Wilted Roses: The Masquerade Saga: Blood & Bone Novel

by Katye Tilstone

Two souls bound by love. Two monsters made by blood. One debt that can only be paid in ash.
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Ophelia Rosewood’s life ended the night her father died, not just from the cancer that ravaged his body, but from the shadow that slipped into his hospital room. Now, she is the "Key," a rare evolution in a world of ancient predators, hunted by the sadistic Strigon brothers who view her as nothing more than a vintage wine to be harvested.

Peter is the only thing keeping her tethered to her humanity. A simple hospital porter with a heart of iron, he has promised to protect her in this life and the next. But in the halls of the Strigon Manor, love is a liability, and mercy is a death sentence. When the scent of rosebuds and decay fills the air, and the line between protector and predator blurs, Ophelia must make a devastating choice. To save the man she loves, she must embrace the very darkness she fears.

In the war between the living and the damned, blood is thicker than mercy.

272 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 25, 2026

About the author

Hi I'm Katye Tilstone,

Welcome to my crazy world of macabre and gory books, I make the grotesque look pretty. DO you dare to step into the worlds I create? Where the characters are all on the chopping board? No one is deemed 'safe' within the pages of my novels/novella's... So don't get attached to them to quickly!

Read. Rant. Review. As always my Misfits, cause chaos and remember to have a creepylicious day

Reviews

[Devon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you very much to the author for allowing me the opportunity to read their story in exchange for an honest review.

TLDR: The bones are not bad. If the author really took their time to build the world and cement these characters in some form of reality, it would be a very interesting story!

Sadly… I DNFed at 25%… 😭💔
My personal rating is “no rating” but so it doesn’t get lost in the sea of reviews, I’ll say 3.
But here’s my full thoughts on what I read:

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I thought, “Oh this book is only 180 pages. I should be able to finish it quickly!” And then I started reading it and understood exactly why it was 180 pages.

Overall, this book is lacking so much information and so many connections. Dialogue does not make sense in areas and there is no logic to anyone’s actions. It felt like everything was rushed and put into the book just to simply get the FMC to exactly where the author wanted her to be.

For example:
The doctor?? The hospital?? I understand that vampires are supposed to be running it, but there are absolutely no cameras anywhere? And no one questions an obviously murdered doctor???

Grandma straight up didn’t question her granddaughter admitting to be a monster or a murderer??? That really got me…

The “romance” between the main characters is strange and the fact that the FMC even called what they had “love” was jarring.

I hate DNFing a book, but I don’t feel like the writing is going to get better... and that’s why I can’t continue.

[Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rated up 🖤

Thank you to Katye for entrusting me to go through this in editing stages 🫶🏻

So im a relatively new reader of Katye’s and going through her work I’ve been able to witness her progression with her writing through each released book and I’ve got to say, this is so far (not read everything yet) my favourite work of Katye.. this could change of course as I’m due to read a couple more ☺️

Katye is a Horror writer but this gem is a starter into her Dark Romance (/Paranormal/Supernatural) era and I’m so here for it!
The characters were easily connectable, you feel the emotions thats running through the story, how Ophelia is feeling with her sudden changes and also the grieving for her father. You get an urge to want to protect her from all the bad going on 🫂
The Strigons are the enemies here, chalking up deals and generally being a messed up bloodline and you feel the genuine hate for them, what they do and their reasoning for their actions, but there’s a darker reason behind their need for Ophelia. What it is, you’ll have to find out!
Whilst going through this, it gave me a nostalgic tv/movie feeling. Back when Twilight & The Vampire Diaries were popular and yes I loved those (I still love TVDs)

Cant wait to read the next in the series and see how things go for Ophelia!

[Georgia · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖤Dark Romance
🧛‍♀️Vampires
🖤Paranormal
🌶Spice
🩸Violence

@katyetilstone_author is starting off a new series with this absolutely addicting gem of a book. Not only is the book design stunning and appropriately fitting in every way, the words in these pages have so much heart felt meaning that go far and beyond a thrilling dark vampire romance.

"Armed with nothing but iron and a debt that could only be paid in ash."

From the dedication to the afterward, I ate up every last word. I smiled, I swooned, I yelled, I cried. This has everything you want in a dark paranormal romance and the writing is so captivating that you'll keep turning page after page. There is no good stopping place as the visually bloody action and the steamy romance carries through every chapter and builds with every page.

"Immortality was just a longer wait for the end."

The twists are exciting, unexpected and perfectly set up the next book in the series without drop kicking you off a cliff.

“Just because you can’t see the light doesn't mean it’s gone...”

I recommend this book to all my vampire, dark romance loving friends. The ones who enjoy their romance burning and their violence visually graphic.

Thank you author @katyetilstone_author and editor @ravenwings3 for the early copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the early process.

[Luci Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A.R.C. Review!! All thoughts and opinions are my own, light spoilers ahead…

Firstly I want to thank Katye for giving me the opportunity to read this early for her in return for a honest review. Wilted Roses is a dark romance x extreme horror novel where you follow the FMC, Ophelia Rosewood. She is given the chance to save her father in return to sacrifice her humanity, but as she does it her father dies right in front of her eyes!

A story built on love, betrayal, grief and what happens after death! I was so impressed with the improvement of Tilstones writing in this from her other work. How she keeps your attention all the way through, the emotional bits with the flash backs to Ophelia’s father NOT TO MENTION THE SPICE!!! It’s everything you want within a vampire dark romance and trust me when I say I am craving more from this series!!

Definitely check your trigger warnings at the beginning, it is a very beautiful tribute to her father and the little memorial piece at the back for him had me crying! This is such a beautiful love/grief story and the vampires are just an added benefit! Please give this a chance you will NOT regret it. Well done Katye Tilstone for yet again another great piece 🖤🥀

[Dakota Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I’m happy I had the opportunity to read it before publication.

This is the amazing authors first book of a different genre and she did not disappoint!

The author has us follow FMC Ophelia & MMC Peter going through loss, grief, happiness, and obstacles in a way that will have you feeling all of the emotions along with the characters.

Antagonist Derek & Declan take advantage of Ophelia for their own personal gain and throughout the book we get to watch both sides of the battle slowly build against each other.

I am excited for book two! Give the book a chance, it won’t disappoint!

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Thank you so much to the author for allowing me to read the ARC**
This was hands down 5 ⭐ for me. Okay so I'm not typically into vampire stuff but the way this was written was beyond amaZing and I mean that!
Ophelia thought she could save her dad when she ran into the Strigons brothers that promised her, her dad would survive.. Becoming a vampire was not on her list of things that would happen and meeting Peter was a blessing. Their love for each other was just genuine and I could feel it through the book....now I'm ready for the next!

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read. The FMC becomes a vampire under false circumstances to save her father. After she becomes a vampire, she seeks to destroy the two who made her, along with keeping her family and loved ones safe. Along the way, she finds love and the strength she wasn't sure she had. A good vs. evil story with love and mysteries about the FMC. I do wonder about the protagonists and what their story is.

[Panda Pup in Bootz · Rating 5 out of 5]

*~*arc for honest review my opinion and statements are my own~*~


Vampires and a love worth dying for
This book was a fast paced dark romance.
A choice made out of love and the consequences of that choice can either destroy you or galvanize you into being far more dangerous than the monsters that walk the night

Loved this

[Sarah Mickus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katye has done it again. I will say this story was much less gory then the other I have read by her but a wonderful read. Vampires and revenge. A cliffhanger making you want more. Katye is fantastic about keeping it short and sweet but this book was so engaging.

[J.D. Crist · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read my fair share of vampire stories but this one was a breath of fresh air. Katyes unique twist, relatable characters, and rich world kept the pages turning. The ending was just how I like my series books to end. It's not a cliff hanger but leaves you ready and wanting the next part.

[Janel Bienert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such an amazing read!! The story was executed Perfectly.... the love story was one that everyone thrives for. I cannot dive into more reads by Katye Tilstone.