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Tap-Dancing the Minefields
Sometimes the fiercest battle a man faces is against himself.
In the hidden alleyways of New York City, George “Tank” Tankersley defeated what he believed were demons. But the victory cost too much. Tank joined the Army in the hope of outrunning the guilt haunting him—only to stumble into a vast and deadly conspiracy, the enemies he’d hoped to never encounter again, and the arms of the brilliant, eccentric scientist tasked with saving humanity.
In a world where the line between dark magic and alien science is thin, Dr. Lev Underwood must reverse engineer recovered alien technology to give humans a fighting chance against the extraterrestrial beings who consider Earth nothing more than a petri dish. His old friend, Colonel Clyde Aldrich, wants to protect Lev from entanglement with the scarred and emotionally volatile young soldier, but Lev cannot help the pull he feels toward Tank. Still, his first loyalty is to the secret government program, and love might have to take a back seat to protecting the world. But if he can find a way, Lev wants both.
In the hidden alleyways of New York City, George “Tank” Tankersley defeated what he believed were demons. But the victory cost too much. Tank joined the Army in the hope of outrunning the guilt haunting him—only to stumble into a vast and deadly conspiracy, the enemies he’d hoped to never encounter again, and the arms of the brilliant, eccentric scientist tasked with saving humanity.
In a world where the line between dark magic and alien science is thin, Dr. Lev Underwood must reverse engineer recovered alien technology to give humans a fighting chance against the extraterrestrial beings who consider Earth nothing more than a petri dish. His old friend, Colonel Clyde Aldrich, wants to protect Lev from entanglement with the scarred and emotionally volatile young soldier, but Lev cannot help the pull he feels toward Tank. Still, his first loyalty is to the secret government program, and love might have to take a back seat to protecting the world. But if he can find a way, Lev wants both.
380 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2017
36 people are currently reading
393 people want to read
About the author
Lyn Gala
47 books1,166 followersLynsey "Lyn" Gala started writing in the back of her science notebook in third grade and hasn’t stopped since. Westerns starring men with shady pasts gave way to science fiction with questionable protagonists which eventually gave in to any story with a morally ambiguous character. Even the purest heroes have pain and loss and darkness in their hearts, and that’s where she likes to find her stories. Her characters seek to better themselves and find the happy ending (or happier anyway), but it’s writing the struggle that inspires her muse. When she isn’t writing, Lyn Gala teaches in New Mexico.
She first cut her teeth on fanfic: gen, slash, het, and femslash. She prefers to focus on plot: mysteries and monsters and disasters, oh my, but sex can and does happen. Some of her stories focus on power exchange, bondage or bdsm. In her worlds, tops and bottoms are all mature, consenting adults. In fact, stories where they aren't squick her badly, so don't expect to find abuse stories in her journal.
She first cut her teeth on fanfic: gen, slash, het, and femslash. She prefers to focus on plot: mysteries and monsters and disasters, oh my, but sex can and does happen. Some of her stories focus on power exchange, bondage or bdsm. In her worlds, tops and bottoms are all mature, consenting adults. In fact, stories where they aren't squick her badly, so don't expect to find abuse stories in her journal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
January 4, 2019
This is a tough book to review. There was so much going on in here and much of the time I felt like I was scrambling to keep up. Obviously, this was prime world building for a series, but often it felt like work on my part.
At the beginning, I felt like I walked in late to an urban fantasy movie. There was talk about demons, magic, warfare, and high school. At the same time, in a secret base in the middle of Alaska, alien sex pheromones created lust monsters out of all the men and women assigned there. One of which was our MC, Tank. Tank and our other MC, Lev, meet during this lust and get acquainted in a broom closet.
So now, as a reader, I’m trying to process a secret alien base in Alaska with New York City demons. Add in the military, scientists, flashbacks to death, and you can see how as a reader, it’s a bit much. There’s also A LOT of talking. A LOT.
Yes, there is action too, past and present, but at times I felt that the dialogue could have been more concise.
So, we have our two MCs, Tank who is a 20 year old private, and Lev who is a “more than 15 years” older brilliant scientist. After the broom closet fuck fest, there’s a bit of insta-love. Ugh. But it’s OK because there’s so much else going on. Tank believes he’s stupid, Lev thinks him brilliant. Tank has many issues.
We also have a third POV, Clyde the colonel who is in charge of this secret division. He’s not fond of Tank and very, very protective of Lev. He is suspicious of his aptitude with alien machinery and his air of unflappability.
Lyn Gala has definitely created deep and complex characters and has succeeded in creating a fantastic alternate reality here on earth. Now, I want to see what she does with the characters she presented us with, because this really feels like the introduction to a great story.
At the beginning, I felt like I walked in late to an urban fantasy movie. There was talk about demons, magic, warfare, and high school. At the same time, in a secret base in the middle of Alaska, alien sex pheromones created lust monsters out of all the men and women assigned there. One of which was our MC, Tank. Tank and our other MC, Lev, meet during this lust and get acquainted in a broom closet.
So now, as a reader, I’m trying to process a secret alien base in Alaska with New York City demons. Add in the military, scientists, flashbacks to death, and you can see how as a reader, it’s a bit much. There’s also A LOT of talking. A LOT.
Yes, there is action too, past and present, but at times I felt that the dialogue could have been more concise.
So, we have our two MCs, Tank who is a 20 year old private, and Lev who is a “more than 15 years” older brilliant scientist. After the broom closet fuck fest, there’s a bit of insta-love. Ugh. But it’s OK because there’s so much else going on. Tank believes he’s stupid, Lev thinks him brilliant. Tank has many issues.
We also have a third POV, Clyde the colonel who is in charge of this secret division. He’s not fond of Tank and very, very protective of Lev. He is suspicious of his aptitude with alien machinery and his air of unflappability.
Lyn Gala has definitely created deep and complex characters and has succeeded in creating a fantastic alternate reality here on earth. Now, I want to see what she does with the characters she presented us with, because this really feels like the introduction to a great story.
December 12, 2017
Did you ever wonder what happens to those high-school kids who get drafted to fight demons and hellmouths and poisonous spiders and evil spells, when they grow up? For Tank Tankersley, high school was a sideshow to the real part of his life where he and his four best friends, along with a couple of supportive grown-ups, battled demons in dark fights the rest of the world wasn't aware existed. After two of the five teens died in a terrible climactic battle, Tank couldn't look his two remaining friends in the face. He went off and enlisted in the military. And just his luck, while serving on a supply mission to an Alaska base, he arrives just as a chemical spill makes everyone in the base go crazy with lust. Inappropriate sex ensues.
It turns out the base is built inside an alien crashed ship, whose biological tech is prone to difficulties. Like the pheromone release. Now Tank knows too much about aliens being on Earth, and he's dragooned into the program. He's spinning with a bit of deja vu of secrets kept, a bit of ongoing attraction to the scientist he lusted with, and some curiosity about what's going on with the aliens. But when he starts to see how the aliens, and the demons of his childhood, and his old high-school friends all connect, he can't just sit back and wash the commissary dishes.
Tank is smart, tough, troubled, and insubordinate. Of course he's going to want to jump in and make a difference, and protect those he cares about, orders or no. Luckily for him, this is the least rule-bound sector of the military that you can imagine, and they can handle some of his lack of discipline. Unluckily for him, those aliens are numerous, powerful, unpredictable, and are far from done jerking his life around.
I really loved Tank, in his damaged, pragmatic, self-doubting complexity. Having an additional POV be his commanding officer Clyde, not just Lev, the scientist Tank begins to fall for, was an interesting choice and it gives the story a more SciFi than romance tone. In some ways, Clyde drew me in more emotionally, because he's not as closed off as Tank. All the secondary characters were interesting, and we just get to know them superficially so far. There is a lot of black humor, action, dark pasts, fascinatingly impenetrable alien schemes, and some emotional moments of both team bonding and past hurt, as well as developing sweetness between Tank and Lev.
There's also a lot of exposition but it's well mixed into this story. The set-up is complex, and multiple characters have relevant backstory. Lyn Gala was able to keep me interested and engaged throughout. Although there is not a series number listed on this book, I definitely hope this is just the beginning of an ongoing story. The ending is a solid HFN, but there is a whole lot we don't yet know, and more action clearly to come.
It turns out the base is built inside an alien crashed ship, whose biological tech is prone to difficulties. Like the pheromone release. Now Tank knows too much about aliens being on Earth, and he's dragooned into the program. He's spinning with a bit of deja vu of secrets kept, a bit of ongoing attraction to the scientist he lusted with, and some curiosity about what's going on with the aliens. But when he starts to see how the aliens, and the demons of his childhood, and his old high-school friends all connect, he can't just sit back and wash the commissary dishes.
Tank is smart, tough, troubled, and insubordinate. Of course he's going to want to jump in and make a difference, and protect those he cares about, orders or no. Luckily for him, this is the least rule-bound sector of the military that you can imagine, and they can handle some of his lack of discipline. Unluckily for him, those aliens are numerous, powerful, unpredictable, and are far from done jerking his life around.
I really loved Tank, in his damaged, pragmatic, self-doubting complexity. Having an additional POV be his commanding officer Clyde, not just Lev, the scientist Tank begins to fall for, was an interesting choice and it gives the story a more SciFi than romance tone. In some ways, Clyde drew me in more emotionally, because he's not as closed off as Tank. All the secondary characters were interesting, and we just get to know them superficially so far. There is a lot of black humor, action, dark pasts, fascinatingly impenetrable alien schemes, and some emotional moments of both team bonding and past hurt, as well as developing sweetness between Tank and Lev.
There's also a lot of exposition but it's well mixed into this story. The set-up is complex, and multiple characters have relevant backstory. Lyn Gala was able to keep me interested and engaged throughout. Although there is not a series number listed on this book, I definitely hope this is just the beginning of an ongoing story. The ending is a solid HFN, but there is a whole lot we don't yet know, and more action clearly to come.
November 23, 2017
Fabulous!
This story was amazing! It read like a blockbuster sci-fi action movie and I had a crystal clear picture of everything in my head as I was reading, down to the most minute of details.
The mix of action, drama, humor and romance blended well. I was drawn in from the very first sentence and didn't want to let go when I turned the last page. It looks to be set up as the beginning of a series. I hope so! I would definitely read more about this world. In fact, I have a burning need to read more.
Highly, highly recommended.
This story was amazing! It read like a blockbuster sci-fi action movie and I had a crystal clear picture of everything in my head as I was reading, down to the most minute of details.
The mix of action, drama, humor and romance blended well. I was drawn in from the very first sentence and didn't want to let go when I turned the last page. It looks to be set up as the beginning of a series. I hope so! I would definitely read more about this world. In fact, I have a burning need to read more.
Highly, highly recommended.
May 10, 2021
Buy this book now. Is this a new series from the talented Ms. Gala? I certainly hope so! Full disclosure, I didn't read the blurb. Ms. Gala is an auto-read for me. I enjoy being surprised by her and prefer to go into a story completely cold. Most of the time it works. This time, it completely transported me into another world and it was a fantastic ride. For those who are lost the first few chapters and wonder if there is a previous book, there is no previous book. Stick with the book, the payoff is amazing.
The main character is Tank. He is a young twenty year old who is at the wrong place at the right time. As part of his duties in the army, he is delivering food to a secret base in the frozen tundra - Alaska. When he becomes entangled in Area 51 type conspiracies, he ends up right where he's been trying to run away from. Except this time, instead a rag tag Scooby-Doo gang, he is part of a covert military team.
I loved Tank. He is an amazingly lovingly crafted character with so much dimension I could visualize him from head to toe. To date, this may be my favourite character created by Ms. Gala. Tank is a young man with a tired old soul. He is a walking paradox and yet he makes so much sense. If there is one word to describe Tank, it would be SURVIVOR. Ms. Gala is a sadist as she puts Tank through the wringer. The hits both physically and metaphorically are intense and just short of cruel. Tank does the best he can to make it through the day. I understand his sense of helplessness and loss of control. What he accomplished at a young age without training is impressive. As we learn what Tank has gone through and how he comes up with creative solutions to problems, I'm in awe. Ms. Gala creates an obviously dysfunctional character with flaws and makes him relateable and loveable.
This book is one I want to read over and over again because of its plot and character development. The plot is short of mindblowing. The concept is one which many writers have toyed with over the centuries. Few have created a world as robust and plausible as Ms. Gala. This book is up there with Neil Gaiman's American Gods. I can see this book turned into a TV series and it would be just as provocative. This story makes me think and wonder possibilities. It makes me lust for another follow up book to learn more about these aliens. What is their end game? Will we ever find out what these aliens look like? There are so many questions left up on the air in this book that it feels like a 500 page cock tease.
How do I describe this book? For those who love Buffy, this is Xander's story. It is more than Buffy. It is Buffy mixed with Stargate and American Gods. There is the alien aspects of Stargate which give this the sci-fi feel I adore. There is the grittiness and unfair pawn playing of American Gods which gives me chills. This fast paced book takes a reader on a thrilling ride and when it ends, I want to get right back on and ride again. This alternate reality novel is highly recommended to sci-fi and fantasy readers who enjoyed Buffy, American Gods, The Hitchhicker's Guide to the Galaxy and Stargate.
September 7, 2023
Tap-Dancing the Minefields kinda feels like a post-show look at what happens to those teens in a lot of the high-school supernatural series I watched growing up. It has the same flavor, but a bit more grown-up perspective on how having to deal with that kind of messed up shit while you are still a teen can mess with your head.
George “Tank” Tankersley spent his high-school career battling demons with his friends. But the cost of those battles was too high in the end, so he left New York and joined the Army. Luckily for him he does not end up going from one war-zone to another, instead getting shoved into jobs that involve cleaning supplies and kitchens more often than not, but that doesn’t mean Tank can escape his past. When making a supply run to a shady government base in the wilds of Alaska, Tank is drawn into a world more crazy than the one he grew up in. That is until he figures out that his high-school experiences may play an important role in what the government has locked up in the base he finds himself now “assigned” to.
Having read several of Lyn Gala’s sci-fi stories before, I was really looking forward to this. And while it wasn’t quite what I expected (I actually thought it’d go a bit darker than it ended up) it was an enjoyable read from start to finish. Gala has a great ability to create sci-fi stories that feel both unique and highly relatable. Her take on aliens never feels old. And for all the “sciency” stuff that goes on in this book, it all seemed believable, if at times a bit horrifying (I’m looking at you, “dirt-eating hair-showers”…you are just the freakiest thing I’ve read in years).
Overall the plot was good, though it did seem to stumble a bit near the end. I was expecting something a bit more than what I got–or at least a few answers to the bazillion questions posed in the story–and I felt the book left things a bit too open-ended for me. Though if that means that Gala intends to continue the story in a sequel I’m all for that.
DSP Pubs don’t tend to focus on the romantic relationships as much as the Press books do, but I found the interactions between Tank and Dr. Lev Underwood to be very well done. I do want to give one word of warning, though. During the first chapter of this book there is an event on the base which results in Lev and Tank engaging in sexual acts that are not in the strictest sense consensual. It is neither of the MCs faults, but if that is something that is going to trigger you, you should be made aware of it. I personally didn’t find that it had a great impact on the story, and it is pretty clear when it is about to happen, so if you want to read this without that scene it is pretty ease to skip over.
There is more I can say about this book, but not without spoiling some of the best parts of the story. So I’m going to say that if you have enjoyed Gala’s previous sci-fi works you should enjoy this. Also if you are a fan of the Teen Wolf/Buffy the Vampire Slayer type shows you might get a kick out of the characters and interactions between them. Definitely has that kind of flavor to it at times. I did like the more grown-up aspect of this story, though. Think it really made the story more believable. Which might be a bad thing because now I am kinda paranoid.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
George “Tank” Tankersley spent his high-school career battling demons with his friends. But the cost of those battles was too high in the end, so he left New York and joined the Army. Luckily for him he does not end up going from one war-zone to another, instead getting shoved into jobs that involve cleaning supplies and kitchens more often than not, but that doesn’t mean Tank can escape his past. When making a supply run to a shady government base in the wilds of Alaska, Tank is drawn into a world more crazy than the one he grew up in. That is until he figures out that his high-school experiences may play an important role in what the government has locked up in the base he finds himself now “assigned” to.
Having read several of Lyn Gala’s sci-fi stories before, I was really looking forward to this. And while it wasn’t quite what I expected (I actually thought it’d go a bit darker than it ended up) it was an enjoyable read from start to finish. Gala has a great ability to create sci-fi stories that feel both unique and highly relatable. Her take on aliens never feels old. And for all the “sciency” stuff that goes on in this book, it all seemed believable, if at times a bit horrifying (I’m looking at you, “dirt-eating hair-showers”…you are just the freakiest thing I’ve read in years).
Overall the plot was good, though it did seem to stumble a bit near the end. I was expecting something a bit more than what I got–or at least a few answers to the bazillion questions posed in the story–and I felt the book left things a bit too open-ended for me. Though if that means that Gala intends to continue the story in a sequel I’m all for that.
DSP Pubs don’t tend to focus on the romantic relationships as much as the Press books do, but I found the interactions between Tank and Dr. Lev Underwood to be very well done. I do want to give one word of warning, though. During the first chapter of this book there is an event on the base which results in Lev and Tank engaging in sexual acts that are not in the strictest sense consensual. It is neither of the MCs faults, but if that is something that is going to trigger you, you should be made aware of it. I personally didn’t find that it had a great impact on the story, and it is pretty clear when it is about to happen, so if you want to read this without that scene it is pretty ease to skip over.
There is more I can say about this book, but not without spoiling some of the best parts of the story. So I’m going to say that if you have enjoyed Gala’s previous sci-fi works you should enjoy this. Also if you are a fan of the Teen Wolf/Buffy the Vampire Slayer type shows you might get a kick out of the characters and interactions between them. Definitely has that kind of flavor to it at times. I did like the more grown-up aspect of this story, though. Think it really made the story more believable. Which might be a bad thing because now I am kinda paranoid.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
November 14, 2017
Private George ‘Tank’ Tankersley has seen a lot in his twenty short years of life. He spent his high school years fighting demons with his best friends…until one battle went horribly wrong and then Tank enlisted in the military. And how’s that for some situational irony, hm? Joining the Army because it’s presumably the lesser of two dangers. Assigned to deliver supplies to a secret base in Alaska, Tank gets a surprising and sexy as hell welcome-to-my-world from engineering genius Dr. Lev Underwood. Tank also sees too many things he wasn’t supposed to see, or know about, and now finds himself a new resident of the base, whether he likes it or not. Which is a secret for some compelling and valid reasons.
I loved Tank a lot. He uses humor to deflect, to hide his feelings and to self-deprecate, and it took me a while to realize that he wasn’t as flighty as he pretended to be. He’s not as unintelligent as he believes himself to be either. I’ve always been a huge advocate of the fact that there’s smart, and then there’s book smart, and Lev understands this too. Book smart has nothing to do with common sense and innate ability, and Tank is living, breathing proof of that. When he meets Lev during what appears to be a malfunction of one of the base’s more…interesting…systems, their connection is immediate, and while based on sex in the beginning, I appreciated that the relationship becomes about more than just that. Their feelings harbor a sweet and almost innocent quality that contrasts not only how they met but the dangers of their mission too. In fact, there’s a significant age gap between them, but that’s easy to forget because Tank often comes across as so much older than his twenty years. Life experience will do that to a man, though. And Lev, though approaching forty, is still so capable of hope and believing in good, in spite of his own experiences, that he seems younger than he is. They’re just so made for each other, really.
The backstories of several of the characters are well done—Tank and Lev, of course, but Colonel Clyde Aldrich and John Doe as well, John being particularly interesting and even, dare I say, lovable? Anyway, he didn’t scare me as much as he probably would think he should. And I especially loved how Clyde and John were so protective of Lev owing to the specific bond that John, Clyde and Lev share. But, there was also a rather touching connection between Clyde and Tank that tempered the sharp edges of Clyde’s feelings towards the kid, versus what Clyde knows firsthand; that Tank is a walking PTSD time bomb. Tank’s friends Zhu and Marie also figure prominently in this altered-states urban sci-fi story, as they and Tank are all significant blips on the alien radar.
The arc of this novel intersects with Tank’s past and Zhu and Marie, who were part of the demon fighting team—or, at least what they were told were demons—and the only two of Tank’s friends who survived their last confrontation. Turns out that the truth is far more complicated than some biblical mythos, though; the enemy far more advanced, and the motives a danger to the human race. There is too much plot to spoil by going any deeper into the hows and whats, and the why is a mystery. The good news is that Lyn Gala has created a fantastic alternate reality filled with an array of characters who span the gap between human and alien, and tell this story through sharp dialogue and shared experiences. The medium news is that Tap-Dancing the Minefields reads like book one in a new series. The bad news is that to have my dangling questions answered, I have to wait for more Tank, Lev, and the rest of this intriguing cast of characters to see how they’ll defeat the alien incursion. I don’t know where this is going, but I like where I’ve been, and I have a feeling that Gala will make the waiting worthwhile. If this intro is any sort of measure of the fun left to be had, I’m looking forward to it.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach
I loved Tank a lot. He uses humor to deflect, to hide his feelings and to self-deprecate, and it took me a while to realize that he wasn’t as flighty as he pretended to be. He’s not as unintelligent as he believes himself to be either. I’ve always been a huge advocate of the fact that there’s smart, and then there’s book smart, and Lev understands this too. Book smart has nothing to do with common sense and innate ability, and Tank is living, breathing proof of that. When he meets Lev during what appears to be a malfunction of one of the base’s more…interesting…systems, their connection is immediate, and while based on sex in the beginning, I appreciated that the relationship becomes about more than just that. Their feelings harbor a sweet and almost innocent quality that contrasts not only how they met but the dangers of their mission too. In fact, there’s a significant age gap between them, but that’s easy to forget because Tank often comes across as so much older than his twenty years. Life experience will do that to a man, though. And Lev, though approaching forty, is still so capable of hope and believing in good, in spite of his own experiences, that he seems younger than he is. They’re just so made for each other, really.
The backstories of several of the characters are well done—Tank and Lev, of course, but Colonel Clyde Aldrich and John Doe as well, John being particularly interesting and even, dare I say, lovable? Anyway, he didn’t scare me as much as he probably would think he should. And I especially loved how Clyde and John were so protective of Lev owing to the specific bond that John, Clyde and Lev share. But, there was also a rather touching connection between Clyde and Tank that tempered the sharp edges of Clyde’s feelings towards the kid, versus what Clyde knows firsthand; that Tank is a walking PTSD time bomb. Tank’s friends Zhu and Marie also figure prominently in this altered-states urban sci-fi story, as they and Tank are all significant blips on the alien radar.
The arc of this novel intersects with Tank’s past and Zhu and Marie, who were part of the demon fighting team—or, at least what they were told were demons—and the only two of Tank’s friends who survived their last confrontation. Turns out that the truth is far more complicated than some biblical mythos, though; the enemy far more advanced, and the motives a danger to the human race. There is too much plot to spoil by going any deeper into the hows and whats, and the why is a mystery. The good news is that Lyn Gala has created a fantastic alternate reality filled with an array of characters who span the gap between human and alien, and tell this story through sharp dialogue and shared experiences. The medium news is that Tap-Dancing the Minefields reads like book one in a new series. The bad news is that to have my dangling questions answered, I have to wait for more Tank, Lev, and the rest of this intriguing cast of characters to see how they’ll defeat the alien incursion. I don’t know where this is going, but I like where I’ve been, and I have a feeling that Gala will make the waiting worthwhile. If this intro is any sort of measure of the fun left to be had, I’m looking forward to it.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach
November 22, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
2.75 stars
This story has almost as many issues as Tank does. Issues with pacing, character relationships, tension, antagonists, protagonists, and more I’m leaving out. Much of the story involves characters putting two and two together, so I’ll do my best to not give away too much of the plot.
The story is told from two viewpoints: Tank and Clyde. Tank is a young man who we are told has PTSD. We are told often, repeatedly, and by several different characters that Tank has a severe case of PTSD. However, if it weren’t for being told again and again that he suffers from this disorder, I’m not sure I would have caught it. In part this could be due to Tank being an unreliable narrator — though I’m not so sure of that — or it could be because I’m not familiar with the issue myself. This should have been interesting. Growing up as a teenager in a ‘demon’ infested neighborhood, spending so much of his developing years trying to fight them, losing friends to them, it would make sense that Tank is suffering the aftereffects of such horror. Watching him deal with the stress, having people trying to help him overcome his PTSD would have made for an interesting book as he faced the ‘demons’ again from another angle. Instead, it’s mentioned that he has PTSD. It’s mentioned a lot. What is also mentioned is how good Tank is at combat, at thinking outside the box, and at tactical thinking. The other characters spend so much time talking about it I wish I could have seen it. That’s not to say that there aren’t a few examples, but for each action Tank takes there’s a chapter of people talking about how amazing it is.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
2.75 stars
This story has almost as many issues as Tank does. Issues with pacing, character relationships, tension, antagonists, protagonists, and more I’m leaving out. Much of the story involves characters putting two and two together, so I’ll do my best to not give away too much of the plot.
The story is told from two viewpoints: Tank and Clyde. Tank is a young man who we are told has PTSD. We are told often, repeatedly, and by several different characters that Tank has a severe case of PTSD. However, if it weren’t for being told again and again that he suffers from this disorder, I’m not sure I would have caught it. In part this could be due to Tank being an unreliable narrator — though I’m not so sure of that — or it could be because I’m not familiar with the issue myself. This should have been interesting. Growing up as a teenager in a ‘demon’ infested neighborhood, spending so much of his developing years trying to fight them, losing friends to them, it would make sense that Tank is suffering the aftereffects of such horror. Watching him deal with the stress, having people trying to help him overcome his PTSD would have made for an interesting book as he faced the ‘demons’ again from another angle. Instead, it’s mentioned that he has PTSD. It’s mentioned a lot. What is also mentioned is how good Tank is at combat, at thinking outside the box, and at tactical thinking. The other characters spend so much time talking about it I wish I could have seen it. That’s not to say that there aren’t a few examples, but for each action Tank takes there’s a chapter of people talking about how amazing it is.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
November 25, 2017
3.75 stars
I don't even want to write this brief review because I so desperately wanted to love this book.
The first half of this book was simply stunning. I thought it was the best thing this author had ever written. I was so smitten I couldn't put it down. Somewhere past halfway, I began to realize the sheer volume of exposition -- vast and unnecessary-- was throwing a wrench into my enthrallment. At about the three-quarter mark, the amount of tell vs. show had me shaking my head in disappointment and slowing my forward momentum. I found the ending to be exceedingly dissatisfying.
Even though I adored the characters and loved the world building, clever plot, and the "idea" of the book, in the end this wonderful idea's execution was very flawed. (Note: This book needs more careful line editing.)
I'm going to leave it at that. And go cry in my beer.
I don't even want to write this brief review because I so desperately wanted to love this book.
The first half of this book was simply stunning. I thought it was the best thing this author had ever written. I was so smitten I couldn't put it down. Somewhere past halfway, I began to realize the sheer volume of exposition -- vast and unnecessary-- was throwing a wrench into my enthrallment. At about the three-quarter mark, the amount of tell vs. show had me shaking my head in disappointment and slowing my forward momentum. I found the ending to be exceedingly dissatisfying.
Even though I adored the characters and loved the world building, clever plot, and the "idea" of the book, in the end this wonderful idea's execution was very flawed. (Note: This book needs more careful line editing.)
I'm going to leave it at that. And go cry in my beer.
Want to read
July 9, 20197/9/19 Currently on sale for 99c via Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0749D82KT/...
January 19, 2021
As a Buffy fan, I loved the hell out of this! What a genius setup. (That has nothing to do with Buffy, don't let that confuse you :)
So the MC spent his high school years fighting for his life alongside his small group of friends and a few adults as they battled demons no one else knew existed. After the traumatic final battle, he escaped to the army in search of a simpler life. Those worlds are about to collide.
LOVED IT. Tank's POV is hilarious at first. All the different ways the realities/structure of the army don't actually mesh with the mindset of someone who's only alive because of his ability to think outside the box. (Hello, fun bits of Season 4)
And then we slowly start to get this really interesting, unique take on the PTSD story that's hiding behind all that witty banter. It's brilliant.
So why the three stars? The romance is a dud :(
It's incredibly insta, and I never felt the emotional connection. Which is actually kinda common for me and this author. (I just like her anyway because she's just so good at everything else.) But it's a big problem here because so much of the plot hinges on this epic love connection -- that I could barely feel. It kept shining a giant spotlight on the one flaw of the book.
The action plots were completely engrossing, but they kept insisting on revolving around the damn romance. Which was only a problem because I didn't buy it in the first place. I would have easily been able to ignore that if wasn't shoved in my face all the time.
I would still whole-heartedly recommend this. Especially to Buffy fans. It was so much fun. And can we please get a book from John's POV??!
So the MC spent his high school years fighting for his life alongside his small group of friends and a few adults as they battled demons no one else knew existed. After the traumatic final battle, he escaped to the army in search of a simpler life. Those worlds are about to collide.
LOVED IT. Tank's POV is hilarious at first. All the different ways the realities/structure of the army don't actually mesh with the mindset of someone who's only alive because of his ability to think outside the box. (Hello, fun bits of Season 4)
And then we slowly start to get this really interesting, unique take on the PTSD story that's hiding behind all that witty banter. It's brilliant.
So why the three stars? The romance is a dud :(
It's incredibly insta, and I never felt the emotional connection. Which is actually kinda common for me and this author. (I just like her anyway because she's just so good at everything else.) But it's a big problem here because so much of the plot hinges on this epic love connection -- that I could barely feel. It kept shining a giant spotlight on the one flaw of the book.
The action plots were completely engrossing, but they kept insisting on revolving around the damn romance. Which was only a problem because I didn't buy it in the first place. I would have easily been able to ignore that if wasn't shoved in my face all the time.
I would still whole-heartedly recommend this. Especially to Buffy fans. It was so much fun. And can we please get a book from John's POV??!
May 13, 2018
I loved this. This was more plot than romance, but I didn't mind, I enjoyed all of the characters and their dynamics with each other. Tank was young-20 years old- he seemed much younger at times, and at other times, much much older. I did like him a lot. This started out so strangely and I really had no idea how anything would unfold, but I loved it. I enjoyed Lev a lot also, but I felt like even though he was the love interest, he wasn't a main character really. I don't know, that's not a complaint, I just felt that since the romance wasn't front and center...I don't know. Anyways, he was older, though he NEVER seemed older. I know he was super sheltered and all that, but he definitely didn't seem like he had almost 20 years on Tank. Clyde--man I really liked Clyde. I understood all of his motivations, I appreciated his position and his experience, his affection for Lev, his grudging respect for Tank, his fear of all the things that could go wrong. John may have been my favorite character, and I would LOVE his story. His story from before this, or after, or BOTH!
August 22, 2018
*happy sigh*
I was a bit cautious about this, as I have recently been very disappointed by other excellent authors’ recent books.
Also there have been conflicted reviews from people I respect. Some have loved it, others have had their critical faculties engaged instead of being completely sucked in.
I was unsure at first, because of all of Tank’s issues, and Tankishness, but I trusted Lyn Gala (her writing in the Claimings series in particular) and persisted, and had a great time.
I’m expecting a sequel. And I bet the thing which is really a thing is actually not that thing but the other thing. Or another thing entirely.
I was a bit cautious about this, as I have recently been very disappointed by other excellent authors’ recent books.
Also there have been conflicted reviews from people I respect. Some have loved it, others have had their critical faculties engaged instead of being completely sucked in.
I was unsure at first, because of all of Tank’s issues, and Tankishness, but I trusted Lyn Gala (her writing in the Claimings series in particular) and persisted, and had a great time.
I’m expecting a sequel. And I bet the thing which is really a thing is actually not that thing but the other thing. Or another thing entirely.
March 28, 2019
This author is pretty much an instant buy for me now and this book didn't disapoint. Once again i was drawn in to a unique world were nothing seems to be a rehash so other things I've read. There is solid easy to slide into world building along with characters that are interesting. Tank's character stands out as a complex mix of fighter, young adult, and someone that has been through too much. He has flashes between almost being a kid and then to adult. I did feel like his relationship wasn't fully fleshed out between him and Lev for all the action and discovery about Tank's past but this also felt like a first book in hopefully a series, so I'm hoping maybe to see more of them and see an expansion on the universe.
November 20, 2017
4.5 stars
A well written and fun read. Tank is irreverent, insecure, and willing to step in the line of fire. The other characters are all enjoyable and I want to know more about .
A well written and fun read. Tank is irreverent, insecure, and willing to step in the line of fire. The other characters are all enjoyable and I want to know more about .
March 11, 2018
Sci-if is my thing. I love a good sci-fi. I really really tried to get through this story and like it. It really drags for 150 or so pages. It convoluted and all over the place. I get that many people loved it, but that was not the case for me. We had 30 pages about bruises and then treatment of them for goodness sake. I had to force myself to finish this over the course of a week.
November 14, 2017
Full review at :
https://optimumm.blog/2017/11/14/review-tap-dancing-the-minefields-by-lyn-gala/
Private George “Tank” Tankersley is 20 years old, and a young soldier. He joined the military after high school, where he spent 5 years with his friends fighting against demons.
The last thing he expected was to stumble into a super-secret military base in Alaska, in an alien ship, where he meets Dr. Lev Underwood, a scientist specialist in alien’s technologies.
Tank realizes that maybe what he’s been through during High School with his friends wasn’t demonic, or maybe it was.
I’m not a huge fan of Sci-fi, it’s not my kind of book most of the time, but I admit that this one was really good.
At first, I was a little lost, Tank’s past was very present, and there’s a lot of references about his battles during high school with his friends. The same thing with Lev’s past, how he and Clyde (the colonel of the base) were kidnapped by the aliens and prisoners during 6 months in an alien ship and how they met John a human born and raised in this alien ship. So yes, at the beginning I was a little lost, I was sure that this book was a sequel. But the more I read, and the more I understood the story, I understood the background.
When I understood the context and all, I really enjoyed the book, the plot and the characters. Even if Tank is the main character, the book isn’t all around him and Lev. Actually, the love story between them isn’t the main plot. There’re a lot of characters, all very endearing (except Mary, I don’t like her).
It was a pure sci-fi book with action, aliens, and a lot of humour (Tank and Clyde are very funny). I hope the author plans to write another book, with John, I’m intrigued by this human-alien, and I would love to know more about him, especially him in a relationship (I’m already laughing thinking of him and his natural skill for interaction).
Anyway, it was a mix between Independence Day and Stargate in a gay version.
4 OptimuMM’s for The dishwasher, the Doc, and their misfit team.
***The ARC was provided by DSP Publication . My review is an honest opinion of the book ***
https://optimumm.blog/2017/11/14/review-tap-dancing-the-minefields-by-lyn-gala/
Private George “Tank” Tankersley is 20 years old, and a young soldier. He joined the military after high school, where he spent 5 years with his friends fighting against demons.
The last thing he expected was to stumble into a super-secret military base in Alaska, in an alien ship, where he meets Dr. Lev Underwood, a scientist specialist in alien’s technologies.
Tank realizes that maybe what he’s been through during High School with his friends wasn’t demonic, or maybe it was.
I’m not a huge fan of Sci-fi, it’s not my kind of book most of the time, but I admit that this one was really good.
At first, I was a little lost, Tank’s past was very present, and there’s a lot of references about his battles during high school with his friends. The same thing with Lev’s past, how he and Clyde (the colonel of the base) were kidnapped by the aliens and prisoners during 6 months in an alien ship and how they met John a human born and raised in this alien ship. So yes, at the beginning I was a little lost, I was sure that this book was a sequel. But the more I read, and the more I understood the story, I understood the background.
When I understood the context and all, I really enjoyed the book, the plot and the characters. Even if Tank is the main character, the book isn’t all around him and Lev. Actually, the love story between them isn’t the main plot. There’re a lot of characters, all very endearing (except Mary, I don’t like her).
It was a pure sci-fi book with action, aliens, and a lot of humour (Tank and Clyde are very funny). I hope the author plans to write another book, with John, I’m intrigued by this human-alien, and I would love to know more about him, especially him in a relationship (I’m already laughing thinking of him and his natural skill for interaction).
Anyway, it was a mix between Independence Day and Stargate in a gay version.
4 OptimuMM’s for The dishwasher, the Doc, and their misfit team.
***The ARC was provided by DSP Publication . My review is an honest opinion of the book ***
March 3, 2018
Review can be read at It's About The Book
George “Tank” Tankersley is just going to do his thing in the Army. Unfortunately, privates in the Army don’t really get to make decisions for themselves. Tank’s life is way beyond his control. Suddenly, Tank finds himself in a relationship with Lev Underwood. Surprise! He’s also living in an alien spaceship. The crazy part is Tank has seen all this stuff before. Tank’s loyalties are torn and Clyde notices. Clyde is Lev’s best friend and Tank’s commanding officer. He can tell Tank is more than the unassuming private he’s pretending to be, he just can’t really figure out how he’s different and if it’s an evil different or simply a… different different. It’s probably safe to say neither Clyde nor Tank expected things to play out as they did.
What if an author leaned into the instalove trope so hard and so far the romance was no longer the most important relationship developed? Tank and Lev fall in love and become a couple. Whatever. This book is about Lev and Clyde being best friends and Clyde becoming the supportive male authority figure Tank never had. Clyde gets to see his best friend be happy and help a kid grow up hopefully a little less screwed up. So yeah, this was a romance between Tank and Lev, but this book was more a showcase of types of male relationships. Relationships that feel surprisingly healthy in spite of the circumstances.
Everyone in the book has some level of PTSD. Again, like the romance, I didn’t feel that was really the point. Clyde, Tank, and even John are going to find themselves in the middle of whatever fight is in their vicinity. Does it mess them up? Yes! Will they do it anyway? Yes. Whether we like it or not the military is a great place for guys who are driven to serve society in this way. This book is neither a glorification of heroes at the expense of reality nor a sad tale of people ruined and lives cut short. Military service and the lifelong effects from it aren’t black and white subjects. This book presents a thorny situation and doesn’t pretend to solve it. Tank was in the fight long before he joined the military. In the military he was still in the fight, but he had a safety net.
Tank and his friends were in the middle of a war while in high school. I cannot say how much I appreciate the subject came up in this book that there were adults who should have been stepping in. This is an issue for me in a lot of YA fantasy fiction. Kids are saving the universe when there are better qualified people whose responsibility it is to take care of the kids who are in mortal danger. You know, people who don’t have to borrow mom’s car to get to the showdown between good and evil. Buffy the Vampire Slayer was cool and all, but child soldiers shouldn’t exist. Kids don’t need to carry that burden.
I suppose now that I’ve rambled I should say I really loved this book. I think Lyn Gala is incredibly good at posing questions then leaving the reader to wrestle with them. As much as I love reading to be entertained I need to think about a book to feel passionately. And there was just so much here for me to feel passionately about. I adored Clyde as he struggled with allowing access to Lev. Watching Tank realize he wasn’t alone was heartbreaking. John’s love of musicals made me laugh out loud. So yeah, this book is instalove between a couple of guys with PTSD, one of whom saved the world from some demons when he was a teenager. But it’s so much more than that. The best books are always so much more than they appear.
George “Tank” Tankersley is just going to do his thing in the Army. Unfortunately, privates in the Army don’t really get to make decisions for themselves. Tank’s life is way beyond his control. Suddenly, Tank finds himself in a relationship with Lev Underwood. Surprise! He’s also living in an alien spaceship. The crazy part is Tank has seen all this stuff before. Tank’s loyalties are torn and Clyde notices. Clyde is Lev’s best friend and Tank’s commanding officer. He can tell Tank is more than the unassuming private he’s pretending to be, he just can’t really figure out how he’s different and if it’s an evil different or simply a… different different. It’s probably safe to say neither Clyde nor Tank expected things to play out as they did.
What if an author leaned into the instalove trope so hard and so far the romance was no longer the most important relationship developed? Tank and Lev fall in love and become a couple. Whatever. This book is about Lev and Clyde being best friends and Clyde becoming the supportive male authority figure Tank never had. Clyde gets to see his best friend be happy and help a kid grow up hopefully a little less screwed up. So yeah, this was a romance between Tank and Lev, but this book was more a showcase of types of male relationships. Relationships that feel surprisingly healthy in spite of the circumstances.
Everyone in the book has some level of PTSD. Again, like the romance, I didn’t feel that was really the point. Clyde, Tank, and even John are going to find themselves in the middle of whatever fight is in their vicinity. Does it mess them up? Yes! Will they do it anyway? Yes. Whether we like it or not the military is a great place for guys who are driven to serve society in this way. This book is neither a glorification of heroes at the expense of reality nor a sad tale of people ruined and lives cut short. Military service and the lifelong effects from it aren’t black and white subjects. This book presents a thorny situation and doesn’t pretend to solve it. Tank was in the fight long before he joined the military. In the military he was still in the fight, but he had a safety net.
Tank and his friends were in the middle of a war while in high school. I cannot say how much I appreciate the subject came up in this book that there were adults who should have been stepping in. This is an issue for me in a lot of YA fantasy fiction. Kids are saving the universe when there are better qualified people whose responsibility it is to take care of the kids who are in mortal danger. You know, people who don’t have to borrow mom’s car to get to the showdown between good and evil. Buffy the Vampire Slayer was cool and all, but child soldiers shouldn’t exist. Kids don’t need to carry that burden.
I suppose now that I’ve rambled I should say I really loved this book. I think Lyn Gala is incredibly good at posing questions then leaving the reader to wrestle with them. As much as I love reading to be entertained I need to think about a book to feel passionately. And there was just so much here for me to feel passionately about. I adored Clyde as he struggled with allowing access to Lev. Watching Tank realize he wasn’t alone was heartbreaking. John’s love of musicals made me laugh out loud. So yeah, this book is instalove between a couple of guys with PTSD, one of whom saved the world from some demons when he was a teenager. But it’s so much more than that. The best books are always so much more than they appear.
June 23, 2019
This had a good strong start that petered out quickly. There's a ton of talking but fairly little doing. I don't think anything gets resolved? Except that Tank is not a dishwasher, that's resolved to death.
October 18, 2018
I am struggling getting past the 25% mark. It's a rather slow and boring start for a sci-fi.
January 1, 2018
This was amazingly good! Absolutely one of the best books I've read this year, such a complex and intriguing world and Tank and Lev were wonderful (Tank especially!) can't wait to see what comes next for the two of them! Please let there be a sequel. Or a series, a series would be even better.
I'm seriously tempted to start over at the beginning just so I can enjoy it again.
ETA I actually did it, I read this book twice back to back. That's the first time I've ever done that, gotten to the end of a book and flipped right back to page one to read it over again. And it was just as much fun to read the second time around.
I'm seriously tempted to start over at the beginning just so I can enjoy it again.
ETA I actually did it, I read this book twice back to back. That's the first time I've ever done that, gotten to the end of a book and flipped right back to page one to read it over again. And it was just as much fun to read the second time around.
March 17, 2018
Rating: 3.5 stars
I’m a bit perplexed on how I feel about this book. It was a good story and well written. I liked all the characters. I liked that it was written from both Tank’s and Clyde’s perspective. This was refreshing because Clyde and Tank were not romantically involved in anyway. The world building was great. The author did a good job of immersing you in this world of aliens.
I’m not sure why, but it took me a long time to read this story. It didn’t really grab me in the omg I can’t put it down way. I actually kept putting it down. I could only read short sections at a time. The ending picked up a bit with all the action, but still over all I didn’t enjoy it as much as I was hoping to. My hope is that if the author writes another book set in this world, I will enjoy it more now that all the back stories are out of the way. I would definitely read it if for no other reason than to maybe get answers to some unanswered questions remaining at the end of this book.
I’m a bit perplexed on how I feel about this book. It was a good story and well written. I liked all the characters. I liked that it was written from both Tank’s and Clyde’s perspective. This was refreshing because Clyde and Tank were not romantically involved in anyway. The world building was great. The author did a good job of immersing you in this world of aliens.
I’m not sure why, but it took me a long time to read this story. It didn’t really grab me in the omg I can’t put it down way. I actually kept putting it down. I could only read short sections at a time. The ending picked up a bit with all the action, but still over all I didn’t enjoy it as much as I was hoping to. My hope is that if the author writes another book set in this world, I will enjoy it more now that all the back stories are out of the way. I would definitely read it if for no other reason than to maybe get answers to some unanswered questions remaining at the end of this book.
December 21, 2017
Reading Tap-Dancing the Minefields was an up-and-down experience.
First I panicked that I'd read it before and that I'd accidently bought a reissued book, but on double checking saw it was only published this year. Then I figured out that I must have read an early except of it on Lyn Gala's blog some time ago.
Second, I got the distinct feeling I was missing backstory, as if it were based on a TV show I'd not seen, but I found reassurance in other people's reviews here.
I carried on reading and began to really enjoy the plot as it made more sense. And what a good idea for a story.....!
Later though I found my connection with the main characters was not deepening, if anything it got weaker. I struggled to believe in the insta-love. I practically skimmed a few pages near the end.
Some of Lyn Gala's books are all-time favourites of mine, but not this one.
First I panicked that I'd read it before and that I'd accidently bought a reissued book, but on double checking saw it was only published this year. Then I figured out that I must have read an early except of it on Lyn Gala's blog some time ago.
Second, I got the distinct feeling I was missing backstory, as if it were based on a TV show I'd not seen, but I found reassurance in other people's reviews here.
I carried on reading and began to really enjoy the plot as it made more sense. And what a good idea for a story.....!
Later though I found my connection with the main characters was not deepening, if anything it got weaker. I struggled to believe in the insta-love. I practically skimmed a few pages near the end.
Some of Lyn Gala's books are all-time favourites of mine, but not this one.
dnf
November 22, 2017Now now first things I must say this book is good! Interesting characters, nice worldbuilding, engaging plot....But it didn't work for me.
I've DNFed around 50% because:
I might try this book again some day...but for now, best kept under shelf rugs.
I've DNFed around 50% because:
I might try this book again some day...but for now, best kept under shelf rugs.
June 24, 2021
I just suggested this book to someone and realized I didn't even made a review. I read it a few month ago so I will keep it short since I don't remember details.
This is my favorite book by Lyn Gala. I love the universe and the damaged characters. They're beautifully flawed.
This is my favorite book by Lyn Gala. I love the universe and the damaged characters. They're beautifully flawed.
July 28, 2018
The first half of the book 5 stars - the second half maybe 3.5 stars.
A lot of unanswered questions, more like a first book of a series.
March 20, 2019
I loved most of the characters in this book, Tank (especially wounded, strong, wonderful Tank!), Lev, John, Clyde, Major Sadler -- even General Zeller had his moments. But this was ALL over the place in so, so many ways. Are there demons? Aliens? Both? Then you throw in Tank dealing with Army life. The Army dealing with Tank. PTSD in various characters, in various forms.
And the romance. I liked them together, eventually, but how Tank and Lev came together was not only too abrupt, but BAM!, out of the blue, they're in love. There should have been more (i.e. more book(s)) leading up to this - Tank and his friends had so much powerful, painful backstory - or less story all crammed into one book. So much was so quickly told I wanted a chance to catch my breath and really see the characters and the situations. I wanted this goodness spread out into more books -- It deserved a more nuanced and even handling.
While I don't think this is up to the standard of Lyn's "Claimings" series, make no mistake there's good stuff in here. I also like this story a lot more than her more mainstream Aberrant Magic series. Hopefully this won't be the last we see of Tank and Lev and the IF team.
And the romance. I liked them together, eventually, but how Tank and Lev came together was not only too abrupt, but BAM!, out of the blue, they're in love. There should have been more (i.e. more book(s)) leading up to this - Tank and his friends had so much powerful, painful backstory - or less story all crammed into one book. So much was so quickly told I wanted a chance to catch my breath and really see the characters and the situations. I wanted this goodness spread out into more books -- It deserved a more nuanced and even handling.
While I don't think this is up to the standard of Lyn's "Claimings" series, make no mistake there's good stuff in here. I also like this story a lot more than her more mainstream Aberrant Magic series. Hopefully this won't be the last we see of Tank and Lev and the IF team.
July 26, 2023
I TRIED guys I TRIED to like this book so much. Just LOOK at those 5 star reviews!! But for some reason, the book was SO dragged out. And honestly, this book could've been summed up in 1/4 the amount of pages it was written in. Most of the action between Lev and Tank could've literally filled up maybe half a page. Seriously. ALSO, our poor Clyde was mistreated so much. Lev kinda sounds like an asshole to me. Do not reccomend to read unless you want an interesting way to waste your time. (like a lot of your time)
Tips for the Author (r u even reading this??):
honestly the pacing was SO OFF. and... when Clyde even barely mentioned the fact that Tank may not be a superhero, Lev just became so livid and asshole-y??? And then.... the PROBLEMATIC RELATIONSHIP between Lev and Tank. Like, they just became Romeo and Juliet at first glance. At second glance, they then decide to tell each other they LOVEEEE each other?? Sometimes people say it's love at first sight but this is the WORST way to try to write that trope. I hate this book sm. Sorry not sorry.
Tips for the Author (r u even reading this??):
honestly the pacing was SO OFF. and... when Clyde even barely mentioned the fact that Tank may not be a superhero, Lev just became so livid and asshole-y??? And then.... the PROBLEMATIC RELATIONSHIP between Lev and Tank. Like, they just became Romeo and Juliet at first glance. At second glance, they then decide to tell each other they LOVEEEE each other?? Sometimes people say it's love at first sight but this is the WORST way to try to write that trope. I hate this book sm. Sorry not sorry.
August 9, 2020
3.5 actually. I enjoyed myself though and the hero is sweet and remarkably likable, so bumped it up. This is an SF adventure set on earth with an m/m romance as a small subplot. I enjoyed the adventure and appreciated the world building, as well as the story construction which threw us into the world without explanations so part of the entertainment is figuring out what the heck is going on.
Although there are women characters, they don’t have much depth. The detailed focus is on the men and that’s too bad. I also wish the romance had been just a fling because neither character is mature enough for anything else, but I presume the publisher who specialize in HEAs required it. The book as a whole got too talky toward the end, which bogged it down. It would have been outstanding with a good developmental edit.
As a fan of the author’s later work, it was fun to see alien technology that resembles stuff in another, unrelated book. I liked the shower scene most of all, eww!
Although there are women characters, they don’t have much depth. The detailed focus is on the men and that’s too bad. I also wish the romance had been just a fling because neither character is mature enough for anything else, but I presume the publisher who specialize in HEAs required it. The book as a whole got too talky toward the end, which bogged it down. It would have been outstanding with a good developmental edit.
As a fan of the author’s later work, it was fun to see alien technology that resembles stuff in another, unrelated book. I liked the shower scene most of all, eww!
January 2, 2018
Eh, this is a tough one for me. I was loving the book. Absolutely excited and enjoying it. Until I reached a point about a third of the way in where I realized that it was reworked fanfiction. And I just couldn't shake those characters once I had seen it. Like one of those hidden image photos. I tried, but the voices and images of inspiration characters kept ghosting over the story. (I mostly recognized it because of the inner voice of the Colonel and his relationships with his team).
I absolutely recommend this to people who don't read fanfic. Or haven't delved into older fanfic. Gala added a lot of great new spin and world building, her mature writing touch, etc. But for me, it started with a bang and a lot of excitement but ended up with whiskey dick.
I absolutely recommend this to people who don't read fanfic. Or haven't delved into older fanfic. Gala added a lot of great new spin and world building, her mature writing touch, etc. But for me, it started with a bang and a lot of excitement but ended up with whiskey dick.
October 12, 2019
Tw for dub con (sex pollen), human experimentation
I loved this book! This reminded me of all those “thirteen year old child is a chosen one and fights evil with their friends” because this is Tank’s past. He fought demons (aliens) as a child with his friends, relying on a few adults but never stepping aside to let them fight for him. However, rather than getting the happy ending that the protagonists get in these books, he has PTSD and unreasonable assumptions of what injuries require medical attention. I loved this backstory because I always found the YA chosen one books terrifying and would screech, “WHERE ARE THE ADULTS???” This is the first book that explores the aftermath of growing up in this environment, and it was fun and exciting.
I loved this book! This reminded me of all those “thirteen year old child is a chosen one and fights evil with their friends” because this is Tank’s past. He fought demons (aliens) as a child with his friends, relying on a few adults but never stepping aside to let them fight for him. However, rather than getting the happy ending that the protagonists get in these books, he has PTSD and unreasonable assumptions of what injuries require medical attention. I loved this backstory because I always found the YA chosen one books terrifying and would screech, “WHERE ARE THE ADULTS???” This is the first book that explores the aftermath of growing up in this environment, and it was fun and exciting.
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