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Morgan Sheppard (1037 KP) created a post

Jan 24, 2026  
The Story Hearth is open. 💙

A cosy corner for readers who love fantasy, mythology, and romance that’s all heart and connection. This is where ARC readers and backlist explorers can gather to get early access to new releases, chat about characters and stories, and settle in with a little bit of magic.

Joining is easy:
✨ Fill out the form: https://forms.gle/jwdFDqs77LD4D2Tu5
✨ Or join directly on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestoryhearth

Not your cup of tea? That’s absolutely fair enough. But if you know someone who might love this kind of story, sharing the link would be truly appreciated.

Here’s to new chapters, ancient legends, and the stories that connect us all. 💙
      
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Acanthea Grimscythe (300 KP) rated The Fifth Petal in Books

May 16, 2018  
The Fifth Petal
The Fifth Petal
Brunonia Barry | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Science Fiction/Fantasy
6
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I finally finished reading The Fifth Petal by Brunonia Barry. It wasn’t quite my thing, though. Despite being labeled as a fantasy mystery, The Fifth Petal hovers a little too heavily on romance for me to find it enjoyable. There’s also a ridiculous amount of repetition which, if you read my thoughts on List of 10, you’ll know I abhor it when writers think their readers are going to forget something major within the plot after a few pages.

Many times throughout my reading of The Fifth Petal, I felt things were dragging. In fact, very little of the book focuses on the murders mentioned in its blurb. More of it focuses on an abstract idea of new age healing, with only the overly obvious blooming romance breaking up the monotony. As a reader, when I pick up a book that’s labeled fantasy or mystery, that’s what I expect. Couple that with an unrealistic, “out of the wild blue yonder” twist at the end, and it seriously just falls flat.

Characterwise, there’s a distinct feeling of “woe is me! I am the victim” throughout this book, alongside several of your stereotypical wealthy snobs. Because of this, I found it hard to become attached to any of the characters – but this is my opinion. For other readers, namely those that favor the flavor of romance, this is perfect.

To be honest, I’d like to rate this book a two for the sheer fact that, like The Cutaway, its genre is based more on the plot’s outline than its actual content. The thing is, the writing isn’t horrible – nor is the romance. There’s not really any detailed sexual encounters either, which is a plus for some. In fact, it’s a pretty safe read all around. I do admire Barry’s ideology behind some of her witches, i.e., lace readers. Because I can see others enjoying this and it’s not downright horrid, I’ve decided to go with a median rating. Besides, the cover is fantastic.

I would like to thank Blogging for Books for providing me with a copy of this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.