And So The Breaking Begins: Mindbreaker Duet, Book 1 (An Age of War and Prophecy 3)
Lacey Lehotzky
4.2
Mercy (A gay gothic angel romance)
by Ian Haramaki
About this book
Father Ilya Pavlovich Sokolov is a pariah in his own parish, a lonely priest serving a church steeped in shadowed rituals and sun-worship. Tasked with hunting a monster in the woods, he instead chooses mercy, healing a wounded creature and liberating a man with no memory of his past. This encounter sparks a transformative connection that defies the rigid expectations of Ilya’s faith.
Danya, the man once cursed as a beast, begins to shift into something celestial. As flashes of his forgotten existence return, he reveals himself as an angel, an entity of blinding light and ancient power. Their bond evolves from a desperate partnership into a tender, sizzling romance, proving that intimacy can be a form of holy reverence.
As the corruption within the church threatens to destroy everything they hold dear, the two must confront their complicated pasts and a world pulsing with dark magic. This award-winning paranormal romance masterfully balances gothic atmosphere with deep emotional stakes and moments of genuine humor. It is a must-read for fans of dark romance and guardian angel tropes who crave a story that is as heartbreaking as it is healing. Prepare to be consumed by this beautifully written, unforgettable tale of salvation.
- Publication Date
- May 25, 2026
- ASIN
- B0CKT9XDRH
Reader Reviews
August 4, 2025
NO SPOILERS I originally bought this book digitally, but liked it so much that I will be purchasing the physical copy as well. It's such a well-done queer romance, juggles some topics of religion (fictional religion), and ends with a HEA. It's a slow-burn, emotional, historical fantasy. Medium pace, mostly character-driven, with some focus on the flaws of those characters (don't worry, there's great development). Overall, I'm obsessed with this book and will be rereading it for a long time to...
February 24, 2024
All in all, this book was a breath of fresh air after my poor luck with other poorly edited works. The writing was clear and concise, and the story itself was a fun read. My only complaint is that it felt a little rushed at the end, some certain things didn't make sense at that point especially, but that was at the very end and so I was determined to finish the book regardless. The romance itself was fun, though a lot of the spicy scenes felt a little unnecessary, I tended to skip past them (a...
February 13, 2025
Ian Haramaki built a very interesting world in this that I think is begging to be explored more. The 20s alternate earth setting with magic, monsters, angels, and the church being sun/moon worshippers has so much potential. A sequel could go in so many directions! Ilya and Danya had a sweet, slow burn romance that is one of my favorites in a while. I love hurt/comfort vibes, and this book DELIVERS. )
March 23, 2025
I like a side of religious trauma with my angsty achillean romances. Admittedly, the setting was a major sticking point for me. I wasn't sure why it was specifically set in the 1920s, as the specific year didn't seem to affect the plot and the characters were using slang from later decades like \"what's your damage?\" repeatedly. But the biggest sticking point was the town itself. The town felt less like a realistic place and more like I was in the head of someone with generalized anxiety...
June 17, 2024
One of tje best priest angel stories I ever read. Thebplot is on pint and I can see it worthy of a series. This explores the depths of one human's power of mercy and unconditional love, Pure and true and the depths of depravity of humans and their ideal for power over others. Love does con quer all! I need more books for this series. Great job Ian! ) One person found this helpful
