Double Take

by J.K. Pendragon

Studying magical science at the prestigious Kemet Academy is a privilege and dream come true for Teka, a poor student from D'mt. But focusing on school doesn't mean xe can't also admire Hasani, the handsome graduate student overseeing Teka's work.

Then late one night at the school library, Teka runs into Hasani and is completely astonished when the stern, quiet man xe knows by day acts so flirty and casual, it's like he's a different person. When the late night encounter leads to dating, Teka can scarcely believe xyr luck.

But the luck plays out when xe discovers why Hasani seems so different between night and day, a discovery that seems to have no resolution except heartache...

(This book features a poly relationship between three people, two of whom are twin brothers.)

Genres: Fantasy, Transgender, LGBT, Romance, Queer, Historical, Gender

48 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 28, 2015

About the author

J.K Pendragon is a Canadian author with a love of all things romantic and fantastical. They first came to the queer fiction community through m/m romance, but soon began to branch off into writing all kinds of queer fiction. As a bisexual and genderqueer person, J.K. is dedicated to producing diverse, entertaining fiction that showcases characters across the rainbow spectrum, and provides queer characters with the happy endings they are so often denied. J.K. has several romance novels and short stories published with Less Than Three Press, and published their first Young Adult book, Junior Hero Blues with Riptide Publishing's new YA imprint Triton Books in November 2016.

Notable works by J.K. Pendragon include Junior Hero Blues, a light-hearted YA Superhero novel, and To Summon Nightmares, a horror-fantasy that follows the journey of a young trans man into a world of magic and danger. To Summon Nightmares is the winner of the 2015 Rainbow Awards' 'Best Transgender Fiction' award. J.K. also contributed to Less Than Three Press's 'Geek Out: A Collection of Trans and Genderqueer Romance' and wrote about their experiences in the romance community in '#Trans: An Anthology about Transgender and Nonbinary Identity Online.'

J.K. currently resides in British Columbia, Canada with a boyfriend, a cat, and a large collection of artisanal teas that they really need to get around to drinking. They are always happy to chat, and can be reached at jes.k.pendragon@gmail.com and on twitter @JKPendragon.

Reviews

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

hehe :) *rubs hands* This was so much fun!

DOUBLE TAKE is a short story, around 50 pages, and if you're looking for something sweet, hot, and different, you should seriously give this a try. I had a great time with it.

I wasn't really surprised by the twins revelation and saw that coming but it didn't really take away from my pleasure. And... bro/twincest *sigh* I think it's super HOT.

Loved the concept of the body altering. To be honest, I could see myself wanting to have both sexes.

This was the second book I read by the author and I'm looking forward to more.


*** Pre-review ***

This sounds really interesting and I wanted to read something by the author for some time now.

However, the pronouns used here (xe, xyr...) for a gender-neutral character, are somehow a challenge to me because I don't know how they are pronounced... and can't even come up with an idea how to pronounce them :-/

But I did some research and I found this audio, and think I am now prepared to read the book :-)

***

Article about Pronoun Talk by J.K. Pendragon

[Peter Millane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review originally appeared on www.readplayreview.com

Always a sucker for an Egyptian themed anything, I knew i’d be into this book as soon as I saw the cover. The description had me intrigued, what with the “magical science” and the hints at a steamy fling with a “handsome graduate student”. Of course I hit that download button.

WARNING: This is a book featuring adult sexual themes of a vivid nature. Do not pass go if you cannot handle this.

What’d I think?

Teka is an intriguing main character, and my interest piqued further once I noticed the use of gender neutral pronouns throughout the story. As it turns out, Teka, through magical means, transformed their own body to encompass multiple sex characteristics (and azure blue hair, of course). I’ve never before had the pleasure of reading a book that was told entirely from the point of view of a genderqueer individual, let alone one that would include incredibly raunchy sex scenes!

Double Take is a quick read, at a slender 14,300 words, though it moves briskly and with confidence. J.K. Pendragon has successfully woven a sensual love story with complex characters and a beautifully twisted ending. The love interest of the piece, Hisani, seems somewhat bland at first. Luckily we learn some juicy details about his past that ramp up the interest factor.

My only concern with Double Take is the lack of magical examples at the academy. I fear some may be disappointed that Double Take sits closer to Romance than the Fantasy genre. Both elements are there, but this is very obviously a romance heavy story with a few fantastical spices thrown in.

What’s the verdict?

For me personally, this was the perfect introduction to a genderqueer character, without being heavy handed in the dramatic. A solid love story with kink, I hope J.K. Pendragon graces us with more from this world as I would love to know more about Teka and Hasani.

★★★★

[Kas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had been looking forward to this since I read the summary for the first time. Nonbinary protagonist, an Egyptian school setting... Too good to be true.

Teka is a wonderful character and I loved xem immediately, but all the more for how xey just went for it to get what xey wanted. I love shy characters since I can so sincerely relate, but it is wonderful to have a character who is willing to seize a chance and damn the consequences.

The world is a little disorienting. I had no idea what they were talking about at first with the rats and, this being the first book I've read that uses xe pronouns, I did admittedly stumble a bit the first few pages. I was trying to kick my brain into gear with the pronouns while also trying to figure out what was going on with the magic they were using. And it certainly made sense down the road, but I was thrown for a loop with the magic at first...

As for the romance, I loved every moment between Teka and both of the twins. When the inevitable truth came out, it really was heartbreaking. I felt so badly for all three of them. Even knowing how things would work out, I felt Teka's sadness so well; it wasn't just what xey were losing but that xey had hurt both Manu and Mosi.

I really, truly wish there was more at the end than just the sex scene. I am glad they are all going to be together and certainly things seemed to work out in the bedroom, but I would love to see how things go for them in the future. Or, maybe, I'm just an extra soft touch for Mosi and want to see more of him having little moments of happiness because he has both the love he thought lost and the new love he found and he is just Too Cute.

I enjoyed this a lot, overall. My biggest complaint would only be, as ever, that I could do with more mushy moments of flirting and romance and a bit less of all the lust and sex... But that's just me.

[Lore Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Double Take is one of my favorite LGBTQ romance stories, and I strongly recommend it!

I have a weakness for anything with nonbinary protagonists, so I knew I couldn't resist reading Double Take from the moment I saw the description. From the beginning of the story, I liked Teka, which was refreshing as I often find myself lukewarm about romantic leads. Teka is a likable, realistic protagonist; xe's an excellent balance of emotional and intellectual, not prone to some of the melodramatic tendencies but also not cold and distant.

The author's handling of Teka demonstrates the author's familiarity with nonbinary genders. As someone who doesn't identify as male or female myself, I'm delighted to find a book with a protagonist I can relate to so closely. Heck, I've never found a story before outside of fandom that use xe/xem/xyr pronouns, so I'm delighted they're in use here!

It's hard to have a plot fit well into novelette length, but the pacing in this was excellent. It neither felt like it lacked a plot, nor like a longer story's beginning and end hastily glued together; the length was spot on for the story.

As icing on the cake, the world around the characters was interesting but didn't distract from the main story. I particularly like how gender, magic, and medicine are treated, and I appreciate the little details that stray from white-centric norms (such as Teka being sincerely complemented by a friend on her dark complexion). The setting takes some inspiration from Ancient Egypt yet provides plenty of fresh ideas.

[A.M. Leibowitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy via Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not sure where to start with this. I liked the genderqueer aspect of the story, and Teka was a great character. The Egyptian/magical setting had the feel to me of being similar to Manga/yaoi, which I also liked. I thought the world the author created was interesting, and I would love to read more stories set there.

I hadn't known going into it about one of the taboo aspects of the story, which I think would have been good to know ahead of time (and I'm not really sure how to discuss it without spoilers). It didn't necessarily bother me because there was no power imbalance, and it's not really a hard limit or particularly upsetting for me. However, it's not my usual kind of thing, and I think some others might be more bothered than I was.

Overall, it was very well-written and a quick, easy read with likable characters.

[Stephanie (Bookfever) · Rating 2 out of 5]

So... don't get me wrong. It wasn't a bad book but I just thought, personally, it was just okay. To start, I was a little bit confused with the gender neutral pronouns (am I getting this right?) that were used with Teka because I had never heard of something like it. I looked it up. So yeah I was confused about it. This doesn't mean that I didn't think it was good or even original using these but for a few moments I didn't know what I was reading there. But anyway, slowly the story unraveled and Teka got explained more about who he/she is. At this point I started liking it more but even so it wasn't the best story I have ever read. I also didn't care for Hasani. I don't want to give too much away but I was just thinking "eh" when things about him got revealed. So I was left a bit too confused and underwhelmed, in my opinion. But I do hope others will like it more.

[Onyx · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Double Take is too short to be anything more than startling. It weaves together several taboos in romance (click here to see incest, ménage) with an unconventional MC and it’s over before it really starts.

The main character is an androgynous student in a mythical magical ancient Egypt. Teka exists outside of the gender binary in name, pronouns, gender, and physicality. In short, xe is awesome. Xyr love interest is a smart and handsome student named Hasani. And then there is mistaken identity, and then there is sex.

Double Take is a very simple story, decently steamy, and refreshingly different. Recommended if you want something new but not necessarily substantial.

[A P · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could rate this a half star I would.

The cover art is misleading. Anything ancient Egypt related is merely a facade. There is no substance to it other than the love interest's looks. Which easily could have been described without that. The cover art was what snagged me without reading the blurb so I was sorely disappointed that it was just garnishing.

The romance is nonexistent. There is no build up, no chemistry, and certainly no personality to any of these characters other than a cursory categorization: the Main character, the Stoic, the Flirt, etc. Ebony Darkness Raven Way has more character.

The reader is told instead of shown that there are feelings that bloomed since their first meeting. The reference is just a few sentences in the past tense with no further exploration.

Their interactions lack any depth sadly. It didn't read as flirting so much as educating a cis person on manners and then small talk. I would have like to read about xir emotions such as butterflies in xir stomach, flushed cheeks, sweating in nervous joy, etc.

Over all this was a quick read. It took me maybe an hour collectively? The story is just drabbles of their original characters screwing each other laced together with the barest pretense of plot that is never actually followed through. If that's your cup of tea, this is definitely for you.

I enjoyed that Teka was queer and that xe used neopronouns. That was the only facet of xir being that we are given. I would have liked to have read more about xir world to give depth to how different xie were to everyone else.

I loved that Teka and xir friend were confidently queer. I would love to see more interactions between them as well as their surroundings.


If I misuse any of the pronouns please correct me. I've not had much practice in using them but i have tried my best.


This is not be trying to be hateful. I am genuinely just disappointed as the story's concept is interesting.

A P (they/them)

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in GEEK OUT: A COLLECTION OF TRANS AND GENDERQUEER ROMANCE.

HOO doggy. I'm still not sure how I feel about this one. Also, I was expecting the "twist" but I hoped I was wrong. So, yeah, since this is all behind a spoiler tag: heads up for twincest. Hot. But still.

[Shakera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teka is a student at Kemet Academy where Teka is studying magical science. Teka is gender neutral and has quite the crush on the graduate student/TA, Hasani, who's a bit uptight and strict. Both Teka and Hasani have a bit of a troubled past with family and how their families perceive them, what the family wants them to be and do. One night Teka encounters Hasani in the library and it's like he's a completely different person. He's flirty and laid back. And then the plot thickens. Given the title, it should be fairly easy to figure out the plot twist. I'm not saying it's an obvious plot twist, but it definitely makes the title fit.


While the description had me from the beginning, as you're reading the book... it could get a bit confusing as it is narrated through Teka, the main character. It was a very interesting read and I'm glad I was able to. The gender neutral pronouns do take some getting used to, but it definitely gave me an education (to which I am grateful for.) Overall, I enjoyed it.

[Keysmash Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first started reading this I had no idea that the xe set of pronouns were a thing. I wondered if the author made them up, to fit in with the magical world the story is set in. A quick Google search proved me wrong, and while the words were jarring at first (I pronounced them differently in my head every time, which led me to wondering what the right way was, and then I was out of the story and down the Wiki-hole) I got used to them fairly quickly, and I'm glad they exist. I'm glad the author used them, because it was educational to look up what they meant and see all the different pronouns that are available for people who prefer not to use "they." Anyway. Spoiler: the book features incest, which normally is a huge no for me. It works in this, partially because it's a convenient solution to a love triangle, but also because they're new characters living in a world with magic and a different set of social mores. I didn't love it, but it didn't squick me like usual either.

[Hart_D (ajibooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable erotic novel! This wasn't my first time reading about a genderqueer character, but it was my first time reading fiction featuring non-traditional pronouns. I admit that I was curious about how it would read, but it's all very natural, thanks to the author's deft hand. There was a good amount of character development for such a short book, without which the plot twist wouldn't have worked at all. The twist was pretty far-fetched, but the point-of-view character, Teka, reacted to the situation in what I felt was a realistic way. The love story side of things was surprisingly romantic, and the sex scenes were hot. As a sidenote, Teka's friendship with Maek helped add depth to Teka's character and gave the book a few humorous moments. There isn't a ton of world-building, but there's enough to give these characters context. Overall, this was a well-told tale. I look forward to reading more of J.K. Pendragon's work.

[Crystal Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very… different book that anything that I have read. It does have a taboo subject, there is incest between brothers, but it wasn’t done in a trashy way and it wasn’t the main focus of the story either.

I did enjoy how different the story was, it really wasn’t what I went into it thinking it would be. I did enjoy the twist of the magical training that was taking place. And I did also enjoy the other twists that happened throughout the story. I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to give away anything that happens in the story.

But I will say this, I was shocked by the story, but I did enjoy it. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a quick read. But be sure to go into it with an open mind!

Reviewed by Crystal Marie for Crystal’s Many Reviewers
Copy provided for review

[Khloe Kowalski · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars!

The first I read and one of my favorites out of the whole bundle because it opened my eyes to so many new things! I had never heard of such a pronoun before, and while it was a little hard to get used to at first as I went on it became easier and easier. A nice menage story features a genderqueer character and two hot brothers in a fantasy setting. It was a little too short for me, but overall a nice read!

[Macy Quirke · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a bit since I read it, but I did enjoy it. The premise was cool. I liked the magic and the gender neutral pronouns were neat, first book I read with them and it wasn't awkward at all. I liked all the characters... (end generic review???)

There is twincest, FYI, and I thought that part of it was well done and cool. I like the idea of accidentally dating both twins at the same time.

[Joseph · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like it. First of all the story was short to fully introduce the characters. Secondly, the most confusing part most people would agree with is how Teka is referred as Xe and Xer, that will get you confused until much later in the book. Lastly it covers a topic that I am not so comfortable with it, but I had just to finish. Thanks it was short.

[Lotta · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was only OK for me. A good, short read, but it didn't stir many feelings or capture me, so it's only a three. Granted, it was a very short read. I think it could have been fleshed out for more substance.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
Fun story but I found the lack on contractions in conversations a bit distracting.

[Inga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course they have blue hair and pronouns.
This alone should be recommendation enough.