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persnickery's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Blood
szuum's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Murder, Blood, Domestic abuse, Death, Death of parent, Child death, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
bluejayreads's review
Graphic: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death
Minor: Murder, Blood, War, and Death of parent
Manipulation, forced marriage-like situation, death of partnerchelsearose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death of parent and Death
Minor: Religious bigotry
kiaras's review
Minor: Murder and Emotional abuse
chelsaat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The first issue is the clunky exposition for the first half of this book. Rory Power had a hard task - she created a complicated magic system and a complicated power structure, but the way this was all delivered stopped everything in its tracks. It took me FOREVER to read through all the table setting.
My second qualm was the characters. I should feel sorry for the Argyros siblings - Rhea is forced to kill her new consort every 3 months so the seasons can change (I can’t even imagine) and Lexos is stuck at home trying to please his tyrant of a father. The other two siblings are overlooked and underappreciated. But they never really came alive to me. Maybe because their thoughts were of world-building exposition most of the time.
In the final 10%, the action finally picked up and things started to get interesting. I saw the big twist/betrayal coming but it was still a fun reveal. That said, I don’t really have a huge desire to read the sequel. I guess I should since I put all this effort into learning this world, but I honestly don’t really care what happens to these characters. I wish I did!!
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Graphic: Murder, Emotional abuse, and Death
adancewithbooks's review
2.5
In a Garden Burning Gold Rory Powers steps away from her thrillers to move into an adult fantasy which is quite a different ball game. This greek inspired fantasy unfortunately lacked a bit of punch.
We follow the twins Rhea and Lexos who have been helping out their father rule a country. The powers that came with the position has been given partially to them. Rhea has to marry a consort and kill it in one season so that the next season starts. Lexos has powers over the tides and stars. Their father has a touch of death though he doesn't seem to have much control over that. In this story we follow Rhea struggle with who she is while Lexos wants to find those that threat his family.
The idea of In a Garden Burning Gold is interesting and I enjoyed most of the world building. There are a variety of countries who have a similar set up though I find it unclear what their exact powers are. And in that regard there is still a lot to be gained in the world building. I have a lot of questions about the exact gifts their family has and about the saints that are referred to a lot.
But even more that could have been gained were the relationships. Especially between our twins. They don't talk. I'm not sure if there is even any actual fondness between them. You couldn't tell by the interactions you've had. Considering they've lived for 100+ years you'd think they would have learned to communicate. But not just between them. There are two other siblings where there is no little real connection. I couldn't really believe in this family.
There is a lot of thinking going on in the chapters of Rhea and Lexos but none of it was very exciting or thought provoking. None of it was truly reflective. There doesn't seem to be much maturity in them or any of the side characters. Honestly I wanted the rebellion to kick their asses. So if you were asking if I liked any of them, not really. Mostly I just didn't care. Neither of them can see what is right in front of them.
So mostly I was bored, especially with Lexos' chapters. I was tempted to skip them all together. I wouldn't have missed much for most of the book. Not until the end did the ball start really moving in the plot sense.
All in all I am not taken with this book and I am not sure if I would want to read on in this series.
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Death
thereadingraccoon's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
In A Garden Burning Gold is the adult debut by author Rory Power. This high fantasy novel explores the issues of magic, power, politics and family on an alternative to earth.
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Toxic relationship