A Charm of Finches

Venery, Book 2

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Pub Date 22 Nov 2017 | Archive Date 15 Aug 2018

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Description

"I swear. Give me one more chance and I will make the most of it."

Ex-hustler Javier Landes is asking for his third chance at love. The third time proves to be the charm when he meets a Manhattan art therapist named Steffen Finch. What starts as casual and curious deepens into a passionate relationship--everything Jav has ever wanted, and everything he fears losing.

Stef's business card reads Curator & Sailor. His creativity and insightful nature have made him into a talented therapist, the one to call for tough cases. His professional success can't conceal a deep desire to connect with someone, but Javier Landes is the last person Stef expected.

Geronimo "Geno" Caan is Stef's most challenging case. Shattered physically and mentally after a brutal sexual assault, Geno learns to let art express what can't be spoken aloud. But as Geno's attachment to Stef intensifies and spills onto Jav, the boundaries between professional and personal begin to blur.

Over the course of a year, Jav, Stef and Geno form an unexpected and unconventional triangle, revealing how men make love in times of war and how love is a great wisdom made up of small understandings. The long-awaited second book of the Venery series, A Charm of Finches is an epic tale of survival and secrets that will stay with you forever.

"I swear. Give me one more chance and I will make the most of it."

Ex-hustler Javier Landes is asking for his third chance at love. The third time proves to be the charm when he meets a Manhattan art...


A Note From the Publisher

Book 2 of the Venery series. While reading the first book—An Exaltation of Larks—will enrich the experience of Finches, it is not necessary and Finches can be read as a standalone.

This novel contains adult subject matter including adult themes of sex and sexual violence, written in adult language. An Exaltation of Larks spoke of The Disappeared Ones of Chile. A Charm of Finches speaks to a different group of disappeared. An invisible demographic who often suffer in misunderstood silence. Geno Caan speaks as one who knows, but he also speaks for men who will never tell their stories. Or for men who told their stories and weren’t believed. These extraordinarily brave and resilient males possess strong hearts and I stood in awe of them during the writing of this book, knowing there was a lot more I could get wrong than right.
It’s my sincere hope I got it right.

Book 2 of the Venery series. While reading the first book—An Exaltation of Larks—will enrich the experience of Finches, it is not necessary and Finches can be read as a standalone.

This novel...


Advance Praise

"Laqueur challenges herself and her readers with each book. Nothing she's written has been easy, and this book may be the hardest and most rewarding. With a voice that is completely unique, gorgeous writing, and characters so three-dimensional you'd swear you could touch them, A Charm of Finches is no doubt Laqueur's best work."
--The Angry Reader

"You don't just read one of Laqueur's books, you experience them. A Charm of Finches champions both male survivors of rape and the LGBT community in a triumphant love story that is both heartbreaking and heartwarming."
--Goodreads User

"Laqueur challenges herself and her readers with each book. Nothing she's written has been easy, and this book may be the hardest and most rewarding. With a voice that is completely unique, gorgeous...


Available Editions

ISBN 9781977573162
PRICE $4.99 (USD)

Average rating from 19 members


Featured Reviews

Deep, dark and beautiful.

A CHARM OF FINCHES has hit me so hard from venturing into the first pages to the last; there is a high emotional price to reading this book but it is worth it. This book has some of the most beautiful writing I’ve encountered in contemporary fiction. It’s not pretty-beautiful but ugly-beautiful and if none of what I say makes sense, then I’m sorry but I am unwilling to spoil a moment of this for potential readers.

This book is set around a context so foul and hideous that it’s hard to look and also hard to look away. The story is difficult to navigate but so very important. What is between these pages has the potential for your average person to see a marginalised and violated population, small but in need of recognition and voice. Suanne Laqueur draws you into this difficult world through characters that are tragic, wonderful and they feel like your family by the end.

If you’ve read AN EXALTATION OF LARKS, then you’ll be expecting Javier and in this second book, his character becomes something else and I grew even more in crush with him than before. Stef was a man that I admired from the beginning and I moved to be in awe when seeing him at work. He was a genius in his field and a very real person in his home life.

“I want this feeling I have with him. When I’m around him, I feel honest. I feel authentic. I feel myself and I see so clearly who I want to be and the life I want to lead. And the kind of person I want to have with me on the ride. A curator and a sailor.”

The other character that is all-consuming in this book is Geno. In fact, most of your thoughts in this book centre around Geno. If you want to experience character development then this is the book to read and Geno is the one to watch. I would like more of Geno in a future book. Then there’s Micah, his past touched me hugely and I admired this man’s ability to help another heal. So really, this book is all about the men, the good, the bad, the ugly.

I’ve buddy read this arc and I’m so grateful to have had a virtual hand to hold, the ability to share tears and discuss chapter to chapter with. We lost ourselves in this book and we felt in free-fall from about 60%. How Suanne Laqueur wrote the content of this book, sensitively, beautifully, finding the light amongst the darkness, I do not know. I am awestruck at her writing, of how she wrote a love affair amidst the dirt of the worst humans, of how she made me laugh, then cry and then sigh with the feelings of it all. This is the best book I know I’ve personally experienced in recent years and I award it all the stars in Nos.

A copy of this book was provided by the author, in return for a honest review.

Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.

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<i>What was one more tragic scene in this story? You piled pain on top of pain and eventually it plateaued out.</i>

A CHARM OF FINCHES is hard to read. Horrific, even, at times. This is a sad, dark, wonderful book. But it's a sad, dark, wonderful book about an important and not-often addressed topic. Laqueur has served up a particular devastation you cannot imagine -- don't want to imagine -- until you dive in head first. She shows us some of the worst of humanity and what they can do to another human being, both in times past and times current, and gives those victims of this particular violence a voice. However what's almost worse is experiencing the recovery, the aftermath and the healing, of those featured in this book. But she handles every situation, every emotion, every dialogue or expression of art, every low moment where the idea of living, of facing another moment with these experiences, these losses, these violations, when it's all too much; she handles it all with this incredible care and passion and understanding. It's raw. And it's hard. It stares you in the face, unblinking, and forces you to make eyecontact and hold it when all you want to do is look away. But you can't. I guarantee that for the most part you won't be comfortable reading this. This is not a curl up warm, safe and snuggly kind of book. But it is an experience like no other.

"<i>If anyone deserves to skip straight to the happy ending, it's you.</i>"

Like in the first of the <i>Venery</i> series, Laqueur tackles issues and situations that connect people separated by nationality, language, sexual orientation, and time. But in a much darker, less quirky, way. The witty lightheartedness is still there but it's harder to see, rarer to experience, and made the more precious for it. She infuses her already-rich world and characters with so much depth, so much history, that it immerses you so completely you feel like you're living these moments. It's a whirlwind filled with emotions of rage and heartache and heartbreak and suffering.

"<i>Just freestyling my feels. As one does.</i>"

I've said a lot about these more 'negative' feelings and I think that's because sometimes those are easier to feel, to express, to think about. To be overwhelmed by. But Laqueur's writing was just as rich in the moments that made me smile, made me laugh, made me cry in joy and delight and relief and triumph. She brought so much love to this story, so much light to the darkness of reality and the tragedies of life, and she gave one character in particular an ending that was so well deserved -- readers of AN EXALTATION OF LARKS will be very happy. But I knew this had to be more than just Javi's story. There had to be a bigger picture, something more, and yet nothing could have prepared me for what that scope would be. Ultimately, in a lot of ways, this story actually focused a lot more on a newcomer to the <i>Venery</i> world than it did our beloved ex-escort but it was so so right to be that way. The way this story unfolded, the way it peeled back all these layers and made these connections, in unpredictable but perfect ways, it was just.. incredible.

"<i>I think love is a big wisdom made up of small understandings.</i>"

I don't know what to say in this review, really. I know I've said a lot but it's a lot of nothing in particular. This isn't a story you can sum up in tidy words. You can't put it in a box. You can warn a reader, sure. 'Be prepared. Pack the kleenex. Potential triggers. Dark subject matter. May cause spontaneous kindle hugging.' You can put all sorts of labels on this and make it one thing or another but it's so many things. It's so many moments. Every good is earned, every bad is an event for these characters to overcome or live with -- or not. It's messy and fucked up and goddamn beautiful. Maybe it'll change your life, maybe it won't. It doesn't matter what I say it will do for you. I just know this story is in my skin, imprinted on my bones, my soul, and I won't be shedding any of what this made me feel in seven years, maybe not even in seven decades (that would make me way old, but just go with it, don't bring math into this).

<i>The pain was part of it. The pain was a thing to get beyond, because on its other side was a pleasure that defied description. A pleasure that couldn't be without the foundation of pain.</i>

I could not have survived this without my buddy and even with her help, with her guidance, with her voice on the other end feeling everything I felt, hurting every time I hurt, loving all the love, even with all that, it was still a struggle and we barely made it out alive. What is found inside the pages of A CHARM OF FINCHES, all of it, the quiet casual sharing of a day, the dark basement of a betrayal, the statistics and the hopelessness and being unseen in your pain, of taking a chance on yourself, lashing out in the face of your hurt when the person across from you isn't suffering, of being selfless and selfish and brave.. everything resonated. Every word, every moment. But it's also more than that. I could give Laqueur a standing ovation until I'm numb from the wrists down for going as deep as she did into these topics and handling them with such care and sensitivity. But she also finds the humour in the shittiest (I use that word deliberately) of situations and proves that she isn't just bringing awareness to tragedy.. she's showcasing hope. Life gets us down, it kicks us when we hurt, but laughter lives on; and she managed that balance so beautifully.

"<i>I can feel you living.</i>"
"<b>Lean on me.</b>"

As traumatic as this book was at times, it's also one of the best books I think I've read in my life. I'm left feeling so rewarded by the ending in a gasping, broken, and reborn kind of way. A CHARM OF FINCHES is the equivalent of being out of shape and pushing yourself that extra mile. You might be sick to your stomach, you might cry (I know I did.. endlessly). You'll hate everything, maybe even yourself, you'll hurt and think nothing could possibly be worse than what you're feeling at that moment. But then you'll meet that goal, cross the finish line, clock that time.. and nothing has ever felt so good.

endless "namaste, motherfucker" stars

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If I could give this book all the STARS in Nos, it still wouldn't be enough. If I'm a circle and this book is a circle, the place where we overlap is where I live now.

Such beautiful words, such horrific things... those are the thoughts that repeated on a loop as I turned each page of this book. A Charm of Finches is absolutely devastating. I was devastated by the course of events that destroyed Geno's world, by the questions that would never be answered, by the loss that can never be reclaimed. I was devastated for Javier and his life of loneliness, for all the close calls he's had with love before it was always snatched away. I was devastated by the honesty within these fictional words, the all too real truths of victims and survivors. I was devastated by the abandonment, the violence, the tragedy, the loss these characters endure. And I was devastated by the sheer magnificence of these words, by this world of hope and love and heartache and healing that Laqueur so brilliantly illustrates. There are such beautiful words, such horrific things on these pages and they thoroughly devastated me.

This is not an easy story to read. I read with lead in my stomach, with tears in my eyes, with my heart in my throat the entire way through. But as with everything Suanne Laqueur has written, on the other side of despair there is hope, there is promise, there is joy. A Charm of Finches, like An Exaltation of Larks, is hands down one of the most phenomenal pieces of literature I've had the privilege of reading. It strips the reader to the bone, demanding they feel everything, every ounce of pain and loss and fear and anger and want just to rebuild them into a human that understands, that appreciates, that can empathize, that is more aware, that is changed for the better. Yes, the words.  They're just words. Such beautiful words, such horrific things, but they changed me.

There is such a thing as a book being too good, a book written so impeccably, that it imprints itself on you, refusing to be taken off or shaken off, even if you desperately need it to. I never want to let this book go, but when it gets too heavy a burden to shoulder, when it hurts too much to remember, I'd like to be able to peel it off my skin for a moment. I wonder how long I'll hear the echo of Flip's voice calling Jav "rude bwoy" in my sleep. Or how long my gut will churn as I hear Geno's unanswered cries. Or when the vivid reminder of Alex and Jav's silent longing might dissipate. Or if the image of Max under the table might not hurt quite as bad. Or if I'll stop needing the "why?" at the thought of Carlos. Or when the tattooed numbers on frail skin will stop haunting me.

A Charm of Finches is so brilliant, so remarkable, so unlike anything else, you can't just set it down and walk away from it whenever you'd like. You can't just take it off, hang it up and come back to it later because you're feeling too much. You can't peel it off your skin and leave it outside. Suanne Laqueur's haunting tale won't let you. Such beautiful words, such horrific things inside this unforgettable book, this soul searing cataclysm. It will never let you go.

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This is a world that is full of unsung heroes. I thought this book was about Jav and the Finch aka Stef. It was and it wasn't. It was about the heroes.

Finches opens with the story of Nos - Dos - Los - Mos. Heartbreak unimaginable. Loss of Los of Dos. Geno Caan, has suffered greatly and how can anyone recover from that?

Along comes the Trueblood captain. The one who steers the ship. The curator. He knows when to dock and when to ride the waves, when to drop anchor and when all ships ahoy. When Stef talks, I listen. I shut out the world and he makes every fear shrink away in his presence. If ever there was a hero in a book, Stef Finch is that hero.

My beautiful Geno, little twin, big heart, I want to put you in my henhouse and shoot the bastard fox and cut of its tail. Forever I will protect you. You are brave, you are strong.

Suanne Laqueur weaves a tale of love (yes hallelujah Jav) into stories of survival. Unlikely friendships that bond over making bagels, where secrets can be shared and kindred spirits found.

Is there a word for a group of heroes? An exhalation of larks. A charm of finches. A swaddle of heroes? Perhaps a muscle of heroes? I know not but this book is full of them. Micah and Liliah never ever again should the world allow such loss and such pain.

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A Charm of Finches is exceptional. I liken the reading experience to trying to put together a 1000 piece puzzle without the picture as a guide. Sure the border is always the easiest but how will the other pieces fit in? With two simultaneous stories being told, Suanne Laqueur once again makes it a waiting game to see how and when they will converge. That 'a-ha' moment when Geno and his struggle to feel normal again will intersect with Javier and his struggle to feel loved. And along the way, falling so desperately for both and the people that matter most to them.

This review will never actually do justice to this book. It's virtually impossible to corral such brilliance within a few paragraphs. You see, there is an abundance of layers with each new chapter read. With each new POV there is more information that needs to be embraced. You can't just read this book. You need to absorb each and every word written. There is no place for skimming here. I am telling you, you will miss even the most subtle of sentiments if you skip one line of writing.

Both Geno and Javier have such enthralling stories to tell, you truly can't believe how seamlessly their stories will merge. Those puzzle pieces will suddenly become so very easy to fit together and you won't even realize it. And the word survivor will become the true mantra of this intricate book. Watching as Geno survives the most horrific of events, trying so hard to just be normal once again. Getting to see Jav as he survives a life change and meets the man he tries worthy of that change. Meeting other characters along the way who have their own stories to tell and who give both Geno and Jav the guidance they seek to be the very best they can be.

I was struck by Geno and Jav's similarities despite their vast age difference. The author beautifully pairs them with particular family tragedies that only they would understand. And as you get deeper and deeper into the book, you come to the conclusion just how clever the author is to have these two finally meet and that the hows and whys don't seem to matter any longer. I was so involved with both Geno and Jav craving more of them with each turn of the page, that I didn't care which one was going to be featured in the next chapter. I just needed more of them. That's how addictive the author's words are for me.

Getting glimpses of the Lark family from An Exaltation of Larks was a bonus as was the addition of well-crafted characters such as Micah and Stav and the two moms and most importantly Stef. I think he has become my most favorite of all the author's characters. The man who is a savior to both Geno and Jav, although very differently for each of them, was truly the highlight of this book for me. From his gorgeous caring nature, to his dazzling mind, to his nurturing soul for both his patients and those he loves blew me away. He found a way into both of these men's hearts and mine as well. Stef, of course, has his flaws but he somehow uses them for good. Always good no matter the situation. With a wicked sense of humor who even appreciates the corny jokes of an esteemed colleague, Stef is a keeper. I could honestly read about him forever.

With personal touches that reflect parts of the author's life included, A Charm of Finches is more than just a story. It's two journeys that will at times bring you to your knees yet will warm your heart just as quickly. Both Geno and Jav do a ton of soul searching and it's anyone's guess just how they will come out the other side. But it's worth every single emotion it will draw out of you. I shed a tear many times throughout but was comforted that both Geno and Jav had caring and exceptional people behind them every step of the way.

You don't just read a Suanne Laqueur book, you experience it. Her words keep me enthralled and committed and satisfied. A book that fills the soul completely with the craving for more, I happily give A Charm of Finches a HUGE 5++++++++ stars.

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Apart from losing his mother at fifteen, Geno was a normal teenager. He has a deep connection with his brother Carlos that only twins have.
In one night Geno's world comes to a screeching halt - forty-four hours of horror make him hand over his life to an imaginary alter-ego.

My heart burned for this beautiful, sweet boy who'd had nothing but kindness in him and felt so deeply, his loneliness devastated me. He was betrayed in the vilest of ways by somebody he couldn't expect to turn on him, unspeakable things were done to him.

Restoring a measure of sanity and trust is a Herculean task and takes a strong, resilient heart. Geno was broken nearly beyond repair and what he endured would have killed a lesser person. His way back to the surface after disassociating himself from his broken self is paved with spikes but he braves every obstacle and one by one loyal champions join his battles to see him through the worst time of his life.

One of those is Steffen Finch, an art therapist working the cases nobody else wants to touch because they know he is the best and if somebody can crack a case like this one it would be Stef. He is bisexual, divorced and we met him first at the end of An Exaltation of Larks , when he was being introduced to Javier Landes. The attraction is instant and it was sweet to see how they danced around each other until they felt safe enough to open up to each other. What then ensued was sheer beauty and bliss.

Stef is a wonderful character, uniting wisdom, kindness and strength. He finds Geno's cracks in his armor and slowly, slowly starts to fill them with light. Although he should keep a professional distance Stef's admiration for Geno turns into a brotherly love and soon the lines start to blur. I adored Stef and his love for his job. He is intuitive and an inexhaustible well of ideas how to make life for his patients a little more bearable. And even in the most heartbreaking therapy session Stef finds a way to Geno.

When Geno's ordeal becomes to much for Stef, Jav anchors him and gives him peace.


Jav just ended his career as an escort and has a little bit of a midlife crisis. His life consisted of catering to his clients needs, socially and sexually. He identifies as bisexual but has never had a serious relationship and the two men he was in love with were never a possibility. So here he is, trying to figure out what to do next, yearning for a real connection when he meets Stef. I have no words for my love for Jav and Stef. Their chemistry was explosive!

They were yin and yang, two puzzle pieces who fit perfectly. Both of them good men from the tips of their hair to the tips of their toes, with a huge capability to love. We read about Jav's backstory in An Exaltation of Larks - he faced his struggles with courage and dignity and it's a miracle that he became such a kind-hearted soul. I also adored his brotherly bond with Geno.


Suanne's description of Geno's horrific ordeal may not be overly graphic but reading about it is a deeply visceral, unsettling and upsetting experience nonetheless. It left me hopeless at first - because how do you come back from this? How do you find the will to go on after you lose everything and most of all your innocence and youth? I have nothing but admiration and love for all the characters but Geno in particular. The way he clawed his way back into life was inspiring.


The most harrowing and disturbing parts will destroy you but those blows are cushioned by a cast with the ability to give unconditional love to a boy who has had his world turned up-side-down. I adored every single character in this story. And then there is the humor that is sprinkled throughout the story that helps you get past the hard parts. Despite the devastation and atrocity this is a story full of hope, love and beauty.

The author did her research on art therapy and the historical facts. I also loved her figurative analogy of a hen house for Geno's home before and after this horrific event.


Suanne Laqueur has found her niche in this so competitive profession. She writes intelligent stories about unconventional characters who have depth and profound stories to tell. Even the side characters are multi-dimensional and equipped with a backstory. She has been gifted with buckets of talent and really makes the most of it. If you follow Ms Laqueur's posts on social media you see a strong, smart, outspoken woman who is funny as hell and her personality shines through in her storytelling.

While this book can be read as a standalone I urge you to read An Exaltation of Larks - the beauty of A Charm of Finches will be enhanced. If you haven't been introduced to her writing yet please prioritize her - Suanne Laqueur is one of a kind.

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At the conclusion of An Exaltation of Larks, Javier Landes has met Steffen Finch. There is a connection of sorts, and you find yourself hoping that Jav might find some romantic happiness.

Suanne Laqueur picks up Jav's story where she left off, but first she puts you through hell.

At eighteen, Geno Caan is trying to survive the death, three years earlier, of his mother. With her passing came the increasing distance of his twin brother Carlos. Once so close that they shared a sort of telepathy, the boys now are almost estranged and headed to different colleges. Geno feels as if part of him is missing. So when his brother texts him, asking to be picked up, Geno goes.

From here, Laqueur takes you into a heartbreaking - and I do mean HEARTBREAKING - darkness that will make you fall to your knees, begging for Carlos's survival. You will want to hug this boy who does not want to be touched, and you will want to shelter him and protect him.

You will be so thankful to Laqueur for bringing Stef into Geno's life.

Fortunately, Stef has Jav, For a man whose job requires him to do difficult, soul-crushing things, having the ease of a new love proves restorative. Stef trusts what he has, even as Jav has to learn to do that.

Whereas Larks is a story of love and all of its forms, Finches is a story of survival. Laqueur spares no pain, detailing the sufferings of her characters, whether the benign (writing a book) to the horrific (the Holocaust). All along, she whispers to you to lean in, to accept the strength and support of others. Lean in. Let yourself be bolstered. Let yourself forgive yourself.

As gut-wrenching as this book is, Laqueur also gives you moments of levity, kindness, and love, as well as some delicious sexy times. At over 700 pages, Finches is an epic, but it's one with perfect pacing. You never feel as if you're reading such a hefty tome. Instead, you feel that you are reading about people who learn to trust, learn to survive, and learn to lean in.

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How will I be able to leave this world, these characters created by Ms. Laquer behind?

They're real. They have gone through horrible things, they have survived, bloody and broken. Both figuratively and literally. They made me cry like a baby; they made me smile and happy.

This book is about healing, if you ask me. Three characters, their lives entwined. Connected.

Javier was an ex-escort who's never felt loved. Geno got hurt by the one person that should have never hurt him and betrayed him. Stef tried healing others, after going through his own hell.

The many, MANY feels this book has... The intensity, the depth. It's cruel, it's painful but it's amazing. You actually feel like you're there with the characters, like they're tangible. You just lift your arm, and can reach them with your hand, touch them with your fingers, wanting to soothe them. Make their aches and pains go away.

At least that's what I felt while reading this book. That's what I wanted to do.

Reading this book is really hard. I imagine writing it was even more so, but I cannot thank Ms. Laquer enough for doing so. It really has to be one of the best books I've ever read and it will always hold a special place in my heart.

I voluntarily agreed to read a copy of this book through Netgalley and my rating is, without a doubt, 5 stars.

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In “A Charm of Finches” by Suanne Laqueur, the reader follows the life of three men, searching for answers, love, releases, & so much more. Laqueur paints the readers pictures that they may not want to see, May not want to feel…but need to experience. With that being said, I would personally like to add that this by no means is an “easy” book to read. The reader is pulled through difficult situations of sexual assault, & the challenges of coming back from those assaults.
Before this review goes any further, please be aware that Laqueur is a very brilliant, & talented writer. She has very tastefully described some of the most gruesome acts that you could imagine when reading of sexual abuse. “A Charm of Finches”, is a very thought provoking novel. On that had me remembering some of the more painful things in my life. Giving a warning that the reader will cry, seems so useless, because you won’t “just cry”. You will be balling. With tissues spread everywhere around you, & not able to articulate the words to explain why you’re crying. Laqueur wielded immense power while crafting this story for the world.
When you think of sexual assault, most people would automatically assume women are the victims. I would like to say that you absolutely will not have a woman as the “victim” in this novel. The again victim is a male…and he is assaulted by another male. He fights, & the reader fights with him.
Triggers that should be pointed out, (& that I should have maybe paid more attention to), this novel does contain a very large, very detailed rape scene. It deals with assault cases from children to adults, the love interests aren’t what you would immediately assume. Please be prepared for a shattered, or highly emotional heart while reading this novel.
Here’s the tough question: would I recommend this novel to other people? I’ve thought long, & hard on this. I even had my own emotional breakdown while writing this review, because it impacted me so much. I have come to the conclusion that I would recommend this novel for learning purposes alone. I don’t mean that I want this novel placed in schools or anything. I simply mean that the world should finally be aware that men can be raped to. That women are not the only victims, & that each & every survivor has a battle long after the assault that they must fight. If you wish to stay in a peaceful little bubble, I highly suggest staying away from this heart wrenching story. If you wish to cry your eyes out though, please pick up a copy of “A Charm of Finches”. But please, proceed with caution. This story will only open your eyes to the reality that we sadly live in.

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Though I haven't read book 1 (I didn't realize, for some reason, this was a sequel), it didn't detract fro my enjoyment of the story. It's a truly moving book, with a real attention to detail. I also admire the author's ability to create a really powerful sense of atmosphere and developed characters. Recommended!

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Suanne Laqueur will break your heart in the early part of this book with the story of a horrific event that happens to Geno a young man. Ultimately this tale of loss and pain is redeemed by Geno's interactions with Stef and Javier who show him love, kindness and understanding. A patient reader might be turned off by the early events, but will find a great read if they keep ongoing.

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A wonderful, wonderful story about friendship, hope, love, trust, fear, courage and so much more. 'A Charm of Finches,' is an exquisite example of storytelling in the field of contemporary fiction. It’s a complex story full of passion for life and love juxtaposed against traumatic thought provoking content. A story that has layers of intelligence, heartache and emotion all weaved into an evocative narrative that engaged my thoughts and convincingly took hold of my heart.

The narrative centres largely around Javier Landes, Steffen Finch and Geno, with a supporting cast of characters who all add a little something to the story ensuring a full bodied, rich flavoured meaningful prose. Anyone who has read the first in the series will know that Javier was once an escort who had his heart broken more than once. My longing was that he found someone to love and that someone soon looked very much like it may be art therapist Steffen Finch, a character whom I absolutely fell head of heals in love with. His charisma, his charm, his manner and the way he works as a therapist totally enamoured me to him. He is a beautiful soul, perfectly matching the beautiful soul of Javier, a man whom I already loved. When these two characters first meet their chemistry is incredible. I could feel their pull towards one another, their passion, and became completely invested in their story, in their fear, their thoughts, their words and their love as they navigated through their relationship.

The character of Geno is a layer that takes this story to the next level. He is one of Steffen’s cases, his most difficult one yet. What Geno has experienced in life is beyond horrific, difficult to read, and equally very important in raising the awareness of male rape, a subject which is not often discussed in an open forum. It made me think greatly and offers a high level of poignancy that I felt deeply. Geno not only shows his own fortitude but also helps to depict the positive nature, the strength of character and resilience of Steff and Jav, both as individuals and as a couple.

I could wax lyrical about this story forever and still not truly convey the depth, tone and beauty of the narrative and the story arc within or the complexities of characterization and content that all perfectly gel together to produce an exquisite piece of writing by Suanne Laqueur. Her use and combination of words mesh together to create the most beautiful and meaningful story, one that should be experienced as it unfolds. The reader should be allowed to unwrap each layer as it is presented and experience the relationship of the protagonists, their feelings for each other and how they deal with the life and the happenings that are thrown their way. It is truly a remarkable, multifaceted story that is worthy of all the glowing reports it is receiving. A Charm of Finches is the second novel in the Venery series and can most definitely be read as a standalone, although I believe my reading experience of this second novel was heavily enriched by my complete knowledge of Javier’s background and all the details and nuances of, ‘The Exaltation of Larks.’ If you appreciate great writing and intricate, well thought out story telling then both stories of the Venery series are absolute must reads, I cannot recommend them highly enough.

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A Charm of Finches is the second in the Venery series – a detail that escaped me until it was too late and I had committed to reviewing it. This book is a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So I started with the hope that I could keep up, despite not reading the first in the series, and that I’d still like A Charm of Finches.

It turns out I needn’t have worried at all. The book works like a charm even as a standalone novel. It is such a good book that I find it to be important in this time and age. There are plenty of sensitive topics in there – those that need to be told and discussed, now most of all. I might even go back and read it again someday. And that is saying something.

There are two parallel tracks as A Charm of Finches starts. While one is of teenager Geronimo ‘Geno’ Caan, the other is of clinical psychologist and art therapist Steffen ‘Stef’ Finch and ex-escort Javier ‘Jav’ Landes. Each has their own sad story to tell. Each has their own crosses to bear.

Geno is the victim of a child pornography racket, thanks to his brother Carlos ‘Carlito’ Caan. Carlos, once he sees what is done to Geno, hangs himself at the scene where the racket is busted. The man responsible for this escapes, leaving Geno scarred for a long time to come.

Stef meets Jav at the bagel shop that his stepsister and stepfather work. He is one of the best art therapists at the Exodus Project and works with sexual assault survivors. Jav has kept his writer pseudonym under wraps so far. They hit it off immediately and what follows is a sweet and passionate relationship that manages to raise some ‘awww’s and some jealous eyebrows.

Each has a heavy past, but will it catch up with them and interfere in what they are trying to build? Will Geno be able to let go of his past torture and get past his present mental torture? How will the paths of Geno, Stef, and Jav cross? Will all of them, each at his own degree of pain and mental chaos, be able to find peace within themselves or with another?

A Charm of Finches, like I’ve mentioned before, is an important book. It tells us from the perspective of men that they get defiled too. By filthy people with filthy thoughts. And there are not many people who would take them seriously. That is the saddest part of life. This book refreshed in my mind a lot of things that I knew but probably pushed it to the back of my mind.

We’ve grown up thinking that men are supposed to be strong. They cannot cry. They cannot whine. They have to put on a brave face. But like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie said in her TEDx Talk, which is also now a book called We Should All Be Feminists, we do a great disservice to men by thumping down millennia of expectations on their shoulders. Men have their insecurities, too. Only, if they make them known, they are branded a wimp and what not.

The biggest reason I’m glad I picked this book is the new perspective that it gave me. It was like taking off the last of the rose-tinted glasses and looking at the world in a clearer manner. The other glasses, which had come off one by one earlier, lay in a pile, shunned and neglected for good measure.

A Charm of Finches has poetically beautiful writing. Suanne Laqueur has done a brilliant job in this book. My biggest concern was how I’d react to a gay love story. Usually, when we think ‘gay love story’, we think raunchy. We think it is for someone with a perverted mind. But why does that have to be? Suanne Laqueur shows you how it’s supposed to be written. She shows you a whole different angle – one that accuses you of generalization and stomps on the head of it.

Men are seen as self-confident and cocky, but they are human, too. They can get insecure. They can have their down days, too. Why is it that they shouldn’t have to have their own cocoon to retreat into? It isn’t wrong. It is only natural, given our human instincts. And when men do it, they shouldn’t be judged. Not anymore.

I am a huge fan of analogies – especially those that have the power to bring tears to my eyes or even make my stomach clench with uneasiness. And A Charm of Finches, so devastating in its description of sexual assault of men, has a lot of them. This is why I like the book so much. Oh, and its humor. And sarcasm.

“What’s your expectation?”

“Mine?”

“No, the guy standing behind you.”

The best part of any book is when it is connected perfectly from beginning to end. Everything has an alibi. Characters that appear out of nowhere refresh your memory with a single line and you go, “Oh, yeah!” A Charm of Finches is one such book. It is raw, emotional, and realistic in the truest sense of the word. It teaches so much about trust and life in general. It is beautiful, it is heartbreaking, it is hopeful.

And I’m glad I picked it up.

I’d suggest you read it, too. Because who knows when such a book might come out again. [No pun intended.] Even then, I think, maybe never.

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