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Boy Jayck
Jayckson Havencrest; orphan and Boy on board the Marya, a ship in the Fallacian Empire’s Navy. He’s three months away from turning eighteen and finally being free of the contract he’s been in since the age of eight.
The crew and officers only see him as a plaything they can use when and how they want. He’s thin as a bone; scars and burns litter his body. He has stark white hair and an intriguing glow around the irises in his moonstone coloured eyes.
Somewhere in the Solastro Ocean navigates his beloved, so close to his heart yet so far away from reach. They haven’t seen each other in four years, and Jayckson yearns to be with him. To be safe, desperate for a quiet life away from the torments and assaults.
But the stars and moons have never been on his side. Ever.
How can one precisely placed boot and a precious letter stolen from him rip away all his dreams? What will happen if the forbidden liaison is found out? Could Jayckson possibly survive any more cruelty from the crew and even worse, the commander himself?
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Boy Jayck is a YA, MM Romance, Space Opera (Sci-Fi Fantasy) with forbidden love, normalised LGBT, secrets, and danger at every turn!
The crew and officers only see him as a plaything they can use when and how they want. He’s thin as a bone; scars and burns litter his body. He has stark white hair and an intriguing glow around the irises in his moonstone coloured eyes.
Somewhere in the Solastro Ocean navigates his beloved, so close to his heart yet so far away from reach. They haven’t seen each other in four years, and Jayckson yearns to be with him. To be safe, desperate for a quiet life away from the torments and assaults.
But the stars and moons have never been on his side. Ever.
How can one precisely placed boot and a precious letter stolen from him rip away all his dreams? What will happen if the forbidden liaison is found out? Could Jayckson possibly survive any more cruelty from the crew and even worse, the commander himself?
-
Boy Jayck is a YA, MM Romance, Space Opera (Sci-Fi Fantasy) with forbidden love, normalised LGBT, secrets, and danger at every turn!
- GenresLGBT
323 pages, Paperback
Published December 6, 2023
About the author
Lily O. Laverick
4 books10 followersLily O. Laverick is an indie author creating imaginative worlds where the boundaries of space and identity blur. A proud bisexual and asexual writer, Lily brings her unique perspective to life through her works, most notably in her debut novel Boy Jayck, a dark YA MM romance set in The Lavaria Galaxy—a fictional universe where LGBTQ+ characters thrive. Lily writes to fill the gaps she feels are missing in mainstream literature, focusing on space operas and character-driven narratives. Living in central France, she draws inspiration from both her rural surroundings and her desire to offer readers a place where they feel valued and accepted.
When she’s not writing, Lily enjoys reading fanfiction, sipping sweet tea, and spending time with her four-pawed companion, Pudsey.
You can follow her writing journey on Instagram @lilylaverick_writer.
When she’s not writing, Lily enjoys reading fanfiction, sipping sweet tea, and spending time with her four-pawed companion, Pudsey.
You can follow her writing journey on Instagram @lilylaverick_writer.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 27, 2024
For me, Boy Jayck was a book of two halves, and I have quite different opinions of each. I must admit that I struggled a little with the abuse of the lead in the first. I could see the author wanted us to sympathise with Jayck's position, but without the worldbuilding to back it up, it all felt such mindless, overwhelming cruelty. Jayck's lack of agency made him more a character to be pitied than someone to root for. I think that's something to keep in mind for someone who might be sensitive to that kind of theme.
The book won me back over in the second half when we're introduced to more characters and more points of view. The relief I felt when Jayck meets his love was palpable. But here we have the bulk of the plot, which involves much more in the way of intrigue and action to be invested in.
What I most liked about this book was the romance. I found the relationship between Jayck and Elezar infectious in its rawness and intimacy. The two adore each other with no doubts, and it was refreshing to see a loving gay relationship pushed to the forefront and treated in such a normalised way. My favourite moment was right towards the end (which I won't spoil, but suffice to say, builds on this theme in a lovely way).
While I would have liked more worldbuilding and less reliance on tell in the writing, those after a romance where love conquers all through the bleakest of times will leave feeling satisfied. Despite my reservations with how the book started, the ending left me with a good feeling.
The book won me back over in the second half when we're introduced to more characters and more points of view. The relief I felt when Jayck meets his love was palpable. But here we have the bulk of the plot, which involves much more in the way of intrigue and action to be invested in.
What I most liked about this book was the romance. I found the relationship between Jayck and Elezar infectious in its rawness and intimacy. The two adore each other with no doubts, and it was refreshing to see a loving gay relationship pushed to the forefront and treated in such a normalised way. My favourite moment was right towards the end (which I won't spoil, but suffice to say, builds on this theme in a lovely way).
While I would have liked more worldbuilding and less reliance on tell in the writing, those after a romance where love conquers all through the bleakest of times will leave feeling satisfied. Despite my reservations with how the book started, the ending left me with a good feeling.
April 7, 2024
I'd just like to say I absolutely loved your book Boy Jayck ❤️ It was such a sad but beautiful story. The characters were so well written, I feel that I felt them and their emotions more than I visualised them. You created a vivid world that I'm looking forward to exploring more with each book you write. Thank you for creating a new world to lose myself in.
January 21, 2024
A fantastically written debut by an extremely talented indie author. While romance isn't really my thing, I was intrigued by the premise of a regency space opera, and I'm glad I took a chance. The world building, characterisation and the writing itself is fantastic, with Lily O's passion for her creations coming through on the page.
While much of Jayck's story is harrowing, and we begin his tale in quite a dark place, there is a light at the end of the tunnel - for both Jayck and the reader. I loved Jayck's friendship with James, and also a certain other character near the end (I won't spoil it), and Grebus's chapters were also intriguing and gave further insight into the rich world Lily O. has created. Congratulations on a 5 star debut!
While much of Jayck's story is harrowing, and we begin his tale in quite a dark place, there is a light at the end of the tunnel - for both Jayck and the reader. I loved Jayck's friendship with James, and also a certain other character near the end (I won't spoil it), and Grebus's chapters were also intriguing and gave further insight into the rich world Lily O. has created. Congratulations on a 5 star debut!
November 24, 2023
An enthralling read from start to finish....well done Lily.O.L with your first novel, I can't wait to read the next one.
January 3, 2024
Brilliant Debut
This book hauled me in from the first chapter. I loved it. Janey never gazing at her precious bump, to is it? Can't be ? Omgosh how could they 😱. Let's say it's a roller coaster.
Fans of Ilona Andrews, Scarelet Dawn, KFBreene n Shannon Mayer will love this rising star
This book hauled me in from the first chapter. I loved it. Janey never gazing at her precious bump, to is it? Can't be ? Omgosh how could they 😱. Let's say it's a roller coaster.
Fans of Ilona Andrews, Scarelet Dawn, KFBreene n Shannon Mayer will love this rising star
December 17, 2023
'Boy' Jayck is a slave in all but name for the crew of the Marya, a ship traveling through the Lavarian Galaxy, and he is utterly miserable. But Jayck also has a secret, and his secret has a name...
Meanwhile, on the planet of Fallacia, Emperor Dhia has total control - and he's using it for no good, much to his son, Hiram's, dismay.
If you've ever read any of my reviews before, you know how much I dislike romance. The whole concept makes me groan, be it m/f, m/m, f/f, or something else (this one is m/m, by the way, if it matters). But what I do love is great characterisation, a complex plot, and a surprising twist (or two) - and Boy Jayck by Lily Laverick has all those things! And do you know what? The romance element is pretty good too! (But sshhh, don't tell anyone I've gone soft!)
The thing about Boy Jayck is that, yes, it's a romance, to a degree. But there's so much more to it. It's not that old 'will-they/won't-they' theme which, let's be honest, is as boring as old socks. No, Boy Jayck's romance is already cemented, it's a given even though they're forced to be apart. We might be questioning how and when - and maybe even if - they reunite, but that's not the only thing that the reader has to hold onto. What makes this book great is how the romance feeds the plot and guides the reader through the twists and turns, rather than the other way around as traditional romance does. It's not our only focus.
There is so much more to the plot than the romance alone, from magic and msytery to the doings of the emperor and his minions - and the whole thing has an immense backstory that is fed seamlessly into the story. It's about power and control, but also about friendship. It's about love and hate and how the two do battle. So no, it's not an ordinary, simple romance, but for those of you love a good soppy novel, fret not! Boy Jayck does have plenty of sweet interactions and romantic dialogue.
What's even better is that Laverick is a wonder when it comes to characterisation. The characters in Boy Jayck really did come alive for me, running around in my head, doing their own things. From Jayck himself to the Emperor, the characters in this book are well-rounded and will make you fall in love - or hate!
The other thing I love about this book is the way Lily Laverick writes. Admittedly, some of her character names leave me wondering how to pronounce them haha! But she also has a truly lovely way with words, and there are many immensely quotable parts of this book, from lyrical lines to philosophical insights.
This book is for you if you enjoy a complex plot and well developed characters. If you prefer something simpler, maybe it won't be your cup of tea. It's for you if you enjoy an m/m romance (or any romance, frankly - I never see the point in gender divisions). It's not for you if you are of a sensitive nature or are triggered by themes of use, abuse, and sexual violence (all insinuated rather than graphically described, but there all the same). It is for you dream of rags to riches tales or that knight in shining armour. And it's for you if you simply enjoy a damn good read.
Meanwhile, on the planet of Fallacia, Emperor Dhia has total control - and he's using it for no good, much to his son, Hiram's, dismay.
If you've ever read any of my reviews before, you know how much I dislike romance. The whole concept makes me groan, be it m/f, m/m, f/f, or something else (this one is m/m, by the way, if it matters). But what I do love is great characterisation, a complex plot, and a surprising twist (or two) - and Boy Jayck by Lily Laverick has all those things! And do you know what? The romance element is pretty good too! (But sshhh, don't tell anyone I've gone soft!)
The thing about Boy Jayck is that, yes, it's a romance, to a degree. But there's so much more to it. It's not that old 'will-they/won't-they' theme which, let's be honest, is as boring as old socks. No, Boy Jayck's romance is already cemented, it's a given even though they're forced to be apart. We might be questioning how and when - and maybe even if - they reunite, but that's not the only thing that the reader has to hold onto. What makes this book great is how the romance feeds the plot and guides the reader through the twists and turns, rather than the other way around as traditional romance does. It's not our only focus.
There is so much more to the plot than the romance alone, from magic and msytery to the doings of the emperor and his minions - and the whole thing has an immense backstory that is fed seamlessly into the story. It's about power and control, but also about friendship. It's about love and hate and how the two do battle. So no, it's not an ordinary, simple romance, but for those of you love a good soppy novel, fret not! Boy Jayck does have plenty of sweet interactions and romantic dialogue.
What's even better is that Laverick is a wonder when it comes to characterisation. The characters in Boy Jayck really did come alive for me, running around in my head, doing their own things. From Jayck himself to the Emperor, the characters in this book are well-rounded and will make you fall in love - or hate!
The other thing I love about this book is the way Lily Laverick writes. Admittedly, some of her character names leave me wondering how to pronounce them haha! But she also has a truly lovely way with words, and there are many immensely quotable parts of this book, from lyrical lines to philosophical insights.
This book is for you if you enjoy a complex plot and well developed characters. If you prefer something simpler, maybe it won't be your cup of tea. It's for you if you enjoy an m/m romance (or any romance, frankly - I never see the point in gender divisions). It's not for you if you are of a sensitive nature or are triggered by themes of use, abuse, and sexual violence (all insinuated rather than graphically described, but there all the same). It is for you dream of rags to riches tales or that knight in shining armour. And it's for you if you simply enjoy a damn good read.
December 18, 2023
DNF. Plot was all over the place. The slave torture became tiresome.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews