Book Review: Immortal Rose by Alexandra Bracken

Title: Immortal Rose
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Pages: 496
Publication Date: August 13, 2026
Publisher: AVON BOOKS
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Fantasy / Romantasy
Synopsis:

From Alexandra Bracken, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lore, comes a stunningly original adult fantasy. Set in a sumptuous world ruled by magical perfume, this achingly romantic, slow-burn love story will shatter your heart and leave you breathless.

Members of the ancient House Rosebourne have a strange gift born of a fairy ancestor: the ability to infuse fragrance with magic capable of manipulating mind, body, and emotion.

When a shocking murder leaves the kingdom of Albion vulnerable to a coup, royal spymaster Hugh Thornton seeks the one person who can help: Viola Lockwood, the last living Rosebourne and secret heir to a fraught legacy.

Livid at the silver-eyed aristocrat who had her thrown in jail to force her compliance, Viola nevertheless comes to an agreement with him. In exchange for crafting Immortal Rose, the singular perfume capable of saving Albion, illegitimate Viola can seize the life—and fortune—that should have been hers.

As Hugh and Viola race to find the perfume’s lost fairy ingredient, hidden deep in Albion’s dark underbelly, neither can deny the scorching attraction building between them—especially as the attempts on Viola’s life grow increasingly brazen.

But a terrible truth lurks in the heart notes of their kingdom—and while every bargain has a cost, Immortal Rose may demand more than Hugh and Viola can ever pay.

LINKS: Goodreads | BookBub | Amazon | Bookshop.org

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“We write our own narrative. The past is only a backstory, unless you allow it to wield the quill.”

From the minute I saw this gorgeous cover and read the title, I was intrigued. And when I read the blurb, I knew that I was going to love it. I wasn’t disappointed! Immortal Rose is so immersive, and I loved getting lost in its world.

I’ve read and enjoyed several of Bracken’s books. She has such an engaging writing style, and she always creates such unique worlds, magic systems, and characters. Her stories are layered and nuanced with sub-plots that are as compelling as the main one. And the relationships, especially the romances, always leave a lasting impression on me. The rich world-building and magic system in Immortal Rose is fascinating, and it’s focus on scent is one of the more original concepts I’ve read in a romantasy in a while. I like the regency setting, and I don’t think I’ve ever read a story where perfume can be magically infused, allowing different fragrances to manipulate how people feel, think, and act. It makes so much sense, though, since even in our world so many fragrances hold memories and evoke strong emotions.

Viola was a compelling protagonist (and really funny!), and I enjoyed watching her come into her own throughout the story. She’s strong and talented, which is why she is forced to create a potion to cure the poisoned king. Determined to gain back the family role and inheritance that has been denied her, Viola is very much defined by her past, and it was great to watch her start to realize that it doesn’t have to determine her entire future. However, this goal propels her to hunt for the ingredients to save the king, which will allow her everything she ever thought she wanted. And those in charge don’t know that Viola has some powerful and dangerous secrets.

And then there’s Hugh. I’m inserting a deep sigh here because he’s seriously swoon-worthy. He’s complicated and guarded with secrets of his own, and he’s definitely not always easy to figure out, but I loved getting to see the different sides of him, especially as his feelings for Viola became harder and harder for him to ignore. These two have such strong personalities, and neither one is particularly interested in making things easy for the other. LOL The secondary characters are great too, and the found family vibes are excellent. I love all of the banter among the different characters and how their conversations revealed their different personalities.

“You are the exception,” he said curtly. “To my every rule.”

And the romance! I LOVED Hugh and Viola. This is such a slow-burn romance, even though the story takes place in under two weeks. There is so much yearning, restraint, and chemistry between these two, and I loved watching their relationship build little by little. They make enemies to lovers look good! They challenge each other, frustrate each other, and absolutely drive each other crazy, but there’s also this growing respect and tenderness between them that I loved. Their banter is the best, and there are some truly comical moments between them, which breaks up some of the darker elements well. And some of the things Hugh says are positively swoon-worthy! Their feelings are deep and heartfelt, and I so hoped that they would find a way to be together after all they went through, both individually and as a pair.

And the twists! There were definitely moments when I thought I had figured out where the story was going, only to be completely wrong. lol There is so much mystery and intrigue layered into the story, and I was impressed with how all the different pieces slowly started fitting together. Between the poisoned and dying king to the obstacles Viola and Hugh face when tracking down the perfume ingredients to the political unrest, secrets, and manipulations, there’s a lot going on, and it all ties together well.

Overall, I thought Immortal Rose was a great read. The world-building is rich, the magic is unique, and the story is super immersive. Of course for me, the romance was the standout. Hugh and Viola have an amazing, slow-burning love story and tons of chemistry, and I was completely invested in watching them grow closer and learn to trust each other. And that ending! My word! I can’t wait to see where Viola and Hugh’s story goes next!

enemies to lovers
forced proximity
slow burn
Who did this to you?

“Some of us do not have the privilege of living our life, my lord. We survive it.”

“I could die from want of you,” he whispered in her ear. “I would follow you, your devoted, worshipful servant, across lifetimes, the way the sun chases the moon across the sky. I would weave my soul through yours so no man or god could ever part them.”