Genre: Superhero, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Mystery
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
Beneath the veneer of everyday life, a clandestine world thrives in the shadows, filled with powerful telepaths who call themselves adepts. These superbeings have guarded their secrets for millennia, but when a brilliant scientist, Joe Martin, maps and prepares to publish their genome in a famous medical journal, the adepts realize they can’t hide forever and further exposure to the human world threatens their existence.
Gabriel Kelly has his life turned upside down when someone murders Joe, his ex, and the race to find the genetic map begins. Gabriel, an average adept, enlists the help of his best friend Sellers, who has his own secrets, in exposing the killer and securing the map.
Gabriel finds himself caught between the human cops who think he killed Joe and don’t know about the map, and rival adepts who don’t care who killed Joe but want the map for their own ends. Will Gabriel be the key to preserving the secrecy of adept society, or will the revelation of their existence alter the course of history forever?
The Review
Dr. Joe Martin, chief scientific officer, is a dall (those without powers) asset for House Angeles. The Angeles paid for the use of the powerful witch’s ward for Joe’s mind that holds secrets. He has mapped out a genome between Gabriel Kelly and Zuko, his loyal Bernedoodle. The use of infused precious stones that give Gabriel ‘ley energy’. He’s about to go public with his findings of a new psychic human sub-species, without approval from the patriarch. The finding will also point the way to cures and therapies with the immunities in adept blood.
Gabriel and Joe have history. Even though they broke up, they have remained friends. Joe had started working for Jeebom Pharmaceuticals, alongside Dr. Barbara Bates, and they were doing great work together. Joe left the company to work for Covian Pharmaceuticals, in which Gabriel’s family firm is a large stakeholder. Eighteen months later, Joe married musician Peter Brandon, who actually introduced Joe and Gabriel to each other. Now Joe is going home to tell his husband that he wants a divorce. Joe is convinced there’s no connection or communication left in their marriage, while Peter believes they could make it work, with time. He also believes Joe has been cheating on him with his ex, Gabriel.
Gabriel barely escaped alive from the Pyu in Burma with his loyal companion Zuko, using Ley-energy from a ruby. He is on his way back home to Boston. Gabriel is part of the House Salem. He is the great-great grandson of Anisa Aboud Walker, the 250-year-old Regna Protector. Russell Walker is Gabriel’s uncle, patriarch of House Salem, and an attorney. Gabriel is lower-level Media, and he feels like the outcast among the adepts. He owns Kelly’s Stonework, a jewelry shop that keeps him and Zuko, his very large bernedoodle, traveling.
Sellers Collinsworth is Gabriel’s best friend, which is odd, because witches and adepts rarely get along. They met at a wealthy private school and became friends, and their friendship has never been challenged. Sellers is a fabulous baker and owns his own bakery, Journey’s End. He also claims to be a trained actor. Sellers never thought that Gabriel and Joe were right for each other. When Gabriel tells Sellers what has happened, he decides that he will do anything to help Gabriel. He even creates a scone spell for him. As Gabriel, Sellers and Zuko start out on a dangerous journey together, the two friends will find a special connection which will defy all the rules.
When Joe Martin is murdered, Gabriel panics and makes a serious mistake. He also hires a new employee at his store who he believes is a spy. Now, Detective Rizzo of he Boston PD considers Gabriel is suspect number one. Many people want Joe’s data and Gabriel, dead or alive. He only wants to secure Joe’s legacy and find the killer. With Zuko and Sellers by his side, will they get out of this chaotic mess alive?
Holmberg has written a fantastic story in Regna Born, with adepts, witches, telekinesis, telepathy, a magic notebook, and even a guardian spirit. It’s full of murder, cruelty, betrayal, manipulation, drugs, and greed. The murder mystery is especially twisted and intense, with an abundance of suspects, and it’s complex enough to keep the reader guessing.
The characters themselves are amazing. Gabriel is somewhat naive when it comes to love and learns some hard lessons. He and Sellers are great companions, but they find something special between themselves that no one else in their world has. I really like this couple and hope to see more of them. And Zuko, the bernedoodle, (lupus vinculum), is an amazing dog, with lots of personality and a spectacular connection with Gabriel. Zuko is my hero.
Regna Born is Holmberg’s debut novel in a new series with very high potential. I was thoroughly entertained by all the creative ideas. I hope there is a second book in the works.
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.
