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The Resistant: Desert Sun
Las Vegas - 2107
Fifteen years after a deadly virus wiped most life off the face of the planet, the rich and elite live comfortably in their Domes over the city. Those left behind on the planet’s surface, the naturally resistant, struggle to survive. Starvation, heat stroke, and worst of all bombings from the Overhead threaten Diren and his gang every day. But, when a bomber pilot from the Domes winds up on Diren’s doorstep, he’s confronted with the reality that his mortal enemy, a man who helped kill his friends and family, might actually be their salvation.
Fifteen years after a deadly virus wiped most life off the face of the planet, the rich and elite live comfortably in their Domes over the city. Those left behind on the planet’s surface, the naturally resistant, struggle to survive. Starvation, heat stroke, and worst of all bombings from the Overhead threaten Diren and his gang every day. But, when a bomber pilot from the Domes winds up on Diren’s doorstep, he’s confronted with the reality that his mortal enemy, a man who helped kill his friends and family, might actually be their salvation.
323 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 7, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 14, 2025
the resistant: desert sun is a thrilling novel that pulls you in and keeps you on your toes. i love it so much that i am now rereading it! the characters diversity, their dedication to their community, their interpersonal connections and the nods to environmentalism are themes that have me so connected to the characters and the world that’s being built. i love this novel and i am looking forward to the next one!
April 13, 2025
Desert Sun transports you to a dystopian future, evoking a worst-case scenario in the post-Covid19 pandemic where society’s elite escape a world they’ve taken part in ruining and leaving behind those deemed unfit or unnecessary. However, Fox gives you an up close glimpse at the strength, humanity, and kindness found amongst those on the ground in a scorched and ruined Las Vegas. A diverse crew made up of compelling and intricately linked characters stand as the last bastion to civility and order, while engaging in the hijinks and chaos supported by a post-apocalyptic world. Our protagonist Diren is in the process of taking his place leading the Resistant in their quest to collect and protect others left behind or under threat from the elites overhead, a morphed and twisted version of the cartels, and even the dystopian KKK, all while caring for his ailing mother and navigating the intertwined relationships of those in his inner circle.
Then, his whole world is flipped upside down when after the gang shoots down a bomber from the Domes above, a wounded pilot shows up on his doorstep. His mother reminds him that their mission is not to ruthlessly kill but try to rebuild society and show kindness to those who didn’t necessarily choose their violent ways. The complicated dance between Diren and Kazbiel as they both try to live up to the standards of the matriarch of the Resistant powers the rest of the novel as emotions build, boil, and occasionally explode between the two men while they try to reimagine their lives in a situation they never thought would exist.
The care shown to each character and their diverse backgrounds across spectrums of gender, sexuality, race, and culture is a welcome detour from some white savior tropes found in dystopian sci-fi and highlights the sense of community and resilience of those who are not embraced wholeheartedly by society. The action is fast-paced and exciting, the romance twists and burns in unexpected ways, and the central themes that kindness and strength are often one and the same and that caring for those around you even when the world is on fire is the epitome of bravery captivate you on this wild ride through a broken world.
Then, his whole world is flipped upside down when after the gang shoots down a bomber from the Domes above, a wounded pilot shows up on his doorstep. His mother reminds him that their mission is not to ruthlessly kill but try to rebuild society and show kindness to those who didn’t necessarily choose their violent ways. The complicated dance between Diren and Kazbiel as they both try to live up to the standards of the matriarch of the Resistant powers the rest of the novel as emotions build, boil, and occasionally explode between the two men while they try to reimagine their lives in a situation they never thought would exist.
The care shown to each character and their diverse backgrounds across spectrums of gender, sexuality, race, and culture is a welcome detour from some white savior tropes found in dystopian sci-fi and highlights the sense of community and resilience of those who are not embraced wholeheartedly by society. The action is fast-paced and exciting, the romance twists and burns in unexpected ways, and the central themes that kindness and strength are often one and the same and that caring for those around you even when the world is on fire is the epitome of bravery captivate you on this wild ride through a broken world.
August 26, 2025
The storytelling in this book is phenomenal. It’s been a long time since I was so engaged in a book that I didn’t stop every hour or so to do something else—but this one held my attention. The characters are relatable, the setting feels real, and especially at the end when things get fast paced it’s simply impossible to put this book down.
March 28, 2025
I came across this book by chance via social media. After seeing that it was ranking pretty high on Amazon in the LGBTQ+ Sci-Fi category at the time, I felt that it could be promising. I was wrong. The following is my honest review. Now, I am a busy girl; I don’t usually have the time to write lengthy reviews. However, the glaring problems in this book forced my hand in writing this so that potential readers are aware of its contents.
The main issues that I identified in this book were lack of creativity, flat characters, and unfortunately, racist stereotypes.
Summary:
The story opens with Diren and his motorcycle gang riding their bikes to their headquarters. During the first chapter, the setting is “introduced”: Las Vegas renamed to “Lost Vegas”: a post-apocalyptic land that had been ravaged by a virus which killed off a large percentage of the population. According to the chapter “The Domes provided the only shade over the scorched city…” These “domes” are not described much aside from being large metal structures. Inside resides a group called “Pilots” who, for some reason, repeatedly bomb the remaining groups outside of the domes. Apparently, before the world “broke” these domes sprung up and any important people were relocated into the domes while everyone else was barred entry. (This detail is not included until near the end of the book.)
Diren and his gang make their Headquarters in what seems to be a high rise . The building is full of people that Diren has extended his care to. It seems like the six or so “main” gang members go on hunts/raids to find supplies for hundreds of people? Diren inherited this gang and its constituents from his mom, Gloria, who used to lead the motorcycle gang.
After shooting down a few Pilot ships from the penthouse of his headquarters, Diren returns home to his mom. His mom lives in a suburban neighborhood on the outskirts of town that is somehow both fully functioning and completely empty aside from Diren and his mom. Diren acts as his moms caretaker as she is sick and elderly. While caring for his mom, Kazbiel, a pilot, shows up at their door bloody and bruised from being shot down. Diren wants to kill him but Gloria insists that they nurse him back to health. Diren makes a remark that Kazbiel is beautiful.
Gloria and Diren hide Kazbiel in their house until he is healthy again. He seems to take a liking to Gloria but refuses to speak with Diren. Kazbiel helps to take care of Gloria as he’s healing, but the relationship between Kaz and Diren doesn’t really improve. The rival gangs are introduced when Zach (one of the older members of the gang) and Diren plan to infiltrate the Viper’s den to collect medications. The other two gangs include the KKK also referred to as the Klan and the Vipers which are a gang that seems to be loosely based on the cartel.
There’s some day to day events that take place such as Diren helping Marcus, Luce, and Jess do farm work, Diren and Kazbiel working to repair Gloria’s greenhouse, and Diren and Kazbiel fixing a robot together. One night, Diren reveals that he makes his own beer and shares one with Kazbiel on the roof of the house. They end up getting in a fight and Kazbiel tells Diren that Diren and his people essentially trapped him here to die a slow death instead of just killing him.
Gloria tells Diren to take Kazbiel to headquarters and introduce him to the rest of the gang along with a letter from Gloria telling everyone not to harm Kaz. No one takes it very well, obviously. Despite this, the gang decides to take Kazbiel along with them to raid the Viper’s den. Kazbiel says his weapon of choice is the tanto and, magically, the gang just has one hanging on the wall in their headquarters.
The gang breaks into the Viper den. They are able to score some of the medical supplies but both Kazbiel and Kai (the youngest of the gang) are captured by the Vipers. Diren sends the rest of the gang home aside from Zach who breaks back into the Viper den alongside him on a rescue mission. They witness Kai getting injected with some drug before the “doctor” leaves the room. Zach and Diren break into the room to find that both Kai and Kaz are already gone and in their place are numerous dead Vipers. They emerge from the den to see Kaz holding Kai, having broken free and killed over twenty men on his own.
They return to HQ where the gang is having a party to celebrate the successful raid. Zach takes Kai to their room because it turns out the drug was an aphrodisiac. Diren gets drunk and Marcus makes a comment about Kazbiel being Diren’s type. Marcus then goes to have a threesome with Kai and Zach despite having a dying wife. Diren takes Kazbiel home on his motorcycle. There’s a strange moment outside of Gloria’s house where Diren notices a bruise on Kazbiel and tells him “They won’t touch you again. I won’t let them” Kazbiel swerves him and goes inside.
Diren has a sex dream about Kazbiel but reasons that it’s not attraction and he’s just curious to pry Kazbiel apart because he’s so mysterious. He also makes a comment that having this dream about Kazbiel is akin to him being sexually assaulted?
Luce and Qira (who are dating) join them to have dinner with Gloria and stay over. Before they can have dinner, some of the Viper’s show up to the house and try to get payback for Kaz killing a bunch of their men. The gang ends up scaring them off, Kazbiel saves Gloria’s life from a Viper.
The gang decides they need to find more supplies and medicine for Gloria and Jess (Marcus’s wife) so they plan to explore a ghost town out in the desert. While Kazbiel and Diren are separated, they realize a sandstorm is coming so they hide out in an abandoned liquor store. They get in a fight because Kazbiel says he keeps his hair long because it's important in his culture and Diren says it’s stupid. Diren shoves Kazbiel down and Kazbiel gets a shard of glass driven through his hand. They go home and don’t speak for a while.
Diren decides it's time to try to invade the Domes to get medications for Gloria and Jess. They bring Kazbiel into HQ and talk over plans. To invade the Domes they go up through a waste disposal chute. Zach radios in to them from outside the Domes and Qira manages to hack the surveillance. They essentially have a fifteen minute period where they should be clear to ransack the hospital and pharmacy wings for medications. It’s revealed that both of Kazbiel’s brothers work in the medical field.
The inside of the Domes is manufactured beauty with regular scheduled rainfall and an abundance of plants and birds. The team splits up to go to two different wings. Luce, Marcus, and Kai go to one location and are successful, Kazbiel and Diren go to a hospital wing. When Kazbiel and Diren try to enter the wing, an alarm goes off and robots pile on top of them and hold them captive. They try to hold hands but can’t manage to reach each other. A man enters the room at the end and reveals himself to be Kazbiel’s father. The end.
Characters:
The majority of these characters are very flat and one dimensional through the majority of this book. Now, I understand that this book is part of a multi-installment series, so I realize that none of the characters will see a full “arc” in the first book alone. That being said, these characters were, frankly, not compelling. Most of the characters have a very similar way of talking with not many unique vernacular or dialectal choices, making it difficult to tell who is talking in some scenes when dialogue is being bounced back and forth. Additionally, there are very little physical descriptions of the characters to the point where I have no way to picture what these guys look like! I should not have to rely on art released by the author to know what these characters and their setting look like. There are a few descriptions that are genuinely nice, such as the description of the inside of the Domes, however, a majority of the book was severely lacking in rich and vivid descriptions that should be essential to a sci-fi book.
The relationships between the characters leaves much to be desired. This ties in a bit to the lack of descriptions, but there were very few instances where I felt that the characters’ emotions were tangible. There were many instances in which the characters' feelings were said rather than shown. For example:
“It was his duty, not just because his ma had placed it on his shoulders, but because these were his people.” I would like there to be more explanation of WHY Diren feels so connected to these people, aside from being in the same survival situation. It is said that he feels a duty to these hundreds of people he cares for and that he feels connected to them, however the connection is never shown outside of the few of his friends that reside in the Penthouse. In fact, the only one of “his people” outside of the main supporting characters that is mentioned by name is “Old Man Mark” (who is mentioned once and never again.) This limits the scope of the world immensely. It’s mentioned that there are other “volunteers” that could be trained to help on missions, however it’s never brought up again and the missions continue to be conducted by only the “main” characters.
“Diren pulled Luce up with him as he stood, swearing as his gut sank in horror, watching the building crumble. There might have been people inside.” This is an example of a scene where GUT-WRENCHING emotion can be shown. This is a horrible event, however it falls flat because of lack of elaboration. “There might have been people inside.” Is Diren thinking of the terrified faces of people as the floor gives out beneath them? Can he swear that he can hear their screams, like echoes from past disasters? Give us more to work with.
“Diren’s hands followed them, hovering where they had stood. It made him feel like scum to make them cry.” Another example of telling and not really showing. It’s not wrong, it just falls very flat.
As for Kazbiel and Diren’s relationship, I get what Fox was going for with them being slightly toxic enemies-to-lovers, however I just don’t feel the chemistry between them. Their interactions are odd and disjointed. The sudden jump midway through from being this “can barely stand in the same room or talk to each other” dynamic to “I’ll never let anyone lay a hand on you” is abrupt and hurried. While there was some exposition to Diren’s attraction to Kazbiel, it just doesn’t feel like enough to make it a natural flow. It reads like the author had a list of events that they wanted to happen in their relationship, but no plan on how to seamlessly merge from one to another.
Example: Chapter 9
“‘They won’t touch you again.’ I won’t let them. He took in a breath, smelling sweat, wine, and earth. ‘You’re too good for that, you know. I was shocked when I saw you…Covered in red from head to toe, your weapon like it was more real to you than your own hands. You’re useful, you-’”
Where exactly is this coming from? Just the day prior Diren wouldn’t even have Kazbiel sit on the same couch as him. Now, after Kazbiel kills a bunch of Vipers, Diren is vowing to protect him and saying he’s too good for that over one singular bruise? It just doesn’t flow or make sense.
Another side character relationship that I just have personal qualms with is the relationship between Marcus, Kai, Zach, and Jessica. Jessica is Marcus’s wife who is seemingly gravely ill. In the first, and only, scene where she appears, it seems that Marcus is an incredibly doting husband. He comes when she calls and does his best to take care of her. It is unclear, then, why he involves himself in a three-way with Zach and Kai while his wife is actively dying at home. It just makes his character look like a bad guy which, with the other limited traits present, seems the opposite of what the author wanted him to appear as.
Plot:
The plot of this book isn’t necessarily bad, it just isn’t doing anything new. When I pick up a sci-fi book, I expect to see some new innovations. After all, we are talking about the future! However, the plot was just neutral. Not bad, not good, but neutral.
And that brings us to the final and worst category…
Racism
While all of my other critiques could be excusable and with the absence of this critique, would make an okay book, the rampant racial stereotypes and racist remarks present in this book are absolutely unacceptable.
To start, the race and color of most characters are not even mentioned until after the second half of the book. This is the case of Diren, Luce, Marcus, and Zach, but that also just goes with the category of not having any physical descriptors of the characters. That is not the worst of it, though.
Having Kazbiel, who is part of the oppressing group and could be considered a “boot-licker” by doing so, be Asian/Asian-coded is a very interesting choice. Asian people, at least in the U.S. have a stereotypical reputation for siding with white people against other people of color. People assume that Asian people have the closest proximity to whiteness and are othered from POC communities while also not being able to truly assimilate into whiteness. Setting up this character to fit that role was not a great choice. Secondly, having this Asian man be quiet, calculated, effeminate, and reluctant to feel emotions is absolutely an Asian stereotype. He is somehow perfect at everything, effectively playing into the beliefs that dehumanize Asian people.
The Resistant was also chock full of smaller, but still noticeable stereotypes. One such example is having Kazbiel’s weapon of choice be a tanto. If you want your already stereotypical Asian character to be even MORE stereotypically Asian, throw a katana-adjacent weapon in his hand! Boom, Asian character.
“‘My preferred weapon is the tanto.’
Diren laughed. ‘The tanto? You’re so fucking weird.’
Kazbiel glared at him. ‘It is my heritage, not that you would understand that.’”
There is multiple references to Kazbiel doing something “because of his culture” or his “heritage,” however, we never see any elaboration and these sentences often read as quick throwaways for diversity’s sake instead of exploring how the culture influences or affects the character or, you know, what the culture even IS.
The mention of Kazbiel saying he is “Not supposed to [have emotion.] They serve no true purpose.” furthers the assumption of Asian people as non-emotional beings. Maybe as part of his character arc in the next books he’ll “learn what emotions are” but we will see. Another small detail that bugged me is, at one point, Kazbiel cooks egg and rice for Diren and somehow materializes two pairs of chopsticks for them to use despite not even being in his own household, because of course! How could an Asian person eat without chopsticks? I could go on about the fact that Kazbiel prefers to drink hot water over cold water and how it's mentioned that both of his brothers work in the medical field in the Domes, but there’s more to cover and you get the picture so I’ll leave it at that.
Unfortunately the racism in this book does not end with orientalism. There are a number of racial stereotypes and colorism when it comes to the book’s LatAm/Latine characters. For starters we have the Viper gang. Now, from what I gathered throughout the book, the Vipers are a sort of “post-apocalyptic” version of the Mexican cartel. The members of the Vipers are loud, vulgar characters that are given traditionally Latino names, talk with Spanish insults which were clearly written by a white person that does not speak Spanish, and drive loud cars with bass-boosted speakers. So, essentially, if you took a caricature of a Mexican gang member and made him into a bunch of flat characters with no clear motive. That’s the Vipers.
“‘We know it was you! You robbed us blind, pendejos!’ There was some low murmuring before Nicolas called out again.”
Not only that, but the comments made about the Viper’s are, for lack of a better word, awful. For example:
“The Vipers worked with street knowledge, passed down by word of mouth, and most of that information was used for getting high.”
“You know the Vipers, though. They’re not very organized”...“They’re usually drugged up out of their minds all night and crash between five and six a.m.”
“They’re caught up between bein’ scared babies and making some new recreational drug for whatever reason.”
I think those quotes speak for themselves, but I will add that, while this is a fictional gang, the impression is that they are doing things simply for the sake of being…evil? Lazy? Drug addicts? Whereas the problem being mirrored from the real world typically has a lot more nuance than “doing bad things for the sake of doing them.” It’s not only boring narratively, but it ignores the complicated politics involving gangs and cartels.
Another strange comment that was oddly specific, yet led to nothing is:
“From what Zach’s told me, it doesn’t matter how much money you got-you can still end up shot by your uncle, buried in the Sonoran Desert under a rock slab at thirteen.” It’s clear that very little research was put into these dynamics.
This brings me to my point on colorism. I find it very interesting that the Latine characters that are considered “good guys” have names like “Zach,” however the Vipers have names like Ángel and Nicolas.
While it is absolutely okay to explore racism and racist characters in fiction, however, the characters making these strange comments are heralded as “morally superior” to any of the other groups in this world. In my opinion, this reads as if these prejudices come from the author themselves especially considering a lot of these stereotypes are narrative choices.
Additionally, I thought it was very interesting that Diren’s backstory involved his mom and him running away from an “abusive Navajo father.” This is an overdone stereotype at best. Stories regarding this narrative should, in my opinion, be handled by people who are knowledgeable and directly affected by this.
A final comment that struck me as odd (read: racially motivated) was this exchange between Kazbiel and Diren:
“Diren glared at him. This conversation was going nowhere.
‘Wouldn’t have taken you for a reader.’
‘Wouldn’t have taken you for someone capable of reading.’
Diren’s face grew pinched. ‘I’m not fighting with you; I’m too tired. Luce and Jess had me farming all week.’
‘That seems more your speed.’”
In conclusion, this book was dull and the abhorrent racism woven into nearly every aspect of it was alarming. The book lacks depth, character development, and nuance. It is not remotely inventive and the characters read as caricatures of people of color. If you are looking for good LGBTQ POC rep in scifi, look elsewhere.
The main issues that I identified in this book were lack of creativity, flat characters, and unfortunately, racist stereotypes.
Summary:
The story opens with Diren and his motorcycle gang riding their bikes to their headquarters. During the first chapter, the setting is “introduced”: Las Vegas renamed to “Lost Vegas”: a post-apocalyptic land that had been ravaged by a virus which killed off a large percentage of the population. According to the chapter “The Domes provided the only shade over the scorched city…” These “domes” are not described much aside from being large metal structures. Inside resides a group called “Pilots” who, for some reason, repeatedly bomb the remaining groups outside of the domes. Apparently, before the world “broke” these domes sprung up and any important people were relocated into the domes while everyone else was barred entry. (This detail is not included until near the end of the book.)
Diren and his gang make their Headquarters in what seems to be a high rise . The building is full of people that Diren has extended his care to. It seems like the six or so “main” gang members go on hunts/raids to find supplies for hundreds of people? Diren inherited this gang and its constituents from his mom, Gloria, who used to lead the motorcycle gang.
After shooting down a few Pilot ships from the penthouse of his headquarters, Diren returns home to his mom. His mom lives in a suburban neighborhood on the outskirts of town that is somehow both fully functioning and completely empty aside from Diren and his mom. Diren acts as his moms caretaker as she is sick and elderly. While caring for his mom, Kazbiel, a pilot, shows up at their door bloody and bruised from being shot down. Diren wants to kill him but Gloria insists that they nurse him back to health. Diren makes a remark that Kazbiel is beautiful.
Gloria and Diren hide Kazbiel in their house until he is healthy again. He seems to take a liking to Gloria but refuses to speak with Diren. Kazbiel helps to take care of Gloria as he’s healing, but the relationship between Kaz and Diren doesn’t really improve. The rival gangs are introduced when Zach (one of the older members of the gang) and Diren plan to infiltrate the Viper’s den to collect medications. The other two gangs include the KKK also referred to as the Klan and the Vipers which are a gang that seems to be loosely based on the cartel.
There’s some day to day events that take place such as Diren helping Marcus, Luce, and Jess do farm work, Diren and Kazbiel working to repair Gloria’s greenhouse, and Diren and Kazbiel fixing a robot together. One night, Diren reveals that he makes his own beer and shares one with Kazbiel on the roof of the house. They end up getting in a fight and Kazbiel tells Diren that Diren and his people essentially trapped him here to die a slow death instead of just killing him.
Gloria tells Diren to take Kazbiel to headquarters and introduce him to the rest of the gang along with a letter from Gloria telling everyone not to harm Kaz. No one takes it very well, obviously. Despite this, the gang decides to take Kazbiel along with them to raid the Viper’s den. Kazbiel says his weapon of choice is the tanto and, magically, the gang just has one hanging on the wall in their headquarters.
The gang breaks into the Viper den. They are able to score some of the medical supplies but both Kazbiel and Kai (the youngest of the gang) are captured by the Vipers. Diren sends the rest of the gang home aside from Zach who breaks back into the Viper den alongside him on a rescue mission. They witness Kai getting injected with some drug before the “doctor” leaves the room. Zach and Diren break into the room to find that both Kai and Kaz are already gone and in their place are numerous dead Vipers. They emerge from the den to see Kaz holding Kai, having broken free and killed over twenty men on his own.
They return to HQ where the gang is having a party to celebrate the successful raid. Zach takes Kai to their room because it turns out the drug was an aphrodisiac. Diren gets drunk and Marcus makes a comment about Kazbiel being Diren’s type. Marcus then goes to have a threesome with Kai and Zach despite having a dying wife. Diren takes Kazbiel home on his motorcycle. There’s a strange moment outside of Gloria’s house where Diren notices a bruise on Kazbiel and tells him “They won’t touch you again. I won’t let them” Kazbiel swerves him and goes inside.
Diren has a sex dream about Kazbiel but reasons that it’s not attraction and he’s just curious to pry Kazbiel apart because he’s so mysterious. He also makes a comment that having this dream about Kazbiel is akin to him being sexually assaulted?
Luce and Qira (who are dating) join them to have dinner with Gloria and stay over. Before they can have dinner, some of the Viper’s show up to the house and try to get payback for Kaz killing a bunch of their men. The gang ends up scaring them off, Kazbiel saves Gloria’s life from a Viper.
The gang decides they need to find more supplies and medicine for Gloria and Jess (Marcus’s wife) so they plan to explore a ghost town out in the desert. While Kazbiel and Diren are separated, they realize a sandstorm is coming so they hide out in an abandoned liquor store. They get in a fight because Kazbiel says he keeps his hair long because it's important in his culture and Diren says it’s stupid. Diren shoves Kazbiel down and Kazbiel gets a shard of glass driven through his hand. They go home and don’t speak for a while.
Diren decides it's time to try to invade the Domes to get medications for Gloria and Jess. They bring Kazbiel into HQ and talk over plans. To invade the Domes they go up through a waste disposal chute. Zach radios in to them from outside the Domes and Qira manages to hack the surveillance. They essentially have a fifteen minute period where they should be clear to ransack the hospital and pharmacy wings for medications. It’s revealed that both of Kazbiel’s brothers work in the medical field.
The inside of the Domes is manufactured beauty with regular scheduled rainfall and an abundance of plants and birds. The team splits up to go to two different wings. Luce, Marcus, and Kai go to one location and are successful, Kazbiel and Diren go to a hospital wing. When Kazbiel and Diren try to enter the wing, an alarm goes off and robots pile on top of them and hold them captive. They try to hold hands but can’t manage to reach each other. A man enters the room at the end and reveals himself to be Kazbiel’s father. The end.
Characters:
The majority of these characters are very flat and one dimensional through the majority of this book. Now, I understand that this book is part of a multi-installment series, so I realize that none of the characters will see a full “arc” in the first book alone. That being said, these characters were, frankly, not compelling. Most of the characters have a very similar way of talking with not many unique vernacular or dialectal choices, making it difficult to tell who is talking in some scenes when dialogue is being bounced back and forth. Additionally, there are very little physical descriptions of the characters to the point where I have no way to picture what these guys look like! I should not have to rely on art released by the author to know what these characters and their setting look like. There are a few descriptions that are genuinely nice, such as the description of the inside of the Domes, however, a majority of the book was severely lacking in rich and vivid descriptions that should be essential to a sci-fi book.
The relationships between the characters leaves much to be desired. This ties in a bit to the lack of descriptions, but there were very few instances where I felt that the characters’ emotions were tangible. There were many instances in which the characters' feelings were said rather than shown. For example:
“It was his duty, not just because his ma had placed it on his shoulders, but because these were his people.” I would like there to be more explanation of WHY Diren feels so connected to these people, aside from being in the same survival situation. It is said that he feels a duty to these hundreds of people he cares for and that he feels connected to them, however the connection is never shown outside of the few of his friends that reside in the Penthouse. In fact, the only one of “his people” outside of the main supporting characters that is mentioned by name is “Old Man Mark” (who is mentioned once and never again.) This limits the scope of the world immensely. It’s mentioned that there are other “volunteers” that could be trained to help on missions, however it’s never brought up again and the missions continue to be conducted by only the “main” characters.
“Diren pulled Luce up with him as he stood, swearing as his gut sank in horror, watching the building crumble. There might have been people inside.” This is an example of a scene where GUT-WRENCHING emotion can be shown. This is a horrible event, however it falls flat because of lack of elaboration. “There might have been people inside.” Is Diren thinking of the terrified faces of people as the floor gives out beneath them? Can he swear that he can hear their screams, like echoes from past disasters? Give us more to work with.
“Diren’s hands followed them, hovering where they had stood. It made him feel like scum to make them cry.” Another example of telling and not really showing. It’s not wrong, it just falls very flat.
As for Kazbiel and Diren’s relationship, I get what Fox was going for with them being slightly toxic enemies-to-lovers, however I just don’t feel the chemistry between them. Their interactions are odd and disjointed. The sudden jump midway through from being this “can barely stand in the same room or talk to each other” dynamic to “I’ll never let anyone lay a hand on you” is abrupt and hurried. While there was some exposition to Diren’s attraction to Kazbiel, it just doesn’t feel like enough to make it a natural flow. It reads like the author had a list of events that they wanted to happen in their relationship, but no plan on how to seamlessly merge from one to another.
Example: Chapter 9
“‘They won’t touch you again.’ I won’t let them. He took in a breath, smelling sweat, wine, and earth. ‘You’re too good for that, you know. I was shocked when I saw you…Covered in red from head to toe, your weapon like it was more real to you than your own hands. You’re useful, you-’”
Where exactly is this coming from? Just the day prior Diren wouldn’t even have Kazbiel sit on the same couch as him. Now, after Kazbiel kills a bunch of Vipers, Diren is vowing to protect him and saying he’s too good for that over one singular bruise? It just doesn’t flow or make sense.
Another side character relationship that I just have personal qualms with is the relationship between Marcus, Kai, Zach, and Jessica. Jessica is Marcus’s wife who is seemingly gravely ill. In the first, and only, scene where she appears, it seems that Marcus is an incredibly doting husband. He comes when she calls and does his best to take care of her. It is unclear, then, why he involves himself in a three-way with Zach and Kai while his wife is actively dying at home. It just makes his character look like a bad guy which, with the other limited traits present, seems the opposite of what the author wanted him to appear as.
Plot:
The plot of this book isn’t necessarily bad, it just isn’t doing anything new. When I pick up a sci-fi book, I expect to see some new innovations. After all, we are talking about the future! However, the plot was just neutral. Not bad, not good, but neutral.
And that brings us to the final and worst category…
Racism
While all of my other critiques could be excusable and with the absence of this critique, would make an okay book, the rampant racial stereotypes and racist remarks present in this book are absolutely unacceptable.
To start, the race and color of most characters are not even mentioned until after the second half of the book. This is the case of Diren, Luce, Marcus, and Zach, but that also just goes with the category of not having any physical descriptors of the characters. That is not the worst of it, though.
Having Kazbiel, who is part of the oppressing group and could be considered a “boot-licker” by doing so, be Asian/Asian-coded is a very interesting choice. Asian people, at least in the U.S. have a stereotypical reputation for siding with white people against other people of color. People assume that Asian people have the closest proximity to whiteness and are othered from POC communities while also not being able to truly assimilate into whiteness. Setting up this character to fit that role was not a great choice. Secondly, having this Asian man be quiet, calculated, effeminate, and reluctant to feel emotions is absolutely an Asian stereotype. He is somehow perfect at everything, effectively playing into the beliefs that dehumanize Asian people.
The Resistant was also chock full of smaller, but still noticeable stereotypes. One such example is having Kazbiel’s weapon of choice be a tanto. If you want your already stereotypical Asian character to be even MORE stereotypically Asian, throw a katana-adjacent weapon in his hand! Boom, Asian character.
“‘My preferred weapon is the tanto.’
Diren laughed. ‘The tanto? You’re so fucking weird.’
Kazbiel glared at him. ‘It is my heritage, not that you would understand that.’”
There is multiple references to Kazbiel doing something “because of his culture” or his “heritage,” however, we never see any elaboration and these sentences often read as quick throwaways for diversity’s sake instead of exploring how the culture influences or affects the character or, you know, what the culture even IS.
The mention of Kazbiel saying he is “Not supposed to [have emotion.] They serve no true purpose.” furthers the assumption of Asian people as non-emotional beings. Maybe as part of his character arc in the next books he’ll “learn what emotions are” but we will see. Another small detail that bugged me is, at one point, Kazbiel cooks egg and rice for Diren and somehow materializes two pairs of chopsticks for them to use despite not even being in his own household, because of course! How could an Asian person eat without chopsticks? I could go on about the fact that Kazbiel prefers to drink hot water over cold water and how it's mentioned that both of his brothers work in the medical field in the Domes, but there’s more to cover and you get the picture so I’ll leave it at that.
Unfortunately the racism in this book does not end with orientalism. There are a number of racial stereotypes and colorism when it comes to the book’s LatAm/Latine characters. For starters we have the Viper gang. Now, from what I gathered throughout the book, the Vipers are a sort of “post-apocalyptic” version of the Mexican cartel. The members of the Vipers are loud, vulgar characters that are given traditionally Latino names, talk with Spanish insults which were clearly written by a white person that does not speak Spanish, and drive loud cars with bass-boosted speakers. So, essentially, if you took a caricature of a Mexican gang member and made him into a bunch of flat characters with no clear motive. That’s the Vipers.
“‘We know it was you! You robbed us blind, pendejos!’ There was some low murmuring before Nicolas called out again.”
Not only that, but the comments made about the Viper’s are, for lack of a better word, awful. For example:
“The Vipers worked with street knowledge, passed down by word of mouth, and most of that information was used for getting high.”
“You know the Vipers, though. They’re not very organized”...“They’re usually drugged up out of their minds all night and crash between five and six a.m.”
“They’re caught up between bein’ scared babies and making some new recreational drug for whatever reason.”
I think those quotes speak for themselves, but I will add that, while this is a fictional gang, the impression is that they are doing things simply for the sake of being…evil? Lazy? Drug addicts? Whereas the problem being mirrored from the real world typically has a lot more nuance than “doing bad things for the sake of doing them.” It’s not only boring narratively, but it ignores the complicated politics involving gangs and cartels.
Another strange comment that was oddly specific, yet led to nothing is:
“From what Zach’s told me, it doesn’t matter how much money you got-you can still end up shot by your uncle, buried in the Sonoran Desert under a rock slab at thirteen.” It’s clear that very little research was put into these dynamics.
This brings me to my point on colorism. I find it very interesting that the Latine characters that are considered “good guys” have names like “Zach,” however the Vipers have names like Ángel and Nicolas.
While it is absolutely okay to explore racism and racist characters in fiction, however, the characters making these strange comments are heralded as “morally superior” to any of the other groups in this world. In my opinion, this reads as if these prejudices come from the author themselves especially considering a lot of these stereotypes are narrative choices.
Additionally, I thought it was very interesting that Diren’s backstory involved his mom and him running away from an “abusive Navajo father.” This is an overdone stereotype at best. Stories regarding this narrative should, in my opinion, be handled by people who are knowledgeable and directly affected by this.
A final comment that struck me as odd (read: racially motivated) was this exchange between Kazbiel and Diren:
“Diren glared at him. This conversation was going nowhere.
‘Wouldn’t have taken you for a reader.’
‘Wouldn’t have taken you for someone capable of reading.’
Diren’s face grew pinched. ‘I’m not fighting with you; I’m too tired. Luce and Jess had me farming all week.’
‘That seems more your speed.’”
In conclusion, this book was dull and the abhorrent racism woven into nearly every aspect of it was alarming. The book lacks depth, character development, and nuance. It is not remotely inventive and the characters read as caricatures of people of color. If you are looking for good LGBTQ POC rep in scifi, look elsewhere.
March 28, 2025
Spotty storytelling, kind of a lot of distracting racial stereotypes written into the characters too?? Female characters feeling flat. I will do my best to not include spoilers. Everyone is going to have their own perspective on this book, however as a Latina woman there were a few details that felt a bit strange to me. I understand the content of the book revolves around the apocalypse so society doesn't work the same as before, but the way the author utilizes stereotypes to portray Hispanic characters as villains or drug addicts or senselessly violent people felt a little off to me and made me uncomfortable. Like I said society does not work the same in an apocalypse but I can't help but feel certain ideas DEPEND on these racist stereotypes as a vehicle for plot points or character details that never quite land and make me feel like I want to do a sharp inhale and say "you really shouldn't say that." In the grand scheme of the book itself, it doesn't consume the ENTIRE thing but the details about characters having these irrelevant remarks of their culture were just keys jingling in my face begging to be applauded. This can include parts where the author will throw something in like incorporating Spanish into sentences in an inorganic way. Where some areas had too many irrelevant details, others fell short. Characters like Zach didn't seem to have enough exposure or exploration until it's revealed towards the end of the book that he is from Mexico!
There was an opportunity to subtly introduce culture and it didn't happen unfortunately. I am afraid he didn't quite read as Mexican and that information was lost to me until the end. In any case, I am by no means the voice of every Latine person, though I will say it just made me uncomfortable as a reader who has had these stereotypes placed on me and my family, so just be warned of these details when reading.
Racial commentary can be incorporated into the genre but there is a sort of balance that comes with it too, in my opinion.
There was an opportunity to subtly introduce culture and it didn't happen unfortunately. I am afraid he didn't quite read as Mexican and that information was lost to me until the end. In any case, I am by no means the voice of every Latine person, though I will say it just made me uncomfortable as a reader who has had these stereotypes placed on me and my family, so just be warned of these details when reading.
Racial commentary can be incorporated into the genre but there is a sort of balance that comes with it too, in my opinion.
August 9, 2025
If you enjoy dystopian stories laced with an extream slow burn enemies to lovers MM romance then you will enjoy this book.
July 24, 2025
Help, I'm totally obsessed with these characters!
This book has a lot going for it, but the cast of characters, world building, and environmental commentary really stand out amongst other dystopian sci-fi stories. Fox's world--set in a destroyed Las Vegas 100 years in the future-- is the perfect mix of fantastical sci-fi and frighteningly realistic speculation about what a future totally unconcerned with climate change and class disparity might look like.
Our main cast of characters, a biker gang led by utterly charming and fiercely loyal borderline himbo Diren, struggle to survive in the waste land that used to be Vegas. Nearly two decades ago, the country's wealthy and privileged escaped a pandemic and the world they destroyed by building towering biodomes that loom menacingly over those left on the earth's surface. Diren and co don't know much about the Domes--there's no communication between the Domes and the surface dwellers, and the only people who ever leave the Domes are bomber pilots sent to finish what they started on the surface.
Diren's crew faces constant threats--if they're not being bombed by the Overhead, they've got rival gang members, deadly storms, and constant, unrelenting heat to worry about. And things only get more complicated when a wounded pilot, shot down during their most recent attack, shows up on Diren's doorstep begging for help.
This book has pretty much everything I love in a good action/dystopian/romance. The huge cast of characters is refreshingly diverse; Diren's crew is comprised primarily of queer people of color--the ones, Diren tells Kaz, who were usually rejected by the stratified culture they grew up in before the Domes appeared.
Fox's world building is fantastic, with tons of thoughtful nuance, particularly in relation to the landscape itself, as well as what groups remain after the rich disappear into their Domes (specifically, it's clear Fox has put a lot of thought into the origins of rival gangs, the Klan (no explanation needed) and the Vipers, who appear to be ex-drug traffickers and all that's left of the Cartel.)
But back to the characters.
I love them.
Do you understand me?
I LOVE THEM.
Diren and Kaz with all their idiosyncrasies, arguments, and missteps and stumbles toward a mutually respectful relationship are DELIGHTFUL. Luce would burn down the whole world for the people they love and I'd let them. Kai is a sweet baby angel who should be protected at all costs. Qira could build a generator out of string and dreams. Marcus is peak wife guy, but with a wife like THAT, who could blame him? AND HE'S POLY TOO. Zach is the kind of soft-spoken, measured friend EVERYONE should have.
AND DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON GLORIA. Can she be my mom too?
That last half of book really takes you on a ride and keeps gaining momentum right up until the final line of the story.
So, basically....
I will be internally DYING until Book 2 comes out.
This book has a lot going for it, but the cast of characters, world building, and environmental commentary really stand out amongst other dystopian sci-fi stories. Fox's world--set in a destroyed Las Vegas 100 years in the future-- is the perfect mix of fantastical sci-fi and frighteningly realistic speculation about what a future totally unconcerned with climate change and class disparity might look like.
Our main cast of characters, a biker gang led by utterly charming and fiercely loyal borderline himbo Diren, struggle to survive in the waste land that used to be Vegas. Nearly two decades ago, the country's wealthy and privileged escaped a pandemic and the world they destroyed by building towering biodomes that loom menacingly over those left on the earth's surface. Diren and co don't know much about the Domes--there's no communication between the Domes and the surface dwellers, and the only people who ever leave the Domes are bomber pilots sent to finish what they started on the surface.
Diren's crew faces constant threats--if they're not being bombed by the Overhead, they've got rival gang members, deadly storms, and constant, unrelenting heat to worry about. And things only get more complicated when a wounded pilot, shot down during their most recent attack, shows up on Diren's doorstep begging for help.
This book has pretty much everything I love in a good action/dystopian/romance. The huge cast of characters is refreshingly diverse; Diren's crew is comprised primarily of queer people of color--the ones, Diren tells Kaz, who were usually rejected by the stratified culture they grew up in before the Domes appeared.
Fox's world building is fantastic, with tons of thoughtful nuance, particularly in relation to the landscape itself, as well as what groups remain after the rich disappear into their Domes (specifically, it's clear Fox has put a lot of thought into the origins of rival gangs, the Klan (no explanation needed) and the Vipers, who appear to be ex-drug traffickers and all that's left of the Cartel.)
But back to the characters.
I love them.
Do you understand me?
I LOVE THEM.
Diren and Kaz with all their idiosyncrasies, arguments, and missteps and stumbles toward a mutually respectful relationship are DELIGHTFUL. Luce would burn down the whole world for the people they love and I'd let them. Kai is a sweet baby angel who should be protected at all costs. Qira could build a generator out of string and dreams. Marcus is peak wife guy, but with a wife like THAT, who could blame him? AND HE'S POLY TOO. Zach is the kind of soft-spoken, measured friend EVERYONE should have.
AND DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON GLORIA. Can she be my mom too?
That last half of book really takes you on a ride and keeps gaining momentum right up until the final line of the story.
So, basically....
I will be internally DYING until Book 2 comes out.
March 29, 2025
Utter Garbage.
Completely boring and problematic. I found this novel looking for a new, tantalizing, original queer romance, and it is anything but. The only thing that prevented me from dnf-ing this book was the car crash effect, and it was a painstaking reading experience nonetheless. It felt like reading one of Onision's insufferable, self indulgent, juvenile attempts at fiction. Completely derivative, cheesy kitsch that manages to perpetuate racist stereotypes about both Mexican and Asian people whilst promoting white supremacy. Just the name, "Lost Vegas," for a post apocalyptic Las Vegas setting speaks volumes about the level of creativity that this author displays. This is a done-to-death post apocalyptic narrative that does nothing interesting within the genre's conventions. The characters lack depth and are underdeveloped, as are the relationships between them. Diren and Kazbiel's relationship, which could've been the saving grace of this novel, isn't even worth investing in due to how rushed and poor their development is. This attempt at enemies to lovers is pitifully executed, and severely lacking in style to the point where there were multiple points that I had trouble figuring out who was speaking during exchanges of dialogue due to its homogeneity. The dialogue also consistently sounds incredibly unnatural and amateurish. All of those quams aside, the blatant racism in this book is disappointing. From the minstrelization of Kazbiel's Asian identity (through stereotypes such as only drinking hot water and inexplicably always having chopsticks to eat his meals), to the grossly minstrelized stereotypes about Mexicans being lazy addicts driving around in lifted cars and obnoxiously bumping loud music, depicted by what is essentially the cartel, to the unnecessary and nonsensical inclusion of a rival group resembling the Klu Klux Klan, it is clear that this author is white. As a white queer woman, I have the common sense to know that using racism as a trope (especially without thoroughly condemning it), as someone who will never experience it, is incredibly ignorant and distasteful.
TLDR: Save your brain cells, this tasteless hack does not deserve your money.
Completely boring and problematic. I found this novel looking for a new, tantalizing, original queer romance, and it is anything but. The only thing that prevented me from dnf-ing this book was the car crash effect, and it was a painstaking reading experience nonetheless. It felt like reading one of Onision's insufferable, self indulgent, juvenile attempts at fiction. Completely derivative, cheesy kitsch that manages to perpetuate racist stereotypes about both Mexican and Asian people whilst promoting white supremacy. Just the name, "Lost Vegas," for a post apocalyptic Las Vegas setting speaks volumes about the level of creativity that this author displays. This is a done-to-death post apocalyptic narrative that does nothing interesting within the genre's conventions. The characters lack depth and are underdeveloped, as are the relationships between them. Diren and Kazbiel's relationship, which could've been the saving grace of this novel, isn't even worth investing in due to how rushed and poor their development is. This attempt at enemies to lovers is pitifully executed, and severely lacking in style to the point where there were multiple points that I had trouble figuring out who was speaking during exchanges of dialogue due to its homogeneity. The dialogue also consistently sounds incredibly unnatural and amateurish. All of those quams aside, the blatant racism in this book is disappointing. From the minstrelization of Kazbiel's Asian identity (through stereotypes such as only drinking hot water and inexplicably always having chopsticks to eat his meals), to the grossly minstrelized stereotypes about Mexicans being lazy addicts driving around in lifted cars and obnoxiously bumping loud music, depicted by what is essentially the cartel, to the unnecessary and nonsensical inclusion of a rival group resembling the Klu Klux Klan, it is clear that this author is white. As a white queer woman, I have the common sense to know that using racism as a trope (especially without thoroughly condemning it), as someone who will never experience it, is incredibly ignorant and distasteful.
TLDR: Save your brain cells, this tasteless hack does not deserve your money.
June 20, 2025
DNF around the 3/4 point??? I hope that i don’t get a bunch of angry fans sent to my comments for this but if the author is in fact reading this i implore them to examine the implications of some of the things they have written and listen to poc voices. I found the race stereotypes more than a little concerning. I get if you didn’t realize when you wrote it but it would be nice for the author to acknowledge and address these issues if it’s even true that they’re seeing them.
March 21, 2025
The Resistant as a novel shows its inspiration from and conversation with earlier entries to the genre clearly. A post-apocalyptic science fiction set in the desiccated husk of Las Vegas after the semi-literal flight of all those wealthy enough to escape the unrestrained consequences of an (unspecified but devastating) pandemic, and climate change left completely unabated.
The protagonist, Diren, is a leader by inheritance as much as birth. Having gained the position of gang head from his now elderly, disabled mother, Diren spends his days leading a large, rag-tag pack of survivors. His comrades all have either been cast out or escaped from the genre-typical assortment of violent, self-destructive maniacs intent on riding out the apocalypse through violence and authoritarianism, with some lucky enough to have been born outside the bounds of the regressive communities intent on starving out everyone else.
Diren himself is unabashedly gay, and much to his chagrin, doesn’t stop being attracted to men even when it means acknowledging one of his most hated enemies is pretty damn hot behind his faceless helmet. His attraction to the deuteragonist, Kaz, is a hilarious constant—no matter how much he rails against and resents him, Diren can only fight so hard against the pull. Kaz himself is both mysterious and sympathetic despite the uncharitable framing he receives from Diren’s POV. Stranded, terribly injured, and totally alone in a desolate landscape filled with people who would happily kill him if they knew his loyalties, it’s easy to see how the horror of his situation influences his reactions and resistance to Diren’s point of view. Diren’s lust for Kaz is often coupled with thoughts of inflicting violence, and it’s clear that his struggles with it are completely divorced from his attraction to men—something I found both refreshing and engaging as a fan of toxic romances. That said, anyone sensitive to interpersonal violence with a romantic edge might find this book triggering.
While some readers might not appreciate the included unpleasant worldbuilding in how queerness, race, class, and other sources of discrimination play into the intercommunity conflicts, it feels like a fairly grounded speculation given the more sci-fi elements. This book very much focuses on the intergenerational legacy of diverse but deeply segregated communities of the destitute, homeless, or otherwise impoverished people who couldn’t buy their way into isolated safety. Neonazis remain, and they aren’t the only ones who want queers dead, women pregnant and trapped, and the brutal in authority. I personally found it somewhat cathartic to read a genre story where things truly are desperate, scary, and unfair for queer people, even as they find love and work to build a better world for themselves.
For any reader who’s a fan of LGBTQ+ narratives, enemies-to-lovers, science fiction that explores injustice through the lens of technology, themes of intergenerational trauma, and detail-laden but not exhaustive worldbuilding, I highly recommend this novel.
Small highlights:
- From the moment we are introduced to Diren’s broader community, it’s clear that the people remaining in Las Vegas truly are that: a community, fighting for the stability, health, and happiness of everyone relying on one another for survival. Life goes on when the world ends, and Raz Fox takes pains to include details that highlight not only how dire things have become for the “othered” in Las Vegas, but also how those same people find ways to build new
- This is a book that is extremely grounded in its location. As the book unfolds, so do details about the ecocide and mass murder of Las Vegas in ways that will send chills down the spine of anyone familiar with the city and surrounding wilderness.
- Diren as a character comes across simultaneously as hyper-mature and emotionally young, something that feels very true for the setting and roles he’s taken on.
- The enemies to lovers is very real. Blood is shed repeatedly. Miscommunications, both deliberate and not, abound. Respect doesn’t couple with affection, forgiveness, or understanding. This is not rivals-to-lovers in red paint, this is the Real Deal.
- This book is very clearly the first installment of a series, as the open ending makes very clear. I believe the story as a whole lays the groundwork for a very interesting arc to come.
The protagonist, Diren, is a leader by inheritance as much as birth. Having gained the position of gang head from his now elderly, disabled mother, Diren spends his days leading a large, rag-tag pack of survivors. His comrades all have either been cast out or escaped from the genre-typical assortment of violent, self-destructive maniacs intent on riding out the apocalypse through violence and authoritarianism, with some lucky enough to have been born outside the bounds of the regressive communities intent on starving out everyone else.
Diren himself is unabashedly gay, and much to his chagrin, doesn’t stop being attracted to men even when it means acknowledging one of his most hated enemies is pretty damn hot behind his faceless helmet. His attraction to the deuteragonist, Kaz, is a hilarious constant—no matter how much he rails against and resents him, Diren can only fight so hard against the pull. Kaz himself is both mysterious and sympathetic despite the uncharitable framing he receives from Diren’s POV. Stranded, terribly injured, and totally alone in a desolate landscape filled with people who would happily kill him if they knew his loyalties, it’s easy to see how the horror of his situation influences his reactions and resistance to Diren’s point of view. Diren’s lust for Kaz is often coupled with thoughts of inflicting violence, and it’s clear that his struggles with it are completely divorced from his attraction to men—something I found both refreshing and engaging as a fan of toxic romances. That said, anyone sensitive to interpersonal violence with a romantic edge might find this book triggering.
While some readers might not appreciate the included unpleasant worldbuilding in how queerness, race, class, and other sources of discrimination play into the intercommunity conflicts, it feels like a fairly grounded speculation given the more sci-fi elements. This book very much focuses on the intergenerational legacy of diverse but deeply segregated communities of the destitute, homeless, or otherwise impoverished people who couldn’t buy their way into isolated safety. Neonazis remain, and they aren’t the only ones who want queers dead, women pregnant and trapped, and the brutal in authority. I personally found it somewhat cathartic to read a genre story where things truly are desperate, scary, and unfair for queer people, even as they find love and work to build a better world for themselves.
For any reader who’s a fan of LGBTQ+ narratives, enemies-to-lovers, science fiction that explores injustice through the lens of technology, themes of intergenerational trauma, and detail-laden but not exhaustive worldbuilding, I highly recommend this novel.
Small highlights:
- From the moment we are introduced to Diren’s broader community, it’s clear that the people remaining in Las Vegas truly are that: a community, fighting for the stability, health, and happiness of everyone relying on one another for survival. Life goes on when the world ends, and Raz Fox takes pains to include details that highlight not only how dire things have become for the “othered” in Las Vegas, but also how those same people find ways to build new
- This is a book that is extremely grounded in its location. As the book unfolds, so do details about the ecocide and mass murder of Las Vegas in ways that will send chills down the spine of anyone familiar with the city and surrounding wilderness.
- Diren as a character comes across simultaneously as hyper-mature and emotionally young, something that feels very true for the setting and roles he’s taken on.
- The enemies to lovers is very real. Blood is shed repeatedly. Miscommunications, both deliberate and not, abound. Respect doesn’t couple with affection, forgiveness, or understanding. This is not rivals-to-lovers in red paint, this is the Real Deal.
- This book is very clearly the first installment of a series, as the open ending makes very clear. I believe the story as a whole lays the groundwork for a very interesting arc to come.
February 8, 2025
I am so incredibly grateful to have received this arc, this book was AMAZING.
The perfect blend of post-apocalyptic survival story (featuring motorcycle gangs) with a bleak dystopian society hovering menacingly around the edges— or rather right over everyone’s heads!
Diren is the leader the Resistant, one of a few gangs that struggle to live in the waste land of Las Vegas after a virus wiped out most of the population and the rich fled to biodomes suspended above the city. The land is destroyed, resources are dwindling, but humanity is still finding a way as Diren’s close-knit group of friends build a life for themselves and the hundreds of people that rely on them in Headquarters. But the delicate balance of his life is thrown out of wack when he shoots down a dome pilot dropping bombs too close to home, only for that pilot to show up right on his door step. Kazbiel is an abrasive mystery and Diren doesn’t know whether to trust him or fight him (or a secret third thing 🩷), but he might be the key to the Resistant’s survival.
Everything about this book was amazing. The characters were delightfully queer and felt so life like I couldn’t help falling in love with them all immediately. There’s nothing I love more than being able to feel the depth of love characters have for each other, and it was clear on every page just how much Diren and his friends cared for each other. And we was plenty of time to get to know them as they try to keep their people alive, struggle against other gangs, and find moments of peace and happiness together. It was a delight to meet these characters, even thought I was afraid for them CONSTANTLY.
While we don’t learn much about the virus that took everyone out in this book (as I doubt Diren and company know much to begin with), the slow dawning horror of the environmental disaster they live in so perfectly done. There are descriptions in here that made me shiver from how horrible— and believe— they were just to imagine. THE SERRIA NEVADAS?!?! Pure tragedy.
There are some elements of romance in here, specifically the enemies to lovers type. Diren is certainly very gay and crushing on Kaz, whether he wants to admit it or not. And Kaz is— fighting for his life as a untrusted stranger in a strange land. So they’re not really in the right place or time for anything to happen, but the ground work is there and oh boy am I more than ready to see it get built up 😌
I’m so excited to see where the rest of this series goes, especially because THIS BOOK ENDED ON A CLIFFHANGER?? HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO LIVE LIKE THIS?! HELP!!!!!!
The perfect blend of post-apocalyptic survival story (featuring motorcycle gangs) with a bleak dystopian society hovering menacingly around the edges— or rather right over everyone’s heads!
Diren is the leader the Resistant, one of a few gangs that struggle to live in the waste land of Las Vegas after a virus wiped out most of the population and the rich fled to biodomes suspended above the city. The land is destroyed, resources are dwindling, but humanity is still finding a way as Diren’s close-knit group of friends build a life for themselves and the hundreds of people that rely on them in Headquarters. But the delicate balance of his life is thrown out of wack when he shoots down a dome pilot dropping bombs too close to home, only for that pilot to show up right on his door step. Kazbiel is an abrasive mystery and Diren doesn’t know whether to trust him or fight him (or a secret third thing 🩷), but he might be the key to the Resistant’s survival.
Everything about this book was amazing. The characters were delightfully queer and felt so life like I couldn’t help falling in love with them all immediately. There’s nothing I love more than being able to feel the depth of love characters have for each other, and it was clear on every page just how much Diren and his friends cared for each other. And we was plenty of time to get to know them as they try to keep their people alive, struggle against other gangs, and find moments of peace and happiness together. It was a delight to meet these characters, even thought I was afraid for them CONSTANTLY.
While we don’t learn much about the virus that took everyone out in this book (as I doubt Diren and company know much to begin with), the slow dawning horror of the environmental disaster they live in so perfectly done. There are descriptions in here that made me shiver from how horrible— and believe— they were just to imagine. THE SERRIA NEVADAS?!?! Pure tragedy.
There are some elements of romance in here, specifically the enemies to lovers type. Diren is certainly very gay and crushing on Kaz, whether he wants to admit it or not. And Kaz is— fighting for his life as a untrusted stranger in a strange land. So they’re not really in the right place or time for anything to happen, but the ground work is there and oh boy am I more than ready to see it get built up 😌
I’m so excited to see where the rest of this series goes, especially because THIS BOOK ENDED ON A CLIFFHANGER?? HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO LIVE LIKE THIS?! HELP!!!!!!
February 6, 2025
What a amazing, immersive read.
Everything about The Resistant: Desert Sun was captivating, visceral, and totally attention grabbing. I struggled to put it down, always able to talk myself into “just one more chapter.”
The emotions in this book sit so close to the surface and are so fully tangible: the resilience, the anger, the joy, the fear, the longing—and that’s in part because the characters are so relatable, multifaceted, and alluring. I found myself almost immediately loving Diren, the protagonist, with his combination of charm and rough edges—he’s such an easy guide into the world of Desert Sun, and you can’t help but fall into step with him as you meet the rest of his tenacious crew. Their relationships are complex and feel so real, and it’s so refreshing to have relatable, interesting characters you can find yourself in.
Underneath everything in Desert Sun is such a wonderful glimpse at the nature of humanity, something that’s woven throughout in the characters, the setting, and the captivating world-building. I felt hope, I felt fear, and at many times I was clinging to my seat with just the right amount of tension holding me captive as the plot carried me forward.
This was such a wonderful story and I’m fully in love with not only how tangible this world is, but also how full of love and hope and resilience this story is. I was lucky enough to be able to read this ARC, and cannot recommend this book enough.
Everything about The Resistant: Desert Sun was captivating, visceral, and totally attention grabbing. I struggled to put it down, always able to talk myself into “just one more chapter.”
The emotions in this book sit so close to the surface and are so fully tangible: the resilience, the anger, the joy, the fear, the longing—and that’s in part because the characters are so relatable, multifaceted, and alluring. I found myself almost immediately loving Diren, the protagonist, with his combination of charm and rough edges—he’s such an easy guide into the world of Desert Sun, and you can’t help but fall into step with him as you meet the rest of his tenacious crew. Their relationships are complex and feel so real, and it’s so refreshing to have relatable, interesting characters you can find yourself in.
Underneath everything in Desert Sun is such a wonderful glimpse at the nature of humanity, something that’s woven throughout in the characters, the setting, and the captivating world-building. I felt hope, I felt fear, and at many times I was clinging to my seat with just the right amount of tension holding me captive as the plot carried me forward.
This was such a wonderful story and I’m fully in love with not only how tangible this world is, but also how full of love and hope and resilience this story is. I was lucky enough to be able to read this ARC, and cannot recommend this book enough.
March 23, 2025
Absolutely loved sinking my teeth into The Resistant! We get to know the state of the world in bits and pieces as we spend time with a fantastic crew of characters. Diren and his crew made me love them the instant I met them, and I fell even harder when Kazbiel joined the cast.
The character dynamics bounce off each other so naturally, you begin to root and care for them as they try and live out their lives best they can in. You see them struggle in a world left behind by a virus and cities left in ruins, where scavenging is the only way to survive and making sure you don't cross paths with other surviving factions, all while under the daunting gaze of the Domes. (Spoiler: Paths are crossed. Violence is had. Kazbiel scares everyone)
This is an enemies to lovers book, and we see Diren and Kaz dance around each other, and later on, try to deny what they're feeling with each other. It's hard to reconcile with someone, when they were just set to bomb and kill you a few months ago. But after a while... something blooms. They're not quite there yet, they still got room to grow though.
After finishing the book, I was left wanting more and waiting for the sequel since that ending had me clutching my hair, screaming. (More so if you read the sneak preview for book 2)
Until then, give this book a read and maybe you can even scream with me. Please. I mean it.
The character dynamics bounce off each other so naturally, you begin to root and care for them as they try and live out their lives best they can in. You see them struggle in a world left behind by a virus and cities left in ruins, where scavenging is the only way to survive and making sure you don't cross paths with other surviving factions, all while under the daunting gaze of the Domes. (Spoiler: Paths are crossed. Violence is had. Kazbiel scares everyone)
This is an enemies to lovers book, and we see Diren and Kaz dance around each other, and later on, try to deny what they're feeling with each other. It's hard to reconcile with someone, when they were just set to bomb and kill you a few months ago. But after a while... something blooms. They're not quite there yet, they still got room to grow though.
After finishing the book, I was left wanting more and waiting for the sequel since that ending had me clutching my hair, screaming. (More so if you read the sneak preview for book 2)
Until then, give this book a read and maybe you can even scream with me. Please. I mean it.
June 16, 2025
I had this on my TBR after seeing a blurb from rafael nicolás. Needless to say, I'm disappointed and I wish I had chosen something else for my first Pride Month read. I won’t go into the more obviously problematic aspects of the book (plenty of other reviewers have already covered that) but I will say that it was just boring. Painfully so. I actually ended up starting another book just to avoid falling into a slump. At this point, I can barely remember the plot. What stuck with me, unfortunately, is how flat everything felt. Kazbiel and Diren are toneless, the supporting cast is completely forgettable, and the post-apocalyptic Las Vegas setting feels like the starter home equivalent of dystopian settings.
Maybe it’s just me, but I’d rather a book be problematic and entertaining than boring. At least then I wouldn’t feel like I wasted my time. I might give the second book a shot, knowing this is the start of a series and that things can take time to develop but I’m skeptical. The cover art is pretty though, I'll give the author that.
*update: I've been told that the author has posted about reading Goodreads reviews on his Twitter account so if you're looking to give an honest review of this book, be aware of that. I've also rewritten this review because I didn't like some of the language that I initially used but my point still stands. If Raz Fox is reading this, I'm sorry I hurt your feelings but also what are you doing here? Let reader spaces remain reader spaces.
Maybe it’s just me, but I’d rather a book be problematic and entertaining than boring. At least then I wouldn’t feel like I wasted my time. I might give the second book a shot, knowing this is the start of a series and that things can take time to develop but I’m skeptical. The cover art is pretty though, I'll give the author that.
*update: I've been told that the author has posted about reading Goodreads reviews on his Twitter account so if you're looking to give an honest review of this book, be aware of that. I've also rewritten this review because I didn't like some of the language that I initially used but my point still stands. If Raz Fox is reading this, I'm sorry I hurt your feelings but also what are you doing here? Let reader spaces remain reader spaces.
April 10, 2025
This book is a must read for fans of post-apocalyptic fiction and/or queer romance between various badass weirdos. Feeling especially timely in the post covid era, “The Resistant” is a story of survivors, found family, and unexpected (although you’ll be rooting for it from day 1) romance. Minor spoilers below, but I appreciate how Fox doesn’t rush from characters being hated adversaries to lovers. There are plenty of surprise knife fights and bone headed comments back and forth along the way. The members of the main character’s motorcycle crew are inherently lovable, and the book sets up plenty of intriguing mysteries for future installments.
March 27, 2025
What a book to get back into reading with. Calling The Resistant a page turner is an understatement, it's truly so hard to put down! Raz's ability to make you visualize what you're reading is truly remarkable, and makes you want to come back for more every time. From the well rounded individual characters, to the implications of the Domes, to the rival gang HQs, down to the interwoven relationships the characters have with each other and themselves, this book will really give you something to look forward to each chapter.
March 29, 2025
Wow I just LOVED this book! The characters were so immensely dynamic and the world building was the perfect set up for the first book in the series! I left with more questions than answers in the BEST of ways. I was rattling the bars of my enclosure for the second book, screaming THIS CAN’T BE THE END!! I really love Diren so very much. Gloria is a powerhouse of a character!! It was definitely such an intriguing read!
January 29, 2025
This book is absolutely incredible. You will fall in love with the world building and the characters!! The author’s writing style is like coming home. It’s the perfect book to cozy up and dive into! I was provided an early copy and I highly recommend!!
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