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Gray Zone #1
To Adam With Love
A Gray Zone Novel
Adam’s mother brought him as a child to the Gray Zone, the no man’s land between the crumbling city and the Dens were the Kin—the Dragons—and Lesser-Breds—their mixed-blood offspring—live. He was different, not completely Human, and she knew fear and prejudice would drive people to do horrible things… like a father trying to kill his son. Five years later, Adam’s father is behind bars and Adam has come home to the Zone, the last place anyone would expect innocence, loyalty, and devotion, to complete his becoming Lesser-Bred and find his best friend and only love, Ean.
But Ean has a life of his own. He’s always wanted to belong to Batu, the Male Kin who has watched over him since childhood, but now Ean’s caught in a deadly trap of biology and vengeance: he isn’t enough to feed his beloved Adam during the dangerous transformation, and Kin won’t allow an emotional bond in their midst. Years ago Ean lost Adam after failing to keep him safe. Now that Adam is back, will a simple feeling give Ean the strength to defy everything he’s ever known and keep them together?(less)
Adam’s mother brought him as a child to the Gray Zone, the no man’s land between the crumbling city and the Dens were the Kin—the Dragons—and Lesser-Breds—their mixed-blood offspring—live. He was different, not completely Human, and she knew fear and prejudice would drive people to do horrible things… like a father trying to kill his son. Five years later, Adam’s father is behind bars and Adam has come home to the Zone, the last place anyone would expect innocence, loyalty, and devotion, to complete his becoming Lesser-Bred and find his best friend and only love, Ean.
But Ean has a life of his own. He’s always wanted to belong to Batu, the Male Kin who has watched over him since childhood, but now Ean’s caught in a deadly trap of biology and vengeance: he isn’t enough to feed his beloved Adam during the dangerous transformation, and Kin won’t allow an emotional bond in their midst. Years ago Ean lost Adam after failing to keep him safe. Now that Adam is back, will a simple feeling give Ean the strength to defy everything he’s ever known and keep them together?(less)
230 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 28, 2011
13 people are currently reading
510 people want to read
About the author
Adrienne Wilder
50 books1,796 followersGeorgia born and bred, I am an artist, a writer, and a general pain in the ass.
I spend most of my days working on my next book or bettering my art.
Writing is my identity and I love every minute of it. It's work, lots of work (sometimes I work 12+ hours a day and I never get a vacation) but I don't regret doing it.
I currently share my house with a myriad of dogs, a few cats, a saltwater aquarium filled with coral and fish, as well as my partner who's great at giving hugs when the day's been rough.
And of course, my editor and PA, who helps me keep life reasonably organized. At least so I won't walk out the door without wearing pants.
I spend most of my days working on my next book or bettering my art.
Writing is my identity and I love every minute of it. It's work, lots of work (sometimes I work 12+ hours a day and I never get a vacation) but I don't regret doing it.
I currently share my house with a myriad of dogs, a few cats, a saltwater aquarium filled with coral and fish, as well as my partner who's great at giving hugs when the day's been rough.
And of course, my editor and PA, who helps me keep life reasonably organized. At least so I won't walk out the door without wearing pants.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
December 20, 2011
When Adam was a child, his father attacked and almost killed him. His mother moved him to the Gray Zone in Atlanta to keep him safe from any further attacks. See, the Gray Zone is the area right outside the Den, the home of the Dragon Queen of the city, and is a buffer between the Kin and humankind. Dragons, or wyrms, are a different species of being, but genetically close enough to humans to allow interbreeding. And Adam is a Lesser Bred, one of the line of offspring between a human and a Kin, one of the pure blooded Dragons. To Adam's racial purist father, that is enough reason to kill him.
Ean has been raised by one of the Kin, Batu, a Dominant Male, to belong, as a part of his household. When he and Adam meet in the Gray Zone, they become friends. Ean wants to take care of Adam, for him to belong. He will always take care of Adam and keep him safe. But Ean, for all of his wanting, is human.
But Adam's father catches up to his wife and son, and Adam disappears, leaving the city and Ean. He returns to his home in the Gray Zone five years later, having testified and put his father behind bars, to begin his transformation from human to Lesser Bred. And to find Ean again. Because he loves him and wants so badly to belong to him. But will Adam be truly safe, and can he reconnect with Ean, or has Ean moved on? And will Ean become capable of loving Adam?
This story - this wildly imaginative, creative, intense and strangely touching tale - blew me away. The quality and depth of the characters, the detailed world building, the raw emotions and the sure handed story telling were just...amazing.
Adam and Ean are two wonderfully rich and textured characters, polar opposites and yet both drawn to each other improbably. Adam, raised to be human, even with his certain Lesser Bred future, and Ean, fully human but brought up with the strange, unhuman moral code of the Kin. And yet these two come together and teach the other - Adam to accept and embrace his future, and Ean to love and know his human roots. And they form something between them so different and sweet and powerful.
Adrienne Wilder has brought the oh-so-familiar city (I am a native of Atlanta) to life, but layered it with this weird and wonderful, totally alien side that is so plausible, and so strange and alien, I am just in awe. There is a danger to this world, and yet people find a way to make their lives, going about their tasks and living and loving and it just all works. Ms. Wilder includes a glossary of terms in the beginning to assist new readers to this world with common threads from her stories (this is one of a series of tales about this world), which is helpful. But I found myself so engrossed in the story, I didn't need it to take in the wonder and terror and wildness that is the Gray Zone.
And I have to comment on the ending - just killed me. "Batu put one of his massive hands against his perfect chest: "Because it hurt in here when you went away"." Holy Hell, Ms. Wilder, just perfection.
Read this and be prepared to be amazed.
Tom
Ean has been raised by one of the Kin, Batu, a Dominant Male, to belong, as a part of his household. When he and Adam meet in the Gray Zone, they become friends. Ean wants to take care of Adam, for him to belong. He will always take care of Adam and keep him safe. But Ean, for all of his wanting, is human.
But Adam's father catches up to his wife and son, and Adam disappears, leaving the city and Ean. He returns to his home in the Gray Zone five years later, having testified and put his father behind bars, to begin his transformation from human to Lesser Bred. And to find Ean again. Because he loves him and wants so badly to belong to him. But will Adam be truly safe, and can he reconnect with Ean, or has Ean moved on? And will Ean become capable of loving Adam?
This story - this wildly imaginative, creative, intense and strangely touching tale - blew me away. The quality and depth of the characters, the detailed world building, the raw emotions and the sure handed story telling were just...amazing.
Adam and Ean are two wonderfully rich and textured characters, polar opposites and yet both drawn to each other improbably. Adam, raised to be human, even with his certain Lesser Bred future, and Ean, fully human but brought up with the strange, unhuman moral code of the Kin. And yet these two come together and teach the other - Adam to accept and embrace his future, and Ean to love and know his human roots. And they form something between them so different and sweet and powerful.
Adrienne Wilder has brought the oh-so-familiar city (I am a native of Atlanta) to life, but layered it with this weird and wonderful, totally alien side that is so plausible, and so strange and alien, I am just in awe. There is a danger to this world, and yet people find a way to make their lives, going about their tasks and living and loving and it just all works. Ms. Wilder includes a glossary of terms in the beginning to assist new readers to this world with common threads from her stories (this is one of a series of tales about this world), which is helpful. But I found myself so engrossed in the story, I didn't need it to take in the wonder and terror and wildness that is the Gray Zone.
And I have to comment on the ending - just killed me. "Batu put one of his massive hands against his perfect chest: "Because it hurt in here when you went away"." Holy Hell, Ms. Wilder, just perfection.
Read this and be prepared to be amazed.
Tom
July 24, 2015
To Adam With Love is a good read. Really good. I enjoyed the author's writing style, and I thought the story was original, interesting and engaging. And the characters! Oh, how I cheered for Adam and Ean to navigate their different lives/worlds so they could be more than best friends! I also liked the strong secondary players, from Adam's family, to rival love interest Brian (god, poor Brian!), to Ean's "people," including Batu.
For all those reasons, this was pretty nearly a five star read for me. This book had so, so, SO much potential, but two things absolutely ruined it: italics and the ending.
The author used italics to stress certain words, which I guess was supposed to help me understand the significance of what one character meant to another...words like keep and belong and become (among others).
Okay, I guess? If you have to do something like that as a writer, I suppose doing it once sets precedence. Thing was, it happened over and over (and over) throughout the book. So what it ended up doing was taking me out of the story. Italics make you read words differently. They should be used sparingly to make your point. I'm not a dummy--I'll get the connection if you only do it once, first reference. -.5 stars
Then there's the ending that wasn't an ending.
For real, y'all. If this book hadn't been offered for free on Amazon, I'd have requested a refund. The ending doesn't tell you anything. I have no clue what happened to the MCs. None. Not even a hint. It's like the entire book didn't download or something. It's sad and crazy, and so inconsistent with how the rest of the story was written. And worse, the other books in the series have nothing to do with these characters, so I'm not sure I'll ever know their fate. I hope the author reevaluates this at some point and tries to correct it; I know I'm not the first reader/reviewer to call it out. -1.5 stars
Is this something you should read? Maybe. If you're okay with abundant italics and a story with a nope ending, I think you'll enjoy. If not, you might want to pass.
For all those reasons, this was pretty nearly a five star read for me. This book had so, so, SO much potential, but two things absolutely ruined it: italics and the ending.
The author used italics to stress certain words, which I guess was supposed to help me understand the significance of what one character meant to another...words like keep and belong and become (among others).
Okay, I guess? If you have to do something like that as a writer, I suppose doing it once sets precedence. Thing was, it happened over and over (and over) throughout the book. So what it ended up doing was taking me out of the story. Italics make you read words differently. They should be used sparingly to make your point. I'm not a dummy--I'll get the connection if you only do it once, first reference. -.5 stars
Then there's the ending that wasn't an ending.
For real, y'all. If this book hadn't been offered for free on Amazon, I'd have requested a refund. The ending doesn't tell you anything. I have no clue what happened to the MCs. None. Not even a hint. It's like the entire book didn't download or something. It's sad and crazy, and so inconsistent with how the rest of the story was written. And worse, the other books in the series have nothing to do with these characters, so I'm not sure I'll ever know their fate. I hope the author reevaluates this at some point and tries to correct it; I know I'm not the first reader/reviewer to call it out. -1.5 stars
Is this something you should read? Maybe. If you're okay with abundant italics and a story with a nope ending, I think you'll enjoy. If not, you might want to pass.
December 28, 2019
I don't know what it is about the brutal, depraved worlds that Adrienne creates that just do it for me...she just does.
Simply loved that ending.
Simply loved that ending.
August 30, 2011
Wow! Loved this despite being in tears several times in the story. (Although honestly? If something moves me to tears or laughter, it's usually a good sign as my emotions have been thoroughly caught up in the story)
Both the main characters in this novel have been damaged in some way by their childhoods - the same childhoods where they formed a friendship that was strong enough to endure separation and death before being reunited again. There is a fair bit of emotional pain or angst, in this story, as it moves back and forth between the past and the present. This leads me to the one area I feel doesn't hold up to the high standard found everywhere else in the novel... the end. Personally I think I would have preferred just a little more depth or detail to the final scene and the hope for the future. Although this may well be a deliberate ploy as this book too, is the start of a series...
The world Ms. Wilder has created is interesting and complex, and has 4, soon to be 5, novellas in one series, and another novel, Blood Bonds, the first book of yet another series, all based in this world. Despite the fact that there are no characters in common with the previous books, I think if I had not read the other novels, I might find the complex world found in To Adam with Love a bit difficult to follow. I believe any reader contemplating reading this novel, would benefit from having read the other novel, Blood Bonds or the novella series, Darwin's Theory, before reading this novel, just to gain a better understanding of this unique world.
Both the main characters in this novel have been damaged in some way by their childhoods - the same childhoods where they formed a friendship that was strong enough to endure separation and death before being reunited again. There is a fair bit of emotional pain or angst, in this story, as it moves back and forth between the past and the present. This leads me to the one area I feel doesn't hold up to the high standard found everywhere else in the novel... the end. Personally I think I would have preferred just a little more depth or detail to the final scene and the hope for the future. Although this may well be a deliberate ploy as this book too, is the start of a series...
The world Ms. Wilder has created is interesting and complex, and has 4, soon to be 5, novellas in one series, and another novel, Blood Bonds, the first book of yet another series, all based in this world. Despite the fact that there are no characters in common with the previous books, I think if I had not read the other novels, I might find the complex world found in To Adam with Love a bit difficult to follow. I believe any reader contemplating reading this novel, would benefit from having read the other novel, Blood Bonds or the novella series, Darwin's Theory, before reading this novel, just to gain a better understanding of this unique world.
September 6, 2015
The author made Adam and Ean very real to me. The side characters weren’t as clear. I did wish we had at least had more on Batu.
The story itself was very well written. The world building was amazing. The flashbacks and changing point of view are done very well and lead the reader through the story in a logical way. There is rich detail and descriptions. Now the problems that I encountered were starting the story. I was dumped into a world that had words with special meanings that took time to learn and they were all in italics which to me emphasizes the words which draw away from the story itself. The other trouble was the ending. It’s a little vague and not in keeping with the rest of the story. Knowing that the next book is just a “Gray Zone” story and NOT a continuation of this one is a big disappointment. The book just feels incomplete.
Overall this is a wonderful story with rich detail and interesting characters, lacking some in conclusion of the story. I enjoyed the book and will read more from this author since this world intrigues me.
The story itself was very well written. The world building was amazing. The flashbacks and changing point of view are done very well and lead the reader through the story in a logical way. There is rich detail and descriptions. Now the problems that I encountered were starting the story. I was dumped into a world that had words with special meanings that took time to learn and they were all in italics which to me emphasizes the words which draw away from the story itself. The other trouble was the ending. It’s a little vague and not in keeping with the rest of the story. Knowing that the next book is just a “Gray Zone” story and NOT a continuation of this one is a big disappointment. The book just feels incomplete.
Overall this is a wonderful story with rich detail and interesting characters, lacking some in conclusion of the story. I enjoyed the book and will read more from this author since this world intrigues me.
September 4, 2011
Imagine a world where dragons are not a myth... a world where you can be eat, be bite, be... killed... by one them... dragons
That's the world Adrienne Wilder created, and where you will find Ean and Adam, struggling to survive.
Ean is a human, growing up in the Dens (Dragon territory) he don't know how to be human... he don't want to be human.
Adam is a Lesser-bred, half human and half Kim (dragon). His time as human is ending. His biological clock is telling him he is losing his humanity. He don't know how to be a Kim... he don't want to be a Kim.
As you can notice, the contrast of this two men couldn't be more pronounced, and certainly it's the reason both are so in love with each other.
It's a love story but in a world with so much violence you can imagine you will suffer with Adam and Ean.
It's a drama because there are others, characters that broken my heart... like Brian. He really made me cry... at the end (and I'll not tell more... or will spoil the story).
It's a perfect story with a lot of details, about this fantastic and violent world. You will finish the story knowing everything, about Kim (dragon), the Den, Lesser-breds, etc. I read other books by Adrienne Wilder (M/M or not) and I think this and Blood Bonds are the two with more info about the Dragon's world.
I never got bored because there will be always present and past facts, to let me know, bit by bit, Ean and Adam childhood. I was so scary, knowing already a tragedy that happened (and was the motive the now adult Adam went back to the Dens); but I was also melted inside, reading about two kids, discovering friendship and love.
Do I recommend it?
Yes and I must just say some things before recommend it to you, dear reader of my review:
First: there is a true end. Of course it's part of a serie (you can read it in the title, "A grey zone novel") but let's say you will know what happened to everyone. So, if you want a book with an end, it's ok for you.
Second: it's not for everyone. I can say exactly why, but believe me, it's violent. Kim (dragons) are almost feral. They can look like humans, but they are more animals... with their behave... One example is the need of flesh. Raw flesh... for them what is not for sex is food, so well, be ready for the worst... because It's what Adam is becoming.
Third: if you want a sappy romance forget it. Adam and Ean love is there, but both are also VERY male. Both are VERY in love, but their love is nothing you could imagine. Dragons don't know what it love... how can Ean know it? How can also Adam know about it, growing up running from an insane father?
Last advice: don't ignore this story, if you are getting scary with all my comments about "violence" and "eating raw flesh". I think you would miss an unique opportunity... because it's not only Ean and Adam love story... you will know also amazing secondary characters, like Batu, the male Kim that kept Ean safe to grow up in the Dens. Who is he? Well, I think "A picture is worth a thousand words" so look... how is Batu in my mind:
so yeah.. you may be still thinking if you should read this book. Well, I'm glad I read it, suffer reading it, cry reading it... and smile... reading about two lost souls. Against all odds, they felt in love.
5 stars
August 5, 2014
Simple shifter perfection.
I'm going back a while now, but this was actually my first introduction to this genre. It stayed with me all this time.
Just such a stunning read.
I'm not afraid to admit that... yeah, I'm insanely jealous of this author's talent. I need to get the paperback of this; it's one I need to hold...
{edit, okay, I've gone ordered the paperback. Damn these authors for making me spend more money...):)
I'm going back a while now, but this was actually my first introduction to this genre. It stayed with me all this time.
Just such a stunning read.
I'm not afraid to admit that... yeah, I'm insanely jealous of this author's talent. I need to get the paperback of this; it's one I need to hold...
{edit, okay, I've gone ordered the paperback. Damn these authors for making me spend more money...):)
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http://www.amazon.com/Adam-Love-Adrie...
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September 6, 2011
4.25 stars
In the beginning, I have to be honest and say that the books focused on shifters or, simply, other species do not hold a very high place in my reading universe and I am not going out of my way to seek them. There are two main reasons for that: the abundance of clichés that became quite tedious and, often, lack of human element or, better said, relevance to me as a person and a human being. That said, To Adam with Love is a true original among these books, an emotional journey of two young men to find their place in a very cruel world.
The book is set in the world of Grey Zone that I have become familiar with by reading Wilder's serialized novella Darwin's Theory. While it is not necessary for you to read it, it will help you to completely appreciate the complexity of the world and, especially, understand the final chapters of this novel. I'm also highly recommending it, because Darwin, the narrator, is another unexpected gem in this genre. The author did provide the Glossary at the beginning of this novel to explain the used terms and their meaning (the full Glossary can be found on author's site).
In this alternate universe, the Kin (dragons) and humans live next to each other. The mixing of the breeds isn't encouraged, but the offspring – Lesser-Breds – exist and they can either fit in the human world or, more commonly, live in the Grey Zone, a place between the city of Atlanta and Dens, where most of the full-blooded dragons live.
Adam Schroeder was brought to the Grey Zone by his mother after his father had tried to kill him, because he knew Adam would eventually become a Lesser-Bred. Adam befriended Eon, a human boy brought up by the dragons, but he was snatched away from that life when his father found them. Now, five years later, Adam is back because he's on the verge of becoming, a change that will make him a Lesser-Bred.
The novel has two parallel story lines: the flashbacks of Adam's and Eon's childhood and the present events. The strength of this story lies in its protagonists and their unusual dichotomy. Adam will become a Lesser-Bred, yet he was brought up as a human and he doesn't understand the implications of his impeding change. He was terribly hurt and he needs friendship. He finds the stability in Eon's unflinching loyalty and promised future. But, he is also afraid and desires normalcy, which is why he is attracted to Brian, another human boy who lives outside of the Zone. At the same time, Eon is fully human, but he was brought up by the dragons, intelligent beings driven nonetheless by their need for food (blood, flesh or metaphysical energy). They appear to have no human feelings, so Eon does not understand human concepts like love. He doesn't know how to read or write and his greatest ambition is to belong to Batu, the Male Kin, and be allowed to keep Adam as well. Although he is sexually active, he is innocent and inexperienced in human interactions. This leads to some very funny, but also very touching moments, especially when Eon tries to learn things that will make Adam happy. Adam's dilemmas and fears were understandable and palpable, but it is Eon who made this book special to me. The growing attraction between the boys was touching and their struggles as young men were heart-wrenching and beautifully written. I found myself in tears more than once. There were moments when I simply couldn't see how they could possibly stay together or survive.
What also sets this book apart from other similar stories is otherness of the Kin. There is nothing human about these creatures although they have human forms as well. They are made – not born, metaphysical rather than physical beings, their hierarchy is based on dominance and submission, they are driven by instincts rather than emotions, human-like morals play no part in their society, etc. They are predators and theirs is a cruel world, especially for someone like Eon who is just learning what being human really means. Eon learns about love from a terribly disfigured Lesser-Bred rather than perfectly beautiful Kin in a very telling and touching scene.
The complete accessibility of the novel or lack thereof to the readers previously unfamiliar with this world is the biggest problem of the book and the main reason why the book wasn't rated (much) higher like the writing and characters deserved. I feel that the new readers will not be able to fully understand the complexity of the world and dragons' social structure and, therefore, appreciate Adam's and Eon's journey or the implications of Batu's final decision. Also, if you haven't read the previous works and are not planning to, be warned: Adam didn't receive much needed assistance during the change and the consequences were dire and quite horrible. If you are easily grossed out or scared, proceed with caution. My second complaint is the amount of sex in the book: while the sex was hot and there was a valid reason for it, I felt the author could have made the point with fewer scenes.
To Adam with Love is imaginative, emotional, engrossing read and, in spite of my complaints, I wholeheartedly recommend you to pick it up and discover the world of Kin and Grey Zone. It is exceptionally well written with characters so memorable that I can't help wishing for another story of Adam and Eon. I would like to see how they are faring in their new life. Regardless, I'm looking forward to reading other books by this author and, especially, in this series.
Written for Reviews by Jessewave
In the beginning, I have to be honest and say that the books focused on shifters or, simply, other species do not hold a very high place in my reading universe and I am not going out of my way to seek them. There are two main reasons for that: the abundance of clichés that became quite tedious and, often, lack of human element or, better said, relevance to me as a person and a human being. That said, To Adam with Love is a true original among these books, an emotional journey of two young men to find their place in a very cruel world.
The book is set in the world of Grey Zone that I have become familiar with by reading Wilder's serialized novella Darwin's Theory. While it is not necessary for you to read it, it will help you to completely appreciate the complexity of the world and, especially, understand the final chapters of this novel. I'm also highly recommending it, because Darwin, the narrator, is another unexpected gem in this genre. The author did provide the Glossary at the beginning of this novel to explain the used terms and their meaning (the full Glossary can be found on author's site).
In this alternate universe, the Kin (dragons) and humans live next to each other. The mixing of the breeds isn't encouraged, but the offspring – Lesser-Breds – exist and they can either fit in the human world or, more commonly, live in the Grey Zone, a place between the city of Atlanta and Dens, where most of the full-blooded dragons live.
Adam Schroeder was brought to the Grey Zone by his mother after his father had tried to kill him, because he knew Adam would eventually become a Lesser-Bred. Adam befriended Eon, a human boy brought up by the dragons, but he was snatched away from that life when his father found them. Now, five years later, Adam is back because he's on the verge of becoming, a change that will make him a Lesser-Bred.
The novel has two parallel story lines: the flashbacks of Adam's and Eon's childhood and the present events. The strength of this story lies in its protagonists and their unusual dichotomy. Adam will become a Lesser-Bred, yet he was brought up as a human and he doesn't understand the implications of his impeding change. He was terribly hurt and he needs friendship. He finds the stability in Eon's unflinching loyalty and promised future. But, he is also afraid and desires normalcy, which is why he is attracted to Brian, another human boy who lives outside of the Zone. At the same time, Eon is fully human, but he was brought up by the dragons, intelligent beings driven nonetheless by their need for food (blood, flesh or metaphysical energy). They appear to have no human feelings, so Eon does not understand human concepts like love. He doesn't know how to read or write and his greatest ambition is to belong to Batu, the Male Kin, and be allowed to keep Adam as well. Although he is sexually active, he is innocent and inexperienced in human interactions. This leads to some very funny, but also very touching moments, especially when Eon tries to learn things that will make Adam happy. Adam's dilemmas and fears were understandable and palpable, but it is Eon who made this book special to me. The growing attraction between the boys was touching and their struggles as young men were heart-wrenching and beautifully written. I found myself in tears more than once. There were moments when I simply couldn't see how they could possibly stay together or survive.
What also sets this book apart from other similar stories is otherness of the Kin. There is nothing human about these creatures although they have human forms as well. They are made – not born, metaphysical rather than physical beings, their hierarchy is based on dominance and submission, they are driven by instincts rather than emotions, human-like morals play no part in their society, etc. They are predators and theirs is a cruel world, especially for someone like Eon who is just learning what being human really means. Eon learns about love from a terribly disfigured Lesser-Bred rather than perfectly beautiful Kin in a very telling and touching scene.
The complete accessibility of the novel or lack thereof to the readers previously unfamiliar with this world is the biggest problem of the book and the main reason why the book wasn't rated (much) higher like the writing and characters deserved. I feel that the new readers will not be able to fully understand the complexity of the world and dragons' social structure and, therefore, appreciate Adam's and Eon's journey or the implications of Batu's final decision. Also, if you haven't read the previous works and are not planning to, be warned: Adam didn't receive much needed assistance during the change and the consequences were dire and quite horrible. If you are easily grossed out or scared, proceed with caution. My second complaint is the amount of sex in the book: while the sex was hot and there was a valid reason for it, I felt the author could have made the point with fewer scenes.
To Adam with Love is imaginative, emotional, engrossing read and, in spite of my complaints, I wholeheartedly recommend you to pick it up and discover the world of Kin and Grey Zone. It is exceptionally well written with characters so memorable that I can't help wishing for another story of Adam and Eon. I would like to see how they are faring in their new life. Regardless, I'm looking forward to reading other books by this author and, especially, in this series.
Written for Reviews by Jessewave
April 15, 2018
**4.5 stars**
Wilder is a born story teller. The worlds he creates and the characters he develops are astonishing. The way he can suck you into a story...it truly is beautiful.
This is a dystopian, shifter, moderately dark love story set in an impoverished, dangerous environment. Shifters rule and if you aren't careful, bad things happen.
Despite (or because of) the poverty and struggles surrounding the main characters, their relationship grows from an early age. The story progresses in the present, with intermittent flashbacks that give us clues as to why certain things are as they are in the present. This was not a problem for me, as a writing style. I quite enjoyed it.
The only problem I had....was the ending. The last 1-2 pages. I guess it was poetic, but I don't want poetic, I want my endings clearly defined. I'm spoiled like that. The readers are left with a sort of "huh?" and a supposed HEA, maybe?
Wilder is a born story teller. The worlds he creates and the characters he develops are astonishing. The way he can suck you into a story...it truly is beautiful.
This is a dystopian, shifter, moderately dark love story set in an impoverished, dangerous environment. Shifters rule and if you aren't careful, bad things happen.
Despite (or because of) the poverty and struggles surrounding the main characters, their relationship grows from an early age. The story progresses in the present, with intermittent flashbacks that give us clues as to why certain things are as they are in the present. This was not a problem for me, as a writing style. I quite enjoyed it.
The only problem I had....was the ending. The last 1-2 pages. I guess it was poetic, but I don't want poetic, I want my endings clearly defined. I'm spoiled like that. The readers are left with a sort of "huh?" and a supposed HEA, maybe?
December 19, 2011
At first I was intimidated by the Glossary and that was only a partial Glossary with the rest at the author's website. I was relieved when I immediately submerged into the Grey Zone and realized the Glossary wouldn't be needed. Flashbacks in general can be iffy, but in this case I looked forward to them at the beginning of every chapter. Being given those glimpses of Adam and Ean growing up, becoming friends and beyond was beautiful to me in contrast with the gritty and sort of ruthless environment around them. A star off for some areas where I had to fill in the blanks with my own version of what I hope happened and the abrupt HFN? ending. Otherwise, a solid read that left me intrigued to visit the Gray Zone again.
January 2, 2012
Stars: 4.5/5
Overall
I put this book off again and again because going in I knew it was going to be a darker novel and I kept telling myself I wasn't in the mood. However, while it is a darker novel, it's not bleak. It takes the reader along a twisted path full of thorns and prickers, but it doesn't rip out the heart, stomp on it, then stitch it back in. Instead the central themes are love and emotions, as Adam is afraid of losing his humanity, and Ean is slowly trying to understand his own humanity beyond physicality.
Parts of this story dragged for me, but only because I wanted to know the ending and how the author worked out all the different problems that the characters were facing, which speaks highly of the plot that Wilder created. I would recommend this to most, but for readers of fantasy and dystopian futures, this should definitely be something to check out.
Strengths
While he's not mentioned in the blurb, there is actually a love triangle involved in the story. Ean and Adam love one another, but there is a young man named Brian from their past who also loves Adam, and Adam feels attraction in return. The play of these three characters was amazingly supple, to the point where I thought I knew how things would end up, but little moments would leave me guessing how exactly the lovers would pair off.
Speaking of the end--without spoiling everything, since spoilers would damage the enjoyment of this book, I feel―I really liked how everything unfolded and was resolved. I had one minor niggle involving Adam's father, but overall I was surprised, pleasantly, with what happened. I definitely wasn't expecting things to go that way, but it also didn't blindside me.
Wilder creates a very interesting and thought out world here, and I look forward to reading more of it in the second novel Worth. Although there wasn't much explanation for why there was a nest of these dragons who masquerade as humans, and it's never mentioned if there are other nests, I enjoyed the ample information that was given. The world, word usage, and culture surrounding the Kin was detailed without bogging down the story and felt organic within the plot.
Weaknesses
Most (if not every) chapter started with a flashback from when Adam and Ean were kids. While this was vital for supplying history about the characters and building up their relationship, especially in the beginning, it also became a little tedious toward the end when events were quickly unfurling and I wanted the story and I wanted it immediately. In someways it interfered with the natural flow and I felt it could have been used more judiciously, but it in no way ruined the book.
There is a glossary in the beginning that goes over many of the terms that are used pretty consistently through the book. While this works in paperback from, in ebook form it becomes pretty much inaccessible. For the most part the reader can use a single reading of the glossary and context of sentences to know what is happening, and by the end the words are second nature. However, I found two words (chela, which means claws, and chetra, which means humans) to be near enough in spelling that the first instance of chetra had me confusing it with chela. A minor inconvenience that was easily fixed by context clues, but for readers who have difficulty with learning new vocabulary, be advised.
Requested this book for review.
Be sure to check out my other reviews on my blog.
Overall
I put this book off again and again because going in I knew it was going to be a darker novel and I kept telling myself I wasn't in the mood. However, while it is a darker novel, it's not bleak. It takes the reader along a twisted path full of thorns and prickers, but it doesn't rip out the heart, stomp on it, then stitch it back in. Instead the central themes are love and emotions, as Adam is afraid of losing his humanity, and Ean is slowly trying to understand his own humanity beyond physicality.
Parts of this story dragged for me, but only because I wanted to know the ending and how the author worked out all the different problems that the characters were facing, which speaks highly of the plot that Wilder created. I would recommend this to most, but for readers of fantasy and dystopian futures, this should definitely be something to check out.
Strengths
While he's not mentioned in the blurb, there is actually a love triangle involved in the story. Ean and Adam love one another, but there is a young man named Brian from their past who also loves Adam, and Adam feels attraction in return. The play of these three characters was amazingly supple, to the point where I thought I knew how things would end up, but little moments would leave me guessing how exactly the lovers would pair off.
Speaking of the end--without spoiling everything, since spoilers would damage the enjoyment of this book, I feel―I really liked how everything unfolded and was resolved. I had one minor niggle involving Adam's father, but overall I was surprised, pleasantly, with what happened. I definitely wasn't expecting things to go that way, but it also didn't blindside me.
Wilder creates a very interesting and thought out world here, and I look forward to reading more of it in the second novel Worth. Although there wasn't much explanation for why there was a nest of these dragons who masquerade as humans, and it's never mentioned if there are other nests, I enjoyed the ample information that was given. The world, word usage, and culture surrounding the Kin was detailed without bogging down the story and felt organic within the plot.
Weaknesses
Most (if not every) chapter started with a flashback from when Adam and Ean were kids. While this was vital for supplying history about the characters and building up their relationship, especially in the beginning, it also became a little tedious toward the end when events were quickly unfurling and I wanted the story and I wanted it immediately. In someways it interfered with the natural flow and I felt it could have been used more judiciously, but it in no way ruined the book.
There is a glossary in the beginning that goes over many of the terms that are used pretty consistently through the book. While this works in paperback from, in ebook form it becomes pretty much inaccessible. For the most part the reader can use a single reading of the glossary and context of sentences to know what is happening, and by the end the words are second nature. However, I found two words (chela, which means claws, and chetra, which means humans) to be near enough in spelling that the first instance of chetra had me confusing it with chela. A minor inconvenience that was easily fixed by context clues, but for readers who have difficulty with learning new vocabulary, be advised.
Requested this book for review.
Be sure to check out my other reviews on my blog.
September 3, 2011
I didn't realize when I purchased this book that it was set in an established world, and for a while I was a little lost. The protagonist, Adam, has known since childhood that he has dragon (called Kin) DNA, and one day his body will undergo a change as he takes his true form. As a boy he meets Ean, who while human has been raised by the dragons and behaves like them. Ean can't read or write, he barely wears clothes, and while he touches and licks Adam, he doesn't know how to kiss. Ean also doesn't understand love, he understands belonging and owning as the Kin do, and he hopes the dragon he belongs to, Batu, will also want to keep Adan so they can be together. But since Batu has Ean and two others dragons, he doesn't feel the need to add Adam to their family, and he can't understand the human emotions Ean has toward Adam.
The story alternates between flashbacks from Ean and Adam's childhood and the present. I found it particularly interesting to watch Ean and Adam grow up and start discovers their feelings for each other, even when they didn't know what they felt or they hurt each other. Also interesting is the contrast between their plans as boys and how those plans have to change to survive in the adult world. Ean is a fantastic character. He's fiercely loyal and would do anything for Adam, though at a few points in the story I felt like Adam didn't exactly deserve him. Adam takes Ean for granted at times, though he clearly does value him.
Since I've been asked specifically, no, there's no weird sex, like human on dragon, bdsm, or multiple partners, at least not on screen. It alludes to the idea that when a human belongs to a Kin, he can feed him, and if I understand this correctly that means the dragon literally eating bits of his partners during sex. Their bond with the dragon lets them heal from this. It's not shown in this book, and I really hope its not going to be shown in the future. As bad as it gets in this is just some biting, and its Ean and Adam, so it's hot and sweet. There's quite a bit of sex, maybe more than necessary, and its explained that going through this change makes Adam need it almost constantly. I'm getting a little tired of that cliche in shifter books, not that this is really a shifter book, IMHO. Still I see that excuse used all the time for a ton of sex scenes.
I had a problem with the ending. I'll try hard not to spoil anything, but if you're really planning to read this (and it's totally worth reading) you might stop here. Adam does something really, really bad at the end of the book. Like, horrific. And it's just kind of glossed over like its no big deal. I just couldn't see how he could do what he did to Ean after everything Ean went through for him. Honestly, it pissed me off. Then the subject of it was just dropped because out of nowhere, and without explanation as to how it was possible, another unlikely event occurs. Then it just kind of ends with characters still injured and some issues unresolved. This was a five for me, despite being a little unfamiliar with the world, up until the last few chapters.
The story alternates between flashbacks from Ean and Adam's childhood and the present. I found it particularly interesting to watch Ean and Adam grow up and start discovers their feelings for each other, even when they didn't know what they felt or they hurt each other. Also interesting is the contrast between their plans as boys and how those plans have to change to survive in the adult world. Ean is a fantastic character. He's fiercely loyal and would do anything for Adam, though at a few points in the story I felt like Adam didn't exactly deserve him. Adam takes Ean for granted at times, though he clearly does value him.
Since I've been asked specifically, no, there's no weird sex, like human on dragon, bdsm, or multiple partners, at least not on screen. It alludes to the idea that when a human belongs to a Kin, he can feed him, and if I understand this correctly that means the dragon literally eating bits of his partners during sex. Their bond with the dragon lets them heal from this. It's not shown in this book, and I really hope its not going to be shown in the future. As bad as it gets in this is just some biting, and its Ean and Adam, so it's hot and sweet. There's quite a bit of sex, maybe more than necessary, and its explained that going through this change makes Adam need it almost constantly. I'm getting a little tired of that cliche in shifter books, not that this is really a shifter book, IMHO. Still I see that excuse used all the time for a ton of sex scenes.
I had a problem with the ending. I'll try hard not to spoil anything, but if you're really planning to read this (and it's totally worth reading) you might stop here. Adam does something really, really bad at the end of the book. Like, horrific. And it's just kind of glossed over like its no big deal. I just couldn't see how he could do what he did to Ean after everything Ean went through for him. Honestly, it pissed me off. Then the subject of it was just dropped because out of nowhere, and without explanation as to how it was possible, another unlikely event occurs. Then it just kind of ends with characters still injured and some issues unresolved. This was a five for me, despite being a little unfamiliar with the world, up until the last few chapters.
June 22, 2014
If you like horror-type reads, here is a well-written book for you. One little boy bringing monsters to their knees with love. There is a lot of blood and gore. Definitely some sex and a lot of sadness. There's not a big build up and pages and pages of world building, thank goodness. Those type books always bore me to tears. This is just kind of a dark, different read about dragon shifters and a human. It's not exactly my cup of tea. I enjoy shifter books but I like. Lot more of the mating type shifters. Dragons are just too gross for me. They just aren't sexy or lovable. It's still a well-written book if you like this type of shifter.
June 14, 2012
4.5 stars. Very good paranormal m/m romance about Adam, whose mother brings him to live in the Gray Zone when he's just a boy, and Ean, who becomes his closest friend. As the story alternates between present, when they're both adults, and past, eventually the two points converge. I got sniffly at the end!
August 11, 2016
Loved this book. Despite underlying violence and horror you see true love shine. It is not a "insta-love" story; the depth of feeling grips at my heart.
January 31, 2014
Just couldn't get into it.
November 27, 2011
Dark Fiction Too Grim for Me
When there's nothing left in your life and nowhere to go before you become something other than human, you return to the Gray Zone, a broken, hopeless place that forms an uneasy boundary between the humanity in Atlanta and the Dens of the Kin. Adam has returned to the Gray Zone after five years away, his needs such that he has little choice but to face the memories and ghosts of his complicated and traumatic childhood.
As he approaches the change that will transform him into a Kin/human hybrid known as Lesser-Bred, his hungers for sex and blood have sharpened beyond the point of him being safe among humans. Though he's been away a long time, he can't help but hope that the one source of comfort he had as a child is still around, a young boy who had been both his best friend and his first love. The young human raised by Kin to be food was a nearly feral child who didn't know what love was, but he'd claimed Adam as his own so very long ago. Like Adam, that boy would now be on the cusp of manhood. That boy named Ean.
Ean had grieved for his Adam, the Kin Batu having told him that his boy had died five years ago. Now there is a new man in the house Adam had once lived in, and he smells like memories and yearning and a need Ean doesn't understand. Coming face to face with the interloper kindled the sort of joy that Ean hadn't known existed. His Adam hadn't died as he'd been told. His Adam had come home. And Adam needed Ean in ways that Ean was more than familiar with and more than willing to satisfy. There's nothing Ean wouldn't give, wouldn't be, to ease Adam's transformation. Even if the cost is his life.
Ean may not know love, but more than anyone, he understands sacrifice, and for his Adam, no price is too steep.
~*~
Every once in awhile I come across a book that confounds me, disturbs me, or just generally makes it difficult to rate. To Adam With Love is one of those books. As much as I appreciate the occasional darker, edgier romance, especially when coupled with paranormal elements, too much of the world and mythos created here by Wilder crossed that hard-to-define line between dark and edgy and grim and hopeless for me to be able to say I liked it, and there were a few too many story-related issues for me to fully embrace it on an artistic level.
It was certainly imaginative and original. It had sultry, sexy moments and reflected a genuine, believable sense of the innocence of youth and the otherness of the Kin in well-written flashbacks of the shared childhood history of Ean and Adam. I found it almost compulsively compelling in that regard, as the ever-present sense of impending doom was too visceral to tear my gaze away for long lest I miss a crucial piece of this complex, complicated story. I can even say with all honesty that I easily understand why this book would be wildly popular among fans of darker fiction.
Yet I can't say I liked it.
As much as I appreciated the Glossary at the beginning, I felt there was a noted overuse of the italicized words from the Glossary in the narrative. Part of my problem with that is simply how my mind works and remembers things. I pick up and understand more when terminology that is created for the world and mythos for a story is explained and defined in contextual situations. Not only does that help flesh out the world and define the parameters of the story for me, but having to flip to the front to refresh my memory as the story progresses interrupts the flow of the narrative and pulls me out of the story.
I also had some problems with some of the plot threads. There were too many questions posed either directly or indirectly that went unanswered, and the romance arc that had been strong from the start ended up going a little awry for me at the end. The world and the characters were a little too dark and foreign for my personal taste, and I thought the mythos was hard to follow - in part because of the problems I had with the terminology. The sexuality included in the book and the descriptions of Kin feeding pushed at my comfort levels a little, and the romance didn't offer enough of an HEA for me to balance out the emotional trauma the characters suffered throughout the book. I also never really felt Adam or Ean had matured into adults or had advanced beyond the development levels seen in the many flashbacks.
That probably sounds like a lot of negatives, but in all fairness I can't help but admit that for all of that, something about this book was genuinely captivating. Both the story and the characters have stuck with me days after I finished reading their tale. I wish a few things had been different, or had shaken out with a less grim existence for Lesser-Born and their food. I couldn't help but feel a bit hopeless about the Gray Zone and its inhabitants, the Kin and the Dens. That's just not a comfortable feeling to have at the end of my romance reads and it definitely affected my overall impression of this dark and edgy book.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Dreamspinner Press via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
When there's nothing left in your life and nowhere to go before you become something other than human, you return to the Gray Zone, a broken, hopeless place that forms an uneasy boundary between the humanity in Atlanta and the Dens of the Kin. Adam has returned to the Gray Zone after five years away, his needs such that he has little choice but to face the memories and ghosts of his complicated and traumatic childhood.
As he approaches the change that will transform him into a Kin/human hybrid known as Lesser-Bred, his hungers for sex and blood have sharpened beyond the point of him being safe among humans. Though he's been away a long time, he can't help but hope that the one source of comfort he had as a child is still around, a young boy who had been both his best friend and his first love. The young human raised by Kin to be food was a nearly feral child who didn't know what love was, but he'd claimed Adam as his own so very long ago. Like Adam, that boy would now be on the cusp of manhood. That boy named Ean.
Ean had grieved for his Adam, the Kin Batu having told him that his boy had died five years ago. Now there is a new man in the house Adam had once lived in, and he smells like memories and yearning and a need Ean doesn't understand. Coming face to face with the interloper kindled the sort of joy that Ean hadn't known existed. His Adam hadn't died as he'd been told. His Adam had come home. And Adam needed Ean in ways that Ean was more than familiar with and more than willing to satisfy. There's nothing Ean wouldn't give, wouldn't be, to ease Adam's transformation. Even if the cost is his life.
Ean may not know love, but more than anyone, he understands sacrifice, and for his Adam, no price is too steep.
~*~
Every once in awhile I come across a book that confounds me, disturbs me, or just generally makes it difficult to rate. To Adam With Love is one of those books. As much as I appreciate the occasional darker, edgier romance, especially when coupled with paranormal elements, too much of the world and mythos created here by Wilder crossed that hard-to-define line between dark and edgy and grim and hopeless for me to be able to say I liked it, and there were a few too many story-related issues for me to fully embrace it on an artistic level.
It was certainly imaginative and original. It had sultry, sexy moments and reflected a genuine, believable sense of the innocence of youth and the otherness of the Kin in well-written flashbacks of the shared childhood history of Ean and Adam. I found it almost compulsively compelling in that regard, as the ever-present sense of impending doom was too visceral to tear my gaze away for long lest I miss a crucial piece of this complex, complicated story. I can even say with all honesty that I easily understand why this book would be wildly popular among fans of darker fiction.
Yet I can't say I liked it.
As much as I appreciated the Glossary at the beginning, I felt there was a noted overuse of the italicized words from the Glossary in the narrative. Part of my problem with that is simply how my mind works and remembers things. I pick up and understand more when terminology that is created for the world and mythos for a story is explained and defined in contextual situations. Not only does that help flesh out the world and define the parameters of the story for me, but having to flip to the front to refresh my memory as the story progresses interrupts the flow of the narrative and pulls me out of the story.
I also had some problems with some of the plot threads. There were too many questions posed either directly or indirectly that went unanswered, and the romance arc that had been strong from the start ended up going a little awry for me at the end. The world and the characters were a little too dark and foreign for my personal taste, and I thought the mythos was hard to follow - in part because of the problems I had with the terminology. The sexuality included in the book and the descriptions of Kin feeding pushed at my comfort levels a little, and the romance didn't offer enough of an HEA for me to balance out the emotional trauma the characters suffered throughout the book. I also never really felt Adam or Ean had matured into adults or had advanced beyond the development levels seen in the many flashbacks.
That probably sounds like a lot of negatives, but in all fairness I can't help but admit that for all of that, something about this book was genuinely captivating. Both the story and the characters have stuck with me days after I finished reading their tale. I wish a few things had been different, or had shaken out with a less grim existence for Lesser-Born and their food. I couldn't help but feel a bit hopeless about the Gray Zone and its inhabitants, the Kin and the Dens. That's just not a comfortable feeling to have at the end of my romance reads and it definitely affected my overall impression of this dark and edgy book.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Dreamspinner Press via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
October 4, 2015
I've just finished the last of Wilder's dragon books set in the Gray Zone universe. Five in the Darwin's Theory series, and three in the Gray Zone series. And now I'm going to go nuts waiting until NEXT year for more. :::sigh:::
To Adam With Love was told from both Adam and Ean's POV. Adam is "becoming" Lesser Bred and Ean is a human raised by the Kin and will soon "belong". These young men met as children in the Zone, became best friends, and were separated when tragedy struck Adam in their mid teens. This is the story of Adam's return to The Zone to face his life-altering changes and find Ean. The story shifts back and forth between the present and the past.
Extremely well written, solid world building, characters with depth, fantastic universe. I want more!
Much to my dismay, we still haven't seen a dragon in full shift, nor do we know much of anything about the dragon queen, the Dens, or how dragons are metaphysically created. I really, really wanted to meet a fully shifted dragon at least once in these two series. I remain hopeful that Ms. Wilder will give me what I want sometime next year. Both of these series are highly recommended for lovers of dark urban fantasy and dragons.
To Adam With Love was told from both Adam and Ean's POV. Adam is "becoming" Lesser Bred and Ean is a human raised by the Kin and will soon "belong". These young men met as children in the Zone, became best friends, and were separated when tragedy struck Adam in their mid teens. This is the story of Adam's return to The Zone to face his life-altering changes and find Ean. The story shifts back and forth between the present and the past.
Extremely well written, solid world building, characters with depth, fantastic universe. I want more!
Much to my dismay, we still haven't seen a dragon in full shift, nor do we know much of anything about the dragon queen, the Dens, or how dragons are metaphysically created. I really, really wanted to meet a fully shifted dragon at least once in these two series. I remain hopeful that Ms. Wilder will give me what I want sometime next year. Both of these series are highly recommended for lovers of dark urban fantasy and dragons.
May 5, 2017
I read about 25% before I lost interest and started to skim. The worldbuilding could've been better. Were Adam, Ean, and Brian in their early twenties? I couldn't make that out. When they were younger they couldn't have been older than 12 and Adam was only gone for 6 years or so.
The plot never really moved forward. Even after I jumped to 80% Adam is still telling Brian to stay away from him because he doesn't want to hurt him. Also who the fuck is the HEA suppose to be with? I thought it was Ean so why is Brian fucking Adam late in the book?
I read some reviews and am amazed that some can love a book while others really hate it, and some of the authors that I really like thought this book was great. I might have to reconsider their works LOL.
The plot never really moved forward. Even after I jumped to 80% Adam is still telling Brian to stay away from him because he doesn't want to hurt him. Also who the fuck is the HEA suppose to be with? I thought it was Ean so why is Brian fucking Adam late in the book?
I read some reviews and am amazed that some can love a book while others really hate it, and some of the authors that I really like thought this book was great. I might have to reconsider their works LOL.
July 1, 2015
Loved Adam and Ean, and the world they lived in intrigued me. Two things brought my enjoyment down, though. One, a shocking (I didn't think it would actually happen) event toward the end of the story*, and two, the abrupt ending. I needed more of these characters, I wanted to see their HEA.
Side notes:
I wanted to tag this as sweet, but it felt wrong with the darkness in the story.
*Even though it fit the world the author built, I'm still upset over what happened. I hated that part of the story.
Side notes:
I wanted to tag this as sweet, but it felt wrong with the darkness in the story.
*Even though it fit the world the author built, I'm still upset over what happened. I hated that part of the story.
September 7, 2011
To be truthful I don't like the dark world this story is staged in. Of course I did like Ean and Adam. As a couple and best friends, they were really amazing. You could feel the love between them from the start, but I definitely didn't like this love triangle at the end. And I'm sure, I wont will like the path this story is leading to.
September 6, 2012
I really liked this book and that's saying something considering I didn't think I would. There was a lot of world building and I admittedly spent way too much time slightly confused but I still managed to fall in love with Adam and Eon. You could feel their need and love for eachother, it just jumped off the pages. Sex was freaking hot and story was amazing. Best last line of a book ever.
April 4, 2012
This would have been a 5 star read for me but the abrupt ending just kind of threw me.
September 26, 2012
4.5 stars. A bit off for an ending that felt very unfinished. Otherwise it was a very good read and I'd definitely recommend it.
October 10, 2014
3.75 stars
August 21, 2018
3/5
Potential spoiler
*deep sigh*
This could have been a bittersweet yet intruging and original story. The author had a unique writing style which set the tone to the story while separating the past and the present. (However their style made the past felt more real than the present.) In hindsight however, the story is weighted down by an abundant amount of sexs. I like the concept behind the struggle with the hunger that came with the transformation. It brought a dark theme that rarely show up in this genre, which I appreciate. However, the constant craving for sex that pairs with it... not a fan. I understand that this is mm, and sex is expected on a certain degree. But it's hard to keep a straight face when the mc is fighting with his human moral over his new taste in flesh while having a biggest hard on in the history of man kind. It just make me feel like I'm reading one of those old tacky comics that mix sex with violence.
Along side that is the switch between past and present. Now, I do prefer showing over telling. BUT, telling us then showing it is a big NO for me. It felt repetitive especially when it was done for half of the book. See, in the first half we are still figuring out the background of the character, and the memories section was a welcoming sight. However, once the whole picture is already painted in the present, it was becoming a chore to read about them in excruciate details again. Especially when I rather getting back to the event of the present.
But the biggest crime is probably the ending. I get that the author came up with a cool line and want end the story with it. The whole "love is when you hurt in the chest when that person leave" was a nice line and all, but I feel like the author laying it a bit thick especially toward the end there. But man how the book end was an insult. It's like someone turn off the tv just at the peek of a climate! Not cool! Not cool at all. Especially since it doesn't like there is going to be a direct follow up story. :/
Potential spoiler
*deep sigh*
This could have been a bittersweet yet intruging and original story. The author had a unique writing style which set the tone to the story while separating the past and the present. (However their style made the past felt more real than the present.) In hindsight however, the story is weighted down by an abundant amount of sexs. I like the concept behind the struggle with the hunger that came with the transformation. It brought a dark theme that rarely show up in this genre, which I appreciate. However, the constant craving for sex that pairs with it... not a fan. I understand that this is mm, and sex is expected on a certain degree. But it's hard to keep a straight face when the mc is fighting with his human moral over his new taste in flesh while having a biggest hard on in the history of man kind. It just make me feel like I'm reading one of those old tacky comics that mix sex with violence.
Along side that is the switch between past and present. Now, I do prefer showing over telling. BUT, telling us then showing it is a big NO for me. It felt repetitive especially when it was done for half of the book. See, in the first half we are still figuring out the background of the character, and the memories section was a welcoming sight. However, once the whole picture is already painted in the present, it was becoming a chore to read about them in excruciate details again. Especially when I rather getting back to the event of the present.
But the biggest crime is probably the ending. I get that the author came up with a cool line and want end the story with it. The whole "love is when you hurt in the chest when that person leave" was a nice line and all, but I feel like the author laying it a bit thick especially toward the end there. But man how the book end was an insult. It's like someone turn off the tv just at the peek of a climate! Not cool! Not cool at all. Especially since it doesn't like there is going to be a direct follow up story. :/
Read
June 23, 2024Initially this was very confusing, it was the double storyline to be honest. But once you get the technique of reading that, you learn to love and admire these boys.
From there earliest meeting there is a connection. The more you read the more you realise they're just confirming their unknown desire/need to be with and for each other.
The storyline was intriguing in that you couldn't predict where the author was taking one. But the journey was of our mains self discovery, but with knowledge of the possibilities in his exists? life? The strength and unspoken-inability of the secondary character to express himself or his in a way that's understood...
There are some weirdly unanswered questions that captured my attention (only slightly) towards the end. I think I was mentally panicking because I was near the conclusion.
I enjoyed this journey, I smiled, I pondered, and eventually I cried. Don't get me wrong its a very good ending...
... Because it hurts in here...
From there earliest meeting there is a connection. The more you read the more you realise they're just confirming their unknown desire/need to be with and for each other.
The storyline was intriguing in that you couldn't predict where the author was taking one. But the journey was of our mains self discovery, but with knowledge of the possibilities in his exists? life? The strength and unspoken-inability of the secondary character to express himself or his in a way that's understood...
There are some weirdly unanswered questions that captured my attention (only slightly) towards the end. I think I was mentally panicking because I was near the conclusion.
I enjoyed this journey, I smiled, I pondered, and eventually I cried. Don't get me wrong its a very good ending...
... Because it hurts in here...
December 26, 2017
To Adam With Love
I'm a big fan of Adrienne Wilder and the stories get better and better with each book I read. Her ability to build these worlds and keep the reader engaged is nothing short of stellar.
In this story we follow Adam through childhood to adulthood as he lives through tragic circumstances along the way. The story weaves and twists the past and present giving the reader a full vision of Adam's entire life.
Highly recommended!
I'm a big fan of Adrienne Wilder and the stories get better and better with each book I read. Her ability to build these worlds and keep the reader engaged is nothing short of stellar.
In this story we follow Adam through childhood to adulthood as he lives through tragic circumstances along the way. The story weaves and twists the past and present giving the reader a full vision of Adam's entire life.
Highly recommended!
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