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Fall Hard
Some memories are better off lost in the mist…
Eight months ago, British academic Paul Ansell lost his lover—and all the memories of their time together—in an accident at Iceland’s Gullfoss Falls. Returning to the misty island country to resume his study of the bloodthirsty Viking Egil Skallagrimsson is tough as he struggles to pull his life back together.
First, there’s his colleague, Mags, who treats him like glass, and summer student Alex, who peppers him with discomforting questions. Then there’s Icelandic jet-boat driver Viggo, a tattooed, modern-day Viking who won’t say much about how they know each other. Leaving Paul to wonder if their volcanic attraction is fuelled by a desire to make a fresh start, or desperation to forget the past.
As more fragments of his lost memories fall into place, Paul is unsure if he can trust himself, much less anyone around him. And he begins to suspect his accident was nothing of the kind.
Warning: Contains a modern-day Viking whose boat has V8 engines for oars, and a harsh land of hot springs and hotter passions that won’t forgive any false steps.
Eight months ago, British academic Paul Ansell lost his lover—and all the memories of their time together—in an accident at Iceland’s Gullfoss Falls. Returning to the misty island country to resume his study of the bloodthirsty Viking Egil Skallagrimsson is tough as he struggles to pull his life back together.
First, there’s his colleague, Mags, who treats him like glass, and summer student Alex, who peppers him with discomforting questions. Then there’s Icelandic jet-boat driver Viggo, a tattooed, modern-day Viking who won’t say much about how they know each other. Leaving Paul to wonder if their volcanic attraction is fuelled by a desire to make a fresh start, or desperation to forget the past.
As more fragments of his lost memories fall into place, Paul is unsure if he can trust himself, much less anyone around him. And he begins to suspect his accident was nothing of the kind.
Warning: Contains a modern-day Viking whose boat has V8 engines for oars, and a harsh land of hot springs and hotter passions that won’t forgive any false steps.
237 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 17, 2013
12 people are currently reading
666 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Merrow
145 books1,324 followersJL Merrow is that rare beast, an English person who refuses to drink tea. She read Natural Sciences at Cambridge, where she learned many things, chief amongst which was that she never wanted to see the inside of a lab ever again. Her one regret is that she never mastered the ability of punting one-handed whilst holding a glass of champagne.
She writes across genres, with a preference for contemporary gay romance and the paranormal, and is frequently accused of humour. Her novella Muscling Through was a 2013 EPIC Award finalist, and her novel Slam! won the 2013 Rainbow Award for Best LGBT Romantic Comedy. Her novel Relief Valve is a finalist in the 2015 EPIC Awards.
JL Merrow is a member of the UK GLBTQ Fiction Meet organising team.
Find JL Merrow online at: www.jlmerrow.com, on Twitter as @jlmerrow, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jl.merrow
She writes across genres, with a preference for contemporary gay romance and the paranormal, and is frequently accused of humour. Her novella Muscling Through was a 2013 EPIC Award finalist, and her novel Slam! won the 2013 Rainbow Award for Best LGBT Romantic Comedy. Her novel Relief Valve is a finalist in the 2015 EPIC Awards.
JL Merrow is a member of the UK GLBTQ Fiction Meet organising team.
Find JL Merrow online at: www.jlmerrow.com, on Twitter as @jlmerrow, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jl.merrow
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
September 18, 2013
Pre-ordered and a big thank you to Samhain's wonderful customer service that allows me to forget about the book until a nice email is in my inbox reminding me that it's here ! :D
J.L. Merrow has written some of my favorite books, so I am always on the look-out for her releases. Then I see one with a cool cover and awesome blurb and hot Vikings? I pre-order and clear my docket and jump on it immediately upon release.
She was able to write the landscape and the feel of the country so well, I actually shivered, imagining the cold and could picture what Paul was seeing when he looked out upon Iceland.
The Viking lore and especially the history surrounding Egil Skallagrimsson was something I found really interesting.
The mystery was very good, Paul was gravely injured and has no memory of the last year of his life.
All he knows is his lover is dead, he died in the accident that almost killed him and stole his memories. Being back in Iceland he is confronted with things he has no recollection of and of course there is Viggo.
Viggo confuses Paul, makes him feel things, and oh boy he does feel a lot with him, but he doesn't really know where he fits into his life and then there is Alex.
There are two great female characters in this book which I felt needed mentioning. :)
I don't want to give anything away, I will say, I totally over thought the story, I had a theory which turned out to be way more complicated than the story turned out to be.
The 'mystery' was well told, kept my mind working. I was surprised how 'simply' it ended, but again that's cause I had all these conspiracy theories going.
The love story took a bit of a backseat imo, Paul had enough to think and worry about and just knew he needed and felt strongly about Viggo. He just doesn't know why....
It's told completely from Paul's POV which I understand, but boy I would have loved a peek at Viggo's thoughts and memories.
So, for a mystery told in a beautifully drawn place, interesting characters and great Viking lore and a little hot smexing this is a great book.
J.L. Merrow has written some of my favorite books, so I am always on the look-out for her releases. Then I see one with a cool cover and awesome blurb and hot Vikings? I pre-order and clear my docket and jump on it immediately upon release.
She was able to write the landscape and the feel of the country so well, I actually shivered, imagining the cold and could picture what Paul was seeing when he looked out upon Iceland.
The Viking lore and especially the history surrounding Egil Skallagrimsson was something I found really interesting.
The mystery was very good, Paul was gravely injured and has no memory of the last year of his life.
All he knows is his lover is dead, he died in the accident that almost killed him and stole his memories. Being back in Iceland he is confronted with things he has no recollection of and of course there is Viggo.
Viggo confuses Paul, makes him feel things, and oh boy he does feel a lot with him, but he doesn't really know where he fits into his life and then there is Alex.
There are two great female characters in this book which I felt needed mentioning. :)
I don't want to give anything away, I will say, I totally over thought the story, I had a theory which turned out to be way more complicated than the story turned out to be.
The 'mystery' was well told, kept my mind working. I was surprised how 'simply' it ended, but again that's cause I had all these conspiracy theories going.
The love story took a bit of a backseat imo, Paul had enough to think and worry about and just knew he needed and felt strongly about Viggo. He just doesn't know why....
It's told completely from Paul's POV which I understand, but boy I would have loved a peek at Viggo's thoughts and memories.
So, for a mystery told in a beautifully drawn place, interesting characters and great Viking lore and a little hot smexing this is a great book.
August 5, 2016
2.5 stars. Oh wow. This book stars an Icelandic Viking whose back is almost covered in a tattoo of Yggdrasil: the legendary Tree of Life. Now guess where its taproot disappears into...?
Uhu! That must’ve been an interesting session at the tattoo shop!
He he he...
Ehm, so now that I’m already discussing the plant kingdom, I might as well admit that I read Fall Hard in a semi -vegetative state. I don’t mean to be rude, really I’m not. But there wasn’t all that much to kick my brain activity into full gear, you know? And I’m so bummed by this! Until now, I happily recommended Merrow’s work to my friends. Not only is she a great writer, Muscling Through in particular completely won me over. It was original, subtly layered and very amusing. Since time travel novella A Trick of Time was mildly entertaining as well, I just figured I couldn’t go wrong with this author. So I was genuinely looking forward to this book, that’s set in the beautiful Iceland.
And It looked so good on paper! But...something went amiss when it came to the execution. Starting with Paul, the MC. He survived falling off an Icelandic waterfall. His bf was killed in the same accident – if that’s what it was...? After months of rehabilitation in a UK hospital, he still suffers from amnesia. He can remember his life perfectly, just not his year in Iceland (peculiar, no?). So Paul flies back in search of his lost memories. Before long, two men are vying for his attention. Did Paul know them before his accident? And if so, what role did they play in his life and why does he have the nagging suspicion that both men are hiding something? So far, so good! I haven’t come across the amnesia-trope too often so I’m not bothered by it. I know it can make for a thrilling and suspenseful read when the MC’s memory loss is threatening his life and he gets caught up in a race against the clock.
Not this time.
I got the impression that I was reading Paul’s diary in which he described the daily grind rather than a well-plotted book. The pacing was so very slow. Although the writing was good enough to keep my boredom at bay, it wasn’t enough to hook me. Apart from his amnesia, Paul was a bland and unpleasant character. I love how well the first person narrative works when a MC has a distinctive voice that ‘pops’ off the pages. It gives you the opportunity to really crawl into his skin. With Paul, I couldn’t even grasp what others saw in him, other than his pretty cover. Actually, only his love interest But heck, teamed up with a Paul I knew I better not count on butterflies in my tummy and fire between the sheets.
If you happen to be interested in Iceland, mythology and M/M, I can well imagine you hit the jackpot with Fall Hard. There went a lot of research into the story. For a while, I even wondered if the educational chunks about brutal warrior Egil Skallagrimsson would result in another time travel story, in which Paul traveled back to the warrior’s harsh world. I’d say that could’ve pimped the plot quite effectively! Not that Merrow didn’t do her best to sprinkle around hints of looming danger and possibly black magic. Paul was suspicious the entire time as well. But overall, these teasing attempts at foreboding were smothered by mundanity. And I’m all for teasing... but I want that cake to be waiting for me in the end, and eat it too!
Which really leaves only one option...
He might not be mothers’ prettiest, but next time I’d rather read a dark and engrossing story about Egil Skallagrimsson, please?
Uhu! That must’ve been an interesting session at the tattoo shop!
He he he...
Ehm, so now that I’m already discussing the plant kingdom, I might as well admit that I read Fall Hard in a semi -vegetative state. I don’t mean to be rude, really I’m not. But there wasn’t all that much to kick my brain activity into full gear, you know? And I’m so bummed by this! Until now, I happily recommended Merrow’s work to my friends. Not only is she a great writer, Muscling Through in particular completely won me over. It was original, subtly layered and very amusing. Since time travel novella A Trick of Time was mildly entertaining as well, I just figured I couldn’t go wrong with this author. So I was genuinely looking forward to this book, that’s set in the beautiful Iceland.
And It looked so good on paper! But...something went amiss when it came to the execution. Starting with Paul, the MC. He survived falling off an Icelandic waterfall. His bf was killed in the same accident – if that’s what it was...? After months of rehabilitation in a UK hospital, he still suffers from amnesia. He can remember his life perfectly, just not his year in Iceland (peculiar, no?). So Paul flies back in search of his lost memories. Before long, two men are vying for his attention. Did Paul know them before his accident? And if so, what role did they play in his life and why does he have the nagging suspicion that both men are hiding something? So far, so good! I haven’t come across the amnesia-trope too often so I’m not bothered by it. I know it can make for a thrilling and suspenseful read when the MC’s memory loss is threatening his life and he gets caught up in a race against the clock.
Not this time.
I got the impression that I was reading Paul’s diary in which he described the daily grind rather than a well-plotted book. The pacing was so very slow. Although the writing was good enough to keep my boredom at bay, it wasn’t enough to hook me. Apart from his amnesia, Paul was a bland and unpleasant character. I love how well the first person narrative works when a MC has a distinctive voice that ‘pops’ off the pages. It gives you the opportunity to really crawl into his skin. With Paul, I couldn’t even grasp what others saw in him, other than his pretty cover. Actually, only his love interest But heck, teamed up with a Paul I knew I better not count on butterflies in my tummy and fire between the sheets.
If you happen to be interested in Iceland, mythology and M/M, I can well imagine you hit the jackpot with Fall Hard. There went a lot of research into the story. For a while, I even wondered if the educational chunks about brutal warrior Egil Skallagrimsson would result in another time travel story, in which Paul traveled back to the warrior’s harsh world. I’d say that could’ve pimped the plot quite effectively! Not that Merrow didn’t do her best to sprinkle around hints of looming danger and possibly black magic. Paul was suspicious the entire time as well. But overall, these teasing attempts at foreboding were smothered by mundanity. And I’m all for teasing... but I want that cake to be waiting for me in the end, and eat it too!
Which really leaves only one option...
He might not be mothers’ prettiest, but next time I’d rather read a dark and engrossing story about Egil Skallagrimsson, please?
September 18, 2013
This story is set in Iceland and it's gorgeously written with lots of atmosphere. One of the main characters, Paul, is a postgrad teaching and studying Egil Skallagrimmson, a Viking warrior, who I was familiar with only because he was Badass of the Week on the website: Badass History. I found the Icelandic lore fascinating and quite different from any other book I've read recently. Something that I'll definitely go looking for in other reads.
Paul is back in Iceland after having been injured in an accident that took his live-in lover Sven's life, both men fell from the top of waterfall. The hows and whys are still sketchy because Paul is suffering from retrograde amnesia and can't recall those events or even remember Sven and his time in Iceland.
We're moved along the story as Paul's memories begin to return and flashes of the past are revealed to him and at times the pacing is excruciating. Paul meets people from before the accident and they may or may not know more about things than they are saying. Viggo is one of these people. There's a mystery here and bit and pieces are doled out. While I loved where this book was set I found the characters frustrating, especially
While this was a satisfying read for me, character frustrations and story pacing have me holding off recommending it 100%.
Paul is back in Iceland after having been injured in an accident that took his live-in lover Sven's life, both men fell from the top of waterfall. The hows and whys are still sketchy because Paul is suffering from retrograde amnesia and can't recall those events or even remember Sven and his time in Iceland.
We're moved along the story as Paul's memories begin to return and flashes of the past are revealed to him and at times the pacing is excruciating. Paul meets people from before the accident and they may or may not know more about things than they are saying. Viggo is one of these people. There's a mystery here and bit and pieces are doled out. While I loved where this book was set I found the characters frustrating, especially
While this was a satisfying read for me, character frustrations and story pacing have me holding off recommending it 100%.
Read
May 24, 2013Iceland's one of those places that really gets inside you. Once I'd been there, I really couldn't NOT write a book set there. I hope some of my love for the country, with its harsh landscape and rich history, comes across in the novel.
I also fell in love with the Icelandic sagas, those tales of medieval Vikings, and one in particular: Egil's saga. Who was Egil? If you read Fall Hard, you'll find out! Or if you can't wait, check out this entertaining (and be warned, profane) article on Badass of the Week: http://www.badassoftheweek.com/skalla... ;)
I also fell in love with the Icelandic sagas, those tales of medieval Vikings, and one in particular: Egil's saga. Who was Egil? If you read Fall Hard, you'll find out! Or if you can't wait, check out this entertaining (and be warned, profane) article on Badass of the Week: http://www.badassoftheweek.com/skalla... ;)
September 23, 2014
3.5 IcElAnDiC StArS
Viggo
With no memory of the last year of his life Paul Ansell is slowly trying to put his life back together, after the tragic events that lead to the loss of his lover.
The only trouble is he doesn't remember him.
Returning to Iceland to resume his teaching/studying of the Viking Warrior Egil Skallagrimson, he tries to see if he can recapture any fragments of the last year.
A chance encounter with a stranger- Viggo stirs up some vague memories, he hopes this encounter will help piece together the puzzle of the last year.
I loved the fact that this story was set in Iceland. I've had the pleasure of visiting this beautiful mythical country. It is quite simply stunning and reading this book took me right back to some of those wonderful wonders I got to see there.
Overall a nice easy read, the story flowed well... but I must say the cover done it for me....
....do I need to say any more *wipes drool from face* yes Paul Ansell is one hot Brit!!
Viggo
With no memory of the last year of his life Paul Ansell is slowly trying to put his life back together, after the tragic events that lead to the loss of his lover.
The only trouble is he doesn't remember him.
Returning to Iceland to resume his teaching/studying of the Viking Warrior Egil Skallagrimson, he tries to see if he can recapture any fragments of the last year.
A chance encounter with a stranger- Viggo stirs up some vague memories, he hopes this encounter will help piece together the puzzle of the last year.
I loved the fact that this story was set in Iceland. I've had the pleasure of visiting this beautiful mythical country. It is quite simply stunning and reading this book took me right back to some of those wonderful wonders I got to see there.
Overall a nice easy read, the story flowed well... but I must say the cover done it for me....
....do I need to say any more *wipes drool from face* yes Paul Ansell is one hot Brit!!
September 18, 2013
3.5 rounded up
I really liked this story, but I'm not sure why. The writing is well done, and the setting and overall... atmosphere? (I need a better word)... are wonderfully described, but I didn't fully connect with Paul. There is a fog around him, maybe due to the amnesia, but I didn't understand some of his actions. There definitely isn't a problem with too much telling in this story, but I wish we had a little more showing. I agree with Cris, that it felt like something was missing.
I loved Viggo, and how his character was filled in for us bit by bit, but I missed seeing the relationship develop between him and Paul. What attracted them to each other in the beginning, why are they together now? We do get hints about them as a couple, though, and we get steamy goodness when they are together. (which was very much appreciated *grins*)
While I would have liked more about the romance, I thought the mystery was well done and I liked how it was resolved.
Side notes:
I want to go to Iceland now
I really liked this story, but I'm not sure why. The writing is well done, and the setting and overall... atmosphere? (I need a better word)... are wonderfully described, but I didn't fully connect with Paul. There is a fog around him, maybe due to the amnesia, but I didn't understand some of his actions. There definitely isn't a problem with too much telling in this story, but I wish we had a little more showing. I agree with Cris, that it felt like something was missing.
I loved Viggo, and how his character was filled in for us bit by bit, but I missed seeing the relationship develop between him and Paul. What attracted them to each other in the beginning, why are they together now? We do get hints about them as a couple, though, and we get steamy goodness when they are together. (which was very much appreciated *grins*)
While I would have liked more about the romance, I thought the mystery was well done and I liked how it was resolved.
Side notes:
I want to go to Iceland now
September 28, 2013
2.5 stars – I’ll preface this by saying that Merrow has written some of my favorite books (Muscling Through, Pressure Head), but Fall Hard didn’t work for me.
The story idea is interesting--MC Paul survived a fall off a waterfall in Iceland, but loses his memory of the year prior, meaning all his memories of his time in Iceland, including those related to his boyfriend Sven (who died in the same fall.) Now Paul has returned from recovering in England to his post-doc studies, but he is plagued by uncertainty. Who was he before? Who was Sven? Who is this attractive riverboat driver who seems eerily familiar? And of course, the mystery of how the fall happened.
The set-up was great. I was ready for a taut mystery about Paul figuring things out, and realizing that he didn’t know who to trust since not everyone was being forthright about their relationship with him from before the fall.
What affected things for me was the pacing (slow, and sometime repetitive) and an overall disconnect with Paul. Paul doesn’t really know himself, so a lot of the book is him trying to figure things out, but just as he felt very disconnected, so did I, and I had a hard time marshaling feelings of caring for how things turned out for him. And he would get into these patterns a lot with other characters--ask questions, someone gives him an answer, he feels more confused, he gets irritable, etc. (This happens on repeat with his colleague Mags, who is very nice albeit a bit oblivious.) Paul is understandably confused and irritated about his amnesia, but at times he felt like a very snappish character, and I started thinking that he must be very good-looking for everyone to be so into him because his personality is not very winning.)
The disconnect was a drag, and the pacing was also a drag, and I had to really push through the first half. Around 60-65%, there is some added tension, I started to get excited about things coming together, but Paul’s responses are often, “Regain broken memory or come to a realization, freak out, run away, ponder about oneself and others” so the running away and pondering usually returned things back to a slower pace, so the tension never kept up.
And by the time the realization hits, I felt ho-hum about it. Like, “Oh, okay. That’s what happened.” I kind of wish there was something a little more tense, but oh well.
What I did like: Merrow did a great job on the character’s voices. They all seemed very distinct, especially Viggo’s, the riverboat driver. I loved his easy-going nature. I like Mags as well, but she (and her sad history that Paul doesn’t remember) seemed really throwaway by the time I got to the end. Like, once it came up, I thought it would have a more important part of the story, but it doesn’t really.
I also loved the setting in Iceland, and Merrow did a great job of describing everything and giving the book a very strong sense of place. It’s also just an interesting setting, and I really enjoyed the details of Paul exploring. (I did feel that some of the history and saga lessons could have been culled down, since I felt it slowed the pacing more, and wasn’t always relevant to the story, outside of “Icelandic history is cool.”)
So, I was disappointed in this one--I’m not sure what could have improved it outside of reworking it to heighten the pacing, tension, and somehow make Paul more present and appealing. (He is a way less readable MC compared to the effervescent charm of Tom in Merrow’s Pressure Head. They’re different characters, but I started to really miss Tom’s voice while reading this.)
I wouldn’t let my review stop you though, especially if you like Merrow’s works. I recommend going in and making up your own mind. For others, this story really worked for them, and it could work for you too. It just didn’t work for me.
The story idea is interesting--MC Paul survived a fall off a waterfall in Iceland, but loses his memory of the year prior, meaning all his memories of his time in Iceland, including those related to his boyfriend Sven (who died in the same fall.) Now Paul has returned from recovering in England to his post-doc studies, but he is plagued by uncertainty. Who was he before? Who was Sven? Who is this attractive riverboat driver who seems eerily familiar? And of course, the mystery of how the fall happened.
The set-up was great. I was ready for a taut mystery about Paul figuring things out, and realizing that he didn’t know who to trust since not everyone was being forthright about their relationship with him from before the fall.
What affected things for me was the pacing (slow, and sometime repetitive) and an overall disconnect with Paul. Paul doesn’t really know himself, so a lot of the book is him trying to figure things out, but just as he felt very disconnected, so did I, and I had a hard time marshaling feelings of caring for how things turned out for him. And he would get into these patterns a lot with other characters--ask questions, someone gives him an answer, he feels more confused, he gets irritable, etc. (This happens on repeat with his colleague Mags, who is very nice albeit a bit oblivious.) Paul is understandably confused and irritated about his amnesia, but at times he felt like a very snappish character, and I started thinking that he must be very good-looking for everyone to be so into him because his personality is not very winning.)
The disconnect was a drag, and the pacing was also a drag, and I had to really push through the first half. Around 60-65%, there is some added tension, I started to get excited about things coming together, but Paul’s responses are often, “Regain broken memory or come to a realization, freak out, run away, ponder about oneself and others” so the running away and pondering usually returned things back to a slower pace, so the tension never kept up.
And by the time the realization hits, I felt ho-hum about it. Like, “Oh, okay. That’s what happened.” I kind of wish there was something a little more tense, but oh well.
What I did like: Merrow did a great job on the character’s voices. They all seemed very distinct, especially Viggo’s, the riverboat driver. I loved his easy-going nature. I like Mags as well, but she (and her sad history that Paul doesn’t remember) seemed really throwaway by the time I got to the end. Like, once it came up, I thought it would have a more important part of the story, but it doesn’t really.
I also loved the setting in Iceland, and Merrow did a great job of describing everything and giving the book a very strong sense of place. It’s also just an interesting setting, and I really enjoyed the details of Paul exploring. (I did feel that some of the history and saga lessons could have been culled down, since I felt it slowed the pacing more, and wasn’t always relevant to the story, outside of “Icelandic history is cool.”)
So, I was disappointed in this one--I’m not sure what could have improved it outside of reworking it to heighten the pacing, tension, and somehow make Paul more present and appealing. (He is a way less readable MC compared to the effervescent charm of Tom in Merrow’s Pressure Head. They’re different characters, but I started to really miss Tom’s voice while reading this.)
I wouldn’t let my review stop you though, especially if you like Merrow’s works. I recommend going in and making up your own mind. For others, this story really worked for them, and it could work for you too. It just didn’t work for me.
September 16, 2013
3.5 stars
Paul Ansell, an English ex-pat, is a professor and researcher of Icelandic studies at a private institute in Reykjavik. That is, up until he was seriously injured in a long tumble off the side of a cliff. Paul also suffers from amnesia about the accident. In fact, he can’t remember anything about the year he’s spent in Iceland. He has no memory of colleagues and friends made there. He can’t even remember his lover, Sven Halvorson, another historian, who was tragically killed in the same accident. Now, almost a year later, Paul is ready to pick up the pieces of his life, resume his studies, try to jog his memory, and put to rest lingering unease about the accident.
There is an undercurrent of foreboding in the story, of looming threat. Or maybe everything is colored by Paul’s vulnerability and uncertainty, effects of the amnesia. He has a good friend in Mags Kettle, a colleague who helps him get re-settled, but she has a strange reluctance to answer questions about Sven and their relationship. Paul finds himself fending off the advances of Alex, a new, visiting historian who, strangely, has his own questions about the accident. And, Paul is thrown by his immediate, charged physical attraction to the gorgeously tattooed boat-runner, Viggo Gudrunarson, who will not confirm what they were to each other before the accident. Were they lovers? Was Paul cheating on Sven? What kind of a person was Paul? … he may not be happy with the answers. Is the threat he feels inward or outward?
I find it difficult to connect with Paul’s character, can’t get under his skin. His amnesia keeps him at a distance; he can be surly, suspicious and a bit paranoid and sometimes he comes off as just mean. I don’t understand this specialized memory loss— how he can remember everything else in his life, his studies, his family in England, and yet nothing about his year in Iceland? If this is meant to be a psychological study of an amnesiac it doesn’t quite work for me. On the other hand, Paul’s growing relationship with Viggo is hot and I’m more interested in this modern-day Viking, and his background, would like to know more about him. There is a spark and mystery to Viggo that is more alluring.
While the writing is good, crisp, easy to read, my issue is with the plotting. Outside Paul’s amnesia, there’s not enough tension, and the looming threat set up at the story’s beginning, fizzles. I would recommend this for it’s interesting rendering of Reykjavik, for the physical setting, and the references to its lore, especially the great detail work on the Viking berserker and poet, Egil Skallagrimsson, which add a unique flavor. And for the mysterious, patient, Viggo.
For this review, give-aways, and much more:
January 10, 2014
What happens when you can’t remember a thing and have to piece the past together? Well, this is the case for Paul who loses his memory after an accident at Gullfoss in Iceland. Not only does he lose his memory but also his lover Sven. Upon returning to work in Iceland he eventually puts the pieces togethertans unravels some things that he wished he could have forgot.
I must say the first thing that I found totally refreshing about this book was the fact it wasn't set in America or the UK but in Iceland. Nice to read about a totally different country and backdrop. J.L. Merrow's writing brings the country, scenery and nature alive. Although I have never been to Iceland myself I feel like I'm already familiar with it's scenery, lore and traditions. It really makes me want to go and visit now. Sounds like an absolutely fascinating country. I ended googling the places mentioned for the visual aspect and wasn't divined the all exist and the pictures are as breathtaking as the author describes them. Either JL Merrow's has been to Iceland herself or the research was meticulous.
Paul is an academic specialising in Icelandic lore and returns to his postion of lecturer at the university after recooperating after his accident whilst staying with his sister Gretchen. Although he hasn't lost his memory on the academic aspects, he has lost his mmemory totally about his life while he was in Iceland. This is written about beautifully and you can feel the angst and frustration that Paul has not knowing the people he had worked with or known while he was there. He is greeted by Mags at the airport and taken to his new flat. She tells him that all his possessions are in storage and have been waiting his return. This turns out to be a key factor in putting the puzzle together as he unpacks the boxes.
When he is there he meets a someone at the Rekyvik pride day called Viggo. Paul is immediately attracted to the man, but has a serious feeling of déjà vous! As he is constantly second guessing his non-existent memory he goes with the flow and falls for the Icelandic hunk. However, even when Paul asks him if they knew each other before Viggo constantly avoids his questions. Again adding to the mystery of this sexy modern day Viking. But Paul constantly keeps asking himself if he is being unfaithful to the memory of his deceased lover Paul. Viggo was a great character, thoroughly loved him.
Well, needless to say Paul regains memory, a revelation due to an USB stick he finds that holds a book his deceased partner was working on and his world is first of all turned upside down by jumping to conclusions. When the light is shed on everything from Viggo. I really liked the way JL Merrow's builds up the suspense and keeps you thinking exactly what role did Viggo play in Paul's past and the fatal accident. It gives the relationship an extra edge to things, like someone who's playing with fire and shouldn't be. As for what happened when he regains his memory well that would be giving away too much here!
I loved the whole idea of this book and it kept me totally enthralled from beginning to end. The plot and the setting were both very original and the characters felt real and tangible.
Visit our blog for a chance to win a copy of Fall Hard ~ http://bit.ly/1cTK1pZ ~ Offer ends 14.01.14 at 12:00 am (GMT)
I must say the first thing that I found totally refreshing about this book was the fact it wasn't set in America or the UK but in Iceland. Nice to read about a totally different country and backdrop. J.L. Merrow's writing brings the country, scenery and nature alive. Although I have never been to Iceland myself I feel like I'm already familiar with it's scenery, lore and traditions. It really makes me want to go and visit now. Sounds like an absolutely fascinating country. I ended googling the places mentioned for the visual aspect and wasn't divined the all exist and the pictures are as breathtaking as the author describes them. Either JL Merrow's has been to Iceland herself or the research was meticulous.
Paul is an academic specialising in Icelandic lore and returns to his postion of lecturer at the university after recooperating after his accident whilst staying with his sister Gretchen. Although he hasn't lost his memory on the academic aspects, he has lost his mmemory totally about his life while he was in Iceland. This is written about beautifully and you can feel the angst and frustration that Paul has not knowing the people he had worked with or known while he was there. He is greeted by Mags at the airport and taken to his new flat. She tells him that all his possessions are in storage and have been waiting his return. This turns out to be a key factor in putting the puzzle together as he unpacks the boxes.
When he is there he meets a someone at the Rekyvik pride day called Viggo. Paul is immediately attracted to the man, but has a serious feeling of déjà vous! As he is constantly second guessing his non-existent memory he goes with the flow and falls for the Icelandic hunk. However, even when Paul asks him if they knew each other before Viggo constantly avoids his questions. Again adding to the mystery of this sexy modern day Viking. But Paul constantly keeps asking himself if he is being unfaithful to the memory of his deceased lover Paul. Viggo was a great character, thoroughly loved him.
Well, needless to say Paul regains memory, a revelation due to an USB stick he finds that holds a book his deceased partner was working on and his world is first of all turned upside down by jumping to conclusions. When the light is shed on everything from Viggo. I really liked the way JL Merrow's builds up the suspense and keeps you thinking exactly what role did Viggo play in Paul's past and the fatal accident. It gives the relationship an extra edge to things, like someone who's playing with fire and shouldn't be. As for what happened when he regains his memory well that would be giving away too much here!
I loved the whole idea of this book and it kept me totally enthralled from beginning to end. The plot and the setting were both very original and the characters felt real and tangible.
Visit our blog for a chance to win a copy of Fall Hard ~ http://bit.ly/1cTK1pZ ~ Offer ends 14.01.14 at 12:00 am (GMT)
October 25, 2013
This is a great book, not only the plot is amazing, as it is Iceland's history and the country myths. Truly fascinating!
The love story is sweet and also captivating. Viggo is very special... I loved his tatoos!
Yggdrasil the tree of life
The love story is sweet and also captivating. Viggo is very special... I loved his tatoos!
Yggdrasil the tree of life
December 12, 2018
4 Stars
This one is hard to review. The writing is beautiful (specifically the setting & Viking mythology aspects) and I loved the almost palpable sense of frustration Paul experiences as he tries to get his memory back.
But for some reason I felt like the emotional connection between Viggo and Paul was missing. Maybe that was deliberate as Paul still was unsure of his own feelings (and whether they were appropriate)...plus a bit of that British stoicism?
This one is hard to review. The writing is beautiful (specifically the setting & Viking mythology aspects) and I loved the almost palpable sense of frustration Paul experiences as he tries to get his memory back.
But for some reason I felt like the emotional connection between Viggo and Paul was missing. Maybe that was deliberate as Paul still was unsure of his own feelings (and whether they were appropriate)...plus a bit of that British stoicism?
January 3, 2016
I'm a big fan of the Big Mystery and its companion Foreshadowing (Your Key to Quality Literature!), and love to watch a plot unfold with subtle hints, curious asides, judicious use of flashbacks and so on until you are left with that final mysterious package that only needs one tug of the twine for All To Be Revealed.
With Fall Hard, I loved the concept of this book, but had some problems with the implementation. After barely surviving a horrendous accident at Gullfoss Falls in Iceland - a fall that took his partner Sven and all memories of their life together - Paul returns to Iceland to resume teaching, and to continue his research on one of Iceland's most famous sagas about the warrior / poet Egil Skallagrimsson.
Everyone in this book obviously Knows Something or is Not Whom They Appear To Be, and it honestly pissed me off that Paul never actually asked people to explain themselves or starting digging around for answers. Maybe it's me, but I would have gone to the storage unit, dug through everything there and tried to piece together anything I could about Sven. I would have hounded everyone that knew us to get more information.
Although .... .
In the end, though, I admired this book (and raised my rating from 3 to 4 stars after completing this review). I've been to Iceland and Merrow absolutely nailed that sense of otherworldness about the terrain and the almost undescribeable quality of the light and dark. Since I finished the book, it has resided in my emotions.
With Fall Hard, I loved the concept of this book, but had some problems with the implementation. After barely surviving a horrendous accident at Gullfoss Falls in Iceland - a fall that took his partner Sven and all memories of their life together - Paul returns to Iceland to resume teaching, and to continue his research on one of Iceland's most famous sagas about the warrior / poet Egil Skallagrimsson.
Everyone in this book obviously Knows Something or is Not Whom They Appear To Be, and it honestly pissed me off that Paul never actually asked people to explain themselves or starting digging around for answers. Maybe it's me, but I would have gone to the storage unit, dug through everything there and tried to piece together anything I could about Sven. I would have hounded everyone that knew us to get more information.
Although .... .
In the end, though, I admired this book (and raised my rating from 3 to 4 stars after completing this review). I've been to Iceland and Merrow absolutely nailed that sense of otherworldness about the terrain and the almost undescribeable quality of the light and dark. Since I finished the book, it has resided in my emotions.
September 20, 2013
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.
I liked it but didn't love it. The writing was well done, the scenery was spectacular (the description of Reykjavik and Iceland made me google pics which in turn made want to go there, just not in winter^^), the idea of the plot as it was laid out in the blurb was enticing.
Still, I felt strangely untouched by Paul and Viggo. I detested Sven from the first minute (and we only meet him through other people's talk or memories) and couldn't get a good impression of Alex. I didn't understand the purpose of some of the attributions which made those people seems vague and remote, e. g. . I missed someone I could identify with or root for.
Maybe because of Paul's amnesia all that was happening was dulled by the missing connection to earlier events and therefor feeling distant. I get how confused he was. The situation must have been really strange. He came back to a place and to people he should know and still couldn't remember.
So, all in all it is interesting to watch him find his way and reconnect and finally find out what had happened. I missed a little action and sharpness of the edges.
I liked it but didn't love it. The writing was well done, the scenery was spectacular (the description of Reykjavik and Iceland made me google pics which in turn made want to go there, just not in winter^^), the idea of the plot as it was laid out in the blurb was enticing.
Still, I felt strangely untouched by Paul and Viggo. I detested Sven from the first minute (and we only meet him through other people's talk or memories) and couldn't get a good impression of Alex. I didn't understand the purpose of some of the attributions which made those people seems vague and remote, e. g. . I missed someone I could identify with or root for.
Maybe because of Paul's amnesia all that was happening was dulled by the missing connection to earlier events and therefor feeling distant. I get how confused he was. The situation must have been really strange. He came back to a place and to people he should know and still couldn't remember.
So, all in all it is interesting to watch him find his way and reconnect and finally find out what had happened. I missed a little action and sharpness of the edges.
July 30, 2014
This was so disappointing, I was looking so forward to it.
The story was just so trite I could see pages in the future, by the third chapter I had pretty much the whole plot figured out. I really didn’t like what I was seeing.
I have never like books centered on cheaters, and I don’t care what the main character says what he was doing WAS cheating. If you are with somebody, and find yourself wanting somebody else…leave. Just leave. You are just hurting the person you are with, and who you want.
So in saying this I really started disliking the main character. I don’t care that he thought he was doing the right thing by standing by his man, cause if you don’t like him anymore then really he isn’t your man anymore.
So fuck this book, I wish I never bought it.
Half a star.
The story was just so trite I could see pages in the future, by the third chapter I had pretty much the whole plot figured out. I really didn’t like what I was seeing.
I have never like books centered on cheaters, and I don’t care what the main character says what he was doing WAS cheating. If you are with somebody, and find yourself wanting somebody else…leave. Just leave. You are just hurting the person you are with, and who you want.
So in saying this I really started disliking the main character. I don’t care that he thought he was doing the right thing by standing by his man, cause if you don’t like him anymore then really he isn’t your man anymore.
So fuck this book, I wish I never bought it.
Half a star.
August 27, 2025
Overall book review: 3.5
Audio book: N/A
Book cover: 3
If this was more fleshed out in terms of relationship building
and spend a little more time on character depth it would have
been on my all time favourite list.
I understand why the thing between Viggo and Paul
kicks off so fast, but even after that first encounter,
I feel that there could have been more time spent on
emotional connection between them?
I would personally have loved that.
I would have maybe liked more about Sven also,
the unravelling parts?
Alex made me itchy from the get go.
I ended up feeling cheater out of something that
could have been really good but instead was
just a good read.
I enjoyed the setting and the little bits of
"deeper" we did get.
Audio book: N/A
Book cover: 3
If this was more fleshed out in terms of relationship building
and spend a little more time on character depth it would have
been on my all time favourite list.
I understand why the thing between Viggo and Paul
kicks off so fast, but even after that first encounter,
I feel that there could have been more time spent on
emotional connection between them?
I would personally have loved that.
I would have maybe liked more about Sven also,
the unravelling parts?
Alex made me itchy from the get go.
I ended up feeling cheater out of something that
could have been really good but instead was
just a good read.
I enjoyed the setting and the little bits of
"deeper" we did get.
October 23, 2013
Fall Hard combines the Viking legends along with the history of Iceland, mixed with a touch of thriller.
(South Iceland- Gullfoss waterfall)
First I thought the stories of the Viking settlers and the legends surrounding them fascinating! The plot between Paul, Sven and Viggo is wonderful left us captured till the end of the book !!
Viggo is just the perfect handsome modern day Viking and very sexy and this story packs a lot of HEAT!
(Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life - tattoo on Viggo´s back)
October 21, 2013
3.5 stars
I enjoyed the leisurely pacing of Fall Hard, a story where the romance took a back seat to the story of Paul trying to get back to his life researching and teaching in Iceland one year after the accident that took both the life of his lover Sven and all memory of his prior year in that country.
The descriptions of Iceland and the saga Paul was studying were very well done. As bits and pieces of Paul's prior year in Iceland come out, I did get frustrated with the character not really taking more of an active role in finding out about the missing pieces of what he did, who his friends were (especially his prior relationship to Viggo) and the events surrounding the accident. The narrative did keep me reading and wondering about his connections to the other characters in the book.
This was an engaging read with some steamy love scenes and a well rounded storyline. I am also now quite intrigued with the saga of Egil and will be reading up on that soon.
I enjoyed the leisurely pacing of Fall Hard, a story where the romance took a back seat to the story of Paul trying to get back to his life researching and teaching in Iceland one year after the accident that took both the life of his lover Sven and all memory of his prior year in that country.
The descriptions of Iceland and the saga Paul was studying were very well done. As bits and pieces of Paul's prior year in Iceland come out, I did get frustrated with the character not really taking more of an active role in finding out about the missing pieces of what he did, who his friends were (especially his prior relationship to Viggo) and the events surrounding the accident. The narrative did keep me reading and wondering about his connections to the other characters in the book.
This was an engaging read with some steamy love scenes and a well rounded storyline. I am also now quite intrigued with the saga of Egil and will be reading up on that soon.
September 20, 2013
I'm a big JL Merrow fan and pre-ordered this book. The book was more mystery than romance and I missed a heavier romantic element. Part of that was that Paul was just so consumed by his memory loss and the frustration of that. And it was hard to know exactly how to take Viggo, if he was a good guy or bad guy, so it was hard to get invested in their relationship. But I enjoyed the characters, the story of Egil, and the Icelandic setting a great deal. I look forward to JL's next book.
October 17, 2023
My favorite kind of JL Merrow novel! I was captivated from the first page of Fall Hard, and read straight through till the end.
Great characters, a fun mystery, and stunning descriptions of Iceland. Plus really interesting tidbits of mythology are woven into the story. I loved it!
Great characters, a fun mystery, and stunning descriptions of Iceland. Plus really interesting tidbits of mythology are woven into the story. I loved it!
September 19, 2013
4.25 stars
Paul has spent the last eight months in England recovering from a fall from Gullfoss Falls (is that even possible?). After this long recovery he is left with a limp and short term loss memory. He can't remember anything that happened during his one year living in Iceland. But it is now time to go back to Iceland and Paul's return brings him a lot of frustration and confusion. He can't remember anyone of his friends, colleagues or anything that happened.
I think JL Merrow did a great job at portraying Paul's frustration, confusion and loss of confidence from his short term memory loss. I found myself wanting to reach out and shake him and tell him to "just ask what happened already!" Anyway, I could really feel the frustration.
I also found myself at times a bit broken hearted for Viggo. Paul feels Viggo is familiar to him and can't deny their attraction, and well he doesn't. These two jump in bed fairly quickly after Paul gets back even though Paul doesn't actually "know" him (well, remember him really). But it broke my heart a bit to see that things to Viggo mean more than to Paul initially and he restraints his feelings for Paul to give each other a new start.
All I want to say is that I loved this book because I loved Viggo even though we don't learn very much about him. But we do learn that he is a lonely, caring and sweet guy. And this leads me to my only real complain about this book .
This book also gets the thumbs up from me for poking fun to Icelandic, British and American cultures. The jabs are subtle but they are there and I enjoyed them.
Paul has spent the last eight months in England recovering from a fall from Gullfoss Falls (is that even possible?). After this long recovery he is left with a limp and short term loss memory. He can't remember anything that happened during his one year living in Iceland. But it is now time to go back to Iceland and Paul's return brings him a lot of frustration and confusion. He can't remember anyone of his friends, colleagues or anything that happened.
I think JL Merrow did a great job at portraying Paul's frustration, confusion and loss of confidence from his short term memory loss. I found myself wanting to reach out and shake him and tell him to "just ask what happened already!" Anyway, I could really feel the frustration.
I also found myself at times a bit broken hearted for Viggo. Paul feels Viggo is familiar to him and can't deny their attraction, and well he doesn't. These two jump in bed fairly quickly after Paul gets back even though Paul doesn't actually "know" him (well, remember him really). But it broke my heart a bit to see that things to Viggo mean more than to Paul initially and he restraints his feelings for Paul to give each other a new start.
All I want to say is that I loved this book because I loved Viggo even though we don't learn very much about him. But we do learn that he is a lonely, caring and sweet guy. And this leads me to my only real complain about this book .
This book also gets the thumbs up from me for poking fun to Icelandic, British and American cultures. The jabs are subtle but they are there and I enjoyed them.
October 7, 2013
I just wasn't blown away by this one. I feel like the author wanted very much to write about Iceland, so she loving detailed the backdrop and then quickly sketched in the characters and plot. I just had a hard time warming up to anyone, and the amnesia thing didn't help, either. Then there was the romance, which felt a bit like insta-love (because of the amnesia) and this is my least favourite M/M trope ever. I almost fell like the events that occurred during the MC's lost year would've been a far more interesting read than the actual book. That said, I'm giving it three stars and not two because the Iceland thing was beautifully done and very well researched. I just really wish Merrow would write about Tom again.
September 23, 2013
Really enjoyed this. Great romance, with a slightly predicable scooby mystery. Engaging characters and I absolutely ADORED the setting. Almost 5 stars, but still totes worth reading.
September 16, 2013
♥♡5 Stars - KAPOW!♡♥
A "Live Your Life, Buy The Book" Review
Paul Ansell has lost a year of memories. All the good, bad, and indifferent he experienced while living in Iceland with his lover, Sven, are gone. Paul's memories of work and friends are gone as well. He still knows the basics of his life and the subject for which he's a trained academic, but a year of living and making new experiences is gone. Gone like his lover Sven. He doesn't even know what Sven looked like. After eight months of recuperation from the accident that precipitated the memory loss and the death of Sven, a fall from the top of a waterfall, Paul is returning to Iceland to go back to work. He's picked up at the airport by someone he should know. A co-worker, Mags. Well, she says her name is Mags. That's what Paul calls her. Used to call her. She took care of a lot of the details of Paul's life after the fall. She's helped him in so many ways. Paul doesn't know why. Paul doesn't know how he and Mags fit together.Finally, after getting into his new apartment Paul sees a picture of Sven. He feels nothing. He remembers nothing. Paul learns he and Sven met each other because of a shared interest in Egil Skallagrimsson. Paul had a professional interest in Egil whereas Sven's was more a hobby but no less all consuming. Paul decides to go to the Pride Parade in Reykjavik. Paul meets someone at the parade and has a strong emotional reaction. So does the other man, Viggo. Viggo takes Paul for a ride in a jet boat on the river. They end up having sex. Paul is overwhelmed and still has no idea what is going on in his life.
Paul keeps finding himself in the company of Alex. Alex asks a lot of really pressing questions about Paul's memory. It's uncomfortable. To add to the discomfort Alex keeps hitting on him. Paul would rather Viggo was hitting on him. Paul contacts Viggo and they see each other again. It's good. It's really good being with Viggo. Viggo doesn't pressure Paul at all about the past. Being with Viggo feels so good Paul begins to wonder just what kind of relationship they had in the past. Viggo insists Paul didn't cheat on Sven. Paul gets more and more of his and Sven's possessions from storage. He begins to get more memories. He knows he looked almost exactly like Sven. He knows he had an occasionally contentious relationship with Sven. Many of the memories Paul is regaining of Sven are of someone Paul finds he doesn't really like or understand, then Paul finds the book Sven was writing about Egil Skallagrimsson. Things go from uncomfortable to worse. Paul gets a flood of unlocked memories and has to deal with both his own actions and those of the men he loves.
This book has no hero. Likewise it has no villain. This book is comprised of characters with complex motivations that may lead them to wonderful or horrible actions. Paul, Sven, and Viggo all have a past that affects their behaviors and how they're viewed by others. Paul is able to experience firsthand what it's like to see yourself through the eyes of someone who can only see your actions. Paul is in the unique position of having to judge his own deeds without knowing his own whole story. Egil Skallagrimsson was the big metaphor here. He was a fascinating man capable of great beauty, great horror, and great sadness. Paul, Sven, and Viggo didn't do things either as heinous or as stupendous as Egil, but like him they were all comprised of shades of gray.
What is cheating? Viggo insists Paul didn't cheat on Sven. Paul and Viggo were very much in love before Sven's death. This was one of the more interesting questions raised by this book. I would never think Sven's actions had in any way been warranted, but his hurt feelings certainly took root from Paul's actions. So as not to spoiler an aspect of the plot I don't want to explain Sven's situation, however, another question raised by the book deals with what possible responsibilities did Paul have toward Sven? Was it okay Paul was more interested in seeking happiness for himself outside his relationship with Sven? Like all good books that raise complex questions there was no attempt to answer them. We are left judging the main characters based on our own answers to those questions after we were able to learn the full story. By the end I felt great compassion for all of them even if I didn't actually find myself liking them.
A "Live Your Life, Buy The Book" Review
Paul Ansell has lost a year of memories. All the good, bad, and indifferent he experienced while living in Iceland with his lover, Sven, are gone. Paul's memories of work and friends are gone as well. He still knows the basics of his life and the subject for which he's a trained academic, but a year of living and making new experiences is gone. Gone like his lover Sven. He doesn't even know what Sven looked like. After eight months of recuperation from the accident that precipitated the memory loss and the death of Sven, a fall from the top of a waterfall, Paul is returning to Iceland to go back to work. He's picked up at the airport by someone he should know. A co-worker, Mags. Well, she says her name is Mags. That's what Paul calls her. Used to call her. She took care of a lot of the details of Paul's life after the fall. She's helped him in so many ways. Paul doesn't know why. Paul doesn't know how he and Mags fit together.Finally, after getting into his new apartment Paul sees a picture of Sven. He feels nothing. He remembers nothing. Paul learns he and Sven met each other because of a shared interest in Egil Skallagrimsson. Paul had a professional interest in Egil whereas Sven's was more a hobby but no less all consuming. Paul decides to go to the Pride Parade in Reykjavik. Paul meets someone at the parade and has a strong emotional reaction. So does the other man, Viggo. Viggo takes Paul for a ride in a jet boat on the river. They end up having sex. Paul is overwhelmed and still has no idea what is going on in his life.
Paul keeps finding himself in the company of Alex. Alex asks a lot of really pressing questions about Paul's memory. It's uncomfortable. To add to the discomfort Alex keeps hitting on him. Paul would rather Viggo was hitting on him. Paul contacts Viggo and they see each other again. It's good. It's really good being with Viggo. Viggo doesn't pressure Paul at all about the past. Being with Viggo feels so good Paul begins to wonder just what kind of relationship they had in the past. Viggo insists Paul didn't cheat on Sven. Paul gets more and more of his and Sven's possessions from storage. He begins to get more memories. He knows he looked almost exactly like Sven. He knows he had an occasionally contentious relationship with Sven. Many of the memories Paul is regaining of Sven are of someone Paul finds he doesn't really like or understand, then Paul finds the book Sven was writing about Egil Skallagrimsson. Things go from uncomfortable to worse. Paul gets a flood of unlocked memories and has to deal with both his own actions and those of the men he loves.
This book has no hero. Likewise it has no villain. This book is comprised of characters with complex motivations that may lead them to wonderful or horrible actions. Paul, Sven, and Viggo all have a past that affects their behaviors and how they're viewed by others. Paul is able to experience firsthand what it's like to see yourself through the eyes of someone who can only see your actions. Paul is in the unique position of having to judge his own deeds without knowing his own whole story. Egil Skallagrimsson was the big metaphor here. He was a fascinating man capable of great beauty, great horror, and great sadness. Paul, Sven, and Viggo didn't do things either as heinous or as stupendous as Egil, but like him they were all comprised of shades of gray.
What is cheating? Viggo insists Paul didn't cheat on Sven. Paul and Viggo were very much in love before Sven's death. This was one of the more interesting questions raised by this book. I would never think Sven's actions had in any way been warranted, but his hurt feelings certainly took root from Paul's actions. So as not to spoiler an aspect of the plot I don't want to explain Sven's situation, however, another question raised by the book deals with what possible responsibilities did Paul have toward Sven? Was it okay Paul was more interested in seeking happiness for himself outside his relationship with Sven? Like all good books that raise complex questions there was no attempt to answer them. We are left judging the main characters based on our own answers to those questions after we were able to learn the full story. By the end I felt great compassion for all of them even if I didn't actually find myself liking them.
June 29, 2016
After nearly a year of convalescing at his sister's place in London, Paul returns to Iceland to resume his teaching contract. Reykjavik is at once frustratingly strange and confusingly familiar to Paul. If only he could remember...everything.
Y'all this was SUCH a disappointment! I'd read this author before, the premise sounded interesting, and I was looking forward to an M/M romance set in Iceland. *siiiiigh*
What I liked
+ Paul/Viggo
Paul's re-acquaintance with Reykjavik includes some not-so-subtle flirting with Viggo, a tattooed, jet-boat driver. Some readers might feel uncomfortable with Paul's interest in Viggo (and viceversa) because they move rather fast.
In simpler terms, they become f*ck-buddies shortly after running into each other and get seriously attached. It's not insta-love (thank the gods), but an undercurrent of a deeper emotion does exist. This is addressed in the latter part of the book (around 80% or so).
Paul's previous serious relationship had ended in tragedy. He and his ex-boyfriend Sven (who was American despite the Nordic name) had been in an accident by a waterfall. Sven died, but Paul survived with some extreme memory loss as well as some minor mobility issues.
A large part of the conflict happened because Paul truly didn't have any idea of who Sven was or what his relationship with him was like. He couldn't mourn Sven "properly". The guilt of not feeling anything about someone who had meant so much was heavy.
Until Viggo, that is.
I really liked their dynamic: a combination of playful and tender that added a lot of shine to their relationship. Their scenes in bed were pretty neat too. Theirs wasn't an amazing relationship, but one that felt real in how mundane it was. This domesticity was what endeared them to me.
+ The female characters
TBH, this is a novel with v. few characters.
Aside from the MCs and a male character who appears to be hiding something, the two other people closest to Paul are Gretchen, his older sister, and Mags, a colleague at the school where Paul teaches.
Both Gretchen and Mags are extremely supportive in their own ways whenever Paul's spirits are low because of his memory situation. In addition, I felt that both female characters had their own complex personalities.
What I didn't like
- About 70% of the plot
OK, so the story is supposed to be about Paul trying to get himself back together. We follow him as he starts to untangle the mystery of what his life was like during his first year in Iceland.
At one point, some potentially disturbing things start to pop-up and, just like Paul, it's too tempting to not follow the trail--wherever it may lead.
UNFORTCH, in between Paul and Viggo's romance AND Paul's quest, there are many, many, MANY stories about Egil Skallagrimsson.
OTOH, this makes sense because Paul is an academic. OTOH, there was a point in which I couldn't help roll my eyes when the book got into story-time mode.
And then, there was the reveal. If you ask me, it was a cheap shot.
I was (strangely) neutral about
The simpatico between Paul and Viggo is indeed fun, but the question of potential (past) cheating keeps coming up again and again until it gets answered. Perhaps it didn't bother me as much as it normally would because I wasn't emotionally connected to the characters.
TL;DR: What could've been a good M/M romance with a side serving of mystery (because one of the MCs was amnesiac) turned out to be one of the most boring reads I've had this year. #Ohwell
Y'all this was SUCH a disappointment! I'd read this author before, the premise sounded interesting, and I was looking forward to an M/M romance set in Iceland. *siiiiigh*
What I liked
+ Paul/Viggo
Paul's re-acquaintance with Reykjavik includes some not-so-subtle flirting with Viggo, a tattooed, jet-boat driver. Some readers might feel uncomfortable with Paul's interest in Viggo (and viceversa) because they move rather fast.
In simpler terms, they become f*ck-buddies shortly after running into each other and get seriously attached. It's not insta-love (thank the gods), but an undercurrent of a deeper emotion does exist. This is addressed in the latter part of the book (around 80% or so).
Paul's previous serious relationship had ended in tragedy. He and his ex-boyfriend Sven (who was American despite the Nordic name) had been in an accident by a waterfall. Sven died, but Paul survived with some extreme memory loss as well as some minor mobility issues.
A large part of the conflict happened because Paul truly didn't have any idea of who Sven was or what his relationship with him was like. He couldn't mourn Sven "properly". The guilt of not feeling anything about someone who had meant so much was heavy.
Until Viggo, that is.
I really liked their dynamic: a combination of playful and tender that added a lot of shine to their relationship. Their scenes in bed were pretty neat too. Theirs wasn't an amazing relationship, but one that felt real in how mundane it was. This domesticity was what endeared them to me.
+ The female characters
TBH, this is a novel with v. few characters.
Aside from the MCs and a male character who appears to be hiding something, the two other people closest to Paul are Gretchen, his older sister, and Mags, a colleague at the school where Paul teaches.
Both Gretchen and Mags are extremely supportive in their own ways whenever Paul's spirits are low because of his memory situation. In addition, I felt that both female characters had their own complex personalities.
What I didn't like
- About 70% of the plot
OK, so the story is supposed to be about Paul trying to get himself back together. We follow him as he starts to untangle the mystery of what his life was like during his first year in Iceland.
At one point, some potentially disturbing things start to pop-up and, just like Paul, it's too tempting to not follow the trail--wherever it may lead.
UNFORTCH, in between Paul and Viggo's romance AND Paul's quest, there are many, many, MANY stories about Egil Skallagrimsson.
OTOH, this makes sense because Paul is an academic. OTOH, there was a point in which I couldn't help roll my eyes when the book got into story-time mode.
And then, there was the reveal. If you ask me, it was a cheap shot.
I was (strangely) neutral about
The simpatico between Paul and Viggo is indeed fun, but the question of potential (past) cheating keeps coming up again and again until it gets answered. Perhaps it didn't bother me as much as it normally would because I wasn't emotionally connected to the characters.
TL;DR: What could've been a good M/M romance with a side serving of mystery (because one of the MCs was amnesiac) turned out to be one of the most boring reads I've had this year. #Ohwell
November 10, 2013
4.25 stars
J.L. Merrow's stories have a realistic writing style and a British flavor that I enjoy. The central theme of this one is amnesia (which I think every romance author toys with at some point. I know I have my amnesia book in the probably-never-to-be-released pile.) It can be done really badly, but in this case I liked the way it was handled.
Paul is returning to Iceland to find the threads of his life, after a fall that killed his partner and injured him, causing him to lose his memory of the whole year they spent together. The fact that Paul has amnesia adds central tension, but it's not melodramatic. And there is a decent awareness of the fact that, in its precise manifestation with the total loss of a very narrow span of time, it's more likely due to psychological trauma than purely physical damage. His concerns and frustrations feel real, and the central mystery about what really happened when he fell off the cliff is intriguing, without overshadowing the character-driven story. I liked his reaction to the mixed relationships with friends, coworkers and strangers that he's resuming and trying to remember.
The secondary characters were appealing, particularly his co-worker and best friend Mags, and the man he is immediately attracted to, Viggo. I didn't expect the plot twist of the resolution, and was left satisfied at the end. The narrative voice was just a touch cool and unemotional, and so I was interested but not fully sucked into Paul's problems. Still, a good, quick and interesting book, and one I may well reread.
J.L. Merrow's stories have a realistic writing style and a British flavor that I enjoy. The central theme of this one is amnesia (which I think every romance author toys with at some point. I know I have my amnesia book in the probably-never-to-be-released pile.) It can be done really badly, but in this case I liked the way it was handled.
Paul is returning to Iceland to find the threads of his life, after a fall that killed his partner and injured him, causing him to lose his memory of the whole year they spent together. The fact that Paul has amnesia adds central tension, but it's not melodramatic. And there is a decent awareness of the fact that, in its precise manifestation with the total loss of a very narrow span of time, it's more likely due to psychological trauma than purely physical damage. His concerns and frustrations feel real, and the central mystery about what really happened when he fell off the cliff is intriguing, without overshadowing the character-driven story. I liked his reaction to the mixed relationships with friends, coworkers and strangers that he's resuming and trying to remember.
The secondary characters were appealing, particularly his co-worker and best friend Mags, and the man he is immediately attracted to, Viggo. I didn't expect the plot twist of the resolution, and was left satisfied at the end. The narrative voice was just a touch cool and unemotional, and so I was interested but not fully sucked into Paul's problems. Still, a good, quick and interesting book, and one I may well reread.
September 22, 2013
This was a very good read. It had a certain tension about it - the search for the past Paul had forgotten due to his accident makes for an interesting atmosphere.
It was not too drawn out, had the right amount of "mystery" if you could call it that - and a bit of romance as well.
I felt that the "love" part was not so prevalent, maybe because Iceland itself seemed to be a character in this book too. I loved to read about it, it was done very well - showing a very unique country with a glimpse into its eventful past.
A very enjoyable read.
BTW: I am now on booklikes too (as Tami - http://tami.booklikes.com/), due to the policy changes and my growing paranoia that those were not the last changes to the worse
It was not too drawn out, had the right amount of "mystery" if you could call it that - and a bit of romance as well.
I felt that the "love" part was not so prevalent, maybe because Iceland itself seemed to be a character in this book too. I loved to read about it, it was done very well - showing a very unique country with a glimpse into its eventful past.
A very enjoyable read.
BTW: I am now on booklikes too (as Tami - http://tami.booklikes.com/), due to the policy changes and my growing paranoia that those were not the last changes to the worse
September 2, 2016
Meh. It was all right.
January 12, 2014
I love a story that draws me in and comes alive in my imagination. I also love stories that take me to different geographical places. This story does both and has a slow burning mystery which gives it a delicious sense of unease.
I have never been to Iceland before but this story took me there, into the life of Paul. Who has returned to his job in Iceland after recovering from a serious accident in which his partner died. Paul can't remember what happened. He can't remember his partner, Sven, and he can't remember anything about his time in Iceland before the accident. All he knows is that they both fell from a waterfall. All he can remember is his academic research.
When he returns to Iceland to complete his job and resume his research, he finds that he has to piece his life there back together again and try and remember how his partner died, and how he himself became injured. Paul also has to try and discover who he was back then because it feels different to who he is now. Of course there is some mystery here and it appears people know things about him and Sven but they aren't telling Paul the full truth. Paul has to solve this mystery like a blind man groping in the dark and this darkness provides the story with a sense of low key tension or menace. There is something menacing about the way his partner died and the events leading up to it but Paul cant remember what this is.
The story starts out quite slowly and the tension is gradual. I could feel Paul's frustration as he seeks to sort out the vague memories from his vivid imagination. Something has obviously happened but we don't know what and we have to journey along with Paul to discover the truth.
The sense of place was amazing and truly enriched this story, as did the glimpses we gain into the Icelandic sagas. I think these made the story come alive. The wild beauty of Iceland could actually be felt through the words of the story and this gripped me. It was just so fascinating to check on Youtube for the places that were mentioned in the story and see them myself especially the Geyser at Strokkur www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg4ACSn3S54 and the Riverjet ride http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uneHPW...
The greyness, darkness and cold of the country also came through the pages and gave the story a haunting feel. The end when it came was a bit anti-climatic but it didn't mar the story. I think that the revelations at the end came a bit too easily but i still enjoyed it. The only thing I didn't like was the frequency of the sex scenes. I felt they jarred a little with the flow of the book . After the first two I skimmed the rest. They didn't really add to the story and distracted the slowly building tension. Instead of these I would have preferred more mystery or a few more clues, perhaps something additional about Sven or the other characters might have enriched the story even further.
Other than that it was an deeply enjoyable story and one that has left me with a desire to visit Iceland for myself and to experience that rugged wildness first hand and of course to experience the place where the 'fall hard' happened:
Gullfoss - The Golden Falls www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbZEtMhJ6oM
September 25, 2013
I usually enjoy a J.L. Merrow book, but I think this one is going to have a special place on my re-reads shelf.
The characters are compelling, the relationships are complex enough to keep my attention and the setting is delightful, but what I really loved about it was the use of Icelandic lore as a comparison/backstory/enhancement to everything going on in our hero's life. I feel compelled to go and look up Egil Skallagrimsson on my own and really see if he's as much of a bastard/badass as Paul, our hero, considers him to be. There's discussion of scene and spells and our darker, more brutal impulses given life and poetry, and not just poetry but the type that can move a monarch to spare an enemy's life. It's beautiful and awful all at once, and I appreciate the way that the author brought that kind of ambiance into a contemporary setting instead of resorting to magic. Not that I don't like magic, but I wasn't in the mood for it, and with this story I didn't have to be.
Very atmospheric, with a good plot and fabulous tattoos and hot sex. I loved this story.
The characters are compelling, the relationships are complex enough to keep my attention and the setting is delightful, but what I really loved about it was the use of Icelandic lore as a comparison/backstory/enhancement to everything going on in our hero's life. I feel compelled to go and look up Egil Skallagrimsson on my own and really see if he's as much of a bastard/badass as Paul, our hero, considers him to be. There's discussion of scene and spells and our darker, more brutal impulses given life and poetry, and not just poetry but the type that can move a monarch to spare an enemy's life. It's beautiful and awful all at once, and I appreciate the way that the author brought that kind of ambiance into a contemporary setting instead of resorting to magic. Not that I don't like magic, but I wasn't in the mood for it, and with this story I didn't have to be.
Very atmospheric, with a good plot and fabulous tattoos and hot sex. I loved this story.
September 25, 2013
4.5 stars
The best way to describe this book and pay it a compliment is to call it Lanyon-esque: it's a low key romance mixed with mistery with two sympathetic protagonists.
Check out Larissa's review - she pretty much covers all the important points.
And, yes, Kanaxa's cover is marvelous.
The best way to describe this book and pay it a compliment is to call it Lanyon-esque: it's a low key romance mixed with mistery with two sympathetic protagonists.
Check out Larissa's review - she pretty much covers all the important points.
And, yes, Kanaxa's cover is marvelous.
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