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A review by ellelainey
Honey and Pepper by A.J. Demas
5.0
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
~
Honey & Pepper (When in Pheme, 1) by A.J. Demas
★★★★★
222 Pages
3rd person, dual character POV
Themes: MM romance, historic Greek-influenced, politics, piracy, gangsters, slavery, cook, law, opposites attract, praise kink, very mild D/s
Triggers: exploration of slavery, freedom, suicide, piracy, racketeering
Genre: MM Romance, Historical
~
World-Building: ★★★★☆
Heat: ★★★☆☆
Chemistry: ★★★★★
Plot: ★★★★☆
Romance: ★★★★★
~
Honey & Pepper is the first book in A.J. Demas' new series, When in Pheme. While it takes place in the same fictional Greek world as their Sword Dance series, there's little cross-over, meaning it can stand entirely alone from the trilogy. However, some moments and characters do feel familiar, such as Lysandros, who made a brief appearance in Book 3 of Sword Dance, and mentions of Agathe Timone and Nione Kukara, who featured in the trilogy.
From the very first chapter, I was sucked in by Nikias and Kallion. Both were so clearly individual, separate, and wholly well-formed characters, from page one. They had their own voices, their own personalities, and their own troubles, both coming from a lifetime of slavery to freedom. Both barely a year free, they're struggling to find their own way in the world, in different ways.
I really loved that even just Chapter 1 gave me such a clear picture of both their personalities. I could understand who they were, where they sat in society, and what their dynamic together might look like as the story progressed. It only got better, as we learned more about each of them. Both have a tragic past they don't want to discuss, but find comfort in each other, to be able to finally confess.
Their physical relationship surprised me a little, only because the roles between them reversed. Though, as time went on, that felt much more natural for the main characters, considering their life experiences and past history of slavery. They indulged in some praise kink, which was handled nicely, as well as a touch of D/s in the bedroom.
Similarly, the world-building is clear from page one. It's very obvious, from the title, the cover, the atmosphere written throughout, and the phrases used by the characters, that this is a Greek-inspired world, historical, and takes place in a bustling city on the cusp of progression. Just as with Sword Dance, the world-building is strong, consistent throughout, and obvious from the start. Though, I will say that it helped to already be familiar with the world from Sword Dance.
As well as exploring a relationship between Nikias and Kallion – filled with its own troubles, and misunderstandings, at first – the story also touches strongly upon slavery. Nikias and Kallion have vastly different experiences of being a slave, and residual feelings of what should be done about slavery. But, te addition of Lysandros as a philosopher and friend to Nikias, helps to add a view that the whole of Pheme is currently debating this issue, as well.
It was interesting to see the debate even drifting into how the Masters viewed their slaves, such as Nikias' master having trouble reconciling his use of Nikias (for lack of a better word) with any kind of emotional attachment. It seemed easier for him to label their “relationship” as slavery and duty, rather than allow Nikias to think he might actually enjoy being with men. It mirrors the struggle a lot of men go through, thinking they're straight and any experience with another man is simply coercion, convenient, a one-off, or whatever other excuse they use. It was nicely explored here, but shown through Nikias' eyes, so we didn't really feel sympathetic to his master over him.
There's also a sub-plot with gangsters and pirates, which felt very fitting, considering some of the characters. The way they wove into Pheme society was reminiscent of the brief mentions within Sword Dance, but took it to the next level and gave it a bit more depth that wouldn't have been appropriate in the previous trilogy. Here, there were tough characters, law makers and breakers, and a perfect setting for some piracy threats.
~
OVERALL
I really enjoyed this. Demas has begun another great series that I'm looking forward to following along with. I'll be here for Book 2, waiting eagerly, in the hope for more from Nikias and Kallion. If not, then I hope some other characters from the story so far manage to make an appearance. I'd love to see some more about Lysandros, and that arguing boyfriend he was hiding from.
~
Favourite Quote
“You've made my life bearable to me, Niki, in a way that it wasn't before. I don't know what I was before I met you.”
“Nobody needed to make you brave.”
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
~
Honey & Pepper (When in Pheme, 1) by A.J. Demas
★★★★★
222 Pages
3rd person, dual character POV
Themes: MM romance, historic Greek-influenced, politics, piracy, gangsters, slavery, cook, law, opposites attract, praise kink, very mild D/s
Triggers: exploration of slavery, freedom, suicide, piracy, racketeering
Genre: MM Romance, Historical
~
World-Building: ★★★★☆
Heat: ★★★☆☆
Chemistry: ★★★★★
Plot: ★★★★☆
Romance: ★★★★★
~
Honey & Pepper is the first book in A.J. Demas' new series, When in Pheme. While it takes place in the same fictional Greek world as their Sword Dance series, there's little cross-over, meaning it can stand entirely alone from the trilogy. However, some moments and characters do feel familiar, such as Lysandros, who made a brief appearance in Book 3 of Sword Dance, and mentions of Agathe Timone and Nione Kukara, who featured in the trilogy.
From the very first chapter, I was sucked in by Nikias and Kallion. Both were so clearly individual, separate, and wholly well-formed characters, from page one. They had their own voices, their own personalities, and their own troubles, both coming from a lifetime of slavery to freedom. Both barely a year free, they're struggling to find their own way in the world, in different ways.
I really loved that even just Chapter 1 gave me such a clear picture of both their personalities. I could understand who they were, where they sat in society, and what their dynamic together might look like as the story progressed. It only got better, as we learned more about each of them. Both have a tragic past they don't want to discuss, but find comfort in each other, to be able to finally confess.
Their physical relationship surprised me a little, only because the roles between them reversed. Though, as time went on, that felt much more natural for the main characters, considering their life experiences and past history of slavery. They indulged in some praise kink, which was handled nicely, as well as a touch of D/s in the bedroom.
Similarly, the world-building is clear from page one. It's very obvious, from the title, the cover, the atmosphere written throughout, and the phrases used by the characters, that this is a Greek-inspired world, historical, and takes place in a bustling city on the cusp of progression. Just as with Sword Dance, the world-building is strong, consistent throughout, and obvious from the start. Though, I will say that it helped to already be familiar with the world from Sword Dance.
As well as exploring a relationship between Nikias and Kallion – filled with its own troubles, and misunderstandings, at first – the story also touches strongly upon slavery. Nikias and Kallion have vastly different experiences of being a slave, and residual feelings of what should be done about slavery. But, te addition of Lysandros as a philosopher and friend to Nikias, helps to add a view that the whole of Pheme is currently debating this issue, as well.
It was interesting to see the debate even drifting into how the Masters viewed their slaves, such as Nikias' master having trouble reconciling his use of Nikias (for lack of a better word) with any kind of emotional attachment. It seemed easier for him to label their “relationship” as slavery and duty, rather than allow Nikias to think he might actually enjoy being with men. It mirrors the struggle a lot of men go through, thinking they're straight and any experience with another man is simply coercion, convenient, a one-off, or whatever other excuse they use. It was nicely explored here, but shown through Nikias' eyes, so we didn't really feel sympathetic to his master over him.
There's also a sub-plot with gangsters and pirates, which felt very fitting, considering some of the characters. The way they wove into Pheme society was reminiscent of the brief mentions within Sword Dance, but took it to the next level and gave it a bit more depth that wouldn't have been appropriate in the previous trilogy. Here, there were tough characters, law makers and breakers, and a perfect setting for some piracy threats.
~
OVERALL
I really enjoyed this. Demas has begun another great series that I'm looking forward to following along with. I'll be here for Book 2, waiting eagerly, in the hope for more from Nikias and Kallion. If not, then I hope some other characters from the story so far manage to make an appearance. I'd love to see some more about Lysandros, and that arguing boyfriend he was hiding from.
~
Favourite Quote
“You've made my life bearable to me, Niki, in a way that it wasn't before. I don't know what I was before I met you.”
“Nobody needed to make you brave.”