Reviews

Something Human by A.J. Demas

willa's review against another edition

3.0

There could have been a happy ending without it being wrapped up quite so neatly. Some of the anachronistic dialogue - like a character saying "gosh" in a pantheistic culture - was distracting. Otherwise, really nice, and especially one big conversation our MCs have on the nature of their relationship was really well done.

tansy's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted sad

4.0

I put off reading this for ages, despite having enjoyed all of AJ Demas's other books, because the blurb didn't grab me. (The blurb made me think it was going to be focused on one of the heroes struggling with his attraction to men, but this isn't the case at all.) Anyway, having run out of other books to read, and having a voucher to use, I picked this up and was sorry I hadn't read it earlier, although I'm not convinced that Adares and Rus would work as a couple in the long-term, (I feel like their cultural differences would be too big ultimately).

erinanire's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

ekateclark's review against another edition

emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

magpiash's review

adventurous funny hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

purrson's review

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

papercaper's review against another edition

4.0

I so thoroughly enjoyed this. While technically an enemies to lovers story it was not typical. Despite the fact that their peoples were enemies engaged in active warfare, these two never had any animosity towards the other. And what I really adored was about the first 30% of this book was them just talking. All that background and history usually told to the reader by an internal monologue these men told each other. Just a beautiful way to grow their feelings for each other. I ended up taking my time with this one, really savoured what these two men meant to the other.

bel017's review against another edition

Two men from different tribes that are at war meet, become friends, and fall in love. They talk about their views on religion and politics (which are fundamental to who they are) thoughtfully and respectfully (it is, after all, a fantasy would).

There was some deus ex machina going on, but in a good way. I liked the characters and that most of the conflict came from outside their relationship. I would have happily continued to read about them

pottering around in the temples where they sought shelter, having thoughtful, respectful and vulnerable conversations, and getting to know one another

. That could have been the whole book and it would still have been great. Though probably not as saleable--I like low conflict, and this story is very low conflict to begin with.

They get a HEA, though I would have liked to have known what happened next. I guess that's my problem with the entire romance genre, not just this book :p

The author's debut novel and my first of her books. I very much look forward to reading what she wrote next.

ETA: You can find out what happened next! The author wrote a bonus epilogue you can get by signing up to get such things: http://ajdemas.com/list/
Also, having checked the content warnings on the next book I take back the bit about reading it, too many trigger warnings for me, but hopefully some of her other stuff is as non-triggery as this one.

scoobygirl93's review

funny hopeful sad

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Homophobia, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, and War

claudiereads's review against another edition

3.0

This was probably one of the most dialogue-heavy books I’ve read in some time, and that really surprised me. There was a lot of talking, and a serious lack of action to balance it out. By 30%, I was getting fed up with the never-ending conversations about totally inconsequential things, and it almost put me to sleep. I’m glad I kept going, though, because it got better.

I really liked Rus. He was the main reason I was so determined not to toss this book, and even though his half of the story wasn’t perfect, it was much more enjoyable than than the first part. Adares was okay, I guess, but I didn’t have many strong feelings about him one way or another, so that may be the reason.

The way their relationship was developed lacked credibility, in my opinion. While such quick attraction is believable, acting on it almost instantly in these circumstances, when just a couple of hours ago their people were killing each other??

Spoiler

Let’s not forget the fact that Rus was willing to die for Adares after spending THREE DAYS in his company.

Nope, I’m not buying it. Some authors are able to swing the whole one true love trope, but not this one.

I’m not sure I liked this author’s writing style. What really bothered me was definitely the pacing - most of the time the story outright dragged, then something happened and I got sucked right back in, only for the story to move at a snail’s pace again.

All in all, I liked it, even though I'd expected more - an epic enemies to lovers story, maybe - than the rather tame insta-love I got. I feel like the author made light of some things, skirting around the interesting parts and focusing on unimportant details instead.