Review: A Walk Through Fire by Felice Stevens (Through Hell & Back #1)


Note: This ARC was provided by Give Me Books Promotions in exchange for an honest review.

Angst. Lots and lots of angst. A Walk Through Fire, the first novel in Felice Stevens's Through Hell & Back series has been re-edited, added on to with additional text, and just re-released, having been originally published a little over two years ago, and I do believe that the title of the series is rather apt for the stories it tells. This series starter had both main characters going back and forth with years upon years of self-imposed guilt weighing them down, and a quick peek at the synopses for the two other books in the series--both of which will also be re-published--all the characters do go through hellish experiences before clawing their way back to the land of the living. And no, my previous sentence does not mean this is some sort of post-apocalyptic read in the vein of The Walking Dead. This first novel was riddled with angst and drama and I'm guessing that's what we may find in the two books to follow.

Now, I don't have an issue with angst. We all have our fair share of angst, so who am I to deny fictional characters their angst? Asher Davis and Drew Klein are both successful men in their chosen professions--Ash is a lawyer and Drew is a plastic surgeon. Their personal lives, however, are totally lacking. Ash hooks up with whomever catches his fancy and Drew is waiting for his divorce to be finalized. From the moment Ash sees Drew in the conference room of his law office, he's reaction to the man is very different from any he's had before. But Drew is very much straight, so pursuing him shouldn't even be a consideration. When Ash is asked to help out with the medical and legal clinic for LGBTQ youth Drew is opening, he agrees, recognizing himself in the very kids the place hopes to help. But in the midst of their already messed up feelings, threats arise, putting the clinic and Drew's family at risk.

Okay, so the angst has to do with sexual abuse that happened to Ash as teenager in a foster home and his abandonment of his two foster brothers that he believes he failed. On Drew's part, there's the death of his parents and his feeling of loneliness, what with those closest to him finding love and commitment while he remains alone. Then there's the whole Drew being straight but wait, maybe he's not so straight after all if his constant thinking of issue is a clue. Then there's manwhore Ash who seems to have lost his need to be a manwhore when his interest in Drew grows. But these two lack communication, and that isn't limited to just the lack of initiative to share their pasts, so there are misunderstandings, assumptions, changing of opinions, etc. So yes, there was angst and lots of it, to the that point it was too much at times, giving A Walk Through Fire an overly melodramatic feel. Three stars. ♥

Re-Release Date: 08 November 2016

Date Read: 08 November 2016

Learn more about Felice Stevens.

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