Strain (Strain, #2) in Riptide Publishing

Oct 18, 2013 Heather C rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-m, ebook, cloud, zombies, post-apocalyptic, dubcon-rape, bdsm, the-blogger-girls

Heather can go dark when she wants to!

First, let me give you a little bit of back story on how I came about reading this book. Months ago, in Atlanta at GRL 2013, I had the opportunity to hear the author read an excerpt from the book (Chapter 3), and before she could even finish reading the excerpt, I was already searching the Riptide website on my phone. Let me tell you how upset I was when I saw that it wouldn't be releasing until February 2014...a whole 4 months away!

Second, if you know me ...more

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Mar 07, 2014 Jason Bradley rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ebook, m-m, sci-fi, paranormal, zombies, older-younger, military, futuristic, abuse, post-apocalyptic

The world building and character development in this story were phenomenal. The author's writing style was smooth and rhythmic so that I could sink into the movie playing in my head and forget I was reading a book. And the sex? WOW! Yeah, good stuff.

Only one thing messed with my movie, and even that wasn't enough to lower my rating.

(view spoiler) The world building and character development in this story were phenomenal. The author's writing style was smooth and rhythmic so that I could sink into the movie playing in my head and forget I was reading a book. And the sex? WOW! Yeah, good stuff.

Only one thing messed with my movie, and even that wasn't enough to lower my rating.

(view spoiler)[ For a movie to work, I need to see the characters. Some might be blurry, but the main characters need to be more finished than the secondary ones. In the first scene where we meet Darius, he is described as having 'dark skin'. That can mean so many different things, especially for a man who spends his time marching from place to place every day. I read a bit further and found no other hints to help me, so I considered writing the author because I found my movie now had a blank spot where Darius was supposed to be.
While considering emailing Ms. Gormley, I noticed a review with a picture uploaded. It included what I figure was the readers representation of Darius, and he was a white guy.

Let me stop here to just say what I feel doesn't need to be said...but will anyway. Being black is different from being white. The difference didn't affect my attraction to Darius, but not knowing did. So, under the assumption that the review was made by someone who finished the book and felt Darius was white, I decided against writing the author and continued on. My movie now featured a well muscled grizzly white man with salt and pepper hair, a hard jaw, and squinty eyes.

On into the book, Jacob calls Darius a slur that makes it clear that Darius is most likely black. I had to set the book down at that point. My entire movie had been wrong. Now I had to reconsider the man I was very much attracted to in this story. I had to re-see all the prior scenes with another Darius.

When I picked the book up again the next day, I couldn't help but think of the old soap operas my grandmother watched, with the whispered voice announcing, "The part of Darius will now be played by Terry Crews."

The story was still amazing.

Now to a little bit of soap box. This is not aimed at this book but much more.

Ignoring race is not any better than making it an issue. Most of us want to handle prickly issues correctly, but without really knowing the right way, we decide to completely remove any mention of it. :-/ (hide spoiler)] ...more

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Aug 24, 2014 Absynthe rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-m, bdsm, first-time, cops-emts-soldiers-detectives, post-apocalyptic, 6-stars, angst, braiiiiiins, horror

Phenomenal. Exceptional world-building, plot and characters. The end moved me to tears. Absolutely amazing.

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Nov 01, 2014 Dee Wy rated it really liked it

Shelves: m-m, m-m-sci-fi-futuristic

3.5 stars - A very interesting world I would not want to live in. Although the book kept me fascinated throughout with lots of action, it was also a bit depressing at times. Death, death and more death around every corner as a virus gone amok turns people into zombie-like creatures who attack and kill without provocation.

In the end Rhys gets his man - Darius. But I never really understood Rhys reticence in embracing his situation. I liked him but I didn't. He often seemed broken beyond repair - ...more

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Apr 09, 2014 Trish added it

Shelves: m-m, sci-fi, dnf

DNF around 50%

I was bored. Writing was good which is a shame. There is only so many times I can read about a young man who needs to have sex in order to "possibly stay alive" from a virus. ...more

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Apr 06, 2018 OkayKim rated it it was ok · review of another edition

I guess I'm not into the whole virus thing. ...more

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Feb 13, 2014 Feliz rated it really liked it

Shelves: m-m, bdsm, action-adventure, dystopia, soldiers, hurt-comfort

A very well-written book, fast-paced and with an imaginative, dark dystopian worldbuilding.
The main characters felt a bit flat, angsting about the same issues on and on and on. Some of the side characters were much better drawn.
Erotic content so dub-con it scraped at the edges of my comfort zone; I couldn't have dealt with that kind of thing outside a fantasy setting.
Still an engaging, suspenseful read. ...more

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Feb 23, 2014 Liz (Bugetta) rated it really liked it

Shelves: sci-fi-and-futuristic, m-m-romance, e-book, dystopian, bdsm-kink, kindle-lendable

Wow. What a ride that was! I feel a little wrung out but it was so worth it!

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Feb 16, 2014 Jody rated it really liked it

Strain is a book that is going to engender very different responses from readers as some will find its numerous sexual encounters off-putting while others will find its storyline unique and thought-provoking. I'm one of those readers who found it a compelling read that was gritty and darkly atmospheric in its handling of morality, compassion, sexuality, amidst a dystopian world where the lines between right and wrong aren't always clear.

For the young man Rhys, who's led a very sheltered life bec Strain is a book that is going to engender very different responses from readers as some will find its numerous sexual encounters off-putting while others will find its storyline unique and thought-provoking. I'm one of those readers who found it a compelling read that was gritty and darkly atmospheric in its handling of morality, compassion, sexuality, amidst a dystopian world where the lines between right and wrong aren't always clear.

For the young man Rhys, who's led a very sheltered life because of a virus unleashed on the world, his introduction to a group of genetically enhanced soldiers changes him and his life forever. After being emotionally and physically abused by religious zealots for his sexuality, the sexual abandon that's the only thing that might keep him from getting infected leaves him confused but still drawn to the Unit's leader Darius. Rhys sees a savior and protector in him and wants nothing more than to stay by his side. With the possibility of becoming infected looming, along with the issue of their age difference, and the threat from a traitorous religious zealot, their time together might end before it begins. Rhys is an immensely likable character who deals with pain in a stoic manner and is loyal to a fault. He just wants to be loved and cared for in a world that's broken and this desire is a bright spot amongst the darkness.

Darius has become jaded after all the blood, death, and hopelessness he's seen. He's a hardened man not always good at knowing what to say. In Rhys he sees a fighting spirit that's inspiring and reminds him of what he's fighting for. Knowing that the virus might kill Rhys yet has Darius holding back at first but before long the connection he feels for him can't be denied as his possessive nature takes over. In a world where life can end at any time, the feelings they have for each other are the one bright spot and had me rooting for them every step of the way.

Ms. Gormley's written a thought-provoking and darkly atmospheric read that's vivid in its world-building and kept me enthralled from the start. The characters are compelling with each unique in their personalities that leaves room for more stories to be told. The sexual interludes are numerous with the reasons for this being cleverly woven into the storyline. Some of the scenes are questionable in the consent so readers who have issues with that are forewarned. No matter what though, the scenes are hot and as Rhys and Darius get closer the scenes take on a more tender vibe. There's a definite villain to the story and he lives up to that title as I felt like booing him every time he came on the scene. With so many good aspects to this story, my only complaint is that it's a bit long with a middle section that dragged. On a whole though, I applaud Ms. Gormley for her cleverly crafted story that seamlessly combined steamy sexual encounters with an intriguing and thought-provoking sci-fi storyline that I long to read more about in the future! ...more

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