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Scratch #1
Horn Gate
HORN Open at your own risk.
Librarian Isaac Stein spends his lumpy, lonely days restoring forgotten books, until the night he steals an invitation to a scandalous club steeped in sin. Descending into its bowels, he accidentally discovers Scratch, a wounded demon who feeds on lust.
Consorting with a mortal is a bad idea, but Scratch can't resist the man who knows how to open the portal that will free him and his kind. After centuries of possessing mortals, he finds himself longing to surrender.
To be together, Isaac and Scratch must flirt with damnation and escape an inhuman trafficking ring—and they have to open their hearts or they will never unlock the Horn Gate.
Librarian Isaac Stein spends his lumpy, lonely days restoring forgotten books, until the night he steals an invitation to a scandalous club steeped in sin. Descending into its bowels, he accidentally discovers Scratch, a wounded demon who feeds on lust.
Consorting with a mortal is a bad idea, but Scratch can't resist the man who knows how to open the portal that will free him and his kind. After centuries of possessing mortals, he finds himself longing to surrender.
To be together, Isaac and Scratch must flirt with damnation and escape an inhuman trafficking ring—and they have to open their hearts or they will never unlock the Horn Gate.
100 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2013
20 people are currently reading
382 people want to read
About the author
Damon Suede
27 books2,224 followersDamon Suede grew up out-n-proud deep in the anus of right-wing America, and escaped as soon as it was legal. He has lived all over and along the way, he’s earned his crust as a model, a messenger, a promoter, a programmer, a sculptor, a singer, a stripper, a bookkeeper, a bartender, a techie, a teacher, a director... but writing has ever been his bread and butter. He has been happily partnered for over a decade with the most loving, handsome, shrewd, hilarious, noble man to walk this planet.
Beyond romance fiction, Damon is an award-winning author who has been writing for print, stage, and screen for over three decades, which is both more and less glamorous than you might imagine. He's won some awards, but he counts his blessings more often: his amazing friends, his demented family, his beautiful husband, his loyal fans, and his silly, stern, seductive Muse who keeps whispering in his ear, year after year.
Damon would love to hear from you... you can get in touch with him here.
DamonSuede.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
January 9, 2020
I love Damon Suede and Hot Head is still one of my most favourite books and Paranormal, again a genre I enjoy… so by rights this should have been an excellent read… but unfortunately at times it felt as though it was above my level of intellect and left me confused!!!
2.5 stars
This book is a hard one for me to review, there was so much promise and in parts I loved it and was completely wrapped up in the action, the writing was just exquisite at times, rolling beautifully from one sentence to the next, the subject matter not quite so beautiful but the descriptive prose put me right there with Isaac, It almost becomes a Dan Brown paranormal mystery-thriller involving a human and a sex demon, where there is intrigue and a race against time to find the answers Isaac needs from the Of Mizzikim an old book of Hebrew mythology… to open the gate and save Scratch, and this is where I lost pace with the book, purely, because the novella length didn’t give me as a reader enough time to decipher the clues and language, Hebrew, I am not familiar with and the interaction between Isaac and Scratch wasn’t enough for me to get to grips with it and the meanings of the words and their different translations over the centuries… was becoming confusing!
The book opens on Isaacs 22nd birthday, by day he works in a library restoring books his evenings he spends alone. As luck would have it a co-worker has an invitation to a sex lounge one that she is unlikely to use… so Isaac in his own mind justifies taking it from her desk as a birthday gift to himself. Gehenna was an establishment for the rich, famous and beautiful… well those with depraved tendencies, and poor Isaac is totally out of his depth in a place like that and more self conscious than usual, you see, Isaac is not our usual MC, he is overweight suffers from acne and has zero social life, and with a phobia of being touched which does nothing for his sex life. His purpose at the club was to watch, go home and get off. Yet standing at the bar, he feels cheated. He was expecting a voyeuristic delight of debauchery, instead, he could have been in any upmarket bar.
Isaac is a Jewish boy who leads a very humdrum life, he doesn’t want to be noticed, he would rather blend into the background, yet at the same time his body is craving something, anything more exciting than the loneliness that consumes him. He feels almost compelled to make his way to the bowels of the club and what he stumbles on he was finding hard to understand. An angel, so he thinks, the most beautiful man he has ever seen, his senses were overwhelmed and there is no control, he is being embraced by forces he is just unable to comprehend.
Scratch had been imprisoned to service clients and as an incubus he is the perfect prostitute in an establishment that is renowned as a Sex Lounge. He feeds on emotions of any kind and poor Isaac is just full of them and somehow Scratch realises that Isaac is the man who can save him.
We only had Isaac’s point of view in the Horn Gate,and as a character I connected with him, but Scratch, the imprisoned incubus I didn’t bond with at all, he is an ancient demon and speaks in riddles which later we discover he is really dropping clues, but at the time I couldn’t make sense of it, and it was only towards the end that I finally understood but by then it had lost me in the madness of Isaac’s physical changes and his desperation to save the demon that he had an overwhelming need to protect. Personally I feel it was all too much and too quick, and if it had been longer there would have been more substance to grab hold of and run with, and Scratch, I always felt on the border, not knowing or understanding him enough, I can only presume that as it is a series, we will discover more, but for now it felt unfinished and I felt a little lost and unsatisfied despite the excellent start and promise. Also, I know we have a Sex Demon and a Sex Lounge, there is however no sex in this book.
This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for a fair and honest review
2.5 stars
This book is a hard one for me to review, there was so much promise and in parts I loved it and was completely wrapped up in the action, the writing was just exquisite at times, rolling beautifully from one sentence to the next, the subject matter not quite so beautiful but the descriptive prose put me right there with Isaac, It almost becomes a Dan Brown paranormal mystery-thriller involving a human and a sex demon, where there is intrigue and a race against time to find the answers Isaac needs from the Of Mizzikim an old book of Hebrew mythology… to open the gate and save Scratch, and this is where I lost pace with the book, purely, because the novella length didn’t give me as a reader enough time to decipher the clues and language, Hebrew, I am not familiar with and the interaction between Isaac and Scratch wasn’t enough for me to get to grips with it and the meanings of the words and their different translations over the centuries… was becoming confusing!
The book opens on Isaacs 22nd birthday, by day he works in a library restoring books his evenings he spends alone. As luck would have it a co-worker has an invitation to a sex lounge one that she is unlikely to use… so Isaac in his own mind justifies taking it from her desk as a birthday gift to himself. Gehenna was an establishment for the rich, famous and beautiful… well those with depraved tendencies, and poor Isaac is totally out of his depth in a place like that and more self conscious than usual, you see, Isaac is not our usual MC, he is overweight suffers from acne and has zero social life, and with a phobia of being touched which does nothing for his sex life. His purpose at the club was to watch, go home and get off. Yet standing at the bar, he feels cheated. He was expecting a voyeuristic delight of debauchery, instead, he could have been in any upmarket bar.
Isaac is a Jewish boy who leads a very humdrum life, he doesn’t want to be noticed, he would rather blend into the background, yet at the same time his body is craving something, anything more exciting than the loneliness that consumes him. He feels almost compelled to make his way to the bowels of the club and what he stumbles on he was finding hard to understand. An angel, so he thinks, the most beautiful man he has ever seen, his senses were overwhelmed and there is no control, he is being embraced by forces he is just unable to comprehend.
Scratch had been imprisoned to service clients and as an incubus he is the perfect prostitute in an establishment that is renowned as a Sex Lounge. He feeds on emotions of any kind and poor Isaac is just full of them and somehow Scratch realises that Isaac is the man who can save him.
We only had Isaac’s point of view in the Horn Gate,and as a character I connected with him, but Scratch, the imprisoned incubus I didn’t bond with at all, he is an ancient demon and speaks in riddles which later we discover he is really dropping clues, but at the time I couldn’t make sense of it, and it was only towards the end that I finally understood but by then it had lost me in the madness of Isaac’s physical changes and his desperation to save the demon that he had an overwhelming need to protect. Personally I feel it was all too much and too quick, and if it had been longer there would have been more substance to grab hold of and run with, and Scratch, I always felt on the border, not knowing or understanding him enough, I can only presume that as it is a series, we will discover more, but for now it felt unfinished and I felt a little lost and unsatisfied despite the excellent start and promise. Also, I know we have a Sex Demon and a Sex Lounge, there is however no sex in this book.
This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for a fair and honest review
May 13, 2013
Well....Mr Suede, this was a beautifully written, complicated but absorbing book. Do not read this book on the assumption that it is anything like Hot Head...it isn't. 4 stars
Horn Gate is another name for the entrance to Hell, and the main character of the book Isaac Stein, an overweight, spotty and nerdy librarian of antiquarian books finds himself there at the end of the book...but I digress, let's go back to where it all kicks off....
It is Isaac's 22nd birthday, and one of his workmates has a ticket to a club (sex lounge) called 'Gehenna'...as the workmate isn't bothered about the ticket, Isaac picks it up and decides to treat himself for his birthday and get laid. There's a huge guy behind the bar called 'Hole', and Isaac knows this because 'Hole' is written across the guy's chest in marker pen, the bartender seems to have problems in communicating in words of more than one syllable, and keeps watching an older guy at the front of the club, as if asking for permission. Isaac goes walkabout, and eventually finds himself downstairs, hearing the word Kholem which he knows from his job is an ancient Jewish word meaning Dreamer...and is somewhere he obviously shouldn't be, finds a guy in a bare brick room....except it isn't a guy, it's a demon called Scratch (strange name I know but not his real name), and Scratch has called to Isaac for help, he is being held against his will awaiting someone's decision on what happens to him next. Insta-lust for Isaac...he has no idea what's happening; Scratch tries to thank him and as soon as he touches Isaac, Isaac comes and then passes out. What happens when Isaac comes to, back in his apartment....alone, and what occurs subsequently, is for you, dear reader, to discover.
There are all sorts of Hebrew references, Demonic references, myths and legends mixed up in this story, but as a world-building first chapter in what I'm assuming will be a series of novellas, this was a pretty good start, if a little overwhelming to begin with.
May 13, 2013
**2.5 stars**
This book is very difficult for me to rate. On one hand, it was interesting and certainly unique. I admire Damon Suede for taking some serious risks on this book. However, when I ask myself "did you like it?", the answer is "not really".
"Horn Gate" is a mix of Jewish occult-lore and urban fantasy, something that I have never seen before. I think it has some potential and the concept is cool, but I didn't really get a feeling for any of the characters. I didn't connect with them or really understand them, which made the confusing plot less worthwhile. It feels like a COMPLETELY different author than the one who wrote "Hot Head". I wish I felt more for the characters but I really didn't, and I don't know if I would continue on with the series.
::Sad face::
This book is very difficult for me to rate. On one hand, it was interesting and certainly unique. I admire Damon Suede for taking some serious risks on this book. However, when I ask myself "did you like it?", the answer is "not really".
"Horn Gate" is a mix of Jewish occult-lore and urban fantasy, something that I have never seen before. I think it has some potential and the concept is cool, but I didn't really get a feeling for any of the characters. I didn't connect with them or really understand them, which made the confusing plot less worthwhile. It feels like a COMPLETELY different author than the one who wrote "Hot Head". I wish I felt more for the characters but I really didn't, and I don't know if I would continue on with the series.
::Sad face::
July 10, 2013
This was a lovely little novella, delicately wrought, with lush, succulent prose. It was an English major's (and philosophy major's!) treat, with resonant ideas of art and interpretation as interlocked with poetry and scholarship as the titular "horn gate" etched on the ancient tome of the book within a book.
Kubla Kahn has ever been one of my favorite poems, and to see Isaac captured by the idea (and Coleridge's original purpose) that the demon isn't bad and isn't good, he is simply an extension of the purer moments of humanity was really a delight. And in the midst of this higher level literary dance, we're also humbled by the most painful parts of being human--the extra weight, the skin problems, the social awkwardness--and I, for one, was as seduced as Isaac to see these painful reminders of imperfection sanded away by knowledge and enlightenment so that the inner angel could shine through.
I know that much has been made of this as an introduction to a larger series, but the structure was pure, perfect short story. The ambiguity of the ending gave us room to conjecture and imagine, and the many intricate layers of Suede's filigree prose gave us so VERY many things to conjecture and imagine about. I'm going to be musing on this one for a while, and for me, that was always the most potent thing about a short story. If it was well written, well conceptualized, it was like pure, concentrated literary power.
I think this story qualifies.
Kubla Kahn has ever been one of my favorite poems, and to see Isaac captured by the idea (and Coleridge's original purpose) that the demon isn't bad and isn't good, he is simply an extension of the purer moments of humanity was really a delight. And in the midst of this higher level literary dance, we're also humbled by the most painful parts of being human--the extra weight, the skin problems, the social awkwardness--and I, for one, was as seduced as Isaac to see these painful reminders of imperfection sanded away by knowledge and enlightenment so that the inner angel could shine through.
I know that much has been made of this as an introduction to a larger series, but the structure was pure, perfect short story. The ambiguity of the ending gave us room to conjecture and imagine, and the many intricate layers of Suede's filigree prose gave us so VERY many things to conjecture and imagine about. I'm going to be musing on this one for a while, and for me, that was always the most potent thing about a short story. If it was well written, well conceptualized, it was like pure, concentrated literary power.
I think this story qualifies.
May 8, 2013
An ugly duckling with a brain and compassion is rewarded with a sexy beast of his own.
What an awesome treat, a new Damon Suede and only .99¢.
Lonely, schlubby Isaac Stein works in a rare book room for the public library. Overweight, acne, and eczema plague him, and to top it all off, it's his 22nd birthday and he's the only one who remembers. When one of his co-workers jokingly offers up a free pass to the sex lounge, Gehenna and no one else claims the ticket, Isaac treats himself.
What follows is hot, nerdy (bookishness/history/Talmudic esotericism) wordplay. It's fun and kind of O.Henry-like. But don't let that run you off, it's still M/M!
What an awesome treat, a new Damon Suede and only .99¢.
Lonely, schlubby Isaac Stein works in a rare book room for the public library. Overweight, acne, and eczema plague him, and to top it all off, it's his 22nd birthday and he's the only one who remembers. When one of his co-workers jokingly offers up a free pass to the sex lounge, Gehenna and no one else claims the ticket, Isaac treats himself.
What follows is hot, nerdy (bookishness/history/Talmudic esotericism) wordplay. It's fun and kind of O.Henry-like. But don't let that run you off, it's still M/M!
May 8, 2013
Sorry but this is to much for me 
I don't even understand half of the story.
I don't even understand half of the story.
August 25, 2018
2.5 Stars
There is a lot of to be had in this dense smoke and mirrors paranormal story.
I really love a plain Joe hero but he gets transformed here and while that worked with the plot we didn't get enough time in the story to think about this process.
The mythology is great as we take a deep dive into Jewish folklore but sometimes the smoke is a bit too thick in these aspects of the tale even though the prose and is fun.
Overall, I needed more romance with Scratch and more detail.
There is a lot of to be had in this dense smoke and mirrors paranormal story.
I really love a plain Joe hero but he gets transformed here and while that worked with the plot we didn't get enough time in the story to think about this process.
The mythology is great as we take a deep dive into Jewish folklore but sometimes the smoke is a bit too thick in these aspects of the tale even though the prose and is fun.
Overall, I needed more romance with Scratch and more detail.
May 9, 2013
That was a delightful little surprise -- I went in expecting some hot sexy bits and some naughty demons, and wound up with the bonus prize of a morally complicated conflict and Kabbalistic demonology. A quick read, more than worth the price, and deliciously tempting: if Suede writes more about the challenges that Isaac and Scratch have ahead of them at the end of this novella, I'm definitely buying that.
ETA: I see now looking at the author's website that this is the first of a series. GOOD. There's way too much potential here for this to be the only one.
ETA: I see now looking at the author's website that this is the first of a series. GOOD. There's way too much potential here for this to be the only one.
March 3, 2017
4.1 Stars
I sure hope there will eventually be more installments to this series because that was a shit-ton of mythology and terminology to wade through; I'd also like to see what happens next!
Still would love to see this as an illustrated/graphic novel...
I sure hope there will eventually be more installments to this series because that was a shit-ton of mythology and terminology to wade through; I'd also like to see what happens next!
Still would love to see this as an illustrated/graphic novel...
May 10, 2013
This is kind of a brilliant but ugly duckling meets supernatural…… something lust/love at first sight story.. I really enjoyed the first half but got kind of lost towards the end. It may just be that I’m not familiar enough with Jewish folklore or whatever but I caught myself rereading bits to grasp what was happening. If I was able to understand it better I’m sure I would have enjoyed the story more. I did like it and will pick up the next volume he puts out.
The blurb pretty much sums up the story and at 73 pages I don’t think I should try to rehash any of it in a review. I thought the humor was pretty good. Things like the guy with “HOLE” written on his chest at the sex club was both twisted and funny. I liked seeing things from Isaac’s POV. He’s kind of manic but determined to know WTH he stumbled onto that night. He’s also compelled to save Scratch at any cost. There was enough doubt to make you question if Scratch was indeed the evil being he’s portrayed to be or something in the grey area. Seeing him through Isaac’s eyes kind of makes you wonder if faced with that temptation what you would do. The judge made for a deliciously frightening baddie.
Overall I like the story minus the confusion towards the end. I do want to know what happens with these two and look forward to whatever’s ahead for them. I’m sure their troubles aren’t over. This book is absolutely worth the pricetag DSP has put on it. Go get it!
Review can also be found at http://liveyourlifebuythebook.wordpre...
The blurb pretty much sums up the story and at 73 pages I don’t think I should try to rehash any of it in a review. I thought the humor was pretty good. Things like the guy with “HOLE” written on his chest at the sex club was both twisted and funny. I liked seeing things from Isaac’s POV. He’s kind of manic but determined to know WTH he stumbled onto that night. He’s also compelled to save Scratch at any cost. There was enough doubt to make you question if Scratch was indeed the evil being he’s portrayed to be or something in the grey area. Seeing him through Isaac’s eyes kind of makes you wonder if faced with that temptation what you would do. The judge made for a deliciously frightening baddie.
Overall I like the story minus the confusion towards the end. I do want to know what happens with these two and look forward to whatever’s ahead for them. I’m sure their troubles aren’t over. This book is absolutely worth the pricetag DSP has put on it. Go get it!
Review can also be found at http://liveyourlifebuythebook.wordpre...
June 29, 2013
This book is a tease and a promise. Now, if I knew for certain when and how the following episodes of the series are being published, I'd be a little less mad, as it is, I'm huffing and puffing and pouting like I shouldn't, it's unbecoming.
This is not a quiet read you're going to breeze through; I found myself more often than not slowing down and going back to re-read a few passages. It's... ambitious, but also challenging and interesting. And when a writer makes a librarian and books the center of a story, I am really happy. If you're reading this book because you've read Hot Head and you're looking for that kind of story, you might be disappointed, but here there are a few things I liked about Hot Head, even better than the whole hot-firefighter thing: amazing writing that made my toes curl in pleasure.
I don't know what I can say about the characters, becuase this is the first installment of a big projects and I don't know if I care so much about them yet. The relationship between the two is very sensual, gratitude and (I don't think it's an existing word, but I'm creative and not a native speaker) compellment can build incredible dynamics of willingness/helplessness and I simply loved it. It was also tender and sweet in a way.
This book pushed the right buttons and I can't wait to read what Damon Suede will build out of this concept. Plus, I'm a New York addict. More, please.
This is not a quiet read you're going to breeze through; I found myself more often than not slowing down and going back to re-read a few passages. It's... ambitious, but also challenging and interesting. And when a writer makes a librarian and books the center of a story, I am really happy. If you're reading this book because you've read Hot Head and you're looking for that kind of story, you might be disappointed, but here there are a few things I liked about Hot Head, even better than the whole hot-firefighter thing: amazing writing that made my toes curl in pleasure.
I don't know what I can say about the characters, becuase this is the first installment of a big projects and I don't know if I care so much about them yet. The relationship between the two is very sensual, gratitude and (I don't think it's an existing word, but I'm creative and not a native speaker) compellment can build incredible dynamics of willingness/helplessness and I simply loved it. It was also tender and sweet in a way.
This book pushed the right buttons and I can't wait to read what Damon Suede will build out of this concept. Plus, I'm a New York addict. More, please.
May 12, 2013
3.5
I liked this even though it was heavy going at times. I'm pretty clueless about Jewish mythology and I wanted to get it, dammit, (it was actually interesting), but some kind of glossary would really have helped. It became overwhelming and I found myself skimming through parts of the last half of the book.
This is a great setup for what should be a cracking series: wonderful potential in both Isaac (just what is he now?)and Scratch, truly creepy bad guys in a dark and fascinating world where the creatures of Jewish mythology are very real and very powerful......and sexy as hell.
I look forward to the next installment.
I liked this even though it was heavy going at times. I'm pretty clueless about Jewish mythology and I wanted to get it, dammit, (it was actually interesting), but some kind of glossary would really have helped. It became overwhelming and I found myself skimming through parts of the last half of the book.
This is a great setup for what should be a cracking series: wonderful potential in both Isaac (just what is he now?)and Scratch, truly creepy bad guys in a dark and fascinating world where the creatures of Jewish mythology are very real and very powerful......and sexy as hell.
I look forward to the next installment.
May 8, 2013
A difficult book to read, if you are not familiar with the Jewish mythology. Or well verse in English language.
The prose in this book, to me at least, felt like an advance level English (English is my second language). Which lend itself to the suspense and mysterious tone of the story.
The story was difficult to follow at time because we were completely reading from Issac's POV. Which means that we were as in the dark as Issac as he stumbled along trying to figure out what had happened.
It was an interesting first book I hope more will come later with perhaps clearer pictures of what happened to Issac and what being Dreamer entailed. Is being a Dreamer here means he could do magic?
The prose in this book, to me at least, felt like an advance level English (English is my second language). Which lend itself to the suspense and mysterious tone of the story.
The story was difficult to follow at time because we were completely reading from Issac's POV. Which means that we were as in the dark as Issac as he stumbled along trying to figure out what had happened.
It was an interesting first book I hope more will come later with perhaps clearer pictures of what happened to Issac and what being Dreamer entailed. Is being a Dreamer here means he could do magic?
May 16, 2013
3.5 stars
So says the line from Horn Gate and it seems appropriate for the story itself. It’s well-written in Suede’s distinctive voice, with appealing protagonist and mysterious, demonic love interest. It works well as an opener to the series, though esoteric elements of the story might be too much for some readers. If you want to know more about the evolution of Horn Gate, you should read Damon’s article Starting from Scratch posted here. I found it very interesting and it sure made me even more eager to read the series.
On his 22nd birthday Isaac decides to treat himself, so he steals a colleague’s invitation to a sex lounge. Isaac is a pudgy librarian with bad skin and issues about being touched and a visit to Gehenna is his chance to do something wild. At first, he is mightily disappointed, though he feels something strange in the club’s atmosphere. He decides to venture further down into the club and there he has an encounter which dramatically changes his life.
I liked Isaac a lot. He is sad and lonely, yet he is not without humor or imagination. He has his little luxuries and when faced with extraordinary, unnatural events he chooses to take action. Some of it is motivated by lust, sure, but also by Isaac’s compassion. He is smart, nerdy and I loved how his mind works:
Scratch, a demon, a shedim, an incubus, is an appealing and mysterious figure. What we learn about him we learn together with Isaac – through Scratch’s enigmatic remarks and Isaac’s own research. Frankly, I had to read the story twice before I could connect the dots and have some idea about who Scratch really is. Although I am all for the stories that challenge the readers, I’m still not sure that I caught everything. Regardless, what is clear is that Scratch is as lonely as Isaac. He is driven to help his own kind forced to serve human desires, and Isaac’s appearance offers him the possibility of a shared existence. In a way, Isaac is as much a temptation for Scratch as the sexy demon is for bookish librarian.
The best element of the story is Suede’s writing. It beautifully conveys the atmosphere and history of New York, Isaac’s personality (I could almost hear him speak), his experiences including his attraction to Scratch, integrate numerous references (kudos for Coleridge) and pulls the reader into the story. If I have a bigger complaint (other than the one I already mentioned) it’s Isaac’s ‘magical makeover’. Every time Scratch feeds on Isaac, the librarian’s physical flaws start to diminish until they completely disappear. It made a lie out of Scratch’s claim that his kind seeks a connection with humans with the mind as the most important thing. It seems to me that Scratch’s ‘healing’ of Isaac made only cosmetic changes – it would have been better if he ‘healed’ young man’s self-esteem and if it became clear to the reader that pudgy Isaac is lovable for his mind and personality, regardless of his physical flaws.
There will be more mysteries to discover about Scratch and his world in the future stories, like who and what Pyre – The Judge – really is, why can Isaac open the Gate, where did our protagonists end up, etc. As the opening story, the Horn Gate offers enough to pique the reader’s interest. If the author had somehow toned down the esoteric elements, I would have rated the story higher. Still, I recommend that you try the story. It is short and, even if it takes some effort to understand, it is certainly worth it.
Writen for Reviews by Jessewave.
“The real secrets could not be communicated, they could only be discovered.”
So says the line from Horn Gate and it seems appropriate for the story itself. It’s well-written in Suede’s distinctive voice, with appealing protagonist and mysterious, demonic love interest. It works well as an opener to the series, though esoteric elements of the story might be too much for some readers. If you want to know more about the evolution of Horn Gate, you should read Damon’s article Starting from Scratch posted here. I found it very interesting and it sure made me even more eager to read the series.
On his 22nd birthday Isaac decides to treat himself, so he steals a colleague’s invitation to a sex lounge. Isaac is a pudgy librarian with bad skin and issues about being touched and a visit to Gehenna is his chance to do something wild. At first, he is mightily disappointed, though he feels something strange in the club’s atmosphere. He decides to venture further down into the club and there he has an encounter which dramatically changes his life.
I liked Isaac a lot. He is sad and lonely, yet he is not without humor or imagination. He has his little luxuries and when faced with extraordinary, unnatural events he chooses to take action. Some of it is motivated by lust, sure, but also by Isaac’s compassion. He is smart, nerdy and I loved how his mind works:
Hebrew in a sex lounge. Maybe some kind of bizarre Israeli role play? Hasidic sex games? Kinky kabbalah? Isaac had visions of doddering rabbis being spanked while strict blondes forced them to eat sausage.
Scratch, a demon, a shedim, an incubus, is an appealing and mysterious figure. What we learn about him we learn together with Isaac – through Scratch’s enigmatic remarks and Isaac’s own research. Frankly, I had to read the story twice before I could connect the dots and have some idea about who Scratch really is. Although I am all for the stories that challenge the readers, I’m still not sure that I caught everything. Regardless, what is clear is that Scratch is as lonely as Isaac. He is driven to help his own kind forced to serve human desires, and Isaac’s appearance offers him the possibility of a shared existence. In a way, Isaac is as much a temptation for Scratch as the sexy demon is for bookish librarian.
The best element of the story is Suede’s writing. It beautifully conveys the atmosphere and history of New York, Isaac’s personality (I could almost hear him speak), his experiences including his attraction to Scratch, integrate numerous references (kudos for Coleridge) and pulls the reader into the story. If I have a bigger complaint (other than the one I already mentioned) it’s Isaac’s ‘magical makeover’. Every time Scratch feeds on Isaac, the librarian’s physical flaws start to diminish until they completely disappear. It made a lie out of Scratch’s claim that his kind seeks a connection with humans with the mind as the most important thing. It seems to me that Scratch’s ‘healing’ of Isaac made only cosmetic changes – it would have been better if he ‘healed’ young man’s self-esteem and if it became clear to the reader that pudgy Isaac is lovable for his mind and personality, regardless of his physical flaws.
There will be more mysteries to discover about Scratch and his world in the future stories, like who and what Pyre – The Judge – really is, why can Isaac open the Gate, where did our protagonists end up, etc. As the opening story, the Horn Gate offers enough to pique the reader’s interest. If the author had somehow toned down the esoteric elements, I would have rated the story higher. Still, I recommend that you try the story. It is short and, even if it takes some effort to understand, it is certainly worth it.
Writen for Reviews by Jessewave.
May 13, 2013
So, I read this last night, and then found MandyM's review this morning. I rather wish I'd done those in reverse order, as Mandy's link and comments helped me understand the story much more than I did reading it on its own.
I also have to admit that I'd expected something much, much different from what I got. I suppose I got distracted by some of the phrases in the blurb ("scandalous club steeped in sin" "demon who feeds on lust" "longing to surrender" "open their hearts") and I'd been expecting a fun, kinky-ish story with a happy ending. That's not at all what this story is.
I like MandyM's word "esoteric" to describe the world-building. It is indeed complex, and complicated and not at all easy to follow at some points. Damon Suede's writing is, as always, fantastically vivid (perhaps too much so at points!) and I was able to picture things spectacularly well. My problem came in that I didn't really understand the significance of the things I was picturing. It was explained at one point why Scratch first appeared as an angel and then later changed so he looked more like himself, but idk if I was more hung up on the descriptions or if I was just hoping to get to the fun story I thought I'd signed up for, but I don't remember what that explanation was.
And I'm not really sure what all happened at the end there. I mean, I know WHAT happened, I'm just not really sure why or where they're all at now or what this is supposed to be leading up to.
And it may be to do with the fact that it's two weeks before the end of the school year and I REALLY needed a light, fun, relaxing read and this turning out not to be that has me resentful enough to not be willing to give it more of a chance, but I'm not entirely sure I even care about finding out the answers to all the questions I was left with. I'll have to read this again this summer when I can go in knowing what I'm getting into.
I also have to admit that I'd expected something much, much different from what I got. I suppose I got distracted by some of the phrases in the blurb ("scandalous club steeped in sin" "demon who feeds on lust" "longing to surrender" "open their hearts") and I'd been expecting a fun, kinky-ish story with a happy ending. That's not at all what this story is.
I like MandyM's word "esoteric" to describe the world-building. It is indeed complex, and complicated and not at all easy to follow at some points. Damon Suede's writing is, as always, fantastically vivid (perhaps too much so at points!) and I was able to picture things spectacularly well. My problem came in that I didn't really understand the significance of the things I was picturing. It was explained at one point why Scratch first appeared as an angel and then later changed so he looked more like himself, but idk if I was more hung up on the descriptions or if I was just hoping to get to the fun story I thought I'd signed up for, but I don't remember what that explanation was.
And I'm not really sure what all happened at the end there. I mean, I know WHAT happened, I'm just not really sure why or where they're all at now or what this is supposed to be leading up to.
And it may be to do with the fact that it's two weeks before the end of the school year and I REALLY needed a light, fun, relaxing read and this turning out not to be that has me resentful enough to not be willing to give it more of a chance, but I'm not entirely sure I even care about finding out the answers to all the questions I was left with. I'll have to read this again this summer when I can go in knowing what I'm getting into.
May 7, 2013
This is a very interesting little book. I fear that my review will not do it justice since I am a neophyte concerning a lot of the underlying mythical history that surrounds the story, but here goes. Isaac is a dorky librarian who goes to a sex club on his 21st birthday. While in the club, he finds what he thinks is a fallen angel. He has some type of intimate relationship with the fallen angel that changes him both physically and emotionally.
He feels a close relationship with his angel, and he tries to find him again. Well. . . That search is where the story goes WAAAYYYY over my head. I acknowledge that I just don't have enough background in mythical history to understand everything that happened. But, this is what I can say -- we really don't know if Isaac's angel is good or bad, but the two are drawn together into a mystical world that may be the subject of some future book.
The first half of the book was written very clearly and I could fully understand what was happening: I was a little in the dark in the second half of the book. I would be interested in seeing what other folks who know more about the mythology described in this book have to say about the second half of the book. But, after saying that, I was a little disappointed that the author did not work harder to make the entire book crystal clear. (After all, the book is only 100 pages, so it wasn't as though fifty pages of explanation in the book would have made it intolerably long.).
I feel like I missed something big that happened in the second half of the book based upon my ignorance, but I did find the book to be interesting. Three stars from me.
He feels a close relationship with his angel, and he tries to find him again. Well. . . That search is where the story goes WAAAYYYY over my head. I acknowledge that I just don't have enough background in mythical history to understand everything that happened. But, this is what I can say -- we really don't know if Isaac's angel is good or bad, but the two are drawn together into a mystical world that may be the subject of some future book.
The first half of the book was written very clearly and I could fully understand what was happening: I was a little in the dark in the second half of the book. I would be interested in seeing what other folks who know more about the mythology described in this book have to say about the second half of the book. But, after saying that, I was a little disappointed that the author did not work harder to make the entire book crystal clear. (After all, the book is only 100 pages, so it wasn't as though fifty pages of explanation in the book would have made it intolerably long.).
I feel like I missed something big that happened in the second half of the book based upon my ignorance, but I did find the book to be interesting. Three stars from me.
May 8, 2013
Looking for love in all the wrong places, looking for love...or just hot sex.
Though this is a short story it packs quite a punch - it is not a simple story -the plot is complicated with Judaism, Old Hebrew history and some myths thrown into the mix. The book should have included a glossary, so the readers (or maybe it was just me) wouldn't become frustrated searching for terms they have no clue about, though later on in the story you can more or less understand.
Isaac, our pudgy, acne-ridden, horny librarian goes to a sex lounge and instead of a whore finds a demon who after feeding from him, makes Isaac a gorgeous stud. Forget diets or lap-bands, find a succubus to suck those pounds away. There's a villain, an ugly, smelly villain that wants to keep our couple separated. There's a reason for that, but because Isaac is a smart librarian, and a "dreamer" he finds the key to free our "Shedim" and open the gates to heavenknowswhat.
Yeah, this book needs a sequel, or at least, I want one.
Rate: 3.5 (I would have rated higher if I wouldn't have been lost at times)
December 3, 2014
A mystical, spicy, paranormal novella with a strong dose of Hebrew esotericism. But what this book really is is a spinoff of what happens in "Bad Idea," Damon Suede's fabulous novel about a comic book artist and a makeup artist.
This oddly powerful story about a young Jewish schlub, Isaac Stein, who works in a rare book library on the Lower East Side in New York, is puzzling and captivating. It asks questions about good and evil, morality and immorality, to which there are no clear answers. Except for the fact that I wanted it to be a graphic novella (because that's what it is in "Bad Idea"), I thought this was remarkable. Suede's writing and storytelling ability are tops.
This oddly powerful story about a young Jewish schlub, Isaac Stein, who works in a rare book library on the Lower East Side in New York, is puzzling and captivating. It asks questions about good and evil, morality and immorality, to which there are no clear answers. Except for the fact that I wanted it to be a graphic novella (because that's what it is in "Bad Idea"), I thought this was remarkable. Suede's writing and storytelling ability are tops.
May 9, 2013
I usually love a good angels-demons theme, but this was more of a Jewish mythology lesson than a romance. The first half was interesting, lost steam in the second half. Like the main character, I felt I shouldn't have dropped out of Hebrew school because maybe I would have understood it more. Intriguing premise that the author just didn't pull off.
August 17, 2016
I gave this story four stars because of the unique story line and characters. Suede is a good writer and a good story teller, not always the same thing. I wish this short story had been longer.
I read this before reading "Bad Idea". Do not do as I did. Read "Bad Idea" first.
I read this before reading "Bad Idea". Do not do as I did. Read "Bad Idea" first.
May 10, 2013
Still not sure what happened here....
October 18, 2013
When you can’t sleep, it’s because you’re awake in someone else’s dream.
Damon Suede (0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00). Horn Gate (Kindle Locations 708-709). Dreamspinner Press. Kindle Edition.
Damon Suede (0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00). Horn Gate (Kindle Locations 708-709). Dreamspinner Press. Kindle Edition.
March 29, 2016
Averin did a good job with her Goodreads review of this Charmingly Demonic Wet Dream. Read it at:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
May 23, 2013
Review can also be found at Under the Covers Book Blog
HORN GATE is the first book in an urban fantasy series that is well thought out and beautifully written, and it is a great and intriguing start to a series that I cannot wait to read about some more!
Isaac is just your average Joe…a young gay man who’s a little overweight, with a few skin issues to boot. He decides that for his birthday, however, he is going to step outside of the box and do something a bit daring…he is going to go to an off-the-map sex club and become a voyeur for a few hours. What he finds instead is something that will seemingly change his life forever.
After entering Gehenna, Isaac goes to explore the sex lounge, and is lured by a calling to a small room where he finds a preternaturally beautiful being which he believes to be an angel. This angel of his is Scratch.
The day after Isaac’s visit to Gehenna, Isaac is set to do research on an old tome that brings forth memories from the night before, causing him to go seek out Scratch once again. When he finds him, Isaac discovers that Scratch is not an angel at all, but rather a demon or a spirit of sorts – an Incubus. Unlike the mythology usually associated with Incubi, in which they generally feed off of lust and sex, Scratch feeds on other things – pain, fear, and woe. And so their story begins.
I really enjoyed this series opener. Suede has created a complex world that is very intriguing, and he has written two characters who I really enjoyed reading about – an average guy and a demon. The idea of Scratch as an Incubus who feeds on things other than lust and sex is a creative and new concept, and I look forward to this being explored further. I am a complete sucker for demons, too, so that drew me in immediately as well.
Even with the veritable shortness of this novella, I got pulled into Isaac and Scratch’s story and who they are as characters both individually and together. Isaac is drawn to Scratch as equally as Scratch is protective of Isaac, and there is a compelling lure between them. There is a strong sexual attraction between the two of them, too, and although the pages are charged with that, there is no sex in this book. I, for one, think that it was perfect without it. The story wouldn’t be what it was if there was. This was a story of setting up an urban fantasy world, meeting the main characters, and laying a foundation on which to build. Sex would have done the book a disservice, and that is something that we can just look forward to in the future. To tide us romance readers over, though, there are some very sexy kisses and tenderness shared between Scratch and Isaac.
The primary thing that I just loved about HORN GATE was the prose and writing. Suede writes so beautifully. He weaves an intricate tale with imagery and detail that allows me to see exactly what is being described on the page so perfectly in my mind. And the way in which those details are written is just so lovely. The metaphors and analogies Suede uses describe the scene so well, so vividly. I believe that HORN GATE is a testament to Suede’s diversity as an author – he can create a multi-dimensional fantasy world on which to build and explore as well as he can write an amazing contemporary romance.
One of the other things that I loved about HORN GATE was also the one downside I had with it: the world building. The mythos that Suede created for his HORN GATE world was so intricate, detailed, and intriguing. There is a lot of Hebrew culture and learning involved, as well theology and demonology. The amount of knowledge and research that Suede put forth in the book was just incredible. At the same time, that amount of information provided to explain a very in-depth and potentially complicated mythos for the world building was extremely large, and I would have liked to have seen it flushed out further in a longer story. Of course, the consolation to this is knowing that this is a series that will continue to follow Isaac and Scratch, and from that, I am sure we will learn more in the books to come.
Another element in this book that intrigued me was how Scratch’s feeding also caused a transformation in Isaac. Whether that transformation is a result of the feeding or caused by it, I am not sure, but I found it so interesting. Scratch got drunk on Isaac’s misery – a trait which Scratch states makes Isaac mortal – but at the same time, Isaac then transformed into a beautiful being. He lost the fallibility in his physical traits and became as preternaturally attractive to others as Scratch is to him. This is an element that I hope will be flushed out and explained further as the series continues.
All in all, HORN GATE was an excellent series opener, and I look very forward to learning more about Isaac and Scratch and their journey into the Horn Gate.
*ARC provided by publisher
HORN GATE is the first book in an urban fantasy series that is well thought out and beautifully written, and it is a great and intriguing start to a series that I cannot wait to read about some more!
Isaac is just your average Joe…a young gay man who’s a little overweight, with a few skin issues to boot. He decides that for his birthday, however, he is going to step outside of the box and do something a bit daring…he is going to go to an off-the-map sex club and become a voyeur for a few hours. What he finds instead is something that will seemingly change his life forever.
After entering Gehenna, Isaac goes to explore the sex lounge, and is lured by a calling to a small room where he finds a preternaturally beautiful being which he believes to be an angel. This angel of his is Scratch.
The day after Isaac’s visit to Gehenna, Isaac is set to do research on an old tome that brings forth memories from the night before, causing him to go seek out Scratch once again. When he finds him, Isaac discovers that Scratch is not an angel at all, but rather a demon or a spirit of sorts – an Incubus. Unlike the mythology usually associated with Incubi, in which they generally feed off of lust and sex, Scratch feeds on other things – pain, fear, and woe. And so their story begins.
I really enjoyed this series opener. Suede has created a complex world that is very intriguing, and he has written two characters who I really enjoyed reading about – an average guy and a demon. The idea of Scratch as an Incubus who feeds on things other than lust and sex is a creative and new concept, and I look forward to this being explored further. I am a complete sucker for demons, too, so that drew me in immediately as well.
Even with the veritable shortness of this novella, I got pulled into Isaac and Scratch’s story and who they are as characters both individually and together. Isaac is drawn to Scratch as equally as Scratch is protective of Isaac, and there is a compelling lure between them. There is a strong sexual attraction between the two of them, too, and although the pages are charged with that, there is no sex in this book. I, for one, think that it was perfect without it. The story wouldn’t be what it was if there was. This was a story of setting up an urban fantasy world, meeting the main characters, and laying a foundation on which to build. Sex would have done the book a disservice, and that is something that we can just look forward to in the future. To tide us romance readers over, though, there are some very sexy kisses and tenderness shared between Scratch and Isaac.
The primary thing that I just loved about HORN GATE was the prose and writing. Suede writes so beautifully. He weaves an intricate tale with imagery and detail that allows me to see exactly what is being described on the page so perfectly in my mind. And the way in which those details are written is just so lovely. The metaphors and analogies Suede uses describe the scene so well, so vividly. I believe that HORN GATE is a testament to Suede’s diversity as an author – he can create a multi-dimensional fantasy world on which to build and explore as well as he can write an amazing contemporary romance.
One of the other things that I loved about HORN GATE was also the one downside I had with it: the world building. The mythos that Suede created for his HORN GATE world was so intricate, detailed, and intriguing. There is a lot of Hebrew culture and learning involved, as well theology and demonology. The amount of knowledge and research that Suede put forth in the book was just incredible. At the same time, that amount of information provided to explain a very in-depth and potentially complicated mythos for the world building was extremely large, and I would have liked to have seen it flushed out further in a longer story. Of course, the consolation to this is knowing that this is a series that will continue to follow Isaac and Scratch, and from that, I am sure we will learn more in the books to come.
Another element in this book that intrigued me was how Scratch’s feeding also caused a transformation in Isaac. Whether that transformation is a result of the feeding or caused by it, I am not sure, but I found it so interesting. Scratch got drunk on Isaac’s misery – a trait which Scratch states makes Isaac mortal – but at the same time, Isaac then transformed into a beautiful being. He lost the fallibility in his physical traits and became as preternaturally attractive to others as Scratch is to him. This is an element that I hope will be flushed out and explained further as the series continues.
All in all, HORN GATE was an excellent series opener, and I look very forward to learning more about Isaac and Scratch and their journey into the Horn Gate.
*ARC provided by publisher
August 3, 2017
Damon Suede is a good writer. I just don't think the paranormal stuff is right for him or me. Hot Head was fun and raunchy. This one didn't work.
February 10, 2014
I have just recently joined in the M/M romance book fun, yummy smutty time though I’m no virgin to the gay romance genre. What I mean by this is I have just started reading published books. I have read a lot of good fanfiction and online web comics. So I do know what I like and don’t like in a romance novel. Warning there will be spoilers in this review
I didn’t like this novel. I didn’t understand the plot. I didn’t like the romance and honestly I didn’t really like the main characters though that might be because Isaac reminds me a little of me.
Plot
Characters
Romance
Audiobook
Ending
Overall
I didn’t like it. I hope you like it better than I did.
I didn’t like this novel. I didn’t understand the plot. I didn’t like the romance and honestly I didn’t really like the main characters though that might be because Isaac reminds me a little of me.
Plot
Characters
Romance
Audiobook
Ending
Overall
I didn’t like it. I hope you like it better than I did.
June 25, 2015
Isaac Stein is a librarian that spends his days restoring and authenticating historical books. He spends his nights alone, longing for someone to see past the few extra pounds he carries, the blemished skin, and want to be with him. After an unplanned birthday visit to a seedy nightclub, Isaac wakes up in his bed with broken memories of an angel and a mind blowing orgasm that can’t possibly be real.
Stranger still, Isaac’s appearance seems to be shifting. With every passing minute he grows more attractive. The extra pounds vanished, his skin now clear, and he is no longer able to walk through life invisible. Isaac returns to the club seeking answers only to find his angel is no angel at all, but a demon. And still, Isaac is drawn to the being with the entrancing voice that uses ancient words and has translucent skin.
I think what I enjoyed most about this was Charlie David’s narration. He’s not a narrator so much as a story teller, having this ability to draw you in and make you see the words he’s saying. The story itself was a bit odd, but I was engrossed the entire time none the less. Suede has woven and intriguing tale of demons, curses, forbidden attraction and passion. While the sexual aspect of the story was brief, it became more long and drawn out by the characters thoughts and innuendos so there was this anticipation of sorts that kept me on the edge of my seat.
If you like fantasy, other worldly sort of stories that are short, hot and fun without any actual sex in the story, but it’s still a sexy story (keep up now) then grab yourself a copy of Horn Gate.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Stranger still, Isaac’s appearance seems to be shifting. With every passing minute he grows more attractive. The extra pounds vanished, his skin now clear, and he is no longer able to walk through life invisible. Isaac returns to the club seeking answers only to find his angel is no angel at all, but a demon. And still, Isaac is drawn to the being with the entrancing voice that uses ancient words and has translucent skin.
I think what I enjoyed most about this was Charlie David’s narration. He’s not a narrator so much as a story teller, having this ability to draw you in and make you see the words he’s saying. The story itself was a bit odd, but I was engrossed the entire time none the less. Suede has woven and intriguing tale of demons, curses, forbidden attraction and passion. While the sexual aspect of the story was brief, it became more long and drawn out by the characters thoughts and innuendos so there was this anticipation of sorts that kept me on the edge of my seat.
If you like fantasy, other worldly sort of stories that are short, hot and fun without any actual sex in the story, but it’s still a sexy story (keep up now) then grab yourself a copy of Horn Gate.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
May 11, 2013
4 Stars
This is kind of a brilliant but ugly duckling meets supernatural…… something lust/love at first sight story.. I really enjoyed the first half but got kind of lost towards the end. It may just be that I’m not familiar enough with Jewish folklore or whatever but I caught myself rereading bits to grasp what was happening. If I was able to understand it better I’m sure I would have enjoyed the story more. I did like it and will pick up the next volume he puts out.
The blurb pretty much sums up the story and at 73 pages I don’t think I should try to rehash any of it in a review. I thought the humor was pretty good. Things like the guy with “HOLE” written on his chest at the sex club was both twisted and funny. I liked seeing things from Isaac’s POV. He’s kind of manic but determined to know WTH he stumbled onto that night. He’s also compelled to save Scratch at any cost. There was enough doubt to make you question if Scratch was indeed the evil being he’s portrayed to be or something in the grey area. Seeing him through Isaac’s eyes kind of makes you wonder if faced with that temptation what you would do. The judge made for a deliciously frightening baddie.
Overall I like the story minus the confusion towards the end. I do want to know what happens with these two and look forward to whatever’s ahead for them. I’m sure their troubles aren’t over. This book is absolutely worth the pricetag DSP has put on it. Go get it!
See more reviews by Whit at Live Your Life, Buy The Book
This is kind of a brilliant but ugly duckling meets supernatural…… something lust/love at first sight story.. I really enjoyed the first half but got kind of lost towards the end. It may just be that I’m not familiar enough with Jewish folklore or whatever but I caught myself rereading bits to grasp what was happening. If I was able to understand it better I’m sure I would have enjoyed the story more. I did like it and will pick up the next volume he puts out.
The blurb pretty much sums up the story and at 73 pages I don’t think I should try to rehash any of it in a review. I thought the humor was pretty good. Things like the guy with “HOLE” written on his chest at the sex club was both twisted and funny. I liked seeing things from Isaac’s POV. He’s kind of manic but determined to know WTH he stumbled onto that night. He’s also compelled to save Scratch at any cost. There was enough doubt to make you question if Scratch was indeed the evil being he’s portrayed to be or something in the grey area. Seeing him through Isaac’s eyes kind of makes you wonder if faced with that temptation what you would do. The judge made for a deliciously frightening baddie.
Overall I like the story minus the confusion towards the end. I do want to know what happens with these two and look forward to whatever’s ahead for them. I’m sure their troubles aren’t over. This book is absolutely worth the pricetag DSP has put on it. Go get it!
See more reviews by Whit at Live Your Life, Buy The Book
November 29, 2013
Isaac is a below average looking guy trying to justify his pilfered present to himself for his birthday. He’s not too happy that his coworkers forgot about him. His self-esteem is low. He’s just existing. He needs to fun that is sure to be had at this invite only sex lounge. One drink and some random wanderings later Isaac finds himself in front of what can only be a fallen angel, Scratch not an angel.
This all seems so interesting until the story gets moving. Most of this tale revolves around Isaac and his job. The current project coincides with Scratch. I felt like to draw some mystery I was kept in the dark on much of what was going on with Scratch. The being kept in the dark feeling never went away. I felt like I should have known more about what was going on outside of the texts that Isaac was researching.
After noticing that Horn Gate is the first book in a series I’m almost okay with the ending. I wouldn’t call the ending a cliffhanger. This book ends with things wrapped up just fine but still leaves readers wanting more. As for the wanting more… There was plenty I wanted more of.
I would have loved some more romance. I am a smut junkie. I love my smutty good reads. Isaac and Scratch have the possibilities for there to be some romance, but the pages of this paranormal read were missing all the sexy action.
This all seems so interesting until the story gets moving. Most of this tale revolves around Isaac and his job. The current project coincides with Scratch. I felt like to draw some mystery I was kept in the dark on much of what was going on with Scratch. The being kept in the dark feeling never went away. I felt like I should have known more about what was going on outside of the texts that Isaac was researching.
After noticing that Horn Gate is the first book in a series I’m almost okay with the ending. I wouldn’t call the ending a cliffhanger. This book ends with things wrapped up just fine but still leaves readers wanting more. As for the wanting more… There was plenty I wanted more of.
I would have loved some more romance. I am a smut junkie. I love my smutty good reads. Isaac and Scratch have the possibilities for there to be some romance, but the pages of this paranormal read were missing all the sexy action.
May 12, 2013
My review in the link is in italian, but I read the book in english. And although I'm not a native speaker and the thinking process Isaac has to go through is quite difficult to follow if you read it in another language then yours, I loved it. Maybe because I love languages and the history of languages, etimology and so on. I really appreciated the book. The first part is not very very original for people like me, who like to read about demons, and gates, and old books, but then the plot takes an unpredictable turn and becomes very interesting! I recommend this book to those who love paranormal and horror stories with a hint of romance/erotism.
My link to the review (italian): http://silently-aloud.blogspot.de/201...
My link to the review (italian): http://silently-aloud.blogspot.de/201...
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