Sooo… there was WAY too much sex in this. I’m shocked the author didn’t get sick of herself writing all this never ending sex! And while I understand Sooo… there was WAY too much sex in this. I’m shocked the author didn’t get sick of herself writing all this never ending sex! And while I understand the 20 year old football player going multiple rounds in 1 hour, what about the 48 year old?>>?>?
Anyway,… disbelief aside, it’s not all sex. There’s actually real emotions here, real connection, real people. And if there was HALF as much sex, the depth of the relationship development might have shone brighter.
Wasn’t a fan of the BJs with other ppl when it was clear they loved each other. But on the other hand bc there’s soooooo much sex, it’s almost as if the author conditioned the reader as to what is “love” sex and what is “fuck” sex. Meaningless sex. And for sure the 2 BJs were meaningless.
Still… could have done without them.
But, they were actually consistent with the MCs’ personalities.
Bonus is that the older man also bottoms a couple of times - I love that. Love it when the “Bear” makes himself vulnerable like that. Means more.
It seems this is the only MM romance the author has written. I might read more if she wrote them. But, not right away.
It’s not often I DNF a book 2/3 of the way in. But… I just can’t waste my time any more. There’s a LOT of sex. Hate sex, then just sex. And it’DNF 66%
It’s not often I DNF a book 2/3 of the way in. But… I just can’t waste my time any more. There’s a LOT of sex. Hate sex, then just sex. And it’s not terribly engaging sex. More mechanical. I don’t know why I bother to keep reading. There’s no real depth or emotion in this book. The author tries, but… I don’t feel it....more
Just not a fan of BDSM and likely never will be. Kinda disappointed in what are revealed as Deven’s “story.” Honestly didn’t seem too big a deal to meJust not a fan of BDSM and likely never will be. Kinda disappointed in what are revealed as Deven’s “story.” Honestly didn’t seem too big a deal to me. Still do like the author’s writing style, but this just didn’t click for me....more
AJ is my FAVORITE MM author! If only she'd write more!!
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I don't know what to tell you guys... I loved loved loved this book! Maybe because
[iAJ is my FAVORITE MM author! If only she'd write more!!
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I don't know what to tell you guys... I loved loved loved this book! Maybe because
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writes so few MM books, but each one is just soooooo special. Each one is a home run.
************** SPOILERS AHEAD for those of you who haven't read anything in the series, so continue at your own discretion!!! ***************
This story is a re-envisioning of the Arthurian Legends. AJ started this spin-off series of the Pure/ Dark Ones https://www.goodreads.com/series/8550... with
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, where we get a glimpse of this alternate universe in which Guinevere is the ultimate baddie.
But what about Arthur and Lancelot? I definitely wanted to read more about them since book 1, in which they were nothing more than zombies controlled by the evil queen.
Never would I have imagined that Arthur and Lancelot could be a couple. Yeah, I always felt bad for their ruined friendship because of the woman in between them (what happened to bros before hoes??)
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So I am absolutely DELIGHTED that they are actually fated mates! In this book, we get their story, both the backstory of how they met and their relationship developed, as well as how Guiny came between them, and now how they're dealing with all of their tribulations and trying to give each other the freedom to find themselves again.
Isn't setting someone free the purest form of love? And if they come back to you, they love you too?
Well, that's the theme here.
There's a lot of water under the bridge, so Arthur and Lance have a lot to work through. The angry hate-sex is scorching HOTTTT!! Bc underneath, there's enduring love. AJ writes the BEST MM sex scenes (and honestly sex scenes in general, but in my view in particular the MM ones). Love always underpins the sex in her books and it's very obvious. None of the sex is about just sex. Sometimes it's about power or retribution or bonding or etc. But it's never just lust-induced mindless sex. It's always a kind of communication or communion and I LOVE IT!!!
There's a lot more that goes on in this installment than just Arthur and Lance, though this couple takes center stage. There's the family bonding between the Pendragons. There's planning for the war to come. There are DRAGONS of course!!
I won't say WHO is the dragon, you will have to read to find out. And when you do, it will be GLORIOUS!!
As with other books in this series by Lily Mayne, I'm missing alpha males. ALL of the men seem to be cry-baby betas. I hate using these terms but it iAs with other books in this series by Lily Mayne, I'm missing alpha males. ALL of the men seem to be cry-baby betas. I hate using these terms but it is what it is.
Lor is a young king (Moric) who grows into his role, though I wouldn't say he truly "owns" a kingship like I would expect someone in that powerful position. Wasn't a huge fan of his.
Jugs is a big, muscly guy who likes to wear hot pink short shorts and cut off shirts from the 80s. I liked his innocence and goodness and simplicity, and I liked him better than Lor, but still missing the alpha male...
Both (I think, even Jugs in terms of butt) are virgins. That was nice. I love the one and only stuff. And Lor's dedication to Jugs is commendable.
But still missing the alpha males...
The world building was sort of interesting, basically a fantasy world of monster kingdom etc. The intrigue was not terribly mysterious. I skipped a bunch after Jugs was on "ice"...
So 3.5 rounded to 3 (because I am reminded that I couldn't continue reading for a whole week to two after starting because it was so slow!).
It was boring at times, and dare I say it - too much sex at times.
I am looking forward to Cat and Lyri's book tho. So there's that....more
DNF 21%. Can't get into the story. Jessa Kane's stuff is always unrealistic but this is annoyingly unrealistic. I just don't like either one of the MCDNF 21%. Can't get into the story. Jessa Kane's stuff is always unrealistic but this is annoyingly unrealistic. I just don't like either one of the MCs....more
Sooooo this isn't the typical MMM I thought after reading some labels and reviews that convinced me to shelf this... for a while. Desperation and all Sooooo this isn't the typical MMM I thought after reading some labels and reviews that convinced me to shelf this... for a while. Desperation and all that convinced me to unshelve it and and try.
There's actually never a third BODY, but there's a third ENTITY. And it worked OK for me.
As the novel description warns -- you have to put aside the moral norms for this book. Killers don't become good. Killers don't even kill the "bad guys" to justify why they kill. They just... keep killing bc they made a pact with the devil and are too amoral and selfish to give up the benefits.
And yet.
There's a love story of sorts. An obsession story. If killers could love then this is their story.
Mayne's writing continues to flow and invite you in. Is this one of my faves? not by a long shot. Did it keep me reading to find out what happens next all the way to the end?
I really can't postpone reading this like I was trying to... trying to pore over every word and re-read every paragraph to fully draw out the e[image]
I really can't postpone reading this like I was trying to... trying to pore over every word and re-read every paragraph to fully draw out the enjoyment...
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All of the shelf descriptions I have for this book scratch my every itch. This book ticks ALL of my love-starved boxes!!
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We have the ALPHA hero who is: beautiful, protective, loving unconditionally, deep-voiced and deep-feeling, knows what he wants, proud but not arrogant, confident but not condescending (or somesuch, AJ wrote it better). He's EVERYTHING my dream alpha male husband-lover would be!!!
Our beautiful, magnificent SHAI!!!
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We have the wise-beyond-her-years yet emotionally underdeveloped heroine, the most successful pharoah in all of Egyptian history! Who (I believe) loved Shai as soon as he loved her, but just didn't know it.
Heba is BADASS. And I LOVE her possessiveness!!
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We have in parallel, the urgent search party of Ben, Ere and Sorin to find the Secret Gift, and in the process help Heba and Shai be together.
ANd y'all! It's set in EGYPT!!! The mysterious, gorgeous, magical place of EGYPT!!!!!
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The PASSION! The HOTTTTTTT SEX!!! The pining and wishing and pulling and pushing between the MCs... PERFECTION! And ultimately, the LOVE!
It's visceral! You can feel it! I'm swooning from it!
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You have to read it for yourself to understand. Think about it:
A queen and her slave. A pharoah and her captain of the guard. A love that burns between them that can't see the light of day. What will they do? What is their secret? How can they overcome all odds to be together????
People said this is a well-written book for its genre. But the part where H has sex an orgy while the h watches dampens my enthusiasm. Granted, they wPeople said this is a well-written book for its genre. But the part where H has sex an orgy while the h watches dampens my enthusiasm. Granted, they weren't "together" at this point, but I really don't want to read any details about MCs having sex with other ppl... esp. in an orgy!...more
OK so I DNFed this thing at first, but then I had nothing better to do so I read it. Even paid to continue reading past the sample.
A few reviewers comOK so I DNFed this thing at first, but then I had nothing better to do so I read it. Even paid to continue reading past the sample.
A few reviewers complained about the endless explaining of the various sexualities, that there was too much emphasis on that. I agree. This was where I felt bored.
But once I got past that in the beginning and Jac and Walker began to engage in earnest, and then the intrigue with battles and batface aliens happened, it got a lot more interesting. The sex was fine. Happened frequently, even one scene with zero gravity, but I've read a whole lot hotter in MM romances, so it was just OK.
Overall worth a read. I ended up liking Jac quite a bit. And I give credit to this book for being an alpha-alpha MM romance. These types are rare and to be covetted!...more
I like Lily Mayne's books, but my fave is still Book 1. The rest of the series just bleeds together, because it's pretty much all the same. Post apocaI like Lily Mayne's books, but my fave is still Book 1. The rest of the series just bleeds together, because it's pretty much all the same. Post apocalyptic world of Monsters and humans. Humans falling for Monsters. The relationship development. Some small journey to somewhere. Not much going on. Mainly the relationship dev between the MMCs.
Which is all good and fine. But then the characters all blend together. They don't have distinctly diff personalities. With the exception of Wyn and Edin. The rest are just.... meh.
Moth could have been written differently. He could have been a cool, icy assassin with that sword. But no, he became an uncertain virgin.
Don't get me wrong, I like virgin heroes, but I was hoping ONE of the MMCs would be more ALPHA!
Anyway, I may or may not continue with this author's books. I might give it 3.5 rounded down.
What can I say folks? This one hit it out of the park. But you know how I feel about AJ's books. Even so, this one really scratched my many itches. HeWhat can I say folks? This one hit it out of the park. But you know how I feel about AJ's books. Even so, this one really scratched my many itches. Here's why:
NOBODY WRITES MM INTENSE EMOTIONAL EROTIC ROMANCE LIKE AJA JAMES. HANDS DOWN. AMEN.
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Sin and Zai were FIRE. Both are alpha males, which is rare to see in MM romance. The most common pairing is alpha with beta (twink), size difference, or both are beta. This is one of the very rare MM romances I've read where BOTH MCs are sooooo alpha and sooooo right for each other. Equals. Partners. In every way. That alone will make me give this book 5 stars.
Add to that, 2 alphas who are also butt virgins???? WOW. checking all my boxes and then some!
But that's just ONE of the many things I love about this book.
THE ACTION JUST DOESN'T STOP.
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From page one, you're thrown in the rollercoaster ride and you only get off with wobbly legs at the very end. And then you're so high and dizzy and ADDICTED you want to jump right back on. You want to find out MORE MORE MORE!
What's going on with Ben?? What's next with the JE's games? Quests? Who is the mysterious Seventh Sister??
This was a turning point in the series. The momentum is building like an ocean swell. It's about to come crashing, and I want to be there for it!
Bring it on!!
BE FOREWARNED - READ AJ'S NOTE IN THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK. PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T READ OTHER BOOKS IN BOTH HER SERIES SHOULD PROCEED WITH CAUTION. YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP UP.
Soooooo the author did warn that 2 chapters of this book are going to be very hard to read. I had no issues reading them.
*******SPOILERS BELOW.******Soooooo the author did warn that 2 chapters of this book are going to be very hard to read. I had no issues reading them.
*******SPOILERS BELOW.**********
2 chapters worth of detailed rape and torture involving everything you can think of - urinating inside the person, then plugging it up until the stomach extends and is too painful, old fashioned rape, lots of equipment, forced ejaculation and prostate stimulation endlessly, etc., etc. there's blood, semen, poop, piss and all other kinds of bodily fluids.
Now, if all this graphic depiction had a POINT - that could have been arrived at with much less detail, perhaps in 1-2 paragraphs of INFERENCE - I wouldn't have cared. But it really didn't do anything for me, all the details, that a summary wouldn't have done just the same. So my only conclusion from having read all that is that the author enjoyed writing all those details for some sort of horrified turned on effect it might have on the person writing or reading. In which case, OK. I just got bored.
Like, rape rape rape...
YAWN.
Piss piss piss...
YAWN YAWN
Forced cumming with vibrators, whips and chains....
I'm now comatose with boredom!
Then it goes on of course --all the rest of this book -- healing through sex... lots and lots of it. TITANIC YAWNING!!!!
There's nothing here, folks. A book written for the specific purpose of creating a premise to write about all kinds of "titillating" sex acts. There's no real psychological suspense, emotional connection, deep thinking, witty banter, beautiful writing... NOTHING to credit a book actually worth reading.
So, DNF and would totally not recommend for anyone looking to actually engage their brain and heart while reading.
I do love the heartstring pulling, and I do love Dakota. He's YUM.
I don't love Shane. But I don't hate himLord this author can write sappy romances...
I do love the heartstring pulling, and I do love Dakota. He's YUM.
I don't love Shane. But I don't hate him either. He was a lost little coward and it took the love of his life coming back to town for him to wake up and grow up. Bleh.
The 1 star off is for Shane and for all the crying these men do!! Too much sappiness.
But I do like the intensity of feeling.
Oh, and the murder mystery is predictable. I skipped most of it and didn't miss a beat....more
This was almost a 5. There were some things tho that were kind of disturbing (see below on the dubious noncon/ con in status updates)
I think in the enThis was almost a 5. There were some things tho that were kind of disturbing (see below on the dubious noncon/ con in status updates)
I think in the end what makes this less than 5 is that we only got a few pages of Rafe's POV. In a way it kept him mysterious and "hard" (pun intended) to decipher, but in another way it made the story unbalanced.
We don't know why he is the way he is. Being from a mafia Italian family just isn't enough. So I was hungry for more of his background or character dev, even if it's not from his own POV.
Otherwise, it was entertaining. LOTS of COCK. And Rafe's in particular. The cover is on point. down to the dimple in the guy's chin....more
I was going to be stingy and give this a 4 star, but fine! I'll round up!
It's really sweet. But more than that, it was imaginative. A full novella setI was going to be stingy and give this a 4 star, but fine! I'll round up!
It's really sweet. But more than that, it was imaginative. A full novella set in the monsters' world. I loved the imagination!
The meeting with the Mags was anticlimatic tho... extremely low angst book which was slightly disappointing only bc I kept EXPECTING something to happen... which never did. No danger at all.
Can't wait for MORE of this delectable series!...more
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