4.25/5 <3
After reading her first book, the witches at the end of the world, I have to say Chelsea has done it again. This book amazed me just as much as her first one. Her first book was actually one of my first arcs I had the pleasure of reading, and a year later, this book did not disappoint. She really has a way with writing magic, and the historical fantasy aspects are beautiful as usual. The characters, yet again, have taken hold of my heart. Thank you so so much for sharing this book with me. I can’t wait to read your next ones <3

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was ok in my opinion. I think I may have enjoyed the audiobook version of this story better, so I may try that at another date. I just couldn't find myself getting engaged with the characters or the plot, unfortunately.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was a relatively quick read, perfect if you're a fan of the cosier side of fantasy or magical realism - although I'd also argue there were some gothic elements too. Is cosy-gothic a thing?

FMC Harriet is left vulnerable and alone after her abusive father apparently abandons her. All she has is her cousin Eunice's occasional visits, her rambling, overgrown and wild garden - and her father's mounting debts. The plants come alive in her presence, soothing her as she tries to survive. Only she can tame them. And when she meets a handsome stranger, she believes all her prayers have been answered. But Christian is not what he seems and the worst is yet to come.

Recommended for anyone who enjoyed The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches or Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell.

Content Warning The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt involves abuse both physical and mental.

Harriet has always had a way with the garden, it feels her feelings and responds to her emotions. The home she has grown in has been anything but happy since her mother passed away. Left with only her father who despises her and a housekeeper who treats her as though she is evil in human form Harriet has learned to only find her comfort in the garden outside the dilapedated doors of Sunnyside. Things go from bad to worse when her father disappears one night and an inspector by the name of Stokes comes asking questions. Fearing that he will find a reason to have her commited the way her father has always threatened she decides that she will search for her father herself.

Harriet one day meets a man by the name of Christian who is handsome and seeminly very attracted to her although she can't figure out why with the large scar that cuts across her face. He continues to come to her aid and she begins to wonder if she is married will Stokes finally leave her be?
Sometimes though its better to face a problem head on then to find a way around it. Just because someone seems great doesn't mean that is who they are beneath the soil. A flower can be beautiful but deadly.

I love the idea of a garden that responds to ones emotions. I love being in the garden in the dirt and surrounded by nature so a novel that reaches to that part of me makes me feel very much at home. I loved this book so much and can't wait to have it on my shelf.

I want to thank #Netgalley for the chance to read #ThePeculiarGardenOfHarrietHunt in return for a fair and honest review.

THE PECULIAR GARDEN OF HARRIET HUNT - CHELSEA IVERSEN

This book is absolutely incredible. As I was reading it, I kept thinking how it reminded me of some of the classics I've read, and that's the calibre you should expect when you pick this up. Here's a synopsis:

Harriet Hunt is completely alone. Her father disappeared months ago, leaving her to wander the halls of Sunnyside house, dwelling on a past she'd rather keep buried. But a woman alone in the world is vulnerable. Soon, a sinister plot involving her father's disappearance begins to take shape, with Harriet herself at its centre. Everything she holds dear - from the thorny roses she tends to her very freedom itself - is at stake.

This book's title is deceptively cheerful, as The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt is actually pretty dark and unsettling in places, with mysteries to solve and plenty of gothic elements at play. The villains are truly evil, while Harriet is an endearing and vulnerable figure that you can't help but cheer on as the story progresses.

The garden - and its unique magic - was my favourite element. Chelsea Iversen's writing is beautiful, but nowhere more so than when she's describing the natural world around Harriet and her connection to it.

The story primarily deals with themes like acceptance, resilience and power, which are pertinent to the story's present - the Victorian era - but are also universal, timeless themes.

A seamless blend of historical fiction and fantasy, The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt deserves to become the next big thing, and it's one of the best books I've read all year.

Release date: 3 December 2024

Review score: 5/5

TWs: violence, d*ath, assault

The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt by Chelsea Iverson is an enchanting blend of gothic mystery and magical realism. Harriet’s strange, overgrown garden and her quiet life at Sunnyside House create a vivid, atmospheric backdrop for a story about self-discovery and breaking free from the control of others. The book is both haunting and empowering, with Harriet’s magical connection to her garden driving a plot full of twists and sinister undertones. This is a beautifully written, captivating read about finding strength in unexpected places.

I was quite intrigued by the the description of this book, but unfortunately in the end I just thought the story was fine. It had its good moments, and I enjoyed the way it ended, but there were also parts I found extremely slow-moving and repetitive.

I do think there is a subsection of fans of the gothic and of magical realism who will very much enjoy it.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in advance of publication in exchange for my honest review.

The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt was a perfect read for this time of year! I really enjoyed this book, and I know other readers will as well.

Harriet Hunt’s father is missing. She doesn’t mind though; she doesn’t miss his abuse at all, and is content to live by herself in their home with her garden, which is very (sometimes dangerously) alive. But when an inspector looking into her father’s disappearance starts insinuating that she may have had something to do with his sudden absence, Harriet has to overcome her fear of the world outside her garden in order to exonerate herself by discovering her father’s whereabouts. But the outside world is far darker than Harriet imagined, and she will have to fight to survive it and find the freedom to be herself.

I think this book is best described as gothic, with a thread of the fantastical throughout. The story felt slightly Dickensian, which I loved. This book deals with some heavy themes; I would say there’s a big TW for domestic abuse and child abuse. The subject is handled very well though, and Harriet’s journey of finding herself through and after trauma was one of my favorite parts of the book. Harriet herself is a complex character who grows a lot through the story, and as a reader, I was rooting for her from page one.

I would recommend The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt to readers who enjoy gothic books and historical magical realism; a few (loose) comp reads would be Things In Jars by Jess Kidd and A Botanical Daughter by Noah Medlock.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the arc in exchange for a review!

Harriet is dealing with a lot; confusion about her father's disappearance, being watched by a detective, a whirlwind marriage to a man she barely knows, family secrets, and her unruly garden that likes to take over. I found The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt an interesting historical novel that's like reading a mystery with a touch of magic thrown in. The story is slow to get going but the end will keep you turning pages to see what will happen next. Thanks to author Chelsea Iversen, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGally. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This book was thrilling. Magic, mystery, intrigue. I had no idea what plot was about to be uncovered or what mystery was going to be solved at any point. While I do stand by my statement of calling the book thrilling, it did get off to a rather slow start and I would probably say it leans more towards the "cozy" side of fantasy/mystery. I also had one major problem with this book: Harriet is an idiot. At no junction does she stop to consider what is going on around her. She doesn't hear from her best friend who promised to write every week for six months and doesn't notice?? She marries a man, even though she never thought she would be able to even fall in love, who she isn't in love with just because he bats his eyes at her? She's never tried to manipulate plants outside of her own garden? If there's one thing that I can't stand, it's a dumb FMC. Now, I understand that her father was abusive and it's of the time when women weren't highly educated. She has no sense of how the real world works and was raised to be afraid to leave her own house. It's just a little infuriating when the person I'm reading about misses one thing after another after another. Would have been five stars if Harriet had been even a /little/ bit more with it.

Thank you, NetGalley!

For readers enchanted by the mystical and the mysterious, The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt by Chelsea Iversen is a captivating tale of self-discovery and empowerment, weaving together the threads of plant magic, Victorian-era charm, and historical fantasy to create a rich and immersive world that will transport you to a lush and enchanting realm.

Harriet Hunt is the outcast of society. Between the tragic death of her mother, the abusive and dismissive father, and her connection to the mystical garden outside of her home, Sunnyside, the locals don't know what to make of her. Everyone, including her own father, feels that hysteria and lunacy is her demise.

After the strange disappearance of her father, Harriet is determined to find out what happened to him. Instead, a new suitor, Christian Comstock, comes into the picture. But their whirlwind engagement leads to a marriage that very much reflects Harriet's parents'. When Harriet learns that maybe Mr. Comstock isn't who she believed him to be, she takes matters into her own hands.

This story has some themes that are triggering and should be read with caution.

Harriet's story is haunting and often feels tragic, but her ability to overcome the many obstacles thrown her way and her ability to learn to rely on who she is and those who truly know her brings this book around to one worthy of reading. Part mystery and part drama, this book didn't disappoint.

If this novel had lived up to its promise it would have been wonderful but it was so difficult to follow that it was a struggle to finish.

~THE MARKETING OF THIS BOOK~
I need to preface this 1-star review by emphasizing that this book is extremely mismarketed "for fans of The Magician's Daughter and Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries." While I haven't read the former, I have read Emily Wilde, and The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt could not be more different. Iverson's novel follows a naive young woman who has experienced decades of trauma, initially by the hands of her father and then by the hands of her husband. Throughout the book she has vague magical abilities with nature that are never explained nor really explored by our main character, making this historical magical realism, not fantasy. With that said, my reasons for giving this book the lowest rating possible has nothing to do with the mismarketing of this title.

~MY GENERAL CRITICISMS~
Below, you will find a list of content warnings. Each one was either superfluous and added nothing to the plot except length OR the author included so many examples and callbacks to the trauma that it lost all meaning. The excessive repetition extends to overdone themes and overused word choice. Moreover, none of the characters were consistent in personality or demeanor, and none of these characters know the meaning of active listening. Numerous times, it seemed characters were having completely different conversations with each other. I kid you not when I say that at one point, Harriet confides to two other characters that her husband locked her in the basement for days (all while she has hair missing from her head from when he dragged his wife by her hair), and the response she gets is this question: "Did he hurt you?"

Harriet doesn't bat an eye at this oddly timed question, and that is because she is just as clueless and passive regarding the events around her. Take for example her choice to marry Christian (after speaking to him twice, and he did all the talking). She thinks by marrying him, she will be safe from an inspector's investigation of her missing father, and then her magical ability will be safely hidden. Then, once they are married, she realizes that her husband will move in with her (something she literally NEVER considered), thus increasing the chances HE will detect her magical abilities...I cannot make this up. Many times, it is clear the author also forgot story threads she created: the mysterious Nigel Davies and the promised weekly letters from Eunice, to name two.

~THE USE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AS A PLOT DEVICE~
The inappropriate and insensitive way sexual assault is used as a plot device is baffling, and the bafflement is heightened when one woman's idea of comforting another after attempted SA is to give her the day off and then write a letter to a relative stranger suggesting he come visit because the SA victim has so many suitors.

In conclusion, the number of loose ends and surface-level scenes leaves me quite surprised that this story didn't go through a few more rounds of editing and beta readers before it was published for public consumption. These criticisms are just the tip of the iceberg, and I am so disappointed to see a fascinating premise be executed with this result. I will not be recommending this book.

CW: two attempts of sexual assault, verbal and physical abuse within a domestic partnership, child abuse, threatened institutionalization

Actual Rating: 1.o stars
Pub Date: 03 December 2024
Reading Format: ebook

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an E-ARC copy in exchange for this honest review!

Oh my! Where to begin with this novel? "The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt" by Chelsea Iversen is one of the best gothic suspense novels I think I’ve read in sometime. It is set in 1830s England at a time when women had no rights and were considered abnormal for living alone or not following the rigid rules set for them by society. In addition to the gothic elements and the mysteries surrounding Harriet, it also weaves in elements of magical realism for both Harriet’s garden and the house she lives in. I won’t say her home, because Sunnyside is not and has never been a home for Harriet.
When we first meet Harriet, she is alone in a house that echoes it’s so empty. Her father has disappeared and left her with a mountain of debt that she must pawn most of her household goods to pay off. We immediately sympathize with her as in moving about the dark, gloomy interior of Sunnyside, we realize that despite its name it has been anything but sunny. In fact, Harriet’s neglect and abuse at the hands of her father and his housekeeper are reminiscent of Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. While in her garden, Harriet is confronted by a police inspector named Stokes, who seems to suspect that Harriet had something to do with her father’s disappearance. He implies that she is unnatural for living alone and not seeming to miss her father, making her afraid that if she cannot prove her father left of his own volition, she might find herself committed to the insane asylum. During their conversation, Harriet watches the plants in her garden, trying desperately to keep her emotions under control. It seems that once Harriet lost control, causing her garden to do something horrible as a result in its attempt to protect her. Because of this, Harriet is convinced that even if her father never returns, she cannot leave Sunnyside, or the garden could run wild and cause others harm. This encounter with Stokes and Harriet's fear of what her garden might do, becomes the the catalyst for all of Harriet’s decisions for the rest of the novel.
What follows are more and more mysteries to be unspooled as Harriet begins her own search into what happened to her father. We learn that Harriet is not considered beautiful because of a terrible scar she bears on one side of her face. In reflecting on her life up to this point, we also find out that Harriet’s mother died when she was very young in some terrible way that Harriet blames herself for. At the same time, a man named Davies begins sending Harriet intriguing and ominous sounding missives, stating that he has crucial information about her family that he must share with her urgently. Harriet also encounters a handsome and earnest young man named Christian Comstock who seems to find her charming and fascinating. Comstock begins avidly pursuing her and all too soon convinces Harriet to marry him. She believes this will solve all of her problems by giving her a measure of respectability and protection from Stokes and his enquiries. However, rather than offering her the peace, freedom and companionship she was hoping for, Harriet finds in her marriage to Comstock, that she has traded one controlling abusive man in her life for another.
In reading this, as things went from bad to worse for Harriet, I found myself unable to put this novel down. All of the mysteries surrounding Harriet on top of her more and more tenuous situation with Comstock made for a fast-paced and ultimately satisfying read. In the end, not only does Harriet learn to survive, she bravely faces down her personal demons and eventually learns to appreciate herself for who she is flaws and all, allowing Harriet to finally step into her own power to save herself. While many of the themes explored in this book are very dark, such as child abuse, domestic abuse, sexual assault, and discrimination, other more positive themes are given equal weight as well. Those include themes of friendship, loyalty, female empowerment, found family and learning to stay true to yourself in the face of great adversity. I give this book five stars and would happily read it again. However, I would warn anyone who finds some of the darker themes handled in this tale triggering to keep that in mind before reading it. I am very grateful to both NetGalley and Sourcebooks for giving me the opportunity to read a free ebook ARC of this novel in exchange for this honest review.

My heart is saddened by this rating. I truly thought I was going to love this book. Unfortunately, I believe this book missed the mark in several ways. If you are looking for a storyline with fantastical flora and women empowerment, look elsewhere my friends.

I will start with the things I did enjoy. I believe the description of the garden is beautifully done. I could feel the moss under Harriet's feet and smell the roses as they were looking her way. I also think that it was clear, at least in the beginning of the story, that the author has a passion for nature as many of the descriptions used for the characters in the story were plant based. I myself do not know much about horticulture, but I thought this aspect was very fun and true to Harriet's personality. The mystery and intrigue at the beginning of the story was very engaging and definitely kept me reading, however the payout for this fell flat.

I will try and organize what I didn't enjoy into the categories below.

1. Characters - Let us start with Harriet. While there is absolutely reason explained throughout the story as to why Harriet is not a confident individual, she has absolutely no character arc or development. She constantly talks about standing up for herself, but then proceeds to do exactly the opposite. She will tell you she knows her actions will lead her into peril and yet she continues on the same path. All of the other characters in the book, and yes I mean all of them (perhaps with the exception of Eunice and Lewis) are entirely inconsistent. There is purpose to at least one of these characters pulling a 180 in their personality, but the others just don't make sense. It is confusing to the reader and completely pulls you out of the story.

2. Story Structure - So much of this book is summarized events. It seemed as though we rush through a year of Harriet's life just stopping to witness "the important parts" when indeed we were only witnessing the parts that added intrigue or atmosphere. I kid you not, we spent an entire chapter on a murder party game but only a few paragraphs on a defining moment in Harriet's life as a child. It hindered my ability to connect with the characters at all.

3. Character Dialog - It felt as though the characters would summarize or generalize things to be purposefully vague for the reader. In reality two individuals who are having a conversation about a memory or relaying information about an event that happened would be more specific and give more details. I understand that this sort of dialog allows the author to keep the reader in suspense for longer, but it also prevents the characters from feeling real. I also felt that some pretty significant things were just overlooked in conversations. If someone shouts at you "I killed her," you don't casually ask a question about their living situation.

4. The Garden - As a fantasy reader, I have trouble with many magical realism story lines as it seems that we are just expected to except exceptional things without question. I want to understand why things are happening in the world. Why does Harriet have a connection to the garden? I want to explore her abilities with her and dig into the magic of it all. None of this is done in the story. In looking at this story in its totality, I do not think the garden was even necessary. The entire story could be told without the peculiar garden, and everything would stay the same. This is a shame as it is such a fun idea.

5. Trauma - Harriet goes through some awful things in this book. I did not expect this to be such a depressing story. The vibes of this story reminded me a lot of Juniper and Thorn by Ava Reid, which I did not enjoy but others have. I believe that so many of the events we see Harriet undergo were not necessary for the storyline. There are two scenes of SA in this story (one off page and one on page) that do not add to the plot at all. I also do not think they are handled well as far as the character response and/or actions of other characters around them.

I wish so badly I could go back to the first 20% of this story and live in the wonder of what was going to happen.

My thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for generously providing me with an early copy of this book. Their willingness to share the digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts is truly appreciated.

"True magic is found among the bluebells and brambles.

Harriet Hunt is completely alone. Her father disappeared months ago, leaving her to wander the halls of Sunnyside house, dwelling on a past she'd rather keep buried. She doesn't often venture beyond her front gate, instead relishing the feel of dirt under her fingernails and of soft moss beneath her feet. Consequently, she's been deemed a little too peculiar for popular Victorian society. This solitary life suits her fine, though - because, outside, magic awaits.

Harriet's garden is special. It's a wild place full of twisting ivy, vibrant plums, and a quiet power that buzzes like bees. Caring for this place, and keeping it from running rampant through the streets of her London suburb, is Harriet's purpose.

But a woman alone in the world is vulnerable. Soon, a sinister plot involving her father's disappearance begins to take shape, with Harriet herself at its center. Everything she holds dear - from the thorny roses she tends to her very freedom itself - is at stake. To save herself, Harriet will have to unearth her past, discover the secrets of her garden, and finally embrace the wild magic inside of her."

Yes, have the garden kill all suitors! Though that might be a darker tale...

THE PECULIAR GARDEN OF HARRIET HUNT is a thoroughly engaging and enjoyable novel. It's perfect for the cozy winter months.

Harriet is such a fantastic main character. For most of her life she has been locked away, yes, like a fairytale princess. When her father disappears, she gradually comes into her own - venturing out into VIctorian England and letting others into her house and, at times, her magical, sentient garden. The garden wants to protect her. When the garden does not trust someone, it will send tendrils of ivy to caress her. It's really quite lovely!

Harriet's journey -- a coming of age, of sorts, or at least a coming to terms with her tragic past and the death of her mother -- is a dramatic and entertaining wild ride. As the story progressed, I found some of the plot developments to feel a bit contrived and not entirely believable. For example, it was a bit hard to swallow how the Harriet we had been getting to know in the early pages so quickly decided to [spoiler] get married to a man she barely knew. I had to suspend my disbelief a bit.

Despite this minor complaint, I flew through this novel so eager to see what would happen next. The final reveal about Harriet's mother was very satisfying. I really enjoyed how the author combined elements of suspense and magical realism. I liked seeing how Harriet got to the point where she could confront her tragic past.

The fairytale vibe is strong, and Harriet makes for a compelling heroine. I'm not sure why, but at times the experience of reading this novel reminded me of watching the Disney movie Frozen.

Highly recommended for fans of magical realism and stories with a fairytale vibe.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

Yes! I loved this..it was definitely a lot darker and creepier than I expected. That's a good thing. Look forward to more from this author.

I was intrigued by the title and the blurb of this book and was very interested to see how it would play out. We are introduced in the start to a poor mite called Harriet who has suffered an enormous amount of trauma in her life, mostly be her father. I wasn't expecting this to be a sinister, emotional ride but I think it was definitely a genre bender for me. I was expecting a paranormal book reticent of a Cinderella tale but got a lot more than I bargained for.

For most of the book, I tried and failed to get to know Harriet and like her. She just wouldn't open up or show backbone and all of the times I thought her character would shine, she made stupid choices and did the equivalent of a girl in a horror movie who, when chased, runs up the stairs. I must admit that this book did get good in the end but only the last 40%. I'm still a little in the dark at the ending of a few plot points and the beginning was so slow, I had to force myself to pick it back up again.

A really novel idea, but it didn't do it for me, I'm sorry. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
I appreciate the opportunity to read this ARC and thank Netgalley, the author and publisher for the chance.