Dalí

Dalí Tamareia #1

by E.M. Hamill

Dalí Tamareia has everything—a young family and a promising career as an Ambassador in the Sol Fed Diplomatic Corps. Dalí’s path as a peacemaker seems clear, but when their loved ones are killed in a terrorist attack, grief sends the genderfluid changeling into a spiral of self-destruction.

Fragile Sol Fed balances on the brink of war with a plundering alien race. Their skills with galactic relations are desperately needed to broker a protective alliance, but in mourning, Dalí no longer cares, seeking oblivion at the bottom of a bottle, in the arms of a faceless lover, or at the end of a knife.

The New Puritan Movement is rising to power within the government, preaching strict genetic counseling and galactic isolation to ensure survival of the endangered human race. Third gender citizens like Dalí don’t fit the mold of this perfect plan, and the NPM will stop at nothing to make their vision become reality. When Dalí stumbles into a plot threatening changelings like them, a shadow organization called the Penumbra recruits them for a rescue mission full of danger, sex, and intrigue, giving Dalí purpose again.

Risky liaisons with a charismatic pirate lord could be Dalí’s undoing—and the only way to prevent another deadly act of domestic terrorism.

Genres: Science Fiction, LGBT, Transgender, Science Fiction Fantasy, Genderfluid, Queer, Aliens

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 7, 2017

About the author

E.M. (Elisabeth) Hamill writes adult science fiction and fantasy somewhere in the wilds of eastern suburban Kansas. A nurse by day, wordsmith by night, she has sworn never to grow up and get boring.

Frequently under the influence of caffeinated beverages, she also writes as Elisabeth Hamill for young adult readers in fantasy with the award-winning Songmaker series.

She lives with her family, where they fend off flying monkey attacks and prep for the zombie apocalypse.

Reviews

[K.J. Charles]

In a spaceshippy future there are now genderfluid humans (changelings) who can shift between presenting male and female, including muscles and genitalia. Dali is a changeling whose family has been murdered in a terrorist attack. They are pretty kick ass and in despair, so they accept a mission to find out what's going on with a bad case of human trafficking and political shenanigans.

Lots to like including the genderfluid protagonist who is a flawed, rounded, very sympathetic character, and the variety of gender identities, plus a vividly realised setting and a well developed sf adventure with both violence and emotional intelligence playing important roles.

However, CW in a big way for the drumbeat of anti-trans/nb oppression. The premise is politicians and fanatics oppressing the third-gender and changeling people, the story involves selling changelings into sexual slavery, there is a lot of on page verbal abuse and off page rape. The book's stance against all these things is clear, and there are depictions of other races/societies where this doesn't occur, but the main theme is absolutely and relentlessly about human maltreatment of trans/nb people, and some readers might well find that too much to take for reading enjoyment.

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time)]

DNF with no rating. I've been looking forward to this book, but I just couldn't get into it. It was maybe too hard sci-fi for me? Just not the right vibe? Not a bad book, but not to my tastes.

[iam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dalí is an awesome SciFi novel with a non-binary protagonist featuring complicated and sometimes dismal politics, dangerous deep cover missions, cool aliens and a vast cast of interesting characters.

Read the full review on the blog.

Content warnings include: violence, slavery, abduction, human trafficking, cannibalism, sex on-page, transphobia and trans-excluding language, slurs, racism, discrimination of marginalized groups, denial of reproductive rights, suicide attempts, grief after death of family, substance addiction, death, assassination; mentions of rape, abuse, terrorism, death of pregnant woman.

The main character, Dalí, is a third-gender changeling, meaning they are (a fantastical version of) intersex with the ability to assume male or female secondary sexual characteristics at will, which they do when the situations demands it (mostly during fights, sex, intimidation or manipulation). Without outside influence in either direction, Dalí is neither female nor male, but nonbinary outside of the binary spectrum.
Dalí is an ambassador and diplomat, who after the death of their husband, wife, and unborn child, has lost their will to live. But after an encounter that almost leaves Dalí dead, they realize other changelings and third-gender rights are at risk and decide to take part in a risky mission.

The mood changes throughout the book is rather heavy, following Dalí's emotional development through numbness, grief, anger, sadness and more. Even as they find something other to focus on than their grief, the book is never really happy, though as Dalí focusses on their mission, so did I.

I loved Dalí as protagonist. Even filled with grief I found them a great main character, with their sarcasm and quiet competence, but it is under stress and in dangerous situations that they truly shine. I loved reading about how they negotiated (pun intended) danger after danger, and their empathic abilities was another touch that, while almost overly convenient, added a new dimension to Dalí's calculations that I found fascinating.
Another facet I found intriguing was their high sex drive - which was particularly high given that Dalí doesn't just like sex, but has what boils down to a danger-kink. Because they were in danger and encountered dangerous people a lot.
However, despite Dalí's preferrence for casual sex, the book is not erotica, and most definitely not a romance. There is no romantic subplot, though Dalí does form several emotional connections.

The book is very well written and I had trouble putting it down again. I enjoyed it immensely, it was engaging, exciting and emotional in all the right ways.

Bonus points for tons of Princess Bride references!

[J.P. Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If anyone has been following any of my reviews, then you know that I'm not going to waste words on plot or storylines. Instead, I'm going to tell you what I thought about the story.

OMG, THIS IS AMAZING. GO GET YOUR OWN COPY, RIGHT NOW, AND READ THIS!

Get the point? This is brilliant.

I'm not a huge Sci-Fi fan, as anyone who knows me will attest - don't get me wrong, I love Star Trek and Star Wars, and yes, I know the difference, but I prefer my magic and wings and beasties. So, I was hesitant about this Sci-Fi story.

What a misplaced emotion that was. This book is rich in description - I practically lived my last 2 weeks on a starship. The various alien species were presented flawlessly. The technology was more than I could ever dream up - but it wasn't so 'out of this world' as to leave me reeling. Everything seemed plausible and real.

Now the real treat is the main character's gender - or lack thereof. I found myself in an interesting place trying to imagine who this person was - and I struggled - which just meant the author had completely done their job. I'm not going to ruin anything here, but the concept of gender neutrality is an interesting one - and how do you construct an image in your head of the main character, and leave them gender neutral? Seriously - BRILLIANT. Oh, but there's so much more to Dali than gender! (and no, I'm not telling you)

And yet - despite making me consider what gender is all about this book was damn bloody sexy too. All I'll say is that the scenes between the main character Dali, and the black market 'owner' Rhix were smokin' hot.

This book has action, weapons, martial arts, gender rights, alien species, terrorism, gladiator duels and a whole bunch of fan-fucking-tasticness.

This goes on my favorite shelf. Well done.

[Esther · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from Net galley, in exchange for an honest review.

This is a 3.5 star book for me however I rounded down to 3 stars rather than rounding up.
Mainly the ‘rounding down’ is due to some of the sex scenes, particularly at the beginning. I understand the need to make clear the implications of the main character’s gender-fluidity but the graphic detail of the descriptions turned a violent, brutal scene into an unpleasant mix of titillating and salacious when it should have been just frightening.

But this is still a book very much worth reading and rereading – which I may do at some point.

The story is set in space in a not so pleasant future.
Dali is gender-fluid shifting between male and female according to the situation. Dali comes from quite a privileged background but with their beloved family recently murdered in a terrorist attack Dali is in a grief-coloured limbo uncertain how to continue their life.
As the plot develops Dali becomes involved with slave-traders, sex trafficking and some of the most repugnant characters in this world all tied up with the politics of oppression and corrupt business.

I felt a connection and understanding with most of the characters and the story is well written and exciting but be warned that that this is not for the faint of heart. The subjects are not easy ones to tackle and the author does so without hesitation.

[Kazza · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars
This is a good book, and while it is very much a futuristic sci-fi novel, the concepts and ideas and issues around difference and gender resonates in the here and now. As does trafficking, disreputable governments, business, and individuals.

Fantastic world building. There is a wonderful eye to detail. I would love to visit Zereid. Their empathetic culture is amazing. I also wouldn't mind learning the art of Zezjna. And I most certainly do not wish to visit the Shontavian Market - although I loved the Shontavian's desire to see the stars.

The characters were all interesting and most had real depth. However, Gor kind of stole the show when he was on page. The new Lord Rhix was flawed but I couldn't help liking him. I went back and reread about a third of the book because the first time I was absorbed in names, species, politics, intrigue, and Dali got lost somewhere in the noise. Second time's a charm as I felt more in touch with their grief and their kind and brave actions. I am looking forward to when Dali isn't so raw, because at times the diplomat and the grieving Dali could be at arm's length, putting other people above their needs or desires or self-thoughts. Rion Sumner still has to fully develop as well, and he's also another who's intriguing.

While I'm unsure if this book will have a follow up, and it can be read purely as it is, I'm assuming there may be another book because there are certain threads left in stasis. Just waiting.

If you are interested in an LGBTQI sci-fi book with covert action, politics, psychology - because grief plays a significant part of this book, on multiple layers - then this is a very well written book.

[Kit (Metaphors and Moonlight) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve already read all three books and have similar thoughts about all of them, so this is sort of a book/series review.

This is a story about space adventure and political negotiations, but also healing. And a great story, at that! I loved how believable, serious, detailed, and well thought-out this series was. It was harsh and violent and sometimes messed up, but not in excess, not bleak, and in ways that were realistic. There were shape-shifting bodies and aliens and all that, but the way everyone acted, the emotions, and the way everything worked in the plot and the world, that was what made the story feel so real.

The world-building was detailed and fascinating. Different species and their appearances and cultures and societal structures. Different government and political organizations, both on Earth and beyond.

Dali was so angry and filled with grief and could come across as hard and cold on the outside, but they were a good, caring person on the inside. I mean, maybe they sometimes did things partly for their own more selfish reasons (they seemed to sort of like recklessly putting themselves into dangerous situations), but the things they were doing were still good, and they still put themselves at risk to help others. It was a good sorta flaw, a good balance, to make them not too perfect. And the rest of the characters all felt believable too. No one was too perfect or polished.

The sex and romance elements were interesting. I don’t wanna spoil the fun, so I’ll just say I loved that the romance in this series wasn’t a simple “two people meet, they’re attracted to each other, they fall in love, they live happily ever after.” There was some messiness to it and multiple possibilities for how things could turn out. *SPOILER* It’s really interesting to me when an author puts feelings, connections, sex, chemistry, etc. into a book only to have it not work out. (And I really did feel the chemistry between Dali and Rhix, more so than I do oftentimes between characters who are supposedly in love and stay together forever.) I appreciated it though because it felt believable within the book and because that’s how real life is sometimes, people don’t always end up forever in love with every person they’re attracted to or sleep with. *END SPOILER*

I also love it when characters have empath abilities (which Dali did). I was confused at first how they had those abilities, but it’s sort of explained later in the series that some, though not many, humans have it, because the species hasn’t really cultivated it, or something like that. I think. Whatever, the point is, I liked it! The POV character feeling other people’s emotions just brings more emotion to a book.

There were some things I didn’t understand or love about the gender aspect in the series. In this world, “third gender” is intersex people, and “changelings” are able to physically transform their body to appear and function more like that of a cis male or female body, or they can be in a sort of neutral state. But where do nonbinary people who aren’t intersex fit into this world? There was also a lot of, “men have these body parts and women have these body parts.” I’m not against the shifting body idea, or a character wanting to have certain body parts or be binary in their presentation! And I do understand that characters have their own perspective, and that doesn’t mean every character or the author feels the same. I just would’ve liked a touch more nuance or gender diversity among the humans, since gender was such a big part of the story. (Though I do like to keep in mind, when the author was writing this, perhaps people were not talking about these things as much.)

Anyway, for Dali, gender presentation was very much about sex or whatever was most advantageous. They shifted their body to suit what their sexual partners wanted, and usually the other time they shifted was to get more muscular before a fight. In general though, they preferred their neutral form. And there was, I think, a sort of growth around that, Dali learning they didn’t always have to be who others wanted them to be and having the chance to explore what they wanted. Other changelings in the book seemed to have different preferences, so I was glad to see every changeling had their own feelings about gender.

There was other queer rep too. Dali and multiple other characters were bi or pan, as well as polyamorous. Some alien species had different genders and used different pronouns.

Overall, this was a very cool, realistic-feeling story with interesting galactic world-building, an unpredictable plot, and a main character I felt for!

Trigger/Content Warning: *POTENTIAL SPOILERS* Grief. Death of romantic partners (before the series starts). Drug use. Captivity and slave trading. Attempted suicide by side character. Vomiting. Needles. Bigotry against intersex people (the bigotry portrayed as a bad thing). *END SPOILERS*

*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2022 // Format: Ebook via TTS*

Recommended For:
Anyone who likes space adventure, politics, world-building full of alien species and cultures, nonbinary characters, emotional healing, stories that feel realistic, and found family.

Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight

[Riley Neither · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll be upfront: I read this for the intersex/non-binary protagonist. Romance/erotica isn't usually my thing, and especially not when it uses something as serious as human trafficking to set up its sexy scenarios or when it romanticizes slave traders, arms dealers, and murderers. This review is just going to focus on the queer stuff.

This might be the best portrayal of an intersex protagonist I've read yet, but that's not really a compliment. The bar was extremely low, and this book didn't raise it by much.

As often seems to be the case with SFF intersex protags, Dalí isn't actually intersex in a way that really exists. Maybe that's why the book avoids using the term "intersex," saying "third gender" instead with apparently no awareness that, while there's often overlap, in many cultures/contexts the terms are not interchangeable. Instead of being genuinely, real-world intersex, Dalí is a "changeling," capable of shifting, voluntarily or involuntarily, between male, female, and neutral forms, mostly for sexual purposes. So they join the ranks of intersex characters whose supposed intersexuality is really just a (sexual) fantasy of perfect biological duality: they can be a boy or a girl whenever they want and they've got the junk to prove it.

The book really is as annoyingly bio-essentialist as that makes it sound. I lost track of how many times a changeling character's current biology was referenced as the true and sole indicator of their gender. There are no trans characters (unless you count the changelings; I don't), and no non-binary characters who aren't either human and intersex or alien with an alien sex. Basically, there's no representation at all for people whose gender doesn't match their junk; instead, the shifting ability of changelings is presented as a "corrective mutation" to fix transgenderism. If you squint, you can maybe read that as a little bit of hopeful, wistful wish-fulfillment for trans folks, but the essentialist attitude that pervades the book makes it come off more like a cis person's sticky-sweet, pitying declaration that we shouldn't exist.

I will say I appreciated the positive inclusion of polyamory. But I would've appreciated even more if Dalí's spouses hadn't both died before the story even started.

[Skye Kilaen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel reminded me how much I love space-based science fiction. It's a gripping espionage tale revolving around the rights of humans known as third gender changelings, biologically intersex people who can assume secondary sex characteristics of either gender if they so choose. Dalí Tamareia, the main character, has a resting neutral state, though other third gender people have/prefer either a male or female resting state.

After Dalí's husband, wife, and their collective unborn child are murdered by human extremist conservatives, Dalí falls apart. Passively suicidal, they only find purpose again when they're recruited into an extra-governmental black ops team that's tracking a smuggling ring sending third gender people to be enslaved outside of Earth space.

Political conspiracy is one of my fave flavors of catnip, so this was perfect for me. The worldbuilding is rich and detailed without slowing down the story. Dalí's grief is achingly real. The secondary characters are textured and interesting, with even the villains being more than cardboard cutouts. This would be an amazing start to a series, so here's hoping that's what Hamill has in mind.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhere around 3.5/5.0 stars for me. Review to follow.

[Serena Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

The vision of the far future presented in this novel is less than rosy: pandemics and poisoning have come close to eradicating humankind, third-gender humans who are unable to reproduce naturally are growing in numbers, and the New Puritan Movement now pushes genetic purity (i.e., no third-genders allowed) in the name of increased reproduction in the interest of species survival. Sol Fed consists of the citizens of Earth plus those on the various colonized solar planets but terrorism threatens everyone and the Nos – hostile, plundering aliens – endanger not just peace but the continued existence of all humans. Sol Fed is attempting to join the larger galactic community, the Remoliad Alliance, but negotiations are not supported by everyone. Seen from the perspective of a genderfluid third-gender changeling, a trained ambassador who has lost everything and everyone they loved, this is a suspenseful thriller, a futuristic action/adventure including political intrigue and space pirates, and, ultimately, a story of hope.


Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book with all my heart, and don't have an easy explanation for it.

The make-and-break of this story for me absolutely was Dalí. It's a known fact I'm not a huge Sci-Fi reader. I love Star Wars, but generally have a hard time with different planets and suns and stars and species. And to be absolutely honest, some of it did cause problems for me in the beginning. I got confused a time or two and remembering names, places and species wasn't always super easy.

But Dalí made it all fade into the background. The very first thing that made me love them, care for them and feel with them was heir grief. They grieved in a way that felt so real to me, that was so relatable – self-destructive, out of control, always somewhere between numb and in agony, saved and condemned by chemical substances and the oblivion sex promised to give. It felt REAL. Raw and painful, but so very real.

I won't give away the many plot twists, turns and little sideways. I do believe they are best experiences completely unspoiled, because they were that good to me. What I do have to say is that Dalí as a character and a person was just... everything. They were flawed, their emotions were running high a lot, but they were always quick on their feet, still made stupid decisions, maybe a little bit in love with danger, not exactly in the best place mentally, snappy and they had a such a big mouth. Yeah, no surprise I absolutely adored them to the Mars and back (cheesy pun absolutely intended).

And on a side note, this book managed what not many stories can. I actually kind of felt with the villain who wasn't really a villain. Or maybe he was but with redeeming qualities? Or I just really wanted to at least understand him a little bit the same way Dalí did, because their chemistry together was so... surprisingly fierce. Plus, bi rep = MY REP. It made me so, so happy.

There were some niggles I did have – yeah, I know. One thing that made me REALLY uncomfortable were some scenes between Dalí and the cis woman who was responsible for Dalí's medical care after he got beaten up by a bunch of bigots. That woman made me feel uncomfortable on all kinds of levels. Her questions were super intrusive – even for a medic – and the way she sometimes interacted with Dalí had my skin crawling. Needless to say, when they had sex with each other I was ready to jump out of my skin. I'm not going to give too much away by saying A) I was spot on. And B) The explanation we got later made sense and did make me feel a bit better about the whole thing, but never redeemed the character. And it should be noticed that Dalí didn't have a problem with the interactions when they happened, only I did. But still, little warning from me here.

Overall, I had a hard time putting this book down, I loved the plot twists and the writing, Dalí might be one of my favorite characters of all time and I cannot WAIT to read more about them and this universe and what comes next – because honestly, their story is so far from being over, even though the book did end in a satisfying way.


**ARC provided via publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Kate Sibson]

Disclaimer: I read this as a judge for SPSFC#3, as part of the Wayward Stars team. However, the following is my own personal review and does not reflection on the team's score.

I love a bit of Space Opera. It's my favourite Sci-fi subgenre, so I was excited to get this in our SPSFC#3 batch. And it is quite operatic in nature, with tons of worldbuilding and a lively plot. The plot is probably the strongest aspect. Here we see various aliens, mysterious mercenaries and tetchy politics. It may well be divisive, as a lot of the plot concerns gender politics and a how various factions react to a genetic third sex in the human population, drawing parallels with the current Trans rights. Some say to keep politics out of fiction but I don't care what anyone says. Sci-fi is 99% politics and is full of warning about not keeping an open mind. If you are on the right of gender politics and have issues with current Trans rights, I suggest you give this a miss. It will have you frothing at the mouth. I thought it was handled well and fitted with the rest of the plot.

As with all good space operas, we are not confined to one planet here. While a large proportion of the action takes place on a space-station, there is more than that. The time spent on the Zereid homeworld was good but I would have liked a bit more detail. It did feel a little confined, as if the story was taking place in 3 rooms, rather than several habitats over millions of miles of space. However, the introduction to several different alien races was good.

The characters themselves gave me a bit more of a problem. I didn't find myself engaging with the main character, Dali, very well. They experience great tragedy and are flung into some desperate situations but I just didn't feel much sympathy for them. It got so bad that at one point, I felt more sorry for the "baddie" than I did for Dali. I still haven't worked out if that was intentional or nor! Some of the other characters were a bit more agreeable but I did think they felt a bit two dimensional, as if each one had one defining feature. It didn't make them terribly written but it could have been better.

All in all, I liked this book but I didn't love it. The plot was strong enough to carry it but the characters did let it down a little. Just to mention, this does get very spicy at points, so if you avoid sex in your reading, you have been warned! A smart, political operatic adventure with some interesting things to say.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://www.bookwormblues.net/2021/08...

A little while ago, I bought Peacemaker by this author. Then, as soon as I bought it, I realized Dalí was out, and I decided to buy that too and read this one first, then move on to Peacemaker. And… long story short, here we are.

Set in a futuristic world, replete with spaceships and planetary travel, Dalí is the kind of book that was seriously gripping from page one. Hamill has a real eye for detail, letting no aspect of her world (universe?) building be overlooked. Somehow she manages all of this, including its complexities, without ever making me feel bogged down by information overload. Naturally flowing into the text, the world comes alive through the brushstrokes she uses to create it with.

Where Hamill truly shines, however, are with the complexities (apparently this is my favorite word in this review) of the people and various other beings that populate this futuristic space. Politics play a big role in this book, and while some of the themes felt a bit heavy-handed, I think they were believable in the context of the world she created. A natural, if uncomfortable, evolution, if you will. And I could also see where some real-world influences could have nudged these events along in the story. Basically, there’s obviously something the author is trying to say, and I think Hamill does it well.

This is also where some readers might be a bit overwhelmed and decide the book isn’t for them. There’s a lot of trans and nonbinary oppression in Dalí, and while the book makes it’s standpoint (fundamentally against all of this) absolutely clear, it is a pretty important plot point. A lot of bad things happen offstage, like rape is alluded to, for example. Slavery. Human trafficking. A whole lot of harmful slurs and the like. Again, the book is absolutely against all of this, but for some people it might be a bit too much, so I feel like you might want to be aware before you jump in with both feet.

I will say, it’s not all bad. There are places in this world where people can go and be accepted, and we do experience some of that in the story. There are people fighting the good fight, and you’ll meet them.

That being said, Dalí, a character reeling from the very personal tragedy of losing their husband, wife, and unborn child in a terrorist attack, is asked to investigate a particularly gnarly case of human trafficking. Dalí is a changeling in this messy universe, which means they are genderfluid and can change whether they present as male or female, including musculature and genitalia. This puts Dalí in a unique position to not only feel the very real impact of terrorism and harmful beliefs on a fundamental level, but also understand the plight of changelings and those of the third gender that are being so ruthlessly acted against.

Dalí was an amazing character, and I thought they were crafted very well. Flawed, and so emotionally raw (which I absolutely love), Dalí gave me a unique insight into the politics that the book otherwise would have lacked. The fact Dalí is a changeling also gave me some interesting insight into themes touching on gender and identity that I really felt carefully dealt with, and incredibly impactful. More, Hamill doesn’t shy away from the darker impacts of loss, which I truly appreciated. I feel like, all too often, loss in books is portrayed and then a chapter or two later the character sort of just moves on, and that wasn’t the case here. Dalí is raw and reeling, and the emotional upheaval from losing their entire family is felt and felt profoundly throughout the book.

Politics plays a huge role in Dalí, and there are plenty of shenanigans as well. The idea of genetic purity is not really a new one, and a few of my favorite books play on this theme. In Dalí, the New Puritan Movement is pushing for genetic purity. Humanity is sliding toward extinction (for reasons that are covered in the book), and changelings like Dalí are becoming more and more plentiful. Mixed in with this are personal and political alliances, human trafficking, blatant oppression, terrorism, and more. Then you drop Dalí, a trained ambassador reeling from the loss of everything they love, into the middle of this chaotic stew, and you have quite a book on your hands.

The plot is pretty breakneck. A lot needs to be covered in 256 pages, so there was no real resting time. And yet, I never really hit that point where I was thinking, “Okay, but how are these people not collapsing from exhaustion?” which I sometimes do when I read books that just don’t slow down. The genius thing here, is while there’s so much going on outside of Dalí, in the wider world, there’s also a lot going on inside of Dalí, and Hamill does an amazing job balancing these two spheres of action. There are quiet moments of reflection, and there is plenty of action as well. The unique balance struck between the two made the book feel like it carried itself well, never really slipping far to one side at the cost of the other.

The characters are all as brilliantly developed as the politics. Hamill puts a lot of care into the characters she presents in her books. Even secondary characters felt fully fleshed out, and the ones I’d categorize as villains felt real as well, with motivations that were understood, if not agreed with. In another way, I’d say her characters and politics balance each other as well as the inside/outside action I mention above. Both the politics and characters are just so brilliantly crafted, with such attention to detail and nuance, they felt real and believable to me. Then, you see how they appear when played against each other, and you realize how truly skilled Hamill is as an author. All of the elements of her story, from setting, to culture, to politics, to strife, trauma, and characters, play off each other perfectly to make this a supremely memorable story.

Dalí is a book I should have read a while ago. Highlighting heavy themes, such as love, family, loss, human rights, Hamill tells an amazing story. I cannot wait for more.

[The Novel Approach · Rating 5 out of 5]

What attracted me to this story was the promise of gender-bending aliens and multifaceted sexualities, with the added bonus of a high-speed plot, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Dalí Tamareia is a third-gender changeling, a neuter species of third-gender humans which can present as masculine or feminine or gender neutral, but I’d say for most of the book Dalí presents as female, which I thought was pretty cool and a great example of feminism in science fiction.

Dalí also has a polygamous relationship with a cis gay man and a cis woman, who is pregnant with their child (all three of them being genetic donors). Their extended family has long been involved in world politics, with both their parents being prominent world leaders. Dalí was an ambassador to Sol Fed and on track to becoming one of the worlds’ great peacemakers, until their entire nuclear family was killed in a terrorist attack.

The story starts with Dalí after the attack, in the middle of hitting rock bottom. They are addicted to illegal drugs, cage fight for thrills, and generally are trying to kill themselves. Being with a third-gender changeling is seen as extremely dirty and deceiving, so when Dalí revenge fucks one of the virginal sons of the president of Sol Fed and the brother to Jon Batterson, one of Dalí’s great rivals, they’re hunted by Batterson and left for dead in a gutter.

When Dalí wakes up from a coma, they have a new lease on life and officially quit as ambassador, looking to get away from politics. However, with the help of their well-intentioned crechemate (blood brother), they quickly find themselves tangled in a terrorist plot which points to Batterson Robotics. Dalí may be the only one who understands the depths Batterson will go to cover up his crimes and is therefore everyone’s last hope to help bring peace to the galaxy, but this time they’re going to do it their way—by breaking a few heads.

Dalí is clearly a physical person, but it was intriguing their crechemate is an empath. I thought that was a good choice for a person who is capable of hiding much of what they are emotionally feeling through stark physicality. Part of me wondered what Dalí offered their friendship in return, but if I had to guess, I’d say Dalí’s crechemate sees the great service Dalí is capable of offering the galaxy and is proud to be a part of that purpose.

Dalí’s violent tendencies and free sexual expression isn’t all fun and games, however. They are also surprisingly romantic and have budding feelings for a woman who is probably going to betray them. When they are deep undercover, they also fall for Lord Rhix, head of the international black market. Dalí’s soft heart is an incredible testimony to their character, but in a lot of ways that made their sexual escapades more sorrowful to me than erotic. I found myself deeply affected by Dalí’s loneliness, which they hide in brash behavior. They seemed sexually carefree, but I felt the weight of their choices.

Along with the drama, this story was packed with action. Dalí is one hell of a fighter, and I loved watching them kick serious ass. There were space battles, hand-to-hand fights, gruesome alien tournaments, and some pretty intensely sexual sparring matches. Despite the violence and thrills, the premise of the story struck me as something more akin to the nature of peace, and how we foster it. Dalí was on track to become a great peace-maker, but throughout the novel they find their place as one of the worlds’ great peace-keepers. In other words, using their physical nature to encourage openness and communication.

I loved the message, the depth of characters and the world-building. This is exactly the type of book I love to read. My only regret is that I felt Dalí’s happy ending was slightly out of reach; call it a happy-for-now ending. Luckily this is a series, and I’ll definitely be picking up the next one.

Reviewed by Ben for The Novel Approach

[Notes From 'Round the Bend · Rating 5 out of 5]

**E.M. Hamill provided an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. What follows is that uninfluenced opinion.**

I had the pleasure and the privilege of reading an ARC of “Dalí” and I have to tell you; it’s one of my favorite sci-fi’s of all time. (And this is coming from someone who read nearly all the Star Wars extended universe novels at least once.) If I didn’t have to adult during normal business hours, I’d have read it in one straight shot it was so good. Dark and uncomfortable in places, heart-wrenching at times, and tense, but so, so good.

Warning: This book deals with some really heavy themes, including gender equality issues, sex trafficking, violence, and profound personal loss.

Dalí Tamareia broke my heart and I found myself crying a couple of times, but there was enough humor and action to balance it out. Dalí was a truly likeable, well-developed character with understandable motivations, relatable pain, and admirable fortitude. I rooted for them the whole time and enjoyed watching them kick ass, take names, and negotiate the hell out of whatever situation they ended up in. (If you aren’t familiar with why I’m using ‘they’ to refer to Dalí, I suggest doing a bit of research. It’s good for you and you’ll learn something. Thank me later.) Dalí definitely grew as a person throughout this journey. The secondary characters were fleshed-out just enough to keep them relevant and to provide a sense of whether we should like them or tell them to go kick rocks. There also weren’t so many that it was hard to keep track of who was who and how they fit, which was nice.

The plot was twisty, turny, and fast paced. There was a lot going on and in multiple layers, which kept the story moving nicely without being overwhelming or confusing. Just when I thought I’d put the pieces together, though, something would happen to make me reassess my assumptions. I’ve always enjoyed unpredictable stories so long as they follow their own rules and don’t ask me to suspend my disbelief too much. “Dalí” did a great job of accomplishing that. And while this wasn’t a romance, there were moments of intimacy and others of pure sex. The act wasn’t graphic, but detailed enough to differentiate whether Dalí was fucking for the release or if it was something softer. And yes, that difference was important when considering Dalí’s current emotional place.

Ok, so now let’s get down to what I’m going to guess will hang up a lot of readers: Dalí being a third-gender changeling. We’ve seen changelings before, but usually they shift from one species to another (think werewolves, fairy babies passing as human, etc.). In this case, there’s a shift between genders. Dalí is a true neutral in their ‘native state’. It’s no longer a subject relegated to the pages of fantasy or sci-fi novels, but a real-world topic worthy of discussion. I know it’s touchy for a lot of people and the pronouns can get uncomfortable, but Ms. Hamill clearly did her research and handled everything with frankness and respect.

Bottom line: Despite the darkness, we’re left with the sense that Dalí will be eventually be okay. There’s certainly unfinished business and I’m eagerly awaiting more of the story, but there’s no real cliff-hanger here. I imagine, however, that most readers will want to know what happens next.

[Dev · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This is maybe more like 3.5 stars but this book managed to take several things that I usually don't care for and turn them into an enjoyable book so I figured the least I could do was round up. I'm not a big sci-fi person in general and I usually hate things set in space, but I figured I would give this one a try because of the queer protagonist. Add in all the different races and planets and interstellar politics and I would normally be getting a headache but this book managed to explain all of that pretty well while still having room for an action packed plot.

THE REST OF THE REVIEW CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS.

I was a bit worried about halfway through because I thought the whole thing was going to get very gross and Stockholm Syndromy, but it actually managed to convey a compelling relationship between Dali and Rhix and I was happy with how it it ended.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relentlessly gripping, this sci-fi spy thriller sucked me in from the very first page.
It does an excellent job in exploring its concept of gender, which lies at the heart of the story.

This turned out to be one of those rarest of rarities: A book I kept putting down after every few chapters, not because I was bored (not in the slightest!), but because I didn't want it to end.
The complexity of plot and characters is outstanding, it's incredibly well written, and this entire universe and its inhabitants really came to life on the page.

Honestly, I could gush about this book all day... but instead I'll just say: Read this. It's awesome. Now 'scuse me while I run off to find the sequel.

*** I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. ***

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book, if a bit laggy at times. Good characters, good sci-fi setting, good premise. My personal level of enjoyment of the story was inhibited by all the injustice, though. These kinds of unfair treatment get me so riled up that the book just ends up stressing me out. It's a good book, I just can't claim to have enjoyed the experience.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.5 stars

There is so much in this book to unpack. I’m going to start with the easy stuff, first. Plot, writing, and world-building. Then we’ll move on to Dali.

The plot of this book is tight. It’s well-paced, well-planned. and there were no extraneous scenes. To be honest, I really liked this book. The writing is good, but the author — like me — has a love of commas. They’re everywhere! As the book gets going there are fewer comma catastrophes, but it can be noticeable when they happen. The world building is good. It’s the small touches that really make the story work; as one planet has a different atmosphere, the ship — while traveling — adjusts gravity and air composition to make it easier on their passengers. There are small bits like that throughout the book that really work for me. Aliens aren’t described in great detail, nor are their cultures, but each one has a distinct personality and image that makes it easy to visualize.

And then there’s Dali. Dali’s gender — as a third-gender — is rather topical for us, at the moment, and Hamill’s vision for this character is rather interesting. Dali tends to express not as neuter, but rather as both. Dali is both male and female until they choose to be more masculine or more feminine. As a third-gender empath, Dali can look at their prospective partner’s emotions and determine which aspect of themself would be most enjoyed and will shift their body to suit.

Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.

[Kaija Rayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

This book. Wow.

Y'all know by now that I am picky AF about reading. I work hard at my craft (both the writing part and the editing part) so when I want to stand on top of a rooftop and jump up and down shouting BUY THIS BOOK!?

You know it really impressed me.

1st. Genderfluid & third gender Main Character(MC). Can I just say I want to be like Dalí and leave it at that? No? Well. I adore how Dalí could just be their neutral self or more male presenting or more female depending on need or desire. It's just fantastic and handled so beautifully that it speaks to me on my deepest non-binary levels. It's so gorgeous. I needed this book and didn't know I needed it until I read it.

2nd. Princess Bride references. Anyone who loves one of my fav movies this much is worth reading. Anything else is inconceivable. I laughed so hard at some of the references. The author made it believable within the story line of a futuristic space opera too.

3rd. Pacing. I think maybe four books have kept me up past my bedtime in 2017. This is number four and ugh, I dropped my tablet on my face so many times I actually lost count. I really am going to break my nose (again) one of these days.

4th. Bisexual Representation!!! On PAGE. And it's not a story of angst or acceptance or of finding oneself. Those are great stories, but Dalí is Bi, already, and it's normal and beautiful and perfect. I adore it.

5th. Worldbuilding and awesome characters. I really loved the different alien races, and bemoaned the fact that I can't draw well enough to capture them all so I can do fan-art. (I really wish I could draw) the world is believably futuristic and could so easily come out of where we are now.

6th. Dalí is mixed-race. I'm mixed race, I've rarely seen it in fiction (I can count on the fingers of one hand things I've read that aren't my own writing with mixed-race characters.) I did kinda cringe at the one use of 'almond-eyed' but it's commonly used and it didn't ruin the experience for me.

Basically, just go buy this book and read it. I loved it so much and I really hope there’s more to come with these characters.

[Sara Codair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free, electronic copy of Dalí from NineStar Press in exchange for an honest review.

I admit, I haven’t read much space opera, if any, since Karen Traviss stopped writing for the Star Wars franchise. I stuck to fantasy, and to science fiction that did not involve space travel because nothing quite compared to the Star Wars universe and the 40+ books I had read in it.

Dalí restored my faith in that particular sub-genre. The world building was exquisite, and done so smoothly that it did not distract from character development and plot. There was just enough description to help me picture the world, but it was concise and didn’t slow the story down. But most importantly, the characters were alive, diverse, fluid, and complex.

I am envious of Dalí’s ability to change gender to suit the their mood or the situation but remain neutral when they are just being themself. I have a soft spot for characters that do not conform to the binary gender, and for characters that bounce back from trauma.

All that I mentioned above combined with the fascinating galaxy and the well woven Princess Bride references made this book a definite five stars.

There is so much more explore with this galaxy and its characters. I really hope this becomes a series!

[S.B. (Beauty in Ruins) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dalí is a deep, complex, multi-faceted bit of edgy science fiction from E.M. Hamill. It is a solid genre read, but it is also (and perhaps more importantly) a very exciting QUILTBAG read, a story that does some fantastic things with gender and sexuality.

The story itself starts out edgy and dark, and goes even deeper. There are themes of human trafficking here, corrupt governments, greedy corporations, and despicable villains.

Dalí themself is a member of the second-class, third-gender changeling who is genderfluid. Their natural state is a neuter gender, but they can shift to become fully male or female, and flow between the three genders. Dalí spends most the book in their female form, which (not surprisingly) appealed to me, but I loved that they had the freedom to be whomever they felt like, whenever they felt like it.

Fortunately, Dalí is more than just a gender novelty, they are a strong enough character to hold such a dark, multifaceted story together. They are a sad character, driven by grief to self-destruction, but with a big heart. The other characters are strong themselves, especially Lord Rhix - who, in any other book, would be the most memorable character. Having them together just elevates the story to a whole other level - emotionally, narratively, and erotically.

Although it is a very dark story, marked by violence and cruelty, there are some lighter moments. For instance, the book is rife with Princess Bride references, with character getting designations like Miracle Max, Buttercup, and Fezzik, and 'Inconceivable' being a favorite code phrase. Why? Well, apparently, one of the alien races are big fans.

Dalí was one of those books I took my time with, lingering over, rather than racing through - and that is precisely how it should be enjoyed.


As reviewed by Sally at Bending the Bookshelf

[Sadie Forsythe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gotta admit, it took a while for me to get into this. The beginning felt a little like I'd been dropped into the middle of something. (I actually double checked this wasn't a sequel to anything.) But once it got rolling, I really enjoyed it. I liked Dali. I liked the side characters. I liked Rhix. I liked the plot. I just basically enjoyed it.

Other than feeling lost in the beginning, my only complaints are that there were a number of convenient coincidences and I really wanted more resolution on the Dali/Rhix front. Those seeking romance might finish this disappointed. I however, am hoping there might be a second book coming at some point.

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A smile grew on his wide mouth, the first real one I’d seen from him. “They think you are a dali.” The syllables held different inflection than my name, but to hear it on his lips startled me nonetheless.
“What?”
“A demon of...” Creases appeared on his forehead. “I do not know your word. In my language, and in the Remoliad tongue, it means repayment of wrongs done to you.”
“A vengeance demon?” Never knew I was so scary. “I’m flattered. I think.”

What an amazingly crafted story! There is so much emotion in this book and I loved every painful minute of it. Hamill writes a fantastic character in Dalí and I cannot stress enough how much I loved reading their journey as they come to terms with their grief and find a new place for themselves in the universe. Dalí's grief is so damn poignant and their emotional progress so genuine that I found myself close to tears multiple times.

“Gor told me he was frightened for you when he first arrived on the space station,” she said. “Your will to live appeared fragile, and you sought an end to pain with reckless behavior. But something changed your path. Tell me.”

“I almost got what I wanted. I nearly died. In the place between living and dying, I saw them. My family.” I closed my eyes briefly. “They seemed to tell me I had work to do. And I discovered others who need my help. But, priestess, I don’t know if the path of zezjna is what I seek. I’m restless. Peacemakers should have a sense of what it is to be at peace. To negotiate in the Remoliad, I need a reason to believe in the future of the human race. I no longer have the optimism or faith my species will do what is right. Gor is correct to be concerned. I’m lost.”

“You must find what still anchors you to life. Your crechemate always followed the path of priesthood, but that is only one road. Zezjna also allows for the protection of peace by whatever skills you are given. This is a parallel journey. Think on this as you stay with us. Teach the younglings, find your balance, and begin anew. Allow yourself to be what you are now without shame. Accept the anger and doubt and sadness for what it is. You may find yourself back where you started, but if not, you will find a new starting point. What is meant to happen will happen. Peacemaker—or peacekeeper.”

There's no romance is this story and that really makes it all the better. The story is engaging enough without added romance. Plus, with where Dalí is emotionally it wouldn't really fit to have a love interest. That being said, I did really like their relationships with Sumner and Rhix which held the possibility of close friendship. I felt just as bad/guilty as Dalí in the end after they betrayed Rhix...despite being a moral-less pirate I really enjoyed his character.

The fact that there are multiple Princess Bride references in this book constantly brought a smile to my face. Inconceivable!

While this was a fun, emotional story, it also featured important real-life issues such as sex trafficking and gender equality issues, specifically those who are third-gender and genderfluid. Despite this being a fictional scifi story, at its heart it brings to light some of the conflicts that real people in our world have to deal with every day. Hamill does a phenomenal job at creating genuine and relatable characters/conflicts which make this book so damn engaging and emotional.

I appreciated the slightly open ending with the implication that Dalí will continue to find their way and live their life. Not everything was tied up in a neat little bow and it left me feeling a bit hopeful for the characters' futures.

4.5 Stars

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[justanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the fact that this is a sci-fi story ( which is not my usual fare), I was curious about this story and honestly couldn’t wait to read it.
I was drawn into Dali's world the minute I started reading. The characters, the exquisitely detailed world building the political and social issues that cleverly mirror our real-life struggles had me hungrily devouring this story, dying to learn more about this enigmatic MC who is essentially gender neutral. Dali is one of the most interesting, unique and unforgettable main character I have ever encountered. Try wrapping your head around picturing an MC who’s external presentation of gender is neutral, triggered by mood or dictated according to what Dali’s sexual partner desires. It is because of this why I refer to Dali in my mind as they.

As if Dali wasn’t intriguing enough, there’s that element of where book narrative mimics today’s political clime. The denial that people are born this way, that their external physicality may not necessarily be indicative of their gender or sexual attraction is constantly addressed in every situation involving Dali. One of the most uncomfortable scenes to read involved people trying their hardest to push forth politically sanctioned genocide of third gender citizens because of their personal bias, ignorance and religious beliefs. Dali’s “lifestyle” ( married to both a man and a woman before their lives forever changed) and sexual conquests fanned the flames of zealots determined to see the third gender politically oppressed, preferably exterminated.

This story is NOT for the faint of heart. Dali deals with heavy hitting issues that some readers may wish to be aware of. Dali experiences hate, loss, sex trafficking and betrayal. The world is dark, Dali’s personal existence is dark but there's enough action, plot twists and turns present to lighten the "heavy". Another wonderful thing about Dali, is that despite the darkness, this story inspires readers (specifically cis readers), to challenge their fixed understanding of sexual attraction and gender identity. The one complaint I have about Dali is the abrupt ending. I was absolutely gobsmacked that there were so many unresolved issues regarding Dali’s personal life and future happiness left up in the air. The one good thing about leaving Dali’s personal life in limbo is that we can look forward to future stories featuring our favorite polyamorous gender fluid being. I cannot wait to read more :)

[L.M. Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

** I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review **

I don’t like to oversell a book’s experience, I rarely do, but I loved loved LOVED Dali. I will refrain from spoilers, but try to give an overview of the many elements I’m absolutely smitten with.
The beginning jumps right in and initially I was geared up to dislike Dali, the main character, because of an opening fight scene that comes across as macho posturing and your usual heckling bar fight. This initial annoyance quickly dissipates as it is immediately established that Dali is far more complex than that. I love complex characters and Dali fits the bill perfectly. Flawed and sexy, Dali is grappling with some mega shit in the world—the horrific murder of husband, wife, and child (did I mention there’s plural marriage and changeling gender in this book?) leaves Dali with a well of grief impossible to wipe away. Add to that the political upheaval and violence being levied against changelings like Dali and you’ve got a hell of a story.

A lot happens in the first few chapters and the pace is fast and immersive, leaving little room for navel-gazing. Hamill manages to accomplish this while still fleshing out the characters and making us fall in love with them (the supporting cast is AMAZING) as well as clearly painting the villains for us to despise.

As a writer, there were many moments where I got the delightful “I love how Hamill wrote this part” warm buzz—the writing is excellent. The descriptions are beautiful, fluid, and the sex scenes took my breath away. The book opens with two steamy scenes in very quick sequence, but they’re not smutty by any stretch, which could be a plus or negative depending on your taste. They fit my personal bill perfectly and the changeling gender aspect tickled all my regions in just the right way.

There ARE some parts where things resolve a little too “tidy” and character interactions I found unrealistically smooth/“ok, I’m over it” kind of thing, but mostly minor. There are also a lot of earthly references, and though I LOVE Princess Bride references, some of the very specific fairy tale references pulled me out of the story a bit. Otherwise, the world building is top-notch, with attention paid to food, customs, and the different species which populate the novel. All of this is achieved without slowing down the pace and I never felt adrift or uncertain of the book’s progression.

Just read it. Seriously. An epic space adventure that hits the nail on the head and revived my interest in a genre I had grown tired of.

[Tex Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 out of 5 - Well Built Hi-Si-Fi Action & Social Statements

Ah, just what I like in my SF: some alien races, some basic tech, some galactic tension, some action, and some social messages.

E.M Hamill has built quite the world here and imbued it with an engaging story. Talk about genderfluid, with emphasis on the latter: a "third-gender" (intersex) human changling literally being able to transition anatomically according to one's mood. In that respect it reminded me of The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin, a groundbreaking classic amazingly from over 50 years ago. It's been a while since I read that, but it was one if not the first, as well as one of my first, readings of genderfluid characters in SF or any genre. It was brilliant, and this book stood up to that high standard admirably.

To be honest, this did not go as deep as Left Hand, but instead had more action adventure (which made it faster paced). Although there were moments that were inconsistent or not quite believable in the action and characters, it still had some good layers of plotting with political intrigue, undercover work, and ... can't quite say romance in this one, but definitely m/m attraction and sex.

One reason why I like this kind of SF is the stage that it can present to explore issues. I call it Hi-Si-Fi, to describe the "soft" science of SF (like sociology) versus the "hard" science (like technology). In fact, it's scary reading this at this time, with, in this, the third-gender's enslavement and fight for rights, reflective of our current times with the current president, the emboldened racist and homophobic intolerances, and just this last month, the killing of George Floyd. It confirms why I like SF - it can mirror in the future what is going on now, and shine a bright spotlight on it to make a statement.

[Jord MiddleofNowhere]

Read as part of SPSFC 3

[Munch · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5