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Hellscape #1
Hell's End
Rebellion, war and survival. Love’s a bitch.
Hellscape, Book 1
Tuck’s a Gutter, one of a gang of violent orphans running level thirty-six of Hell’s End, the solar system’s outermost space station. There’s only one way out of this brotherhood of blood—grow up and be killed and eaten by other Gutters.
Tuck barely escapes his death sentence, only to fall prey to the powerful L’arisian family. Rescue from a L’arisian whorehouse never happens, but rescued he is, and by Gov soldiers no less. Alone among the enemy, Tuck trusts only one person—the man who risked everything to pluck him to safety.
Ivan’s a soldier. No more, no less. But the disquieting things he learns about the Government’s plans for the Gutter kid have him doing the one thing a soldier shouldn’t do. Think about doing what’s right instead of what he’s told. All for a guy he can’t get out of his head.
Getting involved in a rebellion that might get them killed is a problem. Falling in love? That’s a disaster in the making.
This book contains rebels, spies, soldiers, bad guys, love, sex, betrayal, fights to the death, and robot spiders. Really.
325 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2013
2 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Ally Blue
90 books449 followersAlly Blue penned her first tale at age eight, relating the breathless terror of her little sister’s not-quite-fatal encounter with a bee in the backyard. That was the beginning of a lifelong love affair with storytelling. She now writes gay romance of all flavors, and has recently branched into writing her first love: horror. She continues her neverending quest to scare herself. She is not a hippie or a brain surgeon, no matter what her kids’ friends say.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 23, 2013
All in all this was a highly disappointing book. There’s two main reasons for this.
Firstly, the romance is not one. Tuck and Ivan have a really sound, solid, healthily-sexual relationship. They were thrown together accidentally at the very beginning of the book, and immediately embarked on a sexual relationship, partly because it’s a good disguise to keep meeting for plot purposes, but mainly because they really like having sex with each other. And why shouldn’t they? Yay for them. They get on really well, and a shared goal means that their lack of emotional connection is a non-problem. However it can’t be ignored that this induces a certain loss of tension in their story. The sexual relationship is only a backdrop to the story i.e. this is not actually a romance (in which the coming together of the MCs would be a main component).
Secondly, the MCs do not drive the plot. For a genetically-modified, orphan ex-junkie rent-boy, raised as a homeless street-rat feeding on the warm entrails of the compatriots he has hunted down and gutted with his belt-knife, Tuck is startlingly passive. He and Ivan drift like flotsam in an ocean current, being pointed toward the story by a vast array of other characters. Go here. Do this. The Merovingian would be scathing indeed.
Because the point of the book is the power struggle between warring factions, and the MCs' role in this struggle, the storytelling needed to be much stronger. It’s a pity, because the storyworld is, in concept, completely fascinating, and I’d love to read a gripping thriller set in it. A vast space station orbiting in view of Pluto, fought over by feuding familial dynasties and equally corrupt and ineffective ‘government’ forces, turning to more and more extreme measures to try to reassert their authority. Below them the Gutters: homeless kids teaching themselves to navigate the fractured landscapes of 100+ levels of battlefields, stores, and residences, through a network of lift shafts and access panels. And you really, really don’t want the other Gutters to decide you’ve grown up.
Cool, right?
Blue simply doesn’t capitalize on this wonderful setting. I’m still unclear why Ivan decided to involve himself from the beginning. I’m perplexed at the thought that a street-rat has the social skills and cultural capital to function as a government secretary. It’s plain ol' poor storytelling to get to 95% and have a minor character carry out a major action because of a previously undisclosed motive. The whole cast of secondary characters feels like a chorus: they keep wandering on stage, telling the MCs important stuff, and then wandering off again. And because Tuck has, apparently, he can just decide “Oh, I feel in my gut I should follow this person/go this way/do this,” in order to uncover the route markers along the way to the conclusion.
I found Hell’s End remarkably boring. YMMV.
P.S. The whorehouse thing from the blurb? All off-page, in about 2 sentences. It's a non-event.
Firstly, the romance is not one. Tuck and Ivan have a really sound, solid, healthily-sexual relationship. They were thrown together accidentally at the very beginning of the book, and immediately embarked on a sexual relationship, partly because it’s a good disguise to keep meeting for plot purposes, but mainly because they really like having sex with each other. And why shouldn’t they? Yay for them. They get on really well, and a shared goal means that their lack of emotional connection is a non-problem. However it can’t be ignored that this induces a certain loss of tension in their story. The sexual relationship is only a backdrop to the story i.e. this is not actually a romance (in which the coming together of the MCs would be a main component).
Secondly, the MCs do not drive the plot. For a genetically-modified, orphan ex-junkie rent-boy, raised as a homeless street-rat feeding on the warm entrails of the compatriots he has hunted down and gutted with his belt-knife, Tuck is startlingly passive. He and Ivan drift like flotsam in an ocean current, being pointed toward the story by a vast array of other characters. Go here. Do this. The Merovingian would be scathing indeed.
Because the point of the book is the power struggle between warring factions, and the MCs' role in this struggle, the storytelling needed to be much stronger. It’s a pity, because the storyworld is, in concept, completely fascinating, and I’d love to read a gripping thriller set in it. A vast space station orbiting in view of Pluto, fought over by feuding familial dynasties and equally corrupt and ineffective ‘government’ forces, turning to more and more extreme measures to try to reassert their authority. Below them the Gutters: homeless kids teaching themselves to navigate the fractured landscapes of 100+ levels of battlefields, stores, and residences, through a network of lift shafts and access panels. And you really, really don’t want the other Gutters to decide you’ve grown up.
Cool, right?
Blue simply doesn’t capitalize on this wonderful setting. I’m still unclear why Ivan decided to involve himself from the beginning. I’m perplexed at the thought that a street-rat has the social skills and cultural capital to function as a government secretary. It’s plain ol' poor storytelling to get to 95% and have a minor character carry out a major action because of a previously undisclosed motive. The whole cast of secondary characters feels like a chorus: they keep wandering on stage, telling the MCs important stuff, and then wandering off again. And because Tuck has, apparently, he can just decide “Oh, I feel in my gut I should follow this person/go this way/do this,” in order to uncover the route markers along the way to the conclusion.
I found Hell’s End remarkably boring. YMMV.
P.S. The whorehouse thing from the blurb? All off-page, in about 2 sentences. It's a non-event.
June 5, 2013
3-3.5 stars – An overall fun sci-fi m/m romance story. Your mileage will vary, I think, on how well you go with the flow on things.
What I liked: I like sci-fi adventure romance, and Hell’s End hit a lot buttons for me. The story is set in the far future on a multi-level space station that is like a giant city in space, with hundreds of floors, many of which are in chaos and war as different “Families” duke it out for control and power. I dug the setting and the unpredictability of the many floors and what dangers could be found on them.
The characters were sympathetic and appealing. The blurb is basically the first 15% or so of the story, so there was a lot of plot and twists that came along that I wasn’t expecting. You have young Tuck, former Gutter (i.e. street rat) who is rescued from a future at a Family-run whore house by a government military team. Ivan, one of the soldiers on that team, has no idea why they’re spending time rescuing this punk kid, but it gets his instincts up, and he starts to explore into the system about why Tuck might be important. What he finds he doesn’t like, especially since, against his better judgment, he’s starting to fall for Tuck.
This is the second book I’ve read by Blue, (after the Assassin-in-Alaska thriller Untamed Heart), and like in that book, I find her writing very readable. There were a few “the larger man”, “the smaller man” that stood out, but overall, I find her style easy and interesting.
What was harder for me: I liked Tuck and Ivan; their relationship and growing reliance and trust in each other was sweet, but I didn’t totally “get” them. I was being told that they were falling for each other, but personally, I didn’t really understand why, outside of their initial attraction. I just went with the flow though, and overall, I enjoyed their story, but I wasn’t swept up into it. I’m not sure what would have made it more “organic” and understandable, but I did feel there was something missing that would have made it feel stronger.
I loved the fast pace, but at times actions or activities were told to us, which I felt dampened the impact, especially near the end as things were wrapped up. There’s a bit of “And these things were done here and here, so that’s all fixed now.”
But overall, I’m a “go with the flow” reader, especially with sci-fi and fantasy, so I sailed along pretty easily through this story. I didn’t find the romance super compelling, but it was sweet and readable, and I enjoy sci-fi, so this ride was fine. Out of the two books, I think I found Untamed Heart more resonating for me though.
If you love m/m sci-fi romance, you may dig this. It does have a lot of action and characters, some sexy time (not a lot), and a sweet developing romance. For me, I wish there was a little more to sink into, or get swept up by, but your mileage will vary.
This is Samhain, so it always stops early for excerpts. This one ends at 93% on the kindle version, which wasn’t too bad, I thought. It’s a long book (at over 80,000 words), so I definitely felt I got my money’s worth for an overall pretty interesting sci-fi novel.
What I liked: I like sci-fi adventure romance, and Hell’s End hit a lot buttons for me. The story is set in the far future on a multi-level space station that is like a giant city in space, with hundreds of floors, many of which are in chaos and war as different “Families” duke it out for control and power. I dug the setting and the unpredictability of the many floors and what dangers could be found on them.
The characters were sympathetic and appealing. The blurb is basically the first 15% or so of the story, so there was a lot of plot and twists that came along that I wasn’t expecting. You have young Tuck, former Gutter (i.e. street rat) who is rescued from a future at a Family-run whore house by a government military team. Ivan, one of the soldiers on that team, has no idea why they’re spending time rescuing this punk kid, but it gets his instincts up, and he starts to explore into the system about why Tuck might be important. What he finds he doesn’t like, especially since, against his better judgment, he’s starting to fall for Tuck.
This is the second book I’ve read by Blue, (after the Assassin-in-Alaska thriller Untamed Heart), and like in that book, I find her writing very readable. There were a few “the larger man”, “the smaller man” that stood out, but overall, I find her style easy and interesting.
What was harder for me: I liked Tuck and Ivan; their relationship and growing reliance and trust in each other was sweet, but I didn’t totally “get” them. I was being told that they were falling for each other, but personally, I didn’t really understand why, outside of their initial attraction. I just went with the flow though, and overall, I enjoyed their story, but I wasn’t swept up into it. I’m not sure what would have made it more “organic” and understandable, but I did feel there was something missing that would have made it feel stronger.
I loved the fast pace, but at times actions or activities were told to us, which I felt dampened the impact, especially near the end as things were wrapped up. There’s a bit of “And these things were done here and here, so that’s all fixed now.”
But overall, I’m a “go with the flow” reader, especially with sci-fi and fantasy, so I sailed along pretty easily through this story. I didn’t find the romance super compelling, but it was sweet and readable, and I enjoy sci-fi, so this ride was fine. Out of the two books, I think I found Untamed Heart more resonating for me though.
If you love m/m sci-fi romance, you may dig this. It does have a lot of action and characters, some sexy time (not a lot), and a sweet developing romance. For me, I wish there was a little more to sink into, or get swept up by, but your mileage will vary.
This is Samhain, so it always stops early for excerpts. This one ends at 93% on the kindle version, which wasn’t too bad, I thought. It’s a long book (at over 80,000 words), so I definitely felt I got my money’s worth for an overall pretty interesting sci-fi novel.
August 11, 2016
Hell’s End starts strong with its depiction of a dark, dystopian future-world where anarchy reigns supreme. A multilevel deep-space station is the backdrop for a story about power struggle. Some of the station levels are home to regular folk. Some are fierce battlegrounds where ‘Families’—the Sorensen, L’arisian, Ortega and McDougal clans, feud for supremacy. Factor into this the Government (Gov), the secretive, corrupt, evil, villain of the story whispered to have experimented with genetic and psychological modifications on adults and children. Some have been chosen, willingly or not, for their enhanced physical, mental or extrasensory abilities, to act as clandestine agents. Of course, where there is an evil ruling body, there has to be a rebellion— in this case a rag-tag group of fighters unhappy with the repressive regime.
Enter Tucker, member of the vicious Gutter gang, a group of street kids ranging from toddler to young adult. They live on the edge, roaming the station levels, looting, wreaking havoc and just trying to stay alive. They are orphans, abandoned or lost from their families, who have formed their own nest. For some reason when a Gutter ‘comes of age’ (unspecified, but I’m guessing around eighteen-years-old) they are ousted, hunted, and eaten by the other members of the gang. Hey, it’s the future, and food is scarce. It’s never clear what triggers this expulsion, but Tucker’s time has come. Lucky for him, the Gov had sent in hunky soldier, Ivan, to the rescue just in the nick of time, from a gutting and spit-roasting. It seems that Tucker has something the Government wants and needs. He is a valuable commodity. And anyone can be conscripted to work for the cause. As long as they want to stay alive, that is. To add further interest, the rebellion also has its eye on both Tucker and Ivan.
So, here we have an intriguing premise with a hard-core anti-hero who has defied all odds for survival. Unfortunately, the story starts to lose steam. Boy meets boy, lust ensues, and there is much hand-holding and stolen kisses. All good and dandy but it seems it’s mostly convenience that keeps Tucker and Ivan together. And we meander from the dark desperation of this dystopia waiting in the wings, to our heroes, sweet as they are, waiting for something to happen. Tucker, with his mysterious super ability, is relegated to an administrative position, of all things (is this how you treat a talented, ninja dude?), putting the kibosh on any real double-agent super-sleuthing for the rebellion. We are given a lot of secondary characters, mostly in the rebellion, but none of them are more than sketched-out figures. In fact, the most interesting side characters are not human. Creepy predators, the engineered “nanobots,” remind me of the ‘Borg’ from the Star Trek TV show— creatures of the hive mind. So, our MC’s Ivan and Tucker, continue to moon after each other, looking for something to do. And then, Boom... About two-thirds of the way into the plot things lurch into high gear and we finally get some interesting action. Tucker finally comes into his own. I only wish this could have happened earlier. Here, we have an interesting premise that loses its way mid-story and seems stronger in its parts than in its whole.
I’ve read other stuff by this author and enjoyed it. The ‘Bay City Paranormal Investigations’ series is fun and well done— I found the writing there better put together. Still, sci-fi lovers who want some sexy boy action mixed in will find something to like in “Hell’s End” but patience is required.
For this review and more please visit: The Blog of Sid Love
May 5, 2013
Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/bo...
Tuck jumped from the frying pan into the fire. After escaping the Gutters, a vicious band of children and teenagers who were bent on killing and eating him, Tuck emerged alive only to be taken by another gang for their prostitution ring. If being drugged to the gills in preparation for a life of sexual slavery wasn’t bad enough, Tuck soon finds himself rescued only to be made a spy for the government. Yet the rebels want Tuck to turn into a double agent and give them information instead. Tuck’s having a hell of a week and the only one he can trust is the sexy soldier that seems to care about him beyond all good sense.
Hell’s End is a quick paced, action packed roller coaster ride from beginning to end. Set in an alternate science fiction world, the planet is ravaged by gangs, violence, and a seemingly corrupt government. Every level offers some different source of danger and conflict. The world building is ambitious and impressive. There are several holes in the logic governing the planet and it’s various levels but the fast, near non-stop action, and maze-like plot helped me ignore any problems. There’s so much going on with such a large cast that the story absorbed almost all my attention just to keep up with everything and everyone.
The characters are well defined but there are a lot of them. This isn’t a problem, per se, but since each new character is more interesting than the last, it does mean that none of them get the space they really deserve, perhaps they will in future books. The main characters of Tuck and Ivan, the government soldier who falls for Tuck, make a nice couple. They help drive the action and give it a central point amid the swirling chaos that seems to always be present. I think there’s too much going on to really devote the necessary time and attention to their romance to make it truly believable but I liked it as a counterpoint to the violence that perpetuates the world and story.
While reading I was quickly and thoroughly absorbed from the start. It sucked me in so I read it pretty fast and without too many breaks. I worry that I won’t be able to remember all the necessary details if there are any subsequent books in the series but the author’s imagination is let loose. The creativity and delight of this world, with all its darkness and hidden beauty, is a wonder. The plot is ambitious and reaches perhaps too far with the genetic manipulations, bots, spies upon spies, traitors, moles, and so on but it makes for a lightening fast and extremely entertaining read. I would easily recommend this for sci-fi fans that like a lot of action and a complicated plot. This is not a difficult read but it’s also not what I’d consider a breezy read either. It’s absorbing for the right person.
Tuck jumped from the frying pan into the fire. After escaping the Gutters, a vicious band of children and teenagers who were bent on killing and eating him, Tuck emerged alive only to be taken by another gang for their prostitution ring. If being drugged to the gills in preparation for a life of sexual slavery wasn’t bad enough, Tuck soon finds himself rescued only to be made a spy for the government. Yet the rebels want Tuck to turn into a double agent and give them information instead. Tuck’s having a hell of a week and the only one he can trust is the sexy soldier that seems to care about him beyond all good sense.
Hell’s End is a quick paced, action packed roller coaster ride from beginning to end. Set in an alternate science fiction world, the planet is ravaged by gangs, violence, and a seemingly corrupt government. Every level offers some different source of danger and conflict. The world building is ambitious and impressive. There are several holes in the logic governing the planet and it’s various levels but the fast, near non-stop action, and maze-like plot helped me ignore any problems. There’s so much going on with such a large cast that the story absorbed almost all my attention just to keep up with everything and everyone.
The characters are well defined but there are a lot of them. This isn’t a problem, per se, but since each new character is more interesting than the last, it does mean that none of them get the space they really deserve, perhaps they will in future books. The main characters of Tuck and Ivan, the government soldier who falls for Tuck, make a nice couple. They help drive the action and give it a central point amid the swirling chaos that seems to always be present. I think there’s too much going on to really devote the necessary time and attention to their romance to make it truly believable but I liked it as a counterpoint to the violence that perpetuates the world and story.
While reading I was quickly and thoroughly absorbed from the start. It sucked me in so I read it pretty fast and without too many breaks. I worry that I won’t be able to remember all the necessary details if there are any subsequent books in the series but the author’s imagination is let loose. The creativity and delight of this world, with all its darkness and hidden beauty, is a wonder. The plot is ambitious and reaches perhaps too far with the genetic manipulations, bots, spies upon spies, traitors, moles, and so on but it makes for a lightening fast and extremely entertaining read. I would easily recommend this for sci-fi fans that like a lot of action and a complicated plot. This is not a difficult read but it’s also not what I’d consider a breezy read either. It’s absorbing for the right person.
July 2, 2013
Hell’s End is a roller coaster and one that I can only imagine is the start of a series. The majority of loose ends, plot wise, are wrapped up but there feels like so much more story left to tell that I’d be surprised if it’s a one-off. In any case the writing is fresh, the science fiction brutal and gritty, and the characters intriguing. I liked reading this quite a bit, but at the same time I never forget the story’s limitations. I never fully bought into the main couple, they’re well matched but instead of being invested in their romance I was often distracted by supporting cast members. I liked the two main protagonists on their own and even together during action scenes but their true love felt more forced than natural to me.
Tuck has just been ousted from the only family he’s ever known. The Gutters are a band of roving children who will steal anything, kill anyone, and eat their own members when they grow too old. It’s a vicious and unrelenting lifestyle but the only home Tuck knows. Out on the streets less than a day, Tuck gets thrust into a gang’s prostitution ring. However, more hits keep coming for Tuck as the Government wants him for their own purposes and sends a group of soldiers, including Ivan, to rescue Tuck. Knowing something isn’t right, Ivan is determined to figure out what the Government wants with Tuck and furthermore, how to save him from that fate.
The plot is very complicated with a lot of twists and layers. It’s not difficult to follow while reading, which is a real credit to the writing, but when I stopped to think about the different aspects I realized they didn’t always make sense. The concept is pretty basic in that a war torn planet called Hell’s End exists with different layers – imagine a building with an elevator and fire escape ladder – that house different groups. On certain layers families, mob or gang style groups, are fighting amongst themselves for control. Then there are the children gang or Gutters, the Government and it’s machinations, and a mercenary group as well. Altogether it’s a lot of fighting over one planet.
Somewhere along the way the Government decided to genetically modify people and their offspring to build better spies and those that escaped have formed a rebellion. Tuck and Ivan get sucked into the rebellion to bring down the Government. Like I said it’s complex to say the least but it’s never confusing. Some of the details simply don’t make sense or fit together well – such as the tattoos or the government’s inability to find certain people such as the other genetically modified children, yet they can quickly find other people, the travel between the levels, the ending regarding Tuvro – yet I could suspend disbelief and just go along with the story for the sake of entertainment. There is a lot of quick action and fast moving jargon to help cover any lapses, not to mention near constant hacking, sneaking, and covert meetings that seem to be obvious to everyone but the underground.
Most of these issues didn’t really occur to me until I finished the book and started actually thinking about all the action and how improbable a lot of it is so this may not bother a lot of readers. What bothered me most while reading is more that the relationship between Tuck and Ivan seems forced. It happens so fast without a lot of lead up – Ivan rescues Tuck and then the two are inseparable. I kept thinking that Ivan wouldn’t be able to have such a relationship considering Tuck’s status and that it made no real sense for the two to be together. It’s important to the story but I didn’t feel a strong connection, even after their declarations of love. I like both characters quite a bit and they have equal parts dimension and intrigue but together it feels more expected than natural.
The other numerous supporting cast members shine. Most captured my attention early on from Ivan’s team members to Sandman to Reeve to Kiri, I honestly could read about any of them and be happy. They all feel unique, even despite how many there are, and I was quite happy to read the action scenes when so many participated. I’m really hopeful that future books in the series will focus more on the other people and less on Tuck and Ivan.
Overall though this is a well written, creative science fiction story. It has a lot of grit with death, blood, and violence no stranger. It’s nothing gratuitous and helps complete the world building, which is impressive and enough even with some rather large holes. However, that is to be expected with a plot and world equally complex and complicated. The plot can be dense sometime but as a lover of science fiction I found myself glued to the pages for the most part, they flew by quicker than I expected. I’d recommend this more for sci-fi fans and those that like a grittier, more visceral story with a dash of romance.
Tuck has just been ousted from the only family he’s ever known. The Gutters are a band of roving children who will steal anything, kill anyone, and eat their own members when they grow too old. It’s a vicious and unrelenting lifestyle but the only home Tuck knows. Out on the streets less than a day, Tuck gets thrust into a gang’s prostitution ring. However, more hits keep coming for Tuck as the Government wants him for their own purposes and sends a group of soldiers, including Ivan, to rescue Tuck. Knowing something isn’t right, Ivan is determined to figure out what the Government wants with Tuck and furthermore, how to save him from that fate.
The plot is very complicated with a lot of twists and layers. It’s not difficult to follow while reading, which is a real credit to the writing, but when I stopped to think about the different aspects I realized they didn’t always make sense. The concept is pretty basic in that a war torn planet called Hell’s End exists with different layers – imagine a building with an elevator and fire escape ladder – that house different groups. On certain layers families, mob or gang style groups, are fighting amongst themselves for control. Then there are the children gang or Gutters, the Government and it’s machinations, and a mercenary group as well. Altogether it’s a lot of fighting over one planet.
Somewhere along the way the Government decided to genetically modify people and their offspring to build better spies and those that escaped have formed a rebellion. Tuck and Ivan get sucked into the rebellion to bring down the Government. Like I said it’s complex to say the least but it’s never confusing. Some of the details simply don’t make sense or fit together well – such as the tattoos or the government’s inability to find certain people such as the other genetically modified children, yet they can quickly find other people, the travel between the levels, the ending regarding Tuvro – yet I could suspend disbelief and just go along with the story for the sake of entertainment. There is a lot of quick action and fast moving jargon to help cover any lapses, not to mention near constant hacking, sneaking, and covert meetings that seem to be obvious to everyone but the underground.
Most of these issues didn’t really occur to me until I finished the book and started actually thinking about all the action and how improbable a lot of it is so this may not bother a lot of readers. What bothered me most while reading is more that the relationship between Tuck and Ivan seems forced. It happens so fast without a lot of lead up – Ivan rescues Tuck and then the two are inseparable. I kept thinking that Ivan wouldn’t be able to have such a relationship considering Tuck’s status and that it made no real sense for the two to be together. It’s important to the story but I didn’t feel a strong connection, even after their declarations of love. I like both characters quite a bit and they have equal parts dimension and intrigue but together it feels more expected than natural.
The other numerous supporting cast members shine. Most captured my attention early on from Ivan’s team members to Sandman to Reeve to Kiri, I honestly could read about any of them and be happy. They all feel unique, even despite how many there are, and I was quite happy to read the action scenes when so many participated. I’m really hopeful that future books in the series will focus more on the other people and less on Tuck and Ivan.
Overall though this is a well written, creative science fiction story. It has a lot of grit with death, blood, and violence no stranger. It’s nothing gratuitous and helps complete the world building, which is impressive and enough even with some rather large holes. However, that is to be expected with a plot and world equally complex and complicated. The plot can be dense sometime but as a lover of science fiction I found myself glued to the pages for the most part, they flew by quicker than I expected. I’d recommend this more for sci-fi fans and those that like a grittier, more visceral story with a dash of romance.
March 21, 2013
5 Hearts
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
Hell’s End is a war field, between the Gov and the families fighting for control, it’s a fight for survival every day. Tuck is a Gutter, one of the many children who band together to stay alive, but life expectancy is short, if you live past 18/19 years old and the Gov and families don’t get you then the other Gutter’s will. Tuck’s time has run out and when he outruns the Gutter’s his problems have only just begun. Ivan is a Gov soldier and when he is ordered to rescue a kid from one of the families’ whorehouses his suspicions are aroused, just what is so special about a Gutter kid that the Gov would pull off a daring rescue? Discovering the truth, Ivan sets out to do what is right, getting involved with the rebellion may get them both killed, but falling in love gives them something to live for.
Oh my God, hold on to your seat because this ride is about to get bumpy. Tuck lives on level thirty-six of Hell’s End, that level belongs to the Gutter’s, children abandoned throughout the station are taken in by older children and they survive by any means necessary and if you get older or slow down, then you make a tasty meal for the rest of the Gutter’s. Tuck’s time has come and when he manages to escape he ends up being caught by one of the families, and being rescued isn’t something he even imagined. Being rescued by the Gov is a disaster and when Ivan comes to him with a warning, it draws both of them into Gov secrets that the Gov don’t want discovered. Ivan and Tuck are drawn together in hard times, developing feelings that could be used against them, but their feelings won’t be ignored, and can they save each other while fighting against the Gov?
*Squeal* This book grips you by the throat from the first page, and as a warning if you have a delicate stomach there are times when it will churn. The setting in this book is brutal, it is a fight for survival, there aren’t many levels where the brutality doesn’t reach and even the levels that should be safe have hidden dangers. The characters are varied, but each has the underlying need for survival. Ivan and Tuck may come from completely different levels, but there is a spark between them that is rough and needy and their love doesn’t come easy or wrapped in a pretty package, their love develops during harsh times while they are digging and delving in places better left alone.
The storyline is a twisting maelstrom, we discover the Gov’s dark secrets, and the lengths they will go to, to get their way, but as we are drawn in further the depths of the Gov’s duplicity are revealed. The background settings are brilliantly written, the backdrop stands out against the story that is being played out and the characters add the life and danger that lingers all over Hell’s End. Should I tell you about the spider robots? Nah, I think that is an experience you should discover for yourself. Should I describe the rolling street battles? Now where would be the fun in that? Should I tell you about the Gutter’s… the scariest group of all? I wouldn’t want to ruin your revulsion or the kindling seeds of pity.
If you want a science fiction story that is brutal and gritty, that has danger and excitement, that will turn your stomach, that has love and hope, a brilliant storyline and the beginnings of a happily ever after, then this story is for you.
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
Hell’s End is a war field, between the Gov and the families fighting for control, it’s a fight for survival every day. Tuck is a Gutter, one of the many children who band together to stay alive, but life expectancy is short, if you live past 18/19 years old and the Gov and families don’t get you then the other Gutter’s will. Tuck’s time has run out and when he outruns the Gutter’s his problems have only just begun. Ivan is a Gov soldier and when he is ordered to rescue a kid from one of the families’ whorehouses his suspicions are aroused, just what is so special about a Gutter kid that the Gov would pull off a daring rescue? Discovering the truth, Ivan sets out to do what is right, getting involved with the rebellion may get them both killed, but falling in love gives them something to live for.
Oh my God, hold on to your seat because this ride is about to get bumpy. Tuck lives on level thirty-six of Hell’s End, that level belongs to the Gutter’s, children abandoned throughout the station are taken in by older children and they survive by any means necessary and if you get older or slow down, then you make a tasty meal for the rest of the Gutter’s. Tuck’s time has come and when he manages to escape he ends up being caught by one of the families, and being rescued isn’t something he even imagined. Being rescued by the Gov is a disaster and when Ivan comes to him with a warning, it draws both of them into Gov secrets that the Gov don’t want discovered. Ivan and Tuck are drawn together in hard times, developing feelings that could be used against them, but their feelings won’t be ignored, and can they save each other while fighting against the Gov?
*Squeal* This book grips you by the throat from the first page, and as a warning if you have a delicate stomach there are times when it will churn. The setting in this book is brutal, it is a fight for survival, there aren’t many levels where the brutality doesn’t reach and even the levels that should be safe have hidden dangers. The characters are varied, but each has the underlying need for survival. Ivan and Tuck may come from completely different levels, but there is a spark between them that is rough and needy and their love doesn’t come easy or wrapped in a pretty package, their love develops during harsh times while they are digging and delving in places better left alone.
The storyline is a twisting maelstrom, we discover the Gov’s dark secrets, and the lengths they will go to, to get their way, but as we are drawn in further the depths of the Gov’s duplicity are revealed. The background settings are brilliantly written, the backdrop stands out against the story that is being played out and the characters add the life and danger that lingers all over Hell’s End. Should I tell you about the spider robots? Nah, I think that is an experience you should discover for yourself. Should I describe the rolling street battles? Now where would be the fun in that? Should I tell you about the Gutter’s… the scariest group of all? I wouldn’t want to ruin your revulsion or the kindling seeds of pity.
If you want a science fiction story that is brutal and gritty, that has danger and excitement, that will turn your stomach, that has love and hope, a brilliant storyline and the beginnings of a happily ever after, then this story is for you.
May 30, 2013
This story is simply bad in my opinion. Nothing is truly understandable or logical here. I couldn't even connect with the story as a whole. And I didn't even mention both MC's, Tuck and Ivan, what a couple. Here we have an instant connection between the MC's. This whole created world in this story didn't make sense. Sure at the beginning it was pulling enough, but then soon everything fell apart. And because of that I couldn't especially accept how madly HOT were Tuck and Ivan about each other. They were strangers but hey crazy obsessed about keeping in touch, which didn't make sense. What a boring book!
February 26, 2017
I started this book with much trepidation, dystopia sci-fi isn't my favourite genre, and under normally circumstances I wouldn't have sought this book out in the 1000s in my TBR pile. But Samhain is closing and I need to decide whether to buy the sequel before it disappears for a while.
Boy, I'm glad I did. Well written, interesting plot, great romance. Yes it was bleak and creepy in places, and if it had been a movie it would be a violent gore fest. But it finished on a glimmer of hope for everyone's future and a solid forever for the heroes (whatever is to come, because whether this part of the story continues in the sequel, Tucker and Ivan still have work to do in the remaking of Hell's End).
As for the sequel, Sandman is a hard character to connect to and I think it will be a difficult read but hey, I've had that same thought before and look how that turned out...
Boy, I'm glad I did. Well written, interesting plot, great romance. Yes it was bleak and creepy in places, and if it had been a movie it would be a violent gore fest. But it finished on a glimmer of hope for everyone's future and a solid forever for the heroes (whatever is to come, because whether this part of the story continues in the sequel, Tucker and Ivan still have work to do in the remaking of Hell's End).
As for the sequel, Sandman is a hard character to connect to and I think it will be a difficult read but hey, I've had that same thought before and look how that turned out...
June 26, 2013
In the story dedication, Ally Blue thanks the masters of sci-fi, and I think she did them proud.
Hell's End drew me into the story and kept me turning the pages, and never, ever gave me a break from the action. Just when the heroes seemed to get themselves out of one jam, they found themselves back in the fire again. I was so caught up in the action that when I found myself in a waiting room without my ereader, I bought the book again to download directly to my phone. Suddenly, the wait time didn't matter anymore.
The world-building, the character developement, the engaging secondary characters, and the flawed heroes came together to create a vivid world where I dared not blink for fear of missing something. There are no wasted words, and ever single one is needed to tell the story. And what a picture the author paints! Vicious nanobots? *Shivers*
See something in a paragraph that seems small and insignificant? Well, you better remember it, because that's how cleverly the innuendo and plotpoints are woven in. What you skimmed over will make a reappearance later... with a bang. Beautiful writing and engaging descriptions helped me clearly see the world of Tuck and Ivan.
Had this simply been the tale of two buddies, I would still have sung its praises, but as a bonus, we get two very different men (or so they seem on the outside) who find each other and forge a bond in the midst of adversity.
Now, if you're wanting a hearts and flowers romance, that's not what you'll get here. A common enemy brings our guys together, and this is love in the trenches, when the fight for survival outweighs all other concerns. It's raw and rough, in a hellish nightmare world, but the meeting of minds and hearts can't be denied.
Given the title and the open ends, I'm hoping there will be a sequel real soon. I'd love to see Sandman find some happiness, and for someone to offer the Gutters a better chance. Bravo, Ms. Blue. Well done. I'll be rereading this one and hoping for a sequel. Feel free to take that as a hint.
Hell's End drew me into the story and kept me turning the pages, and never, ever gave me a break from the action. Just when the heroes seemed to get themselves out of one jam, they found themselves back in the fire again. I was so caught up in the action that when I found myself in a waiting room without my ereader, I bought the book again to download directly to my phone. Suddenly, the wait time didn't matter anymore.
The world-building, the character developement, the engaging secondary characters, and the flawed heroes came together to create a vivid world where I dared not blink for fear of missing something. There are no wasted words, and ever single one is needed to tell the story. And what a picture the author paints! Vicious nanobots? *Shivers*
See something in a paragraph that seems small and insignificant? Well, you better remember it, because that's how cleverly the innuendo and plotpoints are woven in. What you skimmed over will make a reappearance later... with a bang. Beautiful writing and engaging descriptions helped me clearly see the world of Tuck and Ivan.
Had this simply been the tale of two buddies, I would still have sung its praises, but as a bonus, we get two very different men (or so they seem on the outside) who find each other and forge a bond in the midst of adversity.
Now, if you're wanting a hearts and flowers romance, that's not what you'll get here. A common enemy brings our guys together, and this is love in the trenches, when the fight for survival outweighs all other concerns. It's raw and rough, in a hellish nightmare world, but the meeting of minds and hearts can't be denied.
Given the title and the open ends, I'm hoping there will be a sequel real soon. I'd love to see Sandman find some happiness, and for someone to offer the Gutters a better chance. Bravo, Ms. Blue. Well done. I'll be rereading this one and hoping for a sequel. Feel free to take that as a hint.
May 23, 2013
What it's about: This is a very fast-paced book involving Tuck and his week from … well, Hell. Tuck starts out in a bloody and violent street gang, and things go downhill from there. Our other hero is Ivan, a soldier who knows he shouldn't get involved with a gutter kid, or the rebellion, but try telling that to his heart.
Why you should read it: I love m/m, and I love sci-fi. Hell's End mixes the two perfectly, with the thrown in spice of adventure and chemistry. It's a quick read, and the secondary characters are amazing. If anything, I felt as though this book could have been longer. Hopefully, since this is only the first book in the series, the rest of the cast will get the airtime they deserve. If you're a fan of action, sci-fi and two hot men, pick up Hell's End!
To see what's next for Ally check out the HEA Blog
http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyev...
Why you should read it: I love m/m, and I love sci-fi. Hell's End mixes the two perfectly, with the thrown in spice of adventure and chemistry. It's a quick read, and the secondary characters are amazing. If anything, I felt as though this book could have been longer. Hopefully, since this is only the first book in the series, the rest of the cast will get the airtime they deserve. If you're a fan of action, sci-fi and two hot men, pick up Hell's End!
To see what's next for Ally check out the HEA Blog
http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyev...
January 4, 2016
There is a lot going on on what I’m assuming is a space station called Hell’s End. I believe it’s near Pluto, but the characters have interesting expletives that involve Jupiter. Most of this novel just left me confused. The ruling sector of this hundred plus level station is referred to as the House. The House has Chiefs. There are also families that seem to run certain levels in a gang, maybe mob manner. I’m thinking the Government soldiers may have been a type of law enforcement added to the mix but things appeared in the beginning and remained in the end in a type of lawless state.
Government grunt soldier Ivan and Gutter escapee double agent genetically modified super spy Tuck are thrown together when one of the mob/gang families catches Tuck and decides he’d make a great prostitute in one of their whorehouses. The Government has been looking for Tuck and other like him for a long time. Finally having one of their projects back under their control again will help them bring down the underground rebellion faction. A simple detox and couple weeks of training and Tuck is in the field spying for both sides.
See, there is a lot of stuff going on and I have no clue as to why for the majority of it. Everything is told to both the reader and the characters and we are just supposed to take it and go with the flow.
That’s exactly what Ivan and Tuck do. They go with the flow on everything. No one questions the reasons they are given for having to follow along. This creates a big lack of conflict. I need some conflict and tension in my reads. I will not be moving on with the Hellscape series.
Government grunt soldier Ivan and Gutter escapee double agent genetically modified super spy Tuck are thrown together when one of the mob/gang families catches Tuck and decides he’d make a great prostitute in one of their whorehouses. The Government has been looking for Tuck and other like him for a long time. Finally having one of their projects back under their control again will help them bring down the underground rebellion faction. A simple detox and couple weeks of training and Tuck is in the field spying for both sides.
See, there is a lot of stuff going on and I have no clue as to why for the majority of it. Everything is told to both the reader and the characters and we are just supposed to take it and go with the flow.
That’s exactly what Ivan and Tuck do. They go with the flow on everything. No one questions the reasons they are given for having to follow along. This creates a big lack of conflict. I need some conflict and tension in my reads. I will not be moving on with the Hellscape series.
July 24, 2013
What a story! Ally Blue is a master at creating alternate realities and futuristic worlds and then inhabiting them with the most fascinating people ever to grace the page of a sci-fi novel. She does not falter here in Hell’s End—not one bit. You are thrust into the world and, immediately, your adrenaline begins to soar. To minimize this novel by saying it is “action packed” is like saying that Mother Goose wrote a “few” nursery rhymes! I could not put this novel down!
It was just an excellent story from beginning to end. This author immersed us in a world where anything could happen, where human lives were forfeit, and where the government is so corrupt that scientific experimentation is not only allowed but encouraged. Families torn apart, children separated from their parents who “disappeared” suddenly. And in the midst of it all, a small rebel force who want to destroy the evil that has thrived and governed them all.
Hell’s End is a cleverly disguised commentary on the very real idea that bad government eats its people up and tosses them aside with no care as to their wellbeing or happiness. It strikes at the very core of genetic engineering and asks the hard questions about what right, if any, the Fed has to play with human life. But don’t be put off by this—and never fear, this is a top-notch sci-fi novel with a deliciously hot romance and action for days. Smart, fast-paced and deeply engrossing—that is Hell’s End in a nutshell! I highly recommend this novel to you!
It was just an excellent story from beginning to end. This author immersed us in a world where anything could happen, where human lives were forfeit, and where the government is so corrupt that scientific experimentation is not only allowed but encouraged. Families torn apart, children separated from their parents who “disappeared” suddenly. And in the midst of it all, a small rebel force who want to destroy the evil that has thrived and governed them all.
Hell’s End is a cleverly disguised commentary on the very real idea that bad government eats its people up and tosses them aside with no care as to their wellbeing or happiness. It strikes at the very core of genetic engineering and asks the hard questions about what right, if any, the Fed has to play with human life. But don’t be put off by this—and never fear, this is a top-notch sci-fi novel with a deliciously hot romance and action for days. Smart, fast-paced and deeply engrossing—that is Hell’s End in a nutshell! I highly recommend this novel to you!
June 25, 2013
ugh! I've changed my rating three times now. Four, then three, then four. I'm leaving it at four. I enjoyed the story enough for four stars. I like the science-fiction aspect and I like the darker tone, like the Gutters and the whole once you are too old they chase you down, gut you and eat you. *shrug* I'm weird that way. It's not a romance-y type romance and I actually enjoyed that. It's more about the rest of the story, but I was still happy with the romance that was in it.
September 17, 2015
Okay, I have to say I really enjoyed this book. There was elements of Star Trek, Star Wars, a romance, and just about any post-apocalyptic world. There was a previous review that I read about this book that said that there was nothing between Ivan and Tuck other than a healthy sexual appetite and I have to disagree. Albeit, it started out as some sort of hero worship when Ivan rescued Tuck but from there I believe it became a full blown romantic relationship with each other needing what the other had. There were also quite a bit of characters in this book which made it sort of hard to keep track of all of them but it really wasn't that much of a bother. I adored Ivan and Tuck even though he could be stubborn little sh*t. All in all this was a good book and I hope we get more about Ivan and Tuck in the future.
May 25, 2015
Ally Blue turns out an awesome cyberpunk story with Hell's End. Tuck barely manages to escape from the Gutters, a cannibalistic tribe of children, only to find himself kidnapped by one of the mafia-like Families that feud over the 120 levels of the space station Hell's End. Being unexpectedly rescued by Gov soldiers isn't necessarily an improvement, either. Ivan, on the other hand, is definitely an improvement. Determined to find out what interest the Chiefs have in a Gutter kid, Ivan starts digging into Science and Experimentation's records. The answers are a lot more dangerous than ignorance though.
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June 10, 20133.5 Stars!
Please read review at The Blog of Sid Love
Please read review at The Blog of Sid Love
June 27, 2014
Couldn't get past the cannibalism.
November 1, 2015
2013 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
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