From fan-favorite author Alexis Hall comes a story of faith, redemption, and love—a melancholic tale of queer romance set in nineteenth-century England.
On the grim streets of London, a young man succumbs to his demons. Discarded by his lover and left penniless and alone, Michael “Micha” Dashwood uses sex to pay the bills and opium to numb the pain.
When a sudden illness strikes, all seems lost. But hope finds Micha in the shape of the Reverend Thomas Mandeville. Haunted by grief of his own, Thomas cannot bear to ignore another man’s plight. He brings the ailing Micha home to heal in his parish at Nettlefield.
As Micha recovers under Thomas’s care, he begins to realize that some people in this world are worthy of trust. Thomas, in turn, learns the truth of his own needs and desires. Between the secrets of the past and the burdens of the present, their future together seems impossible. Questions of faith and the shadow of opium continue to haunt them both.
Yet possibilities, like miracles, can be found wherever you look for them.
THE FACTS
📙 Gorgeous writing
📘 Overflowing with romance and passion
📗 Non-traditional ending, but STILL a romance. (I’ll die on this hill)
📕 Emotional
THE REVIEW
I just finished reading “Never After” by Alexis Hall and I will admit freely to crying for the last 20 or 30 pages. Alexis remains one of my very favourite authors; there’s really nothing they can’t write…and certainly nothing of theirs I won’t read.
This is a romance. Hands down. No question. But it’s more.
Romance is definitely in this author’s wheelhouse, and I think I need to begin this review with a discussion about “romance”. Is this book a romance? You bet your ass it is. I read a fair number of reviews from folks who felt they had been cheated out of what they would consider a traditional HEA.
Is the love on these pages a “traditional” romance? No. Is it beautiful? Yes. Is it stunning and engaging? Yes. I read this differently than some people, I feel. Perhaps it’s because I am older and grew up in a time when Queer relationships weren’t afforded as much freedom as they are now (and yes, I know that’s in danger!) My point is…it didn’t seem far-fetched to me. And it didn’t seem unhappy. Nor did it make me think that I hadn’t read a romance. There is so much love, romance and passion between the two main characters. If you don’t think this is a romance… you need to broaden your horizons.
This is more than a story about a Priest and a sex worker. It is a historical novel. That is carefully crafted to reveal the variety of challenges that queer men would have faced.
As always, Hall has crafted a richly immersive world, and I became invested in the relationship right away. The two characters were very different. Thomas was mild mannered, gentle and a spiritual. Micha, in contrast, was fiery, confronting and a challenge.
When these two characters come together it’s like a firestorm in a bottle. Both of their words are turned upside down, their beliefs challenged and their hearts battered. The beauty of this story rests with Thomas, I think. This character is charming and joyful… and I loved the way that he gave himself over to love with barely a hesitation.
Stunning, beautiful, loving, romantic, passionate, and sad. Just like life.
THE LINKS
🖊 Author
I purchased my own copy of “Never After” by Alexis Hall and I would buy it a million more times if I could.
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