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Fidelity
Librarian's Note: An alternate cover for this ASIN can be found here
How far can a man go in the name of faith?
He was once the Angel of Fidelity. Worshiped by a mortal knight, Fidelity fell in love with him, and lost him. Heartbroken and believing he’d been abandoned, The angel fell from the Empyrean into the darkness of the Abyss. Now, he is Fydelis, the demon of Regret, and put to the task of collecting the soul of the knight he once loved; a man who no longer recognizes him for what he'd once been.
Father Gareth De'Aubyn is a man tormented by his past and ready to sell his future to save the souls of the people his army once threatened. He’s traded his armor for a cassock, and his sword for a hammer, working to help build a village for the refugees of war. When his church is attacked by unknown assassins, Gareth is mortally wounded, and with his dying breath, he calls to the Empyrean for help.
But his god does not answer.
Instead, a demon, terrible and beautiful, heeds his call, asking him to give up his soul for a chance to set everything right. Bargain made, Gareth relives that fateful day, but this time he has the power of a demon to fight off the attack.
They set out on a journey together, Gareth tasked not only with the surrender of his own soul, but those of twenty others who’ve tried to escape their fate. Yet each day brings a mystery that tests the barrier between good and evil, and changes everything that Gareth thought he knew about faith, love, and Fidelity.
Content warnings: Graphic violence, fantasy-based theosophical overtones, dub-con, rape, heavy on the dark at times, snarky banter, hot and sweet m/m sex.
How far can a man go in the name of faith?
He was once the Angel of Fidelity. Worshiped by a mortal knight, Fidelity fell in love with him, and lost him. Heartbroken and believing he’d been abandoned, The angel fell from the Empyrean into the darkness of the Abyss. Now, he is Fydelis, the demon of Regret, and put to the task of collecting the soul of the knight he once loved; a man who no longer recognizes him for what he'd once been.
Father Gareth De'Aubyn is a man tormented by his past and ready to sell his future to save the souls of the people his army once threatened. He’s traded his armor for a cassock, and his sword for a hammer, working to help build a village for the refugees of war. When his church is attacked by unknown assassins, Gareth is mortally wounded, and with his dying breath, he calls to the Empyrean for help.
But his god does not answer.
Instead, a demon, terrible and beautiful, heeds his call, asking him to give up his soul for a chance to set everything right. Bargain made, Gareth relives that fateful day, but this time he has the power of a demon to fight off the attack.
They set out on a journey together, Gareth tasked not only with the surrender of his own soul, but those of twenty others who’ve tried to escape their fate. Yet each day brings a mystery that tests the barrier between good and evil, and changes everything that Gareth thought he knew about faith, love, and Fidelity.
Content warnings: Graphic violence, fantasy-based theosophical overtones, dub-con, rape, heavy on the dark at times, snarky banter, hot and sweet m/m sex.
213 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2015
17 people are currently reading
283 people want to read
About the author
Lia Black
10 books145 followersLia Black tends to do everything the hard way; beginning with being born backwards into the world and now raising a teenage daughter by herself in conservative Upstate NY. Her career choices are no less extreme, including occupations of fine artist, computer geek, firefighter, and mortician’s assistant— just to name a few.
A fellow Author describes Black's mind as "a glorious kaleidoscope of f*ckeduppery"; she loves the challenge of writing about people who probably have no business being together on the same planet, and who occasionally deal with questionable sanity/morality. It’s fun to glue broken things together and try to make something interesting and new.
--She especially loves broken boys who have lots of fascinating pieces.
Her characters often suffer through the worlds she creates for them, which leaves them a little cranky and sometimes less lovable than others in a romance genre. Yet Black swears that someday, "there will be comedy."
A fellow Author describes Black's mind as "a glorious kaleidoscope of f*ckeduppery"; she loves the challenge of writing about people who probably have no business being together on the same planet, and who occasionally deal with questionable sanity/morality. It’s fun to glue broken things together and try to make something interesting and new.
--She especially loves broken boys who have lots of fascinating pieces.
Her characters often suffer through the worlds she creates for them, which leaves them a little cranky and sometimes less lovable than others in a romance genre. Yet Black swears that someday, "there will be comedy."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
April 16, 2016
Cross-posted at Outlaw Reviews and at Shelf Inflicted
Father Gareth De’Aubyn, former Crusader, is wracked with guilt for his part in the destruction of innocent lives. Now a priest, he has an opportunity to repair some of the damage he caused and atone for his sins. When Gareth is gravely wounded during an attack on his church, his pleas to his god are answered by the demon, Fydelis.
In return for Fydelis’ help in saving his life, protecting his followers, and seeking vengeance against his attackers, Gareth must sacrifice his soul to the Sunderer god, Malaketh, a nasty piece of work and Fydelis’ master. Fydelis isn’t just any ordinary demon, though. He was once Gareth’s guardian angel, and just because he now possesses cloven hooves and a forked tail doesn’t mean he stopped having feelings for Gareth.
I’m watching Supernatural now (yeah, I know I’m late to the party) and was keen to read a story about a regretful priest and the reluctant demon that turns his life upside down.
The story went down as smoothly as a mug of cheap lager, pleasant tasting and drinkable.
What I liked:
- The slow-burning romance between Gareth and Fydelis, two broken men who must overcome the difficult hurdles of loneliness, regret, and grief.
- The humorous banter between Gareth and Fydelis that offset the violence and despair.
- Gareth’s unshakable faith and kind heart.
- Gripping and well-paced story.
What didn’t work so well:
- One-dimensional villains. I would have liked some insight into the minds and motivations of Malaketh and General Karathis.
- Fydelis’ telepathic ability was interesting, but not fully explored or utilized. Similarly, his ability to enter Gareth and direct his actions.
- Interesting minor characters, like Yeol Havram and Paetrik, deserved far more page time.
- The graphic physical and sexual torture of Fydelis by Malaketh felt distracting more than disturbing. Because Malaketh lacked any depth and Fydelis did not appear to be permanently affected, these scenes failed to have any impact on me.
- Errors, plot holes, and incoherency in places made this a sometimes frustrating read.
For example:
Does Fydelis have a soul?
Or doesn’t he?
By the time I finished reading, I was fast forgetting details in the story. It felt just like getting to the bottom of that mug of cheap lager and yearning for a richer, more full-bodied beer.
*Book provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
Father Gareth De’Aubyn, former Crusader, is wracked with guilt for his part in the destruction of innocent lives. Now a priest, he has an opportunity to repair some of the damage he caused and atone for his sins. When Gareth is gravely wounded during an attack on his church, his pleas to his god are answered by the demon, Fydelis.
In return for Fydelis’ help in saving his life, protecting his followers, and seeking vengeance against his attackers, Gareth must sacrifice his soul to the Sunderer god, Malaketh, a nasty piece of work and Fydelis’ master. Fydelis isn’t just any ordinary demon, though. He was once Gareth’s guardian angel, and just because he now possesses cloven hooves and a forked tail doesn’t mean he stopped having feelings for Gareth.
I’m watching Supernatural now (yeah, I know I’m late to the party) and was keen to read a story about a regretful priest and the reluctant demon that turns his life upside down.
The story went down as smoothly as a mug of cheap lager, pleasant tasting and drinkable.
What I liked:
- The slow-burning romance between Gareth and Fydelis, two broken men who must overcome the difficult hurdles of loneliness, regret, and grief.
- The humorous banter between Gareth and Fydelis that offset the violence and despair.
- Gareth’s unshakable faith and kind heart.
- Gripping and well-paced story.
What didn’t work so well:
- One-dimensional villains. I would have liked some insight into the minds and motivations of Malaketh and General Karathis.
- Fydelis’ telepathic ability was interesting, but not fully explored or utilized. Similarly, his ability to enter Gareth and direct his actions.
- Interesting minor characters, like Yeol Havram and Paetrik, deserved far more page time.
- The graphic physical and sexual torture of Fydelis by Malaketh felt distracting more than disturbing. Because Malaketh lacked any depth and Fydelis did not appear to be permanently affected, these scenes failed to have any impact on me.
- Errors, plot holes, and incoherency in places made this a sometimes frustrating read.
For example:
Does Fydelis have a soul?
“He felt himself shatter; his heart, mind, soul, and spirit breaking into a million pieces. He collapsed on top of Gareth, kissing his throat as tears ran from his eyes and he sobbed like a child.”
Or doesn’t he?
“They ignored both Gareth and Fydelis, for neither of them had a soul for the taking, but something else seemed to draw their notice.”
By the time I finished reading, I was fast forgetting details in the story. It felt just like getting to the bottom of that mug of cheap lager and yearning for a richer, more full-bodied beer.
*Book provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
March 11, 2018
Well-written with excellent pacing, this story had me enthralled from the gripping first scene onward. Dark and not for the faint-hearted, one particular scene at the beginning took my breath away with its grisly, shocking cruelty. But amidst the bloody battle scenes, there is humor, small joys, and sweet tenderness. Amidst the dismantling, we are put back together. The ride to get there is gut-wrenching, heartbreaking, and painful to read at parts. And I bloody well loved it. All of it.
August 24, 2015
I know some are going to look at the tags for this book and go...
But just hold on a sec.
Yes, it can be brutal. When it comes to a battle between good and evil there's bound to be some bloodshed. Right? But at the end of the day it's a love story that involves sacrifice. And fidelity.
Would you be willing to sacrifice your soul for your beloved and maintain your fidelity to that person?
That is the question that both Gareth and Fydelis must answer.
Gareth is the textbook definition of "good". He's moral, pious, altruistic and faithful; he feels "singularly tasked with saving mankind." He's a former Crusader turned priest of a small village that's been plundered by marauders when we first cross paths with him. During the melee he calls upon his estranged Guardian, Fidelity, for assistance.
Fydelis appears instead with an offer to turn back the clock, assist Gareth in avoiding the total destruction of his village in exchange for his acquiring 20 souls and surrendering his own at the end of the mission.
Gareth accepts because he's Gareth.
He and Fydelis set out on their mission with loads of tension between them. Fydelis is a demon with the face of Gareth's beloved and a source of constant lust and subsequent shame.
Shame for lusting after the flesh, a sin for which he's been punished throughout his life and for which he uses the scourge upon himself.
Shame for being disloyal to Fidelity.
Shame for being weak.
Fydelis struggles with being around Gareth because he is Fidelity. There was some misunderstanding betwixt the two (which isn't explained well) and believing that Gareth had forsaken him he went looking for him and fell into the clutches of Malaketh, the Sunderer god.
Malaketh likes nothing better than torturing his favorite new toy and fallen angel. It is torture what he puts Fydelis through. Most of their scenes are told in flashback fashion or without extensive details, but there are a couple that are cringeworthy and will break your heart and leave you shuddering for Fydelis.
Black weaves a compelling and visually stunning quasi-historical, mostly AU tale with two affecting characters I'll not soon forget and a shit load of adventure and battles. There are many religious overtones with secondary characters that kept the pacing at a near frenetic pace.
The sex was medium hot, but it did have It was a long time coming I'll tell you that. I thought I was going to drown in UST Lake along with these two.
My only niggle other than the aforementioned murky misunderstanding was the endgame with Malaketh. It left me feeling a bit... unfulfilled? In a state of disbelief?
Really? Is there a follow up because I can totally see him being all...
I'm in the 4.25-4.5 star range so... I guess I'll round up?
Recommend to all the people who didn't stop reading when they saw my tags.
But just hold on a sec.
Yes, it can be brutal. When it comes to a battle between good and evil there's bound to be some bloodshed. Right? But at the end of the day it's a love story that involves sacrifice. And fidelity.
Would you be willing to sacrifice your soul for your beloved and maintain your fidelity to that person?
That is the question that both Gareth and Fydelis must answer.
Gareth is the textbook definition of "good". He's moral, pious, altruistic and faithful; he feels "singularly tasked with saving mankind." He's a former Crusader turned priest of a small village that's been plundered by marauders when we first cross paths with him. During the melee he calls upon his estranged Guardian, Fidelity, for assistance.
Fydelis appears instead with an offer to turn back the clock, assist Gareth in avoiding the total destruction of his village in exchange for his acquiring 20 souls and surrendering his own at the end of the mission.
Gareth accepts because he's Gareth.
He and Fydelis set out on their mission with loads of tension between them. Fydelis is a demon with the face of Gareth's beloved and a source of constant lust and subsequent shame.
Shame for lusting after the flesh, a sin for which he's been punished throughout his life and for which he uses the scourge upon himself.
Shame for being disloyal to Fidelity.
Shame for being weak.
Fydelis struggles with being around Gareth because he is Fidelity. There was some misunderstanding betwixt the two (which isn't explained well) and believing that Gareth had forsaken him he went looking for him and fell into the clutches of Malaketh, the Sunderer god.
Malaketh likes nothing better than torturing his favorite new toy and fallen angel. It is torture what he puts Fydelis through. Most of their scenes are told in flashback fashion or without extensive details, but there are a couple that are cringeworthy and will break your heart and leave you shuddering for Fydelis.
"But Regret has always been but one aspect of Fidelity. It is the most negative outcome of an otherwise noble sacrifice. Gareth embodies your lost other half-Attainment"
Black weaves a compelling and visually stunning quasi-historical, mostly AU tale with two affecting characters I'll not soon forget and a shit load of adventure and battles. There are many religious overtones with secondary characters that kept the pacing at a near frenetic pace.
The sex was medium hot, but it did have It was a long time coming I'll tell you that. I thought I was going to drown in UST Lake along with these two.
My only niggle other than the aforementioned murky misunderstanding was the endgame with Malaketh. It left me feeling a bit... unfulfilled? In a state of disbelief?
Really? Is there a follow up because I can totally see him being all...
I'm in the 4.25-4.5 star range so... I guess I'll round up?
Recommend to all the people who didn't stop reading when they saw my tags.
May 4, 2015
4.5 stars. This was an incredible tale. With some editing, this could definitely be a 5 star read.
April 13, 2015
I feel like I have been on an abusive roller coaster - or that I went to war with these two.
---
When Gareth calls for help, the Sunderer finds a new means to toy with Fydelis - a torture that doesn't come with tearing skin and shredding bones, but instead a sort of abuse of the heart.
But Gareth, a Crusader turned priest, has no idea what he's getting himself into when he sells his soul to save the lives of his flock. What starts out as a cry for help soon becomes a twisting journey in which no soul is safe and both Fydelis and Gareth must come to terms with the future that lies ahead. But what if the mortal never truly turned his back on Fidelity? And what if together, they can be something more?
There are some unbearably dark moments in this, times when you may cringe or turn away, wishing for the pain to end for Fydelis, but are still unable to stop reading. I had moments of that, particularly in the first time we see Fydelis being literally dismantled by his master. The raw details are truly breathtaking and macabre. And yet, despite this world of pain and death, she manages to weave in moments of humor that are surprising and comforting.
Additionally, when I want battle, I want something bloody and fierce, and this story delivers. It doesn't try to hide the details of blood or bone fragments. It's not for the lighthearted, but for those who do enjoy being taken on a wild, exhausting ride, this is for you.
I went through a range of theories in my head, none of them grasping the full extent to what Lia had brewing in the story, and when it was all revealed, I was left feeling bruised, battered, and somehow rejuvenated. The ending of this story could not have been more right for these two characters. Imperfections remained, but it just so fitting for it to end where it did. I was left smiling from their journey.
I wonder what it's like in the mind of Lia Black, to have such vivid, brutal, and equally beautiful stories coursing through your thoughts? I imagine it's a wonderful place to be, and I'm truly thankful to get to experience this piece of her creativity.
---
fi·del·i·tyWhen Fidelity thought that his love had turned his back on him, he fell from Empyrean in search of him, but instead he was drawn into the Abyss, where his soul was ravaged and his pure essence made corrupt by the Sunderer. His life and death is a series of gruesome episodes, torture in which he is torn and ravaged, only the be made whole once again, but not as Fidelity, as Regret, and a creature now named Fydelis.
fəˈdelədē/
noun
faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support.
When Gareth calls for help, the Sunderer finds a new means to toy with Fydelis - a torture that doesn't come with tearing skin and shredding bones, but instead a sort of abuse of the heart.
But Gareth, a Crusader turned priest, has no idea what he's getting himself into when he sells his soul to save the lives of his flock. What starts out as a cry for help soon becomes a twisting journey in which no soul is safe and both Fydelis and Gareth must come to terms with the future that lies ahead. But what if the mortal never truly turned his back on Fidelity? And what if together, they can be something more?
"Why not you?" Gareth whispered softly. "Who shall deliver you, my Fidelity?"If you know Lia Black for anything, it should be that her stories have a way of taking a life of their own. She manages to create a world that goes beyond expectations and becomes a real, breathing entity. This story is no different. Within it she creates a world corrupt and yet holding onto its Faith. The religion she creates is intriguing and inspiring, holding a shadow of those we recognize today, but twisting into something more.
There are some unbearably dark moments in this, times when you may cringe or turn away, wishing for the pain to end for Fydelis, but are still unable to stop reading. I had moments of that, particularly in the first time we see Fydelis being literally dismantled by his master. The raw details are truly breathtaking and macabre. And yet, despite this world of pain and death, she manages to weave in moments of humor that are surprising and comforting.
Additionally, when I want battle, I want something bloody and fierce, and this story delivers. It doesn't try to hide the details of blood or bone fragments. It's not for the lighthearted, but for those who do enjoy being taken on a wild, exhausting ride, this is for you.
I went through a range of theories in my head, none of them grasping the full extent to what Lia had brewing in the story, and when it was all revealed, I was left feeling bruised, battered, and somehow rejuvenated. The ending of this story could not have been more right for these two characters. Imperfections remained, but it just so fitting for it to end where it did. I was left smiling from their journey.
I wonder what it's like in the mind of Lia Black, to have such vivid, brutal, and equally beautiful stories coursing through your thoughts? I imagine it's a wonderful place to be, and I'm truly thankful to get to experience this piece of her creativity.
June 17, 2015
A colourful and sometimes gruesome story about Gareth, Fydelis and The Sunderer. It manages to combine the characters journey with big issues such as faith, morality and love. Dear god but these fellas are taken through the mangle hahah.
I was very taken with Fydelis :D
I was very taken with Fydelis :D
May 12, 2015
I have to say Fidelity took me a while to read and get into. Once my brain grasped the notion I was reading a book on faith and loyalty I was good to go. I was amazed by author Lia Black’s writing and Fidelity blew my mind away with its complexities.
Fidelity is completely different from the two other books I read and loved by Lia Black: Worthy & Where Willows Won't Grow as Fidelity is dark, gritty, & many passages for me were reminiscent of movies and/or biblical references.
I’m trying to write this review without any spoilers and it’s tough.
What made this book enthralling are the characters Father Gareth and Fydelis who are both broken in their own way. One of my favorite revelations was when Fydelis stated:
As I previously stated, Fidelity is a dark read. It is a read that showcases non con, deals with fornication, talks about whipping in relation to faithfulness.
Additionally, I liked the titles each chapter had and the black/white book cover. There was an execution flaw for me with the plot but was not a big deal because it could be open ended for each reader to decipher the results on their own. At any rate, Fidelity is a twist on faith, loyalty, regret and love. If you’re open to a thrilling ride of sacrifices, consequences, guardian angels, demons, and devotion then I highly recommend this book. Fidelity gets 3.5 devilishly faithful stars upgraded to 4 for overloading my senses while reading.
***I received a free copy of this book from the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review***
Fidelity is completely different from the two other books I read and loved by Lia Black: Worthy & Where Willows Won't Grow as Fidelity is dark, gritty, & many passages for me were reminiscent of movies and/or biblical references.
I’m trying to write this review without any spoilers and it’s tough.
What made this book enthralling are the characters Father Gareth and Fydelis who are both broken in their own way. One of my favorite revelations was when Fydelis stated:
"Faith, in its own way, brought me to this point. I, too, felt abandoned by the one I believed in." He closed his eyes and let out a bitter laugh. "And now… now I see that it was all my own doing, for he never left me. I lost my faith in him."This statement hit home with me as I have felt this same sentiment and had to realize my God has never left me but I temporarily left my God.
As I previously stated, Fidelity is a dark read. It is a read that showcases non con, deals with fornication, talks about whipping in relation to faithfulness.
"The pain is both punishing and purifying...
Additionally, I liked the titles each chapter had and the black/white book cover. There was an execution flaw for me with the plot but was not a big deal because it could be open ended for each reader to decipher the results on their own. At any rate, Fidelity is a twist on faith, loyalty, regret and love. If you’re open to a thrilling ride of sacrifices, consequences, guardian angels, demons, and devotion then I highly recommend this book. Fidelity gets 3.5 devilishly faithful stars upgraded to 4 for overloading my senses while reading.
***I received a free copy of this book from the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review***
December 18, 2015
4.5 stars rounded UP
WARNINGS: dubcon, tortures, graphic violence
I received copy of this book from the author through DBML program in exchange for an honest review.
The blurb piqued my interest and more so when a friend recommended this to me. So when there was a chance to read the book, I grabbed it. And boy was I in for a treat! Granted, historical though the story might be, it was not my usual choice of reading; but that didn't stop me from enjoying the story.
Fidelity was the guardian angel Lieutenant Gareth De'Aubyn worshiped since his days as Knight of Faith, the Crusaders. When Gareth turned his back on his brethren and chose to serve people as a priest, he unwittingly caused his angel to fall from Empyrean, turned into demon of Regret called Fidelys and be unwilling plaything of the Sunderer in the Abyss. When a group of assassins attacked Father Gareth's flock, his cry for help was heard by the Sunderer; Malaketh sent Fydelis to make a bargain - Gareth's soul for saving his flock's lives. Gareth also had to collect tarnished souls for the Sunderer as payment for the lives saved, with Fidelys accompanying him through the journey.
Despite the character being a demon, I loved Fidelys from the start. First I felt for his agony enduring brutal tortures in the hand of Malaketh. He's an unusual demon, a complicated mix of good, bad, strong and fragile at the same time. Gareth was too perfect a human; he could even cope with his attraction and lust over Fedelys. They made a balance combination.
Some of the dubcon scenes were a tad too graphic to my taste. On the other hand, they fed on my sympathies to the fallen angel. The plot borrowed the Crusades and their campaign in the middle ages but altered it into a new one with unholy ambitions, tainted souls and dark magic. And this was not exactly a good versus bad fight, as Gareth was actually on missions under the Sunderer order. Admittedly, the question I had all through reading was: where was the Creator during all this upheaval. I shouldn't have worry though: He was there. *winks*
Romantically wise, this story may not have the "everybody happy" ending, least not in a conventional way. But the twist and turn of the story and Fidelys and Gareth's building emotional closeness made more impact because of it. And surprisingly, terribly monstrous as Malaketh was, I wish there were a bit more glimpse of him in this book. There remained some questions concerning the Sunderer for me. But overall I so enjoyed this book - thus the rounded up rating! :D
WARNINGS: dubcon, tortures, graphic violence
I received copy of this book from the author through DBML program in exchange for an honest review.
The blurb piqued my interest and more so when a friend recommended this to me. So when there was a chance to read the book, I grabbed it. And boy was I in for a treat! Granted, historical though the story might be, it was not my usual choice of reading; but that didn't stop me from enjoying the story.
Fidelity was the guardian angel Lieutenant Gareth De'Aubyn worshiped since his days as Knight of Faith, the Crusaders. When Gareth turned his back on his brethren and chose to serve people as a priest, he unwittingly caused his angel to fall from Empyrean, turned into demon of Regret called Fidelys and be unwilling plaything of the Sunderer in the Abyss. When a group of assassins attacked Father Gareth's flock, his cry for help was heard by the Sunderer; Malaketh sent Fydelis to make a bargain - Gareth's soul for saving his flock's lives. Gareth also had to collect tarnished souls for the Sunderer as payment for the lives saved, with Fidelys accompanying him through the journey.
Despite the character being a demon, I loved Fidelys from the start. First I felt for his agony enduring brutal tortures in the hand of Malaketh. He's an unusual demon, a complicated mix of good, bad, strong and fragile at the same time. Gareth was too perfect a human; he could even cope with his attraction and lust over Fedelys. They made a balance combination.
Some of the dubcon scenes were a tad too graphic to my taste. On the other hand, they fed on my sympathies to the fallen angel. The plot borrowed the Crusades and their campaign in the middle ages but altered it into a new one with unholy ambitions, tainted souls and dark magic. And this was not exactly a good versus bad fight, as Gareth was actually on missions under the Sunderer order. Admittedly, the question I had all through reading was: where was the Creator during all this upheaval. I shouldn't have worry though: He was there. *winks*
Romantically wise, this story may not have the "everybody happy" ending, least not in a conventional way. But the twist and turn of the story and Fidelys and Gareth's building emotional closeness made more impact because of it. And surprisingly, terribly monstrous as Malaketh was, I wish there were a bit more glimpse of him in this book. There remained some questions concerning the Sunderer for me. But overall I so enjoyed this book - thus the rounded up rating! :D
May 2, 2015
Well written with really three stories woven into one. There is Gareth's crisis of the faith in which he leaves the Brotherhood to become a village priest. There is the journey of Fydelis and Gareth to collect souls and clean up the mess that the Crusaders left behind. Lastly, there is the love between Gareth and his guardian Fidelity now become Fydelis. This was a wonderfully complex story that could have benefited by better editing. This is my first book by Ms Black but will not be my last.
June 11, 2015
Wonderful characters, and fascinating interaction. It's as if Lia Black knows me and prods at the uneasy recesses of my mind, often making me horrified / aroused.
A rich and complex book.
A rich and complex book.
July 24, 2024
Wow, this was incredible! The worldbuilding was unique and interesting, the characters and their arcs were amazing and the combination of fantasy elements in the historical setting made this an incredible and intense experience.
Fair warning before diving into my gushing review: this book contains very, VERY dark themes. The author isn't kidding around or using the content warnings lightly. The book contains very graphic rape/non-con of a MC (not by the other MC), very (VERY) graphic and gory torture, lots of violence, death, gore, blood etc. This story takes place in the medieval times which were already a brutal time period but the author added in the existence of demons and the devil, which increased the level of brutality.
The next section will discuss the most graphic/brutal of these dark themes so I'm putting the whole discussion under a spoiler cut if you'd like to skip it entirely. But please note that I put specific gory details under spoiler tags within the section so you can still read it without the details.
Now I promise there won't be further gory details so you can safely click any spoiler if you'd like more information.
This story is the most unusual second chance romance setup I've ever come across. The story takes place during medieval times and Gareth has spent much of his life being a Crusader Knight, having been taught from a young age that it's his duty to be god's sword and to go forth and vanquish any evidence of dark magic or the devil's doings. During his years spent being a Crusader, he does what all Crusaders do and he chooses a personal guardian angel/god who he prays to and turns to for protection. While most Crusaders choose female guardians, Gareth chose the angel Fidelity. Maybe Fidelity wasn't a popular guardian angel or maybe Fidelity took a shine to Gareth specifically because the two of them develop deep feelings for each other over the years. What makes their first romance so unusual is that they can't directly interact with each other. In fact, Gareth has no idea that Fidelity has fallen in love with him just as Gareth has fallen in love with his angel.
Then Gareth starts to question the direction and necessity of his Crusader mission and when he turns his back on crusading and switches over to being a priest, he and Fidelity lose track of each other and this results in a mess when Fidelity goes against god's orders and decides to go look for Gareth. The devil swoops in and takes advantage of Fidelity being in the mortal realm, grabs him and forces him to become the demon Fydelis. Meanwhile, Gareth is heartbroken that Fidelity has abandoned him and they're both sad boys. Long story short, Fydelis is given an assignment by Malaketh that allows him to join Gareth in the mortal realm but for a steep price. In addition to agreeing to do a dangerous mission for Malaketh, Fydelis is too ashamed to tell Gareth that he's Gareth's beloved Fidelity so he keeps that info to himself.
The plot involves Gareth and Fydelis dealing with tons of supernatural and human-made dangers (many of which are connected to both of their pasts) and fulfilling the deadly mission that Malaketh has forced them to go on. The author seamlessly blends together the historical medieval details of the time period with in-depth, creative fantastical elements that result in an intense, gripping plot. I loved it! In particular, I loved that the author used the era's intense religious conflict to provide realism to all the fantasy aspects. This was a period of time where the majority of people in this part of the world really did believe in god, the devil, demons and angels so having all of these things exist in the book's universe felt more realistic than in other historical fantasies. For example - when a religious figure is preaching or ranting about something, it takes on a whole other level of seriousness when readers know that all those things that are being threatened are very real.
In addition, the author does a fantastic job building on the religious and magical plot points as the story progresses, escalating the stakes and the tension to the point where the climax was jaw-dropping and I had no idea how the author was going to get both MCs out of the situation they were in, never mind giving them an HEA. I won't spoil it (it would take me too long to explain the details anyway) but to my delight, the resolution wasn't only creative and romantic but it fit perfectly into the story and beautifully wrapped up both MCs character arcs. I can't emphasize enough how much I adore the author's usage of fantasy in this story!
I also loved Gareth and Fydelis' relationship. Malaketh allows Fydelis to take on a human appearance when he's in the mortal realm and Fydelis decides to take on the persona of a bratty, flamboyant guy who also happens to be an incredibly powerful demon. This was a great way to level the playing field between them, since Gareth is much bigger, he's a strong, experienced soldier and he holds a position of respect (being a priest) in the village where he and Fydelis first meet. It was also great having Gareth and Fydelis team up during battles with both using their respective strengths (Gareth using sword fighting and hand-to-hand combat while Fydelis uses his magical knowledge and dark magic to enhance Gareth's strength and healing abilities).
Something I loved is that this is half second-chance romance and half first-romance. While Gareth doesn't know that Fydelis is his Fidelity for much of the book, it doesn't really matter because Fydelis had little opportunity to interact with Gareth in meaningful ways when he was Fidelity. With both of them being on the mortal realm this time around, they can actually communicate, learn about each other in more meaningful ways and they can truly bond. Since they travel together, there are tons of sweet domestic moments of them taking care of each other when the other is cold, injured or something else. But in addition to those bonding moments, it was so wonderful to constantly be reminded that these two already love each other (even if Gareth didn't know that his beloved was right next to him for much of the book) and that made their interactions more meaningful and made the danger they were in more intense.
One of the minor reasons I'm not giving this incredible story 5 stars is because the reveal of Fydelis being Fidelity should have been a much bigger deal than it was.
The other reason I can't give this 5 stars is because for some strange reason, the author decided to have Fydelis frequently use modern phrases and modern profanity. I have no idea why and the other characters consistently spoke in old-timey ways that suited the medieval time period the story takes place in. Fydelis would speak the same way most of the time, but then would randomly use modern profanity or a modern phrase, which always yanked me out of the story. I wish the author had carried the historical-era language throughout the entire story. But these two issues were minor in comparison to the many, many things this story did right.
Overall, I'm blown away by how much I enjoyed this story. It was unique, intense and very well written and very well plotted and I'm definitely going to check out more of this author's work.
Fair warning before diving into my gushing review: this book contains very, VERY dark themes. The author isn't kidding around or using the content warnings lightly. The book contains very graphic rape/non-con of a MC (not by the other MC), very (VERY) graphic and gory torture, lots of violence, death, gore, blood etc. This story takes place in the medieval times which were already a brutal time period but the author added in the existence of demons and the devil, which increased the level of brutality.
The next section will discuss the most graphic/brutal of these dark themes so I'm putting the whole discussion under a spoiler cut if you'd like to skip it entirely. But please note that I put specific gory details under spoiler tags within the section so you can still read it without the details.
Now I promise there won't be further gory details so you can safely click any spoiler if you'd like more information.
This story is the most unusual second chance romance setup I've ever come across. The story takes place during medieval times and Gareth has spent much of his life being a Crusader Knight, having been taught from a young age that it's his duty to be god's sword and to go forth and vanquish any evidence of dark magic or the devil's doings. During his years spent being a Crusader, he does what all Crusaders do and he chooses a personal guardian angel/god who he prays to and turns to for protection. While most Crusaders choose female guardians, Gareth chose the angel Fidelity. Maybe Fidelity wasn't a popular guardian angel or maybe Fidelity took a shine to Gareth specifically because the two of them develop deep feelings for each other over the years. What makes their first romance so unusual is that they can't directly interact with each other. In fact, Gareth has no idea that Fidelity has fallen in love with him just as Gareth has fallen in love with his angel.
Then Gareth starts to question the direction and necessity of his Crusader mission and when he turns his back on crusading and switches over to being a priest, he and Fidelity lose track of each other and this results in a mess when Fidelity goes against god's orders and decides to go look for Gareth. The devil swoops in and takes advantage of Fidelity being in the mortal realm, grabs him and forces him to become the demon Fydelis. Meanwhile, Gareth is heartbroken that Fidelity has abandoned him and they're both sad boys. Long story short, Fydelis is given an assignment by Malaketh that allows him to join Gareth in the mortal realm but for a steep price. In addition to agreeing to do a dangerous mission for Malaketh, Fydelis is too ashamed to tell Gareth that he's Gareth's beloved Fidelity so he keeps that info to himself.
The plot involves Gareth and Fydelis dealing with tons of supernatural and human-made dangers (many of which are connected to both of their pasts) and fulfilling the deadly mission that Malaketh has forced them to go on. The author seamlessly blends together the historical medieval details of the time period with in-depth, creative fantastical elements that result in an intense, gripping plot. I loved it! In particular, I loved that the author used the era's intense religious conflict to provide realism to all the fantasy aspects. This was a period of time where the majority of people in this part of the world really did believe in god, the devil, demons and angels so having all of these things exist in the book's universe felt more realistic than in other historical fantasies. For example - when a religious figure is preaching or ranting about something, it takes on a whole other level of seriousness when readers know that all those things that are being threatened are very real.
In addition, the author does a fantastic job building on the religious and magical plot points as the story progresses, escalating the stakes and the tension to the point where the climax was jaw-dropping and I had no idea how the author was going to get both MCs out of the situation they were in, never mind giving them an HEA. I won't spoil it (it would take me too long to explain the details anyway) but to my delight, the resolution wasn't only creative and romantic but it fit perfectly into the story and beautifully wrapped up both MCs character arcs. I can't emphasize enough how much I adore the author's usage of fantasy in this story!
I also loved Gareth and Fydelis' relationship. Malaketh allows Fydelis to take on a human appearance when he's in the mortal realm and Fydelis decides to take on the persona of a bratty, flamboyant guy who also happens to be an incredibly powerful demon. This was a great way to level the playing field between them, since Gareth is much bigger, he's a strong, experienced soldier and he holds a position of respect (being a priest) in the village where he and Fydelis first meet. It was also great having Gareth and Fydelis team up during battles with both using their respective strengths (Gareth using sword fighting and hand-to-hand combat while Fydelis uses his magical knowledge and dark magic to enhance Gareth's strength and healing abilities).
Something I loved is that this is half second-chance romance and half first-romance. While Gareth doesn't know that Fydelis is his Fidelity for much of the book, it doesn't really matter because Fydelis had little opportunity to interact with Gareth in meaningful ways when he was Fidelity. With both of them being on the mortal realm this time around, they can actually communicate, learn about each other in more meaningful ways and they can truly bond. Since they travel together, there are tons of sweet domestic moments of them taking care of each other when the other is cold, injured or something else. But in addition to those bonding moments, it was so wonderful to constantly be reminded that these two already love each other (even if Gareth didn't know that his beloved was right next to him for much of the book) and that made their interactions more meaningful and made the danger they were in more intense.
One of the minor reasons I'm not giving this incredible story 5 stars is because the reveal of Fydelis being Fidelity should have been a much bigger deal than it was.
The other reason I can't give this 5 stars is because for some strange reason, the author decided to have Fydelis frequently use modern phrases and modern profanity. I have no idea why and the other characters consistently spoke in old-timey ways that suited the medieval time period the story takes place in. Fydelis would speak the same way most of the time, but then would randomly use modern profanity or a modern phrase, which always yanked me out of the story. I wish the author had carried the historical-era language throughout the entire story. But these two issues were minor in comparison to the many, many things this story did right.
Overall, I'm blown away by how much I enjoyed this story. It was unique, intense and very well written and very well plotted and I'm definitely going to check out more of this author's work.
July 24, 2015
Fidelity is a magical tale that weaves a love story amongst issues of faith and failure. It was like reading a fantastical allegory.
Gareth De'Aubyn was once a Crusader. Now he is a man of the cloth hoping to build a better world for his flock. Whilst a Crusader, Gareth chose Fidelity to be his guardian angel.
Unable to protect his flock from assassins Gareth prays for divine intervention from heaven's Creator. Instead his prayers are answered by a demon sent by the Sunderer, god of the underworld.
Fydelis is literally a tortured soul who believes that he has fallen from grace as Gareth’s Guardian Angel and that his love for Gareth caused his fall. Fydelis is tortured by the Sunderer (and those scenes are very dark most certainly not for the faint of heart) who is amused to send him to watch over Gareth once more and ensure that he completes his bargain to reap twenty souls before handing his own soul over to the Sunderer forever.
Gareth and Fydelis spend time together and gradually their unlikely friendship builds. They find strength in each other and on their journey exchange views and ideas. Gareth may have sold his soul to the Sunderer but he remains true to the Creator.
Fydelis discovers what it is like to take human shape and his discoveries are both amusing and touching. Gareth with Fydelis' prompting reassesses his life and some of the conclusions he has reached.
Meanwhile the guys have a mystery to unravel about why Gareth and his flock were in danger. Together, they test everything they thought they knew about each other, faith, love, and fidelity.
I found this tale endearing despite its dark themes, the story is rich in character development and conversation that ranges from witty to philosophical.
Having no faith background myself, I have a fascination and interest in theology. I also hold a wariness of books aiming to preach or convert. I need not have worried, this is a thought provoking and interesting study of faith and love and I found it darkly beautiful and engaging. I read this largely with a big grin on my face reminded about the delight and magic of life and love, of redemption and hope. A great read, wonderfully told.
I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review as part of the Male/Male Romance group's Don't Buy My Love event.
Gareth De'Aubyn was once a Crusader. Now he is a man of the cloth hoping to build a better world for his flock. Whilst a Crusader, Gareth chose Fidelity to be his guardian angel.
Unable to protect his flock from assassins Gareth prays for divine intervention from heaven's Creator. Instead his prayers are answered by a demon sent by the Sunderer, god of the underworld.
Fydelis is literally a tortured soul who believes that he has fallen from grace as Gareth’s Guardian Angel and that his love for Gareth caused his fall. Fydelis is tortured by the Sunderer (and those scenes are very dark most certainly not for the faint of heart) who is amused to send him to watch over Gareth once more and ensure that he completes his bargain to reap twenty souls before handing his own soul over to the Sunderer forever.
Gareth and Fydelis spend time together and gradually their unlikely friendship builds. They find strength in each other and on their journey exchange views and ideas. Gareth may have sold his soul to the Sunderer but he remains true to the Creator.
Fydelis discovers what it is like to take human shape and his discoveries are both amusing and touching. Gareth with Fydelis' prompting reassesses his life and some of the conclusions he has reached.
Meanwhile the guys have a mystery to unravel about why Gareth and his flock were in danger. Together, they test everything they thought they knew about each other, faith, love, and fidelity.
I found this tale endearing despite its dark themes, the story is rich in character development and conversation that ranges from witty to philosophical.
Having no faith background myself, I have a fascination and interest in theology. I also hold a wariness of books aiming to preach or convert. I need not have worried, this is a thought provoking and interesting study of faith and love and I found it darkly beautiful and engaging. I read this largely with a big grin on my face reminded about the delight and magic of life and love, of redemption and hope. A great read, wonderfully told.
I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review as part of the Male/Male Romance group's Don't Buy My Love event.
Read
November 20, 20177/30/2015 UPDATE:
Smashwords edition now available!
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
3/30/2015:
SPECIAL PRE-ORDER PRICING!
Order from Amazon before the May 1st Release and save 40%!
(Anyone who has already purchased the book at the regular price will be given a credit by Amazon).
Smashwords edition now available!
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
3/30/2015:
SPECIAL PRE-ORDER PRICING!
Order from Amazon before the May 1st Release and save 40%!
(Anyone who has already purchased the book at the regular price will be given a credit by Amazon).
September 16, 2015
****Reviewed for Prism Book Alliance®****
I loved Lia Black’s Worthy, and when I saw this new offering I wanted to read it too. I read the warnings and ventured forth. I must mention that the warnings did not lie, but you must put emphasis on the graphic violence, dub-con, and rape and not let the hot and sweet m/m sex bit lure you into a false sense of security. There is hot and oh so sweet sex, but it comes later after much pain. It is worth it, so worth it, but it is brutal getting there.
Fydelis is tortured by his master in horrific ways, but this is not the focal point of the story. The point is the faithfulness of Gareth, his fidelity, to his god and his guardian. The play between good and evil is ever present. Even in service to evil Gareth does deeds of good, and in seeking help for good he commits his soul to evil.
The world is sort of like ours, with talks of holy crusaders and a good god and a devil like Sunderer. In fact I thought it was just a paranormal version of our world, but the theology is subtly different. Ms Black did an amazing job of putting me right in the story. The world was vivid and real.
I loved the relationship between Fydelis and Gareth. The back and forth and the feelings between them were so real, so transcendent.
There are heartbreaking moments, and moments that I almost couldn’t bear to read, but the end was so beautiful I cried. If you can stomach the violence and the dark, the reward is great for this is truly a love story.
I loved Lia Black’s Worthy, and when I saw this new offering I wanted to read it too. I read the warnings and ventured forth. I must mention that the warnings did not lie, but you must put emphasis on the graphic violence, dub-con, and rape and not let the hot and sweet m/m sex bit lure you into a false sense of security. There is hot and oh so sweet sex, but it comes later after much pain. It is worth it, so worth it, but it is brutal getting there.
Fydelis is tortured by his master in horrific ways, but this is not the focal point of the story. The point is the faithfulness of Gareth, his fidelity, to his god and his guardian. The play between good and evil is ever present. Even in service to evil Gareth does deeds of good, and in seeking help for good he commits his soul to evil.
The world is sort of like ours, with talks of holy crusaders and a good god and a devil like Sunderer. In fact I thought it was just a paranormal version of our world, but the theology is subtly different. Ms Black did an amazing job of putting me right in the story. The world was vivid and real.
I loved the relationship between Fydelis and Gareth. The back and forth and the feelings between them were so real, so transcendent.
There are heartbreaking moments, and moments that I almost couldn’t bear to read, but the end was so beautiful I cried. If you can stomach the violence and the dark, the reward is great for this is truly a love story.
May 5, 2015
Lia Black is known for her brilliant characters. She writes about real people, who have a past and the scars to prove it. Her latest work is the strongest yet.
In ‘Fidelity’, we meet a holy man, Gareth. All his life he’s been faithful to his god and his people, and in his hour of darkest need, he calls for help. But instead of his Creator hearing him, it appears that his call has been answered by the Sunderer, the god of darkness. Instead of an angel being sent to save him, a demon is sent instead.
The demon Fydelis is sexy and playful, as he teases and tempts the good cleric Gareth. Gareth is a man of deep and abiding faith, whose devotion to his absent patron and to his flock is both inspiring and moving.
As she always does, Lia creates characters and a story that are more complicated than they first seem. The impossible duo of holy man and demon must work together to find the truth about the world and each other.
Lia Black has done it again. Your faith will be rewarded.
In ‘Fidelity’, we meet a holy man, Gareth. All his life he’s been faithful to his god and his people, and in his hour of darkest need, he calls for help. But instead of his Creator hearing him, it appears that his call has been answered by the Sunderer, the god of darkness. Instead of an angel being sent to save him, a demon is sent instead.
The demon Fydelis is sexy and playful, as he teases and tempts the good cleric Gareth. Gareth is a man of deep and abiding faith, whose devotion to his absent patron and to his flock is both inspiring and moving.
As she always does, Lia creates characters and a story that are more complicated than they first seem. The impossible duo of holy man and demon must work together to find the truth about the world and each other.
Lia Black has done it again. Your faith will be rewarded.
July 30, 2018
I have read 3 books by this author so far in the past week all of them have great stories more centred of the plot than the romance but wow is there heat between the main character i like it when books don't just jump in to romance and that being the main plot and take over a story Lia Black books has the push and pull to a tee and very intriguing stories i couldn't put down.
i could read All her books again once i have finished the rest of them :-)
i could read All her books again once i have finished the rest of them :-)
April 20, 2015
This review is given in part out of gratitude to the author for granting me a free copy in exchange for a meaningful and honest review.
I'm probably not among the target audience (I'm male and Filipino), but I hope my review is informative and useful nonetheless. :)
Fidelity by Lia Black is an interesting tale, not really fitting my expectations.
First, the setting: Despite the various details that made me think the story is set in Medieval Europe, I eventually realized that it is not. There are Crusades, and there are Crusaders, but the Crusaders fight against evil in the form of the Sunderer (a Satan analogue) and his minions.
Basic plot outline (action): Gareth is a former Crusader, now a priest. He regrets all the violence he dealt out in his former role, and his only goal now is to help people, both spiritually and physically.
Yet when his entire flock is threatened with death and worse, Gareth makes a deal with a demon, Fydelis, who is actually his former guardian spirit. Fydelis helps Gareth save his flock.
In spite of his demonic pact, Gareth remains at heart a good and brave man, and Fydelis does not try to make him otherwise. In truth, Fydelis is himself a slave to the Sunderer, Malaketh, who tortures and uses him most nights. The things Malaketh does to Fydelis, by the way, are the most horrible things in the novel, very triggery, especially if you're phobic about bugs.
Gareth and Fydelis travel around doing good while collecting souls, as per the terms of his pact. They come across odd happenings that lead them to discover a nefarious plot.
Basic plot outline (romance): A slow and sweet love story between a broken man and a broken angel.
Reminded me a great deal of the roleplaying game by White Wolf: Demon: the Fallen, which develops from the idea that angels fell when some of them decided to love man over God.
Characterization: Gareth is a very big, handsome, strong man who is horribly guilty. He's guilty for being a former Crusader, and he's guilty for being gay, and he's guilty for being a (potent) man at all. He actually scourges himself to drive away his own lust.
He's a really good guy, kind and merciful. I like him, and I'd be proud to know him if he were real.
Fydelis is a tormented angel. I'm not quite as certain or accepting of why he fell, but his nightly 'amours' with Malaketh certainly quality as horrific.
Final note: The cover art is awesome! Beautiful and haunting image. My only possible complaint is that Gareth does not look muscular enough. Then again, I don't suppose a really big man necessarily has to look muscular above the neck.
July 17, 2015
This book was provided for free by the author in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 Stars
Gareth De'Aubyn is a priest who makes a deal with the devil to save the lives of the members of his congregation. But the demon that comes to save his soul, Fydelis might just be his angel in disguise if only, he were free of his master. This is a tale of a journey that Gareth and Fydelis will undertake to affirm their faith and to find each other.
Gareth is a human mired with regrets who toils day and night to remove the stains on his soul, so that one day he may return to his Creator. But when he calls for help a demon appears and Gareth sells his soul to save the live of his people. This is Gareth's story of how he learns to accept the problems with what has been extolled to him as faith. Gareth is a character you can't help loving because his faith is unbreakable. Despite the amount of hardships that he has undertaken he never allows his hardships to overburden his faith. And it is this very fact that he doesn't allow his faith to fail, is the reason for his strength.
Fydelis made a mistake for which he has been punished severely and continuously, but he is yet unaware of the folly of his doings. But when it was love that made him fall from grace, it will be love again that liberates him. Fydelis is the most loving demon ever. He is the kind of person who has to make a conscious effort to be bad and try as he might he can't turn completely demonic for his love perseveres.
Gareth and Fydelis find each other slowly but surely, and the love that they end up sharing is nothing short of divine.
This story focuses on Gareth and Fydelis, there are a lot more characters then these two to speak of but hardly any side characters. Most of these characters are there to fill up the story when required and then they fizz off when Gareth and Fydelis move on. The story is interesting, it hooks you on early but I personally believe that the end should be better than the beginning but with regards to this book by the time I reached the end the shine of this book had kind of worn off, if not for the characters themselves the ending would have ended on a less brighter note than the beginning. I feel that the story could have ended better because by the end it kind of pales against the brilliance of these two characters.
All things considered this book is interesting and has a very unique premise with characters so investing that you will read till the very end to know their fate.
3.5 Stars
Gareth De'Aubyn is a priest who makes a deal with the devil to save the lives of the members of his congregation. But the demon that comes to save his soul, Fydelis might just be his angel in disguise if only, he were free of his master. This is a tale of a journey that Gareth and Fydelis will undertake to affirm their faith and to find each other.
Gareth is a human mired with regrets who toils day and night to remove the stains on his soul, so that one day he may return to his Creator. But when he calls for help a demon appears and Gareth sells his soul to save the live of his people. This is Gareth's story of how he learns to accept the problems with what has been extolled to him as faith. Gareth is a character you can't help loving because his faith is unbreakable. Despite the amount of hardships that he has undertaken he never allows his hardships to overburden his faith. And it is this very fact that he doesn't allow his faith to fail, is the reason for his strength.
Fydelis made a mistake for which he has been punished severely and continuously, but he is yet unaware of the folly of his doings. But when it was love that made him fall from grace, it will be love again that liberates him. Fydelis is the most loving demon ever. He is the kind of person who has to make a conscious effort to be bad and try as he might he can't turn completely demonic for his love perseveres.
Gareth and Fydelis find each other slowly but surely, and the love that they end up sharing is nothing short of divine.
This story focuses on Gareth and Fydelis, there are a lot more characters then these two to speak of but hardly any side characters. Most of these characters are there to fill up the story when required and then they fizz off when Gareth and Fydelis move on. The story is interesting, it hooks you on early but I personally believe that the end should be better than the beginning but with regards to this book by the time I reached the end the shine of this book had kind of worn off, if not for the characters themselves the ending would have ended on a less brighter note than the beginning. I feel that the story could have ended better because by the end it kind of pales against the brilliance of these two characters.
All things considered this book is interesting and has a very unique premise with characters so investing that you will read till the very end to know their fate.
December 17, 2017
Desperate tale with not enough romance and redemption to make up for the excessive brutality (the numerous rapes of Fydelis by his disgusting, demonic boss add nothing whatsoever to the tale, no matter how visually abstract, almost metaphysical, they are made by the writing so as to eschew the charge of them being torture porn), the entirely unidimensional protagonists or the barely there period atmosphere, and too much uncompounded bleakness in the entire cast for me to develop any attachment to Fydelis and Gareth. Confusing as it already is, the storytelling did not need another layer of fuzziness, yet Mrs Black gives us the badly managed, intermittent mental dialogue between the two heroes. As for the mythology, the least that must be said about it is that it signally fails to shine; even though I did not delude myself by expecting something on a par with Graham Masterson's evil pantheons, both the light god, the master of darkness and their respective underlings in this book barely stand on their own as literary creations - they are but tired caricatures pulled straight from a bad role-playing game, and not so much an integral, constitutive part of this (already long-winded and full of filler) novel than its adornment, like pepper and burning-hot spices in an otherwise watery dish. Last but not least, as a scholar, it irritated me a lot to see Fydelis spelled with y in shocking diffidence of, or utter indifference at, its Latin etymology; while nothing is gained by such an orthographic aberration, it depicts the writer as a frivolous person. Two stars, since Mrs Black's lowest point remains high above many authors' average level.
March 6, 2016
This book is absolutely beautiful. As a knight, Gareth swore himself to his guardian angel, Fidelity, who he thought of as a spouse he would never be allowed to touch. However, when Gareth becomes disenchanted with the corruption in the crusades, he leaves the knighthood to become a priest.
The book starts when Gareth is dying following the massacre of his congregation. He calls to the heavens for help, but he receives help instead from the underworld. The demon, Fydelis, assists Gareth in exchange for his soul and the souls of twenty others, which he is tasked with collecting. When all is set to right in his church, Fydelis is still hanging around, and it becomes clear that he wants more than Gareth's soul. Despite the demon's temptation, Gareth sticks to his vows of chastity and remains true to his beloved angel, Fidelity. Along their journey to collect souls, Gareth continues to resist Fydelis, but grows fond of him and starts to care for him. The book ends in a twist, with love that is truly heartbreaking.
I don't generally read books with theological undertones, but I took a chance on Fidelity due to the promise of dark things to come. Though the main characters are a priest and a demon, I never once felt like a line was crossed. However, I did a lot of crying throughout the book, and I can't even write my review without getting choked up. Although Gareth and Fydelis seemed to be traveling down a path that was sure to lead to tragedy and heartbreak, I was very pleased with how the story ended.
The book starts when Gareth is dying following the massacre of his congregation. He calls to the heavens for help, but he receives help instead from the underworld. The demon, Fydelis, assists Gareth in exchange for his soul and the souls of twenty others, which he is tasked with collecting. When all is set to right in his church, Fydelis is still hanging around, and it becomes clear that he wants more than Gareth's soul. Despite the demon's temptation, Gareth sticks to his vows of chastity and remains true to his beloved angel, Fidelity. Along their journey to collect souls, Gareth continues to resist Fydelis, but grows fond of him and starts to care for him. The book ends in a twist, with love that is truly heartbreaking.
I don't generally read books with theological undertones, but I took a chance on Fidelity due to the promise of dark things to come. Though the main characters are a priest and a demon, I never once felt like a line was crossed. However, I did a lot of crying throughout the book, and I can't even write my review without getting choked up. Although Gareth and Fydelis seemed to be traveling down a path that was sure to lead to tragedy and heartbreak, I was very pleased with how the story ended.
June 15, 2015
3.5 stars
This was really different. It's set during the Crusaders time and is about a disenchanted warrior, Gareth, who has left the Order to become a priest. The other MC is a fallen angel who was once Fidelity but has now become the demon Regret. Fidelity fell due to his love for Gareth but Gareth does not know that. A traumatic event brings the two men back together and they end up heading off on an adventure that I can't explain without spoilers. Overall I really enjoyed this book. There were a few times the world building lost me and I had to re-read sections. I also wish the two men's prior relationship would have been explained earlier on in the book as it would have made more sense to me. That being said I still enjoyed this book. It was really a unique world and a unique plotline. I loved both of the MC's and I really, really wanted them to get together. You should note the warning tags because there are some scenes that are a bit tough to read.
This was really different. It's set during the Crusaders time and is about a disenchanted warrior, Gareth, who has left the Order to become a priest. The other MC is a fallen angel who was once Fidelity but has now become the demon Regret. Fidelity fell due to his love for Gareth but Gareth does not know that. A traumatic event brings the two men back together and they end up heading off on an adventure that I can't explain without spoilers. Overall I really enjoyed this book. There were a few times the world building lost me and I had to re-read sections. I also wish the two men's prior relationship would have been explained earlier on in the book as it would have made more sense to me. That being said I still enjoyed this book. It was really a unique world and a unique plotline. I loved both of the MC's and I really, really wanted them to get together. You should note the warning tags because there are some scenes that are a bit tough to read.
May 5, 2015
5 Demonic Grins for this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Wonderful multi-layered characters. I particularly loved Fydelis in his 'brattish' mode, and Gareth was such a well-drawn character. He was strong, sympathetically written and all too human, struggling with the demands of his faith and the demands he put upon himself. Especially in the face of temptation. And what a temptation it was...
Intricate plotting, great pacing, real emotions and characters I cared about, just a wonderful read.
Kudos to the author.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Wonderful multi-layered characters. I particularly loved Fydelis in his 'brattish' mode, and Gareth was such a well-drawn character. He was strong, sympathetically written and all too human, struggling with the demands of his faith and the demands he put upon himself. Especially in the face of temptation. And what a temptation it was...
Intricate plotting, great pacing, real emotions and characters I cared about, just a wonderful read.
Kudos to the author.
November 29, 2015
I fell in love with Fydelis and Gareth. Gareth is trying so hard to be good and it seems like Fydelis is doing his best to knock him off the path of righteousness. However, nothing is as it seems in this book. I loved the middle ages/crusades setting, and I couldn't ask for a better ending.
This book was provided by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.
This book was provided by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2017
My second Lia Black book, and I loved it. Historical & alt-universe setting; the MCs are a fallen angel and a Crusader-turned-priest who has surrendered his sole to save the lives of his humble congregation. Plot follows their quest to collect tarnished souls; it's also a spiritual journey for them both. Fydelis and Gareth each have a secret, or so they think. And of course, as in any good vs. evil story, truth and love will light up the darkness and set their souls free. Sigh......I'm such a sucker for this trope.
April 9, 2019
Purity in its simplest💕
Sometimes it’s not all about the physical. This book embodies love in its purest form.
The characters will either rekindle or introduce one to why we believe there is a soul mate for everyone.
“Though it tarries, it shall come to be”.
The author has a way with words that you live in the world as it’s described..: phew 😅.
There is action, adventure, the right amount and of mystery, gore and the icing “love”.
Enjoy
Sometimes it’s not all about the physical. This book embodies love in its purest form.
The characters will either rekindle or introduce one to why we believe there is a soul mate for everyone.
“Though it tarries, it shall come to be”.
The author has a way with words that you live in the world as it’s described..: phew 😅.
There is action, adventure, the right amount and of mystery, gore and the icing “love”.
Enjoy
February 15, 2021
Top Notch Storytelling
Well done Miss Lia! Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Well developed character and story with a final act and denouement that was equally well thought out. Huzzah!
Well done Miss Lia! Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Well developed character and story with a final act and denouement that was equally well thought out. Huzzah!
November 5, 2024
DNF 20%
The story was not holding my attention.
The story was not holding my attention.
May 6, 2015
I had enjoyed "Worthy" by Lia Black, and thought I'd try out this new release.
Father Gareth De'Aubyn, formerly an army commander in the Crusades, is seeking forgiveness for the devastation caused by the army, and is devoting himself to helping others rebuild lives devastated by violence. Fidelity, once his Guardian Angel, fell from heaven after falling in love with Gareth and is now a minion of the Sunderer. Gravely wounded by rogue soldiers intent on killing his little community, Gareth calls on God to deliver them..but it's the Sunderer who sends Fidelity (aka the demon Fydelis), to answer Gareth's prayer with 'an offer he can't refuse' -- his people will be saved in return for Gareth's soul, and on the condition that Gareth brings new souls to the Sunderer. And so begins the Road Trip from Hell (literally) as Gareth and Fydelis chase down the Crusader army and its leader, who are slaughtering everyone (almost) in their path.
Gareth is stalwart in his faith and his priestly vows, and turns away from the temptations that Fydelis brings. However, when Gareth is mortally wounded in battle, Fydelis transforms him into something not quite human, and Gareth is now able to accept their love for each other as something he can embrace, instead of reject.
I really wanted to like this book better than I did. Gareth is noble, heroic, and caring. Fydelis is loving, self-sacrificing, and fiercely loyal to Gareth, and he's rather fun as he has to learn to cope with his human form -- he gets hungry, smelly, and tired. They care about each other and about doing the right thing. Sadly, however, the story itself goes in fits and starts, and I felt that the relationship between Gareth and Fydelis gets lost in all the fighting, the "magick," and the other supernatural elements.
Malaketh (aka the Sunderer) does the most horrific things to Fydelis -- at random intervals -- and he suffers terribly, but he always recovers and it doesn't seem to affect his interactions with Gareth -- so what's the point? The relics' importance is never really adequately explained -- why do they keep showing up? Who cares? Even the initial set-up, with Fidelity's fall from grace isn't really detailed until about halfway through the book, and it would have helped a lot to have that in the beginning to help the world-building.
Gareth and Fidelity are great together, but they can't overcome a rather jumbled story with too many plot holes and loose ends.
Father Gareth De'Aubyn, formerly an army commander in the Crusades, is seeking forgiveness for the devastation caused by the army, and is devoting himself to helping others rebuild lives devastated by violence. Fidelity, once his Guardian Angel, fell from heaven after falling in love with Gareth and is now a minion of the Sunderer. Gravely wounded by rogue soldiers intent on killing his little community, Gareth calls on God to deliver them..but it's the Sunderer who sends Fidelity (aka the demon Fydelis), to answer Gareth's prayer with 'an offer he can't refuse' -- his people will be saved in return for Gareth's soul, and on the condition that Gareth brings new souls to the Sunderer. And so begins the Road Trip from Hell (literally) as Gareth and Fydelis chase down the Crusader army and its leader, who are slaughtering everyone (almost) in their path.
Gareth is stalwart in his faith and his priestly vows, and turns away from the temptations that Fydelis brings. However, when Gareth is mortally wounded in battle, Fydelis transforms him into something not quite human, and Gareth is now able to accept their love for each other as something he can embrace, instead of reject.
I really wanted to like this book better than I did. Gareth is noble, heroic, and caring. Fydelis is loving, self-sacrificing, and fiercely loyal to Gareth, and he's rather fun as he has to learn to cope with his human form -- he gets hungry, smelly, and tired. They care about each other and about doing the right thing. Sadly, however, the story itself goes in fits and starts, and I felt that the relationship between Gareth and Fydelis gets lost in all the fighting, the "magick," and the other supernatural elements.
Malaketh (aka the Sunderer) does the most horrific things to Fydelis -- at random intervals -- and he suffers terribly, but he always recovers and it doesn't seem to affect his interactions with Gareth -- so what's the point? The relics' importance is never really adequately explained -- why do they keep showing up? Who cares? Even the initial set-up, with Fidelity's fall from grace isn't really detailed until about halfway through the book, and it would have helped a lot to have that in the beginning to help the world-building.
Gareth and Fidelity are great together, but they can't overcome a rather jumbled story with too many plot holes and loose ends.
June 3, 2015
Father Gareth De'Aubyn (Master) was a former commander for the Knight Crusaders of the Faith now ministers to those PPL he once slaughtered.
Fydelis (demon) was once Gareth’s guardian angel.
Brother Paetrik (former mercenary) was very jealous of Fydelis.
Wellen (older boy), Kit (older boy), Habrim (boy), Kelven (boy), Milicent, Mary, & Eva (little girl) were all followers of Father Gareth De'Aubyn.
General Karathis (Knight Crusaders of the Faith) now continued to wreak havoc & leave behind death/destruction.
Father Gareth De'Aubyn & Fydelis meet with Mayor Raburn Johnnes (Halmsbrooke (town).
Will Father Gareth De'Aubyn & Fydelis be able to stop the rein of terror?
What will the future hold for Father Gareth De'Aubyn?
What about Fydelis?
Warning: This book is for adults only & contains adult content or vulgar language &/or sexually explicit scenarios. It may be offensive to some readers.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very sexy book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written bizarre gay paranormal book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great gay paranormal movie, or paid-for-view mini TV series. Not my cup of tea but I will still rate it at 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Fydelis (demon) was once Gareth’s guardian angel.
Brother Paetrik (former mercenary) was very jealous of Fydelis.
Wellen (older boy), Kit (older boy), Habrim (boy), Kelven (boy), Milicent, Mary, & Eva (little girl) were all followers of Father Gareth De'Aubyn.
General Karathis (Knight Crusaders of the Faith) now continued to wreak havoc & leave behind death/destruction.
Father Gareth De'Aubyn & Fydelis meet with Mayor Raburn Johnnes (Halmsbrooke (town).
Will Father Gareth De'Aubyn & Fydelis be able to stop the rein of terror?
What will the future hold for Father Gareth De'Aubyn?
What about Fydelis?
Warning: This book is for adults only & contains adult content or vulgar language &/or sexually explicit scenarios. It may be offensive to some readers.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very sexy book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written bizarre gay paranormal book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great gay paranormal movie, or paid-for-view mini TV series. Not my cup of tea but I will still rate it at 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
November 7, 2015
Gareth is a Crusader who leaves the order when he realizes they are slaughtering people who are innocents. He then becomes a priest and takes on a village trying his best to teach the residents how to become self-sufficient before he moves on to do the same elsewhere since he has a price on his head.
In the opening scene, the villagers are slaughtered by mercenaries & Father Gareth has cried out to the Creator for assistance but the demon Fydelis (who was once his Guardian Angel, Fidelity; now fallen) comes instead with a bargain from the Sunderer. If Gareth agrees to trade his soul & go on a quest to harvest the souls required by the Sunderer, the villagers' lives will be spared. Gareth, of course, agrees.
Poisoned by his own loss of faith & the constant torture of the Sunderer, Fydelis keeps trying to convince Gareth that his faith in the Creator & Fidelity is misplaced. But throughout their travels & the horrors they come across done by Gareth's former trusted friends/warriors, Gareth never loses his belief in either the Creator or Fidelity. He remains steadfast in his chastity & love for Fidelity as well, although it becomes more difficult as he continues to find Fydelis's form more pleasing.
Once the quest is completed, both Gareth & Fydelis discover the Creator had very specific plans for both Gareth & Fidelity all along.
This is not really something I would recommend for someone looking for a light/fluffy read. Yes, it has a happy ending, but there are some dark, disturbing bits; some of them quite graphic before that HEA. If you can handle some blood, guts, & graphic demon rape and you like fantasy, I definitely recommend this book.
In the opening scene, the villagers are slaughtered by mercenaries & Father Gareth has cried out to the Creator for assistance but the demon Fydelis (who was once his Guardian Angel, Fidelity; now fallen) comes instead with a bargain from the Sunderer. If Gareth agrees to trade his soul & go on a quest to harvest the souls required by the Sunderer, the villagers' lives will be spared. Gareth, of course, agrees.
Poisoned by his own loss of faith & the constant torture of the Sunderer, Fydelis keeps trying to convince Gareth that his faith in the Creator & Fidelity is misplaced. But throughout their travels & the horrors they come across done by Gareth's former trusted friends/warriors, Gareth never loses his belief in either the Creator or Fidelity. He remains steadfast in his chastity & love for Fidelity as well, although it becomes more difficult as he continues to find Fydelis's form more pleasing.
Once the quest is completed, both Gareth & Fydelis discover the Creator had very specific plans for both Gareth & Fidelity all along.
This is not really something I would recommend for someone looking for a light/fluffy read. Yes, it has a happy ending, but there are some dark, disturbing bits; some of them quite graphic before that HEA. If you can handle some blood, guts, & graphic demon rape and you like fantasy, I definitely recommend this book.
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