It had all the right elements to be what I wanted...but the characters fell flat and the story just didn't work for me.

Sorry for the long delay in feedback. I'm working on clearing out my Netgalley backlog.

I enjoyed the writing and the pace of the book but didn't enjoy how flat the background characters felt compared to just how vibrant the main cast felt.

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

3.5 stars

I marked this as Young Adult, but I'm not sure that really fits. Catori, the main character, is 19 and in college. Other main characters either graduated with her or are a few years older: Blake (21), Cruz (24), Kajika (21), Gwenelda (about 30), etc. This technically puts her in the New Adult category, but I hate that category. Since its creation, I've felt like it was a euphemism for pornographic books targeted at an age group that still has one foot in adolescence and the other barely touching the ground of adulthood. Not my thing. And so I didn't want to tarnish my own opinion of this book by relegating it to the dung heap of New Adult.

Just to nitpick (sorry): Catori claims she's in medical school, but she only graduated from high school a year and a half ago. She is attending Boston University, so I looked up the requirements for application into their medical school. While the website doesn't specifically list an undergraduate degree as a prerequisite, applicants are strongly encouraged to earn one. Otherwise, they still have to fulfill all of the college-level coursework prerequisites and provide a compelling explanation for why they did not complete an undergraduate degree. All things considering, I'm going to assume that Catori should have said was a PRE-med student, which is certainly more believable.

On to the book.

I've had a copy of this book for far too long (2017, anyone?). For some reason I lost interest in reading it after I requested it. Other books always seemed more interesting. However, I actually really enjoyed it, despite the comparisons other people have made to Twilight. (And yes, I was a big fan of that series, until those awful movies came out. I haven't been able to read the books since. I know they're not strong literature, but they're fun.) Anyway. Yes, Rose Petal Graves does contain a variety of unbelievable bits, but sometimes I'm willing to overlook those things. Aside from the medical school stuff I already talked about, the biggest complaints I would probably have relate to the love interest(s). Imagine if the romance elements of Twilight and New Moon were all squished tighter into the first book. It's kind of like that, except nobody is tempted to suck anyone's blood. And, to be honest, I'm actually rooting more for guy #2 this time.

The author has done a pretty good job of making me question whether I should be rooting for the faeries or the hunters, and I tend to vacillate between the two. Although developments near the end of the book indicate there be a third option, I think overall I'm Team Hunter. Either way, I am invested to see how this centuries-old conflict plays out, if more hunters are awoken, what Catori chooses to do in terms of her love interests, etc. The histories that these groups are given is interesting, as well as the parts that part-fae humans play.

I've got to commend her for a bit of wisdom she displayed. She walked away (at least so far) from a guy she recognized did not likely have her best interests in mind, despite her attraction to him. And rather than jumping straight into a relationship with anyone, she said to the other guy that she is really not in a good place and would like to start with being friends (not in a brush-off, friend-zoned way).

I am very interested in continuing the series, but I have been unable to find a way to read the rest of the books aside from purchasing them. I understand authors make money by people purchasing their books, but too many times I have bought a book I've never read only to discover I hated it. And so I generally wait until I've had a chance to read the series before purchasing it. Here's hoping I can find it somewhere.

Note: Not a lot of swearing, but 4-5 f words.

I really wanted to enjoy Rose Petal Graves, and boy did I try, but I just couldn't get there. Normally I am all about stories involving fae and, you see, I think that was part of the problem. I have a very set expectation when it comes to fae and Wildenstein tried to create a completely new world where the fae were of her own original creation, which is in theory an awesome idea. Ultimately though, it fell flat. There also seemed to be too much happening without a very clear mapping of what occurred and who was involved. I have no problem following along in stories with many perspectives and complicated situations in a large fantasy world, but this was just messy. An author is supposed to help shepherd readers around their fictional world and I felt like I was left out to pasture.

This was...interesting. The story is unique and the plot flows, that's for sure, but it was strange. I enjoyed the characters and the idea, but at times I found myself utterly confused and unsure of how I felt. I did love the use of Native Americans, which is so rarely seen in YA books, but again, a little predictable at times. All in all, this book is unique and interesting, though it is not a favorite of mine.

I loved this book! The full review will be posted soon at kaitgoodwin.com/books! Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity to connect books to their readers!

This book looked really interesting. But I've seen a lot of unfavorable reviews - several mentioning things about the romance etc. that really put me off wanting to read it. I know a lot of people love it - but I don't think I'd be one of them.

I DNF'd this book about 1/3 of the way through. I had high expectations but this book just wasn't my cup of tea at all.

I loved it. I'm usually not a fan of stories about the Fae, but the writing set this one apart. Plus, it isn't set up as being primarily a romance either, or even secondary. Which makes a HUGE difference. Yes, there is chemistry between the characters, but the way things play out between them is more realistic as to how people actually act with each other.

Once I was done with this one, perfect timing, the sequel came out and I devoured that one as well. I cant wait for the third installment. Great, solid urban fantasy read. Definitely check out the sequel if you enjoyed this one!

Labelled as The Vampire Diaries with faeries and that is true.

This book was just OK for me. I always recommend going ahead and reading a book, if it sounds interesting to you because I am just one person and just because I might not care too much for something, doesn't mean someone else might not love it.

DNF @ 16%

This one of those cases where I requested a book based off of its cover.

I feel like I said most of what annoyed me already in my updates, but let me just reiterate them here.
> First off, I probably didn't read the description, because I generally don't read anything dealing with Native Americans. This isn't because I dislike Native Americans, but because I feel uncomfortable when those cultures are used as a jump off for a story "ancient burial grounds" "curses" it just... it is a bad stereotype I don't like participating in.
Now, I didn't read far enough into this story to know what is going to happen-- I do know that Cat has a Hopi name when she is *insert made up tribe name here* and that really bothered me... I get not wanting to trample on another person's culture, but... I don't know really...

>Next up, how did the bones in the coffin turn to dust already (2 centuries?) and why does Cat ( a 19 y/o med student) believe this explanation? Bones of cavemen are still found today. Now, I'm not a scientist but I'm pretty sure it takes thousands of years for bones to decompose. And, I'm having a hard time believing Cat is in med school at ONLY NINETEEN.

>Lastly, and this one is really more personal, the writing style isn't my thing. I kept getting a paranormal activity or other horror movie vibe -- as in the scene is being set, people ask stupid questions or do stupid things, bad horror movie acting-- I must have messed it all up in my head.

To the above, I'd also like to mention that I had no idea where they were (name, climate, region, time of year) and I just wanted some information!

Plus side? Beautiful cover and I was intrigued by where the Fae lore was going, just not enough to get past everything else.

I wish I'd enjoyed this book more! But sadly it wasn't for me. Thank you to the Publisher for review copy!

Very interesting read, sparked my interest in fairies again!

I was having a bit difficulty trying to understand the story but seems that it makes me more confusing. But I'm willing to give a second chance to read it again. Because it's a fantasy! I'm pretty sure there are somewhere in the book will make me interested to read.

Anyway, thank you publisher for giving me the chance to read it!

Rose Petal Graves contains a mixture a native culture, magic and fantasy elements. It's unique approach to the combination of native magic and the fae myths make for a weird universe that made its own rules. Catori is a seemingly regular girl when
her life is thrown upside down by the tragic and unexpected death of her mother. When she goes back to her home town to mourn, she find a surprisingly suspicious situation. She is seeing things no body else seems to be able to see, and she believes her mother didn't die of natural causes, but that someone had their hand in her death. On a mission to unravel the mystery of her death, Catori meets both powerful friends and foes.
Rose Petal Graves was okay, it had some very interesting mythology and mystery, but it's plot seemed to drag on every once and a while, allowing the reader to get more easily board. There were definitely some interesting character choices in this novel. The fae in the book use powder as the source of most of their magic, their powers of deception primarily, but they can actually run out or loose their powder (therefore loosing their powers), which was strange to read and made the fae less powerful in the mind of the readers. I wasn't really the biggest fan of these renditions of fae, but they were not bad altogether. Catori was a meh character, not terrible, just tolerable. Writing wise the narrative voice of the novel was pretty clean and smooth, which was nice. And although the romance in the novel was wish washy, the romantic leads were interesting on their own rights. All in all, Rose Petal Graves was meh, but could potentially be really enjoyed by a different type of reader, therefore I give it the rating of THREE AND A HALF STARS OUT OF FIVE!!!

I tried so hard to get into this book. I wanted to like it really I did but it was extremely hard to read. The characters felt extremely flat and unrealistic in how they talked. I felt like it dragged on and on through out the book. I wanted less details and more action of what was happening. I don't recommend this book.

Ancient secrets cannot remain buried forever.

Founded two centuries ago by a powerful tribe of Gottwa Indians, Rowan was a quiet town, so quiet that I fled after graduation. Staying away was the plan, but Mom died suddenly.

Dad said she suffered a stroke after she dug up one of the ancient graves in our backyard, which happens to be the town cemetery. Creepy, I know. Creepier still, there was no corpse inside the old coffin, only fresh rose petals.

As we made preparations for Mom’s burial, new people began arriving in Rowan, unnervingly handsome and odd people. I begged them to leave, but they stayed, because their enemies—my ancestors—were beginning to awaken.- Goodreads

*Short Review*

It has been a really long time since a read a book where the protagonist, the main character lacked so much common sense and backbone that I had to reread a page to make sure I read correctly.

I truly apologize if that comes off harsh, but Cat wasn't the brightest tool in the box. She was constantly walked over and she really didn't know how to keep her mouth shut. How are going to tell the man you don't trust everything you know and then make out with him but continue to say I don't trust you?!?!?

Also my biggest issue, how dare you belittle your mother's beliefs as if they were fairy tales? What type of person or daughter specifically would do that to someone they love; someone who keeps the house running, your father taken care of and a business up and running. I was pissed by the whole narrative.

Cat was not a likeable character and the author tried to do so much weaving that at times some things like got lost. The pace was alright but I was so turned off by Cat, I just stopped.

Overall,

1 Pickle

This was a quick read. A girl comes home from college (where she's a pre-med student) to be with her father and the rest of her family because her mother has died suddenly. Cat immediately notices that something is not right, with either her mother's corpse or the cute guy who is the supposed medical examiner.

Surprise! Magic is involved and Cat's magical and never even knew it. Cat's left facing one tragedy after another, never knowing who she can trust.

The plot is a little convoluted and so much happens so quickly. Just when I'm wrapping my head around one revelation, another thing comes out of nowhere.

We have two love interests, and I don't know if I like either of them...but I think I'm okay with that.

I'm not crazy excited for the next book, but I am invested enough in the story that I'm sure I'll read it.