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gogglor's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This is a 5-star-specifically-for-me book. I can’t help it. I see a romantic couple where party A has been treated badly before for having basic needs and party B wants to beat up everyone in party A’s past, and I turn into a puddle of goo. There were plot holes in this book that should bring it down in rating probably, but when Oliver started crying because he didn’t realize how badly he needed to hear that the things he liked about himself were good things I damn near combusted with the feels.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cannibalism
thegabecole's review
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Ableism
Moderate: Cannibalism
booksthatburn's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Oliver is autistic, and up until now he hasn't had people in his life (romantically or otherwise) who take him as he is. He's told he's too much or too little, in ways he can't change even if he wanted to. Oliver makes himself small, working as a mortician hiding the extent of his powers as a necromancer because of the social stigma from those who work with the dead (let alone raise them). He's been interested in Felipe, one of the investigators at the Paranormal Society, but doesn't screw up the courage to do something about it until the night Felipe is murdered.
Felipe likes Oliver, he's liked him for years but (as in much of his life) kept putting off things he wanted in order to go all in on being an investigator. He's missed much of his daughter's life, and he doesn't see his wife and her partner nearly as much as he should. Suddenly, he's out of time when someone attacks him in his apartment and he's killed, only brought back because Oliver, the necromancer, found him in time to raise him from the dead.
Oliver is terrified of being one of "those" necromancers, the bad ones who keep people alive past their time while they rot. He sets a time limit of one week for him and Felipe to solve the case and wrap up everything, then he has to let Felipe go. Faced with a deadline, Felipe tries to solve the case so he can enjoy his last time with his family, but putting them aside once again gets complicated pretty fast.
This is great, I love it! I keep listing things about Felipe and Oliver as characters because they're so well done and I want the best for them; they are delightful both separately and together. Their romance is sweet, the mystery is engaging and wonderfully twisty while making sense at the end, and I'm excited for where this series will go next.
Felipe likes Oliver, he's liked him for years but (as in much of his life) kept putting off things he wanted in order to go all in on being an investigator. He's missed much of his daughter's life, and he doesn't see his wife and her partner nearly as much as he should. Suddenly, he's out of time when someone attacks him in his apartment and he's killed, only brought back because Oliver, the necromancer, found him in time to raise him from the dead.
Oliver is terrified of being one of "those" necromancers, the bad ones who keep people alive past their time while they rot. He sets a time limit of one week for him and Felipe to solve the case and wrap up everything, then he has to let Felipe go. Faced with a deadline, Felipe tries to solve the case so he can enjoy his last time with his family, but putting them aside once again gets complicated pretty fast.
This is great, I love it! I keep listing things about Felipe and Oliver as characters because they're so well done and I want the best for them; they are delightful both separately and together. Their romance is sweet, the mystery is engaging and wonderfully twisty while making sense at the end, and I'm excited for where this series will go next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Blood, Murder, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Cannibalism, Ableism, and Sexism
Minor: Alcohol and Self harm
wilybooklover's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
4.5
The perfect blend of spooky vibes and sweet, fluffy romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Sexual content, Gun violence, Gore, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Cannibalism, Ableism, Homophobia, and Animal death
simonlorden's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
I love queer romances with mysteries to solve.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Ableism, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Cannibalism
mar's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
autistic necromancer my beloved
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Cannibalism and Ableism
numerous_bees's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, and Death
Moderate: Cannibalism
aspie97's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Gore, Blood, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Violence, Medical content, and Cannibalism
ofbooksandechos's review
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Minor: Cannibalism
sreberko's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.75
This is definitely one of the best books I read in 2022.
The blurb doesn't give it justice - there is an MC who is on the spectrum, there is lavender marriage, there is a librarian with spooky powers, and there are panic attacks and mental breakdowns.
⭐I love the cover, okay? And I love that both characters aren't exactly *young* or, as someone could say, *fresh*. They are battered by life, and by other people, and they try their best. And the heart can have... well, a lot of meanings here.
⭐MCs weren't exactly lovable - they had their defects, vulnerabilities, and a fair amount of bad decisions. But they were amazingly human and huggable. I spent most of the book wanting to just wrap them in blankets, give them hot coffee or chocolate, and say that everything will be alright.
⭐The side characters were likable, not perfect, and the only bad thing that I can think of now is why we didn't have more time with them. Gwen as best friend deserved more background, and I did miss seeing Felipe's daughter - but I believe that this book was only the first in the series, and I will get a chance to know them better.
🌙The mystery itself was well written, however, the solution was pretty obvious - and the final solution left me with more questions than answers. Again - I trust that in future books we will get more context, so I'm letting it pass. Don't expect a big surprise, and you should be fine.
🌙 The story itself made me think of a mix of Widdershins (Jordan L. Hawk) and Salt Magic Skin Magic (Lee Welch). The magic in the world could be a little bit more advanced (or at least, in this specific book. I believe it crosses with other books from Jorgensen, maybe the magic system there is more complicated?).
⭐In general, it was a good opening to a new series, a well-written fantasy read with elements of horror/gore (not much, mind you), cute romance, and elements of smut (not too much either, emotions were much more important than primal feelings). The representation was an added bonus, never a nuisance or irritable interruption. I definitely will check other books from this author, and read next installments in this series.
I received an ARC of this book from the Gay Romance Reviews, and I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased review.
The blurb doesn't give it justice - there is an MC who is on the spectrum, there is lavender marriage, there is a librarian with spooky powers, and there are panic attacks and mental breakdowns.
⭐I love the cover, okay? And I love that both characters aren't exactly *young* or, as someone could say, *fresh*. They are battered by life, and by other people, and they try their best. And the heart can have... well, a lot of meanings here.
⭐MCs weren't exactly lovable - they had their defects, vulnerabilities, and a fair amount of bad decisions. But they were amazingly human and huggable. I spent most of the book wanting to just wrap them in blankets, give them hot coffee or chocolate, and say that everything will be alright.
⭐The side characters were likable, not perfect, and the only bad thing that I can think of now is why we didn't have more time with them. Gwen as best friend deserved more background, and I did miss seeing Felipe's daughter - but I believe that this book was only the first in the series, and I will get a chance to know them better.
🌙The mystery itself was well written, however, the solution was pretty obvious - and the final solution left me with more questions than answers. Again - I trust that in future books we will get more context, so I'm letting it pass. Don't expect a big surprise, and you should be fine.
🌙 The story itself made me think of a mix of Widdershins (Jordan L. Hawk) and Salt Magic Skin Magic (Lee Welch). The magic in the world could be a little bit more advanced (or at least, in this specific book. I believe it crosses with other books from Jorgensen, maybe the magic system there is more complicated?).
⭐In general, it was a good opening to a new series, a well-written fantasy read with elements of horror/gore (not much, mind you), cute romance, and elements of smut (not too much either, emotions were much more important than primal feelings). The representation was an added bonus, never a nuisance or irritable interruption. I definitely will check other books from this author, and read next installments in this series.
I received an ARC of this book from the Gay Romance Reviews, and I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Minor: Cannibalism
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