All Kyle Talos, captain of the ship The Stargazer, wanted was one night with her beloved. A perfect, romantic evening and the chance to propose. Except the evening was interrupted by an enemy who commandeered The Stargazer, and the two lovers, forcing Kyle to help find the fabled well of immortality.

I lost the first copy I bought of The Elysium Proposal. It’s somewhere in my home, but where, in which stack of books, I can’t guess. So, I bought a second copy - an e-book this time, and I’m so very glad I did.

I devoured this story in one sitting. It really has everything: a cute queer romance, pirates, adventurers, mythical springs that can grant one immortality, a never-ending storm, family drama, and characters who feel real.

What I particularly liked about this story was the length. I haven’t been able to commit myself to longer books recently due to chronic pain, but the story never once suffered from feeling too short. It felt complete, while also offering me the desire to want to go on more adventures with this particular group.

A.E. Bross’s writing captures everything so clearly that I felt like I was there. I could hear the distinctive voices of each character in my head and feel their emotions. I could taste the saltwater air, and feel the storm as The Stargazer approached it.

It was the perfect read for a blustery day.