MY RATING:
Synopsis:
A charming, must-listen cosy fantasy romance debut with grumpy/sunshine vibes, small-town magic, and heartwarming second chances
She traded curses for carnations. But old magic dies hard…
Guy Shadowfade is dead, and Violet Thistlethwaite is out of a job. After a lifetime as the dark sorcerer’s right-hand witch, she’s ready to turn over a new leaf. And this time, she wants to sprout peonies instead of poison.
Read More:
The quiet town of Dragon’s Rest seems like the perfect place to start over. Violet opens a flower shop, swears off dark magic, and does her best to be…good. Even if her reputation – and her mildly homicidal, sentient houseplant – make that tricky.
Her vibrant bouquets soon charm the locals, but nothing she does seems to impress the grumpy (and infuriatingly gorgeous) Nathaniel Marsh, the alchemist she’s forced to share a greenhouse with.
But when a strange blight begins to rot the roots of Dragon’s Rest, Violet and Nathaniel must work together – through their fears, pasts, and growing feelings – to save the town.
And as old secrets start to surface, Violet can’t help but does a former villain like her truly deserve a happily-ever-after?
- Pages: 368
- Genre: Cosy Fantasy, Romance
- Publication date: November 18, 2025 by Ace
- Format: Paperback, Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook
- Source: Owned
PURCHASE LINKS:
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
KOBO
REVIEW:
That was interesting. Seeing the perspective of a former villain and how they are trying to navigate the world whilst trying to be good. Without being manipulated and brainwashed into doing evil things, and believing that they are nothing more than that, a villain, made you see all villains in different light and think what or who and why made them do evil…
I found the plot interesting and cosy. There were a lot of likeable characters and creatures. Violet’s point of view was refreshing, her personality was well developed, and she grew throughout the story. Same as Nathaniel, although he needed more time, this was the typical grumpy meets sunshine trope. Also, can we stop and appreciate how gorgeous the book cover is? I just love it.
The beginning was slow, and we got to see a lot of Violet and her past and how she is trying to change, whilst the past is still haunting her. Nat had his own demons to fight. Prudence was great. I really wanted to see more of her. She was quirky and funny.
I think this book was a setup for a new series, which I would be most thrilled about if this is the case. If this is a standalone, I would be very disappointed due to the rushed ending and some things left hanging in the air.
I really need a prequel with all the background story of Shadowfade, the Thorn Witch and the dragon!
The cosy vibes were there, the newfound family, the understanding and acceptance that people do need and deserve a second chance in life (unless you’ve done something outrageous, then, no, you don’t).
This book was filled with hope, and although the overall tone was cosy and subdued, there was a heavier backdrop of overcoming trauma, brainwashing and manipulation as well as grief and guilt. It really reminded me of The Spellshop, but here this author did so much better.
The writing style was easy to follow, whimsical and heartwarming. The plot was intriguing, and there were some novelties I had not read in other books, which was great. However, as I mentioned, the ending was rushed, and some things were left unaddressed; hence, I hope there will be another book.
In conclusion, I enjoyed this book, and it received 3.5 stars from me.
Lin's Perspective 
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