art_books_chemistry's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Chiles builds a solid fantasy world without making it over complicated. Though most are young, the main characters are well developed, very likeable, without being angsty.
Some of the time jumping does get a little confusing, however that could be because I listened to the audiobook. The visual descriptions of plants and flowers are well done and helpful in creating this vibrant fantasy world.
Definitely recommend for lovers of YA Fantasy.
Some of the time jumping does get a little confusing, however that could be because I listened to the audiobook. The visual descriptions of plants and flowers are well done and helpful in creating this vibrant fantasy world.
Definitely recommend for lovers of YA Fantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Violence
mysticforestcrafts's review against another edition
4.0
I was gifted a copy of this book by the author as part of a tour in return for an honest review.
Pros:
Lovers of young adult fantasy will find the story familiar and easy to slip into. You have a group of young adults coming of age when something happens to change their lives in a moment. Kingdoms in ruin, chaos and danger all around and forgotten magic emerging.
The author steps you directly into a solidly formed friend group with possible romantic undertones. As you journey, new people step in and quickly become friends and a great found family unit is formed.
Cons:
People who read a lot of fantasy may find the book a little predictable as it touches on many familiar tropes, themes and problems. For some this could make the book boring while others will find it cozy and comforting.
Formatting in the print version is a bit off. Sentences will break off to start a new paragraph for no reason. It doesn’t hurt the ability to read the story but could confused younger readers.
Pros:
Lovers of young adult fantasy will find the story familiar and easy to slip into. You have a group of young adults coming of age when something happens to change their lives in a moment. Kingdoms in ruin, chaos and danger all around and forgotten magic emerging.
The author steps you directly into a solidly formed friend group with possible romantic undertones. As you journey, new people step in and quickly become friends and a great found family unit is formed.
Cons:
People who read a lot of fantasy may find the book a little predictable as it touches on many familiar tropes, themes and problems. For some this could make the book boring while others will find it cozy and comforting.
Formatting in the print version is a bit off. Sentences will break off to start a new paragraph for no reason. It doesn’t hurt the ability to read the story but could confused younger readers.
bookobsessedfamily's review
5.0
It's tradition for all of age to attend a ball at the palace so everyone can feel like royalty for a night.
Mellana and her friends all attend expecting it to be something they have never experienced. What they didn't expect was for it to change their lives forever. Now they are on the run and finding secrets. Will they uncover the secrets in time to save their kingdom?
----
I am beyond obsessed with this book, and the whole series. The world-building is amazing. The characters are well-developed and relatable. Most of them are likable.
There are so many questions and as one gets answered, 5 more come up, but in a good way. I am not sure how she keeps everything straight, but she does an amazing job of it.
I cannot say enough about this book and how amazing it is. You will not be disappointed if you love fantasy books.
Mellana and her friends all attend expecting it to be something they have never experienced. What they didn't expect was for it to change their lives forever. Now they are on the run and finding secrets. Will they uncover the secrets in time to save their kingdom?
----
I am beyond obsessed with this book, and the whole series. The world-building is amazing. The characters are well-developed and relatable. Most of them are likable.
There are so many questions and as one gets answered, 5 more come up, but in a good way. I am not sure how she keeps everything straight, but she does an amazing job of it.
I cannot say enough about this book and how amazing it is. You will not be disappointed if you love fantasy books.
lisashelves's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
itsabookthing2021's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to booksirens and publishers for this eARC of Secrets of A Rose
I really enjoyed this novel, the premise of a lost Princess and a rogue Prince was delightful. Though Prince Lorian's actions weren't as delightful they gave a terrific undercurrent to the story. The mission and the whole storyline was a fantastic start to this journey.
The characters were all delightful and had a lot of mystery to them, Kaden - I still don't know what his end game is and though he seems to be on the good side, I have my suspicions. The trio - Krispin, Mellana and Jewels were the embodyment of best friends and their friendship proved time again, helping each other at lengths. Zie though not originally a friend became likeable and the friendship development was great, even if it may be created out of a life or death situation.
The writing technique pulls you in from the beginning, not giving too much away making the reader delve further into the story. The direction of the story going one way but turning another added to the suspense and anticipation of what was to come next. The revelation was good, however I did start to suspect before it unravelled though one part of that I didn't see coming. I really enjoyed the adventure they found themselves on and I found this novel to be refreshing without the romance aspect it focused on the task at hand which I really appreciated since nothing took away from the plot and the goal.
I can't wait until next year for book 2 as I have a feeling things are going to get a whole lot worse for our group of friends.
I really enjoyed this novel, the premise of a lost Princess and a rogue Prince was delightful. Though Prince Lorian's actions weren't as delightful they gave a terrific undercurrent to the story. The mission and the whole storyline was a fantastic start to this journey.
The characters were all delightful and had a lot of mystery to them, Kaden - I still don't know what his end game is and though he seems to be on the good side, I have my suspicions. The trio - Krispin, Mellana and Jewels were the embodyment of best friends and their friendship proved time again, helping each other at lengths. Zie though not originally a friend became likeable and the friendship development was great, even if it may be created out of a life or death situation.
The writing technique pulls you in from the beginning, not giving too much away making the reader delve further into the story. The direction of the story going one way but turning another added to the suspense and anticipation of what was to come next. The revelation was good, however I did start to suspect before it unravelled though one part of that I didn't see coming. I really enjoyed the adventure they found themselves on and I found this novel to be refreshing without the romance aspect it focused on the task at hand which I really appreciated since nothing took away from the plot and the goal.
I can't wait until next year for book 2 as I have a feeling things are going to get a whole lot worse for our group of friends.
haaales's review against another edition
4.0
This was short, sweet, fun, magical, intriguing and full of adventure!
This book really grabs you from the start. The action moves fast, but not so much so that you don’t know what’s happening, & it slows down in all the right moments in order to tie the action together. The magic is SO cool, & the characters are lovable. There are a lot of twists and reveals, many of which I absolutely did not see coming. But the biggest & most pleasant surprise for me was the world as a whole.
Let me tell you guys, I am a stickler for world & magic system building, & while this book is around 250ish pages, it reminded me that you don’t need a book to be long in order to NAIL world building! I had such a good understanding of the history of this realm, & how all of our main characters interacted in it. I loved how the current threat connected to the world at large, & I’m so excited to see how Mellana develops in her magic & overall character.
Ultimately, this is book is perfect if you’re looking for a short & easy to read fantasy. It promises a ton of action & intrigue in the upcoming installments, & the writing quality is top notch. It’s definitely the kind of book you can easily read in one sitting & not even notice the time passing!
This book really grabs you from the start. The action moves fast, but not so much so that you don’t know what’s happening, & it slows down in all the right moments in order to tie the action together. The magic is SO cool, & the characters are lovable. There are a lot of twists and reveals, many of which I absolutely did not see coming. But the biggest & most pleasant surprise for me was the world as a whole.
Let me tell you guys, I am a stickler for world & magic system building, & while this book is around 250ish pages, it reminded me that you don’t need a book to be long in order to NAIL world building! I had such a good understanding of the history of this realm, & how all of our main characters interacted in it. I loved how the current threat connected to the world at large, & I’m so excited to see how Mellana develops in her magic & overall character.
Ultimately, this is book is perfect if you’re looking for a short & easy to read fantasy. It promises a ton of action & intrigue in the upcoming installments, & the writing quality is top notch. It’s definitely the kind of book you can easily read in one sitting & not even notice the time passing!
mels_booksandhooks's review against another edition
4.0
Another great indie author read. I enjoyed this YA Fantasy with elemental magic. The MC is a kind and humble young woman who has anxiety. The side characters are relatable and the passion to save their home is admirable. It has a D&D feel with elixirs, powers and mysterious strangers along for the ride. I look forward to the next book in the series.
ecofriendly_bookworm's review against another edition
4.0
This book was fantastic. I felt elated the whole time I was reading it. I was so engrossed in it that I flew through the pages, but I also didn't want to reach the last page.
Short Summary:
Every year, during the month of Amira, when the silver moon emerges, the kingdom of Zyra hosts a Zyranian ball where people between the ages of sixteen and eighteen get to be royals for the night.
This book starts with Mellana and Jewels preparing for their first ball, whereas for Krispin, it was his second. When the ball was in full bloom, a strange storm surrounded the kingdom, followed by green lightning and thunder. Evil has returned. Prince Lorian is back. Mellana escapes with some others to later find out that she was in possession of Rose's box and they are instructed by her to carry on certain tasks to help defeat the Prince. Not only this, they further discover that they themselves are changing. What they considered as dead was only suppressed.
Characters:
I loved the whole cast, with Jewels being my favorite. The author has done an amazing job by exploring various types of friendships and relationships where Mellana, Jewels, and Krispin have known each other throughout their lives. Zie, Percy, Janine, and the rest are new, with some people knowing each other for a long time, hence holding some secrets the others don't. This always kept me on my toes as I didn't know what to expect from them.
World building and Magic System:
The world that we are introduced to is very carefully curated. It is vibrant and beautiful, with every element in nature having its place. For example, in the month of Amira, the pink moon changes to silver, and this silver moon beautifies every object it touches, as if it has induced some magic into those objects. This world has been so exquisitely portrayed by the author [a:Adina Chiles|15236445|Adina Chiles|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1648450027p2/15236445.jpg] that I wanted to live there, smell the air, and dance under the silver moon.
Since this is the first book of the series, the magic system in this universe is still being explained to us. I find in many fantasy books that the magic feels confusing, and I am happy to say that this is not the case here. The magic system is well structured, is clear in its execution, and oh so beautiful.
Plot and Pace:
This book is fast-paced, plot-driven, with short chapters. And this is where my complaint lies. Perhaps not rational, but I wanted more and more pages filled with the details of everything; every stone, every tree, and every river.
The plot is mysterious, fantastical, magical, has a quest, adventure, twists and turns; in short, it has everything!
Short Summary:
Every year, during the month of Amira, when the silver moon emerges, the kingdom of Zyra hosts a Zyranian ball where people between the ages of sixteen and eighteen get to be royals for the night.
This book starts with Mellana and Jewels preparing for their first ball, whereas for Krispin, it was his second. When the ball was in full bloom, a strange storm surrounded the kingdom, followed by green lightning and thunder. Evil has returned. Prince Lorian is back. Mellana escapes with some others to later find out that she was in possession of Rose's box and they are instructed by her to carry on certain tasks to help defeat the Prince. Not only this, they further discover that they themselves are changing. What they considered as dead was only suppressed.
Characters:
I loved the whole cast, with Jewels being my favorite. The author has done an amazing job by exploring various types of friendships and relationships where Mellana, Jewels, and Krispin have known each other throughout their lives. Zie, Percy, Janine, and the rest are new, with some people knowing each other for a long time, hence holding some secrets the others don't. This always kept me on my toes as I didn't know what to expect from them.
World building and Magic System:
The world that we are introduced to is very carefully curated. It is vibrant and beautiful, with every element in nature having its place. For example, in the month of Amira, the pink moon changes to silver, and this silver moon beautifies every object it touches, as if it has induced some magic into those objects. This world has been so exquisitely portrayed by the author [a:Adina Chiles|15236445|Adina Chiles|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1648450027p2/15236445.jpg] that I wanted to live there, smell the air, and dance under the silver moon.
Since this is the first book of the series, the magic system in this universe is still being explained to us. I find in many fantasy books that the magic feels confusing, and I am happy to say that this is not the case here. The magic system is well structured, is clear in its execution, and oh so beautiful.
Plot and Pace:
This book is fast-paced, plot-driven, with short chapters. And this is where my complaint lies. Perhaps not rational, but I wanted more and more pages filled with the details of everything; every stone, every tree, and every river.
The plot is mysterious, fantastical, magical, has a quest, adventure, twists and turns; in short, it has everything!
moonlight_library's review
5.0
I've read many fantasy novels over the years but none have captured my interest so quickly as this one has! The world building is superb, the characters are beautifully layered, and the story is simply enthralling! From the serene beginning to the tension to the running-against-the-clock feeling it all held me captive and made me want more! I can't wait to see what other adventures Mellana and friends find themselves in! Can't wait for the next book!
happily_undignified's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
🌹Secrets of a Rose (Royal Blood #1) is an exciting YA Fantasy where the characters live in a kingdom full of power that is hidden away after a terrible tragedy. Mellana Goodwick visits the palace for a grand ball, only to have to escape hours later with a ragtag group of kids who all are more than they seem. The group of gifted friends set out on a mission to find 7 relics that can save Zyra.
Secrets of a Rose is a fun read and I got through it quickly because I was invested from the first line. Mellana, Krispin, and Jewels are all interesting characters and I love their friendship. When Zie, Kaden, Percy and Jannie join them, they become a found family who works together to save their kingdom and families. I really enjoyed the royal intrigue and surprise reveals in the story. I'm excited to read the next book in the series.
Secrets of a Rose is a fun read and I got through it quickly because I was invested from the first line. Mellana, Krispin, and Jewels are all interesting characters and I love their friendship. When Zie, Kaden, Percy and Jannie join them, they become a found family who works together to save their kingdom and families. I really enjoyed the royal intrigue and surprise reveals in the story. I'm excited to read the next book in the series.