Psychopomp & Circumstance by Eden Royce

TL;DR: The vibes and the emotion of this were fantastic.
Source: NetGalley – thank you so much to the publisher!

Plot: Phee, attempting to find her own life and freedom, takes up the task of planning her Aunt’s funeral.
Characters: They were varied and interesting, almost lacking in how much I wanted more though.
Setting: A lovely small town. It felt like there was so much more we could have had. Not to mention the house itself.
Fantasy: The fantasy was so light, but I wanted SO much more if.

Summary:

Phee St. Margaret is a daughter of the Reconstruction, born to a family of free Black business owners in New Charleston. Coddled to within an inch of her life by a mother who refuses to let her daughter live a life other than the one she dictates, Phee yearns to demonstrate she’s capable of more than simply marrying well.

When word arrives that her Aunt Cleo, long estranged from the family, has passed away, Phee risks her mother’s wrath to step up and accept the role of pomp―the highly honored duty of planning the funeral service. Traveling alone to the town of Horizon and her aunt’s unsettling home, Phee soon discovers that visions and shadows beckon from every reflective surface, and that some secrets transcend the borders of life and death.

Thoughts:

My only complaint about Psychopomp & Circumstance is one I don’t often have about short work. I am usually quite satisfied with shorter stories, novellas. Yet here we are, and I wish we had so much more than what we were given.

The characters have a great start here! You can see the beginnings of what would be fantastic characters. We see Phee grow, meet fascinating other members of the community, and it shows so much potential. Yet we’re left wanting more, and to see where her life goes.

I also loved the setting and the magic. It was never explained, simply accepted in this Reconstruction era world that magic exists. Spirits roam, and the sea comes to talk. I need more.

So for this one I am left but pleased but wanting. Is there going to be another book in this world? I certainly hope so. Do I recommend reading this one – of course. But go in knowing it’s going to leave you a bit wanting.