Gabriel’s InfernoWorldCat•LibraryThing•Google Books•BookFinder
I’m not even sure how to begin this review but I think I’ll start by saying, wow. I’ve known about this book for a few months but based on the cover (yes, I know don’t judge a book by it’s cover) and it’s name it just never appealed to me. I really thought it was going to be a typical romance novel and that’s simply not something that I have much interest in reading.
Warily, I bought the iPad version and began reading a few days ago. From the first page I knew I was in for a treat. This is no run-of-the-mill romance drivel. This is an extraordinarily written novel with depth, intellect, and serious ardor. Sylvain Reynard is a phenomenal story teller.
So many people are classifying this book as a great post Fifty Shades of Grey. But it is so much more than that. It is light years ahead of Fifty Shades. The level of intellect that is displayed throughout this book is something to be admired. After reading the first chapter I felt like this book might be over my head but I’m glad I gave it a chance.
Even though I am not very familiar with Dante Alighieri I could still appreciate his presence in this book. On that note, let me share with you the synopsis from one of my favorite sites, GoodReads:
Enigmatic and sexy, Professor Gabriel Emerson is a well respected Dante specialist by day, but by night he devotes himself to an uninhibited life of pleasure. He uses his notorious good looks and sophisticated charm to gratify his every whim, but is secretly tortured by his dark past and consumed by the profound belief that he is beyond all hope of redemption. When the sweet and innocent Julia Mitchell enrolls as his graduate student, his attraction and mysterious connection to her not only jeopardizes his career, but sends him on a journey in which his past and his present collide. An intriguing and sinful exploration of seduction, forbidden love and redemption, “Gabriel’s Inferno” is a captivating and wildly passionate tale of one man’s escape from his own personal hell as he tries to earn the impossible…forgiveness and love.
When I read the synopsis I really thought that this book was going to be heavily related to sex but it wasn’t. And if you’re looking for multiple scenes about a roll in the hay then I suggest you read another book.
I loved seeing the characters grow and develop throughout the pages of this book. Every chapter I was peeling back parts of them that made them who they are. Professor Gabriel Emerson came off as a pretentious, cold-hearted, ass and although some of that is completely true, there was so much more to discover about the professor.
The relationship between timid graduate student Julia Mitchell and the overbearing Professor was nothing short of magnificent. The entire book had a feeling so different from anything else I’ve ever read, perhaps because a man wrote it. I did some research on the author and came up short. The author, Reynard, is a mystery himself (or perhaps herself, the sex is also a mystery). It is rumored that this novel was started as a Twilight fan fiction much like Fifty Shades. With Fifty Shades of Grey I could easily see the similarities but Twilight and Gabriel’s Inferno seem to be from different planets. Even if it did start as a Twilight fan fiction Reynard is in a class of writing that is well beyond that of Twilight author, Stephenie Meyer.
The book ended so perfectly that I was shocked to find out that there was a sequel. I already have Gabriel’s Rapture downloaded to my iPad and I cannot wait to dive into it. But because it is such a heavy read I think I’ll enjoy an airy fluff read before I allow myself to be entranced by another Reynard novel.
What an amazing book, seriously. Wow. Here are some of my favorite excerpts from Gabriel’s Inferno:
“I don’t expect you to understand. You’re only a magnet for mishap, Miss Mitchell, while I am a magnet for sin.”
“Sin isn’t something that is attracted to a human being, Professor. It’s the other way round.”
“Do you have any scars?” Gabriel’s face was impassive. “You can’t hit something that you don’t know is there.”
I don’t believe in fairy tales,” she breathed. “I’d like to make you believe.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Reality is better than fantasy, Gabriel.” “Not if reality is the fantasy.”