Mind Magic by Poppy Dennison

From the blurb:

Magical species must never mix. According to the rules, Simon Osborne should ignore the children’s cries for help. After all, they’re werewolf cubs, and he’s an apprentice mage. But for once in his life, Simon breaks the rules and rescues the cubs, saving them from a demon intent on draining them of their magic.

Of course, all actions have consequences, and Simon’s bold move earns him the displeasure of his peers and the attention of the cubs’ alpha, a man named Gray Townsend.

The last thing Gray needs is a mage in his life, but Simon did save his son. Since Simon is now a friend of the pack, Gray doesn’t have much choice about it—or the forbidden attraction that goes along with it. Unfortunately for the alpha, he needs Simon’s help to track down the demon behind the kidnappings—before it strikes again. Simon and Gray must join forces to protect the pack, even as they struggle to resist the temptation that threatens to destroy them both.

Review:

Mind Magic is a charming novel about the importance of family, overcoming social boundaries, and finding love.

Simon Osborne, a mage, through his magic hears werewolf children crying for help.  Unable to ignore them, he interferes and saves them from a demon. When he returns the cubs home, he meets the alpha wolf of the pack, Gray Townsend.  It turns out one of the cubs rescued was the alpha wolf's son, Garon.

Simon Osborne is easy to fall in love with.  He's always trying to do the right thing and he is kind and caring.  Gray could have very easily been a hyper-masculine stereotype, but Poppy Dennison paints him in softer colours, focusing often on Gray's relationship with his son.  This is very touching and sweet and works very well.

Mind Magic is also about finding one place even in the face of social taboos.  If mages and werewolves should never mix, why do Simon and Gray feel so right for each other?  In the face of social constructs, Simon and Gray try to find their own happiness.

What really won it over for me was the children.  Garon in particular stands out as being a stellar character.  He is funny, adorable, and totally lovable and brings out Simon's desires to have a family.

It's great to have a bisexual as one of the main characters in an m/m novel.  Gray doesn't overstate or flaunt it as such, but his bisexuality is simply treated as reality and normal by his peers.  There is no friction between Gray having a son from a one night stand with a good friend and his sudden attraction to Simon.  Garon's questions about the nature of Simon and Gray's relationship are adorable and melted my heart.

Dennison spends quite a bit of time setting up the mythology of this world, and I look forward to seeing how that develops in the other books in the Triad series.

Overall, Mind Magic is a charming novel.

Visit Poppy Dennison's website

More Information:

Title: Mind Magic

Author: Poppy Dennison

Genre: Fantasy/Urban Fantasy/Romance
Length: Novel

Publisher: Dreamspinners Press

Publishing Date: 23 Apr. 2012

Type: m/m

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Mindscape by Tal Valante

From the blurb:

The truth will set you free.

Mark Sayre joins the Interstellar Navy for the money—his only goal is to keep his little brother out of the colony mines that sent their father to an early grave. With concepts like duty and honor floating high over his head, he hardly expects to fall for the serious, idealistic Shane Cawley. Not to mention that Shane is his commanding officer . . . and his Resonance partner, a one-in-ten-thousand mental connection so profound that they can travel in each other’s mindscapes.

Shane Cawley is carrying on the family tradition by serving in the Interstellar Navy. He hardly expects to fall for the quirky, happy-go-lucky Mark Sayre. But as the Resonance between them grows, neither can deny what he feels for the other.

When war breaks out, Mark and Shane find their military training and their Resonance link tested to the edge of sanity. Shane is haunted by memories and flashbacks, and Mark becomes trapped in his own mindscape. But with help from an unlikely ally, they may be able to salvage their futures and the love they share.

Review:

This is a sweet novella dealing with the difficult subject of PTSD and saving the one you love.  

Mark joins the Interstellar Navy, Spavy for short, and during his time serving, he falls in love with his superior officer, Shane Cawley.  Mark initially joins solely because it pays well and will keep his brother from having to work in the mines.  As time progresses, Mark's perspective changes and serving in the Spavy becomes about duty and honor for him.

During the war, however, Mark is captured by the enemy.  After living as a POW, his mind is not the same.  Shane tries desperately to save him through their mind connection.

I really love how the narrative unfolds from two different points in time.  One which is in the present, explaining Shane's attempts to save Mark, the other from their past, depicting their romance.  It's a great balance between established romantic couple and blossoming romantic couple.

The idea of a Resonance, having a mind connection with someone, is not exactly new, but I think Tal Valante does it well.  Firstly, Resonance isn't exactly super rare with a match of one in every ten thousand.  But it's clear that once you've found a match, they are a kind of soul mate and it's hard to let them go.  In terms of a conceit which drives characters together, this one works quite well and doesn't feel forced.  Resonance is, in this universe, grounded in biology and that gives it credibility.

I would have loved to spend more time with the blossoming romance between Mark and Shane. But maybe I'm just greedy.

Overall, Mindscape is a lovely story about the power of love, the tragedies of war, and the horrors of PTSD.

More Information:

Title: Mindscape

Author: Tal Valante

Genre: Sci-fi/Romance
Length: Novella (25k)

Publisher: Riptide Publishing

Publishing Date: 23 Dec. 2013

Type: m/m

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January 2014 Top Reads

Here are our favourtie books/novellas we read in January 2014!

Iron and Velvet by Alexis Hall

I laughed out loud, or as the kids say "lolled", lots throughout this book. At one point my partner came to make sure I wasn't having conniptions.

Kate Kane is a Paranormal Investigator in London. She smokes and drinks heavily. In this first novel, she is hired by an eight-hundred-year-old vampire prince, Julian Saint-Germain, to investigate the murder of a werewolf outside one of Julian's clubs.

The vampire prince, a female vampire to Kate's surprise, is of course smoking hot. Things naturally get complicated when Kate feels herself wanting to violate the first rule of being a PI - don't sleep with the client.

Read the full review of Iron and Velvet

Static by L.A. Witt

Wow.  I was hesitant about reading this novel, but it totally blew me out of the water.

Static was originally published in 2011 and this is a revised edition that has just been released in 2014. The original novel won several awards including winner of best science fiction romance in the 2013 EPIC Awards and winner of best bisexual / transgender sci-fi / paranromal / fantasy in the 2011 Rainbow Awards.

Read the full review of Static


Selume Proferre by E.E. Ottoman

It was utterly refreshing to read something different from the traditional m/m and f/f pairings.

This is a story about exorcism, although not quite your run-of-the-mill priest vs demon kind.

The love interest, M.C. Anderson is an exorcism expert. Initially she is quite a frosty, overworked individual and she rubs most of her colleagues the wrong way. An-An is brought into the company to see if she can work with M.C.

Read the full review of Selume Proferre

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Static by L.A. Witt

From the blurb:

After two years together, Alex has been dreading the inevitable moment when Damon learns the truth: that Alex is a shifter, part of a small percentage of the population able to switch genders at will. Thanks to a forced implant, though, Alex is suddenly static—unable to shift—and male. Overnight, he’s out to a world that neither understands nor tolerates shifters . . . and to his heterosexual boyfriend.

Damon is stunned to discover his girlfriend is a shifter, and scared to death of the dangers the implant poses to Alex’s health. He refuses to abandon Alex, but what about their relationship? Damon is straight, and with the implant both costly and dangerous to remove, Alex is stuck as a man.

Stripped of half his identity and facing serious physical and social ramifications, Alex needs Damon more than ever, but he doesn’t see how they can get through this.

Especially if he’s static forever.

Review:

Wow.  I was hesitant about reading this novel, but it totally blew me out of the water.

Static was originally published in 2011 and this is a revised edition that has just been released in 2014. The original novel won several awards including winner of best science fiction romance in the 2013 EPIC Awards and winner of best bisexual / transgender sci-fi / paranromal / fantasy in the 2011 Rainbow Awards.

It's very much based in the real world with one small sci-fi element - there are shifters who can switch genders when ever they want.  It's a refreshing change from the shifting into animals trope. But what I really loved is how the two main characters, Damon and Alex, both approach and deal with the complication that Alex might be static forever.

A romance story about over coming a major relationship and identity crisis.  It's really powerful stuff.

Alex's history with alcohol abuse and depression is heartbreaking.  Damon's struggle with how he should act and feel also struck emotional chords.

A great, compelling read.  I couldn't put it down.  Highly recommended.

More Information:

Title: Static

Author: L.A. Witt

Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Publishing Date: 20 Jan. 2014
Length: Novel (74k)
Genre: Sci-fi/Romance

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Windigo Thrall by Cate Culpepper

From the blurb:

“The Windigo has a heart of ice.” 

The legends of an ancient cannibal demon might have been enthralling, but they were folklore. To Jo and Becca, investigating reports of a Windigo is a lively scholarly exercise, and for Grady and Elena, it means a weekend at an idyllic mountain retreat. Only Pat and Maggie can draw on their Native roots to recognize a monster out of Algonquin myth, but only if they unlock the mystery of their shared past. Throw six volatile personalities into a snowbound cabin, beset by a blizzard, and stalked by a monster, and there’s no assurance they’ll survive the night with their sanity intact—or their lives.

Review:

There's nothing like an ancient cannibal demon to shake you to your core.  Make sure you are somewhere warm and safe when you read this.  Probably not best consumed in an isolated cabin in the middle of winter.

There's something perfect about a powerful myth that's tied to the land and its people.  There's also something irresistible about some good ol' fashion horror tropes.  Culpepper does both very well in Windigo Thrall, focusing on the psychological interplay between characters to manifest the monster - the Windigo - and other spiritual forces.

I enjoyed the stories of the six different women and their relationships.  I think my favourite character out of all of them is probably Pat, the Native American Park Ranger. She's stoic, but also has a rich history and I loved her and Maggie's story arcs the most.

The romance elements of this story are fascinating because there are three romances going on at once, two established (Grady and Elana, Jo and Becca) and one new (Pat and Maggie).  Culpepper masterfully juggles these three, making sure we spend time with each character and explore the dynamics of all three relationships as well as the non-romantic relationships that contribute to the volatile situation inside the cabin.

I would have loved for this book to have gone slightly more down the horror route.  Perhaps I'm accustomed to coming out of a good horror novel feeling kind of obliterated.  However, I recognise that the romantic happy ending would have been very difficult under such circumstances.

Lots of Stephen King references and influences which were really cool.

All in all, I enjoyed my time locked away with these six women in an isolated cabin being stalked by a cannibal demon.

More information:

Title: The Windigo Thrall
Author: Cate Culpepper
Length: Novel (64k)
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Publishing Date: Jan 2014
Type: f/f
Genre: Romance/Paranormal/Horror

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Selume Proferre by E.E. Ottoman

From the blurb: 

An-An Li-Johnson lives an easy-going, quiet life. She works part time at her friend's bookstore, is active in the local LGBTQ scene, manages to avoid the occasional crazy ex, and does temp work for the big name spell-craft firm Simon and Davidson.

Then she's hired to work with M.C. Anderson, an up and coming exorcist at Simon and Davidson. M.C. is deeply involved in the world of high stakes spell-craft, determined to carve out a place for herself among the extremely hierarchical and old fashioned world of professional exorcists. As they work together on an intense case of demonic possession, An-An finds herself more and more intrigued by her new boss. But just as the relationship looks like it might be deepening into something more, the case suddenly takes a turn for the worse.

Much, much worse.

Review:

It was utterly refreshing to read something different from the traditional m/m and f/f pairings.

This is a story about exorcism, although not quite your run-of-the-mill priest vs demon kind.

The love interest, M.C. Anderson is an exorcism expert.  Initially she is quite a frosty, overworked individual and she rubs most of her colleagues the wrong way.  An-An is brought into the company to see if she can work with M.C.

An-An is a really cool character.  Her sense of humour, her sense of style, and her intelligence made it fun to see this story through her eyes.  I especially liked how she was a fairly well connected member in the LGBTQ+ scene and it makes this work not only a queer romance, but a political queer romance.  I also kinda wish she was a real person so she could design my next tattoo. *sigh*

I loved watching An-An struggle with the complicated and frosty M.C. Anderson.  It was sweet and awkward and I could really relate.

However, I felt that that the climax was underdeveloped.  I kept expecting it to be a rouse and for there to be an even bigger, worse crisis, but then the novel ended.  It didn't quite meet my expectations there. BUT it was still really enjoyable!

This is a fun, short romp with a sizzling ending.  You should read it on a Saturday afternoon with a glass of wine.

More Information:

Title: Selume Proferre
Author: E.E. Ottoman
Publisher: Less Than Three Press
Publishing Date: 6 Nov. 2013
Length: Novella (22k)
Genre: Paranormal/romance
Type: f/f, genderqueer, trans

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The Artifact by X. Aratare, Raythe Reign

From the blurb:

Dane Gareis is the handsome and aloof scion of a wealthy Winter Haven family. He hires Sean Harding, a scarred, yet brilliant, former police detective as his bodyguard after the murder of his father, Julius, by a cult known only as the Ydrath. The Ydrath want an ancient golden sarcophagus returned to them, but Julius had refused and been killed. Dane is just as determined to keep the sarcophagus out of the Ydrath's hands.

Sean knows that his willful, yet fragile, employer is in deadly danger. The former detective is determined to save Dane both from a terrible end and the terminal loneliness that surrounds the beautiful rich boy.


Review:

I really enjoyed this novel. It was captivating and interesting.

We're first introduced to Sean Harding, a cop who has been working a horrible drug case.  The drug in question kills everyone who tries it.  After a bust gone terribly wrong and after he is exposed to the drug too, Sean is forced to leave his job.  He later takes up a body guard position with Dane Gareis, who has recently taken over his father's very profitable business.  There are many things that need to be answered - like why isn't Sean dead from the drug? What's inside the sarcophagus?  But the blossoming feelings between Sean and his charge take centre stage.  Their emerging feelings unfold beautifully in this first book.

Sean Harding's character is very likable.  Although he is a former cop, he isn't hyper masculine and is quite sensitive and gentle.  Dane Gareis although physically delicate is not simply a sheltered flower.  He has his own strengths along with his weaknesses.  I really liked both characters.  There is Yaoi genre influence in this novel.

The author does a fantastic job of drawing out Sean and especially Dane's pasts, of taking their attraction to each other slowly in light of how complicated they are as people.  The tenderness in their blossoming relationships is quite beautiful.

The speculative elements of the story and the plot are intriguing: a mysterious drug and a gang that disappears tied up with an ancient cult known as Ydrath.  I was, however, sad to learn that this novel ends on a cliff hanger - an homage to the fact that it was originally written as serialized fiction and reworked for novel release.  This made it feel much more like finishing series one of a television show.

Although my desire to find out what happens to these characters and what is going on with the Ydrath is not sated, this was a very visual, very emotional introduction to these two characters and their world.  I really look forward to the second novel in the series.

It's available in many formats including audio book.  There's even a graphic novel.  You should check out the release detail page on the author's website.

More Information:

Title: The Artifact
Author: X. Aratare, Raythe Reign
Publishing Date: 30 Nov, 2013
Length: Novel (110k)
Genre: Paranormal/Romance
Type: m/m

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The Guardian by Mary Calmes

From the blurb:
Jude Shea's life is turned upside down when he rescues a dog he names Joe. Even though Jude has enough trouble taking care of himself—he doesn't even have a job—he can't resist the animal that needs him. Then one night, a man shows up on his doorstep looking to claim Jude's new companion. As they run from a surprise attack, Jude finds out that "Joe" is not what he seems.

Eoin Thral is a guardian from an alternate dimension, and once he leads Jude through the veil that separates their worlds, he transforms into a handsome hulk of a man known for his fighting skills, not the capacity for love. Jude finds himself immersed in Eoin’s world, and he's faced with the fight of his life to secure a happy future for them both.


Review:
This is the story of Jude Shae who falls in love with a man from a parallel world called Eoin.   Jude rescues a giant dog, whom we later discover is actually Eoin.  The dog is possessive.  When strange men come looking for the dog, Jude and the dog run and fall through the 'veil' into Eion's world - a medieval-esque realm.

The scenes with Eoin as the dog are alright, but once Jude enters the other world, the narrative goes south.  The cute dog turns into Eoin Thral, who is far from likable.

My main issue with this book was that the main love interest, Eoin, is stylised as an animalistic oaf who cannot control his violent sexual urges.  When they first enter Eoin's world, Eoin binds and gags Jude and threatens him. Then he decides that he'd like to have sex with Jude and says "You will not deny me; ’tis not your right." Seriously, what the hell?

During the first time Eoin and Jude have sex, part way through Eoin is shocked to discover that Jude actually wants to.  Apparently most people don't actually want to have sex with him, but he takes it anyway.  Rape is basically Eoin's modus operandi.

Despite Eoin's possessiveness, he can be quite thoughtless.  Jude is sent to Eoin's room to wait for him.  Eoin fails to send him food or water and when the sex workers of the keep discover this, they take it upon themselves to get him food and drink and keep him company.  The scene with the sex workers elucidates that Guardians like Eoin are so violent and brutal in bed that no one sleeps willingly with them except for prostitutes, even then the prostitutes are reluctant.  This made my skin crawl.  Sex workers do not deserve violence, ever.   The author does seem somewhat concerned with the possible charge of rape, however, and is quick to insist through the sex workers that it's not.  I'll just have to shrug my shoulders and disagree.

The narrative itself is really just an awkward prop for the sex scenes.  Firstly, Calmes uses the conceit of "soul mates" to bypass actually having any kind of romance.  Really?  I guess if they are not soul mates it would be impossible to, you know, fall in love with the rapist Eoin Thral, but, whatever.

I found Eoin's instant possessiveness far from charming.  It was outright intimidating and scary.  Jude's desire for monogamy is fine, but it felt like it was used merely as a way to ensure that Eoin's violent possessiveness and rapey-ness were acceptable.  I get that people enjoy the big, rough "barbarian" stories, dripping with hyper-physical sex... but this story made my blood run cold.

Many reviewers have complained about the characterisation of Jude Shae as pretty much too perfect.  I have to agree.  Everyone loves him. Everyone wants to fuck him and he's super successful at what he does.  Jude Shae is also bi-phobic.  At one point he wonders what people will think now that Eoin is suddenly gay despite having sexual/rape relationships with women previously.

My main stylistic complaint is the distracted head hopping.  The head hopping randomly to minor characters shows that neither of the main characters were interesting enough to stick with for the entire narrative.

The cover is gorgeous.  Anne Cain did a fantastic job of the cover and I love it a lot. Shame about the story.

More Information:

Title: The Guardian
Author: Mary Calmes
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publishing Date: 8 Feb, 2010
Length: Novel
Genre: Fantasy/Romance
Type: m/m

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Iron & Velvet by Alexis Hall

From the blurb: 

 First rule in this line of business: don’t sleep with the client.

My name’s Kate Kane, and when an eight-hundred-year-old vampire prince came to me with a case, I should have told her no. But I’ve always been a sucker for a femme fatale.

It always goes the same way. You move too fast, you get in too deep, and before you know it, someone winds up dead. Last time it was my partner. This time it could be me. Yesterday a werewolf was murdered outside the Velvet, the night-time playground of one of the most powerful vampires in England. Now half the monsters in London are at each other’s throats, and the other half are trying to get in my pants. The Witch Queen will protect her own, the wolves are out for vengeance, and the vampires are out for, y’know, blood.

I’ve got a killer on the loose, a war on the horizon, and a scotch on the rocks. It’s going to be an interesting day.

Review:

I laughed out loud, or as the kids say "lolled", lots throughout this book.  At one point my partner came to make sure I wasn't having conniptions. 

Kate Kane is a Paranormal Investigator in London.  She smokes and drinks heavily.  In this first novel, she is hired by an eight-hundred-year-old vampire prince, Julian Saint-Germain, to investigate the murder of a werewolf outside one of Julian's clubs.

The vampire prince, a female vampire to Kate's surprise, is of course smoking hot.  Things naturally get complicated when Kate feels herself wanting to violate the first rule of being a PI - don't sleep with the client. 

The blurb makes it sound like there's a lot going on - vampires, werewolves, witches - but Alexis Hall does a great job of not making it a mess.  It was logical and easy to follow despite the large cast of players. 

Kate's sense of humour is right up my alley - it's black, self-deprecating, and sweary, which combined with the pure fantastical nature of the novel adds a high degree of levity.  For example, there is a scene in a sewer and Kate is admiring the Victorian construction:

"The Victorians might have been a bunch of mass-murdering, misogynistic fuckheads, but they sure knew how to build a shit pipe."

The romance between Kate Kane and Julian Saint-Germain is good.  We get a lot of detail about Kate's internal struggles, her past failures and mistakes, and we do find out a lot about Julian's pre-vamp days, which is pretty cool.  However, this novel is predominately driven by the external narrative of monsters picking people off. Because monsters.

Hands down the funniest book I've read this year.  Yes, I know it's only January.

Do not read this book if you don't like gore, profanity or lesbian sex.

Do read this book if you do like the above.

You should follow Alexis Hall on Twitter: @quicunquevult

And check out his blog: Quicunque Vult 

More Information:

Title: Iron & Velvet
Author: Alexis Hall
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Publishing Date: 16 Dec, 2013
Length: Novel (77k)
Genre: Paranormal/Romance
Type: f/f

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In Discretion by Reesa Herberth

From the blurb: 

Thanson Nez thought his career as a Discretionary would take him to the stars, not strand him on a space station at the ass-end of the Empire. Thanks to his last client, he’s carrying a secret he can’t get rid of fast enough, but his oath to the guild means a swift, painful death if he shares it. Already desperate for help, he runs into yet more trouble: his ex, and an explosion that paralyzes the station moments after their uncomfortable reunion.

Kazra Ferdow, Station 43’s communications officer, is almost as blindsided by the return of his first love as he is by the sudden loss of power and life support. The station is a floating graveyard in the making, and something is turning its inhabitants into savage killers. Fighting human monsters and damaged tech, Kazra and Thanson must put aside their past long enough to try to save everyone.

The more light they shine into dark corners, the more Thanson realizes how many people might die for the secrets locked in his head—and what he’s willing to sacrifice to make sure Kazra isn’t one of them.

Review:

This is a fun, action packed novella that hovers brilliantly between tense action and narrative exposition.  The story opens up with Thanson, a male consort, landing on Station 43, an asteroid mining outpost, escaping the thoroughly unlikable and thuggish Misher.  Once on board, he runs into his ex - Kazra.  

With the Station's power failing and a mysterious zombie-esque virus infecting a large number of the crew, Kazra and Thanson go on a mission to the Station's core to try and reroute enough power to send a message for help.

As things go to hell around Thanson and Kazra, their history unfolds.  Thanson and Kazra were teenage loves, and it's fascinating to watch them navigate the pain of teenage heartache as adults.  Reesa Herberth does an excellent job of balancing the present action filled narrative with exposing tantalisingly bit by bit Kazra and Thanson's past.  

This is the first story I've read in the Ylendrian Empire universe.  It had a great flavour with some Firefly influences seeping through.  First of all, Thanson is a male companion, he is "a member of the Discretionary's Cohort...a respected trade guild," not unlike the Companion's Guild in the Firefly universe in style, training, and respectability.  Second, there was some phrasing which rang of Firefly lilt, such as "ass-end of the 'verse" and "Do you understand? If you don't, find me someone who does, sharp-like." 

The Firefly allusions work quite well in this story without overwhelming it.  

I really liked that neither main characters are white.  Kazra is described as having "olive skin" and Thanson as having "dark skin".  

There are a couple of political undertones, which add a richness to the story. There is a conversation in which Misher, a baddie, threatens to rape Thanson.  Misher, in excellent baddie style, likes to explain what he is going to do.  He makes it very clear that he has no interest in taking physical pleasure, he only wants to put Thanson in his place:  "I just want to put you in your place for once, and we both know that's below me."  This shows that the author is versed in the idea that rape is not about pleasure, it's about power.

Also in a political vein, I also enjoyed the critique of the corporation working to turn a profit rather than look after their people.  This is borne out in the observations made about Station 43 and the state of disrepair it's in, as well as inadequate safety measures - lives cost less than equipment.

The romance story line is teased out over the course of the novella and we have to wait to the very end for resolution.  But the ending is satisfying and well worth the wait.

This makes for an excellent Sunday afternoon read with a cup of tea.  Especially if you like zombies in space and m/m romance.

You can find out more about the series and the world by visiting the Ylendrian Empire website.

You can also follow the author, Reesa Herberth, on Twitter @reesah.

More Information:

Title: In Descretion
Author: Reesa Herberth

Publisher: Riptide
Publishing Date: 30 Dec, 2013
Length: Novella (30k)
Genre: Sci-fi/Romance
Type: m/m

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