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Variant Configurations #1
Rarely Pure and Never Simple
Variant children are vanishing at an alarming rate. It will take a uniquely mismatched pair of trackers to untangle a web of conspiracy and misdirection to find them.
In his isolated cabin, variant Damien Hazelwood avoids human contact as much as possible to prevent attacks of blind berserker panic. But his rare talent as a locator makes him the go-to contractor for tricky missing person's cases and when agents bring him a troubling contract involving missing variant children, he finds it impossible to refuse.
Licensed tracker Blaze Emerson can't help being irritated when he's expected to follow the strange, twitchy locator's lead on his latest case. He works alone, he's damn good, and as a variant sparker, he has both the fire and the firepower to take on anything out there. Though he has to admit there's something intriguing about a man who can find people with his brain.
With vastly different temperaments and backgrounds, Damien and Blaze need to negotiate quickly how to work together if they're going to crack this case. Add in the sudden appearance of Blaze's outlaw ex, the perils of tracking in the wilds, and a maddening lack of discernible motive or method, and they soon find themselves in as much danger as the kids they're trying to rescue.
Variant Configurations takes place in a future Earth where humanity is reclaiming its spot in a gradually healing world. This book contains mentions of past abuse, action-adventure style mayhem, and the beginning sparks of a slow burn, series-spanning relationship.
In his isolated cabin, variant Damien Hazelwood avoids human contact as much as possible to prevent attacks of blind berserker panic. But his rare talent as a locator makes him the go-to contractor for tricky missing person's cases and when agents bring him a troubling contract involving missing variant children, he finds it impossible to refuse.
Licensed tracker Blaze Emerson can't help being irritated when he's expected to follow the strange, twitchy locator's lead on his latest case. He works alone, he's damn good, and as a variant sparker, he has both the fire and the firepower to take on anything out there. Though he has to admit there's something intriguing about a man who can find people with his brain.
With vastly different temperaments and backgrounds, Damien and Blaze need to negotiate quickly how to work together if they're going to crack this case. Add in the sudden appearance of Blaze's outlaw ex, the perils of tracking in the wilds, and a maddening lack of discernible motive or method, and they soon find themselves in as much danger as the kids they're trying to rescue.
Variant Configurations takes place in a future Earth where humanity is reclaiming its spot in a gradually healing world. This book contains mentions of past abuse, action-adventure style mayhem, and the beginning sparks of a slow burn, series-spanning relationship.
145 pages, ebook
First published November 1, 2013
33 people are currently reading
668 people want to read
About the author
Angel Martinez
92 books677 followersAngel Martinez currently lives part time in the hectic sprawl of northern Delaware and full time inside her head. She has one husband, one son, two cats, a love of all things beautiful and a terrible addiction to the consumption of both knowledge and chocolate.
Angel's alter ego writes the all-ages science fiction - Sandra Stixrude.
Angel's alter ego writes the all-ages science fiction - Sandra Stixrude.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
January 2, 2014
3.5 stars - Overall I thought this was a very enjoyable sci-fi/dystopian romance about two very different “variant” men whose powers, personalities, and histories often keep them very separated from others, but who end up fitting very well with each other.
What I liked:
- I’ve only read one other work by Martinez, the sci-fi epic adventure Gravitational Attraction, which I also enjoyed. I like Martinez’s style. She packs in a lot of action and activity without overwhelming the story too much, and she moves in directions that are not easy to forecast ahead of time, which means lots of interesting surprises story-wise. (Gravitational Attraction is a great example of this. That story goes way beyond its blurb.)
Rarely Pure and Never Simple shares that trait. The story starts off far in the future, where our world has been darkened by pandemics and other events, and where “variants” (people with special abilities, kind of like mutants in X-Men) have been born and are now living amongst “normal” humans, although they have to deal with discrimination and fear from the majority.
Cranky, abrasive Blaze, who is a “sparker” (can create fire with his hands) is brought in as the muscle to protect Damien, a “locator” who has the ability to find people, and who has been tasked with finding a group of missing variant children. What makes Damien a little different from the variant norm that Blaze usually deals with is his extreme anxiety that causes a lot of OCD patterns and makes him afraid of dealing with most people. Fortunately for Damien, Blaze has a keen understanding of what he needs to work, and gives him the space he needs without judgment.
The story moves on from there, and Martinez kept things up at a quick clip as the plot shifted from the school where the kids had studied to an extremist compound to a hidden sanctuary and so on. Damien is following the threads that he innately feels inside of him, leading him to find out what happened to the kids, and Blaze is right there with him, trying his best to protect a man who sometimes will run out of the car without notice, fueled by the intense need to find, and blind to the dangers that might be around him. Martinez’s ability to keep the plot shifting along meant that I was often (happily) surprised in how the story moved, and it really kept my interest.
- The main characters were great, sympathetic and appealing. It’s easy to fall for Damien, who was abused as a child, and who falls back on his OCD patterns to maintain control and feel safe. Blaze comes off as a bit of hardheaded jackass at first, but he quickly grows on you, especially as he realizes what things Damien needs, and responds accordingly without being condescending.
That was actually one of my favorite things about the story. Both Damien and Blaze had things that others might have seen as abnormal (or kinky, in regards to Blaze’s love of fun underwear), but they made efforts to understand and accept each other rather than trying to change or “fix.” Blaze gave Damien the space he needed, even if that meant extra time as Damien packed and repacked the car in the morning, and Damien found Blaze’s collection of lacey and outrageous undergarments as quite entrancing and sexy.
Big A+ points for not involving “healing sex” to fix Damien’s tics and fears. His anxiety does not go away through the story, but he does learn to be more comfortable and intimate with the one person who makes him feel safe.
So, really the characters and their developing relationship and how they worked and accepted each other were definitely my favorite parts. (I thought Blaze’s understanding of Damien’s anxiety issues was very refreshing and SEXY.)
- Speaking of sexy, this book is low on sexy times, but not sexy tension. There are a couple intimate scenes, but they do not overshadow the story. I actually appreciated that because it meant that Martinez wasn’t artificially trying to insert sexy times in between action set-pieces. (So no awkward instances of “We’re running from bad guys, so let’s have sex!” or “You’re terribly injured and tired, so let’s have sex!”) The few scenes she has make sense for the story and what was going on.
I also thought it was refreshing because what intimacy was there didn’t focus on specific sexual dynamics. Blaze might be a big strong guy, but he does like lacey thongs. Damien might be shorter and “pretty” to some, but he doesn’t get relegated immediately into the “bottom” drawer. I liked how Martinez steered away from some well-used patterns here, mostly by avoiding the issue of penetrative sex, which is fine. It’s one of those things that’s not necessary to reveal developing intimacy between characters.
What was a little harder:
- At around 58,000 words, it’s a good-sized novel, but I wished it was longer. Not just because I’d liked to read more about the characters (which I do; I like them a lot.), but also there’s a lot going on in the story, and a lot going on in the background of this future world (roving gangs, wildlings, government discrimination of variants, potential corruption in the variant superhero group The Guild, etc.) I wouldn’t have minded if it the story was given some more space to flesh out some of the scenes and background conflicts. (There’s a climactic-ish scene around the third quarter that moves quickly, but I wouldn’t have minded if that scene was a little longer and had some more conflict.)
- There’s not a Big Baddie here, and I don’t think it’s necessary to have a Big Baddie, but I missed some of the tension that a Big Baddie or something like that can bring to a story. There’s a lot of movement in the story, which is great for quick pacing, but I wished there was a little more tension. The baddies are kind of in the background more, and that dulled the edge of the last quarter, rather than have a ramp up.
- There’s a little bit of a love triangle. Not too much really, because the reader really knows what’s going on, but the MCs don’t. I liked the side character, but the fear over the potential love triangle felt a little inserted to add some angst and to create the reason why our heroes would eventually separate (but not for too long, so no worries there.)
- I love Damien, but for those who like a little hurt/comfort, he’s a little bit of woobie character that could fall into the broken man trope. It’s not too bad though. Martinez didn’t delve into deep h/c territory, which I appreciated, but he’s definitely a character that has some issues, and has people worrying about him on-page a lot, which if you’re an h/c fan, you’ll be good, but if you’re not at all, you might find it a little off-putting. (Again, I do appreciate that Martinez didn’t focus on “fixing” Damien though. That was a nice change of pace.)
Overall
Even with my few caveats, I really enjoyed the story, and I really liked the main characters, their relationship, and how they bounced off each other and fit together. I think Martinez is good at creating really appealing characters, very fast-paced, plot-driven stories, and very interesting sci-fi worlds.
I’m very happy I read it, and I’m definitely on board if there will be more stories with Blaze and Damien. (Their story has a nice ending here, but I would definitely line up to read more adventures with them. Plus, we’d get to see more of Blaze’s underwear choices!)
Originally reviewed for:
What I liked:
- I’ve only read one other work by Martinez, the sci-fi epic adventure Gravitational Attraction, which I also enjoyed. I like Martinez’s style. She packs in a lot of action and activity without overwhelming the story too much, and she moves in directions that are not easy to forecast ahead of time, which means lots of interesting surprises story-wise. (Gravitational Attraction is a great example of this. That story goes way beyond its blurb.)
Rarely Pure and Never Simple shares that trait. The story starts off far in the future, where our world has been darkened by pandemics and other events, and where “variants” (people with special abilities, kind of like mutants in X-Men) have been born and are now living amongst “normal” humans, although they have to deal with discrimination and fear from the majority.
Cranky, abrasive Blaze, who is a “sparker” (can create fire with his hands) is brought in as the muscle to protect Damien, a “locator” who has the ability to find people, and who has been tasked with finding a group of missing variant children. What makes Damien a little different from the variant norm that Blaze usually deals with is his extreme anxiety that causes a lot of OCD patterns and makes him afraid of dealing with most people. Fortunately for Damien, Blaze has a keen understanding of what he needs to work, and gives him the space he needs without judgment.
The story moves on from there, and Martinez kept things up at a quick clip as the plot shifted from the school where the kids had studied to an extremist compound to a hidden sanctuary and so on. Damien is following the threads that he innately feels inside of him, leading him to find out what happened to the kids, and Blaze is right there with him, trying his best to protect a man who sometimes will run out of the car without notice, fueled by the intense need to find, and blind to the dangers that might be around him. Martinez’s ability to keep the plot shifting along meant that I was often (happily) surprised in how the story moved, and it really kept my interest.
- The main characters were great, sympathetic and appealing. It’s easy to fall for Damien, who was abused as a child, and who falls back on his OCD patterns to maintain control and feel safe. Blaze comes off as a bit of hardheaded jackass at first, but he quickly grows on you, especially as he realizes what things Damien needs, and responds accordingly without being condescending.
That was actually one of my favorite things about the story. Both Damien and Blaze had things that others might have seen as abnormal (or kinky, in regards to Blaze’s love of fun underwear), but they made efforts to understand and accept each other rather than trying to change or “fix.” Blaze gave Damien the space he needed, even if that meant extra time as Damien packed and repacked the car in the morning, and Damien found Blaze’s collection of lacey and outrageous undergarments as quite entrancing and sexy.
Big A+ points for not involving “healing sex” to fix Damien’s tics and fears. His anxiety does not go away through the story, but he does learn to be more comfortable and intimate with the one person who makes him feel safe.
So, really the characters and their developing relationship and how they worked and accepted each other were definitely my favorite parts. (I thought Blaze’s understanding of Damien’s anxiety issues was very refreshing and SEXY.)
- Speaking of sexy, this book is low on sexy times, but not sexy tension. There are a couple intimate scenes, but they do not overshadow the story. I actually appreciated that because it meant that Martinez wasn’t artificially trying to insert sexy times in between action set-pieces. (So no awkward instances of “We’re running from bad guys, so let’s have sex!” or “You’re terribly injured and tired, so let’s have sex!”) The few scenes she has make sense for the story and what was going on.
I also thought it was refreshing because what intimacy was there didn’t focus on specific sexual dynamics. Blaze might be a big strong guy, but he does like lacey thongs. Damien might be shorter and “pretty” to some, but he doesn’t get relegated immediately into the “bottom” drawer. I liked how Martinez steered away from some well-used patterns here, mostly by avoiding the issue of penetrative sex, which is fine. It’s one of those things that’s not necessary to reveal developing intimacy between characters.
What was a little harder:
- At around 58,000 words, it’s a good-sized novel, but I wished it was longer. Not just because I’d liked to read more about the characters (which I do; I like them a lot.), but also there’s a lot going on in the story, and a lot going on in the background of this future world (roving gangs, wildlings, government discrimination of variants, potential corruption in the variant superhero group The Guild, etc.) I wouldn’t have minded if it the story was given some more space to flesh out some of the scenes and background conflicts. (There’s a climactic-ish scene around the third quarter that moves quickly, but I wouldn’t have minded if that scene was a little longer and had some more conflict.)
- There’s not a Big Baddie here, and I don’t think it’s necessary to have a Big Baddie, but I missed some of the tension that a Big Baddie or something like that can bring to a story. There’s a lot of movement in the story, which is great for quick pacing, but I wished there was a little more tension. The baddies are kind of in the background more, and that dulled the edge of the last quarter, rather than have a ramp up.
- There’s a little bit of a love triangle. Not too much really, because the reader really knows what’s going on, but the MCs don’t. I liked the side character, but the fear over the potential love triangle felt a little inserted to add some angst and to create the reason why our heroes would eventually separate (but not for too long, so no worries there.)
- I love Damien, but for those who like a little hurt/comfort, he’s a little bit of woobie character that could fall into the broken man trope. It’s not too bad though. Martinez didn’t delve into deep h/c territory, which I appreciated, but he’s definitely a character that has some issues, and has people worrying about him on-page a lot, which if you’re an h/c fan, you’ll be good, but if you’re not at all, you might find it a little off-putting. (Again, I do appreciate that Martinez didn’t focus on “fixing” Damien though. That was a nice change of pace.)
Overall
Even with my few caveats, I really enjoyed the story, and I really liked the main characters, their relationship, and how they bounced off each other and fit together. I think Martinez is good at creating really appealing characters, very fast-paced, plot-driven stories, and very interesting sci-fi worlds.
I’m very happy I read it, and I’m definitely on board if there will be more stories with Blaze and Damien. (Their story has a nice ending here, but I would definitely line up to read more adventures with them. Plus, we’d get to see more of Blaze’s underwear choices!)
Originally reviewed for:
March 22, 2021
I had never heard of this book or this author before and read it because I needed it for a very specific reading challenge. I had a very nice surprise, because this story turned out to be much better than I expected.
I really liked the world created by the author. I think this whole idea of these special powers and the isolation of people who display them is a clever idea. Everything is also pretty well explained and makes sense in the context of the whole story. Powers, especially of Damien, are remarkably interesting.
The characters are well written too, it was easy for me to like the main characters - Damien and Blaze. It is a short book, but the characters are well-defined and have depth. The author did a great job of letting us know the characters through their actions and not just descriptions. We discover Blaze's soft heart and Damien's complex personality for ourselves.
I think Damien and Blaze go well together and make a great couple. I like that in the bedroom, Blaze is not the dominant partner as is usually the case with physically larger heroes. But I also like the way Blaze looks after Damien without putting him down, and that Damien discovers pretty quickly that Blaze is not all about muscle and mouthfulness. I could easily see the respect the main characters have for each other.
The plot is interesting, and the suspense part is fairly good. I really like that the whole mystery was not too simple, and that Damien and Blaze stumbled upon the wrong leads before they found out exactly what happened. It's much more interesting and realistic than if they just found all the kids together in one place. A few things surprised me, including the darker things about finding the first two children. I also like how the plot allows the main characters to get to know each other better and show their true character.
This should be the first book in the series, but I do not see the author planning to publish a second one, which is a pity, because I would love to return to this world, with this pair of heroes or with some others. I believe there is still a lot to discover. I feel this may be a book that I will be rereading soon. Despite the darker parts, there's something soothing about this story about two guys who found each other and how Damien finally found someone who understood and loves him as he is.
I really liked the world created by the author. I think this whole idea of these special powers and the isolation of people who display them is a clever idea. Everything is also pretty well explained and makes sense in the context of the whole story. Powers, especially of Damien, are remarkably interesting.
The characters are well written too, it was easy for me to like the main characters - Damien and Blaze. It is a short book, but the characters are well-defined and have depth. The author did a great job of letting us know the characters through their actions and not just descriptions. We discover Blaze's soft heart and Damien's complex personality for ourselves.
I think Damien and Blaze go well together and make a great couple. I like that in the bedroom, Blaze is not the dominant partner as is usually the case with physically larger heroes. But I also like the way Blaze looks after Damien without putting him down, and that Damien discovers pretty quickly that Blaze is not all about muscle and mouthfulness. I could easily see the respect the main characters have for each other.
The plot is interesting, and the suspense part is fairly good. I really like that the whole mystery was not too simple, and that Damien and Blaze stumbled upon the wrong leads before they found out exactly what happened. It's much more interesting and realistic than if they just found all the kids together in one place. A few things surprised me, including the darker things about finding the first two children. I also like how the plot allows the main characters to get to know each other better and show their true character.
This should be the first book in the series, but I do not see the author planning to publish a second one, which is a pity, because I would love to return to this world, with this pair of heroes or with some others. I believe there is still a lot to discover. I feel this may be a book that I will be rereading soon. Despite the darker parts, there's something soothing about this story about two guys who found each other and how Damien finally found someone who understood and loves him as he is.
December 1, 2015
3.5
I'm having good luck with this author's paranormals: I really enjoyed the X-men-type story about "variants." You read this author for the well-drawn characters and dynamic between the leads. I loved both Blaze and Damien here, and especially admired the small notes like how Blaze gives Damien space to deal with his issues without acting like it's a big deal. (ALSO there are MANTIES, including blue velvet ones!!!) I've noticed that Martinez seems to like bringing ex-lovers into her stories in ways that always feel fresh and constructive, unlike the usual caricatured nightmares or annoying love triangles.
Like Quinn's Gambit, this is a low-key read: there is no big villain or enduring threat that needs to be conquered, which means that unlike X-men there's no overarching allegorical theme or sense of larger consequences to the story. That's refreshing in that it keeps the focus entirely on the main relationship, and too often those big bads are rote or just dumb; but it also gives the paranormal world less heft than it might have--or to say the same thing in another way, makes the book feel a bit slight.
Still, paranormal is one of my favorite genres, but also the one I have the worst luck with in terms of books I can actually finish. Martinez has the gift of consistency: her books are always well-written, with interesting, believable characters, and great sexytimes (including here MANTIES!!!) That's enough to earn her a permanent place on my auto-buy list.
I'm having good luck with this author's paranormals: I really enjoyed the X-men-type story about "variants." You read this author for the well-drawn characters and dynamic between the leads. I loved both Blaze and Damien here, and especially admired the small notes like how Blaze gives Damien space to deal with his issues without acting like it's a big deal. (ALSO there are MANTIES, including blue velvet ones!!!) I've noticed that Martinez seems to like bringing ex-lovers into her stories in ways that always feel fresh and constructive, unlike the usual caricatured nightmares or annoying love triangles.
Like Quinn's Gambit, this is a low-key read: there is no big villain or enduring threat that needs to be conquered, which means that unlike X-men there's no overarching allegorical theme or sense of larger consequences to the story. That's refreshing in that it keeps the focus entirely on the main relationship, and too often those big bads are rote or just dumb; but it also gives the paranormal world less heft than it might have--or to say the same thing in another way, makes the book feel a bit slight.
Still, paranormal is one of my favorite genres, but also the one I have the worst luck with in terms of books I can actually finish. Martinez has the gift of consistency: her books are always well-written, with interesting, believable characters, and great sexytimes (including here MANTIES!!!) That's enough to earn her a permanent place on my auto-buy list.
January 3, 2014
4 STARS
MY 1ST READ OF 2014 AND I LOVED IT!!!
I’m not really into the Sci-Fi/Dystopian genre but the more I read of it I really enjoy! THIS BOOK WAS STELLAR!
Damien- Ahhhhhhh I loved him from the beginning, he seemed so broken and lonely, and my heart hurt for him. I wanted to just hug him lots and lots and always.
Blaze- Oh whaaaat a Blaze of glory ;) I love him, his sarcasm, his wit, his heart, him him him him
The story is fast paced and really interesting. The plot kept you wanting more.
Fire starters, trackers, earthquakes, heartaches.
The supporting characters you either loved or hated. For them there was no in between.
There were things that I didn’t get, like wtf it was that they were driving? I was really hoping for pics at some points but you know what, it worked so who cares! After a while I just pictured what I wanted to picture and it was even better ;)
The sexual chemistry and the sexual tension was delicious! Loved it.
Loved Blaze’s jealousy, loved Damien’s jealousy. LOVED.IT
The angst is subtle, there is sarcasm in spades, and the ending made my heart sing.
Try- Macy Gray- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEQ0l_...
Book 2 as this is a series, I’m pretty sure it is about Shudder and I can’t freaking wait cause he deserves his HEA.
Mare-Slitsread
December 5, 2013
4.5+ stars rounded up. I love a good paranormal/sci-fi story. Add in two quirky, very different, flawed but likeable men, smoldering sexual tension, a hurt-comfort theme, and a believable (to me anyway) romance, I'm happy. There is not a lot of smut in this book and that is more than ok with me. The best books I have read in this genre use sex scenes very judiciously and to great effect. I liked the interesting take on genetic mutants with special abilities (called "variants" here). I'm eagerly awaiting more in this series from Ms. Martinez.
January 26, 2014
Note: A free copy of this book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I honestly don’t know what word to use to describe this story. Outstanding? Amazing? Phenomenal? Perhaps I’ll just use all three. It was also highly creative and original, exciting, suspenseful, and I truly didn’t want it to end. I couldn’t put it down, but I tried to read slowly because I was enjoying it so much that I felt I needed to savor every page.
The author created a future world where scientists developed a new nucleic acid, fredamine. It was designed to alleviate a variety of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Multiple Sclerosis. But there were also recessive gene traits which caused some children to be born with special gifts. The children are called variants and are usually sent to a special school so that they will be with others like them. It may also be because “normal” people don’t want to mingle with them. The variants have formed an agency, the Guild, which acts to promote, protect and police the variant population. Not all variants care to work for the Guild but some are available as contractors when special cases arise.
One such man is Damien, a locator. His ability to locate people is desperately needed by the Guild when over twenty students from the Western Academy have been reported missing. The Academy is one of the two special variant schools in the US. Damien suffers from OCD, and is neurotic and introverted as well. When contracted for this job, he’s assigned a helper whose role is to guard Damien and provide muscle and fire power—literally, since Blaze is a sparker, a variant who can ignite fire from his fingers.
Though resistant to having a partner, Damien finally agrees and the two set out to locate the students. Unfortunately, the first two students Damien locates are dead. At the site, the partners encounter a group of extremists in a “variant free zone” and chaos ensues with Damien losing his mind and beating one of the men to death with a shovel. Fortunately, though slightly wounded, Blaze is able to subdue the others and Damien is able to summon a Guild rapid response team to the area to help with exhuming the bodies and securing the area.
It’s through this first incident that Blaze finally sees the effect that Damien’s early life and neurosis have had on him mentally and emotionally. Damien breaks down and shares a bit of his past with Blaze when he also discovers that he’s more at ease around Blaze than he ever has been with anyone else. Moving onward on their quest to find more of the missing students, they discover an isolated camp run by Shudder, a variant who was once Blaze’s boyfriend and is now on the outskirts of the law, both from the Guild and the federal agencies. But Shudder offers to help them in their quest and ultimately joins them, providing his own special talent— the ability to make the earth move when they need it to rescue the next group of students.
Throughout this time, Blaze and Damien had been getting closer but Damien fears that Blaze still loves Shudder and that he’ll never be able to have a future with him. On the final leg of their journey, Shudder has virtually collapsed from a head wound he received during the last rescue and has to be carried by Blaze as the little group comes upon the location of the final group of students. The twist the story takes at this point is unexpected but perfectly fitting for these missing young variants.
This story is so much more complex than my simple summary indicates. It just has to be read to be appreciated. The physical journey to find these groups of students covers multiple states, and the author’s descriptions of our country after it had been devastated by war, famine, and disease is amazing. The outcome for each group of students is highly detailed and the final destination of the last group of students found was a nice surprise.
My heart broke for Damien as he said goodbye to Blaze, knowing that he could never have a long term relationship with this man, a man who deserved a more “normal” life partner. His follow-up discussion with Dr. Parma, the head of the Guild, and the things we learn about Damien’s past throughout the story, just endeared him to me. Do the guys get a happy ending? Well yes, they do. But it’s hard won and well deserved and, if you’re like me, you may shed a tear of happiness for these wonderful men at that point.
I highly recommend this one to all lovers of M/M romance, as well as those who enjoy sci-fi futuristic post-apocalyptic adventures generated by an author with a vivid imagination and highly descriptive writing style. You’ll be engaged from the very first chapter. Don’t miss out on this one.
I honestly don’t know what word to use to describe this story. Outstanding? Amazing? Phenomenal? Perhaps I’ll just use all three. It was also highly creative and original, exciting, suspenseful, and I truly didn’t want it to end. I couldn’t put it down, but I tried to read slowly because I was enjoying it so much that I felt I needed to savor every page.
The author created a future world where scientists developed a new nucleic acid, fredamine. It was designed to alleviate a variety of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Multiple Sclerosis. But there were also recessive gene traits which caused some children to be born with special gifts. The children are called variants and are usually sent to a special school so that they will be with others like them. It may also be because “normal” people don’t want to mingle with them. The variants have formed an agency, the Guild, which acts to promote, protect and police the variant population. Not all variants care to work for the Guild but some are available as contractors when special cases arise.
One such man is Damien, a locator. His ability to locate people is desperately needed by the Guild when over twenty students from the Western Academy have been reported missing. The Academy is one of the two special variant schools in the US. Damien suffers from OCD, and is neurotic and introverted as well. When contracted for this job, he’s assigned a helper whose role is to guard Damien and provide muscle and fire power—literally, since Blaze is a sparker, a variant who can ignite fire from his fingers.
Though resistant to having a partner, Damien finally agrees and the two set out to locate the students. Unfortunately, the first two students Damien locates are dead. At the site, the partners encounter a group of extremists in a “variant free zone” and chaos ensues with Damien losing his mind and beating one of the men to death with a shovel. Fortunately, though slightly wounded, Blaze is able to subdue the others and Damien is able to summon a Guild rapid response team to the area to help with exhuming the bodies and securing the area.
It’s through this first incident that Blaze finally sees the effect that Damien’s early life and neurosis have had on him mentally and emotionally. Damien breaks down and shares a bit of his past with Blaze when he also discovers that he’s more at ease around Blaze than he ever has been with anyone else. Moving onward on their quest to find more of the missing students, they discover an isolated camp run by Shudder, a variant who was once Blaze’s boyfriend and is now on the outskirts of the law, both from the Guild and the federal agencies. But Shudder offers to help them in their quest and ultimately joins them, providing his own special talent— the ability to make the earth move when they need it to rescue the next group of students.
Throughout this time, Blaze and Damien had been getting closer but Damien fears that Blaze still loves Shudder and that he’ll never be able to have a future with him. On the final leg of their journey, Shudder has virtually collapsed from a head wound he received during the last rescue and has to be carried by Blaze as the little group comes upon the location of the final group of students. The twist the story takes at this point is unexpected but perfectly fitting for these missing young variants.
This story is so much more complex than my simple summary indicates. It just has to be read to be appreciated. The physical journey to find these groups of students covers multiple states, and the author’s descriptions of our country after it had been devastated by war, famine, and disease is amazing. The outcome for each group of students is highly detailed and the final destination of the last group of students found was a nice surprise.
My heart broke for Damien as he said goodbye to Blaze, knowing that he could never have a long term relationship with this man, a man who deserved a more “normal” life partner. His follow-up discussion with Dr. Parma, the head of the Guild, and the things we learn about Damien’s past throughout the story, just endeared him to me. Do the guys get a happy ending? Well yes, they do. But it’s hard won and well deserved and, if you’re like me, you may shed a tear of happiness for these wonderful men at that point.
I highly recommend this one to all lovers of M/M romance, as well as those who enjoy sci-fi futuristic post-apocalyptic adventures generated by an author with a vivid imagination and highly descriptive writing style. You’ll be engaged from the very first chapter. Don’t miss out on this one.
July 30, 2023
DNF ~60%
World-building and plot was interesting enough, and I found Damien intriguing, but Blaze was still being a massive asshole over half-way through the book, and the weird focus on Blaze's ex honestly had me wondering if this was gonna be MMM or if Blaze/Damien are even supposed to be the main couple. There was also a surprise bit of kinkiness, which I like in theory, and the panty kink itself doesn't squick me, but it just really wasn't what I wanted from this book. In looking at the blurb for book two, the MMM aspect is even more unclear and while I can and do read/enjoy poly books, I really want to know that is going to be the case before I start reading. Having just read a book on writing, I think I'm even more aware of the sense of being lied to or tricked by the author, going into a book expecting one thing and being delivered several something elses--even if I might have enjoyed those something elses had I gone in with those expectations, the bait and switch has left me feeling actively displeased.
World-building and plot was interesting enough, and I found Damien intriguing, but Blaze was still being a massive asshole over half-way through the book, and the weird focus on Blaze's ex honestly had me wondering if this was gonna be MMM or if Blaze/Damien are even supposed to be the main couple. There was also a surprise bit of kinkiness, which I like in theory, and the panty kink itself doesn't squick me, but it just really wasn't what I wanted from this book. In looking at the blurb for book two, the MMM aspect is even more unclear and while I can and do read/enjoy poly books, I really want to know that is going to be the case before I start reading. Having just read a book on writing, I think I'm even more aware of the sense of being lied to or tricked by the author, going into a book expecting one thing and being delivered several something elses--even if I might have enjoyed those something elses had I gone in with those expectations, the bait and switch has left me feeling actively displeased.
January 27, 2014
4.5 out of 5 stars
***This book was provided free by the author in exchange for an honest review, through the Goodreads “Don't Buy My Love” program***
When I first started reading this book, I was struck by the similarities in this fantasy world to that of the X-men movies, to the point that it seemed like fanfiction, albeit extraordinarily well done fanfic. But the longer I read, the more I was drawn into the adventure, and I quit thinking of X-men! The setting is a future United States where the interior of the country has become almost entirely depopulated due to a variety of man-made and natural disasters. A miracle drug, Fredamine, had been introduced years ago, and though it cured many previously incurable diseases, it had the unforeseen property of leading to the birth of “variants” – like the mutants of the X-men – who have all kinds of superpowers. Some of the variants joined together to form the Guild, which works with government agencies to keep the peace and protect the populace. But, again like the X-men movies, some humans are suspicious of variants, and want them destroyed, locked away, and experimented upon.
The story starts with the disappearance of 20 or so children from the Western Variant Academy. The Guild steps in to solve the mystery and recover the children, and they contract Damien. Damien is a locator, who's variant ability is to find people by following invisible trails with his mind. He is profoundly distrustful of everyone, cannot bear to have people touch him, has severe OCD and anxiety and usually lives in an isolated cabin. He only leaves it because he cannot turn down a call to help variant children, but he usually works alone. Because this assignment is more dangerous than usual, the Guild also hires Blaze Emerson, a sparker who can control fire, to protect and assist Damien. Blaze is unpredictable, and used to people assuming he is violent and uncontrolled. The two men don't want to work with each other, but they have no choice, as for both this is a job they can't turn down.
There is fast paced adventure, surprising twists and turns, danger, bravery, and mystery. I couldn't put it down, and read to the wee hours! The characterization is amazing – I loved how there was a gradual revelation of what happened in the past to make Damien and Blaze into the damaged men they are now. As they discover and follow the trails of the missing children into the wilds of the interior, they reluctantly start trusting each other, and eventually become lovers. They run across Shudders McKenzie, a variant activist (or terrorist, depending upon viewpoint) and old lover of Blaze's, whom they recruit to their mission even though his presence creates a pseudo-love triangle and threatens to disrupt the fragile bond forming between Damien and Blaze.
I really want to see more of this story – it just seems like the perfect start to a series! (I see that it is listed as Variant Configurations #1, so I am hopeful!) I want to see Damien and Blaze go out on another mission, and I want to see how their relationship prospers (or doesn't!). I want to see Shudders continue his crusading for variant rights. I want to see more of the Guild, and the variants outside the guild. I want to know more of what happens to the humans and variants out in the wilderness that was America's heartland. I want to know the history of this world as well as it's future. Ms. Martinez is an exceptionally talented author, and I would love to see her take this story and continue to move further away from the X-men similarities. I gave the book 4.5 rather than 5 stars only because the ending seemed so abrupt, but I'll change that if/when a new book comes out….
***This book was provided free by the author in exchange for an honest review, through the Goodreads “Don't Buy My Love” program***
When I first started reading this book, I was struck by the similarities in this fantasy world to that of the X-men movies, to the point that it seemed like fanfiction, albeit extraordinarily well done fanfic. But the longer I read, the more I was drawn into the adventure, and I quit thinking of X-men! The setting is a future United States where the interior of the country has become almost entirely depopulated due to a variety of man-made and natural disasters. A miracle drug, Fredamine, had been introduced years ago, and though it cured many previously incurable diseases, it had the unforeseen property of leading to the birth of “variants” – like the mutants of the X-men – who have all kinds of superpowers. Some of the variants joined together to form the Guild, which works with government agencies to keep the peace and protect the populace. But, again like the X-men movies, some humans are suspicious of variants, and want them destroyed, locked away, and experimented upon.
The story starts with the disappearance of 20 or so children from the Western Variant Academy. The Guild steps in to solve the mystery and recover the children, and they contract Damien. Damien is a locator, who's variant ability is to find people by following invisible trails with his mind. He is profoundly distrustful of everyone, cannot bear to have people touch him, has severe OCD and anxiety and usually lives in an isolated cabin. He only leaves it because he cannot turn down a call to help variant children, but he usually works alone. Because this assignment is more dangerous than usual, the Guild also hires Blaze Emerson, a sparker who can control fire, to protect and assist Damien. Blaze is unpredictable, and used to people assuming he is violent and uncontrolled. The two men don't want to work with each other, but they have no choice, as for both this is a job they can't turn down.
There is fast paced adventure, surprising twists and turns, danger, bravery, and mystery. I couldn't put it down, and read to the wee hours! The characterization is amazing – I loved how there was a gradual revelation of what happened in the past to make Damien and Blaze into the damaged men they are now. As they discover and follow the trails of the missing children into the wilds of the interior, they reluctantly start trusting each other, and eventually become lovers. They run across Shudders McKenzie, a variant activist (or terrorist, depending upon viewpoint) and old lover of Blaze's, whom they recruit to their mission even though his presence creates a pseudo-love triangle and threatens to disrupt the fragile bond forming between Damien and Blaze.
I really want to see more of this story – it just seems like the perfect start to a series! (I see that it is listed as Variant Configurations #1, so I am hopeful!) I want to see Damien and Blaze go out on another mission, and I want to see how their relationship prospers (or doesn't!). I want to see Shudders continue his crusading for variant rights. I want to see more of the Guild, and the variants outside the guild. I want to know more of what happens to the humans and variants out in the wilderness that was America's heartland. I want to know the history of this world as well as it's future. Ms. Martinez is an exceptionally talented author, and I would love to see her take this story and continue to move further away from the X-men similarities. I gave the book 4.5 rather than 5 stars only because the ending seemed so abrupt, but I'll change that if/when a new book comes out….
February 12, 2014
3.5 stars
The blurb for this sounded wayyyyyy cooler than the final project. In saying that, I still really liked this book, but it got a little draggy for me. Characters were good but the pacing just didn’t hold my interest.
Damien is a variant whose talent is the ability to locate people, in which the government tries to use him often for their missing person cases. He wants to be left alone and the less interaction he has, the more peaceful he feels. Blaze is a sparker, and just like with most sci-fi characters that have fire as a power, he can bring about flames usually the easiest when he’s at his most temperamental. The two of them are paired together to find some missing children (Damien as the locator and Blaze as Damien’s protector) and come across all kinds of different obstacles, from a government agency that may or may not have their best interests in mind, to an ex and rogue variant, to lost and determined individuals working towards a cause.
I loved Damien right from the start. I don’t know why but if you give me a character this is all scraggly and isolated from society by his own choice and because he’s a smart mofo; I’m usually sold. He’s broken and tired, but good at his power, even if it’s unwanted at many times. His issues and broken-man trope did become a bit tiring at times, but I still enjoyed him as a character. However, I did appreciate that the author combined his power and his anxiety and OCD tendencies together in a realistic way. The need at which Damien feels to control his surroundings and the need to feel safe and have others safe was written beautifully and with care.
Blaze made me laugh and he’s a very emotional feeler, he’s a protector, he’s been hurt before and it’s all a bit sad. There is a lot of sexual tension between Blaze and other characters and he seemed to be a nice, comfy guy that people wanted around them.
The plot is action-packed and initially moves fairly quickly. Right from the start I was totally interested in the missing children, Damien’s role, and whether or not some sinister actions or people were involved. But towards the second half everything started going downhill for me in regards to tension, character relationships, and whether the ‘cause’ felt fresh and interesting. I kept wanting something awful to stand out, something to root against, but there wasn’t really anything that was so cut and dry. A third character had personality enough, but what was presented felt unfinished. Maybe we’ll get to delve deeper in to him in future books? But that brings me to my next problem…I felt more connection between Blaze and this third character than I did between Blaze and Damien. It isn’t necessarily the author’s fault or anything written there or not written there for me to feel that way. I can see that the way it’s written, Damien and Blaze are affectionate and have a ying/yang ease with each other, but I still felt more of connection with the other two men. I guess maybe I wish that the added drama of this had been excluded so I could focus solely on the two main characters and their fight with the outside world.
Overall I liked this. I’d definitely read the next book, but I’m not necessarily desperate to read it. It’s good, solid fun with likable characters and a nice X-Men-ish plot line.
The blurb for this sounded wayyyyyy cooler than the final project. In saying that, I still really liked this book, but it got a little draggy for me. Characters were good but the pacing just didn’t hold my interest.
Damien is a variant whose talent is the ability to locate people, in which the government tries to use him often for their missing person cases. He wants to be left alone and the less interaction he has, the more peaceful he feels. Blaze is a sparker, and just like with most sci-fi characters that have fire as a power, he can bring about flames usually the easiest when he’s at his most temperamental. The two of them are paired together to find some missing children (Damien as the locator and Blaze as Damien’s protector) and come across all kinds of different obstacles, from a government agency that may or may not have their best interests in mind, to an ex and rogue variant, to lost and determined individuals working towards a cause.
I loved Damien right from the start. I don’t know why but if you give me a character this is all scraggly and isolated from society by his own choice and because he’s a smart mofo; I’m usually sold. He’s broken and tired, but good at his power, even if it’s unwanted at many times. His issues and broken-man trope did become a bit tiring at times, but I still enjoyed him as a character. However, I did appreciate that the author combined his power and his anxiety and OCD tendencies together in a realistic way. The need at which Damien feels to control his surroundings and the need to feel safe and have others safe was written beautifully and with care.
Blaze made me laugh and he’s a very emotional feeler, he’s a protector, he’s been hurt before and it’s all a bit sad. There is a lot of sexual tension between Blaze and other characters and he seemed to be a nice, comfy guy that people wanted around them.
The plot is action-packed and initially moves fairly quickly. Right from the start I was totally interested in the missing children, Damien’s role, and whether or not some sinister actions or people were involved. But towards the second half everything started going downhill for me in regards to tension, character relationships, and whether the ‘cause’ felt fresh and interesting. I kept wanting something awful to stand out, something to root against, but there wasn’t really anything that was so cut and dry. A third character had personality enough, but what was presented felt unfinished. Maybe we’ll get to delve deeper in to him in future books? But that brings me to my next problem…I felt more connection between Blaze and this third character than I did between Blaze and Damien. It isn’t necessarily the author’s fault or anything written there or not written there for me to feel that way. I can see that the way it’s written, Damien and Blaze are affectionate and have a ying/yang ease with each other, but I still felt more of connection with the other two men. I guess maybe I wish that the added drama of this had been excluded so I could focus solely on the two main characters and their fight with the outside world.
Overall I liked this. I’d definitely read the next book, but I’m not necessarily desperate to read it. It’s good, solid fun with likable characters and a nice X-Men-ish plot line.
August 3, 2015
Definitely went into my 2014 best book read list!
5+++ Stars.
I honestly am going to add Damien + Blaze in my favorite couples list. Here is the thing, there wasn't any sex involved, unless you count mutual oral stimulation other than those few moments no penetration and this book still rocked.
We begin the book with Damien chiseling ice away in never never land. Cannot remember where he was at exactly. He was having a moment when two feds showed up at his property. Then he kinda zonked out whenever this new feb decided to cross that boundary line and touch him. It was almost like when Bilbo Baggins in the Fellowship of The Ring zonked out when he saw Frodo with the ring in Riverdale! How his face morphed, and he lost himself (Note to self, try to find photo of that picture for review)
Now to explain this reaction he is what is called a Variant, Variant are people who are born with this special strand in the DNA, that makes them special. Damien is a locator, which means he can people. He does work for the government sometimes, but according to his own tragedy. He goes and meets Dr. Parma who I think is his surrogate mother, and in walks badass Blaze Emerson, resident bad boy, shit starter and mother killer. The last is true but only in the sense he had no control. Blaze variant is a sparker, who can produce fire and use it well.
Plot, plot, plot, realization that it is sexual tension, kiss here, kiss there, Shudder Mackenzie makes his on page debut. I kinds liked him. Of course more plot, which is good, more sexual tension, and a dominant Damien in the bedroom or lack there of whenever these things go down. All in all this superseded anything that I thought was going to happen. They work well together, Blaze is a protective SOB, who falls in love with a scared, timid, Damien. I cannot wait until book 2.
5+++ Stars.
I honestly am going to add Damien + Blaze in my favorite couples list. Here is the thing, there wasn't any sex involved, unless you count mutual oral stimulation other than those few moments no penetration and this book still rocked.
We begin the book with Damien chiseling ice away in never never land. Cannot remember where he was at exactly. He was having a moment when two feds showed up at his property. Then he kinda zonked out whenever this new feb decided to cross that boundary line and touch him. It was almost like when Bilbo Baggins in the Fellowship of The Ring zonked out when he saw Frodo with the ring in Riverdale! How his face morphed, and he lost himself (Note to self, try to find photo of that picture for review)
Now to explain this reaction he is what is called a Variant, Variant are people who are born with this special strand in the DNA, that makes them special. Damien is a locator, which means he can people. He does work for the government sometimes, but according to his own tragedy. He goes and meets Dr. Parma who I think is his surrogate mother, and in walks badass Blaze Emerson, resident bad boy, shit starter and mother killer. The last is true but only in the sense he had no control. Blaze variant is a sparker, who can produce fire and use it well.
Plot, plot, plot, realization that it is sexual tension, kiss here, kiss there, Shudder Mackenzie makes his on page debut. I kinds liked him. Of course more plot, which is good, more sexual tension, and a dominant Damien in the bedroom or lack there of whenever these things go down. All in all this superseded anything that I thought was going to happen. They work well together, Blaze is a protective SOB, who falls in love with a scared, timid, Damien. I cannot wait until book 2.
July 16, 2022
Love this! I loved the last version, and I love the new one. Can't wait for book 2!!!
November 28, 2022
This reads like one of the plentiful 'band of superheroes' movies being churned out these days; only difference being featured gay MCs and couple of secondaries. I liked the dynamic between Damien and Blaze (and Shudder) and the dystopian futuristic world building was quite good in parts. Happy to continue on with this new series (although the method used to keep the MCs apart so as to prolong the romantic tension was a little awkward/contrived). 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
January 28, 2014
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 Stars
Brilliant! That about sums the book up. If you enjoy a good paranormal/mystery story then you must read this book. Has a strong X-Men feel to it.
The book takes place in a dystopia world. Scientists developed fredamine, which was created to cure neurological diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s. Little did the scientists know that fredamine could potentially alter the genes in some children and cause them have special abilities. Those children that survive birth are called variants.
At the beginning of the book you meet Damien. He is an extremely rare variant called a locator. His ability is to locate individuals. Damien is a fantastic, complex character. He is very neurotic, suffers from OCD, and when he is pushed beyond his limit he violently lashes out. He comes across as needing protecting from the world around him, but he truly only needs protection from the turmoil in his head. Such an incredible character. Damien is contracted out with the Guild to find missing variant children. Though he usually works alone, due to the amount of children missing he is paired up with another variant, Blaze.
Blaze is the bad boy everyone loves. He is snarky and enjoys annoying people. He also has a huge reputation of being a bad ass and loose cannon. It is hard not to fall in love with Blaze. From the moment he meets Damien, he is drawn to protect the other variant but he also pushes Damien’s limits. Underneath is tough exterior Blaze has a heart of gold, though he might kill you if you say that to his face. These two make a great pair.
During Damien and Blaze’s search, you meet some great side characters. Martinez does an outstanding job creating a vibrant plot and well developed characters. Once you get started, you’ll have a hard time putting the book down. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.
4.5 Stars
Brilliant! That about sums the book up. If you enjoy a good paranormal/mystery story then you must read this book. Has a strong X-Men feel to it.
The book takes place in a dystopia world. Scientists developed fredamine, which was created to cure neurological diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s. Little did the scientists know that fredamine could potentially alter the genes in some children and cause them have special abilities. Those children that survive birth are called variants.
At the beginning of the book you meet Damien. He is an extremely rare variant called a locator. His ability is to locate individuals. Damien is a fantastic, complex character. He is very neurotic, suffers from OCD, and when he is pushed beyond his limit he violently lashes out. He comes across as needing protecting from the world around him, but he truly only needs protection from the turmoil in his head. Such an incredible character. Damien is contracted out with the Guild to find missing variant children. Though he usually works alone, due to the amount of children missing he is paired up with another variant, Blaze.
Blaze is the bad boy everyone loves. He is snarky and enjoys annoying people. He also has a huge reputation of being a bad ass and loose cannon. It is hard not to fall in love with Blaze. From the moment he meets Damien, he is drawn to protect the other variant but he also pushes Damien’s limits. Underneath is tough exterior Blaze has a heart of gold, though he might kill you if you say that to his face. These two make a great pair.
During Damien and Blaze’s search, you meet some great side characters. Martinez does an outstanding job creating a vibrant plot and well developed characters. Once you get started, you’ll have a hard time putting the book down. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.
February 5, 2018
4.2 Stars
Hey, this was really good! I will always love me some futuristic, dystopian scifi-based romance, especially when the guys have special powers or abilities. Throw in some conspiracy theory and a secret government experimental program targeting kids? Instant winner. Plus, the story was well-written and the specifics were interesting & inventive. I really wanna read more from this 'verse, and I hope it's Shudder's turn for the next love story...so I'm hoping that Angel doesn't leave this one orphaned forever...
Hey, this was really good! I will always love me some futuristic, dystopian scifi-based romance, especially when the guys have special powers or abilities. Throw in some conspiracy theory and a secret government experimental program targeting kids? Instant winner. Plus, the story was well-written and the specifics were interesting & inventive. I really wanna read more from this 'verse, and I hope it's Shudder's turn for the next love story...so I'm hoping that Angel doesn't leave this one orphaned forever...
Want to read
November 20, 2022Thank you for the gift, An Elf who "borrowed" Santa's gift bag!
September 4, 2016
Rarely Pure and Never Simple is the third book by Angel Martinez and has cemented her as a new favorite author for me. I enjoy her writing style, the worlds she builds and the complex characters who populate those worlds. (The other two books I also loved were Vassily the Beautiful and Gravitational Attraction.)
The setting of Rarely Pure and Never Simple is a dystopian future Earth in which much of the United States is a wasteland and an engineered genetic mutation causes a small percentage of people to be born with special abilities often accompanied by neurological issues. These people are called variants. The two main characters are both variants who eschew authority and refuse to join The Guild. They do, however, accept contract work from them and other organizations.
Blaze and Damien are both broken in their own ways. Blaze hides his behind anger, a sharp tongue, and a tendency to resolve conflict with his fists and guns. Yet, he is also surprisingly empathetic and tender with Damien. Damien is a hot mess; he does not tolerate other people well and maintains some semblance of control by isolating himself, burying his feelings and performing OCD rituals to make his environment stable. Yet, he is willing to forgo the safe environment he has created for himself in order to find a group of missing kids. I fell in love with both of them.
Shudder is a wonderful auxiliary character; he plays a bit bigger role in the story than side characters often do. His personality is quite opposite of both Damien and Blaze. Damien thinks of him as, "...ebullient, stubbornly cheerful..." He is also a variant activist; Blaze calls him a terrorist.
The search for the missing kids leads the reader and the characters on an exciting, dangerous adventure across the country. (Starting in the CA town where I grew up. :-) As their journey progresses, the relationship between Damien and Blaze grows and secrets from their past are revealed. I found their back stories and relationship development as interesting as the adventure - truly the emotional aspects were an adventure as well. I also loved how there was a sort of almost paranormal connections between the two MCs. Near the end of the book, Damien comes to the revelation that, "To be whole, one needed to first concede to being only half."
There are only a couple of sex scenes in the book, but in this case it is all about quality over quantity. I love the way Angel Martinez builds up to and then executes erotic scenes. Damien's little kink adds another bit of spice.
Throughout the book, Blaze and Damien play a game in which they try to use old or unusual words. As a reader I enjoyed the game as well, looking up words on my Kindle.
As this book is listed as "Variant Configurations #1," I am going to assume there are more to come. I look forward to additional stories in this series. I will definitely be reading them, as well as other books by Angel Martinez.
The setting of Rarely Pure and Never Simple is a dystopian future Earth in which much of the United States is a wasteland and an engineered genetic mutation causes a small percentage of people to be born with special abilities often accompanied by neurological issues. These people are called variants. The two main characters are both variants who eschew authority and refuse to join The Guild. They do, however, accept contract work from them and other organizations.
Blaze and Damien are both broken in their own ways. Blaze hides his behind anger, a sharp tongue, and a tendency to resolve conflict with his fists and guns. Yet, he is also surprisingly empathetic and tender with Damien. Damien is a hot mess; he does not tolerate other people well and maintains some semblance of control by isolating himself, burying his feelings and performing OCD rituals to make his environment stable. Yet, he is willing to forgo the safe environment he has created for himself in order to find a group of missing kids. I fell in love with both of them.
Shudder is a wonderful auxiliary character; he plays a bit bigger role in the story than side characters often do. His personality is quite opposite of both Damien and Blaze. Damien thinks of him as, "...ebullient, stubbornly cheerful..." He is also a variant activist; Blaze calls him a terrorist.
The search for the missing kids leads the reader and the characters on an exciting, dangerous adventure across the country. (Starting in the CA town where I grew up. :-) As their journey progresses, the relationship between Damien and Blaze grows and secrets from their past are revealed. I found their back stories and relationship development as interesting as the adventure - truly the emotional aspects were an adventure as well. I also loved how there was a sort of almost paranormal connections between the two MCs. Near the end of the book, Damien comes to the revelation that, "To be whole, one needed to first concede to being only half."
There are only a couple of sex scenes in the book, but in this case it is all about quality over quantity. I love the way Angel Martinez builds up to and then executes erotic scenes. Damien's little kink adds another bit of spice.
Throughout the book, Blaze and Damien play a game in which they try to use old or unusual words. As a reader I enjoyed the game as well, looking up words on my Kindle.
As this book is listed as "Variant Configurations #1," I am going to assume there are more to come. I look forward to additional stories in this series. I will definitely be reading them, as well as other books by Angel Martinez.
February 15, 2014
Rarely Pure and Never Simple is my first Angel Martinez book. I listened to her read from it at GRL and I thought it sounded interesting. I am very glad I finally picked it up!
In a futuristic world where gene therapy has had unexpected side effects, variants have been born. Some with minor talents, some with talents that are powerful. Some have super strength, others healing abilities and others that could be destructive such as Sparkers – like Blaze Emerson. He has fire at his fingertips and a bad attitude to go with it. Many of the variants end up joining the Guild. Their members work to protect humanity. Variants like Blaze, that choose to work independently, are not well thought of by the Guild members. Other variants, like Damien, have unique talents. Damien’s is for finding people, but his talent and his abuse as a child make it hard for him to be around other people. When he is contacted to track the missing children, he cannot say no. Guild director, Dr Parma, pairs Damien with Blaze for this job, much to Damien’s dismay but he reluctantly agrees and they set off in search of the children together.
I enjoyed the world building, the history of the creation of variants, the political intrigue and the way the author gradually developed her characters, giving them depth and drawing me in. I loved the way Damien and Blaze get to know one another; the nicknames Blaze gives Damien are funny and at the same time endearing. There is so much more to Blaze than what he lets the world see. Damien is not only carrying ghosts from his past, which can be triggered with deadly results, but his talent uses a lot of his strength and energy when he is tracking this many children at once,making him seem more vulnerable than he is.
While the story builds with the pursuit of the lost children, we have the relationship building between Damien and Blaze. We also have another variant enter the picture, Shudder. Shudder is an activist. He is working for variant rights but with a more disruptive approach. Blaze refers to him as a Robin Hood terrorist and does not approve of his methods. What we learn is that Shudder and Blaze had meant a lot to each other at one time and when Damien asks Shudder to help them in their search, things get a bit complicated.
Damien and Blaze complement each other well and I even grew to like Shudder for all his reckless behavior. The mystery centering on finding the lost children and determining who took them and why was well done. I enjoyed the futuristic setting and even though some of the descriptions were of a bleak broken America, there was optimism, humor and hope. This and the banter between the characters kept it from having a dystopian feel. I am very happy with the ending and I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.
In a futuristic world where gene therapy has had unexpected side effects, variants have been born. Some with minor talents, some with talents that are powerful. Some have super strength, others healing abilities and others that could be destructive such as Sparkers – like Blaze Emerson. He has fire at his fingertips and a bad attitude to go with it. Many of the variants end up joining the Guild. Their members work to protect humanity. Variants like Blaze, that choose to work independently, are not well thought of by the Guild members. Other variants, like Damien, have unique talents. Damien’s is for finding people, but his talent and his abuse as a child make it hard for him to be around other people. When he is contacted to track the missing children, he cannot say no. Guild director, Dr Parma, pairs Damien with Blaze for this job, much to Damien’s dismay but he reluctantly agrees and they set off in search of the children together.
I enjoyed the world building, the history of the creation of variants, the political intrigue and the way the author gradually developed her characters, giving them depth and drawing me in. I loved the way Damien and Blaze get to know one another; the nicknames Blaze gives Damien are funny and at the same time endearing. There is so much more to Blaze than what he lets the world see. Damien is not only carrying ghosts from his past, which can be triggered with deadly results, but his talent uses a lot of his strength and energy when he is tracking this many children at once,making him seem more vulnerable than he is.
While the story builds with the pursuit of the lost children, we have the relationship building between Damien and Blaze. We also have another variant enter the picture, Shudder. Shudder is an activist. He is working for variant rights but with a more disruptive approach. Blaze refers to him as a Robin Hood terrorist and does not approve of his methods. What we learn is that Shudder and Blaze had meant a lot to each other at one time and when Damien asks Shudder to help them in their search, things get a bit complicated.
Damien and Blaze complement each other well and I even grew to like Shudder for all his reckless behavior. The mystery centering on finding the lost children and determining who took them and why was well done. I enjoyed the futuristic setting and even though some of the descriptions were of a bleak broken America, there was optimism, humor and hope. This and the banter between the characters kept it from having a dystopian feel. I am very happy with the ending and I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.
June 20, 2014
Fast forward to a time on Earth when viruses have wiped out most of the population. Genetic engineering has cured most of the world's major illnesses, but with unintended consequences. Variants are a small portion of the population who are born genetically enhanced. Sometimes this is a good thing as they can be gifted with strength, the ability to manipulate the elements, see into the future.... think X-Men meets magic. What the government doesn't want advertised is that some variants are plagued with terrible side effects, are barely able to function in society, and that a portion of variants are born with mutations so extreme that they are unable to survive.
The Guild, an organization tasked with blending variants into society, is as politically influenced as any large organization, and not all variants trust their motives.
Enter Blaze and Damian, two variants who find themselves reluctantly drawn into service by the Guild. When variant children begin to mysteriously disappear these two are assigned the dual mission of locating the missing children as well as discovering who is taking them... and why.
Damaged by their own traumatic experiences, untrusting of the Guild that is now employing them, and reluctant to trust themselves, let alone each other, the mission becomes more complex by the moment. The nearly irresistible attraction growing between Blaze and Damian is not making working together any easier.
Angel Martinez expertly weaves a depth of emotion into her damaged characters that effortlessly draws readers into her world. Well written and edited, this book is a pleasure to read. With futuristic settings, complex and engaging characters, descriptive landscapes and enough action and adventure to satisfy any reader looking for more than a contemporary romance, Rarely Pure and Never Simple is sure to appeal to a broad reading audience. There is truly something for everyone in this book. This steamy romance is sure to light a fire in your imagination, making this a story readers are reluctant to put down!
A copy of Rarely Pure and Never Simple was provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
The Guild, an organization tasked with blending variants into society, is as politically influenced as any large organization, and not all variants trust their motives.
Enter Blaze and Damian, two variants who find themselves reluctantly drawn into service by the Guild. When variant children begin to mysteriously disappear these two are assigned the dual mission of locating the missing children as well as discovering who is taking them... and why.
Damaged by their own traumatic experiences, untrusting of the Guild that is now employing them, and reluctant to trust themselves, let alone each other, the mission becomes more complex by the moment. The nearly irresistible attraction growing between Blaze and Damian is not making working together any easier.
Angel Martinez expertly weaves a depth of emotion into her damaged characters that effortlessly draws readers into her world. Well written and edited, this book is a pleasure to read. With futuristic settings, complex and engaging characters, descriptive landscapes and enough action and adventure to satisfy any reader looking for more than a contemporary romance, Rarely Pure and Never Simple is sure to appeal to a broad reading audience. There is truly something for everyone in this book. This steamy romance is sure to light a fire in your imagination, making this a story readers are reluctant to put down!
A copy of Rarely Pure and Never Simple was provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
December 4, 2014
I really enjoyed this book, when I finished it this morning, I had a smile on my face, it made me happy.
Blaze is cranky, angry, tough, and tries to be so hard, but underneath he is caring and compassionate, I loved how he instinctively got Damien and knew just how to help him; and Damien is so damaged and hurting, it is a joy to see him opening up to Blaze and learning how to be happy.
All this is happening in a dismal future where genetic manipulation has cured many neurological diseases, but has had some unforeseen side effects, leading to children being born with varying abilities, Blaze is a sparkler, he can create fire, Damien is a locator, he can find anyone anywhere. People with these enhanced abilities are called Variants, a large # of Variant children have gone missing and Damien is called in to find them.
That is where the story begins, there are a lot of trails to follow leading Blaze and Damien into danger, lots of action and excitement, gun battles, earthquakes and sexy underwear. Read this!
Blaze is cranky, angry, tough, and tries to be so hard, but underneath he is caring and compassionate, I loved how he instinctively got Damien and knew just how to help him; and Damien is so damaged and hurting, it is a joy to see him opening up to Blaze and learning how to be happy.
All this is happening in a dismal future where genetic manipulation has cured many neurological diseases, but has had some unforeseen side effects, leading to children being born with varying abilities, Blaze is a sparkler, he can create fire, Damien is a locator, he can find anyone anywhere. People with these enhanced abilities are called Variants, a large # of Variant children have gone missing and Damien is called in to find them.
That is where the story begins, there are a lot of trails to follow leading Blaze and Damien into danger, lots of action and excitement, gun battles, earthquakes and sexy underwear. Read this!
January 16, 2015
Very well done, inventive, unexpected, and very enjoyable. Beautiful cover too! 3.5 stars rounded up.
I did not expect the plot to go quite the way it did, I thought it was going to be more tortured and convoluted, but I really liked its comparative simplicity and straightforward manner.
Paranormal, slightly post-apocalyptic (but many survived and continued instead of few), definitely an interesting world with a lot of prejudice and problems. Perfect set up for a great series.
And I loved how the MC's didn't mince around the romance. Once one of them made up his mind as to what he wanted, he went for it (whether it was to run towards or away from the other).
Excited for the next one!
I did not expect the plot to go quite the way it did, I thought it was going to be more tortured and convoluted, but I really liked its comparative simplicity and straightforward manner.
Paranormal, slightly post-apocalyptic (but many survived and continued instead of few), definitely an interesting world with a lot of prejudice and problems. Perfect set up for a great series.
And I loved how the MC's didn't mince around the romance. Once one of them made up his mind as to what he wanted, he went for it (whether it was to run towards or away from the other).
Excited for the next one!
July 22, 2014
4-4.5
Конечно, ассоциации с X-Men не избежны.
Блэйз упорно напоминал мне Хеллбоя, без красной кожи, хвоста и рогов, но такой же милый засранец. А уж его фетиш, ну такой обаяшка))) Дэмиена хотелось обнять и пожалеть. После всего пережитого и со всеми его психическими проблемами, такая сила духа.
Герои заставляли переживать и улыбаться, а приключения одно за другим не позволяли перевести дух. Хотела бы я только более расширенного эпилога, порадоваться за них подольше))) Сиквел был бы просто счастьем, эх...
Конечно, ассоциации с X-Men не избежны.
Блэйз упорно напоминал мне Хеллбоя, без красной кожи, хвоста и рогов, но такой же милый засранец. А уж его фетиш, ну такой обаяшка))) Дэмиена хотелось обнять и пожалеть. После всего пережитого и со всеми его психическими проблемами, такая сила духа.
Герои заставляли переживать и улыбаться, а приключения одно за другим не позволяли перевести дух. Хотела бы я только более расширенного эпилога, порадоваться за них подольше))) Сиквел был бы просто счастьем, эх...
August 8, 2022
This is a terrific read. I want more.
August 27, 2022
Not really a slow burn. Started interesting and then became boring
August 9, 2016
This book was provided to me in return for my honest review as part of the M/M Romance group's DBML program. I have not received any compensation for this review, it's freely given.
I thought this was a great read - it was well written, with the dystopian world-building, the characterization - I was able to easily connect to the MCs, and the snark! Oh how I love me some snark!
The Variants are people whose DNA has been genetically altered so that they have some sort of special gift. Damien's gift is that he'a able to locate people. He doesn't like taking contracts, but he can't turn down one that involves children. Blaze is an irreverent ass, but takes the job seriously & he's all about helping the children too. He gift, like his name implies is that he can start fires.
Because of past abuse issues, Damien has a rather severe case of OCD; he can't function if certain things are not done a certain way, he can't stand to be touched, & he can't have anyone behind him. He agrees to take a job finding 40 children missing from one of the Academies. Blaze is hired to guard his back, although Damien prefers to work alone.
Right away, Blaze knows that Damien has control issues and he's able to calm Damien down enough to be able to function normally. At least as normal as Damien can get. And for some reason, Damien feels like he can trust Blaze, even allows Blaze to touch him.
While out in the field, working to find the missing kids, the pair continues to form a bond. Soon, they become lovers; although finding Blaze's ex, Shudder McKenzie, seems to throw a bit of a wrench into the mix because it's fairly evident that those two still have some unresolved feelings for each other. It's never quite clear whether or not Shuds has some hope of reuniting with Blaze, but Shuds can definitely see that Blaze has fallen for Damien.
Shuds joins the pair on their quest to find more of the missing children once he's certain that the kids won't be returned against their will & that neither Blaze nor Damien have any intention of collecting the bounty hanging over his head.
Once all the children found, Damien cuts & runs; believing that Blaze deserves someone normal & that he'd be a danger to Blaze at some point later in the future. Blaze lets him go, but only for awhile then he tracks Damien down & convinces him that they should be together.
I was kind of concerned there for a bit because it looked like maybe the author was going to pursue a threesome with Damien, Blaze, & Shuds. And I was sure that it wasn't the right thing for any of the characters. But she kept the romance between Damien & Blaze & I am glad.
This is the first time I've ever read anything from this author & based on this story & I would love to read more of her work.
I thought this was a great read - it was well written, with the dystopian world-building, the characterization - I was able to easily connect to the MCs, and the snark! Oh how I love me some snark!
The Variants are people whose DNA has been genetically altered so that they have some sort of special gift. Damien's gift is that he'a able to locate people. He doesn't like taking contracts, but he can't turn down one that involves children. Blaze is an irreverent ass, but takes the job seriously & he's all about helping the children too. He gift, like his name implies is that he can start fires.
Because of past abuse issues, Damien has a rather severe case of OCD; he can't function if certain things are not done a certain way, he can't stand to be touched, & he can't have anyone behind him. He agrees to take a job finding 40 children missing from one of the Academies. Blaze is hired to guard his back, although Damien prefers to work alone.
Right away, Blaze knows that Damien has control issues and he's able to calm Damien down enough to be able to function normally. At least as normal as Damien can get. And for some reason, Damien feels like he can trust Blaze, even allows Blaze to touch him.
While out in the field, working to find the missing kids, the pair continues to form a bond. Soon, they become lovers; although finding Blaze's ex, Shudder McKenzie, seems to throw a bit of a wrench into the mix because it's fairly evident that those two still have some unresolved feelings for each other. It's never quite clear whether or not Shuds has some hope of reuniting with Blaze, but Shuds can definitely see that Blaze has fallen for Damien.
Shuds joins the pair on their quest to find more of the missing children once he's certain that the kids won't be returned against their will & that neither Blaze nor Damien have any intention of collecting the bounty hanging over his head.
Once all the children found, Damien cuts & runs; believing that Blaze deserves someone normal & that he'd be a danger to Blaze at some point later in the future. Blaze lets him go, but only for awhile then he tracks Damien down & convinces him that they should be together.
I was kind of concerned there for a bit because it looked like maybe the author was going to pursue a threesome with Damien, Blaze, & Shuds. And I was sure that it wasn't the right thing for any of the characters. But she kept the romance between Damien & Blaze & I am glad.
This is the first time I've ever read anything from this author & based on this story & I would love to read more of her work.
April 8, 2016
This book was provided to me in return for my honest review as part of the M/M Romance group's DBML program.
Martinez does an wonderfull job creating well developed, flawed but lovable characters along with an interesting plot. I had a hard time putting this book down once I started it. This book was a very enjoyable read and easily sets the stage for additioanl books in the series. I look forward to reading any and all books in the series.
I loved the banter between the two main characters, and enjoyed how the background of each character comes out as they open up about themselves to each other. It was nice to see things progressing from friends to lovers through the mission, and how that the two main characters seemed to fit well together even though they are two very different men with pasts that tend to keep them separated from others.
The only negative I have is I wish the story was longer. I wanted to spend more time with the MC's after the mission and see them start to build their relationship. There also seems to be a lot going on in the story, with government discrimination, protests, and secret government testing facilities and would have liked to have seen this fleshed out a bit. Maybe all that will come out more in the next book.
Overall, with this book, I believe Martinez has created appealing characters, along with a fast-paced, plot set in a very interesting sci-fi world. This is one that will be added to my re-read shelf and be enjoyed many times over. Definately one you should not miss if you enjoy sci-fi settings.
Martinez does an wonderfull job creating well developed, flawed but lovable characters along with an interesting plot. I had a hard time putting this book down once I started it. This book was a very enjoyable read and easily sets the stage for additioanl books in the series. I look forward to reading any and all books in the series.
I loved the banter between the two main characters, and enjoyed how the background of each character comes out as they open up about themselves to each other. It was nice to see things progressing from friends to lovers through the mission, and how that the two main characters seemed to fit well together even though they are two very different men with pasts that tend to keep them separated from others.
The only negative I have is I wish the story was longer. I wanted to spend more time with the MC's after the mission and see them start to build their relationship. There also seems to be a lot going on in the story, with government discrimination, protests, and secret government testing facilities and would have liked to have seen this fleshed out a bit. Maybe all that will come out more in the next book.
Overall, with this book, I believe Martinez has created appealing characters, along with a fast-paced, plot set in a very interesting sci-fi world. This is one that will be added to my re-read shelf and be enjoyed many times over. Definately one you should not miss if you enjoy sci-fi settings.
January 26, 2014
This book was given to me for an honest review.
The earth time period of this book is in the future after the disasters , super plagues and mass starvation of the late 21st century had wiped out 80% of the population. The population has come back with the help of gene manipulation. The people with this manipulation are known as Variants. People with gifts. Of course not all come out unscathed. There are many that are born with side effects, some with weird disorders or deformed so badly they don't make it. There is an organization known as the Guild, which is made up of Variants who are kind of like super hero's who go out and save people. Of course there are the people's right groups who want more control over the Variants and the Variants protesting againsts these controls. Ok so that basically describes the world.
The story is about these two variants, Damien who's gift is locating people, also a slightly neurotic OCD loner, and Blaze a tracker with a reputation for being a badass. These two, who are not a member of the guild, are asked to join together and find about 40 children missing from the Variant Acadamy. During the search the two men find their issues are accepted by the other and they become close. The search finds runaways, murder, kidnappings and possibly goverment involved lab testing.
I liked the fact that the "romance/sex" didn't over do the rest of the story. It is written well with side characters who's personalities round out the story. Who is behind the Lab testing? The government? I guess we'll see in the future books.
The earth time period of this book is in the future after the disasters , super plagues and mass starvation of the late 21st century had wiped out 80% of the population. The population has come back with the help of gene manipulation. The people with this manipulation are known as Variants. People with gifts. Of course not all come out unscathed. There are many that are born with side effects, some with weird disorders or deformed so badly they don't make it. There is an organization known as the Guild, which is made up of Variants who are kind of like super hero's who go out and save people. Of course there are the people's right groups who want more control over the Variants and the Variants protesting againsts these controls. Ok so that basically describes the world.
The story is about these two variants, Damien who's gift is locating people, also a slightly neurotic OCD loner, and Blaze a tracker with a reputation for being a badass. These two, who are not a member of the guild, are asked to join together and find about 40 children missing from the Variant Acadamy. During the search the two men find their issues are accepted by the other and they become close. The search finds runaways, murder, kidnappings and possibly goverment involved lab testing.
I liked the fact that the "romance/sex" didn't over do the rest of the story. It is written well with side characters who's personalities round out the story. Who is behind the Lab testing? The government? I guess we'll see in the future books.
January 27, 2014
(This book was received free in return for an honest review)
The author has created an “x-men” world of human variants all with different powers. Many of the characters assume names in regards to their abilities, which made them easier to remember. I loved the banter between the main characters of Damien, a human GPS-locator, and Blaze, a sparker (fire-wielder), and enjoyed how the background of each character comes out as they open up about themselves to each other. I was certain there was going to be an evil villain and ended up surprised with a possible government conspiracy. The author has set the stage well for additional books in the series and I look forward to reading them.
The author has created an “x-men” world of human variants all with different powers. Many of the characters assume names in regards to their abilities, which made them easier to remember. I loved the banter between the main characters of Damien, a human GPS-locator, and Blaze, a sparker (fire-wielder), and enjoyed how the background of each character comes out as they open up about themselves to each other. I was certain there was going to be an evil villain and ended up surprised with a possible government conspiracy. The author has set the stage well for additional books in the series and I look forward to reading them.
November 4, 2013
3.5 stars - Really enjoyed this one. Although I wanted to hug Damien half of the time, I admired his good heart and strength to push aside his own fears and 'twitches' in order to do what needed to be done. Blaze was perfect for him (and vice versa), every sexy, sarcastic, grouchy, and snarly piece of him. I loved their chemistry together and gratifying partnership, how they seemed to complete one another. Thought Shudder McKenzie was a riot, and loved the banter between him and Blaze. The plot wasn't necessary a new one, but the different take on it was interesting and left me wanting to see what else the author can come up with in this variant world.
d-n-f
September 13, 2016DNF @ 70% - I won't rate it as it's been too long. I remember it was enjoyable enough and there was something interesting about it that kept me reading so far, but after a while I just wanted to get to the ending...it just didn't hold my attention.
I'm going through and removing any books off my "Currently Reading" shelf as they've been there for months and I haven't come back to them - so this is yet another one. But I started it in March and haven't come back to it yet, so I think it's time!
I'm going through and removing any books off my "Currently Reading" shelf as they've been there for months and I haven't come back to them - so this is yet another one. But I started it in March and haven't come back to it yet, so I think it's time!
April 16, 2014
This story was amazingly well written and the world building and the back story of the Variants was dropped into the book in such a way as not to distract from the intrigue and romance . The interaction between the two main characters was wonderfully different as they were both written with major character flaws (OCD or Aggression etc.)but still had so many redeeming features that I fell in love with both Damien and Blaze. I am going to be reading the follow up Variant books as soon as I can.
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