A Romantic Hard Sci Fi Mystery That Will Subvert Your Expectations!
Forget everything you expect from a romance novel...
This is not a conventional romance novel, it's razor-edged hard science fiction, where four love stories unravel, four twisted realities collide, and one mind-bending mystery ties everything together. Nothing is what it seems... and the truth will change everything. Can you guess the final twist before it's revealed?
Sreetha works at a hospital in Goa, India, in 1967. When she meets the new doctor, a friendship blossoms which could become more, yet the immovable obstacle of different religious backgrounds stands in their way.
In 1973, Rebecca, a young teacher, moves to a small English town to escape a traumatic past. She is forced to work alongside a former lover who jilted her years before. Does she still have feelings for him, despite their antipathy?
Jessica lives in the Australian city of Brisbane in 1996. The hedonistic post-doctoral researcher re-evaluates her life when introduced to a handsome mature aged student whose PhD she will supervise. Can she find love despite his complex family circumstances?
And in 2044, Alistair, a senior software developer, harbours feelings for Janine, while still grieving the loss of his partner two years prior. He hides a dark secret which might drive Janine away, yet his secret is linked to a daring rescue mission, in which she must become involved if it is to succeed.
Each protagonist is plagued by strange dreams and progressively confronted with incidents they cannot explain. Links between their stories emerge, forcing increasingly extraordinary interpretations.
And before long, they will each question the very nature of reality.
Subverted Book Review by Readers' Favorite
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
"Subverted by Chris Cosmain is a science fiction novel that intricately weaves together four romantic stories across different eras. In 1967 Goa, Sreetha faces cultural barriers with a potential love interest. In 1973 England, Rebecca confronts a past lover in her new job. Jessica, in 1996 Brisbane, navigates a relationship with a complex PhD student. Finally, in 2044, Alistair’s grief and secret intertwine with Janine’s involvement in a critical mission. As each protagonist experiences strange dreams and unexplained events, their narratives converge, challenging their perceptions of reality and revealing profound connections across time.
Author Chris Cosmain does a brilliant job of intertwining multiple timelines and characters, creating a rich and complex narrative that keeps readers engaged from cover to cover in this dramatic and highly rewarding read. The concept of the work is uniquely placed somewhere between sweeping romance and clever time-centric fiction, and the layers of philosophical inquiry offer an unexpectedly deep and introspective feel as the story expands. I found myself totally engrossed in each main character’s search for love and meaning. Cosmain’s exploration of cultural, emotional, and chronological barriers really shows off the multi-dimensional characters and their close, emotive narration. The gradual revelation of connections between the characters and their shared experiences is well-paced to offer some nice surprises and a slow-burning but deeply rewarding bigger picture that all makes sense by the end in a satisfying way. Overall, I’d certainly recommend Subverted for fans of clever science fiction and emotive interpersonal romantic dramas everywhere."
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