Rating: 5 🌈
It’s been waaay too long since the first time I met this zany, fabulous found family of MAD monster hunters. A Mage’s Guide to Human Familiars was the beginning of the R’iyah Family Archive series. It introduces us to Bel Adams, a red-eyed R’iyah mage who’s part demon, in need of a new familiar because of a traumatically bad first bonding.
He gets a fabulous BOGO in the forms of new familiar, Nico di Rossi, Army Ranger, who gets a change of pace and a new purpose in life. Then Nico brings into their mix, Garen Dallarosa, former Secret Service. He’s part Gargoyle and soon he’s also the other familiar. And lover to them both.
It’s a great triad of a mage with his new familiars/lovers.
But it’s not ending there. We get a team comprised of a totally entertaining Wicky, bonded with Lia , along with Bel’s foster parents. And of course Grandpa!
Honestly, the sublime joy that is that story!
How I missed all of them!
The book picks up on the anniversary of Bel’s devastating breaking of his first bond. That event left Bel comatose, and afraid to summon a new familiar until the organization he works for, MAD, forced his hand.
Bel’s trauma has left him with PTSD, and he’s kept these past damaging facts from his lovers/familiars.
The sexy, loving triad is a wonderful relationship here. Supportive, well defined according to each character’s changing needs , and personality. It’s so interesting and heartwarming, especially for Bel, who’s need for such depth of love and happiness is so strong compared to his upbringing.
The entire team is back, especially Wicky, who’s dynamic with Nico, his brother from another mother, has been one of the most entertaining aspects of the books. That continues here.
There are monsters to hunt, but the serious elements here are the personal ones. Dealing really with confronting the “monster “ from the past. The real one, the enormous emotional ones that have caused the continuing trauma to Bel and threatens his bond to his familiars.
That’s handled beautifully too. Not all monsters have enormous scales , some are human , selfish, impulsive brutes.
Did I love this book? Why yes I did. Again I was so excited to see everyone, including Grandpa! And the hounds.
Plus we get the news that the next story is Wicky’s. The anticipation is off the scales.
I highly recommend both books of the R’iyah Family Archives, including this one. There’s no date for Wicky’s story. Stay posted.
R’iyah Family Archives:
🔹A Mage’s Guide to Human Familiars #1
🔹A Mage’s Guide to Aussie Terrors #2
https://www.goodreads.com › showA Mage’s Guide to Aussie Terrors by AJ Sherwood – Goodreads
Synopsis:
One ghost from the past.
Two unknown Australian monsters eating people.
Three men who won’t let either problem win.
Tags:
Familiars of choice, healing old wounds, Australian mythology, yes Nico and Wicky are in Australia, that goes about as well as anyone expects, giant amphibians of unusual size, even the MAD research department is stumped, Wicky may have summoned Godzilla, in his defense he was left unsupervised, conversations via air guitar, the next time they have to travel to a different continent Bel is drugging Nico first
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Unless it’s noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 