The Garden Beneath the World: A magical realism fantasy novel, about memory, healing, grief and rebirth. One dark window to another world.

by Radu Niculescu

Beneath the ruins of a forgotten Earth, an ancient Garden stirs — and it remembers everything.
When botanist Evelyn Marrow falls through a fracture in the land, she finds herself in a living an underground world where plants are sentient, grief breathes through the soil, and humanity’s forgotten sins bloom like poisonous flowers. Haunted by personal loss and burdened with guilt, Evelyn must journey through landscapes of sorrow, hope, rage, and wonder — facing the Garden’s deepest trials and her own broken heart.
As the roots awaken and the surface world trembles, Evelyn must make an impossible sacrifice herself to heal the world she once gave up on, or carry the memory back to a future that may still be saved.
Lyrical, emotional, and profoundly hopeful, The Garden Beneath the World is a portal fantasy for anyone who has ever grieved, loved, and dared to believe in second chances.
A breathtaking exploration of resilience, remembrance, and the green breath of life returning after loss.
If you listen carefully, you can still hear it —
The Garden is breathing.

114 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 25, 2025

Reviews

[Ayush Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is unique book, it's a book about grief,guilt,healing and blooming.The writting is poetic throughout, especially in sections like the maze of Thorns,where the garden seems to mirror the protagonists.The garden also shows sadness at humanity for poisoning the earth,but at the end grief transform from an end to a root system.Some parts feel a little bit drawn out and I didn't understand the bold text but I appreciated how niculescu doesn't try to solve grief he lets in exist let's it exists let's it breathe and links it to a wider narrative about ecological degradation.Highly recommended to reads this beautiful book.

[Avinash Ahuja · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminds us that grief and hope are two sides of the same coin. It’s for anyone who has lost, loved, and dared to believe in second chances. The Garden is waiting, and if you listen closely… it’s still breathing.

[Gaurav Lahu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very wonderful it's gives lots of important regarding Nature .Beneath the ruins of a forgotten Earth, an ancient Garden stirs and it remembers everything.
When botanist Evelyn Marrow falls through a fracture in the land, she finds herself in a living memory: an underground world where plants are sentient, grief breathes through the soil, and humanity’s forgotten sins bloom like poisonous flowers. Haunted by personal loss and burdened with guilt, Evelyn must journey through landscapes of sorrow, hope, rage, and wonder — facing the Garden’s deepest trials and her own broken heart.
As the roots awaken and the surface world trembles, Evelyn must make an impossible choice: sacrifice herself to heal the world she once gave up on, or carry the memory back to a future that may still be saved. This book is very helpful I highly recommend this book from my side .

[Melissa Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is easy to move forward through this novel and has a lot of layers. It follows an distraught mother named Evelyn because she is dragged into an underground garden through a portal that appears to be emotional (through caretaker). The prose is particularly beautiful when the garden reflects the internal reality of the hero, when the garden reflects the inner reality of the thorns. Although I was not considered bold text and some routes felt for a long time, I liked how Nikulesku does not try to solve grief; Instead, he allows it to add it to a large story about existence, breathing and deteriorating ecosystems. The way it means that even in front of the disadvantage, your life can go through a silent renovation.

[Kate Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up The Garden Beneath the World expecting a nice little story and ended up on a full-on philosophical rollercoaster. Somewhere between the poetic passages and the mysterious garden, my brain started doing mental gymnastics I didn’t sign up for. At one point, I caught myself staring out the window, wondering if my backyard has a secret world beneath it. Spoiler: it doesn’t but now I’m oddly motivated to start digging. Highly recommend if you like your reading with a side of existential wonder and just a pinch of confusion.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book was kind of like wandering through a beautiful, weird dream where you don’t always understand what’s going on but you never want to wake up. Niculescu’s writing is so lyrical it almost feels like the words are alive and trying to whisper secrets to you. I’ll admit, there were moments I had to reread paragraphs just to feel like I was keeping up, but honestly, that just made the experience more fun like a brain workout mixed with poetry. Definitely recommend if you want a book that’s equal parts mind bender and mood-setter.

[Eric B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like the literary equivalent of finding a secret garden hidden in your favorite park. Beautiful, mysterious, and full of unexpected twists that make you stop and say “Wait, what just happened?” Niculescu’s style is poetic and layered, which means you’ll probably finish feeling both enlightened and slightly confused in a good way. Reading it felt like a little adventure every time I opened the cover, and I found myself thinking about the story days later. Definitely recommend if you want a novel that’s more like an experience.

[Layla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book broke my heart and stitched it back together in the most beautiful way. Evelyn’s journey through the sentient Garden had me weeping, reflecting, and ultimately feeling so much hope. If you love lyrical writing, deep emotional exploration, and stories about healing after loss, you must read The Garden Beneath the World. I’ll be recommending this to all my fellow fantasy readers who crave something more soulful and profound.

[Adam Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up on a whim and was completely blown away. The worldbuilding is lush and imaginative, but it’s the emotional depth that really stuck with me. Evelyn’s grief feels raw and real, and the Garden itself is such a stunning metaphor for memory, loss, and resilience. I can’t stop thinking about this book highly recommended for fans of books like The Starless Sea or The Overstory. It’s a treasure for anyone who wants their fantasy layered with heart.

[Carlson Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Garden Beneath the World the writing is beautiful and full of interesting ideas about memory and who we are. It’s definitely more of a slow, thoughtful read rather than a fast-paced story, which might not be for everyone. Sometimes the symbolism felt a little heavy, but overall, it kept me hooked. If you like books that make you think and don’t mind taking your time, this one’s worth checking out.

[Robie Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like your books like you like your puzzles tricky, beautiful, and totally worth the effort then The Garden Beneath the World is your new best friend. I spent a lot of time rereading and thinking about what I’d just read, which made me feel like a literary detective on the trail of some big secret. There’s a dreamlike quality to the prose that makes it feel like the story is happening just beneath the surface of reality which is kind of the whole point, I guess. This is a must read.

[Rishi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly didn’t expect to enjoy The Garden Beneath the World as much as I did. It’s weird but in the best way, like a dream you can’t quite explain but want to go back to. Evelyn’s journey through this living, emotional garden made me to think about grief, healing, and how nature might hold more truth than we realize. It’s a short read, but it sticks with you. Quiet, thoughtful, and kind of haunting in a beautiful way.

[Christina Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The garden below the world was much more pleasant than I had guessed. Like an inexplicable dream, which you to return for a long time, it's funny but in the best way. Through this emotional, living scenario, Avalin's journey asked me to think about treatment, loss, and probability that there is more truth in nature as we know. Despite being brief, it leaves a permanent impression. Calm, introspection, and terrible in a beautiful way.

[Nazia Sultana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quiet, emotional story about grief, healing, and self-discovery. Evelyn, a botanist, falls into a strange underground world filled with magical plants and memories. As she explores, she’s forced to face her own pain and begin to heal.

The writing is soft and poetic, and the Garden feels like a character itself.

[Rebecca Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a poignant, poignant story of self-addiction, treatment and loss. The botanist Ewilin detects a bizarre underground world with memories and mysterious plants. She is forced to face her own grief and start the treatment process as she investigates.

The garden appears to be a character in itself, and the language is delicate and poetic

[David Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you appreciate beautifully written, thoughtful novels that explore deep themes of memory and existence, The Garden Beneath the World is a must-read. Niculescu’s poetic prose will captivate you from start to finish.

[AMRITANSH SONI · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Garden Beneath the World is a strange but beautiful story. It blends science fiction with emotion in a way that feels fresh. Evelyn’s journey through a living garden full of memories was both unique and joyful. It’s a short read, but definitely one that stays with you.

[Heather Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a strange but lovely story, the garden under the world. It attacks a novel balance between emotion and science fiction. It was a unique and happy experience for Evelyn to walk through a living garden rich in memories. Although it is brief, it will undoubtedly stick to you.

[Stephanie White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sorrow and hope are two aspects of the same coin, as this book teaches us. It is dedicated to all those who have experienced loss, love and courage to believe in other occasions. If you listen carefully, you can still hear the garden while breathing while it is waiting.

[Gouri Gupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story reminded me to notice small, beautiful things around me and showed that even after pain, hope and growth can return.