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Lychgate #1
Art of Death
Starving artist Riley Burke refuses to be dependent on his rich older boyfriend—hence his second job as a nude model at the local art school. When the famous artist Coliaro requests him for a private modeling session, he jumps at the chance to earn some real cash.
But then Westwood, a mysterious stranger, warns him to steer clear—it's said Coliaro is undead. That his worshippers perform rituals to fill him with life energy. That every time he paints a male nude, the painting transforms to depict a gruesome murder. And that shortly after, a young man turns up dead.
Riley dismisses the rumors—until they start to play out before his eyes. When he becomes a target, Westwood comes to his aid. But Westwood is secretive and dangerous himself... which just makes him more attractive to Riley. Riley is in over his head, and even his tenuous alliance with Westwood might not save him.
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2012
7 people are currently reading
757 people want to read
About the author
Ana Bosch
6 books51 followersAna Bosch is a professional illustrator who can't go more than five minutes without working on something creative. Despite pursuing a career in visual art, she never could kick the habit of writing fiction, an interest that dates back to the third grade.
Ana is an avid animal lover and can't imagine life without her feathered and furry housemates. In her spare time, she runs a weekly webcomic and drinks lots of tea.
Visit Ana’s web site: http://ana-bosch.blogspot.com
Find her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ana-Bos...
Or follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/anaboschwriting.
Ana is an avid animal lover and can't imagine life without her feathered and furry housemates. In her spare time, she runs a weekly webcomic and drinks lots of tea.
Visit Ana’s web site: http://ana-bosch.blogspot.com
Find her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ana-Bos...
Or follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/anaboschwriting.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
October 12, 2020
Whoa. I'm confused. This book has a rating less than 4 (at the time of writing this - hopefully it will change). Look, I know how little GR ratings mean. I get it, we're all emotional voters and the rating is very rarely based on merit. But dammit, this book was good! Yes, I really freaking enjoyed with my emotions, but more than that, it was genuinely well-written and clever and compelling. The plot was odd and interesting, the characters were terribly, wonderfully flawed, the violence was shocking and it was deliciously twisty. The thing I liked most, though, was how I could never tell where it was going, due mostly to the stupid, stupid decisions made by the protagonist. In any case, I was riveted. I literally could not stop reading. The proof is that I had the day off today to prepare for a huge work assessment tomorrow, but did I spend my time studying? No. I inhaled this book like it would disappear if I looked away from the page for even a second. I think maybe the less-than-deserved rating is based on the marketing. It's lodged firmly under the MM heading, and yes, there are gay people and yes, there is sex (one particularly fantastic scene) but it is not a romance novel. Not by a long shot. It's a paranormal thriller (but not the bad kind), I guess. So I'd recommend this book to anyone who's looking for something different, to anyone who (like me) is feeling a bit estranged from the usual MM offerings. It really was great fun.
October 25, 2019
That was really good! Usually with this genre, where there is a mystery/supernatural/romance combination, one of the elements is weak, but here I thought they were well balanced, and the characterization was also. Looking forward to more of the series.
October 23, 2012
2.5 stars
A well written novel with a gripping mystery/paranormal plot ruined by characters so beyond unlikable that you can't help but spend a good portion of the book plotting elaborate torture scenes around them.
I'm a character-focused reader. I appreciate a well executed plot and kickass settings, but a novel will still not work if I don't like or even empathize with the main characters. I'm not saying they have to be awesome people - I'm saying that if they're horrible, they should at least embrace it or have something else going for them that I can work with. Alas, that was not the case here.
We have Riley who starts out as a hardworking but starving artist then became . He also toed the line between insistently curious and TSTL. His bumbling around produced actual results, though, so he should prolly be allowed to live albeit still being fucking stupid.
I can actually deal with the TSTL - barely, but possible - my problem is with this MC feeling so free with his judgments of other people and their actions when he does not even but give a spare glance on how he's been treating people he's supposed to care about. And while that twist at the end was nice and interesting, I resent the fact that it had to be used to justify Riley being a douche.
Westwood, now this guy embraces the evil. The problem is I have no earthly idea what he's doing with Riley which means I don't trust his judgement. I can't root for an MC who has awful taste in men.
As mentioned, the plot is pretty good and the writing decent, so there's a lot going for this novel. If you're more a plot-driven reader, this will definitely be a great read. If you're like me, though, who focuses more on the characters, don't expect much character-wise although you'd prolly have fun reading about Porter and the villain.
A well written novel with a gripping mystery/paranormal plot ruined by characters so beyond unlikable that you can't help but spend a good portion of the book plotting elaborate torture scenes around them.
I'm a character-focused reader. I appreciate a well executed plot and kickass settings, but a novel will still not work if I don't like or even empathize with the main characters. I'm not saying they have to be awesome people - I'm saying that if they're horrible, they should at least embrace it or have something else going for them that I can work with. Alas, that was not the case here.
We have Riley who starts out as a hardworking but starving artist then became . He also toed the line between insistently curious and TSTL. His bumbling around produced actual results, though, so he should prolly be allowed to live albeit still being fucking stupid.
I can actually deal with the TSTL - barely, but possible - my problem is with this MC feeling so free with his judgments of other people and their actions when he does not even but give a spare glance on how he's been treating people he's supposed to care about. And while that twist at the end was nice and interesting, I resent the fact that it had to be used to justify Riley being a douche.
Westwood, now this guy embraces the evil. The problem is I have no earthly idea what he's doing with Riley which means I don't trust his judgement. I can't root for an MC who has awful taste in men.
As mentioned, the plot is pretty good and the writing decent, so there's a lot going for this novel. If you're more a plot-driven reader, this will definitely be a great read. If you're like me, though, who focuses more on the characters, don't expect much character-wise although you'd prolly have fun reading about Porter and the villain.
July 6, 2012
4.5 stars
This was a suspenseful and intriguing murder mystery which I loved, completely captivating and the "undead" kept the story moving along very nicely, interesting and clever writing IMO. I would have enjoyed this much more if there was more on page time between Riley and Westwood they have a very intense scene near the end its passionate, rough, sexy and very fitting for the situation. The main theme of this story is the investigation and getting to the bottom of these gruesome murders that keep occurring. Cheating? Yes but Nick deserved it all, I couldn't care less about him, creepy guy needed to have a bit more pain and suffering. Riley had good reason to be cautious about trusting him. A good solid read, recommended to fans of crime!
This was a suspenseful and intriguing murder mystery which I loved, completely captivating and the "undead" kept the story moving along very nicely, interesting and clever writing IMO. I would have enjoyed this much more if there was more on page time between Riley and Westwood they have a very intense scene near the end its passionate, rough, sexy and very fitting for the situation. The main theme of this story is the investigation and getting to the bottom of these gruesome murders that keep occurring. Cheating? Yes but Nick deserved it all, I couldn't care less about him, creepy guy needed to have a bit more pain and suffering. Riley had good reason to be cautious about trusting him. A good solid read, recommended to fans of crime!
June 9, 2016
Well, where to begin? This book was well-written with a nice story and a very interesting plot. I like dark and twisted stories and I started reading this one with high hopes. The cover is gorgeous, the title is unique and the summary is quite intriguing. But...
For at least 150 pages of this book, I was annoyed and irritated. At first, I couldn't figure out what was my problem with this story, then it suddenly hit me. Riley, the main character, was my freaking problem! He was so unlikeable that at some point in the story, I actually wanted him to die! This was quite a new feeling to me. I usually don't wish for the main characters to drop dead in the most brutal way possible.
I wonder, was he supposed to be a flawed character? Was I supposed to think of him as an imperfect human being capable of making mistakes?
Let me explain. Riley was a very selfish bastard through at least half this book. During these pages, he cheats, emotionally and sometimes physically on a very kind and loving boyfriend. Sometimes I was willing to cut him some slack since he was so obviously in need of professional help but those times were very very rare since his capability of performing stupid actions was quite high. Without any doubts, he has a death wish during most of this story. He suffers from depression and needs therapy. He is selfish and unreasonable and childish when it comes to his partner. For a while I actually wanted Nick to be the main character and that's a baaaad idea!
The author really confuses me. Her secondary characters inform her main character of his many many stupid actions and his infidelity. He is called bad names to his face! So the author knows her MC very well, then why? Why write such a nice story around such an utterly unlikeable character like Riley? He is not a flawed human being. He is a selfish dumbass!
Yeah, he has a thing for dangerous men and likes rough sex. Then, dear Riey, be kind enough to break up with your current lover and let him carry on with his freaking life! Riley has very dark memories from his past and it appears that during this story, he is trying to atone for his mistakes. Yet his actions only endanger people, specially those closest to him. His behavior doesn't make sense to sane human beings. For example, he is stuck in a confined place, seconds away from getting brutally murdered and instead of concentrating, straining his ears for sounds, looking for ways to save himself, he takes his time exploring and browsing through old newspapers. Riley, I am happy you have such a peace of mind in such dangerous situations!
is in danger and he is suddenly reminded of his college life and how fun it was to be a college boy and then proceeds to enjoy the feel of handling a brush again. Oh, good thing he had coffee. It's not like a life depends on his actions. It's not like he has to hurry and do anything in his power to save a life! No, he has an hour! It's ok, he can daydream and of course he needs coffee. Obviously adrenaline isn't pumping when your loved ones are about to die!
It can be me. I am a crazy person. With people important to me in danger, my heart would be ready to crawl out of my chest and I would be in a frenzy to do anything in my power to save them. My mind would be empty of anything else, only focused at the task at hand. But that's me. I am crazy like that.
And get this. Imagine you are Riley's boyfriend.(poor you) Your lover, who is responsible for everything, calls you and asks if you are fine. You are? Well then. He will talk to you tomorrow. Bye bye.
I am sorry. I know I am ranting but I have to connect with characters to really like a story and Riley failed me.
Westwood was cool. He was exactly what he was supposed to be. Dark, cold, dangerous and wild. He has one big flaw. He likes Riley! Now, I can forgive him for that. Riley is very beautiful(as I was told so by many individuals) and who knows? Maybe death causes brain damage to undead people.
The erotic scenes, were EROTIC SCENES! Delicious and dark!(Bless the evil undead man for that.)
This is a paranormal thriller. Unfortunately the MC is so freaking stupid and predictable that most of the times, you know what's going to happen next. There were many times that I raised my eyebrow and thought..really?
Villains leaving secrets of their demise lying around in stupid places is one of these many occasions. The villain wants the MC to find his weakness after all. So yeah, weak points regarding plot do exist.
The end of the book made me add another star to my rating. It was a great ending! I was rewarded for enduring Riley. Does the end justify Riley's actions? His cheating? HELL...NO! If only Riley had been a faithful slightly better human being, the twist at the end, would have had even more impact on me.
In conclusion, only a man like Westwood can survive Riley. Riley, the self-destructive and questionable lifeform + dangerous bipolar man = A perfectly symbiotic relationship.
This is a good book, one that focuses on the plot. With a few changes, this could have been a great story. I am going to read the next book one day. Riley can't cheat anymore. Westwood will murder him for that. Also, the cover of the sequel is even more gorgeous *stares hypnotized* can...not...resist...it!
For at least 150 pages of this book, I was annoyed and irritated. At first, I couldn't figure out what was my problem with this story, then it suddenly hit me. Riley, the main character, was my freaking problem! He was so unlikeable that at some point in the story, I actually wanted him to die! This was quite a new feeling to me. I usually don't wish for the main characters to drop dead in the most brutal way possible.
I wonder, was he supposed to be a flawed character? Was I supposed to think of him as an imperfect human being capable of making mistakes?
Let me explain. Riley was a very selfish bastard through at least half this book. During these pages, he cheats, emotionally and sometimes physically on a very kind and loving boyfriend. Sometimes I was willing to cut him some slack since he was so obviously in need of professional help but those times were very very rare since his capability of performing stupid actions was quite high. Without any doubts, he has a death wish during most of this story. He suffers from depression and needs therapy. He is selfish and unreasonable and childish when it comes to his partner. For a while I actually wanted Nick to be the main character and that's a baaaad idea!
The author really confuses me. Her secondary characters inform her main character of his many many stupid actions and his infidelity. He is called bad names to his face! So the author knows her MC very well, then why? Why write such a nice story around such an utterly unlikeable character like Riley? He is not a flawed human being. He is a selfish dumbass!
Yeah, he has a thing for dangerous men and likes rough sex. Then, dear Riey, be kind enough to break up with your current lover and let him carry on with his freaking life! Riley has very dark memories from his past and it appears that during this story, he is trying to atone for his mistakes. Yet his actions only endanger people, specially those closest to him. His behavior doesn't make sense to sane human beings. For example, he is stuck in a confined place, seconds away from getting brutally murdered and instead of concentrating, straining his ears for sounds, looking for ways to save himself, he takes his time exploring and browsing through old newspapers. Riley, I am happy you have such a peace of mind in such dangerous situations!
is in danger and he is suddenly reminded of his college life and how fun it was to be a college boy and then proceeds to enjoy the feel of handling a brush again. Oh, good thing he had coffee. It's not like a life depends on his actions. It's not like he has to hurry and do anything in his power to save a life! No, he has an hour! It's ok, he can daydream and of course he needs coffee. Obviously adrenaline isn't pumping when your loved ones are about to die!
It can be me. I am a crazy person. With people important to me in danger, my heart would be ready to crawl out of my chest and I would be in a frenzy to do anything in my power to save them. My mind would be empty of anything else, only focused at the task at hand. But that's me. I am crazy like that.
And get this. Imagine you are Riley's boyfriend.(poor you) Your lover, who is responsible for everything, calls you and asks if you are fine. You are? Well then. He will talk to you tomorrow. Bye bye.
I am sorry. I know I am ranting but I have to connect with characters to really like a story and Riley failed me.
Westwood was cool. He was exactly what he was supposed to be. Dark, cold, dangerous and wild. He has one big flaw. He likes Riley! Now, I can forgive him for that. Riley is very beautiful(as I was told so by many individuals) and who knows? Maybe death causes brain damage to undead people.
The erotic scenes, were EROTIC SCENES! Delicious and dark!(Bless the evil undead man for that.)
This is a paranormal thriller. Unfortunately the MC is so freaking stupid and predictable that most of the times, you know what's going to happen next. There were many times that I raised my eyebrow and thought..really?
Villains leaving secrets of their demise lying around in stupid places is one of these many occasions. The villain wants the MC to find his weakness after all. So yeah, weak points regarding plot do exist.
The end of the book made me add another star to my rating. It was a great ending! I was rewarded for enduring Riley. Does the end justify Riley's actions? His cheating? HELL...NO! If only Riley had been a faithful slightly better human being, the twist at the end, would have had even more impact on me.
In conclusion, only a man like Westwood can survive Riley. Riley, the self-destructive and questionable lifeform + dangerous bipolar man = A perfectly symbiotic relationship.
This is a good book, one that focuses on the plot. With a few changes, this could have been a great story. I am going to read the next book one day. Riley can't cheat anymore. Westwood will murder him for that. Also, the cover of the sequel is even more gorgeous *stares hypnotized* can...not...resist...it!
July 26, 2012
Reviewed on Hearts On Fire... http://heartsonfirereviews.com/
This was a good murder mystery book with a decent plot. Riley Burke is an illustrator but he's not picking up much work. Determined to pay his half of the bills, he takes on a job as a nude model for a nearby art school. His partner, Nick, is a successful lawyer and tries to dissuade Riley from holding down two jobs but Riley is determined. Coliaro is a well known artist who visits the school to put on a demonstration and asks Riley to sit for him. Coliaro also asks Riley to do a private sitting for him but is warned to keep away from the artist by a man named Westwood. Riley really needs the money so does the sitting and it's one of Coliaro's best works. The only problem with the artist's nude paintings is that soon the figure in the portrait; hands go missing leaving bloody stumps and the heart cut out. Soon after this happens, a young man is murdered leaving behind only the arms holding the heart. The police are baffled as the bodies are never found and there are attributing the murders to a serial killer. Riley becomes suspicious and visits Coliaro again only to find that the artist is an undead and is quickly caught up in a web of lies, betrayal and death. I enjoyed the story line and the character developing that Ms Bosch did. Weaving the undead in with the murders was a unique idea. All of the elements for a good murder mystery were very well put together. I had a hard time identifying with or liking any of the characters. Riley came across as a whiney child and Nick as just as ass. The only character that I came close to liking was Porter, Riley's undead friend. All in all this was an interesting and well written story.
This was a good murder mystery book with a decent plot. Riley Burke is an illustrator but he's not picking up much work. Determined to pay his half of the bills, he takes on a job as a nude model for a nearby art school. His partner, Nick, is a successful lawyer and tries to dissuade Riley from holding down two jobs but Riley is determined. Coliaro is a well known artist who visits the school to put on a demonstration and asks Riley to sit for him. Coliaro also asks Riley to do a private sitting for him but is warned to keep away from the artist by a man named Westwood. Riley really needs the money so does the sitting and it's one of Coliaro's best works. The only problem with the artist's nude paintings is that soon the figure in the portrait; hands go missing leaving bloody stumps and the heart cut out. Soon after this happens, a young man is murdered leaving behind only the arms holding the heart. The police are baffled as the bodies are never found and there are attributing the murders to a serial killer. Riley becomes suspicious and visits Coliaro again only to find that the artist is an undead and is quickly caught up in a web of lies, betrayal and death. I enjoyed the story line and the character developing that Ms Bosch did. Weaving the undead in with the murders was a unique idea. All of the elements for a good murder mystery were very well put together. I had a hard time identifying with or liking any of the characters. Riley came across as a whiney child and Nick as just as ass. The only character that I came close to liking was Porter, Riley's undead friend. All in all this was an interesting and well written story.
September 4, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
There is so much story to this story, and my review will give as little of it away as I can manage. This is a book that I honestly think is best entered in to blind. If you’re into Gothic romances, paranormal world building, broken heroes, pathos, dry humor, twists and turns, and a new sort of paranormal that is neither vampire nor werewolf, but something uniquely its own … you’ll find something in this book for you. While there are the standard beats of a young man entering into an unknown world of secrets and danger, it’s the way it’s done, with a character whose motivations feel so real and understandable, that make this a compelling read and character study.
Riley is a young man who knows he’s broken, who knows he’s probably depressed, but doesn’t have the resources or the energy to do anything about it. His brother hung himself from a tree in their backyard when Riley was 16, and Riley was the one to find him. The guilt and pain he feels at that, the responsibility for not being able to be there and to be the person his brother needed, eats at him, even now, ten years later. It’s also something he’s never shared with his boyfriend, even in the four years they’ve been together.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
5 stars
There is so much story to this story, and my review will give as little of it away as I can manage. This is a book that I honestly think is best entered in to blind. If you’re into Gothic romances, paranormal world building, broken heroes, pathos, dry humor, twists and turns, and a new sort of paranormal that is neither vampire nor werewolf, but something uniquely its own … you’ll find something in this book for you. While there are the standard beats of a young man entering into an unknown world of secrets and danger, it’s the way it’s done, with a character whose motivations feel so real and understandable, that make this a compelling read and character study.
Riley is a young man who knows he’s broken, who knows he’s probably depressed, but doesn’t have the resources or the energy to do anything about it. His brother hung himself from a tree in their backyard when Riley was 16, and Riley was the one to find him. The guilt and pain he feels at that, the responsibility for not being able to be there and to be the person his brother needed, eats at him, even now, ten years later. It’s also something he’s never shared with his boyfriend, even in the four years they’ve been together.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
July 25, 2012
This story is truly unique. The main storyline circles around mysterious murders and fanatic behaviour. I really couldn't understand what did Riley see in his boyfriend. Nick was weird and boring, but sure he was kind to Riley, which made him even more suspicious. Anyway, here we have a lot of unpleasant characters, one of them is Coliaro. What a creep! I really recommend this story it's truly well written, fresh and pulling from the start till the end. It was worth it!
July 4, 2012
Beautiful writing, helluva cover - therefore two stars.
Sadly the story itself left me with a bad aftertaste. None of the characters was likeable to me - especially the main characters just made me angry in their actions and interactions. Too bad, I really wanted to like this one.
Sadly the story itself left me with a bad aftertaste. None of the characters was likeable to me - especially the main characters just made me angry in their actions and interactions. Too bad, I really wanted to like this one.
May 2, 2022
Pretty sure I picked this up 9 or 10 years ago in a DSP promo. I remember I'd been interested in it both because I liked the cover and it appeared to be more mystery than romance. I didn't get around to reading it until now, because despite having calibre installed, two nooks and a kobo aura hd in addition to my various kindles, any ebook that isn't linked to my amazon account might as well not exist.
When I started this, for some reason, my brain was expecting something more along the lines of a Scooby Doo type rubber mask sort of thing, only maybe more serious and with a bit of dark academia vibe. But no, actual supernatural stuff in this one. "Undead" which you can basically read as vampires minus the blood sucking, and without a standardized how to kill mechanism. So that was kind of a side-eye element. At least it wasn't traditional vampires I guess.
POV is third person limited (past tense) from our MC Riley, a 27 year old freelance graphic artist who supplements his meagre income modeling at the prestigious art school he graduated from in Florida. He lives with an older, jealous lawyer boyfriend. On a couple of occasions the POV shifts to another character, and the first instance of this is so far into the book it was a real WTF moment and annoyed me.
This book annoyed me a lot actually. Not enough to DNF, I guess because the plot and mystery were interesting enough, and I was sympathetic to Riley even if he mostly acted emotionally 17 more than 27 and had terrible taste in men, and zero capacity for connecting dots in a mystery that Scooby Doo would easily have seen through in under 30 minutes. I'll admit though the author did successfully mislead me about the identity of one of the villains.
My main problem with the book, aside from Riley being dumb, was that it felt like there were really a lot of minor logic issues. Not undermining the plot really, some were more reflective of the writing, like why are we getting this detail now. I felt a lot of the timing and delivery of the backstory was off.
Anyway, I'll give it a 3, for "ok", because it mostly held my interest despite annoying me, and the ending was better than I expected. I think it was decent on the large scale, and weak on the details.
When I started this, for some reason, my brain was expecting something more along the lines of a Scooby Doo type rubber mask sort of thing, only maybe more serious and with a bit of dark academia vibe. But no, actual supernatural stuff in this one. "Undead" which you can basically read as vampires minus the blood sucking, and without a standardized how to kill mechanism. So that was kind of a side-eye element. At least it wasn't traditional vampires I guess.
POV is third person limited (past tense) from our MC Riley, a 27 year old freelance graphic artist who supplements his meagre income modeling at the prestigious art school he graduated from in Florida. He lives with an older, jealous lawyer boyfriend. On a couple of occasions the POV shifts to another character, and the first instance of this is so far into the book it was a real WTF moment and annoyed me.
This book annoyed me a lot actually. Not enough to DNF, I guess because the plot and mystery were interesting enough, and I was sympathetic to Riley even if he mostly acted emotionally 17 more than 27 and had terrible taste in men, and zero capacity for connecting dots in a mystery that Scooby Doo would easily have seen through in under 30 minutes. I'll admit though the author did successfully mislead me about the identity of one of the villains.
My main problem with the book, aside from Riley being dumb, was that it felt like there were really a lot of minor logic issues. Not undermining the plot really, some were more reflective of the writing, like why are we getting this detail now. I felt a lot of the timing and delivery of the backstory was off.
Anyway, I'll give it a 3, for "ok", because it mostly held my interest despite annoying me, and the ending was better than I expected. I think it was decent on the large scale, and weak on the details.
Want to read
October 18, 2020NTS: to be read soon.
October 24, 2012
A fair bit of warning for those who are looking for a fluffy romantic read: This isn't it. If all you want to read about is tall, dark and dangerous sweeping the dude in distress off their feet to their castle in Transylvania... Nope. Don't look here.
Westwood, the resident tall, dark and dangerous, is an asshole all the way to the very last word, and shows his affections for Riley only through actions. He doesn't stand around talking in paragraphs about the beauty of Riley's eyes, but shows all of it through his actions instead.
Both books in the series are extremely well-crafted, and probably the best MM romance novel featuring undead anything I've read thus far. The plot is good, convoluted enough to offer surprises, and all the characters are very strong, if unlikeable.
The world Bosch has crafted is also amazing. I love how creative she was with the undead. Instead of rehashing the old and used and adding only what is obviously there to make the characters more likeable (Like say, vegetarian vampires), she adds something fun to the mix. I loved reading about the rituals each undead had for its followers, and how they gained power from the mob that supported them.
The characters were truly commendable as well, though it might not be everyone's cup of teeth. No nice guys here. Practically every character has some flaw, ulterior motive, or they're lying about something. Cruelty is mentioned but not callously forgiven. I love unlikeable characters when they're human, which these characters are. If you're not like me and asshole characters spoil everything for you, you might want to skip it too.
In a weird way though, I wished Riley had stayed with Nick. I thought they were really sweet together, in a old married couple sort of way. And despite how it eventually ended up, I still thought Nick was really, really sweet. Ah well, forgiven for the amazing plot! Five stars for both!
Westwood, the resident tall, dark and dangerous, is an asshole all the way to the very last word, and shows his affections for Riley only through actions. He doesn't stand around talking in paragraphs about the beauty of Riley's eyes, but shows all of it through his actions instead.
Both books in the series are extremely well-crafted, and probably the best MM romance novel featuring undead anything I've read thus far. The plot is good, convoluted enough to offer surprises, and all the characters are very strong, if unlikeable.
The world Bosch has crafted is also amazing. I love how creative she was with the undead. Instead of rehashing the old and used and adding only what is obviously there to make the characters more likeable (Like say, vegetarian vampires), she adds something fun to the mix. I loved reading about the rituals each undead had for its followers, and how they gained power from the mob that supported them.
The characters were truly commendable as well, though it might not be everyone's cup of teeth. No nice guys here. Practically every character has some flaw, ulterior motive, or they're lying about something. Cruelty is mentioned but not callously forgiven. I love unlikeable characters when they're human, which these characters are. If you're not like me and asshole characters spoil everything for you, you might want to skip it too.
In a weird way though, I wished Riley had stayed with Nick. I thought they were really sweet together, in a old married couple sort of way. And despite how it eventually ended up, I still thought Nick was really, really sweet. Ah well, forgiven for the amazing plot! Five stars for both!
November 12, 2012
This one will keep you guessing right along with Riley. I really don't want to say anything, because it's all the twists and uncertainty that make this so much fun to read. The clues are all there, nothing flying in at you from left field at the end, so it's safe... except for the murders, the undead, their minions *mwahahaha*
Highly recommend as a paranormal mystery/thriller with an "Adrien" type lead.
Highly recommend as a paranormal mystery/thriller with an "Adrien" type lead.
July 7, 2012
4.5 stars
If you love paranormal action. This is one book you should try it
The intense characters and the world building of this story just grab my attention from the first page and at the end of it - I have to say "What a ride indeed!"
This is one of the stories I know I would re-read it.
If you love paranormal action. This is one book you should try it
The intense characters and the world building of this story just grab my attention from the first page and at the end of it - I have to say "What a ride indeed!"
This is one of the stories I know I would re-read it.
July 20, 2012
Loved the characters including the MC, loved the 'undead,' really loved the mystery. Iwould read another book about these MCs if one is really coming.
October 21, 2012
3.5 stars, rounded up
August 21, 2012
This book started at a languid pace, quite so that for awhile I'm convinced I read the blurb wrong and this was going to be some lighthearted read. HAHA. But the action picks up soon enough with the main character getting invited to model for a very famous artist then things just go spiraling downhill from there in sort of epic proportions, with "rumors" about Coliaro being "undead" from a dashing, dangerous man named Westwood.
I have mixed feelings about our main character, but I don't feel like he was a flimsy character.I admit I did feel like clonking him over the head sometimes for being so obstinate and carrying on with his investigations on Coliaro even when he is explicitly told by many people NOT TO. It's almost hilariously frustrating, but of course he's forgiven, since there wouldn't be a story if Riley just sat at home and watched TV all day and let it pass. All things considered, I did feel like all his choices were believable, he DID have his reasons and they were quite valid if not a little misplaced. Still believable though. I did think he was a bit hard on his boyfriend Nick early on in the book, but it was also clear how clearly Riley sometimes feels alienated by Nick's "super rich lifestyle" ways and that things just aren't going well (which happens in relationships IRL). The bit about Riley hating Chinese food and Nick bringing them home for dinner just hammers the thought home that their relationship is steadily, although probably slowly, deteriorating.
Minor spoiler: xD
Who annoys me more is actually Westwood and throughout the book he displays his affection for Riley quite strangely. Like wtf, man. But again as the book went on, towards the end, I could say this could also be forgiven and actually is quite tragic.
That aside, the whole book and how it went actually was quite entertaining, to say the least. Sometimes it almost seems unbelievable but in the end EVERYTHING just fitted together so nicely, but not in a way that it would seem like a cheap cop-out.
All in all, excellent read, plenty of twists and turns to keep it interesting. The premise is also quite unique and I haven't read anything quite refreshing such as this. I don't mind the flaws or whatever, the fact was I was shaking my ereader in anticipation and excitement at about page 200 when I began to suspect that things weren't quite over yet and it's not something I have done for years. It's nice to feel that way every once in awhile. I am really hoping for a sequel since I feel like there are more details on the undead to explore :)
I have mixed feelings about our main character, but I don't feel like he was a flimsy character.I admit I did feel like clonking him over the head sometimes for being so obstinate and carrying on with his investigations on Coliaro even when he is explicitly told by many people NOT TO. It's almost hilariously frustrating, but of course he's forgiven, since there wouldn't be a story if Riley just sat at home and watched TV all day and let it pass. All things considered, I did feel like all his choices were believable, he DID have his reasons and they were quite valid if not a little misplaced. Still believable though. I did think he was a bit hard on his boyfriend Nick early on in the book, but it was also clear how clearly Riley sometimes feels alienated by Nick's "super rich lifestyle" ways and that things just aren't going well (which happens in relationships IRL). The bit about Riley hating Chinese food and Nick bringing them home for dinner just hammers the thought home that their relationship is steadily, although probably slowly, deteriorating.
Minor spoiler: xD
Who annoys me more is actually Westwood and throughout the book he displays his affection for Riley quite strangely. Like wtf, man. But again as the book went on, towards the end, I could say this could also be forgiven and actually is quite tragic.
That aside, the whole book and how it went actually was quite entertaining, to say the least. Sometimes it almost seems unbelievable but in the end EVERYTHING just fitted together so nicely, but not in a way that it would seem like a cheap cop-out.
All in all, excellent read, plenty of twists and turns to keep it interesting. The premise is also quite unique and I haven't read anything quite refreshing such as this. I don't mind the flaws or whatever, the fact was I was shaking my ereader in anticipation and excitement at about page 200 when I began to suspect that things weren't quite over yet and it's not something I have done for years. It's nice to feel that way every once in awhile. I am really hoping for a sequel since I feel like there are more details on the undead to explore :)
July 8, 2012
To say I'm a fan of Ana Bosch is an understatement. I've followed her alter ego 'Bob' on the Demon of the Underground webcomic (http://www.demonoftheunderground.com) back when she was conceptualizing it on the Livejournal community NaNoMangO. Not only can Ms. Bosch illustrate but she can also tell a damn fine story.
Art of Death is the tale of Riley Burke, art school grad and now nude model for said art school can we say 'awkward'? And through a chain of seemingly innocent events finds himself in over his head and among a race of the undead and a colorful cast of characters that run the range of adorable as in Porter and utter creeper in Coliaro. Let it be said, Bosch really writes awesome creeper types. You can't help but like them and squirm because they're so nasty. Destan in her novella Dragon Tamer was likewise an epic sleazebag.
It should be said, Bosch doesn't see herself as a 'romance' writer in the standard sense. Her plots take the forefront while the relationships are merely on the side. So I honestly didn't know what people were expecting when they stamped the 'CHEATER' on Riley's forehead and instantly hated him because in the context of a romance novel cheaters are a no-no. But Art of Death isn't a romance novel, it's mystery/suspense. There's a whole other set of 'rules' as it were in there.
Futhermore, for someone to think Riley is a nogoodnik, did they not even notice in the context of Nick and Riley's relationship, the thrill is gone and has been for a long time? Or that neither of them are doing it for one another anymore? And in the context of the ending Riley I feel was 100% justified in his decisions.
I label the book as steamy even if it has only one sexual encounter throughout all of it, because the brewing tension between Westwood and Riley is enough to fog up my windows. Again, their growing relationship wasn't the main focus of this book. It was a supernatural murder mystery flat out. This book is plot heavy and I rather love books with a love story element that the romance is just that. An element. Give me your high flying adventures of guys and girls kicking butt and if they happen to meet the certain someone through the journey, awesome. For those of you looking for constant kissy faces and naughty moments, you're out of luck here. The story comes first with Bosch.
Bosch has announced she's been contracted by Dreamspinner for a sequel to Art of Death and I can't wait to see what else is in store for our merry band of undead misfits.
Art of Death is the tale of Riley Burke, art school grad and now nude model for said art school can we say 'awkward'? And through a chain of seemingly innocent events finds himself in over his head and among a race of the undead and a colorful cast of characters that run the range of adorable as in Porter and utter creeper in Coliaro. Let it be said, Bosch really writes awesome creeper types. You can't help but like them and squirm because they're so nasty. Destan in her novella Dragon Tamer was likewise an epic sleazebag.
It should be said, Bosch doesn't see herself as a 'romance' writer in the standard sense. Her plots take the forefront while the relationships are merely on the side. So I honestly didn't know what people were expecting when they stamped the 'CHEATER' on Riley's forehead and instantly hated him because in the context of a romance novel cheaters are a no-no. But Art of Death isn't a romance novel, it's mystery/suspense. There's a whole other set of 'rules' as it were in there.
Futhermore, for someone to think Riley is a nogoodnik, did they not even notice in the context of Nick and Riley's relationship, the thrill is gone and has been for a long time? Or that neither of them are doing it for one another anymore? And in the context of the ending Riley I feel was 100% justified in his decisions.
I label the book as steamy even if it has only one sexual encounter throughout all of it, because the brewing tension between Westwood and Riley is enough to fog up my windows. Again, their growing relationship wasn't the main focus of this book. It was a supernatural murder mystery flat out. This book is plot heavy and I rather love books with a love story element that the romance is just that. An element. Give me your high flying adventures of guys and girls kicking butt and if they happen to meet the certain someone through the journey, awesome. For those of you looking for constant kissy faces and naughty moments, you're out of luck here. The story comes first with Bosch.
Bosch has announced she's been contracted by Dreamspinner for a sequel to Art of Death and I can't wait to see what else is in store for our merry band of undead misfits.
September 4, 2019
The concept of this book gives a new twist on the Undead / Vampire-ish characters. The undead in this story are very normal to the general public, they don’t drink blood, have fangs etc. But they do have super strength and speed on their side. And there are ways they feed of humans, via rituals carried out by their followers.
Riley is oblivious to all the above, a newly graduated artist that has fallen on hard times so also does nude modeling at his former art school. When his former professor tells him about a request from a renowned artist Coliaro, for Riley to pose for him. Riley jumps at the idea.
Riley finds out that all of Coliaro paintings of nude men, somehow transforms into the bodies having their hearts and hands removed. And then the heart and hands turn up, whilst the rest of the bodies are never found.
Riley is also warned by a mysterious man to stay clear of Coliaro, even Riley’s boyfriend tries to steer him clear of Coliaro.
What follows is a intense chain of events, as reality soon starts to unravel, after a promising student is murdered at the art school.
And Porters death is the catalyst that really throws Riley deeper into the world of undead when he comes face to face with Porter.
Westwood the stranger mentioned above has tried to stop Riley getting involved with Coliaro.
But Riley is very inquisitive and seems to have a thing for dangerous men.
Stakes get higher as Riley gets closer to the truth. He knows he has to find the person who is doing the killing as a tribute to Coliaro .
But who can he trust? Certainly not Coliaro, Westwood seems almost as dangerous as Coliaro. He is hiding his investigation from his boyfriend Nick, and their relationship is on the verge of ending.
All Riley knows is he has to stop the killings, and awkward partnership of sorts with Westwood seems to be the way forward.
I thought the story was well written and paced, the threat of danger was constantly there and I have to say I did not realise who the killer was before it was revealed, which is unusual for me, I usually guess pretty early on.
I loved Riley’s stubborn determination and inquisitive mind, I felt for his struggling career. I really enjoyed Porters character a fun-loving young man, I would love to learn more about porter. The attraction between Westwood and Riley is so intense, but there always seems to be something stopping them making a move.
Riley is oblivious to all the above, a newly graduated artist that has fallen on hard times so also does nude modeling at his former art school. When his former professor tells him about a request from a renowned artist Coliaro, for Riley to pose for him. Riley jumps at the idea.
Riley finds out that all of Coliaro paintings of nude men, somehow transforms into the bodies having their hearts and hands removed. And then the heart and hands turn up, whilst the rest of the bodies are never found.
Riley is also warned by a mysterious man to stay clear of Coliaro, even Riley’s boyfriend tries to steer him clear of Coliaro.
What follows is a intense chain of events, as reality soon starts to unravel, after a promising student is murdered at the art school.
And Porters death is the catalyst that really throws Riley deeper into the world of undead when he comes face to face with Porter.
Westwood the stranger mentioned above has tried to stop Riley getting involved with Coliaro.
But Riley is very inquisitive and seems to have a thing for dangerous men.
Stakes get higher as Riley gets closer to the truth. He knows he has to find the person who is doing the killing as a tribute to Coliaro .
But who can he trust? Certainly not Coliaro, Westwood seems almost as dangerous as Coliaro. He is hiding his investigation from his boyfriend Nick, and their relationship is on the verge of ending.
All Riley knows is he has to stop the killings, and awkward partnership of sorts with Westwood seems to be the way forward.
I thought the story was well written and paced, the threat of danger was constantly there and I have to say I did not realise who the killer was before it was revealed, which is unusual for me, I usually guess pretty early on.
I loved Riley’s stubborn determination and inquisitive mind, I felt for his struggling career. I really enjoyed Porters character a fun-loving young man, I would love to learn more about porter. The attraction between Westwood and Riley is so intense, but there always seems to be something stopping them making a move.
January 18, 2013
Well -- I liked parts of this book, but I got intensely frustrated with other parts of it. I'm not in the mood right now to expound on the good parts, but a few of my major complaints are listed below.
Problems:
1. Killing the Undead --
2. Eye-rolling coincidence -- aka Undead Ex Machina --
3. Het Romance Rape Fantasy!! Arrrrrrg!Cmon, one of the reasons I stopped reading mf romances was to get AWAY from all the rape fantasy crap. And btw, the word is "ravished", not "ravaged".
4. Good Guy vs Bad Guy --
I'm willing to read the sequel and see where Bosch takes this setup, but these were Really Big Problems for me. 2.5 stars, rounding up to 3 because other parts of the book were enjoyable.
Problems:
1. Killing the Undead --
2. Eye-rolling coincidence -- aka Undead Ex Machina --
3. Het Romance Rape Fantasy!! Arrrrrrg!Cmon, one of the reasons I stopped reading mf romances was to get AWAY from all the rape fantasy crap. And btw, the word is "ravished", not "ravaged".
4. Good Guy vs Bad Guy --
I'm willing to read the sequel and see where Bosch takes this setup, but these were Really Big Problems for me. 2.5 stars, rounding up to 3 because other parts of the book were enjoyable.
July 1, 2015
I'm going to come right out and say this story won't be for everybody. It's obviously written by somebody who enjoys dubcon/noncon and D/s scenarios, so if that isn't your thing, you might want to stay away.
Since none of that bothers me, I was pretty happy with those aspects of the novel. I also enjoyed the mystery, and while I did get annoyed with the main character's insistence on putting himself in danger, it made sense in the context of his backstory.
However, there are still some major flaws which marred my overall enjoyment of the novel.
- There was never any explanation as to why Westwood was doing what he was. There's hints of it during his interactions with Porter, but overall he was a giant mystery and I couldn't find myself rooting for him. When/why/how does he fall in love/lust with Riley? Why is Riley more "special" to him than anybody else? How in the world is a relationship between Riley and Westwood supposed to work out?
- Porter was actually interesting, and I wish we had gotten a lot more interaction between him and Westwood. The small hints we got whet my appetite, but unfortunately Porter ends up falling into obscurity. I also felt a little bit betrayed by the sudden revelation that he was undead, with no previous foreshadowing to it.
- Nick. Nick Nick Nick. I found the revelation about him to be absolutely cheap. There was no indication that he was in any way involved with the villain before the last few chapters, and he really did act like a normal boyfriend. Was he a bit controlling? Yes, but that doesn't automatically a serial killer make. Honestly, it felt like the author wanted to excuse Riley's cheating, instead of having Riley maturing enough to break it off properly.
- The ending feels open enough that I'd almost expect a sequel. The Riley/Westwood parts aren't really satisfying as they were in the book, especially since Riley seems to fall in with Westwood because he has nothing else to do.
Overall, I did enjoy it and read it in basically one sitting, but the ending was disappointing.
Since none of that bothers me, I was pretty happy with those aspects of the novel. I also enjoyed the mystery, and while I did get annoyed with the main character's insistence on putting himself in danger, it made sense in the context of his backstory.
However, there are still some major flaws which marred my overall enjoyment of the novel.
- There was never any explanation as to why Westwood was doing what he was. There's hints of it during his interactions with Porter, but overall he was a giant mystery and I couldn't find myself rooting for him. When/why/how does he fall in love/lust with Riley? Why is Riley more "special" to him than anybody else? How in the world is a relationship between Riley and Westwood supposed to work out?
- Porter was actually interesting, and I wish we had gotten a lot more interaction between him and Westwood. The small hints we got whet my appetite, but unfortunately Porter ends up falling into obscurity. I also felt a little bit betrayed by the sudden revelation that he was undead, with no previous foreshadowing to it.
- Nick. Nick Nick Nick. I found the revelation about him to be absolutely cheap. There was no indication that he was in any way involved with the villain before the last few chapters, and he really did act like a normal boyfriend. Was he a bit controlling? Yes, but that doesn't automatically a serial killer make. Honestly, it felt like the author wanted to excuse Riley's cheating, instead of having Riley maturing enough to break it off properly.
- The ending feels open enough that I'd almost expect a sequel. The Riley/Westwood parts aren't really satisfying as they were in the book, especially since Riley seems to fall in with Westwood because he has nothing else to do.
Overall, I did enjoy it and read it in basically one sitting, but the ending was disappointing.
October 26, 2012
Not a genre romance. Increasingly dark and plot-contorted paranormal whose seemingly random threads and subtle layers all come together by the end. Riley is an aimless freelance illustrator who supplements his income by working as an artist's model. Emotionally crippled by a tragic event in his past, Riley is almost dependent on his wealthy and patiently devoted boyfriend of four years.
When strange and frightening events start occurring, Riley feels compelled to intervene and investigate, trying to prevent another tragedy. He knows Nick will not approve of his getting involved and endangering himself, so he goes it alone. Riley can trust no one. And he is only barely able to take care of his own self.
The reveals, surprises and twists in this one are stunningly well done, and will keep you turning pages. Emphatically not a romance, but there is a love story among the threads, and it ends HFN.
M/M readers, take a chance on this one if you are ready for a darker paranormal (warning for dub-con/rape). Good crossover title, well-written and engrossing.
4.5 stars.
When strange and frightening events start occurring, Riley feels compelled to intervene and investigate, trying to prevent another tragedy. He knows Nick will not approve of his getting involved and endangering himself, so he goes it alone. Riley can trust no one. And he is only barely able to take care of his own self.
The reveals, surprises and twists in this one are stunningly well done, and will keep you turning pages. Emphatically not a romance, but there is a love story among the threads, and it ends HFN.
M/M readers, take a chance on this one if you are ready for a darker paranormal (warning for dub-con/rape). Good crossover title, well-written and engrossing.
4.5 stars.
December 8, 2019
I have to admit, I'm a loyal patreon supporter to Bob so my review might be a little bias, but I loved this book! I love that the protagonist and the love interest are both morally grey. Riley makes some really poor choices while Westwood has some seriously dark secrets.
I love characters that aren't perfect because it's more realistic. We're going to push away our partner and be dicks about it, and we're going to find ourselves attracted to the wrong person, and we're going to be giant hypocrites! But that's life!
I would have liked to see some more female characters in the story (hopefully in the future) just to see some fresh blood.
I really can't wait for the next book! Bring it on!
I love characters that aren't perfect because it's more realistic. We're going to push away our partner and be dicks about it, and we're going to find ourselves attracted to the wrong person, and we're going to be giant hypocrites! But that's life!
I would have liked to see some more female characters in the story (hopefully in the future) just to see some fresh blood.
I really can't wait for the next book! Bring it on!
December 25, 2014
I think my most favorite part of this book was the supernatural part of the undead. It piqued my interest to continue reading because I wanted to know more. I was definitely taken by surprise by who was really who in the book and at first I was furious when I found who did all the killings, then sad, and finally happy that the bastard got caught. I think there is another one after this and I'm hoping it is just as good as this one.
December 10, 2012
Beautiful and dark and thrilling. This book takes you to hell and back and touches that dark place inside of you that everyone hides form the world. Its a Vampire book thats, not. Hugely imaginative and completely original, if you love the twisted and demented this is a book that will keep you up reading until the sunrise.
July 8, 2012
4.5 stars. I loved this book. It had me `till the very end, and even then I really wanted it to continue.
July 19, 2012
That was really intense story and I have to say Ana Bosch done really great work here. If she would gave us the epilogue after she finished on here own then it would be perfect.
April 14, 2013
very intresting mystery/paranormal read.
December 12, 2012
Wow! When I started reading Art of Death by Ana Bosch, I had NO idea what I was in for. I was expecting some mystery and action, but I had NO idea how wrapped up I’d become in this book. Talk about nail-biting, edge of my seat, heart pumping suspense!! Whew! This book took me totally by surprise and it’s been hours later since I’ve finished the book and it’s still on my mind.
I’m in a horrible position. I want to rave and talk about everything that happened in this book, but I can’t. There is no way I want to spoil this book for anyone, so forgive me for treading lightly on my review of the book and plot itself. I actually believe the blurb does an outstanding job at describing the gist of the story and I encourage you, even if you’re even a little curious about it, don’t hesitate to get this one. If you love suspense, fantasy and action, this book is definitely something you should consider.
The story started off a little slow for me, but in no time it started picking up and before I knew it I was almost through reading it. Although Riley Burke graduated from art school, he’s still having a hard time finding a job. To make ends meet and to keep from living off his boyfriend, Riley works as a nude model for the school he attended and because he’s very easy on the eyes and young, he’s one of their most sought after models. When Riley finds out the famous artist, Coilaro is in town and he has a chance to meet him and pose for him, Riley immediately jumps at the chance. But, soon he starts hearing rumors of previous male models who have worked with the famous artist before have been brutally killed. Even though this bothers Riley, his curiosity gets the best of him and he decides to pose for the artist anyway.
As soon as he meets the artist, Riley feels uneasy. There’s something not quite right about Coilaro and the people who seem to constantly be around him. He meets a dark and mysterious man named, Westwood, and even though he’s intrigued by him, he instinctively knows the man isn’t who he says he is and is dangerous. Soon, Riley finds himself wrapped up in the mystery of the deaths behind Coilaro’s paintings and comes to realize he’s in danger himself. Even though he is warned by many, he is determined to find out the answers he is looking for, even if it means that things are not what it seems and more than he’s ever bargained for.
First, I loved the world building this author created in this book. Even though it is set in a contemporary setting, there is a subculture of people who follow the ‘undead’ and these people have strict rules they follow. I thought this was very well thought out and the author did an outstanding job at keeping this reader from being confused by this. There are some gory parts in the book. The heart and hands are cut off of murdered victims, and there are also a lot of twists and interesting turns the plot takes as the story progresses.
I also liked Riley. I will say that Riley is definitely NOT the perfect hero. Yes, he’s gorgeous and extremely talented, but he does put himself in danger time and time again. Although I did understand this, I still wanted to tie him to a chair and make him stay at home to keep him safe. But this is not Riley’s nature. He’s more of a hands on person and really doesn’t like to be told no. He isn’t always the noblest of men. He lies to his boyfriend and well…he lies a lot, but I also understood that he’s constantly trying to figure out what was going on and he’s trying to protect those he cares about. In the end, I really liked him and all of his imperfections.
Westwood is a chameleon of a character. One moment he seems to be one way and in another the next. Basically he’s supposed to be heartless and his object is to stop Coilaro in his tracks. He can be quite coldblooded, but there are also some very uncharacteristic tender moments he has too. Despite his best intentions, Riley really gets under his skin and he wants to protect him.
I know you’ve noticed I mentioned that Riley has a boyfriend. Yes, Nick is also a mystery of a character. He’s crazy rich, but he’s learned to take Riley for granted. They’ve been together for four years, and even though Riley is supposed to be the most important person in his life, he proves time and time again that he puts his own needs before Riley’s. He comes off as a cold fish, but he does have some tender moments with Riley, but in all honesty, I didn’t like them together. There was something about him and Riley together that never felt right. Even though Riley continues to lie to him and as their relationship continues to deteriorate as the novel progresses, I kept wondering why they were still together because it was obvious the love they might have felt for one another is now gone.
Honestly, I don’t know if I would characterize this as a romance, so I know this book will not be for everyone. Yes, there are some heated moments between Riley and Westwood and it’s easy to see there is something really simmering between them as they continue to be thrown together, but the book really focuses on Riley and his determination to find out the mystery of Coilaro. I hope this does not keep romance readers away because this book does have some grit and bite to it, and as much as I am a die-hard romance reader fan, this book still gave me enough heat between the heroes to keep me satisfied.
Now you’re probably asking: Well, Gabbi that’s great…but since you loved the book so much why are you giving it 4.5 kisses instead of 5? I honestly have teetered between 4.5 and 5 Kisses since I finished the book. Even now I wonder if I should give it 5 Kisses, but what keeps me from doing it is: the book ended up leaving me with MANY unanswered questions. Plus, when it ended I almost panicked because in my opinion everything is still open-ended. In all fairness to the author, I have to admit I have no idea if this is the first book of a series. This would explain why there are unanswered questions, and I sincerely hope this is the first of several books to come about these intriguing characters and the world that Ms. Bosch created. Highly Recommended!
Reviewed By: Gabbi
I’m in a horrible position. I want to rave and talk about everything that happened in this book, but I can’t. There is no way I want to spoil this book for anyone, so forgive me for treading lightly on my review of the book and plot itself. I actually believe the blurb does an outstanding job at describing the gist of the story and I encourage you, even if you’re even a little curious about it, don’t hesitate to get this one. If you love suspense, fantasy and action, this book is definitely something you should consider.
The story started off a little slow for me, but in no time it started picking up and before I knew it I was almost through reading it. Although Riley Burke graduated from art school, he’s still having a hard time finding a job. To make ends meet and to keep from living off his boyfriend, Riley works as a nude model for the school he attended and because he’s very easy on the eyes and young, he’s one of their most sought after models. When Riley finds out the famous artist, Coilaro is in town and he has a chance to meet him and pose for him, Riley immediately jumps at the chance. But, soon he starts hearing rumors of previous male models who have worked with the famous artist before have been brutally killed. Even though this bothers Riley, his curiosity gets the best of him and he decides to pose for the artist anyway.
As soon as he meets the artist, Riley feels uneasy. There’s something not quite right about Coilaro and the people who seem to constantly be around him. He meets a dark and mysterious man named, Westwood, and even though he’s intrigued by him, he instinctively knows the man isn’t who he says he is and is dangerous. Soon, Riley finds himself wrapped up in the mystery of the deaths behind Coilaro’s paintings and comes to realize he’s in danger himself. Even though he is warned by many, he is determined to find out the answers he is looking for, even if it means that things are not what it seems and more than he’s ever bargained for.
First, I loved the world building this author created in this book. Even though it is set in a contemporary setting, there is a subculture of people who follow the ‘undead’ and these people have strict rules they follow. I thought this was very well thought out and the author did an outstanding job at keeping this reader from being confused by this. There are some gory parts in the book. The heart and hands are cut off of murdered victims, and there are also a lot of twists and interesting turns the plot takes as the story progresses.
I also liked Riley. I will say that Riley is definitely NOT the perfect hero. Yes, he’s gorgeous and extremely talented, but he does put himself in danger time and time again. Although I did understand this, I still wanted to tie him to a chair and make him stay at home to keep him safe. But this is not Riley’s nature. He’s more of a hands on person and really doesn’t like to be told no. He isn’t always the noblest of men. He lies to his boyfriend and well…he lies a lot, but I also understood that he’s constantly trying to figure out what was going on and he’s trying to protect those he cares about. In the end, I really liked him and all of his imperfections.
Westwood is a chameleon of a character. One moment he seems to be one way and in another the next. Basically he’s supposed to be heartless and his object is to stop Coilaro in his tracks. He can be quite coldblooded, but there are also some very uncharacteristic tender moments he has too. Despite his best intentions, Riley really gets under his skin and he wants to protect him.
I know you’ve noticed I mentioned that Riley has a boyfriend. Yes, Nick is also a mystery of a character. He’s crazy rich, but he’s learned to take Riley for granted. They’ve been together for four years, and even though Riley is supposed to be the most important person in his life, he proves time and time again that he puts his own needs before Riley’s. He comes off as a cold fish, but he does have some tender moments with Riley, but in all honesty, I didn’t like them together. There was something about him and Riley together that never felt right. Even though Riley continues to lie to him and as their relationship continues to deteriorate as the novel progresses, I kept wondering why they were still together because it was obvious the love they might have felt for one another is now gone.
Honestly, I don’t know if I would characterize this as a romance, so I know this book will not be for everyone. Yes, there are some heated moments between Riley and Westwood and it’s easy to see there is something really simmering between them as they continue to be thrown together, but the book really focuses on Riley and his determination to find out the mystery of Coilaro. I hope this does not keep romance readers away because this book does have some grit and bite to it, and as much as I am a die-hard romance reader fan, this book still gave me enough heat between the heroes to keep me satisfied.
Now you’re probably asking: Well, Gabbi that’s great…but since you loved the book so much why are you giving it 4.5 kisses instead of 5? I honestly have teetered between 4.5 and 5 Kisses since I finished the book. Even now I wonder if I should give it 5 Kisses, but what keeps me from doing it is: the book ended up leaving me with MANY unanswered questions. Plus, when it ended I almost panicked because in my opinion everything is still open-ended. In all fairness to the author, I have to admit I have no idea if this is the first book of a series. This would explain why there are unanswered questions, and I sincerely hope this is the first of several books to come about these intriguing characters and the world that Ms. Bosch created. Highly Recommended!
Reviewed By: Gabbi
December 5, 2018
oh my gosh, this story was so much better than I anticipated!! Riley and Westwood were so sexy together, like, HOLY HELL!!!! However, what really made this book for me was the uniqueness between each character and the almost fun, yet horror filled plot that had me on the edge of my seat. Definitely a new favorite :D I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series!!
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