Before we embark on our journey, a disclaimer: Anna Burke is a former professor and a friend, which is why I hesitated to write about In the Roses of Pieria. But who am I to second guess optics, and why should I let that get in the way of sharing one of my favorite moody October reads?
Ultimately, you're reading this review because the book hasn't left my brain since last winter. It's the perfect novel to curl up with when you're looking for immaculate spooky vibes. Do you like vampires? Millennia-spanning epistolaries? Dark fantasy slow burn romances? You're in for a treat. By turns tender and heart-wrenching, In the Roses of Pieria is not one to miss. Burke weaves a seamless tapestry across the ages that threatens to carve out its own space inside you: a bit bloody and wholly unforgettable.
History professor Clara Eden has a shitty job in academia. Her stress levels are high and her salary is low. But along comes a job offer she can't resist. Thanks to her specialized research interests in the ancient city-state of Nektopolis, she's offered a cushy archivist job by the mysterious millionaire Agatha Montague. The offer comes with a six figure salary, amazing benefits, the largest private collection of Nektopolian artifacts in the U.S., and even free housing in the form of a cozy cottage on estate grounds. There's only one catch: Clara can't share a single thing she learns. Nary a publication, not even a whisper.
How is this even a choice? Burke keeps it real, and we're quickly introduced to Agatha Montague's austere private secretary, Fiadh Halloran. Remember the aforementioned slow burn? Clara and Fi are easy to root for. Without spoilers, know that this dark fantasy romance is just as heavy on the fantasy as it is the romance, and that the final battle is nothing short of epic. It will grab you by the throat and squeeze until the final page. No, I was not able to put it down. Good luck with that.
In the Roses of Pieria is infused with humor, showcased in asides like: "...a drawing of what might have been a cat, if a cat and a parsnip ever had the misfortune to reproduce...a crop of parcats." Burke draws readers into a world of immortal beings and magic with an exacting eye for detail. The descriptions are divine; I wanted to sink into the story and live in Clara's little cottage by the lake, with its flowering clematis vining around the shutters, stone fireplace, and copper pots and pans hanging over the kitchen window. The book's extensive footnotes add layers of depth and meaning to the translated letters, and their poetry still haunts me. Best of all, Burke manages to breathe new life into vampire tropes.
Truly, In the Roses of Pieria is a sapphic classic I intend to revisit every fall. The way it reaches across millennia gives it a timeless quality, and it hits all the right notes: wry, sweet, sensual, with a memorable cast of mortals and fey alike. If you're looking to start your spooky season with a delectable, atmospheric, dark academia fantasy romance, be sure to pick up In the Roses of Pieria by Anna Burke.
Warnings: blood, dubious consent RE: vampires, violence