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Displaced
Cast out by his race for taking a male lover, Henare lives as a man during daylight hours. At sunset he returns to the sea, to take his place as an immortal guardian of the water, the feared Taniwha. He’s never allowed anyone to get close, until TJ comes along.
Can this young man tame the mighty sea monster?
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love’s Landscapes" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
Dear Author,
This is my life… by day I walk on land and I am as human as the man standing next to me… but by night… the water calls to me and I must return to it… all I have ever wanted is a man who would love me for who I am… both day and night…
I would only ask for a story… as beautiful as this photo
Photo Description:
A young man, naked from the waist up, lies on his side in water, face half-hidden. The colour of his eyes is mirrored in the indigo blue of the water and the sky. He has a watchful expression, as though he waits for something… or someone.
This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
Can this young man tame the mighty sea monster?
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love’s Landscapes" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
Dear Author,
This is my life… by day I walk on land and I am as human as the man standing next to me… but by night… the water calls to me and I must return to it… all I have ever wanted is a man who would love me for who I am… both day and night…
I would only ask for a story… as beautiful as this photo
Photo Description:
A young man, naked from the waist up, lies on his side in water, face half-hidden. The colour of his eyes is mirrored in the indigo blue of the water and the sky. He has a watchful expression, as though he waits for something… or someone.
This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
50 pages, ebook
First published July 27, 2014
61 people want to read
About the author
Sofia Grey
60 books281 followersRomance author Sofia Grey spends her days managing projects in the corporate world and her nights hanging out with wolf shifters and alpha males. She devours pretty much anything in the fiction line, but she prefers her romances to be hot, and her heroes to have hidden depths. When writing, she enjoys peeling back the layers to expose her characters’ flaws and always makes them work hard for their happy endings.
Find her at: www.SofiaGrey.com, on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sofia.Grey.R..., on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sofiagrey1 and Instagram as @sofiagreyauthor
Find her at: www.SofiaGrey.com, on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sofia.Grey.R..., on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sofiagrey1 and Instagram as @sofiagreyauthor
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 3, 2016
Fascinating but ultimately undeveloped concept; not enough relationship building and too many plot holes.
Meep's review says it all.
Closer to 2.5 stars, rounded up because I liked TJ and the way he was with Henare.
Meep's review says it all.
Closer to 2.5 stars, rounded up because I liked TJ and the way he was with Henare.
June 26, 2015
Somewhere between 2&3stars, I found the glimpse of Maori Taniwaha mythology interesting and liked the story but it's not one I'd read again.
Henare's narration is a little distant which suits who he is, and his is an interesting story, ultimately though it left me with too many questions
What stopped me liking this more was the relationship with TJ; there wasn't a lot to it, it seemed more a summer hook-up than anything more - It made me think rather uncharitably 'Wow TJ must give really good BJs!'
TJ seems a nice boy, obviously with an unhappy story of his own, it was the start of something nice but far to early for the HEA, for me I'd have wanted to see more of them forming a connection beyond the physical, but I'm sure many will love this little fairytale.
Henare's narration is a little distant which suits who he is, and his is an interesting story, ultimately though it left me with too many questions
What stopped me liking this more was the relationship with TJ; there wasn't a lot to it, it seemed more a summer hook-up than anything more - It made me think rather uncharitably 'Wow TJ must give really good BJs!'
TJ seems a nice boy, obviously with an unhappy story of his own, it was the start of something nice but far to early for the HEA, for me I'd have wanted to see more of them forming a connection beyond the physical, but I'm sure many will love this little fairytale.
March 2, 2016
It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. Detached all the way through, like the dragon himself in the beginning of the story. Matiu is an Ass-hole (that's capital A), ignoring his lover for three hundred years and only showing up when jealous. No amount of good deed in the end managed to redeem him.
Loved the dog.
Loved the dog.
July 27, 2014
Just a tiny bit below four full stars
paranormal story grounded in New Zealand mythology. Henare is a Taniwha, a race of sea fierce sea monsters, but he's been banished from his people for over some 300 years and now waits on the coast for his former lover to come to him. When TJ, a tour guide, approaches him whilst out walking with his dog on the way to make an offering to the Taniwaha before taking out his boat, the pair strike up an unexpected friendship that deepens quickly. Only Henare's former lover has been watching and thinking that TJ knows too much about their race takes matters into his own hands. This was a nice mix of mythology and contemporary story and made for a very interesting well written story.
paranormal story grounded in New Zealand mythology. Henare is a Taniwha, a race of sea fierce sea monsters, but he's been banished from his people for over some 300 years and now waits on the coast for his former lover to come to him. When TJ, a tour guide, approaches him whilst out walking with his dog on the way to make an offering to the Taniwaha before taking out his boat, the pair strike up an unexpected friendship that deepens quickly. Only Henare's former lover has been watching and thinking that TJ knows too much about their race takes matters into his own hands. This was a nice mix of mythology and contemporary story and made for a very interesting well written story.
July 27, 2014
4.5 stars
An extra half star for the use of Maori mythology to make this one of the most interesting stories I have read.
An extra half star for the use of Maori mythology to make this one of the most interesting stories I have read.
August 31, 2014
2.5
The Maori mythology was fascinating, a little more focus on that would have been cool. Where the story lost me was towards the end. I was sort of irritated the whole story with the way Henare pined over Matiu. It seemed obvious to me that Matiu didn't really give a damn. He could have chosen to go into exile with Henare, should have if he really loved him, and the fact that Matiu wasn't exiled had me thinking long before we got to him actually showing up in the story, that he must have blamed their relationship on Henare - "He coerced me, I'm really into chicks, don't kick me out." Loser. So, yeah, the pining got old fast. Then Matiu actually shows up and I found that I was right to dislike him the whole story. But the story really falls apart here. Seems to me if their relationship was such a taboo that even if Matiu renounced it he would still be watched. For Matiu to know everything he did he had to have been watching Henare. How did Henare not notice him? Didn't anyone else find it suspicious that Matiu watched Henare? In order for Matiu to realize there was any difference in Henare's relationship with TJ than with his previous hook-ups, he had to be watching him a lot. Add in that all this rather big stuff happened really fast and mostly off page and I was left unsatisfied. Also, this is just a personal preference and NOT anything wrong with the story itself, but
Not a bad story, it just didn't manage to satisfy my (admittedly) picky self.
The Maori mythology was fascinating, a little more focus on that would have been cool. Where the story lost me was towards the end. I was sort of irritated the whole story with the way Henare pined over Matiu. It seemed obvious to me that Matiu didn't really give a damn. He could have chosen to go into exile with Henare, should have if he really loved him, and the fact that Matiu wasn't exiled had me thinking long before we got to him actually showing up in the story, that he must have blamed their relationship on Henare - "He coerced me, I'm really into chicks, don't kick me out." Loser. So, yeah, the pining got old fast. Then Matiu actually shows up and I found that I was right to dislike him the whole story. But the story really falls apart here. Seems to me if their relationship was such a taboo that even if Matiu renounced it he would still be watched. For Matiu to know everything he did he had to have been watching Henare. How did Henare not notice him? Didn't anyone else find it suspicious that Matiu watched Henare? In order for Matiu to realize there was any difference in Henare's relationship with TJ than with his previous hook-ups, he had to be watching him a lot. Add in that all this rather big stuff happened really fast and mostly off page and I was left unsatisfied. Also, this is just a personal preference and NOT anything wrong with the story itself, but
Not a bad story, it just didn't manage to satisfy my (admittedly) picky self.
July 27, 2014
An interesting blend of Maori mythology and contemporary. Henare is a lonely monster of New Zealand mythology that has for the past 300 years guarded the coastline of the island. Each night as the sun sets, he is pulled into his elemental form and then returns to his human disguise on the sunrise. Long ago, he loved a fellow Taniwha, and was sent into exile when they were caught together. He's since waited the past 300 years for his lovers promised return, with only his memories and regret as company.
This was a nice story arc, but I wasn't familiar with this folklore and I found myself having to research the concept. I would have preferred a small crash course and description here within this story, because I have the attention span of a gnat and spent more time surfing the net than reading the book, like I intended to.
There were a few things that were hit and miss for me: I loved how distant Henare was because it fit so well for a character who's been isolated and on the fringe of both worlds for so long. I liked the interaction between he and Matiu (even if Matiu was a complete dick). The longing and isolation was really well written. I feel like the connection between Henare and TJ wasn't really there, but that's because I didn't feel like TJ was really developed as a character. What really stumps me is . Oddly enough, our little sea monster was even more endearing in the end, and I would have liked to see more of him. I really appreciated the epilogue.
A well written and unique read. My thanks to the author for their time and participation in the loves landscapes event.
This was a nice story arc, but I wasn't familiar with this folklore and I found myself having to research the concept. I would have preferred a small crash course and description here within this story, because I have the attention span of a gnat and spent more time surfing the net than reading the book, like I intended to.
There were a few things that were hit and miss for me: I loved how distant Henare was because it fit so well for a character who's been isolated and on the fringe of both worlds for so long. I liked the interaction between he and Matiu (even if Matiu was a complete dick). The longing and isolation was really well written. I feel like the connection between Henare and TJ wasn't really there, but that's because I didn't feel like TJ was really developed as a character. What really stumps me is . Oddly enough, our little sea monster was even more endearing in the end, and I would have liked to see more of him. I really appreciated the epilogue.
A well written and unique read. My thanks to the author for their time and participation in the loves landscapes event.
November 1, 2014
I liked this story a lot. We have Henere, who is a mythical creature of the sea. He has been in exile for a long time. Separated from his lover for hundreds of years, he is still waiting. He is living in his human form during the day and taking his true form at night. Then one day a handsome human man with his dog approach him. Instead of leaving him alone, the human pushes all his walls. He tries his best to push him away, but he catches himself thinking about this human, TJ. Then he has to come to some decisions. But can he really leave TJ alone.
I really enjoyed the ending. I wanted TJ and him to be together, along with their dog. Even the dog, Butch had come to like Henere.
I really enjoyed the ending. I wanted TJ and him to be together, along with their dog. Even the dog, Butch had come to like Henere.
March 14, 2015
more like 2.5.
I just felt detach from the story. I just didn't buy into the romance. The MCs waited nearly 300 years for this guy then spends one night with this human and fall out of love with past dude. You were still thinking about him when you hook with the other guy in the first place. It not the first time you hook up with other people while you waited. What was so special about this human?
I just felt detach from the story. I just didn't buy into the romance. The MCs waited nearly 300 years for this guy then spends one night with this human and fall out of love with past dude. You were still thinking about him when you hook with the other guy in the first place. It not the first time you hook up with other people while you waited. What was so special about this human?
July 28, 2014
LOVED everything about this. 4.5
January 4, 2015
I was a little disappointed with this short read and think this was essentially a complex story that had too much of the important info cut out and left too many questions unanswered. Henare is a , shape-shifter, exiled to lead a solitary life as punishment for an affair with a fellow male shifter. He meets human TJ who suffers physical abuse at the hands of his own family though all we know of this is that he shows up one day with bruises. Nothing more is mentioned and since TJ doesn't live at home, we don't learn the circumstances surrounding this. Henare is well portrayed as detached and closed off as would be expected but the details on TJ are so few, that there is never a believable, emotional connection between the two.
With the folklore, this had the potential to be a good story but it would need to be a much longer book to develop the characters and their background. I just didn't feel like I knew much about the leads and the ending kinda left me feeling neither positively nor negatively towards it.
With the folklore, this had the potential to be a good story but it would need to be a much longer book to develop the characters and their background. I just didn't feel like I knew much about the leads and the ending kinda left me feeling neither positively nor negatively towards it.
February 14, 2015
Written very well so it sucked me in. But the story is lacking some, especially the further I got the end. Things happened way too fast, making a life altering decision based on a two day relationship seems to me rather suicidal, especially if one behaved rather like a jerk before, just disappearing without a word. There are lots of questionmarks regarding Matiu and how things went down when he reappears.
I liked the epilogue because we see things first time from TJ's POV whom we haven't learned much about before apart from him being obviously a really great guy.
I liked the epilogue because we see things first time from TJ's POV whom we haven't learned much about before apart from him being obviously a really great guy.
April 2, 2016
I enjoyed the characters, and their world and hope I get the chance to read the story again and/or to read more within the series.
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
September 13, 2014
This was an interesting story with a sprinkling of Maori mythology. For a quick short this had a good balance of mythology and character interaction. I do think it would have been better as a longer story to flesh out the mythology and Henare's past with Matiu. There were some unexplained parts of the story like how
Want to read
September 10, 2014
Offered for FREE from the M/M Romance Group's Love's Landscapes event. Thank you too all the amazing authors who participated!
August 11, 2014
3.5 stars.
August 19, 2014
I thought this has a great plot, is written well and a great read all together. There may be a few holes but I didn't mind.
October 19, 2014
The Taniwha, Henare has a long history as a guardian monster of the New Zealand coastline, watching and waiting - until TJ stirs up his heart and life in ways that have unpredictable consequences.
July 17, 2015
I love the MCs and how the story is mixed up with folklore. Some part at the ending is unknown, but I like it still.
September 29, 2014
3.5 Stars
October 17, 2018
It was really good until the ending. That kinda ruined it for me.
May 3, 2019
Hay ciertos aspectos de la trama que no me gustaron, sin embargo, entiendo que sean necesarios.
Igualmente, la historia es cálida y te llena de amor.
No puedo dejar de amarla.
Igualmente, la historia es cálida y te llena de amor.
No puedo dejar de amarla.
August 12, 2016
I read a lot of Sofia Grey books, and I cannot believe I missed this short and sexy one. She set a sexy scene, a heart-breaking prose, and enough steam to melt your own panties off. Enjoyed this very much!
event-stories-unread
April 15, 2015[NOTE: I rate most writing event stories (free reads) 4 or 5 stars because of my appreciation of the author's participation and gift.]
May 14, 2015
Did not finish. =__=
August 27, 2014
Review to come
Read
July 1, 2015skipping that one
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews