Genre: Sci-Fi
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
James “Jamie” Van Ryan is the greatest porn star who has ever lived. The objectively perfect body with the objectively perfect face.
Everyone wants him, everyone wants to be him, and the powerful want to own him.
When one of the richest royals in all the galaxy wants to marry him, Van Ryan finds himself on the farthest edge of known space, embroiled in political intrigue, and falling in love with a revolutionary and his cause. Which side will he choose?
The Review
James Van Ryan (aka Jamie) is a very popular consort/porn star. He tells the story of how his life as a young boy was dysfunctional and abusive, and how he rose above it to become famous in the sex industry.
He has just arrived at the Ganymede station to connect with a flight that will take him out of the solar system, traveling far into interstellar space.
General Karzen Olver is the head of the 53rd State American Empire. When his planet was destroyed by Earth, he and his family try to escape. His son Prince Olver, a young man, piloted an armored ship for the first time. He survived, but his family didn’t. He floated silently in space to avoid Earths drones.
When the attack is finally over, he returns to his planet to meet with the Faction at their headquarters, hidden deep beneath the ocean. The Faction is a secret group that does not agree with his father, who believed in the humanity of the Earth forces. Prince Olver joins them, helping to legitimize the Faction.
Olver is charming and handsome, and Jamie is captivated by him, even if it seems unlikely there will ever be anything serious between them. The few times Jamie is been able to enter the city, it seems very strange – its streets empty of its inhabitants, and he and Olver are always protected by guards.
Then a strange event takes place. Jamie is whisked away by a mysterious man known as Sylas. Sylas was once body guard for Olver and now dislikes him. Jamie follows Sylas deep into the yeast factory tunnels, where he is introduced to a young man names Salil who looks just like Olver.
Salil seems to be fifteen years old, but in reality he’s a clone who was just decanted a year before. Seeing Sylas and Salil together, Jamie feels a touch of jealousy as he thinks of Sylas as the father figure he never had.
Jamie hears the story of Falma and the disappearance of Aleer, her ten year old son. as Sylas opens Jamies’ mind to Olver’s cruelty. James finds himself trapped between Olver and Sylas, with feelings for both men.
The more he is with Sylas, the more Jamie learns of the part Sylas wants him to play in the rebellion. What will happen to Sylas? Will Jamie have the strength to carry out his part?
Warren presents the story from each character’s perspective in sections – James Van Ryan, Olver, Sylas, and an unknown person, who tells of the “coach” connection.
The worldbuilding is solid – armors, ships, mechs, cloning, mobile armor suits, a liquid that hugs the body and so much more combine create a very high-tech futuristic sci-fi world.
The description of the under water dome and the ocean’s strange creatures is amazing. In this universe, the sex industry is a regular part of life too.
This is the first time I’ve read something by J. Warren. I was immersed in the The Consort from the very start. It’s a weird but intriguing novel that’s full of action, suspense, danger and tragedy, all set against a strange, fascinating world. I thought I knew how the story would wind up, but I was totally surprised by the twist at the end.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.