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Neglected Merge #1
Neglected Merge
“Neglected Merge” is an inspirational thought-provoking futuristic fantasy romance novel. The story of fated lovers developed against a backdrop of a new post-apocalyptic world painted in bright tones. A fortuitous meeting of Tauria, an independent woman living in one utopian-style world, and Doron from high society of the other world, is destined to be the new beginning for both worlds.
Tauria, aged 32, lives in the society that seems to believe that happiness is a universal concept. People, who had survived the near apocalyptic experience, have built a whole new world full of pleasure and easiness. It is designed to make everyone feel happy every minute of their lives. Work brings satisfaction, hobbies are encouraged, relationships are supposed to bring out only positive emotions. Does it matter that things that don’t fit into the general happy pattern get discarded and disappear? Things like friendship and commitment. Things like true love. It is supposed to be enough with lightness and never-ending joy.
But there are two worlds now. They are forced to exist side by side. Can they find a way to live together?
The Chinese proverb says: “When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills.” What will the people of two worlds, so utterly different and at the same time so similar, choose?
Tauria, aged 32, lives in the society that seems to believe that happiness is a universal concept. People, who had survived the near apocalyptic experience, have built a whole new world full of pleasure and easiness. It is designed to make everyone feel happy every minute of their lives. Work brings satisfaction, hobbies are encouraged, relationships are supposed to bring out only positive emotions. Does it matter that things that don’t fit into the general happy pattern get discarded and disappear? Things like friendship and commitment. Things like true love. It is supposed to be enough with lightness and never-ending joy.
But there are two worlds now. They are forced to exist side by side. Can they find a way to live together?
The Chinese proverb says: “When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills.” What will the people of two worlds, so utterly different and at the same time so similar, choose?
357 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 13, 2021
About the author
Eve Koguce
5 books365 followersI’ve been in love with books for as long as I remember myself. The typewriter my first attempts at writing had been made at still sits proudly on its shelf in the basement, and when I go down there, I always have an urge to save it from its exile.
I’d spent fifteen years, trying to fit into the office work pattern. I even managed to build a relatively successful career after an ambitious shift from private to public sector. And only after my son was born, I had a unique chance to stop and rethink not only what I’d achieved so far, but what I really want from life. I made a decision to leave my old life behind, and I’ve never regretted it. Changes in the daily routine led naturally to changes in my way of thinking. I finally allowed myself to be who I really was. And I was always a bookish person. Books helped me to go through thick and thin. After a couple of years that I spent living in South West England, I came home dragging a huge luggage bag full of books I’d bought there. Books were my anchor when my world wasn’t an easy place to live in. Books taught me to overcome losses and difficulties. I had a story to tell, and finally allowed myself to tell it.
I have a confession to make. I don’t read fantasy. I guess the main reason for that is that books in this genre tend to be rather grim, but since life has shown me all its faces, not only light and carefree, I seek additional emotional stirring neither in literature nor in movies/TV series.
My debut novel “Neglected Merge” (book one in the Neglected Merge trilogy) is a fantasy futuristic romance set in a utopian-style world. It explores the challenges of universal happiness rather than those hardships we envisage to befall us after some kind of an apocalyptic event. Limitations are always suffocating, even if they’re intended to limit your choices to make yourself miserable.
“Neglected Merge” has won three awards in the following book awards contests: (i) Silver Medal in the 2021 Global Book Awards in the Science Fiction / Fantasy category, (ii) Award Finalist in the 2021 Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Contest in the Fantasy General category, and (iii) Honorable Mention in the 2021 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards in the Science Fiction/Fantasy category.
I’d spent fifteen years, trying to fit into the office work pattern. I even managed to build a relatively successful career after an ambitious shift from private to public sector. And only after my son was born, I had a unique chance to stop and rethink not only what I’d achieved so far, but what I really want from life. I made a decision to leave my old life behind, and I’ve never regretted it. Changes in the daily routine led naturally to changes in my way of thinking. I finally allowed myself to be who I really was. And I was always a bookish person. Books helped me to go through thick and thin. After a couple of years that I spent living in South West England, I came home dragging a huge luggage bag full of books I’d bought there. Books were my anchor when my world wasn’t an easy place to live in. Books taught me to overcome losses and difficulties. I had a story to tell, and finally allowed myself to tell it.
I have a confession to make. I don’t read fantasy. I guess the main reason for that is that books in this genre tend to be rather grim, but since life has shown me all its faces, not only light and carefree, I seek additional emotional stirring neither in literature nor in movies/TV series.
My debut novel “Neglected Merge” (book one in the Neglected Merge trilogy) is a fantasy futuristic romance set in a utopian-style world. It explores the challenges of universal happiness rather than those hardships we envisage to befall us after some kind of an apocalyptic event. Limitations are always suffocating, even if they’re intended to limit your choices to make yourself miserable.
“Neglected Merge” has won three awards in the following book awards contests: (i) Silver Medal in the 2021 Global Book Awards in the Science Fiction / Fantasy category, (ii) Award Finalist in the 2021 Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Contest in the Fantasy General category, and (iii) Honorable Mention in the 2021 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards in the Science Fiction/Fantasy category.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
July 11, 2022
I love books that ask really interesting “what if” questions. In NEGLECTED MERGE, two worlds have been merged into one, collapsing most of the continents. On the continent that survived, there are now two races, the Winged Ones and the wingless ones (humans.) Tauria is 32 and works in a government job. She discovers one of the Winged Ones in her window, injured, and allows him to stay as she treats his injury. Later, they meet as he is the son of the leader of the Winged Ones and one of their ambassadors, and soon fall in love. I loved the questions this book asked about rules and conformity. Doron and Tauria are both locked within the rules and traditions of their separate societies, which have developed rules about relationships and marriage for specific reasons. Yet happiness does not play a part in those rules and as they begin to question those around them (I especially liked Doron’s sister), we find love isn’t considered a priority. A delicious slow burn romance and oh the way the plot ramped up at the end and had me turning pages so fast to find out what happened! I can’t wait for book two!
February 18, 2021
I had the pleasure of, a few moments ago, completing a wonderful book, "Neglected Merge", by the marvellous author, Eve Koguce. Now it's time to put down some comments about my read.
"Neglected Merge" is a fascinating novel, with a thought-provoking and original plot, outstanding characters, and amazing writing. The protagonist, Tauria, lives in a dystopian society, which has undergone a disastrous, apocalyptic event, whereby the society that has emerged is divided essentially into three sections. First, there is an underground, dissatisfied element that lurks in the outskirts of the known world, that the vast majority of the "wingless" human society (the second section) is blissfully unaware of. Third, separated from the wingless are the winged: a human-like race, who enjoy long lifespans, a very austere and orderly existence, and a reluctance to engage with the wingless folk. The wingless are as equally hesitant to engage with the winged, and have created a world for themselves that is almost perfect, in that people are allowed to pursue meaningful work, casual friendships and relationships, and everything in life is designed with leisure and enjoyment in mind. Marriage is typically considered redundant, even outlawed, and while the family unit has become somewhat obsolete, it has seemingly permitted great societal freedoms, and happiness. The pursuit of individual pleasures, without what is considered to be burdensome entanglements, has become the societal norm. This makes for an easy, if somewhat bland, predictable, and potentially unstimulating life.
Tauria is an inhabitant of the second section. Unsurprising, the ebullient Tauria finds life pleasant, but ultimately unfulfilling, though she cannot initially pinpoint what is the cause of the lack of fulfilment and listlessness she feels. Then, a random meeting brings a member of the winged ones, named Doron, into her orbit, and everything changes.
Romance is central to the book, and it is exceptionally well-executed. There are unexpected liaisons, surprise relationships, and passionate encounters that fans of the genre will adore. On the dystopian fantasy side, along with the excellent world-building, the political intrigue, and negotiations that take place between different elements of society, are extremely compelling. It feels like one has a coveted, bird's eye view, eavesdropping on high level diplomatic meetings at the modern-day United Nations. Tauria is central to all that occurs, and it is her courage, empathy, ability to connect with others, and passion for life and who she loves, that will make the reader love her in turn. Koguce has made her vivacious main character one full of high intellect, guts, and beauty, that will easily make the reader root for Tauria. Readers will keep anxiously turning the pages to discover if Tauria's unique abilities are enough to give her, and the world, the kind of life it deserves. Will she be able to help bring together factions that fear and mistrust one another, to forge a better world for everyone concerned? Tauria is surrounded by a very interesting cast of secondary characters, such as the mentor, Alfred, Tauria's good friend Byrne, and all the winged ones, such as Duxe, Ferrus, Abelia, Tauria's love interest, Doron, and many more. Koguce has successfully crafted engaging auxiliary players to the main plot of Tauria and Doron's love affair, that will give the readers other personas to ponder about with respect to motivations, desires, and whose side these players are really on.
I have read very few authors who have been so adeptly able to illuminate the feelings and thoughts of their characters. Koguce has a way of expressing emotions that draw the reader into the character's head. I have learned Koguce has a background as a poet, so I am not surprised that her prose is so fluid, so captivating, that she has spent time spinning rhythmic lines of shorter length, prior to penning her novel. Koguce's linguistic style in some passages of the book is similar to poetic diction, and it provides an air of almost mysticism to the book that I found enchanting. It certainly lends itself to both the components of romance, and of the epic side of the book, where worlds hang in the balance of primarily Tauria's actions. I simply loved Koguce's writing style, and this is a book I will likely find myself re-reading, just to hear her lovely, distinct writing voice come through the pages once more.
"Neglected Merge” written by Eve Koguce, is a highly engaging dystopian romance-fantasy thriller that I absolutely loved! I can't wait for the next book by this exciting author, and I will surely be reading the next novel she writes!!!
"Neglected Merge" is a fascinating novel, with a thought-provoking and original plot, outstanding characters, and amazing writing. The protagonist, Tauria, lives in a dystopian society, which has undergone a disastrous, apocalyptic event, whereby the society that has emerged is divided essentially into three sections. First, there is an underground, dissatisfied element that lurks in the outskirts of the known world, that the vast majority of the "wingless" human society (the second section) is blissfully unaware of. Third, separated from the wingless are the winged: a human-like race, who enjoy long lifespans, a very austere and orderly existence, and a reluctance to engage with the wingless folk. The wingless are as equally hesitant to engage with the winged, and have created a world for themselves that is almost perfect, in that people are allowed to pursue meaningful work, casual friendships and relationships, and everything in life is designed with leisure and enjoyment in mind. Marriage is typically considered redundant, even outlawed, and while the family unit has become somewhat obsolete, it has seemingly permitted great societal freedoms, and happiness. The pursuit of individual pleasures, without what is considered to be burdensome entanglements, has become the societal norm. This makes for an easy, if somewhat bland, predictable, and potentially unstimulating life.
Tauria is an inhabitant of the second section. Unsurprising, the ebullient Tauria finds life pleasant, but ultimately unfulfilling, though she cannot initially pinpoint what is the cause of the lack of fulfilment and listlessness she feels. Then, a random meeting brings a member of the winged ones, named Doron, into her orbit, and everything changes.
Romance is central to the book, and it is exceptionally well-executed. There are unexpected liaisons, surprise relationships, and passionate encounters that fans of the genre will adore. On the dystopian fantasy side, along with the excellent world-building, the political intrigue, and negotiations that take place between different elements of society, are extremely compelling. It feels like one has a coveted, bird's eye view, eavesdropping on high level diplomatic meetings at the modern-day United Nations. Tauria is central to all that occurs, and it is her courage, empathy, ability to connect with others, and passion for life and who she loves, that will make the reader love her in turn. Koguce has made her vivacious main character one full of high intellect, guts, and beauty, that will easily make the reader root for Tauria. Readers will keep anxiously turning the pages to discover if Tauria's unique abilities are enough to give her, and the world, the kind of life it deserves. Will she be able to help bring together factions that fear and mistrust one another, to forge a better world for everyone concerned? Tauria is surrounded by a very interesting cast of secondary characters, such as the mentor, Alfred, Tauria's good friend Byrne, and all the winged ones, such as Duxe, Ferrus, Abelia, Tauria's love interest, Doron, and many more. Koguce has successfully crafted engaging auxiliary players to the main plot of Tauria and Doron's love affair, that will give the readers other personas to ponder about with respect to motivations, desires, and whose side these players are really on.
I have read very few authors who have been so adeptly able to illuminate the feelings and thoughts of their characters. Koguce has a way of expressing emotions that draw the reader into the character's head. I have learned Koguce has a background as a poet, so I am not surprised that her prose is so fluid, so captivating, that she has spent time spinning rhythmic lines of shorter length, prior to penning her novel. Koguce's linguistic style in some passages of the book is similar to poetic diction, and it provides an air of almost mysticism to the book that I found enchanting. It certainly lends itself to both the components of romance, and of the epic side of the book, where worlds hang in the balance of primarily Tauria's actions. I simply loved Koguce's writing style, and this is a book I will likely find myself re-reading, just to hear her lovely, distinct writing voice come through the pages once more.
"Neglected Merge” written by Eve Koguce, is a highly engaging dystopian romance-fantasy thriller that I absolutely loved! I can't wait for the next book by this exciting author, and I will surely be reading the next novel she writes!!!
May 17, 2021
Wow! Such a beautiful book, I keep thinking about Tauria and Doron even though I've finished reading their story. From the excellent world-building and details of the 'merge', to the moving and heartfelt love story, this book takes the reader on a journey of discovery and emotion.
There are few books which I can say with certainty that I will read again, but this is one of them. Each character, not just the main couple, is well-developed and relatable. The plot is believable and draws you in, such that I read this book in two days!
I highly recommend both the book and the author, this is a story that will capture your heart and transport you to a world of imagination.
There are few books which I can say with certainty that I will read again, but this is one of them. Each character, not just the main couple, is well-developed and relatable. The plot is believable and draws you in, such that I read this book in two days!
I highly recommend both the book and the author, this is a story that will capture your heart and transport you to a world of imagination.
March 2, 2023
From the very first page I was pulled into Eve Koguce’s extraordinary story. I was immediately transported into a world like one I could never imagine.
Two hundred years before the story of Neglected Merge starts two worlds collided, merging into one planet. The two worlds chose to live as two solitudes so different were their beliefs, ways of living, and also due to the respective distain for each other’s world.
The story begins when Doron, from across the Mountains, crashes into Tauria’s apartment where he remains until he heals from his injuries.
This one incident leads to an enthralling story of forbidden yet determined love requiring the two to stand united against those from both worlds who are opposed to their relationship.
The story is told by revealing layers of complexity in each world that highlight how very different each society’s civil and political systems work and reveal the strengths and flaws of each world. The barriers to happiness seem insurmountable.
But within each society we find characters who reflect a range of attitudes and reactions, some sympathetic to Tauria and Doron. Others, of course, remain embroiled in hate and prejudice. How could it ever be possible for things to work out?
Love often requires sacrifice and enormous change. Sometimes one partner takes on more risk in an attempt to become accepted. And sometimes it works and sometimes it does not. Even small changes can brush up against strong resistance. Yet a willingness to take a huge risk might also garner respect.
Koguce has created two worlds that are, each in their own way, intriguing and beautifully described so the reader develops a connection with both. The characters are interesting, strong minded, and flawed. Yet almost everyone has redeeming qualities creating hope in the reader for a satisfying outcome.
What follows the powerful beginning is an intricate political dance, the steps of which are initially awkward with much stepping on toes. With good intentions pushing against those opposed to detente between the two societies, the dance becomes smoother and more dramatic right until the final steps.
Koguce’s brilliance in her writing is the way she has moved the two worlds from solitude to preliminary engagement despite conflicts, prejudice, and misunderstandings. Although the story is placed far into the future, the strategies and manipulations are very familiar and realistic. This makes what happens all the more believable despite the difficult dynamics between the two societies.
It was difficult to leave this world but with two more books in the trilogy I know I will be able to visit again. And soon.
I highly recommend this book.
Two hundred years before the story of Neglected Merge starts two worlds collided, merging into one planet. The two worlds chose to live as two solitudes so different were their beliefs, ways of living, and also due to the respective distain for each other’s world.
The story begins when Doron, from across the Mountains, crashes into Tauria’s apartment where he remains until he heals from his injuries.
This one incident leads to an enthralling story of forbidden yet determined love requiring the two to stand united against those from both worlds who are opposed to their relationship.
The story is told by revealing layers of complexity in each world that highlight how very different each society’s civil and political systems work and reveal the strengths and flaws of each world. The barriers to happiness seem insurmountable.
But within each society we find characters who reflect a range of attitudes and reactions, some sympathetic to Tauria and Doron. Others, of course, remain embroiled in hate and prejudice. How could it ever be possible for things to work out?
Love often requires sacrifice and enormous change. Sometimes one partner takes on more risk in an attempt to become accepted. And sometimes it works and sometimes it does not. Even small changes can brush up against strong resistance. Yet a willingness to take a huge risk might also garner respect.
Koguce has created two worlds that are, each in their own way, intriguing and beautifully described so the reader develops a connection with both. The characters are interesting, strong minded, and flawed. Yet almost everyone has redeeming qualities creating hope in the reader for a satisfying outcome.
What follows the powerful beginning is an intricate political dance, the steps of which are initially awkward with much stepping on toes. With good intentions pushing against those opposed to detente between the two societies, the dance becomes smoother and more dramatic right until the final steps.
Koguce’s brilliance in her writing is the way she has moved the two worlds from solitude to preliminary engagement despite conflicts, prejudice, and misunderstandings. Although the story is placed far into the future, the strategies and manipulations are very familiar and realistic. This makes what happens all the more believable despite the difficult dynamics between the two societies.
It was difficult to leave this world but with two more books in the trilogy I know I will be able to visit again. And soon.
I highly recommend this book.
April 8, 2022
This book is well worth reading! I found its complex plot and subplots leading me down a twisting road of emotions, high and low. And I found many parallels in the cultures represented in this book to some of the cross-culture conflicts in our society today.
However, their worlds collide both figuratively and philosophically in this first instalment of the Neglected Merge Series. After the initial crash landing of Doron into Tauria's apartment, the story is a slow burn and takes you on a walk through political and personal imperatives shrouded in history. The two of them come up against rules that beg to be broken. But there is a firm resistance from some who refuse to bend and adapt.
When an accident happens, and Tauria is saved but ultimately changed by Doron's people, she finds herself straddling both worlds, hoping to find common ground and understanding to unite them against an impending threat.
This book is a highly entertaining narrative of love born spontaneously and wrapped in mutual respect for the differences between the two main characters, Tauria and Doron. The ending is a cliffhanger, so be prepared. You will want to continue this journey with Tauri and Doron.
However, their worlds collide both figuratively and philosophically in this first instalment of the Neglected Merge Series. After the initial crash landing of Doron into Tauria's apartment, the story is a slow burn and takes you on a walk through political and personal imperatives shrouded in history. The two of them come up against rules that beg to be broken. But there is a firm resistance from some who refuse to bend and adapt.
When an accident happens, and Tauria is saved but ultimately changed by Doron's people, she finds herself straddling both worlds, hoping to find common ground and understanding to unite them against an impending threat.
This book is a highly entertaining narrative of love born spontaneously and wrapped in mutual respect for the differences between the two main characters, Tauria and Doron. The ending is a cliffhanger, so be prepared. You will want to continue this journey with Tauri and Doron.
February 25, 2023
This is not a fast-paced action tale, but a thoughtful, protracted love story. Although the initial meeting of Tauria and Doran is swift, and their mutual love quick to be acknowledged, they do not see each other again for a long while. While apart, they each work diligently with the goal of ensuring they will meet again. I found the worlds of the Winged Ones and wingless to be interesting in their similarities and differences, and enjoyed meeting the various characters from the two worlds. I am keen to see what happens to Tauria and Doran in the future!
October 30, 2022
I believe that the world ‘beautiful’ really bests summarizes this story, as this is how it felt to me in every aspect. From the characters, world building, story development, through my favorite part – writing style. The author seemed to plot in very poetic descriptions effortlessly and naturally, what gives the book a unique style; as if you could tell that it’s not only the book that is driven by the romance, but the author is a romantic herself.
What I really loved about the plot, was that although it was love that drove the motivation of the main characters, it wasn’t the only plot in the story. I truly enjoyed the political set up between two nations, and the lifestyles introduced at both sides of the mountains. It was probably because of Tauria’s busy work-life that she felt very authentic and relatable.
Last point that I should definitely mention is around themes the story goes through, and sometimes hard questions, such as the key one here: what is happiness? What makes people happy? While there may never be only one simple answer to these, I really loved how the author attempted to provide with at least one of the possible answers through Tauria’s story.
I very much recommend this book to fantasy romance readers, who look for a romantic driven plot that carries more than just a romance itself. That said, it is a story about finding a true love in the world which neither demand it nor expects it anymore. I definitely enjoyed it a lot and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
What I really loved about the plot, was that although it was love that drove the motivation of the main characters, it wasn’t the only plot in the story. I truly enjoyed the political set up between two nations, and the lifestyles introduced at both sides of the mountains. It was probably because of Tauria’s busy work-life that she felt very authentic and relatable.
Last point that I should definitely mention is around themes the story goes through, and sometimes hard questions, such as the key one here: what is happiness? What makes people happy? While there may never be only one simple answer to these, I really loved how the author attempted to provide with at least one of the possible answers through Tauria’s story.
I very much recommend this book to fantasy romance readers, who look for a romantic driven plot that carries more than just a romance itself. That said, it is a story about finding a true love in the world which neither demand it nor expects it anymore. I definitely enjoyed it a lot and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
November 2, 2022
Neglected Merge, set two hundred years after an apocalyptic event that ruptured the world, is classified as a fantasy romance. The emerging love of Tauria and Doron is though, much more than a simple romance, for it becomes the catalyst by which two worlds must face "the winds of change."
Tauria lives in a future that has evolved from life as we know it. There is contentment, productivity, and job satisfaction. Open-ended relationships have replaced the pressures of marriage. There is intimacy, but one does not ask personal questions. It is a comfortable life.
When the upheaval shook the continents two hundred years before, Doron's culture, possibly from another dimension, surfaced, but the two cultures have long ago ceased dialogue. This other culture has a different world view: marriage is a sacred bond, vegan eating habits are observed, and emotional displays simply do not take place. They also have wings and are able to fly. It seems they have a technology that would make flight possible for others, which becomes significant to the plot.
Tauria and Doron meet in a chance encounter, and they fall in love. To be together again, however, they will somehow have to bring their worlds together. And when they do, both worlds must re-evaluate all they knew to be true, and work, not to preserve a way of life, but to build a way of life that all can live with.
We learn about both worlds mainly through the reactions of each culture to the other. Doron is puzzled by the outlook in Tauria's world; Tauria needs time to adjust to Doron's reserve, to read the more subtle signals of his people. The Winged guests in Tauria's world are both intrigued and baffled by the openness they find. And Tauria, in her new world, misses the colour and emotion and sense of purpose she had at home.
At the same time, Tauria has never "fit in" back in her old world. As the novel develops, we see her growing into the person she was perhaps meant to be. We can appreciate, too, her dilemma as her dreams are coming true, but she seems increasingly restricted.
I enjoyed the scenes in which the delegations discuss topics like "early twenty-first century literature." I find myself agreeing as I read Tauria's thoughts: "For Tauria, every story put on paper was alive, and every story existed by its own rules. She felt they were acting as intruders, taking away something valuable from what other people's imaginations had created." (p. 216)
Tauria's mentor Alfred is a most appealing character with his his wit, gentle sarcasm, deep wisdom, and appreciation for life. Abelia, Doron's sister, is delightful in her eagerness for a full life, which she sees embodied in Tauria.
There will be hard times as both worlds work to overcome the obstacles that surface when an almost forgotten faction from the past emerges. I look forward to reading the next instalments to follow their progress.
There is not in-depth preliminary world building, but this allows us to experience the worlds as the characters do -- as something new and surprising. Through their thoughts and interactions, we develop understanding beside them. We also catch glimmers of the cataclysmic event of the past, and this seems to suit the mood of the story; the characters are not caught up in that past, but living very much in the present. (if they had reflected more carefully, the faction mentioned above might have been managed differently.)
The author's style has been noted by some, and as an English teacher, yes, I noticed that nonstandard English forms were used. They were, however, used consistently as part of the story. And what a delightful story it is! A story of love, of reaching for one's dreams, of changing the world -- contemporary romantic heroines are world builders, after all, and that makes them memorable.
Tauria lives in a future that has evolved from life as we know it. There is contentment, productivity, and job satisfaction. Open-ended relationships have replaced the pressures of marriage. There is intimacy, but one does not ask personal questions. It is a comfortable life.
When the upheaval shook the continents two hundred years before, Doron's culture, possibly from another dimension, surfaced, but the two cultures have long ago ceased dialogue. This other culture has a different world view: marriage is a sacred bond, vegan eating habits are observed, and emotional displays simply do not take place. They also have wings and are able to fly. It seems they have a technology that would make flight possible for others, which becomes significant to the plot.
Tauria and Doron meet in a chance encounter, and they fall in love. To be together again, however, they will somehow have to bring their worlds together. And when they do, both worlds must re-evaluate all they knew to be true, and work, not to preserve a way of life, but to build a way of life that all can live with.
We learn about both worlds mainly through the reactions of each culture to the other. Doron is puzzled by the outlook in Tauria's world; Tauria needs time to adjust to Doron's reserve, to read the more subtle signals of his people. The Winged guests in Tauria's world are both intrigued and baffled by the openness they find. And Tauria, in her new world, misses the colour and emotion and sense of purpose she had at home.
At the same time, Tauria has never "fit in" back in her old world. As the novel develops, we see her growing into the person she was perhaps meant to be. We can appreciate, too, her dilemma as her dreams are coming true, but she seems increasingly restricted.
I enjoyed the scenes in which the delegations discuss topics like "early twenty-first century literature." I find myself agreeing as I read Tauria's thoughts: "For Tauria, every story put on paper was alive, and every story existed by its own rules. She felt they were acting as intruders, taking away something valuable from what other people's imaginations had created." (p. 216)
Tauria's mentor Alfred is a most appealing character with his his wit, gentle sarcasm, deep wisdom, and appreciation for life. Abelia, Doron's sister, is delightful in her eagerness for a full life, which she sees embodied in Tauria.
There will be hard times as both worlds work to overcome the obstacles that surface when an almost forgotten faction from the past emerges. I look forward to reading the next instalments to follow their progress.
There is not in-depth preliminary world building, but this allows us to experience the worlds as the characters do -- as something new and surprising. Through their thoughts and interactions, we develop understanding beside them. We also catch glimmers of the cataclysmic event of the past, and this seems to suit the mood of the story; the characters are not caught up in that past, but living very much in the present. (if they had reflected more carefully, the faction mentioned above might have been managed differently.)
The author's style has been noted by some, and as an English teacher, yes, I noticed that nonstandard English forms were used. They were, however, used consistently as part of the story. And what a delightful story it is! A story of love, of reaching for one's dreams, of changing the world -- contemporary romantic heroines are world builders, after all, and that makes them memorable.
October 15, 2022
Eve Koguce’s Neglected Merge paints a complex, detailed portrait of a seemingly Utopian world, created following a catastrophic event that brought together the remains of two disparate worlds. Each builds its post-Apocalyptic society with contentment at its core. How the worlds defined the idea is as different as the nations themselves as well as the fated mates who strategize to merge their ways of life so they might have a future together.
Tauria, who is Wingless, was born into a life of perfection because happiness is a universal truth: Every need is met. Hobbies are encouraged. Relationships exist only to bring pleasure until they don’t, and then, they’re easily discarded. Though she often doubted her true happiness within this paradigm, she never gives herself permission to question her contentment with her way of life until a fated meeting with Doron, a Winged One. By contrast, his world seems austere; the Winged Ones are contented in their technological savvy and appear to be unreadable. Their mutual fascination spurs a series of events that re-opens dialogue between their nations for the first time in centuries.
This is where Koguce’s brilliance comes out to play. Through poetic prose that constructs two vivid and complex worlds with beauty and dimension, she urges her reader to consider whether perfection can be defined in concrete terms, especially if it is subject to fluid interpretation. The ideological undertones are striking, poignant, and well on point as delegations from the respective cultures, led by Tauria and Doron, grapple with the question of how and whether their societies might co-mingle and/or co-exist. It’s typical to bring skepticism and mistrust to the unknown. But at a point, is one forced to explore whether assimilation – of culture, ideals, and even appearance – is required for total acceptance?
This is the central question that ultimately catalyzes Tauria’s actions and motivations. Empowered by the notion that their worlds are more alike than different, she leads the nascent, blended nation into a new phase as they face new conflicts – together.
Neglected Merge is hopeful, colorful, and thoughtful. It is the type of novel that tempts subsequent reads, each of which promises to reveal some ever yet more insightful tidbit.
Tauria, who is Wingless, was born into a life of perfection because happiness is a universal truth: Every need is met. Hobbies are encouraged. Relationships exist only to bring pleasure until they don’t, and then, they’re easily discarded. Though she often doubted her true happiness within this paradigm, she never gives herself permission to question her contentment with her way of life until a fated meeting with Doron, a Winged One. By contrast, his world seems austere; the Winged Ones are contented in their technological savvy and appear to be unreadable. Their mutual fascination spurs a series of events that re-opens dialogue between their nations for the first time in centuries.
This is where Koguce’s brilliance comes out to play. Through poetic prose that constructs two vivid and complex worlds with beauty and dimension, she urges her reader to consider whether perfection can be defined in concrete terms, especially if it is subject to fluid interpretation. The ideological undertones are striking, poignant, and well on point as delegations from the respective cultures, led by Tauria and Doron, grapple with the question of how and whether their societies might co-mingle and/or co-exist. It’s typical to bring skepticism and mistrust to the unknown. But at a point, is one forced to explore whether assimilation – of culture, ideals, and even appearance – is required for total acceptance?
This is the central question that ultimately catalyzes Tauria’s actions and motivations. Empowered by the notion that their worlds are more alike than different, she leads the nascent, blended nation into a new phase as they face new conflicts – together.
Neglected Merge is hopeful, colorful, and thoughtful. It is the type of novel that tempts subsequent reads, each of which promises to reveal some ever yet more insightful tidbit.
December 14, 2022
Outstanding!
A beautifully written story, very deep and thought-provoking.
People like to ignore uncomfortable things, thinking they’ll go away. That’s exactly what both the Wingless and the Winged Ones did, when a collision of two worlds brought them together and turned their lives upside down. The Merge left two different worlds crumpled into one, separated by a mountain rage. And two nations, very different to each other, who turned their backs to the Mountains and what’s behind them, busying themselves with rebuilding their lives.
Two hundred years later, an accident brings a Winged One and a Wingless together, and they fall in love.
And now they will prove that love is a strong enough force to change the lives of two different nations again, to make them open up and start a dialogue.
A delicious cocktail of diplomacy, politics, and a whole lot of love.
A beautifully written story, very deep and thought-provoking.
People like to ignore uncomfortable things, thinking they’ll go away. That’s exactly what both the Wingless and the Winged Ones did, when a collision of two worlds brought them together and turned their lives upside down. The Merge left two different worlds crumpled into one, separated by a mountain rage. And two nations, very different to each other, who turned their backs to the Mountains and what’s behind them, busying themselves with rebuilding their lives.
Two hundred years later, an accident brings a Winged One and a Wingless together, and they fall in love.
And now they will prove that love is a strong enough force to change the lives of two different nations again, to make them open up and start a dialogue.
A delicious cocktail of diplomacy, politics, and a whole lot of love.
May 23, 2021
Will love still exist in 200 years?
I absolutely loved reading ‘Neglected Merge’. This is a slow-paced story that gave me the similar vibes as classic literature.
Koguce gives a look at the possible ‘utopian’ future where society is guided by rules rather than by heart desires. However, the rules lose its power on a day when the sparkle of love connects 2 people from 2 different Worlds.
Tauria, a 32-year old woman, represents a modern independent woman who lives in a society where all the rules are targeted to force human happiness. While Tauria is helping serve this society as a government employee, she can’t help herself asking a question, “Why am I unhappy then?”
On the other hand, Doron lives in a traditional, ‘old-fashioned’ world where the traditions are sacred. This is a monarchy where the traditional marriage is the only possible form of relationship between 2 adult people. As well as Tauria, he is trapped in a society where the emotions are wiped as something ‘unnecessary.’
By reading Koguce novel, I enjoy learning about the path the two characters walk together, slowly discovering what happiness means what it takes.
Also, I have a chance to look at two different approaches that are present in today’s real World and compare them with their possible shape in 200 years from now.
If you’ve ever wondered, “What is happiness? Does marriage still make sense? Is love worth breaking the rules?” Then read this amazing book to discover your answers.
I absolutely loved reading ‘Neglected Merge’. This is a slow-paced story that gave me the similar vibes as classic literature.
Koguce gives a look at the possible ‘utopian’ future where society is guided by rules rather than by heart desires. However, the rules lose its power on a day when the sparkle of love connects 2 people from 2 different Worlds.
Tauria, a 32-year old woman, represents a modern independent woman who lives in a society where all the rules are targeted to force human happiness. While Tauria is helping serve this society as a government employee, she can’t help herself asking a question, “Why am I unhappy then?”
On the other hand, Doron lives in a traditional, ‘old-fashioned’ world where the traditions are sacred. This is a monarchy where the traditional marriage is the only possible form of relationship between 2 adult people. As well as Tauria, he is trapped in a society where the emotions are wiped as something ‘unnecessary.’
By reading Koguce novel, I enjoy learning about the path the two characters walk together, slowly discovering what happiness means what it takes.
Also, I have a chance to look at two different approaches that are present in today’s real World and compare them with their possible shape in 200 years from now.
If you’ve ever wondered, “What is happiness? Does marriage still make sense? Is love worth breaking the rules?” Then read this amazing book to discover your answers.
July 18, 2022
There is always a place for love
‘Neglected merge’ is a beautiful utopian romance. The events are happening in a fantasy world where both people and ‘winged ones’ developed their civilizations to the point where all the order is working as a clock, obeying the rules and traditions.
I found this novel very thought-provoking. It made me think of cross-cultural conflicts and a necessity of constant change. Both cultures have their own history, and for ages after the worlds collide, they prefer to live in their own worlds. However, everything changes when Tauria and Doron fall in love with each other.
I found writing style very classy, and the story itself has the taste of ‘Gone with the wind’. I will definitely read more form this author!
‘Neglected merge’ is a beautiful utopian romance. The events are happening in a fantasy world where both people and ‘winged ones’ developed their civilizations to the point where all the order is working as a clock, obeying the rules and traditions.
I found this novel very thought-provoking. It made me think of cross-cultural conflicts and a necessity of constant change. Both cultures have their own history, and for ages after the worlds collide, they prefer to live in their own worlds. However, everything changes when Tauria and Doron fall in love with each other.
I found writing style very classy, and the story itself has the taste of ‘Gone with the wind’. I will definitely read more form this author!
April 26, 2021
I haven't read a book with this genre lately so I was genuinely happy and excited to delve into it, especially because the main theme is romance. Neglected Merge: A Fantasy Utopian Romance written by Eve Koguce is an out of the ordinary futuristic fantasy romance book centered around characters Tauria and Doron. Their love is one of those in the likes of Romeo and Juliet wherein they live in different classes which makes everything kind of challenging and complicated for them.
In this book we are introduced into a whole new chapter of the world after an apocalypse where everything was shattered. I loved that it gave me a refreshing feel. I love dystopian books because they are very challenging to read. This book has the same effect for me. I was rooting for Tauria and Doron to be together in the end. I loved the series of events that happened. For me, it's one of those books that I will be proud to recommend to everybody!
In this book we are introduced into a whole new chapter of the world after an apocalypse where everything was shattered. I loved that it gave me a refreshing feel. I love dystopian books because they are very challenging to read. This book has the same effect for me. I was rooting for Tauria and Doron to be together in the end. I loved the series of events that happened. For me, it's one of those books that I will be proud to recommend to everybody!
April 27, 2021
A dystopian romance, Neglected merge is about two people from vastly different worlds that find themselves in unusual circumstances and embark upon a journey that will unite them in unexpected ways. Living in a world where pleasures are expected to be delivered instantly, building a meaningful relationship with anybody would be thought. Tauria and Doron, while on first glance were superficial characters, I found to find more depth to their stories as the book went on. A unexpected and pleasurable romance.
April 26, 2022
Neglected Merge is a unique romantic fantasy that is beautifully written and a thoughtful exploration of cultural perfection.
While so many stories are set in a dystopian future, Eve Koguce sets hers in a utopian future after a cataclysmic event. The foundation for the utopian world came from this shocking world-changing event, hundreds of years before Koguce's story begins. But what's even more interesting is that there isn't only one utopian world but two.
The Winged and Wingless exist completely separate from each other, living different forms of an ideal reality. It is the explosive meeting of one from each world that is the driving force behind the romance at the center of this book and the deep, philosophical examination that happens throughout the story. While each world feels they have established utopia, they both have people who are dissatisfied by their societal norms.
Tauria and Doron are two of those people, and their meeting is an answer to a quiet, mutual sense of discontent. The romance between them is at times delicate, at others passionate, but always heartfelt. The journey both characters must take to reach each other and the changes their connection brings to both societies is fascinating.
A slow burn and very thought-provoking, Neglected Merge definitely a romance to read!
While so many stories are set in a dystopian future, Eve Koguce sets hers in a utopian future after a cataclysmic event. The foundation for the utopian world came from this shocking world-changing event, hundreds of years before Koguce's story begins. But what's even more interesting is that there isn't only one utopian world but two.
The Winged and Wingless exist completely separate from each other, living different forms of an ideal reality. It is the explosive meeting of one from each world that is the driving force behind the romance at the center of this book and the deep, philosophical examination that happens throughout the story. While each world feels they have established utopia, they both have people who are dissatisfied by their societal norms.
Tauria and Doron are two of those people, and their meeting is an answer to a quiet, mutual sense of discontent. The romance between them is at times delicate, at others passionate, but always heartfelt. The journey both characters must take to reach each other and the changes their connection brings to both societies is fascinating.
A slow burn and very thought-provoking, Neglected Merge definitely a romance to read!
February 28, 2023
Neglected Merge is a futuristic, dystopian story of love. Written with such emotion and beauty, it tells the tale of two different people from two very different worlds who meet by a chance encounter.
We read a story of how two worlds connect, worlds with dramatically different traditions, rules and values. We follow the journey of the two main characters as insight, understanding and emotional connection builds respect, friendship and love.
With an appealing political slant and evolution in characters and environment, Neglected Merge made for a unique and interesting read. With action, dilemmas, passion and sacrifice build in, there is tension and suspense that results in a real page turner.
The characters are magnetic, with grace, passion and strength. They are developed perfectly and we understand their feelings and purpose very well through stunning dialogue and descriptions.
The author writes with ease and passion, allowing stimulation of imagination. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the love story so beautifully weaved throughout. Highly recommended.
We read a story of how two worlds connect, worlds with dramatically different traditions, rules and values. We follow the journey of the two main characters as insight, understanding and emotional connection builds respect, friendship and love.
With an appealing political slant and evolution in characters and environment, Neglected Merge made for a unique and interesting read. With action, dilemmas, passion and sacrifice build in, there is tension and suspense that results in a real page turner.
The characters are magnetic, with grace, passion and strength. They are developed perfectly and we understand their feelings and purpose very well through stunning dialogue and descriptions.
The author writes with ease and passion, allowing stimulation of imagination. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the love story so beautifully weaved throughout. Highly recommended.
January 2, 2021
“Neglected Merge” written by Eve Koguce is a book where the characteristics of the cautionary tale and the fantasy thriller blend to create a compelling story. After surviving apocalypse, the world has been rebuilt leaving aside sadness and pain. Apparently, people have learned from their mistakes and started from scratch with a new understanding of the importance of social relationships and happiness. Tauria, who lives in such a world, starts to realize that it is not as perfect as it seems and that the things that disturb this apparent peace mysteriously disappear. After a fortuitous encounter, she will get the strength to fight to join the two different realities and change her life forever.
I really enjoyed this reading. The plot is interesting and captivating and it is very well written. I recommend it.
I really enjoyed this reading. The plot is interesting and captivating and it is very well written. I recommend it.
December 30, 2020
This is a very interesting futurist romance novel; it has some colourful characteristics that make this book a very unique one. As a reader who enjoys romance novels, I was attracted to read this one. What captivated me the most was the originality in the plot, that mix of futuristic reality and romance keeps the story up the whole read.
The characters also made the storyline very balanced, making it a very fast-paced read. I would recommend “Neglected Merge” to those readers, like me, who tend to grab romance novels but also like to have some twist and turns along the way. I’ll be looking forward to read more of Eve Koguce's work.
The characters also made the storyline very balanced, making it a very fast-paced read. I would recommend “Neglected Merge” to those readers, like me, who tend to grab romance novels but also like to have some twist and turns along the way. I’ll be looking forward to read more of Eve Koguce's work.
March 30, 2022
From the cover this was not my normal type of read but I was pleasantly surprised. What a beautiful romantic story of two beings who meet by accident but fall in love even though society and differences say they should not even meet. As the both work to bring the two worlds together and spend time together their love and devotion is tested in many different ways and as they try to live their new normal there is danger on the horizon. I really enjoyed this.
March 3, 2021
Captivating story in need of an editor
I throughly enjoyed the storyline and the exploration of what it means to be human through a futuristic fantasy. However, the grammatical errors and improper word usage were frustrating. I would love to see this book properly edited.
I throughly enjoyed the storyline and the exploration of what it means to be human through a futuristic fantasy. However, the grammatical errors and improper word usage were frustrating. I would love to see this book properly edited.
December 6, 2022
"Wings. Black wings. They are everything she sees, the only thing she's able to look at."
These are the opening few sentences of the book, and I found them a simple but very effective way of drawing in the reader. The opening paragraph also describes how "Time loses sense, becomes indefinite." On reading something like this, I found myself asking, "what has happened? Who is this character and what has happened to them?"
As I read on, I found this book to be written in a very pretty way, that appealed to all the senses of the reader. Describing the visitor with "black hair and coal black eyes", simple but powerful imagery. Also, the descriptions of how "the birds sang in different voices, high and low, soft and melodic". The author describes everything in a way that stimulates the imagination of the reader.
I found myself relating to Tauria, and her attitudes and values concerning love and relationships, and also the fact that she was "a passionate reader", who "loved to live the lives of others that books provided". When I can relate to a protagonist, it makes them very likeable.
I would describe this book as a dark fantasy romance. It was enjoyable, and something that I might choose to read as a change from crime and mystery. I may be interested in reading the other books in this series, as I would like to find out what happens next for these characters. Thank you to the author and Booktasters for a free copy to review.
These are the opening few sentences of the book, and I found them a simple but very effective way of drawing in the reader. The opening paragraph also describes how "Time loses sense, becomes indefinite." On reading something like this, I found myself asking, "what has happened? Who is this character and what has happened to them?"
As I read on, I found this book to be written in a very pretty way, that appealed to all the senses of the reader. Describing the visitor with "black hair and coal black eyes", simple but powerful imagery. Also, the descriptions of how "the birds sang in different voices, high and low, soft and melodic". The author describes everything in a way that stimulates the imagination of the reader.
I found myself relating to Tauria, and her attitudes and values concerning love and relationships, and also the fact that she was "a passionate reader", who "loved to live the lives of others that books provided". When I can relate to a protagonist, it makes them very likeable.
I would describe this book as a dark fantasy romance. It was enjoyable, and something that I might choose to read as a change from crime and mystery. I may be interested in reading the other books in this series, as I would like to find out what happens next for these characters. Thank you to the author and Booktasters for a free copy to review.
December 13, 2022
Eve Koguce's NEGLECTED MERGE is a remarkable story of love and diplomacy between Winged Ones and the Wingless. Tauria, of a Wingless and loveless society, and Doron, whose people are “not supposed to love without a reason”, must unite these two worlds—separated now by a mountain range and 200 years—just to give their love for each other a chance to succeed.
Tauria, Wingless Embassy worker, must work her way up the ladder just to get the ear of someone near power to proceed with her plan. Doron needs only to persuade his father, ruler of the Winged Ones—not as easy as it sounds.
I branched out of my comfort zone for NEGLECTED MERGE and am very glad I did. Highly recommended, especially if you're actually into fantasy and romance.
Tauria, Wingless Embassy worker, must work her way up the ladder just to get the ear of someone near power to proceed with her plan. Doron needs only to persuade his father, ruler of the Winged Ones—not as easy as it sounds.
I branched out of my comfort zone for NEGLECTED MERGE and am very glad I did. Highly recommended, especially if you're actually into fantasy and romance.
December 13, 2022
Not my normal genre but I really enjoyed this book. The detailed descriptions of the two worlds created after the merge and the differences between the two communities was well written. At the heart of the book is a love story between a Winged and Wingless which is beautifully told. The trials and tribulations of a relationship across cultures is relevant to so many love stories of modern time. Would recommend as a wonderful read.
August 4, 2021
Fab fantasy novel at high diplomatic level
❤️🔥“Neglected Merge” by Eve Koguce /BOOK REVIEW
___
❤️🔥Don't hesitate to spread your wings and fly into this amazing novel if you want to become a part of the diplomatic mission in the fantasy world full of love, betrayal, hatred, and controversies.
___
Genre: Novel
Pages: 271
Language: English
Release date: 2021
❤️🔥The Plot: We follow Tauria and Doron, who live in separate parts of a new post-apocalyptic world. Tauria is a pretty lady in her early thirties. She works in Embassy and loves her job. She has almost everything she needs in the part of the world that belongs to the Wingless. Doron is the main heir to the throne in the part of the world where the Winged people rule. Their meeting was unexpected, accidental, but fateful. Having met and spent some time together, they can’t imagine their lives without each other. The point is that they belong to different parts of the world, with different rules and traditions. This loving couple decides to take a risk and change the laws preventing them from living happily together.
❤️🔥The Writing Style: I fell in love with the mixed pace of this novel from the first pages. It was slow, where it should be slow to enjoy perfect descriptions of sceneries, backgrounds, and subtleties of international politics and the peculiarities of the futuristic world's diplomatic visits. The pace becomes rapid where it should be fast to keep on galloping in speed with intense events. The novel is much deeper than it may seem at first sight. In the background of the main beautifully written story, a reader can dive into wise and profound musings, challenging questions, and captivating theories of world development.
❤️🔥The Characters: The number of the leading and minor characters is numerous. But this is the case when the author created a perfectly structured world and inhabited it masterfully. The author described every single character with the slightest detail, both in their appearances and inner worlds. I adored how the author built a net of their relationships, intrigues, and conspiracy theories.
❤️🔥Fave quote: “You are not tied to your roots.”
❤️🔥Would I read other books by this author: Undoubtedly, yes!
❤️🔥My humble rating is: 5.5/5
❤️🔥“Neglected Merge” by Eve Koguce /BOOK REVIEW
___
❤️🔥Don't hesitate to spread your wings and fly into this amazing novel if you want to become a part of the diplomatic mission in the fantasy world full of love, betrayal, hatred, and controversies.
___
Genre: Novel
Pages: 271
Language: English
Release date: 2021
❤️🔥The Plot: We follow Tauria and Doron, who live in separate parts of a new post-apocalyptic world. Tauria is a pretty lady in her early thirties. She works in Embassy and loves her job. She has almost everything she needs in the part of the world that belongs to the Wingless. Doron is the main heir to the throne in the part of the world where the Winged people rule. Their meeting was unexpected, accidental, but fateful. Having met and spent some time together, they can’t imagine their lives without each other. The point is that they belong to different parts of the world, with different rules and traditions. This loving couple decides to take a risk and change the laws preventing them from living happily together.
❤️🔥The Writing Style: I fell in love with the mixed pace of this novel from the first pages. It was slow, where it should be slow to enjoy perfect descriptions of sceneries, backgrounds, and subtleties of international politics and the peculiarities of the futuristic world's diplomatic visits. The pace becomes rapid where it should be fast to keep on galloping in speed with intense events. The novel is much deeper than it may seem at first sight. In the background of the main beautifully written story, a reader can dive into wise and profound musings, challenging questions, and captivating theories of world development.
❤️🔥The Characters: The number of the leading and minor characters is numerous. But this is the case when the author created a perfectly structured world and inhabited it masterfully. The author described every single character with the slightest detail, both in their appearances and inner worlds. I adored how the author built a net of their relationships, intrigues, and conspiracy theories.
❤️🔥Fave quote: “You are not tied to your roots.”
❤️🔥Would I read other books by this author: Undoubtedly, yes!
❤️🔥My humble rating is: 5.5/5
July 13, 2022
‘The Neglected Merge’ introduces you to two different worlds, existing side by side, post an apocalyptic event that almost shattered Earth . On one side are the Wingless, more free-spirited no longer clinging to the archaic values of ‘family’ . One the other side you have the Winged Ones more traditional in their thinking, but superior physically.
There is no common ground between them.
Until Doron and Tauria fall in love. A union between a Winged One and a Wingless human is impossible to contemplate. The two don’t even know when they will meet again. But without conferring, with any communication between them, they start working on a restarting diplomatic relations between their worlds.
An initiative that started out of love now acquires wider implications. But the road ahead is not easy for there are many hurdles in the path of the star crossed lovers.
I have read dystopian novels like The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, Divergent, The Hand Maid’s Tale. But ‘The Neglected Merge’ stands out because is completely and uniquely itself. It’s world building is completely original. The focus is not on survival but about the new worlds that exist 200 years post the Merge.
You are able to visualize two alien worlds. But rather than war like situations the author takes the path of diplomacy, with discussions, observations to demonstrate how Tauria and Doron are working toward a unified world. It’s quite a risk given the appetite of readers for books like the Hunger Games and Divergent. But this tells me above all else that if you write from your heart, rather than what you think the reader wants to read your book will always find an audience. I applaud Eve Koguce for having the courage to take the road less traveled with her story.
Then there is the chemistry between Tauria and Doran. Their falling in love is characterized by none of the usual tropes. There are no declarations until the moment of parting. When they reunite, the build up is such that it is a moment that the reader has been waiting for and it is very well written.
Another bonus is Ferrus and his silent adoration of Tauria, which also the reader notices although the author only subtlety hints at it initially.
The Neglected Merge is not your typical Dystopian novel. It’s uniquely itself. At one point you are faced with the very valid question if you love someone are you willing to give up everything, everything that makes you, you to be with them? How do you cross that hurdle, still find your happily ever after while holding on to your identity? Let Tauria show you how.
There is no common ground between them.
Until Doron and Tauria fall in love. A union between a Winged One and a Wingless human is impossible to contemplate. The two don’t even know when they will meet again. But without conferring, with any communication between them, they start working on a restarting diplomatic relations between their worlds.
An initiative that started out of love now acquires wider implications. But the road ahead is not easy for there are many hurdles in the path of the star crossed lovers.
I have read dystopian novels like The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, Divergent, The Hand Maid’s Tale. But ‘The Neglected Merge’ stands out because is completely and uniquely itself. It’s world building is completely original. The focus is not on survival but about the new worlds that exist 200 years post the Merge.
You are able to visualize two alien worlds. But rather than war like situations the author takes the path of diplomacy, with discussions, observations to demonstrate how Tauria and Doron are working toward a unified world. It’s quite a risk given the appetite of readers for books like the Hunger Games and Divergent. But this tells me above all else that if you write from your heart, rather than what you think the reader wants to read your book will always find an audience. I applaud Eve Koguce for having the courage to take the road less traveled with her story.
Then there is the chemistry between Tauria and Doran. Their falling in love is characterized by none of the usual tropes. There are no declarations until the moment of parting. When they reunite, the build up is such that it is a moment that the reader has been waiting for and it is very well written.
Another bonus is Ferrus and his silent adoration of Tauria, which also the reader notices although the author only subtlety hints at it initially.
The Neglected Merge is not your typical Dystopian novel. It’s uniquely itself. At one point you are faced with the very valid question if you love someone are you willing to give up everything, everything that makes you, you to be with them? How do you cross that hurdle, still find your happily ever after while holding on to your identity? Let Tauria show you how.
July 27, 2022
I enjoyed the post apocalyptic world building and the philosophical questions posed in this novel. This is a story of forbidden love between two members of very different societies, fighting to be together despite their people's opposition. You will find yourself wondering about how much one should change themselves for a loved one-if at all, and whether it's fair to expect such a thing from others. Does marriage have a meaning? Do we need love, or even company, to be happy? What is happiness anyway? I closed this book thinking about all those beliefs we take for granted in our society, and how they could be different in a hypothetical future.
October 13, 2022
Eve Koguce’s debut novel, Neglected Merge (book one in the Neglected Merge trilogy), serves up a captivating fantasy romance set in a world following an apocalyptic event known as the Merge. However, Neglected Merge does not unfold within a typical dystopian backdrop. Instead, the story portrayed in brighter milieus displays life in a somewhat normal and positive vein. But is it?
This fast-paced adventure romance balances drama and romance with an intricate plot that introduces two utopian-type cultures separated by mountains and societal norms. On one side live the Wingless,, and on the other, the Winged Ones. The story opens in an apartment of Tauria on the Wingless side, where people accept the order they’ve been born within without question. Tauria’s normal-day cascades into chaos when an injured Winged One, Doron, crash-lands into her apartment out of nowhere. “He was uncomfortable to look at – alien – and at the same time, her first impulse was to touch him. She held back.”
Tauria nurses him back to health over a few days, which turns out to be a life-changing decision, not only for Tauria and Doron but for their worlds. They become friends and quickly more than friends.
Neglected Merge is full of tension, forbidden attraction, and lives forever altered with two diverse cultures challenged to reinstate face-to-face communication. When Tauria learns that Doron is a prince, it only complicates their relationship and leads to an unpredictable plot rife with unexpected twists that keep the pages turning.
I give this book a solid 4 stars and recommend it to readers who enjoy clean fantasy romance and forbidden-love woman’s sagas like the Twilight Saga series. A couple of things I found lacking in Neglected Merge were that the understanding of the Merge event remained unclear for most of the story. Secondly, Doron and Tauria’s love came off as too perfect at times, and the process of building a unique, three-dimensional character with depth, personality, and clear motivations was shortchanged, in my opinion. I’m not saying they were shallow or uninteresting in any way. They were not, but I won’t say more because I don’t want to include spoilers. Overall, I found the story entertaining, thought-provoking, and well worth the read.
This fast-paced adventure romance balances drama and romance with an intricate plot that introduces two utopian-type cultures separated by mountains and societal norms. On one side live the Wingless,, and on the other, the Winged Ones. The story opens in an apartment of Tauria on the Wingless side, where people accept the order they’ve been born within without question. Tauria’s normal-day cascades into chaos when an injured Winged One, Doron, crash-lands into her apartment out of nowhere. “He was uncomfortable to look at – alien – and at the same time, her first impulse was to touch him. She held back.”
Tauria nurses him back to health over a few days, which turns out to be a life-changing decision, not only for Tauria and Doron but for their worlds. They become friends and quickly more than friends.
Neglected Merge is full of tension, forbidden attraction, and lives forever altered with two diverse cultures challenged to reinstate face-to-face communication. When Tauria learns that Doron is a prince, it only complicates their relationship and leads to an unpredictable plot rife with unexpected twists that keep the pages turning.
I give this book a solid 4 stars and recommend it to readers who enjoy clean fantasy romance and forbidden-love woman’s sagas like the Twilight Saga series. A couple of things I found lacking in Neglected Merge were that the understanding of the Merge event remained unclear for most of the story. Secondly, Doron and Tauria’s love came off as too perfect at times, and the process of building a unique, three-dimensional character with depth, personality, and clear motivations was shortchanged, in my opinion. I’m not saying they were shallow or uninteresting in any way. They were not, but I won’t say more because I don’t want to include spoilers. Overall, I found the story entertaining, thought-provoking, and well worth the read.
September 28, 2022
I really enjoyed this book.
I liked how they both worked towards a common goal even though they were separated.
For a while I wondered if things would work out for the couple, it had me on the edge of my seat eager to read more.
I look forward to reading the next book in the Neglected Merge series and am hoping things work out for Abelia.
I liked how they both worked towards a common goal even though they were separated.
For a while I wondered if things would work out for the couple, it had me on the edge of my seat eager to read more.
I look forward to reading the next book in the Neglected Merge series and am hoping things work out for Abelia.
April 2, 2022
I loved this book! The world building is incredible in this book, I loved learning about the two separate cultures, what’s keeping them apart and how they’re trying to bring them back together.
The love story is very beautiful and well done. I highly recommend this book. Great start to the series.
March 2, 2021
Nice read
Journey of two cultures realize they are more similar than different. Story of how they learn to work together and come to appreciate each cultures strengths. Enjoyed authors surprise resolutions to issues.
Journey of two cultures realize they are more similar than different. Story of how they learn to work together and come to appreciate each cultures strengths. Enjoyed authors surprise resolutions to issues.
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