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A review by illegiblescribble
In a Garden Burning Gold by Rory Power
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
a fantasy political intrigue reminiscent of a bittersweet tamora pierce novel.
rory power has done it again, folks! a departure from her usual body-horror-imbued young adult, power weaves a beautifully haunting tale of politics, immortality, and questioning the status quo. this book has firmly cemented rory power as one of my favorite authors.
the book is told in from the perspective of twins rhea and alexandros; each voice is distinct, which is a relief after having read so many dual perspective books where the voices blend together. the world that power has created for “in a garden burning gold” is absolutely captivating and her words wove poetic tapestries in my mind as i read. while there are many kernels of real-world civilizations, power has managed to create an intriguing society that i look forward to delving deeper into in potential future installments. in particular, i appreciated that power did not condescend to the reader and insert paragraphs of background explanation; instead, power allows the reader to piece together the workings of her fictional societies through context and a helpful list of “dramatis personae.”
as someone who grew up devouring tamora pierce’s tortall series’, i am glad to have been able to recapture the same magic within a book with more adult themes.
thank you to netgalley and random house publishing group - ballantine, del rey for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
rory power has done it again, folks! a departure from her usual body-horror-imbued young adult, power weaves a beautifully haunting tale of politics, immortality, and questioning the status quo. this book has firmly cemented rory power as one of my favorite authors.
the book is told in from the perspective of twins rhea and alexandros; each voice is distinct, which is a relief after having read so many dual perspective books where the voices blend together. the world that power has created for “in a garden burning gold” is absolutely captivating and her words wove poetic tapestries in my mind as i read. while there are many kernels of real-world civilizations, power has managed to create an intriguing society that i look forward to delving deeper into in potential future installments. in particular, i appreciated that power did not condescend to the reader and insert paragraphs of background explanation; instead, power allows the reader to piece together the workings of her fictional societies through context and a helpful list of “dramatis personae.”
as someone who grew up devouring tamora pierce’s tortall series’, i am glad to have been able to recapture the same magic within a book with more adult themes.
thank you to netgalley and random house publishing group - ballantine, del rey for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Murder