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Mean Streets #2
Throwaways
Sequel to Holden
Mean Book Two
From the Infected Universe
Former prostitute and street kid turned private detective Holden Krause is asked to look into the murder of Burn, a black-market dealer, who turns up dead near the infamous homeless encampment known as the Jungle. It’s a place Holden is familiar with—and his memories of it aren’t entirely bad. The settlement has been taken over by sinister people but Holden isn’t afraid to take them on. A big part of his PI gig is cover for his more dangerous vigilante exacting justice for the people the system ignores, the throwaways—people just like the ones living in the Jungle.
It’s getting harder and harder for Holden’s partner, Chai Nayar, to look the other way while Holden searches out retribution beyond the confines of the law. When one of their associates is shot and Holden realizes—far too late—that he’s in over his head with this case, Chai is left to pick up the pieces and hopefully save their lives. He resorts to the only solution he can find and calls Roan, who is more lethal than ever. Will it be their saving grace, or a fatal mistake?
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 13, 2018
4 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Speed
77 books511 followersSuper nerd. Former EIC at Cx Pulp. I've won Rainbow Awards, and still can't believe it. A small medicinal horse. The Meryl Streep of stunt corpses. Enby.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 20, 2018
3.25 stars
It took me 4 days to finish this, and based on my reading habit, it was quite a long time for less than 300 pages book. I admit that I struggled to keep my interest throughout. The thing is, with a long series that deals with the same set of characters, I always want progress. Unfortunately, I didn't get that in this spin-off series.
With the original Infected series, there were things happening with Roan. He lost a husband, he had new husband, he gained new friends, his disease progressed to something different, and that final one, where he moved to Canada. But with the past two Mean Streets books, let's face it, Holden will always be Holden. He says it himself, he doesn't want to change. Everything here is pretty much the same.
Well, status quo in long-series like this feels repetitive to me. A lot of arguments mentioned here were done before. Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt.
Sure, I was quite happy that Chai and Dee were starting to be an item. Or that Holden and Scott seemed to find a way back together. Or even Kevin and Colton probably taking steps to out themselves somehow. But that wasn't enough.
The fact that it took Roan to return to Seattle to add 'life' to this book sort of an evidence for me that MAYBE Holden by himself is not enough to carry a series of his own.
With that, I think it's time for me to take an indefinite break from this series. I may return someday, if I discover that there's significant progress. But that's not a guarantee *shrugs*
It took me 4 days to finish this, and based on my reading habit, it was quite a long time for less than 300 pages book. I admit that I struggled to keep my interest throughout. The thing is, with a long series that deals with the same set of characters, I always want progress. Unfortunately, I didn't get that in this spin-off series.
With the original Infected series, there were things happening with Roan. He lost a husband, he had new husband, he gained new friends, his disease progressed to something different, and that final one, where he moved to Canada. But with the past two Mean Streets books, let's face it, Holden will always be Holden. He says it himself, he doesn't want to change. Everything here is pretty much the same.
Well, status quo in long-series like this feels repetitive to me. A lot of arguments mentioned here were done before. Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt.
Sure, I was quite happy that Chai and Dee were starting to be an item. Or that Holden and Scott seemed to find a way back together. Or even Kevin and Colton probably taking steps to out themselves somehow. But that wasn't enough.
The fact that it took Roan to return to Seattle to add 'life' to this book sort of an evidence for me that MAYBE Holden by himself is not enough to carry a series of his own.
With that, I think it's time for me to take an indefinite break from this series. I may return someday, if I discover that there's significant progress. But that's not a guarantee *shrugs*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2019
This book gives us both Holden and Chai, still working out the balance and nuances of their private investigation partnership, and even more delightfully, Roan, who seems to be bored with his retirement - at least when he's not close to dying or in uncontrolled pain from the degeneration caused by his virus.
Holden is entertaining in his dark, snarky, bitter sense of humor, but he has a cold edge where his balance is lost in the anger of a lifetime of injustice. The level of violence he is willing to dish out is disproportionate at times to the crime committed. And as he and Scott are currently broken up, there's not a lot of softness to balance it. I like Holden, and find him fascinating to read about, but I wouldn't want to meet him in person. Chai is interesting, but not a strong presence in the story so far, and while the hockey guys are fun and add some important warmth, there isn't a big new insight there.
Roan remains the most engaging and relatable character, with Dylan as his heart and support and long-suffering keeper - a thankless task. Seeing the downward progression of Roan's health is painful, but he brightens the pages he walks through.
The author has a distinctive writing style with asides, repeats, thoughts within thoughts, and a window into an apparently authorial world view that appears across MCs. I tend to agree with many of these commentaries and digressions, but if that style was not your cup of tea before this point, this book seems even more typical. For those who have enjoyed this series, this story lets us touch base with a lot of previous characters whom I enjoyed seeing, and we get a better feel for who Holden is. Definitely not a book to start your reading with, though. This series has to be read in order, beginning with Infected: Prey.
Holden is entertaining in his dark, snarky, bitter sense of humor, but he has a cold edge where his balance is lost in the anger of a lifetime of injustice. The level of violence he is willing to dish out is disproportionate at times to the crime committed. And as he and Scott are currently broken up, there's not a lot of softness to balance it. I like Holden, and find him fascinating to read about, but I wouldn't want to meet him in person. Chai is interesting, but not a strong presence in the story so far, and while the hockey guys are fun and add some important warmth, there isn't a big new insight there.
Roan remains the most engaging and relatable character, with Dylan as his heart and support and long-suffering keeper - a thankless task. Seeing the downward progression of Roan's health is painful, but he brightens the pages he walks through.
The author has a distinctive writing style with asides, repeats, thoughts within thoughts, and a window into an apparently authorial world view that appears across MCs. I tend to agree with many of these commentaries and digressions, but if that style was not your cup of tea before this point, this book seems even more typical. For those who have enjoyed this series, this story lets us touch base with a lot of previous characters whom I enjoyed seeing, and we get a better feel for who Holden is. Definitely not a book to start your reading with, though. This series has to be read in order, beginning with Infected: Prey.
February 13, 2018
~ 4.5 Stars ~
Who’s my favorite badass vigilante? Holden Krause. Who’s back and badassier than ever? Holden friggin’ Krause, that’s who. Andrea Speed rocked my world with this book; now let me tell you why.
I’ve always called Holden disaffected, and he still is, of course, but the thing about him is that, although he doesn’t often (ever?) come right out and say it, he cares a little bit. He probably cares more than he wants to about certain things, especially Roan, but the thing he cares about without question is meting out justice on behalf of those the system discounts as immaterial and therefore unworthy of aid or protection or compassion—the homeless, the poor, the mentally ill, the throwaway humans who are most in need of help but are least likely to get it from a society rooted in hypocrisy and greed and ‘what have you done for me lately?’. Yes, there are some politicized opinions coming from Holden in Infected: Throwaways about systemic injustice, exactly as one would expect from a man who has never held most humans or the law or the people in power in the highest regard, anyway; nor holds his tongue when there’s a statement to make. It’s our current socio-political dung heap, in fact, that gives Holden so much ammunition to draw from, and he fires at will, which works so well within this story’s setting and his overall representation, and I loved it.
Another of the things that worked so, so, so well for me in Throwaways is Chai, whom I adore immensely. Chai was introduced in book one of this spinoff series, and what a painful introduction it was. He’s still working through some of the issues that had brought him to the edge of the abyss, but showing up on Holden’s doorstep when he did was a turning point rather than a dead end for Chai, thank goodness. Still unsure of his place as Holden’s investigative partner, Chai is acclimatizing to the idea that his best friend—a former street kid and prostitute—is now a PI and wants Chai—a former street kid and cam boy and prostitute—to be the brains of his operation. And, as if that weren’t enough, he’s grappling with the realization that Holden is also a vigilante—Allegedly. Probably.—who doesn’t hesitate to kill if he feels it’s justified. Justified in Holden’s mind, at least. I love this paradox and the moral conflict it causes. Holden is a man who kills bad people for good reasons, but he’s still taking the law and their fates into his own hands. It’s rather a Dexter-ish conundrum: if you’re killing bad people who do bad things, to rid the world of their badness, is it really, truly bad? And it’s this that makes Holden such a great antihero to root for. He is rage and he is vengeance for those who can’t defend themselves.
One of the things that I feel corrected its course in this installment of the Mean Streets spinoff is the narrative. Giving Chai a voice in this novel is inspired, and as a person of color, he also has some of his own statements to make. I said this in my review of book one, and it’s still true: being in Holden’s head for the entirety of a novel would be tough, if not impossible. His head is a dark and dangerous place to be, and not only that but there are lots of things in there that he wouldn’t want us to see. I didn’t feel we’d yet found that support voice in book one for the occasional buffer we readers need from Fox and his antipathy and targeted misanthropy. Chai is the perfect choice to take on the mantle of point of view character. He’s smart, sweet, conflicted, relatable, sympathetic and completely deserving of the happiness he may be on course to find with a certain someone I believe will be perfect for him, given his discomfort with his affliction. I’m excited to see where this goes in future novels.
For anyone familiar with the Infected -verse, you know Roan McKichan left a huge hole in Seattle when he departed with his husband, Dylan, to a quiet corner of Canada, a peaceful spot where Roan will live his last days as the virus that makes him as much lion as man (maybe even more lion than man at this point) slowly kills him. It hasn’t taken him yet, though, in spite of another scare, and he’s back and as amazing as ever in Throwaways. If there’s ever been a fictional character I can honestly say I love, a character I’ve grieved with and for, it’s Roan. At one time the streets of Seattle were his jungle, and he was, once and truly, their king. His love for his first husband, Paris, is only paralleled by the love he now shares with Dylan. His, and our, grief for Paris’s loss is a deep and lasting one. Roan draws people to him like gravity holds planets in orbit around the sun, and he inspires the sort of love and loyalty that comes from a magnetism that is all Roan. Speed has established canon in this -verse, and I don’t want her to break it if it means pulling a god-in-the-machine miracle, but the thought of Roan not being around anymore is positively gut-wrenching. I hope we get to see him more as this iteration of the Infected -verse continues.
Of course, an Infected book wouldn’t be an Infected book without my two favorite hockey boys, Scott and Grey, and while they don’t get to play sidekick here as they have in the past, I will never, ever not love seeing them pop up in a story. Grey has a pretty big moment at the end of this installment, one I hope is serving to pave the way for Scott to maybe have his own big moment, and if he and Holden can find their way back to each other on a steadier basis, that’d be just fine by me. I think we might be seeing some hints of things in Holden we’ve never seen before—like maybe he wouldn’t hate being with Scott? Which I’m all for, 100%.
In case it isn’t obvious, after that lengthy character lovefest, there is an actual storyline for the characters to do things in too, just the sort of mystery that Holden is made for. When a murder investigation near a homeless encampment—called the Jungle, which is an awful yet synchronous perfection—turns dangerous for Holden and Chai, exposing corruption and brutality, Andrea Speed shows off her skill at writing some great action scenes and pulling readers along on a suspenseful ride. This is one of the things I’ve always loved about this series, apart from Roan and Holden and company—the mystery/suspense that’s integral to it. And, while the urban fantasy elements have been tamed a bit in Mean Streets, they’re still hinted at enough for readers to get that this isn’t the Seattle we know.
The Infected books, both Roan’s series and now Holden’s, are ones I never hesitate to recommend when someone’s looking for some great urban fantasy. Speed’s sense of humor and her pop culture references add yet another layer to her characterizations and world building, which I’ve appreciated all along, and the offbeat charm of her characters add to it to offset the gritty underbelly of murder and mystery the series is known for, and, in the case of this book, the ugly social and political truths suffered by the least of these in our society who are supposed to be the object of our aid and compassion.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach
Who’s my favorite badass vigilante? Holden Krause. Who’s back and badassier than ever? Holden friggin’ Krause, that’s who. Andrea Speed rocked my world with this book; now let me tell you why.
I’ve always called Holden disaffected, and he still is, of course, but the thing about him is that, although he doesn’t often (ever?) come right out and say it, he cares a little bit. He probably cares more than he wants to about certain things, especially Roan, but the thing he cares about without question is meting out justice on behalf of those the system discounts as immaterial and therefore unworthy of aid or protection or compassion—the homeless, the poor, the mentally ill, the throwaway humans who are most in need of help but are least likely to get it from a society rooted in hypocrisy and greed and ‘what have you done for me lately?’. Yes, there are some politicized opinions coming from Holden in Infected: Throwaways about systemic injustice, exactly as one would expect from a man who has never held most humans or the law or the people in power in the highest regard, anyway; nor holds his tongue when there’s a statement to make. It’s our current socio-political dung heap, in fact, that gives Holden so much ammunition to draw from, and he fires at will, which works so well within this story’s setting and his overall representation, and I loved it.
Another of the things that worked so, so, so well for me in Throwaways is Chai, whom I adore immensely. Chai was introduced in book one of this spinoff series, and what a painful introduction it was. He’s still working through some of the issues that had brought him to the edge of the abyss, but showing up on Holden’s doorstep when he did was a turning point rather than a dead end for Chai, thank goodness. Still unsure of his place as Holden’s investigative partner, Chai is acclimatizing to the idea that his best friend—a former street kid and prostitute—is now a PI and wants Chai—a former street kid and cam boy and prostitute—to be the brains of his operation. And, as if that weren’t enough, he’s grappling with the realization that Holden is also a vigilante—Allegedly. Probably.—who doesn’t hesitate to kill if he feels it’s justified. Justified in Holden’s mind, at least. I love this paradox and the moral conflict it causes. Holden is a man who kills bad people for good reasons, but he’s still taking the law and their fates into his own hands. It’s rather a Dexter-ish conundrum: if you’re killing bad people who do bad things, to rid the world of their badness, is it really, truly bad? And it’s this that makes Holden such a great antihero to root for. He is rage and he is vengeance for those who can’t defend themselves.
One of the things that I feel corrected its course in this installment of the Mean Streets spinoff is the narrative. Giving Chai a voice in this novel is inspired, and as a person of color, he also has some of his own statements to make. I said this in my review of book one, and it’s still true: being in Holden’s head for the entirety of a novel would be tough, if not impossible. His head is a dark and dangerous place to be, and not only that but there are lots of things in there that he wouldn’t want us to see. I didn’t feel we’d yet found that support voice in book one for the occasional buffer we readers need from Fox and his antipathy and targeted misanthropy. Chai is the perfect choice to take on the mantle of point of view character. He’s smart, sweet, conflicted, relatable, sympathetic and completely deserving of the happiness he may be on course to find with a certain someone I believe will be perfect for him, given his discomfort with his affliction. I’m excited to see where this goes in future novels.
For anyone familiar with the Infected -verse, you know Roan McKichan left a huge hole in Seattle when he departed with his husband, Dylan, to a quiet corner of Canada, a peaceful spot where Roan will live his last days as the virus that makes him as much lion as man (maybe even more lion than man at this point) slowly kills him. It hasn’t taken him yet, though, in spite of another scare, and he’s back and as amazing as ever in Throwaways. If there’s ever been a fictional character I can honestly say I love, a character I’ve grieved with and for, it’s Roan. At one time the streets of Seattle were his jungle, and he was, once and truly, their king. His love for his first husband, Paris, is only paralleled by the love he now shares with Dylan. His, and our, grief for Paris’s loss is a deep and lasting one. Roan draws people to him like gravity holds planets in orbit around the sun, and he inspires the sort of love and loyalty that comes from a magnetism that is all Roan. Speed has established canon in this -verse, and I don’t want her to break it if it means pulling a god-in-the-machine miracle, but the thought of Roan not being around anymore is positively gut-wrenching. I hope we get to see him more as this iteration of the Infected -verse continues.
Of course, an Infected book wouldn’t be an Infected book without my two favorite hockey boys, Scott and Grey, and while they don’t get to play sidekick here as they have in the past, I will never, ever not love seeing them pop up in a story. Grey has a pretty big moment at the end of this installment, one I hope is serving to pave the way for Scott to maybe have his own big moment, and if he and Holden can find their way back to each other on a steadier basis, that’d be just fine by me. I think we might be seeing some hints of things in Holden we’ve never seen before—like maybe he wouldn’t hate being with Scott? Which I’m all for, 100%.
In case it isn’t obvious, after that lengthy character lovefest, there is an actual storyline for the characters to do things in too, just the sort of mystery that Holden is made for. When a murder investigation near a homeless encampment—called the Jungle, which is an awful yet synchronous perfection—turns dangerous for Holden and Chai, exposing corruption and brutality, Andrea Speed shows off her skill at writing some great action scenes and pulling readers along on a suspenseful ride. This is one of the things I’ve always loved about this series, apart from Roan and Holden and company—the mystery/suspense that’s integral to it. And, while the urban fantasy elements have been tamed a bit in Mean Streets, they’re still hinted at enough for readers to get that this isn’t the Seattle we know.
The Infected books, both Roan’s series and now Holden’s, are ones I never hesitate to recommend when someone’s looking for some great urban fantasy. Speed’s sense of humor and her pop culture references add yet another layer to her characterizations and world building, which I’ve appreciated all along, and the offbeat charm of her characters add to it to offset the gritty underbelly of murder and mystery the series is known for, and, in the case of this book, the ugly social and political truths suffered by the least of these in our society who are supposed to be the object of our aid and compassion.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach
February 11, 2018
Hhmm..... I need to think on this one a bit.
October 18, 2018
As much as I'm still enjoying these stories and living in this world, I definitely miss Roan. Which did make this story more fun than the first. I loved seeing Roan and Dylan coming back into town to help out. But it just killed me to see what's going on with the progression of the virus in Roan. I have no idea how Ms. Speed is going to resolve this, especially since we all know she's not afraid to kill off characters. So nervous!
At the same time as much as I like Holden I still don't love him. His vigilante side needs tempering. I want to see him start to heal and find peace in himself. He has so much anger and pain inside that he doesn't even acknowledge to himself. I really hope he can let himself start to really connect with Scott and allow that relationship to help him heal.
The mysteries in this one were scary in how dangerous they were to our favorite people. Nothing crazy complicated but dangerous all the same. I enjoyed the Dee and Chai side storyline as well. Chai's reactions to Roan were a lot of fun. It's been awhile since we've had a main character being new to the crazy that is Roan.
All in all I enjoyed this book, but I'm really looking forward to character development in Holden. He's in a scary place. He needs to find a healthier mental place to be.
At the same time as much as I like Holden I still don't love him. His vigilante side needs tempering. I want to see him start to heal and find peace in himself. He has so much anger and pain inside that he doesn't even acknowledge to himself. I really hope he can let himself start to really connect with Scott and allow that relationship to help him heal.
The mysteries in this one were scary in how dangerous they were to our favorite people. Nothing crazy complicated but dangerous all the same. I enjoyed the Dee and Chai side storyline as well. Chai's reactions to Roan were a lot of fun. It's been awhile since we've had a main character being new to the crazy that is Roan.
All in all I enjoyed this book, but I'm really looking forward to character development in Holden. He's in a scary place. He needs to find a healthier mental place to be.
February 13, 2018
Reviewed for Just Love
4 stars
Roan is back! Roan is back!
I’m not gonna lie – a big part of my excitement for this book was to be reunited with my book boyfriend again. After all, the reason this series exists is because of Roan and while I thought Holden handled himself admirably in the first Mean Streets book, it was still nice to have Roan back, even if it was just for a little while.
I was also looking forward to seeing how Holden was handling his PI gig and his part-time job as urban vigilante. Never one to flinch from the dark side, Holden tends to be less afraid for his own safety than the safety of the vulnerable folk who make up the sex workers, homeless and the otherwise disenfranchised in his neighbourhood. Nevertheless, he still has doubts about his role as an anti-hero
It was kind of ridiculous anyway, wasn’t it? What the fuck did he think he was, the gay Avenger?
I don’t know if we’ll ever understand Holden entirely, but I loved getting glimpses of the circumstances that brought him to where he is today. It will be interesting to see if he ever fully reconciles himself to being the ‘gay Avenger’ and how much influence his friends will have on that decision.
I feel like Holden was a lot more introspective here, not that he’d ever admit to deep thoughts on any subject. But Roan’s continued absence and his almost inevitable break-up with Scott has had an impact on him. He feels a little more vulnerable, both physically and emotionally. Thank goodness, then, he’s got a new partner in Chai.
Getting to know Chai better was a delight. While I think they rely on each other (again, not that Holden would admit to that), Chai brings out Holden’s protective instincts and maybe serves as his conscience – or at least that’s how I perceive it. Plus, I absolutely love Chai and Dee together (what a delightful surprise that was!) and I’m rooting for them and for their HEA.
And then there’s Roan.
He always knows how to make an impression and even though his ferocious reputation proceeds him, the term ‘larger than life’ might be an apt descriptor.
Oh. So this was Roan. Funny, Chai thought he’d be taller.
I don’t think there’s ever been another shifter who has been allowed to appear so strong yet so weak at the same time. Roan is dying. We all know that. And yet he would stop at nothing to protect the people he loves, and when both Kevin and Holden find themselves at the wrong end of a fight, it’s inevitable that Roan would risk everything – even his own life – to seek vengeance.
One thing I have always loved about this series, and about Andrea Speed’s writing in particular, is all the amazing side characters who weave in an out of Roan’s and now Holden’s life. From Dylan and Dee, to Scott and Chai and everyone in between, they bring their own brand of comfort to two men who are unafraid to meet death so long as they can do it on their own terms. I’m not sure this series would have been the same without all those people who make Roan and Holden more humane.
I really enjoyed this book and I definitely like where things are going from here. It’s a little dark and reflective of today’s current political climate but it has enough small moments of levity to stop it from feeling preachy or depressing. Plus, it’s just nice to think there’s at least one person looking out for those who need it most. Holden is definitely the anti-hero we need today.
I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
4 stars
Roan is back! Roan is back!
I’m not gonna lie – a big part of my excitement for this book was to be reunited with my book boyfriend again. After all, the reason this series exists is because of Roan and while I thought Holden handled himself admirably in the first Mean Streets book, it was still nice to have Roan back, even if it was just for a little while.
I was also looking forward to seeing how Holden was handling his PI gig and his part-time job as urban vigilante. Never one to flinch from the dark side, Holden tends to be less afraid for his own safety than the safety of the vulnerable folk who make up the sex workers, homeless and the otherwise disenfranchised in his neighbourhood. Nevertheless, he still has doubts about his role as an anti-hero
It was kind of ridiculous anyway, wasn’t it? What the fuck did he think he was, the gay Avenger?
I don’t know if we’ll ever understand Holden entirely, but I loved getting glimpses of the circumstances that brought him to where he is today. It will be interesting to see if he ever fully reconciles himself to being the ‘gay Avenger’ and how much influence his friends will have on that decision.
I feel like Holden was a lot more introspective here, not that he’d ever admit to deep thoughts on any subject. But Roan’s continued absence and his almost inevitable break-up with Scott has had an impact on him. He feels a little more vulnerable, both physically and emotionally. Thank goodness, then, he’s got a new partner in Chai.
Getting to know Chai better was a delight. While I think they rely on each other (again, not that Holden would admit to that), Chai brings out Holden’s protective instincts and maybe serves as his conscience – or at least that’s how I perceive it. Plus, I absolutely love Chai and Dee together (what a delightful surprise that was!) and I’m rooting for them and for their HEA.
And then there’s Roan.
He always knows how to make an impression and even though his ferocious reputation proceeds him, the term ‘larger than life’ might be an apt descriptor.
Oh. So this was Roan. Funny, Chai thought he’d be taller.
I don’t think there’s ever been another shifter who has been allowed to appear so strong yet so weak at the same time. Roan is dying. We all know that. And yet he would stop at nothing to protect the people he loves, and when both Kevin and Holden find themselves at the wrong end of a fight, it’s inevitable that Roan would risk everything – even his own life – to seek vengeance.
One thing I have always loved about this series, and about Andrea Speed’s writing in particular, is all the amazing side characters who weave in an out of Roan’s and now Holden’s life. From Dylan and Dee, to Scott and Chai and everyone in between, they bring their own brand of comfort to two men who are unafraid to meet death so long as they can do it on their own terms. I’m not sure this series would have been the same without all those people who make Roan and Holden more humane.
I really enjoyed this book and I definitely like where things are going from here. It’s a little dark and reflective of today’s current political climate but it has enough small moments of levity to stop it from feeling preachy or depressing. Plus, it’s just nice to think there’s at least one person looking out for those who need it most. Holden is definitely the anti-hero we need today.
I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Read
February 18, 2021I first read Throwaways last year (2020) and just like last time, I'm finding it hard to know which star rating to use. I liked it, so 3? 3.5 perhaps?
Holden's a difficult character for me. I admire the way he defends and stands up for his people, but often think he goes too far, too easily? I can't make up my mind if I like him or not. I didn't read the first book in the Mean Streets series, so there were small bits of blank spots for me in reading Throwaways. Maybe once I eventually buy and read Holden's book and then reread this one, I'll be able to figure out the star rating for it.
Holden's a difficult character for me. I admire the way he defends and stands up for his people, but often think he goes too far, too easily? I can't make up my mind if I like him or not. I didn't read the first book in the Mean Streets series, so there were small bits of blank spots for me in reading Throwaways. Maybe once I eventually buy and read Holden's book and then reread this one, I'll be able to figure out the star rating for it.
Read
May 28, 2018I'm not going to rate this one.
Admittedly, I read it for the Roan parts.
There weren't enough of them.
And I don't know if I was so distracted with the power of Roan, Paris and Dylan in the main series that I had a blind eye to the political filler but man, I can't take political climate opinions in my book time...I read to escape.
I'll have to rely on friends to give me the Ro updates from now on.
I'm jumping off here.
Farewell Infected world.
Admittedly, I read it for the Roan parts.
There weren't enough of them.
And I don't know if I was so distracted with the power of Roan, Paris and Dylan in the main series that I had a blind eye to the political filler but man, I can't take political climate opinions in my book time...I read to escape.
I'll have to rely on friends to give me the Ro updates from now on.
I'm jumping off here.
Farewell Infected world.
April 14, 2018
I am a huge huge huge fan of Andrea Speed and of Roan and of Holden! I was sad to give this a 3 star rating but the story was very jumpy and the author continued to put her political views inside the story. She also threw in white privileged opinions numerous times and i'm so tired of hearing about that. I read to escape, not to hear more political opinions and race bait.
February 15, 2018
Reviewed for Rainbow Gold Reviews. A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
It’s been over a year since I’ve entered the Infected world so to say I was eager is an understatement. In my review for Infected: Holden, I mentioned that the Mean Streets series is a lot different from the original Infected series. Now I have to say that Infected: Throwaways is a lot different from Infected: Holden. There are a couple of reasons for that.
First, is the political thing that Marc mentioned. A lot has happened in the last year and a half since Holden was released. We have a president that has managed to offend nearly everyone except white, straight, cisgendered, rich men. And he’s probably offended some of them. It’s a different world and this book reflects that in a big way. I might even say that the Throwaways in the title could refer to all of us who feel at odds with the presidency and not just the street dwellers in the book. The anger that the characters feel in this book at society, the police, and the government is really intense though and at times can be really bitter. I can totally relate but at the same time I miss their less diatribal snarkiness.
Another reason this book feels different is that for about a third of the book, Holden is injured and Chai’s character steps up a lot and his point of view is new and different from the past books. In my last review I wondered if Chai could be a love interest for Holden but this book really seems to cement their very platonic friendship. Holden really doesn’t seem to be looking for a partner but Chai does. His eyes wander to Grey and I can’t blame him because Grey is one of my favorite characters in this series. He is hulking but has a heart of gold. And yes he is asexual. In the above interview I can totally understand that asexuals deserve validation. Making him asexual is a great addition to the story but again I felt like it was mentioned so much that it overshadows just how great Grey is just for being Grey.
Roan comes back in this story!! It’s not just a phone call. We get to see the man-the lion in action. I missed him so much. But even he seems different. There is a small part from his point of view. He is one of the few characters whose anger might have lessened in this book. He’s either mellowed out during his break from crime fighting or hes even more jaded and accepts the harsher world for what it is and it doesn’t phase him as much. For so long, Grey, Scott, and Holden have built up Roan when talking about him. He is a superhero, and he seems godly in their eyes. I was even feeling that way, too, while reading what they thought. When he did show up and met with Chai I felt like I got a totally new perspective. Chai sees more than just the god. He sees the man in pain. I feel like he sees him the same way Roan’s past/current love interests (Dee and Dylan to be more specific) did. A powerful force who had his share of faults too.
Speaking of Dee, he has a bigger part in this book. So yay!! He might even be finding his love interest so that made me happy. Scott and Grey are present but I wished for more of them. It seems like Scott and Holden’s on again/off again isn’t over yet. There are definite feelings there. A lot of reflection on Scott’s part. Knowing that his love wouldn’t stop Holden from being a vigilante and whether or not he could live with that. I know for me, I want to see Holden tempered. I don’t know if that is asking something impossible and if like Scott I need to either accept it or give up but I still can’t help hoping that the right person or situation will come along and make him want to live for a better future and not for a present of making people pay. There is so much I love about Holden and I honestly feel pain that he isn’t in a good place. Or at least what I consider a good place, so take that for what you will.
So lets get down to the plot of the book now that I’ve rambled on about the characters. There are some really good mysteries here. A missing acquaintance of Holden’s and a string of strange new crimes in the Jungle, the unsavory homeless/drug dealing section of the city. One was solved the way I wanted, with the law handling the guilty. The other problem was solved, and the guilty won’t be doing what they did again. I kind of hoped the law would handle the problem but that would be in a perfect world. And it’s not a perfect world. It’s obvious from this book. I feel differently about this series than I did the first Infected series. It’s darkness does make me pause, and it makes me think a lot more about the characters and the reason for their actions. (As if that’s not obvious from my long review.) I also know that I can’t wait to see what happens next for Holden and Scott, for Chai, for Dee, or for Dylan and Roan even if they don’t make another physical appearance in the book. The author does have me wrapped up in these characters and I would recommend reading this book and the whole series.
8.5/10 Pots of Gold (85% Recommended) – Compares to 4.25/5 Stars.
It’s been over a year since I’ve entered the Infected world so to say I was eager is an understatement. In my review for Infected: Holden, I mentioned that the Mean Streets series is a lot different from the original Infected series. Now I have to say that Infected: Throwaways is a lot different from Infected: Holden. There are a couple of reasons for that.
First, is the political thing that Marc mentioned. A lot has happened in the last year and a half since Holden was released. We have a president that has managed to offend nearly everyone except white, straight, cisgendered, rich men. And he’s probably offended some of them. It’s a different world and this book reflects that in a big way. I might even say that the Throwaways in the title could refer to all of us who feel at odds with the presidency and not just the street dwellers in the book. The anger that the characters feel in this book at society, the police, and the government is really intense though and at times can be really bitter. I can totally relate but at the same time I miss their less diatribal snarkiness.
Another reason this book feels different is that for about a third of the book, Holden is injured and Chai’s character steps up a lot and his point of view is new and different from the past books. In my last review I wondered if Chai could be a love interest for Holden but this book really seems to cement their very platonic friendship. Holden really doesn’t seem to be looking for a partner but Chai does. His eyes wander to Grey and I can’t blame him because Grey is one of my favorite characters in this series. He is hulking but has a heart of gold. And yes he is asexual. In the above interview I can totally understand that asexuals deserve validation. Making him asexual is a great addition to the story but again I felt like it was mentioned so much that it overshadows just how great Grey is just for being Grey.
Roan comes back in this story!! It’s not just a phone call. We get to see the man-the lion in action. I missed him so much. But even he seems different. There is a small part from his point of view. He is one of the few characters whose anger might have lessened in this book. He’s either mellowed out during his break from crime fighting or hes even more jaded and accepts the harsher world for what it is and it doesn’t phase him as much. For so long, Grey, Scott, and Holden have built up Roan when talking about him. He is a superhero, and he seems godly in their eyes. I was even feeling that way, too, while reading what they thought. When he did show up and met with Chai I felt like I got a totally new perspective. Chai sees more than just the god. He sees the man in pain. I feel like he sees him the same way Roan’s past/current love interests (Dee and Dylan to be more specific) did. A powerful force who had his share of faults too.
Speaking of Dee, he has a bigger part in this book. So yay!! He might even be finding his love interest so that made me happy. Scott and Grey are present but I wished for more of them. It seems like Scott and Holden’s on again/off again isn’t over yet. There are definite feelings there. A lot of reflection on Scott’s part. Knowing that his love wouldn’t stop Holden from being a vigilante and whether or not he could live with that. I know for me, I want to see Holden tempered. I don’t know if that is asking something impossible and if like Scott I need to either accept it or give up but I still can’t help hoping that the right person or situation will come along and make him want to live for a better future and not for a present of making people pay. There is so much I love about Holden and I honestly feel pain that he isn’t in a good place. Or at least what I consider a good place, so take that for what you will.
So lets get down to the plot of the book now that I’ve rambled on about the characters. There are some really good mysteries here. A missing acquaintance of Holden’s and a string of strange new crimes in the Jungle, the unsavory homeless/drug dealing section of the city. One was solved the way I wanted, with the law handling the guilty. The other problem was solved, and the guilty won’t be doing what they did again. I kind of hoped the law would handle the problem but that would be in a perfect world. And it’s not a perfect world. It’s obvious from this book. I feel differently about this series than I did the first Infected series. It’s darkness does make me pause, and it makes me think a lot more about the characters and the reason for their actions. (As if that’s not obvious from my long review.) I also know that I can’t wait to see what happens next for Holden and Scott, for Chai, for Dee, or for Dylan and Roan even if they don’t make another physical appearance in the book. The author does have me wrapped up in these characters and I would recommend reading this book and the whole series.
8.5/10 Pots of Gold (85% Recommended) – Compares to 4.25/5 Stars.
April 22, 2018
Ah ROAN, So glad to see you again. Kills me to see his health issues have escalated. I was hoping his move to a quieter life would have improved his health.
But this is Holden's book, and Roan doesn't completely take over the story.
While the other infected cat shifters, once again, didn't play a very big part, I was glad to see they haven't been forgotten. It would be odd if there hadn't been any shifted cats mentioned besides Roan.
I liked Chai having a voice in this book. It solidifies his role in the series. He's a another great character. It was nice to see him meet up with Dee.
Scott and Grey....always love seeing them. They didn't go the sidekick route here, but it wouldn't be the same without them. I loved seeing Scott with Holden. They still might not be ready to continue on their relationship, but you can still feel how much they care.
I loved the ending with Grey.
The cases are always interesting, but it's the characters that keep bringing me back.
But this is Holden's book, and Roan doesn't completely take over the story.
While the other infected cat shifters, once again, didn't play a very big part, I was glad to see they haven't been forgotten. It would be odd if there hadn't been any shifted cats mentioned besides Roan.
I liked Chai having a voice in this book. It solidifies his role in the series. He's a another great character. It was nice to see him meet up with Dee.
Scott and Grey....always love seeing them. They didn't go the sidekick route here, but it wouldn't be the same without them. I loved seeing Scott with Holden. They still might not be ready to continue on their relationship, but you can still feel how much they care.
I loved the ending with Grey.
The cases are always interesting, but it's the characters that keep bringing me back.
January 29, 2024
Still enjoying this series. Andrea Speed does a wonderful job of building realistic and interesting personalities into her characters. They feel so real, like I have met them. I also appreciate how well the atmosphere of Seattle's different neighborhoods is built into the story. That is the Seattle I know and have a love/hate relationship with.
Knowing that the author is currently working on another book is a bit of a relief, because I only had two more books to go before I finished the series. I don't want to say goodbye to the crew just yet.
Knowing that the author is currently working on another book is a bit of a relief, because I only had two more books to go before I finished the series. I don't want to say goodbye to the crew just yet.
May 16, 2020
Grey is my hero! *grin*
And, of course, it was great to see the rest of the gang... Roan and Dylan stopped by to give us a quick fix, and when will Scott and Holden pull their heads out of their asses and see what is right in front of their faces... oh, yeah... the whole closet/no commitment issues... grrr ;p
I always find these books frustrating, but just can't quit them... *headdesk* LOL!!!
And, of course, it was great to see the rest of the gang... Roan and Dylan stopped by to give us a quick fix, and when will Scott and Holden pull their heads out of their asses and see what is right in front of their faces... oh, yeah... the whole closet/no commitment issues... grrr ;p
I always find these books frustrating, but just can't quit them... *headdesk* LOL!!!
February 17, 2018
What I loved:
- reunion with my beloved familiar characters
- Holden being badass as usual
- Chai the pacifist to balance Holden
- Hel the unpretentious genderqueer
- Roan's appearance
- Chai and Dee
- Holden (maybe) getting back together with Scott
- reunion with my beloved familiar characters
- Holden being badass as usual
- Chai the pacifist to balance Holden
- Hel the unpretentious genderqueer
- Roan's appearance
- Chai and Dee
- Holden (maybe) getting back together with Scott
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2021
Holden remains my favorite character. Like many other characters, I understand his vigilantism even though I don’t agree with it. It was good to have Roan make a Special Guest Appearance. I really want Chai & Dee to become a couple and I wish Scott and Holden could make it work.
January 28, 2025
3.5 Stars ~ I’ve missed Holden with his snarkiness, his way of breaking everything down to in-your-face reality, his questionable morals, his ambiguous values, and his vigilante justice. His general “I don’t give a flying f*ck” attitude is always equally refreshing. ‘Infected: Throwaways’ is the second book in the author’s spin-off series, ‘Mean Streets’. I don’t believe I’ll ever get over not seeing Roan all the time and the constant reminders that he’s basically dying still hurt like hell. Regardless, I did want to see how much more trouble Holden could get up to.
Namely, all the rest of the guys had settled down, and Chai was ready to throw himself in that pile as well. But Holden hadn’t changed. He had, in fact, turned himself up to eleven. He was still the slick hustler, the guy who wasn’t exactly pretty and yet had the burnished aura and confidence of the prettiest man in the world, with an edge that glittered beneath the surface. But now that edge was more visible and deadlier than ever.
I like the way the author writes this series where I get to see more than one perspective. I hear from Holden, Chai, and Scott, which gives me so much more clarity. I was also happy to see the multiple cases Holden was juggling. He has a missing persons which happened to be the husband of a woman who used to hire Holden to do a threesome for a night with them. Then there is Burn, a drug dealer/anything-criminal guy who was murdered in the Jungle (an area of the city packed with homeless), and Holden agrees to ask around for Kevin, the cop who is sure Holden is a vigilante but can’t prove it. The situation changes and gets far more deadly when Kevin is shot right outside the Jungle and Holden is attacked by six men hired to take him out. So Chai makes a decision to call Roan and let him know about Kevin and Holden.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews
Namely, all the rest of the guys had settled down, and Chai was ready to throw himself in that pile as well. But Holden hadn’t changed. He had, in fact, turned himself up to eleven. He was still the slick hustler, the guy who wasn’t exactly pretty and yet had the burnished aura and confidence of the prettiest man in the world, with an edge that glittered beneath the surface. But now that edge was more visible and deadlier than ever.
I like the way the author writes this series where I get to see more than one perspective. I hear from Holden, Chai, and Scott, which gives me so much more clarity. I was also happy to see the multiple cases Holden was juggling. He has a missing persons which happened to be the husband of a woman who used to hire Holden to do a threesome for a night with them. Then there is Burn, a drug dealer/anything-criminal guy who was murdered in the Jungle (an area of the city packed with homeless), and Holden agrees to ask around for Kevin, the cop who is sure Holden is a vigilante but can’t prove it. The situation changes and gets far more deadly when Kevin is shot right outside the Jungle and Holden is attacked by six men hired to take him out. So Chai makes a decision to call Roan and let him know about Kevin and Holden.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews
February 28, 2018
This is Holden's series. We see Roan and most of the Gang, but this is about Holden and his street justice. If you didn't find Holden at least interesting previously, then this will not be your book. His character stays true. If you want more of the infected / shifters, there is very little of that. The detective jobs are interesting.
September 11, 2022
This book is much better than the previous volume. It has an exciting plot and is engaging on many levels. I found it quite enjoyable even though the annoying problems of this author's writing style have remained the same.
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