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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
My gosh... this book was just... wow. It's not even done yet (free online fiction) and I have no idea how much more there will be. But as of right now I've read ~27 chapters (more or less) and just feel blown back by the everything!
I have found so often that free online fiction published works are so much more appealing than a lot of the published fiction out there. Usually just because those that publish online actually make an attempt to write something original, and to write it well. I can think of so many examples of authors who sell shoddy, inferior, terrible work and then wonder why they make no revenue, and then compare that to so many published online tales that have enormous fan followings, where each chapter has comments going up into the hundreds of pages range. It's a shame, but at the same time I am so glad that people take the time to write and publish and give it all a chance, especially if they're not making a profit.
That aside, this tale was like a mix of George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones series mixed in with some real-life slavery. Most of "slave fiction" deals with a billion sex scenes, so that the reader is bored by the time the next one comes around, but Freece really just knows what's important, what needs focus, where the action should go, and then goes with that. There are no side trips down rape-alley or long stops at pleasure houses. Everything that is put down in relation to the pleasure slaves is necessary to set the scene, show the characters of the people and is important at a later date. I can not stress how much this stood out to me. There have been a lot of works that I've read that just leave a bad taste in my mouth, because most of the focus is put onto the slave's expansive sex life. I am just so glad that that wasn't the case here.
I bring up Martin's work because this novel felt like a much better version of his work. It was realistic. It wasn't over the top. It had battles and bloodshed and intrigues, but they didn't leave me feeling unclean. Martin really adores blood and killing his characters. Freece's characters have honor and integrity and aren't totally blind to pride. It was refreshing and enjoyable!
The writing, in general, was a bit simple. Skimped on the details, in retrospect. But while reading I never acutely felt that I was lacking any pertinent information. Everything necessary was there to let the story just flow (and flow it did!); it was more than just everything necessary too.
I am so glad that Goodreads Recommendations led me to this book (the first book I actually found via Goodreads Recommendations which interested me).
I think even those fantasy lovers who might feel a bit squeamish at some overtly sexual descriptions (I would think the scene that most includes this is where the Rabatian Prince gives direct commands as to how his new slave, the Prince in disguise, Damen, should be given fellatio. But even that wasn't sexual... it was clinical!) would still appreciate the story. Especially once Laurent takes his troops down to the boarder with the other kingdom (name?) to protect it, and meets rebellious factions instead. The writing of the war scenes is as precise, if not better than Martins. And that's saying something.
I appreciate this author, and I loved this story. I certainly hope that future chapters will be coming out promptly, since I'm waiting not so patiently to read them!!
I have found so often that free online fiction published works are so much more appealing than a lot of the published fiction out there. Usually just because those that publish online actually make an attempt to write something original, and to write it well. I can think of so many examples of authors who sell shoddy, inferior, terrible work and then wonder why they make no revenue, and then compare that to so many published online tales that have enormous fan followings, where each chapter has comments going up into the hundreds of pages range. It's a shame, but at the same time I am so glad that people take the time to write and publish and give it all a chance, especially if they're not making a profit.
That aside, this tale was like a mix of George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones series mixed in with some real-life slavery. Most of "slave fiction" deals with a billion sex scenes, so that the reader is bored by the time the next one comes around, but Freece really just knows what's important, what needs focus, where the action should go, and then goes with that. There are no side trips down rape-alley or long stops at pleasure houses. Everything that is put down in relation to the pleasure slaves is necessary to set the scene, show the characters of the people and is important at a later date. I can not stress how much this stood out to me. There have been a lot of works that I've read that just leave a bad taste in my mouth, because most of the focus is put onto the slave's expansive sex life. I am just so glad that that wasn't the case here.
I bring up Martin's work because this novel felt like a much better version of his work. It was realistic. It wasn't over the top. It had battles and bloodshed and intrigues, but they didn't leave me feeling unclean. Martin really adores blood and killing his characters. Freece's characters have honor and integrity and aren't totally blind to pride. It was refreshing and enjoyable!
The writing, in general, was a bit simple. Skimped on the details, in retrospect. But while reading I never acutely felt that I was lacking any pertinent information. Everything necessary was there to let the story just flow (and flow it did!); it was more than just everything necessary too.
I am so glad that Goodreads Recommendations led me to this book (the first book I actually found via Goodreads Recommendations which interested me).
I think even those fantasy lovers who might feel a bit squeamish at some overtly sexual descriptions (I would think the scene that most includes this is where the Rabatian Prince gives direct commands as to how his new slave, the Prince in disguise, Damen, should be given fellatio. But even that wasn't sexual... it was clinical!) would still appreciate the story. Especially once Laurent takes his troops down to the boarder with the other kingdom (name?) to protect it, and meets rebellious factions instead. The writing of the war scenes is as precise, if not better than Martins. And that's saying something.
I appreciate this author, and I loved this story. I certainly hope that future chapters will be coming out promptly, since I'm waiting not so patiently to read them!!
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
this book struck me as a direct equivalent to season 1 of game of thrones; excessively violent and overtly sexual in the name of shock value, but with a enticing and very legitimate plot hidden underneath. i found the characters enticing enough to stick around, and honestly the way people spoke of this series as a whole kept me interested.
as many readers would, i did spend a lot of time considering the ethics of this book and exactly what it would end up condoning. in isolation, this book doesn't offer many solutions to the themes and issues it raised, but after finishing the whole series i can safely say that my fears were alleviated.
i'd be lying if i didn't mention my severe gust reaction of disgust to the word 'pet' like jesus christ oh my god fuck off. the writing was at times a touch too much like fanfiction and i'd argue much of the jaw-dropping scenes don't come to serve much plot wise later. the weakest book of the series though, but if you can power through it, it becomes a much more substantial trilogy.
as many readers would, i did spend a lot of time considering the ethics of this book and exactly what it would end up condoning. in isolation, this book doesn't offer many solutions to the themes and issues it raised, but after finishing the whole series i can safely say that my fears were alleviated.
i'd be lying if i didn't mention my severe gust reaction of disgust to the word 'pet' like jesus christ oh my god fuck off. the writing was at times a touch too much like fanfiction and i'd argue much of the jaw-dropping scenes don't come to serve much plot wise later. the weakest book of the series though, but if you can power through it, it becomes a much more substantial trilogy.
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
N/A
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
