage. But, as it is, the book delivers!
I strongly recommend We Call Her Rose, and I feel it would appeal to both romance readers and dystopian readers, as well as people just wanting to have a good, fast paced story to read on a quiet day.
Seeing the word Dystopian on a book title, one imagines it is set in a world plunged in darkness and pain. And, there is that. But, at its heart, this is a love story. And it is a story of hope. And joy.
I greatly enjoyed the earlier work of Stefanie Barnfather, “You Know What I Think,” for its imaginative storytelling. “We Call Her Rose” takes that to an even greater level.
Once I started the book, I couldn’t stop. Stefanie deftly moves back and forth through the perspective of her two leading characters. We feel the pain and strength of the strong leader Rose, and we can laugh at the antics and feel the struggles of the vulnerable, compassionate Collin. It’s set against a cruel futuristic setting, and their story of survival and triumph in that world is what gives the book its kick.
Stefanie has a brisk writing style. Her story keeps moving from start to finish. But her many characters are all engaging. I was into the story all the way through.
My criticism, if I had one, would be that I wanted more. I could see that book (hint) spinning off in so many directions based on the world Stefanie has created. Some of the supporting characters could have entire books written just about them. I would have loved to know more about the back story, and have gotten more info on the major book events that were taking place off stage. But, as it is, the book delivers!
I strongly recommend We Call Her Rose, and I feel it would appeal to both romance readers and dystopian readers, as well as people just wanting to have a good, fast paced story to read on a quiet day.
August 16, 2023
A thoroughly enjoyable read!
The characters are well developed, believeable, and entertaining!
I liked the use of first person narratives that allowed us insight to how and what the characters are seeing and feeling.
One must read to the very end! The ending was fantastic!
October 16, 2023
Really enjoyed this book. It was clever and funny and heartbreaking and moved at a fast pace.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews