The Everlasting Rose: a review

Dec 29, 20213 min read

D E T A I L S

- Title- The Everlasting Rose

- Author(s)- Dhonielle Clayton

- Genre(s)- Fantasy

- Age rating- 14+

- Publication date- 05/03/2019

- Publisher- Freeform

P R E M I S E

!!CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE BELLES!!

With a price on her head, the evil Queen Sophia out for blood, and no idea who to trust, Camellia Beaureguard, the former favorite Belle, must race against time to find the ailing Princess Charlotte, who has disappeared without a trace. Sophia's imperial forces will stop at nothing to keep Camille, her sister Edel, and her loyal guard, Rémy, from returning Charlotte to the palace and her rightful place as queen.

With the help of an underground resistance movement called the Iron Ladies--a society that rejects beauty treatments entirely--and the backing of alternative newspaper the Spider's Web, Camille uses her powers, her connections, and her cunning to outwit her greatest nemesis, Sophia, and attempt to restore peace to Orléans. But enemies lurk in the most unexpected places, forcing Camille to decide just how much she's willing to sacrifice to save her people.

[GOODREADS] [STORYGRAPH]

R E V I E W

// Content Warning: animal cruelty / blood / body horror / body shaming / "bury your gays" trope / death / emotional abuse / torture / vomit //

!!CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE BELLES!!

As expected, THE EVERLASTING ROSE picks up right after the crazy conclusion THE BELLES had and when comparing the two, this one was quite disappointing to say the least.

The infamous belles, now with a bounty over their heads, are on the run from the entire kingdom while a potential bomb sits on the throne (get it? cause she's unstable but also hot? never mind, I'll leave now).

After suffering through an entire book of Camille pining after Auguste, ma'am did a 360 and started falling head over heels for Remy (with an accent on the E). His temperament was suddenly mysterious and hot and I'm very confused but you don't see me complaining. Team Remy for the win <3

I'm awfully glad it didn't turn out to be a love triangle because I despise love triangles with my whole being (if you've been reading my reviews for a while, you'll know how much I hate it). And please, the way she dropped Auguste on the cold hard ground (am I right, Swifties?).

How the conversation went:

Auguste: I love you so so much you don't understand-

Camille: thank you next bitch

Auguste: ...

Auguste: I wasn't done tal-

Camille: In your dreams you free loaning dick

(Not a very accurate depiction but you get the memo).

Camille was definitely more goal oriented instead of reckless and her character development was amazing.

Remy had the strongest character arc of the lot and really went from the rudest bodyguard to oh my god he actually speaks? I love how his character is naturally nurturing and family centred which is a trait typically dished out to female protagonists / characters.

My respect for Auguste went 📈📈 the more I kept reading. He respected the fact that Camille had moved on and instead of trying to win her back, he decided to move on too (but quietly). He sorta disappeared mid-book which was very disappointing and I would love to see him more in the last book.

Edel had matured a little but was still reckless and bold. Go Queen!

3.5/5 stars