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Goodreads Synopsis:
Twins imbued with incredible magic and near-immortality will do anything to keep their family safe—even if it tears the siblings apart—in the first book of a mythic epic fantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of Wilder Girls, Rory Power.
Rhea and her twin brother, Lexos, have spent an eternity helping their father rule their small, unstable country, using their control over the seasons, tides, and stars to keep the people in line. For a hundred years, they’ve been each other’s only ally, defending each other and their younger siblings against their father’s increasingly unpredictable anger.
Now, with an independence movement gaining ground and their father’s rule weakening, the twins must take matters into their own hands to keep their family—and their entire world—from crashing down around them. But other nations are jockeying for power, ready to cross and double cross, and if Rhea and Lexos aren’t careful, they’ll end up facing each other across the battlefield.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ In a garden burning gold Review:
I was swept into the world of In a Garden Burning Gold and am still not quite ready to come back to reality. This atmospheric and lyrical fantasy novel is full of political intrigue, a richly developed system of Greek-inspired magic, and complex and twisted family dynamics. Twins Rhea and Lexos have spent a century helping support their father’s tenuous rule over their small country. Faced with increased demands on their magic (and their hearts), the twins have to decide just how far they will go to protect their family.
Alternating between Rhea and Lexos’ points of view drew me deeper into the story and created an incredible distinction between the motivations and personalities of the twins. Rhea’s blend of duty, naivete, and love made her chapters my favorite. The supporting characters felt fully developed and made me want a set of spinoffs about life outside the events in In a Garden Burning Gold. I am an avowed fan of morally grey/unlikeable characters and can admit that I love Rhea as a character but wouldn’t want her to be my BFF.
Rory Power has a reputation for gorgeous prose, and this book certainly did not disappoint there. While the first ~50% of the book leans heavily into world-building and stage-setting, it lulled me into a false sense of security that made the ending pack an even bigger punch. I can’t wait to read the next book and will be sitting here, staring at that gorgeous cover until then.
Thanks to NetGalley & wonderful team at Del Rey for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.