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0008626588
| 9780008626587
| B0C6DDJ43Z
| 4.04
| 2,139
| Jul 04, 2024
| Jul 04, 2024
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really liked it
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I’m on BookTube now! =) ”I reckon that might make me officially, entirely batshit insane. But I want steely glares and poorly suppressed smirks. I want I’m on BookTube now! =) ”I reckon that might make me officially, entirely batshit insane. But I want steely glares and poorly suppressed smirks. I want fire and rage and whatever it is that’s making my breathing shallow and my pulse race right now. I want more of that.” Trigger warnings: (view spoiler)[queerphobia and lesbophobic slurs, sexual harassment, blackmail, alcohol consumption, ADHD medication as a theme, blatant classicism (hide spoiler)] I wasn’t lying when I wrote down my first reaction after finishing “Lover Birds” and told you that this was going to be a difficult review to write. There’s a lot I loved about this book and it was one of those stories you have to digest slowly to take it all in. For instance, I really loved the friendships and the family vibes this book gave off! Eloise has ADHD but her friends accept her exactly the way she is and her mum is doing an amazing job of raising and being there for her daughter whenever she needs her. I loved Lou’s mum to bits and pieces and she always found the right words to support her child! I think her and Aaron Bell (“The Extraordinaries” by T.J. Klune) are the only two parents I ever read about in books, who have kids with ADHD and support them exactly the way they need it. ADHD rep is still very rare in stories, but I’m glad that more and more authors include it in their books. It’s important to see yourself represented and I’m sure some people who have ADHD will read this book and feel seen, valued and accepted. ”Two days of real productivity is better than seven days of not quite working, not quite resting. Also, while you revise, read it out loud. It helps if you’ve been feeling understimulated. And you could run or cycle to school. If you exercise right before working, it helps avoid restlessness.” She looks really proud of herself. “I’ve been on the Reddit,” she adds. Have I mentioned how much I love her? For Lou to focus on things isn’t easy and since she refuses to take medicine her ADHD sometimes takes over control. It was nice to see that she had such a solid support system around her, though, and no matter if it was her friends, her mum or even her teacher Ms Price, they all took Eloise’s struggles in stride. As for her relationship with Isabel. Well, that’s the point of the book that didn’t convince me as much. Maybe it’s because we only get Lou’s POV throughout the entire book or maybe it was the fact that she had a hard time accepting Eloise the way she is? I don’t know, maybe it was both, but I got the feeling that Isabel was not okay with Lou having ADHD because the things that riled her the most about her were exactly those parts she couldn’t control. ”Well, yes,” she continues after a moment, “but it’s like somebody forgot to tell her that sometimes it’s okay to just not speak. It’s – it’s allowed. You can actually stop talking and that’s fine. And that’s not even taking into consideration the fact that I could barely understand her. It surely can’t be that hard to tone down your accent just a tiny bit, make it a little less … difficult.” I mean I totally understand that Eloise took offense after hearing those words. Isabel doesn’t only sound very stuck-up but also like she has no regard for people’s individuality and nature. I guess it didn’t help that Isabel came from an extremely rich background and kinda considered herself to be better than Lou and her friends. And I guess this, right there, is the main issue I had with this Sapphic “Pride and Prejudice” retelling. In the original, Darcy says and does stupid things because he’s socially awkward and doesn’t know how to express his feelings. He just doesn’t know how to tell Elisabeth about his emotions and that comes off as snobbish, and like he looks down on her, even though it’s not true. With Isabel, I always had the feeling that she truly thinks she’s better than Lou and that she actually believed the things she said. She didn’t put her foot in her mouth because she was socially awkward but because she really believed what she said. ”Oh, which part didn't you like? The part about you being rich, or the part about you being stuck-up? Because you've made it perfectly clear you're not ashamed of either of them." She twitches. "I don't need to be rich to be better than you, Eloise." "Oh, we're just saying the quiet part out loud now, are we?" Of course, we get plenty of hints that Isabel doesn’t like the attention of others and therefore is embarrassed by Lou’s loud character and nature. But that’s exactly the crux of the matter. Isabel hates to be in the centre of things and Lou always is the heart of the party. I know plenty of people will say that opposites attract but I personally think that you have to find a middle ground that works for both in order to make it work. And despite them becoming a couple I don’t see that happening anytime soon. So yeah, the book had some sort of HEA but I didn’t buy it and for me it’s just a matter of time before their conflicts surface again. Which is the reason their love story didn’t really work out for me. Everything felt very unresolved. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Not to mention that Isabel’s aunt Catherine was an insufferable piece of work and that her friends from back home were basically the same. >_< ”There’s no just, Isabel. Do I embarrass you or not?” And the pause is enough. The tense silence after I finish speaking is enough to make it feel as if a hole has opened up under me and wrenched the world out from beneath me. “Yes,” she murmurs eventually. I think in order to make this relationship work Isabel’s character would have to turn about 180° and that’s just not how relationships work on the long run. Well, maybe I’m just a pessimistic little sh*t, but that’s the way I see it and why I wasn’t able to buy into their romance a 100%. Which raises the question: Have I become too realistic to enjoy romances? Maybe, maybe not. I guess we’ll find out by me continuing to read them. Anyway! That’s neither here nor there so let’s move on and return back to this review. ”I know that, she knows it, but she’s flawed. I know that about her, and I love her. I reacted badly, flipped, froze her out for a while. But I’m flawed, too. We’re both hurting, and we can’t seem to come back from it, but that’s what we do. We come back from it. We’re supposed to be the same.” What I really loved were the close friendships and even though there were conflicts, the characters always tried to solve them. Lou is part of a very tight-knit friend group and they all have their flaws and problems but they stick together like glue. And even when things get really bad between them their solidarity and loyalty won’t allow them to leave each other behind. Especially the bond between Lily and Eloise suffers throughout the book and it takes them some time to figure things out. Considering the path Lily took that’s not surprising, though, but I think their reconciliation was realistic and felt real. The author really took their time to play this out and I appreciated that immensely. ”I’ll happily spend hours picking each individual grain of rice out of my sheets later because, right now, all overthinking seems to be entirely abandoned. Right now, Isabel’s kissing me with purpose. With ragged breaths stolen between kisses that we draw from each other in fierce, hungry lunges. So yeah, there was a lot I liked about this story, but it also had some parts that weren’t able to persuade me. Mainly the romance between the two MCs. I liked their soft moments but there weren’t enough of them to make me see them as a couple in the future. I suppose the simple fact that the main conflict between the two FMCs felt unresolved until the very last page didn’t help to convince me either. I’m sorry but it is the way it is. ”Mum? Am I too much?” She hesitates for a moment before she wraps me up in her arms. “Yes,” she says eventually, and I do look over at her then, my face warped in horror, but she’s smiling. “I love that about you. It is always better to be too much than not enough.” Conclusion: All told, I enjoyed reading “Lover Birds”! The fact it played in Liverpool and the great friendships as well as the amazing relationship between Lou and her mum really caused me to pull for the main character. Unfortunately, I wasn’t entirely on board of the budding sapphic relationship between the two protagonists. Maybe it would have helped to have Isabel’s POV? I dunno. The ADHD rep and Lou’s thoughts and feelings about taking medication were on point, though, and I really liked that part and focus of the book. For me it’s 3,5 stars and I stand by that rating. ;-) ”I’m not flawless. Nobody is. Everybody has some major fault.” “And yours is to dislike pretty much everyone?” The twitch becomes a definite smile then. ______________________________ This was pretty good and kinda surprised me. I loved the family vibes, but I didn’t connect as much with the characters as I’d have liked to. If that makes any sense? Well, I guess I’ll try to put this into proper words. XD RTC soon! Stay tuned! This is going to be a difficult one. _______________________________ When I saw “Lover Birds” at my library, I had to borrow it! I never heard of this book before so it’s kind of a wildcard, but it sounds soo good! I mean we have: - a Sapphic rep - enemies-to-lovers - an ADHD rep - Liverpool as a setting - “Pride and Prejudice” retelling vibes! I’m so curious about this one! Wish me luck! *fingers crossed* Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 10, 2025
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Jul 05, 2025
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Jun 10, 2025
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Kindle Edition
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B0F5P57ML8
| 4.26
| 94
| unknown
| May 22, 2025
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really liked it
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I’m on BookTube now! =) **I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and Spaceboy Books! Thank you so much for the opportunity to read it! All I’m on BookTube now! =) **I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and Spaceboy Books! Thank you so much for the opportunity to read it! All opinions are my own!** Trigger warnings:(view spoiler)[blood, violence, ableism, mention of murder victims, murder, guns, abduction, obstructed breathing, drugging, mention of drug abuse, speciesism (regarding humans), poisoning (hide spoiler)] "They say life is a string of chances held together with grit and guided by passion, and who am I to disagree?" It’s rare a book captures my attention right away, but as opening lines in books go, the beginning of “A Study in Black Brew” was a one hell of a start! It immediately drew me into the book and kept me glued to the pages until the very end. I still don’t know if the story was short or if it just felt like it was, because I had such an easy and good time. Whatever the case, I enjoyed it immensely and was looking forward to pick up the book whenever my busy schedule allowed it and I had some free time to spare. "Our fellow mammals have a poor sense of smell, which is probably for the best because they generally have strong odors." Moreover, I have to admit that the idea of a Sherlock Holmes retelling that plays on a foreign planet was just too appealing to stay away from it. I’ve always been a huge Sherlock Holmes fan and I love it when authors give a new spin to stories I’m already familiar with. Well, Marie Howalt certainly succeeded in doing that because Kellieth, our MC, and Raithan – the equivalent of Sherlock Holmes - aren’t just living on a planet named Ganmak, they are also Wendek, the alien species that calls Ganmak their homeworld. I swear, it was so refreshing to see humans through the eyes of aliens that are similar but completely different as well. Apparently Wendek’s have a really good sense of smell and humans with their perfumes, body wash, and all the products we use were kinda challenging for them. Which I found extremely amusing, because it’s so rare to get that special outlook and perspective on us. For our non-binary MC Kellieth, human odours weren’t that much of a hassle, though because after an accident on another planet they lost their heightened sense of smell. Unfortunately, that accident also led to them having chronic asthma and caused them to be unemployed. In a world full of people whose interactions are solely based on smell, they had a tough time finding their footing again. This however changed as soon as they got to know their new neighbour Raithan. "When we first met, I noticed the discoloration of your fingernails indicating a lack of oxygen. You were exhibiting other clear symptoms of a respiratory defect too, but as you were disinclined to accept my help then, I estimated I would have time to take my own things up and make preparations before you were in any danger.” As someone who suffers from asthma too, I could relate to Kellieth’s struggles and found myself in them whenever they had troubles to breathe after taking a flight of stairs. I personally think the disability rep was done very well in that regard. I can’t speak for the hyposmia rep but I could understand how it would affect a Wendek like Kellieth and the author definitely managed to convey the challenge of living with a condition like theirs. When you have lived with a chronic illness for as long as I have, you just want to get on with life without dwelling on it more than necessary because it is always there like a demanding passenger riding your shoulders, taking up space whether you want it to or not.” I also had a lot of fun trying to find out more about the murderer. Raithan’s deduction skills were on point and the way he anticipated certain moves or was able to think ten septs ahead was typical Sherlock Holmes. Both of our MCs were individuals that could stand on their own, though. They might have had similarities to Watson and Sherlock but they were separate and independent characters that could carry the story on their own. Also fair warning: There was some sort of chemistry between our two main characters but nothing happened so if you’re looking for a queer romance this book won’t deliver on that front. I don’t know if the author has planned other books and if this is going to be a series, so there might be the possibility of a romance in the future, for this book I can tell you that there is none, though. ”So my neighbour was a lot more than the highly intelligent and eccentric fellow I had expected him to be. If memory served me right, a first class independent agent was the highest rank given toa field agent.” Conclusion: All told, I really enjoyed “A Study in Black Brew” and I hope I’ll be able to read more books written by the author in the future. This story was a fun and entertaining retelling with a new spin and I was a huge fan of the fact that it played on a different planet. If you’re looking for something interesting with a great disability representation and an engaging storyline, well, then this book is for you. ______________________________ This was such a nice story to return to whenever I was on the train! I had a lot of fun with Raithan and Kellieth and the murder mystery was interesting! Full RTC soon and around the release date! For now all I’ll say is: This was good! ______________________________ I got “A Study in Black Brew” as an ARC from NetGalley and Spaceboy Books! And I absolutely can’t wait to dive into it! Quite honestly, they already had me at sci-fi retelling of Sherlock Holmes! ;-) Apparently, we also get a queer normative world with a non-binary MC and a great disability rep. Well, I dunno about you, but I’m SO here for it! This is going to be good! =)) Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 25, 2025
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May 18, 2025
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Apr 25, 2025
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Kindle Edition
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Oh, Axie
*
| 9781529391732
| 1529391733
| 4.08
| 95,096
| Feb 22, 2022
| Feb 23, 2023
|
really liked it
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I’m on BookTube now! =) ”The rules are simple: No warriors. No women, besides the Sea God’s bride. No weapons. Joon broke the first rule by coming toni I’m on BookTube now! =) ”The rules are simple: No warriors. No women, besides the Sea God’s bride. No weapons. Joon broke the first rule by coming tonight. I broke the second. And the third. Don’t you love it when you’re whisked away into a magical world and don’t know what’s happening but everything is so mysterious and intriguing you just come along for the ride? Well, I do and this was exactly why “The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea” worked so well for me. I know there will be some people out there who won’t like the sudden story jumps and changes in scenery, but I definitely enjoyed reading this book. I think the experience I made with this was similar to how I felt when I read “The Starless Sea” and I’m pretty certain if you loved that book you’ll have a great time reading this one as well. I mean with myths and legends you always have to accept parts of the story the way they are without second-guessing the logic of it and if you’re able to do that, I’m sure you’ll be fine. ;-) ”Sometimes, only through a story can a truth be heard.” As for the story itself: As far as I could gather this book is loosely based on a Korean legend named “The Tale of Shim Cheong” and gave it a new spin. What I found very interesting is that Axie Oh still kind of wove the original tale into the story by making Shim Cheong one of the main characters. In this story she is supposed to be the Sea God’s bride and taken on a boat to be sacrificed, but instead of her being thrown into the sea and the Spirit Realm it’s our MC Mina who sacrifices herself and jumps into the sea in order to take her place. Mina doesn’t have anything to lose and her brother Joon is madly in love with Shim Cheong so she doesn’t want him to be heartbroken and does the only thing she can think of. Namely sacrificing herself to the Sea God instead of her brother’s one true love. Well, suffice it to say things get really interesting from there on out, because Mina lands in the Spirit Realm where the red string of fate leads her directly to a sleeping Sea God and confronts her with the truth. The Sea God isn’t angry at her people, he’s in an enchanted slumber no one has been able to wake him from. Oh yeah, and there are three warriors that make sure he’s protected from the outside world by cutting the string of fate and turning the bride’s souls into magpies because apparently being bound to a human bride makes the Sea God vulnerable and weak. "Who are you to judge their hopes? At least they have them. What do you have? A sword that cuts. Words filled with hate." We're both breathing heavily. His gaze moves upward, from my mouth to my eyes. "For someone who can't speak," he says slowly, "you have a lot to say." To say Mina’s first encounter with Lord Shin and his two loyal friends Kirin and Namgi doesn’t go well would be an understatement, but then again they cut her string of fate and kidnapped her soul that turned into a magpie. Well, and to add insult to injury she’s not only stranded in the Spirit Realm and has no idea what to do, but also lost her voice along with her soul. It’s a frustrating and terrifying situation our heroine finds herself in, but thankfully she gets unexpected help from two spirits with a baby. I absolutely loved and adored Mask, Dai and Miki! They were so kind and always tried to help Mina whenever she lost her way and didn’t know what to do next. And they loved each other so fiercely it actually caused me to shed a few tears. T_T I mean if you managed to read about Dai’s unconditional love for Miki without even batting an eye, chances are high you might actually have no soul. XD ”Do you know how much I love Miki?” he continues. “When she gurgles, like she does when she’s happy, I feel like my heart grows to ten times its normal size. When she is sad, I feel like my heart is breaking. I would give my life a hundred times for Miki.” Those three! <3 They aren’t the only trio that’s amazing in this book though and I loved the dynamic between Lord Shin, Kirin and Namgi as well. All three of them had a unique voice and came from different backgrounds, yet they were still fiercely loyal to each other and literally would have gone through hell and back in order to save each other’s lives. Their brotherly bond was so nice to read about and I can’t help it, but I still think that Namgi and Kirin felt a deeper love for each other than “just” brotherly affection. The way Namgi spoke about Kirin… you don’t speak about your friend or brother like that! I think Namgi had it bad for Kirin but due to their different social standing and upbringing, he felt like he wasn’t good enough for him. Which was such a shame, because Namgi was one of the purest and kindest souls ever and I really loved him so much. <3 ”He forms attachments slowly, but when he does, he’s the most loyal friend, fiercely protective of those he cares about. He would do anything for Shin.” “And you?” I ask softly. Namgi says nothing, though a shadow falls across his face. “When I look at Kirin, I see only him, a bright light in the darkness. When he looks at me, he sees only the darkness.” I won’t spoil anything but there was a scene later on that made me think that maybe, Kirin might feel the same way about Namgi after all. XD So I was happy with the way things played out and I loved how we found out who or rather what Namgi and Kirin truly are. So despite them not having the best start with Mina, all three warriors grew on me and I was a sucker for the Mina/Lord Shin dynamic. Those two gave as good as they got and I adored Mina for being a heroine that has no idea what’s actually going on but still knows who she is and never falters. She was a stubborn, compassionate and strong-willed MC and I absolutely loved that about her. ”You’re right,” I say. The boy’s eyes flit back, narrowing as I speak. “I am like the other brides. I know what it is to love someone you would do anything to protect. Who are you to say what my fate is – if I am to fail, or if I am to succeed? My fate is not yours to decide. My fate belongs to me.” Also Lord Shin! It was so nice to see their relationship evolve. At first they were very weary and distrustful of each other but the more time Mina and Shin spent around each other, the more they got to know each other. I think they were a classic case of “nothing is as it seems” and I really liked that they took their time to get to know each other. At first there seemed to be so much that separated them, but the more they talked and spoke about the things that concerned them, the more they realized that there were actually more things that connected them than drove them apart. “You claim the gods should love and care for humans. I disagree. I don't think love can be bought or earned or even prayed for. It must be freely given." For once, I don’t jump to argue with him, mulling over his words. “I can respect a belief such as that,” I say finally. Mina might have been a stubborn MC but she also knew how to reflect on her actions and thoughts and she could admit when someone else made a valid point. I appreciated this immensely, because so often you have a main character that’s stubborn for no reason and refuses to acknowledge that there are other opinions and beliefs as well. I think the world would be a better place if people would listen to each other and try to understand where the other one is coming from before they jump to conclusions and judge others for their actions. There definitely need to be more Mina’s in the world, because Mina sees people for who they are, with all their strengths and weaknesses and she accepts them without hesitation. ”It might not be as large as a mountain or as bright as the moon,” I say as he lifts his eyes to meet mine, a heart breaking vulnerable look in their dark depths, “but it’s just as beautiful because it’s your soul. It’s strong, resilient, and steadfast. And stubborn.” He laughs softly. “And worthy, just as you are.” That moment caused me to smile and made me sad at the same time. T_T Because despite the first impression we get from Lord Shin he’s actually an honourable soul that tries to do what’s best for the Spirit Realm and the Sea God. He literally dedicated his entire life to protect the Sea God and to keep peace in the Spirit Realm and he always put his people and duty first. >_< Get yourself a Lord Shin. That’s all I’m going to say. ;-) Conclusion: “The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea” was very different to the books I usually read and it doesn’t happen all too often, that I’m whisked away into another world and don’t want to leave it. But this was exactly what happened with this Korean folklore and mythology inspired retelling. It’s rare for me to love all the main and side-characters, yet I couldn’t help but pull for each and every single one of them. The world building was done so well, too, and I could imagine the Spirit Realm and its inhabitants so well. And the ending?! Well, I didn’t see it coming and in my humble opinion that’s always an achievement! XD If you like fairy tales with strong MCs and aren’t afraid to go into another world completely blind, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this book as well. It’s a fun ride and I’m glad I went along with it. ;-) ___________________________ I was totally vibing with the fairy tale and folklore parts of this story and I loved that “The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea” was so very different than the books I usually read! Also the ending and how it all came together! No words, just admiration! Shin and Mina were two really great MCs but the side characters were awesome too! Kirin, Namgi, Mask, Dai, Miki.. they all have my heart. <3 Full RTC soon! I need to think this through! ____________________________ I suppose for once I’m actually good with going through with my monthly TBR. *lol* “The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea” is the second book I wanted to read in November and it’s been on my TBR for ages. I love myself some good mythology in my books and this sounds like it will deliver! The only other Axie Oh story I ever read was “XOXO” and I enjoyed that one so I’m pretty optimistic I’ll end up liking this one too. I guess we’ll find out and see! ;-) Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Nov 11, 2024
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Dec 08, 2024
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Nov 11, 2024
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Paperback
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1526651793
| 9781526651792
| 1526651793
| 3.96
| 30,388
| May 11, 2023
| May 11, 2023
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I’m on BookTube now! =) I really enjoyed this book and it was a lot of fun! =) The conversations between Gwen & Art were hilarious and gave me life, plu I’m on BookTube now! =) I really enjoyed this book and it was a lot of fun! =) The conversations between Gwen & Art were hilarious and gave me life, plus their interactions with Gabe & Bridget were cute. The ending was a little bit heavy, though so I dunno. >_< Full RTC soon! I’ll give it a think. ______________________________ I recently found “Gwen & Art Are Not in Love” in my library and just had to borrow it because the premise sounds way too good. I mean, this is a retelling in which Gwen and Art are supposed to marry each other, but actually hate each other’s guts?! *lol* And to top it all off they are not only in love with other people but both of them are queer as well! This sounds like the most interesting love square!? I hope this is a good one!! *fingers crossed* Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 26, 2024
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Sep 13, 2024
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Aug 26, 2024
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Paperback
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B0DWVXM6PQ
| 3.93
| 102,876
| Jan 31, 2021
| Feb 23, 2022
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really liked it
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I’m on BookTube now! You can find my channel here! =) ”This is my last love letter to you, though some would call it a confession. I suppose both are a I’m on BookTube now! You can find my channel here! =) ”This is my last love letter to you, though some would call it a confession. I suppose both are a sort of gentle violence, putting down in ink what scorches the air when spoken aloud.” Trigger warnings: (view spoiler)[domestic violence, emotional abuse, grooming, gaslighting, manipulation (hide spoiler)] So when I started to read this book for #Rainboween I expected it to be a queer retelling of Dracula and in some way it was, but it also wasn’t?! It’s kinda hard to explain it but “A Dowry of Blood” turned out to be entirely different than I thought it would be and I think that’s mostly due to the slow story and the serious topics it addressed. If you hear the words “Queer Dracula Retelling” your first thought might be: “Oh, cool! Sounds like ‘Dracula’ met the sexiness of ‘Interview with the Vampire’ and they made a love-child.” But the interesting thing is that this story was nothing like that. ”I want to believe you weren’t just playing your part. I want to believe your kindness was not just another note in the well-rehearsed aria of your seduction, trotted out countless times for countless brides. But I have loved you too long to imagine you do anything without an ulterior motive.” Truth be told, it was a very slow story with only a handful of characters, but for some reason it still worked? I mean this was a 320 pages book and there honestly didn’t happen a lot. You could basically sum up the plot in one sentence and say that Dracula is collecting his brides while travelling through Europe. That’s it. That’s the plot of the entire book, but of course this wouldn’t do the story justice. Fact is, the writing style is one that hooks you right from the beginning and even though not a lot of things happen, the story is playing out slowly and deliberately which causes the reader to want to read more. "I think, my lord, that this is when you loved me best. When I was freshly made, and still as malleable as wet clay in your hands." The entire book is told from Constanta’s POV and from the moment she got turned by Dracula. We don’t know anything about her life before, but it’s easy to assume that she was a peasant girl that ended up being a casualty of war. When Dracula finds her, she’s dying and he gives her a second chance at life and makes her his first bride. For a while they live together in harmony but Dracula’s thirst for beautiful people isn’t quite sated yet and he’s always watching out for a new bride to add to his collection. ”I wanted to crawl between whatever was blossoming between the two of you and live there. This was my home too, I wanted to shout. I had earned my right in your bed and I hadn’t been consulted on inviting somebody else in, no matter how beautiful she was.” And this is where the book starts to go into an entirely different direction than I expected it to go. This is not a tale about Dracula and the adventures he and his brides experience, it’s a tale about a controlling and conniving man who wants to keep his beautiful collection close to him. At first he turned Constanta, then he found Magdalena and a couple of centuries later Alexi – the only man among his brides – joins them. I really loved that Alexi was a man and that not all of Dracula’s brides were women. This gave the story such a nice LGBTQIA+ spin and it caused the plot to thicken because Alexi is more demanding and not that easily intimidated by Dracula. “He adored everything about you, good and bad, from your soft-spoken declarations of love to your flashes of foul temper. The love he had for you was the cartographer's love for the sea, trembling and all-consuming and so far beyond the reaches of right or wrong. Far from shrinking from your bad moods, he welcomed them." You might say that Alexi joining them was the catalyst that changed it all. Or like I would put it: Dracula bit off more than he could chew. XD Still, even though the “three brides” are getting more and more aware of the toxic relationship Dracula forced them into for centuries, it’s still not easy for them to change the power dynamics. Their master isn’t just way too good at manipulating people, he’s also very strong, intimidating and powerful. ”You made it into an art form, this quiet sort of violence. You were so far into our heads your gentle suggestions often felt like our own thoughts.” No, seriously, Dracula is one hell of a bastard and he knows every trick in the book. No matter what you say to him, he turns the words in your mouth, making them come out different than you initially intended. He’s a master at this game and he had centuries of practice. How he rationalised and justified his actions… that man is a piece of work. His brides never knew how to handle his mood swings and to please and placate him was already second nature to them. Honestly, when I picked up the book I didn’t think I was in for psychological mind games and manipulation but that’s exactly what this book turned out to be about. Dracula is the master and his brides are dependent on him. ”You're young, unschooled in the ways of love. Love is violence, my darling; it is a thunderstorm that tears apart your world. More often than not, love ends in tragedy, but we go on loving in the hope that this time, it will be different. This time, the beloved will understand us. They will not try to flee from our embrace, or become discontent with us." Conclusion: When I went into “A Dowry of Blood” I expected it to be a polyamorous Dracula retelling and I would have been fine with that. What I got was a much more complex story than that, though. This was a tale about manipulation and abuse, about a man who didn’t know when to stop and about his lovers that had no other choice than to go against him. It’s a tragedy in three acts. And it’s a good one. If you’re looking for something that’s not creepy and has psychological depth instead, well, then this book is for you. I, for my part, enjoyed it immensely. ___________________________________ This book was so interesting! The writing style had me hooked but there actually didn’t happen a lot? I’m confused. *lol* But “A Dowry of Blood” made for a perfect #Rainboween read so I’m really glad I read it! Full RTC soon! Stay tuned! ;-) ____________________________________ It’s the beginning of October and this means my readathon #Rainboween has just begun!! YAY! And of course I’m starting with a super intriguing book Beki (@Teacup the Storyteller) and I wanted to read for a while: “A Dowry of Blood”! A Dracula retelling from the POV of Dracula’s first bride Constanta? It sounds too good! The fact it has an f/f relationship only makes this even more interesting and I’m so here for it. First #Rainboween book, here I come! =) P.S: You can still join my readathon if you want to. Here's the direct link to the announcement video and all the details:Rainboweenathon aka #Rainboween Link! Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 02, 2023
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Oct 21, 2023
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Oct 02, 2023
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ebook
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1803360070
| 9781803360072
| 1803360070
| 3.85
| 138,491
| Jul 12, 2022
| Oct 18, 2022
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really liked it
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I’m on BookTube now! You can find my channel here! =) ”We were younger then,” I said. “And immortal.” He forced a smile. It was ghastly and I looked awa I’m on BookTube now! You can find my channel here! =) ”We were younger then,” I said. “And immortal.” He forced a smile. It was ghastly and I looked away, back to the moldering wallpaper. “Perhaps that’s it. But this place has made me afraid. This dreadful house. I think I would rather face a line of rifles, even now. At least that’s a human enemy.” That was an interesting statement and it set the pace for this 177 pages book. You’d think such a short story wouldn’t be able to build so much atmosphere but boy, I gotta give it to T. Kingfisher, she knows how to tell a tale! The reader is instantly thrown into the action and there was no time wasted. Which is interesting if you consider how many things you find out about Gallacian soldiers, their use of pronouns, their language and their culture in general. I kinda loved to read those little bits and pieces of information and I found it extremely intriguing that Kingfisher managed to add them to the story so seamlessly. ”You show up to basic training and they hand you a sword and a new set of pronouns. (It’s extremely rude to address a soldier as ta. It won’t get you labelled as a pervert, but it might get you punched in the mouth.) Easton was an amazing narrator and I really liked to be in their/kan head. It was fun and I absolutely loved the fine humour in this book. I don’t know if this is typical for the authors works but if this is her usual brand then I’m more than just ready to dive into some of her other books. As for the story and how it was executed: It was done so well. All the characters had their own voices and their interactions were amusing, intriguing and very often they were creepy af. Especially Easton’s conversations with Madeline and Roderick gave me goose bumps. ”Then she smiled and it was terrible. Madeline’s lips pulled up at the corners in a terrible parody of good humor, her mouth stretching painfully wide, her jaw dropped so far that it looked almost like a scream. Above that awful grin, her eyes were as flat and dead as stones.” Shudders. Yep, Maddy is definitely the kind of woman you don’t want to meet alone at night. It didn’t surprise me that Easton had to fight kan flight instinct when ka was alone with Madeline or Roderick. If you ask me Easton is way braver than most other people would have been in the same situation. Just saying. *lol* ”Every Gallacian soldier I know carries at least one bottle of livrit with kan. It reminds us that we are part of a great and glorious tradition of people doing gallant things in service of a country that can’t find its arse with both hands and a map.” Thankfully Easton had lots of livrit with kan and I guess that helped to be a little bit braver. Liquid courage never hurt nobody. ;-P I’m pretty sure it also helped that Easton wasn’t entirely alone in the house. James Denton – the Usher’s American doctor – and Easton’s servant Angus were a great addition to the cast and I really liked both of them. Plus we also had Eugenia Potter, a mycologist, who helped them figure things out as well. That woman! *lol* I swear she was braver than all three others combined! Haha! If I ever get in a situation like that, I’d like to have that sturdy and steadfast Englishwoman at my side. "There were three veterans at that table, battle-scarred soldiers who had served their countries honorably in more than one war ... and all three of us screamed like small children and recoiled in horror." Also can we acknowledge that Angus and Miss Potter apparently found each other attractive! *lol* I kinda liked the idea of those two together and no matter how small their interactions on page, I couldn’t help but think that they were adorable. James Denton and Easton were an interesting pairing too and even though nothing happened, there was still some potential and tension there. ”The Good Lord looks out for fools. In your case, apparently He sends the occasional Englishwoman.” “I thought He’d sent you.” “You’re a two-person job, youngster.” Bless Angus! I loved that man so much! XD I think you can already tell that I had a great time with “What Moves the Dead” and I can highly recommend it to everyone who wants to read something short and creepy with a nice dose of fine humour. Since it’s a retelling of Edgar Allen Poe’s story “The Fall of the House of Usher” it was also the perfect read for my #Rainboween Readathon! I think that this version might have been more creepy than the original one, though. And last but not least, I have to mention that I was happy to find an amazing tinnitus representation in this book! "My tinnitus chose that moment to strike, a high-pitched whine ringing through my ears and drowning out even the soft lapping of the tarn. I stopped and waited for it to pass. It's not dangerous, but sometimes my balance becomes a trifle questionable, and I had no desire to stumble into the lake." I honestly didn’t expect to find a tinnitus rep in “What Moves the Dead” but I was positively surprised when I did. Representations like that are so rare and I think I’ve never even found another one in a book before. As someone who has suffered from tinnitus for years and still does this rep was something, I never knew I needed until I saw it written down on page. I’m very thankful T. Kingfisher wrote it into her book and I hope that I’ll find more tinnitus reps in the future. All told I really enjoyed this story and I can’t wait to read more of the author’s other works! =) _____________________________ I really liked this take on “The Fall of the House of Usher”! Easton was a fun narrator and I really liked the fine humour in this. Also it was the right amount of creepy for me! =) Considering this is just a 177 pages book this was great. T.Kingfisher nailed it. Full RTC soon! ;-) _____________________________ Still not Halloweeen but soon it will be #Rainboween and I want to be able to recommend this. So fingers crossed “What Moves the Dead” is going to be amazing! I mean it’s a retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher” and it features a non-binary MC! It has to be good, right?! =) I’m so ready to dive into this and it’s a really short book so I’m sure it won’t take me long to read it. Let’s do this! Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 25, 2023
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Oct 14, 2023
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Sep 25, 2023
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Paperback
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1398516775
| 9781398516779
| 1398516775
| 4.29
| 86,047
| Nov 08, 2022
| Nov 2022
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I’m on BookTube now! You can find my channel here! =) This was … Wow! O_o My first finished read of 2024 and the year started with a bang! That ending, I’m on BookTube now! You can find my channel here! =) This was … Wow! O_o My first finished read of 2024 and the year started with a bang! That ending, though?! Why did it have to end like that?!! My precious Sel and Bree, and Nick and William. T_T Now I’ll have to wait an entire year for book 3. I mean, no biggie. Obviously, I can do that. No problem. Easy peasy. No problem. Did I already say that? I’m good. I’m fine. It’s kay. *whimpers and sobs in a corner* ________________________________ I wrote my review for “Legendborn” so this means I can finally dive into “Bloodmarked”! YAY!!! I’ve been dying to read this ever since I finished the first book and I can’t wait to find out in which kind of direction this will head. After the ending of “Legendborn” everything is possible!! So curious how things will pan out. Also: Sel!!! I’m so ready to see more of my mage!! #TeamSel I’ve two weeks to finish this before I have to return it to the library and you bet I will. ;-) Did you read “Bloodmarked” already and if yes, did you enjoy it? =) Find me on: My Blog Instagram ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 15, 2023
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Jan 05, 2024
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Aug 15, 2023
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Paperback
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4.30
| 1,979,918
| Sep 20, 2011
| Apr 12, 2012
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it was amazing
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”We were like gods, at the dawning of the world, and our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” This book!!! Gosh I loved this ”We were like gods, at the dawning of the world, and our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” This book!!! Gosh I loved this book!!! The moment I read the first page I was already certain of two things: 1.) This would become one of my all-time favourites and I’d gush about it like crazy. 2.) It wouldn’t only leave me devastated and heartbroken but also sobbing like a little child. Well, both of those things came true, even way earlier than I had initially anticipated. I was about 37% percent in (yes I looked it up! ;-P) when I first started to cry and it didn’t get any better after that. This book was just so beautiful! So, so damn beautiful! Madeline Miller definitely has a way with words and I loved how this story was written: Poetical with a lot of mythological facts and with so many details that it succeeded to make this a more than just intriguing journey. What I loved the most was how she managed to convey Achilles’ and Patroclus relationship though. Even though she never went into detail, never actually let them say that they loved each other; it was still palpable in every single moment they shared together. Those moments were so precious I couldn’t get enough of them and all I wanted was for them to be happy. Unfortunately I’m a little geek and know a lot about Greek mythology so yeah, I already knew how it would end before it even ended. Still, the sense of foreboding in this book!!! Oh gosh, it killed me!! All those little hints, those infinitesimal innuendos, those tiny insinuations, they piled up and up and up until all I was able to feel was dread!!! By the end of the book I was reduced to a sobbing and crying nervous wreck and the final sentence was like a dagger in my heart. In other words: This was exceptionally painful and utterly devastating, BUT it was also so damn good and worth every second of pain! The characters: This is my spoiler section in which I’m going to speak about the individual characters and what I thought of them. So you better beware and don’t read it if you still want to read the book. Heed my warning or get lost in the underworld. It’s your choice, choose wisely! ;-P Achilles: ’Ah.’ A sly smile spread across his face; he had always loved defiance. ‘Well, why should I kill him? He’s done nothing to me.’ This sentence killed me when I first read it! Achilles, my beautiful, innocent and naïve boy!!! Jeez! I loved him so much! He was every bit the hero people believed him to be and most of the time he actually did the right thing. Well, most of the time. At the end of the book there happened a lot of things I didn’t agree with and the longer his conflict with Agamemnon lasted the more I dreaded the end! It made me so sad to see how much Achilles changed over the years and when the thing with Briseis happened my reaction was the same as Patroclus’! I mean I knew what Achilles did (I’m a geek remember?) but reading it the way Madeline Miller wrote it? Boy it destroyed me! There was this wonderful, perfect, righteous, honourable, intelligent, innocent and honest golden boy and then the war over Troy tainted him, transformed him and made him an entirely different person. The true tragedy about this all is that he never even wanted to take part in the war, he was more or less forced into it and I think looking at it in retrospective a life as a normal person would have been preferable to the one of a hero. I guess in the end Achilles saw it the same way and would have done everything in order to change his path. Even if it would have meant that he would have been forgotten and would have never become a legend… it would have been worth it. Patroclus would have been worth it… *cries* ”I stopped watching for ridicule, the scorpion’s tail hidden in his words. He said what he meant; he was puzzled if you did not. Some people might have mistaken this for simplicity. But is it not a sort of genius to cut always to the heart?” ”Your honour could be darkened by it.” “Then it is darkened.” His jaw shot forward, stubborn. “They are fools if they let my glory rise or fall on this.” “But Odysseus –“ His eyes, green as spring leaves, met mine. “Patroclus. I have given enough to them. I will not give them this.” ”They grinned, loving every inch of their miraculous prince: his gleaming hair, his deadly hands, his nimble feet. They leaned towards him, like flowers to the sun, drinking in his lustre. It was as Odysseus had said: he had light enough to make heroes of them all.” ”It is not true. You left yourself today. And now you are returned.” His shoulders rise and fall on a long breath. “Do not say that,” he says, “until you have heard the rest of what I have done.” Patroclus: ”I went to Peleus. I knelt before him on a wool rug, woven bright with purple. He started to speak, but I was too quick for him. One of my hands went to clasp his knees, the other reached upward, to seize his chin with my hand. The pose of supplication. It was a gesture I had seen many times, but had never made myself. I was under his protection now; he was bound to treat me fairly, by the law of the gods. ‘Tell me where he is,’ I said.” I adored Patroclus! He was the best! He was wonderful and beautiful in his own way and I loved how faithful he was. That boy was one of the kindest and sweetest people I ever read about (tough competition for Lazlo Strange *lol*) and I was so happy Achilles saw this too. He realized that Patroclus is special and he encouraged him to speak his mind. It felt like Patroclus was Achilles’ conscience, intervening whenever his divine heritage showed. Without Patroclus Achilles path would have been dark and bloody but with him at his side he became the glorious figure we all know about. Patroclus was so much more than just a companion. He was a friend, a lover, a teacher, a conscience, a reminder and Achilles past, present and future! This boy was literally the embodiment of Achilles life and actions and the people around them were fools for not seeing their strong connection. Patroclus was everything that was good about Achilles, he brought out the best in him. Taught him compassion and love, he was an anchor and someone he could come home to! Speak to! Confide in! Once Patroclus was gone the relentless godly part of Achilles showed though and the rest of it is (bloody) history. T_T ’Patroclus.’ It was the name my father had given me, hopefully but injudiciously, at my birth, and it tasted of bitterness on my tongue. ‘Honour of the father,’ it meant. ”Perhaps she thought I was mocking her, flourishing my triumph. Perhaps she thought I hated her. She did not know that I almost asked him, a hundred times, to be a little kinder to her. You do not have to humiliate her so thoroughly, I thought. But it was not kindness he lacked, it was interest. His gaze passed over her as if she were not here.” ’Willl you come with me?’ he asked. The never-ending ache of love and sorrow. Perhaps in some other life I could have refused, could have torn my hair and screamed, and made him face his choice alone. But not in this one. He would sail to Troy and I would follow, even into death. Yes, I whispered. Yes. ”I do not know this man, I think. He is no one I have ever seen before. My rage towards him is hot as blood. I will never forgive him. I imagine tearing down our tent, smashing the lyre, stabbing myself in the stomach and bleeding to death. I want to see his face broken with grief and regret. I want to shatter the cold mask of stone that has slipped down over the boy I knew. He has given her to Agamemnon knowing what will happen.” Odysseus: ”May I give you some advice? If you are truly his friend you will help him leave his soft heart behind. He’s going to Troy to kill men, not rescue them.” His dark eyes held me like swift-running current. “He is a weapon, a killer. Do not forget it. You can use a spear as a walking stick, but that will not change its nature.” Damn, how much I hated and liked that sneaky and cunning bastard!! I’m still very torn when it comes to him. On the one hand he gave sound advice and knew exactly what he did and on the other hand he forced Achilles on his destined path. If it wouldn’t have been for Odysseus he would have never gone to Troy and even though I agree with his sentiment that Achilles could save them all, I still disagree with the way he played him. Of all the countless men that manipulated young Achilles, Odysseus probably was the worst, hiding behind the mask of a friend but ultimately pursuing his own goals. Clever! Very clever indeed! Agamemnon: ”Then you are a traitor to this army, and will be punished like one. Your war prizes are hostage, placed in my care until you offer your obedience and submission. Let us start with that girl. Briseis, is her name? She will do as a penance for the girl you have forced me to return.” I HATE AGAMEMNON!!! Fiercely!!! Such an unfair and dishonourable numpty!!! I hate him and all his actions! I mean what kind of father would trade his daughter away and then kill her?! His own flesh and blood! Gosh, I CAN’T EVEN WITH HIM!! I’m still so angry! Those moments at the end and the tense situation between Achilles and him had me at the edge of my seat and all I wanted to do was to scream at the injustice that took place in front of me!!! Such a stubborn and self-righteous fool!! He should have listened to Achilles but he was too proud to. *shakes head in disbelief* I. HATE. HIM!!! Enough said! Thetis: Another person that landed on my shit list! *lol* I really, really disliked her too! I mean I understand that she was Achilles mother and only wanted the best for her son, but it was more than just obvious that the best was Patroclus and I hated her for always trying to drive a wedge between them! Without Thetis half of their troubles wouldn’t have even existed and even though she kind of redeemed herself in the end I still don’t like her! Sorry Thet, but you’ll never get a thumbs-up from me! #SorryNotSorrry The relationship: Achilles & Patroclus: ”This morning he had leaped on to my bed and pressed his nose against mine. ‘Good morning,’ he’d said. I remembered the heat of him against my skin.” Ohh how sweet those two were! I loved their relationship! They were so gentle and adorable and no matter what happened and no matter how many obstacles were in their way they always managed to find back to each other! They had confidence in each other and they supported each other regardless of the consequences. Achilles and Patroclus had such an honest and beautiful relationship, I CAN’T EVEN!!!! THIS was the real deal!!! A connection so deep that no one could destroy it, a love so strong that it cast aside all obstacles, their trust so deep that they could talk about everything!!! Boy, I could gush about this relationship at eye level for eternity and still would never get tired of it! *lol* I just adore them so much! It was so sweet they couldn’t even be angry with each other and even though Patroclus wasn’t always happy with Achilles decisions, he still did his best to support him as best as he could, even if that meant that he had to go against his will. I think in the end their unconditional love for each other was the only thing that was able to break them and it eventually did. Jeez! How it did! *cries again* Achilles had no reason to kill Hector, no reason to fulfil the prophecy. Well, at least not until Hector took the only thing that mattered to him, the only thing he didn’t want to live without. Patroclus! *sobs* Hell! The way Achilles grieved!!! It broke my freaking heart!!! It was like a punch in the gut! I know first-hand how much this hurts, how painful it is to lose a person you love so much, and boy did it trigger my emotions. T_T I felt Achilles grief with him and it was so intense it left me crying and sobbing. They were so beautiful together… so, so, so damn beautiful. I can’t anymore… *weeps* ”I saw then how I had changed. I did not mind any more, that I lost when we raced and I lost when we swam out to the rocks and I lost when we tossed spears or skipped stones. For who can be ashamed to lose to such beauty? It was enough to watch him win, to see the soles of his feet flashing as they kicked up sand, or the rise and fall of his shoulders as he pulled through the salt. It was enough.” ”My pulse jumps, for no reason I can name. He has looked at me a thousand times, but there is something different in this gaze, an intensity I do not know. My mouth is dry, and I can hear the sound of my throat as I swallow. He watches me. It seems that he is waiting.” ”His eyes were unwavering, green flecked with gold. A certainty rose in me, lodged in my throat. I will never leave him. It will be this, always, for as long as he will let me.” ”Had she really thought I would not know him? I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell, I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world.” ”You can’t.” He was sitting up now, leaning forward. “I can’t.” “I know. They never let you be famous and happy.” He lifted an eyebrow. “I’ll tell you a secret.” “Tell me.” I loved it when he was like this. “I’m going to be the first.” He took my palm and held it to him. “Swear it.” “Why me?” “Because you’re the reason. Swear it.” “I swear it,” I said, lost in the high colour of his cheeks, the flame in his eyes. “I swear it,” he echoed. ”There was more to say, but for once we did not say it. There would be other times for speaking, tonight and tomorrow and all the days after that. He let go of my hand.” All told this was one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. It caused me to cry, it made me angry, it made me smile and it touched me deeply. I’m a total mess after reading this and my emotions are still all over the place, to say I regret reading it would be one hell of a lie though. I rarely write this into my reviews but: If you haven’t read this, do it now!!! You won’t regret it! =) Last but not least I want to thank my Sweet Sugar Bun who dared to buddy read this book with me! Thank you for all the comments, messages and updates that made it bearable to read this book. I swear if you wouldn’t have discussed this with me I would have cried even more often than I already did. *lol* So yeah, thanks for that wonderful buddy read and for keeping my sanity intact. I really appreciate it! XD We definitely should go for another buddy read some time soon! I heard “Circe” is a nice book too! *lol* ;-P In the darkness, two shadows, reaching through the hopeless, heavy dusk. Their hands meet, and light spills in a flood, like a hundred golden urns pouring out the sun.” [image] Artist credit: I really tried my best to track down the artist but all I could find out is that the picture was shared again and again on pinterest. One of the people who shared it is: https://www.pinterest.com/avalonisles/ I don't have pinterest so I dunno how this works?! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 21, 2018
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Jul 02, 2018
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Aug 04, 2017
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Paperback
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8 of 8 loaded