Review: Great book for the right audience.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 8, 2013
Read it again; Great book for the RIGHT audience.If you're a fan of darker erotic romance (thinkFallen Star (Interstellar Service & Discipline)orDeadly CaptiveorComfort Food) Ravenous Virtue should be right up your alley.If you experience with BDSM books run more into the 'Sugar Kink' category (Fifty Shades Trilogy: Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker, Fifty Shades Freed 3-volume Boxed Set) then you're probably not going to be comfortable with the content of this book.Let's break down the content warning.captive/coerced sex - Romance readers familiar with the older bodice rippers should be familiar with this one. Coerced means that while the character may not mentally be in the space to enjoy what is happening to him/her that his/her body is 'going with the flow' so-to-say.bondage - binding, or restraining of a person for the erotic reasons.punishment including whippings - this one is pretty self explanatory. Although, be aware that in real BDSM punishment whippings are not always pleasurable to the person receiving them. It's punishment!anal play/intercourse - another self explanatory one. If you have a male couple in a relationship you should expect this. In menage books with two men and one female it is also very common. (Heck these days, in your typical M/F erotic romance, you'll also see this. It's not as taboo as it once was)m/m = Male/Male (means men are 'shown' having relations in the book)f/f = Female/Female (means two females are described having relations in a book)I also want to add to the content warning that there is a scene with a shape shifter that can morph into either gender and something in between.If you were confused before, you shouldn't be any longer.Now down to the actual review of the book!Story:The story was great. There was quite a bit of world building at the beginning, so if you're expecting to jump right into the 'action' you can throw that idea out the window. I'll be honest and say that the first few chapters I was a little bored, but the set-up was needed to explain Raven's character. Otherwise; to believe she would agree to put herself in a position of servitude wouldn't have made any sense.There did seem to be a few plot holes that I didn't particularly like, but I'm assuming that it's a lead up to more books in the series.Example: *maybe spoilerish* The abducted women were never found. It's no question who the baddie in the book is. Since this is a romance and a HEA (happily ever after) is expected from the main characters the bad guy IS dealt with. BUT I felt like Raven didn't complete the job she set out to do by not finding the abducted women from (our) Earth. :/Raven: Raven has a fierce need for justice and it takes her into to some pretty extreme situations. She's like a miniature warrior ready to take on the world (or worlds in this instance).The Men: Daagiis and Vendeen have a very odd relationship. They love each, but they hate each other. I wish more of their back story was given so I could understand them better. Daagiis gave up everything to be with Vendeen, but a lot of the time (on an emotional level) I just couldn't grasp why he did it. At times they really do seem to be more anti-heroes. They were redeemed, in a believable way, by the end. That's more than I can say for some anti-hero books I've read.So, the characters were good, and the plot was top-notch for erotic sci-fi romance.You get action, adventure, and highly erotic scenes.Could the story have flowed a bit better? Probably.Do I wish the author would have spent more time building on the emotional relationship that Raven had with D and V? Certainly.Overall I found that Ravenous Virtue was a great read when I was in the mood for something dangerously dark. There is plenty of captive-fantasy erotica out there, but not many have the happily ever after that I find necessary to feel satisfied. Ravenous Virtue filled that niche for me perfectly. Just because I enjoy a little slap with my tickle, on occasion, doesn't mean I don't like a good love story as well.