Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I really love Tara Isabella Burton and consider Social Creature to be one of my favorite novels so I found this to be… disappointing and baffling, to be quite honest. Burton is a wonderful writer but the plot is just astonishingly pointless and confusing here. It’s like if you took Rouge by Mona Awad but made it not as good?

Here in Avalon by Tara Isabella Burton

Published: January 2, 2024
Simon & Schuster
Genre: Coming of Age Fiction
Pages: 316
KKECReads Rating:
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

TARA ISABELLA BURTON is a writer of fiction and non-fiction. Winner of the Shiva Naipaul Memorial Prize for Travel Writing, she completed her doctorate in 19th-century French literature and theology at the University of Oxford and is a prodigious travel writer, short story writer, and essayist for National Geographic, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist's 1843 and more. She currently works for Vox as their Religion Correspondent, lives in New York, and divides her time between the Upper East Side and Tbilisi, Georgia. She is also at work on a nonfiction book on cults. Her first novel, Social Creature, is forthcoming from Doubleday in June.

Everything about this novel is beautiful. I loved the sister dynamic and how genuine it felt. The charm and charisma in this book will captivate your heart and hold it hostage.

This read like an ethereal fairytale but had a realism that keeps your head above the water. The prose is almost seductive in how it captivates.

The exploration into relationship dynamics was brilliant—the careful way everything was curated and balanced. The nuance was excellent. The emotional residue I feel after finishing this book is challenging to put into words. But I thoroughly enjoyed this story.

I wanted to love this story from the start because I love stories with sisters, however, this story took a little bit to get into for me. Rose and Cecilia were both unique characters who I found myself wanting the best for throughout the story. The world of the cabaret was unique and captivating. I was also surprised by the mystery that came to be as I continued to read. I really enjoyed the imagery as the cabaret was described and the world of their current day New York City. There were also some King Arthur themes brought into this story which was unique! Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Here In Avalon is one of the most intriguing books I’ve read in years. Two sisters, raised BY New York City streets, museums, art, and neighbors in a rent controlled apartment end up in two very different adult lifestyles. Rose rejected her bohemian upbringing, seeking stability in a good job as an app developer, engaged to a CEO of a wellness company. Contrastingly, Cecilia, has spent decades drifting in and out of the city as a traveling musician as far away as Europe; rarely committing to relationships, jobs, or residences. When Cecilia blows back into NYC one year, Rose is hopefully maybe she is ready to settle down and stay until her behavior gets increasingly erratic until she disappears. Rose believes she has been groomed and taken by a highly secretive underground cabaret trope called, Avalon. Risking her own career and engagement, Rose joins Cecelia’s estranged husband on a quest to also be invited to the Avalon. Once she solves their riddles and acquires an invitation, Rose finds herself swept into a seemingly magical world offering a new life. Is Avalon truly a revolutionary utopian commune; offering a life full of art, magic, and shared livelihood? Or is it just another cult praying on the lonely to find themselves entrapped in their hidden/secretive world?

All I can say is: WOW! The writing was so alluring, evocative, and propulsive. I turned page after page, wanting to learn more about the Avalon, solve Cecelia's disappearance, and explore whether real-world fairy tales exist! I loved the thematic emphasis on sisterhood, identity, and self-exploration. Prepared to be swept away by this novel; perfect for book clubs and readers of all types.

Thank you to SimonBook and the Simon Books Buddy program for my copy in exchange for my thoughts.

It took me six days to actually finish my first book of the year (just because I was really busy) and y’all, it could not have started off with a bigger bang!!!!

Can I— can I just live in this book??? Pretty, pretty please? I want to live at the Avalon. I want to perform in a cabaret and help lost souls. What a dream.

What a wonderful, beautiful, GLORIOUS idea this is. Because deep down, I think we’re all a little lost. And the world is hardest for the dreamers. And even though I know the message this book is trying to convey, I just love the idea of this world so damn much.

So this book is MAGICAL. If I hadn’t been quite so busy, I probably would’ve devoured this whole book in one sitting. It’s a glorious, magical adventure. One that I’m already so sad is over.

But it’s also a story about who we are as people and how many choices and mistakes make up a life. Sometimes we make the wrong choices. But sometimes we also find something truly magical. And this story does such a beautiful job of conveying that.

So. I loved this. If I had finished this in 2023, it would have easily made my top 10. (It’s already my favorite book of 2024, haha) I can’t even put into words how much I loved this story.

I could not recommend this more highly! I’m not a huge fan of fantasy but this is *exactly* the kind of fantasy I love to read. If you’re looking to visit a wonderful, magical cabaret, please pick this up!

Thank you to Simon Books, Book Club Favorites & NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review!

Rose and Cecilia's relationship is like many sibling relationships. Should you interfere and protect or should you let your sibling go their own way and figure it out themselves? Rose is engaged and successful in her coding job and just so tired of Cecilia's ways. She's never satisfied, constantly running from and to different endeavors until she suddenly disappears. Rose finds her way to her to rescue her. But does she need rescuing from a cult who seems magical? Cults interest me with the way they convince people their way is the only way and the Avalon seems really great. I enjoyed this story even though it was kind of slow in places.

Wow! This book took my attention fully. I absolutely loved the “cult” of Avalon and can see how anyone could fall under the spell of this underworld cabaret troupe. Everything about it felt magical and getting to leave the real world for a while sounds like a great time.

This was such an interesting look both at cults and how cultish “normal” society can be sometimes. It’s the abnormal that gets looked down on often and Dr. Burton does a fantastic(al) job using this story to talk about this. Our main characters Rose and Cecilia felt real and fully fleshed out with actual problems that we all face.

There was never a dull moment in the book and the pacing was just what I was hoping for when picking it up to read.

This book was a whirlwind, it reminded me of Caraval except more rooted in reality. I found the ending to be a little bit too vague and bizarre. I wanted to end in the world of reality and knowing a bit more of how the sisters ended up.

Here in Avalon is the latest novel by author Tara Isabella Burton, whose previous titles include Social Creature, The World Cannot Give, and the non fiction works Strange Rites and Self-made. The story follows Rose, a young programmer in her late 20’s living in New York City, who is reunited with her sister Cecilia, a constant in and out presence in her life. Following another of Cecilia’s flights of fancy, Rose is hopeful that her sister will remain and start a more solid life. But the artistic and romantic Cecilia disappears once again after an encounter with a mysterious floating theatre troupe leads to a fight between the sisters. Now believing that the group has taken her sister, Rose begins to decipher clues and track them down, hoping that she can resist the illustrious spell of the Avalon Cabaret.

(Thanks to Simon and Schuster for the ARC via NetGalley)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. And as an acquaintance of Tara Isabella Burton, I have been to many of the spots mentioned in the book, including the “20’s night above the KGB Bar”, where we met. I have read her nonfiction books before but never read her fiction, although I did preview the first few chapters of Social Creature some time after its release and found myself enjoying them (I will read it in full eventually).

Burton has a keen gift for describing the magic of the city, from the wonders of nightlife to the simple joys of daytime. And her protagonists are well rounded, her writing fully showing Roses’ thoughts and allowing Cecilia the ability to convey her thoughts in dialogue. I also liked the relationship between the sisters to be very realistic to the circumstances presented. They aren’t super close but still care for each other, with harboring some bitter resentment for being left alone over and over again.

The other characters were a wild assortment of “friends”, partners, accomplices in the mystery unfolding. Some of Rose’s friends had me screaming “how is she still hanging out with these people?!” But when you understand what kind of life Rose wants to live, you understand why she hangs out with them.

The mystery surrounding the cabaret and whether or not it was truly magical made it hard for me to stop reading. But once the truth was revealed, I saw that the story was moving in a different direction. A direction that surprisingly felt sad and beautiful.

The final paragraphs were perfect, leaving some parts ambiguous but giving an overall sense of hope.

Final thoughts: the book is a wonderful read for those who want to find magic in the ordinary and extraordinary parts of life, even if only temporary.

Most books I’ve read that involve cults have been very dark, manipulative, and sinister. This book takes a bit of a different turn.

You sort of think it’s going to go that way. Missing people, a death, lots of secrets. But then the story takes a turn I didn’t really expect. It’s like a found family with some cult vibes 😂. A traveling circus.

There was a lot of emphasis on love. But it was also touching on depression, that it’s not really something you can run away from.

There are a lot of characters, many that all sort of blend together after a while. Some go away half way through the novel and you never see them again.

Overall this story really draws you in. It ended a little fast for me though, and I’m so used to epilogues I was expecting a one year later update 😂, but I’m okay with it being left open.

If you’re looking for something with some mystery, and a different take on cults, this one is for you!

Thank you @simonbooks and @netgalley for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Here In Avalon by Tara Isabella Burton was released on January 2nd, 2024.


Okay, Look - I really wanted to like this book. The synopsis pulled me in immediately and I was so excited to read this, but the characters? They just...annoyed me. I can't pinpoint what it was exactly that annoyed me, but it took away from the enjoyment of the book, personally.

HOWEVER, would I recommend this book to others? Absolutely. The writing is smooth and the author does a great job with showing rather than telling. She effortlessly creates a world of curiosity and intrigue. Did I mention the writing? It was seriously magical, almost hypnotic in a way. I was reminded a lot of the book Shatter Me in the way that Tara crafted the story.

Here In Avalon is bound to be appealing to a wide audience. I really enjoyed how the story felt enchanting, but it wasn't a fantasy book.

Here in Avalon had an interesting concept that semi fell flat for me.

Cecilia has always been the odd one out between the two sibling, yet Rose will never give up hope. C promises to make Thanksgiving and show up in our other aspects....promises she can't keep with the allure of the Avalon club beckoning her on. Suddenly she's gone and it's Rose's job to figure out her location and the game of Avalon.

I always am intrigued by "cult" like books, especially ones with beautiful covers. While the setting and premise intrigued me, I was put off by the writing style and how everything was basically described as if I was a young child reading the book. I found the characters to be unlikable and the book to drag as the ending neared.

Thank you Simon Book Club Buddies and Book Club Favorites for my earc and finished copy in exchange for my honest review.

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.