aligroen's review
4.0
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Teo has spent years taking care of his bar on the edge of the nothing. He has longed to find the special person to spend his life with. Jimenez has finally earned his freedom and wants to buy a ship so that he never has to be under someone’s command again. They are drawn to each other when Jimenez comes into Teo’s bar. Teo falls fast and hard for Jimenez but Jimenez is determined to keep him at a distance and is afraid to get attached to anyone. When Jimenez is in trouble Teo does everything he can to help him to get past it and move forward with his life. They both get a new start going back to Teo’s home, where Jimenez was originally reprogrammed and he can continue to fix the damage that was done. Jimenez learns that trusting someone isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Teo has spent years taking care of his bar on the edge of the nothing. He has longed to find the special person to spend his life with. Jimenez has finally earned his freedom and wants to buy a ship so that he never has to be under someone’s command again. They are drawn to each other when Jimenez comes into Teo’s bar. Teo falls fast and hard for Jimenez but Jimenez is determined to keep him at a distance and is afraid to get attached to anyone. When Jimenez is in trouble Teo does everything he can to help him to get past it and move forward with his life. They both get a new start going back to Teo’s home, where Jimenez was originally reprogrammed and he can continue to fix the damage that was done. Jimenez learns that trusting someone isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
funsizelibrarian's review
4.0
Klockwerk Kraken was a riveting novel on many levels. Jimenez and Teo were interesting, well-developed characters with believable actions and backstories. The sex was really, really hot, and the plot wound around the characters and the setting beautifully. I highly recommend this one!
pam_h's review
3.0
Great writing, great world-building, great character-building. BUT...there are gaps in both the relationship-building and the narrative, and I couldn't tell if there were conversations happening in those narrative gaps where these guys were actually getting to know each other better, or if we were seeing all the important conversations, in which case Teo's claim to know Jimenez "down to his soul" seems cray-cray.
I think it's a bit of both. I think there were important relationship moments happening off-page that needed to be represented better, and I think these guys -- Teo especially -- fell very deep, very quickly, which is fine, BUT...drop the know him "down to his soul" business. It ended up having an odd mismatch feeling of slow-burn turned insta-love on a dime. But I was really digging it as a slow-burn. I think I would have liked it better if it just stuck to the romance instead of throwing in The Big Plot Development that everything flipped on. TBPD was well-written; I just didn't like that it was used to fast-forward the relationship development.
For tentacle lovers: This is pretty low-steam. The tentacles get a lot more play out of the bedroom than in it :) There were a few really sweet moments, though.
Also, trigger warnings for the sexual slavery: There aren't a ton of details mentioned, but it's a unique take on slavery in this world. The details we get are more psychological than anything, and let's just say it was very effective in a very trigger-y kind of way. Plus the rest of society's feelings toward slavery was a bit trigger-y, too. If you are at all sensitive to this, I would avoid it. It plays a small but very important, wide-reaching role in the story.
I think it's a bit of both. I think there were important relationship moments happening off-page that needed to be represented better, and I think these guys -- Teo especially -- fell very deep, very quickly, which is fine, BUT...drop the know him "down to his soul" business. It ended up having an odd mismatch feeling of slow-burn turned insta-love on a dime. But I was really digging it as a slow-burn. I think I would have liked it better if it just stuck to the romance instead of throwing in The Big Plot Development that everything flipped on. TBPD was well-written; I just didn't like that it was used to fast-forward the relationship development.
For tentacle lovers: This is pretty low-steam. The tentacles get a lot more play out of the bedroom than in it :) There were a few really sweet moments, though.
Also, trigger warnings for the sexual slavery: There aren't a ton of details mentioned, but it's a unique take on slavery in this world. The details we get are more psychological than anything, and let's just say it was very effective in a very trigger-y kind of way. Plus the rest of society's feelings toward slavery was a bit trigger-y, too. If you are at all sensitive to this, I would avoid it. It plays a small but very important, wide-reaching role in the story.
iguana_mama's review
4.0
Cross-posted at Outlaw Reviews and at Shelf Inflicted
Betentacled Teo Houdin is proud proprietor of the Klockwerk Kraken, a unique bar located in a remote outer space way station, which makes it difficult for Teo to keep a regular supply of booze on hand. Though he comes from a large and loving family, Teo craved independence and wanted to see more of the galaxy, so he left the planet of Celos.
Jiminez is a former slave adjusting to normal life and looking to buy a ship in order to ensure he remains free.
When Jiminez sets foot in Teo’s bar, their attraction is instant. Teo helps Jiminez find a suitable ship with the condition that Jiminez obtains regular shipments of liquor to help keep Teo’s bar running. While the men act on their feelings early on, the relationship takes time to develop. Jiminez is guarded, secretive, has scars and low self-esteem, and is deeply affected by his past trauma. This conflicts with Teo’s warmth and openness in expressing affection. I love how Teo wears his feelings on his tentacles!
While their sex was blazing hot, this was more than romance and erotica. Jiminez gradually opened up to Teo about his past, his fears, and his love for poetry. There was also an engaging plot that revolved around a mysterious fire and Jiminez’ possible culpability. The world that Teo and Jiminez inhabit was skillfully described without an overload of unnecessary detail or technical jargon, so one does not have to be a science fiction fan to enjoy this story. It should appeal to those readers who enjoy space operas with a dose of erotica.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was fun, lightly humorous, comfortably paced, sexy and touching.
*Book provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
Betentacled Teo Houdin is proud proprietor of the Klockwerk Kraken, a unique bar located in a remote outer space way station, which makes it difficult for Teo to keep a regular supply of booze on hand. Though he comes from a large and loving family, Teo craved independence and wanted to see more of the galaxy, so he left the planet of Celos.
Jiminez is a former slave adjusting to normal life and looking to buy a ship in order to ensure he remains free.
When Jiminez sets foot in Teo’s bar, their attraction is instant. Teo helps Jiminez find a suitable ship with the condition that Jiminez obtains regular shipments of liquor to help keep Teo’s bar running. While the men act on their feelings early on, the relationship takes time to develop. Jiminez is guarded, secretive, has scars and low self-esteem, and is deeply affected by his past trauma. This conflicts with Teo’s warmth and openness in expressing affection. I love how Teo wears his feelings on his tentacles!
While their sex was blazing hot, this was more than romance and erotica. Jiminez gradually opened up to Teo about his past, his fears, and his love for poetry. There was also an engaging plot that revolved around a mysterious fire and Jiminez’ possible culpability. The world that Teo and Jiminez inhabit was skillfully described without an overload of unnecessary detail or technical jargon, so one does not have to be a science fiction fan to enjoy this story. It should appeal to those readers who enjoy space operas with a dose of erotica.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was fun, lightly humorous, comfortably paced, sexy and touching.
*Book provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
calila's review
5.0
A free copy of this was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
I really ended up loving this. I wasn't sure I would at first, it's a little slow to get going. I was expecting it to be steampunk-ian for some reason. I couldn't tell you why. But it's a pretty straight forward sci-fi story. Teo is a bartender/bar owner with tentacles, which really comes in handy. Pun intended. Jimenez is a scarred pilot who just wants to be left alone. Jimenez was so tortured by his past, it was heartbreaking. I loved getting to see him come out of his shell, and welcome life and love back to him. Teo was just so solid for him, Teo's biggest issue is that his family loves him too much. There was some angst, dealing with Jimenez's past. I loved how it was handled. The BIG DRAMA was a little ehhh, but that's a minor complaint. The ending was great, it was exactly what I was hoping would happen. The world building was great, but not dense.
I really ended up loving this. I wasn't sure I would at first, it's a little slow to get going. I was expecting it to be steampunk-ian for some reason. I couldn't tell you why. But it's a pretty straight forward sci-fi story. Teo is a bartender/bar owner with tentacles, which really comes in handy. Pun intended. Jimenez is a scarred pilot who just wants to be left alone. Jimenez was so tortured by his past, it was heartbreaking. I loved getting to see him come out of his shell, and welcome life and love back to him. Teo was just so solid for him, Teo's biggest issue is that his family loves him too much. There was some angst, dealing with Jimenez's past. I loved how it was handled. The BIG DRAMA was a little ehhh, but that's a minor complaint. The ending was great, it was exactly what I was hoping would happen. The world building was great, but not dense.
More...