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A review by a_reader_obsessed
Wicked Gentlemen by Ginn Hale
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
5 Stars!
I’ve not read a lot from Hale, but I’ve been consistently impressed with the writing and especially, the unique world building that is present in all of her stories. Admittedly, I’m typically not one for “demons” in my books, but in this world the definition is not traditional, and I was thrilled to realize that this shares the same setting as that of [b:The Counterfeit Viscount|53795469|The Counterfeit Viscount|Ginn Hale|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1591178601l/53795469._SX50_.jpg|84115274] which I greatly enjoyed. Here is an absolutely wondrous dark fantasy that depicts a society that is starkly and socially divided between humans and the half demon “prodigals” who have very little rights or privileges.
There’s two separate intertwined stories that bring ruined, drug addicted prodigal Belimai, in contact with law enforcement priest Captain Harper. Part one is mainly a missing persons mystery as Harper employs Belimai’s help in finding his sister, and the second story focuses on Harper being neck deep in corruption and cover ups, ultimately endangering Harper’s position as an Inquisitor as he tries to save Belimai from being wrongly targeted for a crime he didn’t commit.
This is definitely atmospheric storytelling. A heavy weight is felt not only in the set up but also the growing feelings between Belimai and Harper, where friendship is barely tolerated and love cannot, and will not, be accepted.
Nothing is rushed here. This is layered and complex. The romance is never overt, and any small gains were oh so satisfying and eagerly gobbled up. Apparently, while I’m always up for explicit romance, I also straddle the other end of the line, reveling in stories that are rife with the insecurity and doubt, doling out small morsels of goodness, the tinier the better and more impactful, each taken and treasured dearly.
If I regularly reread books, this would be on automatic rotation. This was a wholly satisfying and rare win for me this year!
I’ve not read a lot from Hale, but I’ve been consistently impressed with the writing and especially, the unique world building that is present in all of her stories. Admittedly, I’m typically not one for “demons” in my books, but in this world the definition is not traditional, and I was thrilled to realize that this shares the same setting as that of [b:The Counterfeit Viscount|53795469|The Counterfeit Viscount|Ginn Hale|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1591178601l/53795469._SX50_.jpg|84115274] which I greatly enjoyed. Here is an absolutely wondrous dark fantasy that depicts a society that is starkly and socially divided between humans and the half demon “prodigals” who have very little rights or privileges.
There’s two separate intertwined stories that bring ruined, drug addicted prodigal Belimai, in contact with law enforcement priest Captain Harper. Part one is mainly a missing persons mystery as Harper employs Belimai’s help in finding his sister, and the second story focuses on Harper being neck deep in corruption and cover ups, ultimately endangering Harper’s position as an Inquisitor as he tries to save Belimai from being wrongly targeted for a crime he didn’t commit.
This is definitely atmospheric storytelling. A heavy weight is felt not only in the set up but also the growing feelings between Belimai and Harper, where friendship is barely tolerated and love cannot, and will not, be accepted.
Nothing is rushed here. This is layered and complex. The romance is never overt, and any small gains were oh so satisfying and eagerly gobbled up. Apparently, while I’m always up for explicit romance, I also straddle the other end of the line, reveling in stories that are rife with the insecurity and doubt, doling out small morsels of goodness, the tinier the better and more impactful, each taken and treasured dearly.
If I regularly reread books, this would be on automatic rotation. This was a wholly satisfying and rare win for me this year!