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Subject 19
Joel is young and lonely and a little oversexed. When a thief leaves him naked at the beach, he turns to Sean, a striking, dark-haired stranger for help. Sean offers Joel a towel, and once they get talking, he tells him all about the Umberto Institute, a medical facility where they’re testing a new aphrodisiac. Sean is signed up for a three week, live-in trial. A new aphrodisiac? It’s not something Joel really needs. But when Sean tells him they’re paying $4,500, he starts to think. $4,500 and three weeks with Sean? That’s not an offer he can refuse. But once Joel is in the institute, will he ever get out?
463 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 2, 2013
49 people are currently reading
241 people want to read
About the author
Todd Young
26 books79 followersTodd Young writes books that sit on the borderline between gay erotica and m/m romance.
Generally, I aim to write erotica that goes a little further than the average. I spend a lot of time on my characters, trying to make them as believable as possible. While my stories are sexual fantasies, I want them to have a deeper meaning, and a quality of unexpectedness. To some extent, I am attempting to write literature, but I want my stories to be genuinely engaging. I want them to be easy to read, while at the same time leaving the reader with the feeling that they have read something meaningful.
I hope both men and women will find my stories satisfying. They revolve around romance, though there is often much more going on in the texts.
Generally, I aim to write erotica that goes a little further than the average. I spend a lot of time on my characters, trying to make them as believable as possible. While my stories are sexual fantasies, I want them to have a deeper meaning, and a quality of unexpectedness. To some extent, I am attempting to write literature, but I want my stories to be genuinely engaging. I want them to be easy to read, while at the same time leaving the reader with the feeling that they have read something meaningful.
I hope both men and women will find my stories satisfying. They revolve around romance, though there is often much more going on in the texts.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
August 2, 2015
WHAT A CRAZY RIDE!
There are only two ways to deal with this book:
DNF it or skip the most of the story, say WTF at the end and forget about.
Being sucked into the story, swallowed by the creepy imagine world created by Todd Young, having no idea what happens on the next page, saying more than 100 times WTF during reading and WOW at the end.
If you didn't get it - I am from the second group. And now it's officially:
I am a big fan of Todd Young .
I don't know another author who can write this kind of mind-BLOWING and mind-FUCKED erotica.
WARNING: not for fans of a sweet MM romance. I normally recommend to get a sample to find out if a book is for you or not, but it is totally useless if it is your first Todd Young.
DOESN'T MATTER what you'll think after finishing it, it is not what you think it is.
Read please my favourite review for this book
I am not sure that this book about the aphrodisiac trial wasn't a kind of experiment the author played with readers!
Have I passed the test?!
October 3, 2014
been bored for two days.
and then annoyed:
i mean, for this i could be reading het fics.
DNF at 47 percent.
and then annoyed:
There was no sense in being dirty; that wasn’t the point. The point was that sex wasn’t dirty in and of itself. It was something he should be exploring. Where would he end up if he kept jacking off and keeping his distance from everyone? Surely that was what he was doing wrong.
Hell, Joel should have let Brody fuck him. At least that would have been something. What was he waiting for? Love?
He closed his eyes and stumbled. Oh, Sean, he felt like saying, can’t we just do something? That would be special, because even if Sean didn’t like Joel, Joel certainly liked him. He wouldn’t have felt used if Sean fucked him, not like he would have felt if Brody had done it. Then again, didn’t Joel have a thing for Brody? Wasn’t there something between the two of them also? Something like — hell, he didn’t know. Was that love too? If only Brody had…
i mean, for this i could be reading het fics.
DNF at 47 percent.
August 30, 2014
Gah! Such..a vividly-deceptive erotic imagination this mofo has. Layers upon layers of multi-character depictions to drag your ass through some intriguing mind-soup-shit.
Such a writer..I find quite fascinating to appreciate..like eclectic art or something..
Not all neurons will fire/respond to the darker undertones and murky mind-muk this story possibly cultivates. It will depend largely on what drives you as a reader. If erotic psych-intrigue stimulates you..then you should find something in this to appreciate.
As always..I'm left with this perpetual ass-wedgie after reading Young's shit due to his exhibitory kink of too-tight-too-small-seam-up-the-ass-crack-clothing.
(Sonofabitch-my gif-wings have been GR-clipped)
Such a writer..I find quite fascinating to appreciate..like eclectic art or something..
Not all neurons will fire/respond to the darker undertones and murky mind-muk this story possibly cultivates. It will depend largely on what drives you as a reader. If erotic psych-intrigue stimulates you..then you should find something in this to appreciate.
As always..I'm left with this perpetual ass-wedgie after reading Young's shit due to his exhibitory kink of too-tight-too-small-seam-up-the-ass-crack-clothing.
(Sonofabitch-my gif-wings have been GR-clipped)
Read
March 2, 2013
It's deceptively simple. But it's not.
Man. Talk about clusterfuck.
This one really is quite a big mindfuck. I mean, the only thing I got out of it was "don't ever, ever sign up for one of these clinical study things. Don't."
There's still a lot unresolved that kind of annoys me.
The Note on the Text was no help.
There's definitely a lot to speculate on.
I really have no idea if I liked it or not. It's well-written and well-crafted. It kind of sucks you in, fucks around inside your head, and then summarily spits you out quite spontaneously.
I dunno...this thing creates hella polarity. I don't think I'd be comfortable giving it either a high rating, a low rating, or a lukewarm 3-star rating.
February 11, 2013
I'm continually perplexed by Todd Young's ability to suck me into what should be a completely unbelievable circumstance and keep me on the edge of my seat, peeking around my fingers, scared to read what's next but in no way able to NOT continue. Scared not because it's literally scary, but because whatever' coming, it is absolutely guaranteed to make me feel... something. Usually something not entirely comfortable, actually. Therein lies the beauty, I would say.
There's a deceptive simplicity to his writing that makes it that much more real and cutting. I don't honestly know where this power comes from, this ability to create such sympathetic characters that are so fundamentally human and flawed and beautiful even as they stumble their way through the most fantastical adventures, coming all over themselves, doing stupid or questionable or heroic things... I lose my words.
If you're a fan of Todd's writing, this story will NOT disappoint and you totally need to read it NOW. I think he's outdone Jumbo. It's tight. If you've never read him... what are you waiting for?
There's a deceptive simplicity to his writing that makes it that much more real and cutting. I don't honestly know where this power comes from, this ability to create such sympathetic characters that are so fundamentally human and flawed and beautiful even as they stumble their way through the most fantastical adventures, coming all over themselves, doing stupid or questionable or heroic things... I lose my words.
If you're a fan of Todd's writing, this story will NOT disappoint and you totally need to read it NOW. I think he's outdone Jumbo. It's tight. If you've never read him... what are you waiting for?
Read
February 17, 2013Yep. Psychedelic mystery:horror porn... And more.Stream of consciousness review here but my brain is fried.You're kept guessing throughout. Seriously flawed, but lovable characters, oversexed group of hotties, mad scientist (kind of), and clinical trials. HEA (kind of) and strong writing. Reads a bit like a penthouse story. I loved the boys.... But I feel like I just came off an acid trip. Not quite sure what to think here...author is obviously talented- fully immerses you:takes you along for the ride, but I don't know if I can say I LIKED it. I need to sit on it for a while....
Oh, and it's not in the warnings here, but there's def. some drugged up dub con here.
Oh, and it's not in the warnings here, but there's def. some drugged up dub con here.
February 26, 2013
Review posted at The Armchair Reader.
I have read one book by this author before, Corrupted, and to be honest it wasn't my favorite. It's erotica, as is this, but it was pretty messed up. I mean, I like to read some messed up, but that one I just couldn't get into. I didn't even realize it was the same author until after I bought this, but the intriguing blurb and reviews that I read on Goodreads made this seem like a book that just could not be described or categorized. Well, I'm going to try. It was….. *5 minutes later* oh yeah, sorry, can't do it.
I'll just tell you what I think, why don't I? I loved it! I can't give this that highest rating, because it isn't perfect and I didn't love it, love it. But my reading experience was so unexpected and interesting that I can't help but recommend this to readers interested in something different and not afraid to take the plunge into one acid trip of a book.
The story starts with our narrator Joel at the beach. He's 19 and finishing up his first year at college. He's from a small hometown, raised by his aunt after his parents died in a very religious household. Though she's very loving (almost too loving), Joel is still having a difficult time separating himself from that ultra-religious upbringing and settling into his new life in a city and at college. But, Joel is pretty strange. Though he's nice and frankly beautiful, he's oddly inept at making friends. One year of college down, Joel doesn't really have any friends at all. They all seem to be attracted to him, like bees to honey for his soft beauty, but none of them stick and Joel wonders if he has nothing inside of him, no reason for anyone to stay. His solitude has fed some of his odd idiosyncrasies. Combined with his abnormally large sexual appetite (he's even hornier than a typical 19 year old man), these have become secret games that Joel plays -- jerking off in public places and casually revealing borderline nudity in public -- all of them sexual.
It is during one of these games that Joel meets Sean. Wearing nothing but a skimpy white pair of shorts, Joel decides to take a swim in the ocean at a crowded beach. After beating off in the water, he's a bit embarrassed that his horniness got him into a situation where he now has to walk in front of all the other beach-goers with a hard on in a see through pair or short shorts. The only thing worse than trying to ignore the stares is finding all of his belongings gone -- his money, his phone and his extra clothes. Fleeing to the showers, he meets and has an encounter with a beautiful, curly haired guy named Sean, who then offers him the use of his home, phone and shower. While there, Sean tells Joel about a medical study he's going to participate in. It is only three weeks long, pays $4,500 and is for young men who are abnormally horny. Even better, Joel is excited at the chance to maybe get to know Sean better, and a three week period stuck in the same situation sounds wonderful to him. The other alternative is his return to live with his aunt for the summer.
Joel quickly makes the decision to participate in the study and goes for the requisite tests. A lot happens during this time. He has his first sexual experience with a strange man down the hall from his dorm, he gets blown off by Sean when he wants to see him again, and he finds that though the tests were a little strange, the contact for the study seems on the up and up. Still, he has a strange feeling about it. But getting another chance to see Sean easily sways his decision, and Joel finds himself showing up for the first day of the study to find Sean and the strange man who he was intimate with in his dorm just a few days earlier.
The subjects in the study soon find that what they expected is nothing like reality in the institute. They're being given medicine that is supposed to increase their sex drives, but it has a stronger effect than expected, and a laundry list of side effects. Really, really severe side effects. Are all of them even being given the drug? While they get to know one another and the conditions of their drug trial seem to affect their behavior, among other things, they soon become like pawns in a game, for a mysterious man's amusement. Or is that the case at all? And whom is really on whose side? Does Sean return Joel's feelings?
First of all, though this is erotica and at times I was worried because it started to get kinda dark, it does have a happy ending. It's really hard to review this book, because it's so strangely weird I just want to tell you all what happens. I can't do that (unless you want me to and in that case email me, I'll spill!), but I can tell you that this went to places I never expected. And there is a relationship here, several of them in fact with all of the different characters who are subjects in the study, they just aren't the main focus of the story. So while there are parts that are…. somewhat romantic, it isn't really a romance. In the same vein, though, it isn't the typical erotica that you'd expect. For most of the book, there isn't really penetrative sex, and most of the times that it does happen on screen, it isn't with Joel, our narrator. Most of all it's just highly sexual and with a lot of sexual tension.
In the end I was really glad that I read this. It was a trip, for sure, and it was a nice change from the status quo of reading romance books. It's not for everyone, that's for sure, but if you are at all interested then I say go for it. I couldn't put it down, mostly just because I couldn't wait to find out how more outrageous it could get!
*Note: I added the dub-con/non-con/rape tag (on my blog) because there are instances in the book where people have sex with drugged up people, and some people who are out of it. Usually they're under some kind of influence themselves, if not mind-altering then behavioral. It didn't really bother me and I found the situation (one specific one I'm thinking of for this tag) to be more in line with dub-con. But that's semantics, really.
I have read one book by this author before, Corrupted, and to be honest it wasn't my favorite. It's erotica, as is this, but it was pretty messed up. I mean, I like to read some messed up, but that one I just couldn't get into. I didn't even realize it was the same author until after I bought this, but the intriguing blurb and reviews that I read on Goodreads made this seem like a book that just could not be described or categorized. Well, I'm going to try. It was….. *5 minutes later* oh yeah, sorry, can't do it.
I'll just tell you what I think, why don't I? I loved it! I can't give this that highest rating, because it isn't perfect and I didn't love it, love it. But my reading experience was so unexpected and interesting that I can't help but recommend this to readers interested in something different and not afraid to take the plunge into one acid trip of a book.
The story starts with our narrator Joel at the beach. He's 19 and finishing up his first year at college. He's from a small hometown, raised by his aunt after his parents died in a very religious household. Though she's very loving (almost too loving), Joel is still having a difficult time separating himself from that ultra-religious upbringing and settling into his new life in a city and at college. But, Joel is pretty strange. Though he's nice and frankly beautiful, he's oddly inept at making friends. One year of college down, Joel doesn't really have any friends at all. They all seem to be attracted to him, like bees to honey for his soft beauty, but none of them stick and Joel wonders if he has nothing inside of him, no reason for anyone to stay. His solitude has fed some of his odd idiosyncrasies. Combined with his abnormally large sexual appetite (he's even hornier than a typical 19 year old man), these have become secret games that Joel plays -- jerking off in public places and casually revealing borderline nudity in public -- all of them sexual.
It is during one of these games that Joel meets Sean. Wearing nothing but a skimpy white pair of shorts, Joel decides to take a swim in the ocean at a crowded beach. After beating off in the water, he's a bit embarrassed that his horniness got him into a situation where he now has to walk in front of all the other beach-goers with a hard on in a see through pair or short shorts. The only thing worse than trying to ignore the stares is finding all of his belongings gone -- his money, his phone and his extra clothes. Fleeing to the showers, he meets and has an encounter with a beautiful, curly haired guy named Sean, who then offers him the use of his home, phone and shower. While there, Sean tells Joel about a medical study he's going to participate in. It is only three weeks long, pays $4,500 and is for young men who are abnormally horny. Even better, Joel is excited at the chance to maybe get to know Sean better, and a three week period stuck in the same situation sounds wonderful to him. The other alternative is his return to live with his aunt for the summer.
Joel quickly makes the decision to participate in the study and goes for the requisite tests. A lot happens during this time. He has his first sexual experience with a strange man down the hall from his dorm, he gets blown off by Sean when he wants to see him again, and he finds that though the tests were a little strange, the contact for the study seems on the up and up. Still, he has a strange feeling about it. But getting another chance to see Sean easily sways his decision, and Joel finds himself showing up for the first day of the study to find Sean and the strange man who he was intimate with in his dorm just a few days earlier.
The subjects in the study soon find that what they expected is nothing like reality in the institute. They're being given medicine that is supposed to increase their sex drives, but it has a stronger effect than expected, and a laundry list of side effects. Really, really severe side effects. Are all of them even being given the drug? While they get to know one another and the conditions of their drug trial seem to affect their behavior, among other things, they soon become like pawns in a game, for a mysterious man's amusement. Or is that the case at all? And whom is really on whose side? Does Sean return Joel's feelings?
First of all, though this is erotica and at times I was worried because it started to get kinda dark, it does have a happy ending. It's really hard to review this book, because it's so strangely weird I just want to tell you all what happens. I can't do that (unless you want me to and in that case email me, I'll spill!), but I can tell you that this went to places I never expected. And there is a relationship here, several of them in fact with all of the different characters who are subjects in the study, they just aren't the main focus of the story. So while there are parts that are…. somewhat romantic, it isn't really a romance. In the same vein, though, it isn't the typical erotica that you'd expect. For most of the book, there isn't really penetrative sex, and most of the times that it does happen on screen, it isn't with Joel, our narrator. Most of all it's just highly sexual and with a lot of sexual tension.
In the end I was really glad that I read this. It was a trip, for sure, and it was a nice change from the status quo of reading romance books. It's not for everyone, that's for sure, but if you are at all interested then I say go for it. I couldn't put it down, mostly just because I couldn't wait to find out how more outrageous it could get!
*Note: I added the dub-con/non-con/rape tag (on my blog) because there are instances in the book where people have sex with drugged up people, and some people who are out of it. Usually they're under some kind of influence themselves, if not mind-altering then behavioral. It didn't really bother me and I found the situation (one specific one I'm thinking of for this tag) to be more in line with dub-con. But that's semantics, really.
August 21, 2014
This is a difficult book to rate…Since I really like the writing style of this author, and since I found the characters well drawn and interesting, I’ll go ahead and give it 3 stars. As for the story, heh, well, now there I don’t even know where to begin. Maybe I better hand over the microphone to the author:
”I’m reading a book. It’s got boys fucking each other in it”.
‘Is it any good?’
‘Not really. Well – you wouldn’t like it. It doesn’t have any plot.’
‘No plot?’
‘No.’
‘Well, how does that make any sense?’
‘He manages it somehow – or just about. At least I think he does.’”
As for the plot in this book, it made me feel mentally like I feel physically after going on this ride:
The feeling being, please let me off soon, or I’m going to throw up.
Another reason to why I like this author is this line:
“ Can I have a Coke?’
‘No, love. Coke’s not a possibility. I can get you a Pepsi’
I hate when that happens, stupid Pepsi…
”I’m reading a book. It’s got boys fucking each other in it”.
‘Is it any good?’
‘Not really. Well – you wouldn’t like it. It doesn’t have any plot.’
‘No plot?’
‘No.’
‘Well, how does that make any sense?’
‘He manages it somehow – or just about. At least I think he does.’”
As for the plot in this book, it made me feel mentally like I feel physically after going on this ride:
The feeling being, please let me off soon, or I’m going to throw up.
Another reason to why I like this author is this line:
“ Can I have a Coke?’
‘No, love. Coke’s not a possibility. I can get you a Pepsi’
I hate when that happens, stupid Pepsi…
Read
March 6, 2013Lately I seem to be reading books that are hard to star - or maybe I'm just getting wishy washy. Wishy-washier.
This book would have gotten 4 stars for the quality of the narrative voice, as the writing was good and all the characters were amazingly consistent and quite complex throughout. However, I'd also give this 0 stars for the sheer idiocy of the plot, which made absolutely no sense to me.
There is a lot of sex in this book, but none of it is particularly sexy. I don't think the author meant it to be sexy, so it's not a failure in the writing.
This one left me with mixed feelings, because I enjoyed this while reading it, but after finishing it I have absolutely no sense of satisfaction, catharsis or understanding. Maybe I just don't have appreciation for this type of story. After all, there are lots of genres and writings that aren't for me - I've never been able to get into magic realism (which this is not), or Kurt Vonnegut, or Bret Easton Ellis, and have never been able to get far into Gravity's Rainbow either... :)
This book would have gotten 4 stars for the quality of the narrative voice, as the writing was good and all the characters were amazingly consistent and quite complex throughout. However, I'd also give this 0 stars for the sheer idiocy of the plot, which made absolutely no sense to me.
There is a lot of sex in this book, but none of it is particularly sexy. I don't think the author meant it to be sexy, so it's not a failure in the writing.
This one left me with mixed feelings, because I enjoyed this while reading it, but after finishing it I have absolutely no sense of satisfaction, catharsis or understanding. Maybe I just don't have appreciation for this type of story. After all, there are lots of genres and writings that aren't for me - I've never been able to get into magic realism (which this is not), or Kurt Vonnegut, or Bret Easton Ellis, and have never been able to get far into Gravity's Rainbow either... :)
July 15, 2014
Not my cup of tea.
I suppose this is one of those books you either love or loathe.
Well, I didn't love it..
I suppose this is one of those books you either love or loathe.
Well, I didn't love it..
March 2, 2020
this was an unmitigated trainwreck, and not in a good way. no character development, no plot, horrible writing - the trifecta of Literary Trainwrecks.
February 18, 2015
My Review:
review contains mild spoilers...
1.5 I’m-so-pumped-out stars
I’m in a prison. I’m locked in a wilderness. I’ll never see the avenue of limes. I’m about to lose my cock and balls. I have no brother to marry. Hell, what am I supposed to do?
This makes somewhat more sense if you read Subject 19, but, in general, this book is crazy. Could be good crazy, though… But wasn’t.
While I’ve enjoyed other books by Todd Young, and really loved Naked, he failed me with Subject 19.
20 young man testing a new sex drug? Todd’s promising writing style? His unique way of telling a story, his twists and subtlety? The greyness of it all? YES, sign me up!
Ok, ok, there was a sex drug and there was testing, but this started too late in the book and really lasted WAY too long. I get it. We’re supposed to feel like the subjects, like having no sense of reality and time anymore, of being imprisoned, used… It’s great that Todd achieved that, but really, that was not what I call a fun time. I wanted this to end!
Oh, the sex, right… Lot’s of it was hot. But it was also repetitive. Cocks and leaking cocks, pre-cum everywhere, jizz, sucking off, strange orgies, billiard balls, orgasmotrons. Seems like there was a huge variety, but this book was LONG. Everything was all over and over again. But, it was, though strange, hot, too. And disturbing. It’s like the subjects, and therefore the reader, is living some sexual phantasies. Things have an unreal feeling to it.
Let’s come to the NOT uniqueness… I am really disappointed. This was my fourth book by Todd, and I realised that he more or less writes only one protagonist. Ok, they have different names, but that is about the only thing that distinguishes them. They are all fucked up, because of physical or emotional abuse. They all have to learn how to accept their sexuality. They have no clue about what love is. They are very body and cock fixated. They are loners, not bright, made fun of, friendless. They all somehow end up finding something they call love. You know, reading this once is awesome, reading it in every damn book, is not.
Additionally, Todd uses ideas again and again. Wearing too tight, small, see-through clothes. Going swimming and getting one’s stuff stolen in the meantime, which leads to embarrassing situations…
But, but… This is not unique anymore. I’m real sad, because I don’t know if I will read more books if everything is always the same. :-(
About my loved subtlety and greyness, that you don’t always know what is right and wrong, the dubious content… Nope, not here. Everything was crystal clear, to me. Lots of non-con here. They were tricked, they were drugged, they were taken advantage of, they were raped and used. No greyness here. I don’t like it!!!
Yep, I’m done. I’m worn out, exhausted, in serious need of some good romance, of hope and love. Goodbye. You’ll find me in the romance corner…
My Updates:
1%: You know, Todd, if you write your unique idea of a guy going swimming in a see-though, practically naked swim suit and getting his stuff stolen in the meantime, in every fucking book, it's not unique anymore.
2%: UNF. Phew, this was hot. Shower jerking off scene, oh my. In public, not to forget!
20%: I'm still not sure about this :-/ So many recycled ideas. It's like it's the same protagonists in all books, just with a different name. The actual plot of Subject 19 is about to start, so I'll see how that is. But, Todd delivers a hot, different and creepy / uncomfortable tale, as always.
30%: I'm getting a bit impatient here... Let the sex drug experiment begin already, please!
34%: Finally, the first injection :-D
50%: These rare tender moments are so precious!
60%: This is getting confusing... Reality is slipping away. I'm curious what's gonna happen next. But wow, these guys are all fucked up in the head.
70%: Angel and the billiard balls...? What the fuck!
75%: Oh gosh, the Testing started... I don't think that is a good thing, though. SUSPENSE
80%: Ahhhhhh, this is so fucked up. The testing makes me cringe and there is still 20% to read. *shivers* and not in a good way. But, I have to finish it now.
87%: Getting closer... I need this to end. It's disturbing but makes me horny as well, which is more disturbing :-/ On a side note: It's cool when you feel the same emotions as a character. I just wish it were better ones!
95%: I can see the finish line. I'm still waiting for some kind of epiphany...
100%: Can you believe it? I'm so done...
review contains mild spoilers...
1.5 I’m-so-pumped-out stars
I’m in a prison. I’m locked in a wilderness. I’ll never see the avenue of limes. I’m about to lose my cock and balls. I have no brother to marry. Hell, what am I supposed to do?
This makes somewhat more sense if you read Subject 19, but, in general, this book is crazy. Could be good crazy, though… But wasn’t.
While I’ve enjoyed other books by Todd Young, and really loved Naked, he failed me with Subject 19.
20 young man testing a new sex drug? Todd’s promising writing style? His unique way of telling a story, his twists and subtlety? The greyness of it all? YES, sign me up!
Ok, ok, there was a sex drug and there was testing, but this started too late in the book and really lasted WAY too long. I get it. We’re supposed to feel like the subjects, like having no sense of reality and time anymore, of being imprisoned, used… It’s great that Todd achieved that, but really, that was not what I call a fun time. I wanted this to end!
Oh, the sex, right… Lot’s of it was hot. But it was also repetitive. Cocks and leaking cocks, pre-cum everywhere, jizz, sucking off, strange orgies, billiard balls, orgasmotrons. Seems like there was a huge variety, but this book was LONG. Everything was all over and over again. But, it was, though strange, hot, too. And disturbing. It’s like the subjects, and therefore the reader, is living some sexual phantasies. Things have an unreal feeling to it.
Let’s come to the NOT uniqueness… I am really disappointed. This was my fourth book by Todd, and I realised that he more or less writes only one protagonist. Ok, they have different names, but that is about the only thing that distinguishes them. They are all fucked up, because of physical or emotional abuse. They all have to learn how to accept their sexuality. They have no clue about what love is. They are very body and cock fixated. They are loners, not bright, made fun of, friendless. They all somehow end up finding something they call love. You know, reading this once is awesome, reading it in every damn book, is not.
Additionally, Todd uses ideas again and again. Wearing too tight, small, see-through clothes. Going swimming and getting one’s stuff stolen in the meantime, which leads to embarrassing situations…
But, but… This is not unique anymore. I’m real sad, because I don’t know if I will read more books if everything is always the same. :-(
About my loved subtlety and greyness, that you don’t always know what is right and wrong, the dubious content… Nope, not here. Everything was crystal clear, to me. Lots of non-con here. They were tricked, they were drugged, they were taken advantage of, they were raped and used. No greyness here. I don’t like it!!!
Yep, I’m done. I’m worn out, exhausted, in serious need of some good romance, of hope and love. Goodbye. You’ll find me in the romance corner…
My Updates:
1%: You know, Todd, if you write your unique idea of a guy going swimming in a see-though, practically naked swim suit and getting his stuff stolen in the meantime, in every fucking book, it's not unique anymore.
2%: UNF. Phew, this was hot. Shower jerking off scene, oh my. In public, not to forget!
20%: I'm still not sure about this :-/ So many recycled ideas. It's like it's the same protagonists in all books, just with a different name. The actual plot of Subject 19 is about to start, so I'll see how that is. But, Todd delivers a hot, different and creepy / uncomfortable tale, as always.
30%: I'm getting a bit impatient here... Let the sex drug experiment begin already, please!
34%: Finally, the first injection :-D
50%: These rare tender moments are so precious!
60%: This is getting confusing... Reality is slipping away. I'm curious what's gonna happen next. But wow, these guys are all fucked up in the head.
70%: Angel and the billiard balls...? What the fuck!
75%: Oh gosh, the Testing started... I don't think that is a good thing, though. SUSPENSE
80%: Ahhhhhh, this is so fucked up. The testing makes me cringe and there is still 20% to read. *shivers* and not in a good way. But, I have to finish it now.
87%: Getting closer... I need this to end. It's disturbing but makes me horny as well, which is more disturbing :-/ On a side note: It's cool when you feel the same emotions as a character. I just wish it were better ones!
95%: I can see the finish line. I'm still waiting for some kind of epiphany...
100%: Can you believe it? I'm so done...
July 24, 2014
At the beginning I thought it would be about porn industry, and with some disappointment, thought - here we go AGAIN. But I should have given more credit to this author. His books might have a huge dose of creepiness in them, but they are different, unique in a way. And I praise his imagination and courage to write about risky subjects .
I can see how it can work for some and appall the others, but luckily, I'm in the former category of people. Seeming to have established a connection with Todd's peculiar world, I find his writing fascinating and alluring. Not to mention really really hot! I respect other reader's opinions and wouldn't argue their view on this. But in return, I expect the same. Because I don't care what others think. I liked it.
Having said that, I did think he has overdone a bit with the details and while the whole thing worked for me most of the times, the final testing of that creepy machine was boggling my mind, and not in a good way.
And another issue I've had with the book (and it was entirely my fault, as usual!) was my crash on Ice. *sigh*. For some reason, I couldn't bring myself to like Sean and, like a fool, I hoped against hope that Isaiah will be the hero. How is it that I always pick up the wrong guy to root for, I have no clue. I mean, I got used to the idea of Sean in the end, but I still felt defeated because of it. And even with them, I would've like to see some life after their trial, just to shake the darkness off.
The cover is brilliant though. Very fitting. And with all the extensive descriptions in the book, I really felt trapped in that building myself. So just like Joel, I've found my ecstasy there, but was happy to finally break free ;)
***3.8 stars***
February 21, 2016
Prepare yourself for a wild, wild read!
March 8, 2017
That was so fucking intense I feel drained. My god what a horrific clusterfuck of a novel. I really enjoyed it but this is not a nice book at all. The reviews are very mixed, people will immediately love it or hate it, I don't see much room for grey. I've thought about this and changed my review a bit but not the rating. I'm probably full of shit but I had a thought a few hours later as I can't stop thinking about this, maybe it's just my mind putting it into a place where I can digest it better?
I think the premise the author used to write this book could be construed as EXTREMELY smart. That alone allows for this disaster to happen and the more I think about it the more I realised that the other bat shit crazy non related sex scenes would dissolve into total incomprehensible chaos. . The writing would suddenly becomes so hectic it was like rapid cycling, bi-polar POV's flicking over in the middle of these intense scenes every time which was very annoying, sometimes a POV was maybe two sentences long and it would switch again. This is only my opinion but I think he did this on purpose and if it was it makes it even more of ingenious piece of writing..
Total and utter chaos reigns supreme. It's either intentionally written this way or possibly sub-consciously worded this way to put you so on edge to mind fuck you and keeping the tension powering along, while the sex scenes take a break. Go back and read the parts where it all goes to hell. That writing style is not present at the start of the book and begins to disappear as it ends. Hmmm am I reading too much into this, I'm not so sure anymore?.
Now as I look back on that I feel like Todd Young did all this on purpose. Switching from debauched sex to dealing with the terrible and various side effects the experiment caused, with writing explicit and depraved sex scene's, to fully blown psychosis, paranoia, loss of morals and inhibitions, one of which was just so horrible . I'll admit for the first time that they are pornographic and not erotica, even with an excellent story behind it to bolster it up, it's still porn and I don't say that lightly as I HATE it when people refer to erotica as porn! That really pisses me off and I hate that but I'm still giving it 4,75 STARS for it's originality, storyline and the way the entire concept of this book unfolded into one huge vicious mess.
I was actually sweating bullets by the time I finished reading it, for me this was one hard core, scary, emotional thriller and yes I chose another nasty book to read again.
TRIGGER WARNINGS for rape, being drugged, violence, explicit and graphic group sex BUT IT IS IN CONTEXT to the books major storyline now I look back at it, with a side order of physical and mental abuse, plus more I can't think of right now. This is a very nasty and uncomfortable book but I read it in one sitting as it's a page turner. I don't condone anything that happens within the book but it's so fucking out there that you just have to read it to believe it, it's actually so twisted that I could see things like this happening if they haven't already.
There are always horror stories about drug trials going wrong over the years.
I don't know what else to write but if you choose to read this Urban Fantasy/Thriller then all I can say is buckle up, it's one fucking bumpy ride.
Sorry for typo's
I think the premise the author used to write this book could be construed as EXTREMELY smart. That alone allows for this disaster to happen and the more I think about it the more I realised that the other bat shit crazy non related sex scenes would dissolve into total incomprehensible chaos. . The writing would suddenly becomes so hectic it was like rapid cycling, bi-polar POV's flicking over in the middle of these intense scenes every time which was very annoying, sometimes a POV was maybe two sentences long and it would switch again. This is only my opinion but I think he did this on purpose and if it was it makes it even more of ingenious piece of writing..
Total and utter chaos reigns supreme. It's either intentionally written this way or possibly sub-consciously worded this way to put you so on edge to mind fuck you and keeping the tension powering along, while the sex scenes take a break. Go back and read the parts where it all goes to hell. That writing style is not present at the start of the book and begins to disappear as it ends. Hmmm am I reading too much into this, I'm not so sure anymore?.
Now as I look back on that I feel like Todd Young did all this on purpose. Switching from debauched sex to dealing with the terrible and various side effects the experiment caused, with writing explicit and depraved sex scene's, to fully blown psychosis, paranoia, loss of morals and inhibitions, one of which was just so horrible . I'll admit for the first time that they are pornographic and not erotica, even with an excellent story behind it to bolster it up, it's still porn and I don't say that lightly as I HATE it when people refer to erotica as porn! That really pisses me off and I hate that but I'm still giving it 4,75 STARS for it's originality, storyline and the way the entire concept of this book unfolded into one huge vicious mess.
I was actually sweating bullets by the time I finished reading it, for me this was one hard core, scary, emotional thriller and yes I chose another nasty book to read again.
TRIGGER WARNINGS for rape, being drugged, violence, explicit and graphic group sex BUT IT IS IN CONTEXT to the books major storyline now I look back at it, with a side order of physical and mental abuse, plus more I can't think of right now. This is a very nasty and uncomfortable book but I read it in one sitting as it's a page turner. I don't condone anything that happens within the book but it's so fucking out there that you just have to read it to believe it, it's actually so twisted that I could see things like this happening if they haven't already.
There are always horror stories about drug trials going wrong over the years.
I don't know what else to write but if you choose to read this Urban Fantasy/Thriller then all I can say is buckle up, it's one fucking bumpy ride.
Sorry for typo's
April 7, 2013
Hmm. It's difficult to review this book because I feel like I was given a specific impression of the type of story this would be, and got exactly what I expected for a couple of chapters, and then all of a sudden "Subject 19" takes a sharp turn for the bizarre and gives me something completely unexpected, and not really in a good way.
From my reading experience, I divide this book into two parts: the first part of the book features our protagonist, Joel, stumbling into a series of sexy misadventures that are half character-study and half whimsical erotica. We find out a lot about Joel's backstory and feel for him as he attempts to navigate the confusing courses of college hookups.
However, the second portion of the book -- which begins shortly after Joel and his acquaintances check themselves into the experiment facility -- is simply comprised of a horde of characters doing nothing but babbling nonsense to each other nonstop. For the entire rest of the story. I'm not exaggerating in the slightest; The narrative reflects these events and likewise forgoes traditional structure and prose in order to better reflect Joel's deteriorating mental state.
Don't get me wrong; there's a certain logic to the madness here, and you never feel like you can't truly follow the narrative, but it was still such an abrupt and bizarre departure from how this story's tone was initially set up, and it goes on and on and on and on. Have I mentioned that the entire rest of the book is like this? I think I could have gladly handled a chapter or two of this style, but not ~50% of the story.
In the end, we find out that None of it makes any real sense. Which may be fine in a pure erotica story, which this book started as...but not in a pseudo-intellectual Cronenberg mystery, which this book tried to be.
At the end of the day, I'm forced to give this book just two stars because -- while I really did enjoy the opening chapters, and I do think that even the medical facility chapters were technically well-written -- ultimately I don't think this was the book I expected or wanted to read, and I think that's going to be the case for a quite a number of readers as well.
From my reading experience, I divide this book into two parts: the first part of the book features our protagonist, Joel, stumbling into a series of sexy misadventures that are half character-study and half whimsical erotica. We find out a lot about Joel's backstory and feel for him as he attempts to navigate the confusing courses of college hookups.
However, the second portion of the book -- which begins shortly after Joel and his acquaintances check themselves into the experiment facility -- is simply comprised of a horde of characters doing nothing but babbling nonsense to each other nonstop. For the entire rest of the story. I'm not exaggerating in the slightest; The narrative reflects these events and likewise forgoes traditional structure and prose in order to better reflect Joel's deteriorating mental state.
Don't get me wrong; there's a certain logic to the madness here, and you never feel like you can't truly follow the narrative, but it was still such an abrupt and bizarre departure from how this story's tone was initially set up, and it goes on and on and on and on. Have I mentioned that the entire rest of the book is like this? I think I could have gladly handled a chapter or two of this style, but not ~50% of the story.
In the end, we find out that None of it makes any real sense. Which may be fine in a pure erotica story, which this book started as...but not in a pseudo-intellectual Cronenberg mystery, which this book tried to be.
At the end of the day, I'm forced to give this book just two stars because -- while I really did enjoy the opening chapters, and I do think that even the medical facility chapters were technically well-written -- ultimately I don't think this was the book I expected or wanted to read, and I think that's going to be the case for a quite a number of readers as well.
December 1, 2017
Wow, that was amazing and I was so in the mood for something like that. The scope was truly impressive... and it was really put together well. Todd Young always does a beautiful job - his stories just flow so nicely and are so much fun to read.
February 5, 2013
Well that was a mind-melting read. The whole time I was reading it, I was reminded of a Darren Aronofsky movie, like The Fountain or Pi or Black Swan. Like the whole book had this vaguely not real, dreamy quality to it. That's not to say it wasn't good, it was. And there were some laugh out loud spots in the book too. It was just mind-bending.
And the cover model on this book fits the character completely in my opinion.
I've read an awful lot of good books this week. That doesn't bode well for the next 6 months. I've had this read-y goodness and now the universe will decide I've had my fill and not get anything good for a really long time.
And the cover model on this book fits the character completely in my opinion.
I've read an awful lot of good books this week. That doesn't bode well for the next 6 months. I've had this read-y goodness and now the universe will decide I've had my fill and not get anything good for a really long time.
January 14, 2014
I don't remember the last time a book has stunned me into silence. I want to write a review of this book but I literally cannot explain what I just read. Yes, I loved this book.
January 28, 2014
OMG! I loved this! Todd totally sucked me in (well not literally of course) and the characters where so well developed I felt they were friends.
Now I'm totally spooked cause I want to sign up...
Now I'm totally spooked cause I want to sign up...
May 9, 2013
What a totally fucked-up story. Loved it though.
March 5, 2013
I received this book through LibraryThing Member Giveaways.
Joel is a young college student, who is also gay and sexually inexperienced. He likes to engage in sexual behavior at risky times and places when horny. One of those times he ended up at the beach full of people with only his see through shorts, lets just say naked. He than meets Sean, who gives him towel and a ride. Sean tells him about clinical trial at the Umberto Institute, where they pay you a lot of money for participation. Joel wanting to spend more time with Sean sign ups for this trial. He has no idea what he sign up for and when the trial starts it might be to late to get out...
I honestly like the plot, it sounded interesting enough to read it. I loved how the author made the characters so believable. At times the story also left me guessing. Like I honestly didn't know who Joel will end up with, if he get out of there... I think people who like to read gay erotica will definitely love this book. I just think it wasn't my thing, that's why I rated it 3.5 stars. But check it out if you think you like stuff like this;D
Joel is a young college student, who is also gay and sexually inexperienced. He likes to engage in sexual behavior at risky times and places when horny. One of those times he ended up at the beach full of people with only his see through shorts, lets just say naked. He than meets Sean, who gives him towel and a ride. Sean tells him about clinical trial at the Umberto Institute, where they pay you a lot of money for participation. Joel wanting to spend more time with Sean sign ups for this trial. He has no idea what he sign up for and when the trial starts it might be to late to get out...
I honestly like the plot, it sounded interesting enough to read it. I loved how the author made the characters so believable. At times the story also left me guessing. Like I honestly didn't know who Joel will end up with, if he get out of there... I think people who like to read gay erotica will definitely love this book. I just think it wasn't my thing, that's why I rated it 3.5 stars. But check it out if you think you like stuff like this;D
December 31, 2015
Subject 19 by Todd Young This was a very strange book, but compelling in its way. It is more horror (specifically body horror) than romance, but there were romantic elements too. The premise was never satisfactorily explained and the ending didn't entirely make sense. But the writer is talented at creating an atmosphere of helplessness and fear interspersed with moments of bravery and affection. Some found it to be quite erotic as well (I was way more "idk" than "yum" about the sex myself). There is a lot of sex, but most of it is under drugged, dub con conditions. Again, weird but compelling in its way.
So, I guess recommended for people who want something with body horror and sex, offbeat with scary and suspenseful moments, but a reasonably happy ending?
So, I guess recommended for people who want something with body horror and sex, offbeat with scary and suspenseful moments, but a reasonably happy ending?
July 26, 2016
I'm not sure if I liked it or not. Definitely erotica but light on the romance. Interesting premise but the story lacked on the emotional side. I didn't feel for any of the characters at all though I hoped for a good resolution. I kept reading just to find out what was going on but even that wasn't entirely explained or resolved. Belief must be suspended in this book.
December 12, 2017
I always feel bad when I have to give a bad review of a book. However, this book was just awful. Not only was the story ridiculous, but the main character was unlikeable. This is my second book by Todd Young but it will probably be my last.
March 3, 2013
Review to follow once I'm on even kilter again.. Wow
July 17, 2014
Review to come shortly.
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December 26, 2025I have literally no idea what to rate this book or even how to go about it. I didn't dislike it. I liked the writing, as I usually do with this author, I like their style and with this book even more. The story wasn't boring, I liked seeing how the different characters evolved and reacted to the different events, each with their own emotions and unique perspectives.
But it was just so weird. So, absolutely no idea.
But it was just so weird. So, absolutely no idea.
November 19, 2020
3.5 stars: Really Twisted
A very strange plot and premise. While a first-year focus, there's an extensive cast of characters, with names, numbers and colors. Subjected to chemical and physical testing, excessive amounts of sex weave through the novel, some of which left this reader uncomfortable.
A very strange plot and premise. While a first-year focus, there's an extensive cast of characters, with names, numbers and colors. Subjected to chemical and physical testing, excessive amounts of sex weave through the novel, some of which left this reader uncomfortable.
November 17, 2017
Twisty turvy
I gave this a try after reading some mixed reviews... I am glad I did. It was interesting, never knew what was coming. I did greatly enjoy reading it. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
I gave this a try after reading some mixed reviews... I am glad I did. It was interesting, never knew what was coming. I did greatly enjoy reading it. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
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