What do you think?
Rate this book
Gremlins are Malfunctioning
A year ago, supernatural creatures swarmed the earth—and ensured that human technology could no longer function without them.
Eliot Tate works for the Civilian and Environmental Protection Agency, so he's on the receiving end of customer complaints about their gas gremlins. Despite his efforts, though, he can't figure out what's wrong.
He gets help in the form of Alek Saroyan, an agent with the Mythkin Energy Research Facility, but right from the start the two men despise each other. With antagonism, the gas gremlin problem, and rising questions about mythkin sentience hanging over their heads, Eliot and Alek are going to have find their own balance if they stand any chance of restoring the balance that's been lost.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Eliot Tate works for the Civilian and Environmental Protection Agency, so he's on the receiving end of customer complaints about their gas gremlins. Despite his efforts, though, he can't figure out what's wrong.
He gets help in the form of Alek Saroyan, an agent with the Mythkin Energy Research Facility, but right from the start the two men despise each other. With antagonism, the gas gremlin problem, and rising questions about mythkin sentience hanging over their heads, Eliot and Alek are going to have find their own balance if they stand any chance of restoring the balance that's been lost.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
ebook
First published August 22, 2018
1 person is currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Susan Laine
88 books220 followersSusan is an award-winning author of LGBTQ erotic romance. She writes for Dreamspinner Press, DSP Publications, Siren BookStrand, Evernight Publishing, and Less Than Three Press. Susan is a Finn writing in English. She likes action flicks, pop music, saunas, and the seasons in Finland. Join Susan's newsletter HERE.
Coming soon new M/M and F/F erotic romances....
Sorry but... I'm taking a bit of a hiatus from writing at the moment. Will keep you apprised of any changes. Huge thanks to anyone who has read my stories and, hopefully, liked them <3
Merry Christmas!
Coming soon new M/M and F/F erotic romances....
Sorry but... I'm taking a bit of a hiatus from writing at the moment. Will keep you apprised of any changes. Huge thanks to anyone who has read my stories and, hopefully, liked them <3
Merry Christmas!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 23, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
1.5 stars
This is … not a subtle book. Seemingly just to make sure the reader doesn’t miss a point, things are repeated again and again and again. And again. Often on the same page. Rather than let the characters show us through their actions that they’re interested in one another, or that Alek has thoughts and emotions behind his reserved facade, the author tells us patiently, plainly, and several times what each character is feeling. I ended up feeling as if I was watching someone describe a play they’d seen, rather than reading a story.
Alek is cold and reserved, but the author takes pains to let us know that, despite his words and actions to the contrary, he’s very interested in Eliot. We are also know he’s a good person because he has not just one, but five puppies. In words and actions, he’s shy and insecure, but when the situation calls for it, the author tells us he’s domineering and aggressive. If only he could somehow shown us, himself. For his part, Eliot is super judgmental and cruel. He hates republicans because they were the party in power when the great disaster hit that brought our world and the mythkin world together.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
1.5 stars
This is … not a subtle book. Seemingly just to make sure the reader doesn’t miss a point, things are repeated again and again and again. And again. Often on the same page. Rather than let the characters show us through their actions that they’re interested in one another, or that Alek has thoughts and emotions behind his reserved facade, the author tells us patiently, plainly, and several times what each character is feeling. I ended up feeling as if I was watching someone describe a play they’d seen, rather than reading a story.
Alek is cold and reserved, but the author takes pains to let us know that, despite his words and actions to the contrary, he’s very interested in Eliot. We are also know he’s a good person because he has not just one, but five puppies. In words and actions, he’s shy and insecure, but when the situation calls for it, the author tells us he’s domineering and aggressive. If only he could somehow shown us, himself. For his part, Eliot is super judgmental and cruel. He hates republicans because they were the party in power when the great disaster hit that brought our world and the mythkin world together.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
December 15, 2019
As a supernatural mystery sprinkled with political satire and the occasional flare of humor, this story had me fascinated, amused, and spellbound in turn. Set in a world very close to our own – with the exception of the appearance of supernatural creatures called mythkin a year prior – the adventures of two government agents who pretty much hate each other on sight took me into the realm of the impossible with surprising ease. There is some great worldbuilding that underpins the rules of this world, and the way it subtly exposes the flaws in some of our behaviors shows sneaky genius. Focused on the issues around “dirty” and “clean” energy and our dependence on electricity, this novel points out the issues and their consequences in fictional form – and that makes reading it a lot more fun than a dry scientific article.
Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
August 1, 2018
This is a genuinely fun novella to read, despite it's fairly serious parallels to our current world climate.
In the not too distant future, supernatural creatures swarm into our world and change the way we interact with anything electric or motorised. I have a not-so-secret love for warning stories of where our current trajectory with our climate could lead us and, for me, this was like Ferngully set in the real world.
Eliot, one of our main characters, only comes to realise something is changing with the status quo when there comes to be a lot of complaints to do with gas gremlins. When he can't figure it out on his own, he gets teamed with Alek, a fairly stern and unapproachable government agent. They immediately don't get along and have to work together despite themselves.
From here comes a fairly stereotypical mystery plot that doesn't get bogged down in the details. Oh, and the URST between the two main characters is pretty fantastic to behold.
In the not too distant future, supernatural creatures swarm into our world and change the way we interact with anything electric or motorised. I have a not-so-secret love for warning stories of where our current trajectory with our climate could lead us and, for me, this was like Ferngully set in the real world.
Eliot, one of our main characters, only comes to realise something is changing with the status quo when there comes to be a lot of complaints to do with gas gremlins. When he can't figure it out on his own, he gets teamed with Alek, a fairly stern and unapproachable government agent. They immediately don't get along and have to work together despite themselves.
From here comes a fairly stereotypical mystery plot that doesn't get bogged down in the details. Oh, and the URST between the two main characters is pretty fantastic to behold.
November 8, 2018
4.5 STARS
I’ve read a few books by Susan Laine before, but I can honestly say that this one wins as my favourite so far. I wasn’t totally sure what to expect from this book, and although the blurb does cover the gist of the story, it’s also much more than that. This is a book that can be light and amusing, or deep and thought provoking. At its core it is a very clever commentary on politics, environmental issues and animal rights versus human rights. But at the same time it’s fun and kinda cute, and if you don’t want to delve any deeper than that you’ll still enjoy the story.
To give you some background… A year ago corrupt Republican President Stump and his cabinet refused to heed protesters and gleefully drilled away at Erect Rock Reservation. The result was the eruption of the Montana Pass Pipeline, which killed over seventy people when tar sands oil exploded from beneath the earth. The explosion became known as Loreblast, and released into the world energy based creatures who were labeled “mythkin”. Now when I say energy based creatures, I mean whatever form of energy you can think of, there is a mythkin who produces it. Gas gremlins, oil hellions, solar sprites and wind wisps, are just a few examples, and humans are now forced to rely on these creatures to power everything.
I think the author did a great job with world building here, because this Earth is definitely not the one we’re use to. She has created so many new life forms that had to actually make sense, and then she had to fit them into our daily lives. On top of that she wove a plot that I found extremely interesting and well thought out, with so many aspects coming together to culminate in the dramatic conclusion. While the characters of Eliot and Alek were certainly interesting, this book was about so much more than their romance as far as I was concerned.
I sincerely hope that the author chooses to continue writing stories in this new reality she has created. I’d love to see how humans react to the idea that these creatures are sentient beings, and don’t merely exist to serve human needs. Whether continuing with these characters or writing about someone new, I would love to keep reading more of these books by Ms. Laine.
Reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews
http://lovebytesreviews.com/2018/11/0...
I’ve read a few books by Susan Laine before, but I can honestly say that this one wins as my favourite so far. I wasn’t totally sure what to expect from this book, and although the blurb does cover the gist of the story, it’s also much more than that. This is a book that can be light and amusing, or deep and thought provoking. At its core it is a very clever commentary on politics, environmental issues and animal rights versus human rights. But at the same time it’s fun and kinda cute, and if you don’t want to delve any deeper than that you’ll still enjoy the story.
To give you some background… A year ago corrupt Republican President Stump and his cabinet refused to heed protesters and gleefully drilled away at Erect Rock Reservation. The result was the eruption of the Montana Pass Pipeline, which killed over seventy people when tar sands oil exploded from beneath the earth. The explosion became known as Loreblast, and released into the world energy based creatures who were labeled “mythkin”. Now when I say energy based creatures, I mean whatever form of energy you can think of, there is a mythkin who produces it. Gas gremlins, oil hellions, solar sprites and wind wisps, are just a few examples, and humans are now forced to rely on these creatures to power everything.
I think the author did a great job with world building here, because this Earth is definitely not the one we’re use to. She has created so many new life forms that had to actually make sense, and then she had to fit them into our daily lives. On top of that she wove a plot that I found extremely interesting and well thought out, with so many aspects coming together to culminate in the dramatic conclusion. While the characters of Eliot and Alek were certainly interesting, this book was about so much more than their romance as far as I was concerned.
I sincerely hope that the author chooses to continue writing stories in this new reality she has created. I’d love to see how humans react to the idea that these creatures are sentient beings, and don’t merely exist to serve human needs. Whether continuing with these characters or writing about someone new, I would love to keep reading more of these books by Ms. Laine.
Reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews
http://lovebytesreviews.com/2018/11/0...
Read
October 31, 2019Y'know what, 5% in and there's already been racist microagressions against the armenian love interest and afterwards the white protag got angry about getting an angry response, so I think I'm done with this book.
This is what the protag thinks: "Alek acted like he'd been insulted by a born and bred racist." Gee Eliot I wonder why he reacted that way.
Especially since the white protag then said defensively, and I quote: "I'm not your enemy. Hashtag, I stand with immigrants."
Where's all those gritted teeth emoji.
Anyway, I'm sure the worldbuilding is fun, but I'm not here for a book whose basis for enemies to lovers is "I was racist at a dude, he reacted badly and now I hate him and he hates me and our reasons for hating each other are both completely on the same level." Because, y'know, fuck that.
This is what the protag thinks: "Alek acted like he'd been insulted by a born and bred racist." Gee Eliot I wonder why he reacted that way.
Especially since the white protag then said defensively, and I quote: "I'm not your enemy. Hashtag, I stand with immigrants."
Where's all those gritted teeth emoji.
Anyway, I'm sure the worldbuilding is fun, but I'm not here for a book whose basis for enemies to lovers is "I was racist at a dude, he reacted badly and now I hate him and he hates me and our reasons for hating each other are both completely on the same level." Because, y'know, fuck that.
December 12, 2018
Whew, this story is Susan Laine at her very best!! I absolutely LOVED this book!! Ms. Laine’s stories have always been some of my favorites, and this particular book did not disappoint! This book is creative, imaginative world building at its very best. Throw in the budding antagonism/romance relationship between Alek and Eliot, and just watching that particular pot simmer was enough to keep me on the edge of my seat until the very last word on the very last page. If you love urban fantasy, if you love gay erotic romance, and if you love romantic suspense then you are going to love Gremlins are Malfunctioning by Susan Laine! I highly recommend you go out and get your copy today!
Regina
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Full Review @ Coffee Time Romance
& More
Regina
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Full Review @ Coffee Time Romance
& More
September 21, 2022
The title and the blurb sounded really fun. I would have bought it eventually, but was lucky to win it before that happened =) I don't know if it was intended by the author, but reading the book made me think a lot about our environment and environmental problems.
Eliot and Alek work in different agencies, Eliot in customer support for CEPA and Alek as an agent for MERF. Their world changed a few years back when Loreblast happened, altering their world into one without industrial pollution. Ever since then their technology doesn't work on its own anymore. To use it they need the help of mythkin that arrived after Loreblast happened. Mythkin keep things like electricity or gas clean, but no one really knows why they do it.
The two MCs are thrown together to solve a problem with gas gremlins that keep cars running. They don't really like each other when they meet. Eliot is a very open and friendly person, who likes to work with other people, while Alek has a rather aloof and abrasive personality. Nevertheless, they start working on the problem doing some detective work in the beginning, soon figuring out that there's a bigger problem at hand than they thought. Through a mutual kink they also get closer on a personal level and Eliot soon realizes that Alek is rather social inept and doesn't really behave the way he does to affront people...
I really like the way the book is written. The idea with the mythkin and our overlapping worlds is great and presented in an interesting way. I could imagine to read other books from that universe. Maybe with the same MCs, maybe with others. I would have given this book five stars, but there were enough editing issues that it bothered me, while reading. Therefore I'll deduct one star.
Eliot and Alek work in different agencies, Eliot in customer support for CEPA and Alek as an agent for MERF. Their world changed a few years back when Loreblast happened, altering their world into one without industrial pollution. Ever since then their technology doesn't work on its own anymore. To use it they need the help of mythkin that arrived after Loreblast happened. Mythkin keep things like electricity or gas clean, but no one really knows why they do it.
The two MCs are thrown together to solve a problem with gas gremlins that keep cars running. They don't really like each other when they meet. Eliot is a very open and friendly person, who likes to work with other people, while Alek has a rather aloof and abrasive personality. Nevertheless, they start working on the problem doing some detective work in the beginning, soon figuring out that there's a bigger problem at hand than they thought. Through a mutual kink they also get closer on a personal level and Eliot soon realizes that Alek is rather social inept and doesn't really behave the way he does to affront people...
I really like the way the book is written. The idea with the mythkin and our overlapping worlds is great and presented in an interesting way. I could imagine to read other books from that universe. Maybe with the same MCs, maybe with others. I would have given this book five stars, but there were enough editing issues that it bothered me, while reading. Therefore I'll deduct one star.
December 16, 2019
As a supernatural mystery sprinkled with political satire and the occasional flare of humor, this story had me fascinated, amused, and spellbound in turn. Set in a world very close to our own – with the exception of the appearance of supernatural creatures called mythkin a year prior – the adventures of two government agents who pretty much hate each other on sight took me into the realm of the impossible with surprising ease. There is some great worldbuilding that underpins the rules of this world, and the way it subtly exposes the flaws in some of our behaviors shows sneaky genius. Focused on the issues around “dirty” and “clean” energy and our dependence on electricity, this novel points out the issues and their consequences in fictional form – and that makes reading it a lot more fun than a dry scientific article.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews