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Taoree Trilogy #1
Taoree
If you’re reading this, I hope that means that we’ve survived, but after everything I’ve seen, I’m sure that’s only wishful thinking…
This is my story… a story of what happens when you trust an alien race. A race that lived peacefully with humans for over two years, but something suddenly changed. When all hell breaks loose, can we count on the Taoree to step up and help or could they be the real cause of all the terror?
Three of my friends and I try to make our way back home to our families, but there’s chaos at every turn. We can trust no one; we only rely on each other. And even though we work together, nothing can stop the heartbreak and terror that surrounds us.
Before you judge me, ask yourself this: When there’s danger at every turn and nowhere safe to hide, what would you do to keep you and yours alive? Some of us won’t survive… What will happen to those of us that are left behind?
Taoree is Book One in the Taoree Trilogy and is meant to be read as part of a series. This book ends on a cliffhanger, but there is a promise of a happy ending at the end of the trilogy.
***WARNING: This book is recommended for ADULTS ONLY. It is rather gruesome, so if you don’t like violence, death, blood, and the like, don’t read it. There’s also explicit language, as well as romance and graphic sexual content between two male characters.***
This is my story… a story of what happens when you trust an alien race. A race that lived peacefully with humans for over two years, but something suddenly changed. When all hell breaks loose, can we count on the Taoree to step up and help or could they be the real cause of all the terror?
Three of my friends and I try to make our way back home to our families, but there’s chaos at every turn. We can trust no one; we only rely on each other. And even though we work together, nothing can stop the heartbreak and terror that surrounds us.
Before you judge me, ask yourself this: When there’s danger at every turn and nowhere safe to hide, what would you do to keep you and yours alive? Some of us won’t survive… What will happen to those of us that are left behind?
Taoree is Book One in the Taoree Trilogy and is meant to be read as part of a series. This book ends on a cliffhanger, but there is a promise of a happy ending at the end of the trilogy.
***WARNING: This book is recommended for ADULTS ONLY. It is rather gruesome, so if you don’t like violence, death, blood, and the like, don’t read it. There’s also explicit language, as well as romance and graphic sexual content between two male characters.***
362 pages, Paperback
First published August 30, 2017
115 people are currently reading
440 people want to read
About the author
Michele Notaro
76 books952 followersMichele is married to an awesome guy that puts up with her and all the burnt dinners she makes—hey, sometimes characters are a bit distracting, and who doesn’t plot when they’re supposed to be cooking? They live together in Baltimore, Maryland with two little monsters, a three-legged princess, a four-legged goofball, and a cutie with giant ears (aka their two kids, their two cats, and their dog). She hopes to rescue another cat soon, and if her hubby wouldn’t kill her, she’d get more than one… and maybe a few more dogs as well.
She loves creating worlds filled with lots of love, chosen family, and of course, magic, but she also likes making the characters fight for that happy ending. She hopes to one day write all the stories in her head—even if there are too many to count!
If you would like updates on my new books or to be notified when a new book is released, please join my mailing list:
http://eepurl.com/cseIXT
You can find me on Facebook here:
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Feel free to contact me. I’d love to hear from you.
She loves creating worlds filled with lots of love, chosen family, and of course, magic, but she also likes making the characters fight for that happy ending. She hopes to one day write all the stories in her head—even if there are too many to count!
If you would like updates on my new books or to be notified when a new book is released, please join my mailing list:
http://eepurl.com/cseIXT
You can find me on Facebook here:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
Feel free to contact me. I’d love to hear from you.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
August 29, 2024
This is the story of four friends, traveling by foot, to get home after the world goes crazy.
We had over roughly three hundred seventy-five miles to go to get home.
Gay romance
Zombie apocalypse/alien invasion/post apocalyptic
War of the worlds/walking dead
Has a bit of a YA feel to the writing
Intense survival action
A little light on important details
Blood/gore
Cliffhanger ending
I enjoyed this story, despite the lack of backstory. The writing wasn’t bad, but it needed to be much tighter. The characters weren’t developed very well, and a few of them blended into each other. Intimacy was disappointing and a bit point and click.
“My name is Orreannysius-Anyke, but you may call me Orrean.”
The overall premise was so exciting, even though the ending was heart wrenching. Go into this one, knowing some of your favorite characters will be killed.
We had over roughly three hundred seventy-five miles to go to get home.
Gay romance
Zombie apocalypse/alien invasion/post apocalyptic
War of the worlds/walking dead
Has a bit of a YA feel to the writing
Intense survival action
A little light on important details
Blood/gore
Cliffhanger ending
I enjoyed this story, despite the lack of backstory. The writing wasn’t bad, but it needed to be much tighter. The characters weren’t developed very well, and a few of them blended into each other. Intimacy was disappointing and a bit point and click.
“My name is Orreannysius-Anyke, but you may call me Orrean.”
The overall premise was so exciting, even though the ending was heart wrenching. Go into this one, knowing some of your favorite characters will be killed.
February 3, 2022
Xambakaua chambalsia cuscus Kuja xing xing Uhlerius, Derere vo terum tau hies numo ( EU TENTANDO FALAR EM TAOREE)
Buguei minha própria cabeça já bugada kkkkkkkkkkkkk
Chega de palhaçada😅
Taoree foi uma grande surpresa! Eu adoro histórias com alienígenas, sempre estou lendo livros desse tema. Queria uma ser abduzida, mas ainda não aconteceu ( para tristeza da humanidade)
À terra acaba sendo invadida por Aliens chamados de Taoree, os humanos conseguiram um acordo de paz que durou 2 anos, mas tudo começou desmoronar quando os humanos começaram a enlouquecer dando gritos e falando em línguas estranhas, o bagulho fica bem louco com humanos virando personagens de TWD com cérebros controlados pelos TAOREE.
O caos é completo e nisso vamos acompanhar um grupo de 4 amigos de infância, os garotos tentam sobreviver nesse Apocalipse Alien ao estilo The walking dead + invasão.
Jeremy é o principal e fará de tudo para proteger seus amigos, no meio do caos, Jeremy têm um romance com sua paixonite de adolescência, irmão mais velho de seu melhor amigo, Colt e Jeremy vivem um romance no meio dessa bagunça, mas Jeremy começa a ter sonhos estranhos com um Taoree, Jeremy sente uma forte conexão com o Taoree de seus sonhos.
Eu achei que o romance de Colt e Jeremy foi algo mais físico do que algo fortemente sentimental. Analisando bem, Jeremy sempre teve essa paixonite, mas raramente conversava com Colt, Jeremy era mais apaixonado pela aparência do cara. Achei uma relação um pouco superficial, não senti uma química intensa que faz minha pele estremecer ao presenciar um casal.
Toda vez que o Alien aparecia nos sonhos de Jeremy, eu já sentia de cara à química que faltava em Jeremy e Colt!
Alguma coisa me dizia que o tal Taoree seria um divisor de águas nessa história. Foi exatamente como imaginei, quando o taoree aparece além dos sonhos e Jeremy o conhece pessoalmente... Toda história ficou ainda mais interessante!
O taoree chamado Orrean faz o livro ficar 50% melhor do que já estava, ele é meu personagem favorito e espero que no segundo livro saia finalmente o romance entre ele e Jeremy. Sei que o que aconteceu com Colt foi muito triste, foi o momento mais triste do livro. Mas Jeremy deve parar de negar a forte conexão que possui com Orrean, algo além do físico.
Agora vou para o segundo livro!!
Buguei minha própria cabeça já bugada kkkkkkkkkkkkk
Chega de palhaçada😅
Taoree foi uma grande surpresa! Eu adoro histórias com alienígenas, sempre estou lendo livros desse tema. Queria uma ser abduzida, mas ainda não aconteceu ( para tristeza da humanidade)
À terra acaba sendo invadida por Aliens chamados de Taoree, os humanos conseguiram um acordo de paz que durou 2 anos, mas tudo começou desmoronar quando os humanos começaram a enlouquecer dando gritos e falando em línguas estranhas, o bagulho fica bem louco com humanos virando personagens de TWD com cérebros controlados pelos TAOREE.
O caos é completo e nisso vamos acompanhar um grupo de 4 amigos de infância, os garotos tentam sobreviver nesse Apocalipse Alien ao estilo The walking dead + invasão.
Jeremy é o principal e fará de tudo para proteger seus amigos, no meio do caos, Jeremy têm um romance com sua paixonite de adolescência, irmão mais velho de seu melhor amigo, Colt e Jeremy vivem um romance no meio dessa bagunça, mas Jeremy começa a ter sonhos estranhos com um Taoree, Jeremy sente uma forte conexão com o Taoree de seus sonhos.
Eu achei que o romance de Colt e Jeremy foi algo mais físico do que algo fortemente sentimental. Analisando bem, Jeremy sempre teve essa paixonite, mas raramente conversava com Colt, Jeremy era mais apaixonado pela aparência do cara. Achei uma relação um pouco superficial, não senti uma química intensa que faz minha pele estremecer ao presenciar um casal.
Toda vez que o Alien aparecia nos sonhos de Jeremy, eu já sentia de cara à química que faltava em Jeremy e Colt!
Alguma coisa me dizia que o tal Taoree seria um divisor de águas nessa história. Foi exatamente como imaginei, quando o taoree aparece além dos sonhos e Jeremy o conhece pessoalmente... Toda história ficou ainda mais interessante!
O taoree chamado Orrean faz o livro ficar 50% melhor do que já estava, ele é meu personagem favorito e espero que no segundo livro saia finalmente o romance entre ele e Jeremy. Sei que o que aconteceu com Colt foi muito triste, foi o momento mais triste do livro. Mas Jeremy deve parar de negar a forte conexão que possui com Orrean, algo além do físico.
Agora vou para o segundo livro!!
September 7, 2024
I didn’t fell the energy of this book. It needed more connection with everything around the story .
Unfortunately.
Unfortunately.
October 1, 2017
Not bad. Not bad at all.
When I first started reading thus book, I thought I was going to end up not liking it. It has a YA feel to it and I don't like YA at all. The beginning was slow and the writing a bit stilted but around the middle part of the book the author seemed to find her groove and the story turned into something exciting and emotion filled. I legit sobbed throughout the latter half of the story. I ended up reading this in one sitting and am in desperate need of book two.
It's not a perfect book but it shows so much potential that I can't help but recommend it to sci-fi and post apocalyptic lovers.
When I first started reading thus book, I thought I was going to end up not liking it. It has a YA feel to it and I don't like YA at all. The beginning was slow and the writing a bit stilted but around the middle part of the book the author seemed to find her groove and the story turned into something exciting and emotion filled. I legit sobbed throughout the latter half of the story. I ended up reading this in one sitting and am in desperate need of book two.
It's not a perfect book but it shows so much potential that I can't help but recommend it to sci-fi and post apocalyptic lovers.
August 26, 2017
This book is way outside of my norm. I usually like my MM romances sweet, sexy, sometimes a little angsty - and yeah, sure, some shifters and/or kink - but I can honestly say I don't ever recall reading one with aliens and (more or less) zombies and gore. But I LOVED IT. I'm talking obsessive love, like messaging the author wanting to discuss it, and requesting the next one like NOW.
Yes, it ends on a cliffhanger. The author is very upfront about the fact that BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN, and that it's the first in a trilogy, and ends on a cliffhanger. But I don't regret reading it one bit, even though I'm still anxiously waiting to find out what happens next. It was THAT GOOD. And the bad things? Well, you see them coming a LONG way off, but that doesn't make them hurt any less. There were tears.
At first glance, it might seem like this is a book about survival when the world has gone crazy around you. But even more than that, the message is about finding happiness in dark times, and about realizing who and what really matters to you when everything else is taken away.
And despite the tears, despite the cliffhanger - I was left with hope and the certainty that these guys will come through this journey even stronger.
Yes, it ends on a cliffhanger. The author is very upfront about the fact that BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN, and that it's the first in a trilogy, and ends on a cliffhanger. But I don't regret reading it one bit, even though I'm still anxiously waiting to find out what happens next. It was THAT GOOD. And the bad things? Well, you see them coming a LONG way off, but that doesn't make them hurt any less. There were tears.
At first glance, it might seem like this is a book about survival when the world has gone crazy around you. But even more than that, the message is about finding happiness in dark times, and about realizing who and what really matters to you when everything else is taken away.
And despite the tears, despite the cliffhanger - I was left with hope and the certainty that these guys will come through this journey even stronger.
August 19, 2018
This is the 1st book that I've read in a long time where i actually couldn't put it down & had to stay awake to finish it. My emotions were running SOOO freaking high while reading this book. My favorite part was the character development. The author wrote some great ass characters that you want to cheer the fuck out of. 1 of the funniest things of this book is that even though the world is ending the 2 main characters find time to flirt & kiss every 2 secs, & that is because the power of the boner is the strongest force on earth. A big issue for me is the plot line. Even though it was action packed, you could pretty much predict what would happen next & I wanted to be surprised, or at least not have the plot line be so obvious. Or a character decides to be Freddy foreshadow & blatantly tells you something bad is going to happen & when it did it really lost that punch. Now, as for the love interest... i think i know how it's going to play out in the subsequent books & I'm already going to say that i won't support them. Without leaving any spoilers, all i will say about the love interest is that it appears that in subsequent books it will change & grow into something that i think was more than great in this book & should've been left ALONE (haha i hope that makes sense.) Another big issue, & what kept this book from getting 5 stars, is the lack of diverse characters. Diversity is huge for me & unless i missed some character descriptions every single main & secondary is, of course, white. Even characters that make an appearance for 3 sentences were white. Inclusion always brightens a story. 1 last issue i had is that the main character is so fucking dense & so much of the plot line progresses simply because he's so fucking dense. I'm almost positive that I'm gonna finish this series. It kept me seriously engaged.
October 17, 2017
This sci-fi horror story starts pretty simply. While there's not much action in the beginning, it sucked me in right away with its endearing characters that were so real I felt like they could have been friends I knew. The environment and setting for the story are developed in a compelling way. The action starts slowly and escalates quickly after that. I really fell in love with all the kids and their flight across country to find their families. FYI, this is about some 18-19 year boys, but definitely has some adult sexual content. Otherwise, it would have been a great YA book too.
Overall, I loved the story, the tension, and characters.
Semi-spoiler:
I was not prepared for it, but there are some crushing events towards the end. I was not happy about the heart-ache, but I'm hoping the next book relieves the ache. I am definitely hanging on to my seat for book 2.
SPOILERS:
Overall, I loved the story, the tension, and characters.
Semi-spoiler:
I was not prepared for it, but there are some crushing events towards the end. I was not happy about the heart-ache, but I'm hoping the next book relieves the ache. I am definitely hanging on to my seat for book 2.
SPOILERS:
July 11, 2020
Sneaky aliens land on Earth, make peace with humans and 2 years later turn the majority of them into alien controlled zombies. Zombies do what zombies 🧟♀️ 🧟♂️ do. First they kill humans, then they eat humans.
Jeremy and three of his friends are struggling to get home from college. They fight zombies for the majority of the book and talk and talk and talk.... I don’t even know what about, because I was so bored with it from the beginning, I started skimming so much and so fast, I felt like I was on the run from the zombies myself.
Not enough back story. Not enough explanation why things the way they are. Why all of a sudden so many colleges shut down, for example? Not enough reason for some characters to even survive long enough to still be in the book by the end, except for zombie fighting purposes.
Written like a fan-fic and needs a lot of editing, starting with cutting out about half the pages of empty banter and hair/eye descriptions that border fetish.
The story got somewhat better in the last 20%, enough for me to add a star. Tho I didn’t like the fact that one of the MCs died, I did not resent it. For once an author had guts to try and keep it real, as much as this alien as zombie apocalypse can be. People die, when shit happens, and you don’t choose which person you gonna lose.
Jeremy kept pissing me off with him clinging to his pet alien (who, weirdly, is my fav character in this book) while Colt was still around, making Colt jealous AF. What the hell, man?
I still have about 7% left to read. Will report back.
Jeremy and three of his friends are struggling to get home from college. They fight zombies for the majority of the book and talk and talk and talk.... I don’t even know what about, because I was so bored with it from the beginning, I started skimming so much and so fast, I felt like I was on the run from the zombies myself.
Not enough back story. Not enough explanation why things the way they are. Why all of a sudden so many colleges shut down, for example? Not enough reason for some characters to even survive long enough to still be in the book by the end, except for zombie fighting purposes.
Written like a fan-fic and needs a lot of editing, starting with cutting out about half the pages of empty banter and hair/eye descriptions that border fetish.
The story got somewhat better in the last 20%, enough for me to add a star. Tho I didn’t like the fact that one of the MCs died, I did not resent it. For once an author had guts to try and keep it real, as much as this alien as zombie apocalypse can be. People die, when shit happens, and you don’t choose which person you gonna lose.
Jeremy kept pissing me off with him clinging to his pet alien (who, weirdly, is my fav character in this book) while Colt was still around, making Colt jealous AF. What the hell, man?
I still have about 7% left to read. Will report back.
February 22, 2018
Very intense and highly recommended! I've already downloaded the second book, and I'm starting it now.
June 9, 2024
Aliens and the apocalypse are usually not my thing, but I like Michele's wriring so I thought it would be OK to give this a go. First, of all, how could you Michele!? This is the kind of book where no one is safe and it can all happen. I am thoroughly invested. I shed some tears and will likely shed some more in the upcoming books, but I need to know.
September 26, 2017
It was not written well. The book felt very rushed. There were numerous things that didn't really make sense that you kind of find out later but should have known much sooner. There was little to no backs story to give you a sense of what lead up to all of this. The characters had little personality. Cal and Nolan were basically just there. They started off as normal characters, then they just seemed to not be important or have much personality at all once the relationship between Jeremy and Colt started. Nolan almost dies and I wanted to feel something about that but I felt like it would have had such a small impact on the story if he did. Colt was the only character I liked. His personality turned into a teddy bear once they started dating and went to a strong quiet figure to one that would start to break down if anything bad starts to happen. I expected him to be more of a pillar from the way he was described in the beginning, and there wasn't really any development to have him become like that. Sure everything goes to hell rather quickly but he seemed ok for a while then it was like a personality swap. Jeremy was kind of annoying, and dense. I did not like his weird connection to the alien that is never explained. Or the fact that this connection forces him towards the alien and away from Colt, who he has had a crush on for years. It almost felt like he was being brainwashed into loving the alien. Also Colt dies in the most fucked up way so that Jeremy can end up with the alien. Also Jeremy is constantly having these moments with the alien as he is dating Colt and no one calls him out on it. Not even Colt, and they are all right there and have to see it. The whole time I am reading this all I can think is why are you holding each others faces and looking into each others eyes when the man you claim you love is standing like right next to you. Lastly the book has awkward sex that is to boldly worded and detailed to almost be erotica but is also not detailed enough to really get there and you are left with some awkward in between.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2019
https://optimumm.blog/2019/04/04/revi...
Two years ago, alien spaceships came to earth. The Taorees said they came in peace, to share the earth with the humankind. For two years, the two species lived in peace, until one day, humans start to have some major seizures then they’re able to be commanded by the Taroees, and they start to kill other humans.
Jeremy, Cal, Nolan, and Colt are at college when the crisis started, and decide to come back to their home to find their families. It’s the beginning of a long and dangerous journey without knowing what will wait for them at the end.
OH.MY.GOD, this book is FANTASTIC.
Just so you know, I don’t read dystopia. I hate it because It depresses me, all the time. So as much as I love Michele Notaro’s books, I was a little bit scared to read this one, but I decided to give it a go because it was Michele. I read the book in 5 hours, until 4am in the morning, I couldn’t stop, and if my stupid body didn’t ask me to sleep, I would probably have started book 2 and read all night and morning and day until the end of the trilogy (stupid body and stupid need to sleep). Anyway, I adored this book.
The story is told from Jeremy’s point of view only. He’s gay, young, and happy. He’s in college with his two best friends, Cal and Nolan, and with Colt, Cal’s brother and secret crush of J. When people around them start to have major seizures and try to kill them, their little group of four have to survive by any means necessary including killing other people—the ferals, as they named them. In all this horror and trauma, Jeremy and Colt start a relationship. They’re in love, and they fight together. But Jeremy has weird dreams about a Taoree, and he doesn’t understand the meaning of these dreams, until he finally meets Orrean, a member of the Taoree’s resistance and wants to help Jeremy and his family to be safe.
The book is divided into two quests. The first one entailed Jeremy, Colt, Cal, and Nolan trying to get back to their home and their families. The second one is when they finally come back to their homes and agree to follow Orrean to the Independent camp. The plot is captivating and interesting. The characters are very well developed—they are complex like human beings can be. I loved all of them. It reminded me of the Walking Dead in a Sci-fi version, how a group of humans are ready to do anything to survive and have a chance to be safe and happy.
This book is about surviving, but also love, family, friendship and most of all, what a person will do to protect the people they love. The MCs are all young, but facing the dangers, they are incredibly mature, smart and united no matter what. I really loved them all and got attached to all of them very fast. That’s probably why I cried a lot at the end, big fat baby tears. I was warned! I knew something was coming, but I couldn’t help but cry a river of tears. I hated Michele a little bit at this precise moment, but it wasn’t the end-end but the beginning of a new era with a new quest.
I need to warn you, don’t read after your manicure, it will be ruined otherwise. If you love to read about alien invasions versus human resistance this book is for you.
It’s a big 5 stars.
Two years ago, alien spaceships came to earth. The Taorees said they came in peace, to share the earth with the humankind. For two years, the two species lived in peace, until one day, humans start to have some major seizures then they’re able to be commanded by the Taroees, and they start to kill other humans.
Jeremy, Cal, Nolan, and Colt are at college when the crisis started, and decide to come back to their home to find their families. It’s the beginning of a long and dangerous journey without knowing what will wait for them at the end.
OH.MY.GOD, this book is FANTASTIC.
Just so you know, I don’t read dystopia. I hate it because It depresses me, all the time. So as much as I love Michele Notaro’s books, I was a little bit scared to read this one, but I decided to give it a go because it was Michele. I read the book in 5 hours, until 4am in the morning, I couldn’t stop, and if my stupid body didn’t ask me to sleep, I would probably have started book 2 and read all night and morning and day until the end of the trilogy (stupid body and stupid need to sleep). Anyway, I adored this book.
The story is told from Jeremy’s point of view only. He’s gay, young, and happy. He’s in college with his two best friends, Cal and Nolan, and with Colt, Cal’s brother and secret crush of J. When people around them start to have major seizures and try to kill them, their little group of four have to survive by any means necessary including killing other people—the ferals, as they named them. In all this horror and trauma, Jeremy and Colt start a relationship. They’re in love, and they fight together. But Jeremy has weird dreams about a Taoree, and he doesn’t understand the meaning of these dreams, until he finally meets Orrean, a member of the Taoree’s resistance and wants to help Jeremy and his family to be safe.
The book is divided into two quests. The first one entailed Jeremy, Colt, Cal, and Nolan trying to get back to their home and their families. The second one is when they finally come back to their homes and agree to follow Orrean to the Independent camp. The plot is captivating and interesting. The characters are very well developed—they are complex like human beings can be. I loved all of them. It reminded me of the Walking Dead in a Sci-fi version, how a group of humans are ready to do anything to survive and have a chance to be safe and happy.
This book is about surviving, but also love, family, friendship and most of all, what a person will do to protect the people they love. The MCs are all young, but facing the dangers, they are incredibly mature, smart and united no matter what. I really loved them all and got attached to all of them very fast. That’s probably why I cried a lot at the end, big fat baby tears. I was warned! I knew something was coming, but I couldn’t help but cry a river of tears. I hated Michele a little bit at this precise moment, but it wasn’t the end-end but the beginning of a new era with a new quest.
I need to warn you, don’t read after your manicure, it will be ruined otherwise. If you love to read about alien invasions versus human resistance this book is for you.
It’s a big 5 stars.
August 27, 2021
Giving this an optimistic 4 stars because I have high hopes for the rest of the series. The first book is always about world building and character development, and this set things up nicely for the rest of the adventure. We know the people, places, things, and the whys and why nots needed to hit the ground running in the next book. I have a special kind of love for post apocalyptic worlds, so throw in zombies, aliens, tiny mind controlling robots, AND queer characters, and you have my full attention.
00-mm-horrible-disaster-fail-dnf
October 10, 2017*******
Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited ... if I like it, I'll purchase it :-)!!
February 5, 2022
Protagonista chato pra caramba!!! Mas em compensação, o neném Taoree que não posso falar o nome, é meu protegido! 🥺❤
June 10, 2023
Kind of combines the zombie apocalypse trope with the alien invasion trope which was an interesting new approach, I thought. And the emotional content... Omg you WILL cry.
January 14, 2018
Holy shit, this was good. It had fun and humour, heartbreak and loss, hope and the determination of the human spirit - enough complex facets to keep you intrigued but not so many you got lost. A brilliant start to this trilogy and as they are all out I'm now onto the next book.
September 18, 2017
I almost didn't read this book! But something kept pulling me back to it. And boy am I glad I listened! This book was soooo good. I shouldn't have expected anything else from Michele Notaro! Can't wait for the next one! 😍
August 30, 2017
Taoree is unlike anything I’ve read so far, and that’s a compliment. It meshes M/M fiction with aliens, creating a mash up of The Walking Dead and War of the Worlds, but with a gay main character. It makes it kind of hard to put this book into one genre. The romance definitely takes a backseat to the action. Taoree starts kinda slow, but once things start happening, it moves fast and keeps going at break neck speed until the cliffhanger end.
Jeremy, the main character who narrates the story, is interesting enough to carry the story. He’s human enough to identify with, yet not weak, whiny, or passive—three character traits that tend to get on readers’ nerves. He’s smart but not a know it all, he has good friends (which says a lot about someone), has emotions without being over the top, and he feels like a real person, not a cliché. There’s enough mystery going on with him and the people and world around him to make me really want the second and third book in this trilogy to come out.
Remember my comparison with the Walking Dead? Yeah, you may not want to get too attached to certain characters. Just saying. The author isn’t afraid to take risks here, but for me it paid off. I was still pissed and sad, don’t get me wrong, but it was the good kind of upset, because what happened made sense in the world Taoree is set in. Also, there’s a healthy amount of blood and gore, so if that’s not your thing, skip this book.
The writing is straightforward, with little fuzz or frills. It could be a bit tighter at times, but it didn’t distract from the story, which is powerful. This book is definitely ‘high concept’ and I’m excited to see what happens next in this series.
(I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a brutally honest review)
Jeremy, the main character who narrates the story, is interesting enough to carry the story. He’s human enough to identify with, yet not weak, whiny, or passive—three character traits that tend to get on readers’ nerves. He’s smart but not a know it all, he has good friends (which says a lot about someone), has emotions without being over the top, and he feels like a real person, not a cliché. There’s enough mystery going on with him and the people and world around him to make me really want the second and third book in this trilogy to come out.
Remember my comparison with the Walking Dead? Yeah, you may not want to get too attached to certain characters. Just saying. The author isn’t afraid to take risks here, but for me it paid off. I was still pissed and sad, don’t get me wrong, but it was the good kind of upset, because what happened made sense in the world Taoree is set in. Also, there’s a healthy amount of blood and gore, so if that’s not your thing, skip this book.
The writing is straightforward, with little fuzz or frills. It could be a bit tighter at times, but it didn’t distract from the story, which is powerful. This book is definitely ‘high concept’ and I’m excited to see what happens next in this series.
(I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a brutally honest review)
January 3, 2026
2020 = 2 stars
2022 = skimmed to write review
Alien Invasion / Post-Apocalyptic / Horror / Romance Trilogy
💔 The action is good, but the romance is not.
The MCs are:
Jeremy (a human), and Orrean (an alien).
For most of the story, Jeremy is with Colt. The guy he had a crush on, and then gets together with early on. They have sex and fall in love. Until Ugh, I hated all that. ☹️
Due to the aforementioned spoiler, it takes what feels like forever, for the MCs to get together. I really didn't like how long Jeremy And we're supposed to believe that the MCs are So not believable! Especially since Jeremy treats Orrean terribly for half the trilogy. 😤
Book 2 was a little better, but I DNF'd book 3. The violence was excessive, and I disliked the terrible direction the story took. Lots of people died, and it became too much, ruining my enjoyment.
Take the author's warning seriously—I wish I had.
"***WARNING: This book is recommended for ADULTS ONLY. It is rather gruesome, so if you don’t like violence, death, blood, and the like, don’t read it. There’s also explicit language..."
(Approx. 250 swear words)
2022 = skimmed to write review
Alien Invasion / Post-Apocalyptic / Horror / Romance Trilogy
💔 The action is good, but the romance is not.
The MCs are:
Jeremy (a human), and Orrean (an alien).
For most of the story, Jeremy is with Colt. The guy he had a crush on, and then gets together with early on. They have sex and fall in love. Until Ugh, I hated all that. ☹️
Due to the aforementioned spoiler, it takes what feels like forever, for the MCs to get together. I really didn't like how long Jeremy And we're supposed to believe that the MCs are So not believable! Especially since Jeremy treats Orrean terribly for half the trilogy. 😤
Book 2 was a little better, but I DNF'd book 3. The violence was excessive, and I disliked the terrible direction the story took. Lots of people died, and it became too much, ruining my enjoyment.
Take the author's warning seriously—I wish I had.
"***WARNING: This book is recommended for ADULTS ONLY. It is rather gruesome, so if you don’t like violence, death, blood, and the like, don’t read it. There’s also explicit language..."
(Approx. 250 swear words)
October 19, 2017
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⬅️ you get what I mean ;)
Warnings: Violence, death and yes a cliffhanger!
First I too want to thank Mike Harrison for convincing Michele Notaro to go ahead with this wonderful spectacular amazing story. Seriously, I 💚 you!
This book is so refreshing. I honestly don't know if I can properly convey how well this book is written; not to mention how much I enjoyed it. The author does such a brilliant job creating the characters and building the world they are apart of. So much so, that while reading it I could see the characters and their mannerisms and the world they are now left in to survive. Really, well done!
Things will happen in this story that will make you experience a multitude of motions. I can't say much, for fear of ruining it for others, but there are times when I was feeling anxious and then laughing. Other times feeling happy yet sad. However, through all of this, no matter what situation these characters are thrown into, I kept reading. It was that good!
This is definitely one of my favorite books this year and I'm hoping will be one of my favorite series of this year.
Warnings: Violence, death and yes a cliffhanger!
First I too want to thank Mike Harrison for convincing Michele Notaro to go ahead with this wonderful spectacular amazing story. Seriously, I 💚 you!
This book is so refreshing. I honestly don't know if I can properly convey how well this book is written; not to mention how much I enjoyed it. The author does such a brilliant job creating the characters and building the world they are apart of. So much so, that while reading it I could see the characters and their mannerisms and the world they are now left in to survive. Really, well done!
Things will happen in this story that will make you experience a multitude of motions. I can't say much, for fear of ruining it for others, but there are times when I was feeling anxious and then laughing. Other times feeling happy yet sad. However, through all of this, no matter what situation these characters are thrown into, I kept reading. It was that good!
This is definitely one of my favorite books this year and I'm hoping will be one of my favorite series of this year.
March 15, 2020
HUGE SPOILER HERE...so don't look further if you don't want to know...
*********************************************************************
HE DIES! COLT FLIPPING DIES. What the actual hell?! You start by showing me this sweet, caring relationship and then you're gonna kill Colt?! That's not for me. NOT AT ALL. I'm too much of a romantic. I read for specific reasons, and one of them is for HEA and that all consuming love between two people. I don't care that Jeremy gets with the annoying alien and they fall in love. If that's why you wanted to do it, then start off that way, don't SHOW me his time with Colt. I'm just not built that way. I just can't read this anymore once that became clear to me.
Yes, i didn't read it all. It was pointed at that Colt would die (by the already annoying dreams with the alien) and I went ahead to read reviews on the other two books. I wanted to be wrong. I so wanted to be wrong.
I wasn't. He dies and Jeremy falls in love with the alien.
I don't do death of a lover when it's on page. When I had to read and feel the care and love between them, then watch one of them die. I just....can't.
*********************************************************************
HE DIES! COLT FLIPPING DIES. What the actual hell?! You start by showing me this sweet, caring relationship and then you're gonna kill Colt?! That's not for me. NOT AT ALL. I'm too much of a romantic. I read for specific reasons, and one of them is for HEA and that all consuming love between two people. I don't care that Jeremy gets with the annoying alien and they fall in love. If that's why you wanted to do it, then start off that way, don't SHOW me his time with Colt. I'm just not built that way. I just can't read this anymore once that became clear to me.
Yes, i didn't read it all. It was pointed at that Colt would die (by the already annoying dreams with the alien) and I went ahead to read reviews on the other two books. I wanted to be wrong. I so wanted to be wrong.
I wasn't. He dies and Jeremy falls in love with the alien.
I don't do death of a lover when it's on page. When I had to read and feel the care and love between them, then watch one of them die. I just....can't.
March 26, 2020
DNF @41% After reading all these raving reviews, I decided to give this one a go. I have read a few other books by the author and really liked them.
I can say one genera of books I have never been drawn to is zombie-ish books. I just don’t see the appeal. I decided to cheat and read reviews of the next two books and decide to just stop here. Looks like many people were disappointed with the 3rd book, so I don’t really see a point with continuing.
(I also read what is to happen to a character and that is one of my major pet peeves. Nope!!!! You can’t do that!!! Makes me quit reading so fast. I quit reading an entire series when another authors did that.)
I can say one genera of books I have never been drawn to is zombie-ish books. I just don’t see the appeal. I decided to cheat and read reviews of the next two books and decide to just stop here. Looks like many people were disappointed with the 3rd book, so I don’t really see a point with continuing.
(I also read what is to happen to a character and that is one of my major pet peeves. Nope!!!! You can’t do that!!! Makes me quit reading so fast. I quit reading an entire series when another authors did that.)
October 6, 2017
Book & Author: Taoree by Michele Notaro
Rating: 5 stars
I fell in love the authors writing in her book How We Survive and once again she proved to me in this book that she knows how to build a story and characters that grab me and make me hold on for dear life. She is able to create a world that makes the pit of my stomach hurt with what each character goes through, each piece that is revealed, and the level of hold onto your britches cause it’s about to get bumpy (or you know whatever the equivalent to driving over a lava field is).
I hate to give this warning because I know some will turn away because of it, but there is a cliffhanger. Honestly, I am not too keen on them my self, but in an apocalyptic story, you are hard pressed to read a good one that doesn’t end that way. There is too much going into every bit of the character development, relationship development, and world building to end this quickly without it feeling rushed and lousy. The author took her time giving us scenes that furthered her story, connecting us to each character, and creating a story that had all the questions they should come up when you are going on this journey, come up.
Jeremy. Holy christ on a cracker what that guy goes through in this story is nothing short of terrible. Falling in love, aliens taking over, an unknown connection to an alien he’s never met but one that saves him time and time again. Oh and the loss. There is loss. People we like die. But I was ok with that because she warned us going in and I’ve read her work, she doesn’t do that lightly or just for show. There are reasons. And in this, I fully got her reasons. I loved Jeremy. He had such an inner strength and even after seeing and doing the things he had to go through he had a core of him that was light and took life day by day. He worried, he feared, but he didn’t let those things stop him from building something real and keeping his positive attitude.
Orrean. I freaking love him. Orrean is the alien that has this who knows why connection with him. Jeremy fears it at first but man oh freaking man the first time they met in person was...amazing. Besides you know all the saving and killing that had to be done before that moment of recognition. Orrean was so protective of Jeremy and his ragtag family of friends. He had abilities that you have to see to believe, and they are helped along in some way by Jeremy. I mentioned that connection. Yeah, there is something there, and I for one cannot wait to see what it is.
The secondary characters, if you could call them that, are in my opinion just as important as the main characters. Colt, and Nolan, and Wes, and Cal all play a significant part in this story, and I couldn’t love each one of them more. To me, they are just as much main players in this story as Jeremy and Orrean because for the most part they are front and center not only occasional drop-ins.
I could say more. I could go into more detail of the wonders of Michele’s writing. I could talk about the world building. But I’m not because you must read it, experience it, to fully feel and understand the awesomeness that is Taoree.
Ok, Michele, I’m ready for book two now!
*I received a copy of this book through http://diversereader.blogspot.com/*
Rating: 5 stars
I fell in love the authors writing in her book How We Survive and once again she proved to me in this book that she knows how to build a story and characters that grab me and make me hold on for dear life. She is able to create a world that makes the pit of my stomach hurt with what each character goes through, each piece that is revealed, and the level of hold onto your britches cause it’s about to get bumpy (or you know whatever the equivalent to driving over a lava field is).
I hate to give this warning because I know some will turn away because of it, but there is a cliffhanger. Honestly, I am not too keen on them my self, but in an apocalyptic story, you are hard pressed to read a good one that doesn’t end that way. There is too much going into every bit of the character development, relationship development, and world building to end this quickly without it feeling rushed and lousy. The author took her time giving us scenes that furthered her story, connecting us to each character, and creating a story that had all the questions they should come up when you are going on this journey, come up.
Jeremy. Holy christ on a cracker what that guy goes through in this story is nothing short of terrible. Falling in love, aliens taking over, an unknown connection to an alien he’s never met but one that saves him time and time again. Oh and the loss. There is loss. People we like die. But I was ok with that because she warned us going in and I’ve read her work, she doesn’t do that lightly or just for show. There are reasons. And in this, I fully got her reasons. I loved Jeremy. He had such an inner strength and even after seeing and doing the things he had to go through he had a core of him that was light and took life day by day. He worried, he feared, but he didn’t let those things stop him from building something real and keeping his positive attitude.
Orrean. I freaking love him. Orrean is the alien that has this who knows why connection with him. Jeremy fears it at first but man oh freaking man the first time they met in person was...amazing. Besides you know all the saving and killing that had to be done before that moment of recognition. Orrean was so protective of Jeremy and his ragtag family of friends. He had abilities that you have to see to believe, and they are helped along in some way by Jeremy. I mentioned that connection. Yeah, there is something there, and I for one cannot wait to see what it is.
The secondary characters, if you could call them that, are in my opinion just as important as the main characters. Colt, and Nolan, and Wes, and Cal all play a significant part in this story, and I couldn’t love each one of them more. To me, they are just as much main players in this story as Jeremy and Orrean because for the most part they are front and center not only occasional drop-ins.
I could say more. I could go into more detail of the wonders of Michele’s writing. I could talk about the world building. But I’m not because you must read it, experience it, to fully feel and understand the awesomeness that is Taoree.
Ok, Michele, I’m ready for book two now!
*I received a copy of this book through http://diversereader.blogspot.com/*
September 21, 2017
Okay, I.NEED.BOOK.2.NOW! & 3 would be a bonus. I'm not one for cliffhangers, I need to know more and I need to know like yesterday lol
This is not the usual type of book I read, honestly I avoid most sci-fi books especially ones with aliens but every once in awhile I decide to give one a go. The Lux series is probably the one and only other time I read books with aliens. Since I am familiar with this authors work I decided what the hell why not. I'm glad I did. I really enjoyed this book. It had so much going on that it kept me thoroughly entertained with each turn of the page.
Jeremy is a likable MC with a great crew of friends (Cal, Nolan and Colt) surrounding him. We our first introduced to them 2 years prior to current events. They are living in a world where Taoree's (aka the aliens) and humans coexist due to a peace treaty. Two years later Jeremy and his crew are in college together and away from their families when all hell breaks loose. Something is happening to the humans that is causing them to change. The world seems to be changing around them. Jeremy and his friends decide that their best course of action is to make it back home to their families. Having his crew of friends nearby is definitely something he needs when there are aliens and ferals (aka humans who have changed into evil killing bastards) constantly on the attack. Trying to get to safety isn't easy and there is a lot of heartbreak along the way. With his group and 1 friendly alien (Orrean) leading the way we can only hope they will make it. But obviously we have to wait for the next books to find out for sure.
This is not the usual type of book I read, honestly I avoid most sci-fi books especially ones with aliens but every once in awhile I decide to give one a go. The Lux series is probably the one and only other time I read books with aliens. Since I am familiar with this authors work I decided what the hell why not. I'm glad I did. I really enjoyed this book. It had so much going on that it kept me thoroughly entertained with each turn of the page.
Jeremy is a likable MC with a great crew of friends (Cal, Nolan and Colt) surrounding him. We our first introduced to them 2 years prior to current events. They are living in a world where Taoree's (aka the aliens) and humans coexist due to a peace treaty. Two years later Jeremy and his crew are in college together and away from their families when all hell breaks loose. Something is happening to the humans that is causing them to change. The world seems to be changing around them. Jeremy and his friends decide that their best course of action is to make it back home to their families. Having his crew of friends nearby is definitely something he needs when there are aliens and ferals (aka humans who have changed into evil killing bastards) constantly on the attack. Trying to get to safety isn't easy and there is a lot of heartbreak along the way. With his group and 1 friendly alien (Orrean) leading the way we can only hope they will make it. But obviously we have to wait for the next books to find out for sure.
September 4, 2017
First thing first, please hurry and bring on book 2! Honestly, "Taoree" was absolutely amazing, I loved it from beginning to end. It made me laugh and it made me cry, at times it sent me on a rollercoaster. It's just that good. The story is told from Jeremy's p.o.v. but I felt like I got to know and care about all of the guys and Mandy, who is so adorable and really strong for her age. Jeremy is loyal, brave and strong but completely clueless when it comes to how others feel about him, you can't help but love him and feel for him. Colt who seemed really shy and quiet at first turned out to be a really caring and wonderful man. Orrean, in his I love Orrean, was a real man, even though he was an alien. Everything Orrean did and put himself through to protect Jeremy and his friends/family was so touching that at certain parts of had me in tears. Wes,Cal and Nolan found out the crew and they are just as awesome as the others. When I started reading this book I planned on reading a few chapters to relax them finishing the rest some time this weekend. Well that didn't happen, once I started reading I couldn't out it down, literally, I even took it to the bathroom with me. It kept me on the edge of my seat, hungry to find out what happened next. Like I said at the beginning, Bring On The Next Book, I can't wait. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
August 31, 2017
I admit I am a Michele Notaro fan. However I am not an alien/sci fi fan. I had no plans to read this book but because Notaro wrote it, I decided to give it a shot... I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!! She has masterfully created an apoployptic world full of aliens, zombies (for lack of a better term) and heroes. The characters are completely engaging. The action is fast-paced, suspenseful and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I literally stayed up until 4am to read it in one sitting. There is nothing cliche or predictable. She has twists and takes risks with both characters and plot, both well constructed. She anticpates every question a reader could ask. Just when I'd start to think "well why did..." she'd answer the question for me. Beware there is a cliffhanger, but it just makes you lust for the second book. I have to say, the story took me on a bit of an emotional roller coaster ride. At one point I found myself yelling at the book. I highly recommend this book. If you don't think you like sci fi- you clearly haven't read someone that knows how to make it appeal to a broad range of readers like Michele Notaro does.
August 31, 2017
I must admit...I am not a huge fan of sci fi romance. I was leery going into this book but I absolutely loved all of Michele's other books so I decided to give this one a chance too. I was completely blown away...I really really liked this story. I was hooked from the very beginning and hated to see it end. I was on the edge of my seat...I laughed, cried, and yelled a bit lol. I had all the feels with this book.
This is a great start to what promises to be a great trilogy. This does end on a cliffhanger (I know I know...ugh) but it worked for me and I will just have to wait a bit impatiently lol for the next book to find out what happens next.
I can't wait for the next book and I highly recommend this to everyone and if your not a sci-fi fan like me...give it a try anyway you will be pleasantly surprised on how good it is.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
This is a great start to what promises to be a great trilogy. This does end on a cliffhanger (I know I know...ugh) but it worked for me and I will just have to wait a bit impatiently lol for the next book to find out what happens next.
I can't wait for the next book and I highly recommend this to everyone and if your not a sci-fi fan like me...give it a try anyway you will be pleasantly surprised on how good it is.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
May 18, 2018
Saw a recommendation for this under a post for falling in love with your best friend's brother, which is quite frankly one of my favorite tropes. Then I saw that this was a sci fi and I was piqued. Sure enough, there are aliens, and nanobots making people zombies, and an awesome romance to the elder brother of the best friend character. And then the unthinkable happens and I feel as if I were lied to. How dare they recommend this novel to me? How dare they? Well, they dared because this book is all kinds of awesome. It's reminiscent of every zombie movie/series you've ever seen, with a crew of heroes roving through the abandoned wasteland that is America, dodging nano-zombies, called Ferals, and alien invaders, i.e. the Taoree, at every turn. Action! Suspense! Sorrow! Heartbreak! Warning, this is book 1 of a series, and there is no HEA for anyone, let alone the elder brother character (::sob::). Enjoyed, even through the tears.
April 1, 2019
Engaging and
I didn't know what to expect from this book but I'm really happy that I picked it up.
It's like a mix of The walking dead and Independence day from the view of 4 boys in high school.
Childhood friends Jeremy, Nolan, Cal and Cals older brother Colt has to fight for their lives when the alien race the Taoree infects the humans. While trying to get home to their families they have to fight, flee and kill to survive, but even in the darkest times love can grow and Jeremy and Colt find that on their journey. But Jeremy also has dreams of one of the aliens and with this stange connection Jeremy knows that he wants to help.
This is not a sweet romance between two boys, it's a journey full of horror, gore and heart breaking moments. But there's also love and hope and the will to survive anything.
Can't wait to read the next book and see what comes next.
Read the warnings and be prepared to cry.
I didn't know what to expect from this book but I'm really happy that I picked it up.
It's like a mix of The walking dead and Independence day from the view of 4 boys in high school.
Childhood friends Jeremy, Nolan, Cal and Cals older brother Colt has to fight for their lives when the alien race the Taoree infects the humans. While trying to get home to their families they have to fight, flee and kill to survive, but even in the darkest times love can grow and Jeremy and Colt find that on their journey. But Jeremy also has dreams of one of the aliens and with this stange connection Jeremy knows that he wants to help.
This is not a sweet romance between two boys, it's a journey full of horror, gore and heart breaking moments. But there's also love and hope and the will to survive anything.
Can't wait to read the next book and see what comes next.
Read the warnings and be prepared to cry.
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