• book,  Uncategorized

    REVIEW: A Bright Celestial Sea by Chani Lynn Feener

    A Bright Celestial Sea – Chani Lynn Feener

    Pryor Oro came to the Olympus to find a missing Imperial, not fall for one.

    On the space station Olympus, a disappearance and a theft has captured the attention of the Intergalactic Police Force. Assigned to the case, Pryor heads to the World Ship in order to search for a missing prince. While there, he’s forced to work with the Emperor, Wystan Aurelius, who seems to never let Pryor out of his sight. Confused over why a man he’s never met is acting so possessive, Pryor’s urgency to solve the case and get away from Olympus and its ruler intensifies, even as the unruly Emperor starts to grow on him.

    Wystan Aurelius finds life on a World Ship dull, until Detective Pryor steps onto his ship, and into his territory.

    More concerned with discovering who has stolen missing medical technology, Wystan couldn’t care less about a vanished prince from another planet. At least, not until he sees how invested in the case Pryor is, and realizes how upset he gets when he doesn’t have the Detective’s full attention turned his way, and his way only. Wystan finds himself at a crossroads. Force Pryor to accept him by telling the truth? Or win him over the old-fashioned way?

    Wystan’s secrets could unravel everything, but he isn’t the only one hiding things. Pryor’s privy to some classified information could end up turning the entire galaxy for a loop. Together, the two must navigate through their emotions and the seedy underside of Olympus to solve the case before it’s too late, and life, as they both know it, is altered forever.


    A Bright Celestial Sea is another book written by Chani Lynn Feener in the same sci-fi universe as Between the Devil and the Sea and A Sea of Endless Light. It does not have a name yet, but I’ll call it IPF-verse since the Intergalactic Police Force is one thing common with the other books. Also, the MCs are IPF detectives with secrets they desperately want to stay buried.

    The opening puts us right in the thick of things. From what I could suss out, a member of the Tiberian imperial family, nephew to the Empress, is missing. A critical illness, a top-secret nano-technology, and a classified medical procedure were uncovered. There’s an assassination attempt, and either imperial twins, sons of the Empress, might be involved, but then they were supposed to be dead.

    All of this happend in Olympus, which is the world ship of the Vexans.

    I spent half the book untangling the convoluted plot. For one, I was confused by all the names that came up. I was audiobooking this, and the Tiberian Imperials had very close-sounding names that I didn’t immediately realize there were several of them.

    Roth is the nephew, the party boy wasting Tiberian tax money on lavish shindigs across the galaxy. Rath is his twin and is said to have died at birth or missing (I’m not sure). Ross is the twin most favored by the Empress, so he’s spoiled rotten. Rune is the unwanted, sickly spare.

    The world-building was just enough to establish there are world ships, essentially artificial planets, and Olympus is ruled by twin Vexan emperors Wystan and his sister. The two alternately ruled every six months. It seems the Tiberians and Vexans are born in pairs, and this is a key element here.

    Also, Vexans have the most beautiful eyes, which are the color of galaxies. The cover grabbed me with the image of Wystan and his eyes.

    It helped that I had read the other books, so I was able to piece together the setting. Similarly, we have an IPF team led by Detective Pryor Oro and Inspector Castor (forgot his last name). Immediately, sparks flew as Pryor butted heads with the cocky and shamelessly flirty Wystan, who made it clear he wanted the detective.

    Also, Pryor is a Tiberian, and saying the case hits close to home is a gross understatement, as we later discover.

    The author was building some delicious antagonistic USTs, but I couldn’t fully enjoy it. I was too busy trying to understand what was going on. This is also the very thing that makes the mystery so compelling. I was in the dark until the bad guy showed his cards.

    The second half was full-on squee-tastic BL manga vibes, with my favorite childhood connection trope working its magic. Because Pryor was that abused young boy Wystan wanted to protect once upon a time ago, and adult Pryor is strength, competence, and hurts rolled into one irresistibly gorgeous package.

    The detective is still dealing with PTSD and amnesia, and the emperor is that possessive, adoring seme patiently waiting for his hot/cold yet can’t stay away uke, to remember and/or admit they knew each other as children. Meanwhile, it wouldn’t hurt to shower the overworked detective with TLCs and assist, a.k.a. insert himself in the investigation whether the detective wants him to or not.

    This part tied beautifully with the mystery, giving us an edge-your-seat villain showdown and a slow-clap-worthy takedown of the person who hurt Pryor the most. It was fanfuckingtastic! And so satisfying, especially knowing what Pryor had gone through. It totally made the book for me!

    A Bright Celestial Sea is a story of unwanted children, secret identities, and inescapable ties. The “cold open” and figuring out who’s who took some time for me before the story hit its stride. But I’m thrilled I stuck around. Ultimately, It was a rewarding experience.

    Overall, a complex mystery and a sweet sci-fi romance between two men who shine the brightest at their most vulnerable.

    Rating:
    4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits

    Soundtrack: Celestial Bodies
    Artist: Ghost Data feat. Jovani Occomy
    Album: The Occulus Occult


    If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of A Bright Celestial Sea. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.

    A BRIGHT CELESTIAL SEAKindle | Audiobook

    If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!

  • book,  Uncategorized

    REVIEW: A Sea of Endless Light by Chani Lynn Feener

    A Sea of Endless Light – Chani Lynn Feener

    Fox Axford has been tasked with capturing a feared thief who has been terrorizing the Hild Empire, not flirt with the impassive captain he’s been unlikely paired with.

    When Fox is assigned to the Hild case by the Intergalactic Police Force, he doesn’t anticipate it taking very long. He’s known for his wits and charm and is confident enough in his abilities to have this thing solved and closed before the week is through. Except, he didn’t account for how distracting working with Captain Jiro Arc was going to be.

    Jiro Arc has a secret he’s been keeping all his life, one that he’s never wanted to share with anyone. Until the day Detective Fox appears.

    Having lived quietly climbing the ranks of the Hild Comets, Captain Jiro is used to rebuffing attention with his steely disposition. All of his efforts seem to have the opposite effect on the detective, however, who only seems more and more interested in Jiro and his personal life as time goes on. Their main task is to find the mysterious thief Shilling and bring him to justice, but Jiro has an agenda of his own, one that might ultimately lead to him betraying Fox, whether he likes it or not.

    Fox grows even more conflicted after meeting the thief they’re after. Shilling isn’t at all what he expected, and when he finds himself sympathizing with the enemy, Fox is forced to acknowledge that there may be things he doesn’t yet know or understand about the vast universe, and the people living in it.

    This book is a standalone featuring one charming detective and the captain he’s set his sights on. It is a slow-burn, forbidden romance with depictions of violence (though mild) and explicit sexual scenes not suitable for all readers. While this book is set in the same universe as A Bright Celestial Sea, it is a complete standalone with an all new cast of characters. You do not have to read both books, but if you choose to they do not have to be read in any particular order since there are no connections between the two.


    I’m slowly but surely sinking into the rabbit hole of Chani Lynn Feener‘s immersive universe of Intergalactic Police detectives finding adventure and romance while solving cases and catching criminals.

    From last week’s dark offering, Between the Devil and the Sea, this week’s tale features more derring-do, secret identities, and beachside confessions. It also has more sci-fi elements and beautiful aliens. One in particular has fabulous purple hair and unique abilities!

    A Sea of Endless Light stars Fox Axford, the top detective of the IPF. He’s the detective who helped Shade and Apollo.

    He, his partner, Inspector Nova, and his cousin, Jr Detective Dawon, were tasked to solve a series of thefts in the Hild Empire. Upon landing, he met his liaison officer, the taciturn Captain Jiro Arc, with whom Fox had an instantaneous strong attraction. He was rebuffed, but it didn’t stop Fox from shamelessly flirting any chance he got.

    Fox is charming as heck, and as most of the chapters are from his third-person perspective, it’s a fun and wily POV. Cavalier and Han Solo cocky, he’s also very good at his job, having a perfect record. He easily puts people at ease with his mask of nonchalance and has the uncanny ability to read people and predict their next three moves. Of course, he immediately tried to read the enigmatic captain in an effort to win him over.

    Jiro’s POV is rarely shown, so he’s mostly a mystery. His attitude was off-putting at first, but he slowly loosened up, and when he started bantering with Fox, we see him shine. He’s the type of guy worth taking time to know and it’s very rewarding to discover the nuances of his personality. He’s gorgeous, especially in uniform, formal, reserved, and also unexpectedly needy. I loved the dynamics of his and Fox’s opposite personalities. The chemistry is a total chef’s kiss!

    The Captain is a closed book most of the story, but clues are scattered here and there. The author did her magic spectacularly because even though I figured out Jiro’s secret early on, it was still thrilling to watch Fox piece everything together for the big reveal.

    There is a love geometry present. I normally loathe this type of conflict, but the author gave us another fascinating character in Schilling the Thief. The man is beguiling and as shameless a flirt as Fox, if not more. I didn’t expect him and Fox to have such fantastic chemistry!

    The romantic development between the three characters was beautifully crafted. I seriously can’t choose between Jiro and Schilling, and to be honest, I don’t want to. I loved them both! So, when the pieces started to click, I was ecstatic with the resolution!

    A part of the geometry is Prince Obsidian, who claimed Jiro whether the captain wanted him or not. He’s the possessive type who would cut anyone who’d so much as looks at Jiro, so Fox had to tread carefully. This guy was tagged as bad news early on and he stayed that way till the end. We don’t want him anywhere near our boys.

    Nova and Dawon stood out as secondary characters. Nova was the voice of reason when Fox got wilder ideas, and Dawon made me laugh with his tactless comments. Their team had an engaging found family dynamics, and them living in their ship Lagoon with Fox as pilot, reminded me of Han Solo and Chewy in their Millennium Falcon.

    Slow burn is the way of things, so it took a few chapters for the story to hit its stride. Things got into high gear when Schilling appeared, and Jiro started warming up to Fox. From that point, I was completely hooked!

    The plot seemed like a straightforward case of theft. Then it threw me for a loop when it turned out to be something more insidious. And even with the predictable part I mentioned above, it’s still a very entertaining story. It made me want to hop aboard the Lagoon and tag along with the team!

    A Sea of Endless Light is a story of public masks, secret identities, and needful lies. It is a novel take on the Gemini star sign that was executed cleverly and will always be memorable. Overall, it’s a space adventure that captivated me to no end!

    Rating:
    4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step away

    Soundtrack: Endless Light
    Artist: O’Brother
    Album: Endless Light


    If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of A Sea of Endless Light. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.

    A SEA OF ENDLESS LIGHTKindle | Audiobook

    If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!

  • book,  Uncategorized

    REVIEW: Between the Devil and the Sea by Chani Lynn Feener

    Between the Devil and the Sea – Chani Lynn Feener

    What happens when a devil claims a demon?

    Detective Shadow Yor hates his life.

    He spends all of his time, day after day, struggling against the demons in his head that tell him he’s a worthless, unlovable person. This doesn’t change when he’s sent on a new assignment with his partner to solve a series of murders. He’s good at his job and will find whoever did it, there’s no doubt there. The only question is whether or not he’ll be able to keep himself together, or if his empathic abilities will finally be the death of him.

    Apollo Orobas is bored.

    He’s bored of his secret nighttime proclivities and bored of playing the part of charming neighborhood do-gooder. Apollo isn’t good, never has been, but just when he’s starting to think life holds no interest, Shadow Yor stumbles into his sights. It doesn’t take long for him to figure out the detective is also hiding his true self, and suddenly coaxing Shade’s monster out into the light is all Apollo can think of. As obsession sinks its claws in, he decides it’s time for a new game, one Shade is going to play with him. Whether he likes it or not.

    Kidnapped and forced to endure whatever twisted plans Apollo has in store, Shade struggles to hold onto his idea of right and wrong, but the more he tries to resist, the more those lines start to blur. What chance does a mere demon have against an actual devil? Especially one who soothes those twisted voices in his head and makes him feel for the first time ever that maybe he isn’t as unlovable as he’s always believed.

    Trigger Warning: This is a stand-alone dark romance which means there are many themes that some might find disturbing. Some of these include, but are not limited to, dub-con, violence, a seriously obsessed male lead, a male lead who deals with low self-esteem, and explicit sexual content not suitable for all readers. Please be sure to read the Author’s Note for a complete list of warnings! HEA guarantee!


    Between the Devil and the Sea by Chani Lynn Feener has a long list of trigger warnings that should be heeded. The gist is that it is pitch black with a guaranteed HEA. The book is a sci-fi serial killer romance, low on the sci-fi, high in serial killer, and a slow-burning romance.

    The setting is an intergalactic world where law enforcement officers jump from planet to planet depending on where their cases take them. Most of the story takes place on a planet that is really no different from Earth. Apart from a few high-tech gadgets mentioned, the story feels very contemporary.

    Detective Shadow Yor and his partner and best friend, Inspector Gael Thiago, are working on a new case that points to a serial killing. Shadow, known to most as Shade, is an empath, a rare variety whose powers can’t be turned off. Empaths are usually trained to be detectives because they can suss out lies.

    He met Apollo Orobas, a well-liked art journalist currently assigned to cover their case. It turned out Apollo was an empath himself, although a low-level one. Apollo is easygoing, with a boy-next-door charm. Shadow’s fellow LEOs encourage their friendship, seeing how they hit it off quite well.

    A deadly encounter with a suspect led to an abduction, and suddenly Shadow is face to face with his nightmare – or is it his deepest, darkest desires?

    This is a deliciously intense, twisty turny tale, though it lost some of its bite with Shadow’s repetitive woe-is-me internal dialogue, which took up almost the entire first half of the story. Like that complaint, nobody wants to date someone who can read all their emotions. He whined about this at least three times.

    While there’s a lot of self-depreciation, Shadow has a strong will, fighting spirit, and snark, so he’s not a doormat. He had a traumatic, lonely childhood and a solitary adulthood if not for Gael, who immediately took his introverted partner under his wing.

    Meanwhile, Apollo wears his public face with aplomb and embraces his true self with glee. Our boy’s not sweating the small stuff and handles crisis with a deft hand. He knows when to dole out punishment and when to soothe, taking the hurt part of the story to kinky and the comfort part to hella swoony levels.

    There are lots of things Shadow is afraid to admit to himself but trust the psychopath to teach Shadow how to embrace his dark side by letting Apollo be his light. Because shadows thrive best in the light.

    And holy hell, did it work! Apollo took Shadow apart and put him back together the right way. It took a while for their connection to click, but when it did, the chemistry was off the charts! And I especially loved the ending because that’s where they zing!

    Between the Devil and the Sea is one man’s journey to self-acceptance and finding the yin to his yang. Overall, it is a potent example of soul-deep connections that make a broken man whole, and the devil you know holds the glue.

    Rating:
    4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits

    Soundtrack: Breathe
    Artist: Christian Cohle
    Album: Holy Trouble


    If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Between the Devil and the Sea. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.

    BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE SEAKindle | Audiobook

    If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!

  • book,  Uncategorized

    SERIES REVIEW: Lake Prophet Books 1 & 2 by Eli Easton & R.J. Scott

    Lake Prophet: Solstice – Eli Easton & R.J. Scott

    From the dramatic peaks of the Olympic mountain range to the small town of Prophet, murder is only a footstep away. Gabriel is a former undercover cop haunted by the things he’s seen and done. He returns to his small hometown of Prophet, taking on the role of sheriff, hoping to mend his fractured relationship with his estranged brother and rebuild his life. But when a chilling murder occurs at Sentinel Rocks, a sacred Makah site on Lake Prophet, Gabriel’s dreams of peace and reconciliation are shattered. Gabriel navigates a web of intrigue, where suspects abound; from local tribal elders to fervent Solstice worshippers and even those hunting the elusive Big Foot. When the brutal murder leaves Duke, a loyal Labrador retriever, as the sole witness, Gabriel stumbles upon an unexpected ally—a local animal behaviorist named Tiber. Tiber, a newcomer to Prophet, seeks refuge in this remote haven, attempting to escape his own inner demons. Armed with his extraordinary ability to communicate with animals, he offers his expertise through video consultations, helping pet owners with their beloved companions. While he attributes his skill to his academic background, his intuition and flashes of insight owe as much to his Navajo heritage as to science. With the relentless rain washing away sins and good intentions alike, Gabriel and Tiber must begin to confront their own vulnerabilities and unravel the truth.


    Rating:
    4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits

    Soundtrack: Solace
    Artist: Fyfe
    Album: Control


    Lake Prophet: Equinox – Eli Easton & R.J. Scott

    The tranquility of Prophet is shattered when a local trail rider is killed and whispers of wolf packs and murder spread like wildfire.

    Three months after the murder of Mike Bressett, the sleepy town of Prophet faces another tragedy—the death of Billy Odette, a well-liked Makah man who ran trail rides for the tourists. When Billy is discovered to have been the victim of a vicious animal attack, dragged right off a popular trail, angry locals are quick to blame a wolf pack that’s recently moved into the area. But Sheriff Gabriel Thompson learns that the death isn’t as simple as it seems when decades-long animosities and secrets come to light.

    A figure from Tiber Russo’s past cast a shadow over his blossoming friendship with Gabriel and dashed any hope for a meaningful relationship. However, as Tiber confronts the demon on his doorstep he turns to Gabriel for help, and all the reasons he has to stay apart become nothing at all.

    While Tiber and a local wildlife painter fight to protect the wolves, Gabriel has to unravel a tangled web of deception, betrayal, and long-held grudges and as the mystery unfolds, he discovers Billy’s death is part of a larger plot that threatens his town and beyond, and when Tiber’s life is threatened, will Gabriel lose everything?


    Rating:
    4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits

    Soundtrack: Free Animals
    Artist: Foreign Air
    Album: For The Light


    Lake Prophet is a gritty, small-town mystery series by Eli Easton & R.J. Scott. Prophet is in Washington state and has a significant Native American population.

    It is an area so remote, it feels like the edge of the world. It’s frequently mentioned that Prophet is the kind of place you end up in if you are running away from something. I love how the covers captured the atmosphere of Prophet!

    Solstice opens the series with the murder of the newly hired deputy found in the middle of the woods. Sheriff Gabriel Thompson and his rookie deputy, Devin, plus their dispatcher, Hen, have to handle the case on their own. The government agency (forgot name) that was supposed to investigate was in the middle of another case and couldn’t spare an agent.

    Mysterious symbols carved on the body point to ritualistic killings. One complication is that the victim’s dog is roaming near the area of the crime scene but refuses to be caught. This led the sheriff to approach an animal behaviorist who just transferred to Prophet Tiber Russo.

    Gabriel was a former undercover cop in the big city. This stint not only gave him PTSD but also caused a rift between him and his brothers. Now back in his hometown as the sheriff, he’s welcomed by the locals. But he has yet to win over his brother, Sam. Their younger brother Ezra is also antagonistic towards Gabriel.

    Tiber is one of those people running away from something. He built himself a secluded life in Prophet with his family of fauna. He prefers the company of dogs, rabbits, cats, a turtle, and a spider. When he saw Duke, he knew immediately what the dog was going through.

    Tiber rubbed me the wrong way initially. He was so abrasive and such a know-it-all. Gabriel was trying a little too hard to woo the other man, but the good sheriff knew how to back off when he learned of Tiber’s reasons why he did not want a relationship. Unlike most MM romance mysteries, the two didn’t start dating in the first book.

    The humans did their thing, but there are no doubts that this is Duke’s show. The dog is grieving his human. According to Tiber, Duke saw the murder happen and could identify the killer. And Duke. the bestest boy, checked the suspects one by one in search of the killer.

    The mystery is intriguing because Duke was the sole witness, and we see his POV through Tiber. Also, it was fun tagging along with Gabriel and Tiber and seeing the town come alive through them. There were some secondary characters and some obviously suspicious people thrown in to make the proceedings even more exciting. How they connect to the case was interesting to unravel.

    Equinox picks up some overarching threads from the first book. The case is the death of a ranch worker who appeared to be bitten by an animal while riding along a known hiking trail. The victim was from Sam’s ranch, and Sam immediately called Tiber to help him find the horse.

    The sheriff and a group of men went searching for the worker, and when they found the body, a scaremonger among them immediately cried “wolf” and demanded they be eliminated. Tiber and the famed wildlife painter Libby Smith knew the wolves in their area weren’t the culprits and went on a mission to save them.

    Gabriel, as the sheriff, juggles investigating the case, training the rookie, reconciling with his family, appeasing the locals, saving the wolves, and avoiding antagonizing the Native Americans, especially since the victim was one of them. On top of that, he’s keeping an eye on a ghost from Tiber’s past.

    The mystery makes interesting use of animals and is very effective in utilizing Tiber’s character in the investigation even though he’s not law enforcement. The investigation was my favorite part, suspenseful with a dash of Tiber’s magic.

    I picked Free Animal by Foreign Air as the song for this book when I realized the parallels between the caged animals in the story and Tiber’s mental cages caused by the abusive ex he is running away from.

    The asshole didn’t have many scenes, but the ones he had, I hated the evil bastard. I expected I had to suffer his presence for most of the book. So, I was relieved the authors kept his appearances to a minimum and resolved his part quickly.

    The diner confrontation scene was well-executed. You can feel the negativity and manipulation affecting Tiber. Then, when he saw that Gabriel was in the next booth silently supporting him, like a switch, you could feel the moment Tiber’s perspective shifted.

    And with Tiber free from trauma, he was also free to fall into the waiting arms of Gabriel.

    Lake Prophet delivers solid noir-ish mysteries, uplifting romance, and the most adorable found family of humans and creatures. Overall, a page-turning blend of thrilling investigations, heartwarming hurt comfort, and cute animal antics.

    P.S.

    Lake Prophet should be read in order. Duke says so!


    If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Lake Prophet. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.

    SOLSTICEKindle I Audiobook
    EQUINOXKindle I Audiobook

    If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!

  • book,  Uncategorized

    SERIES REVIEW: Necromancer Rising Books 1 & 2 by Richard Amos

    Necromancer Rising: Death Eternal – Richard Amos

    Death is supposed to be the end.
    Not in my world.

    The dead never move on, not since Death walked off the job and disappeared. As a necromancer, it’s my job to police the spirits while they remain stuck and, well, problematic a lot of the time.

    Death really needs to take his head out of his backside and get back to work, wherever he might be.

    After a horrible incident in the tunnels of the London Underground, my life takes a sharp turn. It’s all my fault and I’m sent off to a small town, a move to keep me out of sight and mind for the time being. Shamed, reputation dragged through the dirt.

    I’m not getting that promotion anytime soon.

    On my first day in the town, I get caught up in a strange murder case, and Death saves my life.
    Yes, the Death. The delectable, mysterious Death.

    Goodness, he is hotness personified. But what happened to make him walk away from his responsibilities? And why is he so deliciously tempting, my desire a raging inferno every time he looks at me with those incredible eyes?
    I shouldn’t be thinking of an immortal being like this, but with every passing hour I can’t stop myself from falling deeper into infatuation.

    I want him.

    Resistance is… impossible.

    Death Eternal is the first book in an M/M Paranormal Urban Fantasy Romance series packed with mystery, danger, a knitting necromancer, a delectable immortal being, plenty of sizzle, and rather disgusting liquid mushrooms.


    Rating:
    4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits

    Soundtrack: Cosmic
    Artist: Benjamin Carter
    Album: Self_Portrait: Vol. 1


    Necromancer Rising: Death Enraptured – Richard Amos

    Follow my heart and make a mess…
    That’s putting it mildly.

    My life has really taken a complicated turn here in Oakthorne. I keep hoping some fairy godmother will show up and offer me a nice bit of time reversal. Not too much, just enough to ease this pain.

    Yeah. Right.

    Anyway, as much as there’s hurt, there’s also Death. He is the complication, but a beautiful one I can’t resist when I really, really should. He consumes my every waking moment, submerges me in raging desire I never want to break free of.

    Damn.

    On top of that messiness, there’s a mystery to solve, a bad guy to defeat, and other new developments within myself to deal with.

    So much to do.
    So much danger to face.

    Where the hell is that fairy godmother?

    Death Enraptured is the second book in an M/M Paranormal Urban Fantasy Romance series packed with mystery, danger, a knitting necromancer, a delectable immortal being, plenty of sizzle, and rather disgusting liquid mushrooms.


    Rating:
    4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits

    Soundtrack: Enter The Mirror
    Artist: Everything Everything
    Album: Mountainhead


    In the graphic novel Sandman, Lucifer quit his job and handed the keys to Hell to Morpheus. Then, he went on to have fun. The world went on spinning.

    Necromancer Rising, an urban fantasy by Richard Amos, sets a world where Death quit. Which begs the question, WHY?

    Death hanging up his scythe means ghosts. Lots and lots of ghosts and people acquiring necromantic powers to handle them.

    Necromancers are easily identified by their silver hair. They have five threads of magic that can be used to bind or release ghosts to sanctuaries, a place made specially for them since without Death, they cannot move on to the afterlife.

    Marcel August is a London-based necromancer suddenly transferred to Oakthorne after a mission gone awry that left his bestfriend, Jenn, severely injured. On his way to the town, he encountered a ghost that led him to the famous caves, where there were some trouble. He got injured and was rescued by a mysterious man.

    Later, Marcel met his new boss, the High Warden, a friendly man named Nicholas West and his taciturn husband, Leon. Nick was a stark contrast to the stone cold High Warden of London, Emma. Marcel has the worst luck in bosses as it later turned out.

    Marcel is tasked to look for a missing ghost. Then the mysterious man who rescued him turned up his door bearing gifts.

    This is where things get dicey and hell of a lot swoonier.

    The overarching plot is to stop the lich from taking over the world. As an urban fantasy, this is a twisty-turn-y, action-packed necromancer procedural, a.k.a. murder mystery, with plenty of magic spells thrown about. I loved how the events of Death Eternal and Death Enraptured go from grim to complete clusterfuck to freakin’ catastrophic. No rest for our weary boy, Marcel.

    Marcel goes from dreaming of a promotion to pretty much exiled to a small town to being lulled into a false sense of security to being lich fodder, only to evolved into something more. Add to that his forbidden romance with Death that has apocalyptic consequences, this series has all the mellow drama and the epic awesomeness!

    So, Death. Hmm, I don’t know. The immortal is conflicting mix of drool-worthy and cringe. That he’s gorgeous is pretty much a given. But the fashion sense, ew!

    The lich is right in criticizing his lame style. Tight leather pants, satin shirt open at the chest with multiple piercings? That screams sleazy rather than sizzling. I’d rather he go the John Wick route in tailored suits or a 70s punk in plaid bondage pants with distressed sweater.

    But as a love interest, the immortal is a master of seduction and muffins. Death could be a cheesy mofo but mostly, he says the most romantic things.

    At first doing the hot/cold dance, then later a steadier presence in Marcel’s life, Death fights a secret battle against the forces that kept him and Marcel apart. Been doing so for centuries, he and Marcel are cursed to repeat the cycle of love and destruction.

    In Death Eternal, it took a while for the book to get to the meat of things, taking its time to establish the world and have Marcel interact with the secondary characters. Death lacked depth as a character since he was presented as a mysterious entity.

    In Death Enraptured, the lovers work to circumvent the curse. They make questionable decisions, suffer betrayals, and just plain suffer. High Warden Emma is the worst character here, absolutely heartless.

    The books in the series end in cliffhangers so they must be read in order.

    Necromancer Rising is an entertaining series I’ll be reading till the end. The romance is one for the ages, heartbreaking but so fun to root for. The characters are a mix of intriguing and abysmal. The fight scenes pulled no punches. Overall, a bit all over the place, but worth hanging up the death scythe.


    If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Necromancer Rising. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.

    NECROMANCER RISINGKindle | Audiobook

    If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!