Good Neighbors by Stephanie Burgis [Review]

Good Neighbors (Good Neighbors #1) by Stephanie Burgis
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 28, 2023

Good Neighbors
1. Good Neighbors - Paperback | Kindle
2. Dangerous Flames

Stephanie Burgis
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

When a grumpy inventor meets her outrageous new neighbor in the big black castle down the road, more than one type of spark will fly!

Mia Brandt knows better than to ever again allow her true powers to be discovered. Ever since her last neighbors burned down her workshop in a night of terror and flame, she's been determined to stay solitary, safe, and - to all outside appearances - perfectly respectable...

But Leander Fabian, whose sinister castle looms over her cozy new cottage, has far more dangerous ideas in mind. When he persuades Mia into a reluctant alliance, she finds herself swept into an exhilarating world of midnight balls, interfering countesses, illicit opera house expeditions, necromantic duels, and a whole unnatural community of fellow magic-workers and outcasts, all of whom are facing a terrifying threat.

Luckily, Mia has unnatural powers of her own - but even her unique skills may not be enough to protect her new found family and help her resist the wickedly provoking neighbor who's seen through all of her shields from the beginning.

Thoughts on Good Neighbors: An antisocial inventor who is FIERCELY protective of the people she lets into her inner circle and a powerful necromancer whose biggest battle is how unobservant his new neighbor is to how he's trying to woo her. I mean, Mia was seriously in her own little world when it came to Leander's attempts. It was sort of cute, but probably not from Leander's perspective.

Anywho. Mia and Leander. On top of his attempts to capture her attention, they're also dealing with a whole lot of prejudice about their abilities. Or, about what they are, I guess. Mia keeps her metal working abilities hidden pretty deep, but Leander is NOT AT ALL SUBTLE with his power. Which means Mia finds ways to slide under everyone's radar (except Leander's), while Leander is all pale skin and dramatic clothes and skeletal horses on his carriage.

But they work together. Well. Mia might have been reluctant to become allies, but the two of them together make things happen in the best sort of way.

A few burning torches, more than a few displaced individuals, a soft heart under all the grump, an even softer heart under all his spectacle, magic, mayhem, and the type of found family that Mia NEVER expected. *thumbs up*