It's The Final Day Of Our 'Garden Of The Cursed' Book Club!

Amber and I are BACK this August for a fun new readalong! We're about to start our monthly discussion for our July YA book, Garden Of The Cursed by Katy Rose Pool!

As a reminder, from now on, our monthly discussions will be both here on the OwlCrate blog AND on The Nest! Go check out Amber's discussion that will be full of fun extras like bookish charades, shelf scavenger hunts and coloring pages!

On each day we'll read a section of Garden Of The Cursed both on the blog and in The Nest's group, and then discuss in the comments our theories and predictions. This means there will be spoilers for each section! Beware! 

Just a reminder that this will be a SPOILER discussion for chapters 24-28 of Garden Of The Cursed, so make sure you read or are finished this section before continuing.

It's the last day of our Garden Of The Cursed readalong but stay tuned because Amber and I are coming to you with our first adult book club for July's OwlCrate Adult book - Immortal Longings from September 1st-8th!

Chapter Twenty-Four:

Marlow waits for Swift outside Falcrest Hall where he's slipped inside during the chaos of Amara's wedding preparations.

He confirms with Marlow that Caito is inside Falcrest Hall. Marlow talks to Swift about theories regarding her mother's disappearance, specifically something to do with a place called Wisteria Grove, where she believes a secret has been hidden. She tells Swift that she's going there now and removes the silver bracelet she's just spoken into as it's equipped with Caito's eavesdrop spell.

Marlow said this to make Caito believe that is where Marlow will be so that Marlow can discover where Wisteria Grove is.

Marlow uses a spellcard that turns her into her own shadow to follow Caito. Caito goes to a non-descript house where she meets Adrius's mother, Isme. Caito asks Isme who has been visiting her and Isme says no one. It's revealed that Isme has had the compulsion curse used on her and has been forced to hide for a decade. Isme begs Caito to let her see Amara's wedding. Caito denies her and is about to leave when she spots Marlow.

Marlow flees.



Chapter Twenty-Five:

Marlow tells Swift that Aurelius cursed his own wife with the compulsion spell. She realizes interrupting the wedding may be the only way to bring Aurelius down.  Swift wants to go but Marlow tells him no and instead sends him to the Black Orchid to provide them the information about Aurelius Marlow just found out. 

Marlow then attends Amara's wedding with Gemma. They see Silvan who informs them that Adrius won't be attending the wedding and has sworn off the Falcrest name. 

Suddenly Marlow sees Adrius on the threshold and goes to speak with him. Adrius tells Marlow that she shouldn't be there. 

Marlow is then invited to the bridal suite, summoned by Amara. Amara demands to know why Marlow is attending her wedding and tells her she's not welcome. 

Amara tells the servants to remove Marlow and she's dragged away. They take her to Aurelius who tells her to back down. Adrius suddenly barrels into the room and plants himself in front of Marlow, defending her from his father. 

Marlow tells Adrius that it's his father who has cursed him with the Compulsion Curse the same as his mother. Aurelius denies this and without warning, Adrius plunges a dagger into his father's chest. 



Chatper Twenty-Six: 

Marlow realizes it's the curse and places herself in front of Aurelius. Adrius swings his knife and instead clips Marlow in the side of her ribs. She orders him to stop but he can't. Adrius begs her to leave but she refuses. He puts the blade to her throat and she kisses him. Adrius's grip loosens on the knife and she grabs it. 

Suddenly the doors open and the wedding party is there. Amara accuses Marlow of stabbing her father. Marlow agrees and tells the crowd she killed Aurelius Falcrest. 



Chapter Twenty-Seven: 

Marlow sits in a holding pen covered in Aurelius's blood thinking about how she'll never see Swift again. A visitor comes to see Marlow in the jail. It's Emery Grantaire, the City Solicitor. He tells the cops to take the cuffs off Marlow and they eventually oblige.

Grantaire asks if she needs anything. Marlow gets a change of clothes and the Solicitor takes her to a boat.

The boat docks at Vale Tower and they go to the top floor. Vale has had Marlow saved from custody and tells Marlow she is safe. He asks Marlow if her mother ever told her how they met. He tells Marlow their story about how they met eighteen years ago and fell in love with her and reveals that he's her father.

Marlow is shocked and she learns that her mother kept it from Vale and only admitted it to him shortly before she disappeared. Vale also tells Marlow that Aurelius hasn't died from his wounds but has been gravely injured.

Vale urges Marlow not to take the fall for Adrius's actions and leaves her in his office to go speak with the City Solicitor.

Marlow eavesdrops and learns that Vale knows about the Compulsion Curse placed on Adrius's mother and that he was likely the one to stab his father. As Vale walks Grantaire out, Marlow takes the opportunity to read the letter her mother wrote Vale before she disappeared.

The letter ends with her mother confident that Vale will keep Marlow safe no matter what happens. Marlow then places the letter back and Vale shows her to her rooms. Marlow looks around the room, placing memories together and realizes that her mother must have given Vale the grimoire as well as the letter.

Marlow realizes that it's Vale who has used the Compulsion Curse and still has the grimoire. Which means that he's been the one to use the curse on Adrius.



Chapter Twenty-Eight : 

Marlow wakes up to Vale telling her he's asked Amara for a full pardon for Marlow.

He tells Marlow that he's revealed his parentage of her to the Falcrests. They embrace and Marlow almost wants to believe him but notices his hands reflected in the Mirror Of Truth are a trademark inky black of the grimoire...




THAT CLIFFHANGER THOUGH!

 Questions:

1. 🤯 Did you see that cliffhanger coming?
   

2. 💖 Adrius's curse still has a time limit...what do you think will happen?

3. 💭 Will you be picking up book two? 

4. Never miss a box! Subscribe to OwlCrate today with code OCBLOG15 to save 15% on a new subscription!