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Widowsbloom: A Slow-Burn Botanical Romantasy
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
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
376 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
April 15, 2026
A wonderfully whimsical and botanical debut novel from Ella Marszalek 🦋
4.5 stars 🌟
I couldn’t put this one down in all honesty, I loved it. Was it a bit predictable? Absolutely. But there isn’t anything wrong with that… you know what you’re getting, like ordering your favourite dish at a well loved restaurant.
The only reason I am marking it lower is the pacing felt a little bit off towards the end. The chopping and changing between Elodie and Rowan threw me off a little, and I found it quite hard to differentiate between who was speaking and who was narrating, and because of that it felt a little bit clunky and rushed.
Will I be impatiently waiting for the next book? Absolutely 🌿
Ps: Viva la Pip, I need more of that lil guy 🍄
4.5 stars 🌟
I couldn’t put this one down in all honesty, I loved it. Was it a bit predictable? Absolutely. But there isn’t anything wrong with that… you know what you’re getting, like ordering your favourite dish at a well loved restaurant.
The only reason I am marking it lower is the pacing felt a little bit off towards the end. The chopping and changing between Elodie and Rowan threw me off a little, and I found it quite hard to differentiate between who was speaking and who was narrating, and because of that it felt a little bit clunky and rushed.
Will I be impatiently waiting for the next book? Absolutely 🌿
Ps: Viva la Pip, I need more of that lil guy 🍄
March 23, 2026
Thank you so much to the author for the advanced copy!❤️
Very interesting world building, a mix of an old kingdom and a new modern world.
I will always love a story where the knight falls first!
I thought the character development was great, the lore of the old kingdom and the secrets you find out along the way - I couldn’t put it down!
Excited for the second book, I can’t wait to see what happens next
Very interesting world building, a mix of an old kingdom and a new modern world.
I will always love a story where the knight falls first!
I thought the character development was great, the lore of the old kingdom and the secrets you find out along the way - I couldn’t put it down!
Excited for the second book, I can’t wait to see what happens next
April 2, 2026
Received as an ARC
5 🌟
The writing style flows quickly, but at a rate that you can still follow and understand the world building and characters. The dynamic between the main MMC’s is relatable and believable, their banter is laughable. The FMC is timid and shy and apologetic for existing in the beginning but we watch her grow throughout the book, with the help of the other characters.
We meet Elodie who at first seems like a normal woman, who loves her coffee and job as a botanist, and her witty best friend Sam, who is her found family (through both of their own traumas).
A freak incident involving some unruly Ivy, a butterfly 🦋 and weird looking stones turns into an adventure Elodie couldn’t have even dreamt up, she finds herself in another realm, a dying realm in which it depends on HER plant knowledge to save it.
There we meet the broody & moody knight, Warden Rowan and his best friend (okay he’s a hilarious side kick) Kael. Their banter is back and forth and genuinely funny, a genuine ‘brotherhood’, despite their difference in ranking (knights remember). They are oath sworn to their King and their land. They need Elodie to succeed as much as anyone else, more so the King. ‘Distance is protection. Cruelty is control. I just don’t know who I’m protecting anymore.’ If you love yearning, moody mmc and knights who fall first, this is definitely for you!
Throughout the book we get glimpses and hints as to why the realm is dying and what is needed to fix it…. Will they succeed in their mission and save the realm? We discover secrets and betrayals upon the journey, but you won’t want it to end! The Lore and kingdom history is revealed throughout and keeps you on your toes, I couldn’t stop guessing what the plot twists were going to be!
Honestly cannot wait for book 2! Loved this story from the get go and couldn’t put it down! It does end on sort of a cliffhanger, boo, but you’ll still love it!
Pip also needs a mention, #teampip 🍄🟫
5 🌟
The writing style flows quickly, but at a rate that you can still follow and understand the world building and characters. The dynamic between the main MMC’s is relatable and believable, their banter is laughable. The FMC is timid and shy and apologetic for existing in the beginning but we watch her grow throughout the book, with the help of the other characters.
We meet Elodie who at first seems like a normal woman, who loves her coffee and job as a botanist, and her witty best friend Sam, who is her found family (through both of their own traumas).
A freak incident involving some unruly Ivy, a butterfly 🦋 and weird looking stones turns into an adventure Elodie couldn’t have even dreamt up, she finds herself in another realm, a dying realm in which it depends on HER plant knowledge to save it.
There we meet the broody & moody knight, Warden Rowan and his best friend (okay he’s a hilarious side kick) Kael. Their banter is back and forth and genuinely funny, a genuine ‘brotherhood’, despite their difference in ranking (knights remember). They are oath sworn to their King and their land. They need Elodie to succeed as much as anyone else, more so the King. ‘Distance is protection. Cruelty is control. I just don’t know who I’m protecting anymore.’ If you love yearning, moody mmc and knights who fall first, this is definitely for you!
Throughout the book we get glimpses and hints as to why the realm is dying and what is needed to fix it…. Will they succeed in their mission and save the realm? We discover secrets and betrayals upon the journey, but you won’t want it to end! The Lore and kingdom history is revealed throughout and keeps you on your toes, I couldn’t stop guessing what the plot twists were going to be!
Honestly cannot wait for book 2! Loved this story from the get go and couldn’t put it down! It does end on sort of a cliffhanger, boo, but you’ll still love it!
Pip also needs a mention, #teampip 🍄🟫
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐⭐⭐⭐
✨🌿🗡️
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. ✨
✨🌿🗡️
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. ✨
March 26, 2026
Review of advance copy received from the Author
I received an ARC of Widowsbloom by E. Marszalek and I honestly didn’t expect it to affect me the way it did. From the very beginning, I was hooked and couldn’t stop reading.🥹😍🥰
The story just pulls you in so easily, and the way the events unfold makes it even better. Every time I thought I understood where it was going, something shifted, and it kept me completely invested.
What really made this book special for me were the characters. Rowen especially… I loved how he tried to seem so indifferent towards Elodie at the beginning, like he didn’t care at all. But slowly, without even realizing it, she became his lifeline. And the way he started to see her, to make her feel like she mattered, like she finally had a place and someone she belonged with… that hit really deep.
Elodie’s journey felt very emotional and real. You can really feel her loneliness and everything she’s been through, which makes those small moments of connection even more meaningful. It’s one of those stories where the emotions sneak up on you.
There’s something very haunting and soft about the writing, and some scenes just stayed in my mind even after I finished the book. It’s not just the plot, it’s the feeling it leaves you with.
Overall, this was such a beautiful and emotional read, and I’m really grateful I got to experience it early 🤍 I honestly can’t wait to read the second book and see what the author has next in store for them.
I received an ARC of Widowsbloom by E. Marszalek and I honestly didn’t expect it to affect me the way it did. From the very beginning, I was hooked and couldn’t stop reading.🥹😍🥰
The story just pulls you in so easily, and the way the events unfold makes it even better. Every time I thought I understood where it was going, something shifted, and it kept me completely invested.
What really made this book special for me were the characters. Rowen especially… I loved how he tried to seem so indifferent towards Elodie at the beginning, like he didn’t care at all. But slowly, without even realizing it, she became his lifeline. And the way he started to see her, to make her feel like she mattered, like she finally had a place and someone she belonged with… that hit really deep.
Elodie’s journey felt very emotional and real. You can really feel her loneliness and everything she’s been through, which makes those small moments of connection even more meaningful. It’s one of those stories where the emotions sneak up on you.
There’s something very haunting and soft about the writing, and some scenes just stayed in my mind even after I finished the book. It’s not just the plot, it’s the feeling it leaves you with.
Overall, this was such a beautiful and emotional read, and I’m really grateful I got to experience it early 🤍 I honestly can’t wait to read the second book and see what the author has next in store for them.
April 12, 2026
This is a no spoilers review.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Widowsbloom from the author. And, I will definitely be adding this series to my bookshelves! I am OBSESSED with Widowsbloom! Rowan and Elodie literally “ugh!!”
E.Marszalek eloquently describes the realms, the characters, and everything in between! The character development, the plot, the twists! 👩🏻🍳💋! We’ve got forced proximity, STEM FMC, 🌶️ and so much more!
You will fall in love with this realm and the characters. But, be warned… You will want more at the end of this book!! And, you will be left with a book hangover that you cannot fill! So obviously go buy this book and read it now! I’ve already purchased my copy to support the author and plan on getting book two on preorder!
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Widowsbloom from the author. And, I will definitely be adding this series to my bookshelves! I am OBSESSED with Widowsbloom! Rowan and Elodie literally “ugh!!”
E.Marszalek eloquently describes the realms, the characters, and everything in between! The character development, the plot, the twists! 👩🏻🍳💋! We’ve got forced proximity, STEM FMC, 🌶️ and so much more!
You will fall in love with this realm and the characters. But, be warned… You will want more at the end of this book!! And, you will be left with a book hangover that you cannot fill! So obviously go buy this book and read it now! I’ve already purchased my copy to support the author and plan on getting book two on preorder!
April 6, 2026
This book was so good! I couldn’t put it down. We have Elodie who is living a normal life as a botanist when she all of sudden transports to a different realm! She meets Rowan who is put in charge of watching her. It’s a realm where one certain flower needs to be grown to help them survive. We get slow burn romance, some action, friendships, and a plot twist I did not see coming. That cliffhanger tho! Can’t wait for book 2 to see what happens next 4.5 stars!!!
April 26, 2026
Wauw, what a book!
It is a story written in different pov’s.
It is not a historical since it’s written in the same “time”
But it’s in multiple realms.
You could say that Elodie was a normal day girl who got sucked in a magical realm, by accident (so she tought), where Rowan is the High Warden.
It was a very fluent read, very nicely written.
I cannot wait to see where the story takes us next!
It is a story written in different pov’s.
It is not a historical since it’s written in the same “time”
But it’s in multiple realms.
You could say that Elodie was a normal day girl who got sucked in a magical realm, by accident (so she tought), where Rowan is the High Warden.
It was a very fluent read, very nicely written.
I cannot wait to see where the story takes us next!
April 14, 2026
Absolutely loved this book from the beginning. The tension and slow burn of the romance between the MCs was amazing and really had me rooting for them. Honestly loved all the characters connected to them as well! This ends on a cliffhanger and I cannot wait to read the next!
April 12, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️stars
Why to expect
🗡️ unique magic system
🦋 one bed/one horse
🗡️ slow burn
🦋 forced proximity
🗡️ brooding knight MMC
🦋 botanist FMC
🗡️ ancient magic
🦋 portal fantasy
This good was soo good, a short book just over 250 pages, I could have read another 200 pages.
I loved these characters so much.
Elodie our FMC is a quiet plant scientist that finds comfort in the small things. She gets pulled through a portal to a place that feels like a dark fairytale, where the land is dying.
The she meets Rowan our MMC he is the grumpy high warden. 🔥 This man is disciplined, controlled and bound to duty. He doesn’t get distracted until he meets Elodie. This man falls hard!
The character development in this book was great.
Such a fantastic magic system.
I loved Kael his personality was so good and brought so much funny banter to the book.
There was so many great side character in this book. And I love each individual and what they brought to the story.
The world building in this was fantastic and so beautifully written. I could picture myself there.
Such a great plot, kept me guessing what was going to happen. The reveals were soo good.
The ending… wow 🤯 excuse me.....
Can’t wait for the next one.
Highly recommended!
Thank you to the Author for sending me an arc of the book 🙏🏼
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️stars
Why to expect
🗡️ unique magic system
🦋 one bed/one horse
🗡️ slow burn
🦋 forced proximity
🗡️ brooding knight MMC
🦋 botanist FMC
🗡️ ancient magic
🦋 portal fantasy
This good was soo good, a short book just over 250 pages, I could have read another 200 pages.
I loved these characters so much.
Elodie our FMC is a quiet plant scientist that finds comfort in the small things. She gets pulled through a portal to a place that feels like a dark fairytale, where the land is dying.
The she meets Rowan our MMC he is the grumpy high warden. 🔥 This man is disciplined, controlled and bound to duty. He doesn’t get distracted until he meets Elodie. This man falls hard!
The character development in this book was great.
Such a fantastic magic system.
I loved Kael his personality was so good and brought so much funny banter to the book.
There was so many great side character in this book. And I love each individual and what they brought to the story.
The world building in this was fantastic and so beautifully written. I could picture myself there.
Such a great plot, kept me guessing what was going to happen. The reveals were soo good.
The ending… wow 🤯 excuse me.....
Can’t wait for the next one.
Highly recommended!
Thank you to the Author for sending me an arc of the book 🙏🏼
Review of advance copy received from Author
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 ၴႅၴ
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 ၴႅၴ
Review of advance copy received from Author
There are books that don’t need to be full of intense action and battles to make you fall in love… they just need to pull you in. Widowsbloom is exactly that.
I think this book is a cozy fantasy type and It’s a beautiful one. with an atmosphere that feels like walking through an enchanted forest filled with ancient runes and botanical mystery. E. Marszalek’s writing is soft and calming… the kind that wraps around you and quietly transports you into the world without you even noticing.
The story follows Elodie, our protagonist, who finds herself in this magical world without knowing how, and we slowly discover everything alongside her. I loved her character development—she starts off timid and unsure of herself, but gradually grows into a more confident woman, especially in her role as a botanist. If you enjoy reading about women in STEM, this book has a lovely touch of that 🌱✨
The book is told through a dual point of view (Rowan & Elodie) in each chapter, which allows us to deeply understand their thoughts, emotions, and decisions—yet the story never loses its flow. Everything feels very natural and seamless.
Now… let’s talk about Rowan.
Rowan is that kind of MMC. Protective, dominant, observant… but without fragile masculinity. He’s strong, yes, but he also knows when to stop, when to listen. He has that “alpha” energy of someone who wants to protect his people and feels responsible for their safety, and honestly, if you love this type of character, you’re going to LOVE him.
The romance includes some of my favourite tropes, but what I loved most is how they feel within the story:
• Forced proximity: Elodie and Rowan are forced to share space, making the tension impossible to escape… every silence and every glance says more than it should.
• Dislike to allies to lovers: they don’t start off well, there’s friction and mistrust, but gradually that dynamic shifts into respect… and then into desire.
• Devotion & yearning: this isn’t instant love, but something built through small moments.
• Complex characters: neither of them is perfect. They’re full of contradictions and make imperfect choices, which makes them feel very real.
That said, while the romance is beautiful and has some truly special moments… there was one line from the male lead that left me wanting MORE. More development, more scenes between them, more depth to a love that clearly had so much potential. Just a little more would have made it unforgettable.
As for the villain, although I liked the concept and the direction of the storyline, I also felt it could have been more developed. This is definitely one of those books that feels like it could have been longer… and honestly, I would have happily read every extra page.
Still, all the characters feel unique and memorable: Elodie, Rowan, Kael (best friend energy 💯), Mara, Brim… they all bring something special to the story.
And that ending… 👀
It leaves you with a cliffhanger that makes you need the next book immediately.
✨ In summary:
A beautiful, immersive cozy fantasy filled with magic, botany, PLOT TWIST and soft romance that feels like home… but leaves you wanting more.
4.5⭐️
Thanks to the author for sending me an ARC of this beautiful book.
I think this book is a cozy fantasy type and It’s a beautiful one. with an atmosphere that feels like walking through an enchanted forest filled with ancient runes and botanical mystery. E. Marszalek’s writing is soft and calming… the kind that wraps around you and quietly transports you into the world without you even noticing.
The story follows Elodie, our protagonist, who finds herself in this magical world without knowing how, and we slowly discover everything alongside her. I loved her character development—she starts off timid and unsure of herself, but gradually grows into a more confident woman, especially in her role as a botanist. If you enjoy reading about women in STEM, this book has a lovely touch of that 🌱✨
The book is told through a dual point of view (Rowan & Elodie) in each chapter, which allows us to deeply understand their thoughts, emotions, and decisions—yet the story never loses its flow. Everything feels very natural and seamless.
Now… let’s talk about Rowan.
Rowan is that kind of MMC. Protective, dominant, observant… but without fragile masculinity. He’s strong, yes, but he also knows when to stop, when to listen. He has that “alpha” energy of someone who wants to protect his people and feels responsible for their safety, and honestly, if you love this type of character, you’re going to LOVE him.
The romance includes some of my favourite tropes, but what I loved most is how they feel within the story:
• Forced proximity: Elodie and Rowan are forced to share space, making the tension impossible to escape… every silence and every glance says more than it should.
• Dislike to allies to lovers: they don’t start off well, there’s friction and mistrust, but gradually that dynamic shifts into respect… and then into desire.
• Devotion & yearning: this isn’t instant love, but something built through small moments.
• Complex characters: neither of them is perfect. They’re full of contradictions and make imperfect choices, which makes them feel very real.
That said, while the romance is beautiful and has some truly special moments… there was one line from the male lead that left me wanting MORE. More development, more scenes between them, more depth to a love that clearly had so much potential. Just a little more would have made it unforgettable.
As for the villain, although I liked the concept and the direction of the storyline, I also felt it could have been more developed. This is definitely one of those books that feels like it could have been longer… and honestly, I would have happily read every extra page.
Still, all the characters feel unique and memorable: Elodie, Rowan, Kael (best friend energy 💯), Mara, Brim… they all bring something special to the story.
And that ending… 👀
It leaves you with a cliffhanger that makes you need the next book immediately.
✨ In summary:
A beautiful, immersive cozy fantasy filled with magic, botany, PLOT TWIST and soft romance that feels like home… but leaves you wanting more.
4.5⭐️
Thanks to the author for sending me an ARC of this beautiful book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
***ARC REVIEW***
Read this ARC in less than 24 hours. At first, the beginning had me questioning what I was getting into, as it opened with gardening. Our FMC, Elodie, is a botanist working in a botanical garden. She is quiet, a pushover at work, and keeps to herself and the botanical garden, because her job and plants bring her joy. Our MMC, Rowan, is a knight from a different realm sworn to duty for his King. He’s powerful, broody, always needing routine and control, and obviously dashingly handsome.
I became hooked the moment she was transported to another realm and dropped in the middle of knights training. At this point, I was like what just happened? As you delve further into the book, it’s about more than plants. Together Elodie and Rowan fight against time to bring life back to a kingdom that’s dying. Was Elodie meant to be transported into this realm? Will she ever be back home? Is Rowan a hero or a villain by oath?
One of my favorite side characters is Kael. He’s lively, quirky, and just brings silliness to the rotting kingdom. He’s light against the dark fact that their world is barely surviving. My other favorite is Pip the sweet little mushroom. I hope Pip makes appearances throughout the series or maybe even becomes super important later down the road!
The way Ella has written each character brings them to life. You connect with them, as if they’re real. Ella’s writing of this book allowed me to vividly see each chapter like a movie. The pacing was perfect, not rushed but definitely not dragged out. I also love me a good “you’re MINE,” moment. They always have me kicking my feet all giddy.
Overall, wonderful read! Not the typical Romantasy books I’ve read with fae, dragons, witches, werewolves, vampires, etc. this one has actual knights. There’s still magic and mystery. The ending is a cliffhanger! What will the fate of Elodie, Rowan, and everyone they love come to be? Will the kingdom survive? I NEED to know more and what happens next in this series!
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Fave quotes:
“Failure after effort is merely a bruise, but failure from fear is a lifelong scar.”
“the world will give you enough reasons to make yourself smaller. Do not.”
“I think sometimes you can’t choose how something survives; you need to let nature decide for itself.”
PS: Ella!!! When is the next book in the series dropping?!?
Read this ARC in less than 24 hours. At first, the beginning had me questioning what I was getting into, as it opened with gardening. Our FMC, Elodie, is a botanist working in a botanical garden. She is quiet, a pushover at work, and keeps to herself and the botanical garden, because her job and plants bring her joy. Our MMC, Rowan, is a knight from a different realm sworn to duty for his King. He’s powerful, broody, always needing routine and control, and obviously dashingly handsome.
I became hooked the moment she was transported to another realm and dropped in the middle of knights training. At this point, I was like what just happened? As you delve further into the book, it’s about more than plants. Together Elodie and Rowan fight against time to bring life back to a kingdom that’s dying. Was Elodie meant to be transported into this realm? Will she ever be back home? Is Rowan a hero or a villain by oath?
One of my favorite side characters is Kael. He’s lively, quirky, and just brings silliness to the rotting kingdom. He’s light against the dark fact that their world is barely surviving. My other favorite is Pip the sweet little mushroom. I hope Pip makes appearances throughout the series or maybe even becomes super important later down the road!
The way Ella has written each character brings them to life. You connect with them, as if they’re real. Ella’s writing of this book allowed me to vividly see each chapter like a movie. The pacing was perfect, not rushed but definitely not dragged out. I also love me a good “you’re MINE,” moment. They always have me kicking my feet all giddy.
Overall, wonderful read! Not the typical Romantasy books I’ve read with fae, dragons, witches, werewolves, vampires, etc. this one has actual knights. There’s still magic and mystery. The ending is a cliffhanger! What will the fate of Elodie, Rowan, and everyone they love come to be? Will the kingdom survive? I NEED to know more and what happens next in this series!
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Fave quotes:
“Failure after effort is merely a bruise, but failure from fear is a lifelong scar.”
“the world will give you enough reasons to make yourself smaller. Do not.”
“I think sometimes you can’t choose how something survives; you need to let nature decide for itself.”
PS: Ella!!! When is the next book in the series dropping?!?
Review of advance copy received from Author
There’s something about knights and a dying kingdom that just feels so comforting, nostalgic, and honestly a little giddy to me. I simply loved it.
This book felt like a warm hug, like a cup of tea, a book in hand, rain tapping against the window. I loved the setting and the author’s descriptions of everything. She really managed to set the mood for the story.
The magic system, the rune magic, and the concept behind it were honestly so well done and interesting. I just hope the next book gives us more, because that was one thing I kept thinking while reading: this is so good, give me more.
It’s one of those stories that’s predictable in a good way. Things made sense. I could guess where it was going at times, and even some of the smaller twists I had already figured out, but that’s because the author did such a great job leaving little crumbs and clues along the way.
All the characters are likable, real sweethearts (except the ones you’re not supposed to like, of course 😂). Elodie starts off as this shy girl who makes herself small. In the beginning, she gets pushed around by her boss; she’s timid, very much a damsel in distress. But without spoiling anything, we get to see real character development. She slowly starts to bloom in this dying kingdom, and a lot of that is thanks to the people around her, especially the MMC. The broody High Warden, so set in his ways and routines, but also layered, with humor, possessiveness, sensuality, and an encouraging side. A grumpy knight, but also a total sweetheart. And let me just say, the book also has the best side character. Give me more Kael immediately!
I’m a bit torn about the ending. On one hand, it was exciting and definitely made me want to pick up the next book immediately. On the other hand, it felt a little rushed and slightly anticlimactic. There was a lot of buildup toward a major moment that, for me, didn’t fully deliver. The resolution came a bit too quickly, and I wish it had been given more depth and tension. Still, the emotional payoff worked, and the cliffhanger definitely left me wanting more.
That said, it still ended on a strong cliffhanger with two major reveals, and I’m very much hooked.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book felt like a warm hug, like a cup of tea, a book in hand, rain tapping against the window. I loved the setting and the author’s descriptions of everything. She really managed to set the mood for the story.
The magic system, the rune magic, and the concept behind it were honestly so well done and interesting. I just hope the next book gives us more, because that was one thing I kept thinking while reading: this is so good, give me more.
It’s one of those stories that’s predictable in a good way. Things made sense. I could guess where it was going at times, and even some of the smaller twists I had already figured out, but that’s because the author did such a great job leaving little crumbs and clues along the way.
All the characters are likable, real sweethearts (except the ones you’re not supposed to like, of course 😂). Elodie starts off as this shy girl who makes herself small. In the beginning, she gets pushed around by her boss; she’s timid, very much a damsel in distress. But without spoiling anything, we get to see real character development. She slowly starts to bloom in this dying kingdom, and a lot of that is thanks to the people around her, especially the MMC. The broody High Warden, so set in his ways and routines, but also layered, with humor, possessiveness, sensuality, and an encouraging side. A grumpy knight, but also a total sweetheart. And let me just say, the book also has the best side character. Give me more Kael immediately!
I’m a bit torn about the ending. On one hand, it was exciting and definitely made me want to pick up the next book immediately. On the other hand, it felt a little rushed and slightly anticlimactic. There was a lot of buildup toward a major moment that, for me, didn’t fully deliver. The resolution came a bit too quickly, and I wish it had been given more depth and tension. Still, the emotional payoff worked, and the cliffhanger definitely left me wanting more.
That said, it still ended on a strong cliffhanger with two major reveals, and I’m very much hooked.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Author
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
I am beyond grateful to Ms. Ella Marszalek for the opportunity to read an ARC of Widowsbloom. If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I definitely will not hesitate to.
I am not much of a plant girl nor do I have a green thumb like the FMC, Elodie Hawthorne, but I was captured by this blooming story from the very beginning.
Widowsbloom is a different kind of fantasy than what I usually read, and I love how unique it is. Ms. Ella did an amazing job in building this fantasy world! The elements creating this world did not bombard you with so much information at once, but rather, Ms. Ella peeled back leaf by leaf or petal by petal to entice you into Greyhollow, its nature-themed magic, and the secrets in this realm.
Not only was the worldbuilding amazing, the characters were written so incredibly well. I think that the experiences, thoughts, and emotions that Elodie and her knight in shining armor, Rowan, felt are relatable. The loneliness, wanting to belong, being a pushover, apologizing for no reason, and feeling and mentality that they have to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders are such heavy things to bear. And to balance out the heavy, the fun banter between characters made me smile, laugh, and wishing I had a friend like Kael.
The slow burn in Widowsbloom has been the slowest of burns that I've read so far this year, but I am not complaining. The flirtatious smirks, the yearning, and the whisper of touches. It was almost poetic how the slowburn mimics the growth of a plant or flower. The way the 🌶️ was written is more eloquent than the typical spice scenes, but it still delivered the raw emotions of desire and a fiery love that has been waiting to blossom.
Widowsbloom made me laugh from the banter and dynamics between Elodie, Rowan, and Kael, but it has also made me cry with sadness for what they've lost and for the decisions they've made and still have to make.
This book still has so many secrets and history to uncover. I will be eagerly waiting for the next installments in the series.
Thank you, Ms. Ella, for the early experience of Widowsbloom!
I am beyond grateful to Ms. Ella Marszalek for the opportunity to read an ARC of Widowsbloom. If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I definitely will not hesitate to.
I am not much of a plant girl nor do I have a green thumb like the FMC, Elodie Hawthorne, but I was captured by this blooming story from the very beginning.
Widowsbloom is a different kind of fantasy than what I usually read, and I love how unique it is. Ms. Ella did an amazing job in building this fantasy world! The elements creating this world did not bombard you with so much information at once, but rather, Ms. Ella peeled back leaf by leaf or petal by petal to entice you into Greyhollow, its nature-themed magic, and the secrets in this realm.
Not only was the worldbuilding amazing, the characters were written so incredibly well. I think that the experiences, thoughts, and emotions that Elodie and her knight in shining armor, Rowan, felt are relatable. The loneliness, wanting to belong, being a pushover, apologizing for no reason, and feeling and mentality that they have to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders are such heavy things to bear. And to balance out the heavy, the fun banter between characters made me smile, laugh, and wishing I had a friend like Kael.
The slow burn in Widowsbloom has been the slowest of burns that I've read so far this year, but I am not complaining. The flirtatious smirks, the yearning, and the whisper of touches. It was almost poetic how the slowburn mimics the growth of a plant or flower. The way the 🌶️ was written is more eloquent than the typical spice scenes, but it still delivered the raw emotions of desire and a fiery love that has been waiting to blossom.
Widowsbloom made me laugh from the banter and dynamics between Elodie, Rowan, and Kael, but it has also made me cry with sadness for what they've lost and for the decisions they've made and still have to make.
This book still has so many secrets and history to uncover. I will be eagerly waiting for the next installments in the series.
Thank you, Ms. Ella, for the early experience of Widowsbloom!
April 23, 2026
Widowsbloom is one of those books that completely sneaks up on you, in the best way. What starts as a cute, almost whimsical premise quickly pulls you into something richer, stranger and far more addictive. The story opens with Elodie being dragged from her world through a mysterious gate into a decaying magical realm, and from there it just doesn’t let go.
Elodie as a main character feels incredibly real. She’s over-apologetic, a chronic people-pleaser and runs almost entirely on caffeine, which is honestly relatable to a fault. What I loved most is that her growth isn’t rushed. You can see her finding her voice throughout the book, but it’s not a complete transformation overnight. There’s still so much room for her to grow, which makes her journey feel authentic and sets up perfectly for future installments.
Then there’s the grumpy knight, Rowan, an absolute standout. He falls first, which is always a win, and the slow burn is painfully good. He spends half the time winding her up and the other half being completely gone for her, which is a dynamic I will never get tired of.
Kael absolutely deserves a mention because the one liners had me cackling. Every time he was on the page he added something and it balanced out the darker tone of the world so well.
And then there’s Pip, the cutest little mushroom creature. I’m obsessed. I do wish we got more of him in this book, but knowing there’s more to come in book two is enough to keep me going.
The world building is really easy to follow, which I appreciated. You learn about the magic and all the different creatures alongside Elodie, so it never feels overwhelming or info-dumpy.
There are also some lines that really stuck with me:
“Failure after effort is merely a bruise, but failure from fear is a lifelong scar.”
“Eyes open, Hawthorne. I want to see you come undone for me.”
I honestly devoured this book. It’s funny, a bit dark and has just the right amount of tension and heart. I’m already impatient for the second instalment.
Elodie as a main character feels incredibly real. She’s over-apologetic, a chronic people-pleaser and runs almost entirely on caffeine, which is honestly relatable to a fault. What I loved most is that her growth isn’t rushed. You can see her finding her voice throughout the book, but it’s not a complete transformation overnight. There’s still so much room for her to grow, which makes her journey feel authentic and sets up perfectly for future installments.
Then there’s the grumpy knight, Rowan, an absolute standout. He falls first, which is always a win, and the slow burn is painfully good. He spends half the time winding her up and the other half being completely gone for her, which is a dynamic I will never get tired of.
Kael absolutely deserves a mention because the one liners had me cackling. Every time he was on the page he added something and it balanced out the darker tone of the world so well.
And then there’s Pip, the cutest little mushroom creature. I’m obsessed. I do wish we got more of him in this book, but knowing there’s more to come in book two is enough to keep me going.
The world building is really easy to follow, which I appreciated. You learn about the magic and all the different creatures alongside Elodie, so it never feels overwhelming or info-dumpy.
There are also some lines that really stuck with me:
“Failure after effort is merely a bruise, but failure from fear is a lifelong scar.”
“Eyes open, Hawthorne. I want to see you come undone for me.”
I honestly devoured this book. It’s funny, a bit dark and has just the right amount of tension and heart. I’m already impatient for the second instalment.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
*This ARC was received by the author for my honest review. Thank you Ella Marszalek*
Ella.. ELLA!! Why would you go and do this to me? 😭 I saw that there was a cliffhanger, okay? You explicitly said that. But I forgot that fact once I started reading.
Let me set the scene. 🎬 I’m curled up on the couch. Perfectly entranced in this book and eating every moment up. I should mention it’s also 4am because honestly what are responsibilities?? So here I am reading along with my mouth open because it’s getting IN 👏🏻 tense 👏🏻 I push my kindle remote button to turn the page and nothing happens. Maybe my remote died? No. Nope. Imagine my surprise to find that there was NOT. ANOTHER. PAGE!! 🫠🫠
*sigh* But enough about me, let’s talk about the book. Elodie, I love you. Finally some solid redhead representation! 👩🏻🦰 She is soft and warm and loves the simple things in life like a good cup of coffee and warm sunshine (she is me). She is all things good and such a likable FMC. She’s unsure if she’s good enough when really it’s clear that she’s good enough all along, but she needed that little shove..
Enter the shover, Rowan. ✨ He’s a knight ✨ Broody obviously and very in charge. Scary to everyone around him. He desperately tries to resist everything Elodie is, but alas, he cannot. 😌 He’s grumpy for just long enough that it’s not annoying. He’s secretly soft and encouraging. He gives Elodie validation and shows her that she’s already worthy (swoon). #wordsofaffirmation I love him. I think he’s my new book boyfriend. 👀👀
Honorable mention goes to Kael for his charming personality and banter. 🩷🙂↕️ He’s the fun, annoying brother that you wish you had.
This book is a really solid, quick read. I will say that the book does start to feel rushed towards the end. I think it could’ve been stretched out a little further so the details didn’t feel so pushed. BUT I look forward to reading the next book and I will definitely be preordering this one! 🦋👑🔥🗡️🛏️
Ella.. ELLA!! Why would you go and do this to me? 😭 I saw that there was a cliffhanger, okay? You explicitly said that. But I forgot that fact once I started reading.
Let me set the scene. 🎬 I’m curled up on the couch. Perfectly entranced in this book and eating every moment up. I should mention it’s also 4am because honestly what are responsibilities?? So here I am reading along with my mouth open because it’s getting IN 👏🏻 tense 👏🏻 I push my kindle remote button to turn the page and nothing happens. Maybe my remote died? No. Nope. Imagine my surprise to find that there was NOT. ANOTHER. PAGE!! 🫠🫠
*sigh* But enough about me, let’s talk about the book. Elodie, I love you. Finally some solid redhead representation! 👩🏻🦰 She is soft and warm and loves the simple things in life like a good cup of coffee and warm sunshine (she is me). She is all things good and such a likable FMC. She’s unsure if she’s good enough when really it’s clear that she’s good enough all along, but she needed that little shove..
Enter the shover, Rowan. ✨ He’s a knight ✨ Broody obviously and very in charge. Scary to everyone around him. He desperately tries to resist everything Elodie is, but alas, he cannot. 😌 He’s grumpy for just long enough that it’s not annoying. He’s secretly soft and encouraging. He gives Elodie validation and shows her that she’s already worthy (swoon). #wordsofaffirmation I love him. I think he’s my new book boyfriend. 👀👀
Honorable mention goes to Kael for his charming personality and banter. 🩷🙂↕️ He’s the fun, annoying brother that you wish you had.
This book is a really solid, quick read. I will say that the book does start to feel rushed towards the end. I think it could’ve been stretched out a little further so the details didn’t feel so pushed. BUT I look forward to reading the next book and I will definitely be preordering this one! 🦋👑🔥🗡️🛏️
Review of advance copy received from Author
Arc Review
Widowsbloom feels like wandering into a dying fairytale,
A kingdom is rotting, the magic is uneasy and even the High Warden is starting to lose his grip on control.
Elodie Hawthorne isn’t your typical bold heroine and that’s what makes her so compelling. She’s quiet, observant, and quietly resilient. Watching her piece together where she belongs in a world that’s falling apart adds such a strong emotional thread to the story.
And Rowan Ashford 🔥
He is the definition of controlled, duty-bound, and emotionally locked down. Every choice he makes is shaped by responsibility and that restraint is exactly why the romance hits so hard.
This is a SLOW burn.
Like, painfully slow in the best way.
Tension builds in glances, proximity, and everything left unsaid and when those walls finally start to crack, Totally worth it.
The forced proximity (yes, she’s living in his wing 😌) delivers that delicious simmer, with a protective “you’re mine” energy layered under duty, loyalty, and internal conflict.
✨ What stood out:
👉🏻 A decaying, rot-touched kingdom
👉🏻 Sealed gates + lingering mystery
👉🏻 Magic that feels ancient, controlled, and slightly dangerous
👉🏻 Political tension simmering in the background
If you love:
🌿 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
This one will absolutely be your thing.
The ending hints at something much bigger for the Greyhollow series and I’m already ready for what comes next 💚
Thank you to emarsz.author
For allowing me the opportunity to read this book, I truly loved this book and can't wait to see what book 2 holds 📚
Widowsbloom feels like wandering into a dying fairytale,
A kingdom is rotting, the magic is uneasy and even the High Warden is starting to lose his grip on control.
Elodie Hawthorne isn’t your typical bold heroine and that’s what makes her so compelling. She’s quiet, observant, and quietly resilient. Watching her piece together where she belongs in a world that’s falling apart adds such a strong emotional thread to the story.
And Rowan Ashford 🔥
He is the definition of controlled, duty-bound, and emotionally locked down. Every choice he makes is shaped by responsibility and that restraint is exactly why the romance hits so hard.
This is a SLOW burn.
Like, painfully slow in the best way.
Tension builds in glances, proximity, and everything left unsaid and when those walls finally start to crack, Totally worth it.
The forced proximity (yes, she’s living in his wing 😌) delivers that delicious simmer, with a protective “you’re mine” energy layered under duty, loyalty, and internal conflict.
✨ What stood out:
👉🏻 A decaying, rot-touched kingdom
👉🏻 Sealed gates + lingering mystery
👉🏻 Magic that feels ancient, controlled, and slightly dangerous
👉🏻 Political tension simmering in the background
If you love:
🌿 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
This one will absolutely be your thing.
The ending hints at something much bigger for the Greyhollow series and I’m already ready for what comes next 💚
Thank you to emarsz.author
For allowing me the opportunity to read this book, I truly loved this book and can't wait to see what book 2 holds 📚
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a refreshing story full of yearning and hold your hats for the plot twists at the end! They had my mouth wide open!
Widows Bloom follows the story of Elodie who is a junior Botanical Assistant at a Public Botanical Garden. She keeps to herself, has just the one friend "Sam" and works all the hours under the sun. After her boss takes advantage of her inability to say no she finds herself tending to an overgrown part of the gardens. After clearing most of the ivy she spots a blue butterfly that changes her life forever!
One minute Elodie is inspecting the stonework and the next she finds herself stood amongst a group of Knights, including Rowan the High Warden and Kael the Master-at-arms. But how did she get there and can she get back? And where is she? Rowan and Kael march Elodie straight to the king where he makes a deal with her. Use your Botany skills to grow a certain flower and you can go home. At first it sounds easy but she soon finds out she's agreed to more than she knew.
Together with the High Warden, the Master-at-arms and some other help along the way, Elodie must help grow this flower whilst uncovering some dark truths.
This book had me gripped from the very start. Fast paced and quick into the storyline. If you like yearning and dual POVs then this book is definitely for you. Elodie hides her inner strength under her timid and withdrawn personality, she is very easy to relate to.
This is the first book in a series so there is the obligatory cliffhanger but it has a semi satisfying ending to help the sting of the cliffhanger not hurt quite so much. Would 100% recommend this book.
This book was kindly given to me as an ARC by the author and this is my honest review.
Widows Bloom follows the story of Elodie who is a junior Botanical Assistant at a Public Botanical Garden. She keeps to herself, has just the one friend "Sam" and works all the hours under the sun. After her boss takes advantage of her inability to say no she finds herself tending to an overgrown part of the gardens. After clearing most of the ivy she spots a blue butterfly that changes her life forever!
One minute Elodie is inspecting the stonework and the next she finds herself stood amongst a group of Knights, including Rowan the High Warden and Kael the Master-at-arms. But how did she get there and can she get back? And where is she? Rowan and Kael march Elodie straight to the king where he makes a deal with her. Use your Botany skills to grow a certain flower and you can go home. At first it sounds easy but she soon finds out she's agreed to more than she knew.
Together with the High Warden, the Master-at-arms and some other help along the way, Elodie must help grow this flower whilst uncovering some dark truths.
This book had me gripped from the very start. Fast paced and quick into the storyline. If you like yearning and dual POVs then this book is definitely for you. Elodie hides her inner strength under her timid and withdrawn personality, she is very easy to relate to.
This is the first book in a series so there is the obligatory cliffhanger but it has a semi satisfying ending to help the sting of the cliffhanger not hurt quite so much. Would 100% recommend this book.
This book was kindly given to me as an ARC by the author and this is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
🌱🍄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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much to the author for the advance copy to read and review :)
The premise of this book sounded amazing, I love a portal fantasy, I love when there’s a clash of worlds and someone in our modern Earth has to learn to live in a medieval kingdom-type place. I eat that shit UP! I will say that I wish this book had had more filler content. I felt like there was a lot of stuff happening to advance the plot, but we didn’t really get much time to enjoy the characters and learn their personalities more intimately. I am first and foremost a character reader though, my favourite books are very character focused, sometimes to the point where there’s not much of a main plot to speak of because the characters and their growth IS the plot. This book was kind of a good mix of the two, but for me personally I would have preferred more of the former over the latter.
I also felt like the romance went from 0-100 really quickly, there wasn’t really enough to convince me that they liked each other before they were sleeping together. Most of what I didn’t like as much about this book was quite specific to my personal tastes though, not necessarily because it was bad or not written well. On the contrary, I found it satisfyingly easy to read. It went quite quickly too, and I liked those things a lot.
I also liked the botanical aspect. You don’t get many books about plants! I liked the magic system too. It was good! It just had a couple of things that weren’t really for me unfortunately, but reading do be like dat 🥹
The premise of this book sounded amazing, I love a portal fantasy, I love when there’s a clash of worlds and someone in our modern Earth has to learn to live in a medieval kingdom-type place. I eat that shit UP! I will say that I wish this book had had more filler content. I felt like there was a lot of stuff happening to advance the plot, but we didn’t really get much time to enjoy the characters and learn their personalities more intimately. I am first and foremost a character reader though, my favourite books are very character focused, sometimes to the point where there’s not much of a main plot to speak of because the characters and their growth IS the plot. This book was kind of a good mix of the two, but for me personally I would have preferred more of the former over the latter.
I also felt like the romance went from 0-100 really quickly, there wasn’t really enough to convince me that they liked each other before they were sleeping together. Most of what I didn’t like as much about this book was quite specific to my personal tastes though, not necessarily because it was bad or not written well. On the contrary, I found it satisfyingly easy to read. It went quite quickly too, and I liked those things a lot.
I also liked the botanical aspect. You don’t get many books about plants! I liked the magic system too. It was good! It just had a couple of things that weren’t really for me unfortunately, but reading do be like dat 🥹
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you very much to E. Marszalek for providing me with an ARC copy to review! I am leaving this review for free and based entirely on my own thoughts and opinions on the read.
I was very excited to get to read this book and it didn't disappoint, I really enjoyed this. It was an interesting debut novel and one which had a FMC I really loved being in the POV of and some really great prose throughout that had me continually stopping to highlight passages.
I adored Elodie as a FMC, seeing how gentle she was, how quiet, squeezing herself into the spaces left for her. Everyone knows how hard it can be to force yourself to be accommodating for others, especially if you feel like you have no choice, and it made her very relatable. It was great seeing her slowly unlock her inner fire as the book progressed.
The romance was also really nice. I liked how it was a bit of a slower burn, that they were forced into learning each other because they had no choice but to be together. How insightful they were about each other, the little tics each had, made the relationship more believable.
I want more of Pip!
The fantasy elements were nice, I liked the slow introduction to runes and hope we get even more depth added to that element in book two, as it's interesting and I love how it had a punishment tied to it, it wasn't just free use to get out of things.
And that ending! I can't wait to see what happens in book two now.
I was very excited to get to read this book and it didn't disappoint, I really enjoyed this. It was an interesting debut novel and one which had a FMC I really loved being in the POV of and some really great prose throughout that had me continually stopping to highlight passages.
I adored Elodie as a FMC, seeing how gentle she was, how quiet, squeezing herself into the spaces left for her. Everyone knows how hard it can be to force yourself to be accommodating for others, especially if you feel like you have no choice, and it made her very relatable. It was great seeing her slowly unlock her inner fire as the book progressed.
The romance was also really nice. I liked how it was a bit of a slower burn, that they were forced into learning each other because they had no choice but to be together. How insightful they were about each other, the little tics each had, made the relationship more believable.
I want more of Pip!
The fantasy elements were nice, I liked the slow introduction to runes and hope we get even more depth added to that element in book two, as it's interesting and I love how it had a punishment tied to it, it wasn't just free use to get out of things.
And that ending! I can't wait to see what happens in book two now.
April 27, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Widowsbloom by E. Marszalek was a fantastic start to the Greyhollow series and honestly, really came out with a bang.
This was everything that I was looking for in a botanical, slow burn romantasy! You have a timid botanist FMC that slowly grows into her confidence, a broody high ranking knight, a nice slow burn romance, and an adorable little mushroom sidekick. What more could you ask for?
Although the book is relatively short, the romance and plot points were well and accurately paced. Some of the plot twists were pretty predictable but the overall execution of the book was fantastic regardless.
While I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it's pacing, I do wish that it was longer. I felt that the overall world building as well as the magic system could have been expanded more upon. Additionally, it left on a terrible cliff hanger that should be illegal because it leaves you DESPERATELY needing more. This could be seen as a good thing or bad thing depending on the type of reader that you are. Also............... I'm devastated that we didnt get more scenes with Pip. I am politely demanding more Pip in the next book.
Overall, I loved the journey of reading Widowsbloom and would highly recommend it if you are into botanical romantasies that are fully of whimsy vibes.
This is a review of an ARC provided by the author E. Marszalek. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read your debut novel. Respectfully, impatiently waiting for the next book. ❤️
Widowsbloom by E. Marszalek was a fantastic start to the Greyhollow series and honestly, really came out with a bang.
This was everything that I was looking for in a botanical, slow burn romantasy! You have a timid botanist FMC that slowly grows into her confidence, a broody high ranking knight, a nice slow burn romance, and an adorable little mushroom sidekick. What more could you ask for?
Although the book is relatively short, the romance and plot points were well and accurately paced. Some of the plot twists were pretty predictable but the overall execution of the book was fantastic regardless.
While I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it's pacing, I do wish that it was longer. I felt that the overall world building as well as the magic system could have been expanded more upon. Additionally, it left on a terrible cliff hanger that should be illegal because it leaves you DESPERATELY needing more. This could be seen as a good thing or bad thing depending on the type of reader that you are. Also............... I'm devastated that we didnt get more scenes with Pip. I am politely demanding more Pip in the next book.
Overall, I loved the journey of reading Widowsbloom and would highly recommend it if you are into botanical romantasies that are fully of whimsy vibes.
This is a review of an ARC provided by the author E. Marszalek. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read your debut novel. Respectfully, impatiently waiting for the next book. ❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am so thankful for receiving an ARC Copy.
I want to focus on the positives. I loved the premises of the book, characters, world and tropes.
The overall concept is very interesting.
💜💜💜💜
Kael and Pip had my heart please 🥹
I need more Pip content. I also liked the different character dynamics, how each had a distinct relationship to the FMC and it stayed consistent throughout.
Overall rating - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (💜💜💜💜)
This is purely due to some areas I found was not clear or not explored enough, sometimes it lacked depth.
In some places the structure, spellings or even characters feelings felt a bit off.
The romance felt a tinsy bit rushed like they did not have enough time together to go through enough to fall in love convincingly. The concept of dying kingdom, runes , plants and even the curses were just described and being a fantasy it’s good to explore these in detail and was not done so.
….
I believe my arc was very early stages I got mine end of Feb and the author had made a lot of progress since. So I’m giving benefit of the doubt ☺️
…….
I want I make it clear I did enjoy reading it, it was a fun little read. A very much pallet cleanse for me. The book is living in my brain rent free so I’m changing the rating to four stars 😭😭
I want to focus on the positives. I loved the premises of the book, characters, world and tropes.
The overall concept is very interesting.
💜💜💜💜
Kael and Pip had my heart please 🥹
I need more Pip content. I also liked the different character dynamics, how each had a distinct relationship to the FMC and it stayed consistent throughout.
Overall rating - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (💜💜💜💜)
This is purely due to some areas I found was not clear or not explored enough, sometimes it lacked depth.
In some places the structure, spellings or even characters feelings felt a bit off.
The romance felt a tinsy bit rushed like they did not have enough time together to go through enough to fall in love convincingly. The concept of dying kingdom, runes , plants and even the curses were just described and being a fantasy it’s good to explore these in detail and was not done so.
….
I believe my arc was very early stages I got mine end of Feb and the author had made a lot of progress since. So I’m giving benefit of the doubt ☺️
…….
I want I make it clear I did enjoy reading it, it was a fun little read. A very much pallet cleanse for me. The book is living in my brain rent free so I’m changing the rating to four stars 😭😭
Review of advance copy received from Author
Widowsbloom is a wonderfully atmospheric start to the series. I was immediately hooked and intrigued from the opening chapter. I was struck by how Elodie's employer treated her, and the unsettling dynamic left me with many questions about whether this character will echo through later books. I loved the rich worldbuilding as Elodie steps into an old world, magical realm ruled by a cruel king and guarded by loyal knights. The dormant magic humming beneath the surface adds to the mystique. My favourite touch was the little mushroom companion in the glasshouse. Now an endangered magical species after being almost completely readicated from the realm, and whose soft humming feels like a hint of deeper powers still to come. I have a feeling that this little mushroom has a higher purpose, and I imagine all sorts of things happening when or if more mushrooms were to gather and hum together. Alongside the mystery and magic, the story shines through its emotional core, the gentle, burgeoning romance, and the warm found family Elodie discovers in Greyhollow. Their acceptance offers her the belonging she’s been denied, making this both a comforting and compelling read. I’m excited to see where the series goes next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Read:
Firstly, thank you to the author for allowing me to read an advance copy.
I adored Elodie from the start, she was personable, relatable and just lush overall, I enjoyed her growth and the high and lows along the way.
I love Rowan, all big and broody, but cracking and softening for Elodie throughout. It gave him a real depth of character and made you connect with him.
All the characters played their parts well, it didn't feel like any side characters were there just for the sake of being there which I appreciated. The world building was detailed, explained and elegantly done.
The story was well paced, always moving and went from strength to strength which was perfect. I thought this was a standalone until I reached the last page and it didn't turn.....it was the first time I'd gone past 50% and didn't check if I was running out of pages to finish the book.
My emotions are conflicted as I expected it to end, but didn't want it to end and then loved that it ended on a unsuspected cliffhanger because I can immerse myself back into the work when the next book is released. I will be recommending this to everyone when released.
Firstly, thank you to the author for allowing me to read an advance copy.
I adored Elodie from the start, she was personable, relatable and just lush overall, I enjoyed her growth and the high and lows along the way.
I love Rowan, all big and broody, but cracking and softening for Elodie throughout. It gave him a real depth of character and made you connect with him.
All the characters played their parts well, it didn't feel like any side characters were there just for the sake of being there which I appreciated. The world building was detailed, explained and elegantly done.
The story was well paced, always moving and went from strength to strength which was perfect. I thought this was a standalone until I reached the last page and it didn't turn.....it was the first time I'd gone past 50% and didn't check if I was running out of pages to finish the book.
My emotions are conflicted as I expected it to end, but didn't want it to end and then loved that it ended on a unsuspected cliffhanger because I can immerse myself back into the work when the next book is released. I will be recommending this to everyone when released.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is such a unique story! We have Elodie (I LOVE her name!!), a soft spoken FMC who struggles to stand up for herself. She's so lovable and relatable, she's not secretly a ninja or anything. Her strongest skills are gardening and chess. She MAKES SENSE!! She falls through a portal into a kingdom struck by decaying magic and a king who's slowly going insane. She immediately meets the High Warden, Rowan. He's a big, gruff knight with a gooey cinnamon roll center tucked waaaaaaay in there. He's trapped, oath-bound to his king and powerless to stop his increasingly erratic and murder-y behavior.
Elodie is tasked with saving an entire kingdom using her gardening skills. Again, this makes total sense to me and I love her even more for it. She has exactly 4 chances to revive the nearly-extinct Widowsbloom flower and save the kingdom from ruin.
The only thing that kept this from being 5 stars for me is that while it was a decently slow burn, I needed Rowan to fight it longer. I felt like he almost immediately started caving, and with his personality it threw me off a little. They just needed more push and pull before giving in.
Elodie is tasked with saving an entire kingdom using her gardening skills. Again, this makes total sense to me and I love her even more for it. She has exactly 4 chances to revive the nearly-extinct Widowsbloom flower and save the kingdom from ruin.
The only thing that kept this from being 5 stars for me is that while it was a decently slow burn, I needed Rowan to fight it longer. I felt like he almost immediately started caving, and with his personality it threw me off a little. They just needed more push and pull before giving in.
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