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Elpída #1
Omorphi
High school senior Michael Sattler leads a charmed life. He’s a star athlete, has great friends, and parents who love him just the way he is. What’s missing from his life is a boyfriend. That’s a problem because he’s out only to his parents and best friend. When Michael accidentally bumps into Christy Castle at school, his life changes in ways he never imagined. Christy is Michael’s dream guy: smart, pretty, and sexy. But nothing could have prepared Michael for what being Christy's boyfriend would entail.
Christy needs to heal after years of abuse and knows he needs help to do it. After the death of his notorious father, he leaves his native Greece and settles in upstate New York. Alone, afraid, and left without a voice, Christy hides the myriad scars of his abuse. He desperately wants to be loved and when he meets Michael, he dares to hope that day has arrived. When one of Michael’s team-mates becomes an enemy and an abuser from Christy’s past seeks to return him to a life of slavery, only Michael and Christy's combined strength and unwavering determination can save them from the violence that threatens to destroy their future together.
Christy needs to heal after years of abuse and knows he needs help to do it. After the death of his notorious father, he leaves his native Greece and settles in upstate New York. Alone, afraid, and left without a voice, Christy hides the myriad scars of his abuse. He desperately wants to be loved and when he meets Michael, he dares to hope that day has arrived. When one of Michael’s team-mates becomes an enemy and an abuser from Christy’s past seeks to return him to a life of slavery, only Michael and Christy's combined strength and unwavering determination can save them from the violence that threatens to destroy their future together.
480 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 4, 2013
27 people are currently reading
830 people want to read
About the author
C. Kennedy
25 books238 followersRaised on the mean streets and back lots of Hollywood by a Yoda-look-alike grandfather, award-winning author, Cody Kennedy, doesn’t conform, doesn’t fit in, is epic awkward, and lives to perfect a deep-seated oppositional defiance disorder. In a constant state of fascination with the trivial, Cody contemplates such weighty questions as: If time and space are curved, then where do all the straight people come from? When not writing, Cody can be found taming waves on western shores, pondering the nutritional value of sunsets, appreciating the much maligned dandelion, unhooking guide ropes from stanchions, and marveling at all things ordinary. Visit my blog with comments, questions, or simply share what’s on your mind.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
September 27, 2013
The blurb and the cover grabbed my attention, I kept going back to the book on the DSP site and looking and thinking.
I read some friends reviews and another friend on twitter raved about it, so I bought this book.
Now I'm sort of in a difficult spot.
There are parts of this book I love. They are beautiful the touching and powerful and hopeful.
I love Christy, despite all he has endured he is a strong and determined young man. I loved seeing the hope blossom in him the love for Michael, but more importantly the love for himself that grew.
Making his way forward, living and growing and changing and taking control of his life.
That was beautiful, truly. Michael is a prince of a man, so mature and just damn good. Literally a heart of gold.
Jake was, like Michael, almost too good to be true. Although their relationship was a tad bit confusing to me. The 'more' undertones had me thinking it can't end well.
My issues were different ones, first, there is just way too much going on.
Jeeze..so, I guess as you can tell this issue really distracted me from a sweet story of young and exuberant love, of overcoming horrors, of friendship and hope.
I read some friends reviews and another friend on twitter raved about it, so I bought this book.
Now I'm sort of in a difficult spot.
There are parts of this book I love. They are beautiful the touching and powerful and hopeful.
I love Christy, despite all he has endured he is a strong and determined young man. I loved seeing the hope blossom in him the love for Michael, but more importantly the love for himself that grew.
Making his way forward, living and growing and changing and taking control of his life.
That was beautiful, truly. Michael is a prince of a man, so mature and just damn good. Literally a heart of gold.
Jake was, like Michael, almost too good to be true. Although their relationship was a tad bit confusing to me. The 'more' undertones had me thinking it can't end well.
My issues were different ones, first, there is just way too much going on.
Jeeze..so, I guess as you can tell this issue really distracted me from a sweet story of young and exuberant love, of overcoming horrors, of friendship and hope.
September 16, 2013
Please heed the trigger warnings. The abuse in this book gave me nightmares. Still, I'm a better person for having read this.
I raged, I cried hot tears. But I also smiled and laughed and cheered.
I know it's going to be quite difficult to review a book of this magnitude, but I'll give it my best shot.
The book opens with a prologue of sorts (which it needs, to set the tone), in which a Greek police general more or less rescues a young male on the verge of death. Phone calls are made, hints are given, and the young male, suffering from the effects of prolonged abuse, is sent to a facility in New York State to start a new life.
My fists clenched in helpless fury, my heart already bleeding for this young man without even knowing the entire back story.
I know it now, even though after reading the book's 500+ pages, I still have questions and some things remained unanswered.
After the prologue, the book's POV switches to that of Michael Sattler, a high school senior, captain of the track team. From the moment he meets Christy Castle, he's fascinates and enamored by the beautiful young man with the gorgeous eyes and long, blonde curls who's been watching him train, every day, without ever saying a word to him.
The budding relationship between Michael and Christy takes center stage in this novel, but it goes far beyond that. At its heart, it's the story of a determined young man in love for the first time (Michael), and a broken, abused and suffering Christy, who's equally as determined to move past the horrific sufferings of his childhood.
There are so many poignant moments in this book, it would be difficult to list them all, but here's a sampling:
- Christy asking Michael why he chose to be gay, thinking that the abuse suffered caused his sexuality and not understanding why Michael, with a great home, wonderful parents and friends, would also be gay. I cried.
- Christy asking about Michael eating three meals a day. I cried some more just thinking about what that had to mean, before Christy even spelled it out.
- Christy learning to run. I cried again, just overwhelmed with the tenderness of Michael's actions, and his coach's intuitive measures to make Christy feel safe.
- Michael calling himself 'unaware'. Dude doesn't get that he's more aware than anyone else in Christy's world, when it comes to his boyfriend's safety and care.
I have never known abuse, and I am grateful. I have known people who were abused, not only sexually, and the road to recovery is a very, very long one. Thus, I was able to empathize with Christy, as well as with Michael, and understand the difficulties inherent to such a situation.
I had a very hard time with the depiction of the abuse, even though it is thankfully fed to us in small pieces. Never have I shed so many tears while reading a book or shaken my fists in such helpless rage. Never will I understand how anyone can treat another human being like garbage. Still with each step forward Christy takes, with each moment he finds strength and perseveres - I was cheering him on.
The author created an amazing cast of characters beyond the two MCs. There is Jake (Jacob), who is Michael's amazing best friend, with a closeness like brothers; there are Michael's mom and dad, Bobbie and Mac, who are an exemplary set of parents; Jake's parents, specifically his father, who plays a huge role that the reader doesn't understand until further into the book; Rob, the counselor trying to help Christy; Sophia, Christy cousin; Stephen, Jesse, Lisa, Smitty, even Jason - they all have a role, but with perhaps the exception of Jason and Yosef (the villain throughout), all of them are multi-faceted and do things that kept me surprised.
I fell in love with Michael and Christy, especially the honesty and devotion they both display toward the other. The depth of their connection is evident from the start, and despite a few hiccups, it was beautiful to watch unfold. Michael has faults, of course, but they never detracted from the beauty that shines from within him. The things he said to and did for Christy, all because he loves this boy, were a privilege to read.
While there are some sexual situations in this book, it is important to know that they are initiated by Christy, that they are tastefully done without getting explicit, and that the all further and strengthen the relationship. There is nothing in any of them that made me question either Christy's or Michael's good judgment, nor did they give me the impression that they were for entertainment purposes. The delicate and tactful way with which the author describes their intimate relationship (including the humorous exchanges between Michael and his mom) are a testament to C. Kennedy's craft and foresight while writing this book. Even knowing that Christy had been severely abused over a long period of time, I did not at any time feel as if Michael was forcing him to do anything Christy did not want to do. He gave all control and all the power to Christy, without making himself powerless.
The last 50 or so pages had my heart beating in my throat with a nail-biting climax and one more heroic act and utterly heart-melting moment. And then a gentle letdown with the epilogue. I closed the file on my Nook with a heavy sigh and a smile on my face. I'm still smiling, still thinking of this story two days later, and I don't foresee ever forgetting about Christy and Michael. This is the kind of book that stays with you for a very long time.
The only thing that had me slightly baffled as the ineptitude of the security team, but I assumed that this was an intended plot device.
While this was a fictional story, the kind of abuse depicted within (and worse) does happen in the real world. It can happen to anyone, and it could be your neighbor or that kid you see at the grocery store. Open your eyes, watch out for it, step in when you can.
If you are a survivor of abuse, please keep fighting, keep persevering, keep getting stronger. Reach out for help. Don't suffer in silence. The abuse is not your fault. You didn't deserve it. And you are not alone.
Let me leave you with this: any book that can take as horrific a subject as child sexual abuse, treat the topic with reverence and care without ever delving into exploiting it for entertainment, and still give the reader reason to smile and laugh and cheer... Such a book is well deserving of much more than the five stars I can give. And it is well deserving of your time. Please, I beg you, give this a go.
I received a free ARC from Dreamspinner Press. It was an utter privilege to have been thus trusted with this amazing book.
I raged, I cried hot tears. But I also smiled and laughed and cheered.
I know it's going to be quite difficult to review a book of this magnitude, but I'll give it my best shot.
The book opens with a prologue of sorts (which it needs, to set the tone), in which a Greek police general more or less rescues a young male on the verge of death. Phone calls are made, hints are given, and the young male, suffering from the effects of prolonged abuse, is sent to a facility in New York State to start a new life.
My fists clenched in helpless fury, my heart already bleeding for this young man without even knowing the entire back story.
I know it now, even though after reading the book's 500+ pages, I still have questions and some things remained unanswered.
After the prologue, the book's POV switches to that of Michael Sattler, a high school senior, captain of the track team. From the moment he meets Christy Castle, he's fascinates and enamored by the beautiful young man with the gorgeous eyes and long, blonde curls who's been watching him train, every day, without ever saying a word to him.
The budding relationship between Michael and Christy takes center stage in this novel, but it goes far beyond that. At its heart, it's the story of a determined young man in love for the first time (Michael), and a broken, abused and suffering Christy, who's equally as determined to move past the horrific sufferings of his childhood.
There are so many poignant moments in this book, it would be difficult to list them all, but here's a sampling:
- Christy asking Michael why he chose to be gay, thinking that the abuse suffered caused his sexuality and not understanding why Michael, with a great home, wonderful parents and friends, would also be gay. I cried.
- Christy asking about Michael eating three meals a day. I cried some more just thinking about what that had to mean, before Christy even spelled it out.
- Christy learning to run. I cried again, just overwhelmed with the tenderness of Michael's actions, and his coach's intuitive measures to make Christy feel safe.
- Michael calling himself 'unaware'. Dude doesn't get that he's more aware than anyone else in Christy's world, when it comes to his boyfriend's safety and care.
I have never known abuse, and I am grateful. I have known people who were abused, not only sexually, and the road to recovery is a very, very long one. Thus, I was able to empathize with Christy, as well as with Michael, and understand the difficulties inherent to such a situation.
I had a very hard time with the depiction of the abuse, even though it is thankfully fed to us in small pieces. Never have I shed so many tears while reading a book or shaken my fists in such helpless rage. Never will I understand how anyone can treat another human being like garbage. Still with each step forward Christy takes, with each moment he finds strength and perseveres - I was cheering him on.
The author created an amazing cast of characters beyond the two MCs. There is Jake (Jacob), who is Michael's amazing best friend, with a closeness like brothers; there are Michael's mom and dad, Bobbie and Mac, who are an exemplary set of parents; Jake's parents, specifically his father, who plays a huge role that the reader doesn't understand until further into the book; Rob, the counselor trying to help Christy; Sophia, Christy cousin; Stephen, Jesse, Lisa, Smitty, even Jason - they all have a role, but with perhaps the exception of Jason and Yosef (the villain throughout), all of them are multi-faceted and do things that kept me surprised.
I fell in love with Michael and Christy, especially the honesty and devotion they both display toward the other. The depth of their connection is evident from the start, and despite a few hiccups, it was beautiful to watch unfold. Michael has faults, of course, but they never detracted from the beauty that shines from within him. The things he said to and did for Christy, all because he loves this boy, were a privilege to read.
While there are some sexual situations in this book, it is important to know that they are initiated by Christy, that they are tastefully done without getting explicit, and that the all further and strengthen the relationship. There is nothing in any of them that made me question either Christy's or Michael's good judgment, nor did they give me the impression that they were for entertainment purposes. The delicate and tactful way with which the author describes their intimate relationship (including the humorous exchanges between Michael and his mom) are a testament to C. Kennedy's craft and foresight while writing this book. Even knowing that Christy had been severely abused over a long period of time, I did not at any time feel as if Michael was forcing him to do anything Christy did not want to do. He gave all control and all the power to Christy, without making himself powerless.
The last 50 or so pages had my heart beating in my throat with a nail-biting climax and one more heroic act and utterly heart-melting moment. And then a gentle letdown with the epilogue. I closed the file on my Nook with a heavy sigh and a smile on my face. I'm still smiling, still thinking of this story two days later, and I don't foresee ever forgetting about Christy and Michael. This is the kind of book that stays with you for a very long time.
The only thing that had me slightly baffled as the ineptitude of the security team, but I assumed that this was an intended plot device.
While this was a fictional story, the kind of abuse depicted within (and worse) does happen in the real world. It can happen to anyone, and it could be your neighbor or that kid you see at the grocery store. Open your eyes, watch out for it, step in when you can.
If you are a survivor of abuse, please keep fighting, keep persevering, keep getting stronger. Reach out for help. Don't suffer in silence. The abuse is not your fault. You didn't deserve it. And you are not alone.
Let me leave you with this: any book that can take as horrific a subject as child sexual abuse, treat the topic with reverence and care without ever delving into exploiting it for entertainment, and still give the reader reason to smile and laugh and cheer... Such a book is well deserving of much more than the five stars I can give. And it is well deserving of your time. Please, I beg you, give this a go.
I received a free ARC from Dreamspinner Press. It was an utter privilege to have been thus trusted with this amazing book.
May 29, 2017
Don't be mislead into thinking this is just another YA story, this is so much more.
This book deals with a very horrifying crime. Sadly while the book is fiction too many elements of the crime are all too real.
This story will have you laughing, crying, and on the edge of your seat in anticipation. But mostly it will leave you in awe of the strength some people have.
If you are worried that abuse is not a subject matter you can read then please remember that this is more about surviving. Christy not only survived he flourished into a remarkable person.
Despite my personal niggles this is more than a 5 star read, purely for the way it is handled, Oh and for one of the most exciting climatic endings I've read in a long time.
ETA Not much to add except WOW even knowing how things end my stomach was still in knots at the end. I doubt I could ever tire of reading about Christy and co. Luckily I can now dive straight into book 2.
ETA I will never be able to read this book without breaking my heart, but come away with so much hope and love. Christy is an inspiration to us all.
This book deals with a very horrifying crime. Sadly while the book is fiction too many elements of the crime are all too real.
This story will have you laughing, crying, and on the edge of your seat in anticipation. But mostly it will leave you in awe of the strength some people have.
If you are worried that abuse is not a subject matter you can read then please remember that this is more about surviving. Christy not only survived he flourished into a remarkable person.
Despite my personal niggles this is more than a 5 star read, purely for the way it is handled, Oh and for one of the most exciting climatic endings I've read in a long time.
ETA Not much to add except WOW even knowing how things end my stomach was still in knots at the end. I doubt I could ever tire of reading about Christy and co. Luckily I can now dive straight into book 2.
ETA I will never be able to read this book without breaking my heart, but come away with so much hope and love. Christy is an inspiration to us all.
October 16, 2014
Omorphi is a story of healing. Christy has been abused from a young age- to the point that the abuse is normal to him. Choices and the ability to say no are foreign to him. After he is rescued and relocated to the United States from Greece, he meets Michael. His knight in shining armor. Once the two begin their relationship, Michael is determined to be there for Christy and help him heal- both physically and emotionally.
What I found very refreshing about this story, is that even though it is about a very dark topic, the book itself is not. It focused on the positives- Christy's strength and Michael's loyalty. Which were both inspiring and moving. I thank the author for taking so much care with these characters and their story. He made their journey realistic. The healing process was in no way easy.
The story is a bit insta-lovish which would normally irk me but it didn't in this case. I found their relationship very cute and swoon worthy. I'd definitely recommend this book and will definitely read more from this author. 5 Stars. ♥
March 3, 2016
**4.5 stars, rounding up, for this intelligent and gently handled story on very, very difficult themes.**
As you know, I don't write recaps of the story (read the blurb), nor do I fill my reviews with spoilers. This is my experience of the story. My connection to it.
AND WHAT A STORY IT IS.
Christy. You had me, hook, line, and sinker, already when you were sitting up on the bleachers, watching Michael from afar. His #1 Fan.
How somebody can take this subject matter and gently turn it into something so brilliant and elegant, is beyond me. Child abuse, sexual child abuse, in a story that has me cry like a baby and laugh like few books before, without ever even potentially falling into the horrifying trap of exploiting the abuse for the reader's "pleasure"?
Simply amazing.
Even the (quite tame, young and loving) sex scenes are never graphic nor exploiting. All power is, thanks to Michael, left in Christy's hands, for him to rediscover sexuality, love and discover Mike.
There is the one scene that just killed me dead, when Christy says he is glad that at least Michael is a virgin, and Michael responds:
"You are too. You have never been touched by someone who loved you."
There is so much in this book that just totally rocked. Or had me sitting in the corner, rocking.
The only parts that grated on my sense of correct storytelling were
I understand that it was to make the story more interesting, but seriously, it just managed to annoy me, and took half a star off my rating.
Nuff said.
One of the most charming characters was to be found on the sidelines: young Lisa. She was a force to be reckoned with, and by god I loved that. More and more intelligent women-side-characters are appearing also in m/m books these days, and I applaud it.
There were people from different continents and several colors in this story, and they all had their own voice. That is quite unusual, so extra kudos for that. (I have no idea if the Greek written in the book was correct, but the Italian could have benefited from a helping hand from a native speaker).
What is great with a story like this is that this was an MC I could really root for. Every step Christy took in the right direction was a screaming victory and I adored him so much for his strength. Even when he froze and walked in the wrong direction. To eventually bolt like a rabbit. God, I screamed for him, rooting so hard.
There is so much understanding about abuse and power play in this story that I am left shattered at the end. But mended, somehow, by the fine example of NEVER GIVING UP ON YOUR FRIENDS.
You stand up for your friends. Every. Single. Time.
And the cover of the book? That is seriously such a perfect image of Christy. I kept closing the book, and looking at the cover for minutes on end.
Beautiful.
Omorphi.
Indeed.
***
I received a free ARC from the publisher, Harmony Ink/Dreamspinner Press. A positive review was not promised in return.
As you know, I don't write recaps of the story (read the blurb), nor do I fill my reviews with spoilers. This is my experience of the story. My connection to it.
AND WHAT A STORY IT IS.
Christy. You had me, hook, line, and sinker, already when you were sitting up on the bleachers, watching Michael from afar. His #1 Fan.
How somebody can take this subject matter and gently turn it into something so brilliant and elegant, is beyond me. Child abuse, sexual child abuse, in a story that has me cry like a baby and laugh like few books before, without ever even potentially falling into the horrifying trap of exploiting the abuse for the reader's "pleasure"?
Simply amazing.
Even the (quite tame, young and loving) sex scenes are never graphic nor exploiting. All power is, thanks to Michael, left in Christy's hands, for him to rediscover sexuality, love and discover Mike.
There is the one scene that just killed me dead, when Christy says he is glad that at least Michael is a virgin, and Michael responds:
"You are too. You have never been touched by someone who loved you."
There is so much in this book that just totally rocked. Or had me sitting in the corner, rocking.
The only parts that grated on my sense of correct storytelling were
I understand that it was to make the story more interesting, but seriously, it just managed to annoy me, and took half a star off my rating.
Nuff said.
One of the most charming characters was to be found on the sidelines: young Lisa. She was a force to be reckoned with, and by god I loved that. More and more intelligent women-side-characters are appearing also in m/m books these days, and I applaud it.
There were people from different continents and several colors in this story, and they all had their own voice. That is quite unusual, so extra kudos for that. (I have no idea if the Greek written in the book was correct, but the Italian could have benefited from a helping hand from a native speaker).
What is great with a story like this is that this was an MC I could really root for. Every step Christy took in the right direction was a screaming victory and I adored him so much for his strength. Even when he froze and walked in the wrong direction. To eventually bolt like a rabbit. God, I screamed for him, rooting so hard.
There is so much understanding about abuse and power play in this story that I am left shattered at the end. But mended, somehow, by the fine example of NEVER GIVING UP ON YOUR FRIENDS.
You stand up for your friends. Every. Single. Time.
And the cover of the book? That is seriously such a perfect image of Christy. I kept closing the book, and looking at the cover for minutes on end.
Beautiful.
Omorphi.
Indeed.
***
I received a free ARC from the publisher, Harmony Ink/Dreamspinner Press. A positive review was not promised in return.
May 4, 2015
So much love it gets Disney style fan art!
What an exciting, heartbreaking, powerful, and motivating story this turned out to be! Omorphi a long one, but it’s so consumable and I’d happily read hundreds of pages more if given the opportunity. This story is guaranteed to pull at your emotions while it boldly tackles the heavy topic of abuse ...yet is surprisingly hopeful, despite this.
The tension and drama build up as details are revealed. It sort of plays out like a mystery in a way. ...It certainly has the depth of one! The foundation is strong and the results make for a gripping read. The information itself is paced out very evenly - enough that you are constantly asking questions but not so deprived to make you feel like you are left in the dark. Honestly, the climax had me so involved that my heart was literally racing for the last fifty pages or so! A lot of scenes had this effect on me. There are many frustrating points that made me want to flip tables, but it is supposed to make you mad; if the content doesn't bother you then I don't know what will. It has a cause and important messages. Highly recommended to those fond of hurt/comfort situations and those sadistic readers who want characters bleeding all over the pages!
The characters appeased me on so many levels. First of all; the entire spectrum of queer is represented from gay, lesbian, straight, transgender, to bi-curious... hell, there was even an intersex baby! It is rare to hit all in one book. What a treat! Second; C. Kennedy is exceptionally talented at handling victimized characters that you adore and sympathize with, yet still have the motivation to move forward and heal. It gives hope to fellow victims and empathy to readers who may know someone. And third; the romance was just so freakin’ cute. And there was a lot of it! These boys had me smiling so much. Michael -the main character- was the ideal boyfriend for poor Christy since he was such a tender and caring person who would tolerate anything to keep him safe. He embraced and encouraged Christy’s femininity with such ease too. He and his best friend Jake earned so much of my respect whenever they’d stand up against homophobia and speak out. The world needs more people like them.
Most importantly: this book is incredibly valuable because Christy's case of abuse was very extreme, so it provides a lot of resources for many related situations and can act as a manual to handle them.
What an exciting, heartbreaking, powerful, and motivating story this turned out to be! Omorphi a long one, but it’s so consumable and I’d happily read hundreds of pages more if given the opportunity. This story is guaranteed to pull at your emotions while it boldly tackles the heavy topic of abuse ...yet is surprisingly hopeful, despite this.
The tension and drama build up as details are revealed. It sort of plays out like a mystery in a way. ...It certainly has the depth of one! The foundation is strong and the results make for a gripping read. The information itself is paced out very evenly - enough that you are constantly asking questions but not so deprived to make you feel like you are left in the dark. Honestly, the climax had me so involved that my heart was literally racing for the last fifty pages or so! A lot of scenes had this effect on me. There are many frustrating points that made me want to flip tables, but it is supposed to make you mad; if the content doesn't bother you then I don't know what will. It has a cause and important messages. Highly recommended to those fond of hurt/comfort situations and those sadistic readers who want characters bleeding all over the pages!
The characters appeased me on so many levels. First of all; the entire spectrum of queer is represented from gay, lesbian, straight, transgender, to bi-curious... hell, there was even an intersex baby! It is rare to hit all in one book. What a treat! Second; C. Kennedy is exceptionally talented at handling victimized characters that you adore and sympathize with, yet still have the motivation to move forward and heal. It gives hope to fellow victims and empathy to readers who may know someone. And third; the romance was just so freakin’ cute. And there was a lot of it! These boys had me smiling so much. Michael -the main character- was the ideal boyfriend for poor Christy since he was such a tender and caring person who would tolerate anything to keep him safe. He embraced and encouraged Christy’s femininity with such ease too. He and his best friend Jake earned so much of my respect whenever they’d stand up against homophobia and speak out. The world needs more people like them.
Most importantly: this book is incredibly valuable because Christy's case of abuse was very extreme, so it provides a lot of resources for many related situations and can act as a manual to handle them.
February 9, 2017
Since I review both adult and YA content, I think it is important to point out that I use different standards for the two very different genres. When reading YA, I look for a couple of very key points:
(1) The appropriateness of the material for the target audience. Although online sources have differing definitions for the YA audience, I tend to place the audience at the 14-to-21-age range. So it’s important (to me) that the sexual content is realistic yet not graphic, gratuitous, in-your-face and the violence is also realistic yet not traumatizing to the younger ones in the age group.
(2) Secondly, the characters must seem realistic for their age as viewed by the target audience. Notice the distinction. I am always amused when I see someone write “A sixteen-year-old would never act like that/talk like that.” Really? All sixteen-year-olds act and talk the same? I’ve seen sixteen-year-olds who act like they’re ten and I’ve seen sixteen-year-olds that act like they’re 35. So never say never. We all walk different roads and our experiences shape us.
(3) And thirdly, the message and this is just a personal preference. I like YA that delivers a positive, uplifting message. So on this point I am looking to see that the message was a clear, integral part of the story yet not preachy or obviously instructive. I love the messages that sneak up on you and hit you with an “OMG-now-I-see” moment.
The two books I have read by Cody Kennedy have both centered on child abuse, both physical and sexual. And his books are geared toward the YA audience as a missive to both young people who have experienced the horrors of child abuse and the ones who have not. To the ones who have the message is always one of hope that people care and are there to help and that what has happened to you is not your fault and does not define you as a person. To the ones who have not experienced these horrors, the message is to be vigilant and to reach out, be a friend, listen and support. Where Mr. Kennedy blows me away is with his ability to convey the horrors that his characters experience without traumatizing his readers. The readers who have been victims of abuse surely do not need to relive their own hell in his pages. And those who have not been victims do not need to be crushed with such overwhelming grief and helplessness that they put the book down and walk away because they just can’t bear it. It is a fine line to walk and I have found that Cody Kennedy walks that line with skill, grace and empathy. He delivers a very powerful message, but is always gentle with his readers. He hits you with the atrocities that his characters have lived, but in such a way that rather than turn away, you want to stay with them and see them through it.
Omorphi is a captivating story from page one. Christy is this beautiful, scarred, fragile, vulnerable creature with the tensile strength of steel. He has experienced unimaginable atrocities, things that would break most people, and he is a survivor. He struggles daily with his horrific past, but have no doubt, he IS a survivor. At his side is Michael, a wonderful, down-to-earth, average teenage jock who is hopelessly in love with the beautiful Christy. Michael is loyal, protective, and so very supportive and understanding of Christy’s, at times, precarious emotional state. Then there is Jake, Michael’s best friend, who is as loyal and protective to Michael as Michael is to Christy. The book has an entire cast of characters that all, each and every one of them, add so much to the richness of the story. Michael’s and Jake’s parents also add such a positive message to the story; a message that not all parents reject their gay children. A much more subtle message, one you might miss if you’re not paying attention, is that being attracted to the same sex is not a new phenomenon… nope, not spilling on that one; you have to find it yourself within the pages of the story.
I don’t want to leave you with the impression that Mr. Kennedy downplays or whitewashes the abuse in his story. You very clearly understand what Christy went through and at times it is shattering. When Michael sees Christy’s paintings for the first time and starts to realize the full extent of his abuse, his anguish is palpable. At this point, I had to put the book down and walk away for a moment… I cried and screamed in my head right along with Michael. But, in the end, the story is one of survival, love, hope and healing (not being healed, but healing as an ongoing process).
I highly recommend this book because it really does have all the elements of a great story. It is beautifully written and very well-told. There is action and suspense, warmth and human kindness, a beautiful love story, and an emotional rollercoaster ride that you will not soon forget. It’s a story that stays with you long after you have turned the last page. Five stars? Not enough, this one’s going on “my OMG shelf”. Bravo, Mr. Kennedy, very well done. It truly is a beautiful work of art.
(1) The appropriateness of the material for the target audience. Although online sources have differing definitions for the YA audience, I tend to place the audience at the 14-to-21-age range. So it’s important (to me) that the sexual content is realistic yet not graphic, gratuitous, in-your-face and the violence is also realistic yet not traumatizing to the younger ones in the age group.
(2) Secondly, the characters must seem realistic for their age as viewed by the target audience. Notice the distinction. I am always amused when I see someone write “A sixteen-year-old would never act like that/talk like that.” Really? All sixteen-year-olds act and talk the same? I’ve seen sixteen-year-olds who act like they’re ten and I’ve seen sixteen-year-olds that act like they’re 35. So never say never. We all walk different roads and our experiences shape us.
(3) And thirdly, the message and this is just a personal preference. I like YA that delivers a positive, uplifting message. So on this point I am looking to see that the message was a clear, integral part of the story yet not preachy or obviously instructive. I love the messages that sneak up on you and hit you with an “OMG-now-I-see” moment.
The two books I have read by Cody Kennedy have both centered on child abuse, both physical and sexual. And his books are geared toward the YA audience as a missive to both young people who have experienced the horrors of child abuse and the ones who have not. To the ones who have the message is always one of hope that people care and are there to help and that what has happened to you is not your fault and does not define you as a person. To the ones who have not experienced these horrors, the message is to be vigilant and to reach out, be a friend, listen and support. Where Mr. Kennedy blows me away is with his ability to convey the horrors that his characters experience without traumatizing his readers. The readers who have been victims of abuse surely do not need to relive their own hell in his pages. And those who have not been victims do not need to be crushed with such overwhelming grief and helplessness that they put the book down and walk away because they just can’t bear it. It is a fine line to walk and I have found that Cody Kennedy walks that line with skill, grace and empathy. He delivers a very powerful message, but is always gentle with his readers. He hits you with the atrocities that his characters have lived, but in such a way that rather than turn away, you want to stay with them and see them through it.
Omorphi is a captivating story from page one. Christy is this beautiful, scarred, fragile, vulnerable creature with the tensile strength of steel. He has experienced unimaginable atrocities, things that would break most people, and he is a survivor. He struggles daily with his horrific past, but have no doubt, he IS a survivor. At his side is Michael, a wonderful, down-to-earth, average teenage jock who is hopelessly in love with the beautiful Christy. Michael is loyal, protective, and so very supportive and understanding of Christy’s, at times, precarious emotional state. Then there is Jake, Michael’s best friend, who is as loyal and protective to Michael as Michael is to Christy. The book has an entire cast of characters that all, each and every one of them, add so much to the richness of the story. Michael’s and Jake’s parents also add such a positive message to the story; a message that not all parents reject their gay children. A much more subtle message, one you might miss if you’re not paying attention, is that being attracted to the same sex is not a new phenomenon… nope, not spilling on that one; you have to find it yourself within the pages of the story.
I don’t want to leave you with the impression that Mr. Kennedy downplays or whitewashes the abuse in his story. You very clearly understand what Christy went through and at times it is shattering. When Michael sees Christy’s paintings for the first time and starts to realize the full extent of his abuse, his anguish is palpable. At this point, I had to put the book down and walk away for a moment… I cried and screamed in my head right along with Michael. But, in the end, the story is one of survival, love, hope and healing (not being healed, but healing as an ongoing process).
I highly recommend this book because it really does have all the elements of a great story. It is beautifully written and very well-told. There is action and suspense, warmth and human kindness, a beautiful love story, and an emotional rollercoaster ride that you will not soon forget. It’s a story that stays with you long after you have turned the last page. Five stars? Not enough, this one’s going on “my OMG shelf”. Bravo, Mr. Kennedy, very well done. It truly is a beautiful work of art.
September 28, 2013
I can hardly believe I read this book -- at 750 pages, it's WAY longer than I normally prefer. But I was intrigued by the blurb and the cover and the reviews, so I went for it.
Overall, the book kept me engaged and I really liked the MCs and the hurt/comfort romance plotline. I enjoyed the femininity of Christy's character and how Michael accepted that (I'm also a huge fan of Andrej Pejic!) The UST and sexual elements were nicely done. I liked the friends at school -- Jake and Lisa etc. For the fact that is kept me reading for 750 pages (miracle!) I give this book, and promising author, 4 stars.
I think the book could have used stronger editorial guidance. It did not need to be so long and there were many repetitive plot elements that were hard to swallow--as others have mentioned, the sheer incompetence of the police and security allowing the violent antagonists to escape so they could attack again and again. I also felt there were *too many* enemies, all seemingly unrelated. The amount of violent homophobia in this story was a bit extreme.
That being said, I did enjoy the romance plot a lot and the drama kept me reading despite the above issues. I am looking forward to seeing what C. Kennedy does in the future!
Overall, the book kept me engaged and I really liked the MCs and the hurt/comfort romance plotline. I enjoyed the femininity of Christy's character and how Michael accepted that (I'm also a huge fan of Andrej Pejic!) The UST and sexual elements were nicely done. I liked the friends at school -- Jake and Lisa etc. For the fact that is kept me reading for 750 pages (miracle!) I give this book, and promising author, 4 stars.
I think the book could have used stronger editorial guidance. It did not need to be so long and there were many repetitive plot elements that were hard to swallow--as others have mentioned, the sheer incompetence of the police and security allowing the violent antagonists to escape so they could attack again and again. I also felt there were *too many* enemies, all seemingly unrelated. The amount of violent homophobia in this story was a bit extreme.
That being said, I did enjoy the romance plot a lot and the drama kept me reading despite the above issues. I am looking forward to seeing what C. Kennedy does in the future!
July 7, 2014
I have revised the rating up to 5 full fledged stars - because I cannot stop thinking about how incredibly good this book.
(4.5 emotionally charged stars!)
I have read this book in a 24h binge and have so many feels about it I will have to come back to this. But, in the meantime, oh my dear gods this story was exceptional!
So here goes nothing: 4 things I loved about the book and 1 that really pissed me off:
1) Christy: oh dear boy! Subjected to horrific abuse - this young man is a beacon of hope - with an inner strength that makes him want to overcome the years of abuse and live life again.
2) Michael - so young and yet so ready to take on what it takes to make Christy better. I loved the way Micheal is totally aware of the privileged status of his life, the fact that he is way over his head with Christy BUT goes and looks for the necessary support to help his boyfriend adjust and recover
3) Jake and all of the supporting cast - what a bunch of great people (the book did kind of tote a fine line with can these kids really be this good? but never crossed it so hats off to Cody Kennedy on this) And Lisa - girl you wanna be friends? Because wow, badass doesn't even start describing how cool this woman is!
4) The subject matter could have easily turned this into a voyeuristic and cliched novel - but it didn't. With the elegant recounting of terrible abuse and Christy's willingness to lay it out to get on the road to recovery, I think Cody Kennedy has written a story which can give hope and courage to children who have been and are suffering from abuse. And this is no mean feat. I also loved the fact that this book was a very accomplished thriller, pants of your seat stuff. (aside from the complete fail of the security detail - because COME ON; how many times can you fail to notice the baddie two feet from the person you are protecting? Idiots!)
Now, is there a second book to this? I don't necessarily expect a story to be all tied up for me - I do enjoy open endings and the hopeful message which underlies the book is so well done which made reading this totally worth it. BUT do the bastards go to jail? What about Christy and Sophia? How did that happen?
This is a long book - I read it all in one go - I was emotionally wrecked after it; it is beautiful and hopeful and totally worth a read. I am going read fantasy and comedy for a while now because SO MANY FEELS. When I finish the light reading cycle I'd be sure to check out more of Cody Kennedy's writing because - man -it totally rocks. And if there was a sequel to Omorphi I'd gobble it up in a minute flat.
Oh, and another thing: 5 stars of total diversity: black, white, different ethnicity, gay, straight, lesbian, good parents, bad parents; you name it this book has it including the inclusion of languages other than English. Can't really comment on the Greek but the Italian was good and although it could have done with a bit of proofreading by a native speaker (I volunteer - you need it I'll do it for you!)it still felt natural to the dialogue and the story!
(4.5 emotionally charged stars!)
I have read this book in a 24h binge and have so many feels about it I will have to come back to this. But, in the meantime, oh my dear gods this story was exceptional!
So here goes nothing: 4 things I loved about the book and 1 that really pissed me off:
1) Christy: oh dear boy! Subjected to horrific abuse - this young man is a beacon of hope - with an inner strength that makes him want to overcome the years of abuse and live life again.
2) Michael - so young and yet so ready to take on what it takes to make Christy better. I loved the way Micheal is totally aware of the privileged status of his life, the fact that he is way over his head with Christy BUT goes and looks for the necessary support to help his boyfriend adjust and recover
3) Jake and all of the supporting cast - what a bunch of great people (the book did kind of tote a fine line with can these kids really be this good? but never crossed it so hats off to Cody Kennedy on this) And Lisa - girl you wanna be friends? Because wow, badass doesn't even start describing how cool this woman is!
4) The subject matter could have easily turned this into a voyeuristic and cliched novel - but it didn't. With the elegant recounting of terrible abuse and Christy's willingness to lay it out to get on the road to recovery, I think Cody Kennedy has written a story which can give hope and courage to children who have been and are suffering from abuse. And this is no mean feat. I also loved the fact that this book was a very accomplished thriller, pants of your seat stuff. (aside from the complete fail of the security detail - because COME ON; how many times can you fail to notice the baddie two feet from the person you are protecting? Idiots!)
Now, is there a second book to this? I don't necessarily expect a story to be all tied up for me - I do enjoy open endings and the hopeful message which underlies the book is so well done which made reading this totally worth it. BUT do the bastards go to jail? What about Christy and Sophia? How did that happen?
This is a long book - I read it all in one go - I was emotionally wrecked after it; it is beautiful and hopeful and totally worth a read. I am going read fantasy and comedy for a while now because SO MANY FEELS. When I finish the light reading cycle I'd be sure to check out more of Cody Kennedy's writing because - man -it totally rocks. And if there was a sequel to Omorphi I'd gobble it up in a minute flat.
Oh, and another thing: 5 stars of total diversity: black, white, different ethnicity, gay, straight, lesbian, good parents, bad parents; you name it this book has it including the inclusion of languages other than English. Can't really comment on the Greek but the Italian was good and although it could have done with a bit of proofreading by a native speaker (I volunteer - you need it I'll do it for you!)it still felt natural to the dialogue and the story!
April 9, 2016
"Que pasa, Lisa?"
"We got a serious problem, Jorge, and we were wondering if you could help us out," she said calmly.
"Que problème?"
First of all, I'm not sure at all the author uses Greek words correctly, because he definitely doesn't use Spanish words correctly. Jorge is a Spanish speaker. I guess, from some of the South American countries. But he mixes French and Spanish. Apart from that, the Spanish is not well written, there are accents in the French words but not in the Spanish ones, and forget about the question mark "¿" that is necessary to write in the beginning of the questions.
I wanted to like this book, I really did. And in the beginning I thought it would be one of those I love, but no. The MC (and secondary) are a way TOO perfect. Michael is the understanding man all the way, and that's fine, but he ended exhausting me with his charitable attitude, not even once getting angry, it felt not real. Christy is too shining, too good, too everything, I couldn't digest him either.
So, the characters didn't convince me. But what about the rest?
Well, the plot was ridiculous... Why didn't they fire the security team? Everybody with two neurons would employ another one.
They where a shame, I lost count of how many times the MC almost died: bombs, firings, threats... Oh yeah, add that to your ad in the newspaper.
I also want to say I find so many unnecessary events. The book is long, but with half the pages it would have been enough. Most of the scenes were secondary plots, some to see how Christy gets used to a "normal" life, some to see how some secondary characters are matched, but everything felt unnatural for me, too stiff. For example, Michael's friend ends up with . He even ask her to get married with him... in two weeks?
Other thoughts... explaining things that has just happened to other characters. That got me bored, once is fine, but again and again is tiring. With a "they told it to him" is enough. It's insulting the reader's intelligence. We have a little of memory, you know? We can remember what has been said two minutes before.
And of course, I wanted it not to happen, but in the end Christy. That was the last straw. Too much drama and so little of it was believable.
Yes, huge disappointment.
October 2, 2013
I think I read somewhere that this is Mr. Kennedy's first novel. That surprises me as the characterizations and plot twists are most certainly within the class of an accomplished novelist.
I fell in love with Christy as quickly and as easily as did Michael, who himself is someone to be admired. And the correlations between the feelings of father to father and son to son in the relationship of Michael and Jacob is pure genius.
In a lot of stories you have a major theme and it pretty much stops there. Here we still have the centerpiece but it is entwined in a myriad of facets, each connecting to the other; in other words, Real Life.
I personally can't do much more here without interjecting the infamous "spoiler" but I will say that it was a pure pleasure to read a novel that was obviously conceived in and written from the heart with a fair amount of qualified research piled on. And the final two words of the book certainly tickle my hopes for a sequel!
I fell in love with Christy as quickly and as easily as did Michael, who himself is someone to be admired. And the correlations between the feelings of father to father and son to son in the relationship of Michael and Jacob is pure genius.
In a lot of stories you have a major theme and it pretty much stops there. Here we still have the centerpiece but it is entwined in a myriad of facets, each connecting to the other; in other words, Real Life.
I personally can't do much more here without interjecting the infamous "spoiler" but I will say that it was a pure pleasure to read a novel that was obviously conceived in and written from the heart with a fair amount of qualified research piled on. And the final two words of the book certainly tickle my hopes for a sequel!
October 24, 2013
I loved this book so much. I love Christy SO. Much. This book is about so many things: Love, strength, taking back your power, finding your safe harbor, faith, self-worth, and friendship (I told Cody Kennedy that I was THIS CLOSE to shipping Michael and Jake. ;) )
This is a really important book, that has the possibility of helping so many abused - or even just shy, scared, unsure, confused - LGBTQ youths. Christy's message is definitely one of hope and strength. YOU CAN OVERCOME. NEVER GIVE UP. *siiiiiiiigh* I love him so much.
BUT - it is also a really great, fun fiction book...a great suspense thriller, that will have you on the edge of your seat time and time again. There is so much great humor in the story. You will without a doubt fall completely in love with Jake and Michael. Their bromance is EPIC.
If you are looking for a wonderful, YA book, that is funny, exciting, and a fabulous love story, you will definitely find all of that with Omorphi.
This is a really important book, that has the possibility of helping so many abused - or even just shy, scared, unsure, confused - LGBTQ youths. Christy's message is definitely one of hope and strength. YOU CAN OVERCOME. NEVER GIVE UP. *siiiiiiiigh* I love him so much.
BUT - it is also a really great, fun fiction book...a great suspense thriller, that will have you on the edge of your seat time and time again. There is so much great humor in the story. You will without a doubt fall completely in love with Jake and Michael. Their bromance is EPIC.
If you are looking for a wonderful, YA book, that is funny, exciting, and a fabulous love story, you will definitely find all of that with Omorphi.
September 23, 2013
3.5 stars rounded up.
Ok, first of, this book is epic, I was reading and reading and reading and wow ... only 50% done? Ok, on to the rest ... lol
I'm a bit ambivalent about this book. I liked it a lot, yet often I had to roll my eyes when another thing happened that reminded me a bit of a soap opera. What can happen to the MCs, eventually happened: bullies at school, shootings, exploding cars, larger than life (boy)friends, you name it, you get it.
All that unfortunately made the story unrealistic to me and sadly enough it took my focus off Christy, what had happened to him and how he got better with Michael's help :(
The writing style though made me read on and on .... and yeah, I had a good time and I devoured the whole thing in 2 evenings :). I just wish I would have been able to give the 5 stars I was sure I'd give when I read the blurb when I preordered the book
Ok, first of, this book is epic, I was reading and reading and reading and wow ... only 50% done? Ok, on to the rest ... lol
I'm a bit ambivalent about this book. I liked it a lot, yet often I had to roll my eyes when another thing happened that reminded me a bit of a soap opera. What can happen to the MCs, eventually happened: bullies at school, shootings, exploding cars, larger than life (boy)friends, you name it, you get it.
All that unfortunately made the story unrealistic to me and sadly enough it took my focus off Christy, what had happened to him and how he got better with Michael's help :(
The writing style though made me read on and on .... and yeah, I had a good time and I devoured the whole thing in 2 evenings :). I just wish I would have been able to give the 5 stars I was sure I'd give when I read the blurb when I preordered the book
October 6, 2013
Omorphi by Cody Kennedy. Goodness me, where to begin. First the scope of this story (over 400 pages) and breadth of the emotional highs and lows left me shaking at times and breathless, others. I will admit that it is difficult to remain analytical with such an emotionally charged novel to review. Also, the task of attempting to encapsulate this action packed love story into a few paragraphs is rather daunting as well. So bear with me as I attempt to present what I have no doubt is a piece of this author’s heart and soul into a logical and concise review.
Let’s begin with what worked so well in this novel and, in doing so, give you a short summary of what the story was all about.
1. Boy meets Boy.
Michael sees Christy for the first time as he rounds the track field. Christy, a tiny slip of a young man, sits perched high up in the bleachers, watching track practice every day. When Michael finally works up the courage to approach his “fan” (with encouragement from his best friend, Jake), he discovers how breathtakingly beautiful Christy is, both inside and out. However, Christy’s tortured and unthinkably violent past keeps him trapped inside the nightmare he once lived and unable to endure even the smallest of touch from Michael. As these two begin a dance that will ultimately lead to their lives being threatened repeatedly, we watch as boy falls in love with boy and hearts slowly begin to heal.
Stunning—truly. The slow and methodical build to this relationship was outstanding in this novel. Yes, there were declarations of love rather quickly in this story but once again I was reminded of my high school days when I was on the cusp of college and experienced my first kiss, much like Michael, and how positive I was that I was in love. For me, it began my dating history, for Michael it began a journey to unlock the demons inside Christy’s head and help him cope with them. Note I said cope and not heal. While there was most assuredly healing in this novel, there was also the real reminder that sexual and mental abuse leaves lasting scars and the real goal for Christy was to make the nightmare memories he carried transform from leaving him weak and nearly catatonic into strong and able to endure.
The love story that author Cody Kennedy writes leapt from the page and wrapped itself around your heart. I found myself frantically turning each page, heart hammering inside my chest, needing to see, to be sure that Christy and Michael were going to be okay, survive, endure. I breathed a sigh of relief when I read how they struggled, how Michael felt helpless at times in the face of Christy’s fractured mind and soul, how they argued and had to work through their problems, like a real couple would. Even down to the language of their love for each other, how they morphed into pet names, described each other in loving terms, all this leant an air of credibility to the story, giving it the realism it needed to support such a lengthy novel.
2. The genius in making the high school, semi-private and the cast of characters come from different socio-economic backgrounds.
When you attend a semi-private high school (as I did) you are surrounded with the poor and the wealthy. These kids intermingle and enjoy freedoms on a campus that are unlike any a public school would offer. In order to make Omorphi work on many levels, and maintain some semblance of realism, the author had to create a high school campus that was both liberal and available to all social levels. Hence, Cody Kennedy was able to give us the very wealthy (Jake, Christy) to the moderately wealthy (Michael) to the lower end of the spectrum (Stephen, Jerry). All these students were able to have access to the school and allowed for the plot points of private security for some kids and blatantly homophobic parents for others to coexists seamlessly.
It also made the incidences of bullying and outright violent interactions seem more real. The author sheds light on the very real fact that bullying crosses all economic strata and that rich kids are just as likely to gang up and intimidate a weaker classmate as the kids who make their way on the street would. Once again Cody Kennedy levels the playing field and teaches us that we all have choices in life and the consequences for our choices can have deadly consequences.
3. Allowing for the “rainbow” to grace the sky.
With a novel of this scope, it would have been easier to make each of the characters more “cookie-cutter”, all the gay kids less flamboyant, the jocks rigidly straight, and the girls all pretty and flirty. Instead, Omorphi gives us a much truer picture of what lives right outside our door. First, we have Christy, who is feminine in look and appeal, which enjoys wearing girl’s clothing and makeup yet is undeniably male and grows in strength as the novel progresses. Then the marked difference between Michael who is out to his family and best friend but on the down low in high school where he worries that coming out of the closet will cause a fracture so deep he might lose his place as captain of the track team and possible scholarships. And then we were given the unique way in which author Cody Kennedy chose to paint Michael’s best friend, Jake. By novel’s end, you realized that Jake most assuredly could have been bisexual, and was unafraid to admit his love for Michael and the real truth that had he liked girls just a little bit less, Jake would have easily fallen in love with Michael as Christy did.
Not once did I find this hodgepodge of sexual preferences unappealing or unrealistic. Even as long as the 35 plus years ago that I went to high school, I had friends who were gay, straight and somewhere in between. I had a male friend who liked to play with my makeup and ended up in a career on stage and is now happily married to his lover. For once, a novel dared to present what to me was a real slice of life and give voice to the many choices under the rainbow that colors our world. I was so impressed with the courage it took this author to explore the varied sexualities he presented in Omorphi and I silently applauded his strength in doing so.
Finally, I would be remiss in not acknowledging the careful construct of writing about a victim of sexual and physical abuse and how much restraint it takes to present this type of character correctly. Christy broke my heart in so many ways. He plucked at every maternal bone in my body and I wanted nothing more than to rescue him from the hell he had endured and continued to live out in his memories. Rather than weaken Christy by allowing him to unrealistically morph into a healed and happy young man, author Cody Kennedy takes the much harder road and allows Christy to remain flawed and wounded but growing stronger each passing day. I believe this was the moment I couple the word genius with the name Cody Kennedy. It is so much easier to “fix” your characters, to allow them to find love and be restored to “normalcy”. But it is a sign of excellent writing that allows a character to remain fully real in their brokenness and not diminish by one word their arduous journey toward healing.
Cody Kennedy writes with staggering beauty. He respects his plot lines and his characters and, in doing so, sheds light on the real fact that abuse occurs every minute in our world. He holds that truth carefully in his capable hands and shows us that we should and must be part of the solution in stopping this travesty. I told this author recently that while I have never met him, I knew him. Through his novel, Omorhpi, I was able to see a glimpse of the heart and soul of this remarkable new author and it was simply put, a beautiful sight.
Does Omorhpi have its moments where small holes appear in the plot? Yes, there is a few times here and there that the story threatens to veer off track but the author is quick to pull it back from the brink of real trouble. The reality is that with over 400 pages of text there is the threat of over telling a story or losing your way. I found neither of these to be true with Omorphi. It remained focused and fairly tight throughout the entire story and that impressed me greatly. I found that the sex between the boys was tastefully accomplished, mostly off the page and, with Michael being just two months shy of graduation from high school, very realistic. The slow way in which this aspect of the novel built was realistic and well done.
I highly recommend Omorphi by Cody Kennedy to you. It is a novel that will stay with you long after you have read the last page.
Let’s begin with what worked so well in this novel and, in doing so, give you a short summary of what the story was all about.
1. Boy meets Boy.
Michael sees Christy for the first time as he rounds the track field. Christy, a tiny slip of a young man, sits perched high up in the bleachers, watching track practice every day. When Michael finally works up the courage to approach his “fan” (with encouragement from his best friend, Jake), he discovers how breathtakingly beautiful Christy is, both inside and out. However, Christy’s tortured and unthinkably violent past keeps him trapped inside the nightmare he once lived and unable to endure even the smallest of touch from Michael. As these two begin a dance that will ultimately lead to their lives being threatened repeatedly, we watch as boy falls in love with boy and hearts slowly begin to heal.
Stunning—truly. The slow and methodical build to this relationship was outstanding in this novel. Yes, there were declarations of love rather quickly in this story but once again I was reminded of my high school days when I was on the cusp of college and experienced my first kiss, much like Michael, and how positive I was that I was in love. For me, it began my dating history, for Michael it began a journey to unlock the demons inside Christy’s head and help him cope with them. Note I said cope and not heal. While there was most assuredly healing in this novel, there was also the real reminder that sexual and mental abuse leaves lasting scars and the real goal for Christy was to make the nightmare memories he carried transform from leaving him weak and nearly catatonic into strong and able to endure.
The love story that author Cody Kennedy writes leapt from the page and wrapped itself around your heart. I found myself frantically turning each page, heart hammering inside my chest, needing to see, to be sure that Christy and Michael were going to be okay, survive, endure. I breathed a sigh of relief when I read how they struggled, how Michael felt helpless at times in the face of Christy’s fractured mind and soul, how they argued and had to work through their problems, like a real couple would. Even down to the language of their love for each other, how they morphed into pet names, described each other in loving terms, all this leant an air of credibility to the story, giving it the realism it needed to support such a lengthy novel.
2. The genius in making the high school, semi-private and the cast of characters come from different socio-economic backgrounds.
When you attend a semi-private high school (as I did) you are surrounded with the poor and the wealthy. These kids intermingle and enjoy freedoms on a campus that are unlike any a public school would offer. In order to make Omorphi work on many levels, and maintain some semblance of realism, the author had to create a high school campus that was both liberal and available to all social levels. Hence, Cody Kennedy was able to give us the very wealthy (Jake, Christy) to the moderately wealthy (Michael) to the lower end of the spectrum (Stephen, Jerry). All these students were able to have access to the school and allowed for the plot points of private security for some kids and blatantly homophobic parents for others to coexists seamlessly.
It also made the incidences of bullying and outright violent interactions seem more real. The author sheds light on the very real fact that bullying crosses all economic strata and that rich kids are just as likely to gang up and intimidate a weaker classmate as the kids who make their way on the street would. Once again Cody Kennedy levels the playing field and teaches us that we all have choices in life and the consequences for our choices can have deadly consequences.
3. Allowing for the “rainbow” to grace the sky.
With a novel of this scope, it would have been easier to make each of the characters more “cookie-cutter”, all the gay kids less flamboyant, the jocks rigidly straight, and the girls all pretty and flirty. Instead, Omorphi gives us a much truer picture of what lives right outside our door. First, we have Christy, who is feminine in look and appeal, which enjoys wearing girl’s clothing and makeup yet is undeniably male and grows in strength as the novel progresses. Then the marked difference between Michael who is out to his family and best friend but on the down low in high school where he worries that coming out of the closet will cause a fracture so deep he might lose his place as captain of the track team and possible scholarships. And then we were given the unique way in which author Cody Kennedy chose to paint Michael’s best friend, Jake. By novel’s end, you realized that Jake most assuredly could have been bisexual, and was unafraid to admit his love for Michael and the real truth that had he liked girls just a little bit less, Jake would have easily fallen in love with Michael as Christy did.
Not once did I find this hodgepodge of sexual preferences unappealing or unrealistic. Even as long as the 35 plus years ago that I went to high school, I had friends who were gay, straight and somewhere in between. I had a male friend who liked to play with my makeup and ended up in a career on stage and is now happily married to his lover. For once, a novel dared to present what to me was a real slice of life and give voice to the many choices under the rainbow that colors our world. I was so impressed with the courage it took this author to explore the varied sexualities he presented in Omorphi and I silently applauded his strength in doing so.
Finally, I would be remiss in not acknowledging the careful construct of writing about a victim of sexual and physical abuse and how much restraint it takes to present this type of character correctly. Christy broke my heart in so many ways. He plucked at every maternal bone in my body and I wanted nothing more than to rescue him from the hell he had endured and continued to live out in his memories. Rather than weaken Christy by allowing him to unrealistically morph into a healed and happy young man, author Cody Kennedy takes the much harder road and allows Christy to remain flawed and wounded but growing stronger each passing day. I believe this was the moment I couple the word genius with the name Cody Kennedy. It is so much easier to “fix” your characters, to allow them to find love and be restored to “normalcy”. But it is a sign of excellent writing that allows a character to remain fully real in their brokenness and not diminish by one word their arduous journey toward healing.
Cody Kennedy writes with staggering beauty. He respects his plot lines and his characters and, in doing so, sheds light on the real fact that abuse occurs every minute in our world. He holds that truth carefully in his capable hands and shows us that we should and must be part of the solution in stopping this travesty. I told this author recently that while I have never met him, I knew him. Through his novel, Omorhpi, I was able to see a glimpse of the heart and soul of this remarkable new author and it was simply put, a beautiful sight.
Does Omorhpi have its moments where small holes appear in the plot? Yes, there is a few times here and there that the story threatens to veer off track but the author is quick to pull it back from the brink of real trouble. The reality is that with over 400 pages of text there is the threat of over telling a story or losing your way. I found neither of these to be true with Omorphi. It remained focused and fairly tight throughout the entire story and that impressed me greatly. I found that the sex between the boys was tastefully accomplished, mostly off the page and, with Michael being just two months shy of graduation from high school, very realistic. The slow way in which this aspect of the novel built was realistic and well done.
I highly recommend Omorphi by Cody Kennedy to you. It is a novel that will stay with you long after you have read the last page.
October 12, 2013
this book is a tribute to all the people that have suffered abuse and survived. It's heartbroken how Christy was mistreated and persecuted. Michael was his rock during his recovery and what helped him stay sane with all the bullying and hate. Amazing story. but it was really hard to read about what Christy went through during the time he was abused. But of course Christy got his very well deserved HEA. Loved
May 2, 2015
I wish I could give this book a million, trillion stars, but five will have to do here.
I.... I just.... I need a moment. A LONG moment.
Expect my review at a later date when I've composed myself to actually write one. For now, I will simply say... this was one heck of a powerful and emotional read that I shall NEVER, EVER forget.
I.... I just.... I need a moment. A LONG moment.
Expect my review at a later date when I've composed myself to actually write one. For now, I will simply say... this was one heck of a powerful and emotional read that I shall NEVER, EVER forget.
September 22, 2013
Elève de terminale, Michael Sattler mène une vie facile. Il est l'un des athlètes vedettes de son école, a de très bons amis et des parents qui l'aiment juste pour celui qu'il est. Ce qui manque à sa vie est un petit-ami. C'est un problème parce qu'il n'a avoué son homosexualité qu'à ses parents et à son meilleur ami. Quand Michael rencontre accidentellement Christy Castle à l'école, sa vie change d'une façon qu'il n'aurait jamais pu imaginer. Christy incarne le l'homme idéal pour Michael: intelligent, beau, et sexy. Mais rien n'aurait pu préparer Michael jusqu'où le fait de devenir le petit ami de Christy allait l'entraîner.
Christy a besoin de guérir d'années de violences et d'abus et sait qu'il a besoin d'aide pour le faire. Après la mort de son père célèbre, il quitte sa Grèce natale et s'installe dans l'État de New York. Seul, apeuré, et pratiquement aphone, Christy cache les myriades cicatrices de ses abus. Il cherche désespérément à être aimé et quand il rencontre Michael, il ose espérer que ce jour est arrivé. Lorsque l'un des équipiers de Michael devient un ennemi et que l'un des agresseurs du passé de Christy cherche à le faire retourner à une vie d'esclavage, est-ce que la force combinée de Michael et de Christy et leur détermination inébranlable pourront les sauver de la violence qui menace de détruire leur avenir ensemble ?
DOMMAGE QUE JE NE PUISSE PAS METTRE 10 *
CE LIVRE EST A LIRE ABSOLUMENT.
C'est un véritable plaidoyer pour la reconstruction d'enfants abusés, martyrisés, enfermés, retenus, réduits en esclavage par la folie de quelques hommes. C'est un appel à la vie et à l'estime de soi.
Ce qu'a vécu Christy va au-delà de l'imagination de ce qu'un tortionnaire peut faire subir à un enfant et tout au long du livre on a littéralement envie de leur sauter dessus et de leur faire payer ce que ces tortionnaires ont osé lui faire. Malgré tout, Christy ne se laisse pas abattre par son lourd passé et cherche au contraire à s'en sortir. La chose qu'il a comprise c'était qu'il ne pouvait pas le faire seul. Il s'entoure donc de professionnels tout à fait à même de l'aider.
Ce livre foisonne d'une multitude de personnages secondaires qui ont tous un rôle important à jouer dans sa lutte pour la survie et qui vont soit l'aider, soit chercher à l'enfoncer davantage. Au fil des pages on se laisse prendre par l'histoire et on en vient à vouloir aider Christy, tout en comprenant ses peurs et ses limites. L'auteur sait parfaitement nous faire enfiler ses chaussures et on ne peut qu'être stupéfaits devant sa force de caractère malgré tout.
Quant à Michael, il est une véritable bouffée d'air frais et je dirais même un vrai ange de miséricorde qui ne chercher à tirer profit de rien ni de personne aussi bien dans sa vie de tous les jours, auprès de ses parents que dans l'enceinte du lycée où il est le capitaine de son équipe d'athlétisme. La seule personne qui lui importe est Christy et il n'a de cesse que de le pousser à s'en sortir afin de retrouver la lumière.
C'est un livre fort, puissant, retraçant le parcours de Christy avec ses faiblesses, ses attentes et ses espoirs, qu'il trouve dans l'amour et le soutien inconditionnel de Michael. Au fil des pages (presque 500) on s'accroche, on lutte, on se débat, puis on espère et on a envie de porter Christy et Michael jusqu'au bout afin de les aider à se reconstruire dans leur amour.
On sent également que l'auteur s'est beaucoup documenté pour appuyer ses dires et étoffer les évènements et le sujet de son livre (c'est le seul petit bémol que je ferai, car par moment cela fait rend certains passages un peu trop froids et clinique) mais permet de renforcer notre horreur devant les évènements. Et lorsqu'on sait que cette histoire est tirée de faits réels... Il y a de quoi nous laisser pantois.
Bref, malgré le fait qu'il soit publié dans la collection Harmony Ink Press de DSP, ce livre n'est pas à mettre entre toutes les mains, non pas pour des raisons sexuelles, mais pour le calvaire de Christy qui est révélé.
Cependant, ce livre ne peut laisser personne indemne par sa force et sa puissance et c'est en ça que l'auteur a bien fait son travail.
Christy a besoin de guérir d'années de violences et d'abus et sait qu'il a besoin d'aide pour le faire. Après la mort de son père célèbre, il quitte sa Grèce natale et s'installe dans l'État de New York. Seul, apeuré, et pratiquement aphone, Christy cache les myriades cicatrices de ses abus. Il cherche désespérément à être aimé et quand il rencontre Michael, il ose espérer que ce jour est arrivé. Lorsque l'un des équipiers de Michael devient un ennemi et que l'un des agresseurs du passé de Christy cherche à le faire retourner à une vie d'esclavage, est-ce que la force combinée de Michael et de Christy et leur détermination inébranlable pourront les sauver de la violence qui menace de détruire leur avenir ensemble ?
DOMMAGE QUE JE NE PUISSE PAS METTRE 10 *
CE LIVRE EST A LIRE ABSOLUMENT.
C'est un véritable plaidoyer pour la reconstruction d'enfants abusés, martyrisés, enfermés, retenus, réduits en esclavage par la folie de quelques hommes. C'est un appel à la vie et à l'estime de soi.
Ce qu'a vécu Christy va au-delà de l'imagination de ce qu'un tortionnaire peut faire subir à un enfant et tout au long du livre on a littéralement envie de leur sauter dessus et de leur faire payer ce que ces tortionnaires ont osé lui faire. Malgré tout, Christy ne se laisse pas abattre par son lourd passé et cherche au contraire à s'en sortir. La chose qu'il a comprise c'était qu'il ne pouvait pas le faire seul. Il s'entoure donc de professionnels tout à fait à même de l'aider.
Ce livre foisonne d'une multitude de personnages secondaires qui ont tous un rôle important à jouer dans sa lutte pour la survie et qui vont soit l'aider, soit chercher à l'enfoncer davantage. Au fil des pages on se laisse prendre par l'histoire et on en vient à vouloir aider Christy, tout en comprenant ses peurs et ses limites. L'auteur sait parfaitement nous faire enfiler ses chaussures et on ne peut qu'être stupéfaits devant sa force de caractère malgré tout.
Quant à Michael, il est une véritable bouffée d'air frais et je dirais même un vrai ange de miséricorde qui ne chercher à tirer profit de rien ni de personne aussi bien dans sa vie de tous les jours, auprès de ses parents que dans l'enceinte du lycée où il est le capitaine de son équipe d'athlétisme. La seule personne qui lui importe est Christy et il n'a de cesse que de le pousser à s'en sortir afin de retrouver la lumière.
C'est un livre fort, puissant, retraçant le parcours de Christy avec ses faiblesses, ses attentes et ses espoirs, qu'il trouve dans l'amour et le soutien inconditionnel de Michael. Au fil des pages (presque 500) on s'accroche, on lutte, on se débat, puis on espère et on a envie de porter Christy et Michael jusqu'au bout afin de les aider à se reconstruire dans leur amour.
On sent également que l'auteur s'est beaucoup documenté pour appuyer ses dires et étoffer les évènements et le sujet de son livre (c'est le seul petit bémol que je ferai, car par moment cela fait rend certains passages un peu trop froids et clinique) mais permet de renforcer notre horreur devant les évènements. Et lorsqu'on sait que cette histoire est tirée de faits réels... Il y a de quoi nous laisser pantois.
Bref, malgré le fait qu'il soit publié dans la collection Harmony Ink Press de DSP, ce livre n'est pas à mettre entre toutes les mains, non pas pour des raisons sexuelles, mais pour le calvaire de Christy qui est révélé.
Cependant, ce livre ne peut laisser personne indemne par sa force et sa puissance et c'est en ça que l'auteur a bien fait son travail.
August 28, 2013
“The human spirit is the strongest force there is. As long as our spirit remains unbroken, there is no defeat... ~ unknown
The amount of abuse Christy endures would have destroyed most people, but his will to live overrides his fear and pain. He holds fast to his desire to vanquish his hardships and hold his head high again; he knows that he can't do it alone; he needs a hero to champion his cause, someone who will love and supports him unconditionally while he gets better. He finds such a person in Michael. Michael is more than willing to help Christy, but he wisely realizes that no matter how he tries to help Christy, he knows that the real healing will come when Christy finds the hero inside.
Michael is a very special young man. He's smart, dedicated, loving, loyal, nurturing, and forgiving. He has a knack for breaking any problem down to its simplest form. Using this philosophy, no problem seems too complicated to tackle. Sometimes, Michael is too brave for his own good. He doesn't follow orders very well particularly when it involves Christy's safety. He meets life head on. When he sets his mind to something, no one can convince him otherwise. One of the things Michael needs to work on is his awareness of what's happening around him. As the story progresses, Michael learns this lesson very well and it ends up saving him and his friends more than once. Michael's love for Christy, baggage and all, is inspiring. His love and loyalty to his best friend, Jake is quite endearing. Their catch phrase: “I'm always here for you, bro.” never failed to warm my heart.
Christy's life is complicated in more ways than one. His torture has left him feeling as though he is less than a person. He freezes at any sign of fear and is helpless to defend himself, but he keeps on fighting. He loves Michael but can't quite believe that, with all his baggage, Michael really wants him. He's missed so much of life, that things we take for granted, i.e., a ride on a Ferris wheel or on a carousel, amaze him. He's an excellent artist and uses his art as an outlet for the physical and emotional pain occurring both now and in the past. Christy will accept help from Michael and others, but he doesn't want their pity. He merely wants to heal so he can learn to be as happy and whole as is possible. He's very close-mouthed about his identity and for good reasons. It would put everyone around him in jeopardy. As things progress, however, he reveals most of it in order to keep him, Michael, and all their family and friends safe. As he and Michael become closer, he learns to trust someone, other than his cousin, for the first time in his life and his trust is not misplaced.
The biggest difference I see in this story is that although it's about abuse and exploitation, it doesn't dwell on the dark side of things. Christy, the victim, is seen in a more positive light. Rather than dragging me through the mire of what happened, it focuses on Christy's journey to recovery and his victory over abuse. It doesn't in any way paint a bright, unrealistic picture of his struggles, but it doesn't dwell on feeling sorry for him either. It exhibits what someone with a strong human spirit can do when he puts his mind and heart into it. Survival is one of the strongest of all our instincts. When that instinct is crushed, so are our spirits; we lose the will to live. In Christy's case, he was determined to pick up the shattered pieces of his life, put them back together in the best way he can, and move forward. I recommend this story to anyone who is interested in angst, abuse, first love, good friends, family, and victory over oppression. Thanks for the great story, Cody.
Note for Goodreads:
NOTE: This book was provided by Harmony Ink Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
The amount of abuse Christy endures would have destroyed most people, but his will to live overrides his fear and pain. He holds fast to his desire to vanquish his hardships and hold his head high again; he knows that he can't do it alone; he needs a hero to champion his cause, someone who will love and supports him unconditionally while he gets better. He finds such a person in Michael. Michael is more than willing to help Christy, but he wisely realizes that no matter how he tries to help Christy, he knows that the real healing will come when Christy finds the hero inside.
Michael is a very special young man. He's smart, dedicated, loving, loyal, nurturing, and forgiving. He has a knack for breaking any problem down to its simplest form. Using this philosophy, no problem seems too complicated to tackle. Sometimes, Michael is too brave for his own good. He doesn't follow orders very well particularly when it involves Christy's safety. He meets life head on. When he sets his mind to something, no one can convince him otherwise. One of the things Michael needs to work on is his awareness of what's happening around him. As the story progresses, Michael learns this lesson very well and it ends up saving him and his friends more than once. Michael's love for Christy, baggage and all, is inspiring. His love and loyalty to his best friend, Jake is quite endearing. Their catch phrase: “I'm always here for you, bro.” never failed to warm my heart.
Christy's life is complicated in more ways than one. His torture has left him feeling as though he is less than a person. He freezes at any sign of fear and is helpless to defend himself, but he keeps on fighting. He loves Michael but can't quite believe that, with all his baggage, Michael really wants him. He's missed so much of life, that things we take for granted, i.e., a ride on a Ferris wheel or on a carousel, amaze him. He's an excellent artist and uses his art as an outlet for the physical and emotional pain occurring both now and in the past. Christy will accept help from Michael and others, but he doesn't want their pity. He merely wants to heal so he can learn to be as happy and whole as is possible. He's very close-mouthed about his identity and for good reasons. It would put everyone around him in jeopardy. As things progress, however, he reveals most of it in order to keep him, Michael, and all their family and friends safe. As he and Michael become closer, he learns to trust someone, other than his cousin, for the first time in his life and his trust is not misplaced.
The biggest difference I see in this story is that although it's about abuse and exploitation, it doesn't dwell on the dark side of things. Christy, the victim, is seen in a more positive light. Rather than dragging me through the mire of what happened, it focuses on Christy's journey to recovery and his victory over abuse. It doesn't in any way paint a bright, unrealistic picture of his struggles, but it doesn't dwell on feeling sorry for him either. It exhibits what someone with a strong human spirit can do when he puts his mind and heart into it. Survival is one of the strongest of all our instincts. When that instinct is crushed, so are our spirits; we lose the will to live. In Christy's case, he was determined to pick up the shattered pieces of his life, put them back together in the best way he can, and move forward. I recommend this story to anyone who is interested in angst, abuse, first love, good friends, family, and victory over oppression. Thanks for the great story, Cody.
Note for Goodreads:
NOTE: This book was provided by Harmony Ink Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
September 17, 2013
3.5 stars
That cover… Omorphi, or ‘pretty’ in Greek, is the perfect description of Christy Castle, a mysterious and mute new student at Michael Sattler’s high school. Picture the famous androgynous fashion model Andrej Pejić, who Michael has had a secret crush on, and you’re there. Long golden blond hair, aquamarine eyes, delicate and whippet thin, Christy fits the bill perfectly. Michael, senior sports stud and all-round good guy, has been longing for a pretty boyfriend, an ómorfi agóri, and just like Christy, he’s ready for love. Once they connect it should be sweet romance from there on.
Michael has a golden life. He is captain of the track team, has great friends, is an excellent student, has a scholarship to Oxford; he is a golden boy. His parents love and support him even after he came out to them, and his best friend Jake has always had his back, they’re like brothers, have known each other all their lives.
Christy is the exact opposite of Michael, he has no loving parents, has fled his home country, Greece, escaping years of horrific abuse which have left him physically scarred and mentally traumatized. He’s the new kid at school and his pretty looks now make him a target for vicious attacks by homophobic school bullies. Michael champions this lost boy and becomes something of a mentor and guide. As they get to know each other it becomes clear that a simple high school fling is not what this is about.
I like pieces of this story: I like the idea of Christy finding his voice and his inner strength; I like his forging a friendship with the brilliant Michael; I like how their physical relationship is handled given Christy’s sexual abuse, how Michael teaches Christy about love and respect. I like the author’s heartfelt mission to inform about treatment of children who have been physically and mentally abused. We are walked every step of the way through Christy’s treatment for his abuse. It is obvious the author is informed in the subject or has done their research.
We are witness to every twist and turn in Christy and Michael’s journey. Their story enters the realm of the fairytale… By the end, Christy and Michael have rallied the queer students in their high school to thwart the bullies, have survived at least three attempts on their lives, and outwitted the police forces of two countries in hunting the very, very evil bad guys intent on harming Christy. Michael is told by various professionals several times that he should be a doctor/psychologist/lawyer… he can do no wrong. Christy is very lucky indeed to have him as his protector and avenger.
My main issue with Omorphi is that it gets bigger than life and blown into soap opera proportions. And there is a lot going on, it is way too long, would have been better at half the length. Yet, you can’t mistake the careful, loving work that has gone into it. I know that many will love this hard-edged yet sweet love story about overcoming great odds. I recommend this for those readers. Be warned, though, that there are descriptions of horrific abuse and rape. My rating is for the premise and the love story even if I couldn’t completely get behind the packaging.
For this review, give-aways, author interviews, and much more:
August 29, 2014
Omorphi is the longest book in the gay YA genre that I've ever read (and I've read a lot of them) and I'm sorry to say that it is probably also the worst! I definitely haven't been so annoyed by a book for a very, very long time. The story is so unrealistic and over the top that it is sometimes downright ridiculous. The characters are either too good, too evil or too stereotypical to resemble real humans or they remain superficial and dull. Worst of all was the fact that this book is filled with lots of endless descriptions of the most banal every-day activities and equally long, trivial and repetitive dialogues. When Jake is saying "Always here for you, bro!" for the umpteenth time it's really getting on your nerves. And that is only one of many examples for repetitiveness. All this banal stuff fills up so much space that there is surprisingly little action in this book when you consider its length, and hardly anything of it is realistic. Therefore I really cannot understand why Omorphi got so many high ratings.
I'm pretty sure that I will not pick up another book by this author ever again.
I'm pretty sure that I will not pick up another book by this author ever again.
September 25, 2013
4.5 Stars
A "Live Your Life, Buy The Book" Review
When I saw Omorphi on the coming soon list, I thought it looked interesting but I was a bit apprehensive to review it. I read many different genres but sometimes abuse, especially with children or young adults hits a bit harder. I am also a survivor of abuse, not to the extent of Christy in the book, but it is something that you do not “get over” it is something that you try to heal from and live with and not let it control your life. It does not go away.
The book opens with a Prologue that gives us a glimpse of the two main characters, Michael and Christy. Their lives could not be more different. Michael has a family and best friend that loves and accepts him; he is popular and the captain of the track team but he is not being completely true to himself. Michael is gay but not out to anyone other than his parents and best friend. He is trying to date girls for the sake of fitting in but it just isn’t working out. Christy has lived a life of abuse. Absolutely horrible abuse at the hands of multiple people. This has left him with scars, inside and out as well as the inability to speak due to injury. Christy is able to leave his home country of Greece and move to New York where he is trying to recover and heal. While at Wellington, the facility where Christy is staying, he enrolls in high school where he notices Michael. One day, Michael literally bumps into Christy and when their eyes meet, he is smitten. I loved it.
The romance between Michael and Christy is sweet and lovely. Michael is kind and gentle and very perceptive when it comes to Christy and what he needs, no matter how unaware he may be in other ways. Christy is so strong. He has fears, sometimes paralyzing fears, yet he does not give up. It is not always easy to read about what he has endured but I think it is necessary to understand what Christy’s character is dealing with. The scenes where Michael is learning how to help Christy, the information he receives from Rob, Christy’s psychiatrist, are some of the most important parts of this book for me. It is general information and in life, each person is working through their own issues, but it was great to see it presented in the context of this novel. “There are tons of kids out there who endure chronic abuse and suffer in silence. They can’t trust anyone, they can’t tell anyone, and they have no idea how to get away from it.”
This book, in the guise of a fictional novel, let’s people know this, helps us understand how we might be able to help that person or why a person may behave in certain ways. It also lets someone who has been a victim of abuse know that there are resources available; that you are not alone and you are not defined by what has been done to you.
The book is like reading a combination romance, mystery and suspense novel. There are a lot of wealthy people with private security and access to options that may not be available to everyone in real life. The villains are extreme. The supporting characters are colorful and varied, the action fast paced. For me this was entertaining enough to help soften the seriousness of the message without marginalizing it.
The author’s note is beautiful and encouraging and this quote from that note really spoke to me. “If you are a victim of abuse, please remember that abuse does not define you. Never judge yourself by what others have done to you.”
Everyone does not come away with the same thoughts and opinions of the books they read. Some speak to us more than others. What I was afraid to read in the beginning ended up being a Young Adult book that resonated with me on a personal level as well as introducing me to a vibrant new author.
A "Live Your Life, Buy The Book" Review
When I saw Omorphi on the coming soon list, I thought it looked interesting but I was a bit apprehensive to review it. I read many different genres but sometimes abuse, especially with children or young adults hits a bit harder. I am also a survivor of abuse, not to the extent of Christy in the book, but it is something that you do not “get over” it is something that you try to heal from and live with and not let it control your life. It does not go away.
The book opens with a Prologue that gives us a glimpse of the two main characters, Michael and Christy. Their lives could not be more different. Michael has a family and best friend that loves and accepts him; he is popular and the captain of the track team but he is not being completely true to himself. Michael is gay but not out to anyone other than his parents and best friend. He is trying to date girls for the sake of fitting in but it just isn’t working out. Christy has lived a life of abuse. Absolutely horrible abuse at the hands of multiple people. This has left him with scars, inside and out as well as the inability to speak due to injury. Christy is able to leave his home country of Greece and move to New York where he is trying to recover and heal. While at Wellington, the facility where Christy is staying, he enrolls in high school where he notices Michael. One day, Michael literally bumps into Christy and when their eyes meet, he is smitten. I loved it.
The romance between Michael and Christy is sweet and lovely. Michael is kind and gentle and very perceptive when it comes to Christy and what he needs, no matter how unaware he may be in other ways. Christy is so strong. He has fears, sometimes paralyzing fears, yet he does not give up. It is not always easy to read about what he has endured but I think it is necessary to understand what Christy’s character is dealing with. The scenes where Michael is learning how to help Christy, the information he receives from Rob, Christy’s psychiatrist, are some of the most important parts of this book for me. It is general information and in life, each person is working through their own issues, but it was great to see it presented in the context of this novel. “There are tons of kids out there who endure chronic abuse and suffer in silence. They can’t trust anyone, they can’t tell anyone, and they have no idea how to get away from it.”
This book, in the guise of a fictional novel, let’s people know this, helps us understand how we might be able to help that person or why a person may behave in certain ways. It also lets someone who has been a victim of abuse know that there are resources available; that you are not alone and you are not defined by what has been done to you.
The book is like reading a combination romance, mystery and suspense novel. There are a lot of wealthy people with private security and access to options that may not be available to everyone in real life. The villains are extreme. The supporting characters are colorful and varied, the action fast paced. For me this was entertaining enough to help soften the seriousness of the message without marginalizing it.
The author’s note is beautiful and encouraging and this quote from that note really spoke to me. “If you are a victim of abuse, please remember that abuse does not define you. Never judge yourself by what others have done to you.”
Everyone does not come away with the same thoughts and opinions of the books they read. Some speak to us more than others. What I was afraid to read in the beginning ended up being a Young Adult book that resonated with me on a personal level as well as introducing me to a vibrant new author.
September 22, 2013
4 Hearts
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
Michael hasn't ever really had to worry about anything in his life, he's the captain of the track team, his best friend always has his back and his parents are wonderful. The only thing he secretly yearns for is a boyfriend to complete his happy world, but with only his best friend and parents knowing he is gay he doesn't think he will be finding a boyfriend any time soon. That is until he bumps into Christy, the silent pretty young man that he develops a crush on. Christy has been through hell for most of his life, slowly healing he makes a new life for himself far from Greece and he begins to yearn for friendship and love. When Christy meets Michael he has hope that he can find love with him, but with a homophobic jock causing problems and a man from Christy's past determined to reclaim Christy they both face together and can only hope that their determination and new found love can overcome the danger they face.
This is a wonderful young adult story that will make your heart bleed for the young couple as they try to find love and peace. Michael seems to have a blessed life, but he isn't blind to what could happen if he comes out at school. He has a wonderful support system with his parents and best friend Jake, who are there for him when needed and encourage him when he begins to feel down. Christy is a young man whose life has been hell, nobody could help him until it was nearly too late and he now has much healing to do. Christy has a long journey ahead of him as he comes to terms with what happened to him and he begins to reclaim his life with the help of his new boyfriend Michael.
This is a very touching story that has a surprising amount of danger and action for the young adults of the story. Michael and Christy make a wonderful couple even with the trauma that Christy still has to overcome, but Michael proves himself to be the perfect person to help Christy have a normal life. Christy may be damaged and wary but he is an incredibly strong character, Michael may not know everything that has happened but he is a very surprising astute young man, Jake is an incredible best friend and the assortment of other characters we meet make this story just brilliant. Watching as the characters pull together in the face of scorn and danger was wonderful, as each of them added that something special to the storyline.
While I would love to dissect this story pointing out everything that makes it incredible I can't, it would take too long as there were so many things that made me unable to put this story down. While some of the story was a bit hard to swallow, like the police and bodyguards seeming incompetence and the convenient way nobody could ever find Yosef or Jason, there was some incredible understanding of the effects of abuse and how it effects those around the victims.
I recommend this to those who love young adults overcoming abuse, danger and scorn, friends and family pulling together, rescues, fear, anger and finding love.
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
Michael hasn't ever really had to worry about anything in his life, he's the captain of the track team, his best friend always has his back and his parents are wonderful. The only thing he secretly yearns for is a boyfriend to complete his happy world, but with only his best friend and parents knowing he is gay he doesn't think he will be finding a boyfriend any time soon. That is until he bumps into Christy, the silent pretty young man that he develops a crush on. Christy has been through hell for most of his life, slowly healing he makes a new life for himself far from Greece and he begins to yearn for friendship and love. When Christy meets Michael he has hope that he can find love with him, but with a homophobic jock causing problems and a man from Christy's past determined to reclaim Christy they both face together and can only hope that their determination and new found love can overcome the danger they face.
This is a wonderful young adult story that will make your heart bleed for the young couple as they try to find love and peace. Michael seems to have a blessed life, but he isn't blind to what could happen if he comes out at school. He has a wonderful support system with his parents and best friend Jake, who are there for him when needed and encourage him when he begins to feel down. Christy is a young man whose life has been hell, nobody could help him until it was nearly too late and he now has much healing to do. Christy has a long journey ahead of him as he comes to terms with what happened to him and he begins to reclaim his life with the help of his new boyfriend Michael.
This is a very touching story that has a surprising amount of danger and action for the young adults of the story. Michael and Christy make a wonderful couple even with the trauma that Christy still has to overcome, but Michael proves himself to be the perfect person to help Christy have a normal life. Christy may be damaged and wary but he is an incredibly strong character, Michael may not know everything that has happened but he is a very surprising astute young man, Jake is an incredible best friend and the assortment of other characters we meet make this story just brilliant. Watching as the characters pull together in the face of scorn and danger was wonderful, as each of them added that something special to the storyline.
While I would love to dissect this story pointing out everything that makes it incredible I can't, it would take too long as there were so many things that made me unable to put this story down. While some of the story was a bit hard to swallow, like the police and bodyguards seeming incompetence and the convenient way nobody could ever find Yosef or Jason, there was some incredible understanding of the effects of abuse and how it effects those around the victims.
I recommend this to those who love young adults overcoming abuse, danger and scorn, friends and family pulling together, rescues, fear, anger and finding love.
October 24, 2013
I really wish I was good with words to express to you all just how good this book is because believe me it's outstanding.
I hardly ever read long books because I find some lose the story about half way in but no not with this book I never got bored once the story flows nicely from the start to finish.
I wish I could bottle up Christy and Michael and the love they have for each other it was heartfelt heart-warming and never wavered.
You adore Michael from the start what’s not to like he's a great friend an athletic he's your typical all round nice guy. He is out to his parents and his best friend Jake and is desperate for a boyfriend. I have to say the relationship he has with his best friend Jake is to cute they are in every sense of the word best friends and will do anything for each other.
When Michael meets Christy he thinks he is beautiful and it takes him a good couple of months till he has enough courage to talk to him but when he does well the love story starts.
You will fall in love with Christy you can't help it when you find out what he suffered, and it's not nice we are talking abuse here. Christy thinks so little of himself some of the things he comes out with is heartbreaking but you can see he wants to fight and I’m amazed at what he does to but the bad people behind him.
With Michael's help he does start to mend and move on but there's always someone out there to bring you bad down and this comes in the form of Jason Oh boy what a nasty piece of work he is but believe me he's not the worst. The worst comes in the form of an abuser from Christy's past this man is obsessed and will do anything to get his hands on Christy.
Michael never never gives up on Christy even when his dad tell him to date other people. But you know what this story is about survival finding that one person to love and moving on with your life and yes I cried it was hard not to. I adored everything about this book and I highly highly recommend it.
I hardly ever read long books because I find some lose the story about half way in but no not with this book I never got bored once the story flows nicely from the start to finish.
I wish I could bottle up Christy and Michael and the love they have for each other it was heartfelt heart-warming and never wavered.
You adore Michael from the start what’s not to like he's a great friend an athletic he's your typical all round nice guy. He is out to his parents and his best friend Jake and is desperate for a boyfriend. I have to say the relationship he has with his best friend Jake is to cute they are in every sense of the word best friends and will do anything for each other.
When Michael meets Christy he thinks he is beautiful and it takes him a good couple of months till he has enough courage to talk to him but when he does well the love story starts.
You will fall in love with Christy you can't help it when you find out what he suffered, and it's not nice we are talking abuse here. Christy thinks so little of himself some of the things he comes out with is heartbreaking but you can see he wants to fight and I’m amazed at what he does to but the bad people behind him.
With Michael's help he does start to mend and move on but there's always someone out there to bring you bad down and this comes in the form of Jason Oh boy what a nasty piece of work he is but believe me he's not the worst. The worst comes in the form of an abuser from Christy's past this man is obsessed and will do anything to get his hands on Christy.
Michael never never gives up on Christy even when his dad tell him to date other people. But you know what this story is about survival finding that one person to love and moving on with your life and yes I cried it was hard not to. I adored everything about this book and I highly highly recommend it.
October 27, 2013
189,675 words. Should have got me thru the weekend and then some, right? So very wrong! I was obsessed, I could not put it down, I ignored everyone and had food pushed under the locked bedroom door. Okay...maybe it wasn't that bad, but it was close.
The characters are so real, so lovingly well written and believable in the way that they spoke to and interact with each other...fantastic! I loved Michael and Jake's family and friends but the relationship between Christy and Michael was the absolute perfect balance between understanding and frustration and confusion and love...mostly love.
I had a lot of questions left unanswered but not because the author didn't tie things up nicely. It was more that I wanted...needed to know what happens with Jake and Sophia, Lisa and Jorge and Gorge, Jerry and Stephen and Rob. What happens with Rob? Someone needs to shake that man up!
Can't wait for more...The Beginning. :)
The characters are so real, so lovingly well written and believable in the way that they spoke to and interact with each other...fantastic! I loved Michael and Jake's family and friends but the relationship between Christy and Michael was the absolute perfect balance between understanding and frustration and confusion and love...mostly love.
I had a lot of questions left unanswered but not because the author didn't tie things up nicely. It was more that I wanted...needed to know what happens with Jake and Sophia, Lisa and Jorge and Gorge, Jerry and Stephen and Rob. What happens with Rob? Someone needs to shake that man up!
Can't wait for more...The Beginning. :)
November 22, 2013
I am shocked at what high ratings this book has gotten. Did I need read the same book as everyone else? It was a dragged out, 600 page mess of the junior-high variety. The two aspects of the book did not fit each other at all -- a young (billionaire) abuse victim versus a young boy-next-door high schooler. Their relationship happened in a flash and basically, the entire book was terribly unrealistic. And I did not feel as if the victim's abuse was dealt with correctly; working in that field, I can tell you, this was all fantasy.
September 26, 2013
"Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before." ~ Edgar Allan Poe
A wonderful novel that shows you must never give up hope and that love will give you the courage to conquer all fears. I would highly recommend this book!
A wonderful novel that shows you must never give up hope and that love will give you the courage to conquer all fears. I would highly recommend this book!
July 4, 2018
I saw this on someone's blog and thought, "Wow, that sounds different. I wanna read that!" I'm so glad I followed through on that stray thought and bought the book right away. There's no way I would have wanted to miss out on this great story. And I absolutely loved the homage paid to Andrej Pejic, one of the most amazing models in the business.
October 24, 2015
When you start thinking about reading a book you could never imagine that from the foreword you are going to be impacted by the story.
I will confess that due to personal reasons I had to prepare myself to read this book even though I had pointedly asked author Cody Kennedy about the story and in his infinite graciousness he answered them ... It took me a little more time to start.
This is a brilliant story and Cody is a brilliant author. The research and the delicate but straight to the point way he deals with abuse is comforting. The way he describes everything is clear but it doesn't detract from the desire to keep reading.
Michael and Christy's story is unique... Yes I say their story because even though Christy is the one that suffered the abuse, you cannot have one without the other. Also let me be blunt ... You can't have the story without Jake ... Michael's best friend...
Michael and Christy's relationship is unique. The bond formed between them is immediate. Michael has the uncanny ability of knowing what Christy needs and how to be there. Christy's power of observation and extremely photographic memory is important too.
Christy suffered a horrible abuse, he has multiple issues that stem from it. Who wouldn't ... But with Michael's reassuring hand ... He starts to believe in himself.
There are still enemies lurking at the scene. Ignorant people who doesn't accept homosexuality and it is sad they suffered the consequences of their ignorance.
But still worst ... One of the obsessed abusers is trying to get to Christy.
The intrigue, the mystery, the angst and the results make this a worth read.
Michael is an extremely mature young adult ... It will touch your heart the complete surrendering of himself to Christy's wellbeing.
Christy learned multiple things ... He learned how to start knowing he is better than the abuse. The power of freely making decisions and the power of words that will uplift you.
And let's not forget about Jake ... His acceptance, listening ears and open way he is there for Michael. Not only has that ... He taken on Christy's friendship like he has known him in forever.
Each secondary character is also well developed and will leave a lasting impression on the story.
For Michael the support of his parents Mac and Bobbie.
For Christy the support of his cousin Sophia and therapist Rob.
For Jake the support of his parents Nero and Anna.
Along with some schoolmates and friends.
If you have been a victim of abuse you will understand that seeking help is not something to be afraid of.... The sad thing is lots of people don’t seek help. Lots of abused children can't speak for themselves.
Maybe reading this book will empower you to do it. Like brilliantly the foreword said ... And I quote...
For those who, like me, live with the monster in their heads every minute of every day, I remind you that you are never alone. There are legions of children, no matter their ages, who stand beside you each day and tell their monster: "You will not break me."
I tell you this ... Consider yourself a survivor.... Because I am a SURVIVOR.
I will confess that due to personal reasons I had to prepare myself to read this book even though I had pointedly asked author Cody Kennedy about the story and in his infinite graciousness he answered them ... It took me a little more time to start.
This is a brilliant story and Cody is a brilliant author. The research and the delicate but straight to the point way he deals with abuse is comforting. The way he describes everything is clear but it doesn't detract from the desire to keep reading.
Michael and Christy's story is unique... Yes I say their story because even though Christy is the one that suffered the abuse, you cannot have one without the other. Also let me be blunt ... You can't have the story without Jake ... Michael's best friend...
Michael and Christy's relationship is unique. The bond formed between them is immediate. Michael has the uncanny ability of knowing what Christy needs and how to be there. Christy's power of observation and extremely photographic memory is important too.
Christy suffered a horrible abuse, he has multiple issues that stem from it. Who wouldn't ... But with Michael's reassuring hand ... He starts to believe in himself.
There are still enemies lurking at the scene. Ignorant people who doesn't accept homosexuality and it is sad they suffered the consequences of their ignorance.
But still worst ... One of the obsessed abusers is trying to get to Christy.
The intrigue, the mystery, the angst and the results make this a worth read.
Michael is an extremely mature young adult ... It will touch your heart the complete surrendering of himself to Christy's wellbeing.
Christy learned multiple things ... He learned how to start knowing he is better than the abuse. The power of freely making decisions and the power of words that will uplift you.
And let's not forget about Jake ... His acceptance, listening ears and open way he is there for Michael. Not only has that ... He taken on Christy's friendship like he has known him in forever.
Each secondary character is also well developed and will leave a lasting impression on the story.
For Michael the support of his parents Mac and Bobbie.
For Christy the support of his cousin Sophia and therapist Rob.
For Jake the support of his parents Nero and Anna.
Along with some schoolmates and friends.
If you have been a victim of abuse you will understand that seeking help is not something to be afraid of.... The sad thing is lots of people don’t seek help. Lots of abused children can't speak for themselves.
Maybe reading this book will empower you to do it. Like brilliantly the foreword said ... And I quote...
For those who, like me, live with the monster in their heads every minute of every day, I remind you that you are never alone. There are legions of children, no matter their ages, who stand beside you each day and tell their monster: "You will not break me."
I tell you this ... Consider yourself a survivor.... Because I am a SURVIVOR.
October 21, 2013
This book is enormous, not only in pages but mostly in the message that brings. A message of survival and hope. What Christy had endure in his childhood was monstruous, and unfortunatly there are in our world sick minds capable of inflict the most horrific treatments on others, even in children.
Christy survived and overcome his tragic past, with love and friendship. He and Michael created a strong bond based on love and trust.
The story is amazing and so are the characters. I must say, however, that this book left me exausted... Every scene has a bad thing happening... A phone call, an encounter or crimes... there is no peace in this book...
Is also a book of extremes: there is a group of people extremely good, that like to help the others, tolerant, generous and that give their love freely... and there is a group of characters extremely evil, homophobic, pedophile... In the middle there is the beautiful Christy, trying to survive and escape from the second group with the help of the first...
"For all who endure, may your freedom and happiness increase every moment of every day."
Christy survived and overcome his tragic past, with love and friendship. He and Michael created a strong bond based on love and trust.
The story is amazing and so are the characters. I must say, however, that this book left me exausted... Every scene has a bad thing happening... A phone call, an encounter or crimes... there is no peace in this book...
Is also a book of extremes: there is a group of people extremely good, that like to help the others, tolerant, generous and that give their love freely... and there is a group of characters extremely evil, homophobic, pedophile... In the middle there is the beautiful Christy, trying to survive and escape from the second group with the help of the first...
"For all who endure, may your freedom and happiness increase every moment of every day."
January 5, 2014
This is one of those books that will be lingering in my brain for a while. This is an intense story, and it is beautifully written. C. Kennedy prose and writing style are descriptive and engaging. From the onset, Christy is a phenomenal multi-dimensional character. Kennedy did a great job developing all of the characters, but Christy’s character is exceptional and regal. The family unit that evolves from Michael, Jacob, Christy and their respective families is well-developed throughout the book. It is clear that Michael, his friends and his family are out of their league dealing with the tragic past that defines Christy, but their struggles with that add realism to the story. Although the adults in the story have a minor role, as is typical in young adult literature, their presence is important and keeps parts of the story grounded. Some of the plot twists and scenes are a bit exaggerated, but overall, the story was compelling, and I had a difficult time putting it down. On a side note, I realize the book is fiction, but, unfortunately, the basic plot of this book is very real for too many kids in the world. Kennedy has done a great job writing about this subject.
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