Labyrinthian

by Sunny Moraine

A hunter should never fall for his prey.
A hunter’s heart should never fall prey to his quarry.

Still nursing his latest post-mission hangover, bounty hunter Theseus jumps at a high-paying, high-risk job that sounds ridiculously easy. Yet from the moment he nabs the alleged supersoldier with sedative gas, nothing is as it seems.

On the run from the facility where he was created and raised, Taur is desperate to locate his genetically engineered brothers and sisters. To rescue them—and himself—from slavery. Waking aboard Theseus’ ship, his fury is tempered by curiosity about his captor.

Despite his doubts about his prisoner, Theseus figures it’d be risky to let Taur go—until they’re thrown together by a shared betrayal. They declare a tentative truce as they flee from a shadowy and immensely powerful organization that will stop at nothing to find them.

But as they wrestle with their growing feelings for each other, Taur and Theseus face an even greater danger. A lethal threat lurking inside Taur’s own body, waiting to explode...

Genres: Science Fiction, Romance, M M Romance, LGBT, Gay, Dystopia, Science Fiction Fantasy

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 20, 2015

About the author

Sunny Moraine is—among many other things—the author of the novella Your Shadow Half Remains, published by Tor Nightfire. Their debut short fiction collection Singing With All My Skin and Bone was released in 2016 and their short stories have been published in Tor.com, Uncanny, Clarkesworld, Strange Horizons, Lightspeed, and Nightmare. An occasional podcaster/narrator/voice actor, they are the writer, producer, and lead actor of the serial horror drama podcast Gone, which wrapped up its first season in January 2018 and released a second season in 2022. For more info, please see their website at sunnymoraine.com.

Reviews

[Vanessa North · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this was simply gorgeous.
Lovely and evocative.
I sobbed all over my dog.

[Elizabetta · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is an interesting story and as far as world-building goes, well done. It is also a part of the Line and Orbit sci-fi universe. Taur is an engineered human, I’m guessing (it’s never really explained) a sort of test-tube baby but with accelerated growth. At three years old he’s a fully grown man, impressively big, powerful and dangerous, made for combat. For what end is what kept me reading the story-- the why of it.

But this story is not so much about the bad guys and why they do what they do as it is about finding your humanity and place in the world. When Taur escapes his captor/breeders, escapes from an isolated, mysterious space station, he discovers a world and a freedom he never imagined. Taur’s world opens even more when he meets Theseus Athenia, the ‘hunter’ hired to find and return him to his makers. Dead or alive. Taur is lucky, though. Theseus may be a hardened sci-fi skip tracer, but he’s a good guy deep inside. Theseus shows Taur compassion he’s never experienced before.

I like the world that the author makes. It’s richly rendered but definitely dystopian. Since we get a lot of it via Taur’s experiences, we get a feel for the darker side. Even when we get to the beautiful, Earth-like planet, New Hellas, which becomes a kind of haven in the story, there is a pall of melancholy and despair.

While I get a good feel for this world of the Protectorate, the story itself is hard to cozy up to. I was sucked into Taur’s situation but it is a relentless downer. It all seems so hopeless. That’s part of the problem, too. I feel somewhat distanced from the characters and their romance. There is heat between Taur and Theseus, but I think their story is more about finding some good in their world and each other as it is about them as a couple. But, I kept reading to find out if there is any good solution for them.

So, a small warning… I could see this being a difficult read if you’re not in the right mood for it. There are also aspects of the story’s climax that did not work for me and can’t be mentioned because of big spoilers. I felt Labyrinthian also suffered from some pacing issues, lagging in places, especially when the narrative about Taur and Theseus’ dilemma took precedence. I did, however, like the HFN ending. It fit. Despite my quibbles, I think this is a worthwhile and memorable read.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 STARS
This was a good read, it kept a good pace with great MC's and good writing

I loved the start of the book, it was very fresh and had an excellent, original plot, but as it progressed it slowly descended in and "back out" of a few classic syfy themes, almost like the author was convinced or told to put a touch of plot 59a here and twist number 4D here etc. . .that sucked and the rather excellent and unique writing style changed every time this happened. It was my first Sunny book and I'll read more.

It had enormous potential but slipped into the trap where I got the feeling the author "possibly" had too any people with a heavy input over the book. It's very noticeable. In saying that though I think a "stick to your guns" sequel is a possibility.

It's held my attention enough to want to know what happened to everyone, they were very unique characters. I'll be reading more of Sunny work as this was my first novel of hers

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hunter and The Hunted, I just love it.
As with the other Sunny Moraine novel I read (Line and Orbit--and I HIGHLY recommend it), the story is not dominated by the romance. This is a story about Taur (the hunted) and his hope to find his family and his struggle with whether he even wants to fight to survive or not.
Taur was a great character because everything about him seemed to oppose something else in him. He was a killer. Like woah. But innocent in many ways. Decisive and fast reacting, yet...when it came to certain things, he was lost. I loved that about him.
Theseus was great too. I really liked him a lot.
Phae...what to say about Phae? I didn't like her at first, I think maybe I was jealous, but she was a good friend and important to the story and to the relationship between Taur and Theseus.
The story started a little slowly for me, if I know there is a love interest, I want them to meet and even though I enjoy getting to know the characters and seeing their struggles and what brings them together, I was impatient for them to meet.
I think the ending played out how it had to, but I have to be honest, that I think that with most stories when the main part of it is the journey, something about how things get resolved...its like..."oh, that wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be" but maybe that's not fair. I mean, would I want things to have been worse than they were? No, but...something about it bothered me, I think, I can't put my finger on it.
There were some interesting elements thrown in there as well, enhancing the suspense and breaking my heart.
I love this author and I will read more from her.

[Love Bytes Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 star review by Dan

Labyrinthian is a really good example of how science fiction has always been able to easily include gay and bisexual characters. The main characters in this story just happen to be gay. Although, on second thought, one might more accurately be described as bisexual because of his former relationship with one of the leading supporting characters who is a woman. Regardless, the sexuality of the characters is a non-issue. Too bad the real world can’t learn from sci-fi, huh?

Taur is a genetically engineered human who is only three standard years old but he and his brothers and sisters were put through rapid aging to gain adulthood. He has been on the run since he and his eleven “brothers” and “sisters” escaped from the scientists who had held them prisoner their entire lives. While being held prisoner they were trained and educated, but also tortured and beaten. Taur has no intention of being captured and forced to return to the living hell that is the lab. When we meet Taur on the first page of the book he is in a cargo bay which has been opened to space to kill him. The book would have been very very short if it had succeeded, so I’ll provide a spoiler and tell you he got out of that one!

Theseus is a hunter. In this far future world, hunter is the shortened term for what we today would call bounty hunters. In the far future, hunters roam the known galaxy bringing to justice the bad folks, from murders to thieves to debt runners. Think of that next time you’re a little late on your credit card payment!

Theseus has just woken up from a monumental drunk session. He wakes up on the ship of his former girlfriend, Phae, who rescued him the night before outside a bar. Theseus still has a few unresolved issues with Phae, since she was the one who broke it off, but Phae has moved on to another woman, named Gabe, and Theseus is ancient history.

When Theseus gets back to his ship he finds a request for a high risk/high pay hunt. He ignores it until he gets up later from sleeping off the hangover. The request is still available, and they are willing to pay a fortune for the capture, either alive or dead, of the runner. Intrigued, Theseus accepts the contract.

To ensure his continued freedom, Taur has just purchased a gun and body armor from what turns out to be Gabe’s shop on the station where he had docked to obtain repairs to the ship he “obtained” after the cargo bay “incident” mentioned above. When walking down the corridor he bumps into Theseus who instantly recognizes him.

The chase is on! But what happens when Theseus captures him? And what will happen when the bad folks who are after Taur double cross Theseus and start firing?

A really entertaining high action sci-fi story is what happens. Taur, Theseus and eventually Phae race across the galaxy looking for Taur’s missing brothers and sisters. Since they escaped from the lab, Taur hasn’t seen them…but he needs to find them because he is the only one who knows that there is a secret buried in each of them that will kill them. And they only have about a month before they will all die!

I really enjoyed this book. It had been awhile since I had read a true hard sci-fi action adventure. I’ll be looking for another soon. I recommend this book if you’re a sci-fi aficionado. One more note…my compliments on the cover. I’ve always been a cover shopper. If it catches my eye, I’m apt to pick it up. This cover drew my eye immediately. Whoever created it did a great job.

A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!

[Vladimir · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sooo, I wasn't expecting it to be so explicit, but then again, I'm a prude. It's borderline porn at times. And I felt there was room to expand on certain ideas, but that didn't happen. I guess I feel the story didn't get the closure it deserved. The two main characters are cute, though.

[A.C. Wise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Labyrinthian is set in the same universe as Line and Orbit by Sunny Moraine and Lisa Soem, but stands perfectly well on its own. It isn't a sequel, but does share many of Line and Orbit's sensibilities. Taur is a genetically modified human on the run from the people who made him. Theseus is a bounty hunter who accepts the job of tracking him down. As frequently happens in this sort of tale, the people who set the bounty on Taur's head betray Theseus. Instead of paying him, they try to kill both him and Taur. With nowhere else to turn, the two go on the run. Theseus and Taur discover a budding attraction for each other, while trying to stay alive, save Taur's siblings, and unravel the mystery behind the creation of these genetically engineered super-beings. Oh, and just in case the stakes weren't high enough, there's also a chip embedded in Taur's skull, ticking down toward killing him. The novel is sexy and fun and proves definitively that romance and space opera do in fact mix. As it turns out, feelings do not ruin a perfectly good story about spaceships, genetic modification, and bounty hunters. They make it better. Also, it's sexy. Did I mention sexy? Luckily, there are more novels set in this universe on the way.

[Batsheva · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a story set in the world of "Line and Orbit." I enjoyed it but a couple of things stuck out at me:
1)It reminded me quite a lot of Lois McMaster Bujold's space-opera novella "Labyrinth," where Miles Vorkosigan rescues genetically engineered super-soldier "Nine" from a sketchy Jackson's Whole laboratory and falls in love with her. She later renames herself "Taura." This may be due to shared source material (the myth of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur), or possible homage?

2) It seems like this was written as a short story and then expanded into a full-length novel. There are some slow sections that feel like "filler."

[Tyrannosaurus regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book when it first came out but I've been sitting on it since then because I knew what I was getting into with it and I knew that the day was going to come when I was going to need to read this book, that it would be exactly what I was looking for. Then that day came and I was right. I am always up for the blending of mythology with science fiction and it is quite deft here, plus the emotional core of the story is very satisfying.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. If you like SciFi I recommend this book.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4 stars

Labyrinthian is a semi-dystopian space opera set in a fictional world full of space travel, bounty hunting, and alien species. The “semi” in “semi-dystopian” comes from the idea that there is a semblance of intergalactic order and travel, but over the course of the book, Theseus and Taur realize that if an organization is powerful enough to chase Taur and his siblings around the known universe, then it’s at least got the backing of the intergalactic government. The story focuses on Taur’s ordeal, the relationship that develops between Taur and Theseus, and Theseus learning to let go of his old flame, who also happens to be along for much of the ride in the story.

I first read Labyrinthian years ago and was interested in seeing how this revised and republished version stacks up.

Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started off pretty well - a bounty hunter in space taking on a high-risk, high-reward mission only to be met with a huge, hot, formidable fighter. Theseus, our hunter, manages to capture Taur, but soon learns that he is part of a mysterious super soldier program and being hunted by some ruthless people. They join forces in order to survive and then go on this action-filled jaunt across the galaxy, while also giving in to their attraction to each other. That's a pretty compelling premise. And I was into it, up to a point. Somewhere along the way, I got bored. The main plot felt rushed and made little sense in places, the MCs had good chemistry, but they were hardly alone together. It had the feel of a video game, with elaborate and protracted action scenes that had me skimming in places. It was really just okay, there was little that was new or particularly interesting. It's not the worst sci-fi romance I've ever read, but it couldn't really hold my interest much.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good. Might have liked it more than line and orbit maybe. did fall into the trope of "born sexy yesterday," but wasn't bad at all. More sexual than Line and Orbit. More action and blood as well.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taur is on the run from people who want him, dead or alive, it doesn’t matter which. Theseus is the one hunting him. From the start, there are questions Theseus has about the hunt. Things are not right. But it’s not until the people after Taur also try to Theseus instead of paying him that he really knows he shouldn’t have taken the contract.

Theseus is a hunter, or gun for hire. He goes from job to job. He has had one serious relationship that ended because he held on to tightly, afraid of losing another person in his life. When he meets Taur, even though he is a bounty he still feels bad about turning him in. After they are both betrayed the two are on the run together and Theseus cannot help being attracted to Taur. Finally, he gives in, and what started out as just some fun, becomes something more.

Taur was made for violence. He was never taught true emotions. He knows how to protect himself and to kill. When he and Theseus start getting closer he is confused at first. But wants more. As they run for their lives Taur slowly learns what its like to matter and care for someone, and what sex is like. He also knows his time may be very limited, since the people after him have a backup plan that could kill him before Taur and Theseus find the answers they are looking for.

The writing is great. The world created is very lush and descriptive. The two main characters are well fleshed out, as well as a few of the secondary characters. This should have been a five-heart story to me. However, it just did not draw me in. I was not invested in the two MCs and I was easily distracted from the book. I just did not connect with either of the MCs or their story. I am sure others will disagree with me, but it just did not do it for me personally.

If you are looking for a space adventure with two tough men, some death and destruction, and a little sex thrown in this may be for you.

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through https://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book while browsing through some random Amazon recommendations.

Theseus can't resist responding when he gets a new bulletin looking for hunters willing to go after a high-risk suspect...he's an adrenaline junkie, and there's a huge payoff if he gets his man. When his target, Taur, shows up on the same remote space station, Theseus is able to bring him down, but isn't prepared for his reaction to the huge warrior, and feels unsettled about turning Taur over to his captors. However, clearly there's more to Taur's situation -- instead of getting his payout, they're fired upon, and Theseus finds himself being drawn into Taur's search for his siblings and the secret to their survival. As they journey to Taur's distant planet, both men find themselves responding to the attraction that's flared up between them. Their growing connection is tested as they search for the source of Taur's special abilities, but both Theseus and Taur must make a leap of faith -- can they leave their pasts behind and choose a future that has a place for both of them?

Both Theseus and Taur are sympathetic characters. Theseus is, or tries to be, an ice-cold bounty hunter who always gets his man. But he finds it difficult to bury his emotions completely -- Phae, his long-time Friend with Benefits, has broken off with him, telling him that he holds on too hard. Taur is the polar opposite -- raised as a warrior-weapon, he finds it difficult to feel any emotions at all, and isn't prepared for the feelings that his relationship with Theseus are bringing to the surface.

It's a great adventure story, with loads of well-paced action and suspense -- with some sweet romance as well. So...3 stars.

[Briet · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 BIG STARS. Two men, both of them killers. One by necessity, one by choice, but that is not who either of them really are. They're just trying to find themselves and their way through life in a place that hardly gives people much choice.

I'm usually not comfortable with assassin type characters, but this story just grabbed me and after the first few pages I knew it would be amazing. Both MCs were so nicely tought out. Theseus, the bounty hunter, who sometimes has questionable morals, but at his core a good man; and Taur,the engineered super-soilder, who has such a brutal and savage innocence about him. The enemies-to-lovers thing is hard to nail down, but here it was executed with a near perfection. I really liked how their relationship developed. It had a gradual and natural feel, despite the amount of time it really took, but it was perfect given the characters themselves.

I love sci-fi. I love getting to know new worlds and new civilizations. I liked the worldbuilding here. It wasn't excessive, it was just enough to have a well rounded feel to it, to know how things work. And although there weren't to many side characters, everyone who appered on page was worth reading about, especially Phea. And I really liked that not everything was perfect in the story or had an easy solution. It felt more real. I can definitely see the potential for some kind of sequel, though it stands on its own without one.

It had one or two hiccups in the beginning, but once I really got into the story, I didn't really notice if there were any more. Took me by surprise how much I liked it, but this was a really enjoyable read that instantly went to my favourites pile. Highly recommended.

[Nightcolors · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was mostly fine. But it didn't work for me overall. The beginning few chapters were interesting but a big chunk of the middle part felt unnecessarily dragged on. I kept losing interest and putting the book down. It ended up taking me 3 days to finish. This section rather made me lose interest in Taur and Theseus's relationship.

I was much more interested in the story behind Taur and his siblings' existences. The mystery and the adventure. But there wasn't as much of that storyline as I would've liked.

Maia's death and Theseus's story of his brother's death were very emotional and well-written, I thought. Also, I couldn't understand why Taur felt he and Theseus had to separate from the other siblings at the end.

[emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had the pleasure of appreciating Sunny's writing for a few years now, and Labyrinthian was a reminder of many of the things they excel at: namely, character development, world building, and atmosphere. The different scenes flowed into each other in a way that made sense, even as the tone drastically changed from fast-paced to tranquil to tense. Theseus was a good character to have narrate the story, and his flaws made him a believable and sympathetic hero. Overall an enjoyable story from a talented writer; I look forward to reading more in the Line and Orbit universe.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

April 16, 2017

I have NO idea why I didn't write a review back in March. Here's what I remember: I quite liked this story. It is not part of the Root Code series, but has a very similar feel. Moraine is a gifted writer who gives us beautiful prose and great sci-fi stories. I don't think this was quite as compelling as the aforementioned series, but still very good and worthy of attention. The characters were well drawn and complex, the world building very good, and the plot intriguing. I would read more about Theseus and Taur.

[E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Knowing the author doesn't diminish the good things going on in this book. This is a riff on the legend of Theseus and the minotaur, and happens to be set in space, because yes. When you take science fiction and add Greek mythology, you have my complete and utter attention. Sunny creates a universe you want to roll around in, much like Firefly, where it feels deep and expansive, beyond the corner you get to explore. (See more of this world in Line & Orbit!)

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super engaging book, though I didn't quite love it as much as Line and Orbit.

My one issue was that Theseus and Taur just seemed really quick to like and trust each other after their relationship began with shooting. I guess for me it would have made more sense if that part of their relationship had taken a bit longer. The romance had a good pace after that and I really enjoyed it.

I devoured this book in one evening I was so engrossed.

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A riveting and poignant Sci-Fi novel!!!!

[HaloLove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story!

This was an adventurous journey of Taur and Theseus fighting and surviving for their freedom and love. A great read!

[Harshini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting plot, different ideas, good read

[Estarianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a little slow, and the mythology theme is not my favorite, but the characters and put are pretty solid.

[Lada]

DNF at 65% because it's too gloomy for my taste.