Unhinge the Universe in Riptide Publishing

Jun 28, 2013 Emanuela ~plastic duck~ rated it really liked it

Shelves: glbt, romance, historical

What do you say in English? I fell for this story hook, line, and sinker? The little dangling fish is me.

Premise. While ordinary parents put you in front of a TV watching Disney movies when you're a kid, my dad sat me with him to watch WWII movies and Spaghetti Western (maybe, maybe something set during the Prohibition sometimes). I grew up just fine, I guess, even if I talked about the Magnificent Seven instead of the Seven Dwarves. So: I would gift this book to my dad, minus the gay sex becau What do you say in English? I fell for this story hook, line, and sinker? The little dangling fish is me.

Premise. While ordinary parents put you in front of a TV watching Disney movies when you're a kid, my dad sat me with him to watch WWII movies and Spaghetti Western (maybe, maybe something set during the Prohibition sometimes). I grew up just fine, I guess, even if I talked about the Magnificent Seven instead of the Seven Dwarves. So: I would gift this book to my dad, minus the gay sex because I'm afraid he's a bit homophobic. Soooo... it would be maybe a bit short, but the story would be great.

Yes, I'm afraid, the only minus point of the book is that there was a bit too much sex and while it was hot, because it always is, instead of adding to the angst (I'm sorry, you can never take the Special Forces fan out of the Voinov's reader) making me want to cry and vent and pace, it made me a bit too cozy than I was expecting.

Anyway, watching two guys on different sides of a war coming together (both literally and emotionally, pffft, I wrote this in at least 10 other reviews, sorry) is always fascinating. I liked Hagen better than John, because he's in a more uncomfortable place and he is the one who really has to strip himself of everything to get to the other guy. John was a bit of a mystery and I was expecting him to be colder. All right, it was interesting to see the fissure where Hagen insinuated himself, but sometimes I can't grasp a character when I don't really know where he's coming from.

It's a paradox, but I got maybe a better reading of him when he was NOT interacting with Hagen (for example, at the beginning when we got a glimpse of how he was with the other man he was close to) or when he was dealing with Hagen's brother. It was as if the authors rushed a bit the connection between John and Hagen to get to the good parts (wink wink), while I personally always find that the good part is the longing, conflicting anticipation.

If you're looking for the Skybound experience, it's a whole different book, more in the canon of m/m (if such a canon exists), but it could be a good introduction to both these authors, before you tackle the more complex and controversial stories they wrote. I enjoyed it a lot. Especially the shaving scene... reeled in... fish... me. ...more

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Jun 21, 2013 Adara rated it it was amazing

I don't usually like historicals. Or war-based novels. But when I saw these two had written one, and it was a captive situation, I knew I was buying it immediately.

It did not disappoint. As I expected it would not.

The authors did a wonderfully credible job of turning the hatred created by the evils of war back into something humane, by reminding us that a man is just a man when it's all said and done, and that everyone just wants to go back home and be themselves when it's over, no matter what ...more

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Jul 18, 2013 Clarissa rated it really liked it

Shelves: m-m, oneshot, historical-romance, wishlist, 2013-reads, military

More at Scrollin' Them Papers

4.5 stars

Hmn.. Where do I start?

I find this book somewhere in between Special Forces and Skybound, both by Voinov, for lack of better references. Unfortunately, a mix of two mind-blowing books doesn't always yield an even more mind-blowing result. Sadly, Unhinge the Universe lacks the beautiful prose and impact of the short Skybound and the bold slaps of SF.

So, where then, did it leave this book?

Safe.
This book is safe, not exactly heart racing even with all the act ...more

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Jun 21, 2013 Nova rated it it was amazing

Shelves: military-soldiers, mm, historical, made-me-cry

4.75 - 5 stars.

Huh, I guess I’m now a fan of Voinov & Witt writing together.

What should I say? It was gripping, emotional, suspense-packed and so damn realistic!
At times it was strange, reading about all these “familiar things”, names or places and I’m still surprised how much I liked this book. A few years ago I wouldn’t have touched it. Now? I’m looking forward to the next ones! Loved it. :)

(view spoiler) ...more

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