NOTE: Spoilers for Natural Consequences, book two of Good Intentions
Yesterday, I decided maybe I should finally, directly address feedback from some readers regarding Lorelei’s actions in Natural Consequences. After five years, it’s still a thing. Many who bring it up make a point of using the sort of insults and garbage labels that say much more about the user than the target. Others avoid that stuff, but they’re still surprised or put off.
Today, I started writing that piece. The longer I wrote, the less necessary it felt. I scrapped that and started over.
Alex mustered his courage. He had to address this, for both their sakes. “Lorelei, do you want other men?”
Her answer was calm, quiet and straightforward: “Yes.”
He felt it hit inside. Thankfully, she continued.
“You asked a direct question, and you deserve a direct answer. Alex, no one will ever replace you. You have not failed or fallen short in any way. I could never enjoy anything that brought you harm. I will not tire of you. Quite the contrary—you and I will never have enough of one another, regardless of the sorcery and the curses that bind us.”
This is Chapter One of Natural Consequences. Alex brings it up. Not Lorelei. Alex. She respects him enough to answer directly and honestly and talk the issue out. His feelings are right there on the page. He says he’s okay with it. I’m not here to tell readers how to interpret my books, but I don’t feel like I was presenting any riddles there.
When Lorelei hooks up with another guy, she tells Alex immediately and honestly. He isn’t hurt or dismayed. At no point are they less in love, less attracted to one another, or less trusting. At no point do either of them or Rachel become secondary to anyone else.
Alex, Lorelei, and Rachel share an open, polyamorous relationship. They each have different needs and wants and boundaries. They handle that through a lot of open, honest communication and trust.
In book one, Alex expresses discomfort with the idea of Lorelei hooking up with other guys. He’s nearly twenty years old and it’s his first relationship. I did not think it was reasonable for him to be a fully-formed polyamorist right out of the gate, but I also never intended to stay there. Equality is a basic requirement for all three partners. There’s also a whole lot about their power dynamics and power exchange, and it’s all based on open communication and consent, not some bullshit guiding philosophy where guys should take ownership of women. Alex explicitly rejects that notion over and over. It’s the difference between a consensual kink and abuse.
I don’t particularly plan to focus much on Lorelei hooking up outside their relationship. It’s not something I see as a big plot aspect. I also don’t plan to ignore it or pretend it doesn’t happen, let alone write it out of the storyline. There will absolutely be scenes dealing with it to varying degrees. I hope readers can enjoy them without feeling like she’s betraying Alex or Rachel, because they sure don’t feel that way.
I’ve seen complaints that I ruined the “ultimate male fantasy.” I never set out to write that fantasy. I have seen that I failed the “harem genre.” I gotta say I knew there were harem tropes in anime and elsewhere but I did not know this was a whole genre when I wrote the first couple books and I sure wasn’t trying to live up to any such mold. Nor am I writing this to advocate for polyamory. It works for some, not others, and that’s fine.
Alex, Lorelei, and Rachel share an open, polyamorous relationship. If that is something a reader doesn’t want, then this is not the series for them, and I am fine with that.
I love your books and can’t wait for the next book in this series. I am a very straight happily married man who reads for entertainment. I love how you have portrayed each character and think you have remained true to their personalities. People who can’t stand Alex ‘s take on fairness in this relationship should read something less complex.
I thought it was fine. It was clearly implied that he would get over it when we learn he’s got long life right?
Like the previous poster, I love your books, all of them. The ScFi ones are well done, interesting and fun, and the fantasy ones are either really hot and a turn on, or just fun! I don’t see any problems with the Good Intentions series so far, other than not being enough of them or soon enough! I enjoy your take on a fantasy polyamory, and look forward to where it all goes. Don’t let the HaremLit guys get to you – they tend to like the shallow books, kinda sophomoric. I do enjoy well written explicit scenes as long as they serve the plot line and aren’t there “just because”. I’m looking to finding out what becomes of the 3 primary characters as well as their friends and lovers.
Continue with the good work!!
We are big fans! I love the dynamic between the 3 of them. It takes a degree of emotional maturity to understand, even if polyamory isn’t your thing. I agree with Mark. It doesn’t have to be your thing to understand. If you can’t get it read something more “fluffy”.
As someone who loves your books because they represent health polyamory. I am Poly and have been for many years, it is hard to find good portrayals of actual good open polyamory. Polyamory is not all about sex, it it about relationship, unlimited love, boundaries, good communication, respect, and honesty. You have hit everyone of those in your books. Keep it up, I am waiting for that next book in the series!
I love the characters. I think you’re going in the right direction. Thanks for a series I’m looking forward to reading more.
Screw the “ultimate male fantasy.” Screw the “harem genre.”
Your story is special because it’s ‘not’ like most of what’s out there. Because it ‘does’ portray an open, polyamorous relationship. And not just any open, polyamorous relationship, but one between three distinct, ‘real’ people, all of whom are clearly in love and intent on living happily and enjoying the rest of ‘eternity.’ Because of their unique circumstances (i.e. succubus curse) and their characterizations, their behavior comes across as perfectly healthy.
Speaking as a reader, I agree with everything you’ve said. At no point in your telling of any of the books did I question anyone’s loyalty to their relationship (or the validity of their concern about said relationship). As you said, it wasn’t normal for Alex to be a fully-formed polyamorist right out of the gate. His discomfort felt genuine and absolutely necessary to maintain his believability. And in book 2, his bringing up whether Lorelei wanted other men felt equally genuine, and her reply was spot-on. She’s no prude, but neither is she flippant in her answer. She treats his question and its implications seriously. She is clearly committed to a relationship with Alex, one in which they can both be free to enjoy opportunities without weakening their commitment to each other.
Lorelei’s actions in Natural Consequences felt perfectly right for her, as did her follow-up conversations with Alex. She’s a millennia-old succubus. You portray her as a millennia-old succubus—one who is deeply, truly in love with Alex and Rachel. Lorelei’s perspective and values fit her like a glove.
As Lorelei said about Alex in Natural Consequences, “I mean to show him pleasure as I define it… not as it is defined by the prudish sensibilities of this era.”
Of course Lorelei’s actions weren’t without risk. (Nor should they have been. We pay attention to a story ‘because’ there’s risk.) Risk that Alex might misunderstand, that he might feel betrayed, that his feelings might be hurt. Not because Lorelei genuinely betrayed him, but because humans are flawed, emotional beings. Rationality isn’t a given in a relationship, so it can’t be taken for granted. That’s why it’s still such a relief when a character ‘is’ rational.
I’m rather impressed at how right you’ve gotten Lorelei’s attitude, and how well thought-out these relationships are. It’s been great to see them evolve, and I hope they’ll continue to do so.
And thank God you thought Lorelei out the way you did. You built a story around a succubus without making her into a sex toy for the main male character. I hope you appreciate the magnitude of that achievement. Even Lydia didn’t feel like a sex toy. She felt cruel, manipulative, and dangerous as hell. (Slight pun intended.)
Go where your instincts take you. They’ve been spot-on so far.
Love the books, I think this story and the relationships Dynamics are perfect. Keep them coming please
I have a feeling that my comment was the one that broke the proverbial camel’s back. This blogpost is a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.
Sorry for insulting you, I should have seen the frost on the windowsill halfway through book one now that I think about it. Nah, ya know I should have seen the writing on the wall in the description of your book lmao.
Thank you. It’s appreciated.
I was going to get all passionate and write a lengthy comment, but then I noticed that Sean Livingston pretty much covered it all. So, what he said.
I really like your books and never saw the situation with Lorelei and other men as anything other than a personal decision on both her and Alex’s part. I felt that this was a natural progression in their relationship, she is a succubus, and it would have been against her nature and limiting if she was not free to make her choices. I hope to read more of your books soon! Can you give us any updates on book schedules this year?
I love your books, and I must admit that I did have an issue with that particular plot line. Having said that, I absolutely respect the fact that Good Intentions is your story, set in your universe, and that you must do justice to your characters. I am so glad that you aren’t letting what others say force you to change your stories to suit their views.
The job of an author is not to pander, it is to tell a great story, and you have done that, sir. There will always be those who disagree, and many will do so in an ugly way. Please take comfort from the fact that even those who may not like certain aspects of the story are still blown away by the whole, vibrant, sexy, interesting world that you created.
Thank you for all your great work, and I’m looking forward to your next book.
Elliot, I am truly enjoying Alex Lorelei and Rachel and their adventures. I am writing some epic fantasy myself and have straddled the line on intimacy and how deep I want to get with it. I seek a wide audience and feel that if I get to steamy I may lose mid teens.
What I really wanted to know was when your next adventure with Alex Lorelei and Rachel will be available or have you concluded their story. It seemed slightly open for another installment.
Thanks
Oz “Mark” Nielsen
Book four is in the works.
I don’t give release date estimates, as they’re usually an exercise in disappointment for everyone, especially myself.
So I’ve never had a problem with their relationship and the way its developing, it actually seemed very believable to me with the characters. Now after saying that I’ve just been having a few thoughts since reading this post; with Alex getting the memories of his past lives shouldn’t their be bouts of jealousy and anger at the thought of Lorelei or Racheal with other men? I’m asking because it seems a few of the memories of Alex’s past lives his lover left him either for another man or because of another man so I would expect even with Alex being as good of a person as he is to show more resistance to the idea. Again this is more of a something I’ve been wondering about then trying to be negative.
It’s not unreasonable. Anyone can get jealous. Slapping the polyamory label on a relationship doesn’t change that; in fact, navigating that can be a frequent preoccupation. It’s part of why communication is so important (as it is in any relationship). I think he probably does feel some measure of jealousy now and then, but he also confronts it and thinks past it. Similarly, Lorelei cares enough to take his feelings seriously. That’s what I have reached for in the scenes dealing with this stuff.
I really feel like this is addressed in Personal Demons in the bar where Alex and Lorelei deal with her flock of suitors. She loves other men, but puts Alex above them, and she never wants him to feel like he must compete with them for her attentions. At the same time, he acknowledges that this is part of who she is, and doesn’t intend to force her to change.
When Alex is put in a position where others would try to belittle him or make him envious, Lorelei is the first one to diffuse it and pull them out. She knows that it wouldn’t bring him joy to see her in the arms of another man, and he knows that she loves it when he gives in and hooks up with another woman. They work to make sure they are both happy with their lives while being their own people.
I personally don’t see anything wrong with your plot lines or situations in the Good Intentions series, but then again, I read your stories for the stories themselves. What you did in Natural Consequences, the way I see it was merely a complication (conflict) to add spice to an already spicy tale. Besides, the way you handled the aftermath with Bridger on the floor was hilarious.
I suppose you can look at it two ways:
1. Be thankful that your readers care enough about your characters and take it as a sign of a decent following.
2. Remind folks that it (like so many other works of fiction) is just that. Fiction! The characters are not real people,
no matter how real you make them. And when it boils right down to it, you are the author; what you say, goes. The
rest of us are just along for the ride. Keep ’em coming, Elliot. They are excellent stories.
You know it’s quite interesting I remember issuing a complaint about Lorelei and Alex as well in your old blog, but my complaint wasn’t polyamory or the fact that the “male genre” proved to be false. I remember saying that there is a certain hypocrisy in their relationship in regards to influence, meaning it is constantly reiterated in the narrative that Lorelei doesn’t want to change who Alex is, and Alex likewise doesn’t want to change who Lorelei is, but a relationship polyamorous or monogamous, demands compromise and change from individuals, and the more committed the individuals are to each other, the more change it demands from them. Yet it is Lorelei who demands change from Alex, even as she denies it, and I felt Alex being short changed, but acknowledged that rarely is power shared 50/50 in a relationship and it often bounces back and forth. In the following novel this imbalance was somewhat addressed and I was very pleasantly surprised, I expected it to get worse. I’ve read all your novels and one commonality the main male protagonists share is that they are too accommodating to the women they’re with, meaning they think about their partner first and foremost before they think of themselves, not to say it’s wrong, but I find it jarring when the narrative encourages me to believe it is a relationship on equal footing, the fact that it’s voluntary on the man’s part doesn’t change the fact that the woman enjoys more power in the relationship. Nothing is wrong with that, but I’d rather prefer the reader be allowed to draw conclusions, instead of being forced into one. With all that said, I don’t find this to be a glaring fault, I enjoy your novels, and I felt then as I do now that I had something to say, and I detest the feeling of staying with words in my mouth. Blessings to you and yours.
Really? Alex is short changed.
(face palm) Right.
He has sex with a succubus, an angel, a pair of horny bi-sexual witches, his high school crush, as well as the occasional beautiful random young woman on the side – all with Lorelei and Rachel enthusiastically cheering him on. Then Lorelei uses a man in order to harvest the power to rescue Alex and his gang. What at selfish and self-centered woman!
I would never have imagined how delicate and fragile some of my fellow men’s egos were.
I always felt like that moment you wrote in the book was something that really tested who your readers are. They should really take a look and see if their open minded about things and not just the idea of things. I’ve seen a few of my friend who wish for the kind of relationship that exists in these books but in reality could not handle what it really means.
What I mean is trust. So far at the core of this story I keep seeing two things that are never broken between these three. Trust and Passion for each other.
I enjoyed the good intention series. It has the right balance . I like the story lines. And I want to know if you are going to write any more in the series.
Thank you! Book four is in the works.
I think it makes sense for the story and characters and was well done. However, on a personal level it did make me a little uncomfortable, but that clearly comes from my own hangups and insecurities and I think it is good when stories challenge those. Essentially, it made me realise that a) polyamory isn’t for me (at least not right now), and b) that while a power imbalanced ‘harem’ type of situation doesn’t sit right with me morally, it does still appeal to me (and maybe that’s something I need to think about ).
Thanks for all the hard work, your books are great and I’m looking forward to more!
And that’s fair! I try not to “call out” the whole harem genre because it’s fair for people to have their fantasies (also because I haven’t read any of those books). I think it’s okay to have the fantasy of being the guy who gets with all the ladies, just like it’s fair to imagine being the lady who gets with all the guys or the guy who gets with all the guys and so on. It’s okay to have a fantasy. What’s important is showing that all of those people are also people with their own motivations. Too much of our media–and way too much of our society in real life–defaults to viewing those women as props and toys. That can be a tough needle to thread, especially when so much of the audience is going to refuse to see those partners as having agency, or get really upset when they show and use that agency (or again, shit happens in real life and that’s worse). I try to do that, and I think I’m doing an okay job but it isn’t perfect. And I think a whole lot of people who have gotten upset with NatCon are showing their real problem is less with mistakes on my part and more about how they view women.
Despite my feelings on this issue, I for one find the fact that we are having this discussion/thread, concerning a fantasy novel, beyond refreshing. It really is a shame that there aren’t more authors in the fantasy genre with your skill and honesty. Those able to a) create and develop a world with complex characters and situations, b) seamlessly weave an erotic element, into an otherwise outstanding fantasy/paranormal action novel, and c) are willing to explore complex/sensitive issues, ones that make most people at best, uncomfortable.
That said, like others on this thread, upon my first read through the GI series, I believed I was troubled by the fact that Lorelei desired/had sex with other men. Which was puzzling, as I’m not a jealous person and generally have an accepting/non-judging nature. Not to mention, I rarely get so deeply emotional invested in characters, as to be unsettled by their shenanigans (or write on an author’s blog).
Wanting answers, I read through the series a second time. Unfortunately, this did nothing to alleviate my disquiet. On the contrary, when I read about Lorelei’s tryst with Shannon in Life of Shadows, I was even more upset than before. And more puzzled. Because Lorelei had had sex with girls before, why did it bother me this time?
Which drove me to read through the series a third time. And I’m glad I did, because the cause of my consternation finally became clear. It was something Alex mentioned at the end of book 2, while discussing Lorelei having sex with Bridger. Like Alex, I didn’t know what the boundaries for their relationship were. And outside of friends being off limits (and possibly Zafirah), still don’t.
Actually, to be fair, I do know what the rules are for Alex…that’s simple, none. But not necessarily because of some double standard. Rachel and Lorelei are not human (or at least not anymore) and with multiple millennia under their belts, have a different perspective. Especially, since both draw pleasure and/or strength from his desires for and coupling with other women. Giving them a vested/selfish interest in encouraging his shenanigans. In some cases, they even orchestrate them. Additionally, given their bond, it’s impossible for Alex to do something without them knowing it.
Alex on the other hand receives no pleasure from their sexual encounters. At least not outside of enjoying and participating in the love Rachel and Lorelei show each other. Nor does he know when they are engaged with others. And in the absence of rules of engagement, specifically in regards to Lorelei (as Rachel doesn’t seem to be interested in anyone else but her lovers) I don’t know if they are being violated.
All that said, I look forward to what is next for the Seattle crew. It will be interesting to see how Lorelei reacts now that she has her freedom. Particularly if her bond with Alex continues to diminish and she no longer receives the same sensual pleasure from his couplings with other women, and possibly starts to feel more human emotions as jealousy and the like.
With the diminished bond, I don’t think it will be human emotions like jealousy that Lorelei will struggle with. She is a succubus. It isn’t in her nature to be jealous. It is to manipulate and control men. I wonder if the sorcerous bond that established Alex as her master kept that aspect of her nature in check. From the very beginning she insisted Alex be in control. Will that continue to hold true? And lets not forget the ritual also diminished her “evilness”. Does that also still hold true? So many delicious twists that might arise from the head that wore the crown!
Another thought occurred to me.
What is the nature of evil? I would postulate that one possible answer is a callousness towards the plight of our fellow man. That callousness might even allow someone to laugh has they hung upon the arm of their lover as they strolled trough a Nazi Concentration Camp despite the pain and suffering all around them.
Now consider they ways in which Lorelei has manipulated Alex. It has, the best that I can recall, been in the context of sex and seduction. She has always held Alex’s values and feelings in the highest of regards. But what if her threshold for evil in no long inhibited by the ritual? Will she become more callous towards Alex’s feeling and values in the context of her machinations of Alex’s love life?
In no way am I saying that these issues are true or will come to pass. They are just thoughts spawned by the comments of Jason in his last paragraph.
P.S. – I love these stories and the characters I have come to know through them. Keep up the awesome work Mr. Kay and I eagerly await the next installment!!!
One final comment.
It isn’t the sorcerous bond that has lead Lorelei upon her path of redemption. It is the love and support she has received from Alex, Rachel and her friends. And I believe it is those bonds that will continue to guide her as she moves forward.
I am pretty sure I have strayed from the original intent of Jason’s comments, but hopefully not to much.
This is one of the reasons I love Good Intentions. There’s quite a lot of ‘ultimate male fantasy’ out there and mostly it’s just about men having a harem that he basically treats like blow-up dolls and being portraited as the hero because of it. Well-written characters, regardless of gender, ALWAYS makes for a better story. I’m not, personally, polyamorous, but I enjoy new perspectives.
Also, having Alex, especially in the beginning, be the ‘weak’ and insecure one, the one who needs support and guidance, is just in general a breath of fresh air. Lorelei and Rachel, not only being who they are, but also being as well-written as they are, as well as themes dealt with, makes this series one of the best I’ve read when it comes to dealing with gender equality and toxic masculinity.
I can’t wait for Good Intentions IV, but take your time writing it 🙂
Your health and the book’s quality is way more important than my impatience 😉
First as many have said before I love this series of books. I have listened to them at least 10 times.
I felt that what Alex went through was a little rushed, as Lorelei said she didn’t think they would have this conversation for many years, giving her a chance to demonstrate her LOYALTY. She loves Alex and will always come back to him but, he has need and she has needs. So long as their intentions are clear and there is an understanding between them, there shouldn’t be an issue. I understand that many people would have liked Lorelei to continue to only have fun with other women but she is a Succubus and gets much more from sex than Alex does. She stated that it is more about the situations she finds herself in more than her hunting for another conquest, she said there has to be chemistry and it seems like she really likes good guys. I am 43 and my views on relationships and sex have developed over the years and I went from a being easily jealous when someone was paying attention to my girlfriend, to more laid back accepting that I am not the only person in her life, and now to the point where I can honestly say that If my Wife came to me and said that she wanted to experiment with someone else and we had an honest discussion I am willing to let her do what will make her happy as I am sure she would feel the same way. Look the subject of an open relationship or a polyamorous relationship is not the norm for our society but I quote Rachel “Love is Love”
Wait, this was an issue??
Hell, even in the first book, Alex was uncomfortable with the double standard. Especially since it only applied to Lorelei (and ostensibly Rachel, but it was never explicitly addressed)…
The only thing I’m upset about is that the next book isn’t out yet. Especially after that set up at the end of Personal Demons!! 😛
I just want info on book 4. Book 3 left so much undone, and then both the series and even the author dropped off the face of the Earth.
Hi there! Book 4 is in the works. The rough is halfway done. No projections on when it’ll be done ’cause that usually leads to disappointment, but I’m working on it.
As for dropping off the face of the Earth: the author put out three novels in other series since book 3 came out. 🙂
https://www.amazon.com/Elliott-Kay/e/B00B6QGFMY
You’ve addressed the issue openly, and I thank you for settling the matter once and for all.
I wish you luck on future endeavors, but I will no longer buy the next book in the series. I get that you wanted to write about a more serious, polyamourous relationship, but what initially drew me in was the harem aspect. Since the train is heading another direction, to a destination I have no desire to see, this is my stop
As a fan of said genre in a happy monogamous relationship, I want to thank you. I’m not going to say there is anything wrong with the way many other polyamorous relationships are portrayed in such stories; there is not. However, after listening to your book son Audible, I realised just how much of a double standard I was holding. When it came to that scene, I sincerely felt the pain that Alex did. The thought hurt me. But as the scene progressed, I again continued to find myself in sync with Alex’s feelings. Yes, it hurt, but I also understood. And the thought of hurting someone I loved with such hypocrisy hurt more than the thought of sharing them. Sometimes, realisations hurt. That is just the nature of life and love. And ultimately, I’m glad I was able to experience these revelations. They have made me a better person for it. So again… thank you.
Hi, sorry for the very late reply. Had a bit of a notifications hiccup and I didn’t see this pending until just now.
The one thing I want to reiterate is Alex didn’t feel any pain. It was a moment he had to reckon with and a shift in his reality and his views, but there was no particular anguish.
That’s kind of the point to all this. The key to being in a polyamorous relationship is being honest with yourself and what you want. If you’re uncomfortable with your partner having other partners, that is totally fine as long as you aren’t pursuing a double standard. If that’s the case, then yeah, monogamy is better, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
There are plenty of polyamorous relationships in other books with either one man or one woman, so it’s not like there aren’t other options. And I think it’s probably unhealthy to get mad at a more realistic depiction of a healthy open relationship. I have no problem with either male or female “harem” stories, but I think the appeal of such an arrangement wouldn’t translate well into a real-world setting, so it’s nice to approach it from another angle.
Anyway, I think an interesting difference between Alex and Lorelei is that Lorelei seems to enjoy Alex’s trysts near as much as she would her own. Alex doesn’t get the same thing from her being with others (especially men), but he’s honest about it. He doesn’t use the fact that she’s attracted women (while he’s not attracted to men) to end the discussion and say other women should be good enough for her. While he initially asks her to not stray with other men, he’s willing to face what makes him uncomfortable. That’s much more interesting to me than someone who is all for a truly open relationship right off the bat, or a succubus that inexplicably decides to reign it in forever. Their relationship isn’t equal in all ways, but they give each other equal consideration.
I’m sure he would have been happy if she had no desire to be with other men, and if that were the case, I wouldn’t have a problem with any perceived inequality (they would both be doing what they want). But she is a succubus and does desire other men, and she makes it clear that’s not going away. He doesn’t wish for her to be something she’s not, and accepts her as she is. That isn’t to say he would be evil if he couldn’t take it and ended the relationship, since in my mind, accepting her and accepting the relationship are two separate, if related, things. His decision, though, is that she’s worth it. The fact he needs to make a big adjustment gives it more weight.
I think, the way things were written, that’s the only way the relationship could work. Even if she had decided that he was worth giving up other men forever, I don’t think that would have worked for long—Alex would just get more and more uncomfortable with the idea that she is giving up something. While he would be willing to give up other women, that would ironically make things worse for Lorelei (since she doesn’t feel jealousy and enjoys his outings), so that kind of equality just wouldn’t work. And even though he’s accepted her being with men, it’s clear in the third book that she still puts his needs above her own, just like he’s trying to do for her. She gets no joy from Alex’s discomfort, and when what’s-his-face tries to pursue her when Alex is clearly having a bad time, she lets the other guy down gently, but firmly. Not because Alex told her to, nor even because she’s opposed to the idea, but because she felt Alex genuinely needed her then. Just as she and Rachel come first for Alex, Rachel and Alex come first for her.
Wow… so… I guess this is my roundabout way of saying “keep up the good writing”
Elliot,
I love *all* your books. Your characters are complex, and real, your stories are are more than entertainment, yet they have entertained me many times over, and there’s almost always one “snort out loud” moment followed by laughter were the humor is so sudden that it catches me completely by surprise. The world needs more of those moments.
I appreciate your work as an inspiration. And when I think about some genre that I could write, I always think, “yeah I could probably write some pulp space opera, but would it be as good as Elliot’s? Can I make characters that real?” Your work is my new standard, and I’ve read and I read a lot.
Glad to hear that there is going to be more in the series, I’ll keep checking back on Amazon for whatever you publish next.
Thank you,
–Mark
–Mark
What’s up with Lorelei making out with Alex’s best friend in the first book? Seems like a betrayal from her and his friend both. There is definitely an argument to be made that she is more at fault with the power she wields than Wade is though. At this point in the story wasn’t the agreement they made that she wouldn’t fool around with other guys before they revisited the topic at a later time??? This is as far as I have gotten in the story so far so maybe I am missing something.
The polyamory discussed in this thread does not bother me at all, as there is no betrayal there, but the making out with Wade seems wrong on a few different levels.