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Metamorphoses of Flynn Keahi #1
Happiness & Other Diseases
Flynn Keahi has had a rough year. His nightmares are starting to manifest in reality, but no one believes him. Terrifying creatures are trying to cross out of dreams into the physical realm. Only Flynn can stop them – but doing so might cost him his life. Complicating matters further, one of these creatures cannot help wanting him -- in every forbidden way. Will she be able to save him from his fate? Can she even protect him from herself?
ebook
First published October 18, 2014
3 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
About the author
Sumiko Saulson
78 books136 followersSumiko Saulson (ze/hir) is a 2x Bram Stoker Nominated and Elgin Nominated poet, graphic novelist, zinemaker, and an award-winning author of Afrosurrealist and multicultural sci-fi and horror. Editor of the Black Magic Women, Scry of Lust, Scry of Lust 2, Black Celebration, and Wickedly Abled. Winner of the StokerCon Scholarship from Hell (2016), 2nd Place Carry the Light Awards (2016, 2017 and 2018) for short fiction, essays and blogging. Mixy Award (2017). BCC Voice Grand Prize Reframing the Other Essay Contest (2017), Afrosurrealist Writer Award (2018). Semifinalist: HorrorAddicts Next Great Horror Writer’s Contest, (2018). Horror Writers Association Diversity Grant (2020).
Member, Horror Writers Association.
AA in English from Berkeley City College. Staff writer, Search Magazine. Proofreader, Mocha Memoirs Press. Columnist (“Writing While Black”) for The San Francisco BayView. Host, Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District’s Erotic Storytelling Hour. Social Media Team, Horror Writers Association.
Novels: Solitude, The Moon Cried Blood, Warmth. Short fiction collections Things That Go Bump in My Head, The Void between Emotions, Spit and Pathos and Within Me Without Me
Short works in anthologies: Horror Addicts Guide to Cats (Horror Addicts Guide), Ashes and Coffee (Death’s Café), Enclosures (Tales from the Lake, Vol 3), Jacob’s Reunion (Forever Vacancy), Clockwork Valentine (Clockwork Wonderland) Sweetness (Beasts and Babes), Agrippa (Carry the Light, Vol 5), Character Flaws (Carry the Light, Vol 5), Under the Water (Horror Bites Next Great Horror Writer, Horror Addicts), Unheard Music in the Dank Underground (Tales from the Campfire), Shades of Domesticity (Horror Writers Association Poetry Showcase Volume VII), Asi’s Horror and Delight (Slay: Tales of the Vampire Noire)
Graphic novels: Agrippa, Dreamworlds, Living a Lie (illustrator), The Complete Mauskaveli.
An American author of African American and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage. Native Californian, living in Oakland, California. Pronouns: ze/hir or they/them. Find hir on social media at sumikoska (Twitter, Facebook, Tik-Tok), sumikosaulson (Instagram), skavibe (Twitch) and www.SumikoSaulson.com
Member, Horror Writers Association.
AA in English from Berkeley City College. Staff writer, Search Magazine. Proofreader, Mocha Memoirs Press. Columnist (“Writing While Black”) for The San Francisco BayView. Host, Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District’s Erotic Storytelling Hour. Social Media Team, Horror Writers Association.
Novels: Solitude, The Moon Cried Blood, Warmth. Short fiction collections Things That Go Bump in My Head, The Void between Emotions, Spit and Pathos and Within Me Without Me
Short works in anthologies: Horror Addicts Guide to Cats (Horror Addicts Guide), Ashes and Coffee (Death’s Café), Enclosures (Tales from the Lake, Vol 3), Jacob’s Reunion (Forever Vacancy), Clockwork Valentine (Clockwork Wonderland) Sweetness (Beasts and Babes), Agrippa (Carry the Light, Vol 5), Character Flaws (Carry the Light, Vol 5), Under the Water (Horror Bites Next Great Horror Writer, Horror Addicts), Unheard Music in the Dank Underground (Tales from the Campfire), Shades of Domesticity (Horror Writers Association Poetry Showcase Volume VII), Asi’s Horror and Delight (Slay: Tales of the Vampire Noire)
Graphic novels: Agrippa, Dreamworlds, Living a Lie (illustrator), The Complete Mauskaveli.
An American author of African American and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage. Native Californian, living in Oakland, California. Pronouns: ze/hir or they/them. Find hir on social media at sumikoska (Twitter, Facebook, Tik-Tok), sumikosaulson (Instagram), skavibe (Twitch) and www.SumikoSaulson.com
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 4, 2014
I fell in love with the title of this novel Happiness and Other Diseases by Sumiko Saulson. I wanted to read it before I even know what the plot was about. Luckily, I was given and Advance Reader Copy to review.
Flynn is character that I think we can all relate to in some way. Sticks and stones may break his bones, but whips and chains excite him! He has his flaws, his self doubts, but really all he wants out of life is to be normal. Have a normal job, family and friends. He finds himself being tormented by nightmares so terrifying that he ends up in a mental institution where he meets and falls in love with Charlotte (Happiness) Metaxas. As they grow closer and explore their relationship, Flynn finds himself in a life or death scenario involving Charlotte’s non-human family from the Demos Oneiroi.
There was nothing I could not love about this novel. It made me laugh out loud and made me cry. It made me squirm in fear and squeal in delight. The main characters are very well written and you will fall in love with them. The dark humor is perfectly balanced to off set the horror. I found the interaction between the Greek Gods, Demigods and mortals fascinating. But above all, I loved that Flynn likes being tied up and tortured as long as Charlotte is the one dispensing the pain.
I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys Dark Romance and Paranormal Romance. Also, anyone who enjoys Greco-Roman Mythology will love this novel.
Flynn is character that I think we can all relate to in some way. Sticks and stones may break his bones, but whips and chains excite him! He has his flaws, his self doubts, but really all he wants out of life is to be normal. Have a normal job, family and friends. He finds himself being tormented by nightmares so terrifying that he ends up in a mental institution where he meets and falls in love with Charlotte (Happiness) Metaxas. As they grow closer and explore their relationship, Flynn finds himself in a life or death scenario involving Charlotte’s non-human family from the Demos Oneiroi.
There was nothing I could not love about this novel. It made me laugh out loud and made me cry. It made me squirm in fear and squeal in delight. The main characters are very well written and you will fall in love with them. The dark humor is perfectly balanced to off set the horror. I found the interaction between the Greek Gods, Demigods and mortals fascinating. But above all, I loved that Flynn likes being tied up and tortured as long as Charlotte is the one dispensing the pain.
I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys Dark Romance and Paranormal Romance. Also, anyone who enjoys Greco-Roman Mythology will love this novel.
September 27, 2014
Have you ever had the feeling your night terrors are not just nightmares, but shadows of your real life? Ever noticed how the dreams haunt you throughout the day? What if they were real? What if your terrors that plagued your dreams, plagued your waking moments?
Flynn Keahi is your average 20 something just trying to survive life. He begins having nightmares that keep repeating themselves over and over. He finally checks into a mental ward where he finds out, he may not be as crazy as he thinks.
You will not be able to put this book down. From page one it is captivating, pulse raising, and definitely makes you question your own sanity; it's a complete page turner! Ms. Saulson plays on every fear we have in our dreamland and in our reality. She takes our emotions and purees them in a blender. And worse yet? Every one of us can relate to these characters. Prepare to fall in love, be filled with fear and dread, and be drawn into a tale that may just give you nightmares. Sleep well...
Flynn Keahi is your average 20 something just trying to survive life. He begins having nightmares that keep repeating themselves over and over. He finally checks into a mental ward where he finds out, he may not be as crazy as he thinks.
You will not be able to put this book down. From page one it is captivating, pulse raising, and definitely makes you question your own sanity; it's a complete page turner! Ms. Saulson plays on every fear we have in our dreamland and in our reality. She takes our emotions and purees them in a blender. And worse yet? Every one of us can relate to these characters. Prepare to fall in love, be filled with fear and dread, and be drawn into a tale that may just give you nightmares. Sleep well...
October 2, 2014
Lets face it, love isn’t easy. No one knows that better than Flynn and Charlotte, they fell in love at first sight but the world seems to be against them. Flynn has been having nightmares and they are starting to cross over into reality. No one believes Flynn and his therapist decides it would be best if Flynn spends a little time in a mental hospital, where he meets Charlotte.
Charlotte is half human, half somnali and is the daughter of the Greek God of erotic nightmares, Brash. Being somnali means that Charlotte can enter dreams and prey upon humans, causing them to die in their sleep. Nyx, The Greek goddess of the night, knows that Brash’s children are killing humans and decides to put a stop to it. She states that if Flynn survives the torture from the somnali, she will grant Brash’s family more power, but if Flynn dies, she will turn all the somnali into humans. Which is a fate worse than death for god like creatures.
So now Flynn is under the protection of Charlotte and the fate of the world hangs in the balance. If Flynn lives, many humans will die, but if he dies, somnali can no longer kill humans in their sleep. To say that Charlotte and Flynn have a complicated relationship is an understatement. The big question in this book is: does true love really conquer all?
Happiness And Other Diseases by Sumiko Saulson is a tragic love story that includes dark humor, greek mythology and some moments of pure horror. I love how the horror and humor are mixed, such as when one character is getting eaten by an animal in a dream. Another character shows up in the dream with popcorn and does commentary on the nightmare. I also liked when Brash describes how Charlotte handled a cockroach problem.
The main reason why you should want to read Happiness And Other Diseases is for the love story. This is not your average romance that you see in other books. Both Flynn and Charlotte have issues, their relationship starts in a mental hospital and that should tell you something. Flynn has no friends, no jobs and a mythological creature wants him dead. Things can’t get worse, but then Charlotte comes along and his life starts to get better. Of course things getting better for Flynn isn’t necessarily a good thing. Which is where the tragedy lies in their relationship. One scene that I thought was beautifully done was when one of Charlotte’s sisters makes living voodoo dolls from Charlotte and Flynn’s DNA. Then she demonstrates that even when she separates the dolls, they struggle to get back together.
Another thing I liked about their relationship is that their roles are reversed. When they meet for the first time Charlotte kisses Flynn’s hand, Charlotte is like a knight in shinning armor and is the leader in the relationship. Flynn is a broken man and Charlotte puts his pieces back together, he gets his life back and even though Charlotte likes to torture him, Flynn likes it. One scene I thought was funny is was when Flynn is in Brash’s home. Brash makes him bow and then laughs to Charlotte saying “He’s just so subservient.” Flynn is a strong character though, he knows the responsibility he has to the world and takes it seriously.
One thought I had while reading this book was that given the circumstances of Flynn and Charlotte’s relationship there is no way this book can end happily. I also thought that if Sumiko doesn’t give Charlotte and Flynn a happy ending, I’m going to be upset. Well I can’t tell you what the ending is but I will say that I was satisfied and you should give Happiness And Other Diseases a try. There are not many romances out there like this one.
Charlotte is half human, half somnali and is the daughter of the Greek God of erotic nightmares, Brash. Being somnali means that Charlotte can enter dreams and prey upon humans, causing them to die in their sleep. Nyx, The Greek goddess of the night, knows that Brash’s children are killing humans and decides to put a stop to it. She states that if Flynn survives the torture from the somnali, she will grant Brash’s family more power, but if Flynn dies, she will turn all the somnali into humans. Which is a fate worse than death for god like creatures.
So now Flynn is under the protection of Charlotte and the fate of the world hangs in the balance. If Flynn lives, many humans will die, but if he dies, somnali can no longer kill humans in their sleep. To say that Charlotte and Flynn have a complicated relationship is an understatement. The big question in this book is: does true love really conquer all?
Happiness And Other Diseases by Sumiko Saulson is a tragic love story that includes dark humor, greek mythology and some moments of pure horror. I love how the horror and humor are mixed, such as when one character is getting eaten by an animal in a dream. Another character shows up in the dream with popcorn and does commentary on the nightmare. I also liked when Brash describes how Charlotte handled a cockroach problem.
The main reason why you should want to read Happiness And Other Diseases is for the love story. This is not your average romance that you see in other books. Both Flynn and Charlotte have issues, their relationship starts in a mental hospital and that should tell you something. Flynn has no friends, no jobs and a mythological creature wants him dead. Things can’t get worse, but then Charlotte comes along and his life starts to get better. Of course things getting better for Flynn isn’t necessarily a good thing. Which is where the tragedy lies in their relationship. One scene that I thought was beautifully done was when one of Charlotte’s sisters makes living voodoo dolls from Charlotte and Flynn’s DNA. Then she demonstrates that even when she separates the dolls, they struggle to get back together.
Another thing I liked about their relationship is that their roles are reversed. When they meet for the first time Charlotte kisses Flynn’s hand, Charlotte is like a knight in shinning armor and is the leader in the relationship. Flynn is a broken man and Charlotte puts his pieces back together, he gets his life back and even though Charlotte likes to torture him, Flynn likes it. One scene I thought was funny is was when Flynn is in Brash’s home. Brash makes him bow and then laughs to Charlotte saying “He’s just so subservient.” Flynn is a strong character though, he knows the responsibility he has to the world and takes it seriously.
One thought I had while reading this book was that given the circumstances of Flynn and Charlotte’s relationship there is no way this book can end happily. I also thought that if Sumiko doesn’t give Charlotte and Flynn a happy ending, I’m going to be upset. Well I can’t tell you what the ending is but I will say that I was satisfied and you should give Happiness And Other Diseases a try. There are not many romances out there like this one.
November 9, 2014
This is not just a lovely novel, its a whole universe and mythos brought to life. Take a dash of Toni Morrison, a healthy dose of Neil Gaiman, and take a trip down Clive Barker street and you get a taste for what this experience is about, but Sumiko Saulson brings it to life with her own unique voice. Don't miss this!
October 15, 2014
ARC Review
Happiness and Other Diseases touched my heart, then ripped it out through my chest, but I was begging for it, and I’m ready for more.
Flynn, a troubled young man is plagued with nightmares. As with most things, help doesn’t come cheap, and things are usually more complicated than they appear. When Gods play chess, we are their pawns. Limited and weak, but still capable of taking the king. Happiness and other diseases is Sumiko’s chess board, sitting in the rec-room of a mental hospital, and she’s a Grand Master.
I loved the way this book was written. It’s a fusion of many great genres and her use of them was very tasteful. She has a unique voice, and I would put her in the same bracket with all the best authors in fiction. I look forward to reading more from this series, and collecting more of her work as it comes out.
The Characters were all believable and vivid. Even her villains were the kind that you love to hate, and I enjoyed the moments of the story when we got to see things from their perspective.
One of the most notable features of this story was the control of mood. When she wants you to feel uncomfortable and scared you do, when she want’s you to laugh you laugh, and that might all happen within moments of each other. A very vivid and natural reading experience.
The Cons:
The book was too damn eventful, I couldn’t put it down.
I learned my lesson after the first night of reading. It was already past my bedtime, but I picked it up. 4 Hours later I had hit 50% and had the worst sleep deprivation and dehydration headache. It was cool though because it helped drive the theme for me.
For some reason there was a small portion in the middle of this book that bored me. I was thinking “Oh Gawd please don’t be like this for the rest of the book”, but the lull only lasted a few pages. I’ll have to admit it was more a false expectation on my part, not really a flaw in the novel. I’m trying really hard to find something to complain about, but I can’t, it was really solid.
I’m afraid to describe too much, because spoilers suck, so I’ll end my review with this :
Do you like Greco-Roman, Weird Fiction, Dark Humor, Good Dialog, Wild Sex, fun plots, and a splash of horror? Then this book’s for you.
Happiness and Other Diseases touched my heart, then ripped it out through my chest, but I was begging for it, and I’m ready for more.
Flynn, a troubled young man is plagued with nightmares. As with most things, help doesn’t come cheap, and things are usually more complicated than they appear. When Gods play chess, we are their pawns. Limited and weak, but still capable of taking the king. Happiness and other diseases is Sumiko’s chess board, sitting in the rec-room of a mental hospital, and she’s a Grand Master.
I loved the way this book was written. It’s a fusion of many great genres and her use of them was very tasteful. She has a unique voice, and I would put her in the same bracket with all the best authors in fiction. I look forward to reading more from this series, and collecting more of her work as it comes out.
The Characters were all believable and vivid. Even her villains were the kind that you love to hate, and I enjoyed the moments of the story when we got to see things from their perspective.
One of the most notable features of this story was the control of mood. When she wants you to feel uncomfortable and scared you do, when she want’s you to laugh you laugh, and that might all happen within moments of each other. A very vivid and natural reading experience.
The Cons:
The book was too damn eventful, I couldn’t put it down.
I learned my lesson after the first night of reading. It was already past my bedtime, but I picked it up. 4 Hours later I had hit 50% and had the worst sleep deprivation and dehydration headache. It was cool though because it helped drive the theme for me.
For some reason there was a small portion in the middle of this book that bored me. I was thinking “Oh Gawd please don’t be like this for the rest of the book”, but the lull only lasted a few pages. I’ll have to admit it was more a false expectation on my part, not really a flaw in the novel. I’m trying really hard to find something to complain about, but I can’t, it was really solid.
I’m afraid to describe too much, because spoilers suck, so I’ll end my review with this :
Do you like Greco-Roman, Weird Fiction, Dark Humor, Good Dialog, Wild Sex, fun plots, and a splash of horror? Then this book’s for you.
July 30, 2015
We are all a little messed up in the head at times. Shoot, we may need a reset so we go see the funny farm. Nothing big. Right?
Had this meeting been something other than what it was, sure it would have been all sunshine and psyche meds. But this was far from it! When Flynn meets Charlotte at his mental vacation, they hit it off well. They find, through common ground, they have a lot of similar likes and dislikes. But if only Flynn knew what Charlette liked that he had yet to even know about!
I almost felt bad for Flynn. He really starts out as that average joe that we all miss on the streets. But then Mercy visits Flynn in hos dream, one night, and nothing was the same after that. The fear level rose but there a slight bit of erotica in there. It's just enough for you to use your imagination.
This book was one of my favorites of Sumiko's. It had a very smooth tempo to it. The characters were very well built and explained. The story never ended up clunky or muddled up with too much information. And vise verse, there were never parts where you felt lost because you didn't have all the information.
I will tell you this, this book will freak you out! It is in "horror" genre for a reason. Sumiko has the most deliciously evil, freaky, lovng, BDSM master brain EVER! Please, Sumiko! Give us more!
Had this meeting been something other than what it was, sure it would have been all sunshine and psyche meds. But this was far from it! When Flynn meets Charlotte at his mental vacation, they hit it off well. They find, through common ground, they have a lot of similar likes and dislikes. But if only Flynn knew what Charlette liked that he had yet to even know about!
I almost felt bad for Flynn. He really starts out as that average joe that we all miss on the streets. But then Mercy visits Flynn in hos dream, one night, and nothing was the same after that. The fear level rose but there a slight bit of erotica in there. It's just enough for you to use your imagination.
This book was one of my favorites of Sumiko's. It had a very smooth tempo to it. The characters were very well built and explained. The story never ended up clunky or muddled up with too much information. And vise verse, there were never parts where you felt lost because you didn't have all the information.
I will tell you this, this book will freak you out! It is in "horror" genre for a reason. Sumiko has the most deliciously evil, freaky, lovng, BDSM master brain EVER! Please, Sumiko! Give us more!
June 28, 2022
This was a fun read - except Spoiler Alert, it's a dark romance and very bad things happen to our hero Flynn in the end. If you've a penchant for Greek tales, and a book peopled with the neuro-divergent and folks of all kind, you've come to the right place. Flynn is a sweet, submissive with many issues. He's doesn't know who his father is, he's down on his luck, he's broke and has few friends, he's thrown in a mental hospital because he tormented by an evil greek being I can't recall the name of. Then, he meets someone who loves him and wants to have his baby. SPOILER ALERT too bad he has to be killed and eaten for this to occur. The writings good and the concepts unique. I'm more of a HEA girl where my pretty sweet submissive little Flynn gets a sweet life he deserves.
August 14, 2023
Fantastic work! The mythology was super interesting, and the relationships were surprisingly sweet considering all the delightfully wacky and sinister challenges they faced. Really great characters and the worldbuilding was fascinating and full of grounding details that made it very immersive. and of course, the kink! Highly recommend.
August 13, 2019
Excellent book!!!
July 18, 2016
I love pantheon-focused mythologies and have engaged in my fair share of BDSM and being a psychiatric inpatient. The scenarios are not only relatable to me, but Sumiko's beautiful, quirky, and dark literary style make it tolerable to face myself in the mirror.
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September 5, 2015Yeah. I wrote this book so I'm not going to give it a star rating. It's my favorite book by me, though.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews