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Dark Muse #1
Dark Muse
This book takes the muse from the world of Greek mythology and places it in modern day Montreal, and gives it a Jewish theme. In this series, the muse has the role, in fact the duty of giving that breakthrough insight to the truly creative, helping them achieve that once-in-a-generation goal. The price for that insight may be very high, however. The muse may also drive them to depression and madness, even suicide.
Vi Gold is such a muse, and she is near the end of the rope herself. she has just helped one friend kill himself when she meets Cal Simon, who comforts her. They soon become friends, although Vi hides her nature from him. She wants to break her isolation, and will deal the danger to Cal when it comes.
Soon Vi meets Lee Marvin, a woman with similar, although far stronger powers. They become uneasy friends, although Vi is very uneasy with Lee`s casual regard for the damage she causes, as she can harm or kill without a second thought.
How these two paranormal women deal with their shared fate is what drives this series. In the second book, to released in December 2016, Lee develops into a complex character, and begins to face her true nature. Vi must also continue to contend with her now reduced role.
In the third book, to be released April 2016, their origins are explained.
Stay tuned.
Vi Gold is such a muse, and she is near the end of the rope herself. she has just helped one friend kill himself when she meets Cal Simon, who comforts her. They soon become friends, although Vi hides her nature from him. She wants to break her isolation, and will deal the danger to Cal when it comes.
Soon Vi meets Lee Marvin, a woman with similar, although far stronger powers. They become uneasy friends, although Vi is very uneasy with Lee`s casual regard for the damage she causes, as she can harm or kill without a second thought.
How these two paranormal women deal with their shared fate is what drives this series. In the second book, to released in December 2016, Lee develops into a complex character, and begins to face her true nature. Vi must also continue to contend with her now reduced role.
In the third book, to be released April 2016, their origins are explained.
Stay tuned.
230 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2016
2 people are currently reading
300 people want to read
About the author
Philip Mann
3 books10 followersI read all sorts of books and have started writing for real, that is, to write books that people will want to read.
But really, who reads these things, anyway?
But really, who reads these things, anyway?
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 11, 2016
'Dark Muse' is a Jewish paranormal story set in Montreal from debut author Philip Mann, and he has done a brilliant job first time out!
This book has memorable characters who are all very likeable regardless of their portrayal. I particularly liked Vi and truly felt her turmoil with her unique but terrible condition, wanting to so much live a normal life without hurting anyone.
This is a Jewish based book but even though I'm not Jewish and am unfortunately a little ignorant of the religion I didn't find it an issue at all and it wasn't judgmental or intrusive - there's even a small glossary at the back to help with any of the odd words you may not understand. There's twists and turns along the way and although primarily a paranormal book it doesn't come across as too unbelievable like some.
The descriptions of the area of Montreal were very informative and interesting and fitted into the story seamlessly.
I totally enjoyed reading into this fascinating world and pleased I had the opportunity to do so as it may have passed me by otherwise and I would happily recommend this book and the very imaginative Philip Mann. I look forward to a sequel to this in the future.
This book has memorable characters who are all very likeable regardless of their portrayal. I particularly liked Vi and truly felt her turmoil with her unique but terrible condition, wanting to so much live a normal life without hurting anyone.
This is a Jewish based book but even though I'm not Jewish and am unfortunately a little ignorant of the religion I didn't find it an issue at all and it wasn't judgmental or intrusive - there's even a small glossary at the back to help with any of the odd words you may not understand. There's twists and turns along the way and although primarily a paranormal book it doesn't come across as too unbelievable like some.
The descriptions of the area of Montreal were very informative and interesting and fitted into the story seamlessly.
I totally enjoyed reading into this fascinating world and pleased I had the opportunity to do so as it may have passed me by otherwise and I would happily recommend this book and the very imaginative Philip Mann. I look forward to a sequel to this in the future.
September 4, 2019
This is a Jewish paranormal romance! How often to you see that? The only other one I can really think of is Shira Glassman and she leans much more toward YA. So, I was super excited to read this. Sadly, that excitement didn't last long.
I'm generally a literary monogamist, reading only one book at a time. But occasionally, when I'm not enjoying something but really want to finish it, I'll let myself read a second book too. In these cases, I tend to read a chapter or two of the book I'm struggling with, a whole other book, another couple chapter or two, then a whole other book, etc. How many books I read before finishing the first one can serve as a barometer of how much I'm not enjoying the primary book.
In this case, I read five other books and listened to one audio short story. I found I could barely struggle through a single chapter before I wanted to run off and read something else. And the problem wasn't so much the story, it was the writing.
The writing style is stiff and the dialogue especially so. Characters use names and "my dear," "my darling," "sweetie," that sort of endearment far, far, far too often. And they all talk like they're 80, despite being in their late twenties.
Editing is also a bit of a mess. I mean, there are errors in the synopsis, so you can easily imagine how many are in the book itself. Plenty, even if you don't count how often a space is included before the final punctuation in a sentence. (Why?) It's still easily readable, but it's a distraction in a book that was already barely holding my interest.
There are a number of inconsistencies in the narrative and I dislike how anyone who isn't supposed to be from Canada (there's a character from Serbia and one from Jamaica) speaks in choppy, child-like, non-sentences, even if they were supposed to have lived in Montreal for decades.
Lastly, the book just feels scattered. You have a woman with a mysterious curse/gift. She's had it for 15 years, her whole family has it, but she suddenly decides, right now, to find out what it's about. Why now? Why not any time in the past? The main character Vi just kind of coasts along asking random questions of random people and getting random answers. No one expresses surprise, or any real notable emotion at all at her oddity (people needed to be shocked and they weren't, none of them were). Characters pop up and are given fairly significant page time that don't seem to contribute much to the narrative and then there is a sudden, unearned, reprieve from a minor side character. I never felt the book had any sort of peak and I was basically bored.
The glossary was a nice touch, but it was hardly necessary for four words. I did like the idea behind the book and that Vi had a lesbian experience (even if it or the fact that her character didn't seem the sort for sex outside her monogamous relationship was explored), but I'm afraid it wasn't done well enough to pull off the meaningful story it set out to tell. Which is a shame; characters who happen to live normal Jewish lives are so rare I really hoped to see them well represented.
*Edited to correct a typo after the author snakily commented on the Amazon review to point it out, comparing editing a book review to editing a published book and working hard to discredit the review in general. I don't know about other people, but from this reader's perspective that just looks bad. I disliked the book, sure, had some criticisms that were mine to make, but was still willing to give the author credit for creating a story that others might enjoy. I had no issue with the author himself. But he's just shown himself to be thin skinned and petty, never a good look on a professional author.
*Edit Sept 2019: I've just discovered that this author has recently been badmouthing me in an author group and wrote a fairly gross passage about me in his latest book. I'm not going to engage it beyond this note (and maybe a mocking tweet). But if you happen to be a reviewer thinking of reviewing this author's work, you might want to go in knowing he does not take criticism well (holding 3 year grudges, for example).
I'm generally a literary monogamist, reading only one book at a time. But occasionally, when I'm not enjoying something but really want to finish it, I'll let myself read a second book too. In these cases, I tend to read a chapter or two of the book I'm struggling with, a whole other book, another couple chapter or two, then a whole other book, etc. How many books I read before finishing the first one can serve as a barometer of how much I'm not enjoying the primary book.
In this case, I read five other books and listened to one audio short story. I found I could barely struggle through a single chapter before I wanted to run off and read something else. And the problem wasn't so much the story, it was the writing.
The writing style is stiff and the dialogue especially so. Characters use names and "my dear," "my darling," "sweetie," that sort of endearment far, far, far too often. And they all talk like they're 80, despite being in their late twenties.
Editing is also a bit of a mess. I mean, there are errors in the synopsis, so you can easily imagine how many are in the book itself. Plenty, even if you don't count how often a space is included before the final punctuation in a sentence. (Why?) It's still easily readable, but it's a distraction in a book that was already barely holding my interest.
There are a number of inconsistencies in the narrative and I dislike how anyone who isn't supposed to be from Canada (there's a character from Serbia and one from Jamaica) speaks in choppy, child-like, non-sentences, even if they were supposed to have lived in Montreal for decades.
Lastly, the book just feels scattered. You have a woman with a mysterious curse/gift. She's had it for 15 years, her whole family has it, but she suddenly decides, right now, to find out what it's about. Why now? Why not any time in the past? The main character Vi just kind of coasts along asking random questions of random people and getting random answers. No one expresses surprise, or any real notable emotion at all at her oddity (people needed to be shocked and they weren't, none of them were). Characters pop up and are given fairly significant page time that don't seem to contribute much to the narrative and then there is a sudden, unearned, reprieve from a minor side character. I never felt the book had any sort of peak and I was basically bored.
The glossary was a nice touch, but it was hardly necessary for four words. I did like the idea behind the book and that Vi had a lesbian experience (even if it or the fact that her character didn't seem the sort for sex outside her monogamous relationship was explored), but I'm afraid it wasn't done well enough to pull off the meaningful story it set out to tell. Which is a shame; characters who happen to live normal Jewish lives are so rare I really hoped to see them well represented.
*Edited to correct a typo after the author snakily commented on the Amazon review to point it out, comparing editing a book review to editing a published book and working hard to discredit the review in general. I don't know about other people, but from this reader's perspective that just looks bad. I disliked the book, sure, had some criticisms that were mine to make, but was still willing to give the author credit for creating a story that others might enjoy. I had no issue with the author himself. But he's just shown himself to be thin skinned and petty, never a good look on a professional author.
*Edit Sept 2019: I've just discovered that this author has recently been badmouthing me in an author group and wrote a fairly gross passage about me in his latest book. I'm not going to engage it beyond this note (and maybe a mocking tweet). But if you happen to be a reviewer thinking of reviewing this author's work, you might want to go in knowing he does not take criticism well (holding 3 year grudges, for example).
September 4, 2017
I tried to read this book several times and what bothered me about it is the genre seems to be very confusing. It's a fantasy book that seems to be written for a middle aged audience, which is not the target market for that genre. Also the main charters are Jewish, but don't seem to be either culturally or religiously Jewish. If the story is a romance, I would prefer it had more Jewish content specific to Canadian Jews. If it's a fantasy, it should less dialogue and be targeted to a younger reader
April 14, 2021
Any work of fiction with the word Dark in the title is bound to draw a reader in, not just for its potential to explore dangerous territory but for the irresistible sense of foreboding. Dark Muse delivers on that mood as it explores the relationship between death and genius.
In this story, Vi, a muse with unusual abilities, inspires artists to greatness when she allows them to see her in the flesh. Her skin glows a sort of rainbow light that mysteriously inspires but can also be the cause of madness and even suicide. Vi is a very sweet character who struggles with the dark side of her gift. She walks through everyday life covered up and disconnected from the world in order to protect the innocent, but it causes her great loneliness. I liked Vi very much and understood her loneliness. In this story she decides to pursue love with an ordinary man but finds herself in a tumultuous lesbian relationship with another muse who seems to be toying with her. Her youth and sense of curiosity was endearing.
I enjoyed the idea of the family history of being a muse and certainly was along for the ride as Vi tries to decide where her loyalties lie - with her duty as a muse, or to her own happiness. The dialogue is slightly stiff but the interesting story keeps you engaged and the sinisterly tantalizing relationship between Vi and Lee, her lesbian lover, is entertaining and has an adult ‘Twilight’ feel to it. I would have liked to have seen the story contain more about some of the actual work of being a muse, but there is enough description to leave you with a sense of her power. Lee is a strong female character that left me wondering if I liked her, envied her, or wanted her to pay the price for her ego driven lifestyle.
The story is creative, but there are many technical errors in the book that often take you out of the story. A thorough edit would serve the book well. Overall, an interesting read and a story that entertains.
Carol Sloan
In this story, Vi, a muse with unusual abilities, inspires artists to greatness when she allows them to see her in the flesh. Her skin glows a sort of rainbow light that mysteriously inspires but can also be the cause of madness and even suicide. Vi is a very sweet character who struggles with the dark side of her gift. She walks through everyday life covered up and disconnected from the world in order to protect the innocent, but it causes her great loneliness. I liked Vi very much and understood her loneliness. In this story she decides to pursue love with an ordinary man but finds herself in a tumultuous lesbian relationship with another muse who seems to be toying with her. Her youth and sense of curiosity was endearing.
I enjoyed the idea of the family history of being a muse and certainly was along for the ride as Vi tries to decide where her loyalties lie - with her duty as a muse, or to her own happiness. The dialogue is slightly stiff but the interesting story keeps you engaged and the sinisterly tantalizing relationship between Vi and Lee, her lesbian lover, is entertaining and has an adult ‘Twilight’ feel to it. I would have liked to have seen the story contain more about some of the actual work of being a muse, but there is enough description to leave you with a sense of her power. Lee is a strong female character that left me wondering if I liked her, envied her, or wanted her to pay the price for her ego driven lifestyle.
The story is creative, but there are many technical errors in the book that often take you out of the story. A thorough edit would serve the book well. Overall, an interesting read and a story that entertains.
Carol Sloan
October 19, 2021
WARNING: Spoilers...sort of. Nothing too much though. Keep reading...:)
Dark Muse
It took me awhile to finish this book. It wasn't the book's fault, it was just me being slow. But, the result of me taking so long meant it was in my life for quite awhile. Like, as in, a year. And I often thought about it between times where I picked it up. This is a really creative book that is pushing me to learning more about Judaism and has me interested in going to Montreal. It sticks with you, the characters popping into your head when you least expect it.
The title gives a pretty good idea of what the book is about. In two words...dark muse. This idea of a muse who leads people to achieve great things in this life, but can also bring the darkness of death and destruction.
The main character, Vi, is a young woman who finds herself in a terrible position of being this muse, but has trouble coming to terms with the dark part of the equation. Not only that, she is well aware that she is not normal, possessing a glow that can cause serious harm to onlookers. That makes it tough to have relationships, which is something she longs for, especially after meeting a lovely young man.
But, there is an added sexual component to this book that gives it an extra zing. Vi and a fellow muse, Lee, explore each other's limits and desires, once again putting Vi in a difficult position...having a vanilla relationship with her male love interest, Cal, and a kinky relationship with Lee.
Vi is a person constantly caught in the middle, searching for her place in the world. Her warm, kind, innocent side is wanting to win. Will it?
If you like a bit of darkness, a bit of sexual intrigue, a bit of mystery, set in the Jewish community in Montreal, this is a great book to check out.
Dark Muse
It took me awhile to finish this book. It wasn't the book's fault, it was just me being slow. But, the result of me taking so long meant it was in my life for quite awhile. Like, as in, a year. And I often thought about it between times where I picked it up. This is a really creative book that is pushing me to learning more about Judaism and has me interested in going to Montreal. It sticks with you, the characters popping into your head when you least expect it.
The title gives a pretty good idea of what the book is about. In two words...dark muse. This idea of a muse who leads people to achieve great things in this life, but can also bring the darkness of death and destruction.
The main character, Vi, is a young woman who finds herself in a terrible position of being this muse, but has trouble coming to terms with the dark part of the equation. Not only that, she is well aware that she is not normal, possessing a glow that can cause serious harm to onlookers. That makes it tough to have relationships, which is something she longs for, especially after meeting a lovely young man.
But, there is an added sexual component to this book that gives it an extra zing. Vi and a fellow muse, Lee, explore each other's limits and desires, once again putting Vi in a difficult position...having a vanilla relationship with her male love interest, Cal, and a kinky relationship with Lee.
Vi is a person constantly caught in the middle, searching for her place in the world. Her warm, kind, innocent side is wanting to win. Will it?
If you like a bit of darkness, a bit of sexual intrigue, a bit of mystery, set in the Jewish community in Montreal, this is a great book to check out.
May 5, 2020
I recently finished reading the 2019 edition of Dark Muse. I was familiar with Philip Mann's writing through themindfulword.org, where he briefly mentioned a few of the characters in some of his articles, so I was curious to learn more about them and what makes them tick. Dark Muse doesn't fall within any of the book genres I usually read, but I ended up being thoroughly satisfied with the book.
Without giving too much away, I'll summarize the main dilemma that the main character faces: She seems like a benevolent person, but against her will, she's been given a "special gift" that sometimes allows her to help others—but at other times, causes her to inadvertently lead them into unfortunate situations. She struggles with a great deal of guilt, due to this "gift," but her main problem is actually the fact that she's torn between two relationships. Should she stay with Cal, a loyal, honest guy who has little understanding of what she has to go through on a daily basis, or couple up with Lee, a woman who possesses the same gift as her but seems to lack empathy for the people she influences?
Ultimately, I was satisfied with the decision that Vi, the aforementioned main character, ended up making in the end. She had to make a significant sacrifice on her way to that final decision, but I believe it was worth it for her own peace of mind. The related plot twist that gave a secondary character a larger role also kept my attention throughout the final few chapters, which I believe are the most interesting ones in the novel. We don't find out much about what happens to the romantic partner that Vi chooses to leave behind, but I guess that may be a matter for the next book in the series. I'm looking forward to continuing to explore the stories of Dark Muse's characters, as well as their diverse personalities.
Without giving too much away, I'll summarize the main dilemma that the main character faces: She seems like a benevolent person, but against her will, she's been given a "special gift" that sometimes allows her to help others—but at other times, causes her to inadvertently lead them into unfortunate situations. She struggles with a great deal of guilt, due to this "gift," but her main problem is actually the fact that she's torn between two relationships. Should she stay with Cal, a loyal, honest guy who has little understanding of what she has to go through on a daily basis, or couple up with Lee, a woman who possesses the same gift as her but seems to lack empathy for the people she influences?
Ultimately, I was satisfied with the decision that Vi, the aforementioned main character, ended up making in the end. She had to make a significant sacrifice on her way to that final decision, but I believe it was worth it for her own peace of mind. The related plot twist that gave a secondary character a larger role also kept my attention throughout the final few chapters, which I believe are the most interesting ones in the novel. We don't find out much about what happens to the romantic partner that Vi chooses to leave behind, but I guess that may be a matter for the next book in the series. I'm looking forward to continuing to explore the stories of Dark Muse's characters, as well as their diverse personalities.
August 16, 2021
Books want categories, or at least readers and book publishers and sellers want them. So it’s always a problem when you look at a book and ask, “What category do you belong to?” Dark Muse is a wonderful, completely engaging book that is...what? Fantasy? Supernatural? An intriguing escapade in the Old Testament world of a very authoritarian God with rigid rules? Orthodox Judaism? Buggered if I know.
I just know it’s a good book that tells a great story. Philip Mann creates vivid and true characters with very real problems (and some not so real, in the usual sense) and puts them through their paces as they aspire to the life all of us want. The happy, fulfilled one.
What’s up with Vi? Why can’t she engage in a fulfilling relationship with Cal? Is it really just those strange lights her body reveals and that unhappy obligation to be there, the escort, to an amazing artist’s deathly finale? And what’s up with Lee? What is she really up to? And what pulls Vi to her? What pulls Lee to Vi, and why?
And what about Cal and his family?
I don't believe in boring people with a lame summary of book. I simply try to communicate my response to it. In the case of Dark Muse, it was both thumbs up.
Until I reached the end, I was hoping for an explanation of Vi. Having read the whole book, I don’t feel that way now. I have an understanding, which is what the best books leave you with.
It should also be pointed out that this book, Dark Muse, has an ending you don’t expect but which makes perfect sense. Good stories do that. They catch you be surprise.
As I mentioned, I don’t believe in explaining a story, giving a synopsis, recounting its twists and turns. I just believe in saying it’s good. Really effing good.
Dark Muse is really effing good.
I just know it’s a good book that tells a great story. Philip Mann creates vivid and true characters with very real problems (and some not so real, in the usual sense) and puts them through their paces as they aspire to the life all of us want. The happy, fulfilled one.
What’s up with Vi? Why can’t she engage in a fulfilling relationship with Cal? Is it really just those strange lights her body reveals and that unhappy obligation to be there, the escort, to an amazing artist’s deathly finale? And what’s up with Lee? What is she really up to? And what pulls Vi to her? What pulls Lee to Vi, and why?
And what about Cal and his family?
I don't believe in boring people with a lame summary of book. I simply try to communicate my response to it. In the case of Dark Muse, it was both thumbs up.
Until I reached the end, I was hoping for an explanation of Vi. Having read the whole book, I don’t feel that way now. I have an understanding, which is what the best books leave you with.
It should also be pointed out that this book, Dark Muse, has an ending you don’t expect but which makes perfect sense. Good stories do that. They catch you be surprise.
As I mentioned, I don’t believe in explaining a story, giving a synopsis, recounting its twists and turns. I just believe in saying it’s good. Really effing good.
Dark Muse is really effing good.
February 2, 2022
I won this novel in a Goodreads giveaway.
Ordinarily I do not read paranormal or psychic or mystic type of stories, but this one caught my attention. The characters were interesting, although I think some warnings are necessary. If the reader does not know a lot about the Jewish religion and culture, she may flounder some. There is a very brief Glossary at the end of the book on Jewish words, but my suggestion would be to expand that greatly. In my opinion, it would help with understanding what was happening.
As noted, I liked the main folks in the story although I admit that i did not always understand exactly what was happening. That may have been part of the 'interest' of the plot. And the end did to an extent surprise me, but I also was unsure that it made sense. And there were a lot of typos and errors in the book that need to be corrected.
Ordinarily I do not read paranormal or psychic or mystic type of stories, but this one caught my attention. The characters were interesting, although I think some warnings are necessary. If the reader does not know a lot about the Jewish religion and culture, she may flounder some. There is a very brief Glossary at the end of the book on Jewish words, but my suggestion would be to expand that greatly. In my opinion, it would help with understanding what was happening.
As noted, I liked the main folks in the story although I admit that i did not always understand exactly what was happening. That may have been part of the 'interest' of the plot. And the end did to an extent surprise me, but I also was unsure that it made sense. And there were a lot of typos and errors in the book that need to be corrected.
February 28, 2017
Dark Muse is written by a debut author, Phillip Mann, who I recently met here on Goodreads. He asked me if I would read and write an honest review of his book, and before I got to that opportunity, I won it on Goodreads as a Giveaway! I am delighted by the giveaway program, knowing that its intent is to help an author create interest and buzz for a book. Honestly though, the back flap does that instantly, even though its not my usual comfort zone or genre of reading. I immediately thought - ooh, I could like this one. I would have been intrigued without the introduction or the giveaway.
The story is different, the plot is new and novel, and it is engaging. It certainly has a dark quality to it. One thing I liked about it, is that there's not a lot of far fetched or complicated explanation to explain the paranormal - even the characters themselves are somewhat baffled and aren't quite sure. They question and seek answers. Were not meant to swallow a lot of hooey, were meant to ride the journey with the characters, trying to figure it out and see what we make of it.
The plot surrounds a family curse, where the afflicted have skin or eyes that shine, if they are truly seen. They act as "muses" offering something incredible, a "gift" to incredibly talented and troubled artists. Only there is a danger to it. The muse gift is a lot like heroin, it becomes addictive, dangerous, and sometimes dangerous. If exposed too long, brilliant things happen, but one is consumed and dies. The muses are left to hold and facilitate these journeys. But what if a muse fell in love with someone ordinary, who might never be able to see or glimpse her? What if she wanted to escape the curse and gift, and have a normal life? A chance to live in connection with others? And along with a whole host of surrounding characters and events, there's your plot opening.
Unusually for these kinds of paranormal things, its set in a Jewish neighborhood, called Mile End, which seems to be in some corner of Canada maybe? The book has the backdrop of ritual and practice, Kaballah, Talmud, ancient teachings and practice. I've never seen a paranormal book take place in this kind of a setting.
The themes entwined in the plot included variations of free will versus destiny, does everybody have a predetermined plan, and can it change? Is choice possible? The Talmud is quoted, "Every glad of grass grows for a purpose."
Other inherent themes include the old world versus new, ordinary versus extraordinary - the lengths we go for extraordinary, and is the sacrifice worth it?
The characters, at least the main ones, are all questioning. Vi Gold and Calman Simons, who are the muse and the love interest are asking these questions all the while diving into love with no thought at all. Others seem content with their lot, be it simple or extraordinary. I liked these characters I liked how Cal fought for Vi with his own life and choices, fought for love.
The presence of Lee Marvin, another dangerous dark muse, was confusing to me. She was all darkness, complicated though she was, while another contrasting female character, Hannah, represented all the light. Vi is caught between. I didn't like Lee, but I think you are not supposed to. one is supposed to be uncomfortable and unnerved by her. That hit the mark. I was.
Men in the book are stable but somewhat ineffectual - Moshe and Cal have some strong and courageous qualities, but ultimately this book is about women. Men are at the mercy of their powers, whims, and the responsibilities they carry.
The author plans some sequels - this is intriguing to me. Certainly there was room left open for that, lines of action left unexplored and unanswered.
Dark is not my usual genre, neither is the paranormal. But I liked it. I both enjoyed it, and it made me think.
The story is different, the plot is new and novel, and it is engaging. It certainly has a dark quality to it. One thing I liked about it, is that there's not a lot of far fetched or complicated explanation to explain the paranormal - even the characters themselves are somewhat baffled and aren't quite sure. They question and seek answers. Were not meant to swallow a lot of hooey, were meant to ride the journey with the characters, trying to figure it out and see what we make of it.
The plot surrounds a family curse, where the afflicted have skin or eyes that shine, if they are truly seen. They act as "muses" offering something incredible, a "gift" to incredibly talented and troubled artists. Only there is a danger to it. The muse gift is a lot like heroin, it becomes addictive, dangerous, and sometimes dangerous. If exposed too long, brilliant things happen, but one is consumed and dies. The muses are left to hold and facilitate these journeys. But what if a muse fell in love with someone ordinary, who might never be able to see or glimpse her? What if she wanted to escape the curse and gift, and have a normal life? A chance to live in connection with others? And along with a whole host of surrounding characters and events, there's your plot opening.
Unusually for these kinds of paranormal things, its set in a Jewish neighborhood, called Mile End, which seems to be in some corner of Canada maybe? The book has the backdrop of ritual and practice, Kaballah, Talmud, ancient teachings and practice. I've never seen a paranormal book take place in this kind of a setting.
The themes entwined in the plot included variations of free will versus destiny, does everybody have a predetermined plan, and can it change? Is choice possible? The Talmud is quoted, "Every glad of grass grows for a purpose."
Other inherent themes include the old world versus new, ordinary versus extraordinary - the lengths we go for extraordinary, and is the sacrifice worth it?
The characters, at least the main ones, are all questioning. Vi Gold and Calman Simons, who are the muse and the love interest are asking these questions all the while diving into love with no thought at all. Others seem content with their lot, be it simple or extraordinary. I liked these characters I liked how Cal fought for Vi with his own life and choices, fought for love.
The presence of Lee Marvin, another dangerous dark muse, was confusing to me. She was all darkness, complicated though she was, while another contrasting female character, Hannah, represented all the light. Vi is caught between. I didn't like Lee, but I think you are not supposed to. one is supposed to be uncomfortable and unnerved by her. That hit the mark. I was.
Men in the book are stable but somewhat ineffectual - Moshe and Cal have some strong and courageous qualities, but ultimately this book is about women. Men are at the mercy of their powers, whims, and the responsibilities they carry.
The author plans some sequels - this is intriguing to me. Certainly there was room left open for that, lines of action left unexplored and unanswered.
Dark is not my usual genre, neither is the paranormal. But I liked it. I both enjoyed it, and it made me think.
July 6, 2017
Nearly all of us our familiar with the term muse where artists, writers, poets and musicians have credited their creative work to the inspiration of their muse. Imagine if the muse turns out to be someone that has a strange glow, maybe in their body or perhaps in their eyes and suddenly people are horrified to look at them, nevertheless, they still have such power on some individuals that these benefactors can accomplish tremendous achievements and use knowledge in ways they could not imagine? Suppose these same muses also have a black side to their persona where they can play a role in someone's death and even cause suicides. And what if these fearsome muses find themselves in a painful quandary where they fall madly in love with someone who is totally unsuspecting of their hair-raising powers?
In this debut novel, Dark Muse Philip Mann has crafted two such ladies with these spooky powers, one of whom does in fact enter into a romance liaison while the other, her complete opposite, relishes hostility and couldn't care less about the deaths she has caused.
Mann, with skillful narrative pacing, effectively blends into his plot the paranormal and the supernatural, the power of love in the face of the most daunting obstacles, tragedy, and even elements of Hasidic Jewish orthodoxy, as well Jewish tradition and law. I will be honest with you, this is quite a smorgasbord of themes that requires readers to have an open mind and even a sense of the absurd. Moreover, only an author with a very creative imagination can pull this off and this is what Mann has precisely accomplished.
The setting of the narrative takes place in the borough of Outremont, bordering on an area in Montreal, Canada known as Mile End. By the way, I grew up in this area and thus I was instantly taken in by Mann's authenticity and accuracy in fashioning various scenes and the dwellers of the area which personally made the read all the more pleasurable and captivating.
As the yarn unfolds, we are introduced to our primary character, Vita (Vi) Gold who, on a cold wintry day in late December, has just aided a friend to kill himself and, by the way, this was not the first time that she had an influence on someone's death. Distraught and weeping, Vi, at three in the morning, finds herself sitting on a stone step of a statute of an angel, a Montreal landmark located astride on a well-known street, Park Avenue. It is here where she encounters a sweet Jewish boy, Cal (Calman) Simon who is quite concerned about her and offers to drive her to a nearby hospital, but Vi refuses. In time, the couple exchange information about each other, although Vi leaves out her awesome powers. Cal is instantly smitten with Vi's beauty and as the story progresses the two enter into an intense love relationship and the chemistry between them is as perfect as they could hope for.
Mann introduces his readers to a second muse, Lee Marvin who meets Vi in an old section of downtown Montreal. It is here on a summer day where Lee suddenly appears wearing red-framed blue-lensed wraparound shades and a huge straw hat. Apparently, it was the same woman who had drawn Vi and Cal's portraits in Old Montreal and she indicates to Vi that she is well-aware of Vi's conundrum. Their relationship ends up being quite rocky with some surprising revelations, and as we learn, their lives are neither easy nor predictable.
To sum up the yarn I would use the Yiddish expression, it is a good bobbemyseh -old wife's tale. There are some over the top and cockamamie scenes, but there are also moments of sensitivity and beauty which plunges us from romance to noir.
Dark Muse has proven itself to be a welcome lively and entertaining imaginative first novel by an author whom I am sure we will hear more about in the future.
FOLLOW HERE goo.gl/ReNp9t TO READ NORM'S INTERVIEW WITH PHILIP MANN
In this debut novel, Dark Muse Philip Mann has crafted two such ladies with these spooky powers, one of whom does in fact enter into a romance liaison while the other, her complete opposite, relishes hostility and couldn't care less about the deaths she has caused.
Mann, with skillful narrative pacing, effectively blends into his plot the paranormal and the supernatural, the power of love in the face of the most daunting obstacles, tragedy, and even elements of Hasidic Jewish orthodoxy, as well Jewish tradition and law. I will be honest with you, this is quite a smorgasbord of themes that requires readers to have an open mind and even a sense of the absurd. Moreover, only an author with a very creative imagination can pull this off and this is what Mann has precisely accomplished.
The setting of the narrative takes place in the borough of Outremont, bordering on an area in Montreal, Canada known as Mile End. By the way, I grew up in this area and thus I was instantly taken in by Mann's authenticity and accuracy in fashioning various scenes and the dwellers of the area which personally made the read all the more pleasurable and captivating.
As the yarn unfolds, we are introduced to our primary character, Vita (Vi) Gold who, on a cold wintry day in late December, has just aided a friend to kill himself and, by the way, this was not the first time that she had an influence on someone's death. Distraught and weeping, Vi, at three in the morning, finds herself sitting on a stone step of a statute of an angel, a Montreal landmark located astride on a well-known street, Park Avenue. It is here where she encounters a sweet Jewish boy, Cal (Calman) Simon who is quite concerned about her and offers to drive her to a nearby hospital, but Vi refuses. In time, the couple exchange information about each other, although Vi leaves out her awesome powers. Cal is instantly smitten with Vi's beauty and as the story progresses the two enter into an intense love relationship and the chemistry between them is as perfect as they could hope for.
Mann introduces his readers to a second muse, Lee Marvin who meets Vi in an old section of downtown Montreal. It is here on a summer day where Lee suddenly appears wearing red-framed blue-lensed wraparound shades and a huge straw hat. Apparently, it was the same woman who had drawn Vi and Cal's portraits in Old Montreal and she indicates to Vi that she is well-aware of Vi's conundrum. Their relationship ends up being quite rocky with some surprising revelations, and as we learn, their lives are neither easy nor predictable.
To sum up the yarn I would use the Yiddish expression, it is a good bobbemyseh -old wife's tale. There are some over the top and cockamamie scenes, but there are also moments of sensitivity and beauty which plunges us from romance to noir.
Dark Muse has proven itself to be a welcome lively and entertaining imaginative first novel by an author whom I am sure we will hear more about in the future.
FOLLOW HERE goo.gl/ReNp9t TO READ NORM'S INTERVIEW WITH PHILIP MANN
November 18, 2016
A total twist on the supernatural / paranormal novel, Dark Muse is a great book for fans of the genre (and others) who want to shake it up with unexpected characters and turns. Mr. Mann creates complex characters challenging our assumptions about heroes/heroines and what we expect of them. If you think you know what's coming next in this book, think again. It's a compelling and page turning read that transports the reader to an unexpected and fascinating world.
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February 21, 2017Interesting story by a first-time novelist. Imaginative tale weaves together Jewish lives, Montreal life and some creative sci fi. are the magical powers of characters symbolic of their Jewish origins? There's more to this story than meets the eye.
December 20, 2017
I thought this was a good read. The characters are definitely interesting and unusual so I am looking forward to the next book. I do wish it was a little longer.
I received this book as part of a Good reads giveaway but the opinions expressed are solely my own.
I received this book as part of a Good reads giveaway but the opinions expressed are solely my own.
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