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The Divine Gardener's Handbook: Or What To Do If Your Girlfriend Accidentally Turns Off the Sun
Not yet published
Expected 18 Aug 26Perfect for fans of Tamsyn Muir and Rebecca Thorne, this joyful debut follows a gardener fighting to secure her dream job in the Divine Gardens―manipulating God, antagonizing her attractive rival, and running afoul of a brewing rebellion along the way.
Cyprin grows perfect apples.
No other worker tends the orchards like she can. Sick of living in a Jenga-esque megacity where she’s never alone (there’s always a rat), Cyprin dreams of a job in the Divine Gardens, tending to the plants overseen by God.
Her only way in is winning an annual flower pageant―one that’s been dominated by the Divine Gardens’ head gardener for five years running: an insufferable woman with an undeniable affinity for plants. When Cyprin plays dirty (criminally dirty) and wins, she jumps headfirst into life in the gardens and her rivalry with the head gardener, who she just can’t stop thinking about.
Pranks, backstabbing, and a lot of heated glaring unite them, until they’re both drawn into a plot to take down God―who’s really just some guy with a great garden. As they spiral through layers of the city’s history and underground rebel group, Cyprin and her rival will find they understand each other like no one else does, even if there can only be one head gardener in the end.
But rise or fall, at least Cyprin will always have the rats.
A chaotically queer exploration of love, ambition, and toxic work culture, The Divine Gardener's Handbook is a romp of a science fantasy that will leave you gasping for more.
Cyprin grows perfect apples.
No other worker tends the orchards like she can. Sick of living in a Jenga-esque megacity where she’s never alone (there’s always a rat), Cyprin dreams of a job in the Divine Gardens, tending to the plants overseen by God.
Her only way in is winning an annual flower pageant―one that’s been dominated by the Divine Gardens’ head gardener for five years running: an insufferable woman with an undeniable affinity for plants. When Cyprin plays dirty (criminally dirty) and wins, she jumps headfirst into life in the gardens and her rivalry with the head gardener, who she just can’t stop thinking about.
Pranks, backstabbing, and a lot of heated glaring unite them, until they’re both drawn into a plot to take down God―who’s really just some guy with a great garden. As they spiral through layers of the city’s history and underground rebel group, Cyprin and her rival will find they understand each other like no one else does, even if there can only be one head gardener in the end.
But rise or fall, at least Cyprin will always have the rats.
A chaotically queer exploration of love, ambition, and toxic work culture, The Divine Gardener's Handbook is a romp of a science fantasy that will leave you gasping for more.
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 18, 2026
11 people are currently reading
8918 people want to read
About the author
Eli Snow
1 book33 followersEli Snow (they/them) is a speculative fiction writer, editor, and former medical geneticist, based in rural Australia with their two cats.
Their work tends to center queer and neurodivergent characters, as these are the perspectives they experience the world from. When not reading or writing, they should be checked for signs of life.
Eli also writes YA Fantasy under the name Elias Cold. Their YA debut, The Duke Steals Hearts, is available now from Page Street Kids.
Their work tends to center queer and neurodivergent characters, as these are the perspectives they experience the world from. When not reading or writing, they should be checked for signs of life.
Eli also writes YA Fantasy under the name Elias Cold. Their YA debut, The Duke Steals Hearts, is available now from Page Street Kids.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 2, 2025
If you love gardening (or even if you don't)...you'll love this romp! ;)
Eli Snow writes with hilarity, wit and wisdom...and her writing is just superb!
If you want one hell of a fun read...and get a great understanding of gardening...here you go!
Highly Recommended!
November 28, 2025
I received an ARC of this book and didn’t know what to expect. I found it to be quite enjoyable. The rivalry between Cyprin and Purcell was fun. The magical world was different from what I have read before. I would recommend trying out this book.
September 23, 2025
Sorprendentemente, devo dire che mi è piaciuto molto! Molto lontano dai sotto generi a cui sono abituata, ma l'autrice ha saputo caratterizzare bene ogni singolo personaggio presentato e il messaggio morale dietro al romanzo fa riflettere molto su ciò che sta accadendo oggi, nonostante tutti gli errori commessi più e più volte.
Giudizio positivo!
Giudizio positivo!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*
The prose is too clunky for me, and too often there were images that I couldn’t make any sense of. Please bear in mind that I’m quoting from the advanced reader copy, so there’s no telling what might change between what I read and the final version. Typos and things are often caught and removed before a book’s release day.
What does ‘mushroomy’ mean? You’ve already used ‘bioluminescent’, which makes ‘mushroomy’ a separate descriptor – this phrasing does not imply bioluminescent mushrooms, which would make sense. So if we’re not talking about bioluminescent mushrooms, how is a glow ‘mushroomy’?
When Cyprin pictures the Gardens being full of carbon-copies of this person she doesn’t like, we get this line
I have no idea what this means, and I say that as someone comfortable with how Tumblr warps language.
Don’t know what this means either. Is it winding like knocked the wind out of her? Or winding like twisting? Neither makes sense to me.
Hilarious image, I love it, but the chunk of sentence after the last comma is way too long. Needs more commas or rephrasing.
That ‘does’ pings as wrong to me. Shouldn’t it be ‘did’?
Awkward phrasing. Just removing the ‘doing’ at the end would help a lot.
That is an incredible comeback, especially given who’s saying it! But shouldn’t it be ‘me neither’, not ‘me too’?
Except we’re not talking about a liquid, so this makes no sense?
Velvet doesn’t sparkle.
Awkward phrasing.
I don’t think stifling is a verb, so I’m not sure what’s going on here.
This is all without going into how Cyprin’s reasoning for a) taking part in the flower show and b) her strategy for winning make no sense. Her reasoning is ridiculous, to put it mildly. And the jumps in reasoning from point A to point Q happen constantly, like Purcell’s reasoning for not telling anyone she can talk to plants because someday she will Fail At Life. What??? I need you to explain how we got from one thing to the other!
This reads like something trying to be bonkers for the sake of it rather than something that is, naturally and objectively, bonkers. The jokes either make no sense or are very weak (like the attempt at poking fun at Purcell because…she’s using manure as fertiliser? How exactly is that funny? She’s a gardener, it’s a very basic thing for a gardener to do, isn’t it? Calling it poo rather than fertiliser doesn’t make it funny). It’s entirely possible than there will be shocking revelations about the worldbuilding later, but from what I read there’s nothing too unusual about the setting if this isn’t your first SFF novel, so the attempts at Being Weird felt very forced, not justified by the premise or the characters.
Really disappointed, but this one’s definitely not for me.
The prose is too clunky for me, and too often there were images that I couldn’t make any sense of. Please bear in mind that I’m quoting from the advanced reader copy, so there’s no telling what might change between what I read and the final version. Typos and things are often caught and removed before a book’s release day.
The bioluminescent mushroomy glow of a headlamp
What does ‘mushroomy’ mean? You’ve already used ‘bioluminescent’, which makes ‘mushroomy’ a separate descriptor – this phrasing does not imply bioluminescent mushrooms, which would make sense. So if we’re not talking about bioluminescent mushrooms, how is a glow ‘mushroomy’?
When Cyprin pictures the Gardens being full of carbon-copies of this person she doesn’t like, we get this line
Cyprin pictured them as little marshmallows she would pop in her month one by one until she was sick.
I have no idea what this means, and I say that as someone comfortable with how Tumblr warps language.
Purcell gasped and stepped back, winding herself on the wall.
Don’t know what this means either. Is it winding like knocked the wind out of her? Or winding like twisting? Neither makes sense to me.
Purcell edged closer, her fingertips on the tools in her pockets, ready to quick-draw her pliers gunslinger-style in case he tried any plant-god nonsense like in the stories where he became a golden shower and harassed some poor girl.
Hilarious image, I love it, but the chunk of sentence after the last comma is way too long. Needs more commas or rephrasing.
Her home needed mood lighting, the way a good soap opera does.
That ‘does’ pings as wrong to me. Shouldn’t it be ‘did’?
Amanda let herself in and started nosing around the apartment, the way only a person who’d known Purcell from childhood could get away with doing.
Awkward phrasing. Just removing the ‘doing’ at the end would help a lot.
“Right. I’m not in the mood for games.” Cyprin stood up and brushed the crinkles out of her knees, reading to leave.
“Me too, but no one seems to ever let me off the board.”
That is an incredible comeback, especially given who’s saying it! But shouldn’t it be ‘me neither’, not ‘me too’?
the spirit of blood and rubies distilled
Except we’re not talking about a liquid, so this makes no sense?
petals so lush and hydrated they sparkled like velvet in the sun.
Velvet doesn’t sparkle.
He sounded like he was trying to be jokey and put her at ease, but the words rubbed salt into all Cyprin’s psychological wounds.
Awkward phrasing.
Then the day recommenced stifling.
I don’t think stifling is a verb, so I’m not sure what’s going on here.
This is all without going into how Cyprin’s reasoning for a) taking part in the flower show and b) her strategy for winning make no sense. Her reasoning is ridiculous, to put it mildly. And the jumps in reasoning from point A to point Q happen constantly, like Purcell’s reasoning for not telling anyone she can talk to plants because someday she will Fail At Life. What??? I need you to explain how we got from one thing to the other!
This reads like something trying to be bonkers for the sake of it rather than something that is, naturally and objectively, bonkers. The jokes either make no sense or are very weak (like the attempt at poking fun at Purcell because…she’s using manure as fertiliser? How exactly is that funny? She’s a gardener, it’s a very basic thing for a gardener to do, isn’t it? Calling it poo rather than fertiliser doesn’t make it funny). It’s entirely possible than there will be shocking revelations about the worldbuilding later, but from what I read there’s nothing too unusual about the setting if this isn’t your first SFF novel, so the attempts at Being Weird felt very forced, not justified by the premise or the characters.
Really disappointed, but this one’s definitely not for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"The concept of God on the toilet nearly did her head in." (pg. 50)
Thank you to Netgalley for providing ARC access!
I absolutely fell in love with this book. It's witty, powerful, fun, elaborate, jarring, breathtaking in the way Snow expertly weaves their story and leaves you gasping for more. There's a sapphic enemies to lovers romance. There's a dystopian world that gets ripped apart. There's a false god and a whole conspiracy behind said false god. The Divine Gardener's Handbook is a delightful book that explores the depths of the human psyche and its trembling society, and it manages to do so in a way that's graceful but also packs quite the punch.
This is a perfect lighthearted read for anyone who wants something to make them cry and then belly-laugh all in the span of a handful of pages. I was enamored with this book the moment I started reading, and that feeling didn't change for a bit all throughout. The plot is action-packed but well-developed, and the characters are all lovable and memorable in their own right. This would be the perfect icebreaker read for a buddy read or a book club, and I would highly recommend this book to readers who might be interested in breaking into the sci-fi genre or just want a feel-good pick-me-up. It's super approachable and easy to follow, and Snow writes magically in a way that makes 300+ pages fly by in the blink of an eye.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing ARC access!
I absolutely fell in love with this book. It's witty, powerful, fun, elaborate, jarring, breathtaking in the way Snow expertly weaves their story and leaves you gasping for more. There's a sapphic enemies to lovers romance. There's a dystopian world that gets ripped apart. There's a false god and a whole conspiracy behind said false god. The Divine Gardener's Handbook is a delightful book that explores the depths of the human psyche and its trembling society, and it manages to do so in a way that's graceful but also packs quite the punch.
This is a perfect lighthearted read for anyone who wants something to make them cry and then belly-laugh all in the span of a handful of pages. I was enamored with this book the moment I started reading, and that feeling didn't change for a bit all throughout. The plot is action-packed but well-developed, and the characters are all lovable and memorable in their own right. This would be the perfect icebreaker read for a buddy read or a book club, and I would highly recommend this book to readers who might be interested in breaking into the sci-fi genre or just want a feel-good pick-me-up. It's super approachable and easy to follow, and Snow writes magically in a way that makes 300+ pages fly by in the blink of an eye.
January 14, 2026
Thank you Saturday Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley!
Before we go into the review, please note all opinions are my own and I’d LOVE to hear yours after you read this!
Genre: LGBTQ+, Sci-Fi, Romance
Rating: 3.5/5
Content Warnings: death, death of a parent, childhood trauma, violence
Cyprin is an excellent apple grower, looking to find the answers to where her partner Maverick has gone within the Divine Garden’s gates. Purcell is the 5 time winner of The Divine Garden’s flower competition, that is until Cyprin unleashes a black market plague onto her award winning rose bush in order to secure a spot on the Divine Garden’s roster. This book follows these quick mortal enemies as they find a way to navigate the maze of the garden. Will Cyprin find Maverick? Will Purcell get revenge? And will these enemies ever become lovers?
Cyprin shows a strong range of emotions and skills in order to get what she wants.
Purcell truly breaks down behind the scenes while uncovering generational secrets within her family. Together, they perfectly intertwine and show how difficult fighting for what you deserve is. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves gardens, enemies to lovers, and a strong female MC!
My only true complaint is Cyprin cracked her knuckles too much!!! Yucky!!!
Before we go into the review, please note all opinions are my own and I’d LOVE to hear yours after you read this!
Genre: LGBTQ+, Sci-Fi, Romance
Rating: 3.5/5
Content Warnings: death, death of a parent, childhood trauma, violence
Cyprin is an excellent apple grower, looking to find the answers to where her partner Maverick has gone within the Divine Garden’s gates. Purcell is the 5 time winner of The Divine Garden’s flower competition, that is until Cyprin unleashes a black market plague onto her award winning rose bush in order to secure a spot on the Divine Garden’s roster. This book follows these quick mortal enemies as they find a way to navigate the maze of the garden. Will Cyprin find Maverick? Will Purcell get revenge? And will these enemies ever become lovers?
Cyprin shows a strong range of emotions and skills in order to get what she wants.
Purcell truly breaks down behind the scenes while uncovering generational secrets within her family. Together, they perfectly intertwine and show how difficult fighting for what you deserve is. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves gardens, enemies to lovers, and a strong female MC!
My only true complaint is Cyprin cracked her knuckles too much!!! Yucky!!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was so fun and interesting. I loved the settings of the city and the garden. Most of the characters were likable except for Purcell, the love interest and dual narrator. She is self-centered, classist and bigoted.
Cyprin’s chapters were a delight to read; they were full of humor, self-awareness, and fun interactions with the other side characters.
This was a DNF for me at about two thirds in, because that is when Cyprin starts spending more time with Purcell and less with my favorite side character. Purcell made me so angry (sabotaging Cyprin and being classist against her despite being the love interest) and I genuinely dreaded picking up the book again because of her.
I think the book would be improved if Purcell’s narration was removed, Purcell had more redeeming moments, or if she was not Cyprin’s love interest at all.
I would recommend this book. My dislike of Purcell is completely subjective and I could see other people loving her. All in all, the book is funny, well-written, and is set in a unique world.
Cyprin’s chapters were a delight to read; they were full of humor, self-awareness, and fun interactions with the other side characters.
This was a DNF for me at about two thirds in, because that is when Cyprin starts spending more time with Purcell and less with my favorite side character. Purcell made me so angry (sabotaging Cyprin and being classist against her despite being the love interest) and I genuinely dreaded picking up the book again because of her.
I think the book would be improved if Purcell’s narration was removed, Purcell had more redeeming moments, or if she was not Cyprin’s love interest at all.
I would recommend this book. My dislike of Purcell is completely subjective and I could see other people loving her. All in all, the book is funny, well-written, and is set in a unique world.
August 17, 2025
this was the most fun i've had reading a book in a long time.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews