In December 2019, on Yule (that’s December 21 for you non-pagany folks) I gave a gift to myself. I posted on Social Media the following image.
From the responses on Twitter and Instagram, I have a list of books I’m buying, reading, and reviewing.
Now a quick note about our current situation. COVID-19 has thrown my life into a bit of a tailspin, like everybody else. So, as I adapt to a new norm, a new routine, I’ve found working from home a bit of an adjustment. With that said, I am behind in my reading and my reviews. Forgive me. Hopefully, I can catch up. But I know you all understand. I trust everyone out there is staying healthy, happy, and safe. It’s not easy, and if anyone needs a chat or a “Hi! How are you?” Let me know, happy to help out where I can. In the meantime, books can be a delightful way to pass the time, and escape from all the nonsense happening in the world right now.
Here’s May’s entry:
Title: Rom and Yuli
Series: N/A
Author: Amara Lynn
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 15, 2019
Heat Level: 1/5 – sweet
Pairing: M/Non-Binary
Length: 74 pages
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Non-Binary
Warnings: Gore, violence
Synopsis:
A war between angels and demons has left Earth desolate and ruined.Rom struggles to support his father and sister in the patch of wasteland they’ve claimed as home.
Feeling restless, Rom takes to exploring when he can, and is shocked when he stumbles across another survivor.
Years of isolation have left Yuli feeling despondent. That all changes when they encounter Rom, who is unlike anyone they’ve met before, a brilliant light of hope in this mostly extinguished world.
As Rom and Yuli grow closer, both gain a renewed hope for something more in this desolate land.But in this dangerous world, trust comes hard and demons are never far away.
Rom and Yuli is a 15k word post-apocalyptic urban fantasy novella featuring male and non-binary protagonists and is a loose retelling of Romeo and Juliet with a hopeful ending.
My Review:
I’m sure that many of you have already guessed that if a story has demons in it, I’m down. In fact, chances are pretty good I’m gonna like it.
Amara Lynn is a new author to me. If this short is any indication of the fantastical, post-apocalyptic dream-worlds they are capable of creating, SIGN. ME. UP.
The landscape was devastated. The demons were on the prowl, and amidst the chaos and destruction we have our main character, Rom, half human, half angel, who stumbles across Yuli, half human, half demon.
There’s a little bit of ‘fated romance’, and after all, the tag line is ‘star crossed lovers’, so if that isn’t your thing, you may not enjoy the instant attraction, but I was game. Here’s why.
I see a lot of people saying, “I don’t go in for that ‘love at first sight’, or ‘fated-romance’ stuff – it’s just not realistic.”
Oh, mon cheri, but it is! It really is. Now, I’ll concede there are times when the “I LOVE YOU” falls out of a character’s mouth too quickly, but I am the first person to tell you that chemistry, synergy, attraction, and lust are often the driving force(s) behind a quick pull, of two people, together.
After all, in my younger, single, care free days as a young gay man, I was hunting down my next conquest based on those qualities above. So, pooh on all of you who shun the natural forces that enabled me with so many dates – I say – More of it, please.
Now, relationships aside, the magic is interesting but left me wanting more, and with all short stories I find there’s a bit of an element of “Oh, that happened fast.” I would love to see see this little short expanded into an entire novel.
Why did the world end? Did the demons do it? Was it, like, biblical? Or just one demon who got super pissed off at their less than equitable pay for a dirty deed? Maybe it was the angels! Damn…did God just have a bad day? Or was it climate change?
See? So many questions. In the end, I think that’s the crux of a good story. It sucks you in, makes you demand more – and even after a week’s passing since I read Rom and Yuli, I can still remember the way Yuli’s wings felt .
Well done Amara Lynn. I will look forward to reading another creation of yours!
Rating:
Purchase Links:
Meet the Author:
Amara Lynn has always been a quiet daydreamer. Coming up with characters and worlds since childhood, Amara eventually found an outlet in writing. Amara loves anything to do with pirates, villains and superheroes, angels and demons.
Amara is addicted to music and gets the most inspiration from moving songs and lyrics. When not writing, Amara usually reads, listens to podcasts, watches anime, plays a video game here and there (but mostly collects them), and takes way too many cat pictures.
Amara is non-binary/enby and queer and uses they/them pronouns.
J.P. Jackson 