Wicked Gentlemen

Feb 03, 2011 Tam rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, historicals, fantasy, police-crime-mysteries, paper-book, demons-angels

This is not really my genre, steampunk fantasy religion, all big no-nos for me as a rule. The results. Absolutely amazing. Yeah yeah, never say never. Belimai is a drug addicted Prodigal (demons no longer live in hell and are "people") and Harper is a priest, aka cop. The cops use torture in the name of religion to generally get confessions from people, often Prodigals. However Harper and Belimai end up teaming up to catch some serial killers who are preying on Prodigals, Belimai nearly getting...more

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Feb 01, 2008 LdDurham rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to LdDurham by: CarvedWood

Shelves: m-m-romance, urban-fantasy

This was a good one. The book has two short stories and an epilogue. At first, I was disappointed that the first story ended and we moved away from the first person POV of Belimai, but the next story was even better.
My two gripes: a fade to black in the first story (I wanted to see! I'm a voyeur) and the abrupt ending. It wasn't a bad ending, just abrupt. I loved these characters and I wanted to be eased out of their lives, not dumped out.
Best part: Ginn Hale's sensual details that pull you ri...more

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Oct 12, 2010 Bookwatcher ~Mary MooCow~ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: demons, glbt-gay, fantasy, favorites, few-or-no-sex-scene

First comment: this book is the winner of an award (the Gaylactic Spectrum Award for Best Novel-2008)

... and deserve it!

This unique fantasy M/M book is divided in two stories, with the same characters, but different storyteller.

Book one
the first part of this book is a deep immersion on Belimai thoughts and feelings.
Belimai is a tormented "Prodigal", aka, a half demon. That's all... can't say more. You will discover, at Belimai will, his past and pains. With his unstoppable sarcasm he will let...more

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Dec 12, 2010 Emanuela ~plastic duck~ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Emanuela ~plastic duck~ by: Geoffrey

Shelves: favorites, steampunk, rainbow-gay, glbt, romance

I fell in love with this book! I loved the world, absolutely adored the characters. They are so wonderfully imperfect and at the same time that's what makes you like them. Their relationship was hot and intense, even if the book was almost chaste.

The book has a very dark atmosphere, but it's not claustrophobic, even if there are a lot of moments when the two characters are confined in small spaces. There are many themes - violence, torture, addiction, religious fanaticism, prejudice, you name i...more

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Mar 16, 2011 Miriam rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, mystery

Centuries ago the fallen angels accepted certain legal restrictions in order to get out of Hell and live on earth. Now their diminished descendants are second-class citizens, living in a ghetto and scapegoated by the Inquisition. Responsible for policing crime as well as heresy, the Inquisition uses torture and drugs to extract confessions, and is subject to little external control.

Belimai Sykes ran afoul of the Inquisition years ago and was never the same. Thus, he is less than pleased to have...more

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Jan 26, 2011 Tj rated it 4 of 5 stars

I started this and didn't enjoy some of the vivid descriptions the author used but soon enough I warmed very up to it. It's actually 2 books and conclusion. The first from Belimai's POV the second from Will's with the conclusion once again in Belimai's. I did enjoy getting to see both sides of the story though not of the same events. Belimai was a vivid character while I needed to look harder for Will's. Wonderful alternate world which was able to eventually suck me in. When book two hit it was...more

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May 29, 2010 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: demons, m-m-romance, paranormal-romance, steampunk, fallen-angels, favorites

Every once in a great while, a book comes along that causes me to want to go back and reevaluate every book I've ever read. Wicked Gentlemen is just such a book.

Ginn Hale has created an absolute feast for the senses with her hauntingly vivid and expressive writing style, crafting a story that plays as fluidly as an artist's brush strokes a picture to life on the canvas. From the sounds to the scents of what could pass for late 19th century London - the chamber pots emptied in the gutters each da...more Every once in a great while, a book comes along that causes me to want to go back and reevaluate every book I've ever read. Wicked Gentlemen is just such a book.

Ginn Hale has created an absolute feast for the senses with her hauntingly vivid and expressive writing style, crafting a story that plays as fluidly as an artist's brush strokes a picture to life on the canvas. From the sounds to the scents of what could pass for late 19th century London - the chamber pots emptied in the gutters each day, the smoke stacks belching thick black smoke, the bakeries luring customers in with the scents of fresh baked pastries on a cool, misty morning - the reader is transported to a time that was far more harsh than it was romantic, and I relished every moment of it.

Told in both the first and the third person POVs, I confess to feeling a bit disappointed when the story left Belimai Sykes' mind. Ms. Hale made Belimai's sometimes drug numbed head a thoroughly seductive, evocative, provocative, and alluring place to be. As the descendants of the original fallen angels, the Prodigals are representative of any group who has ever been discriminated against, and are the tools used to ultimately expose the hypocrisy of the self righteous and the sanctimonious Inquisition.

There are two things that would've made the book even better for me: the first being that I'd have loved more exposition of the relationship between Belimai and Captain Harper. The second is that I'd have loved if the book had been twice as long.

If you prefer a book that explicitly portrays the intimacies between its characters, then this probably isn't the book for you as Ginn Hale leaves a lot up to the reader's imagination. The seduction in Wicked Gentlemen is much more covert, and the author makes a bottle of gin and a shared shot glass in the back of a dimly lit bar every bit as seductive as anything I've ever read. That being said, if you love a book that you can delve into its deeper meanings and symbolisms, then I recommend picking this one up.(less)

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Dec 06, 2012 DayDreamer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: easy-read, lgbtq, arrogant-mofo, reviewed-or-kinda, want-more, magic, again-and-again-and-again

It was a pleasure to read. I can't get enough of this world.

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Nov 17, 2008 Abigail Hilton rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wicked Gentleman is a fun book, although the title and flap-copy are misleading. The two main characters are never really at odds with each other, nor are they especially wicked. I don't think it's accurate to call it gay romance, either. If the main characters were straight, it wouldn't be called straight romance. It would just be called steam-punk gothic fantasy. The setting is a well-imaged steam-punk universe where the devils of hell have been converted to Christianity, but their ancestors l...more

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Sep 19, 2008 Shaun Duke rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wicked Gentlemen is a different sort of fantasy than I'm used to. It is told in two sections, each separate stories in chronological order and each in the mind of a different character. Together they tell a story of forbidden love on two levels--doubly forbidden, if you will--of corruption, bigotry, fear, and religion.

Belimai Sykes is a descendant of ancient demons--or Prodigal. Sykes has a history with the Inquisition, a religious movement that uses any force necessary to get what it wants out...more Wicked Gentlemen is a different sort of fantasy than I'm used to. It is told in two sections, each separate stories in chronological order and each in the mind of a different character. Together they tell a story of forbidden love on two levels--doubly forbidden, if you will--of corruption, bigotry, fear, and religion.

Belimai Sykes is a descendant of ancient demons--or Prodigal. Sykes has a history with the Inquisition, a religious movement that uses any force necessary to get what it wants out of people, especially the Prodigals. Because of that history, Sykes doesn't trust any members of the Inquisition and has become a drug addict. But then Captain William Harper of the Inquisition shows up on his doorstep asking for his help. Harper is looking for his sister and the people behind several grisly murders and needs Sykes, abilities and all, to help him. And when Sykes agrees, he and Harper find out they've bitten off more than they can chew, and that their relationship might become something more than just business, which may bring more trouble than they're prepared to handle.

What's most interesting about this book is how it weaves the detective elements with unrelated issues. Sykes and Harper are both men, and in the world they live it is much like what this world is like in regards to gay relationships. Adding to that is the fact that Sykes is a demon, while Harper is a member of the highly religious Inquisition. Discrimination is certainly a theme here, on two levels, and Hale does a good job developing that so it affects the characters and the reader.

The characters--Sykes and Harper--are well developed throughout the book, which proves that someone doesn't need to write a 500-page monster to create compelling characters--if Philip K. Dick could do it, then so can the rest of us. Sykes goes through a transition with the help of Harper, but Harper goes through a transition of his own with the help of Sykes--although it should be noted that neither transition is at all intentional. I also really enjoyed the use of magic here: rather than flashy, it's controlled and select in the sense that not everyone has it--and those that do rarely abuse it either because they'll be hunted down and killed or because they just don't want to. Additionally, Hale has done a fantastic job developing this world, although there are some obvious limitations for such a short work. Hell's Below is dark and fascinating in the same way that something mysterious is. The Inquisition has all of the evil, violent elements I'd hoped for--an emotional impact for me when Syke's history was brought into the story. On the cover Wicked Gentlemen is described as steampunk, but it doesn't really have any of the elements of a steampunk novel, though it certainly has the same feel to it in its grittiness.

One thing that I felt was a little weak was how Hale did the ending. Instead of showing how all the bad guys get caught, etc. we're giving an epilogue style ending where everything has already happened and things are starting to right themselves. While I like that this is there, it makes me wonder what was happening when the truth finally got out because of Harper and Sykes. I think there is a lot to be told about this part of the story, particularly when you see who is actually involved in it. I would have liked to see what sort of threats come Harper's way, or what happens after that too. What other adventures do Harper and Sykes have? Perhaps this is just my desire for more rather than an actual complaint, though, and for a book that isn't 500 pages, you're going to want more, not because Wicked Gentlemen doesn't deliver, but because it gives you exactly what you want and once your literary thirst is quenched, you'll just want more.

Over all I was really impressed with this work. I like it when authors try to deal with issues of racism (in this case speciesism) and discrimination and issues of religion and how it can sometimes affect our lives, or try to control it, but without preaching or allowing it to control the story. Hale kept a good balance between the serious elements and humor and did a good job developing this world where demons live amongst humans, without overloading me on the worldbuilding. I hope to see more from Hale in this universe. There are some interesting characters here and plenty of good stories to be told. For being only 217-pages, this is an epic fantasy tale with the gritty, dark elements of urban fantasy and steampunk, the thrill and excitement of detective mysteries, and the intrigue of a quasi-alternate history tale.(less)

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Apr 04, 2008 Nicolle Cornute-Sutton rated it 4 of 5 stars

"Wicked Gentlemen" is the perfect dark fairytale. A cross between steampunk and slash and oddly, for me, the Sherlock Holmes stories (maybe it was all the descriptions of Victorian style drawing rooms). From page one I was hooked, instantly drawn into Belimai and Harper's world, with the gestapo-esque Inquistioners, the horrific prayer engines, the nightmare landscape of Hell's Below and the promise of an illicit love affair.

All the ingredients of a good read were there for me, well developed ch...more

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May 04, 2013 Charly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Interesting setting and characters

Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.

Rating: 7/10

PROS:
- The setting is vivid and well-formed. This is a world mostly unlike any I’ve read before. Parts of it are beautiful and parts are hideous, but they’re all richly described.
- The two main characters are fascinating, each in different ways. I was intrigued by Belimai immediately, and every additional detail about his heritage made him seem more exotic. Harper comes across as...more Interesting setting and characters

Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.

Rating: 7/10

PROS:
- The setting is vivid and well-formed. This is a world mostly unlike any I’ve read before. Parts of it are beautiful and parts are hideous, but they’re all richly described.
- The two main characters are fascinating, each in different ways. I was intrigued by Belimai immediately, and every additional detail about his heritage made him seem more exotic. Harper comes across as a bit plain in comparison at first, but he has several quirks that come out as the story progresses, and I ended up liking the two of them together very much.
- There’s a decently written mystery in among the wonderful world-building and interesting characters. I forgot sometimes that I was reading a mystery, what with my fascination with other aspects of the story, but then a clue would be revealed and I would remember, “Oh, yes. We’re looking for a murderer, aren’t we?”

CONS:
- The ending of each novella struck me as a bit convenient. Or perhaps it felt as though I discovered the answers to various riddles just a bit too soon.
- The first novella ends with sexual attraction and the beginning of emotional attachment between the two men, and the second novella opens with considerably stronger feelings between them. I would have liked to see what happened in the intervening time.
- I get the impression that this book is comprised of two stories that were written separately and simply packaged together in paperback form. So the fact that the first half of the book is in first person and the second half is in third (and the epilogue is back in first) is certainly excusable, but I still found it awkward.

Overall comments: You know you’re in for an interesting story when you see statements like this from the narrator: “Captain Harper did not trust me, which was just as well. I am not a good person. I am naturally inclined to lie.” I *did* find this story interesting, but I wish the men’s relationship had received more attention and the ending were less open.(less)

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Mar 10, 2013 Jaya rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: good, slashreaders

SlashReaders: Alright I was surprised with this book. I was rather disappointed at how small it was when I first got it. However, I was impressed with out complete the story felt upon reading it in all of two days. It has a very this is a whole and this is my bubble and I'm in it and then I'm done feel to it. I thought that worked well for this story, it doesn't for everyone but this one was well thought out, well planned out and well executed as far as I could tell.

That said I had a couple of i...more SlashReaders: Alright I was surprised with this book. I was rather disappointed at how small it was when I first got it. However, I was impressed with out complete the story felt upon reading it in all of two days. It has a very this is a whole and this is my bubble and I'm in it and then I'm done feel to it. I thought that worked well for this story, it doesn't for everyone but this one was well thought out, well planned out and well executed as far as I could tell.

That said I had a couple of issues with it mostly where I think the author could've spent a little more time and it would've felt more believable. But they were only a couple of places and I for the most part could read over them and not think too much about it.

My first one was the transition of holding on to the past trauma/lover and the moving on to the new one. In part, I believe a verbal good bye and yet, this section was written from Belimai's point of view and I think the author could've given us just a little more there through his thoughts that would've added to that part and made it feel more real.

My second one is the drug addiction. All fine well and good and was done very nicely, however when Belimai's going through with drawl I felt as if that section was skimped on. Time wasn't very clearly stated there either, was it a few days or I think at some point about a week was mentioned. It's a fantasy story yes, and a make believe drug but do you get over a drug addiction in a week without some sort of lingering issues? Maybe Prodigal's do but that felt as if it were rushed a bit so that the author could simply jump into the rest of the story and that's a little bit more time spent in that section and at that time would not have hurt the story or made it that much longer. I think it would've given you a little more time to digest and to believe what Belimai and Will aren't saying to each other yet.

So all that said, it really was a very well done little book with an interesting idea behind the story and the characters and the very world that she built up. She could've used maybe a few more descriptions but those that she had in there were lovely and made the place feel exceedingly real. Overall I would enjoy seeing what else she comes out with in the future if this is anything to go by, I think that she'll only get better.(less)

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Dec 06, 2012 Sofia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Maybe it's to do with the fact that it's essentially a short story, but I really want to say
that escalated quickly.

It's a book about the rapid downfall of an officer of the law, which is governed by religious beliefs, who is such a moralist, that the law which he keeps inevitably comes to fail him.
We've heard this story before.

But I did find interesting the little revelations about Harper that make him less of a saint (like we think of him at the beginning of the story), such as his lust for Pro...more

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Sep 02, 2012 Asynia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m-romance, bingo-challenge

Well, once again I find myself a little surprised by not really loving a book that so many other readers have given 5 stars...

First of all, I like a little more romance in my romance. But maybe this book wasn't really written as a romance novel, maybe it was just supposed to be a steampunk/fantasy book..? Since I read it for an M/M Romance Group challenge I may have had preconceived notions of this book that it was never supposed to fulfill. I don't know.
If I had started reading this book only a...more Well, once again I find myself a little surprised by not really loving a book that so many other readers have given 5 stars...

First of all, I like a little more romance in my romance. But maybe this book wasn't really written as a romance novel, maybe it was just supposed to be a steampunk/fantasy book..? Since I read it for an M/M Romance Group challenge I may have had preconceived notions of this book that it was never supposed to fulfill. I don't know.
If I had started reading this book only as a steampunk/fantasy I might have thought differently of it.

Anyway, I didn't feel there were any real feelings between the protagonists, Belimai and Harper, even though they become closer as the book progresses they still only seem to on the "friends" side of "acquaintances" at the end of the book. (view spoiler)

I know that other reviewers have already commented about the lack of graphic sex in this book, we're told that it takes place, but there are no details, and that's kind of disappointing to me personally.

This being said, I'm very impressed with Ms Hale's "world building", the world she created is very well thought out, innovative and described in believable detail. She also writes in a very beautiful and easy-to-read way.

I'm usually not a fan of first-person-narrative but in this particular book I found that I liked the first part and the epilogue, which were both written in frist-person from Belimai's POV better than the second part, that was written in third-person from Harper's POV. This was mostly the style though, not necessarily the content, as I liked the content of the second part about the same as the reast of the book.

To Ms Hale's credit I also have to say that even though I didn't get the feeling that Belimai and Harper had strong feeling for each other I personally was very moved by Belimai's sufferings. Actually to the point where I got really depressed while reading this book - poor Belimai! *SOB* I also felt for all the other Prodigals and their dismal existences. This probably doesn't sound like a good thing, but for me to get that emotionally involved in a character in a book, the writer must be really good. :-)(less)

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Dec 16, 2011 Three Crow Press rated it 5 of 5 stars

Review by Isabel de Valera

One of the nice things (usually) about reviewing is that you have the excuse to reread books. Sometimes that’s not such a good thing, if you’re committed to reviewing a book you absolutely hated. Other times, it’s bliss—to sink back into a world you loved.

The world of Wicked Gentlemen, by Ginn Hale, is a dark and brooding one, made up of equal parts Charles Dickens and the Brothers Grimm, with a splash of H.G. Wells and a healthy dollop of Wilkie Collins. The Gothic to...more Review by Isabel de Valera

One of the nice things (usually) about reviewing is that you have the excuse to reread books. Sometimes that’s not such a good thing, if you’re committed to reviewing a book you absolutely hated. Other times, it’s bliss—to sink back into a world you loved.

The world of Wicked Gentlemen, by Ginn Hale, is a dark and brooding one, made up of equal parts Charles Dickens and the Brothers Grimm, with a splash of H.G. Wells and a healthy dollop of Wilkie Collins. The Gothic towers of Crowncross, the London-like city at the heart of the story, loom over a place almost entirely controlled by the Church, to the point that the higher professions—doctors, lawyers, bankers—are called “Orders,” and wear robes, and the police department are called the “Inquisitors.” The Church’s ascendence is due to an event from centuries before, when the literal Lords of Hell—the fallen angels of the Old Testament—came up from the depths of the Earth along with their demon hordes, and did penance for their evil before the altars of God.

These days, the descendants of these fallen angels and their demons live in the subterranean tunnels beneath the Holy City, in a place called by the Church “Hopetown,” but is more commonly called “Hells Below.” The Prodigals, the demon kind, can’t bear the light of day, but they have other talents, the legacy of their demonic past, talents the Church tries to control as they try to control the Prodigals themselves.

Wicked Gentlemen opens with the arrival of Captain William Harper, an Inquisitor, with his brother-in-law, at the shabby rooms of Belimai Sykes, a Prodigal prostitute addicted to the drug ophorium, an addiction he developed under the torturous “prayer wheels” of the House of Inquisition. The two are looking for a guide into the darkness of Hells Below, in search of Captain Harper’s sister, who has gone missing. He is also looking into the serial murder of several Prodigals, and suspects that they might be connected.

Harper, the fresh-faced dedicated Church officer, isn’t as blindly obedient nor as innocent as he seems, and Belimai, the seedy, cynical whore, hides a fierce loyalty and a longing for beauty that breaks your heart. They both have many secrets that they hide from the world and from each other, even as they fumble towards something resembling a relationship.

“Mr. Sykes and the Firefly” is the first story, told by Belimai in the first person point of view, and gradually opens up the world of Crowncross, unfolding it like a great old map with “Here Abide Dragons” marked on it. The story here deals with the serial murders. The second, “Captain Harper and the Sixty Second Circle,” is from Captain Harper’s third person perspective, and intertwined with the story of murder and corruption at the highest levels of the Church is the slowly blossoming love between Harper and Belimai, as the latter deals with his addictions and the former deals with the betrayal of his beliefs and the exposure of his past.

These stories are chillingly beautiful, and despite the Gothic setting and the haunting sadness that permeates such a dark place, still manage to maintain a sense of hope that Right will prevail. The characters of Harper and Belimai are as complex as the setting, light riddled with darkness and darkness longing for light, and despite their appearing to be polar opposites, are perfectly matched. There are touches of humor, mostly sarcastic, that lighten the tone, and the scenes of Belimai’s withdrawal at Harper’s home are full of hope and poignancy.

Wicked Gentlemen is a fairy tale, as dark and frightening and beautiful as the best of Grimm, and as truthful. It made me wish for more stories about Belimai Sykes and William Harper, and that is something I rarely do.(less)

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Aug 19, 2011 Emily Moore rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: gay, print, urban-fantasy, tdb-reviews, rainbow-reviews

4.5 stars

This book is two novellas put together, the first “Mr. Sykes and the Firefly” is told in first person by Belimai Syker who is a Prodigal, descendant of demons, and one of the few with the ability to fly. Belimai is an addict, reliant on ophorium after being captured by the Inquisition and tortured for a confession related to a charge against his friend Nickolas Sariel. Captain William Harper is a priest with the Inquisition and comes to Belimai for help finding his missing sister. Belim...more 4.5 stars

This book is two novellas put together, the first “Mr. Sykes and the Firefly” is told in first person by Belimai Syker who is a Prodigal, descendant of demons, and one of the few with the ability to fly. Belimai is an addict, reliant on ophorium after being captured by the Inquisition and tortured for a confession related to a charge against his friend Nickolas Sariel. Captain William Harper is a priest with the Inquisition and comes to Belimai for help finding his missing sister. Belimai is thrust into the middle of a wild and sordid situation.

The second novella, “Captain Harper and the Sixty Second Circle” is told in third person from Harper’s POV. It is a continuation of the events of the first part in a way. Harper is trying to find his place both with his job and in his relationship with a Prodigal. He gets pulled into a murder investigation when an old woman stumbles upon him in the street waiting for a carriage. What Harper uncovers is a thinly veiled conspiracy to hide the truth and put the blame on a Prodigal, and Belimai is on a short list of ‘suspects’.

Wicked Gentlemen is a wonderfully fascinating book that I was immersed in from the beginning. The characters are quite well developed and the world created is detailed and complex. The descriptions of both places, Crowncross and Hells Below, are extremely detailed and lead to a truly visceral experience filled with sights, sounds and smells that come alive at every turn. This is a very different type of fantasy/paranormal story that I greatly enjoyed.

The real crux of this book is the differences and similarities between Belimai and Harper and how they each navigate their worlds. This is not an easy pairing, and you have to pay attention to see the romantic elements in the story. What the reader is provided with is a detailed fantasy universe and characters that are well developed but also flawed. In a fantasy novel, the last thing you might expect is a depth and root in reality but that is what readers receive here. Each character, at the core, is a man with problems and past that must be overcome. Their present and futures are of course affected and directed by the past.

This is not an easy relationship ~ Harper is extremely private and doesn’t share easily while Belimai is determined to remain aloof about the distinguished Captain. But neither can deny the mutual attraction and we are provided with brief glimpses of their pairings. This is not an erotic novel, a fact that I found refreshing, and the reader is instead given just enough details about the men being together. Imagination will easily fill in what isn’t explicitly shown and it’s true to the tone and focus of the book.

There are also interesting secondary characters such as Sariel and Harper’s brother-in-law Edward that add weight and emotional connections to the story. The real focus, however, is Belimai and Harper. Getting a chance to digest each character’s POV is appealing and provides a more extensive picture of each of the two main characters.

There were bits to the story that I guessed and others that I didn’t but at every turn my attention was held on the unfolding of the gripping story. Hale has created a universe and tone that is carried throughout the story, a hint of historical with fantasy thrown into the mix to make it unique and fascinating. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I picked up this book but I was pleasantly surprised and discovered an author that I am anxious to read more from. If you are a fan of fantasy stories, I definitely recommend reading this book!(less)

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Dec 30, 2010 Karissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a beautifully written book; I liked it a lot. The characterization is wonderful and the story engaging, driven and sweet.

Belimai Sykes is a Prodigal, a human of part demon descent. Belimai has a tortured and horrible past and as a Prodigal he also has a number of intriguing powers, but it is his addiction that drives his life the most. When Captain William Harper shows up and asks for Belimai's help tracking down a serial killer that is killing and torturing Progidal's, Belimai is excit...more This was a beautifully written book; I liked it a lot. The characterization is wonderful and the story engaging, driven and sweet.

Belimai Sykes is a Prodigal, a human of part demon descent. Belimai has a tortured and horrible past and as a Prodigal he also has a number of intriguing powers, but it is his addiction that drives his life the most. When Captain William Harper shows up and asks for Belimai's help tracking down a serial killer that is killing and torturing Progidal's, Belimai is excited to do some of the investigation work that he is so good at. The plot though is bigger than either Harper or Belimai expects. Along the way Belimai and Harper will forge an unlikely bond with one another.

This was a wonderful book. The writing and the descriptions are beautiful and breathtaking. I loved this book from the very first sentence "The night hung in tatters." The whole book is dark and moody; it has a bit of a steampunk feel to it. The plot was engaging and made the book difficult to put down. The book is broken into two parts; the first deals with the Prodigal serial killer and the second deals with Harper's fight against the entrenched authority of the city.

The characterization was excellent. Belimai is a complex character with an intriguing past and a sardonic wit that hides layers of anguish. Harper is also more than he at first appears to be. The relationship between the two men is sweet, beautiful and complex. The sex scenes are not really all that explicit, but more sensual. Even the side characters are interesting and make you want to learn more about them.

This book does deal with same sex relationships, but that is not really what the story is about...I think people would be doing themselves a dis-service to skip this beautiful book because of the GBLT aspect of it...at heart this is a fantasy/mystery not a social commentary. I am actual kind of surprised that this is classified as a GLBT book; to be honest this story reminded me a lot of Mercedes Lackey's Magic's Pawn (The Last Herald-Mage Series, Book 1) or Lynn Flewelling's Luck in the Shadows: Nightrunner, Book 1 (Unabridged) series. Both of these books feature same sex relationships but have never really been classified as anything other than fantasy.

The book was light on action scenes, but the action scenes were well done. The world Hale created was intriguing, if not as broad as I would have hoped for. For the majority of the book you are stuck in the main city.

All in all I really loved this book. It was a pleasure to read. The strongest points were the beautiful writing and the wonderful attention to characterization. I wish that I could read another book with these characters. I will definitely be keeping an eye on Hale's future works.(less)

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Nov 26, 2010 Mackenzie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

There are already so many excellent reviews for the book so I don't think I need to add anything else. The one thing that I want to say about Ginn Hale's Wicked Gentlemen is that... I can't get enough of it. I wish there were more. After reading the last page, I decided I wasn't quite ready to let go of Belimai Sykes and William Harper yet. I wanted to see them again and again... so I am praying there will be a sequel soon.

The other thing that i want to say about this book is that I wish this b...more

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Sep 27, 2010 Thom Watson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, lgbt, mystery-crime-detective, romance, speculative-fiction, supernatural

Three hundred years ago, a Covenant of Redemption gave the demons of hell a promise of salvation for themselves and their descendants. The demons left Hell and came to the capitol city, where their descendants -- called the Prodigals -- now live in a squalid coal-powered underground ghetto officially called "Hopetown" but known by all as "Hell's Below." Shunned and segregated by most of society, and kept subservient to humans when trying to leave the ghetto, Prodigals now also are hounded by the...more

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Apr 30, 2009 Katie(babs) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wicked Gentlemen reads more like a paranormal with a mystery and romance combined. Whatever genre this book falls into, Wicked Gentlemen exceeded all my expectations. It has a great atmospheric feel featuring the tortured character of Belimai Sykes. Belimai is a drug addicted demon called a Prodical who has been tortured ruthlessly by those who feel they are God’s servants and have the right to condemn Beilmai’s people. Wicked Gentlemen has many religious undertones that deal with the subject of...more Wicked Gentlemen reads more like a paranormal with a mystery and romance combined. Whatever genre this book falls into, Wicked Gentlemen exceeded all my expectations. It has a great atmospheric feel featuring the tortured character of Belimai Sykes. Belimai is a drug addicted demon called a Prodical who has been tortured ruthlessly by those who feel they are God’s servants and have the right to condemn Beilmai’s people. Wicked Gentlemen has many religious undertones that deal with the subject of persecution. The ones that are in charge of these atrocities are the true villains, not the Prodicals that are the creatures from Hell.

The first section of Wicked Gentlemen is from Belimai’s first person point of view. He is a shell of man filled with despair and loathing. Because he is a Prodical, he is spat upon by society. He has scars all over his body from the Inquisitors. Inquisitors are the police who keep the Prodicals in line with torture and the possibility of death. They are also like priests and they make sure everyone obeys the rules. Prodicals live in the ghettos of Hells Below, a section in this alternate London universe. Prodicals look like humans except for their long black nails, different colored eyes and their aversion to the sunlight. They can also fly in the sky. Belimai resides in Hells Below, barely living day to day, overcome with his need to feed his ophorium addiction, which he injects into his arms with a syringe.

An Inquisition captain and his doctor brother-in-law come to Belimai for help. Captain William Harper’s sister, Joan, who is married to the doctor, has gone missing. Joan was a member of the Good Commons Advocacy. This group worked for the rights of both woman and Prodicals alike. Harper thinks Belimai is the best person who can find Joan. Belimai accepts the job because he needs the money and he and Harper eventually become partners and loose themselves in the underbelly of Hells Below. Not only is Joan hiding a secret that could kill her, but Prodicals are being torture and murdered for some reason. No one seems to care about these creatures. It is up to Harper and Belimai to find the culprits involved.

Belimai finds himself caring for Harper, especially after they have a drunken one night stand with one another. Belimai tries to hide his feelings for the young captain. But it is difficult because Harper treats him with respect and seems to really like him. And when Belimai finds himself in great danger and is badly hurt, Harper is there to help him recover. Perhaps there is hope that two very different men, one for good, the other who welcomes the darkness, can be free to love one another without the fear of being ostracized or even worst, tortured and killed.

I have read countless M/M books, mainly those with a heavy romantic storyline. Wicked Gentlemen does have a romance but it is very subtle. There is one descriptive love scene, but other than that, this complicated relationship is shown through thoughts and actions. Belimai and Harper’s feelings for one another keep you guessing till the very end. You know there is something between them but that is kept as more of an after thought as they navigate through this harsh world Ginn has invented.

Belimai is more dimensional than Harper because we are privy to his internal thoughts and emotions. He is so very tortured both in body and spirit due to what he is and the drugs he takes just so he can get through each day. Harper is the complete opposite of Belimai. I couldn’t help but think of these two as yin and yang; light and dark; heaven and hell. Harper is Belimai’s salvation. And Harper shows Belimai that he is worthy of his love and respect.

One scene that really caught my eye is when Belimai wants to see Harper’s hands. Harper wears gloves through most of the book for a personal reason that will be unveiled by the end. Belimai seems obsessed with that body part because Harper’s hands are so perfect and clean. Belimai’s are unclean in every sense from the black nails that look like claws to the way he injects poison into his body. When Harper places his hands on Belimai, this poor creature of darkness feels cleansed and is given reconciliation for all his wickedness.

Wicked Gentlemen was a surprisingly good read. Ginn really handles religion and the good and evil aspect quite well. Harper and Belimai have great chemistry together not only as lovers, but as friends and partners. If this is what the future of Steampunk is, I may change my mind after all and give more books like Wicked Gentlemen a try(less)

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Feb 03, 2012 Tiara rated it 4 of 5 stars

A really, really, REALLY surprisingly good read. I was a little worried that this book would read more like fanfiction than literature, but I was pleasantly surprised. Both main characters are lovely and interesting in their own ways, and the supporting characters are varied as well.

One jarring thing you should note is that the POV switches mid-book. At first, I hated it, because I was really enjoying being inside Belimai's head, but I did grow to enjoy the alternating point of view after I got...more

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Aug 09, 2011 Yte rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I liked the book very much and gladly would have given 5 stars if it wasn't for a couple of plotholes that really bothered me (see below).
Generally I have no love for fantasy, especially with angels and demons (thanks god, there weren't any angels here), the book sat in my TBR (it got there because of a friend's recommendation and intriguing AU Victorian England world) for many months before I decided to give it a try and and it blew my socks off.
Hale nailed all my favourite kinks, moods and fea...more I liked the book very much and gladly would have given 5 stars if it wasn't for a couple of plotholes that really bothered me (see below).
Generally I have no love for fantasy, especially with angels and demons (thanks god, there weren't any angels here), the book sat in my TBR (it got there because of a friend's recommendation and intriguing AU Victorian England world) for many months before I decided to give it a try and and it blew my socks off.
Hale nailed all my favourite kinks, moods and features in a story and characters and her writing is superb.
I liked that there weren't many sex scenes, in fact, only one and very subtle, mostly the intimacy between Harper and Belimai was hinted leaving it to the reader's imagination. I really appreciated that.
About the plotholes.
In the first story Belimai goes to Hell Below and Sariel summons Joan's image which Belimai studies well - he notices the shape and color of her eyes etc. He knows her scent from the letters. Yet when he meets her in the night he doesn't recognize her. Why? He can see in the dark, I believe he's smart enough and perceptive enough to see (and smell) past cropped hair and filthy clothes. This kind of inconsistency pretty much ruins the entire plot because if Belimai recognizes her, his job for Harper is finished and he's no more business looking for her, going to Scott-Beck and discovering what he'd discovered.
In the second story Belimai makes Harper drink his blood and it gives Harper temporary ability to fly. So why earlier Harper had to almost kill himself climbing the walls when he had such a neat solution in hand?
Another (not so important, but noticeable nonetheless) slip: when Harper confesses to Belimai that he lied when he said he didn't develop any romantic feelings toward Belimai after their first night together. It was the other way around: it was Belimai who said this particular line.
I could have been missing something which explained those inconsistencies, I actually hope I was since I want this book to be perfect. (less)

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May 08, 2010 Feliz rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, m-m, favourites, outstanding

In an alternative reality almost Dickensian world, the demons have left Hell long ago. Their descendants,called the Prodigals, still live among mankind, distinguishable by their black fingernails, yellow eyes and pointed ears. Most of them live in a kind of ghetto beneath the human world, working the mines, watched closely by the Inquisition since Prodigals aren't supposed to live anywhere but in the Capital. The Church reigns this world, occupying all key businesses like banks, justice, healthc...more In an alternative reality almost Dickensian world, the demons have left Hell long ago. Their descendants,called the Prodigals, still live among mankind, distinguishable by their black fingernails, yellow eyes and pointed ears. Most of them live in a kind of ghetto beneath the human world, working the mines, watched closely by the Inquisition since Prodigals aren't supposed to live anywhere but in the Capital. The Church reigns this world, occupying all key businesses like banks, justice, healthcare and education.
One of the few Prodigals who left the Ghetto is Belimai Sykes. After surviving the Inquisition's Torture Chambers, he's seriously hurt body and soul, a drug-addict with nothing much left to lose.
When Captain William Harper is confronted with a series of Prodigal murders, he turns to Belimai Sykes for help. A man with secrets himself, Harper feels oddly attracted to the strange creature. Soon their relationship is anything else but professional.

This was my May 2010 pick it for me challenge. It was very different, very inventive and very very good.
The first part of the book, which is about the Prodigal murders, is told from Belimai's first person POV. I could only wonder about the author's imagination and her skill to introduce her world. There was no storytelling, no worldbuilding to speak of, but still Belimai's and Harper's world came alive almost unnoticeably. Their story and characters were believable within their world; there wasn't a detail out of track down to Belimai's occasional profanities and Harper's reactions to them.
Then ther's a part in third person mostly from Harper's POV which lends depth to both the persons and the world and presents another crime where Harper, the hunter, suddenly becomes the prey.
The final part was told again in Belimai's voice, ending and solving the crime in a most satisfying way. and if it felt like a fairy tale ending, who cares? Demons ARE fairy tale characters after all, and that's what Belimai is, although he sometimes reminds more to an angel (which, as Belimai tells Harper once, Demons actually are; they were angels first before they fell from grace).
A book set in a wonderfully crafted, dark world with likeable, memorable characters and a gripping plot. Highly recommended. (less)

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Feb 08, 2013 Jen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m-romance, sans-is-to-blame, historical-fiction, paranormal-fantasy

3.5 stars

I don't know that I have a ton to say about this one.

It's a paranormal historical, and really less of a romance and more of just a world and character exploration.

The lay of the land is that there are part demon beings called Prodigals that live amongst humans, and society is ruled by an organization called The Inquisition. It's oppressive to the Prodigals, and rather corrupt. The romance is predictably between a Prodigal (Belimai) who had been a victim of the system, and a human (Wil...more

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Sep 07, 2012 Kaje Harper rated it 5 of 5 stars

Once, long ago, the fallen angels who had chosen to rule in hell as demons changed their minds. They ascended to the human world and accepted an offer from the Inquisition to wash them clean of sin and begin again. And so they rose, terrible and beautiful, with powers and strengths beyond the merely human, and were cleansed with holy silver and fire... it was not a great success.

Their ancestors now coexist with humans in an uneasy relationship. The Prodigals are almost human, except for their bl...more Once, long ago, the fallen angels who had chosen to rule in hell as demons changed their minds. They ascended to the human world and accepted an offer from the Inquisition to wash them clean of sin and begin again. And so they rose, terrible and beautiful, with powers and strengths beyond the merely human, and were cleansed with holy silver and fire... it was not a great success.

Their ancestors now coexist with humans in an uneasy relationship. The Prodigals are almost human, except for their black nails and light-sensitive eyes, their teeth and ears and diluted, variable powers. And except for their rights, which are almost nonexistent. Most live in a dark ghetto below the city, while those who live among humans are often despised and sometimes victimized. Any small step out of line can mean a trip to the halls of the Inquisition, where there is no compassion, precious little justice, and infinite amounts of cold, dispassionate, fanatical persecution.

Belimai Sykes is a Prodigal, once broken under the torture of the inquisition, but still with a few skills and powers of his own. Captain William Harper is a member of the Inquisition, who seeks out Balimai for help with a series of murders related to the abduction of his half-sister.

At first glance these two seem like unlikely allies, let alone lovers. But Harper's reasons for joining the Inquisition are not what you might expect, and in the course of the investigation both men find they have things in common, even if at first they are little more than an overexposure to violence, the tendency to use drink to forget, and a passion for other men. Later it becomes more complicated.

This book is written in three sections, the first in Belimai's first person voice, the second in Harper's deep third POV, and an ending with Belimai again. Both styles are satisfying, although I particularly enjoy Belimai's voice. These are both fascinating characters, slowly revealed throughout the story. The world-building is wonderful, creating a Dickensian City with fantasy elements, layered and textured and complete. Enough detail is given to make the situation clear, and yet never too much so the narrative flows unimpeded. There is a deep sense of frustration and anger at the abuse of power and the lack of justice within the upper echelons of both City and Inquisition. The romance is muted and slow to develop, but rich and real by the end.
(less)

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Feb 22, 2012 Silverius rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: steampunk, all-time-favourites, gay-romance, glbtq, paranormal, paranormal-romance, obscure-yet-wonderful, 2012-favourites

Wicked Gentlemen contains everything I have been searching for in a gay romance novel. Intrigue and excitement, deviously handsome men, believable paranormal aspects, and most importantly, genuine romance abound in this captivating novel.

Belamai Sykes is a Prodigal - hapless descendants of demons - an addict and a disconsolate, broken-hearted man living in destitution until Captain William Harper appears on his doorstep. Harper's sister has been mysteriosuly disappeared, and Belamai is his only...more Wicked Gentlemen contains everything I have been searching for in a gay romance novel. Intrigue and excitement, deviously handsome men, believable paranormal aspects, and most importantly, genuine romance abound in this captivating novel.

Belamai Sykes is a Prodigal - hapless descendants of demons - an addict and a disconsolate, broken-hearted man living in destitution until Captain William Harper appears on his doorstep. Harper's sister has been mysteriosuly disappeared, and Belamai is his only hope of finding her. Though Captain Harper is an Inquisitor for the church bound to hunt and prosecute Belamai's kind, the Prodigal is intrigued by strapping nobleman enough to assist him.

Written as two short stories, both being told from different viewpoints, I was slightly wary of possible lack of cohesiveness. Impressively enough, the two stories melded rather seamlessly. The first story was primarily centered around Belamai, which allowed the reader to truly understand his brooding, tempestuous attitude. One is also permitted glimpses of the young man Belamai once was, before addiction ruled his life. Initially, I was not enthused by the idea of Belamai being an addict. I find in many gay romance novels that one character is entirely loathsome, always addicted to some drug or living in squalor, while the other man hopes to redeem him, addiction and misfortune notwithstanding, while inadvertently falling in love with him. Fortunately, this was not the case in Wicked Gentlemen. Yes, Belamai is an addict, but he does not immediately cling to Harper, hoping he will be liberated from his dreadful life. In fact, aside from a drunken dalliance in the beginning of the novel, there are few amorous moments in the first story, but fear not, the second memoir greatly makes up for that.

Both protagonists were equally intriguing and different. Harper was noble and gentlemanly without becoming treacly and maudlin. He knew what must be done and was even brutal and vindictive at times. Though his affections for Belamai were apparent, they did not supersede Harper's valorous intentions. Contrariwise, Belamai, sarcastic and perverse until the end, was not entirely repugnant. And as I have said before, he was not vying for salvation, but was content in his misfortune. What I found entirely refreshing was the ingenuous romanticism between Belamai and Harper, rather than sheer sexuality masquerading as romance found in many other gay romance novels.

The world of Wicked Gentlemen is just as intriguing as the characters. The Prodigals and their abilities were endlessly fascinating. I would have loved more exposition about the demons and their origin in the world. The same can be said about the Inquisitors and their endeavours. The religious undertones were not entirely suffocating, merely evident as a force contesting the characters. Actually, Ginn Hale elegantly placed interesting ideas based around the church, such as the scriptures in the sewer systems, so as to pique to make the Inquisitors as interesting as the Prodigals. I also wonder if some of the settings were influenced by historical British monuments, such as Whitechapel.

Overall, Ginn Hale's Wicked Gentlemen is a unequaled twist to several hackneyed concepts. Anyone who has been disappointed by other paranormal gay romance novels will be thrilled by this one. (less)

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Nov 05, 2011 Rita rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: genre-fantasy, genre-lgbtq, genre-romance

I only vaguely like steampunk and paranormal romances, having had bad experiences with both (I'm pretty sure that, as a culture, we have had one collective, prolonged bad experience with paranormal romances: it's called Twilight). This left me feeling a bit underwhelmed by Wicked Gentlemen, even though I loved everything else about it.

The mystery is satisfying (rare in crime fiction!); the worldbuilding is, too, unfolding subtly enough to pique interest without ever overwhelming.

Hale is also ju...more

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Feb 16, 2010 Wren rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, m-m, paranormal, mystery, cats-pajamas

Wow. And Wow again.

This was a terrific read. I was caught up immediately and couldn’t let go. It’s sort of a steampunk combined with paranormal story. The world-building is incredible, and this story seems as if it is just a small part of a world that the author knows in alarming detail. Belimai Sykes is a Prodigal, which in this world means demon. William Harper is a Captain with the Inquisition, which is a sort of religious-based policing and governing body that uses torture to get what it wa...more

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Aug 09, 2012 Mary C. Moore rated it 4 of 5 stars

The prose in this book blew me away. The author does a great job bringing the reader into the world, and what a world! I read a lot of fantasy so nothing is completely new to me, but Wicked Gentlemen was a pretty fresh spin on the steam punk classic setting. The characters are fascinating, one Belimai Sykes, a junkie/man for hire, who also happens to be the descendent of fallen angels, and one Captain William Harper, a member of the Inquisition (yes, THAT Inquisition). These two team up after a...more

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