Bane by Amelia C. Gormley

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You say you want a revolution...

Well, this is a more main stream post-apocalyptic story thanStrain was. It dialed back the intensity and "questionable" aspects of Darian and Rhy's relationship. I hate to say it, but the rawness is gone and white picket fences are looming. 

I haven't read Juggernaut and I'm wondering if that might have helped a little bit with some of the characters met in the Clean Zone. And yes, that name is suppose to sound as offensive as it is. 

While the controversial sexual aspects, dub con/ rape, have been eliminated and overall it is toned down, there are some notable exceptions: masochism, public activity, and bloodplay. Flashpoint words have been added to provide the edge and sometimes they are just launched and then not followed up on. 

"And traditionally, when white people decide that they’re afraid of brown people, it doesn’t go well for the brown people.”

Now I don't have a problem with opening issues for discussion, but just lobbing fire grenades like that and then letting them fizzle out is provocative for no reason. 

The plot of this story revolves around Rhys, and his offer to assist efforts to the counteract the Bane strain by undergoing testing. The Jugs have legitimate reasons for not trusting the powers that be and walking in with Rhys has everyone a bit cagey. Then, a surprising coincidence sets them on high alert.

We meet a new couple: Nico and Zach. There relationship is longstanding, but the issues surrounding Bane have kept them separated more than together. Again, the greatest weakness of the story are the villains. Villains more caricature than character as with Littlewood, and McClosky is a burnt husk of a person.

There's a interesting discussion of Rhy's masochism and the extremeness of it demonstrated via bloodplay. I liked this exploration a lot. The characters do more introspection. 

"That maybe one day the Alpha strain would just . . . take hold. Then I’d really be one of you. I wouldn’t just be your ‘pet civvie.’”

Also again, there's the grand decision which is convoluted and the solution simple, which they ignored in the first place to set up grand conflicts, so that didn't work for me. Essentially the characters make some decisions which are illogical, and it's not due to emotion overriding judgment. Either I'm missing something or there are issues with the characters' reactions to the virus and possible infection. The epidemiology is confusing,

In contrast to that there is a bizarre impotence regarding medical treatment, a fatalism espoused as we watch Nico and revisit Rhy's experience with exposure. In some ways telling one not to worry, what will be will be, and expounding that it is out of one's hands--you can't do anything. Disturbing undercurrent. Nonetheless, it was entertaining and a nice wrap up for the Delta Company.

Overall, a testosterone fun-filled dystopia.

Favorite passage: 

“You ever come to me and say you want my marks on you because it’s what you want, I’ll give you anything you ask for. But not if it’s to make a point to anyone else. We ever do that, it’s gonna mean something just between you and me.”

The Neighbor by Bernadette Chapman

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Absurd.

So, it took me a while to warm up to the ridiculousness of Anders and Finch's interactions. Frankly, Finch spent a good third of the book insulting Anders, which annoyed me--I would have punched him--and then was all moony the last bit. Once, I let that go and just rolled with the sniping, tug-o-war relationship it got better, but it never really seemed to come full circle for me. At one point, it seemed like their characters shifted and while I wanted a happy ending for Anders, Finch's meddlesome, interjecting personality wasn't endearing. 

Humor is very personal, so this might work better for others, but it kinda slid past me. 

Dragonborn by Maeghan Friday

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A classic fairytale.

If I had realized that going in, I would have been less perplexed at times. 

Cursed. Two beings sharing one form. Cecily and Ben trade places everyday with one in control of the physical body, but both always cognizant. Heir to the kingdom, the anomaly is abhorrent to their parents who refuse to acknowledge Cecily's existence. 

Ratirzans are scandalized by anything other than heteronormative pair bondings and attempted to destroy a sacred text to ensure them. Unsurprisingly, there is a great deal of discussion via various characters about transgender, gender fluidity, and gender neutral terms. There is also just a general exploration of the spectrum of sexuality including asexual.

For all of Ratirzan's laws against anything but a single man and woman pair bond there seems to be a great deal of shenanigans around the castle and the during the ball that gets overlooked. 

The whole story is written with a bit of innocence, as if for younger readers. Yes, the fairytale theme dragons and magic influences that, but it skews younger in the conflicts, interactions, language, and the characters' maturity levels, as well. Additionally, all affections beyond kissing are behind closed doors.

The POC protagonists were refreshing, and conceptually I really like the fairytale idea, but this felt like it was written for someone in their early teens. At one point, I was doing rock, scissors, paper, lizard, Spock while reading about the various magics. And the polyamorous relationships looked like a Twister board 6 spins in with the characters aligned and tangled at the same time. So, this wasn't a perfect fit for me, but it was a good story for what it was.  

Is it realistic? No. Is it sweet and highly simplistic resolution to severe problems with little real conflict and no repercussions for the characters' actions? Yes. But, it's a fairytale after all, and Happily Ever Afters are de rigueur--after you vanquish the dragon.

Overall, a YA fantasy story highlighting polyamory among diverse representations of people and sexualities.

Winter Wonderland by Heidi Cullinan

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Dreams do come true.

Even if you think it will never happen, even if you've given up all hope, even if you don't think you deserve it.

It can still happen. 
Let's play in the snow.

Paul, diehard romantic, waiting for his Prince Charming. Oddly enough, he's got one hitting him up on Grindr. But, can you really trust a handle? All of his friends in Logan managed to pair bond and Paul is both happy and sad. If only...

When a rash of unexpected gifts/pranks, really could be either has got him riled up and he catches the culprit red-handed--it's little Kyle Parks, really? Well, maybe not so little with all that he's been up to, but still. 

Kyle, sweet and dependable, hiding behind a facade of affectation. Naturally a nurturer and preternaturally young looking he's been fighting a losing battle for anyone in Logan to see him as an adult. A grown man, including Paul Hansen. 

What follows is the dance back and forth as preconceptions are realigned, desires acknowledged, and dragons slain. There's a refreshing flip in relationship expectations for Kyle and Paul, and the heart and want is quite palpable. Throw in sweet little D/s kisses and they melt together.

Overall, a romantic holiday love story.

Favorite quote: 

It was, despite his efforts to skirt this revelation, an unveiling of his heart.

ETA: While characters from other books in the series make appearances, background of those stories is not necessary for this one. It can be read as a standalone.