Reviewed by Lady Macbeth
TITLE: Like Fire From Heaven
AUTHOR: R.O. Riley
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 311 Pages
RELEASE DATE: April 15, 2026
BLURB:
In the ordered silence of the cloister, two monks burn with longing.
France, late 1980s. Newly bound by monastic vows, Peter is learning the rhythms of a strictly ordered life under the guidance of Brother René, the novice master whose humour and kindness makes the abbey feel like home. Having found a sense of belonging for the first time in his life, Peter begins to let down his guard and feel something he has never allowed himself before.
Brother René carries a dark past Peter knows nothing about. The calm of the monastery depends on his restraint, but it isn’t long before his wounded heart seeks connection—and a choice is made that shatters the sense of home they have both found.
Beyond the abbey, the world is changing. The fall of the Berlin Wall unsettles what has long been buried in Brother René’s past, drawing him back to a city he tried to leave behind.
A slow-burn gay romance of restraint, forbidden love, and found family, this novel weaves the secluded beauty of monastic life with historical tension.
REVIEW:
Writing this review is going to be challenging, because I don’t want to spoil anything for the readers who will pick this up (please, please pick this up!). I also have a lot to say, so it will be long too.
The story starts in a Monastery in 1986: Peter is 22years old and he’s about to take his simple vows as a monk: during the ceremony, he falls at the feet of a Brother he’s never seen before. The following day, the Abbott gives him the task to bake bread and he starts working side by side with that Brother.
Peter is a young British man who never belonged to people nor to places. His family is awful: absent mother, irascible father, quick to use his hands on his children, abusive twin brother who constantly bullies him. The only nice person is his sister. During his childhood and teenage years, all the family moved a lot because of the mother’s job, so Peter never experienced having a stable home.
One day, while traveling through France, he discovers the Abbey and the peace it gives him is so strong that in that moment he makes the decision to become a monk.
Brother Renè is a 35 years old Hungarian man, he’s the Novice Master, he’s been abroad for a few years, he’s competent and kind and Peter loves working with him.
But behind his serene demeanor, Imre/Brother Renè has a troubled past whose ghosts still haunt him and there are no tasks or prayers that can keep them away.
Peter’s vicinity soothes Imre’s soul but, at the same time, makes him feel alive in a way he never was before.
When Imre and Peter’s bond will trespass the border of brotherly love, hard decisions will have to be made.
I adored both the characters’ development: Peter learned from a very young age to live accepting absences around him; in a way, he lived like a monk during his secular life too. He loved being with his Brothers and he felt a deep affection for the Abbott, who was austere but also gentle and understanding. The Monastery gives Peter that sense of safety he missed all his life and, at the same time, allowed him to start feeling emotions he never experienced before.
For Imre, the Monastery has been a refuge for over a decade: too many traumatic and painful events affected him and the monastic life saved him. But despite being genuinely devoted to his faith, his commitment was never for life. He had to come back to his origins, he needed to try and make things right, even if he put himself at risk. Even if he broke his own heart and Peter’s too.
What prevented me from giving five full stars:
There were some questions that kept bothering me while reading, that never were answered. Like, what happened with Peter’s family? Did he cut contact, after he helped his sister with the move? Imre was in Berlin for quite some time, what did he actually do? He said he wanted to reveal his father’s crime but in all that time, he never did that.
Their reunion was a bit unrealistic to me (I can’t say more).
There are some inconsistencies with the timeline that created a bit of confusion.
I loved the Abbott: he was a true father to the monks and he knew their hearts. I really liked how he helped Peter understand what he really wanted, without judging him or making him feel ashamed.
The final part is splendid: the very last scene, beside making me cry my eyes out, also spread a sense of calmness and quiet joy that erased all the turmoil and angst and gave Peter and Imre hope for the future.
This was a beautifully emotional read, I highly recommend it.
RATING: 
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