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dreamerfreak's review
4.0
Adventure stories are just not common enough in the gay fiction genre. I loved the Indiana Jones flair to this story, with Henry and Dingo romping through the forest in search of Tassie and the greater good and dodging the bad guys. It's a sweet and all-consuming romance between these two, and I couldn't help but be fascinated seeing them shed the shells that they wore in "civilization" once they were alone together in the jungle. And Tassie, the thylacine, that was their quest. I admit that I've now spent hours scouring the internet and looking at pictures. The story ends with a bittersweet hope that somewhere these creatures are hiding, and I can't help but think that just maybe, somewhere... they're not as gone as we think.
suze_1624's review
4.0
Overall, I liked this one.
I did find that it came more alive once Henry got to Australia - was more adventurous then.
Dingo is the archetypal swaggering Aussie - liked him.
Dash is the bookish English academic.
Jarrah gives an authentic feel to the dreamtime connections.
I liked them together though they did come over a quite contemporary at times, loosing that historical feel. Maybe it was because the setting has no time links.
When I was about half way through the book, I did spot a programme on the telly about the Tasmanian Tiger, so I was able to get a better feel for 'Tassie' and the landscapes.
Hodges issues came a bit out of left field, with no real build up to his madness.
I did find that it came more alive once Henry got to Australia - was more adventurous then.
Dingo is the archetypal swaggering Aussie - liked him.
Dash is the bookish English academic.
Jarrah gives an authentic feel to the dreamtime connections.
I liked them together though they did come over a quite contemporary at times, loosing that historical feel. Maybe it was because the setting has no time links.
When I was about half way through the book, I did spot a programme on the telly about the Tasmanian Tiger, so I was able to get a better feel for 'Tassie' and the landscapes.
Hodges issues came a bit out of left field, with no real build up to his madness.
tiggers_hate_acorns's review
4.0
A good story and yes I would read a sequel. Though it read more as a Boy's Own story in Indiana Jones style, there were a couple of underlying serious themes. One was how man has contributed to the demise of many species, through greed and the other was the treatment of the Aboriginal people as second class citizens.
At first I didn't like Dingo. I thought the way he was first portrayed was a bit OTT and don't think any person would have acted as crassly as he did especially in that era. As a consequence of this initial dislike and only partial thaw, I didn't feel the relationship between the two MCs. To me it seemed more a "friends with benefits" type than an "I love you".
A steady 3.5 star read.
Quote:"Henry actually wondered if in focusing solely on the thylacine, he wasn't missing a bigger tragedy. Perhaps the Aboriginal people and their customs were equally in need of rescue."
At first I didn't like Dingo. I thought the way he was first portrayed was a bit OTT and don't think any person would have acted as crassly as he did especially in that era. As a consequence of this initial dislike and only partial thaw, I didn't feel the relationship between the two MCs. To me it seemed more a "friends with benefits" type than an "I love you".
A steady 3.5 star read.
Quote:"Henry actually wondered if in focusing solely on the thylacine, he wasn't missing a bigger tragedy. Perhaps the Aboriginal people and their customs were equally in need of rescue."
maya56's review
5.0
Because I was not familiar with the Tasmania Tiger, before I began reading this book I went to Google to find a photograph. Not only was there a photograph but there was also a YouTube video of old film footage of the last known Thylacine. I watched the video and I’m not sure that was such a good idea because the vision of that poor creature living in such deplorable conditions coloured my reading experience. I found I could not condone Henry Percival-Smythe’s plans for the Thylacine. Thank goodness Dingo’s influence eventually transformed Henry into the much more likeable Dash!
I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure and getting to know the MCs as well as a fine cast of secondary characters. I would welcome reading the next adventure for Dash and Dingo!
p.s. - loved the little homage to T&D! ;)
I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure and getting to know the MCs as well as a fine cast of secondary characters. I would welcome reading the next adventure for Dash and Dingo!
p.s. - loved the little homage to T&D! ;)
alisonalisonalison's review
2.0
Pleasant enough, but could have been lots better. I wanted to like this more because it's a neat idea and it's a unconventional story and could have been really fun. I am a huge fan of the historical queer adventure romance genre, but this book just didn't do it for me. I thought the first half was pretty good, but it lost its head of steam in the second half and I was skimming by the end. I really enjoyed the setting and whole idea of this story simply because it's different and it's an uncommon historical setting in romance. Though, for a historical, these people felt quite modern. It didn't "feel" particularly like the 1930s to me, but maybe that's just me. The main characters were pretty interesting (a stereotypical loud Aussie bloke and a stereotypical prim Englishman), but I wasn't super engaged by them and didn't really connect with either. The villain was quite cardboard and almost cartoonish in his evilness, which made the ending pretty over-the-top, though the melodrama was already rising with each passing chapter. There's a lot of sex in this book and I didn't think it added anything. I liked that there were Indigenous Australian secondary characters. There are some strong messages in this story, and while their delivery verged on heavy-handed, they're good, worthy messages--look after the environment, respect wildlife and don't kill animals for no reason, don't be racist, colonialism is super problematic, etc. Most people on GR really like this, but, unfortunately, it was not for me.
evastrange's review
1.0
It’s a bloody shame. There was a fun adventure story in here, with an adorable couple of the opposites-attract variety. If only the writing weren’t abysmally bad! To give you an idea: I mean, it's bad enough form to use the phrase "the other man" *at all* (let alone repeatedly, relentlessly), but to use it when the other man in question is in fact the viewpoint character himself… If your writing is at that level, you might want to consider repeating fifth form before you put your stuff out there and embarass yourself like that.
poultrymunitions's review
1.0
starts out beautifully. devolves into a smokin' hot mess by 30 percent and the rest is simply appalling.
breakaway71's review
4.0
This book was just plain fun. I can't even be bothered to gripe about the few small things that should have bothered me, because once I got into the story, they just didn't. I was far too engrossed in the heroes' romance and adventures! And all romance aside, I was completely caught up in the storyline about the Tasmanian Tiger. I think I could have loved the book for that alone. The wonderful romance was really a bonus. :)
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