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Merculians #1
The Danger Dance
Life and death action and intrigue aboard a military space vessel!
A startling command from the dreaded Praetan brings chaos into the tranquil lives of hermaphrodites Eulio and his lover Orosin. Using the tour of the Merculian National Dance Company where Eulio is a star as cover, they board the Wellington, a militaristic starship that values nothing they believe in. Someone is passing secrets about fleet movements and weaponry to the enemies in the Troia, but the efforts of the two Merculians to unmask the spy only stir up a toxic mix of hatred and violence. Who will have to die before the Praetan is satisfied? The Danger Dance is a futuristic space adventure with enough swashbuckling action and intrigue to keep even the most jaded science fiction addict enthralled.
“A crackerjack SF novel––moving, eloquent, and richly textured. I recommend it highly.” - Robert J. Sawyer, award-winning science fiction writer
“…a tingling subversity of gender, sexuality and goosebumping excitement. Even better, Soles can rally write, with wit, sensuosity and depth.” - Perry Brass, suthor of The Harvest, Angel Lust, etc.
“A well written novel, full of sexual and political intrigue, it grips from the very first page and is difficult to put down….” - Annette Gisby, author of Silent Screams.
A startling command from the dreaded Praetan brings chaos into the tranquil lives of hermaphrodites Eulio and his lover Orosin. Using the tour of the Merculian National Dance Company where Eulio is a star as cover, they board the Wellington, a militaristic starship that values nothing they believe in. Someone is passing secrets about fleet movements and weaponry to the enemies in the Troia, but the efforts of the two Merculians to unmask the spy only stir up a toxic mix of hatred and violence. Who will have to die before the Praetan is satisfied? The Danger Dance is a futuristic space adventure with enough swashbuckling action and intrigue to keep even the most jaded science fiction addict enthralled.
“A crackerjack SF novel––moving, eloquent, and richly textured. I recommend it highly.” - Robert J. Sawyer, award-winning science fiction writer
“…a tingling subversity of gender, sexuality and goosebumping excitement. Even better, Soles can rally write, with wit, sensuosity and depth.” - Perry Brass, suthor of The Harvest, Angel Lust, etc.
“A well written novel, full of sexual and political intrigue, it grips from the very first page and is difficult to put down….” - Annette Gisby, author of Silent Screams.
242 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
3 people are currently reading
373 people want to read
About the author
Caro Soles
26 books135 followersCaro Soles Bio
My novels include mysteries, erotica, gay lit, the occasional bit of dark fantasy, and science fiction. I received the Derrick Murdoch Award from the Crime Writers of Canada for my work in the mystery field, was short listed for the Lambda Literary Award, the Aurora, and the Stoker Award. I live in Toronto with my long suffering husband, ,and love dachshunds, books, opera and ballet, not necessarily in that order.
And yes, I love to read!
My novels include mysteries, erotica, gay lit, the occasional bit of dark fantasy, and science fiction. I received the Derrick Murdoch Award from the Crime Writers of Canada for my work in the mystery field, was short listed for the Lambda Literary Award, the Aurora, and the Stoker Award. I live in Toronto with my long suffering husband, ,and love dachshunds, books, opera and ballet, not necessarily in that order.
And yes, I love to read!
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
March 18, 2017
Caro Soles recreates the world of ballet in WWI New York in this lovely long wallow of a book. Morgan Vanheusen is the child of a wealthy family who try to crush his dream of racing cars and force him into a life of business. He rebels, and finds a fellow rebellious spirit in a famous visitor being trotted out to show to the wealthy of NYC. He meets and rescues the famous Russian ballet dancer Nijinsky, and an unlikely but fascinating friendship develops. Nijinsky is the talk of the town, in New York to perform new ballets with the Met company. Everyone is currying his favour. Through being known as a friend to Mr. Nijinsky, Morgan experiences various new locales in NYC, from swanky cafes to clubs to the backstage life of the ballet. Nijinsky benefits from their friendship as well, in ways you shall have to find out. Everything isn't all peaches and cream; Morgan seems positively cursed at times, and Nijinsky has secrets of his own.
The book doesn't stay rooted in wealthy New York, but delves into the desperate lives of the poor. Characters struggle to become ballet dancers or run theatres, end up betraying their friends, drink too much or gamble themselves into poverty. Russian spies lurk around every corner; there are secret societies, mad relatives, and malicious scandals. Plus a suspicious murder or two...
It's a fascinating time in the history of the world and the NYC in particular, with the debates over joining the war, the advent of the automobile, the conflict between the uber-wealthy and the poor. Soles creates the atmosphere well; you can almost smell the tenements. There are lots of lovely discussions of the beautiful automobiles of the era, and somewhat less lovely discussions of the tedium of fancy parties and debutante years. The details are present but don't interrupt the flow of the story - they add to it and place it securely in time.
Morgan is a likeable hero, and Nijinsky is an appropriately demanding artist. The other characters are well-drawn and not stereotypical; their back stories are believable and interesting. I found it a very hard book to put down - I wanted to see how things worked out, if they did, and found myself racing home to get back into the book.
There is a slight tendency to run-on sentences in the book, which can occasionally be confusing with all of the Russian names, and the twisting parts of the novel at first seem unconnected, but all come together nicely at the end. I took off one star for the sentences as I had to read a few of them more than one time.
The book doesn't stay rooted in wealthy New York, but delves into the desperate lives of the poor. Characters struggle to become ballet dancers or run theatres, end up betraying their friends, drink too much or gamble themselves into poverty. Russian spies lurk around every corner; there are secret societies, mad relatives, and malicious scandals. Plus a suspicious murder or two...
It's a fascinating time in the history of the world and the NYC in particular, with the debates over joining the war, the advent of the automobile, the conflict between the uber-wealthy and the poor. Soles creates the atmosphere well; you can almost smell the tenements. There are lots of lovely discussions of the beautiful automobiles of the era, and somewhat less lovely discussions of the tedium of fancy parties and debutante years. The details are present but don't interrupt the flow of the story - they add to it and place it securely in time.
Morgan is a likeable hero, and Nijinsky is an appropriately demanding artist. The other characters are well-drawn and not stereotypical; their back stories are believable and interesting. I found it a very hard book to put down - I wanted to see how things worked out, if they did, and found myself racing home to get back into the book.
There is a slight tendency to run-on sentences in the book, which can occasionally be confusing with all of the Russian names, and the twisting parts of the novel at first seem unconnected, but all come together nicely at the end. I took off one star for the sentences as I had to read a few of them more than one time.
July 19, 2017
Legendary dancer Vaslav Nijinsky brings Russian ballet magic and intrigue to 1916 New York. Nijinsky is at war with his boss, Sergei Diaghilev, founder of the Ballets Russes dance company and seeks to break away from him and achieve his goal of dancing in new ballets of his own creation. Nijinsky has also drawn the attention of aging impresario George Kassevetsky, who desperately seeks to persuade Nijinsky to dance with his protégé, Galina Petrovna in an effort to revive his now defunct ballet company. Thrown into this artistic maelstrom is Morgan Vanheusen, an upper class New Yorker, who finds himself appointed as Nijinsky’s liaison to American high society. Nijinsky enlists Morgan to help him evade his admirers and uncover his enemies.
Morgan Vanheusen is the true protagonist of this novel. Morgan is a young man in love, but this is the least of his problems. He believes he has abandoned his passion to race motor cars and is trying to come to terms with embarking on a business career. Every time he dips his toe into the business world, he violently retreats to the exciting world of motor racing. Nijinsky’s problems soon complicate Morgan’s life further, but provide a catalyst for Morgan finally making some decisions.
Aspiring ballerina Galina Perovna is murdered during a performance, but those of importance who have the power to seek justice are unmoved. A police detective, a reporter and Morgan pursue the case uncovering further complications involving art theft and forgery and a woman kept and discarded after becoming pregnant. Solving the crime and ensuring there is some justice becomes a conflict between those who care about the dancer’s fate and those who seek to cover it up or ignore it entirely.
Ms. Soles skillfully evokes the period where the United States elite were very reluctant to involve themselves in the conflict that would become known as World War One and were very much more concerned with a near sociopathic pursuit of business and pleasure. These pursuits and the price paid by the less powerful form the backbone for the events that take in the book. In this dynamic period, much of western society was witnessing the birth pangs of an artistic and technological revolution that spawned many individuals who chose to chuck the conventions of society and carve new paths. If these pursuits are offensive or incomprehensible to conventional society, so much the better. We see young men going to Canada to enlist to fight in the European War and people who could comfortably live the good life instead seek adventure and take risks. Much of the internal conflict experienced by Morgan Vanhuesen and his sister Gloria reflects this rude assault of the new upon the old.
Period history, however, never bogs down the story. This book is both a suspenseful page turner and a well-crafted traditional novel: the events that unfold are true to the nature of each character and the society that participates (or won’t) in these events. The main characters are well drawn and worthy of attention and the minor characters are often used to provide both depth and context to the plot lines. The absurdities of artistic sensibilities and elitist insensibilities provide much of the subtle humor found it the book. Most importantly, the book stays true to the nature of society and its people: they are what they are and whatever justice is or is not meted out is true to both human nature and the social fabric.
Morgan Vanheusen is the true protagonist of this novel. Morgan is a young man in love, but this is the least of his problems. He believes he has abandoned his passion to race motor cars and is trying to come to terms with embarking on a business career. Every time he dips his toe into the business world, he violently retreats to the exciting world of motor racing. Nijinsky’s problems soon complicate Morgan’s life further, but provide a catalyst for Morgan finally making some decisions.
Aspiring ballerina Galina Perovna is murdered during a performance, but those of importance who have the power to seek justice are unmoved. A police detective, a reporter and Morgan pursue the case uncovering further complications involving art theft and forgery and a woman kept and discarded after becoming pregnant. Solving the crime and ensuring there is some justice becomes a conflict between those who care about the dancer’s fate and those who seek to cover it up or ignore it entirely.
Ms. Soles skillfully evokes the period where the United States elite were very reluctant to involve themselves in the conflict that would become known as World War One and were very much more concerned with a near sociopathic pursuit of business and pleasure. These pursuits and the price paid by the less powerful form the backbone for the events that take in the book. In this dynamic period, much of western society was witnessing the birth pangs of an artistic and technological revolution that spawned many individuals who chose to chuck the conventions of society and carve new paths. If these pursuits are offensive or incomprehensible to conventional society, so much the better. We see young men going to Canada to enlist to fight in the European War and people who could comfortably live the good life instead seek adventure and take risks. Much of the internal conflict experienced by Morgan Vanhuesen and his sister Gloria reflects this rude assault of the new upon the old.
Period history, however, never bogs down the story. This book is both a suspenseful page turner and a well-crafted traditional novel: the events that unfold are true to the nature of each character and the society that participates (or won’t) in these events. The main characters are well drawn and worthy of attention and the minor characters are often used to provide both depth and context to the plot lines. The absurdities of artistic sensibilities and elitist insensibilities provide much of the subtle humor found it the book. Most importantly, the book stays true to the nature of society and its people: they are what they are and whatever justice is or is not meted out is true to both human nature and the social fabric.
July 23, 2018
I enjoyed this book by Caro soles about the great ballet dancer and choreographer Vaslav Nijinsky. It was an interesting and exciting read. It was obvious when reading this book that the author had done a lot of research prior to writing it. I would definitely recommend this as a good read, especially to fans of historical fiction who like a good mystery too.
July 22, 2018
An interesting historical fiction story.
Well paced with characters that are lively and engaging.
Well paced with characters that are lively and engaging.
July 20, 2018
An interesting piece of historical fiction. The characters are lively and the story moves along at a good pace.
July 4, 2008
While I'm not an ardent fan or follower of science fiction or fantasy literature, I hold the authors from this genre in the highest regard, simply because they are responsible for creating worlds and characters that exist in their imaginations only, yet they have to somehow make their worlds familiar (or at least interesting) to the reader. In her sci-fi espionage thriller The Danger Dance, author Caro Soles introduces us to the futuristic world of a pair of Merculian hermaphrodites, Beny and Eulio, whose lives, pleasures, and passions are far from "otherworldly" and similar to our civilization of today.
Soles first introduced Merculians in a previous work, The Abulon Dance. Eulio is a renowned member of the National Dance Company; his lover, Beny, is a composer with politically influential family ties. Shortly before Eulio is scheduled to depart on the starship Wellington for a dance company tour, the high priest of Merculian, Praetan, recruits Beny to join Eulio on board as an undercover spy. A member of the Wellington's crew has been sharing military secrets with enemy territory, Troia, so the Praetan believes Beny's presence as both a composer and Eulio's partner will not arouse suspicion. When he tries to refuse, the high priest reminds Beny he never completed his mandatory tour of duty (waived courtesy of his family status) after graduating from the Academy of the Inter Planetary Alliance. Beny reluctantly complies and is advised to trust no one while gathering clues and information.
Upon arrival, Beny is thrilled to be reunited with his former academy and cabin mate, Von (a Serpian), yet disappointed to learn that Misha, another cadet from his days at the academy whom he had reported to authorities for wrongdoing, is also on board the Wellington. Beny also becomes acquainted with Tyler, the starship's second-in-command; Jermaine, a drag queen and Tyler's secret lover; Zanda, a security officer; Triani, fellow Merculian and Eulio's dancing partner; and Arriad, Triani's assistant. Beny immediately begins to investigate the backgrounds and former whereabouts of each person on board.
Initially, the vast array of identities aboard the starship is a bit challenging to follow, but like any worthwhile espionage thriller, each serves a specific purpose, and every character's motives are called into question. Zanda, for instance, invites Eulio to attend a secret, illegal card game (known as "reklo"), which calls attention to her level of trustworthiness. Misha encourages an injured and medicated Eulio to take dangerous and unnecessary risks during the reklo game--to convey authority, or simply to spite Beny? Tyler religiously follows the captain's orders, often against the advice of his fellow officers, who strongly believe the captain is acting absentmindedly or unprofessionally, which raises the possibility that he or the captain may have ulterior motives. Triani, meanwhile, is the resident harlot who treats Arriad like a slave while lusting after a mysterious suitor, Lucius, a master at violent role play. When Beny finally learns the identity of the informant, he inadvertently puts himself and Eulio in great danger. Subsequent efforts to rescue the two Merculian lovers serve as a litmus test for the honesty (and dishonesty), as well as loyalty, of those remaining on board.
The world of the starship Wellington and its inhabitants provide seemingly endless examples of clever metaphors cutting across politics, the military, class and social status, community, racism, justice, and acceptance--all pervading forces and themes from both our current civilization and past centuries. Soles also manages to brilliantly illustrate the parallels of desire, particularly among different sexes and origins, and the external forces that complicate those desires and communal efforts, such as drugs, greed, and jealousy. Allegory aside, the author has comprised a story that is compelling and fun to read.
Soles first introduced Merculians in a previous work, The Abulon Dance. Eulio is a renowned member of the National Dance Company; his lover, Beny, is a composer with politically influential family ties. Shortly before Eulio is scheduled to depart on the starship Wellington for a dance company tour, the high priest of Merculian, Praetan, recruits Beny to join Eulio on board as an undercover spy. A member of the Wellington's crew has been sharing military secrets with enemy territory, Troia, so the Praetan believes Beny's presence as both a composer and Eulio's partner will not arouse suspicion. When he tries to refuse, the high priest reminds Beny he never completed his mandatory tour of duty (waived courtesy of his family status) after graduating from the Academy of the Inter Planetary Alliance. Beny reluctantly complies and is advised to trust no one while gathering clues and information.
Upon arrival, Beny is thrilled to be reunited with his former academy and cabin mate, Von (a Serpian), yet disappointed to learn that Misha, another cadet from his days at the academy whom he had reported to authorities for wrongdoing, is also on board the Wellington. Beny also becomes acquainted with Tyler, the starship's second-in-command; Jermaine, a drag queen and Tyler's secret lover; Zanda, a security officer; Triani, fellow Merculian and Eulio's dancing partner; and Arriad, Triani's assistant. Beny immediately begins to investigate the backgrounds and former whereabouts of each person on board.
Initially, the vast array of identities aboard the starship is a bit challenging to follow, but like any worthwhile espionage thriller, each serves a specific purpose, and every character's motives are called into question. Zanda, for instance, invites Eulio to attend a secret, illegal card game (known as "reklo"), which calls attention to her level of trustworthiness. Misha encourages an injured and medicated Eulio to take dangerous and unnecessary risks during the reklo game--to convey authority, or simply to spite Beny? Tyler religiously follows the captain's orders, often against the advice of his fellow officers, who strongly believe the captain is acting absentmindedly or unprofessionally, which raises the possibility that he or the captain may have ulterior motives. Triani, meanwhile, is the resident harlot who treats Arriad like a slave while lusting after a mysterious suitor, Lucius, a master at violent role play. When Beny finally learns the identity of the informant, he inadvertently puts himself and Eulio in great danger. Subsequent efforts to rescue the two Merculian lovers serve as a litmus test for the honesty (and dishonesty), as well as loyalty, of those remaining on board.
The world of the starship Wellington and its inhabitants provide seemingly endless examples of clever metaphors cutting across politics, the military, class and social status, community, racism, justice, and acceptance--all pervading forces and themes from both our current civilization and past centuries. Soles also manages to brilliantly illustrate the parallels of desire, particularly among different sexes and origins, and the external forces that complicate those desires and communal efforts, such as drugs, greed, and jealousy. Allegory aside, the author has comprised a story that is compelling and fun to read.
November 9, 2019
*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book.*
I'm sorry to say that this book didn't work for me at all. I skim-read most of it. This is due to several things:
A) Not enough world-building. Military space vessel, espionage, dancing companies, hermaphrodites? I need more context. Who are the different players? How are the different people politically connected? Confusion.
B) Story and characters confusing, not enough for me.
C) Trigger warnings galore. Rape, bondage, forced Piercings, abortion, forced drug consume, drug abuse. This one dude sort of rapes and pierces one of the hermaphrodites against his will, calls him "bitch" even though he's not a woman, and that's okay???? W. T. F.
Especially C was one reason why I chose to skim-read the rest of it. I liked the Sci-Fi setting, I liked the queer characters even though I disliked how the hermaphrodites were sexually exploited and othered by others (don't like the message this sends).
Anybody else had problems with this book or is it just me?
2 Stars
I'm sorry to say that this book didn't work for me at all. I skim-read most of it. This is due to several things:
A) Not enough world-building. Military space vessel, espionage, dancing companies, hermaphrodites? I need more context. Who are the different players? How are the different people politically connected? Confusion.
B) Story and characters confusing, not enough for me.
C) Trigger warnings galore. Rape, bondage, forced Piercings, abortion, forced drug consume, drug abuse. This one dude sort of rapes and pierces one of the hermaphrodites against his will, calls him "bitch" even though he's not a woman, and that's okay???? W. T. F.
Especially C was one reason why I chose to skim-read the rest of it. I liked the Sci-Fi setting, I liked the queer characters even though I disliked how the hermaphrodites were sexually exploited and othered by others (don't like the message this sends).
Anybody else had problems with this book or is it just me?
2 Stars
September 23, 2019
This is the 3rd book in this intriguing world Caro Soles has created. I love that she works with dance and the Merculian Dance Company with all of the characters in and surrounding the premier dancer Triani, who is definitely a handful, a prima-donna, both compelling and infuriating, especially in this story because his child is involved. That provides this particular installment with more intrigue in play than the previous two, although I can't say there was no mystery involved in the other books, because there was. But The Memory Dance seems to have a depth to it that kept me fascinated and reading on into the wee hours to see What Happens Next, what Triani will do or won't do regarding betrayal, especially when his child is in danger! These characters (apart from Triani) are generally sweet, loving, sane...yes sane...and gentle, which gives a nice fictional release in our real world that's full of trouble and negative nonsense at the moment. I'm looking forward to the next novel in this ongoing realm I'd call a space opera, that fascinating new subgenre of SF.
October 28, 2019
The third book in this series could be read as a stand alone but is better for the background stories in the first two books.
The Merculians are a fun loving, artistic group of hermaphrodites. Usually. As usual there are mysteries and secrets to be uncovered. Triani risks his life to keep his child safe. Can he free himself from The Watchers? Will they force him to betry his lover? Will the secrts from his past be revealed?
Another great story with hopefully more to come.
The Merculians are a fun loving, artistic group of hermaphrodites. Usually. As usual there are mysteries and secrets to be uncovered. Triani risks his life to keep his child safe. Can he free himself from The Watchers? Will they force him to betry his lover? Will the secrts from his past be revealed?
Another great story with hopefully more to come.
September 6, 2017
This is my kind of book. You've heard the expression "Setting as character?" This book is the best of historical mysteries, in that WW1 New York comes alive. Never have I read a book that put me into the age like this one did. Likeable characters, often with mores very true to the time, and Dance! How I enjoyed the dance theme. A mystery worth reading, in a setting I truly savored.
July 3, 2017
An intesting read with twists. Good story!
August 10, 2017
It is New York in 1916. The war in Europe is met with an uncomfortable silence by most Americans. The great ballet dancer Vaslav Nijinsky has arrived in New York and is at odds with a number of people in the classical arts including the ballet impresario Sergei Diaghilev. In the midst of this, Morgan Vanheusen, the son of a wealthy and important family, meets the dancer and a relationship starts between them. It is a odd relationship between the relatively stable if insecure Morgan and the eccentric and sometimes paranoid Nijinsky but Morgan seems to get something out of it, perhaps because he has his own abandoned dreams of becoming a race car driver and is thwarted at every corner by his overpowering family. While Nijinsky is dancing onstage, his partner for the dance "faints" and it is not until after he carries her off stage that they realize she has died. To some, including a detective and reporter, it may not just be because of a weak heart as the papers reported. Into this mystery Morgan and Nijinsky become involved while dealing with ballet intrigues and backstabbing, possible art fraud, and the exclusionary and sometimes hypocritical practices of America's upper class.
As the title A Friend of Mr. Nijinsky suggests, the main protagonist of the novel is Morgan Vanheusan. Nijjinsky plays a supporting role although a very essential one in both plot and theme. When we meet Morgan he is feeling rootless as he goes through the motions of life without any career goals, having been forced to give up his dream due to the death of his brother and the demands of a controlling father. Nijinsky revives that forsaken spirit in him and he and Nijinsky plays a little Sherlock Holmes, to which Nijinsky replies "Who?", as they attempt to discover some of the answers about who the young dancer Galina Perovna really was and why she was murdered. There is also a sub-plot with Morgan's sister Gloria and a reporter that gives us a look at the strict social roles of the times.
This is where the novel really shines. The mystery in the novel is rather slight, even forgotten at times, and while it points to a number of other intrigues going on, I suspect it is the era in America just before entering World War I that is the real focus of the author. She brings alive that era in not only the sometimes volatile world of the dance but in the very strong class differences and morals that made the era what it was. The author makes the characters, even the minor ones, alive in their thoughts and reactions. For instance, the upper class fawns over the artists but still sees them as being beneath them. While Morgan is applauded for his connection to Nijinsky, his family and especially his father sees the friendship as not worthy of him and subversive. The relationship between Morgan and the dancer, and eventually the revelations that arise from the death of Galina, reveal many of these complex underpinnings of social norms in the early 20th century. The mystery is entertaining and satisfying but it is the depiction of life in New York in 1916 where the strength of the novel comes through. While we read to decipher the murder's mystery, we are also aware that World War I will soon be placing a coda on the New York of that era.
Of course, if one is interested and knowledgeable in Nijinsky and ballet it is a real plus and will go far in the enjoyment of the book. Yet it is not necessary as Caro Soles does a fine job in introducing us to the essential details of the discipline in an entertaining fashion. But for me, having a pretty good knowledge of the arts and being able to recognize most of the actual historical figures that pop up among the fictional ones, the part that surprised me was the accurate information on early auto racing. Like i said, the author has a flair in bringing to life many things from ballet to auto racing. The author did her homework in almost every aspect of this historical mystery.
Those who are into mysteries with an historical connection will enjoy A Friend of Mr. Nijinsky. In fact anyone who like historical novels will find this worth looking into. You get not only a mystery but a time capsule into a world whose odd mixture of innocence and class separation has long passed.
As the title A Friend of Mr. Nijinsky suggests, the main protagonist of the novel is Morgan Vanheusan. Nijjinsky plays a supporting role although a very essential one in both plot and theme. When we meet Morgan he is feeling rootless as he goes through the motions of life without any career goals, having been forced to give up his dream due to the death of his brother and the demands of a controlling father. Nijinsky revives that forsaken spirit in him and he and Nijinsky plays a little Sherlock Holmes, to which Nijinsky replies "Who?", as they attempt to discover some of the answers about who the young dancer Galina Perovna really was and why she was murdered. There is also a sub-plot with Morgan's sister Gloria and a reporter that gives us a look at the strict social roles of the times.
This is where the novel really shines. The mystery in the novel is rather slight, even forgotten at times, and while it points to a number of other intrigues going on, I suspect it is the era in America just before entering World War I that is the real focus of the author. She brings alive that era in not only the sometimes volatile world of the dance but in the very strong class differences and morals that made the era what it was. The author makes the characters, even the minor ones, alive in their thoughts and reactions. For instance, the upper class fawns over the artists but still sees them as being beneath them. While Morgan is applauded for his connection to Nijinsky, his family and especially his father sees the friendship as not worthy of him and subversive. The relationship between Morgan and the dancer, and eventually the revelations that arise from the death of Galina, reveal many of these complex underpinnings of social norms in the early 20th century. The mystery is entertaining and satisfying but it is the depiction of life in New York in 1916 where the strength of the novel comes through. While we read to decipher the murder's mystery, we are also aware that World War I will soon be placing a coda on the New York of that era.
Of course, if one is interested and knowledgeable in Nijinsky and ballet it is a real plus and will go far in the enjoyment of the book. Yet it is not necessary as Caro Soles does a fine job in introducing us to the essential details of the discipline in an entertaining fashion. But for me, having a pretty good knowledge of the arts and being able to recognize most of the actual historical figures that pop up among the fictional ones, the part that surprised me was the accurate information on early auto racing. Like i said, the author has a flair in bringing to life many things from ballet to auto racing. The author did her homework in almost every aspect of this historical mystery.
Those who are into mysteries with an historical connection will enjoy A Friend of Mr. Nijinsky. In fact anyone who like historical novels will find this worth looking into. You get not only a mystery but a time capsule into a world whose odd mixture of innocence and class separation has long passed.
June 2, 2020
Imaginez une race d'humanoides hermaphrodites qui est l'opposé des Vulcains de Star Trek. Beny est chargé de débusquer un traitre qui volent des infos pour le compte de pirates. Pis qui de mieux que de profiter de la tournée de la troupe de danse de son ami de coeur Eulio!
Quand ils ne sont pas "enceints", les Merculians ont l'air de gars musclés, très émotifs, la sensibilité à fleur de peau, pis empathiques en plus (au toucher). Des artistes, des musiciens, des danseurs comme Eulio, le chum de Beny, ou Triani, un danseur ambitieux.
Pour Beny qui fait son service militaire, ça demande des efforts d'adaptation, surtout quand le capitaine (humain) déteste les aliens (il y a plusieurs races, en passant).
Les Merculians pleurent sans honte, aiment les partys, la promiscuité, les stimulants et la dope (illes essayent n'importe quoi, ce qui leur cause des ennuis). Par exemples, les hermos ne barrent pas leurs portes parce qu'ils n'imaginent pas qu'un humain fâché pourrait rentrer sans permission pour les tabasser... Et pour ce qui est des arts de combat, euh, oublie ça. Ça prend "toute leur petit change" juste pour se défendre en cas de danger mortel!
Caro Soles a créé un univers intéressant et original. Pour les lecteur-rices qui aiment la danse!
March 10, 2024
I am absolutely in love with this book.
While the plot tends to a more juvenile style, it is well written and exciting all the way.
I am big fan of science fiction, space traveling and other "star-trek" alike style of stories.
I have never though I would find a book in this category with queer protagonists.
I am exciting to read more books of the author.
While the plot tends to a more juvenile style, it is well written and exciting all the way.
I am big fan of science fiction, space traveling and other "star-trek" alike style of stories.
I have never though I would find a book in this category with queer protagonists.
I am exciting to read more books of the author.
July 26, 2018
Overall this was an impressive story which delved into both the wealthy and poor sectors of New York in the 1900s. Is Mr Nijinsky all he seems and can he be relied on as a friend and ally in a dangerous world? A great historical crime mystery.
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December 5, 2020Normally a huge fan of this genre, but not this book. DNF at about 30%. Needed more world building at the very least.
September 1, 2019
2.5 stars
Kinda weird and a bit confusing, yet still an exciting mystery scifi thriller.
Content warnings include: Rape and a wide variety of other unconsensual acts (drugging, piercing, bondage, I'm probably forgetting a lot of others) and it's all kind of brushed off??, murder, lots of drug use, abduction, unplanned pregnancy, abortion, homophobia, racism, abuse of military rank, extremely dysfunctional/abusive/toxic relationship(s), organised crime; mentions of child abuse, loss of parents, torture through burning.
The blurb feels like it was written by someone who only read a vague summary of the book.
For one there were far more protagonists than just Eulio, a dancer, and Beny (he is barely ever called Orosin), a composer who went to a intergalactic military academy, the later of who gets drafted to find a spy under the cover of accompanying his lover on his dance company tour.
There is also Triani, another star dancer with an abundance of dysfuncional habits; Arriad, a teenaged assistant in the dance company who gets sucked into Triani's stardom; and Tyler Rodriguez, the only human protagonist, who is first officer on the military spaceship the dance company tours on and no quite happy with how the captain runs the ship.
The world-building was sufficient for the plot but I wished there had been more of it. The exact cultures and political alliances and so on of and between the different alien species weren't elaborated or introduced in depth, and not really plot relevant. It was a bit of a disappointment - the book would have worked out just fine had everyone been human.
Equally irrelevant to the plot or pretty much anything was the fact that Merculians as a species are hermaphrodites, which here seems to mean that they all have both (human) male and female gonads and sexual characteristics. They are all adressed using he/him pronouns - in passing it's mentioned that this is for ease of translation in the common language and that Merculians themselves have trouble keeping he/she/it apart and don't see themselves as/aren't male (or female), but it honestly just felt super lazy. Singular they is literally right there. Another disappointment, because I love reading about non-human-gender conforming alien species, but it wasn't explored at all.
The writing wasn't always clear and frequently quite confusing. Some of the dialogue felt stilted and often didn't seem to fit together.
I wouldn't say there were too many plot holes, but I also often couldn't figure out how single actions, scenes and characters' decision added up to what was happening or why things were done.
Still, it was quite exciting and I found myself wanting to find out what happens next, even if I didn't always like how things developed.
One of the main things that bothered me was how the substantial amount of abusive behaviour in this book was simply brushed off and remained without consequences. Some of these actions were done by protagonists, and while it wasn't really repeated there was also a serious lack of character development or reflection.
I think this is a rerelease of an already published novel, and in my opinion it could do with another round of editing/rewriting in some parts, just to make things work out more smootly.
In the end it was still an entertaining read.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Kinda weird and a bit confusing, yet still an exciting mystery scifi thriller.
Content warnings include: Rape and a wide variety of other unconsensual acts (drugging, piercing, bondage, I'm probably forgetting a lot of others) and it's all kind of brushed off??, murder, lots of drug use, abduction, unplanned pregnancy, abortion, homophobia, racism, abuse of military rank, extremely dysfunctional/abusive/toxic relationship(s), organised crime; mentions of child abuse, loss of parents, torture through burning.
The blurb feels like it was written by someone who only read a vague summary of the book.
For one there were far more protagonists than just Eulio, a dancer, and Beny (he is barely ever called Orosin), a composer who went to a intergalactic military academy, the later of who gets drafted to find a spy under the cover of accompanying his lover on his dance company tour.
There is also Triani, another star dancer with an abundance of dysfuncional habits; Arriad, a teenaged assistant in the dance company who gets sucked into Triani's stardom; and Tyler Rodriguez, the only human protagonist, who is first officer on the military spaceship the dance company tours on and no quite happy with how the captain runs the ship.
The world-building was sufficient for the plot but I wished there had been more of it. The exact cultures and political alliances and so on of and between the different alien species weren't elaborated or introduced in depth, and not really plot relevant. It was a bit of a disappointment - the book would have worked out just fine had everyone been human.
Equally irrelevant to the plot or pretty much anything was the fact that Merculians as a species are hermaphrodites, which here seems to mean that they all have both (human) male and female gonads and sexual characteristics. They are all adressed using he/him pronouns - in passing it's mentioned that this is for ease of translation in the common language and that Merculians themselves have trouble keeping he/she/it apart and don't see themselves as/aren't male (or female), but it honestly just felt super lazy. Singular they is literally right there. Another disappointment, because I love reading about non-human-gender conforming alien species, but it wasn't explored at all.
The writing wasn't always clear and frequently quite confusing. Some of the dialogue felt stilted and often didn't seem to fit together.
I wouldn't say there were too many plot holes, but I also often couldn't figure out how single actions, scenes and characters' decision added up to what was happening or why things were done.
Still, it was quite exciting and I found myself wanting to find out what happens next, even if I didn't always like how things developed.
One of the main things that bothered me was how the substantial amount of abusive behaviour in this book was simply brushed off and remained without consequences. Some of these actions were done by protagonists, and while it wasn't really repeated there was also a serious lack of character development or reflection.
I think this is a rerelease of an already published novel, and in my opinion it could do with another round of editing/rewriting in some parts, just to make things work out more smootly.
In the end it was still an entertaining read.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
September 11, 2019
When I started reading The Danger Dance by Caro Soles I was shocked at how quickly the author hooked me into the story and me page-turning. Being an avid reader of science fiction novels, I knew this book would pique my interest, but I had no idea that it would be done so thoroughly. Let me just say this...this is the first book that I have read by this author and I can easily say I recommend other people read it.
The author introduced to two Merculians hermaphrodites Eulio and his lover Orosin. Eulio is an exceptional dancer whose troup is about to go on a tour. These two lovers are looped into a plot of intrigue by a mysterious individual to learn who is a traitor and funneling out information to pirates. Since Orosin went to the academy, he is told that the tour he was spared from having to do after the academy is now being forced upon him. You can easily imagine how unhappy he is with this development because it means his family connections were for nothing and so many years have passed since his academy days. All they are supposed to do is gather information, discover the culprit and make sure the proper authorities are alerted. Sounds simple right? Well! The author does a beautiful job of creating a tapestry of mystery, intrigue, drama and danger to show that there is nothing that simple.
I couldn't get enough of these characters! The author layers them with others throughout the story and it just kept pulling me along as I was eager to try to figure out who the traitor was. I had my suspicions about a couple, and I sensed the danger in another. The drama between the characters is so good that I almost could believe that they were real individuals. I love how diverse they are from the different areas that they each hail from. I love that the author shows that some of the characters were less honorable than others perceived them. One would think that a captain of a ship would be infallible, but it turns out that he's one to keep a close eye on and his age has nothing to do with him no longer being fit for the position as captain. All I can say is that there is one scene that literally had my jaw on the floor from shock. I tip my hat to the author for that one.
There honestly is only one thing that I didn't like about this book and it was how quickly some of the characters were introduced to me. I have to admit that I got a couple of them confused as to who was whom after a certain scene played out, but I got them sorted out. I guess I would just simply suggest paying close attention to the character's names as you're reading so you don't get who's who mixed up as I did.
All in all, I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. This is an engaging science fiction space drama mystery thriller. It has so much going on. Yes, there are some MILD sex scenes, but they aren't graphic. One is more in-depth than the others, but not detailed. These characters must face many challenges and I love how the story plays out. If you are an avid reader of science fiction this book is a must. I look forward to reading more of this author's work in the future.
The author introduced to two Merculians hermaphrodites Eulio and his lover Orosin. Eulio is an exceptional dancer whose troup is about to go on a tour. These two lovers are looped into a plot of intrigue by a mysterious individual to learn who is a traitor and funneling out information to pirates. Since Orosin went to the academy, he is told that the tour he was spared from having to do after the academy is now being forced upon him. You can easily imagine how unhappy he is with this development because it means his family connections were for nothing and so many years have passed since his academy days. All they are supposed to do is gather information, discover the culprit and make sure the proper authorities are alerted. Sounds simple right? Well! The author does a beautiful job of creating a tapestry of mystery, intrigue, drama and danger to show that there is nothing that simple.
I couldn't get enough of these characters! The author layers them with others throughout the story and it just kept pulling me along as I was eager to try to figure out who the traitor was. I had my suspicions about a couple, and I sensed the danger in another. The drama between the characters is so good that I almost could believe that they were real individuals. I love how diverse they are from the different areas that they each hail from. I love that the author shows that some of the characters were less honorable than others perceived them. One would think that a captain of a ship would be infallible, but it turns out that he's one to keep a close eye on and his age has nothing to do with him no longer being fit for the position as captain. All I can say is that there is one scene that literally had my jaw on the floor from shock. I tip my hat to the author for that one.
There honestly is only one thing that I didn't like about this book and it was how quickly some of the characters were introduced to me. I have to admit that I got a couple of them confused as to who was whom after a certain scene played out, but I got them sorted out. I guess I would just simply suggest paying close attention to the character's names as you're reading so you don't get who's who mixed up as I did.
All in all, I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. This is an engaging science fiction space drama mystery thriller. It has so much going on. Yes, there are some MILD sex scenes, but they aren't graphic. One is more in-depth than the others, but not detailed. These characters must face many challenges and I love how the story plays out. If you are an avid reader of science fiction this book is a must. I look forward to reading more of this author's work in the future.
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October 23, 2019A bit of mystery and suspense blended with a touch of SciFi and romance
This is a series of somewhat standalone novels - they interconnect by way of the cast
I enjoy SciFi and Space Opera especially when they contain a bit of realism and Sole did a great job of bringing the cast and the universe alive for me.
I will be adding her to my list of authors to read.
The storylines are solid and easy to follow. In each book, we have the main couple and spotlighted secondary characters. Some who will be the main characters in the following novels.
This is where the complex part comes in. Since we are in space there are numerous life forms and species so it may take a chapter or two to that in matching the characters with their origins, though the Merculian race is the predominant for the MC in the series so far.
I really enjoyed the universe-building in these novels. Soles introduces her readers to a universe that houses such a vast array of life forms. There is some political subtext that I enjoyed, it gave the events/cast members more authenticity, IMO.
I found myself easily drawn into each of the stories. They had the heartbeat pace going on through most of the storyline. A steady pace, a crescendo, then a lull to catch your breath and begin again. As a reader, I experienced a full spectrum of emotions with each novel. At times I wanted to peek ahead and make sure everyone was okay. Other times I wanted to step in and insert my two cents on the subject (yeah I am that person). There were also a few times I would have liked to better educate a life form or two - could not help but wonder what in the heck you were thinking?
You get the overall idea. The stories brought out a bit of laughter, a dash of intrigue, a splash of drama and a whole lot of lovin'.
When it comes to the characters Soles again provided her readers with a diverse array of personalities, from the mundane to the masochist. I found I was instantly either loving or loathing them while also questioning some of their decisions. Some did sit on the fence for a bit though they eventually fell to one side or the other.
I did get attached to them and when the time came I did not want to close the pages on their journeys.
If you are looking for an easy yet at the same time complex read and have a taste for espionage, suspense, mystery and a whole lot of drama (the good kind) I recommend giving this series a try.
*Note -not all scenes are politically correct - not all the characters fit into a pre-defined box -this is fiction after all.
This is a series of somewhat standalone novels - they interconnect by way of the cast
I enjoy SciFi and Space Opera especially when they contain a bit of realism and Sole did a great job of bringing the cast and the universe alive for me.
I will be adding her to my list of authors to read.
The storylines are solid and easy to follow. In each book, we have the main couple and spotlighted secondary characters. Some who will be the main characters in the following novels.
This is where the complex part comes in. Since we are in space there are numerous life forms and species so it may take a chapter or two to that in matching the characters with their origins, though the Merculian race is the predominant for the MC in the series so far.
I really enjoyed the universe-building in these novels. Soles introduces her readers to a universe that houses such a vast array of life forms. There is some political subtext that I enjoyed, it gave the events/cast members more authenticity, IMO.
I found myself easily drawn into each of the stories. They had the heartbeat pace going on through most of the storyline. A steady pace, a crescendo, then a lull to catch your breath and begin again. As a reader, I experienced a full spectrum of emotions with each novel. At times I wanted to peek ahead and make sure everyone was okay. Other times I wanted to step in and insert my two cents on the subject (yeah I am that person). There were also a few times I would have liked to better educate a life form or two - could not help but wonder what in the heck you were thinking?
You get the overall idea. The stories brought out a bit of laughter, a dash of intrigue, a splash of drama and a whole lot of lovin'.
When it comes to the characters Soles again provided her readers with a diverse array of personalities, from the mundane to the masochist. I found I was instantly either loving or loathing them while also questioning some of their decisions. Some did sit on the fence for a bit though they eventually fell to one side or the other.
I did get attached to them and when the time came I did not want to close the pages on their journeys.
If you are looking for an easy yet at the same time complex read and have a taste for espionage, suspense, mystery and a whole lot of drama (the good kind) I recommend giving this series a try.
*Note -not all scenes are politically correct - not all the characters fit into a pre-defined box -this is fiction after all.
August 11, 2019
The Danger Dance (Merculians #1) by Caro Soles: This book was a tough one for me. I love the genres of science fiction and fantasy. This one didn't really fit the bill for me. Perhaps I'm not part of the intended audience.
I liked the fact that there was a mixture of alien races involved in the plot. The Merculians were quite an interesting race although I found their self-proclaimed label of "hermaphrodite" difficult to read and feel as though the author should have used "intersex". The use of an outdated term was jarring when I was trying to read as though this book was set in the future. The overuse of endearments like "Baby" and "Sweetie" also pulled me out of a science fiction world of the future.
There are a lot of characters in this book, and they use different variations of their names. It took me a while to get the hang of which character was which and that slowed me down a little. There was a fair amount of intrigue going on aboard the ship. The first officer was one of the most interesting characters and I enjoyed the way Soles wrote about the crew and their interactions.
There are a lot of situations in this book which may be triggering for some readers and I feel that the author should have trigger warnings listed. Amongst other potential triggers: use of outdated language for intersex people, homophobia, coercion, sexual harassment, attempted sexual assault, bigotry, bullying, physical violence, non-consensual sexual encounters, people being drugged against their will and/or knowledge.
Sadly, not a series I would continue reading.
I liked the fact that there was a mixture of alien races involved in the plot. The Merculians were quite an interesting race although I found their self-proclaimed label of "hermaphrodite" difficult to read and feel as though the author should have used "intersex". The use of an outdated term was jarring when I was trying to read as though this book was set in the future. The overuse of endearments like "Baby" and "Sweetie" also pulled me out of a science fiction world of the future.
There are a lot of characters in this book, and they use different variations of their names. It took me a while to get the hang of which character was which and that slowed me down a little. There was a fair amount of intrigue going on aboard the ship. The first officer was one of the most interesting characters and I enjoyed the way Soles wrote about the crew and their interactions.
There are a lot of situations in this book which may be triggering for some readers and I feel that the author should have trigger warnings listed. Amongst other potential triggers: use of outdated language for intersex people, homophobia, coercion, sexual harassment, attempted sexual assault, bigotry, bullying, physical violence, non-consensual sexual encounters, people being drugged against their will and/or knowledge.
Sadly, not a series I would continue reading.
October 20, 2010
"Life and death action and intrigue aboard a military space vessel!"
"THE DANGER DANCE"
"In this SPARKLING FUTURIST ROMP, Caro Soles has taken some classic science fiction devices from (circa) the 1930s -- distant worlds of myth, hierarchy, the wicked and good arts, space travel with swashbuckling action and intrigue, all in a setting chic enough to make any art deco queen swoon, and imbued them with a tingling subversity of gender, sexuality, and goose-bumping excitement. Even better, SOLES CAN REALLY WRITE, with wit, sensuosity, and depth."
-- Perry Brass, author of The Harvest, Angel Lust, Warlock, and The Substance of God
From what I have read about it, the plot of this book is that a campy gay dance troupe board a military space ship "that values nothing they believe in" to help the government uncover a traitor.
Fantastic. I must read this.
---
So it is not farcical at all, but is pretty straight sci-fi with lots of focus on cultural (specifically sex/gender/relationship) norms. The plot involves members a sociable, hermaphroditic alien dance troupe (one of which had previously been in the intergalactic military) ordered to uncover a spy on a military vessel full of terrans and other aliens, with lots of clashing of cultural norms and internal prejudices amongst everybody. If some of the conclusions to the mysteries/intrigue were a little less obvious, I probably would have liked it more.
"THE DANGER DANCE"
"In this SPARKLING FUTURIST ROMP, Caro Soles has taken some classic science fiction devices from (circa) the 1930s -- distant worlds of myth, hierarchy, the wicked and good arts, space travel with swashbuckling action and intrigue, all in a setting chic enough to make any art deco queen swoon, and imbued them with a tingling subversity of gender, sexuality, and goose-bumping excitement. Even better, SOLES CAN REALLY WRITE, with wit, sensuosity, and depth."
-- Perry Brass, author of The Harvest, Angel Lust, Warlock, and The Substance of God
From what I have read about it, the plot of this book is that a campy gay dance troupe board a military space ship "that values nothing they believe in" to help the government uncover a traitor.
Fantastic. I must read this.
---
So it is not farcical at all, but is pretty straight sci-fi with lots of focus on cultural (specifically sex/gender/relationship) norms. The plot involves members a sociable, hermaphroditic alien dance troupe (one of which had previously been in the intergalactic military) ordered to uncover a spy on a military vessel full of terrans and other aliens, with lots of clashing of cultural norms and internal prejudices amongst everybody. If some of the conclusions to the mysteries/intrigue were a little less obvious, I probably would have liked it more.
June 30, 2018
I've read and enjoyed the published works of Caro Soles for years, but I have to say that A Friend of Mr. Nijinsky is her best novel yet! She mentions in the afterword that she researched this book for one year or more, and it shows. Set in NYC, the time period of the early 1900s, when Europe is fighting World War 1, the time and setting are well described and the characters so well crafted, that reading this, I felt like I was there. This is no cheat, like some historical novels, where characters live in the past but speak as if they were in the present. In Sole's novel, the way they look, the way they dress, their actions and the world surrounding them, and all the lingo of the era, everything rings true. I sense a love of the time frame and, of course, the world of dance, which is thoroughly investigated in this fun read. I would love to see a sequel because I really want to know what happens to the characters! Highly recommended!
August 11, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley and Crossroad Press for providing me with an ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed most of this book as it is very character-driven and that is my thing but I didn't think it was amazing in any way ; I particularly didn't think the writing was anything special.
What I really enjoyed were all the different species and especially the Merculians as they are hermaphrodite. I was a bit surprised by how many (sometimes pretty graphic) sex scenes were in this book but I didn't hate them either.
I did not like the ending of this book as there wasn't much conclusion (I get that there's a sequel but still). Though I liked the plot in some way, it felt a little bit all over the place.
To end a good note, I liked that it was set on a space ship.
I enjoyed most of this book as it is very character-driven and that is my thing but I didn't think it was amazing in any way ; I particularly didn't think the writing was anything special.
What I really enjoyed were all the different species and especially the Merculians as they are hermaphrodite. I was a bit surprised by how many (sometimes pretty graphic) sex scenes were in this book but I didn't hate them either.
I did not like the ending of this book as there wasn't much conclusion (I get that there's a sequel but still). Though I liked the plot in some way, it felt a little bit all over the place.
To end a good note, I liked that it was set on a space ship.
January 2, 2021
Note: I received a copy free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is an interesting blend of sci-fi space opera and mystery. I was really interested in the alien species and the different cultures presented but the plot didn't grab me from the start like a mystery should which I guess is a matter of personal preference. I really appreciate the effort put in to include a gender and sexually diverse cast of characters, but I was a bit put off by the terminology used to describe the non-binary alien species and some of the dubiously consensual content that never really got addressed. All in all, the story was okay, the world is interesting but I think it would be better if the book was updated a little bit more for modern sensibilities.
This is an interesting blend of sci-fi space opera and mystery. I was really interested in the alien species and the different cultures presented but the plot didn't grab me from the start like a mystery should which I guess is a matter of personal preference. I really appreciate the effort put in to include a gender and sexually diverse cast of characters, but I was a bit put off by the terminology used to describe the non-binary alien species and some of the dubiously consensual content that never really got addressed. All in all, the story was okay, the world is interesting but I think it would be better if the book was updated a little bit more for modern sensibilities.
May 2, 2019
This novel came to me via The Book Club on Facebook and I was delighted to find it. I loved this book. I`d not read a book about hermaphrodites until this one and these fun characters are artfully constructed and fit right into this modern world of ours—well done! There`s a solid plot too, woven in with lots of charming characterization that is utterly fascinating. And this is also the world of dance on the planet Merculian. I came away thinking of this as a space opera, or a kind of sci fi-mystery hybrid cozy. One of the most unusual novels I`ve read and I`m looking forward to and hoping for a series.
May 29, 2019
A book full of danger and intrigue set on board a ship going from planet to planet. Eulio and ben are lovers who find themselves involved in a mystery. What unfolds is lots of secrets amid lots of danger.
Noone knows who to trust and the pairs love is put under strain. The setting was different than the usual thriller but a great read.
Noone knows who to trust and the pairs love is put under strain. The setting was different than the usual thriller but a great read.
May 3, 2019
Eulio and Ben have an interesting relationship. They may be alien, but the basic relationship issues seem very human. Ambition, intrigue, secret affairs, what is really going on? Who can be trusted?
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September 27, 2022
Trigger & Content Warnings
Homomisia
Racism
Rape
Child abuse mentioned
Drugging & drug use
Unplanned pregnancy
Abortion
Nonconsensual body modifications (piercings)
Death of a parent mentioned
Murder
Torture
Organised crime
Kidnapping
Homomisia
Racism
Rape
Child abuse mentioned
Drugging & drug use
Unplanned pregnancy
Abortion
Nonconsensual body modifications (piercings)
Death of a parent mentioned
Murder
Torture
Organised crime
Kidnapping
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews