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shinyfox's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Death, Murder, Animal death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, and Grief
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Minor: Dysphoria, Homophobia, Alcohol, Transphobia, and Racism
lennie_reads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Whilst the premise is interesting and I quite liked the unique magic system I have to say that unfortunately there isn't much substance to this.
I didn't really connect with the characters and I kind of actively disliked the love interest.
I also think this book could do with a go over from an editor because there were multiple times when I had to go back and reread a page because it just didn't make sense.
And sadly the 'romance' just wasn't there for me. I didn't feel any chemistry between the characters and you are just told repeatedly how attracted they were to each other.
I think the author maybe tried to cram too much into a novella and that's why it feels rushed and a bit all over the place.
I've heard good things about their other books so i may try them but i think I'm done with this particular series.
Graphic: Blood, Death, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Animal death, and Murder
bkwrm1317's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Heart, Haunt, Havoc is quite dark and brooding, a bit funny, and really tender in the most lovely way.
Protagonist, Colin (really both main characters are protags of this story), is hired to complete a sort of exorcism of a house for Bishop. Little does Colin know that Bishop comes from a family line of brujería, where Tezcatlipoca, the Mexica (Aztec) god who governs the night sky, is connected directly to Bishop and offers Bishop a unique magic.
I am generally not a fan of romance, but there was just the right balance between sensual/romance-y scenes in this novella with plot and story arc, as well as individual character/protagonist growth. Further, Moon writes desire incredibly convincingly.
I loved the additional nerd references peppered into the novella here and there as well (e.g. listening to Critical Role, and how Moon intersperses these lighter references with the occult, demonic posession and integration, and angelic stuff a la Catholicism.
I will definitely be continuing this series outside of my Indie Ink judging capacity, as there are two more novellas already published in the series, and I can't wait to get to them likely later this year.
Check CWs and note that all minor CWs I've listed are either not emotionally charged or mostly in passing within the novel (e.g. animal death is part of a ritual sacrifice of a familiar, which is reanimated, so animal cruelty is not part of CWs, etc.).
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Death, Animal death, Blood, and Toxic relationship
jennireadsmaybe's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Blood, Animal death, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Sexual content
_teoeo's review
(I read this book before I knew about the problematic behaviour of the author, i will not support them nor read any of their books in the future.)
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Animal death
unsuccessfulbookclub's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, Murder, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Blood, and Grief
writingbugtop's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Mental illness, Domestic abuse, and Animal death
booksthatburn's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
**My recommendation has been pulled based on issues with the author. The original text of the review remains below.
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HEART, HAUNT, HAVOC is a captivating story of horror and connection, beginning when a trans exorcist starts falling for his nonbinary client. Things escalate as the only way to remove the spirits plaguing them is to dig into the client's painful past.
I like the relationship between Colin and Bishop. I rarely get to read romances where both characters in a relationship are trans and/or nonbinary, so I was excited to read this and very pleased with how it's handled.
As the first book in a series, HEART, HAUNT, HAVOC resolves the major issue of the haunting Colin arrived to handle. It also sets up the possibility of later appearances, though a quick glance at the descriptions of the next two books indicates that the main character won't be the same as the series moves forward. I like the story, I like the setting, and I'm interested in the idea of an exorcist who understands himself as abandoned by his god, but is still some relevant level of devout. Though the way the worldbuilding clearly establishes the presence of at least three spiritual/magical traditions in play, it implies the possibility of many more.
Moderate: Body horror, Violence, Cursing, Death, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Animal death, Grief, Medical content, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Racism, Colonisation, Vomit, Gore, and Alcohol
fatcatsanon's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Animal death, Death, and Blood
rhhapsodos's review
4.0
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Grief, and Sexual content