Wow, what a great conclusion to this story. I adored it and honestly didn't want it to end. Suanne's writing was amazing. I definitely plan on checking out other works if she has any. I can't wait to go back to the start and re-read this story again.

4.5 stars!

I discovered Suanne Laqueur in 2018, when I requested an ARC of A Charm of Finches, the second in the Venery series. And boy, oh, boy, how I fell in love with that book and the characters! Javier, Alex, and Val became so close to my heart, I don’t even know where to start! But I realized that it was the second in the series a tad bit too late, just as I realized that you could read it on its own too. Reading the first one only gave you extra insight into the minds of the characters.

When I saw that the third in this series, A Scarcity of Condors, was available for request, I immediately snapped it up. And what a wise decision it was!

A Scarcity of Condors is the story of Juleon ‘Jude’ Tholet, whose family fled Chile to Vancouver, Canada, in 1973 when he was just a baby, after his parents suffered atrocities at the hands of Dictator Augusto Pinochet’s armies. But Jude’s worries weren’t over. Him trying to figure out his sexuality results in a horrid case of bullying and harassment, which makes the Tholets flee yet again; this time, into America.

The past comes calling and when this happens, Jude finds himself spiraling. But when this past holds hands with past of his parents as both come crashing down on the Tholet family, it seems like everything is at stake, and that everything is about to be lost. What the Tholets decide to do, and what Easter eggs the author has placed in there form the story.

And oh my god. I finished this book at 5 in the AM and I was not okay. That’s the most basic thing I could say, but it’s true! I let out such a startled yelp when I realized what Suanne Laqueur was on about that it made me grateful that I was the only one in the room. Oh my, that revelation that dawned on me had me bawling at an ungodly hour and posting an Instagram story demanding of the author, “How dare you make me feel things?” What an idiot I am! But Suanne Laqueur was kind enough to laugh it away. I’m still a little sorry, Suanne. You know I love your writing!

To be honest, I am so in love with the characters from An Exaltation of Larks and A Charm of Finches that when they didn’t appear in the first half, I was a little disappointed. It was also that the book dragged a little while being repetitive. But I now wonder if the reason I felt that it dragged was because I was waiting for one of the earlier characters to appear? They didn’t, so, I cannot do anything about it.

The gut-wrenching stories, though! Be it Jude’s or his father’s or his mother’s – they will clench at your heart and make you want to gather all of them and squish them in one giant hug. You’ll want to make their pain go away. All you want to do is fill their lives with love. Don’t get me wrong, their lives have love – they love each other after all. The familial love is almost painful to see, if you know what I mean. But I mean I wanted to see that romantic love that I’ve been seeing in all of Suanne Laqueur’s books so far.

I’m actually speechless at this book because I think Suanne Laqueur outdoes herself with each book she writes. I don’t know what else to say because the emotions that Laqueur puts into the books will hit you between the eyes, come at your heart, pull out your guts, and knock you off your feet, all while giving you a warm embrace that you will melt into. You will willingly give yourself up to everything that the Venery series has to offer you. Read one book and the next book will have you come running at a mere crook of a finger. These books are THAT addictive!

I don’t know if I’ve sold this book and this series to you, but you should definitely give the Venery series a try, because if you do start it, remember that A Scarcity of Condors lies in wait for you, waiting to tackle you with a love you didn’t think you’d feel!

Wow! I think this powerful heart breaking book is one of the best I have read this year.
Before I continue with the review, some warnings about the content - this book contains vivid descriptions of torture, sexual assault and rape as parts of the story are set during the Pinochet regime in Chile as well as a brutal hate crime and it is certainly not for the faint of heart. That said the scenes are in no way gratuitous but rather an essential part of the story and key to understanding several of the characters.
The book focuses on Jude Cholet, a young man of Chilean extraction who fled to Canada from Chile with his parents following the imprisonment and torture of his father and a violent attack on his pregnant mother by soldiers of the Pinochet regime. As the family rebuilds their life and becomes part of a thriving Chilean community Jude realises that he is gay, something that he feels compelled to hide until one day his secret is discovered and he is brutally attacked ,which forces his family to flee yet again, this time to the USA.
Years later Jude is shocked to discover that he is not biologically related to the only parents he knows , and so begins a powerful and painful investigation into who he really is and how he ended up with the family, an investigation that will force not only Jude but also his parents to revisit the most traumatic and terrifying times of their lives.
I cannot remember the last time I picked up a book as compelling as this, I was completely invested in Jude and his family, and incredibly moved by their experiences and struggles. All of the characters were so believable and their relationships to one another so real that I had to remind myself that these people were fictional. I also really enjoyed watching love blossom between Jude and Tej, it brought lightness , warmth and humour to what could have been an incredibly bleak story providing much needed relief.
I have not read any of the author's previous books but I intend to remedy that as soon as possible, if they are all as good as this I am in for a rare treat.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I don't exactly know how to tell you how absolutely, positively, thoroughly, wholly and entirely I adored this book experience. This third installment in the Venery series gives us Jude and the Tholet's...and Tej...I totally fell for Jude and his broody self and I don't think there is anyone more quintessential for him than Tej. I think I knew all along who Jude was and it was completely heartbreaking to watch Penny come to grips with what happened. I was reduced to a blubbering mess more times than I care to admit. I utterly inhaled this series. I forgot I was reading and that right there is a sign of a extraordinary writer. Thanks SLQR for sharing your gift :)
Thank you to Netgalley and Suanne Laqueur for my ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

Another fantastic read from one of my favorite authors. Nobody writes a family as familiar and quirky as your own like Suanne Laqueur. It's like you're sitting inside each of her characters and you KNOW them, while they wrap you into where they are going like a blanket. Sometimes you feel the need to kick your feet out because it's heavy, or it's hot, or it's just to get the blood flowing since you've been in the same position for so long. If she writes it, I'll read it. There aren't a lot of Authors I can say that about. There was some heavy lifting in this book and it was done really well, I learned some things, I googled some things and then learned some more about a chapter in history that I had not really known much about. I was invested in these characters, I rooted for them and I love how this story came together so smartly with the previous...... like a puzzle piece clicks in and you get that satisfaction of accomplishment... and it's not even MY accomplishment, but it's there nonetheless. I would not hesitate to recommend this book along or w/the Venery Series of books. Thank you to the Publisher for offering this to advance reading and to the Author for another wonderful book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the book. Suanne is one of the few authors I actually enjoy LGBT genre. She pulls me into the emotional turmoil and beauty of her words.

I liked this one. Easy to read and a decent story. I'd read further books by the author. I'm rating it 3/5 stars.

Great writing and strong voice. Recommend if looking for a story that is as captivating as it is well-written.

What an amazing book!!!! Susanne is seriously one of my favorite writers and I’m floored by each book she releases!

Disclaimer: I'm not going to be able to do this book justice with this review.

I went in warily since reviews were mixed and my own past experiences with this author have been uneven. To be perfectly frank, Ms. Laqueur has a penchant for penning painful books that tend to wring me out emotionally so I've learned to gird my loins. Her writing is some of the best there is, lyrical at times and evocative to the very end.

Why are these women here dancing on their own?
Why is there this sadness in their eyes?
Why are the soldiers here
Their faces fixed like stone?
I can't see what it is they despise
Dancing with the missing
They're dancing with the dead
They dance with the invisible ones
Their anguish is unsaid
They're dancing with their fathers
They're dancing with their sons
Dancing with their husbands
They dance alone
They dance alone

A Scarcity of Condors was no different than the previous two books in this series in that regard but this one carved out a special place in my heart and maybe, just maybe, turned me into a fan. No one was more surprised by this development than I since not only is this not a romance but it also delves deep into a very painful period in Chile's history filled with rape, genocide and unimaginable tortures during the reign of Pinochet.

So, you can imagine my surprise when I found myself not just engrossed, not just unable to put it down but moved to tears more than once usually over fairly innocuous exchanges between the characters.

These characters are exceptionally crafted and without that the whole thing would've fallen apart. The Tholets share the spotlight in A Scarcity of Condors. Penny and Cleón, the matriarch and patriarch of the family survived Operation Condor and fled to Canada with Jude in 1973 only to see their first born, Jude, survive a vile act of homophobia in high school forcing the Tholets to flee yet again to the U.S.

The narrative bounces around in time explaining their collective pasts, stirring into the mix the delightful and unflappable Serena Tholet, sister extraordinaire, as well as Tej Khoury. Tej is audacious and irresistible. He and Jude crash into each other and choose to stay crushed. Their chemistry is undeniable and I enjoyed their angst-free, genuine and heartfelt evolution from first-time into forever.

So there are romantic elements but by and large A Scarcity of Condors is a tour de force ensemble fiction that not only kicks over the rocks of humanity to examine the ugly underbelly but obliterates them. Ms. Laqueur rarely shies away from the darkness that exists in the human psyche but here she deftly paired it, again and again, with the triumphs over said darkness especially through reliance on family, however that may be defined or redefined, as it were.

One day we'll dance on their graves
One day we'll sing our freedom
One day we'll laugh in our joy
And we'll dance
One day we'll dance on their graves
One day we'll sing our freedom
One day we'll laugh in our joy
And we'll dance

~Sting

The Tholets were woven into the Venery thread seamlessly, like they'd been there all along and that too touched me. I'm even hopeful there will be another book forthcoming in this series. Technically this book could probably be read as a stand-alone but I don't think it will resonate as much without having read the previous two but especially An Exaltation of Larks, where the Pinochet storyline was introduced. In many ways, this seems like a venerable love letter to Chileans, particularly those that were disappeared.

If you're looking for a read that will dig its claws into you and not let go, look no further.

A copy was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

With A Scarcity of Condors Suanne Laquer threw down the proverbial gauntlet. I feel like she said; here it is, this nitty gritty story in all it's raw emotional glory. This evocative tale of so much loss and anguish but then finding something you never even knew was lost.

How could I not lose myself in this powerful story that is filled with so much historical importance and want to be able to protect Jude and those he loves from the harsh truths they are about to endure.

This series is truly one of the most compelling and deeply moving series I have ever read.

**Received review copy from NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed.**

I've heard a lot about this author bit never read any of her books. That will definitely be changing. This book was all good. The plot, the characters and the twists! I would definitely recommend!

I received this ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review

WOW, just WOW. I did not know this writer, had no expectations of this book, but boy am I glad I was allowed to read this one. I'm normally a very stoic reader, I go with the flow of emotions in a book, but tears? Never. But yes, you guessed it, I cried while reading this book. For me this is an epic tale full of emotions about a family fleeing multiple times over, carrying horrible things from their past on their shoulders yet they manage to be a loving and supporting family. Even when the ground gets swept from under them and it all feels like it's crashing down they endure. This is a book about resilience, endurance, acceptance and a great love in many forms. All told in beautiful words and rich sentences that keep you reading and reading. Some parts are hard to imagine and will squeeze your stomach if you try to, other parts are so filled with emotion it will squeeze your heart.

Jude Tholet is a child from Chilean refugees, his dad was tortured during the Pinochet regime and his mother gave birth in his absence. The fled to Canada, but after Jude is discovered as being gay they are forced to leave again. The story is told from Jude's pov and his struggles with all that has happened and from the point of view of his parents where, in flashbacks, you learn about their time in Chile.
I am not going to tell too much about the whole plot, just let yourself be surprised and moved.

*** an ARC was giving by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review ***

This was the book I didn't know I needed to read right now. Everything about it was perfect. From the gay characters to the "I'm not my parents' son" plot. And the Latin American backgroud. As a Latina, I approve. It was like going to a therapy session, I cried the whole time and felt better after that lol

Suanne Laquer's Venery series has been one of my favourites of the last several years, and I have gone back to reread the first two books multiple times. I was so excited by the release of the third, and A Scarcity of Condors was one of the most meaningful, captivating reads I've encountered in a long time. It was also one of the most difficult, although that is consistent with the other novels in the series. This one hit me harder than most, however. I found myself crying several times while I read, and it continues to haunt me.

I was so absorbed by Jude and the Tholets' story that I admit I didn't see the big reveal coming about his brother, although in retrospect I should have, considering how many times I've read An Exaltation of Larks and A Charm of Finches. Nevertheless I was swept up by Laquer's incredible characterizations and the sensitivity with which she writes incredibly painful, difficult topics such as Pinochet's regime and Operation Condor in Chile. It's a period of history I was not thoroughly familiar with, but it devastated me to hear it written about in such an intimate, horrifying way, and has become a gateway for me to learn more about the experiences of the Disappeared Ones and the terrible atrocities committed during that time, but also how Chile has begun to heal and thrive as a country in the aftermath.

I don't want to spoil the book too much, but I adored how Laquer wove together the characters' stories and continued the series. She is a deft, insightful writer, and I'm always thrilled by her dialogue in particular, which can be as hilarious as it is devastating. Truly this book will stay with me forever, and I can't wait to go back and read it a second (and third, and fourth) time. Absolutely powerful and cannot recommend it to others enough.

CAPTIVATING! I'm a huge fan of Suannes writing. Her ability to accurately weave history throughout Venery will leave you with a haunting craving for more. Highly rec! Thanks Netgalley for this opportunity to read!

You know how sometimes when you finish a book, you casually start scrolling through the rest of your books to see what to read next? Ready to move on. Then there are the books that when you finish, you sit there, still. Not ready to leave the characters, the setting, the story. A Scarcity of Condors definitely is a book in the later category for me.

I loved this book so much.

There is so much going on in this book I don’t even know where to begin. It’s part historical fiction (we learn a lot about Pinochet’s military coup in Chile in the 1970’s) but the main story takes place today, it is the perfect blend of both.

The main arc of the story is that after a DNA test, Jude Tholet learns that he is not the biological son of his mother Penny and his father, Cleon. His family pulls together to try and find out what happened on the fateful night that his mother gave birth in Chile.

It’s such an emotional read, both sad and heart wrenching and happy. In addition to the story of Chile, the love of family, the depth of human suffering, there is also a love story as Jude meets and falls in love with Tej. Their relationship builds as Jude tries to come to grips with who he is.

This is actually the third book in the Venery series. I will definitely be reading the first 2 books.

I received an ARC of the book.

Wow. I’ve been hearing so much y’all about this book. I was so excited to be able to get my hands on this book. It is unlike anything I usually read. I was very hesitant to start it, but honestly, it was amazing! I read it in one sitting! Now I can totally see what all the hype was about! I am so glad I took a chance on a book that was out of my comfort zone, and completely different from the normal genre’s I tend to gravitate towards!!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

One of the best books I have ever read. As a Chilean woman, this book hit in a very special way, very deep in my soul. I was born after the dictatorship, In a Chile in democracy (I’m part of the next generation) but I did inherit the stories of my parents and grandparents about what happened in those horrible years. I was afraid to go into this book and find a misrepresentation of this delicate period in the history of Chile ... and what a delight it was to find a book that addresses this in such an elegant and beautifully written way.

I cried more than once, I identified with that weight of being the heir to the fears of a generation that lived the worst of humanity. Jude is a beautiful, unique and amazing man who represents dozens of real people who were exiled with their families, leaving everything behind.

It’s a book about a generation that lives with the past in the present, always looking back but equally forced to look forward. And in a place where hope seems lost, family was one of the few pillars that kept many Chileans alive during the dictatorship.

Beautifully written, a book about family, strength, love, second chancescc and hope for a better tomorrow. I recommend this book from here to eternity, a masterpiece that you will not want to miss.

It’s definitely more of a 4.5.

CW: Very graphic descriptions of rape and torture during Operation Condor in Chile under the Pinochet regime and the effects of PTSD on the survivors; the MC is the victim of a hate crime

I have waited for this book for almost an year now, so ofcourse I had very high expectations from it. But after the beautiful experiences I had reading Larks and Finches, I was confident that the author would mesmerize me again with her words and I’m so glad she managed to do just that.

I have very vivid memories of crying buckets while reading the previous two books in this series, so I was very much prepared to do the same this time around. But maybe I have changed in the past year and a half, because while this book is still a tough, emotional, beautiful read, I ended up crying only at a few moments. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that there was not a single moment in the book where I wanted to put it down. Once I started reading, I knew I had to go on and I ended up staying up very very late in the night (or morning) to finish it. It horrified me, broke my heart, and then mended it with care and I can’t really ask anything more from a novel.

The author’s writing is mesmerizing and poetic as always, bringing to life the deep emotions being felt by the characters and making us feel connected to them. The author is absolutely wonderful in making us believe the love that characters feel for each other, and the impact they leave on us is very long lasting. But she is also brutal in describing the atrocities that were committed during the Pinochet regime in Chile and how this trauma has affected the survivors for decades after and through generations. It’s this narrative of beautiful relationships in a world that is oppressive and torturous, and how characters manage to find a way forward in their lives that makes this book (and this series) so affecting.

One thing you can be sure of in Suanne’s books, you will feel deeply for every single character, and it’s no different here. The Tholet’s are a family who have survived unbelievable atrocities which makes them very close to each other in their own ways and I absolutely adored the dynamic between them. They bickered, they argued, they broke down and shut off but when it mattered, they all had each other’s backs. Cleon and Penny suffer so much, leaving behind their homes and lives when their community turns against them on multiple occasions, but they always support and believe in each other and the family they nurture is just beautiful.

I can’t even describe what I felt about Jude. So much of his life is defined by what happened to his parents and then what happened to him, that it was a wonder how he was able to survive. And then life throws him another curve ball and I wasn’t sure how adversely he would be affected. But then comes Tej into his life like a whirlwind and I was again captivated by the development of their romance. As another child survivor of war, Tej and Jude complement each other perfectly and it was a joy watching them open up and fall in love. Jude’s sardonic wit and Tej’s eternal charm make for some lovely moments within a very tough tale full of uncertainty, loss and grief.

There are also some fun side characters who bring levity to the story, like Jude’s sister Serena and her Italian boyfriend or Jude’s best friend Hewan and her partner. Even Tej’s sister Mirelle’s dog is absolutely adorable. But it’s the resolution of one of the most intense arcs in the story which brings in cameos from the previous books in the series that completely blew me away and reminded me again why I love these books and characters so much.

To conclude, I firstly apologize for not saying anything coherent in my review because I just don’t have words. I’m completely in love with the story and characters and writing and I would highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys family sagas and romance for the ages. However, make sure you are prepared for some very very tough subjects that the author tackles sensitively but they will probably wreck you emotionally and leave you a sobbing mess. But I promise they are worth experiencing.