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In deeply religious 19th-century Italy, Valentino knows that admitting his attraction to men, even to himself, could put him in grave danger. The church prefers to burn vampires to keep their congregation living in fear and paying their tithes, but a sinner like Val would also do in a pinch.
Val suppresses his sexual desires and joins the clergy, hoping to live a life of piety and devotion, until the day Dante, one of the devil's own vampires, comes to him begging to confess his sins. Val can’t help his attraction to the vampire, and refuses to succumb to it, even as Dante tries to seduce him. But Val soon realizes he can no longer deny the truth of who he is, or what he wants.
In desperation, and putting his life on the line to save the soul of the vampire he loves, Val searches for proof that a man can be a vampire without being damned. But his questions soon attract the church’s attention, and they arrest him, and also plan to make an example of him for the congregation to see.
Will Val face a horrific execution, or will Dante somehow be able to rescue him in time?
Val suppresses his sexual desires and joins the clergy, hoping to live a life of piety and devotion, until the day Dante, one of the devil's own vampires, comes to him begging to confess his sins. Val can’t help his attraction to the vampire, and refuses to succumb to it, even as Dante tries to seduce him. But Val soon realizes he can no longer deny the truth of who he is, or what he wants.
In desperation, and putting his life on the line to save the soul of the vampire he loves, Val searches for proof that a man can be a vampire without being damned. But his questions soon attract the church’s attention, and they arrest him, and also plan to make an example of him for the congregation to see.
Will Val face a horrific execution, or will Dante somehow be able to rescue him in time?
94 pages, ebook
First published March 5, 2011
1 person is currently reading
87 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 15, 2011
I have never read anything by this author before -- and for my first experience, this story is pretty good. It's rather provocative, questioning whether "evil cannot be forgiven" as well as whether "loving men is sin".
I am totally immersed to the story of fighting temptation and finding redemption, as vampire Dante, who finds himself in a church after his lover is being burned alive, asks an acolyte, Val, about how can he be good and whether being a vampire means that he is beyond salvation. While Val is also having inner battle with what he has been taught of, because in his heart, he knows that Dante is good. He also wonders why loving men is forbidden when in his heart he believes that there is nothing condemning about all kind of love ...
"I do not know how you can claim that love of any kind is wicked and
forbidden, or insist that one man’s love is to be lauded while another’s is grounds for his death.”
It's an interesting story that takes readers to a wonderful story of salvation.
I am totally immersed to the story of fighting temptation and finding redemption, as vampire Dante, who finds himself in a church after his lover is being burned alive, asks an acolyte, Val, about how can he be good and whether being a vampire means that he is beyond salvation. While Val is also having inner battle with what he has been taught of, because in his heart, he knows that Dante is good. He also wonders why loving men is forbidden when in his heart he believes that there is nothing condemning about all kind of love ...
"I do not know how you can claim that love of any kind is wicked and
forbidden, or insist that one man’s love is to be lauded while another’s is grounds for his death.”
It's an interesting story that takes readers to a wonderful story of salvation.
August 8, 2011
I'm probably constitutionally incapable of NOT adoring Aislinn Kerry's work, but I love, love, LOVE this book. It ticks all the boxes for why I'm an Aislinn Kerry fangirl -- beautiful prose, awesome dialogue, how-the-hell-are-they-getting-out-of-this conflict, rich setting -- but the two main characters and their dynamic were amazing. I'm not usually one to reread books, but I've read this one three times. WIN.
November 30, 2015
3.5 stars rounded up... This was a new author for me, and having just finished reading a book that blew me away, I was having trouble finding one that drew me in. This one did it, allowed me to get immersed quickly which was just what I needed. Quite a different sort of vampire story that touches on some interesting questions. If you enjoy vampires, I recommend this one.
October 5, 2012
Good book. Explores all the reasons we should think for ourselves and have our own connection with God and not depend on others to tell us what God thinks and feels about us. The young acolyte is smart and upon meeting a "good" vampire, starts to question all he's been told about them, and as a closeted gay man hiding in the priesthood, himself as well.
January 1, 2016
The end of this book left me in thoughts. The story was plotted in an interesting slow developing atmosphere. I liked both, Val and Dante.
Overall this was sweet and enjoyable story!
Overall this was sweet and enjoyable story!
May 25, 2016
The blurb was great but the book didn't do it justice.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews