A review by galleytrot
Heart, Haunt, Havoc by Freydís Moon

  • 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

4.0

READ: Apr 2023 
FORMAT: Digital 

BRIEF SUMMARY: 
In this contemporary horror/romance, Colin has made a business of performing exorcisms and extractions for clients experiencing peculiarities in their homes or their lives. Bishop has a project house that they bought to do renovations on, and over the last several months paranormal activity has been ramping up, making the place more and more unlivable. The house proves to be much more active than Colin had anticipated, and Bishop isn’t entirely forthcoming about the situation leading up to the situation getting to the point that it has; they know more than they’re letting on. 

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: 3.75 / 5⭐
Horror isn’t a genre I hop into very often, so it’s always an interesting experience for me when I do. I’m having a difficult time writing out this portion of the review, because I don’t really have too much to say about it. I really liked the story, I really liked the main characters, and... well, that’s pretty much that. 

Colin and Bishop are both coping with some trauma from their pasts wherein they were each forced to make a choice that nobody should ever have to make. Colin’s loss and grief caused a rift in his relationship to God, but he is doing what he can to restore that connection to what he once had. The circumstances surrounding Bishop’s haunting aren’t something they could easily confess to, and since Colin can tell they’re being deliberately careful with their information, it makes for a tedious situation where trust is difficult to give freely. 

TECHNICAL / PRODUCTION: 4.5 / 5⭐ 
I think my favourite thing about this book is that it is very visual. The language and imagery are not overly descriptive, but they do offer enough to paint a vivid picture in my mind and, more importantly, to set the mood that the author is going for. That’s what this book has going for it above anything else – mood, vibe, atmosphere. 

I liked the romance for the representation more than anything. For what the book is, I was fine with the romance’s existence and its execution. It was largely secondary to the main thread of the book – the mystery surrounding the haunting – and it was sufficiently built up to, rather than some sort of immediate spectacular fireworks show from the moment they lay eyes on each other. They also never cross into unrealistic relationship development in my opinion, and they very clearly acknowledge that they don’t actually know each other. They never jump into “I love you” territory over the span of time this story takes place, and the ending of the book doesn’t strike me as unreasonable development, either. 

FINAL THOUGHTS - OVERALL: 4 / 5⭐ 
I think if you’re an avid horror reader, this book might not have anything new or exciting for you – I’m only an occasional enjoyer myself, and I found it just this side of disturbing and intriguing. As a transmasc, I am in the market for more gender-queer representation, and I think this book was a lovely way to start. The characters treat each other with great respect, and are tactfully portrayed. 

This book has representation for unspecified queer sexualities, potentially pansexuals. One of our main characters is a trans man, and the other is nonbinary, using they/them pronouns. The latter is also a person of colour. 

The following elaborates on my content warnings. These may be interpreted as spoilers, but I do not go into deep detail.
This book contains: body horror (grotesque depictions of demons, spirits, ghosts, etc.); descriptions of body dysphoria; alcohol use; brief mention of PTSD; injuries (scratches, cuts, burns, mentions of past medical trauma), blood; ritualistic self harm; murder; a potentially uncomfortable past sexual situation (don’t think about it too hard); vomiting; animal cruelty (deaths, resurrection, use as spell components); and, the illegal exhumation of a corpse.
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