Tag: GLBT Space Opera

The Queen's Consorts by Kele Moon

The Queen's ConsortTitle: The Queen’s Consorts

Author: Kele Moon

Genre: Science Fiction & Space Opera / Ménage (MMF)

Length: Novel

Publisher: Loose Id (April 23rd, 2013)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: The Queen’s Consorts. Just laying eyes on one is a death sentence. So when Sari, who spent most of her life on the streets, ends up entangled in a steamy relationship with the two most forbidden men on the planet, she knows it can’t end well.

After a brutal attack, Sari’s taken to the Sacred City, exposing her to the secret lives of the Rayians who rule in the long lost queen’s absence. It’s in this darkly sexual world where she first meets the legendary consorts.

Too handsome and talented for their own good, Calder and Taryen have learned to trust only each other in order to survive. Bred to be feared warriors and exclusive companions to a queen, instead they’re slaves to other Rayians desires for them.

Their brutal lives make the two consorts hesitant to care for Sari when she’s unexpectedly dumped in their laps, but they soon discover she’s different from the cruel women they’re used to serving. Drawn to Sari on a soul deep level, Calder and Taryen can’t seem to stop themselves from going back for one more taste of the beautiful outsider… even when it puts the fate of the entire world in jeopardy.

Product Link: http://www.loose-id.com/the-queen-s-consorts.html

Review: Oh Holy Mother of Hades, what a story. What a book. What an unexpected surprise to have found such a lovely read. See I’m always wary when I read ménage that involves a pair of males and a female, because most books I’ve read have been such a disappointment, but Oh My God, this book was excellent.

The story takes place in a world that Ms. Moon created with (I can only imagine) such care and devotion. The planet Auroria has a peculiar lifestyle and magic. The females are not only respected there, but called divine, especially those of the Capital. They are called Sisters of The Great Mother (the Queen) and each of them forms a bond with a pair of life mates (two men). The energy between them comes then to a balance and the bond is a very strong one. The Queen herself has great powers and the life-force of the very planet is linked with her. When the Queen is happy the sun shines bright, when she is sad rain falls from the sky and when she is mad well… you get the picture. The Queen becomes stronger once she has created her bond with her consorts. They must also be very strong and powerful to help balance her and keep her happy so the rest of the planet can benefit from her powers. Hence, they are joined with their Queen since birth, their time of birth close together. They share a life time only to be driven apart from their Queen for one year when they are seventeen. During that year the Queen must stay away from her consorts to appreciate their presence and never take it for granted and the Consorts themselves learn how to best please and serve her so when they finally come back, the sun will shine and their bond will remain sacred forever.

This is the world we dive into. This is the concept and their culture. This is how the very ménage that could be trite transforms to a majestic relationship.

But the last Queen was murdered along with one of her consorts and the Princess was rushed out of the walls of the Palace to safety. Ever since, the planet plunged in darkness and people forgot what sunshine was like. The commoners suffered in poverty and the Council of the Sisters gained great power, their greed insatiable, and their hunger for blood terrifying. The few Royalist still devoted to the Queen are powerless and unable to prevent the most horrible thing of all, the abuse, violation and molestation of the Queen’s Consorts in the hands of the Sisters. The pair that share the same soul with the Queen, the very one that are supposed to be hers and hers alone are treated no more than sex-slaves and constantly tortured by vicious women in order to kill the moral of those who still believe in the Queen’s return.

No, this is not just a story with a threesome thrown in there and focusing on the sex scenes. This is a wholesome story of love, lust, magic and power. This is a story that will grab your heart in one fierce hold and shake you to the core. You’ll shudder in the violence that is hidden inside these pages, you’ll want to kill, maim, split in two and rip hearts out. You’ll want to be there in the midst of the battlefield, because there will be battles fighting when they make the final stand.

And you’ll fall in love divine. You’ll feel the brilliance of something unique and you’ll probably think “what a great, great read”. I truly loved this book. Everything in it called to me. Before I knew it I was so much engrossed with the characters, their story and suffering that the anger on their behalf took me by surprise, an excellent achievement for the author, quite a talented hand there.

And I could stand here writing and writing forever for this one, but I think I have already said enough. I have given you the set up where the story lies but you’ll have to take that step and jump into this world yourself and feel the story first hand, I can only say that it’s beyond worth it. Strongly recommended.

Claimings, Tails and Other Alien Artifacts by Lyn Gala

lg_claimingTitle: Claimings, Tails and Other Alien Artifacts

Series: N/A

Author: Lyn Gala

Genre: MM / Sci-Fi / BDSM/Space Opera

Length: Novel

Publisher: Loose Id (January 29th, 2013)

Reviewer: Thommie

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Blurb: Liam loves his life as a linguist and trader on the Rownt homeworld, but he has ignored his heart and sexual needs for years. He won’t risk letting anyone come too close because he won’t risk letting anyone see his deeply submissive nature. For him, submission comes with pain. Life burned that lesson into his soul from a young age. This fear keeps him from noticing that the Rownt trader Ondry cares for him.

Ondry may not understand humans, but he recognizes a wounded soul, and his need to protect Liam is quickly outpacing his common sense. They may have laws, culture, and incompatible genitalia in their way, but Ondry knows that he can find a way to overcome all that if he can just overcome the ghosts of Liam’s past. Only then can he take possession of a man he has grown to love.

Product Link: http://www.loose-id.com/claimings-tails-and-other-alien-artifacts.html

Review: This book brought such a smile on my face my cheeks still hurt. What a beautiful world Ms. Gala created here, how very fascinating. This story is located on Prarownt, the planet of a reptile-like species called Rownt. Rownt are traders at core, everything in their life is seen in pure logic and calculation in order to gain outmost profit. Their entire take on life, their beliefs and life structure is often not even conceived by human logic.

Liam job is to trade with the Rownt and learn as much as possible from them, about them. He loves his job, he adores this planet, but unfortunately his new Commanding Officer is threatening his life here. His CO’s abuse is taking its toll on him and affecting his trading. Rownt trader Ondry, one of Liam’s favorite, notices his discomfort and changes his entire attitude toward Liam. In his five years on the planet, Liam has never seen such display, never has a Rownt came too close to him and never, ever has one attempted to touch him. Confused he might have somehow unintentionally insulted Ondry, Liam’s control is fast slipping from his hands. His CO’s public confrontation and insults does nothing to help the situation and suddenly Liam find himself in the inexplicable position of being chained in Ondry’s bed.

Confusion, panic, fear and hurt claim Liam’s mind. While the Rownt tries to explain to him that Liam’s new status is to be his palteia, a new term that gives him no explanation at all, Liam only finds his mind drifting to darker places of his past. Back when he was used, abused and shattered to pieces. Burying his sexuality for years this new situation not only awakens him, but it terrifies him. His longing for a strong man who will provide safety and love and his inability to let go and trust has him nearly torn in half. The fact that human and Rownt concepts are so very different do not help at all and Ondry has to find a way to get in his mind and make Liam see life through his eyes. If only Liam would give up and trust him his sanity.

And I am not doing a good job in my attempt to tell you what this story is about. How could I, this book approach so many things. Perhaps if I were to tell you that this books focus is more toward the relationship and feelings aspects than the sexual one. After all, Rownt and Human biology are not compatible. Rownt are a species that do not use sexual intercourse for pleasure, nor intimacy. They do not display such behavior and only use sex to reproduce, the very act being somehow brutal in human eyes.

This book focuses more into D/s relationships, on how a Dom and a sub react, what they expect and what they give, seen from different perspectives. The Rownt logic that sees things human would call brute as normal and vice versa. How one’s status is scorned from some societies and adored from others. How the beauty is in the eyes of the beholder so to speak.

For me this was a lovely read. A great Science Fiction with a wonderful take on BDSM and especially on D/s. I totally loved it, it was brilliant and I strongly recommend it.

 

His Own Devices by Jessica Freely

jf_hisowndevices_coverin_1Title: His Own Devices

Author: Jessica Freely

Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera

Length: Novella (133pgs)

Publisher: Loose Id (20th November 2012)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3 ½ – 4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Cam still has the scars from his time as a slave mining malleum, a metal as strong as steel and as pliable as human flesh. His talent for fixing machines was his ticket out of that hell, but when he’s ordered to repair a malfunctioning android and instead falls in love, Cam discovers it’s his own shattered spirit that needs mending.

Sunshine’s “flaw” is that he has a personality and free will, traits that interfere with his role as the perfect, obedient worker. They also make him smart, sweet, and sexy as hell. Sunshine is determined to pursue a relationship with Cam, no matter what it takes. No penis? No problem! He’s made of malleum, and he can modify his anatomy to meet Cam’s deepest desires. The hard part is getting Cam to admit what he really wants.

Meanwhile, Cam’s boss expects him to complete repairs on the new worker prototype. It’ll be the mines for Cam and the scrap heap for Sunshine unless they can outwit a corporation founded on slavery and prove that even in the most unexpected places, love flourishes, transforming not just one wounded man, but also a whole world.

Purchase Link: http://www.loose-id.com/his-own-devices.html

Review: Cam is a slave who has been rescued from the mines only because of his mechanical acumen. He is now all alone on a moon where he fixes, invents and updates whatever his jailers send him. When he is sent a malfunctioning android, he makes a startling discovery and he begins to want something that scares him to death. Sunshine (SNSH1.9 android) doesn’t want to die again. He isn’t malfunctioning he is just fine. When he meets one of the Olbrans and begins to learn new things, he discovers that he will do anything for Cam.

This is a great science fiction story where a corporation has taken over the universe, enslaving entire planets for their own financial gain. Cam suffered for four years in the mines, before it was discovered that he would be more useful working as a technician and inventor. When Sunshine is sent to him for repair, Cam discovers that he wants to forget the fear and abuse and have something more. Sunshine just wants to live. Discovering Cam isn’t like any of the Hanovan, he begins to trust him, and it isn’t long before he discovers new feelings. Between Cam and Sunshine they have to work out a way to give the Hanumans what they want.  But, when they do Sunshine finds out the truth, and it’s down to Sunshine and Cam to save an entire planet.

This is a story that gives the imagination food for thought. What happens when a greedy company decides to take over the Universe? What happens when you program an android, but the programming takes on a mind of its own? And what happens when a brilliant technician and an android falls in love? This is a great storyline. It has wonderful world building and a fantastic romance and while some of this book is quite funny. There is also a serious aspect with Cam’s mental and emotional recovery after years of abuse. The storyline of how Cam’s and other races were taken and forced into servitude is interesting and Cam and Sunshine’s solution is brilliant.

Sunshine is a sweet loveable character and watching him grow as a person as he learns more and discovers more about himself is a wonderful experience. Seeing how he is with Cam is beautiful. Cam is a great character who has a lot going for him. He has a lot of scars both on the outside and the inside, but with Sunshine’s love he begins to heal. The sex between them is hot, but watch out for the detachable penis *snigger* (no, I am not twelve, but it is funny). I really did enjoy this book, but I did feel like the end was over very quickly. It all happened so fast, but saying that nothing was missing… I just wanted it drawn out more.

I am recommending this to those who love science fiction and space opera’s, android loving, cute technician’s, hot sex, slavers getting what they deserve and a very happy ending.

 

 

Moro's Price by MC Hana

Title: Moro’s Price

Author: MC Hana

Genre: Space Opera, Science Fiction, Fantasy

Length: Super Novel (353pgs)

Publisher: Loose-Id (24th July 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Cheated out of freedom and destined for lifetime servitude, gladiator and sex slave Moro Dalgleish escapes from a brutal arena. Valier Antonin, a lonely student, is tormented by sadomasochistic urges he’s forbidden to indulge. When the two men meet on the skyscraper roof where Moro plans to commit suicide, Valier offers a bargain. Sex with Valier will infect Moro with the sentient symbiont endemic in Valier’s part-human race, with death the likely result.

As one of the infection’s rare survivors, Moro learns he is now a free Camalian citizen. He’s also effectively married to Valier, crown prince of the Camalian Commonwealth. Expecting a shallow encounter with a doomed slave, Valier learns Moro is his Knife, the mate who can stabilize Valier’s undisciplined mind, slake his darkest lusts, and make him fit to rule.

Publisher’s Note: This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find objectionable: BDSM theme and elements, dubious consent, male/male sexual practices, rape, violence. While primarily an m/m story, it contains scenes involving m/f sexual interaction.

Readers with a history of rape or sexual abuse may find elements of this story disturbing.

Purchase Link: http://www.loose-id.com/moro-s-price.html 

Review: Moro is a bonded gladiator and believes that he has two more years before he can be free again. But, he finds out the truth… he still belongs to his previous master, the man who destroyed his world and ruined his life. But, Moro won’t go back to that monster and plans his suicide. Valier is the crown prince of the Camalian Commonwealth and is fighting off assassins when Moro stumbles across him, Moro saves his life so Valier offers Moro a way out, one night of sex where he will be infected with the sentient symbiont endemic, which will either lead to Moro’s death or his complete freedom.

Whoop, okay boys and girls this is a little gem if you love your sci-fi with fantasy and some good old space opera, along with a good dose of abuse and angst. Moro is an abused slave or a ‘bonded gladiator’. He has no control over his life and is holding on to the promise of being released in two years… he is betrayed. He was only loaned out and now his previous owner wants him back, but Moro would rather die than be placed in those hands again. Valier is a crown prince who ends up rescuing Moro, after Moro saves his life and it takes them on a new journey of discovery as they are a perfect match for each other. And secrets from Moro’s past finally emerge which place them both in danger, as long forgotten beings return and make their presence felt.

There is a hell of a lot going on in this story, but every bit is very well-connected, there is in-depth plotting and planning that go back years. Lots of scheming from characters, some twists and turns and several species involved. The story moves smoothly along and you get dragged in as you work out who is against whom and who is plotting what. You try to figure out who is a good guy and who is a spy. There are scenes that are pretty grim and gruesome, scenes that are distressing and scenes that are really freaking hot.

Now, there is one full on sex scene of m/f ,but it is actually in a kind of dream bubble thingie when Moro meets Cama (symbiont) and I just put it down to a necessary evil. The sex between Moro and Valier is very hot and has a lot of mild bondage.  I am sure that if there is a next book then they would be into more of the hard-core stuff, but because of Moro’s long term suffering Valier goes very easy on him and gentles what he really wants. This is a very intriguing storyline as more characters become involved and more species turn up, the descriptions are really well done and the world building was fascinating and we learn more and more the further into the book we delve.

Now, seriously if you are into space-opera, science fiction, fantasy, hot men, damaged men, intriguing characters and species (that can suck up worlds), angst, danger, plotting and planning, with some really hot sex, then you need to read this book because it is a little gem. P.S. Fingers crossed for more from Moro and Valier.