Hello, everyone! Today I’m excited to be reviewing Redneck Revenant by David R. Slayton, a new novel in the Adam Binder series. Read on to see all of my thoughts but beware of potential spoilers for the previous novels set in this universe.

From bestselling author David R. Slayton, Redneck Revenant is an exciting new chapter in the Adam Binder series.

Adam Binder’s life has never been better. Sure, he has no money, no car, no home to call his own, and he’s worried about creating a future with his boyfriend Vic, but he’s closer to his family than ever before. He’s also Page to the Elven Court of Swords, and that appointment is not without its perks—like the invisible sword strapped to his back.

But on Halloween night, Adam’s life takes a disturbing turn. Annie, his brother’s long-lost wife, turns up on her husband’s doorstep alive and well, with no memory of her death. But is it really Annie, or a Trojan horse from some new magical enemy?

To uncover the truth, Adam will need help from those he loves most—as well as a couple of friends at Rogue Community College. As he navigates a perilous maze of magical politics and battles terrifying creatures from beyond the known realms, Adam will discover a secret darker and more unsettling than anything he could have imagined.

***Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for providing an advanced copy of the book via NetGalley. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***

I was so excited to see that there would be more books in the Adam Binder universe. The first three books felt very much like a wrapped-up trilogy. So, I never expected a continuation of the main story. Enter Redneck Revenant. This book worked really well as both a natural next step in Adam’s story with plenty of references to events in the past and a launch point for a totally new arc. I was completely hooked while reading it and am looking forward to seeing where things go in future stories.

This is a really difficult book to review without spoiling something for someone. I’m going to try to stay vague and focus on highlighting my favorite and least favorite things about the book. First, I loved the characters. At this point, they feel like friends, and I was so happy to see how they were doing several years since we last saw them. The return of Annie from the dead was a surprise but a welcome one. Dautre was also an unexpected stand out for me, and I just know he and Adam will become the best of friends before long. lol.

The real heart of Redneck Revenant, though, was the relationship between Adam and Vic. One of my main complaints about the previous books was that we didn’t get enough of them together. This book remedied that problem and made me want to root for them even more than before. The story included plenty of quiet moments between the two that gave the reader insight into their dynamic as a couple. I loved the focus on healthy communication being key to a successful relationship, and their struggle to figure out how to take the next step in their commitment to one another was very relatable.

I also really liked the themes in Redneck Revenant. As with the previous Adam Binder books, it focused heavily on family and dealing with intergenerational trauma. Adam’s healing journey was also center stage throughout the story. I appreciated the portrayal of therapy and its role in helping Adam deal with his past and current stressors. Finally, the story illustrated both the need for and the difficulties of creating a world/society that includes and values everyone. Dogma and distrust can both be huge roadblocks to progress, and the story did a great job of showing the nuance of those issues.

Unfortunately, the place Redneck Revenant fell short for me was the plot. I was hooked for most of the book because I wanted to see how all of the threads were connected. The resolution just wasn’t that satisfying for me. Time travel is really hard to pull off well, and some things about how it was used in the story just didn’t add up. Looking back now that I know the true goals of some of the characters, some of their choices and actions earlier in the book seem inconsistent with the plan. One secondary character in particular felt like a total re-write that came out of nowhere. That being said, there’s clearly still way more to come in this arc. So, I’m giving Slayton the benefit of the doubt that it will all make sense in the end.

Overall, Redneck Revenant was a really great return to the Adam Binder universe. I definitely recommend reading the other books first, including the spin-off Rogue Community College. They provide a lot of context for what happens in this story, and I think this book will be more enjoyable if you’ve read the others. All things considered, I rate this book 4.5 out of 5 stars and definitely recommend the series to anyone looking for an urban fantasy with great queer characters.

There you have it! My thoughts on the newest Adam Binder book, Redneck Revenant. Are you a fan of this series? Let me know down in the comments!