HEXMAKER by Jordan L. Hawk

3 Stars

Soul bonds bridging the divide.

Thief. Police investigator.
Guttersnipe orphan. NYC Gilded Age elite.
Expendable. Scion.

Another dive into the magical world of witches and their familiars as Owen, the staid hexmaker from the first book in the series gets waylaid by his own familiar. In a world where witches outnumber familiars, the probability was low--and after meeting his, Malachi, Owen is wishing he never had. 

What is usually a cause for celebration is met with suspicion and veiled hostility by both parties. Each has their allegiances and responsibilities and being on opposite sides is more than disconcerting it is life altering. Sometimes change is what one wants. 

Unfortunately, we don't always get what we want.

The case that brings them together plays into the sociological implications of the witch/familiar relationship and the class structure of late nineteenth century NYC. The relationship between Malachi and Owen is tenuous and the binding point beyond their magic is kinky sex. Anyone who's read a few of my reviews knows that kinky sex is not a problem, but here it felt forced. It went from zero to sixty, and in a couple with trust issues I found that not entirely believable. At the heart of any power exchange that isn't dubious is trust, and this jumped a few steps. The contention between Owen and Malachi reminded me of A Seditious Affair, but with novices. 

The story moves at a brisk pace with danger stalking each chapter. It's a nice addition to the Hexworld series. Definitely entertaining and a diverting Halloween read. 

THE NARRATIVE OF ARTHUR GORDON PYM OF NANTUCKET by Edgar Allan Poe

2 Stars

DNF 65%

Pulling the plug on this. I love Poe, or rather, I love his short stories. He just doesn't translate well into full length novels, too much repetition and descriptive exposition to keep interest. This worked out better for me as a sleep aid than a tale. 

"The body from which it had been taken, resting as it did upon the rope, had been easily swayed to and from by the exertions of the carnivorous bird , and it was this motion which had at first impressed us with the belief of its being alive."

--This was the lure that kept me reading in hopes of uncovering another such gem. *sigh*

___________________________________________________________________
When you think you're going one place, In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex based story, only to find out you were misinformed and it's really more influenced by Address on the Subject of a Surveying and Exploring Expedition to the Pacific Ocean and South Seas.



I guess I'll read it for the cannibalism. There's no way to make that boring, or is there? I mean, it's not a cookbook. Even then, there are exciting ways of presenting it.

ALIEN HOSTAGE by Tracy St. John

2 Stars

Fun kinky sex, and it was great with the triad of double-cocked Kalquorians and their Earther woman. A little spanking, some bondage, D/s and aggressive breast play was entertaining. I even liked the plot which was a kidnap scenario and escape, but the repetitive elements of relaying events or feelings, the same events from 4 different individuals and none of the details change was boring. The story slowed down to a crawl and honestly, I'm not sure why I finished reading it. Some aggressive editing to eliminate the duplicate info dumps and speed up the pace, and this story would have been a 3.5-4 star read. As it is, it squeaks to the finish with a 2. 

O/s by Jane Davitt and Alexa Snow

3.5 Stars

BDSM Group's October Book of the Month 


This book definitely has me leaning towards freewill over government oversight.

I liked the concept of a professional subsitter. Jax is a professional. He is a service Dom. He attends to submissives during their Owners absence, in the manner that has been contracted. Often, these are not Jax's preferences, but the job isn't about what he wants, but what the clients wants and expects.

Not part of the shadows, this arrangement is heavily regulated by government oversight, everything from house checks to monitoring collars. We meet a few of Jax's clients, but it isn't until Layne and his sub Brysen that we see things that ring those uneasy bells. And it's not just the sadism, though this contract that has that focus; it's the whispers and inconsistencies that Brysen exhibits when Layne leaves.

So, Layne is not just your average a$$hole Dom finding a way to abuse a sub and the system. There are dark moments, but the real story is how both Brysen and Jax rehabilitate after the events. The end was a bit controversial for some readers in our group, but I liked it. This is more clinical than I enjoy in my stories, but I really appreciate thinky power plays, constructing and deconstructing power--so rating this 3.5 star rounded up for GR to 4 stars. 

ACCIDENTAL ABDUCTION by Eve Langlais

3 Stars

Playful and amusing. 

Working off of stereotypes, two opposites attract and take on the galaxy in between their own aggressive negotiations which start with taunting and end with sighs.