“Delights are not shortcuts to avoid what the world throws at you. They are meant to elevate what you already have.” 

In the city of Sirvassa there is a Garden of Delights which holds flowers of many kinds. These flowers grant moments of magic which are given to the people by a Caretaker who is gentle and kind. The Caretaker is cursed with eternal old age by day and nocturnal youth. The Caretaker searches endlessly for a cure to the curse which was given to him on a Goddess’s whim. Though in his search he discovers a greater woe, for the Garden of Delights has a rot spreading within and the flowers that once gave pleasures are now causing pain. Yet when a child arrives with an impossible ability, the Caretaker may just have found a way to save the Garden. 

The Garden of Delights by Amal Singh immerses its readers into a world that’s dreamy, whimsical and full of colour. Singh’s gentle, melancholic prose is beautiful and oozes with delights from every page. 

I wouldn’t say this book is an easy read at first, it is quite hard to follow and a fair few terms are thrown in with very little explanation, though this wasn’t an issue for me because the story was addictive enough for me to want to read on and gain clarity and also, I was just happy to savour the gorgeous prose. You do need some patience though because the more you read, the more events unfold and everything starts to fall into place. To reach this understanding Singh delivers stories within stories, which I found an absolutely compelling way to reveal each character’s lives. We have the Caretaker reveal much about his mysterious identity in a story to his apprentice Trulio, and then Trulio’s backstory is revealed through a travel log which parts of are sprinkled throughout. There are mythical stories included too, those of monsters and the conflict between the Champions, who were living Gods, and the now extinct Florrals, who could harness the magic from flowers and much more beyond. Within these stories we learn much of the Champions’ history, of the war between the Inishti’s and Abhadi races, and the curse of Gods. These all added layer upon layer of richness that truly helps delve the reader further into this complex world. 

In conjunction with the fully fleshed out worldbuilding and political affairs of Sirvassa, there are two characters who drive this story. The Caretaker has such an endearing benevolent quality, he religiously tends to the garden and always grants an array of magical Delights with the only intention to grant it to those in need of a smile. He could use the Garden to gain political power given how neighbouring cities were desperate to use the flowers for economic growth and even have their own Garden, he could seize control any time if he wanted, but he did not. His knowledge of Florralachemy was fascinating to learn more of, especially as he searched for a way to end his curse, to be rid of aching limbs and bone deep exhaustion, through various combinations of flower extracts. I particularly enjoyed a scene where he took a visit to the Seedvault, which added to the rather unique magic system. Yet it is in his interactions with others, his sorrowful, contemplative dialogue that truly made his character shine. This was also true for our young protagonist, Iyena, who felt wise beyond her years. Iyena is very much full of sorrow too, she’s thrust into a foreign city, her father is overbearing, her mother long gone and much like the Caretaker, she has plenty of people around her but is still very much alone. Iyena is more feisty though, she’s willing to openly defy others, she’s able to see when her father and the politicians he is aligned with are trying to erase the history and culture of the people of Sivassa and indoctrinate their own and most importantly, she’s willing to say it’s wrong despite the consequences. The Caretaker and Iyena both embark upon journeys of self discovery and both are irrevocably stronger by the end. 

“A half moon splashes sparse light on the floor of his room. In the distance, fell-birds sing their midnight lament. The temple bells clang twice and stop, while their metallic echoes provide a counterpoint to the hymn of the fell-birds. Somewhere, a Sirvassan citizen, lonely, with a cup of madira in his hands, goes up to the roof of his house, and weeps. All these sounds envelop the sound of his heartbeat ringing in his ears. Slow, arrhythmic beats of old age, giving way to a steadier, more youthful sound.”

However, what is most impressive is the way Singh brings the entirety of The Garden of Delights to life with present tense prose which gives readers a visual feast. When we enter The Garden of Delights we are hit with vibrant beauty as we explore the different sectors of the Garden which bloom with flowers ranging from lily to tulips, chrysanthemums to dahlias, and the precious Bacillus rose. Each is described poetically but in such a way that I could almost smell their scents. Yet the worldbuilding doesn’t end there. Sirvassa is a city full of whimsy and wonder, from the fell-birds who leave rainbow steaks trailing in their flight, to the Rhisuan beasts that pull carriages, and the strange tentacled Waystrewer, the mayor’s soothing pet. There is always something fantastical to discover in every chapter and I truly loved that. 

“In moments of slumber, she walks through the five Sectors of the Garden. Her mind fills in miasmic details of the sectors she didn’t see, and elevates the ones she did. In her waking moments, she can trace the outline of the Caretaker’s hand on the door, and wants to place her own palm, and will the door to open. She waits for a moment of glee, so she can ingest the Delight of the Rose.

She waits to return to the Garden.”

Although Singh has had many short stories published, this is his debut full length novel and to achieve this amount of depth is simply outstanding. This is not just a book you read, it’s a book you experience.

ARC provided by Olivia at Flame Tree Press in exchange for an honest review. 

The Garden of Delights is available now, you can order your copy HERE