A review by punkinmuffin
In the Night Garden by Catherynne M. Valente

5.0

[a:Catherynne M. Valente|338705|Catherynne M. Valente|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1220999852p2/338705.jpg]'s award-winning [b:In the Night Garden|6156690|In the Night Garden (The Orphan's Tales, #1)|Catherynne M. Valente|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1432316335s/6156690.jpg|196179] is a stunning achievement. A girl, cursed with mysterious dark colouring around her eyes, lives wild in the magnificent gardens of a royal palace. One day she's sought out by a boy prince, to whom she reveals her secret: the dark rings around her eyes are actually infinitesimally tiny writing spelling out magical stories. She begins to tell him what's written on her skin. Her tales twist, branch and fold back upon one another in marvelous intricacy. Witches, skin-changers, djinns, wizards, living Stars, maidens, monsters, orphans and many other fantastic creations populate Valente's richly woven tapestry. This novel is such a gorgeous thing to experience because it brings back the childhood joy of discovering the magic of storytelling and just how far a really good story can take you.