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Rook
For killing his husband, Rook is sent to B-226—an alien planet populated by deadly creatures, where the average life expectancy for a prisoner is three weeks. Rook is relieved by the sentence—all he wants is to die and rejoin his husband.
Upon arrival on B-226, Rook is partnered with Stevie, who has beaten the odds and survived for several months. Rook is drawn to Stevie in a way he didn't expect in the aftermath of losing his husband. Before Rook can untangle the mess of his emotions, the already deadly situation on B-226 worsens, plunging Rook and Stevie into an even more desperate struggle to survive.
Upon arrival on B-226, Rook is partnered with Stevie, who has beaten the odds and survived for several months. Rook is drawn to Stevie in a way he didn't expect in the aftermath of losing his husband. Before Rook can untangle the mess of his emotions, the already deadly situation on B-226 worsens, plunging Rook and Stevie into an even more desperate struggle to survive.
327 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 6, 2018
2 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
T. Strange
30 books260 followersT. Strange didn't want to learn how to read, but literacy prevailed and she hasn't stopped reading—or writing—since. She's been published since 2013, and she writes M/M romance in multiple genres, including paranormal and BDSM. T.'s other interests include cross stitching, gardening, watching terrible horror movies, playing video games, and finding injured pigeons to rescue. Originally from White Rock, BC, she lives on the Canadian prairies, where she shares her home with her wife, cats, guinea pigs and other creatures of all shapes and sizes. She's very easy to bribe with free food and drinks—especially wine.
She can be found on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr; or you can email her: author.t.strange at gmail.com
She can be found on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr; or you can email her: author.t.strange at gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 12 reviews
June 8, 2018
this is a hard one to rate.
i enjoyed it, but i felt that at times there was nothing really happening, or that the things happening were rather predictable (oh, look! another monster!) or even not making much sense, such as when rook thought he was a monster for stomping that bat to death - i mean yeah you might have overdone it a bit mate, but at the end of the day it was a herculean beast-thing that tried to eat you.
but it was still a pretty interesting premise - prisoners banished to planet filled with deadly creatures and most don't last three weeks, and rook and stevie's battle to live as long as they could.
you kind of know but you don't know exactly how they're going to get there, so it didn't really spoil the tension.
overall it was nice, but not good enough for me to recommend.
i enjoyed it, but i felt that at times there was nothing really happening, or that the things happening were rather predictable (oh, look! another monster!) or even not making much sense, such as when rook thought he was a monster for stomping that bat to death - i mean yeah you might have overdone it a bit mate, but at the end of the day it was a herculean beast-thing that tried to eat you.
but it was still a pretty interesting premise - prisoners banished to planet filled with deadly creatures and most don't last three weeks, and rook and stevie's battle to live as long as they could.
you kind of know but you don't know exactly how they're going to get there, so it didn't really spoil the tension.
overall it was nice, but not good enough for me to recommend.
February 16, 2018
This story had the potential to be something thrilling & exciting(especially based on the blurb) but unfortunately it wasn’t. I doubt this was a romance book(despite the physical intimacy) or even a proper sci-fi book(aside the space travel) as it didn't read like either genres.
It had a great premise: Imagine two prisoners on a far away dangerous, monster-infested , mineral-rich alien planet where the life expectancy of the prison population is 3 weeks or less. What would happen to our MCs and how do they survive? Will they even survive enough to fall in love?
Interesting right? However, there was a disconnect with how the blurb read and how the story actually panned out.
The alien planet in question: B-226, was fascinating at first but the continuous, narration of the day to day lives of the two MCs did more harm than good. It turned the initial fascination into plain boredom for me. I would have been more satisfied with a one-time explanation of what they faced daily, then any exceptions thereafter.
For more than 75% of the book, this routine of the MCs was more or less the same and after the “big event” when I expected a smidge of adrenaline-inducing excitement, nothing happened.
Another opportunity to salvage the story came and went by in the last 3 or so chapters but once again it was squandered.
Also, I didn’t believe any connection the MCs felt went beyond mutual gratitude from watching each other’s backs and seeing each other as avenues for sating their body’s urges.
It seemed that at every point in the story, one MC was tip toeing around the other and would rather be quiet and suffer in silence than communicate, which irked me. They also didn't bother finding out about each other and as such, I as a reader also didn't know much about them.
That above all, was my biggest let down about this book.
*****ARC Graciously Provided By Publisher In Exchange For An Honest, Unbiased Review*****
It had a great premise: Imagine two prisoners on a far away dangerous, monster-infested , mineral-rich alien planet where the life expectancy of the prison population is 3 weeks or less. What would happen to our MCs and how do they survive? Will they even survive enough to fall in love?
Interesting right? However, there was a disconnect with how the blurb read and how the story actually panned out.
The alien planet in question: B-226, was fascinating at first but the continuous, narration of the day to day lives of the two MCs did more harm than good. It turned the initial fascination into plain boredom for me. I would have been more satisfied with a one-time explanation of what they faced daily, then any exceptions thereafter.
For more than 75% of the book, this routine of the MCs was more or less the same and after the “big event” when I expected a smidge of adrenaline-inducing excitement, nothing happened.
Another opportunity to salvage the story came and went by in the last 3 or so chapters but once again it was squandered.
Also, I didn’t believe any connection the MCs felt went beyond mutual gratitude from watching each other’s backs and seeing each other as avenues for sating their body’s urges.
It seemed that at every point in the story, one MC was tip toeing around the other and would rather be quiet and suffer in silence than communicate, which irked me. They also didn't bother finding out about each other and as such, I as a reader also didn't know much about them.
That above all, was my biggest let down about this book.
*****ARC Graciously Provided By Publisher In Exchange For An Honest, Unbiased Review*****
March 20, 2022
As a punishment for killing his husband, Rook is condemned to guard duty on the hostile planet B-226 – effectively a death sentence. It is his responsibility to protect the miners who labor underground to extract the incredibly valuable mineral that is the only reason for humans to visit B-226, but guards rarely last more than a few weeks when faced with the poisonous flora and vicious fauna of the alien world.
Rook hardly cares. The death of his beloved Carlo has left him empty inside. He expects the monsters that inhabit the planet to make short work of him. However, his partner Stevie has other ideas. Stevie has learned how to survive on B-226, and he’s determined to teach Rook the tricks and techniques that have let him beat the odds.
Stevie is nothing at all like Carlo, but Rook can’t resist indulging himself in the comfort of his wiry body. As the two men battle the disgusting and terrifying creatures that threaten them on a daily basis, they grow closer. Despite his psychic wounds, Rook begins to care for his brash, clever partner. Will that connection be enough to keep him alive?
Twice a year, Smashwords holds a month long, site-wide sale, encouraging authors to offer their books at a discount. It’s a great time to find cheap or free reading, and encounter new authors. Although I toss quite a few of the free books I download after a few pages, I’ve struck it lucky a few times. Rook was definitely a fortunate choice.
I really enjoyed this original and vivid scifi romance. T. Strange has managed to create a believably horrible world, then set a very human story against that background. The currents of feeling that flow between Rook and Stevie are powerful but nuanced. There’s an unexpected shift in the second half of the novel that provides even more opportunity for emotional complexity. And since this is a romance, I don’t think it’s a spoiler to reassure you that the ending is basically happy – though as I was reading I really wondered if that was going to be the case.
That, to my mind, is one sign of a well-crafted romance – that despite the genre, the author can keep the reader guessing.
If you like creative, intense MM romance, give Rook a try. Unfortunately the novel seems to no longer be available on Smashwords, but you can get it at Amazon in Kindle format. (Glad I got my copy before the author pulled it!)
Rook hardly cares. The death of his beloved Carlo has left him empty inside. He expects the monsters that inhabit the planet to make short work of him. However, his partner Stevie has other ideas. Stevie has learned how to survive on B-226, and he’s determined to teach Rook the tricks and techniques that have let him beat the odds.
Stevie is nothing at all like Carlo, but Rook can’t resist indulging himself in the comfort of his wiry body. As the two men battle the disgusting and terrifying creatures that threaten them on a daily basis, they grow closer. Despite his psychic wounds, Rook begins to care for his brash, clever partner. Will that connection be enough to keep him alive?
Twice a year, Smashwords holds a month long, site-wide sale, encouraging authors to offer their books at a discount. It’s a great time to find cheap or free reading, and encounter new authors. Although I toss quite a few of the free books I download after a few pages, I’ve struck it lucky a few times. Rook was definitely a fortunate choice.
I really enjoyed this original and vivid scifi romance. T. Strange has managed to create a believably horrible world, then set a very human story against that background. The currents of feeling that flow between Rook and Stevie are powerful but nuanced. There’s an unexpected shift in the second half of the novel that provides even more opportunity for emotional complexity. And since this is a romance, I don’t think it’s a spoiler to reassure you that the ending is basically happy – though as I was reading I really wondered if that was going to be the case.
That, to my mind, is one sign of a well-crafted romance – that despite the genre, the author can keep the reader guessing.
If you like creative, intense MM romance, give Rook a try. Unfortunately the novel seems to no longer be available on Smashwords, but you can get it at Amazon in Kindle format. (Glad I got my copy before the author pulled it!)
April 25, 2018
4.5 stars
Synopsis: Rook is sent to a planet to die as punishment for killing his husband. The prisoners who get sent to the planet act as guards for the miners who are harvesting an important substance. Since all the creatures on the planet, including the dragons, are deadly to humans. Rook is relieved, as he just wants to join his husband.
Rook is partnered with Stevie, who has actually survived for several months planet-side. Stevie teaches Rook how to survive, and although Rook doesn't want to live, he also doesn't want to actively run toward death. In spite of himself, Rook finds himself having feelings for Stevie, but before he can deal with them, the situation on the planet changes, and all Stevie and Rook are trying to do is survive.
What I liked: the world building. Rook was an interesting character, and his grief was delayed since he thought that he would be killed on the planet. Stevie was a fighter and a survivor. The story was well told, and the characters were very memorable.
What I didn't like: the ending felt a little abrupt.
Overall impressions: well written with the right amount of story and background information. Told in 3rd person POV from Rook's perspective.
*I received a copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Synopsis: Rook is sent to a planet to die as punishment for killing his husband. The prisoners who get sent to the planet act as guards for the miners who are harvesting an important substance. Since all the creatures on the planet, including the dragons, are deadly to humans. Rook is relieved, as he just wants to join his husband.
Rook is partnered with Stevie, who has actually survived for several months planet-side. Stevie teaches Rook how to survive, and although Rook doesn't want to live, he also doesn't want to actively run toward death. In spite of himself, Rook finds himself having feelings for Stevie, but before he can deal with them, the situation on the planet changes, and all Stevie and Rook are trying to do is survive.
What I liked: the world building. Rook was an interesting character, and his grief was delayed since he thought that he would be killed on the planet. Stevie was a fighter and a survivor. The story was well told, and the characters were very memorable.
What I didn't like: the ending felt a little abrupt.
Overall impressions: well written with the right amount of story and background information. Told in 3rd person POV from Rook's perspective.
*I received a copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
February 19, 2018
I received this book for a review from NetGalley as I already have some of the Zombie series yet to read.
I’ve been drawn to this story and the character Rook. A quiet large man, intelligent and given to quietness, he’s being sent to B226 for the murder of his husband Carlo.
On this planet are a broad range of dangerous creatures that he and a partner are tasked with destroying while miners in caves they protect can work in safety. His partner is a man called Stevie who is small, agile and friendly considering the danger they face daily.
Rook is still grieving quite hard for his husband and at first ignores his attraction to Stevie as he’s not ready.
It’s a slow build but well worth it while Rook deals with his own grief and issues. They have a strong relationship on the planet but it struggles once they are retrieved and back on Earth.
A wonderful book from a great author.
I’ve been drawn to this story and the character Rook. A quiet large man, intelligent and given to quietness, he’s being sent to B226 for the murder of his husband Carlo.
On this planet are a broad range of dangerous creatures that he and a partner are tasked with destroying while miners in caves they protect can work in safety. His partner is a man called Stevie who is small, agile and friendly considering the danger they face daily.
Rook is still grieving quite hard for his husband and at first ignores his attraction to Stevie as he’s not ready.
It’s a slow build but well worth it while Rook deals with his own grief and issues. They have a strong relationship on the planet but it struggles once they are retrieved and back on Earth.
A wonderful book from a great author.
February 26, 2018
I wouldn’t call this book a romance. It’s more of an adventure with sex thrown in. And it’s sci-fi, really good sci-fi.
Rook has been sent to a planet full of deadly creatures as punishment for killing his husband. Rook would just as soon die so he could join his husband Carlo in the afterlife but his natural survival instincts kick in. He’s partnered with the wily Stevie, who has become adept at escaping the umbrella bats and dragons, so they both live longer than the three weeks they were expected to survive.
This is excellent world building, creative, suspenseful, and engaging. I enjoyed the book very much.
Rook has been sent to a planet full of deadly creatures as punishment for killing his husband. Rook would just as soon die so he could join his husband Carlo in the afterlife but his natural survival instincts kick in. He’s partnered with the wily Stevie, who has become adept at escaping the umbrella bats and dragons, so they both live longer than the three weeks they were expected to survive.
This is excellent world building, creative, suspenseful, and engaging. I enjoyed the book very much.
September 17, 2021
Rook has been transported to an alien planet as punishment for murdering his husband. The survival rate in that hostile planet with murdering beasts and dragons is almost nil. Rook is aware of that and he is ready to die, so that he can join his dead husband in afterlife. But Rook is partnered with a veteran, Stevie who has many tricks up his sleeve.
This is a pretty unique story with aliens and portrayal of life on an alien planet. Even though there are few holes in the technical aspect, the story overall is quite good, keeping you engaged and rooting for their survival. The ending was a bit abrupt compared to the slow pace of the story.
This is a pretty unique story with aliens and portrayal of life on an alien planet. Even though there are few holes in the technical aspect, the story overall is quite good, keeping you engaged and rooting for their survival. The ending was a bit abrupt compared to the slow pace of the story.
August 2, 2019
I enjoyed this book, it was a fun and interesting read! The planet was suitably scary, and Rook and Stevie’s reactions to living on it felt real. But the plot fel a little too small for the length of the book, it felt like there was a fair amount of padding that didn’t really add much to the story. Also Stevie’s attitude at the end of the book sort of infuriated me... so, I don’t know. I enjoyed 80% of this book, but I doubt I’ll be picking it up again
January 9, 2025
Since this book is set in a universe where science as we know it doesn't apply at all, from planetary mechanics to space flight, it has no business being called "science fiction" and it's not romance, either. Inconsistent characterizations, nonexistent worldbuilding, poor plotting, I have no idea why so many people liked this book.
August 3, 2020
I’m probably being more generous than I should by giving this 4 stars, but in spite of all the things I thought were wrong with it, it really did hold my interest and I really enjoyed it.
What I liked: Rook. Big, sweet, shy Rook, who is so gentle-natured he doesn’t even like seeing the horrible deadly creatures on B-226 killed. And we’re supposed to really believe he killed his husband (details of which are never explained)? The creatures; umbrella bats, wheelers, the unnamed creature with the big blue eyes (that dragged Stevie away), and of course, dragons!
Where I’m neutral: Stevie. At first I thought I was going to like him, but as the story progressed, I jsut couldn’ty figure him out. The author made him too much of an enigma. Is he sweet, is he courageous, is he out and out crazy? By the end of the book, I still felt like I didn’t know him.
What I didn’t like: This was a bit too long for the storyline. For awhile I was turning each page and wondering if they were going to finally move beyond their daily cycle of wake up, kill bat, kill wheeler, hide from dragon, go to sleep, rinse and repeat. Then all the things that didn’t make sense. Like, they have the technology to get out into the universe, establish the mining operation/prison planet, but they have antiquated weapons and can’t seem to create an adequate defense against creatures that seem to be fairly easy to kill (except for the dragons). And their ships, which can travel at warp speed across the universe, are not equiped with weapons that can defend against the dragons. -possible spoiler alert- Even their rescue made no sense. The same people who literally abandoned the entire prisoner poplulation and possibly some miners, returned to the planet investigate a man-made explosion, rescued our MCs but then left any other survivors behind.
And finally, the whole sequence back on Earth (which also dragged on) just didn’t fit. Again, they have the technological know-how to have space travel but yet everything on Earth is just routine present-day. And neither Rook nor Stevie are offered any kind of assistance with reacclimation to earth even as Rook starts to go off the deep end.
So yeah, I was left with more questions than answers, but still, I had a good time reading this and it provided a nice fantasy to escape into for awhile.
What I liked: Rook. Big, sweet, shy Rook, who is so gentle-natured he doesn’t even like seeing the horrible deadly creatures on B-226 killed. And we’re supposed to really believe he killed his husband (details of which are never explained)? The creatures; umbrella bats, wheelers, the unnamed creature with the big blue eyes (that dragged Stevie away), and of course, dragons!
Where I’m neutral: Stevie. At first I thought I was going to like him, but as the story progressed, I jsut couldn’ty figure him out. The author made him too much of an enigma. Is he sweet, is he courageous, is he out and out crazy? By the end of the book, I still felt like I didn’t know him.
What I didn’t like: This was a bit too long for the storyline. For awhile I was turning each page and wondering if they were going to finally move beyond their daily cycle of wake up, kill bat, kill wheeler, hide from dragon, go to sleep, rinse and repeat. Then all the things that didn’t make sense. Like, they have the technology to get out into the universe, establish the mining operation/prison planet, but they have antiquated weapons and can’t seem to create an adequate defense against creatures that seem to be fairly easy to kill (except for the dragons). And their ships, which can travel at warp speed across the universe, are not equiped with weapons that can defend against the dragons. -possible spoiler alert- Even their rescue made no sense. The same people who literally abandoned the entire prisoner poplulation and possibly some miners, returned to the planet investigate a man-made explosion, rescued our MCs but then left any other survivors behind.
And finally, the whole sequence back on Earth (which also dragged on) just didn’t fit. Again, they have the technological know-how to have space travel but yet everything on Earth is just routine present-day. And neither Rook nor Stevie are offered any kind of assistance with reacclimation to earth even as Rook starts to go off the deep end.
So yeah, I was left with more questions than answers, but still, I had a good time reading this and it provided a nice fantasy to escape into for awhile.
March 6, 2018
2.5
This book has an interesting blurb. Man gets sent to a prison planet, is partnered with a slightly more experienced prisoner, and feels drawn to him. That's the basics of the blurb. It's also the basics of the book. There is almost nothing more to the book than is in the blurb, which is fine, except that the book is 218 pages long. That is nowhere near enough plot to fill 218 pages. Nowhere. Near. Enough. The book is just FAR TOO LONG for the plot points it contains and the last 1/4 or so of it is just almost completely tell about what happens after....well, after the book should have ended.
The copy editing is pretty good, but there are a few consistency problems. (Hopefully those get cleaned up in the final edit. I read an ARC.) But there are some frankly ridiculous occurrences that I can't really discuss without spoilers—finding things they need conveniently abandoned or knowing things immediately from little available information—that sort of stuff. But the occurrences and decision that get them off the planet and home was just more than I could believe.
I appreciate that Strange death with depression, PTSD and readjustment after the characters went through something traumatic. And I didn't hate the book. But I think it needed to be pared down quite a bit.
This book has an interesting blurb. Man gets sent to a prison planet, is partnered with a slightly more experienced prisoner, and feels drawn to him. That's the basics of the blurb. It's also the basics of the book. There is almost nothing more to the book than is in the blurb, which is fine, except that the book is 218 pages long. That is nowhere near enough plot to fill 218 pages. Nowhere. Near. Enough. The book is just FAR TOO LONG for the plot points it contains and the last 1/4 or so of it is just almost completely tell about what happens after....well, after the book should have ended.
The copy editing is pretty good, but there are a few consistency problems. (Hopefully those get cleaned up in the final edit. I read an ARC.) But there are some frankly ridiculous occurrences that I can't really discuss without spoilers—finding things they need conveniently abandoned or knowing things immediately from little available information—that sort of stuff. But the occurrences and decision that get them off the planet and home was just more than I could believe.
I appreciate that Strange death with depression, PTSD and readjustment after the characters went through something traumatic. And I didn't hate the book. But I think it needed to be pared down quite a bit.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 12 reviews