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Grave Situation
He’s not the hero they deserve, but he’s the hero they’ve got.
No, seriously. Talon wants to know what he did to deserve this. What would make a sentient rock decide that he of all people should be the one to save the world from zombies? That’s right. Zombies. Because apparently a higher power decided that teaching magic to teenagers wasn’t enough of a challenge.
With a ridiculously attractive healer (who may or may not hate him), his sister (who he miiiight have a forbidden telepathic link with), a sentient god-like rock (that can only communicate via yes/no vibes), a disdainful dragon, and a rude matchmaking horse by his side, he just might be able to save the world.
Or die trying.
No, seriously. Talon wants to know what he did to deserve this. What would make a sentient rock decide that he of all people should be the one to save the world from zombies? That’s right. Zombies. Because apparently a higher power decided that teaching magic to teenagers wasn’t enough of a challenge.
With a ridiculously attractive healer (who may or may not hate him), his sister (who he miiiight have a forbidden telepathic link with), a sentient god-like rock (that can only communicate via yes/no vibes), a disdainful dragon, and a rude matchmaking horse by his side, he just might be able to save the world.
Or die trying.
18 pages, Audible Audio
First published March 20, 2025
About the author
Louisa Masters
77 books1,684 followersLOUISA MASTERS started reading romance much earlier than her mother thought she should. While other teenagers were sneaking out of the house, Louisa was sneaking romance novels in and working out how to read them without being discovered. She’s spent most of her life feeling sorry for people who don’t read, convinced that books are the solution to every problem. As an adult, she feeds her addiction in every spare second, only occasionally tearing herself away to do things like answer the phone and pay bills. She spent years trying to build a “sensible” career, working in bookstores, recruitment, resource management, administration, and as a travel agent, before finally conceding defeat and devoting herself to the world of romance novels. Louisa has a long list of places first discovered in books that she wants to visit, and every so often she overcomes her loathing of jet lag and takes a trip that charges her imagination. She lives in Melbourne, Australia, where she whines about the weather for most of the year while secretly admitting she’ll probably never move.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 661 reviews
April 19, 2025
It’s been a long while since I've encountered such an enthralling high fantasy novel, and I must say, this one truly captivated me. Though the book was lengthy, I found myself flying through its pages; if I hadn’t had to go to work, I would have undoubtedly finished it even faster, as putting it down was a constant struggle. It was such a delightful experience, and I'm genuinely pleased that I decided to embark on this reading journey.
Initially, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the plot, but it turned out to be far more compelling than I had anticipated. The quest format was particularly engaging, allowing the narrative to unfold in a way that kept me invested. The story did take a darker turn in the second part, but I believe that shift was essential for conveying the serious stakes involved; it served to illustrate that the journey is fraught with peril, proving that not everything is sunny and warm in this world. While I had my suspicions about some of the plot twists, the author still managed to surprise me, which is no small feat.
The worldbuilding crafted by the author was incredibly engaging, demonstrating a profound thoughtfulness and creativity that brought the setting to life. The magic system was particularly enjoyable, featuring unique elements and intriguing restrictions that added depth and complexity, making the experience even more captivating.
The side characters occasionally grated on my nerves, but I can confidently say that I ultimately liked all of them for different reasons. Jaimin, the love interest, won my heart from the very beginning. He's twelve years older than Talon, which is evident in his wisdom and the immense patience he exhibits while navigating Talon’s more impulsive and immature tendencies. Jaimin serves as a source of comfort for Talon and is portrayed as an exceptionally skilled healer—perhaps the best in the realm. His role in the quest turned out to be much more significant than I had initially assumed, adding layers to his character.
Airmen is another character type that I find particularly enjoyable—the naive one who genuinely believes in the goodness of people and the purity of the world. While he retains that innocence throughout the story, he undergoes considerable maturation by the end, showcasing that one can still hold optimistic convictions without being gullible. His clarity about right and wrong adds depth to his character, making him relatable.
Peiris, who joined the group later, is intriguing, but I found myself wanting more information about their backstory. They possess a compelling history that could have enriched the narrative if explored further. Coryn sometimes grated on me with his overly cheerful demeanor, yet I grew to appreciate his character—a true cinnamon roll who, despite his sweetness, is undeniably fierce when needed.
Then there’s Leicht, the dragon—do I even need to elaborate? He is witty and sarcastic, with a delightful grumpiness that I found endearing. The portrayal of dragons in this book is everything I had hoped for from other stories; it truly pays respect to their nature, illustrating that dragons do not simply heed the commands of humans.
Sweetie, the matchmaking horse, was an unexpected delight who stole every scene she graced. Her diva-like personality added a charming layer to the story that I cherished. Tia, Talon’s twin sister, is a competent dragon rider, yet I found her character somewhat annoying, leaving me with little to say about her.
Now, let’s delve into the protagonist himself. Talon was an exceptional lead for this narrative. His humor and quick wit, coupled with a sarcastic edge, made him relatable, and as I witnessed his development throughout the story, I saw him mature remarkably. He remained true to himself, yet he learned to recognize that many people genuinely cared for him, even when he doubted it. His journey was as much about self-acceptance as it was about the external quest, highlighting his growth in believing that he deserves every happiness life has to offer.
The relationship between Talon and Jaimin stands out as one of the most wholesome and mature couples I’ve read about in a long time. Their communication was open and sincere, and the way they leaned on each other was a beautiful aspect of the narrative. The slow burn of their romance was agonizingly captivating, but the eventual confession scene made every moment worthwhile. I was thrilled that their chemistry remained strong even after they became a couple, ensuring their connection felt genuine.
In conclusion, I absolutely loved this book; it was a remarkable addition to the high fantasy genre that I would highly recommend to anyone seeking a well-crafted adventure filled with depth, character development, and genuine emotional connections.
Initially, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the plot, but it turned out to be far more compelling than I had anticipated. The quest format was particularly engaging, allowing the narrative to unfold in a way that kept me invested. The story did take a darker turn in the second part, but I believe that shift was essential for conveying the serious stakes involved; it served to illustrate that the journey is fraught with peril, proving that not everything is sunny and warm in this world. While I had my suspicions about some of the plot twists, the author still managed to surprise me, which is no small feat.
The worldbuilding crafted by the author was incredibly engaging, demonstrating a profound thoughtfulness and creativity that brought the setting to life. The magic system was particularly enjoyable, featuring unique elements and intriguing restrictions that added depth and complexity, making the experience even more captivating.
The side characters occasionally grated on my nerves, but I can confidently say that I ultimately liked all of them for different reasons. Jaimin, the love interest, won my heart from the very beginning. He's twelve years older than Talon, which is evident in his wisdom and the immense patience he exhibits while navigating Talon’s more impulsive and immature tendencies. Jaimin serves as a source of comfort for Talon and is portrayed as an exceptionally skilled healer—perhaps the best in the realm. His role in the quest turned out to be much more significant than I had initially assumed, adding layers to his character.
Airmen is another character type that I find particularly enjoyable—the naive one who genuinely believes in the goodness of people and the purity of the world. While he retains that innocence throughout the story, he undergoes considerable maturation by the end, showcasing that one can still hold optimistic convictions without being gullible. His clarity about right and wrong adds depth to his character, making him relatable.
Peiris, who joined the group later, is intriguing, but I found myself wanting more information about their backstory. They possess a compelling history that could have enriched the narrative if explored further. Coryn sometimes grated on me with his overly cheerful demeanor, yet I grew to appreciate his character—a true cinnamon roll who, despite his sweetness, is undeniably fierce when needed.
Then there’s Leicht, the dragon—do I even need to elaborate? He is witty and sarcastic, with a delightful grumpiness that I found endearing. The portrayal of dragons in this book is everything I had hoped for from other stories; it truly pays respect to their nature, illustrating that dragons do not simply heed the commands of humans.
Sweetie, the matchmaking horse, was an unexpected delight who stole every scene she graced. Her diva-like personality added a charming layer to the story that I cherished. Tia, Talon’s twin sister, is a competent dragon rider, yet I found her character somewhat annoying, leaving me with little to say about her.
Now, let’s delve into the protagonist himself. Talon was an exceptional lead for this narrative. His humor and quick wit, coupled with a sarcastic edge, made him relatable, and as I witnessed his development throughout the story, I saw him mature remarkably. He remained true to himself, yet he learned to recognize that many people genuinely cared for him, even when he doubted it. His journey was as much about self-acceptance as it was about the external quest, highlighting his growth in believing that he deserves every happiness life has to offer.
The relationship between Talon and Jaimin stands out as one of the most wholesome and mature couples I’ve read about in a long time. Their communication was open and sincere, and the way they leaned on each other was a beautiful aspect of the narrative. The slow burn of their romance was agonizingly captivating, but the eventual confession scene made every moment worthwhile. I was thrilled that their chemistry remained strong even after they became a couple, ensuring their connection felt genuine.
In conclusion, I absolutely loved this book; it was a remarkable addition to the high fantasy genre that I would highly recommend to anyone seeking a well-crafted adventure filled with depth, character development, and genuine emotional connections.
August 21, 2026
I wonder how the fucking fuck my life came to this. Oh yeah, it’s because I have a smart mouth and don’t know when to shut up.
Talon is just a smart-mouthed, ambitious second level mage half-heartedly trying to ditch his teaching assignment when he gets drawn into a quest to save the world from zombies. He undergoes character growth while amassing a team to defeat the zombie threat, and falls in love with a healer, a dragon, a horse and a himbo along the way.
“You didn’t say I was allowed to use magic,” I snap, straightening my shirt and yanking my drawers out of my asscrack. I’m counting myself lucky that nothing delicate got twisted up in my clothing during that undignified slide.
I love books about magic and dragons but reading this book taught me that I also need a healthy dose of romance to really enjoy a story. Grave Situation has a fair bit of magic, not nearly enough dragon lore, a bit of political intrigue, the faintest whiff of a romance and some major found family vibes. As I was reading, I thought- this might be a good book to recommend to a fantasy reader who wants to dip a toe into the MM world but is a little apprehensive. Possibly an elderly aunt to whom you can't bear giving a spicy book? The most erotic part of the book happens when one character shows the other how to remove rocks from his horse's hooves.
"It’s my job to sacrifice for my people.” “You have no people. You don’t even like people!”
The book was fine and the writing certainly deserves 4 stars. There was a lot of heart and humour to enjoy, even if there wasn't any heat. I personally prefer reading about romance, and so this book was lacking for me in that aspect. The main characters went from amused indifference to heartfelt declarations of love far too quickly and easily, and the one fade-to-black sex scene had all the intensity of a tepid glass of water. I'm not sure why the author went that route because Talon was a horny guy (I lift my head and study the man with the deep voice. He’s got a big body to go with it—tall and wide. His bushy hair and beard are black with lots of gray, and his stern gaze doesn’t match his words. He’s the kind of man you look at and expect to be… disciplined. In a good way.) but perhaps they thought it would distract from the book's quest. I think it would've greatly improved it, because as good as the writing was, I found myself very bored as they travelled for weeks upon boring weeks. A bored reader like me figures out all the upcoming plot points because there was nothing to distract me, and then in turn I just became more and more bored.
Leicht snorts. “A great many beings care about you, idiot.”
I'm glad I read the book- it truly was quite good- but I would not read anything from Louisa again. Just not my particular cup of tea.
October 22, 2025
Second reading 10/2025
Reread as an audiobook. I giggled like an idiot, shed a few tears, and now I have to force myself not to start it all over again right away. It's absolutely perfect. Michael Lesley has so many nuances in his voices, it's unbelievable, and he nails Talon's snarky, sarcastic voice sooooo perfectly. I'm in love.
First reading 05/2025
Amaaaaaaaaazeballs geeeeeeee!!!!!!!!
That was so damn good. I could hardly put it down. If you didn't have to sleep and work every now and then... I'd love to live in this book.
I am always thrilled when a story is told from the perspective of a single character and yet manages to bring all the characters into play so wonderfully and paint the world in so many shades that you can completely immerse yourself in it.
Talon is a character who comes across as abrasive at first, and I wasn't sure if I would like him, but luckily that feeling didn't last long.
He's funny and outrageous. And I love every single character in this book that he forms a relationship with, especially Sweetie… oh and Coryn.
“Sure. Go ahead and… pet it.” If the stone doesn’t want him touching it, it’ll let us know.
The source of all creation remains quiet, however, and Coryn bends over the low table and gently strokes two fingers over the top of the stone. “Aw,” he murmurs. “That’s nice, isn’t it? I bet people don’t pet you very often.”
I have no words. 🍭😊🍭
The plot is a perfect quest. Not too exciting, mysterious, or confusing. Actually, it's light and predictable, but somehow that works.
The writing style is captivating enough that it doesn't matter when the hunches turn out to be true.
When a main character dies, I'm usually really angry at the book. Strangely enough, that's not the case here. It's abrupt and heartbreaking, but also good? It's hard to describe. It happens early enough in the story that the rest of the narration helps you to get over it.
I really, really like that the plot is the main focus and that the relationship between Talon and Jaimin develops so quietly and nicely, without taking up too much space.
Other than that, though... ooooooooh, they're so cute...
“When we get that tub for our rooms, we should also get a bed so big, we can both lie horizontally across it.”
“Yes. And then we’ll never leave our rooms, and eventually people will start to ask what happened to us, but they’ll never know that we’re living out our lives in peaceful bliss, going from tub to bed and back again.” 😍🫠🥰
Reread as an audiobook. I giggled like an idiot, shed a few tears, and now I have to force myself not to start it all over again right away. It's absolutely perfect. Michael Lesley has so many nuances in his voices, it's unbelievable, and he nails Talon's snarky, sarcastic voice sooooo perfectly. I'm in love.
First reading 05/2025
Amaaaaaaaaazeballs geeeeeeee!!!!!!!!
That was so damn good. I could hardly put it down. If you didn't have to sleep and work every now and then... I'd love to live in this book.
I am always thrilled when a story is told from the perspective of a single character and yet manages to bring all the characters into play so wonderfully and paint the world in so many shades that you can completely immerse yourself in it.
Talon is a character who comes across as abrasive at first, and I wasn't sure if I would like him, but luckily that feeling didn't last long.
He's funny and outrageous. And I love every single character in this book that he forms a relationship with, especially Sweetie… oh and Coryn.
“Sure. Go ahead and… pet it.” If the stone doesn’t want him touching it, it’ll let us know.
The source of all creation remains quiet, however, and Coryn bends over the low table and gently strokes two fingers over the top of the stone. “Aw,” he murmurs. “That’s nice, isn’t it? I bet people don’t pet you very often.”
I have no words. 🍭😊🍭
The plot is a perfect quest. Not too exciting, mysterious, or confusing. Actually, it's light and predictable, but somehow that works.
The writing style is captivating enough that it doesn't matter when the hunches turn out to be true.
When a main character dies, I'm usually really angry at the book. Strangely enough, that's not the case here. It's abrupt and heartbreaking, but also good? It's hard to describe. It happens early enough in the story that the rest of the narration helps you to get over it.
I really, really like that the plot is the main focus and that the relationship between Talon and Jaimin develops so quietly and nicely, without taking up too much space.
Other than that, though... ooooooooh, they're so cute...
“When we get that tub for our rooms, we should also get a bed so big, we can both lie horizontally across it.”
“Yes. And then we’ll never leave our rooms, and eventually people will start to ask what happened to us, but they’ll never know that we’re living out our lives in peaceful bliss, going from tub to bed and back again.” 😍🫠🥰
March 5, 2025
This may just be my favourite fantasy quest story ever!! The plot was very detailed but not confusing and the characters were easy to be invested in. The prophecy was also understandable! I love when the author doesn't give you a prophecy that's so convoluted that you have no clue what's happening 😂
I normally get so frustrated in fantasy stories because they're always MF and the FMC is always ridiculously irritating because all of a sudden they become an all knowing badass warrior woman with all the men fighting over her 😂 Definitely not the case with Talon Silverbright! I adored his snark and his hatred for the great outdoors, especially camping! He entertained me from start to finish and there was also no constant stopping for the love interests to have sex during a time critical mission which always annoys me!! Perfection 👌🏼
The side characters are also really interesting and all have unique personalities so there's no forgetting who everyone is and what their role is. I want a hug from Coryn and I want to put Arimen in a blanket burrito to keep him safe. I also cried so much at THAT scene and I wasn't expecting it so it slapped me in the face from absolutely nowhere!!
The romance was slowburn but then they were very quickly settled which was really refreshing, no relationship drama! Talon and Jaimin just fit together and I loved how they both knew that the mission was the priority, not their relationship, but we do get to see them being loving and affectionate with each other, which felt like the perfect balance.
Really enjoyed this and I would happily read more stories set in this world.
*****
I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review
I normally get so frustrated in fantasy stories because they're always MF and the FMC is always ridiculously irritating because all of a sudden they become an all knowing badass warrior woman with all the men fighting over her 😂 Definitely not the case with Talon Silverbright! I adored his snark and his hatred for the great outdoors, especially camping! He entertained me from start to finish and there was also no constant stopping for the love interests to have sex during a time critical mission which always annoys me!! Perfection 👌🏼
The side characters are also really interesting and all have unique personalities so there's no forgetting who everyone is and what their role is. I want a hug from Coryn and I want to put Arimen in a blanket burrito to keep him safe. I also cried so much at THAT scene and I wasn't expecting it so it slapped me in the face from absolutely nowhere!!
The romance was slowburn but then they were very quickly settled which was really refreshing, no relationship drama! Talon and Jaimin just fit together and I loved how they both knew that the mission was the priority, not their relationship, but we do get to see them being loving and affectionate with each other, which felt like the perfect balance.
Really enjoyed this and I would happily read more stories set in this world.
*****
I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review
April 3, 2025
This book would have to be one of my favourite High Fantasy Quest Stories that I have encountered in recent memory and the blurb really doesn’t do it justice at all.
Talon Silverbright, a reluctant professor and talented telepath, working towards becoming the youngest person to ever gain their Mastery at the Academy of Mages, finds a farmer on the doorstep of the Academy (for no reason the farmer can decern) and in his possession happens to be the Stone of Creation, and the Stone has decided it has a quest that needs fulfilling.
Talon is really my favourite kind of protagonist; hes snarky, sarcastic and charming but loves deeply for the people who are important to him and undergoes so much character growth over the course of becoming a reluctant hero. All the characters were honestly just delightful (Tia the Dragon Rider twin sister with her snarky dragon Leicht and Coryn the Himbo guard were my favourites)
I was so entertained reading this and thought that the journey was paced well, I didn’t feel like things dragged which I can find are easy traps for these sorts of books to fall into. I also really enjoyed the found family vibes that this brought to the table and the interpersonal relationships between the characters were so delightfully charming.
I must admit that I was not expecting the directions things took at the midway point AT ALL and was shocked and found myself unexpectedly emotional at the development.
While I loved this book and this reading experience, but I won’t say that it is without flaws… I think that the ending was a little anticlimactic given how well executed the journey was. There was an element of it that felt like perhaps the author might have struggled with working out how to extract themselves from the narrative they built and just had to bail out. Looking at the author’s backlog I don’t think that they have really attempted to tackle an Epic High Fantasy story of this scale before, so I wonder if this is a little bit of an inexperience element for them.
I would also say that while there is a romantic subplot present here between Talon and Jaimin (which I enjoyed), do not enter into this book if the romance is what you are after (strange thing to say considering the author seems to primarily write PNR). The romance does not have a heap of page time and is all very PG. Talon and Jaiman’s chemistry worked best for me prior to their getting together and kind of flatlined a little after that. Honestly, I felt like the author kind of fumbled the bag a little on their romantic confession scene too. Just little things struck me as odd, like the author went through the effort to establish a fun little historical meet cute and that there was an age gap between them but then didn’t really do much more than initially bringing it up, stuck me as strange choices.
Please don’t let those minor complaints put you off though, this is still a 4.5 star read (rounded up) for me just based off the plot and the entertainment value and I am mostly just sad that the story wasn’t spilt into two books to allow for more time dedicated to the bits I wish had had a little more page time to breath haha.
This was a fantastic High Fantasy journey featuring humor, found family, magic, dragons and zombies.
Talon Silverbright, a reluctant professor and talented telepath, working towards becoming the youngest person to ever gain their Mastery at the Academy of Mages, finds a farmer on the doorstep of the Academy (for no reason the farmer can decern) and in his possession happens to be the Stone of Creation, and the Stone has decided it has a quest that needs fulfilling.
Talon is really my favourite kind of protagonist; hes snarky, sarcastic and charming but loves deeply for the people who are important to him and undergoes so much character growth over the course of becoming a reluctant hero. All the characters were honestly just delightful (Tia the Dragon Rider twin sister with her snarky dragon Leicht and Coryn the Himbo guard were my favourites)
I was so entertained reading this and thought that the journey was paced well, I didn’t feel like things dragged which I can find are easy traps for these sorts of books to fall into. I also really enjoyed the found family vibes that this brought to the table and the interpersonal relationships between the characters were so delightfully charming.
I must admit that I was not expecting the directions things took at the midway point AT ALL and was shocked and found myself unexpectedly emotional at the development.
While I loved this book and this reading experience, but I won’t say that it is without flaws… I think that the ending was a little anticlimactic given how well executed the journey was. There was an element of it that felt like perhaps the author might have struggled with working out how to extract themselves from the narrative they built and just had to bail out. Looking at the author’s backlog I don’t think that they have really attempted to tackle an Epic High Fantasy story of this scale before, so I wonder if this is a little bit of an inexperience element for them.
I would also say that while there is a romantic subplot present here between Talon and Jaimin (which I enjoyed), do not enter into this book if the romance is what you are after (strange thing to say considering the author seems to primarily write PNR). The romance does not have a heap of page time and is all very PG. Talon and Jaiman’s chemistry worked best for me prior to their getting together and kind of flatlined a little after that. Honestly, I felt like the author kind of fumbled the bag a little on their romantic confession scene too. Just little things struck me as odd, like the author went through the effort to establish a fun little historical meet cute and that there was an age gap between them but then didn’t really do much more than initially bringing it up, stuck me as strange choices.
Please don’t let those minor complaints put you off though, this is still a 4.5 star read (rounded up) for me just based off the plot and the entertainment value and I am mostly just sad that the story wasn’t spilt into two books to allow for more time dedicated to the bits I wish had had a little more page time to breath haha.
This was a fantastic High Fantasy journey featuring humor, found family, magic, dragons and zombies.
March 20, 2025
This book made me rage! And that's exactly what I want from a high fantasy novel.
Not necessarily the rage situation, but to feel that level of emotion because of what's happened in the story and, without any spoilers, it's a bloody hard moment to deal with.
Louisa's voice is still clear in this narrative, even though it's not as humorous as her paranormal romance works, but the sharp snark of Talon Silverbright is a cousin in attitude of Sam from her Hidden Species world.
The ragtag group of misfits he gathers around him as he sets off on a quest to save the world, well find the champion who's going to do it, are wonderfully portrayed, each bringing something unique to the party.
I loved all of them, even the sentient rock of life has its own personality without ever expressing more than a yes or no answer.
The adventure follows tried and tested formula for high fantasy, there's high jinks, there's dodgy characters, there's ever present danger, and there's consequences, with a loss that knifes you in the heart with its suddenness.
I'm still not over it, and I wish Louisa had taken a different road, but I also see the "rightness" of it for the storytelling, and I admire her for taking that tough path and proving that there are prices to pay in saving the world.
If I had one criticism of the book, it's that the romance is very much the secondary plot.
Now, while I appreciated beyond words that Talon and his healer lover Jaimin didn't get down and dirty with danger on the horizon, I would still have liked to see something on page!
As it is, pretty much all that side of things happened off page and in passing references, which was a real shame.
It's not unusual for a high fantasy story, the romance elements are often just given a brief moment here and there, but I'm greedy and I would have loved to see them exploring their feelings and getting intimate.
That doesn't stop me from loving everything about this book though!
I really, really hope this isn't a one-off in this world, we have a map and everything! There's corners I want to explore and places I want to find out more about.
#ARC kindly received from the author, I am voluntarily leaving a review
Not necessarily the rage situation, but to feel that level of emotion because of what's happened in the story and, without any spoilers, it's a bloody hard moment to deal with.
Louisa's voice is still clear in this narrative, even though it's not as humorous as her paranormal romance works, but the sharp snark of Talon Silverbright is a cousin in attitude of Sam from her Hidden Species world.
The ragtag group of misfits he gathers around him as he sets off on a quest to save the world, well find the champion who's going to do it, are wonderfully portrayed, each bringing something unique to the party.
I loved all of them, even the sentient rock of life has its own personality without ever expressing more than a yes or no answer.
The adventure follows tried and tested formula for high fantasy, there's high jinks, there's dodgy characters, there's ever present danger, and there's consequences, with a loss that knifes you in the heart with its suddenness.
I'm still not over it, and I wish Louisa had taken a different road, but I also see the "rightness" of it for the storytelling, and I admire her for taking that tough path and proving that there are prices to pay in saving the world.
If I had one criticism of the book, it's that the romance is very much the secondary plot.
Now, while I appreciated beyond words that Talon and his healer lover Jaimin didn't get down and dirty with danger on the horizon, I would still have liked to see something on page!
As it is, pretty much all that side of things happened off page and in passing references, which was a real shame.
It's not unusual for a high fantasy story, the romance elements are often just given a brief moment here and there, but I'm greedy and I would have loved to see them exploring their feelings and getting intimate.
That doesn't stop me from loving everything about this book though!
I really, really hope this isn't a one-off in this world, we have a map and everything! There's corners I want to explore and places I want to find out more about.
#ARC kindly received from the author, I am voluntarily leaving a review
April 14, 2025
572 pages of awesomeness.
I loved snarky Talon and his fierce twin Tia. Loved steady and caring Jaimin, lovely Coryn and obviously I loved Leicht the dragon, how could I not..
The storyline was never boring, the world building was fantastic without any info dump.
This had more fantasy than romance, in the best combination possible. The romance between Talon and Jaimin was first subtle then got stronger, without misunderstandings or drama. It felt like a beautiful backdrop to a fantastic quest. I appreciated the total lack of smut, such a good decision in my opinion (for this story).
I'm glad I read in a review that the plot wasn't all quirky and light, so I was prepared for some gut punching incidents. And boy, did it wreck me when it hit.
But I had so much fun, too. Reading with a smile on my face is the best reading.
I'm sure I'll reread this, soon, and already can't wait to spend time with this awesome group of friends again.
And yeah, Talon especially...
”Fine,” I grumble. “We’ll leave in the morning. But after breakfast. None of this sunrise bollocks.”
“Talon doesn’t like mornings,” Tia informs Coryn. “Or afternoons, to be fair. Or people. Or horses.”
“Please, continue,” I invite acidly. She makes it sound like all of that is unreasonable.
I loved snarky Talon and his fierce twin Tia. Loved steady and caring Jaimin, lovely Coryn and obviously I loved Leicht the dragon, how could I not..
The storyline was never boring, the world building was fantastic without any info dump.
This had more fantasy than romance, in the best combination possible. The romance between Talon and Jaimin was first subtle then got stronger, without misunderstandings or drama. It felt like a beautiful backdrop to a fantastic quest. I appreciated the total lack of smut, such a good decision in my opinion (for this story).
I'm glad I read in a review that the plot wasn't all quirky and light, so I was prepared for some gut punching incidents. And boy, did it wreck me when it hit.
But I had so much fun, too. Reading with a smile on my face is the best reading.
I'm sure I'll reread this, soon, and already can't wait to spend time with this awesome group of friends again.
And yeah, Talon especially...
”Fine,” I grumble. “We’ll leave in the morning. But after breakfast. None of this sunrise bollocks.”
“Talon doesn’t like mornings,” Tia informs Coryn. “Or afternoons, to be fair. Or people. Or horses.”
“Please, continue,” I invite acidly. She makes it sound like all of that is unreasonable.
April 10, 2025
I'm so disappointed by this book. It started out as a great fantasy with promising world building elements that I was excited for.
Then, it unfortunately turned downhill pretty fast after a major event (see details below after the spoiler warning).
The elements that intrigued me from he get-go are the humorous storytelling, the lovely characters, Talon and Tia's twin telepathic bond, and the magic system with the zombies. In combination, they seemed to merge into a fun adventure with an important and grave mission. For the first 45%, I truly believed this would be a lighthearted fantasy with a touch of romance and a great found family on a mission. Instead, it turned very, very dark very quickly. The book kinda lost me after that.
The romance between Talon, our main character, and Jaimin, the love interest, is subpar. They have literally no chemistry or relationship development. Talon has more in-depth conversations with his other travelling companions than with Jaimin before they confess their undying love for each other. It was not satisfying at all.
I honestly loved their little unit from the beginning. The group grew with more and more great additions. And not the kind that we're used to. But with sweet but fierce warriors and young but wise boys. Together with Talon and his grumpy anti-hero self, Jaimin's kind demeanour, and Tia's fierce bravery, it could have been a great story.
I'm really sad that the great building blocks of a great fantasy were used so poorly. It could have been so good. I am honestly shocked by all the 5-star reviews.
SPOILERS AFTER THIS.
Now, let's talk about the death of one of the main characters. I don't consider Tia, Talon's twin, who he has a constant connection with a secondary character. So her death to move the story along was a very cheap move. And don't even get me started on killing off the ONLY meaningful female character. I started to notice this very disturbing trend in MM authors that they focus so much on having enough male characters to build their never-ending series that they literally don't have females in their books. It's freaking weird to me. And in this book? Tia was one of my favourite characters, and I was so happy that such an important role as the MC's twin is cast to a strong and capable female. A fearless dragon rider. So when she was killed off to further his brother's plot, I was furious. I can't look past this.
HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book to share my honest review.*
Then, it unfortunately turned downhill pretty fast after a major event (see details below after the spoiler warning).
The elements that intrigued me from he get-go are the humorous storytelling, the lovely characters, Talon and Tia's twin telepathic bond, and the magic system with the zombies. In combination, they seemed to merge into a fun adventure with an important and grave mission. For the first 45%, I truly believed this would be a lighthearted fantasy with a touch of romance and a great found family on a mission. Instead, it turned very, very dark very quickly. The book kinda lost me after that.
The romance between Talon, our main character, and Jaimin, the love interest, is subpar. They have literally no chemistry or relationship development. Talon has more in-depth conversations with his other travelling companions than with Jaimin before they confess their undying love for each other. It was not satisfying at all.
I honestly loved their little unit from the beginning. The group grew with more and more great additions. And not the kind that we're used to. But with sweet but fierce warriors and young but wise boys. Together with Talon and his grumpy anti-hero self, Jaimin's kind demeanour, and Tia's fierce bravery, it could have been a great story.
I'm really sad that the great building blocks of a great fantasy were used so poorly. It could have been so good. I am honestly shocked by all the 5-star reviews.
SPOILERS AFTER THIS.
Now, let's talk about the death of one of the main characters. I don't consider Tia, Talon's twin, who he has a constant connection with a secondary character. So her death to move the story along was a very cheap move. And don't even get me started on killing off the ONLY meaningful female character. I started to notice this very disturbing trend in MM authors that they focus so much on having enough male characters to build their never-ending series that they literally don't have females in their books. It's freaking weird to me. And in this book? Tia was one of my favourite characters, and I was so happy that such an important role as the MC's twin is cast to a strong and capable female. A fearless dragon rider. So when she was killed off to further his brother's plot, I was furious. I can't look past this.
HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book to share my honest review.*
April 4, 2025
⭐️ 5 stars ⭐️
TROPES:
🪨 World-saving quest
🪨 Dragons
🪨 Found family
🪨 Slow burn
Going into this I was worried, not gonna lie. From the blurb it felt like there would be too much going on — zombies, magic, dragons — but it worked all so well together and I had a blast following Talon and his group of misfits on their quest for a champion.
Grave Situation is a fantasy with a romantic subplot.
The romance is the only element I felt a bit missing here. It’s a bit of a slow/fast burn, where it starts super slow and goes to 100 real quick. I loved Talon and Jaimin, so I kind of wanted more of them. Apart from that, this was perfect.
Talon, our underdog protagonist, was a fun character. I loved his badass, gives-zero-fucks vibe, his charm and humor.
The rest of the cast was so full of depth and amazing in their own way. Every time a new character was introduced I kept thinking ‘they’re my favorite!’, because they were all so cute and cared about each other. Sweetie the mischievous matchmaker horse, Leicht the dragon, the sentient life stone (was surprisingly hilarious), Talon’s Master, his dragon rider sister… I could go on forever.
And let’s not forget Coryn, sweet baby Himbo guard. I mean, he wanted to pet the life stone. It can’t get more precious than that.
I kind of wish this was longer (or a series?), just so we could explore these awesome characters a little more.
I really enjoyed this fantastical story and hope Louisa Masters has more planned for this fun world.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
CWs (spoilers):
- Violence
- Mild zombie gore
- No spice/FTB
- Age gap (circa 10 years)
-
TROPES:
🪨 World-saving quest
🪨 Dragons
🪨 Found family
🪨 Slow burn
“You’re not doing anything foolish, are you?” That depends on whether threatening the source of all creation can be considered foolish.
Personally, I think it lands solidly in the maybe column.
Going into this I was worried, not gonna lie. From the blurb it felt like there would be too much going on — zombies, magic, dragons — but it worked all so well together and I had a blast following Talon and his group of misfits on their quest for a champion.
Grave Situation is a fantasy with a romantic subplot.
The romance is the only element I felt a bit missing here. It’s a bit of a slow/fast burn, where it starts super slow and goes to 100 real quick. I loved Talon and Jaimin, so I kind of wanted more of them. Apart from that, this was perfect.
“Gods turds’, Talon, are you threatening your horse? She can’t understand you!” I narrow my eyes, not taking them off Sweetie’s. “Oh, she understands.”
Talon, our underdog protagonist, was a fun character. I loved his badass, gives-zero-fucks vibe, his charm and humor.
The rest of the cast was so full of depth and amazing in their own way. Every time a new character was introduced I kept thinking ‘they’re my favorite!’, because they were all so cute and cared about each other. Sweetie the mischievous matchmaker horse, Leicht the dragon, the sentient life stone (was surprisingly hilarious), Talon’s Master, his dragon rider sister… I could go on forever.
“I like cuddles, but people don’t always like to give them.”
And let’s not forget Coryn, sweet baby Himbo guard. I mean, he wanted to pet the life stone. It can’t get more precious than that.
I kind of wish this was longer (or a series?), just so we could explore these awesome characters a little more.
I really enjoyed this fantastical story and hope Louisa Masters has more planned for this fun world.
“I want to know every part of you.”
“Every part of me belongs to you,” I promise.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
CWs (spoilers):
- Violence
- Mild zombie gore
- No spice/FTB
- Age gap (circa 10 years)
-
March 17, 2026
#The52BookClub
33. A Standalone Fantasy Novel
I will read anything by this author🧡
May 4, 2025
My new favourite Lousia Masters!
Grave Situation is a chunky high fantasy featuring a motely group on a journey to find the one who can put a stop to the zombies and the necromancer(s) raising them, a lot of banter, and a slow-burn romance that doesn't take over the whole plot. Oh and there's dragons!
The majority of the story is spent on the journey, our quest goers traveling around a fantasy with a really interesting history. I enjoyed the worldbuilding here, and it along with our group of character's made for a great time!
I hope we get more set in this world as I'd love to see how Talon and co are doing, even if only a cameo in someone else's story.
Grave Situation is a chunky high fantasy featuring a motely group on a journey to find the one who can put a stop to the zombies and the necromancer(s) raising them, a lot of banter, and a slow-burn romance that doesn't take over the whole plot. Oh and there's dragons!
The majority of the story is spent on the journey, our quest goers traveling around a fantasy with a really interesting history. I enjoyed the worldbuilding here, and it along with our group of character's made for a great time!
I hope we get more set in this world as I'd love to see how Talon and co are doing, even if only a cameo in someone else's story.
October 20, 2025
From someone that's not a huge fan of fantasy
and very picky about the genre,
this was perfect. Five thumbs up!
That is all. 👍👍👍👍👍
and very picky about the genre,
this was perfect. Five thumbs up!
That is all. 👍👍👍👍👍
April 23, 2025
I absolutely loved this one!!! I’m not a huge PNR reader, but I was totally sucked into this story. I loved all the characters and the world building was fantastic. The only thing I didn’t like was the zombies BUT the author didn’t really get into a deep description with any gore, so I was good.
Highly recommend!!
Highly recommend!!
February 25, 2026
Death of a secondary character is not warning enough when the dead is the main character’s twin sister, with who he was so connected!! She was as main character as his brother, the only thing making her disappear from the brook is her death, not her lack of importance. And she kept being mentioned constantly after that. She was a main character and I can’t understand how people on Patreon cheered on that, sorry.
A better way should have been found, or just encounter another dragon and with the explanation of “magic” have the same result. Specially when the author has flaws in her own worldbuilding when Jaimin asks if something hurts when he’s already said he could feel when something is wrong, the question didn’t add up. Further more, he follows up asking to heal a shoulder he can feel is bruised. So, yeah, no killing the sister, please.
The couple didn’t really talk other than about the mission until 60%, I don’t know how (or why) Jaimin developed feelings for Talon, who has a crush on him, but there’s not further explanation about his feelings developing into something else. And then they talk once and confess feelings that weren’t seen before and everything should be fine because they explain very nicely why the like each other, even when it wasn’t really seen their development. Or, at lest, not in a way I could see it. Lips quirking, horse pushing… but not real talking to each other and bonding. I wholeheartedly approve of the absence of bed scenes, but not seen the couple falling in love it’s another thing altogether. I wouldn’t call this book a romance but a fantasy with a side romance. Without the death of the sister I might have like it even with it not being purely a romance, I can’t approve of a mayor character dying thought.
It’s a chapter missing between forty-five and forty-six? I don’t understand how he past from “well talk in the morning” to “leaving”.
There is also too much smirking and embarrassing situations, the former is not charming nor nice, and the later not funny, rather absurd. And all that confrontation with Leicht and Sweety, was not funny either. The elements for a good story were there, but I didn’t like the execution, sorry.
And muscles don’t flex, by the way, they contract or expand allowing joints make the movement (the are the ones how do the movement). And why is always flexing and not extension or rotation, for example? Which are other valid movements of the joints.
«You’re not stupid (…) Don’t let anyone call you that. Just because this kind of thinking isn’t where you do best doesn’t mean you’re stupid.»
A better way should have been found, or just encounter another dragon and with the explanation of “magic” have the same result. Specially when the author has flaws in her own worldbuilding when Jaimin asks if something hurts when he’s already said he could feel when something is wrong, the question didn’t add up. Further more, he follows up asking to heal a shoulder he can feel is bruised. So, yeah, no killing the sister, please.
The couple didn’t really talk other than about the mission until 60%, I don’t know how (or why) Jaimin developed feelings for Talon, who has a crush on him, but there’s not further explanation about his feelings developing into something else. And then they talk once and confess feelings that weren’t seen before and everything should be fine because they explain very nicely why the like each other, even when it wasn’t really seen their development. Or, at lest, not in a way I could see it. Lips quirking, horse pushing… but not real talking to each other and bonding. I wholeheartedly approve of the absence of bed scenes, but not seen the couple falling in love it’s another thing altogether. I wouldn’t call this book a romance but a fantasy with a side romance. Without the death of the sister I might have like it even with it not being purely a romance, I can’t approve of a mayor character dying thought.
It’s a chapter missing between forty-five and forty-six? I don’t understand how he past from “well talk in the morning” to “leaving”.
There is also too much smirking and embarrassing situations, the former is not charming nor nice, and the later not funny, rather absurd. And all that confrontation with Leicht and Sweety, was not funny either. The elements for a good story were there, but I didn’t like the execution, sorry.
And muscles don’t flex, by the way, they contract or expand allowing joints make the movement (the are the ones how do the movement). And why is always flexing and not extension or rotation, for example? Which are other valid movements of the joints.
«You’re not stupid (…) Don’t let anyone call you that. Just because this kind of thinking isn’t where you do best doesn’t mean you’re stupid.»
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2025
4.5 stars.
I love this book and recommend it. I have a few criticisms which I will cover later, but I’m glad I persevered past an annoying narrator because this book was satisfying.
Talon is a master mage’s apprentice and teaches first year mage students. He HATES teaching, but is really good at it. He does everything he can to keep his students safe and is the only teacher in the history to not have one die on his watch. Cause magic is dangerous and young people are dumb.
When a stone (which is the source of all creation) comes into the hands of his master, he is sent off on a quest to find the champion who will save the world. Joining his snarky self is his twin sister Tia and her bonded dragon Leicht; his crush, the master healer Jaimin who he once told to “suck my XXXX”; and a horse, Sweetie, who seems to be only grumpy for him and who is constantly tossing him into the arms of Jaimin. The found family is STRONG in this one. Others join Talon on his journey, including Coryn (the sweetest man on the face of the planet who just wants cuddles but will also kill anyone who threatens his mission/people), Arimen (the priest acolyte who is a true believer and full of wonder and kindness), and Peiris (the mysterious warrior who knows more than they should).
Talon’s interactions with all of them are AMAZING. The found family is STRONG in this one. What starts off with snark ends with love and friendship and family. Talon pushes people away but learns to open himself up and truly see his companions. He has a very fraught relationship with the stone… and everyone else. But the only person he doesn’t apologize to and truly accept is himself… and maybe the stone, too.
The world building is well done for this story. There are five groups of folks in the world that have prominence in this story. Dragons, their riders, mages, healers, and religious leaders. Of course, there are also ordinary folks and nobles, but that isn’t quite as important… though there are still some standout side characters. I kinda wanted to understand the world building better. Like, no one has a problem with a talking stone… and what’s up with the gods… and why do other countries have other prophesies… and did the villain really do this for THAT reason!?
This is a traveling quest adventure and the journey allows Talon to learn about himself and gather some amazing people around him.
And, he gets to fall in love.
Now, onto my criticism. I am not sure this book would pass the Bechdel Test, and that’s sad. The requirements to pass are:
1. Two named women characters.
2. Have a conversation.
3. About something other than a man.
His sister Tia is strongly featured in this book; however, most every other main character is male (including her dragon). They pick up Peiris towards the end of the book, but they are non-gendered (use of they rather than she). Yes, we do meet the queen and Talon’s mom, but they don’t really talk to each other much.
There is a female villain but she doesn’t have other women around her.
It’s bizarre that this book is written by a woman and features women here and there… but still, I’m not sure that this book would pass! Why isn’t at least one other member of their traveling group a woman? Or the dragon!?
It’s a small criticism and a LOT of books don’t pass the Bechdel test… but for whatever reason, this just stood out to me. Maybe because of Tia and how strong she is, but there’s no other women on her level.
The other criticism is how I didn’t really feel the romance. I loved so many of the characters, but there was something emotionally distant for me related to how Talon and Jaimin fall in love and I can’t put my finger on it.
Finally, the audiobook narrator was SO irritating. His accents drove me crazy, especially for how he voices Talon. I almost didn’t finish this book because of it, but I’m so glad I persevered. I ended up speeding up the narration to 1.4X and that helped. The main narration was drawled in the most annoying way. The narrator does a REALLY good job with the dragon Leicht and the stone. I loved how those two characters sounded.
Overall, this was a pleasure and I loved spending time with Talon.
Trigger warning: There is violence and death and one scene especially was so so so so so so sad.
I love this book and recommend it. I have a few criticisms which I will cover later, but I’m glad I persevered past an annoying narrator because this book was satisfying.
Talon is a master mage’s apprentice and teaches first year mage students. He HATES teaching, but is really good at it. He does everything he can to keep his students safe and is the only teacher in the history to not have one die on his watch. Cause magic is dangerous and young people are dumb.
When a stone (which is the source of all creation) comes into the hands of his master, he is sent off on a quest to find the champion who will save the world. Joining his snarky self is his twin sister Tia and her bonded dragon Leicht; his crush, the master healer Jaimin who he once told to “suck my XXXX”; and a horse, Sweetie, who seems to be only grumpy for him and who is constantly tossing him into the arms of Jaimin. The found family is STRONG in this one. Others join Talon on his journey, including Coryn (the sweetest man on the face of the planet who just wants cuddles but will also kill anyone who threatens his mission/people), Arimen (the priest acolyte who is a true believer and full of wonder and kindness), and Peiris (the mysterious warrior who knows more than they should).
Talon’s interactions with all of them are AMAZING. The found family is STRONG in this one. What starts off with snark ends with love and friendship and family. Talon pushes people away but learns to open himself up and truly see his companions. He has a very fraught relationship with the stone… and everyone else. But the only person he doesn’t apologize to and truly accept is himself… and maybe the stone, too.
The world building is well done for this story. There are five groups of folks in the world that have prominence in this story. Dragons, their riders, mages, healers, and religious leaders. Of course, there are also ordinary folks and nobles, but that isn’t quite as important… though there are still some standout side characters. I kinda wanted to understand the world building better. Like, no one has a problem with a talking stone… and what’s up with the gods… and why do other countries have other prophesies… and did the villain really do this for THAT reason!?
This is a traveling quest adventure and the journey allows Talon to learn about himself and gather some amazing people around him.
And, he gets to fall in love.
Now, onto my criticism. I am not sure this book would pass the Bechdel Test, and that’s sad. The requirements to pass are:
1. Two named women characters.
2. Have a conversation.
3. About something other than a man.
His sister Tia is strongly featured in this book; however, most every other main character is male (including her dragon). They pick up Peiris towards the end of the book, but they are non-gendered (use of they rather than she). Yes, we do meet the queen and Talon’s mom, but they don’t really talk to each other much.
There is a female villain but she doesn’t have other women around her.
It’s bizarre that this book is written by a woman and features women here and there… but still, I’m not sure that this book would pass! Why isn’t at least one other member of their traveling group a woman? Or the dragon!?
It’s a small criticism and a LOT of books don’t pass the Bechdel test… but for whatever reason, this just stood out to me. Maybe because of Tia and how strong she is, but there’s no other women on her level.
The other criticism is how I didn’t really feel the romance. I loved so many of the characters, but there was something emotionally distant for me related to how Talon and Jaimin fall in love and I can’t put my finger on it.
Finally, the audiobook narrator was SO irritating. His accents drove me crazy, especially for how he voices Talon. I almost didn’t finish this book because of it, but I’m so glad I persevered. I ended up speeding up the narration to 1.4X and that helped. The main narration was drawled in the most annoying way. The narrator does a REALLY good job with the dragon Leicht and the stone. I loved how those two characters sounded.
Overall, this was a pleasure and I loved spending time with Talon.
Trigger warning: There is violence and death and one scene especially was so so so so so so sad.
November 13, 2025
yo that was a fun quest!!! i loved talon and tia and leicht and coryn is such a himbo ◕⩊◕
tho i think the book dipped after 80% and it just turned rushed and anticlimactic ;-;
tho i think the book dipped after 80% and it just turned rushed and anticlimactic ;-;
February 16, 2026
Really unexpected, more standard quest fantasy than romance, but the romance plot is so sweet and healthy and rewarding. And the voice of the PoV character is just everything.
May 22, 2025
Definitely enjoyed that, but the romance took a significant back seat. Would’ve rated higher otherwise.
August 23, 2025
4.5 stars
If only you knew how much I appreciate this book… finally, an M/M fantasy that isn’t 40% smut and 60% story (sometimes even less).
This one actually has a story—like, a real plot! Sure, the pacing could’ve used a bit of tightening (some of the travel scenes dragged more than necessary), but overall, this book was fantastic.
It’s highly entertaining, the characters are engaging, and the story is actually worth reading. Honestly, I wish more M/M authors would take this route and give us plot-heavy books once in a while. But hey, that might just be me—I’ve had a very “love-hate” relationship with smut for years now. And by love-hate, I mean: I love the story, and I hate (and I skip) the smut. Every. Single. Time.
So if you want a M-M fantasy book that delivers an actual plot instead of endless sweaty pages—this one’s for you.
If only you knew how much I appreciate this book… finally, an M/M fantasy that isn’t 40% smut and 60% story (sometimes even less).
This one actually has a story—like, a real plot! Sure, the pacing could’ve used a bit of tightening (some of the travel scenes dragged more than necessary), but overall, this book was fantastic.
It’s highly entertaining, the characters are engaging, and the story is actually worth reading. Honestly, I wish more M/M authors would take this route and give us plot-heavy books once in a while. But hey, that might just be me—I’ve had a very “love-hate” relationship with smut for years now. And by love-hate, I mean: I love the story, and I hate (and I skip) the smut. Every. Single. Time.
So if you want a M-M fantasy book that delivers an actual plot instead of endless sweaty pages—this one’s for you.
May 29, 2025
4⭐️ I loved this! Epic fantasy quest that’s mostly lighthearted and funny with witty, snarky banter. But it also has heartwarming friendships and tragic moments.
Great world-building and exciting quest plot.
I just wish it had more romance! The romance was very secondary to everything else. It was sweet but very anticlimactic, with no spice. I don’t need spice but I definitely wanted more emotion or angst or flirting prior to them getting together.
This would be a great YA comedy-fantasy for younger readers. Very similar to Assistant to the Villain.
Great world-building and exciting quest plot.
I just wish it had more romance! The romance was very secondary to everything else. It was sweet but very anticlimactic, with no spice. I don’t need spice but I definitely wanted more emotion or angst or flirting prior to them getting together.
This would be a great YA comedy-fantasy for younger readers. Very similar to Assistant to the Villain.
May 10, 2025
“fate and free will. what a fun combination.”
this book was so good right up until the 65% mark.
i loved all the character dynamics, the quest was initially really well paced and it had a surprising amount of emotional depth, basically everything about the setup of this book felt like it was going to be five stars.
but somewhere near the end it began to lose a little steam. the quest leading up to the ending felt like it carried less emotional weight with how fast everything began to happen, the romance was difficult to get invested in after they got together and the ending just felt like a very convenient way to tie up the story without a lot of payoff for the journey.
and while all these problems usually wouldn't have bothered me that much, i'm in the midst of a horrible reading slump and so i didn't have the patience to put up with it like i usually do. despite how negative my review sounds i can understand why people enjoyed it, it's a solid read that i may revisit when i'm feeling less picky!
this book was so good right up until the 65% mark.
i loved all the character dynamics, the quest was initially really well paced and it had a surprising amount of emotional depth, basically everything about the setup of this book felt like it was going to be five stars.
but somewhere near the end it began to lose a little steam. the quest leading up to the ending felt like it carried less emotional weight with how fast everything began to happen, the romance was difficult to get invested in after they got together and the ending just felt like a very convenient way to tie up the story without a lot of payoff for the journey.
and while all these problems usually wouldn't have bothered me that much, i'm in the midst of a horrible reading slump and so i didn't have the patience to put up with it like i usually do. despite how negative my review sounds i can understand why people enjoyed it, it's a solid read that i may revisit when i'm feeling less picky!
July 10, 2025
5+ stars. Audiobook. Fun, emotional, pure entertainment, wonderfully irreverent main character. Adventure, questing, magic, dragons. This was such a joy to listen to, wonderful journey of assembling the right people to get the job done. The pleasure is in that journey, making friends, finding love, dealing with loss, communicating with an unhelpful relic, epic. Excellent writing, excellent pacing and editing. Fans of A Lightning Struck Heart by TJ Klune will enjoy this story.
The narration by Michael Lindsey is truely inspired. The tone, energy, voices, accents, pacing and emotion is absolutely wonderful.
HEA, m/m, no heat, mild angst, medium drama, much fun, irreverent MC, character death, healer, teacher, magic, dragons, quest, adventure.
The narration by Michael Lindsey is truely inspired. The tone, energy, voices, accents, pacing and emotion is absolutely wonderful.
HEA, m/m, no heat, mild angst, medium drama, much fun, irreverent MC, character death, healer, teacher, magic, dragons, quest, adventure.
Read
January 17, 2026DNF @ 48%
This was disappointing. There has been literally no relationship development between Talon and Jaimin. Then they kill off a main character.
I wanted to love this. But it’s just not that great.
This was disappointing. There has been literally no relationship development between Talon and Jaimin. Then they kill off a main character.
I wanted to love this. But it’s just not that great.
May 20, 2025
(4.5/5) For some reason I was a little sceptical about this book given the glorious reviews. I didn't think they were wrong per se, but I wasn't sure I was going to like it as much as everyone else.
But this was a pleasant and welcome surprise. Even though the romance was definitely not at the centre of the story, I can honestly say that I didn't really care. The plot, even though I feel like some things were rushed and the ending was almost anticlimactic because it was so short and almost underwhelming, was pretty amazing. I was in a state of anticipation almost the entire time, and I won't even go into all the surprises this book brought. Good and bad surprises. I was fascinated.
It was definitely a pretty great read, and I'm very happy about that.
But this was a pleasant and welcome surprise. Even though the romance was definitely not at the centre of the story, I can honestly say that I didn't really care. The plot, even though I feel like some things were rushed and the ending was almost anticlimactic because it was so short and almost underwhelming, was pretty amazing. I was in a state of anticipation almost the entire time, and I won't even go into all the surprises this book brought. Good and bad surprises. I was fascinated.
It was definitely a pretty great read, and I'm very happy about that.
April 15, 2025
Thanks to Goodreads, I often stumble upon authors I might never have discovered otherwise—and Grave Situation by Louisa Masters was such a fun surprise! This was my first book by her, and I really enjoyed it.
It’s a cozy M/M fantasy that hit the spot. Magic? Absolutely. Dragons? Yes, please. A talking stone, a found family, and all the comforting, whimsical vibes? I love it all.
It’s an easy, entertaining read that delivers on charm and heart. If you’re looking for a light fantasy with humor, warmth, and a strong sense of belonging, this one’s a great pick. I’m definitely curious to read more from Louisa Masters after this!
It’s a cozy M/M fantasy that hit the spot. Magic? Absolutely. Dragons? Yes, please. A talking stone, a found family, and all the comforting, whimsical vibes? I love it all.
It’s an easy, entertaining read that delivers on charm and heart. If you’re looking for a light fantasy with humor, warmth, and a strong sense of belonging, this one’s a great pick. I’m definitely curious to read more from Louisa Masters after this!
March 23, 2025
After all the positive reviews I was all the more excited about the story, I wanted to read anyway because I wanted to know if Louisa could write high fantasy and because I love her urban fantasy series.
Her writing style was light and easy as always and I loved sassy Talon. Especially the beginning was soo good. I laughed my head off. I also really like the basic idea and the resolution of who the chosen one is.
Unfortunately, there was something missing in the realisation. While Talon was drawn down to the smallest detail (and I love him 😍😂), the others remained comparatively pale. Especially with Tia and Jaimin, I would have liked to see more scenes away from the mission to build up even more of a connection with them. Both were described via their vocation/talent, but we don't really learn much more. I was expecting to cry snot and water when...okay, no, that would be a massive spoiler, but if you've read the book then you'll know which scene I mean. Yeah, sure, it was sad, but I wasn't really invested or ‘destroyed’.
After the big reveal after about 460 pages, I would have liked a cut at this point and then a 2nd volume. The rest, the resolution of the conflict, how everything was concluded, was far too quick for me. This makes it action-packed and fast paced yes, but it also lost me a bit. We don't really want to talk about the few plot holes either, especially 1-2 at the beginning and then it really got going at the end.
I would also have liked to know more about the worldbuilding. Unfortunately, this was only touched on from time to time. The path could have been anywhere, simply because we met too few people on the quests 😂🤷🏻♀️
This all sounds so negative, but I thought a few people reading this needed a reality check with all the 5 star ratings and euphoric highlights and fav book proclamations. It was solid, an enjoyable read. Did I mention that I love Talon? Come on, I was up until 2am because I wanted to finish it, but it was really missing something in the execution for me.
Her writing style was light and easy as always and I loved sassy Talon. Especially the beginning was soo good. I laughed my head off. I also really like the basic idea and the resolution of who the chosen one is.
Unfortunately, there was something missing in the realisation. While Talon was drawn down to the smallest detail (and I love him 😍😂), the others remained comparatively pale. Especially with Tia and Jaimin, I would have liked to see more scenes away from the mission to build up even more of a connection with them. Both were described via their vocation/talent, but we don't really learn much more. I was expecting to cry snot and water when...okay, no, that would be a massive spoiler, but if you've read the book then you'll know which scene I mean. Yeah, sure, it was sad, but I wasn't really invested or ‘destroyed’.
After the big reveal after about 460 pages, I would have liked a cut at this point and then a 2nd volume. The rest, the resolution of the conflict, how everything was concluded, was far too quick for me. This makes it action-packed and fast paced yes, but it also lost me a bit. We don't really want to talk about the few plot holes either, especially 1-2 at the beginning and then it really got going at the end.
I would also have liked to know more about the worldbuilding. Unfortunately, this was only touched on from time to time. The path could have been anywhere, simply because we met too few people on the quests 😂🤷🏻♀️
This all sounds so negative, but I thought a few people reading this needed a reality check with all the 5 star ratings and euphoric highlights and fav book proclamations. It was solid, an enjoyable read. Did I mention that I love Talon? Come on, I was up until 2am because I wanted to finish it, but it was really missing something in the execution for me.
April 6, 2025
This book reinvigorated my love of reading!
A little dramatic, but I haven't been really into a book as much as this one for a long time. It had world-building and great characters and a romance - and although the romance didn't really hook me, the fantasy sure did.
I was very disappointed when the mammoth book finally came to an end, because I could have happily kept reading for many more pages!
A little dramatic, but I haven't been really into a book as much as this one for a long time. It had world-building and great characters and a romance - and although the romance didn't really hook me, the fantasy sure did.
I was very disappointed when the mammoth book finally came to an end, because I could have happily kept reading for many more pages!
March 29, 2025
First of all
Grave Situation is on a whole other level, this book WOW
To start , the world building is incredible and Louisa Masters imagined world is clever, exciting and down right brilliant. I couldn’t put it down. This book , oh my god talk about heart ripping. I can’t get over this. I cried and cried and cried honestly I didn’t think I was going to recover. This was such a great book. It really is. I love Talon Silverbrite, his grumpiness, determination, wits, and his fierce love for his people. All the characters are great and lovable. Even the rock. Talon Silverbrite is on a quest like no other with many friends join him on his journey I did and it was thrilling and inventive
I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion.
Grave Situation is on a whole other level, this book WOW
To start , the world building is incredible and Louisa Masters imagined world is clever, exciting and down right brilliant. I couldn’t put it down. This book , oh my god talk about heart ripping. I can’t get over this. I cried and cried and cried honestly I didn’t think I was going to recover. This was such a great book. It really is. I love Talon Silverbrite, his grumpiness, determination, wits, and his fierce love for his people. All the characters are great and lovable. Even the rock. Talon Silverbrite is on a quest like no other with many friends join him on his journey I did and it was thrilling and inventive
I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion.
July 8, 2025
Holy content warnings needed Batman!
CW: death of a very important character, death of a teen, abusive families
This book had so much promise and the beginning was a delight. But we really need to stop fridging marginalised characters for nebulous plot purposes. I really enjoy LM's books and I was really surprised at the dark tone the book took at the end of Part 1. I can only think of one other book where this has happened and it wasn't plot relevant there either.
A tip for MM authors: .
CW: death of a very important character, death of a teen, abusive families
This book had so much promise and the beginning was a delight. But we really need to stop fridging marginalised characters for nebulous plot purposes. I really enjoy LM's books and I was really surprised at the dark tone the book took at the end of Part 1. I can only think of one other book where this has happened and it wasn't plot relevant there either.
A tip for MM authors: .
March 3, 2025
Love. Adore. Obsessed. Speechless. Definitely one of the best books I've read this year so far, and still in the top of what I've read if you count all from the last. I really wish I had words to describe how much I love them but after a certain threshold I just asdghjk!!!! All coherent like that.
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