Of Bees and Mist: A Novel (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Setiawan's debut novel spans 30 years in this heartfelt magical-realist story of two rival families living in a mystical world that transcends both time and place. Meridia is a lonely child; a mysterious incident when she was an infant has torn apart her parents, leaving them sharing nothing but a cold, mist-filled home. Not until Meridia meets the charmer Daniel, at age 16, does she finally feel loved. They marry and move in with his family and at first Meridia loves her life in Daniel's home. But she quickly learns of matriarch Eva's deceitful, manipulative ways and her power, both natural and supernatural, which she uses to control her family. When Meridia rebels against Eva, finding unexpected support from her parents, the rivalry solidifies and a lifelong battle begins. As time passes, Meridia faces heartbreak and betrayal, becoming a strong, fiercely independent woman. While filled with fortune-tellers, ghosts and unexplained phenomena, the relationships between the various characters are true to life so that fans of fantasy and fiction lovers alike are sure to enjoy this magical tale. (Aug.)
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Review

"While filled with fortune-tellers, ghosts and unexplained phenomena, the relationships between the various characters are true to life so that fans of fantasy and fiction lovers alike are sure to enjoy this magical tale." --Publishers Weekly

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (August 4, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416596240
• ISBN-13: 978-1416596240
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #137,160 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique & Magical, June 17, 2009

By	Stephanie in NJ (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This is truly one of those unique novels you come across once in a great while. I am so happy to have been able to read this as part of book club. If you are stuck in reality & don't handle imagination well, this won't be the book for you. The author creates a place that remains nameless and a time that is timeless. These particular details are left to what you can imagine them to be. Reality is mixed with magic to create an adult fable full of love, deception, death, new life, ghosts and so much more. I wasn't sure when I first began to read this book if I would like it. About 9 chapters in, it swept me away. There are characters you will love, some you will love to hate, others you will pity & others that will intrigue. The story is based around a young girl raised in a loveless home. She meets and falls in love with a boy who takes her away, but sometimes the hell we don't know is worse then the hell we do know. You follow her through her life and the lives of her family. Definately the type of book you can get lost in. The author has a beautiful way of wording his descriptions. Be sure to investigate the cover! There are many secrets hiding there as well!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice blend of real life and magic, June 14, 2009

By	kellyreaderofbooks (Iowa, USA) - See all my reviews

Of Bees and Mist" is an enchanting and magical book about a young girl named Meridia, who is isolated not only from her classmates but her distant and distracted parents as well. Her father is cold and cruel to her, while her mother often forgets her existance. Meridia's life seems to change for the better when she meets a young man who can change her destiny, even though it means dealing with his impossible family.

Part family drama and part magical realism, this book reminded me of a blend between "The House of Spirits" by Isabel Allande, and "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell" by Susanna Clarke. I thought it was well written, and engaging enough to keep my interest. There is a lot of magic in it....if that's not your thing, probably you won't care for this book. But if you do like books that have moody mists, vengeful bees, and invading flowers, then you'll enjoy this one!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, May 30, 2009

By	Ashley Lee (DC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm typically not a fantasy and mythical genre fan. I was fascinated by this story from the start though! The first couple of days, while I found it interesting it didn't grab hold of me fully but this morning as I read it, I could not put it down. All of the characters are developed in painstaking detail, and their personalities are palpable through the pages. You feel the animosity and disdain that Meridia feels for Eva and you side with her wholeheartedly. The love story between Meridia and Daniel is captivating also.