Rise of the Gorgon

Series #1

by Tanai Walker

When a friend and troubled army veteran kills himself, independent Internet journalist Elle Pharell goes to Kuwait to investigate the mysterious private security firm he strangely does not remember working for until the day of his suicide. Elle hires brilliant interpreter Cass Hunt to help navigate the area. In a remote desert village, they find everything abandoned and no one to tell the story of what happened save one crazed local. Elle discovers a conspiracy involving the testing of biochemical weapons on civilians turning them into zombies.

Cass Hunt is the Gorgon, a mind control assassin sent by a shadowy corporation to thwart Elle’s investigation, to even kill her if she gets too close to the truth. What Cass’s handlers did not expect is an unexplainable attraction to her target. Together they must decide if it is safe to expose the truth or remain silent.

Genres: Romance, LGBT, Lesbian, Mystery, Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction

264 pages, Paperback

First published August 11, 2015

About the author

Tanai started writing strange little novels at the age of fourteen and dreamed of becoming a published author. She is a hard-core musicphile and enjoys everything from Bluegrass to Rap to Metal. She has an extensive collection of digital music files, CDs, and vinyl. Tanai is a total fangirl. The generous space allotted in this biography is not big enough to even begin to list all of her favorite fandoms. She studied graphic design at the Art Institute of Houston and uses what she learned there for her second passion, teaching art to inner city youth. She lives with her hilarious, wonderful wife, Janette, and their three dogs, Zeus, Zoey, and Beto. (from the publisher's website)

Reviews

[Diane Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

'NetGalley ARC provided by The Publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review'

**'What lasts in the reader's mind is not the phrase but the effect the phrase created: laughter,tears,pain,joy..'
Surprisingly good read!
My first time reading this author and i am blown away by both her writing style/skills and incredible penmanship. First let me say that the title might mislead you(the readers) but when you do get further into the storyline this is where everything becomes clearer and one starts to see the substantive and workable chemistry between Cass & Elle then the plot twist goes topsy turvy because it dives into this biochemical & zombie stuff where the author also added the US Government into this storyline and i know readers will not be disappointed. Highly recommended series to everyone!

[Jem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secret operatives. Shadowy black-ops groups. Dark conspiracies. Strange super powers. Cheesy zombies(!). Impossible lesbian love. An explosive combination! Loved it! Detailed review below.

Speculative fiction themes are so rare in lesfic novels that I almost invariably jump on every new release. Even rarer is spec-fic done well, so like Frank, I'm always prepared to be disappointed. But thankfully not this time!

Elle Pharell, an award winning, left-wing Internet journalist wrote a touching series on an unemployed ex-military suffering from PTSD. After doing the talk show rounds together during his 15-minute of fame, Elle helps the veteran get back on his own feet. But one day he shows up at Elle's office all riled up, claiming to remember some horrific scenes from his past--memories of things that never officially happened. Unable to stop the onslaught of these scenes in his head, the veteran chooses to end it all in front of Elle. Stunned and wracked with guilt, Elle flies to the other side of the world to find out if there is any truth to Rob's 'visions'.

That was an explosive and intriguing start. What follows then is an imaginative and thrilling tale of conspiracies, black-ops, spies, and would ya believe, zombies! Current issues (the proliferation of left/right wing media, conspiracy theorists, Middle East conflicts, evil private 'security firms') are deftly combined with futuristic elements like weaponized humans, memory erasure, and paranormal elements like psychic empathy and telekinesis.

The best thing about the book is the unpredictable plot--up to the very last line. While it isn't bulletproof (The newsperson in Anne would never have let Elle charge alone into the desert on a personal quest and not take advantage of the huge possibilities of a 'story' there--whether there was anything to it or not--the investigation would have been fully documented ala reality tv thing for the heck of it :) And that would have meant an accompanying photographer and a satellite phone, at the least. And speaking of phones, I'd love to have Elle's amazing phone. It never runs out of juice and has signal everywhere! Also, if Elle was trying to prove or disprove Rob's memories, she would have been religiously documenting her progress and investigation, and getting the word out to Anne as soon as she got proof, but no, she acted like it was just a personal quest and documenting it seemed like just an afterthought--something against a reporter's very nature. Also the zombies bit was so cliche it almost read like a parody. ) Fortunately, these are just minor quibbles. it is just believable enough to not cause too many eyerolls. Things start to get really interesting once the plot veers into unknown territory, as in once we get past the biochem-weapons-testing-on-natives trope. Much of the appeal has to do with Cass and Elle's impossible situation--one torn between love and duty, the other between survival and the truth. Cass' journey is the more dramatic of the two central conflicts, but alas, this is also where the book falters. Her transformation lacks the deep emotional exploration that it warrants. For someone raised to kill, her 'turning' was too easy, too quick. I think this was probably a conscious decision of the author to keep the book length down or the pacing fast. Still, it could have added so much more depth to the character.

Despite the minor faults, this is still a very enjoyable thriller. Something along the vein of 'The Elite Operatives' but darker. The ending hints of or rather, requires a sequel. No need to wait for that though, since the main story arc is complete.

4.85 stars

ARC copy received from Netgalley

[XR · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an exciting read for me, and I really liked it.

And although this is a work of fiction, it's really not that far fetched to see the lengths people and corporations will go through for an extra buck. Elle is the kind of character you want all the good things for and Cass... you'll be rooting for her the moment you meet her, even if she does go on a bit of a killing spree.

Anyhow... based on the ending, I've my fingers crossed for a sequel that gives Elle and Cass a chance to kick some secret corporate arse.

[J H · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mysterious suicide, espionage, and super soldiers

SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO: POC author/character, not a romance, out of your comfort zone, non-US/UK setting, unusual job, possibly other categories

TRIGGER WARNING: military veteran suicide

This was a great story and was set up for at least one follow-up book, which never happened. The first MC was a journalist from a minor media source who witnessed the suicide of a very troubled veteran in her office. (The scene was described in the story.) Her journalist's gut instinct told her that there was more to the incident than she already knew, and it set her off onto an unexpected journey to Kuwait. From there, much, much more came to light. New connections were made, most of whom were mercenaries, and a fact finding trip became an all out mission.

The second MC was one of the mercenaries, but she also had unknown ties to the greater group of a corrupt military faction. There were futuristic/sci-fi tech and human experimentation used by the cabal in order to accomplish their "evil deeds." The merc and journalist uncovered a majority of the hidden secrets and projects, and became romantically involved during the operation. The book sort of ended like a cliffhanger, with the obvious intent of uncovering more about the faction, the mercenary breaking ties, and the romance being moved developed. It was a good story, but I would have loved a sequel.

[Celina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am thinking this is just book 1?? Because if not, that ending was crazy..

[QUEERcentric Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Christina for QUEERcentric Books

Rise of the Gorgon by Tanai Walker… wow. This is the first full-length lesbian novel I’ve ever read and just wow. I. FREAKING. LOVED. IT! LOOOOOOOOOVVVVEEEEED IT!!!!

PELICAN BRIEF MEETS THE WALKING DEAD

I feel like this novel is James Bond meets The Bourne series meets The Pelican Brief meets The Walking Dead. Only with female heroes.

I’m a huge conspiracy nut. I don’t believe in a lot of the theories, but I enjoy listening to them, the back-and-forth banter, and the facts or “facts” that build the theory.

Rise of the Gorgon was ripe with a military conspiracy that has plagued past generations and was brought to great height during WWII. Government created zombies.

Elle is a journalist and co-founder of The Green Patriot. She brings to light the injustice done to our military veterans on their return home. During this time, she befriends a veteran by the name of Rob. When she met Rob, he was homeless, jobless, and suffering from PTSD. After time together, Rob had a job and had recently purchased some land where he had a trailer.

One day Rob shows up at The Green Patriot very disturbed and upset. He confides in Elle that he’s having memories of a time after he left the military and went into the private security sector. He remembers doing very bad things to nomads in Kuwait. Then pulls out a pistol and shoots himself in the head.

Elle goes on a mission to Kuwait to figure out what haunted Rob. Why did kill himself? One of the people on her team when she reaches Kuwait is Cassandra Hunt. Elle believes Cassandra, Cass, is her translator. She’s really a trained assassin of the most unusual form.

Cassandra, aka the Gorgon, goes on numerous missions that she never remembers. This one is different the moment she sees Elle. Just a picture, not even in person. As soon as they see each other, everything for Cassandra changes.

She remembers her mission. Remembers her orders. But Elle…Elle.

When they arrive in a little village outside of Kuwait city, they run into one villager—only one. He speaks of a sorcerer coming and infecting the villagers with the jinn, stealing their souls.

The group decides to spend the night in the village to see if they can come across any of these soulless villagers. Come nightfall the village is overtaken with mindless, walking corpses.

The group makes it out with only one casualty and heads back to the hotel in Kuwait City. However, Cassandra and Elle’s reprieve is short lived because the same horde arrives at their hotel. The ladies fight their way out, only for a black van to pull up outside and unload more soulless corpses!

Can zombies drive? What the heck? This question I asked myself repeatedly. Once I thought I had it figured out and could move forward, some new piece of evidence would come to light and throw my whole theory out the window.

Cassandra takes them to a safe house. But with Cassandra always monitored and Elle still alive is it truly safe?

I loved that this novel constantly kept me on my toes. It constantly kept me thinking and re-thinking, with so many different twists I didn’t see coming but were completely plausible. I think that’s what I truly loved the most about Rise of the Gorgon, its plausibility.

Just a fair bit of warning. I believed this book to be a stand-alone, but the ending is so open, which excites me and upsets me. I’m happy that I’ll hopefully get to read more of Cassandra and Elle. I guess I’m a bit upset because I wasn’t forewarned about the ending beforehand. Excitement overrules my upsetness though. Everyday.

If you’re open-minded to governmental military conspiracy theories, zombies, and sexy lesbians, you’ll definitely love Rise of the Gorgon.

[L. Cherelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Rise of the Gorgon, author Tanai Walker peels back fabricated reality to delve into a world that unveils the truth behind conspiracy theories. Elle Pharell is a journalist with a skin thick enough to repel the verbal bullets that conservative pundits throw at her and her mentor/business partner, Anne Humphries, on a daily basis. No amount of grit, however, could shield Elle from witnessing the suicide of her friend Rob Loera, an army veteran with severe PTSD. Elle travels to Kuwait City in search of the private security firm that Rob worked for after several tour of duties, a firm that may have contributed to Rob’s mental health struggles and death. Elle is aided by Cassandra Hunt (a skilled translator) and ex-military men who know the lay of the land.

Elle had no idea her search would land her in a secret world filled with assassins, hordes of possessed/zombie-like people, and operatives that hold the keys to biochemical warfare and mind control. Cassandra protects Elle at every turn— even after her cover is blown and it’s revealed that her original mission was to kill Elle. Cassandra finds herself torn between duty and Elle, a woman who captured her interest upon first meeting. Elle is smitten, too. She can’t deny the immediate attraction they share, and she trusts Cassandra to deliver her to safe ground. In the end, Elle’s journey to Kuwait City is bittersweet.

Elle’s drive to vindicate Rob interested me, and the author drew curiosities from both Elle and Cassandra’s perspectives. But, I found myself lost about the roles of the secret factions that popped up throughout Elle’s run for safety; I never understood whether there was a difference between Olympus and Olympicorp.

As the title suggests, Cassandra is a Gorgon, which references to a mythical creature from Greek mythology. She possesses extraordinary abilities that her enemies should fear. Initially, she’s a mindless weapon that leads a life with no substance; therefore, her attraction to Elle made sense to me. Elle’s attraction to Cassandra didn’t. She quickly abandoned her resolve for a stranger; they didn’t share a brief history or any commonalities or personal interests. Because there was no context to their relationship, the romantic element undermined the author’s strengths in weaving a thriller— a thriller lead by a Black lesbian character.

Moreover, Elle was initially presented as an intelligent journalist who should have maintained enough professional integrity to curb the personal while in Kuwait. The overall premise was sensible; however, during rising danger and tension, Elle dismissed strategy for a string of f-bombs.

To end, the plot events shaped a forward moving and twisting narrative, but I wish the plot could have been simplified a little so that it didn’t overrun the story or the potential for Elle to be more than a flat character. I wanted Elle to have a deeper emotional journey. After all, the author shares on her website that she created Elle “in honor of black women struggling to just be seen and heard in a culture that does not necessarily value pursuits that don’t involve athletics, dancing or singing.” I appreciate this observation and understanding that we deserve narratives beyond the superficial, and that our pursuits are highly diverse— as evidenced in part of Elle’s characterization.

[This review first appeared on the The BLLC Review.]

[Frank Van Meer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This came highly recommended by a GR friend. So, of course I gave it a go, while knowing that the subject of zombies has no appeal to me whatsoever.

Sadly, my dear GR friend, my feelings about zombies are once again confirmed. I just don't get it, I guess.

Sorry :)