A review by offmyredcarpet
Two for Tea: Welcome to Azathé by C.M. Nascosta

emotional reflective slow-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

4.0

ARC // It is a lovely slow burn between a demisexual bi FMC and a Non-binary shadow entity that can take any form they choose. And they do try many forms, with many hands, tongues, and tentacles. Sometimes all at once.

Be prepared for a treatise on grief and depression and how it is not only a universal experience, but a maligned one when you don’t pick yourself up quickly and move on with life. The FMC is suffering the loss of her father; the only person she ever felt truly saw her. But others eventually do.

When Nascosta sent ARCs she said “What I hope stands out in this narrative is not just that the FMC is struggling, but that people enter her life and take notice”—and that is exactly what happens. 

In her pursuit to avoid certain people, Harper encounters those who see she is hurting and help her. The assist is subtle so that she doesn’t even realize that is what they are doing. They see *her* and not a project they need to fix to make themselves comfortable. 

The point of this story is the moving forward while carrying the hurt and learning to not let it overtake your life. The romance subplot grows from the friendship and trust that builds in the help that is offered. They’re cheeky about it which amuses her. They draw her from her mental hiding place, gently, but with a firmness she desires. It is quite endearing. Nascosta is excellent at writing these types of characters.

My only criticism is that it ends somewhat abruptly. Maybe to illustrate the point that she is healing and moving forward in her life and in her relationship…life goes on. Regardless there are things mentioned in the story that we don’t get resolution on. Nothing that is necessary but it does feel somewhat unfinished in that regard. Again, that may be to illustrate that we don’t always get that resolution we seek but it’s still hard to swallow when you come to expect everything to be tied up neatly in a romance book.