The Harvest Young: Bound by Fate

The Next Generation #1

by M.A. Church

Half human and half Tah’Narian, Szin doesn’t fit with either race. His appearance is mainly human, but he’s able to have a young. Unfortunately, that’s his only Tah’Narian characteristic. He’s smaller and weaker than other young.Szin’s eighteenth birthday has passed and time’s running out. He has to stop his childhood friend, Takeo, from making the worst mistake of his claiming Szin as a mate. Takeo deserves an equal who’s as fierce as he is, something Szin most certainly is not. Since before Takeo was born, he’s known Szin was his. Nothing and no one, not even Szin, is going to stand in the way of claiming his mate. He understands Szin feels he isn’t good enough, and he’ll do anything to convince Szin otherwise. Including taking drastic measures to ensure his mate listens. Takeo is the ultimate blend of human, Tah’Narian, and Onfrevian DNA. He’s pure predator, and his sights are set on his mate.

Genres: M M Romance, Science Fiction, Aliens, Romance, BDSM, M M Science Fiction, Gay

175 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2016

About the author

M.A. Church is a true Southern belle who spent many years in the elementary education sector. Now she spends her days lost in fantasy worlds, arguing with hardheaded aliens on far-off planets, herding her numerous shifters, or trying to tempt her country boys away from their fishing poles. It’s a full time job, but hey, someone’s gotta do it!

When not writing, she’s on the back porch tending to the demanding wildlife around the pond in the backyard. The ducks are very outspoken. She’s married to her high school sweetheart, and they have two grown children.

Member of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America

My Facebook: MA churh http://www.facebook.com/pages/MA-Chur...

Reviews

[Gerbera_Reads]

06/19/2024 reread

** 2.75 stars **

After the Journey's End fast forward 18 years and we meet the next generation of Tah'Narians. I was really excited to read this one. I like the world, the characters and was really curious how the author was going to spin this new series. Well, it was okay. It didn't blew my socks off, that's for sure. It was way too short and rushed. The story had so much potential what with Szin's issues and insecurities. Takeo's character was very underdeveloped. It felt like almost the entire relationship was centered on physicality and sex. I know that off page they have felt the connection since childhood, but I needed this on page. One moment there is nothing from Szin, then the next it's all I love you. I didn't work for me at all. The trouble there in the end was so unnecessary. The book was cute and there were sweet moments between Szin and Takeo, but it really missed the mark for me.

[Serena Yates]

After reading and loving the ‘Harvest’ series, containing the adventures of the “older generation” of Tah’Narians, humans, and Onfre, I was looking forward to finding out what “the next generation” would be up to. They are all mixed species due to the Tah’Narians’ infertility after a war with the Onfre, so each individual has slightly different DNA. The most different ones are probably twins Szin, who is mostly human except for his ability to bear children, and Raiden, who is all Tah’Narian warrior. Several hints were already dropped as to who was going to mate with whom from the time they were children, so I was curious to see how that would turn out. In this first book it’s Szin’s turn to deal with Takeo, and human and supposedly weaker though he may be, he doesn’t make it easy for the two of them!

Szin, with his mostly human DNA, has always felt like the odd one out. His father Dale used to be fully human before he was double-dosed with Tah’Narian DNA – but Dale never felt inferior, so he can’t really relate. Szin’s other father, Keyno, is a full Tah’Narian and very protective, but he can’t see Szin’s problem either. Szin’s twin, Raiden, knows about his issues, since they are very closely linked, but he has no idea how to help. And the fact is that Szin himself has to come to terms with who he is, accept his strengths and weaknesses, and believe that Takeo wants him exactly the way he is. And as if Szin didn’t have enough issues with his genetic heritage, he also feels the need to submit sexually – increasing his fear of appearing weak. He has a long way to go!

Takeo is a mix of his originally human father’s human and Tah’Narian DNA, and his Onfrevian father’s DNA. He has no issues with that heritage whatsoever, and has grown into a powerful warrior who knows exactly what he wants. And that is Szin for a mate, never mind what anyone else thinks. He is not unfeeling, after all he and Szin have been friends since they were very young, but he is tired of waiting. With Raiden’s help, Takeo sets out to convince Szin they are meant to be together, but it turns out to be far more challenging than Takeo expected.

If you want to know how “the young” from the ‘Harvest' series are doing, if you enjoy seeing the idea of “fated mates” tested by one very headstrong young human, and if you’re looking for a read that is entertaining, has a few suspenseful moments, and is very hot, then you will probably like this novella.


NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Lexi Ander]

I loved the Harvest Series from the beginning. Taken was deliciously angsty in all the right places. Journey's End was endearing and made me happy when reading it. Those two plus the Christmas installment have been regular rereads for me. So really, Bound by Fate was a book I couldn't resist. It was like... destiny. I was dying to know how the children were doing. In this first book of the Harvest Young series, Szin just turned eighteen and he's on a mission to lose his virginity because he wants to break the bond to Takeo. (Seriously, I gasped and was like, "Oh, no, baby boy! Tell Auntie Lexi what is wrong.)

If you're familiar with Journey's End, you'll remember how people reacted to Szin being Raiden's twin and his human appearance. Now imagine Szin growing up with those whispers and doubts and you won't be surprised that he often prayed to the Tah'Narian gods to give him the height and muscles like his twin. It broke my heart to see how Szin viewed himself, believing he wasn't good enough for Takeo.

Takeo was the child of the Onfre, Ti, and Cielo (gangster name, Colt). (Two seriously scary dudes.) Takeo was born with the mixed genetics of Onfre, Tah'Narian, and humans. "He's beauty and danger wrapped in one package." Hardheaded. Stubborn. Knowing what he wanted even if Szin didn't agree. Szin thinks he's doing the best thing for Takeo, giving him a way to find a stronger more suitable mate, even if it breaks Szin's heart.

Watching these two navigate their insecurities, poor choices, learning to trust each other, standing up and then alongside each other was awesome. I rooted for them from the beginning. I loved the relationship between Szin and his twin, Raiden. They were brothers and best friends, and holy cow, the amount of frosting those two could eat! It's all Dale's fault. I also enjoyed seeing some of the old gang with not only Szin's and Takeo's parents, Dale, Keyno, Ti, and Cielo, but Gibor, Doc, Malk, and King Duran. There is even a little bit of hint of Raiden's problem with his future mate (which I can't wait for) that set up anticipation for what is coming next.

If you haven't read the Harvest Series but would like to read Bound by Fate, I say hell-to-the-yes, go for it. This is well written and you can read it as a standalone. If you want a fuller experience I would suggest starting from the beginning with Taken: The Harvest, because really, what are you waiting for? This series will take you on an incredible journey no matter where you start.

Oh, you want me to rate it? I loved it! More please

[Michelle]

★★★ = It wasn't bad but it wasn't good. It was just okay.

I read this side story when it was free on Michelle's blog many years ago. It was a muchly-wanted extra surrounding the next generation from Keyno and Dale and the gang. Way back in 2009, The Harvest was one of my favourite books and one of my first MxM series. Since then, I have immersed myself into the MxM genres and have read many books, so, reading this after so many years reminded me on how far I have come with what to consider as 'a good read'. A lot can change in 7 years. I give this 3 stars as it does hold a little piece of my heart but I can not ignore that fact that it was short, lacking and a little jolted. I would not recommend reading this without the rest of the series, at all.

I mainly purchased this to support Michelle's works but cannot see myself reading it again.

[Aղցela W.]

This was an ok read for me. Szin and his twin brother Raiden are both half human and half Tah’Narian but Szin looks more human than his brother or anyone else in his friends and family other than his human dad. Szin has always known Takeo considered them fated to be mates almost since birth, but he keeps trying to convince himself as well as Takeo that he's not good enough for the powerful warrior. I didn't realize that this book was a sequel to another series. I felt that the book moved to fast at times. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling.

[K]

3.5 stars rounded up
2nd generation story off shoot from The Harvest - which I've been a fan off since it's free in Literotica days. Sizn, the human looking off spring of Dale and Keyno was fated before birth to be mate to Takeo, the son of former gang member Ceilo and Ti, the Onfreveian warrior. When he turn 18 Sizn is convinced he's not worthy of Takeo and tries to run, only to find his mate isn't going to let him go anywhere. There is a bit more to this story than just their mating, but over all it's a fluffy kind of sci-fi story

[Leaundra]

It was great to see how everyone was doing and to see the kids grown. Once Szin stop being so stubborn it was great seeing him and Takeo together. The sex wasn't the type I liked, Bdsm but I still enjoyed the book

[Kaitlyn]

You might ask me: if you kind of hate this series why do you keep reading them? And the answer is simply ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[llv]

re-read: June 2020

Rating: 3 stars
Not my favorite of the series that's for sure. I don't know what my rating would have been the first time I read this but this time I didn't really care for Szin at all. I understand his insecurities but they got on my nerves very quickly. I liked Takeo way more and thought him to be a very understanding mate to Szin. All in all, the book was okay. Nothing really memorable about it.

[Fairymysz]

Nem volt rossz, de mivel nem szeretem a BDSM-et így emiatt kevésbé élveztem a könyvet. (Noha nem volt vészes - Takeo dabbája és apja durvábbak voltak).

[N Ras]

I was so excited to read the next generation in this series and now I’m bummed out. This whole book was centered around sex and nothing else. Yes Takeo and Szin have been growing their bond since they were born but I really felt like more bonding should’ve been on page here. And the fact that Takeo wanted Szin’s virginity but gave his away so freely knowing that Szin was is mate just gave this an ick factor I wasn’t expecting. It wasn’t cute or sweet and I really feel like the author did a disservice to their story. The best part of the book was seeing Dale and everyone else again.

[Abdul]

Rounded up to 3.5 stars.
I was excited to read about Szin story but it did not hold up to what I was waiting for. And it is kind of author fault. You see all the authors build some kind of mystery in one character and when it comes to write their story they never can compete to the standard that reader has set for them. This has happened to me before so many times and it just makes me sad. Other then this complain I was fine with the book.

[Carole Ann]

3.75 Stars. Originally when I read this story, I had not read any of the other Harvest books. At that time, I rated the book 3 stars. So I went back and read the two books with Szin’s parents. With that background, I have increased this book rating to 4 stars upon re-read. I enjoyed the story much more. While this book stood as a standalone, I think it would have been helpful to have a short prologue or a brief description of their and their families’ history together.

[Viki Evans]

The harvest young

I have really enjoyed catching up with some of the gang from the harvest books,hope we get to see more from this next generation x

[Gerald Sessions]

Future

Glad to see the story continue with the young. Takeo and Szen and Raiden connected from before birth. Lots of struggle but love finds a way. Szen learns to stop running.

[Melanie]

cute couple, has issues for me

Rating: 3 🌈

It’s been a while since I read M.A. Church’s series , The Harvest Taken (2014), but I do remember liking those stories.

Which I why , aside from the terrific cover , I picked up The Harvest Young: Bound by Fate (The Next Generation Book 1) by M.A. Church.

I’m not sure that I either enjoyed this as much or remembered the other very well. Because I found I had quite a few issues with it.

Most of the universe, various species, political setups, can all be found in the previous series. You need to be familiar with those stories or you’ll be completely lost here.

There’s no attempt to fill in a new reader and frankly, there’s probably no way to convey the complicated backgrounds and histories of all the people and worlds involved.

But my issues started with the characters. The twins, who I met in the other series, are now grown. And one, Szin , is unlike his brother in looks and feels extremely insecure. He’s about to be claimed by his fated mate, who he feels inadequate to. Unlike his brother, Szin looks more like his human father than his Tah’Narian other parent.

That’s the basics. But he’s grown up with and actually loves Takeo, his childhood friend and soon to be mate. Takeo has adored and listened to him all his life. But instead of talking to him about the problems he’s feeling, this character is whining and running.

Honestly, he’s royalty. He’s surrounded by people who listen to him , constantly. Not , imo, the most relatable.

Then there’s the sex scenes. When the couple finally decide to mate, one barely a virgin and one is. It’s instantly a bondage D/s pain scene.
Ok. They’ve barely decided they’re going to be mates but let’s dive right into a D/s relationship?

Yeah that’s believable. Not that they aren’t cute together but can there at least be some semblance of time to make that reasonable?

Then while they are strolling about Takeo’s home world I came across a scene that pulls me out of the story completely.

Here’s the issue.

One thing I’m very disappointed to see in a futuristic story is that continuation of stale non environmental ideals. Here are our main characters on a hot, arid planet with highly specialized flora and fauna that they take note of. But this is what their species built.

“They continued walking but didn’t speak until they reached a several-storied, light-gray-colored building with huge windows. A lush, well-manicured green lawn surrounded it. “This is the Sa-Ka.” “Wow. Of all the things I expected, this beauty in such an arid place wasn’t in it.” “There is a sprinkler system here, that’s why it’s so green. If you like that, you’ll really like this.” Takeo led Szin down a path that led to a garden.”

— The Harvest Young: Bound by Fate (The Next Generation Book 1) by M.A. Church

Green lawns, that need a sprinkler system. I was absolutely cringing. They aren’t even human. But the author’s choices were. Outdated , environmentally destructive even in our times, but now making an appearance in a sci-fy romance novel on a desert planet far in the future.

This is so disheartening. To see water wastage (with burbling fountains) made a thing to be appreciated. American lawns, sprinkler systems. What? No mow patterns?

For me, I look to science fiction for something fresh, and if it’s a repetition of old history, then it’s because there’s a lesson to be learned. Not held up as something wonderful in the future when we should have discarded it as a tired old element that should have been eliminated then because we learned our lesson about water preservation now.

Did I finish the book? Yes. But I was looking at everything differently. How much was outdated in terms of philosophy? I was now second guessing every choice the author was making with the narrative.

So would I recommend this? Honestly I’m not sure. I guess if you’re a fan of the author, or if you want to know where the series characters go next, then sure.

But for everyone else, you can decide for yourself.

There’s other books in this series but I’m stopping here.

[Geneieve Davis]

The Havest Next Gen


This is the 1st book in the Harvest Young series, picking up almost 18 years after the end of The Harvest: Journey's End. If you have read that series you know that Dale's young are a bit more that average Tah'Narians along with their friends. Here we are left with Szin and Takeo story.


Szin struggles because he doesn't feel he is the best thing for Takeo. He looks human, he's not as strong as a Tah'Narian is, he's smaller, etc. This isn't only his story about falling in love with Takeo but his journey to self appreciation.

Takeo is sure of how he loves and belongs with Szin it is heartwarming. He had a upbringing because of being raised by Ti and Cielo, so how he handles certain situations is different. In the end all he is wanting is to bond with his mate and will do everything possible to make it so.


I think this is a great start to the series and its great to read about the rest of the 1st Generation Harvest group and how their lives have grown.

[Juniper]

This book picks up with the next generation from the Harvest series, and it’s fascinating to see some familiar faces at different points in their lives, as well as to focus on Szin and Takeo. Takeo, with his certainty about who he is, what (and who) he wants, and his place in the world he inhabits, is compelling enough, but for me the heart of this story is Szin, who doesn’t have that certainty, in himself or his place in the world. His mostly human DNA and the things he thinks he should want and need are different from his reality, and that puts pressure on him that threatens to unbalance the “friends from childhood fated to be together” trajectory for him and Takeo— something Takeo won’t accept. It makes for an interesting read, and it’s nice to see this world again.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy to this book.

[Ashley D]

Szin has always known who his mate is, and Takeo is the son of family friends. Szin doesn't believe that he is good enough for Takeo and is willing to run away to keep Takeo from claiming him. Takeo anticipates Szin running and can intercept him; he spirits him out to his father's old home, where Takeo plans on showing Szin just how much his mate Takeo is meant to have.

Szin and Takeo are two very different men, but they each try to do what they think is best for their mate; they disagree on what is best. This is a good book, but I felt it was short and missing some of the history between the two families. I'm not sure if I'll go back and read any of the previous books for this world.

[Ida Umphers]

I loved the first two books in The Harvest series and am now delighted to see what the children are like. Szin and Takeo have an interesting story. I enjoyed the arc of Szin's character development as he develops greater self-confidence and self-esteem throughout the story. Takeo is an interesting mix of characteristics from the human, Tah'Narian and Onfrevian and it was great to see him using aspects from all of those in his pursuit/courtship of Szin.

[Cedestria]

This is the one I was looking forward to the most (I did only end up loving it second though, after Bound by Destiny ; pretty obvious which couples' young I wanted more from).

My only complaint is that it's too short, and it's more of a novella than anything. I understand however it was more of a building block for the rest of the Next Generation and set up the story going forward within this spin-off series.

[Hrtnsoul28]

I forgot how much I loved the Harvest series, now to see Dale's twins grown and getting their mates. One of the things I remember was how they knew there was a connection between Takeo and Szin before birth.
I like how Takeo was so sure in his mate. Takeo never saw Szin's more human traits as faults. I enjoyed the journey. Especially the little reunion before the fight.

[Sam]

Oh yes!

I love this. I wish there was more because I really like these two. I'm hoping to see them in the other harvest young stories. I read this first (thankfully it seems like that was the right call from a timeline stand point) because I was just too excited and I know I'm about to blow through the other ones. This whole series has been so amazing!

[Mim Crenshaw]

Great read

I loved Takeo...his persistence and dominance was absolutely what Szin needed. Everyone's protectiveness of Szin got on my nerves. Yes he wasn't as big of as strong but they could've babied him a lot less and it wouldve made a huge difference in him. But I really enjoyed this couples story.

[Christy]

I enjoyed this story but not as much as I did the “original” Harvest books. Seeing these young men come into their own is quite fulfilling but, for me, there was something lacking. I think the fault is all mine, though.

[GossamerMyst]

Wonderful!!!

I just love getting Szin and Takeo's story they are such interesting young men who fate brought together before they were even born and how nothing will keep them apart. I so enjoyed reading the first book in The Young Series and I Can't Wait To Read More!!

[Kandi YumYum]

The first installation to this ever growing series was pleasantly surprising. This books signifies a whole new aspect to this verse. I am loving the series and The Next Generation will bring so much more to it. cannot wait to read more.

[MM Book]

Excellent series

Bound By Fate is not my favorite of The Harvest series because I didn't like Szin's angst with Takeo. However I enjoyed reading about the young growing up. And I enjoyed seeing the original characters, like Dale and Keyno and others.

[Bogusia]

3.25

[Dragana]

3,8