Tag: S. L. Armstrong

Human Rights by S.L. Armstrong

16173999Title: Human Rights
Author: S.L. Armstrong
Genre: M/M, M/F, alternate universe, anthropomorphic, fantasy, furry, inter species, slavery, sweet
Length: Novella (80 pages)
Publisher: Storm Moon Press (August 29, 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥2.5Hearts
Blurb: After landing in the pound after being abandoned by yet another family, Ewan is convinced he’s too old to be adopted out again. For a pet like him, the only fate left is to be put down. But when Sir Jiat—of the City Guard, no less—visits the pound, he goes straight to Ewan. Jiat prefers the more mature pets and treats Ewan better than he’s ever been treated by any previous owner. Ewan sleeps at the foot of his master’s bed, not on the floor or outside; he is given toys and other pets to play with and plenty of room to run; and he’s fed on a schedule and eats very well. But Ewan’s love for his master begins to change, to become something else, something more.

Plenty of pets have been killed over the years for acting on the feelings that Sir Jiat inspires, so he dares not express the desire building inside him. And yet, Ewan can’t help but notice that Sir Jiat has begun to act differently as well, more doting, treating Ewan almost as an equal. So even though the thing he wants more than anything is also their society’s greatest taboo, Ewan resolves that if he must die, he will die having felt, just once, the warmth of Sir Jiat’s soft fur pressed against his bare naked skin.

Product Link: http://www.stormmoonpress.com/books/Human-Rights.aspx

Reviewer: Shorty

Review: Ewan a human pet, is adopted from the pound by Jiat, a jaguar city guard and secret member of an organization who wants equal rights for all. Ewan ends up falling in love with Jiat which is a death sentence if found out.

This story is about humans who are pets to anthropomorphics. It was interesting in the fact that everything is reversed as it is today. Except for the fact, that pets talk in the story. Glad everything worked out in the end, though it was heartbreaking when I thought they put Ewan to sleep.

The Devil's Midway by K. Piet and S.L. Armstrong

81A6ZEHcQpL._SL1500_Title: The Devil’s Midway

Author: K. Piet & S.L. Armstrong

Genre: Paranormal

ISBN: 9781627570657

Length: Short Story (27 pages)

Publisher: Storm Moon Press (October 24th, 2013)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: Thaddeus sold his soul to save his family long ago, but the deal he struck with the demon Belial has him spending eternity managing Le Carnaval du Diable, filled to the brim with others damned into servitude. Belial wants more than Thaddeus’ soul, though, and his constant advances only add to Thaddeus’ stress as he faces a threat to the carnival and all those within.

Product Link: http://www.stormmoonpress.com/books/The-Devils-Midway.aspx

Review: Well, wasn’t that a surprising ending to this deal-with-the-devil themed story. Actually, this entire read was kind of unique. Thaddeus traded his soul for the lives of his wife and son. He freely gave his soul to the devil, but he is one of a kind, as he didn’t do it for selfish reasons, hence he’s not a complete mindless servant of the demon in charge of him. Thaddeus has the right to say “NO” to anything not in his contract and he exercises that right every single time. After years of having Belial chasing him, trying to lesser his resistance and make him his as a bed partner Thaddeus is feeling his weakness grow, after all Belial is very persistent and very tempting. But the last dregs of his dignity rely upon his ability to say that little word and stubbornly Thaddeus clings to it. No matter how frustrated, no matter how weary, he will not submit to Belial.

This story is just that from start to finish, Thaddeus fight to remain himself, not to give up entirely to the demon. Yes, we see through his eyes and feel his waning strength, we see his fantasies and witness some self-stress relieving, but he keeps going in a stay of hate/longing throughout the story.

When danger comes in his Carnaval and Thaddeus is faced with losing his mortality as well, things become precarious and he’s one little step from letting go and letting Belial finally take what he wants.

As I said this story is quite different from what I at least am used to. I expected a give there by the end, but I was surprised that the authors kept at it. It made a difference, but it also made me wonder if there is going to be a continuation to this story. If not then it just leaves you there with the feeling that while the darkness might have a piece of you it doesn’t necessarily means they own you completely. Strong morale there, but honestly I’d have loved my fiction a bit wicked and naughty.

 

Alpha's Pride by S. L. Armstrong and K. Piet

Title: Alpha’s Pride

Author: S.L. Armstrong & K. Piet

Genre: Fantasy

Length: Short (22pgs)

Publisher: Storm Moon Press (9th December 2011)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Alec and Nahele are feral-Maith, genetic offshoots from a fantastic race. Their clan is home to many kinds of feral characteristics, but the powerful predators—wolves and felines alike—are the protectors, hunters, and leaders. Both Alec and Nahele enjoy their arrangement, finding pleasure with one another away from prying eyes, but Alec’s worries about their clan’s security have long fallen on deaf ears.

Under pressure, Alec challenges Nahele for leadership of their clan, threatening to destroy the relationship they’d been building for years. Nahele is anything but weak, and his stubbornness could endanger the clan’s stability, not to mention his own life. When push comes to shove, Nahele is confronted with the most difficult choice a leader can face: resist and maintain his pride or yield control of the clan to the feral-Maith he once trusted.

Purchase Link: http://stormmoonpress.com/books/Alphas-Pride.aspx

Warning: Questionable consent

Review: Alec has advised his Alpha and lover several times that he has to make changes for the sake of the clan but Nahele ignores him and Alec feels he has no other choice but to challenge him. Nahele feels betrayed when Alec challenges him and sets out to make Alec’s life miserable.

This is a great short that seemed longer than it actually was, there isn’t much world building in this but just from reading the story you get the feeling of a primal world where everything is simple and primitive but with a sense of structure as though they are at the beginning of civilization. Although Alec and Nahele love each other they still have sex with other members of the clan as it is their way.

Alec just wants what is best for the clan and it tears his heart out to challenge Nahele.  Nahele has too much pride to change as he has led the clan for several centuries. This is an erotic, brutal brilliant story that makes you wonder if our ancestors civilization started out like that and keeps us reading as we wonder if these two characters will sort out their differences to have what they had before.

I think that readers who enjoy primitive races, hot sex, brutal vicious fights, dominance, love and a good story will love this one because I did.

 

 

 

 

Catalyst by S. L. Armstrong and K. Piet

Title: Catalyst

Author: S.L. Armstrong & K. Piet

Genre: BDSM

Length: Novel (247pgs)

Publisher: Storm Moon Press (11th February 2011)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: After a near-fatal accident, Logan Walker seeks help to control the compulsive blood fetish that almost cost his submissive’s life. Help happens to be in the form of an athletic, smart psychologist by the name of Dr. Kasper Bromley. Kasper, though, soon finds himself swept up in the fantasies Logan came to him to control. Reluctantly throwing his ethics to the wind, Kasper submits himself to Logan, gambling his career, his future, and his heart on this intriguing man and the lifestyle he offers. But when Kasper’s desires outpace Logan’s, the young doctor is swept down into a whirlpool of sex and sadism that even Logan’s love may not be enough to rescue him from.

Purchase Link: http://www.stormmoonpress.com/books/Catalyst.aspx

Warning: This book has violence, drug abuse and heavy BDSM. E.g. blood play.

Review: Logan needs help to control his blood fetish.  He knows it could have been so much worse and if he doesn’t get help then someone will end up dead.  Kasper is a psychologist and his new patient has a problem with blood.  As Kasper helps Logan he begins to fantasize about Logan and his desires.

This is a well written in-depth BDSM story. Logan is concerned that if he doesn’t get control of his fetish he will lose control and accidently kill someone; he’s had a close call and never wants it to happen again. Kasper begins to be pulled into Logan’s world of BDSM and once he gets past his embarrassment and shame he embraces it with open arms determined to be the best submissive ever… no matter what the cost.

Now this is a view of Doms and Subs that we don’t always see; the one where the Sub is calling the shots and is manipulating the Dom/Domme. Kasper has always strived to be the best and to impress his father.  Even though his father has been dead 4yrs he still tries.  Now he will impress Logan with how much he can take as a sub and become the best sub ever. Logan tries to rein Kasper in when he realizes that Kasper is manipulating him into causing him harm because Kasper refuses to have any limits no matter how much he is harmed.

This is definitely an in-depth psychological story.  We have Logan who needs help and asks for it.  We also have at one point Logan counseling Kasper over what he feels.  and then Kasper refusing to admit that he has a problem that could kill him. This is an absolute fantastic story of two men who try to balance their needs but who both fall into despair when it falls apart.  They then have to build up their trust and work out a compromise if they are going to live and love together.

A must read BDSM that will confuse, bemuse, have your heart ache and make you want to smack Kasper and knock sense into him. It is a bit controversial as well because Logan was Kasper’s client when they started their relationship and I am still in two minds about it as on the one hand Kasper knew better and Logan was a client but on the other Logan was a Dom who pushed the boundaries when he saw a spark of interest in Kasper’s eyes at the mention of submission, so to me they are both to blame. I don’t believe that Kasper meant to break Logan’s trust but it was ingrained in him to use everything to become the best.

I will recommend this to everyone who loves any type of BDSM, angst and a wonderfully written story that will have you feeling sorry for these two lovely confused men.

 

 

Oneiros by S. L. Armstrong

Title: Oneiros

Series: Cast the Cards

Author: S.L. Armstrong

Genre: Paranormal, Myths

Length: Short (23pgs)

Publisher: Storm Moon Press (6th April 2011)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: For over 250 years, the use of the tarot for divination has been a mainstay of mystical and occult practices. The themes and forces represented by the cards are said to govern our lives and our destinies. Whether you believe that or not, the story of the cards is nevertheless the story of our lives — the accomplishments and the pitfalls, the path from soaring joy to crushing defeat and back again.

Caleb is fleeing from the realities of his life, hiding in a dream of the Moon. The God of Dreams finds him there and draws Caleb deeper into the night with promises of passion and closeness otherwise denied to him. But in the waking world, a chance for something real forces Caleb to choose between love and immortality.

(This short story was originally published in the “Cast the Cards” anthology.)

Purchase Link: http://stormmoonpress.com/books/Oneiros.aspx

Review: Caleb has had a lot to deal with in his life.  When he is visited in his dreams one night by Morpheus he has the opportunity for a dream lover, he grabs at it with both hands; as he believes that he will never have a real one again.

This is quite a poignant little piece even though I am not sure if it was meant to be. How many times have we wished we could sleep away our troubles? To have a dream lover take all our worries away so we only have pleasure? To ignore the world around us, so we know only happiness? In this story that is exactly what Caleb does, he is seduced by Morpheus into only wanting to sleep so he can spend time loving Morpheus and knowing only pleasure, as he sleeps more and more he neglects his real life and the new friend he made in Scott.

Scott offered a relationship to Caleb and was rebuffed but he is determined to be his friend and be there when he needs him. As Caleb’s life spins out of control Scott is there to pick up the pieces but Morpheus is becoming unhappy. I really liked this story as it portrayed a dream-like mystical quality as Caleb’s mind became foggier as he lost touch with his real life. His escaping his fears, loneliness and unhappiness is completely understandable and Scott’s persistence and patience is laudable as he struggles to get through to Caleb.

This is a wonderful short with hot sex, longing and the realization that maybe just maybe dreams can happen in the real world too. I highly recommend this to everyone.

 

 

Morningstar by S. L. Armstrong

Title: Morningstar

Author: S.L. Armstrong

Genre: Religious Theme, Angels

Length: Short (29pgs)

Publisher: Storm Moon Press (5th October 2010)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: This retelling the Biblical mythos of the Creation and the Fall comes from the perspective of the Fallen: the angel Morningstar. It is the story of an angel, not of pride and envy, but of confusion and frustration. Forced to watch as the place of the angels as the Creator’s favored is slowly taken over by the rise of Man, Morningstar seeks solace with his lover, Radueriel.

Radueriel has a fanatical devotion to the Creator, and he repeatedly urges Morningstar to surrender to the Creator’s will. Unable to do so, Morningstar revolts against the Creator and His ineffable Divine Plan, jeopardizing his relationship with Radueriel and risking the wrath of God. The revolution fails, and the rebelling angels are expelled from Heaven.

Not to Hell, but to Earth.

Purchase Link: http://stormmoonpress.com/books/Morningstar.aspx

Review: Morningstar has lost faith with God.  he believes the Almighty is pushing the Angels away and is also making a mistake of His treatment of Man. Radueriel still believes in the Almighty’s wisdom and tries to steer Morningstar from his rebellious path.

This is a beautifully written tale of the Fall of the Angels and is told from Morningstar’s point of view. This story for the first half reads like a biblical tale.  Morningstar begins to doubt God when he creates Man and then punishes those who did not deserve to be punished. Morningstar starts to have other doubts and so begins his rebellion. Radueriel does everything he can think of to save Morningstar but failed, now after thousands of years he goes to Morningstar on Earth.

This is a beautiful rendition of the Fall of the Angels while showing that Morningstar was not filled with envy or pride but believed that the Angels rightful place was being usurped by the humans. The love between Morningstar and Radueriel is loving and pure even when they are on Earth.

I will recommend this to those who love religious themed m/m, that has sweet and rough love and an alternative to the normal Devil/Satan/Lucifer Fallen Angel theme.