Riya Sanobal, a door mage, barista, and modern dance choreographer, dreams of a lovely man with eagle feet who fights demons. She’s a little confused when Idrian Odair, the warrior from her dreams, shows up at her practice space and says he’s been looking for her. Idrian is the last dreamwalker of his people and is searching for his dreamwalk partner because his grandfather’s ghost is constantly heckling him about it. There’s a prophecy involving her, and a potential demon influx. Can the two of them use their dreamwalking and non-dream talents to save Denver from incoming badness?
It seems like Van Natta has done her research on prostheses and Idrian’s relationship with his is presented in a matter-of-fact manner: he constantly has to take care of it. It’s not the focus of his character but it does come up in the plot, so it’s good to see that introduced early and integrated into the story so that we’re not surprised when it becomes a concern.
Riya and Idrian are attracted to each other from their first meeting, and don’t take long to acknowledge that and act on it. It’s easy to see why: they’re compatible adults with adult behavior. These two were pretty much made for each other, and there are no difficulties in their romance within it or externally (like one is a tenured professor in Philadelphia so is tied to that location). I don’t know how I feel about that, even though I like that they don’t make conflict out of nothing. The conflict is instead in the mystery of some foul play and fighting some demons.
The demons are pretty original in presentation: their behaviors aren’t surprising but how the manifest and extrude isn’t something I’ve read before. The dreamwalk realm seems a little more generic as a setting. The way characters do some activation magic there is cleverly executed, though.
There’s a cute moment of levity in the final conflict that tickled my sense of the absurd. This was a fun read for an afternoon.
I received a free ARC for review purposes. ( )

Clumsy, rushed, and poorly proofed

I love the Aeon Flux books. This does not measure up.

In the final remarks from the author I discovered that this is not her world. It shows.

The characters are vivid, but everything else is so chaotic it feels unplanned. There is an urgency to everything that makes it feel rushed and barely coherent. Almost info-dump level of 'tell' with inadequate 'show' to pull it together. The magic lacks any semblance of a system.

I like the author's work. There are moments that very well crafted (toddler in a nightdress outside a bank vault in Monte Carlo) and details that are enjoyable. But it desperately needs editing.

The fact that there are two sentences where words are crossed out and a different set of words is used...I never again want to see evidence of proofing in a product I have purchased. I almost want to ask for my money back.

Except...it is a very full world. And I did read the whole thing. ( )

Clumsy, rushed, and poorly proofed

I love the Aeon Flux books. This does not measure up.

In the final remarks from the author I discovered that this is not her world. It shows.

The characters are vivid, but everything else is so chaotic it feels unplanned. There is an urgency to everything that makes it feel rushed and barely coherent. Almost info-dump level of 'tell' with inadequate 'show' to pull it together. The magic lacks any semblance of a system.

I like the author's work. There are moments that very well crafted (toddler in a nightdress outside a bank vault in Monte Carlo) and details that are enjoyable. But it desperately needs editing.

The fact that there are two sentences where words are crossed out and a different set of words is used...I never again want to see evidence of proofing in a product I have purchased. I almost want to ask for my money back.

Except...it is a very full world. And I did read the whole thing. ( )

**I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. **

As an avid fan of Carol van Natta's Central Galactic Concordance Science Fiction Romance series, I was intrigued by this detour into Urban Fantasy/PNR, which I loved reading prior to my passion for SFR.

I genuinely connected immediately with the hero, Idrian. Gorgeous, handsome, a wonderful, respectful person - for sure. But also different, imperfect, emotionally and physically scarred. An Afghanistan veteran. Current, topical, relatable. His inner strength to endure and carry on shone brightly.

Riya, the heroine, is a dancer and very gifted choreographer, but also scarred by the past. She is a beautiful person, inside (and out). She reminds me of one of urban fantasy master Charles de Lint's magical characters - someone you'd love to have as a friend or soul mate.

Combine these two characters with magic, Native Indian culture and mythology, and malevolent paranormal elements and you get a cracking good story. I haven't read the other books in S.E. Smith's Magic, New Mexico series, but Carol van Natta's contribution urges me to join the other characters inhabiting this marvelous and richly imaginative world.

I loved the author's humour scattered throughout this story, along with how the deceptively normal, everyday dramas in the dance world became much more, leading us to engrossing and detailed action-filled conflicts between good and evil. I love that the author shows us how the two protagonists come into their own when they combine their talents, showing and encouraging us that a special connection between two people, magical or not, is precious and coveted.

The author's SFR books don't include sexy times between characters, but In Graves Below, I'm very pleased to see an intimate and passionate union between Riya and Idrian. These times together are infused with poignancy and reality, often not your average PNR scenario. Very refreshing and uplifting.

I recommend this book unreservedly to readers who not only love urban fantasy/PNR, but also stories with a happy, life-affirming message demonstrated by fantastic but still relatable characters, even if we're living our lives vicariously via the pleasure of reading about them. ( )