You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
J'ai beaucoup aimé cette histoire entre Axios et Eryx, dans le même univers de Grèce Antique que The Song of Achilles, mais traitant de la cité de Sparte. Connaissant très peu l'univers spartiate, ce livre a été une plongée totale dans une culture que je ne connaissais pas, extrêmement dure et guerrière. L'histoire d'Axios était profondément touchante, né au mauvais endroit au mauvais moment, son histoire d'amour avec Eryx extrêmement émouvante.
Sooo... I really don't know what happened here and what caused Karen and I to end up in the box of shame because literally all our GR friends loved this story to pieces and we struggled so much and at times were so bored that we got distracted by other things while reading this book.
And I really don't get it because
a) I loved not only the MCs but all of the characters in this book
b) it was an interesting time period that isn't often seen in romance
c) I appreciated the effort the author clearly made to make this book as historically accurate as possible. Even though I don't know much about this time, I recognized a lot of things I've read in other historical texts.
It's true that I often shy away from historical romance. There's no specific reason for that and the few that I have read I rated between 3 and 5 stars. For example, I really liked KJ Charles's Society of Gentlemen series and Kaje Harper's Into Deep Waters made me bawl my eyes out. I have also read non-fictional books from different time periods including Alexander the Great, Cleopatra, the Medici family, Napoléon Bonaparte, and WWII. So even if historical fiction/non-fiction is not my usual reading material, it's not that this has been my first one and I don't think that the time period had anything to do with why I couldn't connect with this story.
I think this book was well written and although I don't like time jumps in my books, here it worked well to keep the story going. This story spans a time frame of 25 years and without a time jump every now and then, it surely would have been too drawn out. What I did notice was that the language sometimes sounded too contemporary for the time period. I didn't mind that because I have a feeling I would have had an even harder time reading this had it been written in an 'old tongue' but maybe it bothers readers who expect 100% historical accuracy.
So you see, there were a lot of things I liked. The writing was good, the time period was intersting, and the MCs were great. I liked seeing them go from strangers to friends to lovers - earning each other's trust, discovering their sexuality together, having each other's back at all times, talking about their dreams and fears. There were a lot of lovely words and phrases that described the love they felt for each other, their families and brothers in arms. But sadly for me, that's all they were: pretty words. For whatever reason, they didn't connect with me and sounded hollow. They didn't evoke the emotions the author surely wanted me to feel. Karen used the word 'detached' in her review and I think that describes it perfectly. And I guess that's also the reason why the ending, although awesome and true to the story, just made my eyes burn a little whereas I would have been a sobbing mess at other times.
Karen and I felt almost broken when we didn't see the epic love story our friends have seen and I was so relieved to have her by my side and to not be alone with my cold-hearted feelings, lol! So if you are interested in reading this book, just look at all the awesome reviews already written about it and remember that we two are most likely the odd ones out. If you feel the same, though, we welcome you to join us in our box of shame :)
And I really don't get it because
a) I loved not only the MCs but all of the characters in this book
b) it was an interesting time period that isn't often seen in romance
c) I appreciated the effort the author clearly made to make this book as historically accurate as possible. Even though I don't know much about this time, I recognized a lot of things I've read in other historical texts.
It's true that I often shy away from historical romance. There's no specific reason for that and the few that I have read I rated between 3 and 5 stars. For example, I really liked KJ Charles's Society of Gentlemen series and Kaje Harper's Into Deep Waters made me bawl my eyes out. I have also read non-fictional books from different time periods including Alexander the Great, Cleopatra, the Medici family, Napoléon Bonaparte, and WWII. So even if historical fiction/non-fiction is not my usual reading material, it's not that this has been my first one and I don't think that the time period had anything to do with why I couldn't connect with this story.
I think this book was well written and although I don't like time jumps in my books, here it worked well to keep the story going. This story spans a time frame of 25 years and without a time jump every now and then, it surely would have been too drawn out. What I did notice was that the language sometimes sounded too contemporary for the time period. I didn't mind that because I have a feeling I would have had an even harder time reading this had it been written in an 'old tongue' but maybe it bothers readers who expect 100% historical accuracy.
So you see, there were a lot of things I liked. The writing was good, the time period was intersting, and the MCs were great. I liked seeing them go from strangers to friends to lovers - earning each other's trust, discovering their sexuality together, having each other's back at all times, talking about their dreams and fears. There were a lot of lovely words and phrases that described the love they felt for each other, their families and brothers in arms. But sadly for me, that's all they were: pretty words. For whatever reason, they didn't connect with me and sounded hollow. They didn't evoke the emotions the author surely wanted me to feel. Karen used the word 'detached' in her review and I think that describes it perfectly. And I guess that's also the reason why the ending, although awesome and true to the story, just made my eyes burn a little whereas I would have been a sobbing mess at other times.
Karen and I felt almost broken when we didn't see the epic love story our friends have seen and I was so relieved to have her by my side and to not be alone with my cold-hearted feelings, lol! So if you are interested in reading this book, just look at all the awesome reviews already written about it and remember that we two are most likely the odd ones out. If you feel the same, though, we welcome you to join us in our box of shame :)
Beautiful, awful, heartbreaking
Spoiler: I cried. I haven't cried reading a book since Me Before You. It's not quite as sad as that but it IS heartbreaking and it definitely makes you think about war and brotherhood and so many things.
I was really moved by all the characters and the author has kept really well to the universe the story lives in, which is always the most important thing to me.
Spoiler: I cried. I haven't cried reading a book since Me Before You. It's not quite as sad as that but it IS heartbreaking and it definitely makes you think about war and brotherhood and so many things.
I was really moved by all the characters and the author has kept really well to the universe the story lives in, which is always the most important thing to me.
I'm not gonna lie: i just finish the book and i'm crying.
SPOILER.
But i don't like stories where the main characters die. I didn't enjoy when i was younger and i don't enjoy now neither. The book was good, and it had memorable phrases that i loved. I recommended if you like tragedies, but personally I prefer happy endings.
SPOILER.
But i don't like stories where the main characters die. I didn't enjoy when i was younger and i don't enjoy now neither. The book was good, and it had memorable phrases that i loved. I recommended if you like tragedies, but personally I prefer happy endings.
It's always the gay tragedy, isn't it? *Llora*
This is by far the best book I've read in 2022. Creo que es muy difícil empezar una historia cuando sabes cómo va a terminar. Axios y Eryx se ganaron mi corazón y también me dejaron un vacío en el pecho, no solo ellos sino también Quill, Theon y Haden. Espero que algún día yo también los pueda acompañar en las estrellas. "I'll see you in the stars, my warrior."
"Eryx with his keen mind, and Axios with his kind heart. They each had what the other lacked, and together, they were whole. Their friendship made me a better man."
Update:
UNPOPULAR OPINION:
If you made me choose between the Song of Achilles and Axios, I would UNDOUBTEDLY say Axios. No need to think twice.
Dios aprieta, pero Axios ahorca.
This is by far the best book I've read in 2022. Creo que es muy difícil empezar una historia cuando sabes cómo va a terminar. Axios y Eryx se ganaron mi corazón y también me dejaron un vacío en el pecho, no solo ellos sino también Quill, Theon y Haden. Espero que algún día yo también los pueda acompañar en las estrellas. "I'll see you in the stars, my warrior."
"Eryx with his keen mind, and Axios with his kind heart. They each had what the other lacked, and together, they were whole. Their friendship made me a better man."
Update:
UNPOPULAR OPINION:
If you made me choose between the Song of Achilles and Axios, I would UNDOUBTEDLY say Axios. No need to think twice.
Dios aprieta, pero Axios ahorca.
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book was amazing ! It shattered my soul like a book rarely does ! I fall for the characters at the mere beggining of the book and I loved them through it all ! Because they are human, because they have flaws, because they're not perfect and they struggle I've fallen for them !
Revue complète sur le blog: Axios: A Spartan Tale
I'm conflicted about this novel: it stirred emotions I thought were buried but, at the same time, it dragged a lot. Agh, I don't know what to think.
I LOVE the characters, that's for sure. They are flawed, adorable, strong, well-developed and so so good to each other. Their friendship with the whole group took my breath away. I just adore them all! The ending (and other scenes) made me very emotional, I could contain neither my fears nor my tears for the protagonists.
However, there were times when I was bored because of too many sex and everyday life scenes. Don't get me wrong, Axios and Eryx are beautiful and represent everything I like in a fictional couple, but the amount of sex scenes in this book is huge, whilst it's short.
Also, I feel manipulated by the ending. I can't help but think it could have ended differently. Still, I cried a lot for I cared too much about the characters.
I'm conflicted about this novel: it stirred emotions I thought were buried but, at the same time, it dragged a lot. Agh, I don't know what to think.
I LOVE the characters, that's for sure. They are flawed, adorable, strong, well-developed and so so good to each other. Their friendship with the whole group took my breath away. I just adore them all! The ending (and other scenes) made me very emotional, I could contain neither my fears nor my tears for the protagonists.
However, there were times when I was bored because of too many sex and everyday life scenes. Don't get me wrong, Axios and Eryx are beautiful and represent everything I like in a fictional couple, but the amount of sex scenes in this book is huge, whilst it's short.
Also, I feel manipulated by the ending. I can't help but think it could have ended differently. Still, I cried a lot for I cared too much about the characters.