Review: Gardens of Ailana

There are places on this planet not confined to the logic of men or limitations of science. Pagans may have erected strange mounds, or circles of giant stones there. Religious seers built great cathedrals or temples where those stones had once stood. Legends spread about miracles and healing wonders, and for centuries pilgrims flocked in from all lands.
Or they may have been left alone, unknown but to the few; tended by very special beings.
Something inside a few troubled souls draws them to such centers when they’re ready.
In our modern-day fictional tale, four people with very different backgrounds, each scarred by a horrific childhood, meet at a place of healing where one’s most crippling darkness must be faced down. In the rubble of their lives and broken spirits they learn that in their weaknesses lie their most profound strengths. In their festering wounds they find hope.
In “The Gardens of Ailana” we see through the souls of mystics, experience laying-on-of-hands from the healer’s point of view. Feel at home among wonders and magic.
We may find answers to some long-troubling questions:
What if everything does serve some purpose?
When is it not right to forgive?
Beyond all the religious hype, what happens when I die? When my child dies?
How does karma work? - And this time say it so I can understand it.
Is there any ultimate balancing of goodness and wrongs?
In this moving, mysterious tale of redemption, we explore that intimate pain we all carry inside us, marveling at the rich complexity of the human spirit.
And at the simple beauty and logic of what lies beyond.
Or they may have been left alone, unknown but to the few; tended by very special beings.
Something inside a few troubled souls draws them to these centers when they are ready.
In our modern-day fictional tale, four people with very different backgrounds, each scarred by a horrific childhood, meet at a place of healing where one’s most crippling darkness must be faced down. In the rubble of their lives and broken spirits they learn that in their weaknesses lie their most profound strengths. In their festering wounds they find hope.
In “The Gardens of Ailana” we see through the souls of mystics, experience laying-on-of-hands from the healer’s point of view. Feel at home among wonders and magic.
We may learn to heal ourselves and others.
We might find answers to some long-troubling questions.
What if everything does serve some purpose?
When is it not right to forgive?
Is there any ultimate balancing of goodness and wrongs?
What happens when I die? When my child dies?
In this moving, mysterious tale of redemption, we explore that intimate pain we all carry inside us, marveling at the rich complexity of the human spirit. 

Buy on Amazon


My Review:

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through FirstReads Giveaways.

The Gardens of Ailana was interesting. Lots of great scenery, gave me some rather questionable dreams, but for the most part kept my interest until almost the end.

The introduction of the book suggests the book would be about Ailana and her personal role in the healing of four people with well rounded histories. Let's discuss what really happens. (without spoilers)

Ailana herself feels like a plot device. She didn't do anything but speak mysteriously and own the Gardens. She also served tea, but you know. 

Person #1: Paulette. Sweet Paulette. She was, indeed, well rounded. She had real feelings and had some development. She got annoying sometimes, but that's important. It adds reality to a character to have a few idiosyncrasies.
Person #2: Harvey. I would say he had development if he wasn't so 2 dimensional. There was very little depth to Harvey and we got to spend some time with him, and he had a rich history, but he felt too cliche. 
Person #3: Marsha? I've got to put a question mark here because we don't really see Marsha at all. She seems to only come out when it's convenient for Paulette.
Person #4: Charlie...? I really had to think about who the fourth person was because for cripes sake we saw more development and story in Paulette's sister and mother than in Charlie or Marsha. Paulette's family had maybe a couple paragraphs between them and weren't at the Gardens.

So there you go. Since this is a 'people' book and not a 'plot' book, I'm dividing these five characters into stars. I'll pair Paulette's family in with Ailana to have the equivalent of three moderately developed people.