Today I am delighted to be sharing my stop on the tour for The Rebel and the Rose by Catherine Doyle. This YA romantasy trilogy started off in strong form with The Dagger and the Flame, so I was eagerly anticipating the follow-up.

Thank you to Simon YA and Nina Douglas for sending me a proof in exchange for an honest review and including me in this tour.

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Publication Date: 11th September

CW: death, violence, gore, murder, blood, manipulation, gaslighting, grief, domestic abuse

Goodreads | Waterstones

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My Thoughts:

The Rebel and The Rose reminded me just how great YA fantasy can be and the exact flavour of romantasy that I enjoy. It is an assured, twisty and intensely compelling read. 

This is the epitome of a great sequel, building on the excellence delivered in The Dagger and the Flame to deepen the magic systems, world-building and political machinations. It feels like a true evolution of the story started in the first book, as Doyle introduces new plot threads that serve to add further texture to the overall tapestry of this series. The world feels more expansive and fleshed out, as we explore new locations and step out of the city of Fantome. Doyle has a great eye for detail that makes it feel lived in and helps immerse me further in the creative world these characters inhabit. I love a story with a rich sense of history and mythology and we definitely get that here. Certain aspects that were lightly touched on in the first book get far more explanation, fleshing out the world and the characters. It is such a meticulously crafted story and you cannot help but be pulled in entirely. 

At the centre of it all, we follow Sera and Ransom in the aftermath of the explosive final act of the first book. Their roles have shifted, taking on unexpected powers and therefore reshaping where they fall in the wider power structure of the city and the kingdom. When they are forced to work together again, the sparks that flew grow into an inferno. They have both made choices that have far-reaching consequences and this has irrevocably altered their dynamic. It is a sizzling type of chemistry that lives up to the enemies-to-lovers-to-something trope – a potent mix of emotions. I loved getting to follow both of their narratives again and seeing how the puzzle pieces fell between their stories. We also get even more depth to each of them as their arcs unfold. Doyle has a wonderful way of making you care about these characters quickly and then root for them to succeed. This extends to the surrounding characters with some familiar faces and a couple of new ones coming into play.

I also have to comment on the overall story structure. It is fantastically plotted with a pacy feel as the clock counts down for both of our protagonists. The tension is paramount and the stakes are always escalating higher, especially as we learn more about the overall magic system we are playing with and how this taps into the wider mythology of this world. The twists in this were exceptional too – always rooted in the stakes on both a character and world level. A couple of them made me physically put the book down and step away for a moment, with one twist searing itself into my brain. Doyle knows exactly what she did and it was brutal. In this series, actions always have consequences and boy do those consequences come back with a vengeance here. I need the final book immediately. 

The Rebel and the Rose is a masterclass in how to create an excellent sequel. If you’re not already familiar with this trilogy, I would highly recommend becoming familiar and joining me on the agonising wait for the final chapter.