| Title | : | Seven (The Others Project #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| ISBN-10 | : | 2940045423038 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Nook |
| Number of Pages | : | 325 |
| Publication | : | First published September 20, 2013 |
After losing his job, Chase Sarim finds himself living in a shit hole apartment. His new neighbor calls himself Seven, wears aluminum hats and carries around a ceramic rooster. He also seems to know what Chase is going to do or say before it happens, and talks about people named, Nine, Three, and Four.
Chase knows better than to get involved with someone like that.
But some men are just to hot to resist.
A future of fear…
Seven has been running for his life ever since he escaped Sub-Floor. In order to elude those hunting him he can never have a home, never have friends…and love? It’s nothing but a weakness that can be used against him.
Hiding had become a way of life. Until Chase.
Greed, power, and corruption…
Dr. David Stone knows Seven has a secret. Why else would his colleague, Dr. Radcliff, help Seven escape Sub-Floor?
It wasn’t the loss of a defective precog that bothered Stone, it was the fact Radcliff was willing to die to keep Stone from knowing why he did it. Or better yet, how.
Two men, one love, brought together by a series of impossible circumstances and destined by fate for an entangled future.
But maybe fate has nothing to do with it.
Seven (The Others Project #1) Reviews
-
FIVE HEARTS--This book...
Whoa!
This book!
My mind was taken along for an epic adventure with sci-fi mind bender and thrilling plot! There's action, pain, suspense, you don't know who to trust and conspiracies that kick you in the seat of your pants!
100% Awesome!
Chase Sarim just lost his journalist job for some bogus charges, has to downgrade very quickly to a crappy apartment. When things are starting to look bad, it gets worse in the form of his crazy neighbor who calls himself Seven. But Seven has secrets but for some reason he can't help but share them with Chase. What might seem like chance encounters and crazy ramblings actually have deeper meanings. Adrienne Wilder brings the reader for a fast paced ride into urban fantasy set in modern day (?) Atlanta where Others, psychically enhanced humans experiments have been created. Within all of this, Seven and Chase fall for one another and what a ride that was. Just a minor thing of running for their lives to worry about. No biggie.
The writing is snarky, fresh and original. Each scene could be easily visualized. This was great for me because normally I wouldn't run to read a book with psychics but this book is not your average 'I can solve mysteries' psychic romance. It was action packed, rough, gritty, bloody...with a true evil villain, Dr. Stone. He was like a modern day Hitler - he named the Others numbers, they did not rate having a name. (Hence, the name Seven) The amount of atrocities he committed...trust me when I say he's vile and lower than slime off a diseased slug's anus. If I could have eviscerated him, I would. I literally was panicking when the Others were in a bind or hurt. Imagine me yelling out for numbers like Nine or Four or Twenty Three to be saved or rescued.
Just bear with me, okay because for the duration of reading "Seven", the Others aka My Numbers (yes, I called them My Numbers) they were all special. Though sometimes, the number for names thing kind of threw me off and I just want to complete a math equation like Four and Three - I love this couple but sometimes I just wanted to multiply and make twelve an answer.
There is no sugar coating in this book which I enjoyed. Plus the plot was everything but predictable. We know the major evil baddie but you don't know where all the Others are, whose side they are working for and if there will at least be a satisfying outcome. The secrets and past hurts unfold slowly throughout the book. Everything is not given easily. *smirks* "Seven" is definitely a book that can blow your mind. It blew mine.
The romance and sex between Chase and Seven? Hotness. It's the hotness. Plus the secondary romance with Four and Three (I wouldn't mind a side story with those two, they are that good), it was great. I rooted for both couples.
And the ending...even though I knew it was going to happen...wow. It does end with a heavy HFN/HEA ending but I still have questions about some of the other Others. Twenty-Three? Thirteen? Nine? I won't spoil it for you but remember those numbers.
Guys...this book. This is an excellent book that does not pull punches. You like action? It delivers. You want hot sex with some romance added in but not to be bogged down with fluff? This is the one. You want edge of seat reading? Come on over, we have a place set for you at the thriller table.
This book is highly recommended especially for readers who enjoy sci-fi/urban fantasy/ thrillers. What a story!
-
Written January 19, 2014
4 1/2 Stars - what more can I ask for than a book full of romantic stuff, thrilling suspense, a good intrigue, evil villains, steamy heat, and lots of wonderful characters? - Nothing!
Oh Seven, sweet lovely Seven..
My friends who read this fantasy (or) PNR (or) dystopia romance seems to be very happy about it. Finally was it time for me too...
Full speed from the first page and a really promising start:“Jesus, Martin, what the hell do I pay you for?”
“My good looks, the occasional blow job, and my constant supply of Jim Beam.”
“You’ve never given me a blow job.”
“True, but you’ve fantasized about it.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Seven is so much more than just storming attraction, deep desire and growing strong love between two poor souls. The main characters, the guy with attitude, Chase and dear sweet beautiful Seven are of course in the middle of the story and the plot revolves around them, but it is also very speedy suspense here (every page .. not a dead moment) and all the time is it a heart-pounding read. (My nails were constantly threatened)
The cast is very large with many different personalities and I felt so very much for several of these tormented and mistreated Numbers-Men, called the Others. The evil scientists in Sub-Floor, particularly the most terrible of them Dr. Stone, are horrible cruel and completely heartless. All the threatened Others must struggle so much to survive in this exciting drama.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chase Sarim is a cheeky investigator/journalist who just lost his job. His reputation is quite ruined, and he suspects the father and blames his father, the wealthy senator. A man Chase has had an old hard conflict with for many years now. With the job Chase also lost his apartment and this novel start the day he is moving into an small place in a shabby old house.‘Just his luck. Best looking guy he'd seen outside Tommy Hilfiger advertisment, and he was crazy as a shithouse rat.’
In the same house lives this very strange and odd neighbor. He, Seven, is a stunning handsome guy... but with some unusually habits like fake ears at times, constantly changing of his seating arrangements and even a thing looking as an tin can on his head indoors. Chase can not help but connect with the poor clumsy guy and a grand romantic tale and this adventure begins...“Is talking the only thing you can do with your mouth?"
Seven flicked a look up. "No."
"Good.”
At first it was confusing, I got used to it, but it is A LOT OF "Number Names"; Seven, Nine, Three, Thirteen, Twenty Tree, Eighteen, Four, One, etc, etc. (Fortunately's a lot of numbers my everyday work to struggle with..)“Nine?”
“Yes, Nine.”
“Like, Seven, Eight, Nine?”
“Eight doesn't talk to me.”
But it's not just the names of Seven's friends that is very unusual, a completely incomprehensible story appears right in front of Chase. - It was so threatening exciting all the time and my heart was pounding for high pressure. Mostly I just wanted to scream; run away, resist, say no etc.. In between, it was heartbreaking tenderness, almost beautiful. This longing for love, physical contact and affection these mistreated men so desperately longed for ... Sigh!
‘Seven knew then that desire to keep Chase in his life had nothing to do with Chase being a Center and everything about Seven being human; someone whowished to be loved and needed to be cherished.
Something as necessary as air, food, and water.’
All over an amazing "reading experience" that I for sure don't want undone. ~ Seven is packed with events, interesting scenes, complicated future science... Quite simply - crammed with big emotions, witty and funny banters, wonderful personalities, good suspense, and as a fine and nice plus; wonderfully described lust and heat (..great for a smut girl). - Not a quiet moment! ~ AND I like that.
I didn't just care about the MC's, Seven and Chase, I also fell in love with a lot of the Others as the lovebirds Three & Four, the in the end very brave Thirteen, poor sad Twenty Three and of course Nine. I'm already longing for the next part and don't know whose story I want to read first. I want to know so much more about all of them and cannot help but worry until I know that everyone has their own lives (and a possible a grand love to share it with) on "dry land".
I must add that I really liked the writing style, the feel and expression, these shifting POV and all these quick witty dialogues. Well done Ms Wilder. You've really presented a very promising first book in a new series. So so good!
Highly Recommended!>...if you're fond of romantic and steamy stories with speed, some thrilling suspense, a complicated plot and lots of drama mixed in a "fantasy / paranormal / dystopia / high tec / sci-fi" M/M romance.
I LIKE - ...feels "new & fresh" and I enjoyed it all so very much. -
I'm in the minority opinion on this. For me, the premise was interesting, if not entirely original. The plot however, was . . . not so good.
I have two big problems.
1) the entire story - the whole thing - is a deus ex machina.
2) the story gets told to us in chunks of exposition.
For a romance book to grab me I need the MCs to be on a journey of personal growth, to make decisions that drive the plot, and to take risks: the essence of love being that we will sacrifice our happiness for someone else's.
However in Seven, the MCs make no decisions. Nine is the god in the machine, all-seeing, all-doing, who planned out every move of every player far in advance. Need money? Nine will hack the ATM. Need to break into the top secret facility to save your lover? Nine will make it so you only have to open a door and walk entirely unopposed directly to unplug the ultimate weapon.
I genuinely don't understand how everyone loved this so much. Nine is merely a wizard, pulling all solutions magically of out his ass, whenever required.
There are no stakes, no risks. The book is watching a puppet show play out. This makes for an intensely unsatisfying story.
And because Chase and Seven are biologically determined to be each others' complement, there's no sense of actual love; something the characters overtly state. There is literally no reason for these guys to be together, other than that they are destined to be drawn to each other.
The construction of the plot drove me bonkers. Characters deliver huge chunks of back story, plot development, character development. Blurt, splat - straight onto the page.
Internal inconsistencies in the psy talents of the Others were annoying. Wilder's blatant misuse of the terms of sub-atomic physics drove me bananas.
As a final nail in the coffin, Wilder should have used an editor or a better beta: she's far from a new author and there is no excuse for some of this stuff.
"Governments would bleed their own people dry for the kind of power that could give them." (loc 3013)
"Whatever the cost, people would pay it. Even if it meant bleeding their citizens dry." (loc 4368)
or
“That’s my brother. He may be an asshole but he’s an asshole with flare.”(loc 5076).
And, presumably, a flare gun.
This was only OK for me. Sorry.
-
Buddy read with my girl
Jen. I needed a buddy to hold my hand through this one because it's far outside the typical m/m genres I enjoy.
Unlike any m/m book I've read, Seven is equal parts paranormal, hidden dystopia, and psychological thriller. The book compares itself to an X-Files episode, and that's quite apt. It's in a whole other category of Mind Fuck central. Don't think about it too hard. Most of the concepts made sense to me, but I'm not a quantum physicist.
We have sadistic doctors, mind games, future manipulation, clones (sort of?), an escape plot...and that's just the beginning. To summarize this too much is to spoil it. You have to go in blindly and enjoy the ride.
I had a couple niggles:
The editing could have been tighter. I noticed missing words, spelling errors, and dangling modifiers (which put me right into Tourette territory). The fact that I enjoyed the bookdespite thisspeaks to the originality of the plot and the fast-paced movement of the story.
Seven and Chase were hot together (loved the side scenes between Three and Four, too), but I'm not sure I fully understood Chase as a person. Seven, yes, I got him and loved him. The secondary characters (Three and Four, Twenty-Three, Nine, and Thirteen) were well developed. The evil Dr. Stone was one-dimensional, but his sadism and cruelty felt plenty real. But Chase? Not so much. There's an incident in his past and the broken relationship with his father, but I couldn't fully SEE him. I wanted more about him, and I definitely want more of him and Seven together.
The book leaves you with some loose threads, so I'm very happy that a sequel is scheduled to come out later this year. -
Well, well, well …wasn’t this just full of surprises.
The synopsis is only but a lured attraction to what lies beyond this fantastical rabbit hole.
Set in a contemporary world with number named characters or Others. These men are psychics, empaths and telepaths, designed in the realm of science fiction and boasting the powers of the paranormal. Some are skilled and some are defects, but all are the defenceless pawns of Dr Stone, a sadistic megalomaniac.
Seven is an Other and he is on the run, hiding with the help of Nine to protect a secret from Stone. His forced madness is the only way to stay one step ahead of Thirteen: an aluminium hat, foil tipped ears, backward steps and disorganised chaos is what keeps Seven safe. He’s nuts, adorable, vulnerable, lonely, and oh so broken – so duh, obviously I loved him instantly.
Then Seven meets Chase and all his crazy OCD and erratic defences dissolve in the face of an inexplicable attraction to his new neighbour. Chase is maddeningly (against his better judgement) drawn to Seven despite his weird habits, and so, he too is pulled into Seven’s dangerous world.
This book is story driven with lots of fast highs, and slow lows. The author guides and then misguides, feeding little clues, leaving traps, giving hope and snatching it away. It’s littered with humour, heartbreak and lovely angsty suspense.
And then there’s the relationship between Three and Four, phew … *swoon* it’s intense, beautiful, powerful, and (for me) totally eclipses the intended romance between Chase and Seven. I’d read this book just for them alone.
This author gives us a lot to indulge in here with many points of focus: Chase’s guilty past, Stones unrelenting sadistic quest to control the world, (ha!) the relationships and abused psyche of the Others, Nine and his influence over everything(!), love, sex, secrets, fates, lies and truths! It’s all very cleverly plotted, very entertaining and very, very good!
I found the plot principles very similar to Christine Feehan’s (m/f) Ghostwalker series, which I really enjoyed, and granted, this was much better, but it is so closely related that I am unable to call this unique. I am disappointed that when Seven ditched his crazy he became a bit of a ...nothing character in comparison to the Others.
All the way through I recognised the baited hooks hinting at a series to follow,and I thought YES, but as I reached the end, I wasn’t so sure about that anymore :( There are a couple of threads left hanging which I wonder will evolve into something more. And I would REALLY like more :)
There was a lot that I liked, and characters that I loved, I had a few niggles along the way but I’ve forgotten what they were now, so minor stuff. I more than really liked this one, it was unputdownable and so, I loved it.
-
WONDERFUL!!
The best way to begin my 2017 reading challenge!
What can I say? The book was awesome. The feels, the interactions between MCs and the side ones: everything was to the point. The story itself and the plot was so amazing! I need more sci-fi mm books, like...right now!
MM lovers are going to adore this one. If you haven't yet read it, please do. Chase and Seven are too beautiful in every way. The Other numbers, too, are amazing and I just can't wait for their own books. I need more about Three & Four, about Thirteen, too.
Great first book in a series. Looking forward to the next ones. -
Intense, action-driven sci-fi thriller with a romance.
Chase is having a crappy day which turns into a crappier week and finds him scraping his dollars for a little better than a hole in the wall apartment. Vile in appearance and lacking amenities, it seems to be a nightmare come true. Add in the nutso neighbor across the way and he's hoping the two deadbolts are enough.
Seven notices the new tenant. Drawn to him, he does things he's never done before or promised not to. His lack of guile is enticing and Chase can't help but be attracted even though Seven's completely off his rocker.
Once this story gets started it is a mad dash to keep up. Scenes are changing, characters are changing and allegiances are suspect. The story is paramount here with the strong and incredibly sexy romance a highlight--and I mean super, delicious bonus--yes, can I please have seconds, Ma.
My first book by Wilder and I feel like I've just discovered a whole new world.“You’re channeling your dick. There is nothing about that guy, except the fact that you’re horny."
-
No.
I bought this book to relax after work.
Which—for me—is editing novels.
Someone let me know when this author has troubled to make sure someone edits this one. -
4.5 Stars. Science Fiction is one of my shortest main genre shelves and of the books in there, most are either short or not too complex. I can't process Sci-Fi! I shy away from it but I've always found Ms. Wilder's stories fascinating so I braved it. Quite a few brain cells were in danger of being fried when I was hit with some physics blah, blah, blah...quantum physics? What?! A couple of parts of info dump babble, that luckily didn't last very long, almost made me whimper. I may have been very close to having two maybe three anxiety attacks from all the thrilling suspense. Surprise, surprise, I ate it up and loved it! Loved the story, loved the majority of the characters and loved it most of all when . I found the story amazing overall with a bunch of other good stuff to balance it out and it made putting my few brain cells left at risk so worth it. :)
-
5.0 Stars
Well, what a way to ring in the new year! This story was abso-freakin'-lutely amazing. I LOVED it. In the beginning, I honestly did not know how I would come to like, let alone love, this book. Seven seemed ... well, looney. I could not conceive of a way that Chase could possibly see him as anything other than a patient from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. But Adrienne Wilder not only made it happen, he blew my ever-lovin' socks off. His story was spectacular. Yes, Seven, Nine, and Thirteen ... Four, Three, and Twenty-Three ... and Chase (*sigh*). I loved them all.
This was edge-of-your-seat stuff, friends. Crazy, frantic, heartbreaking, sweet, and erotic. I soared and I sank. This was one wild sci-fi ride that had me completely engrossed from beginning to end.
Bottom line: Flyin' high into 2014 thanks to Adrienne Wilder. Highly recommend! -
4.5
Delicious.
Not sure what I was expecting with this read so I've been putting it off for a bit, once I picked it up though I couldn't put it down. Fabulous thriller with an over the top evil villain, I don't think I've come across a man so vile as this one and the horrors that he's perpetrated on the subjects of Sub Floor.
Chase is a guy having a bad week...a really bad week. After losing his job he ends up moving into a pretty suspect apartment building and while his new neighbour is mind blowingly hot his name is Seven, he wears a tin foil hat and he carries around a ceramic rooster. So seriously, a bad week all around.
Are the stories that Seven tells about a secret facility more than just the ramblings of a broken man? As Chase learns more, he's drawn into a drama that radically changes his life.
The world building here is off the hook. I want to know everything about the guys created in Sub Floor:
This book surprised me and upset me. I loved how it all turned out and I couldn't help but feel sorry for . -
4.5
Such a good story. And so intense! It felt like my insides were all knotted up and I had to take frequent breaks from reading. I was so emotionally invested in the characters, and I continually bounced between being mad, sad and scared. Throughout it all, though, there was a thread of hope that I clung to. It was very stressful.
I'm too wiped out to attempt a proper review, so I'll just point you toward the awesome reviews by
SheReadsAlot,
Vivian, and
Shelley.
Side note:
I don't like that parts of the story were left unresolved, and I hope another story is in the works so I can make sure everyone ends up okay. -
This is confusing.
Figuring out a rating and a review, I mean, not the book itself. That is pretty clear.
I should start by pointing out that this is the first officially published M/M novel I read since January, and I don't even know why I started it. There was no irresistible pull exerted by the blurb, or the title, or the cover. I just randomly picked it up and read a few pages, and then continued because I didn't have anything else to do. What I'm saying is, maybe I wasn't favourably disposed toward this from the beginning, but personally I think a really good book should be able to overcome that little bump and suck me in regardless.
The other thing I'd like to point out is that my rating is generous to say the least, because I found myself bored, annoyed or downright uninterested several times doing the course of the story. Being an extremely fast reader, I powered through it in less than 24 hours, but that is partly because if I'd DNFed one more book I would have lost any respect I might have ever had for myself.
That being said, on to the THE STORY. And THE OPINIONS.
Welcome to Gay World, where everyone is homosexual and men cry and make out in public and FUCK EVERYWHERE, because why the fuck not?
Here's the thing: having the MCs rutting like horny bunnies completely disregarding danger and physical and/or emotional pain at any given moment tends to take out from the tension, and no tension equals medium to high levels of boredom.
But Wilder, you saved this thing from being complete bullshit with two things: the baddie(s), and the background stories.
The whole situation behind Seven's initial apparent craziness is... scary. Because the evil mastermind (bnr, I'm getting a little carried away) is pretty damn scary himself. As in a sadistic fuck.
As for the background stories, that refers to all the romances and friendships and enmities going on among the Others (the other Others...?), which are close to very good. There is potential for some explosive stuff. We have a lot of people - Three, Four, Seven, Nine, Thirteen, Eighteen and Twenty-Three, put them in order for you, you're welcome - and a lot of hidden and unresolved feelings and a lot of evident and intense feelings, and it's good stuff. (Side note: there is something dead sexy about a powerful man almost out of control who can cherish and look after someone with such tenderness. Three, I'm looking at you, you hot motherfucker.)
But, but, but. SO MANY FLAWS. Such as Chase. Who is a stupidly impulsive, judgmental, hypocritical PRICK I don't know anything about, other than the fact that he's (apparently? But it was mentioned twice and then dropped so who knows? Which is a big problem so why?) a recovering drunk and a person with pretty loose morals.
I mean, I guess he can be kinda sweet, but only when talking about the set of pretty green eyes belonging to the person he initially ridicules and avoids because of his perceived psychiatric problems.
Chase,
is pretty much what I wanted to tell you all throughout the first 95% of the book. (I skimmed the last 5%.)
Seven, on the other hand, is a pretty nice guy, all selfless and scared and shit, even though his naivete mixed with far from scarce sexual expertise is confusing to say the least, because - guess what? - nothing is explained enough, even though
(I couldn't resist. Had to throw some Sheriff in there as well.)
Starting with the romance and ending with... the romance. Okay, I guess the rest is explained decently. BUT NOT THIS. Plus CHASE SUX so it's a moot point anyway.
But there is something else.
Look: I've been spoiled. I've been reading almost exclusively literary fiction, YA and sterek fanfiction during the past few months, and these are all categories whose average writing quality is fucking high. But I find it deplorable and maddening that so much of M/M romance, except for a few srs bznss people such as Alexis Hall, Con Riley and A.M. Riley, is confined to a type of writing that is purely mediocre. And I know that making comparisons is horrible, and I hate to do it, but at times it's unavoidable.
Even just some tighter editing could have gone a long way in making Seven a better work. Aside from a couple syntax errors and several cases of subject-comma-verb, there are some sentences that downright grated on my nerves.Seven put his hand under the table and on Chase's knee. He found it and squeezed.
Um, what? First he puts his hand on the knee, and then he finds it?
(I HAVE TO OKAY THERE IS SOMETHING IN MY BRAIN THAT IS FORCING ME TO DO THIS.)
Also, "just as equally effective" is NOT a thing and it should never ever be because it has NO MEANING.
There is a FUCKLOAD (ridiculously appropriate and extremely mature. I know everything you're thinking right now) of sex and people are like this:
(I'm not even trying hard.)
ALL THE GODDAMN TIME, except it's always gay males because they have TAKEN OVER THE WORLD.
But whatever actually. Because it was an alright story and it helped me pass an afternoon, and I'm maybe possibly thinking of reading the sequel, mostly because I'm curious to see a. where with whom when doing what doing whom and how Thirteen will end up and b. whether Wilder will manage to do a better job with him.
Here's a last treat, for no reason other than he's pretty and I want to lick his face.
(Though is he trying to blow an invisible giant or what?) -
4.5 Stars
Seven by Adrienne Wilder was my first read of the New Year and boy-OH-boy if this is a sign of my reading year to come—2014 is going to be kickass! I loved it! So many twists and turns, characters to love, action, humor, sex, and suspense.
Readers are introduced to Chase Sarim on a horrible week to say the least—let go from his job and moving into a shady apartment building. Life and old guilty ghosts seem to be kicking his ass until the strange man from down the hall smiles at him. Bam! Chase’s world stops, takes a deep breath and…turns upside down! Seven, the oddball neighbor, wears Spock ears and aluminum hats to stay safe and hidden from “Them”. Haha…Chase’s first thought was why? Why does the best looking guy in the joint have to be a nut-job? But then strange connections and weirdness begin to change Chase’s mind. Maybe, just maybe Seven isn’t crazy after all.
Boom! The running, fear, and head games kick off from there. New characters and layers are unveiled along the way— to play with a Big Bad that could go toe to toe with the best and the brightest evil sons of bitches in fiction! Dr. David Stone was quite terrifying in my opinion. Any bad guy with DR. before his name sends my heebie-jeebie levels through the roof! What he could do and had no problems doing made me *shiver*. Pain and suffering with just a snap of his fingers. He ruled with manipulation. Gave something only to take it away. Used love or friendship to destroy, profit, and control. No one should have that kind of power.
“true strength wasn’t proven by the ability to destroy but the capacity to love”
One of the most fascinating aspects of this story for me was the power and magnitude of love. Everything love has to offer can be found and felt here. Several characters became integral parts of the conspiracy and adventure—all linked by blood, suffering, history and compassion. Many supposed “side” characters even stole the show and my heart. And the way their love and desire was explored, exploited, and felt on the page and in the action was dazzling at times and devious in others. Love was found, lost, craved, denied, and propelled this story along with such force and heart. My favorite part was the way love urged each of them to fight back and run or surrender. Love can awe, soothe, hurt, and inspire. In love and for love—we will do anything. Even face our biggest fear and risk everything.
”Seven picked up Chase’s hand and put a kiss in the center of his palm. ‘I like it when you touch me.’ Seven traced Chase’s fingers and wrist. ‘I don’t want you to stop touching me.”
I feel like I’ve said too much already. But I have to shout out some huge love for Adrienne Wilder before I go. The way Wilder brought all the pieces together is amazing. So many different energies and powers merged with humor and passion. I could feel Four’s fragility and glares :D ; Seven’s goodness and growing confidence; and Three’s raw power and explosiveness. So much danger and heat. From the heat in the bedroom to the blast of an explosion! Chase and Seven were hot and sweet and fun. But to be honest—every time Three and Four hit the page my heart skipped a beat. I was drooling for any and all details. And damn! Wilder teases with just enough info to make you want more, more, more. Right now!
Seven is one hell of a ride and read! Highly recommended.
I am willing to beg for more Three and Four. Please, please!
-
Dreadful. I skimmed from 17% when Chase starts having sex with cute, shy, cRaZy neighbour Seven after previously exchanging about five words and a mug of sugar. Not crazy as in fun and quirky. CrAzY as in foil hat wearing, up-taped nose, carrying around a porcelain Rooster - crazy.
The writing didn't draw me in even ignoring the clear lack of editing. There's no connection to the characters and they never felt fully formed - it was like a game of Simms with someone off-screen direction the action. The god/puppet-master - omnipotent all seeing, all knowing, all powerful number Nine. Some of the side numbers sounded more interesting than the paper thin characters we got, though I did start thinking the author had OD'd on
'The Prisoner' before writing, it feels the only explanation. The villain seemed too cartoonish to bring chills, for all his sadistic machinations.
Didn't get a sense of the place to know if this was futuristic, dystopian or current day with secret fucked up goings on. It could have been interesting (a lot have found it so) if the bigger plot had been filtered through more finely with more focus given to developing the main characters. If I'd cared in the least for them it might have had interest. I was more concerned for the Cacti.
Worse the death knell for any romance, more puppetry revealed. The characters themselves acknowledge the 'love' isn't real before wandering off for their HEA. -
Yeehaw!! What a stupendous book this was, combining some of my favourite elements of the m/m genre and not forgetting the frequent dollops of hot sex!! 5 stars and the dancing girls will probably make their final appearance before Christmas
....but let's hope not, cos it means I'll have read another fantastic book!!
Won't go into a great amount of detail, Shelley does that very well in her review, but I loved everything about this story...the heroes Seven, Nine for controlling everything, Three (to some extent) and his great love Four, Twenty Three for helping even though Three had taken his great love Four away, Thirteen for manning up at the end and of course not forgetting Chase who had not been created in a laboratory and who was Seven's Centre, and to understand that you'll obviously have to read the book. Shelley mentions that the story was very similar to Christine Feehan's Ghostwalker series, but I haven't read that so have no comparison to make there. I loved that dead Dr Radcliff (the nicer of the scientists) had put plans in motion for the future which with Nine's help would bring down the baddie of the book, Dr Stone
...sadistic, egotistical, money grabbing maniac that he was, hehe.
Would love there to be a sequel...pretty please...just so we know how everyone's getting on
?? -
Review to come after I gather my thoughts. And get some sleep.
Later edit.
What a wonderful way to end the year! I so enjoyed Seven and Chase's adventure. The book started with some funny and witty comments and I immediately liked the seemingly misfit men.
There is nothing I disliked in the book. Recommended for romance, sci-fi, action lovers. Actually, recommended to all. -
Ms Wilder always manages to find just the right balance between a creepy world and unique characters. This time she pulled me into a psychological thriller with a mad man cloning his brother to build a race of mental giants each with specific gifts. A flashback to Hitler perhaps? Other readers have summarized the story so well that I will not bore everyone with another summary. Dr. Stone was the ultimate psychotic genius who had the temerity to play with the human genome and create individual humans that either served his purposes or were summarily destroyed. I liked that none of the Others or Stone's creations had names, they were only numbered. Naturally, Seven was one or the heroes along with Chase. I loved the arrogant and domineering Nine who had his mind in every piece of the pie. This story had a lot of depth and great secondary characters that added to the story. The romance between Seven and Chase was secondary to the plight of the Others which was a nice change. Ms Wilder pulled a HEA out of the mess that was Sub Floor with a finesse that has marked her other books. Highly recommended.
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I really loved the plot of this series. It felt exciting, and I really liked the complex, and convoluted nature of the story. The Others were an interesting group, and I liked the diversity of personalities, and powers they had. I liked Chase, and could empathize with his feelings about his father, and his past. I felt the connection between Seven and Chase, and while it felt a bit fast it fit with the plot, and the back story.I didn't like the stale sexual dynamics. It felt a bit too controlling of Chase, and a bit like re purposed het romance. There were moments when I thought Seven was going to take a more dynamic role, but I was disappointed every time. This didn't totally take me out of the story, but it did somewhat diminish my enjoyment of the story. I'm hoping that there might be more. I really felt for 23, and knowing that his is alone at the end of the story makes me sad. I also wonder about 13, and some of the discrepancies at the end of the story. I'm hoping that means good things for him, and wasn't just an oversight. Overall a great plot that helped make up for lackluster sex scenes.
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Excellent and Creative Writing.
3.5 Stars.
It took me a while to get into this book, but I was helped along with extremely good writing by Adrienne Wilder. The books I’ve read by her, while exceptional, have been quirky. This one, with a science fiction setting of psychics and secret experiments is no different.
It’s hard to write a review for this without giving anything away, and I don’t write spoilers. Suffice it say that the characters in the book, MCs and secondary included, were fascinating and diverse. I also pined for their lives because all had suffered tremendously.
Not every character makes it out alive. At least I think. The ending gives us a solid HFN for Seven and Chase, but all bets are off for the rest of the numbered cast of characters in the book.
While this book wasn’t perfect, especially in forwarding the plot in a more direct way, I am itching to get my hands in the next book because the characters really got got me. Happy reading! -
True rating: The ONLY reason I am giving this a 4.75 instead of a solid 5, is because the ending left me with a substantial and fundamental question mark. I wanted something to happen and I am thinking it WILL in the books to follow, provided we see more of Seven and Chase. If I get the closure I want on something very VERY specific (again, between Seven and Chase), then I will most definitely change my rating to INFINITE, or in this case, 5 glorious stars :-)!!
*****
I know I'm bound to enjoy this because Adrienne Wilder :-)!! -
4.5 STARS
WOW! What a story! This was fast, funny, wild and sexy with a lot of humor thrown in for good measure. The suspense keeps you flipping pages, the sex allows you to slow down and feel. I feel a kinship now with this author. This imaginative story will be difficult for anyone to beat. It's also going to be difficult for this author to every beat. The reason for 4.5 - it didn't make me cry.
Highly, highly recommended! -
$0.99 right now at Amazon US, 3/30/17 :)
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DNF 18%. Boring...
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Well, there wasn’t much quelting**.
At least, not by me, anyway. I gotta say there was a whole hell of a lot of it from the story’s characters, though. A lot of melt downs.
Seven is about an alternate universe set in Atlanta, Georgia, where serious mind-fuckery of the genetic modeling type exists. An evil, evil, rat-bastard of a bad guy by the name of Stone has set up an underground lab. He’s a sadist who engineers young men (why only men?) in order to make and enhance their psychic ability for his own nefarious ends. He’s a great start to a bad guy, but there’s really not enough background to get a sense of where the evil comes from. He would have been much stronger for that.
Stone’s psychic experiments don’t even get names. Mostly the plot evolves around ‘Three’ who is hiding out and on the lam; he’s escaped the stronghold where Stone does his evil cooking and plotting. Three meets Chase, a reporter, and both their worlds tilt even more. It all turns into a kind of cat and mouse game with Stone and the other psychics still under his control, pursuing Three and Chase around Atlanta.
This has such a cool premise: the idea of genetically bred psychic wunderkinds and their telepathic/empathic connection to each other. And the abuse of them in order to control the world…
But it’s another case of fantastic premise in need of polishing. Editing errors (syntax errors, POV scrambling, extraneous/repeated info, inconsistencies in events) disrupt, and keep this from really shining. Normally, I can overlook some of this, but there’s too much weird stuff that keeps popping up.
It’s the story that kept me reading, wanting to see where it would go -- how Three and Chase would come out of it. And again, mind-fuckery, you gotta love it. There are interesting twists and turns but the best parts are the action scenes where shit hits fan.
There is a definite resolution for Three and Chase but the author implants an obvious set-up for a sequel. It looks like the next one is about Thirteen and I will read it to see how he got out of the ‘fine mess’ at the end of this book. Hopefully with better edits in place.
(**quelting = quiver + melt Thanks Optimist/King/Wench & SRAL!)
My psychics/character cheat sheet: -
An imaginative paranormal about a lab-created psychic who managed get free to the outside world, and the man who is drawn to him from their first meeting. Seven has managed to escape the lab he was held in, but he lost friends and left others like him behind in the process. He has a hidden ability he's reluctant to use, and hidden support from the Deus-ex-machina character Nine.
Some of the very best parts of the book were early on, in the descriptions of Seven's loneliness, and his inexplicable actions, and Chase's attraction and confusion. Nine's trickster-like qualities, and preference for manipulation over explanation, add some nice confusion. The plot had definite surprises, although the main arc was pretty clear.
I was pulled into the book despite a few reservations about plot details (such as Nine's abilities and limitations seeming arbitrary, in support of making the story go where the drama was wanted.) There was exciting action, some angsty emotion (especially with Twenty-Three) and a deeply evil villain to despise. The end seemed left open for Thirteen's story, but it was a satisfyingly complete story. Something different among M/M books which is refreshing. -
Wow. I absolutely loved this book. I soooo hope that the author is making it into a series, as, well, it left me wanting so much more. This was a January BOM pick it for me challenge, and I don't know that I'd have ever picked it for myself, but I basically had to read this all in one sitting as soon as I started it yesterday.
The excitement and activity and cast of characters had me at the edge of my seat! At first, i admit, i didnt know that I'd enjoy it, with the dingy apartment and hotel rooms, and strange aluminum foil hat, but it all won out!
I so didn't want to fall asleep last night, but I did, and ended up being pulled in by the last 40 pgs this morning. There were a few editing errors, but overall the content of the story won out any of that. Annnnd, the smexin was hot, when it happened, but it didn't make up the story, which I really liked.
There were tears and emotion and frustration and anger at the sheer evilness of the villian. And I loved that this book pulled at my heartstrings.
Thank you for a great BOM pick for me @Snowtulip! -
Here is my disclaimer to my four star rating and something that I learned about myself...Good sci-fi is much smarter and has imagination that this college educated stay at home mom can't touch. I can say that with confidence and without a bit of self-depreciation because truth is just truth...not an indication of my worth.
This book, the ups and downs, the plot turns, angst, intensity and suspense was just crazy good. I fell in love not only with Seven and Chase, but with Nine, Thirteen, scene stealers Three and Four, and especially Twenty-Three who had no one. (Maybe his story is next?) I had no trouble keeping up with the relationship portion of the book, but I got a little lost in the imagination part. I think by the end I understood, kind of, maybe...
Even though I'm a little slow on the up-take, I'm definitely in for another. :) -
5/31/18 Currently FREE via Amazon:
http://a.co/7mzNucY -
I said it in a tweet and I will say it on my blog. Adrienne Wilder writes the BEST story-driven M/M romance I’ve had the pleasure (heh) of reading. Hands down.
“It was official; Chase Sarim’s week couldn’t get any worse.”
This book opened with Chase Sarim’s awful day, couple of days, really…or more like the bad week that kept on getting worse. And from that point on, Chase and I were in it together. I was just hooked on him and his ordeal was totally mine to share. Chase was so real to me. He struggled with losing his job, his condo, his reputation (as he was accused of plagiarism). And then the best place he could find while in a bind was this ratty old apartment where one neighbor had yellow caution tape instead of a door and the other neighbor wore an aluminum hat, walked around with a cactus, and was named after a number, Seven.
But as weird as his new neighbor was and as much as he tried to stay away from him, there was just something about Seven that pulled Chase toward him.
“Forget the rabbit hole, Chase had drunk the bottle of mystery potion, eaten the cookies, and smoked one with the caterpillar.”
Seven…he was a little bit broken from all that he’d suffered and he was always looking over his shoulder. He couldn���t trust anyone and certainly couldn’t love, because that’s a liability. But he, too, felt this strange pull towards Chase.
“Seven leaned into the contact like a once-loved pet starved for attention.”
And there were all these weird things that started to happen – weird even for Seven…Spock ears guy with aluminum hats…that put them on a path toward more weird events. (Vague much? Sorry, I don’t want to spoil anything.) Some very scary. Some very hot. Some heartbreaking and soul-wrenching.
And some that left me with an everlasting fear of opening the milk container…
“The plastic jug burped air and regurgitated a mass of white clumps with the last bit of milk into the drain.”
Seven (the book, not the dude) had some really well placed humorous moments and I loved how they helped ease some very tense moments. The plot had twists and turns that shocked the crap out of me. I do not kid when I say that my notes to Adrienne included “This is where I said HOLY FUCKING CRAP!!!” And while I felt the horror of some of scarier parts of the story, they were balanced so well with the lighter things – humor, HOT sex, love, hope. And HOT sex – repetition for emphasis.
“…true strength wasn’t proven by the ability to destroy but the capacity to love.”
There was so much to this story. There were other characters that were fascinating – Nine, Thirteen, Twenty Three, Three and Four. They all stayed with me after I closed the book. And there was lots of food for thought (see quote above).
“That’s my brother. He may be an asshole but he’s an asshole with flare.”
Obviously, I loved it. I recommend it to anyone who loves a good story and wants to be kept on the edge of their seat. Who wants to be titillated, to experience love, heartbreak, hope, and come out of it entranced with all the characters that will stay with you long after you read the last word of the last chapter.
And I leave you with a hot, little snippet. You’re welcome.
"Seven howled. “No more. I can’t take it. Please…” He tried to slither away.
Chase grabbed his hips. “Not done with you.”
“Chase…”
He answered Seven by flicking his tongue over the puckered flesh.
Seven surged against the mattress, groaning so loud he vibrated head to toe. “More…”
“I thought you wanted me to stop.”
“I do.”
“But you said more.”
“I know.” Seven huffed out a breath. “Please, do something, anything. Just, just…”
Tongue in, tongue out, he nipped, sucked, licked until tears streamed down Seven’s cheeks, and he begged Chase to never stop. But he did, and Seven collapsed on the mattress.
“You ready for the grand finale?” Chase picked up the lubricant and a condom.
“I don’t know. I don’t know if I can take anymore.”
“You haven’t come yet.”
“Much more of this and I will.” He tried to roll on his side, but Chase wouldn’t let him.
“I told you to stay.”
Seven buried a frustrated cry into the mattress.
Music to Chase’s ears."
Review copy provided by author in return for an honest review. I also beta read this book.
