Challenging conventional notions of "normal," Cryle and Stephens trace the term's historical evolution since its emergence around 1820. They delve into the cultural and intellectual debates surrounding identity—encompassing disability, gender, race, and sexuality—through a series of intriguing case studies. The authors examine the term's origins in scientific fields like medicine and its transformation over time, highlighting the complexities of normality versus abnormality. This comprehensive exploration reveals the cultural struggles that have shaped the concept of normality and its societal implications.
KikiThere's no way I'm letting this alien who calls me his Xiveri mate claim me as his. He may say the right things and stir emotions in me I never expected to feel again for any male, but his kind has already taken too much from me as is.Trapped now on his harsh, snow-consumed planet waiting to be hunted, with no way of escape, I'll do the only thing I can. The one thing I've been training for since the aliens first came to the human moon colony to hurt us. I'll fight.?Va'RakuNobu has never seen a queen before who is able to wield sword and staff, fist and tongue. A warrior queen, and mine to claim. But when her hate puts the entire village at risk, I finally come to understand the provenance of her pain.While she is the only one who can unravel it, I can teach her control, acceptance, release. But first I will need her trust. And only then can we fight together against our shared enemy and bring him to his knees.
DeenaRhork. He's a space pirate. The bad kind. But he's also been my only source of company for the past rotation that I've been held captive.Halfway across the galaxy, I'm happy to have finally escaped and found more humans...well, I was.But now, I'm not so sure that people are so much better than pirates. And I'm very sure that I'll need Rhork's help to get out of this. But Rhork thinks I'm a defective female because of my twisted leg. What if he's not willing to give it?RhorkCommunicating with the human female for almost a rotation was, in retrospect, a poor choice. Now, she seems to be the ever-present voice in my head, distracting me, making me want things I shouldn't.To make her a pirate.To show her the universe.And most of all, to keep her for myself.
Svera He's staring at me again. Protector, tormentor, roommate. It's against my religion to spend this much time with Krisxox – or any male – but he's a shadow I can't seem to shake. For all his hatred for the human species, he joins me on my next mission to the human colony. Our welcome party? Deception, betrayal and pirates. This isn't my first time crossing paths with the pirates seeking to steal human women. But this is the first time that I've had the coordinates to an unprotected human space station – and the pirate king wants them. Stuck in a desperate situation, I'm not sure if Krisxox is a help or a hindrance. He wants me to live, but he's a short-tempered brute and I suspect that if he can't learn to work with me – a human – both of us will end up dead. Krisxox I'm staring at her again. I don't think she's noticed. And that's good. She's a filthy human. I don't need her knowing that she's my one true mate. With enough hate, I intend to break the bond, but until then...I guess I'll stick with keeping her safe. That becomes a harder task than anticipated when human nature reveals its acidic underbelly. Deals brokered by ghosts bring pirates to our shores. They think they can take her and use her for information. Not sviking happening. I'll keep her alive. I'll keep her at arm's length. But what happens when we're trapped together in a dungeon barely bigger than a box? Keeping her alive and fighting blood-thirsty pirates doesn't seem so scary as what will happen when she finds out that she's my Xiveri mate. Taken to Heimo is a full-length (95k words), standalone, interracial, SciFi romance complete with a possessive alpha alien – who's also a big jerk – and a sweet, smart heroine who has no trouble standing up to him. This story features fated mates who are also enemies-to-lovers, epic world building and steam – lots of it. All Xiveri Mates books can be read as standalones, each one with a guaranteed HEA, but I recommend reading book 1 first to set the stage. NO cheating, harem or love triangles. Violent action scenes may be disturbing for some readers. *************************************************************************** ★★★ Taken to Heimo teaser ★★★ "You’re going to make it out of here alive. I’m the shield. Nothing will touch you. But I’m not a fool to think they’ll let me live after what I plan to do to them." “You think fighting is the only way,” she says smoothing down her skirts as if we aren’t trapped in the bowels of some universe-forsaken transporter, me – about to be dismembered, her – about to be raped. I balk, “What are you going to do? Talk them to death?” She levels me with a stare. Even and cool. It gives me the chills. Me. Krisxox. Ten times her size, I’m suddenly caught in her shadow. And not for the first time. “Precisely. I’m going to negotiate.”
