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The Last Rose of Ashwood : Volume One: The Mystery Above
Volume The Mystery Above
Aelira was supposed to be dead.
For ten years, the last heir of Ashwood has hidden beneath a false name, carrying the memory of a murdered family, a ruined kingdom, and the general she believes helped destroy them both.
Seren was supposed to be a hero.
But when villages begin vanishing without blood, bodies, or warning, Seren is sent north and forced into an alliance with a beautiful, dangerous woman who knows far too much about the ancient roots waking beneath the earth.
Aelira wants revenge.
Seren wants the truth.
Neither of them expects desire to become the most dangerous thing between them.
As buried magic stirs and the lies of the past begin to unravel, villain and savior must decide what they truly are to each other — enemies, weapons, or the only two monsters capable of stopping what waits below.
High Fantasy • Dark Romance • Slow Burn • Sapphic Enemies to Lovers
Aelira was supposed to be dead.
For ten years, the last heir of Ashwood has hidden beneath a false name, carrying the memory of a murdered family, a ruined kingdom, and the general she believes helped destroy them both.
Seren was supposed to be a hero.
But when villages begin vanishing without blood, bodies, or warning, Seren is sent north and forced into an alliance with a beautiful, dangerous woman who knows far too much about the ancient roots waking beneath the earth.
Aelira wants revenge.
Seren wants the truth.
Neither of them expects desire to become the most dangerous thing between them.
As buried magic stirs and the lies of the past begin to unravel, villain and savior must decide what they truly are to each other — enemies, weapons, or the only two monsters capable of stopping what waits below.
High Fantasy • Dark Romance • Slow Burn • Sapphic Enemies to Lovers
527 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 5, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
This was my first time reading an advanced epub copy of book. Montana does an amazing job of weaving details into her chapters that not only help paint the story in your head, but sets the stage for a wonderfully worded world building. I’m not usually a slow burn reader (and this book is entirely a slow burn and intense lovers to enemies type of dynamic between the two female leads), but the author gives little interactions that keep you wanting more. Her use of descriptions and details for world building in this book leads me to believe the next book in the series is going to be intense and where all the yearning pays off between Aelira and Seren. The enemies to lovers interactions throughout the whole book is a great blend of well played jabs, mixed with emotions, historical significance, and eventual a softness that shows the relationship is turning from enemies to the possibility of something softer.
I wish we would have been given a little “payoff” for all the yearning and build up between the two leads, but I am hopeful book 2 will be full of it!
I wish we would have been given a little “payoff” for all the yearning and build up between the two leads, but I am hopeful book 2 will be full of it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was an ARC reader and was drawn in to the world building and story telling! The two main characters are sassy, intelligent, and deeply troubled in the most delicious way! It ended in a way that had me itching for more and I am excited to know that Part 2 of this series will be rapid released later this year or early 2027! This is an amazing read if you like lyrical fantasy, slow burn, enemies to lovers, and amazing side characters! Thank you for allowing me to be an ARC reader! I can't wait to get my physical copy!
September 6, 2026
This is a beautifully written story. The writing itself is thoughtful and poetic at times, though not at the expense of the story. The characters have depth and I cared for them immediately.
The only issue I have is that due to the dual perspectives, the timing could be weird. I wasn't always sure where I was on a timeline.
Overall I fell in love with the characters and the story. It's something I genuinely enjoyed reading, and I'm eager for the next in the series to come out. It's something I definitely recommend to others.
The only issue I have is that due to the dual perspectives, the timing could be weird. I wasn't always sure where I was on a timeline.
Overall I fell in love with the characters and the story. It's something I genuinely enjoyed reading, and I'm eager for the next in the series to come out. It's something I definitely recommend to others.
October 6, 2026
The Last Rose of Ashwood started pretty… I guess different would be the word. It introduced us to two of the main characters and told the story from their points of views and different thought processes but a main line story. Kinda like we are seeing their thoughts of each other in a way which was unique. It was very slow and things didn’t start picking up until midway, closer to the end. And of course it left me on a cliff hanger… THE AUDACITY. Will for sure pick up book two.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a great slow burn sapphic fantasy read! The details of the world created are impeccable and the characters are delightful! I enjoyed the book a lot and the ending has me wanting the next book now!! I cannot wait for everyone to be able to read The Last Rose of Ashwood!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews