Gabriel's Rapture by Sylvain Reynard: Book Review
After loving the first book of this series, Gabriel's Inferno, it's no surprise that the second book left me just as content. I'll be going through the pros and the cons of this book, with minor spoilers ahead.
Pros of Gabriel's Rapture by Sylvain Reynard
Realistic Relationship Growth
Gabriel and Julia left things hot and heavy at the end of the first book, so to pick up where they left off, Reynard gave us a clue into the highly anticipated morning after. Julia - as expected - is self conscious, nervous and pensive. Gabriel and Julia's relationship grows as she heals from her relationship with Simon and as Gabriel attempts to forgive himself for all that's happened in his past, ranging from a variety of different things to repent. Gabriel is patient and attentive to Julia as she explores what it means to be in an intimate relationship, and Julia does the same for Gabriel as he learns how to share his heart. They spend time getting to know each other in every way, rather than somehow miraculously overnight becoming attached as if they've been together for their whole lives; that's a pet peeve of mine, when characters don't have any sort of lead up to their relationship. Reynard wrote the whole book in such a fantastic way, but I really appreciated this aspect.
Movie to Book Adaptation
It's insane to me how Passionflix has managed to adapt almost every page of the Gabriel books. The second book talks more about Christa Peterson, she even gets her own chapters, and unfortunately we don't see that in the movie. But, for the most part, the movie doesn't leave any detail out; even down to Julia's tangerine heels. The book is written so vividly that it really does play like a movie in the readers head anyway, but having the movie to reference just makes everything come alive even more.
Culture, Religion and Literature
Reynard shows an intense interest in Dante as is expected, but he also shows a love for Italy as a whole including its culture, religion and literature. Reading Reynard's books are a perfect way to read romance while feeling like you're learning something, without feeling like you're in a lecture. I learnt a little bit more about Italian poetry; which I didn't know too much about before, although I'm of Italian background, I wasn't familiar with poets and their stories, but I can say that now I am. I learnt so much about Dante, Beatrice, Peter Abelard, Heloise and countless other philosophers, poets and notable personalities from the middle ages all the while reading a romance novel. The characters share their love of Italy, culture, religion and literature which brings them together and even at a certain point, pulls them apart.
Paul Norris
I really didn't like Paul in the first book, I found him just tragic. But, in the second book I found myself feeling bad for Paul and understanding him a bit better. Readers get to see a bit more into his life back home, including an ex-girlfriend. I can't say much more without spoiling, so you're just going to have to read the book to find out.
Favourite Quotes: (I don't often do this, but I think I want to start)
"I’ll love you forever, Julianne, wether you love me or not. That’s my heaven. And my hell." Pg. 359
"Is my desire to keep you from harm so great a sin that you would leave me over it?” Pg. 351
Cons of Gabriel's Rapture by Sylvain Reynard
Miscommunication
As much as Gabriel and Julia grow together, they also keep each other in the dark about many things; not just trivial things, but life and career altering decisions. Gabriel takes matters into his own hands a few times and decides something for Julia that he really had no right deciding (at least not without consulting her first), plus he hides details of his past until she finds out about them in unflattering ways. Julia in turn often hides her issues and thoughts in worry that Gabriel will leave her if she's too vocal, complicated, insecure, inadequate, etc. I feel like a lot of their issues could have been avoided had they 1) been more careful about their public appearances and 2) talked things out rather than dealing with them alone. Then again, had they done that, there would be no book.
I loved this book, so there's not much I could say about it that would be a con.
Have you read this book? Do you want to? Let's get it contact and have a conversation!
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A presto,
Melissa
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