Review: The Violet and the Tom by Eve Ocotillo

Genre: Historical, Roman
Elements: BDSM, slavery
Rating:

• Characters - 5 - Each character is unique and real, distinct from each other.
• Setting - 5 - Roman Europe is a fairly unique historical setting, especially as an AU history, where the Empire never fell. Excellent choices.
• Plot - 5 - Though the summary leads you to believe it will be one sort of story, it ends up being something quite different all together.
• Genre Elements - 5 - Both the historical period and the BDSM aspects are very well explored.
• Voice - 5 - Both of the main characters are very distinct in voice, and easily told apart.
• Romance Elements - 5 - The romance here is almost frustrating with how slow it builds, but once it's there, it's undeniable.
• Overall - 5 - One of my all-time favorite stories.

Basic story -
Sylvan is given to a young lord who doesn't want him. What follows is a long period of adjustment for both as they try to adjust to their new life together.

My thoughts -
This story is lovely and rich, and once I'd finished it, I didn't want to leave the world it is set in. The AU Roman setting was intriguing, as I don't read a lot of Roman History romances. I'm sure others exist out there, possibly even with Romance elements, but the AU aspect of it makes this one a little more unique. Really, the alternate history is minor in comparison to the flow of the romance between Sylvan and his owner Nyall.

The slavery is fairly true to Roman times, with a bit of sexual training added to the idea. And when you mix in the BDSM aspects, it's quite fascinating, and something that very much appeals to me. In particular the way the BDSM aspects are the big secret in this story. Especially how the young Lord prefers it. I'll keep that aspect to myself for the readers out there to discover, but trust me, it's a lovely twist on the usual Master/servant story.

Sylvan and Nyall's story as they come together is real and frustrating and beautiful. You feel Sylvan's confusion and upset as Nyall ignores him. And once Nyall starts to accept him, it's so perfect. All you want is for them to come together and be happy with each other, regardless of everything else around them.

The BDSM aspects are perfect. Never once do you get the feeling that either is being coerced or forced into what they do together. Even those moments of hesitance are shown to be a person trying to decide if they want to continue, and not someone unwilling even to try. I highly recommend this one as an interesting primer on BDSM lifestyle.

A very inspiring story, and one I'll go back to often, I think.

Warnings -
Strong BDSM aspects, as well as institutionalized slavery. Also some Romanized aspects of violence, and abuse of slaves.

Overall Recommendation -
Very highly recommended for those interested in BDSM, and for those who like a Roman setting.

Link to the story - The Violet and the Tom (on Fiction Press)
Author Link - Eve Ocotillo (on Goodreads)
If you liked this story, try -

• Slavebreakers by Maculategiraffe (free online) (read my review here)
• Under Contract by Helen Saito  (Goodreads Page) (read my review here)
• Dolls and Seesaws by Menswear (AO3 - unfinished story)
• The Adorned by John Tristan (Goodreads) (read my review here)
• The Quartz Key by Lianne Burwell (Online link) (read my review here)

Review: Under Contract by Helen Saito

Genre: Near-future, Dystopia
Elements: BDSM, contract slavery

Rating:

• Characters - 5 - The characters in this story are quite believable, and each have their own little bit to contribute to the larger story. There are even a couple stories I wish we'd hear more about.
• Setting - 4 - Though the world is interesting, we don't get quite enough detail for my tastes to tell us how all this came about, where they are, and what the world is like now.
• Plot - 5 - The plot very much lives up to the premise, and pulls you along, keeping you guessing as to how it will all end.
• Genre Elements - 5 - The BDSM aspects of this story are excellent. There's something for just about all BDSM lovers.
• Voice - 5 - Never once do I get any of the three main characters confused, even when they are not initially named in voice-shifts. They're all quite unique.
• Romance Elements - 4 - Both the romance of Gavin and Alex and Gavin and Sam are quite good, though they never quite reach the level of "can't-live-without-you" romance.
• Overall - 4.5 -Very highly recommended. After Slave Breakers, probably my favorite BDSM story. Definitely one of my all-time favorites so far.

Basic story -
Gavin is a trainer at Cascade. He very much enjoys his job. Far more than he ever liked being a slave. But when he meets Alex, he finds that perhaps being a slave isn't entirely a bad thing. At least, for Alex. As Gavin's attraction to Alex grows, he struggles with truths he's been convinced of for a very long time. Can he find a place in his life for Alex, or should he let him go?

My thoughts -
I'm a big fan of BDSM stories, especially when well written, and this one definitely is. You get various points of view when it comes to how this system works, and each person has their own preferences and kinks. Saito gives us a great glimpse into a world where this is the norm for this group, and each little detail just makes it that much more real.

The two central characters show us a great cross-section, especially. Gavin as the long-time practitioner, who only indulges at work or with his partner, Sam, and Alex as the newcomer who barely knows what he wants. Gavin's experiences as a slave leave him wary of letting anyone who doesn't have experience in this world become a slave, but he also makes sure to give Alex a good grounding.

The plot builds from Gavin's doubts about Alex, and also his attraction to him. There's no real jealousy between he and Sam--their agreement allows for some flexibility, given Gavin's job. The real tension comes from the fact that it is Gavin's job to train Alex to be sold, but he's not sure he wants Alex to fall into the same trap he felt he himself was in as a slave. And, of course, the question of whether he wants to save him from himself, or save him for himself.

What follows is a very satisfying story. Between the characters, setting, and the BDSM elements, this story will keep you reading from beginning to end.

Warnings -
Slavery and heavy BDSM elements.

Overall Recommendation -
Definitely for anyone who loves reading BDSM. 

Link to the story - Under Contract (at Goodreads)
Author Link - Helen Saito (at Goodreads)
If you liked this story, try -

• The Adorned by John Tristan (Goodreads) (read my review here)
• Slavebreakers by Maculategiraffe (free online) (read my review here)
• The Violet and the Tom by Eve Ocitillo (Fiction Press) (read my review here)
• The Ennik Series by Kim Fielding (Goodreads) (read my review here)
• Undesirable by Velvet Mace (LJ)

Review: Soulless by T Baggins

Genre: Regency, Supernatural
Elements: BDSM, Vampires, Reincarnation
Rating:

• Characters - 5 - There's a huge variety of characters in this story, some character types of which are rather startling, as I can't say I've seen them written in this way before, if I've seen them at all.
• Setting - 4 - The setting is pretty usual for a Regency story--a Lord and his people, the small town he is lord of, his manor. It's nicely detailed, but there isn't much that stands out until you get the details of the True Vampires and their secrets.
• Plot - 5 - Though it seems a simple, typical setup for a male romance regency story, it quickly becomes so much more. When Nicholas and Bancroft meet, everything changes. It's a great story with a lot of twists and turns that you might never predict.
• Genre Elements - 5 - Subtle at first, but lots of details that really make the story come to life.
• Voice - 5 - Both characters are very distinct, and each of the other characters as well. Never once are they in the least similar.
• Romance Elements - 4 - You can't help but root for Nicky and Ban through all the twists and turns of their romance. it's really quite sweet.
• Overall - 4.5 - One of my favorites, and highly recommended.

Basic story -
Nicholas Robinson, Lord of Grantley, is a man obsesses with science in a world that still relies more on spirituality. So when he meets Bancroft Ulwin, he's not sure how to deal with something he is sure should not exist.

My thoughts -
What starts as an incredibly typical set-up changes the moment the character of Ban meets Nicholas. Suddenly everything goes out the window. Between the vampire mythos, which is very unique and quite well-thought-out, and the reincarnation aspect (which works well when combined with vampire mythos), this story becomes something entirely new.

Nicholas is mostly quiet, and the people who surround him love him, but seem content to just let him suffer as he is, knowing they can't cure what ails him. The only ones who seem to challenge him at all before Ban's appearance are his failing grandmother and a young housemaid he's taken under his wing to teach the science he so loves.

Ban, on the other hand, lives large, and even though he's not exactly a great person, you can't help but fall for him. Especially since, underneath it all, he's not a bad person. Even if he is a vampire. His backstory helps the reader feel for him, and you can't help but hope that in the end, he will live happily ever after.

The story takes he and Nicholas on quite the journey, and you never truly know how it will end until it does. I won't spoil those who are about to read it, except to say that I loved this book, and I hope to god I find more like it. T Baggins has really created an amazing story.

Warnings -
BDSM, some dub- and non-con, and severe emotional and physical abuse. Particularly the latter. Most of it is glossed over, but there are a few particularly horrific scenes in the book, so just be aware that they are there.

Overall Recommendation -
If you like vampires and reincarnation, this one is a must-read. This one definitely goes on my top recommendations list.

Link to the story - Soulless (on Goodreads)
Author Link - T Baggins (on Goodreads)
If you liked this story, try -

• Blood and Roses by Aislinn Kerry (Goodreads)
• Undesirable by Velvet Mace (on LJ)
• From Afar by Ava March (Goodreads) (read my review here)
• Club Trinity by Minxie (AO3) (read my review here)
• Blood Bathory: Like the Night by Ari McKay (Goodreads)

Review: Stasis/Flux/Equipose by Kim Fielding

Genre: Fantasy, Dystopia (though it also feels like it's only a few notches away from steampunk to me)
Elements: slavery, magic

Rating:

• Characters - 4 - There is a good variety of characters, but most of the story focuses on a very small central cast, specifically the two main characters. They're interesting characters, but it felt like they all could be so much more.
• Setting - 5 - Brilliant world, very different from our own, with a lot of great detail, and many different lands.
• Plot - 5 - Incredibly unique and rich, and I was never sure where it would go next. Excellently written.
• Genre Elements - 5 - The magic is subtle to the world, but integral, and she does an excellent job reminding us that Miner is still classified as a slave, regardless of how Ennik feels about him.
• Voice - 5 - All very incredibly unique and diverse. Especially in the second book, where she deals with a whole new culture with a completely different language.
• Romance Elements - 5 - They are subtle, but they're there, and you truly feel for Ennik and Miner, and want them to succeed.
• Overall - 5 - A high recommendation here. Well worth reading.

Basic story -
Ennik is the second son of the leader of his land, but he has never felt part of the system. The only thing that has ever stuck in his memory is the day he was taken down to see the prisoners in stasis.

My thoughts -
This was the first m/m I actually bought myself, and it was entirely worth it. I can honestly say I've never read anything like it. It's truly unique in the best definition of the word. The idea of the magic, especially as used to keep people in stasis for generations, is quite different.

The world seems to be set in some far-distant dystopian future set in and around San Francisco, or a place in a fantasy world that is very similar to San Francisco. Fielding has done an excellent job of using details from her home city and her travels to give this world far more detail. The Praesidium is one of the most prosperous city states in the land because of its port, which connects them to a greater world than other city states are able to access. In the second book, they travel across the ocean, and visit this world's version of China. Each land is quite unique, and well-detailed, Feilding's sense of detail making them as real as our own world.

Ennik and Miner are fascinating characters. Ennik's journey from lesser son to his own person feels real. From his discovery and rescue of Miner, to learning magic, to their flight from home, each event gives his journey more realism. And Miner's backstory is fascinating and horrifying. Never once does he forget what he was before and what he is during the process of the entire story. I would have loved more details about the other characters, but truly, Ennik and Miner are the center of the story.

Over all, I loved this series. Every moment is fascinating, and it just keeps you reading and rooting for them over the entire series.

Warnings -
Slavery, abuse. Minor, but still there. The slavery is rather significant.

Overall Recommendation -
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys slow love stories and magic. It's a fascinating world, and you will easily fall for Ennik and Miner.
Link to the story - The Ennik series (at Goodreads)
Author Link - Kim Fielding (at Goodreads)
If you liked this story, try -

• The Adorned by John Tristan (Goodreads) (read my review here)
• Under Contract by Helen Saito  (Goodreads Page) (read my review here)
• Slavebreakers by Maculategiraffe (free online) (read my review here)
• Dolls and Seesaws by Menswear (AO3 - unfinished story)
• Undesirable by Velvet Mace (LJ)

A note to the authors:

I just wanted to post a note to those writing the stories I'm reviewing here. I've enjoyed all your stories so much, I wanted to share your stories with others. When I can, I try to leave a comment somewhere so you can see my review for yourself. You're certainly under no obligation to reblog it or even to comment, but you're certainly welcome to if you like to or feel the need.

I want to be sure that I've linked things correctly, spelled things correctly, attributed the story to the right person, and linked to the right site. If you have any corrections you'd like me to make to my review, do let me know. I only want to direct people to your stories so that you will get more views and purchases of your lovely work.


Thank you so much for writing the stories I've enjoyed so much. I look forward to reading more of your work in the future.

Elfflame

Review: Slavebreakers by Maculategiraffe

Genre: Near-future, Dystopia
Elements: slavery, BDSM

Rating:

• Characters - 5 - A brilliant cast of dozens of characters, each as unique as the next.
• Setting - 5 - A soft setting, but well thought-out and explained to the reader in a way that makes it feel quite real.
• Plot - 5 - The sub-stories each have unique plots, and their overreaching arc just makes the world work that much better.
• Genre Elements - 5 - Between the detail of this near-future world, the slavery elements so very prominent to the story, and the BDSM concepts involved in a few of the tales, the whole series is fascinating from beginning to end.
• Voice - 5 - Never once did I get any of the characters confused. Each is unique, and very easy to tell apart.
• Romance Elements - 5 - Wonderful detail here, as well. Both for the existing romances and the ones that grow over the period of the stories. Each gets its own chance to shine.
• Overall - 5 - This one absolutely gets my top recommendation for any BDSM story anywhere.

Basic story -
In a future where slavery is commonplace once more, a couple called the Slavebreakers take Slaves from their masters that are no longer wanted and retrain them before selling them once more. But Holden and his wife Alix are more than they appear.

My thoughts -
This series hits on many of my favorite things. D/s, hurt/comfort, even slavery, when done in the right way. The world is shockingly rich for how subtle and slow the details are revealed, and the characters really pull you along in the story.

This is actually a series of stories set in this world. The first, Bran's story, is my favorite of the series, though all of the characters show in the others in the series as well. Bran's story highlights the abuses of the system. The second, Jesse is more about those who try to fight the system when they're stuck in it. And there are so many other stories in this series. Each one provides a different angle, a different insight. Never once do you feel you're rereading the same story in a different character's voice.

Even Holden and Alix have their own stories to tell, as well as their oldest slave, Yves, who is actually one of their oldest friends. Each time you think you know the full story, more is revealed. It's definitely not the kind of story that will bore anyone.

That said, I personally love Bran's story the most because it hits most of my favorite kinks about slave stories, and has an incredibly satisfying ending. I think that everyone who reads this series will be drawn to one story or another, depending on their preferences. Really, there's something here for every reader of m/m slave stories. You wouldn't think there would be broad preferences there, but there really are, and this story seems to hit on so many of them.

I do hope that someday the author gets this professionally polished and published in paper form, because it's just a gorgeous series, and deserves to be.

Warnings -
Strong warning for slavery, also for dub-con, D/s and other aspects of BDSM, and for abuse of slaves.

Overall Recommendation -
This one has my top recommendation. If you like slavery, D/s, or BDSM, this is definitely the story to read.

Link to the story - Slavebreakers (index page on dreamwidth)
Author Link - Maculategiraffe (at Goodreads)
If you liked this story, try -

•  Cinder by Gryvon (AO3) (read my review here)
•  The Adorned by John Tristan (Goodreads) (read my review here)
• The Violet and the Tom by Eve Ocitillo (Fiction Press) (read my review here)
• His Client/His Request by Ava March (Goodreads) (read my review here)
• Under Contract by Helen Saito  (Goodreads Page) (read my review here)

Review: The Prince's Boy by Cecilia Tan

Genre: Fantasy
Elements: magic, magical bonding, BDSM
Rating:

• Characters - 4 - The archetypes Cecilia uses are very familiar to me, and make the characters that much easier to love. She's got a great selection of characters, all of which are unique and interesting.
• Setting - 5 - Cecilia's world is quite extensive and fascinating. Kenet and Jorin's journeys take them all over this kingdom, and each location feels real to me, both in level of detail and in relation to what has come before.
• Plot - 5 - The story she has written keeps you reading, and when it's over, you just want to read it all over again.
• Genre Elements - 5 - Cecilia is a master of BDSM, as well as fantasy, and she doesn't skimp in detail of either.
• Voice - 5 - All of the characters' voices are distinct and unique, and never once did I get them confused, regardless of how long it had been since I read the previous chapter.
• Romance Elements - 5 - Kenet and Jorin's love is lovely to watch grow. You root for them from beginning to end.
• Overall - 4.5 - One of my favorites, and highly recommended for those who love long romance and fantasy.

Basic story -
Prince Kenet is heir to the throne, and as such, untouchable. So he has a whipping boy. One he has chosen for himself. As he and Jorin grow older, and Kenet learns what a whipping boy is for, the two boys grow closer. But can a prince and a low-level servant truly be allowed to stay so close, or will the world conspire to tear them apart?

My thoughts -
I have known of Cecilia Tan for some time now, but this was her first original work that I had read. I was in no way disappointed. The characters were  immediately appealing and only grew more interesting as the story progressed. Never once did I feel bored while reading. She has a great touch for pulling you along, and knows just when to cut off a scene to keep you reading.

There are so many great characters in this story, and each of them has an important role. Even better, each has journies of their own and not one of them is quite the same in the end. Truly, you never quite know where the story will take you next, or how it could possibly end well, but it does.

One thing I love about Cecilia is how involved she is with her readers. She posts her stories on her blog first, so you can read as the story goes along. In fact, I have been meaning to buy myself this series so that I can read it on Kindle. I look forward to meeting Kenet and Jorin again, and discovering the things I have now forgotten, not to mention finding new things I missed the first time.

I'm certain it will be well worth the money, as soon as I can afford the expense.

Warnings -
BDSM; dubious consent in places, including a near rape; slavery and near-slavery, and abuse.

Overall Recommendation -
If you're a fan of strong fantasy, especially fantasy with BDSM elements, this is the story for you. It's great fun to read, and you will just fall in love with the characters.

Link to the story -The Prince's Boy (Goodreads) (Circlet Press - online for free, but buy it, guys, it's worth it)
Author Link - Cecilia Tan (Goodreads)
If you liked this story, try -

• Brendan and the Beast by Czarina Kodora (AO3) (read my review here)
• The Adorned by John Tristan (Goodreads) (read my review here)
• The Violet and the Tom by Eve Ocitillo (Fiction Press) (read my review here)
• Slavebreakers by Maculategiraffe (free online) (read my review here)
• Cinder by Gryvon (AO3) (read my review here)

Finding Free and cheap reading on Amazon

When I first started reading again, I limited my reading to stuff I downloaded off free sites and fanfiction, simply because my budget was still limited. The thought of spending money on books still felt too frivolous after more than a year of a very limited budget.

Then I met a young lady at my office who had a kindle as well, and we began to talk regularly. She was a long-time user of the Kindle, and had all sorts of tricks she shared with me. I'm going to share the same with you here, because I've been amazed at how well it works.

Tip #1:
If you don't have an account with Amazon (though you should with a Kindle), get one. They're free, and even if you don't have a Kindle, they're worth it for keeping track of what you'd like to get. Of course, this can also be done on most other sites these days, so if you have a Nook or other E-reader that works better with another site, just change Amazon to that site. Granted, I don't know if you will get quite the deals you will with Amazon, but books drop in price all the time, so you should get some at least.

The next step is to set up a special wish list for the e-books you want. Go crazy. Even if you don't buy them, this way at least you can glance at the list when you have money and decide what you would like.Amazon even has a nice little feature that shows items whose price has dropped since you put it on your wishlist, so you can easily see when things are on sale.

Check this list regularly. You never know when a secret sale price will appear. And when they do, you can just snap it up for your kindle.

Tip #2:
Get yourself Amazon cards when you have a little excess cash. I like to buy them every other paycheck, so long as I have the extra cash around. They come in all sorts of denominations, and you can just put them on your account, then use them when something good is on sale. So long as it's an Amazon card, it really doesn't matter what it says on the front. It all just goes into the same pool of money, and it's up to you how you spend it.

By the same token, when you get one for a gift, put it on your account so that it will be there later. No need to buy things right away, or save it until you're sure something is on sale. So long as you have it, put it on your account and use it when needed.

One warning here is that if you buy other things on your account, it will pull from this pool if you don't tell it not to, so be careful.

Tip #3:
Want some free Amazon cards? Join Bing here and earn them with searches. It's not the only reward you can get there, but it will definitely build up if you do it every day. I've gotten a number of books this way, and it's well worth it, even if you prefer another search engine. After all, you only have to do a certain number per day. So what have you got to lose?

Fan Fiction Downloader

One of the first things I did once I got my Kindle was find ways to download free stories online I thought I might like (including a lot of fan fiction), especially from AO3. But AO3 is still such a relatively new site compared to some others, that I knew I wasn't getting nearly what I could, so I did a search to find out how others downloaded things from the web. The first thing I found to try was a little program called Fan Fiction Downloader.It quickly became my second-favorite way to download free stories from the web.

The program is a simple one. Just download it and follow their instructions, then start it up and go to the first page of a story on one of the sites they cover, copy the address, and bam, it starts to download to your computer. Of course, you still need to transfer it to your kindle, but it definitely makes the number of stories you can access multiply by the thousands, regardless of what you're looking for.

While their list of sites is short, just the fact that they include both FanFiction.net and it's sister site Fiction Press means that the number of stories you can access are in the millions. It also accesses Adult Fan Fiction.org, which increases that number by quite a bit more. The full list of sites they access and what exactly they access is here. While their list does include AO3, AO3's own accessibility includes a download link for Mobi (Kindle), EPub, PDF, and Html. So unless you are having problems with their version on your e-reader, I would recommend using AO3's links instead of using this downloader.

Otherwise, I highly recommend this program. It definitely increased the amount of stories I had access to on my Kindle. And enjoy, everyone!

Review: The Adorned by John Tristan

Genre: Fantasy
Elements: magic, tattoos, magical beings

Rating:

• Characters - 4 - Though the story initially gets off to a slow start, once the characters are established, you can't help but be pulled along on their journey.
• Setting - 5 - The world Tristan has created is fascinating and highly detailed. Enough for several more books of the same length. I'd love to know how the tattoo magic truly came about, and to see earlier incarnations of it.
• Plot - 5 - The story itself was good, but some details of the plot felt like an afterthought. I would have liked a bit more time to really get to know this world before things began to fall apart.
• Genre Elements - 5 - The tattoos really make this story what it is. Between learning the process, seeing how it is used, and what happens after the fallout, the story here is almost more about the tattoos than the characters. In a very good way. Tristan has woven a rich culture here that definitely deserves further examination.
• Voice - 5 - The characters in the story are highly unique, and never once did I confuse one for another.
• Romance Elements - 4 - The love story gets short shrift, coming second to the overall story of the main character and the world around him, which works quite well for this story.
• Overall - 4.5 - A truly lovely story, and well recommended.

Basic story -
Etan is nearly penniless, and finds himself destitute in the big city after what little he has is stolen from him. What follows is a winding tale of a world very different from ours, where people are decorated for the pleasure of those in power.

My thoughts -
I read this close upon the heels of reading Kushiel's Dart, which I adored, but which did not have nearly enough male same-sex moments in it for my tastes. This read like a male version of that story, so I had to pick it up when I saw it on Amazon. While it wasn't as long or as tightly packed as Kushiel, it definitely was an excellent follow-up.

The world itself is incredibly rich and fascinating, and I would have loved to read more about it and how it came about. The rulers of the land (called Blooded) and how they got the powers they did. The origins of the tattoos and how it evolved from something only given to those closest to those in power to something used almost purely for entertainment value. The wars with the surrounding countries, and what they had once been like. The growing internal discontent of the populace of the land. All of it.

The romance in this is almost a side-line to the main character's story, which means it's slow to develop and really not the center focus of the story. Personally, I think that made it better, though it also means that there was very little of it in the story overall, since it wasn't a long book. But I'm glad it wasn't the main focus. It made the story more real in the end.

I would definitely love to read more in this world, though it seems Tristan has closed the chapter on this tale. Still, as I said above, there are plenty of threads I'd love to see written about. Perhaps other tales of love between Adorned and tattooer, or even Adorned and Blooded, when it happened. I'm still working on getting the rest of his books, so I don't know if any of the others are set in this world, but I have a feeling that either way, I'll enjoy them.

Warnings -
 Tattooing. If that's not your thing, particularly if it bothers you,  I wouldn't recommend this story. Also some (minor) slavery and people owning people in a few different ways. Also later on in the story is some pretty gruesome injury. But overall, it's a pretty safe read. Most things are only inferred when it comes to the dark stuff.

Overall Recommendation -
Definitely well worth reading. I recommend it to anyone who likes Fantasy, particularly those who have read Kushiel and enjoyed it but wanted more of Anafiel Delaunay and Alcuin.

Link to the story - The Adorned (on Goodreads)
Author Link - John Tristan (on Goodreads)
If you liked this story, try -

• The Violet and the Tom by Eve Ocotillo (Fiction Press) (read my review here)
• The Fall of the Dragon King by MomsDarkSecret (Fiction Press) (read my review here)
• The Dream of a Thousand Nights by Shira Anthony (Goodreads) (read my review here)
• The Quartz Key by Lianne Burwell (Online link) (read my review here)
• Dolls and Seesaws by Menswear (AO3 - unfinished story)

Review: Cinder by Gryvon

Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tales
Elements: magic, bonding, magical beings, BDSM

Rating:

• Characters - 4 - I very much enjoyed the characters in this, though they are a bit archetypal. The main character and his love interest are the true stand-out characters in the piece.
• Setting - 4 - The setting is a little murky, but not horribly so, and once Cinder is at the celebrations, the location is elaborately detailed.
• Plot - 5 - An excellent take on a story that's been done to death, which really does a fantastic job of making the story its own.
• Genre Elements - 5 - The story features a great deal of detail when it comes to the fairy tale aspects of the story, and the BDSM elements are quite well done.
• Voice - 4 - Only a little muddy, but the main voice we hear is the main character, so the overall detriment to the story is minimal at best, and Cinder's voice is very consistent.
• Romance Elements - 4 - A little quick for my tastes, but then given this is Cinderella, there has to be an aspect of quick to it. The three nights definitely helps the growing attraction seem more natural.
• Overall - 4 - One of my favorite fairy tale slash tales. Well worth reading.

Basic story -
Cinderella is a boy named Cinder who is horribly abused by his step family. When a prince comes to town to find a suitable mate, magic and cunning help Cinder escape his family's clutches and win the prince's heart.
My thoughts -
I know, another fairy tale. But even though my first review was one as well, this one definitely deserved to be one of the first I reviewed. I promise a very different type of story next time.

Cinder is one of those stories that makes me wonder why it has not been polished and sent to a publisher. It's a (generally) light story, but one that has a lot of great detail to it. I definitely think, given the right publisher, it could be sold.

Cinder's story at the beginning is not a happy one, but that's true of all Cinderella stories. I loved the twist on the fairy godmother, and how limited her power was to help him, which is important to understand, given that Cinder has had to endure quite a lot of abuse in his life. If she had helped him then, she could not have given him this now. And, if I recall correctly (it has been a little while since I read the actual story), she actually gives him a choice as to how she should help him. It's much more than a lot of Cinderella stories do.

The Prince is intriguing as well. Here I would have loved a lot more detail. What exactly the Dragon Prince is, and his powers, and where his people came from. I'd also have loved more time with the two of them talking together, getting to know one another, though of course that would have meant less smut...

Mostly, what I loved about this story was that it used the classic three balls instead of the Disney single ball. It gave us time to get to know the two characters, gave Cinder time to realize what he wants, and time for the Prince to decide that Cinder is the right choice.

Gryvon is someone you will see on this blog a few times, as I went through their catalog of stories back when I first started looking for slash tales. But this is my favorite of their stories overall. I definitely recommend it to those who like BDSM and fairy tales.
Warnings -
This story comes with some pretty heavy warnings. Cinder's step-brothers do rape him, and there is a fairy graphic scene at the beginning showing it. And anyone who has issues with BDSM should also stay away from this story, as the Prince's tastes are definitely not light BDSM.
Overall Recommendation -
This one is great for fans of fairy tales and BDSM, though I think if you're not into the latter, this isn't one for you. The reverse is not true, though. I think anyone who likes fantasy and BDSM would enjoy this story. Strongly recommended.  

Link to the story - Cinder (free on AO3)
Author Link - Gryvon @ AO3
If you liked this story, try -

• Dream of a Thousand Nights by Shira Anthony (Goodreads Page) (read my review here)
• The Mist Behind and the Light Before by Cathalin (AO3)
• The Fairest in the Land by LuccaAce (FictionPress - unfinished story)
• Under Contract by Helen Saito  (Goodreads Page) (read my review here)
• The Violet and the Tom by Ocotillo (Fiction Press) (read my review here)

My favorite Reading Sites

So having written up a couple of review posts now (I have one scheduled for Wednesday, and I'll try to do another for next Saturday, so that we've got a regular schedule), I realized I should explain where I go to get all these things.

My top two, are of course Amazon and Goodreads. But I also have used Fiction Press and Archive of Our Own (aka AO3) to download free fic for my kindle over the last few years. So here's a rundown of each of the sites I have or will have listed with possible links, and what you might find or run into there. If you ever find you can't get into a site for any reason, let me know. I'd rather provide multiple links, then have people go without a story they might enjoy.

The big four:

• Amazon.com - Obviously the biggest of the group, though I will very rarely link to it here unless I'm talking about a specific book that's currently on sale that people might enjoy. You can find many free or cheap books here, but I will make a much more detailed post about that in the future.
• Goodreads - This will probably be the site I link to most. I keep track of all my reading and books here, and if you want to buy or find a story, this is the first site I would recommend going to, as they provide links not only to Amazon, but many other booksellers, as well as links to the online page if the story is posted free. If you don't have an account at this site, I highly recommend it. It's just a great community.
• Archive of Our Own - Aka AO3. This is a fan-based fanfiction website, though there is some original fic here, usually fairy tales or RPF (real person fic). The benefit of this site is that they have the built-in capability to download the entire story in several formats: Mobi (Kindle format), EPub, PDF, and HTML. No need to transfer it anywhere to get it working on your device. Simply download it to your device and you're ready to go.
• Fiction Press - The non-fanfic sister site to Fan Fiction.net. This has been running a few years less than FF.net, but that's still a longer time than almost any other fiction site on the web, and the wealth of stories is immense. To download from this, you'll need a special program called the Fan Fiction Downloader (which I will go into in more detail in another post).

Other possible sites:

• Livejournal/Dreamwidth - Aka LJ and DW. These are journalling sites, though they are less used now than they once were. Occasionally, posts will be locked, so these stand a higher chance of being inaccessable, but if I do link there, I will try to post an alternate link just in case.
• Adult Fan Fiction - One of the few remaining responses to FF.net's purge of adult material. I probably won't link here much, but occasionally this is the only link there is. You will have to pass an age restriction page, but you should be able to get through, regardless.
• Tumblr - I haven't actually found any that I will need to link to here. Yet. But I won't rule it out, either, as it has become the new alternative to LJ/DW above.
• Author Personal Websites - Some authors do still host their own sites, and when there is no other link, I will post a link to that, though unless it's a story that is free online, I'm more inclined to post a link to the Goodreads page. I may link to the Author's website when it comes to their profile, though.

There are probably others I've missed, and I will likely add to this list when I think of them.

What about you? Where do you find your slash stories most?

Review: Brendan and the Beast by Czarina_Kodora

Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tales
Elements: magic, bonding

Rating:

• Characters - 5 - The characters are an excellent mix of historical and fairy tale, with just a dash of Disney thrown in. Each is interesting and unique in their own ways.
• Setting - 5 - The locations take into account not only historical France, but also the effect of previous ages on the characters' present.
• Plot - 5 - A fantastic combination of the original French folktale and the best of the Disney version, not to mention a strong sprinkling of the Author's own ideas.
• Genre Elements - 5 - There is so much here. The Classic world struggling to the modern age; magic; fairy tale elements; and of course, romance. All excellently used to effect the flow of the story.
• Voice - 5 - The only time I wasn't absolutely certain who was speaking was once toward the beginning of the story, and that very quickly resolved itself. Outside of that experience, all the character voices are incredibly distinct, and it is incredibly easy to know who is speaking.
• Romance Elements - 5 - Slow and gradual is a fondness of mine, and the way this one builds along with the unraveling of the mystery is perfect.
• Overall - 5 - Definitely an excellent story. I highly recommend it.

Basic story -
The fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast with a single change--what if Beauty's brother (a character which does exist in some versions of this tale) had taken his sister's place as the Beast's hostage/sacrifice after their father stole the rose?

My thoughts -
I love fairy tales, especially those that reflect the pre-Disney tradition. This one manages to encompass that as well as some of the changes Disney made to the tale, but still manages to make this version all its own. The change of the Main Character from Female to Male is completely natural, and unlike most slash fairy tales, actually uses a character from some of the original versions, instead of simply changing the original character to a male.

Even more, Kodora goes well beyond simply borrowing from other versions of this story. The magic of this world is all its own, and well thought out, making it one of the most unique versions of this story I have read. The mystery of how to save Beast is compounded by the slow-building homosexual love story, given that "true love's kiss" apparently needs to come from a girl. While this might strike some readers as an anti-gay sentiment, in actuality, it gives the author a chance to make a statment about acceptance from within and without.

There were a few bits toward the beginning of the story that felt a little cliched or slow, but they truly fit the world the Author builds up around these characters, and both feelings quickly faded as the story found its voice. Truly, as a fairy tale, a few cliches are to be expected, and even needed. And in this story, they are used to great effect, rendering them far less cliched than they might otherwise be.

Warnings -
This one's pretty safe for most readers, though the two main characters do struggle with depression each on their own. They also each have the tendency to show their temper, leading to a few slightly scary moments.

Overall Recommendation -
This one is perfect for those who love fairy tales, Disney or not. This is also a good one for those who like romance, but don't like it to come easily. Definitely a top recommendation.

Link to the story - Brendan and the Beast (free on AO3)
Author Link - Czarina_Kodora @ AO3
If you liked this story, try -

• Cinder by Gryvon (AO3) (read my review here) 
• Cinder by Marie Sexton (Goodreads Page) (read my review here)
• Dream of a Thousand Nights by Shira Anthony (Goodreads Page) (read my review here)
• The Mist Behind and the Light Before by Cathalin (AO3)
• The Fairest in the Land by LuccaAce (FictionPress - unfinished story)

My Tagging System

I'm a tagging fiend. I have been ever since I was able to do so over at Livejournal. I loved having lists that were easily searchable, and intend to do the same here. Especially since most of you out there will be looking for something specific, and this way, you will be able to find it easier.

Tag types you will find on this blog:

* Author Name (Author: Last Name, First Name)

* Genre (Genre: [genre])

* Kinks (Kink: [kink])

* Location of story (Location: Country, city {if possible; I'll get as specific as I can.})

* Rating {my own, using the general movie rating system} (Rating: [rating])

* Post type (Book review) (Fanfic) (Reading list) etc

If you see something that you'd like to be able to access better through the tags, let me know. I will try to be comprehensive within each type of tag, but if you see something not included, feel free to drop a note. The only thing I won't tag for is warnings. I may include them in the reviews themselves if I feel they are warranted for the story I'm reviewing, but I will not tag for them. My reviews are safe for most readers, I believe, and therefore skimming through them should be enough for most.