The Sacrificial Rose

by Olivia Renner

Aeterna’s wrath bled until her tears poisoned the sea, and her fury scorched the earth. From the ashes, a new power.

A sacrifice to heal the realm.

The Roses.

The Iron Thorn stands as the last kingdom. Their survival rests in the hands of the Rose people, whose sacrifice holds the key to saving the realm from Aeterna’s curse.

For Elita, the burden of being a Rose weighs heavily upon her. Shrouded in secrecy, she exists under the shadow of her parent’s desperate attempts to keep her hidden from the king.

While she wrestles with her predetermined role, Elita is pushed toward a destiny she yearns to escape. With the prompting of a man who haunts her dreams, she sets out to uncover the secrets of the Roses and the purpose of her own bloom. Only to discover that things aren’t quite what they seem. Sinister truths threaten to crumble their kingdom, and if she isn’t careful, her desire to alter her destiny could bring the entire realm to ruin.

In her quest for deliverance, Elita finds that in a land where the gods have forsaken their people, the price of hope comes at a haunting cost.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance

429 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 17, 2025

Reviews

[Julisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sacrificial Rose by Olivia Renner is a beautiful emotional rollercoaster that will touch reader's hearts with the way that Mrs.Renner's writing style explains the emotional journey the fmc Elita goes through in order to overcome the weight of grief,and feeling lost in a world filled with uncertainty.

The world building is hauntingly beautiful,and very detailed in a way that feels like watching a defiant rose continue to thrive even in the most unexpected of circumstances.🥀

The fmc Elita is an independent,kind,and strong woman who refuses to accept her dark fate,and is ready to willingly choose a different path in her life. Watching Elita start out as an unsure woman,and then gradually starts blooming to become a stronger,and more confident woman.

There's amazing found family moments,and a mmc that definitely gives Kylo Ren vibes,and yes there's definitely a friends to lovers vibe being possibly hinted at.The mmc Casimir is broody,mysterious,and is a gentleman.

I loved the unique history about the mysterious magic rose people,and how it pairs perfectly with certain events in the story.The animal companions are so cute,and very interesting.

I am giving Mrs.Renner's book 100 stars because I do not have the words to express just how much this story truly means to me.♥️

Thank you Mrs.Renner for sharing Elita's story,and I look forward to reading the sequel.🖤

The Sacrificial Rose by Olivia Renner releases on March 17th 2025,and is perfect for readers who love reading hauntingly beautiful fantasy stories with found family,magic,amazing characters,and lots of food especially bread.🍞

[Ashley Clemons · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHEN I SAY I DEVOURED THIS BOOK?

Who doesn’t love a good dark fantasy that is a slow burn, with a hot ghost? SAY LESS!!

The world building and character growth were top tier. Olivia did such a fantastic job writing the history of the Rose people and the kingdoms in a way that made sense and was easy to follow along.

There were some twists and turns I definitely DID NOT see coming and there is nothing I love more than being surprised by an unexpected ending. I absolutely LOVED this book and I can’t wait to see more of what happens with Elita and the rest of the Rose people, but especially with her hot ghost.

I’m so ready for book 2 and book 1 hasn’t even been published yet!😩😂

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to receive an ARC copy of the Sacrificial Rose and I am obsessed 🤩
This story is so incredibly unique I could not get enough of it. Gripping, deliciously eerie prologue sets up this hauntingly, beautiful gothic tale. The writing is lush and captivating. The prose fantastic, never leaving anything to be desired. We follow Elita and her literal ghost through a cursed realm where she is fated to be a sacrifice. As she navigates trauma & betrayal, secrets & hurt. Soo much hurt. The yearning & angst is top tier. Ends on a not so lovely cliffhanger! I love, love, love this book and will be not so patiently waiting for the next installment 🥀🖤

✨side note: an insane amount of curly hair representation in this one and I am sooo here for it!! 🫶🏼✨

[Betsy Filip · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept was weird, and the book would be a lot shorter if the author didn't re-state the same thing every chapter or two as if we didn't read about it the first time around. And then the fact that no one is asking the glaringly obvious question at the end? ooft.

[Olivia S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure to be an arc reader for this book, and I take that responsibility seriously. So I promise that this will be an honest review.

I give this book 4.5 stars. Here are all of the reasons I loved it:

- The prose of this book was just delicious. It has an intimate tone without the weight of purple prose. There were so many moments I just went back and chewed on the sentence because it was so beautifully written. The narrative voice matches the story so well, without being a burden or a slog to read through. You would never know this was a first-time author!

- I really appreciated that the romance didn’t just dive in head first and lose all the tension in the first book. The author did what I love in a series: planting a bunch of really excellent seeds. There’s plenty of tension, and there is no doubt in your mind as you read about the feelings that the characters share for each other. But there are really good reasons that keep them apart, and that just builds up the tension. I can’t wait to read the next books and see this romance develop further.

- The author doesn’t shy away from heavy themes, but it never crossed a line that made reading uncomfortable. There’s a lot of trauma in this book, a lot of loss. The entire system of Rose sacrifices calls for such heavy themes, and it’s handled beautifully.

- Casimir. That’s all I have to say. 😉

———————————————————————

There are really only two reasons why I didn’t give this book a full five stars.

The first is mostly a personal preference, which is that there were at least three times at the F word was used, all by one character. I understand that this isn’t a young adult novel, so I’m not docking it for having language, but it felt a little out of place with the rest of the book, where such language was not used. And I didn’t feel like it added much to that character, who I liked a lot without the language.

The second reason is that some of the side characters fell a little flat to me, especially compared to the beautifully crafted main characters. It wasn’t a detriment to the story at all, but perhaps an opportunity for those characters to shine a bit more in the following books. I just didn’t connect with them as much as I did with Elita and Casimir. ❤️❤️❤️

But honestly, that is a small complaint given how much I enjoyed the rest of the book! These small complaints are not a reason not to read. But I also make it a point to leave really honest reviews, so that people can trust me when I say this was an excellent book, and I recommend it to you, especially if you love a high stakes fantasy story, a slow burn romance, and characters that have a lot of baggage to unpack.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books! The details make it seem like I’m watching a movie because of how well I can picture everything. This book has a little of everything from blossoming romance to betrayal and tragedy. (Have tissues ready) Definitely recommending to everyone I know!

[Ryen Santana · Rating 5 out of 5]

FANTASTIC. I have no words... just... perfection.

[Sara Ratliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing in this book is absolutely beautiful. The descriptions are lovely and pull me right into the scene. The characters are beautifully portrayed through the authors writing, and I absolutely loved reading and watching these characters grow throughout this story. The magical system is unique, which is somewhat rare to come across these days! I couldn't put this book down once I began reading it. The emotions from the characters can be felt through the writing and I definitely hoped and cried right along with Elita.
I had the privilege of being an advanced reader of The Sacrificial Rose and look forward to the official release date so I can do a re-read!

[Lorra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new must buy, no questions asked author for me. I was an advanced reader for this book and let me tell you, it was beautiful. The world building is amazing and the writing pulls you into the story. For fans of fantasy, this book will be a new favorite. Elita’s story is one filled with tragedy, but also with triumph and she’s easy to root for! It’s a unique story and one that I cannot wait to see unfold in the next book!!

[KMart Vet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This romantasy novel thrives on its uniqueness, though some of its worldbuilding elements feel underdeveloped. The concept of the Roses—those fated for sacrifice—is fascinating (and a little odd), but it sets up an intriguing premise.

Elita, as a sheltered protagonist, makes sense given her circumstances, but it was frustrating to watch her repeatedly put herself in danger. All she has to do is not look at people. And she constantly does it.

I was FASCINATED with Elita's relationship with her mother—complicated, layered, and filled with unspoken tension. Her mother obviously makes some pretty bad decisions concerning her daughter, but it was such an area of rich emotional depth that I couldn’t help but be drawn in. I understood the desperation behind those decisions, which added an extra layer of nuance to the story. But it wasn't really a sticking point in the story. More of an aside and background rather than something the story focuses on.

The dream friendship with Casimir was fantastic. Since she isn't sure that he exists (for some reason), it adds an air of mystery and possible fated relationship that made the early chapters especially compelling. However, the second half lost that momentum, with a noticeable shift in pacing that made it feel jarring in comparison. I also thought that Ronin’s motivations, in particular, felt unclear—his actions didn’t make sense, which made it feel like the plot just needed it to happen.

Despite these issues, the book remained entertaining, and I appreciated the ambition behind its worldbuilding, even if it wasn’t fully realized. I found myself more interested in aspects that didn’t seem to be the author’s main focus, which was a little disappointing. That said, this story has strong bones, and I think a lot of readers will enjoy it.

Thanks to the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

[Nini · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got an arc, but my rating/review are my own!

I feel like this book could have been longer👀👀 i was really liking it and then the end? Excuse me?😭😭😭

If you are going into this book with the expectations of romance don't, the romance is a sub-plot and a really slow burn

Some quotes:

"-casimir.
-you scared the fuck out of me.
I started to think you'd never come find me. It was a little disheartening."

"-if I ever cross paths with that prince, it'll be his end
-we'll see who gets to him first. If it's a drawn, we'll pull sticks to see who gets the first swing." 🤣🤣

"-That would be quite unfortunate. You wouldn't want inside my head.
-A bit empty, is it?"

"For a moment, I understood why my mother never had it in her to love me. How could you allow yourself to love someone knowing what horrors they would one day endure?
I laid there, wishing for the pain to swallow me whole so I could be free of it." -This was so sad😭😭



Tropes:
☆dark fantasy
☆misread prophecy
☆curses
☆flower hair
☆grumpy
☆protective

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read a story quite like this one. This world is very unique. The entire book is focused around the main character knowing she is fated to die and following along in a very difficult journey of loss, betrayal, and suffering! I genuinely enjoyed the uniqueness of this story and the twists and turns along the way… I was even surprised & appreciative that there was zero smut. It wasn’t necessary and made this book even better in my opinion. I did not give the story 5 stars because although the main character struggles through out, her perspective and feelings are very repetitive and I felt like there wasn’t enough information given about the backstory to truly make everything make sense to the reader, which I am hoping will be further explained in the next book. If you are looking for something dark and brooding this one is for you!

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get an arc for The Sacificial Rose, and I loved this! The writing is so descriptive, so I was able to imagine the setting easily. Olivia has written about difficult topics like trauma, grief, and death in a way that is easy to read and not triggering (in my opinion)

The plot is unique and had some twists I didn't see coming. When you get to the 85% mark, you'll probably know what I'm talking about 🥲

I think Elita is written really well, I could see her naivety throughout the story, which makes sense due to how she was raised. I felt similar emotions to her as the story progressed, which I think shows how relatable she is. I felt her grief, her joy, her pain, and her longing to be loved by her family. I hope she can use her trauma to grow and become stronger in the future.

I like the fact that this is a slow burn. Learning about the world and what happens to the Roses is interesting, and I think slow burn romance is perfect in this setting. I can't wait to see how things will progress for Elita in books 2 and 3!

Thank you for the arc, Olivia. I'm looking forward to reading book 2! 🖤

[Cheyenne Lopez-White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed being part of Elita’s journey. The unique religion and deities was extremely well created and written. Seeing the entire story from Elita’s POV was fantastic especially for her living a more sheltered life it really allowed the reader to get in her headspace and understand her thought process and emotions. While it was a slower paced story it felt like the right fit as it gives the reader the opportunity to submerge themselves into the world and see everything as Elita is describing it. I greatly look forward to reading the next book and seeing where her journey takes her.

[Miryam Drakon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I made the mistake of reading the prologue at 3 AM—big mistake. Had trouble sleeping afterward. The initial chapters were confusing af, but somehow, I still couldn't stop reading. And honestly? It was all so worth it once I hit the 50% mark.

Ronin was a green flag, but being too golden retriever is always sus in my book, so I liked Casimir better. And I was so right!!! Elita, on the other hand, was frustratingly dumb—it was so obvious what was coming!

A great debut overall, and I’m definitely looking forward to the sequel!

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an amazing story. I was immediately sucked into this world and the main character Elita. It was so heartbreaking at times, but the author did such a great job at embedding slivers of hope throughout- I just had to keep going to see what was going to happen next. This is an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys dark fantasy and different takes on elemental magic. I cannot wait for the next one!

[Sofia Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5

This was a high-stakes dark fantasy with a lovely writing style, and poignant emotions. The losses and pain Elita constantly experienced were heartbreaking. I loved Elita’s internal conflict of wanting to live, yet her living is killing the realm and by extension, everyone she loves. Her relationship with her dad felt like a warm hug and was one of my favorite elements. Elita is the subject of a tug-of-war for the whole book, and I wanted to see more of her yanking the rope in her own direction. Of course, after being so sheltered and suddenly forced on the run, she doesn’t know how to take the reins, but I was a bit frustrated because I found it difficult to be engrossed in her when she didn’t do much. Ironically and excitingly, Elita also got fed up with how little agency she’s had. She snapped and set out for what she wanted. It went terribly, and I loved it. I love characters who get out there and try. I can’t wait to see how she develops throughout the series.

A minor critique before jumping back into the things I loved: I needed more spatial description. Smells and colors were wonderfully utilized, but I needed more shapes, sizes, and distances because there were several points where I had to keep resetting the scene in my head because the size and/or layout of the characters and settings were not made clear.

Back to what was great! I loved that Elita and Casimir’s relationship changed from when they could only interact in their heads to when they met in person. I’m happy with the pace their relationship is going at because we have a whole series for buildup, and with it taking its time on the foundation, that payoff is going to be riveting. I want to know more about Valor’s goals. I want to see more of what the Roses can do. I’m excited to see what happens to the realm as it decays, waiting for a sacrifice to renew it. The ending was explosive and pulse-pounding and a huge character moment for all the major players. A bit of the gut-punch of the ending was diminished though because it relied on a character’s personality doing a 180. Yes, there was foreshadowing that this character was wounded by their past, but for the whole time we knew them, they didn’t seem unstable, and then they revealed said past in a sudden monologue and got their murdering on. Shocking and cool scene in the moment though. I was sucked right into the story each time I picked the book back up. There are so many elements that I’m eager to see where they go, that I have a feeling I’ll love the series even more as it goes on.

Thank you to Olivia Renner for the ARC! It was a delight to be an ARC reader for this story and leave an honest, voluntary review.

[⋆｡‧˚ʚ Chantal ɞ˚‧｡⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐀𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚’𝐬 𝐰𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡. 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬, 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫.

𝐀 𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐦.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬.

🌹

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬/𝐓𝐚𝐠𝐬:

→ slowburn
→ strong & soft FMC
→ nature based magic
→ animal familiars
→nightmares/comfort
→ found family
→ gods & curses

🌹

𝐌𝐲 (𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔𝙵𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚕) 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:


🔺ꜱʟɪɢʜᴛ ꜱᴘᴏɪʟᴇʀꜱ🔻


1. I've never read anything like this tbh! This type of fantasy was really unique.

2. I absolutely loved the author's writing style <3 I'm very picky about that, but in this case I easily connected with it.

When I say Elita, our FMC, deserved better I mean it 🥺 This woman was betrayed, was kept in the dark about things she had a right to know, had her family taken from her, was physically & mentally abused—she was going through it. But she was resilient and persistent despite it all.

She did have her moments & there were times when I was a bit frustrated with her actions, but I did have to remind myself she was raised in isolation (hidden for her protection), cooped up in her home with no human interaction besides her parents.

I loved the relationship between Elita and Casimir, our MMC. Romance is never really brought up in this book, but I got hints of Casimir having feelings for her, or at the very least he cares deeply for her. They have this easy and teasing friendship, with a sprinkle of angst thrown in. I am curious what will become of them in the next book.

Ronin is another male character, who ends up helping Elita escape her fate & gets her to her destination. But boy did I not expect that twist 😔

The side characters were likeable!
Galan was my favorite. He's the cinnamon roll of the group imo 🥺

The reveal about Elita's father shocked me!
When I got to the bonus chapter there were signs that perhaps he's not as callous about her as he wants her to think. I really would love more information on him & how he felt about her mother bearing his child.

🌹

𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: Mar. 17, 2025 (I'm a day late, but HAPPY RELEASE DAY!)

rating: 4.5/5

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars.

🥀 The vibes:
- dark, eerie setting
- Grief journey
- A curse
- Love & loss
- Betrayal and lies
- magical realism/ Fantasy
- closed door (a kiss or two/ not a heavy romance plot)

🥀 My thoughts:
There’s a curse on the lands, and sacrificing the Rose people is the only way to save the realm from the wrath of curse. As a Rose-in-hiding, Elita grows up in complete isolation and fear of being found. But as she is thrust into discovering the truth, she will find out more than she ever expected and realize that the price of the curse may be more even more haunting than she grew up believing.

🥀 The setting of this book was a standout for me. I loved the overall dark vibes of each location. The atmosphere was dark and eerie which felt reminiscent of the settings in A Bond of Briars and One Dark Window.

🥀 This one felt like a slower paced book, but I was so interested the entire time. I liked seeing a FMC that felt a little bit different than a typical main character. Elita wasn’t a traditional, fierce, stabby type of woman, but I appreciated where she was coming from. I felt like her personality made sense and felt realistic for what she had been through.

🥀 There’s a lot of loss in this story. A lot. The grief journey is one that I think many will relate to. It’s a heavy read, but I really enjoyed the vulnerability of this book. I don’t want to say much more about the plot, because there’s so many things that happen, and I want you to fully experience it all.

🥀 There were questions that I had regarding the world building once I got to the end, but I feel like book 2 will have a lot of those answers and will fill in those gaps.

Note- minor language; closed door (a kiss or two/ not a heavy romance plot)
Check CW if you have concerns

[Joanne (Lyra) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am grateful to have received an ARC of this book!

What an epic start to a debut with unique lore, world and characters' with secrets. The prologue was an immediate hook introducting the unique situation that the protagonist Elita is born with. The concept of a race of people blessed by a Goddess who bloomed roses in their hair was intriguing as were the powers associated with them (though I wished there was a little more detail into power categories).

Elita was an interesting character as we followed her initially being forced to hide her existence to essentially be presented as a willing martyr in a sick tradition by the very system that incarcerated people like her. I was rooting for her throughout even with her bleak acceptance for her short-lived future. I sympathised with her feelings of guilt, loneliness and need for a home and acceptance, yet she is rarely given a reprieve in social situations she is not accustomed to and her naivety in trying to take matters into her own hands.

I loved seeing the grey area some characters fall into with their choices to keep their communities safe and found myself disgusted for Elita when she is reduced to Rose or White Rose from either side.

After that explosive ending, I am wondering how these events will affect her in the long run and the relationships she has forged thus far. Also, that extra chapter POV was greatly needed as I can finally pin a point to a certain character.

Recommend this to anyone who loves slow burn plots and a protagonist who is determined to take matters into her own hands with a slower character arc.

[Jade. · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞
𝐛𝐲 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟏𝟕𝐭𝐡
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

- - -

Read this book if you like:
□ nature based magic
□ found family
□ slow-burn romance
□ strong & soft FMC
□ nightmares/comfort
□ animals familiars
□ friends to enemies

A huge thank you, Olivia Renner, for the ARC!

First of all, how stunning is that cover! I instantly felt pulled to the book after seeing the cover and the blurb. I was so happy when I got the ARC!

The story has a slow beginning, but the pace quickly picks up. And oh boy, be prepared for a wild ride.

We follow our FMC, one of the Rose people, whose sacrifice will save the kingdom, Iron Thorn, from the goddess of the Earth's curse. Her parents keep her in secrecy, hidden from the ruthless king. The only company she has is a ghost who brings her comfort after eerie nightmares. But one day, Elita is forced to escape the realm and learn the purpose of the Roses, her bloom. She encounters many dangers and friendly faces along the way. On her quest to find a world hidden from the king, a place where many Roses find sanctuary.

Along the way, beautiful friendships bloom. You'll get to see the main character grow and change into a courageous, soft, beautiful flower. You'll fall in love with the minor characters in this story.

Be prepared for that insane twist at the end of this book! I did not expect this at all. I was flabbergasted! That twist held me in choke hold for a long time. It was just so well-thought! And that world-building, oh it was so ethereal and mystical. I loved the vivid descriptions in this story.

Olivia Renner has become an auto-buy author for me. I can't wait for the next journey!

[Marissa | storiesinthemeadow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content to be aware of:
Violence—killing, torture, abuse mentioned but doesn’t happen on page
Language—moderate? There isn’t a ton, but there are 5 f-words (two of which are in the bonus chapter at the end)
Romance—slowwww burn, one kiss (not descriptive)
**the author includes a note with full content warnings in the book**

Genre/Tropes: (dark) fantasy, prophecy/Chosen One, grief and healing

My thoughts:
I had a lot of fun reading this book. It always helps when a book is recommended by a friend (thanks, Kelly!) because I love texting about a book as I’m reading—my thoughts and predictions and reactions to the reveals as they happen.

I love a good fantasy world, and this one didn’t disappoint. It felt immersive through all the descriptions (there weren’t ever long descriptive passages, just lots of little details woven into the story), and the stakes are definitely high.

Grief and healing were dealt with in the course of the story in a way that made sense and didn’t pull me out of the world, though some of Elita’s self talk got to be a bit repetitive for me (but I also think it made a lot of sense for her character to be thinking/acting in such a way, so I’m not calling that a fault by any means).

Some of my favorite scenes/elements (in no particular order):
🥀 Bonus chapter from Casimir’s perspective 😍
🥀 Nighttime training with Alba
🥀 Hunting/learning to track with her Dad
🥀 Her Raven companion, Calla
🥀 Rescue from the cursed water
🥀 Casimir breaking up the sparring match
🥀 Elita getting drunk 😅
🥀 Barging into the men’s barracks

[Lizleigh_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lover of fantasy novels, I find that "The Sacrificial Rose" offers a unique and refreshing addition to the genre. Renner has successfully created a story that is both new and deeply moving. The premise of the book is just so entirely different from anything else I have read and I really enjoyed that aspect of the novel.

At the heart of it all is Elita, our FMC. This poor girl goes through the wringer, but somehow manages to remain strong. Her character development is nothing short of wonderful. Elita faces trials of grief, and betrayal, along with the struggle of trying to survive in a world she was born to die for. Her determination and resilience has left me inspired and in awe of her strength. From the first chapter, I found myself extremely emotionally invested in her as well as additional characters as they were introduced.

The romance subplot had me in a choke-hold, I cannot say much without spoiling anything, but many moments between Elita and Casimir had me yearning for more. Genuinely I found myself upset at times when some of the moments were particularly fleeting. That is how you know you have it bad for an MMC haha.

This novel ends on quite the cliffhanger, so be prepared for that. However, it has certainly left me to eagerly await book 2. Overall, the background and world building is beautifully done and the characters are easy to connect with. With book 1 being such a fun read, I can only imagine what awaits us in book two.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Thank you so much to the author, Olivia Renner, for the ARC of The Sacrificial Rose. This book releases on March 17, 2025.

The world building and character development were pretty good. Though I wish the FMC Elita wasn’t so, I won’t say weak, but she could have been stronger. Maybe not as naive is what I’m after. She was absolutely a fighter, but something about her character bothered me a bit.

I read this as more of a fantasy than as a romance of any kind. There are some moments of brief romance, but I don’t think enough to call it a romantasy. Perhaps the ultimate slow burn that started in book one will lead to something more later.

Reading through Elita’s isolation, struggles, betrayal, and perseverance was quite a journey that I enjoyed. All of that being said, I can’t wait to read the next book! I am invested.

Things I’m going to hope for as the series continues:
- something more develops between her and Casimir
- her relationship with her father can be repaired
- She further develops insane abilities, becomes a leader, and takes control after being held back her entire life
- I want Prince Talos to suffer at her hand since she can’t get revenge against Ronin

[Delaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received a copy of this book from the Author and am voluntarily leaving this review. All opinions are my own.

I need the next book for this series now. This book broke my heart in the best way possible and I cannot wait to see how the series progresses. The world is so fascinating that I can’t wait to learn more, and Olivia Renner’s writing is just beautiful. It really felt like she made this world come alive. The characters are also so intricate. There were a few characters, when I wanted to hate them, I still understood their reasonings. And I’ll be completely honest, I love a good sympathetic villain. I also love the tension between Elita and Casmir built within this book. I think it will be the slowest of burns, but I know there will be a great payoff. I also feel like there is so much more to learn about this world, and I am excited about it. I also loved that there is a glossary at the start of this book, I feel like not enough books do that, and they all should start.

🥀Reluctant Hero
🥀Gods & Curses
🥀Found Family
🥀Slow Burn
🥀Nature Based Magic
🥀Dark & Whimsical
🥀Animal Familiars

[S.G. Darley · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS MY FAVORITE BOOK.

I think I am way too nice when I review books, but now we're here. This is my first true 5-star read. I daresay I loved every second.

A precursor--I've never been a girl who stays up late reading. But I stayed up until 3am and then midnight to finish this book in two days because I just couldn't put it down.

Elita has an incredible, resilient character with still so much softness and empathy for others. Casimir is... a close second, I really love him and I can't wait to see where his character goes from here. He was a wild ride.

The twist at the end had me SCREAMING. I still can't get over it. I absolutely didn't see it coming whatsoever, but as an author myself, I have much respect for Olivia making it happen. 👏🏻 Bravo!

This book was so emotionally charged and I will be unavailable for 1-2 business days to process.
Everyone who loves fantasy should read this book. I'm a Sanderson fan, and I'd recommend this off the top of my head over any of his books I've read (nothing against him, he's great too).

This is proof indie authors are worth supporting.

[Caro Sage · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciate authors who have new ideas and concepts, and the lore of this book is new and exciting, it made me excited to read again when I was in a slump. I knew the book was going be a series and I really appreciate stories that take time to build up in every aspect and I felt the pacing was absolutely wonderful and kept me engaged the whole time. The ending made me want to pick up the second book immediately, which if thats the case, I find the story successful.

I loved the dark themes and motifs, I loved the almost gothic feel of the book, and I was so intrigued by the fantasy part of it all, the "magic" system, the politics, the religion, it was all very thought out and new. Like, petals grow in their hair? the visuals of that alone was enough to keep me reading.

It didn't feel like a debut book, I was very impressed. I also loved that the romance was secondary to the plot, it almost makes the romance even better.

I can't get enough of this world and I can't wait to keep reading this series.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was tense. This book is a emotional rollercoaster and will destroy you...in a good way. The wirting sets the mood and emption just right, the mood overall depressing and sad because of the trauma and the FMC toughts but her emotions and thought are absolutely understandable. Still there is hope and joy and just beauty. It was actionpacked and so detailed it was like watching a movie, pulls you right into the story and makes you not wanna put down the book again.
Totally loved the familiars!

The cliffhanger wants to make me read more as soon as possible.

Because I'm missing more Myth/History/Background info about the gods and roses and I thought the one thing was really stupid and doesn't really made sense I give it 4,5 Stars. Ther bonus chapter helped me understand the stupid thing a bit better tho

I recommend it to every fantasy lover who likes dark/heavy themes and doesn't need to much romance. The subtle romance was beautiful.

[Colleen SRC · Rating 3 out of 5]

This fantasy book is a fun ride with great world building and an interesting twist that is the roses. I loved the imagery in this book and what life was like for the Roses.

However this book is full of dark betrayal and horrible people. There are very few redeemable characters in this book. The FMC is definitely naive and helpless. She drove me insane since she couldn’t listen to a single bit of advice and kept getting herself in worse situations. I empathize with her a lot of the times, because yes I would be like that too but maybe not that much. It didn’t help that this world and every character has secrets galore. Again it gives it a sense of realism but a little to much for my liking. I felt like things never got explained well enough for me, the reader, and that was frustrating. Maybe the next books will give me more the answers I seek?

Either way, I enjoyed this read and I will continue the series.

Thanks for letting me be an arc reader for this!

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story starts out with a very sheltered girl Elita who was born and hidden from the world (for pretty good reasons). She finds herself on the run and meets some great and not so great  (you'll be shook) side characters. As you join her on her journey, you start to love her and feel for her and what she's experienced. Oh, and did I mention there's a ghost who may or may not give off over protective vibes?...

I loved how the author wrote our FMC and walked her through processing her trauma. The world building was fantastic and unique. The story was well written and fast-paced. The ending, although not the craziest cliffhanger 100%, has me needing book two!
I would definitely recommend you add this to your TBR immediately.