Overview

A twisty, dark royalcore fantasy that takes the courtly intrigue of Hamlet and infuses it with the vicious ambition of the Boleyn family. For readers who love Holly Black and Sarah J. Maas. This gorgeous hardcover edition features beautifully designed endpapers and a foil stamped case! “A sumptuously dark tale of revenge and atonement that beautifully explores the ties both duty and family use to claim us. From the first page to the last, I was dazzled.” —Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Child Marry the prince, then kill him. Princess Madalina and her twin sister, Inessa, were born attached at the hand and separated right after. That’s the only time the sisters ever held hands. The girls’ personalities have been shaped in the Sinet family’s drive to make their kingdom more than what it is: unrespectable and loathsome, a damp place where deceit fills the palace walls like mold.  Madalina is different from her family. She’s considered the weak one and only finds peace in the garden, tending her magical flowers, which are pejoratively called grave flowers because they are ideal for torture and torment. Secretly, she dreams of escape and a new life.  Then Inessa, who was betrothed to the heir of a wealthy kingdom—Prince Aeric—gets trapped in Bide, a terrifying purgatory, and begs Madalina to set her free. Now, not only must Madalina take her sister’s place as Aeric’s bride-to-be, but she also must finish Inessa’s secret mission: Inessa wasn’t just sent to marry Prince Aeric, but to kill him, too, and solidify a profitable pact with his traitorous uncle.  On behalf of her family, Madalina will need to resist the infuriatingly clever prince—as well as her own heart—if she’s to free her sister and finish the job. Perfect for fans of: Enemies to lovers Royal rivalry Arranged marriage Deadly games Dark royalcore Reluctant ruler Bloodstained family A CALIBA Golden Poppy Finalist

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9781682636497

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Reviews

A twisty plot in an intricately wrought world—Grave Flowers is a romantic, botanical fever dream. —Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author of The Foxglove King A sumptuously dark tale of revenge and atonement that beautifully explores the ties both duty and family use to claim us. From the first page to the last, I was dazzled. —Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Child If a book could take root and bloom, this one would. Brimming with wonder and treachery, love and magic, Grave Flowers is a beautiful and compelling garden of all the best delights fantasy has to offer. —Laura Taylor Namey, New York Times bestselling author of A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow Both frightening and enchanting. Grave Flowers blooms with atmosphere and viciously throned prose. Readers will find themselves swept away in this gorgeously gothic fairytale, complete with doomed lovers, ghostly ballrooms, and bloodthirsty flowers. —Skyala Ardnt, author of Together We Rot Autumn Krause immerses us in this world so fully and forces us to care for these characters so deeply, that when betrayal inevitably comes, it feels visceral in its severity. Smart, twisty, and deliciously dark, with touches of sweetness in bloom, this story wrapped around my heart like clinging vines and holds it ransom even now. —Angela Montoya, author of A Cruel Thirst

Krause’s historical fiction is a fantastic murder mystery that adds just the right amount of death and magical horror. Readers will empathize with the protagonist (who has only known cruelty from narcissists) as she learns that love and kindness are not weaknesses but strengths. A captivating tale about the wild lengths people will go to achieve power. —Booklist (starred review) Inspired by multiple Shakespeare plays and Tudor history, as addressed in an author’s note, Krause (Before the Devil Knows You’re Here) blends gothic fantasy and courtly intrigue into a story of love, betrayal, and power. Playful repartee turns electric as Madalina and Aeric fight a growing attraction. —Publishers Weekly The fascinating worldbuilding makes this an engrossing read. . . .An ornate and thrilling tale of loyalty and betrayal. —Kirkus Reviews Madalina is a complicated but lovable heroine who grows from cold to vulnerable across the book. . . . Fast and tense, the exciting fantasy novel Grave Flowers follows a princess as she navigates the complications of love and political intrigue. —Foreword Reviews A twisty plot in an intricately wrought world—Grave Flowers is a romantic, botanical fever dream. —Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author of The Foxglove King A sumptuously dark tale of revenge and atonement that beautifully explores the ties both duty and family use to claim us. From the first page to the last, I was dazzled. —Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Child If a book could take root and bloom, this one would. Brimming with wonder and treachery, love and magic, Grave Flowers is a beautiful and compelling garden of all the best delights fantasy has to offer. —Laura Taylor Namey, New York Times bestselling author of A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow Both frightening and enchanting. Grave Flowers blooms with atmosphere and viciously throned prose. Readers will find themselves swept away in this gorgeously gothic fairytale, complete with doomed lovers, ghostly ballrooms, and bloodthirsty flowers. —Skyala Ardnt, author of Together We Rot Autumn Krause immerses us in this world so fully and forces us to care for these characters so deeply, that when betrayal inevitably comes, it feels visceral in its severity. Smart, twisty, and deliciously dark, with touches of sweetness in bloom, this story wrapped around my heart like clinging vines and holds it ransom even now. —Angela Montoya, author of A Cruel Thirst The story’s framework is creatively drawn from Hamlet, but Madalina is no tragic, simpering Ophelia. . . . Nods to other Shakespeare works throughout will satisfy fans of the bard, and while Kraus pulls back from a true tragic ending, there is still plenty of darkness for those who prefer their romances bloody and ethically questionable. —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Author Information

Autumn Krause is the critically acclaimed author of the YA novels A Dress for the Wicked (Harper) and Before the Devil Knows You’re Here (Peachtree Teen). She currently lives in Orange County, CA with her husband and three children. Most of the time she can be found wearing a black lace dress and refinishing old vintage frames. Other times, she can be found—in the tradition of Emily Dickinson—out with lanterns, looking for herself and stories. Find her on social media @Autumn_ _Krause.

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