I've laughed and cried through Induction and Realignment, and I certainly did laugh at parts of GSR, but holy MOLY... I was not expecting to cry as much as I did in this one. Out of all the Korps books I've read so far, this one is the hardest. This story is dark. The events are upsetting. There are times when I'm frustrated with the protagonist. And yet... that's exactly what makes it worth reading, and why I love it as much as I do. Once again, I feel SEEN. That destructive inner voice that feels so overwhelming sometimes, I hear that very same voice more often than I'd care to admit. But as dark as this story gets? Nihilistic it is NOT. Mabel Ramona has crafted an amazing tale of hitting rock bottom, changing, and true self-discovery through finding love, and learning how to accept that love. It's a rocky journey, and your heart will hurt more often than not, when you read Greysmoke Rising: Book 1. AND, you will want more. You will also laugh, and feel relief at the right moments. You may even develop an interest in cigars--or at least, in my case, finally get the appeal or see them in a new light. Thank you, Mabel, for this amazing story that has inspired me to keep going, keep writing, keep working to make things better for people I care for. -Gale/Callie