| Title | : | Complementary Colors |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | ebook |
| Number of Pages | : | 320 |
| Publication | : | First published June 19, 2014 |
Trapped, the only way I could silence the nightmares driving me to insanity was to wrap them in color, hold them with shadow, and stitch them to negative space with line.
But no matter how bright the pigments, no one could see my confession.
Except for Roy Callahan.
I thought he was just another nameless one-night stand in a long line of many.
But I was wrong. Roy could see past the façade of my life and through the veil color over the canvas. He could see what the world couldn’t.
And with him I’d find the courage to tell the truth about the boy.
The boy who kissed me.
The boy who loved me.
The boy whose name I couldn’t remember.
Complementary Colors Reviews
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4.5 stars. Full review posted April 16, 2015
Rating clarification
4 stars for the first half and 5 stars for the second half, especially the final third of the story. The part with Dr. Carmichael was absolutely top-notch.
What's the color of love?
Painting didn't keep me sane but alive
It gave me a sliver of hope
And at the same time I couldn't shake off
The crushing shackles of that awful nightmare
Mud soaking my shoes, my hands blistered
Tears trailing down my cheeks
Leaves rustling, following me relentlessly
A gaping rabbit hole I want to sink into
A secret hidden behind layers and layers of paint
The lie trying to eat me up, my insides putrid and foul
The monster in my head yelling at me, antagonizing me
I clamp my hands at my temples
I can't escape the terror even though
I try to suppress the lie, lie, lie
Help me stifle my agony, help me find
That soothing silence and smother my fears
Strong, defined arms wrapping around me
Layers of colors embracing me
Overwhelming me, comforting me
Offering me more than
Fleeting moments of sanity
A shelter and reprieve from the claws of my past
I craved your warmth and affection
Soaked up your security and love
Knowing I wasn't worthy of you
But you bestowed it upon me nonetheless
And my starving and love-deprived
Soul devoured your gift
When I couldn't hold off any longer
Defenseless and ready to let go of
The ugly secret and tired of all the lies
Knowing there was nothing to forgive
Because you said it wasn't my fault
I knew I could trust you when
The colors bleeding through the blank canvas
Showed me that it was you
Holding my heart in your hands
The color of death is blue
And when I no longer had the energy to
Conceal the nightmares and
Ugliness with my colors
You were there to fill the voids of color
You professed...
"Because you can have sex with anyone
But very few would ever want to love you."
You made me hope and long for new colors
What would life be like filled with
Simple moments like this?
For time to be measured in heartbeats and
Exhales rather than seconds and minutes?
When fear ceased to exist and relief set in
I knew for sure
It's the color of your green eyes
The color of your skin
It's you
You
The color of love
Our heartbeats and exhales aligned
Bringing my blank canvas to life
With bursting colors and movement
Deft strokes of lovemaking
Complementing me
After loving and devouring
In The Absence of Light, I just had to take the plunge and read Complementary Colors. Going into the story, I knew it would be a somewhat dark read. I can confirm to you it was and then some. It was incredibly intense and, at times, difficult and painful to read but always riveting. Wilder cleverly layered the plot, almost to perfection. She's a savvy writer and it showed in the way she structured the story. While I instantly connected with big, protective and affectionate Roy, I can't say that I liked Paris in the beginning but the author gradually and irrevocably pushed me closer to him. Interestingly, the story started off too aloof and detached for my liking yet I was immediately hooked nonetheless. Besides, the excellent writing made up for my minor quibble. The story took a step in another dimension once Dr. Carmichael entered the complex picture. Though I need to give credit to Paris as well because he was at his very best. Gawd, his anguish and terror had me in a vise. I believe that's the best that can happen to a reader: rooting for the main couple and especially one character in particular to have their (his) well-deserved HEA and wanting for the villain to rot in the deepest and darkestrabbithole, suffering a slow and agonizing death.
Once again there was no escape from yet another myriad of emotions.
I was disgusted.
You're letting every guy stick their dick up your ass.
I doubted.
Is Paris good enough for Roy?
I was angry.
How can abuse you so horribly?
I was disappointed.
You're a man. How can you let do this to you?
Strike back for fuck's sake!
I realized.
When you're stripped of the last ounce of self-worth from an early age on and you're suffering from severe trauma without having gotten proper treatment, then it's no wonder you have a personality disorder, let alone other mental issues.
I was proud.
The guy in the elevator.
I understood.
The way Wilder put me in Paris's head and let me experience his anguish, nightmare and his mental illness.
The way she built the plot and took it apart, layer by layer and let everything culminate.
I hurt and hoped.
Read the book and you know what I mean.
"And you still tell.
"No one hears me."
"I hear you."
"No one cares."
"I do."
"No one believes."
"I believe you. Every word."
His beautiful green eyes glowed against his toffee-colored skin. Eyes that saw. Eyes that didn't condemn. Eyes that found something inside me worth keeping.
Worth saving.
I put my lips close to Roy's ear. "Thank you."
There was an almost unbearable tension when I got close to the climax and, ultimately, feeling myself falling over that edge was so, so, so bloody good. There are no words to describe how A-mazing that part of the plot was. I was spot on when it came to the main crime but Wilder added a couple twists I never saw coming. So, kudos for adding another level of meanness.
Complementary Colors was my second book by Adrienne Wilder. I'm rather stingy with compliments but there's no need to beat around the bush. I'm pretty floored because these days it's rare to discover such well-versed and talented authors and I'm very glad that I started reading her books. More please.
"Because when I'm with you, the colors are so beautiful."
Recommended read. -
*** Re read December 2015 ***
I stared at all the broken fragments of color that where once me,lying scattered around my feet
I recently read In The Absence of Light by this Author and thought no couple could be as perfect as Morgan and Grant...but I think I LOVE Paris and Roy a little bit more...
PARIS,wealthy,abstract Artist..has demons from the past,beautiful on the outside...but he thinks he's ugly inside,
ROY,'ordinary' man,no money,but sees something in Paris no one else does,
This book just totally CAPTIVATED me,I LOVED it,one of my favourite books ever..
Not a fluffy M/M book at all,it's dark dealing with promiscuity,drug use,physical and mental abuse and a mental disorder....
Paris first meets Roy at one of his Art Showings where he is a maintenance worker and what follows is a highly erotic Sex scene ( and the dirty girl in me LOVED it !!)
Paris is so damaged he thinks no one ever truly wants him,
What would life be like filled with simple moments like this?For time to be measured in heartbeats and exhales rather than seconds and minutes.What would it feel like to know I was safe,not because of a lock on the door but because of the line of warmth pressed against me and the weight of an arm around my ribs?
This Author did a brilliant job in taking the reader into the troubled mind of Paris,I could feel every emotion he was going through...
Julia is Paris's half sister who has manipulated his life since a very young age after a traumatic event in the past...she physically and mentally abuses him and is basically a ' pimp'...whichever way you look at it,that's what she is..she whores him out to anyone interested in buying his paintings( I have never known a more hateful character, I hated the bit*h with a passion),however,he's not a total pushover as he enjoys provoking her,
I often wondered why I felt the need to poke a stick in the hornests' nest,but there was no answer except maybe I enjoyed getting stung
This Author writes some of the BEST M/M EROTIC SCENES FAST,DIRTY,LOVE .... but some of the most sensual..
"Paris,please let me love you.Even if it's just for a little while.Even if it's just this moment"
This Book,along with The Absence of Light,are two of the BEST M/M books I've read
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS
JUST PERFECT !!
THANKS FOR RECOMMENDATION RALU..YOU TOTALLY GET ME GIRL !!!! -
5--Colorful--Stars!
“Because the world will only be a better place when people like me are no longer in it.”
This isn't your everyday love story. It's not for the faint of heart. It will take you out of your comfort zone. It will make you hurt. It will rip you open. It will make you bleed.
Paris lives with monsters in his head...in a prison cell and only his sister Julia has the key. Used. Abused. Manipulated. Lied to. Paris has no say in his life.
“I’m a thousand pieces of broken colored glass. You throw something like that away. Doing anything else is a waste of time.”
Ruled by his past. A past he can't remember. A past that bleeds out through his art. On the canvas he tells his story. But no one sees it.
Every day Paris exists. Drugs numb the pain. Sex makes him forget. Painting makes the monsters go away.
Until he meets Roy.
Roy who wanted to know Paris. The Paris behind the paintings. The Paris beyond the name. Roy who see's what no one else does. Roy who believes when no one else did. Roy who wanted Paris. And no one's ever wanted Paris.
“No one hears me.”
“I hear you.”
“No one cares.”
“I do.”
“No one believes.”
“I believe you. Every word.”
Paris believes Roy is too good for him. He deserves someone that can give themselves to him completely. Can love him with everything he has. Paris doesn't believe he has anything.
Nothing to offer.
“Because I hurt everyone. It’s what I do, Roy. It’s all I am.”
Nothing to give.
“I ruin everyone, Roy. I’m a disease.”
Nothing anyone would want.
“Because I’m broken, Roy. And I’m broken in ways that cannot be fixed.”
Paris has to fight the demons of his past if he ever wants to have a future with Roy. Roy who never gives up. Who promises to love Paris always. No matter what happened in his past. No matter what evil lives in his heart. No matter what ugly rules his head.
Roy saved Paris. He gave him hope when he had none. A reason to live when he wanted nothing more than to give up. Roy was the light in Paris' darkness. He gave him a reason to try. To free himself from the chains of his past. To want. Paris was loved for this first time in his life. Roy changed the colors of Paris' life.
“Because when I’m with you, the colors are so beautiful.”
Dark. Disturbing. Twisted. Painful. Brutal. Beautiful. -
In every painting you create, you tell the world what happened.”
“No one hears me.”
“I hear you.”
“No one cares.”
“I do.”
“No one believes.”
“I believe you. Every word.”
This is not your typical romance. I'm not even sure it is romance. But it is an amazing love story. It is harsh and brutal. You 'll think there is no way out. Right until the end, you will doubt there is salvation. Take a break and keep pushing. But be warned...here be monsters.
Paris Duvoe lives with demons. Mental illness, dirty family secrets, and his sister, Julia, have him trapped with no way out. Painting is a comfort and a curse. It keeps the monsters away. He can't do much, but he has to paint. He takes drugs to stay numb and has nameless sex to punish himself. Because he kissed a boy, but can't remembeer his name.
And then he meets Roy. Who "carried himself like a man who was one with the world and not above it."Who loved Paris and tried to become his safe place. But how can Paris let Roy love him when he's so broken?“Will you let me?”
“What?”
“Love you.”
“I don’t know how.”
“I’ll teach you.” He kissed my neck.
“What if I fail?”
“You won’t.
“It’ll hurt.”
“Only a little.” No. It would chew me up and spit me out. But not before tearing me apart and breaking every bone in my body.
There is a long way ahead. Paris will bleed, he will almost die before he lets Roy save him. But in the end, he will. It's not perfect, but it's real, beautiful and right. Like colors that complement each other.
According to the bio, the author is an artist. Only an artist would incorporate art so beautifully in this book. Painting is the core of this story and everything revolves around it. Paris thinks and speaks colors, he paints to save his life and whatever remained from his sanity."I surrounded those spaces with the brightest colors. I wanted them to stand out. To be unforgettable.
Like the loss of those you love.
Like a mother.
A brother.
Or a boy who gave you your first kiss."
Adrienne Wilder, you blew my mind. Highly recommended!
*Cross-posted on
Gay Book Reviews.* -
4 Colorful Stars
Paris is an artist. People just see his paintings but they don’t understand them, they don’t see the truth within them. They don’t see the pain behind them. They don’t see the secrets he paints. They see his pretty face but they don’t see bruises and cuts on his body that are perfectly hidden. He is a puppet and his sister (Julia) held his strings. Julia blamed Paris for what he’s done and he couldn’t/won’t remember. If he opens his mouth he will be ruined. Julia made sure of it! He is hopeless and helpless, he thinks he ruins everyone until he met Roy. And then Roy became his anchor, his hope, his light in darkness, his heaven in this hell.
So much emotion, so much fear, so much angst, so much secrets...! And I loved everything about it! enjoyed it so much! Poor Paris, he’s a slave to his sister, to his demons! I want to say what a wonderful guy Roy was but honestly I don’t know so much about Roy, not about his living but about his feelings. I really wanted his POV. But I loved how he really understood Paris’s paintings, how he read them and found out about the secrets behind them! The story was a bit depressing and I liked it more if there were more happy moments!
This author amazed me with her writing, again! I have another of her works and I’m impatient to read it! Her writing style is really beautiful. The story was well-written and the story line was perfect! Told in Paris’s POV, 1st person. It’s a standalone novel. I really liked it and I hope you enjoy it as well! -
What to say about this book! Complimentary Colors is utterly heartbreaking and amazingly breathtaking. I'm wrung out from reading it, but found the destination so worth the journey.
Is Complimentary Colors a romance? I'm not sure. There are romantic elements and the ending is happy (thank FSM), so maybe it is. But even more, Complimentary Colors is a technicolor tour of the demons haunting Paris Duvoe and his journey of clawing his way out of hell. The story is told entirely from his POV and I almost feel like I have lived a little in his hell. And my heart broke into so many pieces I wasn't sure it would recover.
Paris is an artist. On the surface he comes off as a bit eccentric if you don't know him. Paris, though -- he's a mess. Mental illness, trauma, evil sister, and a life that was never his own. Under the control of his sociopath older sister, Paris struggles with life and, often, he wished for it to end just so he could finally be free. But he paints. It's the only way to keep the monster at bay. He's not allowed to speak of his hell, so he paints it. Everyone always tells him his paintings are beautiful, but they're not. Not really. They tell a violent and tragic story in the negative space. No one sees. No one but Roy Callahan.
Roy doesn't travel in the same circles as Paris, at all. He's a man of very modest means and a painful past that he is trying his best to overcome. Even with his past, though, Roy still sees beauty in the world and in Paris. He also sees what Paris really paints and the pain spilled out on each canvas. Roy wants to know Paris. Wants to help him. Wants to love him. If only Paris will let him.“Paris. Please let me love you. Even if it’s just for a little while. Even if it’s just this moment.”
Trying to hold Paris, though, is like trying to grab a hold of air. Paris didn't see his value and didn't think he deserved anything happy. And never took precautions for his own safety. He always thought it was all his fault. That the evil came from him. The truth is far more tragic, though, and twisted. I don't even want to begin to describe it.
Complimentary Colors was heavy. So heavy. And though Paris will always live with mental illness, he does get his peace. And he gets love. I'm calling that a win, for sure. -
This is 5 stars epic heartbreaking story
I thought it was hard expressing my emotions while rating others stories. Hmm, piece of cake!
This ONE is THE MOST HEARTBREAKING story!!!
What can I add more to all these gazzillion reviews declaring undying love?!
My heart bleed for Paris!
This story made me want to punch someone and kick and scream and I just... I was too emotional while reading it. Heartbreaking, I'm telling you...
I would strongly advise you to be aware of the dark things it might get to and well, if you choose to dive in, make sure you are strong enough to read about this sort of things.
I'll stop here with my ranting. Enjoy! -
****5 Stars****
For Some, Everyday Life is a Balancing Act.
Paris Duvoe is a rich tortured famous abstract artist. Used, abused and controlled by his sister Julia. Painting is what sets him free from the monsters that lurk in his head.
Trapped, the only way I could silence the nightmares driving me to insanity was to wrap them in color, hold them with shadow, and stitch them to negative space with line.
Until Roy Callahan, walks into his life.
“No one hears me.”
“I hear you.”
“No one cares.”
“I do.”
“No one believes.”
“I believe you. Every word.”
This story touched me to my very soul, it's not your everyday love story, as between the chaos and the hope ….. love shines through..... it transcends the pages it is written on ...and I dreamed a dream for Paris Duvoe and those like him.What would life be like filled with simple moments like this?For time to be measured in heartbeats and exhales rather than seconds and minutes.
What would it feel like to know I was safe,not because of a lock on the door but because of the line of warmth pressed against me and the weight of an arm around my ribs?
I couldn't possibly convey the sweet agony of this Dark ~ yes, Disturbing ~ yes, Beautiful ~ yes... story portrayed.
You'll just have to take my word for it, READ IT, it's not to be missed...
I applaud Adrienne Wilder what a brilliant writer, and another superb read.
-
Phew!
This was super intense. -
4.5⭐
15 minutes ago I finished the book. And I am in that moment where you think about the book. Then you start crying because you understand what you read.
Fuck. I loved it. This was intense. Painful. Heartbreaking.
You need to know that if you are going to read this, it contains: physical and mental abuse, mental illness, violence, maybe cheating?, self harm, and you may cry out of anger, happiness and pain.
"I realized we knew each other, because we walked the road of madness together. Shoulder to shoulder, even hand in hand, but never aware the other existed. Even though we traveled in the same direction, we remained alone."
I don't think this is a romance, yeah, it has love, but it has more than that. This is the story of Paris, the artist. He paints, but nobody sees behind his colors. Nobody hears his call for help. Nobody hears his secret. Until Roy does. Roy brings up a lot of emotions that he hadn't felt. And he begins to do many things that he had not done before. But that's just the beginning. The beginning of they love. The beginning of Paris to fall, wake up and fly.
"I wiped my face with the hem of my shirt and returned to the canvas. Swatches of color to close the wounds. Lines to tie it down. Layers upon layers, until the sound of their voices formed a hum.
I painted to silence them.
I painted to tell the truth.
I painted to free the boy whose name I couldn’t remember."
I loved it. It may not be perfect, but I loved Paris. I loved Roy. I loved them together. I loved the story.
"I don’t have money, but you do, so you can buy yourself everything I can’t.” He put his finger over my lips, stopping another reply. “But there are some things money can’t get you. Things I know you’ve never had.” His touch followed the curve of my mouth, sending a shiver through me. “That’s what I have to offer you, if you’ll give me the chance."
🤧🤧😭❤️❤️❤️
Personally, I feel the story is more about Paris. The story is told from his POV and you can tell that he is not well. He is a mess inside. And he barely survives on the outside. Since he was little he has been abused by his sister. Are you surprised? You wonder why he can't stop her?
Why does he allow her blows and hurtful words? Things are not easy. The trauma that Paris has is deeper than it seems. And for that, I am completely happy about how the author added the therapy. Of course, the therapy does not cure him, because what he has cannot be cured, but we do see how he struggles. And fight for it.
Honestly, Paris's mind is a sea of secrets.
"What did I want? It was a simple question, but I’d never thought about it because no one had ever cared before. Not even me. And now that someone had, I didn’t have a fucking clue. I laughed. I kept laughing. They stared at me while I sat there braying like a donkey. Then the laughter faded into silent crying. I fought every surge of tears and every watery breath, but it wouldn’t stop."
Roy is amazing. Attentive, honest, sweet. He was the best thing that could happen to Paris. Their chemistry is incredible. Yes, at first is sexual, but every time they meet, they talk a little more.I loved them so much. ❤️
" Love you.” Roy rubbed his cheek against mine. “Please, Paris. I know it’s not what you’re used to, and it might not even be what you want, but it’s the most valuable thing I have.” GIVE IT TO ME, DAMMIT. 😭🤧❤️
I would have liked Roy's POV, I am not going to lie, for the same reason that the story is focuses more on Paris, we do not know Roy at the same level. And yes I would have liked to do it, but it really didn't stop me from loving him. 🤩🤩
The stories with cheating are not my thing, although there was no label for their relationship, they had something together, so I do consider it as cheating. Imagine my surprise when it didn't bother me, yes, it hurt, but it's not that simple... 😢😢
It's a heavy story. But it is totally worth it.
I highly recommend it!! Now I'm going to read another of the author's books, because I'm impressed. 🤩 -
***5++ Stars for an exceptional and outstanding book***
We'd slipped beyond the real world and hovered where darkness and light made love to create the colors of the universe.
Wow, just... wow! Hours passed since I finished this book and I thought about what I could write in my review to do justice to this book, but I came up with... nothing.
I am still a bit emotionally drained because this story evoked the strongest of feelings in me and came with a lot of tears. Tears of sadness, desperation, rage and anger, but also tears of laughter, joy and happiness. And hope.Every. Single. One. Was. So. Worth. It.
Oh, and Paris's sister Julia made it in one go to the top of my shit list of most-hated book characters. She even left mommy dearest Vivienne from ICoS and Captain 'Dickhead' from Juxtapose City behind (who I both really hate with a passion) and that is saying something.
This was also another exceptional and outstanding BR with my besties Josy and Karen. Thank you so much for reading this with me and your support was everything! ❤️ -
I'm scared to get close and I hate being alone.
I long for that feeling to not feel at all.
The higher I get, the lower I'll sink.
I can't drown my demons, they know how to swim.
BRING ME THE HORIZON – “ Can you feel my heart“
Complementary Colors is dark and raw, sometimes disturbing and sometimes a very intense read. It’s not your usual romance or m-m read. A psychological thriller, this book is emotional and real, very different from any m-m book I’ve read. I was captivated from the start and with every chapter I wanted to know and understand more about Paris.
How can anyone live in darkness for more than twenty years? Paris Duvoe knows how is to live without hope because he lives in his own hell.
I’m a thousand pieces of broken colored glass. You throw something like that away. Doing anything else is a waste of time.
Paris is a tortured famous artist. With his medical condition he needs love and support from his family, but what he gets is different. He is used, abused and manipulated by his sister Julia. He is practically a slave. A slave in the real world and a slave in his own world, in his head. He paints. He paints to forget his past and demons, to tell the truth and free the little boy from his past.
Drugs and sex are the only things that help him deal with his tragic life and his pain. He can’t remember his past but he remembers his monsters. Painting is his only comfort and the only thing that makes the monsters disappear. Through his paintings he tells his past and his secrets, but nobody can see them, only him.
How could anyone want a creature so hideous? The kind of ugly that sank into the soul and birthed terrible things. The coward. The liar.
Until Roy...
You’re wrong, you know. Helping me won’t make the world a better place.
Why not?
Because the world will only be a better place when people like me are no longer in it.
Because I’m broken, Roy. And I’m broken in ways that cannot be fixed.
They say hope is a dangerous thing. But not for Paris, not anymore, because Roy gives him hope and more; Roy sees the real Paris. From the start Paris knows Roy isn’t like any other man. With Roy, Paris feels safe and begins to trust and to open his heart. With Roy Paris wants more than drugs and sex. With Roy he is free.
Julia might have owned my body, but I’d freely given Roy my soul.
From the start, the author portrays Paris’s twisted mind in a fantastic way. With a great premise and plot line Complementary Colors is a heart wrenching story with some dark and disturbing themes. This story evoked many emotion, from hope to hopelessness, beauty to brutality. The turns in this story are really intriguing and the characters are interesting from the beginning. I loved how Paris’s character is developed.
Overall, Complementary Colors is an absolutely amazing story. I highly recommend this one!
I wanted to be free of the darkness. I wanted the beast exorcised from my soul.
-
WOW! This story is amazing, the characters are so real I wanted to yell at the book at points. You have to read this. The first scene is so hot it will knock your socks off!
-
Just kept turning the pages.
I feel like I'm going to be inadequate at explaining why I liked this story. It's a suspense. It pegs the extreme characters' meter, which should turn me off, but for some reason works even though it borders melodramatic. I've castigated so many books for this, but not this one.
First, Wilder's descriptions of the art process are fantastic. The smells, the compulsion, the absorption into the act that leaves one in a suspended state--great. The art descriptions, especially color--strong. The cynicism of the art market--hysterical. So, you could say this just tickled me.
Second, Paris's mental instability and the interludes in which he loses reality are engaging. That questioning of real and non-real in a "Beautiful Mind" sort of way was enthralling for me. I like that slippage. I like seeing characters fight it, be subsumed, and surface from it.
What did I want?
It was a simple question, but I’d never thought about it because no one had ever cared before. Not even me.
The plot is dramatic. No two ways about that. You could say it's OTT, but combined with Paris himself and his reality/irreality I was totally sucked in. The introduction, the transitioning, the revealing, and finally the climax were all well balanced. I like that Paris wasn't a pretty perfect MC. I liked the ugly parts and the broken parts. Roy was less as the secondary MC, but he provided the ballast and gave the story an even keel.
In the end, I enjoyed this book because I wanted to find out what happened to Paris; I needed to know. And part of me needed him to have a chance.
Overall, a psychological thriller that highlights familial dysfunction.
Favorite quote:“Trust. It’s an easy thing to break and almost impossible to rebuild."
-
Infinite stars!!!
This book has me emotionally hung over. I can't even write a review. I'll just let my shelves do the talking. -
1 very disappointed star
So, let me start by saying that I adore Adrienne Wilder's work. Adore. It. I love her writing. It sweeps me up every freaking time. She is soooo good. But ... and I know I am TOTALLY in the minority here ... this book didn't work for me. At. All.
*ducks to avoid being pummeled by rotten fruit*
This book was pure torture. It was dark. It was depressing. It was frustrating to no end! There was not a single shining moment to my way of thinking. Others might point to the ending but nuh-uh. No way. Paris was too weak for my liking. There. I said it. And if you don't believe me ... . And Roy was too much of a doormat. That's right, I said that too. And Julia deserved to be shot! So did Alice for that matter. Fuck all of them fuckwits!
*takes deep breaths*
Sorry, I got a little carried away there. I was just so frustrated. I wanted to like this book and I kept holding on, hoping and praying to turn that proverbial corner where things got set to right. But it never happened. I felt like a sideline coach, telling myself to hang in there. Just one more chapter, just another page. Ugh. The final plot twists (yes, it's plural) were crazy stupid and drove me nuts! And in the end, I understood Paris loving Roy (yay) but not the white rabbit?!? (WTF)
Bottom line: I didn't like it. -
The reason this is not a 5 star read was the 'almost too much abuse and then 'stubbornness' of Paris'; it was SOOO close to being just way too much heartache, heartbreak and evil people, and then there is also Alice.
Seriously FUCK her! She knew what was going on, she wasn't stupid and even though she is explained as fragile, through Paris's eyes, she was neither dumb nor helpless.
So fuck her, and fuck the choices made there.
This book was ROUGH and please beware of the following trigger warnings: do not read this unless you're ready for abuse, sex with multiple partners (after the MCs have connected), intermittent drug use (all kinds), PTSD and rape.
Seriously, this was NOT an easy read. You will need either a big bottle of something alcoholic or an alu bat and a punching bag for all the rage you will have for Paris's family.
I have tagged this as 'cheater cheater' since there is sex with other partners after the MCs have developed a romantic connection, but this wasn't 'real cheating' though I think people should know before going in.
Just... This book was dark and gritty and gloomy and not very hopeful, but at the same time it was very real and important?!
Paris's mental health was treated with care, I think, it was very raw, but very real.
As for the rest of it, this story will stay with me for a long time, even though it was not comfortable or a typical romance, so: BRAVO!
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I can’t find the words that would do this book justice so I will take the easy way out and ask that you read some of the other amazing reviews already written. I can’t recommend it enough.
But know this. This story was painfully beautiful. It wasn’t an easy read by any means. My heart broke. I cried and felt hopeless. There were parts that for me were brutal yet I couldn’t stop. Paris Duvoe’s story is one that I will not forget.
Adrienne Wilder is an amazing author. Thank you for giving us Paris and Roy’s story. ❤ -
Wow. That was…angsty. Painful. Sexy. Scary.
Take a life of pain and misery. In a golden cage. Painting vibrant colours to quiet the monster inside. Add a random hookup with a sweet loving caring man.
Add a crazy background story that reveals itself slowly.
It was so so good. I don’t really have words. -
5+++ Brilliant Stars!!!
One word to describe this book- PROFOUND. It gripped me like few books ever have. I'd first read Adrienne Wilder's works in In the Absence of Light and I knew her writing was something refreshingly different. To call it poetic or artistic doesn't quite measure up to the level of literary gift she beholds. Both books feature hereoes with psychological disorders and I find that refreshingly different.
Complimentary Colors touched me on so many levels. Couple that with this being in the MM genre- the pickings are even fewer to find a book this caliber. This is one of those trickle fed deals that need to be experienced as it comes. What I can say is if you like different and MM is your fortay, this book will deliver. It isn't all hearts and flowers and my heart seriously bled for this hero at times, but in the end, rest assured we get a happily ever after.
Paris Duvoe is a renowned artist. His paintings sometimes going for upwards in the millions of dollars. But nobody truly sees what's in those paintings- the secrets, the pain clawing themselves out from deep within his psyche. He's a beautiful man yet a tortured child at the same time.
Paris' life and his money are not his own. Instead he's ruled by his ruthless agent and sister, Julia. His only way to dispel his demons is through his paintings- and nobody can see what's hidden in these abstract canvases- until Roy Callahan. Roy see's it all- in the paintings and in Paris as a person. Paris has never felt love, compassion- only pain and selfishness...until the contractor in an ill-fitting suit comes to his showing to repair a broken A/C unit. Paris see's a body to f@ck him but Roy see's so much more...
To call this a broken hero story is so unfitting. Paris is undeniably one of the most sick (in a sad way) heroes I've encountered. Couple that with the gripping passion and angst of the MM genre and this author's vibrant writing style, I was transfixed on my kindle till the very last words. To say Roy was perfect for Paris is such a gross understatement. He was his savior and I can't fathom the way his story would've ended without him...Roy was perfection, his angel.
I'm off to find more awesomeness at the pen of Adrienne Wilder. I highly recommend this novel for people looking for a pretty deep and emotional read. It'll clearly leave you stunned in it's brilliance.
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Well...WOW. Holllyyy shittt.
Review to come shortly.
~*~
So this book absolutely blew me away. I have to say, first and foremost, that stories that deal with someone with mental illness aren't always my cup of tea, mostly because they usually have the person hallucinating people and then I get scared that their love interest isn't real - which is what I got scared of in this, that Roy wasn't real. Thankfully, he was. But I'm not one who likes that uncertainty or the "was any of it real? No" type deal. I prefer realism to it all being a hallucination.
But despite all that, this story pulled me in and kept me hooked. It was an absolutely beautiful story. Incredibly sad and tragic, but beautiful nonetheless.
And that was mostly because of Paris and Roy. At first I was basically in love with the character of Roy (and thus why I was like PLEASE DOn'T FUCKING BE A HALLUCINATION PLSSS), and loved him throughout the book, but then as the story went on I fell more and more in love with Paris as well.
It broke my heart that Paris thought he was such an ugly person inside, because to be he was beautiful inside and out. Yes, he was far from perfect. But ultimately he was a good, kind person and I was able to see what Roy saw. That Paris was damaged, broken, but still beautiful, still kind, still stronger than he knew.
When Paris is my heart broke for him. But I loved his doctor and my heart broke even more when
And you know what I loved? That this was from Paris' perspective and not Roy's. Not that I didn't wish to have Roy's perspective (boy did I!), but because I feel like we really got know and understand Paris and it wasn't just someone dealing with someone in their life who has a mental illness, it was from the perspective of that person with a mental illness, and how it affects them and how hard it is to deal with - but also that it can be managed and people can get better to live happy, productive lives.
I just wanted to cry at the end, because of all that Paris went through but then he got a happy ending, or at least a happy beginning that would continue for the rest of his life. I loved how at peace Paris seemed, how happy, how in love with Roy he was.
And can I just say, that I was expecting full on angst throughout this book - and don't get me wrong, there was no end to the angst until the end - but I was pleasantly surprised when we got moments here and there of happiness between Paris and Roy, and we got to see them smile at each other and laugh and have fun together. We got some sweet moments.
And yes, of course some extremely hot moments. Paris loves rough, impersonal sex, but with Roy it was extremely personal and intense and they made love, they didn't just fuck. And I know some people think that distinction is ridiculous, but I think there is a difference. The sex in the beginning was hot as fuck between them, but my favorite was near the middle/second half of the book when they had tender sex that was slower than they normally had, but was no less passionate. My favorite sex is when there is great emotion behind it, so I was SO there for them making love <3
I just love love LOVED this story, with all my heart. The characters were real and complex and human. (Except for Julia, who was plain evil and can fuck off into the fiery pits of a volcano for all I care)
I must say, be prepared for very unpleasant things, and not a whole lot of fluff (well, there isn't any fluff in the truest sense of the word, even though there are happy, cute moments). This story is very intense, very angst filled, and there are potential triggers.
Because Paris uses drugs - illegal drugs - for his illness, and not because he chooses to, but because that is what Julia gives him from Dr. Mason (urghhh) but Paris also does X at one point, and I think it is mentioned that he does cocaine on occasion and there is a scene at the end when Paris uses pretty copious amounts of heroin.
And also, there is a scene where it could, at best, be considered dubious consent. Because Paris himself say he wasn't raped and he knew what was happening, but during the scene it's pretty clear he does not want this man and he does not want to be having sex with him, and Julia had made Paris stay with these men buying his paintings manny times, without it truly being Paris' choice. Before, it seemed like Paris at least enjoyed being with these men, even if he didnt' choose them himself, but this time at the he wasn't even enjoying himself (was taking all the heroin because he didn't want to deal with it or remember it) so I feel like it was rape. The guy didn't even use a condom when Paris TOLD him to use one. So fucking disgusting. So idk, make of that what you will.
Anyway, this was a powerful book, and as much as it is a character driven book, there is a good amount of romance between Paris and Roy, and they were ultimately amazing for each other, with all their imperfections. But they were there for each other and wanted each other even after all the "ugliness" and faults were revealed. And Roy stayed, when every other guy probably wouldn't have. Because Roy was special, and he saw the good in Paris, and he loved him, every bit of him, and I think that is beautiful.
HIGHLY recommend this, if you can handle a lot of angst and potentially triggering things like violence and rape and things that happen when someone is mentally ill and what happens in mental institutions.
But this books deals with a lot of ugly things in the real world, but also has two amazing MC's and a wonderful story overall.
I'm just in awe of this story <333 -
I know when I read, I always see the story unfolding in my mind but every now and then one comes along that actually makes me feel like I'm inside the book observing from the sidelines. Like a fly on the wall watching the book play out like a film. Complimentary Colours gave me that experience and I absolutely loved it!
Rich and famous abstract artist, Paris Duvoe, is a beautiful, highly sexual, messed up, tortured soul and this becomes evident right at the very start of the book when we first set eyes on him in a scene that's pivotal to the whole story. Right from the word go I was inexplicably drawn to this complex man and whilst at this early point in the story I didn't know anything about him, except that he was obviously sexually promiscuous, I knew that I was totally fascinated by him and because I was so drawn to him I fully understood why the other central character, tough but kind blue collar worker Roy Callahan, behaved as he did. Paris is a Tour De Force and Roy is engulfed and seduced by the sheer sexual energy he exudes, but when what was supposed to be just another anonymous sexual encounter with a stranger started to grow into something deeper, setting off a chain of dramatic events, it became a compulsive, unputdownable read that gripped me from beginning to end.
This is a dark, disturbing story of manipulation, exploitation and mind fuckery and its main instigator has a name:
Julia!!!
The twisted, mentally and physically (not sexual) abusive, bitch of a half sister whose years of psychological dominance over her emotionally damaged brother have had Paris submitting to her will in ways that only served to send him further down into a self destructive spiral. This is a woman who couldn't be more despicable or detestable if she tried. A complete opposite to their weaker sister Alice who knows whats happening but chooses to stay fairly quiet in the background.
"I was a puppet, and Julia held my strings."
But then gentle repairman Roy happens and suddenly Paris has something good in his life he's never had before and a possible reason to fight the psychological hold that Julia has over him....however, Julia is not his only nemesis. There's a demon from his past haunting Paris. One he hides inside his paintings over and over again but no one else recognises the horror within them, they just want the kudos of owning a Paris Duvoe original and Julia takes advantage of that, her greed and deep rooted hatred of her half brother a means to pimp out Paris to any prospective buyer to use sexually any way they want, using drugs and mind games to influence his already dysfunctional behaviour.
Voices and visions taunt him. One small, insistent childlike voice in particular that's only silenced when his brush hits the canvas and he can set down the colours, that hold the awful secret that the boy with no name's voice is trying to get him to remember, onto an open space. The terrible memory he's pushed to the furthest corners of his mind, the one that if he doesn't pour it into a painting, will release the white rabbit from the rabbit hole and the monster from its tenuously held prison.
Paris lives in a sensory world of colour. Something like synesthesia, that allows him to see them swirl around him, mirroring moods, emotions and even touch; so the canvas becomes his conscience, the colours his guilt.
"Swatches of colour to close the wounds. Lines to tie it down. Layers upon layers, until the sound of their voices formed a hum. I painted to silence them. I painted to tell the truth. I painted to free the boy whose name I couldn't remember."
See rest of my review at~
http://bit.ly/1pI0IPA
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*4,5 stars*
Let’s put it on the table: this is not a romance. There is nothing romantic about the way Paris and Roy meet and although there are some tender moments between them, I would never ‘label’ their story as a romance.
But, no doubt, this book is about love of the purest kind. And it is a love story that will grip your heart and turn you inside out.
That is at least what happened to me. I think I was sitting at the edge of my seat from the beginning to the end, leaving fingernail marks on the cover of my kindle.
We know right from chapter 1 that something is not quite ‘right’ about Paris just by the way he acts and behaves. He is reckless with his body and seems hell bent on destruction course. Having sex without a condom? With a stranger that he seeks out for looking dangerous? Red alert was flashing wildly through my head.
As we find out gradually how damaged Paris is, how physical and mental abuse is what constitutes his life, we are made to wonder what happened to him. How did he end up in the situation he finds himself in?
Adrienne Wilder knows exactly how to keep the suspense by revealing only bit by little bit about the past, and by giving away only morsels at a time until we get the full picture towards the end – and it is horrifying.
I thought I had met the most vicious female character in Vivienne (ICoS by Santino Hassell), but Paris’s sister Julia might just have the edge. The Oscar for the ‘most evil b**** definitely goes to her. The hatred I felt was deep and honest and at its height at about 90 percent when Paris makes a decision that made me gasp with helpless frustration. I considered throwing my kindle (Darn, it was that bad)
I am grateful that things end well eventually, although . Adrienne Wilder’s study into the mind of a mentally ill person is totally brilliant. Being in Paris’s head is exhausting and intensely painful, and I ACHED for him all the way.
I agree with some other readers that I would have liked to know more about Roy. This wonderful simple man who loves Paris unconditionally. And doesn’t give up on him. And comes back again and again to make him hold him and give him strength. We know very little of him, about his motivations and feelings, what he sees in Paris he loves. I also didn’t quite get why he, out of all people, would understand Paris and his paintings. But then again, maybe there is nothing to understand. Love is what it is, at the end of the day.
This book is not for the faint-hearted.
There is plenty of angst and anguish, it is emotionally intense and challenging, but it is amazing and beautiful, too. I adore how Adrienne Wilder uses colour in the book, how it is what holds all the secrets, how it is the glue that makes Paris the person he is.
I loved this book, marvelled at the way the author paints the picture of a tormented mind, and how at the end the message that there is hope for anyone comes through loud and clear.
Highly recommended. -
Might I suggest, if you haven't read this book...
before you begin you might want to consider stocking up on tissues, chocolate or other preferred comfort foods, a very cuddly teddy will be helpful and possibly copious amounts of alcohol...just sayin' it never hurts to be prepared...oh, and most important of all grab a couple of friends because this one really is best not read alone.
So first thing I did grabbed Josy, who in turn grabbed Simone. We're good that way, we try and drag as many people as possible down the rabbit hole with us when we go there.
Next I grabbed Jackson, he's just the cutest cream colored bear in the world and he lives in my office where I do all my buddy reads. Right now he's trying to get his fur dry...it's almost there...honest. Then I checked the tissue supply...8 boxes...I should be able to manage with that, finally it's off to the story to lay in my supply of comfort food...ok, now I'm ready...
Ok, forget that I only thought I was ready because really I wasn't...I'm not sure anyone could ever be ready for this book.
'Complimentary Colors' is a romance, a love story, a murder mystery/thriller, it's stark and cold in it's portrayal of how easily wrong outward appearances can be because once you look beyond the surface what appeared to be a charmed life...is in fact a cursed life.
Paris is an artist, he's famous, he makes obscene amounts of money, he's beautiful and everybody wants him. He sees the world through colors...colors that he puts onto canvas for the world to see. Except no one ever sees what he's truly put onto canvas...no one that is until Roy.
Roy is all those things that we often take for granted. He's solid, dependable, constant, honest, loyal, patient and kind. Basically he's all the good things that Paris hasn't had in his life wrapped up in one nice sexy package and this made me happy because Paris...well his story broke me and I needed for him to have someone like Roy. I needed to believe that after all he'd gone through there would be some happiness for him...some color for his life...beautiful vibrant colors...the colors of love.
Let's talk about Paris's jailer next and yes that's what she was. For years his sister Julia kept Paris trapped in his own living hell. I hated Julia...no, seriously H-A-T-E-D with a passion, a strong and burning passion...a part of me spent hours plotting her demise and is honestly still working on it. Ok, my rage is building let's move on to Paris's sister Alice, my thoughts on here a little more ambiguous and I'd have to go into far too much detail to clarify that for anyone who hasn't already read the book. So Alice = ambiguous, for more detail you'll need to read the book...sorry...not.
I was more than a little impressed by the wonderful secondary characters Adrienne Wilder created...whether it's someone as vile and horrid as Julia or as warm and wonderful as Louise or Dr. Carmichael. The depth and life that they add to the story is incredible and does so much to enhance the detail and bring this story to life.
I could probably go on and on about this book. It was a heartbreaking story. Probably one of the hardest I've ever read. For me it was on a level with 'A Little Life', 'Listening to Dust' or 'Blood Memories' (ok, this is the biggie for me folks because very, very few books every get put on the same shelf as this one in my world).
Anyways, I could go on but I'm not going to because I think the best that I can say now is...if you want more reviews there are some truly amazing ones here on GR so for more just scroll down on the book page and continue reading, there are a plethora of awesome reviews for you and the other thing read the book, I know it's a hard read but it's also a worthwhile read (see the instructions about this at the top of this review)
Now, last of all Josy and Simone...thank you so much for holding my hands on this one and as promised here are the songs...
I couldn't decide on one so there's 3, I hope you find them as fitting as I did. The first one is Paris's song for Roy...
Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls
this one is Roy's song for Paris...
I Won't Give Up by Jason Mraz
and this one...well it just seems to belong to the book...
How to Save a Life by The Fray
*Update* another song that fits so well with this story and it's for Paris and Roy, it's their song...
Crash & Burn by Savage Garden
I can't wait until our next buddy read ladies, I'm sure Jackson will be dried out by then if needed or maybe we could find something a little lighter next time just to give ourselves a break...either way just let me know and I'll be there. -
4.5ish Stars
Ummm….. *snuggles with blanket* This one hurt. A lot. It’s angsty AF, dark, erotic, brutal and with trigger warnings for pretty much everything littering the pages. This wasn’t my first rodeo with Wilder so I was mentally preparing but some of it was realllllly hard to read.
Paris is a broken yet brilliant artist that disposes the horrors he has seen on canvas while covering them up and making millions. He has multiple mental diagnoses and an absolute vile sister that abuses him regularly to ensure her pockets are lined and secrets aren’t exposed. She can’t see the secrets on the canvas and the art collectors that purchase them can’t either. Roy does though.
Roy is a handyman that meets Paris in a dark room. Their relationship begins with sex and is *very* sexual throughout. Roy is perfect. Seriously freakin’ perfect. He isn’t a rich guy, but humble, hardworking, has made and learned from his mistakes. Roy loves Paris in a way that’s beautiful but also damaging to his sanity and quality of life.
Roy is the escape Paris needs and eventually the good, the bad, and the really ugly comes out to play. Roy offsets Paris’ severely jacked up world and during these moments of respite, they get to know each other. I love them together but I’m not convinced they are actually good for each other, moreso Paris not being good for Roy’s wellbeing. At times it’s hard to read with the abuse and the destructive nature of Paris trying to escape the monsters in his head and in his life. As mentioned above, Roy and Paris’ relationship is very sex heavy and not in a healthy way but that’s all Roy could give and all Paris would let himself take for the longest time. They get their HEA but there’s a trail of blood and a bottle of antacids needed before that happens.
Complementary Colors has many layers and there were times I was trying to piece parts together. Julia is definitely the character I despise most out of any book I’ve probably ever read. She is THAT bad and I had many not nice thoughts about her and ways she could be taken care of.
This book could use another round of edits. There are lots of psych things going on and I’m not an expert on whether creative license was used of if these are actually proper protocols on treatment. Still, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to fans of dark, erotic, and angsty romance.Copy provided for honest review.
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DNF at 15%
"His exhale shuddered."
So did mine.
I know, I swore not to rate books that I DNF at less than 50%.
But considering THIS book...I wanted sooooo BADLY to give it 1 star.
I asked me only WHY I hadn't read
Smith's review BEFORE I picked up this book?!
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We can't allow ourselves to descend down the rabbit hole ..... even when it holds the key to everything.
A dark and twisted tale. I can't explain anymore than that without spoiling it, you'll just have to read it. -
EMO Alert. I should have known when the melodramatic suicide-hotline-cover perfectly matched the dysfunctionally-drunk material narrated by a self-absorbed emotionally-crippled monologue of I’m-such-a-disease-I-ruin-everyone-Paris-POV..that it was a f'ing bonafide EMO read.
Ew. Not even the bone-throwing opening-formulaic-sex-scene could tempt me to read more.. -
3.5
Un libro complicado. Después de terminarlo la sensación que me ha dejado Complementary Colors es la misma que me dejó In the Absence of Light de la misma autora. Hay dos partes muy diferenciadas, por un lado están los protagonistas y su relación, y por otra la trama de misterio, ambas muy diferentes en cuanto a la calidad.
Paris, pintor de éxito, arrastra una vida llena de problemas emocionales, familiares y enfermedad mental, en un momento en el que se encuentra atrapado entre sus creaciones, su vida y su situación mental, conoce a Roy, un hombre que tiene representa lo que más necesita: normalidad, comprensión y bondan. Mientras que el personaje de Paris está muy bien retratado por la autora y es fácil empatizar con su situación mental, esto lo hace a costa de dejar a Roy en la sombra y como una mera caricatura, realmente no llegamos a conocer de verdad quién es Roy más allá de su deseo por ayudar a Paris y su amor por él. A pesar de esto último, las interacciones de ambos son muy bonitas, emotivas, igual que lo es el deseo de Paris de sanar.
Mientras que lo relacionado con la historia de los protagonistas y los problemas mentales de Paris me gustó, todo lo que tuvo que ver con la trama de misterio me pareció mal llevado, superficial, poco creíble, y con muchos agujeros, y aquí llegamos a lo de siempre, soy consciente de lo terrible que soy a la hora de los detalles, lo perfeccionista que puedo llegar a ser, pero si yo me doy cuenta de los agujeros e incoherencias que hay en un plot, ¿cómo es posible que la autora, los betas o el editor no se percaten de ello?
La utilización del arte por parte de la autora exige una mención, muy interesante cómo trata los colores y el proceso de creación.
Recomendable, me gustó mientras lo leí, pero me quedo con In The Absence of Light.
