I enjoyed this. This is a contemporary romance set in Iowa, mostly the backwoods or small town setting. We have the man who has difficulty opening up, expressing or even allowing himself to have emotions. He was raised to be a politician. Then, we have the woman, who was raised to be a politicians daughter but has fought it and that lifestyle ever since. She almost feels “too much” and is the free, creative spirit. They both have histories that haunt them.
It’s a light, fast-paced read, and it balances on the fine line of just enough spice. I actually teared up at one point but unrelated to the romantic relationship. The characters are fleshed out, and the FMC was refreshingly different, even if she liked to communicate via almost stream-of-consciousness style.
DNF - The ONLY reason I didn’t finish is because I can sometimes be a mood reader, and I have a hard time relating to high school students and their lives. Good plot, very well built futuristic world meets ancient mythologies. Percy Jackson vibes. I don’t want to give a star rating until I finish a book!
DNF - Not because it’s bad… it’s actually a very shocking horror book. I just can’t deal with this genre. I can watch horror movies and laugh, but books are next level. Good God. 😅
This is a story full of mystery, hidden agendas, dark vs lights forces (but they are not what you may expect). It’s a historical fantasy that feels like a gothic 1920’s detective story mixed with magic, religion, and romance. Warning: ends on a cliffhanger.
Possible Spoilers:
In this vaguely post-apocalyptic world, a fortune teller covers for her colleague and roommate, finding herself mixed in a governmental plot. The aforementioned government is an oligarchy, the Catholic Church risen to power after a historical war between nephilim (fallen angels) and humanity, witches and ley lines granting nephilim powers through Marks. She meets a troubled priest who hunts deviants like her. However, things are not what they seem, and they team up along several others to find out who they really are and possibly change themselves and the world for the better.
This fast-paced fantasy romance balances light-hearted moments and deeper, emotional ones, contemplating how much life, love, and humanity are both starkly different and the same throughout history. It was fun with lots of well-developed characters, and it pulled me into the world much like the tower well pulled Gina into the 1600s. Worth a read!