A good read with easy to like characters, however the storyline is one we have read a few hundred times before.

The writing is great and it makes the book move quickly, but if youre looking for something groundbreaking, I dont think you will find it here.

I absolutely LOVED this book. It seemed to take quite a long time to read which I think is more a reflection on how chaotic life is right now rather than on the books itself which just felt shrouded in intrigue and mystery.

Myra is a Prodigy: an artist that is able to change the appearance of her portrait subjects through magic. Set in a world that hates magic, she lives in fear of discovery. Especially after both her mother and father disappear, leaving Myra and her sister Lucy alone. With Lucy's health deteriorating, Myra has no choice but to walk into the wolf's den to take up her hardest challenge ever for the governors wife and attempt to resurrect her dead son.

However, it seems that the closer Myra comes to discovering what happened on that balcony that night, the closer to danger she steps until both Myra and Lucy's lives are on the line.

I loved the suspense and mystery that A Forgery of Roses builds in its readers and I really enjoyed the ambiguity of the time line. The carriages, gas lights and gowns feel at such odds with the language used within the book and I love how that blends with the fantasy element of the book. Bringing the story out of any timeline we know where the Artist overseas all.>If you enjoy fantasy books, then you should love this one too.

Although technically a YA book, at no point did the story or characters feel too young for me as the story seemed to work on so many levels.

A Forgery of RosesBy: Jessica S. Olson

“Everything is a calculated move in this house. Nothing is as it seems. Ever.”

“I’m so sorry… I always do this. Every time I care about someone, I find some way to destroy them.”

I loved Jessica’s first book, Sing Me Forgotten. That book was themed around music and was a great fantasy/love story.

A Forgery of Roses is themed around a different art— painting.And while it does have a love story, it’s secondary to the mystery of the book.

The Plot

In this world there are people known as prodigies who have been gifted with part of the Artist’s power. (The Artist being God/Creator who created the world by making his paintings come to life)

Myra is a prodigy.

“Prodigy magic, which flows through my body just as it did through Mother’s, gives a painter the ability to alter human and animal bodies with their paintings, and it is considered by the Church to be even more of an abomination than normal portrait work… sinful imitation of the Artist.”

There are dangers to being a prodigy. Not only is your practice considered an abomination, but others have blackmailed and forced prodigies to do their bidding.

Myra must keep her powers a secret.

But the governor’s wife approaches Myra with a dangerous proposition. One she can’t refuse. The governor’s son, Will, has fallen from a balcony and died and the governor’s wife wants Myra to paint him back to life.

As Myra spends more time in the governor’s house, the more she questions whether Will’s death was actually an accident or something far more sinister.

With the help of Will’s younger brother, August, whom Myra has grown attracted to, and information from the infamous Forger, can Myra unravel the mystery and bring Will back to life before she is discovered and faces certain harm? Even death?

It will be tough because everyone in that haunted house looks like a suspect.

“Trust is a luxury for the wealthy, the secure, the loved.”

My Thoughts

I loved this book!

It was interesting, clever, mysterious, and suspenseful.

As an art major, I was intrigued by the concept of painting powers. I never painted with oils so I can’t relate to that experience, but I definitely knew which colors she was talking about with titanium white, phthalo blue, etc.

I liked Myra and her sister Lucy so it was easy to become invested in her predicament. The other characters were too suspicious to like. But just as I enjoyed the banter between the characters on Sing Me Forgotten, I did in this book as well. Olson is very skilled at writing dialogue.

It was a little bit like an Agatha Christie novel in that there were a lot of suspects and the crime happened in a ‘bubble’ so the ‘detective’ (aka Myra) had to figure out what was going on with each family member and servant.

I kept thinking I knew where the story’s arc was going to go but Olson kept offering up surprises and unexpected details! While there were parts of it I suspected, I don’t think I was really confident about any of my theories the entire book.

I think this book would make for a really good movie!

There is a theme that runs in the book about appearances and authenticity. While authenticity has some connotations that I don’t really agree with, I like how Olson handled it in her book. You can’t help but want to high five this character for speaking this truth:

“I’m done believing the lie… that says I deserve less respect because I struggle. I’m far stronger than you’ll ever be because I’ve fought for every victory. Because those fights have taught me compassion and kindness. They’ve taught me to see the world for what it is, not for what I think it should be. So step aside… I’m done minimizing my greatness so you can feel superior.”

My last thought is in regards to the title. I always like a profound title and one with multiple layers. I won’t reveal too much because of the nature of the story but this quote speaks to part of the title’s depth:

“I think of Ladyroses catching flame… ‘A symbol of life. Beautiful, like birth.’”

It’s the perfect title!

The One Thing

My only qualm with this book is the setting. We are not given a concrete date that this story takes place. The clues we have are that there are carriages instead of cars and gas lights instead of electricity. But the vernacular of the characters and the banter doesn’t really seem to fit that time period to me. Also the hospital scene feels too modern for gas lights, but I don’t mind suspending that reality.

Perhaps because it’s a fiction/fantasy it is not based on a historical era. Which is fine. I just felt a little disconnected from the story. We actually don’t even find out about the carriages for several chapters so at the beginning I wasn’t quite sure where I was for awhile. A little setting at the beginning would have been helpful.

Conclusion

I would definitely recommend this book!

It’s an intense (and clean!) read with a compelling plot, likable protagonist, and great writing.

And then you should also read her first book because that one’s really good too.

A Forgery of Roses finishes a little open-ended and I’m crossing my fingers for a sequel that brings Lucy’s character more into the spotlight, but I think Olson just likes to give her readers something to think about.

I was surprised by some other reviewers’ negative comments. I think if I had read their reviews BEFORE I read the book I might have been similarly influenced, but I read the book on my own and my first impressions and uninfluenced feelings about it were very positive.

I guess, as with any book, there’s a chance we have differing tastes, but I think most people will like it!

**Received an ARC via NetGalley**

I really liked the characters in this book, and loved the sibling relationship between the two sisters. I also loved the magic system; I love magic that is related to art. The romance was also quite sweet and satisfying. The prose was beautiful, overall this is quite an excellent book.

I am crazy about this book. it does so many things but the best thing is that it does so many things well. This is a n author to watch! High rec for all YA collections!

Actual Rating: 3.5

A Forgery of Roses follows Myra, an artist trying to care for her little sister, the only family she has left. Myra's artistic abilities are magical as her paintings have the power to alter the bodies of real life people. Myra must keep her abilities secret because they are dangerous in a society that does not understand her magic, but also because Myra herself doesn't fully understand the uses and extent of her magic. When the governor's wife hires Myra to bring her son back to life in exchange for money that Myra is desperate for, Myra gets entangled with the secrets of the powerful Harris family. 

A Forgery of Roses has so much to offer: 
-an art-based magic unlike any other magic system I've read about before
-a murder mystery
-romance
-themes like sisterhood, mental health, and more! 

All of these aspects were things I found compelling, alongside the beautiful writing (I highlighted so much of this book because the writing was so stunning!). It is easy for me to pick out the aspects of this book I enjoyed but it gets more complicated when it comes to the story overall. 

The magic system is interesting and unique but it did take me most of the book to fully understand it. Myra is learning a lot about her magic as the story goes on so that might have had a hand in how I learned about it as a reader, but it did pull me out of the story. The magic also has a large hand in how the story wraps up and the magic system being so under explained leads to the twists and turns of the novel. This can make solving the mystery almost impossible which might be good for some readers, and underwhelming for others.

Even though I had my issues with this book, I'd still recommend it if the synopsis or the aspects I highlighted stand out to you! 

*I received an e-ARC of A Forgery of Roses on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 Stars

In a fantastic blend of forbidden romance and murder mystery, Jessica S. Olson’s A Forgery of Roses is a perfect read for anyone looking for a fantasy with danger around every corner, a whole cast of unreliable characters, and the sort of magic that would make Dorian Gray jealous.

In Myra’s world, magic is a dangerous thing. Known as Prodigies, magic users can use paint and easels to change people both inside and out, forever altering who they are and what they look like. Often captured and condemned for these abilities, Prodigies have learned to hide themselves well. But over the last year, even the hidden have started disappearing. Now, Myra, a Prodigy just like her missing mother, must make the ultimate sacrifice for a deal that could save both her and her sister: paint the governor’s murdered son, bring him back to life, and walk away with money and her secret safe. Failure means losing everything, including the sparks she feels with August, the governor’s other son. But there is someone lurking in the shadows who doesn’t want Myra to succeed, someone who will stop at nothing to take out this remaining Prodigy.

A Forgery of Roses was such a fantastic, escapist, on-the-edge-of-your-seat kind of read. Flowing with magic and danger, I couldn’t stop turning the page. I have to be honest, when it came to the murder mystery aspect of the plot, I thought I had it figured out early on. But I was so very wrong. Olson pulled so many tricks and twists that I had no chance of figuring out who the true villain was until the big reveal.

Every character Olson wrote was truly dynamic. From Myra to her sister, August and his parents, and even the denizens of the governor’s manor, everyone had such rich and robust personalities; even the secondary characters were much more than just filler to help Myra’s story progress. In a story where everyone is suspect, I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed every character as much as I did in A Forgery of Roses.

Besides creating these fleshed out characters and placing them in this action-filled, twisty plot, Olson also excelled at blurring the lines, making readers second guess themselves, and addressing complex issues like mental health and thirst for power. Olson’s descriptions of color and painting technique were so vivid, I have no choice but to assume the author has personal experience with such things – and if she doesn’t, that’s an even bigger testament to her skills as a writer. Every action, from painting to fighting to sneaking around, was described in full detail on the page, making A Forgery of Roses a fantasy that readers can quickly get lost in.

While featuring so much more, A Forgery of Roses is, at its heart, a magically powerful tale of becoming your true self in a world that wants you to hide your gifts.

It’s an OK read. I enjoyed the mystery aspect of this book and trying to find out who murdered the guy. But I found most of Myra‘s decisions to be questionable and shortsighted.
I honestly don’t like August, and think he’s an awful love interest. I did not want them to get together. Even so he redeemed himself somewhat in the end that didn’t make up for all the other times.

I guess ultimately, I didn’t find any characters likable. The only one I found interesting was Lucy. And we barely get to see any of her. Myra is not bad, but she makes such bad decisions that I don’t find myself rooting for her. August starts out as a likable character but the further along in the story the more I disliked him.

The premise is really intriguing, Jessica S. Olson's writing is so easy to follow, I loved the lush descriptions, the almost steampunk-esque setting, the high stakes, and the sensitivity with which Olson includes topics such as chronic illness and anxiety. August’s feelings of powerlessness when it comes to his own life choices was achingly relatable. I loved Lucy. I truly enjoyed this book and think it will appeal to teen and adult readers alike.

This was fine, which is sort of sad to say. Nothing about it particularly stood out to me, but I didn't exactly dislike anything about the book either. Its some pretty basic storytelling that gets the job done, but doesn't really offer anything more. The magic is there, but the world-building is pretty weak. The romance is there, but the chemistry isn't. The villain is there, but he isn't the villain the story is needing. I have a feeling I will easily forget this.
Full review to come on YouTube.

Thank you so much to Inkyard Press and Netgalley for letting me read an eARC of A Forgery of Roses! This was such a great book and I loved the cover, and of course y'all know that I'm a big fan of fun covers!
A Forgery of Roses 4/5 Stars
Summary from Goodreads:
Myra Whitlock has a gift. One many would kill for.
She’s an artist whose portraits alter people’s real-life bodies, a talent she must hide from those who would kidnap, blackmail, and worse in order to control it. 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. Desperate, Myra ventures to his legendary stone mansion.
Once she arrives, however, it becomes clear the boy’s death was no accident. Someone dangerous lurks within these glittering halls. Someone harboring a disturbing obsession with portrait magic.
Myra cannot do the painting until she knows what really happened, so she turns to the governor’s older son, a captivating redheaded poet. Together, they delve into the family’s most shadowed affairs, racing to uncover the truth before the secret Myra spent her life concealing makes her the killer’s next victim.
From Sing Me Forgotten author Jessica S. Olson comes a gothic fantasy murder mystery perfect for fans of Kerri Maniscalco and Erin A. Craig.
This book was so good! The whole concept behind being able to alter people's bodies and take away their injuries etc was so cool. Such a great magic system! I also really enjoyed the relationship between Myra and her sister Lucy- it was very obvious why Myra did what she did throughout the book, and that was because she loved Lucy and wanted to ensure that she was there to take care of her since their parents had gone missing. There were definitely some aspects of the book that were confusing to me (like were there really any other people in their town besides the characters? It seemed so empty. Also, there was so many deaths that happened somewhat randomly and certain characters seemed to just drop off the map after the author decided that they had lived out their usefulness, so that was a little weird), but those aspects didn't really impact my reading of the book too, too much. Pacing wise, there were definitely times where I felt like I lost the plot and other times were I felt like things were dragging, but overall, A Forgery of Roses was an enjoyable book with a really big bang near the end and I definitely think that people will enjoying reading it!


Link to be added once blog post is published

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. Review is based on the final copy.
I enjoyed Jessica Olson’s prior book, and A Forgery of Roses sounded equally interesting. I don’t know that I enjoyed it as much as her debut, but this one was a lot of fun too.
The first thing that stood out to me was the art-based magic system, and I love how Olson takes these other art forms and weaves them into her writing and magic systems. In Sing Me Forgotten, it was music, and in this one it’s art. The concept of being able to alter physical appearances through painting is a fascinating, if potentially dangerous power, and I love the way it’s explored in the book.
It also sets Myra apart from her society, where she has to hide her abilities, lest she be ostracized. The fear of othering for magical abilities is a common trope, but Olson makes it her own. Add to this the challenges of caring for her disabled sister, and she starts the book as an incredibly relatable protagonist, and in a position to be tempted by an offer to use her powers if she gains financial security. I also appreciate that while the sister isn’t the main character, and her care serves as motivation for Myra, she’s portrayed fairly positively, with a balance between acknowledgment of the reality they live in and not making it about pity or tragedy.
The plot and pacing remain fairly steady throughout, with pretty consistent intrigue and twists.
I ultimately enjoyed the romance that develops between Myra and August, and his characterization also focuses on another aspect of disability in terms of mental health and anxiety rep, which I also felt was pretty well done.
My one complaint is that for a book that is so heavy on promoting visual art through its magic, you don’t have a real visual sense of place. It feels vaguely set in the past, as it appeals to the classic Gothic literature aesthetics. However, there’s few indicators of the lay of the land or whether this is set in another world or some incarnation of ours.
I enjoyed this book overall, in spite of those small flaws. If you’re looking for a YA fantasy read with a unique magic system that’s light on the world building, but has a decent amount of intrigue and character depth, this one is worth checking out.

This is an inspired retelling of Dorian Gray that takes some source material but makes everything its own.

Plodding start with the story, but it was balanced by character emotional turmoil and the pressures of life without family and raising a sick sibling. Myra was a fascinating character with SUCH an incredible and exciting power, hanging pictures and affecting reality. The red herrings of who the killer was and how everything was connected were very cool (except before the reveal when it was confusing, but it worked out in the end.)
Jessica S. Olsen does great jobs with retelling/reimagines and making them so unique from the original material. The writing is always so good and creative for the fantasy world.

The open ending is a weird one, I must add. As stated everywhere, it is standalone, but the conclusion is open for more.

A Forgery of Roses came with my most OwlCrate box, and I was so excited to see it appear at the bottom of the box! I was hoping this would be their choice and thus held off on buying it. I love this edition, though I'll admit that the original cover is also quite lovely. Still, red sprayed edges - yes, please!

Myra is what is known as a prodigy. Her paintings are magical – literally. She can transform reality with her paintings, healing bones, and changing appearances. Unfortunately, not everyone in this world considers this magical to be wondrous.

Thus, Myra has spent her whole life trying to keep what she is a secret. For the most part, she's succeeded, right up until just about the worst person ever uncovers the truth. Now she must raise the dead – literally – if she wants to survive the situation she's in.

"Just because my battles aren't visible, doesn't mean they aren't as real or difficult as yours."

Ohhhh, I love the concept of A Forgery of Roses. Artists, who imbue magic into their work, allowing them to affect reality? It rings of Dorian Gray but with a significant twist. And I am here for it.

Myra's story is many things. It's emotional, heavy, inspiring, worrisome, heartbreaking, and more. She's been through so much and keeps on going, both for her own sake and her sister's sake.
The magic in her blood only seems to complicate things. She lives in a world where people like her are shunned and hunted by those in power. In a way, the setup feels very familiar to our world – with the same people hunting her being more than willing to use her gifts to their own benefit. Feels familiar, right?

I loved the exploration of Myra's magic while having us delve into several mysteries at once. We have the mystery of what happened to her parents, alongside the mystery of what caused a young man's death. Together, they're putting Myra in an impossible position, and she'll have to find a way to survive on her own.

That being said, it wasn't Myra's story that hit me the hardest. One of the other characters in this tale (a love interest, for those curious) experiences significant anxiety – and I AM HERE FOR IT. I never get to see this representation, so it was a lot to see it done so well. Throw in a few powerful quotes, and this book tunneled straight to my heart.

I loved the uniqueness of the magic in this story. The mystery was fun to follow, and the twist was unexpected.

Jessica S. Olsen’s A Forgery of Roses is a book that I wished was available when I was in high school. Like August, I suffer from anxiety and at one time, falsely believed that my anxiety made me weak (many therapy sessions have since taught me otherwise). Seeing August’s growth and subsequent acceptance of his anxiety then made me hopeful that other teens reading this book will learn that anxiety is not a weakness but a part of who they are. Anxiety may make someone have to work harder to achieve their dreams but it does not diminish who they are as a person. You are still capable of amazing things!

Many thanks to the NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the e-ARC. All opinions are my own.

A forgery of roses is my new favorite gothic fantasy novel. Set in a world where some artists can use magic to alter another living being through their painting. In a world where this is seen as an abomination and against the creator, artists like Myras mother go missing because of their gift. Myra must keep her talents a secret to keep her and her younger sister safe.

I fell in love with the story right from the start because of the characters. Jessica S. Olsen captured the struggle and loneliness that chronic illness causes while also showing the struggles for answers through Myras younger sisters character. She also really made Myras character so much deeper by showing what it’s like to watch your loved one suffer. You always feel the love Myra has for her sister and how far she will to get her sister the help she needs. The characters have a lot more depth than I expected.

A forgery of roses was far from predictable. The mystery side had me guessing until the end and I didn’t see it coming. There’s just enough of mystery, romance, fantasy and murder to made it a hard to put down novel. I found it so easy to get immersed into the world created. I highly recommend this novel.

I absolutely adored this book. You can’t put it down!

I was worried the world building would fall flat but it was akin to SJM level.

The magical system was extremely well thought out. I wish it was the real
World

Myra Whitlock is a Prodigy. That means she can paint someone’s portrait and then use it to alter their appearance in some way. Under the current Governor, Prodigies are illegal. Myra’s Mom, who was a Prodigy too, and her dad have disappeared. Myra is left to look after her ill sister on her own. When the Governor’s wife approaches Myra with a proposition that will give her a huge paycheck, she can’t resist. The Governor’s wife wants Myra to paint her son, who has secretly died, and bring him back to life. Myra has never brought anyone back to life, but it isn’t as easy as fixing a small injury on a portrait. She discovers a murder mystery which puts her life, and her sister’s life, at risk.

This book reminded me so much of Stalking Jack the Ripper and The Picture of Dorian Gray, two of my favourite books. The idea that a portrait can alter a person’s real appearance is fascinating. Pictures can show things on a person that they don’t notice themselves. This talent that Myra had was useful at times but also dangerous because it can harm a person as well as heal them.

I was completely shocked at the ending. The final twist was not what I expected at all. There were hints at the end of the possibility of a sequel and I hope there will be one because I loved this book!

A Forgery of Thorns is an exciting fantasy mystery!

Thank you Inkyard Press for providing a copy of this book.

When I first starred reading this book, I was intrigued by the first few chapters but then things got a little silly in the mystery department. I truly enjoyed the character development, the magic system and the MC's romance storyline. My only complaint was there were many parts of the plot that were confusing and didn't make sense and some of the MC's decisions were troublesome. Overall, a pretty good book.



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