A Goodreads Most Anticipated Historical Fiction Book of Fall 2024
‘A sinister romance and hypnotic Gothic fairytale—surreal and luscious with a fascinating twist on the story of Hades and Persephone.’ —Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Ariadne
A woman with no past. A man who seems to know her. And a monstrous garden that could be the border between their worlds…
Italy, 1948
Julia Lombardi is a mystery even to herself. The beautiful model can’t remember where she’s from, where she’s been or how she came to live in Rome. When she receives an offer to accompany celebrated eccentric artist Salvador Dalí to the Sacro Bosco—Italy’s Garden of Monsters—as his muse, she’s strangely compelled to accept. It could be a chance to unlock the truth about her past…
Shrouded in shadow, the garden full of giant statues that sometimes seem alive is far from welcoming. Still, from the moment of their arrival at the palazzo, Julia is inexplicably drawn to their darkly enigmatic host, Ignazio. He’s alluring yet terrifying—and he seems to know her.
Posing for Dalí as the goddess Persephone, Julia finds the work to be perplexing, particularly as Dalí descends deeper into his fanaticism. To him, she is Persephone, and he insists she must eat pomegranate seeds to rejoin her king.
Between Dalí’s fevered persistence, Ignazio’s uncanny familiarity and the agonizing whispered warnings that echo through the garden, Julia is soon on the verge of unraveling. And she begins to wonder if she’s truly the mythical queen of the Underworld…
Genre: Fantasy
‘A sinister romance and hypnotic Gothic fairytale—surreal and luscious with a fascinating twist on the story of Hades and Persephone.’ —Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Ariadne
A woman with no past. A man who seems to know her. And a monstrous garden that could be the border between their worlds…
Italy, 1948
Julia Lombardi is a mystery even to herself. The beautiful model can’t remember where she’s from, where she’s been or how she came to live in Rome. When she receives an offer to accompany celebrated eccentric artist Salvador Dalí to the Sacro Bosco—Italy’s Garden of Monsters—as his muse, she’s strangely compelled to accept. It could be a chance to unlock the truth about her past…
Shrouded in shadow, the garden full of giant statues that sometimes seem alive is far from welcoming. Still, from the moment of their arrival at the palazzo, Julia is inexplicably drawn to their darkly enigmatic host, Ignazio. He’s alluring yet terrifying—and he seems to know her.
Posing for Dalí as the goddess Persephone, Julia finds the work to be perplexing, particularly as Dalí descends deeper into his fanaticism. To him, she is Persephone, and he insists she must eat pomegranate seeds to rejoin her king.
Between Dalí’s fevered persistence, Ignazio’s uncanny familiarity and the agonizing whispered warnings that echo through the garden, Julia is soon on the verge of unraveling. And she begins to wonder if she’s truly the mythical queen of the Underworld…
Genre: Fantasy
Praise for this book
"An intriguing, creative, and suspenseful romp." - Margaret George
"In King's deft hands, the myth of Hades and Persephone becomes a sumptuously Gothic page-turner, at once as eerie as the Underworld and as surreal as a Dale painting. One taste, and readers won't be able to leave this story until they have turned the final page." - Molly Greeley
"In the Garden of Monsters is a glorious work of Gothic fiction, set in Italy's real and strange Sacro Bosco. Underpinned by Crystal King's signature passion for food writing and impeccable research, this novel will pull you in and not let go, just as the titular garden does to the characters. I devoured it as swifty as a handful of pomegranate seeds." - Alyssa Palombo
"A luscious and sensual story about passion and power and food and art with Salvador Dali wrapped in classical mythology. It's gothic, and it's gorgeous, and completely transporting. Do not miss this!" - Hank Phillippi Ryan
"A sinister romance and hypnotic Gothic fairytale - surreal and luscious with a fascinating twist on the story of Hades and Persephone." - Jennifer Saint
"In the Garden of Monsters is a gorgeous and atmospheric dreamscape of a novel, one that drew me in and took me places both surreal and earthly. Crystal King is a magician, and this novel a delicious spell." - Danielle Trussoni
"This eerie, sensual, and inventive reimagining of the Persephone myth is a lush fairy tale painted in shadows on a moonlit night." - Kris Waldherr
"In King's deft hands, the myth of Hades and Persephone becomes a sumptuously Gothic page-turner, at once as eerie as the Underworld and as surreal as a Dale painting. One taste, and readers won't be able to leave this story until they have turned the final page." - Molly Greeley
"In the Garden of Monsters is a glorious work of Gothic fiction, set in Italy's real and strange Sacro Bosco. Underpinned by Crystal King's signature passion for food writing and impeccable research, this novel will pull you in and not let go, just as the titular garden does to the characters. I devoured it as swifty as a handful of pomegranate seeds." - Alyssa Palombo
"A luscious and sensual story about passion and power and food and art with Salvador Dali wrapped in classical mythology. It's gothic, and it's gorgeous, and completely transporting. Do not miss this!" - Hank Phillippi Ryan
"A sinister romance and hypnotic Gothic fairytale - surreal and luscious with a fascinating twist on the story of Hades and Persephone." - Jennifer Saint
"In the Garden of Monsters is a gorgeous and atmospheric dreamscape of a novel, one that drew me in and took me places both surreal and earthly. Crystal King is a magician, and this novel a delicious spell." - Danielle Trussoni
"This eerie, sensual, and inventive reimagining of the Persephone myth is a lush fairy tale painted in shadows on a moonlit night." - Kris Waldherr
Visitors also looked at these books
Used availability for Crystal King's In the Garden of Monsters