Charles Grimes is half human, half… something else. For fifteen years he’s worked for the Bureau of Trans-Species Affairs, ridding the country of dangerous monsters. When his boss sends him to Kansas to chase a rumor about a captive demon, Charles figures it’s just another assignment. Until he meets Tenrael.
All proceeds from the sale of this story go to Doctors Without Borders, so rest assured your reading addiction can now be classified as philanthropic!
Can I just say how much I LOVE THIS COVER!?!?? That cover plus the blurb rendered me speechless. Wings FTW!
"Corruption" is darkish. It's Fieldingesque in its darkness meaning darkness with a heart. Fielding is in a class all her own when it comes to AU and this series centers around a world that has a retro feel with a noir flair.
Charles Grimes is an agent with the Federal Bureau of Trans-Species Affairs and is called upon to track down a captured demon in Kansas. He specializes in this sort of job which is why he's being called out of his California region.
Within the confines of a story this length it's difficult to get a bead on Charles. He's cunning, intelligent and not completely human. He tracks down the carnival that boasts a being "STRAIGHT FROM THE PITS OF HELL!" with relative ease.
Tenrael is a demon but not a malevolent one. He actually seems sweet and wholly undeserving of the treatment he's subjected to night after night. He's beaten and tortured nightly on stage then sold at an hourly rate for... whatever. It's not pleasant but the details aren't delved into, more implied, however this story is certainly not for everyone.
I like dark stories and I know Fielding is going to deliver the romance. Charles is bewitched by Tenrael immediately; there is some sort of connection between them that defies explanation. What transpires between them in that squalid trailer in such a short amount of time was very powerful and affecting.
The ending was strong and I believe it to be an HEA. I bought into their cosmic connection hook, line and sinker, but I suppose it's open to interpretation.
It would be disingenuous of me if I didn't admit that I wish it were longer. I also wouldn't have minded a few more details of that last scene. Because someone seems to be a sadist.
"If I had you, I'd want to mark you. I'd want to make you cry out."#GoTeamPainGo
Regardless, this story flows beautifully in that classic Fielding way where she can take darkness and infuse it with a coziness that's heartwarming and infinitely readable.
Recommended to darkish romance fans.
A review copy was provided.
Love the cover! Sounds like a great book
ReplyDeleteIt is! Hope you enjoy it if you decide to give it a go. :)
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