review 1: Changing Worlds is a follow on novel from a short story, Opening Worlds, in the Wild Passions anthology. It was my favourite story in that anthology and I was very pleased when Cari announced that she was continuing the story of Jason and Ferran. Don't worry if you haven't read that first story because Cari and Storm Moon Press have kindly provided it at the start of the book, so you won't miss out. I very much enjoyed re-reading the story before I got onto the sequel.This book follows on directly from Opening Worlds. Jason has signed the contract which effectively makes him Ferran's husband for at least a year. During that year he will stay on Ferran's home planet of Perel where he will learn of its culture and aid Ferran in his new career as a diplomat. Jason is facing ... morea very different culture from humankind with the main change being that the society on Perel is matriarchal with a strict hierarchy. Added to this is the fact that the atmosphere on Perel is acidic and not entirely suited to the human body. That proves to be the least of Jason's difficulties once he arrives and discovers a society on the brink of dissent.In many ways there are two main themes running through this book. The first theme is that of Jason's struggles to fit into Perel society. The strict matriarchal system chafes on his nerves because he is a natural leader and also because his military training is useless in a society where any form of fighting is forbidden. Despite this, I felt the author had done a good job in showing the positives in the society and I was pleased that Ferran's mother, Grenn, was shown to be a wise and understanding woman, even if she did annoy Jason from time to time, and vice versa. I also liked how the story was opened up to encompass a range of views about some of the more difficult Perel traditions for Jason. Thus we get the opinions of Neyarr and Parrell, Ferran's cousins on their impending marriage, and of Giselle, a human diplomat who has worked for many years with the Perel as well as Grenn. The book is full of rich detail about Perel, the flora and fauna; the atmosphere; the culture and politics; the difficulties of learning the language. All these details are fed to us through Jason's eyes as he tries to assimilate all the information. The depth of detail about Perel was definitely one of the best parts of this book because it transported me to this created world. The second theme links with the first and is the development of the relationship between Jason and Ferran. This intertwines with Ferran's growth as a character too. The pair spend a lot of time apart as they learn their new duties and in the case of Jason, have a full day of classes about Perel society and the language. We learn much about Ferran's character during these parts and I liked the way that he develops as the story progresses. Being apart so much causes a strain on them as a couple but I liked how they worked through their problems and how these difficulties gave Jason more of an insight into his husband. The romance element is very strong throughout the book and that provided a nice contrast to the social and political wrangling.Because we have so much information fed to us through the book, it is quite a steady read. Much of the story is spent in conversation and dialogue between the characters. I liked this because, as I said earlier, I enjoyed learning about the varied setting, but some readers may find it a bit slow going, especially at first. However, these slower patches are interspersed with conflict and some action sequences. In particular there's a very gripping and tense section towards the end of the book which added some much needed momentum as the story wound up. The tone of the book was also varied, with a good mix of serious parts and some more lighthearted moments - which mostly involved Neyarr and Parrell or the human doctor, Dori.I've been looking forward to reading this book for some time and for me it's been worth the wait. Cari Z has written a complex, character based science fiction romance story which blends the SF effortlessly with the romance. I highly recommend Changing Worlds to those looking for a well written and intricate story, with sympathetic characters and a fantastical (yet also wholly realistic)setting. review 2: These days, my patience is wearing thin with the M/M romance (or related to M/M) genre. If the story cannot hook me quick, I just let it go. Unfortunately, as much as I enjoy the short story that becomes the premise of this one, the rest of it is slow-pace as Jason learns the life of a husband of an ambassador. Well, it bores the heck out of me. I can only make it to halfway and give up. No worries, I'm not rating it. So feel free to make your own decision on this one. Because others will probably love this better. It's just not for me. Not on this kind of mood I'm having. less
