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Camouflage
Danilo has found the trick to being not-straight at a Catholic University: just fade into the background. Until the day he can't anymore, and bullies chase him to the river, where he falls in. When he emerges, the year is 1508 and he soon finds himself on the run from armed soldiers with two unlikely friends. As a white tiger in the sixteenth century, Danilo would be welcomed into the oppressive Church, but as a queer person, he could be imprisoned or burned at the stake.
Not a hard choice, until one of his friends lands in prison with a death sentence, and Danilo has to embark on a rescue more dangerous than anything he's faced in his life, past or present.
Not a hard choice, until one of his friends lands in prison with a death sentence, and Danilo has to embark on a rescue more dangerous than anything he's faced in his life, past or present.
294 pages, Paperback
First published November 12, 2017
6 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Kyell Gold
66 books633 followersHi there! I am a writer of gay furry fiction--but you probably know that if you've seen my book listing here. I live in California with my husband Kit, and when I'm not writing, we like to go out to eat and watch movies. We travel a lot, too, mostly around the West Coast, but occasionally to the midwest and east.
I blog at http://www.kyellgold.com/wpblog about upcoming travel plans, upcoming books and news, general writing principles, gay rights, and whatever else seems interesting. And I co-host a podcast, called "Unsheathed," where we talk about the craft of writing and the furry fandom, sometimes at the same time.
If you have a question about any of the books, check the FAQ on my website and then ask away! :)
I blog at http://www.kyellgold.com/wpblog about upcoming travel plans, upcoming books and news, general writing principles, gay rights, and whatever else seems interesting. And I co-host a podcast, called "Unsheathed," where we talk about the craft of writing and the furry fandom, sometimes at the same time.
If you have a question about any of the books, check the FAQ on my website and then ask away! :)
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 22, 2018
I am constantly amazed at Kyell Gold's ability to write stories with such incredible realism. This story was dirty, gritty, and so real.
Partially set alongside the Dev and Lee series, most of this novel takes place in the early 1500s, and you have to wonder if Kyell actually found a way to travel back there for his research. There were so many little details that other writers forget that all added to create a truly sublime story.
This is probably Kyell's best work yet.
Partially set alongside the Dev and Lee series, most of this novel takes place in the early 1500s, and you have to wonder if Kyell actually found a way to travel back there for his research. There were so many little details that other writers forget that all added to create a truly sublime story.
This is probably Kyell's best work yet.
January 25, 2018
Writing up my thoughts on “Camoflauge” feels a bit weird, because while it’s only been recently published, the story itself was actually completed and posted almost five years ago. So in a sense I feel late to the party as it were. This story was an experiment by author Kyell Gold, where he’d write and post excerpts online for people to read and comment on as it was being written (a format he continues through his Patreon account). Reading his thoughts on those posts all those years ago reveal that he started this story not quite knowing what would happen or how it would end, so it’s a testament to his talents (and probably years of editing finesse) that the story does not come across as a cluttered mess.
The beginning is a little rough though. Danilo's background and the details of his predicament are a little complex, not helped by the fact that all this info is dumped on you in the first chapter, only to be literally and metaphorically washed down the river when Danilo finds himself in 1508. But after this the plot picks up, and I have to say, had I been reading this as it was being posted serially online I would have been in a state of constant stress! Possibly because of the format by which this story was originally published, every chapter ends on a cliffhanger as the tension of the plot ramps up to nerve biting levels. I haven’t been so on the edge-of-my seat reading a book in a while. There are usually particular moments in Kyell Gold’s books that stay with me long after I’ve read them, and this is no exception. It’s been awhile since I’ve been genuinely shocked at what’s transpiring on the page.
With all that being said, I do feel the book falters a bit at the end. Gold does a good job of pushing the plot and tension at a breakneck speed until the climax, where it seems to just stop all of a sudden, before casually wrapping up in the last couple chapters. While the resolution attempts to give the reader some emotional closure, it never quite recovers its lost momentum, and some might find the ending to be somewhat disappointing in that regard. I know it isn’t technically a science-fiction story (despite the time travel) and that not everything is going to be explained, but some unanswered questions can’t help but nag on me, and I feel the lack of explanation for some of the fantastical elements present in the story are where the lack of preplanning in the development of the plot reveal themselves.
It’s also probably best to mention that this is a very graphic story, and not just in an erotic way. Due to the nature of the setting there’s lots of descriptions of filth and disease, along with violence, mutilation and rape. If any of these elements make you squeamish, it’s best to look elsewhere because Gold does not shy away from the grisly details. However this is not a hopeless or depressing story, despite its subject matter, and Gold certainly does not revel in the gory details.
While perhaps not his best book in my opinion, “Camouflage” certainly has all the emotional highlights and can’t-put-down qualities I’ve come to expect from Kyell Gold. Definitely recommended if you’re a fan of his work, or looking for a mature supernatural coming-of-age tale that isn’t afraid to bite!
The beginning is a little rough though. Danilo's background and the details of his predicament are a little complex, not helped by the fact that all this info is dumped on you in the first chapter, only to be literally and metaphorically washed down the river when Danilo finds himself in 1508. But after this the plot picks up, and I have to say, had I been reading this as it was being posted serially online I would have been in a state of constant stress! Possibly because of the format by which this story was originally published, every chapter ends on a cliffhanger as the tension of the plot ramps up to nerve biting levels. I haven’t been so on the edge-of-my seat reading a book in a while. There are usually particular moments in Kyell Gold’s books that stay with me long after I’ve read them, and this is no exception. It’s been awhile since I’ve been genuinely shocked at what’s transpiring on the page.
With all that being said, I do feel the book falters a bit at the end. Gold does a good job of pushing the plot and tension at a breakneck speed until the climax, where it seems to just stop all of a sudden, before casually wrapping up in the last couple chapters. While the resolution attempts to give the reader some emotional closure, it never quite recovers its lost momentum, and some might find the ending to be somewhat disappointing in that regard. I know it isn’t technically a science-fiction story (despite the time travel) and that not everything is going to be explained, but some unanswered questions can’t help but nag on me, and I feel the lack of explanation for some of the fantastical elements present in the story are where the lack of preplanning in the development of the plot reveal themselves.
It’s also probably best to mention that this is a very graphic story, and not just in an erotic way. Due to the nature of the setting there’s lots of descriptions of filth and disease, along with violence, mutilation and rape. If any of these elements make you squeamish, it’s best to look elsewhere because Gold does not shy away from the grisly details. However this is not a hopeless or depressing story, despite its subject matter, and Gold certainly does not revel in the gory details.
While perhaps not his best book in my opinion, “Camouflage” certainly has all the emotional highlights and can’t-put-down qualities I’ve come to expect from Kyell Gold. Definitely recommended if you’re a fan of his work, or looking for a mature supernatural coming-of-age tale that isn’t afraid to bite!
March 21, 2019
Not a bad book, but one that didn't quite catch my interest. Well, at least it grabbed enough for me to finish it.
I found it took too long for the conflict, or rather, REAL conflict to be established and dealt with, and while Danilo was an interesting character, with a very compelling arc, every other supporting character felt bland and it hurt the overall experience. It was hard to get invested when there was no other character to be involved in but Danilo. I think it could have been handled much better.
I really enjoyed the ending, as everything is wrapped up nicely and has a very lovely lesson to learn. But being honest, I don't think I could recommend this book, unless you have a big knack for historical eras, as the details on the 1500's time is spectacular. I will remember this book for Danilo and its message, but aside from that... yeah, not much I can recall.
I found it took too long for the conflict, or rather, REAL conflict to be established and dealt with, and while Danilo was an interesting character, with a very compelling arc, every other supporting character felt bland and it hurt the overall experience. It was hard to get invested when there was no other character to be involved in but Danilo. I think it could have been handled much better.
I really enjoyed the ending, as everything is wrapped up nicely and has a very lovely lesson to learn. But being honest, I don't think I could recommend this book, unless you have a big knack for historical eras, as the details on the 1500's time is spectacular. I will remember this book for Danilo and its message, but aside from that... yeah, not much I can recall.
May 11, 2018
A thrilling masterpiece for any furry history nerd!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews