The Garden at the Roof of the World by W.B.J. Williams

The Garden is as much a spiritual journey for the characters as a physical one. Which is not to say there is no story in the beginning, but rather that the beginning is formed of a series of bridges crossing to the same island in the center from whence the true journey begins, each bridge formed of the unique circumstances that bring the various women to this quest.

However, once I accepted the world, I was swept away. The style reminds me a little of Robin Hobb, another author who takes the time to introduce the world and the characters before the main story gets rolling. It also exists within not one but two frameworks, that of the scholar who discovers and translates the manuscript in modern times (complete with footnotes) and the voice of the narrator who begins by recounting the tales of others only to end with his own. The book is written in a style more common to ancient Persian texts than modern Western, both lyrical and unhurried. But mostly it explores the question of love: platonic, chaste, marital, and pretty much any type of love you can imagine as the group explores their relationships with each other, with their gods, and most importantly, with themselves. It explores adult questions of purity, lust, belief, and relations between those of different religions. This is most definitely not a children’s book. Instead, The Garden at the Roof of the World takes you on a journey through dangers both physical and metaphysical as Britomar, the unicorn, gathers her company to undertake a quest to save the life of the oldest unicorn with the ranks of Hell set against her.

'A solid mystical adventure that will interest readers from start to finish with its likable protagonists and constant twists and turns.While on the surface, this novel might seem a traditional children’s fantasy with a quest and unicorn, it has little in common with that genre. The Garden at the Roof of the World is a stunning debut fantasy epic in a rigorously historical 13th century setting, with vivid characters and a thrilling, romantic story that spans cultures and continents. To succeed, Gwenaella must find a balance between faith, friendship, and love and discover the true meaning of sacrifice. Joined by a few trusted followers called by the unicorns' magic, she will face many dangers on her epic journey. She must commit to a perilous journey through Europe, the Middle East, and India, to the high mountains of Tibet, to seek the hidden Garden at the Roof of the World and pluck a fruit that would restore the father of all unicorns to health. But the remedy comes with an exorbitant price. A SACRED QUEST OF HEALING, MAGIC, AND LOVE To save her brother's life Gwenaella risks her own in a magical forest to seek a unicorn's healing magic.

The Garden at the Roof of the World by W.B.J. Williams