What do you think?
Rate this book
Strays
Orphaned at a young age and raised in the foster system, Jory Smith has no idea he’s half incubus. He only knows he has the power to heal people, making himself sick in the process. Exploited by a crooked faith healer who sells his abilities and his life to the highest bidder and then left for dead, Jory flees, falling into a job at a small-town café where he can put his lifelong obsession with baking to good use.
But the minister who exploited him wants him back.
Exiled hellhound-turned–bounty hunter Malpheus Pelle has no idea why his human client wants him to track down an incubus. Jory is traumatized and afraid to touch anyone, an emotional handicap that could prove fatal for a demon who requires physical contact. Needing answers, Mal concocts a disastrous pretend to date Jory to uncover the truth. Unfortunately, his plan never included dealing with an ancient demon assassin, Jory’s orgasmic pumpkin cookies, or losing his heart to the incubus he’s supposed to be hunting….
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 25, 2018
101 people are currently reading
365 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Thomas
8 books354 followersA.J. Thomas writes romantic suspense. She’s earned a Bachelor’s degree in Literature from the University of Montana and worked in a half-dozen different jobs from law enforcement officer to librarian before settling down. Life as a military spouse has tossed her around the country so many times she doesn’t know how to answer when people ask her where she’s from, but she delights in living as a perpetual tourist, visiting new places and discovering amazing things.
Her time is divided between taking care of her three young children, experimenting with cooking and baking projects that rarely explode these days, and embarrassing her husband with dirty jokes. When she’s not writing, she hikes, gardens, researches every random idea that comes into her head, and develops complicated philosophical arguments about why a clean house is highly overrated. Her work has won multiple awards, including the 2013 AMB Ovation Award for Best LGBT Inter-racial Romance, and the 2014 Rainbow Award for Best Gay Contemporary Fiction.
Blog: http://ajthomasromance.blogspot.com/
Website: http://ajthomasromance.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AJ.Thomas.Ro...
E-mail: ajthomasromance@gmail.com
Her time is divided between taking care of her three young children, experimenting with cooking and baking projects that rarely explode these days, and embarrassing her husband with dirty jokes. When she’s not writing, she hikes, gardens, researches every random idea that comes into her head, and develops complicated philosophical arguments about why a clean house is highly overrated. Her work has won multiple awards, including the 2013 AMB Ovation Award for Best LGBT Inter-racial Romance, and the 2014 Rainbow Award for Best Gay Contemporary Fiction.
Blog: http://ajthomasromance.blogspot.com/
Website: http://ajthomasromance.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AJ.Thomas.Ro...
E-mail: ajthomasromance@gmail.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
December 9, 2018
*1 star*
"Strays" is one of the most complicated books I've read in a long time, and I don't mean that in a good way.
There are stories that are extremely complicated with a hundred characters or a plot that weaves around and around taking you to a journey you never imagined and returning you ecstatic and bright eyed from the amazing turns.
And there are stories like this one, where the plot is so compex you can't make sense of it. Where the paranormal element isn't explained in a clear enough way and you end up lost about what each creature is supposed to be. Where you end up so confused about what's happening that you can't even follow the storyline anymore.
I accept that maybe it was me that was unable to connect with the story, but it had some foul points that I can't ignore. When I read about an imaginary world I want the author to give me some details, subtle but there nonetheless. If that doesn't happen how am I supposed to appreciate the new world I'm reading about? Maybe it's brilliant and maybe it's not, but I have no way of knowing which one is true since I don't have all the details. One thing I need is background info and I didn't get nearly enough of them here.
I actually started enjoying the story at about 30% but saddly that didn't last very long. All of a sudden supernatural creatures where everywhere and the explanation we got for most of what was happening was nonexistent. In the end I just gave up and skimmed the last 20%. I was so lost and frustrated that there was no reason to keep reading everything that was happening.
As for the plot, it revolves around a guy on the run that has some weird abilities that he never questioned or tried to find where they came from and the hellhound turned bounty hunter that was hired to find him and bring him back. Everything sounds fine so far. The confusion began once the hellhound found the guy. From then on everything became more and more complicated and I got lost about that was supposed to be happening, who was the enemy and who had sent that enemy. I stopped caring at some point as I saw that there was no saving this story for me. My favorite character was a side character named Neal that didn't have a particularly big part but was very interesting.
I can't recomment the book, since I didn't enjoy it, but I'm sure it'll be a good match for some readers. So, if you like paranormal stories that venture further than vampires and shifters, if you are okay with complicated storylines and if you don't mind getting only a few info about a new world then give this story a try and maybe you'll like it.
This review has been cross-posted on The Novel Approach Reviews.
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher via The Novel Approach Reviews in exchange for an honest review. *
"Strays" is one of the most complicated books I've read in a long time, and I don't mean that in a good way.
There are stories that are extremely complicated with a hundred characters or a plot that weaves around and around taking you to a journey you never imagined and returning you ecstatic and bright eyed from the amazing turns.
And there are stories like this one, where the plot is so compex you can't make sense of it. Where the paranormal element isn't explained in a clear enough way and you end up lost about what each creature is supposed to be. Where you end up so confused about what's happening that you can't even follow the storyline anymore.
I accept that maybe it was me that was unable to connect with the story, but it had some foul points that I can't ignore. When I read about an imaginary world I want the author to give me some details, subtle but there nonetheless. If that doesn't happen how am I supposed to appreciate the new world I'm reading about? Maybe it's brilliant and maybe it's not, but I have no way of knowing which one is true since I don't have all the details. One thing I need is background info and I didn't get nearly enough of them here.
I actually started enjoying the story at about 30% but saddly that didn't last very long. All of a sudden supernatural creatures where everywhere and the explanation we got for most of what was happening was nonexistent. In the end I just gave up and skimmed the last 20%. I was so lost and frustrated that there was no reason to keep reading everything that was happening.
As for the plot, it revolves around a guy on the run that has some weird abilities that he never questioned or tried to find where they came from and the hellhound turned bounty hunter that was hired to find him and bring him back. Everything sounds fine so far. The confusion began once the hellhound found the guy. From then on everything became more and more complicated and I got lost about that was supposed to be happening, who was the enemy and who had sent that enemy. I stopped caring at some point as I saw that there was no saving this story for me. My favorite character was a side character named Neal that didn't have a particularly big part but was very interesting.
I can't recomment the book, since I didn't enjoy it, but I'm sure it'll be a good match for some readers. So, if you like paranormal stories that venture further than vampires and shifters, if you are okay with complicated storylines and if you don't mind getting only a few info about a new world then give this story a try and maybe you'll like it.
This review has been cross-posted on The Novel Approach Reviews.
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher via The Novel Approach Reviews in exchange for an honest review. *
September 13, 2018
I love mythology and fantasy in modern settings. Give me a mix of the familiar and the fantastic and I am one happy camper. Strays fit the bill pretty well for me with its quirky mix of mythology, religion, and cupcakes.
Jory Smith grew up in the system. He never knew his parents and was passed from foster home to foster home until he was taken in by a faith healer (ie con man). You see, Jory can actually heal people, and though he doesn't actually believe what the good old reverend preaches, at least Jory can actually heal. It comes at a high cost, however, because every time he heals someone, he takes on their illness and each time it hurts a little worse, and the reverend will use him up until he's dead -- which is kind of what happens!
What he would rather be doing, however, is baking. Baking is Jory's passion and where he gets the most feelings of joy and accomplishment. Baking is one of those simple joys that can bring happiness to others, and Jory is amazingly good. After being left for dead, Jory runs as far as he can and finds himself a spot in a cafe making pastries and cakes.
Mal Pelle is a Hellhound bounty hunter contracted to find Jory after the reverend figures out that Jory lived. Because if Jory is still alive, the good reverend can still make money, and the reverend, well, he can't exactly do more than con. Mal is exiled from his clan and Hel because he insisted once insisted on doing the right thing, even though the cost was high. Mal is a bit cynical, and very practical and first assumes that Jory was not just in on the con, but enjoyed it.
Well, not everything is as it first seems. Jory is the very definition of unexpected and Mal is powerless in his attraction to him and soon finds out that his employers do not have Jory's best interests at heart.
There is a lot of world-building in Strays as I would expect from a new fantasy series. I didn't at all have trouble keeping up, however, and I ate it up with a spoon. You actually don't have to track the minute details anyway. Keep up with the main and secondary characters and you're golden. I loved all the mythology, though, and I'm happy it was all there. I'm hoping to get more stories in this universe, as I thoroughly enjoyed this one!
------------
ARC of Strays was generously provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
Jory Smith grew up in the system. He never knew his parents and was passed from foster home to foster home until he was taken in by a faith healer (ie con man). You see, Jory can actually heal people, and though he doesn't actually believe what the good old reverend preaches, at least Jory can actually heal. It comes at a high cost, however, because every time he heals someone, he takes on their illness and each time it hurts a little worse, and the reverend will use him up until he's dead -- which is kind of what happens!
What he would rather be doing, however, is baking. Baking is Jory's passion and where he gets the most feelings of joy and accomplishment. Baking is one of those simple joys that can bring happiness to others, and Jory is amazingly good. After being left for dead, Jory runs as far as he can and finds himself a spot in a cafe making pastries and cakes.
Mal Pelle is a Hellhound bounty hunter contracted to find Jory after the reverend figures out that Jory lived. Because if Jory is still alive, the good reverend can still make money, and the reverend, well, he can't exactly do more than con. Mal is exiled from his clan and Hel because he insisted once insisted on doing the right thing, even though the cost was high. Mal is a bit cynical, and very practical and first assumes that Jory was not just in on the con, but enjoyed it.
Well, not everything is as it first seems. Jory is the very definition of unexpected and Mal is powerless in his attraction to him and soon finds out that his employers do not have Jory's best interests at heart.
There is a lot of world-building in Strays as I would expect from a new fantasy series. I didn't at all have trouble keeping up, however, and I ate it up with a spoon. You actually don't have to track the minute details anyway. Keep up with the main and secondary characters and you're golden. I loved all the mythology, though, and I'm happy it was all there. I'm hoping to get more stories in this universe, as I thoroughly enjoyed this one!
------------
ARC of Strays was generously provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2018
This was quite confusing. Now I’m not really one for books where the plot gets complicated and I have to draw a map to figure out who is related to whom and what they all are to each other. So that could be totally on me and not the book.
Jory is a 20 year old minister assistant. The minister thrives on conning people into giving their money to the church, and Jory is just the tool he needs. Jory has always been able to heal people with a touch, so when he is 14 his foster mother ‘gives’ him to the church.
When the minister, Adam, cons Jory into healing someone, it almost kills Jory. Adam drags him into the woods and leaves him there to die. But Jory isn’t that easy to kill. And when Adam needs him a few weeks later when the person Jory healed is starting to get sick again, he hires Mal to track Jory down.
Mal is a hellhound. A hellhound can take several forms, mostly different types of dogs, and of course his human form. Together with his close hellhound friend, Louise, Mal tracks other demons down.
When Mal finally finds Jory, he can feel how strong Jory really is. He has never encountered an incubus that strong before. But Jory doesn’t seem to know he is a demon at all……
While I liked the world A.J. Thomas created, it was just too much for me at times.
I was glad this had no info dump, but it did get awfully confusing for me. When everything was revealed during the big showdown I had absolutely no idea anymore what was going on. It was simply too much. Even though the rest of the book is mostly show and not tell, it was still overwhelming to figure out who was who and why they were there.
And there were a couple of instances that the writing just plain confused me and I wasn’t even sure who did what.
It definitely wasn’t all bad. I liked Jory, a lot. And I really wanted him to get his HEA. Now Mal was a hard person to like sometimes. I got where he was coming from and what he was trying to do (mostly protect Jory), but he could have been a little more honest a little sooner.
The romance was okay, but I guess I wanted a bit more. These guys did a lot of awkward mysterious talking before something happened. Mysterious in that Mal thought Jory knew he was a demon (himself and Mal), so he said things that would have sounded strange to a human, but for some reason Jory didn’t really notice or simply ignored it most of the time. That was a bit… weird.
I did like the overall premise, but I think this had too much going on for me to really enjoy it. If a few things would have been left out, I would have liked it more.
Oh, but I do have to say I absolutely LOVE the cover. It is beautiful….
------------------------------
An ARC of Strays was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
Jory is a 20 year old minister assistant. The minister thrives on conning people into giving their money to the church, and Jory is just the tool he needs. Jory has always been able to heal people with a touch, so when he is 14 his foster mother ‘gives’ him to the church.
When the minister, Adam, cons Jory into healing someone, it almost kills Jory. Adam drags him into the woods and leaves him there to die. But Jory isn’t that easy to kill. And when Adam needs him a few weeks later when the person Jory healed is starting to get sick again, he hires Mal to track Jory down.
Mal is a hellhound. A hellhound can take several forms, mostly different types of dogs, and of course his human form. Together with his close hellhound friend, Louise, Mal tracks other demons down.
When Mal finally finds Jory, he can feel how strong Jory really is. He has never encountered an incubus that strong before. But Jory doesn’t seem to know he is a demon at all……
While I liked the world A.J. Thomas created, it was just too much for me at times.
I was glad this had no info dump, but it did get awfully confusing for me. When everything was revealed during the big showdown I had absolutely no idea anymore what was going on. It was simply too much. Even though the rest of the book is mostly show and not tell, it was still overwhelming to figure out who was who and why they were there.
And there were a couple of instances that the writing just plain confused me and I wasn’t even sure who did what.
It definitely wasn’t all bad. I liked Jory, a lot. And I really wanted him to get his HEA. Now Mal was a hard person to like sometimes. I got where he was coming from and what he was trying to do (mostly protect Jory), but he could have been a little more honest a little sooner.
The romance was okay, but I guess I wanted a bit more. These guys did a lot of awkward mysterious talking before something happened. Mysterious in that Mal thought Jory knew he was a demon (himself and Mal), so he said things that would have sounded strange to a human, but for some reason Jory didn’t really notice or simply ignored it most of the time. That was a bit… weird.
I did like the overall premise, but I think this had too much going on for me to really enjoy it. If a few things would have been left out, I would have liked it more.
Oh, but I do have to say I absolutely LOVE the cover. It is beautiful….
------------------------------
An ARC of Strays was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
October 17, 2018
It took me a while to pinpoint what I find so strange about the world-building in this book but now I've got it. It reads like the second book in a series where I didn't read the first installment. I suppose if that hypothetical first book was set in Hel and gave the story how Jory got stranded on earth in the first place, everything would make sense. As it is the book feels... unfinished? Slightly confusing? What's that bit with the father?
Eh, I don't know. Usually I really like the author but this book here is not up to her usual standards. It's her first foray into a fantastical setting and though she is generally quite talented, I think she has a lot to learn in that respect.
Eh, I don't know. Usually I really like the author but this book here is not up to her usual standards. It's her first foray into a fantastical setting and though she is generally quite talented, I think she has a lot to learn in that respect.
October 16, 2018
This sweet story put a smile on my face. The time line seemed a bit skewed but I don't care. Both Mal and Jory were interesting and entertaining. I enjoyed the was that the author slowly peeled away the layers of the story. I'd like to read more.
September 25, 2018
Jory is a minister assistant with healing power, but it can backfire and he can get very weak when he does it. After one healing occasion when he almost dies, Jory flees the Church and settles down in a small town, to become a pastry chef. Mal is a hellhound who is hired to find Jory.
Okay, it started well for me – the premise was good and I looked forward to seeing how Mal and Jory ended up. But then the world-building became CONFUSING with a lot of plots and explanation that was too much for my poor little brain to organize. Suddenly it involved demons, dragons, ghoul, and there was talk about ETHER, some sort of war in Hel, or such? I don’t know, I think I lost the plot somewhere.
I was continuously puzzled with Jory and whether or not he was informed about the paranormal. I mean, Jory didn’t know who he was, that he was an incubus, he didn’t understand his power, but he didn’t blink an eye when Mal told him his age?
I liked the characters okay – Jory most especially, because he was kind of adorable with his ability to bake and create orgasmic pastry items. However, the rest wasn’t that enjoyable for me. I read this scrunching my head whenever one of the characters tried to explain what was going on.
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
Okay, it started well for me – the premise was good and I looked forward to seeing how Mal and Jory ended up. But then the world-building became CONFUSING with a lot of plots and explanation that was too much for my poor little brain to organize. Suddenly it involved demons, dragons, ghoul, and there was talk about ETHER, some sort of war in Hel, or such? I don’t know, I think I lost the plot somewhere.
I was continuously puzzled with Jory and whether or not he was informed about the paranormal. I mean, Jory didn’t know who he was, that he was an incubus, he didn’t understand his power, but he didn’t blink an eye when Mal told him his age?
I liked the characters okay – Jory most especially, because he was kind of adorable with his ability to bake and create orgasmic pastry items. However, the rest wasn’t that enjoyable for me. I read this scrunching my head whenever one of the characters tried to explain what was going on.
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
September 19, 2018
As with most of my 3-Star rated books, there were things I liked and disliked about this book.
I loved the world building, the lore and the way the author approached the concept of HEl and the various systems within it. It was very interesting.
I also liked Jory, Neal and Louise. I even liked the Dragon in the end but I honestly didn't know what to think of Mal. I truly believe he should have noticed Jory's ignorance of all things arcane earlier and informed him, even before things started going off. Rather, he assumed and didn't even bother to explain things to Jory. The same goes for Neal. I got why he was reluctant but he should have said something to Jory earlier
This, brings me to my main issue with this book. Jory was kept in the dark for far far too long and when he was finally informed, it was in confusing bits and pieces. How difficult would it have been for Neal to just sit him down and give him the full run-down of his origins? Apparently too difficult given the stress he was made to go through.
I wish that hadn't been the case because had that been handled better, this would have easily been a 4/4.5 Star book
** eARC Was Graciously Provided By The Publisher In Exchange For An Honest, Unbiased, Review **
I loved the world building, the lore and the way the author approached the concept of HEl and the various systems within it. It was very interesting.
I also liked Jory, Neal and Louise. I even liked the Dragon in the end but I honestly didn't know what to think of Mal. I truly believe he should have noticed Jory's ignorance of all things arcane earlier and informed him, even before things started going off. Rather, he assumed and didn't even bother to explain things to Jory. The same goes for Neal. I got why he was reluctant but he should have said something to Jory earlier
This, brings me to my main issue with this book. Jory was kept in the dark for far far too long and when he was finally informed, it was in confusing bits and pieces. How difficult would it have been for Neal to just sit him down and give him the full run-down of his origins? Apparently too difficult given the stress he was made to go through.
I wish that hadn't been the case because had that been handled better, this would have easily been a 4/4.5 Star book
** eARC Was Graciously Provided By The Publisher In Exchange For An Honest, Unbiased, Review **
May 27, 2019
4.5 Stars
Review:
I just kind of loved this! The romance was really sweet and fun. The characters were lovable. One of them was a hellhound, a supernatural I had never read about before. The other was an incubus, one of my favorite types of supernaturals. The sex was hot without being too serious. The story was good. That description doesn’t do the book justice though. It makes it sound kind of like every other paranormal romance out there, but this one really stood out to me.
This book didn’t have all the tropes I usually come across in paranormal romance. No protag who was too feisty for their own good. No brooding love interest. No overly eloquent or poorly timed love speeches. No instalove. Yeah, there was some secret-keeping that you knew was gonna blow up in one of the character’s faces, but even that was mild and quickly handled. The whole story, including the characters and the romance, felt grounded and realistic (well, realistic if there were really demons living in the world and accidentally falling for each other). Mal was a little gruff. Jory was just trying to get by and make the most of his lot in life. Both had done some questionable things, but neither was a bad person.
Another thing I loved, even though it didn’t have much impact on the story, was the hellhound portrayal! The author had a cool take on that.
I admit I was confused about all the demon stuff at the end. Who hired who. Who was in charge of who. What everyone’s motivations were. It got complicated. It was all very incidental to the story though, which means it probably didn’t need to be that complicated (unless there are going to be more books), but it also means you don’t really need to understand it to enjoy the book. And I so thoroughly enjoyed everything else that I didn’t even care.
Also, keep in mind that I listened to the audio for this, and when I’m listening to a book as opposed to reading it with my eyes, there are some things that bother me more, other things that bother me less, things I don’t notice or don’t understand as well, etc. The audio itself was great though. The narrator (Noel Harrison) did a wonderful job. Everything sounded natural. I would definitely recommend the audiobook for this one.
Most importantly, I was rooting for these two characters, both separately and together. I even developed a soft spot for some of the supporting characters too. I just really enjoyed this and kept wanting to get back to it every time I stopped. I smiled and chuckled and said “awwww” and made that little frowny throat whimper sound you make when you feel bad for someone—does anyone know what I mean?—so many times throughout the story. Ultimately, this book made me happy, and anytime a book can do that, it’s a great thing!
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes sweet M/M paranormal romance without too many tropes, books that make you smile, and lovable demons.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
---------------------
Initial Thoughts:
This was so sweet with a great realistic feel, and I loved it! It made me happy. I rec the audio. 4.5 stars.
Review:
I just kind of loved this! The romance was really sweet and fun. The characters were lovable. One of them was a hellhound, a supernatural I had never read about before. The other was an incubus, one of my favorite types of supernaturals. The sex was hot without being too serious. The story was good. That description doesn’t do the book justice though. It makes it sound kind of like every other paranormal romance out there, but this one really stood out to me.
This book didn’t have all the tropes I usually come across in paranormal romance. No protag who was too feisty for their own good. No brooding love interest. No overly eloquent or poorly timed love speeches. No instalove. Yeah, there was some secret-keeping that you knew was gonna blow up in one of the character’s faces, but even that was mild and quickly handled. The whole story, including the characters and the romance, felt grounded and realistic (well, realistic if there were really demons living in the world and accidentally falling for each other). Mal was a little gruff. Jory was just trying to get by and make the most of his lot in life. Both had done some questionable things, but neither was a bad person.
Another thing I loved, even though it didn’t have much impact on the story, was the hellhound portrayal! The author had a cool take on that.
I admit I was confused about all the demon stuff at the end. Who hired who. Who was in charge of who. What everyone’s motivations were. It got complicated. It was all very incidental to the story though, which means it probably didn’t need to be that complicated (unless there are going to be more books), but it also means you don’t really need to understand it to enjoy the book. And I so thoroughly enjoyed everything else that I didn’t even care.
Also, keep in mind that I listened to the audio for this, and when I’m listening to a book as opposed to reading it with my eyes, there are some things that bother me more, other things that bother me less, things I don’t notice or don’t understand as well, etc. The audio itself was great though. The narrator (Noel Harrison) did a wonderful job. Everything sounded natural. I would definitely recommend the audiobook for this one.
Most importantly, I was rooting for these two characters, both separately and together. I even developed a soft spot for some of the supporting characters too. I just really enjoyed this and kept wanting to get back to it every time I stopped. I smiled and chuckled and said “awwww” and made that little frowny throat whimper sound you make when you feel bad for someone—does anyone know what I mean?—so many times throughout the story. Ultimately, this book made me happy, and anytime a book can do that, it’s a great thing!
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes sweet M/M paranormal romance without too many tropes, books that make you smile, and lovable demons.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
---------------------
Initial Thoughts:
This was so sweet with a great realistic feel, and I loved it! It made me happy. I rec the audio. 4.5 stars.
October 16, 2018
‘Strays’ is an excellent title for a story about two lost souls who, for very different reasons, don’t quite fit in where they came from, but definitely have issues with the humans on Earth. With powerful worldbuilding that combines several myths and legends into a modern-day fantasy, Jory and Mal’s search for answers had me fascinated from the start. Nothing is as it seems as their adventure turns increasingly dangerous, and with a set of secondary characters who enrich the tale, I enjoyed myself a lot as I fell into the rabbit hole of this puzzling mystery.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
June 14, 2023
When I watch anime...there are some instances when...there is only one season. Just the one. I wonder if this I a ploy for the audience to read the book. Cause the series hasn't come to an end. Also there are times the book is on hiatus. To keep the audience interested an animation, merchandise, or a pop-up Cafe is made avaliable to the masses.
What do you do when the stand-alone book really needs a continuation? Yeah there is Fan fiction. Sometimes that works! But they don't have the same notes are state of mind as the author would have.
I'm not above begging.
What do you do when the stand-alone book really needs a continuation? Yeah there is Fan fiction. Sometimes that works! But they don't have the same notes are state of mind as the author would have.
I'm not above begging.
September 25, 2018
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
~
Strays
★★★★★
210 Pages
POV: 3rd person, dual POV
Would I read it again?: Of course!
Genre: MM, Fantasy, Demons, Magic, May/Dec, Hurt/Comfort
Pairings: MM
Heat Level: ★★★☆☆
Content Warning: deals with history of foster care, health issues, scenes of violence/danger
This was my first book by the author and it won't be my last! Strays is a well crafted, well executed urban-fantasy novel with a host of characters to tug at your heart strings, and a plot that keeps you engaged right until the end.
I'll admit that, in some urban-fantasy settings, some authors tend to lack the necessary background, attention to detail, or true-to-life reactions that are required when telling a human about the underlying supernatural world around them. This book had done of those issues. I totally believed and understood Jory's reaction to all things supernatural – he had, after all, spent his entire life believing that there was something 'supernatural' about his own healing abilities, even if he didn't truly understand it. So, while there were some instances of Mal or Selma saying/hinting at supernatural elements of their lives, it was perfectly reasonable for Jory not to make a big deal out of it, to think them just a little strange and weird, maybe even believing that they joking. Considering all that he'd seen throughout his time with the church, as he said himself, he'd seen and heard his fair share of weird and nothing was going to surprise him anymore.
Personally, I loved that aspect. Not enough urban-fantasy stories have a main character who is willing to accept that anything is possible. Especially when they have their own powers. For me, Jory was a charming and naturally-flawed human character right from the start, who I could relate to and who I liked reading about. Similarly, Mal might be a Hellhound and a demon, but he was also human enough from his long years stuck on Earth in the human world, that he came across as someone you could meet anywhere in the world and not blink an eye at. Both of the MC's were realistic, reasonable adults, who had their secrets, their doubts, their troubles, and were strangers enough to each other that they didn't feel able to share them with each other.
The relationship between Mal and Jory was adorable right from the start. The way that Mal was so instantly taken by his 'cookies' scent, and then by Jory himself. I love even more than we got most of their first few meetings through Jory's eyes, so that very little of Mal's thoughts and experiences were explained until we'd had that little moment of uncertainty, mysterious staring, and the few awkward moments where they actually spoke to each other. I loved that Mal was so off-guard, so off-balance around Jory, and how it left him flailing for how to act and speak, at first.
For me, regardless of what the primary genre of the book is, if the romance isn't believeable then it shouldn't be there. I bought Mal and Jory from the first moment. From Mal discovering Jory's cookbook to Jory bringing him a plate for Louise, the chemistry was palpable, the longing looks were adorable, and the awkward moments were a joy to witness, before anything actually happened between them in the bedroom. I loved that they took the time to talk, to spend time together, and to get to know one another – even if there was a hidden wall between them that they were unaware of, because of their secrets – because it meant that when they finally got together, it made sense. I was rooting for them.
I also love that he just instantly assumed that because his sense of Jory being an incubus was so strong, that Jory automatically knew he was an incubus. Selma made the same mistake and didn't realise it until very late on in the book, which only goes to show even more how well Jory's character was written to be accepting of the weird and wonderful world he'd been thrust into – because no one ever thought he was unaware of himself or who/what they were, the whole time.
I do admit that the whole “blow up” over Mal's big secret was inevitable. I saw it coming miles off, but I always had that little sprinkle of hope and expectation that he was about to tell Jory and, for once, he almost did quite a few times. I liked that; it refreshed that old-standard trope of “I kept a secret that you're going to misinterpret” (which I'll admit, I kind of love).
I really enjoyed the writing style and the dual POV. The writing style was right up my alley, with the great balance between descriptive and letting the plot do the talking, a good understanding of when to show and when to tell, and a really nice characterisation that kept each character a unique individual, while making them relateable with human qualities, even if they weren't human. The world building was done slowly, introducing us to Jory's human world first, letting us feel comfortable in a contemporary setting that we, as humans, could relate to and understand. Then, slowly, the supernatural element was introduced through his healing ability, then given full-scale exploration through Mal's POV. I love that it was done that way, because it allowed my tired mind to transition slowly and gradually from human to supernatural.
The aspect with the faith healers, the religious scan, the evangelical psychic surgery, was one that I've read before, but it had a fresh twist here in that even Jory, the one with real healing ability, didn't buy it or want to continue with it. I liked that there was that element of “the real” with the tasks he performed for the church, despite how it might have ended.
When it comes to side/secondary characters, I have to admit that I loved Neal right from the start. He's exactly my kind of anti-social, snarky, laid back kind of guy. I was curious about him right from the start, but when the little slips of information began to seep in that he was more than he seemed, I got all excited trying to figure out what part he played and how it came together. All while loving the way that he took care of Jory, no matter what, even when it came to confronting Mal about his wellbeing and giving that big-brother type of warning “you break his heart and I'll break your legs” kind of thing. When Keygen was introduced, I immediately thought that he would be perfect for Neal, but now I'm just left hoping that the way the story ended means there will be another book. There was a hint of questions unanswered, of things unfinished, outside of the main plot, and I'd love to see a book for Neal, Keygen, and Asmodeus. Especially if it was for all three, if you get my drift. ;)
Was there anything I found jarring, confusing, or didn't like? Not really. For an ARC, it was excellently edited. I didn't note one mistake as I was reading, so if any existed they skipped right over me and didn't affect my reading or the flow at all. I was a bit taken aback by the six-month skip in timeline in Chapter 2 – it may have been much more easily accepted and understood had there been a timeline heading under the chapter name just saying “Six Months Later” or if the first chapter had been a Prologue. I did stumble over the timeline a little, at that point, but it was a fleeting issue and one that made sense once the six-month-later reveal was made.
I'm a sucker for a good paranormal/fantasy novel and this one reminded me of two of my favourites – by tone, rather than plot – so if you're a fan of Damned If You Do by Marie Sexton or The Little Crow by Caitlin Ricci, then you're going to love this book just as much as I did. It has the same urban-fantasy setting, the clever plotting and great characterisation that made me fall in love with both books.
~
Favourite Quotes
“When it was his turn and Jory Smith smiled at him, the world fell away around him. He swallowed hard, readily admitting to himself that this case might be the death of him more ways than one.”
““Wait, you actually killed a dragon?” Mal asked, looking horrified.
“I didn't let him stay dead!” he cried. “And now I'm making him cookies! That has to count for something, doesn't it?””
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
~
Strays
★★★★★
210 Pages
POV: 3rd person, dual POV
Would I read it again?: Of course!
Genre: MM, Fantasy, Demons, Magic, May/Dec, Hurt/Comfort
Pairings: MM
Heat Level: ★★★☆☆
Content Warning: deals with history of foster care, health issues, scenes of violence/danger
This was my first book by the author and it won't be my last! Strays is a well crafted, well executed urban-fantasy novel with a host of characters to tug at your heart strings, and a plot that keeps you engaged right until the end.
I'll admit that, in some urban-fantasy settings, some authors tend to lack the necessary background, attention to detail, or true-to-life reactions that are required when telling a human about the underlying supernatural world around them. This book had done of those issues. I totally believed and understood Jory's reaction to all things supernatural – he had, after all, spent his entire life believing that there was something 'supernatural' about his own healing abilities, even if he didn't truly understand it. So, while there were some instances of Mal or Selma saying/hinting at supernatural elements of their lives, it was perfectly reasonable for Jory not to make a big deal out of it, to think them just a little strange and weird, maybe even believing that they joking. Considering all that he'd seen throughout his time with the church, as he said himself, he'd seen and heard his fair share of weird and nothing was going to surprise him anymore.
Personally, I loved that aspect. Not enough urban-fantasy stories have a main character who is willing to accept that anything is possible. Especially when they have their own powers. For me, Jory was a charming and naturally-flawed human character right from the start, who I could relate to and who I liked reading about. Similarly, Mal might be a Hellhound and a demon, but he was also human enough from his long years stuck on Earth in the human world, that he came across as someone you could meet anywhere in the world and not blink an eye at. Both of the MC's were realistic, reasonable adults, who had their secrets, their doubts, their troubles, and were strangers enough to each other that they didn't feel able to share them with each other.
The relationship between Mal and Jory was adorable right from the start. The way that Mal was so instantly taken by his 'cookies' scent, and then by Jory himself. I love even more than we got most of their first few meetings through Jory's eyes, so that very little of Mal's thoughts and experiences were explained until we'd had that little moment of uncertainty, mysterious staring, and the few awkward moments where they actually spoke to each other. I loved that Mal was so off-guard, so off-balance around Jory, and how it left him flailing for how to act and speak, at first.
For me, regardless of what the primary genre of the book is, if the romance isn't believeable then it shouldn't be there. I bought Mal and Jory from the first moment. From Mal discovering Jory's cookbook to Jory bringing him a plate for Louise, the chemistry was palpable, the longing looks were adorable, and the awkward moments were a joy to witness, before anything actually happened between them in the bedroom. I loved that they took the time to talk, to spend time together, and to get to know one another – even if there was a hidden wall between them that they were unaware of, because of their secrets – because it meant that when they finally got together, it made sense. I was rooting for them.
I also love that he just instantly assumed that because his sense of Jory being an incubus was so strong, that Jory automatically knew he was an incubus. Selma made the same mistake and didn't realise it until very late on in the book, which only goes to show even more how well Jory's character was written to be accepting of the weird and wonderful world he'd been thrust into – because no one ever thought he was unaware of himself or who/what they were, the whole time.
I do admit that the whole “blow up” over Mal's big secret was inevitable. I saw it coming miles off, but I always had that little sprinkle of hope and expectation that he was about to tell Jory and, for once, he almost did quite a few times. I liked that; it refreshed that old-standard trope of “I kept a secret that you're going to misinterpret” (which I'll admit, I kind of love).
I really enjoyed the writing style and the dual POV. The writing style was right up my alley, with the great balance between descriptive and letting the plot do the talking, a good understanding of when to show and when to tell, and a really nice characterisation that kept each character a unique individual, while making them relateable with human qualities, even if they weren't human. The world building was done slowly, introducing us to Jory's human world first, letting us feel comfortable in a contemporary setting that we, as humans, could relate to and understand. Then, slowly, the supernatural element was introduced through his healing ability, then given full-scale exploration through Mal's POV. I love that it was done that way, because it allowed my tired mind to transition slowly and gradually from human to supernatural.
The aspect with the faith healers, the religious scan, the evangelical psychic surgery, was one that I've read before, but it had a fresh twist here in that even Jory, the one with real healing ability, didn't buy it or want to continue with it. I liked that there was that element of “the real” with the tasks he performed for the church, despite how it might have ended.
When it comes to side/secondary characters, I have to admit that I loved Neal right from the start. He's exactly my kind of anti-social, snarky, laid back kind of guy. I was curious about him right from the start, but when the little slips of information began to seep in that he was more than he seemed, I got all excited trying to figure out what part he played and how it came together. All while loving the way that he took care of Jory, no matter what, even when it came to confronting Mal about his wellbeing and giving that big-brother type of warning “you break his heart and I'll break your legs” kind of thing. When Keygen was introduced, I immediately thought that he would be perfect for Neal, but now I'm just left hoping that the way the story ended means there will be another book. There was a hint of questions unanswered, of things unfinished, outside of the main plot, and I'd love to see a book for Neal, Keygen, and Asmodeus. Especially if it was for all three, if you get my drift. ;)
Was there anything I found jarring, confusing, or didn't like? Not really. For an ARC, it was excellently edited. I didn't note one mistake as I was reading, so if any existed they skipped right over me and didn't affect my reading or the flow at all. I was a bit taken aback by the six-month skip in timeline in Chapter 2 – it may have been much more easily accepted and understood had there been a timeline heading under the chapter name just saying “Six Months Later” or if the first chapter had been a Prologue. I did stumble over the timeline a little, at that point, but it was a fleeting issue and one that made sense once the six-month-later reveal was made.
I'm a sucker for a good paranormal/fantasy novel and this one reminded me of two of my favourites – by tone, rather than plot – so if you're a fan of Damned If You Do by Marie Sexton or The Little Crow by Caitlin Ricci, then you're going to love this book just as much as I did. It has the same urban-fantasy setting, the clever plotting and great characterisation that made me fall in love with both books.
~
Favourite Quotes
“When it was his turn and Jory Smith smiled at him, the world fell away around him. He swallowed hard, readily admitting to himself that this case might be the death of him more ways than one.”
““Wait, you actually killed a dragon?” Mal asked, looking horrified.
“I didn't let him stay dead!” he cried. “And now I'm making him cookies! That has to count for something, doesn't it?””
June 12, 2019
This is a shortened version of my audiobook review.
The story has a beautiful flow with the romance being woven into the bigger plotline of Jory’s escape, his abilities, and the reason why people are after him.
Something several reviews mentioned was confusion in the later part of the story. I was waiting for things to become convoluted, but it didn’t actually happen for me. Maybe because I read a lot of demon stories. The names were familiar and the concepts had a lot of parallels, for example with the Imp series, because they were based on common myths.
So, if you’re into demonic Romance or an avid Urban Fantasy reader, don’t worry, I doubt you’d be confused.
Strays gets all my recommendations! If you enjoy love story Urban Fantasy or demonic Romance, I’m sure you’ll have a fantastic time with this book.
The story has a beautiful flow with the romance being woven into the bigger plotline of Jory’s escape, his abilities, and the reason why people are after him.
Something several reviews mentioned was confusion in the later part of the story. I was waiting for things to become convoluted, but it didn’t actually happen for me. Maybe because I read a lot of demon stories. The names were familiar and the concepts had a lot of parallels, for example with the Imp series, because they were based on common myths.
So, if you’re into demonic Romance or an avid Urban Fantasy reader, don’t worry, I doubt you’d be confused.
Strays gets all my recommendations! If you enjoy love story Urban Fantasy or demonic Romance, I’m sure you’ll have a fantastic time with this book.
October 11, 2020
I liked this one quite a bit and didn’t find myself as confused as some other reviewers seem to, but I will echo that it definitely could have been better explained earlier. Jory is completely unaware of his powers, and though many around him are aware of that or just generally aware of powers, they take way too long to explain to him, and, therefore, it takes way too long for it to be explained to the reader. If there were ever more books written in this world I would definitely read them, there is very good characterizations here, but this otherwise this one is probably one that will fade to the background in my mind.
September 28, 2018
This was disappointing. I have loved every thing else this author has written.
The bottom line is that I did not connect with the MCs. Or anyone else really. I didn’t dislike them. Maybe she kept squashing too much world building into this book? Maybe it’s just me?
Plus Jory was annoying towards the end. I felt no sympathy or empathy or anything for him. Ended up skimming.
The bottom line is that I did not connect with the MCs. Or anyone else really. I didn’t dislike them. Maybe she kept squashing too much world building into this book? Maybe it’s just me?
Plus Jory was annoying towards the end. I felt no sympathy or empathy or anything for him. Ended up skimming.
October 3, 2018
Orphaned at a young age and raised in the foster system, Jory Smith has no idea he’s half incubus. He only knows he has the power to heal people, making himself sick in the process. Exploited by a crooked faith healer who sells his abilities and his life to the highest bidder and then left for dead, Jory flees, falling into a job at a small-town café where he can put his lifelong obsession with baking to good use.
But the minister who exploited him wants him back.
Exiled hellhound-turned–bounty hunter Malpheus Pelle has no idea why his human client wants him to track down an incubus. Jory is traumatized and afraid to touch anyone, an emotional handicap that could prove fatal for a demon who requires physical contact. Needing answers, Mal concocts a disastrous plan: pretend to date Jory to uncover the truth. Unfortunately, his plan never included dealing with an ancient demon assassin, Jory’s orgasmic pumpkin cookies, or losing his heart to the incubus he’s supposed to be hunting….
Review:
I really liked all the books by this writer that I have read previously ( I read two or three), but this was a strange reading experience to say the least. I had to sit on this review for several days because the more I was thinking about this story, the more issues I was having.
My first thought after I finished was that I really loved the characters but the structure of the story was somewhat off, however very soon "somewhat off" became "very much off". My good friend with whom I talked about the story called the narrative "not emotionally cohesive", and I asked her permission to steal that expression, because I think it is spot on.
The blurb gives you a very good initial set up for the book and it starts really well. Jory who was forced by so called "faith healer" to do his bidding and participate in his schemes for very long time, pretty much forced to do the healing which almost kills him and instead of helping him, the preacher and somebody else leave Jory for dead.
Jory survives and ends up elsewhere working in the café as a cook/server. Malpheus a/k/a Mal finds him but realizes that he does not know enough to hand Jory to the people who asked Mal to locate him and bring him back. So far so good. I even understood Mal's desire to get closer to Jory. Okay fake dating may not have been his brightest idea, but it was clear even to him that his attraction was real so it did not bother me.
What did bother me? The paranormal aspect of all of this was just confusing and I love paranormal romance/adventure. Blurb mentions that Mal is hellhound and I am going to go ahead and tell you that he had to leave the place called Hel because reasons, but we only hear this from Mal, we never get to observe Hel first hand and boy does author talk about this Hel *a lot*. The demonic power structures, what are the issues the people living there have and what do some other villains who came from there and who were after Jory really wanted. It was all so bizarre. We had to learn about the place which never actually appears as a setting in the book and I wondered why we needed to know all that.
And the other issue that bothered me was the fact that Jory obviously was not aware about his true nature and for that reason he did not know how to use some awesome skills that he had - not consciously and not even subconsciously . Jory loves baking desserts and the only way he got to use some of his powers was through baking. His love of baking really shone through. Anyway, Jory does not know what he actually can do and NOBODY tells him till the story progressed a long way I have to say and that was kind of annoying too. I mean I get that this is a balance between keeping the reader in suspense and not making the characters sound silly, but the balance tipped too much for me when Mal wondered why Jory did not use his abilities and could not be bothered to ask him .
I don't know. I really loved Jory and Mal and several secondary characters, but they got a bit lost in all of this narration about Hel in the most unfortunate places, when I wanted to see the relationship to become more visible or for the action to make more sense.
Gah. I am going to speculate that since in the previous books by this author the worldbuilding and research was so good, she tried to do it here too ( to world build I mean), but since it is her first paranormal and she was building new world maybe it all did not come out as intended.
C.
But the minister who exploited him wants him back.
Exiled hellhound-turned–bounty hunter Malpheus Pelle has no idea why his human client wants him to track down an incubus. Jory is traumatized and afraid to touch anyone, an emotional handicap that could prove fatal for a demon who requires physical contact. Needing answers, Mal concocts a disastrous plan: pretend to date Jory to uncover the truth. Unfortunately, his plan never included dealing with an ancient demon assassin, Jory’s orgasmic pumpkin cookies, or losing his heart to the incubus he’s supposed to be hunting….
Review:
I really liked all the books by this writer that I have read previously ( I read two or three), but this was a strange reading experience to say the least. I had to sit on this review for several days because the more I was thinking about this story, the more issues I was having.
My first thought after I finished was that I really loved the characters but the structure of the story was somewhat off, however very soon "somewhat off" became "very much off". My good friend with whom I talked about the story called the narrative "not emotionally cohesive", and I asked her permission to steal that expression, because I think it is spot on.
The blurb gives you a very good initial set up for the book and it starts really well. Jory who was forced by so called "faith healer" to do his bidding and participate in his schemes for very long time, pretty much forced to do the healing which almost kills him and instead of helping him, the preacher and somebody else leave Jory for dead.
Jory survives and ends up elsewhere working in the café as a cook/server. Malpheus a/k/a Mal finds him but realizes that he does not know enough to hand Jory to the people who asked Mal to locate him and bring him back. So far so good. I even understood Mal's desire to get closer to Jory. Okay fake dating may not have been his brightest idea, but it was clear even to him that his attraction was real so it did not bother me.
What did bother me? The paranormal aspect of all of this was just confusing and I love paranormal romance/adventure. Blurb mentions that Mal is hellhound and I am going to go ahead and tell you that he had to leave the place called Hel because reasons, but we only hear this from Mal, we never get to observe Hel first hand and boy does author talk about this Hel *a lot*. The demonic power structures, what are the issues the people living there have and what do some other villains who came from there and who were after Jory really wanted. It was all so bizarre. We had to learn about the place which never actually appears as a setting in the book and I wondered why we needed to know all that.
And the other issue that bothered me was the fact that Jory obviously was not aware about his true nature and for that reason he did not know how to use some awesome skills that he had - not consciously and not even subconsciously . Jory loves baking desserts and the only way he got to use some of his powers was through baking. His love of baking really shone through. Anyway, Jory does not know what he actually can do and NOBODY tells him till the story progressed a long way I have to say and that was kind of annoying too. I mean I get that this is a balance between keeping the reader in suspense and not making the characters sound silly, but the balance tipped too much for me when Mal wondered why Jory did not use his abilities and could not be bothered to ask him .
I don't know. I really loved Jory and Mal and several secondary characters, but they got a bit lost in all of this narration about Hel in the most unfortunate places, when I wanted to see the relationship to become more visible or for the action to make more sense.
Gah. I am going to speculate that since in the previous books by this author the worldbuilding and research was so good, she tried to do it here too ( to world build I mean), but since it is her first paranormal and she was building new world maybe it all did not come out as intended.
C.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2018
https://optimumm.blog/2018/09/25/review-strays-by-aj-thomas/
Jory Smith is an orphan with a special gift. He can heal people when he touches them. He’s exploited by Adam, a preacher, who scams people in his church “New Ministry”. Jory tries his best to not hurt people or to be hurt in the process, until Adam ambushes Jory and almost had him killed by healing Eugene Barnett.
Malpheus Pelle is a demon, a hellhound, and lives as a bounty hunter. He’s called by Eugen and Adam to find Jory and bring him back. Mal knows exactly what Jory is, and doesn’t understand; why humans want an incubus.
Mal will track down the incubus, ready to be paid for his job, but when he meets Jory, nothing happens like he expected, and the last thing Mal wants is to give up Jory.
Strays by AJ Thomas was a great paranormal book that I really loved.
Jory doesn’t know what he really is. He’s sure he’s just a human with special abilities. When he meets Mal, he’s torn between running away from this dark, handsome man and trying to get know him. But nothing is simple for him. He’s hunted by Adam and Eugene who try to kill him, Neal, a homeless drunk who can appear and disappear; warns him to leave town because danger is around, and Mal wants to date him. Nothing is simple for him, and when Jory learns who and what he is, things get a little bit more complicated. I liked Jory, he’s kind, smart and funny. He’s not a little fragile thing, he has a lot of fight in him, and he’s not afraid to use it. I completely melted for him and his cookies (I probably gainned 10 pounds while reading the book).
Mal is a hellhound exiled on earth, with Louise, his pug who’s not really a pug but a hellhound too; He hunts the people who try to avoid jail. He’s surprised that two humans want him to track down an incubus, and let’s just say Mal has a lot of ideas about incubus, and not positive. He was completely surprised to meet Jory, he didn’t expect to fall in love with him and to have this visceral need to be with him. I so adored Mal, he’s funny, smart and most of all, super handsome with a beautiful sensitivity as an artist. He’s super-hot, and his interactions with Louise are super cute.
I really loved this book. AJ Thomas wrote a great story with a good plot. We learn a lot about the Demonic Kingdom, their rules, factions and all. It was well written and very well described. Not too much boring parts; and not too much information to be confusing, it was well done. Jory and Mal are hot; and loveable, and the secondary characters are very interesting especially Neal and Keygan. I hope there will be a sequel to this book.
I gladly recommend this book, I had a great time with it.
It’s 5 optimuMMs for the pastry chef and his giant puppy!
***The ARC was provided by Dreamspinner Press. My review is an honest opinion of the book ***
Jory Smith is an orphan with a special gift. He can heal people when he touches them. He’s exploited by Adam, a preacher, who scams people in his church “New Ministry”. Jory tries his best to not hurt people or to be hurt in the process, until Adam ambushes Jory and almost had him killed by healing Eugene Barnett.
Malpheus Pelle is a demon, a hellhound, and lives as a bounty hunter. He’s called by Eugen and Adam to find Jory and bring him back. Mal knows exactly what Jory is, and doesn’t understand; why humans want an incubus.
Mal will track down the incubus, ready to be paid for his job, but when he meets Jory, nothing happens like he expected, and the last thing Mal wants is to give up Jory.
Strays by AJ Thomas was a great paranormal book that I really loved.
Jory doesn’t know what he really is. He’s sure he’s just a human with special abilities. When he meets Mal, he’s torn between running away from this dark, handsome man and trying to get know him. But nothing is simple for him. He’s hunted by Adam and Eugene who try to kill him, Neal, a homeless drunk who can appear and disappear; warns him to leave town because danger is around, and Mal wants to date him. Nothing is simple for him, and when Jory learns who and what he is, things get a little bit more complicated. I liked Jory, he’s kind, smart and funny. He’s not a little fragile thing, he has a lot of fight in him, and he’s not afraid to use it. I completely melted for him and his cookies (I probably gainned 10 pounds while reading the book).
Mal is a hellhound exiled on earth, with Louise, his pug who’s not really a pug but a hellhound too; He hunts the people who try to avoid jail. He’s surprised that two humans want him to track down an incubus, and let’s just say Mal has a lot of ideas about incubus, and not positive. He was completely surprised to meet Jory, he didn’t expect to fall in love with him and to have this visceral need to be with him. I so adored Mal, he’s funny, smart and most of all, super handsome with a beautiful sensitivity as an artist. He’s super-hot, and his interactions with Louise are super cute.
I really loved this book. AJ Thomas wrote a great story with a good plot. We learn a lot about the Demonic Kingdom, their rules, factions and all. It was well written and very well described. Not too much boring parts; and not too much information to be confusing, it was well done. Jory and Mal are hot; and loveable, and the secondary characters are very interesting especially Neal and Keygan. I hope there will be a sequel to this book.
I gladly recommend this book, I had a great time with it.
It’s 5 optimuMMs for the pastry chef and his giant puppy!
***The ARC was provided by Dreamspinner Press. My review is an honest opinion of the book ***
December 24, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
I first heard about Strays when we hosted the cover reveal for the book a while back, and it totally caught my attention. Something about the cover just stuck with me, so when the book came around for review, I was eager to check it out. Thomas had me right from the start with the set up here and I found it really engaging. There is great tension early on as we see Jory participating in one of the faith healing services and learn more about how his life is essentially controlled by Adam, though Jory doesn’t seem to totally realize it. Then Jory is tapped out and left for dead and Mal brought in to track him down. It was such an interesting set up and opened the door for some creative plot elements, such as Jory learning about what he really is, Mal dealing with the fact that he is lying to Jory about why he is there, and of course, the bad guys looking to track Jory down so they can sap him some more. Not to mention the romance between Jory and Mal. And, I think in many areas, Thomas does deliver here and there are some engaging elements and clever twists to the story that kept me interested throughout.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
I first heard about Strays when we hosted the cover reveal for the book a while back, and it totally caught my attention. Something about the cover just stuck with me, so when the book came around for review, I was eager to check it out. Thomas had me right from the start with the set up here and I found it really engaging. There is great tension early on as we see Jory participating in one of the faith healing services and learn more about how his life is essentially controlled by Adam, though Jory doesn’t seem to totally realize it. Then Jory is tapped out and left for dead and Mal brought in to track him down. It was such an interesting set up and opened the door for some creative plot elements, such as Jory learning about what he really is, Mal dealing with the fact that he is lying to Jory about why he is there, and of course, the bad guys looking to track Jory down so they can sap him some more. Not to mention the romance between Jory and Mal. And, I think in many areas, Thomas does deliver here and there are some engaging elements and clever twists to the story that kept me interested throughout.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
November 21, 2018
3.5 Stars
I debated with myself a bit between three and four stars for Strays. I give the characters themselves four stars at a minimum, but I struggled with the world building. I loved the idea of it all, but had trouble with the flow of information.
I want to start with everything I loved first and there was a lot to be enamored with. Both Jory and Mal had pretty rough lives and neither were proud of everything in their pasts, but they weren’t bad dudes and they made for the kind of flawed characters you root for, faults and all.
Jory never had a real home growing up so never became too attached to much of anything or anyone. He ended up with a bible-thumping, con-artist of a minister and his natural abilities to heal were a boon to Adam, the false faither healer. When one of the scams nearly breaks him, Joey makes a run for it and finally is able to start a life of his own. I loved the bakery where he finally was able to make a home, even if he knew it was probably only going to be temporary. It gave his life a bittersweet edge, knowing how happy he was but also knowing he was always going to be living his life on the run.
Mal and his “pug” Louise were the best. Mal is an exiled Hellhound turned bounty hunter and while he is originally hired to track down Jory and return him to Adam (allegedly), once he actually met Jory and felt their connection we ALL knew that wasn’t going to be a thing. Louise is a Hellhound as well but sees herself as more of a pug and since Hellhounds can apparently shapeshift, that is her chosen form. The connection Mal and Louise had was a sweet little bonus of a side story that gave a lot of insight into Mal’s character.
Focusing on the relationship between the two is easy. Setting the supernatural aside, the connection between Mal and Jory is really very sweet and obvious to the reader. I liked that while they may have had their moments, at points in which shit got real, ghoul and demon-wise I mean, I never doubted that they would have each others backs and I think they both knew that as well. It kept me invested in them regardless of all the shenanigans going on around them.
And there were a lot of shenanigans. I loved the idea of the fantasy intermingling with mythology in a contemporary setting. By the end, when the whole story came together it made sense and I really liked many of the elements. My problem was that it felt like I had stepped into the middle and missed the beginning that was a foundation for the world building. The backstory to the paranormal aspect was doled out in little pieces to Jory (and the reader) throughout, but the bulk of the the book and the explanation of it all didn’t come until the end.
There were levels of backstory and I think it might have been just one level too much to explain in a book of this length. It was hard to appreciate all of them with any real depth so they felt tied together organically. There was the backstory of the inhabitants of the human world and then what I referred to in my head as the way-back backstory of the characters still living in Hel that we knew through storytelling, but not directly. There’s politics and scandal and treachery and all manner of Hel type intrigue to be had. The way the story was told, they were all dependent on one another, so they were necessary, but I could have done without the way-back backstory to give more focus to what was affecting the MC’s and secondary characters directly. That would have given me way better perspective on their motivations much sooner and I would have felt more focused with the paranormal elements of the story. The “too much” of it all felt like a scatter shot of plot points versus a tight world building narrative.
I have to give major kudos for the book cover! The MC’s description was represented beautifully and that doesn’t always happen. I love when the cover actually feels like a depiction of who, or what is “inside”. A book dedicated to the way-back backstory would be amazing and a follow up with Keygan and Neal would definitely be interesting. I think if I had a prequel set in Hel I could reread Strays with much more understanding and appreciation.
**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**
I debated with myself a bit between three and four stars for Strays. I give the characters themselves four stars at a minimum, but I struggled with the world building. I loved the idea of it all, but had trouble with the flow of information.
I want to start with everything I loved first and there was a lot to be enamored with. Both Jory and Mal had pretty rough lives and neither were proud of everything in their pasts, but they weren’t bad dudes and they made for the kind of flawed characters you root for, faults and all.
Jory never had a real home growing up so never became too attached to much of anything or anyone. He ended up with a bible-thumping, con-artist of a minister and his natural abilities to heal were a boon to Adam, the false faither healer. When one of the scams nearly breaks him, Joey makes a run for it and finally is able to start a life of his own. I loved the bakery where he finally was able to make a home, even if he knew it was probably only going to be temporary. It gave his life a bittersweet edge, knowing how happy he was but also knowing he was always going to be living his life on the run.
Mal and his “pug” Louise were the best. Mal is an exiled Hellhound turned bounty hunter and while he is originally hired to track down Jory and return him to Adam (allegedly), once he actually met Jory and felt their connection we ALL knew that wasn’t going to be a thing. Louise is a Hellhound as well but sees herself as more of a pug and since Hellhounds can apparently shapeshift, that is her chosen form. The connection Mal and Louise had was a sweet little bonus of a side story that gave a lot of insight into Mal’s character.
Focusing on the relationship between the two is easy. Setting the supernatural aside, the connection between Mal and Jory is really very sweet and obvious to the reader. I liked that while they may have had their moments, at points in which shit got real, ghoul and demon-wise I mean, I never doubted that they would have each others backs and I think they both knew that as well. It kept me invested in them regardless of all the shenanigans going on around them.
And there were a lot of shenanigans. I loved the idea of the fantasy intermingling with mythology in a contemporary setting. By the end, when the whole story came together it made sense and I really liked many of the elements. My problem was that it felt like I had stepped into the middle and missed the beginning that was a foundation for the world building. The backstory to the paranormal aspect was doled out in little pieces to Jory (and the reader) throughout, but the bulk of the the book and the explanation of it all didn’t come until the end.
There were levels of backstory and I think it might have been just one level too much to explain in a book of this length. It was hard to appreciate all of them with any real depth so they felt tied together organically. There was the backstory of the inhabitants of the human world and then what I referred to in my head as the way-back backstory of the characters still living in Hel that we knew through storytelling, but not directly. There’s politics and scandal and treachery and all manner of Hel type intrigue to be had. The way the story was told, they were all dependent on one another, so they were necessary, but I could have done without the way-back backstory to give more focus to what was affecting the MC’s and secondary characters directly. That would have given me way better perspective on their motivations much sooner and I would have felt more focused with the paranormal elements of the story. The “too much” of it all felt like a scatter shot of plot points versus a tight world building narrative.
I have to give major kudos for the book cover! The MC’s description was represented beautifully and that doesn’t always happen. I love when the cover actually feels like a depiction of who, or what is “inside”. A book dedicated to the way-back backstory would be amazing and a follow up with Keygan and Neal would definitely be interesting. I think if I had a prequel set in Hel I could reread Strays with much more understanding and appreciation.
**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**
October 11, 2018
This review is also posted on my blog.
This book has a stunning cover, but I'm afraid the story is a disappointment. A.J. Thomas is a new-to-me author, and I'm not sure I'm tempted to read another book by this author after reading Strays. This book is the author's first PNR, and it shows. I'm used to reading ARCs and knowing that books aren't complete when I do read them, but I read a final copy of Strays, and it just feels like a few more rounds of editing for this book were sorely needed.
The premise of this story is interesting, and based off the blurb, it seems like the story would be slightly dark in the beginning, and then lighten up to be a cute rom-com (even with a demon assassin in the mix). Unfortunately, this book never really finds the right tone to settle on, and winds up drifting aimlessly between being too serious and then lighthearted fun with no warning.
This story is told from alternating third-person POVs. One is Jory, a foster kid who makes a living as a 20-year-old by conning people at a church. Jory has a power to heal others, but only at the expense of his own well-being. In order to heal someone, Jory takes their pain as his own. The minister at the church took Jory in at a young age, and has been using Jory ever since. When things spiral out of control after meeting an elderly, unsuspecting man, Jory finds himself on the run and winds up in a town far from away from the life he's known.
There are some things that I did like about this book. I enjoyed that we have an incubus who likes to bake and a hellhound demon who likes to watercolor. Jory and Mal are totally sweet on each other, even when Mal was pretty convinced that Jory was just trying to lure him with his powers and kill him. I adore Louise, and a character later known as Keygan. I wish we could have seen more of them in the story.
Even if this story wasn't a light and fluffy story, I wouldn't have minded it taking a darker turn as we found out more about the demons and the place they come from, known as Hel. There are interesting tidbits and story behind it, but everything seems to come as an info dump from Mal and becomes a drag to read, with little actual world-building through the eyes of the characters. The story never quite finds the right tone to set, so the story winds up being a bit muddled.
This story ends in a HFN, as there are quite a few things that remain unanswered. I don't know if this book was meant as a standalone, or if it's supposed to be the start of a series. If there is a second book to follow-up on Jory and Mal's story, then I would be tempted to read it because I genuinely did like Jory and Mal as characters and would like to know more about the demons of Hel and the missing Asmodeus.
This book has a stunning cover, but I'm afraid the story is a disappointment. A.J. Thomas is a new-to-me author, and I'm not sure I'm tempted to read another book by this author after reading Strays. This book is the author's first PNR, and it shows. I'm used to reading ARCs and knowing that books aren't complete when I do read them, but I read a final copy of Strays, and it just feels like a few more rounds of editing for this book were sorely needed.
The premise of this story is interesting, and based off the blurb, it seems like the story would be slightly dark in the beginning, and then lighten up to be a cute rom-com (even with a demon assassin in the mix). Unfortunately, this book never really finds the right tone to settle on, and winds up drifting aimlessly between being too serious and then lighthearted fun with no warning.
This story is told from alternating third-person POVs. One is Jory, a foster kid who makes a living as a 20-year-old by conning people at a church. Jory has a power to heal others, but only at the expense of his own well-being. In order to heal someone, Jory takes their pain as his own. The minister at the church took Jory in at a young age, and has been using Jory ever since. When things spiral out of control after meeting an elderly, unsuspecting man, Jory finds himself on the run and winds up in a town far from away from the life he's known.
There are some things that I did like about this book. I enjoyed that we have an incubus who likes to bake and a hellhound demon who likes to watercolor. Jory and Mal are totally sweet on each other, even when Mal was pretty convinced that Jory was just trying to lure him with his powers and kill him. I adore Louise, and a character later known as Keygan. I wish we could have seen more of them in the story.
Even if this story wasn't a light and fluffy story, I wouldn't have minded it taking a darker turn as we found out more about the demons and the place they come from, known as Hel. There are interesting tidbits and story behind it, but everything seems to come as an info dump from Mal and becomes a drag to read, with little actual world-building through the eyes of the characters. The story never quite finds the right tone to set, so the story winds up being a bit muddled.
This story ends in a HFN, as there are quite a few things that remain unanswered. I don't know if this book was meant as a standalone, or if it's supposed to be the start of a series. If there is a second book to follow-up on Jory and Mal's story, then I would be tempted to read it because I genuinely did like Jory and Mal as characters and would like to know more about the demons of Hel and the missing Asmodeus.
November 10, 2018
I really, REALLY liked this book ... but the ending was a bit confusing. I am not sure, I understood what Jory did to save them and I definitely was not impressed how the emotional conflict was solved.
so unfortunately only 3,5 stars instead of 4 or more.
but I would love to have a second book - maybe there could be solved some open questions and Jory and Mal would make a good pair for further stories
so unfortunately only 3,5 stars instead of 4 or more.
but I would love to have a second book - maybe there could be solved some open questions and Jory and Mal would make a good pair for further stories
October 10, 2018
I thought this was great, and let me just say that it was so nice to read a book with an incubus who wasn't a promiscuous libertine! I really hope this turns into a series so that I can further enjoy the excellent writing and mythology.
January 21, 2019
This book had some interesting concepts on demons and the human world. I like the idea of demons being exiled to the human world and actually not that interested in it. I also like Mal, a hellhound exiled and becoming a bounty hunter. Yet I felt the the world building was a little haphazard and convoluted. I never understood why Jory didn't know what he was and how an important child end up like Jory. Mal and Jory's relationship never really gelled for me since it was instant on Mal's part and Jory just seemed confused by it all.
June 7, 2019
An interesting book that clearly is setting up for at least one sequel, which I'm excited about. (A sequel in the romance novel sense, i.e. the next book will be about two of the side characters from this one, and these two MCs will be the sides in the sequel).
I wasn't sure what to expect with this but I really enjoyed it! I liked both Jory and Mal as characters, and I enjoyed the supporting cast as well.
This needed some (more?) editing, though -- there's a few sudden shifts in tone/feeling, and the characters will sometimes "learn" something but don't actually learn it from a character or a situation - the plot just requires them to know it, so they do. Mal and Jory are also not great at communicating, despite clearly needing to sit down and talk.
I also wouldn't exactly characterize this as a romance novel, because while Mal and Jory are interested in each other and knock boots on several occasions (graphically--not a bad thing!), it's not really the focus of the book. Instead, it's about Jory finding his place in the world and making a home, and Mal figuring out what's more important than feeling safe. (Spoiler alert, it's Jory.)
Louise was my favorite, because a hellhound who is, at heart, a black pug, is my patronus. I would love more about her, although I hope the author never writes a romance for Louise, because while she can assume human form, she doesn't have human sentiments or a human worldview the same way Mal does. (She also clearly would rather be a dog forever and ever amen, thank you very much. She is very reluctant to be human, even when it's necessary.)
I wasn't sure what to expect with this but I really enjoyed it! I liked both Jory and Mal as characters, and I enjoyed the supporting cast as well.
This needed some (more?) editing, though -- there's a few sudden shifts in tone/feeling, and the characters will sometimes "learn" something but don't actually learn it from a character or a situation - the plot just requires them to know it, so they do. Mal and Jory are also not great at communicating, despite clearly needing to sit down and talk.
I also wouldn't exactly characterize this as a romance novel, because while Mal and Jory are interested in each other and knock boots on several occasions (graphically--not a bad thing!), it's not really the focus of the book. Instead, it's about Jory finding his place in the world and making a home, and Mal figuring out what's more important than feeling safe. (Spoiler alert, it's Jory.)
Louise was my favorite, because a hellhound who is, at heart, a black pug, is my patronus. I would love more about her, although I hope the author never writes a romance for Louise, because while she can assume human form, she doesn't have human sentiments or a human worldview the same way Mal does. (She also clearly would rather be a dog forever and ever amen, thank you very much. She is very reluctant to be human, even when it's necessary.)
February 4, 2024
(DEUTSCH WEITER UNTEN)
Why the hell did I finish this book? Is this a way of self-flagellation?
The characters are flat and so is the relationship development. The main thing is that they smell attractive and then they’re totally in love and eternally forever together and all that nonsense.
Our one MC has no clue at all and is then the top boss bitch and kicks everyone’s arse.
„Miscommunication“ or „no communication at all between the MCs“ should be a genre of its own.
The story and all the other characters are just as interesting and comprehensible as everything else - namely not at all.
Just cringe.
(DEUTSCH)
Warum zum Teufel habe ich dieses Buch beendet? Ist das eine Form der Selbstgeißelung?
Die Charaktere sind flach und genauso ist auch die Beziehungsentwicklung. Hauptsache die riechen voll anziehend und dann ist man ultra in love und eternal forever together und so ein Quatsch.
Unser einer MC hat erst gar keinen Clue und ist dann die ober Boss Bitch und ballert alle weg.
„Misskommunikation“ oder „Gar keine Kommunikation zwischen den MCs“ sollte ein eigenes Genre werden.
Die Story und alle anderen Charakter sind genauso interessant und nachvollziehbar, wie alles andere – nämlich gar nicht.
Einfach nur cringe.
Why the hell did I finish this book? Is this a way of self-flagellation?
The characters are flat and so is the relationship development. The main thing is that they smell attractive and then they’re totally in love and eternally forever together and all that nonsense.
Our one MC has no clue at all and is then the top boss bitch and kicks everyone’s arse.
„Miscommunication“ or „no communication at all between the MCs“ should be a genre of its own.
The story and all the other characters are just as interesting and comprehensible as everything else - namely not at all.
Just cringe.
(DEUTSCH)
Warum zum Teufel habe ich dieses Buch beendet? Ist das eine Form der Selbstgeißelung?
Die Charaktere sind flach und genauso ist auch die Beziehungsentwicklung. Hauptsache die riechen voll anziehend und dann ist man ultra in love und eternal forever together und so ein Quatsch.
Unser einer MC hat erst gar keinen Clue und ist dann die ober Boss Bitch und ballert alle weg.
„Misskommunikation“ oder „Gar keine Kommunikation zwischen den MCs“ sollte ein eigenes Genre werden.
Die Story und alle anderen Charakter sind genauso interessant und nachvollziehbar, wie alles andere – nämlich gar nicht.
Einfach nur cringe.
September 17, 2020
I was really surprised I couldn't give this one more than 3.5 stars, when I adored "Pins and Needles" by the same author. And yet, although I love paranormal, gay romances with high stakes and constant danger, this one left a very muted impression on me. I liked it well enough while reading it, but after stopping for the day I'd realize I was waiting for something more.
The pacing for example felt off, with too much time spent in a character's inner ramblings and then when something life-changing occured, it was immediately brushed off and promptly dissmissed. Jory couldn't accept he might be anything more than human, not even when Mal shifted, and suddenly he'd just demonstrate a level of power or control that phased even his more experienced opponents. One moment he feels betrayed by Mal and two pages later he begs him to move in with him...
And last but not least, this might have worked out better as a series rather than a standalone novel. Stretching the plot over multiple books might have helped give it more space to expand its world and explore its themes more fully. All in all not a bad story, just an unsatisfying one.
The pacing for example felt off, with too much time spent in a character's inner ramblings and then when something life-changing occured, it was immediately brushed off and promptly dissmissed. Jory couldn't accept he might be anything more than human, not even when Mal shifted, and suddenly he'd just demonstrate a level of power or control that phased even his more experienced opponents. One moment he feels betrayed by Mal and two pages later he begs him to move in with him...
And last but not least, this might have worked out better as a series rather than a standalone novel. Stretching the plot over multiple books might have helped give it more space to expand its world and explore its themes more fully. All in all not a bad story, just an unsatisfying one.
Want to read
April 13, 2019NTS: Avail In Hoopla.
February 13, 2022
This was just OK for me. I liked Jory and Mal well enough but their chemistry was lacking.
The baking was nice and Louise the pug was kind of funny.
There was too many unanswered questions...Jory knew nothing and Mal was too mysterious. I wanted plain talk so I could figure out what was going on.
The baking was nice and Louise the pug was kind of funny.
There was too many unanswered questions...Jory knew nothing and Mal was too mysterious. I wanted plain talk so I could figure out what was going on.
August 6, 2023
I love this book so much! Jory is amazing, and I want to say he needs to be protected, but I guess he has his hellhound to do that, heh. They are precious, and I'm glad I got to read this book.
September 30, 2018
I reached 62% (Go me!!) before I gave up. This has been painfully slow and boring. Just a grind. I pushed myself towards that 62% let me tell you and I am not ashamed to admit; I skimmed quite a bit.
For a book about a hellhound and an incubus the romance was as bland and boring as my own love life (non existent). The sex....THE SEX!!!! was boring!!! This is a book about two demons...a freaking incubus was involved and the sex managed to be boring. Like, it dint even make my nipples happy.
The plot was confusing and towards the middle it became a mess. I dint even knew who was a demon or a human anymore.
The only reason I am not giving this 1 star is because....I like the cover (???). Also because I sort of kinda have a soft spot for anything demon related.
For a book about a hellhound and an incubus the romance was as bland and boring as my own love life (non existent). The sex....THE SEX!!!! was boring!!! This is a book about two demons...a freaking incubus was involved and the sex managed to be boring. Like, it dint even make my nipples happy.
The plot was confusing and towards the middle it became a mess. I dint even knew who was a demon or a human anymore.
The only reason I am not giving this 1 star is because....I like the cover (???). Also because I sort of kinda have a soft spot for anything demon related.
January 15, 2019
fun read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews