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The Pindone Files AU #2
Hidden Faults
In a world where paranormals are persecuted, medical researcher Jodimai hon Belwin works to find a 'cure' for paranormality so 'paras' can lead normal lives again. His society is dominated by religious bigotry as much as paranoia over paranomal abilities, so he struggles to keep his homosexuality secret for the sake of his family and his career. But unbeknownst to him, he has another secret, and when that secret is suddenly uncovered, his comfortable life comes to a horrifying end. Now his fate rests with the much-hated paranormals, and in particular, a mysterious dark-eyed man with powers Jodi can barely comprehend, and many shocking secrets of his own. Part of the 'Periter' universe, and a sequel to 'Walk a Lonesome Road', but stands alone. No previous knowledge assumed or needed.
265 pages, ebook
First published July 4, 2011
5 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Ann Somerville
52 books280 followersAnn Somerville grew up in one of Australia’s prettiest small cities. In 1989, she left Australia with a BA and a burning ambition to see more of the world and its people, and to discover this ‘culture’ thing people kept telling her about. In 2006, she returned home to Southeast Queensland with two more degrees (this time in science and IT), an English husband and a staggering case of homesickness, vowing never to leave Australia again.
Her long, plot-driven fiction featuring gay and bisexual characters has been published by Samhain Publishing and elsewhere.
Her long, plot-driven fiction featuring gay and bisexual characters has been published by Samhain Publishing and elsewhere.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 20, 2012
I love the way Ann Somerville tells her stories and I also really enjoyed reading this. But I'm retracting a star because of the jump in time near the end. I was so into the story and wanted to know what happened next faster than I could read, so I got really disappointed when that sudden "jump" in time came. I feel like Somerville cut corners by doing that and it almost dropped the story on the floor for me. I would really have loved to have read the changes "upclose" instead of getting it told as a short chronicle. But but but that is my only complaint - I loved this and I recommend others to read it.
February 22, 2012
Something is really wrong with that plot. I did not like the story.
Main character is Jodi and he comes together with Kir. Jodi's life turns upside down to many time to be normal at the end. And while we get happy ending there relationship is like walking on ice and fire. First one is complicating then another one is complicating. There relationship is written to strange and the whole book is so .......
I just feel something is wrong with the plot. If someone figures it out please do let me know.
Main character is Jodi and he comes together with Kir. Jodi's life turns upside down to many time to be normal at the end. And while we get happy ending there relationship is like walking on ice and fire. First one is complicating then another one is complicating. There relationship is written to strange and the whole book is so .......
I just feel something is wrong with the plot. If someone figures it out please do let me know.
February 22, 2017
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a whole book in one sitting. Even if I wanted to, who has the time to do that these days?! Well, with this book I had no choice: I kept reading, and it was 4:34 am by the time I finished. …oops? But I’m sure I won’t be the only one compelled to keep reading and reading this story, and then feel bereft when it’s over.
Hidden Faults is set within Somerville’s vast (truly vast) “Periter” series, which spans centuries and jumps from one continent to another from book to book (and sometimes within books). I love visiting this world, but I don’t think readers will need to have read the others to become immersed in this story. Savvy readers will get right on board with the standard dystopian-like, repressive-manipulative government that the characters are fighting against here. If you have read other stories in this ‘verse, though, then this story will be a welcome addition, and a logical progression in its timeline.
In Hidden Faults we have a world where “paranormals”, the staple group of characters for stories in this ‘verse, are greatly repressed and controlled, as are, incidentally, “deevs”, including homosexuals- which is a timely and all-too-believable reminder that a government inclined to persecute one group within society is very likely to go after many more. As such, Hidden Faults is one of the few Somerville stories to explore homophobia in any real detail. I can’t say I enjoyed that element of the story, as I’ve been spoiled rotten by the unquestioned openness and support in her other stories. But truly did enjoy this book and Somerville’s enviable writing and world-building skills.
This is not a light-hearted read. As with many of Somerville’s main characters, things go from bad to worse for Jodi, and things gets very dark before there’s any sign of light. Among the usual Somerville-staples of rape and abuse, and the twisted complexities of survival and healing, is a discussion of consent and choice. Particularly, on the very meaning and value of “choice” when all of your choices are just as morbid and evil as each other. And indeed, what choices are given to victims of abuse once they are “rescued”? What autonomy do they have, what freedom do they have to shape their own narrative, their own futures?
Yes, it’s a dark story; yet none of the violence or manipulation that Jodi suffers- whether physical, emotional, or physiological- is treated lightly. After reading only a few of Somerville’s works I had complete faith in the reverence she holds for her characters and their journeys. Her respect, admiration, and empathy for survivors is clear in all of her works.
As a final note, this is also a very clever book. Somerville has gone against her usual habit here and restricted the POV to a single character- and what’s more, Jodi is a very compromised narrator. His whole life- his personality, his attitudes and beliefs, even his physical memories and emotions- are being manipulated by those around him. It’s a difficult way to tell a story; difficult to convey to the reader what is real and what is not, and to describe events as Jodi experiences them and still give the reader the information they need to understand the story- indeed, to understand more than Jodi himself does. I look forward to reading this book again to study how Somerville pulls it off. This is clever storytelling, and something I very much aspire to myself.
Hidden Faults is set within Somerville’s vast (truly vast) “Periter” series, which spans centuries and jumps from one continent to another from book to book (and sometimes within books). I love visiting this world, but I don’t think readers will need to have read the others to become immersed in this story. Savvy readers will get right on board with the standard dystopian-like, repressive-manipulative government that the characters are fighting against here. If you have read other stories in this ‘verse, though, then this story will be a welcome addition, and a logical progression in its timeline.
In Hidden Faults we have a world where “paranormals”, the staple group of characters for stories in this ‘verse, are greatly repressed and controlled, as are, incidentally, “deevs”, including homosexuals- which is a timely and all-too-believable reminder that a government inclined to persecute one group within society is very likely to go after many more. As such, Hidden Faults is one of the few Somerville stories to explore homophobia in any real detail. I can’t say I enjoyed that element of the story, as I’ve been spoiled rotten by the unquestioned openness and support in her other stories. But truly did enjoy this book and Somerville’s enviable writing and world-building skills.
This is not a light-hearted read. As with many of Somerville’s main characters, things go from bad to worse for Jodi, and things gets very dark before there’s any sign of light. Among the usual Somerville-staples of rape and abuse, and the twisted complexities of survival and healing, is a discussion of consent and choice. Particularly, on the very meaning and value of “choice” when all of your choices are just as morbid and evil as each other. And indeed, what choices are given to victims of abuse once they are “rescued”? What autonomy do they have, what freedom do they have to shape their own narrative, their own futures?
Yes, it’s a dark story; yet none of the violence or manipulation that Jodi suffers- whether physical, emotional, or physiological- is treated lightly. After reading only a few of Somerville’s works I had complete faith in the reverence she holds for her characters and their journeys. Her respect, admiration, and empathy for survivors is clear in all of her works.
As a final note, this is also a very clever book. Somerville has gone against her usual habit here and restricted the POV to a single character- and what’s more, Jodi is a very compromised narrator. His whole life- his personality, his attitudes and beliefs, even his physical memories and emotions- are being manipulated by those around him. It’s a difficult way to tell a story; difficult to convey to the reader what is real and what is not, and to describe events as Jodi experiences them and still give the reader the information they need to understand the story- indeed, to understand more than Jodi himself does. I look forward to reading this book again to study how Somerville pulls it off. This is clever storytelling, and something I very much aspire to myself.
October 20, 2018
While I like Somerville's books, this book just didn't do it for me.
The pacing, the characters.
At first I couldn't realy get into it, but did after a while and then, it just fell apart for me.
The pacing, the characters.
At first I couldn't realy get into it, but did after a while and then, it just fell apart for me.
July 7, 2011
I bought this book yesterday and devoured it today. I really loved it, but this is one of the most grim and upsetting stories that this author wrote so far. Having grown up in quite restrictive society, stories set up in similar society tend to upset me quite a lot, even though the story has an unequivocally happy ending both on large scale and on relationship scale. This novel again has people with paranormal abilities and how the "normal" society interacts with them and in this one paranormals are treated the most unjustly out of all novels by Ann Sommerville that I have read. I loved how main character grew and learned after being dealt so many blows, but this is the theme I always love in this writer's works, how human spirit can triumph no matter what. Her stories also often ask uncomfortable questions and in some ways this one topped the bar for me. How far those who are being victimized by society are willing to go and should be willing to go to take back what should be rightfully theirs and whether you have a right to judge somebody else who is willing to do the dirty work you were not willing to do in order for you to have happier future? And I really enjoyed the love story and not the least because it makes me believe in the trope I usually cannot stand.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2013
I have loved all of the books by Ms. Somerville set on Perriter, a world like ours except that some people have a gene that causes a combination of paranormal powers and infertility. This one is the second of two set in a country and time where the paranormals are feared - forced to register, be tattooed, drugged so that their powers cannot manifest and often jailed. The MC in this one is a doctor trying to find a medicine to make the paranormal powers go away when his own suddenly end up manifesting. He is jailed (without trial) as a terrorist, and things go downhill from there. Although there are scenes of non-con and lots of angst in this story, I devoured it! I especially liked
December 19, 2014
I like this story as I do other Ann Somerville books. Personally, though, Jodi's a little bitch for most of the book and made finishing a struggle. For a doctor and a scientist he's just unbelievably dense.
July 21, 2013
My review of Hidden Faults can be found on my web site.
October 14, 2013
Very good up until the last two chapters, which wind everything up in a sort of Readers Digest summary of 18 months of plot.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews