Purchased from BetterWorldBooks.

Description:
Christophe wants nothing more than to be a simple country priest. When he refuses to sleep with a corrupt Cardinal, he's forced to work in the same manor as the man who almost tempted him away from the cloth when they were younger. Alain was Christophe's true love, but Christophe chose to join the priesthood rather than be with him. Alain bitterly remembers Christophe's rejection. He accepts the Cardinal's assignment: destroy Christophe's career with a scandal. Will his cruel conviction hold once Alain learns how devastated Christophe was to have to deny his feelings for him?

My thoughts: I was excited to get this one after reading the teaser in Love Circles. And it would have been really good if it hadn't been for the rape scene.

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One of the starting books in the Manga/Graphic Novel/Comics Bookbox 2023 🗯️📓!

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Left in the Manga/Graphic novel/Comics bookbox.

I'm claiming this one from the Manga/Graphic Novel/Comics Bookbox 2023.

This is a difficult book for me to rate, because the scene that bothered Spatial bothered me also. On the whole, however, I found this to be a compelling, well-paced, twisty tale that effectively explored various realistic barriers, both internal and external, to a relationship. I particularly appreciated the exploration of the theme of religious conviction (and associated guilt) as an obstacle to gay romance. The two main characters were well realized and the historical setting provided another dimension to the story. It's a shame that the problematic scene was included.

I'm including this in a small box of books that I thought you might enjoy. There's a content warning on this one, so please see Spatial's journal entry if that's of concern. If it's not for you for that or any other reason, just pass 'er along! :)

The box of books arrived safely today; thanks so much! I've enjoyed other works by these artists, including Anima; will see how this one strikes me.

Later: I appreciated many of the details here, including Christophe's dedication to his faith despite his increasing guilt over his feelings for Alain. Alain himself was... a problematic character, with a troubled background and some serious miscalculations regarding his scheme of vengeance against the "Faun". [Even I could tell he shouldn't have trusted the Comtesse.] I did find the story a bit heavy on the coincidental meetings, though I suppose that's a genre staple. Was very pleased at how it turned out, with the flashback to their halcyon youth - and the quote ending "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

I was also intrigued to note that the authors were inspired in part by Les Liaisons Dangereuses; both the setting and the nasty upperclass scheming and sexual predation definitely match that novel.

I left this book in my Little Free Library on this rainy day; hope someone enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in NH here.]

Released for:

** 2024 April Showers/May Flowers challenge **

** 2024 Never Judge a Book By Its Cover challenge. **

** 2024 Keep Them Moving challenge. **