leelah's review
2.0
I discovered [b:Santuario|15849760|Santuario (Santuario, #1)|G.B. Gordon|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345988753s/15849760.jpg|21596010] last year around QRM and I was pleasantly surprised by clever mash of several genres author managed to wave into quirky story that ended up being quite original.
The Other Side of Winter didn't quite live up to expectations I had after reading Santuario. After I gave it some thought, I would say, it all comes down to what you liked about first book and wanted to see in second.
-for me, absolutely that best thing about first book was setting. Santuario is set in precarious times: impending annexation of Santuario created a special tension and everyone is restless- those in charge and little people alike. In some way, I thought of joint investigation Alex and Bengt conducted as a micro picture, a mini test-run on how will Santuarians and Skanians fair in future. It's a clash of two very different cultures, social beliefs and from what we could see,vast economical disparity. It's interesting stuff and I was looking forward of seeing how was all that handled and especially, how it was perceived on other side, Skanian.
Well.
Indeed book opens one year later, which is... believable period of time it would take for annexation to actually happen. Alex was among first batch of Santuarians to cross borders and his experience gave me some answers, but not the bigger picture I wanted to see. :\ To be clear, Gordon didn't waste too much space on explaining in first book as well, but there was a very clever subtlety in exposition that gave me everything I wanted to know (like news article from the beginning of Santuario). This book not just that it lacked the same subtlety, but I felt like it was considerably dumbed-down; like author decided to get rid of everything even remotely complex. For example, when showing Skanian culture, author just used Scandinavian names, demography and cliches tied to them, instead of going with something original; something imagined.
-mystery took the center place in first book and, since I am fan of genre, I enjoyed it great deal. Here it was firmly in the background and I would say, served more as tool to forward romance plot (to put Alex and Bengt in the same room when they are fighting). Potentially interesting case, but Bengt's investigation skills leave a lot to be desired. I can understand he was lost in Santuario where officials are not doing their jobs and there are no records, but not in Hentavik. This is his turf, I would expect more of him. This is somewhat tied to Alex- I had troubles with Alex's character in book #2, because he was cop in Santuario and I felt like he was pushed into mental frame of college kid here. There is no clear connection to guy we met in Santuario...except when he conveniently comes to make progress in Bengt's case and reminds me that. yeah, he used to be a cop. :\ Conveniently, because of already mentioned romance plot. The laziest part of book, imo.
-romance takes central stage. On one hand, I am glad it does because Alex & Bengt's relationship was underdeveloped in book #1 and considering the way things were left- we needed to see them as a couple. On other hand, it's the kind of romance I hate reading about- lack of communication and/or miscommunication happens and everything can be handled with one honest conversation. It was so far removed from guys they were in first book that it actually made me question what I thought of romance plot in book #1- it made me doubt in possibility of hea for Alex and Bengt I firmly believed in and not because they had some obstacles- that's to be expected- but because in book #2 they are people who are strangers and who can't talk to each other. For example, the scene that frustrated me the most was this:
Spoiler
Bengt says Alex to check if he likes car he plans to purchase for him because it's complicated for him to drive him everywhere. Alex is offended because he doesn't want to take his money and he throws a tantrum. When Bengt goes out, Alex picks his things and leaves apartment.He calls his friend and says: "It finally happened! Bengt was fed up with me and he threw me out!"
I mean, this is juvenile thinking and it didn't happen! I was baffled just how he manged to construct "he threw me out" from was perspired.
Like I said, THE worst kind of romance. (-_-)
Sex was plentiful and scorching hot, though.
So, if you want to read this book because you are interested in their relationship, you will get that.
I expected something in line with first book,so this one didn't work for me. :(
alisonalisonalison's review
5.0
4.5 stars. This is intense, raw, and emotional, and I loved it. It's beautifully written and very moving. I loved the first book, [b:Santuario|15849760|Santuario (Santuario, #1)|G.B. Gordon|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345988753s/15849760.jpg|21596010], and Alex is such a wonderfully compelling character, so I was definitely keen to read more. This book is mostly the story of Alex rebuilding his life and it's heart-breaking at times, and it's so good. While the first book is very much an exciting, complex mystery with a building romance in the background, this is somewhat the opposite. There's a creepy mystery, but it's very secondary to the story of Alex and Bengt's relationship. It completely enveloped me in the best way. Do read the first book, as this is definitely not a stand-alone. I gather the story will be continued and I'm so excited for more.
melaniebopp's review
3.0
Review available on All About Romance - http://likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookReview.pl?BookReviewId=10562
In The Other Side of Winter by G.B. Gordon, our two heroes, Bengt and Alex, are being reunited after a year apart, hoping that their week-long romance was enough to keep them together now that they are in the same place. Alex is one of many refugees from Santuario, a poor and corrupt nation, hoping to find a new home. Bengt is a homicide detective, and wants nothing more than to take care of Alex, and give him anything he could possibly want. Unfortunately, both Alex and Bengt are alpha males, and Alex pulls away each time Bengt tries to reach out.
Alex’s reactions to Bengt and to the whole new culture he finds himself in strike me as pretty true-to-life – he’s obviously suffering PTSD, and actually sees a therapist! That was wonderful! And the power imbalance (especially since both of the heroes are fairly dominant) was the most interesting part of the story (and led to a lot of angry sex. Like, most of it, actually). The problem is the entire plot is based around this, and it’s just not enough to keep the story moving. There’s a murder mystery that occupies a large part of the story, but it actually pulls the reader out of the whole sci-fi genre bit.
I cannot harp enough on the importance of world building, especially in sci-fi and fantasy, and sadly, that’s where this one failed for me. It literally took reading the spoiler tags on the publisher’s website to confirm that yes, this book is sci-fi, is actually on a different planet and in the far future, and not in some made-up Scandinavian countries. I honestly thought we were in Iceland or something.
I’d be interested to read the prequel to this, and try the author again, but while it was an enjoyable read, there wasn’t anything particularly great about it.
In The Other Side of Winter by G.B. Gordon, our two heroes, Bengt and Alex, are being reunited after a year apart, hoping that their week-long romance was enough to keep them together now that they are in the same place. Alex is one of many refugees from Santuario, a poor and corrupt nation, hoping to find a new home. Bengt is a homicide detective, and wants nothing more than to take care of Alex, and give him anything he could possibly want. Unfortunately, both Alex and Bengt are alpha males, and Alex pulls away each time Bengt tries to reach out.
Alex’s reactions to Bengt and to the whole new culture he finds himself in strike me as pretty true-to-life – he’s obviously suffering PTSD, and actually sees a therapist! That was wonderful! And the power imbalance (especially since both of the heroes are fairly dominant) was the most interesting part of the story (and led to a lot of angry sex. Like, most of it, actually). The problem is the entire plot is based around this, and it’s just not enough to keep the story moving. There’s a murder mystery that occupies a large part of the story, but it actually pulls the reader out of the whole sci-fi genre bit.
I cannot harp enough on the importance of world building, especially in sci-fi and fantasy, and sadly, that’s where this one failed for me. It literally took reading the spoiler tags on the publisher’s website to confirm that yes, this book is sci-fi, is actually on a different planet and in the far future, and not in some made-up Scandinavian countries. I honestly thought we were in Iceland or something.
I’d be interested to read the prequel to this, and try the author again, but while it was an enjoyable read, there wasn’t anything particularly great about it.
wart's review
5.0
Things I Find While Shelving
I received a free ARC via NetGalley
I have been waiting for this book since I read [b:Santuario|15849760|Santuario (Santuario, #1)|G.B. Gordon|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345988753s/15849760.jpg|21596010]. It was well worth the wait.
Watching Alex deal with this strange new world, struggling to deal with everything he’d gone through on Santuario, trying to keep it all locked up so he won’t break. Oh, my heart.
Watching Bengt trying to help him. Second guessing his instincts. Fighting to hold on while he feels Alex slipping away.
I don’t have enough words to describe just how much I love this book. I hope this short review is adequate enough.
I received a free ARC via NetGalley
I have been waiting for this book since I read [b:Santuario|15849760|Santuario (Santuario, #1)|G.B. Gordon|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345988753s/15849760.jpg|21596010]. It was well worth the wait.
Watching Alex deal with this strange new world, struggling to deal with everything he’d gone through on Santuario, trying to keep it all locked up so he won’t break. Oh, my heart.
Watching Bengt trying to help him. Second guessing his instincts. Fighting to hold on while he feels Alex slipping away.
I don’t have enough words to describe just how much I love this book. I hope this short review is adequate enough.
kjcharles's review
Damn, this is good. It's basically the second half of [b:Santuario|15849760|Santuario (Santuario, #1)|G.B. Gordon|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345988753s/15849760.jpg|21596010], with Alex and Bengt finally together and having to live with each other, and themselves. Finally safe and loved, Alex basically finds himself falling apart, and the book is basically how/if he can handle the psychological consequences of his horrifically scary previous life now that he's no longer fighting to survive.
Very well written, moving, intense, and also hot. Love it.
Not star rating because professional connection, but really, read it.
Very well written, moving, intense, and also hot. Love it.
Not star rating because professional connection, but really, read it.
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