What do you think?
Rate this book
Neko
The neko are a cat-like race that live separate from humans. When Dharsha, a young neko is captured and enslaved he learns just how cruel humanity can be. Sold to a group of brutal woodsmen, who despise his differences, he becomes less than human, an object for them to sate their frustrations and lust. Only when a passing trapper frees him of their cruel ownership, does he discover that not all humans are evil. And in a new land, he discovers as well, that he can find love and clan with the one man who needs him as much as he is needed.
Hard-core non-con, fetish and bdsm situations.
Hard-core non-con, fetish and bdsm situations.
169 pages, ebook
First published July 21, 2011
23 people are currently reading
943 people want to read
About the author
P.L. Nunn
45 books517 followersaka Pam Nunnally
Main website here, Smashword website here, Lulu website here.
BIO
Obsessive/ compulsive: Very
Artistic: Painfully
Scattered: Very often
Disorganised: Dreadfully
Daydreamer: 90% of the time
Perversion Level: Uncomfortably high
Fuzzy animals: An overabundance of felines
Projects: Too many to name - - even I forget
Main website here, Smashword website here, Lulu website here.
BIO
Obsessive/ compulsive: Very
Artistic: Painfully
Scattered: Very often
Disorganised: Dreadfully
Daydreamer: 90% of the time
Perversion Level: Uncomfortably high
Fuzzy animals: An overabundance of felines
Projects: Too many to name - - even I forget
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
September 8, 2018
Posted at Shelf Inflicted
I would not have read this book if several of my friends have not already read and enjoyed P.L. Nunn’s work. Since I have read many books that explore the darker side of humanity and the evil things people do to each other, I wasn’t going to let a few warnings like, “bestiality, torture, and exaggerated scenes of humiliation, sadism and bondage” scare me away.
In Chapter 1, a young Neko named Dharsha was captured and sold as a pleasure slave. He went through hell with his first few masters until he was sold to a woman who introduced him to pleasures he knew little of. Though she was mostly kind, she would never let Dharsha forget he was just a slave, and he rebelled. His rebellion earned a brutal beating and his sale to five woodsmen who didn’t waste any time showing Dharsha how to behave like a proper slave.
I read this chapter just before going to bed and had a dream that I had a Neko of my own. Like the Neko in the story, he was a young man with feline characteristics such as tail, claws and tufted ears. He was sitting in my father’s favorite chair drinking a tall glass of Coke while I was sitting on the couch with my grandmother across the way. My father comes home unexpectedly, and my grandmother and I race to the kitchen, leaving the Neko sitting quietly. From the kitchen we can hear glass break, and my father shouting about cat hairs on his chair. Then he proceeded to beat the Neko until he howled. When I came out of the kitchen to beg my dad to leave him alone, my dad started pounding on me for referring to the Neko as a “him” and not as an “it”. I remember waking up and thinking that this author must have some serious issues with men and cats.
Chapters 2 through 7 nauseated me with the relentless torture, physical and sexual humiliation, and deprivations Dharsha endures with the five woodsmen. It took me a couple of days to read these chapters, as they were too much, even for me. I then had a dream that my former boss called me into work (after I was laid off) because he couldn’t find any of the employee files. When I arrived at the office, I saw the file cabinet drawers were open and my former office was a shambles. The files were nowhere to be found. My boss then grabbed me, bent me over the desk, tied my arms over my head, pulled my pants down, and took a switch to my bare ass. By this stage, the Neko’s spirit was so broken and my feelings so numb that nothing that happened next could have shocked me. So I kept reading.
In the next chapter, a trapper comes to the woodsmen’s cabin wishing to spend a night or two in the stable while his horse recovers from injury. Neko reveals the woodsmen’s plans for the trapper and the two make their escape.
Though Dharsha is relieved to be away from his brutal masters, it takes some time for him to adjust to his freedom. Gradually, his feline senses become more attuned, his claws grow back and he demonstrates skill as a hunter. These skills become useful when the trapper’s life becomes endangered.
It was a pleasure watching Dharsha grow and change, though I wish more of the story would have been devoted to his adjustment to his new life and his developing relationship with Caled, the trapper, rather than the brutality he endured.
I suspect this is the most violent of P.L. Nunn’s works and will read another of the author’s stories, just not right away.
I would not have read this book if several of my friends have not already read and enjoyed P.L. Nunn’s work. Since I have read many books that explore the darker side of humanity and the evil things people do to each other, I wasn’t going to let a few warnings like, “bestiality, torture, and exaggerated scenes of humiliation, sadism and bondage” scare me away.
In Chapter 1, a young Neko named Dharsha was captured and sold as a pleasure slave. He went through hell with his first few masters until he was sold to a woman who introduced him to pleasures he knew little of. Though she was mostly kind, she would never let Dharsha forget he was just a slave, and he rebelled. His rebellion earned a brutal beating and his sale to five woodsmen who didn’t waste any time showing Dharsha how to behave like a proper slave.
I read this chapter just before going to bed and had a dream that I had a Neko of my own. Like the Neko in the story, he was a young man with feline characteristics such as tail, claws and tufted ears. He was sitting in my father’s favorite chair drinking a tall glass of Coke while I was sitting on the couch with my grandmother across the way. My father comes home unexpectedly, and my grandmother and I race to the kitchen, leaving the Neko sitting quietly. From the kitchen we can hear glass break, and my father shouting about cat hairs on his chair. Then he proceeded to beat the Neko until he howled. When I came out of the kitchen to beg my dad to leave him alone, my dad started pounding on me for referring to the Neko as a “him” and not as an “it”. I remember waking up and thinking that this author must have some serious issues with men and cats.
Chapters 2 through 7 nauseated me with the relentless torture, physical and sexual humiliation, and deprivations Dharsha endures with the five woodsmen. It took me a couple of days to read these chapters, as they were too much, even for me. I then had a dream that my former boss called me into work (after I was laid off) because he couldn’t find any of the employee files. When I arrived at the office, I saw the file cabinet drawers were open and my former office was a shambles. The files were nowhere to be found. My boss then grabbed me, bent me over the desk, tied my arms over my head, pulled my pants down, and took a switch to my bare ass. By this stage, the Neko’s spirit was so broken and my feelings so numb that nothing that happened next could have shocked me. So I kept reading.
In the next chapter, a trapper comes to the woodsmen’s cabin wishing to spend a night or two in the stable while his horse recovers from injury. Neko reveals the woodsmen’s plans for the trapper and the two make their escape.
Though Dharsha is relieved to be away from his brutal masters, it takes some time for him to adjust to his freedom. Gradually, his feline senses become more attuned, his claws grow back and he demonstrates skill as a hunter. These skills become useful when the trapper’s life becomes endangered.
It was a pleasure watching Dharsha grow and change, though I wish more of the story would have been devoted to his adjustment to his new life and his developing relationship with Caled, the trapper, rather than the brutality he endured.
I suspect this is the most violent of P.L. Nunn’s works and will read another of the author’s stories, just not right away.
January 11, 2016
If you are not into non-con, physical abuse or manimal sex, this book is better left alone.
*
I scrolled through some new reviews and can't stop wondering - WHY? Why do people ignore warnings and tags and decide to read the book anyway?
Peeps! READ THE TAGS! Don't start the book, unless you think you are OK with all that's listed in the warnings! It's not fair to the author and/or the book. I don't like ghost stories or m-preg, so I don't read them, hence no unfair one star ratings, no "bleach for my eyes". Simple.
*
I scrolled through some new reviews and can't stop wondering - WHY? Why do people ignore warnings and tags and decide to read the book anyway?
Peeps! READ THE TAGS! Don't start the book, unless you think you are OK with all that's listed in the warnings! It's not fair to the author and/or the book. I don't like ghost stories or m-preg, so I don't read them, hence no unfair one star ratings, no "bleach for my eyes". Simple.
May 28, 2014
How I felt when I got to the scene with the dog.
I instantly wiped the book off my computer. I'm sick, but not THAT sick. The line has been drawn.
Bestiality this side...
...me this side and never shall cross again.
GROSS! DISGUSTING! WRONG!
I feel violated having read this.
I instantly wiped the book off my computer. I'm sick, but not THAT sick. The line has been drawn.
Bestiality this side...
...me this side and never shall cross again.
GROSS! DISGUSTING! WRONG!
I feel violated having read this.
November 20, 2012
READ THE DESCRIPTION! DANGER AHEAD, WILL ROBINSON!!
As my predecssors metioned in their reviews, read the blurb and seriously don't read this if ANY of them are not your thing.
Don't try to think you'll get over it.
You probably won't.
Don't try to force yourself to read it.
You won't like it.
It's one of those reads that make or break you.
Heed the warnings!
That being said, I read this in less than 24 hours. And kudos to P.L. Nunn because you got dark really quick and pretty constantly (graphic, extremely dark). I actually had to disconnect myself while reading a number of scenes.
But they were necessary in appreciating Dharsha.
And comparing the suffering it's only 8 chapters out of the 20. I am happy to say it's a HEA after all of that.
As my predecssors metioned in their reviews, read the blurb and seriously don't read this if ANY of them are not your thing.
Don't try to think you'll get over it.
You probably won't.
Don't try to force yourself to read it.
You won't like it.
It's one of those reads that make or break you.
Heed the warnings!
That being said, I read this in less than 24 hours. And kudos to P.L. Nunn because you got dark really quick and pretty constantly (graphic, extremely dark). I actually had to disconnect myself while reading a number of scenes.
But they were necessary in appreciating Dharsha.
And comparing the suffering it's only 8 chapters out of the 20. I am happy to say it's a HEA after all of that.
October 13, 2015
Yea I did this... I was too curious not too. So blah blah blah WARNINGS blah blah.
So yea the first half was all torture and sex, however it didn't particularly affect me, I think because the torture started straight away I didn't really have time to connect or care about Dharsha. There was just no reference to him being free so it was hard to care deeply about his situation. Obviously it was terrible but I could read it fairly detached.
Then the change in story with Caled and it was nice to see someone care for Dharsha, but that story was sort of boring and honestly the thing that annoyed me the most was that most of the sex was at the beginning with the rapists, there was only one hand job with Caled. The lack of sex wasn't even really to do with trauma from the abuse, it just didn't fit into the adventure.
Anyway it was good and interesting to push my boundaries. Not sure I could handle it with characters I really cared about (which was probably why Bloodraven affected me more), but who knows *shrugs*. It was free which is probably why its 3 and not 2 stars, also I did read this straight after Bloodraven, which I loved so the rating is probably lower because of the comparisons as well.
So yea the first half was all torture and sex, however it didn't particularly affect me, I think because the torture started straight away I didn't really have time to connect or care about Dharsha. There was just no reference to him being free so it was hard to care deeply about his situation. Obviously it was terrible but I could read it fairly detached.
Then the change in story with Caled and it was nice to see someone care for Dharsha, but that story was sort of boring and honestly the thing that annoyed me the most was that most of the sex was at the beginning with the rapists, there was only one hand job with Caled. The lack of sex wasn't even really to do with trauma from the abuse, it just didn't fit into the adventure.
Anyway it was good and interesting to push my boundaries. Not sure I could handle it with characters I really cared about (which was probably why Bloodraven affected me more), but who knows *shrugs*. It was free which is probably why its 3 and not 2 stars, also I did read this straight after Bloodraven, which I loved so the rating is probably lower because of the comparisons as well.
May 30, 2018
3.5 Stars
I had a hard time deciding how to rate this one because, while I don't approve of censorship, I can definitely see why Amazon et al won't sell this book. It's one thing to read about partially shifted Weres and whatnot having sex with human(ish) characters, and another thing entirely for it to be with . Not sure I want to read about it ever again, honestly.
I did like the ending, a lot. I loved how Dharsha came into his own, grew into the "hunter" type of neko that he yearned to be as a youngling - and all it took was to have a clan of his own to protect and fight for. I wasn't so sure about the POV change there at 75% but I'm definitely sure that part of the story had to be told by Caled; I was interested in his background, in why he spent his life in solitude, up in the mountains, and I'm glad we found out. Would have liked more of the story, but not sure a flashback would have worked so what we did get was enough.
If PLN has any plans to write about Dharsha & Caled's adventures in this other land they're forced to flee into...well, I'd totally read it. So long as there wasn't any of that bit I said up there I'd rather not read about, probably ever again.
I had a hard time deciding how to rate this one because, while I don't approve of censorship, I can definitely see why Amazon et al won't sell this book. It's one thing to read about partially shifted Weres and whatnot having sex with human(ish) characters, and another thing entirely for it to be with . Not sure I want to read about it ever again, honestly.
I did like the ending, a lot. I loved how Dharsha came into his own, grew into the "hunter" type of neko that he yearned to be as a youngling - and all it took was to have a clan of his own to protect and fight for. I wasn't so sure about the POV change there at 75% but I'm definitely sure that part of the story had to be told by Caled; I was interested in his background, in why he spent his life in solitude, up in the mountains, and I'm glad we found out. Would have liked more of the story, but not sure a flashback would have worked so what we did get was enough.
If PLN has any plans to write about Dharsha & Caled's adventures in this other land they're forced to flee into...well, I'd totally read it. So long as there wasn't any of that bit I said up there I'd rather not read about, probably ever again.
February 8, 2022
why you gotta ruin dogs like that for me
March 5, 2015
WARNING: This book includes non-con, torture, humiliation, bestiality & violence.
WOW, UMMM, EWWW, ICK, OWIE, YAY, BLAH, BLAH, SERIOUSLY!
*Picking my jaw up off the floor*
Did I really just like that?! I think i might have. :)
I'm shocked with the fact that I found myself turning page after page in the beginning, not able to look away...like it was an accident of some kind! So why after things started looking up for The Neko, did I find myself a bit bored with the story...maybe I do have more of a DM than I once thought!
I'm gonna give this 3.5 stars.
I really have no idea what else to say about this book, so I'm not gonna try. If you wanna know something specific, feel free to ask and I'll try to answer without spoilers (unless you don't mind them).
WOW, UMMM, EWWW, ICK, OWIE, YAY, BLAH, BLAH, SERIOUSLY!
*Picking my jaw up off the floor*
Did I really just like that?! I think i might have. :)
I'm shocked with the fact that I found myself turning page after page in the beginning, not able to look away...like it was an accident of some kind! So why after things started looking up for The Neko, did I find myself a bit bored with the story...maybe I do have more of a DM than I once thought!
I'm gonna give this 3.5 stars.
I really have no idea what else to say about this book, so I'm not gonna try. If you wanna know something specific, feel free to ask and I'll try to answer without spoilers (unless you don't mind them).
Read
April 3, 2011I don't know how to rate this, so I won't.
I've wanted to read this for a while but waited until it was finished. The reviews that urge caution before reading Neko should be taken seriously. Everyone has limits, kinky or vanilla and this pushed A LOT of mine....and I have VERY FEW limits. The first 127 pages are fucking HELL. They will make you angry, sick to your stomach and test your countenance. The story does get kinder after that but there isn't a balance. I wanted Dharsha to have his spectacular moment of triumph and vengeance like Yhalen in Bloodraven I yearned for a balance between torture and resilience but there was none. What little transcendence and fleeting joy Dharsha experienced was too little too late for me. Nonetheless Pam Nunn knows how to write dark paranormal fiction; she knows how to pull the reader into her twisted imagination and stoke your curiosity while making you uncomfortable. If that's your thing Neko is for you and happy reading. I initially categorized this as M/M bdsm before reading it. In my humble opinion Neko should be categorized as noncon or slavery fiction and NOT BDSM. of course I know there is often overlap between these two worlds but I feel viscerally and psychologically discomforted by viewing Neko as BDSM. Umm yeah I could say more but I'm buttoning my trap. REad it for yourself; it's FREE!
I've wanted to read this for a while but waited until it was finished. The reviews that urge caution before reading Neko should be taken seriously. Everyone has limits, kinky or vanilla and this pushed A LOT of mine....and I have VERY FEW limits. The first 127 pages are fucking HELL. They will make you angry, sick to your stomach and test your countenance. The story does get kinder after that but there isn't a balance. I wanted Dharsha to have his spectacular moment of triumph and vengeance like Yhalen in Bloodraven I yearned for a balance between torture and resilience but there was none. What little transcendence and fleeting joy Dharsha experienced was too little too late for me. Nonetheless Pam Nunn knows how to write dark paranormal fiction; she knows how to pull the reader into her twisted imagination and stoke your curiosity while making you uncomfortable. If that's your thing Neko is for you and happy reading. I initially categorized this as M/M bdsm before reading it. In my humble opinion Neko should be categorized as noncon or slavery fiction and NOT BDSM. of course I know there is often overlap between these two worlds but I feel viscerally and psychologically discomforted by viewing Neko as BDSM. Umm yeah I could say more but I'm buttoning my trap. REad it for yourself; it's FREE!
May 15, 2011
3,5 stars.
Cruel,nasty and extremely sadistic.Just for hard-assed readers!
Take the warnings seriously or you`re marred for life...
Cruel,nasty and extremely sadistic.Just for hard-assed readers!
Take the warnings seriously or you`re marred for life...
October 20, 2012
No holds barred with this book! Its sadistic and brutal and I loved it!
April 2, 2011
3.5 stars
It's pretty well written, though the prose is a bit on the pedestrian side. The cruelty got repetitive even for me--and that's saying a lot ;-p The villains kind of spent the whole story twirling their mustaches. The ending was so abrupt I was trying to flip the page on my Kindle and couldn't figure out why it wasn't working.
I realize those are all negative things, but I actually did rather enjoy this story. Plus, it's free, which is great. God knows it pushed all my kinkarific buttons and pushed them hard :D And once the Neko was free, the story got really compelling really fast. His traveling companion was by far the most fleshed-out and interesting character in the whole book. I'd love to read more about them as a couple.
It's pretty well written, though the prose is a bit on the pedestrian side. The cruelty got repetitive even for me--and that's saying a lot ;-p The villains kind of spent the whole story twirling their mustaches. The ending was so abrupt I was trying to flip the page on my Kindle and couldn't figure out why it wasn't working.
I realize those are all negative things, but I actually did rather enjoy this story. Plus, it's free, which is great. God knows it pushed all my kinkarific buttons and pushed them hard :D And once the Neko was free, the story got really compelling really fast. His traveling companion was by far the most fleshed-out and interesting character in the whole book. I'd love to read more about them as a couple.
June 8, 2012
Hmmm...it goes with out saying, DON'T ignore the warnings.
This is a disturbing book. Beyond the sadism and humiliation, which are unrelenting and extreme, there is the colonial rhetoric validating slavery via the subversion of Darwin's "Origin of Species". I found this to be far more agonizing, the debasement of a race and alleged superiority of another. That said, I reaffirmed some of my personal limits painfully.
Some say that the violence is gratuitous, but I disagree. It actually forces the reader to enter the character's arc whether you wanted to or not. Time after time I said, well, it can't get any worse than that and it does--But to prove a point. It mentally breaks you in the same way Dharsha is broken. You realize that you are hoping that it goes too far just to free Dharsha; death becomes the alluring beacon in the darkness.
If you can make it through the first ten chapters, good luck, then the story turns. Here is my frustration, the second half isn't an end. Dharsha's character arc is not completed, merely just turning a point. I don't need vengeance, but I do need the transit to be complete and that doesn't happen. Following Dharsha's path, the reader is incomplete and it is unsatisfying. Aargh!
Rating is difficult. I want to give 5 points for forcing me to acknowledge reality, 4 points for characterizations, and 2 points for the incomplete story. I'm going to use math and just leave it at 3 stars since I don't round up.
The ending is so abrupt it really does beg for a sequel. I also agree with others that this is a slave story and not BDSM, even though there are acts one associates with it.
Favorite quote:
Ch. 10
But it was a different sort of shame than what he was used to. Not the sort that made him want to slit his wrists, but the sort that made him desperately want to do better. That made him desperately want to impress this man and prove his worth.
This is a disturbing book. Beyond the sadism and humiliation, which are unrelenting and extreme, there is the colonial rhetoric validating slavery via the subversion of Darwin's "Origin of Species". I found this to be far more agonizing, the debasement of a race and alleged superiority of another. That said, I reaffirmed some of my personal limits painfully.
Some say that the violence is gratuitous, but I disagree. It actually forces the reader to enter the character's arc whether you wanted to or not. Time after time I said, well, it can't get any worse than that and it does--But to prove a point. It mentally breaks you in the same way Dharsha is broken. You realize that you are hoping that it goes too far just to free Dharsha; death becomes the alluring beacon in the darkness.
If you can make it through the first ten chapters, good luck, then the story turns. Here is my frustration, the second half isn't an end. Dharsha's character arc is not completed, merely just turning a point. I don't need vengeance, but I do need the transit to be complete and that doesn't happen. Following Dharsha's path, the reader is incomplete and it is unsatisfying. Aargh!
Rating is difficult. I want to give 5 points for forcing me to acknowledge reality, 4 points for characterizations, and 2 points for the incomplete story. I'm going to use math and just leave it at 3 stars since I don't round up.
The ending is so abrupt it really does beg for a sequel. I also agree with others that this is a slave story and not BDSM, even though there are acts one associates with it.
Favorite quote:
Ch. 10
But it was a different sort of shame than what he was used to. Not the sort that made him want to slit his wrists, but the sort that made him desperately want to do better. That made him desperately want to impress this man and prove his worth.
June 29, 2012
This was an awesome book. It's harsh but right up my alley. :)
February 2, 2015
Awesome story.
May 15, 2011
Hmm. This story was only recently completed, so it's been awhile since I've read the bulk of it.
The first 10 chapters are pretty rough. All the warnings you see, you should take to heart. Torture, cruelty, bestiality, gratuitous violence and extreme humiliation...it goes pretty much non-stop for the first 50% of this story. It was hard for me to read, I'm not gonna lie, but I got through it with the expectation that the story was going somewhere better...that the fantasy world and storyline would be further developed and expanded beyond the narrow confines of the cabin in which the Neko is tortured. Unfortunately, that never really happens to my satisfaction.
I don't want to give too much away, but things start to get exciting (and better for the Neko) at Chapter 11. At the time, I thought to myself, "Now the story will really get started." Eh. Not so much. Don't get me wrong, I liked the last 10 chapters MUCH more than the first 10. The story picked up, and I thought we were really getting somewhere. But unfortunately, it kinda fizzles out at the end. To be honest, I got the feeling that the author was having trouble figuring out where to go with the story or perhaps just trouble wanting to go anywhere further with the story. So instead of the story taking off, as I had expected, it just sorta...stops.
Ultimately, I appreciate that the author managed to "complete" the story instead of leaving it unfinished like so many other slash authors might do...but at the same time, I can't help but feel disappointed that it didn't go any further. And unfortunately, I think a lot of people who have issues with all the sexual torture won't be able to see past that when it takes up such a huge percentage of the book.
The first 10 chapters are pretty rough. All the warnings you see, you should take to heart. Torture, cruelty, bestiality, gratuitous violence and extreme humiliation...it goes pretty much non-stop for the first 50% of this story. It was hard for me to read, I'm not gonna lie, but I got through it with the expectation that the story was going somewhere better...that the fantasy world and storyline would be further developed and expanded beyond the narrow confines of the cabin in which the Neko is tortured. Unfortunately, that never really happens to my satisfaction.
I don't want to give too much away, but things start to get exciting (and better for the Neko) at Chapter 11. At the time, I thought to myself, "Now the story will really get started." Eh. Not so much. Don't get me wrong, I liked the last 10 chapters MUCH more than the first 10. The story picked up, and I thought we were really getting somewhere. But unfortunately, it kinda fizzles out at the end. To be honest, I got the feeling that the author was having trouble figuring out where to go with the story or perhaps just trouble wanting to go anywhere further with the story. So instead of the story taking off, as I had expected, it just sorta...stops.
Ultimately, I appreciate that the author managed to "complete" the story instead of leaving it unfinished like so many other slash authors might do...but at the same time, I can't help but feel disappointed that it didn't go any further. And unfortunately, I think a lot of people who have issues with all the sexual torture won't be able to see past that when it takes up such a huge percentage of the book.
Read
January 3, 2017what have i done.
November 26, 2015
So, I'm a little worried that I'm giving this four stars, based on what the first 8 chapters read like, but I guess that's what the DMC (Depraved Minds Club) is all about.
First I have to say that the 20 chapters are basically two stories, depending on where your interests lay. The first 8 chapters deal with Dharsha's sale to a group of five woodsmen, who are tasked with 'breaking him' and teaching his place as a true slave. And boy, do they! Do yourself a favor and heed the warnings. This book is not for the squeamish, faint-hearted or uninitiated. Having said that, I didn't find it that difficult to read because the author has a very light and easy-to-read writing style. I was able to read this as a somewhat detached observer, as opposed to other authors with more dense styles that make me feel like my skin is too tight for my body and my heart is pounding with every blow of the punishment.
Just note that there is bestiality here. I refuse to add a shelf for it on my bookshelves because I don't plan on ever reading another book involving an animal EVER AGAIN. It was disgusting. The only thing that tided me over was that the Neko are a cat-like race and Dharsha does have a tail and floppy ears. Had he been a full fledged human teenager it would have been a no go. Small consolation, but hey I took what I could to get through it.
So, the first 8 chapters are pretty horrific. But then a lone fur trapper comes knocking for shelter in a snow storm. Enter Caden. Swwooooon. LOVE HIM. This is where the story veers off. If, like me, this was a character driven story for you, then you will be happy about the change of pace here as things make a complete 180 for Dharsha and he is able to reclaim his life, rediscover his self worth and truly learn to love. If you were more in the mood for the pain/bondage/non con aspect, the last 12 chapters may be less than satisfying to you. I loved them. I loved that Dharsha came into his own and regained his self esteem and I loved that Caden came to value his expertise as well. Their journey to each other was well paced and the first time their lips touched I was in heaven.
All in all, this was a good read. I loved it because I got everything I needed out of it, and the main thing I need in stories, even pain-focused and non-con ones, is development. I can handle the rape, torture etc etc if there is an end in sight and the characters move past it to fully develop. I got that here. The ending was good; die-hard HEA lovers may want more. I, myself, would LOVE a sequel about them. Solid 4 stars. Glad I read it.
First I have to say that the 20 chapters are basically two stories, depending on where your interests lay. The first 8 chapters deal with Dharsha's sale to a group of five woodsmen, who are tasked with 'breaking him' and teaching his place as a true slave. And boy, do they! Do yourself a favor and heed the warnings. This book is not for the squeamish, faint-hearted or uninitiated. Having said that, I didn't find it that difficult to read because the author has a very light and easy-to-read writing style. I was able to read this as a somewhat detached observer, as opposed to other authors with more dense styles that make me feel like my skin is too tight for my body and my heart is pounding with every blow of the punishment.
Just note that there is bestiality here. I refuse to add a shelf for it on my bookshelves because I don't plan on ever reading another book involving an animal EVER AGAIN. It was disgusting. The only thing that tided me over was that the Neko are a cat-like race and Dharsha does have a tail and floppy ears. Had he been a full fledged human teenager it would have been a no go. Small consolation, but hey I took what I could to get through it.
So, the first 8 chapters are pretty horrific. But then a lone fur trapper comes knocking for shelter in a snow storm. Enter Caden. Swwooooon. LOVE HIM. This is where the story veers off. If, like me, this was a character driven story for you, then you will be happy about the change of pace here as things make a complete 180 for Dharsha and he is able to reclaim his life, rediscover his self worth and truly learn to love. If you were more in the mood for the pain/bondage/non con aspect, the last 12 chapters may be less than satisfying to you. I loved them. I loved that Dharsha came into his own and regained his self esteem and I loved that Caden came to value his expertise as well. Their journey to each other was well paced and the first time their lips touched I was in heaven.
All in all, this was a good read. I loved it because I got everything I needed out of it, and the main thing I need in stories, even pain-focused and non-con ones, is development. I can handle the rape, torture etc etc if there is an end in sight and the characters move past it to fully develop. I got that here. The ending was good; die-hard HEA lovers may want more. I, myself, would LOVE a sequel about them. Solid 4 stars. Glad I read it.
May 7, 2011
OH GOD DAMN IT!!! AHHHH WHY WHY?!?!? WHAT THE HELL!!! DUDE THERE'S BESTIALITY IN THIS BOOK!!!!
AHHH MY EYES!!!!
Essentially a dog raped this guy....ewww
the problem isn't just the dog rape, it's the fact that this torture scene drags on and on and on taken up most of the book. Whereas the previous book like Bloodraven only had torture as a small part....I don't understand why this one is just torture and torture and torture.....at least in bloodraven the halfling felt certain love and protection toward the fae
AHHH MY EYES!!!!
Essentially a dog raped this guy....ewww
the problem isn't just the dog rape, it's the fact that this torture scene drags on and on and on taken up most of the book. Whereas the previous book like Bloodraven only had torture as a small part....I don't understand why this one is just torture and torture and torture.....at least in bloodraven the halfling felt certain love and protection toward the fae
February 14, 2013
This is more like 3.5*
This book felt very curious, as if it had been glued together using two different books. First half was non-stop extremely boring, extremely extreme sadism--the second half was an m/m adventure story with even some romance thrown in. Occasionally parts were erotic, most times not. The second half was quite engaging plot-wise. What really miffed me was the fact that this book was rather badly edited. I'll be intrigued into reading more from this author, but I hope her other works are more homogenous.
This book felt very curious, as if it had been glued together using two different books. First half was non-stop extremely boring, extremely extreme sadism--the second half was an m/m adventure story with even some romance thrown in. Occasionally parts were erotic, most times not. The second half was quite engaging plot-wise. What really miffed me was the fact that this book was rather badly edited. I'll be intrigued into reading more from this author, but I hope her other works are more homogenous.
February 11, 2014
3.5 stars
The first half was brutal, and the second half seemed a bit slow. It's definitely in need of editing, but the story is pretty good.
Dharsha's progression from rebellious slave to completely and utterly broken animal, then is very well done. I'd like to have seen more development of his relationship with Caled though.
I was in the mood for something difficult to handle, and this worked nicely.
The first half was brutal, and the second half seemed a bit slow. It's definitely in need of editing, but the story is pretty good.
Dharsha's progression from rebellious slave to completely and utterly broken animal, then is very well done. I'd like to have seen more development of his relationship with Caled though.
I was in the mood for something difficult to handle, and this worked nicely.
January 1, 2015
Oh, God.
Very gruesome, but also difficult to abandon. I found the abuse scenes hard to get through, but P.L.Nunn is a fantastic writer, and I knew there would be more to the story than sickening torture.
Like all Nunn's stories, I wanted another couple of chapters at the end, just to ease my mind, but you are left with just a whisp of hope.
Very gruesome, but also difficult to abandon. I found the abuse scenes hard to get through, but P.L.Nunn is a fantastic writer, and I knew there would be more to the story than sickening torture.
Like all Nunn's stories, I wanted another couple of chapters at the end, just to ease my mind, but you are left with just a whisp of hope.
November 3, 2012
Review to follow...
October 20, 2013
I don't really know how to begin, so let me just say this: I was so disappointed.
The summary sounded pretty nice, and though the tags promised some freaky content, I decided to give it a shot. But then...
Well, the violence wasn't even what bothered me. Sure, there was rape and torture and lots of nasty stuff, but I can handle that well enough. And it didn't really make me sick or anything... no, what happened was much worse than that.
The detailed descriptions of rape and torture that went on for page after page after page... bored me. They bored me. Instead of empathizing with Dharsha (the neko), after the first few times, I was just like "oh, they're at it again... uh-huh, okay... ah, the dog's there too... does this even have any kind of plot?... oh well, it can only get better". I became numb to the gore that was supposed to shock me, however horrible it may sound. It felt unoriginal, boring, and repetitive.
That aside, while Nunn came up with all kinds of ways to hurt a person, none of them left any marks. Please, don't tell me that putting a red-hot poker to the soles of someone's feet will not leave any marks. Don't tell me that whipping someone until they bleed will not result in any permanent scars. Don't tell me that whipping or burning someone's genitalia is not particularly harmful. I am a girl and therefore do not have any first-hand experience with burns on penises, I imagine that you would not very easily get an erection when the burns have just "scabbed". I recall having burned my finger once, just a little, as I was trying to light a candle. I immediately extinguished the match, so the burn wasn't particularly bad (unlike the ones Dharsha and Caled must have had after being tortured rather lengthily with a poker), but it hurt pretty bad. I admit that I'm a bit of a wuss, but still. Anyway, I imagine that having a second- or third-degree burn on your privates must feel rather awful, especially if you are wearing clothes and/or riding a horse (I am, of course, willing to accept real-life experiences that prove my opinion wrong. If you've ever set your privates on fire and felt that it didn't really affect your virility, please tell me and I'll change this review accordingly). Long story short, from a medical POV (and I'm not really anything medic-ish), those parts of the story just sounded really really unbelievable and kind of Mary-Sue-ish. LOOK AT MY CHARACTER WHOSE SKIN IS SOFT AS A BABY'S BOTTOM EVEN AFTER ALL THAT VIOLENCE. Dharsha's emotional recovery seemed kind of quick, too, but oh well...
The story seemed kind of rushed, too. After chapters upon chapters of seemingly endless gore, the actual plot (or whatever you want to call it) was kind of... well, rushed. It was over way too fast and lacked any kind of depth. The beginning was nice, but the end was just... lacking, somehow.
To sum it all up: I had expected more. "Neko" seemed like some kind of thrown-together "'Torture 101' meets 'Generic mushy happy ends'". With lots of editing (starting with spelling and grammar, but mostly focusing on the plot) this story might actually be good. The basics are there. The general idea is rather promising, but all in all, the story didn't convince me.
The summary sounded pretty nice, and though the tags promised some freaky content, I decided to give it a shot. But then...
Well, the violence wasn't even what bothered me. Sure, there was rape and torture and lots of nasty stuff, but I can handle that well enough. And it didn't really make me sick or anything... no, what happened was much worse than that.
The detailed descriptions of rape and torture that went on for page after page after page... bored me. They bored me. Instead of empathizing with Dharsha (the neko), after the first few times, I was just like "oh, they're at it again... uh-huh, okay... ah, the dog's there too... does this even have any kind of plot?... oh well, it can only get better". I became numb to the gore that was supposed to shock me, however horrible it may sound. It felt unoriginal, boring, and repetitive.
That aside, while Nunn came up with all kinds of ways to hurt a person, none of them left any marks. Please, don't tell me that putting a red-hot poker to the soles of someone's feet will not leave any marks. Don't tell me that whipping someone until they bleed will not result in any permanent scars. Don't tell me that whipping or burning someone's genitalia is not particularly harmful. I am a girl and therefore do not have any first-hand experience with burns on penises, I imagine that you would not very easily get an erection when the burns have just "scabbed". I recall having burned my finger once, just a little, as I was trying to light a candle. I immediately extinguished the match, so the burn wasn't particularly bad (unlike the ones Dharsha and Caled must have had after being tortured rather lengthily with a poker), but it hurt pretty bad. I admit that I'm a bit of a wuss, but still. Anyway, I imagine that having a second- or third-degree burn on your privates must feel rather awful, especially if you are wearing clothes and/or riding a horse (I am, of course, willing to accept real-life experiences that prove my opinion wrong. If you've ever set your privates on fire and felt that it didn't really affect your virility, please tell me and I'll change this review accordingly). Long story short, from a medical POV (and I'm not really anything medic-ish), those parts of the story just sounded really really unbelievable and kind of Mary-Sue-ish. LOOK AT MY CHARACTER WHOSE SKIN IS SOFT AS A BABY'S BOTTOM EVEN AFTER ALL THAT VIOLENCE. Dharsha's emotional recovery seemed kind of quick, too, but oh well...
The story seemed kind of rushed, too. After chapters upon chapters of seemingly endless gore, the actual plot (or whatever you want to call it) was kind of... well, rushed. It was over way too fast and lacked any kind of depth. The beginning was nice, but the end was just... lacking, somehow.
To sum it all up: I had expected more. "Neko" seemed like some kind of thrown-together "'Torture 101' meets 'Generic mushy happy ends'". With lots of editing (starting with spelling and grammar, but mostly focusing on the plot) this story might actually be good. The basics are there. The general idea is rather promising, but all in all, the story didn't convince me.
July 3, 2012
Paraphrasing a very well-known introduction to a show with a rabid following, this story brings the following to mind:
"To boldly go where few have dared to tread..."
-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&
Hmmm... Beware of the warnings, they all apply, many times over. If you're still intrigued enough to consider reading, here's my thoughts on the book.
It seems to me that, somewhere around 3/4s of writing it, the author fell out of love with the story and characters. Sad, sad, sad. It could have been just as good or better than Bloodraven.
The lack of significant interaction between the MCs themselves and secondary characters is the cause for the "tunnel vision" feel of the story. There's more than anybody wants to know about the woodcutters with Dharsha, but there's barely anything between Dharsha and Caled or even Caled with anybody else. The reader doesn't get to know the MCs beyond what they think, only their internal POV.
Then there's the hints that go nowhere. Why spend 50% of the book telling us about Dharsha's harrowing experience, then hint of something similar in Caled's past but not tell us anything at all about it? In my case, the result is that I ended up very much invested in Dharsha, but couldn't really care much about Caled. Oh and there was such potential and promise in the few scenes between Caled and his brother!
The feeling of isolation and something missing is also intensified by the lack of development of the universe where they exist, the background story for the story itself. The ending is only the expected result of the above. There's little else could have been done, if there wasn't a willingness to explore and expand all of it.
Yet, I rated it at 4 stars. Why? Because it takes guts to go where P.L. Nunn went. I admire guts and originality. And because, with all of the issues described above, once I started reading, it grabbed me by the throat and didn't let go until the end. That's entertainment!
"To boldly go where few have dared to tread..."
-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&
Hmmm... Beware of the warnings, they all apply, many times over. If you're still intrigued enough to consider reading, here's my thoughts on the book.
It seems to me that, somewhere around 3/4s of writing it, the author fell out of love with the story and characters. Sad, sad, sad. It could have been just as good or better than Bloodraven.
The lack of significant interaction between the MCs themselves and secondary characters is the cause for the "tunnel vision" feel of the story. There's more than anybody wants to know about the woodcutters with Dharsha, but there's barely anything between Dharsha and Caled or even Caled with anybody else. The reader doesn't get to know the MCs beyond what they think, only their internal POV.
Then there's the hints that go nowhere. Why spend 50% of the book telling us about Dharsha's harrowing experience, then hint of something similar in Caled's past but not tell us anything at all about it? In my case, the result is that I ended up very much invested in Dharsha, but couldn't really care much about Caled. Oh and there was such potential and promise in the few scenes between Caled and his brother!
The feeling of isolation and something missing is also intensified by the lack of development of the universe where they exist, the background story for the story itself. The ending is only the expected result of the above. There's little else could have been done, if there wasn't a willingness to explore and expand all of it.
Yet, I rated it at 4 stars. Why? Because it takes guts to go where P.L. Nunn went. I admire guts and originality. And because, with all of the issues described above, once I started reading, it grabbed me by the throat and didn't let go until the end. That's entertainment!
March 30, 2015
Well, this was different… Despite the many horrible reviews and ratings this story has received, I mostly enjoyed it, both parts. Most readers seemed to prefer either the violent beginning or the slow-growing romance towards the end. Being a strange person, I enjoyed both parts.
That being said, there were certainly moments that made me ill. The warnings didn’t deter me from reading this story. In fact, they encouraged me cause that’s just the way I am. I was one of those kids that would touch the stove after being told it was hot. For people with more sense than me, the warnings should be taken seriously. They are not a minor part of the story.
I handled the violence and abuse okay. I mean, I was disgusted by the woodsmen, of course, but I was able to read it. The parts that really nauseated me were the dog parts and what they tried to feed poor Dharsha. Many of those parts made me physically ill. Never again will I overlook a bestiality warning.
With the exception of Dharsha and Caled, the characters were evil, horrible people with no redeeming qualities. I thought it was rather unfortunate that Dharsha never got to dig his claws into the woodsmen or the lady.
As for Caled, I had my doubts about him, at first. I wasn’t sure he could be what Dharsha needed, but he came through. Two very damaged characters found solace in each other, which was a rather beautiful element to this story of violence and horror. Seeing Dharsha come into his own was a great reward for reading all the sickening parts leading up to it.
That being said, there were certainly moments that made me ill. The warnings didn’t deter me from reading this story. In fact, they encouraged me cause that’s just the way I am. I was one of those kids that would touch the stove after being told it was hot. For people with more sense than me, the warnings should be taken seriously. They are not a minor part of the story.
I handled the violence and abuse okay. I mean, I was disgusted by the woodsmen, of course, but I was able to read it. The parts that really nauseated me were the dog parts and what they tried to feed poor Dharsha. Many of those parts made me physically ill. Never again will I overlook a bestiality warning.
With the exception of Dharsha and Caled, the characters were evil, horrible people with no redeeming qualities. I thought it was rather unfortunate that Dharsha never got to dig his claws into the woodsmen or the lady.
As for Caled, I had my doubts about him, at first. I wasn’t sure he could be what Dharsha needed, but he came through. Two very damaged characters found solace in each other, which was a rather beautiful element to this story of violence and horror. Seeing Dharsha come into his own was a great reward for reading all the sickening parts leading up to it.
March 16, 2015
I read the warnings, but I did not heed them. 'How bad could it be?', I asked myself. 'Pretty fucking bad', is the answer. Not the actual book, which I enjoyed very much, but rather the balls-to-the-wall sadism that is the the first 100 or so pages of this book. And it's not the kind of sadism that has an acronym and a safe word and carefully sterilized equipment. No, fellow readers, this sadism is stripped bare of everything that makes BDSM sexy and is basically just torture porn. But here's the thing, I like this book. I'll say it again: I really, really, liked it (much to my shame). Thing is, P.L. Nunn is a very talented author, she writes with great skill and compassion, but what a dark, dark girl she is. I actually don't want to know how she comes up with this stuff. That said, there's some great back story, too (which might actually have benefitted from some expansion). But if you're in the mood to be skillfully horrified, then this book should do you nicely.
January 2, 2018
Вот так живешь и думаешь, что читал всякое, что тебя не удивить... Да я ведь с удовольствием читала Fallocaust! Чего я там не видела в унижениях и жестокости?!
*нервно курит сигаретку*
Дохуя не видела.
Читайте предупреждения!
Отвратительно и прекрасно. Для знатных извращенцев ;)
*нервно курит сигаретку*
Дохуя не видела.
Читайте предупреждения!
Отвратительно и прекрасно. Для знатных извращенцев ;)
Read
March 22, 2014
I'm always fascinated with who the f✖ck writes this material. That actually intrigues me more than the story itself.
Right. Not my point. But so I was actually unaware this little dude 'Neko' is some sort of hairless half human/cat-tailed mofo until I started reading this.
Now-I don't like to think of myself as being prejudiced of a fictional species but I actually have a hard time stomaching long-haired MCs in my fiction and pretty much DON'T because they make me think of Fabio.
SO-nothing to do with this writing but more or less this is just not in my zone of interest with the half-human/half cat kind of thing.
It just has like zero appeal to me because yes I'm a selfish reader and it's all about my enjoyment.
Yeah. So.
DNF 29%
May 15, 2012
If - like me - you became a huge fan of P.L. Nunn after reading Bloodraven, DO NOT READ THIS! I don't think this is Mrs. Nunn's best work, for I certainly didn't enjoy it nearly to the same degree. It was mindless, for hte most part, built only to horrify you with little to no plot line, the climaxes fizzled, and then the whole thing ended extremely quickly without any sort of focus. While Yhalen and Bloodraven were beautifully fleshed out characters, Darsha and Caled were flat. The whole thing ended just when I was certain she was ready to take off and start the story, frankly, an incredible disappointment. So much could have been done with this! I would have loved if Nunn had gone forward with Darsha, built the romance, fleshed him out as he tried to work through his past and his new life, Bring a second, bigger climax. I mean honestly? I'm sorry, I wish that this hadn't tainted my impression of Nunn's work.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews