Book Review: IN THE GARDEN OF MONSTERS
In the Garden of Monsters by Crystal King is an exciting gothic fantasy retelling of the epic Hades and Persephone myth with a dash of Dali. This surreal and atmospheric adventure includes mystery, romance, art, history–a little bit of everything. In the Garden of Monsters
Julia Lombardi remembers nothing of her past but is certain of one thing: she wants to be an artist. However, it is 1948 in Italy, and there are limited opportunities for female artists. When Julia receives an invitation to model for the infamous surrealist painter Salvador Dali, she seizes this opportunity of a lifetime.
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Dali and his crew, including Julia, spend a week exploring the Sacro Bosco ('Sacred Wood') in Bomarzo, Italy. The unruly 16th-century garden is also known as The Garden of Monsters because of its looming stone statues of mythological gods and monsters. Dali has chosen Julia to model for Proserpina, the goddess of the underworld, and the eccentric artist spirals into an obsessive delusional fantasy. However, it soon becomes apparent that Dali isn't the strangest thing in this garden, which speaks volumes.
Soon after arriving, Julia begins to hear ghostly whispered warnings and sees impossible things that no one else sees. Haunting sensations of déjà vu plague Julia, especially when she is near their enigmatic host, Ignacio. Something about this handsome stranger seems impossibly familiar. And then there is that eerie green glow she sees in the garden from her window each night.
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Eventually, the young artist realizes her life is in danger as she unravels a mystery that spans ages. Unfortunately, time is running out because the longer Julia stays in the garden, the harder it is to distinguish fantasy from reality and the past from the present. Culture, Spice, and Everything Nice
Of course, there are plenty of references to Dali's artwork throughout the novel, which is just one piece of this surreal puzzle. For example, King mentions Dali painting his wife, Gala, in Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee Around a Pomegranate a Second Before Awakening (1944). There are numerous references to various Dali pieces. Many scenes from In the Garden of Monsters feel like you are in a surreal painting, as if there is a dreamlike haze around you. Moreover, King's words often mirror the eerie tone of Dali's paintings.
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Salv ador Dali aside, this is a Proserpina and Pluto retelling, remember? In a mazelike garden filled with statues of ancient legends, there are bound to be mythology references. The author brings to life everything from a Pegasus to the Cerberus. However, I will not spill too many more beans because King adds some interesting and unexpected twists to some well-known myths.
In the Garden of Monsters gets a little spicy, and I don't mean the Diablo Chicken. The romantic elements are racy but enough to make things sexy and exciting, but not raunchy. They are also used sparingly to not take away from other important themes like love and, most importantly, food. Dining With Dali
For the food fanatics, there is also plenty of actual spice. Crystal King is known for her culinary writing, so it's no surprise that this novel emphasizes the cuisine. Typically, I find reading about food tedious, but King serves up some serious writing talent when it comes to dining. We are talking tantalizing details about a spread that most of us could only dream of.
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Every meal is a spectacle, from table dressings made of silk to different gemstone plates for each course. As expected, the wild Dali-inspired food was also color-coordinated and out of this world. After reading King's descriptions of the strange and lavish meals, I have never wanted to eat a fictional meal so badly. Photo courtesy of Cassie Holguin.
Throughout the entire novel, Dali tosses around the idea of writing a cookbook featuring his culinary creations. This resonated with me because I was lucky enough to see a special exhibit at my local museum featuring Dali's actual cookbook Les Dîners de Gala (1973), and the artwork surrounding it. Shout out to my mom for the best birthday present ever!
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We even got to eat meals prepared by local chefs that were inspired by Dali's bizarre recipes. As for the menu that night, let's just say it was easily my most adventurous and favorite culinary experience. Photo courtesy of Cassie Holguin.
King grabs you by the senses with vivid descriptions that bring the Sacro Bosco to life and mouth-watering descriptions of meals fit for the gods. Visit Crystal King's website for more about the Sacro Bosco and how it relates to In the Garden of Monsters , including pictures, videos, and a complete map of the real-life wonder. Here, you can also see the video of Salvador Dali visiting the mysterious garden. Photo courtesy of Cassie Holguin. Thoughtful and Much Appreciated Extras
Lastly, I was pleasantly surprised by the extras King includes at the end of In the Garden of Monsters , including discussion questions, an interview with the author, and historical facts about the Sacro Bosco. Saving the best for last, King treats the reader to three recipes she created with inspiration from the novel. If you make it out of The Garden of Monsters, treat yourself to Date, Pomegranate, and Pistachio Bites, Gilded Chicken, or Torta Alla Ricotta.
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I appreciate it when authors include details like this, and I make sure to read every page. Crystal King's website is full of fascinating information about Salvador Dali and the Sacro Bosco, even how to visit The Garden of Monsters if you find yourself in Italy. To Read or Not to Read
In the Garden of Monsters by Crystal King is going on a special shelf reserved for my absolute favorite reads. Yes, I said it, In the Garden of Monsters is in favorite book territory. Just as a chef finds balance with ingredients, King has found just the right amount of romance, intrigue, surrealism, history, and spice. Truly a beautiful blend of everything you could want in a novel.
It has been a long time since I have been so utterly immersed in a fictional world. This author expertly combines more than a few of my favorite things, including art, literature, and food. My only complaint is that I immediately need one thousand more books exactly like this. Since I finished In the Garden of Monsters , I have had that sad feeling you get when you finish a really good book and need something to fill that void. Put this one at the top of your reading list because In the Garden of Monsters is an eerily enthralling mystery from beginning to end.
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In the Garden of Monsters is now available at your favorite local bookstore, or get your copy here from Goodreads.
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