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A doctor in search of purpose and an outcast searching for acceptance, meet online and discover that they may be just what the other has been looking for. Mira’s believes in what she knows and Giovanni knows better than to think he truly knows anything. When Mira decides to meet Giovanni face to face, for the first time, at his secluded country home, their journey truly begins.
A self-proclaimed techie and foodie, Toi Thomas was born in Texas, but considers Virginia to be home. Growing up, Toi had a strong interest in reading fiction and loved to watch movies. Working with computers and cooking lavish meals have become reoccurring pastimes for the Education Program Associate of the Muse Writers Center, but now Toi wants to entertain the world with her writing. Toi Thomas writes clean adult nonfiction and fiction in various genres and pens romantic comedy as Glorie Townson. She also writes and illustrates children's book. Toi Thomas creates for, and connects with, her fans at Substack & Patreon
Genius scientist Mira lives a lonely life after her fiancé betrays her. But the “gray” stranger she meets online induces her to risk traveling alone, to an unknown place, to meet and spend time with someone she’s never seen.
The story’s told in an interesting blend of omniscient and personal points of view. The wise narrator invites readers to look into a mirror at the start of the preface, then asks who they see. Giovani doesn’t know who, or what he is when he looks there. Mira doesn’t know if her life has any purpose beyond what she’s already achieved. And a surprising third character knows plenty more and says less.
Giovani’s tale is told at the fireside and in dreams, with a voice reminiscent of old-fashioned horror tales. His nightmares of angels and demons inspire such heat his skin might burn, which perhaps explains his strange appearance, and the fact that his online persona has no image. Mira’s certainly surprised when she finally sees him, though readers might wonder if he’s really so terrible.
Mira, believer in angels, still needs to learn faith. Giovani, dreamer of angels, has only anger and despair. And the old man has history and love. A science laboratory evokes Frankenstein then evolves into mini-hospital/research center, as Mira tries to learn what Giovani is, and genetic codes reveal their mysteries. Everyone else’s mysteries will be revealed too in tales within the tale as the story progresses, making this a long, slow, leisurely read, with intriguing mythology, lots of backstory, and a nice feel of isolation within the modern world. The real world does intervene with the occasional cell-phone call. But the world of millionaire hermit and unknown powers has center stage, while Mira and Gio learn to accept, and live, and love.
Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy with a request for my honest review.
“Truth can be stranger than fiction”, was the sentence that kept ringing in my head while reading the debut novel and first of the ‘Eternal Curse” series by Toi Thomas. I couldn’t suppress the feeling that what I was reading was actually taking place somewhere in a remote villa, hidden in the vast forests of the USA. This feeling was reinforced by the fact that descriptions of ‘normal’ daily life things and circumstances felt somewhat rushed and superficial, merely there to support the developments of the main storyline. In that context the last sentence of the book sort of confirmed what I had been feeling all along, but again could well be merely fiction.
Either way I compliment Toi Thomas on her debut. The storyline obviously ‘lives’ for Thomas. She is able to write realistically about a subject that has lived in myth for as long as humans trot this earth, and she makes you believe anything is possible. Within so much realism I was a bit surprised to find the writer’s struggle of alternating characters names with the description of ‘he’ or ‘she’. One would expect the editor to catch those, as well as some over- descriptions and under-explanations. Looking at what Toi Thomas has produced as a debut however I have high hopes she will develop her own flow in this. I’ll definitely be reading the sequels, curious about what is to come next.
I must admit the first couple of chapters were a little slow for me but I am glad I did not stop! It has turned into a OMG book!
You can read the Blurb as to what it is about. I could not put it down!
This story is FULL of so many emotions! I laughed at times and was on the edge of my seat! It is a beautifull story and only the first in a series!
I am usually attracted to action books which this first one is not, but don't dispair for I think a lot of action is on the way!
The more I read the more I was sucked in!
This one is a story of love,trust,secrets and learning who both of the characters are!How they are meant for each other and thier struggles to fully open up to one another.
Written very well as it gives nothing away! Its a story to make you happy,sad,laugh and cry! A lot of surprises!
When I first read the description for this book, I knew I had to read it. I am not a huge romance reader, but something about both the cover and the following words grabbed my attention: "What these two are able to discover will not only test their strength and will, but it will stretch the limits of their minds and catapult them into a world where earth, Heaven, and Hell collide. Eternal Curse is the story of a man who may just be the answer to a spiritual war swiftly heading his way - but for now, he just wants to be a man. "
Toi Thomas does a wonderful job of creating a slow building romantic Beauty and the Beast style romance. Both of the main characters bring with them similar issues of mistrust and abandonment that make you feel an instant compassion for them. A surprise introduction of a third supporting character brings in the emotional glue that each Giovanni and Mira's characters seem to hide. Without this character, the bonding and story line would not flow as such a loving tale. It is a very good story of the human's mind dealing with the struggle of Good vs. Evil. This book had me smiling, laughing, crying and thinking about some very serious life questions. Once it got under way, I found it easy to get caught up in the lives of these three people. I was curious to know how they were going to help each other and what would become of them. I quickly found that there was just not enough book to read, because I had read all. I found myself thinking that I, myself have felt many of the same emotions that Giovanni had felt. The loner, the weirdo, she/he hates me because I said this... All the feeling and emotions made this a heartfelt read. I really loved that Mira was a "real world" woman. She was not the Barbie girl that is so often portrayed. I was disappointed, however, at several things in the book that detracted from both the flow and overall enjoyment. The first was, in the beginning of the book, it began reading almost as if you were reading a text book. The fact building process and point of view was somewhat off putting at times, esp. for this genre. As was, occasionally the way conversations would take place. They could be very dull with overly detailed information. The most disappointing thing for me was how after the length of time they had spent in their search was the abrupt revelation of who Giovanni is. There is such a big build up of ideas and what ifs and then *poof*, in a few pages it's done and pretty much left unresolved from there. The love story continues, the three companion's tales go on. Then the book is over. But what now? I'm hoping for another book. I would definitely read it because the potential for this tale is amazing.
I will end my review with my favorite quote from the book. Mira to Giovanni, "If you're a freak, you're the best kind of freak; and yes, I like you just the way you are."
When I first started reading this story I was kind of thrown about the writting. To the point I made it to the second chapter and quit reading it for awhile. One, I kept reading it in my head with the voice from the narrator of Pocoyo. Two the title grabbed my but the first couple chapters couldn’t seem to hold my attention.
Once I picked it back up and continued to read it I found myself getting sucked into the world and wanting to discover just what Giovanni is and more about his past and the relationship between him and Abraham. Also, I wanted to see how Mira and Giovanni’s relationship would pan out.
Little less than half way though the book I was sucked in and couldn’t put it down. There wasn’t any real action scenes ( which I love some great kick butt action) but there was a great story about finding ones self and accepting others for who they are without compromising yourself ( In my opinion) . Mia was a strong female character though skeptical at first did finally believe the unbelievable as a doctor she did everything to find scientifically plausible answers for what Giovanni was. She wasn’t a pushover (which I greatly appreciated) and I found her to be an easily likable character. Giovanni was a troubled soul with so many questions about who he was but he always did his best to protect others. His and Abrahams history together was a sweet one.
For me it was slow to start but with peeking my curiosity towards the middle it kept me turning the pages even though there were points that seemed drawn out. The ending felt a little rushed though. This is a first book in the series and I enjoyed the mystery, mythology and story enough that I will pick up the next in the series especially to see if Giovanni finds more like him.
What is immediately obvious is that Toi Thomas can weave a successful, gripping tale. In book one in her Eternal Curse Series, Toi Thomas presents an uplifting, vivid and well-crafted paranormal romance that is so very unlike anything that I have previously read. The two main characters, Mira and Giovanni, are well-rounded characters with completely believable backgrounds. Yes, this is a fantasy/paranormal; however, the tale that Toi has weaved makes their backstories believable. This really helped to cement the characters in the book, and allowed me to want to know and follow their story.
Whilst Giovanni’s Angel effectively fits into the paranormal romance genre, the romantic element isn’t what completely drives the characters or the storyline. This is always so very refreshing in this genre, as I do like a strong female protagonist who I can identify with and who I can whole-heartedly cheer for her character’s growth. There are several examples of dark, vivid narrative in Gionvanni’s Angel which are beautifully crafted. This made it very easy to visualise the plot’s development and appreciate the book for its craft and not just its imaginative plot. Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable read, with a strong build up to book two. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next instalment. Eternal Curse: Giovanni’s Angel is highly recommended by Bex ‘n’ Books. 4 ½ Fantastic Fairies.
Living a self imposed life of isolation Giovanni makes friends online with Mira, a lonely young doctor. As their friendship grows Giovanni opens up and tells Mira of his physical differences and hopes that she will help him in his search to find out what it is that makes him so unlike everyone else. She decides to make the long trip to his home and do some medical tests on him to see if she can give him the answers he so desperately seeks. Using the custom built medical room in his basement Mira discovers some very shocking facts about Gio and his strange condition.
Giovanni’s Angel is an ‘out of the ordinary’ story with an unusual plot. The unique and fresh idea was interesting though in some places it did drag a little with boring details and over explanations. We watch as all the different levels of Gio’s personality and physical anomalies unfold, some were unexpected while others were totally predictable.
I liked the illustrations, the simple sketches were an unusual addition to a book of this type and I thought it was a nice touch. The execution of the plot was okay but I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the story overall. It was a nice read but I’m not sure if it captured my attention enough to actively seek out the next book in the series when it comes out.
What a refreshing change to read this book. It was so different to the books I have been reading lately and a joy to read.
This story almost reads like it was written many years ago. The language, the way it is written, and the storyline, could very easily be from times gone by.
I was drawn into the story immediately. We have two people meeting online, deciding to see each other face to face. This is something which happens all the time. But in this case one of those people is a doctor, the other is a man with unusual problems he needs help diagnosing.
The way the story progresses drew me in very quickly. Mira's struggle to decipher Giovanni's symptoms and past is an interesting one. And I loved the fact that we didn't find out more till a lot later in the story. It kept the mystery alive throughout.
The friendship between Giovanni and Abraham is lovely. The way these 2 men have supported each other over the years is so nice. It is what a true friendship should be. Mira fits in well with both men, she doesn't get in the way of the friendship. Instead it is enhanced by her presence.
I loved getting to the end and getting a little hint as to who the narrator is, plus the fact there is another book planned. If the next book is anything like this one I cannot wait to read it.
There is a fascinating story in this, but it seems to be something we are only shown glimpses of.
Giovanni's nightmares are the clues to the real story, and honestly my favorite parts. If the book was entirely about the tale glimpsed of through those, I'd be all over it. But that's me. I like things a little more scary or action-y. If you like Christian literature or romances, then the core story in the book is probably right up your alley.
I had to give this four stars because the style was a touch difficult for me to overcome at first. It's primarily "tell" instead of "show," like a matter-of-fact, detailed recounting of events instead of a typical narrative. As such, I had a hard time connecting with the characters for a while.
But, truly, I enjoyed finding out more about Giovanni, what he was, where he came from, what was going on. All of that was really interesting, and stuck with me even after I was finished with the book. So, if you like angels, romance, and a dash of intrigue, definitely give this a try.
Giovonni’s Angel (Eternal Curse Series: Book 1) By Toi Thomas Wow! Great story, the perfect book for a bad day. If you are looking beautiful love story with some twists and turns you have found it. There is difficulty in any relationship and intenet dating can be very scary, but this one starts out with more than a few problems. However the author thoroughly and expertly takes us through all the ups and downs of a new relationship, complicatd by a few supernatural and of course emotional elements. This is a well-developed, creative, wonderful modern day Hunchback of NotreDame. However the author does a wonderful job of creating her characters and developing relationships between them, that we all dream of. If I had to describe this love story in two words. Paranormally Elegant. I can’t wait for book 2! Review by AB – Nov 2012
Eternal Curse Giovanni’s Angel by Toi Thomas explores the Dr. Henry Jekyll axiom “In each of us two natures are at war- the good and the evil”. It is however done in a romantic, spiritual perhaps one could even say religious manner. The main characters Mira and Giovanni are enchanting and relatable to any reader. The wisdom and experience of the third primary character Abraham enhances the story. It is a fun unique read that cannot be filed under any specific genre; it has a beautiful romantic aspect, a supernatural and some may well see it as religious fiction. I enjoyed that it is a blend and unique, as someone who does not read religious fiction or seek out romance as a genre I found those elements very well characterized and easy to accept by any reader.
Giovanni's Angel is a love story, combined with faith and a touch of mystery. It crosses several genre. Who is Giovanni or what is Giovanni? The three main characters, Mira, Giovanni and Abraham are well developed. The story flows well, however in spots there is a hint of redundancy and slow reading for my taste, but then there are many more places where the reading compels one to see what happens next. Kudos to Toi Thomas for Giovanni's Angel; it will be a good book to sit in front of a warm fire with a cup of hot chocolate. I give this work 4 stars!
I’ve always enjoyed stories about demons, and angels. The push and pull between good and evil and especially the triumph when good wins.
Toi Thomas’s Eternal Curse Giovanni’s Angel is a sweet tale of discovery, purpose, and love. I even had to get out the tissue box a few times as Giovanni and Mira struggled to reach an understanding.
As the first in a series, Giovanni’s Angel and Ms. Thomas, promise more and I can’t wait to find out what that is.
Although some of it was a little wordy, Overall I really liked the story. It was a story of a unique friendship and their path to discovering some deeper meaning in life. I will be looking forward to the next book!
Eternal Curse is incredible book with an exciting romantic fantasy plot. It has vivid and intricate characters that take you through the story and make you feel like you're there.
I enjoyed reading this book. It was different with an interesting voice. The main character is a doctor and she meets Giovanie online. This is about friendship and some romance. I like the way the story revealed itself. I like the way the author wove in the fantasy/paranormal elements.
Book – Eternal Curse: Giovanni’s Angel Author – Toi Thomas Star rating – ★★☆☆☆ Plot – good idea, disappointing development Characters – a case of love and Hate. Movie Potential – ★★☆☆☆ Ease of reading – easy to read Cover – ~ Meh ~ Suitable Title – ~ Meh ~ Would I read it again – No.
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** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY THE AUTHOR, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
This is the 4th and final edition of my first installment in the Eternal Curse Series. I created the cover and own full rights to it and the content of the story. There are a few added surprises to help make this edition the best and stand out from its predecessors.
This is the 4th and final edition of my first installment in the Eternal Curse Series. I created the cover and own full rights to it and the content of the story. There are a few added surprises to help make this edition the best and stand out from its predecessors.
This is the 4th and final edition of my first installment in the Eternal Curse Series. I created the cover and own full rights to it and the content of the story. There are a few added surprises to help make this edition the best and stand out from its predecessors.