en-US Tue, 26 Nov 2024 10:32:43 -0800 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg 154462576 New York Times bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale

January 1918. Laura Iven was a revered field nurse until she was wounded and discharged from the medical corps, leaving behind a brother still fighting in Flanders. Now home in Halifax, Canada, she receives word of Freddie’s death in combat, along with his personal effects—but something doesn’t make sense. Determined to uncover the truth, Laura returns to Belgium as a volunteer at a private hospital. Soon after arriving, she hears whispers about haunted trenches, and a strange hotelier whose wine gives soldiers the gift of oblivion. Could Freddie have escaped the battlefield, only to fall prey to something—or someone—else?

November 1917. Freddie Iven awakens after an explosion to find himself trapped in an overturned pillbox with a wounded enemy soldier, a German by the name of Hans Winter. Against all odds, the two men form an alliance and succeed in clawing their way out. Unable to bear the thought of returning to the killing fields, especially on opposite sides, they take refuge with a mysterious man who seems to have the power to make the hellscape of the trenches disappear.

As shells rain down on Flanders, and ghosts move among those yet living, Laura’s and Freddie’s deepest traumas are reawakened. Now they must decide whether their world is worth salvaging—or better left behind entirely.]]> 325 Katherine Arden 0593128257 Axelle 4 3.96 2024
author: Katherine Arden
name: Axelle
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/26
date added: 2024/11/26
shelves: atmosphere, livre, one-shot, sorties-2024, writing
review:
4 stars, Katherine Arden only writes what she feels like writing, it doesn't follow any publishing trends, and still, I enjoyed her story and characters a lot, I could only say I wanted more, more of the "fantastical elements", especially one character haha, more romance maybe, if I can squeeze a good romance in everything, I will (I also know how well Katherine Arden writes subplot romances)
]]> 208931300 An exquisitely moving story about grief, love, and family—but especially love—from the global phenomenon Sally Rooney.

Aside from the fact that they are brothers, Peter and Ivan Koubek seem to have little in common.

Peter is a Dublin lawyer in his thirties—successful, competent, and apparently unassailable. But in the wake of their father’s death, he’s medicating himself to sleep and struggling to manage his relationships with two very different women—his enduring first love, Sylvia, and Naomi, a college student for whom life is one long joke.

Ivan is a twenty-two-year-old competitive chess player. He has always seen himself as socially awkward, a loner, the antithesis of his glib elder brother. Now, in the early weeks of his bereavement, Ivan meets Margaret, an older woman emerging from her own turbulent past, and their lives become rapidly and intensely intertwined.

For two grieving brothers and the people they love, this is a new interlude—a period of desire, despair, and possibility; a chance to find out how much one life might hold inside itself without breaking.]]> 454 Sally Rooney 0374602638 Axelle 4 3.87 2024
author: Sally Rooney
name: Axelle
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/14
date added: 2024/11/14
shelves: adulte, one-shot, pas-fantasy, sorties-2024, writers-connu-e-s, writing
review:
I do think that Sally Rooney has a way with words, I overall enjoyed this, except that out of the 2 brothers, Peter's romance plot was not for me, it wasn't well done imo. Loved Ivan and Margaret, but I liked Beautiful World where are you better, in the same style of having 2 main characters and their own love line
]]> 83719994 The conclusion to Ken Liu's chronicle of the Dandelion Dynasty � one of the Greatest Fantasy Series of all Time (Time Magazine).

±«°ě˛âłÜ-łŇ´Ç˛Ô»ĺĂ©.
Stalked by foes and dogged by betrayal, Princess Théra is pursued across a continent vaster than she could ever have imagined, to the hidden valleys of the World's Edge Mountains, into the barrows and subterranean halls of the City of Ghosts, across the ice floes of the far north. She breached the Wall of Storms intent on taking war to the Lyucu homelands, but how do you conquer the unconquerable?

Dara.
Empress Jia, Prince Phyro and PĂ©kyu Tanvanaki find themselves bound to paths they never would have chosen. Amid atrocity and subterfuge, they will discover that the Courage of Brutes is no substitute for the Grace of Kings, and that little separates the Grace of Kings from the Madness of Tyrants.

On both sides of the Wall of Storms, defeat's bitter tears mix with the fruits of knowledge new and ancient as two empires bound by blood and bone, by writ and iron, by time and custom, face a whirlwind that threatens to utterly consume them.

The teeth, as they say, are on the board.]]> 1045 Ken Liu 1838931678 Axelle 4
Proud for finishing this series lol]]> 4.64 2022
author: Ken Liu
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.64
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/05/28
date added: 2024/05/28
shelves: adulte, couleurs, livre, plus-de-500-p, sorties-2022, writing, termin
review:
3.5 okay Ken liu i love your creative mind but a 1000 pages is too long here, we had a lot of POVs, of descriptions of mecanisms for weapons, engines, etc, and the tone is a bit bleak for my taste, but I still feel satisfied with this series and I loved the conclusion

Proud for finishing this series lol
]]> 57912066 Five are now members of the Society.
Two paths lie before them.

All must pick a side.

Alliances will be tested, hearts will be broken, and The Society of Alexandrians will be revealed for what it is: a secret society with raw, world-changing power, headed by a man whose plans to change life as we know it are already under way.]]> 560 Olivie Blake 1250855128 Axelle 5 3.51 2022
author: Olivie Blake
name: Axelle
average rating: 3.51
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2024/01/07
date added: 2024/01/07
shelves: 5-etoiles, adulte, pref, sorties-2022, vite, couleurs, livre, reread, queens, writing
review:
More of 4.5, I've been anticipating so much and it didn't disappoint, but I wanted especially one or two things that were missing bc i'm greedy for these characters lol the final book though... it's going to be great
]]> 51934838 A story about a dangerously curious young undergraduate whose rebelliousness leads her to discover a shocking secret involving an exclusive circle of students . . . and the dark truth beneath her school’s promise of prestige.

You are in the house and the house is in the woods.
You are in the house and the house is in you . . .

Catherine House is a school of higher learning like no other. Hidden deep in the woods of rural Pennsylvania, this crucible of reformist liberal arts study with its experimental curriculum, wildly selective admissions policy, and formidable endowment, has produced some of the world’s best minds: prize-winning authors, artists, inventors, Supreme Court justices, presidents. For those lucky few selected, tuition, room, and board are free. But acceptance comes with a price. Students are required to give the House three years—summers included—completely removed from the outside world. Family, friends, television, music, even their clothing must be left behind. In return, the school promises its graduates a future of sublime power and prestige, and that they can become anything or anyone they desire.

Among this year’s incoming class is Ines, who expects to trade blurry nights of parties, pills, cruel friends, and dangerous men for rigorous intellectual discipline—only to discover an environment of sanctioned revelry. The school’s enigmatic director, Viktória, encourages the students to explore, to expand their minds, to find themselves and their place within the formidable black iron gates of Catherine.

For Ines, Catherine is the closest thing to a home she’s ever had, and her serious, timid roommate, Baby, soon becomes an unlikely friend. Yet the House’s strange protocols make this refuge, with its worn velvet and weathered leather, feel increasingly like a gilded prison. And when Baby’s obsessive desire for acceptance ends in tragedy, Ines begins to suspect that the school—in all its shabby splendor, hallowed history, advanced theories, and controlled decadence—might be hiding a dangerous agenda that is connected to a secretive, tightly knit group of students selected to study its most promising and mysterious curriculum.]]> 311 Elisabeth Thomas 0062905651 Axelle 4 Even when I didn't really know where this was going, I really wanted to see where it would end, and the main character may feel a bit messy, but we are only from her pov and I couldn't help emphatizing with her and rooting for her, I enjoyed the friendships represented here in this weird school, and the writing was so interesting, a mix between poetic and random everyday moments like "she picked at the dirt under her nail", and "words were silly human inventions; the painting was a vision. Its pattern had a rythm that was so arcane, so simple and true"]]> 3.10 2020
author: Elisabeth Thomas
name: Axelle
average rating: 3.10
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2023/11/01
date added: 2023/11/01
shelves: writing, vite, sorties-2020, one-shot, pas-fantasy, couleurs
review:
I was gagged by this book a bit, this is dark academia, so a school setting, following no particular plot, but characters in academic situations, and mysterious happenings...
Even when I didn't really know where this was going, I really wanted to see where it would end, and the main character may feel a bit messy, but we are only from her pov and I couldn't help emphatizing with her and rooting for her, I enjoyed the friendships represented here in this weird school, and the writing was so interesting, a mix between poetic and random everyday moments like "she picked at the dirt under her nail", and "words were silly human inventions; the painting was a vision. Its pattern had a rythm that was so arcane, so simple and true"
]]> 60847626
Once upon a time, a man who believed in fairy tales married a beautiful, mysterious woman named Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada. He was a scholar of myths. She was heiress to a fortune. They exchanged gifts and stories and believed they would live happily ever after—and in exchange for her love, Indigo extracted a promise: that her bridegroom would never pry into her past.

But when Indigo learns that her estranged aunt is dying and the couple is forced to return to her childhood home, the House of Dreams, the bridegroom will soon find himself unable to resist. For within the crumbling manor’s extravagant rooms and musty halls, there lurks the shadow of another girl: Azure, Indigo’s dearest childhood friend who suddenly disappeared. As the house slowly reveals his wife’s secrets, the bridegroom will be forced to choose between reality and fantasy, even if doing so threatens to destroy their marriage . . . or their lives.

Combining the lush, haunting atmosphere of Mexican Gothic with the dreamy enchantment of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a spellbinding and darkly romantic page-turner about love and lies, secrets and betrayal, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.]]> 304 Roshani Chokshi Axelle 5
P.S : I took my sweet time with this because I wanted to savour it but I could totally have read the book in a day]]> 3.82 2023
author: Roshani Chokshi
name: Axelle
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2023/04/22
date added: 2023/04/22
shelves: adulte, couleurs, atmosphere, fairy-tale-like, livre, one-shot, romancey, sorties-2023, writing, 5-etoiles
review:
I loved this, especially the writing, Roshani Chokshi have such a way with words that is totally my style, the creativity behind this work is amazing, totally recommend this to anyone that enjoy poetic/flowery/incredible writing style^^

P.S : I took my sweet time with this because I wanted to savour it but I could totally have read the book in a day
]]> 56554281 Clashing empires, forbidden romance, and a long-forgotten queen destined to save her people—Tahereh Mafi’s first in an epic, romantic trilogy inspired by Persian mythology.

To all the world, Alizeh is a disposable servant, not the long-lost heir to an ancient Jinn kingdom forced to hide in plain sight.

The crown prince, Kamran, has heard the prophecies foretelling the death of his king. But he could never have imagined that the servant girl with the strange eyes, the girl he can’t put out of his mind, would one day soon uproot his kingdom—and the world.

Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Tomi Adeyemi, and Sabaa Tahir, this is the explosive first book in a new fantasy trilogy from the New York Times bestselling and National Book Award-nominated author Tahereh Mafi.]]> 512 Tahereh Mafi 0062972464 Axelle 4 3.95 2022
author: Tahereh Mafi
name: Axelle
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2023/01/22
date added: 2023/01/22
shelves: writers-connu-e-s, sorties-2022, writing, romancey, queens, livre
review:
Between a 4 and 4.5, I loved the writing style, the dual POV worked in making me care for both main characters and they felt developed, it makes me think of Laini Taylor's writing a bit, can't wait to read the sequel next month when it comes out !
]]> 58666307 A captivating debut fantasy inspired by the legend of Chang'e, the Chinese moon goddess, in which a young woman’s quest to free her mother pits her against the most powerful immortal in the realm.

Growing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the feared Celestial Emperor who exiled her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality. But when Xingyin’s magic flares and her existence is discovered, she is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind.

Alone, powerless, and afraid, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, a land of wonder and secrets. Disguising her identity, she seizes an opportunity to learn alongside the emperor's son, mastering archery and magic, even as passion flames between her and the prince.

To save her mother, Xingyin embarks on a perilous quest, confronting legendary creatures and vicious enemies across the earth and skies. But when treachery looms and forbidden magic threatens the kingdom, she must challenge the ruthless Celestial Emperor for her dream—striking a dangerous bargain in which she is torn between losing all she loves or plunging the realm into chaos.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess begins an enchanting, romantic duology which weaves ancient Chinese mythology into a sweeping adventure of immortals and magic—where love vies with honor, dreams are fraught with betrayal, and hope emerges triumphant.]]> 503 Sue Lynn Tan 0008479291 Axelle 4
So glad to have the sequel now so close to its release date, because I loved this ! The writing is excellent bc you can feel the pace of the story is controlled, while the reading feels fluid, and we have "characters moments", plot advancing, and battle scenes,..

The main character's journey feels "accomplished", I didn't think I was really attached until the end when I realized that yes indeed I was, the romance subplot was also a very good part of the story, (I do enjoy a fantasy with a touch of romance well done) as for the sequel, I don't really know what to expect but I'm excited^^]]> 4.03 2022
author: Sue Lynn Tan
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/11/07
date added: 2022/11/07
shelves: couleurs, fairy-tale-like, livre, plus-de-500-p, queens, romancey, sorties-2022, vite, writing
review:
4.5

So glad to have the sequel now so close to its release date, because I loved this ! The writing is excellent bc you can feel the pace of the story is controlled, while the reading feels fluid, and we have "characters moments", plot advancing, and battle scenes,..

The main character's journey feels "accomplished", I didn't think I was really attached until the end when I realized that yes indeed I was, the romance subplot was also a very good part of the story, (I do enjoy a fantasy with a touch of romance well done) as for the sequel, I don't really know what to expect but I'm excited^^
]]> 22978079
But certainties can unravel.

Visions can mislead.

And friends can betray.

The trick with found things is how easily they can be lost …]]> 389 Maggie Stiefvater 1407136631 Axelle 4 livre, writing I love the author's writing, it is poetic and mysterious and feels just right for the atmosphere of the story, the characters are what makes this series so good too^^]]> 4.34 2014
author: Maggie Stiefvater
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2022/08/29
date added: 2022/08/29
shelves: livre, writing
review:
Reread 2022
I love the author's writing, it is poetic and mysterious and feels just right for the atmosphere of the story, the characters are what makes this series so good too^^
]]> 18952381
But Emperor Kuni cannot go and lead his kingdom against the threat himself with his recently healed empire fraying at the seams, so he sends the only people he trusts to be Dara’s savvy and cunning hopes against the invincible invaders: his children, now grown and ready to make their mark on history.]]> 880 Ken Liu 1784973254 Axelle 4
Writing is fluid and poetic, intense/to the point or slow/meandering depending on the scenes, Ken Liu has a great handle on plot and characters, but it was big, I think it could have been divided into 2 books, I also wish I felt more of an attachment to the characters, still wanna know what happens next to this dynasty, over the years.. ]]> 4.34 2016
author: Ken Liu
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2022/07/28
date added: 2022/07/28
shelves: adulte, couleurs, livre, plus-de-500-p, writing
review:
Ignoring the fact that I took the entire month to read this, because it was still interesting and entertaining despite its lenght^^

Writing is fluid and poetic, intense/to the point or slow/meandering depending on the scenes, Ken Liu has a great handle on plot and characters, but it was big, I think it could have been divided into 2 books, I also wish I felt more of an attachment to the characters, still wanna know what happens next to this dynasty, over the years..
]]> 59058504
Enter the latest round of six: Libby Rhodes and Nico de Varona, unwilling halves of an unfathomable whole, who exert uncanny control over every element of physicality. Reina Mori, a naturalist, who can intuit the language of life itself. Parisa Kamali, a telepath who can traverse the depths of the subconscious, navigating worlds inside the human mind. Callum Nova, an empath easily mistaken for a manipulative illusionist, who can influence the intimate workings of a person’s inner self. Finally, there is Tristan Caine, who can see through illusions to a new structure of reality—an ability so rare that neither he nor his peers can fully grasp its implications.

When the candidates are recruited by the mysterious Atlas Blakely, they are told they will have one year to qualify for initiation, during which time they will be permitted preliminary access to the Society’s archives and judged based on their contributions to various subjects of impossibility: time and space, luck and thought, life and death. Five, they are told, will be initiated. One will be eliminated. The six potential initiates will fight to survive the next year of their lives, and if they can prove themselves to be the best among their rivals, most of them will.

Most of them.]]> 376 Olivie Blake 1250854512 Axelle 5 3.60 2020
author: Olivie Blake
name: Axelle
average rating: 3.60
book published: 2020
rating: 5
read at: 2022/05/16
date added: 2022/05/16
shelves: 5-etoiles, adulte, couleurs, livre, pref, sorties-2022, writing
review:
Taking my time rereading it, I love this book and I can't wait to read the sequel, I could not even predict one thing that will happen
]]> 17675462 “There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,� Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.�

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.]]> 409 Maggie Stiefvater 0545424925 Axelle 4
I love the writing, even when it's more poetic it flows very well with the story and ambiance, and the setting in Henrietta with the mix of supernatural is great. Honestly the characters are also great, all in their own ways, Gansey and Blue.. anyway even it's a reread I was still surprised and forgot things, will continue for sure^^]]> 4.05 2012
author: Maggie Stiefvater
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2022/04/29
date added: 2022/04/29
shelves: atmosphere, livre, populaire, writing
review:
Reread 2022

I love the writing, even when it's more poetic it flows very well with the story and ambiance, and the setting in Henrietta with the mix of supernatural is great. Honestly the characters are also great, all in their own ways, Gansey and Blue.. anyway even it's a reread I was still surprised and forgot things, will continue for sure^^
]]> 13449693
It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them � not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can't entirely explain. He has it all � family money, good looks, devoted friends � but he's looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we've never been before.]]> 408 Maggie Stiefvater 0545424933 Axelle 4 4.06 2012
author: Maggie Stiefvater
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2016/01/01
date added: 2022/04/24
shelves: atmosphere, livre, populaire, writing
review:

]]> 54453257
From Olivie Blake, the New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six, comes an intimate and contemporary study of time, space, and the nature of love. Alone with You in the Ether explores what it means to be unwell, and how to face the fractures of yourself and still love as if you're not broken.

CHICAGO, SOMETIME�

Two people meet in the Art Institute by chance. Prior to their encounter, he is a doctoral student who manages his destructive thoughts with compulsive calculations about time travel; she is a bipolar counterfeit artist, undergoing court-ordered psychotherapy. By the end of the story, these things will still be true. But this is not a story about endings.

For Regan, people are predictable and tedious, including and perhaps especially herself. She copes with the dreariness of existence by living impulsively, imagining a new, alternate timeline being created in the wake of every rash decision.

To Aldo, the world feels disturbingly chaotic. He gets through his days by erecting a wall of routine: a backbeat of rules and formulas that keep him going. Without them, the entire framework of his existence would collapse.

For Regan and Aldo, life has been a matter of resigning themselves to the blueprints of inevitability—until the two meet. Could six conversations with a stranger be the variable that shakes up the entire simulation?]]> 300 Olivie Blake 8655480401 Axelle 5 4.10 2020
author: Olivie Blake
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2020
rating: 5
read at: 2022/01/03
date added: 2022/01/03
shelves: 24h, 5-etoiles, adulte, livre, one-shot, romancey, queens, sorties-2020, writing
review:
I love her big brain, hope Olivie Blake keeps writing for a long time, (also her aknowledgements are always a banger : "to you my fellow mortals with your gorgeous little fractures : your crazy is your magic. Your wildness is what makes you. Resilience is your talent. Burn, but don't burn out. As always, it has been my honor to put these words down for you.")
]]> 50892212
A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. At the heart of it all is eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper who has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang—a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette’s first love…and first betrayal.

But when gangsters on both sides show signs of instability culminating in clawing their own throats out, the people start to whisper. Of a contagion, a madness. Of a monster in the shadows. As the deaths stack up, Juliette and Roma must set their guns—and grudges—aside and work together, for if they can’t stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule.

Perfect for fans of The Last Magician and Descendant of the Crane, this heart-stopping debut is an imaginative Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, with rival gangs and a monster in the depths of the Huangpu River.]]> 449 Chloe Gong 1534457690 Axelle 4 4.25

I really liked this debut, the creativity, Romeo and Juliette retelling in 1920s Shanghai, plus the characters were a great combo^^

Reread 2021 : Still love it, it did not give a five star feel (cant explain why lol), but the quality is here, I liked the mix of different serious subject matters like colonialism or capitalism and misoginy, with a quest for saving Shanghai from a deadly contagion]]> 3.82 2020
author: Chloe Gong
name: Axelle
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2021/11/11
date added: 2021/11/11
shelves: atmosphere, couleurs, pref, romancey, sorties-2020, livre, reread, vite, writing
review:
4.25

I really liked this debut, the creativity, Romeo and Juliette retelling in 1920s Shanghai, plus the characters were a great combo^^

Reread 2021 : Still love it, it did not give a five star feel (cant explain why lol), but the quality is here, I liked the mix of different serious subject matters like colonialism or capitalism and misoginy, with a quest for saving Shanghai from a deadly contagion
]]> 54998129 From fiction contributor Olivie Blake, these stories of paranormal romance, adventure, humor, and misdeeds once exclusive to Witch Way Magazine are available to own for the first time, along with a new story written specifically for the collection.]]> 394 Olivie Blake 0578662272 Axelle 4 3.94 2020
author: Olivie Blake
name: Axelle
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2021/10/31
date added: 2021/11/01
shelves: 24h, livre, one-shot, sorties-2020, romancey, writing
review:
3.75, I love this author's writing, and the stories were cool, I liked the witchy vibes and characters but I was not overly attached (understandable since this is a collection of short stories lol but I still wanted to read her stories)
]]> 56666839 A Dowry of Blood is a story of desire, obsession, and emancipation.

Saved from the brink of death by a mysterious stranger, Constanta is transformed from a medieval peasant into a bride fit for an undying king. But when Dracula draws a cunning aristocrat and a starving artist into his web of passion and deceit, Constanta realizes that her beloved is capable of terrible things. Finding comfort in the arms of her rival consorts, she begins to unravel their husband’s dark secrets.

With the lives of everyone she loves on the line, Constanta will have to choose between her own freedom and her love for her husband. But bonds forged by blood can only be broken by death.]]> 248 S.T. Gibson 1916366937 Axelle 4
This was exactly what I expected from a dark romance vampire book, the writing was great and the book was very easy to go through, I also liked the characters, but I did not feel much "big emotions" while reading]]> 4.12 2021
author: S.T. Gibson
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2021/10/25
date added: 2021/10/25
shelves: 24h, adulte, one-shot, sorties-2021, writing
review:
3.5

This was exactly what I expected from a dark romance vampire book, the writing was great and the book was very easy to go through, I also liked the characters, but I did not feel much "big emotions" while reading
]]> 45044785 They are each other's fiercest love, greatest danger, and only hope.

SĂ©verin and his team members might have successfully thwarted the Fallen House, but victory came at a terrible cost -- one that still haunts all of them. Desperate to make amends, SĂ©verin pursues a dangerous lead to find a long lost artifact rumoured to grant its possessor the power of God.

Their hunt lures them far from Paris, and into the icy heart of Russia where crystalline ice animals stalk forgotten mansions, broken goddesses carry deadly secrets, and a string of unsolved murders makes the crew question whether an ancient myth is a myth after all.

As hidden secrets come to the light and the ghosts of the past catch up to them, the crew will discover new dimensions of themselves. But what they find out may lead them down paths they never imagined.

A tale of love and betrayal as the crew risks their lives for one last job.]]> 406 Roshani Chokshi 1250144574 Axelle 4 ]]> 4.07 2020
author: Roshani Chokshi
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2021/08/31
date added: 2021/08/31
shelves: couleurs, livre, pref, queens, sorties-2020, writing
review:
I love Roshani's writing and her characters in this are so good... I felt for them, and the plot of course doesn't hurt either^^

]]> 18966819
A lamb among wolves in a cruel world, Darrow finds friendship, respect, and even love—but also the wrath of powerful rivals. To wage and win the war that will change humankind’s destiny, Darrow must confront the treachery arrayed against him, overcome his all-too-human desire for retribution—and strive not for violent revolt but a hopeful rebirth. Though the road ahead is fraught with danger and deceit, Darrow must choose to follow Eo’s principles of love and justice to free his people.

He must live for more.]]> 466 Pierce Brown 0345539826 Axelle 4 adulte, reread, writing 4.48 2015
author: Pierce Brown
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.48
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2021/06/16
date added: 2021/06/16
shelves: adulte, reread, writing
review:
I loved the complex characters (Darrow and Mustang especially my girlie deserves even more pages) and complex world building, the writing was efficient and poetic at times, though I really had to focus, and some action scenes lost my attention a little. I knew what would happen in the end, being a reread, but the enjoyment was still there and I recommend this Sci Fi saga to whomever this appeals, even a bit, to.
]]> 36492488 People lived because she killed. People died because he lived.

Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those foolish enough to defy his autocratic father, the sultan. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways. Both Zafira and Nasir are legends in the kingdom of Arawiya--but neither wants to be.

War is brewing, and the Arz sweeps closer with each passing day, engulfing the land in shadow. When Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artifact that can restore magic to her suffering world and stop the Arz, Nasir is sent by the sultan on a similar mission: retrieve the artifact and kill the Hunter. But an ancient evil stirs as their journey unfolds--and the prize they seek may pose a threat greater than either can imagine.]]> 472 Hafsah Faizal 0374311544 Axelle 4 The book throws you in the world immediately, after a rough start I enjoyed the world bulding and plot very much, the writing was fluid and poetic, I'll ofc pick up the last book with pleasure^^]]> 3.87 2019
author: Hafsah Faizal
name: Axelle
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2021/05/30
date added: 2021/05/30
shelves: couleurs, different-cultures, romancey, sorties-2019, writing
review:
A great YA fantasy, the characters were endearing and had interesting relationships (fdjfhjd yes the ennemies to lovers romance bit had me by the throat), the side characters were also developed.
The book throws you in the world immediately, after a rough start I enjoyed the world bulding and plot very much, the writing was fluid and poetic, I'll ofc pick up the last book with pleasure^^
]]> 57132756 The stunning finale to the Chronicles of the Bitch Queen trilogy where the queen of a divided land must unite her people against the enemies who threaten to tear her country apart.

Queen Talyien is finally home, but dangers she never imagined await her in the shadowed halls of her father's castle.

War is on the horizon. Her son has been stolen from her, her warlords despise her, and across the sea, a cursed prince threatens her nation with invasion in order to win her hand.

Worse yet, her father's ancient secrets are dangerous enough to bring Jin Sayeng to ruin. Dark magic tears rifts in the sky, preparing to rain down madness, chaos, and the possibility of setting her nation aflame.

Bearing the brunt of the past and uncertain about her future, Talyien will need to decide between fleeing her shadows or embracing them before the whole world becomes an inferno.]]> 640 K.S. Villoso 0356514501 Axelle 5 This is a grimdark adult fantasy, with its lot of content and trigger warnings, but the writing was very easy and quotable at the same time, the world was expanded upon the 3 books, as were the politics and conflicts, the characters were grey and developped, I basically don't have a bad thing to say about this last book.
Want to discover a great book and support a Filipino author ? Read thiiiis^^]]> 4.48 2021
author: K.S. Villoso
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.48
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2021/05/11
date added: 2021/05/11
shelves: 5-etoiles, adulte, couleurs, different-cultures, plus-de-500-p, queens, sorties-2021, romancey, termin, writing
review:
Talyien is my queen forever, my girl couldn't catch a break in all of the trilogy, but we were so immersed in her life, her head, that I did not have any other choice but to stan her, (and her romance subplot was so good).
This is a grimdark adult fantasy, with its lot of content and trigger warnings, but the writing was very easy and quotable at the same time, the world was expanded upon the 3 books, as were the politics and conflicts, the characters were grey and developped, I basically don't have a bad thing to say about this last book.
Want to discover a great book and support a Filipino author ? Read thiiiis^^
]]> 52935581
Kihrin grew up on tales of long-lost princes and grand quests - despite being raised in a brothel, making money as a musician and street thief. One day he overreaches by targeting an absent noble's mansion, hunting for jewels. There he witnesses a prince performing a terrifying dark-magic ritual. Kihrin flees but he's marked by a demon and his life will never be the same again.

That night also leads to him being claimed as a lost son of that prince's royal house. But far from living the dream, Kihrin finds himself practically a prisoner, at the mercy of his new family's power plays and ambitions. He must also discover why his murderous father finds Kihrin more valuable alive than dead. Soon Kihrin attempts to escape his relative's dangerous schemes, but finds himself in far deeper waters.

He becomes tangled in a plot to kill the Emperor, rob the Imperial Vaults, claim a god-slaying sword and free bound demons to wreak havoc across the land. Kihrin also discovers the old tales lied about many things: dragons, demons, gods, prophecies, true love - and the hero always winning. But maybe Kihrin isn't fated to save the empire. He's destined to destroy it.]]> 685 Jenn Lyons 1509879501 Axelle 4 Now, I could see how much thought and preparation the author made for this book, and as I was reading I could not NOT pay attention bc anything could happen at literally any moments. The stakes were high, the characters were numerous and varied, the plot was twisting and twisting endlessly lol, I can't wait for the rest of the books^]]> 3.91 2019
author: Jenn Lyons
name: Axelle
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2021/04/18
date added: 2021/04/21
shelves: adulte, bibli, plus-de-500-p, sorties-2019, writing
review:
Honestly the plot alone deserves 5 stars in my opinion, but the characters (I think) did not make me "feel" enough for 5 stars.
Now, I could see how much thought and preparation the author made for this book, and as I was reading I could not NOT pay attention bc anything could happen at literally any moments. The stakes were high, the characters were numerous and varied, the plot was twisting and twisting endlessly lol, I can't wait for the rest of the books^
]]> 23264671 419 Jay Kristoff 1250073030 Axelle 0 4.44 2017
author: Jay Kristoff
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.44
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at: 2019/09/14
date added: 2021/04/14
shelves: adulte, populaire, queens, writing
review:

]]> 53265678
Nghi Vo returns to the empire of Ahn and The Singing Hills Cycle in this mesmerizing, lush standalone follow-up to The Empress of Salt and Fortune.]]> 128 Nghi Vo 1250786169 Axelle 4 This cover is so beautiful 4.15 2020
author: Nghi Vo
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2021/03/28
date added: 2021/03/28
shelves: bibli, 24h, couleurs, fairy-tale-like, one-shot, sorties-2020, writing
review:
This cover is so beautiful
]]> 38525180 Sarai has lived and breathed nightmares since she was six years old.
She believed she knew every horror, and was beyond surprise.
She was wrong.

In the wake of tragedy, neither Lazlo nor Sarai are who they were before. One a god, the other a ghost, they struggle to grasp the new boundaries of their selves as dark-minded Minya holds them hostage, intent on vengeance against Weep.

Lazlo faces an unthinkable choice--save the woman he loves, or everyone else?--while Sarai feels more helpless than ever. But is she? Sometimes, only the direst need can teach us our own depths, and Sarai, the muse of nightmares, has not yet discovered what she's capable of.

As humans and godspawn reel in the aftermath of the citadel's near fall, a new foe shatters their fragile hopes, and the mysteries of the Mesarthim are resurrected: Where did the gods come from, and why? What was done with thousands of children born in the citadel nursery? And most important of all, as forgotten doors are opened and new worlds revealed: Must heroes always slay monsters, or is it possible to save them instead?

Love and hate, revenge and redemption, destruction and salvation all clash in this gorgeous sequel to the New York Times bestseller, Strange the Dreamer.]]> 522 Laini Taylor 1444789031 Axelle 4 4.47 2018
author: Laini Taylor
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2021/02/05
date added: 2021/02/06
shelves: atmosphere, plus-de-500-p, romancey, termin, writing
review:
The creativity of Laini Taylor is great, i loved the "links" to her trilogy "Daughter of Smoke and Bone", and im interested in what she'll write next^^
]]> 12680907
But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisers, who have run the country on her behalf since Leck's death, believe in a forward-thinking plan: to pardon all of those who committed terrible acts during Leck's reign; and to forget every dark event that ever happened. Monsea's past has become shrouded in mystery, and it's only when Bitterblue begins sneaking out of her castle - curious, disguised and alone - to walk the streets of her own city, that she begins to realise the truth. Her kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year long spell of a madman, and now their only chance to move forward is to revisit the past.

Whatever that past holds.

Two thieves, who have sworn only to steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck's reign. And one of them, who possesses an unidentified Grace, may also hold a key to her heart . . .]]> 576 Kristin Cashore 0803734735 Axelle 4 3.99 2012
author: Kristin Cashore
name: Axelle
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2021/01/16
date added: 2021/01/16
shelves: plus-de-500-p, queens, vite, writing
review:

]]> 28449207 The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around�and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.

What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?

The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries—including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo’s dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? And if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?

Welcome to Weep.]]> 532 Laini Taylor 0316341681 Axelle 4 4.27 2017
author: Laini Taylor
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2021/01/12
date added: 2021/01/12
shelves: atmosphere, romancey, writing, writers-connu-e-s
review:

]]> 45857086 The exciting end to The Poppy War trilogy, R. F. Kuang’s acclaimed, award-winning epic fantasy that combines the history of twentieth-century China with a gripping world of gods and monsters, to devastating, enthralling effect.

After saving her nation of Nikan from foreign invaders and battling the evil Empress Su Daji in a brutal civil war, Fang Runin was betrayed by allies and left for dead. 

Despite her losses, Rin hasn’t given up on those for whom she has sacrificed so much—the people of the southern provinces and especially Tikany, the village that is her home. Returning to her roots, Rin meets difficult challenges—and unexpected opportunities. While her new allies in the Southern Coalition leadership are sly and untrustworthy, Rin quickly realizes that the real power in Nikan lies with the millions of common people who thirst for vengeance and revere her as a goddess of salvation. 

Backed by the masses and her Southern Army, Rin will use every weapon to defeat the Dragon Republic, the colonizing Hesperians, and all who threaten the shamanic arts and their practitioners. As her power and influence grows, though, will she be strong enough to resist the Phoenix’s intoxicating voice urging her to burn the world and everything in it? ]]> 622 R.F. Kuang 0008339147 Axelle 5 Je suis vidée 4.29 2020
author: R.F. Kuang
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2020
rating: 5
read at: 2020/11/18
date added: 2020/11/18
shelves: 24h, 5-etoiles, adulte, couleurs, plus-de-500-p, pref, sorties-2020, termin, writing
review:
Je suis vidée
]]> 11503920
Neither accepted nor beloved, Eugenides is the uneasy linchpin of a truce on the Lesser Peninsula, where he has risen to be high king of Attolia, Eddis, and Sounis. As the treacherous Baron Erondites schemes anew and a prophecy appears to foretell the death of the king, the ruthless Mede empire prepares to strike. The New York Times–bestselling Queen’s Thief novels are rich with political machinations, divine intervention, dangerous journeys, battles lost and won, power, passion, and deception.]]> 464 Megan Whalen Turner 0062874470 Axelle 4 4.48 2020
author: Megan Whalen Turner
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.48
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2020/10/19
date added: 2020/10/19
shelves: queens, sorties-2020, termin, writing
review:

]]> 43822024
In this pulse-pounding conclusion to New York Times bestselling author Neal Shusterman’s Arc of a Scythe trilogy, constitutions are tested and old friends are brought back from the dead.]]> 625 Neal Shusterman 1481497065 Axelle 4 4.15 2019
author: Neal Shusterman
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2020/10/01
date added: 2020/10/01
shelves: plus-de-500-p, populaire, sorties-2019, termin, writing, writers-connu-e-s
review:

]]> 15839976 "I live for the dream that my children will be born free," she says. "That they will be what they like. That they will own the land their father gave them."

"I live for you," I say sadly.

Eo kisses my cheek. "Then you must live for more."

Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations.

Yet he spends his life willingly, knowing that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better world for his children.

But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity already reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and sprawling parks spread across the planet. Darrow—and Reds like him—are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class.

Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity's overlords struggle for power. He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society's ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies... even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.]]> 382 Pierce Brown 0345539788 Axelle 4 4.26 2014
author: Pierce Brown
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2020/08/16
date added: 2020/08/16
shelves: livre, populaire, reread, writing
review:

]]> 39988431 Return to Daevabad in the spellbinding sequel to THE CITY OF BRASS.

Nahri’s life changed forever the moment she accidentally summoned Dara, a formidable, mysterious djinn, during one of her schemes. Whisked from her home in Cairo, she was thrust into the dazzling royal court of Daevabad and quickly discovered she would need all her grifter instincts to survive there.

Now, with Daevabad entrenched in the dark aftermath of the battle that saw Dara slain at Prince Ali’s hand, Nahri must forge a new path for herself, without the protection of the guardian who stole her heart or the counsel of the prince she considered a friend. But even as she embraces her heritage and the power it holds, she knows she’s been trapped in a gilded cage, watched by a king who rules from the throne that once belonged to her familyand one misstep will doom her tribe.

Meanwhile, Ali has been exiled for daring to defy his father. Hunted by assassins, adrift on the unforgiving copper sands of his ancestral land, he is forced to rely on the frightening abilities the marid, the unpredictable water spirits, have gifted him. But in doing so, he threatens to unearth a terrible secret his family has long kept buried.

And as a new century approaches and the djinn gather within Daevabad's towering brass walls for celebrations, a threat brews unseen in the desolate north. It’s a force that would bring a storm of fire straight to the city’s gates . . . and one that seeks the aid of a warrior trapped between worlds, torn between a violent duty he can never escape and a peace he fears he will never deserve.]]> 625 S.A. Chakraborty 0008239444 Axelle 4 -> The writing is great, well plotted, character development, complicated relationships, politics, its own mythology, all in all a big YES, ( it is just such a long read lol )]]> 4.37 2019
author: S.A. Chakraborty
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2020/07/04
date added: 2020/07/05
shelves: plus-de-500-p, pref, queens, writing, sorties-2019
review:
Top notch fantasy book
-> The writing is great, well plotted, character development, complicated relationships, politics, its own mythology, all in all a big YES, ( it is just such a long read lol )
]]> 29939047 An ancient mystery. An unlikely union. For one young princess in a state of peril, a dangerous wish could be the only answer�

She is the princess of Bharata—captured by her kingdom’s enemies, a prisoner of war. Now that she faces a future of exile and scorn, Gauri has nothing left to lose. But should she trust Vikram, the notoriously cunning prince of a neighboring land? He promises her freedom in exchange for her battle prowess. Together they can team up and win the Tournament of Wishes, a competition held in a mythical city where the Lord of Wealth promises a wish to the victor. It seems like a foolproof plan—until Gauri and Vikram arrive at the tournament and find that danger takes on new shapes: poisonous courtesans, mischievous story birds, a feast of fears, and twisted fairy revels. New trials will test their devotion, strength, and wits. But what Gauri and Vikram will soon discover is that there’s nothing more dangerous than what they most desire.]]> 369 Roshani Chokshi 1250085497 Axelle 4 4.14 2017
author: Roshani Chokshi
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2020/05/12
date added: 2020/05/12
shelves: different-cultures, fairy-tale-like, one-shot, romancey, writers-connu-e-s, writing
review:

]]> 36621586 Following their adventures in The Bear and the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower, Vasya and Morozko return in this stunning conclusion to the bestselling Winternight Trilogy, battling enemies mortal and magical to save both Russias, the seen and the unseen.


Now Moscow has been struck by disaster. Its people are searching for answers—and for someone to blame. Vasya finds herself alone, beset on all sides. The Grand Prince is in a rage, choosing allies that will lead him on a path to war and ruin. A wicked demon returns, stronger than ever and determined to spread chaos. Caught at the center of the conflict is Vasya, who finds the fate of two worlds resting on her shoulders. Her destiny uncertain, Vasya will uncover surprising truths about herself and her history as she desperately tries to save Russia, Morozko, and the magical world she treasures. But she may not be able to save them all.

Advance praise for The Winter of the Witch

“Katherine Arden’s Winternight Trilogy isn’t just good—it’s hug-to-your-chest, straight-to-the-favorites-shelf, reread-immediately good, and each book just gets better. The Winter of the Witch plunges us back to fourteenth-century Moscow, where old gods and new vie for the soul of Russia and fate rests on a witch girl’s slender shoulders. Prepare to have your heart ripped out, loaned back to you full of snow and magic, and ripped out some more.”�Laini Taylor]]> 400 Katherine Arden 1101886005 Axelle 5 4.48 2019
author: Katherine Arden
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.48
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2019/02/21
date added: 2020/04/13
shelves: 5-etoiles, fairy-tale-like, romancey, writing, termin, pref
review:

]]> 23264672
The Nevernight Chronicle is a complex fantasy series about Mia Corvere, a kick-butt, flawed heroine who trains as an assassin as part of her mission for personal revenge. Her tale takes place in the immersive world of Godsgrave which, although based on ancient Rome and Venice, is imaginative with many original details provided by a beloved snarky narrator.

The Republic of Itreya is in chaos. Mia has assassinated Cardinal Duomo and rumors of Consul Scaeva’s death ripple through the street of Godsgrave like wildfire. But buried beneath those same streets, deep in the ancient city’s bones, lies a secret that will change the Republic forever.

Mia and her brother Jonnen must journey through the depths of the ancient metropolis. Their quest will take them through the Godsgrave underdark, back to the library of the Quiet Mountain and the poisoned blades of Mia’s old mentors, and at last the fabled Crown of the Moon. There, Mia will at last discover the origins of the darkin, and learn the destiny that lies in store for her and her world. But with the three suns now in descent, and Truedark on the horizon, will she survive?]]> 491 Jay Kristoff 146688505X Axelle 3 4.30 2019
author: Jay Kristoff
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2019/09/25
date added: 2020/04/13
shelves: plus-de-500-p, writing, sorties-2019, adulte, termin
review:

]]> 31817749
The Moon will soon return. Whether this heralds the destruction of humankind or something worse will depend on two women.

Essun has inherited the power of Alabaster Tenring. With it, she hopes to find her daughter Nassun and forge a world in which every orogene child can grow up safe.

For Nassun, her mother's mastery of the Obelisk Gate comes too late. She has seen the evil of the world, and accepted what her mother will not admit: that sometimes what is corrupt cannot be cleansed, only destroyed.

The remarkable conclusion to the post-apocalyptic and highly acclaimed trilogy that began with the multi-award-nominated The Fifth Season.]]> 416 N.K. Jemisin Axelle 4 adulte, writing, termin The Stone Sky : 4 stars


This trilogy as a whole is 4 stars. It is different from what I usually read for this is very "adult".
The writing is great, a little confusing sometimes, in some chapters we aren't even told who the narrator is and what exactly it will lead to, but I think that English not being my maternal language impacted my reading ahah

The plot unfurls little by little from book 1 to book 3, we feel how much the author thought about this story and how to express it. Each character had a role and was interesting (tho the characters felt too "cold" at times for my taste), I was so curious to see how it would all end up.. and was pretty satisfied

Also the mystery regarding the "Seasons", and the revelations about the past, how it all came to be were sooo good, anyway I really enjoyed reading this and of course recommend it, if it sounds interesting to you!]]> 4.32 2017
author: N.K. Jemisin
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2019/11/16
date added: 2020/04/13
shelves: adulte, writing, termin
review:
The Stone Sky : 4 stars


This trilogy as a whole is 4 stars. It is different from what I usually read for this is very "adult".
The writing is great, a little confusing sometimes, in some chapters we aren't even told who the narrator is and what exactly it will lead to, but I think that English not being my maternal language impacted my reading ahah

The plot unfurls little by little from book 1 to book 3, we feel how much the author thought about this story and how to express it. Each character had a role and was interesting (tho the characters felt too "cold" at times for my taste), I was so curious to see how it would all end up.. and was pretty satisfied

Also the mystery regarding the "Seasons", and the revelations about the past, how it all came to be were sooo good, anyway I really enjoyed reading this and of course recommend it, if it sounds interesting to you!
]]> 32903085 572 Christelle Dabos 2075093865 Axelle 4
Bye Ophélie, I enjoyed reading your aventures^^]]> 3.87 2019
author: Christelle Dabos
name: Axelle
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2019/12/16
date added: 2020/04/13
shelves: 24h, francais, livre, plus-de-500-p, sorties-2019, writing, termin
review:
Wow im proud of myself for reading this big bad boy in one day!

Bye Ophélie, I enjoyed reading your aventures^^
]]> 25985241 New York City.
1927.
Lights are bright.
Jazz is king.
Parties are wild.
And the dead are coming...

After battling a supernatural sleeping sickness that claimed two of their own, the Diviners have had enough lies. They're more determined than ever to uncover the mystery behind their extraordinary powers, even as they face off against an all-new terror. Out on Ward's Island, far from the city's bustle, sits a mental hospital haunted by the lost souls of people long forgotten--ghosts who have unusual and dangerous ties to the man in the stovepipe hat, also known as the King of Crows.

With terrible accounts of murder and possession flooding in from all over and New York City on the verge of panic, the Diviners must band together and brave the sinister ghosts invading the asylum, a fight that will bring them face-to-face with the King of Crows. But as the explosive secrets of the past come to light, loyalties and friendships will be tested, love will hang in the balance, and the Diviners will question all that they've ever known. All the while, malevolent forces gather from every corner in a battle for the very soul of a nation--a fight that could claim the Diviners themselves.]]> 552 Libba Bray 0316126063 Axelle 4 4.25 2017
author: Libba Bray
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2020/02/09
date added: 2020/02/09
shelves: atmosphere, plus-de-500-p, writing
review:

]]> 16060716 The longing of dreams draws the dead, and this city holds many dreams.

After a supernatural showdown with a serial killer, Evie O’Neill has outed herself as a Diviner. With her uncanny ability to read people’s secrets, she’s become a media darling, earning the title “America’s Sweetheart Seer.� Everyone’s in love with the city’s newest It Girl…everyone except the other Diviners.

Piano-playing Henry DuBois and Chinatown resident Ling Chan are two Diviners struggling to keep their powers a secret—for they can walk in dreams. And while Evie is living the high life, victims of a mysterious sleeping sickness are turning up across New York City.

As Henry searches for a lost love and Ling strives to succeed in a world that shuns her, a malevolent force infects their dreams. And at the edges of it all lurks a man in a stovepipe hat who has plans that extend farther than anyone can guess…As the sickness spreads, can the Diviners descend into the dreamworld to save the city?

In this heart-stopping sequel to The Diviners, Printz Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Libba Bray takes readers deeper into the mystical underbelly of New York City.]]> 613 Libba Bray 0316126047 Axelle 3 Lair of Dreams : 3.5


Ooh my I've been reading this for so long, and that's a big part of why my rating is this one.
I really loved the characters and the setting in the previous book, and this is still true in this one, but I felt like I was just carried from POV to POV without a finish line in mind, I liked what I read and wasn't bored, but then I didn't have the will to pick up the book again..

Anywaaay I love these characters, Evie, Theta, Henri (best boi, I was really emotional with one of his scenes it didnt happen in a long time), Sam, Ling^^

The BIG threat is more and more clear and I will read the next book with pleasure I just hope the pace will work better for me ahah]]> 4.10 2015
author: Libba Bray
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2019/12/28
date added: 2019/12/29
shelves: plus-de-500-p, romancey, writing
review:
Lair of Dreams : 3.5


Ooh my I've been reading this for so long, and that's a big part of why my rating is this one.
I really loved the characters and the setting in the previous book, and this is still true in this one, but I felt like I was just carried from POV to POV without a finish line in mind, I liked what I read and wasn't bored, but then I didn't have the will to pick up the book again..

Anywaaay I love these characters, Evie, Theta, Henri (best boi, I was really emotional with one of his scenes it didnt happen in a long time), Sam, Ling^^

The BIG threat is more and more clear and I will read the next book with pleasure I just hope the pace will work better for me ahah
]]> 25203675 Fate and fortune. Power and passion. What does it take to be the queen of a kingdom when you’re only seventeen?

Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of death and destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father’s kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran’s queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar’s wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire�

But Akaran has its own secrets—thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most…including herself.

Listening Length: 9 hours and 22 minutes]]> 342 Roshani Chokshi 1250085470 Axelle 4 The Star-Touched Queen : 4 stars


I was surprised at the "low" rating for this book (around 3.50), I really liked this.

The writing is very descriptive and also poetic, from the beginning I wanted to highlight some quotes and could imagine the world of this book really well.

This book had friendship, romance, drama, mythology, was not too long or too short, its not perfect but very entertaining and enjoyable^^
]]> 3.57 2016
author: Roshani Chokshi
name: Axelle
average rating: 3.57
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2019/11/27
date added: 2019/11/27
shelves: atmosphere, different-cultures, fairy-tale-like, romancey, writing
review:
The Star-Touched Queen : 4 stars


I was surprised at the "low" rating for this book (around 3.50), I really liked this.

The writing is very descriptive and also poetic, from the beginning I wanted to highlight some quotes and could imagine the world of this book really well.

This book had friendship, romance, drama, mythology, was not too long or too short, its not perfect but very entertaining and enjoyable^^

]]> 18509623 267 Rin Chupeco 140229218X Axelle 4 atmosphere, writing The Girl from the Well


I'm so frustated with myself bc I took so loong to read this although it was pretty short and entertaining ;

The chapters are short and the pov is a little confusing bc it changes from the "ghost", onto the thoughts of the other characters like Tark and his cousin Callie. I said it's a little confusing but really the writing made it natural so that is a good point!

It sure was gruesome and spooky (perfect for this month) and had no romance, all of this would normally not please me lol, but here the story was nonetheless interesting and I wanted to know the end^^

*I will surely read other Rin Chupeco's books ]]> 3.81 2014
author: Rin Chupeco
name: Axelle
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2019/10/20
date added: 2019/10/21
shelves: atmosphere, writing
review:
The Girl from the Well


I'm so frustated with myself bc I took so loong to read this although it was pretty short and entertaining ;

The chapters are short and the pov is a little confusing bc it changes from the "ghost", onto the thoughts of the other characters like Tark and his cousin Callie. I said it's a little confusing but really the writing made it natural so that is a good point!

It sure was gruesome and spooky (perfect for this month) and had no romance, all of this would normally not please me lol, but here the story was nonetheless interesting and I wanted to know the end^^

*I will surely read other Rin Chupeco's books
]]> 32718027
But when Nahri accidentally summons an equally sly, darkly mysterious djinn warrior to her side during one of her cons, she’s forced to accept that the magical world she thought only existed in childhood stories is real. For the warrior tells her a new tale: across hot, windswept sands teeming with creatures of fire, and rivers where the mythical marid sleep; past ruins of once-magnificent human metropolises, and mountains where the circling hawks are not what they seem, lies Daevabad, the legendary city of brass, a city to which Nahri is irrevocably bound.

In that city, behind gilded brass walls laced with enchantments, behind the six gates of the six djinn tribes, old resentments are simmering. And when Nahri decides to enter this world, she learns that true power is fierce and brutal. That magic cannot shield her from the dangerous web of court politics. That even the cleverest of schemes can have deadly consequences.

After all, there is a reason they say be careful what you wish for...]]> 532 S.A. Chakraborty 0062678108 Axelle 4 The City of Brass : 4 stars


It was a really strong first book, tho its 500+ pages felt long (especially the first half), but I never was "bored".
The author introduces nicely this fantasy world and its characters, mixing fantasy, "djinn" (or Daevas), mythology, religion, politics, (even some romance) very well.
I really liked Nahri, she pretty much raised herself on the streets and counts on her wits to survive, she can be cunning and brave and is thrown into this unknown world has to navigate politics and powers.. I can't wait to see her more in the future books.

A lot is revealed at the end and in the epilogue, making me très interested in reading the next book^^]]> 4.12 2017
author: S.A. Chakraborty
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2019/09/18
date added: 2019/09/18
shelves: different-cultures, romancey, writing
review:
The City of Brass : 4 stars


It was a really strong first book, tho its 500+ pages felt long (especially the first half), but I never was "bored".
The author introduces nicely this fantasy world and its characters, mixing fantasy, "djinn" (or Daevas), mythology, religion, politics, (even some romance) very well.
I really liked Nahri, she pretty much raised herself on the streets and counts on her wits to survive, she can be cunning and brave and is thrown into this unknown world has to navigate politics and powers.. I can't wait to see her more in the future books.

A lot is revealed at the end and in the epilogue, making me très interested in reading the next book^^
]]> 28186322
But fate has other plans, as Veronica discovers when she thwarts her own abduction with the help of an enigmatic German baron who has ties to her mysterious past. Promising to reveal in time what he knows of the plot against her, the baron offers her temporary sanctuary in the care of his friend Stoker, a reclusive natural historian as intriguing as he is bad-tempered. But before the baron can deliver on his tantalizing vow to reveal the secrets he has concealed for decades, he is found murdered. Suddenly Veronica and Stoker are forced to go on the run from an elusive assailant as wary partners in search of the villainous truth.]]> 357 Deanna Raybourn 0451476026 Axelle 4 pas-fantasy, queens, writing A Curious Beginning : 4.25


What I liked :
-The main character^^ She was so interesting, her interests, intelligence, her way of talking, chef's kiss to miss Speedwell
-The interactions btw the characters was also fresh and funny at times, deep at others and overall a delight to read
-The setting of 1880s UK
-The little adventure and mysteries


I don't really have any "faults" to point out, it just didn't feel quite a 5 stars but was really good nonetheless^^]]> 3.94 2015
author: Deanna Raybourn
name: Axelle
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2019/09/02
date added: 2019/09/02
shelves: pas-fantasy, queens, writing
review:
A Curious Beginning : 4.25


What I liked :
-The main character^^ She was so interesting, her interests, intelligence, her way of talking, chef's kiss to miss Speedwell
-The interactions btw the characters was also fresh and funny at times, deep at others and overall a delight to read
-The setting of 1880s UK
-The little adventure and mysteries


I don't really have any "faults" to point out, it just didn't feel quite a 5 stars but was really good nonetheless^^
]]> 36896898 Spinning Silver draws readers deeper into a glittering realm of fantasy, where the boundary between wonder and terror is thinner than a breath, and safety can be stolen as quickly as a kiss.

Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders, but her father’s inability to collect his debts has left his family on the edge of poverty—until Miryem takes matters into her own hands. Hardening her heart, the young woman sets out to claim what is owed and soon gains a reputation for being able to turn silver into gold.

When an ill-advised boast draws the attention of the king of the Staryk—grim fey creatures who seem more ice than flesh—Miryem’s fate, and that of two kingdoms, will be forever altered. Set an impossible challenge by the nameless king, Miryem unwittingly spins a web that draws in a peasant girl, Wanda, and the unhappy daughter of a local lord who plots to wed his child to the dashing young tsar.

But Tsar Mirnatius is not what he seems. And the secret he hides threatens to consume the lands of humans and Staryk alike. Torn between deadly choices, Miryem and her two unlikely allies embark on a desperate quest that will take them to the limits of sacrifice, power, and love.

Channeling the vibrant heart of myth and fairy tale, Spinning Silver weaves a multilayered, magical tapestry that readers will want to return to again and again.]]> 465 Naomi Novik Axelle 5 4.20 2018
author: Naomi Novik
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2018/08/02
date added: 2019/08/19
shelves: 5-etoiles, atmosphere, fairy-tale-like, queens, writing, vite
review:

]]> 8490112
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands", she speaks many languages - not all of them human - and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?]]> 418 Laini Taylor 0316134023 Axelle 4 writers-connu-e-s, writing 3.98 2011
author: Laini Taylor
name: Axelle
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at: 2018/09/09
date added: 2019/08/19
shelves: writers-connu-e-s, writing
review:

]]> 12812550 Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.

This is not that world.

Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.

But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?]]> 517 Laini Taylor 0316133973 Axelle 4 4.13 2012
author: Laini Taylor
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2018/09/15
date added: 2019/08/19
shelves: vite, romancey, writing, writers-connu-e-s
review:

]]> 42201395
Then an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire. Elisabeth’s desperate intervention implicates her in the crime, and she is torn from her home to face justice in the capital. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.

As her alliance with Nathaniel grows stronger, Elisabeth starts to question everything she’s been taught—about sorcerers, about the libraries she loves, even about herself. For Elisabeth has a power she has never guessed, and a future she could never have imagined.]]> 456 Margaret Rogerson 1481497618 Axelle 3 atmosphere, writing
Salut đź’ś

So Sorcery of Thorns....

The writing is nice, with a lot of descriptions of the surroundings, the magical books and libraries, the city, etc.
Although the end dragged a little in my opinion (problem of pacing ?), I think the story could have been more exploited and expanded, but maybe im not one for one shots in fantasy lol.

The POV was only from the main character Elizabeth, but I found her a little bland (not annoying or anything). I felt like her motivations were not very clear at the beginning for example, and the romance is very basic ahah (I love reading the romantic storyline normally but oh well better luck next time).
Nathaniel was refreshing when he appeared on the page, I loved his humor and his relationship with Silas. Silas was so interesting to read about and he also added an unexpected but welcome touch of humor.

The book was okay when I was reading it, but I didn’t have the need or will to read it, I didn’t think about it you know... (maybe it is my slump, maybe it is the book...)
I don’t want to say too much on the plot since its a one shot obviously, so in conclusion : A “basic� fantasy but well made^^.
]]> 4.03 2019
author: Margaret Rogerson
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2019/06/30
date added: 2019/06/30
shelves: atmosphere, writing
review:
(3.5/5)

Salut đź’ś

So Sorcery of Thorns....

The writing is nice, with a lot of descriptions of the surroundings, the magical books and libraries, the city, etc.
Although the end dragged a little in my opinion (problem of pacing ?), I think the story could have been more exploited and expanded, but maybe im not one for one shots in fantasy lol.

The POV was only from the main character Elizabeth, but I found her a little bland (not annoying or anything). I felt like her motivations were not very clear at the beginning for example, and the romance is very basic ahah (I love reading the romantic storyline normally but oh well better luck next time).
Nathaniel was refreshing when he appeared on the page, I loved his humor and his relationship with Silas. Silas was so interesting to read about and he also added an unexpected but welcome touch of humor.

The book was okay when I was reading it, but I didn’t have the need or will to read it, I didn’t think about it you know... (maybe it is my slump, maybe it is the book...)
I don’t want to say too much on the plot since its a one shot obviously, so in conclusion : A “basic� fantasy but well made^^.

]]> 26228034 410 N.K. Jemisin Axelle 4 writing 4.27 2016
author: N.K. Jemisin
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2019/06/05
date added: 2019/06/05
shelves: writing
review:

]]> 19161852
Three terrible things happen in a single day. Essun, a woman living an ordinary life in a small town, comes home to find that her husband has brutally murdered their son and kidnapped their daughter. Meanwhile, mighty Sanze -- the world-spanning empire whose innovations have been civilization's bedrock for a thousand years -- collapses as most of its citizens are murdered to serve a madman's vengeance. And worst of all, across the heart of the vast continent known as the Stillness, a great red rift has been torn into the heart of the earth, spewing ash enough to darken the sky for years. Or centuries.

Now Essun must pursue the wreckage of her family through a deadly, dying land. Without sunlight, clean water, or arable land, and with limited stockpiles of supplies, there will be war all across the Stillness: a battle royale of nations not for power or territory, but simply for the basic resources necessary to get through the long dark night. Essun does not care if the world falls apart around her. She'll break it herself, if she must, to save her daughter.]]> 468 N.K. Jemisin Axelle 4 writing 4.25 4.29 2015
author: N.K. Jemisin
name: Axelle
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2019/04/28
date added: 2019/04/28
shelves: writing
review:
4.25
]]> 25064648 Inkheart and Shadow and Bone

Finalist for the Kirkus Prize and nominated for the Ĺ·±¦ÓéŔÖ Choice Award!

Sefia knows what it means to survive. After her father is brutally murdered, she flees into the wilderness with her aunt Nin, who teaches her to hunt, track, and steal. But when Nin is kidnapped, leaving Sefia completely alone, none of her survival skills can help her discover where Nin’s been taken, or if she’s even alive. The only clue to both her aunt’s disappearance and her father’s murder is the odd rectangular object her father left behind, an object she comes to realize is a book—a marvelous item unheard of in her otherwise illiterate society. With the help of this book, and the aid of a mysterious stranger with dark secrets of his own, Sefia sets out to rescue her aunt and find out what really happened the day her father was killed—and punish the people responsible.]]> 442 Traci Chee 0399176772 Axelle 4 writing 3.75 3.81 2016
author: Traci Chee
name: Axelle
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2018/11/29
date added: 2018/12/22
shelves: writing
review:
3.75
]]>