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It’s time for one more adventure at Evergreen Academy, the secret college for Magical Botanists.

After an eventful winter break, my spring experience at Evergreen Academy promises to be much more than the typical garden parties, botany classes, and equinox festivals.

My friends and fellow members of the secretive Root and Vine Society are on a recover a long-missing botanical book that may be the key to saving Evergreen Academy from the tightening grip of the Magical Botanical Board of Regents.

The journey to find the book will take us to unexpected places, push the boundaries of my rare magic, and force us to examine how much our society knows about the magical botanists who came before us.

Through it all, I’m stealing romantic moments with Callan Rhodes–my former tutor and now partner in crime–who is just as dedicated to saving the academy as I am. We tried to delay our feelings due to scouting vines and overbearing parents, but we can’t quite seem to keep the creeping tendrils of our hearts apart for long.

One thing is the opposing forces at Evergreen Academy are headed for a showdown, and the fight won’t just be waged with spells and vines. The battle for Evergreen Academy will be won through friendship, teamwork, and uncovering the deepest roots of all. And if we fail, the consequences won’t end at the academy’s gates. They’ll echo through the human world, too.

Elements you'll find in this

Third in a trilogyMagical academySecret societyForestcoreGreen academiaStronger together loveSweet, kisses-only romanceFound familyBotanical history vibesCozy nature-based magic

310 pages, Paperback

Published March 17, 2026

104 people are currently reading
427 people want to read

About the author

Heather Schneider

7 books195 followers
Heather Schneider enjoys writing cozy novels with a light romance and mystery angle, often inspired by some of her favorite places.

Heather lives in Las Vegas with her husband and their Chiweenie, Toby.

When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, listening to podcasts, traveling, or spending time with family.

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5 stars
96 (60%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
Profile Image for thelilcloseddoorbookgal.
165 reviews22 followers
February 9, 2026
What to expect: Cozy nature-based atmosphere, botanical history lore, found family, green academia, stronger together love, secret society, more secrets revealed, final book in series

This was a satisfying, wholesome conclusion to the trilogy. We got more magical botanist lore and world-building that I found intriguing and creative like in the first two books. I enjoyed Briar’s adventure and how she has grown through her time at the academy, standing up for what she believes in. I really like her dedication and her staying true to herself. Callan is such a green flag and a good man. I found myself admiring his ambitions and consideration for others, especially toward Briar. The teamwork of those two and other students and mentors regarding the conflict is *chef’s kiss.* This is a feel-good series that makes me want to go connect with nature and appreciate it. It is absolutely lovely. 💕

Side note: I would love a novella of Briar and Callan post events of this book. ALSO CANNOT WAIT FOR THE SPECIAL EDITIONS ON KICKSTARTER

📚content📚
Spice - kissing only and not really descriptive
Language - none (made-up cursing)
Other content - one mention of students getting drunk off of made-up drinks, overall there is nothing explicit in this series
Profile Image for Mandi.
127 reviews3 followers
February 8, 2026
How lucky am I to be an ARC reader for this ENTIRE trilogy!!?

I’d give this one 4.5 stars, it was my least favorite of the 3 books but in no means was it a bad book!
My favorite thing about Heather Schneider is that each book in a series immediately jumps in right where the last book started. When you don’t read the books immediately after one another I could see someone struggling to remember what happened in the previous book but I prefer it that way!
Don’t get me wrong I love some spice, but sweet, clean, PG-13 love gets my stomach in butterflies the most! I love Briar and Callan’s relationship, it has NEVER felt forced in all 3 books. I love that Wyatt was a bigger part of this story and together they took down their mother.

My main “issue” with this is I think the plot involving Alex and Briar’s aunt Vera wasn’t made out to be bigger than it seemed. Like oh we spent the last book and a half getting to this but it was just a misunderstanding!

Things almost seem “too easy” for Briar. She didn’t have many setbacks besides losing her powers for a short time and whatever they tried to do was easily successful.

I’d like to be sent away to Evergreen Academy and live amount the plants now please! I am sad to see this series come to an end but this was a perfect place to end it! Sometimes book series end up just going TOO long and it’s good to stop it while you’re ahead!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ashley (cozytaleswithash).
22 reviews10 followers
February 16, 2026
This has been such a fun series, and the final book did not disappoint!

It had just enough action and mystery to keep it interesting, as well as a great setting and cast of characters.

I’ve loved watching Briar grow and learn about her powers, and the romance between her and Callan is so sweet and wholesome.

If you enjoy cozy fantasy, found family, sweet romance, and plants, this series is definitely for you!
Profile Image for Katie Brewster.
127 reviews14 followers
March 21, 2026
This was such a great conclusion to a series that really captured my heart and made me want to be a magical botanist when I grow up 🤭🥰 This series is so atmospheric with a school setting so vibrant and detailed that it felt like I could jump right into the pages and live there! 🌱🌷 I dare you to read this series and NOT wish you went to Evergreen Academy — it’s impossible! 💚

This third & final book in the Evergreen Academy series picks up exactly where book 2 left off. It pulls you in instantly as Briar and Callan must finally crack the code on the mystery that has been plaguing their academy all year long. You travel to new places, gain a deeper understanding into the history of the school and its founders, and fall deeper in love with Evergreen Academy and all its students!

I loved seeing Briar and Callan’s relationship deepen and grow as they gained more confidence about what they truly wanted in life. The settings, the games, the fetes — those were some of my favorite aspects of the book, which made it so fun and immersive! This is the perfect book for spring if you’re wanting to add to your spring TBR and get all the cottagecore vibes with a sweet romance! 🥰

The only reason this wasn’t a 5 star read was because there were some slow parts that affected the pacing of the story and a somewhat softer ending than what I was expecting. I just wanted a bit more.

For fans of:
Light academia
Studious, green flag MMCs
Friendship goals
Cottagecore vibes
Plant magic 🌱 ✨

🩷: Kisses only
🤬: None
Profile Image for Sarah Ellis.
14 reviews
February 8, 2026
ARC Review: This is my first ARC review, so I am thankful Heather Schneider, the author allowed me to read the unpublished book. Here are some of the things I noted in my notes app while reading this book that I thought were great to mention.
- A new character comes into play in the beginning of the book that might surprise you.
- A new hidden place is revealed
- Not too witchy
- Very clean
-Writing style flows well
- No cliff hangers

- As a Christian, I tend to be cautious what I read that has magic in it, but this book, and the series as a whole is very clean and not too witchy.
- I would recommend this book to anyone, and I cannot wait to read more books by this author. Thank you again!
Profile Image for Abigail Walker.
278 reviews2 followers
February 17, 2026
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Firstly, thanks to the author for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third and final book in the Society of Magical Botanists series and continues to follow Briar Wheelan and her love interest, Callan Rhodes, who are searching for the book, the Vanished Compendium, which they believe will help the academy. However, with forces batting against them, will they be able to find the book and save the academy, or is this far too great of a challenge for mere students?

I’m sad this series is now over, but the third and final book was such a great adventure that it made the ending of the series even sadder! I loved seeing the blossoming of Briar and Callan’s relationship, seeing Briar coming into her own, and seeing her aunt develop magical ability of her own. The only thing I didn’t like about the aunt plot line was that it felt underused. It seemed really big and important that Briar’s aunt had powers, especially when Briar feared her aunt being targeted, but then when the aunt knew about them she had no interest and that part of the story was then left. It felt a bit anticlimactic and I wish we saw more of the aunt delving into her magical abilities, or that there’d been more action and excitement such as the aunt being chased for her powers.

However, apart from that the story was really interesting and it had me gripped throughout. While I wish Briar faced more challenges (she seemed to manage things without any real opposition or confrontation), it was still a great book that made you keen to read on.

One of the main reasons I didn’t give this five stars is because I felt that things started too quickly (ironic, as I felt book two started too slowly). Immediately we see Briar and Callan doing a task to try and make the quill to find the book work, a task that is quickly achieved. After that, they use the quill which helps them realise the book is a certain number of miles away and from that information Callan without thinking just happens to know the aquatics conservatory is that far away and the book is likely there? It felt unbelievable that he just happened to know that information and definitely felt like a plot carrying device. As the action is immediate it doesn’t give you much time to think or get comfortable in the narrative, so I kind of wish we had a minute before we were thrust into the action.

I also wish the author slowed down a bit to explain things instead of focusing on pushing the narrative forward. For example, there is a chapter where they find the Compendium but see it has invisible ink. The chapter ends with Petra saying she has a few ideas to make the ink appear, but then the next chapter starts with them seeing the ink. It isn’t explained how they managed to achieve this which I feel would have added more to the book. Another example of things being rushed without explanation is near the end when Briar has suddenly decided what she is doing after college. She was full of uncertainty before, so the fact it was then decided what she’d be doing at uni felt a bit rushed. It would have been nice if decisions like that were explained or slowed down a bit, so I’d have preferred a longer book that went into things more than a shorter one that sped things along.

Overall, a great novel that ended an amazing series! I preferred book one overall and this one was likely my least favourite of the three, but it was still good and wrapped things up nicely. I do feel the ending with the leaf message felt unnecessary as it didn’t add anything, so if I were the author I’d remove that as the ending with the two main characters embracing felt like the perfect way to end the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Mara Miniaci.
604 reviews9 followers
March 10, 2026
I didn't really know what to expect from this last book in the trilogy, but boy, did I devour it! Going into the story, I was curious about how everything would come together after the earlier books. While "Evergreen Conservatory" felt a little slower to me compared to "Evergreen Academy", it actually made this final instalment even more exciting to read. Because of that build-up, this book felt like a reward of everything that came before it & I found myself flying through the pages much faster than expected.

The atmosphere & setting completely pulled me into the world of Evergreen once again. I had the same excitement, but maybe even more this time around because of the new locations & plants that are being introduced throughout the story. I could immediately picture it right in front of me, so vividly! It was almost like walking through a botanical garden in my mind!

One of the things I enjoyed most in this book was seeing the characters grow with each other. I was especially happy to read more about aunt Vera this time around (no spoilers, you will definitely know when you read it!). The way the story connected her to Briar’s mom added an emotional layer that I didn’t expect & I absolutely loved it because it really strengthened that warm, family-centred feeling that runs throughout the series.

The pacing kept me hooked the entire time. Even though the story took my mind into every direction, it never felt slow to me while reading this final part. It even felt incredibly satisfying to keep going with all the plot twists revealed along the way. Just when you think you know where things are going, something new unfolds.

The ending satisfied me completely, even though reaching it felt bittersweet. Saying goodbye to these characters, the plants & the whole Evergreen world was harder than I ever could've imagined. It really shows how attached I have become to this series!

I would definitely recommend this book to readers who enjoy cosy, comforting stories, even if there is quite a lot happening in the plot. Despite the many events unfolding, it never feels too intense or unsettling. Instead, the story holds its gentle & warm tone that makes it a very comforting read. If you enjoy immersive worlds, strong family themes & a touch of botanical magic, this trilogy — & especially this final book — is absolutely worth reading!
Profile Image for Kiana.
490 reviews4 followers
February 3, 2026
The Evergreen Legacy by Heather Schneider is the finale finish to a beautiful series.

I loved the ending..! It was fast-paced, it was action packed, and it was answer filled. The book gave us the answers to the questions we had that popped up in books one and two, and the author tied each and every knot and string up beautifully. I loved the stand the students took to save the school. We saw more and more of the beautiful world that Heather created and oh my gosh was everything just amazing!

Let me just say that MMC is such a green flag, supportive, defensive, humorous, and smart! The whole package. I loved the interactions of the main characters, each full of love, admiration and respect. Such a huge squeal!! The FMC's sleuth skills were on another level, and her dedication to keeping natural spaces open for everyone was amazing. I really loved this overall message of this book about how we shouldn't section ourselves off from nature, and that we need to coincide with nature and not fight it and use it for profit. Our planet is such a beautiful place and Heather did a great job emphasizing that.

I recommend this series to anyone who wants just a good time.

Thank you Heather Schneider for the free book.
Profile Image for Tiphaine.
688 reviews7 followers
February 14, 2026
|| Thank you to Heather Schneider for providing me this arc in exchange for an honest review ! ||

I really enjoyed this end of trilogy, and its story. I feel like it was a good story done well, and while we assume everything's gonna be ok (as it's a YA cosy fantasy) we still hope that Briar and her friends will work everything out, as we can only agree with them and root for their fight.

I liked that Briar discovered even more things about her power, and also continue to be mesmerised by the magical botanists powers and all they can do, all the good things they can bring to humanity. I liked how the story went on, and also her love relationship with Callan as it goes side by side with her personal and magical growth.

I however felt like this book was too rushed, done quickly. We quickly glaze over very important moments, like it wasn't their main goal in book 2. I felt like we could put a few of the key plots in the book 2 so we could get more time for other key points in this book 3, to make it more eventful and important. It's a bit sad, as I was expecting a lot from it and it turned out easily and went over quickly.
Profile Image for Sierra Reyelts.
138 reviews2 followers
March 15, 2026
Oh my goodness! What a thrilling and satisfying conclusion to the Society of Magical Botanists! There were so many twists and turns as secrets and plot points that have been building up since book 1 were revealed. I love this cozy fantasy series - it's so magical & fills you with wonder about the plant world around you 💚
Profile Image for Cassandra Gaffney.
1 review
February 3, 2026
Evergreen Legacy was the perfect final book to the Evergreen trilogy! This cozy, heartwarming series will envelop you in goosebumps and gives the reader all the feel-good moments expected from a Heather Schneider novel. I loved this trilogy and it will be one to read again and again!
Profile Image for Sula.
155 reviews8 followers
February 26, 2026
thank you so much to Heather for allowing me to ARC read this entire trilogy. i feel so LUCKY to have been a part of this journey. while i'm incredibly sad that it's over, this was such a satisfying ending to the series. I think everything was wrapped up really nicely and we got answers to all of the lingering questions that we've been holding onto throughout the series. i'm so sad that I won't get to return to the city of Weed, but thankful for the time I was able to escape into this world :)

if you like any of the following, you'd love this series:
- cozy fantasy
- found family
- no-spice romance
- light academia
- plant magic/very unique magic system
- secret society/light mystery

let me just start off by saying that I LOVE Heather's writing style. I said it in my review for book 2 and I'll say it again in my review for book 3- she does a really good job of reminding us of key elements that happened in previous books so that you never feel like you've lost the plot or can't remember what happened. it's subtle, not too in your face and obvious. but enough that even in the timeframes between book releases, I felt like I remembered exactly where I left off previously. her writing flows. it's enchanting. as someone who struggles to picture things in my head as I read, the imagery she creates is so vivid I feel like i'm living it. and the CHARACTERS! what a cast of characters. I absolutely love our FMC & MMC, but even the side characters are top-tier and make you care so deeply about all of them.

Briar and Callan both grew throughout this series, but we see them really blossom in book 3. i loved seeing both their personal and magical growth, but I also loved seeing their love story strengthen in this book. yes, they're just young adults. but I feel like they both handled everything so maturely that they set the foundation for something that lasts (I love a good HEA and, in my head, these two are those college sweethearts that get married and stay together forever hehe).

I could yap about this book (and this series overall) forever, but i'm going to stop here and just tell you to read it. if you like Sarah Beth Durst books (which, hello, I'm like her biggest fan), then you'd like these books. very whimsical and wholesome and I cannot praise them enough.

P.S. Heather- I'm greedy and I'd like to formally request some Briar & Callan novellas please. maybe they return back to Evergreen after college? i'm not picky, i'll take anything. I just don't want to leave the world of Weed.
Profile Image for Britni Grimm.
59 reviews
February 17, 2026
Heather Schneider does it again! Another excellent, and final, installment in the Society of Magical Botanists trilogy!

I love that this series remains cozy and whimsical all throughout. As for the Legacy, the world building and continued development of the magic system were excellent (and consistent!). I particularly enjoy having seen new Conservatories and the added mystery of the Renaissance botanist riddles. We knew Briar was a descendant of da Vinci, but Schneider’s continued elaboration on that aspect of her magic was fun and original. I was also excited to see more of Wyatt and the DBI. When parents can be overbearing, siblings can be so vital to staying grounded and feeling that familial support. I’m glad the Rhodes brothers worked some things out.

I wasn’t quite sure how the new shield spell and all of the Root and Vine Society’s plans were going to work out or if I was even going to be sold on how smoothly everything went. It seemed a little too convenient that Feathergrass, the recently and unceremoniously installed head of Evergreen Academy, provided access to the Dandelion of Desire and the charging circle ON the very equinox on which the verdant shield is to be recharged. That aside, I think the plans laid in place tidied up a lot of challenge that just didn’t seem like it was on it’s way. It was successful for this age demographic, but overall a bit dubious.

Now that we have closed the book on Briar and Callan’s story, I wish we had gotten a chance to see more of their relationship in this final volume. As this is a YA series, their relationship has been pretty PG, even considering their age. We have seen some top-tier yearning due to Callan’s protective nature and the influence his family had over the Magical Botanist community. That really set us up for a gratifying… I don’t know - proposal of some sort? Their viewing of the jacaranda tree and celebration of the solstice was fun - and very fitting - but just not the most intimate. I wanted something a lot sexier for Briar, even if implied or dialed back to be age appropriate.

Overall, such a fun read and it tied the series up nicely!

Thank you to the author, Heather Schneider, for the opportunity to read and review a copy of Evergreen Legacy. All opinions are my own and have been shared voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ciara Hartman.
Author 21 books54 followers
February 5, 2026
📝 ARC Review: This was the PERFECT ending for this series! I’ve loved each book and felt each one got better and more intriguing, this finale did not disappoint!

I want to gush endlessly about what an awesome job the author did on tying all the loose ends up and giving me an absolutely amazing conclusion to this wonderful series, but I know my review needs to be more than just that.

This is a series/Trilogy that DOES need to be read in order! Each book gets more in depth and intriguing, with plenty of academic, young love, plant life, magic and suspenseful vibes! It follows the society of magical botanists and one of their colleges, where someone is tampering with their shield and trying to change the overall theme of what magical botanists stand for. But a group of students, along with a few professors, decide to take matters into their own hands and stand up against those influential ones trying to basically take over the world and usurp regular humans. - This conclusion showed how much people can achieve when they stand together against those who want to strip others of their choices.

Also, this series has such cozy vibes despite the intrigue/drama. The author did an excellent job of incorporating the cozy with the suspense. Highly recommend!!! Also, each of these book covers are gorgeous and should definitely be on your shelves! (So go grab the series as soon as you can!)

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5/5
Spice: 🌶️ 0.5/5

Quote 👇

“It was just us, a boy and a girl. Two magical botanists. Hearts that had found each other despite how different our worlds had been not very long ago.”

Tropes 👇

- Plant Magic
- Spells
- Academic setting
- Young love
- Slow burn romance
- He says the L word first
- Cozy vibes
- YA
- Brave FMC
- Standing up for what you believe in
- Ancestry
- Art
- Found family
- Secrets revealed

Release Date: March 20, 2026.
Genre: Cozy YA Fantasy
POV: Single; First Person.
Series: Society of Magical Botanists, Book 3.

Thank you to the author, Heather Schneider, for this ARC in return for my honest review.
Profile Image for Grace Soto.
Author 4 books72 followers
February 16, 2026
4.5⭐ A charming conclusion to a delightful series where the characters grow just as much as the plants 🌿✨ Evergreen Legacy wraps up the conflict and mysteries introduced in the first two books with a satisfying conclusion that had me grinning and pumping my fist in victory.

The romance is so sweet and wholesome. I love any relationship where the characters make each other better people and support each other in their goals and personal growth, so of course I adore Callan and Briar. 🥰 His confidence in her abilities and the way she encourages him to pursue what he wants rather than his parents' rigid ideas was lovely to read. They've got plenty of chemistry, good communication, and care for each other so much. I just love love 🥹

Another element I loved in this book was the unfolding revelations about Renaissance-era magical botanists and the weaving of Leonardo di Vinci history with this fictional magic of this series. I hope Heather dives more into this world someday, maybe even with a book set in the Renaissance? 👀 I think art history nerds and botany-lovers alike will eat this up. It was so cool!

This series is just one cool plant-themed setting after another! I was so happy to see Florida featured with two magical botanists conservatories and they were all so incredibly fascinating!! Atmospheric readers will be in for a treat.

This is the perfect light academia read for spring but with all its immersive seasonal holidays (take me to the Floral Fete right now! 😍) and lush garden setting, it's a world I love getting lost in any day! Definitely check it out if you love school stories but want a focus on older (college-aged) characters with a sprinkle of mystery and a whole lot of plant magic 🌿✨


**Thank you to the author for an ARC. I chose to write this review independently and all opinions are my own.**
Profile Image for Clair’s library.
103 reviews3 followers
February 8, 2026
🌿 ✨ ARC REVIEW: Evergreen Legacy ✨ 🌿
5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


How lucky am I to be an ARC reader for this ENTIRE trilogy!!? This was the PERFECT ending for this series.

I loved seeing the students take a stand together to save their school. Watching a group of students and professors stand up against those trying to take over the world was so inspiring!

Briar & Callan: Their connection has NEVER felt forced in all three books. Callan is such a "green flag” supportive, defensive, and smart. Seeing these two magical botanists find each other despite their different worlds had me squealing!

I really loved the message about not sectioning ourselves off from nature and learning to coincide with it instead of using it for profit.

Heather did an excellent job incorporating the cozy academy vibes with the suspense of the looming disaster.

This book gave us all the answers to the questions we had from books one and two. It follows the Society of Magical Botanists and the fight to protect what they stand for. Watching Briar’s sleuth skills reach a new level while she fought for her community was one of the most rewarding parts of the finale!

📚 Final Thoughts:

I am so sad to see this series come to an end, but this was the perfect place to stop while you’re ahead! If you want a story that makes you feel like magic will always guide you home, go grab this entire series as soon as you can!

🌷 TROPES:
✨ Slow Burn Romance
🌷He says the L-word first!
✨ Found Family
🌷Garden Academia
✨ Secrets Revealed
🌷Standing up for what you believe in
✨ Clean YA Romance
🌷plant magic


Thank you so much to Heather Schneider for providing me with this ARC in return for my honest review!
Profile Image for Shell.
159 reviews3 followers
March 18, 2026
What a wonderful ending to this cosy, plant-magic, fantasy trilogy! I love the world of magical botanists that Schneider has created, and in this final installment, we get more of the plant-magic that we love, further insights into the magical society and history, and more romance between our favourite tree-founders' descendant and prodigy newcomer.

Briar and her friends are on the hunt for a long-lost magical book of botanical spells, but interference from the Board of Regents at their beloved Evergreen Academy means they have to tread carefully to avoid arousing suspicion. Briar and Callan have reluctantly agreed to keep their growing feelings for each other under wraps to avoid his overbearing parents' manipulation of their relationship for their own gain.

I had to keep reminding myself that this was low-stakes, cosy fantasy. I was getting worried whenever the characters said something secret out in the open. "Don't say that! There could be spying scouting vines around!" The intrigue is low, so don't worry about this book stressing you out. No one betrays them, and no one overhears them when they really shouldn't be telling secrets in public! At times, it felt like the characters' goals were achieved too easily, and this may have served to lower the stakes.

This was a satisfying, magical end to the trilogy.

What you'll find in this book:
*secret magical academy
*magical botanists
*cosy fantasy
*slow-burn romance
*relic hunt
*science-based magic system
*Hogwarts vs. Umbridge vibes

Content warning: none
Romance level: 3/7 (non-descriptive kisses only)

I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Leigh | The Naptime Library.
65 reviews7 followers
February 15, 2026
“You caught more than my eye. And you have every day since.”

“Callan leaned in again to whisper into my ear. ‘Normal? What have I told you, local? You weren’t born for normal.’”

I devoured this book and had it finished in less than 36 hours! I came into this story already loving Evergreen Academy – the world, the characters, the plant magic and science, the cozy fantasy, the sweet, longing-filled romance, all of it – and I was not disappointed in how the series wrapped up!

Like the previous books in this series, Evergreen Legacy is told only from Briar’s point of view. The story is well-written, flows nicely, and paced in a way that kept my attention. The descriptive world building is SO good, the plant science is fascinating, and secrets are revealed/puzzles are solved in layers. There isn’t a lot of “down time” in between big plot points.

The cast of characters is wonderful – unique, fun, so supportive of each other, and I like how Briar, Callan, and their friends work so well together.

And Callan and Briar are slow-burn perfection! Their relationship is so sweet and full of green flags, and they complement each other so well. Their leaf messages and treehouse meetings are some of my favorite moments. This is a perfect example of how an author can create a beautiful, sweet, tension-filled romance without any overly descriptive kissing/physical scenes or lusty thoughts.

My one critique – at times, things felt too easy, and I think I was expecting more of a fight. This is a “pen is mightier” kind of conflict, and I’m good with that!

I love this story and series, and I’m a little sad that it’s over. I absolutely recommend this book and the whole series, and I’m already looking forward to rereading it!

Content: no-spice/kisses-only romance (not super descriptive); clean language (some in-world, magical botanist cursing); magic that is a born-with gift; no violence; a few depictions of drinking magical botanist drinks (maybe underage?); loss of parent prior to story; strained parental relationships

I received an advanced digital copy of this book from the author and was under no obligation to post a review.
15 reviews
February 12, 2026
I finished this book last night and all day, I’ve been mourning that I am not still in the world of Evergreen Academy. I want to be in the tearoom eating breakfast with the Root & Vine Society 🌱 🪴 🍃 🍵 💐🌳🍄🪻🌻

If you want to read a consistently amazing trilogy this is the one for you. It is RARE that I enjoy every book in a series pretty equally, but this trilogy accomplished it. Each book was fast paced, characters new and old were extremely lovable, and the romance was *chefs kiss* 😚 It didn’t take a center stage so it never got boring and Callan is so swoon worthy, but they’re not so busy with each other that we’re missing out on the amazing details of their lives. The balance is perfection. The story is predictable in a calming/soothing way, with still plenty of surprises and gasps 🫢 This last book has so much going for it- hunky MMC, relatable FMC, wild adventure, amazing friendships, reveals. epic parties I want to attend, healthy college life, botanist adventures, games, and somehow even more tied in seamlessly.

Capture the Roses this year made me giddy, and it did NOT disappoint 🌷❤️‍🔥😏

Overall, a cozy plant-core academia story with a swoony clean romance that is unique in so many ways! Each book is so worth the read. I wasn’t ready for it to end 🥹
Profile Image for Rachel.
2,406 reviews134 followers
March 20, 2026
Evergreen Legacy was the perfect conclusion to the series. Like the previous books, it was a lighter read full of adventure and unique magic. Briar took more of a lead in this one. She's confident and has found her place in the magical botanist world, surrounding herself with really great people who support each other. One of those people is Callan. The romance between them has been sweet, but it's even sweeter in this one. The couple has finally started expressing their feelings for each other. I loved Callan's protectiveness of her and Briar's utter faith in him. They're good together.


The world continues to grow. Briar visits more conservatories, new people are introduced, the politics are more detailed, and the magic is as unique as ever. I also really enjoyed getting the history of their magic; things made sense. Speaking of making sense, between magical practices, a secret rebellion, experiments, and a treasure hunt, things started to come together. We get answers about a few things, including answers about Briar's heritage. There was plenty of action, adventure, and friendships. The Society of Magical Botanists was a fantastic series. I would highly suggest it to anyone who likes cozy garden/cottagecore.
Profile Image for Britt  Galbraith.
340 reviews11 followers
March 20, 2026
The perfect conclusion to a lovely series.

This book is set in our world… except there are magical botonists who have remarkable connections with plants. Think wholesome things - like helping plants grow more quickly, making healing food & teas from plants, sending messages on leaves, etc. They use a combination of science and Latin phrases to make the magic happen.

Expect:
💋 Kisses only
🌱 No violence - unless you count using plants to restrain people.

I love how Callan (the MMC) believed in Briar Rose (the FMC). He did everything to help her achieve her potential- tutoring her in math, science, and botanical studies. A lesser man might have been intimidated or threatened by her greater powers or even jealous, but not Callan. He genuinely supported her in every way, even when it meant putting her needs ahead of his own and making big sacrifices for her. 🫠

Expect:
🌱 Tutor to friend to more
🌱 Forbidden romance
🌱 Slow burn
🌱 Stronger together
🌱 Strong friend groups
🌱 Women in STEM
🌱 Mysteries to solve
🌱 Heists
💚 Happy ending

This book really made me want to learn about all the plants around me and grow my own garden! 🪴

If you are looking for a low-stakes, low-angst cozy fantasy- this series is for you.
Profile Image for Lets Get Lit Reviews.
88 reviews1 follower
March 22, 2026
Thank you to Heather and team for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This final instalment of the Evergreen series ties everything together perfectly. This cozy read has a great blend of discovery, romance and magic.

Briar and friends search for the long-lost botanical book that may contain the secret of saving the Academy from the corrupt Magical Botantic Board. Briar travels to other magical botanist academies to restore her blocked powers and learn how to activate the magical secrets contained within the book. Together, academy students and staff band together to repair the academy's magical shield and banish the Board members.

This is an ideal series if you are looking for Magical adventures and academia without the cookie cutter of most fantasy and romantasy books. I think this is also ideal for younger readers or those who are wanting a soft fantasy instead of the TikTok trending romantasy novels or ones with heavier scenes.
Profile Image for Amber.
7 reviews3 followers
March 28, 2026
Such a perfect ending to this cozy, magical and floral trilogy! The society of Magical Botanists series is such a wonderful read. I truly enjoyed being a ARC reader for a three books.

We left off on such a cliffhanger in book two and I wanted answers to so many questions. The book definitely delivered on all the questions I had. I love how much was going on. So much character development and the different storylines were so interesting.

I wish I could go and visit all the places that are described. Vera’s cafe with all the baked goods, all the different conservatories and of course Evergreen Academy. All the drinks ans foods sound so good. And don’t get me started on all the festivals and party’s to celebrate nature!

I also really enjoyed the subtle lovestory that was going on. It was so gentle and heartwarming. I enjoyed it and also appreciate that it didn’t overshadow the main storyline.

Definitely would recommend this series!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Samantha Lamb.
150 reviews
February 19, 2026
Thank you to the author for the ARC!

Literal perfection. This ending (and honestly this whole trilogy) is so dang sweet and fun and cute and cozy. Its not just a silly little read to get you through a slump.. the story is good, the tension is great and I really have no notes. I love how she tied this story up and had Briar come to believe in herself and gain confidence. I love how she wrote Briar and Callan's relationship to be one where they really do compliment and make each other better while not having their sole focus be on the relationship. But when you get the relationship parts its still so satisfying and sweet and youre just rooting for them. She has a kickstarter for this series up now and do yourself a favor and run to get these books because they are just as gorgeous as they are great stories!
Profile Image for TheBookandBubble.
376 reviews38 followers
February 11, 2026
4.5⭐️

This is the final book in the trilogy, and it wraps everything up nicely. The secret magical botanist society comes together for one last mission, searching for a lost compendium that could change everything and bring everyone together to protect the plants.

Briar and Callen are still giving that steady slow burn, and I loved watching their relationship keep building. The whole group works so well as a team, especially as they go up against the people trying to keep magic and plants hidden from humans.

Briar also finally learns the truth about where her magic comes from and what created it, which was fun to see. Overall, a solid ending to the trilogy. It has an HEA.

*It was my least favorite of the three as I felt many angles were not explored and rushed.
Profile Image for Lise.
179 reviews
March 10, 2026
The conclusion to the series, we're left on a positive note with everything solved. However, there wasn't much conflict left to be resolved here and the coziness level felt off being the final installment. Evergreen Legacy is even more YA and tame than our first two visits which is at odds with a typical trilogy.
That being said, I loved the messages of unity and cooperation over capitalism and classism. I'm far too pessimistic to believe in the amount of support showing in this community and I kept waiting for the real villain to reveal themselves. On a similar note, Callan is such a green flag!
I would recommend this series for teens and lovers of closed door, cozy Fantasy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book.
Profile Image for Stephanie W (cartfullofbooks).
185 reviews2 followers
March 20, 2026
This was such a great ending to the series! I loved learning more about the history of magical botanists and Briar's history specifically. It was cool seeing more of the conservatories and the author's knowledge about plants and botany is very obvious throughout the entire series.

I enjoyed having more growth with Briar and Callan's relationship as well. I almost wish there had been an epilogue several years out so we could get a glimpse of them being amazing together years later! But, I loved all their sweet moments and seeing their trust and support for each other.

I really love how relaxing these books were. Yes, the characters had problems and issues to solve, but I wasn't ever tense or nervous about crazy plot twists. Epitome of cozy fantasy.

Can't wait to see what this author does next!

Thank you to the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Sara.
663 reviews50 followers
March 27, 2026
Evergreen Legacy by Heather Schneider

Consequences of a magical botanist showdown would also echo through the human world...

A sweet and exciting end to the trilogy! I very rarely read fantasy set in the modern world but this series is an exception. I love the college setting and the botanical magic system. Science and magic fit together perfectly here. The romance is a sweet side plot. Would recommmend the whole trilogy if youre in thr nood for something cozy with lots of cool plants!

Genre: Fantasy romance 

Book 3 in Magical Botanist Society series (should be read in order)

Favorite character: Briar (FMC)

Favorite part: the new special powers

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


ARC (published Mar 21st, all opinions are my own)

Profile Image for Sarah Beachy.
1 review
February 12, 2026
The last book of the trilogy and it definitely did not disappoint! It's probably my favorite of all 3.

All loose ends were tied up, which was nice because those cliff hangers in the first 2 made the wait for the 3rd book tough! haha. I loved all the action and adventures in this book. Some parts really peaked my interest and I just had to keep reading to find out what happened next.

...Not to mention the drama in this one! Oh man.. so good!! I'm trying not to give any spoilers here, so I won't go into detail.

Lastly, the sweet romance... Callan is a heart throb. Even being completely PG-13 he is just the sweetest, most swoon worthy MMC.
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