The Blurb: Mia is a ghost in her own body, imprisoned in a coma with only fragments of a chilling truth: someone wants her dead. The only one who can see her is Haru, a cynical lawyer with nothing left to lose—— and he’s not exactly thrilled to get involved.
But as Mia’s scattered memories slowly come together, they reveal a dangerous truth: her true identity holds the power to reshape the entire kingdom. Drawn into a fight he never wanted, Haru must help her unravel the mystery before time runs out.
If they fail, Mia will disappear forever… taking along the kingdom’s most powerful secret.
The review: When author Yasmine Maher’s first novel, Echo: the Curse of the Blackwood Witches, came out in 2022, I described it in a review as ‘a book for people who love books’. That one was a heady mix of fantasy, supernatural revelations and action. Since then, Yasmine has been cultivating a new saga for us to enjoy, and it’s finally blossomed.
Where Blue Roses Bloom (try saying that three times!) tells the story of a ghost called Mia. But Mia is not dead. Oh no. Her body is in fact comatose, leaving her spirit free to wander and roam. The trouble is, she has very little memory of who she is and how she came to be in this desperate state. Things change when her sprit-being encounters a man who can see and hear her, and jaded lawyer Haru reluctantly becomes Mia’s only hope for answers and salvation.
Meanwhile, Mia’s body is under constant attack by dark and powerful forces. Fortunately, she is guarded by a loyal warrior called Alpha, but time is running out and he can’t keep her safe forever. The question is, who wants her dead and why is she such a threat to them?
Where Blue Roses Bloom is a grand, sweeping story with compelling characters, great twists and turns and plenty of action. But what elevates it is Yasmine’s very obvious love of the form itself, of the book. Not just as a way of conveying a story but as an object of beauty in its own right. Which of course it is.
The tale unfolds on the island of Roseovia which lies in the Mediterranean Sea between Sardinia and Sicily. We know this because there’s a map. It even has its own national flag! And the chapters have titles! And that’s my point. This book has all the things that book lovers love. In fact, it’s so obviously a labour of love that it’s impossible not to get swept along with it. So, if romantasy is your thing, you’re going to love Where Blue Roses Bloom. And if it isn’t, you’re still going to love it. The garden of fantasy awaits!
The author: Yasmine Maher is a fantasy author, copywriter, and Director of Fables and Facts Publishing. As a passionate wordsmith and an active member of the Twitter writing community, Yasmine loves to weave captivating tales that inspire her readers with whimsical adventures, magic, and larger-than-life characters.
When not writing or dreaming up her next story idea, Yasmine loves playing with her cats, singing, watching Kdrama and Marvel, and advocating for mental health awareness.
Where Blue Roses Bloom is published by Fables and Facts and is available now from Amazon.
RICHARD E. ROCK 
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