Sylvain Reynard - Gabriel's Inferno

**Spoiler Alert** 

Wow. What can I say to do this review justice. It has been a very long time since I read such an emotional and well written romance. I noticed a resemblance between Gabriel's Inferno and Fifty Shades of Grey, but this book was so good not even the similarities spoiled it. 

It was unique and amazingly well written; I can't stress that enough. I would go so far as to say it was even more emotional than FSOG, maybe even better. I would have to say that what makes this book better than FSOG is the focus on the emotional aspect of a relationship rather than the sexual. Reynard waited until the very end to write their love scene, and I really appreciated the time the couple took to get there, rather than having sex early on which would have been on the basis of mindless passion rather than love. And please, I am not putting FSOG down, the trilogy was just as amazing. I only wish to point out the different focal points/themes of the two books.

The characters were entirely believable; The tormented professor with a dark and heavy past and the innocent graduate student who has deep emotional scarring and self-esteem issues. Of course, no book is completely without its annoyances or flaws, and one of the few things that bothered me was Julia's constant reticence to accept gifts from other people. However, it is such a small thing that it doesn't really take away from the greatness of the book.

I also have to say that I have not enjoyed a love scene, or even a love, as sweet and patient and kind and passionate as that between Gabriel and Julia. Yes, he starts out as an asshole, but he more than makes up for it later. 

I just have to once again give props to the writing style of Reynard, because of how much thought and research must have gone towards this book. The special lecture that Gabriel gave on Dante in the book must have taken a lot of thought, patience, and time to complete. So cheers to you Sylvain Reynard. A wonderful story with a wonderful message of redemption, healing, destiny, and renewed love. 

Book Love

Lena