Sheila Masterson

Damn, I could do anything except read this book — and yet I was completely hooked from start to finish.

_ “I’d rather be tortured by your presence than agonized by your absence.” 🤌🏻

Harlow and Henry — chef’s kiss. I loved how their pasts were revealed gradually throughout the entire book. They are such complex characters, deeply shaped and defined by what they’ve lived through. I really appreciated how their choices were always explained, how the way they act makes sense when you see how they were built step by step. There are long inner monologues and reflections, but they make their actions understandable and human.

“In the absence of a conscience, men need something to fear. I’ve made myself their monster.” ➡️ Cruelty toward others exists and always will, and it is still women who suffer from it the most. This book is yet another reminder of that reality. We need more Harlows in everyone’s lives.

“When a community is built on removing access to information—from disempowering its people—there is no one to save them when a bigger threat rises. The first civilizations to fall are the ones where no one speaks truth to power, where every voice must be part of a chorus or be silenced.” ➡️ History is always repeating itself — especially now, when we look at what’s happening in the world. Even a fictional book needs to remind us of that. Stay informed. Speak up. Fight for your rights.

This book is also an ode to our dead — a beautiful and heartbreaking way to remember those we’ve lost:

“It’s the shock when you realize you cannot quite picture their face perfectly, when you can’t remember the pitch of their laugh, when you see something beautiful and all you want is to run home and tell them all about it, but instead, you’re left to whisper it to the wind.”

“I’m not just mourning who she was. I’m mourning her potential.”

This one hit a nerve: “To know you will always be okay alone should be comforting, but really, it’s just terribly lonely. I am so unbelievably weary.”

You need to be strong and learn to enjoy doing things on your own — you will always be your own strongest supporter. But that doesn’t mean you have to be alone all the time. Throughout life, we also need to let others be our support.

Pour un stand alone j'ai trouvé que l'histoire était vraiment complète. J'ai adoré du début à la fin l'intrigue est bien pensée et c'est facile à lire et à comprendre. L'univers est complet sans être compliqué. Je recommande !

Totalement addictif!

La dynamique entre Henry et Harlow est parfaite, j’ai beaucoup gloussé et tapé des pieds - ça ne m’arrive pas souvent 😅.

Les révélations arrivent tout au long du livre, à point nommé, avec des plot twists qu’on ne voit pas tous venir.

Le monde est facile à comprendre mais sans que ce soit trop simpliste pour autant.

Super rafraîchissant d’avoir des perso qui ont 30+ ans. Ça donne, à mon sens, plus de crédit au développement de leur caractère.

On est sur un vrai enemies to lovers - l’évolution est super longue et organique car ils ne peuvent pas se faire confiance à 100%, ils s’utilisent, se manipulent et c’est ça qui crée une dynamique chaud/froid super intéressante et addictive.

Pour un stand alone il est très complet et l’histoire n’est pas précipité sauf pour un détail que j’explique dans les spoilers.

Je le recommande à fond!!

Spoiler(cliquez pour révéler)seul point négatif c’est la façon dont les drained sont abordés. On nous les présentent comme une grosse menace qui évoluent et s’organisent mais sont traités comme un sujet de fond. Ils servent d’alibi au complot et motive des perso mais c’est tout. Je comprends la satire sur les conséquences de nos actes sur notre environnement. Mais j’ai trouvé que c’était un peu trop survolé. Dommage car il y avait du potentiel.