Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Forty years ago the Spirit of Vengeance—a Purpose—took William Morgan as its host, demanding he avenge the innocent by killing the guilty. Since then, Will has retreated behind Gar, a façade he uses to avoid dealing with what he’s become. Cold, impassive, and devoid of emotion, Gar goes about his life alone—until his tidy, orderly world is upended when he meets Ryan, a broken young man cast out by his family. Spurred to action for reasons he can’t understand, Gar saves Ryan from death and finds himself confronted by his humanity.

Spending time with Ryan helps Will claw out from under Gar’s shadow. He recognizes Ryan is the key to his reclaiming his humanity and facing his past. As Will struggles to control the Purpose, Ryan challenges him to rethink everything he knew about himself and the spirit that possesses him. In the process, he pushes Will to do something he hasn’t done in decades: care.

 

First edition published by Dreamspinner Press, June 2013.

Second edition published by DSP Publications, October 2015.

Book Review

“Light is meaningful only in relation to darkness, and truth presupposes error. It is these mingled opposites which people our life, which make it pungent, intoxicating. We only exist in terms of this conflict, in the zone where black and white clash.” - Louis Aragon

The concept of duality, two seemingly opposite attitudes existing at the same time, is difficult to grasp, but without this phenomenon, we would have no point of reference between good and evil or light and darkness, etc. William Morgan, of ‘The Purpose’ by Andrew Q. Gordon, is well aware of this construct. He tries to be two people but finds it impossible to do so and carry out his mission of vengeance. Slowly but surely he buries Will, along with all of his emotions, and becomes Gar, an unfeeling machine, capable of doing whatever necessary to avenge the souls of the innocents who call out to him. Gar has been doing this “work” for forty years, since his lover was murdered. When Gar meets a young man named Ryan, a cord in his heart is touched. Gar is surprised because he thought his heart had turned to stone many years ago. The reaction makes Gar uncomfortable, but there's something about Ryan, a feeling he can't shake at first. Then Gar realizes that Ryan has his lover’s eyes. Through those eyes, Gar can see the tattered remnants of Will's soul.

At first Ryan is unaware of the effect he has on Gar, but when he asks Ryan to call him Will, it signifies a change in him from which there is no turning back. Will doesn't quite understand why, but he finds that Ryan has a way of calming him. Before they become too involved, Will explains what the Purpose is, as far as he understands it, and how he satisfies it. Ryan hates the idea that Will has to kill people to accomplish this goal and asks him not to. To satisfy Ryan, Will looks for a way to avoid taking a life. Instead of just barging into a situation when he receives a call and simply eliminating the transgressors, Will finds he can satisfy the Purpose without killing anyone; hence, he can bring justice to the innocent souls without ending lives. Granted, accomplishing this is more precarious, but if it pleases Ryan, it's worth the risk for Will.

Ryan is pleased when he discovers that Will has found a different way of dealing with his assignments, but he still doesn't grasp what it means for both of them. When Ryan discovers that he has a Purpose as well, he and Will try to figure out what the significance is and how they are able to interact efficiently together and begin training in earnest. Will knows Ryan's life depends upon it and can't bear to think about losing someone else he loves. Ryan, like most young men, is impatient to test himself. He becomes difficult to control, always wanting to go on missions with Will, even before he's properly trained to do so. Ryan thinks Will is being unreasonable, but Will knows Ryan is not only not prepared for what he may face, but will be a distraction. If Will has to worry about Ryan, he won't be totally focused on his assignment and it could, very literally, be a death sentence for one or both of them.

This is a very unusual book on many levels. It delves not only into the duality of life, but also into everything and its effects on us emotionally, spiritually, and physically. It's not a love story, but there is a definite romance between Ryan and Will and their amazing connection. Ryan's influence helps Will change by showing him how he can accomplish his goals and maintain his sanity and humanity at the same time, something he'd never considered possible before. This is not an easy read. It's a book I had to pay close attention to and even reread parts to comprehend it, but it was definitely worth the effort. If you enjoy paranormal, mysteries, suspense, redemption, and contemplation of deeper levels of existence, you may like this book. Thank you, Andrew, for challenging me to think even more deeply than usual.

 

 

 

 

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Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novel, 372 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	20-December-2019
Price	$3.99 ebook
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082S9Q9L4