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| Rose Petal Graves Tour + Giveaway tour schedule can be found at: YA Bound Book Tours |
author: Olivia Wildenstein
genre: young adult, fantasy
publish: March 29, 2017
purchase: Amazon | B&N
rating: 3.5 / 5 stars
goodreads
ANCIENT SECRETS CANNOT REMAIN BURIED FOREVER.
Founded two centuries ago by a powerful tribe of Gottwa Indians, Rowan was a quiet town, so quiet that I fled after graduation. Staying away was the plan, but Mom died suddenly.
Dad said she suffered a stroke after she dug up one of the ancient graves in our backyard, which happens to be the town cemetery. Creepy, I know. Creepier still, there was no corpse inside the old coffin, only fresh rose petals.
As we made preparations for Mom’s burial, new people began arriving in Rowan, unnervingly handsome and odd people. I begged them to leave, but they stayed, because their enemies—my ancestors—were beginning to awaken.
fictional Native tribe + faeries.
I requested for this book because I read the author's Masterful duology and loved it! However, Rose Petal Graves is completely different. Rose Petal Graves: (1) involves the tribe of Gottwa, Indians -- Natives, something completely new to me (important note: the Gottwas are fictional, as the author noted, and are 'loosely inspired by the Ojibwe people.'); (2) has faeries and faehunters (okay?); (3) has a medical student heroine and wants to be a doctor but her ancestors are #gasp faehunters; (4) is an amusing yet not a very thrilling read.
Don't count the days. Make the days count. -loc343
Rose Petal Graves started slow for me. Catori's mother died. They were preparing her wake and burial. They live in a cemetery. And the death of her mother was suspicious, she strongly can't accept it. She was then introduced to a world she found difficult to believe in -- the faeries and faehunters. Cruz Vega, a faerie who took the place of a medal examiner, told Catori that she's a faehunter and that her mother just brought another faehunter to life.
Now what?
During the first part or like 20% or so of the novel, I was totally confused at what's happening -- what's the conflict, the plot, the good side, the bad side, why can't Catori just ignore this mess and get on with life? And slowly but surely, Olivia Wildestein, moves the story into an interesting path and somehow explained everything. There's a bit of an #infodump here, to be honest. But I just absorbed everything because I was interested for answers.
"You make your own happiness, Kajika. Just like you create your own destiny." -loc2997
Catori is a stubborn heroine (aren't most heroines are?) and I like her straightforwardness. She's also adventurous and wants to learn more of what's already out there. She's curious and her curiosity obviously brought her into this wild adventure she' inevitably needs to be in. However, I wasn't exactly emotionally attached to Catori. I like her and I understand her. I see why she does the things she do. And I feel sad for her at times. But I just don't feel strongly for her.
The romance, however, unexpectedly became one of my favorite aspects of the story. I strongly like Catori and Kajika to happen. Like the moment, he entered the scene I'm just: this.guy.and.Catori.MUST.happen! I love the slow development of their relationship. AND while their feelings to each other seem to have mixed with unfortunate circumstances, I'm still here waiting for the two of them to happen. Believe me, my kindle notes are filled with #teamkajika (because I feared that Catori and Cruz might happen. and i'm just like: no!).
"The greatest rewards come at the greatest risks." -loc3507
Other things I like about Rose Petal Graves: (1) Kajika (because why not?), I was honestly amused at how he was introduced and basically how he's just there, straightforward, honest, and brooding (I'm not usually into the brooding-type of guy but I can make exemptions); (2) Ace and Catori's bantering are priceless! Definitely some of the most amusing moments here!; (3) the penultimate chapter was crazy -- a bit expected but also nicely done (it also sealed the romance!! I fangirled!); (4) there's drama and feels and sadness and a bit of sad unrequited love -- the mixture of drama infused in this novel is crazy but not very strong, to be honest, but it really put the development of events into the right places; (5) that the author actually made some effort to make words and actually do something about their language!
OVERALL, Rose Petal Graves is an unusual novel with the combinations of faeries and fictional Native Americans. It wasn't exactly a thrilling and intriguing read and it started slow for me but it really kept me glued for things like the heroine, her love interest, the questionable which-side-is-the-right-side. This is a good fantasy read with really amusing characters and (I know it's still not released but) I'm excited for the next book!! 😁
about the author
Olivia Wildenstein grew up in New York City, the daughter of a French father with a great sense of humor, and a Swedish mother whom she speaks to at least three times a day. She chose Brown University to complete her undergraduate studies and earned a bachelor’s in comparative literature. After designing jewelry for a few years, Wildenstein traded in her tools for a laptop computer and a very comfortable chair. This line of work made more sense, considering her college degree.
When she’s not writing, she’s psychoanalyzing everyone she meets (Yes. Everyone), eavesdropping on conversations to gather material for her next book, baking up a storm (that she actually eats), going to the gym (because she eats), and attempting not to be late at her children’s school (like she is 4 out of 5 mornings, on good weeks).
Wildenstein lives with her husband and three children in Geneva, Switzerland, where she’s an active member of the writing community.
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