Thank you Netgalley and Inkyard Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book has such a unique premise to it. Prodigies that can change reality with their paintings? Sign me up.

Things I loved:
- The magic system was unique and well defined. When we learn new things about Myra’s gifts, it never seems implausible — everything clicks together.
- I was pleasantly surprised at the dark and gothic turns the book took. It didn’t shy away from some dark and gruesome imagery and I think it lent itself wonderfully to the tone of the book. I was on the edge of my seat!
- Throughout reading I had a bunch of possible twists to the various mysteries in my head — one of which ended up being correct. BUT I was constantly being thrown off the scent and could never fully say 100% I knew where the story was going
- The sister relationship between Myra and Lucy was heart wrenchingly good. I felt their love and their pain.
- Myra was such a good MC! She was brave, tenacious, but flawed. I enjoyed how she never gave up and always tried to push towards a solution.

Things that could have been better:
- I wanted a bit more “oomph” from the villain reveal. The “aha!” moment wasn’t punchy enough
- Some of the inner dialogue got a tad repetitive

Overall, I throughly enjoyed this one! It definitely set itself apart from the traditional YA standard story.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

3.5/5
I loved the idea of this book, but like others, found the execution lackluster. The idea of religion centered around art was what initially interested me. I felt like it could have been taken so much further, and the world-building barely scratched the surface of what Olson could have done with the idea. As for the characters... individually, I had no issues. Myra was a spunky heroine that learned importance of relinquishing control; August was an atypical love interest who was all the more charming for his flaws. Together? I just didn't get the chemistry. The dialogue, the motives, the character blocking; it just didn't add up. The pacing of the story, as well as the time passing within it, felt choppy. The repetition of the same four colors over and over and the constant reminders of everyone's motives diminished dynamic character arcs. The old fashioned setting juxtaposed to the seemingly advanced medical care also confused me. It's a fantasy world when all is said and done, but felt like it could have been any other Bridgerton-esque town and needed more uniqueness.

Overall, I thought it was an interesting read with enough twists to keep me going, but that also fell short of what it could have been. Perhaps I set the bar too high, but I hope that Olson develops her world more if she goes forward with a series. Her ideas open the possibility for so much, and I'm confident that she could reach my expectations.

Jessica Olson's novel A Forgery of Roses was a thrilling read. Olson pulled readers in by creating a sense of urgency in addition to her phenomenal world-building. Never before have I read a fantasy novel that so cleanly incorporates elements of thriller into it. When the governor's son dies from a tragic fall, her mother is desperate to bring him back and willing to lie to her husband in order to do so. She finds Myra, a young Prodigy who can create magic through her healing, and hires her to paint her son. But circumstances are hardly what they seem and between her own grief and the very real danger Myra is in at the governor's house, she's short on time to figure out what really happened. The twist at the end really was a twist which allows readers to follow along with Myra, at her pace, as she tries to solve this mystery and save her sick sister all in a matter of days.

I loved the entire idea of this book. I finished it in 2 days It was really hard to put down. That being said I'm just unsure of the time period that it's set in. I know it's a different world with this Artist as their God But I thought trying to place it was hard They traveled by carriage and talked about our dream fencing lessons But were using phones and had some degree of medical advancements. I did not see the twist coming so I thought that was really cool

Thank you to Inkyard Press and Netgally for the arc to review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I wanted to love A Forgery of Roses. I really did. And while there are parts that really spoke to me in the end I found myself struggling to come back to the book every time I set it down.

I really enjoyed the unique magic system Olson developed for this book. Healing through painting is such a great idea and I would argue that it was the only thing that kept me wanting to read more.

Truth be told, I didn’t particularly care that someone may or many not have been murdered. That is to say that this isn’t a terrible book, I personally wish the plot gravitated more towards epic fantasy than a murder mystery.

I DNF’ed at 40% although I do plan on coming back when I am in that murder mystery phase as there was enough in this book to want to finish it

Inconsistent setting (no cars, but advanced medical care in a world otherwise resembling the 19th century) and paper flat characters doom this novel, which falls even further due to an unwieldly murder mystery. Myra Whittock is a Prodigy, gifted with magic that expresses itself though art. Though the governor is rabidly anti-prodigy, his wife seeks out Myra to paint a magical portrait of her son, hoping to bring him back to life. After reading 40 pages of Myra trying to hide her magic, her choice to use it in front of the governor's wife is baffling, and her logical reasoning skills do not improve. These isn't must to be said about this novel except the famous review: this story is both good and original, but that which is good is not original and that which is original is not good.

What a fantastically written and absolutely beautiful while a bit brutal read! Mystery, fantasy, and much more will completely enraptured you! A must read for both my fellow thrill seekers and my fellow fantasy lovers! It’s one of those stories that’s perfectly created, to make you feel as though you’ve truly entered a different world! Highly recommend!

I got this book for the publisher for my honest thoughts*
I really loved this read. I thought not only the characters were awsome but also the elments of a fantsay story but mixed with a murder mystery was so captvating to me. I also thought this book had a important rep like anxiery rep but also the possilbity of chronic illness. This book also had a real cool hero that just capatived me. It also had so many twists and turns and read herrings that just kept me gussing. This book I had such a hard time putting it down and really loved this this book was standlone but would love to see mroe stories set in this world!! I also want to read this author backlist!

Not related but I caught COVID the same time I was reading this book so I had lots of free time lol.

This book was adorable and gripping. A combination of historical romance, fantasy and mystery.

A Forgery of Roses takes place in an era similar to the 1800s and recounts the story of Myra who lives in a world built upon art. Their religious deity is The Great Artist who created the world with brushstrokes. People that sell paintings and use them as anything but a way to worship are shunned by some as dishonorable. Myra is a Prodigy— someone who can alter people and animals by painting them.

Being a Prodigy is rare and dangerous, especially when you are forced to work for the enemy.

The world building in this novel is amazing, every detail is well thought out and articulated. The plot kept me turning each page eagerly, and even after I guessed part of the “whodunnit” about half way through it was still just as satisfying because it was a lot more complex.

There is some romance as well. Really easy to relate characters who have normal problems like anxiety and chronic illness.

Definitely recommend this book! Although the end left some room for a possible sequel I enjoyed Myra’s story more as a stand alone, but that’s just personal preference.

A big thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

This one was absolutely wild!!
I was captivated by the whole setting, the vibe, the themes of scheming plotting, the forbidden magic and the writing. However, there wasn’t much romance but it was wonderfully unique and I really quite loved it.

I found this a little lackluster. It was an interesting premise, but I did not find myself connecting with any of the characters. I found it to be on the juvenile end of the YA spectrum. I appreciate the effort in discussing invisible illness in regards to Myra's sister, but wish it had been a bit more nuanced and not the whole 'spoon' thing (only switch it out for juice) shoehorned in almost verbatim.

Forbidden magic, deadly secrets and a mystery that kept me guessing till the very end, A Forgery of Roses is one you won't want to miss!

To be honest, the first thing that drew me to this novel was that stunning cover! I wasnt quite sure what to expect coming into this one, but I loved it. I have really enjoyed reading YA mysteries/,fantasies lately, and this was no exception. The plot and magic was so unique and I was invested in the story the entire time. Myra was such an admirable protagonist, with so much love and sacrifice for her sister Lucy. This book was hard to out down, and had me guessing up to the very end!

I really appreciated how the author added in situations of social anxiety and chronic illness - and the way they can both effect someone's day to day life and their quality of life. Two very important topics that I don't generally see portrayed, especially in YA books, but it's something so many people can relate to!

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮 InkYard Press, Jessica Olson and Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! I definitely recommend it, and will be purchasing when it releases.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for a free Arc in exchange for a honest review.

This book had a very original story concept. Seeing as Myra was a prodigy who used her magic to paint portraits of people and change their imperfections or to heal small cuts. She is then discovered one day by the governor's wife. Who wants her to do the impossible and bring her son back from the dead. As much as I enjoyed the originality of thought behind this book it was slow moving for me and at times very boring. The romance to me was very lackluster and I was not very much into it. Overall I was able to finish this book but I felt as if I was forcing myself to finish the book rather then enjoying it.

The characters, overall, were a bit "meh," though I did like Myra. The worldbuilding wasn't quite what I expected based on other fantasy novels I've read. The mystery angle was okay, and it had potential, but some parts of the plot just felt choppy, and there were a lot of info dumps.

I loved this one! The plot and characters are well written, making you wish you could alter reality as well. I loved the plot twists that I actually did not see coming, well done! I will be recommending this title to the YA librarian in our system. Keep up the stories Jessica.

A Forgery of Roses is such unique story and I wholly enjoyed every minute. Myra Whitlock is a Prodigy, an artist who can alter a person’s body through painting their picture. It is a dangerous and complicated magical gift that Myra keeps hidden, even more so since it is such a rarity and many other Prodigies, including her mother, have gone missing. When Mrs. Harris, the Governor’s wife, learns of Myra’s gift, she offers Myra a choice – save her son and earn a large sum of money or have her secret exposed.
Ever since their parent’s disappearance, Myra has been looking after for her younger, terminally ill sister, Lucy, and the money from Mrs. Harris would get help get Lucy the medical attention she so desperately needs. Upon arrival at the Governor’s mansion, Myra finds there is much more to this death than meets the eye. Who can Myra trust? Why are people disappearing? And was this “accident” really an “accident” at all? The more secrets Myra learns, the more her life becomes endangered as a dark and sinister plot unfolds.

This novel is a dark, gothic fantasy with a chilling atmospheric setting and a creepy, haunting, and ominous mood throughout. The writing is so vivid and captivating and the premise is thoroughly unique and mysterious. There are so many twists and turns, secrets and lies, it’s hard to predict where the story is going. There are high stakes for the characters and their motivations are very evident in their actions—they really propel the story forward, especially Myra as she’s driven to save her sister and unravel the mystery.
I absolutely loved this story and am so grateful to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for granting me an advanced copy of this book to read and review.

The story was enjoyable and the magic through drawing used in the book was a new type that I hadn't seen before. It's an interesting idea on many levels. I also appreciated the way that anxiety and chronic illness were depicted in the story.

A artist with forbidden magic, a murder mystery, and a forbidden romance. Myra is gifted with magic that works through her art, she can change the appearances of things, heal them, and maybe even bring them back to life through her artwork. When the wife of the governor who is adamant about getting rid of people like Myra comes to her door and offers her money that would let her save her sick sister, Myra takes the deal. However, what she is being asked to do might not be so simple, the governor’s wife wants Myra to bring back her dead son, who everyone has presumed to be sick only... except as Myra works on the body the death might not have been so accidental and more murder. Along for the journey is the other son, August, a boy who has been kept hidden from the public due to his crippling anxiety. August is a poet who suffers from anxiety and wants to help Myra solve the case. Myra and August soon must try and find out who the real culprit is, but in a house with so many secrets it could be anyone. It doesn’t help that Myra and August might be falling for one another, but with such drastic class difference and life stations.... they really can’t see a future. It doesn’t help that August’s family could destroy Myra and Myra has to focus on saving her sister. Old wounds are revealed, secrets are unfurled, hearts are broken, and lives are at stake... and magic is let loose. This was definitely an interesting murder mystery story with a splash of romance. It had fun twist and turns and had me questioning who the murderer was and the ending, though wraps up most of the characters, does leave it a little open for a potential follow up (which I would very much love).

*Thanks Netgalley and Inkyard Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

A forgery of roses is a stunning novel very similar to Kerri Maniscalco’s Stalking Jack the Ripper combined with The Picture of Dorian Grey.

The story follows Myra, an artist, who can manipulate peoples physical bodies through painting. When the governors son has died, Myra is tasked with bringing him back to life. She cannot do so until she knows the true cause of his death. With the help of his older brother, August, a poet in his own right, they must uncover the circumstances of his death to bring him back to life.

This book was full of haunting secrets and fascinating magic. I loved how the magic system was developed. The chemistry between August and Myra was so believable and loved her sweet, close relationship with her sister. At times, this book had my on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was coming next. It will definitely keep you guessing.

4/5 stars because while I loved the story, characters, and fascinating world building at times the dialogue felt a little stilted and clunky pulling me out of the story a bit. Would definitely recommend this book and I’m going to have to check out more from this author soon.

Thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for sending me this arc for my honest review.

Myra Whitlock lives in a society where artists are seen an affront to religion with the governor actively persecuting them. To complicate matters Myra is a Prodigy, an artist with the magical ability to alter her subject's characteristics Following the disappearance of her parents she struggles to provide for herself and care for her beloved invalid sister Lucy.. When the governor's wife commissions her to paint her eldest son she is relived for the job. offer. Upon arrival she discovers Will dead and begins to suspect foul play. This was a very original story with a unique culture and premise. Elements of horror, mystery, fantasy with a spice of romance combine into an engaging read. The characters come to life on the page and unexpected developments kept me turrning pages. Myra is a strong admirable protagonist and easy to become invested in. The author's debut "Sing Me Forgotten" was an enjoyable read and this was a strong second novel. .