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Evermore
When Paeonia flees the life others planned for her, she stumbles into a forgotten manor hidden deep within the dying woods and into the path of a brooding fae lord whose presence makes the thorns tremble.
Rowan is cold, commanding, and far too powerful to be trapped in such a place. Yet something binds him to the crumbling estate and the eerie, enchanted garden that blooms and withers with his every breath. He claims she’s free to decide. But the blood bond says otherwise.
The longer Paeonia stays, the more the flowers begin to stir at her touch—and the more she suspects there’s something inside the manor that doesn’t want her gone.
But beneath Rowan’s sharp gaze and bitter silence, something ancient and aching begins to unfurl. And in a house where secrets grow like vines, the most dangerous thing Paeonia could do is let herself care.
Because in this place, love may be the one thing the curse cannot bear.
This is a standalone, open door, dark romantasy with enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and slow burn.
Rowan is cold, commanding, and far too powerful to be trapped in such a place. Yet something binds him to the crumbling estate and the eerie, enchanted garden that blooms and withers with his every breath. He claims she’s free to decide. But the blood bond says otherwise.
The longer Paeonia stays, the more the flowers begin to stir at her touch—and the more she suspects there’s something inside the manor that doesn’t want her gone.
But beneath Rowan’s sharp gaze and bitter silence, something ancient and aching begins to unfurl. And in a house where secrets grow like vines, the most dangerous thing Paeonia could do is let herself care.
Because in this place, love may be the one thing the curse cannot bear.
This is a standalone, open door, dark romantasy with enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and slow burn.
470 pages, Paperback
Published February 12, 2026
15 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
February 2, 2026
What To Expect:
- beauty and the beast retelling
- dark romance
- slow burn
- dual pov
- fae bargains
- he turns into a creature at night
- forced proximity
- "who did this to you"
- morally grey mmc
- spicy
4.5⭐️
this is a dark retelling of beauty and the beast and oh my goodness was it good! i am kinda mad that i finished it today because i am so ready to go back into that world asap. i mean who doesnt want to be in a gothic castle with a garden?
i dont know about you but i prefere my men morally grey and the author definitely pulled through on that front. rowan is morally grey and a "beast" and i am in love with him. i mean lock me and up and throw away the key 🙈
Paeonia or Pae, i will say that i was worried she might annoy me with how sweet, naive and well fragile delicate flower persona like how she was written. but man did i actually love her. she was so sweet and soft spoken but no matter what she always stayed true to herself and i respect that so much.
there is so much i could say and want to say about this book but i do worry i might spoil it and i truly think that this is a book you need to experience yourself
thank you so much lore olesya for giving me this opportunity to read and review this incredible arc! 🫶🏼
*check the trigger warnings*
- beauty and the beast retelling
- dark romance
- slow burn
- dual pov
- fae bargains
- he turns into a creature at night
- forced proximity
- "who did this to you"
- morally grey mmc
- spicy
4.5⭐️
this is a dark retelling of beauty and the beast and oh my goodness was it good! i am kinda mad that i finished it today because i am so ready to go back into that world asap. i mean who doesnt want to be in a gothic castle with a garden?
i dont know about you but i prefere my men morally grey and the author definitely pulled through on that front. rowan is morally grey and a "beast" and i am in love with him. i mean lock me and up and throw away the key 🙈
Paeonia or Pae, i will say that i was worried she might annoy me with how sweet, naive and well fragile delicate flower persona like how she was written. but man did i actually love her. she was so sweet and soft spoken but no matter what she always stayed true to herself and i respect that so much.
there is so much i could say and want to say about this book but i do worry i might spoil it and i truly think that this is a book you need to experience yourself
thank you so much lore olesya for giving me this opportunity to read and review this incredible arc! 🫶🏼
*check the trigger warnings*
Review of advance copy received from Author
I want to say a big thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
"Evermore" is stand alone romantasy, inspired by Beauty and the Beast.
Paeonia's father is dying and wants to make sure she's set up and looked after when he's gone. Unfortunately, Paeonia believes that the only way to make her dad know she'll be safe is by being betrothed to her childhood best friend, Barth. Barth is, well, a piece of shit who won't take no for an answer.
Barth gets a bit too handsy one evening and Paeonia subconsciously uses magic to help her escape; she has always had an affinity to flora and fauna. She runs off and before she knows it, she's in the garden of the grumpy Rowan; a Fae cursed to remain in the human realms.
Rowan strikes a bargain; Paeonia shall tend to his garden for a month and he will try and help her save her father and break her betrothal to Barth. Can Paeonia stand to be around the insufferable Rowan long enough to see her father again? Can Rowan learn to set aside his shitty demeanour to actually help someone he cares about and break his curse?
Some tropes for you trope lovers:
🧚♀️Fated mates
🧚♀️Forced proximity
🧚♀️Soft FMC and grumpy MMC
I'm in two minds about this book; it started strong and was a vibe of time. Whilst the main characters were very flawed; Rowan, a jerky jerk fae, and Paeonia, an excruciatingly naive girl; I found myself rather charmed by them and their silly choices.
However, around the two thirds mark I felt like some of the writing became a little rushed and lacked coherency- as if there were small moments of a scene missing. For example, someone being held in the air and then suddenly putting their claws in the ground. How'd they get to the ground? It's as if the last third was finished in a hurry and so it may benefit from some fleshing out.
Additionally, the term "mewl" was used a few too many times and I ended up meowing like a cat and giggling whenever I read it.
Finally, I now know what knotting is and I'm sorry to say it's just knot for me.
3⭐s/5
"Evermore" is stand alone romantasy, inspired by Beauty and the Beast.
Paeonia's father is dying and wants to make sure she's set up and looked after when he's gone. Unfortunately, Paeonia believes that the only way to make her dad know she'll be safe is by being betrothed to her childhood best friend, Barth. Barth is, well, a piece of shit who won't take no for an answer.
Barth gets a bit too handsy one evening and Paeonia subconsciously uses magic to help her escape; she has always had an affinity to flora and fauna. She runs off and before she knows it, she's in the garden of the grumpy Rowan; a Fae cursed to remain in the human realms.
Rowan strikes a bargain; Paeonia shall tend to his garden for a month and he will try and help her save her father and break her betrothal to Barth. Can Paeonia stand to be around the insufferable Rowan long enough to see her father again? Can Rowan learn to set aside his shitty demeanour to actually help someone he cares about and break his curse?
Some tropes for you trope lovers:
🧚♀️Fated mates
🧚♀️Forced proximity
🧚♀️Soft FMC and grumpy MMC
I'm in two minds about this book; it started strong and was a vibe of time. Whilst the main characters were very flawed; Rowan, a jerky jerk fae, and Paeonia, an excruciatingly naive girl; I found myself rather charmed by them and their silly choices.
However, around the two thirds mark I felt like some of the writing became a little rushed and lacked coherency- as if there were small moments of a scene missing. For example, someone being held in the air and then suddenly putting their claws in the ground. How'd they get to the ground? It's as if the last third was finished in a hurry and so it may benefit from some fleshing out.
Additionally, the term "mewl" was used a few too many times and I ended up meowing like a cat and giggling whenever I read it.
Finally, I now know what knotting is and I'm sorry to say it's just knot for me.
3⭐s/5
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨️❄️🥀 It felt half-forgotten, half-awake—an echo of something once sacred, still dreaming in thorns. 🥀❄️✨️
Evermore is a deliciously dark re-imagining of Beauty and the Beast. Set in a decrepit castle in the dead of winter, Evermore focuses the connection between a soft, gentle human, a demonised, cursed fae and an enchanted garden.
The story is well paced and the acts assist the story to move along without feeling like harsh jumps between sections. The use of dual POV provided a glimpse the inner workings of the Rowan, giving the reader an understanding of his morally grey persona.
While the story includes dark themes, Paeonia's journey of self-discovery and owning her autonomy and Rowan's journey of self- forgiveness and accepting the darkness within were fulfilling and satisfying. Pushing the reader to the edge and gently bringing them back again.
Readers are encouraged to check the trigger warnings prior to reading as there are themes of:
Non-graphic SA (not by MMC)
Dubious consent
Explicit sexual content
Overbearing and toxic MMC
Some blood and violence
✨️Vibes✨️
🥀 Slow burn
🌻Open door spice
🌷 Dark cottagecore
🌺Rotting forest and magical monsters
🏵 Nature based magic system
🌹Feral Fae
✨️What I loved✨️
❄️Rowen replacing her toxic memories with their own positive experiences
🍂 The atmosphere
❄️ The night market
🍂 The stoneborne
❄️ The spice
🍂 The cover art
✨️ What I want more of✨️
🥀 Castor, his backstory and his future
🥀 Sybil and her future
🥀 The night market
✨️ Fave quotes✨️
🍄 Run before I decide to call the roots back and have my way with you
🍄 You owe no one your body, Paeonia. You are not a right to be given
🍄 She was blossoming right before his very eyes, and he wanted to hold her back, to rip her petals off one by one.
🍄 Tell me everything awful, terrible thing you’ve ever done. And let me like you anyways
🍄 Maybe forever was meant for memories, not people
🍄 It felt half-forgotten, half-awake—an echo of something once sacred, still dreaming in thorns.
Evermore is a deliciously dark re-imagining of Beauty and the Beast. Set in a decrepit castle in the dead of winter, Evermore focuses the connection between a soft, gentle human, a demonised, cursed fae and an enchanted garden.
The story is well paced and the acts assist the story to move along without feeling like harsh jumps between sections. The use of dual POV provided a glimpse the inner workings of the Rowan, giving the reader an understanding of his morally grey persona.
While the story includes dark themes, Paeonia's journey of self-discovery and owning her autonomy and Rowan's journey of self- forgiveness and accepting the darkness within were fulfilling and satisfying. Pushing the reader to the edge and gently bringing them back again.
Readers are encouraged to check the trigger warnings prior to reading as there are themes of:
Non-graphic SA (not by MMC)
Dubious consent
Explicit sexual content
Overbearing and toxic MMC
Some blood and violence
✨️Vibes✨️
🥀 Slow burn
🌻Open door spice
🌷 Dark cottagecore
🌺Rotting forest and magical monsters
🏵 Nature based magic system
🌹Feral Fae
✨️What I loved✨️
❄️Rowen replacing her toxic memories with their own positive experiences
🍂 The atmosphere
❄️ The night market
🍂 The stoneborne
❄️ The spice
🍂 The cover art
✨️ What I want more of✨️
🥀 Castor, his backstory and his future
🥀 Sybil and her future
🥀 The night market
✨️ Fave quotes✨️
🍄 Run before I decide to call the roots back and have my way with you
🍄 You owe no one your body, Paeonia. You are not a right to be given
🍄 She was blossoming right before his very eyes, and he wanted to hold her back, to rip her petals off one by one.
🍄 Tell me everything awful, terrible thing you’ve ever done. And let me like you anyways
🍄 Maybe forever was meant for memories, not people
🍄 It felt half-forgotten, half-awake—an echo of something once sacred, still dreaming in thorns.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2026
Huge thank you to the author for allowing me to read and review this ARC. What a journey this was.❤️🔥
🌟4.5/5🌟 She Spicyyy 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I will start off by saying that I don’t normally read dark romances, I mostly stick to Romantasy, Fantasy, and Romance. That being said, I absolutely loved this book to the point where I felt like it could have been longer. I wanted to live in the story further after I had finished, which is not a typical feeling for me with most books. Also of note, I have never done an ARC review before, so please keep this in mind.
Writing Style:
I thoroughly enjoyed the world building in this book, I felt like it was done so well and really showcases the authors skill. When it came to the characters emotions and feelings the writing shifted to be a little more direct, I felt it appropriate to the story especially given the MC. It also made it easy to ready for this reason but still delivered on a well written relationship and fully fleshed out world building. She didn’t do over do it with any of these aspects and I find that to be the most pleasing thing about this book.
Paeonia (FMC):
The way the FMC was written surprised me in a really good way. Although she was painted as delicate flower I loved that she did not have to go through rigorous “training” or brutal physical preparation for a big fight. She stayed true to the character, and was soft spoken, sweet, and timid. I loved the consistent detail of this throughout the book because I felt that it really painted this picture of her always being the mouse trapped. He always came to save her, but not in a way where she was necessarily helpless, but more realistic in that she played to her strengths by being bait and she stayed reseliant when pushed to the breaking point. Her courage and strength was shown by her willingness to put herself in these intense and dangerous situations as opposed to training and becoming “strong” even though she has powers.
Rowan (MC):
The MC was the exact opposite of Pae in every way, and although in comparison I enjoyed how the FMC was written out more, their relationship together was everything it should be. Obviously the FMC is more the main character so I think you just get a lot more exposure and inner monologue from her. Whereas the rugged edges of the “beast” was done appropriately in contrast, and really helped the narrative run its course. The descriptions and building of these characters was done beautifully.
Spicy Scenes:
Do not get me started on the spicy scenes. I don’t think I will ever shut up about how well written they were. The desire and longing and slow burn was everything I could have hoped for, to the point where I must read her other books. I will note that this is truly a dark romance, so anyone who may be triggered definitely look through those beforehand to ensure you have a positive experience reading this book. On that note, I was a little taken aback about the scene from the dungeon when he “claimed” her in front of her ex. It was something unique and new I had not experienced in another book before but I think that goes to follow the dark romance genre. I didn’t feel like there were too many especially in comparison to the size of the book, sometimes even in the long books it can feel that way with far less.
Critique:
I do have some final critiques for the book despite absolutely loving it. Most revolve around the ending of the story. Like I mentioned earlier, I would like to highlight again that I wish this was longer. I would have loved to explore their relationship more once the bargains and her father were finally wrapped up. I felt like the epilogue belonged in the end of the book and wish it was a part of it along with her ex’s death having more of a follow up. Where was his family? Did they care he was dead? How did she feel about her “childhood” best friend being gone forever? etc. It would have been great if the epilogue itself was a flash forward to the future showcasing their relationship and her either pregnant or with children already and what their life looked like since this is a standalone story. Also, I always just assumed her father would move into the castle with them, but I guess he didn’t? Might be a small thing that would have been fun to get more closure on with her father’s ending.
Final Review:
Overall, I adore Lore’s writing style and the story itself. I look forward to being a forever fan and reading more of her books. I cannot wait to buy a physical copy of this, hoping to get a signed version someday. If you ignored everything else in my insanely long review, the main takeaway is to just read the damn thing! Thank you for coming to my read talk. 🌸✨
🌟4.5/5🌟 She Spicyyy 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I will start off by saying that I don’t normally read dark romances, I mostly stick to Romantasy, Fantasy, and Romance. That being said, I absolutely loved this book to the point where I felt like it could have been longer. I wanted to live in the story further after I had finished, which is not a typical feeling for me with most books. Also of note, I have never done an ARC review before, so please keep this in mind.
Writing Style:
I thoroughly enjoyed the world building in this book, I felt like it was done so well and really showcases the authors skill. When it came to the characters emotions and feelings the writing shifted to be a little more direct, I felt it appropriate to the story especially given the MC. It also made it easy to ready for this reason but still delivered on a well written relationship and fully fleshed out world building. She didn’t do over do it with any of these aspects and I find that to be the most pleasing thing about this book.
Paeonia (FMC):
The way the FMC was written surprised me in a really good way. Although she was painted as delicate flower I loved that she did not have to go through rigorous “training” or brutal physical preparation for a big fight. She stayed true to the character, and was soft spoken, sweet, and timid. I loved the consistent detail of this throughout the book because I felt that it really painted this picture of her always being the mouse trapped. He always came to save her, but not in a way where she was necessarily helpless, but more realistic in that she played to her strengths by being bait and she stayed reseliant when pushed to the breaking point. Her courage and strength was shown by her willingness to put herself in these intense and dangerous situations as opposed to training and becoming “strong” even though she has powers.
Rowan (MC):
The MC was the exact opposite of Pae in every way, and although in comparison I enjoyed how the FMC was written out more, their relationship together was everything it should be. Obviously the FMC is more the main character so I think you just get a lot more exposure and inner monologue from her. Whereas the rugged edges of the “beast” was done appropriately in contrast, and really helped the narrative run its course. The descriptions and building of these characters was done beautifully.
Spicy Scenes:
Do not get me started on the spicy scenes. I don’t think I will ever shut up about how well written they were. The desire and longing and slow burn was everything I could have hoped for, to the point where I must read her other books. I will note that this is truly a dark romance, so anyone who may be triggered definitely look through those beforehand to ensure you have a positive experience reading this book. On that note, I was a little taken aback about the scene from the dungeon when he “claimed” her in front of her ex. It was something unique and new I had not experienced in another book before but I think that goes to follow the dark romance genre. I didn’t feel like there were too many especially in comparison to the size of the book, sometimes even in the long books it can feel that way with far less.
Critique:
I do have some final critiques for the book despite absolutely loving it. Most revolve around the ending of the story. Like I mentioned earlier, I would like to highlight again that I wish this was longer. I would have loved to explore their relationship more once the bargains and her father were finally wrapped up. I felt like the epilogue belonged in the end of the book and wish it was a part of it along with her ex’s death having more of a follow up. Where was his family? Did they care he was dead? How did she feel about her “childhood” best friend being gone forever? etc. It would have been great if the epilogue itself was a flash forward to the future showcasing their relationship and her either pregnant or with children already and what their life looked like since this is a standalone story. Also, I always just assumed her father would move into the castle with them, but I guess he didn’t? Might be a small thing that would have been fun to get more closure on with her father’s ending.
Final Review:
Overall, I adore Lore’s writing style and the story itself. I look forward to being a forever fan and reading more of her books. I cannot wait to buy a physical copy of this, hoping to get a signed version someday. If you ignored everything else in my insanely long review, the main takeaway is to just read the damn thing! Thank you for coming to my read talk. 🌸✨
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2026
I’m always a sucker for a Beauty and the Beast retelling, so the moment I read this summary, I knew I had to pick it up. Evermore is a standalone, open-door, dark romantasy that absolutely delivers on all three.
Our FMC, Paeonia (“Pae”), is a soft-spoken young woman desperate to find a cure for her ailing father and the disease plaguing their town. Through a twist of fate, she finds herself in the realm of Rowan, our Beast, who strikes a bargain with her. Pae has an affinity for flowers, and in exchange, she must tend to the garden on the grounds of his gothic castle. I really loved that Pae stayed on the “soft” side of strength with no training montages here. Instead, she grows into her power naturally, building confidence as she learns what she’s capable of.
Rowan fits the morally gray MMC archetype we all love. His harshness balances Pae’s delicacy beautifully, and their chemistry is off the charts. The spicy scenes were incredibly satisfying, but this leans firmly into dark romance territory, so definitely check your trigger warnings.
Overall, I really enjoyed the slow burn, Pae’s personal growth, and the unique magic system at play. If you’re in the mood for a standalone dark romantasy with gothic vibes and solid spice, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up.
Thank you to Lore Olesya for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Our FMC, Paeonia (“Pae”), is a soft-spoken young woman desperate to find a cure for her ailing father and the disease plaguing their town. Through a twist of fate, she finds herself in the realm of Rowan, our Beast, who strikes a bargain with her. Pae has an affinity for flowers, and in exchange, she must tend to the garden on the grounds of his gothic castle. I really loved that Pae stayed on the “soft” side of strength with no training montages here. Instead, she grows into her power naturally, building confidence as she learns what she’s capable of.
Rowan fits the morally gray MMC archetype we all love. His harshness balances Pae’s delicacy beautifully, and their chemistry is off the charts. The spicy scenes were incredibly satisfying, but this leans firmly into dark romance territory, so definitely check your trigger warnings.
Overall, I really enjoyed the slow burn, Pae’s personal growth, and the unique magic system at play. If you’re in the mood for a standalone dark romantasy with gothic vibes and solid spice, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up.
Thank you to Lore Olesya for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
February 15, 2026
I was lucky enough to receive this book as an ARC, and I am so thankful to be apart of this book's early journey into bookland. A sincere thank you to the Author.
My honest review:
This was an enchanting re-imagined beauty and the beast inspired story.
Slow burn, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, with a HEA.
The character growth in our main characters and seeing them face their inner challenges both as individuals and as an eventual couple was interesting.
Paeonia starts out so naive and timid, a constant people pleaser; it was nice to see her come out of her shell some, while still staying true to herself and finding her voice.
Rowan, what can we say about Rowan; he's his own worst enemy. He makes a lot of wrong choices and is quite stubborn. I'm glad in the end he was inspired by Paeonia's light to find some small bit of redemption and figure out how to live with his past choices and mistakes and to look to the future. His tender yet strong/ commanding side is swoon worthy.
A Side character that stood out to me and that I really enjoyed was Castor. I loved that he was not afraid to call Rowan out on his ish. I also enjoyed how he helped the story unfold and the mystery surrounding why Paeonia was so important to Rowan and how the story of the curse unfolded.
The spice was spicy; knotting a new journey for me ;) and that slow burn was chef kiss. I definitely think this book is worth a read.
My honest review:
This was an enchanting re-imagined beauty and the beast inspired story.
Slow burn, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, with a HEA.
The character growth in our main characters and seeing them face their inner challenges both as individuals and as an eventual couple was interesting.
Paeonia starts out so naive and timid, a constant people pleaser; it was nice to see her come out of her shell some, while still staying true to herself and finding her voice.
Rowan, what can we say about Rowan; he's his own worst enemy. He makes a lot of wrong choices and is quite stubborn. I'm glad in the end he was inspired by Paeonia's light to find some small bit of redemption and figure out how to live with his past choices and mistakes and to look to the future. His tender yet strong/ commanding side is swoon worthy.
A Side character that stood out to me and that I really enjoyed was Castor. I loved that he was not afraid to call Rowan out on his ish. I also enjoyed how he helped the story unfold and the mystery surrounding why Paeonia was so important to Rowan and how the story of the curse unfolded.
The spice was spicy; knotting a new journey for me ;) and that slow burn was chef kiss. I definitely think this book is worth a read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2026
evermore by lore olesya — eARC review✨️
i was truly excited for this story, as it was my first ever arc experience for me! thankyou so much to @loreolesya for sending me this arc!🫶🏻
if you love a beauty and the beast retelling and cannot commit to many books in one series? this is for you.
evermore is a standalone dark fantasy romance, with a cottagecore beauty and the beast retelling. this follows Paeonia, a woman who does anything she can do to save her sick dad, and engaged to a man she doesn't love. then, she runs away from her fiancee until she ends up in a mysterious abandoned castle. there she finds herself trapped in a deal with a fae, named Rowan, to tend his garden in exchange for a chance to find a cure for her father.
i personally loved the dark vibes of the world building, the castle, the garden, the magic system. the story was written in a way that makes the readers have to guess trying to figure out what comes next. it was a fantastic read and i recommend for someone who likes to read dark romantasy book🖤
releasing on Feb 10th, do pick them up!
ps.
started at Feb 6th
finished at Feb 7th
i was truly excited for this story, as it was my first ever arc experience for me! thankyou so much to @loreolesya for sending me this arc!🫶🏻
if you love a beauty and the beast retelling and cannot commit to many books in one series? this is for you.
evermore is a standalone dark fantasy romance, with a cottagecore beauty and the beast retelling. this follows Paeonia, a woman who does anything she can do to save her sick dad, and engaged to a man she doesn't love. then, she runs away from her fiancee until she ends up in a mysterious abandoned castle. there she finds herself trapped in a deal with a fae, named Rowan, to tend his garden in exchange for a chance to find a cure for her father.
i personally loved the dark vibes of the world building, the castle, the garden, the magic system. the story was written in a way that makes the readers have to guess trying to figure out what comes next. it was a fantastic read and i recommend for someone who likes to read dark romantasy book🖤
releasing on Feb 10th, do pick them up!
ps.
started at Feb 6th
finished at Feb 7th
February 21, 2026
I’m kind of teetering between 3.5-4 stars for this one. I enjoyed the vibes and the atmosphere. The visuals were amazing and I truly think fans of One Dark Window could get into this pretty easily. It was a slowwwww build but gripping enough to keep you turning pages just waiting for the chaos to happen. I do feel like some things could’ve been explained a little more and when conflict did arise, it was settled rather quickly and uneventfully.
The MMC was a little infuriating and I struggled to buy into their romance. He was condescending, but had a few feral moments that were delightful! I may have even chuckled when he was given a book on manners, because he seriously lacked those lol. There wasn’t a lot relationship building or chemistry and I didn’t really feel like we got a chance to know and love the MCs, but I did enjoy the side character, Castor!
Pae’s character growth was wonderful! She goes from being so soft and demure, ready to sacrifice her own happiness in order to satisfy those around her, to a woman that recognizes her own strength and makes decisions for herself while maintaining her gentle nature. As someone that is also averse to touch, I found some of her experiences and reservations relatable and so I appreciated that about her character, too.
Overall it was a unique reading experience, but I’m left with quite a few questions and potentially no answers since this is a standalone.
**I’ll probably rewrite this review a few times as I continue to think on it.**
The MMC was a little infuriating and I struggled to buy into their romance. He was condescending, but had a few feral moments that were delightful! I may have even chuckled when he was given a book on manners, because he seriously lacked those lol. There wasn’t a lot relationship building or chemistry and I didn’t really feel like we got a chance to know and love the MCs, but I did enjoy the side character, Castor!
Pae’s character growth was wonderful! She goes from being so soft and demure, ready to sacrifice her own happiness in order to satisfy those around her, to a woman that recognizes her own strength and makes decisions for herself while maintaining her gentle nature. As someone that is also averse to touch, I found some of her experiences and reservations relatable and so I appreciated that about her character, too.
Overall it was a unique reading experience, but I’m left with quite a few questions and potentially no answers since this is a standalone.
**I’ll probably rewrite this review a few times as I continue to think on it.**
Review of advance copy received from Author
**Thank you to the Author for the ARC; all opinions are my own.**
4.25 ⭐️
3 🌶
I think that anyone looking for a darker romantasy with a HEA will be pleased with Evermore. Paenoia struggles with her people pleasing nature, and after a horrific encounter with her fiancé, she runs away and finds herself in a fae's garden. Nothing is as it seems. I found the FMC to be more resilient than the other characters thought of her, and I liked the use of her two nicknames. OH! If you're a fan of severely morally grey men, you're going to love Rowan.
☆dark romantasy
☆dubious consent
☆forced proximity
☆fae bargains
☆slow burn 🔥
☆magic
4.25 ⭐️
3 🌶
I think that anyone looking for a darker romantasy with a HEA will be pleased with Evermore. Paenoia struggles with her people pleasing nature, and after a horrific encounter with her fiancé, she runs away and finds herself in a fae's garden. Nothing is as it seems. I found the FMC to be more resilient than the other characters thought of her, and I liked the use of her two nicknames. OH! If you're a fan of severely morally grey men, you're going to love Rowan.
☆dark romantasy
☆dubious consent
☆forced proximity
☆fae bargains
☆slow burn 🔥
☆magic
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5/5 ⭐
This book was a fantastic retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It had just enough different elements added that it made it seem like a whole new story.
The MMC was morally grey through and through but the author did a great job of not making him evil. all his actions were due to bargains made that he couldn't find a way out of.
The FMC was naive, but I think even she knew that. She was inexperienced and sheltered, but I liked reading through her character development and choosing things for herself, instead of for anyone else.
The side characters were top notch, too.
This book was a fantastic retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It had just enough different elements added that it made it seem like a whole new story.
The MMC was morally grey through and through but the author did a great job of not making him evil. all his actions were due to bargains made that he couldn't find a way out of.
The FMC was naive, but I think even she knew that. She was inexperienced and sheltered, but I liked reading through her character development and choosing things for herself, instead of for anyone else.
The side characters were top notch, too.
February 6, 2026
Evermore had a great aesthetic and gothic cottagecore vibes I really enjoyed. Unfortunately, the story was incredibly slow paced and boring. The romance between Paeonia and Rowan lacked basic emotional intimacy, chemistry, and any reason for you to root for them. Paeonia needed to grow a spine badly and she never truly showcases any character growth worthwhile and Rowan was essentially irredeemable. I never really understood the whole point of Evermore, as it was a slog to get through even with an interesting magic system and world. The author fails to build on any of the elements, thus everything falls very flat.
Thank you to the author for sending me an early copy.
Thank you to the author for sending me an early copy.
February 12, 2026
Okay I had to sleep on it and come back.
Holy sheeeeeet 🔥
I had been waiting for this and it checked every lil box I had hoped for a B&B retelling.
I really enjoyed Pae and Rowan’s character arcs and growth. And how they brought out the best in each other while also trying to slowly kill each other 🤣..
It was fairly entertaining to read.
Castor was one of my favorite side characters!! I think the story and plot flowed well and I was completely hooked.
Spice was 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Definitely check trigger warnings!!
4.5/5
Holy sheeeeeet 🔥
I had been waiting for this and it checked every lil box I had hoped for a B&B retelling.
I really enjoyed Pae and Rowan’s character arcs and growth. And how they brought out the best in each other while also trying to slowly kill each other 🤣..
It was fairly entertaining to read.
Castor was one of my favorite side characters!! I think the story and plot flowed well and I was completely hooked.
Spice was 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Definitely check trigger warnings!!
4.5/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2026
Thank you so much for this ARC read!
I love any Beauty and the Beast retelling when it’s done right— especially since it’s my all-time favorite Disney movie. Lore Olesya absolutely nailed it. If you love slow burns, grumpy-sunshine tension, and floral magic, this one is for you.
Please do read the trigger warnings because there are darker themes.
trope:
🕯️Beauty and the Beast retelling
🕯️Slow burn
🕯️Dual POVS
🕯️Dark cottagecore
🕯️Forced proximity
🕯️Grumpy x sunshine
🕯️Fae bargains
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I love any Beauty and the Beast retelling when it’s done right— especially since it’s my all-time favorite Disney movie. Lore Olesya absolutely nailed it. If you love slow burns, grumpy-sunshine tension, and floral magic, this one is for you.
Please do read the trigger warnings because there are darker themes.
trope:
🕯️Beauty and the Beast retelling
🕯️Slow burn
🕯️Dual POVS
🕯️Dark cottagecore
🕯️Forced proximity
🕯️Grumpy x sunshine
🕯️Fae bargains
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
January 16, 2026
Thank you so so much to Lore Olesya for granting me an ARC of this book!! I truly enjoyed reading this and my next book on my TBR is Glass Hearts, the other novel by Lore! (My TBR is very long but I promise this book is next lol).
Now for the review:
Oh I feel so conflicted about this book.
I really, really wanted to love it. And there were parts of it that I did love. But this book was also kind of a plot mess.
What I liked?
- The writing itself. The author is absolutely masterful at the show, don’t tell writing. Everything was so incredibly detailed and some lines almost read as poetry.
- The Stoneborne. I loved the twist on the cursed servants from the original beauty and the beast story. I wish we would have gotten more of them, we only really got to see Castor.
- This was truly a “Beauty and the Beast” retelling. So many stories that claim to be that are just “girl finds grumpy guy in castle”. But this story had all the hallmarks of the original: the protagonist wanting to save her father, the magical servant creatures, the castle coming to “life” upon her arrival, the Gaston character, the room with paintings of the past. It was really nice to see the original story be retold with so many of the original elements instead of just slapping “beauty and the beast” on the book.
- I loved the way the Gaston character (Barth) was handled. Rather than be like the Gaston from the movie/book, Barth was the toxic “nice guy” and it was refreshing to see that done and done well. The incredibly arrogant “alpha male” character is obviously bad, but the author carefully crafted Barth to be a villain in disguise and I really appreciated that.
What I didn’t like?
- This book was all over the place. I was so confused the entire time. I kept going back and rereading chapters and sections because I kept feeling like I missed a chapter or a page or something where literally anything was explained. Plot devices and characters just kept getting introduced out of nowhere.
- The Eldritch. What was the point of him at all? And he’s actually Rowan’s father?? Why? It didn’t add anything to the story, it was just something else to muddle up the plot.
- The curse made no sense (re: I was very confused) but yet drove the plot anyway. And the big reveal of why Rowan killed Georgia was because one lady was jealous? That’s it? There was no big reveal, it didn’t add anything to the plot. Once again, maybe I missed something, genuinely??
- Pae and Rowan’s relationship made no sense. They kept going in circles so much that I thought I accidentally was reading the same part of the book again, because they resolved this exact issue two chapters ago.
- So many plot points were left unexplained and unresolved. The Gleam and Grim fae war? The humans killing the forest? Castor’s relationship or any of the Stoneborne people’s backstories or bargains. The different Grim fae houses?? The whole separate fae world??? It read like this book was a sequel to or a spinoff of another book that explained everything, because otherwise why even introduce certain things only to never bring them up again??
As much as I loved the premise and the writing style, the content left me confused and much to be desired. Grumpy/sunshine romances with fae and magic and the “her light to his dark” trope is my kryptonite and yet this book had me struggling to wade though the loose plot ends to reach the love story I came for.
All that being said, I cannot stress enough how much I loved the writing style of this book. The descriptive language alone is making me add Glass Hearts to the very very top of my TBR list, and I fully intend on reading future novels of Lore Olesya’s!
Thanks again to Lore and her team for the ARC! This review is entirely my own thoughts and feelings and I appreciate being able to have read this book. :)
Now for the review:
Oh I feel so conflicted about this book.
I really, really wanted to love it. And there were parts of it that I did love. But this book was also kind of a plot mess.
What I liked?
- The writing itself. The author is absolutely masterful at the show, don’t tell writing. Everything was so incredibly detailed and some lines almost read as poetry.
- The Stoneborne. I loved the twist on the cursed servants from the original beauty and the beast story. I wish we would have gotten more of them, we only really got to see Castor.
- This was truly a “Beauty and the Beast” retelling. So many stories that claim to be that are just “girl finds grumpy guy in castle”. But this story had all the hallmarks of the original: the protagonist wanting to save her father, the magical servant creatures, the castle coming to “life” upon her arrival, the Gaston character, the room with paintings of the past. It was really nice to see the original story be retold with so many of the original elements instead of just slapping “beauty and the beast” on the book.
- I loved the way the Gaston character (Barth) was handled. Rather than be like the Gaston from the movie/book, Barth was the toxic “nice guy” and it was refreshing to see that done and done well. The incredibly arrogant “alpha male” character is obviously bad, but the author carefully crafted Barth to be a villain in disguise and I really appreciated that.
What I didn’t like?
- This book was all over the place. I was so confused the entire time. I kept going back and rereading chapters and sections because I kept feeling like I missed a chapter or a page or something where literally anything was explained. Plot devices and characters just kept getting introduced out of nowhere.
- The Eldritch. What was the point of him at all? And he’s actually Rowan’s father?? Why? It didn’t add anything to the story, it was just something else to muddle up the plot.
- The curse made no sense (re: I was very confused) but yet drove the plot anyway. And the big reveal of why Rowan killed Georgia was because one lady was jealous? That’s it? There was no big reveal, it didn’t add anything to the plot. Once again, maybe I missed something, genuinely??
- Pae and Rowan’s relationship made no sense. They kept going in circles so much that I thought I accidentally was reading the same part of the book again, because they resolved this exact issue two chapters ago.
- So many plot points were left unexplained and unresolved. The Gleam and Grim fae war? The humans killing the forest? Castor’s relationship or any of the Stoneborne people’s backstories or bargains. The different Grim fae houses?? The whole separate fae world??? It read like this book was a sequel to or a spinoff of another book that explained everything, because otherwise why even introduce certain things only to never bring them up again??
As much as I loved the premise and the writing style, the content left me confused and much to be desired. Grumpy/sunshine romances with fae and magic and the “her light to his dark” trope is my kryptonite and yet this book had me struggling to wade though the loose plot ends to reach the love story I came for.
All that being said, I cannot stress enough how much I loved the writing style of this book. The descriptive language alone is making me add Glass Hearts to the very very top of my TBR list, and I fully intend on reading future novels of Lore Olesya’s!
Thanks again to Lore and her team for the ARC! This review is entirely my own thoughts and feelings and I appreciate being able to have read this book. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2026
Many thanks to the author for an opportunity to read & review an ARC of Evermore!
Spice: 3 of 5
Tropes: Grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, fated mates, slow burn, fae bargains, gothic vibes
I specifically requested an ARC since I love Beauty and the Beast retellings and Evermore lives up to its inspired fairytale. Keeping it spoiler free; I really enjoyed the novel’s spin on the Beast’s curse, the magic within the world/castle, the twist around the enchanted residents that live there, and of course the importance of the garden that brings Beauty and the Beast together for their first encounter.
Paeonia is the very gentle, very kind FMC (think old-school Disney princess). She starts out *extremely* passive, so if that is not your flavor of heroine, then be warned. She does grow and blossom (pun intended) as the story progresses, which I thought was well done. Paeonia never becomes a badass, but she comes into her own, and her kindness helps some of the others, especially Rowan, see the proverbial light.
Rowan is a fantastic beast and MMC. Morally grey all the way, which I appreciate considering he is a fae lord (and not the nice kind) and he’s been cursed for a long time, so he has every reason to be the thorny, grumpy beast of a hero. It’s also nice that we get his viewpoint in some chapters to really understand what makes him tick. Granted, he does do a few things that make me question his motives (specifically around his hot & cold attitude/actions towards Paeonia), but it’s not enough to completely take me out of the story.
The spice is definitely open door, but not overly explicit, and occurs in the latter portion of the story. I appreciate how the fated mates trope is handled here as well in that it’s not insta-love, which wouldn’t work for a Beauty & the Beast tale, but there is still that aspect of fate pulling the MCs to each other.
Also, a quick shout out to my favorite character - Castor - may he get his own spin-off tale because I loved every moment he showed up on the page. He is both levity and a voice of reason for the MCs and I want him to get a happily ever after too.
A few little nitpicks: I needed more character development for a lot of the side characters. Everyone but Castor, and Paeonia’s father & fiance Barth to a lesser extent, have minimal“screen time,” but are all really interesting characters in their own right. The small glimpses made me wish there were more scenes with them to make them less of a caricature and more of a fully-realized individual. This goes doubly for Paeonia’s mother - I wanted to know so much more about her since she’s a key figure to Pae - but she’s kind of glossed over.
Along with that, I was hoping for a bit more backstory/history of the world … Something major happened with the fae a long time ago and it’s kind of pivotal to the plot, but it’s not detailed enough to fully connect the dots between what happened back then and why/how it’s impacting the world & characters now, so I was a bit confused and was left with some unanswered questions even after the end. I also would have liked more about Paeonia’s backstory specifically, as well, to better understand *how* she ended up being so very passive. We get the why behind Rowan, but Pae not so much.
Overall, though, I enjoyed Evermore and I’m looking forward to reading more novels by Lore Olesya.
Spice: 3 of 5
Tropes: Grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, fated mates, slow burn, fae bargains, gothic vibes
I specifically requested an ARC since I love Beauty and the Beast retellings and Evermore lives up to its inspired fairytale. Keeping it spoiler free; I really enjoyed the novel’s spin on the Beast’s curse, the magic within the world/castle, the twist around the enchanted residents that live there, and of course the importance of the garden that brings Beauty and the Beast together for their first encounter.
Paeonia is the very gentle, very kind FMC (think old-school Disney princess). She starts out *extremely* passive, so if that is not your flavor of heroine, then be warned. She does grow and blossom (pun intended) as the story progresses, which I thought was well done. Paeonia never becomes a badass, but she comes into her own, and her kindness helps some of the others, especially Rowan, see the proverbial light.
Rowan is a fantastic beast and MMC. Morally grey all the way, which I appreciate considering he is a fae lord (and not the nice kind) and he’s been cursed for a long time, so he has every reason to be the thorny, grumpy beast of a hero. It’s also nice that we get his viewpoint in some chapters to really understand what makes him tick. Granted, he does do a few things that make me question his motives (specifically around his hot & cold attitude/actions towards Paeonia), but it’s not enough to completely take me out of the story.
The spice is definitely open door, but not overly explicit, and occurs in the latter portion of the story. I appreciate how the fated mates trope is handled here as well in that it’s not insta-love, which wouldn’t work for a Beauty & the Beast tale, but there is still that aspect of fate pulling the MCs to each other.
Also, a quick shout out to my favorite character - Castor - may he get his own spin-off tale because I loved every moment he showed up on the page. He is both levity and a voice of reason for the MCs and I want him to get a happily ever after too.
A few little nitpicks: I needed more character development for a lot of the side characters. Everyone but Castor, and Paeonia’s father & fiance Barth to a lesser extent, have minimal“screen time,” but are all really interesting characters in their own right. The small glimpses made me wish there were more scenes with them to make them less of a caricature and more of a fully-realized individual. This goes doubly for Paeonia’s mother - I wanted to know so much more about her since she’s a key figure to Pae - but she’s kind of glossed over.
Along with that, I was hoping for a bit more backstory/history of the world … Something major happened with the fae a long time ago and it’s kind of pivotal to the plot, but it’s not detailed enough to fully connect the dots between what happened back then and why/how it’s impacting the world & characters now, so I was a bit confused and was left with some unanswered questions even after the end. I also would have liked more about Paeonia’s backstory specifically, as well, to better understand *how* she ended up being so very passive. We get the why behind Rowan, but Pae not so much.
Overall, though, I enjoyed Evermore and I’m looking forward to reading more novels by Lore Olesya.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Evermore
This was such a fun read. I enjoyed it so much.
This book was defiently a Beauty and Beast inspired retelling. There were two scenes that made me think of the movie – done in their own way but I could see them so well played out in my head. Another touch was the other characters that were within the walls of the estate. While they were not furniture but I could see the inspiration of them being stone status as well. I really liked this detail, a unique play on a curse.
I also got a mixture of A Court of Thorns and Roses. Specially if Tamiln and Rhysand embodied the same character. The spring like castle and garden – though set in the fall/winter time. The castle in disarray.
There was also a scene in the book that reminded me of Harry Potter’s Knockturn Alley. A secret market with shady things to be bought and sold. I kinda wish a little more time had been spent in this area – but it wasn’t needed.
The story follows a young women – her character wasn’t annoying at times I wish she was a little stronger – but she grew into that strength. Guess it’s what you call character development. By no means was she annoying. She was pure and naive. Learning as she went. She essential runs away from a marriage she didn’t want – stumbles into the garden of a cursed Fae. Straights a deal to tend his gardens – the source of his magic. Little does she know its the love for him that sprouts that will in turn free him. But at what cost?
As I read this book – knowing it was a standalone I asked myself a quite a few times “How is this book going to come to a finish?” Was there enough time? Was it really going to wrap up in a satisfying way? I think if it drug on too much it would begin to seem almost like ACOTAR book. And I’m glad it didn’t. This book ran for a lovely adventure and wrapped up in a finishing end.
Now there are a few ‘romance’ spots in the book. And the first was nice. I think once you’ve read one scene you sorta of get the idea. I just wasn’t there for it. The end has an epilogue and comes back around to playing out a scene that was marked upon earlier in the book. I get that for them. But again – I guess I wasn’t really feeling it.
I loved it. I enjoyed it. For a bit there was even a little mystery in why things as they were. Betrayal that really hit. There was a moment when I actually got tears in my eyes reading when the locket she wore finally opened. It was such a pure moment. I loved reading of the Eldritch. How a darkness was seeping out of the forest and infected the towns people. Another reason why out FMC was determined to stay with the fae and his bargain. She wanted to save her ailing papa.
And the cover for this book is stunning. It was such a great opportunity to read this book. I was able to read it over a short few days because I was reading so much at a time.
This was such a fun read. I enjoyed it so much.
This book was defiently a Beauty and Beast inspired retelling. There were two scenes that made me think of the movie – done in their own way but I could see them so well played out in my head. Another touch was the other characters that were within the walls of the estate. While they were not furniture but I could see the inspiration of them being stone status as well. I really liked this detail, a unique play on a curse.
I also got a mixture of A Court of Thorns and Roses. Specially if Tamiln and Rhysand embodied the same character. The spring like castle and garden – though set in the fall/winter time. The castle in disarray.
There was also a scene in the book that reminded me of Harry Potter’s Knockturn Alley. A secret market with shady things to be bought and sold. I kinda wish a little more time had been spent in this area – but it wasn’t needed.
The story follows a young women – her character wasn’t annoying at times I wish she was a little stronger – but she grew into that strength. Guess it’s what you call character development. By no means was she annoying. She was pure and naive. Learning as she went. She essential runs away from a marriage she didn’t want – stumbles into the garden of a cursed Fae. Straights a deal to tend his gardens – the source of his magic. Little does she know its the love for him that sprouts that will in turn free him. But at what cost?
As I read this book – knowing it was a standalone I asked myself a quite a few times “How is this book going to come to a finish?” Was there enough time? Was it really going to wrap up in a satisfying way? I think if it drug on too much it would begin to seem almost like ACOTAR book. And I’m glad it didn’t. This book ran for a lovely adventure and wrapped up in a finishing end.
Now there are a few ‘romance’ spots in the book. And the first was nice. I think once you’ve read one scene you sorta of get the idea. I just wasn’t there for it. The end has an epilogue and comes back around to playing out a scene that was marked upon earlier in the book. I get that for them. But again – I guess I wasn’t really feeling it.
I loved it. I enjoyed it. For a bit there was even a little mystery in why things as they were. Betrayal that really hit. There was a moment when I actually got tears in my eyes reading when the locket she wore finally opened. It was such a pure moment. I loved reading of the Eldritch. How a darkness was seeping out of the forest and infected the towns people. Another reason why out FMC was determined to stay with the fae and his bargain. She wanted to save her ailing papa.
And the cover for this book is stunning. It was such a great opportunity to read this book. I was able to read it over a short few days because I was reading so much at a time.
February 17, 2026
Evermore is touted as a dark Beauty and the Beast retelling, and the elements of specifically the Disney version are definitely there, but the FMC Paeonia is more reminiscent of Cinderella, to me, in how she acts and navigates the world.
The concept of this dark, gothic standalone romantasy was very compelling, and I think quite a few aspects of it were very on point. For example, the plant magic that Paeonia possessed was intriguing, and I wished it had been more developed so we could see more of it.
I also thought the setting of the castle was great, and for the most part, I enjoyed the cast of supporting characters who were there with our two romantic leads. I really liked that instead of reading, Paeonia had an affinity for gardening and plants and that it tied in to Rowan’s curse.
Additionally, I thought the spice was pretty well done. There was one scene of noncon/SA that was more than implied, but not too graphic, and it didn’t go all the way. And there was a dubcon, bordering on noncon, scene between the FMC and MMC that was also pretty graphic. Of course, there are also multiple consensual scenes with explicit sexual content as well.
Some things that I wish were more fully developed: the curse on the castle and the curse on the forest that affects the humans. Both were very confusing and could have been better explained.
I also felt the romance plot could have been more succinct. They did not need to make a bargain then enter a new bargain/marriage of convenience.
On top of that, I don’t think Paeonia’s aversion to touch is made clear. Before she gets to the castle and makes her bargain, she really only seems averse to Barth’s touch, but we’re later told it was anyone’s. I wish we could have been shown that instead of just told. In fact, there is a lot that we’re told but not shown.
Lastly, especially in the beginning of the book, there was quite a bit of incorrect and awkward word usage, such as “he coerced her arm,” so I think another pass by a copy editor would have been helpful.
All of that being said, if you enjoy vibe reading and fairytale retellings, you should give this book a chance! It very much reminds me of The Plated Prisoner series, so if you liked that, you might like this!
Potential triggers below:
Attempted SA (graphic)
Implied SA
Dubcon towing the line with noncon from the MMC
Explicit sexual content
Sick parent and caretaking of a terminally ill parent
Death of a parent (off page)
Violence
Blood
Murder
Thank you to Lore Olesya for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
The concept of this dark, gothic standalone romantasy was very compelling, and I think quite a few aspects of it were very on point. For example, the plant magic that Paeonia possessed was intriguing, and I wished it had been more developed so we could see more of it.
I also thought the setting of the castle was great, and for the most part, I enjoyed the cast of supporting characters who were there with our two romantic leads. I really liked that instead of reading, Paeonia had an affinity for gardening and plants and that it tied in to Rowan’s curse.
Additionally, I thought the spice was pretty well done. There was one scene of noncon/SA that was more than implied, but not too graphic, and it didn’t go all the way. And there was a dubcon, bordering on noncon, scene between the FMC and MMC that was also pretty graphic. Of course, there are also multiple consensual scenes with explicit sexual content as well.
Some things that I wish were more fully developed: the curse on the castle and the curse on the forest that affects the humans. Both were very confusing and could have been better explained.
I also felt the romance plot could have been more succinct. They did not need to make a bargain then enter a new bargain/marriage of convenience.
On top of that, I don’t think Paeonia’s aversion to touch is made clear. Before she gets to the castle and makes her bargain, she really only seems averse to Barth’s touch, but we’re later told it was anyone’s. I wish we could have been shown that instead of just told. In fact, there is a lot that we’re told but not shown.
Lastly, especially in the beginning of the book, there was quite a bit of incorrect and awkward word usage, such as “he coerced her arm,” so I think another pass by a copy editor would have been helpful.
All of that being said, if you enjoy vibe reading and fairytale retellings, you should give this book a chance! It very much reminds me of The Plated Prisoner series, so if you liked that, you might like this!
Potential triggers below:
Attempted SA (graphic)
Implied SA
Dubcon towing the line with noncon from the MMC
Explicit sexual content
Sick parent and caretaking of a terminally ill parent
Death of a parent (off page)
Violence
Blood
Murder
Thank you to Lore Olesya for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2026
🌹 One bargain. One cursed fae. One month in a magical garden that changes everything.
📖 Evermore by Lore Olesya
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Romantasy
Tropes:
🖤 Morally Grey MMC
🌹 Beauty and the Beast Retelling
🤍 Soft & Gentle FMC
🔥 Slow Burn
✨ Curses & Fae Bargains
Running away from an engagement she doesn’t truly want, Paeonia stumbles into the garden of a mysterious castle. Desperate to save her father from his incurable illness, she makes a fae bargain with Rowan—the fae who resides there. In exchange for keeping her fiancé away and helping find a cure, Pae must tend the garden for a month… but bargains with fae are never that simple.
I really enjoyed this book, even though it was much slower than I expected. I don’t usually mind slow pacing, but I was hoping for more plot, magic, or action in between the quieter moments. Most of the slower parts focused on building tension between Pae and Rowan, which was nice, but I personally wanted a bit more happening in the background.
Paeonia annoyed me at times because she often came across as very naïve and helpless. She didn’t always listen to warnings, even when danger was clearly hinted at. I get that she’s meant to be curious, but I wish she had used that curiosity more wisely. Instead, she kept getting into arguments with Rowan, which sometimes left me feeling confused about her character.
Rowan, on the other hand, can be such an asshole because of the curse he’s under. He keeps his walls up and refuses to open up—but watching him slowly fall for Pae despite himself was honestly entertaining. His growing softness toward her was a nice contrast to his grumpy, guarded personality.
I also wished there was more magic beyond just the curses. Some plot points felt underexplained or unfinished, like the man at the night market, his true purpose, and what really happened with the portraits. I didn’t hate these elements, but I was hoping they would tie into the main story more strongly.
Overall, Evermore was a decent romantasy with a sweet slow burn and a cozy, fairy-tale atmosphere. While I enjoyed it, I think it could’ve been stronger with tighter plotting, more magic, and deeper character development.
Thank you Lore Olesya for this ARC 🤍
📖 Evermore by Lore Olesya
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Romantasy
Tropes:
🖤 Morally Grey MMC
🌹 Beauty and the Beast Retelling
🤍 Soft & Gentle FMC
🔥 Slow Burn
✨ Curses & Fae Bargains
Running away from an engagement she doesn’t truly want, Paeonia stumbles into the garden of a mysterious castle. Desperate to save her father from his incurable illness, she makes a fae bargain with Rowan—the fae who resides there. In exchange for keeping her fiancé away and helping find a cure, Pae must tend the garden for a month… but bargains with fae are never that simple.
I really enjoyed this book, even though it was much slower than I expected. I don’t usually mind slow pacing, but I was hoping for more plot, magic, or action in between the quieter moments. Most of the slower parts focused on building tension between Pae and Rowan, which was nice, but I personally wanted a bit more happening in the background.
Paeonia annoyed me at times because she often came across as very naïve and helpless. She didn’t always listen to warnings, even when danger was clearly hinted at. I get that she’s meant to be curious, but I wish she had used that curiosity more wisely. Instead, she kept getting into arguments with Rowan, which sometimes left me feeling confused about her character.
Rowan, on the other hand, can be such an asshole because of the curse he’s under. He keeps his walls up and refuses to open up—but watching him slowly fall for Pae despite himself was honestly entertaining. His growing softness toward her was a nice contrast to his grumpy, guarded personality.
I also wished there was more magic beyond just the curses. Some plot points felt underexplained or unfinished, like the man at the night market, his true purpose, and what really happened with the portraits. I didn’t hate these elements, but I was hoping they would tie into the main story more strongly.
Overall, Evermore was a decent romantasy with a sweet slow burn and a cozy, fairy-tale atmosphere. While I enjoyed it, I think it could’ve been stronger with tighter plotting, more magic, and deeper character development.
Thank you Lore Olesya for this ARC 🤍
February 10, 2026
(5 ✰'s)
"𝑨𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆, 𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒂𝒕𝒆. 𝑨𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒆’𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒍𝒆, 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑳𝒚𝒕𝒉. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒅 𝒖𝒑 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒔, 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒔."
☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧˚.🎀༘⋆⋆.˚🦋༘⋆˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧˚.🎀༘⋆☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ
Truly could stand on my sappy soap box and wax poetic about Miss Lore for days on end, but I will spare you all. I was privileged to be able to read this prior to release and let me TELL!! YOU!!!! It was so exciting. I am biased SUE ME!!! But this is also a unique, gothic, dark twist on B&B that ticked the boxes.
This book just HIIIIIT. And HELLO THIS COVER?!?!? The picturesque prose, the gothic winter vibes, the TRUE morally gray MMC---it was all there. I love that this didn't shy away from what it was. I can understand why it wouldn't be for everyone, but if you're looking for true blurred lines and morally gray characters rather than the falsely advertised version we see often, then this is it.
I really loved the atmosphere of this book and how the author was able to portray a true eerie, gothic, fantastical winter. It felt as if the weather and setting was a character of its own (and in some ways...it was iykyk!!!) and that is always something I crave!! I love when something is TRULY gothic. It makes me unsettled in the best way. I loved the side characters as well, and as a B&B fan it was so fun seeing how the original story/movie was intertwined in this book with certain scenes and the unique spin put on them.
A morally gray, questionable relationship that constantly has me wondering where it will go next. It made me invested even when the characters were making unreliable and inappropriate decisions, and made the tender moments worth the wait.
Could do without the knotting!!!! Truly felt ill!!!!! But my rating stands 😇
Love you Miss Lore. Can't wait for your next silly lil psychotic tale 💘
"𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒆—𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒇?"
☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧˚.🎀༘⋆⋆.˚🦋༘⋆˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧˚.🎀༘⋆☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ
"𝑨𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆, 𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒂𝒕𝒆. 𝑨𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒆’𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒍𝒆, 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑳𝒚𝒕𝒉. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒅 𝒖𝒑 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒔, 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒔."
☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧˚.🎀༘⋆⋆.˚🦋༘⋆˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧˚.🎀༘⋆☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ
Truly could stand on my sappy soap box and wax poetic about Miss Lore for days on end, but I will spare you all. I was privileged to be able to read this prior to release and let me TELL!! YOU!!!! It was so exciting. I am biased SUE ME!!! But this is also a unique, gothic, dark twist on B&B that ticked the boxes.
This book just HIIIIIT. And HELLO THIS COVER?!?!? The picturesque prose, the gothic winter vibes, the TRUE morally gray MMC---it was all there. I love that this didn't shy away from what it was. I can understand why it wouldn't be for everyone, but if you're looking for true blurred lines and morally gray characters rather than the falsely advertised version we see often, then this is it.
I really loved the atmosphere of this book and how the author was able to portray a true eerie, gothic, fantastical winter. It felt as if the weather and setting was a character of its own (and in some ways...it was iykyk!!!) and that is always something I crave!! I love when something is TRULY gothic. It makes me unsettled in the best way. I loved the side characters as well, and as a B&B fan it was so fun seeing how the original story/movie was intertwined in this book with certain scenes and the unique spin put on them.
A morally gray, questionable relationship that constantly has me wondering where it will go next. It made me invested even when the characters were making unreliable and inappropriate decisions, and made the tender moments worth the wait.
Could do without the knotting!!!! Truly felt ill!!!!! But my rating stands 😇
Love you Miss Lore. Can't wait for your next silly lil psychotic tale 💘
"𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒆—𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒇?"
☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧˚.🎀༘⋆⋆.˚🦋༘⋆˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧˚.🎀༘⋆☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much Lore Olesya for sending me this ARC!
Evermore is a standalone Dark Fantasy Romance and a Beauty and the Beast retelling and the author created a truly fascinating and unique story, I really enjoyed it.
Paeonia is engaged to a man she doesn’t love and does anything she can to save her sick father. When she runs away from her betrothed and turns up at a mysterious fae castle, she makes a deal with its owner, Rowan, to tend to his garden in exchange for a chance to find a cure for her father. But the castle and its inhabitants are not what they seem, Rowan both frightens and intrigues her and she discovers she might have a magic of her own and fulfilling the bargain she made is going to be harder than she expected when it’s also her heart on the line.
I was so intrigued when I first heard about this book and it didn’t disappoint, the gothic vibes were amazing, the magic system was fascinating and it was darker than I expected but I liked that. The plot was interesting and had me guessing with many secrets, surprising revelations and some plot twists. Peaonia was a soft FMC, she seemed quite naive and too kind-hearted and afraid at times, but I ended up really liking her, she was exactly what Rowan needed and only she could still see the good in him after everything he did and how he treated her. Rowan was a truly morally grey MMC and really complicated one, I loved to hate him for a long time and how hot and cold he was with Peaonia at times, but I liked discovering his secrets and getting to know him, he was really interesting character and grew a lot in this book. These two made an unlikely pair and were polar opposites, but ultimately they were perfect for each other, I could feel the tension between them when they were still enemies and even more so when they finally gave in to the attraction between them, I really liked them together.
Evermore is a great dark romantasy book that I recommend to everyone who enjoys this genre and I’m excited to see what comes next from this author.
Evermore is a standalone Dark Fantasy Romance and a Beauty and the Beast retelling and the author created a truly fascinating and unique story, I really enjoyed it.
Paeonia is engaged to a man she doesn’t love and does anything she can to save her sick father. When she runs away from her betrothed and turns up at a mysterious fae castle, she makes a deal with its owner, Rowan, to tend to his garden in exchange for a chance to find a cure for her father. But the castle and its inhabitants are not what they seem, Rowan both frightens and intrigues her and she discovers she might have a magic of her own and fulfilling the bargain she made is going to be harder than she expected when it’s also her heart on the line.
I was so intrigued when I first heard about this book and it didn’t disappoint, the gothic vibes were amazing, the magic system was fascinating and it was darker than I expected but I liked that. The plot was interesting and had me guessing with many secrets, surprising revelations and some plot twists. Peaonia was a soft FMC, she seemed quite naive and too kind-hearted and afraid at times, but I ended up really liking her, she was exactly what Rowan needed and only she could still see the good in him after everything he did and how he treated her. Rowan was a truly morally grey MMC and really complicated one, I loved to hate him for a long time and how hot and cold he was with Peaonia at times, but I liked discovering his secrets and getting to know him, he was really interesting character and grew a lot in this book. These two made an unlikely pair and were polar opposites, but ultimately they were perfect for each other, I could feel the tension between them when they were still enemies and even more so when they finally gave in to the attraction between them, I really liked them together.
Evermore is a great dark romantasy book that I recommend to everyone who enjoys this genre and I’m excited to see what comes next from this author.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really loved this story! A beauty and the beast retelling but make it darker. I absolutely love Lore's writing. She created a world that you just can't help but fall in love with.
Paeonia is a very soft and gentle FMC. She wants to see the good in everyone. She's afraid of speaking her mind in the beginning which is completely the reason she finds herself in the situation she does. But I just love how she finds herself as the story goes on and she grows in inner strength. Her taking control of her situation and voicing her opinions is such a beautiful thing to read.
Rowan is not your typical broody MMC, he definitely will make you want to smack some sense into him. Much of the pain and agony he finds himself in, he 100% created himself. If his friend Castor (who totally is the VIP of this story) wasn't there to rub it in his face, I fear Rowan would just pretend it all didn't happen. I really loved how his character grows during this story as well. His POVs are some of my favorites because you can see his growing feelings for Paeonia and his conflicted emotions with realizing those feelings.
I really loved the banter in this story as well. Paeonia, Rowan, and even Castor just feed off each other so much. I was giggling and kicking my feet. I think the spice was delicious but it was the small gestures that really had me swooning. Who knew just a simple holding hand moment would make me grin like an idiot?
Evermore definitely has darker elements and I really liked that you really don't know who the villain really is. It makes you question who is in the right? I think a lot of the characters make split second decisions that, in turn, change their lives forever. And each character faces darkness or struggles that keep them from moving forward or moving on. I just really liked how the love in this story is hard won. Both parties had to work for it and that made it more beautiful.
Paeonia is a very soft and gentle FMC. She wants to see the good in everyone. She's afraid of speaking her mind in the beginning which is completely the reason she finds herself in the situation she does. But I just love how she finds herself as the story goes on and she grows in inner strength. Her taking control of her situation and voicing her opinions is such a beautiful thing to read.
Rowan is not your typical broody MMC, he definitely will make you want to smack some sense into him. Much of the pain and agony he finds himself in, he 100% created himself. If his friend Castor (who totally is the VIP of this story) wasn't there to rub it in his face, I fear Rowan would just pretend it all didn't happen. I really loved how his character grows during this story as well. His POVs are some of my favorites because you can see his growing feelings for Paeonia and his conflicted emotions with realizing those feelings.
I really loved the banter in this story as well. Paeonia, Rowan, and even Castor just feed off each other so much. I was giggling and kicking my feet. I think the spice was delicious but it was the small gestures that really had me swooning. Who knew just a simple holding hand moment would make me grin like an idiot?
Evermore definitely has darker elements and I really liked that you really don't know who the villain really is. It makes you question who is in the right? I think a lot of the characters make split second decisions that, in turn, change their lives forever. And each character faces darkness or struggles that keep them from moving forward or moving on. I just really liked how the love in this story is hard won. Both parties had to work for it and that made it more beautiful.
January 16, 2026
✨ARC review✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🌶️🌶️🌶️
A gothic and delicious morally gray retelling with a soft, gentle FMC and a broody cold cursed MMC. A magical garden, sassy stone side characters, constant twists and turns, and deep themes of forgiveness, morality, and what we’re willing to do to be worthy of love made this an immersive read that I struggled to put down.
Paeonia and Rowan were lovely compliments to each other, her shy naive gentle nature forcing his cold sharp edges to eventually soften. Not exactly enemies-to-lovers, more reluctant “allies” who loathe needing each other, their push pull was intoxicating. Rowan was cold and cruel, manipulative and calculating, and his POV proved how complex and multidimensional he truly was. Craving Pae’s destruction and well as her love, unable to provide the first and believing himself unworthy of the second, he was a masterclass in self-loathing and narcissistic behavior, while also being undeniably enigmatic and alluring. I thought I’d hate him, but I was secretly rooting for him the entire time. Pae was quiet and naive, expertly straddling the border between submissive and a doormat. I thought she’d irritate me with her naïveté and determination to forgive, but she was honestly so kind I couldn’t help but want Rowan to realize his feelings and give her the happily ever after she deserved. Her softness was exactly what Rowan needed, and their chemistry was dynamic.
The found family was there, Stoneborne being an intriguing aspect to the story. The twists and turns made this impossible to put down, keeping you on the edge of your seat as you attempt to unravel the curse and the mysterious sharp edges of Rowan and his castle. The spice was 🔥 and the end was just as perfect as I’d hoped. Would recommend if you love a retelling, gothic vibes, a shy soft heroine, a morally gray MMC who toes the line between cruel and captivating, and a HEA to make you swoon.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🌶️🌶️🌶️
A gothic and delicious morally gray retelling with a soft, gentle FMC and a broody cold cursed MMC. A magical garden, sassy stone side characters, constant twists and turns, and deep themes of forgiveness, morality, and what we’re willing to do to be worthy of love made this an immersive read that I struggled to put down.
Paeonia and Rowan were lovely compliments to each other, her shy naive gentle nature forcing his cold sharp edges to eventually soften. Not exactly enemies-to-lovers, more reluctant “allies” who loathe needing each other, their push pull was intoxicating. Rowan was cold and cruel, manipulative and calculating, and his POV proved how complex and multidimensional he truly was. Craving Pae’s destruction and well as her love, unable to provide the first and believing himself unworthy of the second, he was a masterclass in self-loathing and narcissistic behavior, while also being undeniably enigmatic and alluring. I thought I’d hate him, but I was secretly rooting for him the entire time. Pae was quiet and naive, expertly straddling the border between submissive and a doormat. I thought she’d irritate me with her naïveté and determination to forgive, but she was honestly so kind I couldn’t help but want Rowan to realize his feelings and give her the happily ever after she deserved. Her softness was exactly what Rowan needed, and their chemistry was dynamic.
The found family was there, Stoneborne being an intriguing aspect to the story. The twists and turns made this impossible to put down, keeping you on the edge of your seat as you attempt to unravel the curse and the mysterious sharp edges of Rowan and his castle. The spice was 🔥 and the end was just as perfect as I’d hoped. Would recommend if you love a retelling, gothic vibes, a shy soft heroine, a morally gray MMC who toes the line between cruel and captivating, and a HEA to make you swoon.
January 16, 2026
✨Evermore✨
Author: Lore
Release: 2.10.26
Series: standalone
Do you love Beauty and the Beast? Fae? A soft FMC? Slow burn? Plant magic? Well, this retelling by Lore has all those things and more. It’s dark, red flagged, and yet hopeful.
We follow a dual POV from our MCs. Paeonia is gentle, kind, and has a tendency of allowing people to walk all over her. She is engaged to her childhood best friend and has no feelings for him, but has chosen suffering because she believes she will eventually love him and it will ease her father’s worries. But when said betrothed gets too handsy, Paeonia is saved by unruly plants and called a witch. She runs through the forest until she finds herself in a dying garden then bargains to tend it so not to marry the man back home. From here we meet our beastly, cursed fae MMC, Rowan, who is full of secrets, bargains, and red flags. He seeks to break his curse at any cost and Paeonia is fit to be broken.
Paeonia is understanding, timid, and allows herself to be used. At first, she might appear hard to like as an FMC because most are fierce and strong, but Paeonia grows within these pages and is a beautiful example of a soft FMC. She learns to stand firm when it counts and doesn’t shed her moral compass. I also enjoyed seeing her grow from hating touch to longing for Rowan’s alone. Rowan is brusque, manipulative, moody, and riddled with red flags, but I also loved seeing his own transformation: his ability to feel compassion and humility. I also felt it wrapped up nicely with all the mysteries.
Tropes you may find in Evermore are forced proximity, BATB retelling, slow burn to medium spice, fae bargains, he replaces her bad memories with good ones, bonds, dark cottagecore, she saves him, plant magic, and a HEA.
Lore, thank you for this gifted arc. I enjoyed it and looked forward to reading more from you!
Author: Lore
Release: 2.10.26
Series: standalone
Do you love Beauty and the Beast? Fae? A soft FMC? Slow burn? Plant magic? Well, this retelling by Lore has all those things and more. It’s dark, red flagged, and yet hopeful.
We follow a dual POV from our MCs. Paeonia is gentle, kind, and has a tendency of allowing people to walk all over her. She is engaged to her childhood best friend and has no feelings for him, but has chosen suffering because she believes she will eventually love him and it will ease her father’s worries. But when said betrothed gets too handsy, Paeonia is saved by unruly plants and called a witch. She runs through the forest until she finds herself in a dying garden then bargains to tend it so not to marry the man back home. From here we meet our beastly, cursed fae MMC, Rowan, who is full of secrets, bargains, and red flags. He seeks to break his curse at any cost and Paeonia is fit to be broken.
Paeonia is understanding, timid, and allows herself to be used. At first, she might appear hard to like as an FMC because most are fierce and strong, but Paeonia grows within these pages and is a beautiful example of a soft FMC. She learns to stand firm when it counts and doesn’t shed her moral compass. I also enjoyed seeing her grow from hating touch to longing for Rowan’s alone. Rowan is brusque, manipulative, moody, and riddled with red flags, but I also loved seeing his own transformation: his ability to feel compassion and humility. I also felt it wrapped up nicely with all the mysteries.
Tropes you may find in Evermore are forced proximity, BATB retelling, slow burn to medium spice, fae bargains, he replaces her bad memories with good ones, bonds, dark cottagecore, she saves him, plant magic, and a HEA.
Lore, thank you for this gifted arc. I enjoyed it and looked forward to reading more from you!
January 21, 2026
Evermore is the story of Paeonia, a sweet girl from a small village, betrothed to her childhood “sweetheart”, and becoming more unsettled with her life. One night, she hits a tipping point and escapes into the woods to find herself in the gardens of a castle belonging to Rowan, a fae bound to the gardens by a curse - they must live so that he can live. She enters into a bargain with the fae: stay and tend the gardens for one month and he will end her engagement to the horrid Barth. But, the bargain is more complicated than she knows. Rowan needs her for more than just tending the garden. Day by day, Paeonia learns more about her captor, his mysterious castle, and those who reside there. And it’s not all pleasant. Will she stay and help Rowan break the curse? What is Rowan’s connection to the magical illness that plagues her beloved father? And will she ever come to know the true male behind the beastly exterior?
Thank you to Lore Olesya for the opportunity to read this wonderful ARC! I enjoyed every minute!! A dark ‘Beauty and the Beast’ retelling, Evermore is not your Disney fairytale. It was so much better! I found the story to be so multi-layered and the plot unfolded perfectly. I liked learning about all of the mystery surrounding the fae and the Stoneborne creatures in this world. Rowan was a wonderfully morally grey MMC and one of my new favorites. He was so tortured and wanted to love Paeonia so badly but was sure he didn’t deserve her. Paeonia was his polar opposite, all light and innocence. I thought their relationship was just the right amount of slow burn and paced just right for their characters. I was a little frustrated at how Rowan treated her in the beginning, but once we learned more about him, it made sense. I would 100% recommend this to anyone who enjoys fairytale romantasy retellings with a good bit of spice and reluctant lovers/light dubcon.
Thank you to Lore Olesya for the opportunity to read this wonderful ARC! I enjoyed every minute!! A dark ‘Beauty and the Beast’ retelling, Evermore is not your Disney fairytale. It was so much better! I found the story to be so multi-layered and the plot unfolded perfectly. I liked learning about all of the mystery surrounding the fae and the Stoneborne creatures in this world. Rowan was a wonderfully morally grey MMC and one of my new favorites. He was so tortured and wanted to love Paeonia so badly but was sure he didn’t deserve her. Paeonia was his polar opposite, all light and innocence. I thought their relationship was just the right amount of slow burn and paced just right for their characters. I was a little frustrated at how Rowan treated her in the beginning, but once we learned more about him, it made sense. I would 100% recommend this to anyone who enjoys fairytale romantasy retellings with a good bit of spice and reluctant lovers/light dubcon.
Review of advance copy received from Author
🌸 You have no idea the kind of spell you seem to have me under. 🌸
Evermore by Lore Olesya is a standalone, dark Beauty and the Beast retelling with dark cottagecore vibes. We have humans and Fae, dual POV, bargains, a slow burn and immaculate spicy!
Paeonia runs away from a life that others were setting up for her, running until she finds herself in the garden of what looks to be an abandoned castle. Upon further exploration she discovers it is very much not abandoned and she finds herself trapped in a bargain with a Fae beast in hopes of changing the course of her life. What she discovers along the way is horrifying but there's a pull she can't ignore.
This book was EVERYTHING I've ever wanted in a Beauty & the Beast retelling! The dark vibes of the castle and the gardens as well as the decaying forest was the perfect setting and the author really brought to life how daunting the world seems.
The story was so well-rounded and written in a way that was intriguing the entire way. The small peak into the different Fae courts was so interesting and getting to discover the different creatures hidden right under the human's noses was exciting.
The guessing game I was playing with trying to figure out the extent of certain bargains and curses had me feeling to find out more! The slow burn was absolutely worth it. A story of learning to overcome trauma and certain internalized belief systems while also playing around with possessiveness was so nice and the spice when we finally break that barrier was 🤌 *chefs kiss*
I had such a good time reading this as someone who grew up loving Beauty and the Beast. This was an amazing read and I definitely recommend it! Releasing February 10th! 🔥✨
Evermore by Lore Olesya is a standalone, dark Beauty and the Beast retelling with dark cottagecore vibes. We have humans and Fae, dual POV, bargains, a slow burn and immaculate spicy!
Paeonia runs away from a life that others were setting up for her, running until she finds herself in the garden of what looks to be an abandoned castle. Upon further exploration she discovers it is very much not abandoned and she finds herself trapped in a bargain with a Fae beast in hopes of changing the course of her life. What she discovers along the way is horrifying but there's a pull she can't ignore.
This book was EVERYTHING I've ever wanted in a Beauty & the Beast retelling! The dark vibes of the castle and the gardens as well as the decaying forest was the perfect setting and the author really brought to life how daunting the world seems.
The story was so well-rounded and written in a way that was intriguing the entire way. The small peak into the different Fae courts was so interesting and getting to discover the different creatures hidden right under the human's noses was exciting.
The guessing game I was playing with trying to figure out the extent of certain bargains and curses had me feeling to find out more! The slow burn was absolutely worth it. A story of learning to overcome trauma and certain internalized belief systems while also playing around with possessiveness was so nice and the spice when we finally break that barrier was 🤌 *chefs kiss*
I had such a good time reading this as someone who grew up loving Beauty and the Beast. This was an amazing read and I definitely recommend it! Releasing February 10th! 🔥✨
Review of advance copy received from Author
Massive thank you to the author for an ARC of this work!
When I say I couldn’t put this down, I mean it. I truly loved every minute I spent in Pae and Rowan’s world!
The character arc and the development/growth we see in both MCs was so deep and multifaceted. I connected with them so deeply because it was so clear how desperately they wanted to change (although that desire maybe unbeknownst to themselves at times). Character arcs are such a hard thing to do right, and Olesya absolutely knocked them both out of the park. I loved Pae’s softness and Rowan’s surliness and seeing them support each other to become the best versions of each other? Beautiful.
The world building was fantastic, and while the castle and grounds were so much fun (and basically characters in their own rights) I loved seeing the additional places Pae and Rowan are taken in their travels. The secondary characters were works of art — specifically Castor and Sybil. The plot was diverse and unpredictable, with multiple different threads building at once!
The ONLY negative note I have is about the prudishness/bashfulness of the FMC. I completely understand why she felt the way she did (and I think it did show the audience a lot about her character) but I struggled with understanding why she believed sex was so wrong/where those beliefs stemmed from (and at a certain point I just got tired of hearing about her being “shy” and “innocent”).
Let me end by saying I truly and deeply love fairytale retellings, because I love how we can continue to reinvent stories that made such an impact on our world, and Evermore was one of the best takes on Beauty and the Beast I’ve read. I would absolutely recommend this read, and almost wish it wasn’t a standalone! I am looking forward to more from Lore Olesya!
When I say I couldn’t put this down, I mean it. I truly loved every minute I spent in Pae and Rowan’s world!
The character arc and the development/growth we see in both MCs was so deep and multifaceted. I connected with them so deeply because it was so clear how desperately they wanted to change (although that desire maybe unbeknownst to themselves at times). Character arcs are such a hard thing to do right, and Olesya absolutely knocked them both out of the park. I loved Pae’s softness and Rowan’s surliness and seeing them support each other to become the best versions of each other? Beautiful.
The world building was fantastic, and while the castle and grounds were so much fun (and basically characters in their own rights) I loved seeing the additional places Pae and Rowan are taken in their travels. The secondary characters were works of art — specifically Castor and Sybil. The plot was diverse and unpredictable, with multiple different threads building at once!
The ONLY negative note I have is about the prudishness/bashfulness of the FMC. I completely understand why she felt the way she did (and I think it did show the audience a lot about her character) but I struggled with understanding why she believed sex was so wrong/where those beliefs stemmed from (and at a certain point I just got tired of hearing about her being “shy” and “innocent”).
Let me end by saying I truly and deeply love fairytale retellings, because I love how we can continue to reinvent stories that made such an impact on our world, and Evermore was one of the best takes on Beauty and the Beast I’ve read. I would absolutely recommend this read, and almost wish it wasn’t a standalone! I am looking forward to more from Lore Olesya!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A Beauty and the Beast retelling with a fae twist that somehow made me fall in love with a story where I actively wanted to throw the Beast into a river, or a volcano.
Paeonia is the kind of FMC we don’t get nearly enough of. She’s soft. She’s quiet. She’s sheltered, naive, and constantly trying to do the “right” thing because that’s what she’s been taught her entire life. And I adored her. Not every heroine needs to be a sword-wielding, take-no-prisoners warrior. Paeonia’s strength is subtle, internal, and deeply human, and that made her feel incredibly real to me.
Rowan… Rowan is the worst. Truly. Selfish, cruel, and absolutely deserving of several well-placed smacks. He is not a cinnamon roll. He is not misunderstood. He is, in many ways, just awful. And yet… I enjoyed hating him. Every time he appeared on the page I was equal parts annoyed and entertained, which is a testament to how well he’s written.
The world building is simple but charming, with just enough fae magic to give it atmosphere without overwhelming the story. At first, both the world and the characters seem straightforward, but as the layers peel back, you start to see the depth and complexity underneath.
I already know this book will be divisive. Some readers will hate Paeonia for not being “badass enough.” Others will despise Rowan and never forgive him. But for me? This was a refreshing, emotionally engaging read with flawed characters, a soft heroine, and a Beast I loved to hate.
And honestly… I wouldn’t change a thing.
Paeonia is the kind of FMC we don’t get nearly enough of. She’s soft. She’s quiet. She’s sheltered, naive, and constantly trying to do the “right” thing because that’s what she’s been taught her entire life. And I adored her. Not every heroine needs to be a sword-wielding, take-no-prisoners warrior. Paeonia’s strength is subtle, internal, and deeply human, and that made her feel incredibly real to me.
Rowan… Rowan is the worst. Truly. Selfish, cruel, and absolutely deserving of several well-placed smacks. He is not a cinnamon roll. He is not misunderstood. He is, in many ways, just awful. And yet… I enjoyed hating him. Every time he appeared on the page I was equal parts annoyed and entertained, which is a testament to how well he’s written.
The world building is simple but charming, with just enough fae magic to give it atmosphere without overwhelming the story. At first, both the world and the characters seem straightforward, but as the layers peel back, you start to see the depth and complexity underneath.
I already know this book will be divisive. Some readers will hate Paeonia for not being “badass enough.” Others will despise Rowan and never forgive him. But for me? This was a refreshing, emotionally engaging read with flawed characters, a soft heroine, and a Beast I loved to hate.
And honestly… I wouldn’t change a thing.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this book as an ARC & would like to thank the author for allowing me to read it prerelease. :)
I settled on three stars for this book because I ended up being quite neutral about it. It was a nice read but I didn't particularly feel moved by the characters.
The pacing felt a bit rushed. Even after finishing the book, I still don't feel like I got to know the characters very well. Our FMC was introduced as an incredibly meek character but just a few chapters later was doing things she proclaimed to be 'out of character' and 'not like her at all'. It felt a bit jarring for that shift to happen almost immediately. That being said, I do like that her character arc seemed to be pretty consistent with what I would expect of a very naive girl eventually finding (somewhat) of a backbone. I like that her character was shown to be back & forth between her meek default state and a newfound defiance that bubbled up in her fits of anger.
There were a few scenes that I felt were skipped over to the detriment of the storyline.
I settled on three stars for this book because I ended up being quite neutral about it. It was a nice read but I didn't particularly feel moved by the characters.
The pacing felt a bit rushed. Even after finishing the book, I still don't feel like I got to know the characters very well. Our FMC was introduced as an incredibly meek character but just a few chapters later was doing things she proclaimed to be 'out of character' and 'not like her at all'. It felt a bit jarring for that shift to happen almost immediately. That being said, I do like that her character arc seemed to be pretty consistent with what I would expect of a very naive girl eventually finding (somewhat) of a backbone. I like that her character was shown to be back & forth between her meek default state and a newfound defiance that bubbled up in her fits of anger.
There were a few scenes that I felt were skipped over to the detriment of the storyline.
Review of advance copy received from Author
“You ease the suffering. And amplify it all the same.”
WOW. I barely have words for how enthralling this story was.
This is an amazing Beauty & the Beast retelling as the gothic vibes definitely made it stand out. 🥀
Paeonia finally makes the decision to run away from those who keep deciding her life for her. Only to run into something or someone from a fairytale. She never thought the fae were real, until she met Rowan. Rowan is your typical beastly brooding fae male. But this fae male is cursed and Paeonia may just be the one to break it. After making a bargain with Rowan Paeonia finds herself stuck in his castle and working on her part of their bargain. As time moves on they move like magnets around each other. The push and pull becoming so intense one may just break before the other.
I loved how the romance grew between these two MCs. It was amazing how Rowan slowly pulled back Paeonia’s layers. And as he did so he grew to care for her without even trying. Pae deserves so much more than she had in her small village. The night she ran away I was so happy! The garden was one of my favorite aspects of this story. Knowing that Pae’s magic was in tuned with it may be why 🤭
Rowan’s entire backstory was gut wrenching. I can certainly understand why he is the way he is.
Pae shows us how rewarding loving the beast inside the man can be 🤭
Those spicy scenes were soooo good!!! 👀
The ending was absolutely beautiful and intense 🥹
Huge shout out to Lore for having me as an early reader for this amazing book! ✨
WOW. I barely have words for how enthralling this story was.
This is an amazing Beauty & the Beast retelling as the gothic vibes definitely made it stand out. 🥀
Paeonia finally makes the decision to run away from those who keep deciding her life for her. Only to run into something or someone from a fairytale. She never thought the fae were real, until she met Rowan. Rowan is your typical beastly brooding fae male. But this fae male is cursed and Paeonia may just be the one to break it. After making a bargain with Rowan Paeonia finds herself stuck in his castle and working on her part of their bargain. As time moves on they move like magnets around each other. The push and pull becoming so intense one may just break before the other.
I loved how the romance grew between these two MCs. It was amazing how Rowan slowly pulled back Paeonia’s layers. And as he did so he grew to care for her without even trying. Pae deserves so much more than she had in her small village. The night she ran away I was so happy! The garden was one of my favorite aspects of this story. Knowing that Pae’s magic was in tuned with it may be why 🤭
Rowan’s entire backstory was gut wrenching. I can certainly understand why he is the way he is.
Pae shows us how rewarding loving the beast inside the man can be 🤭
Those spicy scenes were soooo good!!! 👀
The ending was absolutely beautiful and intense 🥹
Huge shout out to Lore for having me as an early reader for this amazing book! ✨
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5⭐️
As a lover of Beauty and the Beast, I had so much fun with this read.
We follow the fmc as she runs away from a concerning and confusing encounter she had with her betrothed. She ends up at a gothic castle with an expansive garden where she meets and strikes a bargain with the mmc. She is to keep the gardens of the manor alive for one month, and she will be free of her engagement that she ran away from. Discovering curses, and that her world is filled with life she’s always assumed were mere fairytales, she learns so much about the world around her and how she fits in.
What I loved:
This book is heavy on the botanical elements! Flowers, mushrooms, ivy draped everywhere. A truly living garden🌸🍄
The character development for the mmc and fmc felt very reasonably placed. The mmc is a shellfish male and it takes a long time for him to decide to be a better male. The fmc spends most of her life saying yes to men (her dad and betrothed) because she’s always thought this is just the way of life. It takes small steps for her to come into her own, and claim what she wants for herself in her life. She’s truly a soft fmc who wants to see the best on people. And a light to our broody mmc.
All the beauty and the beast parallels were honestly so fun and the side characters made this book extra special. 🖤
Oh and the burn had good payoff 😏
As a lover of Beauty and the Beast, I had so much fun with this read.
We follow the fmc as she runs away from a concerning and confusing encounter she had with her betrothed. She ends up at a gothic castle with an expansive garden where she meets and strikes a bargain with the mmc. She is to keep the gardens of the manor alive for one month, and she will be free of her engagement that she ran away from. Discovering curses, and that her world is filled with life she’s always assumed were mere fairytales, she learns so much about the world around her and how she fits in.
What I loved:
This book is heavy on the botanical elements! Flowers, mushrooms, ivy draped everywhere. A truly living garden🌸🍄
The character development for the mmc and fmc felt very reasonably placed. The mmc is a shellfish male and it takes a long time for him to decide to be a better male. The fmc spends most of her life saying yes to men (her dad and betrothed) because she’s always thought this is just the way of life. It takes small steps for her to come into her own, and claim what she wants for herself in her life. She’s truly a soft fmc who wants to see the best on people. And a light to our broody mmc.
All the beauty and the beast parallels were honestly so fun and the side characters made this book extra special. 🖤
Oh and the burn had good payoff 😏
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