Gabriel's Inferno (Gabriel's Inferno Trilogy Book 1)
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Gabriel's Inferno Paperback – September 4, 2012
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Sylvain Reynard is a Canadian writer with an interest in Renaissance art and culture and an inordinate attachment to the city of Florence. (Parenthetically, it should be noted that the snarky narrator of Gabriel’s Inferno was contracted to write this biographical description, and he can attest that SR is, in fact, real, and has an enviable collection of argyle socks.)
More About the Author
I'm interested in the way literature can help us explore aspects of the human condition - particularly suffering, sex, love, faith, and redemption. My favourite stories are those in which a character takes a journey, either a physical journey to a new and exciting place, or a personal journey in which he or she learns something about himself/herself.
I'm also interested in how aesthetic elements such as art, architecture, and music can be used to tell a story or to illuminate the traits of a particular character. In my writing, I combine all of these elements with the themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the transformative power of goodness.
I try to use my platform as an author to raise awareness about the following charities: Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation, WorldVision, Alex's Lemonade Stand, and Covenant House. For more information, see my Twitter account.
I'm also interested in how aesthetic elements such as art, architecture, and music can be used to tell a story or to illuminate the traits of a particular character. In my writing, I combine all of these elements with the themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the transformative power of goodness.
I try to use my platform as an author to raise awareness about the following charities: Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation, WorldVision, Alex's Lemonade Stand, and Covenant House. For more information, see my Twitter account.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
516 of 555 people found the following review helpful
By
Florence
on April 5, 2012
Format: Paperback
Verified Purchase
19 Comments
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My guilty pleasure lately has been crappy self published "contemporary romance" ebooks. Like falling for a dumb jock or a bad boy, my relationship with books like "Beautiful Disaster" and "Fifty Shades of Grey" was embarrassing and degrading. I always inevitably felt guilty afterward, and I resolved to find a book that would appeal both to my intelligence and my heart.
Enter "Gabriel's Inferno."
Like a good lover, this book is thoughtful, deliberate and profound. Each character is nuanced, and each moment is strategically delivered. I'll spare the plot summary since several other reviewers did a great job at it, but I will say that it's been a long time since I read a book that was so well organized. Scenes that seem inconsequential reappear as important background later in the book, and each peripheral story line is elaborately folded into the bigger picture. This book is absolutely exquisite.
Julianne is an intriguing heroine, because she is the anti-Bella, anti-Katniss of the major blockbuster dichotomy. She is neither vapid and ungrateful, nor aloof and merciless. She does not adhere to the idea that a woman must either be a damsel in distress or a dragon lady. Julianne is something entirely different - she is broken and rebuilding. I normally despise meekness (in fictional characters and in real people), but I found her timid nature endearing, because beneath it was the soul of a lion. She knew how to choose her battles, and when she chose to let loose, she knew how to leave a mark. The best summation of her character was the scene when Christa screamed insults at her, and Julianne refused to lower herself by responding in kind.Read more ›
Enter "Gabriel's Inferno."
Like a good lover, this book is thoughtful, deliberate and profound. Each character is nuanced, and each moment is strategically delivered. I'll spare the plot summary since several other reviewers did a great job at it, but I will say that it's been a long time since I read a book that was so well organized. Scenes that seem inconsequential reappear as important background later in the book, and each peripheral story line is elaborately folded into the bigger picture. This book is absolutely exquisite.
Julianne is an intriguing heroine, because she is the anti-Bella, anti-Katniss of the major blockbuster dichotomy. She is neither vapid and ungrateful, nor aloof and merciless. She does not adhere to the idea that a woman must either be a damsel in distress or a dragon lady. Julianne is something entirely different - she is broken and rebuilding. I normally despise meekness (in fictional characters and in real people), but I found her timid nature endearing, because beneath it was the soul of a lion. She knew how to choose her battles, and when she chose to let loose, she knew how to leave a mark. The best summation of her character was the scene when Christa screamed insults at her, and Julianne refused to lower herself by responding in kind.Read more ›
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196 of 214 people found the following review helpful
By
RoloPoloBookBlog
on July 26, 2011
Format: Kindle Edition
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2 Comments
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A friend asked me to read Gabriel's Inferno because she was looking for a second opinion. I knew a bit about the plot based on the blurb on Amazon and what my friend told me but I was in no way prepared for how good this book really is. Gabriel's Inferno is not for the fainthearted as it a very, very dark romance that will leave the reader feeling on edge throughout.
As a reader, I am drawn to books that are character driven and this novel is one of the strongest I have come across in quite some time. Reynard's male characters elicited strong responses from me from the very beginning and continued to do so throughout. For example, there's Paul the fellow graduate student who always made me feel a little creeped out and in need of shower after reading scenes which required his presence. And then of course, there is Gabriel who, on the one hand is a total rat bastard and on the other is just so completely compassionate and caring. Gabriel is by far the strongest, most damaged, and most fascinating character in this book. To the world, Gabriel is a buttoned down professor who specializes in the works of Dante and favors bow ties and expensive suits. Then there's the other Gabriel, the man with passions that run deep and inhibitions that are virtually nonexistent who has a taste for fine food, fine wine, and morally ambiguous women.
Gabriel's story alone would be enough to keep the casual reader interested but for those looking for more substance, meet Julia. Julia is the only female character of significance in this novel and like the male characters she elicited a very strong response from me. Unfortunately that response was not always a good one.Read more ›
As a reader, I am drawn to books that are character driven and this novel is one of the strongest I have come across in quite some time. Reynard's male characters elicited strong responses from me from the very beginning and continued to do so throughout. For example, there's Paul the fellow graduate student who always made me feel a little creeped out and in need of shower after reading scenes which required his presence. And then of course, there is Gabriel who, on the one hand is a total rat bastard and on the other is just so completely compassionate and caring. Gabriel is by far the strongest, most damaged, and most fascinating character in this book. To the world, Gabriel is a buttoned down professor who specializes in the works of Dante and favors bow ties and expensive suits. Then there's the other Gabriel, the man with passions that run deep and inhibitions that are virtually nonexistent who has a taste for fine food, fine wine, and morally ambiguous women.
Gabriel's story alone would be enough to keep the casual reader interested but for those looking for more substance, meet Julia. Julia is the only female character of significance in this novel and like the male characters she elicited a very strong response from me. Unfortunately that response was not always a good one.Read more ›
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106 of 116 people found the following review helpful
By
Dapperdy2
on February 7, 2012
Format: Paperback
Verified Purchase
3 Comments
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While I tend to shy away from overly dark and dramatic romances, I had a hard time putting this one down. And, for those who are curious, I have not read the Divine Comedy and am only somewhat familiar with the basic plot.
What I liked:
- The author's diction and structure. I found myself occasionally needing to look up words, language translations, references, etc. For once, I didn't feel like my IQ dropped a few points by reading a romance novel.
- The unveiling of the story. I was very impressed with the way the book started out, where the reader's knowledge of what was going on is very limited. There were so many questions going through my mind that refused to allow me to put the book down until I figured everything out. While I was not as impressed as I hoped to be once that happened, I very much enjoyed the ride.
- The cultural parallels. This book felt like it was researched thoroughly and painstakingly planned. There were so many references and parallels to art, music, and literature, and I am fairly confident that I only uncovered a small percentage, based on the fact that I never read the Divine Comedy.
What I didn't like:
- The length. This book was very long - almost unnecessarily so. Some descriptions or internal monologues went on for pages and pages, when they didn't seem necessary. There is one love scene in particular that I was hoping to be dazzled by after waiting for it for so long, but it kept going and going and going for so long that I got bored. I never thought I would say this, but sometimes for these scenes, shorter and sweeter is better.
- Julianne's/Beatrice's pedestal. I enjoyed the book immensely up until about 2/3 - 3/4 of the way through.Read more ›
What I liked:
- The author's diction and structure. I found myself occasionally needing to look up words, language translations, references, etc. For once, I didn't feel like my IQ dropped a few points by reading a romance novel.
- The unveiling of the story. I was very impressed with the way the book started out, where the reader's knowledge of what was going on is very limited. There were so many questions going through my mind that refused to allow me to put the book down until I figured everything out. While I was not as impressed as I hoped to be once that happened, I very much enjoyed the ride.
- The cultural parallels. This book felt like it was researched thoroughly and painstakingly planned. There were so many references and parallels to art, music, and literature, and I am fairly confident that I only uncovered a small percentage, based on the fact that I never read the Divine Comedy.
What I didn't like:
- The length. This book was very long - almost unnecessarily so. Some descriptions or internal monologues went on for pages and pages, when they didn't seem necessary. There is one love scene in particular that I was hoping to be dazzled by after waiting for it for so long, but it kept going and going and going for so long that I got bored. I never thought I would say this, but sometimes for these scenes, shorter and sweeter is better.
- Julianne's/Beatrice's pedestal. I enjoyed the book immensely up until about 2/3 - 3/4 of the way through.Read more ›
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