Title: Exodus
Series: Heaven Corp, #2
Author: CC Bridges
Genre: Science Fiction / Angels & Demons / BDSM
Length: Novel (200 pages)
ISBN: 978-1-62798-531-4
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (March 3rd, 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3 Hearts
Reviewer: Thommie
Blurb: Henry “Hank” Abraham’s privileged status in the floating city of Heaven lets him flout Morality Laws that control the lives of others. But when he wakes up in the arms of another stranger, only bodyguard Ian Caldwell’s quick thinking saves his life.
Though Ian’s from the low levels and the labor class, he’s used to dealing with the pampered society of Heaven. He’s assigned to protect Hank while angels, cybernetically modified humans who defend Heaven, investigate the assassination attempt. Doing his job means Ian must ignore his growing interest in Hank. Acting on their mutual attraction would certainly get Ian reprogrammed, something neither of them can afford.
When Hank follows Ian to a popular BDSM club in Downside and his ID chip is lost during a nearly fatal mugging, he finds himself locked out of Heaven. As Ian fights to get them home, rumors of impending war begin to circulate—along with more troubling news that Ian is wanted for Hank’s murder. While struggling to keep the man he has come to love safe, Ian must find out who’s behind the plot and if it’s a catalyst for war or just a convenient excuse.
Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4749
Review: This was a book whose world-set caused many, many questions in me. The basic society set up is the classic element of how rich people are viewed against the less fortunate.
Hank has everything he wants and leads a life that has no purpose besides partying all night long. When his life is endangered by assassinations attempts though, Ian, his bodyguard saves him time and again. Hank is used to getting what he wants, but there is simply one thing he can’t get his hands on, Ian. For Ian pursuing anything with Hank could mean losing everything he has achieved. Having male-male intercourse is against the law, but Ian’s lifestyle is even more dangerous than that. Being a Dom is not easy in Heaven, so Ian often travels Downside to Hell to sate his cravings.
When Hank follows him there it’s both the best thing he could do, and the very worse, for while he avoided being killed in his own apartment by doing so, both Ian and Hank are trapped Downside with assassins the last thing on their mind. They are in danger if they stay, but in greater danger if the go back too.
The plot is not challenging, yet it still remains interesting. I admit to have been charmed by it and reading it with great curiosity. It was evident from the beginning who was behind the murder attempts. Still the action was fun. Perhaps it was the most enjoyable thing in this book.
The world-set is what rather blew my mind. It was a very interesting idea what with angels being computerized humans, made of high-tech, floating cities that were called Heaven, different tiers on the Heaven’s society, politics that made even the notion of the most peaceful place a pit of hyenas and cobras set on poisoning and turning against each other. The classic angels are non-existent here and I admit that it intrigued me. God AI? Heh, it definitely had a ring about it. However, it begged for more questions. We see that Angels are humans wiped out of emotions and loaded with high-tech. So what are the Demons? Why were the demons depicted as the classic ones, with leathery wings, horns and golden eyes? Angels gained their power from technology, but where did Demons take their power from? Heaven was created after the old Earth was destroyed by greed or whatever, so humans were forced to build floating cities, the rich went higher and the laborers who built the cities remained on the lower tiers with the very unfortunate people remaining on “Hell” aka Earth. The angels abandoned the fight for earth and literally left it behind to the demons…
Still I insist on knowing where did the Demons come from in first place? How were they summoned? From where? If God was AI, who is Megatron? What was Anael, why was she so unique (I’m smelling intrigue here)? Who is behind these mysterious figures? Who created them in first place? And most importantly, what was the cause behind the angels’ reaction in the end of this story?
Questions, questions, questions… I wonder if I’ll get an answer for them, and frankly, this is the only thing keeping me intrigued and wanting to read the next book, because as it is, this entire thing is full of holes, and the intimate parts of it quite failed. I wonder if I should go there. I just need to point out for the author’s benefit as well, that having a sex scene between two people ending in about a couple of minutes to mere seconds every time is not fun. Especially when the BDSM element is thrown there and one of them is a total virgin at the scene, including the “morality” brainwashing of years, finding pain as erotic so suddenly, it was just too hasty and hazy, while it required a lot of developing. In any case, the romantic thing between Ian and Hank could have been dealt much, much better. As it was, it failed for me.
But, you’ll notice how I still have 3 Hearts for this book. I liked despite all the above. I liked the action and I want more, and if you don’t count, the sex scenes I liked the whole flirting and chasing that went between this pair so, there. I hope the next one covers my curiosity though.