The Mourning Dove and His Snow Sparrow

This book was super sweet, the romance was quick to develop, and there something so bitter sweet about a lonely man finding love. I adored the magical realism. The “newly human discovering sex” trope is also a good one. There’s no shame and the pleasure is just straight forward and sweet. The writing was stark and straight forward, leaving nothing to the imagination. I don’t recommend this to young readers at all. This is very adult although it does have a very sweet romance.

At just 120 pages, The Mourning Dove and His Snow Sparrow was a quick, light read. Being only novella length, the story is perforce simple, without a lot of twists and turns, but it was still enjoyable and I still got caught up in the characters even in such a short space of time. The story includes some spicy bedroom scenes, but also had a lot of emotional drive, especially in the final few chapters. A nod must be given too to the gorgeous cover art. Overall, I am glad I decided to give this story a try and I recommend it to those looking for a quick one-night MM fantasy read that combines steamy sex scenes with plenty of heart. I am giving this book a solid 4.5 stars.

This novella was very sweet and also spicy!
Callum is lonely on his homestead after the death of his mother and he moves through life without much intentionality until he comes across an injured sparrow who, magically? (idk lets not question the logistics), transformers into a winged man: Aurear.
This little story is very cozy fantasy coded with some sweet endearing moments but also a handful of bittersweet realties.
If you peruse fanfiction with your tags set to hurt/comfort then this is the read for you!

Thanks to Netgalley and the marketing team at BooksGoSocial for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to netgalley for providing this ARC.

This novella is about Callum who grew up with his mother in the middle of the forest. As he grew up he had to take care of his sickly mother instead of her taking care of him. One winter day, Callum comes back to the cabin to discover that his mother has passed and he is now all alone. He goes through the motions of living but is not really living until an injured fox sparrow comes into his life. This fox sparrow turns into a winged man named Aurear. Callum is drawn to his warmth after being alone for so long and comes to love him.

This was a bite sized cozy fantasy romance that is a nice light read. There are a not a lot of twist or turns just a simple read that is still enjoyable. The characters are sweet as they are learning to be with each other. Aurear is learning how to be human with Callum's help and they are both learning how to love each other. There are some spicy scenes that came about naturally and it was cute how they learned how to have sex for the first time. There is enough emotionally drive to keep a reader invested.

I give this 4 out of 5 stars for quick, light fantasy MM read.

Okay, this was the cutest thing I've read in a long time. I was a bit skeptical at first, because the beginning has a lot of excessive detailing and flowery writing, but I hung in there and I'm glad I did. Aurear is adorable. The way that he doesn't understand things but it so eager to learn is so very sweet. I really loved the relationship between him and Callum. Plus, the spicy scenes were HOT. I also loved the cute little Christmas epilogue at the end. Overall, this was great and I'd be interested in reading more by this author. Just remember that it is a novella and is meant to be quick and spicy, so don't expect a ton of relationship-building or a slow-burn.

First of all i want to thank netgalley for gifting me this book.
This book was adorable. I gave it 4 stars. The characters were very cute and sweet. The magical realism aspect was very well done. It's a light fantasy novel. The fantasy aspects are very minimal. It's also very short. Around 120 pages. This book is still very well written. I love how the author writes straight to the point. No weird metaphors or synonyms. Just straight how it is. I really enjoyed that. I'm still so sad this book is over. It made me feel all kinds of emotions. I recommend this to anyone who is in for a short fluffy cute read. I do want to point out that this book is not for a younger audience. There is really mature content in here. As soon as it comes out give this book a go, It won't disappoint.

This was a very sweet book that had heart and beautiful descriptions, with a sweet romance that was heartfelt. It was a little fast paced and the climax was finished a little too soon in my opinion but otherwise this was a good fluffy read that I would recommend.

"The Mourning Dove and His Snow Sparrow" by Eve Healy is a novel that transported me to a world full of wonder, tenderness, and fairy tale charm. I was intrigued by the beautiful cover and excited as I started reading by the environment and sucked into the lives of the charming characters from the start.

Healy's words created a realistic and evocative environment, allowing me to immerse myself in the story thoroughly. The author's descriptive abilities brought each scene to life, bringing me to a world where love and fate collide.

The central protagonists, Callum and Aurear, grabbed at my heartstrings with their undeniable chemistry and charming bond. I couldn't help but pull for them as they faced the trials and tribulations that fate had in store for them. Their trip was intense to experience but still scattered with delicate moments and sincere feelings.

In conclusion, this book is a fantastic quick read that will leave you wanting more with its enchanting ambiance, endearing characters, and heartwarming tale.

Thanks to Netgalley and the marketing team at BooksGoSocial for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

A novella with 120 pages that offer a light and heartwarming reading experience. The story starts with Callum, that lives in a forest far from other human beings and feels lonely after the death of his mother. He's going through a motion of living when he suddenly stumbles upon an injured sparrow that magically turns into a human to feel that loneliness that Callum feels.

It's enjoyable, and I honestly will recommend this book because it reminds me of one of my favorite lengthy novels ORV. Somehow I get that type of feeling when I'm reading this book, which is a good sign because I usually don't read BL much. The book is full of sweet and endearing moments but offers other emotions like hurt, longing, and feelings. And also, look at THAT COVER! So gorgeous!

Something I don't particularly like when reading a novella is the short length of the book, sometimes, it hinders some explanation that is needed in the end, and sadly I feel this way with this book. But it's still good.

Thank You, Netgalley and BooksGoSocial, for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"The Mourning Dove and His Snow Sparrow" by Eve Healy is a sweet (and spicy!) novella that explores themes of love and loss. Despite its short length of ~120 pages, the book captivated me with its compelling storyline. The fast pace of the narrative makes it a perfect choice for a single-sitting read.

The main characters, Callum and Aurear, are beautifully portrayed, and their relationship develops quickly, drawing the readers into their world. Their journey is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, as they navigate the complexities of loss and first love.

I enjoyed the length of the story; it felt like the perfect peak into Callum and Aurear's world. However, I wasn't the biggest fan of the final chapter. I would have preferred a more open-ended conclusion to the story. I did find the bonus story about Christmas to be a delightful addition, bringing a sense of joy and leaving readers on a happy note.

Overall, "The Mourning Dove and His Snow Sparrow" is a short and sweet tale that packs an emotional punch. If you're looking for a quick, touching read about love, romance, and the bittersweet nature of life, this novella is worth picking up.

This was one of the sweetest, most heartwarming books I have read in a while. Callum and Aurear are precious together. The ending was very beautiful. A cozy BL novella with a little bit of spice thrown in.

Thank you to NetGalley for a review copy.

For a novella, this is a really heartfelt tale. The mourning dove is Callum, a human who has lost his mother. The snow sparrow is Aurear, a red sparrow who turns into a winged man.

Most of it involves Aurear learning what it means to be human and Callum learning what it means to have somebody care for you. There are some spicy scenes (around three of them), as well as some adventure.

Not all of it is fun and games though. This novella does include near-death experiences. The ending, in particular, left me tearing up and questioning how much time my life has left. Due to the heavy nature of the end, I strongly recommend reading the bonus story. (It's about Aurear's first Christmas.)

Novellas are tricky to write characters with depth. Honestly, I think Eve Healy did a fantastic job. At the core, this is just a cozy tale of a M/M romance blossoming, but it speaks to the best and worst aspects of human nature.

It's difficult for me to pinpoint what readers would appreciate this most. Perhaps people who are interested in emotionally heavy romances, or cozy "monster" romance books?

I did receive this e-book from Netgalley, for which I am very grateful!

This was an incredibly cozy and sweet little fantasy story.

I was absolutely hooked by the gorgeous cover. The pure and heartfelt loneliness Callum experienced at the beginning of the book, and Aurear’s earnest desire to take care of Callum and learn how to be human made the short 140 pages fly by.

I would probably call this fantasy realism, or possibly monster romance, because Callum almost immediately accepts Aurear’s magic, but the townspeople have a harder time accepting him. There is some violence and a stressful scene near the end of the book that make this a little more than a fluffy romance, giving the book depth and a solid finish, emphasizing taking advantage of all the time we have with our loved ones.

Thank you Net Galley for the chance to review this sweet book.

This book caught my attention the moment I saw it on NetGalley and it did not disappoint. It was short but still managed to have so many twists and turns unexpectedly. It was a little weird how often we got reminded that he was a bird and the spicy scenes made that all the weirder like yea he’s a human form
But he’s a bird soooooo.

This was definitely a short steamy read; coming in at just 120 pages it was a quick, light read. Even with it being novella-length, the character development was still well developed and enjoyable. There was some spicy scenes and could get pretty emotional particularly near the end.

4/5 stars

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

What a cute love story. Space was alright. I’d recommend this book to a couple friends cause I think they’d like it but it wasn’t for me, however I still thought it was a good book!

This is the short, magical tale of a lonely man, Callum, and the fox sparrow shifter, Aurear, who captures his heart. This was an absolutely beautiful romance in its purest form. I honestly don’t understand the low reviews on this one because everything about it felt surreal. Their love, the gentle commentary, the passionate love-making, the bittersweet ending. These two spend 50 long years together and while the ending brought me to tears, it was wonderful and emotional.

“ʏᴇꜱ. ɪ ᴘʀᴏᴍɪꜱᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴇ ᴏꜰ ʏᴏᴜ.”
“ʏᴏᴜ’ᴠᴇ ᴅᴏɴᴇ ᴠᴇʀʏ ᴡᴇʟʟ. ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ?”
“ʏᴇꜱ.” (This part, y’all 😭😭😭)

It’s hard to put into words the beauty of this story. It’s slow pace and steady and lowish angst. It’s not very exciting and not much really happens but that’s okay because it’s simply a love story between a mourning dove and the fox sparrow found in the snow. Callum and Aurear were gentle and pure. They loved hard and supported gently.

This was a comfort read for me. I already know I’m going to buy the paperback because I want to reread this one when I’m feeling down AND I’m obsessed with the gorgeous cover. Bravo!

SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
ANGST:💧💧
POV: 1st, mostly Callum

𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚. 𝙈𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮.

the book initially asked me for the cover, it is very beautiful and colorful and invites you to read. the book itself is interesting, the story flows quickly and is very sweet. the book has few pages and is a super quick read especially if you are trying to get out of reader's block like I was. very nice, recommend!

This is follows a guy who discovers a snow sparrow outside and takes him in. When he came back to with food for the bird, a man was now where the bird was. From then on, the story progresses especially their relationship.

The cover and title caught my eye, but I basically went in blind without reading the description fully. The cover is quite cute and colorful, I love illustrations of characters on covers.

As for the book, it was a quick read and it does have a sweet romance along with some spicy scenes in which that terms refers to sexual situations. I think this was a unique story about the sparrow transforming into a human and overall, things were straightforward. There is also the exploration of identity, sex, and the theme of loneliness.

OOOOOH MY GOD I WAS <b>NOT</b> READY FOR THIS LEVEL OF EMOTION. IT'S 10PM AND I AM <b>CRYING</b>

What can I even say? I just wanted a quick read with a bit of smut.
I wasn't prepared to fall in love with these characters. I wasn't ready for the cute fluffy romance. I wasn't planning on crying over my kindle because of a bird!?

My ONLY criticism is that I thought they're first night together was waaaay too unbelievable- this guy was a bird. A literal bird, until a few weeks ago. He doesn't know much about the human world but he knows how to pleasure a man?? It should have been more clumsy and awkward✨️

I loved it otherwise, not expecting the feels, but it was so worth it!!

Yes if
You are looking for a very spicy m/m romance book with a slice of life story or self-discovery.

No if
Explicit descriptors of sex or age/maturity/knowledge gaps are not your thing.

I don't know that anything could have prepared me for The Mourning Dove and his Snow Sparrow by Eve Healy. It was a sweet and fast paced story of love and self-discovery.
That does not mean it wasn't full of it's own trials and tribulations or lacking in depth and sadness however.

***Content Warnings for this book:
Explicit Sexual Conduct, Death of a Parent, Grief, Injury/Injury Detail, Blood, Sickness, Death***

The story follows Callum and Aurear as they explore romantic and sexual love for the first time.

Callum
Is a young man who is recovering from loss and loneliness. A man who doesn't know how or where he will fit into the world.
When he stumbles upon Aurear his world shakes and he starts to be able to explore who he is without many risks of consequences from the society that he is a part of.

Aurear
Is a young man whom we meet when he is saved by Callum and becomes a man in his home.
He provides us with an innocent and well-meaning view of the world. As a character who does not have experience in the human world, we see things through his interactions with a childlike wonder. A wonder that, at times, can feel out of place with the adult aspects of the story.
Aurear is both finding who he is while helping Callum to discover who he is as well.
Despite having been a bird he knows a shocking amount of the best practices of m/m intimacy.

If you aren't up for extremely explicit sex scenes, think AO3/fic level of description, this book probably isn't for you (unless you are willing to skim past those parts). But those parts of the book in no means take away from the main storyline. While this isn't an action/adventure story, there is far more plot than I was expecting.

Overall, this was a quick book to read with a sweet overarching story that provided me with a fun way to spend the afternoon reading. While I am unsure I would reach for it again, I did enjoy this book.

***I was provided a copy of this book via NetGalley. This review is my honest opinion and thoughts about what I read.***

ARC Rating 3.75/5 ⭐️

First off, the cover of this book is so pretty ✨️

This mm light fantasy novella was a nice short story about Callum and Aurear. Callum is trying to carry on with life after his mother has passed away while Aurear was a injured fox sparrow he happens apon.

I really enjoyed the sort of whimsical poetic writing style of this book and liked how their romance played out. It was an enjoyable pacing of the relationship, considering Aurear was literally a bird turned human rather that a bird shifter. And I also enjoyed the level of spice throughout.

Tbh I wasn't a fan of the 3rd act events, that's the main reason for the dropped stars. But I did really enjoy the ending, god did I sob 😭

Overall, this was a nice short, sweet romance novella.

Thank you NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and Ene Healy for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.

Book Review for: "The Mourning Dove and His Snow Sparrow" by Eve Healy
Source: ARC from NetGalley
Score: 4/5 stars

The book "The Mourning Dove and His Snow Sparrow" follows the life of Callum after his mother passes. He rescues a fox sparrow who ends up becoming human and the love interest of Callum.

The book is a romance set in simpler era with elements of fantasy embedded.

Plot:
The plot revolves around the lives of Callum and Aurear as they live out their humble days and develop a romantic relationship with each other. There isn't much else about the plot and this isn't necessarily a bad thing. The plot is simple and focused and helps us, the readers, develop a connection to Callum and Aurear.

Throughout the story, the book discusses Callum's struggles with self-confidence and his grief with the passing of his mother. We see growth in Callum's character throughout this short form novel.

Overall, the plot is a focused look at the lives of two lovers.

Writing:
The book is paced well. For a short novel, there is lots of character and relationship building. The writing feels almost poetic in it's style and managed the delicate balance between explaining vs. experiencing the plot. There is limited world building but there wasn't much to expand since the story focused on the relationship of our main characters.

The only challenge I had with the writing was how jarring the intimate scenes were in contrast to the sweet and tenderness of the rest of the book. These moments were well written. It was quite a stark contrast to the style of the rest of the story.

Overall, the book is beautifully written and paced well.

Characters:
Overall, the characters are likeable. The two main characters are written with such care and tenderness. Since the book is focused on it's main characters, readers do develop a sense of connection with them and root for them during the challenges that arise.

The only other character that has some personality is Callum's mom.

Finale:
Overall, it was good to see such beauty written into a m/m romance. The book is paced well and has some enjoyable characters.

Thank you to Eve Healy and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"The Mourning Dove and his Snow Sparrow" is a beautifully crafted tale that delicately weaves together themes of love, loneliness, and the transformative power of connection. Set in the secluded forests of the North, the story follows Callum, a young man who has known only solitude and the company of nature. His world takes an unexpected turn when he discovers an injured fox sparrow that can transform into a winged man named Aurear.

The bond that forms between Callum and Aurear is both tender and captivating. As they navigate the complexities of their relationship, the story explores the depths of human emotion and the longing for warmth and companionship. The romance between them unfolds with a sense of urgency, drawing readers into a realm where the boundaries between bird and man blur.

Eve Healy's writing paints a vivid picture of the enchanting forest setting, immersing readers in the quietude and beauty of nature. The emotional journey of the characters is portrayed with grace, evoking a range of feelings from joy to heartache. Despite the brevity of the story, the author skillfully crafts moments of intimacy and vulnerability that resonate long after the final page.

"The Mourning Dove and his Snow Sparrow" is a gem of a novella that will captivate lovers of fantasy and romance. Its unique blend of fantastical elements and heartfelt storytelling offers a bittersweet exploration of love, loss, and the transformative power of human connection. Prepare to be swept away by this poignant tale of two souls finding solace and warmth amidst the cold embrace of the forest.

Wow! This book was an emotional ride! I honestly went in, picking it as romance read because the cover art is so gorgeous! But HOLY!!! Did it rip my heart out! It was so beautifully written! I did find the first couple of chapters difficult to get into, but after that... yeah!! This was a beautiful love story! For both characters! Gosh, just how alone and isolated each of them had been and then to find each other and trust in the idea to fall in love.. It pulled on my heartstrings !! The end though... had tears in my eyes! Such a beautiful love story!!

This was a lovely book to read, the characters and story where enthralling and kept the reader engaged till the end!

For people loving sweet and short fantasy romances this one will be up their alley. It was so bittersweet in some instances but at the same time it gave a lot of warm and fuzzy feelings. Plus the spicy scenes were quite good too. Overall I had a great time with it and wold definitelly recomend it to people interested in LGBTQ+ fantasy romances.

Thank you to Netgalley for the eArc!

I DEVOURED this book. Was I in a room with other people as I read it? Yes. Do I regret reading the spicy scenes with people? Never.

I can definitely see how this book is not for everyone. However, I love absolute trash and this was the exact type of thing I LIVE for. So if you spend time browsing on Ao3, you'll probably enjoy this.

Our MC Callum has been left alone for quite some time after the passing of his mother until one day he stumbles upon an injured fox sparrow who turns into a human. Adorable fluff ensues, with some hurt and angst, but it's ok because we get our HEA. Also. There was one bed. Iykyk.

Aurear can the the type of character that could turn some people off from this book. He is a bird and doesn't know much about being human, which causes him to be naive and blunt, but this means our boy Callum can teach him things and it's super cute and adorable.

This is a short story and easy to get through in one go. So if you are looking for some sweet gay romance with some spice to read on the beach, I highly recommend this one.

A most heartfelt welcome to Netgalley and Eve Healy for giving me the oppurtunity to read ''The Mourning Dove and His Snow Sparrow'' in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a wonderful and cute story from start to finish and was equal parts sweet and spicy, it made me read it in one sitting. The fact that's not only a romace story between Callum and Aurear but also a journey of healing from grief made it all the more sweet and heartwarming and I found it most endearing that both characters exhibited avian traits throughtout the story (e.g chirping, whistling, tiltng their heads).I took notice of that immediately both vocabulary wise aswell as character traits were presented in the story and it made me excited to see that avian aspect of the cute duo be intergratted through the writing.
A sweet story that didn't neglect giving the reader the spicy parts especially the MMaction parts were both sweet and sexy and the sex wasn't just physical but emotional too, which I really loved. Their first time together being the first time for both of them, I mean...what was not to love about it ?
If you're looking for a cute and soft story with a pinch of spice, I'd definetelly recommend this to you.

Everyone's saying it's sweet and spicy. Get on board, BECAUSE IT IS.

Thank you to the author and the publisher for this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I don't know that anything could have prepared me for The Mourning Dove and his Snow Sparrow by Eve Healy. It was a sweet and fast paced story of love and self-discovery. Not all of it is fun and games though. This novella does include near-death experiences. The ending, in particular, left me tearing up and questioning how much time my life has left. Due to the heavy nature of the end, I strongly recommend reading the bonus story. (It's about Aurear's first Christmas.)

A lovely book and quick read!
I really enjoy this type of story and was so happy to get approved. I think the pacing moves quick enough to keep the reader's attention without losing focus on the plot. The romance and spice were just the right level for me and overall its an excellent quick read for fans of queer books! Definitely recommend this one

This novella was a quick read, but enjoyable. The spice was really good and I loved how the story was letting me immerse myself. Not a lot of novellas are able to do that! I recommend this short novella for anyone looking for a queer quick novella.

I really enjoyed reading ‘the mourning dove and his sparrow would definitely recommend 😊
Rating: 4 stars
Love the look of the cover art

Oh. My. GOSH! The cover alone was enough to make me feel things, but reading the book...oh yes please! This story has the perfect blend between sweet and spicy and I want more!

The author skillfully crafts a story that explores themes of loss, companionship, and the beauty of finding solace in unexpected places.

Pros:
1. The characters are endearing and well-developed, making it easy for readers to connect with their emotions and experiences.
2. The writing style is evocative, creating vivid imagery of the natural surroundings and enhancing the emotional impact of the story.

Cons:
1. The pacing of the plot sometimes feels uneven, with certain sections dragging on while others could have been expanded for a more immersive experience.

Overall, "The Mourning Dove and his Snow Sparrow" is a touching story that will resonate with readers who appreciate heartfelt tales of friendship and healing. Eve Healy's writing style and the emotional depth of the characters make it a worthwhile read for those seeking a gentle and touching story of unlikely companionship in the natural world.

In Eve Healy's "The Mourning Dove and His Snow Sparrow," I was treated to a captivating journey of love and self-discovery. Set against the backdrop of a chilly winter's night, this novella introduces us to two enchanting avian characters - the introspective Mourning Dove and the vivacious Snow Sparrow.

Healy's writing is a melodic blend of poetry and prose, crafting a tale that transcends the boundaries of the ordinary. The chemistry between the Mourning Dove and the Snow Sparrow is palpable, their dialogues a symphony of wit and warmth. Through their interactions, Healy artfully explores the intricacies of human relationships, leaving readers with a heartwarming appreciation for the fragile yet resilient nature of love.

What sets "The Mourning Dove and His Snow Sparrow" apart is Healy's ability to create a world both surreal and deeply relatable. In just a few pages, she masterfully unveils the layers of her characters, evoking a whirlwind of emotions. Moments of laughter, contemplation, and even a touch of melancholy are beautifully woven together, giving readers a taste of the bittersweet essence of life itself.

Though brief, the novella lingers in the mind, inviting readers to reflect on the transformative power of love and the importance of cherishing connections, no matter how fleeting they may seem. Healy's prose, like the flight of her avian protagonists, soars effortlessly, carrying us through a narrative that feels both ethereal and grounded.

"The Mourning Dove and His Snow Sparrow" is a delightful gem, a reminder that even the smallest encounters can leave an indelible mark on our hearts. With her gift for brevity, Healy's storytelling proves that a well-crafted tale need not be long to be impactful. This poignant and witty work is a testament to the enduring beauty of love, a tale that will leave readers enchanted and yearning for more of Eve Healy's literary magic.

I just reviewed The Mourning Dove and His Snow Sparrow by Eve Healy. #TheMourningDoveandHisSnowSparrow #NetGalley
A beautiful, spicy and cosey read. It's one of those books that you want to read when you're feeling sad and need to read something sweet.
Eve Healy just became one of my favorite authors of 2023

This was a really cute short erotic love story about two men lonely in life finding love and a companion to spend their lives with. Don't be fooled by the cover art, it might be a cute love story but it is labeled erotic for a reason.

That being said, it does balance the sex and the fluff pretty well. If you are a fan of cozy fantasy but are looking for something spicier with more adult themes, then this book might be a good fit for you.