The Elf Beside Himself

Beyond the Veil #6

by K.M. Avery

Nothing can prepare you for the phone call from your best friend telling you his dad was murdered. Not even if you’re a former homicide cop.

But here I am, getting on a plane to fly halfway across the country to hold his hand and hope to hell that I’m not walking into a complete disaster.

Who am I kidding?

The police think Gregory Crane killed himself, or at least that’s what they’re telling us, but Elliot is sure they’re wrong. And the dead man can’t tell us what happened, either, so I’m going to have to use good old-fashioned detective work to figure this one out. Except I’m not a cop anymore and all my contacts are half a country away.

Add to that the fact that the state I’m in is in the middle of a huge anti-magic movement, and everywhere I turn I have people spitting in my face and calling me a freak.

My mother is going ballistic, my father is threatening to sue the police department, and I’m trying to juggle a brand-new relationship and my falling-apart oldest friend from childhood.

Yeah, you could say I’m beside myself.

Now if only I can hold it together long enough to put together the pieces, maybe, just maybe I can manage to get through this without losing my best friend, my boyfriend, or my life. Whether or not I lose my mind is pretty low on the list of priorities—I’m willing to give that up if only I can keep the rest.

Genres: Ghosts, Paranormal, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Magic, M M Romance

450 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 29, 2023

Reviews

[QuietlyKat · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are so many things I love about The Elf Beside Himself but I’m in a bit of a funk and not really up for writing a review. I love this series and expect to come back to reread it someday so hopefully I’ll write something worthwhile at that time. For now, if you’ve like the series so far, this one should be a hit as well.

Side note for myself as well as other fans of the series:
In the pages after the story ends, K.M. Avery lists the book in the Beyond the Veil series and includes Seth’s story (7+): The Turning of the Tables (coming 2024/5). I presume this is Seth Mays, the blond CSI tech from the Richmond department. When I reread the series, remember to pay closer attention to his details.

PS There’s a part of me that wants to 5 star this one… the thing stopping me is that I only 4 starred books 1 and 3 and I love Ward and Mason stories like crazy. I love Hart and Taavi too, but somehow Ward’s powers and his stories have stuck with me harder and more memorably than books 5 and 6 (Hart stories) so I just can’t see myself 5 starring this one unless I go back and bump up the rating on books 1 and 3. Maybe whenever I reread the series that will happen. Maybe not. Who knows?

Edited to add May 31, 2024 from an update by K.M. Avery:
The Ghost in the Hall will be FREE from June 1-3 to kick off Pride Month!
Then The Boy in the Locked Room will be FREE from June 4-6!
And then The Skeleton Under the Stairs from June 7-9!
The Dog in the Alley June 10-12!
The Bones in the Yard June 13-15!
And The Elf Beside Himself June 16-18!

And to close out Pride Month, Threadbound, a stand-alone fae M/M romance, will be FREE June 28-30!

PS I LOVE this series and the stand-alone, Threadbound. If you haven’t checked out this author yet, June would be the perfect time to do so.

[Layla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pacing and development

I enjoyed this installment into the BtV world. It was interesting to meet Elliot and honestly I’d enjoy a book featuring him. That said, the story had some serious pacing issues. If Val had spiraled one more time into his “I am a selfish bastard and I suck. I ruin everything and everyone” mantra I wouldn’t have been able to finish the book. Which brings me to character development. That mantra is what we needed to see change in the course of this book. We need to see Val grow to realize that he isn’t a bad person and doesn’t hurt everyone and everything but instead helps many situations. And we don’t see that growth, which was disappointing. So the resolution of his storyline feels incomplete.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Except for some over-explaining (author habit), this is a satisfying end to Hart's arc. The author's quite careful about crime scenes, investigating, and jurisdiction, which was a relief to me--no easy fixes. It's a little slow, but again, even when the justice system works, it's not fast. There's also deliberate care for and about Native traditions and rights. I'm really glad I gave this part of the series a chance.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent installment to this series.

We finally get to meet Elliot, Hart’s best friend, but the circumstances couldn’t be worse. Elliot’s father has died, apparently by suicide. But it wouldn’t be a KM Avery book if everything was as it seems...

Hart tries to juggle comforting Elliot while investigating his father’s death while spending time with Taavi and proving he can be the "perfect boyfriend" – and of course ends up overthinking and working himself up. Taavi remains his loveable, solid self.

Add in the ongoing undercurrents of tension (and often overt violence) of Humans are Humans supporters against Arc-humans, nothing is easy, especially not investigating an allegedly open and shut case of suicide by an Arc-human POC.

I strongly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good mystery, fantasy world building, realistic characters who sometimes get in their own way, and really beautiful elf and shifter m/m love.

I do recommend having read at least the first two in the Hart trilogy. You could get away with not having read Ward’s trilogy, but why? They’re great and set the stage.

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 6 in the Beyond the Veil series and also the book that closes out Hart's story, so I'm going to give my overall opinion on books 4 to 6, because it just feels right.

First of all, I adore Hart. I did from the moment I met him in the first book and I loved him even more while reading these three books. He's such a grumpy f*cker, honestly. I love him for it. He's also quite jaded and not without his internal demons. I mean... He looks like a fairy prince, which he hates. He has a romantic name, which he also hates. He had to give up bacon... which would make me grumpy too. But I just love him because he's not just grumpy, foul-mouthed and sarcastic. He also has a vulnerability that he doesn't show easily. He's just a really beautiful person. And Taavi is absolutely perfect for him.

Romance-wise, if you want to have a satisfying HEA/HFN, book 4 alone won't be enough. Book 4 has no spice and the romance doesn't really get going until book 5. BUT, it makes sense for these two characters. In Book 4, the slow burn is due to plot-related things that don't really get resolved until near the end, and Hart has some internal issues to work through first after that. That said, the way the romance unfolds and develops over the course of all three books is beautiful and I loved it so much. I also really loved getting to know Hart's friend Elliot and Hart's parents!

The plot over the course of the three books plays out really well, with twists and turns and somewhat solid stopping points at the end of book 4 and 5. While there is an overarching plot that carries over throughout the three books, each individual case was intense and had me biting my nails with anxiety from start to finish.

We also see more of Ward and Mason, of course and even they are still growing as characters in the background, which is so nice to see. Their progress & growth didn't stop with the end of book 3, it just keeps going, but it doesn't take away any focus from Hart and Taavi.

So far, I've adored each and every one of these books and it's already on my list of all-time favorite series, even though it isn't even finished yet. Highly recommended, of course!

[Mir Jak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hart is back, baby !!!

Our favourite lovable grumpy self-sabotaging elf is back...... though his usual snarkiness is somewhat subdued because of what's happened and why he's back in his home town. That soon changes when he starts investigating where he shouldn't and gets in trouble as you'd imagine ........ but no-one threatens those he loves. I'm truly impressed with this series - very engaging story/plot with plenty of suspense, the tense atmosphere leaving my heart pounding .......... and all balanced with plenty of emotional ups & downs.....from laugh out loud moments to tears to "awwwww's" and everything in between. I will say that this one is hard, emotionally, with the grief and the aftermath of someone passing - so honest and stark....but beautifully written....will really tug on the heartstrings ! Just an awesome book and a truly amazing series !!!

[Meggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure, but Valentine Hart was a whiny elf in this six book. He got on my nerves till the end. The criminal part was good, but something was missing. At the end we got a HEA.

[El · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, first and foremost, Avery does an excellent job of creating a rich and diverse narrative that demonstrates a level of clear care and consideration to getting things right. The book deals with the same themes from the past two books, but now on an infinitely more personal level, as it is his best friend’s dad who was murdered. Hart is such a complex, insecure, and loving character and to see him ultimately be able to voice some of his biggest insecurities and recognize that he needed help was a great way to end his time as a main character.

The book did ultimately reaffirm my primary complaint about the past two books: Taavi never feels like a fully fleshed out character and an identity separate from Hart is never fully established. Yes, we see that Taavi has his own fears, opinions, and insecurities, but they are never truly delved into beyond “well of course he feels this way, he’s traumatized.” In the two books he is human for we learn that he likes to cook, he likes to cuddle, he constantly supports Valentine, and he likes to work with kids. All valid things to enjoy! But we rarely see anything more than single sentences about that.

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited about this book, and it definitely delivered! I really hope the author doesn't take too long of a break from this universe because it's top 10 for me. I'm going to have to reread the whole series again now because the book hangover is real!

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

all around excellence, a must series. read them in the order they are written

Rating: 5🌈

The Elf Beside Himself finishes PI Valentine Hart’s storyline group within the Beyond the Veil series.

This paranormal series has been following a format that sees each wildly different couple, each of whom has been effected by the Arcanavirus in various ways, through the all the travails of their intense relationships. The author creates such a wonderful, culturally diverse group of backgrounds for each character. And then, using mysteries, police cases, and ghosts of the dead, weaves in the expanding series themes of magic, bigotry, speciesism, deep persecution that occurs when something happens to scare people into believing propaganda or giving into their own worst fears. In this case a disease, the Arcanavirus which changes people into paranormal beings, if they live through it.

Avery’s plots has Human Only Rights groups out in the streets, in gangs, working against any nonhuman creature, as well focusing on the neglect that indigenous peoples criminal cases often face from various law enforcement agencies that allow the criminal to go unpunished. Its layers upon layers in believable, heartbreaking detail.

And each book sees this element only increasing in depth and alarm as the groups grow stronger. It all seems so familiar.

In this story, Val Hart, an elf made due to the Arcanavirus and his dog shifter lover, Taavi Camal, are headed back to Val’s hometown of Shawano, Wisconsin. Its land of the cheese, frigid winter weather, small town Community values and memories of when Val was normal and forgettable. But his childhood friend’s father has died, a man Val also considered family. And his best friend has asked him for his help.

Avery builds such gripping narratives because the author starts with creating compelling complex characters, ones who have histories the reader can in some way relate to, and then place them into extraordinary circumstances. Circumstances that require imagination, intelligence and are often difficult for the reader and characters to comprehend or undergo.

Here in The Elf Beside Himself there is a boatload of emotional elements and personal/professional/life issues to unpack and explore. It starts with deep grief for Gregory Crane, father of his best friend Elliot. Both men badger shifters, as well as members of the Ho Chunk and Mamaceqtaw tribes. The heartfelt grieving continues as investigative factors points to persecution and increased violence towards shifters and indigenous peoples.

Hart is also dealing with bringing Taavi home to meet everyone for the first time under extreme pressure and intense conditions. When they’re just 2.5 months into their relationship and unprepared for the situation, winter weather, and family scrutiny.

Hart, who has been a favorite of mine since he appeared on the page, just shows all the vulnerability, the growth, and depth of his character in the various situations that arise here. Especially in the complex relationships between himself, Taavi, and Elliot.

The writing is exceptional, the characters are so memorable, and well plotted storylines will feed into the next group flawlessly as Seth and Elliot are set up to start a new trilogy while enlarging on the anti-magic, human first movement that’s growing.

I’m so invested. If you aren’t already familiar, go back to the first book and begin your journey there. It’s a fabulous read and a series you will love.

Highly recommended!


Beyond the Veil Series which is broken into couples stories, see below (books need to be read in order they are written for relationships and events development):

Ward’s story (1-3):
The Ghost in the Hall
The Boy in the Locked Room
The Skeleton Under the Stairs.

Hart’s story (4-6):
The Dog in the Alley
The Bones in the Yard
The Elf Beside Himself

Seth’s story (7 +):
The Turning of the Tables (2024/2025)

[Taran Trinnaman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Brilliant Trilogy Comes to an End

Please head the trigger warnings in the front- this book tackles not only the heavy realities of ableism, racism, and homophobia but the very real violence many Indigenous tribes face in the Americas. The author also doesn’t sugarcoat the experiences of grief, depression, and self un-aliving so I urge all those who read it to be in a good headspace.

With all that said, I cannot applaud this author enough for writing one of the most intersectional urban fantasy books I’ve read in decades. Not only are Hart and Tavi and all the characters incredibly complex and well rounded with fully individualized personalities but they’re able to weave how systemic supremacy and prejudices and trauma shape our lives and our society in ways I really haven’t seen any author do for a while now.

My only complaint is I do wish it was explicitly stated in the text near the end of these books that our characters were seeing mental health specialists to help guide them in better living with their trauma but I also appreciate how the author shows and tells, just like in reality, why many systemically marginalized people are hesitant or unwilling to trust mental health professionals or even find good ones.

I’m sad to see my boys go but I can’t wait to see what the future brings!

[Fernanda Fatio · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good ending on Hart-Taavi’s arc. A bit too long and slower than the previous books. Hart is still a well of insecurity and self-sabotage but in this book, we finally see him realizing that and working on getting better. He admits to Taavi he needs help and will get therapy. It’s quite a growth from the grump foul-mouthed we met in book 1. I also liked how Taavi, far from the adorable dog he presents in their first book, shows he is fierce and take no shit from anyone, including Ward.
I wanted to see Eliott’s meeting with Ward and Mason and their reaction to Hart taking the job offer.
Plot-wise I which the resolution was a bit more detailed. I wsnted to know the hows and whys the other detective and the ME were sweeping the cases under the rug, including the very high profile one.
I saw the next book will be Seth’s story. It took me another reviewer mentioning it’s Seth Mays, but for the life of me I couldn’t remember his first name. I thought the next arc would be Raj (and perhaps Rayn given their weird reaction each time they met. Is Rayn invading Raj’s dreams accidentally?).

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liking this series. Though I guess it's more of a series within a series and you really have to read at least the first book in the sub series for things to make sense though it really helps if you read the previous trilogy because of the little references and such and because then you know who all the major characters are and their relationships to each other.

That said I liked this one in spite of all the other wise difficult issues that are connected to this case. And how very relevant to current events this book feels. It feels like more than coincidental that this particular book should come out when the news is full of Truth and Reconciliation stuff regarding Canada's shitty relationship to our native peoples and this book feels like an attempt at offering some hope that maybe sometimes in some places that relationship might improve and that justice sometimes can happen.

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been with this series since the beginning and Hart has always been my favourite character. I love his self awareness and inner voice, and think that loving, steadfast, playful Taavi is absolutely his perfect match. We don't get as much of Taavi in this book because he didn't have as much to do with the investigation, but he was AMAZING with his selflessness and understanding and support despite everything. And Hart's parents were the sweetest in stepping up to care for him when Hart couldn't. This was such a heartbreaking story, and while the story itself was interesting and kept me engaged, I really think the author shone brightest with the emotions of all the characters. It was beautiful in its raw portrayal of grief, fear, helplessness, and love. I couldn't have asked for a better end to Hart's trilogy.

(Mind the TWs, as this touches on some heavy topics.)

[Jude · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do love this series, but I had some serious doubts about this book as I could not figure out how it would mesh with the series. I now have the answer - it meshes in extremely well.
This was a fun read even though it dealt with extremely hate-based bigotry that reflects what - unfortunately - exists out in the world today.
Heads up - if you read this as a stand-alone book you will be lost as to the characters.
Great storyline, interesting and vivid characters all set in a well built world.

[Lori S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Valentine Hart and Tavi rush to Hart's hometown to support his best friend in his grief. Elliot is beside himself with grief, but Hart is soon on the hunt when he realizes that things are not as they seem and that Gregory Crane, Elliot's father, has been murdered.

In a lot of ways, I wish this series had followed Hart from the get go, since I like him and Tavi a lot. Ward and Doc are good characters, but just not as interesting.

I do wish the author would tone down the angst a bit though. It goes a tad overboard.

[Vintage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adore this series and this author

Another exciting adventure with our favorite elf Hart as he travels to his hometown with Taavi to comfort and solve his best friends father’s murder. Emotional grieving process and some classic parental smothering happening as Hart is on the hunt for justice. Hart’s wry humor and grouchy thought process made me laugh which lightened the tone in this story that is very sad and touching. Loved it to pieces.

[OldBird · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice wrap up to Hart and Taavi's story... though not nice circumstance what with all the bigotry and murder that reflects back our own reality as sharply as ever in these books.

The pacing felt a little patchy to me (Hart and his inner monologues, plus big areas of cozy(ish) downtime with family and friends that made me really want to get back to solving Elliot's dad's murder). Good plot, good characters, lots of *ahem* relationship time but not overshadowing the rest of the book.

[MyDoRyS · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one was awful....40% of it is the freaking loser elf feeling sorry sor himself and realizing what an ass he is. It's such a waste of a character. Taavi deserves better. Also, the interesting part of these books was the supernatural as a main topic, but in this book, it is just treated as an extra. I will try the next book, but if it is let down like this one and the previous one, I might drop the series. Onto my next adventure, Happy Readings!!!!!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was truly heartbreaking for me- the hatefulness and violence mirrors our society to such an extent right now, that I know it's not accidental. Val's "existential dread" and "anxiety bread" are such big parts of my own life, that I feel a real bond after this book- that and always being the one to run towards trouble to help others.
This book did a lot towards my feeling a connection to amd between Val and Taavi, Elliott was wonderful.
single pov
1st P
Strict
injuries
"suicide"/murder

[zyu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Hart. Also big whoop I could follow the plot this time. (I’m not slow btw, all those sects and bajillion names just …nah) the negative is the usual - super long due to MC monologuing endlessly, but on the positive side fewer sex scenes (they do get repetitive and unnecessary when they don’t serve the plot). Blah blah overall a win for me. (I’m also hungover and cba to edit my review)

[H · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing

I love this series and these characters, and this conclusion to Hart and Taavi’s romance really did them justice. I can’t wait to read whatever this author has coming next!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me cry

The best in the series so far. I really appreciated the respect paid to indigenous culture and tradition. The new characters were interesting, and I hope we see some of them again.

[nat · Rating 5 out of 5]

the amount of love i have for tavi and hart is so immense that now that their books are over and there are no more audiobooks left, i don’t know what to do with myself. i could listen to this book series for 20 more books if possible. I am hooked and will be sat for Elliot and Rayn’s story.

[Sherry F · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cried during a couple scenes, as I still desperately miss my parents.

[Robbin Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this series. Great characters

[Juli Wicker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another gem!!!

I loved seeing where Hart came from. I really hope his friend ends up moving to Richmond and meeting someone there.

[Kristel (hungryandhappy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was scared!!

[Kristy Maitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay; bit boring story plot.

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a lot about this series but two of the biggest reasons are the not-so-subtle allusions to the COVID-19 pandemic and the very blatant comparisons to racism. The latter is in full force here as this book was all about the racism against the arcanids. There are so many parallels. There’s also a little nod to homophobia, too, when talking about politicians and judges being outed as shifters when they’d been hiding it.

The mystery really wasn’t much of one but the action and danger and peril were really good. The angst in the beginning was over the top but I love that. It was mostly unwarranted, though Val really was being an asshole to Taavi for a good part of the beginning. He could have been there for both his friend and his boyfriend. He could have at least called him at night and talked for a long time or whatever. Those of you who don’t like angst, worry not, it didn’t last an insane amount of time. Their love is beautiful and believable. I love the ending on multiple levels.

The author says she is taking a break from this series for a while but will be coming back with Seth’s story, whoever the hell that is. Her next non-Beyond the Veil book isn’t out yet either. Sigh.