Adel's Purr Review

Adel’s Purr 

Author: Sui Lynn

Publisher: Silver Publishing

American release date: July 20, 2011

Format/Genre/Length: E-book/M/M Paranormal Romance/277 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Evan Halvard lives like a hermit, up in the mountains, away from everyone—and that’s the way he likes it. Alone with his beloved stone. Evan is a stonemason by trade, as was his father before him. It was while working with his late father, as a young man, that Evans makes a startling discovery—some gargoyle are more than the statuary they appear to be. In fact, they are living stone!

Synopsis:

The time is a point in the future, after mankind has been greatly decimated, and the Church is a large presence in everyone’s lives. To the extent that they control the things that people do and say and see. Gargoyles have gone onto the list of bad things, things that incite people in unwanted ways. The Bishop’s Service actively seeks and destroys the statues whenever and wherever they’re found, which is anathema to Evan, especially once he realizes that some of them are living beings.

Evan’s constant companion is Cela, a young gargoyle that he wears around his neck. He talks to Cela, even though Cela doesn’t speak. And neither do the four gargoyles he’s dubbed the Four Musketeers. They’re his friends as well as his protectors. Evan keeps to himself, eking out a living best as he can with his stone, and keeping an ear out for any sign that the Bishop’s Service has found a gargoyle, attempting to reach it before they can, and save the living ones from destruction. He has an anonymous friend on the Internet that sends him tips. But he also has a nemesis in the form of Father Michael, of the Bishop’s Service. The skeletal priest comes around far too often for Evan’s taste, a matter which is compounded by his obvious physical attraction to Evan, an attraction which is definitely one-sided.

When Evan receives word that the Service has found another gargoyle and is going to destroy it, he moves quickly, managing to evade the lewd and lascivious priest in order to do so. He and Cela go to where the statue is. He turns out to be far bigger than Evan imagined, and he silently prays to it, hoping to find some sign of life. He gets more than he bargained for!

He spirits the large being away, secreting him in the warren of tunnels beneath his home. Tunnels that the Bishop’s Service is unaware of, bequeathed to him by his late father. To his amazement, this one speaks! Deciding he can’t call him hey you forever, Evan debates on an appropriate name for him, and decides on Adel. When Father Michael shows up and sees Adel, Evans claims he is a cousin come to live with him and learn his trade, which does not please the priest at all.

The more Evan knows of Adel, the more he wants to know, and he feels very drawn to the large gargoyle. The attraction is definitely mutual. Things heat up between them!  Then Evan gets another message from his unknown informant—he wants to meet! Is that wise? Could it be a trap? And what is going on with Father Michael?

Commentary:

Adel’s Purr is not your average paranormal romance story. It’s very creatively written, and the unfolding story will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. Sui Lynn has a definite way of creating characters that stick in your mind, and using the unusual. Gargoyles are definitely something you won’t see very often. She also uses them in another upcoming release, Stone Heart. She includes information about gargoyles, taken from a “text”,that she includes at the beginning of chapters. It helps to give the reader and understanding of the seldom used creatures.

The only real criticism I can make is that the editing is less than stellar, but don’t let that deter you from enjoying the book.

I love the way she built her world and populated it, and not always in shades of black and white. There is no Good vs Evil, but there are definite shades of grey. It’s a tale of survival in difficult times. And of finding love when you least expect it. And rising to your potential—and your destiny.

Luckily, it’s only the first book in a series. I’ve had the privilege of reading Nico’s Fire, the next book. Trust me, you’ll love it.

 Adel[s Purr is available from Silver Publishing in e-book and in print!