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Rafts
Kunet, a young human pearl diver from a small coastal fishing village, seeks to prove himself. Yet when the gods of sea and sky clash, it wreaks havoc on those caught between. In the wake of catastrophe, he finds himself adrift with an unexpected companion. Torn from their homes and everything they once knew, two strangers must now work together to survive, even as an unlikely relationship blossoms between them.
Content Warning - Contains scenes of explicit male/male sex and deals with topics such as injury and loss. This book is intended for adults only, and reader discretion is advised.
Content Warning - Contains scenes of explicit male/male sex and deals with topics such as injury and loss. This book is intended for adults only, and reader discretion is advised.
188 pages, Hardcover
First published January 19, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
January 28, 2024
Love Knows no Boundaries
Rafts, was meant to be a cozy story that I could read an hour or so a night. After personally talking to Untunu at Midwest Furfest, I’d been intrigued by the story he’d summarized to me. Who wouldn’t want to read a story about a Gnoll and a human stranded on an island? I read quite slowly due to the fact that I’m constantly taking notes and analyzing story structure. As I paged through chapter by chapter, I was taken aback by the depth of storytelling on display here. What I thought would be a story about two different species working together to survive became a layered narrative about them seeing past societal barriers and finding love they never thought they’d been looking for on the other side.
The story follows Kunet, a young man who’s washed away from his small fishing village in a terrible storm. When he awakens, he finds himself set adrift on a raft with an injured Gnoll, Shima, accompanying him. Though the two are wary of each other, the need for survival takes priority over any prejudices they have for their species. Prejudices that at first distort their viewpoints toward one another due to the hostility their opposing villages share. It’s several days, and an empty water skin later, that the two find refuge on a small island where they must heal their wounds and navigate this unique set of circumstances together.
Kunet is a striking character in that despite his preconceptions about gnolls, he does what he can to nurse Shima back to health. Whatever obstacle is in his way, be it mental or physical, he tries to navigate as best he can with what little resources and personal experience he has. There’s this drive for survival present in him that I was inspired by. This couldn’t be more demonstrated than when he’s the only one well enough to hunt and gather. For a good first few chapters of the story, it’s Kunet that’s doing all he can to make sure they can even survive with the resources this island provides. It’s him that sets Shima’s dislocated leg, finds the right herbs to treat him, and manages to find food and water all the while.
The sheer compassion that he shows towards a gnoll he’s initially fearful of being around shows such a good moral compass he has within him. Despite all the warnings his fellow villagers gave him, he still decided to help where he could to the best of his ability. This is furthered in several other instances in the story that I won’t spoil. Just know that what makes his arc special is his willingness to not only change his world view, but also accept the new and exciting things that come with that. He quickly became one of my more favorite characters in LGBTQ+ fiction because of this.
On the other paw, Shima starts off his story about as scary as Kunet perceives him. He’s reserved and unyielding in large part because of the vulnerability that his injuries have caused. It isn’t long before he realizes that he has no choice but to trust Kunet to take care of him for a while. Once it’s made clear that he can trust the human, however, his demeanor changes drastically.
Almost at once, you can tell this character is one that just enjoys life as it comes in a carefree light, quite unlike Kunet, who is anxious about many of the uncertainties they run into. Most of Shima’s dialogue left me grinning ear to ear at just how much of a goober he can be. Every joke he makes lands in a perfect blend of crude/dry humor. My favorite. And when he’s stressed, he allows himself that feeling of unrest rather than letting it simmer. Most of the time at least (but that’s spoiler territory). He’s the other half of this story that brings levity to the narrative in a way that feels natural and fun.
That’s really what this story is, though. A joining of two halves. Two souls that met by chance in the worst circumstances finding love rather than hate. It’s about acknowledging one’s differences and finding the beauty within them rather than hiding them away. At the end of their tale, the emotional payoff was more than worth the wait. It’s a moving conclusion that will stay with me for a very long time. Everything ends eventually and it’s important to appreciate every precious moment you have with the one you love. I was moved.
Rafts is a story about barriers.
It’s a story about love.
It’s a story about love overcoming those barriers.
It’s a story about letting go when it’s time and the grace in that.
It’s a story worth reading.
Rafts, was meant to be a cozy story that I could read an hour or so a night. After personally talking to Untunu at Midwest Furfest, I’d been intrigued by the story he’d summarized to me. Who wouldn’t want to read a story about a Gnoll and a human stranded on an island? I read quite slowly due to the fact that I’m constantly taking notes and analyzing story structure. As I paged through chapter by chapter, I was taken aback by the depth of storytelling on display here. What I thought would be a story about two different species working together to survive became a layered narrative about them seeing past societal barriers and finding love they never thought they’d been looking for on the other side.
The story follows Kunet, a young man who’s washed away from his small fishing village in a terrible storm. When he awakens, he finds himself set adrift on a raft with an injured Gnoll, Shima, accompanying him. Though the two are wary of each other, the need for survival takes priority over any prejudices they have for their species. Prejudices that at first distort their viewpoints toward one another due to the hostility their opposing villages share. It’s several days, and an empty water skin later, that the two find refuge on a small island where they must heal their wounds and navigate this unique set of circumstances together.
Kunet is a striking character in that despite his preconceptions about gnolls, he does what he can to nurse Shima back to health. Whatever obstacle is in his way, be it mental or physical, he tries to navigate as best he can with what little resources and personal experience he has. There’s this drive for survival present in him that I was inspired by. This couldn’t be more demonstrated than when he’s the only one well enough to hunt and gather. For a good first few chapters of the story, it’s Kunet that’s doing all he can to make sure they can even survive with the resources this island provides. It’s him that sets Shima’s dislocated leg, finds the right herbs to treat him, and manages to find food and water all the while.
The sheer compassion that he shows towards a gnoll he’s initially fearful of being around shows such a good moral compass he has within him. Despite all the warnings his fellow villagers gave him, he still decided to help where he could to the best of his ability. This is furthered in several other instances in the story that I won’t spoil. Just know that what makes his arc special is his willingness to not only change his world view, but also accept the new and exciting things that come with that. He quickly became one of my more favorite characters in LGBTQ+ fiction because of this.
On the other paw, Shima starts off his story about as scary as Kunet perceives him. He’s reserved and unyielding in large part because of the vulnerability that his injuries have caused. It isn’t long before he realizes that he has no choice but to trust Kunet to take care of him for a while. Once it’s made clear that he can trust the human, however, his demeanor changes drastically.
Almost at once, you can tell this character is one that just enjoys life as it comes in a carefree light, quite unlike Kunet, who is anxious about many of the uncertainties they run into. Most of Shima’s dialogue left me grinning ear to ear at just how much of a goober he can be. Every joke he makes lands in a perfect blend of crude/dry humor. My favorite. And when he’s stressed, he allows himself that feeling of unrest rather than letting it simmer. Most of the time at least (but that’s spoiler territory). He’s the other half of this story that brings levity to the narrative in a way that feels natural and fun.
That’s really what this story is, though. A joining of two halves. Two souls that met by chance in the worst circumstances finding love rather than hate. It’s about acknowledging one’s differences and finding the beauty within them rather than hiding them away. At the end of their tale, the emotional payoff was more than worth the wait. It’s a moving conclusion that will stay with me for a very long time. Everything ends eventually and it’s important to appreciate every precious moment you have with the one you love. I was moved.
Rafts is a story about barriers.
It’s a story about love.
It’s a story about love overcoming those barriers.
It’s a story about letting go when it’s time and the grace in that.
It’s a story worth reading.
December 6, 2023
How to explain my love for this book . . .
It wrecked me. It touched my heart and broke it unapologetically. It transcended the strictest definitions of the Romance genre and became romantic in spectacularly agonizing and beautiful ways. It is joyful. It is erotic. It is playful. And it is profoundly unsubtle in its intention.
Kunet and Shima are more than an opposites attract story, and yet they are not of the same species. Shima is a gnoll; Kunet is human. Their desert island is more than a case of forced proximity leading to intimacy. It is their desire to survive and to thrive on their desert island that becomes intimate in the most fundamental of ways. It is their home and their sanctuary. It is their choice, and they choose each other with the fullest of commitment.
Utunu is an eloquent storyteller, his voice soft and reassuring, his writing evocative and provocative. Rafts is a book I consumed as much as read as much as suffered. Every moment and every emotion was so worth it.
It wrecked me. It touched my heart and broke it unapologetically. It transcended the strictest definitions of the Romance genre and became romantic in spectacularly agonizing and beautiful ways. It is joyful. It is erotic. It is playful. And it is profoundly unsubtle in its intention.
Kunet and Shima are more than an opposites attract story, and yet they are not of the same species. Shima is a gnoll; Kunet is human. Their desert island is more than a case of forced proximity leading to intimacy. It is their desire to survive and to thrive on their desert island that becomes intimate in the most fundamental of ways. It is their home and their sanctuary. It is their choice, and they choose each other with the fullest of commitment.
Utunu is an eloquent storyteller, his voice soft and reassuring, his writing evocative and provocative. Rafts is a book I consumed as much as read as much as suffered. Every moment and every emotion was so worth it.
February 23, 2023
I've always appreciated stories that sweep you up, heart and soul, into the author's world. Rafts is very much such a story. You're there right along with Kunet and his companion, laughing at their joys (trust me, it's hard not to smile at those moments), hurting with their trials, and intimately experiencing a thoughtful exploration of their feelings and emotions - and differences - throughout the narrative. Utunu's writing is evocative and engaging, my only complaint perhaps is how easy it is to keep reading until suddenly there's no book left.
I highly recommend this read to anyone who comes across it, hopefully you'll enjoy it as much as I did!
I highly recommend this read to anyone who comes across it, hopefully you'll enjoy it as much as I did!
February 24, 2023
I really enjoyed this novel, which mixed distinctive characters and bittersweet humour in a story about how the difference between total isolation and a loving, full life can be made by a single person.
To say more would spoil, but I can say this narrative took different directions than I expected and was stronger for it.
To say more would spoil, but I can say this narrative took different directions than I expected and was stronger for it.
March 3, 2025
Such a simple premise and story, but one that hits hard in all the right ways. The character development was superb and really set up the emotional core of the story.
Last chapter had me sobbing.
Highly recommended!
Last chapter had me sobbing.
Highly recommended!
April 5, 2023
This book is a love story, the tale of a young man and a gnoll (see the creature on the cover) who're stranded far from any help or their respective cultures, and who have to find common ground to survive and form a life together. I think it's fair to say, without spoilers, that they find a lot of common ground.
For such a simple story, it is astonishingly effective, tender, moving and powerful. It made me cry, a lot, with its mix of sorrow and love and tremendous sweetness. In this subculture I feel that the finest art is that which brings out the profound poignancy of what we might have been, or that which we might never be, of a life lived beyond our own emotional or spiritual limitations, and this book has that quality in spades.
The writing is basic and unadorned, in a way that feels like a competent but unpolished writer who knows their limits and sensibly stays within them. I noticed occasional glitches, but I'm fussier than most, and the flaws are easily eclipsed by the deft narrative and the gorgeous characterisation. The central character of the gnoll, around whom the narrator revolves, is so richly and delightfully portrayed that one has to wonder if the author has not at some point had a sexual relationship with a gnoll himself.
And sure, there's plenty of sex in the story. It's appropriate to the narrative, and doesn't go into great detail — this is not a pornographic book — but if you're one of the rare people in this world who, for inexplicable reasons of your own, don't want to think about how it feels to have an anthropomorphic hyena spaffing across your bare chest, better stick to your Joyce.
A few structural elements of the book were a little tough for me to digest, chiefly the idea that two people could without developing certain peculiarities. But that dramatic licence is strictly necessary to the story and an inherent part of its searingly beautiful conclusion, which provides a frankly stunning emotional climax that I suspect will stay with me for decades to come. It's a book that left me feeling shaken, filled with wistful longing, and grateful to the author.
For such a simple story, it is astonishingly effective, tender, moving and powerful. It made me cry, a lot, with its mix of sorrow and love and tremendous sweetness. In this subculture I feel that the finest art is that which brings out the profound poignancy of what we might have been, or that which we might never be, of a life lived beyond our own emotional or spiritual limitations, and this book has that quality in spades.
The writing is basic and unadorned, in a way that feels like a competent but unpolished writer who knows their limits and sensibly stays within them. I noticed occasional glitches, but I'm fussier than most, and the flaws are easily eclipsed by the deft narrative and the gorgeous characterisation. The central character of the gnoll, around whom the narrator revolves, is so richly and delightfully portrayed that one has to wonder if the author has not at some point had a sexual relationship with a gnoll himself.
And sure, there's plenty of sex in the story. It's appropriate to the narrative, and doesn't go into great detail — this is not a pornographic book — but if you're one of the rare people in this world who, for inexplicable reasons of your own, don't want to think about how it feels to have an anthropomorphic hyena spaffing across your bare chest, better stick to your Joyce.
A few structural elements of the book were a little tough for me to digest, chiefly the idea that two people could without developing certain peculiarities. But that dramatic licence is strictly necessary to the story and an inherent part of its searingly beautiful conclusion, which provides a frankly stunning emotional climax that I suspect will stay with me for decades to come. It's a book that left me feeling shaken, filled with wistful longing, and grateful to the author.
May 31, 2024
A gorgeous, character-driven castaway romance that often feels like the warm embrace of the sun. As of 2024, I think this very well might be my most favorite m/m novel, period.
The plot of Rafts is quite simple: In a Polynesian-inspired fantasy world, two young men become castaways after getting washed out to sea in a hurricane. Not only are they from completely different tribes (that view each other with caution that occasionally turns to hostility) but they are also completely different species -- Shima is a hyena-like gnoll, and Kunet is a human. The two initially find themselves stranded upon the same raft together (get it?), but later they wash up upon a deserted island, where they learn how to survive and how to communicate, causing them to become friends, and then lovers.
The meat of this tale is in its characters, and how they grow and change together throughout what is a spiritual and emotional journey for them both. There is an emphasis on learning to communicate with each other, and using that communication to find friendship, love, and common ground in spite of (and sometimes because of) our differences. Shima is a happy and optimistic prankster with a keen eye for art. Kunet is cautious, practical, and serious. The two compliment each other perfectly, which makes their growth and experiences together all the more real and moving. Kunet's temperament was relatable to me, so I enjoyed having him as a viewpoint character.
Utunu's prose is exceptionally beautiful. It has this lyrical, drifting quality that left me feeling wistful and oddly comforted by the end of the book. Linguistically, it's truly phenomenal how well it compliments the type of story that is being told.
In all, this will forever sit on the favorite shelf. It's gorgeous, moving, and tightly written. Highly looking forward to whatever novel Utunu creates next.
Additionally, it also has copious character illustrations throughout, so if you are a fan of art, you're in for an extra special treat!
The plot of Rafts is quite simple: In a Polynesian-inspired fantasy world, two young men become castaways after getting washed out to sea in a hurricane. Not only are they from completely different tribes (that view each other with caution that occasionally turns to hostility) but they are also completely different species -- Shima is a hyena-like gnoll, and Kunet is a human. The two initially find themselves stranded upon the same raft together (get it?), but later they wash up upon a deserted island, where they learn how to survive and how to communicate, causing them to become friends, and then lovers.
The meat of this tale is in its characters, and how they grow and change together throughout what is a spiritual and emotional journey for them both. There is an emphasis on learning to communicate with each other, and using that communication to find friendship, love, and common ground in spite of (and sometimes because of) our differences. Shima is a happy and optimistic prankster with a keen eye for art. Kunet is cautious, practical, and serious. The two compliment each other perfectly, which makes their growth and experiences together all the more real and moving. Kunet's temperament was relatable to me, so I enjoyed having him as a viewpoint character.
Utunu's prose is exceptionally beautiful. It has this lyrical, drifting quality that left me feeling wistful and oddly comforted by the end of the book. Linguistically, it's truly phenomenal how well it compliments the type of story that is being told.
In all, this will forever sit on the favorite shelf. It's gorgeous, moving, and tightly written. Highly looking forward to whatever novel Utunu creates next.
Additionally, it also has copious character illustrations throughout, so if you are a fan of art, you're in for an extra special treat!
March 15, 2024
Oh my gosh, this book is absolutely wonderful. The “unexpected companion” mentioned in the blurb is Shima, a gnoll (think anthropomorphic hyena). Kunet has always been taught that gnolls are the enemies of humans, and now finds himself the unlikely companion of this large and fearsome creature and neither can even speak the other’s language.
The story is told from Kunet’s point of view, and we follow the two as they find themselves on a remote island with only themselves to rely on. Kunet is a young adult, uncertain and full of doubt about himself and his place in the world. As his relationship with Shima develops, we see him mature and thrive. I absolutely adore Shima. He is a prankster, a thoughtful lover, and a fierce protector of Kunet. I love how Utunu gives us a window into Shima’s culture through its language, how gnolls relate to one another and the world around them.
Kunet and Shima are such a great couple, and I was swept up in their story. It’s sweet, spicy at times, and moved me to tears. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!
The story is told from Kunet’s point of view, and we follow the two as they find themselves on a remote island with only themselves to rely on. Kunet is a young adult, uncertain and full of doubt about himself and his place in the world. As his relationship with Shima develops, we see him mature and thrive. I absolutely adore Shima. He is a prankster, a thoughtful lover, and a fierce protector of Kunet. I love how Utunu gives us a window into Shima’s culture through its language, how gnolls relate to one another and the world around them.
Kunet and Shima are such a great couple, and I was swept up in their story. It’s sweet, spicy at times, and moved me to tears. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!
January 20, 2025
It's not often that I find myself wholly immersed in the world a writer creates, and yet Rafts had me at every step. By the end of the story, I felt as if I truly had been a part of Kunet and Shima's lives for the years that pass through the novel, and the ending left me in a state that most books do not. I want more of their story, and yet I know there's nothing left to say about what can only be described as a story about a perfect love.
September 21, 2023
Oh, my. What a beautiful story. Imagine being shipwrecked on a deserted island with a loinclothed gnoll who doesn't speak your language.
It's romantic. It's heartfelt. It's gay. It's explicit. Hoo boy is it explicit. But I loved every word. And it made me cry a few times. And I'm not the kind of guy that cries much.
This story was a delight to read and I recommend it highly :)
It's romantic. It's heartfelt. It's gay. It's explicit. Hoo boy is it explicit. But I loved every word. And it made me cry a few times. And I'm not the kind of guy that cries much.
This story was a delight to read and I recommend it highly :)
June 12, 2023
Rafts is an enjoyable read that really digs into the barriers of communication and culture that occur when people from different settings are thrust suddenly together. This is a touching and beautiful book that will tug at your heartstrings.
July 2, 2025
I figured this was too good to last.
I never cried to a book before, but Rafts almost got me. There’s an overwhelming amount of things to speculate on regarding the world, its inhabitants, their religion and rituals, and how the people of those cultures would clash, if at all, but the pondering of those elements pale in comparison to the adorable relationship between Kunet and Shima, which is the true heart of this story. It can’t be said enough how fast I bought into the bond they developed, given how different, yet similar they are. The jokingly flamboyant, and nurturing Shima sharing his culture and values with the homesick and cautious, yet soon to be open minded Kunet was lovely to read through as they both help build each other up from catastrophic circumstances. They met as broken people, but healed and strengthened together as one, which shows well with both of them bringing multiple skills of theirs to the table. Coupled with gorgeous illustrations shown occasionally through the chapters, especially the last one 😭, and you’re given a heartfelt tale that’s not without its ups and downs, but still a worthwhile journey.
I never cried to a book before, but Rafts almost got me. There’s an overwhelming amount of things to speculate on regarding the world, its inhabitants, their religion and rituals, and how the people of those cultures would clash, if at all, but the pondering of those elements pale in comparison to the adorable relationship between Kunet and Shima, which is the true heart of this story. It can’t be said enough how fast I bought into the bond they developed, given how different, yet similar they are. The jokingly flamboyant, and nurturing Shima sharing his culture and values with the homesick and cautious, yet soon to be open minded Kunet was lovely to read through as they both help build each other up from catastrophic circumstances. They met as broken people, but healed and strengthened together as one, which shows well with both of them bringing multiple skills of theirs to the table. Coupled with gorgeous illustrations shown occasionally through the chapters, especially the last one 😭, and you’re given a heartfelt tale that’s not without its ups and downs, but still a worthwhile journey.
February 4, 2024
A lot of books, I suspect, are afraid of being sincere. So I really respect one that looks you levelly in the eyes, and gives you a sincere, vulnerable, heartfelt story without hiding behind irony or cynicism.
There's nothing wrong with irony and cynicism, but so many books are afraid to leave them behind.
This one is not afraid. It's sweet, heartfelt, sexy, heartbreaking, and above all sincere. Recommended without qualification.
There's nothing wrong with irony and cynicism, but so many books are afraid to leave them behind.
This one is not afraid. It's sweet, heartfelt, sexy, heartbreaking, and above all sincere. Recommended without qualification.
December 5, 2024
Breath taking
Wasn't sure what to expect when this book was recommended. I was told it was amazing and emotional. It ended up so much more. I was engrossed in the beautiful back ground picturing it at all times. The story grabbing at my soul as I felt I was part of the story. Such a beautiful yet simple story. Thank you Utunu for writing it. Easily one of my favorites.
Wasn't sure what to expect when this book was recommended. I was told it was amazing and emotional. It ended up so much more. I was engrossed in the beautiful back ground picturing it at all times. The story grabbing at my soul as I felt I was part of the story. Such a beautiful yet simple story. Thank you Utunu for writing it. Easily one of my favorites.
April 15, 2025
Decided to read this one immediately after Far Flung even though I wasn't sure how I would feel about human x furry romance. The love between the two characters is quite sweet and sincere, and I found that I enjoyed it more than I thought I might. I was also appreciative of Shima's humor throughout -- even when crude. Enjoyable overall. Good, short read.
December 20, 2025
I don't think I've ever cried so hard in my life.
A simple, short, and beautiful story that I guess spoke to me in a way that few other stories have, Rafts was a story that I selected on a whim looking for some lighter M/M reading, and it completely consumed me from beginning to end. I finished the entire thing in 24 hours and I think this is a book that'll stick with me for a long time.
A simple, short, and beautiful story that I guess spoke to me in a way that few other stories have, Rafts was a story that I selected on a whim looking for some lighter M/M reading, and it completely consumed me from beginning to end. I finished the entire thing in 24 hours and I think this is a book that'll stick with me for a long time.
April 16, 2025
a beautiful gay romance. from beginning to end it turned into a relationship that straight up is a fantasy I wish I could live in. any novel that can get me to cry from the ending earned every star.
April 14, 2023
I don't want to repeat what has been already said here. I agree with nearly all of it!
I enjoyed this book very much. The story is engaging and it is well edited. I, for one, enjoy finding a book where one of the main characters is a Person of Color, and both characters are well fleshed out and presented in a way that does not bring modern-society judgment into the narrative. The story line is very sweet and makes me almost wish that this was the way of the world. The author draws you into the narrative by creating a real affinity for the protagonists.
I read this at one sitting, then re-read it several weeks later, just to be sure that I enjoyed it as much as I thought I had. I did. The book was as enjoyable a read the second time as the first, even though I knew what was to come.
Be aware, this is a same-sex romance, and has some male/male interactions in it, but it focuses much more on the romantic aspects of the tale. The sexuality is not massively graphic, and is part of the growing relationship between the two main characters.
I enjoyed this book very much. The story is engaging and it is well edited. I, for one, enjoy finding a book where one of the main characters is a Person of Color, and both characters are well fleshed out and presented in a way that does not bring modern-society judgment into the narrative. The story line is very sweet and makes me almost wish that this was the way of the world. The author draws you into the narrative by creating a real affinity for the protagonists.
I read this at one sitting, then re-read it several weeks later, just to be sure that I enjoyed it as much as I thought I had. I did. The book was as enjoyable a read the second time as the first, even though I knew what was to come.
Be aware, this is a same-sex romance, and has some male/male interactions in it, but it focuses much more on the romantic aspects of the tale. The sexuality is not massively graphic, and is part of the growing relationship between the two main characters.
December 2, 2025
(Spoilers tagged :D)
I listened to the audiobook alongside the e-book, and I was instantly hooked. I don’t read many survival/mythological books, but this one was so captivating! There was suspense throughout the entire journey, and .
I also saw a lot of myself in Kunet’s thought process, that .
I’m so grateful that I got to glimpse into Kunet and Shima’s lives, and I feel I’ll be re-reading Rafts again and again.
I listened to the audiobook alongside the e-book, and I was instantly hooked. I don’t read many survival/mythological books, but this one was so captivating! There was suspense throughout the entire journey, and .
I also saw a lot of myself in Kunet’s thought process, that .
I’m so grateful that I got to glimpse into Kunet and Shima’s lives, and I feel I’ll be re-reading Rafts again and again.
December 23, 2023
The more I think about Rafts, the more I appreciate it. The novel’s takes some bold and unexpected paths, and I’m eager to talk about them. Here’s my review:
Rafts follows a clam diver named Kunet who, after a dangerous storm, becomes stranded on a beautiful island paradise with a particularly muscular and silly gnoll named Shima. As expected of a romance novel, the two fall in love as they navigate their shared predicament.
That’s a pretty standard setup, but standard setups are often perfect for building more complex ideas upon. Utunu certainly succeeds in that by making some unexpected decisions with where to take this story. This is far more than a quick romance novel. Much more on that later.
The main characters here are very different people, which is part of their charm. Kunet is resourceful, open-minded, inquisitive, and a bit of a worrier. Shima is a carefree goofball with a heart of gold and a skill for brightening moods. These differences complement each other: Shima can motivate and encourage Kunet, and Kunet keeps Shima on task and makes him feel appreciated. Without spoiling much, I think this is best showcased from learning each other’s languages. Shima learns Kunet’s language to help fulfill Kunet’s need for communication and to make him more comfortable. Kunet learns Shima’s language to show how much he cares and to bring them closer together. Using language learning as an intimate and meaningful relationship builder was already great on its own, but doing so in a way that develops the characters and shows why their relationship works was even better. I often complain about romances where I cannot explain by the end of the book why the characters love each other. That is not a problem here.
The story is heavier on narrative than on story or plot, meaning that much of the novel is focused on Kunet’s thoughts and interpretations rather than on momentous events. This is a rather short novel. It doesn’t stretch things out longer than needed, and it doesn’t insert unnecessary conflict. There is very little drama here. When it comes to intensity, the book is practically slice of life. That’s not to say it’s boring, however. The book moves fast. (Perhaps a little too fast, sometimes.) So it keeps you engaged despite the lack of mounting conflict. I myself read it in one sitting and was never bored. I think the relationship itself, and Kunet’s first-person contemplations that really help you get in his head, are interesting enough to keep the reader’s attention.
Now here’s the one criticism I have for the book that I’m pretty sure only editors like me care about: The prose perhaps leaves a bit to be desired at times. I believe that’s mostly because of how fast the book moves at certain points. The writing sometimes felt like it was in a hurry, taking very little time to stop and smell the roses. For example, it takes just six short pages for Kunet to do some clam diving, bring his boat into his village, talk about his family, help prep the village for an incoming storm, describe some religious stuff, get swept out to sea, and find himself on a raft with Shima. Six pages. It gave me some whiplash. I understand moving quickly past the village stuff, since that’s not what the book is really about (more on that in the spoilers section), but it didn’t give me a great first impression. I point this out to make sure that you don’t put the book down in the first chapter if you’re a nerd about writing styles like me. It’s worth sticking around.
Somewhat related to the prose, this book includes some beautiful illustrations that really compliment the story. There were a few pages where the text was wrapped creatively around the images. The playful way this was done could even sometimes compliment the tone of a scene. I think that was great, and it's something I’d love to see more of in furry fiction since art is often such a big part of it.
Thematically, the book has a lot to say about the theme of sanctuary: finding paradise from a complicated outside world. But to learn more about that, you’ll need to read the spoiler section of this review.
To sum it up, if you have yet to read Rafts, be sure to do so. It’s a quick read that will especially hit hard with gay furries. I’d go as far as saying it’s essential furry literature at the moment.
Beware: spoilers ahead.
And here is the part of the review where I step up on my soapbox and describe what really struck me about this book.
As I’ve said above, the novel takes some bold and unexpected paths. For this spoiler section, I want to highlight the unexpected path that gave me a sudden respect for this novel and, in my opinion, transformed it from “good” to “great”.
The beginning of the story may be extremely condensed, which creates a pacing issue, but the author wasn’t wrong in keeping the details here extremely sparse. We’re told Kunet is a clam diver who prides himself in his role. We’re told the name of his mother, his baby brother, and a few acquaintances. In six pages, that’s all over, and he’s stranded on a raft in the middle of the ocean. This left me scratching my head on my first readthrough. Why gloss over so much information that’s doubtlessly vital to understanding this world and our main characters? From what I knew of Utunu’s work, that isn’t something he usually fumbles. So what gives?
I got my answer about 100 pages later.
After thriving on the island together for a few years, Kunet and Shima decide it’s time to leave the island and journey back into the world. It felt very cliché. I found myself predicting exactly how this story was going to go down: They’d leave the island, return to their villages, deal with some sort of conflict that is eventually resolved, and live happily ever after.
So Kunet and Shima build a raft, they bring it to the water, and they…decide not to return.
Yeah, they just…push the raft into the sea and decide to stay on the island together instead. No return to civilization. No conflict with the outside world. No brooding about whether such a thing is morally right or wrong.
Huh…this book just got good.
That’s when I realized why the beginning of the story doesn’t give much detail about Kunet and Shima’s lives before the island: It’s not what the story is about.
I’m a fan of stories that explore the theme of sanctuary—especially as it relates to gay relationships. There’s something crushingly applicable to the real world in such stories. Our society is hostile to gay relationships, so many of us create safe places where we can be ourselves and not have to constantly advocate for our own existence. These spaces range from something as communal as a gay bar to something as personal as an apartment. Rarely, however, do we get to stay in these sanctuaries indefinitely. Most of us must go to our jobs, stay woke to current events, and fight just to love who we love and be who we want to be. So, the theme of sanctuary sparks a lot of potential for moral conflict. If you find a perfect sanctuary, should you still feel an obligation to the outside world? Should you leave your sanctuary to go help or save that world? Even if the world is hostile toward you? Is this selfish indulgence? And if so, is it wrong?
I so rarely find a story with the guts to have its characters reject the outside world entirely and stay in their sanctuary (outside of romance novels that aren’t concerned with thematic depth, of course). There’s usually an overwhelming sense of responsibility that makes the characters go back. Perhaps some obligation, or even the argument that it is morally wrong for them to stay in paradise while the outside world struggles. Kunet and Shima both have families. They have villages that expect things from them. Responsibilities. Jobs to do. And they just…decide not to return.
They feel very little guilt over it, too. Kunet has a few lines mulling it over, and he later sends a message with some gnolls who come across their island, but that’s it. The rest of the book is Kunet and Shima being carefree and happy. They live the rest of their lives barely giving the outside world a second thought. What they have in each other is beautiful, and perhaps it would be wrong for them not to do everything they can to preserve it.
The cherry on top is that the book doesn’t bash you over the head with this. Much of this theming is done in the subtext, which is far more artful than outright stating the message. Whether intentional by the author or not, it resulted in a brilliant depth to the novel that I thoroughly enjoyed exploring.
I hope that gives you some idea of why Rafts gained my respect. It brought a rare, meaningful perspective to a relatable and relevant theme, and I think that more than earns it my recommendation.
Rafts follows a clam diver named Kunet who, after a dangerous storm, becomes stranded on a beautiful island paradise with a particularly muscular and silly gnoll named Shima. As expected of a romance novel, the two fall in love as they navigate their shared predicament.
That’s a pretty standard setup, but standard setups are often perfect for building more complex ideas upon. Utunu certainly succeeds in that by making some unexpected decisions with where to take this story. This is far more than a quick romance novel. Much more on that later.
The main characters here are very different people, which is part of their charm. Kunet is resourceful, open-minded, inquisitive, and a bit of a worrier. Shima is a carefree goofball with a heart of gold and a skill for brightening moods. These differences complement each other: Shima can motivate and encourage Kunet, and Kunet keeps Shima on task and makes him feel appreciated. Without spoiling much, I think this is best showcased from learning each other’s languages. Shima learns Kunet’s language to help fulfill Kunet’s need for communication and to make him more comfortable. Kunet learns Shima’s language to show how much he cares and to bring them closer together. Using language learning as an intimate and meaningful relationship builder was already great on its own, but doing so in a way that develops the characters and shows why their relationship works was even better. I often complain about romances where I cannot explain by the end of the book why the characters love each other. That is not a problem here.
The story is heavier on narrative than on story or plot, meaning that much of the novel is focused on Kunet’s thoughts and interpretations rather than on momentous events. This is a rather short novel. It doesn’t stretch things out longer than needed, and it doesn’t insert unnecessary conflict. There is very little drama here. When it comes to intensity, the book is practically slice of life. That’s not to say it’s boring, however. The book moves fast. (Perhaps a little too fast, sometimes.) So it keeps you engaged despite the lack of mounting conflict. I myself read it in one sitting and was never bored. I think the relationship itself, and Kunet’s first-person contemplations that really help you get in his head, are interesting enough to keep the reader’s attention.
Now here’s the one criticism I have for the book that I’m pretty sure only editors like me care about: The prose perhaps leaves a bit to be desired at times. I believe that’s mostly because of how fast the book moves at certain points. The writing sometimes felt like it was in a hurry, taking very little time to stop and smell the roses. For example, it takes just six short pages for Kunet to do some clam diving, bring his boat into his village, talk about his family, help prep the village for an incoming storm, describe some religious stuff, get swept out to sea, and find himself on a raft with Shima. Six pages. It gave me some whiplash. I understand moving quickly past the village stuff, since that’s not what the book is really about (more on that in the spoilers section), but it didn’t give me a great first impression. I point this out to make sure that you don’t put the book down in the first chapter if you’re a nerd about writing styles like me. It’s worth sticking around.
Somewhat related to the prose, this book includes some beautiful illustrations that really compliment the story. There were a few pages where the text was wrapped creatively around the images. The playful way this was done could even sometimes compliment the tone of a scene. I think that was great, and it's something I’d love to see more of in furry fiction since art is often such a big part of it.
Thematically, the book has a lot to say about the theme of sanctuary: finding paradise from a complicated outside world. But to learn more about that, you’ll need to read the spoiler section of this review.
To sum it up, if you have yet to read Rafts, be sure to do so. It’s a quick read that will especially hit hard with gay furries. I’d go as far as saying it’s essential furry literature at the moment.
Beware: spoilers ahead.
And here is the part of the review where I step up on my soapbox and describe what really struck me about this book.
As I’ve said above, the novel takes some bold and unexpected paths. For this spoiler section, I want to highlight the unexpected path that gave me a sudden respect for this novel and, in my opinion, transformed it from “good” to “great”.
The beginning of the story may be extremely condensed, which creates a pacing issue, but the author wasn’t wrong in keeping the details here extremely sparse. We’re told Kunet is a clam diver who prides himself in his role. We’re told the name of his mother, his baby brother, and a few acquaintances. In six pages, that’s all over, and he’s stranded on a raft in the middle of the ocean. This left me scratching my head on my first readthrough. Why gloss over so much information that’s doubtlessly vital to understanding this world and our main characters? From what I knew of Utunu’s work, that isn’t something he usually fumbles. So what gives?
I got my answer about 100 pages later.
After thriving on the island together for a few years, Kunet and Shima decide it’s time to leave the island and journey back into the world. It felt very cliché. I found myself predicting exactly how this story was going to go down: They’d leave the island, return to their villages, deal with some sort of conflict that is eventually resolved, and live happily ever after.
So Kunet and Shima build a raft, they bring it to the water, and they…decide not to return.
Yeah, they just…push the raft into the sea and decide to stay on the island together instead. No return to civilization. No conflict with the outside world. No brooding about whether such a thing is morally right or wrong.
Huh…this book just got good.
That’s when I realized why the beginning of the story doesn’t give much detail about Kunet and Shima’s lives before the island: It’s not what the story is about.
I’m a fan of stories that explore the theme of sanctuary—especially as it relates to gay relationships. There’s something crushingly applicable to the real world in such stories. Our society is hostile to gay relationships, so many of us create safe places where we can be ourselves and not have to constantly advocate for our own existence. These spaces range from something as communal as a gay bar to something as personal as an apartment. Rarely, however, do we get to stay in these sanctuaries indefinitely. Most of us must go to our jobs, stay woke to current events, and fight just to love who we love and be who we want to be. So, the theme of sanctuary sparks a lot of potential for moral conflict. If you find a perfect sanctuary, should you still feel an obligation to the outside world? Should you leave your sanctuary to go help or save that world? Even if the world is hostile toward you? Is this selfish indulgence? And if so, is it wrong?
I so rarely find a story with the guts to have its characters reject the outside world entirely and stay in their sanctuary (outside of romance novels that aren’t concerned with thematic depth, of course). There’s usually an overwhelming sense of responsibility that makes the characters go back. Perhaps some obligation, or even the argument that it is morally wrong for them to stay in paradise while the outside world struggles. Kunet and Shima both have families. They have villages that expect things from them. Responsibilities. Jobs to do. And they just…decide not to return.
They feel very little guilt over it, too. Kunet has a few lines mulling it over, and he later sends a message with some gnolls who come across their island, but that’s it. The rest of the book is Kunet and Shima being carefree and happy. They live the rest of their lives barely giving the outside world a second thought. What they have in each other is beautiful, and perhaps it would be wrong for them not to do everything they can to preserve it.
The cherry on top is that the book doesn’t bash you over the head with this. Much of this theming is done in the subtext, which is far more artful than outright stating the message. Whether intentional by the author or not, it resulted in a brilliant depth to the novel that I thoroughly enjoyed exploring.
I hope that gives you some idea of why Rafts gained my respect. It brought a rare, meaningful perspective to a relatable and relevant theme, and I think that more than earns it my recommendation.
October 27, 2024
By my personal opinion Rafts is one of the top romantic novels featuring antropomorphic characters, and while it caters towards anthropomorphism, some find that a bonus, but even a normal [non-fandom] person would find the story appealing. It focuses on romance with its ups and downs, what is usually an entangled topic, yet here it is quite easy to follow it up and enjoy the adventure. The events are taking place into a fantasy tribal world that can quickly drag you in.
Main plot focuses over the two main characters, Kunet and his encounter with a gnoll named Shima, but if you are reading my review, you've probably already red the description of the novel, so without repeating author's words and the book's details i will just say, their journey takes you with them and while you are going thru the chapters it will make you appreciate the little things in life just as well as the big things in life.
It portrays not only the palette of life with it's difficulties and beautiful moments but also what its like to be around something and someone completely alien to you, exploring all the nuances of their lives. Can be quite teaseful on places! ;3
The book made me laugh, cry, fluster and turning my brain round and about, but ultimately made me wanting to learn and explore more.
The perfect romantic/erotic story is the one where you can feel you've earned all of it! Rafts presents all that quite well.
Red the book 3 time and still flipping the pages from time to time.
If you are a fan of tribal stories, survivalist stories, all that combined and filled with struggle and passion then i'm recommending you the book.
The art featured in the book is great, Utunu's writting/story telling can be quite soothing and comforting.
Main plot focuses over the two main characters, Kunet and his encounter with a gnoll named Shima, but if you are reading my review, you've probably already red the description of the novel, so without repeating author's words and the book's details i will just say, their journey takes you with them and while you are going thru the chapters it will make you appreciate the little things in life just as well as the big things in life.
It portrays not only the palette of life with it's difficulties and beautiful moments but also what its like to be around something and someone completely alien to you, exploring all the nuances of their lives. Can be quite teaseful on places! ;3
The book made me laugh, cry, fluster and turning my brain round and about, but ultimately made me wanting to learn and explore more.
The perfect romantic/erotic story is the one where you can feel you've earned all of it! Rafts presents all that quite well.
Red the book 3 time and still flipping the pages from time to time.
If you are a fan of tribal stories, survivalist stories, all that combined and filled with struggle and passion then i'm recommending you the book.
The art featured in the book is great, Utunu's writting/story telling can be quite soothing and comforting.
November 12, 2023
Utunu’s debut novella, I purchased this before release out of an effort to review more fandom projects. I’d read some of Utunu’s work before and was interested to see what he had to offer.
SETTING
Set in a coastal area in a world containing both humans and gnolls (aka hyenas), the story follows two characters who are sent adrift after a powerful storm. Forced to rely on each other, they slowly begin to form a friendship between them.
CHARACTERS
The two main characters are Kunet, a dark skinned pearl diver from his local village, and Shima, a gnoll or anthro hyena he encounters after his village is damaged by a sudden storm. The two are thrown together by circumstance without supplies, aid, or even a language in common. Together they must find a way to survive if they are to make it somewhere safe.
PREMISE
Kunet is a young pearl diver, displaced by a sudden violent storm. Tossed into the sea in his efforts to salvage their boats, he awakens on a raft with a single gnoll. Injured and not speaking his language, Kunet is initially distrustful of the being. They must learn to work together if they are to have any chance of finding safe harbor.
REVIEW
There are two words I rarely apply to most of the things I review, and those words are flawless and exceptional. This particular story is deserving of both. A lot of stories are done really well but I want to highlight how above and beyond this particular tale is. I consider myself a fairly discerning reader, and I don’t suffer what I consider to be issues lightly, especially when they are things that detract from the quality of the piece. But with this I found myself to be utterly stunned with how perfect everything was, telling a mostly self contained narrative which at its core is little more than two people on a deserted island.
Now this is not to say that I purposely seek problems or downgrade stories but I believe that telling stories is a skill, and only a few people can write stories of such nuance as to be worthy of my unconditional recommendation. In addition to meeting my standards for quality to be granted the exceptional designation it must also do two things. It must make me feel something, inside, and it must surprise me. Do those two things, and you have my respect and admiration.
The story itself is a character study, between Kunet and Shima. Stranded after a storm damages their villages, the pair find themselves on a raft and in turn an island with no help in sight. Distrustful of each other, the two slowly learn to communicate and help each other as they work to leave the island. I must admit I was very impressed by how well this was handled. Bit by bit Shima learns Kunet’s language, and not only do we gradually see this as part of the tools to bond them but there are a lot of aspects of unspoken communication that I think came into play especially when words aren’t an option.
I thought that the personalities were very endearing, that they worked well together, and I also have to point out what I call the sitcom limitations, because the bulk of this story is just two people on an island. And when you think about a sitcom they usually have no more than a few people and a handful of sets. With the exception of episodes where they travel you are limited in what you can use. And it is a mark of creativity that they can do this and keep it so fresh, and such is the case here. With only a few chapters featuring other characters, it is so expertly done that you don’t even notice the absence of other characters, and those that are here are used to great effect, with their appearances advancing the narrative so well.
The pacing was fantastic, with beats coming at the right moments and even though I could see some things coming I felt they were perfect for what the story called for, which is a masterful use of the narrative techniques.
And even though perhaps others might have seen it coming, the ending stunned me. I won’t go into detail so as not to spoil it for anyone reading but let me say that the ending to this was spectacular. I told the author it was hard for me to finish the last two chapters just because it tugged on my heartstrings so much. It made me feel something deeply and I really came to love these characters so much that I wished I could read it all over again for the first time.
To know that this was Utunu’s first published work is almost an effort in disbelief because it is truly a remarkable story, and one I think every person should have on their reading list. There are people who have been writing for decades and they have never managed to do so well. If my opinion carries any weight with you, read this. You’ll be glad you did.
SETTING
Set in a coastal area in a world containing both humans and gnolls (aka hyenas), the story follows two characters who are sent adrift after a powerful storm. Forced to rely on each other, they slowly begin to form a friendship between them.
CHARACTERS
The two main characters are Kunet, a dark skinned pearl diver from his local village, and Shima, a gnoll or anthro hyena he encounters after his village is damaged by a sudden storm. The two are thrown together by circumstance without supplies, aid, or even a language in common. Together they must find a way to survive if they are to make it somewhere safe.
PREMISE
Kunet is a young pearl diver, displaced by a sudden violent storm. Tossed into the sea in his efforts to salvage their boats, he awakens on a raft with a single gnoll. Injured and not speaking his language, Kunet is initially distrustful of the being. They must learn to work together if they are to have any chance of finding safe harbor.
REVIEW
There are two words I rarely apply to most of the things I review, and those words are flawless and exceptional. This particular story is deserving of both. A lot of stories are done really well but I want to highlight how above and beyond this particular tale is. I consider myself a fairly discerning reader, and I don’t suffer what I consider to be issues lightly, especially when they are things that detract from the quality of the piece. But with this I found myself to be utterly stunned with how perfect everything was, telling a mostly self contained narrative which at its core is little more than two people on a deserted island.
Now this is not to say that I purposely seek problems or downgrade stories but I believe that telling stories is a skill, and only a few people can write stories of such nuance as to be worthy of my unconditional recommendation. In addition to meeting my standards for quality to be granted the exceptional designation it must also do two things. It must make me feel something, inside, and it must surprise me. Do those two things, and you have my respect and admiration.
The story itself is a character study, between Kunet and Shima. Stranded after a storm damages their villages, the pair find themselves on a raft and in turn an island with no help in sight. Distrustful of each other, the two slowly learn to communicate and help each other as they work to leave the island. I must admit I was very impressed by how well this was handled. Bit by bit Shima learns Kunet’s language, and not only do we gradually see this as part of the tools to bond them but there are a lot of aspects of unspoken communication that I think came into play especially when words aren’t an option.
I thought that the personalities were very endearing, that they worked well together, and I also have to point out what I call the sitcom limitations, because the bulk of this story is just two people on an island. And when you think about a sitcom they usually have no more than a few people and a handful of sets. With the exception of episodes where they travel you are limited in what you can use. And it is a mark of creativity that they can do this and keep it so fresh, and such is the case here. With only a few chapters featuring other characters, it is so expertly done that you don’t even notice the absence of other characters, and those that are here are used to great effect, with their appearances advancing the narrative so well.
The pacing was fantastic, with beats coming at the right moments and even though I could see some things coming I felt they were perfect for what the story called for, which is a masterful use of the narrative techniques.
And even though perhaps others might have seen it coming, the ending stunned me. I won’t go into detail so as not to spoil it for anyone reading but let me say that the ending to this was spectacular. I told the author it was hard for me to finish the last two chapters just because it tugged on my heartstrings so much. It made me feel something deeply and I really came to love these characters so much that I wished I could read it all over again for the first time.
To know that this was Utunu’s first published work is almost an effort in disbelief because it is truly a remarkable story, and one I think every person should have on their reading list. There are people who have been writing for decades and they have never managed to do so well. If my opinion carries any weight with you, read this. You’ll be glad you did.
July 13, 2024
Rafts was exactly the story I needed right now. I’ve never been the type to cry from a story, but I was in tears at the end. A simple story of two people of different species and culture coming together and finding happiness in each other. Many stories hammer their protagonists with misfortune after misfortune to build tension and drive them down so they may eventually rise above where they started. This story isn’t like that. There is of course growth and tension and conflict in places, but it is quickly resolved and the characters are just happy, and you feel that with them. When modern life is already so hectic and stressful it’s nice to read about two people living a simple life with each other and finding joy in that. It reminds me that life is only complicated because we as a species have made it that way. When you boil it down, life is actually pretty simple. We eat, we sleep, we love, and eventually it ends.
The plot can be summarized pretty simply. A human named Kunet and a gnoll named Shima are stuck together on a deserted island after a terrible storm. They are reluctant and fearful of each other at first, but as they get to know one another their feelings grow and they become lovers. The rest of the story is really just a delightful exploration of their love for each other. The two males do get intimate, and the erotic scenes are well described, but it doesn’t overstay its welcome and isn’t really the focal point of the book, just another lens to look at their growing love and relationship.
From a technical aspect the author’s prose was simple and effective. I was never taken out of the story by confusing words or sentence structure or even typos, which I always seem to find a few of especially with new authors. In a way, the simplicity of the prose serves the story well. The only time I was taken out of the story was during a dream sequence in a later chapter. The words said he dreamt, but the rhythm of the story stayed the same and didn’t have the type of pacing I usually associate with a dream-like state. Once I reached the part where Kunet wakes up, I had to return to the beginning of the dream to actually understand what had just happened. Everything said, it is a minor criticism and really the only one I had throughout the entirety of the book.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys M/M romance. The simplicity of the character’s lives on the island is a welcome reprieve from the chaos of our day-to-day, and the love they feel for one another reaches the reader wonderfully.
The plot can be summarized pretty simply. A human named Kunet and a gnoll named Shima are stuck together on a deserted island after a terrible storm. They are reluctant and fearful of each other at first, but as they get to know one another their feelings grow and they become lovers. The rest of the story is really just a delightful exploration of their love for each other. The two males do get intimate, and the erotic scenes are well described, but it doesn’t overstay its welcome and isn’t really the focal point of the book, just another lens to look at their growing love and relationship.
From a technical aspect the author’s prose was simple and effective. I was never taken out of the story by confusing words or sentence structure or even typos, which I always seem to find a few of especially with new authors. In a way, the simplicity of the prose serves the story well. The only time I was taken out of the story was during a dream sequence in a later chapter. The words said he dreamt, but the rhythm of the story stayed the same and didn’t have the type of pacing I usually associate with a dream-like state. Once I reached the part where Kunet wakes up, I had to return to the beginning of the dream to actually understand what had just happened. Everything said, it is a minor criticism and really the only one I had throughout the entirety of the book.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys M/M romance. The simplicity of the character’s lives on the island is a welcome reprieve from the chaos of our day-to-day, and the love they feel for one another reaches the reader wonderfully.
March 9, 2025
“It had been harder to write anything as time passed. What was I to write? In the beginning, well, there were many things unresolved. But now? We knew who we were, Shima and I, and we knew our home was here.”
This is a sweet little story about finding unlikely companionship and love in the wake of disaster. Despite the premise, this is by no means a tense book about survival—but don’t take that as a negative! Drawing a reader in through action sequences and high-stakes conflicts is easy; it’s far harder to do so through small interpersonal dynamics, and author Utunu accomplishes this feat through vivid characterization. Which is doubly impressive, because for the most part, there are only two characters!
This is an idyllic book that invites you to become as enamored with its island setting and gnoll husbando as its POV character. There are conflicts and incidents, but these are mostly episodic, and serve to strengthen the characters’ relationship rather than test it. It makes for an easy read if not an exciting one—but like I said, a story doesn’t need to be exciting to be compelling.
Actually, my only complaint is that after the initial challenges of the island have been overcome, and the relationship is established, there isn’t much more to the plot afterwards, and until the end it can rather feel like the story is spinning its wheels as it reiterates on the same beats. The sense of discovery and exploration that fueled the first half feels lacking in the latter end. In the afterword, the author says that he had written exclusively short-stories until this book, and I think that shows in the structure.
But that’s not saying the story overstays its welcome! What kept me invested through it all was the strong characterization of its leads, and their tender feeling for one another. By the end I truly felt like I knew each of them, and was reluctant to see them go. In years to come, I think I will find myself coming back to this book a lot. It’s very easy to pick up and just let yourself fall into this world. Definitely recommend!
This is a sweet little story about finding unlikely companionship and love in the wake of disaster. Despite the premise, this is by no means a tense book about survival—but don’t take that as a negative! Drawing a reader in through action sequences and high-stakes conflicts is easy; it’s far harder to do so through small interpersonal dynamics, and author Utunu accomplishes this feat through vivid characterization. Which is doubly impressive, because for the most part, there are only two characters!
This is an idyllic book that invites you to become as enamored with its island setting and gnoll husbando as its POV character. There are conflicts and incidents, but these are mostly episodic, and serve to strengthen the characters’ relationship rather than test it. It makes for an easy read if not an exciting one—but like I said, a story doesn’t need to be exciting to be compelling.
Actually, my only complaint is that after the initial challenges of the island have been overcome, and the relationship is established, there isn’t much more to the plot afterwards, and until the end it can rather feel like the story is spinning its wheels as it reiterates on the same beats. The sense of discovery and exploration that fueled the first half feels lacking in the latter end. In the afterword, the author says that he had written exclusively short-stories until this book, and I think that shows in the structure.
But that’s not saying the story overstays its welcome! What kept me invested through it all was the strong characterization of its leads, and their tender feeling for one another. By the end I truly felt like I knew each of them, and was reluctant to see them go. In years to come, I think I will find myself coming back to this book a lot. It’s very easy to pick up and just let yourself fall into this world. Definitely recommend!
March 26, 2023
A lovely book about the relationship between Shima (gnoll) and Kunet (human) from differing tribes that learn to live and thrive on a remote island after a massive storm comes through and leaves them both stranded from their respective villages. The way their relationship changes over the course of the book is one of my high points of praise as I felt like it evolved naturally from hesitant cooperation to lifelong lovers. The communication gap between them because of their language barrier is something I've only seen a few times before in furry fiction and Utunu handled it well. The way they teach each other their respective languages is very cute and does a good job at helping to characterize them early in the book. I knew this book was going to stick with me for a while when I got close to finishing it and then had to power through to see the ending.
I always love when there are additional images in a book and Rafts does not disappoint with the moments that were given an illustration. I keep going back to the one of Shima singing and remembering how beautiful it was within the story. Maricela Ugarte did a wonderful job bringing the characters and world to life.
Small thing I wanted to mention at the end that Utunu's short story "Lids" was one of the big contributing factors to ordering this book when I found out about it. How he handled the gnolls in that story made me interested to see what a full book from him would look like and I was thoroughly impressed. The idea that all you could want in life is a place you can make a home with your lover is a powerful and resonant one. If you are in the mood for a great gay love story or just want to spend some quality time on an idyllic island, you should definitely give Rafts a try.
I always love when there are additional images in a book and Rafts does not disappoint with the moments that were given an illustration. I keep going back to the one of Shima singing and remembering how beautiful it was within the story. Maricela Ugarte did a wonderful job bringing the characters and world to life.
Small thing I wanted to mention at the end that Utunu's short story "Lids" was one of the big contributing factors to ordering this book when I found out about it. How he handled the gnolls in that story made me interested to see what a full book from him would look like and I was thoroughly impressed. The idea that all you could want in life is a place you can make a home with your lover is a powerful and resonant one. If you are in the mood for a great gay love story or just want to spend some quality time on an idyllic island, you should definitely give Rafts a try.
February 7, 2025
2.5, rounded up. A good piece of escapism if that's what you're looking for. I found the pacing odd. It improves if you think of it as a series of vignettes rather than a single story. This wasn't a story that required a ton of worldbuilding, but there were a few things alluded to that stuck in my mind enough to make me wish they were either explained better or not there at all. (The strained relationship between humans and gnolls is the main one - it's mentioned several times, but there's little context given as to why things are so strained, which gets me wondering about that relationship instead of the one between Kunet and Shima.) Shima was a really likable character. Kunet seemed to have less to him, perhaps by virtue of being the POV character and therefore serving as the audience's lens into the world. Overall their relationship was pretty cute.
January 13, 2025
First, I’m kind of poor at distilling the narrative; go read Duncan Husky’s review if you want a good non-spoiler view of it. His review is awesome, and thus I would insert it here.
Enter Kunet, a human, and Shima, the gnoll depicted on the front cover. From widely separated cultures, they find themselves together in danger, together. From there they build a life together, a strong bond that transcends their differences, a sweet loving relationship in an idyllic paradise. Not all is perfect however, but their love carries them through it all.
The true measure of a work of art is that it changes me. Makes me think. Leads me to consider my relationship to those I love. Sends echoes of emotion into the future. For a book, one that makes me want to reread and visit it often.
My goodness, do I wish I had met Shima as Kunet has. I will hold both of them, and especially Kunet, in my heart for a long time.
Enter Kunet, a human, and Shima, the gnoll depicted on the front cover. From widely separated cultures, they find themselves together in danger, together. From there they build a life together, a strong bond that transcends their differences, a sweet loving relationship in an idyllic paradise. Not all is perfect however, but their love carries them through it all.
The true measure of a work of art is that it changes me. Makes me think. Leads me to consider my relationship to those I love. Sends echoes of emotion into the future. For a book, one that makes me want to reread and visit it often.
My goodness, do I wish I had met Shima as Kunet has. I will hold both of them, and especially Kunet, in my heart for a long time.
December 14, 2023
I picked up this book at Midwest Furfest not at all knowing what to expect - I love supporting Furry artists and want to continue to support and encourage authors and books in general. I started reading this book on Saturday and finished it in three days. It has been countless years since I have been so hungry to finish a book, and I have to say, I could not put it down.
This story shows compassion, love, companionship, and simplicity in life, as well as hardships and how we as living beings should continue to support one another, despite our backgrounds of race, gender, or faith. It was so wholesome and emotional and a great reminder to appreciate the simple things we take advantage of, and I cannot recommend this book enough. Thank you so much for sharing your work with me and the rest of the world.
This story shows compassion, love, companionship, and simplicity in life, as well as hardships and how we as living beings should continue to support one another, despite our backgrounds of race, gender, or faith. It was so wholesome and emotional and a great reminder to appreciate the simple things we take advantage of, and I cannot recommend this book enough. Thank you so much for sharing your work with me and the rest of the world.
December 19, 2024
I really enjoyed this novel.
Rafts is a love story that focuses on two people from different backgrounds who end up being stranded together on an island away from their respective tribes. It deals with isolation, communication, and cultural issues in a charming and often humorous way, with the sex scenes in particular emphasising the growing bond between the two characters.
While the plot is relatively simple, it did take a few unexpected twists. Both the narrative and the characters drive the novel as we follow the growth of Shima and Kunet's relationship as they create their own paradise. The descriptive writing of the island really adds to this. The ending in particular left me reeling and will stick with me for a very long time.
I cannot recommend Rafts highly enough. It is a beautiful and touching story that has a real tenderness at its heart.
Rafts is a love story that focuses on two people from different backgrounds who end up being stranded together on an island away from their respective tribes. It deals with isolation, communication, and cultural issues in a charming and often humorous way, with the sex scenes in particular emphasising the growing bond between the two characters.
While the plot is relatively simple, it did take a few unexpected twists. Both the narrative and the characters drive the novel as we follow the growth of Shima and Kunet's relationship as they create their own paradise. The descriptive writing of the island really adds to this. The ending in particular left me reeling and will stick with me for a very long time.
I cannot recommend Rafts highly enough. It is a beautiful and touching story that has a real tenderness at its heart.
April 7, 2023
This is such a wonderful story. The main characters are endearing in a way that makes it hard to put the book down, and the writing is so full of emotion. I loved the characters as they learned to love each other, teared up at their loss, and laughed far too loudly more than once at the nearly deadpan humor they shared. It's a novel that leaves you wanting more even though you know it ended at just the right time. I'm delighted to have read it, and it's something that I will enjoy re-reading again in the future. If you've got some hours to spare, give this one a try. You won't be disappointed.
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