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Space Mac
Cocky escort Mackenzie “Mac” Jones has just the right type of blood so that when he steals an odd silver brooch from a client, it transports him to a strange planet. Frightened and confused—and confronted by aliens—he flees and ends up bumping into a handsome humanoid male named Teevar.
But Teevar and his companions are also on the run, and Mac finds himself embroiled in the affairs of his new friends with no idea how to get back to Earth. Can Mac and Teevar survive long enough to work out their feelings for each other? And will Mac ever see home again?
But Teevar and his companions are also on the run, and Mac finds himself embroiled in the affairs of his new friends with no idea how to get back to Earth. Can Mac and Teevar survive long enough to work out their feelings for each other? And will Mac ever see home again?
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Published December 18, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 23, 2017
I'm a fan of space adventure books, and Space Mac had some good ideas, but I think there was just something missing for me.
I'm classifying this as a romance but it isn't a romance-y romance. It's more of a sci-fi book with romance as a side element. In fact, I think it would work just as well without the romance part.
I really was interested in the universe that Emma Jane created, but I think she could have fleshed out the elements a bit more. There were some cool lifeforms and creatures and politics that could have used about 100 more pages to explore.
All in all, this is a light and fun sci-fi story without a heavy emphasis on the romance side. If you want something a little different and an easy read, I'd recommend this one.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
I'm classifying this as a romance but it isn't a romance-y romance. It's more of a sci-fi book with romance as a side element. In fact, I think it would work just as well without the romance part.
I really was interested in the universe that Emma Jane created, but I think she could have fleshed out the elements a bit more. There were some cool lifeforms and creatures and politics that could have used about 100 more pages to explore.
All in all, this is a light and fun sci-fi story without a heavy emphasis on the romance side. If you want something a little different and an easy read, I'd recommend this one.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
January 15, 2018
I received a galley from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I decided not to finish Space Mac not because of bad writing (I’d say it’s simply mediocre) but because the gay rep - the reason I wanted to pick it up in the first place - was questionable at best.
So basically the story is as follows: our protagonist is a sex worker & thanks to some mysterious pin he finds at a client’s place, he gets send to space. Now, that sounds great, right? I thought so too. But then we properly meet Mac and it turns out all he thinks about is either how hot he is or that he wants to have sex. Now, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with having a healthy sex drive but when I’m made to read about that on literally every second page? Something just isn’t right. Smells a lot like reducing gay men to just sex (or, in even simpler terms, fetishization)...
You may think I’m just a prude lesbian so let’s take a look at some quotes, shall we. Those are literally from the first half of the same chapter, barely a few pages apart. And for context, please remember that Mac is in SPACE surrounded by ALIENS with only a very vague plan on how he can possibly come back to Earth.
Maybe there are fans of writing like this out there but it’s just really not for me, thanks.
I decided not to finish Space Mac not because of bad writing (I’d say it’s simply mediocre) but because the gay rep - the reason I wanted to pick it up in the first place - was questionable at best.
So basically the story is as follows: our protagonist is a sex worker & thanks to some mysterious pin he finds at a client’s place, he gets send to space. Now, that sounds great, right? I thought so too. But then we properly meet Mac and it turns out all he thinks about is either how hot he is or that he wants to have sex. Now, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with having a healthy sex drive but when I’m made to read about that on literally every second page? Something just isn’t right. Smells a lot like reducing gay men to just sex (or, in even simpler terms, fetishization)...
You may think I’m just a prude lesbian so let’s take a look at some quotes, shall we. Those are literally from the first half of the same chapter, barely a few pages apart. And for context, please remember that Mac is in SPACE surrounded by ALIENS with only a very vague plan on how he can possibly come back to Earth.
“I’m not religious. I fuck everything with a pulse—and I get paid for it—I drink; I used to smoke. I don’t pray, and I curse like a sailor. But all this—” He waved a hand at the stars. “—makes me think there might be something else out there after all. A god, I mean, looking down on Earth. I think I’ll pretty much believe anything now.”
He busied himself with trying on his clothes and then styling his hair and preening himself. When he grew bored with that, he picked up his gun and admired it. It was made of a sleek, black metal, and Mac realised it looked more like a sex toy than a gun. Will I ever have sex again? He’d have to find himself a sexy alien, and it’d have to be kovan if he wanted it to look human. He didn’t fancy Lenara or Ral’s species much. He thought about Teevar.
Maybe there are fans of writing like this out there but it’s just really not for me, thanks.
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December 4, 2017This is the sort of tongue-and-cheek story I've come to expect from Emma Jane. It's fun and doesn't take itself completely serious. To a degree, there are times when we don't necessarily like the narrator, but he's human -- which fits well, considering he's a human among aliens. It's quirky and British and just generally fun.
January 3, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
1.5 stars
Mac and his adventures are not like those classic sci-fi books, the ones where heroes used brains instead of brawn, tricks instead of tactics, and managed to charm their way out of just about every situation. While this book has a similar feel to the serial adventures, with our wayward crew on the run from the law, hopping from planet to planet one step ahead of bounty-hunters and each chapter being a mini-adventure on it’s own… it feels like no one cares about much of anything in this book. Lenara, Teevar (the Kovan priest), and Mac know they have a bounty on their heads, but it doesn’t stop them from wandering willy-nilly into markets and bars. No masks, no disguises, no thought in their heads to take precautions against getting caught.
Mac is the most obvious problem with this He is not a hero, or an antihero. He’s a snarky, smarmy little weasel who manages to find trouble wherever he is. He’s whisked away to an alien planet! He’s meeting aliens, going on an alien ship, being shot at by alien bounty hunters! He’s visiting new worlds no human has ever been to, let alone imagine existed! He’s falling in love with an alien! Yet he seems not to have any reaction to that at all.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
1.5 stars
Mac and his adventures are not like those classic sci-fi books, the ones where heroes used brains instead of brawn, tricks instead of tactics, and managed to charm their way out of just about every situation. While this book has a similar feel to the serial adventures, with our wayward crew on the run from the law, hopping from planet to planet one step ahead of bounty-hunters and each chapter being a mini-adventure on it’s own… it feels like no one cares about much of anything in this book. Lenara, Teevar (the Kovan priest), and Mac know they have a bounty on their heads, but it doesn’t stop them from wandering willy-nilly into markets and bars. No masks, no disguises, no thought in their heads to take precautions against getting caught.
Mac is the most obvious problem with this He is not a hero, or an antihero. He’s a snarky, smarmy little weasel who manages to find trouble wherever he is. He’s whisked away to an alien planet! He’s meeting aliens, going on an alien ship, being shot at by alien bounty hunters! He’s visiting new worlds no human has ever been to, let alone imagine existed! He’s falling in love with an alien! Yet he seems not to have any reaction to that at all.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
December 13, 2017
Interesting book with a promising beginning that unfortunately failed to deliver in the end. Mac is a sex escort who's servicing a client when he finds this unusually looking pin in his client's kitchen. After accidentally getting stabbed by the pin, Mac finds himself transported to a different world/planet, where humanoid looking "people" talk a language he's never heard before. Mac franticly escapes the new guys after getting a translator chip inserted in him, and promptly gets arrested for public indecency. Life on other planets is a bitch!
Lenara, a fellow jail mate, helps Mac escape and takes him with her to her ship, where she lives with Teevar, both of them on the run from bounty hunters. This is where everything starts going crazy because a million things happen; they encounter numerous hostile alien species, Mac and Teevar start becoming sexually attracted to each other, Teevar is dealing with guilt because he's a priest and he shouldn't want Mac, they gets shot at, get bit by contagious alien species, Mac's cells are stolen to impregnate alien females .... IS YOUR HEAD SPINNING YET? It didn't help that the whole story is pretty much narrated by Mac, whom I didn't really like all that much.
The world building is interesting but very basic; since Lenara and crew never really settled on a certain planet for more than a day, we don't really know exactly where the story happens. All I knew was that they were in space, but I had no clue what galaxy they were in, what the planets were like and I definitely didn't really learn anything about the inhabitants of said planets. What really irked me is that Lenara, Teevan, and even Ral referred to the inhabitants of different planets as "PEOPLE". It made me think the author forgot she was supposed to talk more like an alien and less like a human.
It was an interesting and fast paced book, but too much happened in too short of a time. There's no romance between Teevar and Mac that I can believe in because there is no focus on their relationship.
Space Mac was an interesting train (or should I say spaceship) wreck, but I failed to fall in love with it.
Lenara, a fellow jail mate, helps Mac escape and takes him with her to her ship, where she lives with Teevar, both of them on the run from bounty hunters. This is where everything starts going crazy because a million things happen; they encounter numerous hostile alien species, Mac and Teevar start becoming sexually attracted to each other, Teevar is dealing with guilt because he's a priest and he shouldn't want Mac, they gets shot at, get bit by contagious alien species, Mac's cells are stolen to impregnate alien females .... IS YOUR HEAD SPINNING YET? It didn't help that the whole story is pretty much narrated by Mac, whom I didn't really like all that much.
The world building is interesting but very basic; since Lenara and crew never really settled on a certain planet for more than a day, we don't really know exactly where the story happens. All I knew was that they were in space, but I had no clue what galaxy they were in, what the planets were like and I definitely didn't really learn anything about the inhabitants of said planets. What really irked me is that Lenara, Teevan, and even Ral referred to the inhabitants of different planets as "PEOPLE". It made me think the author forgot she was supposed to talk more like an alien and less like a human.
It was an interesting and fast paced book, but too much happened in too short of a time. There's no romance between Teevar and Mac that I can believe in because there is no focus on their relationship.
Space Mac was an interesting train (or should I say spaceship) wreck, but I failed to fall in love with it.
December 4, 2017
This is a story that you will like if you enjoy Guardians of the Galaxy. It doesn't have talking animals or trees, but a lot of the comradely feels the same, as well as the moral grey areas some of the characters choose to operate in. The main character Mac is a cocky escort who somehow finds himself abducted by aliens, and then goes on a series of wacky adventures to try and get home again. I'm not really sure how the pin that transports him works, and neither does he. A lot of the plot moves very quickly, and events are sometimes described in mere sentences and then quickly rushed to get to the next plot point. The sex scenes in the book are also touched upon quickly, and not very in depth. The main focus of the story is not on the romance between Mac and Teevar, but on the adventure as a whole, which I liked. The group is willing to commit crimes like a bank heist in order to get home, and make sure that all of the crew involved is not left behind. The story would make a decent sci-fi movie, just for the typical set-up/ payoff of the medical problems, and the many adventurous schemes and battles depicted.
But the main reason I rated this as high as I did is for the sexuality of Mac. He is openly bisexual and no one tells him he is wrong, confused, or promiscuous. I mean his job is as an escort, but he isn't shamed for it. Teevar never judges him for his sexuality, or confesses that he can't trust him, and we see Mac show interest in both sexes equally. It's great representation, and even more fun that Mac is a cocky, charmer like Starlord or Han Solo. If this book was four pages long double spaced and filled with typos, I would still rate it highly because Mac is just a normal guy with a normal sexuality, which is all too rare. That he is also a charming rogue is just icing on the cake.
It does end with a bit of an open ended cliffhanger, which was disappointing, but I suppose means that there is room for a sequel.
But the main reason I rated this as high as I did is for the sexuality of Mac. He is openly bisexual and no one tells him he is wrong, confused, or promiscuous. I mean his job is as an escort, but he isn't shamed for it. Teevar never judges him for his sexuality, or confesses that he can't trust him, and we see Mac show interest in both sexes equally. It's great representation, and even more fun that Mac is a cocky, charmer like Starlord or Han Solo. If this book was four pages long double spaced and filled with typos, I would still rate it highly because Mac is just a normal guy with a normal sexuality, which is all too rare. That he is also a charming rogue is just icing on the cake.
It does end with a bit of an open ended cliffhanger, which was disappointing, but I suppose means that there is room for a sequel.
December 6, 2017
3.5 stars
Synopsis: Mac is an escort/grifter on Earth, and one night at one of his customer's place, he picks up an unusual looking pin, thinking that maybe he can hock it. When he accidentally pricks his thumb with it, he is transported to a different galaxy. The beings there look human, but until they put a translator chip in him, Mac can't understand them. Then they take a sample, and, rather than have them continue experiments on him, Mac runs away. He gets caught by the law for public indecency and is sitting there with no hope of getting out because he doesn't know anyone, or have money, when a being next to him makes her own escape and takes Mac with her.
Lenara takes him to her ship, which has one other occupant: Teevar. Both Teevar and Lenara are on the run from bounty hunters, and take Mac with them. Along the way, Teevar frees another species, and Ral joins their rag tag band of runners as well. Mac really wants to go home, but no one seems to know where Earth is, so they face alien life forms on other planets and bounty hunters in order to live freely.
What I liked: The world building. This was a very fun and light story. Mac had his good and his bad moments, making him seem more realistic. When Mac and Teevar had disagreements, they did talk things out, but nothing was forgiven right away, as is often the case. They didn't let their feelings for each other blind them to the fact that they were wronged, but they also didn't hold grudges for long periods of time, either. The friendships that developed between the four characters felt true to all of them, and I liked that they didn't leave anyone behind. Everyone had their own strengths, and they worked well together.
What I didn't like: There wasn't a lot of attention put on building the romantic relationship between Mac and Teevar, as most of the story was focused on the adventures that the crew members were having, and how they all got out of the situations that they found themselves in.
Overall impression: Third person POV from Mac's POV. This was an amusing, adventurous romp, with romantic elements. I was really impressed with the development of the friendships, and with the story telling.
*I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Synopsis: Mac is an escort/grifter on Earth, and one night at one of his customer's place, he picks up an unusual looking pin, thinking that maybe he can hock it. When he accidentally pricks his thumb with it, he is transported to a different galaxy. The beings there look human, but until they put a translator chip in him, Mac can't understand them. Then they take a sample, and, rather than have them continue experiments on him, Mac runs away. He gets caught by the law for public indecency and is sitting there with no hope of getting out because he doesn't know anyone, or have money, when a being next to him makes her own escape and takes Mac with her.
Lenara takes him to her ship, which has one other occupant: Teevar. Both Teevar and Lenara are on the run from bounty hunters, and take Mac with them. Along the way, Teevar frees another species, and Ral joins their rag tag band of runners as well. Mac really wants to go home, but no one seems to know where Earth is, so they face alien life forms on other planets and bounty hunters in order to live freely.
What I liked: The world building. This was a very fun and light story. Mac had his good and his bad moments, making him seem more realistic. When Mac and Teevar had disagreements, they did talk things out, but nothing was forgiven right away, as is often the case. They didn't let their feelings for each other blind them to the fact that they were wronged, but they also didn't hold grudges for long periods of time, either. The friendships that developed between the four characters felt true to all of them, and I liked that they didn't leave anyone behind. Everyone had their own strengths, and they worked well together.
What I didn't like: There wasn't a lot of attention put on building the romantic relationship between Mac and Teevar, as most of the story was focused on the adventures that the crew members were having, and how they all got out of the situations that they found themselves in.
Overall impression: Third person POV from Mac's POV. This was an amusing, adventurous romp, with romantic elements. I was really impressed with the development of the friendships, and with the story telling.
*I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
May 28, 2018
Space Fun
I had a lot of fun with this title. A rent-boy Earth guy steals something from a client that lands him in a processing center for humans in space. This was an understandably jarring experience, so the first chance Mac gets to escape what he thinks will be some horrific experimentation, he takes it.
Of course, this lands him in even further hot water as he runs into a crew of people, including his love interest, Teevar, who is also on the run. Apparently Teevar's people don't much care for the fact that he's gay or that he killed to protect himself, essentially, and he's being hunted across the galaxy doing ... slightly unsavory things with his crew in order to remain free. Sounds like fun, right?
Well, it was.
It was also harrowing in places, sad here and there, and sweet where it needed to be. There was a little slow burn UST and a couple of MCs who couldn't have been more opposite in many respects. Mac was jaded and a little too experienced and Teevar was about as shy, restrained and inexperienced as a guy can get.
However, factor in the whole we'll-kill-you-cuz-you-like-men aspect of his society (thankfully not a universe-wide issue) and it was pretty understandable and made for some interesting interactions between him and Mac.
Now, Mac was kind of an oblivious douche-bag here and there. He was so singlemindedly focused on getting back to Earth, he was a little callous about what was right in front of him. He was also a raging narcissist and kind of an ass about it, TBH. In reality, he was unlikable a lot of the time, but there was also a sense that a lot of it was a front.
So ... redemption was in the offing and that's catnip for me. I think Mac was in "flight" mode for a lot of the book and was chasing after what he thought he should have wanted without thinking too much about whether it was actually worth the effort to get back to. I mean, if I had a choice between going back to selling my ass or traveling the universe with a crew of *cough* slightly disreputable folks and a guy that really loved me (and vice versa). Well, I think I'd go for the space jam.
The crew was cray-cray. Just ... yeah, cray-cray. There was some fast-paced action, a lot of running, and more running. The plot was a little OTT, but the romantic interest element balanced it out nicely even though Mac spent all his time trying to get back to Earth and Teevar spent the same time preparing to get left behind for dead.
I liked the little bit of world-building that was included. A lot of it was on kind of a micro level, as in, they went here, they went there, they went back over here. Those places were described well in isolation.
There's a lot of space-faring worlds out there that we hear about and some beings we see in passing. The worlds have their own individual societies which are not interfered with for the most part, but many of those same worlds are part of a larger collective with a kind of universal set of laws that are enforced as it pertains to lesser beings and other worlds.
It's hard to explain because we only got hints of the Big Picture and I would have liked a lot more of that. The way I looked at it was kind of like our world. Each country has their own laws that the rest of the world may or may not frown upon, but as long as you're not Hitler, you're pretty much left alone.
Then there's countries who belong to NATO, and they have an agreed upon set of rules that are followed by their member countries for the good of all. Supposedly.
Were there problems? Sure. I said before it was a little OTT and short on Big Picture. It wholeheartedly embraced a few offensive gay stereotypes and ran with them which some might find objectionable. I felt like it was a deliberate vibe and it fit the voice of the story.
Since it was an ARC, I try not to harp too much on editing because that usually means it's not finished yet, but that has bitten me in the butt before. So ... there were some minor editing issues and the language had a definite British cant to it. There, butt covered.
Other than that, if you don't take this one too seriously, it's a lot of fun. I hope to see more of this world from the author, and honestly, more of these characters. There weren't any glaring loose ends as far as Mac making a decision—stay or go—but the ending was quite abrupt and there's a lot of room for more ... adventurous misadventures.
3.5 Hearts (3 GR Stars)
Review crossposted at:
More reviews by NeRdyWYRM can be found on Goodreads here.
Images (when present) may be subject to copyright.
An ARC copy of this title was provided for an honest review.
I had a lot of fun with this title. A rent-boy Earth guy steals something from a client that lands him in a processing center for humans in space. This was an understandably jarring experience, so the first chance Mac gets to escape what he thinks will be some horrific experimentation, he takes it.
Of course, this lands him in even further hot water as he runs into a crew of people, including his love interest, Teevar, who is also on the run. Apparently Teevar's people don't much care for the fact that he's gay or that he killed to protect himself, essentially, and he's being hunted across the galaxy doing ... slightly unsavory things with his crew in order to remain free. Sounds like fun, right?
Well, it was.
It was also harrowing in places, sad here and there, and sweet where it needed to be. There was a little slow burn UST and a couple of MCs who couldn't have been more opposite in many respects. Mac was jaded and a little too experienced and Teevar was about as shy, restrained and inexperienced as a guy can get.
However, factor in the whole we'll-kill-you-cuz-you-like-men aspect of his society (thankfully not a universe-wide issue) and it was pretty understandable and made for some interesting interactions between him and Mac.
Now, Mac was kind of an oblivious douche-bag here and there. He was so singlemindedly focused on getting back to Earth, he was a little callous about what was right in front of him. He was also a raging narcissist and kind of an ass about it, TBH. In reality, he was unlikable a lot of the time, but there was also a sense that a lot of it was a front.
So ... redemption was in the offing and that's catnip for me. I think Mac was in "flight" mode for a lot of the book and was chasing after what he thought he should have wanted without thinking too much about whether it was actually worth the effort to get back to. I mean, if I had a choice between going back to selling my ass or traveling the universe with a crew of *cough* slightly disreputable folks and a guy that really loved me (and vice versa). Well, I think I'd go for the space jam.
The crew was cray-cray. Just ... yeah, cray-cray. There was some fast-paced action, a lot of running, and more running. The plot was a little OTT, but the romantic interest element balanced it out nicely even though Mac spent all his time trying to get back to Earth and Teevar spent the same time preparing to get left behind for dead.
I liked the little bit of world-building that was included. A lot of it was on kind of a micro level, as in, they went here, they went there, they went back over here. Those places were described well in isolation.
There's a lot of space-faring worlds out there that we hear about and some beings we see in passing. The worlds have their own individual societies which are not interfered with for the most part, but many of those same worlds are part of a larger collective with a kind of universal set of laws that are enforced as it pertains to lesser beings and other worlds.
It's hard to explain because we only got hints of the Big Picture and I would have liked a lot more of that. The way I looked at it was kind of like our world. Each country has their own laws that the rest of the world may or may not frown upon, but as long as you're not Hitler, you're pretty much left alone.
Then there's countries who belong to NATO, and they have an agreed upon set of rules that are followed by their member countries for the good of all. Supposedly.
Were there problems? Sure. I said before it was a little OTT and short on Big Picture. It wholeheartedly embraced a few offensive gay stereotypes and ran with them which some might find objectionable. I felt like it was a deliberate vibe and it fit the voice of the story.
Since it was an ARC, I try not to harp too much on editing because that usually means it's not finished yet, but that has bitten me in the butt before. So ... there were some minor editing issues and the language had a definite British cant to it. There, butt covered.
Other than that, if you don't take this one too seriously, it's a lot of fun. I hope to see more of this world from the author, and honestly, more of these characters. There weren't any glaring loose ends as far as Mac making a decision—stay or go—but the ending was quite abrupt and there's a lot of room for more ... adventurous misadventures.
3.5 Hearts (3 GR Stars)
Review crossposted at:
More reviews by NeRdyWYRM can be found on Goodreads here.
Images (when present) may be subject to copyright.
An ARC copy of this title was provided for an honest review.
December 25, 2017
What you need to know about Space Mac is that it is one hundred percent a space adventure. You get thrust into a universe, just as lost and confused as Mac is BUT when it all starts to unfold, that’s when it gets good. I almost gave up on this in the beginning because I couldn’t get into the first few pages (yes, I’m that reader when it comes to sci-fi) but as soon as Mac met up with the crew? That action drew me in.
So before the good, here’s the bad. I felt that there was something missing. I needed more explanation to why Mac had been taken. More than what was given. I needed to know more about Ral and Leanara other than they committed a crime (nothing specified or I completely missed it which is possible) and they were a ragtag group running for their lives.
Teevar, I loved. I felt kinship with him. He was very much an outsider on his planet. Even when he was planets away, he still had that fear that someone was going to see him and they were going to treat him like he was on his home planet. Mac challenged him and pushed Teevar out of his comfort zone.
Mac had that arrogant, I’m human and that makes me important vibe. But Lenara and the crew put him back to rights. I think that is what saved him was the way he interacted with Teevar towards the middle/end. In the beginning, he was a dick. Running for your life in space can change things though.
There were a few sex scenes but there were more cut to black scenes. So if hardcore sex is your thing, you won’t find that here. I thought everything was appropriate and sometimes I’m in the mood for less descriptive sex scenes so I read this book at the perfect time.
There were space shenanigans, con-man tactics and a huge universe that I hope Emma Jane goes on to the explore. It was left open so she could. Definitely one I would give a read!
So before the good, here’s the bad. I felt that there was something missing. I needed more explanation to why Mac had been taken. More than what was given. I needed to know more about Ral and Leanara other than they committed a crime (nothing specified or I completely missed it which is possible) and they were a ragtag group running for their lives.
Teevar, I loved. I felt kinship with him. He was very much an outsider on his planet. Even when he was planets away, he still had that fear that someone was going to see him and they were going to treat him like he was on his home planet. Mac challenged him and pushed Teevar out of his comfort zone.
Mac had that arrogant, I’m human and that makes me important vibe. But Lenara and the crew put him back to rights. I think that is what saved him was the way he interacted with Teevar towards the middle/end. In the beginning, he was a dick. Running for your life in space can change things though.
There were a few sex scenes but there were more cut to black scenes. So if hardcore sex is your thing, you won’t find that here. I thought everything was appropriate and sometimes I’m in the mood for less descriptive sex scenes so I read this book at the perfect time.
There were space shenanigans, con-man tactics and a huge universe that I hope Emma Jane goes on to the explore. It was left open so she could. Definitely one I would give a read!
December 13, 2017
(Disclaimer – I got a copy from Netgalley. This does not affect my review in anyway.)
Review: What I liked about the story was that it wasn’t over the top, or too serious. Once you bare that in mind, it an enjoyable fun read. I found myself going into it thinking it was going to be serious, purely based on the fact that it is science-fiction. Don’t make that assumption with this story. The sex is pretty detailed, so be aware of that as well. Also he is bi-sexual, the main relationship is with him and another man. If you have a problem with that, don’t read the book.
I had a like/dislike relationship with the main character. Pretty much like it says in the blurb he is cocky. And sometimes he needs to shut the hell up. Yes your body is nice, you don’t need to tell ever man and their dog. But overall I liked him, he just had his moments. Which just make him human.
The world building was pretty lax, it was more focused on the characters and their little adventures. It could have gone super into detail and what not with the alien worlds. But that would have taken the fun/easy element out of the book.
Would I Recommend It? Yes.
Review: What I liked about the story was that it wasn’t over the top, or too serious. Once you bare that in mind, it an enjoyable fun read. I found myself going into it thinking it was going to be serious, purely based on the fact that it is science-fiction. Don’t make that assumption with this story. The sex is pretty detailed, so be aware of that as well. Also he is bi-sexual, the main relationship is with him and another man. If you have a problem with that, don’t read the book.
I had a like/dislike relationship with the main character. Pretty much like it says in the blurb he is cocky. And sometimes he needs to shut the hell up. Yes your body is nice, you don’t need to tell ever man and their dog. But overall I liked him, he just had his moments. Which just make him human.
The world building was pretty lax, it was more focused on the characters and their little adventures. It could have gone super into detail and what not with the alien worlds. But that would have taken the fun/easy element out of the book.
Would I Recommend It? Yes.
January 1, 2018
I received a copy of Space Mac by Emma Jane via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review. It falls into a subgenre I love - SFMM. I’ve always been surprised there are not more books involving daring men who travel the universe looking not only for adventures and riches but the right one as well. In Space Mac, the reader meets the eponymous Mackenzie, an earthly escort, who picks up a pin and is transported out of this world. He spends most of the book trying to get home again, but learns some valuable lessons in teamwork along the way, recalling to mind The Wizard of Oz in a different reality. What elevates Space Mac are his companions in trouble, none of them human and all with serious problems in their pasts. While futuristic technology plays a role in the book, the characters are the main stars. I would enjoy reading another story set in this world!
January 2, 2018
"Suddenly, the lake’s surface erupted and a scaled creature burst forth. It was human in shape, but had frilled gills at the side of its head and large fish-like eyes, no nose, and no lips. It opened its mouth to reveal needle teeth, and it hissed at them."
I really adore novels that delve into the mysterious wonders of the Universe and have the creativity to form new characters, new lands and new ways of life. I feel the author, Emma Jane, really committed to trying to bring this vision to life in many ways but sadly fell short in a few areas.
"The aliens themselves appeared almost human, except their skin was orange and hairless, and their eyes were large black orbs. They were obviously used to the comings and goings of off-worlders, because not one of them paid them a blind bit of attention."
Jane has a very interesting way of describing different creatures and is able to create a new species at the drop of a hat which is amazing. What I desperately wanted to see, however, was a love interest that was more than human. Surrounded by all these aliens and Mac just happens to meet the one alien that's practically human? It was pretty disappointing to be honest. Slap some horns on him, give him a different skin colour that makes him stand out, just SOMETHING!
“On Nevka, females have power over males. Lenara fought for equality—she’s an anarchist. She caused a lot of trouble for her people.”
Mac folded his arms. “I’m male and she wants to sell me. So much for equality.”
“I think she’d sell you if you were female, too.”
The plot and writing format is something I highly commend. It was funny, had good characters that could easily be told apart so dialogue didn't get confusing and a plot that was easy to follow. Mac is stuck on an alien spaceship after being sent through space after touching something he shouldn't. Interestingly enough, none of the aliens knew where Earth was. Our galaxy being untouched and unexplored was a really nice touch! The confusion from all the other characters and the fact that no, we're not the centre of the universe made me smile.
The sex scenes were done quickly and without a whole lot of detail which is perfect for anyone who is just getting involved with more sexual books or who struggle to read drawn-out scenes. For anyone who prefers romance and sexual moments/tension, then this book might not be the one for you.
"Attention. Subject loose. One human male. Not dangerous. Not intelligent. Needs apprehending."
Altogether, this book was an easy read and worth picking up. Great characters and a well-done plot led to a book that kept me interested until the last page. I just wished we had more alien species as main characters and a love interest that wasn't so human.
I really adore novels that delve into the mysterious wonders of the Universe and have the creativity to form new characters, new lands and new ways of life. I feel the author, Emma Jane, really committed to trying to bring this vision to life in many ways but sadly fell short in a few areas.
"The aliens themselves appeared almost human, except their skin was orange and hairless, and their eyes were large black orbs. They were obviously used to the comings and goings of off-worlders, because not one of them paid them a blind bit of attention."
Jane has a very interesting way of describing different creatures and is able to create a new species at the drop of a hat which is amazing. What I desperately wanted to see, however, was a love interest that was more than human. Surrounded by all these aliens and Mac just happens to meet the one alien that's practically human? It was pretty disappointing to be honest. Slap some horns on him, give him a different skin colour that makes him stand out, just SOMETHING!
“On Nevka, females have power over males. Lenara fought for equality—she’s an anarchist. She caused a lot of trouble for her people.”
Mac folded his arms. “I’m male and she wants to sell me. So much for equality.”
“I think she’d sell you if you were female, too.”
The plot and writing format is something I highly commend. It was funny, had good characters that could easily be told apart so dialogue didn't get confusing and a plot that was easy to follow. Mac is stuck on an alien spaceship after being sent through space after touching something he shouldn't. Interestingly enough, none of the aliens knew where Earth was. Our galaxy being untouched and unexplored was a really nice touch! The confusion from all the other characters and the fact that no, we're not the centre of the universe made me smile.
The sex scenes were done quickly and without a whole lot of detail which is perfect for anyone who is just getting involved with more sexual books or who struggle to read drawn-out scenes. For anyone who prefers romance and sexual moments/tension, then this book might not be the one for you.
"Attention. Subject loose. One human male. Not dangerous. Not intelligent. Needs apprehending."
Altogether, this book was an easy read and worth picking up. Great characters and a well-done plot led to a book that kept me interested until the last page. I just wished we had more alien species as main characters and a love interest that wasn't so human.
January 9, 2018
Book – Space Mac
Author – Emma Jane
Star rating - ★★☆☆☆
No. of Pages – 182
Cover – Nice!
POV – 3rd person, one character
Would I read it again – No
Genre – LGBT, Science Fiction, MM
** COPY RECEIVED THROUGH NETGALLEY **
To be honest, I'm disappointed with this one. I started it thinking it was a redemption story, of the narcissistic main character finally finding a soul and a heart that didn't make everything about him. Unfortunately, he was even more of a selfish ass by the time the story ended as he was when it started.
Maybe if the story had been in dual POV, with Teevar, who I actually liked, I could have liked it more. But the bare truth is that I hated Mac from page one and never found anything redeemable in him, throughout the story.
The story itself was told in an online-serial style, rather than coming together as a cohesive novel. There seemed to be one huge drama after another, almost one to each chapter, and the constant chaos of the plot actually gave me a physical headache, trying to keep up with the who, the why, and the hows of it all.
The writing started off choppy. The first page made it very confusing, because it gave no context to the events we were experiencing, until about three pages in, when we found out that Mac was a paid escort, which explained the pseudonym of Ethan and the arrogance and rudeness he showed towards his 'client'. To be quite honest, Mac is the most judgy, ignorant, bitchy, rude main character I've read in a long time, and I seriously considered DNF'ing the book after just a few pages. The only reason I kept going was because it was a review book. If I'd bought this or it was a free book, I would have stopped after the first few pages and moved onto something else.
The plot moved immediately into one-two pages of Mac's life as an escort, to being nosy enough that he pricked his finger on a pin and was whisked off to an alien planet, for a full alien abduction, probing incident. By this point, it was all so sudden and unbelievable that I completely had to suspend any believability in the plot from that moment forth or I wasn't going to be able to finish it. Which was just as well, because human concepts such as slavery, bank robberies, blood transfusions, dinosaurs, gladiator arenas, and alien probes are all mixed into one 'on-the-run', bounty hunting plot.
Mac, as a main character, was never likable or relatable. He started out vain, narcissistic, rude and arrogant, and finished off by adding on selfish, lying all the time, being rude to everyone for no reason, having an ego the size of a planet, and adding in thief, egoist, and stupid to his personality CV. The whole plot would never have happened if he hadn't made the idiotic, selfish choice of trying to steal from his client, but then he proceded to make the most ridiculous and stupid decisions throughout the book, never once listening to anyone and showing not an ounce of common sense.
To sum up how much the plot tries to fit into less than 200 pages, this quote happens at 10%: “So he'd been beamed up to another world, had been assaulted, arrested, run from the police, and now was soon to be sold into slavery.” The story literally ends with Mac, Teevar, and Lenara, in the exact same position they were in when they first boarded the Veena vessel together. If it wasn't for Teevar, who I actually wanted to know more about and who barely had his story told, I would have dnf'd before the 10% mark.
Overall, it just became too much for me. Too much drama, too many spoofy sci-fi cliches, an unlikeable bisexual character with no redeeming qualities who basically thinks with his dick, and a seriously unsatisfying ending that leaves the entire plot back where it started. Sorry, but it's not for me.
Author – Emma Jane
Star rating - ★★☆☆☆
No. of Pages – 182
Cover – Nice!
POV – 3rd person, one character
Would I read it again – No
Genre – LGBT, Science Fiction, MM
** COPY RECEIVED THROUGH NETGALLEY **
To be honest, I'm disappointed with this one. I started it thinking it was a redemption story, of the narcissistic main character finally finding a soul and a heart that didn't make everything about him. Unfortunately, he was even more of a selfish ass by the time the story ended as he was when it started.
Maybe if the story had been in dual POV, with Teevar, who I actually liked, I could have liked it more. But the bare truth is that I hated Mac from page one and never found anything redeemable in him, throughout the story.
The story itself was told in an online-serial style, rather than coming together as a cohesive novel. There seemed to be one huge drama after another, almost one to each chapter, and the constant chaos of the plot actually gave me a physical headache, trying to keep up with the who, the why, and the hows of it all.
The writing started off choppy. The first page made it very confusing, because it gave no context to the events we were experiencing, until about three pages in, when we found out that Mac was a paid escort, which explained the pseudonym of Ethan and the arrogance and rudeness he showed towards his 'client'. To be quite honest, Mac is the most judgy, ignorant, bitchy, rude main character I've read in a long time, and I seriously considered DNF'ing the book after just a few pages. The only reason I kept going was because it was a review book. If I'd bought this or it was a free book, I would have stopped after the first few pages and moved onto something else.
The plot moved immediately into one-two pages of Mac's life as an escort, to being nosy enough that he pricked his finger on a pin and was whisked off to an alien planet, for a full alien abduction, probing incident. By this point, it was all so sudden and unbelievable that I completely had to suspend any believability in the plot from that moment forth or I wasn't going to be able to finish it. Which was just as well, because human concepts such as slavery, bank robberies, blood transfusions, dinosaurs, gladiator arenas, and alien probes are all mixed into one 'on-the-run', bounty hunting plot.
Mac, as a main character, was never likable or relatable. He started out vain, narcissistic, rude and arrogant, and finished off by adding on selfish, lying all the time, being rude to everyone for no reason, having an ego the size of a planet, and adding in thief, egoist, and stupid to his personality CV. The whole plot would never have happened if he hadn't made the idiotic, selfish choice of trying to steal from his client, but then he proceded to make the most ridiculous and stupid decisions throughout the book, never once listening to anyone and showing not an ounce of common sense.
To sum up how much the plot tries to fit into less than 200 pages, this quote happens at 10%: “So he'd been beamed up to another world, had been assaulted, arrested, run from the police, and now was soon to be sold into slavery.” The story literally ends with Mac, Teevar, and Lenara, in the exact same position they were in when they first boarded the Veena vessel together. If it wasn't for Teevar, who I actually wanted to know more about and who barely had his story told, I would have dnf'd before the 10% mark.
Overall, it just became too much for me. Too much drama, too many spoofy sci-fi cliches, an unlikeable bisexual character with no redeeming qualities who basically thinks with his dick, and a seriously unsatisfying ending that leaves the entire plot back where it started. Sorry, but it's not for me.
January 30, 2018
This book was provided for free by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.
Ever since the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie came out (and maybe even since Firefly), books and films like this have been surefire hits. Grab a ragtag bunch of misfits from all walks of life, put them together on a spaceship, and have them run from the law--boom. You've got a great story foundation with compelling characters and concise plots.
But there still has to be a story. There still has to be character development. There still has to be an element of human drama. And this book lacks all three of those things.
The biggest issue is Mac, the titular main character. He's a sex worker who nabs a client's mysterious silver pin, and upon pricking his finger, is transported to another realm, which is assumed to be outer space--. Mac is selfish, immature, callous, and uncultured, and while none of those things automatically spell "bad character," he's generally insufferable. From beginning to end, he doesn't adapt to the new world in any meaningful way or change his views on anything. He throws tantrums and huffs off like a little boy. Yet he's always at the center of any action or scheme. We're led to believe that he's so smart that he could conceivably pull of something like a bank heist on an otherworldly planet, which is laughable.
Another issue is his love interest, Teevar. Teevar is an alien whose race closely resembles humans. He's a priest who is on the run after murdering someone who knew a secret about him, but his priestly morality only comes up when plot-convenient. Otherwise, he's happy to rob, steal, and lie his way out of any situation. He's an incredibly inconsistent character, and his insta-love with Mac, which seems to be based purely on sex, isn't compelling in any capacity. Speaking of, the sex is so weird--there's not exactly a fade-to-black mentality, but rather a "we sucked each other off and then he put it on my ass and then we went to sleep" type of description that doesn't exactly flow off the page.
Not even the supporting characters could make me invested in this book. Lenara, a suave female alien, is the obvious brains behind the operation, and probably the only part of the book I was remotely interested in. Ral is an animal-like creature who is obviously meant to be the Rocket Raccoon of the group, but she's never described in any detail, so we have no idea what her body mechanics are like, leaving me picturing a gigantic rat wearing pants.
This book just didn't work for me. There's no depth here. There's so much going on and none of it is interesting. All of the little this-then-this plots () might have worked better if this was a longer, more fleshed series that gave one book to each plot. But it almost seemed like the author herself was losing interest in the characters and relationships halfway through the book.
I noticed author Emma Jane has a couple of contemporary romance books out there, so maybe I'll give them a try and see if the sci-fi elements just didn't work for me.
Ever since the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie came out (and maybe even since Firefly), books and films like this have been surefire hits. Grab a ragtag bunch of misfits from all walks of life, put them together on a spaceship, and have them run from the law--boom. You've got a great story foundation with compelling characters and concise plots.
But there still has to be a story. There still has to be character development. There still has to be an element of human drama. And this book lacks all three of those things.
The biggest issue is Mac, the titular main character. He's a sex worker who nabs a client's mysterious silver pin, and upon pricking his finger, is transported to another realm, which is assumed to be outer space--. Mac is selfish, immature, callous, and uncultured, and while none of those things automatically spell "bad character," he's generally insufferable. From beginning to end, he doesn't adapt to the new world in any meaningful way or change his views on anything. He throws tantrums and huffs off like a little boy. Yet he's always at the center of any action or scheme. We're led to believe that he's so smart that he could conceivably pull of something like a bank heist on an otherworldly planet, which is laughable.
Another issue is his love interest, Teevar. Teevar is an alien whose race closely resembles humans. He's a priest who is on the run after murdering someone who knew a secret about him, but his priestly morality only comes up when plot-convenient. Otherwise, he's happy to rob, steal, and lie his way out of any situation. He's an incredibly inconsistent character, and his insta-love with Mac, which seems to be based purely on sex, isn't compelling in any capacity. Speaking of, the sex is so weird--there's not exactly a fade-to-black mentality, but rather a "we sucked each other off and then he put it on my ass and then we went to sleep" type of description that doesn't exactly flow off the page.
Not even the supporting characters could make me invested in this book. Lenara, a suave female alien, is the obvious brains behind the operation, and probably the only part of the book I was remotely interested in. Ral is an animal-like creature who is obviously meant to be the Rocket Raccoon of the group, but she's never described in any detail, so we have no idea what her body mechanics are like, leaving me picturing a gigantic rat wearing pants.
This book just didn't work for me. There's no depth here. There's so much going on and none of it is interesting. All of the little this-then-this plots () might have worked better if this was a longer, more fleshed series that gave one book to each plot. But it almost seemed like the author herself was losing interest in the characters and relationships halfway through the book.
I noticed author Emma Jane has a couple of contemporary romance books out there, so maybe I'll give them a try and see if the sci-fi elements just didn't work for me.
April 26, 2018
Science fiction that has a hint of fantasy in it is awesome. While the fantasy might just be wishful thinking on my part, I would consider it to be a tiny bit that gets the story started. The fantasy propels the protagonist into the future—or some other part of space—and everything takes off from there.
Escort Mackenzie, known as Mac, is with a client when he discovers a silver brooch that catches his eye. Except when he touches it, it somehow transports him to an alien world. He has no idea when and where he is, just that he wants to go home. Not knowing anything about where he is, he flees and runs into Teevar, an alien also on the run. Mac ends up joining their crew, but he ends up in a world of trouble instead, with bounty hunters chasing him down because of who he’s with.
What I loved about this story was that it doesn’t seem to take itself too seriously. Mac is not the best protagonist out there. He’s self-centered and vain, but I think that’s what made me like him so much. He wasn’t perfect. And then there’s Teevar, who is much more the traditional protagonist you would see. He has a secret to hide, and he’s running from something as well, but he won’t really talk about it.
The book can be confusing, but that’s because we’re along for the ride with Mac. We don’t know anything until he does, so the exact reason for the pin isn’t made known to the readers until the very end of the book. I liked that. Most books I can figure out the ending within the first few pages, but for this one, I just held on and had a good time doing it.
As for the romance in this book, there is some, but it’s not right up front. Mac is a highly sexual being, and Teevar is not for understandable reasons. If you’re looking for explosive sex constantly, this book isn’t for you. But that shouldn’t deter you from checking it out if you don’t mind some sexual tension and fade to black scenes.
Were some parts ridiculous? Yup. But was it fun? Absolutely. Emma Jane wrote characters that felt realistic for all their antics, and I would enjoy reading more of their adventures. What happens next? Are there any other things Mac can solve just by being who he is? Do they get into more trouble with bounty hunters because they just can’t keep their hands to themselves?
If you’re a fan of sci-fi books or books with less than perfect heroes, this is just for you. It’s a pretty fast read but enjoyable nonetheless, as I’ve come to expect from books produced by NineStar Press.
Reviewed by Jennifer for The Novel Approach
Escort Mackenzie, known as Mac, is with a client when he discovers a silver brooch that catches his eye. Except when he touches it, it somehow transports him to an alien world. He has no idea when and where he is, just that he wants to go home. Not knowing anything about where he is, he flees and runs into Teevar, an alien also on the run. Mac ends up joining their crew, but he ends up in a world of trouble instead, with bounty hunters chasing him down because of who he’s with.
What I loved about this story was that it doesn’t seem to take itself too seriously. Mac is not the best protagonist out there. He’s self-centered and vain, but I think that’s what made me like him so much. He wasn’t perfect. And then there’s Teevar, who is much more the traditional protagonist you would see. He has a secret to hide, and he’s running from something as well, but he won’t really talk about it.
The book can be confusing, but that’s because we’re along for the ride with Mac. We don’t know anything until he does, so the exact reason for the pin isn’t made known to the readers until the very end of the book. I liked that. Most books I can figure out the ending within the first few pages, but for this one, I just held on and had a good time doing it.
As for the romance in this book, there is some, but it’s not right up front. Mac is a highly sexual being, and Teevar is not for understandable reasons. If you’re looking for explosive sex constantly, this book isn’t for you. But that shouldn’t deter you from checking it out if you don’t mind some sexual tension and fade to black scenes.
Were some parts ridiculous? Yup. But was it fun? Absolutely. Emma Jane wrote characters that felt realistic for all their antics, and I would enjoy reading more of their adventures. What happens next? Are there any other things Mac can solve just by being who he is? Do they get into more trouble with bounty hunters because they just can’t keep their hands to themselves?
If you’re a fan of sci-fi books or books with less than perfect heroes, this is just for you. It’s a pretty fast read but enjoyable nonetheless, as I’ve come to expect from books produced by NineStar Press.
Reviewed by Jennifer for The Novel Approach
January 25, 2018
Mackenzie, or Mac (he also goes by a few other names), is a hustler and a sex worker. He’s shallow and selfish, and looking out for number one. At the home of a client he picks up what looks to be a brooch, only to prick his finger on the pin. That tiny accident activates what is actually a transportation device, and he finds himself flung across the universe to a strange planet. A planet he escapes with the aid of a motley-crewed spaceship, only to find himself pursued by bounty hunters.
It’s hard to describe this book. Space Mac is a sci-fi romp, a space opera, a romance. It’s disjointed and jumpy, but it’s immense fun. The episodic nature, with the characters, falling into one adventure (or scrape) after another is not unlike Becky Chambers’ The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. In the same way, it could be compared to TV series such as Firefly, or Blakes 7. This is a good thing.
Mac is, it has to be said, a bit of a knob. Emma Jane seems to have a knack of writing these types of characters. He’s self-centred, if there’s a chance for him to get laid, other considerations are too easily forgotten, and he has the morals of a weasel -- that may be defamatory to weasels. For all that, he’s likeable, he’s not malicious, and he’d do anything for his friends. In that, he’s like a gay Vila (from Blake’s 7).
There’s a low-burning romance with Teevar, a humanoid former priest aboard the spaceship, who has issues of his own. The captain, Lenara, is the cool, collected type, and fiercely loyal to her crew. Along the way, a rat-faced alien called Ral joins them, which is where the adventure really kicks off. Ral has to eat regularly or becomes dangerous; she carries a gun, but is as likely to rip her enemy’s arm off and eat it, as shoot them.
I would have liked to have seen the worlds described more, for the characters fleshed out further, and especially for the romance between Mac and Teevar to have been developed more. At the same time, that may have slowed the novel down. It was left open for the possibility for a sequel of some sort, so maybe that will come with time.
It’s mad, it’s silly, it’s lightweight, and it is a great fun-filled romp of a novel. I found myself grinning so many times.
If you like space opera, or want a more modern Stainless Steel Rat, try it. 8/10.
It’s hard to describe this book. Space Mac is a sci-fi romp, a space opera, a romance. It’s disjointed and jumpy, but it’s immense fun. The episodic nature, with the characters, falling into one adventure (or scrape) after another is not unlike Becky Chambers’ The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. In the same way, it could be compared to TV series such as Firefly, or Blakes 7. This is a good thing.
Mac is, it has to be said, a bit of a knob. Emma Jane seems to have a knack of writing these types of characters. He’s self-centred, if there’s a chance for him to get laid, other considerations are too easily forgotten, and he has the morals of a weasel -- that may be defamatory to weasels. For all that, he’s likeable, he’s not malicious, and he’d do anything for his friends. In that, he’s like a gay Vila (from Blake’s 7).
There’s a low-burning romance with Teevar, a humanoid former priest aboard the spaceship, who has issues of his own. The captain, Lenara, is the cool, collected type, and fiercely loyal to her crew. Along the way, a rat-faced alien called Ral joins them, which is where the adventure really kicks off. Ral has to eat regularly or becomes dangerous; she carries a gun, but is as likely to rip her enemy’s arm off and eat it, as shoot them.
I would have liked to have seen the worlds described more, for the characters fleshed out further, and especially for the romance between Mac and Teevar to have been developed more. At the same time, that may have slowed the novel down. It was left open for the possibility for a sequel of some sort, so maybe that will come with time.
It’s mad, it’s silly, it’s lightweight, and it is a great fun-filled romp of a novel. I found myself grinning so many times.
If you like space opera, or want a more modern Stainless Steel Rat, try it. 8/10.
February 5, 2018
This one made me snort with laughter. I found Mac funny. He reminded me of Stuart from the original QAF or maybe Freddie from Cucumber. Full of himself but a good guy. Helps him friends and saves some lives but wants to look good while doing it. Wish therewas more of Lenara's past as would've liked to have seen some anarchy. easy read.
May 26, 2018
My first time reading this author's work and I'm absolutely delighted. Solid writing, well-developed characters, low on sex, high on adventure but not dark. I'm definitely reading more of her books.
Blurb's accurate but the book is better.
Blurb's accurate but the book is better.
February 26, 2018
I requested “Space Mac” from NineStar Press, LLC on NetGalley after reading the description. The cover caught my eye and I was very eager to read it. However, I struggled with writing this review.
I was extremely pumped to read “Space Mac” - it sounded like a queer love story in space, which is totally my jam. However, I was bitterly disappointed.
The writing is very jerky and lack expressiveness or detail. Meagre descriptions made the narration confusing. It felt as if the characters jumped from one place to another. The emotions portrayed by characters felt artificial and their actions very often were not believable. I struggled to understand why things were happening the way they were and very quickly I stopped to care. There seemed to be lots of running and fighting and conning (or trying to out-con) somebody with no real purpose to the story. The main protagonist, Mac, wanted to get back to Earth but he only ever bemoaned his lack of knowledge how to do it and didn’t really do anything until very end.
His relationship with Teevar, which seemed to be a focal point of the book description, didn’t develop as I expected it to, and felt a bit forced. It was, however, the most tolerable part of “Space Mac”, even though I did find Mac behaving like a spoiled child around Teevar. Overall, I didn’t find any of the characters likable at all.
It was a rather short book, more of a novella really, but I struggled to finish it. I could have dealt with jumpy plot if the writing had a better flow, which, sadly, was not the case. The only saving grace of “Space Mac” is its cover - it is stunning!
Nevertheless, I am grateful to the publisher for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
Rating: 2 stars
I was extremely pumped to read “Space Mac” - it sounded like a queer love story in space, which is totally my jam. However, I was bitterly disappointed.
The writing is very jerky and lack expressiveness or detail. Meagre descriptions made the narration confusing. It felt as if the characters jumped from one place to another. The emotions portrayed by characters felt artificial and their actions very often were not believable. I struggled to understand why things were happening the way they were and very quickly I stopped to care. There seemed to be lots of running and fighting and conning (or trying to out-con) somebody with no real purpose to the story. The main protagonist, Mac, wanted to get back to Earth but he only ever bemoaned his lack of knowledge how to do it and didn’t really do anything until very end.
His relationship with Teevar, which seemed to be a focal point of the book description, didn’t develop as I expected it to, and felt a bit forced. It was, however, the most tolerable part of “Space Mac”, even though I did find Mac behaving like a spoiled child around Teevar. Overall, I didn’t find any of the characters likable at all.
It was a rather short book, more of a novella really, but I struggled to finish it. I could have dealt with jumpy plot if the writing had a better flow, which, sadly, was not the case. The only saving grace of “Space Mac” is its cover - it is stunning!
Nevertheless, I am grateful to the publisher for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
Rating: 2 stars
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