Rune Saint John, last child of the fallen Sun Court, is hired to search for Lady Justice’s missing son, Addam, on New Atlantis, the island city where the Atlanteans moved after ordinary humans destroyed their original home.

With his companion and bodyguard, Brand, Rune questions Addam’s relatives and business contacts through the highest ranks of the nobles of New Atlantis. He must navigate old friends and enemies, and a growing attraction to a handsome nobleman.

But as Rune and Brand investigate, they uncover more than a missing man: a legendary creature sowing destruction through the city. In looking for Addam, Rune will find more than he was hired for: clues to the fall of the Sun Court and the secrets of his own past.

In this first novel of The Tarot Sequence by K.D. Edwards, I found a novel that is an addictive story but more importantly, one of the best written first novels I have read. When I began reading, I was immediately hooked by Rune and Brand. Each character is distinct and their voices immediately compelling. While the novel is a bit longer than I was expecting, it was such a rich and complex story, I never minded the length. 

Rune is charismatic and compelling. His past is full of depth. Caution warning, the entire series delves into Rune’s past which involves trauma and rape and the author does not shy aware from exploring how that has shaped the character. In fact, one of the things I appreciate is how deftly it is handled, illustrating how Rune deals with his past trauma. It never dwells or sensationalizes it but does address how it affects Rune in the present. 

I adore the relationship between him and Brand, the depth of their friendship, the partnership and how each brings strengths to their friendship. The novel also nicely sets up the world and the past history so that it can be developed in future novels. It is masterful in the writing and in the character development. 

If you love LGBTQ novels and want a very different take on urban fantasy, that involves tarot and Atlantis, I highly recommend The Tarot Sequence and the Last Sun. I was so addicted, I immediately read all the books in the series. I will be doing reviews of all three currently out. This is not only an addictive story but the series is as well. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 spells.