Athena > Recent Status Updates

The book ended on such a good note too. Love it

Overall very captivating it certainly kept me on edge and definitely had me thinking about ghosts and dark magic. That is one field I wouldn’t like to explore but this book was so good I couldn’t put it down most of the time. When Mallory would describe someone watching her and putting yourself in her shoes would definitely scare me. I’m glad I read this book though it had kept me on edge SO much.

“As she wrote, her engagement ring glinted in the light from the candle that burned on the desk.” Awwww Mallory and Armand being engaged at the book was so fitting from the beginning she thought herself unloveable but it ending with her married and settled while her sister who she thought would be settled before her was traveling with Fletcher and Constantino.

... “There were times I thought maybe it was mutual, but in actuality … you were … what? Being nice, so I wouldn’t murder you?” Damn I never saw it from his POV he really must have thought Malory was tolerating him instead of actually liking him. He really outed his feelings where everyone was there listening and yet she didn’t say yes or no to his proposal on being courted.

Armand repeated, discouraged. “How illuminating. Because unlike you, I’ve spent every moment since we met searching for ways to see you, to talk to you. Wondering what might make you want to stay after the job was finished. Trying to convey how much I enjoy your company, how much I—” He let out an unruly laugh—a little flustered, a little angry....

“You play the icy part well, but I see now there is a fire burning deep. It just required the right lover to stoke the flame.” “I am not fooled. You have a romantic’s soul, no matter how you try to hide it.” Awwww Mallory being a romantic inside was so sweet. So Armand and Mallory do love each other but Armand gets possessed sometimes and tries to kill her.

“First you tell me there is this awful darkness inside of me, and I already tried to kill the first girl I have ever—” He stopped. OHHH OHH ngl I bought it. I thought this was the real Armand (it was).

“As he said it, twin splotches of pink bloomed on his cheeks. Was he thinking of their kiss? Or of how he’d tried to kill her? Did he even know that he had tried to kill her?” I really had no idea and was hoping it wasn’t the latter. But goodness being in Mallory’s POV would have been scary.

Mallory scrunched up her shoulders. “I don’t know. I guess innocent girls shouldn’t be so easily taken in by a pair of pretty blue eyes.”
Anaïs punched her in the arm. “You hypocrite.”
Anaïs devoured her sister here 😭

I guess I didn’t trust anyone after that betrayal.

“He did not try to kill you. I’ve been watching, and Armand is a sweet boy. Likely the kindest soul to ever come out of that accursed family.” Gaberille Sovoy being alive and their great grandmother was so shocking and the fact that she was vouching for Armand made me rethink a little. Triphene sis not especially when she said she didn’t trust the 2 boys that helped Mallory with the werewolf and Armand.

“If she ever saw Armand Saphir again, she was going to murder him.” YESSSS AS SHE SHOULD AFTER THAT BETRAYAL AND THOSE LIES.

“She felt her world splintering. He’d seemed so earnest. So trustworthy. But he had lied to her about everything—taken her for every kind of fool. All this time, she’d thought she was conning him, when really, she’d been the mark all along.” So he lied about everything, he wasn’t even rich 😭. Girl I get her rage. I guess the con artist becomes a victim.

“Slowly, the events of the night settled in her thoughts. He knew. He knew that she and Anaïs were descended not only from witches, but from the very witch who had escaped Bastien all those years ago. Gabrielle Savoy.”
So either Anaïse or Mallory dies to finish the spell as of right now. But how did he know?

“I am so very glad that you came,” he murmured. “I had thought I would need another wife, but no … not if I can have you, or your sister. With that precious Savoy blood.” With fear and adrenaline scorching through her veins, Mallory almost didn’t register his words. Savoy blood. Her insides knotted. He knew. How did he know?
I gasped this book just had more plot twists, my brain turned off after that betrayal

I genuinely didn’t sleep for another hour after reading this. I didn’t expect him to be so cruel I assumed he would be evil but just not this evil

“You’re afraid of me.”
“N-no. I’m not afraid.”
But then Armand smiled, his mouth pulling to one side. His eyes darkened into something taunting. If desire had been kindling inside Mallory, it now hardened into icy fear. He dipped his head closer to her. She tried to draw back, but his hand caught her elbow, pulling her close as his brow pressed against hers.
“You should be,” he whispered.
I was SHOCKED.

“Le Bleu?” Julie’s tone carried a tinge of revulsion, even as weariness passed across her face. “You really do not know.” Her lips began to tremble. Her voice became paper thin. “It was Armand who married me. Armand who killed … m-me…” when she confirmed Armand killed her I genuinely felt like my heart was pulled out of my chest. I was betrayed and I was played so easily.

"Gods alive, she liked him. She liked him so much. His curiosity. The way he flustered so easily. His bravery in the face of monsters. His willingness to believe her, no matter how many times she lied to him. The way he’d kissed her, as though she was both fragile and dangerous at the same time” LEGENDARY LOVERS with a sprinkle of betrayal

I didn’t want to believe it I really thought it was Le Bleu who transformed into shaman just to kill Julie even if it was not possible. I really didn’t want to believe Armand for such crimes

“All the signs were there. The way Julie had talked about her beau, like a knight coming to rescue her, like he was too good to be true. The pressed flower in her prayer book. The ring hidden beneath Armand’s vanity.” AHHHHH MALLY GIRL stay away he is filling you up with sweet words he’s evil.

“These dresses you wear,” he said, his voice rough, “have been driving me positively mad.” Armand’s plate was clean, dried, and ready to be used again after this. 😭 I fell for his scheme

“She could do anything. Kill him. Kiss him. He was at her mercy, and yet—he did not seem afraid.” Tell me why I through all caution out my brain when I read this. My brain literally wiped Armand’s plate clean and forgot he murdered a girl after toying with her heart.

“A practical part of her mind signaled that seeing blood on Armand’s hands was a very bad thing. The rest of her mind noted that seeing him half-dressed was … less bad.” NO MALLORY NO. Please don’t fall for him. HE KILLED JULIE DONT BE THE NEXT VICTIM.

I was starting to get a bad vibe from here and honestly I was starting to get a little scared after this scene. I truly didn’t expect him to get angry at Mallory for performing the investigation.

When she didn’t respond, hurt swept over his features. Then irritation. A muscle jumped in his jaw, but he inclined his head. “The indigo salon it is.”
Armand had been in the greenhouse, gathering medicinal ingredients for Mallory’s wounds. He appeared rather put-out as he told her this, still resentful that she could suspect him.

“He was most peculiar indeed. And she … she liked him. In spite of it. Because of it.” I love a little grumpy black cat vibe mixed with golden retriever vibe. However the tables were flipped which I enjoyed even more.

“We are not delicate maidens who swoon at the mention of bloodshed.” I really love how Mallory was not a weak witch. Instead she relied on herself more than she did others defending herself and using tools at her disposal even when she did not have her powers.

Armand grabbed a small iron table and dragged it into the tree’s shade, followed by two chairs. “I am yours to command. Whatever I can do to assist you, I will.” AHHHHHH LEGENDARY LOVERS

“I can’t explain how I know it,” said Armand, “but I know you can help me. And I feel you might be the only one who can. As though … as though we are already connected, somehow.” So Armand had killing lines I see why Mallory fell for him.