Autumn Krause

I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher (PeachTree Teen) for promotional purposes.

Wow! What a phenomenal YA fantasy!

First off, the blend of Hamlet, the Tudors, and deadly flowers were an amazing combination. It all worked together perfectly. It had a gothic feel with a touch of horror. I loved it!

Let’s take a moment to talk about the grave flowers themselves. These killer flowers had a life of their own and were so fascinating.

The world building was outstanding. Both show more kingdoms, Radix and Acus, were well developed. I felt fully immersed in them and their court politics.

The characters were also noteworthy. I loved the main character, Princess Madalina. She was both soft and strong. Prince Aeric was another interesting character. He was complex and had many layers to him.

The story had so many twists and turns! It took me on a ride and it never felt predictable. I was constantly shocked by where the story went. It was creative and felt new and fresh.

The author’s writing style is gorgeous. I need to read more of her books because she creates a dark yet beautiful atmosphere through her prose.

Lastly, I want to end with a quote that stuck with me. Madalina reflects, “Mothers were women first, and women could be anything. They could eat fire and spew it out like dragons just as easily as they could rock a baby to sleep—in fact, they could do both at once: wield a knife while holding a babe” (pg. 58).

Overall, this is one of my top reads of the year. If you’re looking for a new fantasy novel to fall in love with, read this one! show less

First off, it’s Autumn Krause’s debut novel. Second, it’s Project Runway meets Survivor - fashion and competition = amazing read. This was such a fun novel and I immediately got sucked into the world of Emmy (aka Emmaline) and the Fashion House. This book has plenty of drama along with twists and turns - my stomach was in my throat for the majority of the book (in a really good way). I fell in love with both Emmy and Sophie (even though I wanted to kill her in the first half of the show more book!) This is a great YA book about fashion, finding good friends, and taking the greatest leap of your life and succeeding. This is definitely a favorite of the year! show less

I shelved this under adult an YA fantasy because I think this story has real crossover appeal. Krause is so perceptive about fashion not only as an art but as a language. Emmaline is a great protagonist and she faces each problem with inventiveness and flair. I loved the luscious description of fashion, with such attention not only to the detail but the meaning. Great read!

Featured in a blog post at https://booksbeyondbinaries.blog/2019/08/19/femme-rebels/