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Our Lying Reflections
Obsession. Power. Murder.
The last thing Elona, a brilliant straight-A student, desires is to become entangled in the treacherous web of secret societies within the enigmatic halls of one of France's most prestigious academies.
Especially while she's on the trail of her best friend's chilling murder case, but to her surprise, the one who offers an unexpected hand in this deadly dance is none other than her academic rival.
Roma's charisma outshines Elona's every accomplishment, and his penetrating gaze seems to unravel her deepest secrets, even on that eerie night atop the rooftop. Amidst her friends' obliviousness to her self-destructive tendencies, he extends a hand, offering to jump together. Little does she know that his offer is more than a metaphor.
Under the sway of pills, reality blurs, and her grades plummet while her tendency to lie increases. And as the case deepens, she finds herself surrounded by potential killers, each concealing sinister secrets and hidden agendas.
To survive, Elona must embrace her morally grey nature, but can she withstand the toll it takes on her humanity?
The last thing Elona, a brilliant straight-A student, desires is to become entangled in the treacherous web of secret societies within the enigmatic halls of one of France's most prestigious academies.
Especially while she's on the trail of her best friend's chilling murder case, but to her surprise, the one who offers an unexpected hand in this deadly dance is none other than her academic rival.
Roma's charisma outshines Elona's every accomplishment, and his penetrating gaze seems to unravel her deepest secrets, even on that eerie night atop the rooftop. Amidst her friends' obliviousness to her self-destructive tendencies, he extends a hand, offering to jump together. Little does she know that his offer is more than a metaphor.
Under the sway of pills, reality blurs, and her grades plummet while her tendency to lie increases. And as the case deepens, she finds herself surrounded by potential killers, each concealing sinister secrets and hidden agendas.
To survive, Elona must embrace her morally grey nature, but can she withstand the toll it takes on her humanity?
- GenresDark RomanceMystery
303 pages, Paperback
Published January 26, 2024
3 people are currently reading
418 people want to read
About the author
Alenour Veles
1 book11 followersAlenour Veles is a theatre kid pursuing a Business major (the irony). Growing up and moving to different countries has ignited a thirst within her to constantly try to translate her soul, and she found that English is her most effective tool for accomplishing that. She enjoys writing in various genres and has numerous thrilling book ideas that she is eager to share with the world. Alenour spends her non- writing days watching TV shows and begging her friends to go on a trip, all the while plotting which character to kill next (just kidding... or not).
She invites you to visit her Instagram @alenourveles or her website alenourveles.wixsite.com.
She invites you to visit her Instagram @alenourveles or her website alenourveles.wixsite.com.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
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January 22, 2024guys I'm scared
February 18, 2024
My head is spinning. Was I confused most of the time? Yes, but that was the point. The atmosphere and writing carried though.
January 29, 2024
Character Development Lacking and Writing Makes Events Difficult to Follow
This book had some beautiful little quips of dialogue and even one-liners with a lot of potential to follow the story from there. And while I loved some of the dialogue between Elona and Roma and the poetic prose, which are sprinkled on almost every page, add imagery to the main character's anguish and suffering, the purpose of Roma's character in the book is only mentioned twice and nearly half of the poetic prose serve no purpose and lack any actual depth, context or meaning to the situation at hand. The answers that Elona seeks the entire novel-long are really only touched on in the last few chapters and certainly in the last 3 chapters, at which point the answer is just thrown out there and very little time or elaboration is spent or provided when delving into Elona's emotional or mental processing of the ...seemingly facts...considering that she is NOT a reliable narrator mid-way through to the end of the novel. Roma's character is one dimensional and the fact that Elona ignores her internal monologue about him and every other important event or decision is rather frustrating. We never find out who Roma is, his true purpose (as a single, yet again, one dimensional explanation is provided here and doesn't line up with the elaborate events and secret societies' rules/structure/organization either), any truth or meaningful background about him nor how he ever really felt about Elona. And while the ending is one of the most straight forward chapters, even this is merely eluded to. I wish there had been a follow up chapter either from Elona's point of view or another character or a simple omnipresent narrator to provide closure to the end scene.
With no development or purpose to Roma's character, it likely would have been best to write him as a hallucination or figment of Elona's imagination. For the proposed romantic angle that was implied in this book's promotions on instagram, this book fell flat and was disappointing. The author could have kept the ending the same but simply been more clear in laying out the series of events that occurred in the novel, developed Roma's character to be more complete and allowed for both the reader and Elona more time to process Roma's true intentions and feelings to allow for a better plot, ending and closure to the piece.
This book had some beautiful little quips of dialogue and even one-liners with a lot of potential to follow the story from there. And while I loved some of the dialogue between Elona and Roma and the poetic prose, which are sprinkled on almost every page, add imagery to the main character's anguish and suffering, the purpose of Roma's character in the book is only mentioned twice and nearly half of the poetic prose serve no purpose and lack any actual depth, context or meaning to the situation at hand. The answers that Elona seeks the entire novel-long are really only touched on in the last few chapters and certainly in the last 3 chapters, at which point the answer is just thrown out there and very little time or elaboration is spent or provided when delving into Elona's emotional or mental processing of the ...seemingly facts...considering that she is NOT a reliable narrator mid-way through to the end of the novel. Roma's character is one dimensional and the fact that Elona ignores her internal monologue about him and every other important event or decision is rather frustrating. We never find out who Roma is, his true purpose (as a single, yet again, one dimensional explanation is provided here and doesn't line up with the elaborate events and secret societies' rules/structure/organization either), any truth or meaningful background about him nor how he ever really felt about Elona. And while the ending is one of the most straight forward chapters, even this is merely eluded to. I wish there had been a follow up chapter either from Elona's point of view or another character or a simple omnipresent narrator to provide closure to the end scene.
With no development or purpose to Roma's character, it likely would have been best to write him as a hallucination or figment of Elona's imagination. For the proposed romantic angle that was implied in this book's promotions on instagram, this book fell flat and was disappointing. The author could have kept the ending the same but simply been more clear in laying out the series of events that occurred in the novel, developed Roma's character to be more complete and allowed for both the reader and Elona more time to process Roma's true intentions and feelings to allow for a better plot, ending and closure to the piece.
January 29, 2024
I loved the whole unreliable narrator thing and it made the whole book much more enjoyable to read-it was fun figuring out when the MC was lying, especially at the finale, oh, how I need to talk about it with someone-it was just chef's kiss. I saw my reflection in Elona, her inner struggles and anguish, it made me feel seen. The book is beautifully written and well crafted, I understood the point and the author's intentions why she wrote the way she did and even the foreshadowing in some chapters, it was well thought. But I feel like I would enjoy reading TFOC and BABR more haha! Can't wait to get my hands on Addy's book: the whole new perspective about the academy and Elona, reading Aaron as a love interest, ugh, I'm so excited!
MILD SPOILERS
I only wish we knew more about Roma, but I guess that was the point, to keep us wondering if he was even real in the first place.
MILD SPOILERS
I only wish we knew more about Roma, but I guess that was the point, to keep us wondering if he was even real in the first place.
April 28, 2024
Emo Rupi kaur
January 10, 2024
some phenomenal sh*t
February 23, 2024
it was real to me OKAY!!!
February 29, 2024
I just finished the book and I still can't make up my mind. I lost it alongside Elona.
With the capturing and consuming atmosphere of the gloom filling up all the settings, no sunshine whatsoever, you already know we are doomed. I love all the quotations from movies and books and songs as well as the debates on books I adore. This is a really enriching novel that will fill you with wonder, which will probably stay even after, and really is going to fuck up your head -and heart.
When you finish this book, you will be longing for the good old days. Then, you'll remember that the good old days were a part of the influence/non-influence as well.
Although there were many side-characters introduced such as Elona's friend group and the other Presidents and societies, they mostly remained overlooked, like they were just stated to take up space. However, this only shows how creative and enigmatic the description of the plot is. That we may never disvover the truth about the societies and how they manifest. I viewed that they are both obsessed with god (god complex) and are satanists. Idk.
My favorite thing about the whole book is how unhinged Elona really is. The drugs and the friends seem like they are there to tame her but when she leaves all of them, the restraints, you truly discover why she had to be intertwined with them.
I'm not saying anything about Roma. First time I read this he was a lover boy. The second time, he was a god. In what way, idk.
The ending broke my heart. I can't believe how the references given throughout the novel unfolded in the last scene/two chapters. (Spoiler?: the constant talk about kneeling before each other and the moodswings and fallen angel/devil talk and the following hint.)
If the last sentence doesn't hit you -like it did to me, left my mouth wide open and in tears obv- check back page 197 and thank me later for the agony.
My favorite scenes are on pages 112, 287(😋) and around 138.
I can't wait for the other two novels of the trilogy and especially to see Elona again in Adelaide's pov.
PS: Hamlet was performed. Extra 100 points from me.
With the capturing and consuming atmosphere of the gloom filling up all the settings, no sunshine whatsoever, you already know we are doomed. I love all the quotations from movies and books and songs as well as the debates on books I adore. This is a really enriching novel that will fill you with wonder, which will probably stay even after, and really is going to fuck up your head -and heart.
When you finish this book, you will be longing for the good old days. Then, you'll remember that the good old days were a part of the influence/non-influence as well.
Although there were many side-characters introduced such as Elona's friend group and the other Presidents and societies, they mostly remained overlooked, like they were just stated to take up space. However, this only shows how creative and enigmatic the description of the plot is. That we may never disvover the truth about the societies and how they manifest. I viewed that they are both obsessed with god (god complex) and are satanists. Idk.
My favorite thing about the whole book is how unhinged Elona really is. The drugs and the friends seem like they are there to tame her but when she leaves all of them, the restraints, you truly discover why she had to be intertwined with them.
I'm not saying anything about Roma. First time I read this he was a lover boy. The second time, he was a god. In what way, idk.
The ending broke my heart. I can't believe how the references given throughout the novel unfolded in the last scene/two chapters. (Spoiler?: the constant talk about kneeling before each other and the moodswings and fallen angel/devil talk and the following hint.)
If the last sentence doesn't hit you -like it did to me, left my mouth wide open and in tears obv- check back page 197 and thank me later for the agony.
My favorite scenes are on pages 112, 287(😋) and around 138.
I can't wait for the other two novels of the trilogy and especially to see Elona again in Adelaide's pov.
PS: Hamlet was performed. Extra 100 points from me.
March 2, 2024
I hope my next breath is my last
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews