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[0] checkbox [#] position [cover] cover [title] title Overture: Ghost in the Closet (Immortal Symphony: Overture #3) [author] author Armstrong, S.L. * [isbn] isbn [isbn13] isbn13 9781627570022 [asin] asin [num pages] num pages 37 pp [avg rating] avg rating 3.33 [num ratings] num ratings 9 [date pub] date pub Apr 12, 2013 [date pub (ed.)] date pub edition Apr 12, 2013 [rating] Cole's rating 3 of 5 stars [my rating] my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves [notes] notes Notes are private! [recommender] recommender none [comments] comments 0 [votes] votes 0 [read count] # times read 1 [date started] date started May 09, 2013 [date read] date read May 09, 2013 [date added] date added May 08, 2013 [date purchased] date purchased [owned] owned [purchase location] purchase location [condition] condition [format] format ebook [29] actions view (with text) [review] 
review Review posted at The Armchair Reader. 3.5 stars This third part of the Immortal Symphony serial is definitely the part of the story that I was waiting f Review posted at The Armchair Reader. 3.5 stars This third part of the Immortal Symphony serial is definitely the part of the story that I was waiting for. The dynamic between Gabriel, Michael and Dorian changes quite drastically after the second story, where Gabriel partook in the casual drug use and orgiastic (very public) pleasures in celebration of Dorian's birthday. But what is a common evening of debauchery for Dorian is quite honestly uncomfortably hedonistic to Gabriel. Always the good boy in comparison to his twin brother Michael's more outlandish actions, this story shows more than ever before how the addition of Dorian to the brothers' lives has had an affect on them. Gabriel, who has always had trouble letting loose and giving up control to participate in the kinds of things like Dorian's sex party, finds that he quite likes forcing himself to explore new opportunities and experience life in a more hedonistic way. Michael's whole existence, however, is a testament to the partying lifestyle of excess drugs and sex, one which ultimately cost him his life. Seeing his brothers actions hits Michael the hardest. This drives a firm wedge between Michael and Dorian, and when Gabriel doesn't seem as upset at Dorian and Michael feels he should, Michael decides to take over his brothers body and show Dorian his displeasure. The resulting confrontation between the two pushes open the door to Dorian's secrets, until they start spilling out into the light. While I liked this story even more than the first two -- specifically because we're starting to get some real answers -- I'm still very of two minds about this series and the characters. First, I really adore the writing of Dorian's character, but I don't actually like Dorian at all. I say that I really adore the writing of him because I've suspected all along that my emotions are purposefully being manipulated as far as how I feel about him. He's really not likable at all except in that pre-karma way, the "he's going to get what's coming to him" way, whether that be literal or the satisfaction of watching him start to have real feelings for someone. That's why I can't say I categorically hate Dorian, though he does make me uncomfortable. He's a much more complicated character than that. In fact, he's the character that really parallels the overall unfolding plot, because the reveal of his secrets drives the plot forward (which we see in this story as flashbacks). These two authors are really using this unusual medium to explore non-traditional romance characters. Dorian is such a big character that his presence often takes over parts of the story, and ultimately, I feel like he'll be the deciding factor as to where the story will go as it navigates the boundary between erotica and romance. The second part of how I feel about this serial is that as far as the overall plot and the emotional growth of the characters, this serial is still in it's infancy, so those things like how I don't' like Dorian very much have very little impact about how I feel about the story overall. I suppose, I should just say that while I'm reviewing and having to give each little story in this serial a rating, I'm really reserving judgement for myself. Readers who buy the Season Pass (all six Overture season episodes in one) will get an overall discount but also some freebies. The first of those freebies came out with this story in the form of a short story. "The Melody" goes far back in time to an innocent and young Dorian. We get to meet Basil, an artist that young Dorian loves with all the infatuation of a boy and who is also a character importantly referenced to in the first story. While the scene between the two isn't completely instrumental to the main story (you don't have to read it), I did really enjoy being able to get to see him and see who he really was to Dorian at that age. Plus, seeing Dorian as positive, hopeful and undamaged gives me a lot of hope that we'll soon get to see a real change in Dorian in the main story as well. The fourth story in the Immortal Symphony serial is out now! ...more
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