Scan barcode
A review by amyiw
The Man Within by Lora Leigh
1.0
The premise is so close to Laurann Dohner's New Species. I believe Dohner probably had read it before writing it but wow, what an improvement. Reading this makes me appreciate New Species a lot. I can even forgive the idiotic extremist in that series and their antics, when reading this. The plot is so, so simplistic. The erotica is so sickeningly floral, along with very crude. And in the end the first couple of times, it is definitely, drugging and rape just as Taber called it so.
The plot, she lets him know that she's left messages, lots, and he had none. Even the police left messages and had to go get him. Obviously message from her are getting deleted by someone. So they get hot and heavy, he leaves and says, "if you are here when I get back, we will finish it". He doesn't come back (we have no idea why) but his brother has a note from him, rejecting her. Really? really? she takes that at face value when she knows the messages are getting screwed up by someone? She doesn't confront him? No, no. And then later, we find that he receive a note from her also. Again, are they both idiots? When you know someone is deleting her message and doesn't want you close to her? Then when the mating drug he gives her thorough saliva makes them fuck, they don't confront the issue, not the first time, not the second time, not even the 3rd. What an idiotic communication breakdown ploy. They fuck like bunnies and are pissed off at one another, yet they don't ask, why? NO, no, no. Very bad plot point that is drawn out. So along with him giving her the drugging kiss and her saying "I can't do this" and him rutting her from behind. Even he admits that he drugged and rapped her the first time. Yeap, I agree. I could forgive that as the hormones and her smell saying yes, pushes at his instincts... except, she had too much no.
And then the ending, well the last chapter is just a lead in to Meriuses brother's book, so just skip that, though it looks like it could be interesting. But the actually ending and conflict at the end with a big reveal, meh. First the father is just too much a uber-evil. Yet, he is a sorry excuse. We always are thinking, what is he planning? and in the end, not really anything different than the whole of the other story and this. The breeds all know, but hey communication impasse is what this series is all about apparently. Taber, or anyone else, didn't bother to tell her. Also, why the hell keep him? Why not just bury him out back, he obviously deserves it and there is no love lost with Roni. He had already risked her by telling the media in the beginning. It is HIS fault the house is gone. It was just a stupid plot point to continue the story about 2/3 through and give an "exciting" ending, not.
Then there is the sex. I just read Hades of Larissa Ione and in it he is torturing some Sem demon souls in hell by reading really bad porn/erotica. I kept on coming back to that scene and this is how I felt when I come across the sex scenes. They are so floral and descriptive with imagery that borders on idiotic, several comparative adjectives in each phrase. The sex was cringe worthy for me, between the several floral adjectives used over and over to the change up from one poor word choice for the female anatomy to another, in the middle of a scene. I mean here there is nothing you can do in English, there is no great word choice as we like to curse with most, but pick one and use it, like cunt, pussy, vagina, etc... don't use them all. Explanation not spoiler... Also, every sexually encounter is pleasure, pain. For a regular reader of erotica and romance (with descriptive scenes), I still was almost offended at points. Actually at one point Taber calls her "his girl" in a way that I found very demeaning and I was offended.
Really didn't like it, in any way.
The plot, she lets him know that she's left messages, lots, and he had none. Even the police left messages and had to go get him. Obviously message from her are getting deleted by someone. So they get hot and heavy, he leaves and says, "if you are here when I get back, we will finish it". He doesn't come back (we have no idea why) but his brother has a note from him, rejecting her. Really? really? she takes that at face value when she knows the messages are getting screwed up by someone? She doesn't confront him? No, no. And then later, we find that he receive a note from her also. Again, are they both idiots? When you know someone is deleting her message and doesn't want you close to her? Then when the mating drug he gives her thorough saliva makes them fuck, they don't confront the issue, not the first time, not the second time, not even the 3rd.
Spoiler
When they finally talk about it, she literally says, "we will deal with that later. Now telling me what is up with your cock, what is wrong with you dick?" Really that is more important than the fact that they have been pissed for no reason and they are idiots because they didn't figure it out sooner.And then the ending, well the last chapter is just a lead in to Meriuses brother's book, so just skip that, though it looks like it could be interesting. But the actually ending and conflict at the end with a big reveal, meh. First the father is just too much a uber-evil. Yet, he is a sorry excuse. We always are thinking, what is he planning? and in the end, not really anything different than the whole of the other story and this.
Spoiler
He's working for someone to bring her in for samples. OoooKay, not really complex like she's trying to make it. He somehow, an old man, over powers his breed guard and gets to Roni. Then he goes into this, "I'll tell you who your really father is" spiel.Then there is the sex. I just read Hades of Larissa Ione and in it he is torturing some Sem demon souls in hell by reading really bad porn/erotica. I kept on coming back to that scene and this is how I felt when I come across the sex scenes. They are so floral and descriptive with imagery that borders on idiotic, several comparative adjectives in each phrase.
Spoiler
Slurped at her cream. Dripping Cunt. Quaking Cunt. Soul destroying release... Lightning arced from her pussy through her womb, sizzling beneath her skin as it streaked through her body, throwing her higher, driving her closer to destruction... Taber’s cock inside her gripping cunt. The agonizing pleasure seared through her body, electrifying nerve endings, taking her breath as the sensations piled, one atop the other, drowning her in their force.Spoiler
I actually like the authors that use nickname type word, eg. cunny, snatch, or descriptive, folds, etc... She went for mostly pussy, cunt and vagina and threw in sheath a couple of times. I usually get used to the word an author decides to use in a book, but by using so many, I just felt like it was crude.Really didn't like it, in any way.