This newest story in the ‘Brandywine Investigations’ series, with its Greek and other gods, supernatural beings from various myths and legends, and a range of problems set in today’s world, is just as funny, engaging, and fascinating as the previous books. I think it’s one of my favorite series because of the mixture of laugh-out-loud humor, sarcasm, and moments that induce quiet chuckles as I follow the adventures of the old gods trying to deal with modern life. Most of them have adapted rather well to the twenty-first century, but there are some that battle old issues. And “Books, Bulls, and Bacchanals” has all the much-loved elements: it’s yet another unusual pairing, both main characters are damaged souls as well as immortals, there’s a mysterious murder, and to top it all off, it’s all set in the Eternal Library. Seriously? A library in another dimension that safely preserves every scroll, papyrus, and book ever written? Count me in!

Dionysus, who now goes by Dio, is not just the extroverted god of wine and orgies, but he also has anger management issues. It all goes with the image of being a rather wild rock star – what else - but at the core of who he is, Dio is as vulnerable as anyone else. Relationships don’t work for him, because who can stand seeing him leading all those orgies on a regular basis, and even his family mostly despises him for being one of the many illegitimate sons of Zeus. Dio adores his uncle Hades and his brother Hermes, and some of he younger gods have sided with him, but he is fundamentally alone. When his latest destructive burst of anger, during which he loses consciousness, prompts his siblings to recommend a visit to the Eternal Library, Dio at first isn’t sure he should go. He is not exactly a reader… But reason wins, and he makes his way there, only to have one of his friends murdered within hours. He is determined to find out who did it, but it is not an easy task!

Leander, the Minotaur of legend, has finally found peace as the Eternal Library’s librarian. He likes his life to be ordered, and ever since he has retreated away from a world that cruelly mistreated him because of his animal-like appearance, he has found a measure of tranquility. All of that is brutally interrupted with a murder and all kinds of beings swarming the library in the effort of finding out who did it. Leander is forced to come out of his isolation and work with Dio, and as much as this upsets him, he finds out there is something very attractive about the utterly charming god. Trust is slow to build, but their connection is undeniable.

If you like stories that play with well-known elements of the mythological world and create something entirely new and unique, if you enjoy seemingly opposite characters figuring out that they have much in common, and if you’re looking for a read that is suspenseful, yet emotional and romantic as well, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do. The characters – both old and new - are fascinating, the murder mystery kept me interested, and Leander’s and Dio’s love story is very touching. Thank you for another great installment, Angel! I sure hope you’re working on the next volume…





NOTE: This book was provided by Amber Allure for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )