Scenes from the Holidays

The Tarot Sequence #2.6

by K.D. Edwards

Scenes from the Holidays consists of short Tarot Sequence vignettes, released serially beginning in December 12, 2020, on K.D. Edwards’ Twitter account. The scenes take place between the end of THE HANGED MAN and the start of the forthcoming third book, THE HOURGLASS THRONE. The scenes center around Sun Estate activities during an Equinox celebration.

The compiled version is available for free on the author's website in PDF, MOBI, and ePUB versions.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Magic, LGBT, Queer, M M Romance, Novella

77 pages, ebook

First published August 5, 2021

About the author

Author of the Tarot Sequence and the Tales from New Atlantis. Published by Pyr. Reader of Sci-Fi/Fantasy, YA, Mystery, Graphic Novels, and LGBT+.

Reviews

[Teal · Rating 4 out of 5]

**** 3.5 stars ****

Well, this was a bit of a surprise — a pleasant one. Under the circumstances.

I'm not interested in children, and I really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY do not want to read about parenting. Like,



Okay, I realize I've totally failed to communicate how utterly and completely I DO NOT WANT TO READ ABOUT IT. So let me just admit defeat and move on to the actual review-ish part of the review:

This series has wholly committed itself to found family, with children running amok everywhere in the pages. If it wasn't for the fact that the author has created one of my all-time favorite characters in Brandon Saint John, I would have bailed after book 2. But there will be no bailing out for me, so I dutifully picked up this freebie short story collection (available here), set between books 2 and 3. And, lo and behold, it turned out to be very good! Despite the MCs being thrust into parenting roles, which as you know, I really really really really, etc.

I think the author has upped his game with both the writing and the world-building. Characterization, dialogue, and humor have always been his strengths, and they're on full display here. Although I CANNOT WAIT for the children to be sent off to school — dear lord please make them go away — and hope they won't be cluttering up the next book, I'm now really looking forward to its release. REALLY.

[Linda ~ they got the mustard out! ~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reread review 2022:

Still too many kids. It's starting to feel YA, and I didn't start this series to read YA. They're all great kids, even Anna, the potential serial killer in training; are we sure letting Brand teach her how to fight and maim is a good idea?, who everyone else in my BR group can't stand. :( But really, ship these kids off to Magnus already. You keep telling me they're in boarding school, and yet they keep being in the stories, lol.

Really hoping to see more Rune/Addam in the main series, because people who aren't reading these extras aren't seeing the relationship development. And I've got my eye on a potential Brand/Layne hookup once someone is of age and it's not creepy. Because Ciaran getting "PG-13" with Layne, as it's said in Quarantine, makes it hard for me to root for them. Keep your mitts to yourself, Ciaran. Especially now that he's also Layne's teacher. There're are too many lines being crossed there. Feels too close to grooming. But Brand actually smiles and laughs when Layne is around, so that's who I want together. 🥰

Original review 2021:

These were fun, though maybe a few too many scenes with the kids, though I do enjoy the kids. Corbie was especially in top form in this one. And I liked seeing more of Ciaran. Addam and Rune moments were my favorites, but too few and short. I giggled at the image of a young Brand demanding to know the amount of Rune's intake of saturated fats. Only Brand. 😂 I did have a little trouble remembering some of the events mentioned and one or two of the characters. We may need a character list in future books if this keeps up. 🤭

[Elena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rune and Brand are always great and hilarious and there was also a short in Ciaran’s POV that was a nice addition. I particularly liked The Ghost and parts of The Dinner. My favorite parts were once again the ones where the kids (and Addam) page time didn’t overtake the adults one. I like how they’re building a found-family, but between me not caring even a little bit about Rune and Addam’s relationship and all the parenting going around (as hilarious as it is to see Rune and Brand even attempt to raise kids), it wasn’t as great as it could’ve been. Once again, it’s me, not the book.

[Rosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love these small scenes from The Tarot Sequence world. This one is my least favourite of the freebies, but that's a "me" thing, too much kids in it... My favourites, The Sanctum because I'm a sucker for Addam and Rune moments. I love them together and I think I'm going to love the court they're creating with the others. And The Dinner, I liked that they were able to free the ocean's roc and that we were able to see a bit more about other creatures in this story. I hope Kellum becomes an ally through the rest of the series. I liked him.
And be sure of reading the disclaimer at the beggining of the book, I love the way the author always includes Brand in this :). I'm looking forward to read The Hourglass Throne. I can't wait to discover what secrets Rune is still hiding from us.

[Anna K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes a family is a powerful arcana, his rich boyfriend, his grouchy (but actually really sweet) bodyguard, their fae ward, a young prophet, a young principality, a powerful necromancer, their little brother, an uncle with blue hair, an overpowered grandpa, an overpowered grandma, a woman who’s probably 300 years old but looks 25 and could kick your ass, and a dinosaur.

[PaperMoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightful ... I'm so ready for #3 installment now! 3.5 stars.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, vignettes as advertised, but more connected and with more action toward the end than I expected.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was fantastic. Each story better than the previous one, and all of them giving so much depth to this very special Court building.

[Viki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful.

[Kassu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why not read silly stories about all these cool characters? Maybe the kids are a bit too rascally sometimes, Rune and Brand are already a handful.

I love Addam, he manages to make this very subplotty romance just the sweetest thing ever. The stories have been a bit vague about some aspects of the relationship between Rune and Brand but I don't see why it should ever be romantic - and if it'll ever go there, I really hope they're going poly, because Addam ❤️

[Kaylee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't know this was out. Glad I found it. :D

Way, waaay too many children. Too many scenes. Definitely exactly what I was worried about once they started adopting one after another. I can only hope that book three will not have so many. I'd prefer none, but obviously that isn't possible.

It was really great seeing more of Addam/Rune and more friendly moments with Rune/Brand and on the docks! Those are the scenes I want...

I found myself wanting to just be done with this, even though it's so short. So, a me thing. 'Cause children.

[Meagan (FranticVampireReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was lovely. I really enjoyed seeing the whole gang get settled into Sun Estate and starting to celebrate things like a family. I also really enjoyed seeing more of Ciaran and getting a story from his perspective. And Kellum! I really hope we get to see more of him in The Hourglass Throne. Anyway, this is getting a solid four stars.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful novella from the authors website. Thank you again! I really feel like I’m getting to know the characters much better and also getting a better understanding of the world through these novellas.

[Leanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Same deal as the last Scenes I read. I was so hungry to get to the 3rd book, but I wanted to read events chronologically. The Scenes are very cute and fun, but I think the tonal shift from the published books threw off my groove.

[Perfektionaise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how every part of this fit seamlessly into the next and the whole story. Some loose ends get tied up again (I kinda hoped that Rune starts a menagerie of last-of-their-kind-creatures because Corbie would love that) and that in the typical and epical mix of funny and sad parts. I am glad we got more Kellum because I LOVE merfolk. Can I be his sugarparent please (just kidding, I am poor and he deserves the world!)?

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars 🌟

I love this series so it was wonderful to get to take another peek into the lives of Rune and Brand (and Addam, Quinn and Max). It seemed at a glance like it was several different short stories, but when I read it, the shorts were each a chapter in an unfolding story. Regardless, it was fun and I'm glad I found it. This is a world that I will gladly continue to come back to.

[Nick Vallina (MisterGhostReads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable and lovely. I cannot get enough of this universe and these characters. Another great short story. I cannot wait for more!!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful slice of life shorts that build the world and relationships between the characters and are just so dang much fun. Absolutely worth reading and rereading while you wait for Hourglass Throne.

[Rozarka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute. I liked Cianran's story the best I think.

[aspeccharactersoftheday]

https://aspeccharactersoftheday.tumbl...

[☾⋆⁺ Nurse After Dark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Across the room, Brand coughed. When I looked at him, he raised his mug to his lips. The words Get a Fucking Clue were printed in fancy script along the side of it.

It's been too long since I visited Rune, Brand and Co.'s world, but I'm really glad I saved reading these holiday scenes until now! It was like coming home to old friends - almost enough to make me want to do a series re-read actually!

“I need to borrow these lovely people for a quick trip,” Ciaran told him.
“What for?” he asked.
“I’m going to destroy their enemies.”
Brand paused. “Will you have them back by dinner?”
“With an appetite,” Ciaran promised grandly.

The stories were all engaging - sometimes funny, sometimes bittersweet. I especially liked seeing Ciaran again and getting all the little reminders on what had happened in the series up until these stories. Like Addam's hand and when they laid the ghost in the wine cellar to rest and got a little reminder of that night so long ago . I did just notice The Eidolon released earlier this year - I might have to give that a go next to tide me over until news of when The Misfit Caravan releases!

[metempsicoso · Rating 3 out of 5]

Divertente, ben gestito, molto tenero in diversi passaggi. Non dico di no.
Ma, di nuovo, non penso di approvare questa cosa per cui, per avere una visione completa dei personaggi e conoscere come si risolvono questioni accennate nella trama principale, ci si deve sparare novelle e raccontini extra.
La saga prevede già 9 volumi complessivi, mi sembra uno spazio sufficiente a svolgere tale compito. Certo, suppongo che così nulla rimarrà insoluto.
Eppure, io all'idea di iniziare un'altra storiella di 70 facciate prima del terzo volume ora ho un rifiuto assoluto. È probabile che, una volta al passo, apprezzerò questi intervalli, negli anni di vuoto tra un libro e l'altro.
Boh.
Comunque, carino.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, but that was fucking cute as hell though. I think I was supposed to read Battle Royalchemy before this one? If chronological order is to be followed? But whatever. It was a quick read that kept me giggling all the way through. Super cute. As a dysfunctional queer myself, I stan a bunch of dysfunctional queers just doing the best they can. Very, very cute. I thought all the extra content from the author's site would be just quasi-canonical side stories, but I'm pleasantly surprised to find that all of them are very much canon and actually pretty important to the story. You could probably skip them if you really wanted to, but really, why would you want to?

[K. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really excited to read the short stories connected to the Tarot sequence.... and then I got stuck. Way way too much to do with kids. I still like Rune, but he has adopted too many kids. It just kills an otherwise good story.

[Calypso · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Fluffy freebie about the holidays (here called both Solstice and Equinox so not sure which, but it has snow and presents so it's prob Christmas). I'm not a huge fan of kidfic but this novella and the strong found family vibes worked for me. Brandon continues being a delight.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

And I’m a Companion?” Brand said. “A really good one? And I can engage in a complicated series of random motions leading to an unpredictable attack that will result in all the snow I can grab being shoved down the back of your fucking shirt?”
Brand is the best!

[archana · Rating 3 out of 5]

i love having slice of life breathers between heavy serious books
but also i'm in it for the heavy serious books

[Angela Boord · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just want to hang out at a holiday party with all these people. And Ciaran (possibly my favorite after Rune and Brand, though I would also like to see more Quinn) has a POV :-)

[Anna Nesterovich · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a delightful distraction that even kept me up past my bedtime a bit (though I'm still not distracted enough to forget about the third book in the series! Want!) There are some (big) problems with proof reading though. For one, Solstice and Equinox are used interchangeably. One moment they are planning a Solstice party and the next moment they are celebrating Equinox. There is also some confusion with names.

[Shymsal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This connected set of shorts was a great read and more what I was hoping for than "Scenes from quarantine". These characters are a ton and a half of fun, yet still can bring the thunder when needed. More please!