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whatthefridge's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-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
4.75
I am torn between my head and my heart on how to rate this book.
On the one hand, I am a complete slut for forced submission training. Tristan is a brat who needs firm discipline, and the story delivers tenfold.
On the other hand, the worldbuilding is kind of hamfisted—such as with Corrik’s explanation of BDSM* in Elf culture—and confusing in regard to key details about the characters. For example, it was exceptionally difficult for me to parse Tristan’s species and age. Took me way too long to comprehend he’s human with literal dragon blood, though that means little in the scope of things, and that he’s recently had his coming-of-age ceremony, whatever that age may be. Then there’s Corrik. At Elven age of 200 years old, he is treated by the humans like, were he also human, he’s in his 30s, even though it later mentions Elven “men don’t reach manhood until three hundred.” So going by this worldbuilding, Tristan is technically more of an adult man than Corrik, but it’s Corrik who’s treated like the seasoned elder throughout the book. This is emphasized by the narrative by always framing Tristan as childish in nature. The fact that Elves outlive humans is barely touched upon, but it’s heavily implied that Tristan can somehow become an Elf down the line. And don’t get me started on whether Tristan’s remark about Corrik being nine feet tall is accurate or not. Apparently Tristan is large for a person and Corrik is larger than him, whatever that means because it’s left vague as shit.
But my god the submission training. It’s so tasty. Corrik is tough but fair, and he practices great restraint whenever Tristan enrages him.
(*This book was published in 2014, so I have to be a bit more forgiving of it conflating being a Dom and being a Top (the former is a relationship dynamic and the latter is a position in sex, so it’s possible for someone to be a service top—sub top—or a powerbottom—Dom bottom). Also apparently the concept of switches simply doesn’t exist in the book’s world.)
Tristan and Corrik are on the verge of a breakthrough in their relationship when around the 75% mark the story completely switches gears. Though considering this is a trilogy, I suppose it’s merely setting up new stakes for subsequent books. However, talking about this section feels like it needs spoiler tags… except the only way to not get whiplash is to establish expectations. The author’s note at the start of the book mentions Tristan will dabble in polyamory. I’m here to add that the circumstances around it involve enslavement for an extended period of time, so not the most ethical of non-monogamy.
Two important characters are introduced: Andothair, and his younger brother, Bayaden. It’s the latter who becomes directly important to Tristan. Andothair is more of a red herring since he’s introduced first, but he connects back to everything too by being Corrik’s ex-boyfriend, before Corrik had his prophetic vision of Tristan.
In fairness to Tristan, he consents to anything sexual and BDSM while also understanding that what he’s doing is a betrayal of Corrik. Despite the guilt, he’s also lost any hope of ever seeing Corrik again. The distance makes his heart grow fonder for his husband. It also allows Tristan to grow in skills, in and out of bed, that Corrik, with his idiosyncrasies, wasn’t the best person for. It’s why the polyamory aspect works even it’s a bit chafing with the execution.
I like how there is no insta-love… for Tristan, at least. Both with Corrik and Bayaden, Tristan has to work through his feelings and decipher the developments in his relationships. And while the Elves do experience insta-love, it’s tolerable because they still have to work at their relationships to make it successful.
I also appreciate that there’s no homophobia in this world. The tensions come more from humans vs Elves, Elves vs other Elves, and dynamics among dominants and submissives. And another nice turn is how neither culture is sexually repressed. Moreso since Elven society is the most loose about sex, and while Tristan’s cultural norms growing up made intimacy a very private act, it’s never anti-intimacy or sex altogether.
The only thing keeping me from running to inhale the next book is I managed to snag this while it was free and I don’t have KU access at the moment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Slavery, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent and War
justabooktrovert's review against another edition
3.0
I’ve had a few days to process Tristan by S. Legend, and honestly, I’m still not sure I can fully do this review justice. This book took me on a bit of a rollercoaster, and not always in the best way.
The premise intrigued me: Tristan, a Warlord in training, is forced to leave everything behind for an arranged marriage to an elven prince, Corrick. It’s a fantasy story with BDSM/kink dynamics and strict roles, which is usually right up my alley—I’ve read plenty of books with the whole D/s dynamic and enjoyed them. But here? It all felt... a bit much, like it was trying too hard.
The world-building had potential and was mildly interesting at times, but it often felt overly complex or forced. And then there’s the “big secret” between Tristan and his papa that I thought was going to blow me away. Turns out, the earth-shattering revelation is… that Tristan’s a brat? That’s it? It just left me scratching my head, honestly.
I’ll admit, I almost DNF’d this one halfway through, but I pushed through to the end. There were moments where it was okay, and I did enjoy certain parts of the world that was created. But overall, the story didn’t completely work for me.
I’m not sure if I’ll continue with the series. It wasn’t a terrible read, but it also didn’t leave me excited to see what happens next.
The premise intrigued me: Tristan, a Warlord in training, is forced to leave everything behind for an arranged marriage to an elven prince, Corrick. It’s a fantasy story with BDSM/kink dynamics and strict roles, which is usually right up my alley—I’ve read plenty of books with the whole D/s dynamic and enjoyed them. But here? It all felt... a bit much, like it was trying too hard.
The world-building had potential and was mildly interesting at times, but it often felt overly complex or forced. And then there’s the “big secret” between Tristan and his papa that I thought was going to blow me away. Turns out, the earth-shattering revelation is… that Tristan’s a brat? That’s it? It just left me scratching my head, honestly.
I’ll admit, I almost DNF’d this one halfway through, but I pushed through to the end. There were moments where it was okay, and I did enjoy certain parts of the world that was created. But overall, the story didn’t completely work for me.
I’m not sure if I’ll continue with the series. It wasn’t a terrible read, but it also didn’t leave me excited to see what happens next.
k_champagne's review against another edition
3.0
#teambaya
Did I sob my eyeballs out the final few chapters of this book? Yes. Yes I absolutely did. Thinking about it has me tearing up at my desk now.
Has there ever been a character more punchable than Corrick? No. I’m almost positive he’s the most punchable man existing in ink.
After a somewhat anticlimactic 3/4 of this book, I didn’t expect to get hit in the feels. I wasn’t really connecting w the characters… I thought. Then BAM. Pain. Heartbreak.
The final 1/4 made this book. If you’re looking for emotional damage, not the heaviest sort but the kind from heartbreak I highly recommend. It still hurts
Did I sob my eyeballs out the final few chapters of this book? Yes. Yes I absolutely did. Thinking about it has me tearing up at my desk now.
Has there ever been a character more punchable than Corrick? No. I’m almost positive he’s the most punchable man existing in ink.
After a somewhat anticlimactic 3/4 of this book, I didn’t expect to get hit in the feels. I wasn’t really connecting w the characters… I thought. Then BAM. Pain. Heartbreak.
The final 1/4 made this book. If you’re looking for emotional damage, not the heaviest sort but the kind from heartbreak I highly recommend. It still hurts
dejunk's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting!
This was an an interesting story.
We have Tristan, a Warlord in training, having to give up all he knows for an arranged marriage to an elven prince, (Corrick).
Their relationship is more of a BDSM relationship - Corrick exerted his dominance even before they got married. The couple clash quite a bit, but Tristan loves?/hates his husband.
The make/break point of the story is when Tristan gets kidnapped. I liked Tristan - he's opinionated, bratty, but likable - which is why I continued reading to the end - (I did wish Tristan didn't do what he did with his captor).
Overall, it's a really good story, good world-building and the kidnapping events interesting enough that I want to know what Corrick is going to do to get Tristan back (and what he'll do when/if he finds out about Tristan's captivity).
I really enjoyed the enjoyed the story more via audio. The narration was really good! Curtis Michael had the characters down pat, especially when Tristan was petulant or bratty. His performance was made it all the more interesting, hence overall 4 star rating (3.5 for the story 4.5 narration).
This was an an interesting story.
We have Tristan, a Warlord in training, having to give up all he knows for an arranged marriage to an elven prince, (Corrick).
Their relationship is more of a BDSM relationship - Corrick exerted his dominance even before they got married. The couple clash quite a bit, but Tristan loves?/hates his husband.
The make/break point of the story is when Tristan gets kidnapped. I liked Tristan - he's opinionated, bratty, but likable - which is why I continued reading to the end - (I did wish Tristan didn't do what he did with his captor).
Overall, it's a really good story, good world-building and the kidnapping events interesting enough that I want to know what Corrick is going to do to get Tristan back (and what he'll do when/if he finds out about Tristan's captivity).
I really enjoyed the enjoyed the story more via audio. The narration was really good! Curtis Michael had the characters down pat, especially when Tristan was petulant or bratty. His performance was made it all the more interesting, hence overall 4 star rating (3.5 for the story 4.5 narration).
qque's review against another edition
4.0
Finished in two days. I found the story line engaging and the smut was great for me personally
dancingterracephantom's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the other books that I've read by Mock so I eagerly dived into Tristan's book. It's quite a bit older than the others I've read, and unfortunately it was easy to tell. This book didn't feel as polished. The writing was a little too basic sometimes, and the story didn't flow as easily.
I still enjoyed the world created. And I love reading DD which is why I picked this book up to begin with. There were more steamy scenes than I'm used to with Mock which I appreciated. But the last little bit between Tristan and Corrick felt disjointed, and wasn't at all what I was expecting. It felt too high protocol and D/s & I'm used to those elements being omitted in Mock's books so it was jarring. I like the Top/brat dynamic, and don't really like the high protocols creeping in. But that's just personal preference I suppose.
I know many reviewers were really thrown when Tristan was kidnapped, and what transpired after. It didn't feel like the same book anymore, especially because it was just the last little bit. An entire year summarized in a couple chapters, with the relationship between Tristan and Bayaden giving both Tristan and the reader whiplash.
Despite my criticisms, I am going to continue the series because I'm really hoping it's going to improve going forward.
I still enjoyed the world created. And I love reading DD which is why I picked this book up to begin with. There were more steamy scenes than I'm used to with Mock which I appreciated. But the last little bit between Tristan and Corrick felt disjointed, and wasn't at all what I was expecting. It felt too high protocol and D/s & I'm used to those elements being omitted in Mock's books so it was jarring. I like the Top/brat dynamic, and don't really like the high protocols creeping in. But that's just personal preference I suppose.
I know many reviewers were really thrown when Tristan was kidnapped, and what transpired after. It didn't feel like the same book anymore, especially because it was just the last little bit. An entire year summarized in a couple chapters, with the relationship between Tristan and Bayaden giving both Tristan and the reader whiplash.
Despite my criticisms, I am going to continue the series because I'm really hoping it's going to improve going forward.
rayrooz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
kat_sann's review against another edition
DNF
I just couldn't
I hated Tristan.
not for me.
Having to leave brusis and being happy your hurt your husband? No thanks.
Sounds more like Stockholm syndrome to me then love.
I just couldn't
I hated Tristan.
not for me.
Having to leave brusis and being happy your hurt your husband? No thanks.
Sounds more like Stockholm syndrome to me then love.
actaea's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75