Book Review - Rose's Wrath by Ocean McAllister

I’m very picky with my fantasy, since I have a lot of pet peeves associated with the genre, but Oceane McAllister’s Rose’s Wrath did not hit a single one. As far as fantasy world building goes, it was nearly flawless. The magic system was well-developed without being over-explained, the setting was conveyed beautifully without a single info-dump, and the characters were more than just what their surroundings made from them.

Talk about girl power! Not one, but four strong female leads, all with very distinct voices and characters. They form a diverse group representing different parts of both their world and ours, which is something I don’t find enough of in fantasy. And all four women are strong without losing an ounce of their humanity or femininity. McAllister doesn’t draw a distinction between being a girl and being tough—they can coexist, maybe even inform each other.

(Minor spoiler:) One of my favorite things about the book was Verre and Baen’s relationship. I always love a touch of romance in books that lean towards plot-driven, and this relationship does not disappoint. There isn’t any love triangle or superfluous drama—just two people that love each other and know it. (Also, Baen is adorable.)

The plot was well-paced, and though it slowed at parts, it never once dragged, and I never once wanted to stop reading. It was reminiscent of a Dungeons and Dragons campaign, and I mean that as the utmost compliment. Varying speeds, moments of character interaction and combat, and a greater goal sneaking in the background the entire time.

Even if fantasy isn’t particularly your thing, Rose’s Wrath is certainly worth the read for anyone in need of a little adventure.

You can find Rose’s Wrath here.

*Disclaimer: I did receive a free copy of this book as part of a giveaway, but all opinions are completely my own.