The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt - by Chelsea Iversen (Paperback)

About the Book

"London, 19th century. Harriet Hunt has a special relationship with the garden outside her house. A year after the mysterious disappearance of her father, a cruel man who left her buried in his debts, the garden is her only solace. But a woman alone is vulnerable and as debt collectors and law enforcement swoops in, ready to take advantage of her dire situation, Harriet has no choice but to marry for her own protection. Soon, she finds herself attached to a man worse than her father. Determined to find the truth behind her father's disappearance and finally free herself from the controlling men in her life, Harriet discovers that her garden is more than just a sanctuary: it contains a strange magic that responds to her emotions in ways she can't explain. And as she struggles to take back her power, it becomes clear there are dark things tangled in her garden's roots"--

Book Synopsis

"A sweeping tale of a woman on the edge." --Publishers Weekly

"Comparisons to authors like Alice Hoffman or Sarah Addison Allen are apt...highly recommended." --Booklist

"This unearthly story flows with an elemental eeriness." --Historical Novel Society

A lush, enchanting story of a woman who must use the magic of the fantastical plants that adorn her crumbling estate in Victorian London to thwart the dark plots of the men around her...

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, in her garden, 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.

When suspicion for her father's disappearance falls on her, she marries a seemingly charming man, the first to see past her peculiarities, in order to protect herself. It's soon clear, however, that her new husband might be worse than her father and that she's integral to a dark plot created by the men around her. To free herself and discover the truth, she must learn to channel the power of her strange, magical garden.

At once enchantingly mesmerizing and fiercely feminist, perfect for fans of The Magician's Daughter and The Once and Future Witches, the vibrant world-building and sinister undertones of The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt make for the perfect modern fairytale about women taking control of their lives--with a little help from the magic within them.

Review Quotes

"A haunting gothic tale of madness and aspiration set in a Victorian London suburb...Iversen leisurely unfurls a sweeping tale of a woman on the edge...The slow accumulation of spooky atmospherics makes it work...plenty to enjoy." -- Publishers Weekly

"Iversen writes compelling historical fiction that is both a fantastical story that also one that realistically conveys the horrors of domestic violence. Readers will cheer for Harriet as she discovers her own agency and seeks freedom to make her own choices. Comparisons to authors like Alice Hoffman or Sarah Addison Allen are apt, and Harriet would fit right in with those authors' magical women. Highly recommended for all fiction collections." -- Booklist, STARRED review

"Iversen's novel will appeal to fans of character-driven historical fantasy with feminist themes and just a touch of magic." -- Library Journal

"An endearing tale with a heartfelt heroine trapped in a cruel world of men and a sentient garden where magic, vengeance, and second chances bloom. The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt will shock and delight readers at every page." -- Ava Morgyn, author of The Witches of Bone Hill

"Iversen's latest takes the closed world of a sheltered young woman in 1860s London and with magic, crisis, persistence and power, cracks it wide open. Fans of Rowenna Miller and Rena Rossner will particularly enjoy this coming-of-age tale in which the magic that surrounds Harriet Hunt provides both her greatest vulnerability and her greatest strength." -- Greer Macallister, author of The Magician's Lie and The Thirteenth Husband