In a vibrantly described florists in the heart of Brooklyn, a young woman on the cusp of adulthood has a secret. She has a power that she cannot contain and it worries her so much that she tries to hide it, to ignore the plants and trees that move towards her, in an attempt to supress that side of her nature. Where did the power come from? Who is she? As she gets on with helping her moms run the shop and tries to rebuild the friendships that she made when she was younger, these are just some of the questions that she is trying to find answers to.
All of a sudden, the family get some life-changing news. Briseis has inherited an estate from her birth mother in the middle of the countryside. So far, so good. The family, comprised of Briseis and her two loving adoptive moms, set out to experience some country living. What they find is like nothing any of them have ever experienced before.
This is one of the most readable young adult novels that I have ever been fortunate enough to read. Bayron's writing style is so plausible, explaining the events through the mind of her young protagonist, that she makes even the most fantastical elements of the story totally and utterly believable. The twists, the turns, the dark botany and the power that Briseis holds all combine to make this a story of myth, magic, and ultimately love. It is great to see a Black family represented so well and so honestly, from the words that Bayron uses (tryna instead of trying to) to the descriptions of Briseis managing her hair. The same sex nature of the relationship between her parents is echoed in Briseis' bisexuality, both of which are presented without fanfare or explanations, with a refreshing stance of including these orientations in our societal definitions of 'normalcy'. It is truly excellent to see people defined often as 'other' now creating the main structure of the narrative.
Alongside whetting my appetite for Greek mythology and dark botany, this novel really taught me one thing: love is what we need to feel human. Love, respect, and tolerance of difference. It also has genuinely encouraged me to find out more about Greek mythology; well, I need something to do until the sequel is published!
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