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344th out of 369 books
—
332 voters
Body of Water (The Orcadian Novels #1)
by
Stuart Wakefield (Goodreads Author)
"Stay away from the water."
Leven has heard that rule all his life but, when he breaks it, he loses the ones he loves.
Bereaved and broken-hearted, escape seems like his only option. At the invitation of the father he never knew, he flees London and seeks refuge in the storm-battered Orkney Islands.
Thrown together with the handsome but volatile Dom, a series of strange and t...more
Leven has heard that rule all his life but, when he breaks it, he loses the ones he loves.
Bereaved and broken-hearted, escape seems like his only option. At the invitation of the father he never knew, he flees London and seeks refuge in the storm-battered Orkney Islands.
Thrown together with the handsome but volatile Dom, a series of strange and t...more
ebook
Published
August 13th 2011
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And onto my favourites shelf you go. What a ride, and what a world you created, Stuart. I loved Leven, Dom was so dear, and the whole story was just magic. Well done, sir! I'm ready to read the next book. Now. Is it out yet? Is it out yet? :-)
An paranormal tale set in Orkney which focuses on Scottish mythology which makes a nice change in the m/m genre. The story is well written and the characters are very strong, particularly Leven who is an angry, young man for the most part but is also extremely funny at times. There is a lot of angst, particularly in regard to the mystery surrounding Leven's parentage, but the humour balances it out so it doesn't become too overwhelming.
The descriptions of the Orkney Islands are breathtaking and
...more
This is a fantastic book which never falters. Brought it purely based on the reviews, small description and the cover! Read the first few pages on here and thought what the hell.. its cheap.
I'm not going to give a review on what happens..you can read the other reviews or just buy the book. All I'm going to say is this :
I'm addicted to this book and am so happy to know there's going to be another one. I could probably read this book every week for the rest of my life and still get shocked/angry/...more
I'm not going to give a review on what happens..you can read the other reviews or just buy the book. All I'm going to say is this :
I'm addicted to this book and am so happy to know there's going to be another one. I could probably read this book every week for the rest of my life and still get shocked/angry/...more
Some reviews here have commented that the mix of fantasy and reality threw them. The book combines scottish mythical super-beings with the very prosaic angst of a gay schoolboy lusting after his neighbour. Sorry, folks, but I didn't have a problem with that at all. Stuart Wakefield's first novel is original, exciting, romantic and adventurous and the characters, while not described for us in much detail, come alive and make their presence felt. Several of the minor characters seem to have more t...more
A lot was packed into a fairly short novel without it seeming rushed or too 'busy'. It is a well written blend of contemporary and dark paranormal themes spread between London and Orkney.
The main character Leven grows up in London, finding a foster home where he is accepted and understood after several years of mismatches and childrens' homes. He isn't always a very nice person at first as he acts up with his foster parents in a very understandable attempt to push them away before they decide to...more
The main character Leven grows up in London, finding a foster home where he is accepted and understood after several years of mismatches and childrens' homes. He isn't always a very nice person at first as he acts up with his foster parents in a very understandable attempt to push them away before they decide to...more
I met Stuart whilst we were at the UK meet and had a nice chat with him about the perils or positives of self-publishing. Body of Water is (I think) his first self-published novel and I was keen to read.
The story is set partly in London and partly in Orkney. The first part, set in London, follows our hero Leven through his late teens. He's had a troubled childhood passed from foster home to foster home when his anger issues meant that he was difficult to reach. He finally finds love and acceptan...more
The story is set partly in London and partly in Orkney. The first part, set in London, follows our hero Leven through his late teens. He's had a troubled childhood passed from foster home to foster home when his anger issues meant that he was difficult to reach. He finally finds love and acceptan...more
The whole thing moved way too fast for me. I don't like books with excessive pages of exposition but sometimes they can aid a story with its pacing. Also I really dislike when authors try too hard to write heavily accented dialogue. It was an ok read otherwise. The cover is pretty too. Yes I'm being superficial and trying to find reasons to like this book.
I really enjoyed Body of Water. The first half, set in London, was a great way to get to know the character of Leven and understand how he was the way he was. The second part set in the Orkney islands was fantastic. The atmosphere that Stuart Wakefield created with his writing was vivid and striking, I could feel the isolation and coldness of the place within me. I particularly loved the Scottish legends that were an integral part of the story, it's not everyday that you get to read about selkie...more
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i knew this was going to be special but I didn't quite expect it to be as different as it is. I was enthralled from beginning to end. What starts out as a young man's coming out story in dificult circumstanes ends up in mystical landscapes and timeless legends in the seas off the Orkney islands. Stuart had created a JK Rowling type of character who accepts his destiny despite not understanding initially what his life is all about. The book also illustrates how a book that features the love affai...more
Хорошая задумка, но очень плохое исполнение. Повествование рассыпается на куски, такое впечатление, что автора взял и выпустил под одной обложкой два несвязанных между собой рассказа про одного и того же героя.
Была бы интересная история, если бы первой части не было вообще, а во второй убраны промахи с логикой и выправлен язык.
Была бы интересная история, если бы первой части не было вообще, а во второй убраны промахи с логикой и выправлен язык.
3.5 stars
Good premise, as I do love tales involving Celtic myths, however, as much as I liked the characters, the story didn't entirely hang together for me. And I really wanted to love it after all the rave reviews I've read!
There were a number of instances in the book that threw me out of the story while I pondered what had happened. Two that spring to mind are: Shaun giving a blow job but not swallowing but then talking. So what happened to it? Then there was a scene where Dom pulls Leven out...more
Good premise, as I do love tales involving Celtic myths, however, as much as I liked the characters, the story didn't entirely hang together for me. And I really wanted to love it after all the rave reviews I've read!
There were a number of instances in the book that threw me out of the story while I pondered what had happened. Two that spring to mind are: Shaun giving a blow job but not swallowing but then talking. So what happened to it? Then there was a scene where Dom pulls Leven out...more
I found this book quite interesting. It is not like the novels I normally read and I do not feel it is likely to change my reading habits but that is the joy of Goodreads. It is that indulging the opportunity to explore new writers and genres some of which become new addictions and others which engender the hand at the horizontal gently tipping to left and right whilst saying 'ehm?'.
Wakefield's novel started as what I would guess is a typical churned out story of young gay man angst and fury co...more
Wakefield's novel started as what I would guess is a typical churned out story of young gay man angst and fury co...more
Part of the blurb reads: "Thrown together with the handsome but volatile Dom, a series of strange and terrifying encounters lead Leven to the reason the rule existed."
We don't meet Dom until the halfway point, so huge spoiler when Lev is hooking up with Shaun in the first half of the book. Oh, and at the 50% point, nothing terrifying has occurred unless you count having to read dialogue out loud to figure out "accents".
The prologue caught my attention, but as is the bane of prologues, the story...more
We don't meet Dom until the halfway point, so huge spoiler when Lev is hooking up with Shaun in the first half of the book. Oh, and at the 50% point, nothing terrifying has occurred unless you count having to read dialogue out loud to figure out "accents".
The prologue caught my attention, but as is the bane of prologues, the story...more
3.5
What I love about challenges is picking up books that were never on your radar...like this enjoyable book. The story interweaves urban setting and Scottish mythology to create a unique and interesting story. Sometimes there is a lot happening and some disjointed moments in the story, but that pales in comparison to the overall. This was a unique read for me and I enjoyed it. The last part of the book was full throttle and I loved Leven and Dom. Anxiously await book two.
What I love about challenges is picking up books that were never on your radar...like this enjoyable book. The story interweaves urban setting and Scottish mythology to create a unique and interesting story. Sometimes there is a lot happening and some disjointed moments in the story, but that pales in comparison to the overall. This was a unique read for me and I enjoyed it. The last part of the book was full throttle and I loved Leven and Dom. Anxiously await book two.
Sadly compelling a love story that takes you from the heartache of a teen romance into the strange world of magic, Scottish kelpies and sea creatures. Spanning the pain of loss, the misery of heartache and the feeling of loss. This story is captivating enough to over look certain more graphic elements.
Stuart Wakefield's debut novel is a stonking good read on several levels. The tangled emotions of the adolescent hero are drawn very well and I love that Stuart has allowed secondary characters to grow and develop as well, rather than just be the back drop against which the hero can shine.
Leven, the hero, has a rough time throughout most of the story. Initially, it's very much a contemporary tale with something a little uncanny working away behind it. Later, when the scene moves to Orkney, the p...more
Leven, the hero, has a rough time throughout most of the story. Initially, it's very much a contemporary tale with something a little uncanny working away behind it. Later, when the scene moves to Orkney, the p...more
I really don't know what to say about this book. It started very good and all the riddles and questions really kept me going on, but everything ended too soon and too quick and left me with more questions than answers. While many parts were great others were confusing. I don't know if I'll read the second book.
This story is based around Orkney myths and legends and was ingenious in its combining real life and fantasy. I would have given it 5 stars but for the difficulty of reading quasi-scottish text as in the novel 'Trainspotting'.
Definitely a must read for fans of M/M Fantasy novels.
Definitely a must read for fans of M/M Fantasy novels.
I won a contest, picked BODY OF WATER as my prize, and just finished reading it. I hope Stu takes this as the compliment it's meant to be, because the writing reminded me of Josh Lanyon's THE DARKLING THRUSH for it's complicated secondary characters and immersive world-building. It was enjoyable, fast-paced, a bit heartbreaking and, now that I know there's a sequel, Stuart Wakefield's on my watch-list. Thank you for a great book!
I got lost a number of times & struggled with this one when we got to the Scottish folklore type stuff at the midway point. It did pull together for a decent enough ending.
An excellent read. Stuart Wakefield is a great story teller. I shall definitely be buying book 2 in the series.
An excellent tale by a talented writer, following the mysterious Leven as he embarks on a fated journey to Orkney in search of the father he never knew. But his quest for family truth brings him news he could not have anticipated, and he learns secrets about himself he couldn't have imagined. Only through family, friendship and new relationships will Leven triumph - but will it be in time to defeat the darkness in the waters?
This is the first installment of a trilogy, and is both a brilliant rea...more
This is the first installment of a trilogy, and is both a brilliant rea...more
Jun 10, 2012
Rissa (an M/M kinda Girl!!)
marked it as to-read
Species-Merman
*4.5 stars*
Captivating - this was a really breathless read I found hard to put down. I'll admit, I was occasionally confused about how much time was passing and what exactly was going on, but the energy carried me on regardless.
Stuart Wakefield has a great way with words and has created a compelling fantasy world here. Recommended to anyone with an interest in fantasy adventures, and who likes them dark and Scottish!
Captivating - this was a really breathless read I found hard to put down. I'll admit, I was occasionally confused about how much time was passing and what exactly was going on, but the energy carried me on regardless.
Stuart Wakefield has a great way with words and has created a compelling fantasy world here. Recommended to anyone with an interest in fantasy adventures, and who likes them dark and Scottish!
Take one angry young man who is trying to understand who and what he is and combine it with the dark, mystical legends of the Orkney islands. Yes, it is an unusual combination but it's one that works brilliantly due to the strength of the characters and the author's excellent story telling ability. The book is fast paced and absorbing. The story contains anger, violence, love, friendship, despair and hope - and I'm genuinely looking forward to the next in the series!
The beginning was slow. After I was done with the book, I realized that the second part of the book would have been done just nicely even without the first few chapters, guess the first few chapters spoilt it for me because I was not expecting the book to become more indulging in the fairy tale.
A dark mythic love story told with some powerful imagery and a real sense of place. Quite wonderful!
3 to 3.25 stars
May 12, 2013
Andre Green
marked it as to-read
Apr 19, 2013
Marc76
added it
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Stuart Wakefield heralds from Northumberland, but has been sighted in Essex. Despite his artistic leanings he finally settled on a career in IT, and channels his creative energies into writing for print, web, and screen.
Seeking wordy inspiration has always been a part of his daily life. He is happiest when writing about men who love men.
More about Stuart Wakefield...
Seeking wordy inspiration has always been a part of his daily life. He is happiest when writing about men who love men.
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“A water birth was all she could think about apart from getting away from her husband, Mackay, the knight in shining armour who had proved to be a metal-plated misogynist.”
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1 person liked it
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Aug 19, 2011 12:14pm
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Aug 19, 2011 01:10pm