“I swear. Give me one more chance and I will make the most of it.”Ex-hustler Javier Landes is asking for his third chance at love. The third time proves to be the charm when he meets Steffen Finch, a talented art therapist. What starts as a casual encounter deepens into a passionate relationship–everything Jav has ever wanted, and everything he fears losing.Stef’s business card reads Curator … card reads Curator & Sailor. His creativity and insightful nature have made him into a talented therapist, the one to call for tough cases. His professional success can’t conceal a deep need to connect with someone, but Javier Landes is the last person Stef expected.
Geronimo “Geno” Caan is Stef’s most challenging case. To cope with his ordeal, he’s allowed an alter-ego called Mos to make decisions, and now lives a double life within a web of lies. Under Stef’s navigation, Geno uses art to express what Mos forbids to be spoken aloud. But as Geno’s attachment to Stef gradually extends to Jav, the boundaries between professional and personal begin to blur.
Over the course of a year, Jav, Stef and Geno form an unexpected and unconventional triangle, revealing how men make love in times of war and how love is a great wisdom made up of small understandings. The long-awaited second book of the Venery series, A Charm of Finches is an epic tale of survival and secrets guaranteed to make you think and feel and remember.
more
If there were ever a review that I found difficult to write, it would be for a book written by Suanne Laqueur… simply because she is such a phenomenal writer, and I know I will never do it justice. A Charm of Finches is the second in the Venery series, and the second book I’ve read from the author to date. While nothing will ever surpass the first one, this comes very close. This is not a book for everyone. It addresses many topics which will be awkward, painful, invasive, and too raw for those who prefer something lighthearted. But at the same time, Laqueur is such an intense and powerful writer, every moment is packed with beauty and emotion that will make any and all readers cry. If you do not bawl while reading this, you need to speak with someone about getting your tear ducts repaired.
Okay, the facts: a multi-day gang rape of a young teenage boy, death of someone’s family, survival after Auschwitz, divorce, suicide attempts, new love, discovery of homosexuality, addressing fears head on, psychology / art therapy for the truly physically and mentally abused… BUT, forget what the story deals with and focus on the path that our beautiful and tragic characters take to climb deep into a hole and thrust themselves through the pain to find the one ray of shining hope. It doesn’t come easily. It doesn’t always happen. But when it does, your heart will feel such an immensity of relief, you don’t ever want to put the book down.
But you have to. Not because it’s not a page-turner. It absolutely is. But you can only handle so much reality at once. I might never complain about anything again after seeing what others have gone through. While some of this is fiction, there is a huge component of truth. This has happened to people. Probably people you’ve met. But you never knew. And now, an amazing author can deliver it, and while what Laqueur has dropped in our laps, though some of the best writing I’ve read in years, is probably minor compared to what victims truly experienced. Laqueur has given us gift in this series… a way to understand people we might not know in person.
It’s not all emotionally-wrecking behavior. There are moments of levity. Laqueur captures those early new relationship feelings when we don’t trust ourselves that someone can love us. She highlights what we do wrong and what we do right when trying to share our love through both physical and mental methods. Whether she’s comparing fellow members of a rape-survival group to the Easter Island statues protecting us from anyone getting in or out, to the flight of a finch or a lark, you will connect with this author.
The only reason someone shouldn’t read the book, or doesn’t like it, is if he or she can’t handle the topics. Other than that, this is a finely crafted, must-read book for true literary fiction fans who can immerse themselves in the world of people you will grow to love like family. But do it the right way… buddy read it with a friend, like I did. Nina and I carried each other through this book for a few days. Almost chatting like two awkward teenagers who share a language no one else understands. It was the words we didn’t say that explained our mutual feelings… and that’s exactly what happens in the book, too… it’s what the author purposely doesn’t say that shows how awesome she is and how she should be on the top of the charts for all to see. I don’t often praise this highly, but this is a series that I will never forget, and I will always recommend.
Extraordinary – that’s the word that best fits this book, since it’s well above ordinary. There are two wonderfully integrated stories in this book: Javier and Stef’s love story, and Geno’s path to healing. As far as Geno goes, his pain and struggle will tear your guts out. But it makes the healing he ultimately finds through the care of Stef and others SO incredibly life-affirming. With respect to the love story between Stef and Javier – this one now ranks right up there with a couple of my Alexis Hall favorites in terms of powerful male/male love stories. I never realized a man taking his rings off to come to bed could become so symbolically sexy, lol! And seeing Javier finally find the love he deserved was another deep pleasure.
Laqueur brings you into the hearts and souls of the characters so intimately you feel like they’re family; wanting to love them, ease their pain and celebrate their successes with a joy greater than you have for your own. While I can’t imagine a higher achievement than that, for an author like this, any heights are possible. I look forward to the next Venery series book.
[Note: I’d recommend reading Exaltation of Larks before this one (also a 5+++ star book), because it gives you the needed first part of Jav’s journey (and that of the other wonderful characters) which adds to the meaningfulness of Charm of Finches.]
I actually finished this book—the first time I read it—days ago, shortly after I finished Book 1. But if that first book was perfect, this one takes it a step beyond. I’ve actually read it three times, and may open it just one more time before I can put it away. Not only is the book flawless in both storytelling and writing, it’s much deeper, more emotional, and honestly, some of it is difficult to read but even harder to put down.
This is mostly Jav’s story, one of the protagonists from the first book, a professional paid escort for his entire adult life who chooses to leave that business in the hope of finding love. He’s bisexual and terrified of what life will be without the structure of his escort role where he chose to be with women. He’s also a successful published author who meets a psychologist working with traumatized male rape victims, and the connection Jav and Stef feel from the very beginning is off the charts. That, in itself, is terrifying.
One of the victims, and a secondary protagonist in this story who Stef ends up working with is Geno, a young man who was held for 44 hours of hell by the head of a pornography ring, raped by multiple men and left near death by the time he is rescued by the police. As Geno and Stef work together, peeling away the effects of the horrible trauma Geno suffered, Stef and Jav are falling deeper into their relationship, one that is almost too good to be true as it slides cautiously into love. There are so many wonderful characters in Ms. Laqueur’s stories, so beautifully drawn that each could have their own book, but the way she skillfully blends their stories and finds connections among such a divergent cast is absolutely breathtaking.
I am truly in awe of this author’s writing. I know how hard it is to get it right, and the first two books I’ve read by Suanne Laqueur are so far beyond right that they set a new standard. I highly recommend this series. I know I’ll be thinking of the characters and their stories long after I’ve finished all of the books, and then I’m most likely going to be working my way through whatever else I can find by this author. Start at the beginning and read the Venery series. It’s that good.
How am I supposed to write a review when there are no words to describe how I feel?!
I really need some time to try and find them.
Well, so, here I am. Still don’t know how to review this book.
I feel like there is a LOT I want to say about this book, but I doubt it will make any sense and I am sure I won’t ever be able to write down a proper review, because there’s nothing I can say that will do this book justice.
So please forgive me if this turns out to be a rambling mess of words and thoughts without a beginning or an end. You can always just scroll past this and find a review that does make sense. I’m sure you’ll find it.
I read book 1 in this series (An Exaltation of Larks) just a few weeks ago, left wishing I had picked it up sooner. Of course I had already read all those raving reviews, but since MM romance is all I read nowadays, I was a little reluctant to read it, because of the MF factor. Anyway, when I got the chance to receive this book to review, my curiosity won out and I decided to take the chance.
Never regretted one. single. moment. The first book in this series was magnificent.
It made me fall in love with Javi and when it ended with him and Stef meeting, I just knew I was in for a treat as soon as I would read the first page of A charm of finches.
But I never, NEVER expected this!!
And with THIS I mean the overwhelming feelings of sadness, of pain, of this turmoil of emotions.
Partly that’s because of the story and Geno’s storyline in particular. But it’s also because Suanne Laqueur is such a gifted author, she knows exactly how to use her words in order to turn this into an excellent example of beautiful, fascinating storytelling. With seemingly simplicity she manages to pull you in deeper and deeper, never letting you go until the last word is read. SEEMINGLY simplicity, because it’s not that simple to write a story like this, in the way it was written, and that’s part of the magic that is this book.
Ok, so here we have Javi, whom we’ve met in the previous book. He’s a successful author, writing under a penname, and when he meets Stef, he knows something in his life is about to change.
Stef is this beautiful man, inside and out. Working as an art therapist with male victims of sexual harassment and rape, he is the most patient, most genuine guy I have ever come across in a book. I need a Stef in my life!
His and Jav’s story entwines with Geno’s. And oh MY GOD, Geno…My poor, poor Geno.
My heart broke for him multiple times and for a long time I was so afraid it wouldn’t heal again! Everything he had to go through, his brother’s betrayal, losing everything he had…And it may seem much, writing it down like this, with a chance of OTT drama, but it never, NEVER felt like that. It was as if someone put me through an emotional wringer, as if I was there, watching what happened, seeing his despair, feeling how he was about to give up, until Mos saved him.
Until Mos was there to protect him.
When Geno is unable to deal with his life, with the world, he meets Stef. And Stef becomes his new savior. It felt like a privilege to watch Geno’s journey to healing, to witness how Stef and Jav and Stav and Micah were such important parts of that process. I loved how the author managed to make us (and Geno) see the similarities to Micah’s and Geno’s story, how Micah’s survival, even the numbers tattooed on his wrist, helped Geno heal. But what helped him the most, was his own strength. Even if he didn’t recognize it, acknowledge it, Geno was so much stronger than he gave himself credit for.
“Did you know you almost died?”
“Well, it felt like it. But…”
(…)”Let me tell you something, Geno. The only reason you’re alive today is because you have a strong heart. A really strong heart.”
Geno stared.
(…)”I know it doesn’t sound as romantic to say you have a strong gut to go with your strong heart, but I’ll say it anyway. What I won’t say is it was a miracle. You didn’t have divine help getting better. You did it all yourself. Somehow, in spite of everything that could’ve killed you, your heart found a way to live and your body found a way to beat the odds and heal. (…) I think you’re the strongest, most resiliënt person I ever f*cking met in my life,” Stef said.
As the author states in her notes, Geno speaks as one who knows, but he also speaks for men who will never tell their stories. Or for men who told their stories and weren’t believed. This is one of those books that needed to be written and I, for one, am grateful for the fact Suanne Laqueur was the one to do it. She is one hell of an author and she deserves all the love readers can give her.
So, now, at the end of this possible non-making-sense review, there is really one thing left to say:
READ THIS BOOK!!! NOT TOMORROW, NOT NEXT WEEK. READ IT TODAY.
It will be a life changing experience.
And I know, because that’s exactly what this book was to me.
This book, this series in fact, has renewed my faith in quality storytelling.
The emotions in this book are off the charts.
It will break your heart.
It will cause you pain.
It will make you cry.
It will make you think.
It will make you believe.
It will give you hope.
The entire time I was reading this book, all my muscles were tense and my nerve-endings felt jumpy. Trust me this story is not for the faint of heart, but here’s my take away…
Love with all you have in you…
Loss is inevitable…
Resilience is often under-appreciated and…
Survive because they’ll never take the best of you and you have a story to tell.
I’ll be over here in my little red henhouse if you need me.
What a lovely and resonant evocation of that first great bond between men, between lovers, friends, and mentor/intern. Suanne compelled me to get completely involved and heavily invested in this powerful and telling tale of human suffering and emancipation.
“You have an important story to tell. A story with a lot of power. It can be the kind of thing that…”
“What?”
“The kind of thing that builds an empire.”
AWE: a sense of wonderment that inspires obeisance and allegiance.
I’m yours to do as you please with my heart Fucky!
These are the kind of stories that Suanne writes, being a fan of her textured and layered stories, her Fresh Feels and Never Read Before plots, firmly pledges my devotion to Suanne and her quirky wisdom
I can count on my one hand when I’ve been knocked flat on my back by the written words. Being a Voracious reader makes you numb sometimes. I get invested in a book, read it acutely, feel deeply and move onto the next one
Kinda like Steffan Finch, who worked as an art therapist with abuse survivors. He came home and peeled of his job from his skin and left at the door.
But sometimes a book comes along that infects you with its word-virus. Crawling and nesting in the brain, it becomes a part of you, It gets in you…it owns you. It BECOMES your skin and you can never let it go.
A Charm Of Finches is such a book.
Suanne charts a life altering crime in the early onset of the book. Geno, An innocent boy lured, ambushed and cuffed. Used, abused & tore apart. Vultures feasting on his flesh, beasts drinking his liquified soul. He’s forced to endure, exhibit and entertain their heinous atrocities
The incident is the elephant in the story and Suanne plops it down right on my chest.
“Go away. Go away from this place. This thing happening will not stop happening so you must leave it. It must happen to someone else. Not you. I am not here. I am not me. This is all happening to someone else.”
He creates another world to escape to, detaches and drifts in and out of conscious life. Geno was my son, my brother, my kin and I adopted him. If any character has managed to kick me in the gut with steel-toed boot, it’s Geno. His terror & torture eroded my soul. The knives in his back punctured my heart too, his tears flowed from my eyes and trust me the were aplenty! I wanted to scoop out the 44 hours from his life smooth over the void as if it didn’t happen at all!! I’d bang the barrier down if I was her mother
“Do you believe everything happens for a reason?”
“I do,” Jav said.
“But not everyone gets the privilege of liking the reason. Of feeling the reason was worth the ordeal or the experience.”
The scene with Stefan and the Unboxing of truths…..I’ve never experienced that acute a pain from a fictional scene before!!
And then there’s a love story that surges in like the wind. Sweeping me away in its blasts and updrafts. Honestly I waited with bated breath for the shoe to drop because it was too good, too perfect to be true. Kudos to Suanne for not ruining it for me. It’s the epitome of maturity of characters and the writer who created them.
Javier Landes and Stefan Finch share a perfect love. They’re comrades, shoulders to lean on, carry the burdens of each other. A perfect symmetry of Yin & Yang. Stefan picks up the discarded Jav like a blue glass on the beach, dusts it and keeps him in his pocket by his heart. Only his lovers eyes can see the true worth in Javi’s spirit.
“It’s corny as shit but I don’t care. Anyone can be a boyfriend. I’m your curator. Your mate.” His fingers eased down the back of Jav’s collar, caressing inked letters and numbers. “And your Trueblood.”
Micah got my respect and veneration, his hair raising recounts had me nauseous and vindictive but his advice to be a better person…..I was floored by his capacity for grace.
I can’t articulate the magnitude of the impact the story had on me. It’s immeasurable and invisible to the naked eye.
My blood didn’t freeze, my heart didn’t stop beating, the earth didn’t fall away beneath my feet, the sky didn’t churn like a cat 5 hurricane….. Yet I felt them ALL!!
The massive urge to stop and shake people up by their shoulders, who were laughing and going on with their lives around me, was itchy and uncontrollable. I want to tell EVERYBODY who hasn’t yet experienced the prose of Suanne, to STOP & DRINK every word written by her. She’s not only a recounted of finely detailed and thoroughly researched stories, she’s a curator and a sailor in true sense. An explorative writer by heart, taking us on adventurous voyages. #Trueblood
Pick up this massive story about tenacity of spirit and graciousness of humanity. It’s complex, tender and yet fierce. I came to care for these characters as my own, their plight scratched at my heart. You will never look at life the same way again…..experiences of pain, despair and betrayal are offset by tender moments of unconditional love, support and kinship. It’s lush in emotion and rich in detail, it’ll keep poking you in the head long after you’ve finished.
Read and weep….literally!
All the stars in the land of Dos
Suanne Laqueur is a masterful storyteller. Her newest book, A Charm of Finches is a wonderful interwoven story about the lives of individuals all affected in some way by a terrible incident that occurs more often than we know, as we find out in this story. I know that this review won’t be able to do this story justice but I’ll try.
This book starts where the previous book, An Exaltation of Larks, ends with Jav fetching after Stef. And what follows is a beautiful developing relationship of love. They are perfect for each other and it makes this reader’s heart happy that Jav found his love in Stef. And then Stef leads us to his workplace where he helps male victims of rape. Then we meet Geno and why he needs to be at Stef’s workplace is just absolutely heartbreaking but Ms. Laqueur handles all of those scenes with grace. And then there is Micah and Stav and their important roles to the overall story. All I can say is this book is about love and finding who you are, even in a very messed up world where very messed up things happen to people. Well done!
A Charm of Finches by Suanne Laqueur is off the charts incredible and visceral and phenomenal all in one.
Suanne nailed every feel a human being could ever even imagine embracing.
She takes you on a journey.
It’s a raw and gritty journey. But it’s packed with truth and feels that leaves her readers wanting to make a difference in the world.
“Listen to learn it, learn to tell it, and tell it to teach it.”
Suanne has tackled topics that I haven’t stopped and thought about. One being male rape victims. She does this with brutal honesty and leaves us with a new understanding.
A victim is a victim. No matter the age, gender, race, or sexual orientation.
What matters is each of us come out of this epic journey with a new understanding, and I believe a better human being for having read these words.
“I think love is a big wisdom made up of small understanding.”
This is definitely a book that I’ll be reading again.
Geno is definitely one of my all time favorite characters now, and have mercy … but we all need a Stef and Jav in our lives.
As well as a tribe we can call our own.
5 Stars
I won’t discuss the plot of the book here because I am not a writer (and someone who is wrote a lovely blurb for your perusal). What follow are my jumbled thoughts in the wake of the experience of this book. Yes, *experience*, and I do not use the word lightly.
Finches was an interesting mix of paradoxes for me. At times, it was emotionally uncomfortable and painful to read. At others, it was an agonizing task to put down my kindle and resume my daily life. Even during the most harrowing moments in the tale, Laqueur ties the reader into the story line, somehow weaves you directly into its fabric. You cannot look away. I personally couldn’t read this novel all at once. It was full of heavy emotions, almost dense, but in a good way. Like a decadent dessert, I would break off a piece, chew on it for a long while, and then come back for more.
And the characters… I am so sad to be leaving them behind. I took a journey with these people, and now I’ve gotten off of the train. The players and their stories are multidimensional and form overlapping layers to create something more beautiful. As always, the obviously extensive research, precise, effective use of language, and brutally raw honesty make you happy to hand your heart to Laqueur, knowing full well that she will put it through a wringer.
This book marked me. I don’t know that I can explain how it changed me, nor do I know whether I will even be able to determine the exact effects a month from now. One does not simply read Ms. Laqueur’s work; you become a piece of it, and it becomes a piece of you by osmosis. And you emerge from the other side a changed and better person. I don’t know how she does it, but I’m grateful that she does.
What in the book hangover am I supposed to do until December (rumor for book 3 release)?! Tell me! I am a jumbled ball of emotions. This book was just so exposed and kept my anxiety high and my heart soaring at the same time. The heaviest of heavy topics in this book had me keeping a constant knot in my throat. I wanted to cradle these characters and hide them from the world. Suanne delivered such a power story that needed to be told, do NOT take the author’s note lightly. The depth of all the characters was just out of this world. I am just at a loss for words. I thought Larks was incredible, but this book in its own way, is right up there with it. I can’t even wait for book 3 and to see what other kind of story she unfolds.
Five stars is simply not going to do justice to this novel.
This is an intense read, powerfully emotive and much darker subject matter than the previous book. It is a tale of survival and resilience, and whilst the experiences characters have had are harrowing and horrific, the author still manages to make this an uplifting read with her ability to show love in all its forms and how it strengthens you.
Jav, beautiful as ever, is trying to experience love and a genuine look at relationships for the first time having given up escorting. It is wonderful to watch this develop, with his insecurities on show, he is still open to everyone, making bonds wherever he goes.
Stefan is a really interesting character, I love his ability to help people, he is very perceptive when it comes to his work, instinctively knowing what is needed. Perhaps a little less perceptive in other ways.
Geno has a very difficult story, we see how events can change people, affecting their ability to make connections, to trust. There was so much pain it was tangible, and watching him come out the other side and find his ‘tribe’ was truly heart warming!
I have no way of categorising these books, but they are powerful, engaging and breathtaking. I will definitely be looking up other books by this author.
I know that when I read a book by Suanne Laqueur, that I need to prepare myself for something unique and brilliant. This was also the case with A Charm Of Finches. Laqueur is truly a gifted writer and storyteller.
Already at 6% and my emotions were in turmoil. I quickly established a connection with her characters and then there was no way back. I immersed myself in them and their story they had to tell.
Every character I met were deep and complex. Laqueur peels layers off these people meticulously which allows the reader to see a vulnerable and exposed side of them. When they’re at their worst and best.
Laqueur weaves world events into the story effortlessly so it’s applicable for the characters. It becomes a part of their history which shaped and influenced them.
I lived and breathed for Geno, Stef, Jav, Stav and Micah. I could continue mentioning names cause there were so many fabulous characters. As they became each other’s tribe they immediately became mine.
Their separate stories slowly intertwined with each other’s and it was executed flawlessly.
My heart broke for Geno and how his innocence was stripped and taken away from him. His journey to reclaim his voice, accepting his past and present was the heart of the story. Stef was his therapist but became so much more to Geno. As did the other characters.
Along their story another powerful one unfolded. A love story between Stef and Jav. I loved Javier in An Exaltation Of Larks and in A Charm Of Finches he and Steffen Finch captured and stole my heart completely. Their relationship was a thing of beauty. Their love was honest and real to me. Something truly remarkable thanks to Laqueur’s eloquent and exquisite prose that made me fall in love right along with Jav and Stef.
Yet again Suanne Laqueur has left me in awe. Her storytelling is brave and her narrative strong and on point. She has a vision for her story and with A Charm Of Finches she excels.
5+ BadAssDirtyGelangStars