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Khyber Run

by Amber Green (Goodreads Author)

3.71 of 5 stars 3.71 · rating details · 62 ratings · 17 reviews

Genre: LGBT Multicultural

In Afghanistan, all the easy answers are wrong and the best-laid plans don't stand a chance. A tight-knit band of USMC scout-snipers, enraged when one of their number murders another, is hell-bent on seeing justice. They kidnap Zarak Momand, a burnt-out Navy hospital corpsman, and blackmail him to be their guide into Momand land and to find a looph

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ebook, 205 pages

Published May 24th 2011 by Loose Id LLC

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Between Sinners and Saints by Marie Sexton

Best M/M Romance Published in 2011

134th out of 399 books — 859 voters

Gay Romance Fiction with a Strong Sense of Place

11th out of 138 books — 94 voters

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Jun 17, 2011 Feliz rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: action-adventure, contemporary, m-m, jw

Right from the beginning, this story throws the reader smack in the middle of events. Little is explained; the story, the environment and the characters unfold over the course of the story with background information only given through Zulu’s memories which are strewn in. While this narrative style took a bit getting used to, it added to the overall engrossing reading experience. This story evoked an incredible intense sense of atmosphere and place. There are several scenes which aren’t really n...more Right from the beginning, this story throws the reader smack in the middle of events. Little is explained; the story, the environment and the characters unfold over the course of the story with background information only given through Zulu’s memories which are strewn in. While this narrative style took a bit getting used to, it added to the overall engrossing reading experience. This story evoked an incredible intense sense of atmosphere and place. There are several scenes which aren’t really necessary to forward the plot, like the encounter with the handless spice dealer, the slave auction or the buzkashi game, but those scenes nevertheless add feeling and “vibe” to the setting. Likewise, the element of contrariness is used in advantage of the world building, the contrast between the seemingly medieval Afghan society and the well-equipped Western troops delivered in a stark matter-of-fact, amazingly non-judgemental view through Zulu’s perception. And as for the locale – the author created vivid images with sparse descriptions, not a word too much, and still a rough kind of poetic quality.

I think the key to loving this book or not is whether or not you’re able to like or at least to relate to Zarak/Zulu. I did, apparently — for me, this character was brilliantly done.

Zulu is a captive between two worlds. His mother was an expatriate American teacher who married a Pakhtun man and was happy to live as an Afghan woman until her husband and oldest son were killed by the Soviets. She then took her four surviving sons and returned to her native Pensacola (and how she achieved this is a remarkable adventure in itself, told in parts through flashbacks).

Uprooted from his native Afghanistan at an age when he had already internalised his forefather’s values and norms, Zulu was thrown into a foreign culture with rather diametrically opposed moral standards. But once he’s back in his native land, he finds his perceptions tainted by his Western education, which makes him a foreigner again. For Zulu, Oscar embodies everything he has ever held dear – honor, strength, maleness. Oscar is the one who can give Zulu purchase, and might ultimately help him grow new roots.

Curiously enough, this story would have worked for me even without the romantic element as a classic action/adventure novel. Nevertheless, the passionate love scenes added depth to both heroes’ characters, and made the book round in a way I haven’t found in the latter. Those were two quintessential macho males at work (even though it took Zulu a while to find his inner alpha ;-) ) Those aren’t men who talk about emotions or put their affection for each other in so much words. Nevertheless, they managed to communicate their feelings so that by the end, I was utterly convinced of their commitment to each other. Who wouldn’t like dark, brooding and handsome? Particularly when, like in Zulu’s and Oscar’s case, the hard crusts actually hide burning cores of passion. What could be more romantic?

This was a deeply engrossing book that took me right out of my everyday life and carried me far away to a place I’ve had a penchant for ever since reading “Kim” when I was little. Highly recommended.

Read the full review here: http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/201...(less)

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Dec 19, 2012 piranha rated it 5 of 5 stars

this book is sadly stuck in genre ghetto when it should by rights be on the mainstream shelves. but because it has a couple of graphic gay sex scenes in it, that won't happen (while laurell k hamilton's vamp-n-were porn is there prominently, because that is het). this sort of thing keeps pissing me off.

because this book is excellent, and it's a pity not more people will get to read it. the world building is amazing here; you can see, smell, and taste amber green's afghanistan, and its inhabitant...more this book is sadly stuck in genre ghetto when it should by rights be on the mainstream shelves. but because it has a couple of graphic gay sex scenes in it, that won't happen (while laurell k hamilton's vamp-n-were porn is there prominently, because that is het). this sort of thing keeps pissing me off.

because this book is excellent, and it's a pity not more people will get to read it. the world building is amazing here; you can see, smell, and taste amber green's afghanistan, and its inhabitants feel very real. i came away wanting to know much more -- and frankly, i never had before. i would really like to see a review by somebody who knows the country and its people well, so i can find out whether it is as authentic as it feels.

i had read the blurb, i guess; i must have, but i bought the book when it came out based on liking amber green's writing, and then put it aside for a long time because i have to be in the right mood for reading war stories. that turned out to be the right move in more than one sense -- yes, this is a war story, and it doesn't sugar-coat the hardships and cruelty. and because i had forgotten the blurb, i was just as clueless as the main character code-named zulu, when the story starts out. and that worked very well; i figured things out along with zulu, which immersed me more in the plot.

zulu is maybe not the easiest character to like -- he's very reserved and emotionally closed off; not exactly a surprise considering what and where he is. but he's a great character; trying to survive, torn every which way between western and pashtun values, trying to do the right thing, trying to come to terms with his own failures.

while there is romance here, it quiet, grittily sexual, and takes a back seat to to zulu's wrestling with his demons, and the main plot. which is a bit difficult to follow, but worth it.

i don't know that i have any criticisms -- i was wondering about one thing, that of all the things zulu is torn about, his gayness doesn't seem to be one, and his trysts seem to happen without much worry about being caught -- certainly less than my own (which did NOT happen in a country where the prevailing religion is islam). but i've since read that sex between men is in fact not uncommon, and tacitly condoned among pashtun in certain contexts. maybe not surprising, considering the severe segregation of women. now, the romantic leaning towards oscar, that would still present a problem, i'd think.

i was relieved when it was over, because it was stressful to be so immersed in zulu's life. but i was also sad that it's over, because i would like to see a bit more of the budding romance. especially since i wonder what a "happy ending" would look like for these two men.(less)

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Oct 31, 2011 Kassa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Khyber Run is a very interesting war novel and definitely kept my attention from beginning to end but it’s very oddly published with Loose Id. The story is absolutely not a romance, there is no discernable evidence of romance anywhere, and there are a few explicit sex scenes based on situations rather than emotion. Instead, this is a very absorbing read about the war in Afghanistan and the personal affect on one family and in particular one person. His quest to avenge his brother is the main the...more Khyber Run is a very interesting war novel and definitely kept my attention from beginning to end but it’s very oddly published with Loose Id. The story is absolutely not a romance, there is no discernable evidence of romance anywhere, and there are a few explicit sex scenes based on situations rather than emotion. Instead, this is a very absorbing read about the war in Afghanistan and the personal affect on one family and in particular one person. His quest to avenge his brother is the main theme and if anything this is merely a fictional story about war. Maybe if you squint it could be called gay fiction due to the few quickie rough sex scenes but that’s still a stretch in my opinion. If you’re looking for a very intricately detailed war story from a personal level, this may work for you.

The story begins somewhat choppy with a hungover, and possibly still drunk, Zarak Momand. He’s riding in an airplane with no idea of how he got there or why he’s there. Soon Zarak finds out they want him to find a traitor, one that murdered his brother Ben and is possibly hiding on Momand land. The chance to avenge his brother and find his people is irresistible to Zarak and he agrees, despite the blackmail and kidnapping. Once he sets off, the path is anything but easy and the various obstacles he encounters just makes him more determined.

The beginning is very rough with a lot of nicknames and lingo thrown at the reader without a lot of context. The first person narrator, Zarak, is drunk and jostled and so the story feels very much the same at the start. It eventually evens out and becomes much more seamless and smooth but it takes a bit to get into it. Once there the somewhat limited and linear plot begins. The whole point of the story is for Zarak, also called many other things in the story, to find the traitor hiding among his people. The path there veers into random asides such as local games or encounters with unfriendly people. The plot feels somewhat weak in that there is not much to it. Zarak is out for revenge, but again not really and he doesn’t realize all the various ramifications until almost the very end.

The inclusion of Oscar, Zarak’s guide and companion on the trip, is interesting but he’s far from any romance hero. The two have uncomplicated, rough sex but there are so many more questions brought up that aren’t ever resolved. Such as why Oscar called out Zarak’s brother’s name during sex especially when Oscar later states the brother was straight. Did they have sex once? No sex but an emotional connection? Like so many other issues, more questions are brought up than answered. This is especially frustrating with the somewhat non-ending. The story just stops without a definite ending and answers.

What remain the strengths of the story are definitely the incredible amount of information and detail offered. I’ve no idea if the details are correct but the sheer overwhelming number of details and immersive world building is impressive. The amount of research that must have gone into this story is somewhat staggering so I assume that any details included are on point. They all converge to offer a very graphic and realistic world of the war in Afghanistan. The incredibly high cost on a personal and more global level is staggering and the effects on all kinds of people make for a somewhat sad but fascinating story.

I’m pretty impressed with Green’s writing and the story itself but it’s not perfect. It’s also badly mismarketed being sold at a romance publisher when it doesn’t belong there at all. The story and depth remains somewhat light, with the details and cultural differences doing heavy lifting in the novel rather than the plot or characters themselves. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing however and makes what could be a very depressing topic engaging and interesting to read without needing breaks. I’d suggest this book for those readers looking specifically for a war novel from a personal perspective but not anyone who’s looking for romance amid a war setting.
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Jul 25, 2011 Mel Bradley rated it 2 of 5 stars

Author: Amber Green
Publisher: Loose Id, LLC
Word Count: 62,023
Published: 2011
Fictionwise: $5.94

The name of this book intrigued me – mostly because I had no idea what it meant. This story is set in Afghanistan and Pakistan, in the middle of the current war. The beginning was a bit confusing as you are unsure not only where the character is, but also what all of the nicknames mean – both are settled somewhat, but I found that the confusion of location was constant throughout. I had to refer back a...more

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Jul 29, 2011 ~♥I_Luv_2_Read♥~ rated it 4 of 5 stars

First off, this book is not a romance. There is a connection between Oscar and Zarak, but there are no hearts and flowers in this book. Ok, there are some flower seeds, but they aren't for Oscar. :)

This starts out with Zarak waking up after a binder and finding himself in a military plane on his way back to Afghanistan. He is with a bunch of Marines. Being a Navy Corpsman, he is slightly confused!

What Zarak is doing in Afghanistan is explained and I won't spoil, but Khyber Run is about his journ...more

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Sep 12, 2012 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Susan by: Monica

Shelves: mm-read, z-2012

This was a story packed with both facts and fiction. The fiction was the story of Zarak a navy medic who is unwillingly persuaded to join a mission in Afghanistan. As the story begins, Zarak is unaware of where he is and what he's doing there. The reader shares in this ignorance and only slowly becomes aware of the true nature of the mission and why it is so important that Zarak be involved. The facts in the story concern the culture of Afghanistan. Having a little knowledge of this subject, I f...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Emanuela ~plastic duck~ added it

Shelves: rainbow-gay, glbt, contemporary, action-crime-suspense

I liked this book very much. I'll confess that I didn't read the blurb before starting this book, so I totally overlooked a few facts about Zarak's mission that are stated there, but I was glad that I didn't because I was as confused and in the dark as Zarak, the narrator was.

Zarak is not one of those narrators that take you under their wing and help you navigate the story with them. He is not confrontational, he's not mean, he is not a jerk, and he's not exactly secretive or reserved, but he is...more I liked this book very much. I'll confess that I didn't read the blurb before starting this book, so I totally overlooked a few facts about Zarak's mission that are stated there, but I was glad that I didn't because I was as confused and in the dark as Zarak, the narrator was.

Zarak is not one of those narrators that take you under their wing and help you navigate the story with them. He is not confrontational, he's not mean, he is not a jerk, and he's not exactly secretive or reserved, but he is removed. It seems he is not in touch with anything, he's sort of stuck in a life that doesn't let him go on or back. He was born and raised in Afghanistan and he had to flee with his family to the United States. He had to be away from his brothers to give them the chance to be together and support them. He is waiting for a promotion that isn't granted. The ways of his people are set deeply in his soul, but he can't heed them. When we meet him he has just lost his brother and he is forced to enroll in a dangerous mission of which he doesn't know the details, but that brings him close to his family, in a land that marked him profoundly. Slowly, as he gets reacquainted with the language and the ways of his people, he finds himself. I don't mean that he has a revelation or a sudden enlightment, but that he becomes more present to himself, more solid a figure to the reader, as if the recollection of his past and his quest could re-build him brick after brick, even in that desolate land.

The book causes you to immerse completely in Afghanistan. It's not just an excuse for a setting, it's sketched in all its colors, smells, sounds, in its climate, in the code of behavior of its people. When Zarak and Oscar have to run for cover in an open market, making chickens fly and goats jump around, we get an effective and sensational experience beautifully written.

The romantic line of the story is a tenuous thread in the book. Zarak is attracted to Oscar, the sniper who accompanies him in his mission. Even if Oscar doesn't speak the language and doesn't always understand of approve of the society rules, he seems to blend in as if he had a sort of connection to the land. We don't really get to know what makes him tick and it seems to me that Zarak doesn't want to know it either, but they're more than attracted to each other. What constitutes more than this attraction is an interesting point in the story that you have to learn for yourself, if you are able to, because there's something somewhere, but I couldn't quite grasp it and the final pages were a bit unexpected, or too little too late, or too much too soon, I have to decide yet. If you expect wine, dine, flowers and all the like, you'd be disappointed. Harsh times, tough guys. You catch something more if you pay attention to the care they take of each other, to small details.

I wanted to tell something about cultural identity and the way it affects Zarak's life, but I don't think I know the right words. It was fascinating and it made me think throughout the book and after I put it down. Zarak isn't exactly an ambassador for it, but it was interesting to see how rooted it was and the hows and whys of his behavior and beliefs. I also think I wanted to see more of him with his brothers, but the author was able to decline the effect of their heritage in their different attitudes.

For setting and writing and overall experience, I strongly recommend this book. If you are a hardcore romantic, you might not find it to your tastes.(less)

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May 27, 2011 KevaD rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read a lot of action/suspense stories. Khyber Run has two of the more "out of the box" heroes I've come across. Ms Green has captured a turbulent setting and time and transformed them into a world I was completely drawn into with characters I had to stay with until the last page. Her tongue in cheek style is remarkably captivating, and yet, believable. I was enthralled with this book. Well done.

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Aug 04, 2012 George rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: want-to-re-read

What can I say about Amber Green. " I can read her books over and over " great writing, great style, great grammar, Thanks for a book written for adults! I love when a book forces me to look up a word or a term. Forces me to read a second book on Islam so I can fill in my knowledge base. Thanks Amber!

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May 28, 2011 Jadette Paige rated it 5 of 5 stars

The intensity of this book amazes me. From page one, the reader is thrown into a world of survival, renewal and finding self. Not to mention the exquisitely erotic love scenes. Definitely recommend this book to all readers. Ms Green does not disappoint with this one!

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Jul 21, 2011 Gill rated it 4 of 5 stars

The afganhi perspective really added to the story for me and the differences between American and Afghani upbringings.
The way a person can find tenderness for someone else when they are dealing with such harsh conditions always suckers me in too.

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Jan 24, 2013 Hearts On Fire Reviews added it

Reviewed by:Susan
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Rated: 4 hearts

Check out the review at: Hearts On Fire Reviews

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Oct 15, 2011 Gwendolyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: military

This isn't a romance. It's a very good look at the tribal situation in afghanastan through a fictional gay man.

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Aug 31, 2011 Kristy Maitz rated it 2 of 5 stars

Don't know really what should I say about that book. Its worth reading. Could be also beret.

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Jun 20, 2011 Lori K rated it 3 of 5 stars

OK, Not-Romance novel about a former Afgan leading marines through Afghanistan to avenge the murder of another marine-his brother.

The so-called romance takes up about 3 pages of the book and there is really nothing there at all. The book was fairly interesting as a Not-Romance.

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Dec 18, 2011 Susinok rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, glbt

This one reads more like a war story, but it was fascinating.

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Nov 23, 2012 Chris rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: gay, fiction, ebook, 2012, done

Pretty good m/m suspense about an Afghan-American Navy corpsmen who's roped into helping a group of Marines track down a deserter without knowing the full story. Having just read the blurb, it makes some things clear that weren't really clear from reading the story, but would definitely have been good to know when reading...

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