Of Bees and Mist
On sale
24th December 2009
Price: £7.99
Up in the house that sits on the hill, a strange spell is brewing…
To Meridia, growing up with her father Gabriel, who vanishes daily in clouds of mist, and her bewitching mother Ravenna, the outside world is a refuge. So when as a young woman her true love Daniel offers her marriage, it seems an escape to a more straightforward existence.
Yet behind the welcoming façade of her new home lies a life of drudgery and a story even stranger than that she left behind. Aged retainers lurk in the background; swarms of bees appear at will, and of course, there’s her indomitable mother-in-law, Eva, hiding secrets that it will take Meridia years to unravel. Surrounded by seemingly unfathomable mysteries, can Meridia unlock the intrigues of the past, and thus protect her own family’s future?
An epic tale of two families told by an unforgettable voice. A modern fable, a gothic page-turner, but most of all, a passionate story about the power of love to conquer all that comes its way.
To Meridia, growing up with her father Gabriel, who vanishes daily in clouds of mist, and her bewitching mother Ravenna, the outside world is a refuge. So when as a young woman her true love Daniel offers her marriage, it seems an escape to a more straightforward existence.
Yet behind the welcoming façade of her new home lies a life of drudgery and a story even stranger than that she left behind. Aged retainers lurk in the background; swarms of bees appear at will, and of course, there’s her indomitable mother-in-law, Eva, hiding secrets that it will take Meridia years to unravel. Surrounded by seemingly unfathomable mysteries, can Meridia unlock the intrigues of the past, and thus protect her own family’s future?
An epic tale of two families told by an unforgettable voice. A modern fable, a gothic page-turner, but most of all, a passionate story about the power of love to conquer all that comes its way.
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Reviews
'Of Bees and Mist is a beautifully crafted adult fairytale of love, loss, and loyalty that is at once witty, magical, and moving. This is a stunningly accomplished first novel.'
It's rare to read a work of fiction that is so uniquely intoxicating, it becomes necessary to put life on hold while you let it work its magic. What makes Setiawan's achievement even more wonderful is that this is his debut novel...This is a bewitching, achingly romantic fairy tale and a truly epic undertaking - one that addresses some of lifes most universal themes of love, loyalty and betrayal
This debut demands you enter a place full of spirits, ghosts, demons and clairvoyants, where spells and witchcraft prevail.
'It's rare to read a work of fiction that is so uniquely intoxicating, it becomes necessary to put life on hold while you let it work its magic. What makes Setiawan's achievement even more wonderful is that this is his debut novel...This is a bewitching, achingly romantic fairy tale and a truly epic undertaking - one that addresses some of lifes most universal themes of love, loyalty and betrayal'
'This debut demands you enter a place full of spirits, ghosts, demons and clairvoyants, where spells and witchcraft prevail.'
A wildly imaginative beauty also marks Setiawan out as one to watch.
A beautiful and sweeping modern fable of two families enmeshed in jealousy, desire and bitterness, the depth of passon and the pain of loss. Delightfully written and compelling, it's terrific - one to be hand sold.
'A wildly imaginative beauty also marks Setiawan out as one to watch.'
'[Setiawan's] writing [is] so expressive and squeaky clean . . . A really impressive first novel.'
'A beautiful and sweeping modern fable of two families enmeshed in jealousy, desire and bitterness, the depth of passon and the pain of loss. Delightfully written and compelling, it's terrific - one to be hand sold.'
'If you're looking for something to read, that's a bit different, hugely innovative, with a cracking plot - look no further......The author deserves to enjoy huge success with this debut novel, and I will be awaiting his next work with eager anticipation.'
[H]eartfelt . . . [F]ans of fantasy and fiction lovers alike are sure to enjoy this magical tale.
'Writing with a fairy-tale sensibility, Setiawan cloaks every aspect of the novel in magic, spells, and ghosts both actual and imaginary. For readers who like their novels steeped in the fantastic, this is a marvel.'
'[A]mbitious . . . [A]n undeniably intriguing landscape . . . [A] story that pulses with life . . .'
'[O]riginal and compelling, and it's hard to set down . . . [T]he closing pages of Of Bees and Mist are perhaps inevitable, but not predictably so. And they are very right . . . This is a debut that is a looping joy to read, a journey in a world that is jointly anchored in the fantastic and earthy humanity.'
'[A] fascinating domestic drama.'
'[A] richly drawn fantasy world . . . [M]emorable, identifiable characters and an enjoyable story rooted in human emotion. Love, longing, and the pain of compromise are indeed recognizable to all, no matter our culture or geography.'