A review by girlinthepages
The Everlasting Rose by Dhonielle Clayton

2.0

It pains me to rate The Everlasting Rose this way. If you've been around my blog the past couple of years, you've likely heard me shout about my love for The Belles, and my proclamations that it's one of my favorite fantasy novels at all time. So it's heartbreaking for me to report that the sequel fell so flat for me, especially as one of my most anticipated 2019 titles. My husband pre-ordered it for me as a birthday gift, and right away I was surprised to see that it looked significantly shorter than its predecessor. Picking up after the conclusion of The Belles, the story mostly featured Camille on the run from Sophia and her tyrannical government. I was personally hoping that this novel would go more into the backstory of the Belles, how their powers worked, etc. However, it was mostly just Camille running from place to place, a underdeveloped feeling romance, and a rushed conclusion that brought it a secret society that felt very rushed. I simultaneously felt like barely anything happened yet it dragged and I wasn't motivated to pick it up.

Overall: While I still stand by the incredible writing and lush descriptions of The Belles, The Everlasting Rose proved disappointing and not memorable in comparison.This review was originally posted on Girl in the Pages