About the Book

In a Garden Burning Gold by Rory Power

Genre: Fantasy

Release Date: April 5

Book Review

“A week is too long to be a widow.” Talk about a killer first sentence! This fantasy novel brings together mythology, a romance and a political drama. This book was hard to put down.

In this book, Rhea and Lexos are twins and children of the legendary Stratagiozi, whose powers can be split apart and gifted to his children. Lexos controlled the stars and tides, while Rhea had to change the seasons. Her task took her far from home, as each season, she married a new consort, who had to be killed to change the season to the next. She had found her fall consort hard to kill and put it off longer than she should have, delaying winter and facing her father’s anger. So she’s determined all go well with the selection of the winter consort, but Lexos has political reasons for wanting her to cross her father again.

This book alternates between a beautiful love story and an intense political drama. Rhea finds herself falling for her winter consort, as they both surprise each other. Meanwhile, Lexos tries to secure his father’s failing grip on the throne, even going behind his back to shore up alliances and make bargains. But there’s a player no one has counted on who has their fingers in everything and will change their world forever.

I fell for the siblings. Rhea’s both fierce and tender as she struggles to decide how much responsibility she really bares for the way things are. The younger sister Chrysanthi, who paints the colors in the world and brings happiness to everyone around her, is an absolute delight, albeit very naive and sheltered. Lexos is the type who thinks he’s the smartest one in the room, but he’s not always right as he gets outmaneuvered more than once.

This book is the start of a series, and I cannot wait for the next book! I want to spend more time with Rhea and her family.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.