Himiko: Bonding by CB Conwy is a homoerotic sci-fi story.

Matt's life, like everyone else's, was turned upside down when the Himika, an alien race, arrived. So for some unknown reason, they harverst, or take, people at random and the few that return are mentally damaged beyond repair. No one knows what happens to them, but everyone is terrified. It is strange how the Himika travel never saying a word to anyone which adds to humanity's alarm. Matt is giving a lecture at his university when the students are suddenly riveted at something behind him. Matt turns to find three Himika demanding he come with them. Matt arrives at a giant building where he sees people chained to metal beams, hysterical. Matt has had enough and when he was brought to an elderly Himiko he starts yelling, demanding to know what is going on until he is rendered unconscious. Matt awakens in what appears to be a hospital where he learns from Robbie, a Himiko, that by not talking to humans they hope to decrease their fear, except it is causing the opposite effect. One day, when Matt leaves his room he sees Pietr, a Himiko, and when their eyes meet something inside him changed forever. Matt fights his way to Pietr's side with the knowledge that Pietr is his mate. This has never happened between a human and a Himiko and the differences between them could be deadly. Himika use their telepathy to exchange not only their thoughts, but their very essence and between mates it is needed to keep them alive. Matt agrees to undergo the surgery that will enable him to interact with Peitr in the Himiko way, but will it be successful? Will Matt and Peitr have the chance to truly bond? Will the Himika and humanity find a way to co-exist?

CB Conwy's story Himiko: Bonding is a fascinating look at what could happen when two completely different races meet for the first time. The reason for the Himika not to talk to humans seemed okay to them, but the absolute silence was taken by humanity as threatening. It was intriguing how Matt and Peitr immediately bonded with each other in spite of their being of completely different species. It must have been so frightening to be taken by aliens without any discernable reason, not knowing what would happen to them. The first time Matt and Robbie interacted, they began to understand how their actions were interpreted, mostly falsely, by the other group. I loved how Matt began to incorporate the Himika ways as he and Peitr began their life together. I look forward to Himiko: Warrior, the next book in the series.

Reviewed by: Teresa