ABSOLUTION by L P LOVELL & STEVIE J COLE

 ‘I was raised to believe pain equates to forgiveness.’

Holy shit what the hell did we just read? Well, before we try to answer that question we really have to applaud these authors for an incredibly addictive and well written story. The writing was fabulous and flawless which made for a craze arsed ride that had us feeling depraved and mortified at our enjoyment – but then again we do kind of love reading past our comfort zones.

‘There are no rules, no safe words. I do not want her willing submission. I want to drag it from her, screaming and crying. I want ultimate power over her, and while she’s here in this room with me, I want to own her, body and soul.’

This is not a book for the fainthearted and the Authors themselves have warned readers of this, so pick it up at your own risk. It was ugly, sadistic, horrific and violent. Yet it was terrifyingly sad, twistedly romantic and an extremely unusual love story. Because yes – at the crux of it – it was ultimately about love when stripped of conditioned fucked-up-ness. All we needed was a Tarrantino movie soundtrack to play in the background whilst reading Absolution.

‘I can practically hear her thrumming heartbeat. That sound is like music to my ears, but I don’t want brave faces. I want tears. I want screams.’

So let’s look at the definition of Absolution to start off with. Absolution is the formal release from guilt, obligation, or punishment. For one of our characters this was the soul destroying reality whilst fighting an indoctrination through a punishment of such extreme severity it ultimately impacted and altered the psyche and ‘normal’ body and mind responses. In the name of misguided religion whilst instead at the hands of self-serving narcissistic personalities who needed someone to blame for their own immorality.

‘Ezra is like a storm, violent and turbulent, and as long as you aren’t the one swept up in his winds, it’s tragically beautiful.’

In fiction we’re allowed to say we were mesmerised by Ezra to the point of falling for him. In real life we’d run for the hills never looking back.

‘He is the devil in all his brutal, raw beauty that leads the innocent into temptation.’

His perfect match? Well that would be the one trying to kill him. The one seeking absolution. The one who’s dedicated what’s left of herself to rid the world of the sins that live within her underneath her skin. The ‘stains’ she’s incapable of washing off.

‘Evie. The little killer. The monster hiding behind the face of an angel. She’s so fucked up she makes me look dull.’

We understood and hurt for Evie as we learnt of why she’s on the road that she is, we wanted to comfort this crazed haunted animal – yet again because this is fiction. In real life we’d run for the hills once more and never accept a drink thrust at us or even dare to send a look at Ezra.

“I’m the only God you need, little killer. I’m the one who will protect you, and I’m the one who will rain down hell on anyone who hurts you.”

Sin – obsession – death – passion – redemption – love…..

……………………..Ezra & Evie……it doesn’t get more bloodier than that….Bloody Brilliant!

“Do you like it when I hurt you, little killer? Don’t be ashamed, sweetheart. It’s fucking beautiful.”