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Root Code #1
Line and Orbit
What he’s been taught to fear could be his destiny…and his only hope.
Adam Yuga, a rising young star in the imperialist Terran Protectorate, is on the verge of a massive promotion…until a routine physical exam reveals something less than perfection. Genetic flaws are taboo, and Adam soon discovers there’s a thin line between rising star and starving outcast.
Stripped of wealth and position, stricken with a mysterious, worsening illness, Adam resorts to stealing credits to survive. Moments from capture by the Protectorate, help arrives in the form of Lochlan, a brash, cocksure Bideshi fighter.
Now the Bideshi, a people long shunned by the Protectorate, are the only ones who will offer him shelter. As Adam learns the truth about the mysterious, nomadic people he was taught to fear, Lochlan offers him not just shelter—but a temptation Adam can only resist for so long.
Struggling to adapt to his new life, Adam discovers his illness hides a terrible secret, one that the Protectorate will stop at nothing to conceal. Time is growing short, and he must find the strength to close a centuries-old rift, accept a new identity—and hold on to a love that could cost him everything.
This title contains brief scenes of explicit violence and mild but potentially triggering homophobia.
325 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 5, 2013
18 people are currently reading
1766 people want to read
About the author
Sunny Moraine
75 books241 followersSunny Moraine is—among many other things—the author of the novella Your Shadow Half Remains, published by Tor Nightfire. Their debut short fiction collection Singing With All My Skin and Bone was released in 2016 and their short stories have been published in Tor.com, Uncanny, Clarkesworld, Strange Horizons, Lightspeed, and Nightmare. An occasional podcaster/narrator/voice actor, they are the writer, producer, and lead actor of the serial horror drama podcast Gone, which wrapped up its first season in January 2018 and released a second season in 2022. For more info, please see their website at sunnymoraine.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
November 25, 2014
Gorgeous.
Sci-fi so diverting as to give one a sense of what it may be like to be raptured: snatched-up, out of your life (and out of your clothes, too—according to the baptists under whose rhapsodies I grew up), up into the heavens, into a new life very, very far removed from the one you left behind.
It was like that.
Reading this book.
For a day and a half I was not in my own life, except when I put the tablet down to sleep—and even then, not all my dreams were my own.
I saw the shape of this book somewhere in the first third—the inevitable pressure towards where the story must end—and when I arrived there I found it no less enthralling for being foreshadowed.
A lovely metaphor, that title. Both holy and profane, as is true of many ideas in our world today—though mostly I only know the Christian ones.
Jesus Christ, what a story!
Line and Orbit!
A curse.
Line and Orbit.
A benediction.
And on such a scale, this book—but still, as all stories are, really—about people. It follows many of them for a little bit, and two for a lot; and as all good sci-fi—as all good stories—it is both a mirror and a window, so that you are left musing as much about your own fate as the fate of the heroes you've come to love, and the villains you've come to pity.
I didn't quite follow the logic of the central conceit—the faintly granola ethos behind pretty much the entire plot—and have yet to come across a convincing argument against the idea this book appears to be opposed to—but all the same:
Four stars, and recommended.
Sci-fi so diverting as to give one a sense of what it may be like to be raptured: snatched-up, out of your life (and out of your clothes, too—according to the baptists under whose rhapsodies I grew up), up into the heavens, into a new life very, very far removed from the one you left behind.
It was like that.
Reading this book.
For a day and a half I was not in my own life, except when I put the tablet down to sleep—and even then, not all my dreams were my own.
I saw the shape of this book somewhere in the first third—the inevitable pressure towards where the story must end—and when I arrived there I found it no less enthralling for being foreshadowed.
A lovely metaphor, that title. Both holy and profane, as is true of many ideas in our world today—though mostly I only know the Christian ones.
Jesus Christ, what a story!
Line and Orbit!
A curse.
Line and Orbit.
A benediction.
And on such a scale, this book—but still, as all stories are, really—about people. It follows many of them for a little bit, and two for a lot; and as all good sci-fi—as all good stories—it is both a mirror and a window, so that you are left musing as much about your own fate as the fate of the heroes you've come to love, and the villains you've come to pity.
I didn't quite follow the logic of the central conceit—the faintly granola ethos behind pretty much the entire plot—and have yet to come across a convincing argument against the idea this book appears to be opposed to—but all the same:
Four stars, and recommended.
February 15, 2013
4.85 stars
I was completely won over by this epic adventure, a magnificent, hugely satisfying, beauty. The Bideshi and their floating ships are a fascinating bunch, nomads roaming the universe with magical qualities, a serene and progressive community. Adam I loved immediately, Lochlan I needed more time to get to know, he was frustrating to work out plus he was a dick towards Adam, who somehow manage to keep his cool, I wanted to kick his arse. Sci-fi isn't always easy for me, its usually too wordy to enjoy, I'm so happy I had no trouble with Line and Orbit, it exceeded all my expectations an amazing story. Highly Recommended.
I was completely won over by this epic adventure, a magnificent, hugely satisfying, beauty. The Bideshi and their floating ships are a fascinating bunch, nomads roaming the universe with magical qualities, a serene and progressive community. Adam I loved immediately, Lochlan I needed more time to get to know, he was frustrating to work out plus he was a dick towards Adam, who somehow manage to keep his cool, I wanted to kick his arse. Sci-fi isn't always easy for me, its usually too wordy to enjoy, I'm so happy I had no trouble with Line and Orbit, it exceeded all my expectations an amazing story. Highly Recommended.
February 18, 2014
DNF @ 73%
Guys, guys, I think I need a tune up. I'm the only one of my friends to give this a mediocre rating. Me?! A hard ass with the ratings?!?! Huh... I must be broken, that must be the explanation...
I think part of my problem was managing expectations. This book had such amazing ratings with all of my friends that I was smugly assuming that I would love it too. In reality, I had a lot of issues with it.
To start, I found the language difficult at times. It reminded me more of Native American folklore and that's how it read to me. Lots of history and lots of culture that I found somewhat tedious to get through. Another reviewer said it reminded her of Avatar and I also thought that while reading this. It felt more like a lesson is preserving the natural way of things than anything else. Less sci-fi-techy and more "get back to nature". It wasn't what I expected and I had a hard time getting into the story because of it.
I also didn't like the shifting POV with the leader of the Protectorate. It was too political for me. If the book had had more action, more focus on adventure (a la The Hunger Games), I think I would have been okay with the "corrupt governing body" storyline, but here is was too little action to be that type of book, yet too little romance to be a romance.
I was certainly expecting more romance out of this one and I kept waiting for it to happen... and waiting... and waiting... at around 60% the romance was still just in the backdrop, barely starting to develop. I had to force myself to push on and finally called it quits at 73%.
I wish I loved this book like all of my friends did. I feel so lonesome out here in "i didn't get it"-land.
Guys, guys, I think I need a tune up. I'm the only one of my friends to give this a mediocre rating. Me?! A hard ass with the ratings?!?! Huh... I must be broken, that must be the explanation...
I think part of my problem was managing expectations. This book had such amazing ratings with all of my friends that I was smugly assuming that I would love it too. In reality, I had a lot of issues with it.
To start, I found the language difficult at times. It reminded me more of Native American folklore and that's how it read to me. Lots of history and lots of culture that I found somewhat tedious to get through. Another reviewer said it reminded her of Avatar and I also thought that while reading this. It felt more like a lesson is preserving the natural way of things than anything else. Less sci-fi-techy and more "get back to nature". It wasn't what I expected and I had a hard time getting into the story because of it.
I also didn't like the shifting POV with the leader of the Protectorate. It was too political for me. If the book had had more action, more focus on adventure (a la The Hunger Games), I think I would have been okay with the "corrupt governing body" storyline, but here is was too little action to be that type of book, yet too little romance to be a romance.
I was certainly expecting more romance out of this one and I kept waiting for it to happen... and waiting... and waiting... at around 60% the romance was still just in the backdrop, barely starting to develop. I had to force myself to push on and finally called it quits at 73%.
I wish I loved this book like all of my friends did. I feel so lonesome out here in "i didn't get it"-land.
March 31, 2013
Well, a big
and 4.5 stars from me for this richly descriptive, futuristic sci-fi tale, but I'll give you a heads up....if you think this is a gay Star Trek or whatever, I'll stop you right now, it's not, there's hardly any sex and what little there is, well, use your imagination!!As far as I'm concerned, this is a tale based on the most recent series of Battlestar Galactica. The Bideshi homeships, particularly Ashwina, remind me of the Pegasus, but are bigger and definitely more beautiful!!
Our hero Adam Yuga is a genetically modified and enhanced man, based on Kolyma, and works for the Protectorate. His genetic coding starts to fail, his life falls apart, and he vanishes from Kolyma to take his chances among the stars. Enter Lochlan (Lock), a Bideshi, people who left the Protectorate long ago and are exiled to wander the star systems. Lock rescues Adam from a Protectorate ship where he has stolen credits to help him stay alive, and they hightail it to Ashwina, where Adam is helped by healers and the Aalim, wise men and women of the Bideshi.
The Protectorate led by Cosaire, decide that there is too much at stake to let Adam remain free, and they head out into space to get him back -
Adam doesn't yet understand, but his condition means that they cannot allow Adam to live, as one of the healers tells him 'And you got the enhancements? But you are not strong Adam. Your line is turning back on itself,. Your body is a snake devouring its own tail. You are degrading, from the smallest pieces of you to the largest parts. I can hold it back, keep it at bay for a while, but sooner or later it will end you'.We fast forward, Adam goes through the Bideshi 'Naming' ceremony, and becomes a member of the Bideshi, who will not give him up to the Protectorate. Adam becomes more involved with Lock, the Protectorate find the Bideshi ships, battle commences and the Bideshi flee to the Klashorg to get help. Whilst there, Adam and Lock come up with a plan to return the credits Adam stole, which is the reason the Protectorate say they are after him. They sneak on board one of the enemy ships and do the transaction, but Adam knows that there must be another reason for them to track him down, and he discovers the secret information about the genetic codings.
Fast forward again, the Bideshi ships make a break for it with the enemy ships hot on their heels. They head for Takamagahara, a very powerful planet in the nebula,
in the hope that Adam can be cured. Cosaire orders the enemy to follow the Bideshi onto the planet surface, and another battle ensues. There is carnage. Meanwhile, Adam is searching through the metaphorical roots of his life, trying to make sense of what he is seeing and feeling. Eventually, the planet heals him, all the modifications and enhancements to his genetic system have been stripped away. Cosaire finally loses the plot altogether, and commits suicide, and the remaining officers stop the fighting at once. Many have died, the secret of the codings is now out, and Adam, together with Lock, decides to help the Protectorate face up to what is going to happen to a lot of their people.The Protectorate are obviously the Cylons of this tale,
modified, enhanced and patched up to be the best they can be. I feel that the authors primary point is that we can only take the issue of genetic tinkering so far before it comes back to bite us on the butt, which is a pretty scary thought isn't it? Yes, research obviously does a lot of good, and diseases are eradicated, but there must be a limit to how much interference can be tolerated in the end. 
February 3, 2015
well, fuck me running, that was good.
Look, I'm hip deep in edits and have a deadline in less than four weeks for a book that's only half done, and I am going to suffer mightily for the several hours I spent reading this instead of working.
check under the spoiler tag for fucks I give and regrets I have.
Look, I'm hip deep in edits and have a deadline in less than four weeks for a book that's only half done, and I am going to suffer mightily for the several hours I spent reading this instead of working.
check under the spoiler tag for fucks I give and regrets I have.
February 9, 2013
In the dystopian future of the Terran Protectorate, perfection is the norm. Humanity has found a way to fashion anything as desired: skin and eye color, build, looks, mental faculties. And health; above and beyond anything else, health is mandatory, whether you’re destined to be a mid-level, middle-class grunt or an elite high-achiever. But what if a condition, a “flaw”, remains undetectable until manifestation later in life? As anything less than perfect is just plain unthinkable in this world, such taints on the Protectorate’s Brave New World can’t be suffered; they have to disappear as quickly and quietly as possible.
This is what happens to Adam Yuga, one bred for the Protectorate’s elite. On the verge of his biggest success, he’s found flawed and done away with, an outcast, expected to meekly resign to his fate. But Adam wants to live, he fights to live, and since his breeding and training were aiming at making him the best, he perseveres longer than expected. Which makes him pop up on the radar of some Protectorate leaders who want to conceal the reality of the abovementioned flaws at all cost. Eventually, Adam finds refuge with the Bideshi, who are human but the very antithesis to anything the Protectorate values–and vice versa. And what started as the hunt for one weak, ill man turns into a fratricidal war the outcome of which could be the end of the Bideshi–or even, the annihilation of mankind.
This book was a revelation of beauty and a delight to read for me on so many levels, I don’t even know where to start. Working inward from the outside on, the first thing that caught my eye was the creative worldbuilding.
As a reader, I felt lead into these worlds rather than having them presented to me. Together with Adam, the main viewpoint character, I walked the glittering, chiseled architectural Protectorate environment with natural familiarity, and explored the earthy, organic, mysterious randomness of the Bideshi ships alongside him. Other characters’ viewpoints provided different mindsets and views so that in the end I had a rounded, complete impression of this universe without once having information dumped on me.
Speaking of characters: As this book is, at least on the surface, mainly about Adam, he’s the best-wrought out character in here. But even though the cast is numerous, most of the secondary players are just as colorful and muti-dimensional as Adam each recognizable and unique. Surprisingly, of all people Lochlan remained somewhat of a mystery to me, a bit distant and difficult to take to, but that might be only me. However, the most interesting character and the one who almost stole the show from the leads was Ixchel, the Bideshi mother-ship’s all-mother, a blind woman who sees deeply into the mysteries of the universe and the human soul.
This story wasn’t quite a romance. The main love interests, Adam and Lochlan, didn’t have much of a connection until well past the halfway point, and the plot wasn’t really about their relationship at all. If I were to put a genre label on this, I’d call it sci-fi with strong (high) fantasy elements. But actually, at the core this was a visually stunning new rendering of the resurrection myth, the oldest story in the world, interwoven and layered with other familiar, timeless concepts like the bitterness of the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, expulsion from Paradise, fratricide… given the story's epic proportions, this book was actually quite short. ;-)
However, this wasn’t a perfect book, and I’m not blind to its flaws. The plot had inconsistencies, mainly in regard to characters' motives and behavior, which made the narrative flow a bit potholed at times; and while the worldbuilding was extensive, some elements still required a lot of suspension of disbelief (in the “fiction needs to make sense” sense.) With all the meaningful deeper meaning, the actual events of the story paled a bit, which also had the narrative flow lagging in places. Though, while reading, I was so engrossed in the story that those issues didn’t actually bother me much, and only in hindsight, with a bit of distance to the book’s powerful eloquence it occurred to me that this story might’ve tried a bit too hard.
And still, what a ride. Easy fare this book is not, but if you’re willing to let yourself sink into its magic, you’re in for an amazing reading experience.
review originally written for www.reviewsbyjessewave.com
This is what happens to Adam Yuga, one bred for the Protectorate’s elite. On the verge of his biggest success, he’s found flawed and done away with, an outcast, expected to meekly resign to his fate. But Adam wants to live, he fights to live, and since his breeding and training were aiming at making him the best, he perseveres longer than expected. Which makes him pop up on the radar of some Protectorate leaders who want to conceal the reality of the abovementioned flaws at all cost. Eventually, Adam finds refuge with the Bideshi, who are human but the very antithesis to anything the Protectorate values–and vice versa. And what started as the hunt for one weak, ill man turns into a fratricidal war the outcome of which could be the end of the Bideshi–or even, the annihilation of mankind.
This book was a revelation of beauty and a delight to read for me on so many levels, I don’t even know where to start. Working inward from the outside on, the first thing that caught my eye was the creative worldbuilding.
As a reader, I felt lead into these worlds rather than having them presented to me. Together with Adam, the main viewpoint character, I walked the glittering, chiseled architectural Protectorate environment with natural familiarity, and explored the earthy, organic, mysterious randomness of the Bideshi ships alongside him. Other characters’ viewpoints provided different mindsets and views so that in the end I had a rounded, complete impression of this universe without once having information dumped on me.
Speaking of characters: As this book is, at least on the surface, mainly about Adam, he’s the best-wrought out character in here. But even though the cast is numerous, most of the secondary players are just as colorful and muti-dimensional as Adam each recognizable and unique. Surprisingly, of all people Lochlan remained somewhat of a mystery to me, a bit distant and difficult to take to, but that might be only me. However, the most interesting character and the one who almost stole the show from the leads was Ixchel, the Bideshi mother-ship’s all-mother, a blind woman who sees deeply into the mysteries of the universe and the human soul.
This story wasn’t quite a romance. The main love interests, Adam and Lochlan, didn’t have much of a connection until well past the halfway point, and the plot wasn’t really about their relationship at all. If I were to put a genre label on this, I’d call it sci-fi with strong (high) fantasy elements. But actually, at the core this was a visually stunning new rendering of the resurrection myth, the oldest story in the world, interwoven and layered with other familiar, timeless concepts like the bitterness of the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, expulsion from Paradise, fratricide… given the story's epic proportions, this book was actually quite short. ;-)
However, this wasn’t a perfect book, and I’m not blind to its flaws. The plot had inconsistencies, mainly in regard to characters' motives and behavior, which made the narrative flow a bit potholed at times; and while the worldbuilding was extensive, some elements still required a lot of suspension of disbelief (in the “fiction needs to make sense” sense.) With all the meaningful deeper meaning, the actual events of the story paled a bit, which also had the narrative flow lagging in places. Though, while reading, I was so engrossed in the story that those issues didn’t actually bother me much, and only in hindsight, with a bit of distance to the book’s powerful eloquence it occurred to me that this story might’ve tried a bit too hard.
And still, what a ride. Easy fare this book is not, but if you’re willing to let yourself sink into its magic, you’re in for an amazing reading experience.
review originally written for www.reviewsbyjessewave.com
dnf
March 11, 2013A big *hug* for Vio for giving me the courage to DNF this book.
It's just not me.
It's just not me.
February 13, 2013
The dystopian world of Line and Orbit made me think of Sheri Tepper and Ian M. Banks, two authors I adored way back in my sci-fi phase. World building so amazingly rich and complex and real I still have very vivid images in my mind 20-odd years later.
In this story I was totally captivated by the immense, floating Bideshi ships and their gypsy-like inhabitants. Lyrical and lush writing, the awesome world building with powerful themes, the slow burn romance between Adam and Lochlan as well as a large but well drawn cast of supporting characters adds up to one helluva story.
Highly, highly recommended.
In this story I was totally captivated by the immense, floating Bideshi ships and their gypsy-like inhabitants. Lyrical and lush writing, the awesome world building with powerful themes, the slow burn romance between Adam and Lochlan as well as a large but well drawn cast of supporting characters adds up to one helluva story.
Highly, highly recommended.
April 1, 2013
I can't fault this spectacular m/m epic Sci-Fi story. It has everything you could possibly want from a book of its type. Fantastic world building, space opera style story lines with evil corporations and nomadic space tribes, epic space battles, mysticism, quirky characters, massive space ships big enough to be carrying mini worlds, complete with forests and wildlife and of course in this case a m/m element in which you get the pairing of Lochlan, a cocky space fighter/gypsy and Adam, a genetically perfect corporate imperialist, who starts the story's as a rising star amongst its ranks until a genetic flaw is discovered and practically overnight he loses his job,his home and almost - when a strange illness takes over him - his life! Enemies until fate brings them together, Lock and Adam unite to save not only one of their lives but also to bring down the protectorate that is holding a very dark secret that they will fight to the death to conceal. This is a case of more story than sex but the chemistry and tension between the MC's is definitely present in their budding romance, so you won't be disappointed.
Right from the word go I was drawn into this fascinating tale and of course at the beginning I couldn't help making comparisons to many of the popular Sci-Fi cult classics of TV and the big screen but this is so well plotted, thought out and written that to be honest those comparisons once made, started to recede as the worlds of the Bideshi and the Terran protectorates took on a life of their own and it was purely their story that kept me on pins till the very end!
I could wax on about this in loads of detail but I always think that when books are as great as this, its just a delight discovering it all firsthand... So all I can say is settle down, buckle up and blast off into space with these guys because you'll feel like you're there with them, through thick and thin and I truly hope you enjoy the trip as much as I did .
5 worthy stars and a big fat keeper! Loved it.
Right from the word go I was drawn into this fascinating tale and of course at the beginning I couldn't help making comparisons to many of the popular Sci-Fi cult classics of TV and the big screen but this is so well plotted, thought out and written that to be honest those comparisons once made, started to recede as the worlds of the Bideshi and the Terran protectorates took on a life of their own and it was purely their story that kept me on pins till the very end!
I could wax on about this in loads of detail but I always think that when books are as great as this, its just a delight discovering it all firsthand... So all I can say is settle down, buckle up and blast off into space with these guys because you'll feel like you're there with them, through thick and thin and I truly hope you enjoy the trip as much as I did .
5 worthy stars and a big fat keeper! Loved it.
February 22, 2014
This is my choice for the Zodiac Challenge (Pisces) since it's set in another world.
3.75*
This story came highly recommended and almost all of my friends love it.
I can see why, although I didn't love it quite as much. It has very creative world building, an interesting mix of old history and folklore and sci-fi/futuristic and a very powerful message and moral.
Adam lives in the very modern and technology advanced world. The people have been 'enhanced' and bred for perfection and implanted with technology for generations.
The Bideshi separated from 'their brothers' generations ago when they saw how the future was going to “A long time ago, my people—and then they were your people too—saw a way to rid themselves of a disease that was causing a great deal of death and pain. They went into the genetic code of every human and cut the sickness off at the source. At the root. New generations needed to have the same procedure. It was a good thing. It saved lives, as long as the practice was maintained. But then…then they went further.”
But Adam has a defect, making him trash and undesirable for the Protectorate.
He is rescued by Lochlan and taken in to a world that Adam has only heard rumors about.
“Adam looked down at the proffered hand. He didn’t take it. The Bideshi. Weavers of dark magic, believers of dark madness. Bandits and thieves.”
The Bideshi seems to be a native nomadic kind of society, they like to travel on their home ships, there are also lots of references to the Old Testament of the bible in their history. Like brother against brother with Cain and Able, which is a good metaphor for this story. They also live with superstition and magic. They have very strong family ties and the whole society is considered family.
This is a whole new world for Adam and it changes him in many ways.
The society he came from was 'perfect' and very repressed. It's represented by Melissa Cosaire. And wow, someone wanted to make sure we knew how crazy perfection can be.
Adam is accepted and welcomed in to their world, as much as he was dismissed and exiled by his own.
But the Protectorate has a secret, one they are willing to kill to keep.
“You’ve heard that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. But here’s a thing to think on, child: why must there be any difference between the two?”
Decisions need to be made, ones that will cause death and hardship.
“I caused this.” He ached with exhaustion and a thousand other things. “They want me—”
“They want blood. Be easy, little brother. You’re ours now. We are bigger and we are older and, mitr, we do not fight fair.”
I liked a lot of those things, the strong moral of the story, to always want more, more perfection, more power, having no acceptance of anything different or 'imperfect' and to what that can lead. But also being brave and standing up for what you believe in, even at great cost. It was a very unique story with lots of creative mixing of different components.
But, it was very long, too long, and at times written in such a way that was more riddles and I felt like I should know what they meant or were talking about, but I didn't. It took me almost half the book to feel invested and want to carry on reading.
And I would not consider this a romance at all, yes Adam and Lochlan do come together, but it really is more of a footnote. I never really warmed up to them as a couple and it wasn't until the last pages that I was even sure they were one.
3.75*
This story came highly recommended and almost all of my friends love it.
I can see why, although I didn't love it quite as much. It has very creative world building, an interesting mix of old history and folklore and sci-fi/futuristic and a very powerful message and moral.
Adam lives in the very modern and technology advanced world. The people have been 'enhanced' and bred for perfection and implanted with technology for generations.
The Bideshi separated from 'their brothers' generations ago when they saw how the future was going to “A long time ago, my people—and then they were your people too—saw a way to rid themselves of a disease that was causing a great deal of death and pain. They went into the genetic code of every human and cut the sickness off at the source. At the root. New generations needed to have the same procedure. It was a good thing. It saved lives, as long as the practice was maintained. But then…then they went further.”
But Adam has a defect, making him trash and undesirable for the Protectorate.
He is rescued by Lochlan and taken in to a world that Adam has only heard rumors about.
“Adam looked down at the proffered hand. He didn’t take it. The Bideshi. Weavers of dark magic, believers of dark madness. Bandits and thieves.”
The Bideshi seems to be a native nomadic kind of society, they like to travel on their home ships, there are also lots of references to the Old Testament of the bible in their history. Like brother against brother with Cain and Able, which is a good metaphor for this story. They also live with superstition and magic. They have very strong family ties and the whole society is considered family.
This is a whole new world for Adam and it changes him in many ways.
The society he came from was 'perfect' and very repressed. It's represented by Melissa Cosaire. And wow, someone wanted to make sure we knew how crazy perfection can be.
Adam is accepted and welcomed in to their world, as much as he was dismissed and exiled by his own.
But the Protectorate has a secret, one they are willing to kill to keep.
“You’ve heard that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. But here’s a thing to think on, child: why must there be any difference between the two?”
Decisions need to be made, ones that will cause death and hardship.
“I caused this.” He ached with exhaustion and a thousand other things. “They want me—”
“They want blood. Be easy, little brother. You’re ours now. We are bigger and we are older and, mitr, we do not fight fair.”
I liked a lot of those things, the strong moral of the story, to always want more, more perfection, more power, having no acceptance of anything different or 'imperfect' and to what that can lead. But also being brave and standing up for what you believe in, even at great cost. It was a very unique story with lots of creative mixing of different components.
But, it was very long, too long, and at times written in such a way that was more riddles and I felt like I should know what they meant or were talking about, but I didn't. It took me almost half the book to feel invested and want to carry on reading.
And I would not consider this a romance at all, yes Adam and Lochlan do come together, but it really is more of a footnote. I never really warmed up to them as a couple and it wasn't until the last pages that I was even sure they were one.
March 20, 2013
4.75 stars
Excellent novel: exceptional world-building, likable and interesting characters, beautiful writing, great themes and understated but effective romance made this book a true joy to read. The story needed some streamlining to make the plot flow easier on occasion and some story elements needed maybe a bit more elaboration, however these are minor complaints compared to the overall result. This could easily be one of the best books this year. It is certainly the best so far. When we talk how M/M books should approach the mainstream in terms of thematic diversity and quality, Line and Orbit is what we talk about. Well done, ladies!
A must read for all SF and M/M fans. I can't wait for the sequel.
Excellent novel: exceptional world-building, likable and interesting characters, beautiful writing, great themes and understated but effective romance made this book a true joy to read. The story needed some streamlining to make the plot flow easier on occasion and some story elements needed maybe a bit more elaboration, however these are minor complaints compared to the overall result. This could easily be one of the best books this year. It is certainly the best so far. When we talk how M/M books should approach the mainstream in terms of thematic diversity and quality, Line and Orbit is what we talk about. Well done, ladies!
A must read for all SF and M/M fans. I can't wait for the sequel.
February 27, 2013
4.5 stars rounded down to 4.0
The imperialist Terran Protectorate is committed to protecting their perfect world filled with their perfect, genetically enhanced populace. The Bideshi are nomadic warriors long shunned by the Protectorate. When the Terran Protectorate discovers a genetic abnormality in one of its rising young stars, Adam Yuga, they immediately label him an outcast and toss him aside. Stripped of wealth and position and stricken with a mysterious, worsening illness, Adam resorts to stealing credits to survive. Moments from capture by the Protectorate, help arrives in the form of Lochlan, a brash, cocksure Bideshi fighter. With and through the Bideshi, Adam learns that his illness hides a terrible secret, one that the Protectorate will stop at nothing to conceal. As the Protectorate closes in on him and declares war on the Bideshi, Adam must find the strength to heal and somehow close a centuries-old rift.
This was a fullbodied story and the world building was incredible. It was long but not overly so considering the complexity of the plot, the number of characters, and the various worlds the protagonists visit. I think this book will appeal most to sci-fi fans.
I liked all the characters and really enjoyed learning things as Adam stumbled along. Lochlan took some getting used to at first but by the end I loved him. My feelings for Adam were the opposite: I immediately fell in love with him but by the end I felt less than warm or neutral towards him. The ending was a little abrupt IMHO and I was disappointed that .
Bottom line: an engaging and entertaining sci-fi M/M tale that was light on the M/M, heavy on the sci-fi, and thoroughly enjoyable.
The imperialist Terran Protectorate is committed to protecting their perfect world filled with their perfect, genetically enhanced populace. The Bideshi are nomadic warriors long shunned by the Protectorate. When the Terran Protectorate discovers a genetic abnormality in one of its rising young stars, Adam Yuga, they immediately label him an outcast and toss him aside. Stripped of wealth and position and stricken with a mysterious, worsening illness, Adam resorts to stealing credits to survive. Moments from capture by the Protectorate, help arrives in the form of Lochlan, a brash, cocksure Bideshi fighter. With and through the Bideshi, Adam learns that his illness hides a terrible secret, one that the Protectorate will stop at nothing to conceal. As the Protectorate closes in on him and declares war on the Bideshi, Adam must find the strength to heal and somehow close a centuries-old rift.
This was a fullbodied story and the world building was incredible. It was long but not overly so considering the complexity of the plot, the number of characters, and the various worlds the protagonists visit. I think this book will appeal most to sci-fi fans.
I liked all the characters and really enjoyed learning things as Adam stumbled along. Lochlan took some getting used to at first but by the end I loved him. My feelings for Adam were the opposite: I immediately fell in love with him but by the end I felt less than warm or neutral towards him. The ending was a little abrupt IMHO and I was disappointed that .
Bottom line: an engaging and entertaining sci-fi M/M tale that was light on the M/M, heavy on the sci-fi, and thoroughly enjoyable.
March 6, 2013
Ummm... Is there going to be a sequel????
March 22, 2013
This was breathtaking. An incredible, beautiful, heart-clenching, exciting, unique, fantastical, insane ride. There was not a single moment while reading when I wanted to put it down. The world building, the plot, and the characters were incredible. And I'm not just talking about the protagonists, I mean ALL of them. I mean Lock and Adam, but also Kae and Leila, Ixchel (holy hell was she awesome), Adisa, and Ying, Melissa Cosaire and Aarons. I loved the basic story, the details, the magical appeal of it all, the imagination behind it. I loved the world, the contrasts of ideas - the Bideshi with their old and at the same time liberal and pacifistic understanding of the universe and the Protectorate with all their technology and perfection, but still old-fashioned and suppressive in ideas and concept. The Bideshi who include, while the Protectorate exclude. This sort of antithesis is certainly nothing new, but it still felt refreshing and true to me in this book, not lazily reheated, but somehow made fresh from scratch.
Sure, there were imperfections in the book (as other reviewers have pointed out): a few passages could have done with a bit more editing and the narrating voice felt a bit unpolished sometimes. There were some inconsistencies in the world building and some things were just a little bit too... uh... unbelievable for my taste. And a few scenes could have actually been drawn out a bit more . HOWEVER, the rest of this book was so absolutely incredibly brilliant that I just don't care. I'm really in awe. Line and Orbit!
So, another one for my favourites of the favourite shelf (I really should create one...). I'd recommend this book to absolutely everyone. If you're not principally opposed to Science-Fiction even better. :D
Sure, there were imperfections in the book (as other reviewers have pointed out): a few passages could have done with a bit more editing and the narrating voice felt a bit unpolished sometimes. There were some inconsistencies in the world building and some things were just a little bit too... uh... unbelievable for my taste. And a few scenes could have actually been drawn out a bit more . HOWEVER, the rest of this book was so absolutely incredibly brilliant that I just don't care. I'm really in awe. Line and Orbit!
So, another one for my favourites of the favourite shelf (I really should create one...). I'd recommend this book to absolutely everyone. If you're not principally opposed to Science-Fiction even better. :D
June 4, 2016
4.5 stars. Quality sci-fi novel, m/m is a secondary thread. Reminded me of 'Avatar' in the excellent world-building and mystic language.
Genetically engineered Adam Yuga was rapidly climbing the ladder of 'The Protectorate' until he is found to have an incurable illness. Lochlan D'Bedeshi rescues him and takes him back to his people who wander the stars in enormous organic spacecraft.
'The entire circle turned as Lochlan broke through their ranks and shoved himself into the center. His eyes were wide, dreadlocks flying, and Adam felt a surge of warmth go through him. Lochlan. Cocky bastard Lochlan, always making a show of not caring - and the mask had slipped.'
Genetically engineered Adam Yuga was rapidly climbing the ladder of 'The Protectorate' until he is found to have an incurable illness. Lochlan D'Bedeshi rescues him and takes him back to his people who wander the stars in enormous organic spacecraft.
'The entire circle turned as Lochlan broke through their ranks and shoved himself into the center. His eyes were wide, dreadlocks flying, and Adam felt a surge of warmth go through him. Lochlan. Cocky bastard Lochlan, always making a show of not caring - and the mask had slipped.'
December 29, 2015
I could easily read another 300 pages with these characters and this setting. So fascinating.
February 3, 2016
Okay, so, full disclosure: this book hits so many of my most-loathed plot elements and character aspects that it was a disaster for me. It would probably work better for -- well, almost anyone else. But I can only review based on my own experience, and wow did I have a lot of problems with it.
I should have known this book was Not For Me at the outset; it starts out with some verbiage that appears to exist solely to demonstrate the authors' mastery of adjectives (note: they have this DOWN) and then cuts to a self-centered, whiny jerk losing everything. Interesting fact about me: I don't like whiny, self-centered jerks, AND YET I also do not like watching them lose everything.
But before he can lose everything (and that is totally not a spoiler, by the way; it's in the book description), first we have to learn about his world, where everyone is Perfect, so of course they're homophobic as hell. Like, I get why the authors thought "Oh hey! Let's make the bad society homophobic, to demonstrate how bad they are, and also to give us Bonus Angst!" I just -- don't like it. It makes no sense for the actual society, given their obsession with only the RIGHT people breeding, and even then doing it in a very manipulated, assisted reproduction type way, and -- I seriously wish authors would consider what message they're sending when they write a whole different world, a far-future world, and make it homophobic. Like, this is not a thing you should do because you want Bonus Angst.
Anyway. Shortly thereafter, we meet the other half of the main pairing, who is an arrogant, easily-angered jerk. Here's the thing: Jerks in Love is not a trope that works for me at all, and Jerks Just Fucking is even less interesting to me. This book gave me both of them, and lots of them. But I wanted to read about basically anyone else, which was my bad luck, because we get to know about 15 people, total, in the entire book, and that's on both sides.
And then we learn about the other society. The good society that is the foil of the Perfect (bad) society. Annnnnnd -- I liked it right up until I realized that, sure, the Perfect society has no place at all for the disabled, but neither does the good one, really. (There's a ritual you have to complete, called the Naming; if you can't pass it, you're exiled. It's not ever made entirely clear what the ceremony is about, but it is made clear that lots of disabled people would be unable to complete it.) So, again, I wish the authors had thought slightly more about the unfortunate things their worldbuilding revealed about them, rather than just plunging into it.
And then -- oh, so many other things, major and minor. The genetics stuff, which sort of holds up until it turns into Babble Consisting of Sciency Words. The fact that I could not care about the main characters as much as the book expected me to. The gratuitous animal sacrifices. The child soldiers. The way a lot of the key scenes weren't earned. I wanted to like this book, I truly did, but it just kept on being stuff I hate.
There were good things. A trans character who I thought (though I am not an expert) was well-handled! Markers of diversity! Gay main characters! Lesbians who are at least named! A plot in addition to the romance! Just -- oh man, these good things did not come close to making up for the bad stuff. For me. For you, they very well might.
(Also, formatting note: I read this on both my kindle and iPad. Do not read this on an iPad. The formatting is messed up, so none of the line breaks that indicate a shift in scene come through. This is super disconcerting, and the authors switch scenes a lot.)
Basically: reading this book was a slog, a slow trudge through an inhospitable land. If you choose to read it, I hope it's more hospitable to you. For my part, I am bummed that I paid five bucks for this, when I've read so many better science fictiony gay romances that were free.
I should have known this book was Not For Me at the outset; it starts out with some verbiage that appears to exist solely to demonstrate the authors' mastery of adjectives (note: they have this DOWN) and then cuts to a self-centered, whiny jerk losing everything. Interesting fact about me: I don't like whiny, self-centered jerks, AND YET I also do not like watching them lose everything.
But before he can lose everything (and that is totally not a spoiler, by the way; it's in the book description), first we have to learn about his world, where everyone is Perfect, so of course they're homophobic as hell. Like, I get why the authors thought "Oh hey! Let's make the bad society homophobic, to demonstrate how bad they are, and also to give us Bonus Angst!" I just -- don't like it. It makes no sense for the actual society, given their obsession with only the RIGHT people breeding, and even then doing it in a very manipulated, assisted reproduction type way, and -- I seriously wish authors would consider what message they're sending when they write a whole different world, a far-future world, and make it homophobic. Like, this is not a thing you should do because you want Bonus Angst.
Anyway. Shortly thereafter, we meet the other half of the main pairing, who is an arrogant, easily-angered jerk. Here's the thing: Jerks in Love is not a trope that works for me at all, and Jerks Just Fucking is even less interesting to me. This book gave me both of them, and lots of them. But I wanted to read about basically anyone else, which was my bad luck, because we get to know about 15 people, total, in the entire book, and that's on both sides.
And then we learn about the other society. The good society that is the foil of the Perfect (bad) society. Annnnnnd -- I liked it right up until I realized that, sure, the Perfect society has no place at all for the disabled, but neither does the good one, really. (There's a ritual you have to complete, called the Naming; if you can't pass it, you're exiled. It's not ever made entirely clear what the ceremony is about, but it is made clear that lots of disabled people would be unable to complete it.) So, again, I wish the authors had thought slightly more about the unfortunate things their worldbuilding revealed about them, rather than just plunging into it.
And then -- oh, so many other things, major and minor. The genetics stuff, which sort of holds up until it turns into Babble Consisting of Sciency Words. The fact that I could not care about the main characters as much as the book expected me to. The gratuitous animal sacrifices. The child soldiers. The way a lot of the key scenes weren't earned. I wanted to like this book, I truly did, but it just kept on being stuff I hate.
There were good things. A trans character who I thought (though I am not an expert) was well-handled! Markers of diversity! Gay main characters! Lesbians who are at least named! A plot in addition to the romance! Just -- oh man, these good things did not come close to making up for the bad stuff. For me. For you, they very well might.
(Also, formatting note: I read this on both my kindle and iPad. Do not read this on an iPad. The formatting is messed up, so none of the line breaks that indicate a shift in scene come through. This is super disconcerting, and the authors switch scenes a lot.)
Basically: reading this book was a slog, a slow trudge through an inhospitable land. If you choose to read it, I hope it's more hospitable to you. For my part, I am bummed that I paid five bucks for this, when I've read so many better science fictiony gay romances that were free.
April 27, 2013
3,5 stars.
This is imo a space opera. It reminded me of the Sirantha Jax series and the works of Linnea Sinclair (although missing the humor I always found in Sinclair's books). Which I both liked very much.
It was a carefully crafted story with a very intersting world building though the pieces of this world were not really original, but the interplay was quite unique.
A very enthralling and well written novel with a very engaging main character.
What it is not: a gay romance.
Why only 3,5 stars? There were some things in the plot that I didn't like and it dragged a little (especially in the "esoteric" scenes) - but again, it was a very enjoyable read all around.
This is imo a space opera. It reminded me of the Sirantha Jax series and the works of Linnea Sinclair (although missing the humor I always found in Sinclair's books). Which I both liked very much.
It was a carefully crafted story with a very intersting world building though the pieces of this world were not really original, but the interplay was quite unique.
A very enthralling and well written novel with a very engaging main character.
What it is not: a gay romance.
Why only 3,5 stars? There were some things in the plot that I didn't like and it dragged a little (especially in the "esoteric" scenes) - but again, it was a very enjoyable read all around.
May 3, 2013
This is an engrossing sci fi about Adam Yugo who's part of the Protectorate, a group of people engineered for perfection, who's exiled once it's discovered he has a genetic flaw. But because he doesn't just go away quietly and ends up linking up with fighter Lochlan of the shunned Bideshi people, he & everyone he's associated with become targets.
Great story, although I kept waiting for a better explanation on why everyone decides to help Adam Yugo as it causes nothing but trouble. But despite all the prophecy talk there was no big reveal so it seemed there was a lot of sacrifices just because they were nice and couldn't turn someone away. I wanted more than that so that was a bit disappointing.
There's a romance that eventually develops between Adam & Lochlan but it's not given a lot of emphasis. Lochlan is kind of a jerk to Adam for most of the time and then suddenly they're together in some way. I'd liked to have seen more of the two of them & a relationship progression. Adam's friendships & the other characters like Ixchel the elder woman seer are given equal or even more space in the book.
This is an interesting book. It's got good world building even if it didn't always make logical sense and sometimes dragged itself into mystical mumbo jumbo. But all the trimmings, heros, villains, love & war make for a fun space opera. Since the m/m romance portion is slight, I'd say this one is more for people who like sci fi dystopian style books. If you do I think you'll enjoy this.
Great story, although I kept waiting for a better explanation on why everyone decides to help Adam Yugo as it causes nothing but trouble. But despite all the prophecy talk there was no big reveal so it seemed there was a lot of sacrifices just because they were nice and couldn't turn someone away. I wanted more than that so that was a bit disappointing.
There's a romance that eventually develops between Adam & Lochlan but it's not given a lot of emphasis. Lochlan is kind of a jerk to Adam for most of the time and then suddenly they're together in some way. I'd liked to have seen more of the two of them & a relationship progression. Adam's friendships & the other characters like Ixchel the elder woman seer are given equal or even more space in the book.
This is an interesting book. It's got good world building even if it didn't always make logical sense and sometimes dragged itself into mystical mumbo jumbo. But all the trimmings, heros, villains, love & war make for a fun space opera. Since the m/m romance portion is slight, I'd say this one is more for people who like sci fi dystopian style books. If you do I think you'll enjoy this.
February 13, 2013
Gosh that took ages to read. Very detailed, very dense. Lots of interesting ethical issues explored. Not so much with the sexy ( darn it) but at least I knew that up front.
Great characterisation. Adam & Lock trying to do their best in a hopeless situation. But falling in love - that was lovely to watch.
Highly tense, highly enjoyable.
Great characterisation. Adam & Lock trying to do their best in a hopeless situation. But falling in love - that was lovely to watch.
Highly tense, highly enjoyable.
October 23, 2014
This might be the best science fiction I've read, by a new author, in many years.
The complex world-building, coupled to fascinating characters, and virtuoso story-telling reminded me of CJ Cherryh's early novels, a little edgy, a lot of wow!
The m/m relationship was a lovely bonus.
The complex world-building, coupled to fascinating characters, and virtuoso story-telling reminded me of CJ Cherryh's early novels, a little edgy, a lot of wow!
The m/m relationship was a lovely bonus.
February 13, 2013
What an absolutely breathtaking novel. I am in awe.
I don't generally read a lot of sci-fi. While I love some of it, I find most of the writing in the genre to be too fast-paced, with not enough focus on the characters to keep me happy, and too many technical details to keep me entertained.
This was nothing like that.
For one thing, I could write odes to the fantastic world-building in this book. The settings leapt right off the page and into my imagination, vivid and colorful and real in a way only a few talented authors have ever managed to bring places to life for me. For that alone, I would have continued flipping page after page, drinking in every detail I could.
But the characters... Oh my god, there just aren't words for the brilliance of the characters. Every single one of them. I want to know these people in real life, I really do. Lochlan and Adam, of course, are the stars of the show, and I loved them both from their first pages. But the rest of the cast were just as well-drawn, just as wonderful. Even the antagonists made me feel for them, hope for them.
And finally, the plot. I've come to find that it's a rare thing for authors in this genre (M/M romance, not sci-fi) to tackle a plot with this much depth...dare I say an epic plot. But that's exactly what was waiting for me here, and it was done with both skill and flair.
I purchased this book on a whim, because it sounded interesting and I was in the mood for something different. I found something that I know I'm going to read many more times, and two new authors who I will certainly be keeping an eye out for from this moment on.
I don't generally read a lot of sci-fi. While I love some of it, I find most of the writing in the genre to be too fast-paced, with not enough focus on the characters to keep me happy, and too many technical details to keep me entertained.
This was nothing like that.
For one thing, I could write odes to the fantastic world-building in this book. The settings leapt right off the page and into my imagination, vivid and colorful and real in a way only a few talented authors have ever managed to bring places to life for me. For that alone, I would have continued flipping page after page, drinking in every detail I could.
But the characters... Oh my god, there just aren't words for the brilliance of the characters. Every single one of them. I want to know these people in real life, I really do. Lochlan and Adam, of course, are the stars of the show, and I loved them both from their first pages. But the rest of the cast were just as well-drawn, just as wonderful. Even the antagonists made me feel for them, hope for them.
And finally, the plot. I've come to find that it's a rare thing for authors in this genre (M/M romance, not sci-fi) to tackle a plot with this much depth...dare I say an epic plot. But that's exactly what was waiting for me here, and it was done with both skill and flair.
I purchased this book on a whim, because it sounded interesting and I was in the mood for something different. I found something that I know I'm going to read many more times, and two new authors who I will certainly be keeping an eye out for from this moment on.
August 5, 2014
I don't know if it just wasn't the right book at the right time or what. I mentioned before that I thought it sounded like it would be amazing, but I found it rather...benign. It's got asides with characters other than the main ones, and I didn't really care for those.
I found it very benign. I really wanted something that would be so effortlessly epic that it would take my breath away, and this one seemed like it maybe had the potential for that, but it just dragged on and on.
I didn't care for Lochlan. I kind of liked Adam, but then I found that I cared less and less for him as it went on.
It had a couple moments that were quite good, but overall, I was bored with it. I dunno. I keep thinking it might just have been right book, wrong time. I'll maybe revisit this in the future, see what I think then.
I found it very benign. I really wanted something that would be so effortlessly epic that it would take my breath away, and this one seemed like it maybe had the potential for that, but it just dragged on and on.
I didn't care for Lochlan. I kind of liked Adam, but then I found that I cared less and less for him as it went on.
It had a couple moments that were quite good, but overall, I was bored with it. I dunno. I keep thinking it might just have been right book, wrong time. I'll maybe revisit this in the future, see what I think then.
May 21, 2013
4.5*
It's a very imaginative story on the fence between fantasy and science fiction with some important underlying themes. You get space-faring nations with space ships so big that they have whole forests inside, seers that use nano-bots to read digital pads, perfected genetics vs. leaving it all to Mother Nature and a bunch of likeable heroes.
It didn't quite pull through with the tension and promised grand finale, though. Seeing that it is the author's first novel I'm looking forward to more from them. :)
It's a very imaginative story on the fence between fantasy and science fiction with some important underlying themes. You get space-faring nations with space ships so big that they have whole forests inside, seers that use nano-bots to read digital pads, perfected genetics vs. leaving it all to Mother Nature and a bunch of likeable heroes.
It didn't quite pull through with the tension and promised grand finale, though. Seeing that it is the author's first novel I'm looking forward to more from them. :)
September 25, 2014
4.5 stars
Absolutely fabulous. I've been in a bit of a weird mood, because I used to swear that I was not into any sci-fi related books...but that is no longer true. This was such a well told and beautiful story. So many things that I loved about it. The characters were wonderful and unforgettable and full of honor and sacrifice and (as Nick has recently reminded me) decency. There were times when I almost felt that I couldn't quite grasp it, like it was just out of reach, I almost had it, but I realized, I was just really living through Adam. I felt it all, Ying's hands pressing into him, his guilt and loneliness, desire and confusion. It was wonderful. Lochlan was a hell of guy, brash and rude, but so loyal, so...sensitvie really. Kae...oh, just loved him, he was so...the guy you wish was your best friend, the guy you hope someone you love ends up with. Spectacular.
I must say that even though this is M/M romance, the romance is rather secondary, very small in actuality, though it is always there, rumbling under the surface, you are aware of the characters and their sensitivity to each other, when Adam is scanning the crowd for Lock, you realize that you were too. They didn't move and react the way I wanted them to...I wanted more, but they couldn't be rushed, it wouldn't have been genuine.
Adam is ill and cast out of his world for his imperfection and there is a lot to be said about the Protectorate and their absolute arrogance in the pursuit of creating a perfect race of people. But even though there is atrocity, even though they are arrogant and well wrong, there is still a bit of honor to them as well. With one exception. I won't go into that.
I think this was just brilliantly written and such a beautiful story. I will read anything from these authors as I was just really touched.
"'Adam' he breathed, leaning in again, lips close to Adam's, hot to cold and trembling. 'Please...come back.' Don't leave me alone like this. Let me see that you know me one more time. Because it matters, what we know."
Absolutely fabulous. I've been in a bit of a weird mood, because I used to swear that I was not into any sci-fi related books...but that is no longer true. This was such a well told and beautiful story. So many things that I loved about it. The characters were wonderful and unforgettable and full of honor and sacrifice and (as Nick has recently reminded me) decency. There were times when I almost felt that I couldn't quite grasp it, like it was just out of reach, I almost had it, but I realized, I was just really living through Adam. I felt it all, Ying's hands pressing into him, his guilt and loneliness, desire and confusion. It was wonderful. Lochlan was a hell of guy, brash and rude, but so loyal, so...sensitvie really. Kae...oh, just loved him, he was so...the guy you wish was your best friend, the guy you hope someone you love ends up with. Spectacular.
I must say that even though this is M/M romance, the romance is rather secondary, very small in actuality, though it is always there, rumbling under the surface, you are aware of the characters and their sensitivity to each other, when Adam is scanning the crowd for Lock, you realize that you were too. They didn't move and react the way I wanted them to...I wanted more, but they couldn't be rushed, it wouldn't have been genuine.
Adam is ill and cast out of his world for his imperfection and there is a lot to be said about the Protectorate and their absolute arrogance in the pursuit of creating a perfect race of people. But even though there is atrocity, even though they are arrogant and well wrong, there is still a bit of honor to them as well. With one exception. I won't go into that.
I think this was just brilliantly written and such a beautiful story. I will read anything from these authors as I was just really touched.
"'Adam' he breathed, leaning in again, lips close to Adam's, hot to cold and trembling. 'Please...come back.' Don't leave me alone like this. Let me see that you know me one more time. Because it matters, what we know."
January 21, 2015
Loved this one. For starters this is a bona fide sci-fi (with a gay romance subplot). It's not one of those MM romances that just happen to take place in a sci-fi setting.
I've had a special fondness for science fiction since I was in my early teens, so I'm always happy to stumble upon a book like this that has an interesting plot + fascinating universe (those ships filled with trees and the huge flowers from the jungle planet really stuck with me) + culture clash.
Not giving it the full 5 starts because I wanted more from the characters. I think Lock remained somewhat a mystery till the very end and I'm not sure about what Adam turned into . In short I think there should have been a bit more characterization at times. Maybe a tiny bit more unresolved sexual tension, too (because at first they didn't seem to like each other at all).
Oh, and I almost forgot - I was kind of hoping that Adam would discover that the whole planet (of the Plain) was actually some sort of puzzle box and do something badass like solving it and saving the day. It was a bit disappointing that he ended up just fixing himself. I hoped he would end up as more than just a catalyst.
I've had a special fondness for science fiction since I was in my early teens, so I'm always happy to stumble upon a book like this that has an interesting plot + fascinating universe (those ships filled with trees and the huge flowers from the jungle planet really stuck with me) + culture clash.
Not giving it the full 5 starts because I wanted more from the characters. I think Lock remained somewhat a mystery till the very end and I'm not sure about what Adam turned into . In short I think there should have been a bit more characterization at times. Maybe a tiny bit more unresolved sexual tension, too (because at first they didn't seem to like each other at all).
Oh, and I almost forgot - I was kind of hoping that Adam would discover that the whole planet (of the Plain) was actually some sort of puzzle box and do something badass like solving it and saving the day. It was a bit disappointing that he ended up just fixing himself. I hoped he would end up as more than just a catalyst.
November 25, 2014
I liked the characters well enough but did not love them.
Took a long while for Adam Yuga to admit his feelings for Lochlan. And vice versa. Lochlan even had the divination from his people and still he played hard to get with poor Adam. I felt sorry for Adam's fast descent into despair, from a respected man, to stealing and living on the streets. He was due a break. Not sure he deserved getting Lochlan. The Bideshi fighter saves him but then hardly gives Adam the time of day and I spent half the book waiting for something to happen between them, for the 'click' that would bring them together. Either I missed the spark or it never happened.
And I kind of disliked the final battle scene. I kept hoping it wouldn't come to actual killings. I think the story would have been just as good if the characters actually worked a little at being heroes and saving the day.
Bottom line? Not good enough to make me love the MCs or gush over the plot.
Took a long while for Adam Yuga to admit his feelings for Lochlan. And vice versa. Lochlan even had the divination from his people and still he played hard to get with poor Adam. I felt sorry for Adam's fast descent into despair, from a respected man, to stealing and living on the streets. He was due a break. Not sure he deserved getting Lochlan. The Bideshi fighter saves him but then hardly gives Adam the time of day and I spent half the book waiting for something to happen between them, for the 'click' that would bring them together. Either I missed the spark or it never happened.
And I kind of disliked the final battle scene. I kept hoping it wouldn't come to actual killings. I think the story would have been just as good if the characters actually worked a little at being heroes and saving the day.
Bottom line? Not good enough to make me love the MCs or gush over the plot.
February 18, 2013
This is the perfect read for the sci-fi lovers out there. Adam Yuga is part of the imperialist Terran Protectorate, but then a genetic flaw throws his life a curve ball. Genetic flaws are strictly taboo in this society. It's here he learns that everyone is on the razor's edge of wealth and starvation. Help comes in the form of Lochlan (yummy!), and the two discover love, passion and more secrets along the way. Coming in spring by Sunny Moraine: The Horse Latitudes (Ideomancer series).
To see more e-book only releases in Feb, check out the HEA Blog
http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyev...
To see more e-book only releases in Feb, check out the HEA Blog
http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyev...
April 19, 2021
Extraordinary sci-fi/space opera about the intersection between a group of roving space mystics and an authoritarian space republic. Centered on Adam - a genetically enhanced outcast, and Lochlan - a beloved rogue. It was sweeping in scope and had excellent world-building. I found the magical aspects a bit difficult to comprehend but I suppose that would be true of any mystical/religious content. Ultimately I thought it was beautifully done and I hope the sequels do it justice.
February 19, 2013
This? I have no words to say how amazing it was, I can't wait for the sequel
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