Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth
Hits Shelves on September 23, 2014
Add to Goodreads
SynopsisWhy I'm Waiting
An utterly captivating reinvention of the Rapunzel fairytale weaved together with the scandalous life of one of the tale's first tellers, Charlotte-Rose de la Force.
Charlotte-Rose de la Force has been banished from the court of Versailles by the Sun King, Louis XIV, after a series of scandalous love affairs. She is comforted by an old nun, Sœur Seraphina, who tells her the tale of a young girl who, a hundred years earlier, is sold by her parents for a handful of bitter greens...
Selena is the famous red-haired muse of the artist Tiziano, first painted by him in 1512 and still inspiring him at the time of his death, sixty-four years later. Called La Strega Bella, Selena is at the centre of Renaissance life in Venice, a world of beauty and danger, seduction and betrayal, love and superstition, retaining her youth and beauty by the blood of young red-haired girls.
After Margherita's father steals a handful of parsley, wintercress and rapunzel from the walled garden of the courtesan Selena Leonelli, he is threatened with having both hands cut off unless he and his wife give away their little red-haired girl. And so, when she turns seven, Margherita is locked away in a tower, her hair woven together with the locks of all the girls before her, growing to womanhood under the shadow of La Strega Bella, and dreaming of being rescued...
Three women, three lives, three stories, braided together to create a compelling story of desire, obsession, black magic and the redemptive power of love. (Goodreads)
At long last, Bitter Greens will be available in the United States! I am beyond excited! Why am I so stoked for this novel? Let me give you a list of reasons because only one will not suffice...
1) It's a retelling of the classic fairy tale Rapunzel! Once I knew that, I was in.
2) The book tells the story of not just one woman, but three! What a unique twist!
3) Bitter Greens takes place in Venice! How could I not be excited about that setting?
4) Everyone who has read it has raved about it (from what I can see on Goodreads at least).
5) "retaining her youth and beauty by the blood of young red-haired girls" Sounds gruesome! Sign me up!
It has been an especially long wait for this one, and I don't know how I can bear waiting another few months, but I shall survive! I'm 99.9% sure I'll love this one, so I will be preordering!
What are you waiting on this week? Or are you excited for Bitter Greens too?
Oh heck yes! Thanks for bringing this to my attention!
ReplyDeleteOh I love fairy tale retellings/re-imaginings! Going to have to keep an eye out for this one!
ReplyDeleteHere's my WoW
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
I loved Forsyth's The Wild Girl and, like you, have heard so many raving reviews on this title so I'm thrilled they're releasing it in the US at last! Definitely can't wait to read this one!(:
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a wonderful series. Hope you get to read it soon.
ReplyDeleteJenea @ Books Live Forever's WoW
This one does sound unique...and I LOVE that cover! Enjoy...and here's mine: “SMALL BLESSINGS”
ReplyDeleteI love the sound of this one. I am a big fan of books with fairy tale elements.
ReplyDeleteWhat we are waiting and wishing for...
SOOOO excited. I've been dying for this one. It sounds so interesting and layered and awesome. I think the cover we are getting is pretty, but I definitely prefer the yellow illustrated one. Whatever. I'm just happy it is getting released here finally. Great pick!!
ReplyDeleteSounds amazing! had not heard about it, but its at the top of my TBR list!! :)
ReplyDeleteHere's Mine
Ooh yeah, I have been looking forward to this one ever since I heard about it for all the reasons you listed! And I absolutely LOVE the illustrated yellow cover. Hope this one is really as good as it sounds... would love to hear your thoughts if you read it!
ReplyDelete