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Project Ordell
Ordell Rutledge lives in the small town of Blackwick where he helps in his father’s modest automaton shop. While he enjoys interacting with the few people who grace his father’s business, he feels isolated because he can’t relate to them. For ten years, life’s been quaint and peaceful, but Ordell has a secret: he is an automaton, sentient enough to pass as human.
Ordell’s life is upended when the person he trusts most betrays him. Heartbroken, he sets off for Linnesse, a city that accepts automatons as people and is booming with the latest technology. With another sentient automaton, Elias Griffith, at his side, they overcome obstacles and uncover the strange truth behind Ordell’s past. But sometimes the past is best left in the dark.
Genre
Male/Male Romance, Science Fiction, Light Steampunk
Note:Project Ordell is set in a steampunk setting, but is listed in the scifi genre. This is due to the fact that it does not have extensive world building.
Content Warnings: suicide & non-graphic sexual assault attempt
Click here to order the paperback.
Click here to order the ebook.
Ordell’s life is upended when the person he trusts most betrays him. Heartbroken, he sets off for Linnesse, a city that accepts automatons as people and is booming with the latest technology. With another sentient automaton, Elias Griffith, at his side, they overcome obstacles and uncover the strange truth behind Ordell’s past. But sometimes the past is best left in the dark.
Genre
Male/Male Romance, Science Fiction, Light Steampunk
Note:Project Ordell is set in a steampunk setting, but is listed in the scifi genre. This is due to the fact that it does not have extensive world building.
Content Warnings: suicide & non-graphic sexual assault attempt
Click here to order the paperback.
Click here to order the ebook.
200 pages, Paperback
First published February 5, 2016
49 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 10, 2016
I had the absolute pleasure of helping to beta this story.
It's different than anything else I have ever read and the background just grabbed me. You know when a story comes back to you with ease that it left a mark, which is rare for me (I often forget what the hell I read), so that says something :)
Enjoyable and a definite adventure. If you're willing to try something new, I encourage you to do so.
And thank you to Susanna for giving me the privilege to help you along the road to publishing this story.
It's different than anything else I have ever read and the background just grabbed me. You know when a story comes back to you with ease that it left a mark, which is rare for me (I often forget what the hell I read), so that says something :)
Enjoyable and a definite adventure. If you're willing to try something new, I encourage you to do so.
And thank you to Susanna for giving me the privilege to help you along the road to publishing this story.
March 31, 2016
Book – Project Ordell
Author – Susanna Hayes
Star rating - ★★★☆☆
No. of Pages - 200
Movie Potential - ★★★★☆
Ease of reading – very easy to read
Would I read it again – Possibly.
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY THE AUTHOR, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
To be honest, I had high expectations of this story. As a Steampunk, I was immediately excited to read it. Add in that beautiful cover and I was itching to start.
~
PLOT
The plot is very original and creative. I had a really strong sense of the Steampunk theme at the beginning and was in love with the detail of the world and the storytelling. The way this author writes is very captivating, at the start of the novel.
However, I have to admit that about 20-30% in, the story just begins to take off and it took an unusual turn. To me, this story is an eclectic mix of the films iRobot and The Boxtrolls, with a healthy mix of the Mariah Mundi books. There were elements of all three: the baddie from The Boxtrolls; the Sentient Robots from iRobot, fighting for their freedom; even the Steampunk-ish world of Mariah Mundi.
The Steampunk element – for me – didn't work. Yes, it was strong at the beginning and the idea of the automatons really intrigued me, but this could easily have been a historical/alternative world romance, without the Steampunk element. Here's why:
The “robots” didn't read like robots. They read like a human, with very few mentions of cogs, mechanics, metal or processes. They slept, to recharge; they could have sex, smell, taste, feel complex emotions, have a temper, had their own thoughts and opinions, could fight and have blood drawn. But, somehow, they were still a machine. This really confused me. I was basically reading about a human being, who I was expected to believe was a robot. And this is where one star disappeared. Had the Steampunk element actually been followed through on, with much more detail and strength, this story would have been a solid 5 for me.
Another issue I had was with the “adventure” of the story. I must have spent about 70% of the book thinking “something big is going to happen.” Nearly every chapter ended on a cliffhanger, where a tension set in and I expected some massive danger to lurk on the next page. But it was never as dangerous as I expected, never quite as exciting as the lead up suggested and they always got out of it pretty easily. The trouble nearly always resolved itself, the danger never actually putting any character in mortal peril and I guessed the ending.
That, really, should have knocked another star off. But I let it slide. I'm used to a lot of action in my books and the only Steampunk novels I've read, before this, were M/F fantasy novels and they were most definitely more solid in the action and Steampunk elements. I didn't remove a star for this books lack of that, because it's unfair to compare the two.
There are great things about this book. It began as very intriguing, original and clever. There were great moments of humour. Some really fun adventures and a few zingy one liners.
It just couldn't maintain this throughout. There were dips and bumps along the way, where things grew a little stale and predictable. There were a few things that didn't make sense. Ordell, our main character, was fascinated by a little girl and her sick father, desperate to help. Yet, we're never told if he actually did. Despite him being consumed with thoughts of them, in the run up to him actually learning how to help, that issue is never fully resolved or even implied. That felt wrong.
I didn't understand the significance of the 'revolution' since it led nowhere. I expected a massive community of sentient robots all fighting together against the oppressive humans, but it never happened. I expected some form of actual revolution action, which never happened. And, despite desperately trying to reach Linnesse through the whole book, they don't get there until the last few pages.
I think, if you remove the 'sex bots' idea and leave the robots as slaves, remove the nudity and the sex scenes, then this would be an awesome M/M romance, with a Steampunk element, for the YA market. And, truthfully, that's how I read it. It felt so much like a YA novel that it could have been an amazing 5 star, if the sex and sex bots weren't included. But, because they were, my expectations were higher. The adventure, the danger and such would have been spot on for a YA; nothing too gory or nerve-shattering, but just perfect for the YA market.
~
CHARACTERS
I loved the characters. Ordell is this feisty guy, in his twenties (apparently) who is funny, moody, stubborn and so much more. But I never really see him as a robot. He's too human. The fact that he can't taste food makes no difference to that.
Elias, too, is a brilliant character. He's fun, whimsical, but also very protective of Ordell. I actually think I like him better than Ordell, though at times I would swing from one to the other.
The supporting characters all have their place and even the villain has his redeeming qualities. But, as I said above, their personalities read perfectly for a YA novel. Not so much for an adult, 18+ novel, which is what this is supposed to be.
Ordell is supposed to be in real danger, throughout the whole book. Yet, he's stupid or naive or just stubborn enough to continue to wander off alone. He freaks out Elias, who is trying so hard to protect him. But he never really thinks about how he affects other people. There are even times when, despite both being sentient beings with real human emotions, neither have a clue what they're saying or doing. Their arguments really confused me, because I often couldn't understand why they were blowing up into shouting matches. Not that the matter was trivial. I literally couldn't understand what they were arguing about. It made no sense.
The villain, too, doesn't measure up. He starts out creepy and sleazy, but there are too many moments of a broken man trying to keep a brave face. I'm not sure why the author redeemed him in the end, but I saw it coming and it made the risk to Ordell so much less than it should have been. I was never, not in all the times he was captured or in danger, actually concerned for his safety. Physical, mental or otherwise.
Taking this book as it's presented – an 18+ Steampunk novel, with sex scenes – the characters don't pass muster. Yes, they're awesome, because of their adventures and fun attitude, and their fight against a baddie. But it's a YA novel at heart. The characters are immature and not broad enough for an adult novel. They are naive and childish sometimes, but also like moody teenagers at other times.
The romance is also a little weird. It made me uncomfortable, at the start, because they're both supposed to be robots. The whole mechanics and the “how does that work” aspect really confused me, until I read the actual sex scene. Then, it read more like two humans; with all the right bodily functions, reactions and no mention of 'rusting' or any hampering of their ability at all.
~
OVERALL
Honestly, I was a little disappointed. I felt a little flat after reading it. I didn't think about it for hours or days afterward and when I put it down, I wasn't in an urgent hurry to pick it back up again. I wanted to find out what happened, but not with the kind of excitement I'm used to, with a really great book.
If this had been marketed as a YA romance, it could easily have become a new favourite. The same with the author. They would have become an instant buy, if this was just left as the genre the story demanded. Without the sex and sex bots, this story is perfect. It makes sense, the adventure and danger are just enough, but not too much. And the mechanics aren't quite so important, within the context of the romance.
As an 18+, adult novel, I needed more. This story was disappointing, because it needed fleshed out more, for an adult audience. The adventure and danger are too predictable and not dangerous enough to ever cause real concern for the characters. The sex/romance element feels misplaced, because of the 'robot' issue and it's all just a bit...flat.
I genuinely enjoyed a lot of aspects of this story, but it just doesn't belong in the adult M/M world, in my opinion. The plot, characters and world belong in the YA market, where it could comfortably be an excellent read.
Author – Susanna Hayes
Star rating - ★★★☆☆
No. of Pages - 200
Movie Potential - ★★★★☆
Ease of reading – very easy to read
Would I read it again – Possibly.
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY THE AUTHOR, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
To be honest, I had high expectations of this story. As a Steampunk, I was immediately excited to read it. Add in that beautiful cover and I was itching to start.
~
PLOT
The plot is very original and creative. I had a really strong sense of the Steampunk theme at the beginning and was in love with the detail of the world and the storytelling. The way this author writes is very captivating, at the start of the novel.
However, I have to admit that about 20-30% in, the story just begins to take off and it took an unusual turn. To me, this story is an eclectic mix of the films iRobot and The Boxtrolls, with a healthy mix of the Mariah Mundi books. There were elements of all three: the baddie from The Boxtrolls; the Sentient Robots from iRobot, fighting for their freedom; even the Steampunk-ish world of Mariah Mundi.
The Steampunk element – for me – didn't work. Yes, it was strong at the beginning and the idea of the automatons really intrigued me, but this could easily have been a historical/alternative world romance, without the Steampunk element. Here's why:
The “robots” didn't read like robots. They read like a human, with very few mentions of cogs, mechanics, metal or processes. They slept, to recharge; they could have sex, smell, taste, feel complex emotions, have a temper, had their own thoughts and opinions, could fight and have blood drawn. But, somehow, they were still a machine. This really confused me. I was basically reading about a human being, who I was expected to believe was a robot. And this is where one star disappeared. Had the Steampunk element actually been followed through on, with much more detail and strength, this story would have been a solid 5 for me.
Another issue I had was with the “adventure” of the story. I must have spent about 70% of the book thinking “something big is going to happen.” Nearly every chapter ended on a cliffhanger, where a tension set in and I expected some massive danger to lurk on the next page. But it was never as dangerous as I expected, never quite as exciting as the lead up suggested and they always got out of it pretty easily. The trouble nearly always resolved itself, the danger never actually putting any character in mortal peril and I guessed the ending.
That, really, should have knocked another star off. But I let it slide. I'm used to a lot of action in my books and the only Steampunk novels I've read, before this, were M/F fantasy novels and they were most definitely more solid in the action and Steampunk elements. I didn't remove a star for this books lack of that, because it's unfair to compare the two.
There are great things about this book. It began as very intriguing, original and clever. There were great moments of humour. Some really fun adventures and a few zingy one liners.
It just couldn't maintain this throughout. There were dips and bumps along the way, where things grew a little stale and predictable. There were a few things that didn't make sense. Ordell, our main character, was fascinated by a little girl and her sick father, desperate to help. Yet, we're never told if he actually did. Despite him being consumed with thoughts of them, in the run up to him actually learning how to help, that issue is never fully resolved or even implied. That felt wrong.
I didn't understand the significance of the 'revolution' since it led nowhere. I expected a massive community of sentient robots all fighting together against the oppressive humans, but it never happened. I expected some form of actual revolution action, which never happened. And, despite desperately trying to reach Linnesse through the whole book, they don't get there until the last few pages.
I think, if you remove the 'sex bots' idea and leave the robots as slaves, remove the nudity and the sex scenes, then this would be an awesome M/M romance, with a Steampunk element, for the YA market. And, truthfully, that's how I read it. It felt so much like a YA novel that it could have been an amazing 5 star, if the sex and sex bots weren't included. But, because they were, my expectations were higher. The adventure, the danger and such would have been spot on for a YA; nothing too gory or nerve-shattering, but just perfect for the YA market.
~
CHARACTERS
I loved the characters. Ordell is this feisty guy, in his twenties (apparently) who is funny, moody, stubborn and so much more. But I never really see him as a robot. He's too human. The fact that he can't taste food makes no difference to that.
Elias, too, is a brilliant character. He's fun, whimsical, but also very protective of Ordell. I actually think I like him better than Ordell, though at times I would swing from one to the other.
The supporting characters all have their place and even the villain has his redeeming qualities. But, as I said above, their personalities read perfectly for a YA novel. Not so much for an adult, 18+ novel, which is what this is supposed to be.
Ordell is supposed to be in real danger, throughout the whole book. Yet, he's stupid or naive or just stubborn enough to continue to wander off alone. He freaks out Elias, who is trying so hard to protect him. But he never really thinks about how he affects other people. There are even times when, despite both being sentient beings with real human emotions, neither have a clue what they're saying or doing. Their arguments really confused me, because I often couldn't understand why they were blowing up into shouting matches. Not that the matter was trivial. I literally couldn't understand what they were arguing about. It made no sense.
The villain, too, doesn't measure up. He starts out creepy and sleazy, but there are too many moments of a broken man trying to keep a brave face. I'm not sure why the author redeemed him in the end, but I saw it coming and it made the risk to Ordell so much less than it should have been. I was never, not in all the times he was captured or in danger, actually concerned for his safety. Physical, mental or otherwise.
Taking this book as it's presented – an 18+ Steampunk novel, with sex scenes – the characters don't pass muster. Yes, they're awesome, because of their adventures and fun attitude, and their fight against a baddie. But it's a YA novel at heart. The characters are immature and not broad enough for an adult novel. They are naive and childish sometimes, but also like moody teenagers at other times.
The romance is also a little weird. It made me uncomfortable, at the start, because they're both supposed to be robots. The whole mechanics and the “how does that work” aspect really confused me, until I read the actual sex scene. Then, it read more like two humans; with all the right bodily functions, reactions and no mention of 'rusting' or any hampering of their ability at all.
~
OVERALL
Honestly, I was a little disappointed. I felt a little flat after reading it. I didn't think about it for hours or days afterward and when I put it down, I wasn't in an urgent hurry to pick it back up again. I wanted to find out what happened, but not with the kind of excitement I'm used to, with a really great book.
If this had been marketed as a YA romance, it could easily have become a new favourite. The same with the author. They would have become an instant buy, if this was just left as the genre the story demanded. Without the sex and sex bots, this story is perfect. It makes sense, the adventure and danger are just enough, but not too much. And the mechanics aren't quite so important, within the context of the romance.
As an 18+, adult novel, I needed more. This story was disappointing, because it needed fleshed out more, for an adult audience. The adventure and danger are too predictable and not dangerous enough to ever cause real concern for the characters. The sex/romance element feels misplaced, because of the 'robot' issue and it's all just a bit...flat.
I genuinely enjoyed a lot of aspects of this story, but it just doesn't belong in the adult M/M world, in my opinion. The plot, characters and world belong in the YA market, where it could comfortably be an excellent read.
April 1, 2017
Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
In a world where automatons are the norm, Ordell Rutledge still finds himself living in a world apart. Far more human than his counterparts, Ordell strives everyday to live and blend in with the people around him but when he’s betrayed by the one person he trusts most, he finds himself on the run. Kidnapping attempts, a plague that looks like its making a resurgence, and the fight for automaton’s rights are only a few of the things Ordell encounters on his journey but the most important thing he learns about is himself.
This book was both really good and a bit of a disappointment at the same time. I found the concept of the story and the automatons fascinating and when I started reading it, I didn’t want to put it down. I love Ordell; he’s so close to human but there are still things about him that mark him as other and it was interesting to see how he dealt with it, especially when the people around him didn’t know what he was. I already knew how the betrayal was going to go pretty much from the beginning but I found I didn’t mind that quite so much as I thought I would; the reasons for it were certainly not expected. Elias was an enjoyable character, too. He was so different from Ordell, both in looks and personality, and it was amusing to watch him trying to get a reaction from his counterpart.
I totally loved the book through about the first half but then it fell apart a little bit. There were several major things being dealt with throughout the book, which was fine, but they were so rushed through that I never felt satisfied with any of it. Honestly, if this had been made into two books instead of having everything crammed into just one, it would have been fantastic! As it was, while I enjoyed the overall story, setting and characters, I ended the book feeling like I’d been cheated out of any meaningful climax and resolution. The book would start to peak on something and then it felt as though it just petered out with a whimper instead of giving me the bang I was looking for. This was a great imaginative story that incorporated steampunk elements really well but I still came away feeling like I was missing something when it was finished.
In a world where automatons are the norm, Ordell Rutledge still finds himself living in a world apart. Far more human than his counterparts, Ordell strives everyday to live and blend in with the people around him but when he’s betrayed by the one person he trusts most, he finds himself on the run. Kidnapping attempts, a plague that looks like its making a resurgence, and the fight for automaton’s rights are only a few of the things Ordell encounters on his journey but the most important thing he learns about is himself.
This book was both really good and a bit of a disappointment at the same time. I found the concept of the story and the automatons fascinating and when I started reading it, I didn’t want to put it down. I love Ordell; he’s so close to human but there are still things about him that mark him as other and it was interesting to see how he dealt with it, especially when the people around him didn’t know what he was. I already knew how the betrayal was going to go pretty much from the beginning but I found I didn’t mind that quite so much as I thought I would; the reasons for it were certainly not expected. Elias was an enjoyable character, too. He was so different from Ordell, both in looks and personality, and it was amusing to watch him trying to get a reaction from his counterpart.
I totally loved the book through about the first half but then it fell apart a little bit. There were several major things being dealt with throughout the book, which was fine, but they were so rushed through that I never felt satisfied with any of it. Honestly, if this had been made into two books instead of having everything crammed into just one, it would have been fantastic! As it was, while I enjoyed the overall story, setting and characters, I ended the book feeling like I’d been cheated out of any meaningful climax and resolution. The book would start to peak on something and then it felt as though it just petered out with a whimper instead of giving me the bang I was looking for. This was a great imaginative story that incorporated steampunk elements really well but I still came away feeling like I was missing something when it was finished.
April 11, 2016
2 Hearts
Ordell is a sentient automaton living in Blackwick with his father and creator, Octavio, living peacefully and enjoys helping his father build other automatons to be sold as workers. Or so he believes.
One day he comes home from running his errands and finds his father arguing with a man who gives him the creeps. A week later he is betrayed by Octavio, and has been sold as a pleasure slave to that man.
Running away, he finds himself at Winifred’s house, whom he discovers is his real creator, and she has another automaton locked in her basement to keep him safe. She sends Ordell, and the other automaton, Elias to Linesse, where automatons are free to live as they please thanks an underground revolution that has been fighting for automaton rights for decades.
But the journey is long, and Ratcliffe, the man who bought him, will not give him up without a fight.
Read the rest on the blog
Ordell is a sentient automaton living in Blackwick with his father and creator, Octavio, living peacefully and enjoys helping his father build other automatons to be sold as workers. Or so he believes.
One day he comes home from running his errands and finds his father arguing with a man who gives him the creeps. A week later he is betrayed by Octavio, and has been sold as a pleasure slave to that man.
Running away, he finds himself at Winifred’s house, whom he discovers is his real creator, and she has another automaton locked in her basement to keep him safe. She sends Ordell, and the other automaton, Elias to Linesse, where automatons are free to live as they please thanks an underground revolution that has been fighting for automaton rights for decades.
But the journey is long, and Ratcliffe, the man who bought him, will not give him up without a fight.
Read the rest on the blog
February 7, 2016
Too much . . . stuff going on with too little point and too few morals. No one managed to act admirably, and there was too much "so-and-so is a good guy . . . no, wait, I guess he's a bad guy . . . oops, nope, he's a good guy again". Plus, the pacing was odd and the language was sometimes awkward. I was really looking forward to this, preordered it weeks ago and everything, but I just ended up disappointed.
August 5, 2018
More like a 1.5 stars, rounded up to 2.
Long story short, this is not a good book.
The fact that it feels like a long story condensed into a fairly short 200-something pages is one reason why. There are so many things happening in this story, so many subplots and different settings and characters, and a, quite honestly, offensively copious amount of cheesy plot twists. So, there is so much going on, but so little time/words to dedicated all these events. As a result, they all end up feeling extremely rushed and unfulfilling. While reading this book, I felt like I was reading something more similar to outline. It felt as if the author had written scenes to match all the major plot points she outlined, but then didn't bother to expand on the story by adding scenes to bridge to larger plot points together in an interesting and cohesive way.
In addition, the fact that there were so many extremely predictable plot points in such a short story became extremely grating halfway through the story as opposed to interested. Honestly, I skimmed through the last third of the book because I was so tired of the tedious twists and turns, but I spent money on this book, and thus felt motivated to finish it.
Also, almost none of the characters in this book were likable or interesting at all. The main two characters, Ordell and Elias, have basically no chemistry. For the first half of the book, they flip flop between arguing and poorly flirting with each other so drastically that it gave me whiplash. And then, suddenly, they are in love and planning their futures together. After that, their interactions grew even more boring, which I hadn't thought possible. The other side characters are also so dull and contribute little to nothing substantial to the story at hand. They're also pretty unlikable, considering the fact that many of the major obstacles in the story are caused by their lack of foresight and generally poor logical reasoning skills.
The only character I felt was mildly interesting was the main antagonist, and that was because he was the only character who really actively had a part in the plot's progression. All the other "good" guys basically were just going along for the ride and reacting to what was going on around them. They also still are pretty annoying and do such incomprehensible things that I don't even really consider half of them to be good guys, anyway.
Another main issue is obviously the plot itself. There were so many strange sub-plots that were intertwined so strangely that I could barely tell what was supposed to be happening at any point of the story. Furthermore, the resolution of most of the story's conflicts tend to involve Ordell simply flashing his baby blue's at the other characters while politely asking that he get his way, and that's that. As I said before, almost none of the characters actually actively do anything to progress the story along, which further contributes to how dull this story is.
I honestly just finished reading this book about half an hour ago, and I can already barely remember what happened. This book is so unimpressive that it's also not memorable at all. I do think that the premise is interesting, which is why I bought this book despite the other poor reviews. I wanted to like this book, but there really was not much to like. What's a good premise if it's not executed well?
I feel that this story could've been so much better if a few high-quality editors had combed through it and helped the author re-write a great majority of it. First of all, I think it just needs to be longer, perhaps even split into multiple books. There is simply too much going that is so haphazardly crammed together for this to be enjoyable. I also think all of the characters need to be re-worked so that they're actually interesting with compelling personal motivations that allow them to be more active in the story. They also need to have better chemistry together, both romantic and platonic because they have almost none.
As it is, though, this book is not good, and I don't think I would recommend it to anyone.
Long story short, this is not a good book.
The fact that it feels like a long story condensed into a fairly short 200-something pages is one reason why. There are so many things happening in this story, so many subplots and different settings and characters, and a, quite honestly, offensively copious amount of cheesy plot twists. So, there is so much going on, but so little time/words to dedicated all these events. As a result, they all end up feeling extremely rushed and unfulfilling. While reading this book, I felt like I was reading something more similar to outline. It felt as if the author had written scenes to match all the major plot points she outlined, but then didn't bother to expand on the story by adding scenes to bridge to larger plot points together in an interesting and cohesive way.
In addition, the fact that there were so many extremely predictable plot points in such a short story became extremely grating halfway through the story as opposed to interested. Honestly, I skimmed through the last third of the book because I was so tired of the tedious twists and turns, but I spent money on this book, and thus felt motivated to finish it.
Also, almost none of the characters in this book were likable or interesting at all. The main two characters, Ordell and Elias, have basically no chemistry. For the first half of the book, they flip flop between arguing and poorly flirting with each other so drastically that it gave me whiplash. And then, suddenly, they are in love and planning their futures together. After that, their interactions grew even more boring, which I hadn't thought possible. The other side characters are also so dull and contribute little to nothing substantial to the story at hand. They're also pretty unlikable, considering the fact that many of the major obstacles in the story are caused by their lack of foresight and generally poor logical reasoning skills.
The only character I felt was mildly interesting was the main antagonist, and that was because he was the only character who really actively had a part in the plot's progression. All the other "good" guys basically were just going along for the ride and reacting to what was going on around them. They also still are pretty annoying and do such incomprehensible things that I don't even really consider half of them to be good guys, anyway.
Another main issue is obviously the plot itself. There were so many strange sub-plots that were intertwined so strangely that I could barely tell what was supposed to be happening at any point of the story. Furthermore, the resolution of most of the story's conflicts tend to involve Ordell simply flashing his baby blue's at the other characters while politely asking that he get his way, and that's that. As I said before, almost none of the characters actually actively do anything to progress the story along, which further contributes to how dull this story is.
I honestly just finished reading this book about half an hour ago, and I can already barely remember what happened. This book is so unimpressive that it's also not memorable at all. I do think that the premise is interesting, which is why I bought this book despite the other poor reviews. I wanted to like this book, but there really was not much to like. What's a good premise if it's not executed well?
I feel that this story could've been so much better if a few high-quality editors had combed through it and helped the author re-write a great majority of it. First of all, I think it just needs to be longer, perhaps even split into multiple books. There is simply too much going that is so haphazardly crammed together for this to be enjoyable. I also think all of the characters need to be re-worked so that they're actually interesting with compelling personal motivations that allow them to be more active in the story. They also need to have better chemistry together, both romantic and platonic because they have almost none.
As it is, though, this book is not good, and I don't think I would recommend it to anyone.
March 6, 2016
Reviewed for The Dark Arts
My Rating: 4.5 This book really had my wheels turning. In fact, after reading the first chapter my imagination was running wild. The main character, Ordell, is not your average guy. He’s actually not even human. He’s an automaton, who was created by people, but due to his very human nature one of his creators adopted him as his son at a young age. However, when things get rough for Ordell’s father, his comfortable life is jeopardized. Ordell ends up on the run, but when he meets Elias, a whole new word is opened up for him. They learn things about automatons that give him new purpose and direction. They are on the run together, but Ordell also has a mission.
I’m a big fan of fantasy, and especially dark fantasy, but the futuristic elements in this book were what really drew me in. I loved the idea of cyborg-type beings who develop personalities and human emotions. There was actually nothing about Ordell that I could pinpoint as being other than human. I also loved the danger they faced—that if they made one wrong step, they could be made to serve as sex slaves to humans. There was a lot of action in this book, but there were also some hot, erotic moments and a lot of sweet romance. I recommend Project Ordell to anyone who loves sweet m/m romance, m/m dark fantasy, and futuristic, steampunk worlds.
RATING: Liked it!
DARK ARTS ELEMENTS:
Captive, Dark M/M Fantasy, Sex Trafficking, M/M Fantasy
My Rating: 4.5 This book really had my wheels turning. In fact, after reading the first chapter my imagination was running wild. The main character, Ordell, is not your average guy. He’s actually not even human. He’s an automaton, who was created by people, but due to his very human nature one of his creators adopted him as his son at a young age. However, when things get rough for Ordell’s father, his comfortable life is jeopardized. Ordell ends up on the run, but when he meets Elias, a whole new word is opened up for him. They learn things about automatons that give him new purpose and direction. They are on the run together, but Ordell also has a mission.
I’m a big fan of fantasy, and especially dark fantasy, but the futuristic elements in this book were what really drew me in. I loved the idea of cyborg-type beings who develop personalities and human emotions. There was actually nothing about Ordell that I could pinpoint as being other than human. I also loved the danger they faced—that if they made one wrong step, they could be made to serve as sex slaves to humans. There was a lot of action in this book, but there were also some hot, erotic moments and a lot of sweet romance. I recommend Project Ordell to anyone who loves sweet m/m romance, m/m dark fantasy, and futuristic, steampunk worlds.
RATING: Liked it!
DARK ARTS ELEMENTS:
Captive, Dark M/M Fantasy, Sex Trafficking, M/M Fantasy
February 16, 2016
A Joyfully Jay review.
2 stars
The events in the story are fast paced and keep the reader guessing, so there was never any lack of drama or a sense of adventure. The author also managed a good balance between that side of the story and the romance that unfolds between Ordell and the automaton Eilas. The prose was also perfectly readable, no glaring grammar or syntax errors.
That said, I found little to enjoy about the story.
First, the setting is grossly underdeveloped. The book is categorized with a steampunk theme. I might be able to overlook descriptive passages giving details about the look of the current setting or what characters are wearing and props they might use. That said, I was flabbergasted at the almost complete lack of anything remotely steampunk in the book–it seemed to top out at mentioning “gears” and “gas light” about two times, a couple of mechanical animals, and the existence of automatons. Personally, as a fan of the steampunk aesthetic, I felt pretty cheated that there wasn’t much here to actually MAKE it steampunk. This was most egregious, I thought, in descriptions of Ordell where the author chose to give him blood and injuries sustained fighting a mechanical cephalopod. Given the choice in words, I was preparing myself for our hero to turn out to actually BE human, but in reality, it just seemed like sloppy writing.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
May 3, 2016
Ordell and Elias personify Steampunk, which is, in my opinion, an odd mish-mash of high-tech and old world. Ordell’s personality also reflects this dichotomy, with his shyness hiding a steel back-bone. Elias’s attitude is a little more edgy, although he is also fanciful at times. He and Elias make a cute couple, and their adventure is an entertaining read.
Lototy
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Official Review @ Coffee Time Romance & More
Lototy
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Official Review @ Coffee Time Romance & More
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