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.
Harriet Hunt is herself a peculiar person. Lovingly attending to her garden, something that is so part of her being, something she cherishes and looks forward to, even if people thought she was strange and different.
Harriet lived a traumatic life, abused at the hands of her father, her mother mysteriously missing.
My thoughts about the story. The story takes place in London, England I believe around 1800 to 1900 where women were not treated well. Harriet is poor and has mental issues, probably stemming from her abuse. I think the garden is a way she copes. When something is threatening her, the garden rises up "Stop it, she mouthed at the vines. They did not retreat. Instead she saw the ivy twisting and curling overhead, gathering momentum, Don't you dare." I wonder if the garden was really magical or if its her mental way of having a friend, someone to talk to and care for.
The story for me starts a little slow. A lot of talk about her childhood and her father and thoughts on finding her father. She has a dear friend Eunice who is her oldest and only friend who urges her to move to another town with her but Harriet needs to stay to look after her garden and find her father.
She eventually hires help and ends up being very close friends with her.
As the story goes on the abuse starts over. Just as her father abused her , so does her husband. I felt so sorry for Harriet, she is timid and child like and this man took advantage of her . The ending has an hea and hope for Harriets healing!
I’m giving 4 stars, its a little slow at the start but does pick up.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark
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