ALIENS IN MY GARDEN takes ALDITHA the witch and HARPER (the talking, though not terribly bright owl) from their usual business serving the residents of the Garden on a path that pits them against SKOROS. The would-be evil wizard is useless at magic, great at engineering, has a brass wand, a smart alec who plans to take over the Garden. When a giant teacup lands in their world, they are introduced … introduced to CELESTE, a teenaged alien girl (who s really much older than she looks) and ALPHA, her bio-mechanoid co-pilot, who looks like a typical Grey alien.
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Everything was normal in the Garden. Skoros was away scheming in his castle, Harper was crashing through the woods trying to be a graceful owl, though not quite making the cut, and Alditha was being her regular witchy self. But all that changed when Celeste, arrived in her teacup of a spaceship on a mission to find her lost kin. Skoros sees her as a way to further his technological advances. After all, if he’s the most powerful wizard he can make his claim as ruler of the Garden. But the denizens of the Garden will not be so willing to allow him to rule.
A week ago, if someone told me they were blending a world of magic and dragons with aliens and technology, I wouldn’t have believed it was possible. Jude Gwynaire has a talent for making the impossible happen with Aliens in My Garden.
As you travel the world of the Garden, vegetables, and minerals come to life. You’ll meet characters such as Tom the potato, a Gardener known for his talent at digging holes, and the Green Man, a gentle tree who loves to eat strawberry marshmallows. This brilliantly crafted world is filled with heartwarming characters that use their humor and wits to wriggle out of the most difficult of circumstances.
I think what truly makes this book come alive is the amusing comebacks from characters like Alditha, “You do know that people only understand about half a teaspoon of what you say don’t you?” When anything close to technical speech comes out, Alditha is quick to say what’s on the reader’s mind and ask for the language to be simplified. It breaks the tension and makes you laugh as the two worlds, magic and technology slowly blend as the characters begin to understand each other.
And for all the humor it holds, Aliens in My Garden is more than just another story. It shows the reader that even though you may be different from your neighbor, it doesn’t mean they should be treated differently. By working together, great things can be accomplished.
This novel is a fast-paced, adventurous read. You won’t want to put this book down! It’s a colorful and creative ride, taking you places you’d never expect. From spaceships to dragons, this has everything a fan of the sci-fi and fantasy genres is looking for.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 November 2020
A truly magical journey. A dance between the garden and the Heavens
Rarely have I come across such beautiful writing. Aliens in My Garden was an absolute pleasure to read. Jude Gwynaire has created something quite magical, effortlessly combining a fairytale world with science fiction/fantasy.
For me, characterisations are the glue that binds me to a book. Witches, wizards, an owl I would dearly love to know, with garden vegetation with a life of their own. The characters in this wonderful novel are somehow very real and endearing – a rare literary achievement.
Original and wonderful. I loved this book. I would recommend it to anyone from secondary school into adult life. I never want to stop reading magical books and this one hits the mark. Absolutely 5 stars