This post includes reviews of books in the Scythe series:
- Until His Soul Awakens (#0.5)
- Until His Beginning Ends (#0.6)
- Until His Last Goodbye (#1)
Until His Soul Awakens (Scythe #0.5) by E.M. Lindsey
This novella is available as a free download via Prolific Works as part of the Your Book Boyfriend’s Boyfriend M/M Romance Group Giveaway 2022.
Note: I read this novella second, despite the “official” order indicated by Goodreads.
Part of me worried that this novella would be too similar to the companion prequel by Kiki Clark. However, though it contains the same core themes that will probably be in common with the entire series, this story was overall very different. It includes a thoroughly nontraditional romance arc, even to the point that I wondered when the two heroes would ever connect at all. That moment of connection ends up being the pinnacle on which the entire romance hangs, and I loved everything about how it blatantly disregards the typical romance plot.
Every kid has an Ancient Egypt phase—Anthony doesn’t grow out of his, but I appreciate the respect with which Lindsey treats the various cultures touched on in this story. In contrast, Kae is a person a step out of time, but he is still portrayed in a way that makes him relatable and sympathetic as a character.
These men are definitely a pairing I will look forward to seeing more of in the main series, which I’m also anxious to start reading!
Rating: 5 (out of 5) stars. Cross-posted to Goodreads.
Until His Beginning Ends (Scythe #0.6) by Kiki Clark
This novella is available as a free download via Prolific Works as part of the Your Book Boyfriend’s Boyfriend M/M Romance Group Giveaway 2022.
Note: This is the first book I read in this series, despite the “official” order indicated by Goodreads.
A paranormal romance in which one of the lovers is Death sounds like a total recipe for angst. However, Clark tempers the inherent conflict of star-crossed lovers Theo and Enzo by infusing the emotions of their relationship arc with poignancy rather than actual pain. The narrative does not shy away from acknowledging that Theo’s position as a reaper is a major hurdle toward their happily ever after. Still, it also recognizes that Theo and Enzo’s lifetimes would never have intersected the way they do here without it. Often, the soul bond element goes hand-in-hand with the fated mates/instant love trope that doesn’t interest me. For this story, the attraction that exists between these two men is obvious even without the magical elements that make their connection possible.
This novella prequel is the perfect length for satisfying the needs of the romance arc between the characters and the worldbuilding necessary to support the scope of the story. I wasn’t left with questions about the how and why, but with plenty of curiosity to learn more. That curiosity also extends to the companion novella by E.M. Lindsey and the full-length book that follows, both of which I look forward to reading next.
Rating: 5 (out of 5) stars. Cross-posted to Goodreads.
Until His Last Goodbye (Scythe #1) by Kiki Clark & E.M. Lindsey
This novel took the premise laid out by the two prequel novellas and blew it out of the water in a longer version of the “Reaper falls for human (and vice versa)” story. It’s unnecessary to read the prequels to understand anything about this book, but it probably adds to the enjoyment for the full roster of secondary characters. Here, Tristian and Elias’s love story is not necessarily better, but the authors have the space to more fully explore the implications of the differences (and dangers) presented by such a romantic pairing.
Tristian has been alone his entire life (and death). In contrast, Elias is seldom alone the way spirits are drawn to him. That spark of power is what allows these two men from vastly separate lives to meet in Elias’s dreams. The spark of attraction that develops between them is almost inevitable, and the way Elias draws his sweet Victorian out of his shell is as adorable as the way Tristian courts Elias in return. The inherent conflict of their arc is one of those cases that could have been avoided if the characters had just talked to each other, but their reluctance to do so is understandable and believable. The result is multiple layers of dark moments that left me in tears each time, and the resulting happily ever after is entirely worth the pain it takes to get there.
I have no idea what direction the rest of this trilogy will take, but I’m highly invested in the world and characters created by this great author team-up. Questions remain about Elias’s ability, so I’d enjoy a full trilogy exploring his relationship with Tristian. On the other hand, potential love matches exist for other secondary characters that I’d also enjoy reading. Especially if a certain centurion and pirate get their own happily ever afters.
Rating: 5 (out of 5) stars. Cross-posted to Amazon and Goodreads.