Rubem’s stationary life gets turned around when an invader arrives in his homeland and coerces him into bonding with a sentient parasite. As the parasite progressively takes over his body, he joins Tavish Findley, the youngest of Maraheem’s most powerful family. Tavish’s position may be Rubem’s best chance to remove the parasite and survive. It doesn’t hurt that Tavish happens to be dashing and charismatic.

Right now, his friendship is worth its future loss. It’s worth being lonely again someday, in order to not feel alone with him right now.

Disclaimer: This book is a participant in the Indie Ink Awards 2022 and I read it as a judge. My personal rating does not reflect its score for the contest.

Rubem is running away from people who invaded his home in search of energy-producing parasites. But everyone he meets is more interested in taking advantage of the parasite attached to him than his well-being.

Maraheem is an underwater steampunk city populated by freckled ginger selkies. The class disparity is evident, and Rubem readily empathizes with the lower city’s hardships. He finds an unlikely ally in Tavish, who uses his wealth to help the underprivileged.

Bryn built a queernormative and diverse world. Rubem is dark-skinned and gay, never fitting in any place and silencing his grief with alcohol. Tavish is an altruistic selkie princeling who happens to be plump, blind, and trans. From the moment they meet, their interactions are filled with bangxiety.

“There’s only one bed, though.”

(Of course there is.)

The alliance between these two men from different standings while fighting for their lives drives them to question the future they want.

An environmentalist tale of loneliness, connection, and love. Get it if you are looking for mental health and queer representation. There’s a beautiful poem at the beginning of each chapter.