I like this author because she typically writes a fiction story with food as the backdrop to her books. The descriptions of each meal are a pleasure to read. In this novel, the author deviates slightly and instead weaves a story of mystery and suspense involving the tale of Persephone. Food is still a feature of the book, just not as much.
The book takes place in 1948. Julia is a young model who is hired by the famous Salvadore Dali to sit as a model for one of his paintings. Julia and Dali's wife, and retinue of helpers, head to a place called the Garden of Monsters. While here, strange visions and "ghosts" appear to Constance.
What follows is a suspenseful, imaginative tales that takes place is the real-life location of the Garden of Monsters. I received a complimentary eBook from Netgalley.com in exchange for a review.

3.5 ⭐️rounded up to 4 I’ll never look at a pomegranate the same again! Lots of descriptive meals that sound so delicious and beautiful passages describing the stone animals in Sacro Bosco, Italy’s garden of monsters, make for a very atmospheric setting! Gorgeous over as well.

While the gothic retelling of myths is not my favorite type of story, this one is well written and has some interesting characters, as well as culinary masterpieces!

1948, Julia Lombardi is a young artist with amnesia. She takes a lucrative job to model for the famous artist Dali in a remote villa in Italy. But something is not right! His horrible wife Gala hates her, and the host Ignazio gives her creepy vibes as well as feelings of deja vu. There are ghosts, visions and a murder, and lots of pomegranates!!! All comes to fruition at the end in a retelling of the Greek Persephone myth.

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Crystal King for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book started out SO strong. I was immediately drawn in by the premise, and enraptured by the dialogue surrounding women in the arts, thinking that this was going to be a seductive and gothic romance with relevant commentary regarding the male dominated industry.
What started out as a critique of Dali's character and his blatant sexism, turned quickly to sympathy for him by the end of the book, which turned me off. Why are we sympathizing with a raging sexist who consistently belittled our main character and her ambitions to thrive as an artist? No thanks.

I also just felt like the overall momentum completely dropped off about 40% of the way through. I was expecting so much more, and I was definitely let down. Great potential, failed in execution.

I will say that the worldbuilding and the food descriptions were top tier, though!

I love a good story that involves Greek mythology, especially Hades and Persephone. This was so intriguing and rather mysterious, and I enjoyed it a lot! Also, the cover is gorgeous, so I really may need a physical copy to show off on my shelf!

This book!!!! I read it slowly because of other life things, but if I was about to, I would have binge read it.

It was such an interesting take on the Hades/Persephone myth, and I absolutely loved it!

I thought the characters were well thought out and the addition of ghosts and different timelines was brilliant!

I wish there was more backstory for Hades/Persephone and why/how they ended up in this loop, and I really enjoyed the idea of Ceres as a jealous lover.

My heart ached at points for the characters, and the character development was done so well. I was emotionally attached!

Highly recommend this book!

Crystal King's In the Garden of Monsters is a captivating blend of sinister romance and hypnotic Gothic fairytale. This surreal and luscious novel offers a fascinating twist on the classic tale of Hades and Persephone. The story is sure to linger in my mind long after I finish reading it.

Hades and Persephone retelling taking place in the 1940s.

The setting was really cool. I could definitely understand how it would help inspire this book.

As a romance reader, I felt the romance was lacking. I just didn’t feel the chemistry between the characters.

The story was interesting it just wasn’t really holding my attention.

I really enjoyed this book! I have enjoyed all of this author’s books. I would love to see this book adapted to film and would love to read more but it’s like this one.

A really unique and compelling Hades and Persephone retelling. Setting it in the Sacro Bosco and including Salvador Dali added realism and grounding to the otherwise mythical plot. I really enjoyed reading this book and was completely surprised by the ending. My only small complaint was that sometimes the narrative voice felt more modern that the 1950's setting, but it was easily overlooked as I got further into the story.

Update:I don't want to give more info because I think going in with as little knowledge as possible is best, but I haven't been able to stop thinking about this book and need everyone to read it!

Julia Lombardi has amnesia- she feels that she simply burst into existence one day and has no recollection of her life before we meet her. She is an aspiring artist who moonlights as a muse for established artists to make ends meet, which places her under the surrealist eyes of Salvador Dali. We then immediately join her on a week-long trip with Dali and his wife to the very real Sacro Bosco, where she begins to be haunted by barely there memories of her previous selves.

In the Garden of Monsters is dark perfection. Crystal King has created the most luxurious, haunted, sumptuous world of Roman gods among mortals. I've seen a few negative comments about how much food becomes the focus of the story, but for me? That's one of the best qualities here. The way the meals are described is SO sensual and so decadent, and the relevance of this becomes clear as you progress through the book. The characters are flawed and lovely, the atmosphere is heavy, the scenery is SO vivid with the additional bonus of being a real place with real photos to reference as you read. With just the right amount of Gothic beauty and romantic tension, this currently holds my number one fiction slot of the year. I cannot wait til September when I can purchase a copy and recommend it to everyone I know. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my ARC- this is truly something special.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC. This was a lovely and mysterious read that made me feel extremely hungry. I loved the mysterious nature of the story, it was compelling and I desperately wanted answers. I'm also very hungry.

This book was surreal and a unique retelling of Hades and Persephone. I absolutely enjoyed the addition of Salvador Dalí and his wife Gala to this story. It was laden with their love of food and oddities. Their eccentricities truly added a layer to this fever dream of a book. Ceres was a nice surprise as well and loved the author’s take on her character. Definitely worth reading.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and Net Galley for this arc.

Posted to Goodreads on 6/24/24.

A page turner, from the beginning. I knew nothing about this garden, about Dali, about surrealism, but once I started I couldn’t stop. A fantastic and unusual gothic adventure that had me questioning everything and trusting no one. For fans of traditional gothic romances, mythology, and fantastic descriptions of food.

Absolutely wild. This book has everything: mythology, surrealism, art, great writing, engaging story. Loved this book

In the Garden of Monsters

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(4/5)

This was a truly unique experience. What a crazy ride, there was so much to love! This is a book that will make you feel something, a little unease, a little mesmerized, very intrigued!

For anyone who likes mythology, food, or Salvador Dali!

I loved the interweaving of mythology into a story of surrealism and art. If you’re a fan of Hades and Persephone retellings, this is one version that you absolutely must read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the eARC!

I love mythology and folklore and historical fiction, so the premise of this book sounds like an easy new favorite. I made it to 67%--MORE THAN HALFWAY--before it went from being a chore to like torture and I finally dnf'ed.......

The story itself is really neat, and it seems like the character Dali is true to the real figure. But otherwise, the main character is SO ANNOYING. The writing is awful--it's extremely redundant, all tell and no show, and so slow. There are awkward sex scenes that added nothing to plot. And while I understand what the author is trying to do with some of the story aspects, the writing is so clunky and hard to follow. Each day that passed for the characters was like the same scene written over and over and over and over and over.

It reads like it never went through final editing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an eARC to read and review voluntarily.

A Lush and Intriguing Journey into Myth and Mystery: "In the Garden of Monsters" by Crystal King

Crystal King’s "In the Garden of Monsters" takes readers on a mesmerizing journey through post-war Italy, blending mystery, myth, and historical detail into a narrative that is both haunting and captivating.

Set in 1948 Rome, the novel introduces Julia Lombardi, a strikingly beautiful model with a troubling past she cannot recall. When she is invited by the eccentric artist Salvador Dalí to accompany him to the Sacro Bosco, Italy’s eerie Garden of Monsters, as his muse, Julia’s life takes a surreal turn. The garden itself, filled with monstrous statues that seem to come alive in the shadows, becomes a character in its own right—a brooding and mysterious presence that adds layers of tension and intrigue to the story.

At the heart of the novel is Julia’s enigmatic host, Ignazio, who exudes both allure and menace. His inexplicable familiarity with Julia raises questions about her true identity and purpose in the unfolding drama. As Julia poses for Dalí, embodying the role of Persephone under his obsessive gaze, the boundaries between myth and reality blur, leading Julia to question her own sanity and identity.

King’s prose is lush and evocative, painting a vivid picture of post-war Italy and the surreal atmosphere of the Sacro Bosco. Her meticulous attention to historical detail adds authenticity to the narrative, immersing readers in a world where art and mythology collide with unsettling consequences.

What sets "In the Garden of Monsters" apart is its inventive twist on classical mythology, weaving elements of the Persephone myth into a narrative that is both timeless and contemporary. Julia’s journey of self-discovery is fraught with danger and intrigue, as she navigates the labyrinthine depths of her own psyche and confronts the dark forces that threaten to consume her.

Overall, "In the Garden of Monsters" is a spellbinding tale that will appeal to readers who enjoy a blend of historical fiction, mythological retellings, and psychological suspense. Crystal King’s ability to seamlessly blend these elements into a cohesive and gripping narrative makes this novel a standout in its genre. For those looking to lose themselves in a world where art, myth, and mystery converge, this book offers a mesmerizing and unforgettable experience.

3.5/5 ⭐️
First time reading Crystal King and I am sure it will not be my last. I truly enjoyed this wonderful story which comes out September 24, 2024. If you are looking for a historical fiction novel with a retelling, the. this is the one for you.

I really do love historical fiction and retellings, so this book is right up my alley. So atmospheric and gripping, it's easy to immerse yourself in the author's world. Thank you so much to Thank you NetGalley and MIRA for the opportunity to read this book early. If this type of story sounds like your jam, pick it up September 24, 2024!

This was an interesting read. As a Classics major and a mythology enthusiast, I’ll admit I was a bit skeptical with the premise. There are so many different interpretations of Hades, Persephone, and Demeter and this one was unique. The prose is vivid and intense and really sucks you in. The use of real, historical settings and historical people was a bold choice. This was a very narrative-driven story, with the audience figuring out what is happening to the main character alongside her. The main character (Julia) falls a bit short sometimes and I’m left wondering what happened to the identity she had before arriving in Italy, and why out of all her other reincarnations she was the one arriving as a blank slate.