Format: Hardcover, 352 pages
Release Date: June 20, 2023
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Romance
In this romantic, edge-of-your-seat YA fantasy/mystery duology from Morris Award finalist Katy Pool, Veronica Mars
meets a glitzy and gritty Gilded Age-inspired fantasy world in which
cursebreaker Marlow pretends to be in love with a powerful noble as she
searches for her missing mother.
Since fleeing glitzy Evergarden for the gritty Marshes, Marlow Briggs
has become the best cursebreaker in Caraza City. But no matter how many
cases she solves, she's still haunted by her mother’s disappearance.
When
Adrius Falcrest, Marlow's old crush and scion of one of Caraza's most
affluent spell-making families, asks her to help him break a curse,
Marlow wants nothing to do with him . . . until she uncovers a new lead
in her mother's case. Marlow reluctantly agrees to help Adrius so she
can return to Evergarden society. To avoid drawing suspicion, Marlow and
Adrius pretend to be madly in love. Soon, Marlow comes to learn that
the truth behind Adrius’s curse and her mother’s disappearance may be
clues to a larger mystery—one that could unravel the very foundations of
Caraza and magic itself. Perfect for fans of These Violent Delights and Chain of Iron.
Katy Rose Pool's Garden of the Cursed is the first installment in the authors Garden of the Cursed duology. The story is told in the first person narrative by 17-year old Marlow Briggs who works for Bowery Spellshop with her best friend, Swift. The story takes place in the fictitious country of Caraza, well Caraza city actually. Marlow was able to get the same education as the Evergarden kids of the fluent Five Families that control the country and magic. These are the rich kids from influential families.
They get a special education with magic. There are five main families and Marlow's mother Cassandra worked for one, the Vale family. When her mom went missing a year ago, and her best friend/crush stopped talking to her, Marlow returned to the Marshes where she quickly became the best cursebreaker around and that's how she makes her money. Then, her ex -best friend Adrius Falcrest who she had a crush on found her after a year and told her about a compulsion curse. At first Marlow says she won't help him. But the curse is something that only the old destroyed magic books would have.
Adrius has to obey any order given to him. Marlow agrees to help while still trying to find out what happened to her mother. The closer she comes to finding the secrets behind Cassandra's disappearance, the deeper she gets into a well of twisted mysteries and secrets that have long been kept away from the gentry by the 5 families. She's thrown back in with the rich society kids as Adrius date, and has to go to balls and events. She finds one friend that seems genuine, but most others don't like her and think she's below them. Adrius's sister is getting married to a son from another family. It's a way for two families to combine and become more powerful.
The worldbuilding was very interesting! Magic exists as spells that require a hex card and the corresponding incantation. Magic and the resources needed to create spells are also gate kept by the Five Families, who essentially run the city. So, let's just say that a little birdie told me that if you really pay attention to this story, you will see why the story has been compared to Veronica Mars. The little birdie also tells me that if you are aware of the former TV series, you will recognize characters in this book, the history of our main lead, and even some of the plot points that play out throughout this book.
"Everyone wants to feel in control. But that feeling isn't real. None of us are in control, not really. So I say, stop pretending and embrace it. If I can't control my life, then at least I'm going to have a damn good time living it."
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