Bad Boy

In a follow-up to Black Iris and Cam Girl, Wake continues the story of a vigilante group that tries to right the wrongs of Internet misogynists and trolls. This time, Wake focuses on Renard Grant, a popular vlogger who has made a name for himself by documenting his transition from female to male. When he's not online, Ren uses his new muscle mass (thanks to testosterone treatments and obsessive exercise) to work as an enforcer for Black Iris. After meeting Tamsin Baylor, Ren finds that his role in the group is challenged and old demons are unlocked. Wake's exposition is artfully crafted; he doesn't rely on controversy or chest-beating to move the plot along. Ren is a fully developed character who is able to express masculinity, femininity, contentment, and dissatisfaction throughout the narrative. Nor does Wake shy away from writing explicitly about the mechanics of sex or dating as a person whose gender is in flux. However, some of the other characters fall flat, particularly Tamsin. Those who have read the author's previous books will be able to fill in some of the missing characterizations and will appreciate another suspenseful work.