Recent Reads: Dark Arts for Bright Hearts and Pest Control

This week, I’ve got two paranormal stories in a contemporary setting from two wonderful authors who always guarantee engaging and hugely imaginative storylines in their books

I was gripped by Dark Arts for Bright Arts, a gorgeous MM romance coming-of-age story with a difference from Mere Rain.

Jet has just graduated from high school and doesn’t really fit in with his peer group or his family. So on his eighteenth birthday, he goes to the local Goth club and gets more than he bargained for after an encounter with the handsome and mysterious Darken, one of the bartenders.

I really enjoyed the combination of small-town frustration and eerie paranormal exemplified by the goth club and its terrifying owner. Also, the way Jet and Darken’s relationship blossomed, despite everything, was beautifully sweet against a forbidding backdrop.

This story might be relatively short, but has so many layers in terms of plot, character development and emotional intensity. I also really enjoyed the balance of light and shade, the sinister atmosphere Upstairs at the club, compared with humorous observations of Jet’s self-styled goth angst.

I really hope there’s more to come from Mere Rain in this world, as I would love to read a sequel to Dark Arts for Bright Hearts. A wonderfully imaginative and involving read.

Pest Control is such a delightful Sapphic romance read from the always-inventive Eule Grey.

I loved the world-building in this first book in the Vortex series, where it’s soon revealed that this is not merely a contemporary setting with everyday people. The characters are vivid and likeable, and the central romance between Valeri and Pippa is gorgeous.

I loved the humorous and imaginative touches about the Pest Control organisation that made this such an enjoyable read. I mean, who could resist a gold catsuit as a work uniform! Really looking forward to Eule Grey‘s next Vortex story.