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Immortal Rose Duology #1
Immortal Rose: A Novel
Win a free print copy of this book!
5 days and 20:01:35
25 copies available
U.S. only
From Alexandra Bracken, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lore, comes a stunningly original adult fantasy. Set in a sumptuous world ruled by magical perfume, this achingly romantic, slow-burn love story will shatter your heart and leave you breathless.
Members of the ancient Rosebourne family have a strange gift born of a fairy the ability to infuse fragrance with magic capable of manipulating mind, body, and emotion.
When a shocking murder leaves the kingdom of Albion vulnerable to a coup, royal spymaster Hugh Thornton seeks the one person who can Viola Lockwood, the last living Rosebourne and secret heir to a fraught legacy.
Livid at the silver-eyed aristocrat who had her thrown in jail to force her compliance, Viola nevertheless comes to an agreement with him. In exchange for crafting Immortal Rose, the singular perfume capable of saving Albion, illegitimate Viola can seize the life—and fortune—that should have been hers.
As Hugh and Viola race to find the perfume’s lost fairy ingredient, hidden deep in Albion’s dark underbelly, neither can deny the scorching attraction building between them—especially as the attempts on Viola’s life grow increasingly brazen.
But a terrible truth lurks in the heart notes of their kingdom—and while every bargain has a cost, Immortal Rose may demand more than Hugh and Viola can ever pay.
Members of the ancient Rosebourne family have a strange gift born of a fairy the ability to infuse fragrance with magic capable of manipulating mind, body, and emotion.
When a shocking murder leaves the kingdom of Albion vulnerable to a coup, royal spymaster Hugh Thornton seeks the one person who can Viola Lockwood, the last living Rosebourne and secret heir to a fraught legacy.
Livid at the silver-eyed aristocrat who had her thrown in jail to force her compliance, Viola nevertheless comes to an agreement with him. In exchange for crafting Immortal Rose, the singular perfume capable of saving Albion, illegitimate Viola can seize the life—and fortune—that should have been hers.
As Hugh and Viola race to find the perfume’s lost fairy ingredient, hidden deep in Albion’s dark underbelly, neither can deny the scorching attraction building between them—especially as the attempts on Viola’s life grow increasingly brazen.
But a terrible truth lurks in the heart notes of their kingdom—and while every bargain has a cost, Immortal Rose may demand more than Hugh and Viola can ever pay.
1 pages, Audio CD
Expected publication August 18, 2026
About the author
Alexandra Bracken
33 books26.1k followersHi! I'm Alex and I write books. Please note that I don't respond to messages here on GoodReads. Please send me a note on twitter or IG @alexbracken. xx A
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,176 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️ 2.5 ⭐️ Perfume as magic should have been like a spell: lure me in and glamour me. Except it powerfully put me to sleep. I am one who usually going with the flow, but I must say I was quite disappointed with this book. I was almost sure this would end up being at least 4 star for me, but the story never matured the way I was expecting it to. It absolutely pains me to give a low rating to an author who put in so much work to bring this story to life. But I must be honest and say it how it was: excessively long and superficial.
What's it about?
In the Regency inspired society, perfume is magic. House of Rosebourne has an intriguing gift--the ability to infuse fragrance with magic capable of manipulating the body, mind and emotion. Viola Lockwood is our protagonist who was arrested for selling fairyborn magic and thrown into a prison for her crimes. She's also an illegitimate heir and the last living survivor of Rosebourne household. In prison, she meets the royal spymaster, Hugh Thornton, who basically strikes a deal with her because he needs her to make a perfume, The Immortal Rose, for the King. The situation is urgent as the king is poisoned and doesn't have much time. A bargain is made: save the king, get your freedom. Their reluctant cooperation turns into attraction and an alliance that is sets them on a deeper political story full of secrets and betrayals. The society is not as politically stable as they initially thought; it's obsessed with status, control, coercion.
While reading, I took too many notes with all the notable issues but will discuss the major ones. So lots of thoughts; hopefully this will justify my low rating.
1. Briefly, the story simply was too boring and the pacing was excruciatingly slow and that bored me to death. The story initially started off well. The concept was truly fantastic--magic around perfumes and scents--that lured me in. However by 26%, we are constantly introduced to people, with passages of long conversations that are insignificant to the overall story or even character development because they don't tell anything of significance. They took up too much time and space without moving the plot. So therefore, they were truly fillers. Those 'filler moments' never ended and nothing really significant happens up until 80% into the book. Boring, boring, boring!
- I also wanted to comment on the magic system. I can't say that I fully grasped the idea of it as it was not well explored. We know that fairies lived in Albion long ago and left some of their supernatural abilities behind and the Rosebourne family was lucky enough to inherit those abilities. How that happened, when that happened or why them is not fully understood. Also, their magic is not free and they have to give up something in exchange when making the perfumes. So Viola, to create the Immortal Rose, has to pay for that power. This whole cost/bargain dynamic is not well understood.. I just went along with it thinking I'll get it by the end. But when I got there, there was still zero explanation.
2. Secondly, the chemistry and their romance didn’t work for me at all. Regency romances have to be achingly romantic and this was far from it. Viola is a very independent individual. She had to survive on her own and I understand how that hardens life. She's stubborn, distrustful of everyone, men especially and to me she wasn't 'Regency' material. She was too often too quick to judge and I just felt that Hugh’s and Violas relationship never materialized as they lacked the connection I was looking for. I love a good slow burn but this book had none of that. By midway she's already questioning how she feels towards Hugh and even though there is some verbal tension, I found the banter severely lacking.
3. The King of Albion is poisoned and Viola is needed to make the perfume. When they meet the king, he's appears to be dying, has a stench of decay and rotten teeth. so the issue is really dire and he has less than a week to live. For someone who is to succumb to his poison, they sure were taking their time to get started on recreating the Immortal Rose.. all those lovely dinners, breakfasts and conversations—how many introductions can we have? Frankly I lost track. It sure seems like they were taking their time. There was no sense of urgency or rush to get to the task. The execution of all the events and tasks was so poorly written and along with such a slow paced story, I as a reader felt very disconnected from the plot.
4. The ending just happens. It does not wrap anything up, it just happens out of nowhere, leaving no room for the readers to process it. It ends with a major cliffhanger, but abruptly. There is no build up to it so it feels like its done simply for shock value.
I wanted to love it but unfortunately it wasn't great. I think this book will find its readers. But some covers as lush and beautiful as they are, are truly deceptive of the content that follows. I think many reviewers will appreciate the new magic system, as superficial as it was, but I am someone who looks for a well developed story. Immortal Rose was not it.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and the author Alexandra Bracken for an early copy.
Many thanks to Harper Audio for an early ALC.
Narrator: Nicola Barber, Christian Coulson
Duration: 20 hours 21 minutes
Speed: 1.75x
Publication date: August 18, 2026
What's it about?
In the Regency inspired society, perfume is magic. House of Rosebourne has an intriguing gift--the ability to infuse fragrance with magic capable of manipulating the body, mind and emotion. Viola Lockwood is our protagonist who was arrested for selling fairyborn magic and thrown into a prison for her crimes. She's also an illegitimate heir and the last living survivor of Rosebourne household. In prison, she meets the royal spymaster, Hugh Thornton, who basically strikes a deal with her because he needs her to make a perfume, The Immortal Rose, for the King. The situation is urgent as the king is poisoned and doesn't have much time. A bargain is made: save the king, get your freedom. Their reluctant cooperation turns into attraction and an alliance that is sets them on a deeper political story full of secrets and betrayals. The society is not as politically stable as they initially thought; it's obsessed with status, control, coercion.
While reading, I took too many notes with all the notable issues but will discuss the major ones. So lots of thoughts; hopefully this will justify my low rating.
1. Briefly, the story simply was too boring and the pacing was excruciatingly slow and that bored me to death. The story initially started off well. The concept was truly fantastic--magic around perfumes and scents--that lured me in. However by 26%, we are constantly introduced to people, with passages of long conversations that are insignificant to the overall story or even character development because they don't tell anything of significance. They took up too much time and space without moving the plot. So therefore, they were truly fillers. Those 'filler moments' never ended and nothing really significant happens up until 80% into the book. Boring, boring, boring!
- I also wanted to comment on the magic system. I can't say that I fully grasped the idea of it as it was not well explored. We know that fairies lived in Albion long ago and left some of their supernatural abilities behind and the Rosebourne family was lucky enough to inherit those abilities. How that happened, when that happened or why them is not fully understood. Also, their magic is not free and they have to give up something in exchange when making the perfumes. So Viola, to create the Immortal Rose, has to pay for that power. This whole cost/bargain dynamic is not well understood.. I just went along with it thinking I'll get it by the end. But when I got there, there was still zero explanation.
2. Secondly, the chemistry and their romance didn’t work for me at all. Regency romances have to be achingly romantic and this was far from it. Viola is a very independent individual. She had to survive on her own and I understand how that hardens life. She's stubborn, distrustful of everyone, men especially and to me she wasn't 'Regency' material. She was too often too quick to judge and I just felt that Hugh’s and Violas relationship never materialized as they lacked the connection I was looking for. I love a good slow burn but this book had none of that. By midway she's already questioning how she feels towards Hugh and even though there is some verbal tension, I found the banter severely lacking.
3. The King of Albion is poisoned and Viola is needed to make the perfume. When they meet the king, he's appears to be dying, has a stench of decay and rotten teeth. so the issue is really dire and he has less than a week to live. For someone who is to succumb to his poison, they sure were taking their time to get started on recreating the Immortal Rose.. all those lovely dinners, breakfasts and conversations—how many introductions can we have? Frankly I lost track. It sure seems like they were taking their time. There was no sense of urgency or rush to get to the task. The execution of all the events and tasks was so poorly written and along with such a slow paced story, I as a reader felt very disconnected from the plot.
4. The ending just happens. It does not wrap anything up, it just happens out of nowhere, leaving no room for the readers to process it. It ends with a major cliffhanger, but abruptly. There is no build up to it so it feels like its done simply for shock value.
I wanted to love it but unfortunately it wasn't great. I think this book will find its readers. But some covers as lush and beautiful as they are, are truly deceptive of the content that follows. I think many reviewers will appreciate the new magic system, as superficial as it was, but I am someone who looks for a well developed story. Immortal Rose was not it.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and the author Alexandra Bracken for an early copy.
Many thanks to Harper Audio for an early ALC.
Narrator: Nicola Barber, Christian Coulson
Duration: 20 hours 21 minutes
Speed: 1.75x
Publication date: August 18, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
HUGE thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for a chance to review this arc!!
4.5✨
The amount of quotes I have saved up for release day is honestly really insane. A million stars for the fmc… I loved her so much.
This adult fantasy captured my heart. Its a slow burn fantasy & romance about a world ruled by magical perfume, secrets & the villains always being one step ahead.
There’s a lot of aspects that rendered me speechless about this story. The first one being the fact that everything felt NATURAL. The relationships develop in a way that feels realistic, while the characters behave & talk in a lifelike way. The characters are true to their arcs, while having the development that also progresses in a way that is logical and realistic.
The second was how slow burning this story was. At first, I didn’t really know where it was going or what was happening but it all came together quite flawlessly.
The third was the characters. The fmc was the perfect description of ‘I survived through sheer force of will’… I fell for her right away. She behaved how someone who survived so much would behave. The mmc was the yearning type and so many of the things he did for her brought tears to my eyes. I loved him as much as I loved her. The side characters were important part of the story and they all had their quirks and personalities. The found family was truly wholesome and I loved them all.
« I had spent my childhood unwanted, and that feeling had never entirely left me. » 😭 this is the only quote I’ll post for now but I’ll come back.
The fourth was the romance… the perfect slow burn. Everything between them was sensical and you weren’t reminded every second chapter about how beautiful one was… it was natural and human.
The two last elements were the writing and the magic/perfume system. It’s rich and compelling. I didn’t want to put it down and I kept thinking about it afterwards.
Conclusively, I will admit my rating shifted a lot through this read. It was initially a 4, went to a 4.5, stayed in the 5 range for a little while in the late middle, to go back to 4.5 and then 4.25. It’s difficult for me to put a rating on this one but as I was writing my review… I decided to settle on 4.5✨. I highly recommend this one.
4.5✨
The amount of quotes I have saved up for release day is honestly really insane. A million stars for the fmc… I loved her so much.
This adult fantasy captured my heart. Its a slow burn fantasy & romance about a world ruled by magical perfume, secrets & the villains always being one step ahead.
There’s a lot of aspects that rendered me speechless about this story. The first one being the fact that everything felt NATURAL. The relationships develop in a way that feels realistic, while the characters behave & talk in a lifelike way. The characters are true to their arcs, while having the development that also progresses in a way that is logical and realistic.
The second was how slow burning this story was. At first, I didn’t really know where it was going or what was happening but it all came together quite flawlessly.
The third was the characters. The fmc was the perfect description of ‘I survived through sheer force of will’… I fell for her right away. She behaved how someone who survived so much would behave. The mmc was the yearning type and so many of the things he did for her brought tears to my eyes. I loved him as much as I loved her. The side characters were important part of the story and they all had their quirks and personalities. The found family was truly wholesome and I loved them all.
« I had spent my childhood unwanted, and that feeling had never entirely left me. » 😭 this is the only quote I’ll post for now but I’ll come back.
The fourth was the romance… the perfect slow burn. Everything between them was sensical and you weren’t reminded every second chapter about how beautiful one was… it was natural and human.
The two last elements were the writing and the magic/perfume system. It’s rich and compelling. I didn’t want to put it down and I kept thinking about it afterwards.
Conclusively, I will admit my rating shifted a lot through this read. It was initially a 4, went to a 4.5, stayed in the 5 range for a little while in the late middle, to go back to 4.5 and then 4.25. It’s difficult for me to put a rating on this one but as I was writing my review… I decided to settle on 4.5✨. I highly recommend this one.
Read
August 17, 2026I was patiently waiting for my arc request to be approved ☹️ (thank you @liana Gold for putting me onto this)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.25⭐️ Immortal Rose seriously has some of the most lyrical and immersive writing I’ve ever come across, truly bringing its Bridgerton-esque setting to life! Though I will say that reading carefully is crucial to understanding the plot and political affairs, as many details are implied rather than directly stated, making them easy to miss. I often found myself rereading certain dialogue sequences to fully grasp what the characters were discussing.
Our FMC, Viola, is fiercely stubborn and independent, often refusing help even when she desperately needs it. While I admired her resilience in a world where women are constantly seen as inferior, it was also heartwarming to watch her slowly open up and learn to trust others. One of my favorite aspects of the book was her inherited “fairyborn” magic, which allows her to detect and associate people's emotions with specific scents and tastes. The descriptions were so vivid that I genuinely felt like I could smell and taste everything!
Now the MMC, Hugh, is a man who YEARNS. Beneath his cold and seemingly indifferent exterior lies a deeply compassionate, protective individual whose devotion to those he loves added a lot of depth to his character. It was so entertaining watching him become increasingly jealous whenever Viola interacted with another man. I was kicking my feet over all the ways he cared for and protected her. Viola and Hugh have one of the most swoon-worthy relationships I've ever read and have already become one of my favorite book couples🙌
Given the premise, there's a lot less action than you might expect from a traditional fantasy novel. The pacing in the first half was slow enough that I occasionally found myself struggling to stay engaged, but the second half completely made up for it!! If you enjoy a character-driven fantasy with an incredibly immersive atmosphere, then this is an absolute must-read!
Our FMC, Viola, is fiercely stubborn and independent, often refusing help even when she desperately needs it. While I admired her resilience in a world where women are constantly seen as inferior, it was also heartwarming to watch her slowly open up and learn to trust others. One of my favorite aspects of the book was her inherited “fairyborn” magic, which allows her to detect and associate people's emotions with specific scents and tastes. The descriptions were so vivid that I genuinely felt like I could smell and taste everything!
Now the MMC, Hugh, is a man who YEARNS. Beneath his cold and seemingly indifferent exterior lies a deeply compassionate, protective individual whose devotion to those he loves added a lot of depth to his character. It was so entertaining watching him become increasingly jealous whenever Viola interacted with another man. I was kicking my feet over all the ways he cared for and protected her. Viola and Hugh have one of the most swoon-worthy relationships I've ever read and have already become one of my favorite book couples🙌
Given the premise, there's a lot less action than you might expect from a traditional fantasy novel. The pacing in the first half was slow enough that I occasionally found myself struggling to stay engaged, but the second half completely made up for it!! If you enjoy a character-driven fantasy with an incredibly immersive atmosphere, then this is an absolute must-read!
Currently Reading
March 21, 2026ˏˋ 📓 pre-read log ˎˊ˗
↳ march 21, 2026
heard this book has a yearning man in it and now I'm seeing for myself 🙂↕️
___________________
Thank you to Avon Books for the ARC.
↳ march 21, 2026
heard this book has a yearning man in it and now I'm seeing for myself 🙂↕️
___________________
Thank you to Avon Books for the ARC.
May 17, 2026
Immortal Rose by Alexandra Bracken
Book Blurb: Members of the ancient House Rosebourne have a strange gift born of a fairy ancestor: the ability to infuse fragrance with magic capable of manipulating mind, body, and emotion.
When a shocking murder leaves the kingdom of Albion vulnerable to a coup, royal spymaster Hugh Thornton seeks the one person who can help: Viola Lockwood, the last living Rosebourne and secret heir to a fraught legacy.
Rating: *****
Feels: Engaged, Enthralled, Enamored, Enraptured
Style: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance
First published August 13, 2026 : 496 pages
The book was surprisingly mesmerizing in the best way. I was drawn in by the idea and every chapter and character further drew me in and held on. I love the idea of magical perfumes with their every day uses for the rich and entitled. The formulation of the perfumes was rather engrossing to read about. Viola, our perfume making darling, was so fun and clever !! I loved her no nonsense style. Hugh was that protective morally grey yet has good sense kinda of guy. This story has a bit of a mystery to solve and lots of twists and turns which I adored finding out as we read. Can I just say this book has a truely fun found family !! I think you would love meeting them. Very unique. Will be thinking about all these twists and that ending for awhile !!!
This book has:
He falls first
Enemies to Lovers
Fake marriage
Found family
Touch her and die (and I will murder everyone )
Book Blurb: Members of the ancient House Rosebourne have a strange gift born of a fairy ancestor: the ability to infuse fragrance with magic capable of manipulating mind, body, and emotion.
When a shocking murder leaves the kingdom of Albion vulnerable to a coup, royal spymaster Hugh Thornton seeks the one person who can help: Viola Lockwood, the last living Rosebourne and secret heir to a fraught legacy.
Rating: *****
Feels: Engaged, Enthralled, Enamored, Enraptured
Style: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance
First published August 13, 2026 : 496 pages
The book was surprisingly mesmerizing in the best way. I was drawn in by the idea and every chapter and character further drew me in and held on. I love the idea of magical perfumes with their every day uses for the rich and entitled. The formulation of the perfumes was rather engrossing to read about. Viola, our perfume making darling, was so fun and clever !! I loved her no nonsense style. Hugh was that protective morally grey yet has good sense kinda of guy. This story has a bit of a mystery to solve and lots of twists and turns which I adored finding out as we read. Can I just say this book has a truely fun found family !! I think you would love meeting them. Very unique. Will be thinking about all these twists and that ending for awhile !!!
This book has:
He falls first
Enemies to Lovers
Fake marriage
Found family
Touch her and die (and I will murder everyone )
August 10, 2026
what. the. fuck. was that ending!???😭 what am I even supposed to do after reading that last chapter?
oh my gosh, I loved this book so much. the magic system and mystery had me on my feet, and the slow burn and yearning was INCREDIBLE!!
“I could die from want of you,” he whispered in her ear. “I would follow you, your devoted, worshipful servant, across lifetimes, the way the sun chases the moon across the sky. I would weave my soul through yours so no man or god could ever part them.” 😛😛
ugh this book was actually amazing and I’m surprised I ended up enjoying it because I was SOO confused the first 3 chapters, I wasn’t understanding anything and really thought this book wasn’t going to be it for me lmao. anywaysss, add this to your tbr🤸🏻♀️ frtc
oh my gosh, I loved this book so much. the magic system and mystery had me on my feet, and the slow burn and yearning was INCREDIBLE!!
“I could die from want of you,” he whispered in her ear. “I would follow you, your devoted, worshipful servant, across lifetimes, the way the sun chases the moon across the sky. I would weave my soul through yours so no man or god could ever part them.” 😛😛
ugh this book was actually amazing and I’m surprised I ended up enjoying it because I was SOO confused the first 3 chapters, I wasn’t understanding anything and really thought this book wasn’t going to be it for me lmao. anywaysss, add this to your tbr🤸🏻♀️ frtc
Want to Read
August 2, 2026
*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an arc in exchange for an honest review!*
Not only have I been desperately missing Alexandra Bracken's books, but I also get to read an early copy of this one?! Excuse me while I completely lose my mind.
And this book has:
- Marriage of Convenience
- Forced Proximity
- Espoinage
- Secret Identities
- "Who did this to you?"
Yeah... I'm not surviving this. Expect me to pass out at least seventeen times while reading.
*squeals*
Not only have I been desperately missing Alexandra Bracken's books, but I also get to read an early copy of this one?! Excuse me while I completely lose my mind.
And this book has:
- Marriage of Convenience
- Forced Proximity
- Espoinage
- Secret Identities
- "Who did this to you?"
Yeah... I'm not surviving this. Expect me to pass out at least seventeen times while reading.
*squeals*
Want to Read
March 13, 2026⋅˚₊‧ ୨ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹 (3/12/2026): ୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ Guess who got the widget for this today?!👀 I CANNOT WAIT to read this! The concept is SO unique, and the cover art (and the sprayed edges) are just absolutely gorgeous!
(Avon has really been blessing me with widgets and approvals lately, I'm so grateful!🥹)
Thank you to Avon Books, Alexandra Bracken, and NetGalley for the widget in exchange for an honest review. Immortal Rose will be officially published on August 18th, 2026!
(Avon has really been blessing me with widgets and approvals lately, I'm so grateful!🥹)
Thank you to Avon Books, Alexandra Bracken, and NetGalley for the widget in exchange for an honest review. Immortal Rose will be officially published on August 18th, 2026!
August 8, 2026
now why would you end there?? give me book two asap! rtc
Want to Read
March 23, 2026~Pre-read~ I HAVE AN ARC... so happy about this one! found family, sets and betrayals, slow burn with yearning, this has magic and fae! yes please..... :)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🌹✨ Immortal Rose ✨🌹
I loved the worldbuilding so much. It was immersive, detailed, and easy to get lost in. I can honestly say I have never read a book with magical perfume before, and I loved how unique this magic system was.
I have a feeling this will be a six star read once I get ahold of the audiobook!
I will say, if you do not love long books, this may not be for you. It is lengthy and packed with details, so the beginning can feel a little overwhelming if that is not something you normally enjoy. But for me the worldbuilding made it worth it.
❤️What to Expect
• Magical perfume
• Slow burn
• Enemies to lovers
• Royal intrigue
• Spy x reluctant heir
• Hidden legacy
• Found family
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: August 18, 2026
📝 Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
I loved the worldbuilding so much. It was immersive, detailed, and easy to get lost in. I can honestly say I have never read a book with magical perfume before, and I loved how unique this magic system was.
I have a feeling this will be a six star read once I get ahold of the audiobook!
I will say, if you do not love long books, this may not be for you. It is lengthy and packed with details, so the beginning can feel a little overwhelming if that is not something you normally enjoy. But for me the worldbuilding made it worth it.
❤️What to Expect
• Magical perfume
• Slow burn
• Enemies to lovers
• Royal intrigue
• Spy x reluctant heir
• Hidden legacy
• Found family
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: August 18, 2026
📝 Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
August 15, 2026
“‘You are the exception,” he said curtly. ‘To my every rule.’”
my god, this was good. for me, this is honestly an ideal romantasy. gorgeous, masterful writing with incredibly nuanced characters in a regency era inspired setting with magical perfumes??? enemies to lovers??? marriage of convenience??? YEARNING FROM BOTH PARTIES!?!? my tail is wagging just thinking about it again.
“‘I could die from want of you,’ he whispered in her ear. ‘I would follow you, your devoted, worshipful servant, across lifetimes.’”
my god, this was good. for me, this is honestly an ideal romantasy. gorgeous, masterful writing with incredibly nuanced characters in a regency era inspired setting with magical perfumes??? enemies to lovers??? marriage of convenience??? YEARNING FROM BOTH PARTIES!?!? my tail is wagging just thinking about it again.
“‘I could die from want of you,’ he whispered in her ear. ‘I would follow you, your devoted, worshipful servant, across lifetimes.’”
April 28, 2026
Not only is Immortal Rose a new release from an author I loved in my teens, it’s also a book I’d been waiting for with a lot of impatience. Was it worth the wait? Absolutely.
The story starts off slowly, with richly descriptive prose that took me a few chapters to fully settle into — but once I did, I was completely hooked. The concept of magic tied to fragrance is beautifully executed. You can tell the author put real thought into it, carefully weaving the system together so everything feels cohesive. I tend to gravitate toward unconventional magic systems, and this one delivered effortlessly.
One of the book’s strongest points — just like in the author’s previous works — is the authenticity of the characters. Hugh and Viola’s resentment toward each other feels genuine, and the gradual softening of that tension is handled with care. The romance develops at a natural pace, leaving you constantly wanting more… 👀
And the twists? I was genuinely shocked. I didn’t expect certain turns at all, and I loved being so thoroughly misled along the way.
An easy 5 stars for originality, execution, and pure enjoyment.
Thank you Alexandra Bracken, Avon and Netgalley for the ARC. 𑣲⋆
The story starts off slowly, with richly descriptive prose that took me a few chapters to fully settle into — but once I did, I was completely hooked. The concept of magic tied to fragrance is beautifully executed. You can tell the author put real thought into it, carefully weaving the system together so everything feels cohesive. I tend to gravitate toward unconventional magic systems, and this one delivered effortlessly.
One of the book’s strongest points — just like in the author’s previous works — is the authenticity of the characters. Hugh and Viola’s resentment toward each other feels genuine, and the gradual softening of that tension is handled with care. The romance develops at a natural pace, leaving you constantly wanting more… 👀
And the twists? I was genuinely shocked. I didn’t expect certain turns at all, and I loved being so thoroughly misled along the way.
An easy 5 stars for originality, execution, and pure enjoyment.
Thank you Alexandra Bracken, Avon and Netgalley for the ARC. 𑣲⋆
June 30, 2026
Sad to say that this was a DNF at 51%, though I did skip ahead to read a few scenes later on in the book just to help decide whether I should continue or not.
The story honestly started out fairly strong. The writing was nice and I felt immersed into the world fairly quickly. But pretty early on I was starting to feel like things were dragging on for way too long and not much was actually happening. It got to the point about 22% in that I started struggling to want to pick it up.
Things were starting to feel too convenient for the characters and they just came out of nowhere, like the author needed to change things up to help move the story along.
The chapters were extremely long winded with a lot happening that honestly didn’t move the story forward at all. There were too many side characters that I was having a lot of trouble keeping everyone straight - and I have a really good memory and don’t tend to have issues with that. Not enough was going on between the fmc and the mmc to warrant the building of romance - especially when the entire first half of the book takes place over like less than 72 hours. And they go from enemies to already changing their minds, with really nothing happening for it to make sense. Their banter was minimal and not fun at all.
This had a lot of potential. The author can definitely write and write well, and she has unique ideas with the magic system and the world she’s created. But it honestly boils down to being too boring for me and just not creating engaging enough characters or high enough stakes for me to continue.
I can understand why others may love this book, but it just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for this e-ARC.
The story honestly started out fairly strong. The writing was nice and I felt immersed into the world fairly quickly. But pretty early on I was starting to feel like things were dragging on for way too long and not much was actually happening. It got to the point about 22% in that I started struggling to want to pick it up.
Things were starting to feel too convenient for the characters and they just came out of nowhere, like the author needed to change things up to help move the story along.
The chapters were extremely long winded with a lot happening that honestly didn’t move the story forward at all. There were too many side characters that I was having a lot of trouble keeping everyone straight - and I have a really good memory and don’t tend to have issues with that. Not enough was going on between the fmc and the mmc to warrant the building of romance - especially when the entire first half of the book takes place over like less than 72 hours. And they go from enemies to already changing their minds, with really nothing happening for it to make sense. Their banter was minimal and not fun at all.
This had a lot of potential. The author can definitely write and write well, and she has unique ideas with the magic system and the world she’s created. But it honestly boils down to being too boring for me and just not creating engaging enough characters or high enough stakes for me to continue.
I can understand why others may love this book, but it just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for this e-ARC.
June 11, 2026
Immortal Rose is an all new adult fantasy from Alexandra Bracken.
ARC Review
4.5/5 stars
Publish Date August 18, 2026
Viola Lockwood is a descendant of the House of Rosebourne, a family with the ability to create magical perfumes that can influence a person’s mind, body, and emotions. A gift that was inherited from their fae ancestor.
When Viola is caught selling enchanted perfumes on the black market, she is arrested and has no way out.
What to expect
Regency inspired romantasy
Enemies to lovers
He falls first
Slow burn
Yearning (Mr. Darcy hand flex)
Magical perfume
Marriage of convenience
Found family
Betrayal
An assassination attempt has left the king poisoned and the kingdom in a weakened state. Spy master Hugh Thorton is tasked with finding the descendant of Rosebourne to create Immortal Rose, the only thing that can save the king’s life.
In exchange for creating this extremely rare perfume, Viola is promised her freedom and the inheritance that is rightfully hers.
Viola and Hugh set out on a dangerous journey to gather the rare ingredients for Immortal Rose, all while uncovering secrets and facing deadly threats along the way.
The story is filled with mystery, political intrigue, and unexpected twists. I really enjoyed the slow burn romance between Hugh and Viola. Their dynamic was my favorite, with sharp banter and undeniable chemistry.
Thank you to Netgalley, Avon, Harper Voyager, and Alexandra Bracken for the eARC of Immortal Rose.
The idea of magical perfumes immediately caught my attention, and Alexandra Bracken delivered a beautiful and unique story. This was a fantastic start to a new series. I’m excited to see where it goes next.
ARC Review
4.5/5 stars
Publish Date August 18, 2026
Viola Lockwood is a descendant of the House of Rosebourne, a family with the ability to create magical perfumes that can influence a person’s mind, body, and emotions. A gift that was inherited from their fae ancestor.
When Viola is caught selling enchanted perfumes on the black market, she is arrested and has no way out.
What to expect
Regency inspired romantasy
Enemies to lovers
He falls first
Slow burn
Yearning (Mr. Darcy hand flex)
Magical perfume
Marriage of convenience
Found family
Betrayal
An assassination attempt has left the king poisoned and the kingdom in a weakened state. Spy master Hugh Thorton is tasked with finding the descendant of Rosebourne to create Immortal Rose, the only thing that can save the king’s life.
In exchange for creating this extremely rare perfume, Viola is promised her freedom and the inheritance that is rightfully hers.
Viola and Hugh set out on a dangerous journey to gather the rare ingredients for Immortal Rose, all while uncovering secrets and facing deadly threats along the way.
The story is filled with mystery, political intrigue, and unexpected twists. I really enjoyed the slow burn romance between Hugh and Viola. Their dynamic was my favorite, with sharp banter and undeniable chemistry.
Thank you to Netgalley, Avon, Harper Voyager, and Alexandra Bracken for the eARC of Immortal Rose.
The idea of magical perfumes immediately caught my attention, and Alexandra Bracken delivered a beautiful and unique story. This was a fantastic start to a new series. I’m excited to see where it goes next.
Want to Read
December 10, 2025Auto buy author
August 11, 2026
This was so unique and fun! Hugh had me SWOONING and the romance was 🥵 Very excited for the next book.
remind-me-once-out
January 23, 2026Hands down stunning
August 5, 2026
✨ARC Book Review✨
I’ve never read anything quite like this book. The concept of perfume magic is so unique and fun!
Viola has the magical ability to create perfumes that can affect the mind and body. When she’s caught making these perfumes, she’s thrown in jail. To earn her freedom, she’s forced to work with Hugh, who needs her help creating a rare perfume to save the king’s life.
I absolutely loved this unique twist on romantasy. I loved Viola! She’s strong, determined, and willing to do whatever it takes to survive. I especially loved her banter and interactions with Hugh. Everything in this story, from the plot development to the slow burn romance between Hugh and Viola, developed in such a genuine and believable way.
I really felt for Hugh! He’s classy, thoughtful, protective, and secretive in all the best ways. Watching their relationship start to develop into something more… the slow burn yearning?!? Ugh, so well done! Their relationship felt very natural.
The last quarter of this book had me reeling! I was genuinely shocked. There were so many moving parts that had me spiraling and desperate for answers. I absolutely cannot wait to see what comes next in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I’ve never read anything quite like this book. The concept of perfume magic is so unique and fun!
Viola has the magical ability to create perfumes that can affect the mind and body. When she’s caught making these perfumes, she’s thrown in jail. To earn her freedom, she’s forced to work with Hugh, who needs her help creating a rare perfume to save the king’s life.
I absolutely loved this unique twist on romantasy. I loved Viola! She’s strong, determined, and willing to do whatever it takes to survive. I especially loved her banter and interactions with Hugh. Everything in this story, from the plot development to the slow burn romance between Hugh and Viola, developed in such a genuine and believable way.
I really felt for Hugh! He’s classy, thoughtful, protective, and secretive in all the best ways. Watching their relationship start to develop into something more… the slow burn yearning?!? Ugh, so well done! Their relationship felt very natural.
The last quarter of this book had me reeling! I was genuinely shocked. There were so many moving parts that had me spiraling and desperate for answers. I absolutely cannot wait to see what comes next in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 2, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
This had one of my favorite fantasy premises of the year, which somehow made the reading experience even more disappointing.
Magic perfume? A Regency-inspired fantasy? Political intrigue? On paper, this should have been a slam dunk for me.
Instead, I spent most of the book waiting for something to happen.
The pacing is painfully slow, and some of the chapters are insanely long. I don't usually mind a slower fantasy if the world or characters are keeping me engaged, but here I found myself checking how many pages were left in a chapter more than once. Entire sections felt like they could have been cut without changing the story.
The perfume magic is easily the most interesting part of the book, but it never felt fully developed. The concept is incredibly unique, yet I finished the book still feeling like I didn't have a solid grasp on how the magic actually worked or what its limits were. It felt like there was so much potential that never made it onto the page.
The romance also did very little for me. For something marketed as an achingly romantic slow burn, I never felt invested in Viola and Hugh's relationship, and the banter and chemistry I kept waiting for never really materialized.
More than anything, though, I was just bored. That's the hardest thing for me to overlook in a fantasy this ambitious. Beautiful prose can only carry a story so far, and by the time the cliffhanger arrived, I had no interest in continuing the series.
It's a gorgeous concept, but the execution completely lost me.
August 10, 2026
Before I get into the review, I want to share what has to be the most incredible moment of synchronicity I have ever experienced. In a rare moment of whimsy I decided to test out a fragrance sample that came with a recent Ulta order. I sprayed it on and settled in to read. Little did I know, this created the most INTOXICATING experience I have ever had reading a book. Why, you ask?
Because that sample was from Estee Lauder, and it's named Glimmer. What’s the first note…? Rose. I literally created my own full sensory immersive read of a book that focuses on the fae and scent magic in the form of perfumes. (And yes, I definitely added that perfume to my wishlist because it smelled INCREDIBLE.) Imagine my surprise to get to the end of the book and read her author’s note that the genesis of this book came from her time at Ulta in the fragrances! I guess the universe really wanted to drive home the point with this one!
All that out of the way, we can get down to the book. And oh my goodness, what a freaking book! I… the words that fell out of my mouth when I read the last page shall not be repeated here. This. Was. Phenomenal.
The story that was woven around Viola, Hugh, their pasts and how every single thing conspired to drive them together only to keep them apart? Mmmmph. The LONGING. The YEARNING. The RAGE. That’s right. The rage. Viola had every right to hate the world she’d be forcibly born into. And Hugh, Hugh with his beautiful heart that also held so much rage at what was taken from him. The story between and with these two is for the ages.
Six perfume bottles for this one!
Immortal Rose hits shelves August 18 and I implore you, get this book. Add it to your TBR, put it on reserve at your local library, preorder it, whatever you have to do. You need this book in your life. And if you want to pair it with a perfume, I would say Glimmer might be a good match.
Huge thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon, HarperCollins, and Netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Because that sample was from Estee Lauder, and it's named Glimmer. What’s the first note…? Rose. I literally created my own full sensory immersive read of a book that focuses on the fae and scent magic in the form of perfumes. (And yes, I definitely added that perfume to my wishlist because it smelled INCREDIBLE.) Imagine my surprise to get to the end of the book and read her author’s note that the genesis of this book came from her time at Ulta in the fragrances! I guess the universe really wanted to drive home the point with this one!
All that out of the way, we can get down to the book. And oh my goodness, what a freaking book! I… the words that fell out of my mouth when I read the last page shall not be repeated here. This. Was. Phenomenal.
The story that was woven around Viola, Hugh, their pasts and how every single thing conspired to drive them together only to keep them apart? Mmmmph. The LONGING. The YEARNING. The RAGE. That’s right. The rage. Viola had every right to hate the world she’d be forcibly born into. And Hugh, Hugh with his beautiful heart that also held so much rage at what was taken from him. The story between and with these two is for the ages.
Six perfume bottles for this one!
Immortal Rose hits shelves August 18 and I implore you, get this book. Add it to your TBR, put it on reserve at your local library, preorder it, whatever you have to do. You need this book in your life. And if you want to pair it with a perfume, I would say Glimmer might be a good match.
Huge thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon, HarperCollins, and Netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
July 31, 2026
Thank you to Avon Books for this gifted widget in exchange for my honest review.
Drench me in the essence of this kind of writing for the rest of my days ! I just recently watched Enola Holmes and I thought to myself how fun it would be if there was a magical element to complement this atmosphere and Immortal Rose was exactly that.
A historical, mystery , romantasy that’s wonderfully character driven. The magic was so rich and fresh with the power of perfume. Right down to the phases and progression of fragrance I found so fascinating. The pacing kept me on my toes with little bursts of surprise twists.
The romance was felt through masterful dialogue and the amount of quotes highlighted is endless. The pausing …I swear I could almost hear them take a breath during a short pause when reading. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced that before. This is the second time I picked up a book and unknowingly thought I was reading a standalone and so it’s not and I’m unwell. Its cliffhanger is a cruel one that I fear will linger.
4.5 Star ⭐️ round up
Drench me in the essence of this kind of writing for the rest of my days ! I just recently watched Enola Holmes and I thought to myself how fun it would be if there was a magical element to complement this atmosphere and Immortal Rose was exactly that.
A historical, mystery , romantasy that’s wonderfully character driven. The magic was so rich and fresh with the power of perfume. Right down to the phases and progression of fragrance I found so fascinating. The pacing kept me on my toes with little bursts of surprise twists.
The romance was felt through masterful dialogue and the amount of quotes highlighted is endless. The pausing …I swear I could almost hear them take a breath during a short pause when reading. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced that before. This is the second time I picked up a book and unknowingly thought I was reading a standalone and so it’s not and I’m unwell. Its cliffhanger is a cruel one that I fear will linger.
4.5 Star ⭐️ round up
Currently Reading
August 5, 2026I've got BOTH the eARC & ALC 🥳 Netgalley, Avon and HarperAudio Adult I'm so grateful to you all 🤍💛
June 14, 2026
Ahhhhh!! This was so beautifully written with characters that felt so real and fully fleshed out. Alex absolutely killed me with that ending but I’m INVESTED.
If you like perfume and magic and historical romance vibes, you must read this!
If you like perfume and magic and historical romance vibes, you must read this!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4⭐️s!
“𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚, 𝒊 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒍𝒚 𝒇𝒂𝒔𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈.”
magical perfumes, a man who YEARNS, slow burn romance, and a murder mystery?! if you love the vibes of bridgerton, immortal rose by alexandra bracken will be right up your alley!
viola lockwood is our fmc who comes from a family line with fairy blood with the ability to smell people’s essences and get a sense of who they are based on their scent. she can also infuse magic into perfumes for different uses, which made for such a unique magic system! she’s independent, witty, and a little guarded when it comes to letting people in, and i really enjoyed her as an fmc.
and then there’s hugh thornton… this MAN. 🫠 he’s a little grumpy, has the biggest heart, and always feels like it’s his responsibility to take care of everyone around him. but most importantly? he is a YEARNER. this man would literally go to the ends of the earth for viola, and i ate it up!
“𝒊 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒅𝒊𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝒊 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒕, 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒏 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒌𝒚. 𝒊 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒏𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒓 𝒈𝒐𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎.”
the slow burn was slow burning with these two. the tension? so good. but the banter?! even better. watching their relationship slowly build had me kicking my feet and waiting for one of them to finally make the first move and DO SOMETHING 🙈.
i really enjoyed the side characters too! reddy’s comedic timing was everything, and the way he constantly riled up both hugh and viola had me laughing out loud.
the murder mystery kept things interesting, and i loved how the magic system was woven into a regency-era setting. it made the world feel fresh and different from other romantasy books i’ve read. the pacing of the main plot was a little slow for my liking at times, but the found family, banter, and building romance definitely made up for it.
the twists were so fun to unravel, and that cliffhanger at the end??? RUDE. 😭 i need answers immediately.
immortal rose releases august 18th! definitely add this one to your tbr if you’re a fan of slow burn regency romance, unique magic systems, forced proximity, murder mysteries, and bridgerton-level yearning. 🌹
thank you to avon books, harpercollins, netgalley, and alexandra bracken for sending me an e-arc and alc! 🫶🏼
“𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚, 𝒊 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒍𝒚 𝒇𝒂𝒔𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈.”
magical perfumes, a man who YEARNS, slow burn romance, and a murder mystery?! if you love the vibes of bridgerton, immortal rose by alexandra bracken will be right up your alley!
viola lockwood is our fmc who comes from a family line with fairy blood with the ability to smell people’s essences and get a sense of who they are based on their scent. she can also infuse magic into perfumes for different uses, which made for such a unique magic system! she’s independent, witty, and a little guarded when it comes to letting people in, and i really enjoyed her as an fmc.
and then there’s hugh thornton… this MAN. 🫠 he’s a little grumpy, has the biggest heart, and always feels like it’s his responsibility to take care of everyone around him. but most importantly? he is a YEARNER. this man would literally go to the ends of the earth for viola, and i ate it up!
“𝒊 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒅𝒊𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝒊 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒕, 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒏 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒌𝒚. 𝒊 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒏𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒓 𝒈𝒐𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎.”
the slow burn was slow burning with these two. the tension? so good. but the banter?! even better. watching their relationship slowly build had me kicking my feet and waiting for one of them to finally make the first move and DO SOMETHING 🙈.
i really enjoyed the side characters too! reddy’s comedic timing was everything, and the way he constantly riled up both hugh and viola had me laughing out loud.
the murder mystery kept things interesting, and i loved how the magic system was woven into a regency-era setting. it made the world feel fresh and different from other romantasy books i’ve read. the pacing of the main plot was a little slow for my liking at times, but the found family, banter, and building romance definitely made up for it.
the twists were so fun to unravel, and that cliffhanger at the end??? RUDE. 😭 i need answers immediately.
immortal rose releases august 18th! definitely add this one to your tbr if you’re a fan of slow burn regency romance, unique magic systems, forced proximity, murder mysteries, and bridgerton-level yearning. 🌹
thank you to avon books, harpercollins, netgalley, and alexandra bracken for sending me an e-arc and alc! 🫶🏼
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Avon for the gifted book!
✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ✦
I felt that this started out strong. The atmosphere was charming and elegant, with a sensory forward writing style and an interesting, mysterious plot.
As the story went on, I had a really tough time with the ultra-slow pacing, as it failed to create tension within the narrative or build any meaningful lore. Instead, it felt tedious and incompatible with the “race-against-the-clock” plot.
Though unique, the magic system felt largely underdeveloped, acting more like a plot device than anything else. There are Fae here as well and some other fantasy elements that felt completely out of place do to a lack of meaningful world building.
I felt that the romance had chemistry during the “enemies” stage, but once they started accepting that they may have feelings for each other, I began to quickly lose interest. The yearning felt completely disingenuous at that point, as their pulling away from each other became immensely repetitive.
Largely, this felt like it had originally been planned as a historical romance and was reskinned as Romantasy without any meaningful fantasy development. I think if you only casually enjoy fantasy, or really like historical romance you will most likely enjoy this, but it was not for me.
✄----------
Genre: Historical Fantasy, Romance
Rating: 2.5 Stars Rounded Up
✄----------
✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ✦
I felt that this started out strong. The atmosphere was charming and elegant, with a sensory forward writing style and an interesting, mysterious plot.
As the story went on, I had a really tough time with the ultra-slow pacing, as it failed to create tension within the narrative or build any meaningful lore. Instead, it felt tedious and incompatible with the “race-against-the-clock” plot.
Though unique, the magic system felt largely underdeveloped, acting more like a plot device than anything else. There are Fae here as well and some other fantasy elements that felt completely out of place do to a lack of meaningful world building.
I felt that the romance had chemistry during the “enemies” stage, but once they started accepting that they may have feelings for each other, I began to quickly lose interest. The yearning felt completely disingenuous at that point, as their pulling away from each other became immensely repetitive.
Largely, this felt like it had originally been planned as a historical romance and was reskinned as Romantasy without any meaningful fantasy development. I think if you only casually enjoy fantasy, or really like historical romance you will most likely enjoy this, but it was not for me.
✄----------
Genre: Historical Fantasy, Romance
Rating: 2.5 Stars Rounded Up
✄----------
August 4, 2026
4.25 stars // lush and reads exactly like advertised: a historical romance with perfume magic. i am absolutely obsessed with Hugh and Viola's dynamic, which read exactly like Kate and Anthony's relationship from Bridgerton. the stakes were high to begin with and kept getting higher and i was invested from start to finish. what a home run for Alex Bracken! now please give me book 2 asap ❤️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Many thanks to Tempest for providing me with an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Viola Lockwood is the illegitimate but last member of the Rosebourne family, descendants of a line of fairies with the ability to infuse perfume with magic. Viola both loathes and longs for her birthright, and that is exactly what Foxcourt, spymaster to the king, believes he can use to bargain with her: a healing perfume in exchange for the Rosebourne legacy.
Although interesting from the start, I did struggle with the first few chapters. The first two in particular felt really drawn out and did not really give any idea of where the plot was headed. The chapters are also fairly long, which did not help. However, once the first few chapters were over with, it was a very engaging read that only got better the further I read. I enjoyed both Viola and Foxcourt as characters. We largely follow Viola's POV, but we did get a few chapters from Foxcourt. I also really appreciated how the romance was set up. It wasn't the slowest of burns, but it developed at a satisfying pace which matched both their personalities and the positions they find themselves in.
Although I believe this was advertised as Jane Austen with fairies, I would rather liken this to Downton Abbey, if only because there was a much stronger focus on the wider household. During the first chapters, I found myself a little overwhelmed by the cast, but the entire Foxcourt household grew on me as we got to know them over the course of the book.
The magic part was fairly small given that it was limited to Viola being able to smell emotions and the magic perfumes. I don't know too much about perfume making myself, but it's delivered in what feels like an authentic manner within this plot. Even if it feels light on fantasy, I do think this was a very interesting and unique magic system. What really made this a gripping read was the mystery and intrigue, though. There are multiple interwoven plots for power and plenty of twists to keep you on your toes. It was certainly more gruesome than I had anticipated. At times it read like a murder mystery novel, and some of the reveals were quite horrific.
For the two final twists, I predicted one, albeit only very late. The second I have a strong inkling about, but I shall have to wait for the second book to find out, for this one leaves us on quite the nasty cliffhanger. The somewhat slow start is truly my only complaint. It was an otherwise perfectly engaging read and one that begs you to pick up the sequel as soon as possible.
August 13, 2026
Let’s talk about how much this book surprised me. Perfume magic sounded absolutely absurd- I thought what are you gonna do, spray perfume into someone’s face with some magical girl flourish? No, absolutely not. The magic system is one of the coolest I’ve ever encountered. It’s not so much about perfume but more about scent imbued with magic. Viola, the main female character, can smell magic, describing the notes like a perfumer. Then there’s the whole “it’s got Bridgerton vibes.” I mean, I love a good hand flex like anyone else, but I never really got into Bridgerton. The yearning can’t be that good. IT IS! IT IS THAT GOOD!! IT’S BETTER!
Viola has magic from her fairy ancestors. She can infuse fragrance with magic and is thrown in jail for it. Her jailer, Hugh, makes a bargain with Viola- craft Immortal Rose, the perfume that will save the king, and she not only goes free but receives her inheritance. The only problem is that Immortal Rose requires an ingredient that’s near impossible to find.
Immortal Rose blew me away. It’s a top contender for best book I’ve read this year because not only does it have yearning that made me kick my feet, but the story is just that plain good. Bracken’s writing is beautiful. The complexity of the magic and the world building are spectacular. The murder mystery vibes were great. I love a good who-done-it. I related to a lot in the story such sensitivity to scents and panic attacks. And the ending? Just know, it’s a duology, not a standalone!!
I was fortunate to have been gifted an ALC and a physical galley. The narrators were nothing short of perfect. I could listen to both of them all day. I enjoyed their ability to shift between accents. Thank you Avon for the freaking amazing privilege to read this book early.
Viola has magic from her fairy ancestors. She can infuse fragrance with magic and is thrown in jail for it. Her jailer, Hugh, makes a bargain with Viola- craft Immortal Rose, the perfume that will save the king, and she not only goes free but receives her inheritance. The only problem is that Immortal Rose requires an ingredient that’s near impossible to find.
Immortal Rose blew me away. It’s a top contender for best book I’ve read this year because not only does it have yearning that made me kick my feet, but the story is just that plain good. Bracken’s writing is beautiful. The complexity of the magic and the world building are spectacular. The murder mystery vibes were great. I love a good who-done-it. I related to a lot in the story such sensitivity to scents and panic attacks. And the ending? Just know, it’s a duology, not a standalone!!
I was fortunate to have been gifted an ALC and a physical galley. The narrators were nothing short of perfect. I could listen to both of them all day. I enjoyed their ability to shift between accents. Thank you Avon for the freaking amazing privilege to read this book early.
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