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Aftermath
Victor and Cody have the American dream - a house, two cars, upwardly mobile income, and each other - but all is not well in paradise. Cody's naïve belief in other people's goodwill led to one recent assault from which he struggles to recover. Returning to his art, he seems to find his balance, only to be betrayed by a friend and brutally assaulted again.
Victor, wracked by guilt and shackled to a grueling, time-devouring career, must find a way to help Cody back from the darkness and to keep him safe from his self-destructive behavior. With the help of a common-sense therapist, some loyal friends and Cody's own impetuous nature, their recovery and their relationship have a chance. If the criminals who attacked Cody would leave him alone, that is.
Victor, wracked by guilt and shackled to a grueling, time-devouring career, must find a way to help Cody back from the darkness and to keep him safe from his self-destructive behavior. With the help of a common-sense therapist, some loyal friends and Cody's own impetuous nature, their recovery and their relationship have a chance. If the criminals who attacked Cody would leave him alone, that is.
120 pages, ebook
First published March 1, 2007
154 people want to read
About the author
Angel Martinez
96 books682 followersAngel Martinez currently lives part time in the hectic sprawl of northern Delaware and full time inside her head. She has one husband, one son, two cats, a love of all things beautiful and a terrible addiction to the consumption of both knowledge and chocolate.
Angel's alter ego writes the all-ages science fiction - Sandra Stixrude.
Angel's alter ego writes the all-ages science fiction - Sandra Stixrude.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 2, 2015
I've noticed that some people shelved this on their BDSM shelves and I would hate for anyone to be turned off to this book because of that. This is not a BDSM story. It's a story about betrayal, redemption, forgiveness and healing after a brutal attack. It's about how life changing events affect both the person who experienced it and the people who are there to help pick up the pieces afterwards.
January 10, 2010
I'll admit I was beyond pissed and wanted to toss my lunch when the story started out and I hit the scene of the attack, then really frustrated for Vic and what he had to deal with with Cody after the attack occurred, but a clear eye shows that although Cody became the victim in this and by his own so-called friend who was behind both attacks Victor was also the victim. Jonathan gets what he deserves in the end but would it be wrong to say I felt sorry for him? I guess that's a matter of opinion to the reader.
This story was real deep for me, but well written even though I would have liked it stretched out a little more. Only in fiction writes do I see that true love can overcome any obstacles. My opinion plain and simple and to the point.
Thank you Angel for this story and look forward to reading more of your stories.
This story was real deep for me, but well written even though I would have liked it stretched out a little more. Only in fiction writes do I see that true love can overcome any obstacles. My opinion plain and simple and to the point.
Thank you Angel for this story and look forward to reading more of your stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2010
Aftermath deals with the emotional, physical, and mental problems that come after being attacked. This is not an easy book to read although the story keeps the material somewhat light and the emotional impact muted so it shouldn’t be too disturbing. Instead the book focuses on the strength of love and coming through an ordeal changed and potentially stronger. The cover art refers to the opening scene in a clever way but also to the emotional chains that both men inherit due to the attack. Unfortunately the book tackles too many issues in a very short amount of space and turns what could have been a truly piece of work into a decent story worth telling.
Victor and Cody are an established couple living together. Victor works long hours in a very hectic desk job while Cody is an artist. The two love each other very much but clash due to Victor’s long hours and Cody’s restlessness. This leads to trouble when Cody is attacked and raped. The two men must deal with the harrowing ramifications of that while discovering new facets of their relationship. Each man must decide if they are happy and want to stay together or what changes must happen.
The book begins with a light BDSM scene between main characters Victor and Cody. This establishes a casual D/s relationship between the two men but shows underlying issues. There are references to an earlier rape Cody has suffered from trusting the wrong friends and Victor has responded by being more controlling in an attempt to keep Cody safe. This causes conflict between the two men as Cody wants to feel like he can go out without disappointing the ever busy, workaholic Victor. So right away in the first scene, there are a lot of factors that come into play that are never fully explored. The D/s element of their relationship is very casual and relates mostly to sex yet Victor often carries this responsibility and dynamic further. This is a confusing and ill described aspect since Cody doesn’t seem to respond to that control unless sexually, thus making Victor’s use of such outside of sex confusing and contradictory. Furthermore this element is questionable and doesn’t actually work well in the story, making me wonder why it was included.
There are several aspects of the story – such as the D/s component – that feel thrown in and confuse the already emotionally heavy plot. From that opening scene there is another attack that Cody must suffer, though all the action is off page. This helps keep the impact muted and distant but ultimately the story itself lacks a deep emotional connection that makes the subject matter and their journey memorable. The second attack on Cody is avoidable and the warning signs are clear to all but Cody’s naïve nature allows this to happen. The fact that the man seems little affected by his first assault and allows himself to get into the same position twice is surprising and confusing. His emotional response after the second attack is so intense that it’s hard to understand how he got into that position again.
Yet if all of these issues can be forgiven, the strength of Victor and Cody’s relationship does shine. Their journey is not easy as the men individually and together must go to therapy and explore their reactions to the assault. Both men must refocus on the future and what’s important to them and Victor especially must prioritize his life. The addition of therapy is a wonderful move and showed how helpful this can be to the process. The story strays away from stereotypes in that simply love and support can heal a wounded person and the various ways the two men recover is a great addition. The ending is satisfying but felt too pat and unbelievable, especially with the dramatic action bit. This is another example of more plot points thrown in – almost randomly – without given the time and space to fully explore them. The ending is too pat and predictable, showing some surprising ignorant mistakes. For example I doubt Victor would have left Cody alone on the street after everything that happened, yet it makes for a tidy finish.
Overall this is a good story about a difficult subject. The shorter length keeps the telling somewhat light and emotionally distant from the intense emotion the characters are feeling. The contradictory elements further disconnect the reader from developing a solid connection to the characters and action, leaving the story without the impact it could have had. The writing is decent with a good outline of a plot but could have used some tight editing and a real focus on the two men, their relationship, and how it changes due to the attack. The various side elements are unimportant and distracting from the strength of the relationship and the story itself. As a fan of the author’s, this one is not one I’d read again but I still recommend it for the engaging characters and their relationship. You just might feel cheated by the length, like I am.
Victor and Cody are an established couple living together. Victor works long hours in a very hectic desk job while Cody is an artist. The two love each other very much but clash due to Victor’s long hours and Cody’s restlessness. This leads to trouble when Cody is attacked and raped. The two men must deal with the harrowing ramifications of that while discovering new facets of their relationship. Each man must decide if they are happy and want to stay together or what changes must happen.
The book begins with a light BDSM scene between main characters Victor and Cody. This establishes a casual D/s relationship between the two men but shows underlying issues. There are references to an earlier rape Cody has suffered from trusting the wrong friends and Victor has responded by being more controlling in an attempt to keep Cody safe. This causes conflict between the two men as Cody wants to feel like he can go out without disappointing the ever busy, workaholic Victor. So right away in the first scene, there are a lot of factors that come into play that are never fully explored. The D/s element of their relationship is very casual and relates mostly to sex yet Victor often carries this responsibility and dynamic further. This is a confusing and ill described aspect since Cody doesn’t seem to respond to that control unless sexually, thus making Victor’s use of such outside of sex confusing and contradictory. Furthermore this element is questionable and doesn’t actually work well in the story, making me wonder why it was included.
There are several aspects of the story – such as the D/s component – that feel thrown in and confuse the already emotionally heavy plot. From that opening scene there is another attack that Cody must suffer, though all the action is off page. This helps keep the impact muted and distant but ultimately the story itself lacks a deep emotional connection that makes the subject matter and their journey memorable. The second attack on Cody is avoidable and the warning signs are clear to all but Cody’s naïve nature allows this to happen. The fact that the man seems little affected by his first assault and allows himself to get into the same position twice is surprising and confusing. His emotional response after the second attack is so intense that it’s hard to understand how he got into that position again.
Yet if all of these issues can be forgiven, the strength of Victor and Cody’s relationship does shine. Their journey is not easy as the men individually and together must go to therapy and explore their reactions to the assault. Both men must refocus on the future and what’s important to them and Victor especially must prioritize his life. The addition of therapy is a wonderful move and showed how helpful this can be to the process. The story strays away from stereotypes in that simply love and support can heal a wounded person and the various ways the two men recover is a great addition. The ending is satisfying but felt too pat and unbelievable, especially with the dramatic action bit. This is another example of more plot points thrown in – almost randomly – without given the time and space to fully explore them. The ending is too pat and predictable, showing some surprising ignorant mistakes. For example I doubt Victor would have left Cody alone on the street after everything that happened, yet it makes for a tidy finish.
Overall this is a good story about a difficult subject. The shorter length keeps the telling somewhat light and emotionally distant from the intense emotion the characters are feeling. The contradictory elements further disconnect the reader from developing a solid connection to the characters and action, leaving the story without the impact it could have had. The writing is decent with a good outline of a plot but could have used some tight editing and a real focus on the two men, their relationship, and how it changes due to the attack. The various side elements are unimportant and distracting from the strength of the relationship and the story itself. As a fan of the author’s, this one is not one I’d read again but I still recommend it for the engaging characters and their relationship. You just might feel cheated by the length, like I am.
March 10, 2012
I'm not going to go into the story because that's been dealt with in the other reviews. I want to concentrate on the telling of the story. As a writer myself I look for more than just a good story, I look for a good storyteller and I found that here. The characters are very real and very believable and the pace matches the story... choppy and fast paced in high tension scenes, slower and more flowing where it's soft or tender or just plain relief of tension for a while.
Vic comes across as a bit of an insensitive bully at the beginning, but not for long. It's very obvious that the couple are in love and that Vic cares very deeply about his sweet, naive little artist. I adored Cody from the very start and that's a mark of a great writer, making her readers invest in the characters and actually care when they're hurt.
As soon as Jonathan appeared on the scene you knew there was going to be trouble but, the build up was subtle and focussed on Cody's sweetness, so that when it hit it was a real gut wrencher.
Not only is the characterisation excellent but the dialogue between all the characters is very natural, as required in a character led tale, and the little scenes that are slotted in that are strictly unecessary but colour the whole thing with humour and lightness are precious... Cody dancing, wedged under the bed...
The pacing of the story was just right. Fast and slow, tension and release. We get to breathe between gasps and even smile even in the middle of all the tension and angst as Cody comes apart and is put back together again.
The bit part characters are just as realistically drawn, with little touches that make them real and important.
In short... it was a fast paced, descent into darkness and climb back to the light. It was sweet, chilling, frustrating, illuminating, humourous... oh all kings of good things and I really really like it.
Vic comes across as a bit of an insensitive bully at the beginning, but not for long. It's very obvious that the couple are in love and that Vic cares very deeply about his sweet, naive little artist. I adored Cody from the very start and that's a mark of a great writer, making her readers invest in the characters and actually care when they're hurt.
As soon as Jonathan appeared on the scene you knew there was going to be trouble but, the build up was subtle and focussed on Cody's sweetness, so that when it hit it was a real gut wrencher.
Not only is the characterisation excellent but the dialogue between all the characters is very natural, as required in a character led tale, and the little scenes that are slotted in that are strictly unecessary but colour the whole thing with humour and lightness are precious... Cody dancing, wedged under the bed...
The pacing of the story was just right. Fast and slow, tension and release. We get to breathe between gasps and even smile even in the middle of all the tension and angst as Cody comes apart and is put back together again.
The bit part characters are just as realistically drawn, with little touches that make them real and important.
In short... it was a fast paced, descent into darkness and climb back to the light. It was sweet, chilling, frustrating, illuminating, humourous... oh all kings of good things and I really really like it.
February 29, 2012
Reviewed on Hearts On Fire... http://heartsonfirereviews.com/
This is a powerful story that deals with betrayal and recovery from rape. There are no actual rape scenes so don't let the subject matter put you off. Victor is a big, burly construction worker turned desk jockey. He feels the need to be the bread winner, protector and dominant of his long term partner, Cody. The pressure of Victor's career is beginning to hurt their relationship. Cody is an artist who tends to be submissive, impulsive and a little self-destructive. Cody had been drugged and raped once before but seems to have dealt with it. Victor comes home tired from work so Cody goes out to a dance club with two friends. He meets his ex, Jonathan, who he is still friends with at the club. Jonathan is deeply in debt and actually sells Cody to the guy he owes money to as part of a pay back deal. Coby is brutally raped and tortured while Jonathan sits on the sofa waiting to take Coby home. Victor takes Coby to the hospital and through intensive therapy, self defense classes and time, the two men crawl back to normalcy. I enjoyed the emotions that Ms Martinez was able to wring out of Coby, Victor and Jonathan. The relationship and love between Vic and Cody was very well drawn. Jonathan had no redeeming qualities in my opinion and so was also a well written character. The only hard time that I had with the story was that is felt very rushed and much had to be inferred. It would have been much better if Ms Martinez spent more time with the therapist, the self defense class and Coby's and Victor's healing. The ending of the story was terrific and a bit of a surprise. I'd recommend this book to someone that enjoys an emotional story with a HEA.
This is a powerful story that deals with betrayal and recovery from rape. There are no actual rape scenes so don't let the subject matter put you off. Victor is a big, burly construction worker turned desk jockey. He feels the need to be the bread winner, protector and dominant of his long term partner, Cody. The pressure of Victor's career is beginning to hurt their relationship. Cody is an artist who tends to be submissive, impulsive and a little self-destructive. Cody had been drugged and raped once before but seems to have dealt with it. Victor comes home tired from work so Cody goes out to a dance club with two friends. He meets his ex, Jonathan, who he is still friends with at the club. Jonathan is deeply in debt and actually sells Cody to the guy he owes money to as part of a pay back deal. Coby is brutally raped and tortured while Jonathan sits on the sofa waiting to take Coby home. Victor takes Coby to the hospital and through intensive therapy, self defense classes and time, the two men crawl back to normalcy. I enjoyed the emotions that Ms Martinez was able to wring out of Coby, Victor and Jonathan. The relationship and love between Vic and Cody was very well drawn. Jonathan had no redeeming qualities in my opinion and so was also a well written character. The only hard time that I had with the story was that is felt very rushed and much had to be inferred. It would have been much better if Ms Martinez spent more time with the therapist, the self defense class and Coby's and Victor's healing. The ending of the story was terrific and a bit of a surprise. I'd recommend this book to someone that enjoys an emotional story with a HEA.
October 17, 2011
Aftermath deals with what happens after rape, emotionally and physically.
Vic and Cody have been a couple for years -- it's always nice to have a story with established couple. The couple is not perfect. Cody is an artist -- he's outgoing, impulsive, and sometimes I think he can be destructive for himself, especially by letting his bastard of an ex using him. While Vic is a tender bear, but since he always puts himself as a protector, he thinks that he needs to take charge of everything, including being the bread winner. Vic's long hours makes Cody restless. Then, comes the rape ... and what follows after is the path of "being okay".
The story is very engaging ... I know that since it's a novella, so at times it might feel like the process is quick. BUT, I think it covers a lot of issues pretty well. There's anger and frustration, there's meeting with a shrink, there's communication about what both expect from each other, what they truly feel. There's one tender moment when Vic soothes Cody after the rape, at the hospital, that just squeezes my heart.
Vic and Cody have been a couple for years -- it's always nice to have a story with established couple. The couple is not perfect. Cody is an artist -- he's outgoing, impulsive, and sometimes I think he can be destructive for himself, especially by letting his bastard of an ex using him. While Vic is a tender bear, but since he always puts himself as a protector, he thinks that he needs to take charge of everything, including being the bread winner. Vic's long hours makes Cody restless. Then, comes the rape ... and what follows after is the path of "being okay".
The story is very engaging ... I know that since it's a novella, so at times it might feel like the process is quick. BUT, I think it covers a lot of issues pretty well. There's anger and frustration, there's meeting with a shrink, there's communication about what both expect from each other, what they truly feel. There's one tender moment when Vic soothes Cody after the rape, at the hospital, that just squeezes my heart.
August 30, 2014
Vicki gave this book 5 stars.
Oh wow….
I offered to review this book on a whim, in a Facebook conversation, knowing nothing about the book other than that it was written by Angel Martinez, and that it had been published previously under the title Aftermath. I didn’t even read the description, I just knew it was contemporary, not sci-fi or fantasy like Angel usually writes, but it was written by Angel and that was enough for me. She did warn me in the same facebook conversation that it was about the aftermath a couple deals with after one of the partners has been raped. While this is not a topic I am happy reading about, to say the least, I decided I’m a big girl and can handle it. And I did. But damn…. It was hard to read. What a beautiful, emotional story.
This is not a romance story. This is a survival story. Cody and Vic have been in a relationship for some time. They each have very strong personalities, Vic is the strong nurturer, supporting them, working hard, providing a home, and caring for Cody in the bedroom and out. Cody is the wild child, the artist, the party boy, he loves dancing in clubs, and needs a bit of dominance in his loving. They both give and take exactly what they need from this relationship. But Vic is working a job that may not be what he should be doing, working hard and late, and leaving Cody alone too much. Cody makes some bad decisions, trusts the wrong people and is hurt badly. It is all Vic can do to get them past this.
It is not Cody’s fault at all, but I really wanted to lock him in a damn room! As an outsider watching this drama all unfold, we can see what is happening and what is coming and I so wanted to help, to fix it, to stop it. Angel has written these characters so well, I was totally invested in them. We do just jump in to this story, it’s fairly short, just 100 pages, and there isn’t background story at first. Some comes through flashbacks, which I loved, and the perspective jumps between Cody and Vic so we see in their heads, and can see the damage and the healing as it happens. It’s rough to read, we do see the drama and the trauma for both of them, not just the victim himself. Cody is afraid, mistrusting himself and Vic, and is very angry. Vic is hurt as well, not trusting he can protect Cody from the outside world or himself, and also angry. At the men who hurt him, at Cody, and at himself. But there is healing, and rebuilding of trust between them, everything I needed to see. I did need to stop at one point and confirm with Angel that this didn’t have a bad ending. I assumed it was ok, but I felt I needed some reassurance. So I will give a big spoiler here and say this does end well. It may not be strictly a romance novel, but Angel does follow the norm and ends this well.
As a reader of romance novels, both opposite sex (not many any more!), and same sex couples, I am used to having my stories be pretty. I can handle angst, drama, action, death, as long as I know it has a happy ending. I don’t like to read about rape or abuse in books, I don’t choose books that have non-con or humiliation in them. It’s painful and pulls me out of my romance happy place. But I think we need to see the ugly that comes with the pretty. I need to read books with rape and domestic abuse to remind myself it happens. Even in my happy place it happens. I do live a sheltered life, I’ve never been hurt physically, and I need to know that people do get hurt. Not only by strangers as happens in this book, but by the people they love and trust as well. We can’t forget that this happens. To men as well as women.
It feels odd to say I loved this story, given how much of a part rape plays in it, but I loved the writing. Aside from the drama and what happens to Cody, and Vic as well, it was a very good book. I like them as characters. I like them as a couple. I wish I had met them under happier circumstances. This book is not all about the aftermath of the rape of Cody, it’s also about the restoration of him. Also of them. It certainly has drama, but it also has a bit of humor, a bit of bondage, some good sex scenes, and is a great example that healing and recovery are very possible. It’s a powerful story, well worth reading. As usual Angel writes an amazing story, I’d read more contemporary stories from her!
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
Oh wow….
I offered to review this book on a whim, in a Facebook conversation, knowing nothing about the book other than that it was written by Angel Martinez, and that it had been published previously under the title Aftermath. I didn’t even read the description, I just knew it was contemporary, not sci-fi or fantasy like Angel usually writes, but it was written by Angel and that was enough for me. She did warn me in the same facebook conversation that it was about the aftermath a couple deals with after one of the partners has been raped. While this is not a topic I am happy reading about, to say the least, I decided I’m a big girl and can handle it. And I did. But damn…. It was hard to read. What a beautiful, emotional story.
This is not a romance story. This is a survival story. Cody and Vic have been in a relationship for some time. They each have very strong personalities, Vic is the strong nurturer, supporting them, working hard, providing a home, and caring for Cody in the bedroom and out. Cody is the wild child, the artist, the party boy, he loves dancing in clubs, and needs a bit of dominance in his loving. They both give and take exactly what they need from this relationship. But Vic is working a job that may not be what he should be doing, working hard and late, and leaving Cody alone too much. Cody makes some bad decisions, trusts the wrong people and is hurt badly. It is all Vic can do to get them past this.
It is not Cody’s fault at all, but I really wanted to lock him in a damn room! As an outsider watching this drama all unfold, we can see what is happening and what is coming and I so wanted to help, to fix it, to stop it. Angel has written these characters so well, I was totally invested in them. We do just jump in to this story, it’s fairly short, just 100 pages, and there isn’t background story at first. Some comes through flashbacks, which I loved, and the perspective jumps between Cody and Vic so we see in their heads, and can see the damage and the healing as it happens. It’s rough to read, we do see the drama and the trauma for both of them, not just the victim himself. Cody is afraid, mistrusting himself and Vic, and is very angry. Vic is hurt as well, not trusting he can protect Cody from the outside world or himself, and also angry. At the men who hurt him, at Cody, and at himself. But there is healing, and rebuilding of trust between them, everything I needed to see. I did need to stop at one point and confirm with Angel that this didn’t have a bad ending. I assumed it was ok, but I felt I needed some reassurance. So I will give a big spoiler here and say this does end well. It may not be strictly a romance novel, but Angel does follow the norm and ends this well.
As a reader of romance novels, both opposite sex (not many any more!), and same sex couples, I am used to having my stories be pretty. I can handle angst, drama, action, death, as long as I know it has a happy ending. I don’t like to read about rape or abuse in books, I don’t choose books that have non-con or humiliation in them. It’s painful and pulls me out of my romance happy place. But I think we need to see the ugly that comes with the pretty. I need to read books with rape and domestic abuse to remind myself it happens. Even in my happy place it happens. I do live a sheltered life, I’ve never been hurt physically, and I need to know that people do get hurt. Not only by strangers as happens in this book, but by the people they love and trust as well. We can’t forget that this happens. To men as well as women.
It feels odd to say I loved this story, given how much of a part rape plays in it, but I loved the writing. Aside from the drama and what happens to Cody, and Vic as well, it was a very good book. I like them as characters. I like them as a couple. I wish I had met them under happier circumstances. This book is not all about the aftermath of the rape of Cody, it’s also about the restoration of him. Also of them. It certainly has drama, but it also has a bit of humor, a bit of bondage, some good sex scenes, and is a great example that healing and recovery are very possible. It’s a powerful story, well worth reading. As usual Angel writes an amazing story, I’d read more contemporary stories from her!
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
March 12, 2013
Great, powerful story and I think it deals with the aftermath of such a horrible thing very realistically. Both Vic and Cody are really complex and very sympathetic characters. But the thing with Jonathan kind of threw me off, I mean he basically lead his friend/ex-lover Cody in the hands of rapists to pay off his own debt. And later on Cody forgives him quite easily, tells him he still loves him, like it's not a big deal? Other than that a fantastic story!
April 19, 2011
3.5 stars. Good m/m romance about a long-term couple who struggle to recover after one of them is betrayed by a friend and assaulted. I did have a bit of a niggle about the couple not using condoms after such an assault...
September 3, 2019
I could easily have done without the part where we have to listen to rape from the perspective of the friend who set it up in the first place. And the weird sudo revenge on that friend at the end seemed an unnecessary bit to tack on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2016
Firstly, I'd slap this book with a trigger warning. Even though the major rape scene is not explicitly described, it still makes very uncomfortable reading from a third party point of view. Exercise your own judgement before reading, especially if you have trauma in your past. It recalled some very uncomfortable memories for me.
Secondly, I've shelved this on my bdsm shelf because there are elements of a D/s relationship between Cody and Victor, though it must be emphasised that this is not a major theme of the story.
With that out of the way...
Cody and Victor are a long-term couple, though they are struggling to pick up the pieces after Cody was assaulted. Then, Cody is sold by his ex, Jonathan, to cover his debts. After this second, brutal rape, Cody and Victor have to pick up the pieces and deal with the aftermath.
This story was very short - I read it on the train on the way back to Warragul from Melbourne. However, unlike some stories where it can feel lacking, this story felt just right. Any further length would have felt unnecessary.
Despite the uncomfortable themes, at its heart, Aftermath was a sweet, romantic story. Erotica does not often deal with already established couples, so I loved that side of it. It was a very character-driven story and, even with its shortness, Angel Martinez managed to fit in a lot of extra scenes building a bigger picture of the characters and their lives.
It might have made very uncomfortable reading, but I liked the way the rape scene was described from Jonathan's point of view. Just having the sounds described was actually much more effective than if it had been described explicitly from Cody's point of view. It made my chest tight and my hands shake, and I suddenly regretted very much reading it in public on the train. Angel Martinez handled such a difficult scene very well, and I admire her so much more than I already did for that.
I really enjoyed Victor and Cody's relationship. As I said earlier, it has some elements of D/s, but it does not completely describe it. Victor, despite his gruff ways, really cares for Cody and is very protective of him. They're such a good couple, especially after they've worked their way through all of their problems.
There are very strong characters in Aftermath. Each of the characters is three-dimensional and well-developed, with flaws and multi-faceted personalities. One of the most interesting characters was Jonathan. Despite the evil he helped come to pass, I couldn't hate him entirely, which, I think, is a testament to Angel Martinez's skill.
One of the best things about this book was the process of healing Cody and Victor went through. It wasn't easy, not at all. It was a realistic look at the aftermath of rape, and it showed that it was not just Cody that needed to heal, but Victor as well. They needed to heal as a couple, and as individuals. I felt that this realistic healing process reflected some of my own experiences, and for this reason, the book was very powerful. It is not one of these books that glamourises rape or dramatises it; it's very real, both to the characters and the reader.
All in all, though this was a very difficult book for me to read, I can't give it anything less than five stars. It was such a strong, powerful story, and has resonated with me ever since. I actually got a bit teary-eyes writing this review, almost a month on!
Highly recommended, but keep the trigger warning in mind.
Secondly, I've shelved this on my bdsm shelf because there are elements of a D/s relationship between Cody and Victor, though it must be emphasised that this is not a major theme of the story.
With that out of the way...
Cody and Victor are a long-term couple, though they are struggling to pick up the pieces after Cody was assaulted. Then, Cody is sold by his ex, Jonathan, to cover his debts. After this second, brutal rape, Cody and Victor have to pick up the pieces and deal with the aftermath.
This story was very short - I read it on the train on the way back to Warragul from Melbourne. However, unlike some stories where it can feel lacking, this story felt just right. Any further length would have felt unnecessary.
Despite the uncomfortable themes, at its heart, Aftermath was a sweet, romantic story. Erotica does not often deal with already established couples, so I loved that side of it. It was a very character-driven story and, even with its shortness, Angel Martinez managed to fit in a lot of extra scenes building a bigger picture of the characters and their lives.
It might have made very uncomfortable reading, but I liked the way the rape scene was described from Jonathan's point of view. Just having the sounds described was actually much more effective than if it had been described explicitly from Cody's point of view. It made my chest tight and my hands shake, and I suddenly regretted very much reading it in public on the train. Angel Martinez handled such a difficult scene very well, and I admire her so much more than I already did for that.
I really enjoyed Victor and Cody's relationship. As I said earlier, it has some elements of D/s, but it does not completely describe it. Victor, despite his gruff ways, really cares for Cody and is very protective of him. They're such a good couple, especially after they've worked their way through all of their problems.
There are very strong characters in Aftermath. Each of the characters is three-dimensional and well-developed, with flaws and multi-faceted personalities. One of the most interesting characters was Jonathan. Despite the evil he helped come to pass, I couldn't hate him entirely, which, I think, is a testament to Angel Martinez's skill.
One of the best things about this book was the process of healing Cody and Victor went through. It wasn't easy, not at all. It was a realistic look at the aftermath of rape, and it showed that it was not just Cody that needed to heal, but Victor as well. They needed to heal as a couple, and as individuals. I felt that this realistic healing process reflected some of my own experiences, and for this reason, the book was very powerful. It is not one of these books that glamourises rape or dramatises it; it's very real, both to the characters and the reader.
All in all, though this was a very difficult book for me to read, I can't give it anything less than five stars. It was such a strong, powerful story, and has resonated with me ever since. I actually got a bit teary-eyes writing this review, almost a month on!
Highly recommended, but keep the trigger warning in mind.
June 15, 2013
Aftermath by Angel Martinez is a story about what happens to Cody Fitzroy and Victor "Vic" Szoldo after Cody is drugged, raped, and severely beaten. Both men find their lives completely blown apart, and struggle to pull the shattered fragments back into something approaching normal. Each man struggles with the guilt, emotional and physical pain, the "should have, could have, would have" complex, the nightmares, and the other terrible obstacles left in the aftermath.
Angel Martinez has written a stark, heartbreaking story about what happens to a happy couple when one of them is drugged, raped, and badly beaten. The no-holds-barred look into the physical, mental, and emotional upheaval for both men and the long drawn out recovery process makes this a gripping and enthralling character driven tale, and the process brings out both the best and the worst in them both. As they start to heal, Cody and Vic realize that it will take both of them to overcome the past, and build a better future. Told in a combination of chronological order with flashbacks, this heartbreaking, yet hopeful book does have a HEA ending, and the way it grips you at the first page and doesn't let go until long after the last page is done makes this a book that I would recommend to everyone.
Trish's 4 sweet pea review appears at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index.... on June 15, 2013
Angel Martinez has written a stark, heartbreaking story about what happens to a happy couple when one of them is drugged, raped, and badly beaten. The no-holds-barred look into the physical, mental, and emotional upheaval for both men and the long drawn out recovery process makes this a gripping and enthralling character driven tale, and the process brings out both the best and the worst in them both. As they start to heal, Cody and Vic realize that it will take both of them to overcome the past, and build a better future. Told in a combination of chronological order with flashbacks, this heartbreaking, yet hopeful book does have a HEA ending, and the way it grips you at the first page and doesn't let go until long after the last page is done makes this a book that I would recommend to everyone.
Trish's 4 sweet pea review appears at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index.... on June 15, 2013
January 16, 2012
This is not an easy read due to the rape and non-con incidents in the book. The villain is so awful that you're really happy to see him get his. I liked the two MCs and their relationship and the portrayal of the assault affecting both partners. I was a little disturbed that there didn't seem to be any discussion about the possibility of risk after the assault - i.e. no testing and apparently returning to barebacking. I would have thought that might be another issue/obstacle in the process of recovery.
Honestly I just hated Jonathan and could not believe that Cody would even talk to him ever again. It seems to me, if you're a material witness or possible accomplice in a crime of this magnitude, you don't just get to brush off the police. Have you seen Law & Order, SVU??? They will be on your ass until you're brought in. Barring that little break from reality, I'm really surprised Vic didn't grab him by the neck and DRAG him physically to the police station.
Honestly I just hated Jonathan and could not believe that Cody would even talk to him ever again. It seems to me, if you're a material witness or possible accomplice in a crime of this magnitude, you don't just get to brush off the police. Have you seen Law & Order, SVU??? They will be on your ass until you're brought in. Barring that little break from reality, I'm really surprised Vic didn't grab him by the neck and DRAG him physically to the police station.
April 20, 2014
Wow, this was an interesting read. Cody and Victor have to deal with the aftermath of a traumatic event that shakes them both to the core. There were things that I would have gone crazy about had I not reminded myself this is FICTION.
This book needed to be longer so Martinez could have flushed out this story more. Despite these problems I did enjoy the book.
This book needed to be longer so Martinez could have flushed out this story more. Despite these problems I did enjoy the book.
January 4, 2011
Another well written book by an author I have come to equate with good reading. The subject matter may challenge--it deals with the aftermath of a violent attack on one of the main characters. The difficult subject matter is handled with grace, and the reader is allowed (along with the character to truly experience a journey of healing. Bravo Angel. This is one I'm proud to have on my bookshelf.
August 8, 2014
Not bad, but not "wow" either. 3.5 stars.
Not a lot of BDSM here, and whatever little there is, it's not enough to put a BDSM tag on the book. What Moderatrix Lori said. It's not what the book is about.
Not a lot of BDSM here, and whatever little there is, it's not enough to put a BDSM tag on the book. What Moderatrix Lori said. It's not what the book is about.
November 19, 2011
I dislike violence, I hate abuse and I abhor rape. So this has not been an easy read. Nonetheless, the story has redeeming qualities, as the main characters work through to the aftermath.
February 17, 2014
A fabulous story of one man's journey out of the darkness.
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August 25, 2014My review of this book will be at Love Bytes Reviews!
December 23, 2014
Raw and disturbing and still achingly sweet. Cody suffered so much but I found that Victor was the one who tore at my heart. An excellent re-write. I liked this version a lot more.
October 11, 2014
Story about healing. Dark, even if it's not explicit.
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