Book Reviews

Carillon's Curse (Men of the Shadows 1) by Sionnach Wintergreen

Genre Gay / Historical / Paranormal / 19th Century / Disability / Ghosts/Spirits/Hauntings / Psychic Powers / Romance / Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Reviewed by Lena Grey on 13-January-2025

Book Blurb

In 1888 Austin, Texas, a shy medium with clubfoot is visited by the horrific ghosts of murdered children and enlists the help of a surly Texas Ranger to pursue their killer. As the two men hunt the murderer, they find themselves not only in the grip of a taboo love that could—at best—send them to prison, but also in danger of becoming the killer’s next prey.

In the twenty three years of his life, Thomas Carillon has known nothing but unrequited love. People don’t notice him; they only notice his clubfoot. He has given himself up to a solitary existence with only the companionship of his cat and the ghosts who visit him. When a rare child ghost, her massive injuries evident, asks Thomas for help, the only lawman that will listen is a hard-bitten Texas Ranger who reawaken’s Thomas’s secret desires. The two grow closer as they chase the killer, but can they hold onto their fragile, budding love in such hard times?

Hadrian Burton thinks Thomas looks like an angel, except for whatever horror he’s hiding in that strange boot. Temporarily leaving life on the range and his complicated past to track down a killer with Thomas, Hadrian finds himself doing something he vowed never to do again—falling in love. Their “congress,” as Thomas calls it, is more intense than he has ever experienced. After a lifetime of virginity, the clubfooted man is going wild, and he doesn’t balk at Hadrian’s unconventional appetites. But they’re too different; Hadrian fears he will only hurt Thomas in the end. And yet, he has never fallen so hard for another man. How can he keep both his and Thomas’s hearts from being broken? And how can he bring the elusive Child Slayer to justice with only the help of a medium and ghosts?

 

Book Review

“It’s not the disability that defines you; it’s how you deal with the challenges the disability presents you with.” ~ Jim Abbott

 

Thomas Carillion, of ‘Carillon's Curse’ by Sinnoach Wintergreen, lives with his cat, Gracie, in a mansion he inherited from his parents. He rarely ventures outside due to persecution from others because of his clubfoot. People also find him peculiar because he sees and converses with ghosts. When a child ghost appears to him and tells him about her gruesome murder, Thomas feels he must tell someone. He rushes to the sheriff, who does not believe him. A stranger, Hadrian Burton, a Texas Ranger with the sheriff, is curious enough to go with Thomas, drawn by the mystery of Thomas's abilities.

 

Hadrian is skeptical of Thomas and his abilities, but his curiosity gets the best of him. Thomas describes the murder in such horrible detail that it is beyond reason. Instead of accepting Thomas's abilities, Hadrian decides that the only way Thomas could know what happened was if he were the murderer and arrests him. However, later, Hadrian experiences one of Thomas's encounters, and, as much as he wants not to, Hadrian has to admit that what Thomas can do is real. This experience changes Hadrian's opinion of him. As they pursue the actual murderer together, their interest in each other deepens. When their attraction evolves into something more, it takes both men by surprise.

 

Sionnach has written an intense, often dark murder mystery and a romance. Thomas's persistence, sensitivity, and intelligence won my heart right away. Hadrian, on the other hand, was more challenging for me to like. His past life experiences explain some of his roughness, but not enough for me. He may be more likable in the next book in the series. Thanks, Sionnach, for the extraordinary tale.

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book was purchased by the reviewer.

 

Additional Information

Format ebook
Length Novel, 279 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date 10-December-2021
Price $3.99 ebook
Buy Link https://www.amazon.com/Carillons-Curse-Sionnach-Wintergreen-ebook/dp/B09M7QQ1HM