Series: ?
Volume: 1/?Publisher: JMS Books
Genre/s: Fantasy, M/M Romance
Length: 14 675 words
Read in: English
Review copy format: epub
Rate:✮✮✮✬✰✰
Callum Saxon wakes up in an amazing, fairy-tale world that is inhabited by fantastical creatures, including shifters, such as werewolves and even unicorns. The only problem is that the man doesn't remember his past, has no idea where he came from or how he got to this unique place. According to Ainsley Carlisle, a beautiful and full of secrets man, who knows Callum and becomes his guide and guardian, the memory will eventually come back. However, it turns out that Ainsley hides some secrets that concern Callum directly, and that's simply too much for him.
"Unimaginable" is a short short story set in a fantasy world of Silkwater. And that's the topic from which I would like to start this review. There is no doubt that the world created by Iyana Jenna is extremely interesting, colorful and filled to the brim with "amazingness". However, it should be noted that in this case it's hard to talk about a typical, detailed world building, which is a huge loss. The universe of "Unimaginable" is built on the principle of a quick presentation of some of its unique features, rules, and creatures that live there. In other words, the way world is shown in this story can be compared to an iceberg, so the readers get to know only the things they see, and thus the part of the iceberg which is above the surface of water. What is underneath is hidden for us.
What's more, not only the world of the short story is very interesting, but also the way in which Silkwater is presented. From the very beginning, the readers feel as if they enter the world of dreams and that's how they move around it. Although when we start reading "Unimaginable" we don't know anything about this universe yet, we accept everything related to it without asking unnecessary questions, just like our main character – Callum. And that's not all, because we absorb every fantastical element of it, like sponge absorbs water. In my case, it looked just like this: "werewolves, unicorns, vampires in the world under water? OK… It's very interesting, so let it be. Let's see what happens next!". It is also fascinating that the universe of "Unimaginable" is more complex than we initially think.
Although the story presented in "Unimaginable" is not particularly long and rich in details, I think it's really interesting. I honestly love many elements of it, such as a motif of memory loss or showing Callum around Silkwater, which reminded me of showing a soul around the afterlife world. In this story, no less interesting and unique was the reason behind the said memory loss. I admit that at some point I was able to guess some facts concerning Callum's life, because of which he came to Silkwater, and I was really happy when it turned out that I was somewhat right. Well, I can't tell you what it's all about, but I assure you that some things concerning our character are simply perfect and really amazing.
In summary, "Unimaginable" is a very short short story set in an interesting fantasy universe and it definitely has an entertaining, engaging plot. However, this story doesn't really spread its wings, which I deeply regret, because it has a lot of potential.
Headcanon: Callum tries to show Ainsley the life of lovers in the human world that he has always dreamed of.
Fanfiction idea: Callum and Ainsley make a bet which one of them will take the other out on a best date of the life. Until one of them admits that he lost, they both try their best to win.
AU idea: Ainsley is a private investigator working on the case of Callum's ex-boyfriend, who was laundering money. Ainsley is trying to check if Callum was involved in it too. However, the only thing he confirms is what he already suspected - that he fell in love with Callum.
Here's some more about:
Blurb
Book Title: Unimaginable
Author: Iyana Jenna
Cover Artist: Written Ink Designs
Trope/s: shifters, vampire
Themes: drama
Heat Rating: 3 flames
The book is planned as part of a series but can be read as a standalone.
Callum Saxon wakes up to a totally different universe where all around him is water. Strangely he can breathe it as if it’s air. The bad thing is he can't remember how he got there. He can't remember himself, either.
Ainsley Carlisle is more than a man with long blond hair. He’s a unicorn shifter with secrets as widely stretched as the rainbow supposedly coming out of his rear. Ainsley won’t help Callum uncover who he is because Ainsley wants him to remember it himself.
In this new universe, Callum has to survive the creatures that live there, such as vampires, shifters, werewolves, you name it. But there’s more to Callum than meets the eye.
Ainsley Carlisle is more than a man with long blond hair. He’s a unicorn shifter with secrets as widely stretched as the rainbow supposedly coming out of his rear. Ainsley won’t help Callum uncover who he is because Ainsley wants him to remember it himself.
In this new universe, Callum has to survive the creatures that live there, such as vampires, shifters, werewolves, you name it. But there’s more to Callum than meets the eye.
Excerpt
Callum wasn't completely unaware of where he was going. He recognized the place as the kind of pub Ainsley had showed him earlier. He wasn't sure how he was going to pay for his drinks but the thought of losing himself in alcohol was as big of enticement as his desire to erase his mind completely -- if there was any to erase.
Callum blinked his eyes, adjusting to the dim light inside. The place was quiet, practically empty. Perhaps it was still quite early. It wasn't unlike other pubs he frequented -- ha, he remembered that piece of information. The only thing keeping this one apart from the ones he knew was the slow moving thick water around him. Callum just hoped he wouldn't get sick like some time ago when he first shoveled food down into his stomach. He gazed straight at the bartender. Now what could he say to get a free drink ...
"Hello, gorgeous."
He looked up. A literal tall, dark, and handsome was looming over him. Callum wouldn't call himself short but compared to this man? He was a midget.
"What are you doing alone in this place, baby doll? Where is your, ah, partner?"
"What do you mean?"
The stranger waved his hand. "You know, that blond bastard?"
So he knew he'd been going about with Ainsley.
"Come on," the man said dismissively. "Two pretty creatures like you? You were both strolling around the town like the happiest couple in the realm, making everyone jealous."
Callum sputtered. "Jealous? We're not a couple and I'm not sure about the pretty creatures ..." Talking about pretty, he himself couldn't tear his gaze away from ... what was his name?
"Who are you?" Callum's voice was as weak as he was feeling at the moment.
The man closed the distance between them and Callum sniffed his cologne. It was a scent he'd never smelled before. It was a mix of their surroundings, like ocean breeze as well as the old woods, added with citrus aromas and a trace of musk underlying all of those. It was strong but not too overpoweringly so or suffocating. It was more like the flow of the ocean water, soothing and lulling, spellbinding.
"Is a name that important to you?"
Callum felt like he was coming back from a long slumber. He looked up from the man's strong, sculpted jaw, which sat at his eye level.
"Uh ..."
"What's yours, l'ange?"
It took a beat and Callum realized the man just called him angel in French. So they spoke French here, too, Callum mused. He wondered what other languages they spoke.
"Callum. Callum Saxon."
"Your name is as pretty as its owner." He practically purred.
"How about you?"
To Callum's surprise, the man withdrew a little to make a deep bow with one leg pulled back and a hand waving low.
"I am usually called Patrice Deniau. I believe that's my real name though it's been centuries and I honestly can't remember in which period of time I was named that."
Callum felt as if all the air in his lungs was sucked out. Centuries. Period of time. What was this man whose name sounded French, too -- Patrice Deniau? A vampire?
A shudder ran down his spine. Patrice did look like a vampire with his tall, slender figure, sharp chin, dark hair, and a pair of intense blue eyes that easily bewitched Callum.
"I, uh, it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Deniau."
"Mister?" Patrice's laughter was soft and lilting. "Unless you are to call me Sir or Master, Patrice will suffice." He stroked Callum's jaw with his long fingers.
Callum let out an involuntary moan. He knew he had to pull back, move away. But he couldn't. Instead, he leaned in and his eyes shuttered closed. He practically purred.
"Yes, all right, Patrice." It was Patrice for now. Later, he decided, he might change to Sir, even Master.
"Very well. Good Lord, you're so gorgeous. Has anyone told you that?"
"Oh, yeah, I guess." Amidst his foggy mind, Callum heard himself replying, not that he knew exactly what he had been asked.
"Really? Who was that, someone special?"
Callum nodded. "Yes."
"Someone you loved or someone who loved you?"
"Both. Love." Why past tense? "He still loves me."
"As you deserve, someone as captivating as you. May I know -- I believe it's that Carlisle boy? Ainsley?"
Ainsley. Callum's cheeks heated up as the name was mentioned. He'd definitely developed a certain infatuation with the man. But love? They had not even declared their feelings to each other. Declare, because Callum was certain their feelings were mutual. He shook his head slowly.
"No?" Patrice sounded surprised. "You've only been here for, what, two days, three days at the most. I can't believe you've been fooling around, let alone falling in love."
But of course he'd not been fooling around. He'd barely met other people aside from Ainsley and his mother. Yet it was neither of the two who he had on his mind.
Kevin Travers.
Callum blinked as a name suddenly flashed across his mind. He shook himself inwardly and took a deep breath. The name sounded familiar. It had to be familiar. Otherwise, why would it turn up out of the blue?
"What is it, my dear? You look ashen."
Callum was suddenly out of breath, near hyperventilating. "He was ... he is ..."
"Yes?" Patrice's hand crept up at the back of his head.
"I don't remember but ... but he was important to me. I just know it." Patrice stroked his scalp with knowing fingers and it was all Callum could do to stop himself from moaning.
"Is he still important now?"
About the Author
I'm Iyana Jenna and you can call me Iyana. I like writing, romance, and man-love, so you're mostly going to find my stories as m/m whether they are for adults or young adults. They are not going to be too heavy on explicit sex, though, as many say that my stories are considered sweet romance.
When I don't write, I teach English to children, teens, and adults. I also work in the curriculum and materials department in a language institution. Among my responsibilities are writing books and tests.
When I don't write, I teach English to children, teens, and adults. I also work in the curriculum and materials department in a language institution. Among my responsibilities are writing books and tests.
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