Julia has arrived in Italy with no memory of who she is or where she comes from. When Salvador Dali invites her to Sacro Bosco, Italy's garden of monsters, to sit for him as his muse, she jumps at the chance. Not only will she be earning more money than she ever dreamed but she will have the opportunity to discuss art with one of the greats. Things aren't all that they seem at Sacro Bosco. Julia begins having strange visions, things that can't really be there, memories that sit just out of reach, and Dali refuses to acknowledge her by her name. He refers to her only as Proserpina, the goddess of the underworld that which he has chosen to paint her as.
Let me start by saying the blurb for In the Garden of Monsters doesn’t do it justice. This book goes far beyond what you expect, pulling you into a story that’s completely immersive from the very first page. The writing is exquisite—rich and vivid in a way that makes the world come alive around you.
We all know the myth of Proserpina, or at least we think we do. But in this retelling, Crystal King gives us something entirely new. Proserpina isn’t just a passive figure or a symbol of the seasons. Instead, she’s a fully realized character whose journey is filled with intrigue, moral ambiguity, and raw emotion. It’s a fresh take on a story that’s been told a thousand times, but never quite like this.
I loved how the Crystal challenges everything we think we know about mythology and history. This isn’t just a rehash of old ideas—it’s a story that digs deep into themes of power, choice, and identity, making you rethink the very foundation of the myth itself. That’s what makes reimaginings like this so compelling—authors find inventive and unexpected ways to breathe new life into stories we think we’ve already figured out.
I can't forget the twist at the end. It's Cere's like never before. It and the rest of the story left me in awe of Crystal King's writing.
If you’re a fan of mythological retellings, especially ones that subvert expectations, In the Garden of Monsters is an absolute must-read. It’s a brilliant reimagining of a timeless story, with writing that pulls you in and a narrative that keeps you guessing. I couldn’t recommend it more. This was an easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!
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