This book was amazing - combining the very real and human dilemmas of familial relationships with the fantastical ideas of what life could be like if you just took a chance, it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I really enjoyed the character development that took place over the course of the book, and while certain elements felt mystical and impossible, the story never felt too far-fetched. I've already recommended this to friends and coworkers and will continue to do so!

I was drawn to the story in which the cult's unique way of life is alluring. But as the narrative goes on, the illusion starts to fade, exposing the frightening truth that is hidden behind the façade.

The author's use of vivid imagery through her descriptive language painted a captivating world that truly came to life. The mastery element and emotional depth of the characters made me feel invested in their journey.

The relationship between Cecilia, the free-spirited wanderer, and Rosie, the sensible and responsible sibling, serves as the narrative's central theme. Their sisterhood is stronger than ever, even though their personalities couldn't be more different. We are dragged into Rosie's search for her missing sister. I found myself sympathetic to Rosie as her perspective changed during the book. You are able to feel her growth and the difficulties she encounters as the book progresses.

Overall, this was a beautifully written story that I couldn't put down.

Here in Avalon by Tara Isabella Burton

This was a frustrating but haunting book. A red boat carrying . . . fairies? magicians? what? . . . promising a new life. Mysterious disappearances and clues, dangers, mixed loyalties, suspense. I did speed-read some of the first half (a useful technique that helped my students get through GREAT EXPECTATIONS, to which one could make some comparisons).
Don’t we all sometimes feel impatient with the mundane sameness of real life, real jobs, routines? Is that discontent more extreme for artists and those who enjoy fiction? Do we want to follow the lead of someone who is “always right” or think for ourselves and accept the outcomes as our own? Near the end, I couldn’t sleep until I finished, a sure sign of an engaging book.

Thank you to Simon Books Buddy for sending me not only the pre-approved Netgalley widget for Here in Avalon, but also a physical finished copy for my trophy she—i mean, book shelf. This review is entirely my own thoughts and opinions and is based off the finished copy from Simon Books!

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Here in Avalon is a fantastical, whimsical, fairytale of two sisters living in NYC; one who seemingly has it all together, and the other who flits from one life to another, searching for a love/life worth living. Separately, they both find themselves entranced to an enigmatic group of people who may or may not be, a dangerous cult.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
OVERALL: 4.5🌟
STORY: 4/5🌟
WRITING: 4/5🌟
CHARACTERS: 5/5🌟
ENJOYMENT: 9/10

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
STORY:

So... I absolutely love a good secret cult story. It's a great way to get me to read outside of my comfort zone, and this book, was worth it. The story is compelling and relatable. I mean, I've never stepped foot in NYC, but I could see myself as the sisters. I could feel what they feel. Understand what they're thinking. Feel the same enchantment that they fall under.
The atmosphere is so haunting, yet beautiful, creepy yet magical. It keeps you on your toes, pulling you back and forth blurring the lines between reality and the fantastical. I did feel at times the pacing would plod along a bit, but that never truly distracted me from the plot.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
WRITING:

From the first page, I fell in love with the whimsical fairytale way that Burton wrote this story. While NYC is already often described as a magical city, Burton really drove it home with how fairytale-like she wrote her story. Additionally, while the writing is smart and contemporary, it's still rather easy to read and digest.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
CHARACTERS:

I feel like most readers will find themselves relating to one of the sisters. I, definitely related very much to Cecilia, the dreamer who continues to search the world for her holy grail. I felt her frustrations of being 30 and not having a life put together the way her sister, Rose, has. I felt her struggle with maintaining an apartment. I knew how it is to discover something new and wonderful and just get utterly swept up in it. I completely got Cecilia, and really saw myself in her as well. Rose was a tougher nut to swallow. Most of the story, I was with her, understanding and empathetic towards her. But since I am ever the dreamer and absolutely want to see characters swept away into something new and magical, I was irked by her resistance to Avalon, her refusal to admit her perfect life was in fact, not perfect.

Overall, the characters all brought the story to life, to a vibrant mysterious reality; with the sisters both carving their own paths of growth and acceptance of themselves.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
ENJOYMENT:

This book could have been a one day read if I hadn't started it at like midnight. So instead it was a two day read that I thoroughly devoured. It was an excellent experience outside my usual comfort zone of books.

I didn't hate this book, but I didn't love it. Even trying to come up with something to say about it, I'm ambivalent and struggling to find anything to say. I'm not even sure why I finished the book. Nothing really drew me in to get wrapped up in the story, but I did finish it, so there must be something about it that captured my brain. Maybe I got sucked in by the magic of the Avalon and was compelled to finish it.

“‘Everybody always wants to change their life.’ Caleb shrugged. ‘Almost nobody ever does.’”

“‘All you have to do is remember that you’re giving someone a very great gift. The greatest.’ ‘Magic?’ Rose could not hide her doubt. Morgan shook her head. ‘Attention,’ she said.”

This book is so outside of my comfort zone, but that was a goal of mine for this year. And wow am I glad I branched out because I feel enchanted now. I always say that I struggle so hard with suspension of belief and that’s why I can’t get lost in most magical realism or fantasy stories. But I got lost in this one!

I had no problem imagining this magical boat, whisking away the lost to a place where they feel found. I just loved it. It was so whimsical and heartwarming. I will recommend this book to everyone, but especially those that have ever found themselves feeling lost in society or feeling like they don’t quite fit into societal molds.

“I don’t think self-narrativizing is particularly healthy. You can convince yourself of a lot of stupid things, if you start thinking of yourself as some sort of hero.”

Thank you to @SimonBooks, @Netgalley, and the author for the gifted copy.

Rose is an interesting protagonist; the book makes allusions to her telling the story years from when it takes place, but no mention of what this period of her life meant to her. Throughout the entire thing she's watching life not fully participating but going through the motions. On the other hand theres her sister who has been trying to fill this void in herself and immersed in life but still coming up empty. There's no magic except what you can create for yourself and the price you pay to keep those illusions. It's a story that meanders and takes you across the city, but that's what's happening I guess. Sometimes we're all just visitors until we find home.

This one ended up being a like for me but I think it will be a love for many others. I advise not going into it expecting a fantasy, but more of an enchanting contemporary read. I loved the complex relationship of Rose and Cecelia. My sister and I are also very much opposites, and being the Rose of the family I could relate to her in many ways. I loved the magic of The Avalon and the descriptions of the spellbinding music, entertainment, and eclectic cast members of the cabaret. It's easy to see how entranced one may become upon the vessel. It's possible the writing was just a little too poetic for me with a lot of deeper themes, but I will say it was beautifully written and I will definitely seek out more by the author.

The story revolves around two sisters who are nearly complete opposites. Rose is a realist, organized, works in tech, and is planning her wedding with a highly successful fiancé. Cecilia is more of a dreamer, lover of the arts, and unfortunately known to be unreliable as she's always chasing happiness, or her "grail."

When Cecilia gets involved with a mysterious cabaret troupe and eventually goes missing, Rose must make her way into the strange world of The Avalon to find her sister, by solving clues left around New York City to receive her special invitation. Realist Rose believes the cabaret is a cult, but the more she's immersed in their fairy tale world, the more the line between reality and magic becomes blurred.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for my gifted copy and eARC for review. All thoughts were my own.

This is more of a 3.5 for me. i wanted more magic. If you're going to bring in the Arthurian legend references, either acknowledge them sooner or have more magic. In the end, I think the book is about love, giving and receiving and how hard it is to do either sometimes. I also had a little trouble in the beginning with locale, were we in England or New York? I liked the variety of talents exhibited on the Avalon to show people what they needed to see, but in this world of scammers, the bringing in of "clients" was a scary proposition, especially disposing of all their possessions.

Thank you @SimonBooks #SimonBooksBuddy for the free book!

Would recommend for fans of…
🦢 NYC settings
🦢 Modern fairytales
🦢 The Night Circus

It’s been about a week since I finished Here in Avalon, a culty, modern fairytale set in NYC, and I’m still trying to put together all of my feelings about the book (which tbh, I’m not sure is a good or a bad thing).

There were a lot of things I liked about the book — there were equal amounts of plot and character development mixed in with commentary on our present culture that had me laughing. There was a sense of mystery and magic that really pushed the plot forward, and I really enjoyed the deep dive into the relationship between sisters Cecilia and Rose. My favorite part of the story though was how much it reminded me of a more sinister version of The Night Circus. The vibes were *chef’s kiss*

Sometimes though, I felt like there was a little too much attention placed on style over substance. The prose is beautiful and poetic, but language often overshadowed the actual events of the story. I wanted to know more about the Avalon and those who were running it and how they became involved. Maybe it’s just my interest in cults and secret societies, but I was a bit disappointed to not get answers to all of my questions.

If you’re not interested in reading a full-on fantasy novel but want something that feels magical, Here in Avalon is PERFECT for you. It’s also a great book for any lit fic fans who are looking to add a bit of mystery to their reading.

Here in Avalon is available now. Thanks again to Simon Books for the free copy!

Enchanting Avalon

Embarking on 2024 with the enchanting tale of "Here in Avalon" by Tara Isabella Burton proved to be an excellent choice. Gratitude extends to NetGalley and all contributors for granting me access to this ARC. Marking my introduction to Burton's work, it feels akin to befriending a newfound magical companion. Freshly released yesterday, this book beckons readers to seek it out – a suggestion I wholeheartedly endorse.

Burton, with prose that seamlessly integrates into the mystical realm of Avalon, crafts an enchanting narrative. While not rooted in fantasy or magical realism, the book exudes a magical quality comparable to experiencing the most beautiful song or witnessing an exquisite painting. Burton's writing, evoking the allure of Avalon, is so captivating that getting lost in its charm becomes inevitable.

The characters of Rose and Cecilia, brilliantly portrayed archetypes, resonate with familiarity. Cecilia, the romantic drifter pursuing the allure of the extraordinary, contrasts sharply with Rose's pragmatic outlook. Rose's world is disrupted when she perceives her sister's abduction by a mysterious group, propelling her into a pursuit that leads her to the enigmatic Avalon – a late-night cabaret of magical proportions.

As the narrative unfolds, Burton's storytelling captures the essence of fleeting beauty within The Avalon, a sanctuary for lost souls seeking the remnants of magic. Rose, captivated by this mystical realm, embarks on a quest to find her sister, willingly taking a leap of faith into the unknown side of enchantment.

"Here in Avalon" emerges as a contemporary and atmospheric exploration of beauty and poetry, transcending the boundaries of mundane existence. Illuminating the possibility of a more beautiful life, irrespective of circumstances, the novel encourages readers to believe in the perpetual potential for magic. A splendid inaugural read for the year, don't miss the opportunity to delve into this captivating narrative. Follow the link below and immerse yourself in the magic of "Here in Avalon" now.

Story Synopsis: Rose and Cecilia, sisters, couldn’t be more different. Cecilia is one of those people that doesn’t seem to have her life together. She’s entertaining to others because of her flakiness and willingness to dive headfirst into experiences and adventures. Rose is the opposite: calm, organized, dutiful, and pragmatic.

One day, Cecilia comes across something that will change her life - like so many other misadventures she’s had. The Avalon, a mysterious cabaret, creates a bit of magic for Cecilia, giving her hope for a better life. When Cecilia’s flakiness leads to all-out disappearance, Rose must choose to let her go and keep her orderly life or to track down Cecilia to ensure she’s okay.

Why does this book beguile? Here in Avalon is beguiling because it’s all over the place. I saw this book billed as “magical realism,” “psychological thriller,” and “enchanting.” Unfortunately, it’s none of those things. Here in Avalon isn’t a bad book, but it’s a confused book. Is it about a circus/cabaret? Is it about the sisters? Is it about love? Is it about family?

I honestly don’t know.

Truth be told, I wanted to DNF the book about 100 pages in, but something interesting happened, so I kept reading. Then, nothing happened until the end, which was underwhelming.

I’ve seen phrases like “enchanting” and “urban fairy tale” used to describe this unique and dreamy book. It’s absolutely true - I was quickly drawn in and just ate up the characters, prose, and New York City setting.

I requested a copy as soon as I read that cabarets played a main theme. This book certainly resonated with the musical Cabaret’s lyrics: “So, life is disappointing? Forget it! We have no troubles here. In here life is beautiful!” Lost misfits trying to find their way in a cold and bustling world that just doesn’t creatively or emotionally satisfy. It certainly becomes understandable why people are drawn to cults. But this book does not romanticize that, it merely shows the initial beauty and excitement of finding likeminded people who happen to be in an enchanted fairy-like world of their own.

Cecilia and Rose were excellent complex characters and fascinating sisters. The first chapter says so much about their personalities in just a few pages. I didn’t always like the supporting characters in their respective lives, but they served their purpose. The love they had for one another, despite having difficulties relating, was really beautiful. They both needed to find themselves, and the elusive cabaret really did play a crucial turning point in both their lives. I would happily read this again and absolutely recommend!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for kindly providing an arc in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Here In Avalon
Author: Tara Isabella Burton
Source: NetGalley
Pub. Date: Jan. 2, 2024

OMG…This is the perfect book for the first read of 2024. Oh my goodness, what a novel! Here in Avalon by Tara Isabella Burton is so beautiful, lyrical, and magical that it defies a brief description. Tara describes a cult in the heart of New York City that lures unhappy “beautiful” people to a lifetime of living in a community that embraces wonder, beauty, music, art, and a sense of belonging. The problem becomes that, of course, you have to leave your past behind, including family and friends. The writing is superb, the story is so full of wonder, and the power of love, especially the love of a sister for her “lost” sister, is triumphant. I don’t think I adequately describe the story, but believe me; this is one you should read. #Avalon #NYC #cult #beauty #love #lost #found #future #desire #want #need #lifeunfulfilled #fiction @notoriousdrtib @NetGalley #hereinavalon #taraisabellaburton @simonandschuster #fantasy #magicalrealism #fairytales
💌
I received a complimentary copy of this ARC. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this novel. Pub. Date: Jan. 2, 2024
💌

#book #books #bookAddict #BooksOfInstagram #bookstagram #bookstagramer #bookshelf #reader #booklove #bookreader #reader #reviewer

Here in Avalon is a literary fiction novel that exists in a liminal space: it’s a fantasy that’s not quite a fantasy novel, it’s a mystery that’s not quite a mystery novel, it’s a thriller but not quite a thriller novel, and it’s magical but not entirely magical realism. The best way I can describe Here in Avalon is it’s a love letter: to New York, to cults, to sisters, to beauty, and to love itself.

I’ve made it no secret that I adore Tara Isabella Burton. I own both of her other novels and adore them. So maybe I’m coming from a place of bias as I read this book and as I’m writing this review, but reading a Burton book is like sinking into a dreamscape. She simply doesn’t see the world the same as I do. Maybe it’s different for other people, but to me she writes the world like it still has mystery, magic, and enchantment to it. For a very cynical person like me who tends to fear everyone and think catastrophically, books like hers are like fairy tales. Maybe that’s by virtue of her academic background. Maybe that’s just intrinsically who she is at heart. Who knows? All I care about is that she keeps writing utterly beautiful books like these for as long as it makes her happy to do so.

The story of Rose, Cecilia, and The Avalon is compelling from the start, from Rose and Cecilia’s negligent childhood and their insistence that New York City raised them to Cecilia’s adult wanderlust that carries her all over the globe to Rose’s adulty-adultiness to the events that lead Cecilia and then Rose to The Avalon…It’s what happens once they get there that starts to whip your heart into a frenzy and turn page over page. The days bleed into nights into weeks into months. It’s so beautiful and sad and lovely.

When I came to the end I was both sad and satisfied. Sad because I had finished yet another Tara Isabella Burton novel and would have to wait for the next. Satisfied because it was perfect.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: 5 Star Review/Cult Fiction/Literary Fiction

This was the first book I've read by Tara Isabella Burton. It was a fun, enchanting mystery that kept me turning the pages. I loved the character development and the plot was very original. This is one I'll want to recommend. There were a few parts that seemed unclear and I had to re-read, but overall it's a solid novel.

First, I liked the comfort of New York, it felt like its own character, and the role it played in the girls lives as they grew up.

Here In Avalon had a slow start, but Cecilia and Rose were strong characters with an intriguing sister dynamic that carried me along until the plot picked up in the second part. Both Cecilia, with her constant quests for life’s magic, and Rose, with her structured reaction to the unpredictability of life, have moments of relatability as they search for meaning in a seemingly meaningless world.

Burton strikes a delicate balance between looking behind the “magical” curtain of cults and acknowledging their appeal in a purposeless world. But after finishing the novel, I reread the author’s note and I’m not 100% sure whether we’re for or against cults and I wanted to be more sure by the end. Is this a love story? Is it about succumbing to anything that gives purpose? Or just showing how one could? I also could have done without the storyline between Rose and another character in the latter half of the book. It took away from her journey, and again, made me question the story’s messaging.

Here In Avalon tackles sisterhood, freedom, sacrifice, love, and the power of belief.

Here in Avalon by @notoriousdrtib is an intriguing story about family ties and dazzling yet cultish (?) cabarets! 🎭

🌟🌟🌟🌟

The positives: I loved the character developments of Rose and Cecilia! They were both complex characters that had a lot of baggage. However, their relationship somewhat improves. But, honestly, all of the characters were a little bit toxic in a way. The concept of “Avalon” is very amazing as well and the eccentric cast of characters are intricate! 🤩

I really wanted to enjoy Here In Avalon because the premise is fascinating! However, the writing was sometimes confusing. And the plot lines are often hard to follow.

All in all, Here In Avalon was a good book and I encourage everyone to create their own opinions about it. 😊✍🏼👯‍♀️✨

Thank you to @netgalley and @simonbooks for the opportunity to read/review this ARC! 📚

#SimonBooksBuddy #HereInAvalon #taraisabellaburton #review

<strong>Eloquent & Haunting</strong>


<b>Quote:📖</b><i>
It wasn't just her face, either. It was that angelic and infuriating way she had of looking up at you, with blue unblinking eyes, like you somehow had the answers to all the questions she had not yet figured out nobody in their right mind could answer: questions like what does living a good life look like, or why do we always want the wrong things, or how do we even know what we want in the first place.
</i>

<b>Thoughts: 💡</b>
This book is eloquently written and while the story is engaging, the thing that kept me entranced was the way the author told the story. It’s so beautiful it reads like poetry and paints a tale that is both creepy and magical.

This novel was a departure from most of what I usually read, but in a good way. This book was about two very different sisters who disappear into what appears to be a utopian world/cult, which includes a traveling cabaret by its members. There were clearly elements of magical realism (which is, what I am sure drew me into requesting the book) and things were a bit murky as to how much was real and how much was magic but I enjoyed that uncertainty. While both sisters were very much opposite, both seemed to be unhappy with their lives in different ways, so it made sense that they became consumed in/by this world.
If I had any critique for the author, it would be that it wasn't altogether clear to me how the two sisters growing up in the same environment were so different from one another. There was a little hinting at it but I think it would have been helpful if there was a little more explanation. In addition, I think the end was a little bit rushed and I would have liked to see her take a little more time so that it was less abrupt. That being said, it was a very enjoyable read and I would read more by this author.