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The Inferno #1
Through the Inferno
Firefighter Jason Merone was severely burned and injured when the building he and his best friend were in collapsed as they were rescuing a young child. Depressed and nearly inconsolable, it’s not until his home care nurse, Zoe Calder, spots the telltale signs of severe depression and confronts him that Jason finds the will to live.
A few weeks later, Zoe is sexually assaulted by a man she meets through a dating app, and when he’s caught and her transgender identity is revealed, Jason’s transphobic mother makes sure she loses her job.
Jason and Zoe stay in touch, as they’ve built a close friendship, but when Zoe’s home is torched, she runs for her life, leaving Jason feeling bereft from the loss of what he knows could be a lasting relationship. Jason learns that Zoe’s troubles aren’t over, and he must work to identify who’s behind it all in time to save her.
A few weeks later, Zoe is sexually assaulted by a man she meets through a dating app, and when he’s caught and her transgender identity is revealed, Jason’s transphobic mother makes sure she loses her job.
Jason and Zoe stay in touch, as they’ve built a close friendship, but when Zoe’s home is torched, she runs for her life, leaving Jason feeling bereft from the loss of what he knows could be a lasting relationship. Jason learns that Zoe’s troubles aren’t over, and he must work to identify who’s behind it all in time to save her.
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Published September 16, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 4, 2021
This is that unicorn, a transfem romance novel by a transfem author, so it's hard for me to be objective about this!
What I will say is that the story goes to some DARK places; it's as much a crime thriller as a romance in places. The portrayal of health care and fire personnel is clearly authentic and loving. The central romance is deeply sweet and I wish it got as much time as the crime elements.
What I will say is that the story goes to some DARK places; it's as much a crime thriller as a romance in places. The portrayal of health care and fire personnel is clearly authentic and loving. The central romance is deeply sweet and I wish it got as much time as the crime elements.
September 15, 2019
Wow! There’s sure a lot going on in this book and I’m pleased to say that Jessi Noelle handles it all well.
Let’s see… very early on in the novel, Firefighter Jason Merone is injured badly while at a fire. He’s trying to save a child with one of his colleagues when his hose drops pressure and he makes a mistake that has terrible results. Jason loses his friend and is badly burned.
Jason’s struggle is heartbreaking to read. It isn’t so much the injuries to his body as they scar on his soul. He is bearing the weight of great guilt, struggling to understand why he’s alive and his friend is dead. He’s fighting depression as his body fights to heal. The descriptions of Jason’s injuries, the treatment and the way his mind spiraled into depression was all really difficult to read. It was difficult to read because Jessi Noelle wrote it so authentically.
Jason’s struggle is just the beginning of the heaviness in this novel. When Jason’s new nurse arrives, Zoe Calder enters the story. Zoe is great at her job but she’s had her own struggles to deal with. She’s estranged from her family and lonely in spite of her roommate and best friend. It’s really as though these two souls were meant for each other. Each of them has been through their own challenges and I felt, from the beginning, as though they were truly meant to save one another.
When Jason’s colleague shows up and expresses how responsible he feels for the death of their friend and for Jason’s injuries… Jason realizes that things have taken a desperate turn. Jason lets Zoe know that his friend is in trouble… and thinking of making a permanent exit. This is when the connection between Jason and Zoe really begins to solidify.
As usual, I find myself not wanting to give away too many of the things that are revealed in this story. Early on something terrible happens to Zoe… the kind of thing that can really make your retreat from the world and just… give up. Together, Zoe and Jason find themselves working to help right things in Zoe’s life.
This is an unusual “romance” in that there’s a lot of trauma and heaviness in it. But the relationship between Jason and Zoe is wonderful. Yes, they have things to overcome, yes, there are moments when it feels like they won’t make it… but isn’t that life?
Thanks, Jessi! This book is a 4 from me – with a warning that the content may be very difficult for some people to read. Oh! and I read somewhere that Jessi was once a firefighter which explains how detailed and authentic the firefighting scenes were.
Let’s see… very early on in the novel, Firefighter Jason Merone is injured badly while at a fire. He’s trying to save a child with one of his colleagues when his hose drops pressure and he makes a mistake that has terrible results. Jason loses his friend and is badly burned.
Jason’s struggle is heartbreaking to read. It isn’t so much the injuries to his body as they scar on his soul. He is bearing the weight of great guilt, struggling to understand why he’s alive and his friend is dead. He’s fighting depression as his body fights to heal. The descriptions of Jason’s injuries, the treatment and the way his mind spiraled into depression was all really difficult to read. It was difficult to read because Jessi Noelle wrote it so authentically.
Jason’s struggle is just the beginning of the heaviness in this novel. When Jason’s new nurse arrives, Zoe Calder enters the story. Zoe is great at her job but she’s had her own struggles to deal with. She’s estranged from her family and lonely in spite of her roommate and best friend. It’s really as though these two souls were meant for each other. Each of them has been through their own challenges and I felt, from the beginning, as though they were truly meant to save one another.
When Jason’s colleague shows up and expresses how responsible he feels for the death of their friend and for Jason’s injuries… Jason realizes that things have taken a desperate turn. Jason lets Zoe know that his friend is in trouble… and thinking of making a permanent exit. This is when the connection between Jason and Zoe really begins to solidify.
As usual, I find myself not wanting to give away too many of the things that are revealed in this story. Early on something terrible happens to Zoe… the kind of thing that can really make your retreat from the world and just… give up. Together, Zoe and Jason find themselves working to help right things in Zoe’s life.
This is an unusual “romance” in that there’s a lot of trauma and heaviness in it. But the relationship between Jason and Zoe is wonderful. Yes, they have things to overcome, yes, there are moments when it feels like they won’t make it… but isn’t that life?
Thanks, Jessi! This book is a 4 from me – with a warning that the content may be very difficult for some people to read. Oh! and I read somewhere that Jessi was once a firefighter which explains how detailed and authentic the firefighting scenes were.
October 9, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
Initially, I picked this book for two reasons. First, I’m interesed in transgender stories. Second, I still remember an extremely well-crafted fanfic that featured firefighters. Through the Inferno delivered big, not only on these two themes, but it also developed into an edge-of-your-seat thriller that had me whipping through pages desperate to find out what happens. As noted above, the justice system’s bias against people who are not white and male came into play. That is to say, Jessi Noelle brilliantly captures the utter futility Zoe experiences trying to bring a violent stalker to justice. Suffice to say, Noelle’s ability to incorporate all these elements in a riveting story that combines romance with outright thriller threads made for an extremely satisfying read.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
Initially, I picked this book for two reasons. First, I’m interesed in transgender stories. Second, I still remember an extremely well-crafted fanfic that featured firefighters. Through the Inferno delivered big, not only on these two themes, but it also developed into an edge-of-your-seat thriller that had me whipping through pages desperate to find out what happens. As noted above, the justice system’s bias against people who are not white and male came into play. That is to say, Jessi Noelle brilliantly captures the utter futility Zoe experiences trying to bring a violent stalker to justice. Suffice to say, Noelle’s ability to incorporate all these elements in a riveting story that combines romance with outright thriller threads made for an extremely satisfying read.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
September 14, 2019
I’m not sure how to review this book; I found it horrific and brutal but also a triumph over adversity too!! I fell in love with all of the characters apart from the bad guys obviously. It had me captivated from the moment I started and I couldn’t put it down! I was on an emotional rollercoaster the entire time. It opened my eyes to the fact that there are still so many people who do not understand the issues faced by transgender people every day; sadly I was one of those people. However, I’m not now. There were some disturbingly brutal attacks which were difficult to read (including rape) and some antiquated ideals that were held by others. It made me look inside myself at times and question my own beliefs. I loved this book despite all of that and would recommend it for sure.
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August 15, 2021This is listed as a romance on the publisher's website, and I was so excited for an ownvoices romance written by a trans gal... but having read it, to me this doesn't feel like a romance. It has an HEA, but feels like a crime thriller with a not-as-strong-as-I-wanted romance subplot.
March 15, 2023
At first, I was riveted to the story.
Jason is a firefighter and he loves his job. Unfortunately, Jason is badly burned while trying to save a little boy's life in a raging fire. The pain and the grief he suffered was horrible ! It was very painful to read !
Then enters Zoe, the other MC. She's Jason's private nurse. She is dedicated to her job and very professional. She's also trans and had to struggle to get through life.
In the beginning, the story is centered on Jason's painful and slow recovery. Then, it goes back on Zoe. She wants to meet a man and finally decides to use an app.
This part is very traumatic to read. She meets a man and invites him in her home. At first, he's charming but when she refuses to have sex with him, he sexually assaults her and tries to murder her.
She survives but is profoundly traumatized.
After her recovery, she goes back taking care of Jason. They soon develop feelings for one another and that's where it would have been enough for the story to evolve and become a real love journey.
But, that was not the case. Oh no !
From that point on, it just went to shit !
Too many unbelievable plots. I just got exasperated with every twist in the story that kept going on and on ! It would take forever to try to detail every one of them ! Jason and Zoe's parents were awful ! Delphine drove me nuts with the french endearment. If you want to use french, just do it right ! She kept saying "Cheri" to Zoe but it's the masculine version of the word ! She should have said "Chérie" instead. In a trans story, it's doubly demeaning ! And the guns ! Why Delphine owns so many guns ? The DA character was unbelievable. The cops were transphobic and incompetent ! Jason's hability with computer is not plausible !
It's so disappointing when you expect a good story but end up with a disastrous one !
Jason is a firefighter and he loves his job. Unfortunately, Jason is badly burned while trying to save a little boy's life in a raging fire. The pain and the grief he suffered was horrible ! It was very painful to read !
Then enters Zoe, the other MC. She's Jason's private nurse. She is dedicated to her job and very professional. She's also trans and had to struggle to get through life.
In the beginning, the story is centered on Jason's painful and slow recovery. Then, it goes back on Zoe. She wants to meet a man and finally decides to use an app.
This part is very traumatic to read. She meets a man and invites him in her home. At first, he's charming but when she refuses to have sex with him, he sexually assaults her and tries to murder her.
She survives but is profoundly traumatized.
After her recovery, she goes back taking care of Jason. They soon develop feelings for one another and that's where it would have been enough for the story to evolve and become a real love journey.
But, that was not the case. Oh no !
From that point on, it just went to shit !
Too many unbelievable plots. I just got exasperated with every twist in the story that kept going on and on ! It would take forever to try to detail every one of them ! Jason and Zoe's parents were awful ! Delphine drove me nuts with the french endearment. If you want to use french, just do it right ! She kept saying "Cheri" to Zoe but it's the masculine version of the word ! She should have said "Chérie" instead. In a trans story, it's doubly demeaning ! And the guns ! Why Delphine owns so many guns ? The DA character was unbelievable. The cops were transphobic and incompetent ! Jason's hability with computer is not plausible !
It's so disappointing when you expect a good story but end up with a disastrous one !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2024
Noelle does a fantastic job at showing two people who are completely different falling in love and their circumstances being wholeheartedly intertwined. The book I read in a single sitting and could not put it down. A fine tale of love and acceptance an also one of grief.
Overall I think you should read this novel if you are interested in what I've stated above alongside the brief book's description.
Overall I think you should read this novel if you are interested in what I've stated above alongside the brief book's description.
June 11, 2022
It’s a solid book with a romance you root for but despite the title I wasn’t prepared for the amount of trauma this book contained. Both main characters are put through the wringer and more than deserved their happily ever after, but it was rough getting there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews