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Euphoria
It might take the arrival of an alien being to remind an isolated man what it means to be human. With a stressful job, his boss breathing down his neck for profitable results, and an estranged wife and daughter, scientist Kurt Lomax doesn’t think life can get much harder, until a nonbinary extraterrestrial with an otherworldly beauty inconveniently shows up at his apartment. Vardam watched the destruction of their own world, and they don’t want to see the same thing happen on Earth. They are lonely, and feelings soon develop between them and the supposedly straight scientist--feelings Kurt reciprocates, much to his confusion. The arrival of amateur interpreter Tom Soames--whose Goth appearance belies a gentle heart--is like a ray of sunshine in the somber lab. He acts as matchmaker for man and tentacled extraterrestrial, unwittingly instigating a national crisis when the news breaks out. But will a misunderstanding ruin Kurt and Vardam’s chances for happiness together--along with the hope for salvation for humanity?
482 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 14, 2018
5 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Jayne Lockwood
15 books84 followersJayne Lockwood, AKA Lady Jaguar, is an English writer of deliciously dark romance featuring queer and straight protagonists. She’s a firm believer in happy endings. To find out more, visit https://www.jaynelockwood.com
There are no rules to her writing, apart from needing an HEA. She cannot write a story without one. Her characters are a diverse mix of gender and sexuality. Basically, she writes what she enjoys and hope people like it!
There are no rules to her writing, apart from needing an HEA. She cannot write a story without one. Her characters are a diverse mix of gender and sexuality. Basically, she writes what she enjoys and hope people like it!
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 3, 2020
4 Alien Loving Hearts
A highly enjoyable sci-fi romp with all sorts to satisfy! This has time travel, aliens, a pending apocalypse, hurt comfort, mpreg, and nebulous tentacle shenanigans, all or some of which will surely interest many a reader!
The blurb is quite good at telling what’s what. Vardam is a peaceful, technologically advanced, non-binary alien who’s basically been traveling the galaxy in search of a new place for their peoples to inhabit since their home was destroyed by an asteroid. Their goal is to find a compatible planet and it just so happens to be Earth. However, there's a slight snag. The original inhabitants are on the brink of extinction, and Vardam, in their infinite capacity for appreciating all the complex facets of humanity, is willing to take a huge risk and leap of faith to travel back in time to try to stop the imminent demise of the human race.
Enter Kurt Lomax, a brilliant scientist whose abusive past has rendered him cold and unable to form meaningful relationships despite his desperate desire to do so. Unable to effectively connect and communicate with his estranged wife and daughter, he instead spends all his time and focus on helping his fellow man. This manifests as a twenty year long pursuit towards developing a vaccine that would fend off the virulent bacterium MRSA, in the hopes of preventing millions of difficult to treat infections. What Kurt doesn't know is that his creation will mutate in soon-to-start human trials, ultimately leading to the annihilation of animals and humans alike over the next two generations.
What ensues upon Vardam’s arrival to change the future was something I quite enjoyed. This is not exactly a straightforward sweeping romance focused solely on Vardam and Kurt. This also bridges medicine and science, corporate greed, and government oversight, all of which involves Kurt’s scientific team and how they deal with an intriguing powerful alien and the resulting fallout when the truth of their life’s work is revealed…
This boasts a great supporting cast to root for, a bad guy to really really hate, and another side romance to revel in. This is not erotica, but it is funny and touching and filled with some suspenseful action and harrowing situations. The best part of this was of course, Vardam and their unabashed honesty, their fascinating abilities, and their talent for thawing out a tortured Kurt to both figuratively and literally open himself up to the infinite possibilities of love. Lockwood nicely brings all of this to a great satisfying conclusion where of course, I wouldn’t say no to more stories in this awesome AU should she choose to create them!
Thank you to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for a honest review
A highly enjoyable sci-fi romp with all sorts to satisfy! This has time travel, aliens, a pending apocalypse, hurt comfort, mpreg, and nebulous tentacle shenanigans, all or some of which will surely interest many a reader!
The blurb is quite good at telling what’s what. Vardam is a peaceful, technologically advanced, non-binary alien who’s basically been traveling the galaxy in search of a new place for their peoples to inhabit since their home was destroyed by an asteroid. Their goal is to find a compatible planet and it just so happens to be Earth. However, there's a slight snag. The original inhabitants are on the brink of extinction, and Vardam, in their infinite capacity for appreciating all the complex facets of humanity, is willing to take a huge risk and leap of faith to travel back in time to try to stop the imminent demise of the human race.
Enter Kurt Lomax, a brilliant scientist whose abusive past has rendered him cold and unable to form meaningful relationships despite his desperate desire to do so. Unable to effectively connect and communicate with his estranged wife and daughter, he instead spends all his time and focus on helping his fellow man. This manifests as a twenty year long pursuit towards developing a vaccine that would fend off the virulent bacterium MRSA, in the hopes of preventing millions of difficult to treat infections. What Kurt doesn't know is that his creation will mutate in soon-to-start human trials, ultimately leading to the annihilation of animals and humans alike over the next two generations.
What ensues upon Vardam’s arrival to change the future was something I quite enjoyed. This is not exactly a straightforward sweeping romance focused solely on Vardam and Kurt. This also bridges medicine and science, corporate greed, and government oversight, all of which involves Kurt’s scientific team and how they deal with an intriguing powerful alien and the resulting fallout when the truth of their life’s work is revealed…
This boasts a great supporting cast to root for, a bad guy to really really hate, and another side romance to revel in. This is not erotica, but it is funny and touching and filled with some suspenseful action and harrowing situations. The best part of this was of course, Vardam and their unabashed honesty, their fascinating abilities, and their talent for thawing out a tortured Kurt to both figuratively and literally open himself up to the infinite possibilities of love. Lockwood nicely brings all of this to a great satisfying conclusion where of course, I wouldn’t say no to more stories in this awesome AU should she choose to create them!
Thank you to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for a honest review
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November 6, 2018
This book was provided for free in exchange for an honest review via the MMRG Don’t Buy My Love Program.
I was excited by all the things the blurb promised; a romance between a closed off, straight scientist and a non-binary alien with a "wicked sense of humor" who develop feelings for each other. Unfortunately the book I read was quite different from the expectations set up by its blurb.
With the exception of the opening chapters, during first third of the book the main protagonist is someone I expected to be a side character, Tom. We get to follow him as he is headhunted to a new job in a secret bunker in the London area, while he learns his job and figure out why he's been hired. There is a romance between Tom and a co-worker but it isn't a major part of the plot. Tom's part at this point of the story was my favourite section.
As the story progresses, more side characters were added. Neither Kurt the scientist nor Vardam the alien ever quite stepped into the starring roles I was waiting for. Kurt remained unlikable to me throughout the book. The promised humorous side of the alien I failed to see. Rather I found Vardam and their omnipotent healing powers, godlike super strength and indestructibility slightly boring. As far as the romance goes between these two, they speak of feelings for each other but in my opinion the book didn't deliver much tangible chemistry or romantic emotions between them. I couldn't understand why either of them was even attracted to the other.
I might be a picky sci-fi reader, but I need the 'real science' included in a book to stick close to facts in order to make the made up parts like time travel through other dimensions feel plausible. In this book the science facts seemed under-researched. For example, the Var home world is sometimes described as being destroyed by an asteroid hit and at other times by a supernova or two colliding stars, which all are very different cosmic events. There are several other science fact slips like this, and compounded they knocked a star off my rating because they kept throwing me out of the story and ultimately distanced me from the characters and plot.
The best thing about the book was how Vardam truly felt non-binary. I never got the feeling of distinct masculine or feminine traits which was superbly done.
I was excited by all the things the blurb promised; a romance between a closed off, straight scientist and a non-binary alien with a "wicked sense of humor" who develop feelings for each other. Unfortunately the book I read was quite different from the expectations set up by its blurb.
With the exception of the opening chapters, during first third of the book the main protagonist is someone I expected to be a side character, Tom. We get to follow him as he is headhunted to a new job in a secret bunker in the London area, while he learns his job and figure out why he's been hired. There is a romance between Tom and a co-worker but it isn't a major part of the plot. Tom's part at this point of the story was my favourite section.
As the story progresses, more side characters were added. Neither Kurt the scientist nor Vardam the alien ever quite stepped into the starring roles I was waiting for. Kurt remained unlikable to me throughout the book. The promised humorous side of the alien I failed to see. Rather I found Vardam and their omnipotent healing powers, godlike super strength and indestructibility slightly boring. As far as the romance goes between these two, they speak of feelings for each other but in my opinion the book didn't deliver much tangible chemistry or romantic emotions between them. I couldn't understand why either of them was even attracted to the other.
I might be a picky sci-fi reader, but I need the 'real science' included in a book to stick close to facts in order to make the made up parts like time travel through other dimensions feel plausible. In this book the science facts seemed under-researched. For example, the Var home world is sometimes described as being destroyed by an asteroid hit and at other times by a supernova or two colliding stars, which all are very different cosmic events. There are several other science fact slips like this, and compounded they knocked a star off my rating because they kept throwing me out of the story and ultimately distanced me from the characters and plot.
The best thing about the book was how Vardam truly felt non-binary. I never got the feeling of distinct masculine or feminine traits which was superbly done.
November 5, 2018
SOOOOO GOOD!!! 4 Stellar Stars!!
The blurb for this book was right up my alley and I’m so happy to say that what it promises it delivered, and more!!
The idea of time travel enthralls me. Add to that a non-binary alien hoping to stop a future dystopia, a possibly gay scientist intent on saving the race, an everyday guy who gets thrown in the middle of a most secret project, an intriguing cast of side characters and you’ve got a winning book.
I loved the quiet and stubborn humor in Vardam, the alien...it’s subtle but very present. For some reason Vardam is drawn to our doctor. Why? I can’t say. Honestly, he’s the least interesting of all the players in this book, but the most important. Read it and you’ll see.
My fave? Aside from my tentacled alien, of course, was our regular-off-the-street “Tom” who finds himself in the middle of a pharmaceutical throw down as an interpreter for Vardam. We get to see him also develop a romantic relationship with another doctor on the compound.
Is this perfect? No, as some other reviewers pointed out. Was it fun? Yes! Intriguing? Yes! Creative? Yes! Would I read another book by this author? MOST DEFINITELY!!
Well, since this is a romance, there is an HEA, so maybe the fact that there is a world left to live in at the end won’t spoil it for you. Cause it would pretty much suck if everyone fell in love and then the world ended, wouldn’t it?
**I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.**
The blurb for this book was right up my alley and I’m so happy to say that what it promises it delivered, and more!!
The idea of time travel enthralls me. Add to that a non-binary alien hoping to stop a future dystopia, a possibly gay scientist intent on saving the race, an everyday guy who gets thrown in the middle of a most secret project, an intriguing cast of side characters and you’ve got a winning book.
I loved the quiet and stubborn humor in Vardam, the alien...it’s subtle but very present. For some reason Vardam is drawn to our doctor. Why? I can’t say. Honestly, he’s the least interesting of all the players in this book, but the most important. Read it and you’ll see.
My fave? Aside from my tentacled alien, of course, was our regular-off-the-street “Tom” who finds himself in the middle of a pharmaceutical throw down as an interpreter for Vardam. We get to see him also develop a romantic relationship with another doctor on the compound.
Is this perfect? No, as some other reviewers pointed out. Was it fun? Yes! Intriguing? Yes! Creative? Yes! Would I read another book by this author? MOST DEFINITELY!!
Well, since this is a romance, there is an HEA, so maybe the fact that there is a world left to live in at the end won’t spoil it for you. Cause it would pretty much suck if everyone fell in love and then the world ended, wouldn’t it?
**I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.**
September 10, 2018
This is one of the weirdest books I have ever read, and I loved it! When I saw the blurb, gay romantic sci-fi, I thought hmmm. And when I read it included male pregnancy, I was seriously put off.
But then I remembered how much I loved Closer Than Blood and how My Boyfriend Is A Dog (written under her pen-name, S.A. Smythe) made me howl with laughter, I thought I should give it a go. Just as well, because I was hooked by the end of the first chapter.
The story starts in the future. Earth is dying but a race of visiting alien think they might be able to go back in time and fix it. When Vardam takes a risk and travels back in time, he takes one look at Kurt, the man responsible for earth’s destruction, and all his tentacles are tingling.
Yes, I know. But you have to read this because Jayne Lockwood has a seriously twisted mind - the kind that produces off-beat, funny and yet sweet, mix-it-all-up humour, pathos and romance.
Euphoria is very hard to describe but it is awesome. Ignore the blurb, ignore your prejudices, just have a go. I bet you’ll love it.
PS If you like Christopher Moore’s The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove and Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story, then Euphoria by Jayne Lockwood is a slam-dunk. And if you read Euphoria and haven’t read Moore, you should!
But then I remembered how much I loved Closer Than Blood and how My Boyfriend Is A Dog (written under her pen-name, S.A. Smythe) made me howl with laughter, I thought I should give it a go. Just as well, because I was hooked by the end of the first chapter.
The story starts in the future. Earth is dying but a race of visiting alien think they might be able to go back in time and fix it. When Vardam takes a risk and travels back in time, he takes one look at Kurt, the man responsible for earth’s destruction, and all his tentacles are tingling.
Yes, I know. But you have to read this because Jayne Lockwood has a seriously twisted mind - the kind that produces off-beat, funny and yet sweet, mix-it-all-up humour, pathos and romance.
Euphoria is very hard to describe but it is awesome. Ignore the blurb, ignore your prejudices, just have a go. I bet you’ll love it.
PS If you like Christopher Moore’s The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove and Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story, then Euphoria by Jayne Lockwood is a slam-dunk. And if you read Euphoria and haven’t read Moore, you should!
November 12, 2018
Spoiler and trigger warnings for content ahead.
The one pro of this entire book was how Vardam’s non-binary gender was handled. The “they/them/their” pronouns were used throughout the book, and several characters were instructed to use them over traditional gender pronouns like she and he. For the entire book, I could believe that Vardam was non-binary. Go author on this point!
Sadly, the rest is all cons:
Why isn’t the mpreg mentioned in the official blurb? I know many people don’t want to read that, and they shouldn’t have to read a review to find out about it. Otherwise, it comes as a huge shock to the reader when you get to it. Also, in the blurb it’s referred to as a “big misunderstanding”. Uh, this is so much more than that! Seriously?!?!?!
Yes, I had a lot of problems with this novel. It’s not even what I would consider a real romance. The two main characters are hardly in the story because we spend so much time with other characters who are also magically falling in love. The thing about Tom and Rashad (two side characters, though Tom is pretty much the main character, IMO) is that even though I don’t quite see how they fall in love, they were great characters. Sweet, well rounded, likeable. And their romance was believable, even though we skipped the whole middle and went from the beginning to the end.
Kurt, the actual main character, was unlikeable throughout. He wasn’t even nice to Vardam, the alien, for half the book. Tom was the guy they hired to communicate with Vardam, and Kurt did nothing. They knew Vardam used British Sign Language. Why couldn’t Kurt have gotten a book and learned some?! If this wasn’t a romance, he wouldn’t have, and he didn’t. I don’t see what Vardam saw in Kurt. The Var race have no words for love, and other feelings. They don’t seem to single out a Var to have a relationship with, so it seems really far fetched for this alien to suddenly fall in love with a stupid, grumpy, angry man who’s bad at being with other people, interacting in general, and loving his own wife and daughter. (Don’t get me started on that ridiculous mess that does a magical 180 at the end of the novel.) It’s not like Vardam has role models that they look to. They don’t.
Vardam wants to have sex with Kurt, but doesn’t explain that Kurt would get pregnant if they did. They assume Kurt knows this and is okay with that, when Kurt knows nothing of the fact and thinks they’re just having sex. This is played off as rather “humorous” later on when Tom has to give Vardam “The Talk”. But by then, it’s too late, Kurt is pregnant, in pain, and attempts suicide because he’s pregnant. Yes, I said that. Kurt attempts suicide. Twice. All Vardam can tell him is not to worry, he’ll survive and everything will be okay. And then Vardam is taken away and Kurt has to deal with being pregnant alone. Kurt is saved against his will both times he tries to kill himself, the first by Vardam, and the second by the doctors at the Bunker. He never talks to a therapist about this, or to anyone at all. Yet, once the Var is born, he does a magic 180, becomes a new man, happy, wanting to have more Var children and being more friendly and loving to Vardam. Say what?!?!?!
As far as the actual pregnancy, I’m not sure it’s that plausible. The Var baby is growing inside Kurt’s stomach! It’s only supposed to last for ten days, according to Vardam, but how do they know this when it’s the first time this has ever happened? They are too confident here even though all the humans are freaking out.
On the political front, the Var are looking for a new planet to live on and Vardam wants to live on earth. They want to trade their Vardinium for a place to live. Vardinium is pretty much what makes them a “perfect” person: strong, healthy, able to withstand all kinds of conditions (The Var’s planet was blown up and the Var were able to survive, to float in space until they find a new home), the ability to self-heal... he basically has no flaws. It’s also said this substance can erase addiction to opiates and isn’t addictive though it makes you feel euphoric. Riiiiight. Anyway, where are Vardam’s flaws? And learning English and the way humans work isn’t a flaw. Anyway, several characters try to tell Vardam the world will exploit his people, but they never touch on how they get around that. The treaties with other countries only take a year to put together and sign. The king of England is brought in personally early on, which seemed too unrealistic and silly.
In short, a sweet romance between a non-binary alien and a closed off human man slowly learning to love someone, is totally my cup of tea. Unfortunately, this wasn’t that story.
The one pro of this entire book was how Vardam’s non-binary gender was handled. The “they/them/their” pronouns were used throughout the book, and several characters were instructed to use them over traditional gender pronouns like she and he. For the entire book, I could believe that Vardam was non-binary. Go author on this point!
Sadly, the rest is all cons:
Why isn’t the mpreg mentioned in the official blurb? I know many people don’t want to read that, and they shouldn’t have to read a review to find out about it. Otherwise, it comes as a huge shock to the reader when you get to it. Also, in the blurb it’s referred to as a “big misunderstanding”. Uh, this is so much more than that! Seriously?!?!?!
Yes, I had a lot of problems with this novel. It’s not even what I would consider a real romance. The two main characters are hardly in the story because we spend so much time with other characters who are also magically falling in love. The thing about Tom and Rashad (two side characters, though Tom is pretty much the main character, IMO) is that even though I don’t quite see how they fall in love, they were great characters. Sweet, well rounded, likeable. And their romance was believable, even though we skipped the whole middle and went from the beginning to the end.
Kurt, the actual main character, was unlikeable throughout. He wasn’t even nice to Vardam, the alien, for half the book. Tom was the guy they hired to communicate with Vardam, and Kurt did nothing. They knew Vardam used British Sign Language. Why couldn’t Kurt have gotten a book and learned some?! If this wasn’t a romance, he wouldn’t have, and he didn’t. I don’t see what Vardam saw in Kurt. The Var race have no words for love, and other feelings. They don’t seem to single out a Var to have a relationship with, so it seems really far fetched for this alien to suddenly fall in love with a stupid, grumpy, angry man who’s bad at being with other people, interacting in general, and loving his own wife and daughter. (Don’t get me started on that ridiculous mess that does a magical 180 at the end of the novel.) It’s not like Vardam has role models that they look to. They don’t.
Vardam wants to have sex with Kurt, but doesn’t explain that Kurt would get pregnant if they did. They assume Kurt knows this and is okay with that, when Kurt knows nothing of the fact and thinks they’re just having sex. This is played off as rather “humorous” later on when Tom has to give Vardam “The Talk”. But by then, it’s too late, Kurt is pregnant, in pain, and attempts suicide because he’s pregnant. Yes, I said that. Kurt attempts suicide. Twice. All Vardam can tell him is not to worry, he’ll survive and everything will be okay. And then Vardam is taken away and Kurt has to deal with being pregnant alone. Kurt is saved against his will both times he tries to kill himself, the first by Vardam, and the second by the doctors at the Bunker. He never talks to a therapist about this, or to anyone at all. Yet, once the Var is born, he does a magic 180, becomes a new man, happy, wanting to have more Var children and being more friendly and loving to Vardam. Say what?!?!?!
As far as the actual pregnancy, I’m not sure it’s that plausible. The Var baby is growing inside Kurt’s stomach! It’s only supposed to last for ten days, according to Vardam, but how do they know this when it’s the first time this has ever happened? They are too confident here even though all the humans are freaking out.
On the political front, the Var are looking for a new planet to live on and Vardam wants to live on earth. They want to trade their Vardinium for a place to live. Vardinium is pretty much what makes them a “perfect” person: strong, healthy, able to withstand all kinds of conditions (The Var’s planet was blown up and the Var were able to survive, to float in space until they find a new home), the ability to self-heal... he basically has no flaws. It’s also said this substance can erase addiction to opiates and isn’t addictive though it makes you feel euphoric. Riiiiight. Anyway, where are Vardam’s flaws? And learning English and the way humans work isn’t a flaw. Anyway, several characters try to tell Vardam the world will exploit his people, but they never touch on how they get around that. The treaties with other countries only take a year to put together and sign. The king of England is brought in personally early on, which seemed too unrealistic and silly.
In short, a sweet romance between a non-binary alien and a closed off human man slowly learning to love someone, is totally my cup of tea. Unfortunately, this wasn’t that story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
When I read the blurb for this, I wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. The characters sounded appealing when whittled down to their most basic attributes: a damaged doctor, a non-binary non-human life form, a goth gay, etc. I’ll admit I was a bit unsure before I started, but from the very first pages, the writing style was beautifully descriptive and immediately set the scene for an earth-bound space fantasy that absolutely captivated me.
First, the story “book ends” with snippets from life in 2125 for a woman named Bella. Because she is related to one of the MCs, this same character adds color and depth to main story that takes place in 2025. Lockwood does a marvelous job weaving Bella into the larger story, despite having a small on-page presence in the book itself.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
When I read the blurb for this, I wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. The characters sounded appealing when whittled down to their most basic attributes: a damaged doctor, a non-binary non-human life form, a goth gay, etc. I’ll admit I was a bit unsure before I started, but from the very first pages, the writing style was beautifully descriptive and immediately set the scene for an earth-bound space fantasy that absolutely captivated me.
First, the story “book ends” with snippets from life in 2125 for a woman named Bella. Because she is related to one of the MCs, this same character adds color and depth to main story that takes place in 2025. Lockwood does a marvelous job weaving Bella into the larger story, despite having a small on-page presence in the book itself.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
November 2, 2018
Round up to 3.5 stars.
Premise of the book is Vardam has traveled to Earth after the destruction of the Var planet to seek out a new home for his people. He lands on an Earth on the brink of destruction in 2125. The cause for apocalypse is based on a vaccine having the wrong effect, causing the virus to mutate and cause a mass extinction event.
Var travels back to 2025, to seek out Kurt Lomax, creator of the drug to beg him to stop experiments and trials and prevent the deaths of billions of people. Through mutual loneliness and isolation, Alien and man discover they have common feelings.
I admit to simplifying the plot a bit, okay, maybe a lot, but that is the nuts and bolts of the story. I’ll break my thoughts down a bit more:
Characters there is an interesting and diverse group of characters. The main ones are:
Kurt is the main protagonist. He's on the cusp of divorce, alienated from friends and family, still struggling from the trauma of an abusive childhood that manifests in an obsessive-compulsive disorder. These traits that define Kurt some how just go…away as the story evolves They are neither resolved nor addressed, but kinda slide off the page.
Var is the alien. Humanoid but definitely not human. A rather passive character through-out.
Tom Sommes: Goth-boy who has a heart of gold. Taught himself sign language so he could communicate and visit an ex-boyfriends younger sister who is deaf with down syndrome. Establishes a rapport Var and the staff at the lab. Develops a relationship with another Pharmacure employee, Rashid. I think he’s actually the most interesting character in the group.
There are a handful of strong supporting characters which round out the story quite well – a couple of lab assistants, Kurt’s wife and daughter, and Rashid.
Plot I read a substantial amount of scifi, and as far as a first contact book goes, it was decent. I thought the concept of a virus mutating to cause mass deaths definitely plausible (if you are scoffing, read or watch the PBS special about the Influenza of 1918. The time travel aspect added an aspect of emotion necessary to get through to Kurt the gravity of the situation and was pleasantly interesting.
Romance Honestly, I didn’t feel the emotional connection between Kurt and Vardam. Vardam has more contact with Tom and the rest of the Pharmacure team than Kurt does, so when the two suddenly meet, the “romance” felt tacked on. I thought there was far more emotional connection between Tom and Rashid.
M-preg I’m mentioning this because it took me by surprise and not in a good way. I do not care for M-preg plots and generally avoid books that contain this element. Having said that, this was perhaps the most scientifically plausible variation I have read to date, and I applaud the author for her thoroughness in execution.
Ultimately, a solid scifi book that was a bit off on the romance between the main characters, dealt with the m-preg in a satisfactory way (for me), and was an enjoyable read.
Review is cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews
A copy of the book was provided by the author and publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Premise of the book is Vardam has traveled to Earth after the destruction of the Var planet to seek out a new home for his people. He lands on an Earth on the brink of destruction in 2125. The cause for apocalypse is based on a vaccine having the wrong effect, causing the virus to mutate and cause a mass extinction event.
Var travels back to 2025, to seek out Kurt Lomax, creator of the drug to beg him to stop experiments and trials and prevent the deaths of billions of people. Through mutual loneliness and isolation, Alien and man discover they have common feelings.
I admit to simplifying the plot a bit, okay, maybe a lot, but that is the nuts and bolts of the story. I’ll break my thoughts down a bit more:
Characters there is an interesting and diverse group of characters. The main ones are:
Kurt is the main protagonist. He's on the cusp of divorce, alienated from friends and family, still struggling from the trauma of an abusive childhood that manifests in an obsessive-compulsive disorder. These traits that define Kurt some how just go…away as the story evolves They are neither resolved nor addressed, but kinda slide off the page.
Var is the alien. Humanoid but definitely not human. A rather passive character through-out.
Tom Sommes: Goth-boy who has a heart of gold. Taught himself sign language so he could communicate and visit an ex-boyfriends younger sister who is deaf with down syndrome. Establishes a rapport Var and the staff at the lab. Develops a relationship with another Pharmacure employee, Rashid. I think he’s actually the most interesting character in the group.
There are a handful of strong supporting characters which round out the story quite well – a couple of lab assistants, Kurt’s wife and daughter, and Rashid.
Plot I read a substantial amount of scifi, and as far as a first contact book goes, it was decent. I thought the concept of a virus mutating to cause mass deaths definitely plausible (if you are scoffing, read or watch the PBS special about the Influenza of 1918. The time travel aspect added an aspect of emotion necessary to get through to Kurt the gravity of the situation and was pleasantly interesting.
Romance Honestly, I didn’t feel the emotional connection between Kurt and Vardam. Vardam has more contact with Tom and the rest of the Pharmacure team than Kurt does, so when the two suddenly meet, the “romance” felt tacked on. I thought there was far more emotional connection between Tom and Rashid.
M-preg I’m mentioning this because it took me by surprise and not in a good way. I do not care for M-preg plots and generally avoid books that contain this element. Having said that, this was perhaps the most scientifically plausible variation I have read to date, and I applaud the author for her thoroughness in execution.
Ultimately, a solid scifi book that was a bit off on the romance between the main characters, dealt with the m-preg in a satisfactory way (for me), and was an enjoyable read.
Review is cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews
A copy of the book was provided by the author and publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
February 27, 2019
Euphoria is one of those books that I found to be a challenge. There is no question that Jayne Lockwood is a wonderful writer with an equally wonderful imagination, but I struggled with the structure of the story, and found it hard to connect with many of the characters. I picked this up and put it back down so many times, I feared I would never finish it, but despite the challenges I still felt compelled to see how it all played out.
On the plus side, I loved the non-binary aliens and thought they were exceptionally well done. Vardam came across as genuinely non-binary, neither masculine nor feminine, with their attraction to Kurt feeling neither homosexual nor heterosexual. The "slender opalescent tentacles" helped make them feel very alien and, combined with their gender, made for a fascinating aspect of the story - almost as much as the shocking male pregnancy that results from it all.
On the negative side, while I found Vardam fascinating, I cannot really say I found them likable. Maybe it's their alien nature, in which case maybe it makes sense that I had trouble connecting. Kurt, on the other hand, had no excuses - I disliked him from the start, and only found him more challenging as the story went on. I know the suicide attempts were supposed to bring the reader closer, to force a connection, but I just found myself becoming angry with him.
Back on the plus side, the science fiction aspects were fascinating. Lockwood offers up alien colonization, time travel, mutated diseases, the threat of extinction, and the promise of an alien cure-all in Vardanium. I reminded of the social drama of Alien Nation and the Utopian promise of the original V miniseries, complete with the comic innocence of dialogue, but without the horrors lurking in the shadows. I already mentioned the tentacles, which I loved, but the cocoon travel - as opposed to spaceships - was an interesting quirk as well. Asteroids and supernovas make for some exciting scenes as well.
I am glad I persevered, despite the character issues, because Euphoria was a truly original work of science fiction that does non-binary right.
https://bibrary.blogspot.com/2019/02/...
On the plus side, I loved the non-binary aliens and thought they were exceptionally well done. Vardam came across as genuinely non-binary, neither masculine nor feminine, with their attraction to Kurt feeling neither homosexual nor heterosexual. The "slender opalescent tentacles" helped make them feel very alien and, combined with their gender, made for a fascinating aspect of the story - almost as much as the shocking male pregnancy that results from it all.
On the negative side, while I found Vardam fascinating, I cannot really say I found them likable. Maybe it's their alien nature, in which case maybe it makes sense that I had trouble connecting. Kurt, on the other hand, had no excuses - I disliked him from the start, and only found him more challenging as the story went on. I know the suicide attempts were supposed to bring the reader closer, to force a connection, but I just found myself becoming angry with him.
Back on the plus side, the science fiction aspects were fascinating. Lockwood offers up alien colonization, time travel, mutated diseases, the threat of extinction, and the promise of an alien cure-all in Vardanium. I reminded of the social drama of Alien Nation and the Utopian promise of the original V miniseries, complete with the comic innocence of dialogue, but without the horrors lurking in the shadows. I already mentioned the tentacles, which I loved, but the cocoon travel - as opposed to spaceships - was an interesting quirk as well. Asteroids and supernovas make for some exciting scenes as well.
I am glad I persevered, despite the character issues, because Euphoria was a truly original work of science fiction that does non-binary right.
https://bibrary.blogspot.com/2019/02/...
July 22, 2018
Got my hands on an ARC of this fabulous story. I adore all the characters, the plot is wholly original from anything I've read before, and reflects an oddly hopeful outlook for the future. (That might seem like an odd thing to say, but I read some wishful thinking underlying the general mood.)
I'm not sure what to say about this book that wouldn't spoil it. It has an well-meaning and patient alien, scientists (including a very capable, sassy woman) and the perfect foil for all the science-y stuff in Tom--someone who can ask the questions so the readers can get the answers they need to make sense of the story. Their interactions are adorable and compelling. There's enough scientific talk to keep you on your toes, but at no point does the book bog down, and I never once felt like I didn't have a handle on what was going on with the technical parts.
At its heart, Euphoria is about hope and love and putting what is right above profits. I fully recommend it as a great read for any time of the year.
Have to give it a rating of PG 17 for the sex scenes, and some language, but I didn't feel like the sex was overly graphic--definitely open door, but we don't get every sweaty detail.
I'm not sure what to say about this book that wouldn't spoil it. It has an well-meaning and patient alien, scientists (including a very capable, sassy woman) and the perfect foil for all the science-y stuff in Tom--someone who can ask the questions so the readers can get the answers they need to make sense of the story. Their interactions are adorable and compelling. There's enough scientific talk to keep you on your toes, but at no point does the book bog down, and I never once felt like I didn't have a handle on what was going on with the technical parts.
At its heart, Euphoria is about hope and love and putting what is right above profits. I fully recommend it as a great read for any time of the year.
Have to give it a rating of PG 17 for the sex scenes, and some language, but I didn't feel like the sex was overly graphic--definitely open door, but we don't get every sweaty detail.
May 27, 2021
Aliens and their way of looking at things are an interesting, and as it turns out in this book, essential way to determine what being human is all about. There are several themes that are seamlessly woven together and range from the consequences of a drive for fame and success to an extinction-level new disease coming from a mutated cure for an existing one to the effect of first contact from an alien race on human society. Add a slice of time travel and a budding romance with surprising effects, and you have quite the adventure! With fascinating characters, several of whom tell parts of the story, and more than one twist and turn, even the occasional scientific error barely diminished my enjoyment.
Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
August 30, 2018
MAIN PAIRING: M/Enby
RATING: 3.75 stars
REVIEW
Gosh this was a tricky one to try and rate! Books like this make me wish I'd foregone the concept of stars and ratings altogether here on ceLEStial books, because sometimes you can't really reduce your impressions of a story to a simple number. I went with a 'safe' rating at just under 4 stars, because to me, 4 stars means "I loved it!" and 3 means "This is pretty good." And Euphoria lies somewhere in between.
The classical sci-fi lover in me really appreciated several aspects of Lockwood's story. The concept of time travel to prevent a horrific future for humanity is a trope I've loved since I was a child and first watched the film Twelve Monkeys. I felt somewhat lost in the opening chapter set a hundred years ahead of the bulk of the novel's events, though I could follow enough of what was happening to be hooked into seeing how the time travelling alien's story would progress.
The chapters that followed did an excellent job of exploring the life of a man who has achieved much (but not all) of what he has set out to achieve but, as a result, lost many of the things he'd failed to realise were right in front of him. He's so obsessed with his work that he's lost touch with his family and, whether he intended it or not, become something of a recluse who struggles to connect with others. I personally thought some of these passages were the best in the entire book. The characterisation was at its strongest here! That said, I'm one of those few readers who prefers prose over action and inner-monologue over explosions.
The arrival of Vardam was expertly written. Lockwood's descriptions of Kurt's first impressions of this strange, tentacled (ie. truly alien) creature were believable and fascinating. Given Kurt is a man of science, his mixture of awe, curiosity, and even a degree of stoicism during some moments, seemed completely plausible. The communication issues between them added a culturally intriguing layer to these interactions that I quite enjoyed. It reminded me a little of when the main character in Octavia Butler's Dawn first meets her captors. And given how much I love that book, it's promising that such a comparison struck me as I read Euphoria.
Kurt is one of those characters who carries a lot of emotional baggage because of traumatic events in his past. It's a perfectly good plot device, but I must admit that after a very, very long string of books where the main characters personalities are heavily influenced by sad or traumatic events, I'm ready to read something different. That may well have held me back from 4 stars or higher, which isn't necessarily fair on this novel, but that's why stars/ratings are sometimes a fairly crude instrument in a review. I didn't entirely love his romance with Vardam, something about it felt forced, but I don't read very many books with male protagonists so, again, maybe I need to say: it's not you, Euphoria, it's me.
As the novel continued, I moved back and forth between being completely engrossed, somewhat disconnected, and a little perturbed. I know that MPREG is a popular trope, or perhaps you could even consider it a sort of sub-genre, I honestly don't know, but it's not something I was expecting when I started the book and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it. I've heard some writers and readers discuss MPREG as a potentially offensive narrative device that fetishises minorities, whilst other articles I've read suggest it's quite a liberating concept that many readers, trans, enby, and cis alike, can engage with and enjoy. The science and reasoning behind this aspect of the novel felt fitting within the book's universe but I don't know enough about this kind of plot development to feel I can make a judgement of any kind. So I'll just point out that it happens, and let others who know what they're talking about delve into the merits of such developments.
The writing itself is pretty darn good. Some descriptions and conversations had me nodding at my Kindle, like, Yep -- nice writtin' there, Jayne. As a fan of sci-fi stories built upon the back of corrupt corporations and explorations of gender, Euphoria had lots to offer me, and I'm glad I read it.
As one final note, I have to say that I adore the cover! The tagline is also so perfect I want to cry with jealousy that I can't come up with something that cool for my own books.
REVIEWED FOR CELESTIAL BOOKS (http://www.rebeccalangham.com.au/cele...)
RATING: 3.75 stars
REVIEW
Gosh this was a tricky one to try and rate! Books like this make me wish I'd foregone the concept of stars and ratings altogether here on ceLEStial books, because sometimes you can't really reduce your impressions of a story to a simple number. I went with a 'safe' rating at just under 4 stars, because to me, 4 stars means "I loved it!" and 3 means "This is pretty good." And Euphoria lies somewhere in between.
The classical sci-fi lover in me really appreciated several aspects of Lockwood's story. The concept of time travel to prevent a horrific future for humanity is a trope I've loved since I was a child and first watched the film Twelve Monkeys. I felt somewhat lost in the opening chapter set a hundred years ahead of the bulk of the novel's events, though I could follow enough of what was happening to be hooked into seeing how the time travelling alien's story would progress.
The chapters that followed did an excellent job of exploring the life of a man who has achieved much (but not all) of what he has set out to achieve but, as a result, lost many of the things he'd failed to realise were right in front of him. He's so obsessed with his work that he's lost touch with his family and, whether he intended it or not, become something of a recluse who struggles to connect with others. I personally thought some of these passages were the best in the entire book. The characterisation was at its strongest here! That said, I'm one of those few readers who prefers prose over action and inner-monologue over explosions.
The arrival of Vardam was expertly written. Lockwood's descriptions of Kurt's first impressions of this strange, tentacled (ie. truly alien) creature were believable and fascinating. Given Kurt is a man of science, his mixture of awe, curiosity, and even a degree of stoicism during some moments, seemed completely plausible. The communication issues between them added a culturally intriguing layer to these interactions that I quite enjoyed. It reminded me a little of when the main character in Octavia Butler's Dawn first meets her captors. And given how much I love that book, it's promising that such a comparison struck me as I read Euphoria.
Kurt is one of those characters who carries a lot of emotional baggage because of traumatic events in his past. It's a perfectly good plot device, but I must admit that after a very, very long string of books where the main characters personalities are heavily influenced by sad or traumatic events, I'm ready to read something different. That may well have held me back from 4 stars or higher, which isn't necessarily fair on this novel, but that's why stars/ratings are sometimes a fairly crude instrument in a review. I didn't entirely love his romance with Vardam, something about it felt forced, but I don't read very many books with male protagonists so, again, maybe I need to say: it's not you, Euphoria, it's me.
As the novel continued, I moved back and forth between being completely engrossed, somewhat disconnected, and a little perturbed. I know that MPREG is a popular trope, or perhaps you could even consider it a sort of sub-genre, I honestly don't know, but it's not something I was expecting when I started the book and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it. I've heard some writers and readers discuss MPREG as a potentially offensive narrative device that fetishises minorities, whilst other articles I've read suggest it's quite a liberating concept that many readers, trans, enby, and cis alike, can engage with and enjoy. The science and reasoning behind this aspect of the novel felt fitting within the book's universe but I don't know enough about this kind of plot development to feel I can make a judgement of any kind. So I'll just point out that it happens, and let others who know what they're talking about delve into the merits of such developments.
The writing itself is pretty darn good. Some descriptions and conversations had me nodding at my Kindle, like, Yep -- nice writtin' there, Jayne. As a fan of sci-fi stories built upon the back of corrupt corporations and explorations of gender, Euphoria had lots to offer me, and I'm glad I read it.
As one final note, I have to say that I adore the cover! The tagline is also so perfect I want to cry with jealousy that I can't come up with something that cool for my own books.
REVIEWED FOR CELESTIAL BOOKS (http://www.rebeccalangham.com.au/cele...)
March 22, 2019
4.5 *
I think this is this one of the best M/M pregnancy books I've read. It's not actually M/M it's M/alien, who is not gendered. Although it does have a token cardboard bad guy, most of the cast is multi-faceted and interesting. It also lacks the cheese that seems endemic in M/M pregnancy books.
The viewpoint jumped around between protagonists but I was never confused; I enjoyed getting inside the head of the different characters. The alien, Vardam, I found fascinating and endearing.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's the first I've read by Ms Lockwood, but it definitely won't be the last.
I think this is this one of the best M/M pregnancy books I've read. It's not actually M/M it's M/alien, who is not gendered. Although it does have a token cardboard bad guy, most of the cast is multi-faceted and interesting. It also lacks the cheese that seems endemic in M/M pregnancy books.
The viewpoint jumped around between protagonists but I was never confused; I enjoyed getting inside the head of the different characters. The alien, Vardam, I found fascinating and endearing.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's the first I've read by Ms Lockwood, but it definitely won't be the last.
August 18, 2018
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
For the full review, visit https://wp.me/p220KL-eqj
From that review: Euphoria by Jayne Lockwood is the first story I've written by this author but it won't be the last. It's exceedingly well written, filled with layered, well-rounded characters and a suspenseful plot. Yes, I enjoyed it immensely even when my hands were clutching the Kindle in high anxiety for the characters well being and my heart was racing over the fate for all involved, Earth included.
That makes a great story. Which is what this is."
For all our reviews, visit http://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords...
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
For the full review, visit https://wp.me/p220KL-eqj
From that review: Euphoria by Jayne Lockwood is the first story I've written by this author but it won't be the last. It's exceedingly well written, filled with layered, well-rounded characters and a suspenseful plot. Yes, I enjoyed it immensely even when my hands were clutching the Kindle in high anxiety for the characters well being and my heart was racing over the fate for all involved, Earth included.
That makes a great story. Which is what this is."
For all our reviews, visit http://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords...
August 22, 2018
Euphoria has so many different components that were then expertly woven together to deliver a fascinating and, in some ways, a terrifying story. First, we have a not-too-far-off future which is the catalyst for an apocalyptic event that basically wipes humans and animals from the world in the span of one-hundred years. Next, we have alien species that finds earth in 2125, along with what is left of the humans, and they become fascinated and eventually want to save humans from their destined future. In order to change the course humans are on, the reader is pulled into a story of time travel, romance, friendships, redemption, greed and some other unforeseen plot twists which kept my attention.
The whole idea of the end of the world here, as well as the consequences of the inter-species relationship, is terrifying in that it is written in a way where it totally makes sense that something like this could happen. Dr. Lomax spent the last twenty years of his career developing a drug he believes will counteract MRSA and its growing threat. Unfortunately, his vaccination mutates and instead, Kurt inadvertently creates a superbug that with each passing generation becomes more and more powerful, eventually eradicating humans and animals in the span of just a few generations. The reason behind how the drug is created and how the mutation was missed is completely plausible when taking into consideration the corporate greed and other relevant factors not considered. Vardam being an alien species from the future creates a whole different set of obstacles which Dr. Lomax and his crew have to overcome, and it is not an easy process. Once again I found that the reasons and the scientific explanation behind it created a more realistic reading experience than some of the other sci-fi, interspecies romances I have encountered.
There is a diverse cast that rounds out this story, and all were strong and fleshed out. Their personalities were consistent to what I would expect from people who’ve been through what they have, or who have the type of job that they do. They each have a different bond with one another, but all of them have an integral part to play as the chaos unfolds. And boy, did it unfold. The first half of the book wasn’t very action packed, more forming the different personalities, establishing the different friendships, creating the setting—not slow but measured in its pacing. Once Vardam drops the metaphorical bomb that they are responsible for the destruction of mankind, things rapidly pick up and get out of control. Kidnapping, explosions, government manhunt, and corporate espionage only skim the surface, and it was a wild ride. I didn’t expect the story to veer off and the focus to change in the way it did, but I am not unhappy with the modified direction; it was done in a way that made it scientifically plausible, and everyone’s actions and reactions were valid and expected.
While there is romance for several of the characters, and even an interspecies romance that develops, it is secondary and there as an integral part of the overall story. There were sweet moments, romantic moments, and even a few intimate moments, but they were vital to the plot development and understanding of the humans and alien involved—one thread of many. Those relationships are essential, as the consequences of some of those relationships add to many of the twists and turns the story takes.
While Euphoria is a technical book, it was not written in a way where I felt lost. It was not overly saturated with words or dialogue that were incomprehensible to someone whose brain struggles to process scientific terminology (like mine). One of the reasons for this is Tom. He is a pretty normal person who is brought in to communicate with Vardam. He is not a scientist but rather, a really wonderful guy who has had a rough go of it and managed to get pulled into a fascinating situation because of his ability to communicate using sign language. He is emotionally driven and sees the volunteers in the bunker as human beings rather than a means to obtain results and data. He forms friendships with the volunteers and doctors alike. His amiable personality and the fact he is a plain old, all around good guy helps to bridge the gap for Vardam and the scientists they have come to warn of the future they hold in their hands. Where Dr. Kurt Lomax, Dr. Nic, and Dr. Troy are about science and trying to find cures at the expense of emotion, Tom reminds them they are dealing with living, breathing humans, not just experiments. He reminds them Vardam is more than just an extraterrestrial and advises them on ways for both the scientists and Vardam to communicate. He defuses situations when they escalate. His presence balances out the some of the more scientific portions of the plot, harmonizing it with emotion and an outside perspective.
I was really pleased with Euphoria and the intricate and detailed storytelling, making the story flow well and even came off as conceivable. If you are in the mood for a sci-fi romance with a focus on the science fiction aspect, I would definitely recommend giving this one a shot.
Reviewed by Lindsey for The Novel Approach
The whole idea of the end of the world here, as well as the consequences of the inter-species relationship, is terrifying in that it is written in a way where it totally makes sense that something like this could happen. Dr. Lomax spent the last twenty years of his career developing a drug he believes will counteract MRSA and its growing threat. Unfortunately, his vaccination mutates and instead, Kurt inadvertently creates a superbug that with each passing generation becomes more and more powerful, eventually eradicating humans and animals in the span of just a few generations. The reason behind how the drug is created and how the mutation was missed is completely plausible when taking into consideration the corporate greed and other relevant factors not considered. Vardam being an alien species from the future creates a whole different set of obstacles which Dr. Lomax and his crew have to overcome, and it is not an easy process. Once again I found that the reasons and the scientific explanation behind it created a more realistic reading experience than some of the other sci-fi, interspecies romances I have encountered.
There is a diverse cast that rounds out this story, and all were strong and fleshed out. Their personalities were consistent to what I would expect from people who’ve been through what they have, or who have the type of job that they do. They each have a different bond with one another, but all of them have an integral part to play as the chaos unfolds. And boy, did it unfold. The first half of the book wasn’t very action packed, more forming the different personalities, establishing the different friendships, creating the setting—not slow but measured in its pacing. Once Vardam drops the metaphorical bomb that they are responsible for the destruction of mankind, things rapidly pick up and get out of control. Kidnapping, explosions, government manhunt, and corporate espionage only skim the surface, and it was a wild ride. I didn’t expect the story to veer off and the focus to change in the way it did, but I am not unhappy with the modified direction; it was done in a way that made it scientifically plausible, and everyone’s actions and reactions were valid and expected.
While there is romance for several of the characters, and even an interspecies romance that develops, it is secondary and there as an integral part of the overall story. There were sweet moments, romantic moments, and even a few intimate moments, but they were vital to the plot development and understanding of the humans and alien involved—one thread of many. Those relationships are essential, as the consequences of some of those relationships add to many of the twists and turns the story takes.
While Euphoria is a technical book, it was not written in a way where I felt lost. It was not overly saturated with words or dialogue that were incomprehensible to someone whose brain struggles to process scientific terminology (like mine). One of the reasons for this is Tom. He is a pretty normal person who is brought in to communicate with Vardam. He is not a scientist but rather, a really wonderful guy who has had a rough go of it and managed to get pulled into a fascinating situation because of his ability to communicate using sign language. He is emotionally driven and sees the volunteers in the bunker as human beings rather than a means to obtain results and data. He forms friendships with the volunteers and doctors alike. His amiable personality and the fact he is a plain old, all around good guy helps to bridge the gap for Vardam and the scientists they have come to warn of the future they hold in their hands. Where Dr. Kurt Lomax, Dr. Nic, and Dr. Troy are about science and trying to find cures at the expense of emotion, Tom reminds them they are dealing with living, breathing humans, not just experiments. He reminds them Vardam is more than just an extraterrestrial and advises them on ways for both the scientists and Vardam to communicate. He defuses situations when they escalate. His presence balances out the some of the more scientific portions of the plot, harmonizing it with emotion and an outside perspective.
I was really pleased with Euphoria and the intricate and detailed storytelling, making the story flow well and even came off as conceivable. If you are in the mood for a sci-fi romance with a focus on the science fiction aspect, I would definitely recommend giving this one a shot.
Reviewed by Lindsey for The Novel Approach
November 7, 2018
Sci-fi is not my usual Genre, but I am fast becoming a huge fan. This book went way past my expectations of sci-fi so far. There is time travel, impending doom plus a human and an alien that both have to learn to love. Throw in the other scientist with there sense of humor and issues and you have an exciting read that you will not want to miss.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
October 26, 2018
*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author*
This was a very unexpectedly good read. The storyline was unique, it was a mashup of several sci-fi tropes: E.L.E., first contact, and some mpreg thrown in too and they combined into a story I couldn't put down. There was an amazing cast of characters and although the story is told through three POVs it works, the characters voices meshed well and kept the story flowing. I liked how the author dealt with the non-binary character, she created an entire non-binary species and introduced it into the human population in a way that felt so logical. I absolutely enjoyed it and I recommend it to anyone looking for something outside the box.
This was a very unexpectedly good read. The storyline was unique, it was a mashup of several sci-fi tropes: E.L.E., first contact, and some mpreg thrown in too and they combined into a story I couldn't put down. There was an amazing cast of characters and although the story is told through three POVs it works, the characters voices meshed well and kept the story flowing. I liked how the author dealt with the non-binary character, she created an entire non-binary species and introduced it into the human population in a way that felt so logical. I absolutely enjoyed it and I recommend it to anyone looking for something outside the box.
November 11, 2018
4+ stars out of 5, rounded up
I received a free copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
Let me start by saying Ms. Lockwood is a very talented writer, and with one caveat noted (way) below, I’ll definitely buy more of her books.
That said, I’m the wrong person to review this book. If you want to let it go at that, then just stop now. Otherwise, I’m going to explain.
In my (never humble) opinion, a reviewer reveals a rating and then gives you the reasons for it. The customary review is all about the book. “It did/didn’t, was/wasn’t, should have/shouldn’t have, and therefore my rating.”
The reasons for the rating, this time, are more about the reviewer than the writer.
I’m ten months away from hitting 95% of 80. (Do the math.) I grew up knowing there were two genders; I knew there were people transitioning between the two, and those who loved both. “Their” and “they” referred to multiple people. But in the past decade or so, there has been an “explosion” in the width of a gender spectrum that for me, and perhaps others of my age and generation, used to contained only a him and a her.
I intellectually understand there is a breadth to gender identity (am I even using the right phrase?) that may well have been there all along. I applaud and support the efforts to expand the recognition of the legitimacy of those differences, and to ensure equal rights. Emotionally, however, I don’t connect with the concepts, in large part because I have no personal experience with or personal knowledge of others beyond my limited lifetime scope: gay men, a few lesbians forty years ago, and one trans individual (recently).
There’s a non-binary lead character here. And a romance. And to my regret I couldn’t emotionally connect with the characters, couldn’t get past the use of “their” and “they” for a single individual. But please remember, to paraphrase the Bard, “The fault, dear reader, lies not in the author but in the reviewer.”
Caveat ahead: If, by chance, Ms. Lockwood chooses to write a book with characters I can connect with, I’ll eagerly buy and read.
Bottom line: I recognize talent when I see it, thus the rating. If the blurb intrigues you at all (and you’re not mired in the past of pronouns *rueful smile*) I urge you to buy. I think you’ll enjoy it.
Just my USD .02.
Eric
p.s. If offense was taken, I apologize, as none was intended.
I received a free copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
Let me start by saying Ms. Lockwood is a very talented writer, and with one caveat noted (way) below, I’ll definitely buy more of her books.
That said, I’m the wrong person to review this book. If you want to let it go at that, then just stop now. Otherwise, I’m going to explain.
In my (never humble) opinion, a reviewer reveals a rating and then gives you the reasons for it. The customary review is all about the book. “It did/didn’t, was/wasn’t, should have/shouldn’t have, and therefore my rating.”
The reasons for the rating, this time, are more about the reviewer than the writer.
I’m ten months away from hitting 95% of 80. (Do the math.) I grew up knowing there were two genders; I knew there were people transitioning between the two, and those who loved both. “Their” and “they” referred to multiple people. But in the past decade or so, there has been an “explosion” in the width of a gender spectrum that for me, and perhaps others of my age and generation, used to contained only a him and a her.
I intellectually understand there is a breadth to gender identity (am I even using the right phrase?) that may well have been there all along. I applaud and support the efforts to expand the recognition of the legitimacy of those differences, and to ensure equal rights. Emotionally, however, I don’t connect with the concepts, in large part because I have no personal experience with or personal knowledge of others beyond my limited lifetime scope: gay men, a few lesbians forty years ago, and one trans individual (recently).
There’s a non-binary lead character here. And a romance. And to my regret I couldn’t emotionally connect with the characters, couldn’t get past the use of “their” and “they” for a single individual. But please remember, to paraphrase the Bard, “The fault, dear reader, lies not in the author but in the reviewer.”
Caveat ahead: If, by chance, Ms. Lockwood chooses to write a book with characters I can connect with, I’ll eagerly buy and read.
Bottom line: I recognize talent when I see it, thus the rating. If the blurb intrigues you at all (and you’re not mired in the past of pronouns *rueful smile*) I urge you to buy. I think you’ll enjoy it.
Just my USD .02.
Eric
p.s. If offense was taken, I apologize, as none was intended.
September 3, 2018
I went into the story with no expectations. I've never read any published work by Jayne Lockwood and I had only glanced at the blurb. It sounded intriguing and the cover was gorgeous and I thought why not, right?
I was pleasantly surprised to be engaged right off the bat. Very well written and it gave me a little bit of background about Professor Kurt Lomax who was a cold, hard character but I could tell that there were reasons for that. He's a complex man who has difficulty connecting emotionally. I imagine that many scientists get lost in their heads just because that's the way they are wired, but Kurt has a past that make him build extra walls around himself. He has enough moments where his emotions and fears show to help us not hate him and it gives just enough of a peak into the person he tries to hide from everyone to have you wanting him to come out on top. He's dealing with a crumbling marriage, he's crap at being a father, he's a germaphobe, he's a difficult person to work with and he's got a greedy boss that hates him for personal reasons. This is just the tip of Kurt Lomax' iceberg.
Man, the cards are really stacked against him.
In falls Var. Literally. Right into his living room. Var is amazing. That is all.
Hahaha, just kidding, but Var really was the best portrayal of a non binary extraterrestrial being that I could ever hope to read. I adore this character and the way they interact with everyone.
I love when a message is imparted this strongly yet gently in a book and Var has more than one message in this story. Var is in a race against time to try to save the people of Earth and falls in love along the way. Feelings and emotions are new to them and it was pure joy to go on this adventure through time and space with them.
The secondary characters are excellent and written well enough that they don't feel a bit secondary. There were tender moments, moments fraught with danger and suspense and a portrayal of m-preg that was realistic and believable without being condescending to the male species.
Jayne Lockwood took some very real issues, like pronouns for non binary persons and wrote about them with dignity and respect while mixing in humorous moments that brought unexpected levity.
I was pleasantly surprised to be engaged right off the bat. Very well written and it gave me a little bit of background about Professor Kurt Lomax who was a cold, hard character but I could tell that there were reasons for that. He's a complex man who has difficulty connecting emotionally. I imagine that many scientists get lost in their heads just because that's the way they are wired, but Kurt has a past that make him build extra walls around himself. He has enough moments where his emotions and fears show to help us not hate him and it gives just enough of a peak into the person he tries to hide from everyone to have you wanting him to come out on top. He's dealing with a crumbling marriage, he's crap at being a father, he's a germaphobe, he's a difficult person to work with and he's got a greedy boss that hates him for personal reasons. This is just the tip of Kurt Lomax' iceberg.
Man, the cards are really stacked against him.
In falls Var. Literally. Right into his living room. Var is amazing. That is all.
Hahaha, just kidding, but Var really was the best portrayal of a non binary extraterrestrial being that I could ever hope to read. I adore this character and the way they interact with everyone.
I love when a message is imparted this strongly yet gently in a book and Var has more than one message in this story. Var is in a race against time to try to save the people of Earth and falls in love along the way. Feelings and emotions are new to them and it was pure joy to go on this adventure through time and space with them.
The secondary characters are excellent and written well enough that they don't feel a bit secondary. There were tender moments, moments fraught with danger and suspense and a portrayal of m-preg that was realistic and believable without being condescending to the male species.
Jayne Lockwood took some very real issues, like pronouns for non binary persons and wrote about them with dignity and respect while mixing in humorous moments that brought unexpected levity.
November 14, 2018
Reading Jayne Lockwood’s novel Euphoria truly induced euphoric feelings in this reader.
Lockwood creates a fascinating and enlightening futuristic world that highlights so much of our present day struggles in humanity.
The action is well paced with layers of heart, heroism, and humanity. Through a rainbow of beautifully drawn characters, Lockwood reveals how gender and its varied expression, sexual orientation, love, friendship, a sense of family, and socio-economic differences impact who we are and/or might ideally become.
The love story at Euphoria’s center is between a non-binary extraterrestrial invested in saving lives (there is a mutated strain of the MRSA virus that threatens human extinction) and a cisgender straight man. Their relationship is both eye and heart opening in terms of my better understanding of the complexities of love and gender identity.
Euphoria is an endearing sci-fi fantasy with a dynamic story arc. There is lots of action, both internal and external conflict throughout, and humor too, which reminds readers how working together, no matter our differences, impacts our chances of survival.
Lockwood creates a fascinating and enlightening futuristic world that highlights so much of our present day struggles in humanity.
The action is well paced with layers of heart, heroism, and humanity. Through a rainbow of beautifully drawn characters, Lockwood reveals how gender and its varied expression, sexual orientation, love, friendship, a sense of family, and socio-economic differences impact who we are and/or might ideally become.
The love story at Euphoria’s center is between a non-binary extraterrestrial invested in saving lives (there is a mutated strain of the MRSA virus that threatens human extinction) and a cisgender straight man. Their relationship is both eye and heart opening in terms of my better understanding of the complexities of love and gender identity.
Euphoria is an endearing sci-fi fantasy with a dynamic story arc. There is lots of action, both internal and external conflict throughout, and humor too, which reminds readers how working together, no matter our differences, impacts our chances of survival.
May 27, 2021
Aliens and their way of looking at things are an interesting, and as it turns out in this book, essential way to determine what being human is all about. There are several themes that are seamlessly woven together and range from the consequences of a drive for fame and success to an extinction-level new disease coming from a mutated cure for an existing one to the effect of first contact from an alien race on human society. Add a slice of time travel and a budding romance with surprising effects, and you have quite the adventure! With fascinating characters, several of whom tell parts of the story, and more than one twist and turn, even the occasional scientific error barely diminished my enjoyment.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
July 30, 2020
Ambitious m/m romance/sci-fi story. It was interesting but didn’t quite work for me. I felt like was watching everything from a distance. I had difficulty engaging with the plot even though it had an intriguing premise that was well-thought out. The characters were well-thought out, too, but felt two-dimensional. I do, however, applaud the author's effort and creativity.
If you’re drawn to this kind of story, I highly recommend Lisa Henry's “Dark Space” trilogy.
If you’re drawn to this kind of story, I highly recommend Lisa Henry's “Dark Space” trilogy.
December 15, 2018
Well written and funny!
November 1, 2018
Usually I start with a reworded blurb, but a blurb is probably posted somewhere nearby, and unlike some blurbs I felt this blurb encompasses the major themes of the book, so I guess I’ll start by saying how much I loved this story, which was quite a bit. This was my first Lockwood novel—sign me up for the next SFF one.
My major praises are thus:
1) Great characterization. Spot on authentic, messy, consistent characters, and dialogue so crisp I could tell who was talking without speaker tags. Top quality stuff.
2) Fantastic worldbuilding. The Var felts incredibly unique, while still seeming realistically rooted in Terran time and place. People seemed to react to the Var and roll with the punches maybe too well, but then again, humans are pretty adaptive. And, well, scientists are a pretty solid bunch.
3) Non-binary representation! Woot! Enough said.
4) Had a fun twist I wasn’t expecting in one of my favorite tropes. Normally I reserve omitting spoilers for mystery novels, because spoilers have never bothered me and I feel this particular trope NEEDS a call out because of unhealthy stigma, but I’m going to refrain because I feel maybe the author is intentionally trying a new strategy to get people to read this trope? Maybe? In which case, I’m willing to play ball. Whatever it takes. So, I’ll only say that I felt the inter species relations between beings who communicate through speach and beings who communicate through telepathy and empathy was super interesting, and all the complications and drama that arose was intriguing and made me think.
Like Stargate? Give this a shot. Five stars.
My major praises are thus:
1) Great characterization. Spot on authentic, messy, consistent characters, and dialogue so crisp I could tell who was talking without speaker tags. Top quality stuff.
2) Fantastic worldbuilding. The Var felts incredibly unique, while still seeming realistically rooted in Terran time and place. People seemed to react to the Var and roll with the punches maybe too well, but then again, humans are pretty adaptive. And, well, scientists are a pretty solid bunch.
3) Non-binary representation! Woot! Enough said.
4) Had a fun twist I wasn’t expecting in one of my favorite tropes. Normally I reserve omitting spoilers for mystery novels, because spoilers have never bothered me and I feel this particular trope NEEDS a call out because of unhealthy stigma, but I’m going to refrain because I feel maybe the author is intentionally trying a new strategy to get people to read this trope? Maybe? In which case, I’m willing to play ball. Whatever it takes. So, I’ll only say that I felt the inter species relations between beings who communicate through speach and beings who communicate through telepathy and empathy was super interesting, and all the complications and drama that arose was intriguing and made me think.
Like Stargate? Give this a shot. Five stars.
Read
February 7, 2019Interesting first contact (well, second contact) story.
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