Spar by Randi Perrin – Review by Francis O’Sullivan

SparSpar by Randi Perrin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was initially drawn to Spar by Randi Perrin by the promise of a bisexual protagonist, and because I enjoyed reading Perrin’s Earthbound Angels series. Spar isn’t a fantasy like Earthbound Angels – it is a modern romance with a real world setting that focuses on Tae Kwon Do and computer programming.
Both of the protagonists, Chloe and Locke, have been badly hurt in the past (TW for domestic and sexual abuse). For Chloe, it is more recent and consequently she finds it more difficult to build trust. Locke respects this, and is patient and sensitive with her. Their relationship is complicated but fundamentally caring, which I enjoyed reading!
I was both excited and wary of having a bi protagonist in a m/f relationship. Perrin does a really good job – we see Chloe being attracted to both men and women at different points in the story, she discusses past relationships and Perrin addresses homophobia and the difficulties of coming out. There are also other LGBT characters, including a long term, long distance m/m couple. One of the earlier scenes takes place at a masked ball for a local LGBT charity. So it does very much feel like an LGBT romance!
This is a fun, gripping read, and gets four stars from me! There are descriptions of violence, homophobia and other forms of abuse but it is generally a positive, empowering book.

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