Love & Intrigue in a Bottle | Immortal Rose

By Alexandra Bracken

As an intern at Childress Ink for the summer, reading Immortal Rose represented a series of firsts for me. It was my first time reading a book by Alexandra Bracken, my first time reading an ARC, and my first time reading an adult fantasy romance novel. I had struggled with a reading slump last semester, but I finished this book in three days because I couldn’t put it down. As I read I fell in love with Viola, Hugh, and their intertwined story, thinking to myself several times: Wow! This is why I love reading.

Immortal Rose follows Viola Lockwood, who is a perfumist by trade in the kingdom of Albion. She is the last living heir of the Lockwoods, a family line with fairy blood that lets them infuse healing and emotion into their creations. Due to her status as an illegitimate child, she lives and works in the Brickbats, the underbelly of Albion. When Viola is arrested by spymaster Hugh Thornton, she discovers that he seeks her help to reverse the effects of murder on Albion’s king. She agrees to create the rare perfume Immortal Rose to save his life and gain her freedom—and unrestricted rights to her family legacy. Hugh and Viola search for the perfume’s ingredients, risking rumors and reputations to do so. The two of them are forced to work together, starting the beginning of a snarky, sweet enemies-to-lovers relationship.

The first thing I noticed about Immortal Rose is the particular detail given to crafting the the perfume industry of Albion and the Rosebourne legacy. The emphasis on perfumes and their magical properties illuminate the plot and meaning of the story, creating a world with unique challenges and shifting loyalties. The tarnished history of the Rosebourne family highlights both the injustice present in Albion’s monarchy and the best and worst of human nature as a whole. It also serves as a factor for personal growth for Viola, as she navigates royal mind games and must stay true to who she already is.

Viola is a delightful heroine to follow. She is strong-willed and brave, but endearingly genuine, adjusting to her new reality and the people around her. She has a lively point of view, making witty observations of Albion and its noblemen based on her rougher life growing up in the Brickbats. She views the majority of her work and entanglement with Hugh Thornton with a cynical perspective. It is only further into the book that she begins to realize there’s more to Hugh than she first gave him credit for.

Hugh and Viola trade point of view chapters throughout the story, which allows readers to get a closer look at Hugh’s character. Similarly to Viola, Hugh is also intense and strong-willed, but his expression of that is more reserved due to his stifled upbringing. Many of his traits are shown through subtle quips and quiet action. There were times that as a reader he kept me guessing on his true motivations, even through chapters where I knew I was reading his perspective. His nature of secrecy is not without reason—Hugh is a man who fiercely protects those he is loyal to, in a kingdom where the system often works against that bravery. I enjoyed seeing Hugh and Viola bounce off of one another and learn more about the other’s true self—first as reluctant business partners and then as individuals sharing mutual interests and attraction.

Throughout the novel, Bracken’s writing shines with excitement and emotion. If I had not known this was her adult debut I would have assumed she had been writing adult fantasy for years. I was impressed the most with the clear, evocative imagery she uses to bring the scents of Immortal Rose to life. Viola’s background and line of work means she sees perfumes in everything, hinting at traits belonging to people and places depending on the scent. Bracken portrays this intensely specific element of the story well. She also explores Viola and Hugh’s headspaces well so that readers empathize with them and their struggles to trust one another.

Immortal Rose was a thrilling romantasy read due to its magical setting, memorable characters, and lyrical storytelling. It had that particular quality I love about books and reading in general: the opportunity to get swept away in a world unlike our own. Viola and Hugh are charmingly vulnerable in their dual POV chapters and their enemies-to-lovers dynamic adds a fun touch of fun to the already serious political intrigue. The plot of the book is well constructed, mirroring the thoughtful way perfume is used throughout the book.

Immortal Rose is the first half of a duology, and I’m already looking forward to picking up the next volume in the series!

Publisher description:

Special thanks to Avon Books for sponsoring this giveaway.

This deluxe limited hardcover edition features beautiful stenciled edges & illustrated endpapers —available on first printing only!

From Alexandra Bracken, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lore, comes a stunningly original adult fantasy, the first in a duology. 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 Lockhart, 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 demandmore than Hugh and Viola can ever pay.

Julie Potter is a Professional Writing Major at Taylor University going into her senior year. She has a heart for impactful storytelling and memorable characters. She is a staff writer for Taylor's award winning student newspaper, The Echo, and will be on staff for Parnassus, Taylor's literary journal, this fall. When not writing or reading, Julie can be found crocheting, listening to music, or at the nearest thrift store. More.

Immortal Rose (Deluxe Limited Edition)

Alexandra Bracken

On Sale Date: Aug 18, 2026, 9780063441644 Hardcover $34.00

BISAC:

Fiction / Romance / Fantasy

Fiction / Fantasy / Romance

Fiction / Romance / Royalty

Fiction / Romance / Historical