The Rational Faculty

**REREAD/RELISTEN 9/2/21 – 9/4/21 **Nothing to add to my original review but that I once again went in deeper with the relationship & characters. The story was, as usual, ingenious and cleverly sets up the overarching theme & case for this arc in the H&S universe. I double loved it. Again. FIRST READ 8/3/20 – 8/4/20There are things, places, people, food etc that, without having tried you know will be for you. When I started seeing the Hazard & Somers series pop up on my feed I got that feeling, without having read anything but a cursory glance at the blurb(s), that it was my brand of good. I was right. The first arc was all about (besides the individual mysteries and the overarching one) two very different people coming together despite the odds: a shared fraught history, individual experiences, self-doubt, and a town (representative of society at large) laced with abhorrent & venal people. Their connection is undeniable. The ride was like the best rollercoasters, scary & exhilarating. So what does [a:Gregory Ashe 1179529 Gregory Ashe https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1561907752p2/1179529.jpg] do for a follow up? Going by this first installment of A Union of Swords, a gloves off examination of the real work of relationship building once the ‘I Love You's' have been exchanged, after the curtain drops, and HEA is all but certain. Brilliant.As in the previous arc we get one case and the groundwork for the overarching one. They're both fine but being honest I'm not here for that. I'm here for Hazard's brilliant mind, which somehow makes him blind to his own appeal, his thoughts & opinions, not always flattering, and oft times expressed out loud, about people, humanity, and situations. I'm here for John-Henry, so sure of everything, of his place in the world but flailing like a fish out of water when it comes to Emery. I love everything about them. I could read scenes of them just lounging at home reading the paper (Emery) and having ice cream for breakfast (John-Henry) and I'd be happy. They've crossed over onto my shortlist of fictional characters I'm sure I may encounter on any given day, maybe at the market or just walking down the street, Emery would of course be aloof and John-Henry would gift me with a smile. One can dream. Be glad GA doesn't ask me for writing advice. Instead he continues the deepening characterization of the town of Wahredua, Wroxall's academic community, their counterparts, The Ozark Volunteers, and more importantly the relationship between Hazard & Somers. Emery struggling to redefine himself after the events in [b:Criminal Past 44646156 Criminal Past Gregory Ashe https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1553743587l/44646156.SY75.jpg 64217590], and Somers trying to be supportive without really knowing how. My favorite parts where the small, domestic, intimate scenes: Hazard holding Somer's hand in the park, almost in wonder, because he has to, the banter over what books Emery has on his nightstand, and his ‘disdain' over the fact that John reads novels, or Hazard explaining what it feels like to love someone so completely: “Like I'm not jus me anymore. Like I'm all tied up with him, and sometimes, being tied up with him is the only thing holding me together, holding me in place.”or John's more practical reaction:HAZARD: “John, did you hear what I said? I need you. I am totally, inconceivably fucking dependent on you. Sometimes I need you so much that it feels like I'm being ripped apart inside.”SOMERSET: “Yeah, dummy. It's called being in love.” He rolled a finger, the come on motion. “I love you too. Now, let's go.”The new additions to the cast, like Dulac (holding judgement) and seeing more of Rebeca, Noah, a their brood is all very welcome. Color me thrilled. ps. I paired the paperback with the AB by [a:Tristan James 14756687 Tristan James https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] because I had it and he's grown on me. Women still elude him, his voice just isn't fit for that. Can't win them all.