I wanted to like this book based on the premise, and there is some really beautiful descriptions, but the pacing in the beginning of the book was slow and I found the outcome a little too predictable. I wavered between two and three stars, but ultimately landed on two because of the prevalence of violence against women in the latter half of the book. It's just personally not something I want to read.

This was a surprise. I expected Eleanor Oliphant with a Sarah Addison Allen twist, but this turned into a wild ride into darkness! I was up half the night reading and would have finished in one sitting if my eyes had not gotten tired.

The story began during Harriet’s reprieve from her father’s years of abuse. Once the story with her garden became clear, there was never a dull moment. One character after another entered the picture, adding more questions and additional uncertainty to the puzzle.

Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

This Victorian gothic, set in 1860s London, is the story of Harriet Hunt, a frightened young woman, who has been abused by her father all her life. Now that he has finally disappeared from her life, she must confront her fears as she comes of age, alone in a bleak, debt-ridden house. The peaceful idyll of her garden is her only solace. She tends it as she would a child—with affection and understanding, as it wraps her in its comforting embrace. Harriet is locally considered an oddity, and is entirely friendless, except for her beloved cousin Eunice, who begs her to move to Durham with her and her husband, but Harriet’s garden holds a particular secret which she must uphold.

With her father’s disappearance, the persistent enquiries of a police inspector, who is suspicious that she doesn’t appear to miss her father, or have an income to support herself, become troublesome. When Harriet meets Christian Comstock, a well-respected man who hurriedly offers companionship in marriage, she is enchanted by his kindness and, surprised as she is that anyone would want her for a wife, she knows the proper life of a married woman will satisfy the inspector.

This unearthly story flows with an elemental eeriness in which the reader connects with the character of the garden— its twisting ivy vines, low hanging branches, nodding roses and soft moss beds engaging enough to carry a lot of the action. The first half of the novel is a little protracted, as not much seems to happen, but the plot speeds up satisfactorily. How will the magical garden react if Harriet is unable to keep her anger and fear in check? In this tale of female rage and patriarchal control, what is it capable of? I’ll leave it to readers to decide.

This was such an interesting story that I absolutely had to finish it. Even though I had a bunch of books ahead of it to read I put that all aside and devoured this book. The story easily came to life and had me rooting for the MC from the start. As more secrets are revealed I had a hard time putting this book down. I had to see how things turned out and I was happy with the ending. This was my first book by this author so I am interested in reading more. Definitely a book to check out. 4.5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

This was a very interesting and fun read! a wild and overgrown garden, quick proposals, and an interesting cast of characters this book will have you looking in.

This book is definitely for fans of magical realism and low fantasy! Definitely a good read if you are into this kind of stuff but it may not be everyone’s cup of tea!

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Harriet is a young woman who has been ousted by those around her for being considered peculiar. But deep down she knows there's something special about her. Harriet is very attached and has a deep bond with her garden after having such an incredibly abusive upbringing. It's the only source of stability she has in her life. When Harriet's father disappears, she is left alone for the first time in her life and trouble comes right to her.

The writing in this book was absolutely beautiful! It was definitely a magical realism book that was done very well. The friendships that develop throughout the course of this book are just very lovely to see and how much Harriet truly grows into herself and her confidence and how much she realizes that she doesn't need her garden alone to be her source of life.

I'm normally not a big fan of magical realism, but the way this story has it woven in through it really added to the story itself. I went into this book expecting a little bit of fantasy and it has that but it also had so much heart and passion throughout the story. I will say there is talk of abuse and some abuse on page that I would be cautious of if that's something you're not comfortable reading.

Sadly. this was quite a miss for me. I was intrigued by the premise, but immediately the plot was SO slow, and the main character was so frustrating to read from. She had a traumatic background, but every choice she made was so dumb that I could no longer have sympathy anymore.

I tried so very hard to and wanted to love this but it was not for me. After trying multiple times to pick this up and continue on I decided to dnf the story @30%. I know this will be a fun read for many- I highly recommend that readers try it out and see what they think for themselves!

The peculiar garden of Harriet Hunt

Thank you to NetGalley and SourceBooks Landmark for the opportunity to read this eARC.

What an enjoyable little gothic tale this was. We are presented with Harriet Hunt, her father missing for many years, the only solace – her garden. Isolated and alone, she lives for her time with Cousin Eunice, someone who loves her dearly, despite her reclusive ways until she needs to move away to help with family. She is forced to deal with being a single young woman at a time when it wasn’t respectable to be so, being told she would be sent to an asylum, she looks for ways to escape this threat and move on with her life.
By chance, meeting a handsome young man on the street one day, the story takes us through the rush of romance, a marriage, a birth, a mystery of her mother, the disappearance of her father and realisation that not all people are good despite their appearances.
Harriet’s garden is untameable, it bends with her will, it moves at her voice, it grows with her emotions. She must stay in control of it, lest others see what is happening beyond her garden walls.

A story of Harriet, coming into her own, finding herself through the trials and tribulations she has found herself in. Her naivety stemming from a traumatic childhood has led her into danger, but she has been through worse, and she can make it through more.

The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt was a lovely historical fantasy full of unexpected magic, self discovery, and intrigue. I couldn't put it down!

In a past where women have very few rights, Harriet is controlled by her father, living with the guilt of being responsible for her mother's death and the strangeness that allows her to control the plants in her garden. When her father disappears one night she is confused and worried he'll re-appear but also happy to begin living her own life. When she meets and begins to love a handsome stranger she thinks her life is finally taking a turn for the better but how well does she really know the man she marries? Gothic and dark and thoroughly enjoyable.

This fantastical story about self-empowerment learning who and how you want to be in the world is bogged down by slow pacing and a rather expected character development.

The central story was really good, including the fantastical elements and the eventual wrapping up of the mystery, as well as the ending that all led to. In addition, the writing was quite pleasant, the playfulness of the prose and the imagery and so on was all a joy to read. However, the pacing and a remarkably static and expected character at the heart of the story held this back from being a win for me. The pacing was just interminably slow, with the first 50% being a variation of our main character feeling unsure of herself and vaguely threatened by everything around her, especially men, but then convincing herself to ignore it. If this story was a novella it would have felt a lot tighter and more directed. When tings did start happening that happened fast and furious, with a lot of things happening in the last 20% of the book, and if it had felt like the first part had been a careful setting up of dominoes to create that frenzied rush then that would have been fine, but it didn’t feel like that. Instead, it felt like being stuck in a rut, spinning in circles and going nowhere for a long time only to explode with energy that seemingly came from nowhere. Even that might have been fun if this character felt engaging throughout, but instead she was aggravating. The world-building does a lot of heavy lifting, reminding us of how patriarchal and parochial Victorian-era England was, and in that world, especially considering the traumas she has experienced, the way the titular character exists in the world when we meet her makes sense. But for literally the first 80% of the book she doesn’t change, repeatedly making the same mistake again and again, and not in a way that felt genuine to her nature but in a way that felt her behaving in any other fashion would force the plot to progress. I get her broken down, terrified nature when we meet her, but there needs to be actual character development, a growth or realization that happens in parallel with the story. Instead, she is constantly sabotaging herself in the exact same ways over and over again until she finally uses some common sense, and even then her hand is really forced. She spends so much of the story following the strangest, most insensible logic that I was actively frustrated for the whole central 50% of the story.

I suppose I am just disappointed. The story itself is good, and any individual bit of writing is good, and the exploration of how to discover yourself in the face of adversity, to nurture yourself and grow into the capable and exciting being you were meant to be, that is all ripe material begging to be juiced. But none of that is approached in an innovative way, it feels a bit formulaic. Yes, the fantastical elements are fun, and I especially like that we are in the dark regarding the veracity of these elements until more than 60% through, and only then can we know if there is something supernatural happening or if the fantasy is in fact an imagined one… but that suspense isn’t milked or exploited, it is just left dangling. The pacing and entirely expected characters held this story back from living up to the potential all the other elements promised.

As I said, the writing itself is pleasant, and I appreciate where the story eventually ended up. If you want to spend time within some lush, fantastical gardens in Victorian England there are worse places to do so, especially if you don’t mind watching a young woman look around at her difficult circumstances and then repeatedly shoot herself in the foot again and again instead of using the intelligence and wit she does display to gradually develop into the agent of her own liberation. I mean, she does have her moment of transformation, but you will have to wait for it. If that slow pace and familiar tropes are your jam then this will be a comforting story spiced with some fantastical elements.

I want to thank the author, the publisher Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Unfortunately this book was not living up to expectations for me. I'm unable to want to continue reading at this time. I ended at 30%.

This book was challenging and at times hard to read. I rooted for Harriet and my heart went out to her from the first chapter. The pacing was good and the tension built just enough. Each character was well written. I would recommend this book to everyone who is looking for a little magic and a lot of encouragement to live the life they were meant to live.

“The Peculiar Garden if Harriet Hunt” is a haunting and emotionally charged fantasy novel that captivates readers from the first page. Set in a dark, atmospheric world filled with secrets and sorrow, the story follows Harriet, a young woman grappling with loss and the burden of her own cursed legacy.

The author expertly weaves a tale of grief and redemption, immersing readers in Harriet’s struggle against deadly powers that threaten her very existence. The prose is beautifully lyrical, creating a sense of melancholy that lingers long after the final chapter. The vivid descriptions of the desolate landscapes and eerie settings enhance the book's haunting quality, drawing readers into a realm where hope feels fleeting.

Character development is a standout aspect, as Harriet’s journey is both poignant and relatable. The supporting characters are complex, each with their own traumas and motivations, adding depth to the narrative. Themes of love, sacrifice, and the fight against inner demons resonate throughout, making the emotional stakes feel profound.

Overall, "this title is a masterful exploration of darkness and resilience. Its evocative storytelling and rich emotional landscape make it a must-read for fans of dark fantasy. Prepare to be both enchanted and unsettled by this remarkable tale. Highly recommended.

Harriet Hunt is deemed a strange woman by Victorian society, which makes her dangerous. However, her strangeness is actual a beautiful, complicated tie to the garden of her house. Throughout her life, Harriet is controlled by cruel men when all she desires is freedom. After a slow start, I was drawn into the world of Harriet Hunt!

set in 19th century London, we find Harriet Hunt tending her only love, her garden! Through the death of her father and the turbunlent times she always comes back to her garden. Following a woman and her journey in taking her power back. This was so good!

The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt reminds me so much of Cinderella, and not the Disney version. With supernatural aspects, grounded magic, dark abuses, and keeping to an inner strength this book hones into it all.

There’s a lot I love about this book from the themes and the green witch aspects and the dark undertones but I also wasn’t blown away at the same time. But what more can you ask for? It was a good reading experience and that’s exactly what you expect from any book you give your time to.

It’s possible I have read too many low-stakes, cozy fantasy novels this year, but to me, The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt was just okay. It felt very similar to The Honey Witch - a young, nature-loving FMC who recently lost a close family relative and must adapt and take care of what the relative left behind. While I did enjoy this more than The Honey Witch, I still didn’t find it to be anything particularly special. If you’re a fan of cozy fantasies and don’t mind the low-stakes, it might be a perfect read for you. Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the arc

A hint of magical realism and gothic vibes. Harriet’s connection to plants was beautiful and related so well to her personality.
I do wish there were some trigger warnings for the heavier content. Mentions of domestic violence, sexual assault, and childhood neglect was much heavier than I was expecting with this.
Women supporting each other and taking back their power will always be an A+ to me.