Review: Gritty & Atmospheric
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 25, 2013
Though this novella is short on word count it's long on its emotional impact.  In the span of 75 pages Ms. Grey has managed to create a thought-provoking story about the price of fame and being careful what you ask for as all that glitters is not always gold.  We see a character rising from the bottom to reach the highest pinnacles to end up even lower than where he started.  It leaves the reader grateful for what they have and never willing to squander any chance they have for something better.Logan is a talented bluesman tired of his dreary and dismal life working in a factory that is slowly killing him.  Music is his only bright spot and one night an exotic stranger offers him the chance of a lifetime.  This compelling stranger offers him fame, wealth, and all the sex he wants in exchange for Logan giving himself over to this stranger in six years.  Those six years aren't what Logan expected though and we see a man now lost and confused, faking his own death to get away from what he thought he wanted.  He's frightened of his end quickly approaching and just wants to face it without cowardice.  I ached for how low he's fallen as he's worse off mentally now than he was six years ago.  He's lonely with no hope but help soon comes from an unexpected source.The stranger, the Devil himself, soon arrives but what he demands in repayment is unexpected and extremely erotic.  Farfarello looks nothing like the stereotypical images of the Devil we've all seen as there's a sensuality surrounding him.  He's engaging, sexy, and it's easy to see why you'd give your soul to him with a smile.  He's always been drawn to Logan and watched over him throughout the last six years.  He found his music compelling and more expressive than any words uttered.  Though it's his soul you'd expect Farfarello to want there's something more intense that he wants from Logan.  Instead of taking him to Hell he takes him on an erotic journey full of sweat and surrender.  Farfarello still believes in him and gives him one last chance to be with his one true love...music...if only Logan has truly learned from his mistakes and doesn't make the same poor choices again.Ms. Grey has created an atmospheric story that takes you to the darkest parts of a person's soul.  It's a gritty and intense read that's also thought-provoking in the message it leaves the reader with.  The steamy sexual interludes of m/m love ground the story in reality and bring two lost souls together for a moment of comfort.  I was completely immersed in this story from the first word to the last and look forward to where this author takes us next.