Out of the Ashes (Metahuman Files: Classified, #1) By Hailey Turner
review Ì E-book, or Kindle E-pub × Hailey Turner
War never leaves a soldier behind.
Staff Sergeant Alexei Dvorkin is still healing from his brief stint as a prisoner of war. While his physical wounds have mended, the emotional scars left behind are slow to disappear. Eager to prove his resilience in the face of lingering trauma, Alexei is determined to complete his first mission in three months and get back into the field—but he’s not forging ahead without his lover.
Nightmares will always linger.
Agent Sean Delaney’s recovery from trauma is more slow going than he would like, but he pushes through in order to return to active duty and not be left behind. But every decision he makes leaves him feeling like he’s gone two steps forward and one step back when it comes to Alexei. The guilt Sean feels from what they both endured still colors his interactions with the man he loves. Trying to overcome it is difficult and exhausting, making Sean question his place in Alexei’s heart.
Holding on is the hardest thing to do.
The ties between Alexei and Sean were frayed by the enemy’s hand. Mending what’s been broken between them will require a depth of honesty neither man is ready to face just yet. But if they don’t, they risk losing a future together neither wants to let go.
Out of the Ashes is a 28,000 word novella that follows directly after In the Blood in my Metahuman Files series and builds off of events in that book. It is recommended that you read In the Blood first before reading Out of the Ashes. There are explicit intimate scenes that are not suitable for readers under the age of 18 within the novella. Out of the Ashes (Metahuman Files: Classified, #1)
Audio 5 ++++ Stars
Story 5 Stars
I so needed more of Sean and Alexei! Gay Romance, Science Fiction Romance, Paranormal Reread/listen 2021
Audiobook - 5+++++ Greg eargasms
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“Ya tebya lyublyu,” Alexei whispered.
I’m not leaving, Alexei promised
5++++ All the stars in the world
Leave it to Hailey to give you an intense bookgasm with only 106 pages.
Alexei the love of my life and Sean are goals together.
This little much needed novella picks up after book 4 In the Blood, and is basically all about Alexei and Sean's recovery.
3 months later after the horrible events that happened in the book 4, Sean and Alexei are in therapy but Sean is still finding it difficult to forgive himself, this in turn affects their relationship. I loved how the recovery journey was done, it was more realistic, no magic dicks or kisses here.
The brief moment of closeness that followed their reunion was the last time he’d held Sean in his arms longer than a few minutes, and Alexei fucking missed having Sean in his arms like that.
They shared an apartment and slept in the same bed, but they never slept together. Alexei was always willing to have Sean close, but it was Sean who kept pulling away, kept parts of himself back, and it killed Alexei to see that.
My heart broke for these two. What i loved is that nobody walked away, no unnecessary drama or silence.
Book Gods bless Nazari for the mission in London, i got to see the Liam aka. The Knight, Hailey i need his book like yesterday.
The mission also helped Alexei and Sean get more closer. I was so happy right then, i had missed their closeness. The chemistry between Alexei and Sean flows from page to page and off pages too.
“I keep thinking I’ll hurt you if I touch you. I never wanted to hurt you,” Sean confessed.
“Always want your touch. Always want you, Senichka.”
Everything took time, after all, and surviving was a journey. It always would be.
“You’ve never called me that before,” Sean said, searching his face. “Senichka.”
Alexei’s gray eyes crinkled a bit at the corners when he smiled softly at him. “Is most small name. Just for you. My Senichka.”
Ugh!😍😍😍 Alexei this guy will be the death of me.He is perfect with his broken English and all.
This was a great novella.
This made my stomach flip flop..😚😚
“Callahan requested your secondment to Alpha Team become permanent. I’m inclined to grant the request.”
“Welcome to Alpha Team.”
Nazari left. Sean found himself staring at Jamie.
This was perfect just, absolutely perfect.
I will read book 5 soon, because when you find yourself dreaming you are one of the Alpha Team member, you have to admit to yourself your addiction is getting out of control, and take a little step back. Gay Romance, Science Fiction Romance, Paranormal 4.5 Stars
A lovely angsty look at Alexei and Sean in the aftermath of the terrible awful events that occurred in In the Blood. There’s no doubt these two love each other but sometimes that’s not quite enough to move forward from such trauma.
However, a critical mission forces these two to work together again which just serves to fully solidify why they’re so great together on and off the field.
Poignantly emotional, peppered with intense action, Turner delivers yet another win for this series! Gay Romance, Science Fiction Romance, Paranormal 5 Stars!
It was absolutely heartbreaking to see the distance between one of my favorite couples. After everything these two went through together NO ONE deserves a HEA more than them. Hailey Turner really put us readers through with their book. I think anyone who read this couples book needed this book. I know I needed to know how they were coping and if things had gotten any better. Sadly our boy Sean is still feeling some serious guilt where Alexei is concerned. The tension is high and Sean is struggling with nightmares where he dreams that he is the one inflicting the pain on Alexei. With those nightmares close to surface he can't bring himself to touch Alexei for long. They haven't been intimate because Sean freezes up. Alexei is patient and is doing better than Sean even though he still has his moments. But he misses his lover. He misses just being able to touch him without Sean moving away from him. Alexei, as he was in their book, was the strong force against the storm they were fighting and reassured Sean he was going nowhere and he could lean on him. That he could be strong enough for them both until Sean was strong enough to stand on his own.
During the middle of all this both men are cleared for duty. Alexei is thrilled where Sean doesn't think he's ready. But both men fall into work as if they'd never been away. The mission of course goes awry and our men are once again running for their lives. I was glad for this bit of action that broke through the angst because it brought them back to where they once were before tragic changed them.
Reunited and it feels so good! Their coming together was hot, sweet, emotional, and just what this reader needed. I LOVE this couple and I am so pleased that by the end of the book they were doing so well and back to where they belonged; in each other's arms.
Happy reading dolls! Gay Romance, Science Fiction Romance, Paranormal
Everything took time, after all, and surviving was a journey.
It always would be.
THIS WAS BETTER THAN ANY THERAPY!!!
After everything a certain someone *side-eyes the author* made Alexei and Sean go through in In the Blood, both the guys and us readers - okay, at least I - needed quite some time to recover. Even if some tender approaches have already been made at the end of the previous book, it was pretty obvious that Alexei and Sean in particular would have to go a long way to feel safe in their own skin and find their connection, the safety in their relationship again. Trauma has a deep impact on the soul and overcoming guilt, doubts and one's own insecurities is something Sean has apparently more of a hard time to come to terms with than Alexei.
Knowing what he wanted to do was easy. Actually doing it, well... his head kept getting in the way of his heart. He knew his insecurities were what was holding them both back, and not anything Alexei had done. It made him angry with himself, but anger wouldn't help either of them.
Alexei is known - not to say famous - for his stubbornness and giving up on Sean and their love is something that is not going to happen, as much as Sean's reserve does hurt. With stubbornness comes patience, though, and deep down he knows that only time can heal all wounds and he is determined to show Sean that he is not going anywhere.
Cleared for active field duty, both men are sent to London on an undercover mission where they have to prove that they still have each other's back to get the job done. When suddenly someone appears on the scene who could endanger the whole mission, both men have to find their inner strength and show that they are still a team, in- and outside of the job...
First of all, although this is the first book in a new collection of short stories in the Metahuman universe, I would not advise to read this as a standalone. It is connected to the events of In the Blood and you would be lost if you don't know all the books in the Metahuman Files series.
It is pretty rare for me to give a short story five stars because usually - even if it is part of a series - something is missing. Not. This. Time. It did not even feel extremely short, because it contained everything I already know and love from the other books.
Heart-melting scenes. Hot and teeth-rattling sex. Action. Team dynamics.
This was all about Sean and Alexei and their recovery in any and every possible way...
... and I loved how the author dealt with the PTSD issue at hand by stressing that this is a process that takes maybe a lifelong time and not something that would disappear someday at a moment's notice, so kudos from me for a well-done research.
It was also great to see Liam again -Metahuman himself and working with the UMG, the British equivalent to the MDF- who we already met during the team's last mission in London and I simply love his dry British humor.
Please make sure your distraction isn't deadly to any civilians. Gran will be fucking pissed if I make the news tonight.
Since he is also thirteenth in line for the British throne, I reckon I don't need to point out who this 'gran' person would be? ;-) As for me, I am more than ready for him to get his own book and he so deserves it. Right, Ms. Turner? Pretty please?
I left the voodoo doll in the drawer this time, but admonished my cat to cuddle duty again, because recovery time can be as painful as the suffering itself that led to the requirement. Of course, once more it did not go according to plan and I really need to have a straight talk with him about his duties. Thank heavens, I have a collection of teddy bears who are not such a prima donna and on which I could rely on when the story gave me goose bumps all over, and that was quite often.
Okay, I will stop now before this review gets longer than the book itself, so let me finish by saying: fans of the Metahuman Files will love this novella, so read it!!!
***ARC generously provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!***Gay Romance, Science Fiction Romance, Paranormal
Alexei and Sean are one of my favorite couples. I love them together and individually. This one broke my heart. The distance between the two after their tragedy is wide. But they eventually find their way and I couldn't be happier. They have suffered enough without being able to lean on each other to heal. There's still healing to be done but they are on their way and will be stronger because of it. Thanks Anne, for telling me to pick this one up ❤️ Gay Romance, Science Fiction Romance, Paranormal
I am normally not a big fan of novella's, and when I can ...I usually skip them.
But when I found out why there was gonna be an in between novella, I gladly made an exception it. This is my fav couple after all !!
After everything they have been through in the previous book, it was very nice getting a little follow up, to see how Alexei and Sean were recovering .....
It seems like Sean is struggeling a bit harder than Alexei is, and seeing them both so lost broke my heart.... Thankfully Alexei once again proves he is the man I always knew him to be, and he doesn't just give up on his kotyonok.
Now I don't think they are not completely healed yet (mentally), but they are well on their way. Which is a very good thing, because the next book is on it's way and I have no idea what Hailey has in store for them next.... If there is one thing I have learned, it's that Hailey loves to shock, and she also loves the tears of her readers ...
I highly recommend this series, but be aware that this book can not be read as a stand alone. You should definitely start with book 1 in this series In The Wreckage
Gay Romance, Science Fiction Romance, Paranormal I have a tough relationship with this series. Not my favorite, but the writing is solid and the initial world building and the fantastic camaraderie between the Metahuman team picked my interest.My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession
In the last book In the Blood, I felt frustrated because there was too much action for my taste and nothing about the aftermath of the terrible ordeal two of the MCs, Sean and Alexei, went through. Fortunately, this short story is a much needed – at least for me - addition.
It's tough to see Sean lost in the pain he felt on behalf of Alexei and swooning to see Alexei so sure of his love for Sean.
And the balance between action and romance was much more to my taste here, there is that.
I’m still curious about the next instalment and I cross my fingers that there will be less fireworks and more romance and interaction with the team and some good progress in the plot. Hey, no harm in expressing my wishes ! Gay Romance, Science Fiction Romance, Paranormal *4,5 stars*
I simply had to race through this. I had to know how Sean and Alexei get over their problems after going through the most traumatic experiences in book 4.
What can I say? Alexei is SWOON-WORTHY.
For some reason the way Hailey Turner writes his Russian accent does things to me. It's always so to the point, simple and honest and at times absolutely hilarious. But here Alexei also shines through his complete loyalty to Sean and his commitment to their relationship, even when the going is tough.
I LOVE that guy. And boy, does his protective streak when he is jealous, make me chuckle.
Fabulous additions to a great series! Gay Romance, Science Fiction Romance, Paranormal 4 Stars
This novella is an absolute must-read if you’re tackling the main Metahuman Files series in correct reading order. As far as I'm concerned, this is book 4.5 and should definitely be read straight after In the Blood.
This story provides a pivotal look into Sean and Alexei’s lives, in the aftermath of what happened to them in book four (which I won’t talk about in fear of ruining the larger story for new readers).
Let’s just say a lot of hurt-comfort is at play here. Lots of healing, mentally and emotionally, for both men, but particularly for Sean, who has had a hell of a time coming to terms with what happened to him and Alexei and the role he personally feels he played in causing it to happen.
There is guilt and trauma to be overcome, and it's not easy or magically fixed by love. But these guys are always stronger when they’re together, and Alexei is just the steadfast, loyal partner that Sean needs, on and off the job, to help aide the long and arduous healing process.
I just adore these two together and I’m so grateful we got to witness them finding their strength and resolve renewed in the unbreakable love they have for each other.
Just beautiful. <3 Gay Romance, Science Fiction Romance, Paranormal