Book Review for The Consort, by Idun Asther

The Consort, by Idun Asther, is a paranormal short story that illustrates with how far you’re willing to go for a loved one.

Professor Hogarth and his student, Francis Ash, have recently published The Deities of Ancient Egypt, which details their occult research of Egypt. As a thank you gift, Hogarth gives Ash the Eye of Horus, an amulet that supposedly protects the wearer from evil. One day, two men disappear at the Highgate Cemetery. Out of curiosity, Hogarth and Ash decide to investigate these disappearances, but they soon realize that there is more to the disappearances than what they thought.

Personally, I enjoyed reading about the relationship between Hogarth and Ash. I could tell there was a real affection between the two. They genuinely trust each other, and are willing to go through whatever lengths to make sure the other is safe. (I cannot think of any other reason why Ash would agree to go to a graveyard at night, despite knowing these disappearances are taking place.) It can also be said that Hogarth does love Ash, so much so he would try to give the gift of immortality to him. Still, I kind of wished he’d talk to Ash first; usually, if someone is giving their loved ones eternal life, that never ends well. I also thought the kiss at the end was a bit rushed, but it was sweet nonetheless.

Overall, I enjoyed the story. The plot does lend itself to classic Gothic horror elements, but the characters still manage to create an intriguing atmosphere filled with elegance and suspense. The romance was a bit premature, but satisfying. Thus, I would give this story a rating of a 3.5 out of 5 stars, and would recommend it to fans of intriguing romances.