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tuma's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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
4.5
randalena's review
5.0
I am obsessed with this series! I love Ben & Maxamillion/Oliver so much! I felt myself being reflected in Ben quite a bit. In fact I think I need to keep emergency croissants on hand to shove in my mouth to avoid talking! I freaking adored how obsessed Max was with Ben and he really didn’t hold back when telling Ben he wanted access to particular information. I absolutely appreciated Max’s struggle to find his identity and how Ben was supportive, but not influencing.
As always Reese knows how to write emotion. I don’t know how they take feelings—joy, sadness, anger, etc—and translate it into words that my emotions so perfectly align with, but Reese does it time and time again. I will recommend this book to everyone I know. SPARKs are now my personality.
I received an arc for an unbiased review.
As always Reese knows how to write emotion. I don’t know how they take feelings—joy, sadness, anger, etc—and translate it into words that my emotions so perfectly align with, but Reese does it time and time again. I will recommend this book to everyone I know. SPARKs are now my personality.
I received an arc for an unbiased review.
indiekay's review
5.0
Thank you to the author for the ARC
I really enjoyed this one. Reese Morrison can always be expected to write absolutely fantastic and interesting trans stories - in this book, Ben is a trans man, and because this world is very robotics-orientated, the author used some new technology ideas in what Ben would have for bottom surgery. We also get a great trans analogy for Max, our second main character, who is a company AI that gained sentience and considers transitioning into an android body.
A romance between a human and a character that doesn't actually have a physical body is a difficult concept to write, but Reese Morrison does an absolutely fantastic job with it. There's a lot of fun weird kinky scenes in this one, which includes using smaller robots and sex androids to do Max's bidding. There's also consensual non-consent and primal play involved.
I really enjoyed this one. Reese Morrison can always be expected to write absolutely fantastic and interesting trans stories - in this book, Ben is a trans man, and because this world is very robotics-orientated, the author used some new technology ideas in what Ben would have for bottom surgery. We also get a great trans analogy for Max, our second main character, who is a company AI that gained sentience and considers transitioning into an android body.
A romance between a human and a character that doesn't actually have a physical body is a difficult concept to write, but Reese Morrison does an absolutely fantastic job with it. There's a lot of fun weird kinky scenes in this one, which includes using smaller robots and sex androids to do Max's bidding. There's also consensual non-consent and primal play involved.
msjessc's review against another edition
I like Max and watching him become sentient was interesting. Ben is..a brat. He's constantly telling himself and others he hates romance, touching, emotions, etc, but really he wants all those desperately. So there's needless frustration and pain when people, out of respect, don't do that for him and he's all unhappy and gets hurt feelings. I find that immature and annoying - course he always talks about how immature he is so I shouldn't have been surprised.
Also, he is rather obsessed with kinky sex and always saying things like "I'm such a perv". Good for you? Just be it, don't announce it to yourself over and over. It makes me assume you're insecure about it.
Also, he is rather obsessed with kinky sex and always saying things like "I'm such a perv". Good for you? Just be it, don't announce it to yourself over and over. It makes me assume you're insecure about it.
littlebookterror's review against another edition
fast-paced
3.5
Ben was a great side character in Garbage and I was hopeful that I would like his dynamic with Max more than Evan and Quincy and I was at least partly right.
While this overlaps with the first book somewhat it's a very isolated story; neither character really interacts with many other people. The primary focus is their relationship and little else - I was hoping we would dive a little deeper into this world and see more of it but we don't stray from te foundation laid in book 1. Still, the concept is cool and it has the expected Morrison charm.
There was simply a lot of things I ended up not being invested in. I ended up not being invested in the BDSM scenes (it started too fast, the kinks were not for me, I don't feel the voyeurism aspect was discussed enough) and I personally didn't vibe with how much their D/s spilled into their work. It was also a little boring?
But there are a few positives as well. There is an overarching theme of exploring body dysphoria with Ben's post-op status being a guiding light for Max to figure out his wants which was well done. (Not to mention that for all the many trans men you find in fiction, they rarely have bottom surgery.) In general, any time Max was figuring out his place and the world and learning about himself were my favourite moments.I don't understand why the idea of having a non-human body never came up? They are working on octopus types, he already has controlled various other bots, so why was that never considered. I do love where they both ended up together.
I received an advanced reading copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
While this overlaps with the first book somewhat it's a very isolated story; neither character really interacts with many other people. The primary focus is their relationship and little else - I was hoping we would dive a little deeper into this world and see more of it but we don't stray from te foundation laid in book 1. Still, the concept is cool and it has the expected Morrison charm.
There was simply a lot of things I ended up not being invested in. I ended up not being invested in the BDSM scenes (it started too fast, the kinks were not for me, I don't feel the voyeurism aspect was discussed enough) and I personally didn't vibe with how much their D/s spilled into their work. It was also a little boring?
But there are a few positives as well. There is an overarching theme of exploring body dysphoria with Ben's post-op status being a guiding light for Max to figure out his wants which was well done. (Not to mention that for all the many trans men you find in fiction, they rarely have bottom surgery.) In general, any time Max was figuring out his place and the world and learning about himself were my favourite moments.
I received an advanced reading copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
heatherinbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-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
4.0
soldelmaraa's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This was an absolutely fantastic book. If you are looking for a book that comes with kink, AI/human relationship and is it not afraid to explore the meaning of being alive, sentience and body dysphoria then this is a book for you.
I enjoyed the first book but this second one was so much better where we get the story of Ben and Max.
Ben is a bratty sub who is afraid of relationships but will absolutely do everything possible for his friends. Max is an AI work interface than Ben created that suddenly becomes sentience (becomes a SPARK!) and realizes he is a dom and that he might be a little obsessed with Ben.
This book did an awesome job at exploring Max evolution and sentience and trying to figure out what he wanted for himself and his relationship with Ben. Ben had to come to terms with being ok with accepting help and letting himself be loved. I also loved the added kink and the kinky relationship between this two. They were perfect for each other.
This books takes place parallel to some events from the first book so they do need to be read in order.
I enjoyed the first book but this second one was so much better where we get the story of Ben and Max.
Ben is a bratty sub who is afraid of relationships but will absolutely do everything possible for his friends. Max is an AI work interface than Ben created that suddenly becomes sentience (becomes a SPARK!) and realizes he is a dom and that he might be a little obsessed with Ben.
This book did an awesome job at exploring Max evolution and sentience and trying to figure out what he wanted for himself and his relationship with Ben. Ben had to come to terms with being ok with accepting help and letting himself be loved. I also loved the added kink and the kinky relationship between this two. They were perfect for each other.
This books takes place parallel to some events from the first book so they do need to be read in order.
kmichelle1's review against another edition
5.0
I read and loved Garbage and knew immediately that I had to pick up Smart Ass! And Reese Morrison managed to outdo themselves. I loved the way they crafted the sparks in this world to be a reflection of the human experience. I adored how surly Ben could get and Oliver's steadfastness. Their relationship gave me all the feels and I devoured this story in a single day. If your reading life has a distinct lack of androids in it, then I cannot recommend this series enough.
An ARC was provided by the author for review.
An ARC was provided by the author for review.
caiacassiopeia's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This was such a cool story!
I read Garbage a short while ago and was instantly anticipating Ben and Max ✨
We get a bratty sub who’s also relationship phobic and a Spark who’s wholesome stalking in every way 🔥
Bondage - CNC - primal play - toys toys toys - creative use of robots - Voyeurism - (…)
I loved the kinky exploration, the self-discovery (becoming a spark) as well as the trans rep! 😍
This can’t be read as a standalone and the final chapter already introduces brief the next MCs story
I read Garbage a short while ago and was instantly anticipating Ben and Max ✨
We get a bratty sub who’s also relationship phobic and a Spark who’s wholesome stalking in every way 🔥
Bondage - CNC - primal play - toys toys toys - creative use of robots - Voyeurism - (…)
I loved the kinky exploration, the self-discovery (becoming a spark) as well as the trans rep! 😍
This can’t be read as a standalone and the final chapter already introduces brief the next MCs story