Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

DNF @ 15%.

This is entirely a "me not you" situation and I still recommend people pick up this book! Unfortunately, I just wasn't in the right mood for this one so I'm going to DNF for now, though I may come back to this at a later date as the premise sounds absolutely amazing.

DNF - Did not finish. I decided not to keep reading this title because I did not connect with the writing or plot. Thank you, NetGalley and publisher for the early copy!

This book was an absolute gem of a book. The story telling was so intricate and woven together perfectly like a tapestry! I loved the characters, the blooming plot, and how everything all fell together. The love story between the main character and her love interest was phenomenal, i'm all for more LGBTQ+ rep, especially in fantasy books! I HIGHLY recommend reading this novel, without a shadow of a doubt. 5/5 stars!

Would I have enjoyed this book more if I were familiar with Portuguese history and culture? Yes, 100%. It is set in a pretty specific period and retelling the lives of real people and local myths.

That being said, it was still an engaging novel with a beautiful story of self-acceptance and love.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Curse of Roses is a more introspective book, but it is by no means a quiet one. A reimagining of a Portuguese historical figure's life and story, Pinguicha balances the subtle yet powerful building blocks of this story with a resulting book that is rich, layered, and a joy to read. I really enjoyed this book, which was a slower paced read, but this was very much a strength, and I'm glad that I picked it up.

Yzabel is a very strong, defined character, which is at once her greatest strength and her biggest flaw. Her desire to help those who have no food, while not being able to touch or eat food without turning it into flowers, set her up as a perfect main character right from the start. I really liked how the pacing of the book worked perfectly as she tries to overcome this curse while also beginning to see it in a different light. I thought she was fantastic overall, but her compassion, like when she makes sure that the girl her fiancé has chosen as his mistress truly desires that role, makes her such a vivid character.

There's a very strong religious element throughout, playing into the actions the characters make and influencing the impact that these actions had. I thought this was done really well, balancing Yzabel's religion with how she feels about her magic as well as her feelings for Fatyan. The development of the control she has over it is directly tied to how her perspective changed, which worked really well and I thought was a super cool way of approaching magic in this particular setting.

The primary characters in general were all very nuanced - they felt very real in their actions and in their words. Fatyan was very much her own developed character and not just a love interest, and I really liked how she was written. Pinguicha has a way of making all the elements written into this book feel very special, and Fatyan was no exception to this. The dynamic between her and Yzabel was really well written, both in terms of the friendship that develops and the romantic attraction between the two. It was almost tangible at times, and how it was balanced with the norms of the time worked so well.

It's hard to describe why this book is so good, because there are layers and facets that are best savoured and not devoured, but I thought it was a really, really good story. The only reason why I didn't rate it five stars is simply because it was a very rich book in the way that some desserts are hard to eat a lot of, but that's very much a personal preference and not to do with the book. I highly recommend this book, and I trust that anyone who is intrigued by the concept will enjoy it immensely.

A wonderful book about sapphism and how erased we are from history and it is a beautiful tale intertwining religious background and its consequences on coming to terms with your own desires and sexuality. Great exploration of religion, mental illness and love as a form of magic of its own, just as much able to create miracles than real magic and saints. Full review to come

This book was amazing, especially knowing the story that the book is based off of. It is incredible to have such a great book by a Portuguese LGBTQ+ author, especially being Portuguese myself. There were so many great callbacks to being Portuguese, that both someone who is Portuguese and readers who are not, can understand. Despite the fact that this book is a historical fiction, that is set during a very religious Catholic time in Portuguese history, it was magical and so easy to read. There was a great overlaying message of self-acceptance. Sometimes it did feel a bit rushed, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

I want to thank NetGalley & Entangled: Teen for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review

I found many surprises in this book that I adore, I confess that this time there was little I knew about the plot, I’d only heard it was based on some Portuguese myths and I loved that, so that was what led me to pick up the book and I really loved it! Not only I think the basis of this story is super solid and very well executed, but I also really enjoyed how fresh and unique the story felt as a whole. Undoubtedly, a historical fantasy that I needed in my life before the end of the year, super easy to read and although presumptuous at times, easy to enjoy.


In this book, we follow Princess Yzabel, who finds herself in the grip of a terrible curse that causes all the food she tries to eat to be turned into flowers. This has brought her to the brink of starvation, which deeply unites her to the pain that the people of Portugal feel since they’re also starving. Fatyan, a beautiful Enchanted Moura, seems to be the only one capable of reversing her spell, but she’ll only do it if Yzabel releases herself of her own spell with a kiss, and even though Yzabel is engaged to the king of Portugal, she decides to accept for her people, but that kiss awakens another kind of hunger inside her. She had sought out Fatyan to help her and save her people. Now, loving her could mean Yzabel’s destruction.

This book managed to be as magical as it sounds, with the development of a myth with such beautiful colors behind it, is really difficult for something to fail, and although I think it was really beautiful and that the author decided to execute this myth on a very successful way, I feel that I’d have liked further development in other areas. I think the focus is on the myth and the development of the main characters, which I liked a lot, but I’d have liked to know a little more about Portugal from a social and cultural point of view, basically about its history itself, even so, this is the approach that the author decided to give to her story and I respect that. On the other hand, I feel that I have a somewhat unpopular opinion about the pace of the book, for me, it was very rushed at times, I’d have liked to explore more things, more places, and more lives of some secondary characters and those things, I think a slower pace would have been perfect, especially when it comes to developing romance.

I think the first part of the book is super solid and even more the last chapters which are where the story really comes to life, but there are some weak scenes especially in the middle, scenes that perhaps could have been developed more deeply and others that I felt were there as to lengthen the book a little more, I felt I want more information, which is something good because it means that I’m interested in what I’m reading. Apart from this, I really enjoyed this book and its story, and the things that could have been better, in my opinion, are only details, I don’t think there’s any major flaw, I think it’s a clean, fresh and innovative book in many ways.

I really liked the characters, especially Yzabel, I think I’m demanding with my main characters, especially in new releases I hope to see something new, and this character gave me what I expected, she’s SO brave and caring, and I love how she empathizes with the poorest people all the time putting herself in their place and wanting to fight for them. Despite the horrible curse that obviously has her extremely weak, I think she’s a very strong girl in personality, who goes directly for those she wants, and I admire that, I liked her position for most of the book and I also think she had a super marked growth towards the end of the book. And I also liked the other characters, but I think Yzabel is the best created. Finding myself with a king who’s not the typical evil king, but is a softer personality, I liked, I think that having an evil one who’s not so evil, gives him an original touch since it shows that not all people have only one bad side and a good side, but we’re a combination of both, and that’s fine, it’s more real for me.

I liked the romance, I think it’s very sweet, and it’s very well thought out, again, I think it was kind of rash, and I’d have liked a better transition and slower development, but still, I managed to enjoy it a lot, the relationship felt very real, and the way in which the author described everything made me feel deeply invested in what was happening between them. I want to remind you that the book follows a sapphic romance so that’s great! I think many people will like this romantic side of the story, it was very beautiful.

The author’s style, although a bit rush-y at times, is very solid, I love how she has chosen to elaborate this story from a more sentimental side because I think the emotional charge is there, there were scenes where I felt like I could cry, so I can say It will make you feel many emotions, and that’s obviously due to the author’s writing style, which is really beautiful. I wouldn’t say her style is very colorful, but rather that type of simpler writing in the best way, it takes you through the scenarios in a very good way and although, as I said, it’s rush at times, it still handles other aspects that generate good thrill in the reader

I would undoubtedly recommend this book, I think it has a solid base that’s very interesting to explore, the myth on which the author has been based is incredibly beautiful and magical, that’s still my favorite aspect of the book, and although it’s rush in its narration and it lacks development in some aspects, it’s very enjoyable and although many say it’s a slow pace, I don’t think so, I read it quite fast, in fact, on the contrary, I think that a slow pace would have been even better to develop more some areas in depth, but in general, the story itself is very good and is very well thought out. The romance is charming, the characters are quite solid, especially the main character who stands out above other characters that I’ve read due to her feisty and empathetic personality & also is quite atmospheric, which is great. But if you like myths and want to explore this Porugues myth, don’t hesitate to give it a chance, it’s worth it.

A Curse of Roses is a gorgeously written sapphic retelling of a Portuguese legend that encompasses themes of self-acceptance and questioning one's beliefs. I liked how the way Yzabel felt about her magic was tied into her feelings about her sexuality; it was a wonderful parallel and helped show Yzabel's character growth as well. Yzabel as a character is a little hard to like at first - she's a little too pure, naive, innocent for my tastes and I admit I struggled with connecting with her but eventually, I grew to appreciate her character arc. Her romance with Fatyan was extremely sweet and heart-warming - but I have my caveats with it as well. It felt kinda white saviory to me since Fatyan is a woman of color and is dependent on Yzabel's help for a good chunk of the story. However, it wasn't too obvious and didn't affect my reading experience too much, but it's there. The pacing is also way too slow for me - I understand that this is a character-driven novel and I usually like those but for some reason, I struggled with the pacing here. Apart from that, I like how the themes of religion were handled and how Yzabel grew into her identity as a lesbian, as well as the slow-blooming romance. Although I had my issues, I'd still recommend this!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the representation that this book had. Lesbian MC and multi-cultural cast was fantastic. The plot was not really anything new but the world and characters really made up for anything it lacked. I was a little put off of the religious self-harm and the lack of self-worth because of homophobia, but that's just a personal preference.

This review is coming late, but I really enjoyed A Curse of Roses! It's #OwnVoices, gay, and witchy!

The main character, Yzabel, has to confront her religious and personal beliefs when she falls in love with a woman. These parts were really well written and resonated with me.

A Curse of Roses sits at a unique crossroad between history, fairytale, and fantasy. This makes for an incredibly interesting, thoughtful story. I'm all in for retellings of folklore from cultures separate from my own. It gives me a chance to experience a new world through YA reading, and expand my horizons. The way that this story develops is a treat to read. The content is fierce, and doesn't hold back.

A fantasy/lesbian romance set in an oppressive, patriarchal society. Content warning: homophobia, internalized homophobia, self-harm, eating disorders, religious persecution.

I expected predominantly fantasy/romance with some patriarchal BS sprinkled in, but religion, oppression and internalized homophobia were as much a part of the story as the fantasy and romance. I’m not saying that’s bad, but it could definitely be triggering for some people. Honestly heavy religious themes are usually a deterrent for me, but the message here was good and very well-executed and I really loved it. The characters were complex and flawed which I always appreciate. And I had no idea this was based on a real legend and I found the Author’s Note to be absolutely fascinating! I really loved this read and would definitely recommend.

Thank you NetGalley, author, and publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

The curse of roses is ya historical fantasy that is well written. Love the message overall and enjoy how the magic was allergy to internalized homophobia.

Historical fiction is one of my favorite things to read, so A Curse of Roses was right up my alley. I had no idea that the story was based on a Portuguese legend about Saint Elizabeth and it was called The Miracle of Roses. The story goes that Elizabeth was caught by her husband taking food to the poor, and he eventully forbade her from doing it ever again. After she was caught once again by her husband hiding bread in her apron to take to the poor, he asked what she had and she replied that it was only roses. Being Winter, he was reluctant to believe her so he told her to unfold her apron to see what she was hiding. When she unfolded the apron, roses fell out instead of the bread. I really enjoyed that this was a twist on such an interesting legend and I liked looking into it to try to understand the influence behind the book! And to top it off, the author included a really cool bit at the end where she explained the original tale and some of the aspects of the story that she changed in order to create her retelling. I love that detail and think that it really took the story to another level for me as a reader.
This was a wonderful LGBT retelling of this story with some really memorable characters that I instantly found myself loving (and shipping, let's be honest). I genuinely felt for Yza as I read about how she was quite literally starving, unable to eat anything because it continually turns into flowers and thorns in her mouth and throat. She's surviving on broth and is realizing that her people are also enduring the same pain that she is so she wants to enlist the help of the Enchanted Moura, Fatyan, to help her reverse her magic and allow her to turn flowers into food. But the twist? She's magically trapped and the only way to set her free is for Yza to grant her a kiss. The kiss not only sets Fatyan free but also awakens something inside of Yza and it was such a lovely story of acceptance and, well, love!

The writing. Oh wow the writing. I was immediately transported to Yza and Fatyan's world and it was absolutely magical! I have a hard time staying interested in fantasy stories if the writing is hard for me to follow but I found Diana Pinguicha's writing to be absolutely magical. She has a lyrical way of writing that had me hooked and wanting to know more about the story and the characters from the very beginning. I found the story to be both well written and easy to follow which allowed me to get through the story with ease. But it also made me want to read more as soon as I was finished so I will absolutely be looking out for more by this amazing author! Oh, and did I mention that the descriptions of the food (and for some reason the flowers as well?) made me constantly hungry?! I found myself snacking while reading because some of the foods sounded so delectable that I couldn't resist eating something, as much as I wished I could be eating some of the food from the story. That was a huge plus in my book, personally. I also liked that the magic was...simple? It didn't feel complicated or hard to keep up with like a lot of YA fantasy books tend to get sometimes. I wasn't really confused and found it easy to follow which, again, is a huge plus.

All in all, A Curse of Roses was a fantastically beautiful read. With historical legend roots, a love story between two amazing women, and world building that will draw you into this magical world and keep you hooked from start to finish, this is a book you absolutely do not want to miss!

The premise for this story was what drew me into reading it. For some reason, though, 40% into the book I was struggling to stay interested. The pacing seems slow, the romance seemed insta-love-esque, and the world was super confusing.

Despite my rating, there's so much I appreciated about this book.

This is one of the first YA historical fiction novels I've seen acknowledge just how big a part religion played in the lives of the people who came before us. This shouldn't be a surprise when this novel is a retelling of a miracle, it'd be odd if Christianity wasn't a major theme, but as someone who grew up Catholic I found so many parts of this book so validating. I have a very complicated relationship with religion—I don't describe myself as a Christian because I have a hell of a lot of problems with the institute that is the church—and yet I still find churches very comforting places and, when I'm feeling lost, I'll often find myself praying because it gives me comfort. I've got no idea who I'm praying to, but if you're raised Catholic then Catholicism, and Catholic guilt, stays with you for a long, long time.

I loved seeing a heroine having to discover her queerness while unlearning all the toxic things that have been drilled into her. For years Yzabel, the future Queen of Portugal, has been unable to eat properly because food turns to flowers in her mouth. She believes she's cursed and manages to pass off her inability to eat as fasting, and it's horrible watching the men of the cloth around her praise her for starving herself. It is really Yzabel's relationship with God that's at the centre of this novel as she learns to control what isn't a curse but, instead, a gift, and one she can potentially reverse to turn flowers into food for Portugal's starving population. I've seen a couple of reviewers say they didn't care for this novel because they thought it was 'too religious', but personally I love seeing characters in historical fiction acknowledge their religion. For as long as there have been religions there have been people who don't believe in them, but I don't like picking up a historical fiction novel feeling like I'm reading about a 21st century atheist in a medieval dress.

Unfortunately, a lot of the other things in this novel fell flat for me. Yzabel seeks the help of an Enchanted Moura—these are supernatural beings from Portuguese folklore that I'd never heard of before, so I'm grateful to Pinguicha for introducing me to them—named Fatyan who she believes can lift her curse. Instead it's Fatyan who teaches her how to control it and see it as a gift, and a romance develops between the two of them. The romance, however, is very instalovey which meant I simply couldn't get invested in it. In fact everything in this novel moved very quickly, and while that did make it an incredibly easy read it also meant I didn't care quite as much as I should have.

This is a Portuguese tale set in Portugal by a Portuguese author, and yet there's no real sense of the setting. At one point, for example, 'the baker' is mentioned, as though this town where the king and future queen live would only have the one baker. I say 'town' because I can't remember where the novel mentioned they were, and I can't remember for certain if a specific place was mentioned. This novel has a fairy tale vibe that does fit that generic setting where there is the king and the princess and the baker, but as it's historical fiction based on real people I wish I'd felt a bit more grounded in medieval Portugal.

By the end of the book I also found the plot itself a little too convoluted for me and the villain simply didn't do it for me. To be honest I'm not sure this novel really needed a villain when it's the society and time Yzabel lives in that are the problems; for a fair amount of the novel Yzabel is her own antagonist because she has to unlearn her internalised homophobia and that, combined with the priests praising her for starving herself, was already enough to keep me intrigued.

Even though I didn't love this novel as much as I hoped I would, I am still fond of this book for exploring Catholicism in a way many other YA historical novels haven't. It's clear this story meant an awful lot to Pinguicha and I'm definitely interested in reading more from her in future.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, so I've been hearing pretty good things about A Curse of Roses and finally found time to dive into the book. That being said, it started off slowly for me. Don't get me wrong.. I was definitely intrigued by Princess Yzabel and felt bad for instantly. Mostly because I love food - baking, eating, cooking, smelling, and all that jazz. Food is awesome. So for her not to be able to eat food because she's cursed is just downright terrible.

I don't even like flowers and I think it would be highly painful to throw up flowers and craps. I mean.. roses have thorns and that makes me cringe a bit. So in order to free her from this curse, she needs to give a kiss to an Enchanted Moura.

Enter Fatyan.

I love them together. It just felt like something changed for the better once they were together. The book went by faster and I was just sucked into their forbidden romance that I wanted more. Yet, once I liked them I knew that I was going to get so much drama after that point. Which I did.. and it was okay.

In the end, this was a good book but the ending just felt so rushed for me.

This had such a lovely fairytale-feeling story, I was enchanted while reading it.
A Curse of Roses follows princess Yzabel and the curse she struggles with, she can’t eat because everything turns to flowers.
This is definitely a character-driven book and I loved it. We get to see Yzabel develop and grow, get to know her real self.
It’s set in such a unique time and place, Portugals’ Middle Age. (I don’t think I’ve ever ready a book set during this time and it was so intriguing.)
All in all, I really had such a great time reading this story, I can’t wait to see what Diana Pinguicha comes out with next.
*After finishing the book, I was so excited to learn that it was an #ownvoices story. Also, it was based off an actual Portuguese legend.*

This is definitely a character-driven book. It focuses on the curse that Yzabel, the main character, struggles with. She meets Fatyan, who's supposed to help Yzabel with the curse and who discovers that, if Yzabel wants to be 'cured', she needs to accept herself. Thus, Yzabel's journey to get to know and accept herself begins.

The plot also has some sideplots containing mystery, magic, conspiracy and 'how-to-govern-a-kingdom' sprinkled in, thanks to which there is a lot of going on and we're not stuck on one plotline for too long.

I also liked the setting, both location- and timewise. I think this was the first book I read that was set in Portugal and certainly the first one that was set there in Middle Ages, so it was interesting!

If you like books about self-discovery, magic and medieval Portugal, this is a book for you!