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Knots
The 29th Amendment guarantees everybody one monogamous romantic and sexual partner. As a detective with the Intimacy Allocation Unit, Sean hunts down the hoarders who violate this law.
Sean likes his job. It’s the perfect cover.
But when Sean gets invited to an underground play party, his safe, simple life becomes...complicated. Every hour he spends with these outlaws, leading their life—the life he could have had—makes them seem less like targets, and more like people.
His people.
With career—and life—on the line, Sean must decide whether his loyalties lie with his job, his friends, and his old way of doing things—or with a group of complete strangers who somehow feel like family.
A near-future dystopia exploring kink and sexuality, Knots is the perfect book for readers who loved Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Leni Zumas’s Red Clocks, Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, or Nick Cutter's The Acolyte.
Get your copy of Knots today to find out how far one man will go to be true to himself—and to protect the first group of people who ever made him feel like he belonged. . . .
Sean likes his job. It’s the perfect cover.
But when Sean gets invited to an underground play party, his safe, simple life becomes...complicated. Every hour he spends with these outlaws, leading their life—the life he could have had—makes them seem less like targets, and more like people.
His people.
With career—and life—on the line, Sean must decide whether his loyalties lie with his job, his friends, and his old way of doing things—or with a group of complete strangers who somehow feel like family.
A near-future dystopia exploring kink and sexuality, Knots is the perfect book for readers who loved Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Leni Zumas’s Red Clocks, Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, or Nick Cutter's The Acolyte.
Get your copy of Knots today to find out how far one man will go to be true to himself—and to protect the first group of people who ever made him feel like he belonged. . . .
275 pages, Paperback
Published July 18, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 26, 2023
First I would like to make it clear that I am not a huge fiction reader and I usually take such books as pleasure reading like in between doing chores... unless there is a plot with a social message to keep me hooked - and Knots does exactly that!
The story is so well crafted where the protagonist himself or themselves ;) is intertwined as a Knot with one end of their rope hinged to keeping his true identity under covers and another end to protecting the sovereignty of the identity that he carries. The question is which end of the rope will he let loose when push comes to shove. The plot moves between different timelines slowly revealing characters, their development, their intertwined desires and complicated relationships as a teenager, an adult and now law-abiding (not so) citizens. The reddit style articles were a great insertion every now and then.
It took me time to get a grasp though the first few chapters though due to jumping timelines, but once I got the hang, It was an exciting read! As someone who lived both in Chicago and Boston, it was such as delight to feel as if the scenes were unfolding live in front of me, as if I was watching a new episode of an ongoing Law and Order case with each chapter.
Recently watched the Handmaid’s Tale, must say Knots took me back to the dystopian era where the issue seemed very real especially with the current state of our living where the attacks on policies like Roe v. Wade makes you think - could this become the next propaganda for the lawmaker?
Guilty acceptance though that PRTNR app is something, I am sure every single status reader would turn; given dating these days is such a painful undertaking :)
The story is so well crafted where the protagonist himself or themselves ;) is intertwined as a Knot with one end of their rope hinged to keeping his true identity under covers and another end to protecting the sovereignty of the identity that he carries. The question is which end of the rope will he let loose when push comes to shove. The plot moves between different timelines slowly revealing characters, their development, their intertwined desires and complicated relationships as a teenager, an adult and now law-abiding (not so) citizens. The reddit style articles were a great insertion every now and then.
It took me time to get a grasp though the first few chapters though due to jumping timelines, but once I got the hang, It was an exciting read! As someone who lived both in Chicago and Boston, it was such as delight to feel as if the scenes were unfolding live in front of me, as if I was watching a new episode of an ongoing Law and Order case with each chapter.
Recently watched the Handmaid’s Tale, must say Knots took me back to the dystopian era where the issue seemed very real especially with the current state of our living where the attacks on policies like Roe v. Wade makes you think - could this become the next propaganda for the lawmaker?
Guilty acceptance though that PRTNR app is something, I am sure every single status reader would turn; given dating these days is such a painful undertaking :)
July 25, 2023
Knots takes place in a near-future world in which America has passed a Constitutional amendment to promote “the fair and equal distribution of erotic capital” by essentially guaranteeing matches (via mandatory enrollment in a state-sponsored dating app) and enforcing monogamy while limiting fetishism and kink (with a federal enforcement agency). What happens, then, to the folks who refuse to be so confined? Knots explores this question with striking tenderness through multiple perspectives: the agents tasked with enforcing the policy, the members of kink communities overnight transformed into fugitives, the young people searching for themselves in this new reality.
McDonough expertly balances plot-driving action, dynamic dialogue, and cogent explorations of characters’ inner landscapes, interspersed with interviews, screenplays, and a manifesto-like reddit post to build a dystopian world that seems all too possible. This one was hard to put down!
As someone not very familiar with the kink community, I was curious to experience reading scenes with bondage and other types of intimacy. I found that even though the scenes were not always sexual, the intimacy felt very real and at times raw. The thing that struck me most was the depth of community and affection that jumped off the page – Knots is truly a work of love. Definitely glad I gave the book a read & excited to see more by Myles McDonough.
McDonough expertly balances plot-driving action, dynamic dialogue, and cogent explorations of characters’ inner landscapes, interspersed with interviews, screenplays, and a manifesto-like reddit post to build a dystopian world that seems all too possible. This one was hard to put down!
As someone not very familiar with the kink community, I was curious to experience reading scenes with bondage and other types of intimacy. I found that even though the scenes were not always sexual, the intimacy felt very real and at times raw. The thing that struck me most was the depth of community and affection that jumped off the page – Knots is truly a work of love. Definitely glad I gave the book a read & excited to see more by Myles McDonough.
July 25, 2023
Knots is difficult to put down once you get started. In addition to being a dystopian novel with elements of government corruption and incels, it also has sex, love, and bondage to boot. The character development is deep and unique and LGBTQ+. The novel continuously switches which character is narrating which made me feel like I got to know the characters better. The diversity of the cast of characters kept me challenging my assumptions and wondering who would be introduced next.
Knots reminded me of a cross between the movie Lobster and the novel, Handmaid’s Tale. In this world people are matched with 1 mate through an app that is required by the government. Everyone is forced to pair up or risk dire consequences. There is no space for polyamory or other relationship styles that are seen as ‘abnormal’. Sex is required of couples, and it must also be ‘standard’. Any interest that is outside of the norm is illegal. There is an entire police unit that investigates and arrests these people. I highly recommend this book – it’s a unique and gripping look at our world through the eyes of people that are considered ‘abnormal’ in society.
I cannot wait to see what Myles comes out with next!
Knots reminded me of a cross between the movie Lobster and the novel, Handmaid’s Tale. In this world people are matched with 1 mate through an app that is required by the government. Everyone is forced to pair up or risk dire consequences. There is no space for polyamory or other relationship styles that are seen as ‘abnormal’. Sex is required of couples, and it must also be ‘standard’. Any interest that is outside of the norm is illegal. There is an entire police unit that investigates and arrests these people. I highly recommend this book – it’s a unique and gripping look at our world through the eyes of people that are considered ‘abnormal’ in society.
I cannot wait to see what Myles comes out with next!
April 26, 2025
Knots is such an imaginative and thoughtful dystopia. If you've ever thought loneliness might kill you, and perhaps it would be better to live in a world where you are guaranteed not to die alone, this book takes that idea and runs with it in really surprising ways.
Even though it’s set around a BDSM community, the focus is way more on the culture, connection, and trust than on anything sexual (the intimacy is very behind-closed-doors). It’s a little 1984-ish in how relationships are central to driving the plot and rebellion, but overall it’s really about what it means to be a messy, complicated human in a world that demands optimization.
The book jumps between different characters and timelines (just keep an eye on the chapter headings!), and if you’ve ever lived in Boston or Chicago, the way the cities are captured will probably make you smile. I also loved the inclusion of Reddit threads. It feels very real that the downfall of society would have roots in an unhinged subreddit >.<. If you’re into dystopias with heart, and you’re not squeamish about a little rope, I definitely recommend picking this one up.
Even though it’s set around a BDSM community, the focus is way more on the culture, connection, and trust than on anything sexual (the intimacy is very behind-closed-doors). It’s a little 1984-ish in how relationships are central to driving the plot and rebellion, but overall it’s really about what it means to be a messy, complicated human in a world that demands optimization.
The book jumps between different characters and timelines (just keep an eye on the chapter headings!), and if you’ve ever lived in Boston or Chicago, the way the cities are captured will probably make you smile. I also loved the inclusion of Reddit threads. It feels very real that the downfall of society would have roots in an unhinged subreddit >.<. If you’re into dystopias with heart, and you’re not squeamish about a little rope, I definitely recommend picking this one up.
July 25, 2023
Knots by Myles McDonough was a thrill to read. In the last 30 pages of the book, I got that cascading feeling that you get with novels you really love… like, I’ve totally lost myself and I’m just being carried by the book now.
Readers of Orwell, Philip K. Dick, Ursula Le Guin, Vonnegut, Ted Chiang, and George Saunders — books at the intersection of science fiction and dystopia, which have both compelling, complicated characters as well as interesting world-building aspects — will enjoy.
Besides the fascinating premise to the novel, there were such beautiful moments of peace and tranquility woven throughout; those are what I’ll remember from the book. Jack, Verity, and Simon together the morning after. When Sean lets himself be tied. The love between Carl and Levi. Sean’s childhood scenes. Marie at her first convention. At first I read for the compelling premise of the novel, but by its end I was reading for the beautiful moments where the characters helped each other — and this novel had moments that really captured the fragile beauty of that.
Readers of Orwell, Philip K. Dick, Ursula Le Guin, Vonnegut, Ted Chiang, and George Saunders — books at the intersection of science fiction and dystopia, which have both compelling, complicated characters as well as interesting world-building aspects — will enjoy.
Besides the fascinating premise to the novel, there were such beautiful moments of peace and tranquility woven throughout; those are what I’ll remember from the book. Jack, Verity, and Simon together the morning after. When Sean lets himself be tied. The love between Carl and Levi. Sean’s childhood scenes. Marie at her first convention. At first I read for the compelling premise of the novel, but by its end I was reading for the beautiful moments where the characters helped each other — and this novel had moments that really captured the fragile beauty of that.
July 25, 2023
What an enthralling premise! Knots is set in a dystopian near-future where sex is considered an essential social currency, participation in an assigned monogamous relationship is mandatory, and fetishism/kink are banned. It was interesting — and unsettlingly relevant — to consider a totalitarian ideology around sexuality that isn’t blanket anti-LGBTQ+, but forces conformity all the same.
I loved that the story was told from the perspectives of a diverse cast. The author does an incredible job of empathizing with his characters — each unique voice was so vivid, I wondered whether McDonough himself had lived multiple lifetimes.
This book is great for anyone who loves reading about dystopias, sexuality (no matter your level of familiarity with fetishism/kink or non-monogamy), or authenticity and valor in the face of unthinkable consequences.
I loved that the story was told from the perspectives of a diverse cast. The author does an incredible job of empathizing with his characters — each unique voice was so vivid, I wondered whether McDonough himself had lived multiple lifetimes.
This book is great for anyone who loves reading about dystopias, sexuality (no matter your level of familiarity with fetishism/kink or non-monogamy), or authenticity and valor in the face of unthinkable consequences.
July 25, 2023
Somehow does the challenging task of combining pulpy storytelling with modern cultural commentary without ever becoming trite or preachy. Can't recommend enough if you like investigative stories or complex dystopia settings.
The world-building stays consistent and interesting from start to finish, and the large cast of characters is fleshed out to the extent that I found myself constantly questioning my own allegiances and hopes for them. Knots is thrilling, well-thought-out, and sexy, as all books should be.
The world-building stays consistent and interesting from start to finish, and the large cast of characters is fleshed out to the extent that I found myself constantly questioning my own allegiances and hopes for them. Knots is thrilling, well-thought-out, and sexy, as all books should be.
July 26, 2023
An incredibly gripping book set in a dystopian near future where being monogamously paired up is compulsory and kinksters are hunted down by the vice police. With chapters switching between points of view, you get to be inside each character's head - from the hunters to the hunted.
It's the rare combination of a book that you race through because you can't wait to see what happens next, but also gives you a lot to think about. Hoping there'll be a sequel!
It's the rare combination of a book that you race through because you can't wait to see what happens next, but also gives you a lot to think about. Hoping there'll be a sequel!
July 25, 2023
I love that each chapter of this book is written from the point of view of a different character. I felt like I got an intimate glimpse into each character’s thoughts, emotions, and motivations.
Different elements of Knots reminded me of ‘1984’: a dystopia where the government imposes strict regulations and laws on every aspect of your personal life.
I would highly recommend it!
Different elements of Knots reminded me of ‘1984’: a dystopia where the government imposes strict regulations and laws on every aspect of your personal life.
I would highly recommend it!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews