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sleepey's reviews
64 reviews
The Degan Paradox by Rob Colton
4.0
I thought the first 2 books in this series hit very different notes, so it's impressive how well this manages to follow up on both. Tense space adventures, cute character drama, maybe a little silly at times but it's part of the charm.
Earth Fathers Are Weird by Lyn Gala
4.0
Very odd book with lots of concepts and tones all smashed together. The story is sweet and thoughtful, except when it turns into a gory action movie for a while. Everything's really well-considered and grounded, except when Rick's life's work - the mysterious driving force behind half the story - is just vaguely waffled away as some kind of computer thing everyone wants.
It's a head-scratcher, but I definitely liked it. The sci-fi felt fresh, full of ideas, and the romance (for lack of a better term) felt earnest and satisfying. There are some frustrating elements here & there (like how long you have to wait for the main character to finally catch up with what you already know from the back of the book), but overall a pretty cool & interesting read.
It's a head-scratcher, but I definitely liked it. The sci-fi felt fresh, full of ideas, and the romance (for lack of a better term) felt earnest and satisfying. There are some frustrating elements here & there (like how long you have to wait for the main character to finally catch up with what you already know from the back of the book), but overall a pretty cool & interesting read.
Human Omega: Babied by His Guardian Mates by Eileen Glass
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Direct continuation from the previous book, definitely recommend reading them in order.
The characters are in a precarious position, being forced to play along with the aliens' political games, so the first 3/4 of this book move at kind of a glacial pace while they carefully consider every move they make. I think it works really well, their discussions give everything a lot of dramatic & emotional weight, but I can see it being a drag for some people. The last quarter is worth the buildup though - the author's notes say she's never written anything like that before, but I think she knocked it out of the park.
My only real complaint about this book (besides the heinous title) concerns Auk, the new guy from book 2. Don't get me wrong, I like Auk just fine, & his personal struggles here are compelling enough. But his chapters often feel completely disconnected from the other main characters, like I'm reading two different books that just happen to cross over occasionally. It does make sense that he remains a bit of an outsider, but it's telling that I still call him "the new guy" when he's probably been around for more than half the series now, by pagecount.
Ending:
I really enjoyed the twist at the end. I don't know how well it works if you didn't catch the setup earlier in the story (when Carter talks about how the medical operation to become a proper omega would be automated) but when the ship came down I was fully expecting that medbay scene, & I felt so smart when it seemed to play out, but the author was one step ahead. I have my theories for how/why he had the surgery already, but I look forward to finding out in the 4th book.
The characters are in a precarious position, being forced to play along with the aliens' political games, so the first 3/4 of this book move at kind of a glacial pace while they carefully consider every move they make. I think it works really well, their discussions give everything a lot of dramatic & emotional weight, but I can see it being a drag for some people. The last quarter is worth the buildup though - the author's notes say she's never written anything like that before, but I think she knocked it out of the park.
My only real complaint about this book (besides the heinous title) concerns Auk, the new guy from book 2. Don't get me wrong, I like Auk just fine, & his personal struggles here are compelling enough. But his chapters often feel completely disconnected from the other main characters, like I'm reading two different books that just happen to cross over occasionally. It does make sense that he remains a bit of an outsider, but it's telling that I still call him "the new guy" when he's probably been around for more than half the series now, by pagecount.
Ending:
Affiliations, Aliens, and Other Profitable Pursuits by Lyn Gala
4.0
The main aim of this instalment seems to be to repair humanity's reputation a little, after our protagonist Liam had to be rescued & protected from his own people in the first 2 books. Maybe it's just me being a bit of a misanthrope but I don't think their case is very convincing, especially since they're still trying to mess with Liam as it's being made. Leave the poor boy alone! (& by boy I mean 40 year-old man, not that you'd know it from the cover art)
Regardless, I could read about these guys negotiating trades, chatting about random things, and soothing each other's anxieties all day long. There's something endlessly satisfying about the way they make themselves understood across cultural barriers, breaking things down into simple truths and rearranging them until they fit.
Regardless, I could read about these guys negotiating trades, chatting about random things, and soothing each other's anxieties all day long. There's something endlessly satisfying about the way they make themselves understood across cultural barriers, breaking things down into simple truths and rearranging them until they fit.
Assimilation, Love, and Other Human Oddities by Lyn Gala
4.0
Really solid follow-up to "Claimings", moving forward with the world & concepts established in the first book. I was gripped the whole way through & actually ended up reading it all in one long sitting.
There are some issues though - I thought their conversations about certain things went around in circles a few too many times before coming to a point (hey did you know there's no Rownt word for war??), & the last few chapters feel less like the conclusion to this story, and more like just moving pieces around the board to set up the next one.
It's all still very interesting, & I still love the characters, but after the big climactic scene (which happens earlier than you'd expect), things just sort of taper off in a weird way. It's very much a middle instalment in a series, for better or worse.
There are some issues though - I thought their conversations about certain things went around in circles a few too many times before coming to a point (hey did you know there's no Rownt word for war??), & the last few chapters feel less like the conclusion to this story, and more like just moving pieces around the board to set up the next one.
It's all still very interesting, & I still love the characters, but after the big climactic scene (which happens earlier than you'd expect), things just sort of taper off in a weird way. It's very much a middle instalment in a series, for better or worse.
Acquainted With the Night by Lesli Richardson, Tymber Dalton
dark
emotional
sad
4.5
It took me quite a long time to really pick up what this book was doing. On the surface it's an alien abduction & breeding story (& if you only want to engage on that level it's quite a detailed & well thought-out one) but all that kinky business eventually fades into the background. The first couple of times someone lays an egg it's a whole event, but by the halfway mark it barely warrants a mention in passing. There's a strange vibe underpinning everything, with an emphasis on how kindly they're treated by their Master, & how deeply (you might say abruptly) they become devoted to him, as though the book was written by the propaganda arm of the alien breeder recruitment office.
The key is in understanding the humans' status as "pets". Most people will read that as a kind of power imbalance, with negative & demeaning connotations. But this book is about the pets we bring into our homes, our beloved companions that we feed and take care of, and love unconditionally, and who love us back twofold. At one point the main character just outright says "I'm a bad dog with separation anxiety," and it's played as a joke, but viewed through that lens a lot of things about him suddenly make more sense.
From a summary you'd probably think this is a risky concept to pair with all the weird sex stuff going on, but the author is skilled enough to walk the line where they're clearly pets, but also fundamentally human, so we manage to avoid any unfortunate implications about how we treat our animal friends.
A lot of dark, depressing things happen to the characters as the story goes on, though they're able to weather most of it by drawing strength from their Master & each other. I'd say it goes a little too far toward the end though - I think it's supposed to be bittersweet, but the increasing use of time-skips through the peaceful times really emphasises the sad stuff. I don't believe in "show don't tell" as a hard & fast rule, but it definitely comes to mind here. If you like a good tear-jerker, this one's for you, but personally if I read this again, I might take the hint when the protagonist says he wants to stop time & stay in a certain moment forever. 📖➡️📘
This definitely isn't a book for everybody, for like a dozen really obvious reasons, but if you can get on its wavelength, it's got a unique & honestly kind of beautiful perspective on love & life. Yes that's a weird thing to say about a book where aliens put eggs up your arse that make you cum all the time, but that's just how it is sometimes.
The key is in understanding the humans' status as "pets". Most people will read that as a kind of power imbalance, with negative & demeaning connotations. But this book is about the pets we bring into our homes, our beloved companions that we feed and take care of, and love unconditionally, and who love us back twofold. At one point the main character just outright says "I'm a bad dog with separation anxiety," and it's played as a joke, but viewed through that lens a lot of things about him suddenly make more sense.
From a summary you'd probably think this is a risky concept to pair with all the weird sex stuff going on, but the author is skilled enough to walk the line where they're clearly pets, but also fundamentally human, so we manage to avoid any unfortunate implications about how we treat our animal friends.
A lot of dark, depressing things happen to the characters as the story goes on, though they're able to weather most of it by drawing strength from their Master & each other. I'd say it goes a little too far toward the end though - I think it's supposed to be bittersweet, but the increasing use of time-skips through the peaceful times really emphasises the sad stuff. I don't believe in "show don't tell" as a hard & fast rule, but it definitely comes to mind here. If you like a good tear-jerker, this one's for you, but personally if I read this again, I might take the hint when the protagonist says he wants to stop time & stay in a certain moment forever. 📖➡️📘
This definitely isn't a book for everybody, for like a dozen really obvious reasons, but if you can get on its wavelength, it's got a unique & honestly kind of beautiful perspective on love & life. Yes that's a weird thing to say about a book where aliens put eggs up your arse that make you cum all the time, but that's just how it is sometimes.
Claimings, Tails, and Other Alien Artifacts by Lyn Gala
5.0
The start of the book is super fun, seeing the main characters meet & trade & inhabit this really cool, fleshed-out alien world.
When the "claiming" happens & they spend a rough couple of chapters talking through it, my heart sank a little, thinking I'd been lured into another overly-intense & unpleasant abduction story. But to my surprise they manage to figure it all out in a way that actually makes total sense to me.
The back half of the book is more of a reflection on humans' capacity to harm each other & deny themselves love, in ways that would seem preposterous to an outsider. Then there's a little bit of alien smut to blow off steam at the end. I would have liked an extra chapter where they're out of their honeymoon phase, to see how this relationship works in their day-to-day life. But I imagine I'll get plenty of that from the sequels. Overall, great read.
When the "claiming" happens & they spend a rough couple of chapters talking through it, my heart sank a little, thinking I'd been lured into another overly-intense & unpleasant abduction story. But to my surprise they manage to figure it all out in a way that actually makes total sense to me.
The back half of the book is more of a reflection on humans' capacity to harm each other & deny themselves love, in ways that would seem preposterous to an outsider. Then there's a little bit of alien smut to blow off steam at the end. I would have liked an extra chapter where they're out of their honeymoon phase, to see how this relationship works in their day-to-day life. But I imagine I'll get plenty of that from the sequels. Overall, great read.
Taken by M.A. Church
dark
funny
3.0
This romance story immediately paints itself into a corner by having one half of the main couple kidnap the other & mutate his body for breeding purposes.
Dale, the human protagonist, feels so terrified and violated that there's nothing anyone could say to bring him over to the aliens' side. And so, the author just doesn't bother - they have sex and suddenly he doesn't care any more. Keyno, the alien captain, sits in bed working on plans for the next "harvest", where hundreds more men will go through this trauma, and Dale happily sits beside him without a thought in his head. When those plans are put into action, Dale worries about how stressful the whole thing is, for Keyno.
This kind of premise isn't impossible to navigate. I've read stories that make every element here fun, thrilling, arousing, you name it. But this one fails so hard at setting up the main romance that at a certain point I had to stop & say "ok, let's just draw a line under the first act, pretend this relationship was handled better, & try to enjoy the rest as though it was earned."
Under those parameters, honestly, I thought the rest of the book was mostly pretty fun. I enjoyed Dale & Keyno's playful rapport, there was some interesting worldbuilding... and then it just abruptly ended. 👍 Great. See you in book 2 I guess.
The problems aren't limited to the story itself by the way, the writing is also incredibly sloppy. Pivotal conversations & scenes are glossed over, some of the characters (like Chad & his mate) are so thin as to barely exist, and bizarrely, on multiple occasions, Dale is totally surprised to hear something he definitely already knew. Like he specifically had a conversation about it a few pages ago, and now it's news.
For all its flaws I think this book manages to shine when it's doing classic romance stuff (like Keyno furiously protecting his mate from harm, and that heartbreaking chapter where something's come between the two of them, & Dale doesn't know how to reconnect). It's also great when it's going totally off-the-wall (like when Keyno gets dosed with alien catnip). Everything in between those extremes is hit and miss though, with some pretty profound misses.
So overall, not the best thing I've ever read. But if you can get past all these issues I think there's a spark of something lovable in there.
Dale, the human protagonist, feels so terrified and violated that there's nothing anyone could say to bring him over to the aliens' side. And so, the author just doesn't bother - they have sex and suddenly he doesn't care any more. Keyno, the alien captain, sits in bed working on plans for the next "harvest", where hundreds more men will go through this trauma, and Dale happily sits beside him without a thought in his head. When those plans are put into action, Dale worries about how stressful the whole thing is, for Keyno.
This kind of premise isn't impossible to navigate. I've read stories that make every element here fun, thrilling, arousing, you name it. But this one fails so hard at setting up the main romance that at a certain point I had to stop & say "ok, let's just draw a line under the first act, pretend this relationship was handled better, & try to enjoy the rest as though it was earned."
Under those parameters, honestly, I thought the rest of the book was mostly pretty fun. I enjoyed Dale & Keyno's playful rapport, there was some interesting worldbuilding... and then it just abruptly ended. 👍 Great. See you in book 2 I guess.
The problems aren't limited to the story itself by the way, the writing is also incredibly sloppy. Pivotal conversations & scenes are glossed over, some of the characters (like Chad & his mate) are so thin as to barely exist, and bizarrely, on multiple occasions, Dale is totally surprised to hear something he definitely already knew. Like he specifically had a conversation about it a few pages ago, and now it's news.
For all its flaws I think this book manages to shine when it's doing classic romance stuff (like Keyno furiously protecting his mate from harm, and that heartbreaking chapter where something's come between the two of them, & Dale doesn't know how to reconnect). It's also great when it's going totally off-the-wall (like when Keyno gets dosed with alien catnip). Everything in between those extremes is hit and miss though, with some pretty profound misses.
So overall, not the best thing I've ever read. But if you can get past all these issues I think there's a spark of something lovable in there.
Tristan by Sylvain St-Pierre
dark
4.5
Tristan is a brutal, cold-hearted killer out for revenge, with heightened alien senses, extensive combat experience, genius-level technological expertise, & the ability to put on a false persona so convincing that even the narrative treats it like a separate character. It's a lot of fun to watch him scheming & manipulating & just generally being overpowered, kind of like if Gus Fring was a big cat man from space.
There are some basic spelling & formatting errors here & there, which is a shame, but when you look past those the writing is actually really strong - it's able to lead you through an intricate plot & setting, in the heads of some rather idiosyncratic characters, without becoming too confusing or expository. Some events maybe don't hold up to full scrutiny (surely there are easier ways to detain a guy for 1 day while you use his ID than infecting yourself with a bespoke strain of bio-engineered sex flu ) but I think it all works in the moment at least.
I'm interested to see where the series goes from here, hoping to see some more substantial growth from the main character. His antics are enjoyably shocking, but I can see myself changing my mind if he's still at it 5 books later!
There are some basic spelling & formatting errors here & there, which is a shame, but when you look past those the writing is actually really strong - it's able to lead you through an intricate plot & setting, in the heads of some rather idiosyncratic characters, without becoming too confusing or expository. Some events maybe don't hold up to full scrutiny (
I'm interested to see where the series goes from here, hoping to see some more substantial growth from the main character. His antics are enjoyably shocking, but I can see myself changing my mind if he's still at it 5 books later!
Red Dwarf Omnibus: Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers & Better Than Life by Grant Naylor
3.5
Generally well-written & enjoyable, & it's interesting to see what direction they could have taken the story without the constraints of a TV show. But then there are whole scenes & plotlines ripped directly from the show & barely changed at all, which makes this kind of a slog if you've seen it all before (technically one episode was written here first & adapted for TV later, but the effect is the same). The omnibus edition also makes it really obvious when things change or go missing from one book to the next.
As a long-time fan I'm glad to have finally read it, but it didn't exactly blow me away.
As a long-time fan I'm glad to have finally read it, but it didn't exactly blow me away.