The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
galleytrot's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
READ: Feb 2023
FORMAT: Digital
FORMAT: Digital
BRIEF SUMMARY:
In this historical fiction mystery/romance set in 1897 New York, Tom has spent the past eight years under a false identity, living as a beat cop to avoid detection from those who would see him answer for his past. Cicero is a familiar with the Metropolitan Witch Police (MWP), and the pressure is on for him to choose a witch to bond with. When Tom and Cicero each get wrapped up in violent crimes with very similar circumstances, they must reluctantly come together to get answers that the Police and the MWP won’t get on their own.
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: 4 / 5⭐
I am quite delighted by the world this series introduces! I often enjoy historical fictions with a bit of fantasy tossed in, and I especially love to see worlds where the fantasy aspect is common knowledge amongst the non-fantastical population, not some kept-secret. This, tossed up with a bit of suspense/mystery and detective work, made for a charming reading experience.
Tom is an extremely rare sort of witch who is running from his past – as a hexbreaker, he can innately nullify hexes, but this ability has traumatized him in a way that he can’t forgive himself for. Cicero clocks Tom as his witch (an innate bond of comparability) from the very moment they meet, but Tom is so far from Cicero's expectations that he refuses to accept their connection. Cicero must get past his preconceived discrimination to see Tom for who he truly is – but who is Tom really, when eight years ago he had a different name, a different path, a different community, a different morals compass?
TECHNICAL / PRODUCTION: 3.5 / 5⭐
As far as worldbuilding goes, I find myself quite rapt and drawn in. I haven’t explored a world or a series quite along these lines before, and wouldn’t mind seeing more of the like. I’m enjoying learning about the rules of this world, and the societal implications of the magical coexisting with the non-magical.
It needs to be said that I’m always a little wary about worlds that have fated pairings (bonds, mates, soulmates, etc.) and here is no different. There seems to be a focus on consent being a big part of a witch/familiar bonding, and that’s great! But it’s also clear that forced bonding can take place, and that some bonds can be quite abusive or exploitative in nature.
I don’t know that the mystery/investigation was especially well-written, either. I think there were too many elements at play; too many facets to the conspiracy. When it all came to a head, everything was more or less dealt with in an explosive chaos. It all works out for them in the end, but not through means of catching on and getting ahead of things – more that, the ensemble just blindly stumbles through the climax while things are revealed and resolved (sometimes by circumstance, sometimes by reaction).
FINAL THOUGHTS - OVERALL: 3.75 / 5⭐
If you like historical fiction with an otherworldly aspect, this one is worth a go! I expect to continue on and finish the series over the next month or so.
This story has representation for all sorts of sexualities, races, and religions. There are women characters who do important things and have important roles, which is something many m/m books very often lack. Refreshing!
The following elaborates on my content warnings. These may be interpreted as spoilers, but I do not go into deep detail.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Sexual content, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcohol, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Gore, Homophobia, Murder, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Antisemitism, Confinement, and Cursing
Minor: Body shaming, Classism, and Cultural appropriation
omnombailey's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Let me preface this with that I am by no means the intended audience for this book. I read this for a book club for writers. I'm not into purely romance novels, let alone gay male-centric ones. I am, however, into mysteries and paranormal stories, but even that struggled to hold my interest throughout reading this.
What did I actually enjoy? The dialogue was great. Very witty and natural. I snickered a bunch thanks to Cicero's one-liners. The premise of the mystery is also interesting. Same with the witch and familiar elements.
Sadly, that was kind of it.
While the premise of the mystery was interesting, it was good, but predictable. As for the paranormal elements, it wasn't nearly as developed in terms of worldbuilding as most paranormal stories I have read. It almost came across like an afterthought during the editing phases, like Hawk decided during the third draft to make it about witches and familiars. Yes, it's a romance story, but there wasn't enough melding amongst the elements, thus making it come across like a poorly made grilled cheese with half of the cheese melted and the rest... well, not.
If this was a stage play, there'd be minimal to no stage design, because that's how the setting came across. For something as iconic as New York City in the late 1800s, you'd think there'd be a little bit more effort to make it feel like New York City with a dash of magic, but nope. I honestly forgot it took place in New York City half of the time.
Speaking of lacking, I was extremely disappointed in the lack of female characters. If the MWP is "swarming" with ladies, then why are two only introduced ever? One of which has less than five lines and the other one barely passes the sexy lamp test. And then there's Leona, who was so much more interesting than all of Cicero's friends and she only shows up twice with speaking lines? Three times if you don't include lines. And the last lady reveal - which I won't go into details, because spoilers - just made me so angry I almost threw my phone across the room. Yes, I get it, this a gay romance book and it should be about the gay romance, but I expect this kind of backhanded, lazy behavior towards female characters in fanfiction instead of an original, published novel. Come on now.
I didn't care for either Cicero or Tom, thus I didn't care about their romance. Cicero came across like a walking gay stereotype while Tom held my interest initially, then gradually became less and less interesting until he pissed me off with some things 2/3 into the book. I did like Cicero a bit more towards the end of the book, but not enough to forget the first impressions he left for the reader.
Even with all that said, it's not a horrible book. The prose wasn't stellar, but it was good enough. The plot was extremely rigid, but it held together enough. The pacing was almost too quick, but the chapters were sectioned off in reasonable bite-sizes. Nothing piqued my interest to read the rest of the series. I'm sure this appeals to some people - I'm just not even remotely close to being that person.
What did I actually enjoy? The dialogue was great. Very witty and natural. I snickered a bunch thanks to Cicero's one-liners. The premise of the mystery is also interesting. Same with the witch and familiar elements.
Sadly, that was kind of it.
While the premise of the mystery was interesting, it was good, but predictable. As for the paranormal elements, it wasn't nearly as developed in terms of worldbuilding as most paranormal stories I have read. It almost came across like an afterthought during the editing phases, like Hawk decided during the third draft to make it about witches and familiars. Yes, it's a romance story, but there wasn't enough melding amongst the elements, thus making it come across like a poorly made grilled cheese with half of the cheese melted and the rest... well, not.
If this was a stage play, there'd be minimal to no stage design, because that's how the setting came across. For something as iconic as New York City in the late 1800s, you'd think there'd be a little bit more effort to make it feel like New York City with a dash of magic, but nope. I honestly forgot it took place in New York City half of the time.
Speaking of lacking, I was extremely disappointed in the lack of female characters. If the MWP is "swarming" with ladies, then why are two only introduced ever? One of which has less than five lines and the other one barely passes the sexy lamp test. And then there's Leona, who was so much more interesting than all of Cicero's friends and she only shows up twice with speaking lines? Three times if you don't include lines. And the last lady reveal - which I won't go into details, because spoilers - just made me so angry I almost threw my phone across the room. Yes, I get it, this a gay romance book and it should be about the gay romance, but I expect this kind of backhanded, lazy behavior towards female characters in fanfiction instead of an original, published novel. Come on now.
I didn't care for either Cicero or Tom, thus I didn't care about their romance. Cicero came across like a walking gay stereotype while Tom held my interest initially, then gradually became less and less interesting until he pissed me off with some things 2/3 into the book. I did like Cicero a bit more towards the end of the book, but not enough to forget the first impressions he left for the reader.
Even with all that said, it's not a horrible book. The prose wasn't stellar, but it was good enough. The plot was extremely rigid, but it held together enough. The pacing was almost too quick, but the chapters were sectioned off in reasonable bite-sizes. Nothing piqued my interest to read the rest of the series. I'm sure this appeals to some people - I'm just not even remotely close to being that person.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia and Murder
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