S.E.X. Review~ Santuario by G.B. Gordon

Police teniente Alex Rukow has spent his life trapped on Santuario, his people’s isolated home-slash-prison-island. They’ve been living in poverty under the tyrannical regime of their own elite familias for the last two-hundred years, ever since their generation ship landed on the planet and found it already populated by earlier Earth settlers, the Skanians, who banished them to the inhospitable south.

Increasingly shamed by the decisions of their ancestors, the Skanians seek to open their borders. But dissent exists on both sides, and in the midst of this explosive political situation, a dead body appears on the island.

Bengt, a Skanian investigator, is shipped to Santuario to lead the murder investigation—which, he quickly realizes, the local teniente wants nothing to do with. As far as Bengt is concerned, things can’t get worse than the brutal climate, his own memories, and a growing attraction to a partner who will barely say two words to him. But then he and Alex run afoul of the local familias, and the problems with their investigation and their budding relationship seem like nothing compared to just getting out of this whole mess alive. 

Santuario by G.B. Gordon was an interesting read. I had a hard time getting into the book at first, but once I did, I’m glad I stuck with it. A futuristic- primitive read, Santuario aligns itself with archaic traditions of oppression and racism.

Stuck on the prison-island of Santuario, Alex had little prospects of ever escaping his homeland nor the tyranny subjugated towards his people. Ruling familias dominate the island and lead with cruelty and totalitarianism.

Bengt has always been a free man living on earth. His family is happy, well-adjusted and he’s allowed to be himself. Sent to Santuario, Bengt must investigate a string of murders which attempt to squelch the impending rebellion.

The two men play a cat and mouse game which I never connected with. Yes, Bengt was a gay man, and although Alex appeared confused, I never got the sense he was gay~ just torn between wanting a better life and the possibility of getting off the island. In saying that, I do think he came to care for Bengt in his own closed-off way, but doubts resonate in the back of my mind.

I think the story was worth reading and I am looking forward to the next book, which is next on my list.

Book provided by author/publisher in exchange for an honest review

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