Fragile Bond in Riptide Publishing

Jan 02, 2013 Emanuela ~plastic duck~ rated it really liked it

Shelves: sci-fi, glbt, rainbow-gay

I like the way this author creates worlds: there are not only different cultures, species, environments, but there's always a "political" element that gives a further sophistication to the stories and that I personally find very intriguing. I am usually looking for character-driven stories, but I really appreciate plots where there's a bigger picture, where the struggles of the protagonists are the clogs that keep the mechanism of the whole society going.

I don't think this book is romance, and i I like the way this author creates worlds: there are not only different cultures, species, environments, but there's always a "political" element that gives a further sophistication to the stories and that I personally find very intriguing. I am usually looking for character-driven stories, but I really appreciate plots where there's a bigger picture, where the struggles of the protagonists are the clogs that keep the mechanism of the whole society going.

I don't think this book is romance, and if someone goes into it expecting a clear romantic development might be disappointed, even if it's the two main characters, the human sniper Marc and the furr battlemonger Hamm with their inexplicable bond, that move the story forward.

Marc is scouting a planet to make sure it's safe for the humans who want to exploit its resources. He has been informed that the creatures inhabiting the planet are basically animals, and he kills some of them, performing his duty as a soldier, until he is attacked by one of these creatures. Hamm subdues Marc using his pheromones and he captures him in order to interrogate him. Marc realizes that the creatures he's been killing are intelligent, they have a humanoid form, but they are more imposing, more furry, they purr and roar, and possess an advanced technology to instantly translate the language of different species. The chemical bond between Marc and Hamm, though, seems to complicate things, because it undermines Hamm's credibility as a leader and it gives a special position to a man who has killed the furrs' companions.

I have to confess that I wasn't very enthusiastic about the whole pheromones things at the beginning, because I've become quite tired of the mate/fated lovers theme. I was afraid it would devolve into a "mine/yours" kind of story, and I couldn't believe this author would go through that route. And indeed it didn't happen, because Etzweiler is much clever than that. The chemical bonding only jumpstarted the connection between the two men, giving it a shaky foundation instead of a strong one, because the difference in cultures, verbal and non-verbal communication, the natural distrust for an invader and a killer, the insecurity of a man who thinks he's being played through induced lust, the loyalties to their people, each of these elements was a barrier that had to be dismantled before the insta-lust became respect and more.

The alternating point-of-views let us see the different takes on the events, which take place in a very short period of time, I think no longer than a day. The writing is very good. My only issue is about the use of space: it was sometimes difficult to visualize where things were happening, I always had a feeling of a closed, limited space, even when the action was happening outside. Also, there were a few moments when it seemed the main characters were more spectators than protagonists, and the overall action seemed disjointed.

Anyway, I liked it, I loved the military attitude of Marc and Hamm, the way they understood each other more through that than through their bond. Also the furrs are such an interesting species, I mean, I'd LOVE to have a purring guy. ...more

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Feb 21, 2013 Jody rated it really liked it

As a fan of sci-fi I was immediately drawn to this story from page one. Human invaders plant roots on a foreign planet and immediately start destroying a humanoids way of life. At first sharpshooter Marc thinks he's doing his honorable duty but as the story progresses he realizes the damage he's done and soon becomes more a friend than enemy to these new cat-like creatures. He finds himself drawn to their leader Hamm and as the hormones flair between them the sexual tension amps up in a race to ...more

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Feb 26, 2013 Adara rated it really liked it

This is a story of two intergalactic species trying to understand one another after starting out on the worst foot they possibly could. The invading force of humans doesn't understand that the hostiles on the planet are sapient. Hamm, the Commander of the native forces (furrs, or tawnys in human slang), happens to capture Marc, a sniper scouting in advance of his battalion, by accidental use of his pheromones. Only their pheromones seem to feed off of each other, putting them both in a very awkw This is a story of two intergalactic species trying to understand one another after starting out on the worst foot they possibly could. The invading force of humans doesn't understand that the hostiles on the planet are sapient. Hamm, the Commander of the native forces (furrs, or tawnys in human slang), happens to capture Marc, a sniper scouting in advance of his battalion, by accidental use of his pheromones. Only their pheromones seem to feed off of each other, putting them both in a very awkward position. The natives have some bio-tech which allows them to communicate with other natives on the planet, and they use it on Marc hoping they can get some answers from him.

Marc is horrified to learn that he's been killing sapient creatures, and Hamm can smell the truth of it on him. Marc manages to convey to Hamm and his second in command that if he can contact his superiors, they have first contact protocols for this sort of situation. Only they've never actually needed to use them before; they've never found sapient beings before now.

The problem is all of the blood which has already been spilt makes for unease and suspicion on both sides. Add to that some internal furr politics because Hamm's pheromones are still tied to Marc's, a furr who wishes for vengeance and continued bloodshed -- not any attempts at peace -- and an arrogant human leader who's only interested in taking, not giving or understanding, and you have one hell of a volatile story. It's a good thing that Hamm and Marc have figured out they're more similar than different.

The politics within the furrs isn't too heavy (not like it was in Blacker than Black, for example), but it is enough to keep the situation tense throughout the story. The story alternates between Marc's and Hamm's point of view to keep things interesting and help us understand both sides of the situation they're in and how they come to feel the way they do. I was very pleased with the situations and logistics of it all.

I'm giving this one 4.5 stars, and I might up it to 5 at some point in the future. ...more

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Jan 15, 2015 Bucletina rated it it was amazing

Shelves: alucinantemente-geniales, autores-favoritos

Es un Etzweiler. Y eso siempre es señal de libro intensamente alucinante. Por supuesto, esta no fue la excepción. Geniales personajes, relato que se vive con cada uno de los sentidos de manera muy explícita, que te agobia y te altera y te emociona como pocos textos logran hacerlo.
Descubrir a Rhi Etzweiler es de las mejores cosas que me han sucedido en mi vida lectora. Ojalá muchos más pudieran apreciarlo en su tremenda genialidad.

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Mar 31, 2013 DayDreamer rated it it was ok

Shelves: lgbtqa, meh, reviewed-or-kinda, sci-fi, absofuckinglutely-nuts, not-ever-again

I couldn't connect with anything. Not the characters, not the plot, anything.

The gunplay in the book details is also misleading. I was expecting something much sexier.

Altogether unimpressive.

(I started it as a distraction when I was supposed to be doing something else. As guilty pleasures go, it could have been way more gripping and satisfying.) ...more

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Jan 09, 2013 Darkm rated it really liked it

Shelves: sci-fi, m-m

I loved the story and the world the author has created.
And more than this, I loved the way Marc and Hamm were able to form a bond and trust each other despite all the differences. I liked their willingness to learn, with an open heart.

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Jan 03, 2013 Laylah Hunter added it

Shelves: m-slash-m, military-sf-f

Stronger than Etzweiler's first book, I think -- the smaller scale helps make it more focused and the tensions on both sides are nicely developed. The relationship development is much more serious than the "pheromones make them do it" setup first suggested, and honestly I really like the idea of a culture having literally weaponized sexual desire the way the furrs have. The ending/epilogue seemed to tie things together in a bit of a hurry, but this was solid and enjoyable as a whole. ...more

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Jan 04, 2013 Amara rated it it was amazing

Fabulous book. Great characters, wonderful writing, interesting world and it's an Etzweiler. Score!

ps: Hamm is MINE!
pss: I beta read this one so I'm not real sure how to review it, other than to say... this book rocks.

The end. ...more

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