Synopsis:
While investigating the kidnappings of young, impoverished girls, Arianell Acraea uncovers a sinister conspiracy involving rogue Champions of Ares and forbidden sacrificial rituals fuelled by a magic that defies the laws of the Supreme Goddess herself.
Ellis, a nomad with an aversion towards divinity, wants nothing but the peace of a quiet life, away from the Gods and their glorified slaves. But a deadly encounter with Arianell pulls both women into a web of mysteries that connects all the way back to the heart of Aphrodite’s Vengeance and how she created her World Without Love.
Review:
Garden of Rotten Roses is technically book two in Hidalgo’s dark fantasy sapphic romance World Without Love series. But really, it is more of a prequel to one of my top reads last year, This is How Immortals Die, as it takes place canonically before TiHID, and the two main characters in GoRR are the parents of the main in TiHID. Buuuuut you need to read TiHID first as GoRR doesn’t make as much sense without doing so. Got all that? Good, away we go!
In this world, which is based on the Greek Pantheon (albeit more pre-industrial UK time period, in this story, Wales), an apocalypse happens after Aphrodite outlaws Capital ‘L’ Love. In a twist, people are immortal and can die, but they rejuvenate in a very Deadpool-esque manner in a few days depending on how gruesome a death. However, if two people fall in Love, they lose their immortality, and Aphrodite’s priestesses hunt these lovebirds down and brutally kill them. There’s cults, other God/Goddess devotees, blood magic, and death galore.
I want to start with the magic system because it was definitely one of my favorite things about TiHID. Because blood magic is just something I love a lot, I really enjoy when there are twists on it. In book one, the blood magic allows the two potential Lovers to join their hearts, giving them a very telepathic bond; they can feel what each other feels. This bond is used in some really fun ways, including a hilarious sex toy during a massive battle escapade. GoRR adds another layer to the blood magic, one more endearing: conception. Aside from this being a sapphic romance, I really liked the idea that Aphrodite’s priestesses are not just used to murder Lovers, but to help bring babies into this world when BFFs just want to have a baby together. There’s a ritual to bond/conceive, and this is just super neat.
‘True Love was ruthless. To accept it, you must first accept your own imperfect heart.’
I know I know, this is a dark fantasy romance, so their has to be romance right? There is, but it does start off as enemies to BFFs to lovers to Lovers, and this all balances delicately on the shoulders of Arianell and Ellis. Arianell is a Guardian of Hera, and she spends a lot of her time uncovering plots against her Goddess before spending her downtime on her family’s farm. Ellis is a heretic (meaning she doesn’t believe in the Pantheon for reasons), she’s brash, and after she kills Arianell (oh yeah, they were enemies first), does she finally slow her role. These two are polar opposites, but their relationship is excellent to watch blossom, thanks to Hidalgo’s deft prose. It was very refreshing to see them become friends before lovers, and finally Lovers. There is a tenderness in this progression you don’t always see in books.
Now, I will say that this story takes a different approach to its storytelling than TiHID. Book 1 is a literal journey drenched in blood (and one of the coolest shock/twists I’ve ever read halfway through), but GoRR is much slower paced, not as much blood (but don’t worry, there is still blood and action), and takes place over decades, mostly at Arianell’s farm. I really admire authors who take chances, and Hidalgo certainly does. But that doesn’t mean we don’t get fun battles and excellent voicey one-liners!
‘Waking up to the stink of rotten flesh was the indisputable sign that shit was about to hit you in the face.’
Oh, almost forgot, there are gryphons in this story too!
As a dude with a Classics degree, I fell in Capital ‘L’ Love with This is How Immortals Die, and Garden of Rotten Roses really solidified how much I enjoy this world Hidalgo created. I cannot wait for the big revelations promised to me in book 3! So if you need some antiquity, blood magic, brutal fights, and/or sapphic romance in your life, def check these books out!
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