Immortal Rose

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, Fae, Fiction

496 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication August 13, 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

[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.

[⋆˚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!

[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..... :)

[h i n d]

Auto buy author

[Noi (in & out)]

Hands down stunning

[Ashleu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hells Tits! Bracken's adult debut is everything I've come to love from her writing: a dark action packed story with found family, romance, snark, that's ultimately a fiercely feminist tale that is much needed in the genre. As a bonus, Immortal Rose it's steamy as hell.

Viola and Hugh give a fresh take on falling in love and protecting those who you love (and hate -- because we know what they say about the line between love and hate) and what that means for not only you, but those around you. Using her love of perfume and scents, Bracken takes the reader on a journey from the first page to the last. I can't wait to read the follow up to see how everything comes together (or knowing Bracken's previous works...doesn't come together)

[Chance]

One of my favourite authors releasing her adult debut? Inspired by the regency era? With spice? Yes please!!!

[Olivia | SpilltheTBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

eARC Review: Immortal Rose by Alexandra Bracken
5 ⭐️ | 1.5 🌶️ (some descriptive scenes)

I am speechless. Writing this review is a feat in of itself. As I wrap my mind around what I just read, I can’t help but stare helplessly at my notes page.

Alexandra Bracken is a master world builder. I have read, countless fantasy, historical fiction, and even historical fantasy, but this books plot feels new. It features a magic system based off of the power of fragrance and perfumes. Our main character can read the intentions and emotions of others based off of their smell. This isn’t something I have ever experienced as a reader and made this book all the more alluring to read. I don’t believe there’s anything like it in existence which feels exciting. I am confident that if you pick this up you will be as in entranced I was.

I trust you to read the summary but wanted to share the barebones of what this story is about. This is a Regency era fantasy story. It is also a slow burn romance and has a mystery that will leave you sitting on the edge of your seat. Or if you are like me, falling out of your seat. You will fall for these characters and root for them with all of your heart. These characters are well rounded and undergo great change. By the end you will only wish to read more due to a well placed cliffhanger that left me aching for the next book.

That cliffhanger wrecked me. I need more! I should’ve known that would be the case, after reading her novel Silver in the Bone, but apparently, I am a glutton for punishment.

I’ll admit it starts off relatively slow. For the first 30% of the book I was struggling with getting my bearings. Thank goodness for Kindle’s ability to highlight words and look up their meanings. However, after that 30% mark, I simply could not put the book down.
Alex’s writing will transport you from this world and into hers seamlessly. She paints a vivid picture through her imagery and talented writing. I felt like I could smell everything that she described as if I was there myself. I promise pushing through that first 30% is worth it.

I want to highlight some of the other features of this book that I think will make you want to read this when it comes out on August 18th:

* Regency era society and politics
* Fairy lineage
* Magical perfumes
* Mutual yearning
* Slow burn romance (with a dash of spice)
* Marriage of convenience
* Found family
* Family secrets and betrayal
* Viola and Hugh (you don’t know them yet but you will)


Should this spill into your TBR this August? Yes please so I can talk to somebody about it. I believe if you are a fan of historical fantasy and mystery this story will capture you. I know you’ll fall in love with Viola and Hugh as well as the rest of their friends. Hugh is book husband material for me so if that doesn’t convince you I don’t know what will.

Thank you Alex, Avon and Harper Voyager (Harper Collin’s), and NetGalley for gifting me this advanced eARC copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed my reading experience. With that being said, I would like to be given immediate access to the next book— please and thank you.

[Sarah (berriesandbooks) *semi hiatus*]

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

[BookishKB]

🌹 Immortal Rose 🌹

📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.

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

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

[Heather Pacella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Centuries ago, fairies and the old gods walked the lands of Albion - until they were brutally chased out by mankind's new religion, which decreed their magic a corrupt force that threatened their one true God. However, whispers of the fairies still remain even today, in ancient relics imbued with special powers and "fairyborn" citizens with a drop or two of magic from long-ago fairy lineage. According to the law of the land, all fairy relics are to be destroyed and all fairyborn imprisoned. However, hypocrisy is as natural as breathing in Albion - especially among the high-society Patricians, who bend the rules to suit their every whim, openly buying and selling relics and utilizing the services of fairyborn kept out of jail if they can prove themselves useful. The most powerful among these is William Rosebourne, whose ability to infuse perfumes with magical abilities has allowed him to accumulate untold riches and ascend to a respectable place in society.

Viola Lockwood, the illegitimate and disinherited successor to the Rosebourne legacy, has also been blessed with her grandfather's gifts - though she is forced to make a living selling her magic-infused perfumes on the illegal market of the Albion slums, lest she be thrown into the bowels of Fairgate Prison forever. But when an unknown assassin poisons the king and leaves him clinging to life, Viola soon finds herself at the mercy of handsome-but-infuriating Hugh Thornton, a royal spymaster with his own secret motivations. He threatens Viola with an illusory "choice": use her talents to save the king, or be imprisoned for selling illegal fairy products. She reluctantly agrees to blend Immortal Rose, the only perfume that can save the king, in exchange for her rightful place at the head of the Rosebourne dynasty. However, as Viola and Hugh's search for a rare fairy ingredient takes them through the dark underbelly of Albion, they quickly begin to realize that there are enemies out there who will do anything to guarantee the king's death - including taking Viola's life and ending her bloodline forever. With time running out, the two are forced to decide exactly what - and who - they are willing to sacrifice on their path to vengeance.

Immortal Rose was an incredibly enjoyable mashup of regency romance and fairy mythology! My thoughts on specific aspects of the story are below.

*World-building/Plot: The world of Albion was masterfully fleshed out - the history of the kingdom and its current-day social stratification were very well explained, and the descriptions of different quarters of the city really helped it to jump off the page. Oftentimes I feel like authors struggle with implementing magic systems within more realistic/mundane settings, but Alexandra Bracken did a fantastic job here; she provided just enough fairy magic to keep the story interesting without taking away from the political intrigue, which was the main driver of the story. In particular, the concept of magical perfumes was such a fascinating and unique take on fairy abilities, and I really enjoyed experiencing the perfume-making process that Viola used in the book.

*Character Development: Viola is a tough and resilient FMC that you can't help but root for, and I loved watching her on her journey to take agency over her life and reclaim her family legacy. Though much of the book was from her POV, there were several chapters from Hugh's POV that did a great job of showing how sympathetic and kind he really is, even though he often made choices that hurt those around him (aka Viola). I really appreciated that the story took the time to develop the "slow burn" of their romance - they spend much of the book as reluctant allies solely focused on saving the king's life, and it is only after they get to know each other that an attraction starts to develop. To me, this is so much more realistic and enjoyable than the "insta-love/insta-lust" that is popular in a lot of other books, and it really let them shine as individuals before their romance started to blossom. Perhaps the only downside of this is that because it took them so long to open up to each other, Viola and Hugh were both quite stoic/guarded throughout much of the book, and there wasn't really any of the witty banter/flirtations that I typically enjoy in romantasy (however, I wouldn't expect that to be a problem in the next book!). Besides the main relationship between Viola and Hugh, there was also a great "found family" component between Viola and the staff of Hugh's estate, who all have their own "special" identities.

*Pacing/Writing Style: As someone who enjoys a slow-moving plot, even I will admit that the pacing of Immortal Rose is slowwww. Though the book is almost 500 pages, it takes place over only a week or so of time. But the writing is so beautiful and substantial that I couldn't even tell - I was fully immersed in the story and could not put it down. This more-detailed development also paid off in the form of an absolutely diabolical cliffhanger that promises much more action in the next book to come.

Overall, I would highly recommend Immortal Rose to both fans of regency romance and historical fantasy alike (or really just anyone looking for a unique, well-written book). I can't wait to see what happens in the next book of the duology.

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

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me a chance at reading this.

I don't know how I got lucky on getting this book, but I was given an advanced copy. I love fantasy of manners, historical fantasy (situated in regency / victorian / pre WWI). This is a regency-esque story (not quite clear if France and the rest of the European locations are in this) but that is where we are. We have slums, we have dockside, we have regents, we have gentry, and we have fantasy. The fantasy aspect is gods / goddesses who have left earth years and years (centuries?) ago.

Our female lead is a slum worker who has had a rough life, and she is seen out on the streets peddling shoddy magic perfumes. During a raid, she is captured and sent to jail. Magic users are not welcome in the world we have, but people understand there are perfumers who create magic perfumes. Our female lead comes in contact with the male lead - he needs her to craft a perfume that will help the king become healthy again, for if he dies the crown / world can be disastrous.

We are taken to his home which is filled with the staff who also have secondary identities unknowst to her but of great help to the ML. It is there that while at the house you find out who our villain is and his link to both our FL and ML. And then, the time spent to one another gives way to something that is akin to yearning and desire but with conflicting goals and uncertain future.

Hugh (ML) is one of my favorite male leads. I think its because he has a lot of previous baggage, and that it's hard being a half-brother to the villain. He has kind of locked his heart and mind away from any one because his goal is the country / regency and any personal attachments could be problematic. But: it's his desire to help the FL (Viola) get the outcome she wants - owning the perfumery that was once her grandfather's and establishing herself in the world. Is there a place for him? Is there a place for her? That's the joy of watching the struggles and the heated moments that tip almost into a love scene.

The book has a great way of leading you along and then at the very end pulling the rug out from under you. I will admit that the biggest issue I had with the book was the world building and the important bits that connect with one another. Some if it gets muddled in the prose and it isn't until when something happened that you realize, 'oh, that was important'. I want to say that focus is on the connection to the half-brother and the rival perfume industries.

As someone who loves Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, and the one-off fantasies that pop up with a historical setting, this was candy for me. I look forward to book two when it drops, and I can't wait to buy a copy of this book for my shelves.

[Allison Spillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was SO unique and interesting to read. I also have not read a period romance/romantasy in a while, and after watching Bridgerton, this absolutely scratched that itch while also being totally unique and magical with the fantasy elements. Hugh and Viola had great chemistry, and their hate to love arc was so fun to watch unfold. Their banter was so funny, and I loved how witty both of them were, but especially Viola.

I particularly loved Viola's character, and while the book describes this as a bit of a Cinderella story, I see so much more depth in Viola then I usually do in FMCs in the "Cinderella" type books. Viola has worked hard to get where she is, she's so smart, she is cunning, but she has that heart and desire to help others that makes her so easy to root for. And Hugh, while we got less of his POV than Viola, I really came to love how much he did what he had to do to protect those around him, and never wanted anyone to go through the pain he did, even if it meant going behind the scenes to take care of people.

The only thing that knocked off a star for me was the pacing. Some parts of this book kind of seemed to drag. It was a long book, which I also think added to this, but there were times where I felt like nothing important happened for three or four chapters, and then we got a bunch of interesting things happening all at once. I would have liked to see it be a bit more cohesive and flow a bit better to keep me hooked.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one! Thank you to Avon, NetGalley, and the author for the chance to read this eARC.

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Avon and Alexandra Bracken for the e-ARC copy of Immortal Rose!!

So… my jaw is on the floor. Gone. It’s been an hour and I still can’t pick it up holy moly. I knew, I just knew Alexandra Bracken would not disappoint me, and she absolutely did not. I was consumed by the world she built and entranced by the characters, wow. I need book 2 STAT even though this one hasn’t even come out yet…

THE YEARNING and slow burn that this book held was DELICIOUS. I need a man so down bad for me like Hugh is for Viola. Genuinely I was so giddy the entire time reading this book and every piece of their relationship we got kept me fed. I never claimed to be a slow burn girlie, but this one has done it for me. I genuinely think i’m going to be sitting here thinking about them for ages… or until the second book at least haha.

The magic system within this book too was SO COOL. I never in a million years would have thought to create one around perfume of all things, but Alexandra killed it. It was easy to get a grip on and follow along and I just love when I feel like I am “in the know” with stuff like this haha. I’m also definitely going to pretend I know a lot about perfumes now cause of this and tell all my friends lol.

Immortal Rose is out August 18th, 2026 and needs to be in your hands the second it’s out i’m telling you! The storyline, the romance, the magic, everything is so well thought out and written. Such a good book and I am so so grateful to have ARC read it.

[Karsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

After trying to get through this book for over a week, unfortunately it fell short for me.

I loved the premise of this story as well as the time period. It felt almost as if Bridgerton had a bit of magic to it. The main character’s backstory really captured my attention and I loved that she was taking on a project for herself and her mother’s memory. As someone who is very close to her mom, I loved the attachment she had to her mother. The male main character had me a bit confused. I loved that he rescued her essentially and there was absolutely the trope of reluctant allies to lovers, but I felt like he just sort of randomly started liking the fmc. It felt unnatural almost?

Small things like the villain and a side character having an extremely similar name had me confused as to who we were reading about in various parts of the story.

Ultimately this just fell flat for me and I wished it had moved faster. Many scenes felt like they could have been a couple pages rather than 20+.

Thank you to Avon for this advance reader copy.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝘐𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘦 mesmerizes readers from the first whiff with verdant prose that flourishes across the page in Bracken's adult debut regency-era romantasy with an alluring perfume-based magic system.

This is a book where you'll forget you are reading - one that reminded me why I love to read! I was lured in by the luscious, luxuriant writing from the first page. It's atmospheric and moody, establishing a fresh take on a regency-era story. Bracken's story feels detailed and thorough while simultaneously effortless.

The magic system is one I've never quite read before - original at its core and showcases Bracken's own love for perfume! The romance arc progresses at a realistic pace, and I enjoyed the witty banter and development of the relationship. The ending has me desperate for more!

While there was a lot to love, I found the pacing uneven. I had to trudge through some chapters, especially early on, while others were so easily consumed. It's longer than it needed to be. I would still highly recommend this book!

Thank you to Avon for the advance reading copy!

[see nic read · Rating 4 out of 5]

The audacity of this book to be so long, just to end on a cliffhanger?? The whole time I was reading, I thought wow this could use some pacing help, but thinking it was a standalone I thought that must be why. But then I got to the end and realized there was no way to wrap this up in time. And when the cliffhanger struck, I was speechless.

So why is this book rated four stars if I was so annoyed? Because it is very good writing. With some cleanup of the dragging scenes and repetitive parts, it could be great. The magic is very unique, and even as someone who doesn’t like perfume, I was enchanted by the descriptions. But please people, include in the book descriptions when it’s going to be a series! I am still invested in this world, and will definitely be reading book two.

It’s very romantic, with an attempt at some Victorian era phrases and romanticism to the writing. Hopefully the steam picks up, as we’ve just been teased in this one.

🌶️: .5/5

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25*** Finally- a unique romantasy! This is a slow-burn romance set in a regency-like social environment with perfume and scent magic, with a mystery our characters are trying to solve. The story was deftly handled, evenly paced, and really picked up towards the end. The romance was logical and we could feel the simmering attraction as the story developed. This book kept my interest throughout. I kept turning the page to solve the mystery and to see our characters fall in love. A wonderful book.

I did not realize this was going to be a series. That cliffhanger!! I will definitely look out for the next book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC for an honest review.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5 stars

While I love Alexandra Bracken, alas, this one was not for me. I definitely don’t think this is a bad book by any means. It just didn’t work for me. But the magic system is so cool (perfume = magic!) and it certainly gives off Bridgerton vibes. The slow burn romance wasn’t as slow burn as I anticipated. I would still recommend people to pick it up because it was intriguing!

[Mar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by Bracken, and I can see why it was so anticipated!
The world building was amazing and very detailed, that even I felt like I could picture everything, the plot was super interesting to me, magic based on smells? that's new and exciting to me!
the yearning, the yearning had me absolutely hooked, rooting and begging for more, the slow burn was burning to the point it feels like time stopped.

That cliff hanger killed me and I already need book 2 injected into my veins like ASAP.

[Ashley - The Tattered Page]

“I could die from want of you,” he whispered in her ear. “I would follow you, your devoted, worshipful servant, across lifetimes, the way the sun chases the moon across the sky. I would weave my soul through yours so no man or god could ever part them.”

“I can neither apologize enough for what you’ve suffered at my hands, nor pretend I regret that it has led us here. I am not a good man, or even a kind one, but I am yours all the same.”

Tropes:

[TheMushroomForestWitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

👀 This looks so amazing!

[Becky (sirensongreads)]

Oh my gosh I CANT WAIT

[Irene]

I don't even know what this is about but will preorder because of how obsessed with the cover/title I am.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

A down‑on‑her‑luck heroine, a tall, dark, and mysterious spymaster, perfume‑based magic, yearning… this book truly has it all. I loved how Bracken built such a vivid world without ever slowing the pace. The magic system feels fresh and unlike anything I’ve read before, and that ending is still living rent‑free in my mind.

I’m already counting down the days until the sequel. Bracken’s adult debut absolutely delivered.

[Lucia]

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

[Izzi]

when i saw i got the arc i audibly gasped and my professor asked me if i needed water

[Catrina]

Ordered B&N
August 2026