Rating: 4.5🌈
Tarot card: Temperance
I’m familiar with Ashlyn Drewek’s other dark paranormal novels so I was thrilled to see her work here in this series. Arcanum is exactly what I hoped for and a story I enjoyed immensely.
Drewek’s novel is gripping and so well written. From start to finish, it pulls the reader into a suspenseful plot that’s grows into a larger anxiety ridden, terrifying, complicated element, as we get to know the characters and their histories.
The author has also created a town that becomes as much of a living entity as the characters are. We get to explore the streets and atmosphere of small town Mapleton, with its hair salons, tight knit community, and townspeople. All of which we have taken to heart as much as we have the main couple.
Drewek’s characters include a haunted witch of the fabulous name, Greyson Darkholme. Now there’s a name to remember. He’s fled to town hoping for a new start in life, for reasons I’ll leave to the storylines. His next door neighbor is a K-9 police officer, Chris Brandt and partner Nitro. Extremely relatable and believable characters, man and dog . Love them both. In fact, Chris’ character and his role as a police officer is beautifully executed. His suspicions, fact checking, everything about his behavior screams cop. Especially when it pertains to family and town. Which makes Greyson’s later statements and observation about the importance to Chris of the badge and uniform even more interesting and on point.
There’s so many elements and different storylines that Drewek’s woven into a complex novel that makes it all work. A bisexual awakening, a magical revelation, a way of writing a ex girlfriend in a manner that makes us understand and appreciate her . Monica is a treasure! All the details here that just keep adding up, the characters, the baking, the warmth and reality of community.
Is it perfect? No. I absolutely disagreed over the choice of having Greyson withhold so much information from Chris. That was frustrating.
But the rest ? Loved it and I really wish that Drewek will revisit the characters and location in a future story. It’s too fantastic to remain one book.
Last note: Excellent use of the tarot cards, deck , and chosen card as well as The Magic Shop and The Owner. One of the best yet.
Highly recommended!
Cover art: Fae Quin . Fabulous as always
Cover design: Amanda Meuwissen
Tales from the Tarot- 22 books
🔷 Where Fools Have Tread by Jennifer Cody❤️
🔷The Magician’s Heart by J.P. Jackson
🔷Cleric of Desire by Amanda Meuwissen❤️
🔷The Nephilim’s Touch by Morgan Lysand
🔷King of Hollywood by Fae Quin
🔷My Minotaur Daddy: An MM Romantasy by Laura Lascarso
🔷Across Space and Time by Kit Barrie
🔷Chariot of Souls by Morgan Mason
🔷By Rude Strength ❤️by K.L. Hiers
🔷Found in Obscurity by A. M. Rose
🔷Twisted Fates by Adam J. Ridley
🔷No Justice for the Damned by Hellie Heat
🔷The Angel’s Kiss by Nicholas Bella
🔷Death Song by B. Ripley
🔷Arcanum ❤️by Ashlyn Drewek
🔷The Devil’s Dilemma by Alex J. Adams
🔷Camelot’s Tower by Brooke Matthews
🔷A Highland Gargoyle’s Lucky Star
by Chloe Archer
🔷Trust in the Moon by Delaney Rain
🔷Raising the Sun by Eryn Hawk
🔷Zero Judgment by Kota Quinn
🔷The End of the World by Drake LaMarque
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Blurb
From the moment his new neighbor moves in, K9 officer Chris Brandt senses there’s something not quite right about the guy. His instincts are confirmed when he discovers the mysterious Greyson Darkholme is the prime suspect in a murder investigation—a murder that wiped out his entire family.
Despite his best efforts to keep his distance, Chris is captivated by Greyson’s eccentric charm, awakening desires he never knew he had. As they grow closer, it becomes evident that Greyson is hiding something. Determined to uncover the truth, Chris faces a shocking dilemma when Greyson’s secrets come to light.
To protect the man of his dreams, the dedicated officer must confront the ultimate question: how far will he go for love?
ARCANUM is a standalone paranormal MM romance novel and part of the multi-author collaboration Tales from the Tarot. This book is based on the major arcana card Temperance.
This book contains themes intended for a mature audience and reader discretion is advised. A full list can be found in the front matter of the book and on my website under Tropes & Triggers.
- Publisher: Fox Hollow Books (October 7, 2024)
- Publication date: October 7, 2024
- Language: English
- Print length: 450 pages
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 