I had wanted a novel that grabbed me right away and didn’t let the tension ease, but this wasn’t that book. In the first third, there are hints that something sinister is afoot, but no actual threat to worry about.

I liked that the protagonist is a grandmother. So many novels deal with people struggling in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, that having a character with an adult child is refreshing. Clarissa is separated from her second husband after discovering a secret that repulsed her—this was beyond mere cheating. She has to find a new place to live as soon as possible, and she has to do it on her own salary of being a writer—a way of making a living that not a lot of people can survive on, let alone find a dwelling in Paris that she can afford. So, when she gets a low-cost place that’s for artists, she doesn’t question much, she just signs the papers. At first, the idea of having a device that’s like an Alexa, but with much, much more power, seems like a good safety feature. Surely the feeling of being watched is just her imagination . . .

Unfortunately, this moved at a slow place. It had some good points to it, but I just didn’t enjoy reading this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel, which RELEASES FEBRUARY 23, 2021.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. Towards the end, I couldn't put it down. The main character is a sixty-something writer who has just left her husband. The reason is hidden until the end of the book, and it's a trip. The book also focuses on the main character's home, a new apartment building in Paris. It's too good to be true...and a little creepy. The book left some loose ends, but I enjoyed it.

Wow. Not unlike Station 11 and Rumaan Alam's Leave the World Behind, this book gives a glimpse at a bleak yet hopeful future that is completely plausible. I loved the details, the flashbacks, the homages to Virginia Woolf and Romain Gary, and mostly, an independent, vibrant female character who happens to be over 40!

An intense and ambitious novel, sometimes perhaps embracing too many genres. While the premise is rich and intriguing, the characters fail to develop the kind of warm empathy the story seems to demand--still, this is a fiercely original novel and worth the reader's attention.

This book is unique- a dystopian, kind of sci-fi, psychological mish mash. Clarissa is trying to mask the pain of her husband’s betrayal. She tells her daughter, her granddaughter and everyone around her she’s fine but really she’s lost. At times she reminded me of “The Woman in the Window”- paranoid in her own home, curious about her neighbors.
As a writer, Clarissa spends a lot of her time reading and she is good at making up stories in her head. I felt like Tatiana de Rosay nailed Clarissa’s complex emotions. Despite her new luxury apartment being equipped with retina recognition security and her own virtual assistant who responds only to her, Clarissa is paranoid. Something was off…maybe it’s all the cameras in her apartment…
Clarissa is also getting a bit older and overemotional, is this the reason for the paranoia? Or does it have to do with C.A.S.A. and the technology? So many questions. The eeriness is top notch. Admittedly, there were parts where I lost interest, but it was a quick 200 something page read. Sadly, the bizarre kind of uncomfortable ending fell flat for me. At it’s core this book preys on everyone’s basic “Big Brother is watching” and invasion of privacy fears.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review. (PUB DATE: 2/23/21).

Flowers of Darkness

This book was an eyeopening step into the future. Every move we make can be observed, be recorded; our thoughts and skills copied and remanufactured.
AI has a pivotal role in the storyline and it will make you shudder at the possibilities that are out there and that are probably being developed now in 2020. The author describes what the world could look like after disasters and what climate change had done———it’s not pretty. Are human relationships still necessary in this futuristic scene? I don’t know…..the perfect AI bot is running a close second.
Good food for thought.

I feel bad giving this novel just 3.5 stars because I truly enjoyed the characters and their relationships but there’s just a little too much “big brother” and robotic pieces for me to fully enjoy it. In other novels by Tatiana De Rosnay like “Sarah’s Key” and “A Secret Kept”, she created characters and storylines I greatly enjoyed. This time the storyline fell short due to some of the AI aspects – without giving anything away, there are two robots in the story that make it more of a sci-fi book than a mystery or suspense novel in my opinion. I did enjoy the characters though. Most are likable and relatable in some sense. There could have been more relationship development between some of the characters but overall I still enjoyed their interactions. I really enjoyed the main character’s relationship with her granddaughter, but again, I think there could have been more done around it. Overall, I found it to be a good read, just not a great read.

Thank you to both Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for an early eGalley in return for an honest review.

This is a story about being haunted by technology.

This was a tense, lightly dystopian drama/thriller set in a beautiful residence designed for artists... on the surface, it’s perfect.

This book is set slightly in the future & the author brilliantly weaves details in the story- it’s the most subtle, but effective world building I’ve ever encountered. The story also interwove elements of grief, and the importance of human connection in an increasingly technologically advanced world.

I loved 90% of this book, but I’m still trying to decide how I feel about the end.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Thank you Netgalley & St. Martins Press for this e-ARC!

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Thank you Netgalley & St. Martins Press for this e-ARC!

quiet and languid but tense. i liked a lot of it, but i think it lost me a little towards the end. some of it was a touch too heavy-handed, but overall i did enjoy the writing and the concept.

This was a really interesting concept and had much more interesting premise and characters than the authors last book. It was entertaining to get through and made me think about the future - I also appreciated its take on “history” between now and this future, but would have liked more context around it. I also would have liked more closure - the truth about CASA, what happened to Jim, etc. I’m glad the main character ended in a better place but I don’t feel like I got any closure.

Flowers of the Darkness was very different than I expected. It is the story of Clarissa who is trying to move on after her divorce. This book is set in a futuristic Paris. The apartment complex is very modern and high tech but Clarissa starts to feel like she is being watched. Her granddaughter believes her reasons for feeling uneasy about her new place but her daughter feels that she is depressed. The story has many twists and turns and I did enjoy. I did not forever like the ending. I feel like I missed so important in the story line and wanting more.

Set in a future Paris where terrorists have bombed the Eiffel Tower, this novel's focus is Clarissa, an author undergoing seismic changes in her life. After leaving her second husband for reasons that are gradually revealed by her journal entries interspersed throughout, Clarissa is pleased to be accepted for a condo in a building exclusively inhabited by artists. As she spends more time in her lovely new apartment, Clarissa becomes suspicious of her automated personal assistant and the cameras recording all of her movements and conversations. When she becomes increasingly creeped out and depressed, her sanity is questioned by her daughter and father, and suspense builds around the ultimate outcome for Clarissa. The strength of this novel is in the relationships described, as well as the future possibilities of artificial intelligence and climate change. However, readers looking for a tidy resolution may be disappointed.

"Flowers of Darkness" is an interesting and somewhat creepy story. The author has envisioned a futuristic world where climate change has irrevocably altered the world, with the dying off of the bees, extreme heat, and where it was difficult to obtain things such as real flowers or honey. The surveillance state has expanded in response to terrorist attacks; including an attack in Paris (where the novel is set) that toppled the Eiffel Tower and destroyed a nearby neighborhood. It is also a world where artificial intelligence is much more advanced.

Clarissa Katsef, has recently left her second husband and is in need of a new apartment, when she hears about an experimental artists' community (C.A.S.A.). She is a writer whose books focus on what houses and home convey. She is also bilingual (English/French) and she is planning to write her next book in both languages simultaneously. She is accepted to C.A.S.A., somewhat to her surprise. The apartment comes with a virtual assistant, who she names Mrs. Dalloway, and who can manage everything (phone calls, e-mails, grocery delivery, etc.), but there are cameras in every room (except the bathroom), residents are required to undergo regular health checks, utilizing scanning capability in the bathroom mirror, and Mrs. Dalloway is constantly watching her. The set-up for the virtual assistant was deeply personal and intrusive. Strange things start to occur in the apartment and with Clarissa's health, as she becomes tired and weaker, and she begins to dream about a significant past trauma. Clarissa begins to suspect that the individuals behind C.A.S.A., especially the AI expert who set it up, are intentionally tampering with her and the other residents, for reasons unknown.

Her granddaughter, Adriana (Andy), believes her and seeks to help her out, but her daughter Jordan thinks Clarissa is letting her imagination runaway with her and that she is sinking into a deep depression, which Clarissa dealt with in the past. Adding to Jordan's skepticism is that Clarissa has left her second husband, Francois, but has not explained her reasons. Throughout the course of the book, the reader learns more about Francois and the events that caused Clarissa to leave. The reader will likely guess the basic reason for Clarissa leaving her husband, but the actual facts will be quite surprising and slightly creepy.

The author does a great job of exploring how artificial intelligence technology and increased surveillance can be utilized to manipulate others, but also how mental illness can confuse one's reality, and the difficulty in determining what is actually "true." If the AI expert is actually "gaslighting" Clarissa, it is masterfully done. The story ends with the issue somewhat unresolved, which was somewhat disappointing; although I understand why the author chose this ending. One of aspects of the book I found particularly interesting is the discussion of bilingualism, including whether one dreams in a particular language, how one switches back and forth between the languages, and how one might smoothly integrate the two languages in a conversation or in writing. "Flowers of Darkness" is well worth reading.

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley.

Set in a Paris when, post attacks, the Eiffel Tower is nothing more than a hologram, nature is no longer “natural” and AI beings are now partially integrated into society. Clarissa is a writer who has abruptly left her husband of many years for reasons not yet revealed. This is her second husband, in fact. She now finds herself in need of a new home very quickly. She applies for residence in CASA, an artists’ community on the grounds of the old tower. Although it has a reputation for being difficult to get into, she easily gets in with barely an interview and never having seen the apartment in which she will reside. This did seem a somewhat rushed through for me, but I went with it.

Clarissa feels uneasy in her new home. There are cameras everywhere and an AI assistant that she has named “Mrs. Dalloway” as a nod to one of her favorite authors, Virginia Wolf. Mrs. Dalloway will take care of every wish Clarissa could have. In return, Clarissa will have cameras In her apartment to analyze her every move, her weight and other basic health statistics are taken each day. She is also told to take a pill that Dr. DeWinter (subtle Daphne Du Maurier reference), who heads the CASA project has prescribed to boost her overall well being.

As Clarissa continues to grow more and more uneasy within these walls, her daughter is trying to determine what happened between her mother and stepfather, François. Francois is trying desperately to speak with Clarissa to explain himself and try to win her back. Clarissa’s granddaughter, Andy, stays over often and sees her grandmother’s decline as she struggles with the constant surveillance in her apartment and other odd happenings. While some believe Clarissa is mentally slipping, she has an ally in Andy.

Is Mrs. Dalloway becoming more like HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey ? Is CASA’s objective to learn more about the artist’s creativity or is there something more sinister afoot?
Can/should artificial intelligence be “taught” to be creative? These are but a few of the topics explored in this book.

I enjoyed the writing and found most of the story very compelling. In my mind’s eye I could easily see this as a suspense film. I found the end unsatisfying, however. It seemed to just stop. All these plot lines and the momentum so well constructed and built up climaxed into a roaring whimper. I don’t need answers from all stories, but I feel as if the questions weren’t fully asked. I do enjoy the writing style of de Rosnay and will look forward to reading her next work.

Thank you to Net Galley, Tatiana de Rosnay and St. Martin's Publishing for providing me with my ARC of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review

A departure from other books that I have read by this author, this one takes place in Paris reeling from a disturbing near future. Clarissa Katsef is an author who moves into an ultra-modern new apartment complex that is geared solely to artistic residents. How Artificial Intelligence could affect and interfere in our private lives is examined in a thrilling way.
She is haunted, not only by her past, joys and tragedies but also has an uncomfortable sense of constantly being watched in her new home. Although the story is mysterious and 'un-put-downable', I was left wanting more. There was much left unresolved at the end especially regarding the other characters.

To be honest, this book was a bit strange and not something I normally would enjoy, but I did. I do think it was maybe a little science fiction (which I normally don’t enjoy), mixed within the story, but I found it to quite intriguing. The book was well written, fast paced, characters developed phenomenally, but I do think (especially towards end) you had to suspend beliefs to enjoy. I would recommend to those looking for an original, unique story, which doesn’t just sit in one genre! I think that you’ll get some good thrills, chills, and shocks, as well as some psychologically riveting enjoyment from this book!

Will make sure to buzz around platforms and use lower amazon reviewer number on release date!

Set 15 years in the future, Tatiana de Rosnay’s new release, Flowers of Darkness, will definitely make you stop and consider how much you value your privacy! De Rosnay’s novels include two key features: the importance of place and secrets. This novel is no different. The 70-year-old protagonist and recent divorcee, Clarissa Katsef, searches for a suitable new home where she can continue writing in a tranquil environment. Her search leads her to a new artist residency named CASA. It’s a dreamy, ultra-modern apartment with a spectacular sweeping view of Paris. Soon after she moves in, her paranoia makes her question if someone is watching her or if it’s just a result of an over-active imagination. You’ll be asking yourself the same questions: Who is behind CASA? What are their motives? What kind of information are they collecting? Before long, what started out a dream for Clarissa, turns into a nightmare. The streets of the French capital are deserted and there are drones circulating ordering everyone inside. France has become an artificial intelligence and robot enhanced country. De Rosnay explores how this artificial intelligence tampers with love, sex, and artistic creation in futuristic France. She has artfully managed to keep a delicate balance between a page-flipping suspense novel and a reflective, slow-paced, scientific exploration of the issues that arise from a loss of privacy.

In a recent interview with de Rosnay, she confessed that Clarissa is “badass and very brave and courageous in the choices she makes. She has charisma, humour and she’s one of the best characters I’ve created yet!” In fact, she makes it very clear that if her book is made for film, she wants Helen Mirin to play the part of Clarissa. She also shared that this was the first time she has ever written simultaneously in English and French and that she “kept switching between two pages and almost became a robot [herself].”

Although this book was a unique read and not what I expected, it did cause me to reflect and question how much privacy I was willing to give up. The fact that de Rosnay puts these challenges in black and white for us to consider makes for a frightening scenario.

Make sure to put Feb 23, 2021 on your calendar!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to review this book in exchange for feedback.

Clarissa, a renowned writer, is accepted as a resident in the exclusive luxury apartments in Paris where only artists are allowed. She has an artificial intelligence "servant" who as ready to obey her every command, but comes with the downfalls of being filmed and listened to at all times and Clarissa begins to feel like she is being spied on.

This novel an interesting futuristic premise delving into artificial intelligence, robots and what life in Paris may be like in the future. However, it seemed to go in too many directions and I didn't have a satisfying sense of closure on any of it.

Thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for a chance to preread this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

What a difference from "Sarah's Key" (an absolute, hands down, favorite). Interesting story line, leads the reader wondering what exactly is going on here? Can there actually exist a place/time/apartment building like this in the not so distant future? Was a bit frustrated with the daughters lack of empathy, thought the husband's secret life was bizarre, and liked the ending chapter. Not what I would call a "must read", definitely different.