The devil you know is never the one you should trust.Special Agent Patrick Collins is dispatched to Chicago, chasing a lead on the Morrígan’s staff for the joint task force. Needing a cover for his presence in the Windy City, Patrick is ordered to investigate a politician running for mayor. In the lead up to election day, not everything is what it seems in a city where playing to win means … to win means appeasing the gods first and the electorate second.
But Chicago brings its own set of problems outside the case: a stand-offish local god pack, a missing immortal, and Patrick’s twin sister. Fighting Hannah and the Dominion Sect provides Patrick with a sinister reminder that some blood ties can never be cut.
Left behind in New York City, Jonothon de Vere finds himself targeted by hunters who will go through anyone to kill him—including the packs under his protection. With a bounty on his head, Jono is forced to make a choice that Patrick would never approve of. Doing so risks breaking the trust he’s built with the man he loves, but not acting will give the rival New York City god pack leverage Jono can’t afford to give up.
When Patrick and Jono reunite in Chicago, Patrick must confront the fraying of a relationship he’s come to rely on for his own sanity. But fixing their personal problems will have to wait—because Niflheim is clawing at the shores of Lake Michigan and the dead are hungry.
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4.5 stars
“A Vigil in the Mourning” by Hailey Turner is part of the ‘Soulbound’ series, and centers around Jonothon de Vere and his mate, Special Agent Patrick Collins, as they continue to deal with the conflicts stemming from establishing their own god pack, searching for the Morrigan’s staff, and the commitments they are bound by. Pressures and dangers mount, and their relationship may be stretched to the breaking point if they don’t have faith in what they have formed together.
This adult gay paranormal romance continues to enthrall, with its cast of compelling characters and the complex problems that face them. I adore their care for Wade, the young dragon who is coming to terms with his freedom, even if that means allowing him to overindulge his junk food addiction. The multiple pantheons involved make the situation even more complicated, as each faction strives for power and their share of worship. More people are learning about the closely held secrets that the pair have been dealing with, which leads to both hurt feelings and entanglements that may become an issue at some point.
One of the reasons I like this series so much is the intensity of the relationships. It’s obvious that both Patrick and Jon are determined to care for those around them AND each other, but neither is perfect and therefore mistakes will be made. I’ve always been intrigued by various mythological beings, and this mixture of Norse, Greek, and Haudenosaunee (Native American) not to mention vampire and shifter characters is such fun to explore. Of course, who can resist the Valkyries and their trusty rides, or the vision of Wade warming his feet IN the fireplace, or Thor as a bartender? And I agree, “Adulthood sucks. I want to return it.” (snicker)
This is a fun series that combines adventure, magic, mystery, world-shaking struggles, territorialism and gods vying for worshipers, plus dysfunctional blood family relationships and made family dynamics. I’m caught by the spell every time I pick up one of the books in this series, and for me this was the best one yet. I can’t wait to experience more adventures with these folks, but I am quite happy to reread this one while I wait!
A copy was provided for review