Scan barcode
A review by ecofriendly_bookworm
Secrets of a Rose by Adina Chiles
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!