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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 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 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.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 18, 2026
About the author
Eli Snow
1 book39 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 - 30 of 59 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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Divine Gardener’s Handbook is a sci-fi dystopian love story. I was immediately pulled in by the title and the concept of the gardener.
I am currently struggling with a nasty cold so I might not have had the full patience required to map out this world. However, I still found the story quite difficult to follow. I want to give kudos to the author for making plants and their properties the mainstay of the plot. The concept felt truly novel and that is reflected in my rating.
Unfortunately the rest of the book did not work for me. The story starts as if the reader already knows the inner workings of the world. It felt disjointed and clunky. I really wish I could have liked this one more.
Thank you to Saturday Books and St. Martin's Press for the copy.
I am currently struggling with a nasty cold so I might not have had the full patience required to map out this world. However, I still found the story quite difficult to follow. I want to give kudos to the author for making plants and their properties the mainstay of the plot. The concept felt truly novel and that is reflected in my rating.
Unfortunately the rest of the book did not work for me. The story starts as if the reader already knows the inner workings of the world. It felt disjointed and clunky. I really wish I could have liked this one more.
Thank you to Saturday Books and St. Martin's Press for the copy.
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
Oh, how I wanted to love this one. The Divine Gardener's Handbook: Or What To Do If Your Girlfriend Accidentally Turns Off the Sun unfortunately fell flat for me. I didn't really connect with it, it didn't really grasp me like I want my books to do, and it ultimately wasn't for me (or maybe I wasn't the right audience for this one).
I was psyched for the queer cozy romantasy/sci-fi vibes promised in the synopsis, but instead I got a strange, dissatisfying amalgamation of fantasy botanical horror-esque sci-fi with an unconvincing romance, AI/Bots, genetic mutations, and magic. Now, don't get me wrong, I love all of these aspects individually, I just don't think they worked well together here and that there was far too much going on. At about an hour left in the audiobook and 5-ish minutes remaining in the chapter I was up to, it felt like the story could have been ending in a ridiculously dissatisfying/not what I was expecting and very confusing manner. Like there's so much happening, but not enough? Like the characters are flat and the world building is more implied than shown.
Sometimes being in a characters head was confusing; I as a reader/listener knew what was happening, but the character was trying to convince themself (and us) that another thing was happening, but their delusion was convoluted and forced. There are other things that happen with characters in the plot that I just don't understand and are probably unnecessary, but were how the author got from Point A to Point B. There were two characters that were looped into something else later in the plot that I found strange. Like I understood the reason it was happening, why the author did it that way, but I couldn't connect why the character themself would have done it.
I could not for the life of me find the chemistry between Cyprin and Purcell. There was a strange insta-lust and insta-hate that didn't really make sense to me thrust upon the reader in such a redundant manner that I just stopped caring about it. The subtitle of "Or What To Do If Your Girlfriend Accidentally Turns Off the Sun") feels misleading as there was no real relationship between the two MFCs for the majority of the book. It's a grab-tactic that sucked me in and left me wanting.
I also had issues with the timeline in the story. Things felt to drag on, go so quickly, have a deadline that was arbitrary or not mentioned again, and I had a hard time keeping up with the "when" of the plot. There were so many places we went to where the time to travel there and back was brushed off, never mind the description of where we were felt lacking to me. I just couldn't picture it.
While on the hunt for the "why" (literally part of the story), I was left asking "why" about so many things myself. I still sit with so many questions that I cannot go into detail about because of potential spoilers.
The narration was done very well and I liked the cadence of the audiobook. I think it was well produced, the sound quality was consistent between the perspective changes, and I'm glad I had a change to give this one a listen.
In my effort to avoid spoilers, some of my above statements may be confusing in their vagueness and I apologize for that. This was a little rambly, but I'm just trying to get all my thoughts down and not miss anything while it's fresh. Overall I struggled with rating this read; the vibes of this one were maybe a 3 if I include my hopes and dreams of what this could have been, but the execution was a 2, so I'm going with a 2-star rating. I'm grateful I had the opportunity to read this one and I'll look for other things Eli Snow puts out in the future as this is a debut, but I'm sat about the results here.
I was psyched for the queer cozy romantasy/sci-fi vibes promised in the synopsis, but instead I got a strange, dissatisfying amalgamation of fantasy botanical horror-esque sci-fi with an unconvincing romance, AI/Bots, genetic mutations, and magic. Now, don't get me wrong, I love all of these aspects individually, I just don't think they worked well together here and that there was far too much going on. At about an hour left in the audiobook and 5-ish minutes remaining in the chapter I was up to, it felt like the story could have been ending in a ridiculously dissatisfying/not what I was expecting and very confusing manner. Like there's so much happening, but not enough? Like the characters are flat and the world building is more implied than shown.
Sometimes being in a characters head was confusing; I as a reader/listener knew what was happening, but the character was trying to convince themself (and us) that another thing was happening, but their delusion was convoluted and forced. There are other things that happen with characters in the plot that I just don't understand and are probably unnecessary, but were how the author got from Point A to Point B. There were two characters that were looped into something else later in the plot that I found strange. Like I understood the reason it was happening, why the author did it that way, but I couldn't connect why the character themself would have done it.
I could not for the life of me find the chemistry between Cyprin and Purcell. There was a strange insta-lust and insta-hate that didn't really make sense to me thrust upon the reader in such a redundant manner that I just stopped caring about it. The subtitle of "Or What To Do If Your Girlfriend Accidentally Turns Off the Sun") feels misleading as there was no real relationship between the two MFCs for the majority of the book. It's a grab-tactic that sucked me in and left me wanting.
I also had issues with the timeline in the story. Things felt to drag on, go so quickly, have a deadline that was arbitrary or not mentioned again, and I had a hard time keeping up with the "when" of the plot. There were so many places we went to where the time to travel there and back was brushed off, never mind the description of where we were felt lacking to me. I just couldn't picture it.
While on the hunt for the "why" (literally part of the story), I was left asking "why" about so many things myself. I still sit with so many questions that I cannot go into detail about because of potential spoilers.
The narration was done very well and I liked the cadence of the audiobook. I think it was well produced, the sound quality was consistent between the perspective changes, and I'm glad I had a change to give this one a listen.
In my effort to avoid spoilers, some of my above statements may be confusing in their vagueness and I apologize for that. This was a little rambly, but I'm just trying to get all my thoughts down and not miss anything while it's fresh. Overall I struggled with rating this read; the vibes of this one were maybe a 3 if I include my hopes and dreams of what this could have been, but the execution was a 2, so I'm going with a 2-star rating. I'm grateful I had the opportunity to read this one and I'll look for other things Eli Snow puts out in the future as this is a debut, but I'm sat about the results here.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
TW: Death, child imprisonment, death of a parent (On page), mass riots
I was pleasantly surprised with this novel, even after a bit of a frantic first chapter.
But first, the plot: Cyprin lives in a megacity, where rats are some of her best friends (she doesn't have many). She desperately wants to leave her sunless existence, and dreams of working for The Petaled Divine in his Garden, and in the meantime, find her father. To accomplish this, she steals a flower from the Head Gardener of the Garden. However, the Head Gardener Purcell doesn't appreciate this (hot and infuriating) upstart coming in and wrecking things. Can she keep the garden from this new threat? Can Cyprin find her guardian? And what is with the secret area of the Garden no one is allowed to go to?
The setting makes this book. The massive not built for humans after several layers of habitation city contrasts with the perfect Gardens. Anyone who doesn't work in the Gardens is both physically and mentally trapped. However, the city does contrast with the Garden, and that contrast, also shows the Garden to be a gilded age, which is reflected in its perfect environment. Since flowers and plants are a huge part of the book, the language is suitably vivid.
I also appreciate the queer representation, as both Cyprin and Purcell are queer. Their relationship was believable to me. There was a lot of humor in their reactions with one another, and I found myself laughing aloud a few times. This is not a romance novel, but Purcell and Cyprin both have erotic fantasies so be warned. As an ace person, they were well written and okay to read.
The first chapter had a breakneck pace, dropping you right into the action. However, this can be a problem, as I had to page back and forth between PoVs because the pacing was very quick. However, once you get the names straight, the story moves forward in a very flowing way. I could also see the characters being very divisive. Purcell starts the story hating Cyprin, and she is quite nasty to her at the start. She does improve later (this is a genuine enemies to lovers story) but be warned.
Ultimately, if you want a relatively cozy read with some bite, The Divine Gardener's Handbook is your bouquet of flowers.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Final Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Check out my drink parings and other reviews at: https://theredreaderreviews.blogspot....
I was pleasantly surprised with this novel, even after a bit of a frantic first chapter.
But first, the plot: Cyprin lives in a megacity, where rats are some of her best friends (she doesn't have many). She desperately wants to leave her sunless existence, and dreams of working for The Petaled Divine in his Garden, and in the meantime, find her father. To accomplish this, she steals a flower from the Head Gardener of the Garden. However, the Head Gardener Purcell doesn't appreciate this (hot and infuriating) upstart coming in and wrecking things. Can she keep the garden from this new threat? Can Cyprin find her guardian? And what is with the secret area of the Garden no one is allowed to go to?
The setting makes this book. The massive not built for humans after several layers of habitation city contrasts with the perfect Gardens. Anyone who doesn't work in the Gardens is both physically and mentally trapped. However, the city does contrast with the Garden, and that contrast, also shows the Garden to be a gilded age, which is reflected in its perfect environment. Since flowers and plants are a huge part of the book, the language is suitably vivid.
I also appreciate the queer representation, as both Cyprin and Purcell are queer. Their relationship was believable to me. There was a lot of humor in their reactions with one another, and I found myself laughing aloud a few times. This is not a romance novel, but Purcell and Cyprin both have erotic fantasies so be warned. As an ace person, they were well written and okay to read.
The first chapter had a breakneck pace, dropping you right into the action. However, this can be a problem, as I had to page back and forth between PoVs because the pacing was very quick. However, once you get the names straight, the story moves forward in a very flowing way. I could also see the characters being very divisive. Purcell starts the story hating Cyprin, and she is quite nasty to her at the start. She does improve later (this is a genuine enemies to lovers story) but be warned.
Ultimately, if you want a relatively cozy read with some bite, The Divine Gardener's Handbook is your bouquet of flowers.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Final Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Check out my drink parings and other reviews at: https://theredreaderreviews.blogspot....
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and to St. Martin's Press for the ARC of The Divine Gardener's Handbook by Eli Snow.
I kept hearing about this book when reading about 2026 releases, and I do think it is a book that cozy fantasy readers will enjoy.
For me, it ended up being a bit of a miss. I thought it was going to be more of a what the summary states - a woman who is trying to get her dream job with some workplace shenanigans and romance in a divinely based garden setting while tackling a rebellion -- it reads like it is supposed to be a comedy. The sub title line also makes it sound like it's much more about the dating of the main character's and trying to save the world in a whimsical way.
Instead it was about one woman set on revenge for trauma she refuses to process, and another woman who is elitist and obsessed with her own legacy and trauma she refuses to process, a god who is manipulating both of them to find a larger truth about their world, multiple plots to control the city/overthrow ruling parties, historical issues with AI, and more. While it does make a cohesive storyline, much of the subplots and character developments felt minimally thought out -- enough to get from point to point, but without the depth to truly think about the implications and issues and history and meaning behind the way this world is structured and how Cyprin and Purcell deal with their own personal histories. And, considering some of these developments are very dystopian and fairly dark, I wish they weren't couched in jokes about marshmallows and office work competition. Maybe I'm just struggling with if this is meant to be cozy and suspending disbelief about the horrors of a world without sun, or if it's meant to be a deeper cut on on a dystopian level with a romance for levity.
It's okay that it wasn't a fit for me, and, again, I think there are many readers who will really enjoy this, it just wasn't quite what I expected.
I kept hearing about this book when reading about 2026 releases, and I do think it is a book that cozy fantasy readers will enjoy.
For me, it ended up being a bit of a miss. I thought it was going to be more of a what the summary states - a woman who is trying to get her dream job with some workplace shenanigans and romance in a divinely based garden setting while tackling a rebellion -- it reads like it is supposed to be a comedy. The sub title line also makes it sound like it's much more about the dating of the main character's and trying to save the world in a whimsical way.
Instead it was about one woman set on revenge for trauma she refuses to process, and another woman who is elitist and obsessed with her own legacy and trauma she refuses to process, a god who is manipulating both of them to find a larger truth about their world, multiple plots to control the city/overthrow ruling parties, historical issues with AI, and more. While it does make a cohesive storyline, much of the subplots and character developments felt minimally thought out -- enough to get from point to point, but without the depth to truly think about the implications and issues and history and meaning behind the way this world is structured and how Cyprin and Purcell deal with their own personal histories. And, considering some of these developments are very dystopian and fairly dark, I wish they weren't couched in jokes about marshmallows and office work competition. Maybe I'm just struggling with if this is meant to be cozy and suspending disbelief about the horrors of a world without sun, or if it's meant to be a deeper cut on on a dystopian level with a romance for levity.
It's okay that it wasn't a fit for me, and, again, I think there are many readers who will really enjoy this, it just wasn't quite what I expected.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5 ⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the arc!
Yes, I picked this up because the first thing in the description was “Perfect for fans of Tamsyn Muir”, and that’s me, I’m the fan who keeps falling for books being marketed for fans of Tamsyn Muir/Gideon the Ninth/The Locked Tomb series. A lot of the times they end up disappointing me, but sometimes books are marketed this way because they are weird and different, and those are the books I’m looking for.
I can see the elements that made them put the “for fans of Tamsyn Muir” in the description, but they weren’t really enough to make me enjoy this book. To start, the first half of the book felt very focused on the two main characters and their “romance”. I found these two characters so annoying. Their relationship was barely developed. They weren’t enemies or rivals, they just insta-hated each other on first sight, and after a couple days of lusting and hating each other were in love. They were maybe supposed to give Gideon x Harrow vibes, but that did not really work for me.
There was also a “God” character who was just a guy and gave mild Jod vibes, but felt underdeveloped. A lot of the world building (after getting through the first half of the book) was interesting, and if that had been more of a focus than the romance, developed a bit more, this could have been a really cool/weird post apocalyptic world. I appreciated that there wasn’t a ton of beginning of story info dumping, but by the end of the book it just felt like the world wasn’t actually that developed. The ending was…. unpredictable, I guess, but also a bit sudden, and then the last couple of chapters were rushed and a bit generic feeling. A lot of elements didn’t really feel resolved either.
Overall, there were elements of this book that felt creative and interesting and original, but they did not feel like the focus, which was instead to me a not very enjoyable romance story.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the arc!
Yes, I picked this up because the first thing in the description was “Perfect for fans of Tamsyn Muir”, and that’s me, I’m the fan who keeps falling for books being marketed for fans of Tamsyn Muir/Gideon the Ninth/The Locked Tomb series. A lot of the times they end up disappointing me, but sometimes books are marketed this way because they are weird and different, and those are the books I’m looking for.
I can see the elements that made them put the “for fans of Tamsyn Muir” in the description, but they weren’t really enough to make me enjoy this book. To start, the first half of the book felt very focused on the two main characters and their “romance”. I found these two characters so annoying. Their relationship was barely developed. They weren’t enemies or rivals, they just insta-hated each other on first sight, and after a couple days of lusting and hating each other were in love. They were maybe supposed to give Gideon x Harrow vibes, but that did not really work for me.
There was also a “God” character who was just a guy and gave mild Jod vibes, but felt underdeveloped. A lot of the world building (after getting through the first half of the book) was interesting, and if that had been more of a focus than the romance, developed a bit more, this could have been a really cool/weird post apocalyptic world. I appreciated that there wasn’t a ton of beginning of story info dumping, but by the end of the book it just felt like the world wasn’t actually that developed. The ending was…. unpredictable, I guess, but also a bit sudden, and then the last couple of chapters were rushed and a bit generic feeling. A lot of elements didn’t really feel resolved either.
Overall, there were elements of this book that felt creative and interesting and original, but they did not feel like the focus, which was instead to me a not very enjoyable romance story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In the Divine Gardener’s Handbook, we meet Cyprin as she works to break free of her post-apocalyptic megacity home, dreaming of a job in the Divine Gardens. Her one shot out of the megacity is to win the annual flower contest, and she will do anything, dirty tricks included, to succeed. Her competition is none other than the other main lead in the Divine Gardener’s Handbook, the neurotic, perfectionist head gardener Purcell. Unfortunately for the both of them, their petty rivalry isn’t the biggest issue facing the two, as readers will soon find out.
The story jumps in swiftly to the action, without spending too much time meandering about with lengthy, expansive sci-fi worldbuilding. We promptly meet both Cyprin and Purcell, and get a good read on their general characterization equally as quickly. The beginning of the book is a fast, fun romp, with enough plot intrigue to keep you wanting to turn to the next page.
As we reach the latter half of the book, my enjoyment becomes a lot more shaky. The “romance” seems to flip from insta-hate to insta-love without much development, leading me to not feel connected to that part of the story enough for the emotionally-reliant plot beats to feel compelling as they should. At the climax of the story, plot points switch from horrifying to lighthearted in a flash, giving a sense of tonal whiplash that makes it difficult for me to place this book. Is it cozy? Is it a bleak dystopian? It varies from page to page.
Overall, this book feels like two potentially great books patched together into one. A lighthearted and cozy enemies-to lovers tale, combined with the classic dystopian “take down the oppressors at any cost” plotline. It just doesn’t know quite where to land, and that’s where it suffers.
In the Divine Gardener’s Handbook, we meet Cyprin as she works to break free of her post-apocalyptic megacity home, dreaming of a job in the Divine Gardens. Her one shot out of the megacity is to win the annual flower contest, and she will do anything, dirty tricks included, to succeed. Her competition is none other than the other main lead in the Divine Gardener’s Handbook, the neurotic, perfectionist head gardener Purcell. Unfortunately for the both of them, their petty rivalry isn’t the biggest issue facing the two, as readers will soon find out.
The story jumps in swiftly to the action, without spending too much time meandering about with lengthy, expansive sci-fi worldbuilding. We promptly meet both Cyprin and Purcell, and get a good read on their general characterization equally as quickly. The beginning of the book is a fast, fun romp, with enough plot intrigue to keep you wanting to turn to the next page.
As we reach the latter half of the book, my enjoyment becomes a lot more shaky. The “romance” seems to flip from insta-hate to insta-love without much development, leading me to not feel connected to that part of the story enough for the emotionally-reliant plot beats to feel compelling as they should. At the climax of the story, plot points switch from horrifying to lighthearted in a flash, giving a sense of tonal whiplash that makes it difficult for me to place this book. Is it cozy? Is it a bleak dystopian? It varies from page to page.
Overall, this book feels like two potentially great books patched together into one. A lighthearted and cozy enemies-to lovers tale, combined with the classic dystopian “take down the oppressors at any cost” plotline. It just doesn’t know quite where to land, and that’s where it suffers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review Details?
-no spoilers!
-ebook (ARC)
-3.75 (out of 5)
Fanta-SciFi-ness?
-the world we visit in The Divine Gardener's Handbook leans toward soft sci-fi in that the world is driven by character choices and decisions, though we ultimately have a central problem/solution rooted in technology.
-the story takes us to a few core locations in a large city split into haves and have-nots. the descriptions and world-building elements of this book are some of its absolute highs. that said, though the book is vivid and fun in its presentation, the language used can sometimes work against the feeling of immersion (e.g., "shoot your shot").
-the sci-fi system is a fun one, though it is never completely clear what its core rules are.
-with just a few small edits, one chapter near the end of the book (Chapter 42) could stand alone as a very gripping short story.
Complexity?
-we (mostly) follow 2 central characters, Cyprin and Purcell, who are rivals with an attraction. they both have interesting moments, but I felt that the characters--both individually and as a duo--mostly hit the same notes until the final 1/5 of the book. it is all subjective, but I would have liked to see a more linear progression. in addition to these two, we follow some core secondary characters who are fairly engaging (especially Saul).
-the overarching plot is an interesting one, but it is straightforward and easy to follow.
Keep it Coming?
-despite any gripes I may have, I ultimately felt a hunger to keep reading. again, the world and its lore are fun and fascinating.
-chapters seemed to be roughly 5-10 pages for the most part, including chapter breaks, which helped to stoke the "just one more chunk before bed..." feeling.
-no spoilers!
-ebook (ARC)
-3.75 (out of 5)
Fanta-SciFi-ness?
-the world we visit in The Divine Gardener's Handbook leans toward soft sci-fi in that the world is driven by character choices and decisions, though we ultimately have a central problem/solution rooted in technology.
-the story takes us to a few core locations in a large city split into haves and have-nots. the descriptions and world-building elements of this book are some of its absolute highs. that said, though the book is vivid and fun in its presentation, the language used can sometimes work against the feeling of immersion (e.g., "shoot your shot").
-the sci-fi system is a fun one, though it is never completely clear what its core rules are.
-with just a few small edits, one chapter near the end of the book (Chapter 42) could stand alone as a very gripping short story.
Complexity?
-we (mostly) follow 2 central characters, Cyprin and Purcell, who are rivals with an attraction. they both have interesting moments, but I felt that the characters--both individually and as a duo--mostly hit the same notes until the final 1/5 of the book. it is all subjective, but I would have liked to see a more linear progression. in addition to these two, we follow some core secondary characters who are fairly engaging (especially Saul).
-the overarching plot is an interesting one, but it is straightforward and easy to follow.
Keep it Coming?
-despite any gripes I may have, I ultimately felt a hunger to keep reading. again, the world and its lore are fun and fascinating.
-chapters seemed to be roughly 5-10 pages for the most part, including chapter breaks, which helped to stoke the "just one more chunk before bed..." feeling.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review*
Normally, I'm all for a sapphic romance and, going into this book, that was the primary draw for me. Unfortunately, that was one of the things I liked about this book the least (which feels terrible). Cyprin and Purcell--the two main leads--are both absolutely insufferable in vastly different ways. If their relationship only developed into a grudging friendship (or at the very least, respect), I actually might have liked this a little better. Unfortunately, the two of them didn't really have that romantic chemistry I was hoping for. Instead, there was inta-lust, for seemingly no good reason? The two of them had good reason to dislike one another, though Purcell was, by far, the more infuriating of the two. Her character archetype is very much like Rachel Berry from Glee--haughty, nosy, and frustrating to be in the head of. There was an attempt by the author at a character redemption arc, but I feel like it fell very flat.
Which leads into my second biggest issue: the pacing. The pacing was a little all over the place. I think there was an interesting story underneath the romance, but because I didn't like the romance (which ended up being a large focus), it felt like the more interesting plot beats got side-lined. Honestly, even if I had liked the romance, I would have wanted a bit more world-building and plot development; it just felt more egregious to me because the romance felt like it dragged.
Overall, this was not my vibe. The tone also felt a little dissonant at times and both the romance and ending felt rushed. I think the concept was interesting, even if I didn't enjoy the execution.
Normally, I'm all for a sapphic romance and, going into this book, that was the primary draw for me. Unfortunately, that was one of the things I liked about this book the least (which feels terrible). Cyprin and Purcell--the two main leads--are both absolutely insufferable in vastly different ways. If their relationship only developed into a grudging friendship (or at the very least, respect), I actually might have liked this a little better. Unfortunately, the two of them didn't really have that romantic chemistry I was hoping for. Instead, there was inta-lust, for seemingly no good reason? The two of them had good reason to dislike one another, though Purcell was, by far, the more infuriating of the two. Her character archetype is very much like Rachel Berry from Glee--haughty, nosy, and frustrating to be in the head of. There was an attempt by the author at a character redemption arc, but I feel like it fell very flat.
Which leads into my second biggest issue: the pacing. The pacing was a little all over the place. I think there was an interesting story underneath the romance, but because I didn't like the romance (which ended up being a large focus), it felt like the more interesting plot beats got side-lined. Honestly, even if I had liked the romance, I would have wanted a bit more world-building and plot development; it just felt more egregious to me because the romance felt like it dragged.
Overall, this was not my vibe. The tone also felt a little dissonant at times and both the romance and ending felt rushed. I think the concept was interesting, even if I didn't enjoy the execution.
April 30, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Divine Gardener's Handbook has one of the most original premises I've come across in sci-fi. A post-apocalyptic megacity, Divine Gardens overseen by a God who's really just some guy, and a flower pageant that kicks the whole plot into motion to create the kind of world that feels genuinely fresh (pun intended!). Making plants and gardening the backbone of the story's power system and conflict was a creative choice that paid off.
Cyprin and Purcell are both deeply flawed people, and that's exactly what makes them so likeable. Cyprin's scrappy ambition and willingness to play dirty, Purcell's perfectionism and elitism make them a hot mess in ways that feel over the top and also charming. Their enemies-to-lovers arc plays out with a fairly predictable outcome, but it's delightful to follow along with their antics and can enjoy the safety of knowing where this is headed. The fun is in watching them get there.
What I appreciated most is that this is dystopian sci-fi that doesn't wallow in bleakness. The world has dark underpinnings such as a city without sun, a brewing rebellion, layers of manipulation, but Snow keeps the tone light and fun without undercutting the stakes. It's a tricky balance, and this book pulls it off. If you're tired of grimdark dystopias, this is the antidote.
The pacing kept me turning pages throughout. Chapters are short and punchy, and there's always enough intrigue to justify "just one more page." Where the book really surprised me was the ending. Just when you think you've reached the conclusion, you haven't. There are several almost-endings that keep building on each other, revealing that the story's scope is much bigger than it initially let on. The final act reframes what came before in a satisfying way.
Fans of cozy fantasy with real teeth, sapphic romance, and worlds that feel unlike anything else on the shelf should pick this one up.
The Divine Gardener's Handbook has one of the most original premises I've come across in sci-fi. A post-apocalyptic megacity, Divine Gardens overseen by a God who's really just some guy, and a flower pageant that kicks the whole plot into motion to create the kind of world that feels genuinely fresh (pun intended!). Making plants and gardening the backbone of the story's power system and conflict was a creative choice that paid off.
Cyprin and Purcell are both deeply flawed people, and that's exactly what makes them so likeable. Cyprin's scrappy ambition and willingness to play dirty, Purcell's perfectionism and elitism make them a hot mess in ways that feel over the top and also charming. Their enemies-to-lovers arc plays out with a fairly predictable outcome, but it's delightful to follow along with their antics and can enjoy the safety of knowing where this is headed. The fun is in watching them get there.
What I appreciated most is that this is dystopian sci-fi that doesn't wallow in bleakness. The world has dark underpinnings such as a city without sun, a brewing rebellion, layers of manipulation, but Snow keeps the tone light and fun without undercutting the stakes. It's a tricky balance, and this book pulls it off. If you're tired of grimdark dystopias, this is the antidote.
The pacing kept me turning pages throughout. Chapters are short and punchy, and there's always enough intrigue to justify "just one more page." Where the book really surprised me was the ending. Just when you think you've reached the conclusion, you haven't. There are several almost-endings that keep building on each other, revealing that the story's scope is much bigger than it initially let on. The final act reframes what came before in a satisfying way.
Fans of cozy fantasy with real teeth, sapphic romance, and worlds that feel unlike anything else on the shelf should pick this one up.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rounded up to 2,25⭐
The Divine Gardener's Handbook is the the chaotic queer exploration of love, ambition, and toxic work culture it promises you to be, but maybe it was an ill fit for me from the very beginning.
I have no notes for Ellie Gossage and Jess Nahikian, north narrator were amazing and they were responsible for making it possible for me to finish it.
I found the last 30% quite interesting, but the first 70% was a constant struggle to get me to care about the characters and the story surrounding them. Most of the book focuses on the two main characters and their romance, and yet I felt the development wasn't sufficient, which is surprising considering this part takes a reasonable amount of the book.
And that brings me to the my biggest problem here which was the writing, it felt redundant to an extent and I felt like even when the author was trying to tell me a lot it was still not telling me enough. I wish we had time to get to know more about the world instead of being dropped in it like we were, some details we never got the explaining to. There some tightening I wish it had happened regarding Cyprin, some things we simply didn't get an answer to.
Sci-fi is usually my thing and even more so when it's queer and dystopian but this one didn't work for me, unfortunately.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending this ALC in exchange for an honest review.
The Divine Gardener's Handbook is the the chaotic queer exploration of love, ambition, and toxic work culture it promises you to be, but maybe it was an ill fit for me from the very beginning.
I have no notes for Ellie Gossage and Jess Nahikian, north narrator were amazing and they were responsible for making it possible for me to finish it.
I found the last 30% quite interesting, but the first 70% was a constant struggle to get me to care about the characters and the story surrounding them. Most of the book focuses on the two main characters and their romance, and yet I felt the development wasn't sufficient, which is surprising considering this part takes a reasonable amount of the book.
And that brings me to the my biggest problem here which was the writing, it felt redundant to an extent and I felt like even when the author was trying to tell me a lot it was still not telling me enough. I wish we had time to get to know more about the world instead of being dropped in it like we were, some details we never got the explaining to. There some tightening I wish it had happened regarding Cyprin, some things we simply didn't get an answer to.
Sci-fi is usually my thing and even more so when it's queer and dystopian but this one didn't work for me, unfortunately.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending this ALC in exchange for an honest review.
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
2.5 stars rounded up.
It’s a tall order to do genre blending well and I think this book has having more of an identity crisis. It was giving cozy fantasy vibes at first but then was more sci fi/dystopian but neither really landed for me and I definitely think the romance could have been way better portrayed.
The world building is well done and interesting but that should only be a small part of the narrative. For most of it I was more drawn to the side characters than our main FMC’s.
As far as the romance goes this could have been vastly improved. They hardly have any interaction besides hating each other and then a switch just flips I guess? This was the most disappointing aspect of the book. I would recommend this book with the understanding that the romance isn’t the part that shines the most; I was mislead by the blurb.
This is a dual style audiobook and unfortunately I did not care for Cyprin’s voice actor at all. I enjoyed Purcell’s POV much more and preferred this narrator (sorry I am not sure whose part was whose). Would still recommend this on audio because I think it does a better job of separating the POVs than just on paper since the 2 main characters had very little personality.
Thank you to Netgalley and Saturday Books for the eARC and MacMillan for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
It’s a tall order to do genre blending well and I think this book has having more of an identity crisis. It was giving cozy fantasy vibes at first but then was more sci fi/dystopian but neither really landed for me and I definitely think the romance could have been way better portrayed.
The world building is well done and interesting but that should only be a small part of the narrative. For most of it I was more drawn to the side characters than our main FMC’s.
As far as the romance goes this could have been vastly improved. They hardly have any interaction besides hating each other and then a switch just flips I guess? This was the most disappointing aspect of the book. I would recommend this book with the understanding that the romance isn’t the part that shines the most; I was mislead by the blurb.
This is a dual style audiobook and unfortunately I did not care for Cyprin’s voice actor at all. I enjoyed Purcell’s POV much more and preferred this narrator (sorry I am not sure whose part was whose). Would still recommend this on audio because I think it does a better job of separating the POVs than just on paper since the 2 main characters had very little personality.
Thank you to Netgalley and Saturday Books for the eARC and MacMillan for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I would call this a "post-apocalyptic dystopian world merged with speculative-fiction paranormal abilities." It's one of those very somber stories where everyone is trying to survive and no one knows quite what happened to destroy the world. So it's also got a genre touch of mystery to it. I think this is supposed to be a romance, but I can't pinpoint a reason why these two people would like each other, let alone love each other. They seem to trade insults 98% more than they trade endearments. The world building is very good and the concept is very unique. I wish, however, that the character arcs had been a bit more positive and that the characters had more growth to make them more likeable. I would like to link/point to this author's other book, The Duke Steals Hearts and Other Body Parts, which I gave five stars to. It was also a very unique concept and much better when it comes to positive arcs and romance. For Divine Gardener, I ultimately enjoyed reading it, but I have to take away a single star because the characters just weren't very nice. Ever. Big "mean-girl energy" in this one.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A little bit silly and a whole lot of mysterious and surreal, The Divine Gardener's Handbook is a story set in a post-apocalyptic world where an enormous garden sits at the top of a decaying city that builds upon itself. Our main characters, Cyprin and Purcell, come from two vastly different worlds and as a result have very different approaches when it comes to the gardens and the Great Petaled Divine. Honestly, I liked this story, but at the same time I'm still trying to make sense of what I read. This story is charming, bizarre, sometimes downright silly, sometimes dark, there's a little bit of everything mixed in. The world is described in detail, but it's clear that there are some darker forces at work in the garden that are somewhat explained, but not fully answered. However, the concept of this story as a whole is so fresh and fun, I think I can overlook these weaker areas in terms of plot and just enjoy it for what it is.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me early access to this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me early access to this book!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley for giving me this advanced copy!
Despite the 3 star rating, there is a lot of quality content in this book that makes it worth reading.
I love good worldbuilding. This book has a lot of it. I loved the elaborate aspects of the city. It was layered (literally). Theres this whole culture built around the underground. It felt like New York City far into the future.
I can also say that the religious aspects of this book were so interesting too. I love finding out how much of a religion is actually true. I love seeing a struggle between those loyal to the religion versus the institutions upholding the religion.
Where it fell flat for me was the characters and the romance. They had really great backgrounds that should've made this book really interesting and added depth to an already deep world. However, the way they acted was like juveniles. The romance felt forced and could've used more pages to work out. I'm not sure what the book was going for: fantasy romance or romantasy.
I don't want to discourage this author from writing. I also don't want to discourage anyone from reading this book because it really does have a lot to offer. It just wasn't a 4 or 5 star experience for me.
Despite the 3 star rating, there is a lot of quality content in this book that makes it worth reading.
I love good worldbuilding. This book has a lot of it. I loved the elaborate aspects of the city. It was layered (literally). Theres this whole culture built around the underground. It felt like New York City far into the future.
I can also say that the religious aspects of this book were so interesting too. I love finding out how much of a religion is actually true. I love seeing a struggle between those loyal to the religion versus the institutions upholding the religion.
Where it fell flat for me was the characters and the romance. They had really great backgrounds that should've made this book really interesting and added depth to an already deep world. However, the way they acted was like juveniles. The romance felt forced and could've used more pages to work out. I'm not sure what the book was going for: fantasy romance or romantasy.
I don't want to discourage this author from writing. I also don't want to discourage anyone from reading this book because it really does have a lot to offer. It just wasn't a 4 or 5 star experience for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was not what I expected, in a very good way. I expected more of a cozyish romantasy. I got a tech-sci-fantasy-dystopia with a very unique world-building, and although there's definitely an insta-lust, it's not not acted on, and is a slow burn enemies-rivals to sweet cozy by the end.
This author also did not shy away from having flawed characters trying to do their best, or very intentionally not doing their best.
The author has very amusing phrasing. I plan add some quotes here.
Fysa, it was slow to get into. It took me a couple weeks to read the first 25%, with not as much overt world-building by that point and the characters annoyed me. Then the plot and character development really opens up at about 25-35%, and then I was hooked and binged the rest in a couple days. Highly encourage other readers to stick it out.
Some elements of world-building and a couple chapters' narrative style reminded me of my experience reading The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz, but this is a very different book.
More substantive review to come.
This author also did not shy away from having flawed characters trying to do their best, or very intentionally not doing their best.
The author has very amusing phrasing. I plan add some quotes here.
Fysa, it was slow to get into. It took me a couple weeks to read the first 25%, with not as much overt world-building by that point and the characters annoyed me. Then the plot and character development really opens up at about 25-35%, and then I was hooked and binged the rest in a couple days. Highly encourage other readers to stick it out.
Some elements of world-building and a couple chapters' narrative style reminded me of my experience reading The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz, but this is a very different book.
More substantive review to come.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Is it a romance? Is it Sci Fi? Is it Fantasy? Could it be all of these at the same time? It definitely grabs you in the beginning and initially was one of those books that I wanted to keep reading, finding time in between other duties during the day to get back to Cyprin and Purcell. It has just enough mystery to keep you wondering what will happen next, how do all of these characters fit together and what is the point. And unfortunately for me that is where I landed - what is the point? About halfway through I began to debate if I should abandon but ultimately stuck with to the end. The relationship between Cyprin and Purcell should have been a romance, but seemed to be just two stubborn people struggling to like each other. I liked Saul and wished he could have been a bigger part of the outcome. This was just too dystopian for me. The journey into the underground was way over the top and painful to follow along through the slime and muck. This was well written, so creative and had some real highlights, it just wasn’t for me.
February 6, 2026
Guys, I love gay people. I love stories about gay people, and plant magic, and enemies to lovers. But for some reason, I just could not get into this book, and I'm upset about it!!!
I loved the main characters: they're complete opposites and their banter is quick-witted and funny, but I found the world and plot to be underdeveloped and confusing. It felt like the story did not truly begin until the 50% mark but by then, I had lost interest. The romance also read strange to me; Purcell and Cyprin would be thinking about how much they hate each other but then suddenly be like "wait, she's actually really hot," so the relationship came across as a little too "insta-lovey" and heavy-handed.
Publishing, I know that I wrote a pretty negative review but please publish more books about gay people having magical romps and falling in love in nature worlds!!!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!
I loved the main characters: they're complete opposites and their banter is quick-witted and funny, but I found the world and plot to be underdeveloped and confusing. It felt like the story did not truly begin until the 50% mark but by then, I had lost interest. The romance also read strange to me; Purcell and Cyprin would be thinking about how much they hate each other but then suddenly be like "wait, she's actually really hot," so the relationship came across as a little too "insta-lovey" and heavy-handed.
Publishing, I know that I wrote a pretty negative review but please publish more books about gay people having magical romps and falling in love in nature worlds!!!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a fun and silly time, but I found myself wanting more from it. I didn’t connect very well to the characters, and was more interested in the world this book is set in, which really starts getting cool near the end. But, near the end, the focus is more on the characters than on the world, and so it felt like we only grazed the surface of this book’s complex world. I wanted more lore!
Like,
If you’re looking for a book that touches on real-world issues a bit while not taking itself too seriously, and you’re in the mood for some lustful rivals to lovers, this would probably appeal to you!
Thank you to NetGalley and Saturday Books for the ARC!
Like,
If you’re looking for a book that touches on real-world issues a bit while not taking itself too seriously, and you’re in the mood for some lustful rivals to lovers, this would probably appeal to you!
Thank you to NetGalley and Saturday Books for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
This book actually has an extremely lush setting and some really cool worldbuilding with the idea of someone appointed God and charged with raising up the sun, living in a divine garden of sorts that all the regular poor people of the city long to get into. The garden itself is lavishly described, and you do understand why Cyprin wants so desperately to join the garden, willing to do nearly anything to get inside, and why Purcell wants equally as desperately to hold onto her role as head gardener and keep her status.
Unfortunately, the pacing of this novel is weird and jerky, with big revelations done in a very random manner, and the development of the relationship between the two characters especially juvenile. I don't feel the chemistry, and to be honest, at the 41% mark I gave up.
Still, the garden setting is lush enough that some readers may enjoy it anyway, but it couldn't hold my attention any longer.
This book actually has an extremely lush setting and some really cool worldbuilding with the idea of someone appointed God and charged with raising up the sun, living in a divine garden of sorts that all the regular poor people of the city long to get into. The garden itself is lavishly described, and you do understand why Cyprin wants so desperately to join the garden, willing to do nearly anything to get inside, and why Purcell wants equally as desperately to hold onto her role as head gardener and keep her status.
Unfortunately, the pacing of this novel is weird and jerky, with big revelations done in a very random manner, and the development of the relationship between the two characters especially juvenile. I don't feel the chemistry, and to be honest, at the 41% mark I gave up.
Still, the garden setting is lush enough that some readers may enjoy it anyway, but it couldn't hold my attention any longer.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I found the beginning a bit difficult to get into because, to be honest, I didn’t find the characters very likable or engaging. The story is solid and interesting. The world building was good although I think it might have helped to have more context about the world so that I would have been more invested. I still am not sure i understand what petal mail is. Maybe like chain mail?
It wasn’t long before I really started to enjoy the story and loved the character of Saul. Then the plot really started to pick up and I was hooked. By the time the major plot element happened, I then started to like the main characters as they put aside their pettiness and started to grow, as human beings. There were some very good twists and the last third of the book was interesting and charming. I would recommend the book and recommend the reader to have a little patience. Hang in there and it’s definitely a good read.
It wasn’t long before I really started to enjoy the story and loved the character of Saul. Then the plot really started to pick up and I was hooked. By the time the major plot element happened, I then started to like the main characters as they put aside their pettiness and started to grow, as human beings. There were some very good twists and the last third of the book was interesting and charming. I would recommend the book and recommend the reader to have a little patience. Hang in there and it’s definitely a good read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to netgalley for the arc, unfortunately I will be DNF’ing this book, the summary was really interesting however the execution leaves much to be desired, there is very little dialogue or personal interaction, and I feel like I’m just reading a summary log of the characters actions with not much emotion or insight involved, neither of the main characters are very likeable and there is nothing to hold my interest and continue reading this book, also the world building is not the quality I would expect from either a sci fi or fantasy book, there are a few eyebrow raising comments of things that don’t make sense or work without some form of fantastical explanation - an explanation that is not given, ex. This city supposedly has 7 billion people (pretty close to the population of the entire earth ) but somehow these huge gardens exist without a space problem and somehow without a spec of light pollution? This book is just not doing it for me
April 24, 2026
(3.75 star rounded up) Not a flawless book, but something about the world building kept me intrigued and excited to read this. It's whimsical and light while also in a dystopian setting similar to the juxtaposition of the Dungeon Crawler Carl books.
If you're looking for a romance forward story, this might not be for you since thier pining really is more of a back drop to the main story arc (which was a great balance for me!).
This book felt like it was on the brink of something brilliant, but needed maybe a bit more editing or guidance to get there? There were some unresolved major elements (no spoilers so staying vague) that were distracting. The world building was so fantastic it felt like there was some untapped potential that wasn't fully explored. That being said I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it--especially for a summer read. I'm also very excited to read more future work by this author.
~Thank you to the publisher for an advance readers copy~
If you're looking for a romance forward story, this might not be for you since thier pining really is more of a back drop to the main story arc (which was a great balance for me!).
This book felt like it was on the brink of something brilliant, but needed maybe a bit more editing or guidance to get there? There were some unresolved major elements (no spoilers so staying vague) that were distracting. The world building was so fantastic it felt like there was some untapped potential that wasn't fully explored. That being said I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it--especially for a summer read. I'm also very excited to read more future work by this author.
~Thank you to the publisher for an advance readers copy~
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I had such high hopes for this, but it just wasn't working for me and I DNFed. The prose and descriptions were clunky and confusing. You were dropped into a world you knew nothing about with no explanation. The characters were dull from the get-go and their actions and motivations didn't make much sense. The world was scattered and lacked any kind of organization or actual world-building. And honestly, every time I went back to this book it felt like a chore.
It's possible I'm not the target audience for this (though from the title, cover, and synopsis, it sure felt like I was). And it's possible that there will be changes in the final version that will tweak the parts that weren't working. But as of this reading, it's unfortunately just a no for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saturday Books for the opportunity to read and review this eARC.
2 stars
It's possible I'm not the target audience for this (though from the title, cover, and synopsis, it sure felt like I was). And it's possible that there will be changes in the final version that will tweak the parts that weren't working. But as of this reading, it's unfortunately just a no for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saturday Books for the opportunity to read and review this eARC.
2 stars
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