I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewer: Andrea
The Summary:
Angel or Demon?
Naive and heart-stoppingly handsome, he calls himself Alejandro, and Madison O’Riley has no clue what to do with him. As they set out to recover his lost identity, Madison realizes the mysterious man who saved her life harbors deep, otherworldly secrets that will put her in grave danger.
The Devil is in the Details
Gremory Jones has something for everyone, and for a price, he’s willing to make a deal. Walking the streets in top hat and trench coat, he tempts the citizens with nefarious wares from his shiny black briefcase. But buyer beware: All sales are final – and fatal.
A Scorching New Terror Has Come to Town
The townspeople are changing in appalling ways and it’s up to Madison – with the help of a psychic, a local priest, and the new chief of police – to help Alejandro unlock his forgotten powers before an unspeakable evil tears apart the fabric of existence … and costs them their very souls …
The Review:
This book is so far out of my comfort zone that I couldn’t fin
d it with binoculars! When I was approached about reviewing it, I thought it would be an interesting change of pace from my norm. Was I right? Yes and no.
The novel itself is well-written and complex. The plot is a winding journey into depravity. With tons of characters and at least ten changes in POV, the reader will need to pay close attention. Seeing the story from so many angles made the story more developed. BUT that’s where I began to have a problem.
At over 500 pages, this one is a serious time investment, and many, many scenes could have been shortened or even deleted. I was overwhelmed by all of the stomach-churning deviancy. When the devil comes to town, people lose their minds–I get it. The perverted actions quickly made me uncomfortable and disgusted. “Fade to black” would have worked after the first, or tenth, scene, and I really wish the banishing of evil could have had as much emphasis as the perversion.
The portrayal of angels was unique. If you are thinking of those sweet little cherubs or even those white-winged creatures in long robes, think again. Alistair Cross’s angels prefer nudity and smell like whatever you love most. (And I have been racking my brain trying to decide what very own Alejandro would smell more like, buttercream frosting or Fabreze.) Alejandro was kind and naive, to the point I wanted to shake him at times, but his sweetness kept me reading. His Snow White effect on animals was weird, but hey, if he smelled that great, I’d chase him down the street, too.
3.5 Stars
