Roses and Ruin: A Fast-paced Humorous Urban Fantasy Book

by Evangeline Hunter

Never trust a woman who knows both wedding flowers and where to hide a corpse.

My name is Anastasia Ashwood. I run The Botanicum, a magical flower shop in New York City, where the roses bite, the orchids judge, and the customers occasionally breathe fire. I’m also a dryad, a retired assassin, and a fugitive from Sentinel Security Group, the organization that trained me, betrayed me, and murdered everyone I loved. One day, I will bring Sentinel down and kill their leader, Isaiah White.

In the meantime, I am trying to keep my shop alive, stay hidden, and pretend wedding flowers are the most dangerous thing on my schedule. Then a high-profile supernatural wedding turns into a murder scene when I find a cleaning woman dead in the bridal suite, killed by a professional assassin.

Now I have to solve the murder, protect my shop, deal with a judgmental telepathic cat who may or may not have adopted me, and follow the first real lead to Sentinel I have had in a year.

Unfortunately, sexy incubus Detective Julian Blake is watching my every move, and if he discovers what I really am, the killer may be the least of my problems.

295 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 12, 2026

Reviews

[Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I want to change my scoring by 0.50 or more of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)

Spin off from 'The Witch's bestiary'. -- You don't have to have read that series first to understand this one, though the MC and others from it do make appearances. -- I rated that series at 3.75*.

I had read the prequel a couple of months ago and rated that at 4, but its still not on GR to be able to review it.

I like the MC.
I like her two female allies. -- Using bland terms to not spoil.
I adore the cat. -- I don't care that I've spoilt that, because I love the cat.
I am so far neutral on the two male would be love interests. -- If its like the original series, its a 'harem' situation not an annoying love triangle.
I like the other characters.
I like the world.




First time read the author's work?: No

Will you be reading more?: Yes

Would you recommend?: Yes


------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)

All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked

Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)

[Ivey Byrd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Roses and Ruin is a great start to an urban fantasy series! Anastasia is a unique character full of secrets and interesting powers, and I loved her personality and how she interacted with everyone around her. The type of character who is grumpy and snarky while also having a gentle heart and caring too much is a character I love and one Anastasia embodies perfectly. I especially love her interactions with Mochi, as I have similar conversations with my cats. Mochi’s story definitely pulled at my heartstrings, and you can’t go wrong with a snarky magical companion.

The plot is one that kept me interested and wanting more, so much so that I finished it in one sitting. The author laid out a great set up full of mystery, high stakes, and even a possible romance to come (one I hope we see more of in book two). The main focus of this book was setting up the framework for Anastasia’s journey to getting revenge and finding answers to clear her name, so there is no romance to speak of, but the story is strong enough that it doesn’t really need it. I just love a good urban fantasy with a romance tied in so I am always looking for that. Anyway, I can’t wait to see what happens in book two since we are left on a bit of a cliffhanger, but book two comes out soon so the wait won’t be long. Fans of Cecy Robson or Patricia Briggs should definitely check this series out.

[Maribeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the perfect vacation read.

Two of the things that make me want to stop reading a book very quickly are poor grammar and predictable writing. That was not this book! I enjoyed it very much, and didn’t want to put it down. While most of the supporting characters were not very developed, two of my favorites were (can we get an Adventures of Mochi novella next?) I was pleasantly surprised by the character development of the protagonist, which was something I wished for in the novel I previously read by the same author. I don’t usually choose murder mysteries as a genre to read (but always gravitate towards vampires, werewolves & other magical beings), but after dipping my toes in this world via a different book, I did want to try this one. I enjoyed some of the subtle and not so subtle one-liners. I’m also looking forward to the next one in this series, even if Mochi is still a supporting character.

I deeply appreciated that this book lacked graphic sex and violence (impressive, for a murder mystery.) It wasn’t needed, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book for a teen. I did have a difficulty getting this book to transfer to my kindle; and when I finally gave up and transferred it to my phone to read I was frustrated by the ap continually hyphenating monosyllabic words such as te-ens, ne-ed and tea-ring. I think this is the fault of the ap I was using, though.

[Roxy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roses and Ruin was a great continuation from its prequel, Seeds and Suffering. There is a healthy dose of all sorts of magical creatures, a hint of romance, and lots of mystery, coupled with some humor and a dash of sarcasm. The introduction to Mochi, a fostered cat, is still an adorable addition to the character line-up, crossing over characters from The Witch's Bestiary.  Anastasia aka Selina, the main character, is much better developed than I expected, and we can truly get to "know" her a bit more, which illustrates the growth and talent that is continuing to develop within the author, Evangeline Hunter.  Anastasia's character is slowly developing depth, and I am looking forward to watching her personality become more complex as our author continues expanding into areas that demonstrate truly human complexity (even though she is a dryad). I would love to see the same character development with the supporting characters.  

On a personal level, I love books with magic, some fantasy, great world building, sci fi, thrillers, etc (think King, Sigler, Grisham, Maas) and don't necessarily need graphic sex thrown in that really has no pertinent role in the story, and I loved that this book didn't jump on the extra spicy bandwagon, even though one of the supporting characters was a hot incubus detective. It was not needed and would not have added any value to the story.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

When it comes to reading, I'm a big fan of the supernatural, and paranormal romance is my go-to genre. So of course I've read about dryads before; I just never knew they could be so bad-A. The MFC in this is a dryad assassin on the run from the shady supernatural organization that trained her. I couldn't have said yes quicker. I'm new to Evangeline Hunter, and let me tell you this: Roses and Ruin was spectacular! I loved "Anastasia's" snarky attitude, and her magic was awesome. Think Poison Ivy's powers only better. And I'm not at all jealous that she eats like a Gilmore Girl. Ana was cool AF.


For someone whose motto is basically 'not my monkeys, not my circus,' the universe sure did decide to make everything Ana's problem. It was so entertaining. The characters had so much personality. From a witch with a past to a technimancer activist to a telepathic cat, heck, even the plants have distinctive personalities. Something that will probably be the cause of my future nightmares. Nevertheless, this book had personality. And the murder mystery was equally compelling. I had the best time figuring out the who, what, when, and why. Roses and Ruin made me incredibly happy. Ten out of Ten. Will recommend it to anyone who enjoys urban fantasy, murder mysteries, or just loves a really good book.

[James Lear · Rating 5 out of 5]

What does a Dryad assassin do when she does not want to be found and has gone into hiding? She owns and runs a magical florist shop of course, and has a telepathic cat adopt her.
In hiding from the organisation that trained her, betrayed her, and killed everyone that meant anything to her, she now owns and runs "The Botanicum" a magical flower shop that may or may not be just as dangerous as she is.
While for filling a floral order for a wedding she is blamed for a murder she did not commit Anastasia, investigates the case herself to clear her name, with the help of course from her cat Moki.
While doing this she has to hide who she is from the Incubus Detective that is watching her every move, and also try and follow any leads that could lead her to the organisation that she has vowed to end.
In the style of the Witches Bestiary this book does not disappoint with the characters and villains introduced and brought to life within its pages. The character development and world building are on point as they are slowly brought to life, leaving you wanting to know more, to explore more of the world as you become immersed story.
An amazing murder mystery set in a magical world with a fantastic supernatural cast of characters.
A fantastic start, can not wait for Book 2 to be released.

[Susan1566 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anastasia Ashwood is a dryad who runs The Botanicum, a magical flower shop in New York. She is also a retired assassin. She previously worked for the Sentinel Security Group, who trained her then when she found out they weren’t really a force for good, killed her mentor, love, and friends. They are hunting her and she is planning on taking them down.
In the meantime, her flower shop is working on a big wedding job for the local dragoness, which is not easy.
When Anastasia finds the body of a maid in the penthouse suite, she becomes a suspect, being interrogated by the incubus detective, Julian Blake.
While trying to keep her identity hidden and clear her name, all types of adventures happen.
This book has mystery, action, surprises, suspense, and humour. There is some different magic, all types of paranormals and more.
And there is a fantastic, grumpy, salmon loving, magical cat.
It is an easy, quick read with a couple of characters from the Witch's Bestiary series.
Everything I’ve read by this author is wonderful and I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.

[Nickole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rcvd an ARC from the author for giving my two cents.

We meet assassin turned florist Anastasia. She left her old life behind when she found out the Sentinels were not who they seemed. A new identity and cover was the way to go. She bought a flower shop from a dying witch. Anastasia along with her assistant Sophie as doing flowers for a powerful dragon family. Anastasia unfortunately found a dead house keeper and a blonde man with a silver and ruby knife. He managed to escape but she was arrested for murder which she didn't commit. Of course the detective is hot and an incubus and always on the way of her own research. Something doesn't add up. Anastasia thinks the assassin works for Sentinels but needa to prove it. Clearing her name is on top of the list but also if finding the killer. On top of that a white cat shows up and she finds out Mochi belonged to the former witch owner. There is more to the cat then meets the eye. Anastasia must stay a step ahead of the bad guys but the detective keeps showing up. Drama, deceit, and an opinionated cat makes this a good read.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

The plot of this book is interesting but I do have some issues with the book.

First, the FMC Anastasia is kind of useless in a fight for a retired assassin. She’s also not nearly careful enough considering she’s in hiding.

Secondly, did her assistant Sophie not wonder where she was and what she was doing for several days when she didn’t show up to work or apparently even make contact? This is a fairly large issue considering Anastasia is supposed to just be a dryad who owns and runs a flower shop. She’s not great at blending in and acting like a regular florist. She barely even tries. And Sophie never mentions anything about it at all.

Third, and last, there are so many instances of a lack of contractions in dialogue. This is a massive pet peeve of mine. “You do not have to tell me, if you do not want to.” Sounds stilted and way too formal from any of the characters in this book.

However, I’m likely to continue this series because it does end on a cliffhanger and I want to know what happens.

[Tracey Craigs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of Kim Harrison and Jennifer Estep, look no further. Your new favourite assassin/florist is here.

Imagine the sass of Rachel Morgan combined with the lethal instincts of Gin Blanco. That’s our heroine: a dryad who has to earn a living, and florist is a much safer profession than assassin, at least in theory.

Add in a sexy incubus detective, a teenage witch (no, not that one), a telepathic cat with strong opinions and a very refined (for that read "expensive") palate, and a suspicious death at a society wedding, and you have a deliciously chaotic crime caper that will leave you begging for more. Hell, even the plants have attitude.

There’s just one tiny complication: her previous employers are a shady group of mercenaries masquerading as philanthropists and they would very much like a word, no make that a sentence; specifically a death sentence. So our heroine would very much like her secret identity to stay that way.

I’m deliberately not saying much more because spoilers aren't cool. What I will say is that by the end of this book, I was very much ready for the next one.

[Willow Poteet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anastasia Greenwood is a dryad assassin with problems. She's a fugitive from an organization that trained her and then betrayed her. An organization that thrives on murder and mayhem.
Her magical flower shop, The Botanicum, holds flowers for all occasions, including those fittings for the high profile wedding of a dragon-shifter, whose mother is making everything more difficult.
But not nearly as difficult as discovering the dead body of one of the venue's maids in the bridal suite with a man dressed in black standing over the body.
The man escapes without being seen and Anastasia is found, standing over the body, by the mother of the bride, instantly making her the prime suspect.
This is the first book in the series and I can't wait to read the next one!!
The action is constant, the plot twists are plentiful and I just love Anastasia and the bakeneko, Mochi, who adopts her!
I was blessed to be able to be an advanced reader and I am happily leaving this voluntary review!

[Jada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roses and Ruin is a great start to a new series! Assassin turned botanist & magical flower shop owner, Anastasia is a whole lot of personality in an unassuming package. She's full of snark and sass and plenty of repressed rage and intrusive thoughts (lol!), but she also cares, secretly deep down. I absolutely love her character; her thoughts and dialogue had me literally laughing out loud. The story is full of mystery and adventure and the characters are all well written with truly distinct personalities, and I adore Mochi. This is just the beginning of the series, so a good deal of this book was introducing us to the characters and world building, but it was done in such a way that flowed nicely and had a good pace. I'm excited for the next book!

I received this book as an ARC and voluntarily chose to leave a review.

[Kerry Amick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay! Finally for some reason having trouble reviewing this book anywhere! but let me tell you LOVED this book and LOVED that it included some of my favorite characters from her Bestiary series there was so much more to discover there. Anastasia Ashwood is my next book series obsession, and I am already preordered for the next book. Not going to post any spoilers here but I will say if you like books that leave you waiting for more and laugh out loud (yes, I did) then you absolutely have to start this series! As always Evangeline Hunter did not disappoint, if you have not had the chance to read any of her books this is your chance, and I would read the Witches Bestiary books first. Well done Ms. Hunter and you belong to my list of favorite authors, have not had one moment of remorse reading any of your books.

[Kasia V · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of an ARC received from the author.

A former assassin who went on the run after she found out that her employer was not a force for good. A witch who went on the run after she found out that her coven was not a force for good. An incubus detective who may actually be a force for good. And a grieving cat that is definitely an agent of chaos.

Overall, I rated this book 3.5 ⭐️. The plot is fairly good and the murder mystery is interesting. The cat is a definite highlight. I felt let down by the rather 1 dimensional characters. Anastasia’s personality is “assassin”, while Detective Julian Blake’s personality is “incubus”. This may be due to this being the first book in a series and I’m hopeful that we see some more range from the characters in future books.

[Verity · Rating 5 out of 5]

The whole concept of this book sounds like such a fun mix of urban fantasy, mystery, and humor. A flower shop where the roses bite and the orchids have opinions is already enough to get my attention . Anastasia also sounds like a really interesting main character, especially with her assassin past and the secrets she's trying to keep hidden.

I love the idea of a murder mystery mixed with supernatural characters, dangerous secrets, and a detective who might complicate things even more. And that telepathic cat sounds like it could steal every scene it's in! The story has such a unique setup, and I'm curious to see how everything unfolds. Definitely an intriguing start to The Botanicum series!

[Pam Bales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Seeds and Suffering prequel to The Botanicum so was looking forward to this one - the first in the series. The book is well written and leaves the reader ready for more.
Magic abounds - all sorts of characters - human, magical, mythical, animal, etc. Has a great tie to Hunter's Witch's Bestiary Series that adds to the enjoyment.
One character is seeking revenge for wrongs done in the past. Some are running from their pasts, many have hidden magic, lovely finding clues to their pasts and what the future holds for them.
There are interesting romantic situations.

Highly recommend and am looking forward to more in the series.

[Trudie Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew this book would be good, having read The Witch's Bestiary series, but it still exceeded my expectations. Great storyline, amazing characters. Having a police detective who is an incubus is inspired and the cat is absolutely brilliant. We don’t see much of the hot neighbour, but I am expecting him to play a bigger part as the series continues. Anastasia herself is well thought out and interesting. I’m looking forward to reading more about her. I love the way characters from the other series appear in this book. This author has a way of writing which makes her books not only enjoyable, but amusing in some places. I highly recommend this book and this author.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book weaves a magical world filled with the extraordinary sitting atop the ordinary world, and I loved it! Anastasia is a strong, interesting FMC whose abilities and skills are hidden behind her florist facade. The world and character building are both strong and compelling, and the cast has that indefinable quality, which , alongside a good story, makes you want to keep reading. There is wit, mystery, fabulous plants, an enigmatic, judgemental cat, a couple of potential love interests, oh, and a murder or two. Definitely strong on entertainment! I am definitely looking forward to more from this world! 💖💖💖💖

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

You had me at retired dryad assassin.
This was an absolutely fantastic read. You would think doing wedding flowers would be a less chaotic Iife than being an assassin, but after reading this book am not sure.
When a supernatural wedding turns into a crime scene Anastasia gets mixed up in the investigation to figure out what really happened, whilst also navigating her budding business and keeping it afloat. I love the whole vibe of the Botanicum -magical flower shop- this along with Incubus detectives and judgemental telepathic cats it makes for a really enchanting read. Can't wait for the rest of the series. Highly recommend.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book! The world the author has created is interesting and leaves room to be built out further.

The main characters are also very good. The are likeable and all have flaws and strengths. There was lots of action and the story moved along at a good pace and kept me glued to the book.

The prequel to this book gives you a good grounding in the main characters backstory and how she is going to deal with her situation. This book also has hooks into one of the authors other series and from that one we get a cat with ‘special abilities’ and a cat’s snark.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always look forward to reading EH's stories. They are a bit different than my normal read and I appreciate the slower, less sexy tales. Not that the romance is not there, because whoooee, with an incubus detective and an extremely hot neighbour, romance is going to play a role for sure. Anastasia is an interesting conundrum. On one hand she just wants to disappear and stay safe. On the other hand, she wants to break out and take her revenge. While this is only the first of three books, the sense of world building, the bones of the journey and the intro of the players is all set.

[Carol-Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Generally I am a reader of monster and fantasy romance novels but was given an ARC copy of Roses and Ruin and decided to give fantasy mystery a chance. I am so glad I did. This is a fast paced book that follows a tenacious heroine, Anastasia, as she tries to clear her name as a potential murderer. I couldn’t help but like her.

I am looking forward to more of her adventures and am hoping that one of the male characters becomes a love interest - although I can’t decide if I want it to be the detective or the baker next door!

[Hannah Etherton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about Anastasia and her flower shop. But ordinary she did not seem to be for long at all! A familiar cat with hidden sides adopts her, she meets a whole host of interesting characters. There are no quiet days at the Botanicum!
This is great for those who like Secret Agent characters that have had to go on the run from evil organisations they worked for. She is not invincible but very kick ass. Also I want to be able to eat as much food as she does!
Pick this up, you won't regret this fun fast paced read.

[Dee Layton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book I got a bunch of laughs especially after reading the dark book that had just got done reading.
I love how the blurb started when it said never trust a woman that knows how to design wedding flowers but also knows where to hide a corpse.
That just made me laugh and made me want to read this super fast paced funny fantasy book that was just absolutely phenomenal.
I really enjoyed it I thought it was absolutely amazing and I look forward to reading more from this author.
This is the first book I've read by them and it really really was absolutely amazing.

[Liza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Selina/Anastasia (multiple false names) is trying to avoid too much notice from the supernatural community as she hides her real identity while running her florist shop.

I enjoyed the supernatural flowers and plants that Selina/Anastasia had in the shop. The flowers don't just look pretty; then can attack and listen and have personality.

The story had me engaged and happy to keep reading.

Thanks, Evangeline.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I've been a fan of Evangeline Hunter's books for years. I love a strong heroine. I enjoyed her descriptions and quirky turns of phrase:
- "the bumper had the tired look of a car that had survived New York traffic, magical incidents, and owners who considered parallel parking an act of war"
- "everything tastes of flour and panic"

It was an easy read with witty banter and the promise of found family. I am looking forward to the next book!

[Samanta Simão · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoever meets Anastasia now would never guess what she's done in the past. At first glance, she's just an ordinary woman trying to keep her flower shop afloat. When the opportunity comes to work at the wedding of a very traditional family, she doesn't think twice. She swallows plenty of insults from her wealthy client, but eventually her patience snaps... and suddenly, her life is pulled dangerously close to the person she used to be.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

The main characters (Anastasia, Blake, & Sophie) are well-drawn, multi-faceted, and enjoyable.

The action and the mysteries are just right and fit nicely into the pace of the plot.

The humour is first-class and the icing on the cake is Mochi, the "rather special" cat.

This was a good start for what promises to be a really enjoyable series.


(I was fortunate to receive an ARC however the above is, as ever, my own opinion.)

[Abigail Bellemore]

ARC copy - currently it’s in my DNF pile - does not mean it stays there. I am having a hard time staying focused on the story there so much going on. I have read similar books, so it’s not that, it’s the current/season mood I am in book wise.
What I have read I have enjoyed the characters and the environment and world being build gives that manic world that would grab any Harry Potter fan. The cat is definitely a favorite.
I will update my review once I finish it but for now here it is.

[Sarah Waterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun world and interesting characters! As someone who reads many, many books I've seen a lot of tropes but this book managed to bring the newness! Very clever characters. The book is of course amazing, funny, and hard to put down. Really has everything I love in a book. Thank you to Evangeline Hunter and publishers for my ARC copy. I can't wait to read the rest of the series. Evangeline is one of my favorite authors!