What do you think?
Rate this book
Haven Chronicles #1
Mortal Remains
Vale has hunted demons, monsters, and rogue mages for centuries as a Templar. So when rifts to the underworld tear through the city and the undead spill into the streets, he expects another power-hungry necromancer at the center of it all.
Instead, he finds August, a soft-hearted necromancer who uses his illegal magic to guide restless spirits to peace, even as it kills him from the inside. August is running on borrowed time, and he's spent weeks tracking the real necromancer who is raising armies of the dead.
Vale's touch shouldn't heal him. Templars and necromancers are natural enemies. But when Vale's hands meet August's skin, the black veins of corruption fade and the pain stops. For the first time in years, August can breathe.
Now they're partners in a hunt that neither of them can survive alone. But the closer they get to the truth, the more August needs his magic…and the more he needs Vale's touch to survive.
Mortal Remains is a m/m enemies-to-lovers urban fantasy romance between a Templar and a necromancer. It features a touch starved necromancer, a morally grey Templar, forced proximity, hurt/comfort, and a happy ending.
Mortal Remains is book one of the Haven Chronicles series and does not need to be read in order.
Instead, he finds August, a soft-hearted necromancer who uses his illegal magic to guide restless spirits to peace, even as it kills him from the inside. August is running on borrowed time, and he's spent weeks tracking the real necromancer who is raising armies of the dead.
Vale's touch shouldn't heal him. Templars and necromancers are natural enemies. But when Vale's hands meet August's skin, the black veins of corruption fade and the pain stops. For the first time in years, August can breathe.
Now they're partners in a hunt that neither of them can survive alone. But the closer they get to the truth, the more August needs his magic…and the more he needs Vale's touch to survive.
Mortal Remains is a m/m enemies-to-lovers urban fantasy romance between a Templar and a necromancer. It features a touch starved necromancer, a morally grey Templar, forced proximity, hurt/comfort, and a happy ending.
Mortal Remains is book one of the Haven Chronicles series and does not need to be read in order.
325 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 17, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 29, 2026
3.75 stars
Basics
Author: Australia? She/her?
Genre: paranormal MM romance
Setting: Haven paranormal city
Themes: goodness, selflessness
Vibes: bone-tired, weary
Characters
🗡 Vale - 300+yo Templar who hunts down illegal magic users
🔮✨️ August - 26yo cinnamon roll of a necromancer who soothes souls before passing them on
Pros
+ romance tropes: age gap, hurt/comfort, touch him so he doesn't die, "enemies" to lovers,
+ rep: gay,
+ necromancer magic leaves threads behind, which Vale can purify and follow to source (cool!)
+ love that the Old City locals know who August is but won't tell a Templar at all because August is doing good despite the dumb laws
+ Vale's touch recedes August's corruption (love love love this plot where touching is a must or he'll die)
+ "You're going to break me." 🥺
Cons
- a bit heavy-handed on the rift situation explanation (we could have done with less extensive setup then just figured it out as it happens)
- in general, explanations are overwritten
- too many vague phrases like "isn't ready to examine" or "doesn't want to think about"
- a huge plot hole here 🕳 Just move the items out of the vault??? 👀
Content Warnings
death, flesh burning
Basics
Author: Australia? She/her?
Genre: paranormal MM romance
Setting: Haven paranormal city
Themes: goodness, selflessness
Vibes: bone-tired, weary
Characters
🗡 Vale - 300+yo Templar who hunts down illegal magic users
🔮✨️ August - 26yo cinnamon roll of a necromancer who soothes souls before passing them on
Pros
+ romance tropes: age gap, hurt/comfort, touch him so he doesn't die, "enemies" to lovers,
+ rep: gay,
+ necromancer magic leaves threads behind, which Vale can purify and follow to source (cool!)
+ love that the Old City locals know who August is but won't tell a Templar at all because August is doing good despite the dumb laws
+ Vale's touch recedes August's corruption (love love love this plot where touching is a must or he'll die)
+ "You're going to break me." 🥺
Cons
- a bit heavy-handed on the rift situation explanation (we could have done with less extensive setup then just figured it out as it happens)
- in general, explanations are overwritten
- too many vague phrases like "isn't ready to examine" or "doesn't want to think about"
- a huge plot hole here 🕳 Just move the items out of the vault??? 👀
Content Warnings
death, flesh burning
March 30, 2026
I liked it enough
but
what about the rougue templar name? and the cabal/corbal?
we know a little about August early life but not much, like does he have a job?
we know nothing about Vale.
why couldn't they move the artifacts?
why they only check places in the evening/night?
is Vale wearing the same clothes the whole time?
the world building is a little meh
they have photos but not phones? computers? cars?
where was Cael during the battle in the cathedral?
good ending, IDK if I'll read the next books but the way it ends gives a kind of closure
but
what about the rougue templar name? and the cabal/corbal?
we know a little about August early life but not much, like does he have a job?
we know nothing about Vale.
why couldn't they move the artifacts?
why they only check places in the evening/night?
is Vale wearing the same clothes the whole time?
the world building is a little meh
they have photos but not phones? computers? cars?
where was Cael during the battle in the cathedral?
good ending, IDK if I'll read the next books but the way it ends gives a kind of closure
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2026
I really liked this. It's not perfect, and somethings did annoy me, but overall, it was great.
Vale and August are cute together. I like all the comfort and also August admitting that he's wrong.
There was a bit too much overexplaining with what was going on. I also think that the mad necromancer could have just walked out with what he wanted while he was a "good guy."
I liked that the head of the Templars ended up not being what I thought he was going to do/be. I was worried a minute, but it was good.
So, not a full 5 starts because of a few things, but I really liked Vale and August (as well as the side characters! I hope we get their books), so definitely a re-read for me. Can't wait for book 2 :)
Vale and August are cute together. I like all the comfort and also August admitting that he's wrong.
There was a bit too much overexplaining with what was going on. I also think that the mad necromancer could have just walked out with what he wanted while he was a "good guy."
I liked that the head of the Templars ended up not being what I thought he was going to do/be. I was worried a minute, but it was good.
So, not a full 5 starts because of a few things, but I really liked Vale and August (as well as the side characters! I hope we get their books), so definitely a re-read for me. Can't wait for book 2 :)
March 28, 2026
DNF @ 56%
April 4, 2026
3.75*
May 3, 2026
I would’ve given this book 5 stars But I removed one because the editing is terrible
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews