Review of advance copy received from NetGalley, with thanks.

As with each previous instalment, A Congress of Roses was completely captivating.

The language and imagery in this book is used so well, building a world around you that feels both a little fantastical and very real. I loved seeing more of the Empire in this book, even from descriptions of items in markets, or new characters we meet.

I’ve followed Ophele, Remin and the Knights for four books and I love how their characters have developed. It was fantastic to see Ophele stand up for those she cared about and how she rose to the challenge of entering society. I also loved seeing more about Remins backstory and his childhood.

I find it fascinating how Melissa J Cave is showing more and more of the central mystery, leading you along a path but not letting you see where it ends. There were so many plot threads in this book and they were handled so skilfully, fleshing out old characters and introducing new ones.

I can’t wait for the next installment and other books with the Empire!

The cliffhangers to these books are so! Fundamentally! Uncool---!!!

However, every time I think these books are going to slide into the fantasy gloom and doom region and I resign myself to it, I am always pleasantly surprised that what I fear does not come to pass. See: last book. So. I will live in hope.

That IS something I love about this book series. Though many moments are fearful and fraught, I do believe the author wants good for all involved, which is sometimes not the feeling I get from other high fantasies. There is real warmth and care and building something from the ashes on the page, especially as the series goes on. In this installment we see Remin and Ophele go to the capital to obey the Emperor's summons, where they make friends and also get good at sussing out people's hidden agendas and we also learn more about the royal family, the tangled webs that trap them and what is being cooked up behind the scenes.

I would like to note--the healers? For the Emperor's house? Real gross vibes there. Definitely got the feeling they were appraising the house members as livestock and not real people. But that falls into the greater picture that the Emperor warns his heir about--about how they do not care for you as a person, and your only value to them is your life. I STILL do not think he's great but I can acknowledge that some real ish has happened to him because of his status. Flush all those temple people down the toilet as well.

But! All this to say! I do not know how I will make it til the fall! I'm STRESSED. But I have hope.

Five stars. Thanks to the author and netgalley for this ARC.
Heat level: 3.5

This book was definitely a 5/5 star read for me! I have been a huge fan of this series since the first book released, and A Congress of Roses is now my favorite so far.

I love that we got to see Remin and Ophele visit the capital and deal with politics in this book. The stakes were high and there were so many interesting twists and elements that kept me on my toes. The level of world building in this series always leaves me satisfied and this book is no exception. The writing in this series is so captivating without being overly flowery or hard to get through. I love learning about the different Houses and there are so many different cultures within the world featured in this book.

Remin and Ophele's relationship deepens as they go through different challenges, both together and as individuals. Some questions from previous books have been answered, but now there are even more questions to be addressed in the future! A Congress of Roses ends on a cliffhanger that has me itching for more and I can't wait to see what happens next

This review will be posted on Goodreads and Reddit by 04/13/2026.

Wow. When I turned the final page of this book I had to just stare into the middle distance for a while. I have thought about this book’s release at least once a week since I closed the last page of Last of His Blood nearly five months ago. I was ecstatic to be allow to read an ARC from NetGalley, and A Congress of Roses did not disappoint.

A Congress of Roses picks up shortly after we left off with Ophele and Remin, setting out to the capital to meet with her father, the Emperor. Stories of our beloved (and some hated) characters layer upon each other simultaneously in various parts of the country (and in recent history) as they try to understand the events of the Conspiracy, assassination attempts, the motivations behind the emperor’s invitation, and the overall machinations of society. While being in the capital has the vibe of Bridgerton, there is very much a feeling of a slowly closing trap as Remin and Ophele navigate an environment that neither of them have been raised for.

“Her brain was constitutional incapable of leaving a puzzle alone”- me too, girl. There are so many nuances to the characters in this book and I love that every volume further develops the emotional landscapes of even the smaller characters like the band of the Knights of the Brede. Once again, I will be thinking and puzzling over this story for the next 6 months until the next release. This series is a MUST READ for lovers of fantasy romance, and I expect it will be become a staple of the genre.

Where do I even begin with this book? Honestly, the whole reason I joined NetGalley was just to read it before release because I couldn’t wait any longer. That’s how obsessed I am with this series.

Like a lot of avid readers, I always have that nagging worry that I’ll fall in love with the first book, only to be let down by the rest. Thankfully, that’s NOT the case here. Every single installment has been just as compelling as the last.

This series has quickly become one of my all-time favorites. The author does an incredible job keeping you fully immersed as Ophele and Remin journey to the capital, face new challenges, form new friendships, and grow in meaningful ways. I’ve especially loved getting to know Miche, Juste, Auber, and other standout characters. The loyalty among Remin’s friends and the richly imagined “age of heroes” add so much depth and heart to the story.

I had serious anxiety reading this book because I was so worried about the characters, which really says everything about how immersive and emotionally engaging the story is. I was completely invested in what would happen to them next and now I'm anxiously awaiting book 5.

As someone who reads a lot, I’m surprised this series doesn’t have tens of thousands of reviews on Kindle. It’s beautifully written, thoughtfully crafted, full of twists that keep you hooked, and anchored by a love story for the ages. I can’t recommend this book, this author, and this series enough.

4.5 stars.
I got to read this advance copy and I can confidently say this is still my favorite series of all time. A Congress of Roses picks up exactly where the third book left off, and it’s delicious. We are still dealing with the blow backs where the third book ending and nothing was glossed over.

What I loved most was how the author circled back to an issue that was initially glossed over (to me) and held everyone accountable for it. It was deeply satisfying to read, and it intentional proves how intentional Ms. Cave is. The only thing I would have wanted more was Remin and Ophele together, it’s definitely there but I wanted to read them interact more.

This book also expands the world in meaningful ways, and considering the other books fast paced. Things are happening but the whole gang is tense with being in the Capital. While the series has always been slice-of-life and low-stakes, Congress of Roses brings more magic and deeper exploration of Ophele. We finally learn about being a child of the stars, and a burning question I’ve had since book one finally gets answered.

We delved deeper into more characters as well Duke and Duchess Ereguil and their family, Edemir, and Auber. I loved reading all the letters. The political intrigue with House Melun and the emperor adds layers that I’ll have to wait till book 5 to know. Just so so good.

The cliffhanger at the end is fantastic—the kind that makes you immediately want the next book. It does make me sad to realize that after the next book, there will be no more Remin and Ophele stories in their own books.

Thank you Owl & Bear (!!!!) & NetGalley for this ARC!

I adore this series (which I will keep repeating with each new book). This was a great installment! Loved watching Remin & Ophele integrate into Capital society (and seeing Ophele FINALLY develop a backbone🙏).

I've had my own theories about the Emperor & Empress and what their end goals are; after that ending, I don't know what to believe anymore. Am I mad about the cliffhanger? Yes, absolutely (but also GIVE ME MORE NOOOW)

Once again - I LOVE YOU REMIN!!

A Congress of Roses is the 4th book in Melissa J. Cave's Empire of the Stars series. There is quite a lot of backstory in the first three books, so I would not recommend reading this as a standalone title. GO BUY THE OTHER BOOKS!!! RIGHT NOW!!!
Remin and Ophele, the Duke and Duchess of Andelin and their entourage have made it to the capital on the orders of the Emperor-Ophele's father and the man who murdered Remin's entire family. Let's just say, things are a bit tense. Remin and Ophele are staying with his foster family, the Duke and Duchess of Ereguil as they try to suss out just exactly what the Divine Emperor's game is in forcing them to come to Segoile. Assassination attempts, balls, shopping; we experience the capital city through Remin and Ophele's eyes and their activities. That and the deepening relationship between our hero and heroine makes this the best book of the four in my opinion. The secondary characters are fully flushed out as well and the world building is fantastic. The Knights of the Brede are characters in their own right and I can see the possibility of spin-off stories with them. I loved this book. There are a few authors who are auto-buys for me: Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, and a few others. I am adding Melissa J. Cave to that list. I am fully invested in these characters and their lives and I am now impatiently waiting for book 5 in the series (SPOILER - There is a cliffhanger!!!).
Many thanks to NetGalley and Owl and Bear for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

New all time favorite series. As a character driven reader I cannot remember the last time I read such consistent in depth characters. They’re not written for the plot. Or the click bait one liners. They are fully fleshed out and react to what is happening in ways consistent with their character motivations. Their pasts and formative moments are brought up to give us the insight of why they are who they are and why they are doing what they are doing, even to the point of dedicating their life to revenge or protection. There is no “well they’re the enemy because they’re evil incarnate” instead we can see the realistic power struggle and the collateral damage that that inflicts. We are still dealing with things from the first book, the struggles our couple had at the beginning of their marriage have to be addressed, the abuse that Ophele suffered growing up is still a factor that must be dealt with, the struggle with the emperor is still central. We’ve had so much development throughout the series but we haven’t forgotten about or shoehorned in the original issues. Masterfully written and truly a joy to experience. I care about these characters so much and while they have me tearing up every book I am desperate to see their (hopefully) triumphant conclusion.

The fourth installment of the Empire of the Stars saga, "A Congress of Roses," manages to do something rare in high fantasy: it expands the scope of the world without losing the emotional tether to its characters. If the previous books were a slow-burn buildup, this one is a full-scale conflagration of political maneuvering.
​After the ending of book 3, Ophele is no longer just fighting for survival; she is fighting for a seat at a table that was never meant for her.
​The title is perfectly apt. This isn't just a story; it’s a high-stakes game where the board is moved by players with conflicting, often deadly, agendas.

Be warned that these books are not your average “romantasy” series with cookie-cutter characters playing out the expected plotlines and tired tropes. These books are not a dopamine rush of high-intensity action and manufactured drama with a smattering of “twists” that you can see a million miles away. The real heart of these books is the incredibly detailed, complex world-building and the excellent character development. These books really aren’t about solving the monster crisis or understanding the magic system or defeating unseen enemies. These books are about character growth, redemption, and bringing dreams to fruition… the monsters, magic, and enemies are all just backdrop as the characters, relationships, and community evolves. Like I said, it’s impossible to put into words the power and beauty of this series - none of the countless romantasy books on my shelf can compare to “Empire of the Stars” series. I just cannot wait for the next one to be published. Melissa, please, hurry up!

Did I realise that there were two more books between this and the Traitor Son, when I requested A Congress of Roses? No. I did not. Did I drop everything and inhaled them so I could carry on with this one? I absolutely did. This series is absolutely brilliant and I have fallen in love with Melissa's writing and storytelling. It is very rare that someone can give you such a detailed, almost cinematic world, multilayered plot, with twists and turns, a full cast of well fleshed out characters, a romance that feels realistic AND all of this is delivered in such a seamless way, you find yourself slowing down to really take in each sentence. I have honestly enjoyed the masterful pace and am absolutely here for the vide and true escape from my reality, this is what I'm looking for when I pick up a book!

In this book the story continues. By this point the characters feel like family, we know them inside out and it has been so satisfying following Remin and Ophele's character development and the evolution of their relationship throughout this series.

I will say this: I you're thinking about starting this series, I guarantee you will not be disappointed. This is not a standalone and you absolutely need to read these books in order, don't do yourself a disservice. I envy you for not having read it yet. If you, like me, have fallen in love with this world and these people, Mellissa is bringing the same beautiful, elegant writing, immersive storytelling and I can not wait for the next book!

An easy 5 stars from me. Thank you to Melissa J Cave, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op | Owl & Bear, LLC and NetGalley for this review copy, all opinions are my own.

My Goodness, gracious me.

This new volume felt like Melissa just invited us to come aboard promising right from the first chapters unagitated waters and so much eye candy.

I kept tensing, expecting the shoe to drop or the boat to get toppled. We know already there are multiple sharks just lurking in these crystalline waters, don’t we?

But like a mother lulling children to sleep, Melissa lulled our resistance. Between lace, tea parties, gossip and tons and tons and tons of shopping sprees I caught myself debating the morals of some characters and justifying some of their actions.

That breath you were holding…you should have got your oxygen when you had a chance.
This story manages to make you hang in there…and when you think you can't possibly take any more world building and atmosphere, Melissa delivers something so unexpected that your jaw hits the floor.

Suddenly everyone is an enemy, everyone could be a potential risk and everyone has his own interests.

And now the wait cycle starts again…

November is so far away, but worth waiting, as we will finally see who the mastermind behind this intricate game truly was!!!!

This book was beautiful - I loved the way the characters grew and not just their relationship but the way they interacted with and treated each other. The story was exciting and satisfying, with rich descriptions. I love the world building and it adds a richness and intensity to the reading experience. The characters are beautifully developed, and you feel so invested not just in Remin and Ophele but the people around them.

Huge thank you to NetGalley, Melissa Cave, and Owl and Bear for the e-arc!