Reviews

A Forgery of Roses by Jessica S. Olson

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crosswarrior7's review against another edition

3.0

❧ Myra Whitlock is a Prodigy: a person gifted by their god, the Artist, with the ability to alter reality through their paintings. Although it sounds as if Prodigys would be viewed as blessed, they’re hunted down, meaning Myra must closely guard her powers, all while working as a painter to care for her and her disabled sister. When the governor’s wife discovers her secret and offers her a great sum of money to resurrect her dead son, though, Myra will no longer be able to hide in peace. She’ll do what she can to earn the money so she can seek treatment for her sister’s growing struggles, but in taking the job, she’ll discover something absolutely terrifying, whether that be love, murdering schemes, or both! Both is good :D

❧ I enjoyed this more than I expected but not as much as I wanted to. The magic system was unique and built upon in interesting ways that fed into the mystery, and the world was intriguing, but I sort of wanted more, especially from the latter. Soft magic systems are a thing, but I just felt like there was room for more, and I’m admittedly a sucker for godly involvement when there are magical gods in a story. So yeah, this gripe could be (and likely is) a personal thing.

❧ Myra didn’t overly stand out to me as a character. How do I know? It’s been almost a year since I read this book and can’t remember too much about her. She was solid, though, and carried the story along well. There were definite points where she felt like she acted in ways that were just to carry the plot, but her care for her disabled sister, passion for her art, and strong resolve toward her task + August were all very solid characteristics.

Speaking of, August, although not the best depiction of anxiety and struggling with it, was still a very good step in the right direction for representation, especially in the sense of having a non-tall-dark-and-handsome love interest. He was very unique in that aspect, and even if I thought he could have been done better, he stood out just for being so different from most male protagonists/love interests in YA Fantasy books. I may not have been smitten by the ship because of how insta-love it was, but I enjoyed it purely for August and his personal struggles with his anxiety and his family.

❧ The mystery of the book was honestly my favorite part. It was sprinkled in very well, tied back into the magic in a way that made it so the fantasy aspect was necessary to the plot but didn’t make it so the reveal was impossible to see, and, well, I figured it out, so I felt good about it VwV

❧ So overall a very solid books. Enough weird bits in the pacing and not-enoughness to the MC and world that it didn’t quite hit home for me, but also enough good bits that I did genuinely enjoy the book, so I’d say 3.5 stars out of 5. Also a disclaimer that I am writing this review almost a year late because I’m just now getting back into the groove of review writing U^.^

shadowcat1224's review

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5.0

I was in love with this book from page 1, it was so expertly written. From the world building and magic system to her relationship with her sister and the twist at the end. Plus I’m a sucker for a romance subplot. I couldn’t put this book down when I got it from the library and when I finished I immediately had to buy a signed copy to display on my bookshelf.

elaichipod's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I have mixed feelings about this book. For one, the premise is very unique, but I didn't enjoy the execution as much. This book is essentially a murder mystery with a thriller and romance subplot. I didn't like Myra. I didn't like August. I did like Vincent. Everyone else was largely inconsequential. I did not anticipate the plot twist but the whole

triple role

did not make sense to me. However,

Vincent did talk about his father's dislike for him many times, and since there's only one mentioned father in this entire book, it was pretty obvious he was the Governor's son.

I get

Vincent had absorbed the talents and skills of other Prodigies, but his motive felt so weak. Or maybe he lost his marbles, but I couldn't sync up his family's version of him and how he behaved in the last few chapters.

I couldn't stand Myra and August. All of their interactions made me want to roll my eyes. Especially when Myra told him to "make them understand" or whatever, as if a poem/letter could alter the attitude of a morally black family, like come on. Also, halfway through, I desperately wanted

August to be the murderer. It just felt right, and Myra was too trusting of him. This is one of those books that reminded me that not every hetero pairing in books needs to result in a romantic relationship. August and Myra should just be friends at best.

The reason why Myra couldn't heal Lucy with her painting should have been established within the first 2 chapters. I should not have to wait until chapter 32 for that to be answered. Also, I think it's so funny that Myra ate a pomegranate when she was rushing to heal Lucy. Imagine being on a time crunch when someone's life is at stake and you decide to peel a pomegranate, which arguably takes the longest time to peel.

maimona's review

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3.0

It was a good story. Started pretty well but its weakness fell short in the overall view of the characters and how the book wrapped up the story.

The characters were fine but when it came to their relationship or the thoughts of how they think of each other it felt lacking.

I am saying this knowing a lot of ppl justify the fast-paced relationship between characters in books since it's a fictional story.
But for me, for a relationship or to be more accurate- to fall in love with a person that fast was too much.
In less than 4 days the female lead was already jealous over August and head over heels for him, it bothered me so much! moreover, August was too unlikable, we are supposed to see how he develop from that weak person he is to a capable man. but he just wasn't doing anything really to move his "miserable" life. just complaining about how others see him.
plus, the chemistry just didn't click between him and Myra.

On the other hand, I think the plot twist and the suspense in this book were wonderful! one of the best-paced I have ever read.
I was truly trying to figure out who is the murderer, it kept me on edge, everyone could have done it and there is something messing to connect it all.
when it was revealed, it was perfect! so hands down for the author, I give 10 out of ten in that aspect.

Another point I would like to point out is nothing other than the ending.
It could have been done in a better way, by the last few chapters the story felt dragging, like it should have already wrapped and showed the epilogue but nope, there were at least 4 more chapters before that.
You could have wrapped the last chapters in fewer words and that would have certainly emphasized the story plot more. It was too detailed for an ending.
Also, about the ending, you don't have to give a happy ending to every bad thing that happened. I would have expected it to be more honest and give a satisfying ending rather than a happy one.

In conclusion, though some parts were lacking, I think the story left a strong impression on me, it was a touching one and it left an effect on my emotions.
it's a story that I will definitely remember even if it's not perfect or a fav of mine, that's what makes books so magical!

marshaw's review against another edition

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funny mysterious relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

lenaoknihach's review against another edition

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3.0

Myra má výjimečný dar. Svým malířským uměním dokáže měnit lidskou podobu. Aby se nestala terčem vydírání, musí své schopnosti skrývat. Jedné mrazivé noci však Myru navštíví guvernérova žena a žádá nemožné – vzkřísit svého mrtvého syna Willa. Pokud to Myra neudělá, udá ji.
Po příchodu do honosného domu dívka zjišťuje, že mladíkova smrt nebyla nehoda. Dokáže za pomoci guvernérova syna Augusta odhalit pravdu a najít viníka?

Podle anotace to zní jak kombinace Po stopách Jacka Rozparovače a Obraz Doriana Graye, což by nemělo chybu, protože tyto dvě knihy zbožňuju, jenže Falešné růže se tomu ani zdaleka nepřiblížily.
Jedná se o fantasy s detektivní zápletkou, přičemž dotažené nebyly ani prvky fantasy (svět, magický systém), ani pátrání po viníkovi, které bylo na konci hodně uspěchané.

Romantická linka mezi Myrou a Augustem byla hodně slabá. Vůbec jsem jim to nevěřila. Falešné růže je kniha pro nenáročného čtenáře, který nemá moc načteno, jinak by si všímal akorát nedokonalostí, než aby si příběh naplno užíval.

#spoluprace @albatrosmedia

apenguinkeeper's review against another edition

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4.25

I loved the characters in this book. They were all very dynamic, and I love how 3-dimensional they were. Especially August. Usually I find that mmc don't have many flaws/characteristics that set them apart, and he was definitely not like that.

Additionally, the plot of this?? Amazing. I love the whole murder mystery part, along with the fantasy element of the painting magic, and the whole world was put together wonderfully.

Lucy ily so much

at the end the ultimate wingman I'd totally be you in that situation bestie