Oliver, Felipe and Gwen are sent to investigate a so-called Murdertown, i.e. a place where magical accidents have gone out of control. There have beenOliver, Felipe and Gwen are sent to investigate a so-called Murdertown, i.e. a place where magical accidents have gone out of control. There have been a number of unexplained resurrections, where the dead have taken to attacking the town's people, so Oliver's necromancy and Gwen's (academic) interest in vampires, not to mention Felipe's all around genius self are best suited for the mission... or so the head of the New York Paranormal Society claims.
Felipe is determined to refuse the assignment at first, but relents when Oliver reveals that he had in fact been born in Aldorhaven.
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This story was right up my spooky alley. There's a remote village where people have started dying in "unnatural" ways: an intriguing mix of undead attacks and sudden illnesses, plus the local doctor's all-around reticence to consider the supernatural. There's the obligatory powerful family controlling the town, and all the untouchable consequences that come with it. This reminded me of the first two seasons of Supernatural, all about the creepy magic, before the plot took a turns toward the biblical lore.
And we can't forget the tonnes of backstory we get for both protagonists: Oliver through "regular" socializing, and Felipe through rather unpleasant dreams and hallucinations. Had I been asked about the convenience of it all before reading, I would've definitely rolled my eyes at the sheer amount of cheesiness. But it ended up working in here. I am definitely still hooked and can't wait for the last two instalments of the series.
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There was one aspect that really annoyed me, though. Well... maybe more than one, but I'm willing to give all those snagging gazes a pass. So Gwen's presence in the investigation is seriously questionable. Don't get me wrong: I love that Oliver has a BFF who stands by him at all times, and how handy her telekinetic powers come in during crucial moments, but beyond that, she is basically the equivalent of a "comfort familiar". Yes, one that has magical powers, is part of an ethnic minority and who can occasionally fulfill the role of a therapist.
Score: 4/5 stars
Plot-wise, this was the most exciting book yet, and I can't wait to see where things go from here. I just wish that the diverse cast of characters didn't (mostly) exist to tick a box in a checklist.
Oliver and Felipe investigate a wellness institute whose aim seems to be the "curing" of magical powers. Aside from the suspicious lack of fees, a worOliver and Felipe investigate a wellness institute whose aim seems to be the "curing" of magical powers. Aside from the suspicious lack of fees, a worrisome number of patient and staff disappearances give the institute an even creepier vibe.
Oliver's ex, employed by the federal branch of the Paranormal Society, is less than keen about the the two inspectors' involvement, as he's been trying to pin bigger and bett-- ahem more terrifying crimes on the institute.
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My excitement has waned a bit for this book, compared to the prequel. Maybe because I started it right after finishing book 1, though I rather think the number of (not so) minor annoyances played their part as well. There were a lot of developments that take place off-screen, or rather off main-book, and only get a small mention here. Perhaps it's also my fault, for not reading things in publication order and prioritizing the main books, but I've never been a fan of advancing the plot in side-stories. I do however, appreciate that said side-stories are available for free.
On the whole, I enjoyed the action-adventure aspects, and the angst around Felipe's fear to confes his predicament to his family. Oliver's ex's antics however, could've been exploited better. Were they realistic? Sure. But I don't come to this genre for realism, especially when the story is set in a steampunk-like universe. I want satisfaction and revenge, which involves Ansley being sorry for not properly appreciating Oliver, and groveling for forgiveness. Instead we only got some generic sulking that may or may not have had jealous undertones.
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Score: 3.6/5 stars
The story dragged in some parts, even though objectively speaking it shouldn't have had reason to do so. I wasn't keen on how some of the character development was handled, plus the number of typos semms to have increased.
Ultimately I am still enjoying this series I suppose, and have no intention of dropping it any time soon.
Dr. Oliver Barlow, a necromancer working as the medical examiner for the New York Paranormal Society, has been secretly pining away after the dashing Dr. Oliver Barlow, a necromancer working as the medical examiner for the New York Paranormal Society, has been secretly pining away after the dashing inspector Felipe Galvan, the organization's equivalent of a superhero with a rather dark reputation. Thanks to his self-healing ability, Felipe has had few reasons to fear for his life, and ample opportunity to experience a number of life-threatening situations.
Felipe and Oliver are assigned to investigate the suspicious death of a nun, supposedly just to confirm the lack of foul play. Though both the monastery and the Paranormal Society want to close things as discretely as possible, Oliver smells (quite literally) something rotten.
After Felipe gets ambushed and killed in his apartment by an unknown assailant, the medical examiner can no longer stand by idly. Especially since he mistakenly revives said inspector in his grief/panic.
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Ever since I managed to completely overlook (some of) the romantic overtones in Witch King (yes, I am ashamed) I've been on a quest to find a new romance author. They had to write m/m romances with murder mystery, in a palatable style, with plenty of spice and the obligatory HEA.
Enter Kara Jorgensen whose Reanimator Mysteries tick a whole lot of my preferences, without seeming like a (subpar) copycat. I'm looking at you Snow and Winter series! Granted, this did give me heavy Whyborne and Griffin vibes, but I suspect that's mainly due to the paranormal elements and the time period.
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The Reanimator's Heart served its role as a comfort read brilliantly. It gave me all sorts of stomach-butterflies, I could partially relate to Oliver's fears, and I really appreciated how his high-functioning autism was depicted. I'm sick and tired of hearing the term bandied around at the first whiff of insecurity/anxiety a character may exhibit. Yes, there's a spectrum, and some people deal with anxiety differently, but that doesn't automatically mean they need a medical diagnosis and specialist help. Oliver has actual issues that can seriously affect his socializing. He doesn't just "freak out" when Felipe smiles at him. So yay, for realistic and non-moralistic depiction of a disability.
Score: 4/5 stars
Was it cliche? Yeeees, but mainly in a genre-specific sense that actually enhanced the romance... as far as I'm concerned. I do have several issues with the holes in the world-building though, which only ever gets attention when it directly relates to the investigation.
Ms. Smartarse
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