Widowsbloom

by E. Marszalek

He is the kingdom's sharpest blade. She is the one thing he cannot control.

Elodie Hawthorne is a quiet, unassuming plant scientist. She finds comfort in the small things in life — strong coffee, a job she loves, and the steady companionship of her best friend. But when a routine task at work ends with her falling through a gate that should never have opened, she is torn from everything she knows and thrust into a land that feels like a dark fairytale.

Greyhollow is a kingdom rotting from the inside out. Its gates are sealed. Its magic has withered. And the last hope of survival vanished years ago.

Rowan Ashford is disciplined, controlled, and bound by duty. He doesn’t make mistakes. He does not lose control. And he certainly doesn’t get distracted. At least he didn’t — until Elodie. As whispers spread through the castle and long-buried magic begins to stir, one question follows her like a

How much is she willing to lose to get back home?

And more dangerously …

Why did the gates open for her?

Now Elodie must decide if she is merely a piece in someone else's puzzle or the hero Greyhollow has been waiting for.

Tropes you can expect from Widowsbloom

🌿 Portal Fantasy

🗡 Grumpy High Warden

🏰 Forced Proximity (she lives in his wing)

🦋 Unique magic system

♟ STEM FMC

🌙 Protective, Duty-Bound MMC

🔥 Slowwww Burn Tension that is worth it… I promise

👀 “You’re mine,”

🌑 Sealed Gates & Ancient Magic

💚 Soft Girl x Stoic Warrior

🌶 Spice, open-door scenes

251 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 12, 2026

Reviews

[Leslie E · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

✨🌿🗡️

Widowsbloom feels like stepping into a dark fairytale where the kingdom is decaying, the magic is restless, and the High Warden of the realm is learning he cannot control everything.

Elodie Hawthorne’s quiet steadiness grounds this story. She isn’t loud or reckless — she’s observant, thoughtful, and stronger than she first appears. Watching her navigate a kingdom rotting from the inside out while questioning where she truly belongs adds emotional weight to every chapter.

Rowan Ashford absolutely delivers on the disciplined, duty-bound High Warden energy. 🗡️ He is controlled to the point of rigidity, defined by oath and responsibility — and that restraint is exactly what makes the romance work. This is truly a slow burn. 🔥 The tension builds in glances, proximity, and the quiet erosion of certainty. When that emotional armor begins to crack, it feels earned.

The forced proximity dynamic (yes, she lives in his wing 👀) creates that delicious simmer romantasy readers look for. The protective, “you’re mine” undercurrent is there — but layered beneath loyalty, conflict, and the weight of obligation. 💔⚖️

I especially appreciated the rot-bound kingdom concept and sealed gates mystery. 🌿 The magic feels ancient and restrained rather than flashy, which suits the darker tone of the story. Political instability simmers beneath the surface without overshadowing the emotional core.

If you love:
🗡️ Grumpy, protective High Warden with Sunshine
🖤 You’re Mine
🌿 Soft but resilient FMC
🚪 Portal fantasy & sealed gates
🔥 Slowwww burn tension
🌶️ Open-door spice (after the emotional payoff)

this will absolutely be your kind of read.

The ending positions the Greyhollow series for something bigger, and I’m excited to see where the magic leads next. ✨

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so very much to E. Marszalek for the ARC of this book. I was genuinely so excited when I received this, and I devoured it in one sitting. I had to tell myself to slow down and get a grip because I was eating. this. up 🔥

𖡼𖤣𖥧𖡼𓋼𖤣𖥧𓋼𓍊 ✧˚₊‧❀༉‧₊˚✧ 𖡼𖤣𖥧𖡼𓋼𖤣𖥧𓋼𓍊 ✧˚₊‧❀༉‧₊˚✧ 𖡼𖤣𖥧𖡼𓋼𖤣𖥧𓋼𓍊

ꕤ Firstly, I want to get my only complaint out of the way: I wanted moreee! I could have read another 200 pages about Elodie, Rowan and Kael (honourable mention for Pip). That’s not even the author's issue to fix. I’m just greedy! I loved it that much.

ꕤ The setting was so atmospheric and beautiful, I adored the gothic feel to everything. An image of the world formed so clearly in my mind and that is through beautifully written descriptions and deep world building. Greyhollow is living rent-free, in my mind, and it is a fantastic location for this book to take place. It was gritty and dark as a dying kingdom with no salvation.

ꕤ The characters were perfect for this setting. Rowan was the perfect combination of grumpy and broody to offset Elodie’s warmth and positivity. I really enjoyed that Rowan wasn’t aggressive or disrespectful. I was worried that he would be rude and hurtful to the FMC when he didn’t ever have a reason to be. He was the perfect balance of stoic and firm without being outright rude or disrespectful. He embodied knighthood, and it made perfect sense for him to be wary but not completely hostile.

ꕤ I was giggling and kicking my feet any time Rowan and Elodie interacted. The most enjoyable aspect of their relationship for me was that he had her number immediately, he saw her, really truly SAW her. He witnessed the way she would shrink in on herself to not take up too much room, how she would apologise without needing to and how she would reject any compliment paid to her. He noticed all this within hours and what really sold him as an MMC to me was that, despite circumstances (her literally dropping into his world without warning), he would gently reassure her and encourage her to live freely and not under the shackles of caring too much about how others perceived her.

ꕤ I felt like a Victorian man swooning at the first sight of a woman’s ankles when this man told Elodie that he thought anger looked better on her than her apologising.

ꕤ The secondary characters were fantastic in their own right, they added depth and heart to this book that warmed my soul. Honourable mention to Pip, my sweet mushroom child 🍄 every side character, no matter how large or small, fulfilled their purpose narratively without feeling like they were simply tools for the sake of the story.

ꕤ Elodie as a character felt very close to home for me personally. I highlighted so much of this book and most of it was from her POV.

“I have been good at fitting into spaces that weren’t made for me. Making myself invisible, blending into the crowd. It’s not that I do it on purpose, more that it’s just easier that way.”

ꕤ I could list quotes forever because there are fantastic lines in this book, but it’s so much better if you read them yourself when they appear within context!

ꕤ Elodie felt so relatable. If you’re someone that’s been afraid, that does everything in their power to never stand out or draw attention to yourself, then you know how she feels. We’ve been Elodie, I felt a true kinship with her. My woman-loving heart supports women’s rights and women’s wrongs but I did love our FMC for how soft she was. I can appreciate a scrappy, mouthy FMC with the best of them but seeing Elodie’s journey from start to finish was beautiful. She was strong in quieter ways.

ꕤ Elodie put it perfectly in her own words:

“If there’s one thing life has taught me, it’s that success doesn’t have to be loud to be real.”

ꕤ The sheer poetry of watching Elodie come alive in a dying kingdom made me want to be braver, take up more space, stand up and speak my mind no matter how frightening it may be ꫂ ၴႅၴ

[K.B. Mallows · Rating 4 out of 5]

In barely 250 pages, author E. Marszalek weaves magic with words, forming a tale of a dying kingdom filled with daring knights (both broody and fun-loving), a monstrous king, long-hidden secrets and the young woman from another realm who accidentally finds herself at the center of saving it all.

Widowsbloom is gloomy, atmospheric, unusual and curious, and I was sucked into this fast-moving story much like the main female character Elodie gets whisked through the hidden portal and plopped into Greyhollow.

Elodie is outwardly a little bit of a "damsel-in-distress" type but with a quiet inner strength that makes her relatable and likable while Rowan, the main male character, is all the things you might dream a hot knight in not-so-shining armor suddenly tasked with watching you to be - moody, controlling, dark, powerful and sensual with a bit of a dirty sense of humor once he lets his guard down! 😂 In a short span of time, a whole cast of memorable and well-developed characters are introduced, and please give me two more just like Kael with his flirty, cocky, annoying little brother-type vibes!

There's rune and butterfly magic, quirky squishy mushroom creatures, a fascinating puzzle involving a rare flower, unpredictability at every turn and a sizzling romance - what more do you need in a book!

It took me less than two days to read this little gem and, though it was a perfect length for this story, I couldn't help but long for more. The conclusion leaves a lot of room for this story to build in the next book, and I'm excited to learn more about this world and and the choices these characters will have to make.

It's a solid 4 ⭐️ read for me, simply due to feeling like some things needed a little more detail or time dedicated to fully fleshing out a scene.

Thank you to the author for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book; I'm leaving this review voluntarily.

[Simona-Lorena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Widowsbloom — the concept of a dying kingdom intertwined with portal fantasy immediately drew me in, creating a rich and atmospheric foundation for the story. Elodie truly resonated with me: her quiet courage, optimism, and gentle strength make her a beautifully balanced protagonist — soft yet never weak. Rowan, with his disciplined, duty-bound nature, was the perfect counterpart, and their chemistry, slow-burn romance, and witty banter kept me completely hooked from start to finish.

The pacing felt natural, letting both plot and characters develop steadily without ever feeling rushed or stagnant. Their connection was engaging and believable, with the romance unfolding gradually, and the intimate moments felt completely organic, aligning perfectly with the emotional progression of the story.

Some twists were slightly predictable, likely because of my familiarity with the genre, but this did not diminish my enjoyment — the emotional depth, character growth, and romantic development more than compensated. The ending and cliffhanger were intriguing, leaving me eager to see what happens next. In the following book, I’d love to see Elodie continue to grow, overcoming her fears and rediscovering herself, and of course, more hilarious and heartwarming interactions with Rowan.

Overall, I fell in love with this debut, its characters, and the immersive atmosphere. For anyone looking for a story that’s both sweet and captivating, with characters you’ll quickly grow attached to, this book is definitely for you — I can’t wait to see the series continue!

[KD · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very excited to read this book, the premise was so interesting, Elodie (fmc) falls through a portal while she is working as a botanist. She ends up in another realm where she immediately runs into our MMC Rowan, head knight. She’s taken to the king and tasked with finding a way to make the widowsbloom flower grow again and save the kingdom. The first half of this book was good, I loved the dynamic of knight and botanist, but good lord the formatting made it downright hard to read. There were multiple times where two or more characters were talking in the same paragraph so it was hard to know who was saying what. There would be huge paragraphs with no breaks for the dialogue. It made it hard to read and it pulled me out of the story multiple times. The romance felt rushed, Elodie when from being terrified of Rowan to wanting to jump his bones in a matter of pages. It didn’t feel organic, it felt rushed. I clocked the plot twist pretty early on, so that was a bummer. I had such high hopes, with a better editor and maybe a bit more time to flesh out this story, it could be so much better. Also, be aware that this book just straight up ends in the middle of pretty big scene and not in a good way. I legit thought my arc was missing pages but I think it was supposed to be a cliffhanger but the book literally ends in the middle of a scene, it’s jarring. All this to say, the book was ok. Started good but then went downhill so fast. I wish the author would maybe take sometime to retune and flesh out the story more. I received this book as an arc from the author.

[ChokeholdByFiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌱🍄ARC Review 🍄🌱

4.5⭐️

First off, this was a fantastic debut. I genuinely devoured this book in just a few hours.
The concept immediately hooked me: a dying kingdom, a botanist FMC, portals, mysterious magic… honestly, say less. I was invested. The atmosphere felt rich and immersive right from the start and the world had that quiet, slightly haunting fantasy vibe that I love.
Elodie was such a relatable FMC. She has this gentle strength about her that made her feel very real and easy to root for. And Rowan? Ugh. The disciplined, duty-bound, grumpy knight type who slowly softens? 🥵🥵🥵 Their slow burn romance,banter, and growing trust kept me completely engaged the entire time.
The pacing worked really well too. The story takes its time letting both the plot and the characters unfold naturally and the romance builds gradually in a way that actually feels believable and earned.
Some of the twists were a little predictable for me, but that’s probably just because I read way too much fantasy and my brain loves to play detective. It didn’t take away from the enjoyment though.
My only real complaint? I wanted more. More Elodie, more Rowan and especially more Pip.🍄 Gods, I need to know more about Pip. I was really hoping for some fun interactions. Is Pip clumsy? Please tell me Pip is clumsy. I need chaotic Pip moments in my life. 😂
The side characters were also great and added a lot of depth to the story. Kael was an absolute highlight, definitely the comedic relief in several scenes. And I always love a good little found family moment sprinkled into a story.

[Becky Lapsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review received by author ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Easily my favourite read of 2026 so far! ���🖤🖤

🏰Grey hollow kingdom is a much welcomed addition to fantasy realms, visited through a portal by Elodie,a quiet but strong and easily loveable character. Now stuck with Rowan, the seemingly immovable, duty bound high warden and she has to figure out how to get home.

🦋The beautifully immersive kingdom, dying and yet still captivating and its characters drew me instantly and the story centred romance is an incredibly slow burn but intense and so perfectly written it’s worth it!

🔥I love that the story is heartwarming and cozy yet still captivating. I thoroughly enjoyed the relationships with all the characters intertwined and the dual POV definitely helps. I did not put this book down until it was finished and I desperately wanted there to be more pages, it’s not often that I fall in love with a book but this definitely met the mark, there wasn’t anything I did not like about the story, book pacing, characters or the ending, other than that it ended!

🖤An absolute must read and re-read if you enjoy a crushing romance immersed in an unputdownable story with magic and a bit of spice 🌶️🌶️ that will leave you with a book hangover just longing for the next part!!

Thank you so much to the author for this, cannot wait to add a copy to my collection of favourites!

[Brit · Rating 4 out of 5]

That ending!!! Why would you do that to me?! Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC, even if it completely ripped my heart out. My only complaint is that I wanted more. I could have easily read another 300 pages about Elodie, Rowan, and Kael (with an honourable mention fo Pip).

Greyhollow was beautifully atmospheric, dark, gothic, and vivid enough to feel like a living place. The worldbuilding made the setting linger long after I finished.

Elodie was such a relatable heroine. She doesn’t see herself as strong; she’s simply someone who has spent her life learning to make herself smaller for others. Watching her slowly realize her own strength in a world that forces her to grow was incredibly powerful.

I loved the slow-burn dynamic between her and Rowan. Gruff and guarded but never cruel, he saw Elodie clearly from the beginning and gently encouraged her to take up space.

A beautifully written story about quiet strength, courage, and becoming someone braver than you believed possible.

[Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greyhollow completely pulled me in. The atmosphere is beautiful and immersive, with a world that feels eerie, romantic, and so vividly imagined. The slow-burn tension is done so well, and the relationship at the centre of the story feels earned rather than rushed, which made every moment between them hit harder.

What I loved most was the tone of the book. It feels emotional and layered, with that dreamy, haunting quality that keeps you thinking about it after you finish. The characters have real depth, and the chemistry is strong without overpowering the story itself.

The only small thing I’d say is that the pacing in parts of the middle felt slightly slower than the rest, but honestly it still worked because it gave the world and relationships more room to breathe.

Overall, Greyhollow is such a compelling, atmospheric read and a really strong fantasy romance. If you love slow burn, tension, and a story that feels both intimate and cinematic, this is absolutely worth reading.

[Mari-Kate Lavery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Widowsbloom completely pulled me under in the quietest, most devastating way. The atmosphere is lush and aching, the romance is slow-burn perfection, and the tension between Elodie and Rowan feels earned in every glance and almost-touch. It’s tender without being soft, intense without being loud.

Rowan’s controlled devotion and Elodie’s quiet strength make every scene crackle. The emotional payoff is worth every restrained moment.

If I had one tiny wish, it would be to deepen the world building just a little more in places. The setting is already beautiful and haunting, and a few extra layers of history or lore would make it feel even more immersive.

But truly? A five-star, stay-up-too-late, think-about-it-the-next-day kind of read.

[Leanne Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A botanist heroine saving a dying realm? Don’t mind if I do 🌱

What I loved:

🌿 Forced proximity
🌿 Protective, duty bound MMC
🌿 STEM FMC
🌿 Saving a decaying world

What a gem of a book! I flew through this in a couple of days.

The story follows Elodie who somehow ends up going through a portal and is transported to the realm of Greyhollow. It’s a dying realm, but luckily for them she’s a botanist which is exactly what this realm needs to help bring it back to life.

She’s then given an order by the King - save the realm or die trying. All while being watched over by Rowan our tall, dependable, attractive knight (obviously). We even get a classic 'you're mine' moment thrown in for good measure 👌

And that cliffhanger… I’ll definitely be picking up the next book in the series!