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charmon's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. This book is definitely going to stay with me for quite some time...I really enjoyed this book even though it completely tested me and broke my heart on multiple occasions. First, you have Orlando...sweet, sweet Orlando. He completely stole my heart the very first time I met him. Then you have Henri, who was also completely smitten with Orlando. Henri is a spirit of sorts to Orlando, and yet he wants to be friends and be around him. Orlando is currently ...which is sooo sad. Henri cannot have that, so he persuades Roger to go on an errand ; however this causes Henri to lose track of Orlando and he does not see him again for many years.
Then they find each other again. Now Orlando is 16, and having issues with a drug gang, so Henri steps in to help with such. This allows Orlando to actually get his first friend for a bit. Then we get to see Orlando grow into a beautiful dancer. There relationship is platonic mostly until Orland turns 18. How Henri is able to see Orlando on his birthday in human form does not sit right with Orlando, so they must come up with a way to make it better. Orlando's plan is terrible, and Orlando is almost hurt in the process, so they devise a way to make it more permanent.
Enter, Henri's body (Xavier), and now Henri and Orlando have a semblance of a real relationship. While all of this is happening, Orland has been excepted to a dance academy and is working on his passions. He is targeted by the instructor, Sergei, and Henri uncovers he is quite unsavory. Then after a bit Henri is summoned and told basically that there is a prophesy that says he will end up killing Orlando, so he leaves him...and of course this crushes Orlando.
Really, Orlando cannot cope, and he is young and lashes out, and of course Sergei is more than happy to take advantage and so an affair ensues, which is quite hard to read about and ends terribly with Henri coming to Orlando's rescue. Then Orlando gets it in his head to summon Henri's mom, who Henri has warned him not to, but of course he does...then he sells his soul basically for Henri and Henri gets his bloodborne body, but at a terrible price...Then Henri turns to his boss/angel and asks for your soul to be saved...well the only way the gods will approve is if Henri kills Orlando and they reap his soul to be kept until they can be together...so ya, Henri kills Orlando, with Orlando knowing and it is heartbreaking!!! It ends with the letter Orland writes to Henri prior to Henri killing him...
All I can say is that I am thoroughly debauched after this read. I really enjoyed it, but it was so hard.. I do not foresee book two being any less dark, so I think I will take a break and try to regroup prior to reading on.
Spoiler
being molested by his mother's boyfriendSpoiler
which he does not come back fromThen they find each other again
Spoiler
Orlando summons/calls Henri to him :)Spoiler
Also where Orlando finds out a bit more about Henri and what he is as, Orlando sees him sucking blood from a severed finger.Spoiler
then Henri surprises Orlando with inhabiting a body, so that they are able to feel each other and be with each other.Enter, Henri's body (Xavier), and now Henri and Orlando have a semblance of a real relationship. While all of this is happening, Orland has been excepted to a dance academy and is working on his passions. He is targeted by the instructor, Sergei, and Henri uncovers he is quite unsavory. Then after a bit Henri is summoned and told basically that there is a prophesy that says he will end up killing Orlando, so he leaves him...and of course this crushes Orlando.
Really, Orlando cannot cope, and he is young and lashes out, and of course Sergei is more than happy to take advantage and so an affair ensues, which is quite hard to read about and ends terribly with Henri coming to Orlando's rescue. Then Orlando gets it in his head to summon Henri's mom, who Henri has warned him not to, but of course he does...then he sells his soul basically for Henri and Henri gets his bloodborne body, but at a terrible price...Then Henri turns to his boss/angel and asks for your soul to be saved...well the only way the gods will approve is if Henri kills Orlando and they reap his soul to be kept until they can be together...so ya, Henri kills Orlando, with Orlando knowing and it is heartbreaking!!! It ends with the letter Orland writes to Henri prior to Henri killing him...
All I can say is that I am thoroughly debauched after this read. I really enjoyed it, but it was so hard.. I do not foresee book two being any less dark, so I think I will take a break and try to regroup prior to reading on.
loulou87's review against another edition
5.0
Holy freaking shit! THIS BOOK IS AWESOME!
REVIEW TO COME!
I received a copy from the author and this is my honest review...
OK I JUST FINISHED THIS BOOK AND OMG IT'S AMAZING AND EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT!
For fans of #UrbanFantasy #Vampirism #Angels #Angst
PS.... Get a buddy reader because you will need emotional support! And VENTING! .... Mine was the awesome Nikki Simpson
PPS... heed the trigger warnings.
Why read this book....
1. The Characters....
Orlando: The ballerino, the child who was dealt a bad hand, but who had a guardian angel on his side, to help him, guide him, protect him and love him. #AlwaysThere
Henri: The guardian angel, the nephilim, the fallen king. All those titles are overshadowed by what he is to Orlando... his lover, his soulmate, his secret. #HideYouAway
2. The Plot...
Unique, engaging, investing, out of the box and so much more. It is a story of secrets and love, obsession and pain. Also... beware the angst and get tissues. #OneOfAKind
3. The Romance...
Slow burn because of Orlando's age when we meet him. The romance that blooms between them over time is organic, romantic and flawless. #Inevitable
4. The Heat...
LEVEL 10 HEAT! Holy freaking hell, the sex scenes were scorching! #PantiesWentPoof
5. The Point of view...
This is written in delicious second person point of view. #Yum
6. The Ending...
It's a cliffy... yup... but good news! Book 2 is out so you can jump right in when you finish this, just like I am right now. #NoPatience
#HappyReading
REVIEW TO COME!
I received a copy from the author and this is my honest review...
OK I JUST FINISHED THIS BOOK AND OMG IT'S AMAZING AND EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT!
For fans of #UrbanFantasy #Vampirism #Angels #Angst
PS.... Get a buddy reader because you will need emotional support! And VENTING! .... Mine was the awesome Nikki Simpson
PPS... heed the trigger warnings.
Why read this book....
1. The Characters....
Orlando: The ballerino, the child who was dealt a bad hand, but who had a guardian angel on his side, to help him, guide him, protect him and love him. #AlwaysThere
Henri: The guardian angel, the nephilim, the fallen king. All those titles are overshadowed by what he is to Orlando... his lover, his soulmate, his secret. #HideYouAway
2. The Plot...
Unique, engaging, investing, out of the box and so much more. It is a story of secrets and love, obsession and pain. Also... beware the angst and get tissues. #OneOfAKind
3. The Romance...
Slow burn because of Orlando's age when we meet him. The romance that blooms between them over time is organic, romantic and flawless. #Inevitable
4. The Heat...
LEVEL 10 HEAT! Holy freaking hell, the sex scenes were scorching! #PantiesWentPoof
5. The Point of view...
This is written in delicious second person point of view. #Yum
6. The Ending...
It's a cliffy... yup... but good news! Book 2 is out so you can jump right in when you finish this, just like I am right now. #NoPatience
#HappyReading
nikkicunniff's review against another edition
3.0
I was a bit let down by this book. I really wanted what the beginning promised - a love that was not bound by the physical. But...the whole book was just sex. Pretty hot sex at times....but all sex. I felt like whatever drew the two together was never really established and it took away from me really connecting to the characters to the point that I wasnt really invested in the story. In addition there were some other issues for me, such as dubious consent in the beginning of the book, which I wish would have been addressed differently.
miabdour's review
5.0
Excellent. Absolutely brilliant work.
I bow to Laura Lascarso.
This work is meticulous and intentional.
This story is narrated from a second-person point of view. Which I personally haven’t seen in recent memory. This story couldn’t have been told any other way.
This is Henry speaking directly to Orlando, and vice versa. We are not the audience to their story, they are the audience of their story.
So cool. I am geeking out a bit… because, seriously, very very cool.
This story is incredibly dark and has a lot of elements that push the limits of morality.
It definitely needs trigger warnings but they’re in a way spoilers:
The romance between Orlando and Henry is non conventional. Think greek mythology and the relationship between gods and mortals.
Their romance is one with elements of obsession, devotion, worship, power, manipulation that leads to a twisted sort of dark love.
There is an ominous tone throughout the book, a hint of a future that could hinder everything that they’ve built, everything that they are to each other… and in their own twisted ways it’s love and it’s the forever kind.
When Henry ( Demi-God & Blood Born ) meets Orlando ( 6 years old, mortal, ballet dancer) he is not in the best frame of mind. Years of solitude and a life spent repented of past discretions has left him empty and stuck.
Orlando gives him life, purpose, joy, friendship and brings out his better nature. In return Henry is Orlando’s salvation, his guardian angel, his protector.
Orlando is a neglected child who clings to Henry. He is relentless in his pursuit. Henry is his anchor and eventually becomes his everything.
Their relationship is by no means a healthy one. And seriously Orlando needed to go see a therapist. But they fit one another and their relationship had moments of beauty. Their chemistry is off the charts.
This was a seriously wonderful read, incredibly stimulating and well written. I had doubts about reading an incomplete series. I have no regrets now. Though this does end with a cliffhanger, it’s the most satisfying kind. In a sense you now have the beginning of their relationship. The story of how they met and fell in love. It was enough to leave me content and look forward to next book. Highly recommend!
I bow to Laura Lascarso.
This work is meticulous and intentional.
This story is narrated from a second-person point of view. Which I personally haven’t seen in recent memory. This story couldn’t have been told any other way.
This is Henry speaking directly to Orlando, and vice versa. We are not the audience to their story, they are the audience of their story.
So cool. I am geeking out a bit… because, seriously, very very cool.
This story is incredibly dark and has a lot of elements that push the limits of morality.
It definitely needs trigger warnings but they’re in a way spoilers:
Spoiler
pedophilia off-page, inappropriate sexualized relationship between Orlando ( 16-18) and Henry ( 2000+), non-consensual sexual relations, golden shower, threesome, violence …The romance between Orlando and Henry is non conventional. Think greek mythology and the relationship between gods and mortals.
Their romance is one with elements of obsession, devotion, worship, power, manipulation that leads to a twisted sort of dark love.
There is an ominous tone throughout the book, a hint of a future that could hinder everything that they’ve built, everything that they are to each other… and in their own twisted ways it’s love and it’s the forever kind.
When Henry ( Demi-God & Blood Born ) meets Orlando ( 6 years old, mortal, ballet dancer) he is not in the best frame of mind. Years of solitude and a life spent repented of past discretions has left him empty and stuck.
Orlando gives him life, purpose, joy, friendship and brings out his better nature. In return Henry is Orlando’s salvation, his guardian angel, his protector.
Orlando is a neglected child who clings to Henry. He is relentless in his pursuit. Henry is his anchor and eventually becomes his everything.
Their relationship is by no means a healthy one. And seriously Orlando needed to go see a therapist. But they fit one another and their relationship had moments of beauty. Their chemistry is off the charts.
This was a seriously wonderful read, incredibly stimulating and well written. I had doubts about reading an incomplete series. I have no regrets now. Though this does end with a cliffhanger, it’s the most satisfying kind. In a sense you now have the beginning of their relationship. The story of how they met and fell in love. It was enough to leave me content and look forward to next book. Highly recommend!
canibefictionaltoo's review
4.5
This book was a massive wave of nostalgia for me, I used to LOVE reading fantasy books with angels and grim reapers and vampires and all that in my teens, and Laura Lascarso served it all gay and sizzling hot!
As usual I'm obsessed with the writing, and the second person pov was perfect.
Can't wait to get into the rest of this trilogy!!
Also I had way too much fun with reading 'Henri' in my head in a French accent lol (I'm not french at all)
As usual I'm obsessed with the writing, and the second person pov was perfect.
Can't wait to get into the rest of this trilogy!!
Also I had way too much fun with reading 'Henri' in my head in a French accent lol (I'm not french at all)
sasreadsthings's review
4.0
Apparently the series has a hea, but I'd say this book doesn't even if it's hopeful.
But it's a fucking great book apart from that.
But it's a fucking great book apart from that.
layla87's review
5.0
Holy freaking shit! THIS BOOK IS AWESOME!
REVIEW TO COME!
I received a copy from the author and this is my honest review...
OK I JUST FINISHED THIS BOOK AND OMG IT'S AMAZING AND EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT!
For fans of #UrbanFantasy #Vampirism #Angels #Angst
PS.... Get a buddy reader because you will need emotional support! And VENTING! .... Mine was the awesome Nikki Simpson
PPS... heed the trigger warnings.
Why read this book....
1. The Characters....
Orlando: The ballerino, the child who was dealt a bad hand, but who had a guardian angel on his side, to help him, guide him, protect him and love him. #AlwaysThere
Henri: The guardian angel, the nephilim, the fallen king. All those titles are overshadowed by what he is to Orlando... his lover, his soulmate, his secret. #HideYouAway
2. The Plot...
Unique, engaging, investing, out of the box and so much more. It is a story of secrets and love, obsession and pain. Also... beware the angst and get tissues. #OneOfAKind
3. The Romance...
Slow burn because of Orlando's age when we meet him. The romance that blooms between them over time is organic, romantic and flawless. #Inevitable
4. The Heat...
LEVEL 10 HEAT! Holy freaking hell, the sex scenes were scorching! #PantiesWentPoof
5. The Point of view...
This is written in delicious second person point of view. #Yum
6. The Ending...
It's a cliffy... yup... but good news! Book 2 is out so you can jump right in when you finish this, just like I am right now. #NoPatience
#HappyReading
REVIEW TO COME!
I received a copy from the author and this is my honest review...
OK I JUST FINISHED THIS BOOK AND OMG IT'S AMAZING AND EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT!
For fans of #UrbanFantasy #Vampirism #Angels #Angst
PS.... Get a buddy reader because you will need emotional support! And VENTING! .... Mine was the awesome Nikki Simpson
PPS... heed the trigger warnings.
Why read this book....
1. The Characters....
Orlando: The ballerino, the child who was dealt a bad hand, but who had a guardian angel on his side, to help him, guide him, protect him and love him. #AlwaysThere
Henri: The guardian angel, the nephilim, the fallen king. All those titles are overshadowed by what he is to Orlando... his lover, his soulmate, his secret. #HideYouAway
2. The Plot...
Unique, engaging, investing, out of the box and so much more. It is a story of secrets and love, obsession and pain. Also... beware the angst and get tissues. #OneOfAKind
3. The Romance...
Slow burn because of Orlando's age when we meet him. The romance that blooms between them over time is organic, romantic and flawless. #Inevitable
4. The Heat...
LEVEL 10 HEAT! Holy freaking hell, the sex scenes were scorching! #PantiesWentPoof
5. The Point of view...
This is written in delicious second person point of view. #Yum
6. The Ending...
It's a cliffy... yup... but good news! Book 2 is out so you can jump right in when you finish this, just like I am right now. #NoPatience
#HappyReading
acolyteofsins's review
5.0
Honestly. Really good. The book uses 2nd person story telling which is a feat unto itself, but the characters and their love is really beautiful and felt very real considering the circumstances. My only issue with the book is the ending (like last 100 pages) was super choppy and felt like it lacked impact or belief. I don’t want to say more to avoid spoilers but it definitely dragged after the middle.
eddavzz's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75