Lillyport House was one of Britain’s most haunted residences. Originally home to Viscount Eldon Davenport, one of history’s most controversial poets, the house was sold by Davenport’s parents after he was found dead of a gunshot to the head, the pistol that killed him in his hand.
Reclusive painter Cameron McKenzie is the latest owner of Lillyport, and he doesn’t believe in ghosts, at least not until he accidentally raises Eldon from the dead.
Enter parapsychologist Malcolm and psychic Trudy, each with their own agendas. Malcolm wishes to sever the link between Cameron and Eldon, while Trudy is attempting to keep them together. Will she be able to unravel Lillyport’s secrets or does the answer to Eldon’s survival depend on Cameron, a painting, and a guilt-ridden 19th century stable boy?
Zathyn Priest is an Australian writer with severe vampiric tendencies. Absolutely convinced the sun could turn him to a pile of ash, Zathyn prefers to write under the cover of darkness. This serves two purposes, with the first being the afore mentioned sunlight danger, and the second being the fact that nighttime means no annoying phones ringing or people knocking at the door.
Zathyn has written three published novels using this strange moonlight technique. The Curtis Reincarnation, which is now available in paperback. The Slayer’s Apprentice, soon to be available in paperback. And, Liquid Glass, soon to be available from Torquere Press. He has also written two short fiction works. Left of Center, available from Torquere Press, and One of Those Days, an eBook downloadable from www.zathynpriest.com - because even though Zathyn has vampiric traits, he’s actually quite a nice guy and wrote One of Those Days as a freebie.
When Zathyn isn’t writing, or running for cover before sunlight turns him to cinders, he likes to pretend he’s really good at playing his MIDI keyboard. Thankfully, Zathyn is a conscientious neighbour. Rather than drive the street insane with repeated renditions of Greensleeves, he uses headphones because, let’s face it, no matter how beautiful Greensleeves is, most people don’t want to hear it one hundred times a night.
Zathyn lives with a retired greyhound called Chrissy, who lives the life of luxury sleeping away most of her days on the sofa and generally only waking up when there’s food around or if it’s time for a walk. There’s also a cat called Fran, who doesn’t like Chrissy very much and feels she should reiterate this fact by occasionally smacking her in the face. Just when you thought the household couldn’t get any stranger, there’s a duck - or drake, he’d probably rather be called - named Charlie who originally lived on a farm, but moved in with Zathyn after a fox ate all his girlfriends and was eying Charlie for dessert.
Lillyporth House had the reputation of being the most haunted house in all of London. It is said that since the supposed suicide of one of history’s greatest poets, Viscount Eldon Davenport, that the house was plagued with the unease of the wailing apparition of the Viscount himself. Because of its notoriety and bad reputation, the gothic mansion has stood unoccupied for years.
Cameron McKenzie is a quiet and shy successful artist. He is considered dull by his peers because of his introverted personality and fear of speaking in public. For the few that actually have taken the time to become friends with him, he is warm, funny and a very loving person. For many years he has been drawn to Lillyporth House because of his favorite poet, Viscount Eldon Davenport, once resided there. Buying the house was just a natural decision for him to make and because of his love of Eldon’s work, he believed it would be his most prized possession.
Cameron doesn’t take a lot of stock in what people say about the haunting at Lillyporth, and about Eldon’s life. Supposedly, Eldon had been caught in a compromising position with the stable boy, and because of the scandal, he committed suicide almost immediately afterward. Cameron is more apt to believe the other rumors that Eldon was mentally ill and had a possible addiction to absinthe, than the outlandish ghost stories that are told about the house.
Cameron soon changes his mind once he moves in. It’s not long before he experiences the freezing temperatures, hears the horrible wailing through the walls and sees what looks like blood all over the walls and floors. He notices once he goes into a certain bedroom and just sits quietly as if to offer support and comfort, the wailing will stop. Exhausted he falls asleep and dreams of Eldon, and in his dreams they are together and in love. When Cameron awakes the handsome poet is in his arms, cold and still and he looks dead. This of course, freaks him out and he leaves what looks like Eldon’s corpse behind, locks the bedroom door and calls Trudy Garrett, who is a well known psychic and medium.
With some convincing, he is able to get Trudy to come to Lillyporth and check out what he is sure is Eldon’s dead body. When Trudy arrives she walks up to Eldon’s room and when she enters sees Eldon huddled up against the wall and looking very alive. After some comforting and motherly affection, she convinces Eldon that he is alive and safe. Eldon tells her he must find his love Cameron McKenzie and Trudy convinces him that Cameron too is safe, and she will bring him to him.
Cameron at first refuses to see Eldon. He’s afraid and doesn’t understand what’s going on. But, the charming and determined Eldon won’t take no for an answer. Soon, both men are finally together and realize that they have a true love that won’t be denied. But, there are people who would prefer that Eldon was back in his grave and will stop at nothing until they do so.
Liquid Glass is a wonderful book. It has a very complex storyline that is interesting and a very well paced throughout the novel. The plot is suspenseful and there is a nail-biting horror to it that entranced me from the first page to the last. But, the mystery and paranormal aspect wasn’t what made me love this book so much. It was the amazing characters in this story that took a hold of me, and didn’t let go. Of course, I adored the two heroes, Eldon and Cameron. Their love for one another was a beautiful thing to experience. Plus, the lyrical and stylish way that Mr. Priest writes brings you into the story easily, too.
There is really so much I could say about this book, because I’ve honestly just reviewed a small part of the story, but if I got into it too much, it would spoil the book, and that is something I do not want to do. I will say, if you are a fan of a ghost stories and believe in the power of true love, this book is definitely for you.
To read the rest of this review and more reviews like it, please check out Night Owl Reviews at: http://www.nightowlreviews.com
Oh boy did Zathyn Priest ever do it again. This time I got the most perfect romantic love story, with the added mystery of ghosts and reincarnation and murder and unrequited love, and lets not forget Revenge lol, all amazingly packed into 155 pages.
The story of Eldon, Albert and Cameron is one that will stay with me for many days to come.
Eldon is such a wonderful character, he comes to life and makes you feel protective of him from the start.
Cameron grows on you quickly and you soon realise these two are perfect for each other.
Albert broke my heart. At times I despaired of him getting any kind of HEA. I really should have had more faith in Zathyn Priest lol.
An extremely well thought out story, with twist and turns that you may or may not see coming. But whether you work out what happens next, or are left in the dark till the very end, this story will keep you entertained and give you hope that true love will conquer all.
My only wish is that this author had more books ready for me to read.
ETA
Still one of my favorite ghostly stories. Even as a second time read I was still caught up in the story and all the suspence.
I really enjoyed this book! It had a little bit of everything: mystery, magic, comedy, romance, heartbreak...and a HEA. Eldon was just adorable! And I really liked Cameron, too. But Eldon will always be one of my favorite characters.
In the beginning there were a lot of shocking moments! Since I never read the blurb, I had NO idea what to expect. It was twisted, dark and scary. I even cried for Eldon because it was also so sad! Then, all of a sudden it was funny and romantic. There were even a few really hot scenes, too. Then the end turned dark again! But, it does ends with a HEA!!
This book truly earned it's 5 stars in every which way. Not only was it extremely well written, but the whole surrounding story line had me in its thrall. I couldn't put the book down for a second and continued on reading it relentlessly right to the very end.
This story about Eldon and Cameron is worth taking the time out of your every day busy schedule to absorb and emerse yourself into it. An exquisite story about love, reincarnation, two souls lost in one era only to be returned and back to each others arms where soul mates truly belong as two halves becoming a complete whole. The byplay of the scenes and chapters jumping from between the past historical times to present blends formidably and concludes to a climax ending you surely don't want to miss.
Trust me. Read this one. You won't regret it. It's one in my collection of The Best and I would read it again.
As many reviews have been done for this wonderful ghost/re-incarnation/witchcraft/revenge, but predominantly romantic story, this is going to be short and sweet. Eldon, you're a real sweetie!!
*sigh* I'm not sure why I waited so long to get this and read it, but I seriously regret that now. I fell in love with this book after a couple of chapters and that love grew as I read more. Honestly, I am not the biggest fan of ghost stories, but sometimes a really great story will come along, like this one, and I will fall head over heels in love it. And that happens to be the case with this one.
I absolutely adored Eldon and Cameron. I didn't expect to love them as much as I did. But they were cute (especially Eldon), sweet and just all around lovable. They really were perfect for each other, soul mates even. I was really rooting for them and I was desperate for them to get their HEA. For a while, it was looking almost impossible for them to get their deserved HEA, but eventually things did began to look up and they got there.
Everything in this book worked for me. It wasn't too much or too little and I liked that. The secondary characters all added something to the book, even the ones I disliked or hated. And nothing was overly obvious or revealed too soon.
I didn't want this book to end. That's a good sign, right? And I was sad to say goodbye to these characters because I just wanted more of their story. But as I said, this has a HEA. So don't think I wanted more because they didn't get a happy ending, because they did. I'm just greedy and want to read more about these wonderful characters. Definitely a book I would recommend to people!
I love when an author takes their time in setting up a story when it fits that story to do so. Zathyn Priest does that here with Liquid Glass, allowing for my connections to be made with characters in an organic way.
However, I knew one thing for sure early on: I really like Eldon.
Just because Eldon rated as an eligible bachelor didn’t mean he rated as highly in society circles as a person. Many found his outspoken opinions, and his friendliness toward the lesser class, as offensive as his garish attire.
Yup, sounds like my kinda guy: brash, bold, honest, and caring, with just the right level of bite to his word. He does what he wants, trying to break the rules for the right reasons, all while living in a time and with people that really couldn’t care less about him.
It also didn’t take me long to get that feeling. You know the one. I wanted to curl up with this book, cuddle it, protect it even, and I certainly wasn’t going to let anyone take it away from me. Yes, yes, I know, tis illogical but still true.
This story is a wonderful mix of paranormal, historical, contemporary, creep-tastic, mystery, and poetry. Yup, it’s poetic. Priest’s ability to make the right word choice is evident all over the place, creating a rhythm that fits characters and what they’re all experiencing. That’s not easy, folks, to create a world where the rules work for every character, no matter their role.
Priest also excels in bringing emotion right to the surface, no matter the… state of affairs, especially in regards to Eldon. Listen, it’s just plain cool! This book is so cool because all of the ingredients are expertly used and result in a most delicious reading experience.
Eldon’s other half, so to speak, is Cameron. He’s not as brash as Eldon but he’s definitely got attitude, some of it not exactly endearing, except when it is. Yup, we’re talking complex character development here, folks. Step right up, step right up, get your fantastically drawn characters right here.
Cameron lurched into the centre of the room, swaying on unsteady legs and suppressing the sickening nausea eddying inside his stomach. Despite the horror of what he saw, Cameron knew Eldon’s terror-stricken soul endured far worse.
It’s getting creepy up in this joint! Are ya curious? Ya should be.
Just at the time I thought I had a handle on where this was all heading, it took a turn and I held on, ready for the ride. All kinds of questions arose, possible conflicts presented themselves, and opportunities for understanding landed front and center. Which way would it all go?
Trudy is one of my favorite supporting characters I’ve come across. She’s caring, humorous, strong, intelligent, a bit of a mother hen, and she fits perfectly into this story. It wouldn’t have worked without her. She is a major point of connection between all of those ingredients I listed up there. I enjoyed every moment she was on page. How often can we say that?
There is some superb imagery in this book. It’s yet one more thing that pulled me into this story, never letting go the entire way.
Pelting rain fell in sheets and pounded against the glass windows of a two-room stone cottage on the outskirts of Dorset. Lightning flashed in threatening forks across a blackened sky and thunder cracked in deafening blasts. A colossal English Elm slammed its branches into the cottage with each powerful gust of wind, scraping its twiggy fingers against the window and groaning under the strain of the storm.
I mean, c’mon! That’s fantastic stuff right there.
This story works its way towards and exciting, nail-biting crescendo, gaining speed as it grows. I felt like I was ricocheting back and forth between the main stages at a concert, feeling drawn to them simultaneously, unable to choose, and even more thankful I didn’t have to do just that. Connections were being woven together, heightening the energy, propelling everything forward, and I loved it. Whew!
Amidst it all there’s also a message here, meaningful, and gently portrayed. It’s definitely the emotional icing on the rollercoaster ride of a reading experience.
You think you might know what you’re going to get with story. You might be partially correct but, trust me, you will be surprised, and you will enjoy it. Zathyn Priest deftly manages all of the moving parts, manipulating them like those on a chess board, timing everything just right.
Bravo! I recommend this book. Without any hesitation. I enjoyed every freakin’ minute.
WOW! Totally blown away, but then I always am after reading anything by Zathyn. He is a master at putting twists and turns in his stories. They would all make excellent movies.
It's not really possible to give much more detail here than the blurb without needing to use the spoiler gadget. Suffice it to say, once you start reading, it's practically impossible to put down.
The movements between time were done so well as to be flawless. I was never confused even when I was listening as opposed to reading on my Kindle (was so good that when I had to stop reading I kept listening... was just too good to put down!!). Every character is has a key role in the story and shouldn't be dismissed. There was no "fluff". Eldon was the sweetest soul. He and Cameron were the most perfect examples of soulmates.
So if you are looking for a paranormal romance, where soulmates find each other across the expanse of time... where they must fight an evil to stay together... that has humor, angst, numerous plot twists that make you say OMG!...and really sweet and tender sex (don't read Zathyn for the heavy sex), then treat yourself and read Liquid Glass. I'm going to stick it on my Favorites Shelf right now :0)
enpjoyed the premise of the book, however, the formatting through out it drove me bonkers and I nearly gave up. Case in point, I would be reading and the font would be perfectly fine, click the next screen on my kindle and the font would be bold and underlined for the next few pages, and then would go back to being normal. this happened multiple times through-out the book
This book completely enthralled me. It kept me just wanting more and more. I ended up actually being disgusted with myself for having to go to sleep because I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore. I loved the romance, the angst, the drama, the historical aspect mixed with the present, the reincarnation, just everything.
Eldon and Cameron are such lovely characters and I even became attached to Trudy when in fact I tend to try and ignore the female characters in the books I read - weird I know. Eldon was one of the quirkiest and likable characters I've ever read considering he came from the staunch and top-button-buttoned snobbery of society. He was a joy to read, and Cameron was so delightfully prudish in some ways and sexy in others. I laughed when they laughed, I cried when they cried and I ahhhed when they were happily together.
I loved Zathyn's plot, too, of course - so intricate and interesting. He wove a tale like I haven't really read before and I'll forever love the term "liquid glass" because of him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was the second time reading this author and I had the same feelings about his writing style this time around. He has a way of making me feel almost involved in the story, keeping you thinking and guessing from beginning to end.
I was a bit worried about reading a ghost story, but that fear dissipated quickly as the story began. This one was more about reincarnation and soul mates with murder and mystery mixed in the love and laughter. It flips back and forth between current day and the past which can really distract from a story. That was not the case here, and, in fact, is an integral part of understanding what is happening.
The reason this isn't a 5 star for me is for the simple fact that there were a few occasions where a character was.putting up some sort of a fight but then, suddenly, they gave in and went the opposite direction. This is more of a pet peeve of mine but there you have it.
I enjoyed this and look forward to reading more from this fabulous writer.
Had a bit difficulty figuring out how to rate this, in the end I settle with 2.5 stars. While I like the idea of reincarnation, and as always, Priest come up with smooth flow of dialogs, that are sometimes very smart and funny that make me giggling, HOWEVER, the whole overused of terms of endearments put me off. I struggle not to gag with all the sugary sweet things ... I like my men to act more manly (for lack of the better term, doesn't mean to offend anyone) than this. So even if I can enjoy it, it's definitely not for reread anytime soon
This is one of the best books I've read this year. The plot was well developed and that was hard to do given all the tangled threads that needed to be woven to create the story. All the characters were fully developed and believable.
Wait - only five stars?? I need more for this book!
Other authors pale in comparison to this one. There's never a dull moment, it's very well thought out, extremely well written, amazing characters and settings... The way Zathyn distributes the hints throughout is perfect. It almost felt as if he wrote the story backwards - it was that delicately done.
I think I've developed a deep interest in m/m historicals now. Eldon was exquisite.
I have two more of his books on my Kindle - a holiday treat to me from me. Can't wait to read them!
I really enjoyed the fact that the story was taking place in two time periods, going back and forth, being enveloped in layer upon layer of mystery, magical spells and dreams. The only negative part was at the very end when the author started going into too many details trying to explain how all that magic worked. It's a romance, not a manual on time travel or performing magic spells. A longer love scene as a grand finale would have been great. 4 stars.
Really 4.5 stars. I'm not a big fan of psychic powers and ghosties so that's what kept in from being a 5 star read. Zathyn is one of the few authors that completely sucks me into a story and doesn't let go until I'm finished. This one also had some lovely smexing! A must read love story for everyone but especially those who love a good ghost story.
Another brilliant book where the ending was not clearly spelled out in the first few pages of the book. Throughout most of the book, I couldn't clearly see how it would end. Which is amazing, considering most m/m books completely lack mystery and subtlety.
This book was utterly amazing. Even towards the end, it still had a few surprises that I found shocking.
Zathyn Priest can do no wrong in my book. Everything I've read by him has been completely exceptional and stands well above the crowd of other m/m books I read.
Again, if I could give more than 5 stars, I would.
Reviewing this book would be too difficult. So many different things happened in this story that I would be unable to do it justice.
I was amazed at how everything came together. This is not my normal type of book (by any means) but Zathyn Priest took an unusual topic and made it so entertaining that I didn't want to put it down, even for a little while. I kept waiting to see what would happen next.
GREAT book. My 3rd by this author and all three have received 5 stars.
The last scene when Eldon notices Cameron's gift was the absolute perfect ending to this incredible story. My heart actually stuttered when I read that and a sigh passed my lips. Yet another masterpiece by Zathyn Priest. So much was going on in this story and I had to really pay attention but it was so well written I never got lost. Possibly the best "ghost" story I've ever read. Recommended for anyone who believes in true love and soul mates.
4.5 stars. This story grabs you and makes it difficult to stop reading for things like sleeping and working. I wish the ending was a bit more, though. It felt like it was just leaving off in the middle of a scene.
[The way Eldon's jaw jutted forward, the way his blue eyes lit up, the way his hands on hips defined a narrow waist, and the way his faultless face contorted slightly with anger all combined to present an incredibly sexy picture of perfection. He'd taken as much dismissal as he was willing to take and now challenged Cameron in a highly evocative way.
"I am not vermin and I refuse to—"
Shooting his right arm out, Cameron snared Eldon around the waist and pulled the man roughly against his body. “Kiss me."
Never had Cameron experienced such desire at what was an extremely inappropriate moment to feel aroused.
"I would rather press my lips against a pig's rectum than kiss the likes of you! You are nothing but a cad!” Turning his face away, Eldon pushed at Cameron's chest with balled fists. “Unhand me this instant!"
Obeying the order, he let Eldon go.
"Cameron!” Again Eldon struck the boards with his heel and flicked his hair over his shoulder in irritation. “Have you never read a romance novel? The cad does not unhand on request! You were supposed to kiss me while I, for a brief moment, resisted you."
In old photographs Eldon appeared beautifully sinister and appropriately aristocratic. In reality he was beautifully captivating and downright camp.
Quickly Eldon smoothed down his tailcoat. “You shall snatch me again and this time you will do it correctly."
"God help me if I don't!” Mimicking what he'd done before, though with a little more tentativeness, Cameron snared Eldon around the waist again. “Kiss me."
"You are nothing but a cad!” Balling his fists, Eldon pushed at Cameron's chest. “Unhand me this instant!"
Cameron played along, realizing his trepidation had vanished and changed into exhilaration. “Not until I kiss you, Viscount Davenport."
"Viscount Davenport?” Eldon winked playfully. “That is very good, Cameron. Very good indeed!"]
I was very hesitant to read this book because of being pagan. I ran from the theatres of Paranormal Activities because of the inaccuracies. Don’t get me wrong, I can use my imagination but when you delve into my realm with witchcraft than get it right! I was very pleasantly surprised because the author did, he did his homework! I was able to sit back and enjoy the book without cringing over my beliefs being hacked. It was so refreshing! For that alone I could give five stars but I don’t have to because this was a really well written book. The characters were in-depth, flawed, and yet lovable. The flaws were what drove the book because you wanted to see how they were forgiven and when they weren’t forgivable how they were avenged. The love was quick but believable, by the end of the book you completely understood how it could happened and what’s more you believed it. I truly enjoyed everything about this book.
I started this book and thought it would be an insta dislike. The synopsis didn't really do anything for me and it started off as a historical story which isn't my cup of tea. Once Cameron and Eldon meet I was so excited to finish this one. The story is very well written especially with the subject matter at hand And everything just ended up fitting together so nicely.. GAH! I cant even review this book without spoilers. But Yeah... I liked it.
One of the things I love about Zathyn Priest is that he surprises me every time. This was a great, unpredictable, sweet, engaging read with well rounded characters, good pacing, nice tension, and good dialog. Loved the ending.
Loved this book and the premise behind it! Obviously well planned and thought out as the book actually tells 2 stories, if not more. Don't want to give anything away, but takes the idea of "soulmates" to a whole new level! Anxios to read more from this author!!
Definitely more romance than spooky haunting-tale, the plot was well paced and engaging with MCs Eldon and Cameron gaining my sympathy and support fairly early on. Told via a back-n-forth historical time-line sequence, the author brings about reincarnation via blood-magic and witchcraft ... some of which seemed too far-fetched and fantastical but did not lessen my overall enjoyment. There were a couple of surprising plot twists and turns at the end - although my suspicions of how secondary character Albert factors in proved correct. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 (just because of the daffodils! LOL).
This was my first book by ZP but will not be my last. Really enjoyed and couldn't stop reading until finished the book. Kept me enthralled from the beginning to the end...
It's weird that I'd give a favorite 3 stars, huh? But it deserves it.
First off, I love Eldon. He is such an adorable character. He reminds me of Jane Austen, but in a non-whiny, less-vacuous fashion, something like that. See my status updates for some examples of my squee'ing over Eldon.
The plot's okay. It was better at some times and some times it was just meh.
The grammar I have many issues with. First off, it's "trance" and not "trace." Secondly, it's okay to use periods, you know? Not everything has to be a run-on. And there were also numerous missing commas. Also, one "bears" children, not "bares" them (misused homophones, one of my top pet peeves). The falling pregnant thing made me laugh. When you say she "fell pregnant," it makes it sound like an accidental thing. "I swear it was an accident. I didn't mean for it to happen. It just...you know, did..." (Come on. She was raped. Just say it.)
Some of the plot points seemed waaay too easy. Too simple. Every loose end was just...wrapped up.
It's like Melancholia. The story's overwrought and sometimes rather kitsch, but the message is good and it DOES manage to shine through regardless. Actually, is there even a message in this? *shrugs. That awesome w/e quality of good books, then, shines through amid the...kitsch...