Scan barcode
A review by jesuismoi
Rogue's Pawn by Jeffe Kennedy
Did not finish book.
This should have so many trigger warnings. Consent is never given and MUCH happens that needs it.
The heroine is literally tortured. Then, after that ends, she just decides it's not going to impact her. There's some mention of PTSD, but once, and she waves it away as, "oh well, no one to help me."
The world building plays fast and loose with this concept of "everything is b/c of debts you owe other people" ---- sometimes the debts aren't specific enough (I guess?) and end up with sexual torment being added to the torture with no consequences. Sometimes the debts are implicit and end up with someone being endlessly tortured for violating a debt. If you buy into that theory, then it has to be kept the same throughout, and it's not. (Sorry, vague, spoilers)
There's a bit with some sex and lightning, and, honestly, I don't understand how they got there.
But, in the end, you have a heroine people LITERALLY have arguments about whether she's a slave; people physically and sexually abuse her; and she decides (agency, I guess?), well it's ok, b/c she dreamed about the hero needing help.
Stockholm syndrome doesn't begin to cover it.
Buy into that, and you're still left with a problem: The hero never changes. He never learns anything about himself. He never learns anything about their relationship. He never learns anything about the heroine. He just is.
I've enjoyed stories with literal BDSM. Of course, those ALSO have literal consent.
I gave it two stars instead of one b/c I quite liked the "competency porn" about learning to use her magic. Too bad the rest was in there.
The heroine is literally tortured. Then, after that ends, she just decides it's not going to impact her. There's some mention of PTSD, but once, and she waves it away as, "oh well, no one to help me."
The world building plays fast and loose with this concept of "everything is b/c of debts you owe other people" ---- sometimes the debts aren't specific enough (I guess?) and end up with sexual torment being added to the torture with no consequences. Sometimes the debts are implicit and end up with someone being endlessly tortured for violating a debt. If you buy into that theory, then it has to be kept the same throughout, and it's not. (Sorry, vague, spoilers)
There's a bit with some sex and lightning, and, honestly, I don't understand how they got there.
But, in the end, you have a heroine people LITERALLY have arguments about whether she's a slave; people physically and sexually abuse her; and she decides (agency, I guess?), well it's ok, b/c she dreamed about the hero needing help.
Stockholm syndrome doesn't begin to cover it.
Buy into that, and you're still left with a problem: The hero never changes. He never learns anything about himself. He never learns anything about their relationship. He never learns anything about the heroine. He just is.
I've enjoyed stories with literal BDSM. Of course, those ALSO have literal consent.
I gave it two stars instead of one b/c I quite liked the "competency porn" about learning to use her magic. Too bad the rest was in there.