We Are Made of a Storm

Original title: Nous sommes faits d’orage

Author: Charrel, Marie

Publication Date:

August 2025

Pages:

400

Original language and publisher

French | Les Léonides

Territories Handled

Netherlands, North America, Scandinavia

Genre

Literary Fiction

We Are Made of a Storm

Original title: Nous sommes faits d’orage

Author: Charrel, Marie

Synopsis

In the remote mountains of Eastern Europe, generations of women have fought to break free from a legacy of silence and tragedy. But the ancient law of blood is clear: every act has a price.

Sarah doesn’t know exactly what she’s searching for in Albania. From her mother she has inherited a crumbling house and a final, urgent wish: “Find Elora”, a woman that seems to be dead for years, according to the people that knew her. Still, Sarah sees something in their eyes: fear, caution, secrets. What really happened to the girl no one wants to talk about?

Years earlier, under the suffocating grip of Enver Hoxha’s communist regime, Elora and her friend Agon made a vow: they would stay together, no matter what. But Elora longs for a freedom that, her mother warns her, isn’t meant for girls.

In a world ruled by men and the Kanun, the brutal code of blood vengeance, even dreaming can be dangerous. Elegantly constructed and told with exceptional grace, We Are Made of a Storm is a powerful, family saga about rebellion, memory, and the hidden voices of women.

We Are Made of a Storm is a sweeping generational saga that masterfully interweaves a compelling modern mystery with a historical narrative set against breathtaking Albanian landscapes. Marie Charrel introduces us to complex and deeply human characters grappling with their personal struggles against the backdrop of significant societal and political shifts. The novel explores themes of resilience, the weight of tradition, and the enduring power of familial bonds in the face of adversity.

Marketing Information

  • A captivating and moving unforgettable exploration of the strength and resilience of women striving to write their own histories in a land steeped in tradition
  • Her latest novel, Les Mangeurs de nuit (2023, L’Observatoire), was both a critical and commercial success, selling over 30,000 copies and winning several major awards