This is an excellent series straight through to the last book. The payoff at the end was unexpected and very satisfying.

The writing is excellent as is the world building. I liked both main characters very much. While there is a lot of romance, I would describe this series as urban fantasy as it has more hard edges than most PNR.

This is an apocalyptic world in which climate change has reduced the US into scattered cities with few amenities such as water and real food. The Ferries are the main family and they ferry souls from the void (where they go after death) to heaven or hell. The Ferries do not make the decisions about who goes where, though. They are tied to fate as are the Kere who mark people for death. After the soul is sent the heaven or hell a payment pops out of the void and the Ferry and the Kere share the fee. This has made the Kere and the Ferry family very rich. The Ferry family number into the tens of thousands and they are led by the Charon. Surprisingly, the Charon has to report to the board of directors of the Ferry corporation. Above everyone are the mysterious Keepers.

Eli is a paramedic who transferred to Boston from Philadelphia, which is now a desert. People eat protein bars and get running water two hours a day. His sister has been offered a prestigious job at Harvard. Eli's partner is Cacy, the sister of the current Charon and the daughter of the previous one. His boss is Dec who is Cacy's brother. Someone has been making unsanctioned markings and the characters are racing to find out who is doing it.