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Waterways

by Kyell Gold (Goodreads Author)

4.4 of 5 stars 4.40 · rating details · 131 ratings · 15 reviews

Kory was having enough trouble in high school. His girlfriend just dumped him, his poetry made him a target for ridicule, and college applications were looming. The very last thing he needed was to fall in love with another boy.

Waterways is the complete novel from award-winning author Kyell Gold in his universe of anthropomorphic animal characters that includes his beloved...more

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Published March 2008 by The Sofawolf Press (first published January 25th 2008)

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Best Gay Furry Lovers

52nd out of 165 books — 125 voters

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien

Best Anthropomorphic Animal Books

41st out of 117 books — 84 voters

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Feb 07, 2013 Thomas Mendivil rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Youths confused about the sexuality

Shelves: furry, gay, coming-out

This book is what sort of pulled me into the furry fandom. When I found this book, I was rather confused about my sexuality, and reading about people (or animal-people, in this case) going though a sort of what I did was interesting. How did they handle it? What can I learn from them? While I can't really say what I learned then, I know now much more about handling myself and acceptance. This book helped with that.

Kory was kind of like me: religious, in school, and unsure about a part of himself...more

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Mar 01, 2011 Kassa rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book by Gold I’ve read and I think this author has a real knack for clever, interesting stories. The anthropomorphic world he creates is vibrant, engaging, and fresh even while at the heart the stories are simply about a boy meeting a boy and struggling to come out and mature. These young adult stories are warm and charming, even more so with the animal element. I’ve heard some readers say they’re put off by this very detail but I urge readers to take a chance, I think you’ll...more This is the second book by Gold I’ve read and I think this author has a real knack for clever, interesting stories. The anthropomorphic world he creates is vibrant, engaging, and fresh even while at the heart the stories are simply about a boy meeting a boy and struggling to come out and mature. These young adult stories are warm and charming, even more so with the animal element. I’ve heard some readers say they’re put off by this very detail but I urge readers to take a chance, I think you’ll find this is as romantic and delightful as any contemporary ya m/m romance.

Waterways consists of three short stories starring the same men and in the same universe. I believe the stories were originally published separately but altogether they can be read like one fully realized novel, which is what I did. The trio star high school senior Kory, an otter, who falls in love with Samaki, a sexy black fox with intriguing patches of white. Kory comes to realize he’s gay and attracted to Samaki, but is not sure what that means for his life. Over the course of his last year in school, Kory goes through a lot of changes. He realizes what true friends are, his goals in life, which of his family will support him and which won’t, and finally where his belief and love for God stands.

This coming of age tale is very sweet and genuine. The plot is very character driven as the three novellas combine to show Kory as he first accepts that he may be gay and wants to be boyfriends with Samaki. Then Kory’s life turns upside down when he makes some very revealing choices and finally Kory must mature on his own. Taking responsibility for his choices is a big step for Kory but more so, understanding what he wants and needs. As a multifaceted, fascinating lead narrator Kory is often confused and scared, convinced the world around him will never accept him as gay. He comes to find out that the world is not only made up of extremes and that while some will easily accept him, some won’t and others will be in between. However the hardest path to acceptance is his own as Kory struggles heavily with accepting himself and finally admitting what he wants.

Kory’s path to acceptance is filled with a variety of well rounded secondary characters. From the foxy boyfriend Samaki to his supporting family, the gay homeless shelter and bitter, angry fruit bat, even Kory’s best friend all offer nuanced opinions and actions. None of these characters are rote or extremes and all give depth to the story. There is Kory’s best friend Sal who accepts Kory but later has a falling out. Sal is not flat or typical but he’s still relatable and a good character. He offers a character that is supportive, destructive, missed, and liked all at once. Similarly Samaki is subtle but confident. He’s not overly positive, coming across as realistic but optimistic. He offers a good balance to the overly analytic confusion Kory descends into.

The anthropomorphic setting adds a vivid, eye catching setting to the story. I personally adore these details since the story is at heart a rather conventional, well used coming of age tale about a confused gay teen trying to come to grips with his life. The use of animals brings an inherent warmth and charm into the story. The writing never lets you forget that while the emotions, actions, and situations are all very human, the characters and everyone inhabiting the world are animals. From otters to skunks, bats, squirrels, otters, foxes, sheep priests, and tigers these details don’t quit. There are numerous clever and witty references to pop culture changed to fit the animal world and all of these help keep the story fresh and interesting. Although the young men have sex, the graphic nature is kept subtle and veiled so you get the idea without being too explicit.

The writing is very good with snappy dialogue and a lot of sweet romance. The tone tends to show rather than tell and this helps keep the pace moving even through repeated introspective passages. The only downside is that there are many editing and grammar mistakes. So many that they pull you out of the story and may detract from a reader’s enjoyment. Most of these are small errors but they add up and those sticklers for clean stories may be annoyed here. I’d still recommend this story/collection as it’s delightful to read and very satisfying. There is a lot of romance, some angst, experimental sex, and a lovely coming of age.(less)

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Apr 01, 2010 Elisa Ramblings added it

How I like when I find a book, a real long and complex book, which takes me tied up from the first page to the last with the eagerness to read faster to know what happens and the hope to slow down to make it lasts a bit more. And when I finish the book, I wish to start it again to convince me that, yes, I just read a very very good book and that yes, I found another author that will gift me many beautiful stories in the future...

Kory is a seventeen years old guy. Middle-class family, private sch...more How I like when I find a book, a real long and complex book, which takes me tied up from the first page to the last with the eagerness to read faster to know what happens and the hope to slow down to make it lasts a bit more. And when I finish the book, I wish to start it again to convince me that, yes, I just read a very very good book and that yes, I found another author that will gift me many beautiful stories in the future...

Kory is a seventeen years old guy. Middle-class family, private school, every gadgets a guy his age could want. But Kory is not happy, he was dumped by his girlfriend cause he wrote a beautiful poem for school paper and he didn't dedicate it to her. Worst, lately he prefers to spend his spare time at home, on line or reading, rather than with her. Probably he would finish dumping her, but still it hurts that she takes the decision from him.

So Kory decides to spend sometime in the municipal pool, and not in the usual private pool where all his friends gather and where he has to suffer the sympathetic smiles... And he meets Samaki. Samaki, same age like him, but from the poor side of the city, is a very nice guy, someone he could talk to. Kory is happy to find a new friend but still, when they part, he has the feeling to have missed something, to have not answered some untold questions by Samaki. And when he recalls all the time spent together he finally understands... Samaki was hitting on him, Samaki is gay...

How can he tells to Samaki that he is not gay? cause he is not gay... but if he is not gay why he has these dreams on Samaki? dreams that he has never had of his former girlfriend? And maybe he is so happy with Samaki cause he feels for him... But what he felt is wrong, Kory is from a strictly catholic family and he knows that God will not love him if he is gay. But when he cofesses his sin to Father Joe, he is surprised to not find a condemned glare in the priest eyes, but instead Father Joe tells him to see inside himself and to ask help if he needs. Not image of hell in front of him, not eternal damnation. And more he opens himself, more people he finds who accept him.

Waterways is the coming age journey of Kory. It's a three part story: Aquifers where Kory discovers what he feels, Streams where he has to take some decisions, and Oceans where he strengthens that decisions and starts his adult life. All along he will have Samaki and along the path he will loose some people and he will find new friends.

Waterways is a pretty intense, very romantic and utterly beautiful novel... so, does it matter if Kory is a otter and Samaki is a fox? Does it matter if this is an anthropomorphic book where all the characters are of different animal species? Someone said to me that people freak out when they are put in front of a book about love between "animals"... I replied that maybe this is a book where it's more problematic the "furry" thing than the gay theme, but that I would read it anyway cause I have no problem at all. And I'm very happy to have done so, cause Waterways is an huge discovery. I find really interesting how Kyell Gold deals with the furry theme, converting all the human world in a melting pot of breeds: usual expressions like "on the other hand" become "on the other paw", the different animal scents can be a problem, but also an arousing thing when Kory dreams of the musky fox scent of his boyfriend, the patch of white fur on Samaki's groin could be arousing like no other else for Kory's young body...

I will treasure Waterways among one of the best book I have ever read and for sure this will be not the last book by Kyell Gold that I will read.

Beautiful cover and interior illustrations by John Nunnemacher.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001R4BYNU/?...(less)

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Jan 28, 2012 Brandon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Another great story I read recently, and then picked up again. The plot is very important to a lot of teens and young adults out there today who are going through something very similar. Not to mention, this was a very touching story. Having met Kyell in person, I can see where it comes from, and without a doubt, he pull together these three short stories quite well. I was glad to have read this, as it has helped me as well in my life when it comes to the message.

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Sep 19, 2011 Ashke rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This has to be one of the best GLBT coming of age stories I've read in a very long time. Its characters are fleshed out to the point that they feel real and you care deeply for them, even the minor ones, and its a refreshing break from many cliches that riddle books with the same themes. Whether you're a fan of anthropomorphic animals is irrelevant here. This is a must read for lovers of great character stories and one that you won't be able to put down.

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Nov 07, 2011 TJ rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5-4 stars. A sweet YA coming of age story that treads the familiar in how the story is executed, even if the MC's are an otter (!!!!) and a fox. I guess the major problem for me about this would have been the real lack of conflict and, given what conflict there were, felt like it'd been done before. Still, the "furry" aspect of it intrigues me and I would read more from this author.

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Nov 03, 2010 Sean rated it 5 of 5 stars

My personal favorite of all the writings of the masterful Kyell Gold, this book is immensely powerful. Telling the tale of a young boy who must decide between that which he has always known and that which is suddenly thrust upon him by this boy whom he may love.

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Sep 02, 2012 Benjamin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Quite possibly my favorite furry book! Well written with believable characters. The main characters own troubles reflected my own and life and brought tears to my eyes. Well worth a read for furries and/or LGBT youth.

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Jan 11, 2013 Jess Candela rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, read-in-2012

Whoops, just realized I never rated this. I loved it - 4.5 stars worth. I no longer remember specifics, beyond that it was sweet and funny. I loved it and will probably reread it.

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May 02, 2011 Alejandro rated it 4 of 5 stars

Una historia de amor entre una nutria y un zorro. Qué más se puede pedir de la literatura Furry? =D

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Jul 13, 2012 Susinok rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, glbt, young-adult

I did not know there were ya m/m furry stories out there. It was really pretty good, too.

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Jul 11, 2012 Jaylon rated it 2 of 5 stars

It was just ok. Again I enjoyed the furry aspect but otherwise...

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Sep 03, 2010 Ravyn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: all-mm-fiction, c-teens-or-college

Kinda awesome...Kyell Gold is definitely my newest favorite author.

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Dec 03, 2010 Diante rated it 5 of 5 stars

this is one of the best books i have read i it was imposible to stop i read it on one day not wanting it to end this book need to be read by all in any situation

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Jul 02, 2012 Becky rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, read-in-2012

I really liked Kory and Samaki, but the last 1/3 of the story dragged. Would have preferred if the story was tightened/condensed a bit.

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May 22, 2013 Metal marked it as to-read

May 21, 2013 Papoj Aksharanugraha is currently reading it

May 20, 2013 Bernardo marked it as to-read

May 18, 2013 Sara marked it as to-read

Shelves: mm, ya-contemporary

May 17, 2013 Venecia marked it as to-read

Shelves: not-lendable

May 17, 2013 Nicole marked it as to-read · review of another edition

May 16, 2013 Cassie marked it as to-read

May 11, 2013 Legato Darksummers added it · review of another edition

Shelves: daddy-dark-s-baby-warrior-list

May 11, 2013 Sean Dewar marked it as to-read

Shelves: contemporary, lgbtq

Apr 28, 2013 Alice marked it as mm-to-read

Shelves: m-m

Apr 27, 2013 Anna marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Apr 18, 2013 Shannon marked it as maybe

Apr 16, 2013 Fay rated it 3 of 5 stars

Apr 16, 2013 Christy Severt marked it as to-read

Apr 16, 2013 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

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About Kyell Gold

Hi there! I am a writer of gay furry fiction--but you probably know that if you've seen my book listing here. I live in California with my husband Kit, and when I'm not writing, we like to go out to eat and watch movies. We travel a lot, too, mostly around the West Coast, but occasionally to the midwest and east.

I blog at http://www.kyellgold.com/wpblog about upcoming travel plans, upcoming books...more

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