Bridgette Hayden

Wow.

When I finished the first volume of the Sonny Preyer series, I wanted to know what happened next. You can see my review of that here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1273073003?book_show_action=false
But I've got to say that Hayden's imagination is without bounds.

In volume 2 of the Sonny Preyer series, Hayden takes us into yet a third realm of existence. Just when we think we have adjusted to the leap from earth & humankind as we know it to the other-world of the Realm and Sonny being an Illuminae, we find ourselves (along with Sonny/Sy) in an over-arching broader plane & forever-sort-of-time where Mahba (there may be the semblance of an original mother here) resides along with others who Sonny seems to share remembrance or at least an inhabitance that gives him (and the reader) momentary peace & sustenance.

Hayden could still use an editor, as there are grammatical and punctuation disconnects. But gosh darn that is an aside that we can all, well . . . put aside. Her imagery is phenomenal, and the story she tells (this first story of hers that has emerged into the public realm) is quite literally superb. I can't think of an author or book that I have consumed so quickly and so wholly and so much wanted to continue reading.

I can't wait to read the third installment of the Sonny Preyer series.… (mer)

First, a whole bunch of qualifiers. This is of a genre I do not typically read, and it is the first book I have ever read online rather than in print. I received my online copy free from the author Bridgette Hayden. I do not know Ms. Hayden, but I think it takes so much hard work to ever get a book written and then a whole lot of guts to reach out to strangers to get them to read it. And so I did.

I gave the book 4 stars because the story itself is really compelling, or at least it was through the end of part 1. Apparently, it was originally written as one incredibly long book, but subsequently it has been broken down into three parts. I’ve only read part 1.

I was a little reticent as I launched in, being aware that the central character is a hermaphrodite and the book contains what some classify as “M/M” — as I mentioned, not something I would normally pick up at the bookstore. So I kept anticipating being shocked or finding myself reading something I might prefer not to be reading . . . but that never happened.

This is really a fantasy tale about good & evil. It begins concretely enough by introducing the reader to Sonny Preyer, a seemingly ordinary enough 17-year-old boy in high school, with a very private & personal biological secret that he and his family have dealt with all of his life. As the story unfolds, we learn more about Sonny than he knows about himself: that he is no accidental mutation, but rather a god-like figure known as Illumenae who was placed here in our time & plane to protect him from those trying to kill him in his own. The author does a fairly masterful job of gently leading us from reality to fantasy in a for-the-most-part credible way. Once we find ourselves on the continent of Realm in the town of Oden, along with Sonny we begin to learn about the reason for his existence, as part of a centuries-long pact that protects the seven nations and all its inhabitants. Things are required of Sonny (known as Sy in this alternate reality) to ensure the continued peace and prosperity of all, things that he recoils against, as he has no memory of ever being anything other than a human boy. At the end of part 1, both Sonny and the reader are just beginning to get a sense of what might happen next in this land full of mythical creatures and teleportation mirrors and wizards and such.

There are some things about the book that make it less than perfect, though perhaps these are the result of the on-line version or the lack of a professional editor (I’m assuming about the lack of an editor). Occasionally there is word choice that seems wrong, duplicated words that are plainly typos, and misplaced commas. None of that was enough to stop me from furiously turning the online pages to find out what happens next, though it likely would have brought my rating down to 3 stars had the story not been so compelling.

All in all, this book series will likely appeal to older adolescents and young adults, particularly those who enjoy fantasy, sci-fi, and/or edgy romance. But as a much older reader for whom this book was something of an unusual walk-on-the-wild side adventure, I do want to know how the story turns out, so I’ll be purchasing the part 2 and part 3 books. And I hope Ms. Hayden continues to write. She has an astonishing imagination and a compelling way with words.

Wowsers. So now I've read volume 2, and you can see my review here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1279865009
But all I can, or should really need to, say is keep on reading. You'll be so happy you did.… (mer)

In this third volume of the Sonny Preyer series, Hayden unfolds the origin story of the fantastic world she has created and of Sonny's role in it. Good in the body & spirit of Sonny does battle with evil in the form of Dastas.

For those, like me, who might at first be a little nervous about the sexuality of this book, there is no need to fear. It is all beautifully written and its purpose is integral to the story. (Still could use a little editing out of some pesky typos.) And you do really have to read the three volumes of the series in order; none of them will stand alone.

It is easy to imagine this series being made into an epically powerful movie. It is hard to turn the pages fast enough to keep up with the speed at which the story blasts toward its conclusion.… (mer)

"The bottom line is, I'm absolutely amazed and in love with this story. First of all, your characters are incredibly diverse and engaging. It makes it easy to not only identify with each of them in different ways, but it also makes the story in its entirety a joy to read, because I never want to skip over what someone has to say, or not examine what their motives are..."
- Party_Advisor

"I've just finished reading the end of chapter one (honestly, I didn't even stop for a bathroom break!), and I'm extremely interested in the other ten chapters. My curiosity for what awaits in these chapters has driven me to the point of obsession, I joke you not."
- Angela

"I just love this story. I was riveted when Sonny was running from Shore. I was actually biting my nails!"
- Shonee

Actual reader comments reprinted with permission… (mer)