Grave Flowers by Autumn Krause
on September 2, 2025
Published by Peachtree Publishing Company Incorporated Genres: Royalcore, Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction / Royalty, Young Adult Fiction / Thrillers & Suspense / Supernatural
Format: ARC
Pages: 400 
Goodreads
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Source: NetGalley and the PublisherBuried Beauty and Blooming Betrayal
Let’s just get this out of the way, I devoured Grave Flowers. Like, stayed up away past my bedtime, can’t stop won’t stop turning the pages kind of devouring. If you love your fantasy with a dark edge, lush settings, and a FMC caught between grief and duty... this one's going to hit for you.
Set in a world where deadly grave flowers tangle with deadly politics, this is a gothic dream laced with the kind of court intrigue that made my inner Shakespearean era fangirl do a little shimmy. And look, I’ve been obsessed with Tudor history, and Anne Boleyn in particular, for most of my life. So this mix of royal pressure, personal sacrifice, and quiet rebellion? Right up my alley.
The main character, Madalina, is raw and real. She’s not your typical sword swinging, snarky fantasy FMC. She’s grieving, unsure, and yet absolutely magnetic. Her journey is one of heartbreak, duty, and awakening... and I felt every second of it. The world around her is beautifully imagined. It’s eerie and elegant, filled with ravenous living flowers that might just eat you alive. Literal floral menace. You know I was into it.
But let’s talk crafting for a second. While the story is strong and the writing sings with darkness, I did notice some spelling and grammar issues scattered throughout. Nothing earth shattering, but enough to be a little distracting. I’m hoping the final version goes through a nice polish up to really let the plot shine. Also... the ending. Wheww! The pace picked up fast, and there were a few moments, particularly one involving a certain prince, that left me blinking like, wait, how did that happen? I won’t spoil it, but I will say a touch more clarity and a lil show down would’ve gone a long way. Spice level is a 0, brief kissing is about it.
Still, none of that dulled the experience for me. This book feels fresh. It feels like it belongs on the shelf beside the greats of dark YA fantasy, and I can already hear readers screaming about it in the best possible way.
If you’re into:
- Poisonous beauty
- Heavy, dark atmosphere and heavier emotion
- Slow unravelings and fast betrayals
- Royal families hiding rot beneath golden sunshineThen Grave Flowers is your next lil dark obsession.
Final Verdict:
A beautifully grim, emotionally intense read with a world that lingers long after you turn the last page. It needs a bit of cleanup... but make no mistake, this story blooms blood red and unforgettable.Want to see more reviews like this one?
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- And tell me in the comments, what’s your favorite deadly grave flower?🫶🏻 - Ali
This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.
I received this book for free from NetGalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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