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Society of Magical Botanists #3
Evergreen Legacy
It’s time for one more adventure at Evergreen Academy, the secret college for Magical Botanists.
After an eventful winter break, my spring experience at Evergreen Academy promises to be much more than the typical garden parties, botany classes, and equinox festivals.
My friends and fellow members of the secretive Root and Vine Society are on a recover a long-missing botanical book that may be the key to saving Evergreen Academy from the tightening grip of the Magical Botanical Board of Regents.
The journey to find the book will take us to unexpected places, push the boundaries of my rare magic, and force us to examine how much our society knows about the magical botanists who came before us.
Through it all, I’m stealing romantic moments with Callan Rhodes–my former tutor and now partner in crime–who is just as dedicated to saving the academy as I am. We tried to delay our feelings due to scouting vines and overbearing parents, but we can’t quite seem to keep the creeping tendrils of our hearts apart for long.
One thing is the opposing forces at Evergreen Academy are headed for a showdown, and the fight won’t just be waged with spells and vines. The battle for Evergreen Academy will be won through friendship, teamwork, and uncovering the deepest roots of all. And if we fail, the consequences won’t end at the academy’s gates. They’ll echo through the human world, too.
Elements you'll find in this
Third in a trilogyMagical academySecret societyForestcoreGreen academiaStronger together loveSweet, kisses-only romanceFound familyBotanical history vibesCozy nature-based magic
After an eventful winter break, my spring experience at Evergreen Academy promises to be much more than the typical garden parties, botany classes, and equinox festivals.
My friends and fellow members of the secretive Root and Vine Society are on a recover a long-missing botanical book that may be the key to saving Evergreen Academy from the tightening grip of the Magical Botanical Board of Regents.
The journey to find the book will take us to unexpected places, push the boundaries of my rare magic, and force us to examine how much our society knows about the magical botanists who came before us.
Through it all, I’m stealing romantic moments with Callan Rhodes–my former tutor and now partner in crime–who is just as dedicated to saving the academy as I am. We tried to delay our feelings due to scouting vines and overbearing parents, but we can’t quite seem to keep the creeping tendrils of our hearts apart for long.
One thing is the opposing forces at Evergreen Academy are headed for a showdown, and the fight won’t just be waged with spells and vines. The battle for Evergreen Academy will be won through friendship, teamwork, and uncovering the deepest roots of all. And if we fail, the consequences won’t end at the academy’s gates. They’ll echo through the human world, too.
Elements you'll find in this
Third in a trilogyMagical academySecret societyForestcoreGreen academiaStronger together loveSweet, kisses-only romanceFound familyBotanical history vibesCozy nature-based magic
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About the author
Heather Schneider
7 books254 followersHeather Schneider enjoys writing cozy novels with a light romance and mystery angle, often inspired by some of her favorite places.
Heather lives in Las Vegas with her husband and their Chiweenie, Toby.
When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, listening to podcasts, traveling, or spending time with family.
Heather lives in Las Vegas with her husband and their Chiweenie, Toby.
When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, listening to podcasts, traveling, or spending time with family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
June 12, 2026
2 stars ⭐️ Clean Fiction - YA Fantasy/Magic Realism (contemporary setting with inherited magic)
This book felt cleaner than the previous books with a lack of mild/moderate language and less scenes of characters drinking; both things I greatly appreciated for this final book.
There were decent recaps at the beginning of the book that didn’t really like an obvious “hey, remember when this happened in the previous book?” which was nice and felt pretty naturally worked into this book. It’s been a couple months since I read Book 2, so those were good elements/refreshers. Those who binge-read the trilogy might be less-than-impressed, but it was helpful for me!
Like I slightly complained about in my review of the second book of this trilogy, the magical elements and challenges that Briar faces were either not complicated and/or easily solved. Even the first few chapters of this book had a few instances of quickly solving a problem—including one that was the cliffhanger from the prior book—and wrapped up quick. This feels like a weird thing to nitpick, but it happened again and again that I kept noticing it. This was honestly what kept me from giving it a 2.5/3 star rating because it happened frequently through the book and lessened the suspense of “will their plans work?” because I would everything would be solved soon for the current problem.
At the risk of sounding like the Goody Two Shoes that I know I am, I do have to mention that I still didn’t love the concept of Briar and the others stealing from the school and purposely causing trouble at times for the sake of their plans and protecting the school from those with ill/greedy intent. Call it a moral dilemma if you will, but it didn’t settle right with me in this book or the prior book. Very much “the ends justify the means” thought process which I’m noticing more in books and don’t personally love. It is upper YA though and the while the characters’ actions aren’t the most ethical (or legally), it does work out well for them. If this was a series aimed for middle-grade readers I would be way more concerned about this message.
All that said, here are some things I liked in this trilogy:
- all the plants and flowers (as a gardener, this is what made me in the series originally)
- lots of scenes of drinking tea (and some blends that have me wanting to experiment with my own tea blends)
- the overall lack of drama (no cliques, no mean girls, and basically little angst)
- it was definitely more on the cozy fantasy side which was nice
- if this book was set in a high school instead of college, it could have been turned into a Disney channel TV show or movie franchise (it had all the elements needed: a girl who doesn’t know how powerful she is, school setting, a story that is character-driven, and a final scene that demanded a song as the story ends and fades out)
- and finally, the covers. They really are stunning and my favorite thing about this series.
So there might have been hits and misses with this series for me, but it wasn’t a bad trilogy overall. I was curious enough to finish reading all three books after all. It’s just not one I’m going to highly recommend.
Main Content-
Magic/Spiritual-
Those who go to the academy are magical botanists that have special abilities/powers that can tap into and amplify the characteristics of some plants (such as flowers leaning towards them, grass part for them when talking through a field, being able to walk in the trees, block out sound by using the wind, etc.).
The students at the academy are taught ‘Floracantus’ which are Latin phrases or “spells” to have a plant do what they want (like for a flower to have longer lasting blooms); We see this on-page with Briar saying and using these spells often.
Someone calls herself a “flower witch” (thrice) instead of a “magical botanist” (because the concept is new to her).
Briar comments about being able to “find [her]self” once she came to the school.
All about & many mentions of magic, spells, & controlling and helping plants through that magic; Mentions of people putting their magic into items (including books) to store them for safety; Mentions of a “curse” (when someone is unable to do something at the academy due to old rules by the founders); Mentions of people working miracles with their magic and things they has created with their magic; Mentions of luck & being lucky; A couple mentions of praying (but not towards Who); A couple mentions of a place being like heaven; A mention of a tree being sacred; A mention of nature-blessed matches; A mention of a man who created riddles that were called “prophecies” in his time period; A mention of “channeling” a time period with certain outfits; A mention of someone dressing up as an “earthen goddess”.
Language-
Phrases like “leaves”, “holy blossoms”, “by the ferns”, “by the leaves”, “what the spores”, “spores and rhizomes”, “soil and rhizomes”, “thank ferns”, “thank water lilies”, “thank the leaves”, “fronds”, “hot fronds”, “spores”, “as sure as spores”, “rivers”, “seven bubbles” and similar are said multiple times in place of actual curses; Some of these are said to be curses/swears, however, for magical botanists; Someone tells another about having more “cactus spine” than that (could be replaced to “guts” or another word).
Lying (including to authority figures); Eavesdropping.
Eye rolling & Sarcasm.
Negative/Other-
2 scenes of implied/hinted to drinking: 1- martini glasses at a college party (which Briar is given one); 2- “special” drinks at a party which later is mentioned to also have “strong drinks” that leaves others with implied hangovers.
Briar and others eat magical pies that calms their anxiety; Food is served at a party that have added “endorphins” to keep the guests merry (without their permission/knowledge); Another scene of a “special elixir” being placed in everyone’s drinks to show their intentions towards a place (again, without permission/knowledge of this by the drinkers).
Being poisoned (on purpose), Pain, Injuries, Blood/Bleeding, & Passing out (up to a few sentences).
A girl refers to her mentor as they/them (not specifying the gender in the sentence; referring to a single person in the conversation; does not specifically imply if this is a nod to an LGBTQ person or not).
The love interest has many tattoos.
Briar and others in a secret group have stolen things from the school and other places to be able to have influence over the future of the school; Side characters plan pranks on and cause trouble for a principle (including having things he is allergic to placed around him or in his food); Side characters also sneak into a principle’s office to spy, place spying plants, and take things from there.
Someone tells Briar that she doesn’t have to listen to an authority figure at the school because she’s more powerful than the man.
The love interest and another side character have strained relationships with their parents due to their parents planning their futures for them; The love interest plans to ignore his mother’s wishes and do what he wants.
Mentions of deaths, grief, & a car accident (Briar’s mom); Mentions of stealing, stolen items, & thieves; Mentions of alcohol, spiked food, & side effects; Mentions of poisons & being drugged; Mentions of lies, lying, liars, & deception; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of Halloween; A mention of the lottery.
Sexual/Romance-
Staring at lips,
1 fingers-to-lips touch,
1 forehead kiss,
1 kiss lasting a couple sentences,
2 kisses lasting a few sentences,
Remembering kisses (up to a couple sentences).
Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Flutters, Warmth, Shivers/Sparks, Nearness, Noticing, & Smelling (up to a few sentences); Wanting to kiss, touch, & embrace (mentions of longing in this regard; up to a couple sentences); Blushes & Flirting.
A side character does a “striptease” (off-page, only mentioned) to cause a distraction (someone says he covered his chest and arms with ferns and is magically removing them one by one to reveal his abs).
Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of boyfriends/girlfriends, dates, dating, break-ups, & exes; Mentions of hot/cute guys; Mentions of flirting, winks, & blushes; A few mentions of pheromones & creating scents that will make someone else crazy for them; A mention of girls ogling guys.
This book felt cleaner than the previous books with a lack of mild/moderate language and less scenes of characters drinking; both things I greatly appreciated for this final book.
There were decent recaps at the beginning of the book that didn’t really like an obvious “hey, remember when this happened in the previous book?” which was nice and felt pretty naturally worked into this book. It’s been a couple months since I read Book 2, so those were good elements/refreshers. Those who binge-read the trilogy might be less-than-impressed, but it was helpful for me!
Like I slightly complained about in my review of the second book of this trilogy, the magical elements and challenges that Briar faces were either not complicated and/or easily solved. Even the first few chapters of this book had a few instances of quickly solving a problem—including one that was the cliffhanger from the prior book—and wrapped up quick. This feels like a weird thing to nitpick, but it happened again and again that I kept noticing it. This was honestly what kept me from giving it a 2.5/3 star rating because it happened frequently through the book and lessened the suspense of “will their plans work?” because I would everything would be solved soon for the current problem.
At the risk of sounding like the Goody Two Shoes that I know I am, I do have to mention that I still didn’t love the concept of Briar and the others stealing from the school and purposely causing trouble at times for the sake of their plans and protecting the school from those with ill/greedy intent. Call it a moral dilemma if you will, but it didn’t settle right with me in this book or the prior book. Very much “the ends justify the means” thought process which I’m noticing more in books and don’t personally love. It is upper YA though and the while the characters’ actions aren’t the most ethical (or legally), it does work out well for them. If this was a series aimed for middle-grade readers I would be way more concerned about this message.
All that said, here are some things I liked in this trilogy:
- all the plants and flowers (as a gardener, this is what made me in the series originally)
- lots of scenes of drinking tea (and some blends that have me wanting to experiment with my own tea blends)
- the overall lack of drama (no cliques, no mean girls, and basically little angst)
- it was definitely more on the cozy fantasy side which was nice
- if this book was set in a high school instead of college, it could have been turned into a Disney channel TV show or movie franchise (it had all the elements needed: a girl who doesn’t know how powerful she is, school setting, a story that is character-driven, and a final scene that demanded a song as the story ends and fades out)
- and finally, the covers. They really are stunning and my favorite thing about this series.
So there might have been hits and misses with this series for me, but it wasn’t a bad trilogy overall. I was curious enough to finish reading all three books after all. It’s just not one I’m going to highly recommend.
Main Content-
Magic/Spiritual-
Those who go to the academy are magical botanists that have special abilities/powers that can tap into and amplify the characteristics of some plants (such as flowers leaning towards them, grass part for them when talking through a field, being able to walk in the trees, block out sound by using the wind, etc.).
The students at the academy are taught ‘Floracantus’ which are Latin phrases or “spells” to have a plant do what they want (like for a flower to have longer lasting blooms); We see this on-page with Briar saying and using these spells often.
Someone calls herself a “flower witch” (thrice) instead of a “magical botanist” (because the concept is new to her).
Briar comments about being able to “find [her]self” once she came to the school.
All about & many mentions of magic, spells, & controlling and helping plants through that magic; Mentions of people putting their magic into items (including books) to store them for safety; Mentions of a “curse” (when someone is unable to do something at the academy due to old rules by the founders); Mentions of people working miracles with their magic and things they has created with their magic; Mentions of luck & being lucky; A couple mentions of praying (but not towards Who); A couple mentions of a place being like heaven; A mention of a tree being sacred; A mention of nature-blessed matches; A mention of a man who created riddles that were called “prophecies” in his time period; A mention of “channeling” a time period with certain outfits; A mention of someone dressing up as an “earthen goddess”.
Language-
Phrases like “leaves”, “holy blossoms”, “by the ferns”, “by the leaves”, “what the spores”, “spores and rhizomes”, “soil and rhizomes”, “thank ferns”, “thank water lilies”, “thank the leaves”, “fronds”, “hot fronds”, “spores”, “as sure as spores”, “rivers”, “seven bubbles” and similar are said multiple times in place of actual curses; Some of these are said to be curses/swears, however, for magical botanists; Someone tells another about having more “cactus spine” than that (could be replaced to “guts” or another word).
Lying (including to authority figures); Eavesdropping.
Eye rolling & Sarcasm.
Negative/Other-
2 scenes of implied/hinted to drinking: 1- martini glasses at a college party (which Briar is given one); 2- “special” drinks at a party which later is mentioned to also have “strong drinks” that leaves others with implied hangovers.
Briar and others eat magical pies that calms their anxiety; Food is served at a party that have added “endorphins” to keep the guests merry (without their permission/knowledge); Another scene of a “special elixir” being placed in everyone’s drinks to show their intentions towards a place (again, without permission/knowledge of this by the drinkers).
Being poisoned (on purpose), Pain, Injuries, Blood/Bleeding, & Passing out (up to a few sentences).
A girl refers to her mentor as they/them (not specifying the gender in the sentence; referring to a single person in the conversation; does not specifically imply if this is a nod to an LGBTQ person or not).
The love interest has many tattoos.
Briar and others in a secret group have stolen things from the school and other places to be able to have influence over the future of the school; Side characters plan pranks on and cause trouble for a principle (including having things he is allergic to placed around him or in his food); Side characters also sneak into a principle’s office to spy, place spying plants, and take things from there.
Someone tells Briar that she doesn’t have to listen to an authority figure at the school because she’s more powerful than the man.
The love interest and another side character have strained relationships with their parents due to their parents planning their futures for them; The love interest plans to ignore his mother’s wishes and do what he wants.
Mentions of deaths, grief, & a car accident (Briar’s mom); Mentions of stealing, stolen items, & thieves; Mentions of alcohol, spiked food, & side effects; Mentions of poisons & being drugged; Mentions of lies, lying, liars, & deception; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of Halloween; A mention of the lottery.
Sexual/Romance-
Staring at lips,
1 fingers-to-lips touch,
1 forehead kiss,
1 kiss lasting a couple sentences,
2 kisses lasting a few sentences,
Remembering kisses (up to a couple sentences).
Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Flutters, Warmth, Shivers/Sparks, Nearness, Noticing, & Smelling (up to a few sentences); Wanting to kiss, touch, & embrace (mentions of longing in this regard; up to a couple sentences); Blushes & Flirting.
A side character does a “striptease” (off-page, only mentioned) to cause a distraction (someone says he covered his chest and arms with ferns and is magically removing them one by one to reveal his abs).
Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of boyfriends/girlfriends, dates, dating, break-ups, & exes; Mentions of hot/cute guys; Mentions of flirting, winks, & blushes; A few mentions of pheromones & creating scents that will make someone else crazy for them; A mention of girls ogling guys.
February 9, 2026
What to expect: Cozy nature-based atmosphere, botanical history lore, found family, green academia, stronger together love, secret society, more secrets revealed, final book in series
This was a satisfying, wholesome conclusion to the trilogy. We got more magical botanist lore and world-building that I found intriguing and creative like in the first two books. I enjoyed Briar’s adventure and how she has grown through her time at the academy, standing up for what she believes in. I really like her dedication and her staying true to herself. Callan is such a green flag and a good man. I found myself admiring his ambitions and consideration for others, especially toward Briar. The teamwork of those two and other students and mentors regarding the conflict is *chef’s kiss.* This is a feel-good series that makes me want to go connect with nature and appreciate it. It is absolutely lovely. 💕
Side note: I would love a novella of Briar and Callan post events of this book. ALSO CANNOT WAIT FOR THE SPECIAL EDITIONS ON KICKSTARTER
📚content📚
Spice - kissing only and not really descriptive
Language - none (made-up cursing)
Other content - one mention of students getting drunk off of made-up drinks, overall there is nothing explicit in this series
This was a satisfying, wholesome conclusion to the trilogy. We got more magical botanist lore and world-building that I found intriguing and creative like in the first two books. I enjoyed Briar’s adventure and how she has grown through her time at the academy, standing up for what she believes in. I really like her dedication and her staying true to herself. Callan is such a green flag and a good man. I found myself admiring his ambitions and consideration for others, especially toward Briar. The teamwork of those two and other students and mentors regarding the conflict is *chef’s kiss.* This is a feel-good series that makes me want to go connect with nature and appreciate it. It is absolutely lovely. 💕
Side note: I would love a novella of Briar and Callan post events of this book. ALSO CANNOT WAIT FOR THE SPECIAL EDITIONS ON KICKSTARTER
📚content📚
Spice - kissing only and not really descriptive
Language - none (made-up cursing)
Other content - one mention of students getting drunk off of made-up drinks, overall there is nothing explicit in this series
July 8, 2026
Poison, secret conservatories, spying and a rebellion against the people abusing their power. If that doesn't convince you to pick this up, the extra affinity powers just might.
This was a lovely close to the cozy series and redeemed book 2. Comfortable stakes, acceptable levels of rising danger and interesting revelations that pull you deeper into Evergreen's world. Just when you think you've seen every magical surprise this series has to offer, it introduces even more affinity powers!
The clean romance was especially sweet.
And then this one completely melts your heart:
👉With dangerous secrets, high stakes, hidden agendas, and plenty of action, this installment keeps the pages turning. Satisfying close!
This was a lovely close to the cozy series and redeemed book 2. Comfortable stakes, acceptable levels of rising danger and interesting revelations that pull you deeper into Evergreen's world. Just when you think you've seen every magical surprise this series has to offer, it introduces even more affinity powers!
The clean romance was especially sweet.
“You caught more than my eye and you have every day since.”
And then this one completely melts your heart:
“I didn’t know it then, but the day I met you, was a day that changed my life forever, you brought a lightness into my world that I could never have imagined.”🍯
👉With dangerous secrets, high stakes, hidden agendas, and plenty of action, this installment keeps the pages turning. Satisfying close!
February 8, 2026
How lucky am I to be an ARC reader for this ENTIRE trilogy!!?
I’d give this one 4.5 stars, it was my least favorite of the 3 books but in no means was it a bad book!
My favorite thing about Heather Schneider is that each book in a series immediately jumps in right where the last book started. When you don’t read the books immediately after one another I could see someone struggling to remember what happened in the previous book but I prefer it that way!
Don’t get me wrong I love some spice, but sweet, clean, PG-13 love gets my stomach in butterflies the most! I love Briar and Callan’s relationship, it has NEVER felt forced in all 3 books. I love that Wyatt was a bigger part of this story and together they took down their mother.
My main “issue” with this is I think the plot involving Alex and Briar’s aunt Vera wasn’t made out to be bigger than it seemed. Like oh we spent the last book and a half getting to this but it was just a misunderstanding!
Things almost seem “too easy” for Briar. She didn’t have many setbacks besides losing her powers for a short time and whatever they tried to do was easily successful.
I’d like to be sent away to Evergreen Academy and live amount the plants now please! I am sad to see this series come to an end but this was a perfect place to end it! Sometimes book series end up just going TOO long and it’s good to stop it while you’re ahead!
I’d give this one 4.5 stars, it was my least favorite of the 3 books but in no means was it a bad book!
My favorite thing about Heather Schneider is that each book in a series immediately jumps in right where the last book started. When you don’t read the books immediately after one another I could see someone struggling to remember what happened in the previous book but I prefer it that way!
Don’t get me wrong I love some spice, but sweet, clean, PG-13 love gets my stomach in butterflies the most! I love Briar and Callan’s relationship, it has NEVER felt forced in all 3 books. I love that Wyatt was a bigger part of this story and together they took down their mother.
My main “issue” with this is I think the plot involving Alex and Briar’s aunt Vera wasn’t made out to be bigger than it seemed. Like oh we spent the last book and a half getting to this but it was just a misunderstanding!
Things almost seem “too easy” for Briar. She didn’t have many setbacks besides losing her powers for a short time and whatever they tried to do was easily successful.
I’d like to be sent away to Evergreen Academy and live amount the plants now please! I am sad to see this series come to an end but this was a perfect place to end it! Sometimes book series end up just going TOO long and it’s good to stop it while you’re ahead!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2026
This has been such a fun series, and the final book did not disappoint!
It had just enough action and mystery to keep it interesting, as well as a great setting and cast of characters.
I’ve loved watching Briar grow and learn about her powers, and the romance between her and Callan is so sweet and wholesome.
If you enjoy cozy fantasy, found family, sweet romance, and plants, this series is definitely for you!
It had just enough action and mystery to keep it interesting, as well as a great setting and cast of characters.
I’ve loved watching Briar grow and learn about her powers, and the romance between her and Callan is so sweet and wholesome.
If you enjoy cozy fantasy, found family, sweet romance, and plants, this series is definitely for you!
March 21, 2026
This was such a great conclusion to a series that really captured my heart and made me want to be a magical botanist when I grow up 🤭🥰 This series is so atmospheric with a school setting so vibrant and detailed that it felt like I could jump right into the pages and live there! 🌱🌷 I dare you to read this series and NOT wish you went to Evergreen Academy — it’s impossible! 💚
This third & final book in the Evergreen Academy series picks up exactly where book 2 left off. It pulls you in instantly as Briar and Callan must finally crack the code on the mystery that has been plaguing their academy all year long. You travel to new places, gain a deeper understanding into the history of the school and its founders, and fall deeper in love with Evergreen Academy and all its students!
I loved seeing Briar and Callan’s relationship deepen and grow as they gained more confidence about what they truly wanted in life. The settings, the games, the fetes — those were some of my favorite aspects of the book, which made it so fun and immersive! This is the perfect book for spring if you’re wanting to add to your spring TBR and get all the cottagecore vibes with a sweet romance! 🥰
The only reason this wasn’t a 5 star read was because there were some slow parts that affected the pacing of the story and a somewhat softer ending than what I was expecting. I just wanted a bit more.
For fans of:
Light academia
Studious, green flag MMCs
Friendship goals
Cottagecore vibes
Plant magic 🌱 ✨
🩷: Kisses only
🤬: None
This third & final book in the Evergreen Academy series picks up exactly where book 2 left off. It pulls you in instantly as Briar and Callan must finally crack the code on the mystery that has been plaguing their academy all year long. You travel to new places, gain a deeper understanding into the history of the school and its founders, and fall deeper in love with Evergreen Academy and all its students!
I loved seeing Briar and Callan’s relationship deepen and grow as they gained more confidence about what they truly wanted in life. The settings, the games, the fetes — those were some of my favorite aspects of the book, which made it so fun and immersive! This is the perfect book for spring if you’re wanting to add to your spring TBR and get all the cottagecore vibes with a sweet romance! 🥰
The only reason this wasn’t a 5 star read was because there were some slow parts that affected the pacing of the story and a somewhat softer ending than what I was expecting. I just wanted a bit more.
For fans of:
Light academia
Studious, green flag MMCs
Friendship goals
Cottagecore vibes
Plant magic 🌱 ✨
🩷: Kisses only
🤬: None
February 8, 2026
ARC Review: This is my first ARC review, so I am thankful Heather Schneider, the author allowed me to read the unpublished book. Here are some of the things I noted in my notes app while reading this book that I thought were great to mention.
- A new character comes into play in the beginning of the book that might surprise you.
- A new hidden place is revealed
- Not too witchy
- Very clean
-Writing style flows well
- No cliff hangers
- As a Christian, I tend to be cautious what I read that has magic in it, but this book, and the series as a whole is very clean and not too witchy.
- I would recommend this book to anyone, and I cannot wait to read more books by this author. Thank you again!
- A new character comes into play in the beginning of the book that might surprise you.
- A new hidden place is revealed
- Not too witchy
- Very clean
-Writing style flows well
- No cliff hangers
- As a Christian, I tend to be cautious what I read that has magic in it, but this book, and the series as a whole is very clean and not too witchy.
- I would recommend this book to anyone, and I cannot wait to read more books by this author. Thank you again!
February 17, 2026
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Firstly, thanks to the author for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the third and final book in the Society of Magical Botanists series and continues to follow Briar Wheelan and her love interest, Callan Rhodes, who are searching for the book, the Vanished Compendium, which they believe will help the academy. However, with forces batting against them, will they be able to find the book and save the academy, or is this far too great of a challenge for mere students?
I’m sad this series is now over, but the third and final book was such a great adventure that it made the ending of the series even sadder! I loved seeing the blossoming of Briar and Callan’s relationship, seeing Briar coming into her own, and seeing her aunt develop magical ability of her own. The only thing I didn’t like about the aunt plot line was that it felt underused. It seemed really big and important that Briar’s aunt had powers, especially when Briar feared her aunt being targeted, but then when the aunt knew about them she had no interest and that part of the story was then left. It felt a bit anticlimactic and I wish we saw more of the aunt delving into her magical abilities, or that there’d been more action and excitement such as the aunt being chased for her powers.
However, apart from that the story was really interesting and it had me gripped throughout. While I wish Briar faced more challenges (she seemed to manage things without any real opposition or confrontation), it was still a great book that made you keen to read on.
One of the main reasons I didn’t give this five stars is because I felt that things started too quickly (ironic, as I felt book two started too slowly). Immediately we see Briar and Callan doing a task to try and make the quill to find the book work, a task that is quickly achieved. After that, they use the quill which helps them realise the book is a certain number of miles away and from that information Callan without thinking just happens to know the aquatics conservatory is that far away and the book is likely there? It felt unbelievable that he just happened to know that information and definitely felt like a plot carrying device. As the action is immediate it doesn’t give you much time to think or get comfortable in the narrative, so I kind of wish we had a minute before we were thrust into the action.
I also wish the author slowed down a bit to explain things instead of focusing on pushing the narrative forward. For example, there is a chapter where they find the Compendium but see it has invisible ink. The chapter ends with Petra saying she has a few ideas to make the ink appear, but then the next chapter starts with them seeing the ink. It isn’t explained how they managed to achieve this which I feel would have added more to the book. Another example of things being rushed without explanation is near the end when Briar has suddenly decided what she is doing after college. She was full of uncertainty before, so the fact it was then decided what she’d be doing at uni felt a bit rushed. It would have been nice if decisions like that were explained or slowed down a bit, so I’d have preferred a longer book that went into things more than a shorter one that sped things along.
Overall, a great novel that ended an amazing series! I preferred book one overall and this one was likely my least favourite of the three, but it was still good and wrapped things up nicely. I do feel the ending with the leaf message felt unnecessary as it didn’t add anything, so if I were the author I’d remove that as the ending with the two main characters embracing felt like the perfect way to end the series.
Firstly, thanks to the author for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the third and final book in the Society of Magical Botanists series and continues to follow Briar Wheelan and her love interest, Callan Rhodes, who are searching for the book, the Vanished Compendium, which they believe will help the academy. However, with forces batting against them, will they be able to find the book and save the academy, or is this far too great of a challenge for mere students?
I’m sad this series is now over, but the third and final book was such a great adventure that it made the ending of the series even sadder! I loved seeing the blossoming of Briar and Callan’s relationship, seeing Briar coming into her own, and seeing her aunt develop magical ability of her own. The only thing I didn’t like about the aunt plot line was that it felt underused. It seemed really big and important that Briar’s aunt had powers, especially when Briar feared her aunt being targeted, but then when the aunt knew about them she had no interest and that part of the story was then left. It felt a bit anticlimactic and I wish we saw more of the aunt delving into her magical abilities, or that there’d been more action and excitement such as the aunt being chased for her powers.
However, apart from that the story was really interesting and it had me gripped throughout. While I wish Briar faced more challenges (she seemed to manage things without any real opposition or confrontation), it was still a great book that made you keen to read on.
One of the main reasons I didn’t give this five stars is because I felt that things started too quickly (ironic, as I felt book two started too slowly). Immediately we see Briar and Callan doing a task to try and make the quill to find the book work, a task that is quickly achieved. After that, they use the quill which helps them realise the book is a certain number of miles away and from that information Callan without thinking just happens to know the aquatics conservatory is that far away and the book is likely there? It felt unbelievable that he just happened to know that information and definitely felt like a plot carrying device. As the action is immediate it doesn’t give you much time to think or get comfortable in the narrative, so I kind of wish we had a minute before we were thrust into the action.
I also wish the author slowed down a bit to explain things instead of focusing on pushing the narrative forward. For example, there is a chapter where they find the Compendium but see it has invisible ink. The chapter ends with Petra saying she has a few ideas to make the ink appear, but then the next chapter starts with them seeing the ink. It isn’t explained how they managed to achieve this which I feel would have added more to the book. Another example of things being rushed without explanation is near the end when Briar has suddenly decided what she is doing after college. She was full of uncertainty before, so the fact it was then decided what she’d be doing at uni felt a bit rushed. It would have been nice if decisions like that were explained or slowed down a bit, so I’d have preferred a longer book that went into things more than a shorter one that sped things along.
Overall, a great novel that ended an amazing series! I preferred book one overall and this one was likely my least favourite of the three, but it was still good and wrapped things up nicely. I do feel the ending with the leaf message felt unnecessary as it didn’t add anything, so if I were the author I’d remove that as the ending with the two main characters embracing felt like the perfect way to end the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2026
I didn't really know what to expect from this last book in the trilogy, but boy, did I devour it! Going into the story, I was curious about how everything would come together after the earlier books. While "Evergreen Conservatory" felt a little slower to me compared to "Evergreen Academy", it actually made this final instalment even more exciting to read. Because of that build-up, this book felt like a reward of everything that came before it & I found myself flying through the pages much faster than expected.
The atmosphere & setting completely pulled me into the world of Evergreen once again. I had the same excitement, but maybe even more this time around because of the new locations & plants that are being introduced throughout the story. I could immediately picture it right in front of me, so vividly! It was almost like walking through a botanical garden in my mind!
One of the things I enjoyed most in this book was seeing the characters grow with each other. I was especially happy to read more about aunt Vera this time around (no spoilers, you will definitely know when you read it!). The way the story connected her to Briar’s mom added an emotional layer that I didn’t expect & I absolutely loved it because it really strengthened that warm, family-centred feeling that runs throughout the series.
The pacing kept me hooked the entire time. Even though the story took my mind into every direction, it never felt slow to me while reading this final part. It even felt incredibly satisfying to keep going with all the plot twists revealed along the way. Just when you think you know where things are going, something new unfolds.
The ending satisfied me completely, even though reaching it felt bittersweet. Saying goodbye to these characters, the plants & the whole Evergreen world was harder than I ever could've imagined. It really shows how attached I have become to this series!
I would definitely recommend this book to readers who enjoy cosy, comforting stories, even if there is quite a lot happening in the plot. Despite the many events unfolding, it never feels too intense or unsettling. Instead, the story holds its gentle & warm tone that makes it a very comforting read. If you enjoy immersive worlds, strong family themes & a touch of botanical magic, this trilogy — & especially this final book — is absolutely worth reading!
The atmosphere & setting completely pulled me into the world of Evergreen once again. I had the same excitement, but maybe even more this time around because of the new locations & plants that are being introduced throughout the story. I could immediately picture it right in front of me, so vividly! It was almost like walking through a botanical garden in my mind!
One of the things I enjoyed most in this book was seeing the characters grow with each other. I was especially happy to read more about aunt Vera this time around (no spoilers, you will definitely know when you read it!). The way the story connected her to Briar’s mom added an emotional layer that I didn’t expect & I absolutely loved it because it really strengthened that warm, family-centred feeling that runs throughout the series.
The pacing kept me hooked the entire time. Even though the story took my mind into every direction, it never felt slow to me while reading this final part. It even felt incredibly satisfying to keep going with all the plot twists revealed along the way. Just when you think you know where things are going, something new unfolds.
The ending satisfied me completely, even though reaching it felt bittersweet. Saying goodbye to these characters, the plants & the whole Evergreen world was harder than I ever could've imagined. It really shows how attached I have become to this series!
I would definitely recommend this book to readers who enjoy cosy, comforting stories, even if there is quite a lot happening in the plot. Despite the many events unfolding, it never feels too intense or unsettling. Instead, the story holds its gentle & warm tone that makes it a very comforting read. If you enjoy immersive worlds, strong family themes & a touch of botanical magic, this trilogy — & especially this final book — is absolutely worth reading!
February 3, 2026
The Evergreen Legacy by Heather Schneider is the finale finish to a beautiful series.
I loved the ending..! It was fast-paced, it was action packed, and it was answer filled. The book gave us the answers to the questions we had that popped up in books one and two, and the author tied each and every knot and string up beautifully. I loved the stand the students took to save the school. We saw more and more of the beautiful world that Heather created and oh my gosh was everything just amazing!
Let me just say that MMC is such a green flag, supportive, defensive, humorous, and smart! The whole package. I loved the interactions of the main characters, each full of love, admiration and respect. Such a huge squeal!! The FMC's sleuth skills were on another level, and her dedication to keeping natural spaces open for everyone was amazing. I really loved this overall message of this book about how we shouldn't section ourselves off from nature, and that we need to coincide with nature and not fight it and use it for profit. Our planet is such a beautiful place and Heather did a great job emphasizing that.
I recommend this series to anyone who wants just a good time.
Thank you Heather Schneider for the free book.
I loved the ending..! It was fast-paced, it was action packed, and it was answer filled. The book gave us the answers to the questions we had that popped up in books one and two, and the author tied each and every knot and string up beautifully. I loved the stand the students took to save the school. We saw more and more of the beautiful world that Heather created and oh my gosh was everything just amazing!
Let me just say that MMC is such a green flag, supportive, defensive, humorous, and smart! The whole package. I loved the interactions of the main characters, each full of love, admiration and respect. Such a huge squeal!! The FMC's sleuth skills were on another level, and her dedication to keeping natural spaces open for everyone was amazing. I really loved this overall message of this book about how we shouldn't section ourselves off from nature, and that we need to coincide with nature and not fight it and use it for profit. Our planet is such a beautiful place and Heather did a great job emphasizing that.
I recommend this series to anyone who wants just a good time.
Thank you Heather Schneider for the free book.
February 14, 2026
|| Thank you to Heather Schneider for providing me this arc in exchange for an honest review ! ||
I really enjoyed this end of trilogy, and its story. I feel like it was a good story done well, and while we assume everything's gonna be ok (as it's a YA cosy fantasy) we still hope that Briar and her friends will work everything out, as we can only agree with them and root for their fight.
I liked that Briar discovered even more things about her power, and also continue to be mesmerised by the magical botanists powers and all they can do, all the good things they can bring to humanity. I liked how the story went on, and also her love relationship with Callan as it goes side by side with her personal and magical growth.
I however felt like this book was too rushed, done quickly. We quickly glaze over very important moments, like it wasn't their main goal in book 2. I felt like we could put a few of the key plots in the book 2 so we could get more time for other key points in this book 3, to make it more eventful and important. It's a bit sad, as I was expecting a lot from it and it turned out easily and went over quickly.
I really enjoyed this end of trilogy, and its story. I feel like it was a good story done well, and while we assume everything's gonna be ok (as it's a YA cosy fantasy) we still hope that Briar and her friends will work everything out, as we can only agree with them and root for their fight.
I liked that Briar discovered even more things about her power, and also continue to be mesmerised by the magical botanists powers and all they can do, all the good things they can bring to humanity. I liked how the story went on, and also her love relationship with Callan as it goes side by side with her personal and magical growth.
I however felt like this book was too rushed, done quickly. We quickly glaze over very important moments, like it wasn't their main goal in book 2. I felt like we could put a few of the key plots in the book 2 so we could get more time for other key points in this book 3, to make it more eventful and important. It's a bit sad, as I was expecting a lot from it and it turned out easily and went over quickly.
May 3, 2026
I really enjoyed my time with the entire trilogy. It felt like a breath of fresh air, something I truly needed given the current real-world atmosphere.. This was such a luminous, comforting read.
The cast is wonderfully sweet and supportive (I'll say it again, Callan is the definition of a walking green flag), and the worldbuilding is incredibly fun to explore. I kept wanting it to be real haha. Even with relatively low stakes, the author delivers meaningful messages that feel especially relevant: the importance of unity in the face of greed and power, resistance to capitalism and classism, and, last but not least, reconnecting with nature.
I did find that most conflicts resolve a bit too conveniently in this last book. I would have liked to see Briar struggle more, to make her character development feel more impactful. But that's a minor complaint, it really didn't impact my reading experience that much.
I spent the entire trilogy wrapped in a bubble of light and I loved every minute of it.
The cast is wonderfully sweet and supportive (I'll say it again, Callan is the definition of a walking green flag), and the worldbuilding is incredibly fun to explore. I kept wanting it to be real haha. Even with relatively low stakes, the author delivers meaningful messages that feel especially relevant: the importance of unity in the face of greed and power, resistance to capitalism and classism, and, last but not least, reconnecting with nature.
I did find that most conflicts resolve a bit too conveniently in this last book. I would have liked to see Briar struggle more, to make her character development feel more impactful. But that's a minor complaint, it really didn't impact my reading experience that much.
I spent the entire trilogy wrapped in a bubble of light and I loved every minute of it.
March 29, 2026
✨“We also know that there’s more mystery and wonder to this world than humans can even imagine.” ✨
This series was so much fun, the perfect amount of cozy while still having a bit of a mystery, some laugh out loud moments (Hollis…am I right? Definitely snort laughed at one of his moments 😂) and a beautiful picture of teamwork accomplishing hard things. In this book, the FMC takes us “off campus” to a couple new locations and oh my goodness, I want to visit alllll the places 😍.
This was a perfect ending to the trilogy (although I did not want it to end!) and it tied up everything wonderfully! The romance was sweet and clean ~ just a few kisses ~ and the magic was so fun & light with some surprises thrown in there!
This is definitely going to be one of those series that I re-read when I need something cozy. This genre is not one I usually read but I had a book bestie suggest it to me and I am SO glad I read it! ✨
This series was so much fun, the perfect amount of cozy while still having a bit of a mystery, some laugh out loud moments (Hollis…am I right? Definitely snort laughed at one of his moments 😂) and a beautiful picture of teamwork accomplishing hard things. In this book, the FMC takes us “off campus” to a couple new locations and oh my goodness, I want to visit alllll the places 😍.
This was a perfect ending to the trilogy (although I did not want it to end!) and it tied up everything wonderfully! The romance was sweet and clean ~ just a few kisses ~ and the magic was so fun & light with some surprises thrown in there!
This is definitely going to be one of those series that I re-read when I need something cozy. This genre is not one I usually read but I had a book bestie suggest it to me and I am SO glad I read it! ✨
May 18, 2026
This is more of the loveliness that is in books 1 and 2. A deep appreciation for plants and a plot that is FULL considering it's all quite cosy.
I wasn't a fan of how one of the storylines ended in relation to a parent-child relationship. I'd have liked more compassion and respect towards the parent which was lacking. There was also a lot of admiration of the MMC's tattoo in this one, which I wasn't a fan of.
Overall I recommend this series for 15+!
CONTENT:
Language: None
Romance: Kissing only (not married, infrequent, not super descriptive).
Faith: None but little comments here and there as if nature itself is a being (rather than the creator). Talk of luck and 'works like a charm'.
Other: MMC's tattoo admired. Pretty awful parent relationships with one disrespectful conversation to (slightly evil) parent.
I wasn't a fan of how one of the storylines ended in relation to a parent-child relationship. I'd have liked more compassion and respect towards the parent which was lacking. There was also a lot of admiration of the MMC's tattoo in this one, which I wasn't a fan of.
Overall I recommend this series for 15+!
CONTENT:
Language: None
Romance: Kissing only (not married, infrequent, not super descriptive).
Faith: None but little comments here and there as if nature itself is a being (rather than the creator). Talk of luck and 'works like a charm'.
Other: MMC's tattoo admired. Pretty awful parent relationships with one disrespectful conversation to (slightly evil) parent.
July 7, 2026
There was so much about this trilogy that I loved. The characters, the setting, the little bits of science dropped into the story. There were small surprises along the way that kept it interesting and fun. The only thing I didn’t like were the mother-son interactions with Callen and Wendy. As a mom, I know that our children don’t always see their parents in a good light and it’s a rite of passage to question and challenge our decisions. I would have liked to see some kind of restoration in that relationship. Other than that, such a good story!!
March 15, 2026
Oh my goodness! What a thrilling and satisfying conclusion to the Society of Magical Botanists! There were so many twists and turns as secrets and plot points that have been building up since book 1 were revealed. I love this cozy fantasy series - it's so magical & fills you with wonder about the plant world around you 💚
February 3, 2026
Evergreen Legacy was the perfect final book to the Evergreen trilogy! This cozy, heartwarming series will envelop you in goosebumps and gives the reader all the feel-good moments expected from a Heather Schneider novel. I loved this trilogy and it will be one to read again and again!
March 24, 2026
SOO GOOD!!
I don't want this this magical world to ever end
I don't want this this magical world to ever end
April 9, 2026
Lovely, cozy little series! If you want a clean, feel good trilogy with romance, friendship, fantasy, and stakes that aren’t too stressful, read these books and relax!
May 25, 2026
This series was relaxing and enticing and felt like a comforting friend. Really enjoyed this series!
July 8, 2026
Very cosy and easy to read, will go in the comfort reads pile for sure.
July 9, 2026
4.5 stars really enjoyed this trilogy
June 17, 2026
I genuinely loved this world and the story of these characters! I thought the entire plot was fun and intriguing. My biggest complaint is that I felt like it could have been so much more than it was. There was such potential for an elaborate, complex story but instead I felt like we got a simplified version, rushed to the ending. No conflict in the middle, no challenge to get there, just a narration of events, and I really think this could have been so much better had she expanded into even another book or longer plot lines.
February 26, 2026
thank you so much to Heather for allowing me to ARC read this entire trilogy. i feel so LUCKY to have been a part of this journey. while i'm incredibly sad that it's over, this was such a satisfying ending to the series. I think everything was wrapped up really nicely and we got answers to all of the lingering questions that we've been holding onto throughout the series. i'm so sad that I won't get to return to the city of Weed, but thankful for the time I was able to escape into this world :)
if you like any of the following, you'd love this series:
- cozy fantasy
- found family
- no-spice romance
- light academia
- plant magic/very unique magic system
- secret society/light mystery
let me just start off by saying that I LOVE Heather's writing style. I said it in my review for book 2 and I'll say it again in my review for book 3- she does a really good job of reminding us of key elements that happened in previous books so that you never feel like you've lost the plot or can't remember what happened. it's subtle, not too in your face and obvious. but enough that even in the timeframes between book releases, I felt like I remembered exactly where I left off previously. her writing flows. it's enchanting. as someone who struggles to picture things in my head as I read, the imagery she creates is so vivid I feel like i'm living it. and the CHARACTERS! what a cast of characters. I absolutely love our FMC & MMC, but even the side characters are top-tier and make you care so deeply about all of them.
Briar and Callan both grew throughout this series, but we see them really blossom in book 3. i loved seeing both their personal and magical growth, but I also loved seeing their love story strengthen in this book. yes, they're just young adults. but I feel like they both handled everything so maturely that they set the foundation for something that lasts (I love a good HEA and, in my head, these two are those college sweethearts that get married and stay together forever hehe).
I could yap about this book (and this series overall) forever, but i'm going to stop here and just tell you to read it. if you like Sarah Beth Durst books (which, hello, I'm like her biggest fan), then you'd like these books. very whimsical and wholesome and I cannot praise them enough.
P.S. Heather- I'm greedy and I'd like to formally request some Briar & Callan novellas please. maybe they return back to Evergreen after college? i'm not picky, i'll take anything. I just don't want to leave the world of Weed.
if you like any of the following, you'd love this series:
- cozy fantasy
- found family
- no-spice romance
- light academia
- plant magic/very unique magic system
- secret society/light mystery
let me just start off by saying that I LOVE Heather's writing style. I said it in my review for book 2 and I'll say it again in my review for book 3- she does a really good job of reminding us of key elements that happened in previous books so that you never feel like you've lost the plot or can't remember what happened. it's subtle, not too in your face and obvious. but enough that even in the timeframes between book releases, I felt like I remembered exactly where I left off previously. her writing flows. it's enchanting. as someone who struggles to picture things in my head as I read, the imagery she creates is so vivid I feel like i'm living it. and the CHARACTERS! what a cast of characters. I absolutely love our FMC & MMC, but even the side characters are top-tier and make you care so deeply about all of them.
Briar and Callan both grew throughout this series, but we see them really blossom in book 3. i loved seeing both their personal and magical growth, but I also loved seeing their love story strengthen in this book. yes, they're just young adults. but I feel like they both handled everything so maturely that they set the foundation for something that lasts (I love a good HEA and, in my head, these two are those college sweethearts that get married and stay together forever hehe).
I could yap about this book (and this series overall) forever, but i'm going to stop here and just tell you to read it. if you like Sarah Beth Durst books (which, hello, I'm like her biggest fan), then you'd like these books. very whimsical and wholesome and I cannot praise them enough.
P.S. Heather- I'm greedy and I'd like to formally request some Briar & Callan novellas please. maybe they return back to Evergreen after college? i'm not picky, i'll take anything. I just don't want to leave the world of Weed.
February 17, 2026
Heather Schneider does it again! Another excellent, and final, installment in the Society of Magical Botanists trilogy!
I love that this series remains cozy and whimsical all throughout. As for the Legacy, the world building and continued development of the magic system were excellent (and consistent!). I particularly enjoy having seen new Conservatories and the added mystery of the Renaissance botanist riddles. We knew Briar was a descendant of da Vinci, but Schneider’s continued elaboration on that aspect of her magic was fun and original. I was also excited to see more of Wyatt and the DBI. When parents can be overbearing, siblings can be so vital to staying grounded and feeling that familial support. I’m glad the Rhodes brothers worked some things out.
I wasn’t quite sure how the new shield spell and all of the Root and Vine Society’s plans were going to work out or if I was even going to be sold on how smoothly everything went. It seemed a little too convenient that Feathergrass, the recently and unceremoniously installed head of Evergreen Academy, provided access to the Dandelion of Desire and the charging circle ON the very equinox on which the verdant shield is to be recharged. That aside, I think the plans laid in place tidied up a lot of challenge that just didn’t seem like it was on it’s way. It was successful for this age demographic, but overall a bit dubious.
Now that we have closed the book on Briar and Callan’s story, I wish we had gotten a chance to see more of their relationship in this final volume. As this is a YA series, their relationship has been pretty PG, even considering their age. We have seen some top-tier yearning due to Callan’s protective nature and the influence his family had over the Magical Botanist community. That really set us up for a gratifying… I don’t know - proposal of some sort? Their viewing of the jacaranda tree and celebration of the solstice was fun - and very fitting - but just not the most intimate. I wanted something a lot sexier for Briar, even if implied or dialed back to be age appropriate.
Overall, such a fun read and it tied the series up nicely!
Thank you to the author, Heather Schneider, for the opportunity to read and review a copy of Evergreen Legacy. All opinions are my own and have been shared voluntarily.
I love that this series remains cozy and whimsical all throughout. As for the Legacy, the world building and continued development of the magic system were excellent (and consistent!). I particularly enjoy having seen new Conservatories and the added mystery of the Renaissance botanist riddles. We knew Briar was a descendant of da Vinci, but Schneider’s continued elaboration on that aspect of her magic was fun and original. I was also excited to see more of Wyatt and the DBI. When parents can be overbearing, siblings can be so vital to staying grounded and feeling that familial support. I’m glad the Rhodes brothers worked some things out.
I wasn’t quite sure how the new shield spell and all of the Root and Vine Society’s plans were going to work out or if I was even going to be sold on how smoothly everything went. It seemed a little too convenient that Feathergrass, the recently and unceremoniously installed head of Evergreen Academy, provided access to the Dandelion of Desire and the charging circle ON the very equinox on which the verdant shield is to be recharged. That aside, I think the plans laid in place tidied up a lot of challenge that just didn’t seem like it was on it’s way. It was successful for this age demographic, but overall a bit dubious.
Now that we have closed the book on Briar and Callan’s story, I wish we had gotten a chance to see more of their relationship in this final volume. As this is a YA series, their relationship has been pretty PG, even considering their age. We have seen some top-tier yearning due to Callan’s protective nature and the influence his family had over the Magical Botanist community. That really set us up for a gratifying… I don’t know - proposal of some sort? Their viewing of the jacaranda tree and celebration of the solstice was fun - and very fitting - but just not the most intimate. I wanted something a lot sexier for Briar, even if implied or dialed back to be age appropriate.
Overall, such a fun read and it tied the series up nicely!
Thank you to the author, Heather Schneider, for the opportunity to read and review a copy of Evergreen Legacy. All opinions are my own and have been shared voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2026
📝 ARC Review: This was the PERFECT ending for this series! I’ve loved each book and felt each one got better and more intriguing, this finale did not disappoint!
I want to gush endlessly about what an awesome job the author did on tying all the loose ends up and giving me an absolutely amazing conclusion to this wonderful series, but I know my review needs to be more than just that.
This is a series/Trilogy that DOES need to be read in order! Each book gets more in depth and intriguing, with plenty of academic, young love, plant life, magic and suspenseful vibes! It follows the society of magical botanists and one of their colleges, where someone is tampering with their shield and trying to change the overall theme of what magical botanists stand for. But a group of students, along with a few professors, decide to take matters into their own hands and stand up against those influential ones trying to basically take over the world and usurp regular humans. - This conclusion showed how much people can achieve when they stand together against those who want to strip others of their choices.
Also, this series has such cozy vibes despite the intrigue/drama. The author did an excellent job of incorporating the cozy with the suspense. Highly recommend!!! Also, each of these book covers are gorgeous and should definitely be on your shelves! (So go grab the series as soon as you can!)
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5/5
Spice: 🌶️ 0.5/5
Quote 👇
“It was just us, a boy and a girl. Two magical botanists. Hearts that had found each other despite how different our worlds had been not very long ago.”
Tropes 👇
- Plant Magic
- Spells
- Academic setting
- Young love
- Slow burn romance
- He says the L word first
- Cozy vibes
- YA
- Brave FMC
- Standing up for what you believe in
- Ancestry
- Art
- Found family
- Secrets revealed
Release Date: March 20, 2026.
Genre: Cozy YA Fantasy
POV: Single; First Person.
Series: Society of Magical Botanists, Book 3.
Thank you to the author, Heather Schneider, for this ARC in return for my honest review.
I want to gush endlessly about what an awesome job the author did on tying all the loose ends up and giving me an absolutely amazing conclusion to this wonderful series, but I know my review needs to be more than just that.
This is a series/Trilogy that DOES need to be read in order! Each book gets more in depth and intriguing, with plenty of academic, young love, plant life, magic and suspenseful vibes! It follows the society of magical botanists and one of their colleges, where someone is tampering with their shield and trying to change the overall theme of what magical botanists stand for. But a group of students, along with a few professors, decide to take matters into their own hands and stand up against those influential ones trying to basically take over the world and usurp regular humans. - This conclusion showed how much people can achieve when they stand together against those who want to strip others of their choices.
Also, this series has such cozy vibes despite the intrigue/drama. The author did an excellent job of incorporating the cozy with the suspense. Highly recommend!!! Also, each of these book covers are gorgeous and should definitely be on your shelves! (So go grab the series as soon as you can!)
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5/5
Spice: 🌶️ 0.5/5
Quote 👇
“It was just us, a boy and a girl. Two magical botanists. Hearts that had found each other despite how different our worlds had been not very long ago.”
Tropes 👇
- Plant Magic
- Spells
- Academic setting
- Young love
- Slow burn romance
- He says the L word first
- Cozy vibes
- YA
- Brave FMC
- Standing up for what you believe in
- Ancestry
- Art
- Found family
- Secrets revealed
Release Date: March 20, 2026.
Genre: Cozy YA Fantasy
POV: Single; First Person.
Series: Society of Magical Botanists, Book 3.
Thank you to the author, Heather Schneider, for this ARC in return for my honest review.
February 16, 2026
4.5⭐ A charming conclusion to a delightful series where the characters grow just as much as the plants 🌿✨ Evergreen Legacy wraps up the conflict and mysteries introduced in the first two books with a satisfying conclusion that had me grinning and pumping my fist in victory.
The romance is so sweet and wholesome. I love any relationship where the characters make each other better people and support each other in their goals and personal growth, so of course I adore Callan and Briar. 🥰 His confidence in her abilities and the way she encourages him to pursue what he wants rather than his parents' rigid ideas was lovely to read. They've got plenty of chemistry, good communication, and care for each other so much. I just love love 🥹
Another element I loved in this book was the unfolding revelations about Renaissance-era magical botanists and the weaving of Leonardo di Vinci history with this fictional magic of this series. I hope Heather dives more into this world someday, maybe even with a book set in the Renaissance? 👀 I think art history nerds and botany-lovers alike will eat this up. It was so cool!
This series is just one cool plant-themed setting after another! I was so happy to see Florida featured with two magical botanists conservatories and they were all so incredibly fascinating!! Atmospheric readers will be in for a treat.
This is the perfect light academia read for spring but with all its immersive seasonal holidays (take me to the Floral Fete right now! 😍) and lush garden setting, it's a world I love getting lost in any day! Definitely check it out if you love school stories but want a focus on older (college-aged) characters with a sprinkle of mystery and a whole lot of plant magic 🌿✨
**Thank you to the author for an ARC. I chose to write this review independently and all opinions are my own.**
The romance is so sweet and wholesome. I love any relationship where the characters make each other better people and support each other in their goals and personal growth, so of course I adore Callan and Briar. 🥰 His confidence in her abilities and the way she encourages him to pursue what he wants rather than his parents' rigid ideas was lovely to read. They've got plenty of chemistry, good communication, and care for each other so much. I just love love 🥹
Another element I loved in this book was the unfolding revelations about Renaissance-era magical botanists and the weaving of Leonardo di Vinci history with this fictional magic of this series. I hope Heather dives more into this world someday, maybe even with a book set in the Renaissance? 👀 I think art history nerds and botany-lovers alike will eat this up. It was so cool!
This series is just one cool plant-themed setting after another! I was so happy to see Florida featured with two magical botanists conservatories and they were all so incredibly fascinating!! Atmospheric readers will be in for a treat.
This is the perfect light academia read for spring but with all its immersive seasonal holidays (take me to the Floral Fete right now! 😍) and lush garden setting, it's a world I love getting lost in any day! Definitely check it out if you love school stories but want a focus on older (college-aged) characters with a sprinkle of mystery and a whole lot of plant magic 🌿✨
**Thank you to the author for an ARC. I chose to write this review independently and all opinions are my own.**
February 8, 2026
🌿 ✨ ARC REVIEW: Evergreen Legacy ✨ 🌿
5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
How lucky am I to be an ARC reader for this ENTIRE trilogy!!? This was the PERFECT ending for this series.
I loved seeing the students take a stand together to save their school. Watching a group of students and professors stand up against those trying to take over the world was so inspiring!
Briar & Callan: Their connection has NEVER felt forced in all three books. Callan is such a "green flag” supportive, defensive, and smart. Seeing these two magical botanists find each other despite their different worlds had me squealing!
I really loved the message about not sectioning ourselves off from nature and learning to coincide with it instead of using it for profit.
Heather did an excellent job incorporating the cozy academy vibes with the suspense of the looming disaster.
This book gave us all the answers to the questions we had from books one and two. It follows the Society of Magical Botanists and the fight to protect what they stand for. Watching Briar’s sleuth skills reach a new level while she fought for her community was one of the most rewarding parts of the finale!
📚 Final Thoughts:
I am so sad to see this series come to an end, but this was the perfect place to stop while you’re ahead! If you want a story that makes you feel like magic will always guide you home, go grab this entire series as soon as you can!
🌷 TROPES:
✨ Slow Burn Romance
🌷He says the L-word first!
✨ Found Family
🌷Garden Academia
✨ Secrets Revealed
🌷Standing up for what you believe in
✨ Clean YA Romance
🌷plant magic
Thank you so much to Heather Schneider for providing me with this ARC in return for my honest review!
5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
How lucky am I to be an ARC reader for this ENTIRE trilogy!!? This was the PERFECT ending for this series.
I loved seeing the students take a stand together to save their school. Watching a group of students and professors stand up against those trying to take over the world was so inspiring!
Briar & Callan: Their connection has NEVER felt forced in all three books. Callan is such a "green flag” supportive, defensive, and smart. Seeing these two magical botanists find each other despite their different worlds had me squealing!
I really loved the message about not sectioning ourselves off from nature and learning to coincide with it instead of using it for profit.
Heather did an excellent job incorporating the cozy academy vibes with the suspense of the looming disaster.
This book gave us all the answers to the questions we had from books one and two. It follows the Society of Magical Botanists and the fight to protect what they stand for. Watching Briar’s sleuth skills reach a new level while she fought for her community was one of the most rewarding parts of the finale!
📚 Final Thoughts:
I am so sad to see this series come to an end, but this was the perfect place to stop while you’re ahead! If you want a story that makes you feel like magic will always guide you home, go grab this entire series as soon as you can!
🌷 TROPES:
✨ Slow Burn Romance
🌷He says the L-word first!
✨ Found Family
🌷Garden Academia
✨ Secrets Revealed
🌷Standing up for what you believe in
✨ Clean YA Romance
🌷plant magic
Thank you so much to Heather Schneider for providing me with this ARC in return for my honest review!
March 18, 2026
What a wonderful ending to this cosy, plant-magic, fantasy trilogy! I love the world of magical botanists that Schneider has created, and in this final installment, we get more of the plant-magic that we love, further insights into the magical society and history, and more romance between our favourite tree-founders' descendant and prodigy newcomer.
Briar and her friends are on the hunt for a long-lost magical book of botanical spells, but interference from the Board of Regents at their beloved Evergreen Academy means they have to tread carefully to avoid arousing suspicion. Briar and Callan have reluctantly agreed to keep their growing feelings for each other under wraps to avoid his overbearing parents' manipulation of their relationship for their own gain.
I had to keep reminding myself that this was low-stakes, cosy fantasy. I was getting worried whenever the characters said something secret out in the open. "Don't say that! There could be spying scouting vines around!" The intrigue is low, so don't worry about this book stressing you out. No one betrays them, and no one overhears them when they really shouldn't be telling secrets in public! At times, it felt like the characters' goals were achieved too easily, and this may have served to lower the stakes.
This was a satisfying, magical end to the trilogy.
What you'll find in this book:
*secret magical academy
*magical botanists
*cosy fantasy
*slow-burn romance
*relic hunt
*science-based magic system
*Hogwarts vs. Umbridge vibes
Content warning: none
Romance level: 3/7 (non-descriptive kisses only)
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Briar and her friends are on the hunt for a long-lost magical book of botanical spells, but interference from the Board of Regents at their beloved Evergreen Academy means they have to tread carefully to avoid arousing suspicion. Briar and Callan have reluctantly agreed to keep their growing feelings for each other under wraps to avoid his overbearing parents' manipulation of their relationship for their own gain.
I had to keep reminding myself that this was low-stakes, cosy fantasy. I was getting worried whenever the characters said something secret out in the open. "Don't say that! There could be spying scouting vines around!" The intrigue is low, so don't worry about this book stressing you out. No one betrays them, and no one overhears them when they really shouldn't be telling secrets in public! At times, it felt like the characters' goals were achieved too easily, and this may have served to lower the stakes.
This was a satisfying, magical end to the trilogy.
What you'll find in this book:
*secret magical academy
*magical botanists
*cosy fantasy
*slow-burn romance
*relic hunt
*science-based magic system
*Hogwarts vs. Umbridge vibes
Content warning: none
Romance level: 3/7 (non-descriptive kisses only)
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 21, 2026
I absolutely loved this trilogy, and whilst it's not quite a 5 star read, it's still a really good journey.
The romance is adorable throughout, there's no unnecessary drama between the pair, which is a breath of fresh air. The hand grazes, prolonged eye contact and eventual kisses had me blushing and kicking my feet.
Plant care is a hobby of mine, with 70+ house plants and a vegetable garden, this was absolutely right up my street. We delve into the scientific aspect of botany in some areas, but I personally was able to follow along. With the knowledge retained from secondary school biology, my years of plant hobbies and explanations in the book itself, it wasn't overwhelming and was actually quite interesting. One or two Google searches into online botany classes have been done, to say the least.
My only gripe with this trilogy, is that everything seems to just work itself out. Any time there's a "big bad", or a tense moment, nothing really happens. The creation of the shield went off without a hitch, not a single thing went wrong. Alex who was spying on them and dating the best friend turned out to be a secret good guy with poor judgement?? And the dramatic showdown between former and current headmasters was dramatically underwhelming.
Either, all of their adventures were extremely successful and there was never any real danger, or there was a slight hiccup that was more or less resolved within a few paragraphs.
Despite the lack of stakes, I still absolutely loved this book. The inspiration to paint, and study botany, and only eat what I can grow in my garden (so far, only radishes) is extremely high.
The romance is adorable throughout, there's no unnecessary drama between the pair, which is a breath of fresh air. The hand grazes, prolonged eye contact and eventual kisses had me blushing and kicking my feet.
Plant care is a hobby of mine, with 70+ house plants and a vegetable garden, this was absolutely right up my street. We delve into the scientific aspect of botany in some areas, but I personally was able to follow along. With the knowledge retained from secondary school biology, my years of plant hobbies and explanations in the book itself, it wasn't overwhelming and was actually quite interesting. One or two Google searches into online botany classes have been done, to say the least.
My only gripe with this trilogy, is that everything seems to just work itself out. Any time there's a "big bad", or a tense moment, nothing really happens. The creation of the shield went off without a hitch, not a single thing went wrong. Alex who was spying on them and dating the best friend turned out to be a secret good guy with poor judgement?? And the dramatic showdown between former and current headmasters was dramatically underwhelming.
Either, all of their adventures were extremely successful and there was never any real danger, or there was a slight hiccup that was more or less resolved within a few paragraphs.
Despite the lack of stakes, I still absolutely loved this book. The inspiration to paint, and study botany, and only eat what I can grow in my garden (so far, only radishes) is extremely high.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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