Roots of Ruin

Garden of Thorns #3

by Amber Mitchell

They did the impossible, but their problems are far from over…

After freeing the Delmarion empire, Rose and Rayce must go to Varsha, the desert home Rose fled when she was a child—the country she’s meant to rule.

Rayce is the new emperor of Delmar, Varsha’s longtime enemy, but that won’t stop him from assisting the girl he loves. Armed with the brute force of Rayce’s military, Rose sets out to free her people from the oppressive rule of the usurper king who killed her father.

But even if they win, how can she be queen to her homeland and in love with the man ruling its bitter enemy? With her loyalties split between heart and crown, Rose must find a way to do the impossible again…unite two kingdoms at war, or sacrifice half of herself to save the other.

The Garden of Thorns series is best enjoyed in
Book #1 Garden of Thorns
Book #2 War of the Wilted
Book #3 Roots of Ruin

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Fiction, Fantasy Romance

380 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 16, 2021

About the author

Amber Mitchell graduated from the University of South Florida with a BA in Creative Writing. She likes traveling to new places, reading, D&D, history, good puns and great food.

When she isn’t putting words on paper, she is obsessing over the newest fandom in her life or exploring new places with her husband Brian. They live a small town in Florida with their young son and three cats, where they are plotting their next great adventure.

Reviews

[Danielle's · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series. There’s a two year gap between this and the last book and I would highly recommend having a refresher before starting this. It’s a continuous story that needs to be read in order.

Rose has helped start the journey to peace in one kingdom but what of her own. When she’s giving the cruel facts of the fate of her own people she knows what she must do. Lucky for her so does the shotgun. With their passion still on hold it’s time to get this story back on the road.

Can two kingdoms learn to move forward and what about Rose where will her fate end up.

This is fast paced and a great adventure series. Rose has a twisted past but her heart is kind. Let’s see what she can do for her own people.

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Alaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Roots of Ruin is the final installment of Garden of Thorns series. I wasn't expecting everything to fall into this little box with a neat bow on top, but it did. I've honestly enjoyed the entire journey from the very first page to the very last. Things either went the way I planned in my head or they gave me whiplash.

Then there's the characters, they were wonderful throughout the entire series. I feel like they are all a part of my family now. We've been through so much and I'm not sure I will be able to cope without them now. The romance was easy to fall in love with too. Even when the characters were being frustratingly annoying and made me want to strangle them. They were hopelessly devoted to one another and it truly showed in this one.

Other than that, all the twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. It's definitely bittersweet to reach the end of this and I'll have to find another series to fall in love with. Maybe even dive into another book that Amber writes in the near future. I'll gladly volunteer as tribute for that.

[Leelynn (Sometimes Leelynn Reads) ❤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Chapter by Chapter, Netgalley, and Entangled Teen for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

It’s definitely difficult to give a good recap of what’s happening without spoiling the previous novels, but that’s prone to happen when reviewing the final book in a trilogy – or any sequel book for that matter. Our main characters come from warring empires / kingdoms / places to rule, and in the spirit of star-crossed lovers, there are things they have to figure out in order to keep their love from falling apart at the seams.

Rayce is the new emperor of Delmar, while Rose must return to Varsha in order to save her people. Despite going there with good intentions, would Varsha see an incoming Delmarian army as help? For sure the usurper king wouldn’t believe so, but then again the whole point is to get rid of that dude so that Rose can return to her rightful place on the throne. Still, I wouldn’t have been surprised if the people of Varsha saw this as an act of war on them as a whole, not as an act of liberation.

Looks like she is going to have to bring peace to yet another warring kingdom, and somehow get her people to realize that Delmar isn’t their enemy anymore… if she wants to be able to have the love of her life without her people believing she’s a traitor. You know how it is.


I thought that this was pretty good! I love stories about bringing peace to a place dealing with corruption, and seeing young people being the ones to make the changes that the world needs. It’s a reminder that it’s going to be the younger generations that will be super instrumental in making the changes we need to see in our real life world, and having the inspiration from fantasy worlds can give us that push we need. Is that me being preachy? Nah, it’s just something I know we need to see right now. I liked the relationship between Rayce and Rose, especially since we were able to see it develop and grow over the course of three novels. I think they work pretty well together and it kind of reinforces that idea that people from opposite sides of the track – so to speak – can help one another see things from a totally different perspective. Teamwork makes the dream work, right??

Anyway, I’m glad I got to read this one, and I think it was a great ending to the trilogy. I can’t wait to see what other work Mitchell will have in store for us in the future. Definitely take this trilogy into account and try it out for yourselves!

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Young Adult / Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4

*Thoughts*

Roots of Ruin, by author Amber Mitchell, is the third installment in the authors Garden of Thorns series. The story is told in the first person narrative by Rose, aka Arianna Vasile, aka the lost princess of Varsha. Hundreds of years ago, there was a single country called Delmar. Then, Varsha came to being and hundreds of years of constant war followed. Delmar now has a new Emperor thanks to the actions of Rose, Rayce, Arlo, and Marin. One of the first things on Rayce's docket is to keep his promise to Ariana by freeing Varsha and letting them decide if they want to reunify the countries or stay separate.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...

[Erin Arkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this final installment of the Garden of Thorns series. I did have to go back to review book two just to remind myself of what happened and the threads of the storyline and if it's been a while for you, I definitely recommend doing the same.

This book picks up almost where the last one left off and we are immediately pulled into Rose and Rayce's stories. There's still plenty of action and swoons in this book so if you like that, consider picking it up. Not only did I get a satisfying ending to their story, I also got great character progression and an interesting story that made me want to see what was going to happen next.

If you haven't started this series yet, I recommend it if you're looking for a YA fantasy series that is complete. I'll be looking forward to the next book that Mitchell writes for sure!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

I've been waiting for this book since I read the first two in 2018, and I was starting to wonder if it would fall victim to the Unfinished Series Plague like so many other book series I've enjoyed (Dear publishers: Don't do that!). Thanks to Amber Mitchel for replying to my Tweet(s?) a while ago and assuring me that yes, the book was still going to be published.

This book was a fitting ending to the series, which has been a solid 4 stars throughout the whole journey. The writing skillfully done--poetic at times with recurring themes of floral imagery but not overbearing and overly saccharine. Occasionally cumulative adjectives preceding a noun felt out of order (I kid you not, there is an order), but that's really the only complaint I had about the writing. Story wise, I feel like everything flowed naturally and went exactly where it should have. A couple of the solutions were perhaps a little convenient, but neither of them was easy or unbelievable. Character development continued its progression. Although the twists weren't entirely out of the blue for me, I can say that I questioned my assumptions up until the moment the truth was revealed. I liked that Rayce (almost 20 in this book) and Rose never wavered in their devotion to each other, despite the many obstacles their relationship faced.

And in case you're wondering (as I did until just now when I Googled it--why didn't I do it before?), "Kacper" is pronounced similarly to "Casper." It's Polish.

How it ends: Because Rose used Boranite to heal Rayce in the previous book, it has been warring with the Zarenite within him. Any time they touch, it kind of flips a switch in him and causes him to become incredibly violent, especially towards her. Time is spent experimenting and trying to find a cure, but nothing happens before they leave Delmar.

One of Darra Shing's soldiers stumbles into the city to tell her that King Ganem in Varsha is rounding up rebels and going to toss them into Gyre (a sand pit). Rose is determined to save them, and she enlists the help of Delmar to do it. Darra encourages her all along the way, telling her how much the people need a strong female leader to overthrow Ganem and lead the people to unite the kingdoms. Rayce has their stockpile of Zarenite hidden in a secret location outside of Varsha for when they need it.

As they are freeing the prisoners from cages within a cave near the Gyre, Darra bumps Rose, who falls onto Rayce. Her touch flips the switch, and then there's a bloody fight, ending in the deaths of all the Varshan soldiers who had been sleeping. Most of the prisoners are sent to a safe location, while a few are to continue on with Rose & co. to tell the other members of the rebellion about what happened and confirm to them that Delmar is there to help rather than to invade.

Darra introduces Rose and Rayce to some members of the rebellion. They are supposed to meet up with Darra's source, but it turns out that the king is there with his soldiers instead and attacks them. They manage to escape, and Darra is waiting outside to help them. She says that when she found out that the info had been leaked to the king, she pretended to be waiting to attack but was actually there to help them (she's high up in the king's confidence).

I'm forgetting something here, so forgive me that. For some reason, the king and his army is marching towards where the majority of the Delmarian army is waiting. Rose and Rayce enlist the help of the rebels and Darra in making a plan to intercept them. They will slip into the Varshan army ranks exiting the city and then use a combination of Boranite and Zarenite to make an explosion that will signal the Delmarians about the coming Varshan army. Only it turns out that Darra is the mole and turns on them (the king had promised to marry her for her information, and she intended to kill him so she could have all the power). There's a battle. Arlo knocks Rayce out and goes with his mother, telling Rose that he believes it's what's right and the only way to unite the kingdoms.

They form another plan to assassinate the king and/or Darra. Rose will pose as one of the aerial dancers at a grand feast the king is having to celebrate catching what he refers to as the imposter princess, after which she will be executed. Before it, she discovers the Gardner is in league with Darra and is there. During the aerial dance, she tries to kill the king or Darra (I forget which), but Darra stops her. Everyone escapes. Marin is captured.

More plans, including rescuing Marin and taking the city. Long story short, Rose and some of the Flowers go after Marin and find out (from Arlo talking to his mother) that she is being held in Rose's old room. They rescue her, and Rose kills the Gardner. Marin tells her about explosions that Darra has set throughout the city and will blame on her and Delmar. They hunt down Darra and the king and manage to find Rayce as well. Darra wounds Rayce gravely and escapes. Rose kills the king and then gets help for Rayce, but it's unclear whether he'll live or die. As he's being taken away, she runs to save a little girl from an explosion and is badly burned up her back before she passes out.

She wakes up in the same cave cage where they rescued the prisoners earlier, held with a group of other people. Darra and Arlo are both there, and Arlo refuses to even listen to her. Darra blames the explosions and all the death on Rose and takes credit for the king's death. She suggests the people sentence her to the Gyre but leaves it up to them. They decide she will die at dawn.

As she is about to be pushed off of the platform into the pit, Arlo questions his mother about whether or not Rose's death is actually the right thing. Because of their conversation, which Arlo secretly blares to the gathered crowd using a tiny speaker Piper invented (he took it from Rayce before knocking him out), everyone discovers Darra's lies and plotting. Darra takes Rose over the edge with her, but Arlo is able to pull her (Rose) out with the rope that was binding her.

Rayce is there in the crowd, injured but healing (the sword didn't hit anything vital, fortunately). Arlo was acting under cover with Rayce's knowledge. Since they needed Darra to believe it, they chose not to tell Rose because then she would really believe Arlo's loyalty to his mother, which would convince Darra.

Rayce is gradually becoming able to control his reaction to Rose touching him, and they're able to embrace without difficulty. Rose addresses the people and promises to lead them across the sands to Delmar, where they will find a new home.

Sometime later, Rayce and Rose are leading the people in burning down the gate that separated the two kingdoms. He proposes to her, and she accepts.

Note: I don't recall anything other than some violence.

[Billie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roots of Ruin is a fast-paced, emotional, and satisfying conclusion to Amber Mitchell’s Garden of Thorns series. From the opening chapters, the story pulls you back into a world shaped by rebellion, sacrifice, and fragile hope. I loved how the book balances political tension with deeply personal stakes, every choice feels heavy, and every character moment matters.

What stood out most is how Mitchell ties up the overarching journey with a blend of action, heart, and growth. Rose continues to shine as a heroine whose strength comes not just from survival, but from compassion and conviction. Her relationship with Rayce also feels earned and steady, offering moments of tenderness amidst all the chaos.

The pacing is brisk, the worldbuilding remains vivid, and the final act delivers the kind of emotional payoff that makes reading a full trilogy worth it. It’s a strong, well-crafted finale that left me both satisfied and nostalgic for the world.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this finale in exchange for an honest review!

[E.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Recommendation: 10 Stars
( I received this book free in exchange for my honest review )

This book is the epic conclusion to an epic series. Picking up right after the last book, we're swept back into the action, romance, and adventure.

Like the other books, I was quickly pulled into this world. The pace is fast but detailed. The action is well written and placed excellently within all the madness. The traditions were near seamless, and the romance fit like a glove. Like the rest in this series, you can say that this book is balanced, believable, and nothing is done without thought to the overall plot.

As this is the last book in the series, I leave my review at this, as I don't want to spoil any of this beautiful series.

So please take my super high recommendation and my stamp of approval that you will get lost in this fantastic series.

Happy Reading

- E.A. Walsh

[Taylor Fenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I often think of this series because I really loved the first two books and was hoping for there to be a third book so I was happy when I was given an eARC to read.

It's been a couple years since the second book came out and I definitely needed a refresher on where we left off. I do recommend rereading or at least refreshing yourself on the previous two books before starting this one.

Rose has grown so much as a character from the first book and it's been so rewarding watching her character arc.

We start Roots of Ruin with peace in Delmar now that Rayce is the new Emperor but Rose and Rayce are unable to touch due to a method used to save Rayce's life in book two. And what of Rose's homeland? Don't worry, there is plenty of action and swoonworthy moments in this book and it leaves readers with a satisfying end in this truly fantastic trilogy.

Overall, this book was well worth the wait and I'm so happy to have read this series. I highly recommend it to all fantasy lovers.

[Anshul (stories.buddy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the Entangled Teen and Amber Mitchell for the opportunity to read her book and review it.

"Roots of Ruin" is the third book in the Garden of Thorns series. Although I have not read the first two books but it didn’t prove to be any hurdle while reading the third. The writing is good with point on explanation so that you will not feel lost, it’s simple and easy to follow. It’s a fast paced story of Rose, who is the long lost princess of Varsha and after the Rayce win’s for the Delmar, this book focuses on Rose and the hardship, the struggle that comes when she goes to claim her throne from the false king and in the road map for it she comes across some hard betrayals. The chemistry between Rose and Rayce helps them make a strong connection and survive this action packed journey. It’s remarkable how the character of Rose develops.

[Lynndell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roots of Ruin by Amber Mitchell
Book three in the Garden of Thorns series.
Rose/Arianna works alongside Rayce to unite their two kingdoms and to restore her rightful place as ruler of her kingdom. There’s a traitor in their group who keeps giving valuable information to the enemy and man who took Arianna’s father’s life and crown, King Ganem. As king, he has broken apart families and caused extreme poverty and violence. With Rayce’s help, they plan to bring the kingdoms together and create peace. The stress picks up at the last third of the book when the traitor is discovered and the rebels find themselves in a twisted mess. A solid ending in this YA dystopian series, 4 stars!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roots of Ruin was a solid ending to a thrilling trilogy. The book picks up right where the second leaves off, where we are pulled into the world of Rose and Rayce. The entire book was action-packed and there were plenty of swoon-worthy moments throughout the entire storyline.

The ending was so satisfying and it wrapped up the series perfectly. There was such strong character progression and a thrilling story throughout that had me eager to turn the next page.

If you haven’t read this series, you are sorely missing out. I highly recommend it for your next binge read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC copy.

[Destiny Bridwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. In this book we find out more about Rose's pass and the world she fled as a child and the man who killed her father. Rayce is the new Emperor of Delmar. Now Rayce, Rose and Rayce's army march on Varsha where Rose is the rightful heir. The two kingdoms have been at war for as long as anyone can remember. Can Rose and Rayce unite the two kingdoms with a mole among? There was a lot going on in this book. I think it was a good way to wrap up the story.

[Kadie · Rating 1 out of 5]

The fact this took me 6 days to finish should tell you how much of a clusterfuck it was.

The plot was all over the place and there was no way the good guys would have won with so few soldiers and not knowing the landscape.

The whole thing was so ridiculous.

[Holly Bryan]

I'm so readyyyyy!! Let's do this, y'all!

[Ellen Gottlich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great wrap up to an enjoyable series. Looking forward to her next book

[Shelly Carman · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was well written. The ending was cheesy and trite.

[Shay · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts an opinions are my own.”

Roots of Ruin is the third book in the Garden of Thorns series. This book (and the whole series) is very fast paced, and I was able to read it in one day! The writing is simple and while there is still a lot of action, the story is easy to follow. This series also has such a cute romance! There were surprising plot twists as well!
Overall, this book is very fact paced, filled with action and romance! I really enjoyed reading this book (and series)! I love the main characters (Rose and Rayce)! I will be recommending this series to more people in the future!
A solid 3.5/5 stars!

Some of my favorite lines from the book (no spoilers):

“If I am the flower, then he is the sun. I always want to face him.”

“And then there you were. My entire world shifted in that moment, and I feel like it’s been tilting towards you ever since.”

“Because I believe in you, just like you believed in me.”

“I learn to love you more every second of every day.”

[Sarai Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know this is going to be an unpopular opinion, but I wasn't as invested in this book like I was with the others. I think it was Rose herself that turned me off. In the first two books, she seems strong although unsure. A wonderful contrast that helped her character grow and thrive, but this time around, I felt that Rose was unsure and weak. Everything all the other naysaying characters in the book thought she was. At the end, I didn't want her to take her rightful place as ruler of Varsha.

The rest of the world was kinda lost to me as I was hyper focused on how annoyed I was with Rose, that's my fault. I don't have much input there.

I will still always have a special place in my heart for this series and will need to reread the first book as I loved it so very much.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

Sara | Book Confessions of an ExBallerina

[Rileigh 24 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Domo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.