Gyrfalcon

Reread April 2021
Enjoyed this as much the second time around - possibly even more. Just about as close to five stars as it can get without actually making it and I'm not sure why I never continued this series.

Still think it's a great sci-fi series putting a gay guy at the forefront of what isn't a barely concealed romantic sex romp. This is actually a sci-fi story with LGBT+ characters (Bennett's co-lead and love interest in this story is bi) and I think it's great. Very excited to read the sequel!


Original review

Unexpectedly, this book is kind of awesome - reminds me a little of Tanya Huff's Confederation, but with less aliens, and I keep picturing Bennet as Commander Shepard from Mass Effect - and the sci-fi aspects are really cool. (I'm slowly realizing I might be a sucker for military sci-fi...) And I love the fact that the main character is gay and it's just an addition. I mean, yeah, he has a boyfriend, and likes guys and that informs his character, but all that takes a backseat to the sci-fi. Thank you! Finally found a book that doesn't shove the romance right down my throat.

(For those of you curious about the synopsis like I was...Bennet and Joss practice ethical non-monogamy, though not the healthiest example of it. This is not a triad/threesome/ménage. If you're curious about endgame relationship/s, go spoil yourself like I did.) (Though I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed that this sci-fi isn't set in a world that's more...progressive than it is. When bi and gay military members still have to hide their preferences...I expect better from sci-fi...)

I think it balances sci-fi action with deep character moments fairly well. (Though I could have done with a bit more sci-fi action, at least I cared about the characters.) If I had one complaint it would be that the narration tends to cover the same scene from two different perspectives. While I don't hate this, and it is a good narration tool, the jumping back in time was a bit confusing occasionally.