At a Glance
- August 18, 2026 release set for Alexandra Bracken’s romantasy Immortal Rose
- Viola Lockhart, last scent-mage of Rosebourne, must craft a kingdom-saving perfume
- Deluxe hardcover first printing features stenciled edges and illustrated end papers
- Why it matters: Bracken blends historical-romance coziness with romantasy stakes
Romantasy readers will get a perfume-powered epic when Alexandra Bracken releases Immortal Rose on August 18, 2026.
A Kingdom Hanging on a Fragrance
Viola Lockhart is the final heir of House Rosebourne, a bloodline descended from fairies who could twist fragrance into magic. When a murder destabilizes the realm of Albion, royal spymaster Hugh Thornton drags Viola from jail and demands she brew Immortal Rose, a legendary perfume rumored to rescue the nation.
Their bargain is simple:
- Viola will locate the perfume’s lost ingredient
- In return she gains the fortune and legitimacy denied to her as an illegitimate daughter
- The quest forces the hostile pair across Albion while assassins dog their steps
Love, Lies and a Terrible Truth
The hunt pulls Viola and Hugh into close quarters, turning friction into slow-burn attraction. Bracken’s synopsis promises that when the two uncover a “terrible truth” about their kingdom, they must decide whether finishing Immortal Rose is worth the moral price.
Sophia A. Reynolds notes the 432-page novel balances high fantasy danger with the comfort of a historical romance, all filtered through Bracken’s signature twisty plotting.
A Love Letter to Perfume and Romance
Bracken calls the book “a love letter to two of my favorite things: romantic reads and the art of perfume.”
“Scent is so mysterious, so powerful, it felt natural to imagine a world in which it could truly be magic,” she tells News Of Los Angeles.
She adds that she challenged herself to merge the yearning and coziness of historical romances with the high stakes and twists demanded by romantasy fans.
Key details about the first printing:
- Deluxe hardcover with stenciled edges
- Illustrated end papers designed exclusively for the launch edition
- Available only while the first print run lasts
Pre-Order and Availability
HarperCollins has already opened pre-orders through major retailers. The publisher confirms that once the first printing sells out, later editions will switch to a standard hardcover format.
Bracken, whose previous novel Lore hit the New York Times bestseller list, hopes readers will discover perfumery alongside Viola. “Whether you have a signature scent or not, I hope this book opens readers up to the gorgeous world of perfumery, and that they find a home alongside Viola within the pages.”
Key Takeaways
- Release Date: August 18, 2026
- Premise: Only a magical perfume can save a crumbling kingdom
- Romance: Enemies-to-lovers tension between Viola and Hugh
- Collectible: First-print deluxe edition with special design elements
- Pre-Order: Live now wherever books are sold
