Genre: Fantasy, Mystery
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
The play’s the thing to catch the attention of Astreiant…especially when it includes murder, mystery and magic.
It’s ghost-tide in the city and the dead walk the streets, haunting those who meant something to them in life. The theaters of Point of Dreams have a hit season on their hands and Adjunct Point Nicolas Rathe and former mercenary Philip Eslingen have a murder on theirs. Not to mention a heady mix of intrigue, politics and magic, where even the flowers are more than they seem. Added to all of that, the crimelord that Philip worked for has dismissed him from his service and he’s had to move in with Nico. Can Nico and Philip stop the killer before they strike again? And will their relationship survive it if they do?
Lambda Literary Award Winner for Speculative Fiction.
The Review
The broadsheet announced the return of the “ghost-tide,” which brings back those who have passed-on, making an appearance to those whom they once knew.
Philip Eslingen is concerned that he is about to lose his position and his place with Caiazzo. As he follows the broadsheets and his astrological signs, he seeks out the best astrologist. Sibilla Meening has always been revered in the Point of Dreams, by both the rich and poor. She’s even known in the Caiazzo household.
Sibilla advises Eslingen that personal and professional changes are coming, and his world will be turned sideways. He will be without his usual armor until it returns to the horse, Eslingen’s sign. The play “The Drowned Island” will also be a factor in his life. He needs to be wary of gambling, as he had even less to lose. There won’t be a disaster, only a mistake that will waste time and bring regret. He will eventually find another position. But what about love?
Eslingen has time before meeting with Caiazzo. He walks through the market and stops to buy sugar candies in the shapes of horses and castles. At the doorway of the pub, he noticed how crowded it is, and then he sees the faces of dead men: old friends, enemies, a winter lover and those he fought beside. He dreaded seeing the ghosts, but they were not the ones he feared.
Caiazzo is well aware of Eslingen loosing his position and place to stay, but he has a plan. He will take Eslingen to meet with the Masters. He will be tested to prove himself, to become part of the “Masters Of Defense.”
Nicolas Rathe is adjusting to his new surroundings at the Point of Dreams, with his lateral promotion as Adjunct Point. He seems to do well, getting along with the other points, except for Point Voillemin. He is younger and from a noble family, but doesn’t have the personality to deal with people. Rathe, especially, has the patience to deal with the public concerned about questions with this time of the year of the “ghost-tide”.
Rathe meets with Magist Istre b’Estorr and Advocate Kurin Holles. Kurin was close to the Intendent Judge Bourtrou Leussi. Kurin is grieving, as he has not seen Leussi’s ghost. The more Rathe finds out about Leussi’s death, the more afraid he is that his spirit has been bound.
Rathe and Eslingen are living together, but neither is happy about how they got to this point. They were both hoping it would have been under different circumstances. But for the time being, their personal lives are be on hold as they are thrown together to investigate the dangerous and odd circumstances of several murders.
Scott and Barnett have written a power-packed, suspenseful tale in Point of Dreams, the third installment in the “Astreiant” novels. The story explores the strange world of astrology, and how heavily it is relied upon by the people of Astreiant. There are many more characters, some good, some bad, and they all make this novel more intense.
I highly recommend Point of Dreams – it’s a complex, intelligently written mystery that will keep you guessing, filled with love, lust, jealousy, power, revenge and death. Another outstanding and entertaining novel from Scott and Barnett.
The next novel from the “Astreiant” series is “Fair’s Point” by Melissa Scott. I’m excited to get started on it.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.