The Awkward Love Song of Abigail Archer

by Monica Sanz

Refusing to collect a soul was never a part of his bargain...

Haunted by the death of a fiancée he doesn’t want, Marcus Kent strikes a deal with Death. For a century, he gathers souls by night in exchange for her life. By day, he endures a droning existence at her side while troubled by the many lives he has taken. However, when he’s tasked with collecting Abigail Archer’s soul, that monotonous grey is dispelled. He not only finds a healthy girl—with an eerie likeness to his fiancée—waiting for death, but a girl as plagued as he by the death of another.

Drawn to the mysteries of her soul, and the reason she waits for death, Marcus forms an awkward friendship with Abigail that quickly grows into more. She breathes life back into him. He can't relinquish it—any more than he can relinquish her.

But breaking a deal with Death has consequences he cannot escape—at least not for long.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance

ebook

First published July 1, 2013

Reviews

[Gavin Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely read love stories, so this one had to be good to catch and keep my attention.

It was.

Ms Sanz writes with eloquence, style, and a grace that very few writers manage to achieve, but many wish to emulate. Abigail Archer is one of the few love stories that I've read and enjoyed. It has a great storyline, a truly haunting backdrop and very good characters. Enthralling, mesmerising, spellbinding and many other 'ings', it is that rare thing, an unputdownable book that leaves you both happy and disappointed when you finish it.

A really grand read that transports you to another world. Grand stuff.

[Ramisa R · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Awkward Love Song of Abigail Archer is a paranormal romance unlike many others of its genre. One of the assumptions I make about fantasy/paranormal fiction, which has generally proved correct, is flat, perfect characters. This is definitely not the case with this novel. The book was at the perfect pacing, with a beautiful writing style guiding me through the course of the novel. There were a couple of things I felt out-of-place, but even then, they are so minor compared to the large-scale accomplishment this book achieves –plus, there is a plausible reason for every event.

Firstly, the book had absolutely brilliant characterisation. Marcus, the main character, is possibly the most antagonistic protagonist I’ve ever came across. I don’t want to reveal too much about his past, but it disgusted me; his choices, his decisions and his cruelness in a past life disgusted me. And, yet, I loved his personality; I loved the actions he took to right his wrongs. And then there’s Abigail Archer, a girl who made mistakes of her own, and let them bubble inside her until the guilt suffocated her. Remorse followed her wherever she went. Margaret, the pitiful broken-hearted fiance, also had a dark side to her; a side that wanted the impossible. There was darkness in every character, an epitome of heart-breaking loneliness and remorse, but I loved them all anyway. I simultaneously loved every character, and hated each character; they felt like people.

Secondly, the beautiful writing style is sure to draw anybody’s attention. Every sentence expressed is literary, figurative or flawlessly scribed. The perfect words were chosen for each sentence. The novel, in my opinion, had the perfect pace; it didn’t drag on for too long, nor did it feel too short. Scenes within the story were skillfully chosen, along with the insightful dialogue. The relationship between characters was wonderfully expressed. I should probably mention this is a romance, and there were scenes I skipped due to their intimate nature, but I didn’t feel as if I missed anything. There’s a scene where Marcus and Abigail watch the headlights of the cars pass, watching the lights flicker on and off; there was a scene where Abigail, out of her own tenderness, brought along ice to help soothe his hands. These scenes were so beautifully written, with an increase of character development.

There were a couple of –extremely minor– things I didn’t agree with, but I found reasoning behind each of the events. Firstly, the relationship between Marcus and Abigail intensified extremely quickly, despite knowing each other for a mere couple days. However, once the pasts of both Abigail and Marcus were revealed, I realised that their suffocating loneliness made them vulnerable. They wanted to love, and attached themselves to it, regardless of the consequences. Another fact I initially felt a little strange reading was how many romantically-suggestive references were made –so quickly, too. In fact, any other book would’ve made me uncomfortable, and I’d probably put it down –but my attachment with the characters, the lyrical writing and overall love for the plot kept me going. The ending felt a little too light and contradicting of the darkness in this book. However, I’m not complaining; it was the perfect ending to a wonderful book. Considering the burdens the characters faced, it was a beautiful conclusion.

Even if you aren’t a paranormal/romance fan, please pick up this book. Not only is the writing style spectacularly imaginative and polished, but the characters are flawed, hurt and so utterly human. The plot itself is perfectly paced, and skillfully executed in order to make the book better. The Awkward Love Song of Abigail Archer is comparable, if not better, than most of the traditionally published books and every element –character, writing, plot– is rich in quality. It is the closest to perfection a book can get –and that is not a statement I throw around freely.

[Mee · Rating 5 out of 5]

~4.5

This is one of those stories that just makes you smile like so when you get to the end –


I admit, I was well miffed when I saw how small the book was when it arrived but as I started reading, I am happy that Sanz chose not to make it longer for a thicker book because there wasn’t any unnecessary scenes and she didn’t drag and milk her concept cow dry. She ended it at a point where you’re content and you’re wanting to go back to re-read your favourite bits.

The way the story starts out is beautiful, Sanz is most definitely a storyteller and while other authors may come off as pretentious, I feel Sanz word choices just added to what she had without being all ‘I’m smart and I know it.’

The cast of characters was small but I think that added to the intimacy the story provided you with. Abigail is indeed a strange girl and her song even more awkward, but I like how while Marcus was infatuated with Abigail at first, you could understand why he started to fall in love rather than just insta-love.

I realise that this story is about death collectors so there is a paranormal element to the story, but it’s so much more than that. This isn’t just about collecting and falling in love, it’s like about finding redemption and forgiveness between it all. Marcus and Abigail are both haunted by their actions in the past and I love that they’re able to perhaps find peace in it all within one another.

The supporting cast – I totally liked the timekeeper when he first appeared, there was something about him that just sparked my interest and as Marcus’ and Abigail’s story progressed, so did his. I loved getting insight into his story and seeing how that influenced to help shape the story between Marcus and Abigail.

All in all, a very sweet love story that is much more substantial than what meets the eye.

[Elliot Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping and powerful book that left me enthralled with the vivid world that Sanz had painted. A masterpiece of romantic fiction, interesting and original concepts alongside a great storyline. Well written indeed!

[Czarina Anne]

lyrical and enticing

[TheWelshbird · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cleverly plotted and paced novel. The set-up is complex and revealed little by little: answering some questions, and forcing the reader to ask more. The decisions Marcus is compelled to make are clearly meaningful choices for him even though 1. he’s only just met Abigail, and, 2. the complexity of his relationship with Margaret is only really fully revealed to the reader near the end, when she makes a pivotal decision which affects them all.

What I like most about the plot, given I’ve been reading lots of novels on Wattpad, is that it is a well-crafted story. There are no coincidences in this plot (and no superfluous descriptions of shopping, eating or hanging out); every twist and turn is driven by the decisions Marcus makes as he reacts to the high stakes situations he finds himself in. Also all the main characters – Abigail, Marcus and Margaret – are complex. There is no clear hero or heroine in this story, no black or white.

The writing is excellent, descriptive and beautiful. It feels ‘dense’ compared to the bright and breezy styles of so many self-published works I’ve read. There are many paragraph long monologues which somehow don’t seem forced. It helps that Marcus is Victorian and therefore it's not unexpected he should speak formally. This has the effect of slowing my reading down (I’m a really quick reader), and enabling me to enjoy both the language (also an incurable word nerd, and proud) and the depth of feeling it invoked (blubbing is involved).

Above all this is a love story – even a love triangle, though there is none of this toing and froing nonsense that seems to have infected so many romance novels – about Marcus being driven by his heart to ‘save’ Abigail against her wishes, and putting himself and Margaret, who he has never loved but feels indebted to, in danger also.

It is a love story tinged with sadness but ending in hope. And I loved it.

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is powerful.

[Casandra Klund · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad I got the chance to read this story. It is a great romance. I enjoy the supernatural type and this one definitely scratched that itch.