What do you think?
Rate this book
Lacuna Chronicles #1
Lacuna
The ascension of the Terah has ravaged the Earth and plunged humanity into a horrifying existence. Humans struggle to survive in the few remaining cities beside Mechi, artificially intelligent beings whose most recent models are indistinguishable from their human creators, and the Ezri, a race of humanoid alien life whose descent to Earth changed the future of humankind forever.
Caden is number 508349, and has lived a comfortable and privileged life as the son of a wealthy corporate bigwig, kept safe from the dangers of life outside of Belen. An inexplicable restlessness leads Caden to pursue Earth's lost past in cities other than his own and in the dusty words of suppressed history books.
Together with his streetwise friends, Mikas and Blue, Caden learns to navigate the shadowed world of the Underground Streets as he searches for answers to the questions left by his recurring nightmares.
When a series of catastrophic events leads to an encounter with a mysterious stranger, Caden is drawn unwittingly into a decades long war for freedom. As he struggles to accept his place in his rapidly changing reality, Caden is given insight into his true nature, allowing him to finally take the leap of faith he needs to reclaim his identity and freedom.
Caden is number 508349, and has lived a comfortable and privileged life as the son of a wealthy corporate bigwig, kept safe from the dangers of life outside of Belen. An inexplicable restlessness leads Caden to pursue Earth's lost past in cities other than his own and in the dusty words of suppressed history books.
Together with his streetwise friends, Mikas and Blue, Caden learns to navigate the shadowed world of the Underground Streets as he searches for answers to the questions left by his recurring nightmares.
When a series of catastrophic events leads to an encounter with a mysterious stranger, Caden is drawn unwittingly into a decades long war for freedom. As he struggles to accept his place in his rapidly changing reality, Caden is given insight into his true nature, allowing him to finally take the leap of faith he needs to reclaim his identity and freedom.
365 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2015
11 people are currently reading
608 people want to read
About the author
A.M. Daily
8 books18 followersA.M. Daily is a LGBT writer who lives in beautiful Arizona.
She writes queer fiction within a variety of genres including (but not limited to); contemporary fiction, historical fiction, and science fiction.
She is currently working on books six, seven, and eight of the Lacuna Chronicles, a gay sci-fi series.
She writes queer fiction within a variety of genres including (but not limited to); contemporary fiction, historical fiction, and science fiction.
She is currently working on books six, seven, and eight of the Lacuna Chronicles, a gay sci-fi series.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 21, 2024
3.5 Stars
I will be the first to admit that I have no patience for crazy, complex scifi worlds with names I can barely pronounce or terms too complex to remember. So if you were hesitant or intimidated by the blurb, be reassured that this captured my interest quickly with its rich detail and interesting premise. I fell easily into the world created, and though information was doled out slowly, it just made me want to know more. Gratefully I did not pull any mental muscles trying to keep up.
So basically this reads as dystopian scifi, where Earth is up shit creek. It's ruled by the Terahs, an alien race systematically and ruthlessly taking complete control of not only humans, but their artificial intelligence counterparts, the Mechi. At the same time, they are destroying Earth's viability in their attempt to eradicate the Ezri, another alien race who landed on Earth seeking refuge decades ago.
In and among this struggle is Caden, who rebels against his restricted life. In his quest for knowledge he has gathered the trust and loyalty of Makas and Blue, who are members of the more unfortunate side of life - those who live on the fringe, fighting and scraping for a less than ideal existence. They're drawn to each other for reasons unknown to themselves, and amidst the frustrating secrets and feelings they all hold close to the vest, this is a look at the delicate balance of their friendship.
Though the story centers on Caden, one gets the feeling that not only his future is hanging in the balance but that of Makas and Blue. Certainly having all three points of view means there's more in store for all of them. If you're looking for an m/m romance, you won't find it here. Though there are some romantic components present, it's only part of the entire story. It still brings with it a lot of feels, and what little there is makes you hope for more fulfillment and fleshing out of the established relationships present.
Overall, know that Caden has definitely been set up for a destiny unknown, as well as how his friends Makas and Blue, fit into the puzzle. Despite engaging me consistently, not much is revealed. Obviously the foundation has been laid, and it remains to be seen what will be built upon it. Should definitely make for some interesting reading when the next in this series comes out - I look forward to it.
Thank you to the author for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
I will be the first to admit that I have no patience for crazy, complex scifi worlds with names I can barely pronounce or terms too complex to remember. So if you were hesitant or intimidated by the blurb, be reassured that this captured my interest quickly with its rich detail and interesting premise. I fell easily into the world created, and though information was doled out slowly, it just made me want to know more. Gratefully I did not pull any mental muscles trying to keep up.
So basically this reads as dystopian scifi, where Earth is up shit creek. It's ruled by the Terahs, an alien race systematically and ruthlessly taking complete control of not only humans, but their artificial intelligence counterparts, the Mechi. At the same time, they are destroying Earth's viability in their attempt to eradicate the Ezri, another alien race who landed on Earth seeking refuge decades ago.
In and among this struggle is Caden, who rebels against his restricted life. In his quest for knowledge he has gathered the trust and loyalty of Makas and Blue, who are members of the more unfortunate side of life - those who live on the fringe, fighting and scraping for a less than ideal existence. They're drawn to each other for reasons unknown to themselves, and amidst the frustrating secrets and feelings they all hold close to the vest, this is a look at the delicate balance of their friendship.
Though the story centers on Caden, one gets the feeling that not only his future is hanging in the balance but that of Makas and Blue. Certainly having all three points of view means there's more in store for all of them. If you're looking for an m/m romance, you won't find it here. Though there are some romantic components present, it's only part of the entire story. It still brings with it a lot of feels, and what little there is makes you hope for more fulfillment and fleshing out of the established relationships present.
Overall, know that Caden has definitely been set up for a destiny unknown, as well as how his friends Makas and Blue, fit into the puzzle. Despite engaging me consistently, not much is revealed. Obviously the foundation has been laid, and it remains to be seen what will be built upon it. Should definitely make for some interesting reading when the next in this series comes out - I look forward to it.
Thank you to the author for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2019
4.5 stars Updated 14/03/2016 to add some more thoughts after having a think on it over the weekend ...oh and anyone reading this for romance, just take a look at my note at the bottom re the romantic element:
Wow, that was an unexpectedly brilliant read!
I am always wary about picking up books that none of my friends have read, especially from a new-to-me author, so I really had no idea what to expect from Lacuna... but I can safely say that I loved it and I am dying to get my hands on Book #2 ASAP. I think it's out beginning of April, so thankfully not long to wait!
I have literally just finished Book #1 after not being able to put it down for 2 days and my thoughts are reeling. This was a brilliant story that just sucked me in, with great, likeable-despite-their-flaws, characters and such a bittersweet tangled mix of emotions and relationships between them all. In fact the characters are wonderful, including many secondary roles - the main three are so well fleshed out. Although I guess Caden is the main protagonist, we hear from Mikas' and Blue's POV just as much throughout the book. Their stories are all so complex and tragic in many ways, they are all being controlled by people or events around them...
Book #1 is giving us the set-up and building the scene & the characters, but I hope that Book #2 Sky Children shows us their potential, shows us what they could be - I'm keen to see how they might come into their own. I got the impression that they are all relatively young, so in a way this series is perhaps a coming of age story too.
The world-building was really well done - it was quite a dark, dystopian/post-apocalyptic & sci-fi setting that was harsh and brutal, and pretty scary at times. It really worked well. Such an intriguing and well-described universe.
There is definitely a heavy focus on the characters and their intertwined relationships - its quite a character-driven story, which is my favourite kind...but I constantly felt like we were waiting, that something was hanging over everything, that something big was going to happen. A mystery revealed, something awful to happen - there was always this vague sense of imminent dread! ... and it's built up by the inklings we're given throughout that hint at what's to come.
I have to admit that I did initially take a bit of time to get into the story - don't get me wrong, I was intrigued right from the beginning and loved the writing too, but I couldn't quite get a feel for the characters. The dynamic between the three main characters was confusing me initially and also I couldn't quite get an idea of how old they were supposed to be - at times they seemed mature in their thinking, the next like boys - in fact they often refer to each other in their thoughts as "the boy". I think part of this is that they probably are all quite young, but they seem to have the weight of the world on them from their individual experiences. I guess if I had to place an age, they were all in their mid to late teens? Caden seemed the youngest, but maybe that was just due to his background? Even though he is the main protagonist, he was possibly my least favourite of the three throughout this - I didn't dislike him and I could see his potential, but he often seemed quite childlike and always needed the others to look after him, not able to really take care of himself and needing Mikas and Blue to protect him and do everything for him...it does make sense why he would be like this, with the background he came from compared to Mikas and Blue, but I think (I hope) we are going to see a different side to him once we get into Book #2.
My only small disappointment is the ending. I was upset about a couple of things - the behaviour of one of the characters seemed a bit off and something between two of the characters that was left completely without closure.
I hate cliff-hangers - in a way Book #1 did definitely wrap up a chapter of the characters' lives, and as it's a series I can see that this was probably a good place to stop Book #1, but it's definitely a cliff-hanger and there are so many elements left unfinished and unanswered. I would be quite upset if I hadn't known Book #2 Sky Children was coming out very soon.
Just a note, I think it's important to know going into this that Book #1 on it's own isn't a traditional romance - there was definitely a heavy focus on the main characters' complex relationships with each other and with other secondary characters - there was a lot of love there, both complex, deep friendships, and romantic (there are also non-graphic sex scenes) - there was a lot of heartache and bittersweet feelings too. My heart hurt through quite a bit of this in fact! BUT this isn't a standard romance in the traditional sense - there is no one main romance, no HEA or even HFN at this stage - although I think there likely will be later in the series. This didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story at all - I pretty much always read romance, and there were definitely more than enough feelz in this to give me what I needed, but I can't wait to find out how things play out.
So yeah, overall I absolutely loved this and can't wait to read the second book!
*This book was provided for free by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Wow, that was an unexpectedly brilliant read!
I am always wary about picking up books that none of my friends have read, especially from a new-to-me author, so I really had no idea what to expect from Lacuna... but I can safely say that I loved it and I am dying to get my hands on Book #2 ASAP. I think it's out beginning of April, so thankfully not long to wait!
I have literally just finished Book #1 after not being able to put it down for 2 days and my thoughts are reeling. This was a brilliant story that just sucked me in, with great, likeable-despite-their-flaws, characters and such a bittersweet tangled mix of emotions and relationships between them all. In fact the characters are wonderful, including many secondary roles - the main three are so well fleshed out. Although I guess Caden is the main protagonist, we hear from Mikas' and Blue's POV just as much throughout the book. Their stories are all so complex and tragic in many ways, they are all being controlled by people or events around them...
Book #1 is giving us the set-up and building the scene & the characters, but I hope that Book #2 Sky Children shows us their potential, shows us what they could be - I'm keen to see how they might come into their own. I got the impression that they are all relatively young, so in a way this series is perhaps a coming of age story too.
The world-building was really well done - it was quite a dark, dystopian/post-apocalyptic & sci-fi setting that was harsh and brutal, and pretty scary at times. It really worked well. Such an intriguing and well-described universe.
There is definitely a heavy focus on the characters and their intertwined relationships - its quite a character-driven story, which is my favourite kind...but I constantly felt like we were waiting, that something was hanging over everything, that something big was going to happen. A mystery revealed, something awful to happen - there was always this vague sense of imminent dread! ... and it's built up by the inklings we're given throughout that hint at what's to come.
I have to admit that I did initially take a bit of time to get into the story - don't get me wrong, I was intrigued right from the beginning and loved the writing too, but I couldn't quite get a feel for the characters. The dynamic between the three main characters was confusing me initially and also I couldn't quite get an idea of how old they were supposed to be - at times they seemed mature in their thinking, the next like boys - in fact they often refer to each other in their thoughts as "the boy". I think part of this is that they probably are all quite young, but they seem to have the weight of the world on them from their individual experiences. I guess if I had to place an age, they were all in their mid to late teens? Caden seemed the youngest, but maybe that was just due to his background? Even though he is the main protagonist, he was possibly my least favourite of the three throughout this - I didn't dislike him and I could see his potential, but he often seemed quite childlike and always needed the others to look after him, not able to really take care of himself and needing Mikas and Blue to protect him and do everything for him...it does make sense why he would be like this, with the background he came from compared to Mikas and Blue, but I think (I hope) we are going to see a different side to him once we get into Book #2.
My only small disappointment is the ending. I was upset about a couple of things - the behaviour of one of the characters seemed a bit off and something between two of the characters that was left completely without closure.
I hate cliff-hangers - in a way Book #1 did definitely wrap up a chapter of the characters' lives, and as it's a series I can see that this was probably a good place to stop Book #1, but it's definitely a cliff-hanger and there are so many elements left unfinished and unanswered. I would be quite upset if I hadn't known Book #2 Sky Children was coming out very soon.
Just a note, I think it's important to know going into this that Book #1 on it's own isn't a traditional romance - there was definitely a heavy focus on the main characters' complex relationships with each other and with other secondary characters - there was a lot of love there, both complex, deep friendships, and romantic (there are also non-graphic sex scenes) - there was a lot of heartache and bittersweet feelings too. My heart hurt through quite a bit of this in fact! BUT this isn't a standard romance in the traditional sense - there is no one main romance, no HEA or even HFN at this stage - although I think there likely will be later in the series. This didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story at all - I pretty much always read romance, and there were definitely more than enough feelz in this to give me what I needed, but I can't wait to find out how things play out.
So yeah, overall I absolutely loved this and can't wait to read the second book!
*This book was provided for free by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
January 21, 2016
Review can be read at It's About The Book
4.5 stars
If I had to briefly sum up what to expect when you pick up Lacuna is a sort of dark sci fi dystopian type of story with a heartbreaking romance. This book was so close to a 5 star for me. I just couldn’t help but be disappointed with the ending. Sounds like this is book 1 of a series or at least there’s a book two planned so hopefully I’ll get some answers and resolutions. The book ends with a little bittersweet hope for the characters but it’s far from a typical romantic happy ending.
In the world Lacuna is set in the Terah have come and taken over the world. They enforce strict rules and instill fear to keep the humans compliant. They’ve even chipped all humans so they can track them at all times. The cities and buildings have been ravaged by the battles fought and won by the Terah when they came. The fires continue to smolder from the battles of the one last rebel group referred to as the Ezri. They fight the control of the Terah. It’s the last hold out of total domination by the Terah. Nobody knows much about the Ezri as it’s such a taboo topic and if anyone hears you sympathizing with them the Terah will end you. There is a very real sense of fear and doom surrounding these people. Like they’re all just biding their time until the end.
Lacuna follows the interweaving lives of three very different young men. The story is told from all of their POVs.
Cade’s life is seemingly the best of the three. His father holds one of the few well paying jobs. He has a safe nice home where he’s fed and warm. However his father is a cold cooperate man. His mother has checked on them completely mentally. The only thing keeping him there is his little sister who is also troubled and doesn’t speak. Cade has horrible nightmares every time he closes his eyes. Lives in fear of the Terah and his father. Cade escapes into one of the other poorer and rougher boroughs called Zenith for a break for short periods of time from his life. It’s the only time he feels anything close to happiness. This is where he meets our other MCs Blue and Mikas.
Mikas learned the hard way to survive you have to be tough. He’s also street smart. Basically a street thug with better morals than most. Mikas feels his only way to survive in this world is do whatever illegal jobs he can to get by. It’s more than some people have. Mikas sees Caden wondering the dangerous streets one night and saves him from being a victim of the many who would take advantage of someone like him. Blue and Mikas have been friends for years but before that we know very little of their lives. Blue takes Cade under his wing because Mikas wants him to be safe.
Blue the one eyed androgynous prostitute was my favorite character. Beautiful and unique. Kind, brave and the most responsible clear headed one of the group. Also the most passionate. His story seems to be the saddest. He was brought up very poor but loved. Blue ends up alone on the streets like so many others at a very young age after the invasion. He does what he has to to survive. Blue’s character is so complex. He’s been in love with Mikas for years but Mikas denies him. They’re best friends but there’s always that hurt and tension lingering in the back round. Caden is clueless to all of it and none of the guys share much about themselves with each other although they trust each other with their lives. No small thing in this world. Blue just wants to feel loved and safe. Mikas is always getting into bad situations and dragging Blue into them because Blue is always there for Mikas. And Mikas for him.
They’re all at the mercy of others. They’re all under the thumb and constant danger of the Terah and the bad men they work for. There’s a ton of world building to absorb but the story is told at a slow pace so you just kind of settle in and get transported to this world. There’s always something going on. Even the most tedious scenes bring so much to the story. You learn more about the world and the characters as the story progresses. We’re given little nuggets of information throughout the story to help us realize all the things these guys have gone through and will continue to go through. There’s so much more I want to know. I’m fascinated by the Mechi. They’re android people that were made to do all the things humans didn’t want to or to service them in some way. Looked upon as lesser despite living among them. Loki the Mechi may be my second favorite character of this story. I think I loved his and Blue’s scenes the most.
I may have never known about this book if it hadn’t been submitted for review. I’d have missed out on such a good book. I felt the fear and tension these people feel. The overwhelming sense of oppression and that they’re all just holding on to hope by thread. For these three that thread seems to be their friendship. It’s tested over and over. At one point of this book I cried heartbreaking sobs for pages and pages. Days later just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. The kind of heartache that’s memorable because of the way the I’ve become attached to these characters. I think this more than anything seem to drive home that feeling of despair. That even if you get something that makes you happy in this world, it can and probably will be taken away at any moment. I won’t spoil but I think the ending was maybe a little anticlimactic after the events that triggered my big sob fest. The ending is really the only problem I had with this book. The rest of it was excellent. The characters were amazing. This book definitely has a gloomy tone to it but I loved it. The writing was excellent. The story is slowly built up in layers until you’re immersed in it. It feels like one of those nowhere to go but up type stories even though anything could be happening next. I honestly have no idea what will happen in book 2. I do know I’ll be reading it as soon as I can get my hands on it.
4.5 stars
If I had to briefly sum up what to expect when you pick up Lacuna is a sort of dark sci fi dystopian type of story with a heartbreaking romance. This book was so close to a 5 star for me. I just couldn’t help but be disappointed with the ending. Sounds like this is book 1 of a series or at least there’s a book two planned so hopefully I’ll get some answers and resolutions. The book ends with a little bittersweet hope for the characters but it’s far from a typical romantic happy ending.
In the world Lacuna is set in the Terah have come and taken over the world. They enforce strict rules and instill fear to keep the humans compliant. They’ve even chipped all humans so they can track them at all times. The cities and buildings have been ravaged by the battles fought and won by the Terah when they came. The fires continue to smolder from the battles of the one last rebel group referred to as the Ezri. They fight the control of the Terah. It’s the last hold out of total domination by the Terah. Nobody knows much about the Ezri as it’s such a taboo topic and if anyone hears you sympathizing with them the Terah will end you. There is a very real sense of fear and doom surrounding these people. Like they’re all just biding their time until the end.
Lacuna follows the interweaving lives of three very different young men. The story is told from all of their POVs.
Cade’s life is seemingly the best of the three. His father holds one of the few well paying jobs. He has a safe nice home where he’s fed and warm. However his father is a cold cooperate man. His mother has checked on them completely mentally. The only thing keeping him there is his little sister who is also troubled and doesn’t speak. Cade has horrible nightmares every time he closes his eyes. Lives in fear of the Terah and his father. Cade escapes into one of the other poorer and rougher boroughs called Zenith for a break for short periods of time from his life. It’s the only time he feels anything close to happiness. This is where he meets our other MCs Blue and Mikas.
Mikas learned the hard way to survive you have to be tough. He’s also street smart. Basically a street thug with better morals than most. Mikas feels his only way to survive in this world is do whatever illegal jobs he can to get by. It’s more than some people have. Mikas sees Caden wondering the dangerous streets one night and saves him from being a victim of the many who would take advantage of someone like him. Blue and Mikas have been friends for years but before that we know very little of their lives. Blue takes Cade under his wing because Mikas wants him to be safe.
Blue the one eyed androgynous prostitute was my favorite character. Beautiful and unique. Kind, brave and the most responsible clear headed one of the group. Also the most passionate. His story seems to be the saddest. He was brought up very poor but loved. Blue ends up alone on the streets like so many others at a very young age after the invasion. He does what he has to to survive. Blue’s character is so complex. He’s been in love with Mikas for years but Mikas denies him. They’re best friends but there’s always that hurt and tension lingering in the back round. Caden is clueless to all of it and none of the guys share much about themselves with each other although they trust each other with their lives. No small thing in this world. Blue just wants to feel loved and safe. Mikas is always getting into bad situations and dragging Blue into them because Blue is always there for Mikas. And Mikas for him.
They’re all at the mercy of others. They’re all under the thumb and constant danger of the Terah and the bad men they work for. There’s a ton of world building to absorb but the story is told at a slow pace so you just kind of settle in and get transported to this world. There’s always something going on. Even the most tedious scenes bring so much to the story. You learn more about the world and the characters as the story progresses. We’re given little nuggets of information throughout the story to help us realize all the things these guys have gone through and will continue to go through. There’s so much more I want to know. I’m fascinated by the Mechi. They’re android people that were made to do all the things humans didn’t want to or to service them in some way. Looked upon as lesser despite living among them. Loki the Mechi may be my second favorite character of this story. I think I loved his and Blue’s scenes the most.
I may have never known about this book if it hadn’t been submitted for review. I’d have missed out on such a good book. I felt the fear and tension these people feel. The overwhelming sense of oppression and that they’re all just holding on to hope by thread. For these three that thread seems to be their friendship. It’s tested over and over. At one point of this book I cried heartbreaking sobs for pages and pages. Days later just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. The kind of heartache that’s memorable because of the way the I’ve become attached to these characters. I think this more than anything seem to drive home that feeling of despair. That even if you get something that makes you happy in this world, it can and probably will be taken away at any moment. I won’t spoil but I think the ending was maybe a little anticlimactic after the events that triggered my big sob fest. The ending is really the only problem I had with this book. The rest of it was excellent. The characters were amazing. This book definitely has a gloomy tone to it but I loved it. The writing was excellent. The story is slowly built up in layers until you’re immersed in it. It feels like one of those nowhere to go but up type stories even though anything could be happening next. I honestly have no idea what will happen in book 2. I do know I’ll be reading it as soon as I can get my hands on it.
November 13, 2015
First things first, whether you like well-crafted dystopian universes or m/m in unusual settings and with great, convincing character-building and heart-wrenching relationships, or ─even better─ both, you should read this book. I have been careful not to include spoilers here because I have seen lots of people with this book in their to-read list. To them I’d like to say: Read it. Now. And now on to the actual review.
This is the first book by a very talented writer whose skills I’ve known about for years and am happy to finally see displayed in the novel that I was sure would happen. In it she depicts a dystopian, dark, almost post-apocalyptic-looking world in which the air is mostly unbreathable, society is controlled by the Terah ─a mysterious organization whose mere mention chills you to the bone before you even know what it is─, humans live side by side with the Mechi, really evolved androids every bit as oppressed as most surviving people, “corporate” workers have privileges and everyone else tries to live another day amidst violence and chaos. Additionally, there are the survivors of an alien race who came to Earth and were brutally oppresse, the Ezri. Ms Daily does a wonderful job of building this world in detail while at the same time refraining from giving away everything at once, which makes it all the more exciting.
The three protagonists, Caden, Mikas and Blue, are very different from each other but their stories become increasingly entangled; they are stunningly complex and three-dimensional. Their feelings about the decaying world they live in and for each other pervade the whole story, which is in fact three stories, three points of view and three sets of feelings, fears and loyalties giving shape to the plot. Although I very much enjoyed the world-building, I think that characterization ─even of secondary characters─ is the author’s single best accomplishment, and it is impossible not to relate to them and their plight. She particularly shines in the depiction of complex human emotions, so much that I was teary-eyed at several different moments through the book. This is hard to find in books with an m/m plot or subplot, and it is one of the reasons why I think Ms Daily’s works are going to make an invaluable contribution to the genre.
Lastly, I’d like to emphasize the author’s neat prose and style, which makes the reading experience very enjoyable. This is the first book in a series, so ─as is to be expected in these cases─ there are unanswered questions, cliff-hangers and loose ends that will be surely tied up as the story progresses. I am very excited and can’t wait for the second novel.
This debut novel merits readers and appreciation, so I really hope others will soon join me in this comment section and shower the author with the 5 stars she deserves!
This is the first book by a very talented writer whose skills I’ve known about for years and am happy to finally see displayed in the novel that I was sure would happen. In it she depicts a dystopian, dark, almost post-apocalyptic-looking world in which the air is mostly unbreathable, society is controlled by the Terah ─a mysterious organization whose mere mention chills you to the bone before you even know what it is─, humans live side by side with the Mechi, really evolved androids every bit as oppressed as most surviving people, “corporate” workers have privileges and everyone else tries to live another day amidst violence and chaos. Additionally, there are the survivors of an alien race who came to Earth and were brutally oppresse, the Ezri. Ms Daily does a wonderful job of building this world in detail while at the same time refraining from giving away everything at once, which makes it all the more exciting.
The three protagonists, Caden, Mikas and Blue, are very different from each other but their stories become increasingly entangled; they are stunningly complex and three-dimensional. Their feelings about the decaying world they live in and for each other pervade the whole story, which is in fact three stories, three points of view and three sets of feelings, fears and loyalties giving shape to the plot. Although I very much enjoyed the world-building, I think that characterization ─even of secondary characters─ is the author’s single best accomplishment, and it is impossible not to relate to them and their plight. She particularly shines in the depiction of complex human emotions, so much that I was teary-eyed at several different moments through the book. This is hard to find in books with an m/m plot or subplot, and it is one of the reasons why I think Ms Daily’s works are going to make an invaluable contribution to the genre.
Lastly, I’d like to emphasize the author’s neat prose and style, which makes the reading experience very enjoyable. This is the first book in a series, so ─as is to be expected in these cases─ there are unanswered questions, cliff-hangers and loose ends that will be surely tied up as the story progresses. I am very excited and can’t wait for the second novel.
This debut novel merits readers and appreciation, so I really hope others will soon join me in this comment section and shower the author with the 5 stars she deserves!
March 14, 2017
“Everyone was an enemy these days.”
If there is one thing I love reading about in sci-fi, it’s the dark, intricate worlds in which the stories take place. One such world is the world that the author created in “Lacuna”, a world full of interesting characters, a tyrannical government named “Terah”, “Mechi” androids that look, think and act just like humans, an alien race called “Ezri” and a variety of cities each with its unique characteristics.
I thought after reading the premise of the book that we had only one main character, but the world was so complex that I was glad to discover that we follow the story from three different perspectives. Caden, who lives a comfortable rich life in one of the best cities, but at the same time his family has grown completely apart, and his two friends Mikas and Blue two people who live in one of the poorer cities and chose to work for the underworld each of them in different ways in order to survive.
The various types of relationships in this book were pretty interesting, “Lacuna” had a lot of things going on, one of the main themes we constantly see throughout the story is the friendship and loyalty between the characters so even though there is some romance, it’s not always the main focus of the story.
Caden for the most part of the book hadn’t met his love interest, but his unique way of communicating with him has me very excited to see their romance begin in the next book. The dynamic between Mikas and Blue was also very interesting, I kept turning the pages to see how their complicated relationship will evolve, the only problem I had was towards the end where I needed more information about Mikas’s thoughts, I expected from him to improve his behavior on certain things but that didn’t happen and I really wanted to learn more about the reason why.
I voluntarily reviewed the free copy that I received.
January 28, 2019
While I wouldn't call myself an avid reader of science fiction, it's still one of my favorite genres. This novel is, on the whole, a well-executed and satisfying work. There's a lot to love here, and fans looking for a thought-provoking look at a futuristic society should be pleased.
I found the world-building to be excellent. It can be a little challenging to figure out the structure of the society at first, but I see this as a point in the author's favor. There aren't pages and pages of exposition explaining just how Earth got into its current state. You get a few lines of text, and the rest is built on it through the storytelling. There are some wonderful details, like the way everyone is given breather masks due to the poor air quality. It's not explained in depth, and yet there's still a good sense of the environment.
The reason this works so well is that the story is heavily character-driven rather than world-driven. We see all of this through the eyes of the three main characters: Caden, Mikas, and Blue. Caden is my favorite, and I felt he was the most fully formed of the three. His story is utterly captivating, and I kept wanting to know more. Mikas is interesting as well. His friendship with Caden is beautifully written and expands as the story goes on. We're only given tidbits of their history, but I didn't feel as though I was missing any important details.
Blue was a troubling character for me. While I loved his personality, I really struggled with the fact that he's a stereotype. He's a transfeminine sex worker, and for me, that's too much of a trope. It felt like exoticizing and sexualizing people of non-binary gender (and transfemmes in general), especially when Blue alludes to being able to fulfill people's fantasies. It's become trendy lately, especially in science fiction, to write non-binary characters as sex workers, and I'm ready for better representation. I don't find it compelling or interesting.
I did have some difficulty getting fully into the story for about the first third. There's a lot of explaining the characters' histories and personalities rather than letting them unfold. It picks up the pace just before the halfway mark, and the rest of the story is more engaging. Some of the phrasing and word choice is a bit odd in the first part too.
The other thing that put me off somewhat was the lack of decent women characters or any representation of transmasculinity. I didn't necessarily feel that the treatment of women was full of tropes or stereotypes, but it did feel lacking. For a book which got so much right and had otherwise good representation of queer men (I saw gay, bi, and ace in there), I'd have liked more. This isn't a romance, which means there's plenty of room for more genders. I'm hoping that since this is only book one, there's more in future parts.
Speaking of it not being a romance, that by itself is a selling point for me. I felt that the romantic aspects of the book (which mainly belonged to Blue) were exceptionally well done. They're not the focus, and they served the full plot rather than being a side element.
It's a testament to the author's storytelling skill that despite my couple of reservations, I can still give this a good rating, and I want to read more of this world. The first book ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, but it wasn't the type which left me frustrated. I can't provide specifics or it would spoil the surprise. The big reveal is so beautifully and perfectly done that it makes everything else in the story worthwhile.
For excellent world-building, some excellent characters, and a thrilling conclusion, this gets 3 stars.
I found the world-building to be excellent. It can be a little challenging to figure out the structure of the society at first, but I see this as a point in the author's favor. There aren't pages and pages of exposition explaining just how Earth got into its current state. You get a few lines of text, and the rest is built on it through the storytelling. There are some wonderful details, like the way everyone is given breather masks due to the poor air quality. It's not explained in depth, and yet there's still a good sense of the environment.
The reason this works so well is that the story is heavily character-driven rather than world-driven. We see all of this through the eyes of the three main characters: Caden, Mikas, and Blue. Caden is my favorite, and I felt he was the most fully formed of the three. His story is utterly captivating, and I kept wanting to know more. Mikas is interesting as well. His friendship with Caden is beautifully written and expands as the story goes on. We're only given tidbits of their history, but I didn't feel as though I was missing any important details.
Blue was a troubling character for me. While I loved his personality, I really struggled with the fact that he's a stereotype. He's a transfeminine sex worker, and for me, that's too much of a trope. It felt like exoticizing and sexualizing people of non-binary gender (and transfemmes in general), especially when Blue alludes to being able to fulfill people's fantasies. It's become trendy lately, especially in science fiction, to write non-binary characters as sex workers, and I'm ready for better representation. I don't find it compelling or interesting.
I did have some difficulty getting fully into the story for about the first third. There's a lot of explaining the characters' histories and personalities rather than letting them unfold. It picks up the pace just before the halfway mark, and the rest of the story is more engaging. Some of the phrasing and word choice is a bit odd in the first part too.
The other thing that put me off somewhat was the lack of decent women characters or any representation of transmasculinity. I didn't necessarily feel that the treatment of women was full of tropes or stereotypes, but it did feel lacking. For a book which got so much right and had otherwise good representation of queer men (I saw gay, bi, and ace in there), I'd have liked more. This isn't a romance, which means there's plenty of room for more genders. I'm hoping that since this is only book one, there's more in future parts.
Speaking of it not being a romance, that by itself is a selling point for me. I felt that the romantic aspects of the book (which mainly belonged to Blue) were exceptionally well done. They're not the focus, and they served the full plot rather than being a side element.
It's a testament to the author's storytelling skill that despite my couple of reservations, I can still give this a good rating, and I want to read more of this world. The first book ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, but it wasn't the type which left me frustrated. I can't provide specifics or it would spoil the surprise. The big reveal is so beautifully and perfectly done that it makes everything else in the story worthwhile.
For excellent world-building, some excellent characters, and a thrilling conclusion, this gets 3 stars.
August 1, 2017
4.0 of 5 stars – Good SF, Shades of 1984, Spiced With a Queer Element.
[Thanks to the author and Goodreads' Don't Buy My Love program for a free copy in exchange for an honest review]
This was an exciting start of a sci-fi/dystopian series with a secondary queer subplot.
It was refreshing that the main focus was on the sci-fi, with the gay aspect and any romance as a subplot. In this way I thought it was more true to life - where a light m/m romance may be overwhelmingly about the romance, here there was balance with everything else that happens in life. In this case it'd be what I call a classic "soft" sci-fi, tapping into the soft sciences more than the techie/hard sciences. In fact, I saw elements of 1984, only instead of Big Brother, it was a nondescript conquering alien race that was oppressively ruling the populace, similarly spreading propaganda about its victories over an evil secret subversive resistance and seemingly watching and controlling everyone's every move. So it made me think about issues relevant to today - suppression/surveillance vs. freedom, genocide vs. survival, selfishness vs. trust, loyalty and friendships.
A.M. Daily drew me in from the start and kept me engaged throughout with her easy-to-read, descriptive style and world building that was creative and delightful. It may have taken a while, but I didn't mind since I really enjoyed the process as the dystopian underworld took shape. And she developed a good diverse set of characters, glbtq and otherwise - humans, humanoids, aliens, etc.
The story was told in third person, mainly from the POV of three YA men, bound together through friendship and love. In fact, part of the tension is the attraction smoldering under the surface for most of the story
Speaking of which, as for the sex, not much there, which was fine by me. It was more alluded to; and even in the one hotter scene, it was still not fully explicit, maybe a little too coy or discreet than need be. As such, the emotions were there, but it didn't fully capture the sensations a man would feel.
For those interested, it worked well as a standalone - coming to a satisfying conclusion for this part (yeah, some things were left hanging as you might expect from any opener), while also developing an imaginative world and characters that will span across the series. All in all, I was impressed with the level of quality that Daily brought to this debut in the series, and I look forward to the next one.
[Thanks to the author and Goodreads' Don't Buy My Love program for a free copy in exchange for an honest review]
This was an exciting start of a sci-fi/dystopian series with a secondary queer subplot.
It was refreshing that the main focus was on the sci-fi, with the gay aspect and any romance as a subplot. In this way I thought it was more true to life - where a light m/m romance may be overwhelmingly about the romance, here there was balance with everything else that happens in life. In this case it'd be what I call a classic "soft" sci-fi, tapping into the soft sciences more than the techie/hard sciences. In fact, I saw elements of 1984, only instead of Big Brother, it was a nondescript conquering alien race that was oppressively ruling the populace, similarly spreading propaganda about its victories over an evil secret subversive resistance and seemingly watching and controlling everyone's every move. So it made me think about issues relevant to today - suppression/surveillance vs. freedom, genocide vs. survival, selfishness vs. trust, loyalty and friendships.
A.M. Daily drew me in from the start and kept me engaged throughout with her easy-to-read, descriptive style and world building that was creative and delightful. It may have taken a while, but I didn't mind since I really enjoyed the process as the dystopian underworld took shape. And she developed a good diverse set of characters, glbtq and otherwise - humans, humanoids, aliens, etc.
The story was told in third person, mainly from the POV of three YA men, bound together through friendship and love. In fact, part of the tension is the attraction smoldering under the surface for most of the story
Speaking of which, as for the sex, not much there, which was fine by me. It was more alluded to; and even in the one hotter scene, it was still not fully explicit, maybe a little too coy or discreet than need be. As such, the emotions were there, but it didn't fully capture the sensations a man would feel.
For those interested, it worked well as a standalone - coming to a satisfying conclusion for this part (yeah, some things were left hanging as you might expect from any opener), while also developing an imaginative world and characters that will span across the series. All in all, I was impressed with the level of quality that Daily brought to this debut in the series, and I look forward to the next one.
April 9, 2018
Excellent story and great world-building. It sure is sad, though.
January 3, 2016
So while I really liked where this author was going with this world she created I have to be honest and say this was just so confusing trying to keep up with everything going on and who was what. There was really just so many times I was left scratching my head so confused on what exactly was going on in this book.
There was also very little romance in this book but there was a lot of action. There are three friends Blue, Caden and Mika which you get POV's from all of them and there was one scene between two of them that I have to say I really was not a huge fan of. It was more for personal reasons which I cant go into without spoiling this book which I really do not want to give anything away and ruin this book for anyone else so I will leave this review with... While I did like some parts of this world and story. I was just really confused with some many parts of this book and what was going on in this world. So I am sad to say this book was just not for me....
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review from Inked Rainbow Reads.
There was also very little romance in this book but there was a lot of action. There are three friends Blue, Caden and Mika which you get POV's from all of them and there was one scene between two of them that I have to say I really was not a huge fan of. It was more for personal reasons which I cant go into without spoiling this book which I really do not want to give anything away and ruin this book for anyone else so I will leave this review with... While I did like some parts of this world and story. I was just really confused with some many parts of this book and what was going on in this world. So I am sad to say this book was just not for me....
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review from Inked Rainbow Reads.
May 11, 2018
So I usually don't review books on here, but this is a criminally under-read and under-reviewed series, and I need to squeal incoherently about it. I have no idea how I stumbled across this book, but I'm so glad I did. A week or so after purchasing the first book in a whim, I finished THE NEXT FOUR BOOKS. IN A ROW. That's how good this entire series is. It is not without flaws, but it's been such a long time since I've had such a fulfilling reading experience.
In a world where Earth is dying, suffocated under a terrifying dystopian government, three characters struggle to survive: Blue, Mikas, and Caden. Caden is a sheltered rich boy who visits the dangerous city streets to read illegal books about the past... and there's something different about him. Mikas is a street thug who takes Caden under his wing, and Blue is Mikas's crossdressing prostitute best friend. When things go awry and Caden has to run away from his rich family for good, Mikas and Blue help him survive on the streets--but they're barely surviving on their own, and the only way to escape their miserable existence is to escape Earth. So begins the epic saga.
Blue is easily my favorite character, and he gets even better in the later books. He is in love with Mikas, who is sort of in love with him back but also likes pure, innocent Caden, who likes nobody until he meets *cough* SPOILER *cough*--and then there is Loki the Mechi (basically, android), who loves Blue despite his past, and is often more human than humans.
If you like angsty entanglements, this series does them subtly without getting melodramatic, yet everyone still gets their happily ever after (well, not in this book, but later on in the series). That being said, I don't think it's too heavy on the angst. There is a lot of plot, a lot of focus on human nature. If you're going into this looking for a 100% romance, you will be disappointed, because oftentimes the romance is understated, hinted at. This is a sweeping sci-fi with background romance, just the way I like it.
But there IS romance, and sex (more so in the later books than the first). Good, hot, romantic M/M sex!
Now to discuss the various flaws, none of which really bothered me on the whole. First, it appears the author does not really understand grammar dialogue. The grammar mistakes and occasional typo, however, are easily ignored, but I'm just giving a heads up. This series could've used an editor.
Second, the world building is so imaginative and great, but there are some holes in it that I never really got over. The Terah (the evil government) was just kind of stupid and destructive for the point of being stupid and destructive, but then again, the Terah is not really the focus of this series, just a shadowy villain, so I found myself going with the explanations given. *shrug*
In the end, the benefits outweigh the flaws. This was a beautiful, beautiful series that I wished got more attention. I want to talk about it so much more--how respectfully (but realistically) it portrayed sex workers, the character complexity and development, the sister planets, and did I mention, BLUE IS THE BEST CHARACTER EVER???
Also, READ THE WHOLE SERIES. The plot following Blue, Mikas, and Caden ends in Book 3, but Book 4 and Book 5 are on a whole different level from the original trilogy. Book 5 especially--the book about Blue's past, which also wraps up the present--is magnificent. I think I'll be rereading scenes from these books for a very long time.
In a world where Earth is dying, suffocated under a terrifying dystopian government, three characters struggle to survive: Blue, Mikas, and Caden. Caden is a sheltered rich boy who visits the dangerous city streets to read illegal books about the past... and there's something different about him. Mikas is a street thug who takes Caden under his wing, and Blue is Mikas's crossdressing prostitute best friend. When things go awry and Caden has to run away from his rich family for good, Mikas and Blue help him survive on the streets--but they're barely surviving on their own, and the only way to escape their miserable existence is to escape Earth. So begins the epic saga.
Blue is easily my favorite character, and he gets even better in the later books. He is in love with Mikas, who is sort of in love with him back but also likes pure, innocent Caden, who likes nobody until he meets *cough* SPOILER *cough*--and then there is Loki the Mechi (basically, android), who loves Blue despite his past, and is often more human than humans.
If you like angsty entanglements, this series does them subtly without getting melodramatic, yet everyone still gets their happily ever after (well, not in this book, but later on in the series). That being said, I don't think it's too heavy on the angst. There is a lot of plot, a lot of focus on human nature. If you're going into this looking for a 100% romance, you will be disappointed, because oftentimes the romance is understated, hinted at. This is a sweeping sci-fi with background romance, just the way I like it.
But there IS romance, and sex (more so in the later books than the first). Good, hot, romantic M/M sex!
Now to discuss the various flaws, none of which really bothered me on the whole. First, it appears the author does not really understand grammar dialogue. The grammar mistakes and occasional typo, however, are easily ignored, but I'm just giving a heads up. This series could've used an editor.
Second, the world building is so imaginative and great, but there are some holes in it that I never really got over. The Terah (the evil government) was just kind of stupid and destructive for the point of being stupid and destructive, but then again, the Terah is not really the focus of this series, just a shadowy villain, so I found myself going with the explanations given. *shrug*
In the end, the benefits outweigh the flaws. This was a beautiful, beautiful series that I wished got more attention. I want to talk about it so much more--how respectfully (but realistically) it portrayed sex workers, the character complexity and development, the sister planets, and did I mention, BLUE IS THE BEST CHARACTER EVER???
Also, READ THE WHOLE SERIES. The plot following Blue, Mikas, and Caden ends in Book 3, but Book 4 and Book 5 are on a whole different level from the original trilogy. Book 5 especially--the book about Blue's past, which also wraps up the present--is magnificent. I think I'll be rereading scenes from these books for a very long time.
May 20, 2018
Think Romance in a Blade-Runner/Shadow Run sort of world and you'll be right on the money.
MOST of the book takes place in beds large enough to hold 3 young men, though I wouldn't classify this book as erotica.
There are some problems with Baroque language at first, and the mysteries are slow to develop. So it feels a lot like the Author didn't start with a well thought out plan.
MOST of the book takes place in beds large enough to hold 3 young men, though I wouldn't classify this book as erotica.
There are some problems with Baroque language at first, and the mysteries are slow to develop. So it feels a lot like the Author didn't start with a well thought out plan.
March 19, 2016
If you're looking for a typical plotless mm romance, or a HEA, look elsewhere. I'm not sure I would even categorize this as a romance. This book is large, complicated, and was so far from plotless it had me still thinking about it for days after I finished reading.
Things I liked:
The dismal setting-- it was a very dark story set in a dystopian landscape. The entire read I felt like the life was being sucked out of me... but in a good way. The ruling government is terrifying and the atmosphere is just so palpable, the dying Earth almost seems a character itself.
The characters-- this is a character-driven book. If you're not into emotional baggage, character development, or frustrating and confusing relationships, this might not be the book for you. There were several times throughout the book that I was pulling my hair thinking, "why would you do that to him?" or "what the fuck are you thinking?" But I found that in many cases, the actions of the characters which may have seemed initially out of place in a typical romance, were understandable given the horrific upbringing the three main characters have endured.
Caden, Mikas, and Blue are all such intriguing characters in their own right, and I found myself rather attached to all of them by the end of the read.
Caden, the main protagonist, was the most difficult for me to get a feel for. I think this is because of his rather abusive upbringing and his almost childlike reactions to what's going on around him. I did like the author's use of his nightmares throughout to help us understand his inner turmoil.
Mikas was an interesting character in that he always seemed to try to take the moral high ground, especially in regards to Blue and his chosen profession. It was slightly irritating to see Mikas constantly shutting Blue down in one breath, and then in the other committing violent crimes for petty cash. I think he was one of the most emotionally conflicted characters in the book, and I'd really like to see how he will (hopefully) grow in the next.
Blue was definitely my favorite character. He was just so damaged... and yet, he was also the most compassionate and understanding of the three. There was a definite bittersweetness surrounding Blue and his interactions with Mikas, and I think the author did a great job of letting us feel that heartache.
I was also completely enamored with Loki
Things I didn't like:
The ending-- it's not that it was a bad ending, per se.. it's just that I really hate cliffhangers, and this ended with a HUGE one. I was relieved to see that book two will be out soon, because I'm hoping some of the loose ends might get tied up there.
Overall, a really unique and enjoyable read.
Things I liked:
The dismal setting-- it was a very dark story set in a dystopian landscape. The entire read I felt like the life was being sucked out of me... but in a good way. The ruling government is terrifying and the atmosphere is just so palpable, the dying Earth almost seems a character itself.
The characters-- this is a character-driven book. If you're not into emotional baggage, character development, or frustrating and confusing relationships, this might not be the book for you. There were several times throughout the book that I was pulling my hair thinking, "why would you do that to him?" or "what the fuck are you thinking?" But I found that in many cases, the actions of the characters which may have seemed initially out of place in a typical romance, were understandable given the horrific upbringing the three main characters have endured.
Caden, Mikas, and Blue are all such intriguing characters in their own right, and I found myself rather attached to all of them by the end of the read.
Caden, the main protagonist, was the most difficult for me to get a feel for. I think this is because of his rather abusive upbringing and his almost childlike reactions to what's going on around him. I did like the author's use of his nightmares throughout to help us understand his inner turmoil.
Mikas was an interesting character in that he always seemed to try to take the moral high ground, especially in regards to Blue and his chosen profession. It was slightly irritating to see Mikas constantly shutting Blue down in one breath, and then in the other committing violent crimes for petty cash. I think he was one of the most emotionally conflicted characters in the book, and I'd really like to see how he will (hopefully) grow in the next.
Blue was definitely my favorite character. He was just so damaged... and yet, he was also the most compassionate and understanding of the three. There was a definite bittersweetness surrounding Blue and his interactions with Mikas, and I think the author did a great job of letting us feel that heartache.
I was also completely enamored with Loki
Things I didn't like:
The ending-- it's not that it was a bad ending, per se.. it's just that I really hate cliffhangers, and this ended with a HUGE one. I was relieved to see that book two will be out soon, because I'm hoping some of the loose ends might get tied up there.
Overall, a really unique and enjoyable read.
March 5, 2017
Looking forward to reading more of this Riveting series!
February 26, 2017
From Magnolia Reviews: Four Petals
The world building and the emotions tied to it in this story were amazing and that is why I absolutely recommend this story. I thought the characterizations were a little weak in comparison to the rest, but overall this was a good read.
Read the full review on Maggie's website: http://magnoliareviews.weebly.com/rev...
The world building and the emotions tied to it in this story were amazing and that is why I absolutely recommend this story. I thought the characterizations were a little weak in comparison to the rest, but overall this was a good read.
Read the full review on Maggie's website: http://magnoliareviews.weebly.com/rev...
March 19, 2016
I received a copy of this book from the author via the DBML program in exchange for an honest review.
Reading the first book in a sci-fi/fantasy series can be tough as the author has to spend so much time with the world-building. I expected this going into reading Lacuna but it was a bit more extensive than I anticipated. It’s weird because with all of that I still feel like I don’t fully see the world the author built. There are 3 groups at odds in the book. The Terah are the running class, but there is very little explained about them. Humans had created the Mechi, androids who are gradually being destroyed by the Terah. The Ezri are an alien species who the Terah are also attempting to eradicate. We get more information about the Mechi than the other two, which was a big problem for me. I read a 350+ page book and I still have huge gaps in the world the author created? Yeah, not my favorite thing in the world.
There are 3 main characters: Caden, Mikas & Blue, and the book is told from each of their perspectives in alternating chapter POVs. Caden is the son of a wealthy businessman who sneaks out of his family home, seeking illegal books about Earth and has strange dreams. Mikas is a street kid, operating outside of the system, struggling to survive in the face of an increasing militant presence of the running class. Blue is an androgynous prostitute, living a precarious balance within and outside of the establishment. The book focuses on these three characters but there are several very interesting characters introduced who are essential to the story.
Overall I enjoyed the story but I wanted more answers, and I really didn’t like the ending. It was good enough that I will most likely read the second in the series though. If you like sci-fi/fantasy you should enjoy this book, but maybe wait until the second book is released in April so you can just continue :)
Reading the first book in a sci-fi/fantasy series can be tough as the author has to spend so much time with the world-building. I expected this going into reading Lacuna but it was a bit more extensive than I anticipated. It’s weird because with all of that I still feel like I don’t fully see the world the author built. There are 3 groups at odds in the book. The Terah are the running class, but there is very little explained about them. Humans had created the Mechi, androids who are gradually being destroyed by the Terah. The Ezri are an alien species who the Terah are also attempting to eradicate. We get more information about the Mechi than the other two, which was a big problem for me. I read a 350+ page book and I still have huge gaps in the world the author created? Yeah, not my favorite thing in the world.
There are 3 main characters: Caden, Mikas & Blue, and the book is told from each of their perspectives in alternating chapter POVs. Caden is the son of a wealthy businessman who sneaks out of his family home, seeking illegal books about Earth and has strange dreams. Mikas is a street kid, operating outside of the system, struggling to survive in the face of an increasing militant presence of the running class. Blue is an androgynous prostitute, living a precarious balance within and outside of the establishment. The book focuses on these three characters but there are several very interesting characters introduced who are essential to the story.
Overall I enjoyed the story but I wanted more answers, and I really didn’t like the ending. It was good enough that I will most likely read the second in the series though. If you like sci-fi/fantasy you should enjoy this book, but maybe wait until the second book is released in April so you can just continue :)
April 1, 2017
4.5* Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
Caden has lived a privileged, sheltered life but he longs for freedom from the prison his home has become. Needing an escape, Caden begins sneaking out to explore the other surrounding cities and ends up meeting Mikas and Blue in the process. All three are from very different backgrounds but they still manage to form a friendship amidst the wreckage their lives and home have become. Caden is ravaged by nightmares, however, that hint at something much darker and in order to find answers about them, and himself, he’ll need to travel much farther away than another city.
Oh man, where has this book been all my life? This was a really well done, multi faceted dystopian fiction that has so much going for it I’m not even sure where to properly begin. Each of the main characters brings something different to the story and when I thought I’d had them all figured out, something else would happen and I’d realize there was still so much more to learn. Cade had the most personal growth, in my opinion, and his story was really only just beginning with this tale. He wasn’t in the book quite as much as I expected but I think that actually lent more impact to everything going on with him. Blue came to some realizations about himself but he was just stuck in an unfortunate circle of misfortune until the end and I felt horrible for him for most of the book. Mikas is the one I wonder about; I didn’t see much growth from him in this book but there’s plenty of opportunity in the next one so I’m hoping there’ll be progress in the future.
I barely wanted to put this one down; the world building was excellent and I found the entire story engaging. I’m really looking forward to reading more from this author in the future and I just can’t wait to read the sequel!
Caden has lived a privileged, sheltered life but he longs for freedom from the prison his home has become. Needing an escape, Caden begins sneaking out to explore the other surrounding cities and ends up meeting Mikas and Blue in the process. All three are from very different backgrounds but they still manage to form a friendship amidst the wreckage their lives and home have become. Caden is ravaged by nightmares, however, that hint at something much darker and in order to find answers about them, and himself, he’ll need to travel much farther away than another city.
Oh man, where has this book been all my life? This was a really well done, multi faceted dystopian fiction that has so much going for it I’m not even sure where to properly begin. Each of the main characters brings something different to the story and when I thought I’d had them all figured out, something else would happen and I’d realize there was still so much more to learn. Cade had the most personal growth, in my opinion, and his story was really only just beginning with this tale. He wasn’t in the book quite as much as I expected but I think that actually lent more impact to everything going on with him. Blue came to some realizations about himself but he was just stuck in an unfortunate circle of misfortune until the end and I felt horrible for him for most of the book. Mikas is the one I wonder about; I didn’t see much growth from him in this book but there’s plenty of opportunity in the next one so I’m hoping there’ll be progress in the future.
I barely wanted to put this one down; the world building was excellent and I found the entire story engaging. I’m really looking forward to reading more from this author in the future and I just can’t wait to read the sequel!
March 27, 2016
I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this story! I would consider it a dystopian YA (which I can't help but like) that follows three young boys: Caden, Blue, and Mikas. They are all unlikely friends--Caden is the son of a successful but abusive corporate businessman, while Blue and Mikas live on their own and fend for themselves. The bond between the three of them is so strong, and I liked reading the small details about how they interact with each other. Each chapter switches to a different boy's point of view, which really lets us into their individual thoughts and experiences.
I will admit that it was confusing to get into--chapter 1 felt long and there was a lot of information to take in and figure out. I still don't quite understand everything, but this is part of a series and I'm sure more will be filled in later. I should also probably re-read this first one as I know I must have missed things along the way. Nevertheless, I was never so confused that I had to stop reading, and I don't think my questions took away from my enjoyment of the book.
I enjoyed this story! I would consider it a dystopian YA (which I can't help but like) that follows three young boys: Caden, Blue, and Mikas. They are all unlikely friends--Caden is the son of a successful but abusive corporate businessman, while Blue and Mikas live on their own and fend for themselves. The bond between the three of them is so strong, and I liked reading the small details about how they interact with each other. Each chapter switches to a different boy's point of view, which really lets us into their individual thoughts and experiences.
I will admit that it was confusing to get into--chapter 1 felt long and there was a lot of information to take in and figure out. I still don't quite understand everything, but this is part of a series and I'm sure more will be filled in later. I should also probably re-read this first one as I know I must have missed things along the way. Nevertheless, I was never so confused that I had to stop reading, and I don't think my questions took away from my enjoyment of the book.
July 17, 2016
I started Lacuna in January and then got sidetracked by school and didn't finish until 3 months later, so I don't remember the first two chapter very well. I got back into it fairly quickly though once I had time for fun reading again, and it was a quick, engaging read. The writing could be edited which was my main criticism: run on sentences and awkward grammar that sometimes got in the way of the flow of the story. Despite this the characters were well developed so you were able to really care about what happened to them. I am looking forward to reading the second book!
October 28, 2015
Very interesting storyline and great writing. It was just a personal preference that made me drop the book.
Want to read
January 17, 2016Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, reviewed for Hearts On Fire
January 5, 2016
4.5 stars This was SO close to 5 stars for me. I was a little disappointed with the ending but the rest was excellent! Full review soon at It's About the Book.
Read
June 29, 2016This is a DNF actually, with no intention of doing so.
January 24, 2017
Kinda confusing but kept me intrigued throughout.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews