Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Chrysalis

SERIES:  The Formicary #1

AUTHOR:  S.E. Harmon

PUBLISHER:  Self Published

LENGTH:  224 pages

RELEASE DATE:  September 1, 2021

BLURB:

Waking up in the hospital with a gunshot wound to the head is bad. Finding out I have amnesia is far worse. My memory is practically wiped. I don’t know why someone wants me dead. Hell, I don’t even know my name. They say my name is Christian Cross. Too bad that name means nothing to me.

I haven’t forgotten everything, though. Grayson Laurie has always been my kryptonite, and it would take more than a bullet to the brain to forget him. He assures me that I’m imagining the distance between us, but I know better. I just don’t know how to fix it. I console myself that at least I’ve reached rock bottom and things can’t get worse…until they do.

My life is a tangled mess of lies and deceit. The more I learn about myself, the less I want to know. I want nothing more than an honest future with Gray, but the past isn’t about to let me go without a fight.

Fortunately, I’m starting to realize that fighting is my specialty.

REVIEW:

What phenomenal story!

Chrysalis is an amazing thriller from the very first page. Even the name is perfect. It’s a book brimming with mystery, suspense and intrigue. It’s terrifying at times, amusing at others, and beneath it all, it’s about making the right choices, hard choices, in the name of love – be it romantic, familial, or self-love.

This is not the usual amnesia story. After a jarring visit to the afterlife, Christian (Chrysalis) Cross wakes up with a hole in his head, some alarming body modifications, and no knowledge of who he is. His only memories are of the most important thing in his life – his boyfriend, Gray. All he wants to do is ride off into the sunset with the love of his life, but since this is a thriller, that obviously isn’t going to happen. Amidst all the failed memories is the innate knowledge that he needs to act without hesitation on his finely tuned instincts. In a world of the unfamiliar where an assailant tried to kill him, his intuition is the only thing Chris can rely on, the only thing he can trust – except for Gray.

The layers of the mystery are slowly unveiled, each revelation another puzzle piece of Chris’ backstory. He has a quick, wry wit, mostly evident in his internal dialogue. The humor keeps the book from being overwhelmed by darkness, maintaining a good balance. Some of the things that go on in Chris’ head are hilarious. The fact that he can crack jokes in moments of desperation gives an accurate representation of his personality. It’s not that he doesn’t regard his situation seriously, it’s just how he copes.

I have boundless sympathy for Chris and had to remind my aching heart that he’s a fictional character. He doesn’t just want to be a better person, he wants to be a different person – to live an alternate life, be worthy of Gray’s love, and earn a second chance. He charmed the pants off me and charmed them off Gray, too, resulting in some smoking hot sex scenes. Gah!

And Gray. Gentle, caring Gray – the epitome of kindness – who has no idea his life is about to implode when he shows up at Chris’ hospital bedside. His head wants nothing to do with Chris. His heart wants everything to do with Chris. His body needs Chris. He’s the kind of guy anyone would be lucky to call their person. This isn’t a romance in the sense of two men meeting and falling in love, but it’s a beautiful love story, nonetheless.

S.E. Harmon’s writing style and her way with words really appeal to me. She utilizes a vivid imagination, incorporating a touch of science fiction. The story is told from Chris’ perspective and he’s a remarkable narrator, commingling tension with levity. His situation is almost unbelievable but Ms. Harmon keeps it grounded in reality enough to keep the story from verging on the preposterous. That fine line is what makes it frightening – could this scenario be real?

The action is nearly non-stop and very suspenseful with a plethora of bad, bad men pursuing Chris. His continual attempts at evasion are impressive and entertaining, and shocking to Chris since he doesn’t remember having any of his mad skills.

Yes, the book ends with a cliffhanger but thankfully, books two – Cross – will be released in just two months. My book hangover will probably still be hanging on that long anyway. Chrysalis – the book and the character – are embedded in my heart. If you enjoy thrilling love stories, don’t hesitate to indulge in this one.

RATING: 

BUY LINK: 

Amazon