What do you think?
Rate this book
Storming Love: Meteor Strikes #5
Tea at the End of the World
Herc thought he had the perfect life: a great partner and a meaningful career as a psychotherapist—until his partner left him a week ago and Herc became too depressed to see his clients. When a random meteorite punched a tidy hole in his car’s engine, it seemed like the world had it in for him, but bumping into Pyotr, the handsome older man who’s moved in a couple of doors down and happens to study things like falling stars, life might be looking up for Herc—and more may be falling than the skies in this light-hearted, apocalyptic romance. (Previously published as Storming Love: Meteor Strikes: Herc & Pyotr)
116 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 24, 2016
About the author
Atom Yang
3 books30 followersAtom was born to Chinese immigrant parents who wanted better opportunities for their children who are obviously not taking advantage of their great and many sacrifices.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
May 31, 2023
This book is such a gem!!
This book was sitting on my tbr forever because I was pretty sure that this is not hea, and I’m rarely in the mood of those. Turned out, i missed out a fabulous story with amazing dialogues and all the feels. It was beautiful it was entertaining and sad and exciting and omg everything. I found the writing fabulous, i need to check out the Author’s other books 🥹 ah! I almost forgot! It’s hea💜
“He placed his hand over mine and stroked me with his thumb, and we stayed like that for a while, one of us worried about the sky falling, and the other worried about falling in love again.”
This book was sitting on my tbr forever because I was pretty sure that this is not hea, and I’m rarely in the mood of those. Turned out, i missed out a fabulous story with amazing dialogues and all the feels. It was beautiful it was entertaining and sad and exciting and omg everything. I found the writing fabulous, i need to check out the Author’s other books 🥹 ah! I almost forgot! It’s hea💜
“He placed his hand over mine and stroked me with his thumb, and we stayed like that for a while, one of us worried about the sky falling, and the other worried about falling in love again.”
May 8, 2016
This book was unexpected, from the characters, particularly astrophysicist Pyotr, to the plot which went somewhere I was not anticipating, to some of the small details. There are some lovely humorous touches, some passages that strike deep with the clarity of the language, and a sweetness to the romance as it unfolds. Despite being a SciFi apocalyptic scenario, this book has a positive feel to it that I appreciated.
Herc is a good guy, a psychotherapist who perhaps didn't pay enough attention to his own life, because he was blindsided and hurt when his partner left him. After a week of depression and rethinking his life, a meteorite smashing through his car seems like the universe's comment on his situation. But it brings him into contact with his new neighbor, an attractive brilliant older man with a kind and open heart. Herc's pain and snark and lethargy are no match for Pyotr's good cheer and humor, amid the gradual and destructive falling of the sky.
Although the guys' early interactions were wonderful and fun to watch, I still felt like the romance unfolded a bit quickly. I've known enough real people who experienced love at first (or maybe second) sight not to totally discount it, but this rebound into love was...fast. And yet, this author can pretty much pull it off. He writes men who have a great mix of the unique and the ordinary, men I relate to and find believable, as much for their human quirks as despite them. The cultural details were little things that struck a genuine note, and added depth and interest without being overdone. I fell for both of these men, and was sorry to see them go at the end of the novella.
For the plot developments, this was a light read, with an interesting contrast of tone and events. As someone with no love of dystopian fiction, I preferred this. The end is just a beginning, a possibility that could unfold in a myriad of ways, and I'd love to see this author do a longer book sometime. I did wish I knew about the secondary characters, and what came next. But the relationship progress is satisfying, and I clicked out of the book with a sigh and a smile.
Herc is a good guy, a psychotherapist who perhaps didn't pay enough attention to his own life, because he was blindsided and hurt when his partner left him. After a week of depression and rethinking his life, a meteorite smashing through his car seems like the universe's comment on his situation. But it brings him into contact with his new neighbor, an attractive brilliant older man with a kind and open heart. Herc's pain and snark and lethargy are no match for Pyotr's good cheer and humor, amid the gradual and destructive falling of the sky.
Although the guys' early interactions were wonderful and fun to watch, I still felt like the romance unfolded a bit quickly. I've known enough real people who experienced love at first (or maybe second) sight not to totally discount it, but this rebound into love was...fast. And yet, this author can pretty much pull it off. He writes men who have a great mix of the unique and the ordinary, men I relate to and find believable, as much for their human quirks as despite them. The cultural details were little things that struck a genuine note, and added depth and interest without being overdone. I fell for both of these men, and was sorry to see them go at the end of the novella.
For the plot developments, this was a light read, with an interesting contrast of tone and events. As someone with no love of dystopian fiction, I preferred this. The end is just a beginning, a possibility that could unfold in a myriad of ways, and I'd love to see this author do a longer book sometime. I did wish I knew about the secondary characters, and what came next. But the relationship progress is satisfying, and I clicked out of the book with a sigh and a smile.
April 25, 2016
I'll start off by saying this story didn't turn out at all as I had expected. I went expecting a science fiction book with a dark tone but what was delivered was a contemporary romance with relatable characters. And I loved every second of it.
My highlights:
-GREAT set of characters- both main and supporting. They were caring, smart, and selfless. Nicely done, Mr. Yang!
-The plot. I'd still classify this under contemporary, but it's different from anything else out there.
-Snarky humor. Humor will always earn extra points from me.
-The story had a nice flow.
-The end... well, I won't tell you how it ends but will say this girl doesn't read sad books. :D
I think this book was the whole package. You want romance? You got it. Humor? Got it. A break from the same style of contemporary romance? You'll get one here. Excellent characterisation? Got it. Want a natural disaster? It's got that, too! Should you give this a try?
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange of an honest review. This review is cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
June 18, 2022
Tags: Chinese MC, Russian MC, meteorite, middle aged, recent breakup, apocalypse
This was lovely. Thoughtful, with just enough dry humor to keep it from being stuffy. Nothing too dark despite the content. The ending had a bit of magical realism feel with luck / fate. I wouldn’t call this an “accurate” depiction of an apocalypse event, but it was a very lovely and thoughtful one.
This was lovely. Thoughtful, with just enough dry humor to keep it from being stuffy. Nothing too dark despite the content. The ending had a bit of magical realism feel with luck / fate. I wouldn’t call this an “accurate” depiction of an apocalypse event, but it was a very lovely and thoughtful one.
September 7, 2020
3.5 stars rounded up because this book put me in a good mood.
The MCs are in their 40's, both highly educated (while still enjoying their geeky, Gen X pop culture references, which I will *always* appreciate), and both Americans of non-Western descent, and there's just something very relaxed and natural about their interactions that I found incredibly soothing.
Herc is coming out of a breakup, so he's not in the best place emotionally, but his conversations with Pyotr always felt uplifting to me, so it was easy to see how he would feel that way, too. It's kind of a weird book to classify as hopeful or optimistic, but that was the feeling I had afterward, so I'm going with it!!
Plus the writing has that instant character depth magic that makes even the neighbors who get a handful of scenes feel real. It's hard to please me with a novella, but this author is more than capable.
My two criticisms -- -- were confined to the last 20% of the book, which made me wish this had been written outside the parameters of this particular story collection. (Although it's still very much a standalone.)
But like I said, it put me in a good mood, and part of that can definitely be contributed to the things I liked about the ending, so I would for sure still recommend it. I hope Yang is still writing, but for now I will look forward to hording his holiday story for the upcoming Christmas Bingo -- and keep playing around with my tea blends :)
The MCs are in their 40's, both highly educated (while still enjoying their geeky, Gen X pop culture references, which I will *always* appreciate), and both Americans of non-Western descent, and there's just something very relaxed and natural about their interactions that I found incredibly soothing.
Herc is coming out of a breakup, so he's not in the best place emotionally, but his conversations with Pyotr always felt uplifting to me, so it was easy to see how he would feel that way, too. It's kind of a weird book to classify as hopeful or optimistic, but that was the feeling I had afterward, so I'm going with it!!
Plus the writing has that instant character depth magic that makes even the neighbors who get a handful of scenes feel real. It's hard to please me with a novella, but this author is more than capable.
My two criticisms -- -- were confined to the last 20% of the book, which made me wish this had been written outside the parameters of this particular story collection. (Although it's still very much a standalone.)
But like I said, it put me in a good mood, and part of that can definitely be contributed to the things I liked about the ending, so I would for sure still recommend it. I hope Yang is still writing, but for now I will look forward to hording his holiday story for the upcoming Christmas Bingo -- and keep playing around with my tea blends :)
November 14, 2022
Tea at the End of the World was completely unexpected, truly lovely and as QuietlyKat as it gets. And I say that even though it’s insta and I’m not typically a fan of instalove. Yang makes it work giving us two gentle souls and context and plausibility for the ‘rush’ to love. Ok… maybe plausibility isn’t the best word because there were elements of the story that tweak credulity but again, Yang does something magical, weaving a deep, heartfelt, beautiful tale that enables me to not mind if it’s not entirely realistic on some small level.
KU borrowed but immediately purchased as soon as I finished, this will definitely be an often reached for comfort read.
I considered giving this 4 stars for a nanosecond due to the insta aspect, but truly, I loved it so much that 5+ stars is the right rating for me.
Huge thanks to Alexandra for bringing this one to my attention! 💛😘
KU borrowed but immediately purchased as soon as I finished, this will definitely be an often reached for comfort read.
I considered giving this 4 stars for a nanosecond due to the insta aspect, but truly, I loved it so much that 5+ stars is the right rating for me.
Huge thanks to Alexandra for bringing this one to my attention! 💛😘
July 11, 2016
Atom Yang had me at "light-hearted, apocalyptic romance." In a brief 106 page novella, Yang brings together psychotherapist Hercules and Pyotr, a Slavic astrophysicist on the eve of ..... well, the destruction of life as we know it, courtesy of a huge meteor and the resulting tsunami. The cast of characters includes blonde Nestori, a gorgeous "fag stag" and widowed Pihla ("a suburban Madonna in pink") and her son Sami.
The resulting story is equal parts lyrical, unpredictable, beautiful, poignant, quirky, and poetic ... with a touch of Douglas Adams. The love between Herc and Pyotr is rich and moving even when it appears it will be exceedingly short-lived. “I don’t love you because there’s the promise of tomorrow. I love you because there’s today.” This is unlike any M/M romance book I have ever read and it is an exquisite little gem.
I received a review copy from the author, via Gay Book Reviews, in exchange for an honest review. Review also posted at GayBook Reviews. Check it out!
The resulting story is equal parts lyrical, unpredictable, beautiful, poignant, quirky, and poetic ... with a touch of Douglas Adams. The love between Herc and Pyotr is rich and moving even when it appears it will be exceedingly short-lived. “I don’t love you because there’s the promise of tomorrow. I love you because there’s today.” This is unlike any M/M romance book I have ever read and it is an exquisite little gem.
I received a review copy from the author, via Gay Book Reviews, in exchange for an honest review. Review also posted at GayBook Reviews. Check it out!
September 11, 2016
The end of the world is nigh! No, I’m not going all religious on you but what would you do if you met the love of your life under these circumstances? Well, this is the fate facing Herc and Pyotr.
I did something with this book that I don’t normally do and that is I dove in blind not knowing what to really expect. I was delighted how this story turned out for me personally. Under any other circumstances the romance between Herc and Pyotr would have been a sweet, angst free romance but put them into circumstances that no one would like to imagine you have the angst, not for their romance but for their very lives.
I loved the way that this story builds up gradually and kept me guessing as to how it’s all going to pan out. Herc is still having a bad case of blues and heartaches after his ex walked out and left him high and dry. You would normally think a psychotherapist would then use some of his own medicine and advice he would readily hand out to others. But no, whether you look at these emotions from a clinical point or not, the fact is a break-up still hurts like hell. This made Herc for me totally sympathetic as a character, someone who is trying to get himself back on track emotionally, evening the keel of his boat that has just been violently rocked. However, he still manages to keep his humour which had me smiling too at times. He meets Pyotr one evening after the whole neighbourhood is woken up by a meteorite hitting Herc’s prized possession, his car.
Pytor is totally unassuming and this for me at the beginning gave him a curious man-of-mystery air. Who is the new neighbour? Where does he come from? What does he do? Well, these questions are soon answered and Herc finds himself becoming evermore attracted to this stranger. However, I could feel the hurt and turmoil going on in Herc. He has recently just been dumped by the ex, so is this too soon or is it going to be your typical case of caught on the rebound? The way the romance between these two developed was so sweet, sensitively handled and with copious amounts of tea. No, Pytor is not British but from another nation that regards drinking tea almost as a ritual. I found the whole cultural difference thing a wonderful treat to read, how these two could find love through the exchange of sharing their very different cultural backgrounds. So I just loved reading about these two getting to know each other bit-by-bit, a gentle romance which kept me interested in itself, lulling me into a false sense of security and totally oblivious as to what is about to happen to the world around them.
The story also contains wonderfully vivid secondary characters in the form of Herc’s best friend and the neighbour they would make fun of together who also turns out to have more layers and depth than first meets the eye. So what do you do when you fall madly in love with someone, but you are being too cautious in getting hurt again and the whole world is about to go to hell around you? Yes, you take that chance, that leap of faith and don’t question anything. For a book that took me a little under two hours to read, there is a lot of ground covered and a plot that is well paced and builds up very nicely. I found it a totally enthralling read from beginning to end. Do romances that form under stressful situations have a chance of staying together? Well, in Herc’s and Pyotr’s case I would truly like to think so. On a side note, I am curious as to how much of the author himself can be found in Herc though? I think this is part of the reason the characters in this book felt so real. I new author to me and after reading this book then I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for more.
I did something with this book that I don’t normally do and that is I dove in blind not knowing what to really expect. I was delighted how this story turned out for me personally. Under any other circumstances the romance between Herc and Pyotr would have been a sweet, angst free romance but put them into circumstances that no one would like to imagine you have the angst, not for their romance but for their very lives.
I loved the way that this story builds up gradually and kept me guessing as to how it’s all going to pan out. Herc is still having a bad case of blues and heartaches after his ex walked out and left him high and dry. You would normally think a psychotherapist would then use some of his own medicine and advice he would readily hand out to others. But no, whether you look at these emotions from a clinical point or not, the fact is a break-up still hurts like hell. This made Herc for me totally sympathetic as a character, someone who is trying to get himself back on track emotionally, evening the keel of his boat that has just been violently rocked. However, he still manages to keep his humour which had me smiling too at times. He meets Pyotr one evening after the whole neighbourhood is woken up by a meteorite hitting Herc’s prized possession, his car.
Pytor is totally unassuming and this for me at the beginning gave him a curious man-of-mystery air. Who is the new neighbour? Where does he come from? What does he do? Well, these questions are soon answered and Herc finds himself becoming evermore attracted to this stranger. However, I could feel the hurt and turmoil going on in Herc. He has recently just been dumped by the ex, so is this too soon or is it going to be your typical case of caught on the rebound? The way the romance between these two developed was so sweet, sensitively handled and with copious amounts of tea. No, Pytor is not British but from another nation that regards drinking tea almost as a ritual. I found the whole cultural difference thing a wonderful treat to read, how these two could find love through the exchange of sharing their very different cultural backgrounds. So I just loved reading about these two getting to know each other bit-by-bit, a gentle romance which kept me interested in itself, lulling me into a false sense of security and totally oblivious as to what is about to happen to the world around them.
The story also contains wonderfully vivid secondary characters in the form of Herc’s best friend and the neighbour they would make fun of together who also turns out to have more layers and depth than first meets the eye. So what do you do when you fall madly in love with someone, but you are being too cautious in getting hurt again and the whole world is about to go to hell around you? Yes, you take that chance, that leap of faith and don’t question anything. For a book that took me a little under two hours to read, there is a lot of ground covered and a plot that is well paced and builds up very nicely. I found it a totally enthralling read from beginning to end. Do romances that form under stressful situations have a chance of staying together? Well, in Herc’s and Pyotr’s case I would truly like to think so. On a side note, I am curious as to how much of the author himself can be found in Herc though? I think this is part of the reason the characters in this book felt so real. I new author to me and after reading this book then I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for more.
October 12, 2016
Meteor Shower, Herc & Pyotr (Storming Love series)
By Atom Yang
MLR Press, 2016
Four stars
When a meteorite destroys your car, you should take it as an omen.
I loved this book, but I confess that the context (you know, apocalypse) made it harder to embrace the romance. That said, Atom Yang is a wonderful writer. He handles dialogue and humor with great elegance. No nonsense, no excess, just crisp, smart, incisive prose.
Hercules, a forty-something Chinese-American psychotherapist with an unlikely name, is in a position not unusual for therapists: helping others but drowning in his own misery. Pyotr, also in his forties, is a Russian-born astrophysicist who’s just moved to the neighborhood. He meets the crumbling Hercules as the neighbors gather to look at the sizzling hole punched through Herc’s engine by a seemingly random meteorite.
Yang is a brilliant observer of human behavior. Herc’s pity-party is funny, but also heart-breaking. At first seen as the victim, we come to understand Hercules as the cause of his own unhappiness, but lose no sympathy for him. Pyotr’s subtle but instant understanding of Herc and his situation is completely believable. His wisdom is not grandiose, but intuitive, tender. Herc’s self-awareness is touching – he knows he’s a mess, and also knows the irony of his own inability to cure himself as he cures (helps, really) his clients.
The larger context of this book within the “Storming Love” series requires it to be traumatic. I suspect that Yang wins the prize for apocalyptic romance here, and somehow he pulled it off. In spite of the genuine unhappiness I felt at the horrific turn of events that is central to the story, I couldn’t help but be caught up in the “carpe diem” fatalism, and to be genuinely inspired by the reminder that life is for the living, and each moment should be treasured as if it were your last.
I want Atom Yang to keep writing. He’s really good. The m/m romance world needs him.
By Atom Yang
MLR Press, 2016
Four stars
When a meteorite destroys your car, you should take it as an omen.
I loved this book, but I confess that the context (you know, apocalypse) made it harder to embrace the romance. That said, Atom Yang is a wonderful writer. He handles dialogue and humor with great elegance. No nonsense, no excess, just crisp, smart, incisive prose.
Hercules, a forty-something Chinese-American psychotherapist with an unlikely name, is in a position not unusual for therapists: helping others but drowning in his own misery. Pyotr, also in his forties, is a Russian-born astrophysicist who’s just moved to the neighborhood. He meets the crumbling Hercules as the neighbors gather to look at the sizzling hole punched through Herc’s engine by a seemingly random meteorite.
Yang is a brilliant observer of human behavior. Herc’s pity-party is funny, but also heart-breaking. At first seen as the victim, we come to understand Hercules as the cause of his own unhappiness, but lose no sympathy for him. Pyotr’s subtle but instant understanding of Herc and his situation is completely believable. His wisdom is not grandiose, but intuitive, tender. Herc’s self-awareness is touching – he knows he’s a mess, and also knows the irony of his own inability to cure himself as he cures (helps, really) his clients.
The larger context of this book within the “Storming Love” series requires it to be traumatic. I suspect that Yang wins the prize for apocalyptic romance here, and somehow he pulled it off. In spite of the genuine unhappiness I felt at the horrific turn of events that is central to the story, I couldn’t help but be caught up in the “carpe diem” fatalism, and to be genuinely inspired by the reminder that life is for the living, and each moment should be treasured as if it were your last.
I want Atom Yang to keep writing. He’s really good. The m/m romance world needs him.
September 18, 2019
Hilarious, heartbreaking, and sweet
This was exactly what I needed to pull myself out of mundane life. Lovely and well-written.
I’m a sucker every time for a heavily character-driven story. This isn’t long, and yet somehow it’s the perfect length to get to know both Herc and Pyotr.
I laughed. A lot. The nerdy references sprinkled throughout are delightful. And of course, I liked them even better because they’re from my era. I’m not going to spoil any of them, but let’s just say that a reference to a certain movie with a car had me squeal out loud in a public place. Fortunately, I was mostly alone.
In the span of a small story, Atom Yang managed to make me laugh, sigh with happiness, break my heart, and put me back together. To me, a good story is beautiful prose combined with good character development and a plot to draw both of those together. This delivered on all counts.
This was exactly what I needed to pull myself out of mundane life. Lovely and well-written.
I’m a sucker every time for a heavily character-driven story. This isn’t long, and yet somehow it’s the perfect length to get to know both Herc and Pyotr.
I laughed. A lot. The nerdy references sprinkled throughout are delightful. And of course, I liked them even better because they’re from my era. I’m not going to spoil any of them, but let’s just say that a reference to a certain movie with a car had me squeal out loud in a public place. Fortunately, I was mostly alone.
In the span of a small story, Atom Yang managed to make me laugh, sigh with happiness, break my heart, and put me back together. To me, a good story is beautiful prose combined with good character development and a plot to draw both of those together. This delivered on all counts.
March 26, 2016
"I don't love you because there's the promise of tomorrow. I love you because there's today."
There is something very special about Atom Yang's writing. He weaves a beautiful story, full of depth, with unique characters from different backgrounds. There are wonderful cultural traditions, and fascinating dialogue, making his characters a standout.
When I started this book, I had expectations of science fiction (based on the book cover, and the title/characters names), but what I found inside was a contemporary romance-very character-driven in for the first half-that moves spectacularly into the realm of great natural disaster. Herc and Pyotr have just found each other and need to battle the impact of a giant meteor strike.
There is something very special about Atom Yang's writing. He weaves a beautiful story, full of depth, with unique characters from different backgrounds. There are wonderful cultural traditions, and fascinating dialogue, making his characters a standout.
When I started this book, I had expectations of science fiction (based on the book cover, and the title/characters names), but what I found inside was a contemporary romance-very character-driven in for the first half-that moves spectacularly into the realm of great natural disaster. Herc and Pyotr have just found each other and need to battle the impact of a giant meteor strike.
January 31, 2021
What did I just read? I would not know how to describe it. It is unique that's for sure. It is also sweet, they were cute. I was bored a bit at the beginning but that went away.
April 29, 2016
Reviewed by Brandyjo Newton for QUEERcentric Books
Atom Yang is a relatively new author, but Storming Love: Herc and Pyotr blew me away! I can’t believe he only has one other book published.
I began reading this as soon as it showed up on my kindle. I. Could. Not. Put. It. Down. I even growled at the husband when he tried to get my attention for something. Yang’s writing is descriptive and captivating, and it just sucked me right in.
I. COULD. NOT. PUT. IT. DOWN.
My absolute favorite part of the book was this quote:
“The water continued to rise, black and unrelenting. In its depths were the extinguished lives of literally millions of people, and included their homes, offices, stores, theaters, cafes, and restaurants; fancy cars and P.O.S.s that wouldn’t pass the next smog check; drugs and ice cream and video games that took the edge off of a hard day; romance novels, comics, and magazines that gave hope and adventure to otherwise banal existences; diamond rings and sobriety coins and all the things that made life more meaningful. Drowned below and the waters rising to drown everything we could possibly love on the mountain, too.”
Honestly, that was so beautifully written I had to save it and share it.
Also, gimme a moment while I chuckle to myself. In the beginning of the story Herc says the funniest thing I’ve read in awhile: “My ghost would spell out on a Ouija Board ‘life sucks’.” Ha! I loved that! It made me literally laugh out loud.
“MY GHOST WOULD SPELL OUT ON A OUIJA BOARD ‘LIFE SUCKS’.”
One of my favorite things about this book is the racial diversity of the characters. Herc is Chinese and Pyotr is Russian. I love how their cultures kinda meshed together over tea. It added an unfamiliar layer to an already intriguing story.
(THANKS HUSBAND FOR TURNING ME TO THE NERD SIDE!)
And then of course I had to love this book because of all the nerd references, which I got a kick out of (thanks husband for turning me to the nerd side!). I agreed wholeheartedly with Pyotr about Darth Vader using a lightsaber instead of garden shears on Herc’s shirt. Just sayin’.
This book deserves way more than 5 stars but, as I can only go as high as 5, I suppose that will have to do. The story was very entertaining, it contained magnificent world building, and the characters were fantastic without being over the top. I cannot wait to read more from Atom Yang! I’m already exercising my grabby hands and one-click finger in preparation.
A BIT OF LOVE AND A LOT OF ENTERTAINMENT
If you’re in the mood for a short, fun read with a bit of love and a lot of entertainment, then read this book. I love discovering new authors and I believe Atom Yang is one to watch. I expect great things from him in the future!
Atom Yang is a relatively new author, but Storming Love: Herc and Pyotr blew me away! I can’t believe he only has one other book published.
I began reading this as soon as it showed up on my kindle. I. Could. Not. Put. It. Down. I even growled at the husband when he tried to get my attention for something. Yang’s writing is descriptive and captivating, and it just sucked me right in.
I. COULD. NOT. PUT. IT. DOWN.
My absolute favorite part of the book was this quote:
“The water continued to rise, black and unrelenting. In its depths were the extinguished lives of literally millions of people, and included their homes, offices, stores, theaters, cafes, and restaurants; fancy cars and P.O.S.s that wouldn’t pass the next smog check; drugs and ice cream and video games that took the edge off of a hard day; romance novels, comics, and magazines that gave hope and adventure to otherwise banal existences; diamond rings and sobriety coins and all the things that made life more meaningful. Drowned below and the waters rising to drown everything we could possibly love on the mountain, too.”
Honestly, that was so beautifully written I had to save it and share it.
Also, gimme a moment while I chuckle to myself. In the beginning of the story Herc says the funniest thing I’ve read in awhile: “My ghost would spell out on a Ouija Board ‘life sucks’.” Ha! I loved that! It made me literally laugh out loud.
“MY GHOST WOULD SPELL OUT ON A OUIJA BOARD ‘LIFE SUCKS’.”
One of my favorite things about this book is the racial diversity of the characters. Herc is Chinese and Pyotr is Russian. I love how their cultures kinda meshed together over tea. It added an unfamiliar layer to an already intriguing story.
(THANKS HUSBAND FOR TURNING ME TO THE NERD SIDE!)
And then of course I had to love this book because of all the nerd references, which I got a kick out of (thanks husband for turning me to the nerd side!). I agreed wholeheartedly with Pyotr about Darth Vader using a lightsaber instead of garden shears on Herc’s shirt. Just sayin’.
This book deserves way more than 5 stars but, as I can only go as high as 5, I suppose that will have to do. The story was very entertaining, it contained magnificent world building, and the characters were fantastic without being over the top. I cannot wait to read more from Atom Yang! I’m already exercising my grabby hands and one-click finger in preparation.
A BIT OF LOVE AND A LOT OF ENTERTAINMENT
If you’re in the mood for a short, fun read with a bit of love and a lot of entertainment, then read this book. I love discovering new authors and I believe Atom Yang is one to watch. I expect great things from him in the future!
May 4, 2023
Hercules is a psychotherapist of Chinese origin, Pyotr is a middle-aged Russian astrophysicist. Meet cute when a meteorite crashes into Hercules car
.
Love the references to Chinese and Russian cultures, to Bhagavad-Gita and ethimology, European art compared to Chinese.
Meet then the end of the world 😁
A lot is packed in this novella, including one 🔥 scene
.
Love the references to Chinese and Russian cultures, to Bhagavad-Gita and ethimology, European art compared to Chinese.
Meet then the end of the world 😁
A lot is packed in this novella, including one 🔥 scene
September 7, 2016
2016 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Red Envelope & Herc and Pyotr by Atom Yang
1) This author was new to me, and I was very pleasantly surprised by these two novellas, particularly Storming Love: Meteor Strikes ~ Herc & Pyoter. I am an avid science fiction reader and particularly love the works of Connie Willis, whose shorter fiction often combines hapless but sincere protagonists, screwball comedy and speculative storylines to great effect. I do not think this author's novella is in any way derivative of Willis' work, but I find that I love it in the same way I love Willis' stories - for it's sense of humor, it's down-to-earth protagonists and it's abiding sense of humanity - not to mention great pop culture references and apocalyptic meteorites. Red Envelope was also a strong slice-of-life story. I am, myself, a first generation Korean American and read with great amusement and sympathy the depictions of Clint's Chinese family. With spare prose - which I admire, especially in a first person narrative - the author clearly conveyed Clint's inexperience and hurt over his interactions with Weaver. The red envelopes and the holiday provided a nice framework for the events during the story. I often find myself dissatisfied with novellas and short stories as seeming incomplete, but both Storming Love and Red Envelope did a nice job in presenting three dimensional characters who experience growth and find resolution in this shorter format. I look forward to reading more by Atom Yang.
2) Red Envelope is a sublime short story written with gorgeous prose and infinite care. I was so impressed with this story because a good novella is difficult to write. Even the best ones can leave you wanting more. This one was perfect. There was enough detail to give realistic glimpses into the characters lives to make them appealing and sympathetic. I appreciated the cultural and historical references as well. The author balanced the nuances of a simple love story with perfect precision and a beautiful use of language. I was extraordinarily impressed with Mr. Yang's work. Herc and Pyotr was a very good short story by a gifted storyteller. I enjoyed this but I didn't love it. Unlike Red Envelope, it left me wanting more details about the apocalyptic nature of Earth and the supporting characters. I don't love fantasy, but I was willing to go along for the ride. I just would have like to have known more about the year and the setting. On the other hand, the writing was impeccable. Atom Yang has a beautiful way with words. I look forward to reading more of his work.
3) I adore Atom Yang's character's. They're so personable and easy to connect with. I cared about them from the first page forward, quickly becoming invested in the story.
1) This author was new to me, and I was very pleasantly surprised by these two novellas, particularly Storming Love: Meteor Strikes ~ Herc & Pyoter. I am an avid science fiction reader and particularly love the works of Connie Willis, whose shorter fiction often combines hapless but sincere protagonists, screwball comedy and speculative storylines to great effect. I do not think this author's novella is in any way derivative of Willis' work, but I find that I love it in the same way I love Willis' stories - for it's sense of humor, it's down-to-earth protagonists and it's abiding sense of humanity - not to mention great pop culture references and apocalyptic meteorites. Red Envelope was also a strong slice-of-life story. I am, myself, a first generation Korean American and read with great amusement and sympathy the depictions of Clint's Chinese family. With spare prose - which I admire, especially in a first person narrative - the author clearly conveyed Clint's inexperience and hurt over his interactions with Weaver. The red envelopes and the holiday provided a nice framework for the events during the story. I often find myself dissatisfied with novellas and short stories as seeming incomplete, but both Storming Love and Red Envelope did a nice job in presenting three dimensional characters who experience growth and find resolution in this shorter format. I look forward to reading more by Atom Yang.
2) Red Envelope is a sublime short story written with gorgeous prose and infinite care. I was so impressed with this story because a good novella is difficult to write. Even the best ones can leave you wanting more. This one was perfect. There was enough detail to give realistic glimpses into the characters lives to make them appealing and sympathetic. I appreciated the cultural and historical references as well. The author balanced the nuances of a simple love story with perfect precision and a beautiful use of language. I was extraordinarily impressed with Mr. Yang's work. Herc and Pyotr was a very good short story by a gifted storyteller. I enjoyed this but I didn't love it. Unlike Red Envelope, it left me wanting more details about the apocalyptic nature of Earth and the supporting characters. I don't love fantasy, but I was willing to go along for the ride. I just would have like to have known more about the year and the setting. On the other hand, the writing was impeccable. Atom Yang has a beautiful way with words. I look forward to reading more of his work.
3) I adore Atom Yang's character's. They're so personable and easy to connect with. I cared about them from the first page forward, quickly becoming invested in the story.
March 26, 2016
Let me start by saying I was not at all disappointed to find that the author's engrossing writing style held as true for this release as it did for the last I read. I actually went through this story writing down reactions as I went -- or at least that's what I'd intended to do, but I kept getting sucked into the story and forgetting to make notes.
I love the characters in this book, including the secondary characters. They're extremely believable. I'm actually a little disappointed that we didn't hear more about the secondary characters at the end, to find out if they were okay, even though they weren't the focus of the book. The focus, of course, is Herc and Pyotr, who were thrown together by impending doom (and astronomy - yay science!) I spent a good deal of the story really wanting to hug poor Herc, and Pyotr won my undying affection by insisting that Pluto is a planet. (Yes, I'm a nerd. Shut up.) Really, they were very sweet together even before the world basically started to end.
This is where I'm going to touch on the fact that some people are going to call this instalove. This isn't instalove, at least not in my opinion. Really bad stuff -- apocalyptic, even -- is going on around them after they've started to realize they really like each other. Their reaction is exactly the kind of human response that would occur with something this cataclysmic. People want to leave this world/life/existence knowing they're loved. The question, really, is whether that would last when they find themselves still alive after the dust settles. In this case, I think it would. Regardless of that, the situation is plausible and realistic.
The ending, being the obligatory HEA/HFN that happens with any of the Storming Love stories, is improbable but NOT impossible. Stranger things really have happened in real life, and I like the way it plays out. It's a weird mix of both terror and hope that totally works.
I'm very much looking forward to more from this author. He has an incredibly engaging style of writing that's a joy to read, and this story is a good example of that.
I love the characters in this book, including the secondary characters. They're extremely believable. I'm actually a little disappointed that we didn't hear more about the secondary characters at the end, to find out if they were okay, even though they weren't the focus of the book. The focus, of course, is Herc and Pyotr, who were thrown together by impending doom (and astronomy - yay science!) I spent a good deal of the story really wanting to hug poor Herc, and Pyotr won my undying affection by insisting that Pluto is a planet. (Yes, I'm a nerd. Shut up.) Really, they were very sweet together even before the world basically started to end.
This is where I'm going to touch on the fact that some people are going to call this instalove. This isn't instalove, at least not in my opinion. Really bad stuff -- apocalyptic, even -- is going on around them after they've started to realize they really like each other. Their reaction is exactly the kind of human response that would occur with something this cataclysmic. People want to leave this world/life/existence knowing they're loved. The question, really, is whether that would last when they find themselves still alive after the dust settles. In this case, I think it would. Regardless of that, the situation is plausible and realistic.
The ending, being the obligatory HEA/HFN that happens with any of the Storming Love stories, is improbable but NOT impossible. Stranger things really have happened in real life, and I like the way it plays out. It's a weird mix of both terror and hope that totally works.
I'm very much looking forward to more from this author. He has an incredibly engaging style of writing that's a joy to read, and this story is a good example of that.
May 7, 2016
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes.
This book begins with Herc and Pyotr meeting and having tea together. At first Herc believes that Pyotr doesn’t even like guys. Herc is not entirely confident and doesn’t notice that Pyotr likes him since his previous boyfriend had done very little to inspire confidence in him sexually. It seems like Herc is ready to give up on finding love, so when he and Pyotr start to hit it off, the situation is unbelievable for him. While they come closer to one another, a disaster on the horizon threatens to destroy whatever it is blossoming between them.
Having read Atom Yang’s first book, I was pleasantly surprised with this one since it was much more erotic. Though Herc and Pyotr was mostly a sweet romance, the erotic scenes were extremely hot. I loved how Herc is finally able to find someone who appreciates him and loves him back. I felt for him since he spent so long with a boyfriend who was unresponsive to him both sexually and emotionally. When the disaster strikes, I was afraid that none of them would make it out alive. However, they had the one thing that anyone would want when faced with the end of days. They had each other. This was such a sweet romance. I recommend this book to anyone who loves m/m romance, multicultural romance, and apocalyptic scenarios.
September 28, 2016
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
Yang has a very interesting and distinctive writing style, full of comprehensive descriptions and ingenuity. Herc and Pyotr asks the reader to respond intelligently to the content of the story and events – and I love to read something that challenges me mentally. The conversations between Herc and Pyotr are informed, though there are certainly light-hearted moments, like when they visit the observatory only to find a rowing boat in a tree! For me, there was an unpredictability to the events in Herc and Pyotr and I enjoyed how I felt the warmth of the blossoming relationship between the two men, only to be suddenly struck by the apprehension of impending doom. Yang is able to give his reader a very solid understanding of both his protagonists, which is reflected in their occupations, their actions towards others, and their respect for their cultures — and their Asian heritages blend just like the Russian Caravan tea they first drink together.
I very much liked the way in which Yang’s novella combines the science fiction aspects with the romantic ones and though I was disappointed with the ending of the novella (I can’t tell you why), it did not spoil my overall enjoyment of Herc and Pyotr too much.
Read Kirsty’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
Yang has a very interesting and distinctive writing style, full of comprehensive descriptions and ingenuity. Herc and Pyotr asks the reader to respond intelligently to the content of the story and events – and I love to read something that challenges me mentally. The conversations between Herc and Pyotr are informed, though there are certainly light-hearted moments, like when they visit the observatory only to find a rowing boat in a tree! For me, there was an unpredictability to the events in Herc and Pyotr and I enjoyed how I felt the warmth of the blossoming relationship between the two men, only to be suddenly struck by the apprehension of impending doom. Yang is able to give his reader a very solid understanding of both his protagonists, which is reflected in their occupations, their actions towards others, and their respect for their cultures — and their Asian heritages blend just like the Russian Caravan tea they first drink together.
I very much liked the way in which Yang’s novella combines the science fiction aspects with the romantic ones and though I was disappointed with the ending of the novella (I can’t tell you why), it did not spoil my overall enjoyment of Herc and Pyotr too much.
Read Kirsty’s review in its entirety here.
September 15, 2016
A really good story, more than your typical romance. Hercules, a Chinese-American gay man living in California, has just broken up with his boyfriend Jason. He hears a crash outside and finds that a small meteorite has blasted through the engine of his car. While checking it out, he notices the new neighbor, Pyotr, running barefoot. Intrigued by the man, he goes to Pyotr's house the next day to introduce himself. They quickly find they have similar interests and quickly become friends. But two days into their new friendship, the President announces that a huge meteor is heading toward Earth and will hit the Pacific Ocean in 3 hours, with more meteors to hit the rest of the country soon after. The West Coast will be wiped out. Can they make it to the mountains and safety in time to survive and see where their relationship could go?
A very intriguing story blending Chinese, Russian and American cultures together along with professions of Psychotherapy and Astrophysicist. Well written, thoughtful and well rounded characters brought this story to life and had me turning the pages. This is the 2nd book of Atom Yang's I have read and I have enjoyed them both greatly and look forward to reading more.
Note: I was given an ARC copy of this book in return for an honest review.
A very intriguing story blending Chinese, Russian and American cultures together along with professions of Psychotherapy and Astrophysicist. Well written, thoughtful and well rounded characters brought this story to life and had me turning the pages. This is the 2nd book of Atom Yang's I have read and I have enjoyed them both greatly and look forward to reading more.
Note: I was given an ARC copy of this book in return for an honest review.
October 7, 2016
I received this as a ARC for an honest review.
In this book we meet Herc who is a psychotherapist with a great career, and living a good life with his partner up until Jason leaves him. Now officially depressed Herc cannot get himself to do anything, so when his car is damaged by a small meteorite then that is just the icing on the cake. Herc then meet his new neighbour Pyotr who know something about meteorites. So begins the story of two geeky men, who have a lot in common and find themselves more interested the more they get to know each other. I loved how Atom meshed the two character together as Herc is Chinese and Pyotr is Russian so they come from different backgrounds. It added an unfamiliar layer to an already intriguing story. All in all, I loved the story and recommend it to anyone who wants a light, touching and completely different read than they are used to.
In this book we meet Herc who is a psychotherapist with a great career, and living a good life with his partner up until Jason leaves him. Now officially depressed Herc cannot get himself to do anything, so when his car is damaged by a small meteorite then that is just the icing on the cake. Herc then meet his new neighbour Pyotr who know something about meteorites. So begins the story of two geeky men, who have a lot in common and find themselves more interested the more they get to know each other. I loved how Atom meshed the two character together as Herc is Chinese and Pyotr is Russian so they come from different backgrounds. It added an unfamiliar layer to an already intriguing story. All in all, I loved the story and recommend it to anyone who wants a light, touching and completely different read than they are used to.
May 23, 2016
I received a free copy of this book from the author in preparation for an interview which you can read here.
I really enjoyed Atom's deft characterization in Red Envelope and was overjoyed to find that same quality in Herc and Pyotr, a very different story with a very different cast. I went from happily charmed to on the edge of my seat throughout the story's abrupt transformation from bittersweet end of relationship/start of something new to end of the world scenario--literally. Even knowing what was ahead it was still a shock to the system. I got fully caught up in the story and found it hard to leave the world of the story, even after I put it down. A unique read!
I really enjoyed Atom's deft characterization in Red Envelope and was overjoyed to find that same quality in Herc and Pyotr, a very different story with a very different cast. I went from happily charmed to on the edge of my seat throughout the story's abrupt transformation from bittersweet end of relationship/start of something new to end of the world scenario--literally. Even knowing what was ahead it was still a shock to the system. I got fully caught up in the story and found it hard to leave the world of the story, even after I put it down. A unique read!
July 9, 2016
Herc, a psychotherapist meets Pyotr an astrophysicist, while he is mourning his relationship with his ex, Jason. They meet over the hood of Herc's car, which has a hole in it made by a meteorite. So begins the story of two geeky men, who have a lot in common and find themselves more interested the more they get to know each other.
The thing I love most about Atom Yang's writing is that you keep learning about intriguing things. In this case, astronomy, culture, love, friendship and how humans relate to each other. There is a flow to the writing that makes it a joy to read. I don't want to give anything away about the story so as not to spoil the fun of finding out what happens next. Enjoy.
I received an ARC in return for an honest review.
The thing I love most about Atom Yang's writing is that you keep learning about intriguing things. In this case, astronomy, culture, love, friendship and how humans relate to each other. There is a flow to the writing that makes it a joy to read. I don't want to give anything away about the story so as not to spoil the fun of finding out what happens next. Enjoy.
I received an ARC in return for an honest review.
July 12, 2016
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review of the book:
This was a very unexpected but totally charming M/M romance. The author is very quick- witted, as can be seen in how fast the book reads. It was less focused on the physical coming together of the two main characters, Peytor and Herc, and more on who they actually were and how they interacted coming from two distintively different races and backgrounds.
The apocalyptic part of the story was great, not overly long and drawn out, but giving the characters time to really complete bonding as they had started before all hell had broken loose.
All in all, I loved the story and recommend it to anyone who wants a light, touching and completely different read than they are used to.
This was a very unexpected but totally charming M/M romance. The author is very quick- witted, as can be seen in how fast the book reads. It was less focused on the physical coming together of the two main characters, Peytor and Herc, and more on who they actually were and how they interacted coming from two distintively different races and backgrounds.
The apocalyptic part of the story was great, not overly long and drawn out, but giving the characters time to really complete bonding as they had started before all hell had broken loose.
All in all, I loved the story and recommend it to anyone who wants a light, touching and completely different read than they are used to.
July 18, 2016
This is a lovely sweet story interspersed with humour and lessons in different cultures, which I loved by the way.
The characters and plot is unexpected and often went off in a direction I wasn't expecting.
Its quite unusual and the writing style is delightful, complete with little details that really made the story come to life. I really enjoyed it and will look out for more by this author.
Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
The characters and plot is unexpected and often went off in a direction I wasn't expecting.
Its quite unusual and the writing style is delightful, complete with little details that really made the story come to life. I really enjoyed it and will look out for more by this author.
Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
January 10, 2017
Quirky, funny, and touching
Atom really writes the most interesting characters and this one is a book full of them. Place a love story in an impending disaster? Check. Write about a broken heart? Check. Have a happy ending? Check. Now what are you waiting for if you haven't read this story of Hercules and Pyotr?
Atom really writes the most interesting characters and this one is a book full of them. Place a love story in an impending disaster? Check. Write about a broken heart? Check. Have a happy ending? Check. Now what are you waiting for if you haven't read this story of Hercules and Pyotr?
August 23, 2017
Do you know how hard it is to write a great apocalypse Romance? This is short (novella I think) and made me laugh and hit me right in the feels and is so wrenchingly tender to the neighbors while also being funny that I wish Atom Yang would, I don't know, use a time machine maybe, to have more stories for me to read!
November 6, 2020
The story itself was a little, I don't know, off, or something, but the writing was top notch. Gorgeous prose mired in clunky plot. Totally worth the read, though, for the delicious turns of phrase.
Plus, I love tea. I've been thinking about getting a samovar for a while now, but now I'm definitely ordering one.
Plus, I love tea. I've been thinking about getting a samovar for a while now, but now I'm definitely ordering one.
July 9, 2016
This book was a quick, fun read. It had great characters and a really different story. I was hooked, I couldn't put it down. I couldn't wait to see what happened in their story. I would definitely recommend it. I received an ARC for an honest review.
August 22, 2020
More please!
This is too short! I would love to see more character development here. Felt as if it's some short summary of a story.. a movie trailer telling me what to expect. Everything goes by in a flash so fast.
This is too short! I would love to see more character development here. Felt as if it's some short summary of a story.. a movie trailer telling me what to expect. Everything goes by in a flash so fast.
October 17, 2021
Very unique plot with interesting characters. Wish it was a full length novel. The romantic moments were so real and sweet. So often romance is formulaic, I loved how much this wasn’t. Interested to see what this author writes next. Only pet peeve: no lube is my limit for suspension of disbelief.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews