In the Garden of Monsters

A Goodreads Most Anticipated Historical Fiction Book of Fall 2024 A sinister romance and hypnotic Gothic fairytalesurreal and luscious with a fascinating twist on the story of Hades and Persephone. Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Ariadne A woman with no past. A man who seems to know her. And a monstrous garden that could be the border between their worlds Italy, 1948 Julia Lombardi is a mystery even to herself. The beautiful model cant remember where shes from, where shes been or how she came to live in Rome. When she receives an offer to accompany celebrated eccentric artist Salvador Dal to the Sacro BoscoItalys Garden of Monstersas his muse, shes strangely compelled to accept. It could be a chance to unlock the truth about her past Shrouded in shadow, the garden full of giant statues that sometimes seem alive is far from welcoming. Still, from the moment of their arrival at the palazzo, Julia is inexplicably drawn to their darkly enigmatic host, Ignazio. Hes alluring yet terrifyingand he seems to know her. Posing for Dal as the goddess Persephone, Julia finds the work to be perplexing, particularly as Dal descends deeper into his fanaticism. To him, she is Persephone, and he insists she must eat pomegranate seeds to rejoin her king. Between Dals fevered persistence, Ignazios uncanny familiarity and the agonizing whispered warnings that echo through the garden, Julia is soon on the verge of unraveling. And she begins to wonder if shes truly the mythical queen of the Underworld