A Forgery of Roses - by Jessica S Olson

About the Book

"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."--

Book Synopsis

"A deliciously twisted gothic fantasy you'll want to read again and again, with characters you'll adore, prose that'll spellbind you, romance you'll swoon over, and a mystery that'll keep you guessing until the last stunning twist."
--Diana Urban, author of These Deadly Games

From the author of Sing Me Forgotten comes a lush new fantasy novel with art-based magic, romance, and murder...

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.

"A heady blend of the fantastical, the murderous, and the romantic." --Kirkus Reviews, STARRED review

"Marvelously magical and steeping with mystery." --Adalyn Grace, author of All the Stars and Teeth

Also by Jessica S. Olson:
Sing Me Forgotten

Review Quotes

2023 Lone Star Reading List selection

"A heady blend of the fantastical, the murderous, and the romantic."--Kirkus Reviews, STARRED review

"A triumphant second novel, Olson's not-to-be-missed tale of intrigue has something for everyone."--School Library Journal, STARRED review

"Marvelously magical and steeping with mystery, A Forgery of Roses checks all the boxes you could want in a fantasy. With a highly creative magic system reminiscent ofThe Picture of Dorian Gray and a lush romance, Olson's newest is an absolute stunner that's sure to be a crowd pleaser."--Adalyn Grace, New York Times bestselling author of All the Stars and Teeth

"A Forgery of Roses is a haunted gallery filled with secrets, ominous footsteps through a fog-wreathed city at midnight, and the fierce magic of a sister's love. Jessica Olson paints a multilayered narrative of romance and mystery that will hold readers in suspense until the final chapters."--Lyndall Clipstone, author of Lakesedge

"A deliciously twisted gothic fantasy you'll want to read again and again, with characters you'll adore, prose that'll spellbind you, romance you'll swoon over, and a mystery that'll keep you guessing until the last stunning twist. A Forgery of Roses is totally addicting and captivating, and I already can't wait to re-read it!" --Diana Urban, author of These Deadly Games

"Both fascinating and novel... it will attract fantasy fans as well as the artistically inclined."--Booklist