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Malakh
**This is a novella - deliberately short, and deliberately focused on one brief period of time.**
HE HUNTS, SILENT AND UNSEEN
The string of mutilated bodies points to a madman, but the police are stymied. Trace evidence yields no DNA, animal or human. Male, female, young, old—the victims fall without a struggle to the killer in the shadows.
HIS NEXT VICTIM HAS BEEN CHOSEN
For a brief time, Suzanne Harper wielded supernatural abilities and super-human athletic prowess, but that was while she had been the lover of an angel. The murders point to her former lover, and the trail of bodies tells a terrifying tale: he’s working his way to her.
PREY BECOMES PREDATOR
Icarus, an angel who hunts those of his kind who have fallen from grace, enlists Suzanne’s help to stop the killer, for only one as close as a lover can anticipate his next move. Now she must reconcile her heart’s longing for her lost love with her sense of justice and honor, and she must do it fast … because the next murder could be hers.
HE HUNTS, SILENT AND UNSEEN
The string of mutilated bodies points to a madman, but the police are stymied. Trace evidence yields no DNA, animal or human. Male, female, young, old—the victims fall without a struggle to the killer in the shadows.
HIS NEXT VICTIM HAS BEEN CHOSEN
For a brief time, Suzanne Harper wielded supernatural abilities and super-human athletic prowess, but that was while she had been the lover of an angel. The murders point to her former lover, and the trail of bodies tells a terrifying tale: he’s working his way to her.
PREY BECOMES PREDATOR
Icarus, an angel who hunts those of his kind who have fallen from grace, enlists Suzanne’s help to stop the killer, for only one as close as a lover can anticipate his next move. Now she must reconcile her heart’s longing for her lost love with her sense of justice and honor, and she must do it fast … because the next murder could be hers.
82 pages, ebook
First published April 8, 2011
3 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Gerlach
11 books70 followersI am a writer. Enough said. ;-)
I love to hear from my readers what worked for them and what didn't in my writing. I don't issue disclaimers or trigger warnings.
I love to hear from my readers what worked for them and what didn't in my writing. I don't issue disclaimers or trigger warnings.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 23, 2011
An intriguing debut from Gerlach that will keep you guessing until the final page. I look forward to seeing more from her!
April 22, 2011
This is a Quickie Review. For the full review, please visit The Romanceaholic.
Expected Release Date: Available Now!
Publisher: Sharon Gerlach/Running Ink Press
Author’s Website: http://sharongerlach.wordpress.com/
My Source for This Book: Amazon.com
Part of a Series: No
Steam Level: Chaste
Note: As of the date of this review, Malakh is only $0.99 at Amazon and Smashwords
This is not a traditional “romance” at all. While there was absolutely no sexuality (darn it), I didn’t really mind too much because the general storyline was so interesting. Even so, there is a sort of HEA, even if it’s not exactly the one I would’ve preferred.
I’m so torn on the ending. See, there was this incredible twist at the end. I’m talking a forehead-slapping, I-really-shoulda-seen-this-coming-but-didn’t-holy-crap-that’s-awesome twist. And yet… Unfortunately, the part that bothers me is an enormous spoiler, so I can’t really say much of anything about it without ruining the entire story. Therefore, I think I’ll have to go with “I felt misled in the end, and not because I hadn’t figured out the twist”.
Overall, a very enjoyable novella. While I wish a few things had been explained a little better, and that perhaps there’d been more worldbuilding, I still loved it. Even as a novella, it was really the perfect length where the action and story arc was concerned, so unlike most novellas I wasn’t left at the last page asking “that’s it??”, which was a nice change.
I have to say though, that despite the lack of sensuality and the fact I’m still disgruntled over the ending, that Ms. Gerlach is a masterful storyteller. The plot twist was so beautifully done that nothing became glaringly obvious until you reflected on everything after the twist had been revealed, and for that alone, I will give this one 5/5 Stars.
Expected Release Date: Available Now!
Publisher: Sharon Gerlach/Running Ink Press
Author’s Website: http://sharongerlach.wordpress.com/
My Source for This Book: Amazon.com
Part of a Series: No
Steam Level: Chaste
Note: As of the date of this review, Malakh is only $0.99 at Amazon and Smashwords
This is not a traditional “romance” at all. While there was absolutely no sexuality (darn it), I didn’t really mind too much because the general storyline was so interesting. Even so, there is a sort of HEA, even if it’s not exactly the one I would’ve preferred.
I’m so torn on the ending. See, there was this incredible twist at the end. I’m talking a forehead-slapping, I-really-shoulda-seen-this-coming-but-didn’t-holy-crap-that’s-awesome twist. And yet… Unfortunately, the part that bothers me is an enormous spoiler, so I can’t really say much of anything about it without ruining the entire story. Therefore, I think I’ll have to go with “I felt misled in the end, and not because I hadn’t figured out the twist”.
Overall, a very enjoyable novella. While I wish a few things had been explained a little better, and that perhaps there’d been more worldbuilding, I still loved it. Even as a novella, it was really the perfect length where the action and story arc was concerned, so unlike most novellas I wasn’t left at the last page asking “that’s it??”, which was a nice change.
I have to say though, that despite the lack of sensuality and the fact I’m still disgruntled over the ending, that Ms. Gerlach is a masterful storyteller. The plot twist was so beautifully done that nothing became glaringly obvious until you reflected on everything after the twist had been revealed, and for that alone, I will give this one 5/5 Stars.
May 31, 2011
Malakh by Sharon Gerlach is a compelling read.
Her portrayal of Angels reminded me a little of Nalini Singh - and God knows I love her Guild Hunter Series.
There was so much to love about this book. Despite its shortness, you could actually get a feel of the characters and care for them.
Suzanne was a great heroine. I totally sympathized with her overwhelming sorrow over the loss of her angelic lover, because like she says in the book, who could really set eyes on such a creature of immense beauty and fall in love?
The pace was quite good and the adventure part was also satisfying. Although, I have to admit I realized who was the killer halfway through the story, it still made an awesome read.
Her portrayal of Angels reminded me a little of Nalini Singh - and God knows I love her Guild Hunter Series.
There was so much to love about this book. Despite its shortness, you could actually get a feel of the characters and care for them.
Suzanne was a great heroine. I totally sympathized with her overwhelming sorrow over the loss of her angelic lover, because like she says in the book, who could really set eyes on such a creature of immense beauty and fall in love?
The pace was quite good and the adventure part was also satisfying. Although, I have to admit I realized who was the killer halfway through the story, it still made an awesome read.
April 25, 2011
For a while I didn't like the heroine. She pines over her lost angel lover, but then we learn she stole a lover from her best friend... and felt entitled doing so. That nearly had me dropping the book.
Overall, the story was interesting (though the ending predictable) with an intricate dance of angels and demons battling over human souls. Gerlach creates a world where reality crosses with religious beliefs creating corporeal creatures of pure good and pure evil.
The writing is tight and, even though I didn't like the heroine, the conflict was imaginative and drew me in. I would try another book by this author.
Overall, the story was interesting (though the ending predictable) with an intricate dance of angels and demons battling over human souls. Gerlach creates a world where reality crosses with religious beliefs creating corporeal creatures of pure good and pure evil.
The writing is tight and, even though I didn't like the heroine, the conflict was imaginative and drew me in. I would try another book by this author.
April 16, 2011
I really loved this novella. For the first half of the book, I thought I was going to give it four stars (which is still really good!) but by the time I was into the second half, it was definitely a five star book. Usually with stories about angels, it's kind of hit and miss for me. This novella was a hit. It was creative, well written, and well edited. The author did a great job entertaining me!
August 29, 2012
Loved it! When I finished it I had to immediately go back and read it again to see if I could
actually see what was happening after I KNEW what had happened. (Make sense?)
actually see what was happening after I KNEW what had happened. (Make sense?)
July 27, 2011
This is a short book but an excellent read which shows that the author has plenty of talent.
June 2, 2011
So here's the deal. I got into this book as soon as I started reading. It grabbed me, and I was in disbelief with how well it was written and how evocotive the characters were.
Then it happened. The story took a nose dive. It lost me completely. I got bogged down in itself (I think the writer got bogged down in the story.)
I sat it aside 3 times and tried to go back to it. I was unable to make more than a few pages again before I had lost all interest and had to set it aside.
I really had lost all hope for the book. It made me sad, due to the strong beginning.
Then it happened. The story got good again. Not just a little good, but extremely good. It became the page turner I had wanted it to be all along.
Then ending... um. No spoilers, is my belief, but... but... damn. I haven't secided if I liked it or not. I'll see how I feel after I read it again. (Yes, I will read it again.)
Then it happened. The story took a nose dive. It lost me completely. I got bogged down in itself (I think the writer got bogged down in the story.)
I sat it aside 3 times and tried to go back to it. I was unable to make more than a few pages again before I had lost all interest and had to set it aside.
I really had lost all hope for the book. It made me sad, due to the strong beginning.
Then it happened. The story got good again. Not just a little good, but extremely good. It became the page turner I had wanted it to be all along.
Then ending... um. No spoilers, is my belief, but... but... damn. I haven't secided if I liked it or not. I'll see how I feel after I read it again. (Yes, I will read it again.)
February 27, 2012
This was both a fantasy and a mystery and as such, kept me turning those pages. There were two angels, one good and one bad, but the reader is kept guessing as to which is which. It definitely kept me engaged.
August 22, 2011
review and rating coming soon...
June 9, 2013
Interesting story about angels, i have mixed feelings abt the book. It was well written, but i feel like something is missing
January 29, 2014
I felt like I was only catching the end of what could have been a very good story. In fact, I checked to see if I missed book 1, but no, this is it. Why so short, and so rushed?
August 13, 2014
Loved this book!!
November 23, 2013
This started off so well, and fell so horribly flat. Amnesia is not a HEA. *disappointed sigh*
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews