The Broken Hearts Agency

by Clarence A. Haynes

AN EVIL FORCE IS FEASTING ON DESIRE...

Evelyn Kendricks is having a day. An overworked, exploited manager, she’s been dumped by her toxic boyfriend while struggling to cope with the recent ghost invasion that’s shocked the world. Devastated, she is mysteriously summoned to an eerie townhouse where she meets Linda Villaneuva, a private investigator who runs a secret mystical detective agency. She’s able to sense the emotions of others, especially those suffering from heartache.

Linda would like nothing more than to help her latest client, but she soon makes a gruesome discovery: People are losing their memories and wandering DC streets in a zombie-like daze. Their eyes, demon red. Their skin, blistered, burning…and no one understands why. Panic has begun to consume the city as more folks succumb, putting Evelyn and other residents at risk.

In the biggest case of her life, Linda follows a trail of clues to unearth an evil force far deadlier than anything she could’ve imagined. And all the while, she must reckon with the tragedies of her past and the price she’s paid for her supernatural gifts.

A layered urban fantasy that serves up spicy romance, titillating mystery, and otherworldly horror, The Broken Hearts Agency is the latest page-turner from an acclaimed storyteller.

Genres: Audiobook, Fantasy, Fiction, Adult, Adult Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 23, 2026

About the author

"With its inventive premise, compelling mystery and richly drawn characters, 'The Broken Hearts Agency' delivers a haunting and emotionally resonant story that stands out in both the mystery and urban fantasy genres."—Seattle Times

A native New Yorker and Columbia University grad, Clarence A. Haynes is the author of the urban fantasy/genre blends novels The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery and The Broken Hearts Agency. He's also the cowriter of Omar Epps’s lauded YA sci-fi/fantasy title Nubia: The Awakening and its sequel The Reckoning. And he's the author of the nonfiction work The Legacy of Jim Crow, which breaks down the history of discriminatory laws in America for young readers.

Having a love affair with speculative fiction, Clarence has also worked as a developmental editor with different publishing houses. He lives in Brooklyn.

Reviews

[Heidi Zuva]

I do not DNF lightly. I DNF probably one book a year, if that -- unfortunately, this book is the one.😭

Premise - Linda runs a detective agency for the spiritually troubled, but she’s single and lonely. Evelyn is recently dumped, overworked, and not coping well with the ghost invasion troubling the world. And now there’s a zombie plague.

That sounds so good, but there were a few big problems (for me) that kept me from being able to enjoy this:

1. It's a sequel and not the sort you can pick up easily without reading book one... we're introduced to characters with the assumption we're invested in them already, but I wasn't and I didn't see anything in the first 40% of this book that I managed to make me invest.

The big plot events the premise promises are really the aftermath of a main plot that seems to have happened in book one... making me wonder, why did marketing decide not to reference the book 2ness of it all anywhere on the cover or in the blurb? Interesting choice, and unfortunately it didn't work for me.

2. The place is slooooooow. I like a slow burn -- listen, I read The Reformatory. I read My Year of Rest and Relaxation. I don't need events dropping every chapter, but I do need to feel like I'm making some sort of progress and the attention to seemingly meaningless detail (in the description of the surroundings, the mundanity of the plodding on) made me attention drift.

I listened to this as an audiobook, so I'd find myself zoning out and focusing on my chores or my workout instead of the story. NO! That's not what I want! 😭

3. There were too many POVs for me and I didn't care for any of them. This fed into problem 2 for me, as retreading the same minor developments in the case from a bunch of perspectives made it feel like I was fighting for progress in a sea of molasses, with a giant's thumb on my chest. I was getting nowhere.😭

4. The Goodreads 'for readers of' wayyyyy mislead me. I know this is a GR thing and not the responsibility of the author or the publisher, but in what world is this book similar to BURN DOWN MASTER'S HOUSE or HONEY? I should have explored the full list of recs and realized how little any of them have in common -- this rec list is truly the work of 'all Black people know each other' logic.😭

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Angel Pean, Arissa Evans, Cary Hite, Victor Quixabas, and Reginald James. The readers did a good job, but I just really wasn't invested in the story, so it's hard for me to give a fair assessment of the performance.

Thanks, NetGalley and Hachette Audio, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Robert Alexander Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️ A Genre Blend That Never Came Together for Me

The Broken Hearts Agency by Clarence A. Haynes was ultimately not the right book for me. I picked it up through NetGalley because it was listed as Mystery/Thriller and Sci-Fi/Fantasy, and I expected a stronger balance of mystery, speculative world-building, and narrative clarity. Instead, I found the novel difficult to enter and even harder to remain invested in. The story begins in the thick of its world without enough orientation, and I often felt as though I was trying to understand the rules, characters, and emotional stakes after the novel had already moved past them. A prologue or clearer opening framework may have helped establish the purpose of the story and the nature of its supernatural elements.

My larger issue was that the book felt overcrowded and tonally disjointed. There were too many characters for me to meaningfully connect with, and none of them became memorable enough to anchor the reading experience. I also struggled with the dialogue, the frequent foul language, and the explicit sexual content, which felt unnecessary to the story I thought I was reading. As a result, the novel never developed the emotional coherence or narrative momentum I needed in order to care about its direction. I can understand why this may work for readers who enjoy messy, supernatural, genre-blending stories, but it did not come together for me.

One positive I do want to mention is the audiobook production. The audiobook itself was very well done, and I appreciated the effort to use different voices for the different points of view. Even though the story did not work for me, the narration and production showed care.
Thank you to NetGalley, author Clarence A. Haynes, and Hachette Audio/Legacy Lit for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
#TheBrokenHeartsAgency #NetGalley

[Courtney N · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story that hops outside of the boxes your typical urban fantasy books live. This was a sleek, sexy, heartfelt, thrilling and borderline horrific story.

And you know what? This was exactly what I was longing for after I finished The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery (if you haven’t read that one yet, pick it up!)

This time we’re in Washington D.C. (I love when you can tell an author knows a place inside and out. The setting made the story such a vivid adventure) and the multiple POV’s aid us in following a few characters dealing with a new kind of ghostly terror on the streets. Imagine people on the streets with glowing eyes and peeling skin - yikes (but also, cool, tell me more!)

While this book centers around an intriguing fantasy/paranormal plot, I found that it was very character and emotional journey driven, which I appreciated. The strength in this story really relied on the characters and how they jumped off the page and into my heart. I loved some of the cross over details from Gwendolyn’s book but also found new characters to latch onto.

At just around 250 pages, this was a great length for the story and what it was trying to accomplish and quick read for a bit of thrill and escapism.

While I enjoyed the first book in this universe a bit more and felt it had a bigger, more fleshed out and satisfying plot, this one was still very enjoyable and can’t wait to read more in this universe if there are more to come.

Thank you NetGalley the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Bossmanaries Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was an unseen force that gripped my attention to where I couldn’t stop listening to this audiobook. Let’s start off by saying that this is a weird book for all of us that like the land of Bizarre Ville or Quirky Town. The basic premise is we have there a secret detective agency that deals with the supernatural rather than natural occurrences. At the helm of the agency is Linda Villanueva, an empathetic who along with Fonzi Wilson, a medium. At the beginning of the book another character who is a manager of a firm, Evelyn Kendricks is having a terrible day as she has been dumped by a low-life boyfriend while they are at work. Suddenly appearing in the property of D.C. are people in a zombie like daze with red fiery eyes and skin burning. Evelyn tries to work along with the supernatural agency to find out the why.

There are so many layers to this mystery while it still adds complexity to it as a paranormal horror blending in fantasy along with some heavy spice romance scenes. The author handles the multiple genres very well in both producing a good plot along with developing the many characters. As a reader, I feel as if the story is believable even in dealing with mystical beings. We see characters flaws and strengths as the mystery unfolds itself, even as the author allows the character to grow.

Setting:
The setting of D.C. is also an important part of the plot and this author lets us know of his respect for its history as well as the present.

Narration:
The multiple cast members narrating the story adds a flavor that moves the reader to visualize the key players without confusion.

Thanks to Hachette Audio and #netgalley for the ALC. I’d highly recommend this book for non-traditionalist who enjoy something different. People who love vampire/supernatural horrors/thrillers or stories with multiple characters with one plot and many subplots. This was an entertaining and lovable book and I plan to read all of Clarence A. Haynes catalog.

#TheBrokenHeartsAgency

[Nicole Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Broken Hearts Agency was such a fun and unique blend of urban fantasy, supernatural mystery, horror, and romance. I really enjoyed the concept of a mystical detective agency investigating strange supernatural cases, especially against the backdrop of a DC that is still adjusting to the reality of ghosts.

The mystery surrounding people losing their memories and wandering the city in a zombie-like state kept me interested, while the emotional aspects of the story gave it more depth. I enjoyed getting to know Linda and Evelyn, and I liked how themes of heartbreak, desire, grief, and past trauma were woven into the supernatural elements.

The audiobook was also a great experience. The full cast of narrators helped bring the different characters and perspectives to life, which worked especially well for a story with so many moving pieces. The performances made the world feel immersive and added to both the emotional moments and the more unsettling scenes.

Overall, this was an entertaining and layered urban fantasy with mystery, romance, horror, and plenty of supernatural chaos. The combination of a compelling investigation and emotionally complex characters kept me engaged, and I would definitely be interested in reading more from this world.

[CourtneyRenee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into The Broken Hearts Agency blind and I was pleasantly surprised. I did think it would be mainly emotional and thought provoking and loved that there was a horror/paranormal element.

I also learned that this book follows the events of The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery some what and someone from the 1st book is in this 2nd one so I will definitely be going back to read the 1st one.

I did think i was missing something while reading this one but I still enjoyed it.

There are multiple POV's, one of them is actually the entity that is reacking havoc in the DC area. Linda is the owner of The Broken Hearts Agency and she is helping people on a much deeper level and using her own 'specialty' to do so. She brings in Fonsi to assist her and he has his own set of special gifts.

Highly recommend this book but read The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery first.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this ALC and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.

[My Fairytale Days]

📖 𝗗𝗡𝗙 𝗮𝘁 𝟱𝟳%
I was so excited to start this one. A supernatural detective agency, ghosts, heartbreak, mystery, and a world where the dead still linger sounded exactly like my kind of book.

Unfortunately, from around the 20% mark, I had a feeling this simply wasn't for me. I kept listening because I wanted to give it a fair chance, hoping everything would eventually click into place. Instead, I reached 57% and realised I was pressing play out of hope rather than excitement.

The biggest disconnect for me was the writing style and the book's overall voice. It never became a voice I enjoyed spending time with. The dialogue, humour, character interactions, and intimate scenes all shared a tone that simply didn't resonate with me. Rather than drawing me further into the story, they often left me with an uncomfortable feeling that made me want to look away rather than lean in.

Around the halfway point, I could finally see how the different storylines were beginning to come together. Unfortunately, by then I realised I still wasn't emotionally invested in any of the characters. The frequent POV changes made it difficult for me to settle into one character before moving to the next, and while I eventually understood how they connected, I never found myself caring about where their journeys would lead. I loved the concept far more than I connected with the story itself.

I also didn't realise until I was well into the audiobook that this is a direct sequel. I do wish that had been clearer in the blurb, but honestly, I don't think that's why I DNF'd. Knowing what I know now, I don't think this series is the right fit for me, even if I had started with book one.

✨ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱:
• An intriguing premise that immediately caught my attention.
• A well-crafted supernatural world and mythology that genuinely made me curious.
• A writing voice with a strong sense of identity, even if it never became one I connected with.

🌧️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱:
• The writing style and narrative voice weren't a good fit for my personal tastes.
• The frequent POV changes made it difficult for me to settle into the characters and build an emotional connection.
• The execution never lived up to how much I loved the premise.

🎙️ 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀:
The full cast narration was genuinely excellent. Every narrator brought personality and emotion to their character, making it easy to distinguish between the different perspectives. Even though the story wasn't the right fit for me, the performances were engaging throughout and were ultimately what kept me listening for as long as I did.

A little thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for opening the door and letting me wander into this story. All thoughts, feelings, and bookish ramblings I brought back are entirely my own. 📖✨

[Megan T-W · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an audiobook ARC of this novel through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I had somewhat of a mixed time with this one, I was strongly tempted to put it down at 30-40% the way through but forced myself to continue and my opinion was improved by the end of the book. Firstly, I absolutely loved the BIPOC and queer representation in this book. They are literally hardly any characters in this book especially the main few we spend our time with that don't belong to one if not both of these communities which is such a rarity, particularly in the fantasy and paranormal genres so this was fantastic to see.

The reason for my dislike of this novel at approx 30% was the intense and sudden graphic explicit scenes that we witness literally beginning from 27% in. My personal preference is for characters to build tension on-page before we get to this part especially if we have nothing else to go off of in terms of their connection however the characters involved in this scene were acquainted prior to the start of the novel and only briefly described their history so I would have liked to see even slightly more scenes from them with their clothes on before I got a detailed description of someone's butthole. The style of this graphic scene was also not to my personal taste due to a great deal of general description of entire bodies which seemed to be a theme through multiple explicit scenes following different characters, quite literally naming calves, nostrils, eyebrows and feet all in one go. I have had also never witnessed a butt be described as 'bulbous' and 'boulder'-like. I'm kind of astonished there was no content warning or anything for the graphic nature of the material, unless I missed it somewhere, or it's not in the audiobook.

Personal spice preferences aside, there are quite a few characters to follow (I would hazard to say too many to follow without confusion). I quite literally forgot Linda is supposed to be the main character until the second half when she got the majority of the screen time by which point it seemed all the focus on Evelyn in the first half to be sort of unnecessary. I think it would have benefitted from fewer scenes from her POV, as many as Fonzi perhaps instead. I was beginning to form a dislike of our main women as some of the very first things we hear from them are how Evelyn single-handedly saved a deal for her company by 'putting on her girly voice and saying "don't think pink like Bismol, think pink like Barbie!"' and Linda somehow managed to chase a guy down the street and instruct the police on scene, saying she used to be a cop (without showing proof) and then was instantly commended by not only the police but some other woman instantly telling her "[she's] badass, girl!" (I'm sorry I cannot remember her relation to anything) when I'm pretty sure she said she was only a beat cop for a year before leaving the force. I've heard some reviewers say that this book was quite accurate to real DC life, I assume in terms of lifestyles and places, but I'm also not American so I don't know exactly which parts are life-like.

However, once we got into the second half and the plot really started to develop, my opinion improved. I was worried for a while that the plot was secondary to the character relations and that we were forgetting about the demon-eyes too much. To my surprise, we did turn that around. Once we started exploring the mythology, both tied to these and to Linda and Fonzi's community, I was a lot more hooked. The development of the plot from there proceeded fairly well from a pacing and intrigue aspect and did come to a satisfying conclusion with regards to the 'villain' of the piece. I very much enjoyed the twist and conclusion there. I also enjoyed the different emotional connections and experiences we got to see in the different couples' relationships.

I will also cut some slack because apparently it's better to read the first book first and I wasn't even aware this is part of a series until I was already partway through. The narrators were all pretty good however I did struggle with differences in pace and volume for both different narrators and the same one voicing different characters. Specifically I struggled with Linda's narrator when she switched between Linda's husky smooth voice to the voice of Maxine's daughter Clia with a drastic change in volume. I found myself wincing and having to paw at my volume controls multiple times to turn it down and then back up when Linda started speaking again. I also found Linda and Jeremiah's voice actors to be running at different paces which made it hard to settle on an appropriate speed (I spent most of my time on 1.75-2x speed).

Overall I would say I didn't have a bad time but I don't think this author's style is for me nor would I seek out their work again. Other than the issues mentioned above, which are relatively minor as far as things go, I would mainly just put my experience down to personal preference rather than this being a bad piece of work. I can see many readers enjoying this who have different tastes to me and would recommend to others more suited.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Broken Hearts Agency — Audiobook Review
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the Advanced Listener Copy.

🎧 Audiobook Thoughts (Full Cast Magic)
This audiobook has a full cast: Angel Pean, Arissa Evans, Cary Hite, Victor Quixabas, and Reginald James ... and honestly, that alone made the whole experience hit different. This story has layers, multiple POVs, and a lot of emotional texture, and every narrator brings their character to life.

You can hear the desire, the fear, the confusion, the unraveling all of it. If you read this on the page, you’ll enjoy it. But the audio? You’re treating yourself.

✨ Quick POV Roll Call
This book moves through several perspectives, and each one adds something real:

- Evelyn — recently dumped, trying to get her life together, and still dealing with the fallout from the ghost invasion. She’s messy in a very human way.

- Linda — the empathic PI who can feel what people feel and sense when something’s off. She’s the one who stumbles into the burning‑skin, red‑eyes situation and refuses to look away.

- Jeremiah — the former pastor whose body is betraying him in ways he can’t explain. His chapters are unsettling and tender at the same time.

- Fonsi — the medium who can sense magic and steps in to help when things start spiraling.

- Trevor — a police officer and Evelyn’s reconnecting love interest. He brings a grounded, steady energy to the chaos.

- The Culprit — yes, we even get their perspective sprinkled throughout, and listen… those chapters are spooky in the best way. The kind of eerie little whispers that make you sit up straighter!

📚 A Little Plot
Evelyn is trying to rebuild her life after a breakup while the world is still recovering from a supernatural event. Linda, with her empathic abilities, gets pulled into a case involving a man whose skin burns like fire and whose eyes glow red. When more people start showing the same symptoms, D.C. shifts into fear and isolation.

As the investigation goes deeper the book explores desire, repression, identity, and the emotional wounds people carry all wrapped in a paranormal mystery that feels both eerie and very intentional.

💭 My Thoughts
I really enjoyed this. It’s paranormal, yes, but it also dips into literary fiction and urban fantasy in a way that feels fresh. The multiple POVs work beautifully, especially in audio, and the full cast makes every emotional beat land harder.

Evelyn’s journey feels honest. Linda’s chapters bring tension. Jeremiah’s arc is haunting. Fonsi adds depth. Trevor brings warmth. And the way all their stories weave together? Smooth.

And I have to say...the little glimpses we get from the culprit’s POV?
Spooky. Deliciously spooky. The kind of unsettling that feels intentional, not cheap.

There’s a little bit of horror creeping in here too, but it’s horror with purpose the kind that says something. If you’re a fan of Rivers Solomon or Cebo Campbell, this will be right up your alley.

Everything falls into place by the end, and the message behind it all is thoughtful, layered, and worth sitting with.

[Aamazingreads]

This audiobook is for you: The Broken Hearts Agency by Clarence A. Haynes
☼ Contemporary paranormal murder mystery
☼ Ghost Busters x Ghost
☼ Balancing worlds & passions
☼ Spicy, gritty, some gore
☼ Multiple POVs, timelines & narrators
☼ Possession, spiritual gifts & hidden powers
☼ Love, connection & grief
☼ Passions in life and in relationships
☼ Celebrating LGBTQIA+ people
☼ Interweaves experiences of: racism, classism, discrimination, slavery, mental health, pandemic, positive self worth.

Pros: narrators and characters, unique cross-genre story, twists (some surprising, some more predictable); a surprise POV. I did love the story itself, the reflections on choosing multiple worlds, knowing and being true to yourself, and your passions. Also, the sense of friendship, community, and the importance of art and spirituality.

Suggestions: it’s a slow burn, getting to know the various characters, the back story, the mystery - I enjoyed the story and the unique elements. I would’ve liked a bit more natural dialogue / less formal language from Evelyn, and also the last few hours seemed to include so many elements wrapping up - it would’ve been nice to have some of these earlier, to deepen and add more intrigue.

Narration/audiobook: excellent cast of narrators, quality of recording, and seamless transitions. I especially loved the narrators for Linda and Fonzie. More details below.

Overall, I recommend this unique story and loved it in audiobook!

4 ⭐️
3 🌶️

More details about the narration:

Narrator for Evelyn: lovely crisp voice, good narration, somewhat monotone and also sometimes felt more like reading than acting out the part; suggest more pauses during descriptions so information it’s easier to here the important parts.

Narrator for Jeremiah & Douglas: lovely deep and textured voice, plays both characters well; sometimes sounds too much like reading than acting/in the moment with the character experiencing emotions; a few words I had to listen again with reduced speed to understand (1st chapter of POV).

Narrator for Linda: I loved the rich timbre of voice - deep and sexy, melodic, however ok expressions - does child and Maxime’s voices well too; would love to see more range of deeper expressions likes at the all 69% mark; more dramatic pauses would be good so as to soak it all in (I needed to listen to start of ch 3 several times to capture everything).

Narrator for Fonzie: loved the voice and range of expressions, great pacing, voice matched character well.

Thank you to Legacy Lit and NetGalley for the gifted audiobook; all opinions are my own.

[Prof. Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Broken Hearts Agency is a captivating sequel that masterfully expands on the universe Haynes introduced in the first book. As someone who appreciates layered storytelling, I was drawn in by how this novel delves deeply into themes of self-discovery, trauma, and the resilience of the human spirit. Haynes does an excellent job illustrating how chaos and supernatural forces can threaten not just our safety, but also our sense of authentic self.

The story centers around Evelyn Kendricks, a character I quickly grew to admire—her struggles as an overworked manager, her heartbreak, and her mysterious encounter with Linda Villaneuva, a private investigator with supernatural abilities. Linda’s ability to sense emotions adds a poignant layer to the narrative, especially as she and Evelyn navigate a city descending into chaos. The eerie, haunting descriptions of townspeople losing their memories and wandering in a zombie-like state are both chilling and heartbreaking, emphasizing the novel’s blend of horror and emotional depth.

I particularly appreciated how the novel balances paranormal elements with themes of love and self-acceptance. Several characters, many of whom are part of the LGBTQIA+ community, are beautifully portrayed, each seeking their own truth and longing for genuine connection. It’s refreshing to see representation woven seamlessly into the story, emphasizing that love in all its forms is a powerful force against darkness.

While the paranormal aspect takes a slight backseat compared to the first book—where it was more front and center—the shift allows for a richer exploration of character development and emotional stakes. The mystery surrounding the evil force feeding on desire adds suspense and keeps the pages turning, with plenty of twists and revelations along the way.

Overall, The Broken Hearts Agency is a layered urban fantasy that combines spicy romance, titillating mystery, and otherworldly horror into a compelling package. It’s a thought-provoking read that encourages introspection about our desires, fears, and what it truly means to be authentic. Haynes’s storytelling is engaging, and this novel is a worthy continuation that left me eager to see where the series goes next.

[Caitie · Rating 4 out of 5]

NetGalley sent me a copy of the audiobook to review.

TLDR: Romance about fighting paranormal entities in the modern world while characters are discovering their worth and reflecting on what they want out of life.

This book has good pacing. It didn’t drag in any areas or move too quickly through important parts. This is a standalone, but there is another book set in the same world that is referenced lightly. I haven’t read that other book, but it was easy to piece together the basic events of the first book and how those characters were involved. If you like to read things in chronological order, I would recommend reading that first.

There were a lot of things I liked about this book. While the book is marketed as a Paranormal Romance, it is much deeper than that. There is romance in the book, but it felt secondary to the other things going on in this book with the characters. I feel like the book is more about love than the romance; rekindling love, loving yourself, accepting love, and letting go and moving on. All of the characters are intertwined in such beautiful ways that make you forget you are reading a paranormal book.

There is a lot of diversity in this book which I enjoyed. As a white lady from the mid-west, I can’t won’t speak to how accurately the characters were written in that regard. I enjoy reading about people with different life experiences and outlooks than I have. The characters were still very relatable despite the differences between my life and theirs. I think that speaks to the skill of the writer, and the point of the book. All of the characters come from different backgrounds, yet they are tied together in ways that aren’t known to them until the end.

Read this book, on the surface it is a good story with an interesting paranormal mystery. If you want something deeper, this has that too. The more I think about this story, the more I like it. I know this is one I will read/listen to this book again. There are so many things going on in this book, I know I missed putting together things that you only get from a reread.

The narration was also wonderfully done. I liked each of the narrators so much, and they brought this book to life.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clarence A. Haynes’ The Broken Hearts Agency is gothic glam horror in a city setting. We meet Evelyn as she’s already going through it experiencing a fresh heartbreak, overwhelmed, trying to hold herself together in a world that’s already been shaken by supernatural chaos. And then she gets pulled into Linda’s world and that’s where things really open up.

Linda runs this lowkey mystical detective agency but it’s not just about solving case it’s about about reading people, especially their pain. She is a child of Elegua and can feel heartbreak. In this story, heartbreak is literally being hunted. People in the city are losing their memories, their bodies are breaking down, and no one knows why. The energy in this book is unsettling in that slow, creeping way where you realize something is feeding off people and it’s not random.

I love how in Haynes’ writing he ties the horror to emotional truth. The evil here feeds on desire, on longing, on vulnerability and that lands. It feels like a metaphor but also very real within the story. As a bibliotherapist, I’m always noticing when a book understands how tender people actually are and how that leaves them vulnerable to harm and this one does.

I was so happy to see Fonsi again. His presence adds that grounding energy, like okay, there are people in this world who understand what’s happening on a spiritual level. And Linda’s intuition, her ability to move between emotional and spiritual spaces, the way her gifts guide he but also cost her is another lesson in following our purpose. Linda is sharp, empathetic, and honestly just a compelling lead.

And the folklore references are strong.The dorlis are creepy. The way Haynes brings in Caribbean mythology around desire and violation adds a whole other layer. This story is rooted in cultural memory and in stories that have been carried and told for generations.

This book is mystery, horror, romance, all of it but at the center it’s really about heartbreak and what happens when we’re most vulnerable. And the question it leaves you with is real: who protects us in those moments?

I was fully in this one.

[Ladiami · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story pulled me in pretty quickly with its darker atmosphere, supernatural mystery, and emotionally messy characters. From the beginning, there was this lingering sense of tension hanging over everything that made it hard to stop reading. Evelyn is already dealing with heartbreak and emotional exhaustion before getting pulled into a much bigger supernatural situation, and I liked that the story balanced those personal struggles alongside the mystery elements.

The atmosphere throughout the story kept me invested because there was always this underlying feeling that things were about to get worse, and the tension built naturally as the investigation started uncovering more pieces of the mystery. The horror elements were creepy without feeling over the top, and I liked how the emotional struggles of the characters stayed just as important as the supernatural side of things. It gave the story a darker vibe while still feeling grounded in the characters themselves.

I also loved seeing familiar faces throughout the book. It made the world feel more connected and added an extra layer of enjoyment while following the investigation. Linda was another standout for me. Her ability to sense the emotions of others gave the story a more personal feel, especially as her own past and struggles started connecting to the larger mystery.

The pacing kept me invested for most of the story, and I genuinely wanted answers about what was causing everything. My only issue was that the major reveal and final confrontation felt a little rushed compared to the buildup. After all the tension leading up to it, the payoff ended up feeling more anticlimactic than I expected.

Even with that, I still had a really good time with this one. The mix of paranormal mystery, emotional tension, and horror made it a fun and engaging read, and I’d definitely come back to this world again.

Thanks Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing
|Legacy Lit for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.

[Malika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!

This one really surprised me! Equal parts detective story, multi-threaded romance, and vibrantly built throughout with beautiful and heart wrenching elements of Black culture, I really enjoyed entering this world. Set in an alternate reality DC amidst a society forcibly learning that it shares space with supernatural ghosts and those with special abilities, I loved how each character was written so three-dimensionally and weren't lost to the mystery or general plot. Even “victims” in the supernatural disaster were given vibrant backstories with threads that were laid down and then picked up again as part of the overall narrative.

I’m always a bit hesitant to pick up stories with many POVs as they can get confusing to track but Clarence A. Haynes did such an amazing job making not only every POV worth reading, but helped the reader keep track through imagery and detail so it felt like through each point of view, we were putting together the mystery of this supernatural event together and also in a first-row seat to watching a lot of these characters work through some tough situations and grow beautifully through them.

I really loved both Linda and Evelyn’s POVs - seeing both of their intertwined healing and growth was really beautiful. The lore from supernatural powers rooted in Yoruba and Afro-Caribbean traditions was so interesting to read about as well, this was my first novel that had a magic system based on that!

Really enjoyed this story. The only thing I wish there was more of would be more to Evelyn’s healing arc (what she’ll be doing next) and Linda finally opening up in her own healing as well, but honestly that’s because I loved this story so much I just wanted more! Hoping for a book two!

[Mika TheReadingRoom444 · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I tell y’all I finished this novel in a day, please understand that this wasn’t a book I simply read.

It was a book I experienced.

By the time I turned the final page, tears were streaming down my face because what Clarence A. Haynes has created is so much more than a piece of literature. It is layered with eloquent notes of humanity, compassion, empathy, grace, and hope. Every page feels intentional. Every character feels like a mirror reflecting both the brokenness and beauty that exist within us all.

The Broken Hearts Agency is, at its core, a symbolic reminder of what is possible when goodness is allowed to lead.

In a world that often feels loud with cruelty and division, this novel quietly but powerfully insists that kindness still matters. That compassion still heals. That empathy still transforms. That love, real love for our fellow human beings can drive out darkness.

That message reached me to my core!!

This story felt like a metaphorical journey through the human heart itself. It asks us to look beyond wounds, beyond fear, beyond judgment, and to see one another fully. To choose understanding. To choose grace. To choose each other.

As a reader, I was captivated.

As a human being, I was moved.

As someone who still believes goodness matters, I was restored.

The older I get, the more I realize that hope is its own kind of courage. This novel is courageous enough to believe that there is still good in this world and courageous enough to ask us to believe it too.

My heart, my spirit, and every one of my love chakras walked away from this book fuller than they were when I arrived.

And that, to me, is the mark of something truly special.

This is not just a book.

It is a gentle declaration that goodness still exists.

It is a love letter to humanity.

And it is absolutely beautiful

[Casey R Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghostbusters for Grown Black Folks, But Make It Emotional, Spicy, and Terrifying

📚 On Casey’s Bookshelf

Book: 97
Dates read: 05.16.2026 – 05.17.2026
Title: The Broken Hearts Agency
Author: Clarence A. Haynes
Format: physical ARC

#caseysbookshelf

I don’t read a ton of speculative fiction because sometimes the worldbuilding loses me if I can’t clearly picture what’s happening. But Clarence A. Haynes is SO good at making the supernatural feel tangible. You can visualize every scene like a movie.

And honestly? You can tell he’s an editor by trade. The structure of this book is incredibly intentional. The pacing. The reveals. The layering of clues. The way emotional moments connect back to the horror elements. Nothing feels random. Every choice feels deliberate and polished.

This story exists in the same universe as The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery and I was so happy to see Fonsi again. These books really give modern Black Ghostbusters energy 😭

The story follows Evelyn after a breakup as she gets pulled into the world of Linda Villanueva, a mystical PI who helps the heartbroken. Meanwhile, people across DC are losing memories, wandering the streets like shells of themselves while something dark feeds on longing, grief, and desire.

What I loved most is how emotional this story is beneath the horror. The supernatural elements work because they are tied to real human vulnerability.

The Caribbean folklore references were also SO good. Creepy. Atmospheric. Addictive.

I was fully locked in.

This title releases June 23, 2026 (happy birthday to me!). Thank you Legacy Lit for the #giftedcopy in exchange for an honest review.

Another book off the shelf. We keep reading with intention. 📚

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Grand Central Publishing| Legacy lit, and Hachette Audio for the E-Arc and the ALC

The Broken Hearts Agency was everything I wanted in an urban fantasy. It blends horror, mystery, romance, and folklore in a way that feels fresh, emotional, and impossible to put down.

Evelyn is already dealing with heartbreak and trying to keep her life together when she crosses paths with Linda, a private investigator with the ability to feel the emotions of others. As people across the city begin losing their memories and becoming shells of themselves, the two are pulled into a chilling mystery connected to something far more sinister.

What I loved most about this book was how the horror is rooted in very real emotions. Grief, loneliness, desire, and vulnerability all play a huge role in the story, making the supernatural elements hit even harder. The Caribbean folklore woven throughout added so much depth and atmosphere, and I loved seeing those influences take center stage.

I was also so happy to spend more time with these characters. Linda continues to be such a compelling lead, balancing empathy, strength, and the weight of her gifts. The LGBTQIA+ representation felt natural and authentic, and the story's focus on identity, connection, and self acceptance really resonated with me.

This was immersive, emotional, creepy, and beautifully written. If you love urban fantasy with horror elements, rich folklore, memorable characters, and a mystery that keeps you turning the pages, this one is absolutely worth picking up.

Adding the audio to this amazing book was the icing on the cake, having a cast of multiple narrators made this story even better.

[Midlife Fantasy Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio | Legacy Lit for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a mixed read for me. The Audiobook for this was great, with strong narration that helped bring the characters to life. The narrators did an awesome job distinguishing the voices and emotions of the cast, and I particularly enjoyed following the journeys of the two main female characters (Linda and Evelyn) as well as Fonsi, the witch who can sense magic.

I really enjoyed the set-up of the story and the initial chapters with Linda and Evelyn. Unfortunately, from there I found the pacing a bit slow. The main POV's are all investigating the case together at various points, and I found the different POVs a bit repetitive and slow, rather than driving the action forward. I think only having Linda, Evelyn and perhaps Fonsi's POV would have sped things along a bit, without repeating events from another's point of view.

However, I did appreciate the ending, which brought the story together in a really beautiful way that felt authentic to each of the characters, as they all learned something about themselves, and came together as a supportive group. I also really appreciated the diverse LGBTQI+ representation among the main and side characters.

The author also has a note at the end of the audiobook explaining where he got the inspiration for the supernatural elements of the plot, and the different cultural elements that had been woven into the story. This made me appreciate the book more, and I think having this at the start instead of the end would have given me a greater appreciation of these elements while listening.

[Kenya Lassiter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Broken Hearts Agency delivers exactly what fans of the genre are looking for: a clever mix of romance, the supernatural, and genuine emotional depth. From the first pages, the paranormal elements felt less like a gimmick and more like the heart of the story. They added real magic to the narrative and kept me turning pages to see where things were headed.
I came into this one not realizing it follows The Ghost of Gwendolyn Montgomery, but the story holds up beautifully on its own. If anything, discovering there's a previous installment felt like a bonus rather than a gap. I finished the book, eager to go back and read it.
I experienced this one as a paired audiobook-and-text read, and I'd genuinely recommend that approach. The narration elevated the pacing and gave the characters a warmth that made their emotional beats land even harder.
On the romance itself: the balance is well handled. There's enough heat to satisfy without letting it swallow the plot, and the relationship feels earned. What I appreciated most, though, was the quieter thread running beneath it all — a story about self-worth, about learning to value yourself before you can fully open up to someone else. It gives the book a resonance that lingers after the last page.
Witty, warm, and genuinely uplifting, The Broken Hearts Agency is a strong recommendation for anyone who likes their romance with a supernatural edge and something real to say.
An advance review copy was provided via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Roslyn Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of The Broken Hearts Agency from NetGalley, and since this was my first read by this author and honestly a new type of book for me, I wasn’t sure what lane it would fall into. Contemporary fantasy? Spicy romance? Mystery? Horror? Somehow it manages to be all of the above, and it works. The story kicks off with Evelyn Kendricks, who is absolutely having the worst day imaginable, dumped, exhausted, and still trying to process the literal ghost invasion happening in the world. When she’s mysteriously summoned to a strange townhouse and meets Linda Villanueva, a PI with mystical abilities and a detective agency for the heartbroken, the book shifts into this fun, eerie, emotionally charged ride. Linda is such an interesting character, tough, intuitive, and carrying more pain than she lets on. As she digs into a case involving people losing their memories and wandering DC like demoneyed zombies, the story blends supernatural danger with very human grief and desire. The mystery deepens quickly, and the stakes get surprisingly dark as Linda uncovers what’s really feeding on the city. What I really loved most is how layered the book feels. It’s spicy without losing its heart, mysterious without getting too muddy, and the horror elements add just enough bite to keep things tense. For a genre blend I don’t usually pick up, this one pulled me in more than I expected. #NETGALLEY #THEBROKENHEARTSAGENCY

[nickiknackinoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Broken Hearts Agency by Clarence A Haynes.

This agency is run by Linda Villaneuva, she’s a retired cop who has the power of an empath. She picks up on people’s emotional problems, and through a ritual, gets to see and let her clients know, and what they need to do moving forward. Her agency’s official work is mystical detective work.

Her latest client, an Evelyn Kendricks, has been dumped by her boyfriend while feeling overwhelmed from the latest ghost invasion. People have been showing up with red eyes and blistering skin. They are getting hotter and hotter until the inevitable happens, unless they get help much sooner.
It’s a sorry state of affairs that Linda is determined to stop. So with the help of her trusted sidekick, Fonsi who always does any deep diving to find out history and any information Linda needs, they do all the groundwork to decide who is helping this demon, why, and how.
I enjoyed this story. It was a little saucy in places, but added more feeling to the characters, and who they were. The characters were gritty and full of determination to make their city of DC somewhere to be proud of again. Somewhere safe for people to live and enjoy again.
They have a real battle ahead….
Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley. My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley, #GrandCentralPub, #ClarenceAHaynes.

[Christen · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 4.5 / 5 Stars | 🌶️🌶️🌶️
A Masterclass in Genre-Bending (and Full Cast Magic! 🎧)
I really enjoyed this book. It is a paranormal story at its core, but it masterfully dips its toes into literary fiction and urban fantasy in a way that feels incredibly fresh.
🏙️ The Highlights
DC is its own character: The setting is alive in this book. As a Baltimore girl myself, getting those familiar notes of other Mid-Atlantic areas was such a fun, personal bonus!
Smart & Spicy: The romance hits the perfect 3-spice level without compromising the complexity of the plot. It’s intelligent, seductive, and beautifully balanced.
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: Full Cast Magic
If you are deciding how to consume this one, go with the audiobook.
The production features a full cast—Angel Pean, Arissa Evans, Cary Hite, Victor Quixabas, and Reginald James—and honestly, that alone made the whole experience hit entirely different. This story has so many intricate layers, multiple POVs, and a deep emotional texture. Every single narrator completely brings their respective character to life. Multiple POVs can sometimes feel jarring, but here they work beautifully, ensuring every emotional beat lands exactly where it should. 
Highly recommend if you want an urban fantasy with a vibrant setting, deep emotional stakes, and a genuinely fresh voice.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book brings together multiple characters who find themselves unexpectedly bound up in a supernatural mystery that threatens DC. Although it took me a bit of time to get my bearings while reading this because of the multiple points of view, I eventually appreciated the dimensionality that this brought to the story. This book does what several other books I've enjoyed do, which is use the supernatural to literalize the hauntings of the past: personal, historical and generational, in the present. The characters in the story have different identities and lived experiences, which contributes to their richness while simultaneously emphasizing the fundamental human need to be authentic to yourself, own your power, and pursue connection, even in the face of fear.

I listened to this in audiobook format, and there was a narrator for each character, which really brought them to life. All of the voice actors spoke in a natural, emotive cadence which was striking especially during the parts in which they recount their memories.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

P.S. This book takes place in the same setting and shares at least one character with a previous book. It is not labeled or marketed as a second book in a series, though. Like other reviewers, I wonder if it would've been easier to make sense of this book if I had read the previous book by the author first.

[Rachael Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on the cover art, I really thought I was picking up a spicy romance. In a lot of ways, it is, however, there is also a mystery and a bit of horror along the way which give this story a more fantastical vibe. This is an urban fantasy with a pretty good premise, but it did fall just a bit flat for me, as I thought the author might have tried to do a bit too much. I think we could have focused more on the mystery and horror and maybe worked into a romantic/ spicy romance. I also did not realize this was a sequel to another book and as I was reading the reviews, I realized why a lot of it felt disjointed. I was missing a good portion of understanding by not knowing what happened previously.

I really enjoyed the premise of a female run detective agency working to solve spiritual troubles. Since there are zombies running amok in DC and ghosts abounding, she's go a lot of work to fill her plate. Evelyn is also overwhelmed with everything going on as well as her loser ex-boyfriend and now she has all of this to deal with.

The book is a bit slow and I wonder if the pacing would have made more sense had I been able to read the other book first. There are also quite a few characters and points of view which muddies things up a bit. Some of the characters are more interesting or engaging than others, and I feel if we were able to focus on a few at a time, we would have gotten a really solid story. I am going to round up to 4 but my true rating is closer to about 3.5*

[Lacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

😈 ReviewLC Review 🔎

The Broken Hearts Agency by Clarence A. Haynes, narrated by Angel Pean, Arissa Evans, Cary Hite, Victor Quixabas & Reginald James

The narrating team was fabulous! I would definitely recommend the audiobook version. I was doing some wood cutting while listening to this book and it kept me so intrigued, I did end up making some incorrect cuts. 🤣 Whoops.

I was definitely expecting a solid fantasy, but the mystery component was a really fun layer! Also, I read a lot of fantasy that's very fantastical, but this contemporary, urban fantasy could happen tomorrow. That kind of makes it a bit of a psychological horror too! 👀

It was gritty in such a good way listening to a PI on the ground trying to work through what was happening. The drama just kept escalating.

With a side of romance added to everything else, this book really felt like it hit so many highs! 🌶️🌶️

I listened to the full audiobook in something like 2 days because I just couldn't not know what was going to happen!

If you like mysteries but want to dip your toe into fantasy or vice versa, you may like this book. It would be a great crossover for either genre fan. Oh! It's a standalone, so it's a nice one and done reward without any cliffhangers. Also, if you like magical realism, this'll be up your alley. 🤓

Triggers: Death, Grief

Thanks to Hachette Audio & Netgalley for the review copy. My review is given voluntarily.

[Pujashree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting urban fantasy story that seems to be the second (?) in a series I haven't read before, but easy enough to follow along. I received this as an audiobook ARC from Netgalley based on the blurb and cover alone and I'm really glad I did. It's refreshing to read a paranormal detective story with a queer lead but based in Afro-Latin folklore and myths and spiritual traditions, specifically the Orishas. There's perhaps one too many POVs but it did keep the narrative moving and the mystery approached from different angles. What I particularly enjoyed, however, was how vividly the cast of characters is written and represented within the scope of the story, their relatable journeys towards themselves and fighting to protect it, and how even the ultimate "evil" is a creature borne of horrors perpetuated by white colonialism. For a story based around desire, the author manages to pull off a very nuanced range of what constitutes as desire and all the complexities of interpersonal desire and levels of self-actualization as personal superpowers. The cast of audiobook narrators do an incredible job of bringing the story and it's intersectional experiences alive, really elevating writing that could have otherwise dragged in text alone. I'll be on the lookout for more by this author.

[Brittney Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers

(I actually rated this book a 3.5 and rounded up)

This novel takes place a few months after the events in 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘺𝘯 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘨𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘺. It follows the four main characters: Evelyn, an overworked manager; Linda, a former cop turned PI running her own business; Jeremiah, one of the "afflicted"; and Fonzi, ifyky (therefore I def recommend reading 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘺𝘯 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘨𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘺 before picking this up).

This book takes place in DC, as I mentioned earlier, months after the ghost equinox in 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘺𝘯 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘨𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘺. The country is on eggshells, as everyone is afraid what city will be hit next.
It opens up from the POV of one of the "afflicted". These individuals all show the same symptoms, but no one can figure out how or why this is occurring.
Evelyn has a chance meeting with Linda, who also runs the Broken Hearts Agency. This "agency" helps people find their inner selves (which Evelyn had lost completely).
With everything happening with the "afflicted", Evelyn meets with Fonzi to get to the bottom of what is going on - and to the bottom they got.

I read 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘺𝘯 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘨𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘺 and was excited at the end because it seemed like it may become a series; however, you can read this one alone as it brushes up on what happened in the previous book. I was also hoping that the character from the end of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘺𝘯 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘨𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘺 would be in this novel, but they weren't so it has me thinking that this may just take place in the same universe and there may be a 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘺𝘯 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘨𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘺 sequel lol

Overall, I do recommend this book. It was a fast and interesting read but definitely try to read 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘺𝘯 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘨𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘺 first!

Thank you again to NetGalley and the publishers for my ARC!

[TheBookOfMicah_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW - NETGALLEY

I’m not really into the paranormal world / stories but i enjoyed this book and all the anxiety it gave me lol. Covid 19 was referenced a few times and im like idk how these people dealt with that and are now dealing with this, I would have Been like take me, pleaseeeee.

all jokes aside this was a great book. I do wish we got more from Jeremiah (or from the Afflicted in general) because the beginning was amazing and I wanted to see more of what led them to the hospital.

I disliked Evelyn so much and honestly I think I just don’t like fictional Evelyn’s cause now there are like 4 on my shit list LMAO. The fact that she took that man’s belongings to remember his smell after he was about to leave her after she begged him to stay 🤮. I would have told him he could have left yesterday (never would have discovered what happened afterwards 😂)

I need to get the Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery to read more about fonzi now.

SPOILER ————
I think the best part of this book (but also the most creepy) is when they had him in jail and offer him a phone call and he’s like “im good, I won’t be held for long” because sir what do you mean you won’t be held for long ?!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Grand Central Station for the opportunity to review this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

Love it before it's gone.

In my opinion, this is a love story. A story to remind us to live fully, to fall in love with ourselves and to open our hearts to receiving love. It beautifully illustrated what happens when the negative overtakes us and when we don't or can't embrace our true self.

An evil, mythical force descended upon DC that feeds on pleasure and forced this diverse cast of characters into a life-altering battle to save everyone's life. This gave fantasy, horror, and thriller with LGBTQIA representation at the forefront. The story was engaging and touching from beginning to end. I enjoyed the multiple POVs. It provided depth to the stories and characters. Every character had a relatable personal struggle and journey.
This was my first read by this author, I will go back and read The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery as there were crossover references. I was still able to follow and appreciate this story, but I would like to have a better understanding of the mythical community within these stories.