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Evermore
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Expected 10 Feb 26When Paeonia flees the life others planned for her, she stumbles into a forgotten manor hidden deep within the dying woods and into the path of a brooding fae lord whose presence makes the thorns tremble.
Rowan is cold, commanding, and far too powerful to be trapped in such a place. Yet something binds him to the crumbling estate and the eerie, enchanted garden that blooms and withers with his every breath. He claims she’s free to decide. But the blood bond says otherwise.
The longer Paeonia stays, the more the flowers begin to stir at her touch—and the more she suspects there’s something inside the manor that doesn’t want her gone.
But beneath Rowan’s sharp gaze and bitter silence, something ancient and aching begins to unfurl. And in a house where secrets grow like vines, the most dangerous thing Paeonia could do is let herself care.
Because in this place, love may be the one thing the curse cannot bear.
This is a standalone, open door, dark romantasy with enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and slow burn.
Rowan is cold, commanding, and far too powerful to be trapped in such a place. Yet something binds him to the crumbling estate and the eerie, enchanted garden that blooms and withers with his every breath. He claims she’s free to decide. But the blood bond says otherwise.
The longer Paeonia stays, the more the flowers begin to stir at her touch—and the more she suspects there’s something inside the manor that doesn’t want her gone.
But beneath Rowan’s sharp gaze and bitter silence, something ancient and aching begins to unfurl. And in a house where secrets grow like vines, the most dangerous thing Paeonia could do is let herself care.
Because in this place, love may be the one thing the curse cannot bear.
This is a standalone, open door, dark romantasy with enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and slow burn.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5/5 ⭐
This book was a fantastic retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It had just enough different elements added that it made it seem like a whole new story.
The MMC was morally grey through and through but the author did a great job of not making him evil. all his actions were due to bargains made that he couldn't find a way out of.
The FMC was naive, but I think even she knew that. She was inexperienced and sheltered, but I liked reading through her character development and choosing things for herself, instead of for anyone else.
The side characters were top notch, too.
This book was a fantastic retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It had just enough different elements added that it made it seem like a whole new story.
The MMC was morally grey through and through but the author did a great job of not making him evil. all his actions were due to bargains made that he couldn't find a way out of.
The FMC was naive, but I think even she knew that. She was inexperienced and sheltered, but I liked reading through her character development and choosing things for herself, instead of for anyone else.
The side characters were top notch, too.
January 16, 2026
Thank you so so much to Lore Olesya for granting me an ARC of this book!! I truly enjoyed reading this and my next book on my TBR is Glass Hearts, the other novel by Lore! (My TBR is very long but I promise this book is next lol).
Now for the review:
Oh I feel so conflicted about this book.
I really, really wanted to love it. And there were parts of it that I did love. But this book was also kind of a plot mess.
What I liked?
- The writing itself. The author is absolutely masterful at the show, don’t tell writing. Everything was so incredibly detailed and some lines almost read as poetry.
- The Stoneborne. I loved the twist on the cursed servants from the original beauty and the beast story. I wish we would have gotten more of them, we only really got to see Castor.
- This was truly a “Beauty and the Beast” retelling. So many stories that claim to be that are just “girl finds grumpy guy in castle”. But this story had all the hallmarks of the original: the protagonist wanting to save her father, the magical servant creatures, the castle coming to “life” upon her arrival, the Gaston character, the room with paintings of the past. It was really nice to see the original story be retold with so many of the original elements instead of just slapping “beauty and the beast” on the book.
- I loved the way the Gaston character (Barth) was handled. Rather than be like the Gaston from the movie/book, Barth was the toxic “nice guy” and it was refreshing to see that done and done well. The incredibly arrogant “alpha male” character is obviously bad, but the author carefully crafted Barth to be a villain in disguise and I really appreciated that.
What I didn’t like?
- This book was all over the place. I was so confused the entire time. I kept going back and rereading chapters and sections because I kept feeling like I missed a chapter or a page or something where literally anything was explained. Plot devices and characters just kept getting introduced out of nowhere.
- The Eldritch. What was the point of him at all? And he’s actually Rowan’s father?? Why? It didn’t add anything to the story, it was just something else to muddle up the plot.
- The curse made no sense (re: I was very confused) but yet drove the plot anyway. And the big reveal of why Rowan killed Georgia was because one lady was jealous? That’s it? There was no big reveal, it didn’t add anything to the plot. Once again, maybe I missed something, genuinely??
- Pae and Rowan’s relationship made no sense. They kept going in circles so much that I thought I accidentally was reading the same part of the book again, because they resolved this exact issue two chapters ago.
- So many plot points were left unexplained and unresolved. The Gleam and Grim fae war? The humans killing the forest? Castor’s relationship or any of the Stoneborne people’s backstories or bargains. The different Grim fae houses?? The whole separate fae world??? It read like this book was a sequel to or a spinoff of another book that explained everything, because otherwise why even introduce certain things only to never bring them up again??
As much as I loved the premise and the writing style, the content left me confused and much to be desired. Grumpy/sunshine romances with fae and magic and the “her light to his dark” trope is my kryptonite and yet this book had me struggling to wade though the loose plot ends to reach the love story I came for.
All that being said, I cannot stress enough how much I loved the writing style of this book. The descriptive language alone is making me add Glass Hearts to the very very top of my TBR list, and I fully intend on reading future novels of Lore Olesya’s!
Thanks again to Lore and her team for the ARC! This review is entirely my own thoughts and feelings and I appreciate being able to have read this book. :)
Now for the review:
Oh I feel so conflicted about this book.
I really, really wanted to love it. And there were parts of it that I did love. But this book was also kind of a plot mess.
What I liked?
- The writing itself. The author is absolutely masterful at the show, don’t tell writing. Everything was so incredibly detailed and some lines almost read as poetry.
- The Stoneborne. I loved the twist on the cursed servants from the original beauty and the beast story. I wish we would have gotten more of them, we only really got to see Castor.
- This was truly a “Beauty and the Beast” retelling. So many stories that claim to be that are just “girl finds grumpy guy in castle”. But this story had all the hallmarks of the original: the protagonist wanting to save her father, the magical servant creatures, the castle coming to “life” upon her arrival, the Gaston character, the room with paintings of the past. It was really nice to see the original story be retold with so many of the original elements instead of just slapping “beauty and the beast” on the book.
- I loved the way the Gaston character (Barth) was handled. Rather than be like the Gaston from the movie/book, Barth was the toxic “nice guy” and it was refreshing to see that done and done well. The incredibly arrogant “alpha male” character is obviously bad, but the author carefully crafted Barth to be a villain in disguise and I really appreciated that.
What I didn’t like?
- This book was all over the place. I was so confused the entire time. I kept going back and rereading chapters and sections because I kept feeling like I missed a chapter or a page or something where literally anything was explained. Plot devices and characters just kept getting introduced out of nowhere.
- The Eldritch. What was the point of him at all? And he’s actually Rowan’s father?? Why? It didn’t add anything to the story, it was just something else to muddle up the plot.
- The curse made no sense (re: I was very confused) but yet drove the plot anyway. And the big reveal of why Rowan killed Georgia was because one lady was jealous? That’s it? There was no big reveal, it didn’t add anything to the plot. Once again, maybe I missed something, genuinely??
- Pae and Rowan’s relationship made no sense. They kept going in circles so much that I thought I accidentally was reading the same part of the book again, because they resolved this exact issue two chapters ago.
- So many plot points were left unexplained and unresolved. The Gleam and Grim fae war? The humans killing the forest? Castor’s relationship or any of the Stoneborne people’s backstories or bargains. The different Grim fae houses?? The whole separate fae world??? It read like this book was a sequel to or a spinoff of another book that explained everything, because otherwise why even introduce certain things only to never bring them up again??
As much as I loved the premise and the writing style, the content left me confused and much to be desired. Grumpy/sunshine romances with fae and magic and the “her light to his dark” trope is my kryptonite and yet this book had me struggling to wade though the loose plot ends to reach the love story I came for.
All that being said, I cannot stress enough how much I loved the writing style of this book. The descriptive language alone is making me add Glass Hearts to the very very top of my TBR list, and I fully intend on reading future novels of Lore Olesya’s!
Thanks again to Lore and her team for the ARC! This review is entirely my own thoughts and feelings and I appreciate being able to have read this book. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Evermore
This was such a fun read. I enjoyed it so much.
This book was defiently a Beauty and Beast inspired retelling. There were two scenes that made me think of the movie – done in their own way but I could see them so well played out in my head. Another touch was the other characters that were within the walls of the estate. While they were not furniture but I could see the inspiration of them being stone status as well. I really liked this detail, a unique play on a curse.
I also got a mixture of A Court of Thorns and Roses. Specially if Tamiln and Rhysand embodied the same character. The spring like castle and garden – though set in the fall/winter time. The castle in disarray.
There was also a scene in the book that reminded me of Harry Potter’s Knockturn Alley. A secret market with shady things to be bought and sold. I kinda wish a little more time had been spent in this area – but it wasn’t needed.
The story follows a young women – her character wasn’t annoying at times I wish she was a little stronger – but she grew into that strength. Guess it’s what you call character development. By no means was she annoying. She was pure and naive. Learning as she went. She essential runs away from a marriage she didn’t want – stumbles into the garden of a cursed Fae. Straights a deal to tend his gardens – the source of his magic. Little does she know its the love for him that sprouts that will in turn free him. But at what cost?
As I read this book – knowing it was a standalone I asked myself a quite a few times “How is this book going to come to a finish?” Was there enough time? Was it really going to wrap up in a satisfying way? I think if it drug on too much it would begin to seem almost like ACOTAR book. And I’m glad it didn’t. This book ran for a lovely adventure and wrapped up in a finishing end.
Now there are a few ‘romance’ spots in the book. And the first was nice. I think once you’ve read one scene you sorta of get the idea. I just wasn’t there for it. The end has an epilogue and comes back around to playing out a scene that was marked upon earlier in the book. I get that for them. But again – I guess I wasn’t really feeling it.
I loved it. I enjoyed it. For a bit there was even a little mystery in why things as they were. Betrayal that really hit. There was a moment when I actually got tears in my eyes reading when the locket she wore finally opened. It was such a pure moment. I loved reading of the Eldritch. How a darkness was seeping out of the forest and infected the towns people. Another reason why out FMC was determined to stay with the fae and his bargain. She wanted to save her ailing papa.
And the cover for this book is stunning. It was such a great opportunity to read this book. I was able to read it over a short few days because I was reading so much at a time.
This was such a fun read. I enjoyed it so much.
This book was defiently a Beauty and Beast inspired retelling. There were two scenes that made me think of the movie – done in their own way but I could see them so well played out in my head. Another touch was the other characters that were within the walls of the estate. While they were not furniture but I could see the inspiration of them being stone status as well. I really liked this detail, a unique play on a curse.
I also got a mixture of A Court of Thorns and Roses. Specially if Tamiln and Rhysand embodied the same character. The spring like castle and garden – though set in the fall/winter time. The castle in disarray.
There was also a scene in the book that reminded me of Harry Potter’s Knockturn Alley. A secret market with shady things to be bought and sold. I kinda wish a little more time had been spent in this area – but it wasn’t needed.
The story follows a young women – her character wasn’t annoying at times I wish she was a little stronger – but she grew into that strength. Guess it’s what you call character development. By no means was she annoying. She was pure and naive. Learning as she went. She essential runs away from a marriage she didn’t want – stumbles into the garden of a cursed Fae. Straights a deal to tend his gardens – the source of his magic. Little does she know its the love for him that sprouts that will in turn free him. But at what cost?
As I read this book – knowing it was a standalone I asked myself a quite a few times “How is this book going to come to a finish?” Was there enough time? Was it really going to wrap up in a satisfying way? I think if it drug on too much it would begin to seem almost like ACOTAR book. And I’m glad it didn’t. This book ran for a lovely adventure and wrapped up in a finishing end.
Now there are a few ‘romance’ spots in the book. And the first was nice. I think once you’ve read one scene you sorta of get the idea. I just wasn’t there for it. The end has an epilogue and comes back around to playing out a scene that was marked upon earlier in the book. I get that for them. But again – I guess I wasn’t really feeling it.
I loved it. I enjoyed it. For a bit there was even a little mystery in why things as they were. Betrayal that really hit. There was a moment when I actually got tears in my eyes reading when the locket she wore finally opened. It was such a pure moment. I loved reading of the Eldritch. How a darkness was seeping out of the forest and infected the towns people. Another reason why out FMC was determined to stay with the fae and his bargain. She wanted to save her ailing papa.
And the cover for this book is stunning. It was such a great opportunity to read this book. I was able to read it over a short few days because I was reading so much at a time.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much Lore Olesya for sending me this ARC!
Evermore is a standalone Dark Fantasy Romance and a Beauty and the Beast retelling and the author created a truly fascinating and unique story, I really enjoyed it.
Paeonia is engaged to a man she doesn’t love and does anything she can to save her sick father. When she runs away from her betrothed and turns up at a mysterious fae castle, she makes a deal with its owner, Rowan, to tend to his garden in exchange for a chance to find a cure for her father. But the castle and its inhabitants are not what they seem, Rowan both frightens and intrigues her and she discovers she might have a magic of her own and fulfilling the bargain she made is going to be harder than she expected when it’s also her heart on the line.
I was so intrigued when I first heard about this book and it didn’t disappoint, the gothic vibes were amazing, the magic system was fascinating and it was darker than I expected but I liked that. The plot was interesting and had me guessing with many secrets, surprising revelations and some plot twists. Peaonia was a soft FMC, she seemed quite naive and too kind-hearted and afraid at times, but I ended up really liking her, she was exactly what Rowan needed and only she could still see the good in him after everything he did and how he treated her. Rowan was a truly morally grey MMC and really complicated one, I loved to hate him for a long time and how hot and cold he was with Peaonia at times, but I liked discovering his secrets and getting to know him, he was really interesting character and grew a lot in this book. These two made an unlikely pair and were polar opposites, but ultimately they were perfect for each other, I could feel the tension between them when they were still enemies and even more so when they finally gave in to the attraction between them, I really liked them together.
Evermore is a great dark romantasy book that I recommend to everyone who enjoys this genre and I’m excited to see what comes next from this author.
Evermore is a standalone Dark Fantasy Romance and a Beauty and the Beast retelling and the author created a truly fascinating and unique story, I really enjoyed it.
Paeonia is engaged to a man she doesn’t love and does anything she can to save her sick father. When she runs away from her betrothed and turns up at a mysterious fae castle, she makes a deal with its owner, Rowan, to tend to his garden in exchange for a chance to find a cure for her father. But the castle and its inhabitants are not what they seem, Rowan both frightens and intrigues her and she discovers she might have a magic of her own and fulfilling the bargain she made is going to be harder than she expected when it’s also her heart on the line.
I was so intrigued when I first heard about this book and it didn’t disappoint, the gothic vibes were amazing, the magic system was fascinating and it was darker than I expected but I liked that. The plot was interesting and had me guessing with many secrets, surprising revelations and some plot twists. Peaonia was a soft FMC, she seemed quite naive and too kind-hearted and afraid at times, but I ended up really liking her, she was exactly what Rowan needed and only she could still see the good in him after everything he did and how he treated her. Rowan was a truly morally grey MMC and really complicated one, I loved to hate him for a long time and how hot and cold he was with Peaonia at times, but I liked discovering his secrets and getting to know him, he was really interesting character and grew a lot in this book. These two made an unlikely pair and were polar opposites, but ultimately they were perfect for each other, I could feel the tension between them when they were still enemies and even more so when they finally gave in to the attraction between them, I really liked them together.
Evermore is a great dark romantasy book that I recommend to everyone who enjoys this genre and I’m excited to see what comes next from this author.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really loved this story! A beauty and the beast retelling but make it darker. I absolutely love Lore's writing. She created a world that you just can't help but fall in love with.
Paeonia is a very soft and gentle FMC. She wants to see the good in everyone. She's afraid of speaking her mind in the beginning which is completely the reason she finds herself in the situation she does. But I just love how she finds herself as the story goes on and she grows in inner strength. Her taking control of her situation and voicing her opinions is such a beautiful thing to read.
Rowan is not your typical broody MMC, he definitely will make you want to smack some sense into him. Much of the pain and agony he finds himself in, he 100% created himself. If his friend Castor (who totally is the VIP of this story) wasn't there to rub it in his face, I fear Rowan would just pretend it all didn't happen. I really loved how his character grows during this story as well. His POVs are some of my favorites because you can see his growing feelings for Paeonia and his conflicted emotions with realizing those feelings.
I really loved the banter in this story as well. Paeonia, Rowan, and even Castor just feed off each other so much. I was giggling and kicking my feet. I think the spice was delicious but it was the small gestures that really had me swooning. Who knew just a simple holding hand moment would make me grin like an idiot?
Evermore definitely has darker elements and I really liked that you really don't know who the villain really is. It makes you question who is in the right? I think a lot of the characters make split second decisions that, in turn, change their lives forever. And each character faces darkness or struggles that keep them from moving forward or moving on. I just really liked how the love in this story is hard won. Both parties had to work for it and that made it more beautiful.
Paeonia is a very soft and gentle FMC. She wants to see the good in everyone. She's afraid of speaking her mind in the beginning which is completely the reason she finds herself in the situation she does. But I just love how she finds herself as the story goes on and she grows in inner strength. Her taking control of her situation and voicing her opinions is such a beautiful thing to read.
Rowan is not your typical broody MMC, he definitely will make you want to smack some sense into him. Much of the pain and agony he finds himself in, he 100% created himself. If his friend Castor (who totally is the VIP of this story) wasn't there to rub it in his face, I fear Rowan would just pretend it all didn't happen. I really loved how his character grows during this story as well. His POVs are some of my favorites because you can see his growing feelings for Paeonia and his conflicted emotions with realizing those feelings.
I really loved the banter in this story as well. Paeonia, Rowan, and even Castor just feed off each other so much. I was giggling and kicking my feet. I think the spice was delicious but it was the small gestures that really had me swooning. Who knew just a simple holding hand moment would make me grin like an idiot?
Evermore definitely has darker elements and I really liked that you really don't know who the villain really is. It makes you question who is in the right? I think a lot of the characters make split second decisions that, in turn, change their lives forever. And each character faces darkness or struggles that keep them from moving forward or moving on. I just really liked how the love in this story is hard won. Both parties had to work for it and that made it more beautiful.
January 16, 2026
✨ARC review✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🌶️🌶️🌶️
A gothic and delicious morally gray retelling with a soft, gentle FMC and a broody cold cursed MMC. A magical garden, sassy stone side characters, constant twists and turns, and deep themes of forgiveness, morality, and what we’re willing to do to be worthy of love made this an immersive read that I struggled to put down.
Paeonia and Rowan were lovely compliments to each other, her shy naive gentle nature forcing his cold sharp edges to eventually soften. Not exactly enemies-to-lovers, more reluctant “allies” who loathe needing each other, their push pull was intoxicating. Rowan was cold and cruel, manipulative and calculating, and his POV proved how complex and multidimensional he truly was. Craving Pae’s destruction and well as her love, unable to provide the first and believing himself unworthy of the second, he was a masterclass in self-loathing and narcissistic behavior, while also being undeniably enigmatic and alluring. I thought I’d hate him, but I was secretly rooting for him the entire time. Pae was quiet and naive, expertly straddling the border between submissive and a doormat. I thought she’d irritate me with her naïveté and determination to forgive, but she was honestly so kind I couldn’t help but want Rowan to realize his feelings and give her the happily ever after she deserved. Her softness was exactly what Rowan needed, and their chemistry was dynamic.
The found family was there, Stoneborne being an intriguing aspect to the story. The twists and turns made this impossible to put down, keeping you on the edge of your seat as you attempt to unravel the curse and the mysterious sharp edges of Rowan and his castle. The spice was 🔥 and the end was just as perfect as I’d hoped. Would recommend if you love a retelling, gothic vibes, a shy soft heroine, a morally gray MMC who toes the line between cruel and captivating, and a HEA to make you swoon.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🌶️🌶️🌶️
A gothic and delicious morally gray retelling with a soft, gentle FMC and a broody cold cursed MMC. A magical garden, sassy stone side characters, constant twists and turns, and deep themes of forgiveness, morality, and what we’re willing to do to be worthy of love made this an immersive read that I struggled to put down.
Paeonia and Rowan were lovely compliments to each other, her shy naive gentle nature forcing his cold sharp edges to eventually soften. Not exactly enemies-to-lovers, more reluctant “allies” who loathe needing each other, their push pull was intoxicating. Rowan was cold and cruel, manipulative and calculating, and his POV proved how complex and multidimensional he truly was. Craving Pae’s destruction and well as her love, unable to provide the first and believing himself unworthy of the second, he was a masterclass in self-loathing and narcissistic behavior, while also being undeniably enigmatic and alluring. I thought I’d hate him, but I was secretly rooting for him the entire time. Pae was quiet and naive, expertly straddling the border between submissive and a doormat. I thought she’d irritate me with her naïveté and determination to forgive, but she was honestly so kind I couldn’t help but want Rowan to realize his feelings and give her the happily ever after she deserved. Her softness was exactly what Rowan needed, and their chemistry was dynamic.
The found family was there, Stoneborne being an intriguing aspect to the story. The twists and turns made this impossible to put down, keeping you on the edge of your seat as you attempt to unravel the curse and the mysterious sharp edges of Rowan and his castle. The spice was 🔥 and the end was just as perfect as I’d hoped. Would recommend if you love a retelling, gothic vibes, a shy soft heroine, a morally gray MMC who toes the line between cruel and captivating, and a HEA to make you swoon.
January 16, 2026
✨Evermore✨
Author: Lore
Release: 2.10.26
Series: standalone
Do you love Beauty and the Beast? Fae? A soft FMC? Slow burn? Plant magic? Well, this retelling by Lore has all those things and more. It’s dark, red flagged, and yet hopeful.
We follow a dual POV from our MCs. Paeonia is gentle, kind, and has a tendency of allowing people to walk all over her. She is engaged to her childhood best friend and has no feelings for him, but has chosen suffering because she believes she will eventually love him and it will ease her father’s worries. But when said betrothed gets too handsy, Paeonia is saved by unruly plants and called a witch. She runs through the forest until she finds herself in a dying garden then bargains to tend it so not to marry the man back home. From here we meet our beastly, cursed fae MMC, Rowan, who is full of secrets, bargains, and red flags. He seeks to break his curse at any cost and Paeonia is fit to be broken.
Paeonia is understanding, timid, and allows herself to be used. At first, she might appear hard to like as an FMC because most are fierce and strong, but Paeonia grows within these pages and is a beautiful example of a soft FMC. She learns to stand firm when it counts and doesn’t shed her moral compass. I also enjoyed seeing her grow from hating touch to longing for Rowan’s alone. Rowan is brusque, manipulative, moody, and riddled with red flags, but I also loved seeing his own transformation: his ability to feel compassion and humility. I also felt it wrapped up nicely with all the mysteries.
Tropes you may find in Evermore are forced proximity, BATB retelling, slow burn to medium spice, fae bargains, he replaces her bad memories with good ones, bonds, dark cottagecore, she saves him, plant magic, and a HEA.
Lore, thank you for this gifted arc. I enjoyed it and looked forward to reading more from you!
Author: Lore
Release: 2.10.26
Series: standalone
Do you love Beauty and the Beast? Fae? A soft FMC? Slow burn? Plant magic? Well, this retelling by Lore has all those things and more. It’s dark, red flagged, and yet hopeful.
We follow a dual POV from our MCs. Paeonia is gentle, kind, and has a tendency of allowing people to walk all over her. She is engaged to her childhood best friend and has no feelings for him, but has chosen suffering because she believes she will eventually love him and it will ease her father’s worries. But when said betrothed gets too handsy, Paeonia is saved by unruly plants and called a witch. She runs through the forest until she finds herself in a dying garden then bargains to tend it so not to marry the man back home. From here we meet our beastly, cursed fae MMC, Rowan, who is full of secrets, bargains, and red flags. He seeks to break his curse at any cost and Paeonia is fit to be broken.
Paeonia is understanding, timid, and allows herself to be used. At first, she might appear hard to like as an FMC because most are fierce and strong, but Paeonia grows within these pages and is a beautiful example of a soft FMC. She learns to stand firm when it counts and doesn’t shed her moral compass. I also enjoyed seeing her grow from hating touch to longing for Rowan’s alone. Rowan is brusque, manipulative, moody, and riddled with red flags, but I also loved seeing his own transformation: his ability to feel compassion and humility. I also felt it wrapped up nicely with all the mysteries.
Tropes you may find in Evermore are forced proximity, BATB retelling, slow burn to medium spice, fae bargains, he replaces her bad memories with good ones, bonds, dark cottagecore, she saves him, plant magic, and a HEA.
Lore, thank you for this gifted arc. I enjoyed it and looked forward to reading more from you!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A Beauty and the Beast retelling with a fae twist that somehow made me fall in love with a story where I actively wanted to throw the Beast into a river, or a volcano.
Paeonia is the kind of FMC we don’t get nearly enough of. She’s soft. She’s quiet. She’s sheltered, naive, and constantly trying to do the “right” thing because that’s what she’s been taught her entire life. And I adored her. Not every heroine needs to be a sword-wielding, take-no-prisoners warrior. Paeonia’s strength is subtle, internal, and deeply human, and that made her feel incredibly real to me.
Rowan… Rowan is the worst. Truly. Selfish, cruel, and absolutely deserving of several well-placed smacks. He is not a cinnamon roll. He is not misunderstood. He is, in many ways, just awful. And yet… I enjoyed hating him. Every time he appeared on the page I was equal parts annoyed and entertained, which is a testament to how well he’s written.
The world building is simple but charming, with just enough fae magic to give it atmosphere without overwhelming the story. At first, both the world and the characters seem straightforward, but as the layers peel back, you start to see the depth and complexity underneath.
I already know this book will be divisive. Some readers will hate Paeonia for not being “badass enough.” Others will despise Rowan and never forgive him. But for me? This was a refreshing, emotionally engaging read with flawed characters, a soft heroine, and a Beast I loved to hate.
And honestly… I wouldn’t change a thing.
Paeonia is the kind of FMC we don’t get nearly enough of. She’s soft. She’s quiet. She’s sheltered, naive, and constantly trying to do the “right” thing because that’s what she’s been taught her entire life. And I adored her. Not every heroine needs to be a sword-wielding, take-no-prisoners warrior. Paeonia’s strength is subtle, internal, and deeply human, and that made her feel incredibly real to me.
Rowan… Rowan is the worst. Truly. Selfish, cruel, and absolutely deserving of several well-placed smacks. He is not a cinnamon roll. He is not misunderstood. He is, in many ways, just awful. And yet… I enjoyed hating him. Every time he appeared on the page I was equal parts annoyed and entertained, which is a testament to how well he’s written.
The world building is simple but charming, with just enough fae magic to give it atmosphere without overwhelming the story. At first, both the world and the characters seem straightforward, but as the layers peel back, you start to see the depth and complexity underneath.
I already know this book will be divisive. Some readers will hate Paeonia for not being “badass enough.” Others will despise Rowan and never forgive him. But for me? This was a refreshing, emotionally engaging read with flawed characters, a soft heroine, and a Beast I loved to hate.
And honestly… I wouldn’t change a thing.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this book as an ARC & would like to thank the author for allowing me to read it prerelease. :)
I settled on three stars for this book because I ended up being quite neutral about it. It was a nice read but I didn't particularly feel moved by the characters.
The pacing felt a bit rushed. Even after finishing the book, I still don't feel like I got to know the characters very well. Our FMC was introduced as an incredibly meek character but just a few chapters later was doing things she proclaimed to be 'out of character' and 'not like her at all'. It felt a bit jarring for that shift to happen almost immediately. That being said, I do like that her character arc seemed to be pretty consistent with what I would expect of a very naive girl eventually finding (somewhat) of a backbone. I like that her character was shown to be back & forth between her meek default state and a newfound defiance that bubbled up in her fits of anger.
There were a few scenes that I felt were skipped over to the detriment of the storyline.
I settled on three stars for this book because I ended up being quite neutral about it. It was a nice read but I didn't particularly feel moved by the characters.
The pacing felt a bit rushed. Even after finishing the book, I still don't feel like I got to know the characters very well. Our FMC was introduced as an incredibly meek character but just a few chapters later was doing things she proclaimed to be 'out of character' and 'not like her at all'. It felt a bit jarring for that shift to happen almost immediately. That being said, I do like that her character arc seemed to be pretty consistent with what I would expect of a very naive girl eventually finding (somewhat) of a backbone. I like that her character was shown to be back & forth between her meek default state and a newfound defiance that bubbled up in her fits of anger.
There were a few scenes that I felt were skipped over to the detriment of the storyline.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5⭐️
As a lover of Beauty and the Beast, I had so much fun with this read.
We follow the fmc as she runs away from a concerning and confusing encounter she had with her betrothed. She ends up at a gothic castle with an expansive garden where she meets and strikes a bargain with the mmc. She is to keep the gardens of the manor alive for one month, and she will be free of her engagement that she ran away from. Discovering curses, and that her world is filled with life she’s always assumed were mere fairytales, she learns so much about the world around her and how she fits in.
What I loved:
This book is heavy on the botanical elements! Flowers, mushrooms, ivy draped everywhere. A truly living garden🌸🍄
The character development for the mmc and fmc felt very reasonably placed. The mmc is a shellfish male and it takes a long time for him to decide to be a better male. The fmc spends most of her life saying yes to men (her dad and betrothed) because she’s always thought this is just the way of life. It takes small steps for her to come into her own, and claim what she wants for herself in her life. She’s truly a soft fmc who wants to see the best on people. And a light to our broody mmc.
All the beauty and the beast parallels were honestly so fun and the side characters made this book extra special. 🖤
Oh and the burn had good payoff 😏
As a lover of Beauty and the Beast, I had so much fun with this read.
We follow the fmc as she runs away from a concerning and confusing encounter she had with her betrothed. She ends up at a gothic castle with an expansive garden where she meets and strikes a bargain with the mmc. She is to keep the gardens of the manor alive for one month, and she will be free of her engagement that she ran away from. Discovering curses, and that her world is filled with life she’s always assumed were mere fairytales, she learns so much about the world around her and how she fits in.
What I loved:
This book is heavy on the botanical elements! Flowers, mushrooms, ivy draped everywhere. A truly living garden🌸🍄
The character development for the mmc and fmc felt very reasonably placed. The mmc is a shellfish male and it takes a long time for him to decide to be a better male. The fmc spends most of her life saying yes to men (her dad and betrothed) because she’s always thought this is just the way of life. It takes small steps for her to come into her own, and claim what she wants for herself in her life. She’s truly a soft fmc who wants to see the best on people. And a light to our broody mmc.
All the beauty and the beast parallels were honestly so fun and the side characters made this book extra special. 🖤
Oh and the burn had good payoff 😏
Review of advance copy received from Autor
" You owe no one your body, Paeonia. You are not a right to be give."
This single quote had such a presence, such a meaning, I can't help but considering it one of my favourite amongst all the book.
Usually I can expect or guess the route the book is taking from a mile away and yet I found myself being surprised at some of the book twists along the way.
I really liked the flow of the writing, appreciating as a non-first language English reader the fact that I was able to learn more vocabulary all along.
The author did such a good job conveying the character's complex personality and their relationship. I especially appreciated the female's lead softness... We don't always need a book with strong, badass, female leads, sometimes what we all really need is knowing that softness and goodness is too something worth prevailing and appreciated. It is really comforting knowing such...
This single quote had such a presence, such a meaning, I can't help but considering it one of my favourite amongst all the book.
Usually I can expect or guess the route the book is taking from a mile away and yet I found myself being surprised at some of the book twists along the way.
I really liked the flow of the writing, appreciating as a non-first language English reader the fact that I was able to learn more vocabulary all along.
The author did such a good job conveying the character's complex personality and their relationship. I especially appreciated the female's lead softness... We don't always need a book with strong, badass, female leads, sometimes what we all really need is knowing that softness and goodness is too something worth prevailing and appreciated. It is really comforting knowing such...
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was an absolute vibe. From the beginning I felt like I could step straight into the gothic, plant-covered castle and never leave. I stayed up reading into the early hours of the morning because the slow burn, mysterious tension was that good. I especially loved that we don’t get the male main character’s POV until later. It kept everything suspenseful and added to the intrigue. Watching the female main character grow into her strength and slowly claim her autonomy was incredibly satisfying. My favorite part of the story was seeing her learn to balance knowing her own mind while remaining soft & feminine. That message really stood out to me: choosing hope, tenderness, and feeling deeply after pain is brave and does not make you weak or naive. This was the ultimate grumpy x sunshine pairing. As a dark Beauty and the Beast retelling it felt both fresh and faithful, blending the best elements of fantasy and dark romance. I would live in this book if I could!
January 15, 2026
It was an absolute privilege to receive an ARC of Evermore! Thank you so much, Lore Olesya!
As a lifelong fan of Beauty and the Beast, stumbling upon this opportunity by pure accident felt like fate. I truly believe this dark retelling was meant to find me. I loved every single moment of this story. The connection between Rowan and Paeonia was beautifully written and deeply moving, and Castor had me giggling more than once.
This retelling is absolutely stunning. Lore, you should be incredibly proud of the world and story you’ve created—because I now need every special edition of this book. It’s my fifth read of the year, and without question, it’s my number one so far. I would give anything to experience reading this book for the first time again… over and over 😭❤️🫶🏻
As a lifelong fan of Beauty and the Beast, stumbling upon this opportunity by pure accident felt like fate. I truly believe this dark retelling was meant to find me. I loved every single moment of this story. The connection between Rowan and Paeonia was beautifully written and deeply moving, and Castor had me giggling more than once.
This retelling is absolutely stunning. Lore, you should be incredibly proud of the world and story you’ve created—because I now need every special edition of this book. It’s my fifth read of the year, and without question, it’s my number one so far. I would give anything to experience reading this book for the first time again… over and over 😭❤️🫶🏻
Review of advance copy
I love the premise of this book, but it felt kind of rushed. I needed Rowan to feel a little bit more remorse earlier. I understand that he’s traumatized, but he was so mean. That could be me and what I usually read. Like he never actually hurt Pae but geez he got close. He seemed like a totally different guy at the end, which I suppose is the point. I like that he was able to look inside himself and realize he was the problem.
I like how Paeonia started standing up for herself more and more, I understand the feeling of making yourself smaller or more malleable for others, but shedding that expectation is powerful!
I like how Paeonia started standing up for herself more and more, I understand the feeling of making yourself smaller or more malleable for others, but shedding that expectation is powerful!
January 16, 2026
Take beauty and the beast but add more curses and bargains and this is it! The way the characters, writing, descriptions of everything is phenomenal!!! My favorite part of the book is that the characters aren’t the typical “perfect” characters that are more like real life people. They have flaws and not the most perfect bodies or faces, but they are perfect for each other. The love story in the book is the best slow burn tug of war I have ever read! Once you think things will get rolling someone says something and everything gets backtracked. This book is worth the sleepless/late nights I’ve had reading this wonderful, beautiful book. Could not recommend this more than I physically can.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was fortunate enough to receive an eARC of "Evermore" and it left me breathless! 🥵
The slow burn romance is expertly woven; pairing the innocent and whimsical FMC with the brusque and brooding MMC = match made in heaven. The push and pull of their relationship with its perfect blend of yearning and spice had me absolutely hooked!
The MMC's complex character, balancing monstrosity and gentle care, is a true standout. Yes, he's a little toxic, but he's learning 🤷♀️😌
Fans of "Once Upon A Demon's Heart" will devour this dark fantasy Beauty & the Beast retelling!
The slow burn romance is expertly woven; pairing the innocent and whimsical FMC with the brusque and brooding MMC = match made in heaven. The push and pull of their relationship with its perfect blend of yearning and spice had me absolutely hooked!
The MMC's complex character, balancing monstrosity and gentle care, is a true standout. Yes, he's a little toxic, but he's learning 🤷♀️😌
Fans of "Once Upon A Demon's Heart" will devour this dark fantasy Beauty & the Beast retelling!
January 17, 2026
Thank you to the author for providing an advanced copy! The following reflects my honest opinion.
Excellent standalone. A mature, dark Beauty and the Beast retelling. The story and plot move forward at a good pace, making this easy to read. At times I wish the pace would’ve been slower to allow a more in depth exploration of our characters. Still, despite that, a solid experience I enjoyed and am happy to recommend to fellow readers!
Story contains dark themes so make sure to check your trigger warnings before grabbing this book.
Excellent standalone. A mature, dark Beauty and the Beast retelling. The story and plot move forward at a good pace, making this easy to read. At times I wish the pace would’ve been slower to allow a more in depth exploration of our characters. Still, despite that, a solid experience I enjoyed and am happy to recommend to fellow readers!
Story contains dark themes so make sure to check your trigger warnings before grabbing this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this book at all because the writing wasn’t as exciting like I expected it to and it was confusing. I did like that it has fae. But I felt that characters were overwhelming because they had no personality and there’s not enough action in this book as well. The cover is cute. It caught my attention. But, I just didn’t enjoy the book at all. I don’t know it if I can recommend it.
January 18, 2026
Evermore was beautifully written, and the closest to the source material Beauty and the Beast retelling I think i’ve ever read.
I loved the dynamics between all the characters, the world building, the plot twists, the little personal touches the author lent to the story through unique names for things as well as little chapter subheadings.
The only reason this wasnt a 5 star review is because i felt like the FMC Cried too much. Especially in the beginning.
I loved the dynamics between all the characters, the world building, the plot twists, the little personal touches the author lent to the story through unique names for things as well as little chapter subheadings.
The only reason this wasnt a 5 star review is because i felt like the FMC Cried too much. Especially in the beginning.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This cover perfectly sums up the book, it’s a dark beauty and the beast retelling (the wolf scene 😍😍 swoon) and the world building and magic system was *chef kiss* absolutely love Castor! Best side character and the way him and the two main characters interact is top tier. Great banter and addition to beauty and the beast retelling as! Thanks to the author for my arc 💜
Review of advance copy received from Author
Soft and innocent Pae x grumpy and dominant Rowan. I adore this couple so much. Evermore is so wonderfully written it feels like watching a movie. The Beauty and the Beast retelling was well-executed too.
Thank you author for letting me ARC read Evermore. So happy this is my first romantasy read in 2026!
Thank you author for letting me ARC read Evermore. So happy this is my first romantasy read in 2026!
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5-5. Was lucky enough to get this an an early read. This is probably my one of my favorite beauty and the beast retells.
I loved the flower magic that tied into the story. There were a few twists in this that I didn’t see coming.
I also loved that Rowan was morally grey and stayed that way / but he stayed soft for her.
Definitely recommend this!
I loved the flower magic that tied into the story. There were a few twists in this that I didn’t see coming.
I also loved that Rowan was morally grey and stayed that way / but he stayed soft for her.
Definitely recommend this!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2026
This was such a good read! I ate it up, laughed, cried, got mad, cried again and was left happy!
Evermore is a Beauty and The Beast retelling following Paeonia, a soft and sweet girl who falls into Rowan’s garden and she makes a deal with the fae beast!
Beautifully written, it is a dark romance but with whimsy and magic.
Evermore is a Beauty and The Beast retelling following Paeonia, a soft and sweet girl who falls into Rowan’s garden and she makes a deal with the fae beast!
Beautifully written, it is a dark romance but with whimsy and magic.
January 19, 2026
Things I liked about this - a morally grey mmc, he felt real - his sadness, his regret, his anger, pae’s journey to strength and speaking up for herself and Castor being an incredible friend to both Rowan and Pae
I just wished the plot twists surprised me but they didn’t and felt a bit dull, the storyline felt a bit predictable by the time I got to the end
I just wished the plot twists surprised me but they didn’t and felt a bit dull, the storyline felt a bit predictable by the time I got to the end
Review of advance copy received from Author
I wanted to like this more than I did, but realistically speaking, I couldn't find anything likable about the MMC nor his relationship with the FMC. Their relationship gave me "the more he's mean to you, the more he likes you" vibes, and I just couldn't get on board with it.
Ick characters aside, the author created a rich and highly detailed atmosphere. But yeah, this wasn't for me.
Ick characters aside, the author created a rich and highly detailed atmosphere. But yeah, this wasn't for me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this book! First of all the retelling of B&TB was immaculate! Rowan and Pae were such a good dynamic.
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