Did there need to be a whole book for Chaol? Still not sure, felt like a lot of it could have been taken out and interwoven to the last book (or to interweave the two books to stop it being literally 1200 long)

Started slow but did pick up in momentum, some big reveals (as you’d expect) and im looking forward to seeing it all come together in the last one.

Ps. Aelin has the best luck ever that she always just meets the right people years before she needs them?

I'm a big fan of greek myths and their retellings, and even though it's becoming an oversaturated genre with the rate new releases are coming out, I thoroughly enjoyed every retelling I had read, until I read Ithaca.

The narration was my main issue, there was no subtlety to anything that was said and Hera just read as a pick-me girl. Parts of this genuinely read like they were out of a Wattpad fanfiction and the only thing that made me want to continue picking the book up was finishing it.

Thanks to Netgalley for giving me the chance to read a proof of this book!

This book is normal people meets all the bright places, and the result is stunning. I was ready to give up on Olivie Blake after not loving The Atlas Paradox but I wanted to read her in a different genre and I was so glad I did - Alone With You in the Ether is by far the best thing she’s written.

I was sceptical about the narration to start with but I quickly grew to adore it. The way the speech was there but implicitly, the conversations held almost in third person. I thought with these far-away characters themselves it worked beautifully and reflected Regan and Aldo perfectly.

Although it centres around a love story that’s not how I would label this at all, instead a philosophical way of looking at relationships and dependency, compulsion and companionship.

Highly recommend to all - those who already love Olivie’s work, those who are falling out of love with it, and those who haven’t read it yet at all.

Not everything needs to be spelled out on a page. Don’t assume your readers are stupid and can’t understand some subtlety and context - the weirdest thing is that this wasn’t even worked into the speech like you would expect but genuinely written as the narration of the book. Aimed at people in their mid-20s but written like it’s an 8-12 age range (which is fine, for a kids book).

Also I’m sorry but unironically using “lady garden” at least twice, and a constant use of the word “bestie”.

a quick and easy read but definitely not one I adored.

I was sent a proof of this in exchange for an honest review!

This book was pitched to me as perfect for fans of Schitt's Creek and Red, White and Royal Blue - as a huge fan of both I had no choice but to read this book.
It's a lovely wholesome Christmas read. It's predictable but not in a way that lessens the book; you know things are going to work out in the end but that doesn't mean you don't enjoy the journey along the way!

Definitely a book to read in front of a fire with a hot chocolate. A lovely story about the importance of family and remembering the importance of those around you.

Having said that, Hector really overused the word 'dude' and no matter how many times they tried to tell me it was sexy or endearing, it really isn't, and it threw me out of the scene every time.