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Lost
When he falls for a Mer-Kind man, Felik must decide if he's willing to sacrifice his own hard earned safety to save his lover's life.
After a lifetime of hardship on the streets, Felik is offered the coveted position of fisherman, one of the respected elite that hunt the great Mer-Kind. Mer-Kind are powerful beasts of the sea with scaled tails and human-like torsos, and the city thrives on the exports of the many goods made from their skins, hair, and flesh.
His first day on the job, Felik catches and meets Mercdon, a kind and honorable Mer-Kind general. Mercdon shocks Felik by showing him that he can be more compassionate and humane than any human Felik has ever known, himself included. He falls deeply for the Mer-Kind man, but when faced with the choice of saving Mercdon's life--but losing the security Felik has sought after for so many years--or releasing him back to the sea, Felik is torn.
After a lifetime of hardship on the streets, Felik is offered the coveted position of fisherman, one of the respected elite that hunt the great Mer-Kind. Mer-Kind are powerful beasts of the sea with scaled tails and human-like torsos, and the city thrives on the exports of the many goods made from their skins, hair, and flesh.
His first day on the job, Felik catches and meets Mercdon, a kind and honorable Mer-Kind general. Mercdon shocks Felik by showing him that he can be more compassionate and humane than any human Felik has ever known, himself included. He falls deeply for the Mer-Kind man, but when faced with the choice of saving Mercdon's life--but losing the security Felik has sought after for so many years--or releasing him back to the sea, Felik is torn.
112 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 20, 2011
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92 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 17, 2012
As I sit down to write my review of Lost, I feel my temper rising. I almost bought this book months ago (I am a sucker for mermaid and mermen, and this cover captivated me), but stopped because of the many horrible reviews. Finally, my curiosity won out, I had to find out what was inside. Plus, I’ve read so many dull, non-imaginative books lately, I thought one more couldn’t hurt.
Let me say this, vent my feelings… Just because you don’t like the way a story ends, or you feel sad when you read it, or a ‘romance’ doesn’t follow the stereotypical pattern laid out in every other book you’ve ever read, DOES NOT mean it isn’t a good book or that the writing was poor. In fact, I could mean just the opposite. In addition, especially reviews I’ve read of M/M novels, when a gay book doesn’t revolve completely around the sappy in-love emotions (which I get, ask my boyfriend—I’m kind of a pathetic romantic fool), it doesn’t negate its importance in gay literature. It’s one of the reasons I’ve been so frustrated reading gay novels, I feel like I’m constantly reading the same three books over and over and over again with different covers. Not this one! And, one more thing, when you don’t agree or fall in love with the main character, or think he is weak on moral fiber or makes choices you find repugnant (as this one does), that doesn’t mean the author failed—they came up with a protagonist who will take you places the run-of-the-mill good guy won’t take you. Enjoy it!
There you go, sorry about that. Actually, no I’m not. I’m sick of seeing talented writers bashed because they didn’t stick to the cookie cutter collection.
That said, Lost is very different from anything I normally read. I typically don’t like short stories or novellas. I like novels that are long, and dredge up every detail, to the point I feel like the characters are members of my family. Lost doesn’t give you that. Nor do you delve into the depths of romance and feel every angsty pang. That wasn’t the point of Lost, if you’re searching for that, be brave and stretch yourself. Lost is quick, at times rushed, but not in a negative way at all. It gives you enough detail to form clear pictures in your head, but leaves much for you to fill in or wonder or contemplate in a pretty wonderful way. It was extremely creative and original, taking my mermaid/merman obsessed brain places it never would have gone. It was raw, beautiful and ugly at the same time. It is plot driven and focused on moral dilemma.
Lost has stuck with me, replaying parts over and over in my head. I’m sure I will return to re-read several times. That’s good writing!
Let me say this, vent my feelings… Just because you don’t like the way a story ends, or you feel sad when you read it, or a ‘romance’ doesn’t follow the stereotypical pattern laid out in every other book you’ve ever read, DOES NOT mean it isn’t a good book or that the writing was poor. In fact, I could mean just the opposite. In addition, especially reviews I’ve read of M/M novels, when a gay book doesn’t revolve completely around the sappy in-love emotions (which I get, ask my boyfriend—I’m kind of a pathetic romantic fool), it doesn’t negate its importance in gay literature. It’s one of the reasons I’ve been so frustrated reading gay novels, I feel like I’m constantly reading the same three books over and over and over again with different covers. Not this one! And, one more thing, when you don’t agree or fall in love with the main character, or think he is weak on moral fiber or makes choices you find repugnant (as this one does), that doesn’t mean the author failed—they came up with a protagonist who will take you places the run-of-the-mill good guy won’t take you. Enjoy it!
There you go, sorry about that. Actually, no I’m not. I’m sick of seeing talented writers bashed because they didn’t stick to the cookie cutter collection.
That said, Lost is very different from anything I normally read. I typically don’t like short stories or novellas. I like novels that are long, and dredge up every detail, to the point I feel like the characters are members of my family. Lost doesn’t give you that. Nor do you delve into the depths of romance and feel every angsty pang. That wasn’t the point of Lost, if you’re searching for that, be brave and stretch yourself. Lost is quick, at times rushed, but not in a negative way at all. It gives you enough detail to form clear pictures in your head, but leaves much for you to fill in or wonder or contemplate in a pretty wonderful way. It was extremely creative and original, taking my mermaid/merman obsessed brain places it never would have gone. It was raw, beautiful and ugly at the same time. It is plot driven and focused on moral dilemma.
Lost has stuck with me, replaying parts over and over in my head. I’m sure I will return to re-read several times. That’s good writing!
March 8, 2014
This was a good read, to be so short, but I did find the whole premise a bit disturbing.
After the description of the unthinkable fate that befell the mer-kind after being captured, Felik seeing it first hand, I was really shocked to see that he could just sit back and be a bystander to something that truly evil. No matter what the cost -- *if* he did truly love Mercdon as he said.
As I kept reading the last quarter of the book, I waited and waited for there to have been some twist of fate for things to turn out okay, but alas...
And I did guess where the story was going to go when said fateful event never transpired. Although my jaw was dropping when Felik went back to the tanks and things got heated so quickly. Again. I don't even know what to call that. It just left me feeling a bit "fin-cestuous". (Yes, that's a word now.) ;- )
There was a bit of room for improvement plot-wise and HEA-wise (for MC #2), but I enjoyed the story.
★★★½ stars, rounding up.
After the description of the unthinkable fate that befell the mer-kind after being captured, Felik seeing it first hand, I was really shocked to see that he could just sit back and be a bystander to something that truly evil. No matter what the cost -- *if* he did truly love Mercdon as he said.
As I kept reading the last quarter of the book, I waited and waited for there to have been some twist of fate for things to turn out okay, but alas...
And I did guess where the story was going to go when said fateful event never transpired. Although my jaw was dropping when Felik went back to the tanks and things got heated so quickly. Again. I don't even know what to call that. It just left me feeling a bit "fin-cestuous". (Yes, that's a word now.) ;- )
There was a bit of room for improvement plot-wise and HEA-wise (for MC #2), but I enjoyed the story.
★★★½ stars, rounding up.
February 28, 2012
Not well executed at all. no real love story. No depth to either the world or the characters. the main character was compleatly unsympathetic, his supposed redemption at the end was anything but. I don't know what this book was supposed to be about, i'm not being fecitious i truly have no clue what the author intended. The author didn't make me understand the characters motivations, the implications of living in this place or why i was supposed to want to keep reading this story at all.
if this author is still writing in five years i might try again. That in a nutshell illustrates how different publishing is these days.
if this author is still writing in five years i might try again. That in a nutshell illustrates how different publishing is these days.
August 5, 2012
This book clearly deserves a high score. I saw how low the ratings were and had to comment despite never having done it before- so please understand if i mess up!
I cant believe how good this book is- it broke me heart. There have been comments of how people have not liked the main charactor, but lets face it, he did what every one would have in that situation. Im sick and tired of fantastic heros and heroins who seem to be everywhere these days, they are strong, couragous, daring and selfless and frankly dont exist in real life. But this main charactor was different, you could really feel for him because any of us would have had the same thoughts in his position. I think the author deserves some credit as he created a story not just about the charactors but about humanity itself.
The world the book was set it was great, even though we didnt see much of it as it was only a short story. You really empithise with the Mer-Kin. For those of you that dont like mm, I'd still tell you to give it a go as it's not, not really... it's more about morals, ethics and courage.
All in all read it! It's a great book that really makes you think about mankind, as well as feeling for the main pair... But be warned it is not a cheery book, it deals with the darker aspects of humans, and will tear your heart. It's worth it though, it's beautiful and tragic and one of a kind.
I cant believe how good this book is- it broke me heart. There have been comments of how people have not liked the main charactor, but lets face it, he did what every one would have in that situation. Im sick and tired of fantastic heros and heroins who seem to be everywhere these days, they are strong, couragous, daring and selfless and frankly dont exist in real life. But this main charactor was different, you could really feel for him because any of us would have had the same thoughts in his position. I think the author deserves some credit as he created a story not just about the charactors but about humanity itself.
The world the book was set it was great, even though we didnt see much of it as it was only a short story. You really empithise with the Mer-Kin. For those of you that dont like mm, I'd still tell you to give it a go as it's not, not really... it's more about morals, ethics and courage.
All in all read it! It's a great book that really makes you think about mankind, as well as feeling for the main pair... But be warned it is not a cheery book, it deals with the darker aspects of humans, and will tear your heart. It's worth it though, it's beautiful and tragic and one of a kind.
December 12, 2011
Can't believe this has a low rating. This is good stuff, if you can get past all the sadness since it's definitely not a light, happy story.
The whole story doesn't drag, it's a short, almost hastily paced, but nothing feels lacking, save for how the reader would have liked a little more breathing room to take in the "ambiance of romance" or something.
The characters are believable. Felik IS a believable character and his reasons to act how he does is justified by his past, you may not be sympathetic to him after his choice to not save Mercdon, but he had his reasons, believable reasons, such as not wanting to give up the luxuries of the life of a fisherman. Mercdon had me a little confused though, since his "falling in love" with Felik left my eyebrows lifting a little, since it was nearly immediate and I wished there could be a little more character development on him, but it he was sweet either way and tugged on my heartstrings in the right places.
Overall, this is a short story of the cruelty of humans and a plight of an honorable race, hunted down mercilessly for greed where despite all those things, a love struggles to bloom. A good read despite its length. I'm certainly awaiting more from the author.
The whole story doesn't drag, it's a short, almost hastily paced, but nothing feels lacking, save for how the reader would have liked a little more breathing room to take in the "ambiance of romance" or something.
The characters are believable. Felik IS a believable character and his reasons to act how he does is justified by his past, you may not be sympathetic to him after his choice to not save Mercdon, but he had his reasons, believable reasons, such as not wanting to give up the luxuries of the life of a fisherman. Mercdon had me a little confused though, since his "falling in love" with Felik left my eyebrows lifting a little, since it was nearly immediate and I wished there could be a little more character development on him, but it he was sweet either way and tugged on my heartstrings in the right places.
Overall, this is a short story of the cruelty of humans and a plight of an honorable race, hunted down mercilessly for greed where despite all those things, a love struggles to bloom. A good read despite its length. I'm certainly awaiting more from the author.
July 1, 2016
The author created this marvelous world with people having real problems and where it's not always easy to find solutions. Like real world. And then in the end none of it mattered. Like if everything could be resolved so easily why not with the father. Also how father was forgotten for the son did not sit easy with me. Made me think father was a real old man, and sort of took a lot away from the beauty of the love between those two MCs. I did not mind sad or dark. It left a strong impression. Not necessarily a good one.
September 19, 2011
I read Lost by Genie Hyatt last night and couldn't fall asleep afterwards. That one is probably one of the saddest books I've ever read and now I'm seriously considering becoming a vegetarian. The writing style and the world building was fantastic but what a miserable ending that book had! "Bittersweet" would be too harmless a word to describe it.
August 28, 2011
Author of the book had good idea but end result is low. To the end reader has lot of questions which are not answered and main character is an idiot.
October 31, 2013
This was SO far from what I imagined this story would be. I innocently thought, “oh hey, this will be a cute taboo romance between a human and a merman!” …and while it was, it also really really wasn’t. Just take that idea and …light it on fire right now. Still present – just kindling for the burning inferno of feels.
I even started writing a review going on about how the story really delves into morals. The issues presented in this dark world were strangely convincing; I bought that people would be cruel to merfolk because people are not only cruel to other humans, but to other animals as well. The main character's struggle to keep a job or risk going to war sold his motives – not enough to justify them, but enough to hold the chain of events. I had a bit written about how I had no idea how they would wrap this all and prepared myself for a sad ending. I did not prepare in the right ways.
But I can’t write a review anymore....No one point out how I kind of already did, okay? Too busy eating a bucket of ice-cream.
Short stories should not be able to seize my heart and rip it out in such few words. It’s totally uncalled for.
I even started writing a review going on about how the story really delves into morals. The issues presented in this dark world were strangely convincing; I bought that people would be cruel to merfolk because people are not only cruel to other humans, but to other animals as well. The main character's struggle to keep a job or risk going to war sold his motives – not enough to justify them, but enough to hold the chain of events. I had a bit written about how I had no idea how they would wrap this all and prepared myself for a sad ending. I did not prepare in the right ways.
But I can’t write a review anymore.
Short stories should not be able to seize my heart and rip it out in such few words. It’s totally uncalled for.
Read
March 26, 2016la verdad, cuando encontré este libro lo leí por leerlo y lo admito me dio tan duro como hybrid child y ni me arrepiento
bueno tenemos a un maldito humano que es un pescador, el chico en su primera pesca atrapa a un mer-kind macho (una especie de sirena) antes de que el mer-kind sea vendido a las personas que los matan y convierten su carne y demás partes de su cuerpo en objetos de uso diario, el humano y el mer-kind se hablan, se enamoran y el mer-kind pide que lo libere.
lo demás es historia
bueno tenemos a un maldito humano que es un pescador, el chico en su primera pesca atrapa a un mer-kind macho (una especie de sirena) antes de que el mer-kind sea vendido a las personas que los matan y convierten su carne y demás partes de su cuerpo en objetos de uso diario, el humano y el mer-kind se hablan, se enamoran y el mer-kind pide que lo libere.
lo demás es historia
July 20, 2016
Good story on learning about the value of love the hard way. Felik lives his life as many do, glad for his new job and its benefits, wanting to finally fit in, not wanting to look too closely at what he does, until one day he sees a brutal truth. He is forced to weigh love's costs. The reader may such a self-examination difficult. Not for those in the mood for light escapism.
May 7, 2014
Dark just so dark for me. I like how the author was brutal in details of how the mermen was treated, just to be clear not the brutality itself but the way the author wrote it harshly. As for the story, depressing and sad even the protagonist was not impressive and his absolution? at the end was what irks me the most he really doesn't deserve those love.
December 7, 2011
Такие вещи надо варнингами увешивать с ног до головы. Я прорыдала полночи.
История изумительная, но она нифига не традиционный любовный романчик и по культурным сквикам очень хорошо проходится.
Поставила пять звездочек, но перечитывать буду только под угрозой немедленного расстрела.
История изумительная, но она нифига не традиционный любовный романчик и по культурным сквикам очень хорошо проходится.
Поставила пять звездочек, но перечитывать буду только под угрозой немедленного расстрела.
December 9, 2011
the hero was no hero, very unlikable, selfish and a coward. I could not sympathize or like him at all. Also the story is unfinished and leaves too many questions, but theres a glimmer of an interesting story that pushed it into a 3 rating.
August 26, 2011
I thought this was different but I really liked it, even if I cried(alot) I only wish the ending would have continued to a more final ending than what it did. The tears were worth the end though.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews