Review: Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard

Gabriel's Inferno
Author: Sylvain Reynard
Publisher: Omnific Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9781936305629
Author's website: www.sylvainreynard.com

Professor Gabriel Emerson, a specialist in Dante and the art of seduction, believes he has already earned his exile to the lower circles of hell. Since redemption is impossible, there is no reason to refrain from indulging in a life of pleasurable sin, using his notorious good looks and sophisticated charm as a means to gratify his every whim. But when he meets Julia Mitchell, a brilliant, lovely, and innocent grad student with the achingly familiar eyes of an angel, all of his cynical convictions are challenged. Her mysterious allure and the havoc she wreaks on his self-satisfied existence cause him to lash out at her, while her quiet beauty and innate goodness consistently undermine his control, tempting him beyond measure. Despite surviving a traumatic childhood, nothing has shaken Julia's faith that redemption is possible for everyone-everyone but her. Her unworthiness torments her, since the only man she will ever love has managed to forget her very existence, failing to even recognize her when they reconnect. Too naive to see that Gabriel's hostility is a mask for his increasing obsession with her, Julia forces him to come to grips with his past while she continues to unwittingly torment his senses. His fascination grows into a dangerous preoccupation, for Julia is forbidden fruit . . .

Will Gabriel survive the inferno, or will he succumb to the flames?

I have to be honest and admit that I was intimidated by this book when I first read the blurb for it.  It sounded very...intellectual and most of the books that I like to read these days...aren't.  No disrespect at all to the books that I like to read, but it's just that I tend to like reading books that are easy and don't make me "think" a lot as I am reading them.  I have a hard time focusing on subject matter that might be complicated and since I've never read Dante's Inferno, I thought I might be a little lost.  But that was not the case at all because Sylvain Reynard does an excellent job interweaving Dante's Inferno throughout the storyline.  When it is mentioned Sylvain explains everything that you need to know and it is amazing how much he managed to interlace the storyline of Dante's Inferno and Gabriel's Inferno with one another. 

The main characters go through a wide range of emotions in this story.  I am a sucker for tension and Gabriel's Inferno has some of the best that I've ever seen.  At one point I had to put it down and take deep breaths because I was internalizing what I was reading.  Sylvain Reynard's writing is that good!  I could easily see myself in Gabriel or Julia's shoes and I actually felt as if I was a part of the story.  The emotions ranged from confusion to pure lust and what I really loved is that the reader just doesn't know what is going to come at them next!  Gabriel's character is one that I was fascinated with from the minute he appeared on the page.  There was something about his automatic nervousness with being around Julia that made me wonder if there was more to why he was feeling the way he was.  He found himself being angry at times without knowing why and I thought the author did a great job of peeling away the layers until Gabriel's emotions were raw and fully open.  This paired with Julia's meek character made for some interesting reading as Julia's emotions eventually begin to open like flower and decides to stand up to Gabriel.  These 2 Dante enthusiasts go at it using the one thing the both love, Dante himself, and it was one of my favorite scenes in the story.  I loved Gabriel's character so much that I added him to my Book Boyfriend list because I went from wanting to smack him around at the beginning to loving him for the man he became by the end of the book.  As far as Julia's character is concerned, I did find myself rolling my eyes several times because of her meek nature.  But just like Gabriel, she goes through a change herself and becomes much more comfortable in her skin.  Their characters both went through a type of metamorphosis throughout the book and it was an absolute joy to read them at the different stages.

I'm giving Gabriel's Inferno a rating of:

What a book!  This review doesn't even touch the surface as to how great this book is.  It really is one of those books that you would have to read and experience yourself in order to truly appreciate all of it's great qualities.  There are a couple of OMG moments as well as some SWOON moments.  I found myself yelling at it, crying along with a scene or two, and holding my stomach from laughter because of some of the things that the characters would say.  I found Gabriel's Inferno to be a well rounded book that I am honored to have been able to review. 

My good friend Tigris Eden first told me about how great this book was.  She called me one day and just went on and on about how much she was enjoying it.  Now I can truly understand how she felt and want others to feel the same way I do about it.  Because I enjoyed it so much, Gabriel's Inferno is my Share the Love book giveaway for the month of August!

Just click on the link below to be taken to the post so you 

can find out more info on how to win your own copy!

Share the Love Giveaway!

But wait! There is another chance for you to enter to win this book! Tigris Eden and myself are a part of The Order and we're giving away a copy of the book on that blog!
Just click on the link below to enter that one.
The Order Giveaway!

Good luck and we hope that you enjoy Gabriel's Inferno as much as we did!