Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Syzygy 
SERIES: Augarten
AUTHOR: Charlie Godwyne
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 210 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 25, 2020
BLURB:
One last chance to live and love…
After the events of Equinox, Gabriel, Solomon, and Florian are creating a new life together in Vienna, but darkness awaits them. Their decisions have dire consequences as Florian’s traumatic past rears its ugly head, and Solomon’s former order seeks revenge.
Gabriel continues to struggle with his lack of memories and identity. As he works with his guardian angel to understand his new place in the universe, Gabriel discovers a truth about his past that shakes him—and the two men who have become his new world—to their foundation.
When a precious life hangs in the balance, Gabriel must decide how far he is willing to go to save those he loves, perhaps even at the expense of himself.
Syzygy is the second book in the Augarten series and is a 65,000-word MMM romance with magical realism, an exiled priest, angelic best friends, and even more espresso.
The Augarten series is now complete and is best read in order: Equinox, Syzygy, Hiraeth, Florian, and Newyddian. An epilogue, Eviternity, will be released in 2022.
REVIEW:
Gabriel has returned from his third incarnation to be with Florian and Solomon. His guardian angel, Ian is back as well, but inn a slightly different form and he and Ian are able to meet on some higher planes of existence. It’s clear that there is some connection from Gabriel to Florian’s deceased husband Michel. But Ian is reluctant to share. Augarten, the spirit/got who guard the park and has been instrumental in Gabriel’s return to the physical plane still wants what she owed.
Solomon is dealing with his own issues as he’s left the priesthood. They aren’t quite done with him yet. Florian is also dealing with money issues and is a bit worried about Solomon and Gabriel’s new relationship as well. Gabriel does his best to try to keep everyone happy while still trying to figure out what his path is and why he can’t communicate with his gods or who even he should be trying to communicate with.
As the holidays grow near, Gabriel wants to share them with both Florian and Solomon. He has to do some of that separately because Solomon is still a Christian and Florian is still definitely not 🙂 Michel’s magic which has protected Florian is barely holding on. All three men travel to a Krampus festival that ends rather badly for Florian. With help, he is able to recover somewhat, but things are still delicate with him. Gabriel isn’t sure how to share with Florian the things he’s discovered about his past self and his connection to Michel and Ian’s role. And Gabriel may have to give up the one thing he thought he could always depend on to save himself and his men.
I’m still not sure exactly what I’m reading here, but this story is really intriguing. I continue to be fascinated by the use of language here. Also the many aspects of spiritual study are interested to contemplate. The use of magic and angels and reincarnation and the regeneration and tying together of lives and destinies are something out of the ordinary. The fact that Gabriel is so obviously a vessel of love and what that means to Florian and Solomon and even to Ian make for a story that at once is very different to the usual MMM stories but also makes sense on a lot of levels. The relationship between each two men is so different but provide balance to the whole. Solomon’s demisexuality is a bit more part of this story and Florian and Solomon and Gabriel all work their way through that. There is plenty of sex for those who are interested as it is definitely a connection point for these men. This episode does end with a bit of a cliffhanger and I’m not sure at all what is coming next, but I’m on to the next book. This type of story I’m guessing isn’t for everyone, but if you’d like something quite a bit different from the usual contemporary or sci-fi or paranormal or historical, this series may be a good choice.
RATING: 
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