Rose and Cecilia's relationship is like many sibling relationships. Should you interfere and protect or should you let your sibling go their own way and figure it out themselves? Rose is engaged and successful in her coding job and just so tired of Cecilia's ways. She's never satisfied, constantly running from and to different endeavors until she suddenly disappears. Rose finds her way to her to rescue her. But does she need rescuing from a cult who seems magical? Cults interest me with the way they convince people their way is the only way and the Avalon seems really great. I enjoyed this story even though it was kind of slow in places.

Wow! This book took my attention fully. I absolutely loved the “cult” of Avalon and can see how anyone could fall under the spell of this underworld cabaret troupe. Everything about it felt magical and getting to leave the real world for a while sounds like a great time.

This was such an interesting look both at cults and how cultish “normal” society can be sometimes. It’s the abnormal that gets looked down on often and Dr. Burton does a fantastic(al) job using this story to talk about this. Our main characters Rose and Cecilia felt real and fully fleshed out with actual problems that we all face.

There was never a dull moment in the book and the pacing was just what I was hoping for when picking it up to read.

This book was a whirlwind, it reminded me of Caraval except more rooted in reality. I found the ending to be a little bit too vague and bizarre. I wanted to end in the world of reality and knowing a bit more of how the sisters ended up.

Here in Avalon is the latest novel by author Tara Isabella Burton, whose previous titles include Social Creature, The World Cannot Give, and the non fiction works Strange Rites and Self-made. The story follows Rose, a young programmer in her late 20’s living in New York City, who is reunited with her sister Cecilia, a constant in and out presence in her life. Following another of Cecilia’s flights of fancy, Rose is hopeful that her sister will remain and start a more solid life. But the artistic and romantic Cecilia disappears once again after an encounter with a mysterious floating theatre troupe leads to a fight between the sisters. Now believing that the group has taken her sister, Rose begins to decipher clues and track them down, hoping that she can resist the illustrious spell of the Avalon Cabaret.

(Thanks to Simon and Schuster for the ARC via NetGalley)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. And as an acquaintance of Tara Isabella Burton, I have been to many of the spots mentioned in the book, including the “20’s night above the KGB Bar”, where we met. I have read her nonfiction books before but never read her fiction, although I did preview the first few chapters of Social Creature some time after its release and found myself enjoying them (I will read it in full eventually).

Burton has a keen gift for describing the magic of the city, from the wonders of nightlife to the simple joys of daytime. And her protagonists are well rounded, her writing fully showing Roses’ thoughts and allowing Cecilia the ability to convey her thoughts in dialogue. I also liked the relationship between the sisters to be very realistic to the circumstances presented. They aren’t super close but still care for each other, with harboring some bitter resentment for being left alone over and over again.

The other characters were a wild assortment of “friends”, partners, accomplices in the mystery unfolding. Some of Rose’s friends had me screaming “how is she still hanging out with these people?!” But when you understand what kind of life Rose wants to live, you understand why she hangs out with them.

The mystery surrounding the cabaret and whether or not it was truly magical made it hard for me to stop reading. But once the truth was revealed, I saw that the story was moving in a different direction. A direction that surprisingly felt sad and beautiful.

The final paragraphs were perfect, leaving some parts ambiguous but giving an overall sense of hope.

Final thoughts: the book is a wonderful read for those who want to find magic in the ordinary and extraordinary parts of life, even if only temporary.

Most books I’ve read that involve cults have been very dark, manipulative, and sinister. This book takes a bit of a different turn.

You sort of think it’s going to go that way. Missing people, a death, lots of secrets. But then the story takes a turn I didn’t really expect. It’s like a found family with some cult vibes 😂. A traveling circus.

There was a lot of emphasis on love. But it was also touching on depression, that it’s not really something you can run away from.

There are a lot of characters, many that all sort of blend together after a while. Some go away half way through the novel and you never see them again.

Overall this story really draws you in. It ended a little fast for me though, and I’m so used to epilogues I was expecting a one year later update 😂, but I’m okay with it being left open.

If you’re looking for something with some mystery, and a different take on cults, this one is for you!

Thank you @simonbooks and @netgalley for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Here In Avalon by Tara Isabella Burton was released on January 2nd, 2024.


Okay, Look - I really wanted to like this book. The synopsis pulled me in immediately and I was so excited to read this, but the characters? They just...annoyed me. I can't pinpoint what it was exactly that annoyed me, but it took away from the enjoyment of the book, personally.

HOWEVER, would I recommend this book to others? Absolutely. The writing is smooth and the author does a great job with showing rather than telling. She effortlessly creates a world of curiosity and intrigue. Did I mention the writing? It was seriously magical, almost hypnotic in a way. I was reminded a lot of the book Shatter Me in the way that Tara crafted the story.

Here In Avalon is bound to be appealing to a wide audience. I really enjoyed how the story felt enchanting, but it wasn't a fantasy book.

Here in Avalon had an interesting concept that semi fell flat for me.

Cecilia has always been the odd one out between the two sibling, yet Rose will never give up hope. C promises to make Thanksgiving and show up in our other aspects....promises she can't keep with the allure of the Avalon club beckoning her on. Suddenly she's gone and it's Rose's job to figure out her location and the game of Avalon.

I always am intrigued by "cult" like books, especially ones with beautiful covers. While the setting and premise intrigued me, I was put off by the writing style and how everything was basically described as if I was a young child reading the book. I found the characters to be unlikable and the book to drag as the ending neared.

Thank you Simon Book Club Buddies and Book Club Favorites for my earc and finished copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was amazing - combining the very real and human dilemmas of familial relationships with the fantastical ideas of what life could be like if you just took a chance, it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I really enjoyed the character development that took place over the course of the book, and while certain elements felt mystical and impossible, the story never felt too far-fetched. I've already recommended this to friends and coworkers and will continue to do so!

I was drawn to the story in which the cult's unique way of life is alluring. But as the narrative goes on, the illusion starts to fade, exposing the frightening truth that is hidden behind the façade.

The author's use of vivid imagery through her descriptive language painted a captivating world that truly came to life. The mastery element and emotional depth of the characters made me feel invested in their journey.

The relationship between Cecilia, the free-spirited wanderer, and Rosie, the sensible and responsible sibling, serves as the narrative's central theme. Their sisterhood is stronger than ever, even though their personalities couldn't be more different. We are dragged into Rosie's search for her missing sister. I found myself sympathetic to Rosie as her perspective changed during the book. You are able to feel her growth and the difficulties she encounters as the book progresses.

Overall, this was a beautifully written story that I couldn't put down.

Here in Avalon by Tara Isabella Burton

This was a frustrating but haunting book. A red boat carrying . . . fairies? magicians? what? . . . promising a new life. Mysterious disappearances and clues, dangers, mixed loyalties, suspense. I did speed-read some of the first half (a useful technique that helped my students get through GREAT EXPECTATIONS, to which one could make some comparisons).
Don’t we all sometimes feel impatient with the mundane sameness of real life, real jobs, routines? Is that discontent more extreme for artists and those who enjoy fiction? Do we want to follow the lead of someone who is “always right” or think for ourselves and accept the outcomes as our own? Near the end, I couldn’t sleep until I finished, a sure sign of an engaging book.

Thank you to Simon Books Buddy for sending me not only the pre-approved Netgalley widget for Here in Avalon, but also a physical finished copy for my trophy she—i mean, book shelf. This review is entirely my own thoughts and opinions and is based off the finished copy from Simon Books!

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Here in Avalon is a fantastical, whimsical, fairytale of two sisters living in NYC; one who seemingly has it all together, and the other who flits from one life to another, searching for a love/life worth living. Separately, they both find themselves entranced to an enigmatic group of people who may or may not be, a dangerous cult.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
OVERALL: 4.5🌟
STORY: 4/5🌟
WRITING: 4/5🌟
CHARACTERS: 5/5🌟
ENJOYMENT: 9/10

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
STORY:

So... I absolutely love a good secret cult story. It's a great way to get me to read outside of my comfort zone, and this book, was worth it. The story is compelling and relatable. I mean, I've never stepped foot in NYC, but I could see myself as the sisters. I could feel what they feel. Understand what they're thinking. Feel the same enchantment that they fall under.
The atmosphere is so haunting, yet beautiful, creepy yet magical. It keeps you on your toes, pulling you back and forth blurring the lines between reality and the fantastical. I did feel at times the pacing would plod along a bit, but that never truly distracted me from the plot.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
WRITING:

From the first page, I fell in love with the whimsical fairytale way that Burton wrote this story. While NYC is already often described as a magical city, Burton really drove it home with how fairytale-like she wrote her story. Additionally, while the writing is smart and contemporary, it's still rather easy to read and digest.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
CHARACTERS:

I feel like most readers will find themselves relating to one of the sisters. I, definitely related very much to Cecilia, the dreamer who continues to search the world for her holy grail. I felt her frustrations of being 30 and not having a life put together the way her sister, Rose, has. I felt her struggle with maintaining an apartment. I knew how it is to discover something new and wonderful and just get utterly swept up in it. I completely got Cecilia, and really saw myself in her as well. Rose was a tougher nut to swallow. Most of the story, I was with her, understanding and empathetic towards her. But since I am ever the dreamer and absolutely want to see characters swept away into something new and magical, I was irked by her resistance to Avalon, her refusal to admit her perfect life was in fact, not perfect.

Overall, the characters all brought the story to life, to a vibrant mysterious reality; with the sisters both carving their own paths of growth and acceptance of themselves.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
ENJOYMENT:

This book could have been a one day read if I hadn't started it at like midnight. So instead it was a two day read that I thoroughly devoured. It was an excellent experience outside my usual comfort zone of books.

I didn't hate this book, but I didn't love it. Even trying to come up with something to say about it, I'm ambivalent and struggling to find anything to say. I'm not even sure why I finished the book. Nothing really drew me in to get wrapped up in the story, but I did finish it, so there must be something about it that captured my brain. Maybe I got sucked in by the magic of the Avalon and was compelled to finish it.

“‘Everybody always wants to change their life.’ Caleb shrugged. ‘Almost nobody ever does.’”

“‘All you have to do is remember that you’re giving someone a very great gift. The greatest.’ ‘Magic?’ Rose could not hide her doubt. Morgan shook her head. ‘Attention,’ she said.”

This book is so outside of my comfort zone, but that was a goal of mine for this year. And wow am I glad I branched out because I feel enchanted now. I always say that I struggle so hard with suspension of belief and that’s why I can’t get lost in most magical realism or fantasy stories. But I got lost in this one!

I had no problem imagining this magical boat, whisking away the lost to a place where they feel found. I just loved it. It was so whimsical and heartwarming. I will recommend this book to everyone, but especially those that have ever found themselves feeling lost in society or feeling like they don’t quite fit into societal molds.

“I don’t think self-narrativizing is particularly healthy. You can convince yourself of a lot of stupid things, if you start thinking of yourself as some sort of hero.”

Thank you to @SimonBooks, @Netgalley, and the author for the gifted copy.

Rose is an interesting protagonist; the book makes allusions to her telling the story years from when it takes place, but no mention of what this period of her life meant to her. Throughout the entire thing she's watching life not fully participating but going through the motions. On the other hand theres her sister who has been trying to fill this void in herself and immersed in life but still coming up empty. There's no magic except what you can create for yourself and the price you pay to keep those illusions. It's a story that meanders and takes you across the city, but that's what's happening I guess. Sometimes we're all just visitors until we find home.

This one ended up being a like for me but I think it will be a love for many others. I advise not going into it expecting a fantasy, but more of an enchanting contemporary read. I loved the complex relationship of Rose and Cecelia. My sister and I are also very much opposites, and being the Rose of the family I could relate to her in many ways. I loved the magic of The Avalon and the descriptions of the spellbinding music, entertainment, and eclectic cast members of the cabaret. It's easy to see how entranced one may become upon the vessel. It's possible the writing was just a little too poetic for me with a lot of deeper themes, but I will say it was beautifully written and I will definitely seek out more by the author.

The story revolves around two sisters who are nearly complete opposites. Rose is a realist, organized, works in tech, and is planning her wedding with a highly successful fiancé. Cecilia is more of a dreamer, lover of the arts, and unfortunately known to be unreliable as she's always chasing happiness, or her "grail."

When Cecilia gets involved with a mysterious cabaret troupe and eventually goes missing, Rose must make her way into the strange world of The Avalon to find her sister, by solving clues left around New York City to receive her special invitation. Realist Rose believes the cabaret is a cult, but the more she's immersed in their fairy tale world, the more the line between reality and magic becomes blurred.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for my gifted copy and eARC for review. All thoughts were my own.

This is more of a 3.5 for me. i wanted more magic. If you're going to bring in the Arthurian legend references, either acknowledge them sooner or have more magic. In the end, I think the book is about love, giving and receiving and how hard it is to do either sometimes. I also had a little trouble in the beginning with locale, were we in England or New York? I liked the variety of talents exhibited on the Avalon to show people what they needed to see, but in this world of scammers, the bringing in of "clients" was a scary proposition, especially disposing of all their possessions.

Thank you @SimonBooks #SimonBooksBuddy for the free book!

Would recommend for fans of…
🦢 NYC settings
🦢 Modern fairytales
🦢 The Night Circus

It’s been about a week since I finished Here in Avalon, a culty, modern fairytale set in NYC, and I’m still trying to put together all of my feelings about the book (which tbh, I’m not sure is a good or a bad thing).

There were a lot of things I liked about the book — there were equal amounts of plot and character development mixed in with commentary on our present culture that had me laughing. There was a sense of mystery and magic that really pushed the plot forward, and I really enjoyed the deep dive into the relationship between sisters Cecilia and Rose. My favorite part of the story though was how much it reminded me of a more sinister version of The Night Circus. The vibes were *chef’s kiss*

Sometimes though, I felt like there was a little too much attention placed on style over substance. The prose is beautiful and poetic, but language often overshadowed the actual events of the story. I wanted to know more about the Avalon and those who were running it and how they became involved. Maybe it’s just my interest in cults and secret societies, but I was a bit disappointed to not get answers to all of my questions.

If you’re not interested in reading a full-on fantasy novel but want something that feels magical, Here in Avalon is PERFECT for you. It’s also a great book for any lit fic fans who are looking to add a bit of mystery to their reading.

Here in Avalon is available now. Thanks again to Simon Books for the free copy!

Enchanting Avalon

Embarking on 2024 with the enchanting tale of "Here in Avalon" by Tara Isabella Burton proved to be an excellent choice. Gratitude extends to NetGalley and all contributors for granting me access to this ARC. Marking my introduction to Burton's work, it feels akin to befriending a newfound magical companion. Freshly released yesterday, this book beckons readers to seek it out – a suggestion I wholeheartedly endorse.

Burton, with prose that seamlessly integrates into the mystical realm of Avalon, crafts an enchanting narrative. While not rooted in fantasy or magical realism, the book exudes a magical quality comparable to experiencing the most beautiful song or witnessing an exquisite painting. Burton's writing, evoking the allure of Avalon, is so captivating that getting lost in its charm becomes inevitable.

The characters of Rose and Cecilia, brilliantly portrayed archetypes, resonate with familiarity. Cecilia, the romantic drifter pursuing the allure of the extraordinary, contrasts sharply with Rose's pragmatic outlook. Rose's world is disrupted when she perceives her sister's abduction by a mysterious group, propelling her into a pursuit that leads her to the enigmatic Avalon – a late-night cabaret of magical proportions.

As the narrative unfolds, Burton's storytelling captures the essence of fleeting beauty within The Avalon, a sanctuary for lost souls seeking the remnants of magic. Rose, captivated by this mystical realm, embarks on a quest to find her sister, willingly taking a leap of faith into the unknown side of enchantment.

"Here in Avalon" emerges as a contemporary and atmospheric exploration of beauty and poetry, transcending the boundaries of mundane existence. Illuminating the possibility of a more beautiful life, irrespective of circumstances, the novel encourages readers to believe in the perpetual potential for magic. A splendid inaugural read for the year, don't miss the opportunity to delve into this captivating narrative. Follow the link below and immerse yourself in the magic of "Here in Avalon" now.

Story Synopsis: Rose and Cecilia, sisters, couldn’t be more different. Cecilia is one of those people that doesn’t seem to have her life together. She’s entertaining to others because of her flakiness and willingness to dive headfirst into experiences and adventures. Rose is the opposite: calm, organized, dutiful, and pragmatic.

One day, Cecilia comes across something that will change her life - like so many other misadventures she’s had. The Avalon, a mysterious cabaret, creates a bit of magic for Cecilia, giving her hope for a better life. When Cecilia’s flakiness leads to all-out disappearance, Rose must choose to let her go and keep her orderly life or to track down Cecilia to ensure she’s okay.

Why does this book beguile? Here in Avalon is beguiling because it’s all over the place. I saw this book billed as “magical realism,” “psychological thriller,” and “enchanting.” Unfortunately, it’s none of those things. Here in Avalon isn’t a bad book, but it’s a confused book. Is it about a circus/cabaret? Is it about the sisters? Is it about love? Is it about family?

I honestly don’t know.

Truth be told, I wanted to DNF the book about 100 pages in, but something interesting happened, so I kept reading. Then, nothing happened until the end, which was underwhelming.

I’ve seen phrases like “enchanting” and “urban fairy tale” used to describe this unique and dreamy book. It’s absolutely true - I was quickly drawn in and just ate up the characters, prose, and New York City setting.

I requested a copy as soon as I read that cabarets played a main theme. This book certainly resonated with the musical Cabaret’s lyrics: “So, life is disappointing? Forget it! We have no troubles here. In here life is beautiful!” Lost misfits trying to find their way in a cold and bustling world that just doesn’t creatively or emotionally satisfy. It certainly becomes understandable why people are drawn to cults. But this book does not romanticize that, it merely shows the initial beauty and excitement of finding likeminded people who happen to be in an enchanted fairy-like world of their own.

Cecilia and Rose were excellent complex characters and fascinating sisters. The first chapter says so much about their personalities in just a few pages. I didn’t always like the supporting characters in their respective lives, but they served their purpose. The love they had for one another, despite having difficulties relating, was really beautiful. They both needed to find themselves, and the elusive cabaret really did play a crucial turning point in both their lives. I would happily read this again and absolutely recommend!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for kindly providing an arc in exchange for my honest review.