Book Review: The Reanimator’s Heart by Kara Jorgensen
Genre(s): Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Fantasy
Book Synopsis:
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.
Review:
I picked this book for its paranormal mystery element, and that piece of the story did not disappoint. With multiple suspects involved, it was complex and intriguing, and featured a few plot twists I did not see coming. And as a subplot, the romance was done pretty well too.
The two main characters both work for the Paranormal Society, an organization tasked with investigating crimes involving the supernatural, while also dispatching dangerous beings that might threaten the lives of ordinary citizens. In order to work for the Paranormal Society, people must harbor some sort of ability or magic—and nearly every character introduced has a unique skill at their disposal. Oliver is a necromancer, Felipe has an incredible healing ability, Newman has air magic, and Gwen is telekinetic, just to name a few.
The story seems to be set in 1920s/1930s New York City, based on the descriptions of clothing and transportation. People were more reliant on magic than technology, though paranormal beings seemed to be feared more than they were accepted by society at large. Necromancers had it especially rough, given the nature of their magic.
Which brings me to Oliver. He hides his ability even from his colleagues, fearing what might happen if they found out. His past isn’t relayed in much detail, but from the bits provided, the poor man had a difficult life prior to joining the Paranormal Society. He’d been hurt multiple times before by friends, partners, and possibly even his family, and he was reluctant to become involved with anyone again. He was quiet and reserved, and often struggled with anxiety.
Felipe was so much his opposite that it was fun to watch them come together. Felipe was daring, adventurous, and outgoing, but he also appreciated the quieter moments of life and time with his family. While I knew from the synopsis that Felipe and Oliver would eventually come together, how it happened was a bit of a surprise. And I thought the romance aspect of the story was really cute.
I thought the character work was really well done, the worldbuilding was interesting, and the overall story was great. It was definitely a book that was hard to put down.
Author website: karajorgensen.com
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