I came into Nightshade without having read the first two books in the series—and honestly, I didn’t expect it to hit me as hard as it did. What I found was a deeply emotional, atmospheric story that completely pulled me in, despite the missing pieces. And perhaps that’s what made the experience even more powerful: stepping into a world where things have already unraveled, and still finding myself swept away by the raw beauty of it all.

Gry Kappel Jensen’s writing is haunting and evocative—every scene feels steeped in emotion, shadowed history, and quiet tension. Even without full context, I connected with the characters on a deep, emotional level. There’s a kind of ache running through the story—grief, longing, love, and unresolved tension—that made this feel like more than just a fantasy novel. It felt personal.

What struck me most was the emotional weight the characters carried. I could feel the history between them, even when I didn’t fully understand it. There’s something powerful in that—the ability to convey such deep feeling without needing every detail explained.

Reading Nightshade made me want to go back—not just to fill in the blanks, but to fully feel the journey from the beginning. To understand the other side of the story. It’s rare for a later book in a series to ignite that kind of curiosity and emotional investment, but this one absolutely did.

If you’re looking for a fantasy with depth, heartache, and a touch of haunting beauty, this book is more than worth your time. And if, like me, you haven’t read the others—don’t let that stop you. Nightshade stands firmly on its own, and it just might lead you to something even bigger.

Nightshade (Roseholm Academy, Book 3) pulled me in right from the first chapter which is hard to do for me. It usually takes me a few chapters when I'm reading books constantly. The pacing struck a perfect balance for me it kept the tension high without rushing, and every scene felt purposeful. The atmosphere was rich with mystery and folklore, and the darker magic gave it an edge that made it hard to put down. The writing felt vivid and immersive, pulling me deeper into the academy’s world while still letting the characters’ emotions take center stage. I loved how the relationships and conflicts reached new levels here, with characters being pushed to their limits in ways that felt both earned and satisfying. I didn’t notice any grammar or spelling issues in the ARC, which made it easy to stay fully engaged, although it wouldn't have stopped me from enjoying it and it's to be expected with ARCs, but if you're worried about that, no worries here.

Compared to the first two books, Nightshade feels bigger and more intense. The earlier installments set up the world, characters, and slowburn intrigue, but this one really delivered on that build up. The stakes were higher, the emotional beats hit harder, and the mythology expanded in ways that made the setting feel more alive than ever. It had the same charm and atmosphere I loved from the start, but with more urgency and weight behind every choice the characters made.

For me, this was the strongest book in the series so far. I’d give it 4.5 out of 5 stars for its atmosphere, tension, and emotional payoff, with my only wish being that I could jump straight into the next one without having to wait

Nightshade by Gry Kappel Jensen
A dark, dreamy ending to the Roseholm Academy series 🌙🌹 Full of secrets, tension, and just the right amount of magic. I didn’t want it to end. Haunting in the best way.

Review: Nightshade by Gry Kappel Jensen

Nightshade was such an interesting, emotional end to the Rosenholm trilogy. It perfectly blended magic, mystery, and Nordic mythology with deep character growth and a haunting murder to solve. I loved how the four girls each had their own path but were bound together by fate, friendship, and something bigger than themselves.

The story had just the right balance of dark academia, folklore, and thriller vibes, and the magic felt raw and rooted in nature—which made everything feel even more powerful. The ending was both satisfying and bittersweet, and I’m honestly going to miss this world so much. If you love layered fantasy with real stakes and heart, this series is a must.

Oh my word-what a book! The characters brought the story to life, the plot entranced me, and the setting only added to the enchantment. I absolutely love it.