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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Wow! This is definitely one of my top reads of the year!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dnf @ 31%
this one really fell flat for me. i wanted more pining and build of their relationship, i felt like i wasn’t yearning for anything because of how early their relationship got established. the pacing was also a little weird for me resulting in some scenes feeling less developed than others. i originally picked this up because i am an enjoyer of tragic stories but carrying on at this point just doesn’t feel worth it.
this one really fell flat for me. i wanted more pining and build of their relationship, i felt like i wasn’t yearning for anything because of how early their relationship got established. the pacing was also a little weird for me resulting in some scenes feeling less developed than others. i originally picked this up because i am an enjoyer of tragic stories but carrying on at this point just doesn’t feel worth it.
I had been experiencing the worst reading slump, when one of my friends recommended this book to me. I love MM and historical, and the blurb sounded good. Bonus, it was on KU, so even though it was a new to me author, I figured I would give it a chance. I was so not expecting what I got. This is one of the most moving and touching love stories I have EVER read. It was absolutely riveting and I was glued to the pages. Wow…just wow! The writing, the story, the characters, all make for a compelling story that left me breathless.
Right from the beginning I was sucked into the setting of ancient Sparta. Axios, the storyteller, has the heart of a poet, and does not conform to the soldiers life like his peers. He longs for a different life. My heart broke reading about what these soldiers have to endure and learn at a VERY young age. Axios is so tender hearted, I kept wondering if he would be able to remain that way or if he would be hardened as time went on.
“I searched for the words to truly express the internal struggle I’d faced at throwing away such a big part of myself, followed by the euphoria at having released the burdens holding me prisoner and finally surrendering to my Spartan blood.”
Eryx is a different beast all together. He has the heart of a warrior and longs to prove his worth. His duty to Sparta does not waver. The only thing that conflicts with his responsibility to his country is his love for Axios. I loved his strength and his stoicism. He was so different with Axios, and that just made me love him more. He knew how precious Ax was, and was drawn to him because of it.
“I was his. I had been since the very first day I laid eyes on him. The golden-haired boy who had watched me with concerned, green eyes and beckoned me to stand and fight had come to mean more to me than my own life.”
These two are such an unlikely match. Brought together when they are young boys, Eryx helps strengthen Axios. He is his protector, and most trusted friend. This story spans thirty plus years throughout their training and beyond. Loyalty, love, and brotherhood are themes woven throughout. The secondary characters are just as intriguing and multi-layered as our heroes.
“There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you,” he whispered, pressing his forehead to mine. “I would kill any man, go any distance, and burn the whole world down if it meant keeping you safe.”
I felt so many emotions while reading this book; horror, empathy, love, sadness, heartbreak. By the end, I was a sobbing mess. This book is a testament to what it means to be soul mates, and stories like this are why I read romance. The writing is so rich, I could feel everything within its pages. This story is definitely in my top reads this year, and this is one of my top MM reads EVER.
“Maybe there were only a set amount of close companions a person could have in their lifetime. Other people may come and go, but only those rare few truly stayed by your side, through the good and the bad. Life and death.”
Right from the beginning I was sucked into the setting of ancient Sparta. Axios, the storyteller, has the heart of a poet, and does not conform to the soldiers life like his peers. He longs for a different life. My heart broke reading about what these soldiers have to endure and learn at a VERY young age. Axios is so tender hearted, I kept wondering if he would be able to remain that way or if he would be hardened as time went on.
“I searched for the words to truly express the internal struggle I’d faced at throwing away such a big part of myself, followed by the euphoria at having released the burdens holding me prisoner and finally surrendering to my Spartan blood.”
Eryx is a different beast all together. He has the heart of a warrior and longs to prove his worth. His duty to Sparta does not waver. The only thing that conflicts with his responsibility to his country is his love for Axios. I loved his strength and his stoicism. He was so different with Axios, and that just made me love him more. He knew how precious Ax was, and was drawn to him because of it.
“I was his. I had been since the very first day I laid eyes on him. The golden-haired boy who had watched me with concerned, green eyes and beckoned me to stand and fight had come to mean more to me than my own life.”
These two are such an unlikely match. Brought together when they are young boys, Eryx helps strengthen Axios. He is his protector, and most trusted friend. This story spans thirty plus years throughout their training and beyond. Loyalty, love, and brotherhood are themes woven throughout. The secondary characters are just as intriguing and multi-layered as our heroes.
“There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you,” he whispered, pressing his forehead to mine. “I would kill any man, go any distance, and burn the whole world down if it meant keeping you safe.”
I felt so many emotions while reading this book; horror, empathy, love, sadness, heartbreak. By the end, I was a sobbing mess. This book is a testament to what it means to be soul mates, and stories like this are why I read romance. The writing is so rich, I could feel everything within its pages. This story is definitely in my top reads this year, and this is one of my top MM reads EVER.
“Maybe there were only a set amount of close companions a person could have in their lifetime. Other people may come and go, but only those rare few truly stayed by your side, through the good and the bad. Life and death.”
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
I will kill any man and turn the whole world to ash for you, my warrior. I fear neither battle nor death, but I fear the day you are not by my side. Never question where my heart lies, because it is forever yours. In this life and the next.
4.85 ★
As a Spartan, we were taught to never show weakness, and feelings were weakness. One reason we were pulled from our homes at age seven was so we would not be weakened by such nurturing that came from a mother’s arms. Yet, I could not stop the way my heart sang in Eryx’s presence—in his embrace—and how he made me tremble with just a kiss
Esta historia nos cuenta la vida de Axios, quién no entra en el molde de un guerrero espartano común, ya que siempre está cuestionando los valores espartanos y su afán por la guerra y la brutalidad. Todo esto mientras lo vemos pasar por el agoge (entrenamiento espartano para todo hombre desde los 7 hasta los 20)
En medio de tanto sufrimiento conocerá a Eryx, uno de los mejores guerreros, con quién entablará una muy bella amistad y que, con el pasar de los años, otros sentimientos ya no tan platónicos irán aflorando.
Creo que nunca había llorado tanto con un libro así desde La Canción de Aquiles que sí bien siempre es comparado con esta historia, no creo que se parezcan del todo.
En la canción de Aquiles recuerdo haber llorado de impotencia (patricio llora de impotencia*) con el final, los nervios llegan a más de la mitad del libro ya que es en ese momento es en el que entran en guerra y todo se va al tacho; pero aquí no, el temor por saber que les pasará a los personajes ya que desde el inicio sabes que están en guerra constantes y se están preparando para esto me tenía al borde de los gritos capítulo tras capítulo. Esto, sumado a que vemos todas esta atrocidades desde la perspectiva de Axios, me rompió el corazón. No les miento cuando les digo que llore desde el capítulo UNO y tuve que posponer el libro por un rato (2 meses) ya que cada vez que me acordaba de Axios y sus compañeros me dolía demasiado.
Son masoquistas? Lean este libro !!
As a Spartan, we were taught to never show weakness, and feelings were weakness. One reason we were pulled from our homes at age seven was so we would not be weakened by such nurturing that came from a mother’s arms. Yet, I could not stop the way my heart sang in Eryx’s presence—in his embrace—and how he made me tremble with just a kiss
Esta historia nos cuenta la vida de Axios, quién no entra en el molde de un guerrero espartano común, ya que siempre está cuestionando los valores espartanos y su afán por la guerra y la brutalidad. Todo esto mientras lo vemos pasar por el agoge (entrenamiento espartano para todo hombre desde los 7 hasta los 20)
En medio de tanto sufrimiento conocerá a Eryx, uno de los mejores guerreros, con quién entablará una muy bella amistad y que, con el pasar de los años, otros sentimientos ya no tan platónicos irán aflorando.
Creo que nunca había llorado tanto con un libro así desde La Canción de Aquiles que sí bien siempre es comparado con esta historia, no creo que se parezcan del todo.
En la canción de Aquiles recuerdo haber llorado de impotencia (patricio llora de impotencia*) con el final, los nervios llegan a más de la mitad del libro ya que es en ese momento es en el que entran en guerra y todo se va al tacho; pero aquí no, el temor por saber que les pasará a los personajes ya que desde el inicio sabes que están en guerra constantes y se están preparando para esto me tenía al borde de los gritos capítulo tras capítulo. Esto, sumado a que vemos todas esta atrocidades desde la perspectiva de Axios, me rompió el corazón. No les miento cuando les digo que llore desde el capítulo UNO y tuve que posponer el libro por un rato (2 meses) ya que cada vez que me acordaba de Axios y sus compañeros me dolía demasiado.
Son masoquistas? Lean este libro !!