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My Boyfriend's Back
After losing both of his parents, Academy of Magecraft student Steven Durant doesn't want to see anyone else lose a loved one before their time. Traditional resurrection methods, however, only create mindless, flesh-hungry zombies; they're no cure for death. He's certain his unique brand of necromancy—using alchemy and blood magic—is the only answer.
When his boyfriend, Dax Everhart, has a fatal accident, Steven sees no choice but to use his experimental Lazarus Elixir. Dax comes back wrong, but the more humans he consumes, the more human he becomes.
With the help of his best friends, his ghostly aunt, and her living doll homunculus, Steven fights to regain normalcy and repair his shattered relationship with Dax. But with Dax openly embracing his monstrous nature, Steven shoulders the guilt of assisting in a murder spree that could lead the mundane and magical police right to their door.
When his boyfriend, Dax Everhart, has a fatal accident, Steven sees no choice but to use his experimental Lazarus Elixir. Dax comes back wrong, but the more humans he consumes, the more human he becomes.
With the help of his best friends, his ghostly aunt, and her living doll homunculus, Steven fights to regain normalcy and repair his shattered relationship with Dax. But with Dax openly embracing his monstrous nature, Steven shoulders the guilt of assisting in a murder spree that could lead the mundane and magical police right to their door.
126 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 10, 2016
4 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
About the author
Elliot Cooper
15 books64 followersElliot Cooper is all about happy endings and positive queer rep in genre fiction - specifically subgenres of romance and erotica. His stories range from sweet to scorching hot, light to dark, humorous to serious, and everything in between. He loves to experiment with genre mash-ups and old favorite tropes, turning some on their heads, meeting others head-on.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
September 25, 2016
Zombies, children!!
What's a would-be necromancer to do, when his boyfriend dies, but use all the magic he shouldn't to bring him back?
My Boyfriend's Back is exactly what I needed. It's weird and magical and morbid and funny and I found myself laughing at really inappropriate things. Like when Dax referred to the human he just killed and feasted on as "leftovers". I know, that shouldn't be funny. But it really really was.
Steven Durant is a mage from a family of mages. Ever since his father died, a couple years ago, he's been obsessed with necromancy -- he doesn't want anyone to have to say goodbye too soon again. But, all of his attempts on road kill have been unsuccessful, so he's losing hope! Until his boyfriend takes an unfortunate tumble and dies. But when Dax is brought back, he's not all there. At first, anyway. And Dax doesn't know how to handle the new version of his boyfriend, or his new dietary needs.
Dax Everhart is also a mage and the boyfriend of one would-be necromancer. Dax had kind of an off color sense of humor and that carried over to his personality after Steven brings him back from the dead. Dax took to being a zombie pretty well, and didn't see much wrong with eating humans (they smell so delicious!). He's Dax, but without the emotional memory element of his personality.
Things just get weirder, from there. And as Steven learns more and more about his family history, some things come to make a lot of sense. But the question is, will any of that information help him when the authorities come sniffing around? Hmmm...
Though there was no steam whatsoever, I really enjoyed this story. It was more fun than a zombie novel should be, and it really makes me want to check out other stories by this author.
------------------
ARC of My Boyfriend's Back was generously provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2018
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
My Boyfriend's Back is a paranormal M/M novel that despite its perhaps self-consciously harmless title tries to tackle the emotional devastation that results from zombification with less than stellar results. The premise is praiseworthy in that it tries to inject some depth into a genre that is known for its often brainless horror tropes, namely the horror subgenre of zombie literature. Instead of focusing too much on gory detail or horrifying carnage, the main thrust is the transformations that occur when a living human being becomes a zombie and how much that stretches the limits of identity as the new creature both differs and to some extent is still the same as it used to be. This raises some interesting moments, especially given that the characters in question are in a romantic relationship. With that said, it falls very flat and cannot possibly hold up to more recent zombie-centered entries in popular culture as a whole.
The story follows Steven, a rather harried student of magic with an obsession with necromancy, whose boyfriend Dax dies in a freak accident, leading Steven to bring him back to something resembling life as a zombie. This happens almost immediately which sets a brisk pace for the story right from the outset and the lack of any foreshadowing to the death makes it so sudden to the reader as it must have be to the characters involved. Unfortunately, it all comes apart almost immediately.
The biggest problem with this book is that virtually every single action the characters take is so utterly idiotic that one begins to question whether they are even worth caring for. Once Dax becomes undead, Steven's logical thinking is so affected that he seems to think that bringing his now zombified boyfriend, whose grip on humanity is practically none and who he knows has an intense and overwhelming need to consume human flesh along with no moral imperatives to stop, to a halloween party. This sets a pattern in which Steven tries to keep his daily routine intact instead of dedicating every single moment to fixing the dire situation he finds himself in.
To clinch how absurd this attitude is, Steven is worried about deadlines for delivering papers for school even as his undead boyfriend, who is barely passable as human, is literally killing and eating people. One would think that given such a catastrophe Steven would shift his priorities to trying to solve it but apparently credits are just too important. It becomes even more difficult as the story progresses and we learn that Steven is actually very rich and could easily take some time from school while supporting his boyfriend without even suffering any financial grievances.
In a twist of most likely unintentional irony, the solution, once arrived at, seems so obvious that one again cannot comprehend why Steven did not reach it immediately but needed a suggestion from a side character. On the issue of side characters, they are all very supportive of their friend now becoming an undead cannibal and even covering up for murder.
But none of that ends up even mattering, ultimately, because the novel twists itself into a knot to provide a happy ending that will leave the reader wondering just how off the sense of retribution seems to be in this world.
This brings me to the lack of coherence in terms of world-building. It is flimsy enough, the world set in the novel is essential akin to ours except there is magic involved, but it begins to fall apart upon closer inspection. Apparently the magical happenings, including a whole education system dedicated to teaching magic, are kept secret from those with no magical aptitude or as the novel calls them, 'mundane'. This could work if not for the fact that the university seems to exist in plain sight, with classes named after their magic curriculum, with no explanation as how the 'mundane' world manages to be clueless.
The magic proper is very generic with forbidden 'blood magic' and a jumble of several different folk traditions that go from tea leaf reading, to tarot and Japanese kitsune lore. But even here it fails on account of its vagueness. For example, 'charms' and 'enchantments' are perceived as two different things, to the point there is a distinction between who can wield one type or the other but we never find out just what this difference is so the entire point seems entirely moot.
The way ghosts operate and the existence of a humunculus stuck in the body of porcelain doll provide the most interesting elements of the entire story but are sadly very perepheric. The way Dax slowly evolves into more human-like behavior is also mildly interesting but unfortunately not enough to carry the story.
Ultimately, the story does itself a great disservice by making the main character so utterly and repeatedly idiotic that it becomes impossible to at all sympathize with his plight. It is not so much his panicked decision to turn to necromancy despite the dangers that is to be blamed as grieving people are likely to try anything to bring back their loved ones, it is the insistance on doing every single thing wrong from that point on that makes this novel almost unreadable as far as this reader is concern.
My Boyfriend's Back is a paranormal M/M novel that despite its perhaps self-consciously harmless title tries to tackle the emotional devastation that results from zombification with less than stellar results. The premise is praiseworthy in that it tries to inject some depth into a genre that is known for its often brainless horror tropes, namely the horror subgenre of zombie literature. Instead of focusing too much on gory detail or horrifying carnage, the main thrust is the transformations that occur when a living human being becomes a zombie and how much that stretches the limits of identity as the new creature both differs and to some extent is still the same as it used to be. This raises some interesting moments, especially given that the characters in question are in a romantic relationship. With that said, it falls very flat and cannot possibly hold up to more recent zombie-centered entries in popular culture as a whole.
The story follows Steven, a rather harried student of magic with an obsession with necromancy, whose boyfriend Dax dies in a freak accident, leading Steven to bring him back to something resembling life as a zombie. This happens almost immediately which sets a brisk pace for the story right from the outset and the lack of any foreshadowing to the death makes it so sudden to the reader as it must have be to the characters involved. Unfortunately, it all comes apart almost immediately.
The biggest problem with this book is that virtually every single action the characters take is so utterly idiotic that one begins to question whether they are even worth caring for. Once Dax becomes undead, Steven's logical thinking is so affected that he seems to think that bringing his now zombified boyfriend, whose grip on humanity is practically none and who he knows has an intense and overwhelming need to consume human flesh along with no moral imperatives to stop, to a halloween party. This sets a pattern in which Steven tries to keep his daily routine intact instead of dedicating every single moment to fixing the dire situation he finds himself in.
To clinch how absurd this attitude is, Steven is worried about deadlines for delivering papers for school even as his undead boyfriend, who is barely passable as human, is literally killing and eating people. One would think that given such a catastrophe Steven would shift his priorities to trying to solve it but apparently credits are just too important. It becomes even more difficult as the story progresses and we learn that Steven is actually very rich and could easily take some time from school while supporting his boyfriend without even suffering any financial grievances.
In a twist of most likely unintentional irony, the solution, once arrived at, seems so obvious that one again cannot comprehend why Steven did not reach it immediately but needed a suggestion from a side character. On the issue of side characters, they are all very supportive of their friend now becoming an undead cannibal and even covering up for murder.
But none of that ends up even mattering, ultimately, because the novel twists itself into a knot to provide a happy ending that will leave the reader wondering just how off the sense of retribution seems to be in this world.
This brings me to the lack of coherence in terms of world-building. It is flimsy enough, the world set in the novel is essential akin to ours except there is magic involved, but it begins to fall apart upon closer inspection. Apparently the magical happenings, including a whole education system dedicated to teaching magic, are kept secret from those with no magical aptitude or as the novel calls them, 'mundane'. This could work if not for the fact that the university seems to exist in plain sight, with classes named after their magic curriculum, with no explanation as how the 'mundane' world manages to be clueless.
The magic proper is very generic with forbidden 'blood magic' and a jumble of several different folk traditions that go from tea leaf reading, to tarot and Japanese kitsune lore. But even here it fails on account of its vagueness. For example, 'charms' and 'enchantments' are perceived as two different things, to the point there is a distinction between who can wield one type or the other but we never find out just what this difference is so the entire point seems entirely moot.
The way ghosts operate and the existence of a humunculus stuck in the body of porcelain doll provide the most interesting elements of the entire story but are sadly very perepheric. The way Dax slowly evolves into more human-like behavior is also mildly interesting but unfortunately not enough to carry the story.
Ultimately, the story does itself a great disservice by making the main character so utterly and repeatedly idiotic that it becomes impossible to at all sympathize with his plight. It is not so much his panicked decision to turn to necromancy despite the dangers that is to be blamed as grieving people are likely to try anything to bring back their loved ones, it is the insistance on doing every single thing wrong from that point on that makes this novel almost unreadable as far as this reader is concern.
November 4, 2016
"He had no idea how to childproof a house, let alone how to zombieproof it."
I expected this book to be a lot more gross, but after Dax’s first time as a zombie where it gets a bit gory, we can easily forget his zombie status because the rest of the feeding scenes aren’t much descriptive.
We also don’t have any descriptive sex scenes either, the intimate moments between the main characters usually fade out for the reader but I didn’t really mind and was still able to enjoy their romance. Dax’s easy going personality was a nice contrast to Steven closed off character.
The plot was also very interesting, I liked the paranormal aspect of the story and though I would have liked more world building, the magic elements that I did see where nicely done. What added more depth to the story is what usually is overlooked when creating a romance novel and that is the secondary characters, here they played an active role in the plot and the humorous scenes that they added were invaluable.
I might have been a bit skeptical after reading the blurb of this book but I am glad that I decided to give this book a chance because it was definitely worth it.
I voluntarily reviewed the free copy of this book that I received.
December 4, 2016
Nope. Don't like it. I found Steven to be incredibly selfish. Afterwards it was hard for me to care for the story. Even lovely Dax couldn't help making me interested.
In addition, I found
I liked Cooper's previous short stories -- so it's not about his writing. I will still look out for his other books.
In addition, I found
I liked Cooper's previous short stories -- so it's not about his writing. I will still look out for his other books.
October 29, 2016
I received free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I took the book warning (depictions of blood, gore, and cannibalism) to heart and actually hemmed and hawed before deciding to grab a chance at reading it. While I read a few books with zombies on them, the creatures were usually the bad guys the heroes fought against. My Boyfriend's Back is not that kind of story.
Set in an alternate universe where mages and supernatural beings (ghosts, vampires and zombies among others) lived among the mundanes or regular people, the story was told from Steven Durant's POV. He came from an old family of mage who dabbled in blood magic, the gift that lead to him brought his boyfriend -Daxon Everhart - who died from freak accident back to life. Ergo, the often close portrayal of blood, gore, etc etc I mentioned earlier.
But don't let that discourage you! Messy images aside, My Boyfriend's Back is an interesting fiction to read. It was a roller-coaster of emotion read; the scenes had me cringing in horror and laughing at the same time, or smiling through teary eyes. This wasn't your usual zombie story where you chant "die zombie, DIE!" or urge "someone please cut off the undead's head already!".
I didn't particularly find Steve attractive with his depressing and somber character, but I couldn't help to feel for him. Dax was a charming one before and after his death, even covered in blood munching and slurping on people! The array of secondary characters helped to spice up the story (although I thought the spiel with Bailey was a bit odd).
Considering the casualties, the ending might appear rather tame. However, a HEA or HFN - or anything with happy note to end a story, really - preference that I am, I really didn't mind! Though I wish the last two chapters could be extended than shown here.
This was my second time reading Elliot Cooper's books and I definitely would look for more. Mr. Cooper's characters were engaging and I really enjoyed his writing. Bring on the next Halloween read! ;)
I took the book warning (depictions of blood, gore, and cannibalism) to heart and actually hemmed and hawed before deciding to grab a chance at reading it. While I read a few books with zombies on them, the creatures were usually the bad guys the heroes fought against. My Boyfriend's Back is not that kind of story.
Set in an alternate universe where mages and supernatural beings (ghosts, vampires and zombies among others) lived among the mundanes or regular people, the story was told from Steven Durant's POV. He came from an old family of mage who dabbled in blood magic, the gift that lead to him brought his boyfriend -Daxon Everhart - who died from freak accident back to life. Ergo, the often close portrayal of blood, gore, etc etc I mentioned earlier.
But don't let that discourage you! Messy images aside, My Boyfriend's Back is an interesting fiction to read. It was a roller-coaster of emotion read; the scenes had me cringing in horror and laughing at the same time, or smiling through teary eyes. This wasn't your usual zombie story where you chant "die zombie, DIE!" or urge "someone please cut off the undead's head already!".
I didn't particularly find Steve attractive with his depressing and somber character, but I couldn't help to feel for him. Dax was a charming one before and after his death, even covered in blood munching and slurping on people! The array of secondary characters helped to spice up the story (although I thought the spiel with Bailey was a bit odd).
Considering the casualties, the ending might appear rather tame. However, a HEA or HFN - or anything with happy note to end a story, really - preference that I am, I really didn't mind! Though I wish the last two chapters could be extended than shown here.
This was my second time reading Elliot Cooper's books and I definitely would look for more. Mr. Cooper's characters were engaging and I really enjoyed his writing. Bring on the next Halloween read! ;)
October 28, 2016
I was given a copy of this book free by the author in exchange for an unbiased review.
One of the things I like about the DBML program is you can find new authors and new sub genre that you wouldnt otherwise know to look for.
I am not a huge fan of Zombies but really enjoyed this book.
The blurb mentions gore, but its not excessive not does the author go into too much detail.
The book features Steven and his boyfriend Dax. They live in a house with the ghost of one of Stevens relatives and her doll which comes to life.
One night Dax falls down the stairs and dies, Steven brings him back to life. However, Steven doesn't realize that he too will become a zombie.
There was a point where I had to go back and read a chapter 3 times because it seemed as if we had jumped ahead and I had missed something.
A good experience of zombies. Not a horror story and interspersed with humor as well.
Ill definitely be looking to read more from this author.
One of the things I like about the DBML program is you can find new authors and new sub genre that you wouldnt otherwise know to look for.
I am not a huge fan of Zombies but really enjoyed this book.
The blurb mentions gore, but its not excessive not does the author go into too much detail.
The book features Steven and his boyfriend Dax. They live in a house with the ghost of one of Stevens relatives and her doll which comes to life.
One night Dax falls down the stairs and dies, Steven brings him back to life. However, Steven doesn't realize that he too will become a zombie.
There was a point where I had to go back and read a chapter 3 times because it seemed as if we had jumped ahead and I had missed something.
A good experience of zombies. Not a horror story and interspersed with humor as well.
Ill definitely be looking to read more from this author.
October 4, 2017
Totally different to what I was expecting. The ending was actually quite low key but fit with the "realness" of the story. In a way a "Harry Potter" style story where the magical/paranormal lived secretly within the normal people. Parts could have been a bit gory but thankfully were nice and short on detail. Don't think I've ever read of Zombies with a conscience before!!
A new author for me and definitely one I will read again.
4 stars
A new author for me and definitely one I will read again.
4 stars
March 30, 2017
Totally enjoyable! Fantastically grim, great plot twists, and a unique perspective into 'the other side'. That's all I'm saying to preserve the story and not spoil it for others. Would like be to see more of Steve and Dax.
I honestly wasn't sure how E. Cooper was going to turn this into a Happily Ever After, but he did so with brilliance! Well done.
I honestly wasn't sure how E. Cooper was going to turn this into a Happily Ever After, but he did so with brilliance! Well done.
February 22, 2017
****Reviewed for Prism Book Alliance®****
Teresa’s View:
So Karen and I decided to do a buddy read on this book, and instead of a traditional review, decided to ask each other three questions about the book. Here are my answers to Karen’s questions:
Q1. How did you feel about the magical elements in the book?
A: I thought it echoed Harry Potter in that they had Transmography, Divination, and Charms classes. Though they didn’t seem to use wands, and Potions was more accurately named Alchemy, with them going to Mage School it definitely felt like a grown up version of the other book. They even used human repelling charms on their homes.
Q2. What was the strongest part of the book for you?
A: This is a hard question. I think the strongest part of the book was the magic. They used it in practical ways and it centered the book in the fantasy genre.
Q3.Would you read other books set in this world?
A: I think I would. My issues with the book weren’t due to world building but character building. Even though I felt that certain aspects ripped off Harry Potter, I loved Harry Potter and so like stories set in that kind of world.
Karen’s View:
Q1. What did you think of Steven’s reaction to Dax’s accident? Do you think you would have reacted the same way in the same situation?
A: Because the accident happens relatively early in the book I didn’t have a particularly strong feel for Steven’s character, so I have to say initially it seemed a little odd how he reacted, once I’d read more and understood more about him it started to make more sense. Having said that, once you know what type of magic Steven is drawn to I don’t think he could have reacted in any other way. if I had been in Steven’s shoes would I have reacted in the same way, yes I think I would .
Q2. What did you think about the romance aspect of the book?
A: The romance was interesting, as we read this together it was really good to have someone to bounce questions and thoughts with – it felt like they were in their late teens, but that it was definitely love. I felt that they were used to existing more as part of a group as opposed to being alone as a couple which fit into the age group I had them in. I liked that they kind of had to start again after Dax’s accident as well, which added another dimension. I didn’t think that the romance was necessarily at the core of the book though.
Q3. How did you feel about the ending? Satisfactory, too easy, perfect?
A: For me the issue the direction the book took was going to be a neat ending. And so I did have issues with ending, personally I don’t mind loose ends and a bit of uncertainty. So the way it ended was a little too neat for me.
Bonus question: do you think the book was supposed to be funny?
A: I also do think that the book was at times funny, and in quite a macabre way, which I actually like a lot
Teresa’s View:
So Karen and I decided to do a buddy read on this book, and instead of a traditional review, decided to ask each other three questions about the book. Here are my answers to Karen’s questions:
Q1. How did you feel about the magical elements in the book?
A: I thought it echoed Harry Potter in that they had Transmography, Divination, and Charms classes. Though they didn’t seem to use wands, and Potions was more accurately named Alchemy, with them going to Mage School it definitely felt like a grown up version of the other book. They even used human repelling charms on their homes.
Q2. What was the strongest part of the book for you?
A: This is a hard question. I think the strongest part of the book was the magic. They used it in practical ways and it centered the book in the fantasy genre.
Q3.Would you read other books set in this world?
A: I think I would. My issues with the book weren’t due to world building but character building. Even though I felt that certain aspects ripped off Harry Potter, I loved Harry Potter and so like stories set in that kind of world.
Karen’s View:
Q1. What did you think of Steven’s reaction to Dax’s accident? Do you think you would have reacted the same way in the same situation?
A: Because the accident happens relatively early in the book I didn’t have a particularly strong feel for Steven’s character, so I have to say initially it seemed a little odd how he reacted, once I’d read more and understood more about him it started to make more sense. Having said that, once you know what type of magic Steven is drawn to I don’t think he could have reacted in any other way. if I had been in Steven’s shoes would I have reacted in the same way, yes I think I would .
Q2. What did you think about the romance aspect of the book?
A: The romance was interesting, as we read this together it was really good to have someone to bounce questions and thoughts with – it felt like they were in their late teens, but that it was definitely love. I felt that they were used to existing more as part of a group as opposed to being alone as a couple which fit into the age group I had them in. I liked that they kind of had to start again after Dax’s accident as well, which added another dimension. I didn’t think that the romance was necessarily at the core of the book though.
Q3. How did you feel about the ending? Satisfactory, too easy, perfect?
A: For me the issue the direction the book took was going to be a neat ending. And so I did have issues with ending, personally I don’t mind loose ends and a bit of uncertainty. So the way it ended was a little too neat for me.
Bonus question: do you think the book was supposed to be funny?
A: I also do think that the book was at times funny, and in quite a macabre way, which I actually like a lot
December 10, 2016
4.5 Stars ~ I’m not certain what I was expecting when I scanned the blurb for this book—perhaps something similar to the movie Warm Bodies, but gayer? I dunno. What I do know is My Boyfriend’s Back completely exceeded my expectations. It managed to be a deeply disturbing thriller, while at the same time, a heart-pounding love story that was—for lack of a better word—simply adorable. The genius of this piece was getting me from one extreme emotion to the next without giving me whiplash. Wow, what a ride.
Our point of view character, Steven, is an interesting choice in protagonist. He’s a student of the magical arts—a potions major of sorts—and is consumed by his work. Because he’s so busy with his experiments, he doesn’t give his boyfriend, Dax, the time of day—until Dax has a fatal accident down a staircase, and Steven is struck with the brilliant idea of turning him into a zombie, thus following in his family’s deeply perturbing legacy of necromancy.
Steven is a piece of work. Who the hell thinks about their finals project as their boyfriend is dying? Did he at least try to perform CPR or something? Or call the authorities? Or, I dunno, lay there and cry for a bit? No. No, he didn’t. He just kinda looked at Dax and was like, “Yup, he’s dead. I guess I’ll make him a zombie”. Who does that? Who are these people?
That’s a question I asked myself about twenty times while reading this book, and all things considered, I wasn’t disappointed in the answer. Steven was simply fascinating, and I’m going to throw the idea out there that he wasn’t the ultimate protagonist of the novel. In any case, he was a great choice in viewpoint character, and it was highly entertaining to witness these experiences from his perspective. Entertaining, but also really troubling.
Well, Steven comes to regret bringing his boyfriend back (duh), and, of course, Dax doesn’t come back as a normal zombie. He’s kinda brain dead at first, but then he becomes lucid enough to actually attend school again. Good news, right? What started as a horrible, horrible mistake was actually looking good, and I had a glimmer of hope for Steven and his motivations.
Alas, Dax doesn’t seem to have any emotional connection to his past, except the memories he made with Steven (who he still adores), so he becomes a dangerously clever, impulsive, and remorseless killer who delights in raw human flesh. Well, damn.
This leaves Steven in between a rock and a hard place (of his own doing), and his responses to the raised stakes explore some truly great and terrible aspects of human nature. Even if we assume Dax was the victim of circumstance and was a stand-up guy before his fatal accident, it becomes pretty clear Steven wasn’t that swell of a guy. At all. Call it a family flaw? I dunno. I mean, I love antiheroes but I’m not so sure we could call Steven that. Again, this book gets pretty dark.
Despite that darkness and Steven shattering the world around them, Dax and Steven kinda start to fall in love with each other all over again. Go figure. And it’s actually kinda sweet and romantic. Go figure.
I was expecting a Bonnie and Clyde trainwreck of epic proportions, and I’m not going to lie, this book is a wild ride, but I think you’ll be happy with the destination.
Buckle up.
Reviewed by Ben for The Novel Approach Reviews
Our point of view character, Steven, is an interesting choice in protagonist. He’s a student of the magical arts—a potions major of sorts—and is consumed by his work. Because he’s so busy with his experiments, he doesn’t give his boyfriend, Dax, the time of day—until Dax has a fatal accident down a staircase, and Steven is struck with the brilliant idea of turning him into a zombie, thus following in his family’s deeply perturbing legacy of necromancy.
Steven is a piece of work. Who the hell thinks about their finals project as their boyfriend is dying? Did he at least try to perform CPR or something? Or call the authorities? Or, I dunno, lay there and cry for a bit? No. No, he didn’t. He just kinda looked at Dax and was like, “Yup, he’s dead. I guess I’ll make him a zombie”. Who does that? Who are these people?
That’s a question I asked myself about twenty times while reading this book, and all things considered, I wasn’t disappointed in the answer. Steven was simply fascinating, and I’m going to throw the idea out there that he wasn’t the ultimate protagonist of the novel. In any case, he was a great choice in viewpoint character, and it was highly entertaining to witness these experiences from his perspective. Entertaining, but also really troubling.
Well, Steven comes to regret bringing his boyfriend back (duh), and, of course, Dax doesn’t come back as a normal zombie. He’s kinda brain dead at first, but then he becomes lucid enough to actually attend school again. Good news, right? What started as a horrible, horrible mistake was actually looking good, and I had a glimmer of hope for Steven and his motivations.
Alas, Dax doesn’t seem to have any emotional connection to his past, except the memories he made with Steven (who he still adores), so he becomes a dangerously clever, impulsive, and remorseless killer who delights in raw human flesh. Well, damn.
This leaves Steven in between a rock and a hard place (of his own doing), and his responses to the raised stakes explore some truly great and terrible aspects of human nature. Even if we assume Dax was the victim of circumstance and was a stand-up guy before his fatal accident, it becomes pretty clear Steven wasn’t that swell of a guy. At all. Call it a family flaw? I dunno. I mean, I love antiheroes but I’m not so sure we could call Steven that. Again, this book gets pretty dark.
Despite that darkness and Steven shattering the world around them, Dax and Steven kinda start to fall in love with each other all over again. Go figure. And it’s actually kinda sweet and romantic. Go figure.
I was expecting a Bonnie and Clyde trainwreck of epic proportions, and I’m not going to lie, this book is a wild ride, but I think you’ll be happy with the destination.
Buckle up.
Reviewed by Ben for The Novel Approach Reviews
October 30, 2016
***A free copy of the book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.****
I'll be honest and say I'm not quite sure how to rate this book. I even read other reviews in the hopes that I could put into words what it was I didn't like about this story. Unfortunately I still couldn't identify it. I'll try to make sense of my thoughts as best as I can.
1. I'll admit, I was hesitant on reading this book because it didn't really fit my taste. I usually go for more romance based books, but I saw that there was an established couple, and I was under the impression the story would ultimately be about the two main characters, Dax and Steven. It wasn't. The story was really more of a slice of nightmare life. They just kind of happen to be in a relationship, if you can call it that, which isn't my cup of tea.
2. The genre. I've never read a zombie story before, but I was interested. No ones flesh was peeling or decomposing so I figured "meh, why not". The zombie parts weren't that graphic, nor were they particularly interesting to me. This isn't the walking dead by any means. It wasn't terrifying or unsettling, which I kind of felt like it should have been? Again. I'm not sure what I was looking for/ expecting.
3. The sex. I'm sorry, I mean the lack of sex. I don't know why I was expecting this to have sex scenes, maybe I've just been spoiled by the m/m romance I've been reading lately. The fact that this book didn't have a single sex scene kind of blew my mind. I mean, unless you count the one fade to black scene. I don't.
4. This felt like Harry Potter fanfiction. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but when the characters actually MENTIONED Harry Potter, I started to get a weird 4th wall break vibe. Lol. It felt like the characters of Harry Potter were in some parallel Mage universe. I'm a fan of Harry Potter so I'm not upset, but there was really no world building. We were told that Steve is a Mage. In a Mage world. Where zombies exist and people do charms, and spells and alchemy and blood magic. I understand it was a short book, but the telling just didn't work for me.
5. I guess when it boils down to it, pun intended, I just really didn't like the plot of this book. Steve brings Dax back to life because he can't bear to be without him, but then when he comes back, he's not happy with what Dax has become. Then he tries to make Dax less of a mindless zombie, and I won't spoil this part, but ends up screwing himself. The twist didn't excite me. The ending was a bit too practical. The love story didn't interest me, and I probably would have DNF if this hadn't been a review copy.
With all this in mind, I'm still rating this book a three. The reason is because, while I didn't particularly enjoy this work, I don't feel the writing was bad, or that the plot had any particular holes. The characters weren't completely one dimensional, and the world, as bare as it was, could be entertaining for others. I recognize that this just wasn't my style, genre or interest, though I'm glad I gave it a chance. If this author wrote a more romance based novel I might give him another try.
I'll be honest and say I'm not quite sure how to rate this book. I even read other reviews in the hopes that I could put into words what it was I didn't like about this story. Unfortunately I still couldn't identify it. I'll try to make sense of my thoughts as best as I can.
1. I'll admit, I was hesitant on reading this book because it didn't really fit my taste. I usually go for more romance based books, but I saw that there was an established couple, and I was under the impression the story would ultimately be about the two main characters, Dax and Steven. It wasn't. The story was really more of a slice of nightmare life. They just kind of happen to be in a relationship, if you can call it that, which isn't my cup of tea.
2. The genre. I've never read a zombie story before, but I was interested. No ones flesh was peeling or decomposing so I figured "meh, why not". The zombie parts weren't that graphic, nor were they particularly interesting to me. This isn't the walking dead by any means. It wasn't terrifying or unsettling, which I kind of felt like it should have been? Again. I'm not sure what I was looking for/ expecting.
3. The sex. I'm sorry, I mean the lack of sex. I don't know why I was expecting this to have sex scenes, maybe I've just been spoiled by the m/m romance I've been reading lately. The fact that this book didn't have a single sex scene kind of blew my mind. I mean, unless you count the one fade to black scene. I don't.
4. This felt like Harry Potter fanfiction. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but when the characters actually MENTIONED Harry Potter, I started to get a weird 4th wall break vibe. Lol. It felt like the characters of Harry Potter were in some parallel Mage universe. I'm a fan of Harry Potter so I'm not upset, but there was really no world building. We were told that Steve is a Mage. In a Mage world. Where zombies exist and people do charms, and spells and alchemy and blood magic. I understand it was a short book, but the telling just didn't work for me.
5. I guess when it boils down to it, pun intended, I just really didn't like the plot of this book. Steve brings Dax back to life because he can't bear to be without him, but then when he comes back, he's not happy with what Dax has become. Then he tries to make Dax less of a mindless zombie, and I won't spoil this part, but ends up screwing himself. The twist didn't excite me. The ending was a bit too practical. The love story didn't interest me, and I probably would have DNF if this hadn't been a review copy.
With all this in mind, I'm still rating this book a three. The reason is because, while I didn't particularly enjoy this work, I don't feel the writing was bad, or that the plot had any particular holes. The characters weren't completely one dimensional, and the world, as bare as it was, could be entertaining for others. I recognize that this just wasn't my style, genre or interest, though I'm glad I gave it a chance. If this author wrote a more romance based novel I might give him another try.
October 8, 2016
This was very far for what I was expecting, it was a very great surprise. I had so much fun reading it. I was glad to see the large range of emotion this book made me feel. It was full of ups and downs and I could never have guess where the story would go, it was fantastic.
It was a mixed of a paranormal and contemporary world that I generally don’t like, but It was very well made and I enjoyed it. The plot was amazing, so unexpected, every twist it had come as an absolute surprise to me, sometimes good one and others not so much, but amazing either way.
The characters were great, I liked Steven and Dax just fine, all the things they had to go through were devastating, definitely an emotion I wouldn’t expect in a story like this one, but very much appreciated. It took me places in my mind I didn’t want to go, but it was really good. There was something about them that made hard to believe in true feelings for each other for most of the story, but I think it was on purpose and under the book circumstances worked perfectly.
Even though I did liked the main characters, I was absolutely in love with Catrina and Hattie, the moments they were on page were the ones I enjoyed the most, I wasn’t expecting that sort of characters but I loved them so much, they were a joy to read.
Overall a great story, I would recommend it to any reader who enjoy paranormal books.
* I Received copy of this book from the publisher in exchange of an honest review.
It was a mixed of a paranormal and contemporary world that I generally don’t like, but It was very well made and I enjoyed it. The plot was amazing, so unexpected, every twist it had come as an absolute surprise to me, sometimes good one and others not so much, but amazing either way.
The characters were great, I liked Steven and Dax just fine, all the things they had to go through were devastating, definitely an emotion I wouldn’t expect in a story like this one, but very much appreciated. It took me places in my mind I didn’t want to go, but it was really good. There was something about them that made hard to believe in true feelings for each other for most of the story, but I think it was on purpose and under the book circumstances worked perfectly.
Even though I did liked the main characters, I was absolutely in love with Catrina and Hattie, the moments they were on page were the ones I enjoyed the most, I wasn’t expecting that sort of characters but I loved them so much, they were a joy to read.
Overall a great story, I would recommend it to any reader who enjoy paranormal books.
* I Received copy of this book from the publisher in exchange of an honest review.
November 1, 2016
**Review in process.
Book was provided for free by the author in exchange for an honest review via the MMRG Don’t Buy My Love Program.
I picked this book to read because it was Halloween weekend, I can't think of a better time to read a fun zombie book! This is my first time reading this author so I checked out his blurb and found he tends to write taboo and erotic type books, which was perfect because thats exactly what I like to read! So I have to start by saying there wasn't a hint of sex in the book and I'm not sure what all taboo entails but really the only thing that might be considered harsh was that the zombies eat people, but really that is exactly what I expect of zombies. So, I actually felt like the book was more of a YA read.
I liked the characters, the storyline was well thought out and the conclusion was fitting. Overall a 3.5 read for me rounded to 4.
Book was provided for free by the author in exchange for an honest review via the MMRG Don’t Buy My Love Program.
I picked this book to read because it was Halloween weekend, I can't think of a better time to read a fun zombie book! This is my first time reading this author so I checked out his blurb and found he tends to write taboo and erotic type books, which was perfect because thats exactly what I like to read! So I have to start by saying there wasn't a hint of sex in the book and I'm not sure what all taboo entails but really the only thing that might be considered harsh was that the zombies eat people, but really that is exactly what I expect of zombies. So, I actually felt like the book was more of a YA read.
I liked the characters, the storyline was well thought out and the conclusion was fitting. Overall a 3.5 read for me rounded to 4.
October 4, 2017
This whole book just put me in a weird mood. I never did warm up to Steven at all and we didn't get to know them enough as a couple before the whole zombie thing happened. Even before Steven turned Dax, he didn't seem all that into him. Treated him more like a bother than anything else. I see where there was supposed to be humor here but nothing about this book was funny for me. It was depressing and kind of maddening. I did like their friends quite a bit though. The ending was a bit of surprise but I think it worked for the story. Not a bad read just not one that's for me.
October 31, 2016
A moralistic zombie story.
August 26, 2021
Engaging, entertaining gay zombie romance
Better to have loved and lost - and then brought your lover back to life again!
Steven and Dax are a couple of mages with a good thing going, until Dax is fatally injured. Suddenly it's more important than ever for Steven to perfect the Lazarus Elixir he's been working on. But few people understand blood magic, including Steven. Now he's sharing a bed with a zombie he scarcely knows - one he's tied to by blood. This may sound creepy, but trust me - it is heartwarming. I loved the main characters and side characters, the magical world is easy to get into, and the book is well-written and well-paced. "My Boyfriend's Back" (love the title!) is entertaining reading for teen through adult.
Better to have loved and lost - and then brought your lover back to life again!
Steven and Dax are a couple of mages with a good thing going, until Dax is fatally injured. Suddenly it's more important than ever for Steven to perfect the Lazarus Elixir he's been working on. But few people understand blood magic, including Steven. Now he's sharing a bed with a zombie he scarcely knows - one he's tied to by blood. This may sound creepy, but trust me - it is heartwarming. I loved the main characters and side characters, the magical world is easy to get into, and the book is well-written and well-paced. "My Boyfriend's Back" (love the title!) is entertaining reading for teen through adult.
December 1, 2017
Not what I expected at all!
Sure it’s a zombie story, but with some twists. I just adored Dex. Zombie or not Zombie, he was just so sweet. Steven was a bit more harder to like, but I warmed to him eventually. And Hattie.... sooo sweet!
The ending was not what I expected, (or wanted), but it fit and because of that I’m happy.
Sure it’s a zombie story, but with some twists. I just adored Dex. Zombie or not Zombie, he was just so sweet. Steven was a bit more harder to like, but I warmed to him eventually. And Hattie.... sooo sweet!
The ending was not what I expected, (or wanted), but it fit and because of that I’m happy.
December 4, 2017
2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: My Boyfriend's Back Elliot Cooper
1) At first, I wasn’t sure about the storyline, but it turned out great. In spite of the accidental issue that turned Dax & Steven’s life and relationship upside down and hating how things ended for them, for their sake, it all worked out for the best. It was at least a 5-star read.
1) At first, I wasn’t sure about the storyline, but it turned out great. In spite of the accidental issue that turned Dax & Steven’s life and relationship upside down and hating how things ended for them, for their sake, it all worked out for the best. It was at least a 5-star read.
August 6, 2019
3.5 stars
February 25, 2021
I enjoyed the dark humor in this story and the characters were sweet in their own ways. The story-telling style was a bit simplistic but it was engaging and otherwise well-written.
March 17, 2021
Zombie Boyfriends
Really solid writing and good world building. Lots of fun! Will check out more from the author in the future
Really solid writing and good world building. Lots of fun! Will check out more from the author in the future
October 12, 2016
I absolutely adored meeting Steven and his eccentricities. He is such a lovable character an watching him react to the accidental death of his boyfriend Dax and then the reawakening.
However Elliot and Dax are not alone in this journey. They have the help of two wonderful magical creatures and some very good friends.
Elliot has one of the best creative minds and this debut novel is perfection.
You can see my full review here: https://youtu.be/P_PR0DJFkcA
However Elliot and Dax are not alone in this journey. They have the help of two wonderful magical creatures and some very good friends.
Elliot has one of the best creative minds and this debut novel is perfection.
You can see my full review here: https://youtu.be/P_PR0DJFkcA
February 18, 2017
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed reading My Boyfriend's Back very much.
I must admit I didn't read the blurb before reading this book because, hey, it's Elliot Cooper, I love him! Needless to say I was surprised when I started reading. Not only is it a story I didn't expect, it was both dark and tragic as well.
The problem is, I don't like it when main characters die and a few pages into the story I kind of got where it was going. I almost stopped reading because, well, I hate tragic stories but I've read two of Elliot Cooper's works before and he's always created something new and magical out of something old and somehow I knew he would do the same thing with this book. Didn't stop me from getting horrified when Dax died though. Few pages in and I already loved the guy, that's how powerful this writer's writing is, he managed to make me care for the love interest in the span of a few paragraphs.
Anyway, I'm glad I pressed on even if some scenes horrified me tremendously. Lol. It is fast-paced as well so the reader need not worry about getting bored.
Five stars from me; I therefore recommend My Boyfriend's Back . Happy reading!
I enjoyed reading My Boyfriend's Back very much.
I must admit I didn't read the blurb before reading this book because, hey, it's Elliot Cooper, I love him! Needless to say I was surprised when I started reading. Not only is it a story I didn't expect, it was both dark and tragic as well.
The problem is, I don't like it when main characters die and a few pages into the story I kind of got where it was going. I almost stopped reading because, well, I hate tragic stories but I've read two of Elliot Cooper's works before and he's always created something new and magical out of something old and somehow I knew he would do the same thing with this book. Didn't stop me from getting horrified when Dax died though. Few pages in and I already loved the guy, that's how powerful this writer's writing is, he managed to make me care for the love interest in the span of a few paragraphs.
Anyway, I'm glad I pressed on even if some scenes horrified me tremendously. Lol. It is fast-paced as well so the reader need not worry about getting bored.
Five stars from me; I therefore recommend My Boyfriend's Back . Happy reading!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2016
Book – My Boyfriend's Back
Author – Elliot Cooper
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 126
Cover – Love it!
POV – 3rd person, 1 character POV
Would I read it again – Yes!
Genre – LGBT, Paranormal, Zombie, Romance, Friendship
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY THE AUTHOR/PUBLISHER, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
*Warnings: (given by author): Suitable for mature readers. Depictions of blood, gore, and cannibalism.*
Wow! So, I'll fully admit that I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to zombie/gore stuff. But, as soon as I read the blurb and saw the cover, I knew I had to read this one. And, thankfully, the gore/cannibalism stuff wasn't nearly as bad as some books I've read. It was all in perfect proportion to the story.
The main characters – Steven and Dax – were adorable right from the start. Their relationship was sweet, comfortable but also a little too comfortable and there were small signs that they took each other for granted.
Then everything changed when Dax died. I don't feel like that's a spoiler, because it's mentioned in the blurb, so I'm gladly going to say it again – Dax died! And I'll admit that I was afraid that would be the end of Dax. He's go on a murderous rampage, become some unrecognizable monster and he'd have to be destroyed or sent away.
Without giving too much away, I want to say that I loved the emotional progression of Steven and Dax's relationship, the very real ups and downs (even though it involves zombies) and the very real implications of creating a mindless zombie, who slowly begins to show signs of the person he was before.
The ending, in particular, was a stroke of genius and so cleverly revealed. It wasn't one of those unrealistic B movie films, where everything is all shiny and bright, but it wasn't all doom and gloom either. It had the perfect blend of compassion, love, romance, and the reality of zombies and witches/mages existing within the world.
~
Overall, for me, this is a story of warning. A “be careful what you wish for” combined with the very sad, but real aspect of “you don't know what you have until it's gone”. Both those things, with the creative genius of the author, the skill of writing and plot forming, the pace and craft of the story, as well as the emotive way it drew me in, made this an instant winner.
Elliot Cooper will be a must read from me, from now on.
Author – Elliot Cooper
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 126
Cover – Love it!
POV – 3rd person, 1 character POV
Would I read it again – Yes!
Genre – LGBT, Paranormal, Zombie, Romance, Friendship
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY THE AUTHOR/PUBLISHER, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
*Warnings: (given by author): Suitable for mature readers. Depictions of blood, gore, and cannibalism.*
Wow! So, I'll fully admit that I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to zombie/gore stuff. But, as soon as I read the blurb and saw the cover, I knew I had to read this one. And, thankfully, the gore/cannibalism stuff wasn't nearly as bad as some books I've read. It was all in perfect proportion to the story.
The main characters – Steven and Dax – were adorable right from the start. Their relationship was sweet, comfortable but also a little too comfortable and there were small signs that they took each other for granted.
Then everything changed when Dax died. I don't feel like that's a spoiler, because it's mentioned in the blurb, so I'm gladly going to say it again – Dax died! And I'll admit that I was afraid that would be the end of Dax. He's go on a murderous rampage, become some unrecognizable monster and he'd have to be destroyed or sent away.
Without giving too much away, I want to say that I loved the emotional progression of Steven and Dax's relationship, the very real ups and downs (even though it involves zombies) and the very real implications of creating a mindless zombie, who slowly begins to show signs of the person he was before.
The ending, in particular, was a stroke of genius and so cleverly revealed. It wasn't one of those unrealistic B movie films, where everything is all shiny and bright, but it wasn't all doom and gloom either. It had the perfect blend of compassion, love, romance, and the reality of zombies and witches/mages existing within the world.
~
Overall, for me, this is a story of warning. A “be careful what you wish for” combined with the very sad, but real aspect of “you don't know what you have until it's gone”. Both those things, with the creative genius of the author, the skill of writing and plot forming, the pace and craft of the story, as well as the emotive way it drew me in, made this an instant winner.
Elliot Cooper will be a must read from me, from now on.
November 11, 2016
I was given a free copy of this book by the author in the Don’t Buy My Love free for review program on Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
Stephen is a student of magecraft but he’s obsessed with necromncy. He’s been working on a way to bring humans back as zombies. He gets his opportunity to try it out when his boyfriend, Dax, has an accident. Dax doesn’t come back quite like he expected though. Stephen has to cover up Dax’s dinner leftovers and thankfully has the help of his friends and fellow students and an aunt who is a ghost and her talking doll. A big twist solves some of the problem for Stephen and Dax as a couple but creates an even bigger problem for the bigger picture. Stephen is totally stressed out though when the magical police come looking for missing people. It all works out for them in the end.
I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve read quite a few zombie books since zombies are a favorite of mine. The plot was fine. I didn’t like Stephen and that probably colored or discolored some of my feeling toward the book. I couldn’t stop thinking of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. I’m sorry, I always sympathized with the Monster in that one. Frankenstein desperately wanted to create the monster and when he did he shunned him, which devastated the monster, so he went after and destroyed all that Frankenstein loved. I always though Frankenstein was a jackass. Here, we have Stephen who is crushed over Dax’s death so he brings him back. But the moment Dax is back he is like, ick, I don’t like him. I wanted to smack Stephen through most of the first half of the book. Why did you want to bring him back? Even other characters want to know the same.
I liked the other characters. I thought the talking doll and her ghost were creative. The plot of the story was interesting. I didn’t think it was too gory like the warnings stated. That might scare some readers off. There were some bloody scenes, but not overly gory. It’s not a romance. It’s about two guys who are in an established relationship, but that’s it as far as relationships and romance go. If you are looking for romance, you won’t be getting sex and warm and fuzzy.
Overall it was okay. I gave it a three because the writing was very good. The plot was interesting enough to keep me reading even if I hated the main character.
Stephen is a student of magecraft but he’s obsessed with necromncy. He’s been working on a way to bring humans back as zombies. He gets his opportunity to try it out when his boyfriend, Dax, has an accident. Dax doesn’t come back quite like he expected though. Stephen has to cover up Dax’s dinner leftovers and thankfully has the help of his friends and fellow students and an aunt who is a ghost and her talking doll. A big twist solves some of the problem for Stephen and Dax as a couple but creates an even bigger problem for the bigger picture. Stephen is totally stressed out though when the magical police come looking for missing people. It all works out for them in the end.
I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve read quite a few zombie books since zombies are a favorite of mine. The plot was fine. I didn’t like Stephen and that probably colored or discolored some of my feeling toward the book. I couldn’t stop thinking of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. I’m sorry, I always sympathized with the Monster in that one. Frankenstein desperately wanted to create the monster and when he did he shunned him, which devastated the monster, so he went after and destroyed all that Frankenstein loved. I always though Frankenstein was a jackass. Here, we have Stephen who is crushed over Dax’s death so he brings him back. But the moment Dax is back he is like, ick, I don’t like him. I wanted to smack Stephen through most of the first half of the book. Why did you want to bring him back? Even other characters want to know the same.
I liked the other characters. I thought the talking doll and her ghost were creative. The plot of the story was interesting. I didn’t think it was too gory like the warnings stated. That might scare some readers off. There were some bloody scenes, but not overly gory. It’s not a romance. It’s about two guys who are in an established relationship, but that’s it as far as relationships and romance go. If you are looking for romance, you won’t be getting sex and warm and fuzzy.
Overall it was okay. I gave it a three because the writing was very good. The plot was interesting enough to keep me reading even if I hated the main character.
October 13, 2016
Right off I really enjoyed the relationship between Dax and Steven. It was cute without being too cute, sweet without being too sweet. Their banter felt natural. Their exchanges were fun and often very funny. The author did a wonderful job bringing the two main characters to life through small details—the way they brush their hair, the way they bicker about toothpaste consumption, grocery shopping, school, etc. It felt like a very real world.
Most of the side characters were well done. Catrina was probably my favorite and the most developed. Her interactions with the two main characters were often very sad but also amusing.
I did take issue with how late the investigation became a part of the plot. When the police showed up, it seemed like they already knew everything. If that was the case, I don’t understand why they didn’t have a warrant from the very start. They certainly had probable cause (assuming the same standard the “mundane” police use applies).
I wanted to see the threat of incarceration/banishment/forced exorcism be a problem throughout. Police are mentioned on and off, but then the characters go right back to worrying about other things. Those other things were pressing and important, but I thought the legal issues would most likely be as stressful. And the legal issues are ultimately the problem the end of the book resolves.
Other than that, I have very few complaints. For personal satisfaction purposes, I really wanted a specific person to get eaten and he/she was not in the end. Can’t win them all.
Overall, it was a well-written creative book with an interesting concept at its core.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2016
A free copy was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
Steven Durant comes from a prominent family that is well known in the magical community, not for all good things either. After the death of his family he spends quite a bit of time developing a method to bring individuals back to life. He has many failed attempts on his animal experiments.
When Steve's boyfriend, Dax Everhart, has a freak accident and dies. Steve is on the move and tries his first human experiment to try to bring the love of his life back from death. What occurs isn't at all anything Steve could have accounted for. Dax is different from the normal zombie and grows more cognizant as he consumes human flesh.
I enjoyed it from the start although there were portions of the story where it got a bit vexing or slow for me. I liked that Steve was so devoted to Dax and vice versa, that he couldn't see beyond Dax's accident which caused him to to take action quickly.
It was interesting reading through the book, seeing the action and consequences of Steve's choices and karma like feel to what happened to him. I did have chuckles sneak out of me a few times.
I was curious about Dax's first victim. Dax had had the guy immobilized before Steve got to the door. But it wasn't really covered how Dax did it, just that he was enjoying filling his stomach. The ending was a little disappointing to me only because I was hoping the two could have it all and Steve really did bounce back from everything that happened to Dax and himself.
Steven Durant comes from a prominent family that is well known in the magical community, not for all good things either. After the death of his family he spends quite a bit of time developing a method to bring individuals back to life. He has many failed attempts on his animal experiments.
When Steve's boyfriend, Dax Everhart, has a freak accident and dies. Steve is on the move and tries his first human experiment to try to bring the love of his life back from death. What occurs isn't at all anything Steve could have accounted for. Dax is different from the normal zombie and grows more cognizant as he consumes human flesh.
I enjoyed it from the start although there were portions of the story where it got a bit vexing or slow for me. I liked that Steve was so devoted to Dax and vice versa, that he couldn't see beyond Dax's accident which caused him to to take action quickly.
It was interesting reading through the book, seeing the action and consequences of Steve's choices and karma like feel to what happened to him. I did have chuckles sneak out of me a few times.
I was curious about Dax's first victim. Dax had had the guy immobilized before Steve got to the door. But it wasn't really covered how Dax did it, just that he was enjoying filling his stomach. The ending was a little disappointing to me only because I was hoping the two could have it all and Steve really did bounce back from everything that happened to Dax and himself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2017
I was hoping that this book would be about the POV character learning to love and accept his monster boyfriend and helping him recover his memories. Unfortunately, instead the book posits that the only way they can be happy is if they’re both equally monstrous, which I personally find much less interesting. The world building seemed kind of flat, like it wanted to be Harry Potter but also wanted to exist in a world where Harry Potter was a pop-culture phenomenon and couldn’t quite balance having it both ways. By far my favourite parts of this book were the ghost girl and the creepy doll.
October 2, 2017
My mother has always loved zombie films while I am not, so you can imagine I grew up watching them anyway. Now I do enjoy Shawn of the Dead and The Walking Dead(although if I miss an episode its not a loss) but beyond that, not so much. I mention this because I couldn't help but be reminded of my love for uniqueness of Shawn of the Dead while reading My Boyfriend's Back. Yes, Steven has turned his boyfriend into the undead when he falls and breaks his neck but Dax doesn't exactly return the way he expected. Ensue the madness.😉
Elliot Cooper has brought just the right amount of humor to this paranormal party to make it stand out. Now as a not-so-much fan of zombies, I can't really compare it to other books of any sub-genre that features the flesh-eating walking dead but as a book by itself, I loved the humor, the ghost, the "normality" of the paranormal world, but mostly I loved the friendships between the different characters. Dax can't deny his new nature, Steve can't help the warring within himself between wanting his boyfriend back and the consequences in the task, Catrina the ancestral ghost, Hattie the homunculus, Ams & Murphy the supporting mage BFFs, they all come together to create a very interesting world that hooked me way more than I expected it ever could. Who knew zombies could be so endearing?
Elliot Cooper has brought just the right amount of humor to this paranormal party to make it stand out. Now as a not-so-much fan of zombies, I can't really compare it to other books of any sub-genre that features the flesh-eating walking dead but as a book by itself, I loved the humor, the ghost, the "normality" of the paranormal world, but mostly I loved the friendships between the different characters. Dax can't deny his new nature, Steve can't help the warring within himself between wanting his boyfriend back and the consequences in the task, Catrina the ancestral ghost, Hattie the homunculus, Ams & Murphy the supporting mage BFFs, they all come together to create a very interesting world that hooked me way more than I expected it ever could. Who knew zombies could be so endearing?
November 14, 2016
I received a copy of this book from the author via the M/M Romance Group’s Don’t Buy My Love program in exchange for an honest review.
I am a little confused regarding how to review this book as it was absolutely not what I was expecting. The book tells the story of Steven & Dax, both students of magic attending college and they live together as a couple. Early in the book Dax has an accident and dies so Steven uses his skills in necromancy to bring him back to life as a zombie. The rest of the story is basically Steven trying to deal with the results of his actions.
I think my biggest issue with the book would have to be the fact that I disliked Steven and I never warmed up to him. The only thing he seemed upset about was the fact that Dax was a zombie who was not acting like his boyfriend and not about murders that occurred as a result of turning Dax into a zombie. He acted like a jerk towards zombie Dax and it was a real negative for me.
I liked the secondary characters, especially the animated doll and Steven’s aunt who is a ghost. I also enjoyed the use of magic and as other reviewers have said the call back to Harry Potter.
I am a little confused regarding how to review this book as it was absolutely not what I was expecting. The book tells the story of Steven & Dax, both students of magic attending college and they live together as a couple. Early in the book Dax has an accident and dies so Steven uses his skills in necromancy to bring him back to life as a zombie. The rest of the story is basically Steven trying to deal with the results of his actions.
I think my biggest issue with the book would have to be the fact that I disliked Steven and I never warmed up to him. The only thing he seemed upset about was the fact that Dax was a zombie who was not acting like his boyfriend and not about murders that occurred as a result of turning Dax into a zombie. He acted like a jerk towards zombie Dax and it was a real negative for me.
I liked the secondary characters, especially the animated doll and Steven’s aunt who is a ghost. I also enjoyed the use of magic and as other reviewers have said the call back to Harry Potter.
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