In the Roses of Pieria

Stars: 4.5

Thank you NetGalley and Bywater Books for supplying me a free Arc of this book.

This novel by Anna Burke is published by Bywater Books and is the first in a series called The Blood Files. The dedication misses a capital letter and the preface is an untranslated segment (55) by Sappho. The book has a total of 15 chapters with an epilogue, and each chapter starts with an illustration of flora and a statement in italics (these don’t reveal the chapter’s contents; the illustration at the start of Chapter Seven is of poor quality). The perspective is first-person. Sentences are long overall with frequent descriptors used. There are occasional grammatical errors, such as incorrect paragraph breaks, missing quotation marks, and a comma-splice.

Synopsis:
Clara Eden, a PhD university professor with a need for stability, often donating blood plasma for extra money, is offered a mysterious job opportunity of six digits in her specific field. The offer is through an email from Montague Estate Archivist Housing — all without her having to apply and, seemingly, without recommendation. She accepts, keen to break out of the habit of overthinking. All she has to do is translate, catalogue, and digitalise the private collection of Agatha Montague, but nothing of her work can be mentioned — to anyone. Plus, Montague is a fabricated public image herself; cue Clara’s healthy suspicion.
Does the offer, combined with health insurance and benefits, come out on top? Of course.
Thrust into an enchanting but restricted world of previously-unknown artefacts, plays, novels, and papyri letters detailing a complicated romance from centuries ago, Clara learns the hard way how much of her new job is hidden from her as secret after secret unfurl. Her new relationships are also complex, whether with Montague’s secretary or, eventually, the woman herself. The question is: how much danger can Clara cope with when her whole world and outlook are transformed?

The target audience are people who appreciate the dark-fantasy and horror genres, those interested in the dark academia aesthetic, those drawn to vampires and faeries and are interested in these mythical creatures being reimagined, and those interested in work-based romances.

The first thing a reader will notice in this book is Burke’s thorough detail, which adds an academic dimension to the narrative; whether describing the local flora with frequent descriptors or creating an elaborate matriarchal Greek society called Nektopolis (which sounds similar to ‘necropolis’, meaning ‘city of the dead’, where a large cemetery has elaborate tomb monuments, and, hence, acts as foreshadowing; the word ‘Nektarian’, almost identical to ‘nectarian’, meaning a period of the lunar geologic timescale, hence acts as more hints for avid Google-ers like myself). There are also fabricated figures sprinkled in among the factual ones, the latter including: Sappho, Queen Atossa of Persia, Callimachus, Alexander the Great, Edwin Marion Cox, and Cynane.
The prose is lush and deep, forming a stormy atmosphere, and is poetic in a way that borders on sentimental at times, which adds to its depth and richness. Countless quotes within this book are, in my opinion, beautiful enough to be cut out and stuck on a collage mood-board (though I would never perform such sacrilege). However, there is a habit of telling emotions rather than ‘showing’ them, which would have sufficed for the majority of the story.
The narrative itself reflects aspects of Beauty and the Beast, as the protagonist is brought to a large estate (admittedly not a castle, and through her own choice instead of against her will); there she spends her days in an expansive library, with strict rules to never venture in certain areas (which of course she must disobey). There is even a beast present — multiple, in fact — that originally appear as human (yes, there is some contrasting evidence to my comparison, but this is only my personal opinion).
This story is not an example of enemies-to-lovers, but instead strangers-to-colleagues-to-rushed-sexual-lovers-to-steadier-romantic-lovers-to-best-friends-to-soul-mates-to-sexual-lovers-again. As this long name implies, there was a rushed attraction between the protagonist and another character that I was grateful to see slowed down for secrets to be revealed, betrayal to be felt, and foundations to be properly built.
In the plot itself, I guessed two of three huge spoilers, which never felt random or out-of-the-blue when revealed, nor were they entirely predictable.
The protagonist at times was frustrating, not because of character flaws or dislikability, but because so much of her personality appeared (to me) linked to her work, then her new partner. At times I struggled to understand who she was beyond these two factors, so I greatly appreciated when her fashion sense, family, and friends were mentioned, along with her reaction to who — or what — the people at her new job are.
Three apt descriptors for this book are: “lush, stormy, beautiful”.

This book exceeded my low expectations, as the positives personally outweigh the negatives for me, though it is not immaculate enough for five stars (and I am aware that most faults may only be present in the digital PDF copy). With all of this in mind, I have rated it 4.5 stars.

—E

Burke has woven a fascinating story that has myriad fantasy elements, fascinating connections, rich history, and real danger. I think it’s probably best to go into this book without a lot of knowledge about it, tbh, so I will endeavor to write a review that doesn't have a ton of spoilers, but acknowledge that by doing that I am shortchanging some excellent elements of the story. This is also the first in a duology, so while things do get resolved by the end, not everything is, by a long shot.

Clara is a struggling adjunct professor, an expert in the (fake) ancient city of Nektopolis - it’s very specific. She has spent her academic career studying a society that existed for a relatively short period of time - she has taken to it like a true academic and can read the language, knows the full history, and is consumed by the work. A very surprising offer comes to act as an archivist for a private collection in her area of expertise - complete with a 6 figure salary, health care, and a gorgeous cottage to live in. She takes it (what struggling adjunct wouldn’t?). Then things start to get weird - who is she really working for? What’s up with the cold assistant? Why all the rules around when she must start and end her day?

I can’t really say more without giving things away, but trust that nothing is as it seems and she finds herself entangled in ancient history in a more real way than she anticipated. The twists as they come are not always unexpected, but enjoyable and the ride is really fun. The world building is rich and the story is well-woven.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and Bywater Publishing, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

In the Roses of Pieria is one of those books that you should experience going in blind. Read the blurb, but don’t read reviews, don’t read spoilers. Take the ride. Enjoy the revelations as they come.

This is a phenomenal read. The world building is incredible. The research, the intelligence behind the story, the skill with which it is told… awe inspiring. A submersive experience that commands your full attention, Burke makes every detail delicious.

Just amazing.

I received an ARC from Bywater Books in exchange for an honest review.

In the Roses of Pieria has a lot going on, and I am here for all of it. A beautiful, sensual sapphic romance at the forefront, and a more mysterious, near transcendent one in the background. The horror of powerlessness, both in the face of the supernatural and in the field of academia, while also using research as action in a way that feels genuine and empowering. And some elements of extremely interesting and very modern worldbuilding based on familiar horror-fantasy elements. The embedded letters can be confusing, although definitely rewarding, and I personally preferred the slow tension and mystery of the first half of the book to the more action-driven and revelation-filled second half, but other than that I was utterly enthralled by this genre-playful story about enduring love and sacrifice, through to its sequel-demanding end.

I really wasn't sure what to expect with this book and it had me feeling so many different ways whilst reading.

Overall, it was not a book for me. We meet the main character, Clara, from the very beginning and by the end of the book, I felt like we didn't actually know much about her. Her character never really developed throughout the whole book and she felt quite boring to me. We then have the romance between her and Fiadh which just seemed unrealistic to me. It wasn't love between them, it was just lust. They barely had any real conversations and again, there was no real expansion on Fiadh's character for me. They both just fell flat.

The actual story was very hit and miss. Some parts were extremely predictable and other parts were confusing. The whole fey thing was bizarre and I didn't get the explanations about them at all. It didn't fit the rest of the book for me. I feel that and the vampires could have been developed a lot more.

I was intrigued by the letters and that's probably the only reason I read this book to the end. By the end of it, I was quite glad to have finished it just so I can move on to something else. Some parts I just skimmed over because it just felt like the author was trying very hard to use overcomplicated phrases so to make the characters come across as super smart but it just made me lose interest. I don't think I'll be picking up any other books in this series.

Clara was stuck in her career as a professor and looking for something more. One day she received an email that would give her the chance at her dream job. She decided to make a change but shortly after starting things were starting to make Clara question what was going on.

As a reader, I found this book to be interesting as it combines alot of my favorite things to read about. As I kept reading I knew that Clara employer was something different before she did. What I couldnt pinpoint was what exactly. After finding out, I was actually in complete shock because I had another idea in mind.

After finding out, I feel like Clara just couldn't handle what was going on. That is where as a reader I struggled because she just couldn't move past the fact of information and find embrace her role like the previous person does. She did want to find out more but I feel she spent alot of time worrying about other things (which is understandable) but still took away (in my opinion) from the story.

The romance was subtle between all characters but still made we want to learn more about those relationships outside of the main story line. I would love to know what happens next after that ending. But I am always wanting more after most books I read!

I LOVED this book! It was so much fun to explore this universe with Clara and Fiadh. Their relationship was so sweet, sexy, and heartfelt. I also loved the ancient love letters and all of Clara's geeky passion for her work. The world-building in this novel was exceptional, and I adored the unique take on vampire lore. I agree with the other reviewers; going into it blindly is the best way to experience it! I can't wait for book 2 and I can't wait to find out what happened with Mr. Muffin while they were away!

Thank you to NetGalley and ByWater books for the ARC of this novel. Will be counting down the days until book 2 is published! DId I use enough exclamation points to show you how excited I am about this book?

Dark academia. Sapphics. Vampires. What more could you want?

In the Roses of Pieria was a thrilling, haunting, and altogether chilling read. It perfectly blends the gothic nature of dark academia and vampire lore with history and fairytale.

Interwoven into the present story is a love that dates back thousands of years, and the way the timelines interact really cement the plot throughout. It brings the entire story together.

The vibes in this one are delicious. It’s captivating to follow Clara and Fiadh on this adventure, and this one is full of twists you won’t see coming.

The danger throughout this book is so subtly done, but it makes your heart race nonetheless and makes it hard to put this one down. It builds and builds in a slow and dramatic way, and the ending only relieves a little of the tension that has built throughout (luckily there is a sequel coming!)

All of the characters are written so incredibly well that you can’t help being drawn in by them. You fall fully in love with Clara and Fiadh, and even the side characters are so fleshed out you feel like you know every subtle detail about them.

I loved this one so much. It had everything I want in a book. History. Dark academia vibes. Sapphics. Vampires. Cosy cottage vibes. Fairytale influence. Slow, creeping, dark horror.

4.5 stars.

Another fun book I flew through in an afternoon! It wasn't without its issues-- no book is-- but I can say that it is well worth the time and effort. And I will definitely be picking up the next one! Vampires and lesbians are just so fun!

I enjoyed the romance in the novel, although I wished it was more vampire based. I did appreciate the love and appreciation for cats though. Any book can be approved with cats and lesbians and this book had both in spades!

The only other problem I had-- although the above mentioned wasn't really a problem-- was that the main character did a stupid occasionally. Twice, I stared in horror as she committed a dumb, one of those times was so painful I had to put down the book for a few minutes and recollect myself. In the end, I still flew through it, and it was not detrimental to my enjoyment.

I definitely recommend!

4.5/5

CWs for: sexual content, blood, gore, body horror, death (including the mentioned death of a child and death of a parent), confinement, vomit, injury/injury detail.

In the Roses of Pieria is a Sapphic fantasy-academia novel following Clara Eden, university lecturer and scholar of the (fictional) ancient city-state of Nektopolis, who is hired as an archivist by estate owner Agatha Montague and is tasked with translating, cataloging, and digitizing her incredibly vast library of Nektopolian artifacts. Clara quickly becomes engrossed by the translation of romantically-charged letters between two Nektopolian women, Natek and Gata, which she begins to share with Agatha’s assistant, Fiadh. Though Fiadh is initially quite brusque with Clara, the two women find romance slowly blossoming between them as they work to unravel the underlying mysteries of Natek and Gata’s love.

Author Anna Burke utilizes elements of fantasy and the paranormal in unexpected and innovative ways, though Clara’s preoccupation with Natek and Gata’s letters makes her oblivious to the more subtle signs of the paranormal and fantastical around her (and the more conspicuous signs, as well). This is at times humorous, and at others terrifying— though ultimately it does feel quite realistic for a person with a fixation.

The romance between Clara and Fiadh is well-paced and rather enjoyable, but the love letters between Natek and Gata are the heart-blood of this novel. These letters are passionate and evocative— filled with beautiful and melancholic Sapphic longing. The intensity of desire between Natek and Gata does make the romance between Clara and Fiadh seem a bit shallow by comparison, but this is an aspect of In the Roses of Pieria that I am hopeful will be given further depth at a later point in this series.

I was glad to find out via the author's note that, although In the Roses of Pieria was initially intended to be a novella, the story became expansive enough to warrant not just one full-length novel, but a sequel novel as well. This was an enchanting introduction to The Blood Files series, and I already look forward to seeing how the story and the characters develop in the next novel.

In the Roses of Pieria
4/5 rating

Disclaimer: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. A huge thank you to Bywater Books and Netgalley!!

I am an absolute sucker for vampires and fae, so I instantly knew I had to request this one. I did struggle to get into this book as the very beginning was a bit slow for me. That being said I fell in love when the letters Clara had to translate were introduced. I thought the overall concept of the correspondence was very well executed, and the story they told was beautiful. The characters that really stuck out to me were Natek and Fiadh, I really hope we get to see more of them in the next one.

This was my first Anna Burke novel but her writing was immersive and filled to the brim with captivating imagery. The worldbuilding was also a highlight for me. I loved learning all about the creatures and folklore in this book.

Overall this was a very solid read and I cannot wait to check out more of Burke’s work!

overall this was a really fun read! I enjoyed the main character, and the fae worldbuilding in particular was compelling, though I'll confess to being a little disappointed that the ancient civilisation we begin with and which Clara is supposed to be an expert on wasn't explored more thoroughly, but that isn't the point of the book. the point of the book is the gay love stories, old and new; the academia and ancient civilisations were just a vehicle for the love stories and didn't get any more attention than absolutely necessary (as a person who loves worldbuilding, perhaps even a little less than necessary!). the love interest also wasn't as fleshed out as I'd have liked and a lot of the time didn't feel like much more than an Object Of Desire. having said all that I still enjoyed reading this book; the plot trotted along nicely and the main character had just enough depth that I was interested in her story and cared about what happened to her. if you're looking for a fun, easy to read queer love story that doesn't require too much thought or emotional investment, I'd definitely recommend this one.

Clara Eden is offered the archivist job of her dreams...or so she thinks. It pays her bills (and then some), she gets to live in a quaint cottage on a massive estate, and she gets to research her favorite ancient civilization (Nektropolis) all day. But wait...she has to sign an NDA and she can't publish any of her research. Something isn't right.

This what a phenomenal read but I'm not about to give out any spoilers. I believe this book is best to go into blind. It has vampires. It has dark academia It has fae. It has fungi. It has romance. It has CATS.

The romance between Clara and Fi was probably my least favorite part of the book. It felt a little rushed in my opinion and the other elements (including the romance between Nat and Gata) were much more captivating.

.
If a book starts with an epigraph of sappho, I instantly know the book is going to be a hit. And good grief did this book live up to my expectations.

The story follows Clara Eden as she navigates her new job as an archivist, whilst falling for her new boss’s mysterious assistant. Alas, everything is not as it seems and things go from seemingly okay to terrible in a rather short space of time.

I’ll get the things that held this book back from being 5 stars out of the way first and foremost. The biggest thing for me was the pacing and the size of the chapters. Overall the pacing is pretty solid, but what really impacts that is the chapter sizes. One of the chapters is so long that my kindle was saying it would take me 50 minutes to read it, and I would say I’m a rather fast reader. There’s also no sort of reason for them being this length either as this “mega” chapter could definitely have been split into three smaller chapters. But I can also see why the chapter needed to be this long so this is more of a personal preference issue than something that is make or break.

The other thing is that some of the things regarding the fey were a bit confusing, especially when it came to Bran and his tree. In the least spoiler-y was possible I didn’t quite grasp the thing™️ Clara did until right at the very end in the epilogue. Again, this might just be a me issue because of my aversion to big words and complicated explanations. It didn’t detract from the integrity of the story in any way as I could still grasp what was going on from other things, but I fear that the next book will dive deeper into this world’s lore and I will be left behind.

Anyway, enough of that, let’s talk about the fun things. First off the characters in this book are incredible. I think that is something that Burke always manages to do well, as even side characters become swift favourites and you end up left wanting more. Especially with the historical aspect of this book, her characterisation is incredible. I was so close to googling as to whether or not these “historical figures” were real and going on a historical deep dive. The ability to tell the story of Natek and Gata through only their letters was just wow and several times i found myself wanting more from them and their side of this book.

The character that steals the show in this book, however, is Fiadh. I really hope that Burke chooses to go down the split POV path with the next book and we get to see inside of Fiadh’s head and eyes because, wow, what a character.

This is a really strong start to a series, and it’s quite clear that there’s so much potential for this world/lore that Burke has created, that this series could swiftly become one for the ages with its rich and vibrant backdrop.

As always I am looking forward to what Burke does next, in both this series, and her other works.

And a big thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

While anyone can tell a story, not all can do it with Anna Burke’s grace and skill. Her wordsmithing continually leaves readers awestruck and In the Roses of Pieria is her latest example of this. Burke’s boundless imagination and ability to think outside the box is on vivid display here. Glorious world building and original characters take this intricately layered plot places that are surprising and wonderful. Quite simply, the narrative is nothing short of captivating and impressive. This is one book you won’t soon forget.

It’s an Anna Burke novel, so no one should be surprised by its solid and cohesive story construction. However, what sets it apart is its emotional depth and intelligence. Burke gives her readers flawed, multidimensional characters that can access emotions and express vulnerability. Their struggles feel more personal and valid because of it. This is a story that really resonates. I can easily see Burke scooping up quite a few awards for this masterpiece.

Final remarks…

It takes a strong set of writing skills to produce a piece of fiction like this. However, Burke accomplishes it without struggle. Her masterful command of language paints lush and vivid imagery for readers, making In the Roses of Pieria an exciting and engaging read from start to finish. Simply put: This is exceptional storytelling and I highly recommend it. It will not disappoint.

Strengths…

Engaging characters
Well-developed story structure
Nicely paced and plotted
Original and imaginative storytelling
Gorgeous prose and impressive use of language
Cleaver world building

If there's one thing that has kept Anna Burke firmly in my mind as an author whose books are must-reads, it's how vivid and unique they always end up feeling. This particular book is so very gripping that I think going in with no more than the blurb is the best way to experience it. It took no time at all for the story to draw me in and these incarnations of familiar archetypes were so enthralling and produced a story that will stick with me for a good while.

Anna Burke writes both with the creativity of someone spinning a tale from nothing and still delivers the breathtaking artistry of a story painstakingly crafted.

A very big thanks to Bywater Books and Netgalley for this much anticipated eARC!

I am convinced Anna Burke cannot fail as a writer, and it is a crime she isn't recognized for her work more than she is.

I have been waiting for this title for more than a year, and still it blew my expectations out of the water. And knowing it's going to be a duology is wonderful (though it will also be tough waiting for the conclusion to the tale). The book itself already feels a little like two different stories. The first half is thoroughly entrenched in the dark academia, as Clara catalogues and translates Agatha's collection, as well as growing closer and closer to Fiadh. The second half dives headfirst into the fascinating preternatural world Anna has created. I thought the mix worked perfectly, but others may find the transition jarring.

Speaking of that world, I absolutely love how she's approached them. Not just vampires, which I knew going in, but fey and other creatures of myth and legend. Anna manages to toe the line between giving these beings a grounding in scientific plausibility (at least satisfying enough for a spec-fic book) while also retaining their wonder and mystery (and frightening possibility). Honestly, she could have written a text book of imagined facts about how these people worked, no story required, and I would have found it fascinating.

Speaking of fascinating, the academic half of the book had me entranced! I'll preface this section with the statement that I'm not a student of linguistics or classical antiquity, just someone who occasionally falls down wikipedia rabbit holes and then occasionally researches further. So, that out of the way, I found the research into the culture and language of Nektropolis and the exchange of letters she's translating incredibly engaging and thoroughly realistic, especially with the addition of being able to turn to Clara's Endnotes throughout. I was half convinced Nektaria had been a real person that Anna had discovered and added fictional elements too, so well did she and her city-state blend with actual history.

I won't go too in-depth on the actual storyline seeing the book isn't released yet, but I'll just say I love the characters in this book, and just want MORE (which, thankfully, we'll be getting ^_^). Any minor qualms aren't worth mentioning.

5 enthusiastic stars!

Really great book, interesting and kept me hooked throughout. Love the plot and really enjoyed the writing style

DNF at 5% because the author clearly didn't do even rudimentary research on the archival profession. It's not just a backup career option for people who can't cut it as faculty. There's actually an entire degree and field of study dedicated to archives and archival theory, and the idea of someone being offered a SIX FIGURE JOB (which is also definitely not a reality to archives jobs) with no prior archival training or experience is an insult to actual archivists. I tried to just push past this, but the author went on to repeatedly use the word "digitalized" instead of "digitized" (a quick Google search can tell you the difference) and stated that this protagonist, who again has no prior experience or knowledge, will be doing CONSERVATION WORK on materials from 600 B.C.E. As soon as the protag put on gloves to touch a manuscript, I knew the author hadn't even so much as read the headline of the New York Times article that came out recently about how we DO NOT WEAR GLOVES and bailed. What a disappointment.

You had me at "Anna Burke (has a new book out)"
It didn't take much for me to want to read this book. Just that Anna Burke wrote it. I didn't read the full title of the book or notice the cover details nor did I read the synopsis, until after I finished it. The four (now five) books by Burke I've read so far have been such excellent reading that seeing her name on an upcoming title is enough for me.
Going into the book blind (not reading the synopsis, not knowing the genre etc) gave me a few extra suspicions and questions from the outset of the story about things that are mentioned in the synopsis but, on reflection that put me on a level of discovery right alongside main character Clara. I was questioning and realizing before her in some cases but for the most part, her reactions were perhaps even more visceral to read because they aligned with mine. I loved the parallel storylines of Clara's present day work cataloguing artifacts and the story those artifacts unfurled in fragments or strings of narrative from the past. That and the mysterious nature of the story kept me interested and on the edge of my seat, reading later than I expected to thanks to a doozy (or two) of a chapter ending cliffhanger. I knew as soon as I finished the book that a re-read was in order because the clues and breadcrumbs to the secrets and mysteries of the story are in there but I didn't catch all of them in a first reading, not knowing what details would be key information later on or how they'd fit together. This is the kind of story I believe will hold up well even after multiple readings, with different details being more apparent each time; it's a vast multilayered story so very well written and told. Be sure to read the acknowledgments (after you've read the story) for some useful info and make use of the endnotes peppered into the story as part of Clara's work; the latter add a layer of authenticity that further sells this fantastical story. Some of the characters were very unsettling but also believable and the relationships between them are understandably complex. I didn't expect to change my opinion of some characters and yet author Burke steered me to sympathy where it seemed an impossibility beforehand. You may find yourself giving side eye to plants and flowers (and other livings things) for a while after reading this book and pondering the pros and cons of historical artifacts being kept in private collections.
This story is a really wild trip so curl up in your favorite chair with your favorite beverage (your choice of beverage may change as you read) and enjoy the enthralling ride. I highly recommend this book and the author's work in general for the quality writing and highly satisfying storytelling. I look forward to reading whatever Anna Burke publishes next as well as catching up on already published titles I have not yet read, and re-reading this one again as soon as I am able to.