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The Stylite Chronicles #1
Stylite: Mystery
A mystery, history, romance story. A curious art history student disturbs a lonely recluse holed up in an historic building in downtown Pittsburgh's 'Golden Triangle'. Together they investigate the mystery behind the building and in the process unearth evidence of a long-dead, illicit love affair. Will that ancient romance help kindle a modern one for our history sleuths at the same time?
138 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 5, 2020
2 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Tag Gregory
15 books37 followersTAG has been living in Portland, Oregon, so long that it’s almost like being a native. They don’t even mind the rain that much anymore. TAG loves the city and the state with a passion. TAG has been writing for almost a decade, starting out with a hesitant toe in the realm of fanfiction before venturing into the scarier world of self-publishing original works. With an eclectic background as an attorney, microbiologist, all-around nerd, and adventurer, TAG brings to all their writing an off-kilter sense of humor, unbounded curiosity, a love of historical and contemporary details, and astonishing powers of research. If you are looking for a gripping story, with compelling characters that deal with real world issues, then you're in the right place.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 2, 2021
Audio reviewed on 05-02-21
Intriguing. Slow Burn. Atmospheric.
Overall : 5 stars
Performance : 4 Stars
Story : 5 stars
I was hooked, line and sinker from the start with this clever, detailed, layered , witty , interesting and entertaining , mystery, slow burn romance story.
Even though, this book ends in a cliffhanger and the heroes haven't even kissed ; I am perfectly fine with it. That's because, thus far, the storyline , plot and characters development and world-building are so strong and addictive , I know whatever is coming next , will be awesome. And I cannot wait to find out what's next . In other words, the anticipation itself is part of the pleasure.
As for the narration , William Pierre did a good job. He reads well , is articulate and sounded as he was having fun. This is my first audiobook narrated by him.
My only complain is with the audio production and editing. At the start of each chapters from 1 thru 7 or 8 , begins with a unnatural pause follow by some type of music . It slowed the story and the pacing .
However, for some reason (very happy) the later chapters didn't had them. Audio is only 4 hours 45 minutes . Were the long pauses and music an editing issue or/and a way to add length to the audiobook?
Because of that , I am giving it a 4.30 stars.
Stylite: Mystery
The Stylite Chronicles, Book One
By: Tag Gregory, Lily Marie
Narrated by: William Pierre
Intriguing. Slow Burn. Atmospheric.
Overall : 5 stars
Performance : 4 Stars
Story : 5 stars
I was hooked, line and sinker from the start with this clever, detailed, layered , witty , interesting and entertaining , mystery, slow burn romance story.
Even though, this book ends in a cliffhanger and the heroes haven't even kissed ; I am perfectly fine with it. That's because, thus far, the storyline , plot and characters development and world-building are so strong and addictive , I know whatever is coming next , will be awesome. And I cannot wait to find out what's next . In other words, the anticipation itself is part of the pleasure.
As for the narration , William Pierre did a good job. He reads well , is articulate and sounded as he was having fun. This is my first audiobook narrated by him.
My only complain is with the audio production and editing. At the start of each chapters from 1 thru 7 or 8 , begins with a unnatural pause follow by some type of music . It slowed the story and the pacing .
However, for some reason (very happy) the later chapters didn't had them. Audio is only 4 hours 45 minutes . Were the long pauses and music an editing issue or/and a way to add length to the audiobook?
Because of that , I am giving it a 4.30 stars.
Stylite: Mystery
The Stylite Chronicles, Book One
By: Tag Gregory, Lily Marie
Narrated by: William Pierre
May 24, 2021
William Pierre’s near perfect narration vividly brings to life the full cast of characters that Tag Gregory and Lily Marie have created for their Stylite Chronicles 3-volume series.
‘Stylite: Mystery’, the first of the three installments, introduces Tristan, a student at the Art Institute of Pittsburg. Tristan is fascinated by Pittsburg’s old Triangle Building on Liberty St at Seventh Ave that was constructed in the 1880s. Prior to its recent renovation (seen here), the building had been abandoned and fallen into disrepair.
With the encouragement of his roommate, Darla, Tristan decides to make the Triangle Building the subject of his undergraduate thesis.
Many historians believe the Triangle Building was the first flatiron building constructed in the United States. Today it can be found as one of the many early buildings having undergone recent renovations in Pittsburgh’s historic ‘Golden Triangle’ district.
Tristan spends hours every day sketching the building from every imaginable angle.
He and Darla are shocked to discover the likeness of a haunted, bearded older man in the window of one of his drawings. Tristan has no recollection of actually having seen the man, but he must have been there for Tristan to have captured his likeness in the sketch.
On his next visit, Tristan confirms that the man does indeed exist. Eventually, after breaking into the building only to be confronted by a hissing, feral cat, the two men actually do meet. Together Tristan and the reclusive figure he names ‘Eggy’ discover and begin to unravel the mysteries of this historic old building.
Hidden rooms, sliding walls, abandoned staircases, secret love letters hidden behind framed drawings, and a long forgotten basement are just the start of their adventures.
As others have noted, this volume is just the beginning - it is not a complete stand alone story.
This audiobook was provided by IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for my honest review. I’m really looking forward to parts two and three of this mystery/romance series to find out how everything is resolved.
‘Stylite: Mystery’, the first of the three installments, introduces Tristan, a student at the Art Institute of Pittsburg. Tristan is fascinated by Pittsburg’s old Triangle Building on Liberty St at Seventh Ave that was constructed in the 1880s. Prior to its recent renovation (seen here), the building had been abandoned and fallen into disrepair.
With the encouragement of his roommate, Darla, Tristan decides to make the Triangle Building the subject of his undergraduate thesis.
Many historians believe the Triangle Building was the first flatiron building constructed in the United States. Today it can be found as one of the many early buildings having undergone recent renovations in Pittsburgh’s historic ‘Golden Triangle’ district.
Tristan spends hours every day sketching the building from every imaginable angle.
He and Darla are shocked to discover the likeness of a haunted, bearded older man in the window of one of his drawings. Tristan has no recollection of actually having seen the man, but he must have been there for Tristan to have captured his likeness in the sketch.
On his next visit, Tristan confirms that the man does indeed exist. Eventually, after breaking into the building only to be confronted by a hissing, feral cat, the two men actually do meet. Together Tristan and the reclusive figure he names ‘Eggy’ discover and begin to unravel the mysteries of this historic old building.
Hidden rooms, sliding walls, abandoned staircases, secret love letters hidden behind framed drawings, and a long forgotten basement are just the start of their adventures.
As others have noted, this volume is just the beginning - it is not a complete stand alone story.
This audiobook was provided by IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for my honest review. I’m really looking forward to parts two and three of this mystery/romance series to find out how everything is resolved.
May 15, 2021
Unexpectedly Enthralling (an audio review)
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up this book. New authors to me, a narrator I haven’t heard before, and a genre I don’t usually pick (mystery). I’m so glad I took a chance on this one!
Tristan is an art student who loves architecture. He’s obsessed with the Triangle Building where he often hangs out just to sketch it. That image is very vivid to me, and although it was on the cover of the ebook, I was a little disappointed it wasn’t on the cover of the audio book. All that being said, I have an image of New York’s flat iron triangle building and that style has always intrigued me. Does so for Tristan as well. Only one day, as he’s reviewing his sketch, he realizes he’s sketched a face in one of the windows.
Believing the building to be abandoned, he’s quite surprised. The curiosity gets the better of him and he figures out how to break in. Now, I never condone illegal behavior, but of course I was curious what he’d find. An OCD agoraphobic who hasn’t left the building for a very long time. Tristan slowly gets to know the man, returning again and again. Although he nicknames the man Eggbert, he does eventually find out his name.
And as they grow closer, this odd pair, they begin exploring the building, discovering all her secrets. And she has some doozies.
This book ends on a mini-cliffhanger – there is way more to come. Rest assured, I’ll be snatching up the next book. I want to see what’s hiding in the building, I want to watch the budding relationship between the two men, and I want to know if Eggbert will ever overcome his psychological issues. I’m rooting for him. That Tristan is so understanding speaks volumes, and I like where this is going – but I suspect there’ll be a few bumps along the way.
A quick word about William Pierre. New to me, but really enjoyable. He very much suited the narration of the college student. Can’t wait for the next one.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up this book. New authors to me, a narrator I haven’t heard before, and a genre I don’t usually pick (mystery). I’m so glad I took a chance on this one!
Tristan is an art student who loves architecture. He’s obsessed with the Triangle Building where he often hangs out just to sketch it. That image is very vivid to me, and although it was on the cover of the ebook, I was a little disappointed it wasn’t on the cover of the audio book. All that being said, I have an image of New York’s flat iron triangle building and that style has always intrigued me. Does so for Tristan as well. Only one day, as he’s reviewing his sketch, he realizes he’s sketched a face in one of the windows.
Believing the building to be abandoned, he’s quite surprised. The curiosity gets the better of him and he figures out how to break in. Now, I never condone illegal behavior, but of course I was curious what he’d find. An OCD agoraphobic who hasn’t left the building for a very long time. Tristan slowly gets to know the man, returning again and again. Although he nicknames the man Eggbert, he does eventually find out his name.
And as they grow closer, this odd pair, they begin exploring the building, discovering all her secrets. And she has some doozies.
This book ends on a mini-cliffhanger – there is way more to come. Rest assured, I’ll be snatching up the next book. I want to see what’s hiding in the building, I want to watch the budding relationship between the two men, and I want to know if Eggbert will ever overcome his psychological issues. I’m rooting for him. That Tristan is so understanding speaks volumes, and I like where this is going – but I suspect there’ll be a few bumps along the way.
A quick word about William Pierre. New to me, but really enjoyable. He very much suited the narration of the college student. Can’t wait for the next one.
January 15, 2021
A slow burn romance, a mystery and a historical building. This was an interesting start to a new to me authors and a new series.
May 3, 2021
A mystery that needs to be solved but not yet
An art student is fascinated with a triangular historic building, but there seems to a someone living in the building, but it's derelict. Who could be living there?
It's a good story, which develops as the art student and the recluse starts researching the past and history of the building. However, you don't get a happy ending. In fact, you don't get an ending. It's a to be continued series.
In some places within the audio, there was a lot of interference noise which could be off-putting, but during the main narration, it was very clear. This is one of the few narrators that I had to hardly speed up. Listened at 1.10 speed on audible.
Stylite: Mystery
The Stylite Chronicles, Book One
By: Tag Gregory, Lily Marie
Narrated by: William Pierre
Series: The Stylite Chronicles, Book 1
Length: 4 hrs and 45 mins
❤❤❤❤❤ Overall
🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration
📚📚📚📚📚 Story
Read at 1.10 speed on Audible
An art student is fascinated with a triangular historic building, but there seems to a someone living in the building, but it's derelict. Who could be living there?
It's a good story, which develops as the art student and the recluse starts researching the past and history of the building. However, you don't get a happy ending. In fact, you don't get an ending. It's a to be continued series.
In some places within the audio, there was a lot of interference noise which could be off-putting, but during the main narration, it was very clear. This is one of the few narrators that I had to hardly speed up. Listened at 1.10 speed on audible.
Stylite: Mystery
The Stylite Chronicles, Book One
By: Tag Gregory, Lily Marie
Narrated by: William Pierre
Series: The Stylite Chronicles, Book 1
Length: 4 hrs and 45 mins
❤❤❤❤❤ Overall
🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration
📚📚📚📚📚 Story
Read at 1.10 speed on Audible
December 20, 2020
This is the beginning of a love affair. By this I mean we're at the beginning of a series so you don't get a complete story yet. But you do get a great background, great characters, some snark and an all around good read.
December 1, 2020
This is part one of a series, and it was so delightfully engrossing that I’m rushing through writing this review so I can download the next book. I love pretty much everything about Stylite: the narrator/main character Tristan has absolutely nailed the over-caffeinated pixie vibe, and the narration is so delightfully balanced between hyper tangent and actual story progression that it’s super fun, and different, to read. The premise is also great-- Tristan is an art student drawn to the distinctive old Triangle Building, and on one of his sketching trips/ break-ins he meets its single reclusive inhabitant-- the mysterious “Eggy” and his intrepid cat Bill. Tristan builds a relationship with his new friend/love interest in the most careful, gentle, and thoughtful terms, and I love how the authors treated the characters’ agoraphobia and OCD with realistic compassion-- “Eggy” isn’t immediately cured, or “fixed” in a single dramatic moment, but the interactions between the two of them allow him to start to adapt and it’s super moving. There’s also the beginnings of an old mystery from the beginning of the building’s history: mysterious letters, paintings, and the outline of a really interesting story that I can’t wait to see develop as the series continues. I can’t think of a single negative thing to say about this novel, and I already want to be reading the next one, so I’ll leave this review here: try this novel! It’s totally worth it.
*An ARC was provided to me and I have chosen to publish a fair and honest review.
*An ARC was provided to me and I have chosen to publish a fair and honest review.
December 6, 2020
This is an intriguing start to a new three book series. That is important to note, because this book does not provide a complete story; you must be prepared to read the two additional books in the set. That won't be a problem because the other books are already out, and it shouldn't be a hardship, because the writing is great, the story is interesting, and the characters will grab your heart. MCs Tristan and 'Eggy' seem like opposites, but Tristan is so patient and understanding of Eggy's issues, you can't help but feel an affection coming. However, it's definitely starting pretty slow. No instalove here. The building is another 'character' in itself and provides a great backdrop for the historical mystery. I can't wait to see what the next book brings. This one ends on a kind of soft cliff-hanger, so I'm glad the second book is already available.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
December 9, 2020
This is book 1 in the 3 book series and super interesting.
It is a historical romantic suspense that ends on a cliffhanger so beware.
The other 2 books are already out so grab those two while you're at it!
This was an amazing action packed start to an amazing series.
The ending has left me all sorts of intrigued and I can't wait to dive into the next one.
It follows a slow burn romance which I absolutely love and the characters are interesting as well.
A definite recommend if you like an MM romantic suspense with a historical setting.
It is a historical romantic suspense that ends on a cliffhanger so beware.
The other 2 books are already out so grab those two while you're at it!
This was an amazing action packed start to an amazing series.
The ending has left me all sorts of intrigued and I can't wait to dive into the next one.
It follows a slow burn romance which I absolutely love and the characters are interesting as well.
A definite recommend if you like an MM romantic suspense with a historical setting.
December 5, 2020
If you are a fan of insta love romances and are looking for that here, this is definitely not the book for you at this time. It is apparently going to take the full three book series for our two main characters to get their HEA. That won't bother me in the least, however, if the authors can keep writing such an interesting historical mystery combined with the attraction building between Tristan and Brandon. The architectural details are intriguing and the documents detailing the past love tied in nicely with the current story.
December 6, 2020
Interesting Start
This book has a nice mystery of past love and a slow burn of a new love. I really enjoyed reading it and I can't wait for the next book
This book has a nice mystery of past love and a slow burn of a new love. I really enjoyed reading it and I can't wait for the next book
November 27, 2020
I wasn’t ready for this book, Book 1, to end. Actually it kind of took me by surprise when it did. I’m looking forward to Book 2, because this one has left me very curious. The heroes are great. Unlikely, though they may be, their romance is inevitable, at this point. Eggy, aka Brandon, and Tristan, though their meeting is a bit unorthodox their relationship, friendship, romance is coming along nicely. The story ends up in the air leaving you with a puzzle unsolved, hence the mystery aspect, but it leaves you intrigued, I’ve enjoyed reading it. The storyline has piqued my interest and I’m eagerly awaiting what comes next. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.
January 1, 2022
3.5* getting the bump for future Brat and Eggy adventures!
Tristan is our main pov in this, the building is the central character that introduces and then binds Tristan (Brat) and Brandon (Eggy) together.
Eggy has severe OCD and agoraphobia and so it takes a while for Tristan to break down enough barriers to actually start to develop a friendship.
The story is barely started in this book - the mystery and blossoming attraction will continue - so more of instalments than a story however I am off to get the other two asap!
Tristan is our main pov in this, the building is the central character that introduces and then binds Tristan (Brat) and Brandon (Eggy) together.
Eggy has severe OCD and agoraphobia and so it takes a while for Tristan to break down enough barriers to actually start to develop a friendship.
The story is barely started in this book - the mystery and blossoming attraction will continue - so more of instalments than a story however I am off to get the other two asap!
April 16, 2022
3.5 stars
I’m sure I’ll read the next volumes but I had a few character issues. Not so much Brandon but Tristan is annoying af. Also went total Jekyll & Hyde on Ian for no reason I could see.
I’m sure I’ll read the next volumes but I had a few character issues. Not so much Brandon but Tristan is annoying af. Also went total Jekyll & Hyde on Ian for no reason I could see.
April 30, 2021
Fair warning, this is an unfinished story. looks like it will be published like a serial more than a series, so you won't get any kind of resolusion here, just an abrut ending. I resent that this is not explicitly told in the blurb of the book.
I thought the storyline was very intriguing and was very eager to get this book a try. Sadly, the mystery doesn't strongly feature in this part of the story. And I didn't like the romance that much.
The main reason for this is that I deeply disliked Tristan. The slight disquiet that I felt become real scorn after he has 'the talk' with Ian. Rude, unnecessarily insulting and blaming Ian for something that is, however you see it, his fault. If you slept with someone while being blind drunk, and then you aren't man enough to tell him that it was a mistake and keep stringing him along while calling him a stalker just because he likes you... well, you aren't a nice person
It didn't help that he doesn't seem to see Brandon as a real person, he is like a project, someone broke that needs to be fixed.
The constant repetition of 'my eggie', with a few iterations of my man showing up randomly for variety got annoying pretty quick. And the narration, although nice, could have benefited from some editing.
I thought the storyline was very intriguing and was very eager to get this book a try. Sadly, the mystery doesn't strongly feature in this part of the story. And I didn't like the romance that much.
The main reason for this is that I deeply disliked Tristan. The slight disquiet that I felt become real scorn after he has 'the talk' with Ian. Rude, unnecessarily insulting and blaming Ian for something that is, however you see it, his fault. If you slept with someone while being blind drunk, and then you aren't man enough to tell him that it was a mistake and keep stringing him along while calling him a stalker just because he likes you... well, you aren't a nice person
It didn't help that he doesn't seem to see Brandon as a real person, he is like a project, someone broke that needs to be fixed.
The constant repetition of 'my eggie', with a few iterations of my man showing up randomly for variety got annoying pretty quick. And the narration, although nice, could have benefited from some editing.
May 11, 2021
📚 🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧📚
Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Narrator ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Story ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narrator:
Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Narrator ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Story ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narrator:
November 13, 2020
Intriguing characters and a burgeoning new romance. Such an odd couple but maybe opposites really do attract? And what's with that mysterious building... This book will make you want to rush on to the next book right away!
October 18, 2023
The story has an interesting premise of an art student obsessing over an old building and the recluse living in it. The story is told from the 1st perspective of the art student in a conversational style, which suits the character but feels sometimes a bit weird to me as a reader (there are constant additions like 'you know' or 'sue me' etc.)
It seems like a nice story but after reading the first book of the trilogy, I don't see why it is cut up in pieces. I did not see a reason to end the book at this point, there was no coherent wholeness to it. The romance is barely budding and the mystery is also just begun unraveling.
Luckily I bought the book from 75% sale, so I felt I could afford to buy the other parts to finish the story. Full priced, I'm not so sure I would have, I feel a bit disappointed that this wasn't really a standalone story.
It seems like a nice story but after reading the first book of the trilogy, I don't see why it is cut up in pieces. I did not see a reason to end the book at this point, there was no coherent wholeness to it. The romance is barely budding and the mystery is also just begun unraveling.
Luckily I bought the book from 75% sale, so I felt I could afford to buy the other parts to finish the story. Full priced, I'm not so sure I would have, I feel a bit disappointed that this wasn't really a standalone story.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews