Thursday, December 3, 2015

Y Negative by Kelly Haworth


In the last surviving cities of a ruined world, the concept of “woman” has been forgotten to history. Those unfortunate enough to lack a Y chromosome live as second-class citizens in a world dominated by mascs.

Ember is Y negative. He is scorned, bullied, abused by every masc he encounters, at work and at the gym. Not even his Y negative roommate cuts him any slack. He wants so desperately to be accepted as a masc that he’d rather buy black market testosterone than food. Something’s gotta give — he needs a change in his life, but has no idea how to find it.

Jess is a masc with a passion for studying the recovery of their devastated world. His boyfriend is pressuring him for more commitment, and his father expects him to take over the family business. He can’t wait to get away from civilization for his seasonal research out in the wild.

When Jess offers Ember a job, their lives collide in the isolated wasteland, and their initial attraction turns into a relationship that horrifies those around them. Soon their struggle to stay together and to be who they are turns into a fight for their lives.

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Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Riptide  Publishing



Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica☆☆☆☆☆
In the last surviving cities of a ruined world, the concept of “woman” has been forgotten to history.

The first thought that came to my mind upon finishing Y Negative, "I hope there is a sequel – I'd read it in a heartbeat!"

I'm not entirely sure how to review this, to the point I refused to read other reviews prior to doing so, not wanting their undue influence. So this review is running on my turbulent emotions.

My first thoughts upon starting Y Negative, "OH! I know what the author has in store!" I wanted to seek Kelly Haworth out and give a high five, but not for the reasons you'd think.

(I'm sure the author wanted to highlight how idiotic bigotry is by showing it in reverse)

I belong to an MM group where most of the fans are anti-lady-bits, to the point they won't read a book which has any in it. Here is a dystopian world comprised of all MEN, in a world without women. Sounds like it's totally up their alley, doesn't it? "Who mutilated you?" I make no judgments – read whatever entertains you. But some go as far as to call their own sexuality GROSS in their quest to read books that are about tolerance and acceptance, not realizing they are being biased against what inherently makes them who they are. If there was ever a book to draw this to attention, Y Negative (as in XX) would be it.

Tolerance and acceptance should be across the board, toward yourself and others. To accept anyone who is different than yourself shouldn't mean you can't accept who you are. It isn't an either/or situation. Read whatever trips your trigger, but don't act like an entire gender or persuasion should be off-limits. Y Negative shows this perfectly.

I was rabid while reading Y Negative, annoyed when interrupted even for a minute. The concept was so intriguing, my mind was blown.

MIND BLOWN

Now, the other reason I can't truly give a thorough review, because to dissect the book is to give important plot points away that would ruin it for readers. This is a book I'd suggest you read with a buddy, someone you could chat with during and after, to pick apart the meaning of things, whether it was what the author meant to create or not.

My thoughts, because I didn't get to do a buddy-read: aside from the warped bigotry, which makes a person think – control in general, but population control. If all you had was men, and men who wanted children had to request to have children, the population was controlled with children only given to those who the government deemed deserving. How do you do this? Remove the concept of women, and make it taboo for het coupling, which would result in a child if the government didn't sterilize the Y Neg. Ember wished to transition into someone he was not only because that was the only way he could be with who he genetically desired (If he was as masculine as possible, it wouldn't be a het coupling anymore, would it?). Among a billion other things rattling around in my head.

Y Negative is a thought-provoking read, and that is a very good thing indeed.

________

One drawback: The world building was intriguing, but in a world with one gender (XY) divided by other types, it was never truly explained what those types represent. I can't go into detail, not wishing to spoil the reading experience, but I understood what meant what except for one type mentioned only a handful of times (whatever Kacy was supposed to be) I never could put a finger on what that 'gender' was.

_______

For those who are adamant against anything but males in their MM reads, unless you have an open mind, no matter how much I want you to read this book, I don't want you to read this and get angry with the author. Even if I'd get a kick out of you reading an MM with this narrator. But then again, since it's not driven by between-the-sheets action... Just don't say I didn't warn you that this is NOT traditional MM romance.

Genre: Dystopian | MM Romance (but not) | Transgender (but not) | Government influence affecting societal actions and reactions (Brainwashing the sheep) | Violence | Dark & Twisted | Heat-level: low (story-driven) |



Kelly Haworth grew up in San Francisco and has been reading science fiction and fantasy classics since she was a kid. She developed way too active an imagination as a result, thus, she started writing. Being genderfluid and pansexual, she loves to write LGBTQ+ characters in genres such as science fiction with diverse aliens, and urban fantasies with shifters and fire sorcerers. With degrees in both genetics and psychology, she works as a project manager at a genetics lab. When not working or writing, she can be found wrangling her toddler, working on cosplay, or curled up on the couch with a good TV show or a good book.

Connect with Kelly

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads


https://www.netgalley.com


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Y Negative by Kelly Haworth to read and review.

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