Review Detail

A FORGERY OF ROSES is an enthralling and atmospheric YA fantasy. Myra is an artist, but she is also a Prodigy, someone who can change people and animals with her paintings using her magic. Being a Prodigy is a dangerous thing, as politicians consider them heretics, using magic as if they were akin to the Artist, the creator who painted the world to life. Myra, like her mother before her, hides who she is and what she can do, while also being drawn to art and painting. She apprentices for her mother's former business partner to make ends meet and support her ill younger sister, who badly needs a doctor they cannot afford, a task which has fallen on her since both their parents disappeared.

When Mrs. Harris, the wife of a renowned and staunch anti-Prodigy politician, arrives to have a portrait of her dog painted, Myra knows she is walking a fine line, but her magic will not allow her to ignore it, and she heals the scrape on the dog's leg as she paints. Seeing her ability, Mrs. Harris has a larger and more dangerous task for her - to bring her son, Will, back to life with her skill. The consequences could be deadly if she refuses and is exposed, but this task is monumental and too many secrets may prevent her from ever having the chance to complete it.

What I loved: This is such an imaginative and atmospheric read. Myra is a compelling character, driven by her love for her sister and challenged by what she knows about her magic and herself. The world, its religion, and her unique magic all combine to create an intriguing and riveting YA fantasy read. The Harris family becomes more complex and complicated than they initially appear, and she will need to keep her wits about her at all times. As she tries to heal Will, she must learn more about her magic than she ever thought she would and also investigate what actually happened to him - her magic refuses to work without this knowledge. Steeped in secrets and confusion, this task leads to more questions and mysteries that come together in the explosive conclusion.

There are a number of intriguing and thought-provoking themes around religion and its interpretation, the power of wealth, chronic illness, mental illness (anxiety), family and its complicated bonds, wealth disparity and medical costs, and politics. Myra's sister suffers an unknown chronic illness that is slowly destroying her, and though she tries to research it as best she can and they are able to hire a nurse to assist, they are unable to afford a doctor who may be able to diagnose her, revealing healthcare inequalities as well as what life is like to live with such an illness. Myra does not want that to define her sister and understands the way it can drain her and challenge her daily. Another major character has anxiety and the portrayal felt genuine, with the difficulty in performing certain tasks/conversations and the way that is a part of the person but not what defines them. The Harris family has wealth and political power, and this is juxtaposed with the way they treat Myra, their servants, and the way they view and treat those those around them.

The theme around their religion and the ways that they view the ability of Prodigies was another intriguing one, as this has implications for the way that religion is interpreted and how this can ripple out to have terrible consequences. In some ways, this resembles the witch hunts of the past with the way that religion and power can drive a zeal. The way that Myra's mother had discussed their abilities as well as what those in power have to say add to this discussion. While enjoyable and with a charming and intense romance, this book has a lot of important themes to unpack and would also be well-suited to a book club discussion.

Final verdict: Atmospheric and riveting, A FORGERY OF ROSES is a stunning and charming YA fantasy read about religion, magic, and power. Highly recommend for fans of FROSTBLOOD, THE INHERITANCE GAMES, and THE COLOR OF DRAGONS.