It’s been a while since I’ve accepted any ARCs (I’ve become such a slow reader, y’all!) but I was delighted to take on Crystal Clear by Lou Nova. Let’s dive into this book together.
Rating: 4 Stars
Synopsis
Wyndeny’s government is made of the High Crystal Holders – nobles chosen by The Goddess to wield magic according to their assigned crystal – and the Caldwell Park Manor.
When his young nephew falls ill with a mysterious sickness, Nikolai Esterwick, Heir to the Manor, performs a drastic action to try and save him – he steals from the Holder of Healing. When he succeeds, Sahriya Misra contacts him with a deal he cannot refuse; if he gives her a piece of the healing crystal, she’ll take him to Constantine Arkola, the one who broke his heart three years ago when he left Nikolai to become a Holder. Their reunion is cut short, when the Lord of the Manor contracts the same sickness, his dying wish being that Nikolai seeks out The Dragon King of Dargmore.
Now shoved into a world he feels like he has never fit into, Nikolai must grapple with lordship, loose ends and love.
What I Enjoyed
I really enjoyed the wide variety of characters; the whole cast is really loveable and the author gives nice details about each person even if they aren’t the main character. I also loved the blossoming of a second-chance romance and how realistic the ups and downs can be.
I also appreciated the way Nova handles LGBTQIA+ romance; the main characters are surrounded by neutral/supportive adults when they go public with their partnership. While the MC is bashful about PDA, there’s no blatant homophobia depicted here.
Some parts confused me; we were in an intense moment and moved on relatively quickly. To me, it felt like a show-not-tell depiction of what happens when you follow an autistic MC and how they process things. I’d give that as a heads-up that this seemed intentional.
My Final Thoughts
I do agree with other reviewers that this book is much more suitable for a YA (16+) audience due to the subject matter of the book. The main character struggles with being taken seriously, which seems very relatable to readers who are too old to be kids but too young to be adults.
Overall, I enjoyed this story and I’m looking forward to future books and returning to this world that Lou has created
Hopefully, I shared enough to pique your curiosity. Want to get reading? If so, I highly recommend you find Lou Nova on social media:
If you want to check out my other book reviews, check out our Book Reviews tab. If you’d like me to review your book, you can contact us at witandtravesty@gmail.com. Just know that I’m still hesitant about doing ARCs; I don’t want to commit to a timeline I’m not suitable for. Thank you in advance for understanding!
