In The Garden of Spite by Camilla Bruce
My Library Read for May 2024
So the start of this is so sad and unfair her mother is the only person to show her any compassion -
I feel so bad for her husband he is trying to give her everything she wants but nothing is good enough for her, she angry with him for being kind to her?
Food hoarding, lack of a baby, and the loss of violence in her home has her reeling and that poor man is along for the ride not knowing any of what she is thinking or feeling.
The orphanage is so surreal to hear how it was arranged, how can you say no to any of them, it would be so overwhelming.
So starting this story and her journey to a new land I understood why she would
Be hurt and acting unfair, but the man who
Loved her and tried to be kind to her paid for it she has no remorse even as it’s happening, at all so sad
In The Garden of Spite by Camilla Bruce
5-star review, dark historical fiction
I came across camilla bruces novel Into the garden of spite
while walking through my local library. It was love at first site, and now that I have finished the story, I can tell you it is well worth your time. In the garden of spite is based on a true story of a woman who lived the life of a real-life black widow in the sense that although at times she may have married with the hope of a life partner each end in its own dark and plot twisting way. Mix her own trauma and personality flaws with a dangerous man who can supply her with nearly anything she asks for a dark “work Trade”, even the ones closest to widow Bella cannot truly grasp the dark deeds and justifications that always follow in the after math.
The empathy I felt for little Brunhild in the beginning really carried through a large portion of the story however i could not relate to scorning kindness to the point that Bella did. although she had trauma and maybe even cause for the start of her dark story all that follows that first even really is an example of unresolved trauma and the power and danger of convincing oneself of anything as long as the means get them to the end result.
I will most assuredly be re visiting this story later on as a re-read. The plot was never boring, no low spots, and the stress was excellent. At points being given glimpses of what could be then what is and then back into the dark. I especially appreciated the deliver at certain points we are given the widow Bellas perspective and then switch over to a more relatable and sensible outlook of her older sister, and the pain of having to admit to herself that her little sister although now more than grown is capable of such acts.
A great dark historical fiction fasted paced and full of surprises. I highly recommend giving the story of Bella told by author Camilla Bruce a visit.
For more on the story of Widow Bella see the YouTube murder mystery and makeup episode hosted by Bailey Sarian.