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The Garden of Stone Houses Kindle Edition

by Anya Pavelle (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 50 ratings
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In 19th-century New Orleans, eighteen-year-old Selene O’Neil is on a mission to save her mother from the clutches of a cruel man and uncover the truth about the death of her father. Selene digs deep into her family’s past, which is shrouded in secrets and mystery. Fortunately, she gets help from the loas, benevolent spirits who communicate through her dead father’s tarot cards.

When Selene learns she’s to become a mistress just like her mother, her quest is nearly stopped in its tracks. But, with the help of Marie Laveau, a beekeeper named Jeanne, and her spirit friends, Selene crafts a risky plan. As she gets closer to freeing her mother and unraveling the mystery of her father’s death, the forces of good and evil clash.

Can Selene see through the fog of deception and overcome the challenges in her path, or will she fall victim to the same fate as her father?

What reviewers are saying:
"The Garden of Stone Houses was an intriguing, captivating, and enthralling read." - S.V. Filice
"I loved this book. Hands down, it’s brilliant." - L. Maybrook
"This is a fantastic book! I could not put it down, I had to see how it ended. " - S. Kroese
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  1. Print length
    291 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    January 30, 2021
  5. File size
    3251 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08VH7RGNT
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Chandra Press LLC (January 30, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 30, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3251 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 291 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 194996437X
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 50 ratings

About the author

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Anya Pavelle

Anya Pavelle

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Anya Pavelle was born in Massachusetts but eventually settled in Florida, where she currently lives with her husband and dog. She’s a trained art historian who sees the quiet beauty in nature, art, and literature. Anya has been imagining new worlds since she was six years old and like many morbidly curious people, she’s obsessed with dystopian literature. The Moon Hunters is her first foray into science fiction. She’s currently working on the sequel and also plans on writing a prequel. In addition to writing, Anya loves traveling the world, SCUBA diving, relaxing with her friends and family, and finally, curling up with a new book and a glass of wine on a moon-lit humid night.

To connect with Anya, visit her webpage at http://www.anyapavelle.com

or

https://www.facebook.com/AnyaPavelle/

https://twitter.com/AnyaPavelle

https://www.instagram.com/anyapavelle/

https://anyapavelleinfinitevellum.wordpress.com/

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
50 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

HS
5.0 out of 5 stars A rich, historical, urban fantasy set in mid-1800s magical New Orleans
Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2021
Verified Purchase
WOW. This is a titan of a novel—like THE NIGHT CIRCUS by Erin Morgenstern meets INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE by Anne Rice. There is so much to dissect—I could easily see it as required reading for a college course.

This historical, urban fantasy submerges the reader in a microcosm of French, humid, ghost-ridden New Orleans. It’s painstakingly researched, a virtual vacation laden with mystique. Told from parallel timelines, a mother and a daughter navigate a dark, unfair world as they fight for forbidden love and justice. Tragedy, trauma, and triumph pervade this megalith of a story where spirits abound and cards speak truth.

Pavelle gracefully tackles difficult subjects, such as slavery and misogyny, while maintaining an air of hope throughout. She embodies the mid-1800s with superb worldbuilding, luscious details, and meticulous pacing. The ennui of new adulthood is perfectly captured in the dual POVs, as well as the strangulated torture of societal predestination. The writing possesses both academic precision and humanistic heart, making it an absolute joy to read. I can’t recommend this book enough. Buy now. Rave later.
2 people found this helpful
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5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating!
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2021
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The Garden of Stone Houses was a fabulous journey into historical New Orleans. The culture, the rich diversity, the Voodoo, the atmosphere - all very New Orleans! The characters were very real and thoughtfully drawn. I loved the focus on enslaved people’s lives and the way the author breathed rich histories, loves, and dreams into the characters. I enjoyed learning about the practices of one of New Orleans’s distinct religious communities; the Voodoo storyline adds a certain dimension to the story and is respectfully drawn. The plot was very tight, and I was continually blown away by how rich the storyline was, how intricately thought out. Selene, Colleen, and David will stay with me for a long time!
One person found this helpful
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D. H. Schleicher
4.0 out of 5 stars Well Researched and Compelling Historical Melodrama in New Orleans
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2021
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The Garden of Stone Houses takes place in the mid-1800's in New Orleans on the brink of the American Civil War. Anya Pavelle has clearly done meticulous research where the rich details of the era come to life in this engaging historical melodrama. At times the style recalls some of the classic European works from that era...think Wilkie Collins. It sometimes makes for a languid, though never dull, read.

There's a heavy pall of mysticism (and voodoo) draped like Spanish moss over this tale of women across two generations who find creative ways to improve their lots in life and insure karma ruins the men who tried to ruin them. The supernatural elements are done very well, and they fit with the culture, time and place.

I highly recommend The Garden of Stone Houses to anyone who enjoys refined but atmospheric historical fiction.
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M. E. A.
5.0 out of 5 stars Unique read!
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2022
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The Garden of Stone Houses was a unique read that I didn’t want to put down!

Set in New Orleans, we are initially introduced to Selene who lives with her mother and her “uncle” who is very unkind to the both of them. When a pair of loas, or spirits, visit Selene, her life changes drastically.

I have never read a book quite like this, and I read a lot so that is saying something. Told in a back and forth manner both from Selene’s POV, and her mother’s in the past, Selene begins to find out the secrets of her family and her father’s death with the help of the spirits.

Pavelle executes this story with a skill I greatly admire. Never once did I get confused with the different POV’s or time jumps, and every character was well fleshed out and felt very real to me.

This is the first book I’ve read by Pavelle but it definitely won’t be the last! A full 5/5 stars for The Garden of Stone Houses!
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GhostintheShell
5.0 out of 5 stars A magical story beautifully told!
Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2021
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I usually don't read magical realism and urban fantasy, but I'm a fan of Anya Pavelle's books, so I decided to read this one anyway.
I'm glad I did!
The Garden of Stone Houses is a beautiful tale of magic, eternal love, self-sacrifice - and voodoo.
The story is set in New Orleans shortly before the Civil War. We follow Selene, who is the daughter of an Irish immigrant and a slave and who has a very special gift: she can talk to spirits, called loa.
Together with the spirits Mamam Brigitte and Baron Samedi, she decides to rescue her mother from the clutches of an evil man, who made her his concubine and take revenge by driving the man and his family into financial ruin.
Selene is a likable character and the story is engaging but what I liked best were the vivid descriptions of 19th century New Orleans and the voodoo flavor.
The world of the voodoo gods and spirits is a fascinating one and the author clearly put a lot of research into the topic.
Although the pace of the story is slow, I was never bored and particularly enjoyed Selene's interactions with the loa, who although otherworldly spirits, behaved very human.
This book is a must-read for fans of historical fantasy and magical realism.
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Vampire Hunter
5.0 out of 5 stars A Delightful Tale of Ghostly Intervention!
Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2021
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I loved everything about The Garden of Stone Houses: the New Orleans mid-to-late 1800's setting, the powerful mutual love that defies the barrier of death, the colorful characters, and the wise and helpful spirits. There are two intertwined stories told here, that of Selene and that of Colleen, and both are equally compelling. I was thoroughly immersed into the the world of Selene and/or Colleen, and was sad when it ended. Brilliantly done all around! I highly recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and/or the supernatural. Trigger warning: there is a harrowing and violent scene of rape/murder.
4 people found this helpful
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A. McAllister
5.0 out of 5 stars Great historical fiction!
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2021
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This is a wonderful story that masterfully blends New Orleans culture from the 1800s with paranormal and fantasy aspects. It is well-researched and accurate to the time period. I don’t want to delve too much into the story and ruin the mystery and suspense that will come from reading. It is an amazing book and if you are on the fence, pick it up. You won’t regret it!
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Top reviews from other countries

Love
5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling Magical Plot
Reviewed in Canada on June 10, 2021
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“The Garden of Stone Houses” is the second book I totally devoured by Author Anya Pavelle. The beautiful book cover drew me in right away. I loved it so much that I purchased both the e-book and the paperback for my personal collection.

The world-building is sublime, capturing the essence of the eerie, steamy, mystical ambiance of the New Orleans Manor House in the 1840s to 1860s. I admire the way the author poignantly highlights difficult subject matter such as oppression and discrimination with grace and style.

I was enraptured by the use of Tarot Cards at the beginning of each chapter. The author brilliantly captures the heart of the characters using dual points of view as they navigate a cruel, unjust world to fight for love and truth while taking us on a journey through the parallel timelines. This book has it all, astral projections, visions, spells, magic, suspense, love, and supernatural characters.

If you are looking for a book to travel back in time, look no further! I highly recommend “The Garden of Stone Houses” for your summer reads. Bravo Anya Pavelle!!
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JACKIEM
5.0 out of 5 stars A fabulous read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 2, 2022
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I am new to this genre but really enjoyed the book. Written by Anya Pavelle she weaves a wonderful story as you become involved in a world of spirits, ghosts and voodoo all set in New Orleans in the mid 1800's amid slavery. Spirits that hang out amongst the dead in the garden of stone houses (cemeteries) and the living (if you are chosen).

I was hesitant that I would like this book but what's not to like, it is a romance and mystery all rolled into one.
The story is based on the life of Colleen, an Irish immigrant brought into servitude by M Le Jaunes wife as a trophy European maid and David, a slave sold along with his mother to pay off a gambling debt.

Events take place in 1842 (Colleens story) and 1860 (Selene story) Selene being Colleens daughter but who is her father, she has never known him and where is he? Why has he never been around, her mother doesn't talk about him much and recently has taken to Laudanum but why, what troubles her mum and where lies their destiny?

I will not reveal any spoilers as I want you to enjoy the book as much as I have. I look forward to reading more of Anya's work in the future. Check her out on amazon and good reads.
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Anders Kingsley
5.0 out of 5 stars An emotional and captivating story
Reviewed in Germany on October 18, 2021
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I wasn't looking for a ghost story but after reading "The Moon Hunters", a beautiful dystopian story, I wanted to read another novel by the same author and I am very happy I did.
The novel switches between two stories, one about Coleen around the year 1840 and one about her daughter Selene 20 years later. It's so well written that it touched my heart on numerous occasions as it's a very emotional story. I also loved the clever and very satisfying ending.
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Sun
5.0 out of 5 stars Tale of two women across time
Reviewed in India on October 3, 2021
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I picked up this book after reading the author's other work, The Moon Hunters. Anya Pavelle does not disappoint again. I was fully invested in the journeys of Colleen and Selene, both with their challenges. Their inner turmoils, suffering and desire to do the right thing were all so refreshingly human unlike the high standard expected of the protagonist characters.
Life is a lonely road for a young Selene who is playing with her dolls when one day she meets two spirits who come from the beyond to converse with her. Thus begins Selene's destiny, one fraught with distress and pain.
The beginning was a bit slow. But a veteran reader knows that almost every book has a slow start. I urge readers to stick around as I did and enjoy the tension building with each chapter until the end.
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Nashomega
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
Reviewed in Australia on March 7, 2021
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I hardly read books with historical elements, but since I read Anya's first book I immediately picked up the second one.

The main character gripped me from the beginning. Selene a child of a slave living in 18th century French ruled America has a gift. She can reach out to spirits. she grows up she learns that her fate is sealed just like her mothers. She also uncovers the true reason for her fathers death. Obviously she wants revenge - But she is smart, talented and uses her abilities to seek out other solutions.

I will not spoil the story - but I really liked a few things highlighted in the book. Seek justice not revenge and always trust yr instincts.

If you are looking for a heartfelt fiction with supernatural elements look no further!
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