5⭐️ 3.5🌶️
MOOD: challenging, dark-ish, emotional, hopeful, tense
TROPES: boy next door, bi-awakening, miscommunication-lite
GENRES: contemporary, fantasy, small-town, lgbtq romance
FAV QUOTE: "I've never kissed a guy." "I've never kissed a cop." "Why does that matter?" "Why indeed?"

MAIN CHARACTERS: Greyson Darkholme and Chris Brandt
TAROT CARD: Temperance

THE GOOD: I normally don't read books with cops as main characters so I'm not sure exactly what had me adding this to the list besides K9 and gay witch but I'm glad I picked it up because I couldn't put it down. The banter in the beginning of the book between Greyson and Chris as they get to know each other is amazing and even as they move into the friendly-neighbor zone before their relationship develops they carry that with them. Watching both of them find their place in this town, where Greyson is new but Chris has been is whole life, was also a great trip. Not to mention the whole murder mystery-type aspect to the plot line. I could definitely see myself reading this one again. I'm not sure about the police stuff but even the witchcraft stuff felt very grounded in reality which made everything else, no matter how fantastical, feel real and have weight to it. Did I cry a little? Yes. Was it worth it? Also, yes. This was the first Ashyln Drewek book that I've read.
THE NEUTRAL: This is the most grounded in reality of the series (of the books of read) as such, even The Owner is more of a person than usual and I didn't really like that but I understand why it was necessary.
THE MEH: I kind of wanted to see Greyson cook chili in his cauldron. :( But seriously there is a mention of a name in chapter 17, that isn't mentioned before (it's paired with a name that has been mentioned) and then isn't mentioned again until WAY later. It was confusing because it's placed as if the reader knows who the person is and we don't at that point and by the time we do, I forgot about this - it wasn't until I was looking at my notes/highlights that I saw my note about this.

CW: death, domestic violence, cheating, attempted suicide, violence, stalking, alcoholism
DISCLAIMER: I received an advance review copy. This is my honest review.