Title: Gods & Monsters
Author: Saffron A. Kent
Genre: Contemporary/New Adult Romance
Release Date: February 22, 2018
Release Date: February 22, 2018
Blurb
He was
an artist. She was his muse.
To everyone in town, Abel Adams was the devil's spawn, a boy who never should have been born. A monster.
To twelve year-old Evie Hart, he was just a boy with golden hair, soft t-shirts and a camera. A boy who loved taking her picture and sneaking her chocolates before dinner. A boy who made her feel special.
Despite her family's warnings, she loved him in secret for six years. They met in empty classrooms and kissed in darkened church closets. Until they couldn't.
Until the time came to choose between love and family, and Evie chose Abel.
Because their love was worth the risk. Their love was the stuff of legend.
But the thing about legends is that they are cautionary tales. They are made of choices and mistakes. And for Abel and Evie, the artist and the muse, those mistakes come in the form of lights, camera, sex.
NOTE: This is NOT a paranormal or a priest romance.
To everyone in town, Abel Adams was the devil's spawn, a boy who never should have been born. A monster.
To twelve year-old Evie Hart, he was just a boy with golden hair, soft t-shirts and a camera. A boy who loved taking her picture and sneaking her chocolates before dinner. A boy who made her feel special.
Despite her family's warnings, she loved him in secret for six years. They met in empty classrooms and kissed in darkened church closets. Until they couldn't.
Until the time came to choose between love and family, and Evie chose Abel.
Because their love was worth the risk. Their love was the stuff of legend.
But the thing about legends is that they are cautionary tales. They are made of choices and mistakes. And for Abel and Evie, the artist and the muse, those mistakes come in the form of lights, camera, sex.
NOTE: This is NOT a paranormal or a priest romance.
When you're a sucker for stories that leaves a lasting impression, you'll definitely goes back to that book that gave you massive hangover and feels that'll last a lifetime. I have that book just recently with Saffron A Kent. The Unrequited was like a fire to my soul and I love it. With the state I was in after reading it coupled with the hyped when it was released, I could not help but devour Gods and Monsters.
The moment it hit my reader, I was one of those who read it immediately without a care in the world. I love Saffrons's writing because it was easy to read. It was easy to feel too because it's straightforward and blunt. And God's and Monsters was no different. First few pages in and I was sucked right into the world of Abel and Evie. Young love with forbidden-ish vibe and a twist that will make you gasp and I was a goner. The angst was spot on. I was drawn to the feels it gave me that it almost gave me chills. It was something different too and it was what made it unique and made me savor it hungrily.
Call me sick, but as the story progresses, and so was the angst and the feels that will question your sanity. But I love it. I love how I was pushed and was on the edge reading it. I was surprised to no end because scenes after scenes made me hooked to it even more. The FEELS.. Gah! it had my heart wrenched so tight. I feel for Abel. I pained for what he went through but I adore the fact knowing that despite the circumstances, he was loved by his parents. It wasn't conventional, God! It was FORBIDDEN, in BOLD, CAPITAL and UNDERLINED forbidden way. And to have been on the receiving end of the society's wrath against norms, I was devastated. I ached for a young boy who's been deprived of all things love and normalcy. So when Evie fell for him, I rooted for a HEA. I rooted for a love that can withstand any storms thrown at them. The love that emanates from both of them felt surreal that I was so giddy to hit the end and call it a night. But no, another punch I never saw coming was thrown at me.
With their growth comes a twist that had me gasping and my eyes bulging making me pause reading. I thought that's what is all about. But no... the evil genius that is Saffron Kent, had to craft a scene that had me biting my nails anxious with the turn of the events. It was overwhelming yet I understand how it's part of his growth. I was even craving it. Call me a sicko but it is what is. It's was unlike any other book I have ever read yet it penetrated me. I was lightly just confused as to the transition yet I could not deny the fact that I was enjoying it.
Truth be told, Gods and Monsters isn't your average love story. Hell, it carried over a lot of issues that were unconventional yet Saffron's writing and delivery was just amazing. Will I recommend this book? Well, it depends. If you are into reading something out of the ordinary, then this book is for you.
To Saffron, I am looking forward to what you're in store for us next.
This is one of the hardest reviews I've ever had to write. I thought about Gods & Monsters for days after reading it. Never have I had this much difficulty deciding how I felt about a book. I'm still not sure I know. I've been desperately trying to figure out how to articulate my feelings about it, so that maybe you guys could get some sense of them in my review without winding up as confused as I am. Lol Here goes nothing!
Abel Adams' parents are a local legend in their hometown. His parents are first cousins that grew up together like siblings in the same household. To the horror of everyone who knew them, they fell in love with each other. Abel is the product of their love, so when he is forced to move back to the place where everyone knows about their incestuous romance after their death, people are less than welcoming. Adults and children alike treat him as if he is the devil incarnate...everyone except Evie Hart.
"As I look down at him and his intense expression, I realize this is the big bang. This is how boys with golden hair and angry expressions crash into your life. This is how stars collide and worlds are made. This is how love stories start."
Evie is a twelve year old girl that lives next door to Abel's new guardian. From the moment she lays eyes on Abel, she feels inexplicably drawn to him. He has similiar feelings, but Evie's mother forbid her from even speaking to him. Eventually, they find a way to be friends in secret, and later, something more. The love that develops between them is electric and all consuming. It's like torture not to be able to be together at school and to have to hide their feelings from everyone.
Abel is 2 years older than Evie, so he leaves high school at the end of her sophmore year. Not only that, he moves across town leaving them with little opportunity to connect save a cell phone he bought her to keep in contact with him. This obviously isn't ideal, and you can't keep that kind of love hidden forever. It's bound to come out eventually, and one day, it does. That's when all hell breaks loose.
Gods & Monsters is a tale of forbidden love unlike anything I've ever read. It's originality is one thing nobody can dispute. You may think you know the kind of story it's going to be in the beginning, but I promise you, you're wrong.
This story goes in a direction I don't think anyone will see coming, and that is one of the biggest issues I think people might have with it. At times, it seems like it's almost another book. I actually would have preferred it that way. I wish my Abel and Evie had a different story. I hated what they did in the name of revenge and rebellion. I felt it cheapened their love and made everyone they were trying to prove wrong...right. It also seemed incredibly immature. Evie looked like a naive child being manipulated by a Abel, and Abel appeared to be a different person then we were lead to believe he was.
Don't get me wrong, if these were other character's we were talking about, I probably would have been down with the second half of the book, but it's not. HOWEVER, that doesn't mean it doesn't make any sense. Trying not to spoil this book is insanely hard right now, so bear with me! Lol I know people in my personal life that grew up and did things I never would have imagined in my wildest dreams. They turned into completely different people. Things that happened to them in their childhood were sometimes partially responsible and sometimes, I couldn't fathom the reason for their behavior.
The people Evie and Abel encounter doing the same thing they are all have stories. Why would anyone decide to do these things? I'm sure some of them have crazy stories like Abel and Evie. Fucked up family life, abuse, repression, being young, immature, confused, and not knowing how to deal with it all when you're set free into the world as an adult are probably the reason for many of them. They are people just like you and I. Everyone has a beginning.
Before I finish my review, I want to address another issue people might have with the book. The relationship between Evie and Abel can be viewed as extremely unhealthy. The love they share is so passionate that they can barely breathe without the other. They live for one another. Abel is very manipulative like I said before though I don't even think he means to be. He is almost obsessed with Evie, and she is with him. That being said, there are people out there in this world with similiar relationships. Some people end them which most would think is the smart thing to do, but some don't. It's the simple truth.
"In my wake, my husband shouts my name over and over. It's loud, tortured. It's a howl. It's the big bang. And I can't help but think that maybe this is how hearts die and all love stories come to an end."
Does this book send a good message to young girls or women in similiar situations? Not really, but I don't think every work of fiction has to. I also think only adults should be reading this book. That's just my opinion. People don't read dark romance, and then say, well, that doesn't set a good example. Of course it doesn't. That's not to say that I think people that hold an opposing point of view are wrong. I don't. We are all entitled to an opinion. This just happens to be mine.
This is a story I'll likely never forget. The writing itself is phenomenal. I fell in love with Saffron's writing style so much that I'll probably be reading whatever else she decides to publish. I stayed up all night long until 5 in the morning trying to read this book straight through, because I just couldn't put it down. I didn't care that I would be a zombie the next day. I needed to know what was going to happen to Evie and Abel in the end. That's great writing, folks! I didn't like all the talk about God etc. when sex was involved, but I know some people like that. I just want to add that in, because it was one aspect of the story I hated.
I applaud Saffron for being brave enough to write a story like this one. She had to know reader reception could go either way, but she wrote it anyway. I respect that. If you're at all curious about this book, you should read it! Nobody can tell you how you're going to feel about a book without question. Be your own judge! Happy reading!
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Author Bio
Writer
of bad romances. Aspiring Lana Del Rey of the Book World.
Saffron is a big believer in love (obviously). She believes in happily ever after, the butterflies and the tingling. But she also believes in edgy, rough and gutsy kind of love. She believes in pushing the boundaries, darker (sometimes morally ambiguous) emotions and imperfections.
The kind of love she writes about is flawed just like her characters. And she hopes by the end of it, you’ll come to root for them just as much as she does. Because love, no matter where it comes from, is always pure and beautiful.
She is represented by Meire Dias of Bookcase Agency
Saffron is a big believer in love (obviously). She believes in happily ever after, the butterflies and the tingling. But she also believes in edgy, rough and gutsy kind of love. She believes in pushing the boundaries, darker (sometimes morally ambiguous) emotions and imperfections.
The kind of love she writes about is flawed just like her characters. And she hopes by the end of it, you’ll come to root for them just as much as she does. Because love, no matter where it comes from, is always pure and beautiful.
She is represented by Meire Dias of Bookcase Agency
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