Rating: 5 Stars

Publisher: Self Published 

Genre:  Gay Romance

Tags: Angels/Demons, Supernatural, Mythical, Paranormal, Psychological, Bloodplay, Moral Ambiguity **Potential Triggers – Sexual Abuse, Non-Consent, Violence

Length: 358 Pages

Reviewer: Kazza

Purchase At: amazon

Blurb:

Henri has a policy of not interfering with human affairs—he’s a courier of souls, no more, no less—until he happens upon a boy who reminds him there is goodness and light amidst the sorrow.

Orlando is in a vulnerable situation when Henri intercedes on his behalf and initiates the bond between them. Despite being punished in the past for similar transgressions, Henri finds himself getting more entangled in Orlando’s life over the years, doling out “justice” to those who mean to harm his beloved friend.

In time, Orlando ages into a beautiful young man with agency all his own, and he harbors desires only Henri can satisfy.

But there are grave consequences for the mortal and divine when they consort with one another, and the gods will have their sacrifice.

The first of a trilogy, Book of Orlando is a work of adult, erotic fiction. It contains violence and moral ambiguity.

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Review:
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Henri is the name a spectre in a park gives to six-year old Orlando Bell in the beginning of Book of Orlando. It’s 1986 and much is going on for a soul reaper in Miami, Florida. Henri’s not his real name but he needs a break and Orlando is an anomaly in that he can see “Henri.” It’s a fresh start for him. But, well, history tends to repeat itself, and we can have a type.
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This book was so much of what I love to read – time spent by the author developing characters, characters that dragged me into their world, wrapped their arms around me and didn’t want to let me leave them, not even to sleep. There’s stellar world building without overkill. All-encompassing romance and love that’s obsessive in nature because that drives character intensity in edgier, visceral stories. This is grittier reading but it’s multi-tonal with a burgeoning romance, humour, and divine and demonic machinations. The pacing is on point. It’s supernatural/ paranormal with strong religion/mythology taking the lead. I kept reading and thinking The Logos, Fallen and angels. And demons, Morningstar. And Trinity, trilogy.
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Hello!
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Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice.
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There is also ballet. Loved it. Violence. Organic to the book. More love and passion and declarations of eternal love. Totally apt. All the characters are fully fleshed out. Some of these characters look like having larger or more significant roles in books to come. Also, I need to know what happens with those letters. The ending of this book… my poor heart.
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Trilogies give me so much to anticipate, more of the characters and their world, but not so much that I worry about the repetitiveness of the same MCs in a series, because I can get bored. So this is all rather ideal for me.
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This is superb storytelling. Book of Orlando is worth every one of the 5 Stars given.
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As an aside, if you ever want to see the Golden/Bronze Idol performed perfectly, check out Angel Corella performing it.
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Podcast Note: In one part when I say ‘Henri has a couple of friends…’ I meant Orlando.

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And this quote was always going to be here because I was smiling and saying – ‘hell yeah, arsehole!’ as I read it.

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