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Grave Flowers
A twisty, dark royalcore fantasy that takes the courtly intrigue of Hamlet and infuses it with the vicious ambition of the Boleyn family. For readers who love Holly Black and Sarah J. Maas.
This gorgeous hardcover edition features beautifully designed endpapers and a foil stamped case!
“A sumptuously dark tale of revenge and atonement that beautifully explores the ties both duty and family use to claim us. From the first page to the last, I was dazzled.” —Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Child
Marry the prince, then kill him.
Princess Madalina and her twin sister, Inessa, were born attached at the hand and separated right after. That’s the only time the sisters ever held hands. The girls’ personalities have been shaped in the Sinet family’s drive to make their kingdom more than what it is: unrespectable and loathsome, a damp place where deceit fills the palace walls like mold.
Madalina is different from her family. She’s considered the weak one and only finds peace in the garden, tending her magical flowers, which are pejoratively called grave flowers because they are ideal for torture and torment. Secretly, she dreams of escape and a new life.
Then Inessa, who was betrothed to the heir of a wealthy kingdom—Prince Aeric—gets trapped in Bide, a terrifying purgatory, and begs Madalina to set her free. Now, not only must Madalina take her sister’s place as Aeric’s bride-to-be, but she also must finish Inessa’s secret mission: Inessa wasn’t just sent to marry Prince Aeric, but to kill him, too, and solidify a profitable pact with his traitorous uncle.
On behalf of her family, Madalina will need to resist the infuriatingly clever prince—as well as her own heart—if she’s to free her sister and finish the job.
Perfect for fans of:
-Enemies to lovers
-Royal rivalry
-Arranged marriage
-Deadly games
-Dark royalcore
-Reluctant ruler
-Bloodstained family
This gorgeous hardcover edition features beautifully designed endpapers and a foil stamped case!
“A sumptuously dark tale of revenge and atonement that beautifully explores the ties both duty and family use to claim us. From the first page to the last, I was dazzled.” —Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Child
Marry the prince, then kill him.
Princess Madalina and her twin sister, Inessa, were born attached at the hand and separated right after. That’s the only time the sisters ever held hands. The girls’ personalities have been shaped in the Sinet family’s drive to make their kingdom more than what it is: unrespectable and loathsome, a damp place where deceit fills the palace walls like mold.
Madalina is different from her family. She’s considered the weak one and only finds peace in the garden, tending her magical flowers, which are pejoratively called grave flowers because they are ideal for torture and torment. Secretly, she dreams of escape and a new life.
Then Inessa, who was betrothed to the heir of a wealthy kingdom—Prince Aeric—gets trapped in Bide, a terrifying purgatory, and begs Madalina to set her free. Now, not only must Madalina take her sister’s place as Aeric’s bride-to-be, but she also must finish Inessa’s secret mission: Inessa wasn’t just sent to marry Prince Aeric, but to kill him, too, and solidify a profitable pact with his traitorous uncle.
On behalf of her family, Madalina will need to resist the infuriatingly clever prince—as well as her own heart—if she’s to free her sister and finish the job.
Perfect for fans of:
-Enemies to lovers
-Royal rivalry
-Arranged marriage
-Deadly games
-Dark royalcore
-Reluctant ruler
-Bloodstained family
398 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 2, 2025
112 people are currently reading
10759 people want to read
About the author
Autumn Krause
5 books468 followersAutumn Krause is a writer in Orange County, California, where she can most often be found wearing a black lace dress and boots.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 242 reviews
March 2, 2025
Official blurb coming when I’m coherent but I adored it.
Read
September 20, 2025firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!
dnf’d @37% — this wasn’t bad, i just don’t think it was for me at this moment in time, so soft dnf for now
dnf’d @37% — this wasn’t bad, i just don’t think it was for me at this moment in time, so soft dnf for now
August 31, 2025
Haunting, harrowing, and strangely healing. Mysterious ghosts, tarnished thrones, and flesh-eating carnivorous flowers that can get rid of evidence. Heavy familial expectations, sibling bonds, and two people who don't know how to love but want to love each other. All wrapped up in Krause's stunning prose. I got swept up in the intrigue of it all and couldn't look away, spent a lot of the second half gasping at the twists (THE TWISTS), and while this is a complete story (hooray!) I'm SO GLAD we're getting a sequel. I need more.
I really loved it and I'm so glad. 4.5 stars from me!
*content warnings for some horror aspects, murder, gaslighting, and some kissing and mild innuendo
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
I really loved it and I'm so glad. 4.5 stars from me!
*content warnings for some horror aspects, murder, gaslighting, and some kissing and mild innuendo
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
May 12, 2025
I absolutely adored this one! Autumn Krause’s writing is so immersive—I just wanted to crawl inside this magical, deadly world of enchanted blooms, family secrets, and eerie floral lore. The grave flowers experiment field notes sprinkled throughout were such a unique and chilling touch; I genuinely looked forward to every one of them as it was so fascinating to learn more about these deadly flowers and their powers and I generally just laughed out loud at what a ridiculous character the King was.
Autumn knows how to craft characters like no one else, each one bursting with personality, quirks, and motivations that feel so real. From the banter to the betrayals, the twisted family ties, and (sometimes literal) backstabbing had me fully hooked. I loved watching the dynamics shift and unravel as the story unfolded.
At the heart of it all is Madalina’s emotional tug-of-war between her heart and family expectations. Her journey of uncovering the hidden sides of her lineage and deciding who she wants to be was handled so thoughtfully and so beautifully. A mystical, banter-filled twist on Hamlet and Anne Boleyn, this one has just the right balance of suspense, danger, and swoon!
Autumn knows how to craft characters like no one else, each one bursting with personality, quirks, and motivations that feel so real. From the banter to the betrayals, the twisted family ties, and (sometimes literal) backstabbing had me fully hooked. I loved watching the dynamics shift and unravel as the story unfolded.
At the heart of it all is Madalina’s emotional tug-of-war between her heart and family expectations. Her journey of uncovering the hidden sides of her lineage and deciding who she wants to be was handled so thoughtfully and so beautifully. A mystical, banter-filled twist on Hamlet and Anne Boleyn, this one has just the right balance of suspense, danger, and swoon!
September 28, 2025
More like 3.5, but a high 3.5/5. The plot just got very convoluted near the end. I did really enjoy the build up of the characters and plot, but it felt like a slog at 50% when nothing had really happened yet. I could've done without Inessa's ghost and more focus on Madalina's story. I did enjoy the twists with Yorick, but the subplot with the grave flowers got confusing near the end. Very ambitious fusion of Hamlet, the Tudor court and a fantasy plot with magical flowers. I still prefer her last book, but I did enjoy this one a lot.
Want to read
December 17, 2024I AM SO EXCITED TO READ THIS!
September 10, 2025
✨ 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 & 🍵 𝗧𝗲𝗮 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
Princess Madalina is more comfortable talking to her magical, carnivorous grave flowers than dealing with palace drama. When her twin sister gets trapped in a ghostly limbo, Madalina has to step into her sister’s shoes, marry a prince, and pull off a deadly revenge plan. But of course.. nothing goes smoothly and suddenly you’re questioning who’s playing who.
I was hooked from page one.. the mix of royal scheming, magical plants, and dark humor had me snickering and gasping at the same time. Madalina is such a chaotic heroine and the tension with Prince Aeric? Chefs kiss.. it’s messy, thrilling, and absolutely binge-worthy. I kept imagining what I’d do in her shoes and lowkey plotting my own flower-powered takeovers.
🫶 Thank you to @peachtreeteen for this gifted copy!
🌹 Dark royalty
🗡️ Revenge plots
🌱 Magical flora
👯 Twin drama
🩸 Deadly secrets
🎭 Court intrigue
Princess Madalina is more comfortable talking to her magical, carnivorous grave flowers than dealing with palace drama. When her twin sister gets trapped in a ghostly limbo, Madalina has to step into her sister’s shoes, marry a prince, and pull off a deadly revenge plan. But of course.. nothing goes smoothly and suddenly you’re questioning who’s playing who.
I was hooked from page one.. the mix of royal scheming, magical plants, and dark humor had me snickering and gasping at the same time. Madalina is such a chaotic heroine and the tension with Prince Aeric? Chefs kiss.. it’s messy, thrilling, and absolutely binge-worthy. I kept imagining what I’d do in her shoes and lowkey plotting my own flower-powered takeovers.
🫶 Thank you to @peachtreeteen for this gifted copy!
🌹 Dark royalty
🗡️ Revenge plots
🌱 Magical flora
👯 Twin drama
🩸 Deadly secrets
🎭 Court intrigue
October 7, 2025
2025 reads: 283/300
i received a complimentary finished copy from the publisher as part of their influencer program. i am leaving this review voluntarily.
combining the court intrigue of hamlet with the vicious ambition of the boleyn family, grave flowers follows princess madalina of the sinet family, who have made their legacy out of doing whatever it takes to make their kingdom better. madalina is considered the weak one, preferring the company of grave flowers to that of other people. but when her twin, inessa, gets stuck in a sort of purgatory, she begs madalina to set her free…which involves carrying out inessa’s mission to marry, then kill, prince aeric.
this was my first book by autumn krause, but i’m sure it won’t be my last! i enjoy stories about the black sheep of the family, and the fact that the family in this book was sort of wicked made this even more interesting. the romance was also phenomenal, though i will admit, i wasn’t sure if i was meant to be rooting for the couple when i went into this. even still, i loved seeing madalina and aeric’s relationship progress! aeric turned out to be a much better character than madalina originally perceived him as. overall, this was a lovely book. i look forward to more from the author.
i received a complimentary finished copy from the publisher as part of their influencer program. i am leaving this review voluntarily.
combining the court intrigue of hamlet with the vicious ambition of the boleyn family, grave flowers follows princess madalina of the sinet family, who have made their legacy out of doing whatever it takes to make their kingdom better. madalina is considered the weak one, preferring the company of grave flowers to that of other people. but when her twin, inessa, gets stuck in a sort of purgatory, she begs madalina to set her free…which involves carrying out inessa’s mission to marry, then kill, prince aeric.
this was my first book by autumn krause, but i’m sure it won’t be my last! i enjoy stories about the black sheep of the family, and the fact that the family in this book was sort of wicked made this even more interesting. the romance was also phenomenal, though i will admit, i wasn’t sure if i was meant to be rooting for the couple when i went into this. even still, i loved seeing madalina and aeric’s relationship progress! aeric turned out to be a much better character than madalina originally perceived him as. overall, this was a lovely book. i look forward to more from the author.
November 18, 2025
Aww wow!!! I really enjoyed this 🫶🫶
Excellent characterization, lush scenery and descriptions, and incredible intrigue. A story of love all forms. And I loved our main character. The mystery at the center was FANTASTIC, and kept me guessing constantly. I have a feeling I will be coming back to this book later and thinking about it often. Really incredible 💗
I didn’t give it 5 stars only because I would have loved a little more from some of our side characters, it was enough to get the job done - just not enough to make me love all of them the way I loved Madalina. Also, the ending could have given madalina a little more agency and been a little bit more fleshed out BUT what can I say I still loved the story.
But I will definitely be reading this author’s works in the future!!!
Excellent characterization, lush scenery and descriptions, and incredible intrigue. A story of love all forms. And I loved our main character. The mystery at the center was FANTASTIC, and kept me guessing constantly. I have a feeling I will be coming back to this book later and thinking about it often. Really incredible 💗
I didn’t give it 5 stars only because I would have loved a little more from some of our side characters, it was enough to get the job done - just not enough to make me love all of them the way I loved Madalina. Also, the ending could have given madalina a little more agency and been a little bit more fleshed out BUT what can I say I still loved the story.
But I will definitely be reading this author’s works in the future!!!
November 4, 2025
Grave Flowers is a hauntingly lyrical, darkly romantic masterpiece that completely swept me away. Autumn Krause’s prose is beautifully poetic, lush, evocative, and brimming with atmosphere. Every sentence feels like it was carefully chosen to bloom on the page, creating a reading experience that is both immersive and unforgettable.
One of my favorite aspects of Grave Flowers was the flower magic in this world, which is so utterly unique. The flowers, especially the Beauties, were equal parts beautiful and unsettling. It’s unlike anything I’ve read before, and the way Autumn intertwines it with themes of grief, power, and identity adds so much depth to the story! The magic system feels organic and alive, full of symbolism and danger, and it enhances the gothic undertones of the novel perfectly. In a market saturated with magic, Autumn brings a breath of fresh air with a new and intriguing magic system!
For the romance readers, the heart of the story is the slow-burn, tension-filled connection between Aeric and Madalina. Their chemistry crackles off the page with every glance, every conversation layered with things unsaid. The tension is palpable and full of so much yearning, mistrust, and magnetism rolled into one. Watching their dynamic evolve was one of the most rewarding aspects of the book. I am a sucker for a good yearning and this provided!
Autumn Krause has such a gift for crafting stories that grip you from the first page and don’t let go. Her writing is immersive, emotionally charged, and addictive. Grave Flowers is no exception. It’s a gothic fantasy that blooms with beauty, danger, and aching romance. I couldn’t put it down, and I’m already counting the days until I can step into THE SEQUEL!! Which was recently announced and I am so, so excited for!
Overall I give this book five stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a must-read for fans of lush gothic fantasy, fated enemies romance, and magic that cuts as much as it heals. Autumn, you brilliant soul, you have done it again!
One of my favorite aspects of Grave Flowers was the flower magic in this world, which is so utterly unique. The flowers, especially the Beauties, were equal parts beautiful and unsettling. It’s unlike anything I’ve read before, and the way Autumn intertwines it with themes of grief, power, and identity adds so much depth to the story! The magic system feels organic and alive, full of symbolism and danger, and it enhances the gothic undertones of the novel perfectly. In a market saturated with magic, Autumn brings a breath of fresh air with a new and intriguing magic system!
For the romance readers, the heart of the story is the slow-burn, tension-filled connection between Aeric and Madalina. Their chemistry crackles off the page with every glance, every conversation layered with things unsaid. The tension is palpable and full of so much yearning, mistrust, and magnetism rolled into one. Watching their dynamic evolve was one of the most rewarding aspects of the book. I am a sucker for a good yearning and this provided!
Autumn Krause has such a gift for crafting stories that grip you from the first page and don’t let go. Her writing is immersive, emotionally charged, and addictive. Grave Flowers is no exception. It’s a gothic fantasy that blooms with beauty, danger, and aching romance. I couldn’t put it down, and I’m already counting the days until I can step into THE SEQUEL!! Which was recently announced and I am so, so excited for!
Overall I give this book five stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a must-read for fans of lush gothic fantasy, fated enemies romance, and magic that cuts as much as it heals. Autumn, you brilliant soul, you have done it again!
December 27, 2025
Have I known about this book for almost a year now? Yes, yes I have. Does this make me even more excited for its arrival? You better believe it!! I'm so incredibly anxious/excited for this book.
October 1, 2025
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher (PeachTree Teen) for promotional purposes.
Wow! What a phenomenal YA fantasy!
First off, the blend of Hamlet, the Tudors, and deadly flowers were an amazing combination. It all worked together perfectly. It had a gothic feel with a touch of horror. I loved it!
Let’s take a moment to talk about the grave flowers themselves. These killer flowers had a life of their own and were so fascinating.
The world building was outstanding. Both kingdoms, Radix and Acus, were well developed. I felt fully immersed in them and their court politics.
The characters were also noteworthy. I loved the main character, Princess Madalina. She was both soft and strong. Prince Aeric was another interesting character. He was complex and had many layers to him.
The story had so many twists and turns! It took me on a ride and it never felt predictable. I was constantly shocked by where the story went. It was creative and felt new and fresh.
The author’s writing style is gorgeous. I need to read more of her books because she creates a dark yet beautiful atmosphere through her prose.
Lastly, I want to end with a quote that stuck with me. Madalina reflects, “Mothers were women first, and women could be anything. They could eat fire and spew it out like dragons just as easily as they could rock a baby to sleep—in fact, they could do both at once: wield a knife while holding a babe” (pg. 58).
Overall, this is one of my top reads of the year. If you’re looking for a new fantasy novel to fall in love with, read this one!
Wow! What a phenomenal YA fantasy!
First off, the blend of Hamlet, the Tudors, and deadly flowers were an amazing combination. It all worked together perfectly. It had a gothic feel with a touch of horror. I loved it!
Let’s take a moment to talk about the grave flowers themselves. These killer flowers had a life of their own and were so fascinating.
The world building was outstanding. Both kingdoms, Radix and Acus, were well developed. I felt fully immersed in them and their court politics.
The characters were also noteworthy. I loved the main character, Princess Madalina. She was both soft and strong. Prince Aeric was another interesting character. He was complex and had many layers to him.
The story had so many twists and turns! It took me on a ride and it never felt predictable. I was constantly shocked by where the story went. It was creative and felt new and fresh.
The author’s writing style is gorgeous. I need to read more of her books because she creates a dark yet beautiful atmosphere through her prose.
Lastly, I want to end with a quote that stuck with me. Madalina reflects, “Mothers were women first, and women could be anything. They could eat fire and spew it out like dragons just as easily as they could rock a baby to sleep—in fact, they could do both at once: wield a knife while holding a babe” (pg. 58).
Overall, this is one of my top reads of the year. If you’re looking for a new fantasy novel to fall in love with, read this one!
June 24, 2025
Wow. What a gorgeous, meaningful haunt of a story. Grave Flowers completely enchanted me—from its spellbinding magic to its aching, tender themes. The grave flowers themselves were such a unique and beautiful concept, and the entire book felt wrapped in velvet-dark atmosphere and emotional resonance.
Madelina is the kind of heroine who quietly wrecks you. A princess caught in the grip of others’ expectations, she’s been told her kindness is weakness—and has started to believe it. She doesn’t think she is lovable and it absolutely breaks my heart because she doesn’t know me, but I adore her in all her complexity.
And Aeric? Absolutely, devastatingly perfect. A tortured soul hardened by betrayal, knowing Madelina might a chess piece be used against him—but still wishing he could love her. Watching both of them flinch at the possibility of love, and hope anyway, was such a rewarding emotional journey.
The romance is swoony, slow-burn, and sweet (no spice—just longing and lovely kisses). The prose? Stunning. Autumn Krause is an extraordinary wordsmith—her writing is some of the most beautiful I’ve read all year. I will read anything she writes.
What elevated this story most was its theme: the courage to be a transitional character—the one who breaks the cycle of generational pain. The exploration of family trauma, tradition, resilience, and healing was powerful and timely. It spoke right to my heart.
There are mature topics, but nothing gratuitous or glamorized. It’s definitely best suited for older YA readers and fans of darker, fairytale-inspired fantasy. (Think Gilded by Marissa Meyer with a bit more emotional depth and haunting flair.)
I’m genuinely sad the book is over. It was marvelous. Poetic, haunting, healing. One I’ll be thinking about for a long time.
Madelina is the kind of heroine who quietly wrecks you. A princess caught in the grip of others’ expectations, she’s been told her kindness is weakness—and has started to believe it. She doesn’t think she is lovable and it absolutely breaks my heart because she doesn’t know me, but I adore her in all her complexity.
And Aeric? Absolutely, devastatingly perfect. A tortured soul hardened by betrayal, knowing Madelina might a chess piece be used against him—but still wishing he could love her. Watching both of them flinch at the possibility of love, and hope anyway, was such a rewarding emotional journey.
The romance is swoony, slow-burn, and sweet (no spice—just longing and lovely kisses). The prose? Stunning. Autumn Krause is an extraordinary wordsmith—her writing is some of the most beautiful I’ve read all year. I will read anything she writes.
What elevated this story most was its theme: the courage to be a transitional character—the one who breaks the cycle of generational pain. The exploration of family trauma, tradition, resilience, and healing was powerful and timely. It spoke right to my heart.
There are mature topics, but nothing gratuitous or glamorized. It’s definitely best suited for older YA readers and fans of darker, fairytale-inspired fantasy. (Think Gilded by Marissa Meyer with a bit more emotional depth and haunting flair.)
I’m genuinely sad the book is over. It was marvelous. Poetic, haunting, healing. One I’ll be thinking about for a long time.
January 9, 2026
thank you to peachtree teen and holiday house books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
a unique retelling of hamlet, we are following princess madalina immediately after her twin sister has been murdered. forced to take over her sister’s engagement to another kingdom’s prince, madalina is thrown into a literal deadly badly of court politics. she’s forced to avenge her sister’s death while also trying to assassinate aforementioned prince, of course, when all she really wants is to is to take care of her flowers.
i really appreciated the twist on the traditional shakespearean hamlet. madalina is not our typical protagonist, she’s forced out of her comfort in order to find her sister’s killer and play at court politics. i found her story and the grave flowers very compelling. she doesn’t know who she can trust, not even the spirit of her twin. we see her somewhat lose her footing while also trying to discern who she can truly trust, her supposed allies that want the prince assassinated or the prince himself. i struggled a bit to see the devlopment between madalina and prince aeric, i wish we had more interactions between the two of them. although, i understand why she wouldn’t really have had the direct access to him most of the time.
unfortunately, that last quarter or so lost me just a tad with the large cast we we’re trying to keep track of, mostly of her father and of the other court. as you’d expect, there are a lot of moving parts and people with motivations. we see a bit into it, and especially with the underlying tones of racism towards madalina's mother's ethnicity. i would love to see it further explored, but as krause stated in her author's note, she was not really given the chance to explore her bi-racial identity in the story as this sheltered princess. it's very briefly touched, but pushed a bit on the back burner for the more pressing political issues in aeric's court.
also, the concept of the grave flowers themselves confused me a bit too and how they came into play at the end. i think i’m just generally unsure of how they really work, magic-wise. i wish i had more explanation there!
a unique retelling of hamlet, we are following princess madalina immediately after her twin sister has been murdered. forced to take over her sister’s engagement to another kingdom’s prince, madalina is thrown into a literal deadly badly of court politics. she’s forced to avenge her sister’s death while also trying to assassinate aforementioned prince, of course, when all she really wants is to is to take care of her flowers.
i really appreciated the twist on the traditional shakespearean hamlet. madalina is not our typical protagonist, she’s forced out of her comfort in order to find her sister’s killer and play at court politics. i found her story and the grave flowers very compelling. she doesn’t know who she can trust, not even the spirit of her twin. we see her somewhat lose her footing while also trying to discern who she can truly trust, her supposed allies that want the prince assassinated or the prince himself. i struggled a bit to see the devlopment between madalina and prince aeric, i wish we had more interactions between the two of them. although, i understand why she wouldn’t really have had the direct access to him most of the time.
unfortunately, that last quarter or so lost me just a tad with the large cast we we’re trying to keep track of, mostly of her father and of the other court. as you’d expect, there are a lot of moving parts and people with motivations. we see a bit into it, and especially with the underlying tones of racism towards madalina's mother's ethnicity. i would love to see it further explored, but as krause stated in her author's note, she was not really given the chance to explore her bi-racial identity in the story as this sheltered princess. it's very briefly touched, but pushed a bit on the back burner for the more pressing political issues in aeric's court.
also, the concept of the grave flowers themselves confused me a bit too and how they came into play at the end. i think i’m just generally unsure of how they really work, magic-wise. i wish i had more explanation there!
September 16, 2025
This was really good and loved how unhinged the characters were but still liked the FMC. Interesting magic system with the different kinds of grave flowers and how they worked. Solid 4 stars.
November 6, 2025
Boring. Boring. Boring. Had a cool idea, but the magic system was non existent. The love story was non existent. And it draggggggeeddd. I feel like this needed more editing down and more information not just filler.
August 26, 2025
4.5 stars!
This was such a wild ride. The setting, the atmosphere, and the horror elements (not many but definitely enough to keep me on my toes as not-a-horror-reader) lent so well to this darkly decadent tale of betrayal, bloodlust, and madness.
I really loved the Hamlet-inspired elements, and I felt like I should have seen one particular thing coming and didn't! I gasped aloud while reading.
The grave flowers are so intriguing, and I wonder what they were like before they were "corrupted".
Madalina is a soft girl who at the same time will do what she has to do to survive and protect her kingdom. My heart broke for her, and Aeric too, as we learn through the story it seems like he actually would make a good king, while powerful people want him dead.
This is also a story about sisters, and it's really hard to express my feelings on that without spoilers so please, read this book!!
I'm really excited there will be a sequel!
*I received an earc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
This was such a wild ride. The setting, the atmosphere, and the horror elements (not many but definitely enough to keep me on my toes as not-a-horror-reader) lent so well to this darkly decadent tale of betrayal, bloodlust, and madness.
I really loved the Hamlet-inspired elements, and I felt like I should have seen one particular thing coming and didn't! I gasped aloud while reading.
The grave flowers are so intriguing, and I wonder what they were like before they were "corrupted".
Madalina is a soft girl who at the same time will do what she has to do to survive and protect her kingdom. My heart broke for her, and Aeric too, as we learn through the story it seems like he actually would make a good king, while powerful people want him dead.
This is also a story about sisters, and it's really hard to express my feelings on that without spoilers so please, read this book!!
I'm really excited there will be a sequel!
*I received an earc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
January 7, 2026
I was fully engrossed with this book from chapter one all the way to the last sentence. This has to be one of my favorite books of all time. PLEASE YES JUST GIVE IT A READ. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Descriptive, romantic, thrilling, dreadful Gothic atmosphere, and incredible writing. You will not be disappointed. I am SO OBSESSED with Aeric and Madalina’s dynamic and their love story (and that’s me, coming from a lesbian). I think the enemies to lovers troupe was done so well. The FMC has a clear personality, inner struggles, and motives (a simple and clear character arc too). Even the love interest, Aeric, was super interesting to try to figure out. Their banter had me GAGGED. I’m so glad I gave this story a chance, because it’s so delicious in every way and made my heart race with the tension and plot as well. It was creepy and grotesque in just the right amount. While I do think the ending is a bit rushed with lots of lore drops, the wedding and character arcs and dramatic deaths made it all worth it.
January 11, 2026
Grave Flowers was an interesting gothic tale with fantastical elements I wish had been explored more.
I loved the gothic vibes of the book and the court politics at the start of the book were interesting, though as the book progressed, the political elements became less and less interesting and central and that was disappointing as it was one of the stronger elements at the beginning of the book.
One of my biggest disappointments with this book, and the reason it didn't hit 4 stars for me, was the actual grave flowers. It was really interesting learning about the different varieties through the journal entries throughout the book, but they didn't play a big enough role within the actual story until the very end. Which was a shame as it was one of the most interesting aspects of the book.
I did quite like the FMC and MMC in this book, though I do wish we had got more from the MMC in terms of page time, he felt infrequent for a book with an arranged marriage trope tied to it. Because of this I found the romance within quite lackluster and everytime it cropped up, the emotions being expressed didn't marry up with where the relationship was.
I did like how trapped by expectations Madalina was and the insight and depth it gave to her character. I also liked how we saw her views on manipulation and planning and reading people. How she did darker things despite not wanting to. She felt like a well developed character even if she could be far to trusting.
Overall it was a pretty decent gothic YA read, though there were definitely elements I think could have been utilised better.
I loved the gothic vibes of the book and the court politics at the start of the book were interesting, though as the book progressed, the political elements became less and less interesting and central and that was disappointing as it was one of the stronger elements at the beginning of the book.
One of my biggest disappointments with this book, and the reason it didn't hit 4 stars for me, was the actual grave flowers. It was really interesting learning about the different varieties through the journal entries throughout the book, but they didn't play a big enough role within the actual story until the very end. Which was a shame as it was one of the most interesting aspects of the book.
I did quite like the FMC and MMC in this book, though I do wish we had got more from the MMC in terms of page time, he felt infrequent for a book with an arranged marriage trope tied to it. Because of this I found the romance within quite lackluster and everytime it cropped up, the emotions being expressed didn't marry up with where the relationship was.
I did like how trapped by expectations Madalina was and the insight and depth it gave to her character. I also liked how we saw her views on manipulation and planning and reading people. How she did darker things despite not wanting to. She felt like a well developed character even if she could be far to trusting.
Overall it was a pretty decent gothic YA read, though there were definitely elements I think could have been utilised better.
Currently reading
January 6, 2026Well, well. I really needed a palate cleanser. Grave Flowers was the cure for my struggling attention with books lately.
My teens bought me this gorgeous tome for Christmas. I love it! In the early chapters...and sneaking what I can between projects. The nod to Hamlet has my heart! Stay tuned, friends. Twisty dark royal core for those curious. YA fantasy with a touch of grim, delicious scariness. Review to come.
My teens bought me this gorgeous tome for Christmas. I love it! In the early chapters...and sneaking what I can between projects. The nod to Hamlet has my heart! Stay tuned, friends. Twisty dark royal core for those curious. YA fantasy with a touch of grim, delicious scariness. Review to come.
October 29, 2025
A spooky book to close my October reads with! I got so swept up in this book and loved the twists and turns. While I could predict the villain, there was still a twist to it that still had me hooked. I’m so excited to see where this goes.
Fantasy + horror + murder mystery = the best combo for spooky season.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5
Fantasy + horror + murder mystery = the best combo for spooky season.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5
January 6, 2026
DNF at 35%-ish. I severely dislike the writing. It is quite direct at times and never conjures any exciting or interesting imagery. The characters feel a little flat and the world doesn't seem that well fleshed-out. I had really hoped to enjoy this, but alas
July 28, 2025
RTC But this is BRILLAINT and I adored it
September 7, 2025
Haven’t been this flabbergasted since Warbreaker.
August 22, 2025
*I received an e-arc via Netgalley from the author and publisher. Thank you for the opportunity to review. All thoughts are my own*
Grave Flowers is one of my favorite reads of the year so far! From the first page to the last, I was compelled to read. This was the second book I’ve read by Autumn Krause, and her stories are so unique and alluring, that I want to read anything that she writes from here on out. Grave Flowers is the twisty, dark royalcore fantasy that I didn’t know I needed!
The atmosphere in this book is everything. I felt transported to Princess Madalina’s castle in Radix that felt so oppressive and felt her need to be in the garden with her grave flowers. The grave flowers were one of my best-loved parts of the story. These magical flowers are ideal for torture and torment ironically, but each one was so interesting, and I loved learning about them.
The story is so much more than the atmosphere. It’s about family, sisterhood, grief, love and loss. It’s about betrayals and secrets, overcoming trauma, facing prejudice, and becoming your own person. This book also has courtly intrigue, murder and mayhem, beautiful clothing, and lots of angst and swooning. It has it all, in my book!
Grave Flowers releases on September 2, 2025. It was just announced that there will be a sequel, Wilted Crown coming from Peachtree Teen in the fall of 2027. I was literally screaming when I found this out!!
Add to this one to your TBR now! Highly recommend!
Grave Flowers is one of my favorite reads of the year so far! From the first page to the last, I was compelled to read. This was the second book I’ve read by Autumn Krause, and her stories are so unique and alluring, that I want to read anything that she writes from here on out. Grave Flowers is the twisty, dark royalcore fantasy that I didn’t know I needed!
The atmosphere in this book is everything. I felt transported to Princess Madalina’s castle in Radix that felt so oppressive and felt her need to be in the garden with her grave flowers. The grave flowers were one of my best-loved parts of the story. These magical flowers are ideal for torture and torment ironically, but each one was so interesting, and I loved learning about them.
The story is so much more than the atmosphere. It’s about family, sisterhood, grief, love and loss. It’s about betrayals and secrets, overcoming trauma, facing prejudice, and becoming your own person. This book also has courtly intrigue, murder and mayhem, beautiful clothing, and lots of angst and swooning. It has it all, in my book!
Grave Flowers releases on September 2, 2025. It was just announced that there will be a sequel, Wilted Crown coming from Peachtree Teen in the fall of 2027. I was literally screaming when I found this out!!
Add to this one to your TBR now! Highly recommend!
October 15, 2025
Atmospheric and Gothic. The first chapter sets the picture perfectly with weepy sentient plants and an unexpected (to me) murder.
The writing was decent and the setting was described well for the mood. The language of political intrigue and backstabbing was spoken fluently. The plot contained some interesting twists that I didn't see coming, though was that good writing or was that because we weren't properly introduced to the rules of the fantastical elements?
Character-wise, the twins were very different, but neither of them were good. It's more like one was murderously self centered and the other was only reluctantly murderous, but under the guise of honor. The only plausibly redeemable character was Aeric, though I'm not fully convinced of the romance or the "we're in this together"-ness with all the murderous plots and everything. I feel like that puts a damper on relationships, but well done turning a blind eye, I guess?
The writing was decent and the setting was described well for the mood. The language of political intrigue and backstabbing was spoken fluently. The plot contained some interesting twists that I didn't see coming, though was that good writing or was that because we weren't properly introduced to the rules of the fantastical elements?
Character-wise, the twins were very different, but neither of them were good. It's more like one was murderously self centered and the other was only reluctantly murderous, but under the guise of honor. The only plausibly redeemable character was Aeric, though I'm not fully convinced of the romance or the "we're in this together"-ness with all the murderous plots and everything. I feel like that puts a damper on relationships, but well done turning a blind eye, I guess?
November 28, 2025
I am extremely impressed at how this random book I found while scrolling on Pinterest that my library just happened to have that I swore would be random and poorly written was so well done. It had everything I would expect from a popular fantasy book, a complex magic system, a love interest to die for, and a memorable inciting incident, without the overly annoying main character and unnecessary world building or random facts that aren’t relevant to the story.
🌎: the world was impressive. It was one of the most complex religions/magic systems that I’ve read this month, and I loved how she managed to incorporate the idea of it into the plot of the story so that rather than just being a random side fact to the story, it was a working gear in this story. I loved how she handled the religion and the culture of the different kingdoms. I honestly feel like this world deserves an entire series, but I’m fine if it’s not a series. It was just really impressive. I’m told this book is inspired by Hamlet, and I have honestly never read it. I mean, I e watched the lion king, but that’s about it🥲. It did have a very Shakespearean feel to it, and that I really enjoyed. It was very dark and gothic.
👥: I loved the main character. And the sort of mafia feel of her entire family. I loved how dark the characters were, and I enjoyed the evil twin part of it. Madeline was an amazing MC for this book, and while ims till kind of confused about Aeric, I’m satisfied with how much development there was. Yorick sort of broke my heart, and Inessa made me want to throw the book across the room. The villains were good, and well-rounded. I loved how mafia-y every character felt, and secretive.
➡️: After hearing of her sister’s death that she suspects was at the hands of her sister’s betrothed, Madalina takes her twin’s place as the betrothed in order to both start a coup in her future kingdom and avenge her sister’s murder. Taken from her usual cold existence with only her living grave flowers for friends, mad must now journey tot he sunny kingdom of Acus in order to kill her fiance, but what off in the process she uncovers more about her sister’s death and purpose than she hoped? Or what if she even fell in love?
This book starts pretty fast paced, but slows a bit around the middle.
🌶️: 0.5/5. There’s a few times that the love interests kiss, and they are both betrothed to each other. The MMC is drunk a lot, and there is a lot of violence. It’s a mafia kind of thing, so a lot of cold blooded murder and warm blooded murder and just murder in general. Madalina mentions past abuse, and she also watches her mother get killed. The language isn’t bad except for names some characters get called, but a weirdly specific TW is that Madalina goes from classic Tudor clothing from her kingdom to what she calls scandalous clothing in her betrothed’s where there is a lot of skin-showing mentioned. It’s for some reason a kind of big detail in the book that is mentioned quite often.
🩷: the romance is very sweet. It’s like forced proximity/arranged marriage/ caring MMC but he shouldn’t be. It can be so adorable whenever the love interests are in the same room, but for a lot of the book they aren’t in the same room. Most of time it’s Madalina sneaking around on her own, so there’s not much room for the rom
🌎: the world was impressive. It was one of the most complex religions/magic systems that I’ve read this month, and I loved how she managed to incorporate the idea of it into the plot of the story so that rather than just being a random side fact to the story, it was a working gear in this story. I loved how she handled the religion and the culture of the different kingdoms. I honestly feel like this world deserves an entire series, but I’m fine if it’s not a series. It was just really impressive. I’m told this book is inspired by Hamlet, and I have honestly never read it. I mean, I e watched the lion king, but that’s about it🥲. It did have a very Shakespearean feel to it, and that I really enjoyed. It was very dark and gothic.
👥: I loved the main character. And the sort of mafia feel of her entire family. I loved how dark the characters were, and I enjoyed the evil twin part of it. Madeline was an amazing MC for this book, and while ims till kind of confused about Aeric, I’m satisfied with how much development there was. Yorick sort of broke my heart, and Inessa made me want to throw the book across the room. The villains were good, and well-rounded. I loved how mafia-y every character felt, and secretive.
➡️: After hearing of her sister’s death that she suspects was at the hands of her sister’s betrothed, Madalina takes her twin’s place as the betrothed in order to both start a coup in her future kingdom and avenge her sister’s murder. Taken from her usual cold existence with only her living grave flowers for friends, mad must now journey tot he sunny kingdom of Acus in order to kill her fiance, but what off in the process she uncovers more about her sister’s death and purpose than she hoped? Or what if she even fell in love?
This book starts pretty fast paced, but slows a bit around the middle.
🌶️: 0.5/5. There’s a few times that the love interests kiss, and they are both betrothed to each other. The MMC is drunk a lot, and there is a lot of violence. It’s a mafia kind of thing, so a lot of cold blooded murder and warm blooded murder and just murder in general. Madalina mentions past abuse, and she also watches her mother get killed. The language isn’t bad except for names some characters get called, but a weirdly specific TW is that Madalina goes from classic Tudor clothing from her kingdom to what she calls scandalous clothing in her betrothed’s where there is a lot of skin-showing mentioned. It’s for some reason a kind of big detail in the book that is mentioned quite often.
🩷: the romance is very sweet. It’s like forced proximity/arranged marriage/ caring MMC but he shouldn’t be. It can be so adorable whenever the love interests are in the same room, but for a lot of the book they aren’t in the same room. Most of time it’s Madalina sneaking around on her own, so there’s not much room for the rom
August 18, 2025
Grave Flowers follows Princess Madalina after her sister gets trapped in a purgatory and she must set her free by marrying and then killing the Prince of a wealthy kingdom. But danger, secrets, and betrayals lurk in the wings and Madalina will have to harden her heart to fulfill her mission and save her sister and kingdom.
The vibes in this one were on point! It was so haunting and beautiful and I adored the writing style. If court politics are your thing, you’ll love this one. I was constantly wondering who was telling the truth and being genuinely helpful and who was lying. It was very gripping and intriguing. Especially the grave flowers. Such a unique, fascinating concept that will stay with me. I loved that element!
I really enjoyed the characters and how morally gray everyone was. They all felt very real and flawed and had good growth. Madalina has to overcome a lot of expectations and beliefs of her weaknesses. She definitely deserves a lot of happiness out from under her father’s thumb! She’s easily grasp your heart and you can’t help but want the best for her. Aeric was lovely and very much a tortured soul. And their romance was so swoony and perfect. I also found Inessa SO fascinating and loved when we got to see her.
If you love court politics, sisters, and creepy flowers, you’ll love this one!
Thank you to Netgalley and Peachtree Publishing for the arc!
The vibes in this one were on point! It was so haunting and beautiful and I adored the writing style. If court politics are your thing, you’ll love this one. I was constantly wondering who was telling the truth and being genuinely helpful and who was lying. It was very gripping and intriguing. Especially the grave flowers. Such a unique, fascinating concept that will stay with me. I loved that element!
I really enjoyed the characters and how morally gray everyone was. They all felt very real and flawed and had good growth. Madalina has to overcome a lot of expectations and beliefs of her weaknesses. She definitely deserves a lot of happiness out from under her father’s thumb! She’s easily grasp your heart and you can’t help but want the best for her. Aeric was lovely and very much a tortured soul. And their romance was so swoony and perfect. I also found Inessa SO fascinating and loved when we got to see her.
If you love court politics, sisters, and creepy flowers, you’ll love this one!
Thank you to Netgalley and Peachtree Publishing for the arc!
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