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Love in the Occult Traumatic
He helps heal minds. She can actually read them. But neither can heal from their own trauma alone.
Heidi Bauer would give anything to not be able to read people’s memories. Yet every time she sees blood, she loses consciousness and gets a glimpse into the private inner worlds of the wound’s owner, tracing through the events that caused the injury—with frightening precision.
She can’t tell anyone this, of course. It’s bad enough that she has severe PTSD and hemophobia, but unexplained magical powers as well? She’d rather spiral into jobless poverty than admit the truth and risk getting locked up in some kind of mental institution.
That is, until she meets the handsome and caring Dr. Bùi Đức Khiêm. Despite Heidi’s intentions of telling no one her secret, she finds herself opening up to the psychiatrist better than her own therapist—in more ways than one.
And yet, while Dr. Khiêm may not have any powers, he’s hiding secrets of his own. So when a mysterious figure starts to stalk Heidi in pursuit of her hidden gift, it isn’t just her safety that’s threatened, but Khiêm’s too. Together, Heidi and Khiêm learn that not all wounds are visible—and healing them may cost one of their lives.
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OCCULT TRAUMA: A traumatic injury that may not be apparent on initial presentation or physical examination.A detailed list of content warnings is on the author's website.
Heidi Bauer would give anything to not be able to read people’s memories. Yet every time she sees blood, she loses consciousness and gets a glimpse into the private inner worlds of the wound’s owner, tracing through the events that caused the injury—with frightening precision.
She can’t tell anyone this, of course. It’s bad enough that she has severe PTSD and hemophobia, but unexplained magical powers as well? She’d rather spiral into jobless poverty than admit the truth and risk getting locked up in some kind of mental institution.
That is, until she meets the handsome and caring Dr. Bùi Đức Khiêm. Despite Heidi’s intentions of telling no one her secret, she finds herself opening up to the psychiatrist better than her own therapist—in more ways than one.
And yet, while Dr. Khiêm may not have any powers, he’s hiding secrets of his own. So when a mysterious figure starts to stalk Heidi in pursuit of her hidden gift, it isn’t just her safety that’s threatened, but Khiêm’s too. Together, Heidi and Khiêm learn that not all wounds are visible—and healing them may cost one of their lives.
--
OCCULT TRAUMA: A traumatic injury that may not be apparent on initial presentation or physical examination.A detailed list of content warnings is on the author's website.
- GenresParanormal
366 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2024
2 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Alexis Luna
1 book2 followersAlexis Luna is a former CPA turned writer and artist. She specializes in contemporary fantasy, romance, and marginalized identities.
Born and raised on U.S. military bases around the world, her upbringing was an international mishmash of language and geography. This left her with a third culture identity and in a permanent search for “home.” She currently lives on the East Coast of the U.S. with her partner and their two lovable, mischief-making Maltese dogs.
Born and raised on U.S. military bases around the world, her upbringing was an international mishmash of language and geography. This left her with a third culture identity and in a permanent search for “home.” She currently lives on the East Coast of the U.S. with her partner and their two lovable, mischief-making Maltese dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 26, 2024
This was an amazing debut novel by Alexis Luna! Khiem and Heidi are trying to navigate a new relationship while dealing with her mental health issues and paranormal powers, on top of someone stalking her. The book also highlights the discrimination Asian American people go through in this country every day and the many problems with our police force. Although there aren’t many sex scenes, the ones that are there are worthy of the Archive of Own tag ‘porn with plot’. Very, very steamy. Not your Harlequin romance sex scenes, so you have been warned there.
I was reading this on my Kindle on my phone. There were several scenes that were so funny (like their first date) that I ended up throwing my phone to gasp or because I couldn’t stop laughing. Can’t remember the last time a book had me do that so much! Definitely a must read!
I was reading this on my Kindle on my phone. There were several scenes that were so funny (like their first date) that I ended up throwing my phone to gasp or because I couldn’t stop laughing. Can’t remember the last time a book had me do that so much! Definitely a must read!
March 4, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book explores trauma and how it impacts not only ourselves but others. I thought the Vietnamese representation was well done and that the elements of racism and cultural differences in Khiem’s life were well thought out and explored. I felt represented as Heidi is also a big titty goth gf and I’ve been looking for a book with a main character that looks like me for a while. Unfortunately, that’s sort of where my “likes” for this book end. My biggest concern is that I feel like I was lied to as to what this book is about. This book is NOT a paranormal romance. Her “power” is not even mentioned until over 25% in. There is no explanation for her power and there’s no curiosity as to where it came from. There’s no hints to additional magic in this world, either. The first 30% or so of this book is her meeting Khiem and going on dates with Khiem, with almost nothing else. There’s no other plot until about halfway through when it’s revealed she has a maybe stalker, which is implied to be related to her powers. I was very disappointed as to how this plot line was handled. Her “powers” seemed like a side thought that was given to make her more interesting and cause a little conflict, not as something that would make her a more complex character. Because of this, I found the book to be very boring. There wasn’t much intrigue or much to keep me interested. I only read past 30% to see what the main conflict (hinted at in the summary) would be when it came to her powers, and then it wasn’t even related to her powers.
I also have no clue how Heidi was surviving. She didn’t have a job for months and has a house that she rents plus orders take out constantly. How does she afford anything?
Khiem also felt very stiff most of the time and personality-less. I don’t know if this is because his character is a psychiatrist, or if the author was writing with the idea that he’s not emotional because of the toxic masculinity found within Asian cultures (which the author mentions through Khiem’s character multiple times). He was very nice, and that’s about it.
My last thought is that, although the racism and trauma plot lines were handled well, the overall social commentary was VERY heavy handed. I thought the plot line about the Ukrainian refugees in particular was uncomfortable and unnecessary. Are there issues with the way Ukrainians of different ethnic backgrounds have been treated while fleeing the war? Yes, of course! But what did that have to do with this book? It felt like an effort to include social justice speak to prove that the author has the right to write about different cultures because she understands their struggles or something along those lines.
There were also no moments of levity in this book. This book was very heavy, lacked any true paranormal elements, and should not be considered a paranormal romance.
The spice was also kinda weird. So many mentions of labia and pussy lips floppin’ around. Just why.
This book explores trauma and how it impacts not only ourselves but others. I thought the Vietnamese representation was well done and that the elements of racism and cultural differences in Khiem’s life were well thought out and explored. I felt represented as Heidi is also a big titty goth gf and I’ve been looking for a book with a main character that looks like me for a while. Unfortunately, that’s sort of where my “likes” for this book end. My biggest concern is that I feel like I was lied to as to what this book is about. This book is NOT a paranormal romance. Her “power” is not even mentioned until over 25% in. There is no explanation for her power and there’s no curiosity as to where it came from. There’s no hints to additional magic in this world, either. The first 30% or so of this book is her meeting Khiem and going on dates with Khiem, with almost nothing else. There’s no other plot until about halfway through when it’s revealed she has a maybe stalker, which is implied to be related to her powers. I was very disappointed as to how this plot line was handled. Her “powers” seemed like a side thought that was given to make her more interesting and cause a little conflict, not as something that would make her a more complex character. Because of this, I found the book to be very boring. There wasn’t much intrigue or much to keep me interested. I only read past 30% to see what the main conflict (hinted at in the summary) would be when it came to her powers, and then it wasn’t even related to her powers.
I also have no clue how Heidi was surviving. She didn’t have a job for months and has a house that she rents plus orders take out constantly. How does she afford anything?
Khiem also felt very stiff most of the time and personality-less. I don’t know if this is because his character is a psychiatrist, or if the author was writing with the idea that he’s not emotional because of the toxic masculinity found within Asian cultures (which the author mentions through Khiem’s character multiple times). He was very nice, and that’s about it.
My last thought is that, although the racism and trauma plot lines were handled well, the overall social commentary was VERY heavy handed. I thought the plot line about the Ukrainian refugees in particular was uncomfortable and unnecessary. Are there issues with the way Ukrainians of different ethnic backgrounds have been treated while fleeing the war? Yes, of course! But what did that have to do with this book? It felt like an effort to include social justice speak to prove that the author has the right to write about different cultures because she understands their struggles or something along those lines.
There were also no moments of levity in this book. This book was very heavy, lacked any true paranormal elements, and should not be considered a paranormal romance.
The spice was also kinda weird. So many mentions of labia and pussy lips floppin’ around. Just why.
March 8, 2024
Rating: 5 ⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Representation: Autism, Vietnamese culture, Plus Size, Pro-Therapy, Mental Health
Triggers: Domestic Violence, Hate Crimes, Racism, Miscarriage, Toxic Relationships, Toxic Friendship, Generational Trauma, Mental Health, Police Trauma, Parental Trauma
I loved this book sooooooo freaking much.
This book represented so many underrepresented people. From BIPOC to disabled people they are recovered in this book. Open honest conversations are a huge staple in this book and if we could have more of these without prejudice so many things could be accomplished.
I absolutely adore Heidi and K. They couldn't have been more perfect for each other. They definitely come from very different backgrounds but that doesn't stop the magnetic pull they have towards each other.
Their chemistry was off the charts! They each had their own quirks but were able to work with each other for their best experiences. When I started this book I never expected there to be as much 🌶️🌶️🌶️ as there was. But I am no stranger to spice and I loved their spice! They each knew what they wanted but was also cognizant of each other in a way that not everyone could achieve.
I laughed so hard throughout this book because the author has the humor that so many don't have. She's got my type of humor and I loved the every laugh along the way.
With the laughs unfortunately come with racism, violence, domestic violence, and descriptions of injuries from the violence. With every violent attack no matter the type there is always a more prevalent wound left behind. Not just the physical wounds but also mental wounds. Being left with mental wounds can be harder than the physical. Physical wounds will fade with time, mental isn't as easy. I appreciate how much these characters are willing to work through these wounds as well no matter how they were caused.
There was so much that went on in this book and so much was explained that made so many things much more understandable. Other cultures intrigue me, but I don't know enough about most to be able to discern what issues they may have within their journeys. Throughout this book I was able to see things from a different POV and I appreciate the hell out of that. I know there are always people who hate others based on their skin color, but it always surprises me how many there are that are still small minded.
I hope that you take a chance on this book because it is soo worth it!!
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Representation: Autism, Vietnamese culture, Plus Size, Pro-Therapy, Mental Health
Triggers: Domestic Violence, Hate Crimes, Racism, Miscarriage, Toxic Relationships, Toxic Friendship, Generational Trauma, Mental Health, Police Trauma, Parental Trauma
I loved this book sooooooo freaking much.
This book represented so many underrepresented people. From BIPOC to disabled people they are recovered in this book. Open honest conversations are a huge staple in this book and if we could have more of these without prejudice so many things could be accomplished.
I absolutely adore Heidi and K. They couldn't have been more perfect for each other. They definitely come from very different backgrounds but that doesn't stop the magnetic pull they have towards each other.
Their chemistry was off the charts! They each had their own quirks but were able to work with each other for their best experiences. When I started this book I never expected there to be as much 🌶️🌶️🌶️ as there was. But I am no stranger to spice and I loved their spice! They each knew what they wanted but was also cognizant of each other in a way that not everyone could achieve.
I laughed so hard throughout this book because the author has the humor that so many don't have. She's got my type of humor and I loved the every laugh along the way.
With the laughs unfortunately come with racism, violence, domestic violence, and descriptions of injuries from the violence. With every violent attack no matter the type there is always a more prevalent wound left behind. Not just the physical wounds but also mental wounds. Being left with mental wounds can be harder than the physical. Physical wounds will fade with time, mental isn't as easy. I appreciate how much these characters are willing to work through these wounds as well no matter how they were caused.
There was so much that went on in this book and so much was explained that made so many things much more understandable. Other cultures intrigue me, but I don't know enough about most to be able to discern what issues they may have within their journeys. Throughout this book I was able to see things from a different POV and I appreciate the hell out of that. I know there are always people who hate others based on their skin color, but it always surprises me how many there are that are still small minded.
I hope that you take a chance on this book because it is soo worth it!!
March 15, 2024
This was a good book. It is a slow burn, with many twist and turns that the reader doesn't see coming. I really enjoyed finding out all of our couples secrets.
March 21, 2024
To begin, this is my first ever book review. Not just for BookSirens, but for anything ever. Odd, since I'm an author myself, but I have always been late to adopt new forms of writing. With that in mind, I feel very honored to have read Alexis Luna's Love in the Occult Traumatic. I say this with absolutely no hyperbole - Love in the Occult Traumatic felt as if it was written specifically for me and my partner.
But we'll get to my thoughts on that in a second. First, I want to commend Alexis for not only having a list of content warnings at the beginning of this book, but a name pronunciation guide as well. As someone who's regularly had his name mispronounced during the course of his life (Chicano names are surprisingly hard for a ton of Americans!) it was such a delight to have access to a handy guide that helped me learn new names alongside Heidi. It is a such a good idea that I fully intend on adding similar name guides to my own stories as well.
My one complaint in regards to the content warnings list, however, is that my digital copy of this book had the content warnings on the author website, which might have been a barrier to entry if I only had the eBook with no access to my internet. Given how fiercely I related to almost every part of this book, those content warnings were not just welcome, but vital as I began reading this excellent book.
As for the story itself in Love in the Occult Traumatic, it is, as I mentioned in the previous paragraph, excellent. Though the story has a supernatural subplot that drives much of the action, the true center and heart of Love in the Occult Traumatic is the relationship between Heidi Bauer and Dr. Bùi Đức Khiêm which Alexis Luna truly captures in a way so fiercely relatable and true to life that there were times that I had to take a break for a few days just so I could soak in what I was learning about myself and my own romantic relationship.
Though I am not Vietnamese like the main love interest Dr. Kiếm (I am Chicano) many aspects of his viewpoint chapters in the story were fiercely relatable. A good portion of the problems he faces - from microaggressions to frightening encounters with the police - are all things that have, unfortunately, happened to me before. But, and this is where Alexis truly shines as an author, is that she avoids the all-too-common trauma porn in literature by not just showing the bad things in Dr. Kiếm's life, but the good things as well.
Dr. Kiếm's life isn’t just being harassed by bigots - it is also a life fully lived with a culture that the good doctor is rightfully proud to be part of, and a family (filled with many interesting characters) who, while flawed, are a unit who above all love and support each other. But it is remarkable how intensely I related to Dr. Kiếm's relationship with Heidi because Heidi reminds me of my own partner. They're both goths, they both have similar traumas, and they both have had to navigate and learn the intricacies of racism in America due to being in an interracial relationship with a masculine partner of color. The way Alexis Luna writes the ups and downs of the unique hurdles of an interracial relationship is so true and so vivid that I found myself grateful for the content warnings. Without spoiling anything, there's a scene where Heidi and Dr. Kiếm are in a backwoods restaurant where the patrons do not appreciate their presence. Unfortunately, the way Dr. Kiếm had to make himself meek and non-threatening to the fools in that dive to avoid any confrontation that might not only hurt him, but Heidi as well, is something I've had to do more than once.
But like life itself, the relationship between Heidi and Dr. Kiếm is not just down moments, but so many beautiful ups that allow love to keep life worthwhile and beautiful. Heidi, like my partner, has an immensely hard time getting their blood drawn. Now, in my partner's case, they themself have a fear of needles. In Heidi's case, however, she has a unique form of supernatural hemophobia that causes her to not only faint at the sight of blood, but the ability to see the origin of the wound as well as the thoughts of the wound-bearer themself as they received the wound. It is such a neat concept that leads to some really great scenes that lead me to immense self inspection and a desire to further understand the people in my life.
This ability also leads to a very good structure to the story, where Dr. Kiếm and Heidi not only go through the normal struggles of dating, but also the problems arising from this unique supernatural ability. These dates work so well not just because Heidi and Dr. Kiếm can be charming, fun, and so very true to life but because Alexis Luna uses a back and forth point of view that allows the reader to see the internal thoughts of these two lovers. It was an extremely effective storytelling decision that allowed me to feel as if I was discovering the characters (and their many cool secrets) as if I was a fly on the wall during their adventures together. Plus, the sex scenes are incredible!
Truly, the only reason I'm not giving this book a five star rating is because I really wanted Heidi and Dr. Kiếm's early romantic arc to have more time to breathe. There were so many moments that I think could have been expanded on, even if slightly, to include more of their thoughts as well as the processing of their new life experiences. But really, that's not much of a complaint, since all it means is that I want to read more about Heidi and Dr. Kiếm's.
To Alexis Luna, congratulations on writing a great love story. I look forward to the next book in this series!
But we'll get to my thoughts on that in a second. First, I want to commend Alexis for not only having a list of content warnings at the beginning of this book, but a name pronunciation guide as well. As someone who's regularly had his name mispronounced during the course of his life (Chicano names are surprisingly hard for a ton of Americans!) it was such a delight to have access to a handy guide that helped me learn new names alongside Heidi. It is a such a good idea that I fully intend on adding similar name guides to my own stories as well.
My one complaint in regards to the content warnings list, however, is that my digital copy of this book had the content warnings on the author website, which might have been a barrier to entry if I only had the eBook with no access to my internet. Given how fiercely I related to almost every part of this book, those content warnings were not just welcome, but vital as I began reading this excellent book.
As for the story itself in Love in the Occult Traumatic, it is, as I mentioned in the previous paragraph, excellent. Though the story has a supernatural subplot that drives much of the action, the true center and heart of Love in the Occult Traumatic is the relationship between Heidi Bauer and Dr. Bùi Đức Khiêm which Alexis Luna truly captures in a way so fiercely relatable and true to life that there were times that I had to take a break for a few days just so I could soak in what I was learning about myself and my own romantic relationship.
Though I am not Vietnamese like the main love interest Dr. Kiếm (I am Chicano) many aspects of his viewpoint chapters in the story were fiercely relatable. A good portion of the problems he faces - from microaggressions to frightening encounters with the police - are all things that have, unfortunately, happened to me before. But, and this is where Alexis truly shines as an author, is that she avoids the all-too-common trauma porn in literature by not just showing the bad things in Dr. Kiếm's life, but the good things as well.
Dr. Kiếm's life isn’t just being harassed by bigots - it is also a life fully lived with a culture that the good doctor is rightfully proud to be part of, and a family (filled with many interesting characters) who, while flawed, are a unit who above all love and support each other. But it is remarkable how intensely I related to Dr. Kiếm's relationship with Heidi because Heidi reminds me of my own partner. They're both goths, they both have similar traumas, and they both have had to navigate and learn the intricacies of racism in America due to being in an interracial relationship with a masculine partner of color. The way Alexis Luna writes the ups and downs of the unique hurdles of an interracial relationship is so true and so vivid that I found myself grateful for the content warnings. Without spoiling anything, there's a scene where Heidi and Dr. Kiếm are in a backwoods restaurant where the patrons do not appreciate their presence. Unfortunately, the way Dr. Kiếm had to make himself meek and non-threatening to the fools in that dive to avoid any confrontation that might not only hurt him, but Heidi as well, is something I've had to do more than once.
But like life itself, the relationship between Heidi and Dr. Kiếm is not just down moments, but so many beautiful ups that allow love to keep life worthwhile and beautiful. Heidi, like my partner, has an immensely hard time getting their blood drawn. Now, in my partner's case, they themself have a fear of needles. In Heidi's case, however, she has a unique form of supernatural hemophobia that causes her to not only faint at the sight of blood, but the ability to see the origin of the wound as well as the thoughts of the wound-bearer themself as they received the wound. It is such a neat concept that leads to some really great scenes that lead me to immense self inspection and a desire to further understand the people in my life.
This ability also leads to a very good structure to the story, where Dr. Kiếm and Heidi not only go through the normal struggles of dating, but also the problems arising from this unique supernatural ability. These dates work so well not just because Heidi and Dr. Kiếm can be charming, fun, and so very true to life but because Alexis Luna uses a back and forth point of view that allows the reader to see the internal thoughts of these two lovers. It was an extremely effective storytelling decision that allowed me to feel as if I was discovering the characters (and their many cool secrets) as if I was a fly on the wall during their adventures together. Plus, the sex scenes are incredible!
Truly, the only reason I'm not giving this book a five star rating is because I really wanted Heidi and Dr. Kiếm's early romantic arc to have more time to breathe. There were so many moments that I think could have been expanded on, even if slightly, to include more of their thoughts as well as the processing of their new life experiences. But really, that's not much of a complaint, since all it means is that I want to read more about Heidi and Dr. Kiếm's.
To Alexis Luna, congratulations on writing a great love story. I look forward to the next book in this series!
March 30, 2024
This book really disappointed me. The cover immediately drew me in and the synopsis sounded really interesting and I’m a huge fan of paranormal romance novels. This book is NOT a paranormal romance novel.
Heidi is the female MC in the story. Heidi’s power is not even mentioned until nearly halfway through the book. There is no true explanation of her power. The first half of this book is about Heidi and Khiem going on dates that are nearly always abruptly ended by vague explanations. Khiem the male MC in the story is very reserved and comes off as boring and no personality.
I skipped ahead because I wanted to see if the book touched on Heidi’s powers and we find out she may have a stalker related to her powers but again no full development of that whatsoever just brief hints and no explanation. Another point in this book I struggled with was how Heidi was making a means to live being unemployed and with her spending habits. It wasn’t realistic at all.
The racism and trauma points were well-written. The cover is to die for and very inviting but the plot and over all story was very dull.
The “spice” was very awkward and felt like two teenagers exploring sex for the first time.
Thanks BookSirens for this ARC. I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
Heidi is the female MC in the story. Heidi’s power is not even mentioned until nearly halfway through the book. There is no true explanation of her power. The first half of this book is about Heidi and Khiem going on dates that are nearly always abruptly ended by vague explanations. Khiem the male MC in the story is very reserved and comes off as boring and no personality.
I skipped ahead because I wanted to see if the book touched on Heidi’s powers and we find out she may have a stalker related to her powers but again no full development of that whatsoever just brief hints and no explanation. Another point in this book I struggled with was how Heidi was making a means to live being unemployed and with her spending habits. It wasn’t realistic at all.
The racism and trauma points were well-written. The cover is to die for and very inviting but the plot and over all story was very dull.
The “spice” was very awkward and felt like two teenagers exploring sex for the first time.
Thanks BookSirens for this ARC. I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
May 7, 2025
When I first started this book, I'll be honest and I wasn't sure if I would like it. The plot idea is great, but at first the writing seemed a bit formal in comparison to the books I usually read. I am glad I gave it a chance though because it was great! The formality of the writing makes complete sense as you get to know the characters, and the interweaving of racial and social themes along with the paranormal aspect and romance is a winner.
Looking forward to reading more books from this author!
Looking forward to reading more books from this author!
March 4, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The first thing that drew me to this book was the cover because it is stunning! But the story doesn’t stay behind it was so interesting and so unique. The mental health representation was also really well done. Overall a pretty good debut novel that I recommend.
The first thing that drew me to this book was the cover because it is stunning! But the story doesn’t stay behind it was so interesting and so unique. The mental health representation was also really well done. Overall a pretty good debut novel that I recommend.
March 4, 2024
First off-THIS COVERRRRRR: AMAZING! Also this book was a way cool and super interesting debut author that is on my "Ones to Watch" list. SO GREAT!
July 31, 2024
I absolutely loved this book. It was recommended to me by a friend and ten out of ten.
May 4, 2025
It was quick read. Story was ok, little predicable. I didn't like MMC, he was kinda annoying, little too preachy.
Smut scenes were ok.
Smut scenes were ok.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews