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Travelers #1
Hidden Gem
Jade has spent the last eight years under the thumb of the sadistic leader of a raiding camp where he has learned to grow numb, to feel nothing, and it works for him. But everything changes the day he spots a new captive at the camp–a beautiful, green-eyed boy named Emit–who looks at Jade like he is more than just a prisoner.
Emit has grown up within the safety of his family’s camp until the day he’s taken by a band of raiders and thrust into a terrifying, hellish world. Just when he gives up hope, Jade risks everything to free him and escape. If caught, both boys will suffer an unimaginable fate and with the leader of the camp on their heels, Emit is forced to rely on the boy he’s only just met.
Jade has no idea how to navigate through the trauma of his past. Emit has no idea how to navigate the world on his own. Together, they set out in hopes of finding Emit’s family. Slowly, both Jade and Emit learn to trust that no matter what, they will be there for each other.
When an abrupt decision alters their lives forever, both are left doubting that there may be a new beginning for them, somewhere at the end of it all.
Emit has grown up within the safety of his family’s camp until the day he’s taken by a band of raiders and thrust into a terrifying, hellish world. Just when he gives up hope, Jade risks everything to free him and escape. If caught, both boys will suffer an unimaginable fate and with the leader of the camp on their heels, Emit is forced to rely on the boy he’s only just met.
Jade has no idea how to navigate through the trauma of his past. Emit has no idea how to navigate the world on his own. Together, they set out in hopes of finding Emit’s family. Slowly, both Jade and Emit learn to trust that no matter what, they will be there for each other.
When an abrupt decision alters their lives forever, both are left doubting that there may be a new beginning for them, somewhere at the end of it all.
361 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 21, 2019
1 person is currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Gaia Octavia
1 book9 followersWriter of words, mother of dragon.
Gaia Octavia was born in Troy, NY. After growing up all around New England, her family settled in New Hampshire, where she still lives today. A lover of trees, words, and learning, Gaia lives with her son and her two cats.
Gaia Octavia was born in Troy, NY. After growing up all around New England, her family settled in New Hampshire, where she still lives today. A lover of trees, words, and learning, Gaia lives with her son and her two cats.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 6, 2022
HIDDEN GEM is an intense MM romance set in a dystopian fantasy world where savage raiding parties terrorize the settlements between desert wastelands. Jade is nineteen and has been held as a slave of the raiders for eight years when another young man his age is brought to the camp. Jade frees Emit and they go on the run. The author is clear in the story summary about the trigger warnings for the book as it covers sensitive subject matter, and the topics covered are handled well. Jade is deeply scarred because of his time in captivity. He also has learned survival skills. He and Emit were a good contrast, with Emit having all the emotional tools that Jade lacked, and Jade having the practical ones. The way the writing handled Emit/Jade’s eventual attraction to each other, mixed in with the trauma of what Jade endured, was very well done. I definitely shipped their romance. I really liked Emit’s mother. There were some great scenes with her. This had a nailbiter cliffhanger ending that will definitely leave you wanting book two!
May 24, 2019
From the start, this story gripped me with so many emotions. The writing is so sharp, I was completely engrossed from page one. Jade's POV really pulls the reader into each moment, creating poignant moments of empathy, and heartache, and hope. Emit is like a bright star throughout this book, bringing warmth and balancing out Jade so well. Their connection from the beginning was real, and raw, and intense. And the development of their love was so well done, it was believable and so beautiful in the strength and hope and healing that it provided for each of them. I loved the little moments shown between them; those small moments that all felt momentous and really produced a memorable impact.
The chemistry between the two of them was off the charts. The sexual tension was brilliantly executed, with each touch or lock of their eyes seeming as important and gut-churning to me as it did for them. Gaia Octavia did a great job of building up the anticipation. The want and need was tangible, and the sex scenes were perfection!
Another area that stood out was the incorporation of their pasts, in particular the memories of Jade’s family. Both characters were incredibly well built out. Each of them were distinct in their relationship with their families, their memories, what they clung to and talked about. It kept me genuinely invested in the story and these guys, and allowed me to see everything Jade lost and the absolutely horrifying way in which he lost it. And it is so thoughtfully done with having to consider all of the trauma and after-effects that would have on him; how it plays out with his relationships, with his staying at the camp for eight years, with the way he viewed himself. It was a really moving story!! Cannot wait for book two!
The chemistry between the two of them was off the charts. The sexual tension was brilliantly executed, with each touch or lock of their eyes seeming as important and gut-churning to me as it did for them. Gaia Octavia did a great job of building up the anticipation. The want and need was tangible, and the sex scenes were perfection!
Another area that stood out was the incorporation of their pasts, in particular the memories of Jade’s family. Both characters were incredibly well built out. Each of them were distinct in their relationship with their families, their memories, what they clung to and talked about. It kept me genuinely invested in the story and these guys, and allowed me to see everything Jade lost and the absolutely horrifying way in which he lost it. And it is so thoughtfully done with having to consider all of the trauma and after-effects that would have on him; how it plays out with his relationships, with his staying at the camp for eight years, with the way he viewed himself. It was a really moving story!! Cannot wait for book two!
April 25, 2022
A very gritty, harsh fantasy focused around two trauma-ridden protagonists. To say I ‘enjoyed’ reading about Jade and Emit’s journey doesn’t sound quite right. Their adventure isn’t something to be enjoyed, I don’t think, more something to be absorbed – it is very dark and full of a lot of hard introspection as both of them try and grow and escape their horrific pasts.
The characterisation and care taken over that is very impressive and I liked watching their dynamic develop, dipping in and out of friendship and love. The dual POVs were interesting and I particularly appreciated how they were split with a chapter to each POV. Sometimes it’s nice to read something with short, snappy chapters. I would say that the book is very character-based rather than plot-heavy – not my go-to preference and I would have loved to see more about the world around them (there were some really interesting references to a dystopian future about climate change and I loved loved loved the idea of the deep sea creatures coming from the ocean depths because of warming but that’s just my adoration for sea legends coming out haha). But there was a strong enough thread to keep the story going.
I won’t spoil anything, but the ending didn’t quite satisfy me. Seeing that it is the first in a series makes it a bit more palatable though. I hope there’s more to come for Jade and Emit!
The characterisation and care taken over that is very impressive and I liked watching their dynamic develop, dipping in and out of friendship and love. The dual POVs were interesting and I particularly appreciated how they were split with a chapter to each POV. Sometimes it’s nice to read something with short, snappy chapters. I would say that the book is very character-based rather than plot-heavy – not my go-to preference and I would have loved to see more about the world around them (there were some really interesting references to a dystopian future about climate change and I loved loved loved the idea of the deep sea creatures coming from the ocean depths because of warming but that’s just my adoration for sea legends coming out haha). But there was a strong enough thread to keep the story going.
I won’t spoil anything, but the ending didn’t quite satisfy me. Seeing that it is the first in a series makes it a bit more palatable though. I hope there’s more to come for Jade and Emit!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews