Welcome to my book reviews for The Reanimator Mysteries series by Kara Jorgensen! Please be aware that later reviews may contain spoilers for previous titles.

A reluctant necromancer, a man killed before his time, and the crime that brings them together.

Felipe Galvan’s life as an investigator for the Paranormal Society has been spent running into danger. Returning home from his latest case, Felipe struggles with the sudden quiet of his life until a mysterious death puts him in the path of the enigmatic Oliver Barlow.

Oliver has two secrets. One, he has been in love with the charming Felipe Galvan for years. Two, he is a necromancer, but to keep the sensible life he’s built as a medical examiner, he must hide his powers. That is until Oliver finds Felipe murdered and accidentally brings him back from the dead.

But Felipe refuses to die again until he and Oliver catch his killer. Together, Felipe and Oliver embark on an investigation to uncover a plot centuries in the making. As they close in on his killer, one thing is certain: if they don’t stop them, Felipe won’t be the last to die.

This book was provided for free by BBNYA and the publishers in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book!

Content Warnings:

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BBNYA Blog Tour

It is my pleasure to take part in the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (known as BBNYA) 2023 Finalist tour for the BBNYA Blog Tour for The Reanimator’s Heart by Kara Jorgensen. The Reanimator’s Heart came in third place. I loved this book so much, and I’m happy to finally be able to share my review with you all 🙂

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner. If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

This review is part of repDISND (formerly known as GeekDis) an annual event I run for the disabled and neurodivergent community to discuss representation. Follow the hashtag #repdisnd or follow me on social media for more!

In this historical fantasy novel, the supernatural exists alongside the normal world, with the Paranormal Society overseeing various aspects of the supernatural community. It’s a place where necromancer Dr. Oliver Barlow has found a home and a use for his talents, medical and magical. As the medical examiner, he can use his powers under the radar without anyone knowing and get the peace he needs because no one ever wants to spend much time in the morgue.

Everything has been going just fine until Oliver becomes involved in a case with investigator Felipe Galvan. Not only has he been harbouring a secret crush on Galvan for two years, but things get even more complicated when he finds Felipe dead, and he accidentally brings him back to life.

I was instantly drawn by the plot, and I adored every single moment of The Reanimator’s Heart by Kara Jorgensen. Jorgensen has created a fascinating universe that has a lot of room for growth. What I particularly liked about their world-building was how they have taken real history and rather than change it, they’ve inserted a supernatural society alongside it which is queer normative. By doing so, historical elements remain in context while allowing Jorgensen to explore queer relationships openly.

Other than the obvious M/M relationship, there is a brilliant F/F relationship and a non-binary character, as well as lots of found family to be had. There is BIPOC representation with two main characters, Felipe and Gwen, and multiple secondary characters. Both male main characters are neurodivergent, Oliver is autistic and Felipe has ADHD, and the representation is excellent. Jorgensen writes so much feeling into every scene, and I felt every bit of it.

With an array of delightful characters and an intriguing plot, this is a must-read for anyone who is a fan of historical fantasy. I’m also a fan of Victorian and Edwardian mysteries and supernatural stories, and this hit the right spot for me. I think that fans of George Mann’s Newbury and Hobbes series will enjoy this one too, as it has a similar mix of mystery and supernatural.

An autistic necromancer, his undead lover, and the case that could destroy everything.

When a necromancer turns up dead, Oliver and Felipe think it will be the perfect, straightforward case for their new partnership. That is, until it leads them to a clinic promising a cure for magic, but they aren’t the only ones investigating the Institute for the Betterment of the Soul. Oliver’s ex, Ansley, is in town, and he’s certain the clinic isn’t the paragon of righteousness it claims to be.

Forced to help Ansley infiltrate the institute, Oliver fears he is out of his depth in his work and in love as old wounds and bad habits resurface. But Oliver isn’t the only one struggling. Pulled between his cases, Oliver, and his daughter returning home for the summer, Felipe is drowning. Just when he thinks he finally has everything under control, a new reminder of his untimely demise threatens to throw his life into a tailspin once more.

Between festering wounds and secrets, Oliver and Felipe’s lives stand upon a knife’s edge. To face the evil lurking behind the clinic’s genteel smiles, they must stand together or face the destruction of the place they call home.

Coming Soon!

Thanks for reading my book reviews for The Reanimator’s Mysteries series by Kara Jorgensen!

Don’t forget to check out the rest of my reviews if you’re looking for some more book recommendations 🙂 You can also now sign up for my newsletter to get an email each month with a list of my new reviews!

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