Escape (Crossing Nuwa #1)

O’Meidhir and Braginsky’s debut creates a refreshing were-creature but denies him a solid plot. On his 18th birthday, gay Nuwa weresnake Robbie Ransayi runs away from home and awakens on a park bench during San Francisco’s Pride Parade. Theo, a technomage and DJ in town for the festivities, invites Robbie to his hotel room. What Theo thought would last one night turns into a weekend spent partying together. As Robbie talks about his isolated life, his virginity, and his controlling mother, he begins to win Theo’s empathy. Suddenly, Robbie’s mother forces him home, as she needs him to breed with other Nuwa and help repopulate their species. Theo devises a plan to save him from his fate. While Robbie grows throughout the novel, Theo remains static. The rushed story leaves out important elements, such as why no-strings-attached party boy Theo is suddenly so committed to Robbie, and scants smaller yet powerful themes such as Theo’s Hawaiian heritage and Robbie’s mental health. There’s a lot of potential in Robbie and Theo’s story, but it goes unrealized. (July)