My rating: 4/5 stars
First of all, please don’t laugh at me—I started this book without realizing it was part of the Castle Hill Academy universe. I simply saw that it was written by Emma Scott and decided to give it a try, that’s all! 🙂 I have a history with Emma; I’ve read most of her books, and I appreciate the depth, emotion, intricate plots, and character development that she brings like no other author.
I really loved the previous book featuring Emery and Xander. It addressed many sensitive topics and made me cry. This series has a significant depth and evokes so many emotions that it can be quite draining. Harper and Orion were side characters in the earlier book, but now they are getting the chance to tell their own story. The plot isn’t entirely new; it mirrors the storyline of “Little Pieces of Light,” but this time, it is told from their perspective, showcasing their own drama and love.
Harper is a Bender, and her arrival at Castle Hill Academy is part of a mission she must complete. With the responsibility of taking care of her younger brother and dealing with her mother’s struggles with alcoholism, Harper doesn’t have the luxury of distractions. However, the weight of her mission is a lot for an 18-year-old to handle. She isn’t focused on fitting in; her goal is to finish high school and enter MIT or NYU, so she can earn enough money to support her family.
Orion’s story is complex and tragic. Despite coming from a wealthy family, he is deeply unhappy and struggles with an illness he cannot control. For the past ten years, he has been diagnosed with ADHD, and his academic performance has suffered because no one has helped him manage it. The only thing that brings him solace is music—playing the piano allows him to immerse himself in the notes and tones that resonate with him far more than letters and numbers ever could. However, despite his passion for music, his family business does not support his artistic calling. Therefore, he must complete his studies and admit to Cambridge.
Orion and Harper are a complex couple from very different worlds, and their personalities reflect that. Harper is more true to herself than Orion. He believes that his ADHD is a problem, a curse, making him feel stupid and unqualified to bear the Mercer name. To cope, he adopts a mask of humor and avoidance, running away from responsibility to deceive himself. Orion is the one who struggles; he knows his calling but is afraid to take risks and step outside his comfort zone into a world where people won’t know he is a Mercer. He desires protection but will ultimately learn that taking risks will lead to his freedom. Harper is fearlessly protecting her brother, baring the responsibility of raising him, with having a selfish mom who doesn’t deserve them. She is taking care of them, studying, trying to enter a good college and in the same time, falling in love with a beautiful broken boy who needs his true self to be free.
I truly loved this couple and appreciated the differences between them, as well as the depth of the emotions they share. The emotional chapters reveal their struggles, but also the sweetness of their love. Their connection is touching and tender, and it can melt your heart and even bring tears to your eyes. Each character faces their own battles and dramas, yet they find solace in one another in a beautifully poetic and sensitive way. I love seeing Xander, Emery and Dean (:((() again, and I also loved Ezra and his influence on both Harper’s and Orion’s lives, even if at the beginning I was not very excited about him. 😀
Ramonisme 