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Fading Blossoms
Not a single sacred flower remains on Earth. With the gods in hiding, the wielders of divine flower magic have become prey, hunted by those who command the power of parasitic blooms.
In this withering world, Vesna is the rarest bloom, born with the ancient magic of the magnolia. But her heart blossoms with nothing but vengeance. She steps into the city ruled by her greatest enemy with one purpose: to curse the man who stole her mother’s magic and her life.
Her path soon intertwines with Mir, a man who wields poisonous datura magic and serves the very enemy she swore to destroy. Mir is everything she should hate, and yet his presence makes her heart blossom with dangerous lust.
As the lines between truth, betrayal, and revenge begin to blur, Vesna is forced to question everything she thought she knew. She must choose: cling to her vengeance or help bring the flower gods back into the world before the last magical petal falls.
In this withering world, Vesna is the rarest bloom, born with the ancient magic of the magnolia. But her heart blossoms with nothing but vengeance. She steps into the city ruled by her greatest enemy with one purpose: to curse the man who stole her mother’s magic and her life.
Her path soon intertwines with Mir, a man who wields poisonous datura magic and serves the very enemy she swore to destroy. Mir is everything she should hate, and yet his presence makes her heart blossom with dangerous lust.
As the lines between truth, betrayal, and revenge begin to blur, Vesna is forced to question everything she thought she knew. She must choose: cling to her vengeance or help bring the flower gods back into the world before the last magical petal falls.
287 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 25, 2025
11 people are currently reading
394 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
September 24, 2025
Full review to follow : Flower magic and revenge. This was like a mafia romance with whimsical magic woven in which made for a very interesting read. I really enjoyed the varied magic types by flowers and how magic was utilized so creatively throughout. I felt that was probably the most enjoyable part of the story for me. Lots of twists and turns throughout !!
September 22, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ Anastasiya has become one of my favorite authors I have discovered on IG and I loved Dempress by her. She writes immersive fantasy that is compelling and knows how to describe the desire between characters.
Fading Blossoms had a great start and I loved the flower magic in this story. You live in a world where the Divine Blossoms had covered the earth and then they became rare. This is where Vesna comes in where she is waiting to fully bloom and discover her true power and get revenge on the villain in this story.
However, I wish this story gave more slow burn as I felt it was insta lust right away and wish we got more of Vesna and Mir’s relationship develop in a different way instead of it feeling rush? That’s just how it felt for me personally and I found myself not really connecting to the story as much as I wanted to which I was super bummed about 🥹
I’m glad I got the chance to read this one and do look forward to seeing more books get published by this author! ✨
Fading Blossoms had a great start and I loved the flower magic in this story. You live in a world where the Divine Blossoms had covered the earth and then they became rare. This is where Vesna comes in where she is waiting to fully bloom and discover her true power and get revenge on the villain in this story.
However, I wish this story gave more slow burn as I felt it was insta lust right away and wish we got more of Vesna and Mir’s relationship develop in a different way instead of it feeling rush? That’s just how it felt for me personally and I found myself not really connecting to the story as much as I wanted to which I was super bummed about 🥹
I’m glad I got the chance to read this one and do look forward to seeing more books get published by this author! ✨
September 13, 2025
Okay, this book was such a cool mix of vibes, dark flower magic, gods in hiding, and that enemies-to-lovers tension I live for. Vesna is out for revenge, but then she crosses paths with Mir, who should be her enemy, and suddenly things get complicated (and very spicy).
The world feels lush and dangerous, with divine prophecies, poisonous blooms, and all that good urban fantasy grit. It’s moody, romantic, and a little bit wicked in the best way. If you like forced proximity, slow-burn tension, and fantasy romance with actual bite, this one’s for you. Thanks to the author and Twisted Takes PR for the gifted arc.
The world feels lush and dangerous, with divine prophecies, poisonous blooms, and all that good urban fantasy grit. It’s moody, romantic, and a little bit wicked in the best way. If you like forced proximity, slow-burn tension, and fantasy romance with actual bite, this one’s for you. Thanks to the author and Twisted Takes PR for the gifted arc.
January 22, 2026
5⭐ AND FIRST OF ALL, Let's talk about how pretty the cover is??? ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. And the book?? COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN.
OBSESSED With these characters, with the story, I have not cried for a while but this book is an exception because the amount of feelings I felt during reading this? insane. I liked it more than I thought I would.
I was hooked up with the characters and the story was interesting I just kept searching for the flowers and found interesting ones like marigold. The idea of that book is literally perfect. I can never look at some flowers the same way from now on.
I'm obsessed with the characters, Mir and Vesna are my babies I love them.
I know some ppl may not like how fast they fell in love, but after finishing the book I think I do understand how they fell in love so fast; it's because of how similar their magic was and how connected they are, each one of them had a very important mission to do and ability that had to be done by both of them, plus that their bloosiming time was so close so both of them had their emotions high and couldn't let go of each other. I count it as fated mated but the flowers edition 🙏🏻.
AND THE BETRAYAL??? Omg these two i'm obsessed. The fact that he protected her even after she betrayed him??? I love Mir.
And I actually hated Vesna for that because this man changed his plan for her, he was ready to do anything for her but WHEN SHE BLOOSEMD?? How her feeling bad for betraying him made him feel sad? I love him.
The side characters like Anna and Alex? uhhhhh Anna really did not deserve that...
THE PLOT TWIST? It was literally on front of my eyes and I still didn't see it coming. I felt suspicious for that character but still did not expect that.
“Vesna, screw everything. Just let me in.”
“He wanted her to be his, wanted this flower to bloom just for him”
“Last chance to escape, because I’ll never let you go.”
“He was ready to become a believer, worshipping only her.”
“What do you want from me?!”
“I want 𝘺𝘰𝘶,”
“Bloom for me,”
“She’s the only flower I worship”
“He was willing to live his life blooming only for her.”
OBSESSED With these characters, with the story, I have not cried for a while but this book is an exception because the amount of feelings I felt during reading this? insane. I liked it more than I thought I would.
I was hooked up with the characters and the story was interesting I just kept searching for the flowers and found interesting ones like marigold. The idea of that book is literally perfect. I can never look at some flowers the same way from now on.
I'm obsessed with the characters, Mir and Vesna are my babies I love them.
I know some ppl may not like how fast they fell in love, but after finishing the book I think I do understand how they fell in love so fast; it's because of how similar their magic was and how connected they are, each one of them had a very important mission to do and ability that had to be done by both of them, plus that their bloosiming time was so close so both of them had their emotions high and couldn't let go of each other. I count it as fated mated but the flowers edition 🙏🏻.
AND THE BETRAYAL??? Omg these two i'm obsessed. The fact that he protected her even after she betrayed him??? I love Mir.
And I actually hated Vesna for that because this man changed his plan for her, he was ready to do anything for her but WHEN SHE BLOOSEMD?? How her feeling bad for betraying him made him feel sad? I love him.
The side characters like Anna and Alex? uhhhhh Anna really did not deserve that...
THE PLOT TWIST? It was literally on front of my eyes and I still didn't see it coming. I felt suspicious for that character but still did not expect that.
“Vesna, screw everything. Just let me in.”
“He wanted her to be his, wanted this flower to bloom just for him”
“Last chance to escape, because I’ll never let you go.”
“He was ready to become a believer, worshipping only her.”
“What do you want from me?!”
“I want 𝘺𝘰𝘶,”
“Bloom for me,”
“She’s the only flower I worship”
“He was willing to live his life blooming only for her.”
September 20, 2025
I was so intrigued by the plot of this book!
Prophecies and flower magic? Yes. 110% yes.
The plot and story is amazing, though it felt a bit rushed and underdeveloped at some points.
I loved the mmc! He had such an in depth character and history. The fmc, I didn’t like as much.
The first 20% of the story was good; very in depth, had history and descriptions and explained things very well since this was a new magic system. After that, I think it started to fall off with the explanations. Sometimes I got a little confused as to what was happening, or why an action was taken.
Now I wouldn’t say this story would need to span over 6 books like TOG, but maybe 50-100 more pages to really make us understand the whole picture and process a little better!
It is still a great story, and has SO much potential because it is so unique!
Overall, 2.75 ⭐️, 1 🌶️ !
Thank you so much to the author and Twisted Tales PR for an advanced copy of this book!
Prophecies and flower magic? Yes. 110% yes.
The plot and story is amazing, though it felt a bit rushed and underdeveloped at some points.
I loved the mmc! He had such an in depth character and history. The fmc, I didn’t like as much.
The first 20% of the story was good; very in depth, had history and descriptions and explained things very well since this was a new magic system. After that, I think it started to fall off with the explanations. Sometimes I got a little confused as to what was happening, or why an action was taken.
Now I wouldn’t say this story would need to span over 6 books like TOG, but maybe 50-100 more pages to really make us understand the whole picture and process a little better!
It is still a great story, and has SO much potential because it is so unique!
Overall, 2.75 ⭐️, 1 🌶️ !
Thank you so much to the author and Twisted Tales PR for an advanced copy of this book!
October 3, 2025
I loved the concept of flower magic, this was something different with the types of magic and powers.
I liked how protective Mir was with Vesna, and how he uses his poison to attack anyone who harms her.
It felt like a mafia romance in a beautiful fantasy world of flowers, and although some bits felt a little rushed I enjoyed the unique worldbuilding and characters.
I liked how protective Mir was with Vesna, and how he uses his poison to attack anyone who harms her.
It felt like a mafia romance in a beautiful fantasy world of flowers, and although some bits felt a little rushed I enjoyed the unique worldbuilding and characters.
September 27, 2025
I really liked this book. It was a fantasy like I’ve never read before. Anastasiya made the characters and world feel so real with her descriptive writing. I love how both MCs changed throughout the book and the deep love they developed one another. Thanks so much to Twisted Tales PR & Anastasiya for the advanced copy!!
September 17, 2025
This was a difficult read for me. I was really interested in the premise of the book but I found myself really struggling to continue reading and didn't really feel invested in the characters by the halfway point. The magical system is unique: magic inspired by different flowers that was granted by the Divine Blooms. This was my favorite part of the book and I would have liked seeing more of this throughout the book as a whole.
The instalove with Vesna and Mir was unappealing. The relationship felt shallow and forced. Both characters were very all-or-nothing, swinging between avoidance, lust, betrayal, then instant regret and forgiveness. They don't actually know each other but suddenly they've changed their life goals after a week because they found one another. Our other couple, Anna and Alex, also felt pretty one-dimensional. There's a lot of telling on how close they get vs showing they're actually getting close (the author literally tells us "they seemed to get closer and closer" - that's the development).
The pacing of this story is also off. We get very little movement, then suddenly everything has to happen in the last 20% of the book. As I was reading through to the end, I found myself questioning the authors decisions to shove so many "twists" and reveals into that last 20% of the book. There was no room to digest or feel before the next major thing happens. Thus, the events and revelations had very little emotional impact on me as a reader. Even the characters don't seem affected by the major events and reveals happening. I found myself kind of skimming through to get to the end; it felt tedious trying to finish.
Sadly I would not recommend this. I think the author could revisit this work and maybe expand the story to provide more character depth, plot building, and more consistent pacing.
The instalove with Vesna and Mir was unappealing. The relationship felt shallow and forced. Both characters were very all-or-nothing, swinging between avoidance, lust, betrayal, then instant regret and forgiveness. They don't actually know each other but suddenly they've changed their life goals after a week because they found one another. Our other couple, Anna and Alex, also felt pretty one-dimensional. There's a lot of telling on how close they get vs showing they're actually getting close (the author literally tells us "they seemed to get closer and closer" - that's the development).
The pacing of this story is also off. We get very little movement, then suddenly everything has to happen in the last 20% of the book. As I was reading through to the end, I found myself questioning the authors decisions to shove so many "twists" and reveals into that last 20% of the book. There was no room to digest or feel before the next major thing happens. Thus, the events and revelations had very little emotional impact on me as a reader. Even the characters don't seem affected by the major events and reveals happening. I found myself kind of skimming through to get to the end; it felt tedious trying to finish.
Sadly I would not recommend this. I think the author could revisit this work and maybe expand the story to provide more character depth, plot building, and more consistent pacing.
September 25, 2025
"Delicate flowers are doomed to wither in this fading reality, and only the wildflowers can survive."
First I would like to thank Anastasiya Serada for sending me the ARC for this book.
this book comes out tomorrow, please do yourself a favour and buy yourself a copy!
let me talk about the magic system, it is based on flowers, and each flower gives a different power, this was unique and extremely clever. I also liked that those who have magic weren't in hiding, instead they were normally living among humans.The world felt magical yet you don't feel lost or overwhelmed.
------------------------------
|"When Anna left, Vesna sat at the
dressing table, staring at her reflection. For years, she had lived in a false reality that shielded her from the dangers of the real world. She couldn’t imagine what Anna or any magical person had gone through."
Vesna, our main character who has been in hiding since she was a child, is going on a quest to avenge her mother and will do anything to do just that, no matter what it takes. I liked how her character was written, she is clueless when it comes to certain things but not in a way that makes her seem naive, it makes complete sense for someone who has only interacted with 1 person for years. Her relationship with her Anna who grows to be her friends flows nicely, at the beginning she finds it hard to open up to her, but later on grows to care for her deeply. Vesna transforms when she goes out of hiding, at the beginning she focuses mainly on her mission and past, but slowly she begins to see that she isn't the only person who has lost someone, and not the only person who's struggling. Vesna feels real and not like a character, she has depth and emotions.
And now Mir,
He is the complete opposite of Vesna, similarly he is also on a mission that he wants to accomplish despite anything, however while Vesna would never cross certain lines to get there, he would gladly do. His mention of Vesna when he first saw her was cute and not just purely sexual. I liked how the author told his backstory, she did it in a way that made sense and didn't just mention it out of nowhere. His relationship with Alex was my absolute favourite, they would do anything for one another, no questions asked! even if morals come into play, they will always have each others' backs.
All in all, I really appreciated that the author built a whole life surrounding the characters, it gave them more depth, made them feel real and made us connect with them on a personal level.
For someone who is in a reading slump, this book was so easy to read and flowed nicely, I think I have a new favourite author! I can't wait to read future works by her! I will definitely be buying myself a copy.
First I would like to thank Anastasiya Serada for sending me the ARC for this book.
this book comes out tomorrow, please do yourself a favour and buy yourself a copy!
let me talk about the magic system, it is based on flowers, and each flower gives a different power, this was unique and extremely clever. I also liked that those who have magic weren't in hiding, instead they were normally living among humans.The world felt magical yet you don't feel lost or overwhelmed.
------------------------------
|"When Anna left, Vesna sat at the
dressing table, staring at her reflection. For years, she had lived in a false reality that shielded her from the dangers of the real world. She couldn’t imagine what Anna or any magical person had gone through."
Vesna, our main character who has been in hiding since she was a child, is going on a quest to avenge her mother and will do anything to do just that, no matter what it takes. I liked how her character was written, she is clueless when it comes to certain things but not in a way that makes her seem naive, it makes complete sense for someone who has only interacted with 1 person for years. Her relationship with her Anna who grows to be her friends flows nicely, at the beginning she finds it hard to open up to her, but later on grows to care for her deeply. Vesna transforms when she goes out of hiding, at the beginning she focuses mainly on her mission and past, but slowly she begins to see that she isn't the only person who has lost someone, and not the only person who's struggling. Vesna feels real and not like a character, she has depth and emotions.
And now Mir,
He is the complete opposite of Vesna, similarly he is also on a mission that he wants to accomplish despite anything, however while Vesna would never cross certain lines to get there, he would gladly do. His mention of Vesna when he first saw her was cute and not just purely sexual. I liked how the author told his backstory, she did it in a way that made sense and didn't just mention it out of nowhere. His relationship with Alex was my absolute favourite, they would do anything for one another, no questions asked! even if morals come into play, they will always have each others' backs.
All in all, I really appreciated that the author built a whole life surrounding the characters, it gave them more depth, made them feel real and made us connect with them on a personal level.
For someone who is in a reading slump, this book was so easy to read and flowed nicely, I think I have a new favourite author! I can't wait to read future works by her! I will definitely be buying myself a copy.
September 23, 2025
This was a rollercoaster and not really in a good way. The writing style did not gel with me, which is why it did start out as a 3-4 star read. Unfortunately, that ending might take the cake for quite possible the WORST ending of any book I’ve ever read (read more in the spoiler section)
First off, Vasna’s powers are… *checks notes* amplifying other people’s powers, hexes, and…… keeping your partner faithful? What the fuck is that? So that was strike number one. Mir was the saving Grace in this because he had some sense of self awareness and personality.
Overall, I am so so so disappointed over this book. I have been looking forward to reading it since the cover was announced (it’s gorgeous} but now I was it could be blipped from my memory. Idk how this was only like 280 pages, it felt like 1k pages. Terrible ending. Cringe dialogue. Little Character development. No further explanation on things. Poor execution.
I’m giving this 2 stars because maybe I’m just a hater and this is worthwhile for some folks. It just wasn’t for me.
(Spoilers)
WHAT. THE. FUCK. How the HELL are you going to kill the MMC, bring him back (Oh this is never really explained and he wakes up perfectly fine and then runs off to find the FMC), then also kill Anna, the FMC’s best friend. Why write her into the story with that much of an impact lol? THEN the FMC’s long lost mother who she thought was dead was reunited with her only for her to then turn around and choose to die with the evil man, Boris, aka the man who literally tries to kill everyone? I literally couldn’t think up a worse ending if I fucking tried. What the fuck was that.
First off, Vasna’s powers are… *checks notes* amplifying other people’s powers, hexes, and…… keeping your partner faithful? What the fuck is that? So that was strike number one. Mir was the saving Grace in this because he had some sense of self awareness and personality.
Overall, I am so so so disappointed over this book. I have been looking forward to reading it since the cover was announced (it’s gorgeous} but now I was it could be blipped from my memory. Idk how this was only like 280 pages, it felt like 1k pages. Terrible ending. Cringe dialogue. Little Character development. No further explanation on things. Poor execution.
I’m giving this 2 stars because maybe I’m just a hater and this is worthwhile for some folks. It just wasn’t for me.
(Spoilers)
WHAT. THE. FUCK. How the HELL are you going to kill the MMC, bring him back (Oh this is never really explained and he wakes up perfectly fine and then runs off to find the FMC), then also kill Anna, the FMC’s best friend. Why write her into the story with that much of an impact lol? THEN the FMC’s long lost mother who she thought was dead was reunited with her only for her to then turn around and choose to die with the evil man, Boris, aka the man who literally tries to kill everyone? I literally couldn’t think up a worse ending if I fucking tried. What the fuck was that.
September 26, 2025
3.5 🌟
"Delicate flowers are doomed to wither in this fading reality, and only the wildflowers can survive." (Ch 2)
Magical Realism | Romantasy | Secret Identity | Flower Magic | Chosen One | Forbidden Love
Love these beautiful romantic floral covers, but the writing style was a little rough for me. Also, I thought some of the plot logic was on the confusing side.
"His eyes are white as snow, but his heart is probably darker than a black dahlia, she thought, and a shiver ran down her spine." (Ch 4)
I did enjoy the interaction and banter between the Mir and Vesna. He brought out the snarkiness in her, whilst he was ornery with his innuendos and attempts at trying to win her over.
"Maybe he’s just a lost flower, blooming from old wounds." (Ch 12)
It was a touch on the cozy side with a smidge of spice. A story of revenge, personal desires, friendship, loss, and love.
eARC courtesy of MTMC Tours.
"Delicate flowers are doomed to wither in this fading reality, and only the wildflowers can survive." (Ch 2)
Magical Realism | Romantasy | Secret Identity | Flower Magic | Chosen One | Forbidden Love
Love these beautiful romantic floral covers, but the writing style was a little rough for me. Also, I thought some of the plot logic was on the confusing side.
"His eyes are white as snow, but his heart is probably darker than a black dahlia, she thought, and a shiver ran down her spine." (Ch 4)
I did enjoy the interaction and banter between the Mir and Vesna. He brought out the snarkiness in her, whilst he was ornery with his innuendos and attempts at trying to win her over.
"Maybe he’s just a lost flower, blooming from old wounds." (Ch 12)
It was a touch on the cozy side with a smidge of spice. A story of revenge, personal desires, friendship, loss, and love.
eARC courtesy of MTMC Tours.
October 9, 2025
3.5 stars
Gods in hiding, flower magic, revenge, enemies to lovers… if you love any (or all) of these things, you need to read this book!
This story instantly caught my attention with its unique and beautifully crafted magic system. The Divine Blossoms are in hiding, and their Blessed must conceal themselves too—otherwise, they risk having their powers drained. But Vesna? She refuses to hide. As her birthday approaches and her full powers awaken, she decides it’s finally time for revenge.
Each flower in this world holds a different kind of magic, and I was completely fascinated by how it all ties together. 🌺
The romance leans a bit toward insta-lust—I personally would’ve loved more yearning and slow burn—but it doesn’t take away from how captivating the story is overall.
A must-read for all romantasy lovers who crave original worldbuilding and lush, magical vibes.
Thank you mtmctours for the ARC! 💕
Gods in hiding, flower magic, revenge, enemies to lovers… if you love any (or all) of these things, you need to read this book!
This story instantly caught my attention with its unique and beautifully crafted magic system. The Divine Blossoms are in hiding, and their Blessed must conceal themselves too—otherwise, they risk having their powers drained. But Vesna? She refuses to hide. As her birthday approaches and her full powers awaken, she decides it’s finally time for revenge.
Each flower in this world holds a different kind of magic, and I was completely fascinated by how it all ties together. 🌺
The romance leans a bit toward insta-lust—I personally would’ve loved more yearning and slow burn—but it doesn’t take away from how captivating the story is overall.
A must-read for all romantasy lovers who crave original worldbuilding and lush, magical vibes.
Thank you mtmctours for the ARC! 💕
September 25, 2025
First off I would like to thank Anastasiya for sending me this WONDERFUL AMAZING ARC! This book is truly one of a kind, the magic system is so unique and so beautiful. The characters are all amazing especially our main character Vesna who is not only a badass but also one of the kindest characters in a fantasy book that I've ever read about, she is always so considerate whenever something happens she always makes sure everyone is okay, she shows appreciation to those who help her which is a trait I believe should always be present in main characters. The writing itself is engaging I honestly couldn't put the book down, the world is explained in a simple yet unique way so you will never get confused or lost. Definitely not the last book I will read from this author. This book comes out tomorrow so make sure to check it out and I promise you won't regret it!
September 26, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars)
I really enjoyed the unique magic system in this story—flowers holding different forms of magic was such a creative touch. I also appreciated that this is a standalone Romantasy, which is refreshing in a genre often dominated by long series.
That said, I wish the book had a little more length to allow the world-building to breathe; at times it felt a bit rushed. The romance leaned more toward insta-love than true enemies-to-lovers, which wasn’t quite what I was expecting.
Overall, a creative and enjoyable read with a lovely concept—I just found myself wanting a bit more depth.
✨ Thank you to Twisted Tales PR and Anastasiya Serada for the ARC! ✨
I really enjoyed the unique magic system in this story—flowers holding different forms of magic was such a creative touch. I also appreciated that this is a standalone Romantasy, which is refreshing in a genre often dominated by long series.
That said, I wish the book had a little more length to allow the world-building to breathe; at times it felt a bit rushed. The romance leaned more toward insta-love than true enemies-to-lovers, which wasn’t quite what I was expecting.
Overall, a creative and enjoyable read with a lovely concept—I just found myself wanting a bit more depth.
✨ Thank you to Twisted Tales PR and Anastasiya Serada for the ARC! ✨
September 20, 2025
This was a great quick read! I ended up staying up late to finish it last night because I just had to know how it was going to end! I loved the flowers and different magic! It was a very unique aspect of the story! Mir was my favorite! I absolutely loved his story and his character development! This book made me want to go buy almond scented perfume! This book is filled with of magic, heartache, and love! The ending omg!
September 26, 2025
Fading Blossoms is so unique and as a "flower" girl myself I won't think of them the same EVER. The system is amazing and the authors ability to blend belief and power together with a flora concept is great. I loved the chemistry between the two main characters. I love the good girl and bad boy concept as well. Will continue to read this authors work. So creative! Hoping for a special edition of this!
September 27, 2025
3 1/2 stars
This is a fantasy romance where magic comes from sacred flower blooms. However, magic has begun to disappear as parasitic flower magic wielders hunt down the sacred flowers.
Our FMC Vesna has the rarest magic flower, the Magnolia. She is on a journey for revenge following the loss of her mother. Her path leads her to Mir, our MMC who wields poison magic of the datura bloom.
I really enjoyed the magic system the author created. This is the first book I've ever read where the magic system was based on flowers. I also thought the world was built and described in a very lush way.
However, I struggled with the dialogue and writing style. At times the FMC felt much younger than her 20 something years, which made reading the romance very uncomfortable for me.
Thank you to Twisted Tales PR and the author for the gifted digital copy of the book. All thoughts expressed are my own.
This is a fantasy romance where magic comes from sacred flower blooms. However, magic has begun to disappear as parasitic flower magic wielders hunt down the sacred flowers.
Our FMC Vesna has the rarest magic flower, the Magnolia. She is on a journey for revenge following the loss of her mother. Her path leads her to Mir, our MMC who wields poison magic of the datura bloom.
I really enjoyed the magic system the author created. This is the first book I've ever read where the magic system was based on flowers. I also thought the world was built and described in a very lush way.
However, I struggled with the dialogue and writing style. At times the FMC felt much younger than her 20 something years, which made reading the romance very uncomfortable for me.
Thank you to Twisted Tales PR and the author for the gifted digital copy of the book. All thoughts expressed are my own.
October 16, 2025
ARC review - 3.75 ⭐️
In this urban fantasy romance, think magic, mafia, hidden gods and a world full of dark flower magic 🌸 This story wasn’t like anything I’ve ever read before.
I found the magic system so unique, the flower magic and the different types of flowers, each with their own special power. It was all incredibly creative and I really enjoyed that aspect of the story. The romance, however, felt a bit insta-love which isn’t my favorite trope. I liked Mir and Vesna, I think they were so cute together but I wish I could’ve connected with them more. Maybe a few more chapters to dive deeper into the world and characters would’ve helped.
My favorite character, though, was definitely Anna. I loved her personality and her friendship with Vesna 🥹
The ending caught me off guard, I wasn’t expecting to get emotional, but I did!!
Overall, it was a really good and entertaining read that kept me intrigued from start to finish. If you like prophecy, forced proximity, chosen one, found family and flower magic, this book is for you!
Thank you Twisted Tales PR and the author for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review ✨
In this urban fantasy romance, think magic, mafia, hidden gods and a world full of dark flower magic 🌸 This story wasn’t like anything I’ve ever read before.
I found the magic system so unique, the flower magic and the different types of flowers, each with their own special power. It was all incredibly creative and I really enjoyed that aspect of the story. The romance, however, felt a bit insta-love which isn’t my favorite trope. I liked Mir and Vesna, I think they were so cute together but I wish I could’ve connected with them more. Maybe a few more chapters to dive deeper into the world and characters would’ve helped.
My favorite character, though, was definitely Anna. I loved her personality and her friendship with Vesna 🥹
The ending caught me off guard, I wasn’t expecting to get emotional, but I did!!
Overall, it was a really good and entertaining read that kept me intrigued from start to finish. If you like prophecy, forced proximity, chosen one, found family and flower magic, this book is for you!
Thank you Twisted Tales PR and the author for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review ✨
September 21, 2025
I personally loved this book and finished it so fast that I don’t even want to admit how fast it was lol. Magic “modern” world with gods in hiding and a woman out for revenge? Sign me the heck up!
Read
September 23, 2025Saving this as Paused because I think it has potential, I’m just not in the right mood to read it.
November 4, 2025
http://www.unbrindelecture.com/2025/1...
Une immersion dans un univers onirique fleuri et inspirant. Vesna nous entraine dans sa quête de justice et même si parfois j'aurai apprécié être plus surprise par les événements , je me suis laissé coulé dans ce monde magique, léger et passionnant .
An immersion in a dreamlike, flowery, and inspiring universe. Vesna takes us on her quest for justice, and even if at times I would have liked to be more surprised by the events, I let myself sink into this magical, lighthearted, and exciting world.
Une immersion dans un univers onirique fleuri et inspirant. Vesna nous entraine dans sa quête de justice et même si parfois j'aurai apprécié être plus surprise par les événements , je me suis laissé coulé dans ce monde magique, léger et passionnant .
An immersion in a dreamlike, flowery, and inspiring universe. Vesna takes us on her quest for justice, and even if at times I would have liked to be more surprised by the events, I let myself sink into this magical, lighthearted, and exciting world.
September 26, 2025
🌸 ‘I won’t leave you even if your magic is lost somewhere in a withered garden, and you are only a whisper, carried away by the howling wind.’ 🌸
I really enjoyed this book- I read it in one sitting!! It was a very easy and entertaining read, in an urban fantasy world that feels interlaced with almost a fairytale-esque magic. The magic system was incredibly unique too and I LOVED the concept- the character’s magic is based on flowers, each flower giving a different power, but also giving the person a different scent too. As well as flowers which are seen as beautiful and ‘good’, there are also people with magic from poisonous flowers too. And a lot of humans, since this magic is rare and fleeting due to the corruption of the world caused my humans. This creation of the magic system I felt was portrayed incredibly well in the book! 💗
🌸 ‘If this world were fair, we wouldn’t be growing on different sides of the meadow.’ 🌸
Not a single sacred flower remains on Earth. The Gods have disappeared from the world, leaving chaos in their wake. The wielders born with divine flower magic have become prey, hunted by those who command the power of parasitic blooms. They want to drain their powers, taking it for themselves.
In this withering world, Vesna is the rarest bloom, born with the ancient magic of the magnolia. She is the only one of her kind and has been in hiding all of her life, hiding her power away from those who want to take it for themselves. To make matters more complicated, she has recently discovered she is linked to an old prophecy- her power alone will be the catalyst for change, to cause the world to bloom with magic once again. But Vesna only has one mission- being vengeance to the man who drained her mother’s magic and life.
On her path for revenge, she encounters Mir, a man who wields poisonous datura magic and serves the very enemy she swore to destroy. She gets close to him, only seeing him as a means to an end, a way of completing what she came to the city to do. But she quickly discovers that even though Mir is everything she is meant to hate, they really aren’t as dissimilar as she thought.
As the lines between truth, betrayal, and revenge begin to blur, Vesna is forced to question everything she thought she knew. She must choose: cling to her vengeance or help bring the flower gods back into the world before the last magical petal falls. 💗
🌸 ‘She’s mine. No one speaks to her, no one looks at her, no one smiles at her, and certainly no one touches her.’ 🌸
Vesna is a very enjoyable character to read about. Her name means spring, which is the perfect name for her, especially since she has powers from the magnolia flower and this flower blooms in spring! Also so many aspects of both hers and other character’s appearances and outfits etc match in with the flowers they get their powers from- this is such a nice detail! Vesna is a character who from childhood has grown up very isolated- after her mum left her she lived in hiding with her only aunt. So when she heads into the city, everything is completely new to her, even the dynamics of normal life like working a job. I loved seeing how she managed to adapt to this and find friends who become like family along her journey- she feels very human in her struggles, yet she is also very stubborn and relentless in her pursuit of what she wants.
Mer’s backstory is one that you can really connect with though. From childhood he is cast out because of his powers, something that he cannot control. People assume negative things about his nature because of it, some of which he embodies to make their judgement easier to deal with, but as the book goes on we see insight into his longings for connection to others, for them to see into who he truly is rather than what they assume he is. I love that as the book goes on we get to see him get what he’s always secretly hoped for. Without spoilers, I loved the plot twist of his ending too, I think this was well thought out too! 💗
🌸 "Your eyes should only be on me," he said seriously.
She stared at him, caught off guard. ‘And what should I do when you're not around? Close my eyes?’ Mir licked his lips. "That would work." 🌸
Tropes:
✨ forced proximity
✨ chosen one
✨ forbidden love
✨ yearning
✨ allies of convenience
✨ found family
✨ spice
✨ unique magic system- flower magic
✨ prophecy
✨ second chance
✨ dual pov
✨ urban fantasy setting
Thank you to the author and Twisted tales for providing me with an ARC to read in return for my honest review- I really enjoyed it! 💗
I really enjoyed this book- I read it in one sitting!! It was a very easy and entertaining read, in an urban fantasy world that feels interlaced with almost a fairytale-esque magic. The magic system was incredibly unique too and I LOVED the concept- the character’s magic is based on flowers, each flower giving a different power, but also giving the person a different scent too. As well as flowers which are seen as beautiful and ‘good’, there are also people with magic from poisonous flowers too. And a lot of humans, since this magic is rare and fleeting due to the corruption of the world caused my humans. This creation of the magic system I felt was portrayed incredibly well in the book! 💗
🌸 ‘If this world were fair, we wouldn’t be growing on different sides of the meadow.’ 🌸
Not a single sacred flower remains on Earth. The Gods have disappeared from the world, leaving chaos in their wake. The wielders born with divine flower magic have become prey, hunted by those who command the power of parasitic blooms. They want to drain their powers, taking it for themselves.
In this withering world, Vesna is the rarest bloom, born with the ancient magic of the magnolia. She is the only one of her kind and has been in hiding all of her life, hiding her power away from those who want to take it for themselves. To make matters more complicated, she has recently discovered she is linked to an old prophecy- her power alone will be the catalyst for change, to cause the world to bloom with magic once again. But Vesna only has one mission- being vengeance to the man who drained her mother’s magic and life.
On her path for revenge, she encounters Mir, a man who wields poisonous datura magic and serves the very enemy she swore to destroy. She gets close to him, only seeing him as a means to an end, a way of completing what she came to the city to do. But she quickly discovers that even though Mir is everything she is meant to hate, they really aren’t as dissimilar as she thought.
As the lines between truth, betrayal, and revenge begin to blur, Vesna is forced to question everything she thought she knew. She must choose: cling to her vengeance or help bring the flower gods back into the world before the last magical petal falls. 💗
🌸 ‘She’s mine. No one speaks to her, no one looks at her, no one smiles at her, and certainly no one touches her.’ 🌸
Vesna is a very enjoyable character to read about. Her name means spring, which is the perfect name for her, especially since she has powers from the magnolia flower and this flower blooms in spring! Also so many aspects of both hers and other character’s appearances and outfits etc match in with the flowers they get their powers from- this is such a nice detail! Vesna is a character who from childhood has grown up very isolated- after her mum left her she lived in hiding with her only aunt. So when she heads into the city, everything is completely new to her, even the dynamics of normal life like working a job. I loved seeing how she managed to adapt to this and find friends who become like family along her journey- she feels very human in her struggles, yet she is also very stubborn and relentless in her pursuit of what she wants.
Mer’s backstory is one that you can really connect with though. From childhood he is cast out because of his powers, something that he cannot control. People assume negative things about his nature because of it, some of which he embodies to make their judgement easier to deal with, but as the book goes on we see insight into his longings for connection to others, for them to see into who he truly is rather than what they assume he is. I love that as the book goes on we get to see him get what he’s always secretly hoped for. Without spoilers, I loved the plot twist of his ending too, I think this was well thought out too! 💗
🌸 "Your eyes should only be on me," he said seriously.
She stared at him, caught off guard. ‘And what should I do when you're not around? Close my eyes?’ Mir licked his lips. "That would work." 🌸
Tropes:
✨ forced proximity
✨ chosen one
✨ forbidden love
✨ yearning
✨ allies of convenience
✨ found family
✨ spice
✨ unique magic system- flower magic
✨ prophecy
✨ second chance
✨ dual pov
✨ urban fantasy setting
Thank you to the author and Twisted tales for providing me with an ARC to read in return for my honest review- I really enjoyed it! 💗
October 6, 2025
⭐️⭐️.5
‘Fading Blossoms’ is a standalone novel that combines the gangs and forbidden attraction of mafia romance with the whimsy and magic of fairy-like fantasy, all within a more real-world setting of an alternate Earth.
The idea behind this novel is really interesting - flowers are gone from the Earth, some people have magic gifted to them by flower deities, and there is a good mix of both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ magic. While I really liked the premise and the idea of the world, I didn’t necessarily love the execution. There was a lot of info dumping, some of which was repetitive, within the first chapter alone. I would have liked the backstory to be spread out over another chapter at least. I also felt like we were told a lot of cool information that then wasn’t developed further, and these things could have created a lot more interest and intrigue.
Vesna has the magic of the sacred magnolia, yet her plotting for revenge is anything but pure. Mir has the magic of the poisonous datura, yet he is more misunderstood than he is wicked. This was something that Serada did well with this book - the magic people are gifted in this novel doesn’t always align with their personality and being. I think magic often conforms to this rule, and it was nice to see that it wasn’t always the case within this world. I also enjoyed the fact that being the sacred one didn’t necessarily mean that you had to have good intentions. Often deity-blessed or god-chosen characters have to be good, pure and perfect, so that difference in ‘Fading Blossoms’ was definitely nice for a change.
The book featured a good sized cast of characters, each of which were unique and most had their own intriguing version of floral magic. However, I felt like none of the characters acted their age. Nearly every character was whiny or childish, or jumped into things very quickly. As a reader, I didn’t believe the main characters’ call to action, and I felt like I was reading about teenagers in high school rather than adults in their mid-twenties. Of course, this is a product of how they’re written.
Serada’s writing style was easy to follow and flowed well. I do, however, think the author needs to broaden their vocabulary. As an example, the amount of times the characters ‘sang’ when they had dialogue was just ridiculous. It felt like ‘sang’ was simply a substitute for ‘said’, as we are always taught in school that using ‘said’ a lot is bad. The flower metaphors were very cute and on theme for the book, but quickly became overwhelming with the sheer number of them.
‘Fading Blossoms’ is labelled as fantasy and romantasy, but it didn’t feel like these genres when reading. Even knowing it was set on an alternate Earth, I was expecting more of the typical fantasy elements, not just the inclusion of flower-based magic and flower gods. The setting was definitely a lot more urban than I was expecting, and I think it's potentially more magical realism than fantasy. The romance, while present, was also very much lacking for me. Vesna and Mir’s relationship is more on again-off again than enemies-to-lovers, and their becoming a couple felt very sudden and unrealistic.
‘Fading Blossoms’ has an absolutely gorgeous cover and interesting worldbuilding with good promise and unique magic, but unfortunately this one just didn’t hit the spot for me.
Thank you to Anastasiya Serada and Twisted Tales PR for sending me a digital ARC of ‘Fading Blossoms’. All opinions shared in this review are my own.
‘Fading Blossoms’ is a standalone novel that combines the gangs and forbidden attraction of mafia romance with the whimsy and magic of fairy-like fantasy, all within a more real-world setting of an alternate Earth.
The idea behind this novel is really interesting - flowers are gone from the Earth, some people have magic gifted to them by flower deities, and there is a good mix of both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ magic. While I really liked the premise and the idea of the world, I didn’t necessarily love the execution. There was a lot of info dumping, some of which was repetitive, within the first chapter alone. I would have liked the backstory to be spread out over another chapter at least. I also felt like we were told a lot of cool information that then wasn’t developed further, and these things could have created a lot more interest and intrigue.
Vesna has the magic of the sacred magnolia, yet her plotting for revenge is anything but pure. Mir has the magic of the poisonous datura, yet he is more misunderstood than he is wicked. This was something that Serada did well with this book - the magic people are gifted in this novel doesn’t always align with their personality and being. I think magic often conforms to this rule, and it was nice to see that it wasn’t always the case within this world. I also enjoyed the fact that being the sacred one didn’t necessarily mean that you had to have good intentions. Often deity-blessed or god-chosen characters have to be good, pure and perfect, so that difference in ‘Fading Blossoms’ was definitely nice for a change.
The book featured a good sized cast of characters, each of which were unique and most had their own intriguing version of floral magic. However, I felt like none of the characters acted their age. Nearly every character was whiny or childish, or jumped into things very quickly. As a reader, I didn’t believe the main characters’ call to action, and I felt like I was reading about teenagers in high school rather than adults in their mid-twenties. Of course, this is a product of how they’re written.
Serada’s writing style was easy to follow and flowed well. I do, however, think the author needs to broaden their vocabulary. As an example, the amount of times the characters ‘sang’ when they had dialogue was just ridiculous. It felt like ‘sang’ was simply a substitute for ‘said’, as we are always taught in school that using ‘said’ a lot is bad. The flower metaphors were very cute and on theme for the book, but quickly became overwhelming with the sheer number of them.
‘Fading Blossoms’ is labelled as fantasy and romantasy, but it didn’t feel like these genres when reading. Even knowing it was set on an alternate Earth, I was expecting more of the typical fantasy elements, not just the inclusion of flower-based magic and flower gods. The setting was definitely a lot more urban than I was expecting, and I think it's potentially more magical realism than fantasy. The romance, while present, was also very much lacking for me. Vesna and Mir’s relationship is more on again-off again than enemies-to-lovers, and their becoming a couple felt very sudden and unrealistic.
‘Fading Blossoms’ has an absolutely gorgeous cover and interesting worldbuilding with good promise and unique magic, but unfortunately this one just didn’t hit the spot for me.
Thank you to Anastasiya Serada and Twisted Tales PR for sending me a digital ARC of ‘Fading Blossoms’. All opinions shared in this review are my own.
November 5, 2025
A unique little fantasy with flowers as the basis of magic!
I loved how different flowers had different powers, and the manifestation of how the flower magic came out. I also liked Vesna's entire revenge plan (woman with a mission!) and she was not going to let anything get in the way of that, even if it hurt a lot of people. And then we have Mir, who works with poisonous magic, and is someone that Vesna really shouldn't get close to. But we don't always choose who we fall for.
Given how much they were NOT supposed to be together, the insta-lust was a little much for me. Though we do have an element of forced proximity with Mir working for the very person that Vesna wants revenge against. She wants to use him to get close to the man who she wants to enact revenge, and he wants to use her to find the Divine Blooms to enact his grand plan. That being said, their spark was VERY HOT!
Some favorite quotes:
The time for revenge to bloom has finally arrived.
You can't survive in a fading reality with a gentle heart.
Delicate flowers are doomed to wither in this fading reality, and only the wildflowers can survive.
Mir narrowed his eyes; something was telling him this girl was a wicked flower.
"Wicked flower, get this into your head; no one but me will touch you, got it?"
"I promise that one day you will bloom under my poisonous touch."
Staring at Mir, she realized that they were similar in some way--both lonely, both lost.
"If you don't let people into your life, they don't have a chance to leave you."
She felt like she was drinking his poison--and she desperately wanted more.
But deep down, she was even angrier at herself, realizing that Mir had already poisoned her mind and heart with such toxic yet alluring magic.
The winter of her life was finally ending, bringing with it spring and the promise of a new beginning.
Mir poisoned her heart with lust and desire, but she didn't regret it, because it was the sweetest poison out there.
He was ready to become a believer, worshipping only her.
He kissed her passionately, and Vesna leaned toward him like a flower seeking the touch of spring.
"Please forgive me. I choose you forever."
"The rarest flower on earth blooms just for me."
She is the only flower I worship.
Mir made a silent promise. I will find you, wherever the wind carries you, my wicked flower.
Some patterns of fate are drawn without our control.
He had thought of himself as nothing more than poison, but he had found a way to bloom with purity.
She'd felt death's touch when Mir poisoned her to hide her blooming, and it had been peaceful.
If you love an urban fantasy story with forced proximity, second chance, ancient magic, hate-to-love, vengeance, and flower gods, make sure to check out Fading Blossoms!
I received an advanced review copy. This review contains my honest opinion and is being left voluntarily.
I loved how different flowers had different powers, and the manifestation of how the flower magic came out. I also liked Vesna's entire revenge plan (woman with a mission!) and she was not going to let anything get in the way of that, even if it hurt a lot of people. And then we have Mir, who works with poisonous magic, and is someone that Vesna really shouldn't get close to. But we don't always choose who we fall for.
Given how much they were NOT supposed to be together, the insta-lust was a little much for me. Though we do have an element of forced proximity with Mir working for the very person that Vesna wants revenge against. She wants to use him to get close to the man who she wants to enact revenge, and he wants to use her to find the Divine Blooms to enact his grand plan. That being said, their spark was VERY HOT!
Some favorite quotes:
The time for revenge to bloom has finally arrived.
You can't survive in a fading reality with a gentle heart.
Delicate flowers are doomed to wither in this fading reality, and only the wildflowers can survive.
Mir narrowed his eyes; something was telling him this girl was a wicked flower.
"Wicked flower, get this into your head; no one but me will touch you, got it?"
"I promise that one day you will bloom under my poisonous touch."
Staring at Mir, she realized that they were similar in some way--both lonely, both lost.
"If you don't let people into your life, they don't have a chance to leave you."
She felt like she was drinking his poison--and she desperately wanted more.
But deep down, she was even angrier at herself, realizing that Mir had already poisoned her mind and heart with such toxic yet alluring magic.
The winter of her life was finally ending, bringing with it spring and the promise of a new beginning.
Mir poisoned her heart with lust and desire, but she didn't regret it, because it was the sweetest poison out there.
He was ready to become a believer, worshipping only her.
He kissed her passionately, and Vesna leaned toward him like a flower seeking the touch of spring.
"Please forgive me. I choose you forever."
"The rarest flower on earth blooms just for me."
She is the only flower I worship.
Mir made a silent promise. I will find you, wherever the wind carries you, my wicked flower.
Some patterns of fate are drawn without our control.
He had thought of himself as nothing more than poison, but he had found a way to bloom with purity.
She'd felt death's touch when Mir poisoned her to hide her blooming, and it had been peaceful.
If you love an urban fantasy story with forced proximity, second chance, ancient magic, hate-to-love, vengeance, and flower gods, make sure to check out Fading Blossoms!
I received an advanced review copy. This review contains my honest opinion and is being left voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2025
3 Stars – Intriguing Premise, Rushed Execution
“The Divine Blooms had covered this earth, the air had been delicately woven with the fragrance of myriad flowers.”
“But one day, the Divine Blooms had simply disappeared, and prayers went unanswered. The flowers that used to cover the earth withered, and soon there was not a single petal left on Earth, Nature became grey, mourning her lost beauty.”
These two lines really set the tone for Fading Blossoms, a story rich in floral imagery, magic, and lost beauty. The worldbuilding immediately caught my attention—flowers as gods and sources of magic? Count me in.
However, I have to be upfront: even by the end of the book, I was still a little confused about what rafflesia actually was and why it was so bad. Early on, it’s mentioned that “the rafflesia-born were parasites, a threat to all magic,” but it wasn’t until the final 20% that I realized rafflesia is also a flower. A glossary or clearer explanation earlier in the story might’ve helped.
This book is quite short, and at times I felt like the pacing suffered because of it. The story moved quickly—sometimes too quickly—and could have benefitted from more pages to really flesh out the plot and characters. That said, I did enjoy the unique magic system and the way prophecy, divine magic, and nature were all intertwined.
"Her closeness was mind-blowing. He was sure he could bloom before his season even began, just from her touch."
"Bloom for me."
As for the romance, the relationship between Vensa and Mir felt a bit insta-love-ish. That could be due to the magic and prophecy at play (and let’s be real—when magic’s involved, who knows what’s driving destiny?), but I wish their bond had a bit more time to develop naturally. Vensa’s hot-and-cold behavior threw me off, though it made sense given her isolated upbringing and emotional inexperience. Still, I couldn't help but feel bad for Mir.
I did really enjoy the supporting cast—Anna and Alex stole every scene they were in, and their banter added much-needed levity. Also, the plot twist in the final 20%? Definitely a highlight!
Overall, Fading Blossoms offers a fresh take on urban fantasy with some standout ideas. While it didn’t fully deliver for me due to its length and pacing, I still found it unique and a worthwhile read.
Thank you to Twisted Tales PR and the author for the opportunity to read an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you like urban fantasy romance with these tropes, you might want to check this out:
Forced Proximity
Chosen One
Found Family
Flower Magic
Prophecy
Second Chance
Dual POV
A touch of spice
“The Divine Blooms had covered this earth, the air had been delicately woven with the fragrance of myriad flowers.”
“But one day, the Divine Blooms had simply disappeared, and prayers went unanswered. The flowers that used to cover the earth withered, and soon there was not a single petal left on Earth, Nature became grey, mourning her lost beauty.”
These two lines really set the tone for Fading Blossoms, a story rich in floral imagery, magic, and lost beauty. The worldbuilding immediately caught my attention—flowers as gods and sources of magic? Count me in.
However, I have to be upfront: even by the end of the book, I was still a little confused about what rafflesia actually was and why it was so bad. Early on, it’s mentioned that “the rafflesia-born were parasites, a threat to all magic,” but it wasn’t until the final 20% that I realized rafflesia is also a flower. A glossary or clearer explanation earlier in the story might’ve helped.
This book is quite short, and at times I felt like the pacing suffered because of it. The story moved quickly—sometimes too quickly—and could have benefitted from more pages to really flesh out the plot and characters. That said, I did enjoy the unique magic system and the way prophecy, divine magic, and nature were all intertwined.
"Her closeness was mind-blowing. He was sure he could bloom before his season even began, just from her touch."
"Bloom for me."
As for the romance, the relationship between Vensa and Mir felt a bit insta-love-ish. That could be due to the magic and prophecy at play (and let’s be real—when magic’s involved, who knows what’s driving destiny?), but I wish their bond had a bit more time to develop naturally. Vensa’s hot-and-cold behavior threw me off, though it made sense given her isolated upbringing and emotional inexperience. Still, I couldn't help but feel bad for Mir.
I did really enjoy the supporting cast—Anna and Alex stole every scene they were in, and their banter added much-needed levity. Also, the plot twist in the final 20%? Definitely a highlight!
Overall, Fading Blossoms offers a fresh take on urban fantasy with some standout ideas. While it didn’t fully deliver for me due to its length and pacing, I still found it unique and a worthwhile read.
Thank you to Twisted Tales PR and the author for the opportunity to read an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you like urban fantasy romance with these tropes, you might want to check this out:
Forced Proximity
Chosen One
Found Family
Flower Magic
Prophecy
Second Chance
Dual POV
A touch of spice
September 21, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
Well, I did not expect this book to make me cry, and then I was hit with the last chapter.
I was lucky enough to be chosen for an arc of Fading Blossoms.
Here’s the blurb:
Not a single sacred flower remains on Earth. With the gods in hiding, the wielders of divine flower magic have become prey, hunted by those who command the power of parasitic blooms.
In this withering world, Vesna is the rarest bloom, born with the ancient magic of the magnolia. But her heart blossoms with nothing but vengeance. She steps into the city ruled by her greatest enemy with one purpose: to curse the man who stole her mother’s magic and her life.
Her path soon intertwines with Mir, a man who wields poisonous datura magic and serves the very enemy she swore to destroy. Mir is everything she should hate, and yet his presence makes her heart blossom with dangerous lust.
As the lines between truth, betrayal, and revenge begin to blur, Vesna is forced to question everything she thought she knew. She must choose: cling to her vengeance or help bring the flower gods back into the world before the last magical petal falls.
You might like Fading Blossoms if you like:
✯Forced proximity
✯Second Chance
✯Spice
✯Urban fantasy
✯Found family
✯Dual POV
✯Flower magic
✯Chosen one
Now for my review, let’s start with the positives:
It started off kinda slow, but around 25% it picked up a bit and was more interesting! I was hooked enough to continue! And once we reached 70%, I could NOT put it down!
As for Mir and Vesna’s relationship, I think they were cute together, but their relationship didn’t really have any build up. However, I think it was alright despite that.
It’s dual pov, which we obviously love, and very fast paced, this was the first time I was able to quickly finish an ebook! The plot twist at 86%…. I was stunned. And the ending, I can’t believe the author just did that. Like why did it have to be her, I was crying.
Now for the negatives:
First off: Mir and Vesna. I already said they were cute together, but I feel like their relationship was mainly just based off of lust and not love, and there wasn’t much development in their relationship, but there was still some really sweet moments between them. It was kinda insta-lovey too, which just personally isn’t usually my taste. And the nicknames. I LOVE nicknames, but not when they’re overused. I feel like Mir was calling Vesna “wicked flower” in almost every line.
Another issue I had was that the book just kind of jumped straight into the plot, there wasn’t much world building or explanation for the world they lived in now.
Overall I did enjoy the book, and was hooked enough to keep reading. I would recommend it to certain people, but I also feel like it could’ve been improved!
Well, I did not expect this book to make me cry, and then I was hit with the last chapter.
I was lucky enough to be chosen for an arc of Fading Blossoms.
Here’s the blurb:
Not a single sacred flower remains on Earth. With the gods in hiding, the wielders of divine flower magic have become prey, hunted by those who command the power of parasitic blooms.
In this withering world, Vesna is the rarest bloom, born with the ancient magic of the magnolia. But her heart blossoms with nothing but vengeance. She steps into the city ruled by her greatest enemy with one purpose: to curse the man who stole her mother’s magic and her life.
Her path soon intertwines with Mir, a man who wields poisonous datura magic and serves the very enemy she swore to destroy. Mir is everything she should hate, and yet his presence makes her heart blossom with dangerous lust.
As the lines between truth, betrayal, and revenge begin to blur, Vesna is forced to question everything she thought she knew. She must choose: cling to her vengeance or help bring the flower gods back into the world before the last magical petal falls.
You might like Fading Blossoms if you like:
✯Forced proximity
✯Second Chance
✯Spice
✯Urban fantasy
✯Found family
✯Dual POV
✯Flower magic
✯Chosen one
Now for my review, let’s start with the positives:
It started off kinda slow, but around 25% it picked up a bit and was more interesting! I was hooked enough to continue! And once we reached 70%, I could NOT put it down!
As for Mir and Vesna’s relationship, I think they were cute together, but their relationship didn’t really have any build up. However, I think it was alright despite that.
It’s dual pov, which we obviously love, and very fast paced, this was the first time I was able to quickly finish an ebook! The plot twist at 86%…. I was stunned. And the ending, I can’t believe the author just did that. Like why did it have to be her, I was crying.
Now for the negatives:
First off: Mir and Vesna. I already said they were cute together, but I feel like their relationship was mainly just based off of lust and not love, and there wasn’t much development in their relationship, but there was still some really sweet moments between them. It was kinda insta-lovey too, which just personally isn’t usually my taste. And the nicknames. I LOVE nicknames, but not when they’re overused. I feel like Mir was calling Vesna “wicked flower” in almost every line.
Another issue I had was that the book just kind of jumped straight into the plot, there wasn’t much world building or explanation for the world they lived in now.
Overall I did enjoy the book, and was hooked enough to keep reading. I would recommend it to certain people, but I also feel like it could’ve been improved!
September 24, 2025
Arc Review✨
Thank you to the author Anastasiya Serada for sending me this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
-All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A magical debut that’s tender, atmospheric, and full of potential.
Fading Blossoms is a story that feels like walking through a half-wild garden — sometimes tangled, sometimes delicate, but always blooming with emotion. Anastasiya Serada offers a beautifully unique magic system rooted in flowers, gods, and grief, and that concept alone had me immediately intrigued.
Vesna, with her magnolia magic and deep yearning for justice, is a relatable and sympathetic protagonist. Her journey through pain, vengeance, and unexpected connection is one that feels honest, even when it’s messy. And Mir — quiet, brooding, dangerous in all the right ways — makes for a romantic tension that simmers more than it burns, but still keeps the pages turning. Their chemistry is subtle, slow, and tinged with sadness, which works really well for this kind of emotionally grounded fantasy.
The writing itself has a poetic, almost dreamlike quality — you can tell the author poured care into every sentence. That said, sometimes the prose felt a little too heavy or descriptive, which occasionally slowed the pacing or made certain scenes harder to connect with emotionally. I also found myself wishing for more time to explore the world and the side characters, especially the gods and their influence — it felt like there was so much more waiting just below the surface.
Despite those few bumps, Fading Blossoms really does shine in its emotional core. It’s about loss, healing, and the quiet courage it takes to move forward even when everything has been taken from you. The themes are soft but impactful, and the romance — while not overpowering — adds a gentle, bittersweet note.
This is a lovely debut, and I’d definitely read more from Anastasiya Serada. If you enjoy introspective fantasy with a romantic thread and a heavy dose of nature magic, this book is worth a read — especially on a quiet evening when you want something that feels like a soft ache and a hopeful bloom all at once.
Thank you to the author Anastasiya Serada for sending me this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
-All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A magical debut that’s tender, atmospheric, and full of potential.
Fading Blossoms is a story that feels like walking through a half-wild garden — sometimes tangled, sometimes delicate, but always blooming with emotion. Anastasiya Serada offers a beautifully unique magic system rooted in flowers, gods, and grief, and that concept alone had me immediately intrigued.
Vesna, with her magnolia magic and deep yearning for justice, is a relatable and sympathetic protagonist. Her journey through pain, vengeance, and unexpected connection is one that feels honest, even when it’s messy. And Mir — quiet, brooding, dangerous in all the right ways — makes for a romantic tension that simmers more than it burns, but still keeps the pages turning. Their chemistry is subtle, slow, and tinged with sadness, which works really well for this kind of emotionally grounded fantasy.
The writing itself has a poetic, almost dreamlike quality — you can tell the author poured care into every sentence. That said, sometimes the prose felt a little too heavy or descriptive, which occasionally slowed the pacing or made certain scenes harder to connect with emotionally. I also found myself wishing for more time to explore the world and the side characters, especially the gods and their influence — it felt like there was so much more waiting just below the surface.
Despite those few bumps, Fading Blossoms really does shine in its emotional core. It’s about loss, healing, and the quiet courage it takes to move forward even when everything has been taken from you. The themes are soft but impactful, and the romance — while not overpowering — adds a gentle, bittersweet note.
This is a lovely debut, and I’d definitely read more from Anastasiya Serada. If you enjoy introspective fantasy with a romantic thread and a heavy dose of nature magic, this book is worth a read — especially on a quiet evening when you want something that feels like a soft ache and a hopeful bloom all at once.
October 3, 2025
⭐⭐.5
ARC Review
Tropes:
Romantasy
Divine Flowers
Heroine after revenge
Broken Hero
People with Powers
This book had a lot of potential, but unfortunately, it wasn’t executed as well as I hoped.
Vesna has the power of the magnolia flower and is the Sacred One, just like her mother was before she was killed by Boris, a man with the power of the rafflesia flower (a parasite). Vesna is driven solely by revenge and will do whatever it takes to get it.
Mir, on the other hand, has the power of the datura flower. He can use its poison to induce hallucinations and kill people. He works for Boris in hopes of finding the Divine Blooms and destroying the Divine Datura, intending to eradicate the "poisonous" powers once and for all.
The world-building was well done, gradually unfolding as we met new characters and learned about their divine flower powers. However, at times, I felt that certain information was repeated too often, making it feel a bit repetitive.
I didn’t particularly like Vesna. While I understood her drive for revenge (go get 'em, girl!), she came across as overly selfish. Despite holding the power to free everyone, she only cared about her own goals. In the end, she only realized her mistake because Mir left her, and then she just wanted him back.
I absolutely loved Mir, though! Even though he had his own reasons for searching for the Divine Blooms, he did his best not to manipulate or use people, and he tried to prevent Boris from causing harm.
The plot itself was very promising, with so much potential. The twist regarding Vesna’s mother completely took me by surprise! The story felt a bit rushed towards the end, though. While it flowed well for most of the book, it felt like there was little progression, and then suddenly everything happened all at once.
This would’ve been a 3-4 star read for me, but that ending... I HATED it! The one character who had the purest heart and deserved happiness (besides Mir) did not deserve that outcome, and it honestly ruined the entire book for me.
I hope that works! It keeps your original points intact while smoothing out the structure a bit. Let me know what you think!
ARC Review
Tropes:
Romantasy
Divine Flowers
Heroine after revenge
Broken Hero
People with Powers
This book had a lot of potential, but unfortunately, it wasn’t executed as well as I hoped.
Vesna has the power of the magnolia flower and is the Sacred One, just like her mother was before she was killed by Boris, a man with the power of the rafflesia flower (a parasite). Vesna is driven solely by revenge and will do whatever it takes to get it.
Mir, on the other hand, has the power of the datura flower. He can use its poison to induce hallucinations and kill people. He works for Boris in hopes of finding the Divine Blooms and destroying the Divine Datura, intending to eradicate the "poisonous" powers once and for all.
The world-building was well done, gradually unfolding as we met new characters and learned about their divine flower powers. However, at times, I felt that certain information was repeated too often, making it feel a bit repetitive.
I didn’t particularly like Vesna. While I understood her drive for revenge (go get 'em, girl!), she came across as overly selfish. Despite holding the power to free everyone, she only cared about her own goals. In the end, she only realized her mistake because Mir left her, and then she just wanted him back.
I absolutely loved Mir, though! Even though he had his own reasons for searching for the Divine Blooms, he did his best not to manipulate or use people, and he tried to prevent Boris from causing harm.
The plot itself was very promising, with so much potential. The twist regarding Vesna’s mother completely took me by surprise! The story felt a bit rushed towards the end, though. While it flowed well for most of the book, it felt like there was little progression, and then suddenly everything happened all at once.
This would’ve been a 3-4 star read for me, but that ending... I HATED it! The one character who had the purest heart and deserved happiness (besides Mir) did not deserve that outcome, and it honestly ruined the entire book for me.
I hope that works! It keeps your original points intact while smoothing out the structure a bit. Let me know what you think!
October 8, 2025
I want to say thanks to MTMC Tours for this arc.
This book was weird. I loved the concept of people having flower-based magic. The fact that the villains were a parasitic flower was cool. That's kind of where the enjoyable parts of the book stopped, though. The relationships between the characters moved so quickly that they didn't feel genuine. How they spoke to each other was also kind of weird. They were all in their mid to late 20s and yet they talked like they were teenagers. The romance was pretty ok. It also felt off. However, there were two things in particular that I didn't like at all and I honestly can't write this review without including them, so spoilers below. I'm not one to write super negative reviews, so I apologize in advance.
This book was weird. I loved the concept of people having flower-based magic. The fact that the villains were a parasitic flower was cool. That's kind of where the enjoyable parts of the book stopped, though. The relationships between the characters moved so quickly that they didn't feel genuine. How they spoke to each other was also kind of weird. They were all in their mid to late 20s and yet they talked like they were teenagers. The romance was pretty ok. It also felt off. However, there were two things in particular that I didn't like at all and I honestly can't write this review without including them, so spoilers below. I'm not one to write super negative reviews, so I apologize in advance.
November 6, 2025
ARC REVIEW
𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙚.
A truly unique urban romantasy centered around 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤. 💐 Each 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺 is hunted by people trying to steal their powers using parasitic blooms. The magic isn’t just a plot device, it manifests through pollen, and each ability reflects the qualities of the flower a character embodies, making the world incredibly immersive. ✨🌸🌼
Vesna, born from the rare Magnolia flower, is driven by vengeance for her mother’s death. Her determination is remarkable, but as the story unfolds, her heart begins to change thanks to Mir, a man who works for her enemy and wields poisonous flower magic. 🖤
Their relationship evolves from rivalry to slow-burning attraction, with intense romantic tension that keeps readers hooked. 🔥🙊
Mir and Vesna are complex, well-developed characters. Mir, haunted by his past, struggles to resist Vesna but is completely enchanted by her, while Vesna balances her innocence, desire for revenge, and growing feelings. ❤️ Secondary characters like Anna and Alex bring warmth and humor, providing support and lighthearted moments that enrich the story. 💕
The writing is descriptive yet easy to follow, with floral imagery so vivid you can almost see the colors and smell the scents. 🧡💜
While the story is somewhat short and some early sections are exposition-heavy, the pace remains engaging and enjoyable. ✨🥀
📖 This standalone novel is the perfect whimsical romance: a blend of magic, revenge, love, and found family that will leave you smiling and utterly enchanted. 💖
🫶🏼 Thank you so much to @authoranastasiyaserada and @twistedtalespr for the opportunity to read this as an ARC! 💚
𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙚.
A truly unique urban romantasy centered around 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤. 💐 Each 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺 is hunted by people trying to steal their powers using parasitic blooms. The magic isn’t just a plot device, it manifests through pollen, and each ability reflects the qualities of the flower a character embodies, making the world incredibly immersive. ✨🌸🌼
Vesna, born from the rare Magnolia flower, is driven by vengeance for her mother’s death. Her determination is remarkable, but as the story unfolds, her heart begins to change thanks to Mir, a man who works for her enemy and wields poisonous flower magic. 🖤
Their relationship evolves from rivalry to slow-burning attraction, with intense romantic tension that keeps readers hooked. 🔥🙊
Mir and Vesna are complex, well-developed characters. Mir, haunted by his past, struggles to resist Vesna but is completely enchanted by her, while Vesna balances her innocence, desire for revenge, and growing feelings. ❤️ Secondary characters like Anna and Alex bring warmth and humor, providing support and lighthearted moments that enrich the story. 💕
The writing is descriptive yet easy to follow, with floral imagery so vivid you can almost see the colors and smell the scents. 🧡💜
While the story is somewhat short and some early sections are exposition-heavy, the pace remains engaging and enjoyable. ✨🥀
📖 This standalone novel is the perfect whimsical romance: a blend of magic, revenge, love, and found family that will leave you smiling and utterly enchanted. 💖
🫶🏼 Thank you so much to @authoranastasiyaserada and @twistedtalespr for the opportunity to read this as an ARC! 💚
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