As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Ben Brock

B. A. Brock has lived most of his life in the Pacific Northwest. He graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in 2007 at Portland State University--which he mostly uses to contemplate how we can achieve a civilization more closely aligned with Star Trek. When not writing, Brock spends his time reading/reviewing novels, training for marathons, and bemoaning the fact that the world has yet to make a decent gluten free donut.

“Obsidian Sun” by Jon Keys

by
Obsidian Sun

Genre: MM Romantic Fantasy Length: Novella   WEAVERS AND spinners are two peoples of the Talac—phenotypically different, and the way they use the ancient magic of their peoples is different. Out of tradition they keep to their own social clusters, but Anan, a spellweaver, and Terja, a spellspinner, are about to discover through hardship that the two peoples are meant to be as one. When their village is attacked, Anan and Terja ban together in blood vengeance against the tribe that enslaved and killed their people. Their trust is fleeting, but as they fight and care for one another, it … Read more

“The Homecoming” by J. Scott Coatsworth

by
The Homecoming

Genre: Gay Science Fiction Length: Novella   ALDISS AND his crew crash land on a forgotten Earth, expecting it to be abandoned after hundreds of years. Their own world is destroyed, and now Earth is their only chance for a new start. But it’s winter, the climate is harsh, and Earth is not as forgotten as they thought. The inhabitants also may not be as open to new arrivals as Adliss’s crew hopes. I loved this book. The setup was interesting, and the characters were engaging. I loved how spacemen and werewolves collided: technology meets primal Earth. First contact between … Read more

“The Lightning-Struck Heart” by T. J. Klune

by

Genre: Gay Fantasy Length: Novel   SAM HAVERSFORD is a great and powerful wizard! Okay, not really. He’s just a wizard’s apprentice. But he is powerful! And one day he’ll be King’s Wizard to the heir apparent, Prince Justin. The only problem? Prince Justin is kind of a dick, and is marrying the super dreamy Ryan Foxheart… the same super dreamy Ryan Foxheart that Sam’s had a crush on since forever. Too bad Justin’s a dick. Too bad Ryan swore an oath to serve him. Under normal circumstances, Sam wouldn’t be too upset that Justin then gets kidnapped by a … Read more

“The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde

by

Genre: Gay Paranormal Historical Length: Novel   As is well known, this is a story about a man, Dorian Gray, whose soul is housed in a painting, keeping his body from showing the stains of his immorality. The novel is told in third person omniscient, mostly using these three viewpoints: Dorian Gray, Basil Hallward, and Lord Henry Wotton. Dorian Gray is an impressionable youth, beautiful beyond measure. Basil Hallward is a painter, and inspired by Dorian, he paints his portrait week after week, until one day he creates his magnum opus. Lord Henry is a good friend of Basil’s, and … Read more

“Between the Lines” by J. Scott Coatsworth

by

Genre: Gay Urban Fantasy Romance Length: Novella   Brad Weston is the chief of staff for a Republican California state senator, and it seems like he has everything going for him. Sam Fuller, fresh out of college, is also working for the GOP as Weston’s aid. They work hard for their party, even when they face constant homophobia, but neither really knows how bad they’re discriminated against until Weston enters an antique shop, looking for a present for his boyfriend for their anniversary. The enchanted trinket he finds exposes Weston to all the hate in the world, and the revelations … Read more

Review: “Blue on Black” by Carole Cummings

by

Genre: Gay Steampunk Length: Novel   Bas is a tech tracker, undercover. In his search for a few missing techs, he finds himself in the middle of a thug empire in the desert. Baron Stanslo is hiding more than Bas or the Directorate reckon, and while Bas keeps an eye out for the techs, he discovers a brutal world ruled by a mad man and populated by the oppressed and the bullies who oppress them. Fortunately, he’s skilled enough to become easily accepted into the illusive group; unfortunately, he may not be able to get back out. Blue on Black … Read more

Review: “Urban Shaman” by Lyn Gala

by

Genre: Gay Urban Paranormal Length: Novel Note: I’m going to come right out and say it. I’ve reviewed Lyn Gala before—because she’s absolutely phenomenal. So this review is going to be totally bias. You’ve been warned. (Okay, I’m sort of joking about this review being a complete fangirl moment. Sort of.) Detective Miguel Rassin, the precinct’s biggest troublemaker, knows he’s being punished when he gets paired with the precinct’s biggest asshole, Detective Rob Jackson. In an act of either complete brilliance or desperation (or both), the captain blesses the duo with the most sensitive case in this part of New … Read more

“Black Dog Blues” by Rhys Ford

by

Genre: Urban Fantasy Length: Novel   Kai Gracen is an elven outcast in a post-apocalyptic world, where magic exploded into the present day. There are still McDonalds and shitty politicians, but now there are elves and other fantastical creatures (including dragons). Kai gets by as a bounty hunter, going where the humans wouldn’t dare and killing ferocious beasts (including dragons). He was pretty happy too, until the dawn court started to interfere with his affairs, and he got stuck on a run with one of their snotty nobles, as well as with a human girl, who’s possibly carrying the greatest … Read more

“The Darkling Thrush” by Josh Lanyon

by

Genre: MM Fantasy Mystery Length: Novel   This was a fun mystery. The world is slightly steampunk, so there are trains and the like, giving it a more modern feel, and it’s subtly magical; however, magic isn’t as prevalent in this culture as in some fantasy. The novel is told from the point of view of Colin Bliss, a librivenator… which is sort of an Indiana Jones for books. Bliss is your typical thinks-he-knows-everything and an in-way-over-his-head type of person. He travels to Scotland and uncovers the dark past of a small fishing village, and his curiosity and spunk drive … Read more

Review: “Gravitational Attraction” by Angel Martinez

by

Genre: MM Science Fiction Romance Length: Novel   Issac Ozawa is slightly mentally damaged due to a cybernetic implant malfunction. As a result, Issac’s brain experiences the occasional inopportune glitch. For a pilot, this was almost a career breaker. Fortunately he found a carrier ship, Hermes, whose captain would have him, and whose crew is also a bunch of other delightful misfits—but they get the job done. The Hermes crew encounters a drifting troop vessel, and when they board they discover complete mayhem and bloodshed. Searching the vessel, they find one lone survivor, unscathed physically, except he’s clearly traumatized. They … Read more