Garden of Dreams and Desires (Crescent City Series #3)

by Kristen Painter

Overview

Magic is twisted and chaos reigns in this climactic final novel in the Crescent City trilogy by award-winning author Kristen Painter.
New Orleans is on the brink of war.
Harlow is a ghost in her own body. She has no control, no power — all she can do is watch as her twin sister Ava Mae lives recklessly and foolishly, slowly destroying everything Harlow has worked so hard for.
Augustine needs to focus on his new role as Guardian of New Orleans, as tourists mysteriously disappear off the streets, but all he can think of is rescuing Harlow — Keeping his family safe.
As the Coven grows more powerful, control of the city hangs in the balance and if the witches prevail, no fae will survive.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316278355
Publisher:	Orbit
Publication date:	04/07/2015
Series:	Kristen Painter's Crescent City Series , #3
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	524,936
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.25(h) x 0.88(d)

About the Author

Kristen Painter likes to balance her obsessions with shoes and cats by making the lives of her characters miserable and surprising her readers with interesting twists. She currently writes award-winning urban fantasy for Orbit Books.

Editorial Reviews

02/23/2015
Painter’s third Crescent City urban fantasy adventure (after City of Eternal Night) opens with computer whiz Harlow possessed by the power-hungry spirit of her dead twin, Ava Mae. In a convoluted plot, Ava Mae schemes to permanently possess Harlow, seeking the help of voodoo priest Father Ogun. He’s in league with evil witch sisters Giselle and Zara, and he plans to use Harlow/Ava Mae to earn the sisters’ favor. Fortunately, voodoo priestess Jewellia is on hand to help Harlow’s fae love interest, Augustine, who’s determined to oust Ava Mae. Meanwhile, fae-hating Senator Pellimento is hunting Augustine, whom she blames for the disappearance of her son. Painter does her best to show the good and bad sides of the fae as well as New Orleans’s voodoo practitioners. The plot is exceedingly tangled, and most of the threats fizzle out in an unexciting final confrontation, but Harlow shines as she discovers and uses her inner strength—a real treat for readers who have been with her from the beginning. Agent: Elaine Spencer, Knight Agency. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

"[Kristen Painter's] rich, modern storytelling lays out an intricate plot layered with plenty of action and intrigue. Exquisite characters lie at the center of this story... From the first page, House of the Rising Sun is truly a superb and exciting read."—RT Book Reviews (4.5 Stars), Top Pick! on House of the Rising Sun

"Urban fantasy fans will enjoy entering Painter's vividly drawn world."—Library Journal on City of Eternal Night

"I tore through Painter's new series. Best new urban fantasy out there!"—Kresley Cole, New York Times bestselling author on the Crescent City series

"With the Crescent City series, Painter proves herself a master of Urban Fantasy, creating a darkly gorgeous new world, richly drawn characters, and nonstop action."—Kristen Callihan on the Crescent City series

From the Publisher

03/15/2015
Picking up where last year's City of Eternal Night left off, this volume finds Harlow Goodwin fighting to regain control of her body from the spirit of her dead sister, Ava Marie, after she made the mistake of sprinkling her sister's ashes at the base of the lightning tree, a powerful fae object. Housemate and romantic interest Augustine tries to help get Ava Marie out of Harlow, but his Guardian duties call him as well. Tourists are disappearing, and it looks like new head of the local coven Giselle is up to no good. VERDICT While the near-future New Orleans milieu and its mix of fae, witches, and voodoo practitioners continue to be a draw, the melodrama of an evil twin and the fresh threat from a supernatural-hating senator seem to have derailed the series a bit.

Library Journal