Overview

In In a Garden Burning Gold, twins Rhea and Lexos serve their tyrannical father in a kingdom ruled by magic and myth. But cracks in their allegiance appear when rebellion stirs, loyalties shift and the seasons they command begin to betray them. Power, blood and legacy collide in a grand saga.

Writing & Voice

Rory Power’s prose is lush and atmospheric, deftly evoking mythic weight while maintaining emotional immediacy. The narrative alternates between the twins, balancing scale and intimacy, and creating a sense that everything can unravel—at any moment.

Characters

Rhea’s duty to the seasons and consorts, Lexos’s command of constellations—they are powerful yet trapped. Their younger siblings, ignored and aggrieved, provide a sharp counterpoint. Their father looms like a god-king; each family member must reckon with their role and rebellion, willingly or not.

Themes

This novel examines the cost of power, the weight of legacy and the strange geometry of family bonds. Control becomes a cage, love a transaction, and the natural world itself conspires. Myth, method and mortality intertwine in a world built from both beauty and violence.

What Worked

• Evocative world-building: the mythic backdrop and sibling power dynamic stand out.
• Twin perspectives: alternating viewpoints enrich our understanding of betrayal and duty.
• Emotional depth: even amidst political spectacle, the personal stakes feel real.

Minor Quibbles

• The pacing dips during extended exposition of myth and setting.
• With so many characters and legacy threads, some moments feel less focused.

Final Thoughts

Grand in scope yet intimate in its fractures, In a Garden Burning Gold is a compelling introduction to a saga of power, loss and family. Rory Power proves she can play big while keeping character at the centre.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.3 / 5)