In the Absence of Monsters by J.P. Barnaby

61gXVTnyU2L._SL1000_Title: In the Absence of Monsters

Series: (Prev. Forbidden Room/A House of Cards: Deconstructing Ethan)

Author: J.P. Barnaby

Genre: BDSM

Length: Novel (357 Pages)

Publisher: Wilde City Press (January 14th, 2014)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Blurb: Jayden Carter knew the path he wanted his life to take. He wanted to get his Master’s Degree in History and teach. But when he answered an ad for a roommate and met mysterious doctor, Ethan Bryant, he’s brought into a world he never knew existed and his path changes.

It changes again for Jayden and he leaves Ethan with their friend, Lexi, in tow. Ethan loses himself in a haze of self-destruction and pain. With the help of a childhood friend, Gabriel, Ethan battles the demons of his childhood and finds a way to survive. Gabriel and Jayden wage an epic war for Ethan, but in the end, they may all end up losing.

Adapted from The Forbidden Room and A House of Cards: Deconstructing Ethan

Product Link: http://www.wildecity.com/books/gay-mainstream/in-the-absence-of-monsters/#.U2pDw6KA-So
Reviewer: GiGi

Review: I actually had not read the blurb for this book before beginning to read, so you can imagine my sense of déjà vu when things started reminding me of the first J.P. Barnaby novel I had ever read. It had been a while since I had read The Forbidden Room, so it took me a bit to realize this was adapted form that book. For the most part, it’s pretty much the same for that first part. I had not read House of Cards: Deconstructing Ethan, so that was an all new surprise for me. Though after reading this book, I do feel these two stories are very separate. They are written from a different POV, in a different style, and with many journal excerpts. It’s also a very long, albeit, very good story. Maybe two books would still be a good idea.

The first part of the story, grabs my curious mind right away, especially the first lines: The Ad: “26 year old SWM seeking disciplined roommate so split 5 BR house. Utilities included, Male pref. Call for appt.”

The word “disciplined” in that ad giving a perfect foreshadowing of what was to come. I felt like Jayden walked right into that scenario, his subconscious must have known, and the saying if something’s too good to be true clearly applied. Only in this case, for the most part, what Jayden steps into turns out to be ultimately good. The submission/bondage is a razor edge between desired and feared, though safe words area always in play, the play was at times seemingly heartless, and cold, then powerful and intimate. The way the scenes were written put me in the moment. I felt both a pain in the pit of my stomach, and the desire for Jayden to do whatever was needed to make Ethan happy. Throughout the story Ethan introduces Jayden to his world of dominance and submission, trains him, introduces him to other masters/Mistresses, and even another sub to interact with.

As the relationships develop between Master, submissive and now Lexi, Ethan’s other sub that he trains Jayden to interact with, the hazy line between sexual identity, sex, and submission gets even more blurred. Jayden questions himself, his sexuality, his attraction to both Ethan and Lexi. He questions whether his play with Ethan makes him gay, or just makes him a submissive, and if it matters what gender he submits to.

Many methods of “play” are introduced in this story. Pain, edging, sexual submission, humiliation, bondage, it’s a very educational plot for those beginning in this genre of reading. I myself enjoy BDSM plots and found it very fascinating.

Now on to the second part of the story, this one being based on House of Cards: Deconstructing Ethan. All through part one I am both frustrated, confused and ultimately in pain for Ethan. I want to know what really makes him tick, I want him to have Jayden, and I want him to have everything. Part two helps explain many things. Both my using Ethan’s POV and by letting us read journal excerpts he kept.

Things get very complicated because both Lexi and Jayden are playing new roles, training the new generation of subs the only way they know how, they way they were trained by Ethan, only to quickly learn one method does not fit all scenarios. That what Ethan did and developed for Lexi and Jayden was special and would not necessarily work for other relationships. Through this part of the story we get a look at a very jealous Ethan and a very jealous Jayden, all the while I want to knock their heads together and tell them to see what’s right in front of them! But there is one big block to their ultimate acceptance, and happiness, problem is its ultimate pain, loss, and sadness that brings it. God, the pain J.P puts all the characters though is enough to make me want therapy, not to mention explaining all the “monsters” these people carry with them. I’m talking pain of loss, pain of abuse, pain of neglect, not pain in the playroom.

Over all this is a great collection. I still feel maybe the two need to be read and digested separately. So give yourself sometime between the two parts. There is a lot to absorb here, so much is deeply moving, heavy, very emotional, and by the very end, cathartic. For those who enjoy the BDSM genre, I highly recommend this read.