Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Amplified: Sean & Alex
SERIES: The Man Love Collection
AUTHOR: Sunny Day
PUBLISHER: Siren Publishing.
LENGTH: Approximately 138 pages
RELEASE DATE: April 12, 2023
BLURB:
Having money and influence is not enough to save Sean if the fact that he is an Empath is made public. Amplified, people with enhanced senses, are vilified as a whole and Empaths are the most detested among them. He needs to change that, and for that he will need help. But he is not sure Alex, a powerful Amplified, is the best choice for the task. Alex is not ashamed of his abilities and is vocal in his fight for Amplifieds’ rights.
Sean has too many secrets and at first Alex vehemently disagrees with his methods. But as they work together, Alex starts to realize there might be more to Sean than he guessed. As he gets to know Sean better, Alex finds himself at unexpected risk: he might be falling for Sean.
But with the Amplified situation as it is, do they even have a chance to be together?
REVIEW:
The general population fears humans with abilities – people of Amplified status. Sean provides sanctuary to those in need, while his longer-term aim is to educate the general populous. He needs a good team, that includes a few hand-picked people. Among them is Alex, who is out and proud to be amplified. When sizzle develops, the two become a force to be reckoned with.
While reading, I had distinct early stages of the X-Men vibe in the era when it was first discovered that people could be different, and science was involved. However, I had several issues with this story beginning with:- the first line of the blurb says, ‘Having money and influence is not enough to save Sean if the fact that he is an Empath is made public’ – and yet the first page of the book has Sean in a TV interview going public.
The story is told in the third person from the viewpoints of Sean and Alex. Technically, it could have been better. There was some confusion in the tenses, primarily because the narrative begins in an interview, from which other tales emerge. This method of storytelling also made it difficult to navigate a timeline and, consequently, the novel. I’d follow one scene when a name would be mentioned, causing the tale to go off on a tangent unknowing when it would return, often, not for a long time. Then Alex’s viewpoint is introduced before the end of the initial interview – which itself is almost written as an afterthought. I found the latter part of the book much easier to follow, and my subsequent enjoyment increased.
Background to a story is essential, but every nuance isn’t needed – especially within a relatively short novel of approx. 40k – less can be more. Repetition could have been removed in favor of something that enhanced the flow of the arc. The idea behind the story is a good one, and some of the drama is splendid, but I believe a damned good beta/editor is needed. Imagine being guided around a house. Then, instead of being shown one floor before the next, you were presented with an upstairs bedroom, then the downstairs lounge, the upstairs bathroom, the garden, another bedroom, and yadi-yadi-yada. That’s what it was like reading this story. The whole was great, but the tour wasn’t.
Due to the above, I found connecting with the characters difficult, and they were lovely people. Other than the initial meeting, their slow burn of a relationship missed the furtive looks and interactions during their team briefings because it is evident that Sean is sensitive. I didn’t want to be told how difficult it was to go public with various things, I wanted to be shown it, feel it, and experience it alongside them. I wanted the same with the dramatic events that led to the finale.
I have given this book 2.5 hearts – a mediocre rating because the concept was good but the story flow was unclear.
RATING: 
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