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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I think the Prologue sets the story to intrigue the reader to read the first story about Lorenz & Cyrus (which one can by reading Phoenix Heart]. Feel free to read this for a glimpse into their beginnings and struggles, to enjoy the hot steaming chemistry between the two (honestly who can turn away from steamy man love?) or skip it. Skipping it will not impact the actual story which starts nine years after the Prologue in a witch’s shoppe.

This story, as evident in the title, involves a doll. This, being a doll in witch’s shoppe, is certainly not a regular doll but an enchanted, magical doll. Lorenz finds himself in possession of this as he and Cyrus begins their adventure in this file. As expected when it comes to the adventures of Lorenz and Cyrus, nothing is simple. They go visiting a witch’s shoppe at the behest of a friend and end up stumbling upon a dying witch who entrust said doll to them whilst they are being shot at. As they are being dangerously pursued and trying to evade said pursuers, in comes an unknown vampire, Le Von Funar, to their rescue with his carriage and teleporting coffin.

There is loads of tension as Le Von Funar hints to his interest in being intimately involved with Lorenz. We get to see Cyrus expressing his love and jealousy to dissuade Le Von Funar. We find out more about Lorenz as Cyrus and Lorenz is in a way trying to track down Lorenz’s family. We find out what Le Von Funar has to do with Lorenz and their potential history together although Lorenz does not appear to have any recollection of this. We get a glimpse into Le Von Funar’s motivation and obsession with Lorenz. We meet Mumbles, a very mysterious character who basically gives Le Von Funar a proverbial smack down to keep him from trying to break up Cyrus and Lorenz so he can have Lorenz to himself.

Despite all these interesting tidbits and scenes, we still work towards understanding why there is a group willing to kill for this mysterious doll. What so special about a creepy doll right? In fact, why have they attacked so many witch shoppes? Well, we find out this doll has a soul inside and can talk, move, project its ethereal form in addition to causing individuals (like Lorenz) to physical experience their “memories”. We discover that their pursuers is after the doll as the last doll necessary for a secret ceremony involving a slew of other wizardry soul-bound dolls to invoke some creature to destroy all supernaturals and must prevent this from happening.
Seems too easy and predictable doesn’t it? Well, said doll is apparently not sharing the whole story and the plot thickens as Lorenz is unsuspectingly captured for sacrifice. Cyrus and Le Von Funar make it just in time to rescue Lorenz and with Mumbles’ help, they destroy their cult of evil pursuers. Mumbles is certainly my favorite character this time around.

Their special little doll informs them that the only way to free the souls stuck in the dolls is to burn them all. So they burn them all. Sad but happy ending right? Think again as the plot thickens just when you think it’s ended! We find out the true identity of the soul which was in the doll and its relationship to Lorenz and Le Von Funar. Read this novel and find out who this doll truly is and what painful twist it’ll cause Lorenz, Cyrus, Le Von Funar and their fellow supernaturals whom we’ll meet in the next installment!