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The Great Dane
Not yet published
Expected 13 Jan 26This book is dedicated to all of us.
At one point or another, all of us have wondered who we are.
All of us have scratched at a label put on us, feeling it didn't quite fit.
All of us have felt pressured to be something we're not.
All of us have wished we were someone else.
All of us have looked in a mirror and been confused at what we see.
All of us don armor to do brave things: a change in voice, a different accent, a favorite sweater, high heels, a good luck charm.
All of us are fluid.
I used to think all of us hear a voice when we talk to ourselves but I've since learned this is only some of us. But whether or not you have an inner monologue, the book is for you. The journey is for you. The quest and the game and the mystery and the solution: all for you.
And also for me.
THE GREAT DANE
After the sudden death of his only child, Liko Greenman is looking for any way to pass, waste or kill time. He becomes obsessed with a compelling mystery within his son's favorite video game, Three Hares, and is determined to solve it. The game travels along the Old Silk Road, following the triskelion motif of the Three Hares in art and architecture. The player's journey ends abruptly at Paderborn Cathedral in Germany, but fans are certain the game isn't over.
Liko receives a condolence letter from the gaming company, with a single clue that leads him to the rural town of Birch Island, New York and a farm called Schoenfeld's. There, Liko comes face-to-face with Danelaw Strong, who has one blue eye, one brown eye, and a compelling, dual personality.
For 22 years, Dane was intimately involved with Ethan Hasen, the creator of Three Hares, and Ethan's wife, Nomi. As three deeply bonded lovers, they made a life together at Schoenfeld's that defied convention. Now only Dane is left to work the farm, a single hare grieving the loss of soulmates and simply concentrating on doing the next thing.
Recognizing they're both killing time and each has something to give the other, Liko agrees to move to New York for the summer and Dane will guide him in solving the video game's mystery. So begins a journey of friendship, love and belonging that will show Liko there's more to the Three Hares game and more to Danelaw Strong than he could possibly imagine.
Suanne Laqueur's newest novel is a chimerical blend of romance, drama, identity, power and hope. Combining legend and folklore with her signature depth and understanding of the human experience, The Great Dane explores how we view the most profound human connection in pairs, when three is often love's most magical number.
At one point or another, all of us have wondered who we are.
All of us have scratched at a label put on us, feeling it didn't quite fit.
All of us have felt pressured to be something we're not.
All of us have wished we were someone else.
All of us have looked in a mirror and been confused at what we see.
All of us don armor to do brave things: a change in voice, a different accent, a favorite sweater, high heels, a good luck charm.
All of us are fluid.
I used to think all of us hear a voice when we talk to ourselves but I've since learned this is only some of us. But whether or not you have an inner monologue, the book is for you. The journey is for you. The quest and the game and the mystery and the solution: all for you.
And also for me.
THE GREAT DANE
After the sudden death of his only child, Liko Greenman is looking for any way to pass, waste or kill time. He becomes obsessed with a compelling mystery within his son's favorite video game, Three Hares, and is determined to solve it. The game travels along the Old Silk Road, following the triskelion motif of the Three Hares in art and architecture. The player's journey ends abruptly at Paderborn Cathedral in Germany, but fans are certain the game isn't over.
Liko receives a condolence letter from the gaming company, with a single clue that leads him to the rural town of Birch Island, New York and a farm called Schoenfeld's. There, Liko comes face-to-face with Danelaw Strong, who has one blue eye, one brown eye, and a compelling, dual personality.
For 22 years, Dane was intimately involved with Ethan Hasen, the creator of Three Hares, and Ethan's wife, Nomi. As three deeply bonded lovers, they made a life together at Schoenfeld's that defied convention. Now only Dane is left to work the farm, a single hare grieving the loss of soulmates and simply concentrating on doing the next thing.
Recognizing they're both killing time and each has something to give the other, Liko agrees to move to New York for the summer and Dane will guide him in solving the video game's mystery. So begins a journey of friendship, love and belonging that will show Liko there's more to the Three Hares game and more to Danelaw Strong than he could possibly imagine.
Suanne Laqueur's newest novel is a chimerical blend of romance, drama, identity, power and hope. Combining legend and folklore with her signature depth and understanding of the human experience, The Great Dane explores how we view the most profound human connection in pairs, when three is often love's most magical number.
500 pages, Paperback
Expected publication January 13, 2026
7 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
Suanne Laqueur
28 books1,582 followersA former professional dancer and teacher, Suanne Laqueur went from choreographing music to choreographing words, writing stories that appeal to the passions of all readers, crossing gender, age and genre. As a devoted mental health advocate, her novels focus on both romantic and familial relationships, as well as psychology, PTSD and generational trauma.
Laqueur’s novel An Exaltation of Larks was the grand prize winner in the 2017 Writer’s Digest Book Awards and took first place in the 2019 North Street Book Prize. Her debut novel The Man I Love won a gold medal in the 2015 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards and was named Best Debut in the Feathered Quill Book Awards. Her follow-up novel, Give Me Your Answer True, was also a gold medal winner at the 2016 RFBA.
Laqueur graduated from Alfred University with a double major in dance and theater. She taught at the Carol Bierman School of Ballet Arts in Croton-on-Hudson for ten years. An avid reader, cook and gardener, she started her blog EatsReadsThinks in 2010.
Suanne lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband and two children.
Laqueur’s novel An Exaltation of Larks was the grand prize winner in the 2017 Writer’s Digest Book Awards and took first place in the 2019 North Street Book Prize. Her debut novel The Man I Love won a gold medal in the 2015 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards and was named Best Debut in the Feathered Quill Book Awards. Her follow-up novel, Give Me Your Answer True, was also a gold medal winner at the 2016 RFBA.
Laqueur graduated from Alfred University with a double major in dance and theater. She taught at the Carol Bierman School of Ballet Arts in Croton-on-Hudson for ten years. An avid reader, cook and gardener, she started her blog EatsReadsThinks in 2010.
Suanne lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 30, 2025
Sometimes, words fail me when I try to express how a book makes me feel. Because the book is grand. Magnificent. Glorious. Stunning. Sublime. I could go on. The Great Dane is that kind of book, and I urge you all to read it. Just look at that cover!
I already had tears in my eyes while reading the dedication:
This book is dedicated to all of us. At one point or another, all of us have wondered who we are. All of us have scratched at a label put on us, feeling it didn’t quite fit. All of us have felt pressured to be something we’re not. All of us have wished we were someone else.
These are just a few lines but this dedication is so, so beautiful. Just like the book. Just like the cover. Just like Liko and Dane. Just like the hares…
Suanne Laqueur is my go-to author when I’m stuck. When none of the books I’m reading speak to me. When I’ve crashed into the deepest of deepest reading slumps. In those moments, I need to feel. A lot. And Suanne always delivers.
And maybe, because I read this ARC without being stuck, I felt even more. Two men bathing in grief: one who lost his lifemates, the other who lost his son. But there's more. Way more. There’s trauma, a search for identity and friendship. A beautiful friendship. And love. So much love.
This story is about memories that make you laugh, and cry, and laugh-cry. About Liko’s deceased son:
”What are you up to, kiddo?” Janelle asked.
“I’m seeing how many doughnuts I can stack on my penis,” Kyle said.
Nobody warned you about these things when you became a parent.
I couldn’t figure out who or what Dane was and I kept thinking about that cover. And then when Oscar, a kid, asked about touching Dane’s skin, something clicked. Oh, Dane…:
Oscar reached toward Dane’s chest, but Dane gently stopped his hand. “Good guys don’t touch without asking first. Right?”
“Can I touch?”
“If I say no, what does it mean?”
“No, don’t touch.”
“Does it mean no, I don’t like you, Oscar?”
“No. You like me. You just don’t want touching.”
I blinked and blinked because of a conversation about identity:
”You don’t have to identify today,” Jensen said. “Or in a week. Or a year or decade. You can take all the time you need to explore all this information.”
And I teared up again when Janelle and Liko talked about Kyle:
A long, aching pause before Janelle said, “Tell me what Kyle’s doing.”
Liko closed his eyes. “He’s sleeping.”
“Are you sure?”
“It was a long day in Heaven. All days in Heaven are jam-packed because you get to do everything you ever wanted.
And those two beautiful men, dancing around each other, knowing they would end up together but first had to heal first:
A rhythmic drone like spiritual white noise: my friend, I have a friend, my friend is here, my friend did a great thing for me, I can count on my friend, soon I will see my friend.
At times, my tears came from the rage that coiled in my gut. Be aware that this story is gruesome at times. Heartbreaking. So, check out the trigger warnings. But if you can handle it, I want to ask, please, please, read this beautiful, beautiful story!
Thank you so much, Suanne, for letting me read this book early! And I will keep shouting from the rooftops that everyone should pick it up!! Because this book is fantastic. Impressive. Exquisite. Superb.
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I already had tears in my eyes while reading the dedication:
This book is dedicated to all of us. At one point or another, all of us have wondered who we are. All of us have scratched at a label put on us, feeling it didn’t quite fit. All of us have felt pressured to be something we’re not. All of us have wished we were someone else.
These are just a few lines but this dedication is so, so beautiful. Just like the book. Just like the cover. Just like Liko and Dane. Just like the hares…
Suanne Laqueur is my go-to author when I’m stuck. When none of the books I’m reading speak to me. When I’ve crashed into the deepest of deepest reading slumps. In those moments, I need to feel. A lot. And Suanne always delivers.
And maybe, because I read this ARC without being stuck, I felt even more. Two men bathing in grief: one who lost his lifemates, the other who lost his son. But there's more. Way more. There’s trauma, a search for identity and friendship. A beautiful friendship. And love. So much love.
This story is about memories that make you laugh, and cry, and laugh-cry. About Liko’s deceased son:
”What are you up to, kiddo?” Janelle asked.
“I’m seeing how many doughnuts I can stack on my penis,” Kyle said.
Nobody warned you about these things when you became a parent.
I couldn’t figure out who or what Dane was and I kept thinking about that cover. And then when Oscar, a kid, asked about touching Dane’s skin, something clicked. Oh, Dane…:
Oscar reached toward Dane’s chest, but Dane gently stopped his hand. “Good guys don’t touch without asking first. Right?”
“Can I touch?”
“If I say no, what does it mean?”
“No, don’t touch.”
“Does it mean no, I don’t like you, Oscar?”
“No. You like me. You just don’t want touching.”
I blinked and blinked because of a conversation about identity:
”You don’t have to identify today,” Jensen said. “Or in a week. Or a year or decade. You can take all the time you need to explore all this information.”
And I teared up again when Janelle and Liko talked about Kyle:
A long, aching pause before Janelle said, “Tell me what Kyle’s doing.”
Liko closed his eyes. “He’s sleeping.”
“Are you sure?”
“It was a long day in Heaven. All days in Heaven are jam-packed because you get to do everything you ever wanted.
And those two beautiful men, dancing around each other, knowing they would end up together but first had to heal first:
A rhythmic drone like spiritual white noise: my friend, I have a friend, my friend is here, my friend did a great thing for me, I can count on my friend, soon I will see my friend.
At times, my tears came from the rage that coiled in my gut. Be aware that this story is gruesome at times. Heartbreaking. So, check out the trigger warnings. But if you can handle it, I want to ask, please, please, read this beautiful, beautiful story!
Thank you so much, Suanne, for letting me read this book early! And I will keep shouting from the rooftops that everyone should pick it up!! Because this book is fantastic. Impressive. Exquisite. Superb.
Follow me on Instagram
November 16, 2025
Ungh!
Superb. Superb. Superb.
10 stars. Would definitely recommend.
The Great Dane, just jumped to the top of the pedestal. The number one slot of the best reads of the year. Sorry Kingfisher. I love your cute pointy ears and your love of quicksilver but you’ve been usurped. My man Dane and my man Liko get to that top spot, do not pass go, do not collect £200.
I’m in awe of the brilliance of this book. I’ve cried, I’ve laughed, I’ve raged. I’ve craved carrots. At times, I wasn’t sure what was real and what was just a story. The research Suanne Laqueur must have done is immense. And the art work - it’s just magnificent. I want a fully illustrated, coloured version of this book to pet and stroke. The story of Dane and Liko is one of grief, of found families, and moving on after grief. It’s all spun together with perfection.
I may have a new obsession with green men and hares. They’ll live in harmony with my fish, birds and daisies. I’m so in love with Dane and Liko.
How do I move on from this book? I just don’t know what to do with myself. Pub it is then. Just need to go dry the tears and wipe the snot from my face.
Superb. Superb. Superb.
10 stars. Would definitely recommend.
The Great Dane, just jumped to the top of the pedestal. The number one slot of the best reads of the year. Sorry Kingfisher. I love your cute pointy ears and your love of quicksilver but you’ve been usurped. My man Dane and my man Liko get to that top spot, do not pass go, do not collect £200.
I’m in awe of the brilliance of this book. I’ve cried, I’ve laughed, I’ve raged. I’ve craved carrots. At times, I wasn’t sure what was real and what was just a story. The research Suanne Laqueur must have done is immense. And the art work - it’s just magnificent. I want a fully illustrated, coloured version of this book to pet and stroke. The story of Dane and Liko is one of grief, of found families, and moving on after grief. It’s all spun together with perfection.
I may have a new obsession with green men and hares. They’ll live in harmony with my fish, birds and daisies. I’m so in love with Dane and Liko.
How do I move on from this book? I just don’t know what to do with myself. Pub it is then. Just need to go dry the tears and wipe the snot from my face.
Read
December 23, 2025Liko Greenman doesn’t think of himself as an introvert. He likes parties. He’s not afraid to join a group he doesn’t know. He makes small talk easily and more than once he’s been referred to as a social tether—someone who becomes the mothership of your party mingling and you often make your way back to him or her, just to catch your breath, process, collect yourself. Liko digs being that person. A beacon of social safety. Come stand next to me. Join my conversation. Or just stand here and siphon off some peace.
But this dude… The man whom Liko doesn’t yet know is named Danelaw Strong… He looks at Liko once, just a glance across a crowded room with a pair of illegally blue eyes, and Liko introverts.
Panicked, if we’re being honest, he thinks. He retreats a few steps to the living room’s bookshelves. Pretends to peruse. Glances at Dane, who is looking at him. Liko looks away, puts his nose into a random book, and introverts further.
Weird, he’s not even my type.
Liko likes to be thrown around a bed if he’s in it with a man. Bears are his type. Dane is not a bear. In fact it’s pissing Liko off he can’t get a bead on this guy, and that he’s even trying to classify Dane based on body type slang is pissing him off more.
Dane stands in his circle of conversation, head turning from one person to another. He’s a short man, so his chin is tilted up. His sandy hair is buzzed tight and he pulls the extreme style off well. Dressed in jeans and a V-neck sweater. A beer in one hand, the other fingers tucked in his pocket. He looks at the person on his right, and he’s a poet. He looks the other way, and he’s a construction worker. He’s whip-thin and sparse, then he moves or turns or shifts and he’s all fit muscle. Unsmiling, he looks early forties, tired after a long day, feeling his years. Then he smiles and he’s barely out of his twenties, rawboned and bristling with energy.
What is happening? Liko thinks.
Dane’s looking at him with those ridiculous blue eyes. Liko is used to being on the receiving end of eye compliments. His own are an intense purple-gray. Honest-to-god Liz Taylor violet peepers. Dane is competition. His gaze and Liko’s are two bucks circling each other, each believing they are the fairest of all, and they ought to take it outside and decide.
Or upstairs.
Don’t panic, Liko thinks, looking away.
He can’t get words to stick to his reaction. His ex-wife would probably call it a trauma response.
Don’t be dramatic. You’re digging someone. It’s been a while. Enjoy it.
He can’t. This isn’t enjoyable. He needs to get back to a mothership but he has no tether. He looks at Dane across a galaxy, walking free in space, placing his feet on nothing, aware of time and gravity and vastness and how everyone is a infinitesimal, insignificant speck of dust with no control over anything. At the mercy of a conniving universe who likes to put her cheek on the heel of her starry hand while with the other fingers she moves two motes into place.
You. Annnnnd you. Say hello.
Trust me. I know what I’m doing.
Some people you meet do an effortless end-run around your psychological constructs (or worse, around your chemical ones). One encounter and they’re suddenly wandering the emotional hinterlands of your soul, where the line between sad and wretched, or happy and manic, can’t be seen with the naked eye. These damn people not only see everything, but they make you feel shit to your bones.
The stupidly blue gaze of this impossible twink otter construction worker poet is slipping under Liko’s skin and throwing arms wide to encompass his entire emotional spectrum, right out to the hinterlands and beyond.
Some call this love at first sight.
Liko Greenman calls it pump the brakes, you moron.
In his twenties, Liko would fuck this guy in the next five seconds. Liko is fifty-four now and knows it’s wise not to eat this proffered delicacy in one sitting. He doesn’t even have to taste it.
Fine, universe, you obviously have a plan. Noted. I’ll take it from here. On my schedule, thanks very much. Bitch.
And so Liko Greenman walks away from the party. Grabbing his jacket from a pile on a bed, he goes up the stairs and down the hall to its end, where he opens a door to the attic steps. From the attic he opens another door, climbs a ladder and steps onto the widow’s walk. A railed-in space of maybe five feet by seven feet, with two Adirondack chairs, a little table, and Huff Jensen’s telescope. He clutches the rail and shivers, butthole clenched tight. Behind his closed lids he sees a million shades of blue. He puts an eye to the telescope, looking for the Universe.
“What are you doing,” he whispers. “What is this? Who is he?”
The Universe just shrugs.
Nothing for it, so Liko sits down, reaches for his vape and proceeds to get really fucking high.
But this dude… The man whom Liko doesn’t yet know is named Danelaw Strong… He looks at Liko once, just a glance across a crowded room with a pair of illegally blue eyes, and Liko introverts.
Panicked, if we’re being honest, he thinks. He retreats a few steps to the living room’s bookshelves. Pretends to peruse. Glances at Dane, who is looking at him. Liko looks away, puts his nose into a random book, and introverts further.
Weird, he’s not even my type.
Liko likes to be thrown around a bed if he’s in it with a man. Bears are his type. Dane is not a bear. In fact it’s pissing Liko off he can’t get a bead on this guy, and that he’s even trying to classify Dane based on body type slang is pissing him off more.
Dane stands in his circle of conversation, head turning from one person to another. He’s a short man, so his chin is tilted up. His sandy hair is buzzed tight and he pulls the extreme style off well. Dressed in jeans and a V-neck sweater. A beer in one hand, the other fingers tucked in his pocket. He looks at the person on his right, and he’s a poet. He looks the other way, and he’s a construction worker. He’s whip-thin and sparse, then he moves or turns or shifts and he’s all fit muscle. Unsmiling, he looks early forties, tired after a long day, feeling his years. Then he smiles and he’s barely out of his twenties, rawboned and bristling with energy.
What is happening? Liko thinks.
Dane’s looking at him with those ridiculous blue eyes. Liko is used to being on the receiving end of eye compliments. His own are an intense purple-gray. Honest-to-god Liz Taylor violet peepers. Dane is competition. His gaze and Liko’s are two bucks circling each other, each believing they are the fairest of all, and they ought to take it outside and decide.
Or upstairs.
Don’t panic, Liko thinks, looking away.
He can’t get words to stick to his reaction. His ex-wife would probably call it a trauma response.
Don’t be dramatic. You’re digging someone. It’s been a while. Enjoy it.
He can’t. This isn’t enjoyable. He needs to get back to a mothership but he has no tether. He looks at Dane across a galaxy, walking free in space, placing his feet on nothing, aware of time and gravity and vastness and how everyone is a infinitesimal, insignificant speck of dust with no control over anything. At the mercy of a conniving universe who likes to put her cheek on the heel of her starry hand while with the other fingers she moves two motes into place.
You. Annnnnd you. Say hello.
Trust me. I know what I’m doing.
Some people you meet do an effortless end-run around your psychological constructs (or worse, around your chemical ones). One encounter and they’re suddenly wandering the emotional hinterlands of your soul, where the line between sad and wretched, or happy and manic, can’t be seen with the naked eye. These damn people not only see everything, but they make you feel shit to your bones.
The stupidly blue gaze of this impossible twink otter construction worker poet is slipping under Liko’s skin and throwing arms wide to encompass his entire emotional spectrum, right out to the hinterlands and beyond.
Some call this love at first sight.
Liko Greenman calls it pump the brakes, you moron.
In his twenties, Liko would fuck this guy in the next five seconds. Liko is fifty-four now and knows it’s wise not to eat this proffered delicacy in one sitting. He doesn’t even have to taste it.
Fine, universe, you obviously have a plan. Noted. I’ll take it from here. On my schedule, thanks very much. Bitch.
And so Liko Greenman walks away from the party. Grabbing his jacket from a pile on a bed, he goes up the stairs and down the hall to its end, where he opens a door to the attic steps. From the attic he opens another door, climbs a ladder and steps onto the widow’s walk. A railed-in space of maybe five feet by seven feet, with two Adirondack chairs, a little table, and Huff Jensen’s telescope. He clutches the rail and shivers, butthole clenched tight. Behind his closed lids he sees a million shades of blue. He puts an eye to the telescope, looking for the Universe.
“What are you doing,” he whispers. “What is this? Who is he?”
The Universe just shrugs.
Nothing for it, so Liko sits down, reaches for his vape and proceeds to get really fucking high.
November 27, 2025
Love is an artist, Liko thought. Its medium is the truth.
Holy crap, she did it again.
I knew almost immediately after meeting the characters in this novel that Liko’s grief would stir deep emotions in me because his grief is born from my worst nightmare. And I was right—the tears started flowing around the 20% mark. What I didn’t know was how much I’d come to feel for Dane. But wow, I felt so much for him (and cried for him too!). I will also say that it was damn refreshing to read about two adults falling in love that know how to communicate and are kind and patient with each other. And that’s the beauty of Suanne’s storytelling—her gift as a writer is writing characters so real and raw that they feel like real people. With every book, she somehow expands my well of empathy, and each one I read makes me a better person.
Thank you for this story, Suanne. It was a gift. 🥹 For you are an artist, and your medium is the truth.
Holy crap, she did it again.
I knew almost immediately after meeting the characters in this novel that Liko’s grief would stir deep emotions in me because his grief is born from my worst nightmare. And I was right—the tears started flowing around the 20% mark. What I didn’t know was how much I’d come to feel for Dane. But wow, I felt so much for him (and cried for him too!). I will also say that it was damn refreshing to read about two adults falling in love that know how to communicate and are kind and patient with each other. And that’s the beauty of Suanne’s storytelling—her gift as a writer is writing characters so real and raw that they feel like real people. With every book, she somehow expands my well of empathy, and each one I read makes me a better person.
Thank you for this story, Suanne. It was a gift. 🥹 For you are an artist, and your medium is the truth.
November 6, 2025
Correction; 10 stars
There are not enough words to express how beautiful this book is, yet again a masterpiece by Suanne Laqueur. The way the story is woven together by heartbreakingly and yet also powerful and strong people, is simply a pure form of art.
Dane and Liko are amazing, strong, sad, hurt, confused, beautiful, articulate, intelligent and a whole lot of other adjectives. Their background and how they are both going through grief hit me, but in a gentle way, a comforting manner and softening touch. Because of the three hare story line that connects the dots, which I won’t even attempt to explain, as you will have to experience it for yourself.
There is no question, please read this book when it comes out! 🩷
There are not enough words to express how beautiful this book is, yet again a masterpiece by Suanne Laqueur. The way the story is woven together by heartbreakingly and yet also powerful and strong people, is simply a pure form of art.
Dane and Liko are amazing, strong, sad, hurt, confused, beautiful, articulate, intelligent and a whole lot of other adjectives. Their background and how they are both going through grief hit me, but in a gentle way, a comforting manner and softening touch. Because of the three hare story line that connects the dots, which I won’t even attempt to explain, as you will have to experience it for yourself.
There is no question, please read this book when it comes out! 🩷
November 14, 2025
I feel like so many of us are intimidated about writing a review for Suanne Laqueur's latest, The Great Dane, because how, exactly, do you write about it in any way that captures its many layers and do it any kind of justice? I truly don't know.
Here's what I do know.
I know that I recognized the bone deep grief that Dane and Liko carried with them. The way Laqueur conveyed that through Liko and Dane was so convincing that I could feel it in the back of my throat and the tremble of my lip as I'd flip to the next page. I've felt that grief. I feel that grief now as my mortality seems to be constantly flashing before my face these days.
I know that I recognized that feeling of pure happiness and joy that somehow sneaks in and settles in between the ribs of grief. As Dane and Liko recounted their pasts and their present, the relief that those happy moments provided were sweet and tender, edged with a little sad, which only made the happy that much more, well, happy.
I know that I recognized how painful and yet steadying it was/is to feel like you're living from breath to breath only to eventually realize you've somehow made it days or months and you're still here, somehow surviving. Liko was living that and the depiction of it was so accurate that I felt the phantom pains that it seemed like he was feeling.
I know that the world Laqueur created was so vivid that I wanted to live on that farm and read and write and plant and weed and sink to the bottom of the pool and hike around the property and soak in the tub and go to the pub and see all the things and feel all the feels.
I know that a few years ago over a Christmas break, I found and fell in love with Suanne Laqueur's writing and am so glad that she gifted us with the treasure that is The Great Dane.
Here's what I do know.
I know that I recognized the bone deep grief that Dane and Liko carried with them. The way Laqueur conveyed that through Liko and Dane was so convincing that I could feel it in the back of my throat and the tremble of my lip as I'd flip to the next page. I've felt that grief. I feel that grief now as my mortality seems to be constantly flashing before my face these days.
I know that I recognized that feeling of pure happiness and joy that somehow sneaks in and settles in between the ribs of grief. As Dane and Liko recounted their pasts and their present, the relief that those happy moments provided were sweet and tender, edged with a little sad, which only made the happy that much more, well, happy.
I know that I recognized how painful and yet steadying it was/is to feel like you're living from breath to breath only to eventually realize you've somehow made it days or months and you're still here, somehow surviving. Liko was living that and the depiction of it was so accurate that I felt the phantom pains that it seemed like he was feeling.
I know that the world Laqueur created was so vivid that I wanted to live on that farm and read and write and plant and weed and sink to the bottom of the pool and hike around the property and soak in the tub and go to the pub and see all the things and feel all the feels.
I know that a few years ago over a Christmas break, I found and fell in love with Suanne Laqueur's writing and am so glad that she gifted us with the treasure that is The Great Dane.
November 11, 2025
The Great Dane by Suanne Laqueur is not just a book, it’s a journey.
Laqueur is one of the few authors I know that can capture the human spirit in such a way, that her readers feel like they’re part of the storyline.
You become so immersed in Liko and Dane’s story, that you feel as though you’re a part of it.
Laqueur doesn’t hold back any punches.
She lets her readers feel the lows of grief and the highs of finding that one person who makes it all worth it.
The one who knows your soul, even when you don’t.
Get ready for Three Hares, the craving for carrots, the Green man gang, and the need to just sit and absorb all the feels.
Definitely one I’ll be reading again and recommending to everyone I know.
5 Stars times a thousand!
Laqueur is one of the few authors I know that can capture the human spirit in such a way, that her readers feel like they’re part of the storyline.
You become so immersed in Liko and Dane’s story, that you feel as though you’re a part of it.
Laqueur doesn’t hold back any punches.
She lets her readers feel the lows of grief and the highs of finding that one person who makes it all worth it.
The one who knows your soul, even when you don’t.
Get ready for Three Hares, the craving for carrots, the Green man gang, and the need to just sit and absorb all the feels.
Definitely one I’ll be reading again and recommending to everyone I know.
5 Stars times a thousand!
November 13, 2025
Give me a minute, I'm a wreck!
November 9, 2025
I discovered Suanne Laqueur earlier this year and have read most of her books. I don’t want to say too much about the main themes in this review, because part of the beauty of The Great Dane is how she unveils them with such care and emotional precision. This is a story about two people, Dane and Liko, whose lives are marked by deep loss, trauma, and struggles with identity, and how those threads slowly intertwine into something profoundly healing.
She has an exceptional grasp of human experience and the complex, often contradictory ways people react to trauma. Laqueur manages to write about pain that can at times be so harrowing, and yet reading her books feels like a warm hug. This is a character driven story, and her characters are always refreshingly gentle, vulnerable, and excellent communicators. Her books often pair dramatic backstories with scenes of therapeutic psychological healing, and The Great Dane is no different, it explores not only love but the courage it takes to live authentically after trauma.
If you are new to Suanne Laqueur, I would suggest starting with the Venery Series and reading An Exaltation of Larks first (a six-star series).
I’m still left thinking about one of the very important side characters who plays a major role in Dane’s life, Ethan. I need to know his motivations for leaving and more about what’s going on inside his head. Fingers crossed Laqueur will make a series out of this, with Ethan as book two.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I'm truly having a hard time pulling words together after finishing this story. Talk about a story that completely tears you limb from limb-mind, soul, emotions, thoughts, feelings-and sews you back together so you can "feel your edges". This story did all of that and more. Is it easy? In absolutely no way whatsoever. It will make you look inside and see parts of you that you've kept hidden your entire life. It will make you look at the world (especially our current world) with completely different colored eyes. Is it one of the most beautiful stories (buried in a video game even) I have read in a really long time? Absolutely no doubt about it. I loved everything about the story - the history, the scenery, the characters, the love, the pain and the healing. Gosh darn it my man, what have you done to me?
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow! Just wow! 5 stars doesn’t feel like enough. I’ve tried rewriting this review 4 times but nothing I can say will encompass everything that this book is. It is a book to be savored slowly, in my humble opinion. Otherwise, so many important details will get missed or lost.
The story changes and evolves as you progress through its pages, not unlike the video game that Liko is playing, partly on tribute to his son and oartly for the discoveries he is making sbout himself.
The story covers so many topics not limited to the messiness & complications of life, love, relationships, grief, memory, identity and brilliant creativity, all while also finding beautiful moments in the depths of each. Its so difficult to write this review without spoilers. The detailed artwork in between the pages only further brings the story to life and draws you further into its puzzles. If you approach this book with a completely open mind, author Suanne Laqueur will take you on an emotional and thought provoking journey exploring Dane’s world that you will never forget.
The story changes and evolves as you progress through its pages, not unlike the video game that Liko is playing, partly on tribute to his son and oartly for the discoveries he is making sbout himself.
The story covers so many topics not limited to the messiness & complications of life, love, relationships, grief, memory, identity and brilliant creativity, all while also finding beautiful moments in the depths of each. Its so difficult to write this review without spoilers. The detailed artwork in between the pages only further brings the story to life and draws you further into its puzzles. If you approach this book with a completely open mind, author Suanne Laqueur will take you on an emotional and thought provoking journey exploring Dane’s world that you will never forget.
January 1, 2026
Suanne Laqueur’s insanely powerfully crafted story is one that brilliantly encapsulates profound grief, incredible resilience and survival of life altering events. Insightfully exploring the essence of identity and what defines you or rather how you define and accept yourself makes it an incredibly powerful experience.
The words resonated with me making me feel a myriad of emotions completely captivating me and bringing about my own introspection of identity experiences throughout my early youth.
Its utterly unique, sublimely multi layered plot line epitomizes the intricacies of the human experience and leaves no doubt of its significance!
I adored these characters; Liko, Dane, Nomi, Ethan, Saskia, Maisie and Huff and their crucial roles in the development of this story. The underlying slow burn elements as a deeper meaningful friendship develops and leads Liko and Dane to a stronger bond of love without limits, acceptance and intimacy made my heart feel so many emotions. Honestly, I loved these characters and my heart ached for them each with their own loss.
I took my time reading this story savoring every moment and highlighting so many words that struck me. Even when I finished it, I took my time mulling over it all and tried to carefully gather my thoughts to formulate my feelings into coherent praise worthy words! My favorite of 2025!
The words resonated with me making me feel a myriad of emotions completely captivating me and bringing about my own introspection of identity experiences throughout my early youth.
Its utterly unique, sublimely multi layered plot line epitomizes the intricacies of the human experience and leaves no doubt of its significance!
I adored these characters; Liko, Dane, Nomi, Ethan, Saskia, Maisie and Huff and their crucial roles in the development of this story. The underlying slow burn elements as a deeper meaningful friendship develops and leads Liko and Dane to a stronger bond of love without limits, acceptance and intimacy made my heart feel so many emotions. Honestly, I loved these characters and my heart ached for them each with their own loss.
I took my time reading this story savoring every moment and highlighting so many words that struck me. Even when I finished it, I took my time mulling over it all and tried to carefully gather my thoughts to formulate my feelings into coherent praise worthy words! My favorite of 2025!
November 17, 2025
It’s one of those the rarest of books with not a misplaced word or beat missed. Moving, anngsty and exquisite, it is a masterpiece in human frailty, identity readjustment and existentialism.
Suanne dazzles you with well penned prose inspired by archeological marvel of “Three Hares” . It intrigues her and she passes that mystery to us
The problem with such a rich buffet of literature is that it ruins your appetite for anything that follows. I took my time savoring all morsels, going back for second reads, sometimes taking a break between chapters to make it fit into my real world. Whenever you open one of Suzanne’s books, the world ceases to exist beyond its pages. The impact settles in like a thick fog keeping me in daze for years to come.
“It’s beyond realism. It’s hyper-realism. He calls it pathological perfectionism.”
I was captivated from page one. The Violet Eyed fox- Liko Greenman is grief stricken, unmoored human. Trying to survive on one breath at a time, till a mysterious letter holds his shoulder and points him towards Shoenfeld Farms to find that elusive clue to his son's obsession with the game, to find a purpose to keep breathing, a trampoline to keep bouncing.
I’ve yet to read a more poignant description of loss and life beyond it. Tears streamed down my face at raw, abject desolation faced by Liko and at some point Danelaw Strong.
A dichotomy of personalities. A yin-yang of physicality, something akin to “Ardhnarishwar”
Mythology has it that Hindu god couple -Shiva & Parvati were both halves in one body, such was their amalgamation. Dane kinda reminds me of that. He alone is an entire universe in himself.
But his heart is lonely and grappling with abandonment. The way his soul responds and attaches to Liko’s, propels him into a dizzying orbit of sentiments that takes him a while to decipher. Unshackling from his guilt takes time, but once they connect, it’s a delightful sigh of relief for all of us. Maisie , huff, saskia, even Ethan.
“Well I'm a thing. Add I’d like to be the next”
No matter how much I wax poetic, I can never truly capture the beauty of what I just read and walked through.
My 79+ highlights of the book should be an indicator of how engrossed and consumed I was from start to finish
“Kilo Coil Stars from Danelaw’s mission of peace”
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Suanne dazzles you with well penned prose inspired by archeological marvel of “Three Hares” . It intrigues her and she passes that mystery to us
The problem with such a rich buffet of literature is that it ruins your appetite for anything that follows. I took my time savoring all morsels, going back for second reads, sometimes taking a break between chapters to make it fit into my real world. Whenever you open one of Suzanne’s books, the world ceases to exist beyond its pages. The impact settles in like a thick fog keeping me in daze for years to come.
“It’s beyond realism. It’s hyper-realism. He calls it pathological perfectionism.”
I was captivated from page one. The Violet Eyed fox- Liko Greenman is grief stricken, unmoored human. Trying to survive on one breath at a time, till a mysterious letter holds his shoulder and points him towards Shoenfeld Farms to find that elusive clue to his son's obsession with the game, to find a purpose to keep breathing, a trampoline to keep bouncing.
I’ve yet to read a more poignant description of loss and life beyond it. Tears streamed down my face at raw, abject desolation faced by Liko and at some point Danelaw Strong.
A dichotomy of personalities. A yin-yang of physicality, something akin to “Ardhnarishwar”
Mythology has it that Hindu god couple -Shiva & Parvati were both halves in one body, such was their amalgamation. Dane kinda reminds me of that. He alone is an entire universe in himself.
But his heart is lonely and grappling with abandonment. The way his soul responds and attaches to Liko’s, propels him into a dizzying orbit of sentiments that takes him a while to decipher. Unshackling from his guilt takes time, but once they connect, it’s a delightful sigh of relief for all of us. Maisie , huff, saskia, even Ethan.
“Well I'm a thing. Add I’d like to be the next”
No matter how much I wax poetic, I can never truly capture the beauty of what I just read and walked through.
My 79+ highlights of the book should be an indicator of how engrossed and consumed I was from start to finish
“Kilo Coil Stars from Danelaw’s mission of peace”
Follow me on:
Email🌻 Bookbub 🌻 Twitter🌻 Instagram🌻 Blog🌻 Facebook🌻 Amazon 🌻
December 21, 2025
I insist on giving this book infinite stars.
It's impossible to adequately review something with so much depth. My soul doesn't have sufficient words for how much this story affected me.
I listen to instrumental music while reading. Sometimes a song will play at exactly the right time to really build a perfect backdrop/soundtrack.
I created a playlist based on the songs that hit hard during specific scenes in the book.
You can find it here:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5ou...
For a breakdown of what songs went where:
Track 1: Dane & Liko's song for me
Track 2: Chapter: The Wrong Way
Track 3: Where Naomi invents her family tree
Track 4: Chapter: Blaschko's Lines
Track 5: Chapter: The Graylock Protocol
Track 6: Catharsis while reading
Track 7: General vibes
Track 8: Chapter: Tinner Wheeled
Track 9: Chapter: Paderborn
Track 10: The portrait of Kyle unveiled
Track 11: Suanne's author note
Track 12: Post-read book hangover
Track 13: Random feels while reading
It's impossible to adequately review something with so much depth. My soul doesn't have sufficient words for how much this story affected me.
I listen to instrumental music while reading. Sometimes a song will play at exactly the right time to really build a perfect backdrop/soundtrack.
I created a playlist based on the songs that hit hard during specific scenes in the book.
You can find it here:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5ou...
For a breakdown of what songs went where:
Track 1: Dane & Liko's song for me
Track 2: Chapter: The Wrong Way
Track 3: Where Naomi invents her family tree
Track 4: Chapter: Blaschko's Lines
Track 5: Chapter: The Graylock Protocol
Track 6: Catharsis while reading
Track 7: General vibes
Track 8: Chapter: Tinner Wheeled
Track 9: Chapter: Paderborn
Track 10: The portrait of Kyle unveiled
Track 11: Suanne's author note
Track 12: Post-read book hangover
Track 13: Random feels while reading
November 16, 2025
I've had to let the book sink in a bit before saying anything about it - but it doesn't get easier. There is just so much I could write about, so much to consider, so much to feel!
It's definitely an emotional story. You want to know how the book is going to be? Just read the first part of the blurb. Go ahead, I'll wait...
This sets the tone and the rest is a mild yet wild journey through life, time, memories and love. Definitely worth your time, definitely lots to think about, lots to feel.
So yes, you've taken the first step and read the blurb. The book itself will be worth it. Not easy. Emotional. Absolutely worth it.
It's definitely an emotional story. You want to know how the book is going to be? Just read the first part of the blurb. Go ahead, I'll wait...
This sets the tone and the rest is a mild yet wild journey through life, time, memories and love. Definitely worth your time, definitely lots to think about, lots to feel.
So yes, you've taken the first step and read the blurb. The book itself will be worth it. Not easy. Emotional. Absolutely worth it.
November 28, 2025
Complex and stunning!
I can’t even begin to give voice to how brilliant this book is. Even the weakest of threads are made strong when they’re woven into a tapestry of love and care. Dane, Ethan, and Nomi were wounded hares, finding solace in each other. Now on his own, Dane is surprised to find a place in his heart for Liko Greenman. The Green Man. Their story is one of healing through the green sprouts springing from the black soil, and the fellowship of shared loss. The way the author unfurls Dane and Liko’s love is breathtaking. It’s a gorgeous thing to receive a peek at the building trust, not only between Dane and Liko, but also between Dane, Ethan, and Nomi in epic flashbacks.
I can’t even begin to give voice to how brilliant this book is. Even the weakest of threads are made strong when they’re woven into a tapestry of love and care. Dane, Ethan, and Nomi were wounded hares, finding solace in each other. Now on his own, Dane is surprised to find a place in his heart for Liko Greenman. The Green Man. Their story is one of healing through the green sprouts springing from the black soil, and the fellowship of shared loss. The way the author unfurls Dane and Liko’s love is breathtaking. It’s a gorgeous thing to receive a peek at the building trust, not only between Dane and Liko, but also between Dane, Ethan, and Nomi in epic flashbacks.
Read
December 8, 2025I took my sweet time with this. RTC.
December 19, 2025
Absolutely stunning! RTC
December 20, 2025
Just finished. A feast to be savored. There is no better world builder than Suanne Laqueur. RTC.
December 1, 2025
Reading The Great Dane was truly an experience to be savored. I felt that each character and their circumstances were given dignity, so much dignity, through the often agonizing pain, the love and loss. It is a true work of brilliance; I learned, I loved, I cried and mourned, I celebrated. Thank you for the advance offering, The Great Dane is epic. Dare I say it is Suanne's Soup? I mean Suanne's Opus! All the stars.
December 15, 2025
When I sit down to write a review for a Suanne Laqueur book, I freeze. My thoughts seem insufficient and the words won’t come. I seem incapable of more than “I loved it!” But I’ll try, because I really, really loved it.
The Great Dane is so beautifully written. It’s deeply emotional and cleverly crafted, pulling me into the story so completely, I felt as though I was part of that world. I never wanted to leave. Liko and Dane are such wonderful characters, and while it took me a little longer to connect with Dane, I fell completely in love with his beautiful soul. These two men have both suffered great loss. Their grief is so intense, it’s almost tangible. But there’s such beauty in their healing.
The Three Hares is one of the most special elements of this story to me. The tales, the images, the Hare Ring, the Chamber of the Green Man. The stories of these three hares and their bond. It’s quite brilliant and beautiful and heartbreaking, and it gives so much depth and hope to this story.
This is so much more than a five-star book. It’s phenomenal.
The Great Dane is so beautifully written. It’s deeply emotional and cleverly crafted, pulling me into the story so completely, I felt as though I was part of that world. I never wanted to leave. Liko and Dane are such wonderful characters, and while it took me a little longer to connect with Dane, I fell completely in love with his beautiful soul. These two men have both suffered great loss. Their grief is so intense, it’s almost tangible. But there’s such beauty in their healing.
The Three Hares is one of the most special elements of this story to me. The tales, the images, the Hare Ring, the Chamber of the Green Man. The stories of these three hares and their bond. It’s quite brilliant and beautiful and heartbreaking, and it gives so much depth and hope to this story.
This is so much more than a five-star book. It’s phenomenal.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews