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Venery: the Series
Kindle Edition
Published December 12, 2021
About the author
Suanne Laqueur
28 books1,588 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 of 1 review
December 21, 2021
An Exaltation of Larks
Suanne Laqueuer is a master of characterization and storytelling. She lays the foundation for a character so beautifully with so much depth and layers. The same can be said about her storytelling. Her stories are not just a story with a simple premise that's been told before. No. I experienced that in The Fish Tales. They are unique and powerful.
Here in An Exaltation Of Larks she took risks and chose topics, that were authentic and sensitive but handled them with such care, that after I finished the book I can only bow down and applaud because of its originality.
Alex, Val and Jav were three well developed characters with so much story to tell. Laqueuer succeeded it brilliantly by letting them be a part of two very important events in history. The reader also follows these three amazing people for over twenty years. That only strengthened my connection to them and I was invested in their journey. Both Alex and Jav were dealt some horrible cards but definitely made the best with what they got.
Alex and Val's connection were instantly. They grew up together when Alex moved in at eleven years and they formed a bond. Despite Alex's emotional and mentally scars, that affected him throughout his life he was always there for the Lark family. Especially Val. Jav was definitely a character that pulled at my heartstrings. Luckily he met Gloria. A wonderful and intelligent woman who saw the best qualities in Jav and changed his life. He was a solitary man who experienced losses in the most tragic ways.
I loved how seamlessly Alex, Val and Jav's stories intertwined with one another. Just like the characters I got the feeling that it was meant to be. They were meant to be a part of each other's lives. Especially Alex and Jav had a lot in common. I enjoyed that Laqueuer chose to got that route and explore their feelings and the impact they had on one another. It was obvious that both Alex and Val gravitated towards Jav but it was so much more between the two men.
I can't tell how much I loved all the characters not just Alex, Val and Jav but also the secondary characters. They were all important to their journey. And that ending. Phenomenal.
Once again I'm blown away. Mesmerized by Laqueuer's writing and storytelling which was poignant and extraordinary. Flawlessly written from start to finish. Her words jumps off the pages and takes hold of me. Like a dance. Reading a book of hers is unlike anything else. I connect with the characters, live vicariously through them and experience everything. Suanne Laqueuer truly is an artist and this work was a piece of art.
5 Magnificent Stars
A Charm of Finches
I know that when I read a book by Suanne Laqueur, that I need to prepare myself for something unique and brilliant. This was also the case with A Charm Of Finches. Laqueur is truly a gifted writer and storyteller.
Already at 6% and my emotions were in turmoil. I quickly established a connection with her characters and then there was no way back. I immersed myself in them and their story they had to tell.
Every character I met were deep and complex. Laqueur peels layers off these people meticulously which allows the reader to see a vulnerable and exposed side of them. When they’re at their worst and best.
Laqueur weaves world events into the story effortlessly so it’s applicable for the characters. It becomes a part of their history which shaped and influenced them.
I lived and breathed for Geno, Stef, Jav, Stav and Micah. I could continue mentioning names cause there were so many fabulous characters. As they became each other’s tribe they immediately became mine.
Their separate stories slowly intertwined with each other’s and it was executed flawlessly.
My heart broke for Geno and how his innocence was stripped and taken away from him. His journey to reclaim his voice, accepting his past and present was the heart of the story. Stef was his therapist but became so much more to Geno. As did the other characters.
Along their story another powerful one unfolded. A love story between Stef and Jav. I loved Javier in An Exaltation Of Larks and in A Charm Of Finches he and Steffen Finch captured and stole my heart completely. Their relationship was a thing of beauty. Their love was honest and real to me. Something truly remarkable thanks to Laqueur’s eloquent and exquisite prose that made me fall in love right along with Jav and Stef.
Yet again Suanne Laqueur has left me in awe. Her storytelling is brave and her narrative strong and on point. She has a vision for her story and with A Charm Of Finches she excels.
5+ Gelang Stars
A Scarcity of Condors
Taking authentic historical events such as Pinochet and Operation Condor and building a story around it is not an easy task. As with the other two books in the Venery series I can honestly say that Suanne Laqueur has created yet another phenomenal book.
A Scarcity of Condors doesn’t hold back but goes all in. My emotions was a punching bag. I felt it ALL! I lived and breathed for these characters. For Jude and his family.
What happens when you’re not who you think you are? Jude discovers his parents are not his biological mother and father. Then weave in the horrific events under Pinochet’s reign and a man discovering and finding biological heritage. A tour de force on my emotions.
To me A Scarcity of Condors is first and foremost a love story. Between lovers. New and old and of course the love of a strong family. The Tholet family is LOVE. Screw what DNA and blood says.
This family has been through hate, torture, losses and still they love and forgive.
A Scarcity of Condors isn’t just the journey of Jude but also of his parents Penny and Cléon.
It’s part of the Venery series and can be read as a stand-alone but I strongly recommend to read the other books. They are just as brilliant and for me I found little treats in each of them including in A Scarcity of Condors.
To end this review I’ll answer a question the author asks in her acknowledgments. Yes, you got it right! Epically so.
5+ This is Our Family Stars
Suanne Laqueuer is a master of characterization and storytelling. She lays the foundation for a character so beautifully with so much depth and layers. The same can be said about her storytelling. Her stories are not just a story with a simple premise that's been told before. No. I experienced that in The Fish Tales. They are unique and powerful.
Here in An Exaltation Of Larks she took risks and chose topics, that were authentic and sensitive but handled them with such care, that after I finished the book I can only bow down and applaud because of its originality.
Alex, Val and Jav were three well developed characters with so much story to tell. Laqueuer succeeded it brilliantly by letting them be a part of two very important events in history. The reader also follows these three amazing people for over twenty years. That only strengthened my connection to them and I was invested in their journey. Both Alex and Jav were dealt some horrible cards but definitely made the best with what they got.
Alex and Val's connection were instantly. They grew up together when Alex moved in at eleven years and they formed a bond. Despite Alex's emotional and mentally scars, that affected him throughout his life he was always there for the Lark family. Especially Val. Jav was definitely a character that pulled at my heartstrings. Luckily he met Gloria. A wonderful and intelligent woman who saw the best qualities in Jav and changed his life. He was a solitary man who experienced losses in the most tragic ways.
I loved how seamlessly Alex, Val and Jav's stories intertwined with one another. Just like the characters I got the feeling that it was meant to be. They were meant to be a part of each other's lives. Especially Alex and Jav had a lot in common. I enjoyed that Laqueuer chose to got that route and explore their feelings and the impact they had on one another. It was obvious that both Alex and Val gravitated towards Jav but it was so much more between the two men.
I can't tell how much I loved all the characters not just Alex, Val and Jav but also the secondary characters. They were all important to their journey. And that ending. Phenomenal.
Once again I'm blown away. Mesmerized by Laqueuer's writing and storytelling which was poignant and extraordinary. Flawlessly written from start to finish. Her words jumps off the pages and takes hold of me. Like a dance. Reading a book of hers is unlike anything else. I connect with the characters, live vicariously through them and experience everything. Suanne Laqueuer truly is an artist and this work was a piece of art.
5 Magnificent Stars
A Charm of Finches
I know that when I read a book by Suanne Laqueur, that I need to prepare myself for something unique and brilliant. This was also the case with A Charm Of Finches. Laqueur is truly a gifted writer and storyteller.
Already at 6% and my emotions were in turmoil. I quickly established a connection with her characters and then there was no way back. I immersed myself in them and their story they had to tell.
Every character I met were deep and complex. Laqueur peels layers off these people meticulously which allows the reader to see a vulnerable and exposed side of them. When they’re at their worst and best.
Laqueur weaves world events into the story effortlessly so it’s applicable for the characters. It becomes a part of their history which shaped and influenced them.
I lived and breathed for Geno, Stef, Jav, Stav and Micah. I could continue mentioning names cause there were so many fabulous characters. As they became each other’s tribe they immediately became mine.
Their separate stories slowly intertwined with each other’s and it was executed flawlessly.
My heart broke for Geno and how his innocence was stripped and taken away from him. His journey to reclaim his voice, accepting his past and present was the heart of the story. Stef was his therapist but became so much more to Geno. As did the other characters.
Along their story another powerful one unfolded. A love story between Stef and Jav. I loved Javier in An Exaltation Of Larks and in A Charm Of Finches he and Steffen Finch captured and stole my heart completely. Their relationship was a thing of beauty. Their love was honest and real to me. Something truly remarkable thanks to Laqueur’s eloquent and exquisite prose that made me fall in love right along with Jav and Stef.
Yet again Suanne Laqueur has left me in awe. Her storytelling is brave and her narrative strong and on point. She has a vision for her story and with A Charm Of Finches she excels.
5+ Gelang Stars
A Scarcity of Condors
Taking authentic historical events such as Pinochet and Operation Condor and building a story around it is not an easy task. As with the other two books in the Venery series I can honestly say that Suanne Laqueur has created yet another phenomenal book.
A Scarcity of Condors doesn’t hold back but goes all in. My emotions was a punching bag. I felt it ALL! I lived and breathed for these characters. For Jude and his family.
What happens when you’re not who you think you are? Jude discovers his parents are not his biological mother and father. Then weave in the horrific events under Pinochet’s reign and a man discovering and finding biological heritage. A tour de force on my emotions.
To me A Scarcity of Condors is first and foremost a love story. Between lovers. New and old and of course the love of a strong family. The Tholet family is LOVE. Screw what DNA and blood says.
This family has been through hate, torture, losses and still they love and forgive.
A Scarcity of Condors isn’t just the journey of Jude but also of his parents Penny and Cléon.
It’s part of the Venery series and can be read as a stand-alone but I strongly recommend to read the other books. They are just as brilliant and for me I found little treats in each of them including in A Scarcity of Condors.
To end this review I’ll answer a question the author asks in her acknowledgments. Yes, you got it right! Epically so.
5+ This is Our Family Stars
Displaying 1 of 1 review