This book was on Kris’s DIK list.
I’m a monster. Or so my father would have me believe. I’m imprisoned in a world I hate and fear. As heir to my father’s title, I’m expected to marry, but my secret desires may keep me from fulfilling those expectations.
One night a stranger kisses me. In his touch, I see the possibility of a life beyond my prison. My name? Just call me Angel and this is my evolution.
The story is told in first person present tense. It’s from Angel’s pov and he is a tortured soul. Not only emotionally, but physically as well. He led a pretty normal life until he was 10 years old and then his father started beating him relentlessly. Tying him to his bed and not letting him out. He was given no love by his siblings or his mother. Now all of a sudden his father is taking him out to balls. He’s not sure why and he’s certainly not prepared for the crush that the balls become. He’s uncomfortable in society, for obvious reasons, and tries to escape to the gardens whenever he can. On one such occasion he sees a beautiful man who he considers a god. He continues to see the man at balls and wonders who he is. At one ball he heads to the garden and is approached by his god – who kisses him. Angel is thrilled, but confused. Why did the man kiss him and how could he know that his kiss would be accepted?
Angel’s god is a Duke and one who has decided to live his life the way he wants…and he wants Angel. The Duke manages to get Angel away from his father but the road to recovery for Angel won’t be an easy one. Angel feels he is a monster and doesn’t know why he would be worthy of love from anyone.
This was an incredibly moving story. The way the story is told I truly felt the anguish and misery that is just seeping out of Angel (Angel isn’t really the characters true name – just a name that is given to him by the Duke and he adopts). He has truly been tortured both emotionally and physically and I just had to wonder how he would ever pull himself out of his self-loathing. But when Greyson came along he helped Angel see that he was a person with real feelings and not just a whipping post. And when Angel does realize he’s someone who deserves to be loved? Wow – I have to tell you I actually got chills it was so intense.
Now towards the end of the book when things were going better in Angel’s life I found myself thinking that it was starting to sound too good – all rainbows and butterflies. But then I stopped to think, when your life has been nohting but hatred and pain can it get too good? I don’t think it can – at least not imho.
This is not a light read by any means so if you’re looking for a comedy this is not the book for you. It’s a story with much angst but much happiness as well. It was a very good book and I’ll definitely be reading more of Chase’s work.
Rating: 4.25 out of 5
I'm just afeared it's too angsty for me. Also I find abuse of kids make me squirrely. Plus first person preseent tense? Ack! You should go to Wave's today and check out TA's interview since you just read his book.
I have all the same qualms about this as Tam! Thanks for commenting first, Tam. Heh.
You sold me on this one! Must read now.
Tam – Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.
Tam and Chris – wimps! lol Just kidding. It is very heartwrenching so you have to be prepared. I wasn't but managed well enough.
KB – You go! I think you'll like it!
I'm so glad that you liked this, Tracy. This is one of my faves of TA's work and one I've reread countless times.
This was the first TA Chase book I read and I really liked it. The abuse was hard to read about but overall Angel's story was beautiful.
I've enjoyed everything I've read by TA, but I haven't read this one yet. Although it sounds rather heavy, well, it still sounds intriguing. Darn, yet ANOTHER book to buy!
Kris – I'm not sure I could read this one again. It really tore at my heartstrings quite a bit and I'm not sure I'd survive a second time. lol It was great though.
Lily – Yes, the abuse was hard to take but luckily there wasn't too much of it in real time. 🙂
KC – Yes, it is very heavy but I think worth the read. *beams* happy to put another book in your TBR! lol
I'm not a first person fan but…I want to read this book anyway 🙂 Sometimes, I just need to read a heartwrenching book. Thank you Tracy!