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Mindscape
The truth will set you free.
Mark Sayre joins the Interstellar Navy for the money—his only goal is to keep his little brother out of the colony mines that sent their father to an early grave. With concepts like duty and honor floating high over his head, he hardly expects to fall for the serious, idealistic Shane Cawley. Not to mention that Shane is his commanding officer . . . and his Resonance partner, a one-in-ten-thousand mental connection so profound that they can travel in each other’s mindscapes.
Shane Cawley is carrying on the family tradition by serving in the Interstellar Navy. He hardly expects to fall for the quirky, happy-go-lucky Mark Sayre. But as the Resonance between them grows, neither can deny what he feels for the other.
When war breaks out, Mark and Shane find their military training and their Resonance link tested to the edge of sanity. Shane is haunted by memories and flashbacks, and Mark becomes trapped in his own mindscape. But with help from an unlikely ally, they may be able to salvage their futures and the love they share.
Mark Sayre joins the Interstellar Navy for the money—his only goal is to keep his little brother out of the colony mines that sent their father to an early grave. With concepts like duty and honor floating high over his head, he hardly expects to fall for the serious, idealistic Shane Cawley. Not to mention that Shane is his commanding officer . . . and his Resonance partner, a one-in-ten-thousand mental connection so profound that they can travel in each other’s mindscapes.
Shane Cawley is carrying on the family tradition by serving in the Interstellar Navy. He hardly expects to fall for the quirky, happy-go-lucky Mark Sayre. But as the Resonance between them grows, neither can deny what he feels for the other.
When war breaks out, Mark and Shane find their military training and their Resonance link tested to the edge of sanity. Shane is haunted by memories and flashbacks, and Mark becomes trapped in his own mindscape. But with help from an unlikely ally, they may be able to salvage their futures and the love they share.
94 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 21, 2013
52 people want to read
About the author
Tal Valante
4 books14 followersTal's passion in life is building worlds, whether digital ones using programming languages, or literary ones using plain ol' English. When she's not buried neck-deep in code, you can find her editing manuscripts, designing fantasy worlds, or torturing characters in her own original works.
You can get Tal going forever on her favorite subjects with a few well-placed words, such as "Babylon 5" and "Assassin's Creed." A word of caution, though: "forever" means just that . . .
To learn more about Tal, please visit http://valante.com.
You can get Tal going forever on her favorite subjects with a few well-placed words, such as "Babylon 5" and "Assassin's Creed." A word of caution, though: "forever" means just that . . .
To learn more about Tal, please visit http://valante.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
November 27, 2013
I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A short, but powerful novella. It was told through flashbacks, but for me this story was one of the few that used this effectively. It allowed me to know the important moments of their lives, how they met, grew to love each other, and the events of the war that lead to the where the story begins. Told in a chronological order this would have been a VERY long book. Using the flashbacks let me get to know the characters, and appreciate their bond, and understand what happened to them without getting caught up in the minutiae of day to day life. I appreciated the sensitive handling of PTS, and I liked the part the Resonance played. I appreciated that it wasn’t a story about one person saving the other, and magically making everything better. I liked that one person was not enough, and that he had to learn to accept help from another. The ending was nicely happy for now, and didn't downplay the continued issues that both men face.
A short, but powerful novella. It was told through flashbacks, but for me this story was one of the few that used this effectively. It allowed me to know the important moments of their lives, how they met, grew to love each other, and the events of the war that lead to the where the story begins. Told in a chronological order this would have been a VERY long book. Using the flashbacks let me get to know the characters, and appreciate their bond, and understand what happened to them without getting caught up in the minutiae of day to day life. I appreciated the sensitive handling of PTS, and I liked the part the Resonance played. I appreciated that it wasn’t a story about one person saving the other, and magically making everything better. I liked that one person was not enough, and that he had to learn to accept help from another. The ending was nicely happy for now, and didn't downplay the continued issues that both men face.
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January 27, 2023This story was quite different to the types of stories that I am used to reading. I don't read a lot of sci-fi so was intrigued by the blurb for this book.
I quite liked the building of the world - little glimpses of the future of planet earth and the intergalactic struggles for resources. The concept of two minds meeting in resonance was also fascinating. Finding the one person in ten thousand who was your soul mate to the extent of sharing thoughts and emotions was fascinating. Therefore the idea of 'losing' this person as they became trapped in their own mind interesting and I could understand Shane's heartbreak.
This is the story of Shane visiting his resonance partner, Mark, in hospital. Mark is almost comatose, unable to speak, communicate or even acknowledge Shane. Shane tries everything in his power, over a long period of time, to break down Mark's mental barriers to free him from his own mind. He is assisted by Alex, a nurse who adds a slight complexity to the story.
Through flashbacks, we learn of how Mark and Shane met and the war that resulted in Mark's current situation. I did have a concern with regards to the flashbacks. The book moves back and forth between present day and the past with little warning which was slightly distracting. There was usually a double line space between the switch but I think the ease of reading may have benefited from a more definite change (such as a symbol between the paragraphs). However I was reading an ARC so maybe the formatting will be slightly different on the final book.
This was quite a unique story. I found it not so much a romance, rather a bit of a mystery story waiting to see if Shane could 'rescue' Mark. I would have liked to see more of Mark and Shane's initial romance and falling in love, a deeper look at the characters, although the depth of the love was evident in Shane never giving up on his lover.
I think I will investigate some more work by this author and perhaps venture some more into the m/m romance sci-fi genre.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest review.
This book is due for publication on 23rd December 2013.
I publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
I quite liked the building of the world - little glimpses of the future of planet earth and the intergalactic struggles for resources. The concept of two minds meeting in resonance was also fascinating. Finding the one person in ten thousand who was your soul mate to the extent of sharing thoughts and emotions was fascinating. Therefore the idea of 'losing' this person as they became trapped in their own mind interesting and I could understand Shane's heartbreak.
This is the story of Shane visiting his resonance partner, Mark, in hospital. Mark is almost comatose, unable to speak, communicate or even acknowledge Shane. Shane tries everything in his power, over a long period of time, to break down Mark's mental barriers to free him from his own mind. He is assisted by Alex, a nurse who adds a slight complexity to the story.
Through flashbacks, we learn of how Mark and Shane met and the war that resulted in Mark's current situation. I did have a concern with regards to the flashbacks. The book moves back and forth between present day and the past with little warning which was slightly distracting. There was usually a double line space between the switch but I think the ease of reading may have benefited from a more definite change (such as a symbol between the paragraphs). However I was reading an ARC so maybe the formatting will be slightly different on the final book.
This was quite a unique story. I found it not so much a romance, rather a bit of a mystery story waiting to see if Shane could 'rescue' Mark. I would have liked to see more of Mark and Shane's initial romance and falling in love, a deeper look at the characters, although the depth of the love was evident in Shane never giving up on his lover.
I think I will investigate some more work by this author and perhaps venture some more into the m/m romance sci-fi genre.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest review.
This book is due for publication on 23rd December 2013.
I publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
July 23, 2016
Not quite.
This was interesting. Surprisingly, the forward-backwards in time storytelling actually worked quite well rather than just annoying me like it usually does. I liked the concept a great deal, but the disappointment was in the small details. For a scifi story, the everyday items filling the spaces between action are very Earth now or cognates of known brands which seems to ground it here rather than just accepting that in several hundred years or millennia that things will have altered. So the world building was less successful in setting the tone.
While the main conflict is resolved slowly and meticulously, the secondary problems are too easily resolved. There is a convenience to one change to a founding premise to the entire story that gets tweaked to solve the issue and then almost dissolved after the fact. The solution was just too easy.
I enjoyed it, but I'd hoped for more.
Favorite passage:
This was interesting. Surprisingly, the forward-backwards in time storytelling actually worked quite well rather than just annoying me like it usually does. I liked the concept a great deal, but the disappointment was in the small details. For a scifi story, the everyday items filling the spaces between action are very Earth now or cognates of known brands which seems to ground it here rather than just accepting that in several hundred years or millennia that things will have altered. So the world building was less successful in setting the tone.
While the main conflict is resolved slowly and meticulously, the secondary problems are too easily resolved. There is a convenience to one change to a founding premise to the entire story that gets tweaked to solve the issue and then almost dissolved after the fact. The solution was just too easy.
I enjoyed it, but I'd hoped for more.
Favorite passage:
Mark would have made a good fish; he has their grace. Now he has their silence, too, and their dead-eyed stare.
March 12, 2014
I really enjoyed the majority of this book, despite the flipping back and forth between past and present time frames. The story had an interesting premise. I loved the concept of "Resonance", basically an empathetic connection between two people, and how it factored into the story. The connection between the two MCs was also strong. I found Shane's visits to Mark in the hospital to be heartbreaking and poignant.
My issue with the story came towards the end. I didn't like how everything went down with Alex. I felt like another aspect of the story was introduced as the story was winding down and then was unceremoniously dropped. The first part of the book was a solid 4 stars for me but the ending was no more than 2 stars, which bummed me out.
All in all, this was a unique little story that could have great with a little reworking.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
My issue with the story came towards the end. I didn't like how everything went down with Alex. I felt like another aspect of the story was introduced as the story was winding down and then was unceremoniously dropped. The first part of the book was a solid 4 stars for me but the ending was no more than 2 stars, which bummed me out.
All in all, this was a unique little story that could have great with a little reworking.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
December 22, 2013
3.5 stars
resonance…
“Two minds so perfectly attuned to each other that they can share thoughts and emotions.”
Mark and Shane are enlisted in the Inter-Stellar Navy also known as Spavy. Mark is in training as a Space Fighter Pilot and Shane is his superior, his Technical Officer. Their job is to protect Earth from the Redorens, a mysterious telepathic race that’s been on the attack.
What sets Mark and Shane apart is that they also share a special bond called Resonance, meaning they are intimately attuned to each other. It’s a very rare bonding…
“… a one-in-ten-thousand mental connection so profound that they can travel in each other’s mindscapes."
Mark is the easy-going, sensitive one, in it for the paycheck, to support and keep his younger brother out of the silica mines back home. Mark does his job well, hopes he never has to kill anyone, though. Shane, older, career officer with all the weight that carries, broods over the ramifications of their connection and a possible war at hand.
I was all in at the whole ‘bonding of minds’ thing, a trope I adore in sci-fi reads. Like these favorites, Lisa Henry’s Dark Space, J. Fally’s Bone Rider, and Jay Kirkpatrick’s Freedom, anything that smacks of two hot for each other characters getting their feelz on with mind games added, definitely ratchets up the fun.
Valante alternates the story between the present, told in present tense which lends a colder, almost clinical feel as Shane visits Mark in a psych hospital, and the past when they first meet and then train together. There is a lot of flashing back and forth, but it’s effective as it quickly draws us into Mark and Shane’s present dilemma with all its despair, as well as effectively contrasting with their sweet, loving relationship in the past. Their whole story, encompassing eight years, is neatly packaged from the beginning.
A cataclysmic event results in Mark’s capture and torture as a Redoren POW, leaving him a veritable shell of himself trapped in an ongoing nightmare
. And Shane faces his own nightmare having lost his ship and crew in battle. Their Resonance bond is key to any kind of resolution for them as Shane fights to break Mark out of his mental cage. PTSD and the trauma of war take on a whole different meaning when it can be intimately shared with another.
I had some issues with the story… The only sci-fi element here was the mind-meld. Everything else could have been set in present time reality. And while I love the psychic connection I couldn’t help but feel that it was used just for its cool factor… I still want to know… How it fits into this world? Why are some people empathic? What is the precedent for it? Is it misused? Lots of questions aren’t answered. Also, we don’t learn much about the Redorens. Are they aliens? Finally, the writer makes use of some very tired similes. Interestingly, they crop up mostly in the first half of the story, during action scenes where they detract from the weight of the situation… they are distracting and cheesy.
Mindscape is really all about the Resonance. The rest of the world building falls to the wayside with the main focus on this lovely plot device, what it means to Mark and Shane, and how they use it to find their way back to each other. Their journey is very touching as their connection is tested beyond mutual attraction and love. I enjoyed reading their story even if I did wish for more substance around it.
For this review and much more:
July 24, 2014
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
Mindscape is a fairly short novel in great need of being fleshed out into a real story. It is told through a mix of flashbacks from one character and then current-period unfolding story from the other (currently in a coma). Unfortunately, nothing gels in the story and we have very little reason to care for any of the characters - much in part due to the choppiness of the intermingled flashbacks and the passivity of the storytelling. Lack of world building or story beyond two boys meeting also contributed.
The book starts with Shawn arriving at a mental hospital to visit his lover, Mark. Mark is in a catatonic coma due to PTSD (there are a LOT of acronyms in this book) after he was recovered from an enemy prison. As Shawn works with a caregiver male nurse to use a psychic link Shawn has with Mark, Mark's story of meeting Shawn unfolds.
Switching POVs so frequently for me (as well as alternating between past and present) could have worked but really didn't here. For one thing, each transition lasts a few pages - it felt a lot like someone giving you dinner plate with five items on it and then requiring you to go watch 10 minutes of a sitcom between each type of food. There simply wasn't enough time to get into one POV or situation before suddenly being thrust into the other POV. After about 30% through the book, I just gave up on the story and found I didn't even want to read further.
The science fiction elements were only half of the story - the rest was the mental hospital and that whole present tense POV was incredibly boring as a result. The military, world building, everything else also fell to the wayside into what felt like a generic attempt at a sci fi novel without really needing any of the trappings of one. This could have been an Iraqi war veteran setting or a WW1 setting - it just didn't matter.
The writing was very simplistic - felt almost like one of those community college adult education writing courses where two students make a story with two characters and shoot off emails once a week with a new bit they wrote to their mutually agreed upon story. Neither spent the time to actually write the world into existence - just the characters and very broadly.
I don't give a lot of one star reviews - the book would have to miss on a) story; b) writing; c) plot. This unfortunately failed on all accounts for me.
January 8, 2014
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this story but only because I persevered with the way the story is set out.
It took me some time to get into this story because it is told through constant flashbacks. It means you have to get used to the way the story zig zags. Thankfully it isn't a long book, more of a novella, but still the constant flash backs make it hard to read, at least for me.
Other than that the story was ok. Shane has to find a way to free his husband Mark. Mark is imprisoned in his own mind and this happened when he was taken prisoner by an enemy planet.
I thought the story was ok and a nice read. Mark and Shane are 'resonant' which means they have an instant attraction to each other. I think it would have been nice to explore their romance a bit more because it felt a bit flat. This might be because the focus of the story is actually on rescuing Mark.
I thought it was a nice enough sci -fi story and imaginative. Just below 4 stars for me.
I enjoyed this story but only because I persevered with the way the story is set out.
It took me some time to get into this story because it is told through constant flashbacks. It means you have to get used to the way the story zig zags. Thankfully it isn't a long book, more of a novella, but still the constant flash backs make it hard to read, at least for me.
Other than that the story was ok. Shane has to find a way to free his husband Mark. Mark is imprisoned in his own mind and this happened when he was taken prisoner by an enemy planet.
I thought the story was ok and a nice read. Mark and Shane are 'resonant' which means they have an instant attraction to each other. I think it would have been nice to explore their romance a bit more because it felt a bit flat. This might be because the focus of the story is actually on rescuing Mark.
I thought it was a nice enough sci -fi story and imaginative. Just below 4 stars for me.
December 24, 2013
You know, my first impulse was to call bullshit on the formatting. It starts at the end, sort of, and intersperses it with the past. Redux of Valante's previous story.
It takes a while (or it took me a while) to get into, but afterwards, I can kind of see why. It's not completely ineffective, but (and I feel like a "judge" on ANTM for saying this) I really wanted to see the author branch out, try something new, show us xe can do other stuff and isn't just a one-trick pony.
Other points:
Cyclopes is interesting. Why is the ship name plural? I mean, I guess you can spin it, but it made me take pause.
It's...gimmicky, definitely. And yeah, the story doesn't quite completely gel together. Even though it goes in a different direction, it really does seem like a redux of the first one.
It takes a while (or it took me a while) to get into, but afterwards, I can kind of see why. It's not completely ineffective, but (and I feel like a "judge" on ANTM for saying this) I really wanted to see the author branch out, try something new, show us xe can do other stuff and isn't just a one-trick pony.
Other points:
Cyclopes is interesting. Why is the ship name plural? I mean, I guess you can spin it, but it made me take pause.
It's...gimmicky, definitely. And yeah, the story doesn't quite completely gel together. Even though it goes in a different direction, it really does seem like a redux of the first one.
November 26, 2013
Ever feel as if you walked into the wrong movie theater? Or you missed the first part of the play and you've come in during act III? The blurb of this story does not do the book any justice. It took me at least a chapter to figure out what the hell is going on. This is frustrating for many readers and could stop them from continuing on with the book. The book doesn't really hook a reader into it with in the first few pages. This is a problem when the writing style is unfamiliar. Since I read all my review books, I pushed through. I am glad I did.
Ms. Valante needs to work on how she brings the story all together. This is probably a 2.5 star book, but I ended up with a 3 star because I enjoyed the twists. This is a very short book which means it needs to be concisely written with all the threads tying together. Unfortunately, there are many left out pieces. Pieces that require to make a story more rich. For someone who isn't into sci-fi, this would be a difficult book to get into. There are a lot of missing pieces which my mind supplied because of the books I've read or the movies I've seen. For example, I didn't need much explanation on Resonance because I just watched Pacific Rim. My pure enjoyment of that movie carried over and gave this book a positive spin because I transferred how resonance worked from that movie into the book here.
Another example of where my mind supplied it's only back story is regarding Mark's situation. Since I've read many different sci-fi books where people are in the military to help keep a family member out of the mines, it was easy to fill in the blanks here too. In fact, I read another Riptide book which had a similar theme.
Yet why did I still rate this a 3? I liked how Shane figured out how to bring Mark out of his situation. The constant trying to heal Mark speaks to me. It would have been better if we could have bonded better with Shane and Mark. This was difficult to do because there was little character development for us get to know them.
Lastly, the jarring flash backs doesn't work well in books. Or at least, Ms. Valante needs to work on her transitions because they are choppy. The flashbacks reminds me of Nicholas Spark's The Notebook. So once again, I supplied my own understanding through a different story.
Overall, I think Ms. Valante does possess something special. I can see her potential. She's writing out of the box and looking at things from a different perspective. She needs to work on how this translates into written words in a smooth manner. Recommended for diehard sci-fi m/m lovers.
*provided by NetGalley
Ms. Valante needs to work on how she brings the story all together. This is probably a 2.5 star book, but I ended up with a 3 star because I enjoyed the twists. This is a very short book which means it needs to be concisely written with all the threads tying together. Unfortunately, there are many left out pieces. Pieces that require to make a story more rich. For someone who isn't into sci-fi, this would be a difficult book to get into. There are a lot of missing pieces which my mind supplied because of the books I've read or the movies I've seen. For example, I didn't need much explanation on Resonance because I just watched Pacific Rim. My pure enjoyment of that movie carried over and gave this book a positive spin because I transferred how resonance worked from that movie into the book here.
Another example of where my mind supplied it's only back story is regarding Mark's situation. Since I've read many different sci-fi books where people are in the military to help keep a family member out of the mines, it was easy to fill in the blanks here too. In fact, I read another Riptide book which had a similar theme.
Yet why did I still rate this a 3? I liked how Shane figured out how to bring Mark out of his situation. The constant trying to heal Mark speaks to me. It would have been better if we could have bonded better with Shane and Mark. This was difficult to do because there was little character development for us get to know them.
Lastly, the jarring flash backs doesn't work well in books. Or at least, Ms. Valante needs to work on her transitions because they are choppy. The flashbacks reminds me of Nicholas Spark's The Notebook. So once again, I supplied my own understanding through a different story.
Overall, I think Ms. Valante does possess something special. I can see her potential. She's writing out of the box and looking at things from a different perspective. She needs to work on how this translates into written words in a smooth manner. Recommended for diehard sci-fi m/m lovers.
*provided by NetGalley
December 25, 2013
With Mindscape Tal Valente has crafted an intriguing sci-fi read that uses flashbacks to show the progressive relationship of two soldiers of war that goes from tragedy to uplifting in the blink of an eye. Along the way we delve into issues of PTSD and the plight of POWs to inject a bit of realism as well as how true love is defined to tug at the reader's heart.
Mark and Shane couldn't be more different in their reasons for joining the service. Mark is doing it merely to pay the rent and keep his younger brother from working to death in the mines. For Shane it's tradition as his father rose high in the ranks as does he. Much to Mark's surprise he succeeds too, especially with the knowledge that success means he'll be able to start a relationship with Shane who he's become attracted to. Their relationship has its ups and downs with injuries leading to PTSD and even deeper mental issues that force them apart just as they're on the road to HEA.
This was a quick read that showed an intriguing glimpse at a future society on the brink of war with other planets. There was a small bit of world-building but not near what I'd hope for a sci-fi read. The romance was subtle with the physical aspects of the sweet variety. The majority of this m/m relationship was of the emotional variety instead as Mark's catatonic state is keeping them from their HEA and letting them connect on only a mental level as they're bonded through Resonance (a mutual telepathy the affects only one in a million). Shane's desperate to bring Mark back on his own terms but soon realizes that he needs the help of another to break down the walls Mark's created to get through the horrors of war in an ending that's a bit flat at first but ultimately concludes in a realistic way that reasserts the true power of love and acceptance. From start to finish this is an atmospheric story that draws you in but doesn't dig too deep into the individuality of the characters. It's an entertaining read that shows great promise for Tal Valente's future and has me wanting to read more from this author in the future.
Mark and Shane couldn't be more different in their reasons for joining the service. Mark is doing it merely to pay the rent and keep his younger brother from working to death in the mines. For Shane it's tradition as his father rose high in the ranks as does he. Much to Mark's surprise he succeeds too, especially with the knowledge that success means he'll be able to start a relationship with Shane who he's become attracted to. Their relationship has its ups and downs with injuries leading to PTSD and even deeper mental issues that force them apart just as they're on the road to HEA.
This was a quick read that showed an intriguing glimpse at a future society on the brink of war with other planets. There was a small bit of world-building but not near what I'd hope for a sci-fi read. The romance was subtle with the physical aspects of the sweet variety. The majority of this m/m relationship was of the emotional variety instead as Mark's catatonic state is keeping them from their HEA and letting them connect on only a mental level as they're bonded through Resonance (a mutual telepathy the affects only one in a million). Shane's desperate to bring Mark back on his own terms but soon realizes that he needs the help of another to break down the walls Mark's created to get through the horrors of war in an ending that's a bit flat at first but ultimately concludes in a realistic way that reasserts the true power of love and acceptance. From start to finish this is an atmospheric story that draws you in but doesn't dig too deep into the individuality of the characters. It's an entertaining read that shows great promise for Tal Valente's future and has me wanting to read more from this author in the future.
November 25, 2013
What a brief and moving novella. I’m not sure what spurred me on to request it (probably the military aspect – I grew up in a military town), as I’ve tried to limit the number of ARC, and even more so romance based ARCs, that I request, but it was a quick and enthralling read. I could easily see Valante creating a longer novel with greater detail, but this novella worked well enough for me as it was.
I received a copy of Mindscape (link to the publisher’s website) directly from the publisher in return for my honest response; no compensation was received.
As with the just reviewed After the Fall this novel was GREAT to me for the reason most readers of romance will not like it: the lack of sex. This novel instead focused on the story line (the relationship and the history of the relationship) and the war. I mean don’t get me wrong some sex would’ve been great, but it was completely unnecessary to the story (and I thus believe left out).
Click here to continue reading on my blog The Oddness of Moving Things.
I received a copy of Mindscape (link to the publisher’s website) directly from the publisher in return for my honest response; no compensation was received.
As with the just reviewed After the Fall this novel was GREAT to me for the reason most readers of romance will not like it: the lack of sex. This novel instead focused on the story line (the relationship and the history of the relationship) and the war. I mean don’t get me wrong some sex would’ve been great, but it was completely unnecessary to the story (and I thus believe left out).
Click here to continue reading on my blog The Oddness of Moving Things.
February 28, 2014
It took a wee bit to get pulled into this story, but once that happened it was an enjoyable little read. There are two parts to the story. The present, and the past which brings the reader to where the characters are now. It all comes together wonderfully at the end don't worry.
June 13, 2017
Weird, but interesting.
Reread, I wish we would get Alex's story, he was just kinda dumped at the end.
Reread, I wish we would get Alex's story, he was just kinda dumped at the end.
August 19, 2024
4.5 stars
Wow. That was an emotional roller coaster that I wasn’t sure was going to end up back at the station. Or what station if it doesn’t stop there. The love between Mark and Shane was palpable and the pain felt real and because of that, the story was difficult to read.
Around the halfway point, it started getting really hard and harder and harder. The emotions were expressed so well, so blatantly, I felt them in my core and it was hard not to go to the back of the book and find out how it ended. I didn’t know where the story would finally land until the last couple of pages. Predictable this was not.
I liked the ending although not everything was explained. I had a lot of questions like
The story was really good and as I said, kept me guessing until the end. I want to read more by this author but I have to be in the right emotional place to do so.
A couple of general comments:
There’s a misunderstanding about PTSD. You don’t become catatonic. You might freeze and not be able to function, but you know where you are and your mind is working furiously. I can see someone becoming permanently catatonic to escape but not intermittently like the multiple people in this story do.
There were some things that felt like anachronisms like Cherry “MyDew” in a can that pops open, King size beds, no cure for the common cold or a fever, until I realized that maybe this was the author’s way of showing that these people aren’t so different than we are no matter how far they are in the future. I think it actually grounded the story.
I received a copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.
Wow. That was an emotional roller coaster that I wasn’t sure was going to end up back at the station. Or what station if it doesn’t stop there. The love between Mark and Shane was palpable and the pain felt real and because of that, the story was difficult to read.
Around the halfway point, it started getting really hard and harder and harder. The emotions were expressed so well, so blatantly, I felt them in my core and it was hard not to go to the back of the book and find out how it ended. I didn’t know where the story would finally land until the last couple of pages. Predictable this was not.
I liked the ending although not everything was explained. I had a lot of questions like
The story was really good and as I said, kept me guessing until the end. I want to read more by this author but I have to be in the right emotional place to do so.
A couple of general comments:
There’s a misunderstanding about PTSD. You don’t become catatonic. You might freeze and not be able to function, but you know where you are and your mind is working furiously. I can see someone becoming permanently catatonic to escape but not intermittently like the multiple people in this story do.
There were some things that felt like anachronisms like Cherry “MyDew” in a can that pops open, King size beds, no cure for the common cold or a fever, until I realized that maybe this was the author’s way of showing that these people aren’t so different than we are no matter how far they are in the future. I think it actually grounded the story.
I received a copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.
May 11, 2017
This was an interesting story that fell a little flat for me by the end. The summary led me to believe I'd be seeing the characters meet and fall in love before their relationship is put to the test, but instead it starts after the damage is done and then alternates past scenes with present ones. It was a little disjointed for me, and also made it hard for me to care about the characters and what they were going through in present day. I hadn't met and grown to care for these people, so I felt no emotional connection, even if I could look at the situation and think, "That's terrible."
I also didn't get the addition of Alex. I thought he would just be a helper until the story started heading in a certain direction. Spoiler:
Overall, I'd say I was somewhere between two and three stars. I really liked the premise but I felt like it would have been better with more meat to the story. There's not much sci-fi, other than a basic framework of space navy vs alien race. (Were they aliens? Or just humanoids? I wasn't clear on that.) The Resonance aspect of the story didn't feel much different than regular telepathy, whereas I was thinking more along the lines of drift compatibility (a la Pacific Rim). I would recommend it to someone looking for a quick, light read (not light as in subject matter, but light as in details/world-building).
I also didn't get the addition of Alex. I thought he would just be a helper until the story started heading in a certain direction. Spoiler:
Overall, I'd say I was somewhere between two and three stars. I really liked the premise but I felt like it would have been better with more meat to the story. There's not much sci-fi, other than a basic framework of space navy vs alien race. (Were they aliens? Or just humanoids? I wasn't clear on that.) The Resonance aspect of the story didn't feel much different than regular telepathy, whereas I was thinking more along the lines of drift compatibility (a la Pacific Rim). I would recommend it to someone looking for a quick, light read (not light as in subject matter, but light as in details/world-building).
December 30, 2013
Review originally posted at http://fictionvixen.com/review-mindsc...
Blurb:
Doesn’t that blurb sound interesting? Yeah? I did to me too. So I imagine my upset when the story I read was vastly different from what I was expecting. This is a short (very short) science-fiction romance. When the story opens Shane is visiting his lover Mark in a mental hospital where he is comatose, trapped in his own mind since being rescued as a POW in the interstellar war. From there the story jumps from present to past tense and from Mark to Shane’s POVs for the rest of the book. It was confusing at times. I’m not sure if it was just the formatting of my copy, but the jumps in time and POV came with no warning and lasted only a few pages. It started to bother me after the first twenty pages or so and I was ready for Shane to figure out a way to wake Mark up just so they could maybe be in the same time period together and not make my head hurt.
I do think this story could have worked better if it had been better fleshed out, with a more in-depth telling of Shane and Mark’s love story. There were small bits of it revealed through flashbacks told through Mark’s POV, but every time I thought maybe I could get a handle on their relationship time jumped and we were back to the insane asylum where Shane is desperately trying to get inside Mark’s mind. After awhile I was just reading to finish and didn’t care. There wasn’t even any sex. None. Not any. At all. Very disappointing.
Blurb:
The truth will set you free.
Mark Sayre joins the Interstellar Navy for the money—his only goal is to keep his little brother out of the colony mines that sent their father to an early grave. With concepts like duty and honor floating high over his head, he hardly expects to fall for the serious, idealistic Shane Cawley. Not to mention that Shane is his commanding officer . . . and his Resonance partner, a one-in-ten-thousand mental connection so profound that they can travel in each other’s mindscapes.
Shane Cawley is carrying on the family tradition by serving in the Interstellar Navy. He hardly expects to fall for the quirky, happy-go-lucky Mark Sayre. But as the Resonance between them grows, neither can deny what he feels for the other.
When war breaks out, Mark and Shane find their military training and their Resonance link tested to the edge of sanity. Shane is haunted by memories and flashbacks, and Mark becomes trapped in his own mindscape. But with help from an unlikely ally, they may be able to salvage their futures and the love they share.
Doesn’t that blurb sound interesting? Yeah? I did to me too. So I imagine my upset when the story I read was vastly different from what I was expecting. This is a short (very short) science-fiction romance. When the story opens Shane is visiting his lover Mark in a mental hospital where he is comatose, trapped in his own mind since being rescued as a POW in the interstellar war. From there the story jumps from present to past tense and from Mark to Shane’s POVs for the rest of the book. It was confusing at times. I’m not sure if it was just the formatting of my copy, but the jumps in time and POV came with no warning and lasted only a few pages. It started to bother me after the first twenty pages or so and I was ready for Shane to figure out a way to wake Mark up just so they could maybe be in the same time period together and not make my head hurt.
I do think this story could have worked better if it had been better fleshed out, with a more in-depth telling of Shane and Mark’s love story. There were small bits of it revealed through flashbacks told through Mark’s POV, but every time I thought maybe I could get a handle on their relationship time jumped and we were back to the insane asylum where Shane is desperately trying to get inside Mark’s mind. After awhile I was just reading to finish and didn’t care. There wasn’t even any sex. None. Not any. At all. Very disappointing.
March 23, 2017
I found Mindscape by Tal Valante to be a fascinating story. It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed a Sci-Fi story as much as I have Mindscape. This is a short read, I finished it in just over an hour, and yet I still felt it was a fairly good length. I really enjoyed the story line as well as the characters and frankly, I had a hard time putting this book down.
The story was told from two different time periods; flashbacks and here and now. I can see why some people can struggle with this concept. It can be annoying and somewhat distracting from the story. It took me a bit to get into the flow but once I did, it felt very normal. The flashbacks are from Mark’s POV, his beginning military career, his involvement with Shane and the war. The current time is Shane’s POV as he struggles to help Mark. You can feel the genuine emotions each have for one another and the struggles and sacrifices they are willing to suffer through to stay together. I know some readers may shy awake because this is a male/male romance, however, since there is no sexual content any more than a kiss, no one should be offended.
Sometimes I find novella can be very short and sometimes rather unsatisfying. This was not the case with Mindscape. I found it to be a refreshing change and hope the other books by Tal Valante are just as engaging because I intend to read them as well. Consider this book recommended reading.
I received this book from JeepDiva for the express purposes of an honest review. The opinions and rating of this review are solely mine and in no way was I compensated.
Stars – 4
The story was told from two different time periods; flashbacks and here and now. I can see why some people can struggle with this concept. It can be annoying and somewhat distracting from the story. It took me a bit to get into the flow but once I did, it felt very normal. The flashbacks are from Mark’s POV, his beginning military career, his involvement with Shane and the war. The current time is Shane’s POV as he struggles to help Mark. You can feel the genuine emotions each have for one another and the struggles and sacrifices they are willing to suffer through to stay together. I know some readers may shy awake because this is a male/male romance, however, since there is no sexual content any more than a kiss, no one should be offended.
Sometimes I find novella can be very short and sometimes rather unsatisfying. This was not the case with Mindscape. I found it to be a refreshing change and hope the other books by Tal Valante are just as engaging because I intend to read them as well. Consider this book recommended reading.
I received this book from JeepDiva for the express purposes of an honest review. The opinions and rating of this review are solely mine and in no way was I compensated.
Stars – 4
December 14, 2013
I received this book free in return for an honest review. I would like to thank the publisher for respecting and trusting me in this endeavor.
In Mindscape we are introduced to two men who have joined the futuristic Interstellar Navy for totally different reasons: Mark Sayre joins for the money that will guarantee his brother will not have to work the mines that killed their father.
Shane Cawley is carrying on his family's tradition. Mark may have joined for the money, but grew to love the Interstellar Navy as much as Shane. What neither expected was to find their resonance partner in the Interstellar Navy, especially in each other. A resonance partner is a partner that can basically share your mind and your love. It is rare to find a resonance partner.
When Shane becomes a POW and then returned in a prisoner exchange, he is trapped in his own mind suffering from PTSD. Mark, totally devoted to Shane will do anything he can to bring the love of his life back.
Mindscape was an interesting read. This story proves that true love knows no gender. It is the epitome of how every romantic relationship should strive to emulate.
The writing style was confusing at times. Going back and forth from the present to the past was almost dizzying. It at times made it difficult to remember which character was in which situation. I actually had to go back numerous times to find out which character was the one from the mining planet. About halfway through the book is when it finally seeped in.
Overall the story, the characters, and the non-traditional love story ending was an enjoyable read.
In Mindscape we are introduced to two men who have joined the futuristic Interstellar Navy for totally different reasons: Mark Sayre joins for the money that will guarantee his brother will not have to work the mines that killed their father.
Shane Cawley is carrying on his family's tradition. Mark may have joined for the money, but grew to love the Interstellar Navy as much as Shane. What neither expected was to find their resonance partner in the Interstellar Navy, especially in each other. A resonance partner is a partner that can basically share your mind and your love. It is rare to find a resonance partner.
When Shane becomes a POW and then returned in a prisoner exchange, he is trapped in his own mind suffering from PTSD. Mark, totally devoted to Shane will do anything he can to bring the love of his life back.
Mindscape was an interesting read. This story proves that true love knows no gender. It is the epitome of how every romantic relationship should strive to emulate.
The writing style was confusing at times. Going back and forth from the present to the past was almost dizzying. It at times made it difficult to remember which character was in which situation. I actually had to go back numerous times to find out which character was the one from the mining planet. About halfway through the book is when it finally seeped in.
Overall the story, the characters, and the non-traditional love story ending was an enjoyable read.
December 4, 2013
Potential. Such a fantastic thing. Some stories have so much potential and their authors are able to transform them into wonderful stories that are totally enjoyable. Others completely squander it and leave the reader feeling bored and disappointed. That's what happened with this story for me.
This story was about 2 men serving together, each making the other better, growing together, and loving one another all while fighting an interstellar war in space. Then dealing so the emotional aftermath of that war, losing comrades, and being a POW. Sounds awesome right? Total potential. Totally squandered.
First off this story is told in a different fashion from your normal story. Instead of a linear time line we have a current story that is interspersed with flashbacks telling a completely different story. This would have been a great way to relay the story except the the transitions were problematic. First there was no separations between the past and present. Sometimes not even a blank line. It just continued on like the next paragraph. Second, the segments were crazy short. Because of this you never really connect with the characters, as the author doesn't have much time to give appropriate details either about the characters or the situations they are facing.
Basically if this had been a full book instead of a novella (or something even shorter) it would have had a chance at succeeding. But in its current state it's not the worth reading.
This story was about 2 men serving together, each making the other better, growing together, and loving one another all while fighting an interstellar war in space. Then dealing so the emotional aftermath of that war, losing comrades, and being a POW. Sounds awesome right? Total potential. Totally squandered.
First off this story is told in a different fashion from your normal story. Instead of a linear time line we have a current story that is interspersed with flashbacks telling a completely different story. This would have been a great way to relay the story except the the transitions were problematic. First there was no separations between the past and present. Sometimes not even a blank line. It just continued on like the next paragraph. Second, the segments were crazy short. Because of this you never really connect with the characters, as the author doesn't have much time to give appropriate details either about the characters or the situations they are facing.
Basically if this had been a full book instead of a novella (or something even shorter) it would have had a chance at succeeding. But in its current state it's not the worth reading.
July 21, 2015
I saw some great potential in this book but in the end, it didn't really deliver.
I like the dual timeline approach- it's a tough thing to do well, as both timelines need to be paced and they need to come to climax and conclusion at the same time. In this novella, the timelines follow Mark as the relationship between he and Shane develops, and Shane, as he and Alex (Mark's nurse) try to solve the problem that is keeping Mark catatonic.
Early on it's apparent that the book could go one of several ways with the three characters, as Shane and Alex form a bond as well. Unfortunately, the tension of that uncertainty isn't used well, and the bond between Alex and Shane is left half developed and then extinguished too simply. It felt haphazard and underdone.
And the pacing of Mark's story is off. It doesn't have the emotional impact of Shane and Alex's story, it doesn't really develop Mark and Shane's connection as it should, and honestly it skips over all of the interesting things that were supposed to have happened in favor of boring day-to-day business as usual stuff.
In the end, none of the characters felt real, and the relationships were all shallow. I assume the intention was to bring Alex back for another book, but his story in this book was incomplete in a not very interesting way (not a cliffhanger).
I like the dual timeline approach- it's a tough thing to do well, as both timelines need to be paced and they need to come to climax and conclusion at the same time. In this novella, the timelines follow Mark as the relationship between he and Shane develops, and Shane, as he and Alex (Mark's nurse) try to solve the problem that is keeping Mark catatonic.
Early on it's apparent that the book could go one of several ways with the three characters, as Shane and Alex form a bond as well. Unfortunately, the tension of that uncertainty isn't used well, and the bond between Alex and Shane is left half developed and then extinguished too simply. It felt haphazard and underdone.
And the pacing of Mark's story is off. It doesn't have the emotional impact of Shane and Alex's story, it doesn't really develop Mark and Shane's connection as it should, and honestly it skips over all of the interesting things that were supposed to have happened in favor of boring day-to-day business as usual stuff.
In the end, none of the characters felt real, and the relationships were all shallow. I assume the intention was to bring Alex back for another book, but his story in this book was incomplete in a not very interesting way (not a cliffhanger).
July 18, 2017
A copy of this book was provided for free from NetGalley in return for an honest review. I have not received any compensation for this review, it's freely given.
I really liked this story, but the back-and-forth between past and present was confusing. And I had to giggle to myself when the characters referred to the Interstellar Navy as the "Spavy".
Mark joins the Spavy as a way to pay bills & send his younger brother to college. Shane is following a family tradition, his father is a retired Spavy Captain. The pair meet when Mark is assigned to Shane's unit(?) as a fighter pilot. Shane is the unit's Tactical Officer & helps Mark through his first live mission.
Mark wants to be more than just a subordinate to Shane, but Shane won't give in since he's an officer & Mark isn't. So Mark goes to Officer Training. When he returns, he corners Shane & the two become romantic partners as well as Resonance partners.
Shane is injured during a mission & ends up leaving the Spavy due to PTSD. Then Mark is captured & retreats into his own Mindscape, so Shane has to figure out a way to reach Mark & bring him out of his own head & back into the real world.
Through it all, Shane never gives up on Mark. And that's what I loved best about this story.
I really liked this story, but the back-and-forth between past and present was confusing. And I had to giggle to myself when the characters referred to the Interstellar Navy as the "Spavy".
Mark joins the Spavy as a way to pay bills & send his younger brother to college. Shane is following a family tradition, his father is a retired Spavy Captain. The pair meet when Mark is assigned to Shane's unit(?) as a fighter pilot. Shane is the unit's Tactical Officer & helps Mark through his first live mission.
Mark wants to be more than just a subordinate to Shane, but Shane won't give in since he's an officer & Mark isn't. So Mark goes to Officer Training. When he returns, he corners Shane & the two become romantic partners as well as Resonance partners.
Shane is injured during a mission & ends up leaving the Spavy due to PTSD. Then Mark is captured & retreats into his own Mindscape, so Shane has to figure out a way to reach Mark & bring him out of his own head & back into the real world.
Through it all, Shane never gives up on Mark. And that's what I loved best about this story.
December 22, 2013
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley.
On reading the blurb I thought this was going to be a great Science Fiction story - what I got was a mediocre one - the only 'science fictiony' thing about it was that mind meld.Other than that it could have been any story set at any time in today's world. There were a few problems with the plot too - like how was Mark rescued and what was with the constant jumping around about? Now you want to know what I mean by jumping around, don't you? Well I can take a story jumping into flashbacks or jumping from one person's POV to another's but not both in one book!! It might be worth noting at this time that this was an ARC from netgalley so changes might have been made so don't let my poor opinion put you off giving it a try for yourself.
July 6, 2014
3.5 rounded up.
I really enjoyed this tale of a man trying to get his partner back from PTSD in a sci-fi world where it's possible to go into someone else's mind if you are connected in Resonance with them (a one in 10,000 chance). I really liked the idea that Shane and Mark being able to Resonate draws them together in a soul-mate kind of way.
The one thing that stopped this ranking higher was
I really enjoyed this tale of a man trying to get his partner back from PTSD in a sci-fi world where it's possible to go into someone else's mind if you are connected in Resonance with them (a one in 10,000 chance). I really liked the idea that Shane and Mark being able to Resonate draws them together in a soul-mate kind of way.
The one thing that stopped this ranking higher was
June 6, 2015
I have mixed feelings about this story-- on the one hand, it was well written, interesting characters and plot. And on the other hand, it really looked like it was veering into menage territory and it only barely flitted away at the last minute on the most gossamer of wings, which didn't stem my angina about being tricked into reading menage at all. Also, while the alternating-timeline storytelling mostly worked for the story, I found it frustrating because I wanted to get to know the characters more deeply and each time it seemed we would get more in-depth, the story switched. This would have been more satisfying for me, I think, as a longer, more conventional novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2017
This was cool. It's intense and engaging and well-written. It's a good novella and I really liked it. I wish the stuff with Alex had been wrapped up better--that was a slightly odd part of the story. This author has two stories listed on GR and now I've read both of them and they're both really well done (though I liked the other one better--All My Crimes is brilliant). I wish they would write more things for me to read.
July 8, 2014
3.5 stars
Awesome ideas. Love the idea of a mental landscape. The way the story was told felt very ambitious and was interesting. Not sure the way it changes between tenses will appeal to everyone, but it makes sense for the story. I really enjoyed it, but would have liked the tenses used with the guy trapped in his own mind and his lover in the present switched. I still don't know exactly how to feel about the end, but the ideas in this story are amazing and I really enjoyed it.
Awesome ideas. Love the idea of a mental landscape. The way the story was told felt very ambitious and was interesting. Not sure the way it changes between tenses will appeal to everyone, but it makes sense for the story. I really enjoyed it, but would have liked the tenses used with the guy trapped in his own mind and his lover in the present switched. I still don't know exactly how to feel about the end, but the ideas in this story are amazing and I really enjoyed it.
December 22, 2013
Much shorter than I hoped for. A good quick read. I preordered this book from riptide, then again I think I buy about every book they publish. I like flashbacks, this the weaving back and forth was way too fast, too many times for such a short book. Then the ending felt like it was two paragraphs. I'm wishing I could push this up a point.
October 5, 2014
This book was so good I couldn't put it down. I read it in one sitting. You could really feel the love between the heroes, and the story had me guessing what would happen right up to the end. I just wish the book had been longer to maybe develop the scenes a little more, but that's only because I enjoyed it enough that I wanted more.
Read
February 25, 2014Sweet, dark novella about connection and trauma, that manages to do an admirable job of handling the aftereffects well without needing to belabor the details of the torments to make sure we know how bad it was. Valante handles PTSD with a lot of respect and care, and I appreciate that.
August 1, 2015
Space battles, love & devotion fill this book! Valante’s imagination is awesome as the characters come to life on the pages. There is just enough sci-fi, PTSD, and POW to make this a great story without overloading the reader. Well done!
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