A Book Recommendation

This was meant to be recommendations for at least 2 books, but I got rather into just this one. More at a later date, I promise!

Well, everyone was so very nice and recommended books to me, and really, books are my main area of expertise, so here we are

Everyone in the world should read

1. Wicked Gentlemen by Ginn Hale

What is it? Well, it’s a sort of steampunk fantasy. Imagine Victorian London, only with a descendents of demons roaming about the place, and Priests as Police, the Captains of the Inquisition. Includes some Thrilling Heroics, a Terrible Crime, Hot Gay Romance and Men in Uniform. It’s also a lot less cheesy than I’ve just made it sound!

So, men in uniform you say? Characters: You basically get two books for the price of one, each one told from the POV of one of the main characters. The first is told in intimate, lyrical first person by Bellimai Sykes, a Prodigal, descended from the demons who quit Hell generations ago for salvation, and now, like most of his kind, he lives on the margins of society, though out of the Prodigal ghetto, Hell’s Below (formerly Hopetown. Yeah, that’s how well salvation went). I loved Bellimai, although I really shouldn’t. He’s a drug addict, hopelessly selfish and bitterly cynical. But, well, I love his cynicism. I loved the way he looked at the world, and his complete blindness to his better nature, the fact that he does the right thing, but will complain about it and flag up just how stupid it is.

The second book belongs to Captain William Harper, a priest in the service of the Inquisition (yes, you are right to be thinking Spanish style torture and fundamentalism. Not Monty Python), and is a more shadowed, nuanced third person affair, as befits his character. I loved Harper, even though I really shouldn’t. He’s repressed, secretive and hopelessly stubborn. But, well, I love his stubbornness. I loved how he never gave up on anyone, how he understood people and how he didn’t judge.

The Plot: William Harper’s sister has disappeared, in mysterious and rather dubious circumstances, so he hires Bellamai Sykes, rather more accustomed to the more dubious side of life, to help him find her. And that’s where the trouble really starts.

Why you might not want to read this book (you’d be mad, but I’m getting it out of the way)
Weeell, The Church (non specific btw) doesn’t come off great in this…

There is some man on man action, well man on demon…

Although it is focussed on a crime, this is not really a whodunit. More, we know whodunit, can we stop them getting away with it…

It’s, um, a bit short? There is an epilogue that, while excellent, I would have much rather have been several chapters more instead. I’d rather see everything get resolved than just hear that it had been.

Why you really, really should.
Did I mention the man on man action? Not super graphic but super, super sexy.

The way Ginn Hale writes. My god, that woman can do descriptive prose. Every time she started with “the night” I thought, ok, dazzle me again with your take on it, and she did, every time. Her writing is beautiful, effortlessly so. I don’t think there’s a word out of place. I weep with envy. But it is also real and very vivid in a ‘smell the shit and hear the screams’ kind of way. Which is a tricky combination to pull off.

The relationship between the two central characters. It is exactly the sort of relationship I love to see portrayed, and the sort that all too often isn’t. Both of our central characters are seriously damaged by their situations and their pasts. Neither of them are exactly the nicest or the easiest of people. I find that interesting and frankly quite refreshing, because, that’s what makes them so good together, they understand the other one because they know what it’s like to be damaged. I like to see relationships where people recognise that the other person has imperfections, and loves them, imperfect bits and all. When two people’s flaws complement each other, but also when they help each other turn parts that are broken into just flaws. Harper and Bellimai fulfil this and then some.

There’s also some seriously cool world building which, again, Ginn Hale makes seem easy and effortless. You get a handle on the society and its values really easily, and then there’s just loads of interesting and absorbing details about rooms and streets and clothes.

Essentially, its smart, its funny and its fascinating. If you’re looking for some characters to really get involved with, this is the book for you… There is so much dross out there people, we need to support the good books!

Go here to see order or read the first chapter, or both. Then read it. Then come back and I can rec some fanfic!