Paris at Nightfall

by Merlina Garance

In an early 20th century Paris emptied of its population and surveilled by the army, two men are trying to survive. Would that include falling in love?

Jules has been surviving off of preserves he scavenges out in the city when he leaves his hideout at night.
He never knew why one day, the Army hauled the whole town’s population into vans and evacuated the city.
He only knows he’s the only one left behind.

Or so he thought.
When he runs into a blond aristocrat with nice hands on an outing, his world is turned upside down once again...

Genres: Queer, Romance

ebook

Published June 1, 2024

About the author

Merlina writes and lives in France, with a husband and their beloved dog. After a career as a social worker, Merlina first published a novel in 2023. Merlina's head is full of LGBTQ love stories, so keep an eye out for those to come...

Social media:
Instagram: @merlina_garance_author
Facebook: Merlina Garance Author

Reviews

[Tessa La Vella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merlina Garance just has a talent for writing super tender intimate scenes.
Cure M/M novella in a dystopian Paris setting. Loved the communication via letters. This book is a gem!

[Helios · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love staying awake at night to read my friends’ stories, especially when I know I’m going to cry and still enjoy every moment of it.

This novelette has everything a certified Merlina book must have:
- the mlm couple having a thing™️ for the act of shaving
- lots of sexual food metaphors
- mutual pining
- happy ending for the queers

It will be made available via newsletter, but I personally can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy. If you’re excited for this story to come out, you have every reason to be. If you’re not, *loads gun* perhaps you’ll be inclined to reconsider?

[Abbey Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very tender novella about taking the risk to live as you long to, regardless of if the world has crumbled. 

My favourite parts were the letters between Jules and Amboise, they are short but just like Jules and Amboise I was reading between the lines to understand the other. The aesthetic and vibes of the story are palpable and it feels like a small candle flame burning persistently in the grey but that flame is enough. 

Definitely recommend subscribing to the newsletter to get this story.

[Rachel Bowdler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard queer dystopian and came running because there is something so personal about gays at the end of the world. Especially in Paris At Nightfall, where they might actually be the last two gays in an otherwise guarded, hostile city.

They come together completely by accident when searching the same apartment building for resources, and through a series of notes and gifts, slowly to come together (but not too slowly, as this is after all a novella).

Merlina Garance knows exactly how to write intimacy in a way that has the reader holding their breath, waiting, desperate. She knows when to let the characters be tough, impenetrable, and when to let them unravel into a vulnerability that leaves the reader aching. With simply stunning prose and a love story that falls out of time, this was my favourite work of Merlina’s yet and I think it will be perfect for fans of This Is How You Lose the Time War.

You can read it by subscribing to Merlina’s newsletter!

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not surprising that I loved this. It's a shorter read but it's vivid and explodes with imagery. I was deeply immersed in the atmosphere of this dystopian, empty Paris, scrambling through its rooftops.

My favorite part was all the letters Jules and Amboise left for each other, so full of their personalities (and even a little banter!)

[Merlina Garance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will be offered, starting in June 2024, to all newsletter subscribers! I hope you'll enjoy this short novella that came to me in a dream, and two men being really soft for each other in hard times.

[Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never thought I would be crying over a handful of letters, yet here I am! It is impressive how effectively Merlina used the few pages at their disposal (novelettes arent famous for being long) to tell a story that had me invested troughout every page. 10/10 will read again.

[Lillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new Garance favourite?! This was so beautifully written, full of humanity and yearning. I especially loved the letters between the two characters, each of whom have a very distinct voice.

Also: free through the author's newsletter!

[Jenna Jarvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible yearning, and then even better the intimacy to follow was so hot and so earned I was blushing when I read it. Could easy read another five stories about where they go next 💙

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a really cute read and while I didn’t fully realize that there was an intimate scene involved, it was really well written. The yearning was *chefs kiss*