The Paper Swan

"You can either choose love or you can choose hate, because where one lives, the other will die." THE PAPER SWAN by New York Times bestselling author Leylah Attar left me completely and utterly enthralled! I knew even before going in, after hearing all the positive buzz and glowing accolades, that this book was going to be something special. But nonetheless, there are no words to adequately describe for how absolutely MAGNIFICENT it was!! This is truly one of the most deeply moving, harrowing, hauntingly beautiful romantic suspense novels I have EVER read. THE PAPER SWAN is an epic story, spanning decades, which follows the lives of two childhood friends-turned foes-turned lovers, who are tragically separated by time and distance, torn asunder by blistering rage and unbearable heartache and festering resentment, but whose destinies are forever intertwined! There is so much gorgeous imagery and symbolism weaved throughout the book, and I am still trying to wrap my brain around it all. But in the end, my takeaway is that this story about innocence lost and found again, finding hope and quiet majesty even in the darkest moments of despair, and the incredible resilience of the human heart. "We lay on the floor, wishing for the simplicity of childhood, the wholeness of hearts, the sweetness of pure, unadulterated life. Muddy puddles and chocolate faces and skinned knees and skipping rope; me hiding behind MaMaLu’s skirts after painting his face ballerina pink as he slept under the tree." This stunning novel held my heart in a vice grip from the first page to the very last, and sometimes I was so embroiled in the story I barely came up for air! I couldn't turn the pages fast enough yet at the same time I wanted to read in slow motion so I could savor each and every exquisite word. Very gorgeous nuance. Every spellbinding, searingly emotional moment. To put it simply, this book left me transfixed! The narrative was eloquent, poetic and beautifully textured, the plotline gritty and raw, the love story brutally painful yet sweepingly romantic, and the characters so profoundly flawed yet endearingly human they splintered my soul. It hard to describe the gamut of chaotic feelings this novel evoked in me. Anger. Fear. Trepidation. Devastation. Outrage. Love. Longing. Hope. Tenderness. Euphoria. My emotions kept swinging back and forth like a pendulum, and it was such an incredibly taxing, gut-wrenching read at times that I had to take breaks in between to avoid sensory overload. Is it a dark, twisted, disturbing read? Heck yeah!! But at its core is a heartstirring love story that stands the test of time. Through good times and bad, happiness and sorrow, these two soulmates were tethered together by their all consuming passion for each other---and the legacy of one remarkable woman, MaMaLu. But the cruel hands of fate nearly destroyed them both. In the classic setup of an eye for an eye, Damian was out to right a past wrong. He lived for vengeance. Retribution. Revenge. And it set him on a dark, diabolical path of destruction that nearly decimated both their worlds. "Hate was an illusion, rage was an illusion, vengeance was an illusion. They were all empty husks that he had watered and nurtured, and in the end, they bore no fruit." It is via the sheer power of Ms. Attar’s writing that she was able to make me sympathize with a "hero" who I started off absolutely loathing. Damian Caballero was evil personified in the beginning, a cold-hearted, soulless monster who did despicable things to our beloved heroine, Skye Sedgewick. In fact, some of the physical and emotional torture he inflicted on the innocent heiress made my skin crawl. But as the story started to unravel and shift, flashing between the present and the past, so did my feelings for this confounding, complicated man. I eventually came to realize that NOTHING was as it appeared. Was Damian worthy of redemption? Of love? Of forgiveness? Could he ever truly atone for his sins? Yes…yes…1000 times YES!! Because by book’s end not only was he fully rehabilitated in my eyes, but I ended up forgiving him fully and loving him as fiercely as I once reviled him. And, miraculously, what started off as a dark, depraved story of cruel captivity transformed into an exquisitely beautiful, LIBERATING, fiercely tender love story that moved me to tears. “When I follow my heart, it always leads me back to you.” For no matter what obstacles were strewn in their path, no matter how much danger and madness, murder and mayhem and bars of steel were erected between them, Skye never stopped loving Damian, never stopped fighting for a future with him, ultimately giving him the courage to claw his way out of the darkness. For her. The girl who’d forever own a piece of his soul. Her strength, courage, kindness, capacity for love and forgiveness were absolutely AWE-INSPIRING! "Because when we love, we carry it on the inside, and we can turn on its light even in our darkest moments. The deeper we love, the brighter it shines. Love don’t die. " This plot was so brilliantly crafted and executed, with so many jaw dropping twists and turns it had me gasping at times! I relish big “full circle” moments in books, where everything that has been building from the beginning reaches a shattering crescendo, and this novel had one of the most spectacular climaxes I have EVER read. I still get chills just thinking about it! And the ending couldn’t have been more perfect. Ultimately, THE PAPER SWAN is a powerful, profound, hauntingly beautiful story that branded my heart and soul. This is my first novel by the marvelously gifted Leylah Attar, but it will certainly not be my last!!

Author: Leylah Attar Genre: Mystery Thriller/Romantic Suspense Release date: August 4, 2015 # of pages: 273 Blurb: "Intense, gritty, and full of heart." They say it takes 21 days to form a habit. They lie. For 21 days she held on. But on Day 22, she would have given anything for the sweet slumber of death. Because on Day 22, she realizes that her only way out means certain death for one of the two men she loves. A haunting tale of passion, loss, and redemption, The Paper Swan is a darkly intense yet heartwarming love story, textured with grit, intrigue, and suspense. The beginning of the book did grab me. I was so curious as to what was going to happen. I was reading as fast as I could. However, it did start to slow down and I was beginning to think, is this a romance book or just a thriller? I had a love/hate relationship with the main characters. They had very likable characteristics and very unlikable ones. I really fell in love with some of the other characters as well, but wanted to kill some of the others. “if you close your eyes and think about someone you love, what comes back is not a precise list of hair color, eye color, or the things that go on their driver’s license. Rather, it’s the bits and pieces that seep through your consciousness, the things about them that you never realized you were storing away.” I would like to say how beautifully written this book was. This author defiantly has a way with words. This was a thriller/ romantic suspense novel for sure. However, we didn’t really see the romance side until about 66-70%. The story was separated in to sections told by Skye (1st person) and then switched to Damian (3rd person). This was confusing to me which lead to the 4 stars. You read about the series of events that take place before, during, and after Skye is abducted. The relationship between these characters was really defined by a quote in the book, which I really loved. “we are a question that hasn’t been answered yet, a hiding place that hasn’t been found yet, a battle that hasn’t been fought yet.” The ending, made this book for me. Everything was tied together wonderfully. It was a long ride to get there but I really do love a HEA. I would recommend this book to friends that liked this type of genre. It was somewhat violent and that isn’t for everyone. This author is very talented and I will be reading more from her in the future. 4/4.5 Stars 💚💚💚💚 😊

My kryptonite: I’m kind of the fluffy bunny for my blog, the low angsty, funny read girl. I prefer to laugh than cry during my reads. But every once in a while I dip my toes into dark waters. The kind where the laughter is more of the hysterical kind because it’s either that or lose your mind. Nothing draws me deeper into those dark waters than a couple whose love is a bit twisted. My OTP (one true pairing for those who’ve never shipped) is a couple who did unspeakable things to each other, committed acts that make no logical sense to other people, yet couldn’t stay away from each other. So for those who aren’t sure - there is no love triangle, but there is violence and tragedy. This is a tale of darkness and light, beauty and horror, but above it all, it’s about love - the kind that endures, the kind that forgives, the kind that overcomes all. When I see that, I can’t help but read on. All the feels: Emotionally, the writing is very evocative and poignant. There were moments where I gasped, cried, laughed and sighed. It gave it all to me and while dramatic, I never felt that it went into melodramatics because the darkness isn’t without consequence, and prices are paid for each and every action taken. Best of all, it (eventually) gave me the fuzzy warm feels that all good romances should. I wouldn’t read spoilers beforehand: I went into this story blind, and I truly believe that’s the best way to experience it, so I am being deliberately vague with my review. Not knowing would would happen next kept me trepidatious. I was immediately swept up in the fear and the panic of those first few chapters...and yet I loved the way the story is structured, giving you just enough of the puzzle when you need it most to keep you invested. There are time jumps, so as things unfold in present day, there are flashbacks to the past, as well as chapters where you learn the full backstory of the characters. I couldn’t help but keep turning those pages well into the night. Skye’s an unusual heroine: She has a big heart and the conditions she survives and thrives under made me empathize with her and connect with her. The story alternates from first person for Skye to third person for everyone else, so it certainly feels more intimate when it came to her side of the story. Dah-me-yahn, damn you!: At first I was like Damian? What the ever loving hell, man? I started with alot of feels for this man, not the least of which was anger. Just the thought of him made me all stabby. Then the full story unfolds, little by little, and when the first of several twists was revealed...well I was a little horrified that I was softening. By the end of it all though? Yeah, Damian had me all in. So, those twists and turns: I would shave a hair off the rating because I could read the signs for each turn. Could be because this ain’t my first rodeo, or I have a lifelong love of romance novels and soaps. Still, it managed to spook me each time, like that scream that escapes you even when you know there’s someone waiting to jump out at you. The Bottom Line I loved it. This is a story goes from darkness into the light and it’s a hell of a ride getting there. I definitely recommend it for those who are into those angsty, redemptive love type of romances.

“We are a question that hasn’t been answered yet, a hiding place that hasn’t been found yet, a battle that hasn’t been fought yet.” Holy cow! What a spectacular book this was! Gripping and unexpected, this story literally took my breath away, and I not only found myself reading until dawn, but also incapable of moving on and picking up another book for days to come. Within an exhilarating scenario that is as unique as it is astounding, I never expected to find so many surprises, so many twists and turns at every corner, and I felt like I was on a joyride of a lifetime. But fear not because I will not spoil any of it for you, as each small discovery, each staggering revelation, each ‘sucker punch’ in the story has made this one of the most riveting, compelling, and truly unforgettable reads of my life. Not to mention, one of the most divinely written ones too. “This was a murder-turned-into-abduction. This was a screwed-up moment of weakness. This was a personal, targeted attack against my father.” There is no slow introduction into the storyline, no gradual easing into it for the reader—the story takes off ‘mid race’, as we find the heroine with a gun pointed at her head, abducted and facing death at the hands of a man she doesn’t know. Skye Sedgewick has lived a privileged life since birth, her only living parent showering her with love and attention, and never making her want for anything. And yet, at the mercy of her captor, powerless and facing imminent death, her mind draws comfort from recalling a time when she was just a child, when the sound of her nanny’s lullaby could erase all hurts, when her childhood best friend’s intrepid heart made her feel safe and protected, and when all it took to put a smile on her face was a pink-frosted cake and a paper giraffe. But even those happy memories do little to dissolve the utter gloom of her reality—held hostage on a boat by a man who shows her no compassion or empathy, whose mind games and bouts of cruelty slowly strip her of all hope and dignity, while they sail towards an unknown destination and an uncertain fate for Skye. “I felt like all the bits that held me together were slowly coming unglued, falling off, piece by piece. I was disappearing, disintegrating like the rocks that get eaten by the sea.” But as their journey continues, an unexpected attachment forms between captor and captive, and the more Skye’s childhood memories keep returning and offsetting her harsh reality, the more of the truth behind her abduction is revealed. Until the past and the present suddenly collide and our heroine and her captor, Damian, find themselves torn between what has been and all that their hearts tell them should be. “There are no good guys or bad guys. Everyone has a reason.” And that is when this story takes off on an unforeseen adventure of soul-searching, friendship, redemption and survival, an adventure where love is the ultimate prize and the past is the bitterest foe. As Skye and Damian succumb to their feelings, recognising a love that was written in the stars for them, they soon realise that that very love is the only thing holding vengeance back by a thread, a thread that can snap at any moment, and take it all away from them in one sweep. “… there is no space too dark or too vast or too irredeemable that can’t be filled with love.” There is so much more I could tell you about this story as I find myself here bursting to talk about it, but I have to remain vague so that you can discover and truly appreciate every facet of this beautiful tale the same way as I did—slowly and without warning. I will tell you, though, that no amount of imagination could have prepared me for any jaw-dropping moment of this passionate, thrilling, at times even gritty story of two people who have come full circle in life, only to find themselves torn between all they have gained and all they have lost. “You can either choose love or you can choose hate, because where one lives, the other will die.” I feel no amount of praise will ever do a book of this calibre justice. With its exquisite prose, almost poetic at times, the phenomenally framed characters, vulnerable and strong at the same time, the passionate, turbulent love story that pulls on every one of our heartstrings like a fine concerto, the richness of a storyline that is never predictable and consistently enthralling, this is a book I wish I could make everyone read. Because books like these are few and far between, and are nothing less than life-changing. “It’s not over, you know, it never has been … you will always be my forever.” [6 STARS]

Although I knew I wanted to read this book, I can't say that I knew much about it going in. I read the blurb and saw headlines for several positive reviews prior to the book's release, but nothing more. I was glad that I went in blind because it made the story that much more captivating and intriguing. Once I started, I was both glued and riveted. First of all, there is absolutely no prelude into the story, it dives right into the thick of an intense situation. The main female finds herself in a situation that cannot be explained to her, why is this happening and what can she do to get out of it? The female is a fantastic heroine. She grew up living a polished and privileged life, wanting for nothing, but some of her best childhood memories come from a time where things were so simple and before she knew the difference between her lifestyle vs that of others who had fewer resources. It's that recognition of returning to simplicity and true core values that makes her so admirable. The perception of her and the real her are totally different. As for the male hero, whose label of "hero" is debatable and open to constant re-assessment, his journey is the main crux of the story. While the female endures some pretty rough experiences to battle for her survival because it hinges on him, it doesn't compare to what he deals with starting at a very young age. It's heartbreaking and guides his need for vengeance. When the first twist to the story is revealed, I felt so conflicted and broken about it, trying to reconcile this new connection. What follows is a very beautifully woven story about so many wrongdoings guided by the motivation for retribution while finding a bright light amidst the stark and never-ending darkness. How people will stop at nothing for payback (an eye for an eye) and if such a pursuit really justifies or calms the soul afterwards. How quickly things can escalate negatively and have very little chance for recovery or forgiveness. How redemption is within the person to find on his/her own and to make things right while moving forward. How fears overwhelm people and prevents them from accepting or seeking happiness. How love is the only thing to counteract hate, but must be stronger than hate in order to thrive, much less survive. There's a lot of depth and emotion to this story, but there are parts that are more light hearted to balance it out, too. Some elements are dark, but overall, it's not an especially dark story. The character development is extremely well portrayed, showing how things are not always black and white and that when trying to choose between one side of the coin or the other, both choices can be equally wrong or right, not one wrong and one right. Everyone involved in the bigger picture of the story, secondary characters along with main characters, all had their own personal lessons to learn and crosses to bear. The path to self-discovery for these characters is simply amazing because it's completely different than what they've experienced up until now but it was so necessary, too. Sometimes I feel like characters transition too quick and I personally have trouble appreciating their progress, but this felt very natural and organic with the events that occurred, at a very appropriate pace. I loved this book and definitely recommend it, one of my new favorites, no doubt.

I know so many have loved this book. Like most of us here, I saw it promoted on every book blog as the best book of 2015, soooo amazing, etc. I was very hesitant to even check it out since most early reviewers suggested going in blind. I've been burned too many times that way...and now I'm really never doing it again. ** Spoilers ahead!! ** The Paper Swan is well written, but I didn't find the breathtaking prose I was expecting. It was simply a well written, decently developed story. I did appreciate the way Ms. Attar incorporated the past into her story without having long, drawn out, boring flashbacks. Maybe it was because of the back story that nothing, and I mean not a single thing, in this story came as a surprise. There was no need for going in blind or avoiding spoilers, because it was so incredibly predictable. So - was there ever actually a doubt for the readers that Damian was Esteban? How predictable and unrealistic is this?! I'm really tired of authors trying this trick. I don't care that it was 15 years since Skye had seen him (side note - I had to look their names up, that's how ho-hum this book was), she would recognize him. So then of course, the daughter, and how obvious it was that she was the one coming to the house (can't remember the name of that either. Paloma or something?) - not to mention that she existed at all - just predictable, predictable, predictable, and also unbelievable. What parent allows her child to wander on her own in a foreign country for hours and not ask her where she's been? The way Damian treated Skye was unforgivable. I don't care what kind of past they had. And his confrontation with her father?! What in the world is wrong with this chick that she decided she still wanted to be with him? Fully admitting I'm in the minority here, and I'm always left wondering why I'm the one who dislikes such popular books. This has happened with Mud Vein, the past couple Colleen Hoover books, Fisher's Light, etc. Maybe the genre has grown too predictable and I've grown too cynical. My apologies for not the greatest book review; I realize this is my stream of consciousness, but I hope maybe someone will read it and realize they too are not alone in feeling let down. The Paper Swan was a decent book, and for $2.99 it was not one I would return, but I wasn't blown away as I expected to be based on the raving book world. Readers take note!

Review by Jennifer 4 Powerful Stars WOW! This was a powerful story that definitely packed a punch with it! It had everything in it…love, lies, sex, kidnapping, murder and suspense. For a good part of this book I was on the edge of my seat wondering what in the world was going to happen next and was I going to be able to handle it. The Paper Swan is an emotional story about what happens when a person is so blinded by revenge that it’s all him/her can see. It also lets the reader experience what can happen when one chooses to let go of all the hatred that they have kept inside for so long. “You don’t always get the treasure by holding on. Sometimes the magic happens when you let go.” These two characters endured so much throughout this book. It was heartbreaking at times and I would think to myself how much more can they take but I had to see it through to the end. I had to know the full story and I am so glad I did. When I started the book, I felt one way about them and by the end I felt something completely different. I so desperately wanted them to find their hea. “If I die tonight, I want to die remembering what it was like to hold the whole world in my hands.” This book will definitely take you on a ride through all of your emotions. You won’t know which way is up for a while, but just hang on you will make it through alright. I have to add to this review how beautifully written I thought this story was. The Author did an outstanding job writing it in my opinion.

The Paper Swan by Leylah Attar, was unbelievable! It was mind blowing, it was beautiful, but terrifying, it was harsh, but smooth, it was about a love so beautiful, and at the same time it was about hate so intense there was only retribution as an outcome. It was also a love story about a young girl and boy that stood the test of time but in so many different situations, and in so many heartbreaking ways that from one moment to the next it is uncertain of the outcome. There was so much passion and love, intertwined with so much negativity. Skye Sedgewick was a little girl of 3 when she lost her mother; she had a father who doted on her but was gone quite often so he got a wonderful woman for her Nanny- MaMaLu. This woman took the place of her mother. There in Casa Paloma, her Mother's home which she inherited from her family, she had wonderful days and nights filled with love and security, a wonderful friend in her Nanny's son, Esteban, and of course her Father's steadfast love. She was too young to realize they were really stuck there as her father was a slave to a drug cartel. Then something so heartbreaking and horrible happens that her MaMaLu is ripped away from Skye. At the same time so is MaMaLu's son Esteban, who was as much a part of her young life as her Nanny and her Father. Unknown to Skye this act starts off a trail of vengeance and hatred and pure evil that just grows with the passing years. It is also at this point a young man grows up in the wink of an eye and changes his name from Esteban to Damien Caballero. This is his story as much as it is Skye's story. The story opens and Skye is kidnapped and wakes up on a ship, a captive, and she does not know who or why this has happened. When she is brought outside and has to kneel in the middle of a big canvas with a gun pointed at her head, she thinks its over. She says a prayer to God and asks him to take care of her father MaMaLu who she never quit loving and her Esteban, her long lost friend. She passes out and wakes up back in the cabin. Once she has been there in captivity for a few days and is able to start figuring things out she realizes something so shocking it blows her mind, and it will blow the reader's mind as well-it did me! This is the story of what happens on that ship for 21 days and it will really shock you, not only about her being taken prisoner and the way she has been treated but who she is taken prisoner by! This book unfolds and tells about Skye's life in a series of flashbacks and in intertwined with what is going on in the present. The whole tale is a series of violent twists to the plot, and horrible acts but it is also the story of another person and the things he has had to endure to survive and not be killed. How this man's tale intertwines with Skye's life over a series of over 20 years, will shock you, and it will also make you feel the loss of a love so beautiful it stood the test of time only to be yanked away time and time again. Will they ever get a chance? I really am impressed how this author weaved a tale of love, hate, vengeance, hope, and retribution, only to turn back and end on such a shocking note will amaze you. It also tells of a love so strong, it has the power to heal the lives of two people. Will there be a happy ever after for these people? Will all the violence and bloodshed end what could have been? Read this book and have plenty of tissues ready. Be ready to sit and read from the first page to the last in one sitting, because from the first page to the last you will be drawn in and unable to step away. There is a lot of heartbreak in this story for children and adults alike. But there is also love and unexpected gifts. I gave this book 5***** stars as that is the rating, but I would have given it it a 10 star rating! I look forward to reading more by this author as she is amazing!

Confesso que a sinopse deste livro ao mesmo tempo me intrigou e me rechaçou, isto porque se por um lado eu me vi extremamente curiosa a respeito de sua trama, por outro eu não pude deixar de me perguntar se esta seria mais uma estória figurando um triângulo amoroso. E aqueles que me conhecem sabem que a minha alma odeia triângulos amorosos. Dessa forma, eu acredito que deva começar esta resenha deixando bem claro que aqui você não encontrará uma heroína divida entre duas paixões (ufa!). The Paper Swan, em verdade, traz uma belíssima e original estória de amor, brilhantemente arquitetada de forma a te deixar sem fôlego. Por meio de reviravolta atrás de reviravolta você experimentará uma jornada louca, surpreendente e por vezes perturbadora, escrita num ritmo intenso e de forma instigante. Mas, sobre o que é este livro? Bom, esta é uma daquelas estórias em que você terá que confiar em mim quanto eu te digo que quanto menos você souber melhor será. Tudo o que eu posso dizer é que ela fala de um menino que ao ter tudo o que ele mais amava arrancado de sua vida, acaba entrando num mundo perverso que o transforma. E, claro, como todo bom romance, aqui o amor, talvez, seja a única coisa capaz de trazer de volta a pessoa que um dia ela já foi. A narrativa começa de forma intensa, o prólogo já te joga no meio de uma tempestade de adrenalina. Eu me vi rapidamente cativada e intrigada. A heroína se encontra em uma situação de risco e assim como ela você não tem a mínima ideia do que está acontecendo. A medida que a estória vai progredindo as duvidas e suspeitas só vão se intensificando. Eu definitivamente engoli este livro. A necessidade de saber o que aconteceria em seguida me fez esquecer de que, sim, eu preciso de mais de três horas de sono para funcionar durante o dia. Portanto, se esta resenha talvez não esteja fazendo muito sentido, lembre-se de que eu estou me movendo em modo zumbi a base de cafeína. Eu realmente adorei a nossa heroína. A forma dela pensar e a sua força me encantaram. E o herói, ou melhor o nosso anti-héroi, é simplesmente admirável. A complexidade de seu personagem me deixou completamente intrigada e o caleidoscópio de suas emoções eram tão pungentes e cruas que eu pude sentir a dor dele em meus ossos. The Paper Swan é uma linda e intrigante estória de amor que brincará com o seu coração e com a sua mente enquanto você desvenda sua intricada trama que tem como escopo a vingança, a redenção, o amor, o sacrifício e o perdão. A ténue linha entre o amor e o ódio e entre o certo e o errado muitas vezes se tornará turva, mas não se preocupe, no fim tudo valerá a pena. Se recomendo? Só se for muito!

There are no words. This story spans years Skye and Estebans lives. It shows the intense connection they shared, one they thought could never be broken. It shows how people can hold onto something they love so dearly and use it for better or for worse. It touches on so subjects people might not like, but i beg you to keep reading. I am not romanticizing anything that happened in this book, but the bare bones where already there, their story had already begun and it deserved an ending. To me The Paper Swan is a story of love, redemption and friendship. Its two people trying to figure out the world and everything that happens in it. Its about carving your own path and knowing when you have done wrong and when you need to just let things go. Its is well written, flows beautifully and the character development is brilliant. I loved both characters, i hated them too but mostly i just felt for them and i think that is what makes it such a stunning story. Its all about the feels.

I haven't read a contemporary novel for such a long time, so when I bought this novel I had mixed feelings about whether I'd like it or not. But the reviews for this book were all over the place and I can now say deservedly so. It's a very well written, well-executed and deep book. When you meet one of the main characters, he's a ruthless and mean jerk. I couldn't stand the guy and was hoping someone would see what was happening and give him what was due. But somehow during the novel.... and I'm saying this with awe....I suddenly found myself rooting for him, even feeling sorry for him, which of course can only mean one thing. That the author knows how to write. This is a beautifully touching and inspiring novel. Do yourself a favor and grab a copy. You won't regret it. A winner for me.

This book made its way to my "best shelf". It has it all: -revenge; -drug cartels; -childhood sweethearts; -spoiled heiress turned survivor; -dangerously attractive abductor; -action; -romance; -hot sexual chemistry.... I was hooked from the first sentence and had to put it down with great reluctance when I had to work or do some (un)necessary chore. I loved Skye and Damian. I cried for MaMaLu. I laughed when Gidiot got what he deserved and I wanted to kill Victor myself. And I loved when Sierra kicked him in the balls. Way to go girl! Really, all the rave about this book is well deserved. Just read it, especially if you're in a bookhangover and miss your quality reading fix.

it had -kidnapping -morally grey characters -a bit mafia -one of the most beautiful writing ever and the most heartbreaking story to tell. i‘m at a loss for everything. this is one of the books where u finish it and have to space out first for a few minutes to recollect urself. where u question everything and anything. this book made me cry so many times. i’ve never had a book where i marked so many things. so many words. i’ve marked whole pages. and it still didn’t seem enough. every page was worth marking it. every. single. page. the whole book is worth quoting it. leylah attar delivered a heartbreaking and complex story about violence, vengeance and wrath and so much love. her characters come and love with all their flaws and beauty. i’ve asked myself so many times how will this end? how can this have a happy ending? will it even get a happy one? while my sight was blurry of all the tears still running down. this was only my second book of leylah attar and she’s officially now one of my favorite authors. ever. “I want to remember this,” he said, pulling me into his arms. “If I die tonight, I want to die remembering what it was like to hold the whole world in my hands.”