A review by charmarie
Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-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

Summer Sons is a moody, atmospheric and thrilling read. It's southern gothic, dark academia, and queer romance rolled into one. The sense of danger, dread, and darkness is well balanced with interesting and lovable characters, themes of redemption, self discovery, and self acceptance. Mandelo's prose is excellent, bar a few overused phrases (i.e., describing a cold drink as "perspiring" enough times to be distracting). The book touches on both race and LGBT+ issues tastefully and without loosing the dark atmosphere. 
 TW for themes of SH and suicide, ritual violence, gore, drug use, adult sexual content.
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