R.I.P. Viola Winkle by E.P. Stavs

Book Description

Viola Winkle is addicted to romance novels. So when she receives an invitation to the premiere annual event in romance publishing, she’s over the moon to attend. That is, until a freak storm, a troublesome pup, and a mysterious family of tree people turn her fancy evening out into the last night she’ll spend in 1954.

In 2024, Ethan Mills is the award-winning author whose gothic romance trilogy has taken the world by storm. His life and career are right where he wants them to be – until they’re not. Sorrow drives him to the woods, where a dark curse awaits.

Can a young librarian from the fifties break the curse before it turns him into a beast? Or will Ethan destroy them all?

Review

R.I.P. Viola Winkle by EP Stavs is a trope-twisting, fairy-tale retelling mashup fantasy romance. But it works.

All Viola Winkle wants is to attend a glamorous romance-industry party. And when you’re a small-town librarian in 1954, you don’t get many opportunities to mingle with famous authors.

I found the start of this novel utterly delicious. Not only was the set up clever, it beautifully foreshadowed the story to come.

And isn’t that what it’s all about?

Fantasy Romance… With a Twist

If you’ve tired of fairytale retellings, let me assure you, this book isn’t like most of them. Like TJ Klune’s In the Lives of Puppets, EP Stavs picked a little-explored tale.

Into this mix, she gender-swaps the protagonist and tweaks several over-used fantasy tropes. Add to that a pinch of gothic horror, a little-used fantasy species, and a dollop of romance, and you have a charming story. One that may send your expectations tumbling.

I enjoyed the novel’s pacing; R.I.P. Viola Winkle grabbed me from the first chapter and held my attention the whole way through.

So if you love cleverly constructed stories with memorable characters and a fresh take on fantasy tropes, pick up R.I.P. Viola Winkle!

Content Warning

Alcohol, Blood, Death of a Parent, Explicit Language, Kidnapping, Sex (between sweet and warm), Violence, Wounds

The header photo is a composite image. Base image by Andalucía Andaluía on Unsplash