Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Even death can’t stop fate.

Professional thief, Bellamy, might have bitten off more than he can chew this time. Jobs have gone wrong before, but never this wrong. His moral code might be grayer than most, but it exists, and he finds himself facing an impossible choice that could cost him everything.

Necromancer, John Averill’s day just got ten times worse. One more job, his boss says. Well, that job sucks, because not only does he find himself with a gun pointed at his head, but the man he’s been hired to raise temporarily from the dead is none other than his fated mate… the man he’s been searching for all his life.

Their love story is over before it ever began. Or is it? Fate still has a few tricks up its sleeve, and the impossible might just become possible.

 

 

Please note that this is a revised version of a novella first published in the Fated Mates charity anthology. The story is now dual POV with 28k of added content. There have been some small changes to the story.

 

Book Review

This is a new-to-me author and I was hooked from page one – I found this engaging, the characters had just enough emotional pull to keep me vested but not so much that I found the book angsty, and I greatly enjoyed the whole concept of a somewhat imperfect Paranormal Bureau. The plot had enough twisty turns and bends to pull me along and I had a hard time putting this book down!

 

The book blurb summarizes the overall premise well, so I won’t repeat. And what does a necromancer do when they find the corpse they’re supposed to revive is their fated soulmate?

 

I was absolutely delighted by how the author resolved that intriguing little detail! The romance that follows is definitely a whirlwind insta-love with lots of emotional punches. If I had one niggle about the overall plot, it would be this aspect. I’m not a huge fan of the insta-love plot trope, but I thought the author handled it well enough that I could (mostly) set my grumbles aside.

 

The supporting characters are exactly that – supporting. The reader is introduced to John’s co-necromancers and the Bureau’s founder and director and the director’s enigmatic personal assistant. What I liked is none of these characters are alike. The protagonist is driving the plot from a backseat position, which makes the final confrontation all that much more interesting. And frustrating. But I can’t say why because *major* plot reveal. Yeah, no spoilers – gotta read it for yourself!

 

When all is read and said, this pushed my happy buttons – paranormal aka necromancers, male/male romance, engaging and interesting plot, strong ending. I’m off to read book two!

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by the author for the purpose of a review.

 

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 228 pages/57K words
Heat Level
Publication Date	08-March-2024
Price	$5.99 ebook, $11.99 paperback
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Deader-than-Dead-Paranormal-Problems-ebook/dp/B0CVTYQH1Q