REVIEWED BY L.A. ASHTON

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Pairings: M/F

Queer Rep: Bi/Pansexuality, Demisexuality, Gay, Trans

Warnings: Accounts of epileptic attacks and seizures

My Rating: Four Stars

Synopsis

Chased by a creature that shouldn’t exist, Callie flees her home and hopes it buys her parents’ safety. But her future is uncertain, and she is wracked by mind-bending visions she can’t control. Her out of control mind somehow leads her to Nectar and Ambrosia, a bar seen by few and inhabited by the immortal—or, as we know them, the mythological.

Thanks to a kind doorkeeper and a vision of an oncoming apocalypse, Callie is thrown headfirst into a multi-dimensional conflict that could eviscerate the human race.

General

Unique, fun, and full of twists and thrills. Weaving together mythology, current religion, and aspects of light sci-fi, Nectar and Ambrosia will take you on an adventure like none you've experienced before. And then? You’ll want more.

Plot

You’re thrown into this world without any knowledge or preconceptions. Luckily for us, so is Callie. Being able to learn the ropes with the protagonist was a massive bonus, and helped things feel natural instead of info-dumpy.

Considering the scale of this piece, pacing novel should have been difficult. Hamill made it look easy. There’s time for mystery, tension, and breathless attempts to halt the apocalypse, but there’s also time for love and laughter. I was always itching for the next clue or a deeper glimpse of the characters. It draws you in and doesn’t let go until the final words.

Setting

The world in Nectar and Ambrosia is beautiful and ornate. I already want to return to Florian’s bar and mingle with its immortal patrons. Everything here was crafted with love and attention; details made the piece shine and brought the characters to life in a rich, satisfying way.

Characters

Like everything else in this novel, characters were created with considerable care. I loved so many gods, so many Sidhe, so many. Even ones that were questionable. Even ones I knew I shouldn’t. I would read individual stories about them all right now. Florian also stole my heart immediately—his quiet and caring nature made me long for an inter-dimensional hug. I wish I had more time with some of the side characters. I realize the cast was large and the plot was a tall order. Perhaps I'm greedy, but I blame Hamill for making me attach to them in the first place.

Strangely, the only one I had trouble connecting to was Callie. This felt like a very “it’s me, not the book” type of situation. All the aspects were there, all the details and character building, but I couldn’t align with her as wholly as I often do. I finally grew more attached as the book went on, and I have a feeling we’ll fit together better if there’s a sequel. Who knows why brains work the way they do? Mine’s a mystery.
 
It feels very difficult to discuss aspects of this piece without giving things away. Every character and set piece has its role, every scene and interaction. Sometimes I forget about the subtle Chekhov’s Gun aspect of Hamill’s work, but that’s probably her intention, isn’t? Just trust me on this: Nectar and Ambrosia will transport you somewhere amazing, and when it’s over you’re going to want to go back. If you’re having trouble believing me, Hamill offers the first three chapters for free on her site. Go, be convinced.
  
E. M. Hamill’s official site can be found here, and her twitter is over this way.

Note: I am an Amazon Associate and I am using affiliate links. These do not affect you or my reviews.
From Amazon.com:

Nectar and Ambrosia (print) — $12.99    |    Nectar and Ambrosia (ebook) — $4.99

In a couple of months, I'll be joining my fellow Australian NSP author, Kevin Klehr, at Supanova (Sydney) for my first ever real-world book stall.

I'm pretty darn excited! When Kevin told me he had a new release coming out in the months before we would meet all the amazing people at Supanova, sharing our LGBTIQ+ speculative fiction with them, I was naturally all too happy to mention the book on my blog.

Kevin has a pretty impressive talent for marketing, and I must say I'm a little jealous of his skills! Take a look at the trailer for his speculative fiction:

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You can order a copy of Kevin's book HERE.

​In an age where everyone lives their lives through a screen, no one has more celebrity status than fashion blogger, Madeline Q. In a chance meeting, Tayler, loner and geek, is introduced to her world of parties, fan worship, and seduction.
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But as his own star rises, Madeline Q is arrested for murder. There’s just one problem—there is no corpse. Tayler soon learns that fiction blurs reality on Social Media Central.