Strays by Elizabeth Noble is a homoerotic sci-fi story.

Kyle's life changed in a blink of an eye after he saw something at work then asked about it. He was woken in the dead of the night and kidnapped, but he managed to escape when the van crashed allowing him to run for his life. Kyle found his way to a nearby city, but two days of exposure without food or drink left him desperate and frightened for his life. While out on patrol, Daniel notices someone hiding and tracks him down. Daniel takes Kyle to the militia compound where he lives and Kyle is frightened from all the misinformation he has heard from the government. Daniel works with the militia who protect the people who are working on a cure for the plague that killed most of the world's population. Kyle's life is in shambles and the only thing he trusts is Daniel, the man he just met. Daniel doesn't want any attachments, but why can't he get Kyle out of his mind? The world isn't exactly how Kyle thought it was and he has to make some decisions about where his loyalties lie.

Strays is an interesting look into how individuals react to extreme situations. People who have lived through being kidnapped would understand Kyle's need to feel safe and secure. As Daniel's past was unveiled, it was a wonder that he was willing to open his life to help Kyle. I was drawn initially to this story because it was a science fiction story, but in reality the sci-fi plot was very thin adding little to the overall story. The story alluded to the pictures that Kyle saw, but they were never explored. Kyle was told he was one of the last humans born, but that too wasn't explained to any degree. The story itself with the interpersonal experiences was good, but it lacked the necessary depth to be a great story. I would love to take another look if this book is ever expanded.

Reviewed by: Teresa