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Encounters #1
On Wings, Rising
Book 1 of the Encounters series
Dinun can t fly but he could be the answer to an Angel s prayer.
Barely tolerated by his own kind, Dinun is a self-reliant soul who scratches out a living from the great, empty lands of Quarn. Always looking for unexpected treasure, he never dreams of finding an injured Angel.
Moon belongs to a race of telepathic winged humanoids. Exquisitely beautiful, sexually playful, Angels have always fascinated humans. Dinun s feelings for Moon take flight as they become lovers, but a planetary invasion could destroy their future together.
Centuries ago, humans on Quarn saved their race from destruction by joining their DNA with that of the Angels. Now full-blood humans are stealing Angel children including Moon s son for barbaric experiments. The full-bloods are prepared to slaughter anyone who gets in their way.
Thrust into a desperate race against time to save the infants, Dinun and Moon must battle against a people with weapons far beyond anything the Angels or their human friends can hope to defeat. Dinun brings to the fight his bravery and a determination to be true to himself. Will that be enough to save the children, and win the Angel he s come to love?"
Dinun can t fly but he could be the answer to an Angel s prayer.
Barely tolerated by his own kind, Dinun is a self-reliant soul who scratches out a living from the great, empty lands of Quarn. Always looking for unexpected treasure, he never dreams of finding an injured Angel.
Moon belongs to a race of telepathic winged humanoids. Exquisitely beautiful, sexually playful, Angels have always fascinated humans. Dinun s feelings for Moon take flight as they become lovers, but a planetary invasion could destroy their future together.
Centuries ago, humans on Quarn saved their race from destruction by joining their DNA with that of the Angels. Now full-blood humans are stealing Angel children including Moon s son for barbaric experiments. The full-bloods are prepared to slaughter anyone who gets in their way.
Thrust into a desperate race against time to save the infants, Dinun and Moon must battle against a people with weapons far beyond anything the Angels or their human friends can hope to defeat. Dinun brings to the fight his bravery and a determination to be true to himself. Will that be enough to save the children, and win the Angel he s come to love?"
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2008
About the author
Ann Somerville
52 books281 followersAnn Somerville grew up in one of Australia’s prettiest small cities. In 1989, she left Australia with a BA and a burning ambition to see more of the world and its people, and to discover this ‘culture’ thing people kept telling her about. In 2006, she returned home to Southeast Queensland with two more degrees (this time in science and IT), an English husband and a staggering case of homesickness, vowing never to leave Australia again.
Her long, plot-driven fiction featuring gay and bisexual characters has been published by Samhain Publishing and elsewhere.
Her long, plot-driven fiction featuring gay and bisexual characters has been published by Samhain Publishing and elsewhere.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 4, 2010
winged yeti wants his baby back
August 7, 2009
I was disappointed by this book. I usually really enjoy Ann Somerville's writing but this time it didn't do anything for me.
The problem is the character Moon. Perhaps it's my lack of imagination, but from Somerville's descriptions I see him as an odd looking winged yeti, with a mouth full of shark’s teeth and some kind of pouch like a kangaroo.
I found it difficult to understand why Dinun found Moon so appealing.
Plus he doesn't talk, he communicates telepathically, which didn't help. Moon and Dinun would be having a conversation but I could only understand Dinun's half most of the time.
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Slash Review
This is quite a tame story. I thought Dinun was far more interested in Moon than Moon was with him but that could be because the book is written from Dinun's POV.
The problem is the character Moon. Perhaps it's my lack of imagination, but from Somerville's descriptions I see him as an odd looking winged yeti, with a mouth full of shark’s teeth and some kind of pouch like a kangaroo.
I found it difficult to understand why Dinun found Moon so appealing.
Plus he doesn't talk, he communicates telepathically, which didn't help. Moon and Dinun would be having a conversation but I could only understand Dinun's half most of the time.
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Slash Review
This is quite a tame story. I thought Dinun was far more interested in Moon than Moon was with him but that could be because the book is written from Dinun's POV.
March 26, 2010
Just save yourself some time and buy everything that Ann Somerville writes. Apparently it is all excellent. This is a pretty quick read, and yet the culture of the different races is given amazing detail without long, boring explanations. Same sex relationships are acceptable and even recognized by the government, but Dinun is still ostracized by his community for his orientation. And then there are the angels. A completely fascinating race. They communicate telepathically. It was very interesting to read the angels words - very unique. The physical descriptions of the angels were very compelling as well.
February 15, 2018
3.5/5
So when I first read the description of the "Angels": A human body with dark skin and covered almost completely in white fur. My first thought was, so... like an albino gorilla with wings?
Like this, but white. XD
Obviously this put a big "furry sign" over the book, which make me felt uncomfortable in every intimate scene. I mean... wings? Sure. Furs.... erhmmm maybe not.
But bestiality aside, the world was intrigued and the plot engaging. I ended up liking the characters and the story. The sex... not so much... XD
So when I first read the description of the "Angels": A human body with dark skin and covered almost completely in white fur. My first thought was, so... like an albino gorilla with wings?
Like this, but white. XD
Obviously this put a big "furry sign" over the book, which make me felt uncomfortable in every intimate scene. I mean... wings? Sure. Furs.... erhmmm maybe not.
But bestiality aside, the world was intrigued and the plot engaging. I ended up liking the characters and the story. The sex... not so much... XD
March 4, 2011
2.5 stars
This could be a case of "it's me, not the book", not sure. I needed more world building and character depth. It wasn't until I was about 80% of the book that I started to connect with the angel culture, off-world culture and Dinun's culture; as well as Dinun's emotional growth. It just came late. I will read another Somerville book because of what I saw at that 80% mark. I appreciated the plight and story, maybe I'm just not an angel genre person?
This could be a case of "it's me, not the book", not sure. I needed more world building and character depth. It wasn't until I was about 80% of the book that I started to connect with the angel culture, off-world culture and Dinun's culture; as well as Dinun's emotional growth. It just came late. I will read another Somerville book because of what I saw at that 80% mark. I appreciated the plight and story, maybe I'm just not an angel genre person?
December 7, 2008
One of the things I’ve come to expect in reading Ann Somerville’s works is that as an author she never goes for the obvious, for the stereotypes of character and plot that plague any genre, not just the m/m romance genre. I am happy to say that Somerville once again takes us on an enjoyable journey down the road less often taken with the charming, touching and completely entertaining On Wings, Rising.
On the world of Quarn, we are introduced to Dinun, an everyman who is, perhaps, a little less ordinary than he actually believes. Somewhat of an outsider in his village because of his choice of lifestyle, Dinun is content with his life as a fossicker, his relationship with his “wife” and his playful relationship with his “little tax reliefs,” the children he and his wife have had to avoid the crushing taxes placed upon the unmarried. The marriage is one of convenience for both parties, one that is very business like, and while Dinun would prefer sex and a relationship with a another man, he never broods about it, accepting his life as it is and supplementing with the occasional secret encounter with other men in the village, men who are open to using him but give little back in return. In short, Dinun is an even tempered man who is not dissatisfied with his life, but knows that there is something—that special connection—missing.
As the story starts, Dinun is off on his seasonal fossicking sojourn with his trusty beast of burden, Almi. Having drawn one of the less desirable routes in the town’s lottery, Dinun decides to venture off the main road, taking a path that may contain more finds, as the road most often traveled has been pretty well picked over through the years. His instincts are good and though his early finds won’t cover all his expenses, it’s a good start. Dinun pitches camp and then, with the nosy nature of Almi lending a hand, discovers something astonishing. An almost mythical creature, an Angel, lying wounded in the underbrush.
These Angels aren’t your average mythological beings. These Angels have sharp teeth, dark skin, luxurious fur and communicate only by a form of telepathy. Dinun tends to the angel’s wounds, learns that his name is Moon, and that his child (and the children of other angels) have been stolen in a brutal attack by off-worlders for some unknown reason.
Dinun vows to help Moon find his child, and as the angel recovers, the two come to know and trust one another. Dinun learns of the unique society and laws of Moon’s race and, quite innocently, he also discovers their sexual playfulness. Slowly a bond develops and once Moon fully recovers, Dinun is introduced to the angel population and helps to develop and lead a plan to rescue the stolen children.
There is a lot of dimension that Somerville has woven into this novella, most of it extremely subtle, but the result is a very dimensional world and characters. With an angel, it could have an easy trap to fall into to make Moon this almost ethereal creature, one of goodness and light. Instead, Somerville gives us a very flesh and blood character, full of anger and sadness and dreams. And for a moment, Somerville even makes us dislike him. Given that the genre dictates certain things, we know generally how this moment will resolve itself, but still, Somerville gives us such great empathy with Dinun that we can’t help but stamp our feet a little and go “How can Moon do that!”
Likewise, Dinun is extremely well-drawn. Yes, his village does look down upon him somewhat for his orientation and the relationship with his wife does seem unfulfilling, but Dinun accepts his life. He never turns his desire for something more into angst over his situation. His wants and needs live in him, but never do they consume him.
Also, I have to say, Somerville does several very nice things in building Dinun’s village and his relationship with the other villagers. She does not make his orientation the sole possible reason for the other villager’s skewed perspective of him. Somerville early on alludes that this world is far more tolerant of “alternative lifestyles” than our world is; it just so happens that Dinun is the only “gay” man in the village and he had the nerve to take on profession that is, essentially, an oversaturated market.
“…some of them kind of thought I was muscling in on their territory.”
The result is that, while we may not have the warm and fuzzies about the villagers and their disdain for Dinun, neither do we hate them. They aren’t reduced to cardboard villains or villagers running with torches to drive the gays out of their town. Like anyone, their dislike of Dinun is likely colored by multiple things, sexuality being only one of the possible influences. So, the homophobia in his village is a fact but it is not overwhelming. Wisely, this is something that Dinun keeps in mind. He’s not naïve about his situation, but neither is he willing to lump everyone together into one hate-boat. He keeps his perspective. Frankly it’s refreshing that the homophobia present is never allowed to become oppressive or the focus of the piece.
Another aspect of the village that I enjoyed is the sense of community Somerville builds in. Despite the villager’s disdain—whatever its origin—toward Dinun, they come to his aid when help is needed in the battle for the angels’ children. Though we really spend very little time in this novella in Dinun’s village, we get a very clear picture of it being a community in the truest sense of the word, one where people look out for one another despite of—and perhaps even because of—their differences.
Now, when the villagers do come to Dinun’s aid, Somerville gives us some nice conflict in the character Jenke, a man who has absolutely no great fondness for Dinun. We’re given hints of its origin—hubris on Jenke’s part, a perceived power-struggle between the two, an Alpha-male sensibility in Jenke’s personality. There are a number of possibilities and Somerville takes a turn that keeps the character from becoming a mere plot-device and turns him into a real human being. Somerville gives similar depth to other minor characters, from the other angel’s in Moon’s community to Dinun’s wife. Never can you pin down their motivations to just one thing. There’s always a multitude of influences on their character and desires. That is very, very nicely done.
But the crux of this story is the relationship between Dinun and Moon. It really is wonderfully romantic without once dipping into syrupy sweetness or cliché. It’s an honest-to-god get-to-know-one-another out of which the sex develops naturally. Both characters are intrigued by the differences they find in the other. People can have to different reactions to “different” people. Fear or fascination. Somerville gives both Dinun and Moon a fascination with their differences without ever slipping into a clichéd “celebration of diversity” or exoticism of another race. They are different, but so very much the same, but it is done very subtly. And since both are interested in each other—and treat each other—as more than exotic specimens, each character learns something from the other, something applicable to their own lives. As for the sex…well, Somerville has always surprised me how very erotic she can make sex with furred creatures (see my review of I Was an Alien Cat Toy on Uniquely Pleasurable), and this is no exception. The sex is very erotic and playful; yet it remains appropriately restrained. It doesn’t over power the novel or the relationship of the characters. It just the right amount and very arousing.
In the end, what we as readers get for our money is a really enjoyable, futuristic adventure, some pretty hot sex, a wonderfully romantic yet realistic tone, and characters which begin the novella one way and actually grow throughout the story, learning something about themselves. First and foremost, it’s an extremely well-written, stylish adventure, but underneath it all is a story about family, honor, community, growth and love, for others and for oneself.
On the world of Quarn, we are introduced to Dinun, an everyman who is, perhaps, a little less ordinary than he actually believes. Somewhat of an outsider in his village because of his choice of lifestyle, Dinun is content with his life as a fossicker, his relationship with his “wife” and his playful relationship with his “little tax reliefs,” the children he and his wife have had to avoid the crushing taxes placed upon the unmarried. The marriage is one of convenience for both parties, one that is very business like, and while Dinun would prefer sex and a relationship with a another man, he never broods about it, accepting his life as it is and supplementing with the occasional secret encounter with other men in the village, men who are open to using him but give little back in return. In short, Dinun is an even tempered man who is not dissatisfied with his life, but knows that there is something—that special connection—missing.
As the story starts, Dinun is off on his seasonal fossicking sojourn with his trusty beast of burden, Almi. Having drawn one of the less desirable routes in the town’s lottery, Dinun decides to venture off the main road, taking a path that may contain more finds, as the road most often traveled has been pretty well picked over through the years. His instincts are good and though his early finds won’t cover all his expenses, it’s a good start. Dinun pitches camp and then, with the nosy nature of Almi lending a hand, discovers something astonishing. An almost mythical creature, an Angel, lying wounded in the underbrush.
These Angels aren’t your average mythological beings. These Angels have sharp teeth, dark skin, luxurious fur and communicate only by a form of telepathy. Dinun tends to the angel’s wounds, learns that his name is Moon, and that his child (and the children of other angels) have been stolen in a brutal attack by off-worlders for some unknown reason.
Dinun vows to help Moon find his child, and as the angel recovers, the two come to know and trust one another. Dinun learns of the unique society and laws of Moon’s race and, quite innocently, he also discovers their sexual playfulness. Slowly a bond develops and once Moon fully recovers, Dinun is introduced to the angel population and helps to develop and lead a plan to rescue the stolen children.
There is a lot of dimension that Somerville has woven into this novella, most of it extremely subtle, but the result is a very dimensional world and characters. With an angel, it could have an easy trap to fall into to make Moon this almost ethereal creature, one of goodness and light. Instead, Somerville gives us a very flesh and blood character, full of anger and sadness and dreams. And for a moment, Somerville even makes us dislike him. Given that the genre dictates certain things, we know generally how this moment will resolve itself, but still, Somerville gives us such great empathy with Dinun that we can’t help but stamp our feet a little and go “How can Moon do that!”
Likewise, Dinun is extremely well-drawn. Yes, his village does look down upon him somewhat for his orientation and the relationship with his wife does seem unfulfilling, but Dinun accepts his life. He never turns his desire for something more into angst over his situation. His wants and needs live in him, but never do they consume him.
Also, I have to say, Somerville does several very nice things in building Dinun’s village and his relationship with the other villagers. She does not make his orientation the sole possible reason for the other villager’s skewed perspective of him. Somerville early on alludes that this world is far more tolerant of “alternative lifestyles” than our world is; it just so happens that Dinun is the only “gay” man in the village and he had the nerve to take on profession that is, essentially, an oversaturated market.
“…some of them kind of thought I was muscling in on their territory.”
The result is that, while we may not have the warm and fuzzies about the villagers and their disdain for Dinun, neither do we hate them. They aren’t reduced to cardboard villains or villagers running with torches to drive the gays out of their town. Like anyone, their dislike of Dinun is likely colored by multiple things, sexuality being only one of the possible influences. So, the homophobia in his village is a fact but it is not overwhelming. Wisely, this is something that Dinun keeps in mind. He’s not naïve about his situation, but neither is he willing to lump everyone together into one hate-boat. He keeps his perspective. Frankly it’s refreshing that the homophobia present is never allowed to become oppressive or the focus of the piece.
Another aspect of the village that I enjoyed is the sense of community Somerville builds in. Despite the villager’s disdain—whatever its origin—toward Dinun, they come to his aid when help is needed in the battle for the angels’ children. Though we really spend very little time in this novella in Dinun’s village, we get a very clear picture of it being a community in the truest sense of the word, one where people look out for one another despite of—and perhaps even because of—their differences.
Now, when the villagers do come to Dinun’s aid, Somerville gives us some nice conflict in the character Jenke, a man who has absolutely no great fondness for Dinun. We’re given hints of its origin—hubris on Jenke’s part, a perceived power-struggle between the two, an Alpha-male sensibility in Jenke’s personality. There are a number of possibilities and Somerville takes a turn that keeps the character from becoming a mere plot-device and turns him into a real human being. Somerville gives similar depth to other minor characters, from the other angel’s in Moon’s community to Dinun’s wife. Never can you pin down their motivations to just one thing. There’s always a multitude of influences on their character and desires. That is very, very nicely done.
But the crux of this story is the relationship between Dinun and Moon. It really is wonderfully romantic without once dipping into syrupy sweetness or cliché. It’s an honest-to-god get-to-know-one-another out of which the sex develops naturally. Both characters are intrigued by the differences they find in the other. People can have to different reactions to “different” people. Fear or fascination. Somerville gives both Dinun and Moon a fascination with their differences without ever slipping into a clichéd “celebration of diversity” or exoticism of another race. They are different, but so very much the same, but it is done very subtly. And since both are interested in each other—and treat each other—as more than exotic specimens, each character learns something from the other, something applicable to their own lives. As for the sex…well, Somerville has always surprised me how very erotic she can make sex with furred creatures (see my review of I Was an Alien Cat Toy on Uniquely Pleasurable), and this is no exception. The sex is very erotic and playful; yet it remains appropriately restrained. It doesn’t over power the novel or the relationship of the characters. It just the right amount and very arousing.
In the end, what we as readers get for our money is a really enjoyable, futuristic adventure, some pretty hot sex, a wonderfully romantic yet realistic tone, and characters which begin the novella one way and actually grow throughout the story, learning something about themselves. First and foremost, it’s an extremely well-written, stylish adventure, but underneath it all is a story about family, honor, community, growth and love, for others and for oneself.
December 4, 2013
I liked this a lot, even if Angels sound like winged humanoid polar bears.
I had a bloody difficult time trying to figure out all the foreign terms towards the beginning. In the end, I just went with vague impressions and gave up on any more solid understanding. I still have no idea what a rejer resembles, other than it's an animal of some sort that can either be a herd animal or a beast of burden.
I had a bloody difficult time trying to figure out all the foreign terms towards the beginning. In the end, I just went with vague impressions and gave up on any more solid understanding. I still have no idea what a rejer resembles, other than it's an animal of some sort that can either be a herd animal or a beast of burden.
January 25, 2013
Dinun is an outsider in his village. Even though he is gay, he still contributed to is village, fathering some kids. The mother of his children did not want to have a husband, but wanted children. They have a good relationship(friendship). Dinun goes out to gather items that he could use or trade to help support his family.
He lives on a planet that Angels live. They are a beautiful race. They are covered with soft white feathers, with a 'regular' human face. They have sharp teeth and live in tiny clusters. They believe in Polyamory. Though, some Angels do believe that there is one 'special' person above the others. They live in the wild but are interested in the 'humans'. Many of the humans have some Angel DNA in their genes. Many generations ago, the human poluation was dwindling down and they learned to incorporate Angel DNA to help save there race. Though, experimenting or using Angel DNA is now outlawed in present day.
While Dinun is out on one of his gatherings, he meets Moon. Moon is a Angel and is badly injuried. It is the first time Dinun has met a real Angel, but is attracted to him right off the bat. Moon heals very fast and is anxious. Angels communicate telepathically and is able to speak with Dinun using this method. Dinun learns that Moon's child was taken from him and is desperate to find him. In Angel culture, when a baby is born, the males take their babies and live in seclusion from the females.
They find out that there are humans who are kidnapping the babies and with the help of others, go to rescue them. While reading this book, you learn about the human and Angel cultures, how in some ways there are similar but in other ways they are not.
Moon and Dinun have many obstacles as they fall in love. They have to race against time if they want to save their babies in time.
He lives on a planet that Angels live. They are a beautiful race. They are covered with soft white feathers, with a 'regular' human face. They have sharp teeth and live in tiny clusters. They believe in Polyamory. Though, some Angels do believe that there is one 'special' person above the others. They live in the wild but are interested in the 'humans'. Many of the humans have some Angel DNA in their genes. Many generations ago, the human poluation was dwindling down and they learned to incorporate Angel DNA to help save there race. Though, experimenting or using Angel DNA is now outlawed in present day.
While Dinun is out on one of his gatherings, he meets Moon. Moon is a Angel and is badly injuried. It is the first time Dinun has met a real Angel, but is attracted to him right off the bat. Moon heals very fast and is anxious. Angels communicate telepathically and is able to speak with Dinun using this method. Dinun learns that Moon's child was taken from him and is desperate to find him. In Angel culture, when a baby is born, the males take their babies and live in seclusion from the females.
They find out that there are humans who are kidnapping the babies and with the help of others, go to rescue them. While reading this book, you learn about the human and Angel cultures, how in some ways there are similar but in other ways they are not.
Moon and Dinun have many obstacles as they fall in love. They have to race against time if they want to save their babies in time.
September 4, 2012
I liked this book, a lot. There were a ton of interesting and novel things going on. I loved that angels were a bit feral, even to the point of being fur covered. An entirely telepathic race was interesting.
Most importantly, I thought the cross-cultural and cross-racial themes were really nicely done. It's difficult, I think, to write a cross-cultural love story. There will always be misunderstandings that lead to bad feelings, and it's tough to come away from those thinking someone didn't compromise their principles, and that's not something I like much. Somerville did a beautiful job in this regard. Dinun is often confused, and sometimes hurt by the more feral world of the angels, but rather than making a compromise, he comes to understand what's happened later. I really liked that.
Why not 5 stars? Well, the beginning was a bit slow. In fact I almost stopped reading a few times. The early part of the book is very dense with fantastical words for everything and not much actually happens. I'm glad I stuck with it, because it's a good read.
I definitely suggest this one as a good first foray into M/M romance. The sex is very light and the love story is cute.
Most importantly, I thought the cross-cultural and cross-racial themes were really nicely done. It's difficult, I think, to write a cross-cultural love story. There will always be misunderstandings that lead to bad feelings, and it's tough to come away from those thinking someone didn't compromise their principles, and that's not something I like much. Somerville did a beautiful job in this regard. Dinun is often confused, and sometimes hurt by the more feral world of the angels, but rather than making a compromise, he comes to understand what's happened later. I really liked that.
Why not 5 stars? Well, the beginning was a bit slow. In fact I almost stopped reading a few times. The early part of the book is very dense with fantastical words for everything and not much actually happens. I'm glad I stuck with it, because it's a good read.
I definitely suggest this one as a good first foray into M/M romance. The sex is very light and the love story is cute.
April 18, 2010
I finally picked up this book, even though I didn't think I'd like it from the description, but I've loved everything else by this author, so I decided to buy it. I'm glad I did. I have to go get the second in the series now. I liked the society that used to have a lot of advanced technology and now really doesn't pretty cool, and something I've always enjoyed in books. I found the angel's well fleshed out and really interesting with a society so different from ours.
November 9, 2011
Great story
December 22, 2011
Awesome!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews