Review: Darkness, art and love
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 24, 2014
When Elle arrives at the artists’ compound, the first thing she sees is a body bag being taken away. That would have been my cue to say “See ya” and tell the cabbie to drive me back to the airport. But Elle is braver than I am. She is also trapped. Thanks to her controlling, abusive ex she has only five hundred dollars to her name and posing for the artist Hex is the only way she can earn enough to remain independent.If Hex were poor and untalented, he’d be called an oddball, but since he’s a rich and famous artist, he’s considered eccentric. Many of his creations are large interactive works. He seems obsessed with death and dying. Besides dealing with Hex, Elle also encounters his grandmother, another strange soul, who casts spells. But is she practicing magic or witchcraft?Luckily, Elle also meets Alvarez, Hex’s handsome older brother. He takes care of the business side of Hex’s empire. Alvarez and Elle are powerfully attracted to each other but a series of macabre deaths interrupt their budding romance. Al also has a secret. He’s hiding the existence of a mysterious woman named Dayanara from Elle.This is the first book in The Dark Arts series, and there is a lot of darkness in the story. Hex and his grandmother share an obsession with death and decay. Themes include murder, child abuse, mutilation and crimes from the past. The forces of good vs. evil really have a field day in this tale. It’s pretty grim at times. Good ultimately triumphs, but at a very high price.My favorite parts of the book were the romance between Elle and Alvarez and Elle’s personal growth. Elle is trying to break away from her ex, an artist for whom she served as muse. He refuses to let her go, but his love is selfish. She’s working on getting stronger and discovering she has other gifts besides physical beauty. Alvarez encourages this growth. He’s an awesome, protective, loving character—not just for Elle, but for the rest of his family. This is a huge burden for him, and Elle is only one who sees what it’s costing him. I loved the scene where he seduces her by quoting the lyrics of a Spanish song and the scene where they finally consummate their love.Be warned, there are some intense themes. But readers who enjoy a romance with a strong suspense line and an unusual setting will want to give The Muse a try.I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I received no other remuneration. This review originally appeared at The Divas of Desire blog.