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The Hidden Grove #1
Purlieu
She ran away with him when she should have run from him.Evelyn is just an art student at Mianjin Arts Academy dreaming of a gap year abroad. Until she meets William. Through the Hidden Grove he reveals more than a gap year could ever offer. But as she steps into exotic lands and worlds untouched she discovers that there is another side to William lurking below the surface and that his motives might not be as pure as she first thought.Will she get home before the damage done is irreversible?With abundant green pastures turned snowcapped mountains, Purlieu will reveal an unthinkable power that leaves your heart thumping.
252 pages, Paperback
Published December 26, 2017
3 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Michaela Daphne
3 books29 followersMichaela Daphne is an Australian writer who has penned several short films, TV scripts, stage plays, and fiction stories and authored sections in the books Learning to Love and The Word Made Flesh. She’s spent the last ten years volunteering and working with high-schoolers and young adults in Australia and Singapore and her passion lies specifically with helping to equip young women for healthy relationships.
The Hidden Grove series is inspired by personal experiences of her own life and the lived stories of the young women she’s encountered.
Follow Michaela Daphne on Instagram @michaeladaphnewriter
or visit her website at www.michaeladaphne.com
The Hidden Grove series is inspired by personal experiences of her own life and the lived stories of the young women she’s encountered.
Follow Michaela Daphne on Instagram @michaeladaphnewriter
or visit her website at www.michaeladaphne.com
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 29, 2018
Evelyn is unhappy. Life with her father is difficult, he’s become withdrawn after the death of Evelyn's mother. Evelyn finds solace in her art, she’s an art school student hoping to travel and escape her suffocating home environment one day. She doesn’t have many friends and doesn’t feel loved or wanted. When she meets William this changes. He’s attentive and generous with praise. He shares Evelyn’s love for art and she thinks she’s found her soul mate. That’s why Evelyn lets William convince her it’s a good idea to leave home to live with him.
What Evelyn doesn’t know is that William isn’t living in her world. He takes her to the Hidden Grove and shows her the way to his home in Purlieu. He’s the only inhabitant of his realm. As soon as they arrive something changes in William. Has Evelyn made the right choice coming with him or has she made a big mistake that can’t easily be undone?
Purlieu is a fascinating gripping story. Evelyn is sad and lonely. She loved her mother with all her heart and the loss is almost too heavy to bear, especially because her father has become distant and cold. She desperately needs warmth and attention and that’s exactly what William is giving her. He takes her to a place where it’s just the two of them most of the time and even though there’s beauty in Purlieu it’s also incredibly creepy. I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen to Evelyn once she’d join the mysterious William and this kept me glued to the pages.
Michaela Daphne has fabulous world building skills. I loved how she makes the Hidden Grove and the realms she writes about come to life. I liked reading about the access routes, the usage of time and the intriguing and often dangerous inhabitants. Purlieu is a versatile story, it combines original fantasy with a deep emotional story about abuse, a mix filled with darkness that works really well. I was captivated by the amazing Purlieu from beginning to end and can’t wait to read Evelyn’s next adventure.
What Evelyn doesn’t know is that William isn’t living in her world. He takes her to the Hidden Grove and shows her the way to his home in Purlieu. He’s the only inhabitant of his realm. As soon as they arrive something changes in William. Has Evelyn made the right choice coming with him or has she made a big mistake that can’t easily be undone?
Purlieu is a fascinating gripping story. Evelyn is sad and lonely. She loved her mother with all her heart and the loss is almost too heavy to bear, especially because her father has become distant and cold. She desperately needs warmth and attention and that’s exactly what William is giving her. He takes her to a place where it’s just the two of them most of the time and even though there’s beauty in Purlieu it’s also incredibly creepy. I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen to Evelyn once she’d join the mysterious William and this kept me glued to the pages.
Michaela Daphne has fabulous world building skills. I loved how she makes the Hidden Grove and the realms she writes about come to life. I liked reading about the access routes, the usage of time and the intriguing and often dangerous inhabitants. Purlieu is a versatile story, it combines original fantasy with a deep emotional story about abuse, a mix filled with darkness that works really well. I was captivated by the amazing Purlieu from beginning to end and can’t wait to read Evelyn’s next adventure.
June 3, 2018
This book was provided by Voracious Readers in exchange for an honest Review. May contain spoilers about major points of the narrative!
The fantasy side of the novel came particularly late after establishing the relationship between Evelyn and William, the world-building and landscapes were amazing and so picturesque which makes it that much more difficult when looking at the situation that Evelyn is in. Purlieu is an idyllic world with no technology and goes back to a simple way of living, and even runs on a different timeline to Earth. The aspect I found the most interesting was the possibility that simply climbing a tree could bring you to another world, and even reminded me partly of the trees in The Nightmare Before Christmas that lead you to each seasonal holiday. The only downside of this particular device was that we did not get to explore many of the worlds through Evelyn, which I thought would be the point of the novel when I first read the description before requesting a copy. The relationships between Evelyn and the other characters kind of overshadowed the fantasy element, but taking the character out of the comfort in her own world seemed to give her perspective on her life and find a way back to it and away from the abuse she was suffering.
Evelyn’s relationship with her father was another important part of the book that I enjoyed as, even though I found Evelyn’s character to be quite grating as first, I understood both sides of the story: her father was trying to deal with being a single parent after losing his wife’s love and support and Evelyn was learning to be girl growing up without her mother’s guidance. I don’t think either character’s action should be excused, but not every parent or child will be informed on how to adapt so quickly after the death of a loved one. This was so cleverly done by the Daphne and I found myself crying at the end of the book and wanting to know how Evelyn would deal with the sexual assault of William.
The abuse within the novel is what made this book particularly difficult to read given what Evelyn had to endure in her abusive relationship with William, and the subjects that were not mentioned (but really should have been) in the blurb. The narrative hinted really heavily towards his controlling and abusive behaviour, and was hard to read especially when Evelyn was digging herself deeper. Evelyn’s physical abuse by William was particularly uncomfortable and should have been a warning before requesting a copy. Despite this however, I’m glad I read it and the relationship aspects and emotions were very subtle and clever in their progression and change of direction. It shows that young love is not as idyllic and easy as people seem to believe it is, and sometimes you really don’t know how a person will progress in a relationship especially one as quick as Evelyn and William’s.
I wouldn’t recommend this book to any fantasy readers, but more the people who find interest in the dynamics of abusive relationships. I found this book particularly difficult to read and probably would never read it again. I would definitely not class this book under the young adult genre as some of the topics within this book may not be appropriate for this age range. I would probably class this closer to the audience of 13 reasons why, and to read with caution.
The fantasy side of the novel came particularly late after establishing the relationship between Evelyn and William, the world-building and landscapes were amazing and so picturesque which makes it that much more difficult when looking at the situation that Evelyn is in. Purlieu is an idyllic world with no technology and goes back to a simple way of living, and even runs on a different timeline to Earth. The aspect I found the most interesting was the possibility that simply climbing a tree could bring you to another world, and even reminded me partly of the trees in The Nightmare Before Christmas that lead you to each seasonal holiday. The only downside of this particular device was that we did not get to explore many of the worlds through Evelyn, which I thought would be the point of the novel when I first read the description before requesting a copy. The relationships between Evelyn and the other characters kind of overshadowed the fantasy element, but taking the character out of the comfort in her own world seemed to give her perspective on her life and find a way back to it and away from the abuse she was suffering.
Evelyn’s relationship with her father was another important part of the book that I enjoyed as, even though I found Evelyn’s character to be quite grating as first, I understood both sides of the story: her father was trying to deal with being a single parent after losing his wife’s love and support and Evelyn was learning to be girl growing up without her mother’s guidance. I don’t think either character’s action should be excused, but not every parent or child will be informed on how to adapt so quickly after the death of a loved one. This was so cleverly done by the Daphne and I found myself crying at the end of the book and wanting to know how Evelyn would deal with the sexual assault of William.
The abuse within the novel is what made this book particularly difficult to read given what Evelyn had to endure in her abusive relationship with William, and the subjects that were not mentioned (but really should have been) in the blurb. The narrative hinted really heavily towards his controlling and abusive behaviour, and was hard to read especially when Evelyn was digging herself deeper. Evelyn’s physical abuse by William was particularly uncomfortable and should have been a warning before requesting a copy. Despite this however, I’m glad I read it and the relationship aspects and emotions were very subtle and clever in their progression and change of direction. It shows that young love is not as idyllic and easy as people seem to believe it is, and sometimes you really don’t know how a person will progress in a relationship especially one as quick as Evelyn and William’s.
I wouldn’t recommend this book to any fantasy readers, but more the people who find interest in the dynamics of abusive relationships. I found this book particularly difficult to read and probably would never read it again. I would definitely not class this book under the young adult genre as some of the topics within this book may not be appropriate for this age range. I would probably class this closer to the audience of 13 reasons why, and to read with caution.
June 13, 2018
This book was a captivating read. I was drawn in immediately by the quick plot and excitement. There isn't a dull moment. It was absolutely fantastic.
The plot centres around Evelyn who is mourning the loss of her mother a year later while it appears that her father doesn't care and her closest friend can't take Evelyn's grief any longer.
She meets William in an art gallery and sets off on an adventure with him as he appears to be the only person left who cares about her. William ends up being not quite what he seems.
The world building in this book is fantastic. William and Evelyn's characters are well thought out and very dynamic. I wish the book had been longer. My only issue is with the small character of Cameron who seems to dislike Evelyn for no good reason. Hopefully that is fleshed out later on as I'm excited to see that this will be a series!
I highly recommend this book for a quick paced, adventurous read.
**I received a free copy of this book from Voracious Readers in exchange for my honest review.
The plot centres around Evelyn who is mourning the loss of her mother a year later while it appears that her father doesn't care and her closest friend can't take Evelyn's grief any longer.
She meets William in an art gallery and sets off on an adventure with him as he appears to be the only person left who cares about her. William ends up being not quite what he seems.
The world building in this book is fantastic. William and Evelyn's characters are well thought out and very dynamic. I wish the book had been longer. My only issue is with the small character of Cameron who seems to dislike Evelyn for no good reason. Hopefully that is fleshed out later on as I'm excited to see that this will be a series!
I highly recommend this book for a quick paced, adventurous read.
**I received a free copy of this book from Voracious Readers in exchange for my honest review.
October 13, 2020
Fantasy thriller romance novel with a few twists and turns. This story takes you to fantastical worlds that you've never imagined.
Evelyn, the heroine, is experiencing romantic love for the first time. But there are a few twists and unexpected turns as she begins to understand the nature of her relationship and how it affects the people she loves the most. But just as all seems to have worked itself out, it is hinted that there is more to this story in the books to come (this is book 1 of a 3-book series).
Written for young adults but would also be helpful for parents of young women who are in an abusive relationship. As a parent of a daughter who has been in this type of relationship, it was helpful to understand what she was thinking and going through at the time.
Evelyn, the heroine, is experiencing romantic love for the first time. But there are a few twists and unexpected turns as she begins to understand the nature of her relationship and how it affects the people she loves the most. But just as all seems to have worked itself out, it is hinted that there is more to this story in the books to come (this is book 1 of a 3-book series).
Written for young adults but would also be helpful for parents of young women who are in an abusive relationship. As a parent of a daughter who has been in this type of relationship, it was helpful to understand what she was thinking and going through at the time.
March 19, 2018
I loved this book! I started reading it one night and finished it by the next... I never wanted to stop reading! The mystery kept me hooked. So many questions came up during the book and I was hoping they'd be answered by the end - I was not disappointed. The fantasy side of Purlieu was also well done, both interesting and believable. There are also great messages in the book regarding relationships, including warning signs. This is a book I'll be sharing with others and reading again myself.
May 12, 2018
This was well written and easy to read. The plot was interesting and new and it was great to see Evelyn grow from strength to strength. As an Aussie I would have liked to have seen more references to the Australian bush and more colloquial language. All in all a nice easy read.
May 5, 2018
A great read, this is an original story that moves at a gripping pace. I really enjoyed this book. Looking forward to the next one!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews