REVIEW: Affiliations, Aliens and other profitable pursuits by Lyn Gala
A desire for status has brought Ondry and Liam to a human world to trade, but dealing with humans has brought up all the old pain in Liam’s heart. Even though Ondry would do anything to protect his beloved palteia, he doesn’t know how to protect Liam from himself. Worse, Ondry isn’t sure how to shield Liam from the shifting politics on the Rownt ship where the Calti Grandmothers are nothing like the ones they left behind on the planet.
With everything in their lives changing, Ondry and Liam have only each other. If Ondry can’t find a way to defend Liam from the ghosts of the past and overcome the impossibly short life span of a human, their small family might be over long before either of them is ready to let go. Ondry has always been a dominant and possessive Rownt, and with Liam in danger, those traits are necessary as he challenges the world to protect his lover.
PLEASE BEWARE OF POSSIBLE SPOILERS IN THE COMMENTS TO THIS DISCUSSION FOR THIS AND PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES
Review:
Dear Lynn Gala,
I love this series. The end.
I honestly had trouble with this review – I know why I love these books, but I feel like the main reasons why I love them have already been discussed in my reviews of the first two books in the series and I am afraid of just repeating those reasons here. Actually, I am not sure if this is the last book in the series – I *want* it to be, because for me it ended in the perfect place, but I have no idea.
Readers, if you want to read this book, you can’t start here, you just can’t. You probably will not be confused about plot, because it is not complicated and most of the important things that happened in the first two books are referenced here in one way or another. However, you will miss the characters growing, you will miss the world of Rownt showing off more layers to us, and Ondry and now other Rownt learning more about humans will not have the same punch if you have not read how they started dealing with Dylan.
In this book we have Ondry and Liam joining the Rownt ship to trade with humans, amongst other things. In the previous books we learned that the Rownt are obsessed with trades – this is one of the driving forces (although not the only driving force, because there are couple other things which are more important to them) of their society. Rownt also value status and rank a great deal, but when it comes to choosing between obtaining more status and taking care of their child or palteia, they would choose the latter. In fact, that’s what we saw in the past books – how much Ondry was willing to risk of his newly acquired status in order to help Liam, to care for him.
In this book we see an established couple, which I personally do not see nearly enough in m/m books – I know there is a preconception that it is boring to write about established couple, and I always say that it could be but it does not have to be. I think it is just requires even more creativity to come up with the challenges for an established couple which do not take them back to square one, but which still make the book an enjoyable and engaging read.
I think the writer succeeded very well here. Both Ondry and Liam became the center of each other’s world, Liam learned a lot about his “adopted” people (that’s the expression he uses, so I am going to use it as well), but he still does not know a lot, and Ondry learned some stuff about humans too, mostly through Liam. However, Liam had had a lot of bad experiences in the past, some of which he still needed to deal with, and Ondry needed to learn more about human beings, both good and bad.
I also liked a couple of interesting and important things about how Rownt act; specifically, how the leaders of Rownt society act is revealed in this book, and in a way that affects both Liam and Ondry.
I said before that I know why I love these series and I do – great characterization, sweet guys, and interesting worldbuilding — but I am also a little bit surprised because in scifi I usually prefer more complex plots. Things definitely happen in these books, but *not that many* things happen if that makes sense, so the world building and the characters and their mutual growth and love for each other were the main attractions in this series. I said it in my other reviews – creating aliens which felt so familiar in some ways and so *alien* in several others was no small feat.
Grade: A-
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What are the names of the other 2 books in the series? Lyn Gala has written 21 books according to Amazon, and grr it looks like one has click on all of ’em to figure this out and I’m lazy but still wanna try the first book in the trilogy!
@marjorie ingall: This is amazon link to the first book:
http://www.amazon.com/Claimings-Tails-Other-Alien-Artifacts-ebook/dp/B00B7T18UY/ref=pd_sim_351_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=510W5E2mqkL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&refRID=0BZ94D2T2CW2T81NSVGK
In case it does not work, it is called “Claimings, Tails and other Alien Artifacts”
This is the amazon link to the second book:
http://www.amazon.com/Assimilation-Love-Other-Human-Oddities-ebook/dp/B00NUGAIT4/ref=pd_sim_351_15?ie=UTF8&dpID=51AaYrowyCL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&refRID=1ZED52QPX64H4VJQRA7F
In case it does not work it is called “Assimilation, Love and Other Human Oddities”
I have this is my TBR – but haven’t read it yet. I loved the first one so much, and I liked but didn’t love the second, so I’m a little cautious about this one. Glad to hear that you liked it.
@Sirius: Thanks, Sirius! Just downloaded a sample. Sounds intriguing.
I loved the first book as well and was meh on the second. The third book shows a return to form and was much better. I hope the series isn’t complete because I think there’s a lot more story to tell.
@marjorie ingall: any time. I hope you like it if you decide to give it a try.
@cleo: I think it all depends on what bothered you about the second book (if there were specific things to pinpoint of course). As I mentioned on brief conversation about this book on my recommended list for the year, if you did not feel that there was enough conflict between the couple, enough things happening in book two, I doubt you will enjoy this one. If there were other reasons, it depends then I guess?
I have all three books, but have only read the first yet. I *loved* the first, and one of the reasons is because the aliens are very, very alien. A lot of sci-fi romances have aliens that are just hot guys with fangs, or hot guys with an odd skin colour. They’re all pretty much humans, with some exotic additions.
This couple are definitely different species, with different biological and emotional needs, and yet they fit together so well.
@Wahoo Suze: Agreed, definitely, but I also think that especially in book three we see that there are *some* similarities between two races – Rownt do not become as you said “hot guys with fangs”, they are still alien in many ways, but we can see that sometimes two races may have similar motivations if that makes sense.
Whoo! Review is up!
I’ve gotten weirdly attached to Ondry and Liam, and the world-building is so charming. Despite the science fiction angle, Liam’s submissive nature feels very realistic and relatable to me.
I love, love, love that this is a sweet BDSM series where the relationship is not all about sex. Instead it’s about trust, partnership, and affection. The dom is respectful and loving; the submissive is strong and intelligent. They about about things and set boundaries and love each other.
The first book is still a comfort read for me. I thought I wasn’t going to buy this, but… sigh. I am. I’m gonna go buy it right now.
@Evelyn Elliott: Heh! Book two and book three actually became more of the comfort rereads for me – I reread them in full several times and I lost count how many times I reread bits and pieces.
@cleo:
@Alanis:
I had the same feeling about the second book. It just didn’t hold my attention as well as the first.
@Wahoo Suze:
I never noticed that before, but you’re right. The Rownt are very alien, but they’re still human enough to remain attractive. I think the author really hit the right note there.
I want more BDSM comfort reads. As much as I enjoy dark and gritty sex… sometimes I just want a little snuggling.
@Evelyn Elliott: I hear you :).
@Evelyn Elliot – me too! In fact you made me realize that Wicked West by Victoria Dahl is one of my bdsm comfort reads – and I’ve read and re-read the first Claimings book as well.
@Sirius – I was ok with the level of conflict in book 2. It’s been a while but iirc, my biggest problem was the world building. I thought the author did a great job creating the Rownt world, but I felt that the human civilization wasn’t as well drawn.
@cleo: Ah. Well, I can’t even guess then what you will think of book three :-). There is definitely *more* of human civilization shown, but if I were to compare I would still say that Rownt are better drawn. I would be very curious to hear what you thought if you decide to read it.
I have the first two (I think) books on Mt. TBR. I really must try and get to them sometime… *sigh*
Kaetrin yes I think we established that you really should try to do that ;).
I love science fiction with well-drawn alien species and cultures. I love sweet m/m romance, especially with established couples working through their differences. It makes me sad that there is so little of both, and I want to support anyone who combines them.
I just do not love BDSM romance. Maybe it’s just a case of “not my kink”; maybe because it triggers icky gender politics to me (although my head knows perfectly well it isn’t “about” that, but squick buttons never listen to rationality). I can’t even stand overt alphas (usually — there are some exceptions [hi Anne Stuart!]).
I keep looking at these and thinking I should try them. But I just can’t get my finger to click on that “buy” button.
@Hapax: this might be a tricky one for you, then.
It does approach BDSM from a different angle, so you might like it. I would not call Ondry an alpha. Imagine him sort of like a boss who loves and respects you. He’s in charge, yes, but he only wants what is best for Liam.
Another interesting note is that Ondry is essentially asexual. His race has sex only for reproduction. He does not have a libido and the idea of having sex for pleasure is incredibly weird to him. Liam serves Ondry by helping him trade and preforming other tasks. When they have sex, it’s strictly because Liam enjoys sex and wants it.
I wish I could help! You might just have to read the first one and see what you think.
@Sirius: :P
@Evelyn Elliott: Oh, that asexuality angle is intriguing! I must have missed that in the review of the first one.
/consults squick-o-meter/
Yes, I think that might make a difference. Off to try the first one…
Hapax while I concur with what Evelyn said about how Ondry’s race views sex ( for reproduction only), I never considered Ondry to be asexual that’s why it was not mentioned in the review :-). I found them hot as hell together even though , well, that would be a spoiler – what they do together that is . But yeah there is nothing traditionally sexual in a way Liam gives Ondry pleasure . It’s just I found Ondry’s joy and delight in eh making Liam’s sexual exploits fun to be so very hot . I would be curious to see what your interpretation will be :-).
@Sirius:
I’m curious about your point of view. Why don’t you consider Ondry as asexual?
Ah! Sorry if I’m bugging you. I like this series and like talking about it. You can ignore me if you like.
Ondry doesn’t use that word to describe himself, so of course it’s open to interpretation. I’m not sure if asexual is the right word, but it seems the most accurate. I agree, Ondry’s affection for Liam made the sex scenes shockingly hot. I don’t think Ondry desires sex, but he desires… pleasing Liam, maybe?
Evelyn I love talking about these books too, you are not bugging me. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely see your interpretation , it just did not come to my mind . I guess initially I have not considered it because of the izil. (Sp.) After book three , well , it is hard to explain but I think Ondry actually likes some things they do because he gets pleasure from it too, but I could be wrong .
@Sirius: Okay, now I’m curious. I’m gonna have to move this series up the TBR.
“I guess initially I have not considered it because of the izil. (Sp.) After book three , well , it is hard to explain but I think Ondry actually likes some things they do because he gets pleasure from it too, but I could be wrong.”
That’s an interesting point!
I saw the fora as not a sex thing, but more like… how human beings like footrubs and neck rubs. IMO, the only reason Liam strokes Ondry’s fora during sex is because Liam wants to please Ondry during sex, and this is the only way he can.
I’m only reading book three now, so I guess I’ll see how that aspect of their relationship evolves. I see there’s kissing. I’m hopelessly charmed.
@Evelyn:
“I saw the fora as not a sex thing, but more like… how human beings like footrubs and neck rubs. IMO, the only reason Liam strokes Ondry’s fora during sex is because Liam wants to please Ondry during sex, and this is the only way he can.”
Agreed – I guess because I saw it as pleasure, I probably substituted it in my head as equivalent of sexual one you know?
I just realized something and want to be clear – I am perfectly happy with interpreting Ondry as asexual! I like that interpretation, it just did not enter my mind when I was reading the books.
@Kaetrin: Mission accomplished. :)
“I just realized something and want to be clear – I am perfectly happy with interpreting Ondry as asexual! I like that interpretation, it just did not enter my mind when I was reading the books.”
Oh, no worries. That’s already clear. I was just wanted to chat about it. :)
@Hapax: The BDSM in the first book was more clearly about power differentials, and was less the bullying and abuse that so often gets eroticized and portrayed as BDSM. The bullying is still there, though. Liam is bullied by other humans, and he certainly didn’t consent to the way Ondry extracted him from his life.
In Ondry’s culture, natural submissives are to be cherished and protected, and I think (based on a not-very-good memory of the first book) that Gala portrayed that well, but I also think that fictional, idealized relationships based on an uneven power balance are really, really hard to pull off and separate from our current, non-ideal, human, fraught-with-abuse reality, and potentially painful for survivors to read about.
I mean, I’m not good at remembering details, not that my memory of the book is a negative thing.
@Wahoo Suze:
OKAY I SHOULD PROBABLY PUT THE SPOILER WARNING FOR THIS AND FOR THE WHOLE DISCUSSION.
Agreed, and I think you just articulated why the first book is not the one I reread. I mean, yes, the only reason why Liam did not articulate that he wanted to be with Ondry is because he was scared to even imagine that he wants it, and what happened in the Temple just helped him talk, but he still did not say it out loud before – that he wanted Ondry to take him in.
So, this kind of makes the first book just a tiny bit less a comfort reread for me – because the way I see it in book two and three we just see more clearly that that’s what Liam wants for himself.
@Sirius: Hmm. That moves the other two books up the priority list for me, then, because that little niggle was what had me hesitating to read them (even though I bought them as soon as they came out).
@Wahoo Suze: Oh definitely, if this was your issue, I can state with confidence that there is nothing even close to this in the next books. I mean, I cannot be hundred percent sure – maybe you will interpret something radically different from me, but for me the book two and three shows a couple who puts each other as the center of their respective universe, full stop.
Okay, after this conversation, I went back and re-read the first book, and then the next two, and they charmed my socks off. There was EVEN MORE character development, and world-building, and it was an excellent first-ish contact story. Loved it, and there are even a few threads left to pursue for future books.
Wahoo Suze thank you ! I am very pleased that you enjoyed the books – always happy when it happens and I get to learn about that. These books truly became my comfort rereads – book two is opened on my kindle now.
I just want to point out that Loose Id has bonus material available on their website for free, including a scene showing how much Liam participated in that custody hearing the Grandmothers had. Loose Id included the new scenes in the paperback version, but for those who read ebooks, Preludes is available for free download over at their site.
Thanks for letting us know! I think I read it already – this is only missing scenes from the first book right? But it is worth checking out guys .