A Forgery of Roses

by Jessica S. Olson

Mary Luna (Cover Designer) and Kathleen Oudit (Cover Designer)

Myra has a gift many would kidnap, blackmail, and worse to control: she’s a portrait artist whose paintings alter people’s bodies. Guarding that secret is the only way to keep her younger sister safe now that their parents are gone. But one frigid night, the governor’s wife discovers the truth and threatens to expose Myra if she does not complete a special portrait that would resurrect the governor’s dead son.

Once she arrives at the legendary stone mansion, however, it becomes clear the boy’s death was no accident. A killer stalks these halls—one disturbingly obsessed with portrait magic. Desperate to get out of the manor as quickly as possible, Myra turns to the governor’s older son for help completing the painting before the secret she spent her life concealing makes her the killer’s next victim.

• ISBN10: 1335418660
• ISBN13: 9781335418661
• Publish Date: 1 March 2022
• Publish Status: Forthcoming
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Inkyard Press
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 368
• Language: English

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

A Forgery of Roses came with my most OwlCrate box, and I was so excited to see it appear at the bottom of the box! I was hoping this would be their choice and thus held off on buying it. I love this edition, though I'll admit that the original cover is also quite lovely. Still, red sprayed edges - yes, please!

Myra is what is known as a prodigy. Her paintings are magical – literally. She can transform reality with her paintings, healing bones, and changing appearances. Unfortunately, not everyone in this world considers this magical to be wondrous.

Thus, Myra has spent her whole life trying to keep what she is a secret. For the most part, she's succeeded, right up until just about the worst person ever uncovers the truth. Now she must raise the dead – literally – if she wants to survive the situation she's in.

"Just because my battles aren't visible, doesn't mean they aren't as real or difficult as yours."

Ohhhh, I love the concept of A Forgery of Roses. Artists, who imbue magic into their work, allowing them to affect reality? It rings of Dorian Gray but with a significant twist. And I am here for it.

Myra's story is many things. It's emotional, heavy, inspiring, worrisome, heartbreaking, and more. She's been through so much and keeps on going, both for her own sake and her sister's sake.
The magic in her blood only seems to complicate things. She lives in a world where people like her are shunned and hunted by those in power. In a way, the setup feels very familiar to our world – with the same people hunting her being more than willing to use her gifts to their own benefit. Feels familiar, right?

I loved the exploration of Myra's magic while having us delve into several mysteries at once. We have the mystery of what happened to her parents, alongside the mystery of what caused a young man's death. Together, they're putting Myra in an impossible position, and she'll have to find a way to survive on her own.

That being said, it wasn't Myra's story that hit me the hardest. One of the other characters in this tale (a love interest, for those curious) experiences significant anxiety – and I AM HERE FOR IT. I never get to see this representation, so it was a lot to see it done so well. Throw in a few powerful quotes, and this book tunneled straight to my heart.

Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks