Author: Dez Schwartz
Publisher: NineStar Press
Publication Date: 1 October 2018
Pages: 168
Format: eBook - EPUB
Genre: MM/PNR
Source: ARC via NetGalley
Ethan Roam suffers from night terrors and vivid daydreams, which lead him to the doorstep of the eccentric Dr. Grady Hunter, who thrusts him into a world of supernatural misfits. Ethan quickly learns that there’s more reality to his dreams than he suspected.
As Ethan unravels the truth behind his nightmares and falls into his first experience with love, he also finds himself the target of a sinister plan.
Ethan’s trust in his new companions will be tested and he’ll have to decide who he can rely on and who he must defy in order to survive a fatal Halloween night.
Roam was a bit of a mixed bag for me, so let me break down this review to the pros and cons. Starting with the positives, I simply loved the premise of this story, which offered a new twist on the usual paranormal fare. It had a ton of potential, and in theory the idea of Ethan and Grady as a couple worked. However, for me at least, the characterisation didn't quite come together. I couldn't buy the instalove that occurred between them. They'd barely met and immediately fell in love. Ethan was a little too naïve, taking too much in his stride without comment or concern, and I struggled with Grady's instantly 'cured' problems. He starts the story in an intense, possibly somewhat abusive, relationship that he, himself, calls an addiction, but as soon as he meets Ethan, he ends it with no sign of withdrawal or difficulty. It just didn't seem realistic to me. I feel bad that I couldn't like this more than I did, because the spark was there for something great. Sadly, it failed to form a cohesive whole for me. I found the leads and their relationship too underdeveloped. I'm giving Roam three stars overall, because I did so love the concept.
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