Welcome to the Winter Garden. Open only at 13 o’clock.
– GoodReads
My Review
I didn’t know what to expect from this read other than something magical given the description.
I was surprised, this turned out to be a much deeper, darker novel than I thought. The somber and melancholic air from the start -which was understandable- carried through out, which though also understandable did make this a rather difficult read. Not that it wasn’t good, just perhaps that I was not prepared for it.
There’s a hopeful ending and moments throughout but for me personally it didn’t ever lighten up enough to where I could read it easily.
It’s stunning, Bell creates gorgeous creatures and the Winter Garden itself is beautiful and whimsical.
The pacing was the biggest downfall. In general it was a very slow pace (even for me the slow pace lover) and then on top of that it suffered heavily from the middle slump which almost brings it to a halt plot wise.
And yet, I still found the writing so enamoring that it gets 4 cups of coffee regardless.
Maybe because Beatrice and Rose are so believable and real. I love them even in their darkest and saddest moments and the book’s ode to mental health and to simply being different in a time when that can be a hindrance is what makes it such a beautiful novel.
4/5 Cups of coffee from me.
The Caffeinated Reader 