me start by saying what this book is not, Some of the issues readers have had, I believe, might have been headed off by adjusting expectations, I know this is a Dreamspinner title, so people walk in with certain expectations, Please leave them with your shoes at the door, We've just had the carpets cleaned,
First this is a book for grownups, but it's not erotic fiction, Second there is a romance or at least a desperate romantic longing as a centerpiece to the story, but it is not a traditional romance.
Do not expect HEA. Third there will be more, Aldous assures me, so don't despair,
Now let's move on to what this book is, Freaking brilliant. Written by an engineer about a software start up and the exiled, desperate mage who lands a job there, the pages are necessarily filled with computer geek and programmer injokes, jabs and nudges.
I would love to say I understood every word, but that would be a lie, The farthest I got into programming was learning HTML and that's sort of like saying, 'hey, I can roller skate, that's just like flying a plane, right' You don't need to be a programmer, though.
The story, from Mordred's initial frustrations in finding a job to the very end, is captivating, The alltoo real struggles of keeping an apartment and getting enough to eat while the money runs out live side by side with visits to Unseelie relatives, memories of other planes, and the everpresent, charming oddness that is Imp, Mordred's not always helpful familiar.
We know,
from the introduction and certain hints, who Alan, the head programmer, is, We know, but we're fascinated watching the strange pavane of minds that is Alan and Mordred's courtship, all danced in cyberspace.
The connection between them surpasses anything purely sexual though Mordred longs for something physical, at least a meeting and is one of the most poignant romances I've ever read.
To say too much more would give things away, but to me this intertwining of intellect was as satisfying as any physical encounter.
Just so you don't think it's all cerebral, there's plenty of real life peril, a huge helping of dry humor, evil things afoot, cosmic misunderstandings to clear up, and lessons about the dangers of pranks in the office.
There are digs at Canadians, programmers, Americans, coffee addicts, gamers, corporations and their HR departments and bill collectors, just to name a few.
The quirky characters including our hero Mordred, the Prince of Quirk nestle close to the reader's heart with breathtaking speed and refuse to let go.
There's even a puzzle contained within the book, with a prize offered for the solution, if you happen to be numerically gifted.
Sadly, I wouldn't know where to begin, Yes, serious things happen. The world could end if our heroes fail kinds of serious, But the story is told with such dry wit that you very seldom feel its true weight, as if it skated along on some unseen EM field.
Did I have a little "aw, man" moment at the end Perhaps, But the reader paying attention will expect it and we know it's not the end, There were only a couple of minor elements that didn't quite come together for me which I intend to ask Aldous about it could have simply been me missing something crucial in my desperate devouring of the story but taken altogether this is an amazing work.
Have I said it already Brilliant, Just Brilliant. Leave your preconceptions about what a gay romance should be at the door and enjoy the ride, Your brain needs nourishment in its entertainment sometimes, too,
An unprecedented. It's one I'll be thinking about for a long time to come,
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So now I completely understand how people have a difficult time rating this book because I feel the same way!
So this is a bottom line type of review.
. . I loved Mori as a character and his dry humor completely amused me, . . I will definately read the next book,
Yes, the pacing had some issues, yes I was lost at the end many times, But bottom line again, I love Mori :D This is certainly one of the most amazing books I have read in a while.
It is imaginative, has some brilliant characters, made me laugh, had lots of computergeekiness which I adore, the tension was exquisite, the questions asked profound, and I was only disappointed when it ended much too soon.
This story will make your head spin with its implications on multiple levels, Even if you read the blurb which I didn't do a very good job of, I admit, this book will still manage to shock and surprise you, I bet.
What a total trip!
Mordred is a hilarious main character, A bastard prince who is also a Mage, he is banned to the Earthly plane to do penance for some slightly mysterious misdeed.
He suddenly has to work for a living, and is not allowed to use magic, He has no marketable skills and ends up bluffing his way into a job at a small computer startup company.
Mordred's battles with the requirements of daily life otherwise known as paying the bills are quite amusing, The somewhat strange happenings at his new place of employment had me puzzled, then terrified and hoping for a somewhat happy ending.
Excursions into the paranormal, the absurd, and the unexpected kept me entertained, Mordred's attempts to have a love life were fun, and his increasing fascination with Alan had me in stitches I suspected who he was from the beginning and saw that thread of the story develop with great amusement.
There were too many other great characters and events to name, so suffice it to say that I do not think you will be bored.
Well, possibly if you dont like computers, but even then, there is enough humor in here for everyone.
If you dont like surprises and plot twists stay away from this book, If you like your stories neat with all the explanations given in great, easytounderstand detail for heaven's sake, don't even go near this.
If you're looking for a traditional m/m romance please, dont buy this book, However, if you like books that make you think about the nature of being human, if you enjoy a puzzle and want to figure things out for yourself what else have we got brains for, right, and if you like a read that challenges your intellect as well as your ability to read through tears of laughter, then, by all means, get a copy right now, take a deep breath and plunge in.
But be warned: this is an adventure of the highest degree and you may come out the other side with a different view of reality!
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book s.
/Hearts
First published at MM Good Book s
sitelink wordpress. co
Mori Mordred is desperately seeking work, He finally gets a job working at a small startup tech company, but his problems are only just beginning.
Well, what can you really say about a book like this exceptdamn How do I explain what this book is like without making my own head explode It has got to be one of the most interesting, humorous, slightly wacky, Oh My God what just happened there Books that I have read in a long, long time.
Mori is a great, interesting, intriguing character, The other characters are all great as well, The storyline is erm, urm, kinda whacky and the romantic interest is really sweet as Mordreds people fall in love with souls.
But, what happens when that soul doesnt have a body And really just wants to be a computer
This really is one of those books that you have to read to get a real grip of what is going on in it, I mean I could tell you about the Symbiot who would make you an Unseelie, or the Mages, or even the demons and zombie like people, the fights, and becoming spirits going round in a loop to get back, but always ending up at the beginning or even the cyborgs, but none of it would make any sense unless you can read it all in context.
I swear the book was fascinating, Especially, the way it drew on historical legends, There was also a lot of technical stuff to do with computers, but most of that went over my head.
The strange relationship that develops between Mori and Alan is interesting to watch, with Mori getting more desperate to meet Alan in person and then having to accept the truth of what Alan is and Alans disregard for being born again.
I really want see more and cant wait for the next story in the series, The interaction between all the characters is great and there are some really funny moments involving Moris work colleagues.
There is no sex and no happy ending we are left wondering what will happen in the next book.
Will Alan still be around Will Mori get through to Alan
So, if you love scifi, paranormal, geeks, techno romance, a seemingly doomed romance, an ending that leaves you wanting more and a slight feeling of bewilderment then this is the book for you.
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