For years, Montana has been haunted by the ghost of his husband, blaming himself for the choices that led to his mate’s death. As one of only a few tyrannosaur shifters, he’s resigned to a lonely immortality married to his work—his walls up, his heart guarded, and his focus set on RELIC’s missions. Until the compassionate, plant obsessed Henry stomps into his life. Henry is everything Montana doesn’t have time for: young, reckless, eager to prove himself, and desperate to push all of Montana’s buttons—buttons he hits with terrifying precision. But when the RELIC team learns about a rare, life-changing shifter fossil being traded on the blackmarket, Montana and Henry must set out to Chicago to steal it back. Facing a heavy guard and all manner of deadly adversaries, Montana knows they have to keep their heads down and be professional to make it through the mission alive. But Henry has other plans: he’ll do whatever it takes to break down Montana’s walls and claim his moody tyrannosaurus’ heart. 

What a way to wrap up an incredible series! Book five, the final story in the RELIC series, is heartbreaking at times, but also healing. MMCs Montana and Henry are both stubborn, awkward, and sweet in their own ways—I loved getting more insight into both of them. Montana, my broody, troubled tyrannosaur, is probably my favourite character of the series for the depth of his love for his family, and Henry has the most endearingly frustrating golden retriever energy I’ve ever read. Although this story deals with grief and survivor’s guilt, the heavier themes are balanced with Maddox’s characteristic on-point humour and a beautiful slow burn romance that has just the right amount of spice, and I loved seeing the main cast from the five novels get their ultimate HEAs. Whilst there are definitely more stories that could be told within this weird and wonderful RELIC universe—and I’m quietly hopeful there might be future spinoffs—Gardens & Ghosts wraps up the series beautifully, and it’s sure to be a favourite for years to come.