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Book Review: THE ALCHEMY OF FLOWERS: A NOVEL
Exhausted and broken by loss, Eloise takes the chance of a lifetime to answer an ad in a French gardening magazine. To fly away from her life in the States and tend to both her shattered heart and the flowers of Paradise. And, best of all, for her …
Absolutely no children allowed on the premises.
Within the high garden walls, Eloise starts to learn the strange rules of the elusive estate owner. Living and working in isolation with her three companions, she finds her heart opening again to friendship — and realizes she's drawn to the handyman, Raphael. The flowers whisper to her, enchanting, delighting, healing.
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But why are the workers forbidden from going out during dusk? Who is the 'Goddess of the Garden'? Is her mind playing tricks on her, or does she see a woodsprite flitting through the trees? The giggles and glimpses of a little girl haunt her and make her question: What is real in Paradise, and what is illusion?
Eloise tries to rationalize her uneasy feelings and the darkness she uncovers beneath the garden's lush beauty, but as she digs deeper into the mysteries of her sanctuary, she begins to suspect there's a child on the grounds — who may be in danger. When Paradise becomes a deadly prison, she must risk everything to protect her newfound family and claim her second chance at happiness.
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A Garden of Language
The highlight of Laura Resau's The Alchemy of Flowers is its lush setting. More accurately, the sensual descriptions of said setting. This is a novel where part of me wants to see it on screen to really see what's in my mind's eye after reading the poetic prose; the other part of me thinks there's no way the visual medium would do Resau's images justice.
I could taste every morsel Eloise eats, inhale every flower she touches her nose to … and I could feel the terror she felt in the twilight. Because, yes, for all its beauty, The Alchemy of Flowers is a thriller. Sort of.
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When Thrills Are Low-Stakes
If there wasn't such a thing as a cozy thriller before, Resau has invented it with this book. More ambience than jump scares, the horror in The Alchemy of Flowers reflects Eloise's inner turmoil. Her backstory is deeply mournful, and the most distressing part of the tale. Even so … I'm the same age as Eloise, and her whole schtick did cause me to side-eye her at times. (But at least Stella gets her groove back.)
Don't get me wrong, the novel has a body count and its fair share of people acting strange. It's just more Haunting of Bly Manor than Haunting of Hill House .
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Will You Love It Or Love It Not?
This book is a mood . I found the lush setting and rich emotions a welcome escape. That said, about 75 percent of The Alchemy of Flowers consists of descriptions of food, flowers, treehouses and the like. Some might find that tedious. If you're plot-driven, this novel might not be for you. If you don't mind a slow, meandering approach to action, I highly recommend settling in with this one.
Laura Resau's The Alchemy of Flowers: A Novel is out on July 29, 2025. Borrow a copy from your local library or pick one up at your local indie bookstore.
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