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Out of Position #6
Titles
Eight years after Dev Miski’s first championship game, he’s back in the playoffs chasing that elusive ring. Lee is chasing a promotion, one step closer to his dream job in the world of football. But Dev has a problem with his roommate, a flirty gay bobcat, and Lee is called upon to help a family member through a difficult transition. To get through these two weeks, they’ll have to remember who they are—and decide who they want to be.
- GenresSportsM M Romance
373 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 2019
About the author
Kyell Gold
67 books676 followersHi there! I am a writer of gay furry fiction--but you probably know that if you've seen my book listing here. I live in California with my husband Kit, and when I'm not writing, we like to go out to eat and watch movies. We travel a lot, too, mostly around the West Coast, but occasionally to the midwest and east.
I blog at http://www.kyellgold.com/wpblog about upcoming travel plans, upcoming books and news, general writing principles, gay rights, and whatever else seems interesting. And I co-host a podcast, called "Unsheathed," where we talk about the craft of writing and the furry fandom, sometimes at the same time.
If you have a question about any of the books, check the FAQ on my website and then ask away! :)
I blog at http://www.kyellgold.com/wpblog about upcoming travel plans, upcoming books and news, general writing principles, gay rights, and whatever else seems interesting. And I co-host a podcast, called "Unsheathed," where we talk about the craft of writing and the furry fandom, sometimes at the same time.
If you have a question about any of the books, check the FAQ on my website and then ask away! :)
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 22, 2019
Kyell Gold's 'Out Of Position' series seemed to have reached a natural conclusion at the end of novel number 5, 'Over Time'. That book definitely had a feeling of finality to it, and it provided satisfying conclusions to the character arcs of UFL player Dev and his activist boyfriend Lee. Therefore, my reaction to news that the series was to be continued was a mixture of surprise, delight, and huge curiosity. Where next to take two well-developed and well-loved characters, while keeping the storytelling fresh? Quite the challenge.
The author's answer is to leap ahead in time. Eight years ahead, in fact. For many young men in their early 20s – which is where we left Dev and Lee previously – eight years probably feels as impossibly remote as eighty. But in the world of professional American football, eight years might as well be a millennium.
Kyell ages his characters realistically, but with subtlety. Dev's not the youngster looking to prove himself anymore; now he's the veteran, the mentor, the one that younger players look up to. We sense bittersweet emotions for Dev as he relives his earlier years through their eyes; in any other line of work 32 would not be 'old', yet here he is, contemplating the end of his time in a game he loves while nursing niggling injuries that take longer and longer to heal. Lee, meanwhile, has found that professional advancement has brought new challenges that he's ill-prepared for, despite his own maturing years.
The Forester world itself is as richly conjured as ever, full of vividly described settings and packed with anthropomorphic species from across the globe. It's often the little things that bring the scenes to life: a whisper that only foxes can hear, a plate of food so beautifully depicted it practically melts in the reader's mouth. And if you're a coyote and wearing a skirt, just how should you carry your tail? Demurely tucked beneath, or brazenly, out in the open, using the handy slit provided at the waistband?
And yet, for all of the amazing details, it's relationships that really take centre stage. Kyell gently shows us that tolerance, acceptance, and enduring love can be found pretty much anywhere – in couples gay and straight, same-species and cross-species, in a polyamorous threesome that's been rock-solid for eight long years. Conveying this message so effectively is the real triumph of 'Titles'; and if the work occasionally feels like an overt reaction to the xenophobia and division of today's America, well, that's perhaps inevitable, and something I for one find impossible to classify as a fault.
Existing aficionados of the Forester world will need little encouragement to jump right back in with 'Titles'. Newcomers will find a wealth of character introspection and heartfelt emotion in a world of anthropomorphic animals who manage to be exquisitely, even painfully, human.
The author's answer is to leap ahead in time. Eight years ahead, in fact. For many young men in their early 20s – which is where we left Dev and Lee previously – eight years probably feels as impossibly remote as eighty. But in the world of professional American football, eight years might as well be a millennium.
Kyell ages his characters realistically, but with subtlety. Dev's not the youngster looking to prove himself anymore; now he's the veteran, the mentor, the one that younger players look up to. We sense bittersweet emotions for Dev as he relives his earlier years through their eyes; in any other line of work 32 would not be 'old', yet here he is, contemplating the end of his time in a game he loves while nursing niggling injuries that take longer and longer to heal. Lee, meanwhile, has found that professional advancement has brought new challenges that he's ill-prepared for, despite his own maturing years.
The Forester world itself is as richly conjured as ever, full of vividly described settings and packed with anthropomorphic species from across the globe. It's often the little things that bring the scenes to life: a whisper that only foxes can hear, a plate of food so beautifully depicted it practically melts in the reader's mouth. And if you're a coyote and wearing a skirt, just how should you carry your tail? Demurely tucked beneath, or brazenly, out in the open, using the handy slit provided at the waistband?
And yet, for all of the amazing details, it's relationships that really take centre stage. Kyell gently shows us that tolerance, acceptance, and enduring love can be found pretty much anywhere – in couples gay and straight, same-species and cross-species, in a polyamorous threesome that's been rock-solid for eight long years. Conveying this message so effectively is the real triumph of 'Titles'; and if the work occasionally feels like an overt reaction to the xenophobia and division of today's America, well, that's perhaps inevitable, and something I for one find impossible to classify as a fault.
Existing aficionados of the Forester world will need little encouragement to jump right back in with 'Titles'. Newcomers will find a wealth of character introspection and heartfelt emotion in a world of anthropomorphic animals who manage to be exquisitely, even painfully, human.
January 21, 2020
I read this book the day it released in ebook format but I wanted to think about the review a bit. I first want to say I am probably not the demographic this book aims for. I found this series in my quest to find a romance novel that told a really good football story. Usually the authors don't know a darn thing about football and cant even be arsed to google it. So I saw this on a recommendation page and went for it. I decided to give it a shot and I just fell in love with the characters.
All that brings me to my review of this book. It's like a 3.99. The new art style took me a minute. I liked the cartoon-ish drawings of before. These go for a bit more realism. They are great too; I just have a preference. Maybe this is more realistic to show the growing up our guys did in the 8 years we were away? Maybe I think too much about that kind of thing. Lee and Dev are still the same couple that I fell for in my search for a great fiction book about football. It's nice to see them chugging along and still living their same lives. They are solid like they were at the end of Overtime.
What I am struggling with (and why I took a bit to write this review) is the why of this story. Lee is in the same job but with promotions. Dev is still playing and doing well. It's always great to hear from beloved characters but what story were they telling? What is happening that we should all know about it? Another reviewer said this felt like a coda. He may be right. I was just felt like I wanted more to the story. If this is a set up to continue, I understand we needed to know a bit more about their life now before possibly getting into the adventure. If not I'm just left with wondering why this was written.
Please don't misunderstand. This book continues with the excellent writing I have expected to get from Kyell Gold. The story is engaging and well paced. I recommend this series to anyone who likes a good romance with their sports.
All that brings me to my review of this book. It's like a 3.99. The new art style took me a minute. I liked the cartoon-ish drawings of before. These go for a bit more realism. They are great too; I just have a preference. Maybe this is more realistic to show the growing up our guys did in the 8 years we were away? Maybe I think too much about that kind of thing. Lee and Dev are still the same couple that I fell for in my search for a great fiction book about football. It's nice to see them chugging along and still living their same lives. They are solid like they were at the end of Overtime.
What I am struggling with (and why I took a bit to write this review) is the why of this story. Lee is in the same job but with promotions. Dev is still playing and doing well. It's always great to hear from beloved characters but what story were they telling? What is happening that we should all know about it? Another reviewer said this felt like a coda. He may be right. I was just felt like I wanted more to the story. If this is a set up to continue, I understand we needed to know a bit more about their life now before possibly getting into the adventure. If not I'm just left with wondering why this was written.
Please don't misunderstand. This book continues with the excellent writing I have expected to get from Kyell Gold. The story is engaging and well paced. I recommend this series to anyone who likes a good romance with their sports.
August 28, 2020
Cute sincere LGBT+ soap opera, mixed with social and political topics that closes the gap to many real life issues these days, including a corny little 'happy end' to this adventurous sports saga. It's been a joy to see the main characters change and grow over a decade of almost 10 years story-wise! They derserved to reach the famouse closing line: And so they lived happily ever after....
April 5, 2024
I wanted so much more from the closing book of the Out of Position series. This book is barely about Dev, largely about Lee, and a significant portion about Mike (Gerrard’s son). There’s nothing wrong with introducing new characters and plots, but the final book in a series that was written primarily as fan-service doesn’t seem like the right place for it. I barely have time to connect with Mike before the book and entire series draws to a close, and that is frustrating.
I’m also frustrated that so many pages were, bluntly, wasted on Mike when this novel should have been about Dev & Lee almost exclusively. Over Time was supposed to be the last book in the OOP series, so the fact that this book came along means it is pretty much fan service at this point. But instead of writing about Dev & Lee, their marriage, their relationship, their championships, their history with old friends, instead we get thrust into new stories with barely enough time to explore their full meaning before the series completely closes. I wanted to know how Dev & Lee survived after eight years; I wanted to know how they are still not living together; I wanted to read about their marriage; I wanted to see what happened with Fisher. But I wasn’t allowed to see any of that.
I can tell Kyell’s heart isn’t in this book. The writing is different, especially from Dev’s perspective. I think, and am making an assumption, that writing from Lee’s perspective is more natural for Kyell Gold, and he has to plan/edit the Dev narrative to sell the Dev character. I feel like this just didn’t happen in Titles…the Dev stories don’t feel like Dev anymore. I get that eight years have passed, but to me, it just feels like Dev has morphed into a different person and I had no opportunity to explore that evolution. I had to reference the chapter titles to see if I was reading a Dev story or a Lee story, something I never had to do in any of the previous books. The passion is missing from Titles.
I also noted the detail is missing here, especially from Dev’s story and football in general. In Uncovered, near the end Kyell Gold gives 40 pages to describing the final championship game…a game that the Firebirds lose! In Titles we get it described to us so succinctly in a mere four pages. FOUR! I waited over a decade and 5 novels to read a brief FOUR FUCKING PAGES. And they weren’t even exciting, honestly, and included a break at half-time to cover some locker room drama. The passion for football just is not there, and I am left so, so disappointed in what should have been the most intense moment of the Out of Position series.
And how about the art. Blotch was the original artist for OOP, and when they split up Kenket continued providing sketches and art for the series. But not in Titles; for some reason they could not get Kenket to continue the art and instead we have new artists, Rukis and Anon Omega. They are amazing artists, and the art in the book is GOOD. Do not misunderstand me, they are very talented artists. But it is not congruent with the rest of the OOP books. Kenket created a style that became Dev & Lee, and her exclusion from the art in Titles was a mistake. The art in the book does not look like Dev & Lee, the style is very different, and is just not right. The incongruous art in Titles just further pushes this book into the realm of “I don’t care about this project.” If Kyell Gold could not have secured Kenket to do the art, the book would have been better with no interior art at all.
Maybe Kenket’s absence is related to Titles being published under Furplanet instead of Sofawolf, another thing I don’t quite understand. Sofawolf published books 1-5, why not Titles? This is especially confusing when you consider that Kyell Gold is a co-founder of Sofawolf…why didn’t he use his own publishing company on this book?
Over Time was supposed to be the last book in the series. Its back cover literally says, “The fifth and final book…” Yet three years later, Titles comes out. I am assuming Kyell Gold caved to fan pressure clamoring for more content, which is fine. It is certainly his prerogative to continue the series, or not. But it is just adamantly apparent that he half-assed this book, and didn’t even give the fans what they wanted. Where is the wedding? Why did we buzz through the final championship game so quickly? How is Fisher? Lee is considering moving to a new franchise city, Cansez, but Kyell Gold couldn’t even be bothered to place the new city on the map at the front of the book. There were also several grammar errors in this book, something I did not notice in the previous five. Different publisher, different artist…Titles is like an island outside the rest of the OOP universe, the quality of the book is such a letdown.
Over Time was supposed to be the last book in the series. I, unfortunately, have to recommend that it stay that way. Read through Over Time, then read Ty Game (it’s worth it), and then stop. Pretend Titles does not exist. Leave on a high note.
Kyell Gold is such a talented writer and I recommend everything he writes. This is my first negative experience with his work, and I encourage everyone to check out his other books. I regret having to leave this 2-star review, but I cannot ignore how disappointed I am in Titles. If Kyell Gold could not put himself fully into the project, then he never should have written it at all.
I’m also frustrated that so many pages were, bluntly, wasted on Mike when this novel should have been about Dev & Lee almost exclusively. Over Time was supposed to be the last book in the OOP series, so the fact that this book came along means it is pretty much fan service at this point. But instead of writing about Dev & Lee, their marriage, their relationship, their championships, their history with old friends, instead we get thrust into new stories with barely enough time to explore their full meaning before the series completely closes. I wanted to know how Dev & Lee survived after eight years; I wanted to know how they are still not living together; I wanted to read about their marriage; I wanted to see what happened with Fisher. But I wasn’t allowed to see any of that.
I can tell Kyell’s heart isn’t in this book. The writing is different, especially from Dev’s perspective. I think, and am making an assumption, that writing from Lee’s perspective is more natural for Kyell Gold, and he has to plan/edit the Dev narrative to sell the Dev character. I feel like this just didn’t happen in Titles…the Dev stories don’t feel like Dev anymore. I get that eight years have passed, but to me, it just feels like Dev has morphed into a different person and I had no opportunity to explore that evolution. I had to reference the chapter titles to see if I was reading a Dev story or a Lee story, something I never had to do in any of the previous books. The passion is missing from Titles.
I also noted the detail is missing here, especially from Dev’s story and football in general. In Uncovered, near the end Kyell Gold gives 40 pages to describing the final championship game…a game that the Firebirds lose! In Titles we get it described to us so succinctly in a mere four pages. FOUR! I waited over a decade and 5 novels to read a brief FOUR FUCKING PAGES. And they weren’t even exciting, honestly, and included a break at half-time to cover some locker room drama. The passion for football just is not there, and I am left so, so disappointed in what should have been the most intense moment of the Out of Position series.
And how about the art. Blotch was the original artist for OOP, and when they split up Kenket continued providing sketches and art for the series. But not in Titles; for some reason they could not get Kenket to continue the art and instead we have new artists, Rukis and Anon Omega. They are amazing artists, and the art in the book is GOOD. Do not misunderstand me, they are very talented artists. But it is not congruent with the rest of the OOP books. Kenket created a style that became Dev & Lee, and her exclusion from the art in Titles was a mistake. The art in the book does not look like Dev & Lee, the style is very different, and is just not right. The incongruous art in Titles just further pushes this book into the realm of “I don’t care about this project.” If Kyell Gold could not have secured Kenket to do the art, the book would have been better with no interior art at all.
Maybe Kenket’s absence is related to Titles being published under Furplanet instead of Sofawolf, another thing I don’t quite understand. Sofawolf published books 1-5, why not Titles? This is especially confusing when you consider that Kyell Gold is a co-founder of Sofawolf…why didn’t he use his own publishing company on this book?
Over Time was supposed to be the last book in the series. Its back cover literally says, “The fifth and final book…” Yet three years later, Titles comes out. I am assuming Kyell Gold caved to fan pressure clamoring for more content, which is fine. It is certainly his prerogative to continue the series, or not. But it is just adamantly apparent that he half-assed this book, and didn’t even give the fans what they wanted. Where is the wedding? Why did we buzz through the final championship game so quickly? How is Fisher? Lee is considering moving to a new franchise city, Cansez, but Kyell Gold couldn’t even be bothered to place the new city on the map at the front of the book. There were also several grammar errors in this book, something I did not notice in the previous five. Different publisher, different artist…Titles is like an island outside the rest of the OOP universe, the quality of the book is such a letdown.
Over Time was supposed to be the last book in the series. I, unfortunately, have to recommend that it stay that way. Read through Over Time, then read Ty Game (it’s worth it), and then stop. Pretend Titles does not exist. Leave on a high note.
Kyell Gold is such a talented writer and I recommend everything he writes. This is my first negative experience with his work, and I encourage everyone to check out his other books. I regret having to leave this 2-star review, but I cannot ignore how disappointed I am in Titles. If Kyell Gold could not put himself fully into the project, then he never should have written it at all.
January 8, 2020
I have a pretty personal history with this series; I read Out of Position back when I had dropped out of college and was struggling a lot with my sexuality, so I related a lot with the struggles of Dev and Lee as they navigated their relationship and careers. In fact, this series is what made me fall in love with reading again. Since then, I've read almost everything Kyell Gold has produced, and my own journey of self discovery has led me to accept myself more openly. So coming back to Dev and Lee in this book was somewhat daunting because I had so much emotional investment in their story.
Thankfully this is an emotionally satisfying book. In preparation for it, I had reread the entire series, so I was refreshed on all the characters and their arcs. Seeing all the books in one big picture helps to contextualize the series and the character's journey, and without spoilers I'll say that the events and decisions that are made make perfect sense and fit within the tapestry of the story. And its not just because there's fan-service for long-time readers, but because the story here feels relevant.
This book is about change and growth: how far we've come, and how far we still need to go. The original OOP series came out in a time when there were no out gay football players, and gay marriage wasn't legal statewide. A lot of the conflict in those first books revolved around Dev's struggle to be normalized and Lee's desire to fight for gay equality. And in this book, those issues (for the most part) have been resolved. But there's a new frontier being pushed for queer identities that fall outside the binary, and new struggles around immigration that don't necessarily effect Dev and Lee, but nonetheless echo the discrimination they had to fight. So the main issues of this book are about how they cope with these new complications and help the younger generation to handle those problems they themselves had to face.
On one hand, the conflicts aren't immediately detrimental to either Dev or Lee's personal lives, so the drama isn't as high stakes as the previous books, which some might find disappointing. But this book is more reflective than those other;. Dev and Lee are older and more mature, and its great to see them respond to these challenges without the melodrama (mostly). Another thing some might be disappointed by is the lack of football; the earlier books focused on an entire season of games, while this book only has two. But they're important games, and while I'd love to spend time getting to know this new team Dev's a part of, there's only so much football one can describe before it gets repetitive. And it perfectly reflects Dev's attitude as a veteran who has been through so many games and been with so many players that the novelty just isn't there like it was. And unlike those previous books, this one is clearly meant to be self-contained.
As much as I'd love for there to be more stories with these guys, this book does feel like a coda for the series. And if there wasn't more after this, I think I'd feel okay about that. Dev and Lee have come a long way, and so has Kyell Gold as a writer... and so have I as a reader and as a person. I'll always be thankful to Kyell Gold for creating these wonderful books, and I'm happy to add this among them!
Thankfully this is an emotionally satisfying book. In preparation for it, I had reread the entire series, so I was refreshed on all the characters and their arcs. Seeing all the books in one big picture helps to contextualize the series and the character's journey, and without spoilers I'll say that the events and decisions that are made make perfect sense and fit within the tapestry of the story. And its not just because there's fan-service for long-time readers, but because the story here feels relevant.
This book is about change and growth: how far we've come, and how far we still need to go. The original OOP series came out in a time when there were no out gay football players, and gay marriage wasn't legal statewide. A lot of the conflict in those first books revolved around Dev's struggle to be normalized and Lee's desire to fight for gay equality. And in this book, those issues (for the most part) have been resolved. But there's a new frontier being pushed for queer identities that fall outside the binary, and new struggles around immigration that don't necessarily effect Dev and Lee, but nonetheless echo the discrimination they had to fight. So the main issues of this book are about how they cope with these new complications and help the younger generation to handle those problems they themselves had to face.
On one hand, the conflicts aren't immediately detrimental to either Dev or Lee's personal lives, so the drama isn't as high stakes as the previous books, which some might find disappointing. But this book is more reflective than those other;. Dev and Lee are older and more mature, and its great to see them respond to these challenges without the melodrama (mostly). Another thing some might be disappointed by is the lack of football; the earlier books focused on an entire season of games, while this book only has two. But they're important games, and while I'd love to spend time getting to know this new team Dev's a part of, there's only so much football one can describe before it gets repetitive. And it perfectly reflects Dev's attitude as a veteran who has been through so many games and been with so many players that the novelty just isn't there like it was. And unlike those previous books, this one is clearly meant to be self-contained.
As much as I'd love for there to be more stories with these guys, this book does feel like a coda for the series. And if there wasn't more after this, I think I'd feel okay about that. Dev and Lee have come a long way, and so has Kyell Gold as a writer... and so have I as a reader and as a person. I'll always be thankful to Kyell Gold for creating these wonderful books, and I'm happy to add this among them!
July 10, 2020
The sixth entry of author Kyell Gold’s Out of Position / Dev and Lee series opens with a two-part prologue, narrated respectively by the tiger Dev and fox Lee, the former training for the current football season and the latter at his divorced father’s marriage to another woman. Dev worries if Lee is bored with their relationship, even when the couple makes love, and has in the approximate decade since the previous book established a foundation for troubled LGBT youth. Dev will have to separate from Lee for several weeks training for a championship football game.
While Dev is away from his boyfriend, Lee himself is offered a position in a place called Cansez, which I assume is the Forrester Universe’s equivalent of Kansas, with the sixth installment being slightly less shy about its obvious American setting, with occasional references to the political spectrum, and the issue of Nativism frequently raised throughout the story, Dev himself a target due to his Siberian ancestry. Dev at some points clashes with fellow footballer Colin, given his homophobic leanings. The championship tournament for which Dev trains ultimately comes, its outcome occupying the last few chapters.
All in all, I found the sixth entry to be a slight step above its precursor in the series, especially given that the author doesn’t devote an afterward to ranting about politics, although he still injects the topic into the latest entry at times, which somewhat spoils the hypothetical escapism of the furry fandom, and makes even more restrictive its appeal. The illustrations, however, are good, with some being explicit, and a different anthro artist handling them this time. The book definitely has its issues, but sometimes makes good points; regardless, like its precursors, it definitely has a niche audience.
While Dev is away from his boyfriend, Lee himself is offered a position in a place called Cansez, which I assume is the Forrester Universe’s equivalent of Kansas, with the sixth installment being slightly less shy about its obvious American setting, with occasional references to the political spectrum, and the issue of Nativism frequently raised throughout the story, Dev himself a target due to his Siberian ancestry. Dev at some points clashes with fellow footballer Colin, given his homophobic leanings. The championship tournament for which Dev trains ultimately comes, its outcome occupying the last few chapters.
All in all, I found the sixth entry to be a slight step above its precursor in the series, especially given that the author doesn’t devote an afterward to ranting about politics, although he still injects the topic into the latest entry at times, which somewhat spoils the hypothetical escapism of the furry fandom, and makes even more restrictive its appeal. The illustrations, however, are good, with some being explicit, and a different anthro artist handling them this time. The book definitely has its issues, but sometimes makes good points; regardless, like its precursors, it definitely has a niche audience.
June 27, 2023
Titles is yet another of Kyell's clever wordplay - err... - titles to a novel, and when the vendor told me that it was another Dev & Lee story: I bought it without thinking twice. For a person who practically grew into her own reading these books, another chance to visit the lives of two of my most beloved characters in all of fiction was delightfully indulged.
Echoing sentiments of many I've spoken to about this book: it does seem like an odd choice that it would be "brought out of retirement" after the events of Over Time. The feeling that was left on was a sort of hopeful optimism that someday, definitely, these two would find the happy ending they'd been fighting for. So... how on earth do you tell a story where the ending is all-but-written already?
(Spoiler Gap!)
Overall, this was an enjoyable read; a comforting sort of victory lap that may not have quite so much of the dramatic tension, but has its heart set in the right place. If you, like me, just want an excuse to spend more time with Dev & Lee: this is a delightful reprise of familiar beats. Truly, my only regret is that this - more than any other - puts a definitive cap on the story of the fox and tiger.
Echoing sentiments of many I've spoken to about this book: it does seem like an odd choice that it would be "brought out of retirement" after the events of Over Time. The feeling that was left on was a sort of hopeful optimism that someday, definitely, these two would find the happy ending they'd been fighting for. So... how on earth do you tell a story where the ending is all-but-written already?
(Spoiler Gap!)
Overall, this was an enjoyable read; a comforting sort of victory lap that may not have quite so much of the dramatic tension, but has its heart set in the right place. If you, like me, just want an excuse to spend more time with Dev & Lee: this is a delightful reprise of familiar beats. Truly, my only regret is that this - more than any other - puts a definitive cap on the story of the fox and tiger.
March 4, 2023
I'm a bit conflicted now that I write this review. Mostly because I'm not sure who to recommend this to since I have no idea which audience it is meant for.
Those who liked Dev and Lee's journey will be irritated since their development and growth was already pretty neatly tied up last book. The fact that they spent almost the entire book apart and Dev gets permission to cheat also soured me somewhat.
The book is also... how do I say this... excessively blunt and preachy with it's message? Which again makes it difficult to recommend because those who don't agree wouldn't read a book about gay furries in the first place and for those who do it's just preaching to the choir (an activity I never enjoyed myself, particularly when the message conveyed is banal yet presented as if it was groundbreaking).
The book also feels like it is scraping the bottom of the barrel as far as conflicts go: Collin is there so Dev has someone homophobic to struggle against, which again makes little sense since he should either have transferred to another team or had plenty of opportunity to come to blows with Dev. Eight years have passed after all! And again, he's played with this team for almost a decade! Any lingering conflicts should by now have resulted in the drawing of lines!
The entire book feels like a concluding chapter inflated to book length.
Yes yes, the game of football was well researched but after so many books about it I'm no longer willing to give credit for it. I thought the last few books were decent to good; even with the padding the author knew what he was doing and I didn't feel that yet anyother review would add anything, especially since the books are by now decades old.
Yet this one was a chore to get through so here I am. Which rating does the site recommend for a book you didn't like? 1 Star it is then.
Those who liked Dev and Lee's journey will be irritated since their development and growth was already pretty neatly tied up last book. The fact that they spent almost the entire book apart and Dev gets permission to cheat also soured me somewhat.
The book is also... how do I say this... excessively blunt and preachy with it's message? Which again makes it difficult to recommend because those who don't agree wouldn't read a book about gay furries in the first place and for those who do it's just preaching to the choir (an activity I never enjoyed myself, particularly when the message conveyed is banal yet presented as if it was groundbreaking).
The book also feels like it is scraping the bottom of the barrel as far as conflicts go: Collin is there so Dev has someone homophobic to struggle against, which again makes little sense since he should either have transferred to another team or had plenty of opportunity to come to blows with Dev. Eight years have passed after all! And again, he's played with this team for almost a decade! Any lingering conflicts should by now have resulted in the drawing of lines!
The entire book feels like a concluding chapter inflated to book length.
Yes yes, the game of football was well researched but after so many books about it I'm no longer willing to give credit for it. I thought the last few books were decent to good; even with the padding the author knew what he was doing and I didn't feel that yet anyother review would add anything, especially since the books are by now decades old.
Yet this one was a chore to get through so here I am. Which rating does the site recommend for a book you didn't like? 1 Star it is then.
October 14, 2020
It was difficult to jump into this book. The premise of a time skip from Overtime sounded scary, but perhaps most people have some worry about growing up. So I dove into this book only recently, and it was definitely a fun read.
The conflicts don't feel as impactful as those in earlier books, but nonetheless they still hold weight to make them interesting. Dev faces challenges that will keep one in their toes, anxiety and hope pushing you to read another chapter. Lee's challenges this time are a bit on the weak-side, a mixed bag in my opinion. It isn't so bad after a series full of amazing moments, but there was definitely room for more engaging situations for Lee.
The book was a little on the more... preachy-side for my tastes, even though I agree with its messages. Overall, it is a pleasure to see Dev and Lee once again. Kyell has definitely created an iconic couple at this point. As others have said, it definitely has a bit of a... "fanfiction"ish feel to it, but that doesn't necessarily make it bad. And I'd recommend it for Dev's part of the story alone.
The conflicts don't feel as impactful as those in earlier books, but nonetheless they still hold weight to make them interesting. Dev faces challenges that will keep one in their toes, anxiety and hope pushing you to read another chapter. Lee's challenges this time are a bit on the weak-side, a mixed bag in my opinion. It isn't so bad after a series full of amazing moments, but there was definitely room for more engaging situations for Lee.
The book was a little on the more... preachy-side for my tastes, even though I agree with its messages. Overall, it is a pleasure to see Dev and Lee once again. Kyell has definitely created an iconic couple at this point. As others have said, it definitely has a bit of a... "fanfiction"ish feel to it, but that doesn't necessarily make it bad. And I'd recommend it for Dev's part of the story alone.
June 23, 2026
Oh my god I can’t believe this is the last book of the Dev and Lee series 🥹🥹 The book itself is a really pleasant read, nothing too special compared to the previous books but it’s still worth to finish. It’s nice to see their relationship burn bright even after a decade of being together.
Glad to see some story with the characters and see Dev and Colin finally not get into their nerves for once. And hey! Carson actually speaking and we get to know a bit more about him, that’s quite nice. Mike/Maxie was an interesting case though, really hoped we get to see more about their story about their gender identity—as much as I liked the genderqueer representation, (cause I am genderqueer) I find the addition to be very random and doesn’t feel as memorable, I really would like a bonus story with Mike as an introduction so that we can get to know them—though I liked the scene where they shopped for feminine clothes haha I went through that #TWINS
I’m surprised that furry racism…? Speciesm…? Is now the more noticeable problem here other than homophobia (times have changed huh). The book does represent this problem realistically, though again, it is very sudden.
Do I think the book lacks content and the pacing a bit too fast? Yeah definitely. I really hoped to read more about Dev and Lee get married and meeting up with their old pals (esp. Fisher). With all that though, I found the book very cute and enjoyable! 3.75/5.
Glad to see some story with the characters and see Dev and Colin finally not get into their nerves for once. And hey! Carson actually speaking and we get to know a bit more about him, that’s quite nice. Mike/Maxie was an interesting case though, really hoped we get to see more about their story about their gender identity—as much as I liked the genderqueer representation, (cause I am genderqueer) I find the addition to be very random and doesn’t feel as memorable, I really would like a bonus story with Mike as an introduction so that we can get to know them—though I liked the scene where they shopped for feminine clothes haha I went through that #TWINS
I’m surprised that furry racism…? Speciesm…? Is now the more noticeable problem here other than homophobia (times have changed huh). The book does represent this problem realistically, though again, it is very sudden.
Do I think the book lacks content and the pacing a bit too fast? Yeah definitely. I really hoped to read more about Dev and Lee get married and meeting up with their old pals (esp. Fisher). With all that though, I found the book very cute and enjoyable! 3.75/5.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2020
I don't have a full review but I'll say that this volume is warm and comforting. I am spoiled to see my beloved characters aging with me (I am 32 at the time of writing).
One thing I'll note is that Gold's ability to gently unfold characters' thought processes is on full display. In particular, when a character comes out as genderfluid and starts using they/them pronouns, we see Lee and Dev quickly affirm their gender but also stumble with pronoun use and code-switching both in their heads and out in the world, but soon enough it becomes natural. I think it is a very real and human portrayal of a cis ally's first experiences with nonbinary friends or family, and it is a great model for anyone who has yet to make that journey themselves.
One thing I'll note is that Gold's ability to gently unfold characters' thought processes is on full display. In particular, when a character comes out as genderfluid and starts using they/them pronouns, we see Lee and Dev quickly affirm their gender but also stumble with pronoun use and code-switching both in their heads and out in the world, but soon enough it becomes natural. I think it is a very real and human portrayal of a cis ally's first experiences with nonbinary friends or family, and it is a great model for anyone who has yet to make that journey themselves.
November 18, 2022
Dev and Lee book 6
It was nice to revisit the world of Dev and Lee. I enjoyed this story and like KG’s anthropomorphic world building. This story did feel less emotional than others. I guess I wanted Lee and Dev to be more demonstrative and emotional, instead of Lee giving Dev permission to cheat. I understand that quite often this is normal in a relationship and does not measure depth of commitment but it was disappointing for me personally. And it made the story lacking, they were separated for too much during the story anyway. And this makes it sound like I didn’t like it at all and I did I really love the world building and I love these two characters and I enjoyed the book.
It was nice to revisit the world of Dev and Lee. I enjoyed this story and like KG’s anthropomorphic world building. This story did feel less emotional than others. I guess I wanted Lee and Dev to be more demonstrative and emotional, instead of Lee giving Dev permission to cheat. I understand that quite often this is normal in a relationship and does not measure depth of commitment but it was disappointing for me personally. And it made the story lacking, they were separated for too much during the story anyway. And this makes it sound like I didn’t like it at all and I did I really love the world building and I love these two characters and I enjoyed the book.
February 24, 2020
For this book, I'd waited almost a year. It was a decent read, mostly because it closes most of the loose ends left over from Over Time, but due to this, it also loses the special kind of feeling that the other books in the series gave me. Still, it was good to finally get it in my hands and read it.
July 22, 2020
another excellent read
Dev and Lee are in a long term relationship ( I recommend you read the earlier books for their full story, well worthwhile) and here we see another chapter in their lives. Dev is finally getting another chance at the championship football finals! but during the intense leadup, they both also have to navigate other challenges.
Dev and Lee are in a long term relationship ( I recommend you read the earlier books for their full story, well worthwhile) and here we see another chapter in their lives. Dev is finally getting another chance at the championship football finals! but during the intense leadup, they both also have to navigate other challenges.
July 14, 2021
Great book
Great book like the rest of the series! Loved every bit of it! Following dev and lee has been a wonderful rollercoaster of emotion and a great way to escape from daily life. Ive enjoyed every one of the books in this series and would recommend them to anyone who would be interested.
Great book like the rest of the series! Loved every bit of it! Following dev and lee has been a wonderful rollercoaster of emotion and a great way to escape from daily life. Ive enjoyed every one of the books in this series and would recommend them to anyone who would be interested.
August 31, 2020
It made me think about how far the world has come since the first book was released, and managed to make me a little bit confident about the future. Which, you know, is pretty hard considering the state of the world.
June 11, 2025
4.4 stars
A great way to wrap Dev and Lee's story! Everyone has grown and changed, even crappy Colin. A little bit. I wouldn't have minded a little of Hal, but this wasn't his story. Lovely to see so much of Brenly's life though!
A great way to wrap Dev and Lee's story! Everyone has grown and changed, even crappy Colin. A little bit. I wouldn't have minded a little of Hal, but this wasn't his story. Lovely to see so much of Brenly's life though!
February 27, 2025
perfect ending for the series i think, though a time skin felt jarring at first with how fast paced the previous books were.
September 12, 2026
I'm a bit torn on this one.
I liked a lot!
The main difference for me between this book and the previous ones is that Dev and Lee's relationship felt like the anchor of stability. A lot of the in-between years is left to inference, but it's clear how much they've matured and how much trust they place in each other. All of that left a very warm buttery feeling in my heart, but conversely, they are so rock-solid that it kind of felt like there were no stakes or urgency in much of the book.
I also enjoyed Lee's main conflict quite a bit. As someone who just hit 30, I've also been mulling over the questions of whether to stay in a comfortable place and enjoy what I've built, or to take the challenge of starting anew to try and create something even better for those around you and those who come after.
As usual, I still love how Gold writes; it's wonderfully clear and concise and pleasant to follow. Consequently, it was often nice to just spend time with the characters in a more slice-of-life way.
What I enjoyed less:
The main "world" conflict here, xenophobia and generally an air of intolerance for non-conformity never really felt like it threatened Dev and Lee's worlds, and it didn't really feel like they saw it as the huge problem that it is. To me, it kind of felt like they dealt with these issues with kind of the exasperated air of two parents scolding children individually, rather than with the united zeal with which they fought for their own right to love.
I also found parts of Dev's story a bit lacking. For me, what made him such a compelling character for me in the first 5 books was his drive and ambition. Now he's the grizzled veteran who's seen it all and who's (sort of) made peace with it all, which makes sense, but also sort of drained the stakes for the conflicts in his story for me. Even the climax when felt kind of like "yeah alright cool" and it was over before we had really processed it. Consequently, the general lack of stakes in this book made me feel like I could have not read it, inferred the happily ever after ending from the end of the last book, and not missed that much.
These aren't trivial gripes for me, but all that being said, it was still really lovely to spend some more time in this universe with this wonderful cast with Gold's pleasing prose and send them off into the beautiful sunset with a fond farewell!
I liked a lot!
The main difference for me between this book and the previous ones is that Dev and Lee's relationship felt like the anchor of stability. A lot of the in-between years is left to inference, but it's clear how much they've matured and how much trust they place in each other. All of that left a very warm buttery feeling in my heart, but conversely, they are so rock-solid that it kind of felt like there were no stakes or urgency in much of the book.
I also enjoyed Lee's main conflict quite a bit. As someone who just hit 30, I've also been mulling over the questions of whether to stay in a comfortable place and enjoy what I've built, or to take the challenge of starting anew to try and create something even better for those around you and those who come after.
As usual, I still love how Gold writes; it's wonderfully clear and concise and pleasant to follow. Consequently, it was often nice to just spend time with the characters in a more slice-of-life way.
What I enjoyed less:
The main "world" conflict here, xenophobia and generally an air of intolerance for non-conformity never really felt like it threatened Dev and Lee's worlds, and it didn't really feel like they saw it as the huge problem that it is. To me, it kind of felt like they dealt with these issues with kind of the exasperated air of two parents scolding children individually, rather than with the united zeal with which they fought for their own right to love.
I also found parts of Dev's story a bit lacking. For me, what made him such a compelling character for me in the first 5 books was his drive and ambition. Now he's the grizzled veteran who's seen it all and who's (sort of) made peace with it all, which makes sense, but also sort of drained the stakes for the conflicts in his story for me. Even the climax when felt kind of like "yeah alright cool" and it was over before we had really processed it. Consequently, the general lack of stakes in this book made me feel like I could have not read it, inferred the happily ever after ending from the end of the last book, and not missed that much.
These aren't trivial gripes for me, but all that being said, it was still really lovely to spend some more time in this universe with this wonderful cast with Gold's pleasing prose and send them off into the beautiful sunset with a fond farewell!
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