#nexus alpha

goodreads | storygraph

Epoc is the best mech pilot her age. The only problem is that she doesn't have a Frame of her own to pilot.That is, until she's head-hunted by the CEO of Mako Group who offers her a unique contract. Pilots don't last through the mental strain very long, but the CEO has a unique way of helping her pilots relieve their stress. The only problem is the contract. It seems almost too good to be true. Epoc will get her own Frame to pilot, room, board, full medical support. All it will cost her is her personal freedom, for twenty years. Epoc is going to have to make a choice.

Welcome to the second installment of my story reviewing thread! Today's thread has the theme of "kinda stressful stories with troubled protagonists" I guess? it sounds a bit morbid but they're good stories so stick with it (if you want, absolutely no pressure there ^w^)

Up first, The Objectively Most Rational Decision, by The_Luce. The titular decision is, of course, to transition, even though you're just a [redacted]. The story follows a terrible person very spiky egg taking the only logical step to making their life easier. which it will be, obviously. CW for incel/4chan terminology and thinking, references to a whole bunch of bigoted shit (naturally), sexual content.

Secondly, Be a Girl by @zemathememequeen. this one is a modern light fantasy (objectively a bunch of people have superpowers but it's really easy to forget that?) story about a "boy" who gains the magical power to turn anyone into a girl! which obviously goes disastrously wrong when the majority of their accidental targets are cis, and it doesn't even work on themselves :< . It's a rather intense story and gets very depressing in parts, but the final part is beginning now and it's looking a lot more upbeat. But CW for transphobia, depression and dysphoria, and abuse.

Thirdly, and a surprise addition to this post when I realised it fits the theme, is Joobie's Witch Hunt, about a vampire trying to control their hunger, a band of charismatic troublemakers, and the investigation of a sinister plot perhaps? Similarly to the previous story it gets very heavy but also has since lightened up a lot, and I wholeheartedly recommend it. CW A lot of self deprecation and hate, (depression, dysphoria, the usual), bigotry, violence and death.

Finally, special mention to Nexus Alpha by @elamimax. This one is smut, it contains graphic depictions of sex and kink, so obviously do not read if you aren't comfortable with that. But if you are, damn this is good, and I mostly wanted to put it here so that I could remind my friends it's started updating again ;3c . CW violence, intense power dynamics, mindfuckery, bondage and highly graphic sexual content. Oh yeah also big fuckoff mech battles but I feel like those disclaimers should come first.

Because you want to fly."

I was inspired by another series called Nexus Alpha to write one of my own. I'm not the best writer out there bit I wouldn't put it into the world if I wasn't proud of it at least a little, so check it out if you're interested!