Thank you to Emma Scott and her team for the advance reader copy of The Muse.
The Muse is set in the same world as The Sinner, Emma Scott’s first forary into paranormal romance. I found the first novel very unique and so I am excited to return to this world. Plus Emma is giving us an M/M romance, which she is just so damn good at writing emotional M/M romances!
I am an Emma Scott review team member, but I remain honest and genuine in my reviews.
An emotional paranormal romance about sacrifice, redemption, and the power of true love.
Cole Matheson didn’t expect the road toward being a successful painter would be paved in gold, but he hoped there’d be a few less potholes. Insidious self-doubt that whispers that he’s no good, talentless, hopeless has him on the brink of despair. Maybe it would be better to just give up.
A midnight visit by a beautiful creature of darkness changes everything…
Ambrosius Edward Meade-Finch surrendered to the underworld centuries ago after knowing only pain and suffering during his short life. Now, Ambri makes humans dance on his strings, feeding on their desire for his own pleasure. But his liege lord questions his loyalty and commands him to bring a pure soul into their dark realm.
Cole Matheson seemed like an easy mark, but Ambri didn’t count on his goodness or the depth of his generous spirit that wants Ambri just as he is. And Cole never expected to find in Ambri a muse who unlocks his talent and who might also be what his lonely heart has been searching for. Something fragile yet powerful grows between them, and the possibility of soul-deep love hangs in the balance, if only they have the courage to reach for it.
But fairy tale endings don’t come without a price. The dark forces Ambri answers to have been promised a soul, and they’re coming to collect…
The Muse is book 2 in the Angels and Demons series but can be read as a standalone.
Check out my more detailed thoughts below…
- Characters: Our lead characters are Ambrosius Edward Meade-Finch and Cole Matheson. Ambrosius or Ambri for short initially born in 1762 is a demon of lust, vanity, and excess. If you have read The Sinner you will remember Ambri as a servant of Casziel. Ambri was turned into a demon by an archduke of hell, whom he had made a deal with. The story opens with Ambri’s new lord Asmodai demanding a newly corrupted human soul. Ambri sets his sights on the soul of Cole Matheson. Cole is an up-and-coming painter living in London. He is in The Sinner too, as the protagonist Lucy’s best friend. Cole is such a sweetie, readers will not be able to stop cheering him on. While Ambri is cocky and sassy, a man disappointed by life and is a bit of a cynic. It is adorable to watch Cole melt Ambri’s, frozen heart.
- Setting: This story is predominately set in modern-day London. Emma did a great job at depicting a more whimsical London. Ambri’s apartment was an important location and I loved how its part in the story evolved, or should I say devolved. One of my favourite touches to this story is the historical nods throughout the story such as involving Ambri in Marie Antoinette’s affair of the diamond necklace.
- Pacing: I found the pacing off a bit. It was slightly dragging but honestly, I was veering into a tiny reading slump and that may have affected my reading experience a little bit.
- Romance: This is another take of Emma’s on the soul-crushing emotional, must-be-fought-for romance. I loved that the flirtation started with Ambi on a mission to seduce Cole to his death. What started as dreams and an immediate attraction on both men’s parts became something deeper. Emma has always been great at writing that flow from lusting over another, to falling in love with them. Ambri and Cole had such good sexual tension, but the real shining star of this book is the emotional part of their relationship. The steamy scenes don’t pull the focus of this story. It is much more emotionally driven. Emma’s work is notorious for bringing people to tears and once you read the author’s note you won’t have a dry eye left. What I liked and found refreshing about this M/M romance is everyone was out. It was not a closet love interest or a questioning protagonist. It was just two guys who have been waiting a long time for a love like this, a love worth fighting everything for.
The Muse receives four out of five stars.
You can pick up the story here.
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Thank you again to Emma Scott and her team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!
