A New York City fairy tale about two sisters that fall under the spell of an underworld cabaret troupe that might be a dangerous cult—but one that makes the materialist world left in its wake feel like a sinister cult itself.

I didn't know what to expect from this one but I ended up really enjoying it. Great urban fantasy/magical realism with interesting characters. Well done!

It's clear that Burton has grown as a writer between World and Avalon, not least because she's writing about (young) adults as opposed to teenage girls. I did appreciate the wink and nod to World in the form of a cheeky little easter egg! The themes between the two books are similar - women feeling out of place/time in their own lives and seeking something beyond the confines of their everyday borders - and this, too, is a coming-of-age of sorts.

Rose is a sympathetic enough lead, and the push-pull she feels between her carefully orderly life and artistic tendencies is very relatable. Burton ratcheted up the tension masterfully in the first half of the book, to the point where even I wasn't sure whether this would turn out to be an urban fantasy or more of the magical realism sort. The eventual reveal, while not what I had personally hoped for, made perfect sense within the context of the Avalon's world. Perhaps I enjoyed it so much because, in part, I'm very much one of those who would absolutely run away with the fairies if given the chance.

Another life is possible. 4.5 stars.

Here in Avalon is more character focused than I expected, with the fantastical elements being used to heighten the stakes and emotion rather than it taking center stage. The heart of the book is really Rose and Cecilia’s relationship as sisters and how it evolves over the course of the book. I loved the first half because of this but the second half in which the focus is drawn away from them is where the book started to lose me.

Rose has spent most of her life caring for her older sister, Cecilia, whose flights of fancy and intense empathy can get her into dangerous situations or involved with those that take advantage of her. When Cecilia comes back after leaving a man she just married, she seems to be getting better at first but suddenly falls back into old habits and tells Rose about the new mysterious cabaret that reached out to her. Then she disappears. and Rose’s search for Cecilia takes her across the city and makes her question everything she believed in, including her own happiness.

I found Rose’s arc to be really interesting since Burton takes a very rational and disciplined character and puts her through quite an emotional journey. A lot of it was successful and emotionally moving, especially where Cecilia is concerned, but her ending felt pretty flat and unworthy of the character. I wish there had been another chapter at the end and more time dedicated to Rose and Cecilia and how they repair their relationship.

Instead, the romance detracts from the two sisters. It wasn’t a romance I really rooted for either so every time that love interest came on the page, I impatiently waited to return to the sisters. I did enjoy the side characters but also wish they had gotten more fleshed out. This is probably a result of the pacing as the dysfunctional dynamic between Cecilia and Rose in the first half is repeated when we already understand within a quarter of that time what that relationship is, and now we want to see where it goes.

I also enjoyed the fantastical elements and liked how it was a mix of being culty, operating like a fae court, and also being a kind of artists’ commune. I got a decent sense of every side character’s personality but I do think that the ending hinges too much on one of their choices instead of on a choice Cecilia or/and Rose makes. It’s also not as culty as the synopsis makes it out to be so I think those looking for a more in-depth look into the machinations of a cult or the twisted games of fae courts will be disappointed.

Overall, Here in Avalon isn’t as magical or emotionally impactful as I wish it was but there’s definitely heart to it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This review will be posted on my blog (clearsummers.wordpress.com) and Goodreads on December 19, 2023, and on Amazon on January 2, 2024.

“Here in Avalon” is the 3rd novel I’ve read of Tara Isabella Burton and probably my favorite. The less you know going into this one the better, but one sister searches for another in the NYC cabaret underworld. I am excited to see “Sleep no More” on my upcoming trip to NYC as Burton cited it as inspiration for this book.

This was utterly phenomenal! I wasn’t sure that I would enjoy based on the description, but I tend to like her writing. Jess quickly went to not able to put down territory, and I was hooked! So engaging with a story, and it left me waiting for more from her! She’s such a talented writer, and I cannot wait to read more of her work!

Two sisters, Rose and Cecilia. Rose is preparing to marry and leave her home in NYC. There is little to tie her to New York - the traumatic upbringing has forced her to make a life of her own. She raised herself and her sister and is ready to take the next steps into "adulthood" when Cecilia comes back into her life like a chaotic boomerrand.

Rose's fiance hopes she cuts ties with Cecilia but instead, Rose follows her into a fairy tale in real life -myterious red boat that picks and chooses it's passengers and offers a way to escape everyday life.

The question is - does Rose want to escape?
#Simonandschuster #HereinAvalon #taraisabellaburton

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for my arc!

Let me preface this by saying that i will read anything Tara Isabella Burton writes. all of her books are immediate 5 star reads for me and Here in Avalon was no different.

You are drawn into this story about two sisters and how one of them is always on an adventure and the other is trying to be the grown up and always the one to do the right thing. This story is both magical and also shows you that reality is sometimes better than imagination. If you are wanting to get lost in a story for a little while, I highly reccomend you add this to your TBR.