Mel's Book Blog

Revisiting an old friend from my college American Lit class.

Revisiting an old friend from my college American Lit class.

4 1/2 out of 5 stars. Review to follow

Omorphi is a tough act to follow, but Cody Kennedy delivers with Tharros. A well-written, well-crafted story that delves deeper into darker territory and explores the long-term effects the physical, psychological, and sexual abuse has on Christy; so it is naturally a darker story and often leaves the reader with a sense of helplessness and hopelessness for Christy’s recovery and future. The kidnapping and subsequent torture has reversed much of Christy’s progress, reinforcing in him the feeling that the world will never be safe for him and the ever-present sense that he has somehow brought on everything that has happened to him. The kidnapping also brings with it a dark secret that Christy carries with a sense of dread as he knows it will be revealed with the impending trial of Yosef. The secret hangs as a pall over the story, an impending shoe ready to drop and bring Christy’s fragile world tumbling down around him. Also more of Christy’s past experience is brought to light with the introduction of Thimi, a young boy from Greece who suffered at the same hands as Christy.

Tharros takes up in the aftermath and recovery from Yosef’s horrendous attack on Michael, Jake, and Sophia and the subsequent kidnapping and torture of Christy. The four struggle to cope with Christy’s demons and recover from their injuries as they prepare for prom and graduation and are faced with the frightening challenge of Yosef’s trial and all the revelations it brings.

For those who may have thought Michael too perfect in Omorphi, you get to see a darker side of him in Tharros: the barely controlled rage at what Christy has had to endure, the murderous fury he feels for Yosef and the suffering he has caused, and the crippling self-doubt that threatens as Michael grapples with his perceived failures to protect Christy and his struggle to recover from his injuries to compete in the USATF trials.

For those who fell in love with Jacob in Omorphi, Jake is back as the steady and constant presence in Michael’s life, just as steadfast in his support and in his devotion to “keeping it real” for Michael. He serves as a touchstone for Michael when Michael seems to lose his way, often bringing Michael back from the brink with a much-needed reality check. Everyone should have a best friend like Jake.

Also back are the varied and richly developed cast of secondary characters that really brings this story to life and infuses it with what this book is all about… Hope. As much as the author takes us to the depths of despair, he never leaves us there, always bringing us back to a place of hope and we are left with a deep and abiding admiration for Christy's perseverance and determination to not only survive, but thrive.

Omorphi is a tough act to follow, but Cody Kennedy delivers with Tharros. A well-written, well-crafted story that delves deeper into darker territory and explores the long-term effects the physical, psychological, and sexual abuse has on Christy; so it is naturally a darker story and often leaves the reader with a sense of helplessness and hopelessness for Christy’s recovery and future. The kidnapping and subsequent torture has reversed much of Christy’s progress, reinforcing in him the feeling that the world will never be safe for him and the ever-present sense that he has somehow brought on everything that has happened to him. The kidnapping also brings with it a dark secret that Christy carries with a sense of dread as he knows it will be revealed with the impending trial of Yosef. The secret hangs as a pall over the story, an impending shoe ready to drop and bring Christy’s fragile world tumbling down around him. Also more of Christy’s past experience is brought to light with the introduction of Thimi, a young boy from Greece who suffered at the same hands as Christy.

Tharros takes up in the aftermath and recovery from Yosef’s horrendous attack on Michael, Jake, and Sophia and the subsequent kidnapping and torture of Christy. The four struggle to cope with Christy’s demons and recover from their injuries as they prepare for prom and graduation and are faced with the frightening challenge of Yosef’s trial and all the revelations it brings.

For those who may have thought Michael too perfect in Omorphi, you get to see a darker side of him in Tharros: the barely controlled rage at what Christy has had to endure, the murderous fury he feels for Yosef and the suffering he has caused, and the crippling self-doubt that threatens as Michael grapples with his perceived failures to protect Christy and his struggle to recover from his injuries to compete in the USATF trials.

For those who fell in love with Jacob in Omorphi, Jake is back as the steady and constant presence in Michael’s life, just as steadfast in his support and in his devotion to “keeping it real” for Michael. He serves as a touchstone for Michael when Michael seems to lose his way, often bringing Michael back from the brink with a much-needed reality check. Everyone should have a best friend like Jake.

Also back are the varied and richly developed cast of secondary characters that really brings this story to life and infuses it with what this book is all about… Hope. As much as the author takes us to the depths of despair, he never leaves us there, always bringing us back to a place of hope and we are left with a deep and abiding admiration for Christy's perseverance and determination to not only survive, but thrive.

Disclaimers first… due to the adult content of this book, I would recommend it for readers 18 and older. The rape casts a rather disturbing presence over the entire story and the assumptions made by Max’s parents surrounding the rape were very troubling as was the handling of the situation by Max’s doctor. Mind you, these things can and do happen; I just think it is a bit much for young minds to process in a healthy context.

That aside, I thought the author did a very realistic representation of the life of an intersex teen who has obvious anatomical differences from the binary male and female that society at large considers normal— Max’s constant fear of being discovered which kept him from normal teen experiences, his guilt for perceiving himself as an ever-present threat to his family’s standing in the community, the constant need to hide who he truly is, and the frustration toward people who cannot just let him be who he is. The book brings to light the senseless discrimination against people who do not fall at the binary extremes. Although we have known for quite some time that human sexual development falls across a spectrum, people still refuse to believe that this is a natural occurrence… there is no fault, there is no blame, it simply happens, and by virtue of the fact that it happens, makes it natural… in accordance with nature.

I believe that Karen and Steve were the perfect juxtaposition for comparing parental differences in how intersex children should be raised. Karen constantly worrying about Max’s “condition” and the impact it has on his life as well as hers. She carries the guilt of somehow being responsible for Max being intersex and has a rather constant worry that it somehow reflects on her as a person. Steve, on the other hand, taking a wait-and-see approach, wanting to place the major life decisions in Max’s hands… wanting Max to make his own choices as he matures and is prepared to make those decisions.

It also shines a light on the rather ruthless medical profession and their tendency to play God in the lives of intersex children… more often presuming that they know best and placing pressures on parents to “choose” a sex for the child early in life and a tendency to treat these children as objects, an aberration that needs to be fixed, rather than the very real human people that they are… people with thoughts, emotions, opinions, and an independent sense of self.

It was a brilliantly written, poignant story, highlighting the shortcomings of human tolerance and acceptance. A story that needed to be told.

Disclaimers first… due to the adult content of this book, I would recommend it for readers 18 and older. The rape casts a rather disturbing presence over the entire story and the assumptions made by Max’s parents surrounding the rape were very troubling as was the handling of the situation by Max’s doctor. Mind you, these things can and do happen; I just think it is a bit much for young minds to process in a healthy context.

That aside, I thought the author did a very realistic representation of the life of an intersex teen who has obvious anatomical differences from the binary male and female that society at large considers normal— Max’s constant fear of being discovered which kept him from normal teen experiences, his guilt for perceiving himself as an ever-present threat to his family’s standing in the community, the constant need to hide who he truly is, and the frustration toward people who cannot just let him be who he is. The book brings to light the senseless discrimination against people who do not fall at the binary extremes. Although we have known for quite some time that human sexual development falls across a spectrum, people still refuse to believe that this is a natural occurrence… there is no fault, there is no blame, it simply happens, and by virtue of the fact that it happens, makes it natural… in accordance with nature.

I believe that Karen and Steve were the perfect juxtaposition for comparing parental differences in how intersex children should be raised. Karen constantly worrying about Max’s “condition” and the impact it has on his life as well as hers. She carries the guilt of somehow being responsible for Max being intersex and has a rather constant worry that it somehow reflects on her as a person. Steve, on the other hand, taking a wait-and-see approach, wanting to place the major life decisions in Max’s hands… wanting Max to make his own choices as he matures and is prepared to make those decisions.

It also shines a light on the rather ruthless medical profession and their tendency to play God in the lives of intersex children… more often presuming that they know best and placing pressures on parents to “choose” a sex for the child early in life and a tendency to treat these children as objects, an aberration that needs to be fixed, rather than the very real human people that they are… people with thoughts, emotions, opinions, and an independent sense of self.

It was a brilliantly written, poignant story, highlighting the shortcomings of human tolerance and acceptance. A story that needed to be told.

I was so looking forward to Leo and Will's story and I was not disappointed. Leo is so open, honest, and adorable... what you see is what you get. On the other hand, Will is as opposite as one can be. Will is an enigma, a puzzle to be figured out. As so often happens, Leo believes because he always speaks his truth, he believes that others do the same. He doesn't realize that he will have to chip away at Will's walls to find the heart that lies within.

I love the characters this author has created. With her down-to-earth writing style, the story tells itself, imbuing personality and emotion into each character. She truly is a master with first person POV. It's amazing how she not only shows us the intricacies of her POV characters, she fits them with such insight that we get a three dimensional look at all of the other characters and what makes them tick.

I happily recommend this series as one of the best I've read this year.

I enjoyed this second book in the series every bit as much as I loved the first, but for completely different reasons. In this book, we learn Colin's story. Colin is Daniel's homophobic and deeply closeted brother, who has tormented and bullied Daniel since Daniel came out as a teenager. Like so many gay kids, Colin has spent his life filled with self-hatred and loathing and in constant fear of disappointing his father, so he closets himself, yet cannot hide from who he really is and what he wants his life to be.

I think the author did a marvelous job of portraying the internal chaos and turmoil that comes from denying and hiding our true self. The raging internal voice that belittles and torments self, and strikes out at those who have the courage to admit what we do not. The strain that hiding puts on relationships when one is out and the other is not. The author has elevated first person POV to an art form.

Rafe was the perfect counterpoint to Colin, but he is NOT perfect. He has issues of his own, but his insecurities have nothing to do with his sexuality. He was the ideal beacon to draw Colin out.

One of the things I like best about these books is that the characters are not perfect. Even the steady, confident guys have issues of their own and the most damaged and broken one in the relationship always has something to offer that makes the couple the OTP, so, in the end, you believe that they belong together.

I am so pumped that the next story is about Leo and Will. /

I positively adore this book. The author has a wonderfully smooth and evocative writing style that kept me entranced from beginning to end. When you can "hear" the character's voice speaking in your head, you know the author has honed her craft masterfully.

The story is told from the POV of Daniel, a young college professor from Philly embarking on his first teaching position with a small college in middle-of-nowhere Holiday, Michigan. Daniel has tall and thick Fort-Knox walls erected around himself; a defensive mechanism learned from being raised in a single-parent family; all men, absorbed in manly endeavors. Not easy for a young gay man from the wrong side of the tracks. Early on he learned that in order to survive one has to be scrappy with a take-no-shit attitude. Sadly that doesn't bode well in romantic relationships; that is until he runs into the immovable force that is Rex Vale.

Rex Vale is a loner with damage and problems of his own. He's a man who spent his single-parent youth with no roots, moving from town to town as his mom chased dreams of Hollywood stardom. A mother who loved her child, but was so absorbed in her own dreams that she failed to realize that her son is dyslexic and never stayed in one place long enough for the school to even discover it. When she dies, Rex is left alone with only memories and old movies to keep him company and an overwhelming sense that he is not smart enough, especially for a college professor. His love for his mother and mostly stoic endurance of her failed choices makes him extremely caring and tolerant of others, but also leaves him not expecting much from the people he cares for. Always loving, patient, and kind, but always waiting for and expecting them to leave.

So essentially we have two young men who want love, although they refuse to admit that, but are also terrified by the prospect as it always ends in hurt, and both find it hard to believe that anyone would want them in that way.

As if these two wonderful main characters weren't enough to carry the story, the secondary characters are just as fabulous and add such richness to this story. Ginger, Daniel's best friend is the perfect BFF for Daniel. She and Rex have an almost instant mind-meld when they meet, both sharing an uncanny ability to zero their x-ray vision right through Daniel's walls. There's no hope for the poor guy. It takes a little longer for Will, Rex's BF, to grow on you, but he does. And holy jeeze, Leo is the most adorable fictional character I have met in a very long time.

A fantastic book experience from cover to cover... sit back and let this story tell itself to you.

I positively adore this book. The author has a wonderfully smooth and evocative writing style that kept me entranced from beginning to end. When you can "hear" the character's voice speaking in your head, you know the author has honed her craft masterfully.

The story is told from the POV of Daniel, a young college professor from Philly embarking on his first teaching position with a small college in middle-of-nowhere Holiday, Michigan. Daniel has tall and thick Fort-Knox walls erected around himself; a defensive mechanism learned from being raised in a single-parent family; all men, absorbed in manly endeavors. Not easy for a young gay man from the wrong side of the tracks. Early on he learned that in order to survive one has to be scrappy with a take-no-shit attitude. Sadly that doesn't bode well in romantic relationships; that is until he runs into the immovable force that is Rex Vale.

Rex Vale is a loner with damage and problems of his own. He's a man who spent his single-parent youth with no roots, moving from town to town as his mom chased dreams of Hollywood stardom. A mother who loved her child, but was so absorbed in her own dreams that she failed to realize that her son is dyslexic and never stayed in one place long enough for the school to even discover it. When she dies, Rex is left alone with only memories and old movies to keep him company and an overwhelming sense that he is not smart enough, especially for a college professor. His love for his mother and mostly stoic endurance of her failed choices makes him extremely caring and tolerant of others, but also leaves him not expecting much from the people he cares for. Always loving, patient, and kind, but always waiting for and expecting them to leave.

So essentially we have two young men who want love, although they refuse to admit that, but are also terrified by the prospect as it always ends in hurt, and both find it hard to believe that anyone would want them in that way.

As if these two wonderful main characters weren't enough to carry the story, the secondary characters are just as fabulous and add such richness to this story. Ginger, Daniel's best friend is the perfect BFF for Daniel. She and Rex have an almost instant mind-meld when they meet, both sharing an uncanny ability to zero their x-ray vision right through Daniel's walls. There's no hope for the poor guy. It takes a little longer for Will, Rex's BF, to grow on you, but he does. And holy jeeze, Leo is the most adorable fictional character I have met in a very long time.

A fantastic book experience from cover to cover... sit back and let this story tell itself to you.

I can always count on TJ Klune for a good story. I love his style and I love the way his stories twist and turn and keep you guessing. This one had a nice slow build up to the romantic relationship, a big bang and then the rug is jerked out from under the MCs. It's perfect. You don't know how it will end, until it does.

I can always count on TJ Klune for a good story. I love his style and I love the way his stories twist and turn and keep you guessing. This one had a nice slow build up to the romantic relationship, a big bang and then the rug is jerked out from under the MCs. It's perfect. You don't know how it will end, until it does.

Great shifter story and a great start to a series. A wealth of terrific characters. Lots of fodder for future stories.

I cannot imagine I will read anything better this year. This trilogy is one of those where you finish the last word and you want to turn around and dive right back into the first book, just to experience it all over again. What. An. Amazing. Story.

Neil and Andrew are the most absorbing main characters I have encountered since Santino Hassell and Ais's Sin and Boyd from Evenfall. They are terrified, lonely, and broken... yet, stubborn, confounding, infuriating, and fearless. And you can't help but love them and root for them to not just survive, but to find a place of belonging, a home. A place to stop running.

The supporting cast of characters is what made this story gel. Kevin, Dan, Matt, Renee, Allison, Aaron, and Nicky: Each with their own brand of brokenness and all with spines of steel.
And they could not have had a better mentor than Coach Wymack. He was truly an incredible influence, never overbearing, but always stern with a penchant for holding them accountable for their fates. His pep talk before their final game had me spellbound; it wasn't until I got to the end of it that I realized I was holding my breath.

"Fight because you don't know how to die quietly. Win because you don't know how to lose."

Not bad for a guy who says, "I suck at this pep talk thing..."

This story is an action-packed journey into the dark recesses of the Yakuza world. It is brutal, vicious, and violent, yet, at the same time, a story of hope, redemption, overcoming, and finding home. I will definitely read this trilogy again because I'm not ready to let go... not just yet.

I cannot imagine I will read anything better this year. This trilogy is one of those where you finish the last word and you want to turn around and dive right back into the first book, just to experience it all over again. What. An. Amazing. Story.

Neil and Andrew are the most absorbing main characters I have encountered since Santino Hassell and Ais's Sin and Boyd from Evenfall. They are terrified, lonely, and broken... yet, stubborn, confounding, infuriating, and fearless. And you can't help but love them and root for them to not just survive, but to find a place of belonging, a home. A place to stop running.

The supporting cast of characters is what made this story gel. Kevin, Dan, Matt, Renee, Allison, Aaron, and Nicky: Each with their own brand of brokenness and all with spines of steel.
And they could not have had a better mentor than Coach Wymack. He was truly an incredible influence, never overbearing, but always stern with a penchant for holding them accountable for their fates. His pep talk before their final game had me spellbound; it wasn't until I got to the end of it that I realized I was holding my breath.

"Fight because you don't know how to die quietly. Win because you don't know how to lose."

Not bad for a guy who says, "I suck at this pep talk thing..."

This story is an action-packed journey into the dark recesses of the Yakuza world. It is brutal, vicious, and violent, yet, at the same time, a story of hope, redemption, overcoming, and finding home. I will definitely read this trilogy again because I'm not ready to let go... not just yet.