Girl of the Night Garden

By: Logan Riley

Narrated by: Joe Jameson, Emma Ashton

Once there was a girl with a heart as black as night....

Or so legend goes. But I know better. Grown in the Night Witch's garden and tasked with softening the souls of men, the dream spells I spin keep the women of earth safe. Without it, they would be as miserable (and damaged) as my mother.

Let the humans call me names - banshee, nightmare, monster - I sleep deep and dreamless.

Until the day I'm rescued from the sea by a forbidden boy. Until the night we break all the magical rules and the kiss that changes...everything.

Until the moment I realize Mother's the one who's been spinning lies.

Now I must choose - between love and duty. Between life and something worth living for. Between the boy who owns my heart and a legacy as wicked as a witch's curse.

©2021 Logan Riley (P)2021 Logan Riley

A wonderful story about love and sacrifice

Girl of the Night Garden is Lili Valente's first YA Fantasy Novel and it was seriously fantastic. I have read a lot of YA novels, but nothing like what Lili has delivered with this book. Girl of the Night Garden was magical, beautiful, and heartbreaking. This was a story about duty and deception; about loyalty and betrayal; a story about love and sacrifice.

Foxglove's life was shattered when she was ripped away from the only home she knew - The Night Witch's Garden. Bound by duty, she was sent to a world of unfamiliarity and stop mankind from cruelty by haunting them in their dreams leaving them shattered and vulnerable. Despite her hatred for her mother, Foxglove abides by her mother's rules fulfilling what she believes to be her destiny without questioning her mother's true intentions. It isn't until her journey lands her in forbidden territory and a stranger saves her life, that Foxglove a.k.a. Claire begins to realize that she has been living a lie.

This book broke my heart, but at the same time it filled it with so much hope. Although this was a fantasy novel filled with magical elements, it resonated with so much with real life. Foxglove and Declan were from two different words. They were challenged in unexplainable ways. Even as secrets began to unravel the two remained loyal to the love they felt for each other. Just when I thought I knew how the story was going to end, Lili threw a little (big) twist in there that left me breathless and tearful. Well played....well played. I both read the e-book and listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by Lili Valente herself and by Joe Jameson. This is the first audio book I listened to that was narrated by Joe Jameson and he was wonderful as Declan. Lili was phenomenal as Foxglove/Claire. There was an innocence in her voice that mirrored Foxglove's innocence. Both narrators gave the characters so much life and emotion. I loved the Audiobook.


I hope Lili continues to write in this Genre. Girl of the Night Garden reawakened by passion for YA novels.

Unique YA Fantasy

It took me a couple chapters to figure out what was going on in this novel, simply because the concept is so unique. Yet that is exactly what made it so compelling. And I loved how the island and rescue scene gave me Wonder Woman vibes.

The magic and fantasy element were great, but we have to talk about the romance. The love between Clara & Declan is incredibly deep. They may be young, but they have this mature love that means they want the other to be happy, even if it isn’t together. I find that so beautiful. And the end! It was so crazy and frustrating, but also undeniably perfect.

Literary and Audio Perfection

My first thoughts, as I read AND listened to the prologue, is this is beautiful literature. The imagery is so descriptive and almost flowery, which makes sense, coming from the Girl of the Night Garden. It transported me to a time when I read books like The Secret Garden. Lili transported me and submerged me into the Night Garden and the other towns, villages, islands, oceans that Clara / Foxglove visited.

This is one of the most interesting books I’ve ever read. Lili created this fantasy world of the Night Garden, and brought the characters into the real world of near-Italy and near-England, weaving magic throughout. There are many twists I was not expecting. A beautiful star-crossed love story. They were both always and never...and always meant to be.

This is one of those books that sticks with you for the very best reasons. I am sure it will be one I go back to and read or listen to many times.

Lili is one of my favorite narrators, so of course I loved her as Clara / Foxglove. Joe Jameson...oh my. You are going to LOVE his European accent and his soothing voice. I could listen to him all day.

I’m not even sure whose writing to compare this to for an “if you like____, you’ll love this.” It feels familiar, and also so unique. So I will say, if you love beautifully written love stories with magic, mystery, and lovely words, this one is for you.

Beautiful YA Fantasy Novel

What a fantastic YA Fantasy debut for one of my favorite authors, Lili Valente. I was immediately drawn in by the world that Lili created and the story that she wove about Foxglove/Clara and Declan.

Girl of the Night Garden was alternately aching, beautiful, heartbreaking, innocent and uplifting, and utterly enchanting. Clara and Declan live in a world where deception is all around them, but they develop such a pure, caring, loving relationship between the two of them. Their connection is instant, and their bond is immortal.

Ultimately, Girl of the Night Garden shows us two sides of love. It shows us the contrast between a pure love and a toxic love. It shows us how fear and deceit can lead to tragedy, and how love and support can lead to growth.

This was simply a beautiful story. And the narration by Lili Valente and Joe Jameson was the perfect tone for this story. Simply stunning, haunting and magical.

This was a story I didn't know I needed!

YA fantasy is not a genre I read…EVER! But Lili did a wonderful job capturing and holding my attendion. Foxglove grew up in the garden, and loved it, along w/her sisters and friends. She both loved and feared her mother, and did what she was asked to do, no matter what it was. There was something mysterious about her mother, but she didn’t quite know what it was One night, her mother takes her away from the garden and assigns her a task to help mankind. To man, she’s been called a witch, sorceress, evil, and other scary names. Foxglove won’t let that deter her from her instructions. After all, they’re for the greater good.

When she meets Declan, a 17 year-old teen, she’s intrigued by him, and he by her. They form a friendship, and as they get closer, things get very complicated.

I don’t want to spoil any of this story, but Foxglove’s task is what puts her in contact w/Declan, and there’s a lot of magical things going on. This was a beautifully written story of love, friendship, duty, discovery, loyalty.

Lili’s writing had me feeling I was right there w/them. You could smell the ocean, all the things in the garden, and even food. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this book, but I ended up loving it. It’s nothing Lili has written before, but I’m so glad she did.

One thing that really stuck w/me was Foxglove saying, “Nightmares may not always be kind, but we’re certainly patient.”