A review by waywardskyril
Miners of the Mystics by Penny Moss

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense 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

Oh my gosh!! The slow-burn relationship between Oliver and the powerful creature Tau is so freaking precious, I re-read every single moment, clutching my ereader for more. These two beans deserve every good thing, but, unfortunately, both they and their friends are constantly subjected to horrifying dangers and wrapped up in a dangerous plot that seems bigger than they even realize.

This book is SO GOOD. It builds the world, queer-normative characters, histories, relationships, dark and whimsical magics, surprising villains, and mysteries with ease. I don't know how this can be a debut book, it's so freaking well-written and GOOD. I'm just glad I finally picked this book up before the release of book 2 because now I'm obsessed!

I've never read anything quite like Miners of the Mystics. The world, the magics, the portals to other dimensions, the unique species, the uncanny artifacts - it's all so smart and weird, and I want to know more. There are horrors lurking just under the surface waiting to be dug up, and those themes, the twisted machinations of their puppets, held me enthralled. I can't tell you much without giving spoilers away, but there is a rich plot lurking here that had me on the edge of my seat.

Then there are the characters - contrary to the chilling plot, so full of LIFE and love and hopes and dreams, with twinges of darkness but GOOD intentions, and they're all IMPORTANT. Important to each other and important to the story, and they're so tight-knit they're their own found family. The firm bonds and relentless support and care they have for each other was so intensely loveable. Of course, especially Oliver and Tau, two desperately precious beans for whom I want to create a nest full of blankets and pillows that they'll never have to leave so they'll never get hurt again. They're darling, innocent babes, both willing to break all the rules and burn everything down for each other 😭 Gosh, I love them.

Miners of the Mystics is SO worth reading, especially if you enjoy a dark, plotty, monster romance. Even if it's not what you typically reach for, the characters and world and blooming LOVE is so freaking amazing I feel like anyone would get absorbed by this gorgeous book. It's a story full of hurt and comfort and angst and ends on a cliffhanger, but, book two is OUT, and I'm ACHING to dive in.
If you're considering this book, GIVE IT A SHOT. It's 5/5 read in every way, and if you hear a faint voice screaming across the void, that's me telling you I RECOMMEND IT PLEASE GO READ IT BECAUSE I NEED MORE PEOPLE TO YELL ABOUT IT WITH OHMYGOSH!!!