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Aliens In My Garden
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- GenresFantasy
Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2018
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About the author
Jude Gwynaire
3 books149 followersJude was born in the UK and lives in Suffolk, where he combines a love of writing with that of music and composing. Drawing inspiration from history, folklore, and the natural world, Jude has written science-fiction and fantasy stories for children and adults.
As a self-taught musician, working from his own studio at the peripheries of the industry, Jude draws on his many interests and influences to create new and diverse soundscapes that span the genres of Electronica, Ambient, New Age and Rock.
Jude has been able to pursue his passion for music free from constraint, and indulge in an atmosphere of unbridled creativity. By embracing the Internet as a means of promotion, his maverick approach has enabled him to reach an audience through channels other than mainstream.
'My latest novel, a children's/young adult sci-fi/fantasy entitled 'Celeste and the Witch Garden', is a distant relative of a fantasy website project I created twenty years ago called 'Aliens In My Garden'. My son, Aaron, who was about ten years old at the time, created a range of colourful clay models (aliens, witches, wizards, trolls - and a whole host of other fantasy characters) that I photographed in my back garden, and around which I created stories. Many characters had their own page on the website. It was a great father and son project, and we still have all the models in the loft. I tried to get one or two film companies interested in the concept, and did receive one positive reply from the USA. Aaron is still very creative, and has a computer game coming out soon called 'Neyyah'.
Back in the present, it's been great working with my present publisher, Richard Mayers, who has helped me bring Celeste and the Witch Garden to market. From February 2023, the novel will be available in paperback and on Kindle. Thank you to Toby French for an amazing cover. I'm already working on a sequel to Celeste and the Witch Garden, and also an adult sci-fi thriller entitled 'The Orb Forest (Where Androids Have Souls)'. I aim to compose a soundtrack for the novel in the near future. Four of the tracks are already completed, and have been released as singles, as well as appearing on my 25 track album, Music From Slate Bird.'
@judegwynaire
www.judegwynaire.com
As a self-taught musician, working from his own studio at the peripheries of the industry, Jude draws on his many interests and influences to create new and diverse soundscapes that span the genres of Electronica, Ambient, New Age and Rock.
Jude has been able to pursue his passion for music free from constraint, and indulge in an atmosphere of unbridled creativity. By embracing the Internet as a means of promotion, his maverick approach has enabled him to reach an audience through channels other than mainstream.
'My latest novel, a children's/young adult sci-fi/fantasy entitled 'Celeste and the Witch Garden', is a distant relative of a fantasy website project I created twenty years ago called 'Aliens In My Garden'. My son, Aaron, who was about ten years old at the time, created a range of colourful clay models (aliens, witches, wizards, trolls - and a whole host of other fantasy characters) that I photographed in my back garden, and around which I created stories. Many characters had their own page on the website. It was a great father and son project, and we still have all the models in the loft. I tried to get one or two film companies interested in the concept, and did receive one positive reply from the USA. Aaron is still very creative, and has a computer game coming out soon called 'Neyyah'.
Back in the present, it's been great working with my present publisher, Richard Mayers, who has helped me bring Celeste and the Witch Garden to market. From February 2023, the novel will be available in paperback and on Kindle. Thank you to Toby French for an amazing cover. I'm already working on a sequel to Celeste and the Witch Garden, and also an adult sci-fi thriller entitled 'The Orb Forest (Where Androids Have Souls)'. I aim to compose a soundtrack for the novel in the near future. Four of the tracks are already completed, and have been released as singles, as well as appearing on my 25 track album, Music From Slate Bird.'
@judegwynaire
www.judegwynaire.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
December 28, 2018
‘A flying...teacup? Harper dear, are you feeling quite all right?’
British author/musician/composer Jude Gwynaire makes his literary debut with the publication of his teens to young adult science fiction/fantasy novel ALIENS IN MY GARDEN – a tale ‘set in 'The Garden', a micro-universe of magic and wonder, hidden in an ordinary suburban garden.’ His musical genres are Electronica, Ambient, New Age and Rock.
Jude blends fantasy and adventure with a keenly tuned humor that makes his novel not only a fine story in the fantasy realm but also a superbly entertaining take on the concepts and misconceptions we all share.
Opening his book Jude immediately sets the tone for his story – ‘Do you have a garden? Has it shown you the Thing yet? Not all gardens do the Thing, of course, and even with those that do, not everyone can see them do it. My garden does. Look—this is my garden. Overgrown grass, flowers, the vegetable patch—the shed, the broken swing, the trees down the far end with dark leaves for shade. Nothing special. Nothing to worry about, right? An ordinary garden... There are people who say the whole world grew out of a garden. There are other people who say the whole world is still a garden—a big round garden in the black and starlit backyard of space, big enough to be seen by the creatures who live out there, unaware of us all scurrying about down here, being important. Of course, if that’s the case, then everything’s relative. Maybe we only see the garden that’s the right size for us. Maybe, beneath or within the garden we can see, there’s somewhere else, with people and creatures living their important lives, as unaware of us as we are of them. And maybe, if the sun’s in the right direction, and you step lightly on the grass and think really tiny thoughts... VZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZHHHHHHHHHT. That’s the Thing my garden does. It shows you the Garden underneath. Harper flapped, his wings practically fluttering, his heart hammering beneath his straggly, scruffy-feathered chest. He didn’t know it yet—but
soon, he would have new visitors in his garden. Strange visitors—stranger than any he had ever seen. Of course, it wasn’t just his garden—the Garden belonged to many others...including a witch, a green man, and a wizard. So, maybe, the Garden was already a little strange. Must tell Alditha, must tell Alditha, he thought, fluttering frantically. Really speaking, owls were meant to swoop majestically, only doing something as undignified as flapping when there was no graceful alternative. But Harper had never been good at being an owl. He’d nearly been thrown out of flight school as a chick, and it had taken him five tries to pass his hunting module. And as for talon care, many was the time old Master Woozlem had looked down the length of his stern, hard beak, then turned his head away in despair.’
And so we are caught in his world and the story follows the synopsis – ‘The story takes Alditha the witch and Harper (the talking, though not terribly bright owl) from their usual business serving the residents of the Garden on a path that pits them against Skoros. The would-be evil wizard is useless at magic, great at engineering, has a brass wand, a smart alec who plans to take over the Garden. When a giant teacup lands in their world, they are introduced to Celeste, a teenaged alien girl (who's really much older than she looks) and Alpha, her bio-mechanoid co-pilot, who looks like a typical Grey alien.’
A compleat joy – and certainly enough to whet the appetite for more!
British author/musician/composer Jude Gwynaire makes his literary debut with the publication of his teens to young adult science fiction/fantasy novel ALIENS IN MY GARDEN – a tale ‘set in 'The Garden', a micro-universe of magic and wonder, hidden in an ordinary suburban garden.’ His musical genres are Electronica, Ambient, New Age and Rock.
Jude blends fantasy and adventure with a keenly tuned humor that makes his novel not only a fine story in the fantasy realm but also a superbly entertaining take on the concepts and misconceptions we all share.
Opening his book Jude immediately sets the tone for his story – ‘Do you have a garden? Has it shown you the Thing yet? Not all gardens do the Thing, of course, and even with those that do, not everyone can see them do it. My garden does. Look—this is my garden. Overgrown grass, flowers, the vegetable patch—the shed, the broken swing, the trees down the far end with dark leaves for shade. Nothing special. Nothing to worry about, right? An ordinary garden... There are people who say the whole world grew out of a garden. There are other people who say the whole world is still a garden—a big round garden in the black and starlit backyard of space, big enough to be seen by the creatures who live out there, unaware of us all scurrying about down here, being important. Of course, if that’s the case, then everything’s relative. Maybe we only see the garden that’s the right size for us. Maybe, beneath or within the garden we can see, there’s somewhere else, with people and creatures living their important lives, as unaware of us as we are of them. And maybe, if the sun’s in the right direction, and you step lightly on the grass and think really tiny thoughts... VZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZHHHHHHHHHT. That’s the Thing my garden does. It shows you the Garden underneath. Harper flapped, his wings practically fluttering, his heart hammering beneath his straggly, scruffy-feathered chest. He didn’t know it yet—but
soon, he would have new visitors in his garden. Strange visitors—stranger than any he had ever seen. Of course, it wasn’t just his garden—the Garden belonged to many others...including a witch, a green man, and a wizard. So, maybe, the Garden was already a little strange. Must tell Alditha, must tell Alditha, he thought, fluttering frantically. Really speaking, owls were meant to swoop majestically, only doing something as undignified as flapping when there was no graceful alternative. But Harper had never been good at being an owl. He’d nearly been thrown out of flight school as a chick, and it had taken him five tries to pass his hunting module. And as for talon care, many was the time old Master Woozlem had looked down the length of his stern, hard beak, then turned his head away in despair.’
And so we are caught in his world and the story follows the synopsis – ‘The story takes Alditha the witch and Harper (the talking, though not terribly bright owl) from their usual business serving the residents of the Garden on a path that pits them against Skoros. The would-be evil wizard is useless at magic, great at engineering, has a brass wand, a smart alec who plans to take over the Garden. When a giant teacup lands in their world, they are introduced to Celeste, a teenaged alien girl (who's really much older than she looks) and Alpha, her bio-mechanoid co-pilot, who looks like a typical Grey alien.’
A compleat joy – and certainly enough to whet the appetite for more!
September 20, 2018
"Teacup-girl," he said. "You’re the teacup-girl. You’re an alien. HELP. I’VE GOT ALIENS IN MY GARDEN."
"And you’re a talking owl," said Celeste, calmly, "but we have bigger things to concentrate on at the moment."
Talking owls, witches, wizards, flying teacups...I mean spaceships, teenage aliens, and blue dragons OH MY!
Alice in Wonderland meets Winnie the Pooh meets Every Heart a Doorway meets ET meets Chicken Little meets Hocus Pocus
Aliens in My Garden was such a pleasant surprise! I expected a scifi alien invasion story with fantasy elements. What I got instead was sort of a weird little fairytale. It has that classic tale feeling but with a modern twist.
"Alien pyramids just popping up out of the ground? Today’s just got one of them days written all over it, hasn’t it?"
But then I thought about that little owl I sometimes see. And I thought perhaps I didn’t need a pot of gold that badly after all. Perhaps there are more important things than gold.
I recommend Aliens in the Garden for anyone but if you're not into scary gory horror then this is the perfect spooky read for Halloween!
🍃🌲🦉🗣☕🐉✨🤷🏼♀️🚀😈👽🔮⚡💾💣🤖📚🚫👑💖🏘🐛🌱 (good luck figuring out those spoilers 😂)
I will be purchasing a physical copy!
Release date is October 9, 2018
Thank you so much to Jude Gwynaire and Prodigy Gold Books for the opportunity to read an early copy!!!
October 3, 2018
Aliens in my Garden is a fun blend of fantasy and science fiction for tweens, teens, and the young at heart. It reads like a bedtime story, with the narrator pausing to talk to the reader before we return to characters such as Harper, the Green Man, Celeste, and Skoros. The cast is indeed colorful and unique—even witch Alditha’s broom carries personality from its first introduction. The dialogue bounces from character to character with quirky wordplay that keeps both friendship development and plot moving right along.
Author Jude Gwynaire revels in the genre blending by giving readers a vast story-world with the Garden. Not only do we have dragons and talking animals, but magic mirrors that need rebooting and potato farms farmed by actual potatoes. Aliens have come to the Garden to find mysterious orbs in the midst of young wizard Skoros’ plan to make himself an evil sorcerer worthy of respect. Of course, the aliens muck up this plan—as aliens are oft want to do—but when he steals some of their devices, Skoros begins to devise a new plan to conquer the Garden, and it is up to Alditha, Celeste, Harper, and others to protect the Garden on their Earth and every other Earth.
A whimsical adventure full of humor and character, Aliens in my Garden promises to be a delightful read for any who come across it.
Author Jude Gwynaire revels in the genre blending by giving readers a vast story-world with the Garden. Not only do we have dragons and talking animals, but magic mirrors that need rebooting and potato farms farmed by actual potatoes. Aliens have come to the Garden to find mysterious orbs in the midst of young wizard Skoros’ plan to make himself an evil sorcerer worthy of respect. Of course, the aliens muck up this plan—as aliens are oft want to do—but when he steals some of their devices, Skoros begins to devise a new plan to conquer the Garden, and it is up to Alditha, Celeste, Harper, and others to protect the Garden on their Earth and every other Earth.
A whimsical adventure full of humor and character, Aliens in my Garden promises to be a delightful read for any who come across it.
August 20, 2018
I was pleasantly surprised by this story. I was expecting alien invasions (there kind of was one) but it was so much more. It was more focused on the people of the Garden. Of how they interacted with each other, how they came together to fight and save their homes. It was so interesting and kept you on your toes. You didn’t know what to expect. You had flying teacups, talking owls, and even some dragons. (You can never go wrong with dragons)
Every single character was multi-layered. You could really tell the Author had spent a great deal of time building each individual character. The world building was also on point. You had two worlds mixing together. Fantasy (magic) with sci-fi (science) and it really worked. It was great to see both sides interacting with each other.
(Disclaimer: I received a free copy from the Publisher. Does not affect my review)
Every single character was multi-layered. You could really tell the Author had spent a great deal of time building each individual character. The world building was also on point. You had two worlds mixing together. Fantasy (magic) with sci-fi (science) and it really worked. It was great to see both sides interacting with each other.
(Disclaimer: I received a free copy from the Publisher. Does not affect my review)
January 28, 2020
This review is also posted on my website Behind the Pages: Aliens in My Garden.
Everything was normal in the Garden. Skoros was away scheming in his castle, Harper was crashing through the woods trying to be a graceful owl, though not quite making the cut, and Alditha was being her regular witchy self. But all that changed when Celeste, arrived in her teacup of a spaceship on a mission to find her lost kin. Skoros sees her as a way to further his technological advances. After all, if he's the most powerful wizard he can make his claim as ruler of the Garden. But the denizens of the Garden will not be so willing to allow him to rule.
A week ago, if someone told me they were blending a world of magic and dragons with aliens and technology, I wouldn’t have believed it was possible. Jude Gwynaire has a talent for making the impossible happen with Aliens in My Garden.
As you travel the world of the Garden, vegetables, and minerals come to life. You’ll meet characters such as Tom the potato, a Gardener known for his talent at digging holes, and the Green Man, a gentle tree who loves to eat strawberry marshmallows. This brilliantly crafted world is filled with heartwarming characters that use their humor and wits to wriggle out of the most difficult of circumstances.
I think what truly makes this book come alive is the amusing comebacks from characters like Alditha, “You do know that people only understand about half a teaspoon of what you say don’t you?” When anything close to technical speech comes out, Alditha is quick to say what’s on the reader's mind and ask for the language to be simplified. It breaks the tension and makes you laugh as the two worlds, magic and technology slowly blend as the characters begin to understand each other.
And for all the humor it holds, Aliens in My Garden is more than just another story. It shows the reader that even though you may be different from your neighbor, it doesn’t mean they should be treated differently. By working together, great things can be accomplished.
This novel is a fast-paced, adventurous read. You won’t want to put this book down! It's a colorful and creative ride, taking you places you'd never expect. From spaceships to dragons, this has everything a fan of the sci-fi and fantasy genres is looking for.
Everything was normal in the Garden. Skoros was away scheming in his castle, Harper was crashing through the woods trying to be a graceful owl, though not quite making the cut, and Alditha was being her regular witchy self. But all that changed when Celeste, arrived in her teacup of a spaceship on a mission to find her lost kin. Skoros sees her as a way to further his technological advances. After all, if he's the most powerful wizard he can make his claim as ruler of the Garden. But the denizens of the Garden will not be so willing to allow him to rule.
A week ago, if someone told me they were blending a world of magic and dragons with aliens and technology, I wouldn’t have believed it was possible. Jude Gwynaire has a talent for making the impossible happen with Aliens in My Garden.
As you travel the world of the Garden, vegetables, and minerals come to life. You’ll meet characters such as Tom the potato, a Gardener known for his talent at digging holes, and the Green Man, a gentle tree who loves to eat strawberry marshmallows. This brilliantly crafted world is filled with heartwarming characters that use their humor and wits to wriggle out of the most difficult of circumstances.
I think what truly makes this book come alive is the amusing comebacks from characters like Alditha, “You do know that people only understand about half a teaspoon of what you say don’t you?” When anything close to technical speech comes out, Alditha is quick to say what’s on the reader's mind and ask for the language to be simplified. It breaks the tension and makes you laugh as the two worlds, magic and technology slowly blend as the characters begin to understand each other.
And for all the humor it holds, Aliens in My Garden is more than just another story. It shows the reader that even though you may be different from your neighbor, it doesn’t mean they should be treated differently. By working together, great things can be accomplished.
This novel is a fast-paced, adventurous read. You won’t want to put this book down! It's a colorful and creative ride, taking you places you'd never expect. From spaceships to dragons, this has everything a fan of the sci-fi and fantasy genres is looking for.
Read
October 5, 2018I have not left a star rating - I am in my 40s and unless I move into a retirement community in Eastbourne, I am at the stage in my life that I am not going to be referred to as a ‘young adult’.
I’ll start by getting my two main bugbears out of the way, primarily because these will be the first things that the prospective reader will be confronted with, namely the artwork and the title. Not that there is anything inherently wrong with either, but to my mind both misdirect from the core concept enjoyable novel which follows. I have no real point of reference in the YA literary world, but as I read the book I found myself imagining did find myself drawing comparisons with the cartoons I loved in my childhood: Willo the Wisp, Chorton and the Wheelies (not that any of the market audience will have heard of these), with touch of the surrealism of Captain Star. I often find myself directing the scenes in my head as I read, and in the case of Aliens in My Garden, the image was more cartoonish, while the cover I have seen does not capture this.
Thankfully this is a criticism which borders on the churlish (and may be mitigated with the blurb on the back cover when published), and within only few lines the reader is brought into fantastical universe Gwynaire’s creation, dominated by playful dialogue and narrative wit which ensures that the story is never at risk of tasking itself too seriously.
The heart of the novel is the fusion of genres, namely fantasy folklore and science fiction. In this case with the relative ‘normalcy’ of the lives of wizards, witches, familiars, dragons, and goblins being disturbed by the arrival of extra-terrestrial interlopers. With such a broad canvas the Gwynaire does well not to clutter the story with unnecessary detail, keeping within the parameters of established character descriptions while pressing them into the same story arch. A witch is a witch, an alien is an alien, and a talking potato is just as I have written it. That is not to say there isn’t a lot going on and Gwynaire maintains a lively pace to proceedings. Yet for the host of characters well familiar with a universe full of fantastic possibilities the meeting is not so much an identity and cultural shattering collision, but the latest of frequent incredible encounters, managed with the clumsiness and awkwardness similar to the meeting of two busloads foreign exchange students.
Here the underlying thread of gentle comedy is critical, carrying the reader over the corruption of established the traditional genres, and negating the possible rejection of willing disbelief. Both science fiction and fantasy are deeply embedded in their own lexicon, and to ensure a successful melding together of these concepts I get the impression that Gwynaire has gone to great length compare and contrast the views of the aliens and the magical host, in many instances demonstrating this is little more than variance in language and familiarity. As a result the aliens become less alien, and the magical less mystifying. This is not a criticism, but rather a core theme of the book, which is one of perspective. Therefore, while the reader will see all the entire ensemble as extraordinary, for the characters, where the weird and wonderful is commonplace, the experience seems more mundane. In a word of such anarchic anthropomorphism, magical Machiavellian incompetence and borderline slapstick disorder, the arrival of an intergalactic fleet barely raises an eyebrow.
I’ll start by getting my two main bugbears out of the way, primarily because these will be the first things that the prospective reader will be confronted with, namely the artwork and the title. Not that there is anything inherently wrong with either, but to my mind both misdirect from the core concept enjoyable novel which follows. I have no real point of reference in the YA literary world, but as I read the book I found myself imagining did find myself drawing comparisons with the cartoons I loved in my childhood: Willo the Wisp, Chorton and the Wheelies (not that any of the market audience will have heard of these), with touch of the surrealism of Captain Star. I often find myself directing the scenes in my head as I read, and in the case of Aliens in My Garden, the image was more cartoonish, while the cover I have seen does not capture this.
Thankfully this is a criticism which borders on the churlish (and may be mitigated with the blurb on the back cover when published), and within only few lines the reader is brought into fantastical universe Gwynaire’s creation, dominated by playful dialogue and narrative wit which ensures that the story is never at risk of tasking itself too seriously.
The heart of the novel is the fusion of genres, namely fantasy folklore and science fiction. In this case with the relative ‘normalcy’ of the lives of wizards, witches, familiars, dragons, and goblins being disturbed by the arrival of extra-terrestrial interlopers. With such a broad canvas the Gwynaire does well not to clutter the story with unnecessary detail, keeping within the parameters of established character descriptions while pressing them into the same story arch. A witch is a witch, an alien is an alien, and a talking potato is just as I have written it. That is not to say there isn’t a lot going on and Gwynaire maintains a lively pace to proceedings. Yet for the host of characters well familiar with a universe full of fantastic possibilities the meeting is not so much an identity and cultural shattering collision, but the latest of frequent incredible encounters, managed with the clumsiness and awkwardness similar to the meeting of two busloads foreign exchange students.
Here the underlying thread of gentle comedy is critical, carrying the reader over the corruption of established the traditional genres, and negating the possible rejection of willing disbelief. Both science fiction and fantasy are deeply embedded in their own lexicon, and to ensure a successful melding together of these concepts I get the impression that Gwynaire has gone to great length compare and contrast the views of the aliens and the magical host, in many instances demonstrating this is little more than variance in language and familiarity. As a result the aliens become less alien, and the magical less mystifying. This is not a criticism, but rather a core theme of the book, which is one of perspective. Therefore, while the reader will see all the entire ensemble as extraordinary, for the characters, where the weird and wonderful is commonplace, the experience seems more mundane. In a word of such anarchic anthropomorphism, magical Machiavellian incompetence and borderline slapstick disorder, the arrival of an intergalactic fleet barely raises an eyebrow.
January 13, 2019
Oh My Goodness! This book is everything. Like literally everything. You have Sci-fi, fantasy even hints of magic realism all in this quick read. Explaining everything would make it sound more complex than what it is. But, imagine witches, wizards, aliens (astarians), a groot, snitches from harry potter, hellboy, and even an owl similar to a combination of Hedwig & Errol meshed together all to make a perfect book, this would be it. I don't want to spoil to much, but when a Teacup with a girl, Celeste, and a grey alien, Alpha, land on the Garden everything changes for the Gardenfolk. This adventure will leave you surprised in every chapter. Get ready for a rollarcoaster ride. Note: I receives an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
December 3, 2018
A charming melange of science fiction and Wind in the Willows-style whimsy. I really enjoyed the light, deft tone and the sense of magic hidden in the everyday. Really, a book for anyone looking for a fresh take on classic fantasy.
April 28, 2020
Aliens in My Garden tells the story of the rich and unique worldbuilding within The Garden, where potato farmers can be actual potatoes, owls talk, dragons claim whole forests as their domain, witches and wizards practice a whimsical (and sometimes terrifying magic), and an alien presence reveals a connection between magic and science--a connection that runs so deep that it becomes clear that they are in fact one and the same. We follow Alditha the witch and her trusty companion Harper, the unusual owl, and shenanigans ensue (to say the least) when the alien Celeste and her bio-mech Alpha arrive in the Garden in a flying teacup.
Because of the abundance of worldbuilding and the uniqueness of the premise, I will say that I felt the story initially started a bit slow, and I wasn’t sure what direction the plot was going to take. We are introduced to a myriad of characters, from Old Tom the potato farmer (who is, in fact, an actual potato) to Jasper and Dramm, the sentient spellbooks (Dramm is adorable. Just had to put that out there), and I spent the first few chapters wondering how all of these different characters would come into play in the future. But when the plot picks up, it REALLY picks up, and I commend Gwynaire for tying so many of the initially trivial-seeming characters to the most vital parts of Astarian and Gardenfolk history.
The strongest thing about the book was its creativity in terms of the wacky characters that appear in this world. One of my favorites, despite being a minor character, was Old Tom the potato:
"the thing about having potato where a brain should be was that even things you especially wanted to remember sometimes leaked out and disappeared until something particularly reminded you of them all over again." (Kindle Locations 406-407). Prodigy Gold Books. Maybe I just find potatoes naturally hilarious, but I found Old Tom to be a delightful addition to the book and he's just one example of the many characters that make an appearance.
The themes of otherness and mob mentality were probably another favorite of mine, as Harper the well-meaning but misguided owl tries to warn the townspeople about the alien invaders and how they will bring change in the worst way. This plotline led to my favorite quote in the book: “So that was what the leaflets were full of— fear. Fear that people could understand, according to Gunkin. Fear of hunger while other people ate. Fear of being turned out of their homes while aliens used their favourite chairs to park their alien backsides. Fear of change, which Gunkin said, nine times out of ten, people knew was likely to be change for the worse. Fear of all those things, and then a plan to band together and stand up against the aliens, so their fears never came true.” (Kindle Locations 2211-2215). Ok, I'll admit that some of that fear was warranted because a certain Astarian leader really did fully intend to wipe out all life in the Garden, but considering we end the book with the far more reasonable Astarian commander and the other new arrivals who are willing to give living in harmony a shot, the message that "other" doesn't necessarily mean "bad" becomes abundantly clear.
Something else about the book I really enjoyed was the masterful trope subversion throughout. One of the most obvious is the subversion of the “magic” trope, in which science and magic are essentially unrecognizable from each other, and the creation of sentient life in the Garden is revealed to be, not just the “god” Ven Tao as initially believed, but the Gardener belonging to an advanced alien race. The “magic” users, instead of following one uniform system, all have their own distinct ways of using their respective abilities. We have the fireball-flinging traditional wizard, Odiz, the nature and balance-loving witch Alditha who can always be counted on to use her magic to help her community, and the bizarre, tech-savvy steampunk wizard, Skoros. To top it all off, we have the Astarians, a technologically advanced alien race that isn’t so different from the magical beings in the Garden after all.
There’s plenty of great character trope subversions as well. I love that the goblin henchman Gunkin, instead of being dumb and obedient to his dark, evil lord, is clever and helpful despite his following his mother’s advice to become an evil henchman for “the job prospects.” His motives might occasionally be questionable, but he would make a great leader, and how often do we see goblins represented well in fantasy stories, after all? The minor elf character, Brangle, serves as a quick snipe at the notion of an entire race/species being entirely good or entirely bad, as his haughty insistence that “‘There are only good elves” is promptly ignored, and Brangle eventually left in the back of the crowd of townspeople. Even the smallest of tropes, like the classic “bad guy holds good guy hostage and threatens to break their arm if they make the wrong move,” is not only subverted, but outright mocked, which I found to be great fun.
I was left wanting a bit when it came to Skoros the evil steampunk wizard. I see potential for a sequel considering we are left wondering how the Astarians will adjust in the Garden and what becomes of the evil wizard when he leaves the atmosphere. I certainly hope that there WILL be a sequel, and I highly recommend this book, especially for those who love worldbuilding and magicbuilding (with a nice sprinkle of humor) as much as I do!
Because of the abundance of worldbuilding and the uniqueness of the premise, I will say that I felt the story initially started a bit slow, and I wasn’t sure what direction the plot was going to take. We are introduced to a myriad of characters, from Old Tom the potato farmer (who is, in fact, an actual potato) to Jasper and Dramm, the sentient spellbooks (Dramm is adorable. Just had to put that out there), and I spent the first few chapters wondering how all of these different characters would come into play in the future. But when the plot picks up, it REALLY picks up, and I commend Gwynaire for tying so many of the initially trivial-seeming characters to the most vital parts of Astarian and Gardenfolk history.
The strongest thing about the book was its creativity in terms of the wacky characters that appear in this world. One of my favorites, despite being a minor character, was Old Tom the potato:
"the thing about having potato where a brain should be was that even things you especially wanted to remember sometimes leaked out and disappeared until something particularly reminded you of them all over again." (Kindle Locations 406-407). Prodigy Gold Books. Maybe I just find potatoes naturally hilarious, but I found Old Tom to be a delightful addition to the book and he's just one example of the many characters that make an appearance.
The themes of otherness and mob mentality were probably another favorite of mine, as Harper the well-meaning but misguided owl tries to warn the townspeople about the alien invaders and how they will bring change in the worst way. This plotline led to my favorite quote in the book: “So that was what the leaflets were full of— fear. Fear that people could understand, according to Gunkin. Fear of hunger while other people ate. Fear of being turned out of their homes while aliens used their favourite chairs to park their alien backsides. Fear of change, which Gunkin said, nine times out of ten, people knew was likely to be change for the worse. Fear of all those things, and then a plan to band together and stand up against the aliens, so their fears never came true.” (Kindle Locations 2211-2215). Ok, I'll admit that some of that fear was warranted because a certain Astarian leader really did fully intend to wipe out all life in the Garden, but considering we end the book with the far more reasonable Astarian commander and the other new arrivals who are willing to give living in harmony a shot, the message that "other" doesn't necessarily mean "bad" becomes abundantly clear.
Something else about the book I really enjoyed was the masterful trope subversion throughout. One of the most obvious is the subversion of the “magic” trope, in which science and magic are essentially unrecognizable from each other, and the creation of sentient life in the Garden is revealed to be, not just the “god” Ven Tao as initially believed, but the Gardener belonging to an advanced alien race. The “magic” users, instead of following one uniform system, all have their own distinct ways of using their respective abilities. We have the fireball-flinging traditional wizard, Odiz, the nature and balance-loving witch Alditha who can always be counted on to use her magic to help her community, and the bizarre, tech-savvy steampunk wizard, Skoros. To top it all off, we have the Astarians, a technologically advanced alien race that isn’t so different from the magical beings in the Garden after all.
There’s plenty of great character trope subversions as well. I love that the goblin henchman Gunkin, instead of being dumb and obedient to his dark, evil lord, is clever and helpful despite his following his mother’s advice to become an evil henchman for “the job prospects.” His motives might occasionally be questionable, but he would make a great leader, and how often do we see goblins represented well in fantasy stories, after all? The minor elf character, Brangle, serves as a quick snipe at the notion of an entire race/species being entirely good or entirely bad, as his haughty insistence that “‘There are only good elves” is promptly ignored, and Brangle eventually left in the back of the crowd of townspeople. Even the smallest of tropes, like the classic “bad guy holds good guy hostage and threatens to break their arm if they make the wrong move,” is not only subverted, but outright mocked, which I found to be great fun.
I was left wanting a bit when it came to Skoros the evil steampunk wizard. I see potential for a sequel considering we are left wondering how the Astarians will adjust in the Garden and what becomes of the evil wizard when he leaves the atmosphere. I certainly hope that there WILL be a sequel, and I highly recommend this book, especially for those who love worldbuilding and magicbuilding (with a nice sprinkle of humor) as much as I do!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2018
Cracking read, this. Bits of Narnia, bits of Pratchett, bits of Doctor Who at its funniest. Witches with raised eyebrows, wizards who want to take over the world, mages (wizards who've achieved a certain weight) who just want lots of books, a good meal and a nap (much like me, to be fair), dragons, talking animals, hell, even talking mushrooms (including possibly the first Mafia mushroom in the history of literature) all exst in harmony in the world of 'The Garden' - itself a bit Narnia-like, in that it exists within the space-time of a real suburban garden. Then they get visitors from the stars, who arrive in a flying teacup (I'm assuming because flying saucers are just so passe in deep space this year) and cause havoc.
Can the people of the Garden defeat the wizard who wants to take over the world, and their own prejudice and panic, to reach any kind of 'Happily Ever After...'?
Gotta read this book to find out. I was impressed by the humour, the scope, the span of this one, and would recommend it to anyone 12+ Like all the best kid-literature though, even grumpy 40somethings like me will get plenty of chuckles out of this one. Gather there's a sequel coming too, so yay.
Can the people of the Garden defeat the wizard who wants to take over the world, and their own prejudice and panic, to reach any kind of 'Happily Ever After...'?
Gotta read this book to find out. I was impressed by the humour, the scope, the span of this one, and would recommend it to anyone 12+ Like all the best kid-literature though, even grumpy 40somethings like me will get plenty of chuckles out of this one. Gather there's a sequel coming too, so yay.
November 2, 2020
A blend of fantasy and sci-fi, Gwynaire gives us a cute story with interesting characters. There is a Narrator who pops in from time to time to tell us about his/her garden and the Garden underneath. This is where we meet Alditha the witch and her sassy Broom, Harper the talking owl who nearly flunked flight school, Skoros the wanna-be evil wizard (but isn’t very good at it), the Green Man (a walking tree), potato-farmer Tom (who happens to be a potato) and lots more. Oh, must not forget the dragons! Odiz and his beard had me chuckling. One day a giant “teacup” lands in their garden introducing Celeste the alien who is in search of some mysterious orbs that have been sighted in the Garden.
I enjoyed the interactions of the characters and the relationships that formed, especially the relationship that formed between Alditha and Celeste.
There were times I got lost and had to read portions more than once to grasp it. I wasn’t even sure what the Garden was. But this is not a genre I normally read so did struggle with it a bit. There were also a lot of characters to keep track of which I also struggled with.
Overall, it is an entertaining book with great characters that you will enjoy if you are a fan of fantasy/sci-fi.
I received this book from the author free of charge with no expectation of a positive review.
I enjoyed the interactions of the characters and the relationships that formed, especially the relationship that formed between Alditha and Celeste.
There were times I got lost and had to read portions more than once to grasp it. I wasn’t even sure what the Garden was. But this is not a genre I normally read so did struggle with it a bit. There were also a lot of characters to keep track of which I also struggled with.
Overall, it is an entertaining book with great characters that you will enjoy if you are a fan of fantasy/sci-fi.
I received this book from the author free of charge with no expectation of a positive review.
November 19, 2020
This book was kindly send to me for review by the author, this does not affect my rating or opinion in any way.
This book doesn't really match my personal taste. However as someone reviewing middle grade I do always feel the responsibility to discuss whether or not it is apt, enjoyable and appropriate for it's target audience and what I feel they will get from it.
For it's target audience I think this is an excellent read. I think that the exaggerated characters, the humour and the setting will suit the younger end of middle grade and even younger children with a learning level advanced enough to be picking up chapter books. This is also one that would be good for parents reading to younger children. It has a woodland setting with talking animals (What not to love) and magical characters such as a witch and wizard.
For adults who usually read middle grade I feel like if you want something very young and very cutesy then maybe but generally this one is certainly more aimed at it's target audience. There is enough humour and almost over the top reactions for parents reading it to find it enjoyable but if you are picking this up for yourself be aware that it is certainly young.
This book doesn't really match my personal taste. However as someone reviewing middle grade I do always feel the responsibility to discuss whether or not it is apt, enjoyable and appropriate for it's target audience and what I feel they will get from it.
For it's target audience I think this is an excellent read. I think that the exaggerated characters, the humour and the setting will suit the younger end of middle grade and even younger children with a learning level advanced enough to be picking up chapter books. This is also one that would be good for parents reading to younger children. It has a woodland setting with talking animals (What not to love) and magical characters such as a witch and wizard.
For adults who usually read middle grade I feel like if you want something very young and very cutesy then maybe but generally this one is certainly more aimed at it's target audience. There is enough humour and almost over the top reactions for parents reading it to find it enjoyable but if you are picking this up for yourself be aware that it is certainly young.
February 7, 2019
Do you have a garden? Does it do the thing?
This opening line is great and sets up the plots that takes us to a new land. This is what fantasy is to do. An excellent YA or younger read. If you have time to read this to a toddler it'll be a blast.
This opening line is great and sets up the plots that takes us to a new land. This is what fantasy is to do. An excellent YA or younger read. If you have time to read this to a toddler it'll be a blast.
March 11, 2021
This was an interesting storyline. It was a good book. I enjoyed reading it. I would suggest this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy with a sci-fi twist.
* I received a copy of this book for free. The review is my own, honest and unsolicited.
* I received a copy of this book for free. The review is my own, honest and unsolicited.
April 8, 2019
For once it's a fantasy and it's a Sci-Fi. A novel mix of the two that is a little far out in some aspects but innovative. We forget that the future isn't going to be more of the same: it's going to be something completely different as it is in this fantasy/hallucination.
January 5, 2020
My friend Jude has written a tale of aliens and magic that will delight young and old alike. Filled with unexpected drama and a battle. I found it quite intriguing to see what would happen next. And found the ending unexpected and yet totally right.
June 9, 2021
41/2 stars
I was given an eBook copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. This is an honest spoiler-free review.
I absolutely loved this book. What’s not to love about a witch, her talking owl, a talking tree, a talking potato, a dark wizard, aliens, talking spell books and a flying teacup? It was an original and a beautifully told fantasy story that I think everyone would love, not just young adults.
The book takes place in The Garden. It is where all manner of creatures lives. There is Old Tom, the potato who loves to dig. Harper, Alditha’s talking owl friend and familiar. Oh, and he’s somewhat clumsy. There is the Green Man, the walking tree who lives in his own cottage and mostly keeps to himself, and of course, there is Alditha, a powerful, good witch, who looks after the garden, and Skoros, the evil wizard who seeks power. Although there is no ruler of the garden, Skoros seeks to take over and declare himself king.
I felt like the first 1/3 of the book was setting up for the pieces to fall in place. The characters were introduced, events happen, but none are connected right away. It was like a puzzle. Eventually everything falls into place and nothing is as it seems. As I mentioned, spoiler free!
When dealing with magic, it can often be a little tricky for authors to write without doing the standard witches, wizards, wands and spells. Yes, this book does have them all. However, it is done in such a clever way. Alditha does not have a wand. In fact, she finds it almost ridiculous that wizards seem to need a wand. She casts spells. How is this different? Skoros makes his wand using copper, gears, and rubies-he uses technology to power his wand and magic (which he naturally does not have much unlike Alditha). It’s certainly not the regular magical wand that is so often used in books. It’s the “old school” magic of Alditha versus the technology that Skoros relies heavily on for power. That was very clever and original.
A teacup arrives in The Garden by the Green Man’s cottage and out comes Celeste and Alpha. Celeste looks like a teenage girl, but is much older, while Alpha looks like the “standard” alien we always see in pictures. She has been looking for an uninhabited planet for her people, the Astarians, to call home. They assumed The Garden was uninhabited, but to their surprise, they find all the sentient residents of the gardens. Celeste was sent ahead to scout the planet and was very surprised to find so much life had evolved in 6,000 years. Now how that came about would be too much of a spoiler.
What ensues is a wonderful, humorous, and even sometimes sad tale of The Garden after the arrival of Celeste. Celeste learns about the residents of the garden and becomes friends with many, especially Alditha. Celeste has advanced technology. Alpha is not only her friend, but has vast knowledge she relies on for finding out about the Garden, it’s residents and many unfamiliar words they use. She is also searching for powerful orbs that were also sent out to scout the planet. Skoros manages to get some orbs, re-program them, and use them for his power to take over The Garden.
The meeting of magic and science was such and integral part of book. Alditha knows what she does is magic. Celeste says its technology and energy that she uses. What is the difference? If they both can accomplish the seemingly impossible, is there a difference between science and magic? As a scientist, this was such an interesting way to look at the magical fantasy part of the book. It was clever and refreshing. It made me wonder if science does look like magic.
Eventually the Astarians arrive, just as surprised at the sentient life that is there in the short period of time. Many are not happy as they assumed this planet was uninhabited. What are they to do? Destroy the life there and start over? It is not an option for them and they must all find a way to live together in peace. It is difficult as the residents of The Garden did not know of the existence of beings outside their world. The Astarians, not knowing these strange inhabitants, must also learn tolerance. Fantasy is wonderful. Fantasy with themes of friendship, acceptance, love, family and preserving the environment is even better.
This book was delightful! It had squigirrrlkes, frrinkles, a horse 2.0, Gungkin Pimplebutt, an oojamaflip, sigma energy and strawberry marshmallows. I was drawn in by the unique story. It made me laugh, kept me enthralled and even made me tear up. I really want to live in The Garden, with all its unusual residents, and the aliens, too.
You can read my review on my blog: https://bookandnatureprofessor.com/20...
I was given an eBook copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. This is an honest spoiler-free review.
I absolutely loved this book. What’s not to love about a witch, her talking owl, a talking tree, a talking potato, a dark wizard, aliens, talking spell books and a flying teacup? It was an original and a beautifully told fantasy story that I think everyone would love, not just young adults.
The book takes place in The Garden. It is where all manner of creatures lives. There is Old Tom, the potato who loves to dig. Harper, Alditha’s talking owl friend and familiar. Oh, and he’s somewhat clumsy. There is the Green Man, the walking tree who lives in his own cottage and mostly keeps to himself, and of course, there is Alditha, a powerful, good witch, who looks after the garden, and Skoros, the evil wizard who seeks power. Although there is no ruler of the garden, Skoros seeks to take over and declare himself king.
I felt like the first 1/3 of the book was setting up for the pieces to fall in place. The characters were introduced, events happen, but none are connected right away. It was like a puzzle. Eventually everything falls into place and nothing is as it seems. As I mentioned, spoiler free!
When dealing with magic, it can often be a little tricky for authors to write without doing the standard witches, wizards, wands and spells. Yes, this book does have them all. However, it is done in such a clever way. Alditha does not have a wand. In fact, she finds it almost ridiculous that wizards seem to need a wand. She casts spells. How is this different? Skoros makes his wand using copper, gears, and rubies-he uses technology to power his wand and magic (which he naturally does not have much unlike Alditha). It’s certainly not the regular magical wand that is so often used in books. It’s the “old school” magic of Alditha versus the technology that Skoros relies heavily on for power. That was very clever and original.
A teacup arrives in The Garden by the Green Man’s cottage and out comes Celeste and Alpha. Celeste looks like a teenage girl, but is much older, while Alpha looks like the “standard” alien we always see in pictures. She has been looking for an uninhabited planet for her people, the Astarians, to call home. They assumed The Garden was uninhabited, but to their surprise, they find all the sentient residents of the gardens. Celeste was sent ahead to scout the planet and was very surprised to find so much life had evolved in 6,000 years. Now how that came about would be too much of a spoiler.
What ensues is a wonderful, humorous, and even sometimes sad tale of The Garden after the arrival of Celeste. Celeste learns about the residents of the garden and becomes friends with many, especially Alditha. Celeste has advanced technology. Alpha is not only her friend, but has vast knowledge she relies on for finding out about the Garden, it’s residents and many unfamiliar words they use. She is also searching for powerful orbs that were also sent out to scout the planet. Skoros manages to get some orbs, re-program them, and use them for his power to take over The Garden.
The meeting of magic and science was such and integral part of book. Alditha knows what she does is magic. Celeste says its technology and energy that she uses. What is the difference? If they both can accomplish the seemingly impossible, is there a difference between science and magic? As a scientist, this was such an interesting way to look at the magical fantasy part of the book. It was clever and refreshing. It made me wonder if science does look like magic.
Eventually the Astarians arrive, just as surprised at the sentient life that is there in the short period of time. Many are not happy as they assumed this planet was uninhabited. What are they to do? Destroy the life there and start over? It is not an option for them and they must all find a way to live together in peace. It is difficult as the residents of The Garden did not know of the existence of beings outside their world. The Astarians, not knowing these strange inhabitants, must also learn tolerance. Fantasy is wonderful. Fantasy with themes of friendship, acceptance, love, family and preserving the environment is even better.
This book was delightful! It had squigirrrlkes, frrinkles, a horse 2.0, Gungkin Pimplebutt, an oojamaflip, sigma energy and strawberry marshmallows. I was drawn in by the unique story. It made me laugh, kept me enthralled and even made me tear up. I really want to live in The Garden, with all its unusual residents, and the aliens, too.
You can read my review on my blog: https://bookandnatureprofessor.com/20...
May 24, 2019
This was a lovely story, filled with magic and humour.
It was very easy to read and very visual wording to help with reading out loud to children.
A nice magical journey, great for any imaginative child.
I will look forward/hope to more titles from this author in the future!
It was very easy to read and very visual wording to help with reading out loud to children.
A nice magical journey, great for any imaginative child.
I will look forward/hope to more titles from this author in the future!
March 15, 2019
I enjoyed reading a book where people and other lifeforms (a witch, magicians, a walking tree, a potato(!), a talking owl) live peacefully together. The arrival of people from outside their planet sets a lot in motion, not always for the good.
Lifes are shattered, sometimes almost literally, people have to think about what is good or bad.
I liked reading about power which is forced off and about power which is (almost) undeniable. I liked reading about beings who see things other beings cannot see and are being laughed at. And what it does to them.
I liked the voice of a 'narrator' who did not seem to understand what was happening.
What I did not like was that actually 'the great battle' started halfway the book. For me, it could have started at the last quarter of the story. Yes, some story lines would have to be deleted, but now the span is too long for me.
I had trouble defining for what age the book is. Young adult, I found somewhere. Young adult is to me about the age of twelve, right?
Well, sometimes then the book is too childish, at the other hand the end of some lives is too cruel for a child of twelve (too cruel for a woman like me too, I am 61 years old).
The last aspect is why I give the book two stars instead of three.
Lifes are shattered, sometimes almost literally, people have to think about what is good or bad.
I liked reading about power which is forced off and about power which is (almost) undeniable. I liked reading about beings who see things other beings cannot see and are being laughed at. And what it does to them.
I liked the voice of a 'narrator' who did not seem to understand what was happening.
What I did not like was that actually 'the great battle' started halfway the book. For me, it could have started at the last quarter of the story. Yes, some story lines would have to be deleted, but now the span is too long for me.
I had trouble defining for what age the book is. Young adult, I found somewhere. Young adult is to me about the age of twelve, right?
Well, sometimes then the book is too childish, at the other hand the end of some lives is too cruel for a child of twelve (too cruel for a woman like me too, I am 61 years old).
The last aspect is why I give the book two stars instead of three.
May 5, 2020
Let Jude Gwynaire whirl you away into a tiny enchanting world inside a garden. With nugget after nugget of entertaining quips, riveting descriptions, and lovable characters, there is no time to get bored, not even for a second. Do you ever read a sentence that is so cleverly written that you can't help but grin with delight? This book has a ton of those. The plot is much like a snowball rolling down a hill. The story begins with a stronger focus on characters, but then the plot takes off, gathering momentum and oomph as it goes along. Sheer delight! This is reminiscent of something like Gulliver's Travels, but I like this book much better. If I was voting on the next book to become a literary classic, it would be this one! Go ahead; buy it now. Your imagination will thank you.
June 3, 2020
4.5/5 stars
I am always excited at the prospect of reviewing indie authors. Having connected with him on Twitter, I read Jude Gwynaire's novel Aliens in my Garden and I really enjoyed it. It is fantasy, bordering on YA but not out of bounds to older readers, and very different from lots of fantasy novels I have read. As a fantasy writer myself, I always appreciate ingenuity and difference in these types of novels and I have definitely found it in this one.
It tells the story of the inhabitants of The Garden, a world filled with talking owls, sentient books, annoyed witches and scheming wizards, all watched by an unseen figure who marvels at the things their garden can do. Harper, a sweet young owl, flies to warn his witch, Alditha, about a flying teacup. Blaming the intrusion on generational, beardless wizard, Skoros, they ask the Green Man, an all-encompassing tree connected with the whole garden, for help. When an alien girl called Celeste arrives with her ship and her 'Alpha', chasing several flying orbs, the people of the garden are thrown into a conflict between themselves, Skoros and the Astarian people. Gwynaire has no limits when it comes to what can and cannot be sentient life and be a part of the garden community, and this is what I really love about this book.
He is also incredibly skilled at character development in so short a time. The book is a little over 300 pages long but each character receives attention, development and resolution, although Skoros' resolution might feel a little hurried in the breathlessness of the finale.
Alditha and Celeste's relationship is an absolute gem and is the a fresh take on the witch-as-a-motherly-mentor trope. Her relationship with Harper is equally sweet and it is great that Jude has taken the time to develop their relationship beyond what is strictly necessary for the plot. However, perhaps my favourite character-related thing, one I didn't even notice whilst reading, is the lack of romance. What little romantic history is involved is funny and has just the right level of involvement in the story.
As with many fantasy universes, there is a certain need for 'tell don't show' - important information cannot conceivably be slotted into dialogue, as most large scale historical events do not show their whole effect on an individual level. Gwynaire is brilliant at explaining just enough and making this interesting and funny without boring the reader or leaving you confused when yet another character shows up. See: Odiz and his beard.
I will include an extract from the first chapter as an insight into his writing style, which I would describe as humorous, cheeky and individual.
The opening mini-chapter runs like this:
"Do you have a garden? Has it shown you the Thing yet? Not all gardens do the Thing, of course, and even with those that do, not everyone can see them do it. My garden does. Look— this is my garden. Overgrown grass, flowers, the vegetable patch— the shed, the broken swing, the trees down the far end with dark leaves for shade. Nothing special. Nothing to worry about, right? An ordinary garden…
There are people who say the whole world grew out of a garden. There are other people who say the whole world is still a garden— a big round garden in the black and starlit backyard of space, big enough to be seen by the creatures who live out there, unaware of us all scurrying about down here, being important. Of course, if that’s the case, then everything’s relative. Maybe we only see the garden that’s the right size for us. Maybe, beneath or within the garden we can see, there’s somewhere else, with people and creatures living their important lives, as unaware of us as we are of them. And maybe, if the sun’s in the right direction, and you step lightly on the grass and think really tiny thoughts… VZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZHHHHHHHHHT. That’s the Thing my garden does. It shows you the Garden underneath."
...and then segues seamlessly into the story. I really enjoyed this extra perspective and made me think about what 'the Garden' really was. I did find myself a little confused when it came to this addition as I'm not sure where the aliens figure in this, although I got the implication that the Garden is just an ordinary Earth garden. I loved this idea and I think it provides a nice break in the story.
His writing style is accessible and unique, using words and phrases that might not work for a weaker writer but his talent really shines through here. Creative description can be risky - I can't usually pull it off - but his chosen genre and characters make it possible and make it work and work well. If you're looking for something to read over a short time but still entertain and make you think. I'm not sure that I fully understood the relationship of the hedge to the Astarian people and the Garden, but this could just have been me. Overall, it is a fantastic book.
This book is perfect for fans of fantasy but want something lighter and do not want the commitment of a long and dark series. Gwynaire combines the humour and witty characters from popular fiction with the high stakes alien invasion and villainous wizards of the most popular fantasy series. I don't often re-read books, but I would reread this one.
I am always excited at the prospect of reviewing indie authors. Having connected with him on Twitter, I read Jude Gwynaire's novel Aliens in my Garden and I really enjoyed it. It is fantasy, bordering on YA but not out of bounds to older readers, and very different from lots of fantasy novels I have read. As a fantasy writer myself, I always appreciate ingenuity and difference in these types of novels and I have definitely found it in this one.
It tells the story of the inhabitants of The Garden, a world filled with talking owls, sentient books, annoyed witches and scheming wizards, all watched by an unseen figure who marvels at the things their garden can do. Harper, a sweet young owl, flies to warn his witch, Alditha, about a flying teacup. Blaming the intrusion on generational, beardless wizard, Skoros, they ask the Green Man, an all-encompassing tree connected with the whole garden, for help. When an alien girl called Celeste arrives with her ship and her 'Alpha', chasing several flying orbs, the people of the garden are thrown into a conflict between themselves, Skoros and the Astarian people. Gwynaire has no limits when it comes to what can and cannot be sentient life and be a part of the garden community, and this is what I really love about this book.
He is also incredibly skilled at character development in so short a time. The book is a little over 300 pages long but each character receives attention, development and resolution, although Skoros' resolution might feel a little hurried in the breathlessness of the finale.
Alditha and Celeste's relationship is an absolute gem and is the a fresh take on the witch-as-a-motherly-mentor trope. Her relationship with Harper is equally sweet and it is great that Jude has taken the time to develop their relationship beyond what is strictly necessary for the plot. However, perhaps my favourite character-related thing, one I didn't even notice whilst reading, is the lack of romance. What little romantic history is involved is funny and has just the right level of involvement in the story.
As with many fantasy universes, there is a certain need for 'tell don't show' - important information cannot conceivably be slotted into dialogue, as most large scale historical events do not show their whole effect on an individual level. Gwynaire is brilliant at explaining just enough and making this interesting and funny without boring the reader or leaving you confused when yet another character shows up. See: Odiz and his beard.
I will include an extract from the first chapter as an insight into his writing style, which I would describe as humorous, cheeky and individual.
The opening mini-chapter runs like this:
"Do you have a garden? Has it shown you the Thing yet? Not all gardens do the Thing, of course, and even with those that do, not everyone can see them do it. My garden does. Look— this is my garden. Overgrown grass, flowers, the vegetable patch— the shed, the broken swing, the trees down the far end with dark leaves for shade. Nothing special. Nothing to worry about, right? An ordinary garden…
There are people who say the whole world grew out of a garden. There are other people who say the whole world is still a garden— a big round garden in the black and starlit backyard of space, big enough to be seen by the creatures who live out there, unaware of us all scurrying about down here, being important. Of course, if that’s the case, then everything’s relative. Maybe we only see the garden that’s the right size for us. Maybe, beneath or within the garden we can see, there’s somewhere else, with people and creatures living their important lives, as unaware of us as we are of them. And maybe, if the sun’s in the right direction, and you step lightly on the grass and think really tiny thoughts… VZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZHHHHHHHHHT. That’s the Thing my garden does. It shows you the Garden underneath."
...and then segues seamlessly into the story. I really enjoyed this extra perspective and made me think about what 'the Garden' really was. I did find myself a little confused when it came to this addition as I'm not sure where the aliens figure in this, although I got the implication that the Garden is just an ordinary Earth garden. I loved this idea and I think it provides a nice break in the story.
His writing style is accessible and unique, using words and phrases that might not work for a weaker writer but his talent really shines through here. Creative description can be risky - I can't usually pull it off - but his chosen genre and characters make it possible and make it work and work well. If you're looking for something to read over a short time but still entertain and make you think. I'm not sure that I fully understood the relationship of the hedge to the Astarian people and the Garden, but this could just have been me. Overall, it is a fantastic book.
This book is perfect for fans of fantasy but want something lighter and do not want the commitment of a long and dark series. Gwynaire combines the humour and witty characters from popular fiction with the high stakes alien invasion and villainous wizards of the most popular fantasy series. I don't often re-read books, but I would reread this one.
November 29, 2020
Aliens in my Garden captures your imagination from the beginning. After a short description from the story teller of his own garden, the reader is taken straight away to an entirely different image. You are transported into the magical world of the garden people. Alditha the witch lives happily alongside talking trees and vegetables, goblins, wizards and many others. Harper, my favourite character, is a wonderful owl who really is wise, despite not always portraying himself that way! His loyalty to those around him reminds us how important that quality is. With the arrival of a flying tea cup and its inhabitant, Celeste, we are introduced to the world of aliens. The fantasy and science fiction sides of the story blend seamlessly. The way Jude explains everything that is unfamiliar makes it all seem so real.
The arrival of the aliens brings out the most evil side of Skoros, the beardless wizard. His character fits in to the story so perfectly, as alongside being a wizard, his interest and knowledge of science fiction means he has the ability to work out how to control the alien objects. The tension rises as good battles against evil.
As you reach the end of the book, you realise this is not just a fantasy/science fiction adventure. The story is full of imagination and yet It is filled with realism. Loyalty, kindness, empathy and the ability to work together are brought to the forefront and you are reminded of what you can achieve when we remember some of the important things in life.
The arrival of the aliens brings out the most evil side of Skoros, the beardless wizard. His character fits in to the story so perfectly, as alongside being a wizard, his interest and knowledge of science fiction means he has the ability to work out how to control the alien objects. The tension rises as good battles against evil.
As you reach the end of the book, you realise this is not just a fantasy/science fiction adventure. The story is full of imagination and yet It is filled with realism. Loyalty, kindness, empathy and the ability to work together are brought to the forefront and you are reminded of what you can achieve when we remember some of the important things in life.
September 6, 2020
This book is about a witch called Alditha and Harper, the not to wise owl, who maintain and serve the residents of the Garden. They go about their daily routine until they hear the news of what Skoros, the not so evil wizard, is planning, he is not very good at magic but is a good engineer. Skoros has an evil plan to take over Garden. At the same time Harper discovers a giant flying teacup in the sky. This is when they meet Celeste, a teenage alien. Her and the droid called Alpha were sent to Garden to look for orbs. These orbs cause the residents of Garden a lot of worry, some are led to believe the alien, Celeste, is the one who wants to take over. Although she is here on a different mission, to wake up the sleepers.
This book is like a bedtime story with all the characters being objects, like Harper the owl and the Green Man who is a tree. Also, having the narrator speak to the reader is a great touch. I enjoyed reading about all the characters as the text jumps from character to character. If you love science and fantasy, you will enjoy this book.
This story is a great example of friendships and courage. I enjoyed reading about how Celeste, the teenage alien, made friends with Alditha, the Green Man and Harper as they try and defeat Skoros and his evil plan. Also, how they all help Celeste find the orbs and to also regain power over them. This book was a good sci-fi/fantasy book for tweens and teens. 5/5 stars, thank you for sending me the book Jude.
This book is like a bedtime story with all the characters being objects, like Harper the owl and the Green Man who is a tree. Also, having the narrator speak to the reader is a great touch. I enjoyed reading about all the characters as the text jumps from character to character. If you love science and fantasy, you will enjoy this book.
This story is a great example of friendships and courage. I enjoyed reading about how Celeste, the teenage alien, made friends with Alditha, the Green Man and Harper as they try and defeat Skoros and his evil plan. Also, how they all help Celeste find the orbs and to also regain power over them. This book was a good sci-fi/fantasy book for tweens and teens. 5/5 stars, thank you for sending me the book Jude.
December 31, 2019
An imaginative and creative story. It offered humour, adventure, magic and some technical details to convey a different perspective on life in the garden.
The story is based around life in a garden and some visitors. Naturally, the visitors interrupt life and bring contrary attitudes to them. The main characters are a blond girl who flies in a teacup, an owl, wizard gone bad and a good witch.
I enjoyed the story, though I found it a bit chatty at times. I liked the dialogue and the creative ideas that the story contained. It was well done that way.
The essence of the story was compassion, fun and kindness. Aldetha, the witch used her magic wisely and with goodness. It was a good story with love at its heart.
The story is based around life in a garden and some visitors. Naturally, the visitors interrupt life and bring contrary attitudes to them. The main characters are a blond girl who flies in a teacup, an owl, wizard gone bad and a good witch.
I enjoyed the story, though I found it a bit chatty at times. I liked the dialogue and the creative ideas that the story contained. It was well done that way.
The essence of the story was compassion, fun and kindness. Aldetha, the witch used her magic wisely and with goodness. It was a good story with love at its heart.
October 31, 2020
In a world full of magic and science, a witch, owl, greenman, and a few good aliens need to discover a way to work together; before the plan of the evil wizard is fulfilled. Will they find the key before their time runs out?
A unique take on a multi-dimensional world. I really enjoyed this book, my only difficulty was finding a way to explain it in my review. There are plenty of characters to fall in love with in this sci-fi fantasy. My favorites are: Harper, the clumsy owl; Alditha, the white witch who stands up for what is right; and Celeste, an alien looking for a new home and her ancestors. The story pulls you in and keeps you engaged. What we see is not necessarily what is really there. It opens a world of imagination in an ordinary location.
A unique take on a multi-dimensional world. I really enjoyed this book, my only difficulty was finding a way to explain it in my review. There are plenty of characters to fall in love with in this sci-fi fantasy. My favorites are: Harper, the clumsy owl; Alditha, the white witch who stands up for what is right; and Celeste, an alien looking for a new home and her ancestors. The story pulls you in and keeps you engaged. What we see is not necessarily what is really there. It opens a world of imagination in an ordinary location.
November 21, 2020
Rarely have I come across such beautiful writing. Aliens in My Garden was an absolute pleasure to read. Jude Gwynaire has created something quite magical, effortlessly combining a fairytale world with science fiction/fantasy.
For me, characterisations are the glue that binds me to a book. Witches, wizards, an owl I would dearly love to know, with garden vegetation with a life of their own. The characters in this wonderful novel are somehow very real and endearing - a rare literary achievement.
Original and wonderful. I loved this book. I would recommend it to anyone from secondary school into adult life. I never want to stop reading magical books and this one hits the mark. Absolutely 5 stars
For me, characterisations are the glue that binds me to a book. Witches, wizards, an owl I would dearly love to know, with garden vegetation with a life of their own. The characters in this wonderful novel are somehow very real and endearing - a rare literary achievement.
Original and wonderful. I loved this book. I would recommend it to anyone from secondary school into adult life. I never want to stop reading magical books and this one hits the mark. Absolutely 5 stars
August 17, 2020
I’d rate this at 3.5 stars and then round up. Aliens In My Garden has a lot going for it. It’s clever, witty, descriptive. There’s a ton of imagination and even more love packed into these pages. The official synopsis gives Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland as a comparative work, and I think that’s pretty accurate. On the other hand, great writing and great storytelling are not altogether the same thing. For all its cleverness, I wanted to be more moved by this book than I actually was. Overall, I was hoping for a more satisfying journey for Alditha and Company. Instead, the book’s charm will have to suffice.
December 23, 2019
I was sent this book to read by the author's publisher for an unbiased review. This is a book that anyone could enjoy ranging from mid grade to adult. It was an original blend of Fairytale and Science Fiction that I found interesting and captivating. The story was well written and engaging and also not afraid to tackle some important issues we are facing today in a manner younger readers wouldn't find too scary, though that isn't to say that there weren't scary moments within the story. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
October 1, 2020
Aliens in My Garden was a fantastic read. If you love fantasy, science fiction, great characters, and a great story, read this terrific novel.
Jude Gwynaire fiction/fantasy novel took me to another level of reading. The characters, Alditha the witch, Skoros the young wizard, Harper the owl.
The story of a garden and all the characters takes you on a journey that you'll never forget. Sailing ships, teacups, wizards, aliens, and everything in between.
Must read. Must buy!
Enjoy Aliens In My Garden
Jude Gwynaire fiction/fantasy novel took me to another level of reading. The characters, Alditha the witch, Skoros the young wizard, Harper the owl.
The story of a garden and all the characters takes you on a journey that you'll never forget. Sailing ships, teacups, wizards, aliens, and everything in between.
Must read. Must buy!
Enjoy Aliens In My Garden
December 5, 2020
Deep breath. Wipe eyes. Try to stop giggling. This book took me twice as long to read than I expected - because I spent so much time laughing so hard I had to keep wiping the laughter tears from my eyes! "Aliens In My Garden" is absolutely brilliant. The writing, characters, and plot all gel to make this an outstanding book that no one (and I mean NO ONE) could dislike. Easily the funniest (and most fun) book I have read this year.
My thanks to the author. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
My thanks to the author. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
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