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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
medium-paced
Book Dynamics✨
1 POV
Magical realism
Young adult
I was obsessed with the Secret Garden so the moment I saw this was a MM retelling I was sold!
While this didn’t live up to the hype I gave it in my own head it was still cute and got the job done. Quill and Liam were perfect for each other. I loved watching them grow into their relationship and test boundaries.
I do wish it was much less repetitive. By the time the big reveal came I was so ready to wrap things up but I still love the way things came together.
Overall: grab if you want a cute MM YA book just know it’s heavy on the YA
Favorite Character: Liam
1 POV
Magical realism
Young adult
I was obsessed with the Secret Garden so the moment I saw this was a MM retelling I was sold!
While this didn’t live up to the hype I gave it in my own head it was still cute and got the job done. Quill and Liam were perfect for each other. I loved watching them grow into their relationship and test boundaries.
I do wish it was much less repetitive. By the time the big reveal came I was so ready to wrap things up but I still love the way things came together.
Overall: grab if you want a cute MM YA book just know it’s heavy on the YA
Favorite Character: Liam
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
This was a REALLY fun YA M/M opposites attract fantasy romance that sees the first male dryad falling for a guy in the nonmagical 'real world.' Sweet with great banter and perfect for fans of books like Belladonna. I enjoyed this one a lot and look forward to more from Devin Greenlee! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I loved Evergreen so much! Evergreen is a YA M/M romance with a few questionable decisions that definitely fit into the young adult category. I had such a fun time reading about their romance and about the magical world inside of a little apartment. The ending had me on the edge of my seat, and I loved the twists and turns! I will definitely be keeping up with the author's new books :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Rating: 4.25/5 Penguins (rounded down)
Quick Reasons: a Secret Garden retelling?! GIMME!; intriguing magic, powerful world-building; WHAT a reveal twist!; could not put this down; pretty purple prose; diverse romance/characters; wit and snark galore
HUGE thanks to Devin Greenlee, Entangled Teen, and Netgalley for the ARC of this title! My review of this book is voluntarily written and in no way altered or impacted by this gesture.
Magic isn't all it's cracked up to be. It's kind of boring, to be honest--working around mystical plants all day. The novelty wears off.
I know the deal--it's a rite of passage. Every dryad's done it--my grandmothers, then my mother, then Laurel, and now it's my turn. If you can take care of it, you prove that you can take care of yourself. Fail, and... I don'[t actually know. No one's ever failed before.
I fell in love with this book based on two small things initially. 1. The cover is spectacularly eye-catching; and 2. This is a Secret Garden retelling. I did not know the journey I was about to embark on when I requested this ARC; I merely knew I NEEDED to read it. I'm so happy my intuition was correct.
The magic system in this read is beautifully crafted, mysterious in a way that makes you want to know more, and only just slightly confusing. Devin Greenlee plays with plant-based powers and dryad mythologies to weave an awe-inspiring journey of self-discovery, self-confidence, and growth. The prose is elegant and just the right amount of purple, flowing and flowering (hahaha...flowers. get it?) in all the right ways. And that twist reveal?! I was left gasping.
"So what happened after that? Did they get away?"
Laurel chuckles. "Oh, absolutely not. The prince hunted them down and publicly executed them before finding a new wife. Lived unhappily ever after until he was captured, tortured, and overthrown. Not the greatest end to the story--probably why it isn't told often. The moral is true love never lies."
I definitely recommend this to lovers of dryad magics, seekers of new and uniquely crafted worlds, and those who love a good retelling to lose themselves in. The door has been left unlocked, Penguins. Are you ready to face what's lurking inside?!
Quick Reasons: a Secret Garden retelling?! GIMME!; intriguing magic, powerful world-building; WHAT a reveal twist!; could not put this down; pretty purple prose; diverse romance/characters; wit and snark galore
HUGE thanks to Devin Greenlee, Entangled Teen, and Netgalley for the ARC of this title! My review of this book is voluntarily written and in no way altered or impacted by this gesture.
Magic isn't all it's cracked up to be. It's kind of boring, to be honest--working around mystical plants all day. The novelty wears off.
I know the deal--it's a rite of passage. Every dryad's done it--my grandmothers, then my mother, then Laurel, and now it's my turn. If you can take care of it, you prove that you can take care of yourself. Fail, and... I don'[t actually know. No one's ever failed before.
I fell in love with this book based on two small things initially. 1. The cover is spectacularly eye-catching; and 2. This is a Secret Garden retelling. I did not know the journey I was about to embark on when I requested this ARC; I merely knew I NEEDED to read it. I'm so happy my intuition was correct.
The magic system in this read is beautifully crafted, mysterious in a way that makes you want to know more, and only just slightly confusing. Devin Greenlee plays with plant-based powers and dryad mythologies to weave an awe-inspiring journey of self-discovery, self-confidence, and growth. The prose is elegant and just the right amount of purple, flowing and flowering (hahaha...flowers. get it?) in all the right ways. And that twist reveal?! I was left gasping.
"So what happened after that? Did they get away?"
Laurel chuckles. "Oh, absolutely not. The prince hunted them down and publicly executed them before finding a new wife. Lived unhappily ever after until he was captured, tortured, and overthrown. Not the greatest end to the story--probably why it isn't told often. The moral is true love never lies."
I definitely recommend this to lovers of dryad magics, seekers of new and uniquely crafted worlds, and those who love a good retelling to lose themselves in. The door has been left unlocked, Penguins. Are you ready to face what's lurking inside?!
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated