Reviewed by True

TITLE: Whispers of the Past Lives

AUTHOR: Ivan Nović

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

LENGTH: 268 pages

RELEASE DATE: July 3, 2023

BLURB:

While abandoning his dream of becoming a writer, amid a personal upheaval, aspiring author Luciano Rossi finds solace at his family estate in the breathtaking Val D’Orcia Valley. Little does he know that his life will take an unexpected turn when the legendary music icon Archer Phoenix arrives, battling creative block and searching for inspiration. With its mysterious hand, fate binds their lives for several transformative weeks in the heart of Tuscany, where they find themselves inexplicably drawn to each other’s presence.
Among the lush landscapes, they find a sanctuary, a respite from reality, delicately attempting to bridge the river of differences that flows between them. However, no bridge can rest on shaky pillars of fears and insecurities, not even one built of love.
Written from a dual point of view, Whispers of The Past Lives follows the intimate journey of two men on the brink of their thirties as they navigate the complexities of self-discovery, the emotional turmoil of self-realization, and the courage to embrace their true selves.

Content warning:
Although this is a story about love, it doesn’t end happily and includes themes that might be triggering, such as the death of a loved one, the death of a character, the death of a main character, and grief. It also includes swearing and erotic scenes, as well as a complicated relationship with controlling parents. Certain words used for literary purposes might also be triggering for some readers, such as Morphine, junkie, addiction, war, death, dying, God, and religion.

REVIEW:

I want to start my review by saying this story goes beyond everything I expected, it is a MUST-READ, even though it wrecked me.

Without a doubt a 5+++ read.

Archer Phoenix needs music, it heals him, even temporarily. When his mind refused to be creative, he knows he has to retreat and refill his batteries.
Away from his stressful busy life, he ends up at an old villa on a large estate in Tuscany, in Val d’Orcia.

Luciano Rossi traveled from Tuscany to London to study a course he didn’t like at all. His biggest dream is to become a writer. This deep desire costs him a lot, and after almost a decade, he returns to his estate and to his old ruinous villa in Tuscany, with an unfinished study and unfinished writing work. He’s rudderless.
There are feelings deep deep inside that have to break free, or else he’ll break.

Luciano’s life seems different from Archer’s, but at the core, they have a lot of similarities and are two souls aligned.

“What an unusual combination of sophistication and vulgarity! He was casual and intrusive at the same time.”

Alternatively, we can follow Archer and Luciano’s pov, we can see how they bond, open up, and show their bare soul, it’s all immensely grand and valuable. Unavoidable they seek each other for bodily pleasures, the word intensely is insufficient, and it goes way beyond.

It’s a story about longing, fear, self-discovery, meditation, introspection, bonding, emotions, and soulful connections.
The story gave me feelings I can only describe as when you take an immense deep breath, watch without seeing, feeling, only experience, without any judgment, here, now, and every cell is connected with humanity and even more the universe. Yes, that’s a feeling that makes me cry, it’s the longing to be ‘home’.

“Where is your soul from?” This!!

The story burst at the seams, full of overflowing rich lines, and lyrics, sometimes my heart burst, and sometimes I had to put the book away, it isn’t a one-sit read, it’s too intense for that. Sometimes I even forced myself to read airy, so intense it was. The author did an amazing job putting all those thoughts, feelings on paper, I am in awe. I could feel it all.
There is love coming from a deep well, as is the hurt.
You can read it in the blurb, although it’s a story about love it doesn’t end happily. but PLEASE give it a try, it is so immensely beautiful!

I can not stop crying.

ALL the stars!

RATING:

BUY LINKS:

Amazon