Astraios > Recent Status Updates

First ARC provided by NetGalley, let's jump into this !

More than a Beauty and the Beast retelling I see some European folklore in there : Melusine's story, and Handersen's The Snow Queen, both from my childhood. It's so fresh, to go towards those tales instead of the overused ones. Maybe it's incidental but it's very welcome.

The world building in this one is very original, and I keep suspecting characters and plot and reasons for the mystery that make no sense at ALL but really I'm just entranced by the whole idea (which reminds me of different classic fairytales from Beauty and the Best to some obscure Baba Yaga stories I read as a child). Definitely the kind of book I won't put down until I'm finished with it.

Every time I start drying my eyes there is some line that makes me weep again. I cried for Nina who lost Matthias, for Nikolai who's fighting against time, and for Zoya who lost everything. The grief and all the feelings of those who fought the war, that none commoner can understand, it's just so strong and well written and done just right.

Oh hell I haven't cried that hard for a book in ages

I wasn’t expecting Nina to be in the book, I was not ready for her grief, I’m overwhelmed by how much I love her and god she’s shadowing Nikolai and I miss the Grisha verse it feels good to read about those countries and traditions and people wow I’m emotional

I'm utterly confused I was convinced Enrique would fall for Hypnos not... well guess this is full of surprises.

I positively hate Evie's attitude, which is not a great start, but the writing is glorious so there's hope.

I positively hate Evie's attitude, which is not a great start, but the writing is glorious so there's hope.

I don’t know why but I have a really hard time picturing Stevie as a 16yo, she just appears as a 8/10yo girl to me (not meaning that I don’t love her because I’m rooting for that kid)

Okay I almost dropped the book around 75% because it was just a big mess of things happening and I wasn’t sure I actually cared to understand everything but then it took a slower pace while still being intense and I’m curious to see where all of this will lead

This reminds me a lot of Dirk Gently and I’m totally here for it