I enjoyed the world building and the dynamics of Janelle and Morris's relationship.
However, the meta commentary didn't work for me. I don't like when I enjoyed the world building and the dynamics of Janelle and Morris's relationship.
However, the meta commentary didn't work for me. I don't like when fiction includes direct references to real things because it takes away from the suspension of disbelief for me. For example, (view spoiler)[all the emphasis on the real novel The Hate U Give felt like I was slogging through marketing for an entirely different book (hide spoiler)] and then there's (view spoiler)[the references to Harry Potter and JKR, which is awkward now after the aftermath of, well, JKR becoming publicly an awful person (hide spoiler)].
It also took forever for me to get through the last third of the book because it got way too sappy for me. It was just too much gushing without enough other flavors to balance it out. But I think if you're a hopeless romantic, you'll love it.
Overall there was a lot of promising aspects to the story that didn't work for me because they were too heavy handed....more
Thought this would be more sci-fi than it was. It's just advanced modern day where they have slightly more space technology. Everything else is very sThought this would be more sci-fi than it was. It's just advanced modern day where they have slightly more space technology. Everything else is very slice of life. Which isn't bad in itself, just something to keep in mind.
I’m not sure how I feel about this story. Something about it just never clicked for me, and I think it has to do with the pacing and certain lack of descriptions. That’s not to say that the story wasn’t impactful. There were parts that hollowed me out and brought tears to my eyes, but that was specifically in relation to Alexandria’s mom.
The romance itself was fine. I didn’t feel the chemistry, but I didn’t feel a lot of things due to the way descriptions got handled overall. Maybe because the channel was anger, something I don’t process emotions through. I’m not sure, and I have a feeling it’s just a very particular writing style that didn’t work for me....more
Yoooooo this is everything I wanted after finishing the first book.
I was so concerned that the ending would open itself up to a trilogy, or that therYoooooo this is everything I wanted after finishing the first book.
I was so concerned that the ending would open itself up to a trilogy, or that there would be mercy or botched finality to evil. There wasn’t.
Also ALSO, Maram getting with a woman? A+ chemistry. I was like “is this going there? Is it just teasing at these tropes?” It unambiguously leads to them together.
Amani’s journey was fantastic too, from the romance to the politics.
My nitpicking is the following: I think Maram forgave Amani a little too quickly and easily. I thought there’d be much more of a struggle, but they sort of went right back to where they were at before Nadine’s intervention at the end of the first book. Additionally I wish there was at least some lasting impact from Maram abusing Amani in the first book, like maybe Maram still struggling against this training to be violent first.
It’s not easy to get through emotionally, but it’s an amazingly well written story with solid characters. The stakes felt veOkay this book amazed me.
It’s not easy to get through emotionally, but it’s an amazingly well written story with solid characters. The stakes felt very real and hit very close to modern day issues, and a lot of times I imagine I could feel the passion of the author peeking through.
Then I realize the next book won’t come out for months, and I NEED IT NOW....more
This sequel to The Fifth Season is just amazing. The world-building continues to be excellent, and the characters remain as nuanced and engaging as alThis sequel to The Fifth Season is just amazing. The world-building continues to be excellent, and the characters remain as nuanced and engaging as always.
Definitely steers toward fantasy with the introduction of "magic," which is just a word consciously used for a thing the characters can't describe scientifically. But it never breaks suspension of disbelief because it analogous to quantum mechanics of this alternate universe.
Just wow. I already have the final book pre-ordered....more
DNF 52%. If I wanna read a "plot, what plot?" I'd rather read porn. The plot in this book is a loosely held thing that's merely meant to carry the autDNF 52%. If I wanna read a "plot, what plot?" I'd rather read porn. The plot in this book is a loosely held thing that's merely meant to carry the author's message of libertarian revolution (i.e. rational anarchy). And the characters are his mouthpiece, talking at one another to get the revolution rolling. And although it's interesting having Russian integrated into the Lunar language, it's a gimmick that gets old real fast.
I'll preface further critique with: this book was published in 1965. It tries to sound progressive but it falls flat due to the nature of that time period. The people on the moon are supposedly all mixed race, but god, everything sounds so white; it's a detail I wouldn't have picked up on if I hadn't previously read another sci-fi story, The Fifth Season. Additionally, as much as I like the idea of a genderqueer supercomputer that doesn't go evil, none of the cool aspects of that idea are explored. The computer only becomes a "woman" for the sake of a woman character, who doesn't feel as comfortable being herself around a "man;" and the computer doesn't stay a "woman" because the male protag doesn't feel comfortable being himself around a "woman." Yeah, that sort of stuff irks me too. Oh, and the poly family structure being normalized is also cool until you realize how straight and heteronormative it remains.
So, whatever. If you're fine with characters acting as mouthpieces for interesting ideas and you think I'm being oversensitive to shit, then you'll probably be fine with this book. Me, I'm gonna go read the sequel to The Fifth Season....more
I'm heavily biased because I've had the misfortune of being subjected to the movie hundreds of times by my dad before I ever picked up the book. In faI'm heavily biased because I've had the misfortune of being subjected to the movie hundreds of times by my dad before I ever picked up the book. In fact, there were several occasions when I was trying to read this while my dad was watching the movie in the other room. So this book felt like watching the extended version of the film... which is kind of a compliment.
The film is a more condensed and simplified version of events in the book, but it stays true to the overall style of the narrative. Weirdly enough, this would have been a 5 star book for me if the film didn't produce slightly better jokes for certain scenes. But I love the technical jargon, and the ending here is more realistic, whereas the film went for a Hollywood style last-minute rescue which, on the first watch -- the only voluntary watch -- felt like it'd explode in my face a la Armaggeddon (another of my dad's movies).
I had to read this book twice to grasp enough to give a coherent analysis, and my conclusion is that this regresses from a 5 star read to a 1 star reaI had to read this book twice to grasp enough to give a coherent analysis, and my conclusion is that this regresses from a 5 star read to a 1 star read over the course of the story. I don't know how else to describe how gripping the beginning is versus how borderline DNF the ending is. The problem lies in Gerald's POV.
Every novel in the series follow the single POV of whichever human is in the title. This becomes problematic when the human -- in this case, Gerald -- is kept out of the loop of everything happening around him. Tanis withholds information until after the climactic showdown, and then we get an overwhelming info dump of what was going on behind the scenes. And a lot of loose ends in the series are neatly tied up while Gerald is unconscious, giving it all a deus ex machina feel.
What really killed it for me is the reintroduction of a minor character from several books ago, who is supposedly Gerald's really good friend, but this person is literally never referenced until he shows up out of the blue right before the climax. Gerald is even put into an uncomfortable predicament in having to defend this friend with his life, but, because there's no emotional investment, the impact of the scene is lost. I didn't care what happened to this person yet this person suddenly becomes critical to the climax. It's just... ugh.
However, Gerald's chemistry with Tanis is searing hot. And the chemistry that forms between Gerald and Tanis's inner circle of betas just leaves me wanting more. If I had one issue -- besides the excessive withholding of information -- it's that Tanis forces the wolves' spirituality on Gerald. It wouldn't irk me so much if Tanis didn't make Gerald stop exclaiming "God" during sex because Tanis doesn't acknowledge this "God" so Gerald should only call out "Tanis" or "Alpha" instead. Ew, no. I'm against any religion being forced down someone's throat.
So, yeah, I'm conflicted about how to rate this. Every scene that's meant to build Gerald's relationship with Tanis and the pack is strong and thrilling. Every scene in which Gerald is literally sitting around bored and confused had me shaking my head and wishing I could go into Tanis's POV. The opening scenes were a page turner; the ending scenes made me want to put the book down. I'm just going to average this out to 3 stars and call it a day.
If you're interested in reading how I felt about other books in the series, I put up an index of reviews for every book in the series within Book 1's review....more
Hot and sweet story that works as a standalone and has an effective emotional punch.
Cam is a spy for the U.S. government who became a prominent leaderHot and sweet story that works as a standalone and has an effective emotional punch.
Cam is a spy for the U.S. government who became a prominent leader of one of the renegade groups in order to figure out their purpose for attacking the Wolves. The "wolves" are an alien race that sought refuge on Earth after their world got destroyed. Wolves aren't that much different from humans in appearance, but they have advanced technology and a nasty habit of going into heat every three Earth years. Something about the human scent makes wolves go into a crazed lust, which has put a massive strain on human-wolf relations. And while there's an official peace treaty between the races, it's known that government officials conveniently overlook renegade attacks. Some even secretly support them. Cam's trying to track those officials down.
Unfortunately, Cam's renegade group gets dismantled by a different spy, Matthew, who had no idea he and Cam were on the same side. Now the wolves believe Cam is a traitor, and one of them intends to "mate" Cam so that he may earn forgiveness through submission.
Cam is a very compelling character. He was born with complications due to his mother's drug use. His father adopted him and used advanced technology to give Cam his sight and hearing. Cam's a survivor, and his main drive is to help his wife and kids. He also understands the wolves' culture in a way that most humans don't. In fact, Cam used to be mated to a wolf. He used to be in love. He buried those feelings, and it's only with the appearance of the wolf known as Rick that old wounds resurface.
Rick is a respected Alpha among the wolves. He's also not immune to the humans' intoxicating scent. Rick hones in on Cam during a trap laid out by Matthew, and the two begin playing cat and mouse, with Rick capturing Cam then Cam returning the favor. Rick intends to keep Cam as his mate while Cam refuses to abandon his family, regardless of his marriage being a technicality and his kids being adopted. Cam's also battling his inner demons, which includes another man named Rick, who's a far worse monster.
You can probably already guess that the tech for Cam's sight and hearing craps out on him. For a guy stuck in his own head, Cam's POV is the most engaging with the loss of his senses. He finds solace in Rick's company, using the time to work through his feelings for the other wolf he used to love. Their combative relationship takes on a sweet tone that never loses its sexy edge. Cam has to admit not just his role in the renegade group but also his lingering regret over mistakes he's made in the past.
Perhaps the only reason this book doesn't get five stars is because the ending sort of peters out, the tension riding on a conflict that's been more or less resolved already. At the same time, it's a heartwarming sense of closure, so I can't complain much.
I should also warn you there's a shitty transphobic remark that Cam makes toward an off-page character at one point. I mean, it's in character and it makes sense in context, but it's still very jarring if you're sensitive to that stuff. The good news is it's a singular remark that doesn't stop Cam, or any of the other characters, from using correct pronouns or respecting the character's capabilities.
Overall, this is a fantastic read that gives a glimpse into the other books into the series without relying on them too heavily. I highly recommend you give it a shot.
This story contains a lot of great concepts that fall short due to a passive protagonist.
Salvadore and the wolf he calls "Wolf" have a good dynamic, aThis story contains a lot of great concepts that fall short due to a passive protagonist.
Salvadore and the wolf he calls "Wolf" have a good dynamic, and it was interesting to learn about the role of "watchers" in this universe full of aliens in heat. The problem is the plot revolves around things happening to Salvadore and his reactions to it. Wolf, for his part, acts as a babysitter, cushioning Salvadore from having to defend himself or make any hard decisions. This all culminates in a climax that isn't even relevant to Salvadore since you can read a fuller version of the scene through Matthew's eyes in Matthew's Chance. Salvadore just stands there and watches.
Yeah, this book can be summed up as Salvadore watching, which is a fun play on words in a book dealing with "watchers" until you realize how boring that makes him as a character. He doesn't do much else. At least the other books in the series have proactive protagonists who go out and do something; Salvadore's simply dragged along for the ride.
The one thing Salvadore has the capacity to do isn't even brought up until the last few pages, meant as a suggestion by Wolf for a job role he can fill. I would have loved to witness Salvadore doing that job and running into shit on the job instead of revisiting the overlaps with Matthew's story, which didn't add anything to his personal growth or his relationship with Wolf as much as filling in the gaps that we didn't see from Matthew's POV.
So, I'm disappointed in the wasted potential in Salvadore's Luck. It was a chore to read as the narrative went from one scene to the next, with Salvadore either waiting or watching, never really active in his fate. Hell, even his "fate" is something that's done to him, which he had no control over. But I really like the concept of watchers, and I enjoyed discovering this side of the alien culture with Salvadore. And I think Salvadore's relationship with Wolf is sweet too, in spite of Wolf's character having to compensate for Salvadore's lack of participation in the plot.
Overall, the series is strong as a whole, and I hope you give it a chance anyway.
The first book in the series where the human likes to top. And while both main characters are very interesting, individually, their chemistry suffers The first book in the series where the human likes to top. And while both main characters are very interesting, individually, their chemistry suffers from a time jump that cuts out the start of their relationship.
I feel as though part of Matthew's story is missing because we begin three years later, which is a product of Brendan's Fate jumping three years into the future. Whereas all the other books begin at the moment the human and the wolf meet, Matthew's Chance skims over that part and jumps into new stakes for the pairing without enough building to make me care about the stakes.
Matthew's story actually begins with him getting caught up with Brendan's crap. He cries on Ash's shoulder when he realizes his feelings for Brendan are doomed, and he nearly dies twice -- first with a bullet to his chest and second when his immune system reacts poorly to the wolves' healing biotech. We don't get shown any of this from Matthew's POV. Instead, we're only told this information offhandedly, which makes it difficult for me to connect with Matthew the same way I've connected with the other guys. I wouldn't have minded the overlap with Brendan's story; in fact, it would have been a great segue if the beginning of the book got dedicated to Matthew's struggles starting out with the wolves. It would have given more impact to the "three years later" of Matthew and Ash's relationship not progressing and to Matthew becoming an integral part of the efforts against the renegades. It would have also shown just how strong of a person Matthew is for getting over so much initial crap before delving into worse crap.
Alas, even though Matthew's Chance suffers from the book opening too late in the story, the story that we do get is really nice. I was worried Matthew's character wouldn't rise out of Brendan's shadow, but Matthew shines in his own right. He's paired with Ash, who happens to be called "Second" in Book 1 (because Ian didn't know any better). As a beta, Ash understands how to submit to alphas. In fact, during the three years, while Matthew tried to fuck other people to ease his loneliness, Ash has found his kicks submitting to Alpha Craig...
...I'm actually super upset that there's yet another aspect of Ian and Craig's relationship that's left off-page. First it was their mating sex, and now it's information that Ian really enjoys group sex, something that should have been addressed in Book 1 after Craig gets Ash and Kem to submit to him by pleasuring Ian, which otherwise is a jarring scene in a supposed exclusive relationship.
Anyway, once Matthew and Ash work through their misunderstandings, the sex between them is amazing, and it's lovely to see Matthew trying to adapt to wolf culture as he takes on Ash's heat from a different perspective.
I continue to enjoy the series in spite of its faults.
A+ redemption arc for the antagonist of the previous two books. And it uses "amnesia" in a brilliant way.
The reason why the redemption works is becauA+ redemption arc for the antagonist of the previous two books. And it uses "amnesia" in a brilliant way.
The reason why the redemption works is because Brendan only becomes a bad guy after the wolves arrive. He has an issue with being a coward, but he's also been raised to do whatever is necessary to get the job done. That sort of combo causes him to start treating everyone, including his closest friends, like pawns in order to make the world "safe" from the threat of the wolves overtaking the planet. And in a game of nature versus nurture, the loss of memories shows that whatever Brendan's become is a matter of toxic nurture.
Before this book begins, we know Brendan's been leading the renegades in order to start a war between humans and (alien) wolves using a combination of murder and manipulation. However, once he gets captured by the wolves, his rehabilitation involves having his memories stripped in order for him to distance himself from his old self. He's made aware that this has been done to him, and he's promised his memories will be returned to him when it's time to choose between submitting to the First Alpha or death.
Brendan-minus-memories realizes he's been a horrible person, and he doesn't want his memories back. He has a sinking feeling that once his memories are back he'll choose death instead. Fortunately, this decision is not saved for the climactic moment and Brendan-with-memories doesn't immediately embrace the things he's learned through the amnesia process. This means the second half of the book is dedicated to Brendan-with-memories reconciling his two selves and where he stands now that he's experienced the inside of the wolves' society and also Trey's dick.
The chemistry between Brendan and Trey is SCORCHING. Their story takes place outside of heat season and somehow it's way hotter than any heat sex thus far. Brendan doesn't just submit, he submits. And he likes it rough in bed. Claws scraping his skin. Palm slapping his ass. Tight grip on his throat. I am a sucker for kink, and these two are just a kinky smut fest.
This is just a damn good balance of smut and plot. You can probably read this as a stand-alone because there's enough meat in it to understand the world and characters. However, I highly recommend at least reading Book 2 so you get a first-hand sense of just how shitty Brendan has been; he's even shittier in Book 1, but overall I didn't enjoy that story as much (see: my reviews for Book 1 and Book 2).
I wasn't expecting to enjoy this after the lukewarm first book (re: my review), but now I love this series. I don't think you need to read the first bI wasn't expecting to enjoy this after the lukewarm first book (re: my review), but now I love this series. I don't think you need to read the first book to understand what's going on because there's plenty of explanations to catch you up. If anything, the previous book would just flesh out some of the backstory and fill in some blanks where information is implied.
As the title says, this book is about Devon and his gamble. He's brash and willing to take risks for the sake of money, which is actually meant to protect his friends from a debt he owes. And his chemistry with Kem is fantastic. You got two strong-willed guys fucking and bickering until they realize they have feelings for each other; it's awesome. Devon is the opposite of reluctant, so the pacing matches his willingness to dive right in and get a dick up his ass. That means a lot of sex and a lot of tug-of-war with Kem, who gets amusingly confused with Devon's aggressive submission.
In terms of plot, we get to see Devon's side to the conflict between humans and the aliens known as "wolves." He's the guy who set up the tech that's been allowing the human renegades to find the wolves' dens and destroy them, but he didn't originally know that's what it'd be used for. He needed the money and he thought he was protecting people from getting lost or captured. He's willing to help the wolves, but he's also still miserably in love -- on a platonic level -- with Brendan, his childhood friend who's become a sociopathic leader of the renegades.
The world-building continues to be immersive, and I'm glad that the heat sex got the focus that it deserves. Devon and Kem are a very engaging pairing, and I recommend this book/series for folks looking for a fresh take of "wolves in heat" with a sci-fi twist. I mean, I devoured this book in a day, literally the day after finishing the previous book, so I'm totally biased in favor of the story.
And apparently the series gets even better with Brendan's redemption arc in Brendan's Fate.
Interesting new take on wolves in heat. And by "wolves" we're talking aliens. Sounds bizarre but the world-building is strong enough to give it sense.Interesting new take on wolves in heat. And by "wolves" we're talking aliens. Sounds bizarre but the world-building is strong enough to give it sense. I definitely recommend this series, which improves with every book.
We find Ian running away from lust crazed wolves in the woods. He's landed in this predicament after going to find and save a friend of his, who's out there on for a stupid bet. The woods aren't safe for humans during the wolves' heat season, and Ian will do whatever it takes to survive. Even if it means submitting to an Alpha who intends to mate him.
My issue with reviewing this story is that the premise reminds me too much of Tame a Wild Human (see: my review). Except this is less rapey, less BDSMy, and less interested in dwelling on the sex. Yeah, for a book about heat, it's relatively tame (har). Like, it feels as though the author set out to write a compelling heat story but failed to consider what draws people into reading heat stories (edited to add: After reading the rest of the series, this get amended, and boy is it hot).
Ian and Craig's chemistry is... okay. There's far more emphasis on Ian trying to understand the alien "wolf" society through his coerced mating to Craig. What I did appreciate was the emphasis on Ian having a choice (staying true to the title of the book). He chooses to enter the woods, even though it's a risk. And he chooses to submit to Craig in order to survive his predicament. Ian is far from a pushover, and the second half of the story is all about him fighting his way through human renegades and sex-crazed wolves. He even gets a shining moment in the end, after Craig saves him from one last hurdle, when he shows he may not have claws or teeth but he's got guts.
By the end of the book, Ian and Craig come to an understanding that they're meant for one another, but there's no sparks flying or warm fuzzies. And it's kind of anti-climactic that we never get to see the sex scene in which Ian and Craig solidify their bond. Though, I gotta say, the ending lines did put a smile on my face.
If anything, this is a pretty fascinating sci-fi that's tripped up by a porn trope that sets the wrong expectations. And I am curious to read the next installment, just to see if we continue down this road.
In short, this story is a sci-fi disguised as a fantasy that's entirely character driven. It's written by a woman of color (WoC) and full of people ofIn short, this story is a sci-fi disguised as a fantasy that's entirely character driven. It's written by a woman of color (WoC) and full of people of color (PoC), bisexual men, positive polyamory, transgender secondary characters, and a whole lot of food for thought.
As any sci-fi/fantasy, it takes a little while to acclimate to all the new terminology and backstory. But it's worth the effort when everything ties together so beautifully and purposefully by the end. The disjointed narration of the opening chapter has a significant reason for being the way it is as well, a revelation that's a big spoiler (and this review is spoiler-free). Just go in with an open mind.
The world-building is what sets the tone for everything. We're never outright told it's Earth in the future, but it's Earth after humans ruined the planet so badly that Earth's crust is unstable, causing long winters every time there's a major rupture. Think along the lines of an asteroid wiping out the dinosaurs, except the explosion comes from inside the planet and humans have learned to adapt to the prolonged famine, darkness, and destruction. This is what the "fifth season" is: the season of death. And there have been several since the initial near-extinction of mankind.
Over time, there's been a mutation to humanity -- an addition of a nerve in the spine that can sense ("sess") seismic shakes. For most people it's minor, but there's an even bigger mutation for people known as "orogenes." Orogenes can actually tap into the earth's crust -- and any other matter -- to create earthquakes and destruction of their own. It's also an extremely difficult thing to control, so many orogenes discover this trait only after they've accidentally killed someone. As any major mutation story goes, orogenes are looked down upon as less than human.
There's a particular "historical document" in the book that aptly summarizes an orogene's plight:
"Tell them they can be great someday, like us. Tell them they belong among us, no matter how we treat them. Tell them they must earn the respect which everyone else receives by default. Tell them there is a standard for acceptance; that standard is simply perfection. Kill those who scoff at these contradictions, and tell the rest that the dead deserved annihilation for their weakness and doubt. Then that'll break themselves trying for what they'll never achieve."
- Erlsset, twenty-third emperor of the Sanzed Equatorial Affiliation, in the thirteenth year of the Season of Teeth. Comment recorded at a party, shortly before the founding of the Fulcrum.
I'm not pushing agendas here, but that sounds eerily similar to the systemic discrimination Black people -- and PoC in general -- deal with in our time, and I, as a white person, get chills reading it. It's also how I know a PoC has written the story because it's a level of nuance that can only come from a lived experience.
The story follows three timelines, each showing different sides to an orogene's life. The main timeline is told in second-person, which is an interesting choice. Essun is in her 30s-40s and has discovered her husband found out their child is orogene and killed him. She's distraught and also out for revenge. Another timeline is of Syenite, an ambitious woman in her 20s seeking to rise in the ranks of the highly trained orogene. Unfortunately, part of her duty is being tasked to produce a child with a man she can barely stand. The third timeline is of Damaya, a child who just discovered she's an orogene, with a family and community suddenly rejecting her. She's taken to the Fulcrum (the orogene training center), and deals with regular teenage problems on top of a power that can wreck the world around her.
The story is inherently about the end of the world. A fifth Season has been triggered, and there's a chance that mankind will not survive this one. Simultaneously, it's about the end of Essun's world and her needing to deal with the grief of losing everything she loves.
Oh, and there's "Guardians" who are made to reign in, negate, and kill (if necessary) the orogenes. And there's a species of "stone eaters" who aren't human at all. Plus the powerful orogene Syenite is involved with, Alabaster (who is the opposite of white in skin tone), has his own plans for how the world should be.
Anyway, I loved everything about this book. The world felt real and fleshed out, with a society and culture structured around the Seasons. The characters were also real and flawed and just trying to find their version of happiness in a world trying to snuff them out, both by earth and other people. The ending is a cliffhanger, but it didn't leave me dissatisfied. All the major questions in the book are answered by the end, and whatever is left over definitely requires its own book to thoroughly explore.
I highly recommend this to people seeking a fresh take on old tropes, and also if you're into more diverse takes on sci-fi/fantasy....more
Take a gay James Bond, add in a dollop of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and invoke a retelling of the classical Emperor's New Clothes, and you getTake a gay James Bond, add in a dollop of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and invoke a retelling of the classical Emperor's New Clothes, and you get this story.
Royce Ree may come off as less than efficient at times, but every single thing he does is pre-planned. He gets reunited with his ex-husband during a mission, and what starts as a heist becomes a rescue. The old flames have to reconcile their past relationship as they maneuver around a planetary takeover by pirates. The humor is mostly in the "transcripts" at the beginning of each chapter, which includes the chapter titles if you pay attention.
The story, as a whole, is okay. There were a lot of parts that flew over my head and I had to use context to figure out what was going on. While I enjoyed Royce's gambit, I didn't get to fully appreciate it until it got spelled out for me in the last 5% of the book.
This is a decent story if you're looking for a sci-fi that casually features gay characters with a sweet romantic sub-plot....more
I finished this a week ago and I'm still not ready to write a proper review. Point is: READ THIS BOOK. It's a fleshed out society of androgynous, gendI finished this a week ago and I'm still not ready to write a proper review. Point is: READ THIS BOOK. It's a fleshed out society of androgynous, genderfluid, demi-sexual people living in permanent winter. I'ill have more words once I'm done being destroyed by that ending....more
Julio, my friend, you are more than all talk. The writing here is gorgeous, raw, and effective. I can see your heart in this.
Antho's emotional turmoilJulio, my friend, you are more than all talk. The writing here is gorgeous, raw, and effective. I can see your heart in this.
Antho's emotional turmoil is palpable, from his aching loneliness to his sublime submission to circumstance. In a society so bleak, a murderous stranger becomes Antho's single comfort.
I felt Antho's pain and unconditional love, his hopelessness and treasured memories. He is a vessel and When You Were Pixels is his contents....more