The dreaded, dreadful "w" verb is still among us. The stress...the stress of the "w" verb assaulting me with its cheesiness and ubiqRating: 4* of five
The dreaded, dreadful "w" verb is still among us. The stress...the stress of the "w" verb assaulting me with its cheesiness and ubiquity...I think my eyes will twitch for days. Please, no one make any loud noises or I will shatter.
The vignettes of between-the-books goodness are lots of fun. One thing I hadn't thought through is that for books one has not yet read, there are spoilers galore. So spoilerphobes are cautioned to be all the way up on the series before picking this volume up.
The author says on her website for the series, THIRDS HQ, she's envisioned the timeline of the stories like a TV series. It really feels like the books are a kind of bible for the urban fantasy series that could come from them. It would be amazing to see this material crafted into episodic shows. Sense8 is a pale, sexless precursor to the horniness and political barbedness of the series.
And while I am a bog-standard guy with boringly predictable responses to good depictions of sex in my reading material...HELL YEAH GET AFTER IT...I am also a keen observer of the political world and that is what, in conjunction with the aforementioned smexy stuff, keeps me reading the series. The absence of homophobia, the uninterested response of one and all to same-sex sexual activity, is to my mind a model of how society should be and could be. Dex and Sloane get hassled for kissing in public because Sloane is a Therian. The language the harrasser uses is identical to what would come out of a homophobe's mouth, but without any gender bias in it. This was jolting in the best possible way: Humans are hate machines and only need to be pointed at a target for their rage, which says zip about the target and lots about the human.
This set of vignettes also includes some very nice Tony Maddock time, an adorable day at the park for Destructive Delta, and a fall-down-laughing funny scene about Lamaze classes. It was a charming companion to some painful hours recovering from yet another migraine, and for that I'm grateful.
But seriously. No. More. Winking.
Merged review:
Rating: 4* of five
The dreaded, dreadful "w" verb is still among us. The stress...the stress of the "w" verb assaulting me with its cheesiness and ubiquity...I think my eyes will twitch for days. Please, no one make any loud noises or I will shatter.
The vignettes of between-the-books goodness are lots of fun. One thing I hadn't thought through is that for books one has not yet read, there are spoilers galore. So spoilerphobes are cautioned to be all the way up on the series before picking this volume up.
The author says on her website for the series, THIRDS HQ, she's envisioned the timeline of the stories like a TV series. It really feels like the books are a kind of bible for the urban fantasy series that could come from them. It would be amazing to see this material crafted into episodic shows. Sense8 is a pale, sexless precursor to the horniness and political barbedness of the series.
And while I am a bog-standard guy with boringly predictable responses to good depictions of sex in my reading material...HELL YEAH GET AFTER IT...I am also a keen observer of the political world and that is what, in conjunction with the aforementioned smexy stuff, keeps me reading the series. The absence of homophobia, the uninterested response of one and all to same-sex sexual activity, is to my mind a model of how society should be and could be. Dex and Sloane get hassled for kissing in public because Sloane is a Therian. The language the harrasser uses is identical to what would come out of a homophobe's mouth, but without any gender bias in it. This was jolting in the best possible way: Humans are hate machines and only need to be pointed at a target for their rage, which says zip about the target and lots about the human.
This set of vignettes also includes some very nice Tony Maddock time, an adorable day at the park for Destructive Delta, and a fall-down-laughing funny scene about Lamaze classes. It was a charming companion to some painful hours recovering from yet another migraine, and for that I'm grateful.
Wow. My favorite scene of the entire series happens in this story. Lucien, goaded by Stephen's evident lack**spoiler alert** Real Rating: 4.8* of five
Wow. My favorite scene of the entire series happens in this story. Lucien, goaded by Stephen's evident lack of care for his own safety and health, blows up and has it out with him. In that special way that only those committed to each other by bonds stronger than romantic love can afford to risk, Lucien lets loose the concentrated and deeply buried agonies of a law enforcement man's spouse:
“I quite understand that you can barely spare the time for us, to see each other, or wake up together, or take a few days at Christmas. I understand that you’re too preoccupied with your daily agenda to deal with a murderer who wants me dead. However, I struggle to see how you were too busy to even mention a significant threat to my continued existence instead of letting me believe it was under control!”
This howl of resentful fearful worry for self and spouse can't happen between romantic partners. It's the sole province of the spouse. It's real and it's raw and it's why Author Charles has legions of dedicated customer/reader/followers. This isn't fluff romance, this is full-blown and genuine relationship fiction. If one of the parties was female, this story would be in hard covers and have a Noble Profile lady with a Big Brute walking away down rainy streets.
Thank the good goddesses it's positioned where it is because I ain't readin' that mess, and I dearly want these stories!
Merged review:
Real Rating: 4.8* of five
Wow. My favorite scene of the entire series happens in this story. Lucien, goaded by Stephen's evident lack of care for his own safety and health, blows up and has it out with him. In that special way that only those committed to each other by bonds stronger than romantic love can afford to risk, Lucien lets loose the concentrated and deeply buried agonies of a law enforcement man's spouse:
“I quite understand that you can barely spare the time for us, to see each other, or wake up together, or take a few days at Christmas. I understand that you’re too preoccupied with your daily agenda to deal with a murderer who wants me dead. However, I struggle to see how you were too busy to even mention a significant threat to my continued existence instead of letting me believe it was under control!”
This howl of resentful fearful worry for self and spouse can't happen between romantic partners. It's the sole province of the spouse. It's real and it's raw and it's why Author Charles has legions of dedicated customer/reader/followers. This isn't fluff romance, this is full-blown and genuine relationship fiction. If one of the parties was female, this story would be in hard covers and have a Noble Profile lady with a Big Brute walking away down rainy streets.
Thank the good goddesses it's positioned where it is because I ain't readin' that mess, and I dearly want these stories!...more
I had the same issues with inconsistent world-building that I've had with the whole series. I must say I was fully prepared Real Rating: 4.25* of five
I had the same issues with inconsistent world-building that I've had with the whole series. I must say I was fully prepared to three-or-less the enterprise, so irritated by the logical lapses was I; then came A Certain Snow Scene with all the sweetness and charm and joie de vivre a withered-souled old hatemonger like me could ever complain of, and back came the star; a later scene of marriage-proposal nature added another partial star; and damned glad the author should be of it, since eight (8) instances of the stinking, wretched, lazy, revolting w-bomb took off a whole star from the realms of possibility.
In fact, I will procure book five when it comes out, I'm that gruntled and kempt by the last 12% of the book.
Merged review:
Real Rating: 4.25* of five
I had the same issues with inconsistent world-building that I've had with the whole series. I must say I was fully prepared to three-or-less the enterprise, so irritated by the logical lapses was I; then came A Certain Snow Scene with all the sweetness and charm and joie de vivre a withered-souled old hatemonger like me could ever complain of, and back came the star; a later scene of marriage-proposal nature added another partial star; and damned glad the author should be of it, since eight (8) instances of the stinking, wretched, lazy, revolting w-bomb took off a whole star from the realms of possibility.
In fact, I will procure book five when it comes out, I'm that gruntled and kempt by the last 12% of the book....more
I liked seeing Maggie Parkhurst get some at last! Go Maggie, blow down that closet door and grab what yI completely forgot to write this review. Oops.
I liked seeing Maggie Parkhurst get some at last! Go Maggie, blow down that closet door and grab what you want. Especially since what you want wants you right back.
I like this series so much and wish we lived in an Iridium Age of Screen SF instead of merely a Platinum Age. We'd see this series of books on our screens in a blink. So much lovely backstory, so much exciting action...this shorter entry included, and with the added bonus of more facetime for Persephone. I love Persephone.
And since I've now read the first few chapters of Draakenwood, faithless to my self-promise to savor slowly the last unread moments of the series, this spoiler becomes relevant: (view spoiler)[Niles Whyborne's opinion of Persephone, expressed in the next book, is spot on! (hide spoiler)]
Merged review:
I completely forgot to write this review. Oops.
I liked seeing Maggie Parkhurst get some at last! Go Maggie, blow down that closet door and grab what you want. Especially since what you want wants you right back.
I like this series so much and wish we lived in an Iridium Age of Screen SF instead of merely a Platinum Age. We'd see this series of books on our screens in a blink. So much lovely backstory, so much exciting action...this shorter entry included, and with the added bonus of more facetime for Persephone. I love Persephone.
And since I've now read the first few chapters of Draakenwood, faithless to my self-promise to savor slowly the last unread moments of the series, this spoiler becomes relevant: (view spoiler)[Niles Whyborne's opinion of Persephone, expressed in the next book, is spot on! (hide spoiler)]...more
All good things must end. My unbroken streak of liking Author Hawk's books has ended. (Be sure to check out my shared notes for real-time responses toAll good things must end. My unbroken streak of liking Author Hawk's books has ended. (Be sure to check out my shared notes for real-time responses to the characters. And the overuse of the w-bomb.)
I didn't like Owen because he reminds me of Franklin Pangborn from old-timey post-Code movies. When they needed a gay man, they got Franklin Pangborn or someone like him to play a fussy, mousy, icky stereotype. [image] UGH.
And that meant I couldn't really get a grip on the stakes of the story. Wasn't much on Malachi, either, and their sex scenes...I can't believe I'm typing this...were dull, so I skimmed them. I mean, of course Owen was bottoming, he's such a squishbag I can't believe he could ever do anything else...and that's not Big Daddy's kink.
Also: There are seven (7) w-bombs in the book which is eight too many.
A sad day for me.
Merged review:
All good things must end. My unbroken streak of liking Author Hawk's books has ended. (Be sure to check out my shared notes for real-time responses to the characters. And the overuse of the w-bomb.)
I didn't like Owen because he reminds me of Franklin Pangborn from old-timey post-Code movies. When they needed a gay man, they got Franklin Pangborn or someone like him to play a fussy, mousy, icky stereotype. [image] UGH.
And that meant I couldn't really get a grip on the stakes of the story. Wasn't much on Malachi, either, and their sex scenes...I can't believe I'm typing this...were dull, so I skimmed them. I mean, of course Owen was bottoming, he's such a squishbag I can't believe he could ever do anything else...and that's not Big Daddy's kink.
Also: There are seven (7) w-bombs in the book which is eight too many.
My Review: Six foul w-bombs. Six. Fie on this, this plague this dreadful and cornball and unnatural act! Real, actual bANOTHER ELF-GIFT! LUCKY OLD ME.
My Review: Six foul w-bombs. Six. Fie on this, this plague this dreadful and cornball and unnatural act! Real, actual ball-having testosterone-producing males do not w-i-n-k at...anyone, really, except the very, very young.
Still. The story. I am not against a good, solid iteration of an evergreen plot. Here we have one of those stories that's been Hallmarked and Lifetimed until we know it by heart, and that is why we consume them. It is comforting. It feels *right* to go all misty and dewy when reading about young men who are just figuring it all out, fighting battles that were passed down to them or were inflicted from without by force majeure. They are really, honestly like that, after all. And the young men here are good souls trapped into confining boxes by histories and expectations they didn't agree to accept.
When Dominic sees Maxfield for the first time in many a year, he is right back to his teenaged crush on his big brother's bestie. Said bestie is clueless...a decade between fourteen and twenty-four is a lot longer than almost any other...and just flirts with the hot young cop helping him out of the snowbank as he's on the way back to the hometown he fled.
When the hijinks do eventually ensue, it's not a moment too soon. Like almost halfway through the book before they get down to business. Now...that's not a *bad* thing, there's the whole "best friend's little brother has plutonium in his underpants" issue, but good lawsy me! One thing I'll give the author, she didn't exactly stint once the ice was broken. (And this is one of those NO STRAIGHT PEOPLE reads.) She even deals with the issue of PDAs several times, in several different situations; that was refreshing to me. All too often it seems as though there's a simple, blanket response to the issue, it's okay or it's not. I've never known anyone with that blanket an approach to that complex issue. It's refreshing to read something where it's multi-layered.
Being out was a big deal for me. I’d never ask a guy to come out, but I wouldn’t go into the closet to be with someone. Not that I was thinking about the future. At all.
What also feels good to say is that the way the author breaks the OMG-conflict-therefore-run-away issue both men have came in such a realistic way. Just...flat-out blurting it. "I'm sorry, I fucked up, I really really want us to work on problems and there I went and did the wrong thing, and..."
Before I could say another word, Max reached out, grabbed my jacket, and pulled me into a kiss. It was a cold, awkward kiss—our noses were freezing, his lips were chapped, and my mouth must have tasted like too-sugary frosting. But damn. It was still the best kiss I’d ever had. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him closer, warming him as best I could, welcoming him against my body. He could stay there forever, as far as I was concerned.
I think there's nothing more real than the response of "shut up and kiss me" when someone's just given you their entire heart on a platter, yours to hurt or heal. This is a category romance. We know the choice before we get there. That's why we came on this ride! But so often the response to the resolution of the scariest thing you can do is...not very realistic. Sappy, soppy words, or a long, loving look...nope. Men are action-oriented. Feeling something? Do something about it!
So, yes, I ended up happy with the read. I'll definitely read another one from Author Cari Z. I'm sure she's got other good stuff to say, and her grasp of the actual workings of men sexing up other men is superior to many. That she made the effort to give them both serious thoughts about the what, the how, and the why of each act was a big point in the story's favor.
Merged review:
ANOTHER ELF-GIFT! LUCKY OLD ME.
My Review: Six foul w-bombs. Six. Fie on this, this plague this dreadful and cornball and unnatural act! Real, actual ball-having testosterone-producing males do not w-i-n-k at...anyone, really, except the very, very young.
Still. The story. I am not against a good, solid iteration of an evergreen plot. Here we have one of those stories that's been Hallmarked and Lifetimed until we know it by heart, and that is why we consume them. It is comforting. It feels *right* to go all misty and dewy when reading about young men who are just figuring it all out, fighting battles that were passed down to them or were inflicted from without by force majeure. They are really, honestly like that, after all. And the young men here are good souls trapped into confining boxes by histories and expectations they didn't agree to accept.
When Dominic sees Maxfield for the first time in many a year, he is right back to his teenaged crush on his big brother's bestie. Said bestie is clueless...a decade between fourteen and twenty-four is a lot longer than almost any other...and just flirts with the hot young cop helping him out of the snowbank as he's on the way back to the hometown he fled.
When the hijinks do eventually ensue, it's not a moment too soon. Like almost halfway through the book before they get down to business. Now...that's not a *bad* thing, there's the whole "best friend's little brother has plutonium in his underpants" issue, but good lawsy me! One thing I'll give the author, she didn't exactly stint once the ice was broken. (And this is one of those NO STRAIGHT PEOPLE reads.) She even deals with the issue of PDAs several times, in several different situations; that was refreshing to me. All too often it seems as though there's a simple, blanket response to the issue, it's okay or it's not. I've never known anyone with that blanket an approach to that complex issue. It's refreshing to read something where it's multi-layered.
Being out was a big deal for me. I’d never ask a guy to come out, but I wouldn’t go into the closet to be with someone. Not that I was thinking about the future. At all.
What also feels good to say is that the way the author breaks the OMG-conflict-therefore-run-away issue both men have came in such a realistic way. Just...flat-out blurting it. "I'm sorry, I fucked up, I really really want us to work on problems and there I went and did the wrong thing, and..."
Before I could say another word, Max reached out, grabbed my jacket, and pulled me into a kiss. It was a cold, awkward kiss—our noses were freezing, his lips were chapped, and my mouth must have tasted like too-sugary frosting. But damn. It was still the best kiss I’d ever had. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him closer, warming him as best I could, welcoming him against my body. He could stay there forever, as far as I was concerned.
I think there's nothing more real than the response of "shut up and kiss me" when someone's just given you their entire heart on a platter, yours to hurt or heal. This is a category romance. We know the choice before we get there. That's why we came on this ride! But so often the response to the resolution of the scariest thing you can do is...not very realistic. Sappy, soppy words, or a long, loving look...nope. Men are action-oriented. Feeling something? Do something about it!
So, yes, I ended up happy with the read. I'll definitely read another one from Author Cari Z. I'm sure she's got other good stuff to say, and her grasp of the actual workings of men sexing up other men is superior to many. That she made the effort to give them both serious thoughts about the what, the how, and the why of each act was a big point in the story's favor....more
I really understand why Murdo feels as deeply for David as he does after reading this story. The cold heartlessness of sex without love repels some asI really understand why Murdo feels as deeply for David as he does after reading this story. The cold heartlessness of sex without love repels some as it consumes others. Murdo, who needs warmth to counterbalance the cold and calculating upbringing he endured, would find David's uncompromising centeredness utterly irresistible, and David's priggishness comforting. I hadn't really understood that until I read this.
And now I'm reading Unnatural...without having read this, the entire story would've taken me too long to immerse myself within and I'd've lost the thread early on. I recommend reading the story in its proper chronological place inside the series.
Merged review:
I really understand why Murdo feels as deeply for David as he does after reading this story. The cold heartlessness of sex without love repels some as it consumes others. Murdo, who needs warmth to counterbalance the cold and calculating upbringing he endured, would find David's uncompromising centeredness utterly irresistible, and David's priggishness comforting. I hadn't really understood that until I read this.
And now I'm reading Unnatural...without having read this, the entire story would've taken me too long to immerse myself within and I'd've lost the thread early on. I recommend reading the story in its proper chronological place inside the series....more
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