Steelwhisper's Reviews > The Arroyo

I read this--after the very first few paragraphs--as a full-on horror/dystopian story rather than an m/m-romance, and it didn't disappoint me there.

I refer to other reviews for a recap of content, see for instance that of Optimist King's Wench or Lisa Henry.

The worldbuilding was exquisite and just enough, yet not too much. It allowed an intelligent reader to think over some of the past and current tendencies and realise that this might be a result. The medical activities were numerous, detailed and quite horrific, though for me not erotic. In fact the for me most erotic moments were related to Trace's physical state. I adored the many small tongue-in-cheek references, to books, to other writers. Easter eggs which I for once mostly cottoned on to. The horror of slavery, the soul-numbing dreadfulness of it came across perfectly, and I was thankful for that. And the horror. Well, there are a few moments involving Miller which I thoroughly... enjoyed. I fell in love with Pete by the way!

There's a minor niggle which took this down from a full 5*. (view spoiler)[I don't think being turned on by specific treatments or people works that fast or in just such a manner. I'd have liked that toned down a bit and instead gone for the more common emotions evoked by such intrusions, at least in the beginning. (hide spoiler)]

These are only niggles, so I wholeheartedly suggest everyone read this who likes a wild, well-written mix of desperate characters, a believable dystopia and horrific bad guys as well as some real horrible gore!