Rec: Judgement, Part 1: Bag of Tools (Series)
Title:Â Judgement, Part 1: Bag of Tools Author:Â Mexta (AO3), Mexta (Blogspot, complete list of her other original works) Format:Â Novel (Book one of planned trilogy) Published/Free:Â Free Length:Â 85,368 words (24 chapters) Status:Â Finished Rating:Â Mature Warnings:Â Violence. Abuse, including underage. Noncon and dubcon. Voluntary submission, masochism, D/s. Large age gap. Sex, mainly implied. Dubious morality. Slavery too (but weirdly consensual, just read it, youâll understand) Link:Â AO3Â for book 1, index of complete works (except the third book) Summary:Â This is Tomâs story. Born in the near-future and growing up on the desolate streets of one of the last inner city neighborhoods, heâs a local kingpin before he reaches adolescence. Facing a bleak future, he looks for a way out â and finds it when heâs adopted by a wealthy, well-known family. But what happens when a boy whoâs never known innocence gets a second chance at childhood?
Review:Â Absolutely engaging story.Â
Itâs such an exquisite writing with really advanced characterization and character development. In terms of plot, itâs not grandeur or larger-than-life, but the pacing and the story gradual transformation is so gripping and itâs just pulling you in. The world-building is also absolutely grounded and realistic but also elaborate and creative at the same time. It doesnât feel like the writer is trying to make an explosive or huge-deal world, but itâs intricate in its own way.Â
This isnât exactly âslashâ or LGBTQ+ centered story, but I think thatâs the best part of it. Itâs so normalized in the universe (including polyamory and everything) that itâs not taking you away from the core message of the story. Being queer here isnât queer.
Itâs definitely not for the faint of heart, but if youâre into morality conflict story, this is the one for you. It definitely deserves much bigger recognition.
