My favorite season is finally here and it makes me want to read lots of books related to the season or just the mood it puts me in with for example dark academia, a little romance, and a little fantasy. So here is my selection for this fall:
Scholomance by Naomi Novik
Confess by Colleen Hoover
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
An Autumn to Forgive You by Morgane Moncomble
Dear Ella by Rebecca Yarros
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Chaos & Flame by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland
Time Saver by Nell Pfeiffer
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Here are the reasons:
Scholomance by Naomi Novik
Summary:
Welcome to Scholomance, a school for gifted magicians where failure means death... Literally. There are no teachers, no vacations and no friendships, except those that are strategic.
El Higgins is particularly well prepared for her first year. She may have no allies, but she has power strong enough to raze mountains. She seems up to the task of facing this extraordinary schooling. The problem ? His magic could also kill all the other students.
And when she begins to unearth the secrets of the establishment, the dangers multiply.
Review:
This story seems to be similar to The Ninth House, but since I love the "Dark School" vibe, I have a feeling I'll like it. Plus, it’s the perfect vibe for fall, so let’s read it too! Plus, the cover is just gorgeous, fitting for Halloween.
Confess by Colleen Hoover
Summary:
Auburn Reed has very specific plans for the future and won't let anyone get in his way! But when she walks through the door of an art gallery in Dallas for an interview that pushes her towards Owen Gentry. The enigmatic artist seems to have a lot to hide at all costs. In an attempt to discover her most intimate secrets, Auburn will lower her guard to understand that she is risking much bigger than she thought.
To build themselves up, everyone will have to confess everything. But sometimes the truth is more painful than silence...
Review:
This story touched me a lot. In the story we tackle all kinds of problems which these days are a bit taboo and I really liked that aspect. But what I really liked was building the story around confessions. It's very original, and it really adds something extra to the story and the characters who are revealed little by little. A book that I highly recommend.
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
Summary:
Alex “Galaxy” Stern had a chaotic adolescence. Raised in Los Angeles by a hippie mother, she dropped out of school at a very young age to find herself in a dark, violent world with no future.
At 20, she is the only survivor of a horrible, unexplained massacre, and it is on her hospital bed that she is offered a second chance: to join the prestigious Yale University by joining the Léthé house. This entity, called The Ninth House, monitors Yale's eight secret societies; the latter train future decision-makers as well as influential people and practice magic in different forms, often sinister and dangerous.
Alex was chosen because she has a rare and mysterious power: she can see ghosts. When her mentor disappears, she will have to investigate the murder of a young girl. What she will discover goes far beyond horror...
Review:
I can't wait to start this saga. I've heard nothing but good things about it, but I'm a little afraid it will be too gory and a little depressing at first. But in any case, I can't wait to discover the mysteries hidden behind Yale, and to discover the character of Alex.
Love Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
Summary:
Theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway's many lives finally caught up with her. By day, she's an assistant professor, working hard in grading labs and teaching thermodynamics in hopes of landing a position. Another day, Elsie makes up for her non-existent salary by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, exploiting her expert people-pleasing skills to embody the version of herself the client needs.
Honestly, it's a pretty cool gig - until her carefully constructed Elsie verse falls apart. Because Jack Smith, the annoying and arrogant older brother of his favorite client, turns out to be the cold-hearted experimental physicist who ruined his mentor's career and undermined the reputation of theorists around the world. And it's the same Jack Smith who heads the physics department at MIT, putting himself right between Elsie and her dream job.
Elsie is ready to launch into an all-out war of scientific sabotage, but...those long, penetrating stares? Not having to be anything other than herself when she's with him? Will falling into the orbit of an experimenter finally tempt her to put her most reserved theories on love into practice?
Review:
I loved this book, like all the Ali Hazelwood books I've read. We find his pen again, with a story that takes place in the field of science, with issues concerning that world. This is what I appreciate most about the author's writing, because it teaches me a lot of things.
The romance is beautiful, and for once, I felt like it was real. That this story can happen to anyone, because it's already a slow burn, and the characters ask themselves questions, doubt a little, with a protagonist who asks questions about her sexuality. And it's refreshing.
I also loved the characters. Through Elsie, we look at subjects like diabetes, lying, loss of identity and self-confidence. He is a complex character but one who is easily understood. As for Jack, we can only love him. He is so patient.
The only negative point about this book is that it contains long chapters. But otherwise, it was a real favorite. Especially since we have the right to a scene with characters from another book.
An Autumn to Forgive You by Morgane Moncomble
Summary:
An aspiring lawyer, Camelia is passionate about unsolved crimes. That's good, Rory Cavendish, his former executioner, has just died mysteriously. The alleged culprit of the murder is him.
Lou McAllister.
Rory's best friend.
The boy who humiliated her ten years ago and whom she has never forgotten since.
Camelia seizes this chance to solve her first investigation... and satisfy her thirst for revenge.
Lou has always been the black sheep of his family, but he never expected to end up in prison for murder. From one day to the next, he found himself abandoned by everyone he trusted. The only person who can get him out of there is her.
Camelia O’Brien.
Rory's first victim.
The girl he hurt when he was younger and who has haunted his thoughts ever since.
Lou is ready to do anything to be forgiven for his sins... and start from scratch.
Review:
Wow, I really fell in love with this book. But, I was expecting it a little, because I love Morgane Moncomble's writing and I had heard only positive opinions about this story before reading it.
And now that it's done, I have to say that I loved it, I loved EVERYTHING, from A to Z.
We let ourselves be carried away by the story, by the mystery hidden behind it. We try to discover who the murderer is at the same time as the characters. We ask ourselves lots of questions, we form lots of crazy theories (because yes, if we want to find THE plot twist, we have to think and see big). Personally, I found it but I think it's because I was told it was huge.
Otherwise, character-wise, my favorite is Lou. He is at the same time sensitive, arrogant, extremely touching. In short, I loved it so much. I also loved Camelia and her strength of character. And I hated Rory. This guy is execrable.
The story is quite similar to the literary saga Les Menteuses by Sara Shepard or the series One of us is lying. So if you like this vibe, of mystery, romance, murder, lies and secrets, clearly this novel is for you.
I hope that we will see Camelia and Lou again in the next books of the saga, which I will rush to buy as soon as they come out. In any case I can't wait to know the story of Lily and Orion which comes out in January.
Dear Ella by Rebecca Yarros
Summary:
When Bennett, an American soldier on a mission in the Middle East, begins a correspondence, he hardly knows what to expect. For the duration of a letter, he forgets the horrors of everyday life, even if he has never seen Ella, the sister of his best friend. When he dies in battle, he asks Bennett to watch over Ella.
Because the young mother of two children and manager of a hotel estate in Aspen, Colorado, has been struggling since her little daughter was diagnosed with cancer. Faithful to his friend's last wishes, Bennett comes to lend Ella a helping hand. Haunted by the weight of guilt, he does not reveal to her who he is, because she believes that the man with whom she exchanged letters is also dead. But the closer he gets to Ella, the more the truth risks catching up with him...
Review:
I haven't yet read this book by Rebecca Yarros, but I loved Fourth Wing and I feel that I will like this romance too. I've heard nothing but good things about it and the summary is similar to the story The Lucky Charm by Nicholas Sparks which I loved.
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Summary:
A deeply moving and completely captivating love story in a frightening world of monsters and ghosts... A cocktail as surprising as it is captivating!
Simon Snow hates this back to school. His girlfriend breaks up with him; his favorite teacher avoids him; and Baz, her insufferable roommate and sworn enemy, has disappeared. That he is at the Watford magic school doesn't change much. Simon has nothing, really nothing of the Chosen One. And yet, we must move forward, because life goes on...
Review:
A real favorite! I loved this book. The story is a bit similar to that of Harry Potter but I really appreciated the differences. The characters of Simon and Baz are really endearing. They are truly the strength of this book. So much so that I couldn't put this volume down without knowing what was going to happen to them.
It can be read on its own, but it's a trilogy, it seems to me. Furthermore, for the moment, only this volume has been translated into French.
Chaos & Flame by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland
Summary:
Everything pushed them to be sworn enemies. But destiny decided otherwise...
Darling has no memory of before his family's massacre by House Dragon. She owes her life to House Kraken, who pulled her from the underworld as a child. When she learns that her adoptive father has been captured, Darling vows to do everything to save him - even if it means killing every last member of House Dragon.
Talon is the devoted war prince of House Dragon, leading the elite troops of his brother, High Prince Regent Caspian. A regent whose unpredictable behavior is increasingly worrying. So the day when, in the middle of battle, Talon comes face to face with a girl who looks exactly like the one his brother has been painting portraits of obsessively since childhood, he knows that she is the key.
Sworn enemies, threatened by dark prophecies, Talon and Darling are caught in the web of political intrigues between the Houses, a game of which only Caspian knows the rules...
Review:
I haven't read it yet, but I can't wait to because the story sounds insane. I feel that there is going to be a good enemy-to-lovers, as we like them and that the protagonist seems strong and that she is not going to be let down by Talon, nor Caspian.
Time Saver by Nell Pfeiffer
Summary:
In Grahenne, time has power, and Sophie Delapointe knows it only too well. Because far from being a simple watchmaker, Sophie is a chronotongue: she speaks to the Horanimas, these clocks equipped with souls, responsible for monitoring the palace and preventing plots against the kingdom.
The young woman's perfectly rhythmic daily life is disrupted the day when Dimitri, the king's twin brother, asks her to repair a Time Engrange, an extremely rare magic clock allowing travel in time. Driven by the desire to see her father alive again, who died in strange circumstances, Sophie agrees to help the prince.
Thrust into a perilous adventure at the royal court, Sophie will realize to her cost that one cannot play with the laws of time without paying the price...
Review:
I was pleasantly surprised by this reading. With the summary, I had an idea of how the story would unfold but I wasn't there at all. And I loved that the author surprised me like that. Because, suddenly, I was immersed in the story and I absolutely wanted to understand the why and the how.
I really liked the characters. Especially Sophie, who finds herself drawn into a new adventure because/thanks to a choice she makes. A choice that will lead him to discover new things, to rediscover old things and above all to understand himself better. I also liked the twins, because I find them more complex.
I can't wait to read the rest of this duology.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Summary:
Violet Sorrengail, 20, was supposed to enter the scribe quadrant, leading a quiet life amid books and history. Now, the Commander-in-Chief - also known as her badass mother - has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become Navarre's elite: the Dragon Riders. But when you're smaller than the others and your body is fragile, death is only a heartbeat away... because dragons don't attach themselves to "fragile" humans. They cremated them. Since there are fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most of them would kill Violet to increase their chances of success. The others would kill her simply for being her mother's daughter, like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless squadron leader in the Rider Quadrant. She will need everything her mind can give her to see the next sunrise. Yet with each passing day, the war outside grows deadlier, the kingdom's protections fail, and the death toll continues to rise. Worse yet, Violet begins to suspect that the leaders are hiding a terrible secret. Friends, enemies, lovers. At the Basgiath War College, everyone has an idea in their heads, because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.
Review:
After hearing a lot about it, I decided to delve into this book in order to have my own opinion. And I have to say that this story is incredible, it’s a gem from start to finish.
We dive straight into the intrigue and the action and believe me, you won't get bored with this book. On the contrary, we follow Violet through trials, learning, lies, betrayals, friendship and love. In short, no time to get bored.
In addition, the writing is easy to read, and the story is well-conducted and well-crafted with a fantastic, political and romantic intrigue. And what I loved about the author's writing are the details that make her story even more credible. Because Violet is drooling in this volume.
Besides, I loved Violet from A to Z. She is extremely strong despite all the prejudices that others have about her, courageous, and very human. I enjoyed Xaden and Liam just as much.
And then the end, I can't wait to know what happens next. I had little doubts about this ending but I am very happy that it happened like this.
Photos Credit : Amelie Marmonier
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