Review of Stolid

[Jen Nghishitende]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Stolid" by Aaron D Key.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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In Stolid, Aaron D. Key takes readers into the life history of the protagonist, Stolid, through flashbacks to his past, aided by a mysterious young man. While these flashbacks look into his life, they focus on two of his love relationships with older men, highlighting his internal battles of self-love, acceptance, and his search for belonging. Stolid’s two lovers, Joseph and Johnathon, played a significant role in his life. Coming into his life as a good Samaritan, Joseph found Stolid sleeping rough, beaten, and without a place to go. However, Joseph was battling his internal battles of self-acceptance and his father’s apparent lack of understanding and hostility towards his sexuality.

Jonathon seemed to provide a more stable relationship, yet his life was primarily centred on his friends, while Stolid had few friends. On the other hand, Stolid was doing well professionally, having passed both interviews he had attended and obtained the job both times. This mysterious young man’s appearance in Stolid’s life has a purpose, but can Stolid escape him? Does he even want to?

I like the storyline of this book, even though I did find it somewhat sad, reading about how Stolid seemingly floated around in life, going where he hoped he would be loved. However, I particularly liked that although Stolid was somehow searching for something, he did not beg or stay in situations he was not wanted. Stolid exercised agency in a calm manner. By responding to Joseph’s advances, asking Johnathon out, and cooking for him, he doesn’t hold back when showing and expressing how he feels. His agency is also depicted in how he refused both Timothy and Lizzie’s advances. So, while he does display limited belief in himself, he does know what he wants, and he goes for it or removes himself when the situation no longer serves him. I liked the pace of the storyline and how engaging it keeps the reader. While it goes back and forth between the past and present, this is not done in a confusing manner, and readers can keep up and keep track.

There is nothing I disliked about the book. However, the story seemed incomplete in the end to me, but this is because the book is a part of a series, and the story will hopefully continue in the next book.

The book is well written, professionally edited, and well-plotted. I thus rate it four out of four stars . I recommend it to anyone who enjoys romance with a bit of mystery sprinkled over it. While there are no erotic descriptions of physical intimacy in the story, it is about homosexual relationships. For readers to enjoy this, they must be tolerant and open-minded.

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Stolid
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[Kinjal V Shah]

A good read. Stolid certainly has the virtue of kindness and self-respect.

[Amy Luman]

I do hope that the next installment will answer your questions. Stolid seems to me to be a typical young adult. He doesn’t really know who he is yet, but it is coming.

[Jen Nghishitende]

I do hope that the next installment will answer your questions. Stolid seems to me to be a typical young adult. He doesn’t really know who he is yet, but it is coming.

Absolutely, he is still finding his way

[Jen Nghishitende]

A good read. Stolid certainly has the virtue of kindness and self-respect.

Yes I really liked that about him, although he is quite lost still.