*3.5 stars*

Fun, entertaining YA paranormal romance from a new-to-me author.

I was really impressed by The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic. I'm usually SO hesitant to try a new author because I've been burned time and time again by crappy stories from newbie writers, but this one was worth the chance! If you like your stories a little quirky, then this one is for you.

The world building-elements were super interesting. It reminded me a little of Clean Sweep, but a more rudimentary version with some different concepts. I think if the author had just done a little more developing with the world it would have been amazing, but it was still very impressive.

The author tried to do a lot with this story and often succeeded. The romance was there, though it felt like a side element to the larger story, IMO, but I still liked the two guys together. I'm a sucker for a jock in YA romance, and I liked that we got one here. The story is totally steam-free, BTW, for those who are interested. This would be an appropriate story for actual YA readers, which sometimes isn't the case with a high school romance.

It was a fun story with some great dialogue and interesting relationships between the MC and many side characters. It was overall really well done, but again, I think that with a little something deeper (and a less anticlimactic ending), it would have knocked my socks off. Still, F.T. Lukens should be proud of this one, and I'll be looking for more from this author in the future.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

I loved this book, and I wish I'd had something like it to read when I was in high school coming to terms with my own sexuality. Aside from that, it was a truly enjoyable read especially for fans of shows like Supernatural and Buffy. It was funny and relatable, well paced, and a modern twist on old tropes. I would definitely recommend this book.

(3.5 stars) One day, Bridger’s worst problems were surviving high school and his massive crush on the new boy in school. The next, his new job turns out to be assisting a supernatural creature-wrangler. This is a book that asks the timeless question: which is scarier, facing down a charging unicorn or coming out to your mom?

The first part of this book reads like wattpad fanfiction, and not in a good way. That’s not meant to snark at fanfic, because I love it as much as anyone, but I think that’s how to get across the stilted and cliched descriptions, dialogue, and just general style that comes across as a new writer who still needs more practice. That’s how the first 25% of this book was, but it got better.

When the dialogue finally started sounding like real people rather than robots based off of stock characters, that’s when the book got itself straight (in a bisexual way, of course). Bridger’s experience testing out the threshold between the closet and the rest of the world is really relatable — both the hopeful experience of figuring yourself out and the more nerve-wracking experience of deciding who, when, and whether to come out. Plus, at this point Bridger’s crush, Leo, stopped being a bland boy-shaped object started being an adorable, ship-potential crush.

Not that this book is entirely about being bisexual and closeted/uncloseted. The plot involving sapphic werewolf women, semi-immortal mentors, and supernatural creatures being mysteriously drawn to Bridger’s town tied into the romance and self-discovery plot and was very enjoyable, and there were strong, important friendships too. It was basically wonderful and original and snarky, and then the ending had to go and ruin it.

I mean… not ruin it, but I was annoyed. While all the plot points pulled together into what looked like it would be an epic finale, what followed was to me anticlimactic. But it had so much potential! Very annoying.

Still, Rules and Regulations is a wonderful sandwich of a book with all the good stuff in the middle. Recommended for fans of unicorns, bisexuality, and other things the world pretends don’t exist.

I loved this book from the first line and I wasn't disappointed. Bridger was an entertaining narrator and the pace of the plot kept the story interesting. The secondary characters were engaging and well developed. I will definitely be recommending this book.

Bridge's new job starts out odd, what with his having to climb to a door on the roof as part of the application process, but it ends up pretty boring. His job is to organize the library, which is slow and tedious. Then he learns the truth about the magic around him and a whole new world full of mysteries and danger opens up to him.

I admit, I was originally hesitant to request this book. If you follow this blog, you'll know that I don't have a high opinion of YA novels. The characterizations of the main characters are usually more caricature and cliche than anything real. They're whiny about being young, yet often unrealistically wise to the ways of the world because otherwise how can they navigate the plot of the book. I eventually decided to pick up this book because the cover was awesome and I absolutely do not regret it.

The characterizations were perfect. Bridge is a young adult. He's trying to figure out high school, his sexuality, and his future, and it's so well written that I believed in every bit of teenage angst. Then magic is tossed into the mix and Bridge's reaction to it had me smiling and as eager to learn more as he was. If I had one complaint about this book, it's the fact that it ended. I want to know more about the world and the magic, and I want to see Bridge navigating college and more advanced magical events.

This book has an interesting premise and a cute love story. The characters were, for the most part, well developed, and the scenes between Bridger and Leo really shine. Leo and Bridger’s romance was adorable and there are some cute and funny moments to balance out the occasional over dramatic or corny scene. The beginning struggled with its pacing for a bit but it picked up twenty pages in or so. Overall, I really wish there was more “magic” in this story. The mythology behind the world Bridger has been pulled into was never fully explained or fleshed out, and the “Myth” element of the story took a backseat to Bridger’s interactions with his friends. As a result I couldn’t quite immerse myself into the plot line with Pavel and the pixies, although Nia and Bran were by far my favorite characters. A lot of Bridger’s moments with Pavel felt a little forced or unrealistic because there wasn’t enough development of the mythology behind the story. Overall, I’d definitely like to see this world expanded in a sequel or series.

I’m so happy I found this book. This book, THIS BOOK, made me so happy; it filled me with lots of giggles. Never underestimate a spontaneous giggle. I laughed so much out loud I freaked out my dog a little bit: he got worried about my safeness and came by my side to see if I was okay. I had so much fun reading it I want everyone to enjoy it as much as I did.

Bridger is a very sexually confused teenage boy looking for a job to pay for college. He is funny, very brave but as I said he is going through many difficulties that are going to put not few obstacles in our poor boy’s road to happiness. He found out he is bisexual and has a very obvious crush on his neighbor and high school football star, Leo. He is scared to come out, to be hated, left alone, so he plans to escape, to go far away for college. Oh boy, that idea was destined to failed from the beginning!

Money for college means a job and Bridger lands the weirdest job he could find. He works for Pavel, the intermediary for myths of the state they live in. His job will be to assist Pavel in order to maintain the mythical world hidden from the human world. It seems something is disrupting the balance of things and Bridger’s job is going to be harder than anticipated. Pavel, who has a family made of pixies, a gorgeous werewolf and seemingly apathetic secretary, is a wonderful boss; he listens to Bridger, helps him out and gives useful advice right when he needed it. I think Pavel is magical and not only because he has magic; when he understands a pop reference he is so proud of himself and the most adorable man ever. You gotta love Pavel, he’s one of a kind!

Bridger finds himself dealing with feelings he can’t fully express and mythical creatures that need to be convinced to be elsewhere because they’re in places they shouldn’t be.

The Leo problem is only known to his best friend, Astrid; she tries to help him but if one is stubborn and more than a little afraid then there’s little she can do to make a difference. Leo (full name freaking LEONIDAS, as in this-is-Sparta Leonidas!) is adorable and he clearly flirts with Bridger every time he can; he has a crush on our boy but our boy is not ready and my heart hurt a little. I was so glad there wasn’t the dreaded misunderstanding or unnecessary love triangles but still, I was scared for them because they were so cute together and I wanted only good things for them like cuddles and many many kisses. It was the perfect romance, sweet, with a twist of mythical magic. I loved it!

For a moment I was genuinely scared because there were many things that could go wrong but I trusted the author to not break my heart. I was on edge until the very end and I loved loved loved how the story unfolded. It was a magnificent book and, I repeat myself, I am so happy I found it.

Go read it as soon as it comes out. It’s worth it!

This is a well written and fun YA story.

Bridger knows that he is bisexual but he doesn't really want to tell anybody about this. He wants to wait until the end of his senior year and then start a new life in a university across the country in Florida where no one knows him and he can be himself, but in order to get to Florida he is going to need a job.

His luck turns up when he spots a job advert on Craigslist and he decides to apply but the job has some rather odd criteria and even getting to the interview is a rather weird challenge. Bridger gets the job and then enters into a new world of myth and magic and beings which should remain at the boundaries of the real world but something rather odd is happening and these mythical figures are making their presence felt in the real world. Bridger teams up with his new boss to find out what is happening.

As Bridger falls into the adventure of his new job and juggles his schoolwork and home life he also recognises his growing feelings for Leo, the boy next door, but Bridger doesn't realise that Leo has growing feelings for him. When Bridger finds out about this he is surprised but he has a lot on his plate at the moment with magic and mayhem, and he doesn't really want to come out, even though he does really like Leo.

Dealing with mythical beings provides Bridger with adventure, new friends and a good wage and as his friendship with Leo develops he believes that he can get to the point where they might be something more to each other than just casual friends, but something is happening in the mythical world and Leo is at the heart of it and it means that Bridger might need to make some choices that are even harder than the decision to come out.

This is a lovely YA story with a slight Harry Potterish feel. It blends this together with serious themes about growing up, family, school, friendship and coming out. The characters are well developed and engaging and I think it will be particularly attractive for younger readers. It is a very entertaining story and a pleasure to read.

Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review

I enjoyed this book a lot.

I mean, really a lot. Had so much fun reading it that I didn't even notice when I reached the final page. Bridger is a great, great guy and his narrative is fun and engaging. I was hooked from the first page :)

I very much liked the secondary characters–Astrid, Pavel, the pixies, werewolf and all– as well as Bridger's mom!

►

As I said, Bridger is a fun character, he feels relatable and is such a delight. There was not a dull moment and the pace was quite fast, the story covering a few weeks of Bridger's chaotic after school life. We meet his best friend, Astrid along with Bridger's new neighbor–and crush!–Leo, Bridger's new boss, intermediary Pavel and his supernatural entourage.

There is a lot I liked about the story and nothing I disliked, though I feel like the ending especially was rushed, a bit wishy-washy :(

►

There's no way you can compare The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic with F.T. Lukens previous books (The Star Host etc.) but if I had to pick and choose, those previous two books would be my favorite by the author.

It is because of how much I enjoyed The Star Host I didn't think twice about blindly diving into The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic - and I'm glad I did.



▽
Many, many thanks to the publisher who kindly provided a free copy for an honest and impartial review.

I loved The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths and Magic. Right from the first page, I found myself caught up in Bridger's life and the strange new occurrences that take place when he starts his new job. The world building was good--sufficient to answer questions but not so much that it felt like an info dump--and Bridger was a relatable and delightful character. I read it over three nights and I was always eager to turn the page and see what would happen next. If you are looking for a fantasy read with LGBT characters and plenty of humour then this is the book for you!

I must admit that I was a bit hesitant to read this story at first. Lukens was an unknown to-me author, but the cute cover and blurb pulled me in, and I have to admit that, this time, taking a chance paid off big time.

I loved how quirky and flat out odd this journey was, as 17 y.o. awkward high school student, Bridger, embarked on a new job, which turned out to be an entirely new life.

The prevailing dry humor, as Bridger is thrown into one bizarre supernatural situation after another, felt natural and never once tried too hard. I especially loved the pixies and Bridger's encounter with the virgin-friendly unicorn.

The story felt upbeat and light, mostly, except for the part at the end where Bridger had to make an extremely difficult choice, one that could not only devastate his newly-blossoming love life, but potentially lead to the deaths of others.

The story also focused a lot on the importance of family, those related by blood and those of your own making, and acceptance, by others as well as yourself.

And while the innocent, budding romance between Bridger and football star Leo wasn't the main focus of the story, it was critical to the plot and felt necessary. Unlike some fantasy stories, this one actually did have a nice mix of both of those elements as the story progressed.

In regards to the story being YA, this one didn't feel *overly* YA, if that makes sense. Yes, the setting was high school; however, with only a few minor changes, I felt that the story could have easily been an NA read, instead, as juvenile humor wasn't a major thing here.

Other than a few make-out sessions, there wasn't any steam. This story was more about the pursuit than the tackle and it ends with an adorable HFN, with the potential for (much?) more in the future.

Personally, I'd love to see this story turn into a series, following the adventures of Bridger, Leo, Astrid and the rest of the gang from the creepy old house fighting to keep both humans and the 'myths' safe and blissfully separate.

My only niggle is that, with the first 90% of the book leaving me feeling breathless and excited, for me at least, the end fell a bit flat from what I was expecting.

So while not entirely "pinecones and candy canes and epic and awesome" (nod to TJ Klune fans, holla!), this feel good tale did keep me intrigued and wanting more, so I'd rate it a solid 4.25 stars and definitely recommend it to fans of both fantasy and YA/NA genres.