In Chrysalis, we explore the quiet underworld of an ultra-conservative Canadian city. Our unlikely hero, Trey, is an energy-seeing, cross-dressing sex worker on the precipice of a life or death decision, but when a friend goes missing, he finds himself distracted from the business of self-destruction.
Desperate to find his missing colleague, twenty-four-year-old Trey finds himself part of an … unusual group, from a deranged kidnapper to a devoted cop, all focused on a missing girl. And when confronted with these Canadian people, dealing with both human and Canadian issues, we find ourselves suspending our judgement on characters we’d often prefer to look past.Through it all, we witness Trey’s chance at transformation – will he be able to set himself on a new direction in life as he finally begins to understand that being different doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t belong?
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Another book, unlike any other anyone, has read before. This book is not simply segmented into chapters but each chapter is for a specific character from that character’s POV. An unusual approach that works in a book that is very hard to define by simply the characters portrayed. I found reading a chapter about a character was much like reading the classifieds from NOW Magazine in the 1980’s only it was like you called each number and got the bio from each person offering their ‘services’.
This is a book about change or even more so, this is a book about transformation. In some way it is a book about Trey but in other ways it is a book about the part of the earth Trey is living on and growing in.
This book is the antithesis to Keeping Up With The Kardashians. In reading this book you don’t immerse yourself in the lifestyles of the rich and famous. You find yourself deeply immersed in people from what has oft been colloquially referred to as the seedier side of life.
Personally I had issues with the disjointed nature of the approach but that could work for some. I didn’t have any issues with the multiple, multiple POV but that could raise flags with some too.
If this book had a soundtrack it might simply be the song A Day In The Life. This author carries the story using the minute detail of day to day existence to get the point across about the importance of change. The ending will keep you on the edge of your seat. This book is not an easy read but could be worthwhile to those who really want to get to know what life is like living as a sex trade worker in a dingy district. A courageous work by an author willing to work hard to create a believable atmosphere – no matter how seemly.
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I’d review it.
My Rating: 4 stars
Chrysalis – a quiescent insect pupa, especially of a butterfly or moth.
a transnational state.
“she emerged from the chrysalis of self-conscious adolescence”
Transformation does not start with someone else changing you; transformation is an inner self reworking of what you are now to what you will be. To transform yourself, you don’t need to do big things. Just do small things in a big way. Transformation will follow you!
Each of us as humans goes through this process to one degree or another and if we haven’t then we most likely need to.
We transform from a child to an teen and eventually hopefully into an adult.
Isn’t that what meant by “Grow -up”? “Transform”.
in many cases we fail to understand what really are, what we contain within our selves. The act of discovering this is hopefully what occurs in our life.
The need for change often comes at the time of struggle.
For Trey his transformation came at a time that he had hit rock bottom.
Chrysalis is the story of a young person(he isnt sure if he is a guy or a girl) who is falling apart mentally emotionally and physically but goes through a transformation as a result of the events that surround him.
In this story Trey leans on friends to help with the progress.
Along the way there are challenges and obstacles but Trey quickly learns that we are often presented with the people in our lives that have the ability to help us with the transformation process.
what many of us often forget is that while our friends can help us they cant make the changes for us.
Trey learns this lesson.
Chrysalis is an excellently told story with brilliantly portrayed characters that greatly enhance story. Each of them going through their own transformation process.
I promise you that Chrysalis will transform you and possibly some of your thoughts on certain aspects of society and life in general.
Theresa Dale is the wonderful author of the Rose’s Ghost series, and although she is a relative newcomer to the world of fiction she is one that demands attention and is worthy of being on your list of favorite new writers.