BDSM REVIEW: Becoming sage by Kasi Alexander

Becoming sage 
by Kasi Alexander
(The Keyhole #1)
Alternative Romance, Strong Polyamorous, BDSM Themes
Published April 19th 2011 by Omnific Publishing
RATING: DNF

With a failed marriage behind her, Jill Marten was looking to start a new chapter in her life. She had no idea that running into her old friend, Jessie, would unlock a whole new world. When she accepts Jessie's invitation to a party, in order to "try something completely different," it awakens a need to discover her place in a new community. Jessie, also known as sunni, is a submissive slave who is in a loving relationship with her Master, Sir Rune. When Rune and sunni ask Jill to be a part of their family, Jill begins her journey into submission, bondage, and polyamory, even as she questions everything that she has been taught about love and relationships. She begins to face her own desires and fears as she struggles with feelings of jealousy, inadequacy, and self-worth. Once she opens the door to a life she never imagined, a peek through the keyhole is no longer enough, and she must learn what it means to become sage.

Kasi Alexander's debut novel, Becoming sage, is the first installment in The Keyhole Series. An active member of the BDSM community, Kasi brings a true-to-life realism to her writing. This is not traditional erotica, but the series offers an intimate look into the lives of the men and women who live the BDSM lifestyle, in particular, the Master/slave dynamic.


REVIEW:

It’s hard for me to say that Becoming sage is a DNF for me. I just could not get into the story and relationship between the characters. It’s not a reflection on the author’s writing. I did read about half of the book and the part I read was well written.

I received Alexander's Becoming sage as a review request and judging by the cover and snippet I thought that it would be a good match for my erotica month. And although I’ve read other BDSM and polyamory type books, Becoming sage is not like any that I’ve read.

All of the other books in the genre have had a romance between the characters and yes, hot sex scenes. There is no real romance in story (at least the part I read) and there is mention of sex between the characters but the book had a “real” feel to it. Almost like a real person's account, not really a journal but it didn’t have a fantasy feel to me.

The POV is written through Jill’s accounts of entering the world of M/s (Master/slave) and while some of it was interesting; I kept sympathizing with Jill’s logical side. She would think at different moments why am I doing this, it is crazy to let a stranger do these things to me. And I was agreeing with her and I think that’s why I could not get into the book more to finish it.

Simply put I could DNF because it was too realistic to me if that makes sense. I could not loose myself in the fantasy of the story. But don’t let that stop you from reading it yourself if you are interested. Becoming sage has received quite a few 4 and 5 star reviews on Goodreads, it just wasn’t for me.

Becoming sage is available at:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

I received my copy for a honest review.

REVIEW: The Initiation of Ms. Holly by K.D. Grace

The Initiation of Ms. Holly
by K.D. Grace
Genre: Erotica (M/F, F/F, M/M & M/F/M)
BUY: Amazon 
My Copy: Received for Review
RATING: DNF

Sex with a mysterious stranger aboard a train leads Rita Holly to an initiation into the exclusive and secretive Mount club. Sophisticated and deviant rituals await Rita, as do the endless intrigues and power struggles deep within the heart of the organization.

REVIEW:


The Initiation of Ms. Holly is pure porn with very little plot and character development. With that being said, it was very hot steamy porn but I think the story is better suited for a short story and not a full length novel.

I like reading erotica from time to time but if it's in the form of a novel I want some actual plot and characters I can care about. The Initiation of Ms. Holly was just too much and I quickly got tired of all the sex (yes, you read correctly).

If you just want to check your brain at the door and just indulge in some hot smut this is a great read for that. But I was actually wanting more out of it than that.

REVIEW: Initiate by Tara Maya

The Unfinished Song: Initiate

by Tara Maya

My Copy: Received from Author for review

BUY: Amazon / B&N

RATING: DNF

DEADLY INITIATION
A DETERMINED GIRL...
Dindi can't do anything right, maybe because she spends more time dancing with pixies than doing her chores. Her clan hopes to marry her off and settle her down, but she dreams of becoming a Tavaedi, one of the powerful warrior-dancers whose secret magics are revealed only to those who pass a mysterious Test during the Initiation ceremony. The problem? No-one in Dindi's clan has ever passed the Test. Her grandmother died trying. But Dindi has a plan.
AN EXILED WARRIOR...
Kavio is the most powerful warrior-dancer in Faearth, but when he is exiled from the tribehold for a crime he didn't commit, he decides to shed his old life. If roving cannibals and hexers don't kill him first, this is his chance to escape the shadow of his father's wars and his mother's curse. But when he rescues a young Initiate girl, he finds himself drawn into as deadly a plot as any he left behind. He must decide whether to walk away or fight for her... assuming she would even accept the help of an exile.

REVIEW:

This is the 1st book in a while that I've not be able to finish. I have a 50 page requirement; if I'm not hooked by 50 pages then I move on. And I'm sorry to say that was the case with The Unfinished Song: Initiate by Tara Maya.

I felt like I was reading book two in a series or started in the middle of a book. I was a little lost in the plot line and characters. I don't think there was enough back story given in the beginning of the book and found myself lost in some of the terminology that was used. I needed a glossary for some of the terms that I assume was fae language.

Even though I couldn't get into the book doesn't mean fae fans shouldn't check it out, it's been getting a lot of four star ratings on Amazon and Goodreads. It just wasn't for me.