Hacking the Gender Condition by M.C. Questgend (#feminization #mindcontrol #thriller)

While a good story can get away with mastering two of them, there are three elements to a great story - the characters, the plot, and the narrative. With that being said, every reader has their preference or their focus but, for me, it all begins with the characters.

Hacking the Gender Condition opens with a character who spoke to me almost immediately. That is not to say I was ever a true child prodigy like Daniel Mallory, but I do identify with his social awkwardness, his desire to be left alone to do his job, and his reluctance to trust others to share the burden. M.C. Questgend captures all of that very well, presenting us with a realistic protagonist who still elicits sympathy despite being so abrasive and challenging.

The other character important to the story is Leslie, the young woman who suffers through a short tenure as Daniel's administrative assistant, and who comes back into the story later as a friend. She is a pleasant, earnest young woman who genuinely likes Daniel despite his personality issues, and who plays a pivotal role in supporting him through the darkest aspects of the story. She is not just a convenient plot device, but a character who has a genuine role to play.

As for the plot, this is a dark thriller that delves into conspiracy, mind control, brainwashing, domination, and more. While the forced feminization and brainwashing is the pivot upon which the whole story turns (and is handled very well, particularly in terms of how Daniel responds to clothing, and how he learns to deal with sexual arousal), it is not the focus. Instead, this is really the story of a character who is challenged, broken, and restored . . . a full character arc of growth and change. What happens is less important than why, and even less so than to whom it happens.

Finally, in terms of narrative, this is tightly-plotted with some deft juggling of clues, secrets, and revelations. M.C. Questgend keeps us on edge throughout, sharing hints and glimpses of what is really going on, but holding the 'how' and 'why' close to the chest. We are intrigued and excited, driven beyond curiosity into a desperate need to know what is really going in. I honestly was not sure where the whole story was headed, unable to guess what was coming next, and that is what ultimately makes this such a compelling read.

Born in 1971, M.C. Questgend traveled the country with his parents as a military brat. Settling in Texas where he was first introduced to alternative lifestyles, he was able to finish high school and continue his new "hobby" in college. After college, he and "she" returned to start a family, but the strain of his "secret" was too much for his now ex-wife. Married a second time was not the answer, so M.C. has transferred the stress to the pen and keyboard. Writing erotic stories - some loosely based on his and "her" life as well as stories involving aspects of the LGBT community, a community and lifestyle he has come to privately embrace. M.C. Questgend is a pen name used to protect his privacy and anonymity. The intent was to write stories that entertain, inspire and motivate - which are as much sensual and heartwarming as they are sexual and explicit.

@mcquestgend
http://www.mcquestgend.com

Reviewed by Sally