Immortal Rose

Immortal Rose Duology #1

by Alexandra Bracken

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 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 Viola Lockhart, 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

Kindle Edition

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

[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

[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 )

[⋆˚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

[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⋆

[Noi (in & out)]

Hands down stunning

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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.

[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.

[Kaylee Pereyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 but VERYYYYYYYYYY FUN

[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 ✨🌹💕

[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]

6% of the way in and this is already extremely promising! Really excited to have gotten this ARC.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for this early copy of Immortal Rose.

I am obsessed with this book! Imagine if a romantasy book had a baby with Bridgerton, Peaky Blinders, and Sherlock Holmes. You’d get Immortal Rose.

I LOVE the FMC and MMC in this. Their banter is everything. I loved the progression of their relationship and how they each peeled back their layers to be vulnerable with each other. Despite coming from different walks of life, they both understood and accepted each other.

Let’s talk about how my guy, Hugh, yearns. He steals a painting of her mother for her, he saves her life multiple times, and he secretly fears for her safety and won’t let her go anywhere without him. Everything he does for her is done selflessly and in secret because he doesn’t want to open himself up to be vulnerable.

And Viola is such an amazing FMC. She’s got so much confidence in herself despite her upbringing and humble beginnings. She is brave, smart, cunning, funny, witty, and sarcastic. The scene with her and “Drink of the Deep” is one of my favorite scenes in the whole book.

The plot twists and mysteries unraveled slowly but steadily and kept me hooked the whole way through.

Do yourself a favor and read this when I releases in August.

[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)

[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

[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.

[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.

[Kari Rawles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immortal Rose was a pleasant surprise. Not having read an Alexandra Bracken book before I didn’t know what to expect - wasn’t disappointed.

Immortal Rose was the best blend of historical, fantasy, and romance - my favorite styles. Taking place in regency London, we are met with class warfare, wealth imbalances, and royalty schemes all surrounding the premise of fairy magic used to imbue perfumes with the power to manipulate emotions, appearance, health, and even un-alive. At the helm is The House of Rosebourne who all patricians go to for what their hearts desire until a death puts all of that an so much more in jeopardy.

The plot is original, fresh, and full of details to show all the thought put into how the perfumes are made. New take on fantasy/sci-fi which I am here for. But, at the core of what makes this book work is Viola and Hugh. They are built on true enemies to lovers with a killer side of slow burn all while trying to work together to make a perfume for the King that doesn’t come
easily and with a cost. Thankfully, they aren’t alone in this - the supporting characters who represent a found family for Hugh and Viola play such an important role. There is great banter, accountability, loyalty that has no end, love, respect, and so much cleverness. And on the other side we are given a villain we love to hate. Always being one step ahead and hiding behind a cunning smile - Glenmoor is someone who will leave you kicking and screaming!

I loved all the characters and couldn’t wait to see what happened next because the twists and turns in this book are bountiful for sure. It is a bit of a slow start in the begging to set the stage but it is all worth it. Only negative is at times the story could lag but nothing that changes how much I loved this book.

If you are a fan of found family, enemies to lovers, slow burn romance, fake marriage, and family conflict this book is for you.

Thank you to Netgalley, Avon, and Alexandra Bracken for an advanced eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, Avon & Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for the eARC of Immortal Rose! 🌹

Wow! First off, Alexandra Bracken’s writing is illustrative and ethereal, lending itself to an impressively atmospheric setting and overall story. The attention given to the characters and their backstories made me so invested in them and how their arcs would play out. I loooooovvveeeddddd the regency era vibes and the magic via perfume element. It was so original and compelling, and I’ve never read anything like it before. The author masterfully wove scheming and politics into each chapter in a way that kept me wanting to turn the page over and over.

And Hugh and Viola??? Couldn’t get enough of those two. The tension? The YEARNING? The holding back? 🤭 It was everything to me. I could’ve read 1,000 pages of it. I was completely sucked into their world and their story, unable to tear myself away for hours each time I sat down to read. I am so blown away by this book! The ending left my jaw on the floor, I really hope there is more to come! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Anna Sincock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-ARC! I really enjoyed this one! This is a slow burn romantasy that weaves together magical elements into the art of perfume making. I loved the concept of magical perfumes being a lost art with the potential for both good and evil. This story was more character driven than plot driven with a heavy emphasis on found family, self discovery, and good vs evil. The plot held enough mystery to keep me turning pages all the way through to a very abrupt the cliff hanger ending! It felt like there was way too much being crammed into the final couple of chapters—it was a little exhausting tbh— but I can appreciate the intent. The MMC, Hugh, is one of my favorite characters I’ve read this year—hands down. I’m absolutely looking forward to the next installment!

[Chalenea Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

THANK YOU to Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced e-arc of this book, it truly was a delight.

THIS IS WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT!!! Viola Lockwood is the last living heir to the Roseburne perfume dynasty entwined with fairy magic, tasked by Hugh Thornton to help save the dying king by crafting Immortal Rose.

The regency era of this story was blended well with the magic system that was both simple and complex as fragrances tend to be. I really enjoyed the characters, the dialogue, and the tension, both between our two main characters and the protagonists versus villains. This book was fun, intense at times, and all around a breath of fresh air in the historical romance/ romantasy space. Highly recommend.

[Joy Metzger · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

I was so looking forward to this book. Conceptually, this sounded so promising: regency inspired setting, an ancient fae bloodline that creates magic imbued perfumes, slow burn with yearning… But, this book was a miss for me. I think my biggest issue was the pacing. It was just too slow. I also didn’t think there was very much chemistry between our MC’s.

I wanted so much more from this book, unfortunately it just didn’t really work for me.

Thank you to Net Galley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

[Izzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounded up

so after neglecting my duties for a good two hours to read this book, ive decided that 1) i need to stop procrastinating and 2) i am not appreciating my perfumes enough

PLOT: Holy shit.
Immortal Rose is one of those books that just makes sense. The author obviously had a plan and didn't just stick random shit together in hopes of calling it a "plot twist". No, there was a fucking leadup and you kind of suspect them but not really... But also is it them? And then it turns out it's not them and no, it's the other guy that also kind of made sense. But once the twist gets revealed that guys makes MORE sense.
and and and guys they don't just ignore their feelings for some stupid reason that makes no sense and and and and viola makes really really good decisions that truly put the capital c in Common sense.
THEY DON'T YEARN FOR THE SAKE OF YEARNING; NO, THEY YEARN FOR THE SAKE OF EVERYTHING ELSE
As someone who rarely jumps on the "theory" bandwagon, I have to say that this book did indeed accomplish the task of making me have all these ideas as to what's going to happen after that damned ending.

CHARACTERS:
HUGH: The biggest fault about this man was his name. Think Matthew Macfadyen Mr. Darcy, down to the fricking proposal. And the unemployedness... we never saw this guy actually do something to get paid. And he communicates. COMMUNICATES.
VIOLA: She's brilliant. She is so fucking brilliant. Oh my god. For once in my life I have found a book about a competent FMC who doesn't yell about how "she's too tough" for no reason. She takes matters into her own hands but in a manner that's not overly flashy or fighty and isn't a bitch for no reason. Women in STEM but in Victorian times, amiright?
REDDY: heheheheehehehehe how old is he again? bc if the age gaps not terrible then him x elly??? He's funny and he's hot. He's also flirty. Captain Rolfe but upgraded. And he's a POC in Victorian England that is very, very competent.
THE SIDE CHARACTERS: Everyone was so well written. They all had their own personalities and backstories. I will say, though, Mrs. Keyes's backstory was kind of strange in the way that how did Foxwood collect them? And you're telling me she wouldn't have taken matters into her own hand and investigated certain shit? No, her and Mrs. Silver are too fucking badass for that. Kind of out of character.

so yeah. book two hates to see me coming.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review