Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Twins imbued with incredible magic and near-immortality will do anything to keep their family safe—even if it tears the siblings apart—in the first book of a mythic epic fantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of Wilder Girls.

Rhea and her twin brother, Lexos, have spent an eternity helping their father rule their small, unstable country, using their control over the seasons, tides, and stars to keep the people in line. For a hundred years, they've been each other's only ally, defending each other and their younger siblings against their father's increasingly unpredictable anger.

Now, with an independence movement gaining ground and their father's rule weakening, the twins must take matters into their own hands to keep their family—and their entire world—from crashing down around them. But other nations are jockeying for power, ready to cross and double cross, and if Rhea and Lexos aren't careful, they'll end up facing each other across the battlefield.

Review:

It's hard to be original when it comes to fantasy novels.  There are a plethora of books with magical kingdoms, and political intrigues.  But In A Garden Burning Gold, by Rory Power, I found a truly unique plot.  What if powerful families had magic that was needed to maintain life on earth?  The members of the central family in this book, literally make the stars come out at night, and change the seasons.  They hold the ultimate power, and yet they are all too human.  

This novel had complex characters and plots within plots that kept this a page-turner for me.  I really enjoyed the world-building, family relationships, and the story.  The many twists kept this an entertaining book.  This is the first of a trilogy, and I can't wait to read the next installment.  

What I Liked:

World-building:

This is a world filled with magic.  Rhea and her family have magical powers that they used to be stewards of the land.  And also to keep their subject in line.   Rhea's father, Vasilis, is a Stratagiozi, a man with god-like powers.  He has the ability to pass some of his powers onto his children.  Each of his children have certain powers. Lexos, is the caretaker of the stars and tides, Rhea can change the seasons, Chysanthi brings color to the world, and Nitsos creates and maintains the world's creatures.  Vasilis has the strongest powers; he has the power to determine when people die.  They are a formidable family, so it's no wonder everyone wants to keep clear of them.   They also seem to be immortal.

Family Relationships:

Vasilis is a cruel man who likes to belittle his children and pit them against each other.  As Lexos and Rhea are twins, they are closest to each other.  But Rhea knows that Lexos, just like her father, expects Rhea to do as she is told.  Chrysanthi, is their younger sister, and is always cheerful.  She doesn't seem to have any motive other than to keep the peace.  This is hard to do as Nitsos, the youngest sibling, is bitter that his father doesn't see his value.  This causes many arguments and tense moments between the siblings.  

I found the family dynamics to be surprisingly realistic, in a toxic sort of way.  All the siblings want to curry their father's favor.  And their dad, as abusive as he is, just wants to be left alone.  He doesn't really see his children as anything more than puppets. 

Story:

The story is filled with sibling rivalry, plots and sub-plots, and lots of betrayals, as many players compete for power in this universe.  Rhea, who must choose a husband (and later kill him to change the seasons) for the winter.  It's kind of like the Hunger Games. Wherever her next consort comes from, that region will have a prosperous season.  The just have to sacrifice someone to Rhea.  Her father has told her who to choose.  But, for the first time ever, Lexos, wants her to make a different choice.

All of this centers around Vasilis attempt to maintain his hold on power.  The only way other families can take his kingdom, is by killing Vasilis...and his entire family.  So, it's in all the siblings best interest to support their dad, even if he's a jerk.  And there are many factions that would love to see him fall, including Rhea's new consort.  Can she find a way to stop him, and avoid falling in love with him?  

What I Was Mixed About:

Characters:

As much as I enjoyed the relationships between the siblings, I didn't really connect with the characters.  With the exception of Rea's sister Chrysanthi, none of the characters are good people.  Rhea, Lexos, and others betray each other, and kill with no remorse.  Nearly everyone has an ulterior motive, so that no one can be trusted.  This made it very hard to root for anyone.  I did see a lot of growth with Rhea, and loved that she developed a conscience...eventually.  I think in the next book, these characters will have many opportunities to grow. 

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  April 5th, 2022

Author:  Rory Power

Publisher:  Del Rey

Genre:  Fantasy

Page Length:  432 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  A great premise with wonderful world-building, this is a solid beginning to a new fantasy series.