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Hidden Talents #9
Man Down
DEAR READER: "Man Down" is no longer available. "Hidden Talents: A deliciously twisted m/m trilogy" is the recently published, full series in one volume. See it on Goodreads here.
The final installment of the Hidden Talents series. As the Talents are still reeling from another shattering loss and its bizarre effects on the survivors, Jackson's prophecy finally begins to unfold. When Ken is finally drawn into the war against KGA, the ARSI Talents must find a way to help him survive with his sanity. Ken's power isn't the only thing being put to the test. When Jin finally faces the truth behind the months he's spent at Ken's side, he finds himself torn between two worlds. Will his commitment to destroying KGA win out over his feelings for The Key? How much is Jin willing to sacrifice for the prodigious young Talent -- and could it possibly be enough?
The final installment of the Hidden Talents series. As the Talents are still reeling from another shattering loss and its bizarre effects on the survivors, Jackson's prophecy finally begins to unfold. When Ken is finally drawn into the war against KGA, the ARSI Talents must find a way to help him survive with his sanity. Ken's power isn't the only thing being put to the test. When Jin finally faces the truth behind the months he's spent at Ken's side, he finds himself torn between two worlds. Will his commitment to destroying KGA win out over his feelings for The Key? How much is Jin willing to sacrifice for the prodigious young Talent -- and could it possibly be enough?
- GenresM M RomanceRomance
ebook
First published August 3, 2015
1 person is currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Claire Cray
21 books182 followersClaire Cray writes M/M Romance featuring hot, complicated men in weird situations. Offbeat and character-driven with a Gothic bent, her work is often described as atmospheric and a little strange.
Born and raised in the rural Pacific Northwest, Claire takes inspiration from its wild, moody vibes. Her stories often combine vivid natural settings with steamy sensuality and psychological drama.
Claire lives, writes, and independently publishes in Portland, Oregon, USA.
Born and raised in the rural Pacific Northwest, Claire takes inspiration from its wild, moody vibes. Her stories often combine vivid natural settings with steamy sensuality and psychological drama.
Claire lives, writes, and independently publishes in Portland, Oregon, USA.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 31, 2015
Wow! This was an amazing wrap-up :-) I enjoyed the entire series and am sort of sad it's over... But maybe Claire will have pity on us fans and give us a bit more (or a LOT more) of Jin and Ken and their talented cohorts.
Recommended! Especially when nearly all the books are FREE!!!
Recommended! Especially when nearly all the books are FREE!!!
September 6, 2019
Towards the end of the series, I had a better understanding of the characters and their choices.
Good serial.
Good serial.
September 20, 2015
I dont even know where to start with this one. I Loved it, i cant get enough of it, not just this one book but all the series. I've been so lazy not giving any review to the other books, but i guess i'm going to say all i think now.
First, with this one, i found it very exciting, very much action on it, wich wasn't what i was used to for the other ones but i liked it. In the beginig i thought it lack some of the humor and fun things i learn to love in the other, but it all get better in the end. I think the way the characters developed was amazing. And i got to appreciate characters i didnt like in the beggining. Things i didn't like?...i cant think of any...maybe that its the last book. That's all a i have to say for this books but, as i said, i have some thoughts of all the series.
I guess i'm staring with each of the characters because each of them i found special for very diferent reasons, but that also means SPOILER ALERT:
Aki: i think i've see him as a father figure wich made difficult the times when he was so vulnerable and needing help, because he was supposed to be the one helping, All of that change in this book, where i get to see him fighting and not accepting any more than succes in what he did.
Lip: i loved this character because of his leadership ability, and the way he remanin constant through all the books, his ability to be calm and guide the others even in such difficult situations, and always being the one in charge.
Kel: also constant character as Lip, i wish i would know more of him and Lip in this book.
Mark: wasn't one of my favorites because all the Jen thing going on and his inability to settle his love issues. It seems to me, like it's always waiting on someone else to rescue him or to make the decisions for him.
Dylan: it wasnt one of my favorites before but this book make me see him through diferent eyes. Now i think he's a good influence to all of the others, specially to David and i loved the way things turn out for them.
David/Luke: loved them so much, the interaction between them was amazing and i never get enough of this two even if they are not together. This was the one thing i didnt like in this, the last book, the way things went for David and Luke, the connection they got it wasnt my favorite thing, i wish i didt happen. I was glad to see that things were better with Dylan, i love all the brothers and i liked see them happy.
Jen: i never liked her, i could live without her, dont think was very important even realizing she had some potential.
Sky: here is where my heart got broken. I absolutely love him, for everything he was...insecure, selfdestructive, hystrionic, so needed of love and atention and yet unable to seek for it in a healthy way. i'm very sad for how things turn out for him, but i understand the need of it for the sake of the story. I'm still missing him but i'm very greatful to the autor for creating such an amazing character.
Ken: i think it was always such an intriguing character, all the time keeping me expecting wat wil be his reaction and longing for happy moments in his life. I learn to love him, because i didn't from the start, but in the end of the series all i want it was for him to have a happy ending.
Jin: after Sky, my second favorite character, always had me laughing and everything was happy around him, which made difficult to see what a hard time he had in this book. Also i think what was important of him was that he keep us guessing where his loyalties were. In the begginig didn't want him for Ken but as the book keep developing the relationship i get to a place were i woundt be happpy if this two didn't get together.
For the bad guy Jackson was very impresive, always calm but who knows what was under that mind, very manipulative and even in the end of the series i end up not knowing his real motives or possible moves, wich i find great. Also i believe he really care for Jin wich makes him a bit more human. The other guys not so great, Giovanny and Rinzen (i love this name). And Strauss, well... didn't impress me either, i was expecting more from him but i'm glad the way things end up.
Other things like editing mistakes or thers stuff, i really didn't care, the story was so good that everything else doesnt matter.
I really liked the style in which the story was told, from the point of view of each of the characters, because i think thats what make it beautiful to me, getting to know all of them, their fears, loves, hopes, mistakes...everything.
So, thats what i think.
Finaly i want to thank Claire Cray for such an amazing story but most of all for sharing with us the incredible characters you create.
First, with this one, i found it very exciting, very much action on it, wich wasn't what i was used to for the other ones but i liked it. In the beginig i thought it lack some of the humor and fun things i learn to love in the other, but it all get better in the end. I think the way the characters developed was amazing. And i got to appreciate characters i didnt like in the beggining. Things i didn't like?...i cant think of any...maybe that its the last book. That's all a i have to say for this books but, as i said, i have some thoughts of all the series.
I guess i'm staring with each of the characters because each of them i found special for very diferent reasons, but that also means SPOILER ALERT:
Aki: i think i've see him as a father figure wich made difficult the times when he was so vulnerable and needing help, because he was supposed to be the one helping, All of that change in this book, where i get to see him fighting and not accepting any more than succes in what he did.
Lip: i loved this character because of his leadership ability, and the way he remanin constant through all the books, his ability to be calm and guide the others even in such difficult situations, and always being the one in charge.
Kel: also constant character as Lip, i wish i would know more of him and Lip in this book.
Mark: wasn't one of my favorites because all the Jen thing going on and his inability to settle his love issues. It seems to me, like it's always waiting on someone else to rescue him or to make the decisions for him.
Dylan: it wasnt one of my favorites before but this book make me see him through diferent eyes. Now i think he's a good influence to all of the others, specially to David and i loved the way things turn out for them.
David/Luke: loved them so much, the interaction between them was amazing and i never get enough of this two even if they are not together. This was the one thing i didnt like in this, the last book, the way things went for David and Luke, the connection they got it wasnt my favorite thing, i wish i didt happen. I was glad to see that things were better with Dylan, i love all the brothers and i liked see them happy.
Jen: i never liked her, i could live without her, dont think was very important even realizing she had some potential.
Sky: here is where my heart got broken. I absolutely love him, for everything he was...insecure, selfdestructive, hystrionic, so needed of love and atention and yet unable to seek for it in a healthy way. i'm very sad for how things turn out for him, but i understand the need of it for the sake of the story. I'm still missing him but i'm very greatful to the autor for creating such an amazing character.
Ken: i think it was always such an intriguing character, all the time keeping me expecting wat wil be his reaction and longing for happy moments in his life. I learn to love him, because i didn't from the start, but in the end of the series all i want it was for him to have a happy ending.
Jin: after Sky, my second favorite character, always had me laughing and everything was happy around him, which made difficult to see what a hard time he had in this book. Also i think what was important of him was that he keep us guessing where his loyalties were. In the begginig didn't want him for Ken but as the book keep developing the relationship i get to a place were i woundt be happpy if this two didn't get together.
For the bad guy Jackson was very impresive, always calm but who knows what was under that mind, very manipulative and even in the end of the series i end up not knowing his real motives or possible moves, wich i find great. Also i believe he really care for Jin wich makes him a bit more human. The other guys not so great, Giovanny and Rinzen (i love this name). And Strauss, well... didn't impress me either, i was expecting more from him but i'm glad the way things end up.
Other things like editing mistakes or thers stuff, i really didn't care, the story was so good that everything else doesnt matter.
I really liked the style in which the story was told, from the point of view of each of the characters, because i think thats what make it beautiful to me, getting to know all of them, their fears, loves, hopes, mistakes...everything.
So, thats what i think.
Finaly i want to thank Claire Cray for such an amazing story but most of all for sharing with us the incredible characters you create.
July 10, 2016
synopsis: it's come down to the final battle between the institution of kga and the rebel alliance. (oops, sorry, i mean arsi.) jackson is still pulling jin's strings, ken is still developing and discovering his powers, jen is still out of control, and the rest are still struggling to figure out how to take down kga without relying on jackson. then jin finds out that ken is not supposed to survive his foray into kga headquarters...and that he knew this, but was made to ignore this fact. when ken and kel are kidnapped, the final play is set.
what i liked: i liked that, despite his very real fears of kga, and strauss in particular, jin faces it all for ken. i liked that jen learned to control herself, and that the rest of the team, after the battle, came to terms with themselves and the others. i liked that jin still called ken "psycho", and that ken always plotted ways to get the best of jin. i also liked that ken stood up for others and wouldn't let another megalomaniac take over. as a series, i would rate this as 4.5 overall.
what i didn't like: there really wasn't much about the final battle; it was mostly preparation, angst and aftermath.
what i liked: i liked that, despite his very real fears of kga, and strauss in particular, jin faces it all for ken. i liked that jen learned to control herself, and that the rest of the team, after the battle, came to terms with themselves and the others. i liked that jin still called ken "psycho", and that ken always plotted ways to get the best of jin. i also liked that ken stood up for others and wouldn't let another megalomaniac take over. as a series, i would rate this as 4.5 overall.
what i didn't like: there really wasn't much about the final battle; it was mostly preparation, angst and aftermath.
August 12, 2016
Gahhh this ending was even more than I hoped for..! Perfect ending to a great, if imperfect, series.
Can't wait for the re-release of the series so I have an excuse to go back and re-read it all yet again :)
Can't wait for the re-release of the series so I have an excuse to go back and re-read it all yet again :)
September 16, 2015
I loved this last book of the series and not just because it was free! The pacing was really well done. the ending was really satisfying. I really love how the author writes her sex scenes. They are delectable! There is really nothing negative to say about this last book in the series. The series as a whole improved with each additional book and I think that the some of characters other than Ken and Jin have the potential for having a book devoted to them. I think the way that the book ended certainly gives the author ample material for further books that take place in this world to which she has introduced her readers.
October 31, 2015
O M G!
Wow what a spectacular finale, I couldn't put it down. Jin and Ken, hot. All the guys at ARSI are going to be missed. Ok now let's talk about the book. Lots of action, angst and drama that we've all come to love. Some sex but mostly lots of Kin being in his head and Ken learning to love.
Wow what a spectacular finale, I couldn't put it down. Jin and Ken, hot. All the guys at ARSI are going to be missed. Ok now let's talk about the book. Lots of action, angst and drama that we've all come to love. Some sex but mostly lots of Kin being in his head and Ken learning to love.
August 17, 2015
Wonderful happy ending! I'm really going to miss these characters and their story.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews