Genre: Sci-Fi, Dystopian
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
After Doomsday, there wasn’t much left—a world that had fallen apart. It hadn’t been enough to boil the oceans and raze the surface with fire. With that scorched earth had come a final solution, the contagion. In a world where every breath was ash and disease, few survived.
The Imperium hunted them, extracting healthy flesh to extend the life of the powerful. All the while, soaring unseen, the tools of an old order search. Hidden far from the sight of the ruthless Imperium, deep beneath the earth, the DIRE stations offer renewal—an exit from the destruction of the world.
Those ships, like a phoenix, rise with the last refugees to bring them to DIRE, hoping that a keeper yet lives to hold open the only chance of escape.
The Review
Elijah Dennis is known as Keeper Epsilon of DIRE (Doomsday Incident Renewal Exit) at Station Ten. As a Keeper, he’s the only one that can summon the Gate to be opened by Guardian Dylan. To pass through the Gate, everything must be done with precision – death will come to anyone who tries to break protocol. Those who come across also need approval of the council, and if the Gate is left open too long, the Imperium might detect its power and track down Station Ten and the new world.
DIRE Station Ten is the last remaining functioning station. It was built to serve the Gate, and when the Gate is open, Station Ten powers up. When a Phoenix ship has to land carrying twenty-eight children plus guards Jo and Rodgers, all caution must be taken. Elijah has to make sure the Phoenix has not been followed by the Imperium. And once it lands, there’s more danger from the Organics. When one of the guards is severely injured by an Organic, Elijah has to call upon the Guardian of the Gate to save them.
It’s been two years since Elijah last had contact with Guardian Dylan. Deceit, war and the positions of the Keeper and Guardian have kept them apart. Will the council agree to let the injured guard and the children pass through the Gate? What of the the other Phoenix that is discovered, transporting ten teenage boys? Will the remaining few survivors of Doomsday make it through the Gate safely? Will Elijah and Dylan survive to continue a long-lasting love? Elijah knows that as Keeper, he has to keep himself safe – without a Keeper, there is no Gate, and without the Gate there is no life.
Doyon’s short story “Tendire Gate” has everything – amazing dystopian world-building, great writing, suspense, loyalty, courage, friendship, determination, danger, terror, romance and a love that survives the worst of times.
Even though the author doesn’t go deep into the horrors of the Imperium and the Organics, there’s just enough here to project the fear that those entities bring to even the bravest people. Those that survive also have to deal with injuries, radiation sickness contagion, and implants of the Imperium.
As a Keeper, Elijah is not supposed to have feelings or friends, and he tries to be a loner. But even though the Gate has kept Dylan and Elijah apart, their love has never faltered. The scenes between these two men are beautifully written, and the emotions touch your heart.
I highly recommend “Tendire Gate” by Ashavan Doyon. It’s the first story I’ve read by this author, and I wasn’t disappointed.
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.