Rosalyn Eves

"An Unlikely Proposition" is the delightful sequel to "An Improbable Season", and I found myself enjoying it just as much, if not more, than the first book. This time, the spotlight is on Thalia, the only young woman from the original trio who didn’t find her happily-ever-after. She returns in this novel as a companion to Eleanor, a wealthy young widow, and together they form an engaging, spirited duo struggling with the constraints placed on women by polite society.

Both women are show more independent, intelligent, and immensely likeable, though Eleanor especially stood out to me. Their romantic interests, Owen and Henry, were both respectful and charming in that proper Regency way.

The narrative alternates between Thalia and Eleanor’s perspectives, which adds depth and balance to the story. I enjoyed seeing each woman fight against societal expectations and personal insecurities. It gave the book a thoughtful edge.

As a longtime fan of Regency novels, I’m thrilled to find a series like this written for a young adult audience. I sincerely hope the author continues with more instalments - Anne and Sophia deserve their own story.

Even if you haven’t read "An Improbable Season", "An Unlikely Proposition" works just as well as a standalone. It is a charming read, perfect for anyone wishing for a few hours immersed in the elegance and drama of the Regency era. show less

*SPOILERS! Read at your own risk!*

The beginning was so interesting it got me invested in the story right away. However, the more I read, the longer it got... It took a long time before something else happened, something worthwhile. When it did, it soon went back to being boring.

Aside from that, the pages past the middle and the ending particularly are just mind-blowing! I was hoping for a certain development and it did go that way, turning everything upside down and did I love it! It was show more full of magic, doubts, otherwordly beings, and action. What's not to love?

Also, this book had a sense of travelling to it. The main character, Anna, who is Barren (which means she doesn't have magic in a magically-ruled world), travels with her grandmother to Hungary. I adored reading about them travelling, crossing countries, and meeting other people. There are even a few words and sentences in Hungarian. God help me for it was wonderful!

Moreover, Blood Rose Rebellion had the best character development with Anna Arden I've ever read! I started disliking her for she was haughty and spoilt but as the story progressed, I noticed she was learning how to love other people, or at least accept them. She would even defend a few of the less fortunate. By the end of the book, I came to like her and root for her. Now, if that's not character development done right, I don't know what it is!

I give it a rating of 4 out of 5 because it made me travel in different countries at a different time in a magical world. Plus, the character development in this book will never cease to amaze me. It lost one star simply for the boring parts that were too long.

It was quite an adventure and I would recommend it to everyone who loves magic, fantasy, other worlds, and quests for justice! It even surprised and delighted me. show less

This read at a leisurely pace for me. That's not a criticism, but an observation. Said pace allows you to get to know each girl that much better. All three are unique and have minor demons sitting upon their shoulders. My favorite is Charis, clearly born in the wrong era and marching to a drummer people in her time find shocking. By the end of the book, I had the following lyrics by the Stones echoing through my mind: "You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometime you'll find
You show more get what you need."
And this is what happens so nicely by the time one closes the book. show less

In a Victorian England where the elite Luminate class has magic, Anna has none - in fact, spells go awry when she's around. She suddenly draws the attention of the magic government, the Circle, when at her sister's debut she spectacularly ruins her sister's spells. Perhaps she is not just Barren but something else? Hoping to evade the Circle until the scandal goes down, Anna's parents send her to Hungary with her grandmother. But Anna finds herself in the midst of political unrest, and has show more to determine if she is going to break the granddaddy spell of them all - the Binding, which the revolutionaries tell her is what keeps the Luminate in power.

I really enjoyed the time period and world-building in this inventive young adult fantasy. Even those historical fantasies I've read set in Victorian times tend to be more a comedy of manners or about England; having Hungary as a setting was fresh for me. Though it's the first in a series (book 2 comes out in March), the story stands well on its own with a satisfying ending. show less