Jill Knowles, Concubine

Title: Concubine

Author: Jill Knowles

Rating: Three And A Half Siren Stones

Genre: BDSM, LGBT

Sub-Genre: Futuristic, Fantasy

Keywords: Bondage, Tethering, Gagging, Exhibitionism, M/M

Length: Novel

ISBN E-Book: 978-1-60737-587-6

Price: $6.99

Publisher: Loose Id, LLC

Buy-Link: http://www.loose-id.com/Concubine.aspx

Reviewer: Elizabeth Hyder

Blurb/Summary:

Scholar, captain...war prize. Prince Kael of Korai is stunned when his father gives him to an enemy warlord in a desperate attempt to salvage Korai’s reputation. With his country’s honor at stake, Kael resolves to submit to Warlord Taren’s every debauched whim.

But life in Zandria isn’t anything like what Kael imagined. Instead of pain and cruelty, Warlord Taren seduces Kael until the bewildered prince craves his Master’s every intimate caress. As he sinks into the decadent, sensual life of a concubine, Kael makes a powerful enemy, one who wants him removed from Zandria by any means necessary.

Betrayed by his body, trapped by his honor, Kael must learn to trust his Master or get them both killed.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: BDSM theme and elements (including/not limited to bondage, gagging, tethering), dubious consent, exhibitionism, male/male sexual practices.

Review:

Once again, Loose Id delivers beautifully on another trope. The prince-turned-slave trope is one I've always enjoyed, and I loved the author's use of demons here. It added a little twist and some mysteriousness to the usual storyline, making it less typical but still enjoyable.

I did not enjoy the sex scenes as much as I wanted to, which is what kept this from being a four stone review. They weren't bad, but they weren't as hot as they could have been considering the content.

The cover is absolutely gorgeous, bright and colorful and full of life in a way I don't often see on covers for this genre! The editing is also good; I didn't catch any stray typos or anything like that.

Overall, a good book and I will probably be seeking other books by this author to review.

Stephanie Burke, Absolute Perfection

Title: Absolute Perfection

Author: Stephanie Burke

Rating: Three Siren Stones

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Sub-Genre: LGBT

Keywords: Shape-Shifter, M/M

Length: Short Novel

ISBN E-Book: 978-1-60737-842-6

Price: $5.99

Publisher: Loose Id, LLC

Buy-Link: http://www.loose-id.com/Absolute-Perfection.aspx

Reviewer: Elizabeth Hyder

Blurb/Summary:

Taza, a sea horse, sole male offspring of the Coushrin king and heir to the throne, really doesn't like his life. For one thing, two crazy female sea horses are vying to impregnate him and become the next queen of the Coushrin dynasty because sea horses mate for life. He doesn't want to be just a breeder while his wife rules the seas. But if being the prey and intended brood-stallion of two insane females isn't bad enough, Taza's also being chased by a human who's determined to attain immortality by eating him. Stir fried, easy on the garlic. What does he do? Flees to the a vampire bar on the surfaceworld, where he meets Astika, a Hindu Naga god. Astika's been dispatched on a fool's errand, because his advice to his uncle and grandfather's harems is causing mayhem in the kingdom. He wasn't supposed to meet a sea horse prince, save his life, and end up mated in the process. But that's exactly what happens. Because when Astika saves his life from the human who might just be crazier than the sea horses chasing him, Taza does the only smart thing and pledges himself to the Naga. For life. Since they're stuck with each other, Astika eventually decides he might as well see what it's like with a sea horse. Together, out of the wildest circumstances imaginable, the two lovers find and build Absolute Perfection.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations some readers may find objectionable: Male/male sexual practices.

Review:

I had no idea what to expect when requesting to review this book. Other sites had said that there was a big humor element to it, so I requested it on faith of that, and the book delivered! I was giggling almost constantly while reading, even the sex scenes have a small element of humor to them, and so I was really able to enjoy this book for that reason.

The plot itself was very straightforward, and the characters' personalities were fairly consistent and easy for me to grasp; I was never left wondering what they might do or why they'd done something.

The writing style itself and the editing are the reasons for the lower score, because although I enjoyed the book (and the cover art—so pretty!) there were mistakes here and there and the writing felt like I was reading something I'd found online.

Still, the book's humor pulled me through and I was able to look forward to and finish reading the book, so don't let yourself be dissuaded from reading because it's not an expensive book so it's worth it for the giggles.

Jessica Freely, Amaranth & Ash

Title: Amaranth & Ash

Author: Jessica Freely

Rating: Four Siren Stones

Genre: Fantasy

Sub-Genre: LGBT

Keywords: Futuristic, Intersexed Characters, Violence

Page Count: 151

ISBN E-Book: 978-1-60737-594-4

Price: $6.99

ISBN For Print:

Publisher: Loose Id, LLC

Buy-Link: http://www.loose-id.com/Amaranth-and-Ash.aspx

Reviewer: Elizabeth Hyder

Tagline: In a world where everyone has their place, Amaranth & Ash belong together.

Blurb/Summary:

Amaranth is a vasai, born with both male and female characteristics, and a soul that can reach out and touch the souls of others in order to heal them. But a vasai’s services are only for the Elai, and they demand sexual satisfaction as well as healing from their beautiful servants. Frustrated with these constraints, Amaranth wants to use his talent to help those who really need it.

Ash is a chel. Considered devoid of souls, chel are the lowest of the low. Not content with his lot, Ash steals from the middle class pel. One night he’s caught and brutally punished.
A soul in agony calls out to Amaranth from across the city. When he discovers that it belongs to a chel, it only confirms his worst suspicions about the lies of the Elai. Amaranth takes Ash home and heals him, an act of rebellion that could cost both their lives.

Amaranth's compassion for Ash soon turns to passion. Ash treats him like a person, not an instrument of sexual gratification. Neither of them have much experience with mutual pleasure but together they embark on an exploration of intimacy and desire that carries them to the heights of passion and love -- and shakes the very foundation of their world.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations some readers may find objectionable: Intersex relationships, violence.

Review:

Amaranth & Ash exemplifies what the publisher is all about: Id-fantasy made into stories. As such, it follows a predictable sort of pattern if you're familiar with that particular Id-fantasy, but the way that Freely weaves the story is what makes it unique and worth reading.

The universe she creates is very different from our own, and almost steampunk-ish in that it's an industrialized society. The caste system is fascinating, and throughout the book Freely shows, and doesn't tell, you all parts of the caste system.

Freely also gets points in my book for having a main character, characters even, who is intersexed-- has both male and female parts. I found the sex scenes captivating and evocative; the emotion between the characters was very present, but not forced, and served to make the scenes even hotter.

Overall, a very enjoyable book! Well-written, well-paced, and no editing mistakes that I noticed. I'm not sure how people who aren't into this particular Id-fantasy would take to it, but I adored it. I look forward to reading more from this author.