poplora's review
1.0
I maybe could have liked this.
If it didn't involve a 15-16 yr old and an adult.
If there wasn't normalized physical abuse.
Gross.
If it didn't involve a 15-16 yr old and an adult.
If there wasn't normalized physical abuse.
Gross.
kaje_harper's review
5.0
This is a wonderful science-fiction romance, with humor, tenderness, exciting plot and wonderful characters. The SF element is fairly light, no serious tech interest needed. It took me a little while to get into this book, because there is very little background exposition. Everything filters through the MC's POV, so at first there were quite a few characters introduced, and their relationships to the MC were not always clear. But after the first couple of chapters I was seriously hooked, and whipped through the rest of the book. I bought the sequel [b:His Faithful Squire|12061496|His Faithful Squire (Knight Errant, #2)|K.D. Sarge|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1326246540s/12061496.jpg|17028748] as soon as I got back into Internet range.
This series could be read by older YA. The MC is sixteen at the beginning of it, albeit a very old sixteen, having been on his own most of the years between 12 and 15. Toward the end, the two guys have full on sex, a lot, but it is very, very much off page. (I think a couple of kisses make it into words.) As an adult reader, I wish I'd had a little more detail on what happened when, especially the first time, but for YA this would be entirely comfortable.
I love Taro so much - he's intelligent, hyper, violent, mouthy, honorable, confused and impulsive. The progression of the story was great fun, and the side characters were interesting in their own right. Definitely will be a reread.
This series could be read by older YA. The MC is sixteen at the beginning of it, albeit a very old sixteen, having been on his own most of the years between 12 and 15. Toward the end, the two guys have full on sex, a lot, but it is very, very much off page. (I think a couple of kisses make it into words.) As an adult reader, I wish I'd had a little more detail on what happened when, especially the first time, but for YA this would be entirely comfortable.
I love Taro so much - he's intelligent, hyper, violent, mouthy, honorable, confused and impulsive. The progression of the story was great fun, and the side characters were interesting in their own right. Definitely will be a reread.
see_sadie_read's review
4.0
This was very cute in a shounen ai/Boy's Love kind of way. (An impression that is, no doubt, helped along by the cover.) It's a well loved plot, really—eminently capable and serious man is burdened with the care of an inept but goodhearted partner who eventually brings joy and levity to his otherwise dark life. But it's one of my favourite and Taro and Rafe fill the roles well.
I have to say the lack of sex was disappointing. Not just because I like a little summin'-summin' in my reading, but also because Rafe is a trained companion (prostitute, for lack of a better description) and the characters are having lots and lots of sex. Knowing it's happening so often, but seeing none of it felt unnatural and forced.
Now I understand that to include it would take the book from a m/m YA genre to a m/m erotic novel, which is quite the jump, and I imagine there are people who would take issue with the graphic depiction of sex involving a 15-year-old, especially since Rafe is in his early twenties somewhere. But the truth is that I think the book needed some sex and I really don't think Taro's age worked on the whole anyhow, so he could have been old enough to make it work.
He acts older for sure, but also he's supposed to be an accomplished brawler. He wins fight after fight. The thing about a 15-year-old boy is that they're often not fully grown and his character is on the small side anyway, so I can't actually imagine him being so dangerous. What's more, he's treated as older, often invited to poker games and hanging out with ship captains and other marines. Being 15 just doesn't fit. He desperately needed a few more years on him.
Having said all that, I adored both Taro and Rafe. I also loved that Eve, Taro's sister, is so completely bad-ass. I love me a strong bitch-queen. All the side characters, though not well fleshed, were fun too. The writing was witty and the editing was good. An all around satisfying read.
I have to say the lack of sex was disappointing. Not just because I like a little summin'-summin' in my reading, but also because Rafe is a trained companion (prostitute, for lack of a better description) and the characters are having lots and lots of sex. Knowing it's happening so often, but seeing none of it felt unnatural and forced.
Now I understand that to include it would take the book from a m/m YA genre to a m/m erotic novel, which is quite the jump, and I imagine there are people who would take issue with the graphic depiction of sex involving a 15-year-old, especially since Rafe is in his early twenties somewhere. But the truth is that I think the book needed some sex and I really don't think Taro's age worked on the whole anyhow, so he could have been old enough to make it work.
He acts older for sure, but also he's supposed to be an accomplished brawler. He wins fight after fight. The thing about a 15-year-old boy is that they're often not fully grown and his character is on the small side anyway, so I can't actually imagine him being so dangerous. What's more, he's treated as older, often invited to poker games and hanging out with ship captains and other marines. Being 15 just doesn't fit. He desperately needed a few more years on him.
Having said all that, I adored both Taro and Rafe. I also loved that Eve, Taro's sister, is so completely bad-ass. I love me a strong bitch-queen. All the side characters, though not well fleshed, were fun too. The writing was witty and the editing was good. An all around satisfying read.
strina's review
3.0
Note: protag is a closeted and inexperienced 15-16 and love interest a VERY experienced 20 who hits on him HARD and relentlessly. Didn't particularly bother me, but I personally don't have dubcon or underage issues.
jkh107's review
3.0
A decentish space opera layered with a rather weird little m/m romance (no on-page sex). Fun.
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