In the Garden of Monsters
Crystal King
Sep 2024 · MIRA · Narrated by Carlotta Brentan
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10 hr 39 min
Unabridged
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A Goodreads Most Anticipated Historical Fiction Book of Fall 2024
“A sinister romance and hypnotic Gothic fairytale—surreal and luscious with a fascinating twist on the story of Hades and Persephone.” —Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Ariadne
A woman with no past. A man who seems to know her. And a monstrous garden that could be the border between their worlds…
Italy, 1948
Julia Lombardi is a mystery even to herself. The beautiful model can’t remember where she’s from, where she’s been or how she came to live in Rome. When she receives an offer to accompany celebrated eccentric artist Salvador Dalí to the Sacro Bosco—Italy’s Garden of Monsters—as his muse, she’s strangely compelled to accept. It could be a chance to unlock the truth about her past…
Shrouded in shadow, the garden full of giant statues that sometimes seem alive is far from welcoming. Still, from the moment of their arrival at the palazzo, Julia is inexplicably drawn to their darkly enigmatic host, Ignazio. He’s alluring yet terrifying—and he seems to know her.
Posing for Dalí as the goddess Persephone, Julia finds the work to be perplexing, particularly as Dalí descends deeper into his fanaticism. To him, she is Persephone, and he insists she must eat pomegranate seeds to rejoin her king.
Between Dalí’s fevered persistence, Ignazio’s uncanny familiarity and the agonizing whispered warnings that echo through the garden, Julia is soon on the verge of unraveling. And she begins to wonder if she’s truly the mythical queen of the Underworld…
“A sinister romance and hypnotic Gothic fairytale—surreal and luscious with a fascinating twist on the story of Hades and Persephone.” —Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Ariadne
A woman with no past. A man who seems to know her. And a monstrous garden that could be the border between their worlds…
Italy, 1948
Julia Lombardi is a mystery even to herself. The beautiful model can’t remember where she’s from, where she’s been or how she came to live in Rome. When she receives an offer to accompany celebrated eccentric artist Salvador Dalí to the Sacro Bosco—Italy’s Garden of Monsters—as his muse, she’s strangely compelled to accept. It could be a chance to unlock the truth about her past…
Shrouded in shadow, the garden full of giant statues that sometimes seem alive is far from welcoming. Still, from the moment of their arrival at the palazzo, Julia is inexplicably drawn to their darkly enigmatic host, Ignazio. He’s alluring yet terrifying—and he seems to know her.
Posing for Dalí as the goddess Persephone, Julia finds the work to be perplexing, particularly as Dalí descends deeper into his fanaticism. To him, she is Persephone, and he insists she must eat pomegranate seeds to rejoin her king.
Between Dalí’s fevered persistence, Ignazio’s uncanny familiarity and the agonizing whispered warnings that echo through the garden, Julia is soon on the verge of unraveling. And she begins to wonder if she’s truly the mythical queen of the Underworld…
A Goodreads Most Anticipated Historical Fiction Book of Fall 2024
“A sinister romance and hypnotic Gothic fairytale—surreal and luscious with a fascinating twist on the story of Hades and Persephone.” —Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Ariadne
A woman with no past. A man who seems to know h...
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Ratings and reviews
1 review
Emzy Strong
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November 21, 2025
This is an in book. I like the blending of real world with the fantastical. The author does a wonderful job leading the reader on a merry chase through their book. The characters are very interesting and a little over the top, but that was the plan. The plot really kept me guessing until the very end. I was very surprised at the conclusion.
About the author
Crystal King is the author of In The Garden of Monsters, The Chef’s Secret and Feastof Sorrow, which was long-listed for the Center for Fiction’s First NovelPrize and was a Must Read for the MassBook Awards. She is an author, culinaryenthusiast, and marketing expert, and has taught at multiple universitiesincluding Harvard Extension and Boston University. She resides in Boston. Youcan find her at crystalking.com.
Crystal King is the author of In The Garden of Monsters, The Chef’s Secret and Feastof Sorrow, which was long-listed for the Center for Fiction’s First NovelPrize and was a Must Read for the MassBook Awards. She is an author, culinaryenthusiast, and marketing expert, and has taught at multiple un...
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