Review: Skin Deep by Adrienne Wilder

Skin Deep (goodreads.com)

By: Adrienne Wilder (author website)

eBook, 290 pages

Published July 9th 2012 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN 13: 9781613725955

Source: Purchased for self

Genre: M/M Dark Fantasy Romance

Series: Gray Zone #3

Best read in order: no, each book in this series is a stand alone

Stars: 4

Flames: 4

I’ve read all of Adrienne’s published work and I love them all. She introduces her readers to a new perspective with this installment in the Gray Zone series. I want to mention what it is that makes Taylor different, but I think it smacks of spoiler and you should just read to find out.

Taylor is human and gets his normalcy ripped out from under him when he finds out that his partner Joey is becoming something very non-human. Somewhere in Joe’s gene pool there is some Kin DNA. This is where Taylor loses all control of his life. He is human. Kin and Lesser-Bred are not. While Taylor loves Joe and will do anything for him it is all but impossible for Taylor to help Joe. Taylor no longer has anything that can actually help the man he loves.

Pavel (Kin) and Gabriel (Lesser-Bred) agree to keep Joey, to feed him, keep a roof over his head, and help him acclimate into his new life. This turns impossible circumstances into an even direr situation. Taylor feels completely useless. Joe is embracing many of the aspects of his new life. There are a few things in Joe’s new life that he has issues with though. Eventually things escalate from making Taylor uncomfortable to making impossible decisions.

I enjoyed reading Gabriel from the very beginning. His life experiences have given him a pessimistic outlook on many things. This gives him some personality traits that Taylor just abhors. Pavel seemed to me like the large quite type, yet when he spoke anyone near needed to heed his words. Joey’s character and all he endured as a human and what he becomes is absolutely heartbreaking. Taylor and his humanness keep him a constant outsider even though everything he does is for Joe.

Skin Deep is a roller coaster ride of emotions. The last few chapters have you hanging on the edge of your seat trying to figure out where the events that are unfolding are going to lead Taylor and Joey. I’m still shocked. Adrienne’s characters flesh out to be so real and I find them easy to connect with. When characters I’ve enjoyed reading start hurting in a book that I’ve become emotionally tied to, oh wow. There is a very heartbreaking story here that is a must read.

My only disappointment was the typos. I seldom mention these because the majority of the books I read come from the publisher or author. I assume they still have another round of edits to go through. I purchased this book from the publisher’s website. My feelings are that I can complain about typos in a product that I paid for. They are not so large in number that it was overly distracting, but there are enough there that it deserves a mention.

***multiple partners, ménage, and a world specific happily ever after***

Adrienne Wilder Author Interview and Giveaway

I'm so excited to have Adrienne Wilder here with us today. If you have not read her books stop what you are doing right now and check them out. Her books rock! All of them. Let's give her a big Diva welcome.

Vanessa: Would you please start by telling us a little bit about yourself?

Adrienne: Well I am a Georgia native.  I grew up in Atlanta and I love to draw and of course write.

Vanessa: You write several different series, can you tell us a bit about them?

Adrienne: All my current books take place in the City of Dragons world.  A place where Kin (dragons) walk among humans trying to survive in society.  My dragons have no desire to be human, although a few of them have learned to be domestic and can mingle with the public.  Most are confined to the Gray Zone.  The Gray Zone is kind of a no-man’s land of crumbling buildings that surrounds the Dens.  The Dens are where the Queen resides and all Kin are born. 

Also in the Gray Zone are Lesser-Breds.  These are human Kin hybrids or descendants.  They start out as human then go through a change when their Kin genetics wake up. 

The City of Dragons series follows the lives of a few Kin trying to survive/work among humans helping to keep them safe.

The Gray Zone focuses on Lesser-Breds.  Mostly the stories circulate around the process of becoming—when a human becomes Lesser-Bred.  Some of the stories are about simple survival and or sacrifice.  They are slice of life stories.  A kind of photograph of a moment in a certain Lesser-Bred’s life.

Vanessa: What was your most challenging book to bring to life?

Adrienne: The Gray-Zone stories.  It’s important to make sure each new story is unique.  Not just the same old process of change.  There has to be challenges for each character unique to their situation that they must overcome. 

Vanessa: What was your favorite scene or chapter to write, which book and why?

Adrienne: Some of my favorite scenes are between young Adam and Ean in To AdamWith Love.  I just really liked the innocence between them and how their relationship grew.  I think I liked that part of the book as a whole most of all.

Vanessa: If you could trade places for a day with one of your characters, who would it be and why?Adrienne: Oh goodness.  This one is hard.  I think it would have to be Darwin or Peter.  Both of those characters are just so much fun to write.  Especially Darwin who doesn’t give two shits about what the world thinks of him and just lives life and loves Peter.

Vanessa: If you were trapped in your sometimes very dangerous Gray Zone which one of your characters would you most want with you and why?

Adrienne: Hmmm---I think I’d want Raithe (From Darwin’s Theory).  He’s tough and gentle at the same time.

Vanessa: Which of your characters is most/least like you, and in what way(s)?

Adrienne: Darwin is the least like me which is exactly why I like him so much.  He’s is brutal, he’s crass, a smart ass, and brave to a fault.  I’d never be able to talk or threaten people like Darwin does.

If I had to pick a character most like me, it would probably be Jericho from Worth.  He’s a pacifist and will only become aggressive if he has no other choice.  He also loves his ‘family’ with all he has and would do anything to take care of them.

Vanessa: What is one thing about you that your readers would find surprising or never guess about you?

Adrienne: I collect antique teddy bears.

Vanessa: How do you spend your down time between edits, deadlines, writing and creating new and fascinating books? Do have a favorite pastime or hobby to fill you spare time with?

Adrienne: Mostly my in between time is spent brainstorming on new books.  I don’t think I ever stop.  I do like to take time off sometimes just to hang out with friends.  But that doesn’t get to happen very often.

Vanessa: Who is your favorite author that you enjoy reading?

Adrienne: There is no way for me to have just one. I enjoy a slew of authors.  Everyone from crime story authors, to suspense, to m/m romance.

Vanessa: I’m a bit of an author stalker and I love going to signings and conventions. Do you have any upcoming appearances?

Adrienne: I plan on going to Dragon Con.  I do not know if I will be on a panel this year or not.  I know my editor is trying to get one put together, so we’ll see.

Places to find Adrienne:

Twitter @CityofDragons 
FaceBook Adrienne Wilder
Website The Atlanta Dens.com




Adrienne is giving away her two City of Dragons eBooks today, Blood Bonds, and Of Flesh and Blood. To enter just comment below with email address. I will announce the winner on June 1st.

Review: Worth by Adrienne Wilder

Worth (goodreads.com)

By: Adrienne Wilder (author webpage)

eBook, 204 pages

Expected publication: December 2nd 2011 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN 13: 9781613722268

Source: Author, for the purpose of an honest review

Genre: Dark M/M Fantasy Romance

Series: Gray Zone, book #2

Best read in order: no

Stars: 4

Flames: 4

I absolutely love Wilder’s vision of Atlanta with its Gray Zone, Kin, Lesser-Bred’s and all of the individuals that this world affects. Worth can be read as a stand-alone without having read any of Wilder’s other books. All of her works take place in this gritty dark world where dragons and their half breed and lesser also live. I do think this is one of the darker of her books.

Liam’s life is heartbreakingly tragic. He has never allowed himself anything. His entire life revolves around his two little brothers. He gives them the best that he can provide. He even allows for his stepfather to abuse him to protect Chris and Kevin. The abuse that is Liam’s life is horrific. It has completely taken away all his sense of worth.

Jericho is a Lesser-Bred. Somewhere in his family tree is a Kin. Jericho is not quite a dragon, but he definitely has some of their DNA. I loved Jericho. He is such a perfect much needed person for Liam’s life. His past is a little sad, but he has made the best life that he can for himself. He is not allowed many of the comforts that Humans are allowed. Jericho is the kind of good that Liam really needs in his messed up life.

I liked that Worth was told from Liam’s point of view. I like to read the occasional first point of view book. I do hope Adrienne plans on giving Liam’s little brothers a book, perhaps set several years into the future. I would like to see where life takes them once they are adults. 

Dreamspinner Press buy link