To the Other Side (Terra #1), by S. J. Frost
When Garrett Evergard is rescued by the witch, Bryson Summers, he discovers an alternate world unlike anything he’s ever imagined, and when that world is threatened, he’ll do anything to save it and the man he’s grown to love.
Garrett Evergard is a finder of secrets. As a biologist and environmentalist, it’s his job to go into wild lands and uncover their mysteries in order to save them. In the Pacific Northwest, he races against logging lobbyists to save a section of temperate rainforest, but the forest seems reluctant to give up her secrets. Until a fateful meeting with a rare spirit bear opens the door to wonders beyond anything he’s ever imagine, the greatest of those being the beautiful man who comes to his rescue.
As a witch and Gatekeeper, Bryson Summers is used to living a solitary life. He lives between two worlds, Earth and Terra, feeling not fully part of either, and dreams of meeting someone who understands him. From the moment he sees Garrett, he believes – and hopes – he’s looking upon a twin soul. Dragons, unicorns, and a witch with enchanting brown eyes, Garrett tries to make sense of a world so different from anything he’s ever known. But his mind and heart are open, and he finds himself drawn more to Bryson with each day they spend together. When Bryson and the gate that links the two worlds fall under threat, Garrett is willing to do all he can to protect them, even if it means facing down dark magic.
Rating: 2.75 out of 5
I had really high hopes for this one. It’s got a great premise and interesting characters. Alas, after a promising start it quickly gets detoured into Tropesville, and not just romance tropes.
Garrett’s personality comes through pretty well. His role as a scout to prevent development is a little unlikely, and the environmental issues at stake are presented in very simplified, black-and-white terms. Nature is Good, Corporations are Evil. Got it. This would be a peripheral nitpick if it weren’t a driving force for the plot as well.
Bryson is a little more difficult. Although we get a good idea of his character, he’s so very good, so altruistic, so nurturing…it’s just a bit much. He is an ideal match for Garrett. In fact, he is rather too-perfect a match and this is the point where the story started to feel a bit contrived for me. Bryson’s role as Gatekeeper is interesting, and the history and responsibilities of the position make for interesting reading, though.
Once we get the set-up and determine what the conflicts might be, the story collapses into plot-by numbers. We have the kidnapped lover thrown in the dungeon, we have the party assembling for a quest, and we have the modern-guy-in-fantasy-setting fish out of water scenario. Eventually it felt like the story devolved into what reminded me of some of the generic fantasy novels I read in high school, only with more gay sexytime.
The book finishes with what is quickly becoming a pet peeve of mine: introducing all of the characters who will appear in future books and laying out what the plots of those books will be in vague hints (“He swore that one day he would find his stolen {thing}.”)
Unfortunately, I just didn’t find this book interesting enough to consider pursuing the series any further.
Side note: About that cover. Sheesh. Can you imagine how much waxing it would take to get that look? Also, props for relating maybe 25% of the book cover to the actual storyline.
Also posted on Tumblr at: http://ift.tt/2kHzw5o