What do you think?
Rate this book
The Artifact
Dr. Bentley Blake, professor of Old Earth Cultures, has a life that seems set in stone: he’ll teach his classes, write research papers, look out for his younger brother Jamie, and, hopefully, he’ll find love somewhere along the way. It’s not an exciting life, but it’s solid and safe. All that changes the day he meets Harlow “Remy” Oakes, a mysterious and handsome man who invites Ben on a quest to find a deadly artifact. Ben declines the invitation, but after an attempted abduction, his life is thrown into chaos. Forced to join in with Oakes, a man he doesn’t trust, Ben finds danger at every turn. Will he and Jamie make it out alive? And will Ben be able to stifle the growing attraction he feels for Harlow Oakes?
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 28, 2014
21 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
J.E. Lorin
7 books92 followersAuthor of sci fi and fantasy themed gay romance novels. Lives in North County San Diego.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 11, 2018
**grm**
This book started so well...The world building was good, and I could almost imagine living in their century with all the new technologies, but then it became boring.
Along the way the story started losing my interest. There wasn't enough romance or feelings. Most of the time there was angst, and also if I could understand that the book wasn't a love story but more a mystery, I still felt as if it missed that side that could make me part of it as a reader.
The epilogue wasn't satisfying. I would have expected to read about something new happening in all the chars lives, but in reality it only seemed a continuation of the previous chapter and not really an end. Usually I'd want to see "2 years later" or something like that, and see something new that otherwise we wouldn't have been able to know if the book had ended with the last chapter. For a second when Ben's assistant told him that a man who called himself his husband, and was waiting for him in his study, had came, I smiled thinking that the author would say to us they had gotten married in the pages we didn't see and maybe something more had happened in that lass of time, but I was wrong. Remy had only tricked the assistant to make him rush to call Ben, since they hadn't seen each other for months. So pratically nothing new, and that really annoyed me.
This book started so well...The world building was good, and I could almost imagine living in their century with all the new technologies, but then it became boring.
Along the way the story started losing my interest. There wasn't enough romance or feelings. Most of the time there was angst, and also if I could understand that the book wasn't a love story but more a mystery, I still felt as if it missed that side that could make me part of it as a reader.
The epilogue wasn't satisfying. I would have expected to read about something new happening in all the chars lives, but in reality it only seemed a continuation of the previous chapter and not really an end. Usually I'd want to see "2 years later" or something like that, and see something new that otherwise we wouldn't have been able to know if the book had ended with the last chapter. For a second when Ben's assistant told him that a man who called himself his husband, and was waiting for him in his study, had came, I smiled thinking that the author would say to us they had gotten married in the pages we didn't see and maybe something more had happened in that lass of time, but I was wrong. Remy had only tricked the assistant to make him rush to call Ben, since they hadn't seen each other for months. So pratically nothing new, and that really annoyed me.
May 18, 2019
3.5 Stars
Better than I was expecting, and yet for some reason I couldn't connect with the characters. I LOVE scifi, so color me disappointed. I felt like there was a lack of emotion, like the romance was a "told" aspect rather than a "shown" one (even with the sex scenes). But I did like the plot and could actually "see" the action taking place in my head.
I don't know if I just see Firefly in everything, but the failed experiment/abandoned planet reminded me a little bit of Miranda (minus the Reavers, thankfully)...and the ensuing action very Big Damn Hero-ish. I still enjoyed the book, though.
Better than I was expecting, and yet for some reason I couldn't connect with the characters. I LOVE scifi, so color me disappointed. I felt like there was a lack of emotion, like the romance was a "told" aspect rather than a "shown" one (even with the sex scenes). But I did like the plot and could actually "see" the action taking place in my head.
I don't know if I just see Firefly in everything, but the failed experiment/abandoned planet reminded me a little bit of Miranda (minus the Reavers, thankfully)...and the ensuing action very Big Damn Hero-ish. I still enjoyed the book, though.
May 19, 2017
Fantastic emotion filled adventure. This story has a lot of twists and turns. Love the characters.
November 4, 2017
Great storyline, great characters....sometimes I had a feeling it was a bit dragging but it was only shortfelt. Great job!
June 17, 2017
Best book I've read in a long time
I liked everything about this book and found it very hard to put down. It's certainly well written, and the main characters are all pretty interesting with secrets that unfold as the adventure progresses.
I do love reading gay themed stories, and I've read more than a hundred over the last year, but after a while they start to read like porno. Not that sex in a story is a bad thing, but sometimes a little goes a long way, and the thrill of the chase is better.
Of course we want to see Ben and Remy end up together, but the route they take to get there doesn't always have to read like the penthouse forum. Instead, this is a real adventure, set in a different time, with a storyline so well put together I think it would be a decent movie, even for TV or straight to DVD.
My thanks to you J. E. Lorin, you've definitely made another fan here and my next read will certainly be another one of your books.
I liked everything about this book and found it very hard to put down. It's certainly well written, and the main characters are all pretty interesting with secrets that unfold as the adventure progresses.
I do love reading gay themed stories, and I've read more than a hundred over the last year, but after a while they start to read like porno. Not that sex in a story is a bad thing, but sometimes a little goes a long way, and the thrill of the chase is better.
Of course we want to see Ben and Remy end up together, but the route they take to get there doesn't always have to read like the penthouse forum. Instead, this is a real adventure, set in a different time, with a storyline so well put together I think it would be a decent movie, even for TV or straight to DVD.
My thanks to you J. E. Lorin, you've definitely made another fan here and my next read will certainly be another one of your books.
November 21, 2017
Overall a solid 4.5 book rounded down. A very interesting story different from what I expected. I appreciated the time spent to actually build and set up the events that happened in the resolution instead of them conveniently just appearing. I was pleased with how loose ends were connected and tied up. I loved both the main characters and supporting ones. There were no major dislikes, and just a few minor issues. None of which took me out of the story. In fact, I found myself drawn in more and more as the story progressed.
May 20, 2017
This was a very action packed read! Loved the characters and how they grew throughout the story. There are some great surprises and a lot going on, so you really have to pay attention. J.E. Lorin truly created a world that wraps around you and the characters are really fleshed out. Loved the book!!
October 27, 2017
<3
I loved it, that‘s all I need to say...just..ya‘ll just need to read it for yourselves if you haven‘t yet. <3
I loved it, that‘s all I need to say...just..ya‘ll just need to read it for yourselves if you haven‘t yet. <3
August 23, 2019
A great read.
This book was simply superb. Great world building. Great character outlines and a very excellent plot, with some great twists and surprises
This book was simply superb. Great world building. Great character outlines and a very excellent plot, with some great twists and surprises
January 11, 2015
Very good chemistry between Ben and his love interest!
June 29, 2015
I enjoyed this book a lot! Great plot, wonderful characters. Interesting twists & turns.
April 18, 2017
A good first book
The story is first a thriller and second a romance. The characters are good, but not great. The devolpment is strong though and the story moves at a good pace. The secondary characters are not as well developed. The author shows a lot of promise and is adept at mixing the thriller, romance, and sci-fi elements.
The story is first a thriller and second a romance. The characters are good, but not great. The devolpment is strong though and the story moves at a good pace. The secondary characters are not as well developed. The author shows a lot of promise and is adept at mixing the thriller, romance, and sci-fi elements.
April 23, 2017
Great read!!!!
A little slow in the beginning but when it got going it was the bomb. I loved the main characters, the plot was twisty the ending was terrific
A little slow in the beginning but when it got going it was the bomb. I loved the main characters, the plot was twisty the ending was terrific
May 2, 2017
a relatively short, genuine story set in an epic dystopian universe.
June 14, 2017
DNF @ 52%
The writing was good, but unfortunately nothing else really did anything for me. There was just too much unnecessary detail and not enough actual world building. It didn't help that the main character came across as incredibly boring to me; he was a dull man who liked being dull, and while that's a perfectly valid personality in real life, it doesn't exactly make for interesting reading. I was just... really bored, and in the end I had to give up for the sake of my sanity. The writing really was good, though.
The writing was good, but unfortunately nothing else really did anything for me. There was just too much unnecessary detail and not enough actual world building. It didn't help that the main character came across as incredibly boring to me; he was a dull man who liked being dull, and while that's a perfectly valid personality in real life, it doesn't exactly make for interesting reading. I was just... really bored, and in the end I had to give up for the sake of my sanity. The writing really was good, though.
Read
June 24, 2017Dropped at 22%.
I tried, but I just couldn't stop feeling angry on Ben's behalf for being forced to go on a quest with some strangers who couldn't be trusted. I think it's better for me if it's really black and white where bad guys hold Ben captive and force him to find The Key. Or if Ben goes on a quest while the bad guys pursue him. Oakes trying to be the good guy and his flirty behavior just made me more suspicious of him.
I tried, but I just couldn't stop feeling angry on Ben's behalf for being forced to go on a quest with some strangers who couldn't be trusted. I think it's better for me if it's really black and white where bad guys hold Ben captive and force him to find The Key. Or if Ben goes on a quest while the bad guys pursue him. Oakes trying to be the good guy and his flirty behavior just made me more suspicious of him.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews