Review: unconvincing
Rating: 1 out of 5
Date: 03 8, 2013
This short story is the prequel to a M/M trilogy completed before this work was begun. It depicts the first encounter of the leads and their fallling for each other.To give Caesar its due, writing is quite good.Not even the fluid writing can make up for the rather disconcerting plot loopholes though; there are several but I can only quote one without giving the plot away: the leads wake up together and decide they will have breakfast after one has groomed himself; the following line they are having breakfast but nobody has ever been in the bathroom.The BDSM element is essential to the plot and that is utterly unfortunate.Halfway through the story, during a very mature dialogue the leads are having about a potential relationship, the dom lists his own duties... which are essentially those of any decent human being who is involved in any kind of relationship. Why should the sub accept to relinquish control and bear punishments in exchange for benefits that should belong to any relationship and without which the same relationship could only be considered abusive really escapes me.I suppose the point the author is trying to make is that our dom is a responsible man unlike many pain addicts that people the BDSM world.Point made and taken, but once again being attentive to the other's need should be the basis of any relationship (even between friends or relatives): we know this is not always the case but those are called "disfunctional" relationship for a reason, are they not?Sex scenes are indifferent if not boring and convey little of the depth of emotions supposedly involved.I really think it is a good thing that this prequel is available for free: anybody will be able to make his own mind.After all the series has received many raving reviews: obviously it must have some merits even if I fail to see any.Personally, after reading this work and the blurbs of the next three volumes, which seem full of contrived angst and drama, I will quit this series now and be happier for it.