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A Forgery of Roses cover art

A Forgery of Roses

Written by: Jessica S. Olson
Narrated by: Billie Fulford-Brown
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Publisher's Summary

"A deliciously twisted gothic fantasy you'll want to read again and again, with characters you'll adore, prose that'll spellbind you, romance you'll swoon over, and a mystery that'll keep you guessing until the last stunning twist."
—Diana Urban, author of
These Deadly Games

From the author of Sing Me Forgotten comes a lush new fantasy novel with art-based magic, romance, and murder…

Myra has a gift many would kidnap, blackmail, and worse to control: she’s a portrait artist whose paintings alter people’s bodies. Guarding that secret is the only way to keep her younger sister safe now that their parents are gone. But one frigid night, the governor’s wife discovers the truth and threatens to expose Myra if she does not complete a special portrait that would resurrect the governor's dead son.

Once she arrives at the legendary stone mansion, however, it becomes clear the boy’s death was no accident. A killer stalks these halls--one disturbingly obsessed with portrait magic. Desperate to get out of the manor as quickly as possible, Myra turns to the governor’s older son for help completing the painting before the secret she spent her life concealing makes her the killer’s next victim.

“A heady blend of the fantastical, the murderous, and the romantic.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED review

“Marvelously magical and steeping with mystery.” —Adalyn Grace, author of All the Stars and Teeth

Also by Jessica S. Olson:
Sing Me Forgotten

©2022 Jessica S. Olson (P)2022 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited

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Lives up to the premise

A good blend of light fantasy, magic, and mystery, A FORGERY OF ROSES has ambitious plotlines and a unique magic system that ultimately make for a solid reading experience.

The story follows a young woman named Myra who can alter reality through painting. Desperate to care for her ill sister, Myra accepts a lucrative job from a posh family looking to secretly restore one of its dead sons back to life. Things become more complex, however when Myra discovers that the supposed accidental death may not have been an accident at all.

Mya is very easy to relate to as she is simply trying to provide for her sister. Despite her magic, she is no great warrior, so I appreciated how and why I was able to empathize with her. She still felt like a teenager, making her interactions with August more believable, given how prone to emotion she was. August himself, the surviving brother and Myra's unexpected companion, was also easy to relate to. He faced many challenges and I appreciated that no matter what anyone thought of him, he always tried to do the right thing.

I quite enjoyed much of the plot. It moved at a good pace, giving time for different details and aspects of the characters and mystery. Some of the twists, especially at the end, surprised me and would make for a good re-read in the future. I enjoyed many of the subplots and how they tied together, even if some of them could have used a bit more time.

The world building might have been fairly light, but I truly enjoyed the magic system. It was unique to me and had rules that were intricate, but understandable. Many of my favorite moments revolved around Myra using her magic.

The writing is good, though the book ends on a somewhat nebulous note that suggest another book is coming, and that not all the plotlines are resolved.

Still, if the premise intrigues you, I think you'll find a good deal to enjoy here. Recommended for lovers of mystery, light and unique magic, art, awkward romances, and the lengths that sisters will go for each other.

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