#godzilla-reads

Someone I'm connected with on Goodreads was reading All Hallows' Eve in the run-up to the 🎃 spoopy season👻 and I thought it looked appealing with a promising premise. I've read this author before, another seasonal title that proved unmemorable. That said I expected this more than I expected to. The characters are likeable, the plot engaging and the ending well thought out. Unfortunately, I think this book may follow the same route. It is a good entry into a Halloween reading list but by no means a must-read.

It is appealing to read a book with Halloween as a core concern that isn't set in America. All Hallows' Eve is set in the North of England, I think we get an exact location but I can't find it again. The linguistics of it were a dead giveaway even before we got a location. The slang in particular. I like all the characters, in both time zones, as you are supposed to. Main characters Caleb Jones and Dominic Ashworth are written in a way that makes me both relatable given their own situations. Caleb is so much stronger than he appears to be. Dominic is so adorable in his want to protect his family. I appreciate their shared interest, it is an unusual one but perfect for the story. I like their relationship as it develops, collapses and rebuilds. Their supports are the sort of loyal that is perfect to me. But it is a joy to see different forms of siblings and best friends, an aunt and a father. We need those different representations of family. There are lines and references and relatable thoughts. In all honestly, if I were Caleb I likely would struggle to trust or believe any of this was really going on.

The background, that tragic story of Isaac, Alexander and Liam is in some ways better done than the main story arc. It is key to the whole plot. I like the way everything is interwoven. I spent so much time trying to the situations, to figure out how the two connected together. I probably should have seen the ending coming, should have suspected the connections but I didn't. It is that sort of book for me. It is a well-written book. The writing is well balanced between darkness and humour and angst and sexual euphoria.

Some lines I quite liked.

“Can I get your number?” Dominic blurted. “I realise you don’t know me at all, but I’d like to change that.” Caleb’s smile widened. “I’d like that, too.” He rattled off his number, and Dominic entered it into his phone. “I’m trusting you not to give me a fake one.” Dominic glanced up to meet Caleb’s gaze. “You’ll have to use it and see." Dominic grinned. “Yes, I will.” — For a book that relies on magic and the other in the plot there is a feeling of follow of the instinct and fate to their first meeting. Both of them kinda bumble through it a little. (Dominic and Caleb)

A bubble of laughter threatened to escape as he suddenly thought of Harry Potter and the Dementors—Dominic was his chocolate. — This is a fairly common highlight. But it's just so cute. (Caleb)

Christ, it was like they were bringing their seconds—duelling at dawn instead of meeting his boyfriend on a Sunday afternoon. Or was it ex-boyfriend now? Dominic’s stomach sank. He was looking forward to the afternoon even less now. — I'm not entirely sure what about this tickled me so much but it just does. There is a sense of pain to it but there is a truth to it. I quite like it. (Dominic)

A huge thank you to these wonderful people: alpha reader Jay Northcote, beta readers Con Riley and RJ Scott, cover artist Natasha Snow, editor Sue Adams, and proof readers NR Walker, Kirsty Bicknell, and Lily G Blunt. — This is in the acknowledgements. Damn look at those names, all the talent in this one list. I just needed to say it.

Read for @godzilla-reads​ Simple Reading Challenge. Filling the October prompt: "Halloween/Samhain Book!! or Spoooooooky Poetry"