Immortal Rose

Immortal Rose Duology #1

by Alexandra Bracken

This deluxe limited hardcover edition features beautiful stenciled edges and illustrated endpapers —available on the first printing only!

From Alexandra Bracken, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lore, comes a stunningly original adult fantasy. Set in a sumptuous world ruled by magical perfume, this achingly romantic, slow-burn love story will shatter your heart and leave you breathless.

Members of the ancient House Rosebourne have a strange gift born of a fairy ancestor: the ability to infuse fragrance with magic capable of manipulating mind, body, and emotion.

When a shocking murder leaves the kingdom of Albion vulnerable to a coup, royal spymaster Hugh Thornton seeks the one person who can help: Viola Lockwood, the last living Rosebourne and secret heir to a fraught legacy.

Livid at the silver-eyed aristocrat who had her thrown in jail to force her compliance, Viola nevertheless comes to an agreement with him. In exchange for crafting Immortal Rose, the singular perfume capable of saving Albion, illegitimate Viola can seize the life—and fortune—that should have been hers.

As Hugh and Viola race to find the perfume’s lost fairy ingredient, hidden deep in Albion’s dark underbelly, neither can deny the scorching attraction building between them—especially as the attempts on Viola’s life grow increasingly brazen.

But a terrible truth lurks in the heart notes of their kingdom—and while every bargain has a cost, Immortal Rose may demand more than Hugh and Viola can ever pay.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Adult, Fantasy Romance, Fiction, Fae

496 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication August 18, 2026

About the author

Hi! I'm Alex and I write books. Please note that I don't respond to messages here on GoodReads. Please send me a note on twitter or IG @alexbracken. xx A

Reviews

[Maeghan 🦋 · Rating 5 out of 5]

HUGE thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for a chance to review this arc!!
4.5✨

The amount of quotes I have saved up for release day is honestly really insane. A million stars for the fmc… I loved her so much.

This adult fantasy captured my heart. Its a slow burn fantasy & romance about a world ruled by magical perfume, secrets & the villains always being one step ahead.

There’s a lot of aspects that rendered me speechless about this story. The first one being the fact that everything felt NATURAL. The relationships develop in a way that feels realistic, while the characters behave & talk in a lifelike way. The characters are true to their arcs, while having the development that also progresses in a way that is logical and realistic.
The second was how slow burning this story was. At first, I didn’t really know where it was going or what was happening but it all came together quite flawlessly.

The third was the characters. The fmc was the perfect description of ‘I survived through sheer force of will’… I fell for her right away. She behaved how someone who survived so much would behave. The mmc was the yearning type and so many of the things he did for her brought tears to my eyes. I loved him as much as I loved her. The side characters were important part of the story and they all had their quirks and personalities. The found family was truly wholesome and I loved them all.

« I had spent my childhood unwanted, and that feeling had never entirely left me. » 😭 this is the only quote I’ll post for now but I’ll come back.

The fourth was the romance… the perfect slow burn. Everything between them was sensical and you weren’t reminded every second chapter about how beautiful one was… it was natural and human.

The two last elements were the writing and the magic/perfume system. It’s rich and compelling. I didn’t want to put it down and I kept thinking about it afterwards.

Conclusively, I will admit my rating shifted a lot through this read. It was initially a 4, went to a 4.5, stayed in the 5 range for a little while in the late middle, to go back to 4.5 and then 4.25. It’s difficult for me to put a rating on this one but as I was writing my review… I decided to settle on 4.5✨. I highly recommend this one.

[Liana Gold]

The deluxe limited edition is simply breathtaking. This is an adult fantasy from the famous author of Lore. Immortal Rose focuses on House Rosebourne that has an intriguing gift--the ability to infuse fragrance with magic capable of manipulating the body, mind and emotion. This book loosely reminds me of the famous book 'Perfume' by Patrick Suskind where the sense of smell held intense emotional meanings.






Many thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and th author Alexandra Bracken for an early copy.

Publication date: August 18, 2026

[Karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️ Immortal Rose seriously has some of the most lyrical and immersive writing I’ve ever come across, truly bringing its Bridgerton-esque setting to life! Though I will say that reading carefully is crucial to understanding the plot and political affairs, as many details are implied rather than directly stated, making them easy to miss. I often found myself rereading certain dialogue sequences to fully grasp what the characters were discussing.

Our FMC, Viola, is fiercely stubborn and independent, often refusing help even when she desperately needs it. While I admired her resilience in a world where women are constantly seen as inferior, it was also heartwarming to watch her slowly open up and learn to trust others. One of my favorite aspects of the book was her inherited “fairyborn” magic, which allows her to detect and associate people's emotions with specific scents and tastes. The descriptions were so vivid that I genuinely felt like I could smell and taste everything!

Now the MMC, Hugh, is a man who YEARNS. Beneath his cold and seemingly indifferent exterior lies a deeply compassionate, protective individual whose devotion to those he loves added a lot of depth to his character. It was so entertaining watching him become increasingly jealous whenever Viola interacted with another man. I was kicking my feet over all the ways he cared for and protected her. Viola and Hugh have one of the most swoon-worthy relationships I've ever read and have already become one of my favorite book couples🙌

Given the premise, there's a lot less action than you might expect from a traditional fantasy novel. The pacing in the first half was slow enough that I occasionally found myself struggling to stay engaged, but the second half completely made up for it!! If you enjoy a character-driven fantasy with an incredibly immersive atmosphere, then this is an absolute must-read!

[Mai ༊*·˚]

ˏˋ 📓 pre-read log ˎˊ˗
↳ march 21, 2026

heard this book has a yearning man in it and now I'm seeing for myself 🙂‍↕️


___________________

Thank you to Avon Books for the ARC.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immortal Rose by Alexandra Bracken
Book Blurb: Members of the ancient House Rosebourne have a strange gift born of a fairy ancestor: the ability to infuse fragrance with magic capable of manipulating mind, body, and emotion.
When a shocking murder leaves the kingdom of Albion vulnerable to a coup, royal spymaster Hugh Thornton seeks the one person who can help: Viola Lockwood, the last living Rosebourne and secret heir to a fraught legacy.

Rating: *****
Feels: Engaged, Enthralled, Enamored, Enraptured
Style: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance
First published August 13, 2026 : 496 pages

The book was surprisingly mesmerizing in the best way. I was drawn in by the idea and every chapter and character further drew me in and held on. I love the idea of magical perfumes with their every day uses for the rich and entitled. The formulation of the perfumes was rather engrossing to read about. Viola, our perfume making darling, was so fun and clever !! I loved her no nonsense style. Hugh was that protective morally grey yet has good sense kinda of guy. This story has a bit of a mystery to solve and lots of twists and turns which I adored finding out as we read. Can I just say this book has a truely fun found family !! I think you would love meeting them. Very unique. Will be thinking about all these twists and that ending for awhile !!!

This book has:
He falls first
Enemies to Lovers
Fake marriage
Found family
Touch her and die (and I will murder everyone )

[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus}]

*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an arc in exchange for an honest review!*

Not only have I been desperately missing Alexandra Bracken's books, but I also get to read an early copy of this one?! Excuse me while I completely lose my mind.

And this book has:
- Marriage of Convenience
- Forced Proximity
- Espoinage
- Secret Identities
- "Who did this to you?"

Yeah... I'm not surviving this. Expect me to pass out at least seventeen times while reading.
*squeals*

[⋆˚୨ৎ˚⋆ Kim ⋆˚୨ৎ˚⋆]

⋅˚₊‧ ୨ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹 (3/12/2026): ୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ Guess who got the widget for this today?!👀 I CANNOT WAIT to read this! The concept is SO unique, and the cover art (and the sprayed edges) are just absolutely gorgeous!

(Avon has really been blessing me with widgets and approvals lately, I'm so grateful!🥹)

Thank you to Avon Books, Alexandra Bracken, and NetGalley for the widget in exchange for an honest review. Immortal Rose will be officially published on August 18th, 2026!

[Jordan Miner · Rating 4 out of 5]

now why would you end there?? give me book two asap! rtc

[BookishKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌹✨ Immortal Rose ✨🌹

I loved the worldbuilding so much. It was immersive, detailed, and easy to get lost in. I can honestly say I have never read a book with magical perfume before, and I loved how unique this magic system was.

I have a feeling this will be a six star read once I get ahold of the audiobook!

I will say, if you do not love long books, this may not be for you. It is lengthy and packed with details, so the beginning can feel a little overwhelming if that is not something you normally enjoy. But for me the worldbuilding made it worth it.

❤️What to Expect
• Magical perfume
• Slow burn
• Enemies to lovers
• Royal intrigue
• Spy x reluctant heir
• Hidden legacy
• Found family
_ _ _

📅 Pub Date: August 18, 2026
📝 Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Bookishness]

~Pre-read~ I HAVE AN ARC... so happy about this one! found family, sets and betrayals, slow burn with yearning, this has magic and fae! yes please..... :)

[tai ⋆☀︎. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only is Immortal Rose a new release from an author I loved in my teens, it’s also a book I’d been waiting for with a lot of impatience. Was it worth the wait? Absolutely.

The story starts off slowly, with richly descriptive prose that took me a few chapters to fully settle into — but once I did, I was completely hooked. The concept of magic tied to fragrance is beautifully executed. You can tell the author put real thought into it, carefully weaving the system together so everything feels cohesive. I tend to gravitate toward unconventional magic systems, and this one delivered effortlessly.

One of the book’s strongest points — just like in the author’s previous works — is the authenticity of the characters. Hugh and Viola’s resentment toward each other feels genuine, and the gradual softening of that tension is handled with care. The romance develops at a natural pace, leaving you constantly wanting more… 👀

And the twists? I was genuinely shocked. I didn’t expect certain turns at all, and I loved being so thoroughly misled along the way.

An easy 5 stars for originality, execution, and pure enjoyment.

Thank you Alexandra Bracken, Avon and Netgalley for the ARC. 𑣲⋆

[Laura Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immortal Rose is an all new adult fantasy from Alexandra Bracken.

ARC Review
4.5/5 stars
Publish Date August 18, 2026

Viola Lockwood is a descendant of the House of Rosebourne, a family with the ability to create magical perfumes that can influence a person’s mind, body, and emotions. A gift that was inherited from their fae ancestor.

When Viola is caught selling enchanted perfumes on the black market, she is arrested and has no way out.

What to expect
Regency inspired romantasy
Enemies to lovers
He falls first
Slow burn
Yearning (Mr. Darcy hand flex)
Magical perfume
Marriage of convenience
Found family
Betrayal

An assassination attempt has left the king poisoned and the kingdom in a weakened state. Spy master Hugh Thorton is tasked with finding the descendant of Rosebourne to create Immortal Rose, the only thing that can save the king’s life.

In exchange for creating this extremely rare perfume, Viola is promised her freedom and the inheritance that is rightfully hers.

Viola and Hugh set out on a dangerous journey to gather the rare ingredients for Immortal Rose, all while uncovering secrets and facing deadly threats along the way.

The story is filled with mystery, political intrigue, and unexpected twists. I really enjoyed the slow burn romance between Hugh and Viola. Their dynamic was my favorite, with sharp banter and undeniable chemistry.

Thank you to Netgalley, Avon, Harper Voyager, and Alexandra Bracken for the eARC of Immortal Rose.

The idea of magical perfumes immediately caught my attention, and Alexandra Bracken delivered a beautiful and unique story. This was a fantastic start to a new series. I’m excited to see where it goes next.

[h i n d]

Auto buy author

[Kelsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sad to say that this was a DNF at 51%, though I did skip ahead to read a few scenes later on in the book just to help decide whether I should continue or not.

The story honestly started out fairly strong. The writing was nice and I felt immersed into the world fairly quickly. But pretty early on I was starting to feel like things were dragging on for way too long and not much was actually happening. It got to the point about 22% in that I started struggling to want to pick it up.

Things were starting to feel too convenient for the characters and they just came out of nowhere, like the author needed to change things up to help move the story along.

The chapters were extremely long winded with a lot happening that honestly didn’t move the story forward at all. There were too many side characters that I was having a lot of trouble keeping everyone straight - and I have a really good memory and don’t tend to have issues with that. Not enough was going on between the fmc and the mmc to warrant the building of romance - especially when the entire first half of the book takes place over like less than 72 hours. And they go from enemies to already changing their minds, with really nothing happening for it to make sense. Their banter was minimal and not fun at all.

This had a lot of potential. The author can definitely write and write well, and she has unique ideas with the magic system and the world she’s created. But it honestly boils down to being too boring for me and just not creating engaging enough characters or high enough stakes for me to continue.

I can understand why others may love this book, but it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

[Noi (in & out)]

Hands down stunning

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Book Review✨

I’ve never read anything quite like this book. The concept of perfume magic is so unique and fun!

Viola has the magical ability to create perfumes that can affect the mind and body. When she’s caught making these perfumes, she’s thrown in jail. To earn her freedom, she’s forced to work with Hugh, who needs her help creating a rare perfume to save the king’s life.

I absolutely loved this unique twist on romantasy. I loved Viola! She’s strong, determined, and willing to do whatever it takes to survive. I especially loved her banter and interactions with Hugh. Everything in this story, from the plot development to the slow burn romance between Hugh and Viola, developed in such a genuine and believable way.

I really felt for Hugh! He’s classy, thoughtful, protective, and secretive in all the best ways. Watching their relationship start to develop into something more… the slow burn yearning?!? Ugh, so well done! Their relationship felt very natural.

The last quarter of this book had me reeling! I was genuinely shocked. There were so many moving parts that had me spiraling and desperate for answers. I absolutely cannot wait to see what comes next in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Sarah (bookofsari) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

This had one of my favorite fantasy premises of the year, which somehow made the reading experience even more disappointing.

Magic perfume? A Regency-inspired fantasy? Political intrigue? On paper, this should have been a slam dunk for me.

Instead, I spent most of the book waiting for something to happen.

The pacing is painfully slow, and some of the chapters are insanely long. I don't usually mind a slower fantasy if the world or characters are keeping me engaged, but here I found myself checking how many pages were left in a chapter more than once. Entire sections felt like they could have been cut without changing the story.

The perfume magic is easily the most interesting part of the book, but it never felt fully developed. The concept is incredibly unique, yet I finished the book still feeling like I didn't have a solid grasp on how the magic actually worked or what its limits were. It felt like there was so much potential that never made it onto the page.

The romance also did very little for me. For something marketed as an achingly romantic slow burn, I never felt invested in Viola and Hugh's relationship, and the banter and chemistry I kept waiting for never really materialized.

More than anything, though, I was just bored. That's the hardest thing for me to overlook in a fantasy this ambitious. Beautiful prose can only carry a story so far, and by the time the cliffhanger arrived, I had no interest in continuing the series.

It's a gorgeous concept, but the execution completely lost me.

[Daniella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Avon Books for this gifted widget in exchange for my honest review.

Drench me in the essence of this kind of writing for the rest of my days ! I just recently watched Enola Holmes and I thought to myself how fun it would be if there was a magical element to complement this atmosphere and Immortal Rose was exactly that.

A historical, mystery , romantasy that’s wonderfully character driven. The magic was so rich and fresh with the power of perfume. Right down to the phases and progression of fragrance I found so fascinating. The pacing kept me on my toes with little bursts of surprise twists.

The romance was felt through masterful dialogue and the amount of quotes highlighted is endless. The pausing …I swear I could almost hear them take a breath during a short pause when reading. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced that before. This is the second time I picked up a book and unknowingly thought I was reading a standalone and so it’s not and I’m unwell. Its cliffhanger is a cruel one that I fear will linger.

4.5 Star ⭐️ round up

[Aya ☕︎]

I've got BOTH the eARC & ALC 🥳 Netgalley, Avon and HarperAudio Adult I'm so grateful to you all 🤍💛

[Azanta (azantareads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars // lush and reads exactly like advertised: a historical romance with perfume magic. i am absolutely obsessed with Hugh and Viola's dynamic, which read exactly like Kate and Anthony's relationship from Bridgerton. the stakes were high to begin with and kept getting higher and i was invested from start to finish. what a home run for Alex Bracken! now please give me book 2 asap ❤️

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahhhhh!! This was so beautifully written with characters that felt so real and fully fleshed out. Alex absolutely killed me with that ending but I’m INVESTED.

If you like perfume and magic and historical romance vibes, you must read this!

[Vanessa Hermanns]

DNF at 35% —

Thank you SO much to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC! Getting an ARC is always such a joy and honestly the highlight of my day, which is exactly why DNFing one is such a big fat bummer.

Let's start with what this book had going for it, because there was genuinely a lot: Regency era vibes paired with a magic system built entirely around *perfume* (unique! I'm always on the hunt for something I haven't seen before and this scratched that itch immediately). Our FMC comes from a long line of fairy-born perfume makers with an intense olfactory perception that fuels her magical perfume making, but here's the catch, every bit of magic she puts into a scent *takes something from her in return*. Brilliant concept, truly. Also "Hells tits" is now permanently part of my vocabulary and I will not be taking questions. The banter was a lot of fun too (and as a certified banter connoisseur, I would know).

But friends. FRIENDS. The pacing.

Slow does not begin to cover it, watching paint dry would've been faster. And on top of that, the writing itself was genuinely hard to follow. I found myself rereading sentences multiple times just to figure out what was actually happening (case in point: I didn't even clock that Hugh was the one who arrested Viola after the night market raid until around 30%. Thirty percent!). The prose felt choppy, and by the time I hit that point I realized I just wasn't invested, not in Viola, not in her prime magic, not in anyone else populating these pages. So, with a heavy heart, I'm throwing in the towel.

[Micronova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Immortal Rose by Alexandra Bracken
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
3.75 (rounded up.)

Who knew perfume could cause this much chaos? One minute we’re blending magical fragrances, the next we’re neck deep in royal conspiracies, fairy bargains, spies, murder, betrayals and enough secrets to make everyone in this book deeply suspicious of everyone else.

The first half and I were in a toxic relationship. I kept waiting for it to give me a reason to care and it kept politely refusing. I actually put this book down and read two completely different books before wandering back. Even with Viola’s backstory and learning about Foxcourt, nothing really grabbed me. Then somewhere around the halfway mark the story finally remembered it had secrets to reveal, mysteries to unravel and a pulse. Suddenly I needed answers. Who was “E”?! What exactly was Viola hiding? Poor, sweet Oliver. I wanted to wrap him in a blanket and hide him from the plot. Meanwhile Glenmoor takes the word villain and launches it into another dimension. That man wakes up every morning asking himself, “How can I make everyone’s day significantly worse?”

Viola Lockwood is a fascinating heroine. Coming from a family that weaves fairy magic into perfume is one of the most creative magic systems I’ve read in a while. Watching scents manipulate emotions, thoughts and even the body was endlessly clever. Then there’s the bargain she strikes with the king, which had me constantly wondering whether she was the smartest person in the room, or spectacularly in over her head. Probably both. I also adored the found family she’d walked into. Mrs. Keyes and her wife, Reddy, Tommy, Willie, Fleming with his prissy, syncopal self and even little Theo. A collection of former lost souls who somehow became fiercely loyal to one another. And Hugh? Listen! Shadowy master spy, painfully restrained slow burn, secret marshmallow underneath all that brooding and very strong “touch her and die” energy. My favorite kind of emotionally constipated man.

That said, Viola tested my patience. For someone who can literally scent people and read their emotions, she gets snatched up an alarming number of times. She also makes some spectacularly questionable decisions while insisting she’s got everything under control. I spent a good chunk of this book silently begging her to stop volunteering for trouble. The girl has survival instincts but they apparently take frequent coffee breaks. Still, once the second half hit, the scheming behind the throne, royal drama, betrayals and impossible choices had me completely hooked. There was even a palpable yearning and tension between two people who would’ve laughed in your face if you’d suggested they could ever fall in love. Then Alexandra Bracken drops that cliffhanger and calmly exits stage left while the rest of us are trying to figure out who showed up at the end. My curiosity has officially become someone else’s responsibility.


Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the digital advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Expected publication date: August 18, 2026

[Denise Ruttan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this sweeping regency romantasy set in a fantastical version of England where fairies once ruled but died out, and now nobility fights for scraps of their now-illegal magic. Into this world bursts Viola Lockwood, a heroine for the ages who retains her agency throughout, when I usually dislike the power dynamics in heterosexual romance.

Viola is a perfumer who seeks to carry on her disgraced mother's legacy, who peddles her wares in a black market. I loved the use of perfume magic and the incorporation of scents throughout the story. And I just love a competent FMC. But she is caught up in a raid and imprisoned, until she is freed by a haughty earl who hopes she can make a legendary perfume that could save the king from a fatal illness using fairyborn secrets.

But the lovingly foppish earl and his household are not all they seem. He's also a spy and there are many layers of conspiracy and palace intrigue afoot as Viola and Foxcourt engage in a battle of wills and soon catch feelings. I usually don't care for plots laden with palace intrigue, but I loved the many layers of this twisty plot that kept me guessing.

Their dynamic in heterosexual romance is one I do love and one I don't see often enough in the queer romance I typically read. A particular brand of enemies to lovers where the tension and heat is sustained just right. It's hard to do enemies to lovers well; either you think they're just not friends and find each other annoying, or it's all hate and no heat. This book got this dynamic just perfect.

I loved Foxcourt and Viola together, even when fiery Viola, who sees marriage as a cage, agrees to marriage to the earl to gain clemency privileges of the peerage. You can tell that she wants to be married to Hugh at this point, and the reader can see that it will be a marriage of equals and not a forced bond.

I did wish that we got more of Viola's work in preparing the perfumes because I found her competence so beguiling. We don't actually get to see her spend much time working, she is mostly dueling mental swords with Hugh or evading capture. I loved their banter though, and how she teased him about nibs and nobs. I found the magic system solidly explained as well and it was intriguing how much of a part of this world scents became.

I appreciated the lush historical setting and how this author finally did not use modern language in the dialogue like so many historical fantasy epics do.

A small quibble, I loathed Hugh's nickname for Viola, "sweetheart." I mean yes she was kind and goodhearted, but what I loved about her was that she was also brash, bold and a big personality. I did not see her as a sweetheart at all. That nickname was a reduction of her fantastic character that stayed consistent even after she found love with Hugh.

I felt the book was also a bit too long, but it had a lot going on.

That ending though, what a cliffhanger! I am eager to read more in this series. What an incredible start. Also can we just take a moment to admire that pretty cover. Finally a cover that lives up to its promise.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Joseandbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had been looking forward to this one for a while, and I’m so happy it didn’t disappoint. Immortal Rose pulled me in right away with its unique magic system and incredible world-building. It felt fresh and different, and I loved learning more about the world as the story unfolded.

The characters kept me invested, and I really enjoyed the mix of fantasy, romance, and mystery. Every time I thought I had things figured out, the story gave me something new to keep me hooked. The romance had a great slow build, and the ending definitely left me needing book two as soon as possible.

The audiobook was a great way to experience the story. The narrator fit the tone well and made it easy to get lost in the world.

This was such a strong start to the duology, and I’m already counting down the days until the next book. If you enjoy fantasy with original magic, rich world-building, and a romance that keeps you invested, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up.

[Kaylee Pereyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 but VERYYYYYYYYYY FUN

[Jaime Arkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Immortal Rose is genuinely unlike anything else in the romantasy space right now, and that's saying something given how crowded the genre has gotten. Alexandra Bracken built something special here, a magic system centered entirely on scent and perfumery that feels fresh, tactile, and surprisingly emotional. Viola, the last of the Rosebourne line, can infuse fragrance with power that manipulates mind, body, and emotion, and watching her craft and wield that gift is endlessly fascinating. It's the kind of concept that makes you wonder why no one has done it quite like this before.

The central relationship between Viola and Hugh is the slow burn to end all slow burns. And I mean slow. Glacial, even. These two spend a significant chunk of the book sniping at each other through gritted teeth, and honestly? It works. The tension that builds between them - rooted in a rocky beginning where Hugh has her thrown in jail to force her cooperation - makes every small moment of softening feel genuinely earned. Their dynamic is layered with competing loyalties, grudging respect, and the kind of charged interactions that make you want to shake them both.

The wider cast and the web of relationships between characters add real depth too. The conspiracy surrounding the king's poisoning pulls in a number of players, and Bracken does a nice job making you unsure who to trust. Viola's connections, both the ones she has and the ones she's been denied as an illegitimate heir, add a lot of heart to her journey.

My one caution, and I cannot stress this enough: this is NOT a standalone book. I went in completely blind to the fact that this is the first book in a duology ( I should have been paying better attention). It ends on a cliffhanger, and I don't mean a gentle "oh I wonder what happens next" -I mean a full stop, cliff-edge, screaming into the void kind of ending. Go in knowing that, and you'll be fine. Go in like I did, and you'll be immediately googling the release date for book two (summer/fall 2027, apparently -which feels cruel).

Four stars for a truly original world, a romance that earns every payoff it gives you, and writing that makes you feel like you can almost smell the magic. Just don't say I didn't warn you about that ending.

[Jenny P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you ever so kindly to NetGalley for this one! It's definitely my favorite ARC I've received to date.

This is an atmospheric and comfy read, but it still left room for intrigue, betrayals, mystery, and a delicious slow burn. I wasn't sure about the whole idea around the FMC and her perfuming, but her magic is really unique and it comes together really well. This was an absolute love for me and I'll be buying my own edition so I can physically hold it in my hands.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars…I enjoyed the concept of perfume having magical abilities and the uniqueness of that concept. Overall, it was a good read with a sufficient amount of side characters however, I just felt like the writing was lacking in intensity and just had a hard time concentrating and enjoying the story.
#ImmortalRoseDeluxeLimitedEdition #NetGalley

[Sarah (berriesandbooks) (sorta back) · Rating 4 out of 5]

regency-era, spymaster, arranged marriage, and yearning from the quotes i’ve seen…i’m so ready for this ✨🌹💕