“Yet another entry in the ‘You Couldn’t Make It Up’ ledger.”
If you have ever dreamed of a cozy-ish sci-fantasy with some dashes of mystery and romcom vibes sprinkled in, then Rex Burke has got you covered in Third Loch From the Sun. It’s witty, it’s wacky, and it’s a tiny bit crazy, but ultimately it’s got so much heart that you simply can’t resist being charmed by all the wonderful weirdness.
Through the eyes of the young English lad Jake, we are transported to the dreamy Scottish island of Elsay where he has hit the jackpot with his summer job. Except, Elsay is not as dreamy as advertised, and the locals aren’t exactly the most warm and welcoming, especially not his new boss’ prickly daughter Alva. But when Jake accidentally finds himself drowning in a pool of extraordinary secrets, he has no choice but to stay and figure out the miraculous mysteries; not just the mysteries of the universe, but maybe also the mysteries of the heart.
Don’t you just love those types of stories that hook you from the very first page and fly by without you even realising it? Third Loch From the Sun did exactly that, enchanting me with its quirky yet loveable characters, sharp and witty dialogue, and hysterically odd scenarios. Not to mention, I loved how Burke cleverly played around with Scottish folklore, creating an irresistible air of intrigue and wonder that just kept me turning the pages hunting for the next ridiculous revelation.
Jake was honestly a joy to follow, especially because his rational and no-nonsense British attitude made everything just even more tragically funny. Seeing him desperately trying to navigate all the slightly intimidating yet weirdly intriguing Scottish people would have been entertainment enough, but he has some even more crazy foreign and alienating experiences waiting for him; the way that Burke executes all the different types of culture clashing in Third Loch From the Sun is truly out of this world!
And don’t get me started on Alva, who is honestly the true MVP of this story for me. She instantly captured my heart with her stubborn, prickly and slightly scary personality, and I loved how her soft heart was slowly revealed as the layers of this inexplicable mystery continued to be peeled back. Moreover, the slow-burn and reluctant rivals to lovers romance that starts to develop between her and Jake (despite the fact that he is slightly terrified of her) just tugged on my heartstrings in all the most unexpected ways and gave this story so much heart.
Now, while I did deeply appreciate some of the more hard-hitting moments about loss, grief and anxiety between all the shits and giggles, I do have to admit that I felt a bit conflicted on how some of the mental health aspects were handled. Also, there were a few too many pop-culture references that went over my head, which sometimes made some of the humour fall a bit flat for me. And yet, I somehow still had an absolute blast the entire way through, and I ultimately loved the beautifully satisfying end to this wild adventure.
This might only be my second book by Rex Burke, but he has already shot to the top of my list of authors who I can trust blindly to bring me a wonderful time with their stories every single time. Third Loch From the Sun is honestly the perfect example of a delightful genre-blending popcorn read that you can devour in one (summer) day, but which will stay with you for a long time to come; I can’t recommend this gem highly enough!
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Third Loch From the Sun is scheduled for release on October 1st, 2024.
