Book: Evermore by Lore Olesya
Reviewed by Weird | weird.reads.books
Rating: 4/5
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.