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The Middlemist Trilogy #3
A Rose of Blood and Binding
New York Times bestselling author of Furyborn, Claire Legrand, delights in this thrilling conclusion to the steamy, lush, and epic Middlemist trilogy, perfect for fans of Bridgerton and A Court of Thorns and Roses.
WAR IS RAGING IN EDYN.
The battered Middlemist can barely hold itself together. Olden monsters terrorize the land. The gods are awakening from their ancient slumber, but if the vengeful Kilraith destroys them, all will be lost. And it's up to the Ashbourne sisters—demigods, daughters of the goddess Kerezen—to stop him.
But the sisters are spread thin. Gemma and Talan travel the world in a desperate search for the gods. In the capital, Farrin and Ryder shelter countless refugees amid roiling unrest. And Mara Ashbourne, bound to the Middlemist and longing for a home she can never return to, is just trying to survive.
Every day is chaos as Mara battles invaders and fights to protect her fellow Roses. The presence of librarian Gareth Fontaine—assigned to aid the Roses' war efforts—doesn't help. Charming, brilliant, far too confident, and annoyingly reverent of the Roses—Mara most of all—he's a distraction Mara can't avoid or afford. Especially since she can see the shadows of Mhorghast brimming underneath his dazzling smile. Shadows of violence and shame that she knows all too well. Shadows that terrify her more than any monster.
As Mara and Gareth search the Old Country for Kilraith's final three curse-anchors, a slow-burning passion born of sorrow and solace sparks between them, one that could finally bring Mara to the very home she longs for…or drive her toward the dark fate she secretly craves, and bring both worlds crashing down alongside her.
WAR IS RAGING IN EDYN.
The battered Middlemist can barely hold itself together. Olden monsters terrorize the land. The gods are awakening from their ancient slumber, but if the vengeful Kilraith destroys them, all will be lost. And it's up to the Ashbourne sisters—demigods, daughters of the goddess Kerezen—to stop him.
But the sisters are spread thin. Gemma and Talan travel the world in a desperate search for the gods. In the capital, Farrin and Ryder shelter countless refugees amid roiling unrest. And Mara Ashbourne, bound to the Middlemist and longing for a home she can never return to, is just trying to survive.
Every day is chaos as Mara battles invaders and fights to protect her fellow Roses. The presence of librarian Gareth Fontaine—assigned to aid the Roses' war efforts—doesn't help. Charming, brilliant, far too confident, and annoyingly reverent of the Roses—Mara most of all—he's a distraction Mara can't avoid or afford. Especially since she can see the shadows of Mhorghast brimming underneath his dazzling smile. Shadows of violence and shame that she knows all too well. Shadows that terrify her more than any monster.
As Mara and Gareth search the Old Country for Kilraith's final three curse-anchors, a slow-burning passion born of sorrow and solace sparks between them, one that could finally bring Mara to the very home she longs for…or drive her toward the dark fate she secretly craves, and bring both worlds crashing down alongside her.
505 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 24, 2026
103 people are currently reading
6515 people want to read
About the author
Claire Legrand
27 books5,101 followersClaire Legrand is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fourteen novels, including the Empirium trilogy, the Middlemist trilogy, SAWKILL GIRLS, and SOME KIND OF HAPPINESS. She is one of the four authors behind THE CABINET OF CURIOSITIES, an anthology of dark middle grade fiction.
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March 6, 2026Evil David Attenborough Narrator's Voice: "The book did, indeed, turn out to be 'A Mess of Hawt and Horny.'"
[Mini-review for my quarterly roundup coming soon.]
[Mini-review for my quarterly roundup coming soon.]
October 20, 2025
behind every fearsome woman with a sword (who can turn into a bird) is a doomed bespectacled scholar who will do anything to save her
and the boromir, pippin, and merry reference? oh i’m sick (brainrot runs deep)
Regency style romance in a fantasy world with awakened gods, cursed artifacts, rival families, and a legendary group of female warriors tasked with protecting the barrier between realms are integral to Claire Legrand’s Middlemist Trilogy. A true romantic fantasy jewel, A Rose of Blood and Binding is this trilogy’s final battlecry as the middle Ashbourne sister Mara and the delightfully rakish librarian Gareth Fontaine get up to shenanigans while on the path to uncovering the cursed objects of a violent God. Legrand has an innate talent for the middling spaces—where romance meets fantasy, fantasy meets historical, and all three intertwine in a potent atmosphere in her Middlemist trilogy. The stakes are unquestionably elevated after the events concluding A Song of Ash and Moonlight, in which our crew destroyed the human embodiment of a god alongside Kilraith’s cursed object. But who better to pick up the unbearable weight of it all than a middle sister am I right? Bound to the Middlemist and taken far from home, Mara Ashbourne is our slightly broody, sometimes avian, and decidedly bisexual heroine tasked with saving the day and bringing this series to a close (no pressure though). As the Middlemist weakens and our characters stand united, Claire Legrand evinces that it is our bonds that far outweigh any evil, and in fact they may be the very thing that saves us end-all.
Read my review
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing the advance review copy.
Bookstagram | Blog
and the boromir, pippin, and merry reference? oh i’m sick (brainrot runs deep)
Regency style romance in a fantasy world with awakened gods, cursed artifacts, rival families, and a legendary group of female warriors tasked with protecting the barrier between realms are integral to Claire Legrand’s Middlemist Trilogy. A true romantic fantasy jewel, A Rose of Blood and Binding is this trilogy’s final battlecry as the middle Ashbourne sister Mara and the delightfully rakish librarian Gareth Fontaine get up to shenanigans while on the path to uncovering the cursed objects of a violent God. Legrand has an innate talent for the middling spaces—where romance meets fantasy, fantasy meets historical, and all three intertwine in a potent atmosphere in her Middlemist trilogy. The stakes are unquestionably elevated after the events concluding A Song of Ash and Moonlight, in which our crew destroyed the human embodiment of a god alongside Kilraith’s cursed object. But who better to pick up the unbearable weight of it all than a middle sister am I right? Bound to the Middlemist and taken far from home, Mara Ashbourne is our slightly broody, sometimes avian, and decidedly bisexual heroine tasked with saving the day and bringing this series to a close (no pressure though). As the Middlemist weakens and our characters stand united, Claire Legrand evinces that it is our bonds that far outweigh any evil, and in fact they may be the very thing that saves us end-all.
Read my review
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing the advance review copy.
Bookstagram | Blog
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May 7, 2025I CAN'T WAIT THIS LONG I NEED THIS BOOK AHHHHHHH
March 17, 2026
I really loved book two of this series, so much so that I was worried book three wouldn’t hit the same. But I shouldn’t have doubted Claire Legrand.
Mara Ashbourne has not been in charge of her own destiny since she was sent off to be a Rose—one of Edyn’s elite female soldiers—at the age of 10. Her younger sister, Gemma, was meant to go, but Gemma’s ill health and lack of magic meant Mara took her place. Mara is a Sentinel, an Anointed with heightened senses and battle skills, so she has thrived among the Roses and become the Warden’s favorite.
As the war against Kilraith and his allies escalates in Edyn, Mara is forced into increasingly dangerous situations that have taken their toll. She’s finally hit a wall where she can’t stand to lose anything else. After losing her home, her family, and watching dozens of Roses die, she’s now facing destruction on a scale she never could have imagined as the Mist becomes more unstable and the Olden attack humans.
In the middle of all of this, Mara also has to deal with librarian Gareth Fontaine. Gareth is her older sister’s best friend and a brilliant Anointed Sage. He and his team need to be closer to the Mist to study it and support the war effort, so they move into the Roses’ barracks. Mara has never been close to Gareth—he became friends with her sister after she had already been sent away—but she’s heard about his scandalous reputation with women. She has multiple reasons to keep her distance, between his past and the dangers of life as a Rose. But as they begin working together, she can’t help but see the goodness and kindness in him, things all too lacking in her world of violence and bloodshed. Their relationship begins to feel like a rare softness in an otherwise brutal world, something Mara desperately needs.
This whole series leans into darker fantasy, but A Rose of Blood and Binding is by far the most challenging installment. Mara is suicidal for much of the book. She has at least three attempts on page and is explicit in her intentions, so if that’s a trigger for you, I would skip this one.
I liked Mara in the previous books, but she was the Ashbourne sister we knew the least about. She didn’t get the chance to grow up with her sisters after being sent to the Roses. She only had monthly visits, and they didn’t truly get to know her as an adult until the war began. In earlier books, she comes across as a badass, competent warrior—and she is—but she’s also hurting in ways no one sees. As she reconnects with her sisters during the war, she realizes just how much she missed out on by being sent away so young. Add in a deeply dysfunctional dynamic with the Warden, who is part mother figure and part abuser, and you have a recipe for serious mental health struggles.
We got to know Gareth well in Farrin’s book since he’s her best friend. I wasn’t sure how his relationship with Mara would develop, partly because I initially read Mara as gay (this book confirms she is bisexual), and partly because Gareth seemed like a partier while Mara definitely is not. But Gareth isn’t quite as frivolous as he initially seems, and once he connects with Mara, he’s all in. He was intrigued by her before, but his focus was elsewhere due to his own trauma. Here, from the moment they reunite, he is completely invested in her.
The only thing I really wanted from this book that we didn’t get was a confrontation between the Ashbourne sisters and their parents. All three sisters have endured real harm because of their parents’ decisions, and while you can understand some of the pressure the older Ashbournes were under, their behavior in this book never felt like true contrition. That said, we do get honest and meaningful conversations between the sisters about their complicated feelings, and I really enjoyed those moments.
Overall, this was a great read. I highly recommend the entire series, especially now that all the books are out and you can binge them back-to-back. I’m seriously considering buying the full set in hardcover for my shelf because I enjoyed it that much. 5 stars.
Mara Ashbourne has not been in charge of her own destiny since she was sent off to be a Rose—one of Edyn’s elite female soldiers—at the age of 10. Her younger sister, Gemma, was meant to go, but Gemma’s ill health and lack of magic meant Mara took her place. Mara is a Sentinel, an Anointed with heightened senses and battle skills, so she has thrived among the Roses and become the Warden’s favorite.
As the war against Kilraith and his allies escalates in Edyn, Mara is forced into increasingly dangerous situations that have taken their toll. She’s finally hit a wall where she can’t stand to lose anything else. After losing her home, her family, and watching dozens of Roses die, she’s now facing destruction on a scale she never could have imagined as the Mist becomes more unstable and the Olden attack humans.
In the middle of all of this, Mara also has to deal with librarian Gareth Fontaine. Gareth is her older sister’s best friend and a brilliant Anointed Sage. He and his team need to be closer to the Mist to study it and support the war effort, so they move into the Roses’ barracks. Mara has never been close to Gareth—he became friends with her sister after she had already been sent away—but she’s heard about his scandalous reputation with women. She has multiple reasons to keep her distance, between his past and the dangers of life as a Rose. But as they begin working together, she can’t help but see the goodness and kindness in him, things all too lacking in her world of violence and bloodshed. Their relationship begins to feel like a rare softness in an otherwise brutal world, something Mara desperately needs.
This whole series leans into darker fantasy, but A Rose of Blood and Binding is by far the most challenging installment. Mara is suicidal for much of the book. She has at least three attempts on page and is explicit in her intentions, so if that’s a trigger for you, I would skip this one.
I liked Mara in the previous books, but she was the Ashbourne sister we knew the least about. She didn’t get the chance to grow up with her sisters after being sent to the Roses. She only had monthly visits, and they didn’t truly get to know her as an adult until the war began. In earlier books, she comes across as a badass, competent warrior—and she is—but she’s also hurting in ways no one sees. As she reconnects with her sisters during the war, she realizes just how much she missed out on by being sent away so young. Add in a deeply dysfunctional dynamic with the Warden, who is part mother figure and part abuser, and you have a recipe for serious mental health struggles.
We got to know Gareth well in Farrin’s book since he’s her best friend. I wasn’t sure how his relationship with Mara would develop, partly because I initially read Mara as gay (this book confirms she is bisexual), and partly because Gareth seemed like a partier while Mara definitely is not. But Gareth isn’t quite as frivolous as he initially seems, and once he connects with Mara, he’s all in. He was intrigued by her before, but his focus was elsewhere due to his own trauma. Here, from the moment they reunite, he is completely invested in her.
The only thing I really wanted from this book that we didn’t get was a confrontation between the Ashbourne sisters and their parents. All three sisters have endured real harm because of their parents’ decisions, and while you can understand some of the pressure the older Ashbournes were under, their behavior in this book never felt like true contrition. That said, we do get honest and meaningful conversations between the sisters about their complicated feelings, and I really enjoyed those moments.
Overall, this was a great read. I highly recommend the entire series, especially now that all the books are out and you can binge them back-to-back. I’m seriously considering buying the full set in hardcover for my shelf because I enjoyed it that much. 5 stars.
March 5, 2026
2/5 stars rounded up!
I've been looking forward to this book since it was hinted that Gareth and Mara would be the next couple/FMC/MMC during book 2, and maybe that anticipation dampened this for me! Unfortunately A Rose of Blood and Binding just didn't have the same magic the first two books in this trilogy did. Gareth and Mara's coupling felt fast and out of the blue, and fueled primarily by lust. I was really missing the deep, emotional connect we saw between our other couples in the series, and the constant physical intimacy between them felt out of place (re: in the middle of war, right after nearly dying, when Mara was in her bird form...) and repetitive. I also just feel like Mara had no growth or arc from the beginning to the end, instead staying a little whiny, woe is me, with unresolved tendencies for self-harm. This was so unlike the journeys her sisters went on in the previous books, also leaving me disappointed.
I did however enjoy the rising conflict between Mara and the Warren, and all of the battle/war scenes. These were similar in caliber to the other books in the series, with high tension and engaging passages. Additionally, I was very impressed by Evelyn Rose's narration. We had a wide net of characters, and she made them all unique and impressionable. Her tone and cadence also added an almost eerie, whimsical vibe to the story, helping cement the feelings of war and magic.
All in all, a bit of a disappointing end to the trilogy! I do think worth checking out if you loved the first two books, so you can see more of our characters and how their story ends, but the book should be started with adjusted expectations. Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review! All opinions are my own. A Rose of Blood and Binding is out now.
I've been looking forward to this book since it was hinted that Gareth and Mara would be the next couple/FMC/MMC during book 2, and maybe that anticipation dampened this for me! Unfortunately A Rose of Blood and Binding just didn't have the same magic the first two books in this trilogy did. Gareth and Mara's coupling felt fast and out of the blue, and fueled primarily by lust. I was really missing the deep, emotional connect we saw between our other couples in the series, and the constant physical intimacy between them felt out of place (re: in the middle of war, right after nearly dying, when Mara was in her bird form...) and repetitive. I also just feel like Mara had no growth or arc from the beginning to the end, instead staying a little whiny, woe is me, with unresolved tendencies for self-harm. This was so unlike the journeys her sisters went on in the previous books, also leaving me disappointed.
I did however enjoy the rising conflict between Mara and the Warren, and all of the battle/war scenes. These were similar in caliber to the other books in the series, with high tension and engaging passages. Additionally, I was very impressed by Evelyn Rose's narration. We had a wide net of characters, and she made them all unique and impressionable. Her tone and cadence also added an almost eerie, whimsical vibe to the story, helping cement the feelings of war and magic.
All in all, a bit of a disappointing end to the trilogy! I do think worth checking out if you loved the first two books, so you can see more of our characters and how their story ends, but the book should be started with adjusted expectations. Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review! All opinions are my own. A Rose of Blood and Binding is out now.
February 5, 2026
A Rose of Blood and Binding is the final book in Claire Legrand’s Middlemist trilogy and sadly turned out to be an utter disappointment.
I’m not writing this light-heartedly, because the Empirium trilogy is one of my all-time favourite trilogies, but this one was sadly just one big downward spiral.
I think I can speak for every reader when I say that it is never a good sign when you find yourself skipping pages after pages of a book, but this is sadly what happened to me with A Rose of Blood and Binding.
I was really looking forward to Mara’s POV and story since in the previous two books, she was always portraited as the strong and brave warrior sister. But what I got was a whiny and shapeless character, who permanently blamed herself for everything bad that happened to everyone and no one, and who was constantly horny whilst doing so. I am aware that this is a romantasy trilogy, but if almost every single dialogue or monologue revolves around sex, they simply become substance less and a disservice to the story. Additionally, all the conversations between Mara and Gareth were quite frankly just cringe and made me question whether I was really reading the ARC I requested or a badly written Wattpad fanfiction of it.
The only passages in this book that actually caught my interest were the fight scenes and when we spent time with the Warden and the other Roses, but that was sadly because most of the time they didn’t include the love interest or Mara’s sisters (more specifically Gemma, because when did she turn into an annoying sorority house college girl, who is only looking the next bottle of alcohol?). Speaking of the characters and their personalities, I was surprised and heartbroken to notice that with every book in this trilogy our main characters became more and more childlike and distanced themselves further from the politically and war involved adults in their mid-20s, who we are supposed to see them as.
But what gave me the final push to dnf this book was when, and this is a spoiler, the love interest was more or less resurrected from the dead and the first thing he (and Mara) thought about was to have a fuck. Oh, and did I mention that her parents and sisters were literally in the room next door?
I truly would have loved to know how this trilogy concluded since the worldbuilding and magic were amazing, but I simply didn’t want to further waste the small amount of time I have for reading each day, on a book that only bored and annoyed me.
Thank you to Sourcebooks for this ARC and I am sorry that this review is the result of my months long begging for an ARC.
I’m not writing this light-heartedly, because the Empirium trilogy is one of my all-time favourite trilogies, but this one was sadly just one big downward spiral.
I think I can speak for every reader when I say that it is never a good sign when you find yourself skipping pages after pages of a book, but this is sadly what happened to me with A Rose of Blood and Binding.
I was really looking forward to Mara’s POV and story since in the previous two books, she was always portraited as the strong and brave warrior sister. But what I got was a whiny and shapeless character, who permanently blamed herself for everything bad that happened to everyone and no one, and who was constantly horny whilst doing so. I am aware that this is a romantasy trilogy, but if almost every single dialogue or monologue revolves around sex, they simply become substance less and a disservice to the story. Additionally, all the conversations between Mara and Gareth were quite frankly just cringe and made me question whether I was really reading the ARC I requested or a badly written Wattpad fanfiction of it.
The only passages in this book that actually caught my interest were the fight scenes and when we spent time with the Warden and the other Roses, but that was sadly because most of the time they didn’t include the love interest or Mara’s sisters (more specifically Gemma, because when did she turn into an annoying sorority house college girl, who is only looking the next bottle of alcohol?). Speaking of the characters and their personalities, I was surprised and heartbroken to notice that with every book in this trilogy our main characters became more and more childlike and distanced themselves further from the politically and war involved adults in their mid-20s, who we are supposed to see them as.
But what gave me the final push to dnf this book was when, and this is a spoiler, the love interest was more or less resurrected from the dead and the first thing he (and Mara) thought about was to have a fuck. Oh, and did I mention that her parents and sisters were literally in the room next door?
I truly would have loved to know how this trilogy concluded since the worldbuilding and magic were amazing, but I simply didn’t want to further waste the small amount of time I have for reading each day, on a book that only bored and annoyed me.
Thank you to Sourcebooks for this ARC and I am sorry that this review is the result of my months long begging for an ARC.
February 28, 2026
I was provided an ALC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
This is the conclusion to the Middlemist Trilogy, and while each book follows a different sister, I don't feel like you can read them as standalones. The main plotline is interwoven between the three books and to truly understand what is going on you would need to start at the beginning. Now if you are only interested in Mara and her part of the story you could get away with reading them individually as there is enough info to fill in the blanks about what is happening and the main storyline follows Mara and her journey.
Mara has been portrayed as a brave and strong warrior in the previous two books, but in this installment we find that she has a lot of feelings about being sent away at a young age to train with the Roses. The Roses are a band of female warriors secluded from their families who train hard and protect the realm from the mysterious mist and the creatures that it hides. They are ruled by the Warden who is not only their keeper, but also like a mother to them though she is harsh a ruthless at times. We come to learn that Mara has been made to do things as Rose that she feels quite a lot of guilt about, and she uses pain and sex to ease her feelings of shame and inadequacy. The also has a lot of thoughts of ending her own life so trigger warnings for suicide as it is mentioned quite a lot. Mara has a lot of self hatred to work through and while Gareth her love interest tries to help her through it, it overwhelmed the storyline in my opinion.
We do reunite with Mara's family, her sisters, their partners, her parents, and many other key players we have met along the way to thwart the antagonist. The magic and worldbuilding were as always really interesting. Legrand always does a great job with those. Gareth and Mara's characters eventually get together and when they do there are plenty of scenes to solidify their love, Legrand's books are always full of those as well. I didn't always feel their chemistry, especially with Mara always pushing him away.
Overall this was a good conclusion to the series.
This is the conclusion to the Middlemist Trilogy, and while each book follows a different sister, I don't feel like you can read them as standalones. The main plotline is interwoven between the three books and to truly understand what is going on you would need to start at the beginning. Now if you are only interested in Mara and her part of the story you could get away with reading them individually as there is enough info to fill in the blanks about what is happening and the main storyline follows Mara and her journey.
Mara has been portrayed as a brave and strong warrior in the previous two books, but in this installment we find that she has a lot of feelings about being sent away at a young age to train with the Roses. The Roses are a band of female warriors secluded from their families who train hard and protect the realm from the mysterious mist and the creatures that it hides. They are ruled by the Warden who is not only their keeper, but also like a mother to them though she is harsh a ruthless at times. We come to learn that Mara has been made to do things as Rose that she feels quite a lot of guilt about, and she uses pain and sex to ease her feelings of shame and inadequacy. The also has a lot of thoughts of ending her own life so trigger warnings for suicide as it is mentioned quite a lot. Mara has a lot of self hatred to work through and while Gareth her love interest tries to help her through it, it overwhelmed the storyline in my opinion.
We do reunite with Mara's family, her sisters, their partners, her parents, and many other key players we have met along the way to thwart the antagonist. The magic and worldbuilding were as always really interesting. Legrand always does a great job with those. Gareth and Mara's characters eventually get together and when they do there are plenty of scenes to solidify their love, Legrand's books are always full of those as well. I didn't always feel their chemistry, especially with Mara always pushing him away.
Overall this was a good conclusion to the series.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Claire Legrand’s publishing team for the opportunity to read this ARC!
This is perhaps the longest review I’ve written because I have a lot of thoughts. Much of it hidden for potential spoilers, and because I believe everyone should read this to form their own opinion since that's exactly what I've written here: my own personal opinions about the story. So if you haven't read this book yet, A) support the author and read the book, and B) once you have, come back and read the Goodreads reviews and feel free to share your own thoughts.
To start off from the aforementioned personal opinion, I absolutely adore Claire Legrand's books. When I finally read the Empirium trilogy, I devoured all three books in a week, and upon its release I immediately fell in love with A Crown of Ivy and Glass. It still remains my favorite of the series, Gemma and Talan my favorite pair, so the immediate praise I had for this third installment was seeing all three sisters together again WITH their fellas. Claire Legrand is clearly a technically accomplished writer with an excellent team of editors supporting her. Her prose seemed diverse and varied, accessible, yet aesthetically beautiful. Nothing jumped out to me as repetitive, too purple, or awkward. I will always pick up a Claire Legrand book for her writing skills alone. Critically speaking, this is an excellent book, which is why I’ve given it 4 stars. However, the long review to follow goes into more detail on why I found it harder to bond with the characters in this book than in books one and two.
I greatly admire the way Legrand portrays mental and physical health issues with the Ashbourne sisters in all three Middlemist books, perhaps especially in A Rose of Blood and Binding. Mara’s trauma and struggles are immediately shown (not told) from page one, paired disconcertingly with the bond she seeks from the Warden and her troubled past being ripped from her home as a small child. The irony is Mara consistently pushes away all those who already love her - her sisters, her parents, her fellow Roses, Gareth - and clings desperately to the tiniest scrap of affection the Warden might offer her. This relationship is perhaps the main romance (?) of the whole book. That’s an actual thought I had about ⅔ of the way through reading, that this book isn’t about Mara and Gareth or even Mara and her sisters, it’s about Mara and the Warden.
Yeah, the rest of this is probably chock full of spoilers.
In sum, I feel like I was missing pieces of the greater story underscoring the entire Middlemist trilogy. It seemed like Legrand wanted to really focus on Mara’s relationship with the Warden and the Roses, but we still had a whole other story to tell with the Ashbourne sisters, Gareth and the ytheliad anchors, Kilraith the missing gods. In some ways it works: Mara’s divided narrative is authentic to her experience of her being divided between these two parts of her life. But overall I wanted more of each story and of all the characters in an already meaty book. Honestly, and RARELY do I hear anyone say this about fantasy series these days…I feel like we could have used a book 4 to truly wrap things up. Maybe split between all three sisters’ POVs. One can dream…
LOL you guys remember when it was marketed as ACOTAR meets Bridgerton? Definitely a good hook for the first book, but certainly not the conceit we follow in books two and three…
Still, the Middlemist Trilogy as a whole? 10/10 would recommend and read again.
This is perhaps the longest review I’ve written because I have a lot of thoughts. Much of it hidden for potential spoilers, and because I believe everyone should read this to form their own opinion since that's exactly what I've written here: my own personal opinions about the story. So if you haven't read this book yet, A) support the author and read the book, and B) once you have, come back and read the Goodreads reviews and feel free to share your own thoughts.
To start off from the aforementioned personal opinion, I absolutely adore Claire Legrand's books. When I finally read the Empirium trilogy, I devoured all three books in a week, and upon its release I immediately fell in love with A Crown of Ivy and Glass. It still remains my favorite of the series, Gemma and Talan my favorite pair, so the immediate praise I had for this third installment was seeing all three sisters together again WITH their fellas. Claire Legrand is clearly a technically accomplished writer with an excellent team of editors supporting her. Her prose seemed diverse and varied, accessible, yet aesthetically beautiful. Nothing jumped out to me as repetitive, too purple, or awkward. I will always pick up a Claire Legrand book for her writing skills alone. Critically speaking, this is an excellent book, which is why I’ve given it 4 stars. However, the long review to follow goes into more detail on why I found it harder to bond with the characters in this book than in books one and two.
I greatly admire the way Legrand portrays mental and physical health issues with the Ashbourne sisters in all three Middlemist books, perhaps especially in A Rose of Blood and Binding. Mara’s trauma and struggles are immediately shown (not told) from page one, paired disconcertingly with the bond she seeks from the Warden and her troubled past being ripped from her home as a small child. The irony is Mara consistently pushes away all those who already love her - her sisters, her parents, her fellow Roses, Gareth - and clings desperately to the tiniest scrap of affection the Warden might offer her. This relationship is perhaps the main romance (?) of the whole book. That’s an actual thought I had about ⅔ of the way through reading, that this book isn’t about Mara and Gareth or even Mara and her sisters, it’s about Mara and the Warden.
Yeah, the rest of this is probably chock full of spoilers.
In sum, I feel like I was missing pieces of the greater story underscoring the entire Middlemist trilogy. It seemed like Legrand wanted to really focus on Mara’s relationship with the Warden and the Roses, but we still had a whole other story to tell with the Ashbourne sisters, Gareth and the ytheliad anchors, Kilraith the missing gods. In some ways it works: Mara’s divided narrative is authentic to her experience of her being divided between these two parts of her life. But overall I wanted more of each story and of all the characters in an already meaty book. Honestly, and RARELY do I hear anyone say this about fantasy series these days…I feel like we could have used a book 4 to truly wrap things up. Maybe split between all three sisters’ POVs. One can dream…
LOL you guys remember when it was marketed as ACOTAR meets Bridgerton? Definitely a good hook for the first book, but certainly not the conceit we follow in books two and three…
Still, the Middlemist Trilogy as a whole? 10/10 would recommend and read again.
March 14, 2026
Sorry to say this is the last book of the trilogy…. Book # 3.
This one revolves around Mara. She is still looking for her sisters, as well as her parents. But, The Warden has turned out to be quite mean in this one! (Not a fan…🫣). And I didn’t really like the way she was acting towards many of the Roses, but most of all… Mara. She seemed to have it in for her at every turn…
And don’t get me started on Posie… 😩
But, let’s talk about Gareth … the librarian/scholar who is following Mara around like a puppy. 🐶🩷. (I definitely need a Gareth in my life…. ) 🥹I think he would do just about anything for her. Protect her. Love her. Guide her. Help her. Save her life, if he could…
So, she’s off…trying to basically save the world from these evil demons. Did I mention that she’s a shape-shifter? She turns into a huge, beautiful bird when she’s going into battle. And trust me, there are a lot of battles…
This one has a bit of everything in it! Gods. Demi-gods. Magicks. Swords and various other forms of fighting…and torture. There is much fighting in this one, and a lot of gore… so if this is not for you, you might want to avoid this one…
There are also several scenes with suicide/attempted suicide. So again, if this might be a problem for you, you might want to avoid…
Mara seems to be having a hard time with life so many times in this book. It truly is sad. But then again,there were multiple times where I thought I’d be bawling my eyes out, but I made it through it all unscathed!
3 1/2 bold, sweet, scary, powerful, full-of-strength stars for me, gladly rounded up to 4! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Love to see the women warriors fighting and holding strong throughout this series! And I loved how the three sisters and the parents eventually found each other again… so, family came together when it really counted!
#ARoseOfBloodAndBinding by @ClaireLegrand and narrated nicely by @EvelynRose.
This one was released in February, so look 👀 for it on shelves now!
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and @DreamscapeMedia for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!!
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
This one revolves around Mara. She is still looking for her sisters, as well as her parents. But, The Warden has turned out to be quite mean in this one! (Not a fan…🫣). And I didn’t really like the way she was acting towards many of the Roses, but most of all… Mara. She seemed to have it in for her at every turn…
And don’t get me started on Posie… 😩
But, let’s talk about Gareth … the librarian/scholar who is following Mara around like a puppy. 🐶🩷. (I definitely need a Gareth in my life…. ) 🥹I think he would do just about anything for her. Protect her. Love her. Guide her. Help her. Save her life, if he could…
So, she’s off…trying to basically save the world from these evil demons. Did I mention that she’s a shape-shifter? She turns into a huge, beautiful bird when she’s going into battle. And trust me, there are a lot of battles…
This one has a bit of everything in it! Gods. Demi-gods. Magicks. Swords and various other forms of fighting…and torture. There is much fighting in this one, and a lot of gore… so if this is not for you, you might want to avoid this one…
There are also several scenes with suicide/attempted suicide. So again, if this might be a problem for you, you might want to avoid…
Mara seems to be having a hard time with life so many times in this book. It truly is sad. But then again,there were multiple times where I thought I’d be bawling my eyes out, but I made it through it all unscathed!
3 1/2 bold, sweet, scary, powerful, full-of-strength stars for me, gladly rounded up to 4! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Love to see the women warriors fighting and holding strong throughout this series! And I loved how the three sisters and the parents eventually found each other again… so, family came together when it really counted!
#ARoseOfBloodAndBinding by @ClaireLegrand and narrated nicely by @EvelynRose.
This one was released in February, so look 👀 for it on shelves now!
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and @DreamscapeMedia for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!!
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"This was not the look of a man beholding a monster. Or maybe I was just the right kind of monster for him."
The conclusion to The Middlemist Trilogy was everything I could have hoped for. Claire Legrand continues to build such a beautifully written, atmospheric and expansive world. But at the heart of each of these stories are sensitively written portrayals of mental health. Mara, for all her physical strength, has battled depression and childhood trauma and although the story is set in a Fantasy world, her struggles felt so raw and real. Gareth is also everything she needs and endlessly patient and devoted. Everyone deserves a Gareth Fontaine.
This is certainly a series that will stay with me. I adored every minute of it.
Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an eARC of this title
The conclusion to The Middlemist Trilogy was everything I could have hoped for. Claire Legrand continues to build such a beautifully written, atmospheric and expansive world. But at the heart of each of these stories are sensitively written portrayals of mental health. Mara, for all her physical strength, has battled depression and childhood trauma and although the story is set in a Fantasy world, her struggles felt so raw and real. Gareth is also everything she needs and endlessly patient and devoted. Everyone deserves a Gareth Fontaine.
This is certainly a series that will stay with me. I adored every minute of it.
Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an eARC of this title
March 5, 2026
Such a thrilling end to an incredible trilogy. I loved this final book with all my heart. What is left of it, that is. As this one completely ruined me. At all times. It was much darker than the others. Yet so full of love as well. And I loved every moment of it. As always, the writing was fantastic. Five stars, of course. Loved it so much.
Finding the words for this book will not be easy. I have loved this trilogy so very much. I love that the books are from the point of view of a sister each. That the story of them all fits together so well. That we still see much of all three of them in all the books. The world created was full of magic and danger and creatures.
This third book tells the story of Mara. The middle child. And the one who had it the worst of the three sisters. I still love Gemma more than anything. She was the youngest and the more happy one, but fully broken inside even so. Farrin was the oldest sister, and the angry one. Yet so full of softness inside. And Mara, the middle one, is the one who is truly broken. And it hurt so much to read her story. Yet I loved it so much. She might be the one whose story I love the most. Though, to be honest, I love all three sisters the same, in a way. They are different and yet not really. And their stories have been truly amazing to read about. But yes. This third book hurt the most. It is also the book where the war is truly happening for real. Which was so exciting.
I'm going to try to stop myself from writing down all the plot that happens. Though, knowing myself, I am going to write way too much even so. I simply loved this trilogy so very much. The writing was so good. I truly loved reading about this magical world. And how it was falling apart. How dangerous creatures were coming out of the olden country. How Mara had to fight so many of them. One scene in the beginning hurt my heart a whole bunch. When the Warden pretty much tricked them all to kill so many. I did not approve.
There is so much going on in this book. We learn so much more about Mara and what it means to be a Rose of the order. What it means for her to protect the Middlemist and everything around it. We get to see how sad she is. How much she does not wish to be alive any longer because of the pain. Which was so very sad to read about. Yet I loved it so very much too. Mara was so real. So very broken. And I adored her to pieces. She deserved all the happiness. But oh, she went through so much pain in this book. Rude.
This third book is very much Mara's story. We get to know her so well. She is so broken. And I loved her so much. It was so exciting to read about her life as a Rose. I loved reading about when she transformed into a beast. It was so interesting. She was such a great fighter too, which was awesome. I loved being inside her head. Even though it was also so very painful. As she had so much heartbreak in her life. But I also loved it. Sigh. Mara tried her best. She just wanted to be able to go home. Which was not possible.
This book is about them all trying to fight Kilraith. To hunt for the final cursed objects, trying to weaken him. To also find the other gods that are waking up. That part I loved a whole lot. The place in the woods was so awful and sad and so good. There were so many moments that I loved in this book. Many dark ones. But many hopeful ones too. Mara and Gareth together gave me so much joy. But much sadness too. Getting to see Gemma and Talan and also Farrin and Ryder in the background made me so happy.
There is truly so much I want to say about this book. And I am writing too much, adding in a little more at different places. Oops. I simply cannot stop writing about this book. And so I am not going to. One of my favorite things was Gemma and Farrin and Mara together. Reading more about their magic powers. And how they got stronger after they learned the secret about their mother. Which was such a great plot twist. Fully exciting but also so sad. But yes. Them being together and fighting together were my favorite parts.
Much of this book is about Mara and Gareth together. When I first read book two, I did not see how they could end up together. But when I read it a second time, I saw it better. And I liked reading about them getting to know each other in this third one. As they did not know each other from before. And they had so much to learn. I loved getting to know more about Gareth. He was such a sweet person. Full of love. And full of hurt and so broken. We learn about what he went through as a captive. Fully heartbreaking.
And so I very much loved the romance in this book. These two were a little more crazy in love than the other couples, in a way, haha. But I did not mind it. They were so sweet together. Although Mara kept trying to ruin it. Again and again. I didn't blame her, though. As she was so scared. And so broken. I just loved reading about her slowly changing her way of thinking. Slowly getting better. Well, except for that one scene at the very end of the book. That was not getting better at all. So very rude. But so well done.
We learn a little more about the villain of these books, Kilraith. Though he was not that much in this one. Yet he did a lot of damage. And I liked reading about him and Ankareth. Getting to know a little more of their story. We get to see if she comes back or not. And that was such an exciting moment to me. I loved it so much. We see more of Mara's familiar bird, Freyda. Which was all kinds of cute. I so loved Mara's friendship with Brigid. And how all the Roses cared for each other, how they were all close like a family.
One thing I must talk about is the Warden. The woman who controls all of the Roses. The woman who teaches them all to fight. Who takes care of them. Who is always there. Sort of like a mother to them all. Yet she was not a kind mother at all. Mara loves her. But to me, it is a twisted love. Because the Warden was truly the very worst person in these books and I just hated reading about her. Yet it was always very interesting too. But oh, this woman caused so much hurt. And it made me so angry. But mostly just sad.
There were some scenes that were so hard to read about. First a small moment with Nerys the harpy. That hurt. But then the scene with Posey came. And I am not sure I will be able to forget that moment. Shudders. It was truly the most heartbreaking. Yet fully exciting too, and written so well. Even though it was so cruel and so awful, I still loved it. Sigh. That poor girl did not deserve all of that. Oh, and the part with the fire nymphs in the beginning. That scene hurt. And something that was done to Mara at the end.
That was just so cruel and evil. Yet so very well done as well. Rude. I did not like the Warden at all. I kept wishing for her to die a gruesome death. Oops. I must confess that all the heartbreaking moments were some of my favorite parts. I love reading about sad things. But it hurt an awful lot. Some other characters that are in this book were their mother and father. And they are finding their way back together. And like the sisters, I did not like it one bit. I honestly felt like those two did not deserve happiness together. Hmph.
There is so much that I wish to write about this book. Yet so much that I am not going to mention. It is a long story. And so very much happens. I always write too much. Yet I just can't stop myself from sharing. One of my favorite moments of this book was a fae hunt they took part in. It was so awesome yet so rude. There was a part where Mara was running in the snow. So very sad and so very good. Then another part where she was running even more, and it was so heartbreaking yet so thrilling at the same time. Loved it.
The ending was so very bittersweet. I loved it so very much. Yet it was a little sad too, and broke my heart a little more. And even though the story of these three sisters is over, it does not feel over. There are still things that I want answers to. Still things that need doing in this world. But yes. I do think the ending was good. I just want more, haha. Always. As this world was so exciting to read about. Honestly, I just loved these books so much. They are so very long. Yet not long enough. I so loved all of the smaller moments.
A Rose of Blood and Binding was everything I had hoped it would be. I loved it with all my heart. Mara's story was just perfection. This third book was full of hurt and evil people. Yet it was full of love too. I loved reading about Gemma and Farrin and Mara being together the very most. They were just such excellent sisters. And it just made my heart happy to see them together. These books are also full of smut. Which I keep forgetting to write about, haha. But there is a lot of it in all three books. And it is all written very well.
The biggest thank you to the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, for sending me a free ARC of this book to read and review. It means everything to me. It is fully gorgeous and I love it the very most. A treasure for me. My Claire Legrand book collection is the biggest and I love it so much. Now to wait for Claire to write even more perfect books. She is truly the best. And such a kind person too. Which makes me the happiest. You need The Middlemist trilogy in your life. It is such a perfect and sad and oh so good story.
---
This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: https://carinabooks.blogspot.com/2026...
Finding the words for this book will not be easy. I have loved this trilogy so very much. I love that the books are from the point of view of a sister each. That the story of them all fits together so well. That we still see much of all three of them in all the books. The world created was full of magic and danger and creatures.
This third book tells the story of Mara. The middle child. And the one who had it the worst of the three sisters. I still love Gemma more than anything. She was the youngest and the more happy one, but fully broken inside even so. Farrin was the oldest sister, and the angry one. Yet so full of softness inside. And Mara, the middle one, is the one who is truly broken. And it hurt so much to read her story. Yet I loved it so much. She might be the one whose story I love the most. Though, to be honest, I love all three sisters the same, in a way. They are different and yet not really. And their stories have been truly amazing to read about. But yes. This third book hurt the most. It is also the book where the war is truly happening for real. Which was so exciting.
I'm going to try to stop myself from writing down all the plot that happens. Though, knowing myself, I am going to write way too much even so. I simply loved this trilogy so very much. The writing was so good. I truly loved reading about this magical world. And how it was falling apart. How dangerous creatures were coming out of the olden country. How Mara had to fight so many of them. One scene in the beginning hurt my heart a whole bunch. When the Warden pretty much tricked them all to kill so many. I did not approve.
There is so much going on in this book. We learn so much more about Mara and what it means to be a Rose of the order. What it means for her to protect the Middlemist and everything around it. We get to see how sad she is. How much she does not wish to be alive any longer because of the pain. Which was so very sad to read about. Yet I loved it so very much too. Mara was so real. So very broken. And I adored her to pieces. She deserved all the happiness. But oh, she went through so much pain in this book. Rude.
This third book is very much Mara's story. We get to know her so well. She is so broken. And I loved her so much. It was so exciting to read about her life as a Rose. I loved reading about when she transformed into a beast. It was so interesting. She was such a great fighter too, which was awesome. I loved being inside her head. Even though it was also so very painful. As she had so much heartbreak in her life. But I also loved it. Sigh. Mara tried her best. She just wanted to be able to go home. Which was not possible.
This book is about them all trying to fight Kilraith. To hunt for the final cursed objects, trying to weaken him. To also find the other gods that are waking up. That part I loved a whole lot. The place in the woods was so awful and sad and so good. There were so many moments that I loved in this book. Many dark ones. But many hopeful ones too. Mara and Gareth together gave me so much joy. But much sadness too. Getting to see Gemma and Talan and also Farrin and Ryder in the background made me so happy.
There is truly so much I want to say about this book. And I am writing too much, adding in a little more at different places. Oops. I simply cannot stop writing about this book. And so I am not going to. One of my favorite things was Gemma and Farrin and Mara together. Reading more about their magic powers. And how they got stronger after they learned the secret about their mother. Which was such a great plot twist. Fully exciting but also so sad. But yes. Them being together and fighting together were my favorite parts.
Much of this book is about Mara and Gareth together. When I first read book two, I did not see how they could end up together. But when I read it a second time, I saw it better. And I liked reading about them getting to know each other in this third one. As they did not know each other from before. And they had so much to learn. I loved getting to know more about Gareth. He was such a sweet person. Full of love. And full of hurt and so broken. We learn about what he went through as a captive. Fully heartbreaking.
And so I very much loved the romance in this book. These two were a little more crazy in love than the other couples, in a way, haha. But I did not mind it. They were so sweet together. Although Mara kept trying to ruin it. Again and again. I didn't blame her, though. As she was so scared. And so broken. I just loved reading about her slowly changing her way of thinking. Slowly getting better. Well, except for that one scene at the very end of the book. That was not getting better at all. So very rude. But so well done.
We learn a little more about the villain of these books, Kilraith. Though he was not that much in this one. Yet he did a lot of damage. And I liked reading about him and Ankareth. Getting to know a little more of their story. We get to see if she comes back or not. And that was such an exciting moment to me. I loved it so much. We see more of Mara's familiar bird, Freyda. Which was all kinds of cute. I so loved Mara's friendship with Brigid. And how all the Roses cared for each other, how they were all close like a family.
One thing I must talk about is the Warden. The woman who controls all of the Roses. The woman who teaches them all to fight. Who takes care of them. Who is always there. Sort of like a mother to them all. Yet she was not a kind mother at all. Mara loves her. But to me, it is a twisted love. Because the Warden was truly the very worst person in these books and I just hated reading about her. Yet it was always very interesting too. But oh, this woman caused so much hurt. And it made me so angry. But mostly just sad.
There were some scenes that were so hard to read about. First a small moment with Nerys the harpy. That hurt. But then the scene with Posey came. And I am not sure I will be able to forget that moment. Shudders. It was truly the most heartbreaking. Yet fully exciting too, and written so well. Even though it was so cruel and so awful, I still loved it. Sigh. That poor girl did not deserve all of that. Oh, and the part with the fire nymphs in the beginning. That scene hurt. And something that was done to Mara at the end.
That was just so cruel and evil. Yet so very well done as well. Rude. I did not like the Warden at all. I kept wishing for her to die a gruesome death. Oops. I must confess that all the heartbreaking moments were some of my favorite parts. I love reading about sad things. But it hurt an awful lot. Some other characters that are in this book were their mother and father. And they are finding their way back together. And like the sisters, I did not like it one bit. I honestly felt like those two did not deserve happiness together. Hmph.
There is so much that I wish to write about this book. Yet so much that I am not going to mention. It is a long story. And so very much happens. I always write too much. Yet I just can't stop myself from sharing. One of my favorite moments of this book was a fae hunt they took part in. It was so awesome yet so rude. There was a part where Mara was running in the snow. So very sad and so very good. Then another part where she was running even more, and it was so heartbreaking yet so thrilling at the same time. Loved it.
The ending was so very bittersweet. I loved it so very much. Yet it was a little sad too, and broke my heart a little more. And even though the story of these three sisters is over, it does not feel over. There are still things that I want answers to. Still things that need doing in this world. But yes. I do think the ending was good. I just want more, haha. Always. As this world was so exciting to read about. Honestly, I just loved these books so much. They are so very long. Yet not long enough. I so loved all of the smaller moments.
A Rose of Blood and Binding was everything I had hoped it would be. I loved it with all my heart. Mara's story was just perfection. This third book was full of hurt and evil people. Yet it was full of love too. I loved reading about Gemma and Farrin and Mara being together the very most. They were just such excellent sisters. And it just made my heart happy to see them together. These books are also full of smut. Which I keep forgetting to write about, haha. But there is a lot of it in all three books. And it is all written very well.
The biggest thank you to the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, for sending me a free ARC of this book to read and review. It means everything to me. It is fully gorgeous and I love it the very most. A treasure for me. My Claire Legrand book collection is the biggest and I love it so much. Now to wait for Claire to write even more perfect books. She is truly the best. And such a kind person too. Which makes me the happiest. You need The Middlemist trilogy in your life. It is such a perfect and sad and oh so good story.
---
This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: https://carinabooks.blogspot.com/2026...
Want to read
August 6, 2025the cover is so pretty im so excited!
February 24, 2026
🎧📖𝒜𝐿𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌📖🎧
𝒜 𝑅𝑜𝓈𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝐵𝓁𝑜𝑜𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝐵𝒾𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 ʙʏ ᴄʟᴀɪʀᴇ ʟᴇɢʀᴀɴᴅ
𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🥀🥀🥀🥀 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻 ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴏsᴇs
𝒮𝓅𝒾𝒸𝑒 𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🌶🌶 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻
✨ 𝐻𝑜𝑜𝓀✨
ɪɴ ᴀ ᴋɪɴɢᴅᴏᴍ ʀᴀᴠᴀɢᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴡᴀʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴡᴀᴋᴇɴɪɴɢ ɢᴏᴅs, ᴀ ʙᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ-ʜᴀʀᴅᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴅᴇᴍɪɢᴏᴅ sᴇɴᴛɪɴᴇʟ ᴍᴜsᴛ ʜᴜɴᴛ ᴀɴᴄɪᴇɴᴛ ᴄᴜʀsᴇ-ᴀɴᴄʜᴏʀs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ʙᴇsᴘᴇᴄᴛᴀᴄʟᴇᴅ sᴄʜᴏʟᴀʀ ᴡʜᴏ ᴀᴅᴏʀᴇs ʜᴇʀ—ғᴏʀᴄɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴄʜᴏᴏsᴇ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ sᴜʀʀᴇɴᴅᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋɴᴇss sʜᴇ ᴄʀᴀᴠᴇs ᴏʀ ғɪɢʜᴛɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ғᴜᴛᴜʀᴇ sʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴇsɴ’ᴛ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ sʜᴇ ᴅᴇsᴇʀᴠᴇs.
𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:
ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ sᴏᴜʀᴄᴇʙᴏᴏᴋs & ʀʙ ᴍᴇᴅɪᴀ ғᴏʀ ɢɪғᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʟᴄ!
𝑀𝑜𝑜𝒹𝓎. 𝒲𝒶𝓇-𝓉𝑜𝓇𝓃. 𝐿𝓎𝓇𝒾𝒸𝒶𝓁. 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝑒𝓂𝑜𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝒷𝓇𝓊𝒾𝓈𝒾𝓃𝑔.
ᴛʜᴇ ғɪɴᴀʟ ɪɴsᴛᴀʟʟᴍᴇɴᴛ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪᴅᴅʟᴇᴍɪsᴛ ᴛʀɪʟᴏɢʏ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴄʟᴀɪʀᴇ ʟᴇɢʀᴀɴᴅ ɪs ʟᴜsʜ, ᴡᴀʀ-ᴛᴏʀɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ ʜᴇᴀᴠʏ—ʙʟᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ ɢᴏᴅs, ᴍᴏɴsᴛᴇʀs, ʙᴀʟʟʀᴏᴏᴍ ᴘᴏʟɪᴛɪᴄs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ʀᴏᴏᴛᴇᴅ ɪɴ sᴏʀʀᴏᴡ ᴀɴᴅ sᴜʀᴠɪᴠᴀʟ.
ᴡᴀʀ ʀᴀᴠᴀɢᴇs ᴇᴅʏɴ ᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ᴀsʜʙᴏᴜʀɴᴇ sɪsᴛᴇʀs—ᴅᴇᴍɪɢᴏᴅ ᴅᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀs ᴏғ ᴋᴇʀᴇᴢᴇɴ—ᴀʀᴇ sᴄᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴀᴄʀᴏss ᴀ ᴄʀᴜᴍʙʟɪɴɢ ᴋɪɴɢᴅᴏᴍ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜɪs sᴛᴏʀʏ ғɪʀᴍʟʏ ᴄᴇɴᴛᴇʀs ᴍᴀʀᴀ: sᴛᴏɪᴄ, ʟᴏɴɢ-sᴜғғᴇʀɪɴɢ, ᴀɴᴅ ǫᴜɪᴇᴛʟʏ ᴜɴʀᴀᴠᴇʟɪɴɢ. ʙᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪᴅᴅʟᴇᴍɪsᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ɢʀᴀᴘᴘʟɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ sᴇᴠᴇʀᴇ ᴅᴇᴘʀᴇssɪᴏɴ, ᴍᴀʀᴀ ғᴇᴇʟs ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ʜᴇʀᴏɪɴᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴠᴇᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ sᴛᴏɴᴇ—sʜᴀʀᴘ, ᴇxʜᴀᴜsᴛᴇᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴇɴᴅᴜʀᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴡʜᴇɴ sʜᴇ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ.
ᴇɴᴛᴇʀ ɢᴀʀᴇᴛʜ ғᴏɴᴛᴀɪɴᴇ: ʙᴇsᴘᴇᴄᴛᴀᴄʟᴇᴅ sᴄʜᴏʟᴀʀ, ɪᴍᴍᴇᴅɪᴀᴛᴇʟʏ sᴍɪᴛᴛᴇɴ, ʀᴇᴠᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ᴀʟᴍᴏsᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴀ ғᴀᴜʟᴛ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴅʏɴᴀᴍɪᴄ ᴘʀᴏᴍɪsᴇs ʀᴇᴠᴇʀsᴇ ᴊᴏᴄᴋ x ɴᴇʀᴅ ᴇɴᴇʀɢʏ (ғᴇᴀʀsᴏᴍᴇ ᴡᴀʀʀɪᴏʀ ғᴍᴄ x sᴏғᴛ ᴀᴄᴀᴅᴇᴍɪᴄ ᴍᴍᴄ), ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅᴡᴏʀᴋ ɪs ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ—ᴛᴡᴏ ᴡᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ sᴏᴜʟs ʀᴇᴄᴏɢɴɪᴢɪɴɢ ᴅᴀʀᴋɴᴇss ɪɴ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ. ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ɪs ᴍᴇᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ sʟᴏᴡ-ʙᴜʀɴ, ʙᴏʀɴ ғʀᴏᴍ sʜᴀʀᴇᴅ ɢʀɪᴇғ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘʀᴏxɪᴍɪᴛʏ ᴀs ᴛʜᴇʏ ʜᴜɴᴛ ᴄᴜʀsᴇ-ᴀɴᴄʜᴏʀs ᴀᴄʀᴏss ᴛʜᴇ ᴏʟᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛʀʏ.
ʜᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ, ᴘᴀᴄɪɴɢ ɪs ᴜɴᴇᴠᴇɴ—ᴘᴀʀᴛɪᴄᴜʟᴀʀʟʏ ɪɴ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ. ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ 𝟸𝟶–𝟻𝟶% ᴍᴀʀᴋ, ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ғᴇᴇʟs ᴅɪsᴛᴀɴᴛ, ᴡɪᴛʜ ʟɪᴍɪᴛᴇᴅ ᴏɴ-ᴘᴀɢᴇ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ᴅᴇᴄʟᴀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴs ᴏғ ᴅᴇᴇᴘ ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ. ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ʜᴇʀᴇ ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʀɪʟʏ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ, ɪᴛ ᴍᴀʏ ғᴇᴇʟ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀᴅᴇᴠᴇʟᴏᴘᴇᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴘɪᴄ sᴛᴀᴋᴇs sᴡɪʀʟɪɴɢ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ɪᴛ. ᴍᴀʀᴀ’s ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴀʟ sᴛʀᴜɢɢʟᴇs ᴀʀᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴇʟʟɪɴɢ, ʙᴜᴛ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴏғ ʜᴇʀ ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇs—ᴇsᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴇᴀʀʟʏ ᴏɴ—ᴄᴀɴ ʙᴇ ғʀᴜsᴛʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ, ᴇᴠᴇɴ sᴇʟғ-sᴀʙᴏᴛᴀɢɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴡᴀʏs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛᴇsᴛ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ ᴘᴀᴛɪᴇɴᴄᴇ.
ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ sʜɪɴᴇs ɪs ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀᴇ. ɪɴsᴘɪʀᴇᴅ ʙʏ sᴡᴀɴ ʟᴀᴋᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀᴄᴏᴛᴀʀ-ᴍᴇᴇᴛs-ɢᴏᴛʜɪᴄ-ʟɪᴛᴇʀᴀʀʏ ᴠɪʙᴇs, ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ғᴇᴇʟs ᴅᴇᴄᴀᴅᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴄᴀʏɪɴɢ ᴀʟʟ ᴀᴛ ᴏɴᴄᴇ. ʙᴀʟʟʀᴏᴏᴍ sᴄᴇɴᴇs ɢʟɪᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴀɢᴀɪɴsᴛ ᴀ ʙᴀᴄᴋᴅʀᴏᴘ ᴏғ ᴡᴀʀ. ᴏʟᴅ ɢᴏᴅs sᴛɪʀ. ᴍᴏɴsᴛᴇʀs ᴘʀᴏᴡʟ. ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʀᴀᴜᴍᴀ, ᴄʜɪʟᴅʜᴏᴏᴅ ᴡᴏᴜɴᴅs, ᴀɴᴅ sᴜɪᴄɪᴅᴀʟ ɪᴅᴇᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ɪs ʜᴀɴᴅʟᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ sᴛᴀʀᴋ ɪɴᴛᴇɴsɪᴛʏ (⚠️ ᴅᴇғɪɴɪᴛᴇ ᴛʀɪɢɢᴇʀ ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢs ᴀᴘᴘʟʏ).
🎙️𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃:
ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ʟᴇᴀɴs ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏᴅʏ, sᴇɴsᴜᴀʟ ᴛᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴏsᴇ. ᴍᴀʀᴀ’s ʜᴇᴀᴠɪɴᴇss ᴀɴᴅ ɢᴀʀᴇᴛʜ’s ǫᴜɪᴇᴛ ᴅᴇᴠᴏᴛɪᴏɴ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀʟʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʀ-ᴅʀɪᴠᴇɴ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ ᴄᴀʀʀɪᴇs ᴡᴇʟʟ ɪɴ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ʙᴇᴀᴛs ʟᴀɴᴅ sᴛʀᴏɴɢᴇsᴛ ᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ᴍᴀʀᴀ’s ᴠᴜʟɴᴇʀᴀʙʟᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴀʟ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛs ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴛɪᴄ ᴏɴᴇs.
𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈 & 𝒱𝒾𝒷𝑒𝓈:
✨ ғᴇᴀʀsᴏᴍᴇ ғᴍᴄ x ʙᴇsᴘᴇᴄᴛᴀᴄʟᴇᴅ sᴄʜᴏʟᴀʀ ᴍᴍᴄ
✨ ʀᴇᴠᴇʀsᴇ ᴊᴏᴄᴋ x ɴᴇʀᴅ
✨ ɢᴏᴅs, ᴍᴏɴsᴛᴇʀs & ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ
✨ sʟᴏᴡ-ʙᴜʀɴ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
✨ ʙᴀʟʟʀᴏᴏᴍ ᴅʀᴀᴍᴀ (ᴛᴡɪᴄᴇ!)
✨ “ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇʟᴏɴɢ ᴛᴏ ɴᴏ ᴏɴᴇ ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ.”
✨ sᴛᴏɪᴄ ᴍɪᴅᴅʟᴇ sɪsᴛᴇʀ ᴡʜᴏ ᴅᴇsᴇʀᴠᴇs ʀᴇsᴛ
✨ ᴍᴏᴏᴅʏ, sᴇɴsᴜᴀʟ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ
⚠️ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇɴᴛ ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢs: sᴜɪᴄɪᴅᴀʟ ɪᴅᴇᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴄʜɪʟᴅ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ, ʜᴇᴀᴠʏ ᴛʀᴀᴜᴍᴀ ᴛʜᴇᴍᴇs.
𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉:
ᴅᴀʀᴋ, ʟʏʀɪᴄᴀʟ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ ʙʀᴜɪsᴇᴅ, 𝒜 𝑅𝑜𝓈𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝐵𝓁𝑜𝑜𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝐵𝒾𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 ɪs ᴀ ғɪᴛᴛɪɴɢʟʏ ᴅʀᴀᴍᴀᴛɪᴄ ᴄᴏɴᴄʟᴜsɪᴏɴ ғᴏʀ ғᴀɴs ɪɴᴠᴇsᴛᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀsʜʙᴏᴜʀɴᴇ sɪsᴛᴇʀs ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴀᴛᴇ ᴏғ ᴍɪᴅᴅʟᴇᴍɪsᴛ. ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ɢᴏᴛʜɪᴄ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ ʜᴇᴀᴠʏ ᴏɴ ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀᴇ, ᴛʀᴀᴜᴍᴀ ʜᴇᴀʟɪɴɢ, ᴀɴᴅ ɢᴏᴅs-ᴀᴛ-ᴡᴀʀ sᴛᴀᴋᴇs—ᴡɪᴛʜ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴀs ᴀ ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴅ ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴɢɪɴᴇ—ʏᴏᴜ’ʟʟ ʟɪᴋᴇʟʏ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴇᴄɪᴀᴛᴇ ᴛʜɪs ғɪɴᴀʟᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀs ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ʜɪɢʜ-ʜᴇᴀᴛ ᴄʜᴇᴍɪsᴛʀʏ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜᴏᴜᴛ.
ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ!
𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎
ʙᴏᴏᴋsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ: @ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ
++++++++++++
Tropes:
- fearsome FMC x bespectacled scholar MMC
- monsters, gods and magically powers
- reverse damsel in distress
✨Moody & sensual romantic fantasy
✨Inspired by Swan Lake
✨Slowburn Romance
✨reverse Jock x Nerd
✨FMC with severe depression (but she's totally "fine")
✨ACOTAR x Bronte x Naomi Novik
✨Perpetually irritated falcon
✨Grappling with childhood trauma
✨Not one but two ballroom party scenes
✨He's smitten immediately x She's reluctantly charmed
✨"You belong to no one but yourself."
✨ The stoic, long-suffering, soft-hearted middle sister (and the man who won't let her give up)
- ⚠️ Check TW: suicidal ideation, child death
READING NOTES:
- 20% - a bit slow on the romance side
-22% - Man, we were doing so well--getting to know the elusive, middle sister but now this. . . she knows what they're about to do is wrong and she's going to choose wrong. Really wrong. She knows this because one of the Roses on her time did it once before. SMH.
- 23% - Damn, she’s actually a coward
- 50% - barely any interactions or tension/chemistry between them, yet she’s certain she loves him… le sigh. I had such high hopes for their story. And what happened to the reverent Garreth from book 2???
𝒜 𝑅𝑜𝓈𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝐵𝓁𝑜𝑜𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝐵𝒾𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 ʙʏ ᴄʟᴀɪʀᴇ ʟᴇɢʀᴀɴᴅ
𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🥀🥀🥀🥀 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻 ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴏsᴇs
𝒮𝓅𝒾𝒸𝑒 𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🌶🌶 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻
✨ 𝐻𝑜𝑜𝓀✨
ɪɴ ᴀ ᴋɪɴɢᴅᴏᴍ ʀᴀᴠᴀɢᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴡᴀʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴡᴀᴋᴇɴɪɴɢ ɢᴏᴅs, ᴀ ʙᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ-ʜᴀʀᴅᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴅᴇᴍɪɢᴏᴅ sᴇɴᴛɪɴᴇʟ ᴍᴜsᴛ ʜᴜɴᴛ ᴀɴᴄɪᴇɴᴛ ᴄᴜʀsᴇ-ᴀɴᴄʜᴏʀs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ʙᴇsᴘᴇᴄᴛᴀᴄʟᴇᴅ sᴄʜᴏʟᴀʀ ᴡʜᴏ ᴀᴅᴏʀᴇs ʜᴇʀ—ғᴏʀᴄɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴄʜᴏᴏsᴇ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ sᴜʀʀᴇɴᴅᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋɴᴇss sʜᴇ ᴄʀᴀᴠᴇs ᴏʀ ғɪɢʜᴛɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ғᴜᴛᴜʀᴇ sʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴇsɴ’ᴛ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ sʜᴇ ᴅᴇsᴇʀᴠᴇs.
𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:
ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ sᴏᴜʀᴄᴇʙᴏᴏᴋs & ʀʙ ᴍᴇᴅɪᴀ ғᴏʀ ɢɪғᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʟᴄ!
𝑀𝑜𝑜𝒹𝓎. 𝒲𝒶𝓇-𝓉𝑜𝓇𝓃. 𝐿𝓎𝓇𝒾𝒸𝒶𝓁. 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝑒𝓂𝑜𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝒷𝓇𝓊𝒾𝓈𝒾𝓃𝑔.
ᴛʜᴇ ғɪɴᴀʟ ɪɴsᴛᴀʟʟᴍᴇɴᴛ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪᴅᴅʟᴇᴍɪsᴛ ᴛʀɪʟᴏɢʏ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴄʟᴀɪʀᴇ ʟᴇɢʀᴀɴᴅ ɪs ʟᴜsʜ, ᴡᴀʀ-ᴛᴏʀɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ ʜᴇᴀᴠʏ—ʙʟᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ ɢᴏᴅs, ᴍᴏɴsᴛᴇʀs, ʙᴀʟʟʀᴏᴏᴍ ᴘᴏʟɪᴛɪᴄs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ʀᴏᴏᴛᴇᴅ ɪɴ sᴏʀʀᴏᴡ ᴀɴᴅ sᴜʀᴠɪᴠᴀʟ.
ᴡᴀʀ ʀᴀᴠᴀɢᴇs ᴇᴅʏɴ ᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ᴀsʜʙᴏᴜʀɴᴇ sɪsᴛᴇʀs—ᴅᴇᴍɪɢᴏᴅ ᴅᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀs ᴏғ ᴋᴇʀᴇᴢᴇɴ—ᴀʀᴇ sᴄᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴀᴄʀᴏss ᴀ ᴄʀᴜᴍʙʟɪɴɢ ᴋɪɴɢᴅᴏᴍ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜɪs sᴛᴏʀʏ ғɪʀᴍʟʏ ᴄᴇɴᴛᴇʀs ᴍᴀʀᴀ: sᴛᴏɪᴄ, ʟᴏɴɢ-sᴜғғᴇʀɪɴɢ, ᴀɴᴅ ǫᴜɪᴇᴛʟʏ ᴜɴʀᴀᴠᴇʟɪɴɢ. ʙᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪᴅᴅʟᴇᴍɪsᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ɢʀᴀᴘᴘʟɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ sᴇᴠᴇʀᴇ ᴅᴇᴘʀᴇssɪᴏɴ, ᴍᴀʀᴀ ғᴇᴇʟs ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ʜᴇʀᴏɪɴᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴠᴇᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ sᴛᴏɴᴇ—sʜᴀʀᴘ, ᴇxʜᴀᴜsᴛᴇᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴇɴᴅᴜʀᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴡʜᴇɴ sʜᴇ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ.
ᴇɴᴛᴇʀ ɢᴀʀᴇᴛʜ ғᴏɴᴛᴀɪɴᴇ: ʙᴇsᴘᴇᴄᴛᴀᴄʟᴇᴅ sᴄʜᴏʟᴀʀ, ɪᴍᴍᴇᴅɪᴀᴛᴇʟʏ sᴍɪᴛᴛᴇɴ, ʀᴇᴠᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ᴀʟᴍᴏsᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴀ ғᴀᴜʟᴛ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴅʏɴᴀᴍɪᴄ ᴘʀᴏᴍɪsᴇs ʀᴇᴠᴇʀsᴇ ᴊᴏᴄᴋ x ɴᴇʀᴅ ᴇɴᴇʀɢʏ (ғᴇᴀʀsᴏᴍᴇ ᴡᴀʀʀɪᴏʀ ғᴍᴄ x sᴏғᴛ ᴀᴄᴀᴅᴇᴍɪᴄ ᴍᴍᴄ), ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅᴡᴏʀᴋ ɪs ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ—ᴛᴡᴏ ᴡᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ sᴏᴜʟs ʀᴇᴄᴏɢɴɪᴢɪɴɢ ᴅᴀʀᴋɴᴇss ɪɴ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ. ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ɪs ᴍᴇᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ sʟᴏᴡ-ʙᴜʀɴ, ʙᴏʀɴ ғʀᴏᴍ sʜᴀʀᴇᴅ ɢʀɪᴇғ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘʀᴏxɪᴍɪᴛʏ ᴀs ᴛʜᴇʏ ʜᴜɴᴛ ᴄᴜʀsᴇ-ᴀɴᴄʜᴏʀs ᴀᴄʀᴏss ᴛʜᴇ ᴏʟᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛʀʏ.
ʜᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ, ᴘᴀᴄɪɴɢ ɪs ᴜɴᴇᴠᴇɴ—ᴘᴀʀᴛɪᴄᴜʟᴀʀʟʏ ɪɴ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ. ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ 𝟸𝟶–𝟻𝟶% ᴍᴀʀᴋ, ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ғᴇᴇʟs ᴅɪsᴛᴀɴᴛ, ᴡɪᴛʜ ʟɪᴍɪᴛᴇᴅ ᴏɴ-ᴘᴀɢᴇ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ᴅᴇᴄʟᴀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴs ᴏғ ᴅᴇᴇᴘ ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ. ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ʜᴇʀᴇ ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʀɪʟʏ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ, ɪᴛ ᴍᴀʏ ғᴇᴇʟ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀᴅᴇᴠᴇʟᴏᴘᴇᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴘɪᴄ sᴛᴀᴋᴇs sᴡɪʀʟɪɴɢ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ɪᴛ. ᴍᴀʀᴀ’s ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴀʟ sᴛʀᴜɢɢʟᴇs ᴀʀᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴇʟʟɪɴɢ, ʙᴜᴛ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴏғ ʜᴇʀ ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇs—ᴇsᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴇᴀʀʟʏ ᴏɴ—ᴄᴀɴ ʙᴇ ғʀᴜsᴛʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ, ᴇᴠᴇɴ sᴇʟғ-sᴀʙᴏᴛᴀɢɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴡᴀʏs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛᴇsᴛ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ ᴘᴀᴛɪᴇɴᴄᴇ.
ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ sʜɪɴᴇs ɪs ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀᴇ. ɪɴsᴘɪʀᴇᴅ ʙʏ sᴡᴀɴ ʟᴀᴋᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀᴄᴏᴛᴀʀ-ᴍᴇᴇᴛs-ɢᴏᴛʜɪᴄ-ʟɪᴛᴇʀᴀʀʏ ᴠɪʙᴇs, ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ғᴇᴇʟs ᴅᴇᴄᴀᴅᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴄᴀʏɪɴɢ ᴀʟʟ ᴀᴛ ᴏɴᴄᴇ. ʙᴀʟʟʀᴏᴏᴍ sᴄᴇɴᴇs ɢʟɪᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴀɢᴀɪɴsᴛ ᴀ ʙᴀᴄᴋᴅʀᴏᴘ ᴏғ ᴡᴀʀ. ᴏʟᴅ ɢᴏᴅs sᴛɪʀ. ᴍᴏɴsᴛᴇʀs ᴘʀᴏᴡʟ. ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʀᴀᴜᴍᴀ, ᴄʜɪʟᴅʜᴏᴏᴅ ᴡᴏᴜɴᴅs, ᴀɴᴅ sᴜɪᴄɪᴅᴀʟ ɪᴅᴇᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ɪs ʜᴀɴᴅʟᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ sᴛᴀʀᴋ ɪɴᴛᴇɴsɪᴛʏ (⚠️ ᴅᴇғɪɴɪᴛᴇ ᴛʀɪɢɢᴇʀ ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢs ᴀᴘᴘʟʏ).
🎙️𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃:
ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ʟᴇᴀɴs ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏᴅʏ, sᴇɴsᴜᴀʟ ᴛᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴏsᴇ. ᴍᴀʀᴀ’s ʜᴇᴀᴠɪɴᴇss ᴀɴᴅ ɢᴀʀᴇᴛʜ’s ǫᴜɪᴇᴛ ᴅᴇᴠᴏᴛɪᴏɴ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀʟʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʀ-ᴅʀɪᴠᴇɴ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ ᴄᴀʀʀɪᴇs ᴡᴇʟʟ ɪɴ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ʙᴇᴀᴛs ʟᴀɴᴅ sᴛʀᴏɴɢᴇsᴛ ᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ᴍᴀʀᴀ’s ᴠᴜʟɴᴇʀᴀʙʟᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴀʟ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛs ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴛɪᴄ ᴏɴᴇs.
𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈 & 𝒱𝒾𝒷𝑒𝓈:
✨ ғᴇᴀʀsᴏᴍᴇ ғᴍᴄ x ʙᴇsᴘᴇᴄᴛᴀᴄʟᴇᴅ sᴄʜᴏʟᴀʀ ᴍᴍᴄ
✨ ʀᴇᴠᴇʀsᴇ ᴊᴏᴄᴋ x ɴᴇʀᴅ
✨ ɢᴏᴅs, ᴍᴏɴsᴛᴇʀs & ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ
✨ sʟᴏᴡ-ʙᴜʀɴ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
✨ ʙᴀʟʟʀᴏᴏᴍ ᴅʀᴀᴍᴀ (ᴛᴡɪᴄᴇ!)
✨ “ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇʟᴏɴɢ ᴛᴏ ɴᴏ ᴏɴᴇ ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ.”
✨ sᴛᴏɪᴄ ᴍɪᴅᴅʟᴇ sɪsᴛᴇʀ ᴡʜᴏ ᴅᴇsᴇʀᴠᴇs ʀᴇsᴛ
✨ ᴍᴏᴏᴅʏ, sᴇɴsᴜᴀʟ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ
⚠️ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇɴᴛ ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢs: sᴜɪᴄɪᴅᴀʟ ɪᴅᴇᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴄʜɪʟᴅ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ, ʜᴇᴀᴠʏ ᴛʀᴀᴜᴍᴀ ᴛʜᴇᴍᴇs.
𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉:
ᴅᴀʀᴋ, ʟʏʀɪᴄᴀʟ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ ʙʀᴜɪsᴇᴅ, 𝒜 𝑅𝑜𝓈𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝐵𝓁𝑜𝑜𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝐵𝒾𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 ɪs ᴀ ғɪᴛᴛɪɴɢʟʏ ᴅʀᴀᴍᴀᴛɪᴄ ᴄᴏɴᴄʟᴜsɪᴏɴ ғᴏʀ ғᴀɴs ɪɴᴠᴇsᴛᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀsʜʙᴏᴜʀɴᴇ sɪsᴛᴇʀs ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴀᴛᴇ ᴏғ ᴍɪᴅᴅʟᴇᴍɪsᴛ. ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ɢᴏᴛʜɪᴄ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ ʜᴇᴀᴠʏ ᴏɴ ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀᴇ, ᴛʀᴀᴜᴍᴀ ʜᴇᴀʟɪɴɢ, ᴀɴᴅ ɢᴏᴅs-ᴀᴛ-ᴡᴀʀ sᴛᴀᴋᴇs—ᴡɪᴛʜ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴀs ᴀ ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴅ ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴɢɪɴᴇ—ʏᴏᴜ’ʟʟ ʟɪᴋᴇʟʏ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴇᴄɪᴀᴛᴇ ᴛʜɪs ғɪɴᴀʟᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀs ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ʜɪɢʜ-ʜᴇᴀᴛ ᴄʜᴇᴍɪsᴛʀʏ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜᴏᴜᴛ.
ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ!
𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎
ʙᴏᴏᴋsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ: @ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ
++++++++++++
Tropes:
- fearsome FMC x bespectacled scholar MMC
- monsters, gods and magically powers
- reverse damsel in distress
✨Moody & sensual romantic fantasy
✨Inspired by Swan Lake
✨Slowburn Romance
✨reverse Jock x Nerd
✨FMC with severe depression (but she's totally "fine")
✨ACOTAR x Bronte x Naomi Novik
✨Perpetually irritated falcon
✨Grappling with childhood trauma
✨Not one but two ballroom party scenes
✨He's smitten immediately x She's reluctantly charmed
✨"You belong to no one but yourself."
✨ The stoic, long-suffering, soft-hearted middle sister (and the man who won't let her give up)
- ⚠️ Check TW: suicidal ideation, child death
READING NOTES:
- 20% - a bit slow on the romance side
-22% - Man, we were doing so well--getting to know the elusive, middle sister but now this. . . she knows what they're about to do is wrong and she's going to choose wrong. Really wrong. She knows this because one of the Roses on her time did it once before. SMH.
- 23% - Damn, she’s actually a coward
- 50% - barely any interactions or tension/chemistry between them, yet she’s certain she loves him… le sigh. I had such high hopes for their story. And what happened to the reverent Garreth from book 2???
March 19, 2026
Star Rating: 4.5 stars
Date: 3/10/26 – 3/17/26
Note: This is the 3rd and final book in the Middlemist Trilogy so this will not be an in-depth review to avoid spoilers.
Claire Legrand has become an auto request author for me; (I don’t get new books very often so instead of auto buy, I say auto request as I’m requesting them from the public library as soon as they come out😊), and this didn’t change when the 3rd and final book in the Middlemist trilogy came out, A Rose of Blood and Binding. This is the 3rd sister, Mara’s, love story as well as the conclusion of our overarching plot of the Middlemist trilogy. Can these sisters, their love interests, and friends fix the Middlemist, the magical boundary between the realms of human and Olden before it dissolves or swallows their world completely?
First off, I really loved Mara and her love interest, Gareth together. They were both suffering from PTSD, mostly related to their experiences with toxic parental figures, and they were able to bond over this and heal as well as find their happily ever after. I loved that Mara was the strong one, the broody warrior shape-shifting Rose while Gareth was the intelligent, hopeful librarian. It was a subversion of troupes that I haven’t seen very often. I did, however, feel that we weren’t able to dive as deep into their character on their own or together as I would have liked due to us having to wrap up so much of the plot of the series in this volume, but more on that later; all in all, they were a solid couple that I was rooting to get their happy ever after.
I also really liked the central theme of this series/book- the exploration of toxic parental figures and how it can affect an individual for the long term and how we go about breaking that cycle. Every character in this series/book is suffering from this in some capacity, and it was interesting to see how this shaped their character arcs and the plot movements, although again, because we were trying to cover so much ground, I didn’t get the true deep exploration that I wanted. I did appreciate the look at this theme though, as it isn’t one I see often, with the trend in most fantasy and science fiction books being missing or dead parents.
The first two books were more focused on the couples, and although we had plot threads, we really didn’t begin focusing on them in earnestness until the end of book 2 and book 3. As a result, and as previously mentioned, we had way too much ground to cover in book 3, and our thematic and character/couple exploration suffered as a result. If we had started bringing in more plot threads before that, the series as a whole would have been more balanced, and the ending wouldn’t have felt as rushed and far more satisfying. I enjoyed the ending, but there was so much going on all at once, I felt like I couldn’t catch my breath and was getting whiplash. This was one of the better “romantasy” books that I’ve read, but it still didn’t quite have that needed balance, hence the deduction of the ½ star.
All in all, this was an engaging and interesting story, and I am looking forward to reading Legrand’s standalones as I haven’t gotten to those yet and any other series that she decides to write in the future. 4.5 stars!!!!!
Date: 3/10/26 – 3/17/26
Note: This is the 3rd and final book in the Middlemist Trilogy so this will not be an in-depth review to avoid spoilers.
Claire Legrand has become an auto request author for me; (I don’t get new books very often so instead of auto buy, I say auto request as I’m requesting them from the public library as soon as they come out😊), and this didn’t change when the 3rd and final book in the Middlemist trilogy came out, A Rose of Blood and Binding. This is the 3rd sister, Mara’s, love story as well as the conclusion of our overarching plot of the Middlemist trilogy. Can these sisters, their love interests, and friends fix the Middlemist, the magical boundary between the realms of human and Olden before it dissolves or swallows their world completely?
First off, I really loved Mara and her love interest, Gareth together. They were both suffering from PTSD, mostly related to their experiences with toxic parental figures, and they were able to bond over this and heal as well as find their happily ever after. I loved that Mara was the strong one, the broody warrior shape-shifting Rose while Gareth was the intelligent, hopeful librarian. It was a subversion of troupes that I haven’t seen very often. I did, however, feel that we weren’t able to dive as deep into their character on their own or together as I would have liked due to us having to wrap up so much of the plot of the series in this volume, but more on that later; all in all, they were a solid couple that I was rooting to get their happy ever after.
I also really liked the central theme of this series/book- the exploration of toxic parental figures and how it can affect an individual for the long term and how we go about breaking that cycle. Every character in this series/book is suffering from this in some capacity, and it was interesting to see how this shaped their character arcs and the plot movements, although again, because we were trying to cover so much ground, I didn’t get the true deep exploration that I wanted. I did appreciate the look at this theme though, as it isn’t one I see often, with the trend in most fantasy and science fiction books being missing or dead parents.
The first two books were more focused on the couples, and although we had plot threads, we really didn’t begin focusing on them in earnestness until the end of book 2 and book 3. As a result, and as previously mentioned, we had way too much ground to cover in book 3, and our thematic and character/couple exploration suffered as a result. If we had started bringing in more plot threads before that, the series as a whole would have been more balanced, and the ending wouldn’t have felt as rushed and far more satisfying. I enjoyed the ending, but there was so much going on all at once, I felt like I couldn’t catch my breath and was getting whiplash. This was one of the better “romantasy” books that I’ve read, but it still didn’t quite have that needed balance, hence the deduction of the ½ star.
All in all, this was an engaging and interesting story, and I am looking forward to reading Legrand’s standalones as I haven’t gotten to those yet and any other series that she decides to write in the future. 4.5 stars!!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Rose of Blood and Binding closes out Claire Legrand's fantastic and underrated romantic fantasy trilogy. It's the darkest installment yet and I think it might be my favorite?
This book is simultaneously a high stakes dark fantasy quest but also a deeply introspective internal character journey for Mara Ashbourne who is struggling with depression and PTSD over the course of the novel. Like the previous two books in this trilogy, Claire Legrand expertly weaves the external plot elements and the internal character struggles together into one compelling story. As the final book in a trilogy, it's impressive how well this book concludes the overarching plot and gives satisfying endings to the various character dynamics explored in this story (Mara and her sisters, Mara and Gareth, Mara and the Warden, Mara and the other Roses, and Kilraith and Ankaret).
Of this trilogy's three excellent main romances, the one explored in this novel between Mara and Gareth is probably my favorite. While both have been significant characters in the trilogy since the first book, I did not expect them to be paired together until halfway through Book 2 and even then I was not prepared for just how perfect they were for each other. Their banter is impeccable, the warrior x scholar pairing is always a winner (see also: The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow), and watching them discover how similar they actually are and how protective they were over each other was lovely. You know a romance is a winner for me if I'm listening to Taylor Swift songs and thinking of them (Gold Rush, Evermore, The Great War, The Albatross in particular but also special shout out to Hayley Williams for Hard and Whim which are two of the most Mara Ashbourne songs to ever exist).
It's bittersweet saying goodbye to the Middlemist trilogy and the Ashbourne sisters as I love them with my whole heart. If there's any series where I would wish for a cozy low stakes/non-essential spinoff novella, it would be this one. If Claire Legrand ever wants to revisit this world and these characters, I would buy it in a heartbeat.
I received an eARC of this book for review from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca. All opinions are my own.
This book is simultaneously a high stakes dark fantasy quest but also a deeply introspective internal character journey for Mara Ashbourne who is struggling with depression and PTSD over the course of the novel. Like the previous two books in this trilogy, Claire Legrand expertly weaves the external plot elements and the internal character struggles together into one compelling story. As the final book in a trilogy, it's impressive how well this book concludes the overarching plot and gives satisfying endings to the various character dynamics explored in this story (Mara and her sisters, Mara and Gareth, Mara and the Warden, Mara and the other Roses, and Kilraith and Ankaret).
Of this trilogy's three excellent main romances, the one explored in this novel between Mara and Gareth is probably my favorite. While both have been significant characters in the trilogy since the first book, I did not expect them to be paired together until halfway through Book 2 and even then I was not prepared for just how perfect they were for each other. Their banter is impeccable, the warrior x scholar pairing is always a winner (see also: The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow), and watching them discover how similar they actually are and how protective they were over each other was lovely. You know a romance is a winner for me if I'm listening to Taylor Swift songs and thinking of them (Gold Rush, Evermore, The Great War, The Albatross in particular but also special shout out to Hayley Williams for Hard and Whim which are two of the most Mara Ashbourne songs to ever exist).
It's bittersweet saying goodbye to the Middlemist trilogy and the Ashbourne sisters as I love them with my whole heart. If there's any series where I would wish for a cozy low stakes/non-essential spinoff novella, it would be this one. If Claire Legrand ever wants to revisit this world and these characters, I would buy it in a heartbeat.
I received an eARC of this book for review from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca. All opinions are my own.
February 26, 2026
This review is based off of my experience reading an eARC I received via Netgalley from the publisher, Sourcebooks. This did not in any way affect my review.
First, I want to say that this book contains multiple on-page scenes of self-harm and suicide attempts by the main character. This is covered by the content warning at the beginning of the book, but I personally felt like the phrasing of the content warning could have been a bit more clear so I wanted to add this in here. I do think the scenes were handled well by the author even if due to personal history they were a bit tough for me to read.
A Rose of Blood and Binding is the final book in the Middlemist trilogy, and centers on the middle Ashbourne sister, Mara. Mara is a solder in the Order of the Rose, as she has been since she was taken from her home at the age of ten to be raised in the Order and hone her sentinel powers. This book deals a lot with Mara’s feelings that have resulted from growing up in a harsh environment separate from her family. It also deals with her feelings for and romance with Gareth Fontaine, the librarian who we have been introduced to previously in the series as eldest sister Farrin’s best friend.
The main plot of the story starts off just weeks after the end of book two, so I won’t go into too much detail as to not spoil the ending of that book. Suffice it to say, this book deals with the conclusion to the fight against Kilraith, a fight that Mara, Gareth, and their friends and family are at the center of. This story and how it ends was likely my favorite part of this book, as I personally did not feel like the romance part in this story was very believable. It felt very insta-love to me which I am personally not a fan of and I thought it felt a bit unbelievable when paired with Mara’s character and personality.
I did enjoy reading the last book in this world (and I honestly wish we got more books in this lovely world!), but I do think it is my least favorite book of the series. Some of my favorite scenes in the first two books were the regency-vibes ones, and since Mara is understandably not a part of that world like her sisters you do not get those scenes in this book. I think this combined with my personal dislike of the romance trope used contributed to my liking the first two more than this one.
4 stars
First, I want to say that this book contains multiple on-page scenes of self-harm and suicide attempts by the main character. This is covered by the content warning at the beginning of the book, but I personally felt like the phrasing of the content warning could have been a bit more clear so I wanted to add this in here. I do think the scenes were handled well by the author even if due to personal history they were a bit tough for me to read.
A Rose of Blood and Binding is the final book in the Middlemist trilogy, and centers on the middle Ashbourne sister, Mara. Mara is a solder in the Order of the Rose, as she has been since she was taken from her home at the age of ten to be raised in the Order and hone her sentinel powers. This book deals a lot with Mara’s feelings that have resulted from growing up in a harsh environment separate from her family. It also deals with her feelings for and romance with Gareth Fontaine, the librarian who we have been introduced to previously in the series as eldest sister Farrin’s best friend.
The main plot of the story starts off just weeks after the end of book two, so I won’t go into too much detail as to not spoil the ending of that book. Suffice it to say, this book deals with the conclusion to the fight against Kilraith, a fight that Mara, Gareth, and their friends and family are at the center of. This story and how it ends was likely my favorite part of this book, as I personally did not feel like the romance part in this story was very believable. It felt very insta-love to me which I am personally not a fan of and I thought it felt a bit unbelievable when paired with Mara’s character and personality.
I did enjoy reading the last book in this world (and I honestly wish we got more books in this lovely world!), but I do think it is my least favorite book of the series. Some of my favorite scenes in the first two books were the regency-vibes ones, and since Mara is understandably not a part of that world like her sisters you do not get those scenes in this book. I think this combined with my personal dislike of the romance trope used contributed to my liking the first two more than this one.
4 stars
November 20, 2025
Legrand is the Queen of uncomfortable character growth that not only is realistic but represents the aspects of ourselves we frequently hide from the world. This book was the perfect ending to the Trilogy that weaves the complexities of the bonds of sisterhood with an entrancing world of magic, politics and power. A Rose of Blood and Binding is much more violent than the previous two books, setting the tone for a darker, more physically capable heroine whose growth is far more internal.
Mara is perhaps my favorite Legrand character yet, and she holds a up a mirror for those of us who excelled early in life but who were never quite sure we'd live up to the expectations placed on us by our families and by our society. Although she's been portrayed in the earlier two books from her sisters' perspectives as highly capable, getting to see the damage of Mara's negative self talk and learning how Mara feels compelled to follow a trajectory without much real choice is sadly incredibly relatable.
As one might expect, Legrand handles the PTSD and mental health aspects found within this book beautifully. Reading this book can be at times uncomfortable, but ultimately incredibly cathartic. There's no artificial tension or unrealistic changes; we can see Mara struggling to take her own advice or to give herself the grace she affords others, just as we see the very real impact of abuse, both physical and mental upon the main characters. There are absolutely points where this book will find you shedding tears, but you wouldn't have it any other way.
This book isn't all dark undertones and representation for mental health- there are some incredible battle scenes, increased use of magic, and some top-notch banter. The bond of sisterhood, even estranged sisters, shines bright and is woven throughout the story. Moreover, there's a very cute scene where Mara does yoga to tease Gareth.
As ever, the trilogy ends with a surprising but well-thought-out plot twist, highlighting Legrand's mastery of the genre. The overall message is equally as powerful- that life is worth living and on the days that feel especially heavy, we can rely on others to help us make it through- and perhaps be more equipped to fight the next day.
Mara is perhaps my favorite Legrand character yet, and she holds a up a mirror for those of us who excelled early in life but who were never quite sure we'd live up to the expectations placed on us by our families and by our society. Although she's been portrayed in the earlier two books from her sisters' perspectives as highly capable, getting to see the damage of Mara's negative self talk and learning how Mara feels compelled to follow a trajectory without much real choice is sadly incredibly relatable.
As one might expect, Legrand handles the PTSD and mental health aspects found within this book beautifully. Reading this book can be at times uncomfortable, but ultimately incredibly cathartic. There's no artificial tension or unrealistic changes; we can see Mara struggling to take her own advice or to give herself the grace she affords others, just as we see the very real impact of abuse, both physical and mental upon the main characters. There are absolutely points where this book will find you shedding tears, but you wouldn't have it any other way.
This book isn't all dark undertones and representation for mental health- there are some incredible battle scenes, increased use of magic, and some top-notch banter. The bond of sisterhood, even estranged sisters, shines bright and is woven throughout the story. Moreover, there's a very cute scene where Mara does yoga to tease Gareth.
As ever, the trilogy ends with a surprising but well-thought-out plot twist, highlighting Legrand's mastery of the genre. The overall message is equally as powerful- that life is worth living and on the days that feel especially heavy, we can rely on others to help us make it through- and perhaps be more equipped to fight the next day.
February 21, 2026
So after reading the first book when it was first coming out I took a break. I had to reread it and then binge the rest of this series immediately. Overall I will say I am pretty easy to please most of the time. I think the series as a whole is pretty solid I enjoyed my time with the MIddlemist Trilogy and am sad it is over with A Rose of Blood and Binding. I really liked Mara an I feel like Claire Legrand did very well with her character development and I think she has become a favorite of mine, I will be coming back to this series again in the future to reread because I really enjoyed how Claire Legrand thought out the entire series as whole but specifically because I really enjoyed how she ended it. I will say as i have now finished this trilogy I need to go back and read the emporium trilogy. And the rest of her backlist. I do not think this book is perfect. But in the end I did enjoy my time with it and with Mara, Gareth.
And I will tell you if they have the opportunity to pick up the audios of any of them Evelyn Rose did the audio for the entire series, but I did my reread of the first book and audio, and then did the rest of them as immersive reads and I absolutely love Evelyn. I think she does an amazing job in narration. She’s so easy to understand even at higher rates of speed. I love her accent and her cadence of speech. She really brought everything to life and brought the extra something I needed to the book and my whole experience.
Thank you to Source Book Casablanca and Dreamscape Media for the complementary copies. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
And I will tell you if they have the opportunity to pick up the audios of any of them Evelyn Rose did the audio for the entire series, but I did my reread of the first book and audio, and then did the rest of them as immersive reads and I absolutely love Evelyn. I think she does an amazing job in narration. She’s so easy to understand even at higher rates of speed. I love her accent and her cadence of speech. She really brought everything to life and brought the extra something I needed to the book and my whole experience.
Thank you to Source Book Casablanca and Dreamscape Media for the complementary copies. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 1, 2026
This was a good conclusion to a good series. I have enjoyed following the Ashbourne sisters on their journeys. Mara is the sister in focus for this installment, and it is interesting to finally learn more about her history, is she my favorite sister? Probably not because I felt like we kept coming back to the same issue over and over. However, I think she is a very solid character and compelling in her own way. Her relationship with the Warden and the grooming (for lack of better word) she was subject to growing up was difficult to watch and not rage. I waned to get angry at Mara for her reactions so many times which is a little unfair considering she basically brainwashed. On the other hand, Gareth is probably my favorite MMC of the series! I love his sarcastic, irreverent attitude and how he masks a much deeper side to himself. He’s also a sexy scholar and I am a sucker for that. Witty AND well read? Sign me up!
The series long plot line was a little overshadowed in this by Mara’s internal struggles with her relationships and past. It made the buildup and battle against the main villain feel less impressive, and slightly anticlimactic in how it is resolved. Overall I enjoyed the book and I like how it wrapped up all the stories and brought the 3 sisters together in the end.
The audiobook was a joy to listen to. Evelyn Roe has a beautiful voice and does a good job bringing the characters to life. I’m always impressed when a single person is able to successfully narrate a book, especially in this duet heavy time, and Rose definitely held their own with this one.
Thank you for this opportunity! My thoughts are entirely my own.
The series long plot line was a little overshadowed in this by Mara’s internal struggles with her relationships and past. It made the buildup and battle against the main villain feel less impressive, and slightly anticlimactic in how it is resolved. Overall I enjoyed the book and I like how it wrapped up all the stories and brought the 3 sisters together in the end.
The audiobook was a joy to listen to. Evelyn Roe has a beautiful voice and does a good job bringing the characters to life. I’m always impressed when a single person is able to successfully narrate a book, especially in this duet heavy time, and Rose definitely held their own with this one.
Thank you for this opportunity! My thoughts are entirely my own.
March 11, 2026
A Race to the Finish
I love the world Claire Legrand built for the Middlemist Trilogy. From book 1 I have always been most interested in getting Mara’s story. I was so glad when I found out that each of the 3 books in the trilogy would be told from a different sisters POV. The build up for me to this third book was epic. I had very high hopes as well as high expectations.
I loved the first 3/4 of this book, but so much of the time was (rightly) related to Mara’s individual story and journey that it left me feeling like progress wasn’t being made in regards to the overall epic plot. Then the last quarter of the book ended up feeling rushed and I wish we could have spent those pages wrapping up Mara’s individual story and creating a build up to a final concluding fourth book (told from all 3 sisters povs).
I hope Claire isn’t done telling stories in this beautiful and interesting world she’s built. I feel like there are so many questions left to explore!
Evelyn Rose has done an amazing job narrating this entire trilogy and I am so impressed how well she (consistently) portrays each of the dozens of characters. Imagining three unique FMC, three unique (and believable) MMC voices, as well as unique and memorable side characters voices was incredible.
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to listen and read along throughout the Middlemist Trilogy. Thank you to @dreamscapemedia for allowing me to listen to a copy of the audiobook for #ARoseofBloodandBinding through #NetGalley.
I love the world Claire Legrand built for the Middlemist Trilogy. From book 1 I have always been most interested in getting Mara’s story. I was so glad when I found out that each of the 3 books in the trilogy would be told from a different sisters POV. The build up for me to this third book was epic. I had very high hopes as well as high expectations.
I loved the first 3/4 of this book, but so much of the time was (rightly) related to Mara’s individual story and journey that it left me feeling like progress wasn’t being made in regards to the overall epic plot. Then the last quarter of the book ended up feeling rushed and I wish we could have spent those pages wrapping up Mara’s individual story and creating a build up to a final concluding fourth book (told from all 3 sisters povs).
I hope Claire isn’t done telling stories in this beautiful and interesting world she’s built. I feel like there are so many questions left to explore!
Evelyn Rose has done an amazing job narrating this entire trilogy and I am so impressed how well she (consistently) portrays each of the dozens of characters. Imagining three unique FMC, three unique (and believable) MMC voices, as well as unique and memorable side characters voices was incredible.
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to listen and read along throughout the Middlemist Trilogy. Thank you to @dreamscapemedia for allowing me to listen to a copy of the audiobook for #ARoseofBloodandBinding through #NetGalley.
March 1, 2026
A Rose of Blood and Binding
Book 3 of The Middlemist Trilogy
by Claire Legrand
4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
While I did end up enjoying this series, it's not without it's flaws.
What I liked:
- Each book is from the POV of a different sister.
- Each MC has their own strengths, flaws, relationships, and growth.
- Interesting magic comes from Gods and many types of creatures/beings exist.
What I struggled with:
- The sisters were sometimes relatable, and sometimes deeply unlikable. I found myself wanting to smack each of them for being stubborn, stupid, blind, petty, selfish, etc.
- The first book didn't really match the 2nd and 3rd in scale and world building. The conflict and stakes in the first one felt relatively small and petty, but were revealed to be part of something much larger at the end.
Overall, A Rose of Blood and Binding was a satisfying conclusion to this trilogy. There was enough closure to feel sated, while still knowing there is more work for these characters to do - Not in a way that warrants another book, but in the way that I'm contented to know the characters I spent so much time with still have purpose in their world while I move on in mine.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for sending me an ALC of this audiobook.
All opinions are my own, and never generated by AI.
- Maddie, the ArcaneBookWitch 🖤
Book 3 of The Middlemist Trilogy
by Claire Legrand
4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
While I did end up enjoying this series, it's not without it's flaws.
What I liked:
- Each book is from the POV of a different sister.
- Each MC has their own strengths, flaws, relationships, and growth.
- Interesting magic comes from Gods and many types of creatures/beings exist.
What I struggled with:
- The sisters were sometimes relatable, and sometimes deeply unlikable. I found myself wanting to smack each of them for being stubborn, stupid, blind, petty, selfish, etc.
- The first book didn't really match the 2nd and 3rd in scale and world building. The conflict and stakes in the first one felt relatively small and petty, but were revealed to be part of something much larger at the end.
Overall, A Rose of Blood and Binding was a satisfying conclusion to this trilogy. There was enough closure to feel sated, while still knowing there is more work for these characters to do - Not in a way that warrants another book, but in the way that I'm contented to know the characters I spent so much time with still have purpose in their world while I move on in mine.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for sending me an ALC of this audiobook.
All opinions are my own, and never generated by AI.
- Maddie, the ArcaneBookWitch 🖤
March 15, 2026
3.75 ⭐️ rounded up
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Claire Legrand for the advance release copy of this book in exchange for the honest review. It took me so long to finish the first two books in the series that the book is already out but I still thank all above for the ARC anyhow!
This is the third and final book in this series, following the oldest sister in the Ashbourne family. I found Mara very relatable and likable, despite her hard exterior. She was taken away from the family at a young age in replacement for her sister Gemma when she was found to (falsely) be without magic. This shaped Mara into having an artificially tough shell that takes many, many chapters to crack. Luckily, being in her head makes it a little easier for the reader to get to know her.
The love interest is sweet, if not incredibly predictable. So predictable, in fact, that at the end of the second book I thought “I wonder if Mara will end up with Gareth). There wasn’t much tension in this pairing, even the fact that he was her sister’s best friend and (ahem… ex-once-lover) was used for tension. The only thing that kept these two apart was Mara’s tough girl routine.
They have a “sparring” scene which had potential to build tension but it just… didn’t.
Gareth is a hot librarian. A hot. Librarian… literally so much you could do with that. And… nothing. I guess I was less impressed with the romance than I thought.
The epic final battle was… fine. The horcrux but not a horcrux hunting was fun. It came to a fun peak. Not as epic as it could have been and the strength of Mara as a Sentinel was a bit underwhelming. But still enjoyable.
The dynamics between the sisters is fun but honestly pretty sad from Mara’s POV. The common theme across this series was tackling mental health struggles so it was interesting to see how this manifested in Mara’s relationship with her family.
The warden is such an interesting character. I hate her but I also feel the connection Mara feels to her. When she bound Mara to her, I loathed her so much. She was a very well written character. Mara replacing her was a nice touch.
All in all, I did really enjoy this book and the series in general.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Claire Legrand for the advance release copy of this book in exchange for the honest review. It took me so long to finish the first two books in the series that the book is already out but I still thank all above for the ARC anyhow!
This is the third and final book in this series, following the oldest sister in the Ashbourne family. I found Mara very relatable and likable, despite her hard exterior. She was taken away from the family at a young age in replacement for her sister Gemma when she was found to (falsely) be without magic. This shaped Mara into having an artificially tough shell that takes many, many chapters to crack. Luckily, being in her head makes it a little easier for the reader to get to know her.
The love interest is sweet, if not incredibly predictable. So predictable, in fact, that at the end of the second book I thought “I wonder if Mara will end up with Gareth). There wasn’t much tension in this pairing, even the fact that he was her sister’s best friend and (ahem… ex-once-lover) was used for tension. The only thing that kept these two apart was Mara’s tough girl routine.
They have a “sparring” scene which had potential to build tension but it just… didn’t.
Gareth is a hot librarian. A hot. Librarian… literally so much you could do with that. And… nothing. I guess I was less impressed with the romance than I thought.
The epic final battle was… fine. The horcrux but not a horcrux hunting was fun. It came to a fun peak. Not as epic as it could have been and the strength of Mara as a Sentinel was a bit underwhelming. But still enjoyable.
The dynamics between the sisters is fun but honestly pretty sad from Mara’s POV. The common theme across this series was tackling mental health struggles so it was interesting to see how this manifested in Mara’s relationship with her family.
The warden is such an interesting character. I hate her but I also feel the connection Mara feels to her. When she bound Mara to her, I loathed her so much. She was a very well written character. Mara replacing her was a nice touch.
All in all, I did really enjoy this book and the series in general.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2026
This was easily my favourite book of the trilogy and such a satisfying conclusion to the series.
This story felt darker and more emotional than the earlier books, and I loved finally getting Mara’s full story. Seeing into her trauma, self-doubt, and inner struggles made her a compelling character. Her journey felt raw and surprisingly relatable for a fantasy setting.
The romance between Mara and Gareth was another highlight for me. I love the warrior-woman/scholarly-man dynamic and their chemistry, banter, and quiet support for each other worked really well. Their relationship felt authentic as they are two highly flawed, vulnerable people and it added some warmth to an otherwise dark and high-stakes story.
There’s plenty of action, magic, gods, and dangerous quests, but what I loved most was how emotional the story felt. Especially the focus on loyalty, healing, and the bonds between the sisters. The audiobook narration was excellent especially with different accents and helped make the story immersive as well.
Overall, this was my favourite instalment in the trilogy and honestly I think this series might be the author’s best work so far. If you enjoy character-driven romantasy with strong heroines, emotional stakes, and some romance, this series is definitely worth picking up.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story felt darker and more emotional than the earlier books, and I loved finally getting Mara’s full story. Seeing into her trauma, self-doubt, and inner struggles made her a compelling character. Her journey felt raw and surprisingly relatable for a fantasy setting.
The romance between Mara and Gareth was another highlight for me. I love the warrior-woman/scholarly-man dynamic and their chemistry, banter, and quiet support for each other worked really well. Their relationship felt authentic as they are two highly flawed, vulnerable people and it added some warmth to an otherwise dark and high-stakes story.
There’s plenty of action, magic, gods, and dangerous quests, but what I loved most was how emotional the story felt. Especially the focus on loyalty, healing, and the bonds between the sisters. The audiobook narration was excellent especially with different accents and helped make the story immersive as well.
Overall, this was my favourite instalment in the trilogy and honestly I think this series might be the author’s best work so far. If you enjoy character-driven romantasy with strong heroines, emotional stakes, and some romance, this series is definitely worth picking up.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 7, 2025
Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for a review copy of this book!
I've been waiting for the conclusion to this series, so I was excited when the ARC showed up on my doorstep. Mara is the sister I've been most intrigued by, and her story did not disappoint. As per usual for Legrand's books, the trauma and internal struggles are hard to read at times because the portrayal is so well written. Mara is going through it. I'd gotten a bad feeling from the Warden in previous books, and she lived up to my horrible suspicions.
Gareth is precious, and I've been dying for him to have a romance. He and Mara are incredibly sweet together, but I do wish they had been given a little more time to marinate. (Personal preference really; I do love a good slow burn.)
The conclusion did feel a bit rushed just because there was so much to do (gods and keys to find!), but the final battle was pretty epic all the same.
Just like in the previous two books, the characters are layered and interesting, the worldbuilding is excellent, and the story is fun. This is a solid 4.5 stars for me. I thoroughly enjoyed this series and look forward to more of Legrand's work.
I've been waiting for the conclusion to this series, so I was excited when the ARC showed up on my doorstep. Mara is the sister I've been most intrigued by, and her story did not disappoint. As per usual for Legrand's books, the trauma and internal struggles are hard to read at times because the portrayal is so well written. Mara is going through it. I'd gotten a bad feeling from the Warden in previous books, and she lived up to my horrible suspicions.
Gareth is precious, and I've been dying for him to have a romance. He and Mara are incredibly sweet together, but I do wish they had been given a little more time to marinate. (Personal preference really; I do love a good slow burn.)
The conclusion did feel a bit rushed just because there was so much to do (gods and keys to find!), but the final battle was pretty epic all the same.
Just like in the previous two books, the characters are layered and interesting, the worldbuilding is excellent, and the story is fun. This is a solid 4.5 stars for me. I thoroughly enjoyed this series and look forward to more of Legrand's work.
March 13, 2026
𝗔 𝗥𝗢𝗦𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗕𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗕𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗯𝘆 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 is a breathtaking, darkly luminous finale to the Middlemist Trilogy—and without question, one of my favourite series of all time. War ravages Edyn, the gods are awakening, monsters stalk the land, and the Ashbourne sisters are pushed to their limits. The stakes are sky-high, and I loved every heart-pounding second. Mara’s journey especially stood out to me. Her internal battle—layered with grief, trauma, and longing—is woven seamlessly into the epic quest to stop Kilraith. Claire Legrand’s talent for world building and character development is truly top notch; every political tension, every battlefield clash, every whispered doubt feels purposeful and immersive. And then there’s Gareth. The warrior x scholar dynamic? Perfection. Their slow-burning connection—equal parts banter, vulnerability, and undeniable heat—brought such tenderness and sexiness to an otherwise brutal landscape. The discovery of love amid chaos was beautifully done. This series has my whole heart. I recommend it wholeheartedly.
✏️ Favourite quote:
"𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚋𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛. 𝙾𝚛 𝚖𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚑𝚒𝚖."
✏️ Favourite quote:
"𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚋𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛. 𝙾𝚛 𝚖𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚑𝚒𝚖."
March 17, 2026
Oh great. Another book in this series with lots of trauma dumping and some awfully written action scenes.
I like Mara and I think this explored her background a lot in an enlightening manner. The Order and Roses are a cool idea but the explanation of magic in this series is just straight dookie. Every time they need something done it all boils down to good thoughts, faith, trust, pixie dust, and Ankaret. Ankaret is the biggest piece of plot armor I have ever read. Seriously the logistics behind the magic in this series kills me.
Also, all of the romances feel so hollow and rushed. The first book was the worst in terms of romance, but all of them feel empty. The couples are sweet but I don’t feel any connections. Mara and Gareth have been the strongest in the series, but bland when compared to most books.
I’m too invested in this series now, but it’s hard to read for sure. Terrible book series but just good enough for me to keep reading.
Update: THIS IS THE LAST BOOK IN THE SERIES? ARE YOU JOKING???? THAT FINAL BATTLE SCENE WAS IT? Oh BROTHER THIS GUY STINKS!!! THIS IS HOW THE SERIES ENDS? SERIOUSLY? BOOO THIS IS FECKIN GARBAGE. I AM LIVID.
I like Mara and I think this explored her background a lot in an enlightening manner. The Order and Roses are a cool idea but the explanation of magic in this series is just straight dookie. Every time they need something done it all boils down to good thoughts, faith, trust, pixie dust, and Ankaret. Ankaret is the biggest piece of plot armor I have ever read. Seriously the logistics behind the magic in this series kills me.
Also, all of the romances feel so hollow and rushed. The first book was the worst in terms of romance, but all of them feel empty. The couples are sweet but I don’t feel any connections. Mara and Gareth have been the strongest in the series, but bland when compared to most books.
I’m too invested in this series now, but it’s hard to read for sure. Terrible book series but just good enough for me to keep reading.
Update: THIS IS THE LAST BOOK IN THE SERIES? ARE YOU JOKING???? THAT FINAL BATTLE SCENE WAS IT? Oh BROTHER THIS GUY STINKS!!! THIS IS HOW THE SERIES ENDS? SERIOUSLY? BOOO THIS IS FECKIN GARBAGE. I AM LIVID.
March 24, 2026
I think A Rose of Blood and Binding is a very solid ending to this trilogy. I feel like this series was a bit of a rollercoaster in the sense that book one was a slow build up, the second book peaked (my favorite, ily Ryder), and the third took the momentum fairly well to finish it up,
When it comes to the plot and continuation of the troubles at hand I was very intrigued to see how things would play out and was even surprised at some of the reveals. The romance had to grow on me a little. I love Mara and Gareth individually, but it did take a bit to want them together because for me their relationship was not as fleshed out and other couples. (Also, Gareth ily too. You and your slutty little glasses.) I partially feel like you see the trauma bonded relationship with the Warden more prominent/fleshed out than with Gareth. I absolutely love the relationship between Mara, Farrin, and Gemma. These sisters have gone through it. but always make sure they have each other's back.
If you're looking for a well rounded, beautiful prose romantasy trilogy - this is for you!
Thank you to Sourcebook Casablanca for the ARC!✨
When it comes to the plot and continuation of the troubles at hand I was very intrigued to see how things would play out and was even surprised at some of the reveals. The romance had to grow on me a little. I love Mara and Gareth individually, but it did take a bit to want them together because for me their relationship was not as fleshed out and other couples. (Also, Gareth ily too. You and your slutty little glasses.) I partially feel like you see the trauma bonded relationship with the Warden more prominent/fleshed out than with Gareth. I absolutely love the relationship between Mara, Farrin, and Gemma. These sisters have gone through it. but always make sure they have each other's back.
If you're looking for a well rounded, beautiful prose romantasy trilogy - this is for you!
Thank you to Sourcebook Casablanca for the ARC!✨
November 30, 2025
I have been a big fan of Claire Legrand’s since her Furyborn trilogy (which I am SO excited she will soon be revising for adults!!), so when I heard she was writing a new romantasy series where each book focuses on a different sister and was inspired by a classic ballet, I was so in. This is the third book in that trilogy and I was lucky to have access to an early copy via Netgalley. I took advantage of it on a whim one evening while I was travelling for work because I needed the equivalent of a bubble bath for my brain — and it delivered!
It was a joy to be back in a familiar world with familiar characters, with an exciting plot and great romance to carry me through. She nailed the ending, in my opinion, managing to give Mara’s story the space it deserved while also bringing the trilogy’s overarching conflict to a satisfying conlcusion (with a great twist!). Be aware this one deals heavily with suicidal ideation and attempts, but if that’s okay for you, I definitely recommend.
Can’t wait to see what Legrand writes next!
It was a joy to be back in a familiar world with familiar characters, with an exciting plot and great romance to carry me through. She nailed the ending, in my opinion, managing to give Mara’s story the space it deserved while also bringing the trilogy’s overarching conflict to a satisfying conlcusion (with a great twist!). Be aware this one deals heavily with suicidal ideation and attempts, but if that’s okay for you, I definitely recommend.
Can’t wait to see what Legrand writes next!
March 2, 2026
This was a fantastic end to the trilogy! I was hooked from the beginning and didn't want to put it down. I also remembered the previous two books, which is saying something, so I didn't have to try hard to figure out what was going on.
This book is mostly about Mara, who is deeply in love with Gareth the librarian, yet struggles with how to balance her need for independence and her belonging to the Warden. In fact, she questions the Warden many times throughout the story, leading to all kinds of heartache and hurting. The violence and spice is moderate, but might be a bit much for the younger high school readers.
Mara's sisters, Gemma with Talan and Ferrin with Ryder, have minor roles in the book. They are all out to try to help keep the monsters away, sheltering refugees, and helping to keep the peace.
The ending was partially a surprise to me, but also not, and I appreciate the way the author didn't rush toward a conclusion. This was a solid 4 stars, highly recommended, especially if you've read the previous two in the trilogy.
This book is mostly about Mara, who is deeply in love with Gareth the librarian, yet struggles with how to balance her need for independence and her belonging to the Warden. In fact, she questions the Warden many times throughout the story, leading to all kinds of heartache and hurting. The violence and spice is moderate, but might be a bit much for the younger high school readers.
Mara's sisters, Gemma with Talan and Ferrin with Ryder, have minor roles in the book. They are all out to try to help keep the monsters away, sheltering refugees, and helping to keep the peace.
The ending was partially a surprise to me, but also not, and I appreciate the way the author didn't rush toward a conclusion. This was a solid 4 stars, highly recommended, especially if you've read the previous two in the trilogy.
March 7, 2026
A Rose of Blood and Binding is a powerful and emotional conclusion to the Middlemist trilogy, blending epic fantasy stakes with deeply personal character journeys. A story full of war, magic, and difficult choices, but at its heart this book is about healing, belonging, and the courage it takes to choose love over fear.
The story follows Mara Ashbourne, one of the demigod daughters of the goddess Kerezen, as the world of Edyn teeters on the edge of destruction. With gods awakening, monsters roaming the land, and the vengeful Kilraith threatening everything, the Ashbourne sisters are forced to fight on multiple fronts to save their world.
Mara’s journey is the emotional center of the book. She’s fierce and capable, yet haunted by trauma and self-doubt. Watching her struggle to reconcile her past with the future she wants for herself adds a layer of depth.
The romance between Mara and Gareth Fontaine is a slow-burn highlight. Their connection builds through shared grief, vulnerability, and reluctant trust, creating a relationship that feels both tender and intense.
The story follows Mara Ashbourne, one of the demigod daughters of the goddess Kerezen, as the world of Edyn teeters on the edge of destruction. With gods awakening, monsters roaming the land, and the vengeful Kilraith threatening everything, the Ashbourne sisters are forced to fight on multiple fronts to save their world.
Mara’s journey is the emotional center of the book. She’s fierce and capable, yet haunted by trauma and self-doubt. Watching her struggle to reconcile her past with the future she wants for herself adds a layer of depth.
The romance between Mara and Gareth Fontaine is a slow-burn highlight. Their connection builds through shared grief, vulnerability, and reluctant trust, creating a relationship that feels both tender and intense.
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