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Sixes Wild #1.5
Windfall
What do you do when the world gets bigger?
Minor celebrities Max and Kylie have always fit together perfectly, both on the screen and behind the cameras. But it's not until their show is cancelled and they go their separate ways that they begin to wonder if they might have been more than just friends.
Now, Kylie struggles to adjust to life in Windfall, the little New England town whose weird local legends inspired the show. When Max comes to visit for the summer, she strives to let him know how she feels about him—without exposing him to the chilling secrets she's begun to uncover in her new home.
Minor celebrities Max and Kylie have always fit together perfectly, both on the screen and behind the cameras. But it's not until their show is cancelled and they go their separate ways that they begin to wonder if they might have been more than just friends.
Now, Kylie struggles to adjust to life in Windfall, the little New England town whose weird local legends inspired the show. When Max comes to visit for the summer, she strives to let him know how she feels about him—without exposing him to the chilling secrets she's begun to uncover in her new home.
326 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2015
1 person is currently reading
50 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 21, 2019
I saw in other reviews that this book was intended to be a Lovecraftian-style horror novel.
In that regard, the author failed.
What he created instead, was a charming romance with light horror undertones. And it was wonderful because of it. The characters were a delight to read about, and it was nice seeing their relationship develop over the course of the novel. The horror elements don't even really kick in until about halfway through, and even then they often take a backseat to the budding romance between the two mains.
When the horror plotline finally comes to a head and the antagonistic force reveals itself... it all feels a bit underwhelming. This was certainly the weakest part of the book.
Otherwise though, a great read.
In that regard, the author failed.
What he created instead, was a charming romance with light horror undertones. And it was wonderful because of it. The characters were a delight to read about, and it was nice seeing their relationship develop over the course of the novel. The horror elements don't even really kick in until about halfway through, and even then they often take a backseat to the budding romance between the two mains.
When the horror plotline finally comes to a head and the antagonistic force reveals itself... it all feels a bit underwhelming. This was certainly the weakest part of the book.
Otherwise though, a great read.
September 21, 2018
Loved it! Was a wonderful, romance/erotica story, sprinkled with a little horror.
I appreciated the saucy bits as they definitely took me where I wanted to go. Would have liked just a tad more build up to the villain/antagonist, thus four stars, but worth the read.
Would recommend and have recommended.
I appreciated the saucy bits as they definitely took me where I wanted to go. Would have liked just a tad more build up to the villain/antagonist, thus four stars, but worth the read.
Would recommend and have recommended.
August 9, 2016
This book was recommended to me at Rainfurrest 2015 as a Lovecraftian horror novel. As I started reading this book, I checked out the author and artist's blogs to see them referring to the story as a summer romance with Lovecraftian horror. Now that I am finished the novel, I saw many things, some good, some bad, but the one thing I didn't see was the one reason I purchased the book... Lovecraftian horror.
Windfall is an interesting book. The book's blurb sums up its subject matter perfectly. Tempe O'Kun has written possibly one of the best summer romance books tinged with erotica that I have ever read. The relationship between Max and Kylie is handled perfectly. The constant switches between their point of views helps to not only build their sexual tension, but also helps you to understand their motives and to create a build of emotions that will lead the reader to practically beg them to come together as a couple. This is helped by Slate's illustrations which add a wonderful amount of cute romance and steamy sexuality. As stated, as far as a summer romance book, with erotic scenes, this book is easily a 4.5-5 star rating. If you are looking for a good summer read that will have you longing for the days of first romances and the awkward joys that come with it, go buy this book. Seriously, it's worth it.
But that's not why I bought it. I bought it because it was described as having Lovecraftian horror in it. We're not talking horror involving Lovecraft's mythos here. We're talking about the horror that emphasizes the cosmic horror of the unknowable. Windfall only touches on this with the lightest of touches. Sure, there are mentions of unknowable creatures doing impossible things, but that's as far as it goes. This is also true of the horror within the novel. In total, there are maybe a handful of moments where the horror genre is touched, and none of them are truly scary.
Tempe O'Kun has a skill with characters. There are no characters among the cast of Windfall, minor or main, that I didn't enjoy reading about. Minor characters and their interactions are both entertaining and fascinating, each adding a certain flavor to the story that makes it enjoyable. As mentioned above, Kylie and Max as characters are simply a joy to read about. So much so, that while I was reading this (on my Honeymoon no less) I often had to set the book aside so that I could revel in the warm fuzzies that the story gave me. By the time the first erotic scene occurred I was practically skipping on my beach walks. Should I read this book again, it will be for the characters.
Another element that is handled extremely well in this novel is the integration of the anthropomorphic adjustments. Tail loops on pants, canine social media, pheromone perfume, waterbeds for otters, and many, many more. Each piece of technology fits into the story well and Tempe O'Kun has thought up some simply amazing bits of technology that makes his world work with animal characters. It all helps to create a believable world and one that is fun to explore. My only issue was with the inclusion of feral deer while having anthro deer. This created a break in the fantasy and one that kept coming up again and again which could have been rewritten without losing the suspension of disbelief.
Lastly, we come to the climax of the book and the falling action. The climax of the story was very much not. The entire resolution of the mystery of the town of Windfall plays out in a very subdued manner and in such a way that removed any and all fear, anxiety or tension from the story. We no longer fear for the characters, they no longer feel in danger, and you wonder why the characters themselves are still doing what they are doing now knowing what they know. In the end, it was an terribly disappointing ending. This is only saved by the epilogue which gives us a wonderfully romantic close to the summer romance story.
In the end, Windfall is a masterfully written summer romance tale and a terrible horror story. If you want a feel good story of young love, this is the book for you. I can not recommend it enough for that. But if you are looking for horror, especially Lovecraftian horror, then I recommend you look elsewhere as you will be greatly disappointed. Yes, I still gave this book a 3 star rating. It's much like ordering triple chocolate ice cream, getting vanilla, and finding out that it's the most amazing ice cream you have ever had. It's not what you asked for, but it is still heavenly.
Windfall is an interesting book. The book's blurb sums up its subject matter perfectly. Tempe O'Kun has written possibly one of the best summer romance books tinged with erotica that I have ever read. The relationship between Max and Kylie is handled perfectly. The constant switches between their point of views helps to not only build their sexual tension, but also helps you to understand their motives and to create a build of emotions that will lead the reader to practically beg them to come together as a couple. This is helped by Slate's illustrations which add a wonderful amount of cute romance and steamy sexuality. As stated, as far as a summer romance book, with erotic scenes, this book is easily a 4.5-5 star rating. If you are looking for a good summer read that will have you longing for the days of first romances and the awkward joys that come with it, go buy this book. Seriously, it's worth it.
But that's not why I bought it. I bought it because it was described as having Lovecraftian horror in it. We're not talking horror involving Lovecraft's mythos here. We're talking about the horror that emphasizes the cosmic horror of the unknowable. Windfall only touches on this with the lightest of touches. Sure, there are mentions of unknowable creatures doing impossible things, but that's as far as it goes. This is also true of the horror within the novel. In total, there are maybe a handful of moments where the horror genre is touched, and none of them are truly scary.
Tempe O'Kun has a skill with characters. There are no characters among the cast of Windfall, minor or main, that I didn't enjoy reading about. Minor characters and their interactions are both entertaining and fascinating, each adding a certain flavor to the story that makes it enjoyable. As mentioned above, Kylie and Max as characters are simply a joy to read about. So much so, that while I was reading this (on my Honeymoon no less) I often had to set the book aside so that I could revel in the warm fuzzies that the story gave me. By the time the first erotic scene occurred I was practically skipping on my beach walks. Should I read this book again, it will be for the characters.
Another element that is handled extremely well in this novel is the integration of the anthropomorphic adjustments. Tail loops on pants, canine social media, pheromone perfume, waterbeds for otters, and many, many more. Each piece of technology fits into the story well and Tempe O'Kun has thought up some simply amazing bits of technology that makes his world work with animal characters. It all helps to create a believable world and one that is fun to explore. My only issue was with the inclusion of feral deer while having anthro deer. This created a break in the fantasy and one that kept coming up again and again which could have been rewritten without losing the suspension of disbelief.
Lastly, we come to the climax of the book and the falling action. The climax of the story was very much not. The entire resolution of the mystery of the town of Windfall plays out in a very subdued manner and in such a way that removed any and all fear, anxiety or tension from the story. We no longer fear for the characters, they no longer feel in danger, and you wonder why the characters themselves are still doing what they are doing now knowing what they know. In the end, it was an terribly disappointing ending. This is only saved by the epilogue which gives us a wonderfully romantic close to the summer romance story.
In the end, Windfall is a masterfully written summer romance tale and a terrible horror story. If you want a feel good story of young love, this is the book for you. I can not recommend it enough for that. But if you are looking for horror, especially Lovecraftian horror, then I recommend you look elsewhere as you will be greatly disappointed. Yes, I still gave this book a 3 star rating. It's much like ordering triple chocolate ice cream, getting vanilla, and finding out that it's the most amazing ice cream you have ever had. It's not what you asked for, but it is still heavenly.
March 12, 2018
Astounding!
The characters came to life immediately, showing the innocence and sincerity of the main love interests. Unrequited love, being the force moving the plot forward, was evident from the first chapter. Though the characters are anthropomorphic, they read as realistic personalities. Their shyness, stubbornness and strengths area all relatable to young adults in the real world.
The SciFi element of the story came on a little quick. Looking back, it was teased based on the characters' backgrounds but not from a real world standpoint. Much more focus was paid to their relationship (or lack there of). This build continued to keep them in the limelight without paying much attention to the other events of the town until their love for one another was finally acted upon. Once the ball was rolling on these paranormal occurrences, everything flowed smoothly. It was just a quick turn.
As the story goes on you learn more about the town and the people. Some characters are introduced a bit late but this does not detract from the story. Instead, it adds to the suspicion that builds around the events they investigate.
WARNING: This novel contains adult concepts and situations. Not for children! This may not be evident from the cover art. Speaking as someone who rarely reads romance, I was not expecting it to be as sexual as it was but those scenes were written in way that comes off romantic and compassionate. Just enough time is spent on the scenes to reveal and enhance the bond between the characters without fetishizing the scenes. Wonderful balance between romance and scifi once all elements are introduced.
The characters came to life immediately, showing the innocence and sincerity of the main love interests. Unrequited love, being the force moving the plot forward, was evident from the first chapter. Though the characters are anthropomorphic, they read as realistic personalities. Their shyness, stubbornness and strengths area all relatable to young adults in the real world.
The SciFi element of the story came on a little quick. Looking back, it was teased based on the characters' backgrounds but not from a real world standpoint. Much more focus was paid to their relationship (or lack there of). This build continued to keep them in the limelight without paying much attention to the other events of the town until their love for one another was finally acted upon. Once the ball was rolling on these paranormal occurrences, everything flowed smoothly. It was just a quick turn.
As the story goes on you learn more about the town and the people. Some characters are introduced a bit late but this does not detract from the story. Instead, it adds to the suspicion that builds around the events they investigate.
WARNING: This novel contains adult concepts and situations. Not for children! This may not be evident from the cover art. Speaking as someone who rarely reads romance, I was not expecting it to be as sexual as it was but those scenes were written in way that comes off romantic and compassionate. Just enough time is spent on the scenes to reveal and enhance the bond between the characters without fetishizing the scenes. Wonderful balance between romance and scifi once all elements are introduced.
January 16, 2019
This story is unique; I've never read a book that was so wildly imaginative while at the same time feeling grounded in reality and somehow completely believable. The author rewards your suspension of disbelief with solid worldbuilding, good character development (even for minor characters), and a vicarious experience of a very different, but strangely friendly and welcoming world. The characters feel real, and most are charming, witty and entertaining, while the ones that serve as antagonists range from the comical to an actual Eldritch abomination. After reading "The spaceship nextdoor" I didn't think I'll find a book that much to my liking, narrated with style and eloquence, and now I've found this one. I never had a moment of thinking "The talking beaver is fighting an alien, I'm done with this", and this is only possible because the prose is excellent, the dialogue is superb, and the characters are endearing. There are a lot of emotional moments, character development, and the characters have relatable problems (which is hard to do in a sci-fi story)The story itself, without giving away too much of it, is like a mixture of Zootopia, Stranger Things and a romance novel. The only bad thing is that now I want another book like this one, so time to check the author's other works (update: there's a sequel!)
December 5, 2017
In this anthropomorphic novel, which is supposedly set in the same universe as the author’s Sixes Wild series, albeit in contemporary times, husky Max Saber sits on a train, not missing his recent television stardom on the recently-ended series “Strangeville” (with each chapter opening with a fictitious synopsis of an episode from the franchise), and is traveling to the eponymous New England town of Windfall (the specific state where it is left a mystery) to meet his otter friend Kylie Bevy, a costar of the television show who works for a tabby cat boss named Chane, and a cocker spaniel coworker named Cindy Madison.
Max settles into his costar’s mansion, Bourn Manor, named after Kylie’s ancestral family whose marriages resulted in a change of surname, and which is full of alleged eccentrics, attributable to a mysterious entity that the husky glimpses while taking out the trash. Genealogical research ensues, alongside the eventual pursuit of the entity, with a few twists towards the end, and plenty of sexual scenes that ensure this story is for mature audiences. Overall, the story is fairly enjoyable, with the reader never left wondering the species of specific characters, although the intercourse sometimes gets in the way.
Max settles into his costar’s mansion, Bourn Manor, named after Kylie’s ancestral family whose marriages resulted in a change of surname, and which is full of alleged eccentrics, attributable to a mysterious entity that the husky glimpses while taking out the trash. Genealogical research ensues, alongside the eventual pursuit of the entity, with a few twists towards the end, and plenty of sexual scenes that ensure this story is for mature audiences. Overall, the story is fairly enjoyable, with the reader never left wondering the species of specific characters, although the intercourse sometimes gets in the way.
July 14, 2025
This is my first foray into the world of "furry" literature, so I don't have much to compare it to. I did, however, thoroughly enjoy reading this and would definitely want to check out the author's other works. The characters are fun and author makes good use of each character's species-specific attributes to make them interesting and unique. He has some interesting ideas for this fictional world that, no doubt, will resurface in future works. The risqué elements to the novel won't be to everyone's liking. It is done tastefully, but is rather explicit. A borderline case for me personally as to whether it adds to or distracts from an otherwise innocent and enjoyable plot.
October 2, 2019
An "otterly" adorable friends-to-lovers new adult anthropomorphic romance with a heavy dose of creepy adventure. The book is very funny and well-written, and I would totally watch the fictitious show these characters starred in. The story drags a bit in the middle and the sex scenes may be startlingly explicit for some, but an entertaining read overall.
October 30, 2018
Very interesting book, though the plot sometimes got a bit boring.
November 23, 2016
This is my first foray into the world of "furry" literature, so I don't have much to compare it to. I did, however, thoroughly enjoy reading this and would definitely want to check out the author's other works. The characters are fun and author makes good use of each character's species-specific attributes to make them interesting and unique. He has some interesting ideas for this fictional world that, no doubt, will resurface in future works. The risque elements to the novel won't be to everyone's liking. It is done tastefully, but is rather explicit. A borderline case for me personally as to whether it adds to or distracts from an otherwise innocent and enjoyable plot.
June 6, 2016
I was hardly going to be dissatisfied with a novel by Tempe starring a handsome husky, and I breezed through this light, fun read about two young actors from a sci-fi show exploring their offscreen feelings for each other. Zippy dialogue, delightful language and a comic sense of how things might work in a world populated by furries.
February 27, 2019
Overall pretty decent book with some mystery, action, romance, and various other elements. I will more than likely on a rainy day open this back up and give it another read through I hope to read more from the author.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews