Review: 4 stars erotic sci-fi fantasy
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 1, 2013
Wow - for something that's touted as a short story, this really doesn't feel short. There' s a whole fantasy universe created here that's very well fleshed out and great depth is given to the characters despite the brevity of the tale. I definitely felt like I'd read a full-length novel by the time I clicked my Kindle over to the last page. In fact, I felt a little bereft and I want more stories of this world and to see Devnar and Melania as their life together progresses.I have to say that I picked this book up in a fit of cover lust. I've read and enjoyed Ann Mayburn before but I really don't generally read sci-fi and am really not fond of subjugated males as a plot device so I started this with a little trepidation but it was unfounded. Almost immediately the story and the characters gripped me and dragged me through the plot at breakneck speed - I couldn't put it down.So Prince Devnar, virile dominant male, is captured by another race and is handed over to Melania, a `breaker', for training so that he can become concubine to her Empress. Devnar doesn't have a submissive bone in his body and Melania, despite embracing the role of domme which has been forced upon her, is actually naturally deeply submissive. Devnar is controlled by powerful aphrodisiacs and electric shock restraints but, despite all this, his naturally dominant nature is coming over in waves and Melania finds this highly intoxicating.So, we have a battle of wills and a deeply, deeply erotic journey to take and holy hell if this doesn't have some of the hottest m-m-f ménage sex I think I have ever read. The scenes with Devnar, Melania and Khilam were so hot I swear I almost caught fire.There's a whole lot of subterfuge going on and the storyline explodes with conspiracy, double dealings and things are not what they seem but Devnar and Melania have bonded deeply and Devnar will do anything to save her.This is only my second `erotic fantasy' read and it's infinitely better than the first and this book has made me consider reading more of this genre which is one I normally shun.So, 4 stars erotic sci-fi fantasy