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As She's Told
Winner of the National Leather Association's 2008 Pauline Reage Novel Award. Take two caring, thoughtful individuals with some highly unusual sexuality, let their paths cross, and watch how far their obsession takes them. That's the essence of this story about an intense bdsm extreme, loving, creative, steeped in imagination, embedded in the real world. What emerges is a passionate, private sexual reality, in which the balance of power tips only one way. Maia and Anders want nothing less than total power exchange, without games, negotiations or safewords. Any pretence is out of the question; for both of them the power relationship has to be as genuine as it is absolute, but Anders is more than aware of the risks to inexperienced Maia if she should be wrong about what she can handle. Early on, he steers a careful line between games and gobbling her up. His ownership is established step by step through conditioning, painful consequences, humiliation and constant bondage, and before long, Maia finds walking away has become inconceivable. Anders keeps his slave increasingly 'like an animal on a very short tether' something to which she struggles to adjust, in a continuous state of terror and joy His love of technology takes some interesting turns, particularly around orgasm control, teasing and denial. The intensification of Maia's enslavement is balanced by the pair's affection, sense of humour and intelligent conversation, and by the real world of work and friends. Some of these friends become integrated into the menage one way and another, and help Anders create the setting in which Maia's uttermost submission can flower. Graphic BDSM content.
442 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 17, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
May 7, 2012
Wow, this one affected me deeply. This is not a romance or even erotic fiction - this is total power exchange, the dehumanising of a woman to the most base levels by a man who is cruel and relentless.
Maia and Anders are the couple at the heart of the novel, they meet at an online site and then in person and discuss their feelings about the whole master/slave dynamic. Maia and Anders agree that any consent, choice or limits on her behalf make the whole exercise pointless. In this way, Maia gives consent that anything that Anders decides to dish out. I had to reread this part a couple of times to assure myself that Maia wants this because the consent during the rest of the novel is dubious to say the very least.
The important thing to remember when reading this novel, is that Maia chooses this and relishes the security and safety that absolute TPE gives her. If you can't keep this in mind, it's sickening. Anders is brutal and cruel in his attempts to humiliate and dehumanise Maia. He's very creative and relentless and, just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, it truly does.
I'm not going to spoil the plot by telling what goes on but I read this with a fascinated disgust - I couldn't put the book down, I dreamt about it at night and my thoughts drifted continuously towards it when I should have been concentrating on work.
I did get Maia - I had absolutely no empathy with her - but I think I understood her. I never got Anders at all - it really bothered me that he didn't seem to care for Maia or her needs at all but then again, that's what Maia wanted.
I didn't like Anders, I particularly hated his friends and I felt only pity for Maia and her extreme lack of self esteem. She constantly told herself that she was an object and her wants and desires mattered not.
I'd have love to asked the author how she felt about her characters. Did she actually like Maia and Anders - did she intend for us to like them? I'd love to know.
Anyway, it's impossible to read another book like this straight away, I feel vaguely depressed - I'm going to read something romantic or paranormal or both, something where a man loves and cherishes a woman to redeem my faith in mankind.
Maia and Anders are the couple at the heart of the novel, they meet at an online site and then in person and discuss their feelings about the whole master/slave dynamic. Maia and Anders agree that any consent, choice or limits on her behalf make the whole exercise pointless. In this way, Maia gives consent that anything that Anders decides to dish out. I had to reread this part a couple of times to assure myself that Maia wants this because the consent during the rest of the novel is dubious to say the very least.
The important thing to remember when reading this novel, is that Maia chooses this and relishes the security and safety that absolute TPE gives her. If you can't keep this in mind, it's sickening. Anders is brutal and cruel in his attempts to humiliate and dehumanise Maia. He's very creative and relentless and, just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, it truly does.
I'm not going to spoil the plot by telling what goes on but I read this with a fascinated disgust - I couldn't put the book down, I dreamt about it at night and my thoughts drifted continuously towards it when I should have been concentrating on work.
I did get Maia - I had absolutely no empathy with her - but I think I understood her. I never got Anders at all - it really bothered me that he didn't seem to care for Maia or her needs at all but then again, that's what Maia wanted.
I didn't like Anders, I particularly hated his friends and I felt only pity for Maia and her extreme lack of self esteem. She constantly told herself that she was an object and her wants and desires mattered not.
I'd have love to asked the author how she felt about her characters. Did she actually like Maia and Anders - did she intend for us to like them? I'd love to know.
Anyway, it's impossible to read another book like this straight away, I feel vaguely depressed - I'm going to read something romantic or paranormal or both, something where a man loves and cherishes a woman to redeem my faith in mankind.
December 15, 2011
Where to begin...
Obviously, I didn't like the book. If you would like a better option in this Genre check out anything written By Kitty Thomas. She is fantastic.
What I didn't like. This is a Master/Slave BDSM book. In order for that relationship to work there are clear boundaries. The "Slave" is given rules, lots of rules to follow by her Master, who wants to run her life. Where the book falls off balance is when the Master starts hitting his slave just for any old thing. The rules are there for a reason, so that if she breaks them she knows she has consequences. Also the punishment should fit the crime. He hits her the same way for something small, something large, and for his own amusement. This would confuse your slave instead of reassure them. Makes him a bad Master if you ask me.
The whole balance is built on trust. How could you trust an abusive Master?
Also the torment. I believe that a slave is supposed to be as a pampered pet. You would not have your pet to act as a foot rest or coffee table. You would provide comforts for your pet.
I also found it hard to believe that she was never injured during this process. The corset, woman in the 1800's had broken ribs from them, yet this slave never gets hurt when he cuts off all but a small amount for breath.
To me the whole book felt like a grocery list, extremely mundane and boring. The whole book is spent around little tasks and no true scenes, just boring. Also the erotic parts if you could even call them that were as stimulating as a trip to the dentist.
Most of the time we are told how WET she is. And then he brings her to the brink to leave her uncomfortable. Which is punishment for bad behavior, bad behavior that never occurred, just because he was amused by it. Bad Master.
I gave up on the book because I was bored to tears by the grocery list of everyday life, the boring sex scenes that were repeats of previous encounters *like beating a dead horse over and over* Had to have reached 100 times he brought her to the brink and left her hanging.
There really wasn't a psychological angle either. Other reviews state that there was, I think they need to read a better book. Trust me Kitty Thomas doesn't leave your mind. She is excellent at the psychological aspect of this genre.
Yeah, a sexual slave is not my bag, but I get the appeal. The Master is this book wasn't worth my time. We wasn't a Master who took care of his *property* He was neglectful and abusive. A true sadist out for his own amusements. His slave's comfort, care, and needs should be his top priority. It is a misnomer that a Dom is in it for themselves. Also, I couldn't trust him to take care of a cat let alone a person. BAD BAD MASTER!
It just fell completely flat!
How could you live your life like this by the way? At 60 years old lying on the floor tied to shit, eating out of a bowl. You would have bad arthritis from the abuse. Your master would get sick of you and then what do you do? He's ran your whole life and you are clueless? Just a thought. It's not a very realistic view.
OH, and at first they talked to get to know one another. Now she isn't allowed to speak. Author, way to keep your characters consistent. Either that or the master did a bait and switch on his new slave. The story was just bullshit!
She supposedly wanted to be owned so that she didn't have to make her own decisions. Um, pretty sure being treated less then a dog isn't about having someone choose for you. She just wanted to be held down during the act, spanked for actually punishment, and someone to take care of her. Not, tortured, humiliated, abused, and violated. Their courting period none of that was discussed. As soon as she moved in with him, the second she hit the threshold the master turned into a sadist and not just a sexual sadist.
Also, he was so proud of his new property. Even children take better care of their toys then he does of a living breathing being.
When she has a hard time eating from a doggie dish later that night he asks her why. Her reason was very plausible, that he wouldn't like nor respect her after he saw her doing that... I doubt he ever did, and he sure they hell doesn't now.
Also you do not have political and environmental conversations with the scum on your shoe. The book had too many of these conversations. I found them strange and extremely boring. I felt as if the author wanted to portray the master and slave as highly intellectual individuals that just wanted a different way of life.
The master's life didn't change except for the fact that he could come home and abuse freely.
This book was listed as a Romantic BDSM novel. Romance? Where? BDSM? Kind of... Abuse? 400 pages of it.
This book reminded me of a child serial killer in training poking a kitten with a stick. Or an injured animal in a cage being tortured while the owner laughs.
I read the book expecting something different. I've read a lot of BDSM literature so I am well informed. The books description is where it went wrong. If abuse is your thing this book is for you. If you expect a book as described in the synopsis... sorry, that's not happening! Definitely not as advertized!
Obviously, I didn't like the book. If you would like a better option in this Genre check out anything written By Kitty Thomas. She is fantastic.
What I didn't like. This is a Master/Slave BDSM book. In order for that relationship to work there are clear boundaries. The "Slave" is given rules, lots of rules to follow by her Master, who wants to run her life. Where the book falls off balance is when the Master starts hitting his slave just for any old thing. The rules are there for a reason, so that if she breaks them she knows she has consequences. Also the punishment should fit the crime. He hits her the same way for something small, something large, and for his own amusement. This would confuse your slave instead of reassure them. Makes him a bad Master if you ask me.
The whole balance is built on trust. How could you trust an abusive Master?
Also the torment. I believe that a slave is supposed to be as a pampered pet. You would not have your pet to act as a foot rest or coffee table. You would provide comforts for your pet.
I also found it hard to believe that she was never injured during this process. The corset, woman in the 1800's had broken ribs from them, yet this slave never gets hurt when he cuts off all but a small amount for breath.
To me the whole book felt like a grocery list, extremely mundane and boring. The whole book is spent around little tasks and no true scenes, just boring. Also the erotic parts if you could even call them that were as stimulating as a trip to the dentist.
Most of the time we are told how WET she is. And then he brings her to the brink to leave her uncomfortable. Which is punishment for bad behavior, bad behavior that never occurred, just because he was amused by it. Bad Master.
I gave up on the book because I was bored to tears by the grocery list of everyday life, the boring sex scenes that were repeats of previous encounters *like beating a dead horse over and over* Had to have reached 100 times he brought her to the brink and left her hanging.
There really wasn't a psychological angle either. Other reviews state that there was, I think they need to read a better book. Trust me Kitty Thomas doesn't leave your mind. She is excellent at the psychological aspect of this genre.
Yeah, a sexual slave is not my bag, but I get the appeal. The Master is this book wasn't worth my time. We wasn't a Master who took care of his *property* He was neglectful and abusive. A true sadist out for his own amusements. His slave's comfort, care, and needs should be his top priority. It is a misnomer that a Dom is in it for themselves. Also, I couldn't trust him to take care of a cat let alone a person. BAD BAD MASTER!
It just fell completely flat!
How could you live your life like this by the way? At 60 years old lying on the floor tied to shit, eating out of a bowl. You would have bad arthritis from the abuse. Your master would get sick of you and then what do you do? He's ran your whole life and you are clueless? Just a thought. It's not a very realistic view.
OH, and at first they talked to get to know one another. Now she isn't allowed to speak. Author, way to keep your characters consistent. Either that or the master did a bait and switch on his new slave. The story was just bullshit!
She supposedly wanted to be owned so that she didn't have to make her own decisions. Um, pretty sure being treated less then a dog isn't about having someone choose for you. She just wanted to be held down during the act, spanked for actually punishment, and someone to take care of her. Not, tortured, humiliated, abused, and violated. Their courting period none of that was discussed. As soon as she moved in with him, the second she hit the threshold the master turned into a sadist and not just a sexual sadist.
Also, he was so proud of his new property. Even children take better care of their toys then he does of a living breathing being.
When she has a hard time eating from a doggie dish later that night he asks her why. Her reason was very plausible, that he wouldn't like nor respect her after he saw her doing that... I doubt he ever did, and he sure they hell doesn't now.
Also you do not have political and environmental conversations with the scum on your shoe. The book had too many of these conversations. I found them strange and extremely boring. I felt as if the author wanted to portray the master and slave as highly intellectual individuals that just wanted a different way of life.
The master's life didn't change except for the fact that he could come home and abuse freely.
This book was listed as a Romantic BDSM novel. Romance? Where? BDSM? Kind of... Abuse? 400 pages of it.
This book reminded me of a child serial killer in training poking a kitten with a stick. Or an injured animal in a cage being tortured while the owner laughs.
I read the book expecting something different. I've read a lot of BDSM literature so I am well informed. The books description is where it went wrong. If abuse is your thing this book is for you. If you expect a book as described in the synopsis... sorry, that's not happening! Definitely not as advertized!
March 17, 2015
Read for a challenge.
Relatively well-written, but just leaves me perplexed and trying to understand the appeal of this kink, and, you know, what happens to Maia when she no longer has perky breasts and a delectable arse, trying to enter the full-time job market at 40 when Anders wants to start the whole process again with someone else, and she has to write "makes a great Scrabble table" on her resume (also has lost all ability to function as a human, but *shrugs* she got to live her fantasy, right? *eyeroll*)
Maia is a stand-in for normative femininity, basically. The restrictions placed on her are only extreme exaggerations of the cultural norms and restrictions placed on Western women. i.e. the clothing, the cleaning, the physical presentation, her role to sexually satisfy Anders while being denied sexual satisfaction for herself.
Maia's inability to consent to what happens to her - her utter brainwashing - is a clever representation of hegemony.
It parallels the way women say "Oh, I wax my cunt (use make up, wear high heels, whatever) because I like it. It's a choice for me, not because society pressures me into it."
There is no such thing as free choice, because we cannot stand outside of culture.
Maia cannot make a free choice because her life is entirely structured and determined by Anders, she cannot stand outside of herself to see, either.
So it's done well, in that way.
I think introducing POVs of all the other characters may have been pushing it, but I did actually like Svend; I think his POV was the hottest in the book. Still an impressive range of objectification rituals. Very creative, and Jacob does a good job at writing us inside the MC's heads. Kudos to her.
I'm rating this 4 stars for being interesting, rather than because I enjoyed it a great deal. It terms of hot kink it's only a 1 from me.
Relatively well-written, but just leaves me perplexed and trying to understand the appeal of this kink, and, you know, what happens to Maia when she no longer has perky breasts and a delectable arse, trying to enter the full-time job market at 40 when Anders wants to start the whole process again with someone else, and she has to write "makes a great Scrabble table" on her resume (also has lost all ability to function as a human, but *shrugs* she got to live her fantasy, right? *eyeroll*)
Maia is a stand-in for normative femininity, basically. The restrictions placed on her are only extreme exaggerations of the cultural norms and restrictions placed on Western women. i.e. the clothing, the cleaning, the physical presentation, her role to sexually satisfy Anders while being denied sexual satisfaction for herself.
Maia's inability to consent to what happens to her - her utter brainwashing - is a clever representation of hegemony.
It parallels the way women say "Oh, I wax my cunt (use make up, wear high heels, whatever) because I like it. It's a choice for me, not because society pressures me into it."
There is no such thing as free choice, because we cannot stand outside of culture.
Maia cannot make a free choice because her life is entirely structured and determined by Anders, she cannot stand outside of herself to see, either.
So it's done well, in that way.
I think introducing POVs of all the other characters may have been pushing it, but I did actually like Svend; I think his POV was the hottest in the book. Still an impressive range of objectification rituals. Very creative, and Jacob does a good job at writing us inside the MC's heads. Kudos to her.
I'm rating this 4 stars for being interesting, rather than because I enjoyed it a great deal. It terms of hot kink it's only a 1 from me.
July 3, 2010
I love this book to pieces. It's probably my fave BDSM book of all time and I've read quite a few. I love that Anneke pushes the M/s and TPE envelope, and yet--through the talent of her writing--never leaves any question that the h/h are deeply in love with each other.
If you are into hard BDSM, deep power exchange, and/or the master/slave dynamic, you absolutely must read this book.
If you are into hard BDSM, deep power exchange, and/or the master/slave dynamic, you absolutely must read this book.
July 2, 2011
I am mixed with my ratings on this book. Several of my friends indicated the humiliation was too much for them. This wasn't the case for me. Others indicated they didn't like the intense puppy or pony play. This wasn't a problem for me either. The forced pleasuring of females when Maia didn't like it? That wasn't an issue for me either.
What I liked about this book - 4 star part
Based on the sex play alone, this book would have received a 4 star from me. Ms. Jacob did an excellent job dehumanizing a person into an object. The method in which Anders uses to slowly adjust Maia into a total power exchange was quite well thought out. I enjoyed each loss of control taken from Maia. From the time they start the relationship, she no longer has a say. Everything is purely for Anders' enjoyment. This I'm even fine with. When he uses denial as a form of control, am I surprised? No. His method to prevent Maia from pleasure was diabolical and I LOVED IT! The fact that he even left her frustrated on end for months, that was pretty hot.
The puppy play, pony play, humiliations, displaying, forced f/f were all hot for me. Ms. Jacob did a lovely job. I also loved her attention to detail when she showed the difficulty of Maia moving from one world to another. The entire struggle between is it a game or real life was interesting and I enjoyed Ms. Jacob's theories and discussion through her characters.
What I would have liked changed about this book - 1 star part
GOD IT WAS LONG. I love books. I read very long books. This book is not an overly lengthy book yet it felt as though it would NEVER end. I had to force myself to make it through the book. Whenever I have to force myself to make it through the book, that is a problem. What it tells me is that I'm not engaged. This earns an automatic 1 star for me. If I have to work to make through the book, then obviously, I didn't like it. According to the 1 star ratings by GR, 1 star = didn't like it.
Why didn't I like it? Here are the reasons.
1. What exactly was the plot? I agree with Mrs. Kittie on this one. I get that it's a journey to take a woman who was already afraid of the world into a place where she feels safe a protected. But did I have to read about scenes that didn't add to this at all? There were chapters in there that I could care less about. My recommendation, cut them. This is a diamond in the rough. No one wears just a raw diamond. It's cut and shaped into a flawless looking gemstone. Ms. Jacob needed to apply the cutter just a bit more for this book.
For example, I enjoyed the Christmas see quite a bit. I thought that was lovely. When Anders and Maia met, that was good too. The scenes with Nikki could have been shorter. That's sad because they weren't really that long to begin with. Who the hell cares about Val? Seriously, there were too many scenes with her bitching and I didn't fully understand the drama of her leaving. Used as a sounding board for Andres was fine. Val in the sex play was good too. The whole moving off to her own company was irrelevant and I could have remained ignorant about it.
2. I didn't care about Maia are Anders. This is a problem for me. There was nothing about these two that I cared about. I didn't even hate them. I was indifferent to them. While Maia was the one who was becoming a "subhuman", I felt that Anders was already there. I can't relate to a person w/o feels or emotions. Anders didn't come across as a sadist. He came across as a scientist clinically testing a subject. Boring. Others say it's because they had no romance for each other which is why they weren't engaged. I'm fine w/o the romance too. I read a Carolyn Faulkner book with the same type of theme but I enjoyed it better than this one.
3. Changing point of view. WTF? I understand going from one mind to another so we can see their perspective, but I can't recall the last book I read where it went from 1st person to 3rd person. Although, this made it very clear to me who's head I was in, it was still jarring. When I'm jarred out of a book, I become irritated. Recommendation, stick to 3rd person all the way.
This is why my rating ended up with a 2. I took the average of the 4 star and 1 star. I'm a bit disappointed because the book is right up my alley with the kinks I enjoy.
What I liked about this book - 4 star part
Based on the sex play alone, this book would have received a 4 star from me. Ms. Jacob did an excellent job dehumanizing a person into an object. The method in which Anders uses to slowly adjust Maia into a total power exchange was quite well thought out. I enjoyed each loss of control taken from Maia. From the time they start the relationship, she no longer has a say. Everything is purely for Anders' enjoyment. This I'm even fine with. When he uses denial as a form of control, am I surprised? No. His method to prevent Maia from pleasure was diabolical and I LOVED IT! The fact that he even left her frustrated on end for months, that was pretty hot.
The puppy play, pony play, humiliations, displaying, forced f/f were all hot for me. Ms. Jacob did a lovely job. I also loved her attention to detail when she showed the difficulty of Maia moving from one world to another. The entire struggle between is it a game or real life was interesting and I enjoyed Ms. Jacob's theories and discussion through her characters.
What I would have liked changed about this book - 1 star part
GOD IT WAS LONG. I love books. I read very long books. This book is not an overly lengthy book yet it felt as though it would NEVER end. I had to force myself to make it through the book. Whenever I have to force myself to make it through the book, that is a problem. What it tells me is that I'm not engaged. This earns an automatic 1 star for me. If I have to work to make through the book, then obviously, I didn't like it. According to the 1 star ratings by GR, 1 star = didn't like it.
Why didn't I like it? Here are the reasons.
1. What exactly was the plot? I agree with Mrs. Kittie on this one. I get that it's a journey to take a woman who was already afraid of the world into a place where she feels safe a protected. But did I have to read about scenes that didn't add to this at all? There were chapters in there that I could care less about. My recommendation, cut them. This is a diamond in the rough. No one wears just a raw diamond. It's cut and shaped into a flawless looking gemstone. Ms. Jacob needed to apply the cutter just a bit more for this book.
For example, I enjoyed the Christmas see quite a bit. I thought that was lovely. When Anders and Maia met, that was good too. The scenes with Nikki could have been shorter. That's sad because they weren't really that long to begin with. Who the hell cares about Val? Seriously, there were too many scenes with her bitching and I didn't fully understand the drama of her leaving. Used as a sounding board for Andres was fine. Val in the sex play was good too. The whole moving off to her own company was irrelevant and I could have remained ignorant about it.
2. I didn't care about Maia are Anders. This is a problem for me. There was nothing about these two that I cared about. I didn't even hate them. I was indifferent to them. While Maia was the one who was becoming a "subhuman", I felt that Anders was already there. I can't relate to a person w/o feels or emotions. Anders didn't come across as a sadist. He came across as a scientist clinically testing a subject. Boring. Others say it's because they had no romance for each other which is why they weren't engaged. I'm fine w/o the romance too. I read a Carolyn Faulkner book with the same type of theme but I enjoyed it better than this one.
3. Changing point of view. WTF? I understand going from one mind to another so we can see their perspective, but I can't recall the last book I read where it went from 1st person to 3rd person. Although, this made it very clear to me who's head I was in, it was still jarring. When I'm jarred out of a book, I become irritated. Recommendation, stick to 3rd person all the way.
This is why my rating ended up with a 2. I took the average of the 4 star and 1 star. I'm a bit disappointed because the book is right up my alley with the kinks I enjoy.
April 24, 2011
I enjoy well-written bdsm stories. I've got a pretty open mind and I like to push it's limits.
I wish I had never decided to read this book. It started out good, you could feel the connection between Anders and Maia, but as the book went on, the connection disappeared. It disappeared until Anders was an egotistical jackass and Maia was...nothing. Literally nothing, there was NOTHING there. 24/7 TPE is acceptable to me, but when you don't take better care of your slave than you would of your dog, when you treat her WORSE than your pets, that's when I have a problem. When you punish your slave for NO reason that's when we start getting into the abuse spectrum. When you beat your slave because you 'had a bad day' that's a problem. I just want Maia to stand up and walk out, surely anyone would treat her better than Anders. Anders is a pitiful excuse for a human being, and his friends aren't much better.
This kindle version of this book it rife with spelling errors and poor formatting.
Read this book at your own risk, but don't expect a happy book by any means.
September 1, 2010
“Intimate, Compelling and Disturbing”
The Plot: Anders comes from a large and lively Danish family. He’s an active dominant in the local BDSM scene, but his past relationships just haven’t quite fit the bill. He is tired of playing games, of role-playing at D/s with only half-hearted submissives.
From a very young age, Maia has had unusual fantasies. As a small child, she would play at being kept in a cage and dreamt longingly of being forced to submit to her captor. As she grew older, “normal” relationships — even normal D/s relationships — never seemed to quite meet her needs. She was often out of place in social settings — a loner lurking as a “shadow” on the periphery.
When an exchange in an online chatroom brings the two together, it seems as if they each may have found their match in life. But will Anders’ desire to own someone, to make someone his slave, his “human chattel,” be too much for Maia to handle? Or will Maia’s need and desire to be wholly owned overcome the odds and endure?
Zelda’s Take: As She’s Told is at once a fascinating and disturbing glimpse into what becomes an absolute, one-sided, total power exchange. I found the book wholly captivating and, despite it’s length, had a really hard time putting it down.
I truly felt for Maia. I felt for her as a social outcast and as someone who desires something so totally beyond the mainstream that it is hard for her to even admit to herself that it’s what she truly wants. Not to mention to hope to ever actually find someone to give her what she wants. I connected with her very much in this way, but despite this, Maia repeatedly surprises and shocks me throughout the book. I found myself continually surprised at how committed she was to becoming a slave, no matter the extremity of the situations Anders presented her. She jumps in with both feet almost immediately and remains unwavering in her resolve to submit to Anders desires throughout — definitely a stronger woman than I. She endures unbelievable pain and humiliation, isolation and subjugation at Anders hands. In Maia’s mind, it truly is about relinquishing her self, wholly and without reservation, about overcoming her own mind; she is no longer a thinking person or soul, but rather a tool, a body existing solely to perform tasks, reduced to base, animalistic functions.
This concept just blows my mind in general. It makes me sad for Maia. She’s a beautiful, intelligent person who has great value to society, yet she is essentially committing psychological suicide when she turns herself over to Anders. And it makes me really dislike Anders for being so sadistic that he essentially snuffs the life out of Maia in the process of owning her, and doesn’t bat an eyelash over it. But it is, after all, what she wants, and to each his or her own. It just seems so tragic to me.
I was saddened that Anders acknowledges that he enjoys conversing with Maia and that she provides great insights to help him attain his goals outside their relationship, yet he is satisfied with forcing her to silence for eight long weeks, driving Maia to a point where she has difficulty conversing at all once back in the real world. I was disturbed that Anders intentionally kept Maia at such a state of arousal without ever allowing her to obtain release, that she is literally driven crazy with need to a point of shamelessly humping anything and everything in sight as would a dog. I was especially bothered by the point when Anders begins to bring other people into their relationship, and forces Maia to service his female friends, despite the fact that the females treat Maia horribly and she has an obvious distaste for female domination. In the end, of all the crazy mindplay in this book, this seems to me to be the true turning point for their relationship — the point where Anders has truly dominated Maia — because he has controlled her to the point where she learns to perform even in a situation that is markedly against the grain of her moral and personal fiber.
Tragedy and depravity aside, the M/s relationship that develops between Anders and Maia is beautiful, sexy and strangely alluring. As with many of my recent reviews, the sexual interplay in this book is not for the faint of heart or BDSM-averse reader, but damn, there are some really great scenes. And the contraptions! Oh. My. God. The devices that Anders creates for Maia are enough to make any bondage fanatic go totally weak in the knees — Anneke Jacob’s imagination here is truly remarkable.
Surprisingly, the only thing about this book that I felt was a bit gratuitous and out of place (verging on annoying at times) is the constant political thread of homelessness and insufficient public housing in the world. I gather that it is a subplot to add depth and nuance to Anders’ character, but it tended toward preachy and really didn’t make sense to me as something that moved the story along.
All in all, however, Jacob’s writing throughout is solid and complex; the emotional connection she inspires is striking. Definitely worth the effort.
The Plot: Anders comes from a large and lively Danish family. He’s an active dominant in the local BDSM scene, but his past relationships just haven’t quite fit the bill. He is tired of playing games, of role-playing at D/s with only half-hearted submissives.
From a very young age, Maia has had unusual fantasies. As a small child, she would play at being kept in a cage and dreamt longingly of being forced to submit to her captor. As she grew older, “normal” relationships — even normal D/s relationships — never seemed to quite meet her needs. She was often out of place in social settings — a loner lurking as a “shadow” on the periphery.
When an exchange in an online chatroom brings the two together, it seems as if they each may have found their match in life. But will Anders’ desire to own someone, to make someone his slave, his “human chattel,” be too much for Maia to handle? Or will Maia’s need and desire to be wholly owned overcome the odds and endure?
Zelda’s Take: As She’s Told is at once a fascinating and disturbing glimpse into what becomes an absolute, one-sided, total power exchange. I found the book wholly captivating and, despite it’s length, had a really hard time putting it down.
I truly felt for Maia. I felt for her as a social outcast and as someone who desires something so totally beyond the mainstream that it is hard for her to even admit to herself that it’s what she truly wants. Not to mention to hope to ever actually find someone to give her what she wants. I connected with her very much in this way, but despite this, Maia repeatedly surprises and shocks me throughout the book. I found myself continually surprised at how committed she was to becoming a slave, no matter the extremity of the situations Anders presented her. She jumps in with both feet almost immediately and remains unwavering in her resolve to submit to Anders desires throughout — definitely a stronger woman than I. She endures unbelievable pain and humiliation, isolation and subjugation at Anders hands. In Maia’s mind, it truly is about relinquishing her self, wholly and without reservation, about overcoming her own mind; she is no longer a thinking person or soul, but rather a tool, a body existing solely to perform tasks, reduced to base, animalistic functions.
This concept just blows my mind in general. It makes me sad for Maia. She’s a beautiful, intelligent person who has great value to society, yet she is essentially committing psychological suicide when she turns herself over to Anders. And it makes me really dislike Anders for being so sadistic that he essentially snuffs the life out of Maia in the process of owning her, and doesn’t bat an eyelash over it. But it is, after all, what she wants, and to each his or her own. It just seems so tragic to me.
I was saddened that Anders acknowledges that he enjoys conversing with Maia and that she provides great insights to help him attain his goals outside their relationship, yet he is satisfied with forcing her to silence for eight long weeks, driving Maia to a point where she has difficulty conversing at all once back in the real world. I was disturbed that Anders intentionally kept Maia at such a state of arousal without ever allowing her to obtain release, that she is literally driven crazy with need to a point of shamelessly humping anything and everything in sight as would a dog. I was especially bothered by the point when Anders begins to bring other people into their relationship, and forces Maia to service his female friends, despite the fact that the females treat Maia horribly and she has an obvious distaste for female domination. In the end, of all the crazy mindplay in this book, this seems to me to be the true turning point for their relationship — the point where Anders has truly dominated Maia — because he has controlled her to the point where she learns to perform even in a situation that is markedly against the grain of her moral and personal fiber.
Tragedy and depravity aside, the M/s relationship that develops between Anders and Maia is beautiful, sexy and strangely alluring. As with many of my recent reviews, the sexual interplay in this book is not for the faint of heart or BDSM-averse reader, but damn, there are some really great scenes. And the contraptions! Oh. My. God. The devices that Anders creates for Maia are enough to make any bondage fanatic go totally weak in the knees — Anneke Jacob’s imagination here is truly remarkable.
Surprisingly, the only thing about this book that I felt was a bit gratuitous and out of place (verging on annoying at times) is the constant political thread of homelessness and insufficient public housing in the world. I gather that it is a subplot to add depth and nuance to Anders’ character, but it tended toward preachy and really didn’t make sense to me as something that moved the story along.
All in all, however, Jacob’s writing throughout is solid and complex; the emotional connection she inspires is striking. Definitely worth the effort.
February 3, 2016
This is a bit unusual of a rating for me. The 3* is based solely on how this book left me feeling, not my opinion on the writing or overall story/characters.
The first half was great - Maia and Anders meeting, discussing, and sexually clicking were all fab. Anders was yummy, and his attention to details earned him a few extra smiles from me ;)
The second half is where things progressed to a level that was most definitely untitillating for me, for a number of reasons: the kink and the fluff.
The kink - orgasm denial taken to an extreme that the sex was almost all blowjobs and reduced to practically one-line descriptions only; pony-play (it's just really not my thing at all; this wasn't even trying for sexy pony, more like draft-horse play), and forced bisexuality (ugh, revolting was the word that came to my mind when Maia was describing her sensations during this...smell played a big part of that word popping in my head too). All this left me feeling like I'd been locked up tight and denied any satisfaction too :-/
The fluff - for almost half of the book, Maia is kept without a voice. We get her inner dialogue, but the convos between her and anyone else are gone for the most part. What we do get is an endless rant about politics as they relate to architectural contracts and the downtrodden. It's droll, dry, and didactic. It sucked the life right out of me. During one of these rants and while Maia the Shetland was off in a field being bitten by bugs, Anders points how useful Maia is to him, as a researcher and innovator in ideas. Huh. But he kept her at an animal level of communication anyway? I think the author was trying to point out that Anders still respected Maia's brain, but it left me scratching mine.
As to the writing - every character was fully developed. The story was loooong, but I felt it needed to be in order to establish the level of TPE. It could have been shortened by eliminating all that unnecessary fluff, and concentrating instead on the developing relationship between the MCs though.
The POVs were not to my liking either. For Maia, it was first person and provided good insight into her thoughts/feelings. Obviously necessary since she was kept silent for over half the book. For Anders and everyone else, the POV was third person, just shy of omnipotent. This helped to create even more disconnect for me, since Anders was the dominant force in everything happening and I felt denied of any true understanding of his character, motivation, or feelings/senses.
Last thoughts - I give kudos for a well thought out theme and the author's determination to take it to an extreme that few would have the guts to go near. If I'd stopped reading at the half-way point, this would've been a 5* for me. I'm sure I'll be thinking of this book and its characters for a long time...that's both good and bad, I guess.
The first half was great - Maia and Anders meeting, discussing, and sexually clicking were all fab. Anders was yummy, and his attention to details earned him a few extra smiles from me ;)
The second half is where things progressed to a level that was most definitely untitillating for me, for a number of reasons: the kink and the fluff.
The kink - orgasm denial taken to an extreme that the sex was almost all blowjobs and reduced to practically one-line descriptions only; pony-play (it's just really not my thing at all; this wasn't even trying for sexy pony, more like draft-horse play), and forced bisexuality (ugh, revolting was the word that came to my mind when Maia was describing her sensations during this...smell played a big part of that word popping in my head too). All this left me feeling like I'd been locked up tight and denied any satisfaction too :-/
The fluff - for almost half of the book, Maia is kept without a voice. We get her inner dialogue, but the convos between her and anyone else are gone for the most part. What we do get is an endless rant about politics as they relate to architectural contracts and the downtrodden. It's droll, dry, and didactic. It sucked the life right out of me. During one of these rants and while Maia the Shetland was off in a field being bitten by bugs, Anders points how useful Maia is to him, as a researcher and innovator in ideas. Huh. But he kept her at an animal level of communication anyway? I think the author was trying to point out that Anders still respected Maia's brain, but it left me scratching mine.
As to the writing - every character was fully developed. The story was loooong, but I felt it needed to be in order to establish the level of TPE. It could have been shortened by eliminating all that unnecessary fluff, and concentrating instead on the developing relationship between the MCs though.
The POVs were not to my liking either. For Maia, it was first person and provided good insight into her thoughts/feelings. Obviously necessary since she was kept silent for over half the book. For Anders and everyone else, the POV was third person, just shy of omnipotent. This helped to create even more disconnect for me, since Anders was the dominant force in everything happening and I felt denied of any true understanding of his character, motivation, or feelings/senses.
Last thoughts - I give kudos for a well thought out theme and the author's determination to take it to an extreme that few would have the guts to go near. If I'd stopped reading at the half-way point, this would've been a 5* for me. I'm sure I'll be thinking of this book and its characters for a long time...that's both good and bad, I guess.
Read
March 28, 2010How do I even rate this book? I have no earthly idea. This book disturbed and intrigued me on so many levels that I find it impossible to put a number of stars down.
Was this book well written? Indeed. The character development was so in depth that you could actually follow the progression of the two main characters in their spiral toward a severe codependency that there are no words for. The inner dialogue of the main female character showed such insight and forethought that you became totally engrossed in her world. I liken the actual writing to many of the great works that we discuss in literature classes.
Was this book erotic? Not really for me. The concept of Total Power Exchange of a 24/7 master/slave relationship is one that I believe can be erotic, but this was to the extreme. Reducing someone to a level that is below human to me is not sexy, nor is it an expression of love. Some people may think so, but I do not, so I wouldn't describe this as an erotic work, more like a fetish work.
What about the ability to hold my attention? Well, for me this was like watching a train wreck. I couldn't look away. I wanted to, boy did I ever, but I just couldn't. I was completely enraptured in this relationship. I couldn't see how a seemingly "normal" if not maladjusted female could allow herself to be taken over in such a way that she is regarded as thing to be used and abused then just put away when done. I also couldn't believe that the man she allowed to do that to her felt that this was an expression of his "love for her". There were times in the book that I had to walk away, read something else. I was too deeply affected. I had to read something where I felt like there was a HEA or where I could laugh. But, the entire time, I wasn't reading, I was thinking about the characters, the story, and what would happen next. I couldn't get away from it completely.
The emotional and psychological entanglement of people who want a certain kind of lifestyle always intrigues me. It's kind of like an "I'm glad there's someone out there for everyone" kind of thing, but for me this goes beyond that. I was seriously worried about this girl. I know that she was an adult and she was asking for it, but is that a good thing? I felt as though, this man went to extremes just to see how far she would let him take it. It became just a sick, perverted game to him. Not love, no care and concern for a lover. For a man who said he didn't like games, he sure got off on seeing her squirm. I found myself not liking the guy on only pitying the girl in the end.
So, I still don't know how to rate this book. I didn't like the theme, but the content was good. I felt that there were elements in there that may have been for shock value, but nothing that was completely gratuitous or not essential to the story. But I don't know overall how I felt about the book. Will I read it again, perhaps. Maybe then I will be able to get a better perspective on it? I am not sure. I know that if I do read it again, it won't be for a long time. I was intrigued, excited, mad, profoundly sad, scared, and then numb. It was definitely an emotional roller coaster. I don't know if I want to go through that again. The thing about it is, those are similar emotions to what the female character went through as well.
Does something that hits you so deeply and makes you feel that much deserve a 5-star just on that alone? Even though I didn't particularly like that it made me feel that way? I don't know the answer to that, so for now, I will try to leave it blank.
Was this book well written? Indeed. The character development was so in depth that you could actually follow the progression of the two main characters in their spiral toward a severe codependency that there are no words for. The inner dialogue of the main female character showed such insight and forethought that you became totally engrossed in her world. I liken the actual writing to many of the great works that we discuss in literature classes.
Was this book erotic? Not really for me. The concept of Total Power Exchange of a 24/7 master/slave relationship is one that I believe can be erotic, but this was to the extreme. Reducing someone to a level that is below human to me is not sexy, nor is it an expression of love. Some people may think so, but I do not, so I wouldn't describe this as an erotic work, more like a fetish work.
What about the ability to hold my attention? Well, for me this was like watching a train wreck. I couldn't look away. I wanted to, boy did I ever, but I just couldn't. I was completely enraptured in this relationship. I couldn't see how a seemingly "normal" if not maladjusted female could allow herself to be taken over in such a way that she is regarded as thing to be used and abused then just put away when done. I also couldn't believe that the man she allowed to do that to her felt that this was an expression of his "love for her". There were times in the book that I had to walk away, read something else. I was too deeply affected. I had to read something where I felt like there was a HEA or where I could laugh. But, the entire time, I wasn't reading, I was thinking about the characters, the story, and what would happen next. I couldn't get away from it completely.
The emotional and psychological entanglement of people who want a certain kind of lifestyle always intrigues me. It's kind of like an "I'm glad there's someone out there for everyone" kind of thing, but for me this goes beyond that. I was seriously worried about this girl. I know that she was an adult and she was asking for it, but is that a good thing? I felt as though, this man went to extremes just to see how far she would let him take it. It became just a sick, perverted game to him. Not love, no care and concern for a lover. For a man who said he didn't like games, he sure got off on seeing her squirm. I found myself not liking the guy on only pitying the girl in the end.
So, I still don't know how to rate this book. I didn't like the theme, but the content was good. I felt that there were elements in there that may have been for shock value, but nothing that was completely gratuitous or not essential to the story. But I don't know overall how I felt about the book. Will I read it again, perhaps. Maybe then I will be able to get a better perspective on it? I am not sure. I know that if I do read it again, it won't be for a long time. I was intrigued, excited, mad, profoundly sad, scared, and then numb. It was definitely an emotional roller coaster. I don't know if I want to go through that again. The thing about it is, those are similar emotions to what the female character went through as well.
Does something that hits you so deeply and makes you feel that much deserve a 5-star just on that alone? Even though I didn't particularly like that it made me feel that way? I don't know the answer to that, so for now, I will try to leave it blank.
August 26, 2021
This wasn't bad and the extent of the TPE/Master/slave relationship wasn't the issue here. It's not my kink but I do enjoy reading about it and it is a lifestyle for some, so no judgement or criticism here. However even after several hours reading (and putting this down far too easily in between) I was less than half way through the book. It simply wasn't catching my attention and I want to really enjoy what I'm reading, not feel as though I'm forcing my way through.
I don't personally know anyone in a Master/slave relationship well enough to know their full back story but I DO image, given relationships in general alongside the tenets of SSC and RACK, that some sort of trust needs to be built and developed before such a total level of control can be given and taken. And I just didn't see that or, more importantly, feel that level of trust. The author had quite a "tell not show" style of writing, and even then not much was even told in terms of emotions, thoughts and feelings in any real depth or intensity. I never found myself in the characters head, sharing their experience.
In the 40% or so I read, I didn't feel as though there was much character growth either. For such a long (for romance) book, I felt like we didn't really experience the couple getting to know one another, didn't see them let go of their worries and sink fully into this new relationship. It just felt as though the heroine was too determined to jump headlong into the relationship without knowing a thing about Anders. I know the whole point was that Maia wanted to have no choices, no decisions, but this would have been so much more believable had they spent time really getting to know one another and discussing what things she was afraid of/unsure about, things that would need slowly building up to.
I never once got the impression that Anders cared about Maia as a person. He was wholly obsessed with owning a slave, having total control of said slave. Who that person was didn't seem to matter at all. It wasn't that he wanted Maia and hoped she would accept his level of control, it was that she was a willing body and he could do what he wanted without any care or regard to her emotions or feelings. I couldn't buy that someone would want to be continually treated with such disregard, that they could stay mentally and emotionally strong when their Master showed very little kindness or care of them.
I don't personally know anyone in a Master/slave relationship well enough to know their full back story but I DO image, given relationships in general alongside the tenets of SSC and RACK, that some sort of trust needs to be built and developed before such a total level of control can be given and taken. And I just didn't see that or, more importantly, feel that level of trust. The author had quite a "tell not show" style of writing, and even then not much was even told in terms of emotions, thoughts and feelings in any real depth or intensity. I never found myself in the characters head, sharing their experience.
In the 40% or so I read, I didn't feel as though there was much character growth either. For such a long (for romance) book, I felt like we didn't really experience the couple getting to know one another, didn't see them let go of their worries and sink fully into this new relationship. It just felt as though the heroine was too determined to jump headlong into the relationship without knowing a thing about Anders. I know the whole point was that Maia wanted to have no choices, no decisions, but this would have been so much more believable had they spent time really getting to know one another and discussing what things she was afraid of/unsure about, things that would need slowly building up to.
I never once got the impression that Anders cared about Maia as a person. He was wholly obsessed with owning a slave, having total control of said slave. Who that person was didn't seem to matter at all. It wasn't that he wanted Maia and hoped she would accept his level of control, it was that she was a willing body and he could do what he wanted without any care or regard to her emotions or feelings. I couldn't buy that someone would want to be continually treated with such disregard, that they could stay mentally and emotionally strong when their Master showed very little kindness or care of them.
March 17, 2020
There are times when you come to review a book that you can't quite put into words what your thoughts are about the story. As She's Told is one of them. So, I will try to put into words what I honestly thought about this piece of fiction.
This has been described as an "erotic BDSM romance". It is not. There is nothing romantic or erotic about this story. I can't be clear enough. This story takes you down a path of total power exchange, complete submission, slavery and being treated in the most degrading of ways (which the FC agreed t).
Anders and Mia meet on a on-line chat room. He seeks her out and they discuss what they want out of their relationship. He wants no games, no negotiations, no safewords. A total power exchange. She accepts.
During the first weeks of their "relationship" he lays down rules for his new possession and she willingly hands over her autonomy. He manipulates, experiments and pushes her mind and body in ways that will leave you wondering why this is described as an erotic BDSM romance because it's not.
As I read this book I tried to keep an open mind to this relationship so be warned the synopsis does not provide the reader with a true view of what this story is about. For the total power exchange to work for him he goes about the dehumanisation of Mia. He strips her of her dignity, he makes her eat from a dog bowl without the use of her hands, he prevents orgasm but takes what HE wants from her, he arranges for the piercing of her nose so he can tie her to the floor or wherever he chooses, he uses electric shock to control her need to orgasm, he locks her in a cupboard and later in a cage, he makes her use a litter to go to the toilet he provides entertainment for his brother and his friends and finally whilst on holiday straps her up with horse reins and makes her strut around as if she was a horse. She is then put to bed in a stable and left to sleep. During this time she is bound, gagged, he puts mittens on her hands and takes on the role of an animal. Still with me? I am sure you have got the picture by now.
These are not spoilers - this is some of the specifics that the author left out in the synopsis of the book.
This book was disturbing and I found it hard to switch off after reading it due to so many questions going round in my head. It was difficult.
However, if you want to read a BDSM storyline that will test your boundaries and if you are willing to read about the de-humanising of a woman purely for the benefit of sexual gratification then go ahead and read it.
There are many ways to configure a power dynamic but for me this author took it beyond that. There is a succinct difference between helplessness and domination.
Was Anneke Jacob was trying to get the reader to rationale that if we are born like this can we actually stop our desires to be totally controlled or pass over the control to someone in such a manner?
This book is deeply distressing. Keep away from it if you are uncomfortable with the reading matte
This has been described as an "erotic BDSM romance". It is not. There is nothing romantic or erotic about this story. I can't be clear enough. This story takes you down a path of total power exchange, complete submission, slavery and being treated in the most degrading of ways (which the FC agreed t).
Anders and Mia meet on a on-line chat room. He seeks her out and they discuss what they want out of their relationship. He wants no games, no negotiations, no safewords. A total power exchange. She accepts.
During the first weeks of their "relationship" he lays down rules for his new possession and she willingly hands over her autonomy. He manipulates, experiments and pushes her mind and body in ways that will leave you wondering why this is described as an erotic BDSM romance because it's not.
As I read this book I tried to keep an open mind to this relationship so be warned the synopsis does not provide the reader with a true view of what this story is about. For the total power exchange to work for him he goes about the dehumanisation of Mia. He strips her of her dignity, he makes her eat from a dog bowl without the use of her hands, he prevents orgasm but takes what HE wants from her, he arranges for the piercing of her nose so he can tie her to the floor or wherever he chooses, he uses electric shock to control her need to orgasm, he locks her in a cupboard and later in a cage, he makes her use a litter to go to the toilet he provides entertainment for his brother and his friends and finally whilst on holiday straps her up with horse reins and makes her strut around as if she was a horse. She is then put to bed in a stable and left to sleep. During this time she is bound, gagged, he puts mittens on her hands and takes on the role of an animal. Still with me? I am sure you have got the picture by now.
These are not spoilers - this is some of the specifics that the author left out in the synopsis of the book.
This book was disturbing and I found it hard to switch off after reading it due to so many questions going round in my head. It was difficult.
However, if you want to read a BDSM storyline that will test your boundaries and if you are willing to read about the de-humanising of a woman purely for the benefit of sexual gratification then go ahead and read it.
There are many ways to configure a power dynamic but for me this author took it beyond that. There is a succinct difference between helplessness and domination.
Was Anneke Jacob was trying to get the reader to rationale that if we are born like this can we actually stop our desires to be totally controlled or pass over the control to someone in such a manner?
This book is deeply distressing. Keep away from it if you are uncomfortable with the reading matte
May 19, 2013
So maybe starting this the night before we learned about what Ariel Castro had been doing in Cleveland wasn’t the right time.
“I've been kidnapped and I've been missing for 10 years, and I'm, I'm here, I'm free now.”
Because it really bothers me that Maia wouldn’t be able to do what Amanda Berry did. In fact, I don’t think she would even try.
Anders. I don't like Anders. In fact, I can’t stand him.
“When they get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, they will become corrupt as in Europe."
Thomas Jefferson was talking about governments, but I think this applies to Anders as well with all his ranting and raving about urban sprawl. I am confident that Jefferson wouldn’t like him either.
I finally figured out what was missing. It was actually something simple: Love. Maia didn’t want someone to love and cherish her, she just wanted someone to control her. And Anders didn’t want someone to love and cherish, he just wanted someone who wouldn’t ever say no.
In the end, instead of a relationship, I thought they would be better off with a whole lot of therapy.
“I've been kidnapped and I've been missing for 10 years, and I'm, I'm here, I'm free now.”
Because it really bothers me that Maia wouldn’t be able to do what Amanda Berry did. In fact, I don’t think she would even try.
Anders. I don't like Anders. In fact, I can’t stand him.
“When they get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, they will become corrupt as in Europe."
Thomas Jefferson was talking about governments, but I think this applies to Anders as well with all his ranting and raving about urban sprawl. I am confident that Jefferson wouldn’t like him either.
I finally figured out what was missing. It was actually something simple: Love. Maia didn’t want someone to love and cherish her, she just wanted someone to control her. And Anders didn’t want someone to love and cherish, he just wanted someone who wouldn’t ever say no.
In the end, instead of a relationship, I thought they would be better off with a whole lot of therapy.
January 18, 2010
Fascination.....replusion.....Why did I pick up this book? Well, it won some erotic fiction award and the reviews were more favorable than not. Having now finished the book, I can say that I understand why it won the award and favorable reviews: for it writing style and ability to draw the reader in. Why have I not given it a higher review? No matter how well it is written, the content and replusion factor cannot outweigh the writing for me. To give this book a high rating is, for me, like stating that everything I believe in and stand for mean nothing as long as the writing is good.
Amazon had 2 terrible reviews which I did read prior to starting. I should have listened to those reviews. Still, I was curious having never read anything about a lifestyle such as this book entails: a full time slave/master relationship. I figured that it would be the usual bdsm stuff: full time.
Was I wrong.
If there are people like this out in the "real" world, and I've no doubt that there are, then I am scared for the human race and humanity as a whole.
This book delves so deep into the boundaries and limits of a willing slave relationship that I cringed outwardly at times. My stomach churned. As the book moved on, just when I thought that it could not get any worse, I was mistaken. At one point I wanted to cry for the injustice of it all, yet, the character of Maia wants everything that is dished out to her by her chosen master in Anders. Throughout the read I kept marvelling in the fact that this was basically a concentual relationship, one that Maia chose to have and chose to stay in [sort of:].
For as much as I decidedly did not like this book, I have to give credit in the compelling spellbinding control it held me in. I could not put it down. I had to see what was next and how it would end. In that case, I have to say that it is superbly written, if by a sick, bastardly mind. This is also a long read: no short stories here. I am a fast reader and one who does not like to put a book down until it is over. I read this book in a day and when I say a day, I mean a solid, straight 14 hour day! When I was done, I wanted nothing more than to delete it off of my Kindle. This is hard core stuff, one that opened my eyes, made me think and helped me to realize that I will never read the likes of it again. Do I feel dirty from reading it? Yes. Did I get aroused while reading it? No. Do I want to explore this world of slavery more? ABSOLUTELY not! Am I glad that I read it? Hard to say. Sometimes you have to get slapped in the head by a 2x4 to realize that you stepped way too far off the path of what is right and normal. How can you test what your own boundaries and beliefs are unless you learn about others?
What I wanted more than anything when I was done reading was to write this review, to get my feelings in black and white to help me to process it so that I can put it safely behind me.
Do I recommend this read? Well, that would depend on who is asking my opinion. Are you wanting to read about alternative sexual lifestyles? Do you want something that will test your own beliefs and boundaries? Are you willing to be strangely fascinated, much like a train wreck happening in front of you that you cannot look away from? If you answer yes to these questions, then you may want to try this book. If you say no, then run, run far and run fast. This is SOOOO not for you.
Warning: should you choose to read this book you will be reading about salvery, dominance, dehumanization, bondage, torture, denial, total power control among many, many other terrible things. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Amazon had 2 terrible reviews which I did read prior to starting. I should have listened to those reviews. Still, I was curious having never read anything about a lifestyle such as this book entails: a full time slave/master relationship. I figured that it would be the usual bdsm stuff: full time.
Was I wrong.
If there are people like this out in the "real" world, and I've no doubt that there are, then I am scared for the human race and humanity as a whole.
This book delves so deep into the boundaries and limits of a willing slave relationship that I cringed outwardly at times. My stomach churned. As the book moved on, just when I thought that it could not get any worse, I was mistaken. At one point I wanted to cry for the injustice of it all, yet, the character of Maia wants everything that is dished out to her by her chosen master in Anders. Throughout the read I kept marvelling in the fact that this was basically a concentual relationship, one that Maia chose to have and chose to stay in [sort of:].
For as much as I decidedly did not like this book, I have to give credit in the compelling spellbinding control it held me in. I could not put it down. I had to see what was next and how it would end. In that case, I have to say that it is superbly written, if by a sick, bastardly mind. This is also a long read: no short stories here. I am a fast reader and one who does not like to put a book down until it is over. I read this book in a day and when I say a day, I mean a solid, straight 14 hour day! When I was done, I wanted nothing more than to delete it off of my Kindle. This is hard core stuff, one that opened my eyes, made me think and helped me to realize that I will never read the likes of it again. Do I feel dirty from reading it? Yes. Did I get aroused while reading it? No. Do I want to explore this world of slavery more? ABSOLUTELY not! Am I glad that I read it? Hard to say. Sometimes you have to get slapped in the head by a 2x4 to realize that you stepped way too far off the path of what is right and normal. How can you test what your own boundaries and beliefs are unless you learn about others?
What I wanted more than anything when I was done reading was to write this review, to get my feelings in black and white to help me to process it so that I can put it safely behind me.
Do I recommend this read? Well, that would depend on who is asking my opinion. Are you wanting to read about alternative sexual lifestyles? Do you want something that will test your own beliefs and boundaries? Are you willing to be strangely fascinated, much like a train wreck happening in front of you that you cannot look away from? If you answer yes to these questions, then you may want to try this book. If you say no, then run, run far and run fast. This is SOOOO not for you.
Warning: should you choose to read this book you will be reading about salvery, dominance, dehumanization, bondage, torture, denial, total power control among many, many other terrible things. Don't say I didn't warn you.
January 10, 2012
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. It's not as if I was unaware of what I was getting into. I'm not in this scene at all but I occasionally dip my toe into a BDSM read. By that statement I'm not denigrating those who are, I'm just saying that I haven't any real world way to judge what I'm reading so take my review with that grain of salt. I was well written and pretty long for the big price.
This particular BDSM story was very extreme and dealt with total objectification of this girl by this man. She became an animal and a thing. So the story seemed say that he loved her but I had a hard time wrapping my mind around it. I guess where my biggest problem came in was that they seemed to be so into this kink together so you thought there was some feeling there. Then later, after they've been together a year, he has friends over and they use her, laugh at her debasement and then put her in a cage and go to a movie and stuff. I had this knee jerk reaction about that. Not even really that he treated her badly because that's what they agreed to but that he didn't seem to like her or want to spend time with her. Like these others were his real friends and he like them better and they were his real life. I guess he really did begin to think of her as a dog/thing. Then I was uncomfortable with the whole scenario. He and these friends of his had lots of conversations together about politics and green living and all that seemed very important to him. I sometimes thought why am I reading about this in this extreme BDSM novel? She had no share in that at all but I guess I don't talk to my dog about politics either.
So I am not sorry I read this. I am fairly certain that it isn't the type of book I'd like to read more of however. I want to thank Tess for loaning it to me.
This particular BDSM story was very extreme and dealt with total objectification of this girl by this man. She became an animal and a thing. So the story seemed say that he loved her but I had a hard time wrapping my mind around it. I guess where my biggest problem came in was that they seemed to be so into this kink together so you thought there was some feeling there. Then later, after they've been together a year, he has friends over and they use her, laugh at her debasement and then put her in a cage and go to a movie and stuff. I had this knee jerk reaction about that. Not even really that he treated her badly because that's what they agreed to but that he didn't seem to like her or want to spend time with her. Like these others were his real friends and he like them better and they were his real life. I guess he really did begin to think of her as a dog/thing. Then I was uncomfortable with the whole scenario. He and these friends of his had lots of conversations together about politics and green living and all that seemed very important to him. I sometimes thought why am I reading about this in this extreme BDSM novel? She had no share in that at all but I guess I don't talk to my dog about politics either.
So I am not sorry I read this. I am fairly certain that it isn't the type of book I'd like to read more of however. I want to thank Tess for loaning it to me.
August 6, 2013
I wouldn't call this a romance--at least, not in the traditional sense.
In the sense of two people getting exactly what they wanted, in a relationship that (extreme as it was) was fulfilling to them, that made them happy?
Then yes, I would call it a romance. An extremely dark, fucked up romance, but a love story nonetheless.
Then again, it's only fucked up to an outsider, looking in...
There were scenes that made me laugh, scenes that put a smile on my face, that radiated such joy that it was hard to believe that these two weren't perfect for each other. The "Lord of the Dance" scene comes to mind, the scenes from Christmas...
The dark scenes (and there were many) plunged me into a reality that was so utterly foreign to my own--and yet I went there, and by the end of the book, felt like I understood why the characters did what they did.
I have a feeling this book will stick in my mind for a long time.
This gets five stars. Five stars for being beautifully written, for showing an extreme yet loving (in its own way) relationship, for not having a vanilla ending that would've felt like succumbing to pressure for "normal" HEA that it seems like so many BDSM books fall prey to...
Five haunting stars.
In the sense of two people getting exactly what they wanted, in a relationship that (extreme as it was) was fulfilling to them, that made them happy?
Then yes, I would call it a romance. An extremely dark, fucked up romance, but a love story nonetheless.
Then again, it's only fucked up to an outsider, looking in...
There were scenes that made me laugh, scenes that put a smile on my face, that radiated such joy that it was hard to believe that these two weren't perfect for each other. The "Lord of the Dance" scene comes to mind, the scenes from Christmas...
The dark scenes (and there were many) plunged me into a reality that was so utterly foreign to my own--and yet I went there, and by the end of the book, felt like I understood why the characters did what they did.
I have a feeling this book will stick in my mind for a long time.
This gets five stars. Five stars for being beautifully written, for showing an extreme yet loving (in its own way) relationship, for not having a vanilla ending that would've felt like succumbing to pressure for "normal" HEA that it seems like so many BDSM books fall prey to...
Five haunting stars.
December 26, 2012
WTF did I just read??
I thought I had an open-mind, but not few were the moments in reading this that I was like
and
Some might be tempted to judge the author, the novel and/or the characters, but not me! No sir, not me.. A Master/slave story in which the slave is not treated like a slave, but like an animal?
I can't do this..I promised myself that I wouldn't judge it. For a book of this genre (the genre being hard-core bdsm, the hardest-core I've ever read), it's magnificent.
5 stars!!
June 13, 2011
This book changed me profoundly. I still think about it constantly. Not that I want to live like the protagonists, but I never thought about a lifestyle like this existed.
October 9, 2014
I've often observed, both in my stories and in real life, that the most erotic moments derive from complementary fantasies. Exhibitionist and voyeur. Sheik and harem girl. Strict schoolmarm and naughty schoolboy. And of course, Dom and sub. You want to do something. Your partner wants to see/feel/taste/touch you as you do it. Each participant is aware of the other's desires. That awareness sets up an erotic circuit, each person's excitement amplifying the other's arousal.
Anneke Jacob's remarkable novel As She's Told presents an extreme case of this sort of reciprocity. Her heroine, Maia, craves complete submission. She wants to be owned—the life of a slave with no choice at all. She has harbored these desires since childhood, struggling to make her way in the world, pretending to be a "normal" person, but knowing that only this total relinquishment of her will can make her feel whole and safe.
Anders is Maia's complement, a dominant who finds the games and play parties of the BDSM scene silly and frustrating. He wants complete control over a woman—the freedom to do anything at all to his slave, to require any service, to experiment with any sort of pain or bondage that appeals to him. He wants a woman to be his belonging, his chattel,"his own thing". When the story opens, though, he has almost given up hope of ever satisfying his deep-seated desire for total control.
Anders first encounters Maia in a BDSM chat room, where she asks, in response to a discussion about negotiation: "but doesn't that spoil it?" and later adds: "I mean if a sub chooses that means control. contradiction in terms." Anders hardly dares to believe that he might have finally found his counterpart, but when they meet in person at a "munch", mutual understanding and mutual attraction are both immediate.
The early chapters, when Maia and Anders first realize that their dreams may have come true, left me breathless. Despite their lightning attraction, Anders forces them to go slowly. Step by step, he leads Maia into a new world of unquestioning obedience. All does not go smoothly. Although she is desperate to please, Maia is also sloppy, irresponsible and occasionally rebellious. In addition, she is unrelentingly horny, and Anders rarely allows her any release for her sexual tension.
In each chapter, Anders introduces new torments or requires new adjustments. A waist chain is replaced by a tight corset, then labial piercings, then a chastity belt, then a bit and bridle and leather mitts that turn Maia into a dumb animal. In the early stages, he regularly checks with his would-be slave to make sure that she has not changed her mind. By the time they have been together for a year, however, she is truly his, and he stops asking her to describe her feelings or give him feedback.
Anders is a perfectionist, a construction contractor with a passion for detail. As She's Told is almost obsessive in its descriptions of the equipment he designs to decorate, test and torture his slave. The book includes all the familiar trappings from the BDSM canon: the slave suspended and whipped; the slave plugged with dildos and vibrators but not allowed to come; the slave used as furniture; the slave eating out of a dog bowl; the slave harnessed to a cart and forced to trot and gallop. (Ms. Jacobs also dreams up some more unusual and imaginative kinks, but I won't spoil the impact by describing them here.)
We've seen all these notions before, in Carrie's Story, in the Beauty Trilogy, in The Story of O. The difference is that in As She's Told, these are not treated as fantasy. Ms. Jacob is convincingly realistic in her depictions of what Anders does and how Maia feels. At some level, this book is still a fantasy, a thought experiment exploring how an extreme Master/slave relationship might develop, but the tone demands that the reader take the whole process seriously.
In fact, parts of this book are sufficiently extreme that they may be difficult for some readers. I found that I could not read more than a few chapters at a sitting because, despite my long-time fascination with BDSM, they made me uncomfortable.
This is not (despite some horrified reviews on Amazon.com) a story of abuse. Anders does not negotiate, but he cares for his slave and makes sure that she will not be seriously injured. When he offers his brother, cousin and several women friends free use of Maia's body, he makes sure that they use condoms, even for oral sex. He is giving Maia what she wants, and she is suitably grateful. Still, I wouldn't want Anders for my Master. He's too interested in stripping away Maia's pretensions of being human. He delights in turning her into an animal or even an inanimate object. Toward the end of the novel, Maia spends eight weeks without the use of her hands, sleeping in a stall, forbidden to speak, and worst of all, banished from her Master's bed. I can scarcely imagine this—it sounds too horrible to be endured (far worse than being forbidden to or unable to come). But then, I'm not Maia. Ms. Jacobs managed to make me believe that Maia could and would endure it, in order to please Anders.
As She's Told is not without its faults. It is a long book without much plot. Each chapter pushes new limits, but there's no climax and very little conflict. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, for Maia to rebel or for someone to be hurt or killed, for some revelation or resolution, but in fact nothing much happens. We're led to believe that this relationship will continue, satisfying both of the participants, as they live out their complementary fantasies together. I think that this is Ms. Jacob's point, to suggest that such a relationship could actually exist and that it could be healthy and mutually fulfilling.
I don't know whether I am completely convinced. People change. Maia is very young (she graduates from college in the course of the book) and Anders not much older. Furthermore, it seems that there must be an objective limit to the escalation Anders practices on Maia. My Master and I have debated the question of escalation, the continued pushing of limits. Clearly there must be some point when you can't push any further without doing serious physical harm. What happens then? Do the participants get bored or jaded? Or is it the case that a truly imaginative dominant will never run out of things to do with his slave?
The very fact that I'm thinking about these issues, though, is a tribute to Ms. Jacob's skill. As She's Told is a rare item, a serious novel about BDSM relationships that does not sacrifice realism for titillation. I found it exciting, disturbing and challenging. I just bought a copy for my Master.
Anneke Jacob's remarkable novel As She's Told presents an extreme case of this sort of reciprocity. Her heroine, Maia, craves complete submission. She wants to be owned—the life of a slave with no choice at all. She has harbored these desires since childhood, struggling to make her way in the world, pretending to be a "normal" person, but knowing that only this total relinquishment of her will can make her feel whole and safe.
Anders is Maia's complement, a dominant who finds the games and play parties of the BDSM scene silly and frustrating. He wants complete control over a woman—the freedom to do anything at all to his slave, to require any service, to experiment with any sort of pain or bondage that appeals to him. He wants a woman to be his belonging, his chattel,"his own thing". When the story opens, though, he has almost given up hope of ever satisfying his deep-seated desire for total control.
Anders first encounters Maia in a BDSM chat room, where she asks, in response to a discussion about negotiation: "but doesn't that spoil it?" and later adds: "I mean if a sub chooses that means control. contradiction in terms." Anders hardly dares to believe that he might have finally found his counterpart, but when they meet in person at a "munch", mutual understanding and mutual attraction are both immediate.
The early chapters, when Maia and Anders first realize that their dreams may have come true, left me breathless. Despite their lightning attraction, Anders forces them to go slowly. Step by step, he leads Maia into a new world of unquestioning obedience. All does not go smoothly. Although she is desperate to please, Maia is also sloppy, irresponsible and occasionally rebellious. In addition, she is unrelentingly horny, and Anders rarely allows her any release for her sexual tension.
In each chapter, Anders introduces new torments or requires new adjustments. A waist chain is replaced by a tight corset, then labial piercings, then a chastity belt, then a bit and bridle and leather mitts that turn Maia into a dumb animal. In the early stages, he regularly checks with his would-be slave to make sure that she has not changed her mind. By the time they have been together for a year, however, she is truly his, and he stops asking her to describe her feelings or give him feedback.
Anders is a perfectionist, a construction contractor with a passion for detail. As She's Told is almost obsessive in its descriptions of the equipment he designs to decorate, test and torture his slave. The book includes all the familiar trappings from the BDSM canon: the slave suspended and whipped; the slave plugged with dildos and vibrators but not allowed to come; the slave used as furniture; the slave eating out of a dog bowl; the slave harnessed to a cart and forced to trot and gallop. (Ms. Jacobs also dreams up some more unusual and imaginative kinks, but I won't spoil the impact by describing them here.)
We've seen all these notions before, in Carrie's Story, in the Beauty Trilogy, in The Story of O. The difference is that in As She's Told, these are not treated as fantasy. Ms. Jacob is convincingly realistic in her depictions of what Anders does and how Maia feels. At some level, this book is still a fantasy, a thought experiment exploring how an extreme Master/slave relationship might develop, but the tone demands that the reader take the whole process seriously.
In fact, parts of this book are sufficiently extreme that they may be difficult for some readers. I found that I could not read more than a few chapters at a sitting because, despite my long-time fascination with BDSM, they made me uncomfortable.
This is not (despite some horrified reviews on Amazon.com) a story of abuse. Anders does not negotiate, but he cares for his slave and makes sure that she will not be seriously injured. When he offers his brother, cousin and several women friends free use of Maia's body, he makes sure that they use condoms, even for oral sex. He is giving Maia what she wants, and she is suitably grateful. Still, I wouldn't want Anders for my Master. He's too interested in stripping away Maia's pretensions of being human. He delights in turning her into an animal or even an inanimate object. Toward the end of the novel, Maia spends eight weeks without the use of her hands, sleeping in a stall, forbidden to speak, and worst of all, banished from her Master's bed. I can scarcely imagine this—it sounds too horrible to be endured (far worse than being forbidden to or unable to come). But then, I'm not Maia. Ms. Jacobs managed to make me believe that Maia could and would endure it, in order to please Anders.
As She's Told is not without its faults. It is a long book without much plot. Each chapter pushes new limits, but there's no climax and very little conflict. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, for Maia to rebel or for someone to be hurt or killed, for some revelation or resolution, but in fact nothing much happens. We're led to believe that this relationship will continue, satisfying both of the participants, as they live out their complementary fantasies together. I think that this is Ms. Jacob's point, to suggest that such a relationship could actually exist and that it could be healthy and mutually fulfilling.
I don't know whether I am completely convinced. People change. Maia is very young (she graduates from college in the course of the book) and Anders not much older. Furthermore, it seems that there must be an objective limit to the escalation Anders practices on Maia. My Master and I have debated the question of escalation, the continued pushing of limits. Clearly there must be some point when you can't push any further without doing serious physical harm. What happens then? Do the participants get bored or jaded? Or is it the case that a truly imaginative dominant will never run out of things to do with his slave?
The very fact that I'm thinking about these issues, though, is a tribute to Ms. Jacob's skill. As She's Told is a rare item, a serious novel about BDSM relationships that does not sacrifice realism for titillation. I found it exciting, disturbing and challenging. I just bought a copy for my Master.
March 9, 2010
I have a feeling that this book will stay with me for a very long time. Although extremely thought provoking, I have to say that As She's Told is not for everyone. Anneke Jacob gives readers a Master/slave relationship that is a Total Power Exchange in every sense of the term. It is gritty and sadistic, but I was always keenly aware of the deep love felt between Master and slave.
Maia and Anders are unlike any couple I've ever encountered in all my years of reading. What they share is trusting, raw and painfully honest. These two people feed a need in one another on such a visceral level, the casual BDSM reader isn't going to understand it, much less appreciate it. If you live BDSM on any level, this book is a must read. I can't recommend it enough.
Maia and Anders are unlike any couple I've ever encountered in all my years of reading. What they share is trusting, raw and painfully honest. These two people feed a need in one another on such a visceral level, the casual BDSM reader isn't going to understand it, much less appreciate it. If you live BDSM on any level, this book is a must read. I can't recommend it enough.
May 9, 2013
It's not very often anyone cares to write a story about "a born slave" or someone who's kink is 24/7 slavery.
People tend to look down on it, even people within the BDSM community, which leaves, obviously, a whole niche group reading about brats, and what not. I have to say, Anneke got this so right. I found this book so powerful.
Not a traditional love story, obviously. But both of these characters were up front at the start, and they both got what they set out to get.
I loved it, but it was not for the faint of heart.
People tend to look down on it, even people within the BDSM community, which leaves, obviously, a whole niche group reading about brats, and what not. I have to say, Anneke got this so right. I found this book so powerful.
Not a traditional love story, obviously. But both of these characters were up front at the start, and they both got what they set out to get.
I loved it, but it was not for the faint of heart.
October 27, 2012
- How kinky?
Oh, boy, is it ever! This is a one-stop-shop for all your kinky and BDSM needs. You've got your basic ownership - and I mean real, no-playing ownership of human property - all the way to your physical violence, and pretty much everything that genre entails. There's sensory deprivation, animalisation, psychological torture, philosophy of kink; it's brilliant.
- How sexy?
There are some amazingly intense sex scenes here. But it's not just the sex we kinksters are after, is it? Some of the non-sex scenes are amazingly sexy as well. It's always a subjective minefield, this "sexiness" rating, and of course for every new reader there is another viewpoint. For me ... I had trouble getting past the psychology of the piece. For those readers for whom that presents no obstacle - I wish you wet dreams!
- How inspiring?
Very. This is one thing that Jacob does better than almost anyone else, is the thorough detail she goes into with her scene descriptions. WARNING: There are just so, so many things in this novel that should not be attempted by real-life human people. It is inspiring to fantasy, to a very strong degree, and can give you some wonderful detail to work with if you wish to pick up on a certain point and expand on that with your lover/s. But by no means should these scenes be taken in their entirety and inflicted upon anyone. It's fiction for a reason.
- How engaging?
Reasonably. I am a bit obsessed with reading in general,so of course I found myself picking this one up several times a day and enjoying more. But one of the strong advantages of Jacob's work is also a minor disadvantage: It's very long. By halfway through I was a little bit desensitised to the kinkporn, and wanted something to happen besides punishment. There's not a whole lot in the way of master plot, or character arches here. It's a bit flat, in that sense.
- How well executed?
Very. Jacob has a command of language that surpasses many more established and, well, famous writers. These characters are so well rounded and three dimensional, I feel like they are about to walk through my door. The surroundings are described in detail, and every little bit of hardware, equipment, clothing and paraphernalia is brought to such vivid life, that I find myself astounded - and feeling so very, very lucky and smug - that Jacob could be a kinkporn writer. She's all ours, people! We don't have to share her with mainstream fiction. It is an incredibly rich picture she paints for her readers, and at no point will you find yourself wishing for more detail. This is literary art.
- Negatives?
Okay. Well. Another very subjective topic. In fact, despite that fact that I am such a fan of Jacob's work, I find myself adding this extra "Negatives" section just to critique this book accurately.
This is an incredibly beautiful book, but also extraordinarily difficult to read. I found it as psychologically disturbing as a Stephen King novel. The themes of torture, animalisation, shame and guilt are so strong in this story I found it almost sickening. There is so much shame and guilt here, and so little trust or respect between the main characters, that I felt like I was reading Catholic doctrine (boom-tish).
Seriously, though, I felt that while fictionalising a relationship where the D-type had absolutely no respect or trust for the s-type - and even fetishised his lack of trust for her - is fine in theory, the idea that anyone reading this book could get an inkling that this would be cool or even mildly okay in real life is alarming. I do, of course, realise that we cannot censor our fiction just because some nutjobs think it's real, but it is also true that this lifestyle, this scene does tend to attract some of the more worrying types of nutjobs. I would feel horrified to think of anyone thinking this sort of torture played out on the s-type was reasonable in RL. The overarching theme of the shame and self-hatred that D drums into s every time she gets close to orgasm was disturbing to me. The programming she received to loathe herself for doing natural human things, or for being in any way human, was actually really difficult to read. I found myself wanting to rescue this poor girl, who thought that loving someone and thinking they were physically attractive meant that psychological trauma, and torture almost to the point of mental illness, were okay.
Also, on a personal note, I did feel that the 100% absolute control he required over his s-type showed a paradoxical weakness of character, which led me almost to despise him as the story continued ... but that's probably just my opinion. Who am I to question the National Leather Association :) (sarcasm, sarcasm).
- Overall reaction
I love Jacob's work. No, I really do. It's like viewing a Heironymous Bosch painting - you might find the subject matter disturbing in many ways, but there is no question of the talent of the artist, or the skill required to execute such a work. It is truly wonderful to know that there are kinky writers out there producing such strong, well written stuff for us. If you like kinkporn, if you appreciate excellent wordsmithing, and if you can distance the part of your brain that might want to go whimper in the corner when a small furry animal gets smacked- then I cannot recommend Jacob's work highly enough.
CHECK OUT MY OTHER REVIEWS: http://dirtyfilthybookslut.blogspot.com
Oh, boy, is it ever! This is a one-stop-shop for all your kinky and BDSM needs. You've got your basic ownership - and I mean real, no-playing ownership of human property - all the way to your physical violence, and pretty much everything that genre entails. There's sensory deprivation, animalisation, psychological torture, philosophy of kink; it's brilliant.
- How sexy?
There are some amazingly intense sex scenes here. But it's not just the sex we kinksters are after, is it? Some of the non-sex scenes are amazingly sexy as well. It's always a subjective minefield, this "sexiness" rating, and of course for every new reader there is another viewpoint. For me ... I had trouble getting past the psychology of the piece. For those readers for whom that presents no obstacle - I wish you wet dreams!
- How inspiring?
Very. This is one thing that Jacob does better than almost anyone else, is the thorough detail she goes into with her scene descriptions. WARNING: There are just so, so many things in this novel that should not be attempted by real-life human people. It is inspiring to fantasy, to a very strong degree, and can give you some wonderful detail to work with if you wish to pick up on a certain point and expand on that with your lover/s. But by no means should these scenes be taken in their entirety and inflicted upon anyone. It's fiction for a reason.
- How engaging?
Reasonably. I am a bit obsessed with reading in general,so of course I found myself picking this one up several times a day and enjoying more. But one of the strong advantages of Jacob's work is also a minor disadvantage: It's very long. By halfway through I was a little bit desensitised to the kinkporn, and wanted something to happen besides punishment. There's not a whole lot in the way of master plot, or character arches here. It's a bit flat, in that sense.
- How well executed?
Very. Jacob has a command of language that surpasses many more established and, well, famous writers. These characters are so well rounded and three dimensional, I feel like they are about to walk through my door. The surroundings are described in detail, and every little bit of hardware, equipment, clothing and paraphernalia is brought to such vivid life, that I find myself astounded - and feeling so very, very lucky and smug - that Jacob could be a kinkporn writer. She's all ours, people! We don't have to share her with mainstream fiction. It is an incredibly rich picture she paints for her readers, and at no point will you find yourself wishing for more detail. This is literary art.
- Negatives?
Okay. Well. Another very subjective topic. In fact, despite that fact that I am such a fan of Jacob's work, I find myself adding this extra "Negatives" section just to critique this book accurately.
This is an incredibly beautiful book, but also extraordinarily difficult to read. I found it as psychologically disturbing as a Stephen King novel. The themes of torture, animalisation, shame and guilt are so strong in this story I found it almost sickening. There is so much shame and guilt here, and so little trust or respect between the main characters, that I felt like I was reading Catholic doctrine (boom-tish).
Seriously, though, I felt that while fictionalising a relationship where the D-type had absolutely no respect or trust for the s-type - and even fetishised his lack of trust for her - is fine in theory, the idea that anyone reading this book could get an inkling that this would be cool or even mildly okay in real life is alarming. I do, of course, realise that we cannot censor our fiction just because some nutjobs think it's real, but it is also true that this lifestyle, this scene does tend to attract some of the more worrying types of nutjobs. I would feel horrified to think of anyone thinking this sort of torture played out on the s-type was reasonable in RL. The overarching theme of the shame and self-hatred that D drums into s every time she gets close to orgasm was disturbing to me. The programming she received to loathe herself for doing natural human things, or for being in any way human, was actually really difficult to read. I found myself wanting to rescue this poor girl, who thought that loving someone and thinking they were physically attractive meant that psychological trauma, and torture almost to the point of mental illness, were okay.
Also, on a personal note, I did feel that the 100% absolute control he required over his s-type showed a paradoxical weakness of character, which led me almost to despise him as the story continued ... but that's probably just my opinion. Who am I to question the National Leather Association :) (sarcasm, sarcasm).
- Overall reaction
I love Jacob's work. No, I really do. It's like viewing a Heironymous Bosch painting - you might find the subject matter disturbing in many ways, but there is no question of the talent of the artist, or the skill required to execute such a work. It is truly wonderful to know that there are kinky writers out there producing such strong, well written stuff for us. If you like kinkporn, if you appreciate excellent wordsmithing, and if you can distance the part of your brain that might want to go whimper in the corner when a small furry animal gets smacked- then I cannot recommend Jacob's work highly enough.
CHECK OUT MY OTHER REVIEWS: http://dirtyfilthybookslut.blogspot.com
May 9, 2014
Different... consent for non-consent
This was a whole new idea, never read anything like it though I'm not new to TPE books. This one definitely took it to a whole new level... I do wish there would have been less talk of politics as it is supposed to be an erotic novel which is why it lost a star but otherwise, very good. She gave up all right to give consent (knowingly) and he took it to mad extremes reducing her down to not only slave levels but to base animal levels. Though not all of it was a turn on for me, it definitely was a good read and a long one too.
This was a whole new idea, never read anything like it though I'm not new to TPE books. This one definitely took it to a whole new level... I do wish there would have been less talk of politics as it is supposed to be an erotic novel which is why it lost a star but otherwise, very good. She gave up all right to give consent (knowingly) and he took it to mad extremes reducing her down to not only slave levels but to base animal levels. Though not all of it was a turn on for me, it definitely was a good read and a long one too.
March 30, 2010
One of the most serious BDSM books I have read. Anneke Jacob's exploration of the psycological elements in a master slave relationship is exceptional. Yes, the physical aspects of the relationship are portrayed in extremes; but it is precisely this that allows the emergence of the emotional and intellectual elements that shape both the master and slave mentalities.
In my opinion this book surpasses Anne Rices 'Sleeping Beauty' series. It should be required reading for anyone with a serious interest in the lifestyle.
In my opinion this book surpasses Anne Rices 'Sleeping Beauty' series. It should be required reading for anyone with a serious interest in the lifestyle.
May 2, 2015
I've been wondering how I was going to review this book since about midway through it. I'm still not sure what will end up flowing from my keyboard to this big empty page.
I enjoy BDSM fiction... the taboo of it all. And this book started out feeding what i enjoy. Then it made a right turn into UnbelievableVille and it didn't slow down until it ran right out of the other side of town.
As I said, i enjoy BDSM Fiction, but it has to be plausible... and towards the end of this book plausible was removed from the dictionary.
I understand kinks and fetishes, nothing wrong with them in the least, but, please.. keep is at least a tiny bit real.
The Labia Majora Ring scene. Umm. I understand the power exchange.. or the power flow being all one way. But a little warning for Maia, a tiny heads up, something, would have been nice. "Hey sweetheart, got a friend dropping by to throw 6 10-gauge locking rings through your labia. And to make it fun, you'll be strapped down and gagged.. and panicky, but don't worry, i won't give you anything in the way of comfort. Oh and as an added bonus, how about a nice hole through the septum! What fun! Oh, i'll give in and stroke your hair through that one. But that's it.
After that's done, He is generous enough to get her a drink of water for all her hard work. No, no, not Maia! I mean what did she do other than lay there, right? No the woman that *did* all the work actually *doing* the piercings!
Ahhh, and lets visit the ladies room. Pretty little powder room, and Maia can even reach it while she's chained up. Isn't that nice. And ohh! It beats the chamber pot in the front room by leaps and bounds! Right? Ahhh, hold those pretty little labia rings Maia.. Master has a nice surprise for you! What's this behind door number one?! *pause and re-read... 3 times* A litter box? Really? Oh. Okay then. Lets see how *that* works. Back in, squat, pee. Easy peasy! "Cover it". Cover it? Oh yes, cover it with kitty litter, and is instructed to do that even if her hands are tied behind her back. Yeeaahh. Okay.
I think this book lost me an the trip to the farm. The pony play was taken to such an extreme that I didn't believe it anymore. Not that pony play bothers me, that's not the case at all.. but I want to to at least be plausible. The last bit while they were there when Val and Ria were "riding Maia"... was just utterly ridiculous. No, no.. not because it isn't something that is an actual fetish and I'm sure does happen, but because Maia is described throughout the book, in great detail, of being this tiny little thing. 5'1 or something, and here she has these 2 women putting their full weight on her, riding her, whipping her, and she never crumbles under the weight. She stumbles, but never crumbles. Kinda like a weeble wobble.. she weebled and she wobbled but she never fell down.
She's used to plow a garden spot. Really, little tiny Maia in all her harnesses, weights, etc. She's going to pull a plow through unbroken ground, over and over.
A large Maple slab of wood, made to fit across her back, to help her be a better coffee table.. tiny Maia.
Yes, the farm.. that is where i started skimming. A lot. This book felt like the never ending story, it was ohh so long for a book that page wise wasn't really overly so. It was filled with, well.. a lot of filler.
I didn't give 2 labia rings and a litterbox about some of the over descriptive ramblings that went on in this story. It could have been much shorter and the same book without some of the over descriptiveness.. such as Anders on a job site, measuring, making another cut, etc. Not to mention the conversations he was having with these other people, sometimes you knew who he was talking to, sometimes you didn't and the format of them using > and sometimes >> it was a guessing game, and it was unnecessary usually.
I didn't feel engaged with the other characters. Val & Ria, the whole story could have been improved by running these 2 characters off a cliff early on. Didn't much care for either of these characters, and when it comes down to it, they were just bullies, not Dommes or whatever it was they were suppose to be.
So, you may ask.. was there anything i *did* like about this book? Well yes! Yes, there was!
I enjoyed the beginning when they met and were starting the journey, some of the middle as Anders took more and more control of Maia, this is where descriptive came in quite handy! And quite frankly the end, because it finally ended.
It's a stretch giving this a 3 star review.
I enjoy BDSM fiction... the taboo of it all. And this book started out feeding what i enjoy. Then it made a right turn into UnbelievableVille and it didn't slow down until it ran right out of the other side of town.
As I said, i enjoy BDSM Fiction, but it has to be plausible... and towards the end of this book plausible was removed from the dictionary.
I understand kinks and fetishes, nothing wrong with them in the least, but, please.. keep is at least a tiny bit real.
The Labia Majora Ring scene. Umm. I understand the power exchange.. or the power flow being all one way. But a little warning for Maia, a tiny heads up, something, would have been nice. "Hey sweetheart, got a friend dropping by to throw 6 10-gauge locking rings through your labia. And to make it fun, you'll be strapped down and gagged.. and panicky, but don't worry, i won't give you anything in the way of comfort. Oh and as an added bonus, how about a nice hole through the septum! What fun! Oh, i'll give in and stroke your hair through that one. But that's it.
After that's done, He is generous enough to get her a drink of water for all her hard work. No, no, not Maia! I mean what did she do other than lay there, right? No the woman that *did* all the work actually *doing* the piercings!
Ahhh, and lets visit the ladies room. Pretty little powder room, and Maia can even reach it while she's chained up. Isn't that nice. And ohh! It beats the chamber pot in the front room by leaps and bounds! Right? Ahhh, hold those pretty little labia rings Maia.. Master has a nice surprise for you! What's this behind door number one?! *pause and re-read... 3 times* A litter box? Really? Oh. Okay then. Lets see how *that* works. Back in, squat, pee. Easy peasy! "Cover it". Cover it? Oh yes, cover it with kitty litter, and is instructed to do that even if her hands are tied behind her back. Yeeaahh. Okay.
I think this book lost me an the trip to the farm. The pony play was taken to such an extreme that I didn't believe it anymore. Not that pony play bothers me, that's not the case at all.. but I want to to at least be plausible. The last bit while they were there when Val and Ria were "riding Maia"... was just utterly ridiculous. No, no.. not because it isn't something that is an actual fetish and I'm sure does happen, but because Maia is described throughout the book, in great detail, of being this tiny little thing. 5'1 or something, and here she has these 2 women putting their full weight on her, riding her, whipping her, and she never crumbles under the weight. She stumbles, but never crumbles. Kinda like a weeble wobble.. she weebled and she wobbled but she never fell down.
She's used to plow a garden spot. Really, little tiny Maia in all her harnesses, weights, etc. She's going to pull a plow through unbroken ground, over and over.
A large Maple slab of wood, made to fit across her back, to help her be a better coffee table.. tiny Maia.
Yes, the farm.. that is where i started skimming. A lot. This book felt like the never ending story, it was ohh so long for a book that page wise wasn't really overly so. It was filled with, well.. a lot of filler.
I didn't give 2 labia rings and a litterbox about some of the over descriptive ramblings that went on in this story. It could have been much shorter and the same book without some of the over descriptiveness.. such as Anders on a job site, measuring, making another cut, etc. Not to mention the conversations he was having with these other people, sometimes you knew who he was talking to, sometimes you didn't and the format of them using > and sometimes >> it was a guessing game, and it was unnecessary usually.
I didn't feel engaged with the other characters. Val & Ria, the whole story could have been improved by running these 2 characters off a cliff early on. Didn't much care for either of these characters, and when it comes down to it, they were just bullies, not Dommes or whatever it was they were suppose to be.
So, you may ask.. was there anything i *did* like about this book? Well yes! Yes, there was!
I enjoyed the beginning when they met and were starting the journey, some of the middle as Anders took more and more control of Maia, this is where descriptive came in quite handy! And quite frankly the end, because it finally ended.
It's a stretch giving this a 3 star review.
October 8, 2013
Finished, FINALLY! The second half improved a bit with the addition of more people. I feel like I just climbed ten thousand stairs. Desperately in need of an editor, I found the writing cold and over-intellectualized. I understand what Anneke Jacobs was trying to do,'slaves are people, too!' but it didn't make it any more enjoyable a journey This book is not terrible, but it's certainly not a romance.
Did I find anything offensive? Well, no. Maia did seem to enjoy all her tortures and restrictions, so who am I to judge? Did i find it sexy? For the most part, I did not. There were a few fleeting sexy moments, but the chilly distance make it more like reading an historical tome.
Too long and too dry.
Did I find anything offensive? Well, no. Maia did seem to enjoy all her tortures and restrictions, so who am I to judge? Did i find it sexy? For the most part, I did not. There were a few fleeting sexy moments, but the chilly distance make it more like reading an historical tome.
Too long and too dry.
August 11, 2013
I agree with most of the bad reviews here. The book is fairly well written, but it's sickening. Even in TPE, the master loves the slave, cares about them. This was just a sadist enjoying getting away with crimes against humanity IMO.
May 14, 2011
My bottom line for this book was not that the lifestyle was too extreme for me to appreciate. It was that the depiction of the lifestyle and the relationship between the couple failed to communicate a great deal of erotic passion. Once in a while Jacob allowed her characters to express their pleasure, especially at the beginning of the story, but it was all too brief and (for the most part) not richly described. Perhaps Jacob wanted her audience to feel as frustrated as her 'heroine.' That was certainly the case. In my opinion, the lengthy descriptions of the minutiae of the kink flipped the switch from titillating to tedious before half of the book was read. The writing was elaborate but, on balance, cold.
As to the story, there isn't much of an emotional arc either because from the beginning, Maia, the female lead, stood ready and eager for anything Anders, her master, could dream up to dish out. She reminded me of an Helena looking for a Box (or maybe Total Recall's Kuato in need of an obliging torso). That, in and of itself, would have been okay if the emotions and enjoyment of both parties had been more of a focus. The only real arc in the story is that in which Maia starts out thinking her kink is about sex but "discovers" that it's not all that important to her. No matter how you slice it, there is just no way to conclude that Maia's lifestyle is sexual from her perspective. And Anders' sexual enjoyment, considering the way he has arranged matters, ends up being the real abuse in the story.
Jacob, and her characters, are obviously smart, which I appreciate. But even in that area, the esoteric references were so prevalent as to tip into arrogance. I liked Anders and Maia and, where it happened, their connection and pleasure was somewhat enjoyable to read. It just got drowned out by the mundane (and Anders' rather inexplicable attitude toward Maia's pleasure). I'm sure the threat of the mundane is a danger in real life kink, but it's not what I want to read about. I guess I'm not as willing to be thwarted as Maia. I need my erotica to have more climax.
A final thought... If the pure physicality of Total Power Exchange (strictly a description of bondage...not sex) is of interest to you, you might enjoy this story more than I.
As to the story, there isn't much of an emotional arc either because from the beginning, Maia, the female lead, stood ready and eager for anything Anders, her master, could dream up to dish out. She reminded me of an Helena looking for a Box (or maybe Total Recall's Kuato in need of an obliging torso). That, in and of itself, would have been okay if the emotions and enjoyment of both parties had been more of a focus. The only real arc in the story is that in which Maia starts out thinking her kink is about sex but "discovers" that it's not all that important to her. No matter how you slice it, there is just no way to conclude that Maia's lifestyle is sexual from her perspective. And Anders' sexual enjoyment, considering the way he has arranged matters, ends up being the real abuse in the story.
Jacob, and her characters, are obviously smart, which I appreciate. But even in that area, the esoteric references were so prevalent as to tip into arrogance. I liked Anders and Maia and, where it happened, their connection and pleasure was somewhat enjoyable to read. It just got drowned out by the mundane (and Anders' rather inexplicable attitude toward Maia's pleasure). I'm sure the threat of the mundane is a danger in real life kink, but it's not what I want to read about. I guess I'm not as willing to be thwarted as Maia. I need my erotica to have more climax.
A final thought... If the pure physicality of Total Power Exchange (strictly a description of bondage...not sex) is of interest to you, you might enjoy this story more than I.
May 17, 2012
I can give two very specific reasons why I didn't like Anneke Jacob's book:
1 - “True” slavery doesn't turn me on
2 - There wasn't enough sex.
Anders relentlessly pursues the goal of making Maia his complete slave. He strictly controls everything about her life through cameras, restraints and discipline. We are told repeatedly that Maia is wired to be completely satisfied serving Anders and living the life of humiliation, punishment and isolation. I didn't believe it.
Secondly, Anders' keeps Maia sexually frustrated though use of a chastity belt, genital piercings and other bondage. They almost never have sex and when they do, Maia is not allowed enjoyment. What kind of erotic book doesn't have sex? Or am I suppose to accept his selfishness as a positive? Throughout the book Anders receives daily blow-jobs but Maia is sexually frustrated for weeks at a time. I can accept Anders' enjoyment, living the total fantasy, but Maia? Give me a break!
I believe that even people who want and need to be total slaves need some personal enjoyment and fulfillment to be satisfied. I don't believe anyone could be dehumanized, as described in this story, for any length of time and be emotionally content. I think they would get tired of not being allowed to speak, spending hours being immobile and being locked away in total isolation, Eventually Maia would give-up and leave.
I found it really frustrating that I couldn't enjoy the book because I enjoyed the toys described in the book and really loved the descriptions of Maia's chastity belt and puppy cage.
Basically, this book bored me. I felt very unsatisfied and can not recommend it. See the full review here.
1 - “True” slavery doesn't turn me on
2 - There wasn't enough sex.
Anders relentlessly pursues the goal of making Maia his complete slave. He strictly controls everything about her life through cameras, restraints and discipline. We are told repeatedly that Maia is wired to be completely satisfied serving Anders and living the life of humiliation, punishment and isolation. I didn't believe it.
Secondly, Anders' keeps Maia sexually frustrated though use of a chastity belt, genital piercings and other bondage. They almost never have sex and when they do, Maia is not allowed enjoyment. What kind of erotic book doesn't have sex? Or am I suppose to accept his selfishness as a positive? Throughout the book Anders receives daily blow-jobs but Maia is sexually frustrated for weeks at a time. I can accept Anders' enjoyment, living the total fantasy, but Maia? Give me a break!
I believe that even people who want and need to be total slaves need some personal enjoyment and fulfillment to be satisfied. I don't believe anyone could be dehumanized, as described in this story, for any length of time and be emotionally content. I think they would get tired of not being allowed to speak, spending hours being immobile and being locked away in total isolation, Eventually Maia would give-up and leave.
I found it really frustrating that I couldn't enjoy the book because I enjoyed the toys described in the book and really loved the descriptions of Maia's chastity belt and puppy cage.
Basically, this book bored me. I felt very unsatisfied and can not recommend it. See the full review here.
April 17, 2014
I have had to abandon this book. I had a complete head vs heart dilema happening when reading it and I've had to walk away from it because it was making me so damn uncomfortable! I am going to try to reread it but I need a break. I know that Anders and Maya are both extreme examples of the lifestyle and therefore written to cause the reader to question their own thoughts and feelings. The problem was it was causing me to think too much and so I spent so much time questioning my own thoughts and feelings, I wasnt enjoying the book. I know, in my head, that both of them consent to the arrangement. I know that Anders gives her multiple opportunities to walk away, that he questions her at regular intervals to make sure that she isn't miserable and that it is Maya that dictates the pace of escalation. I even know that Maya craves to be treated like this as much as Anders needs to be in complete control. Unfortunately my heart stepped in. I couldn't help feel repulsed by Ander's actions and then also feel complete distress that someone could think so little of themself, that they didn't feel that they needed a say in their own lives. Everytime he did something that I automatically objected to (e.g. the dog bowl for food) I found the need to question my own reactions, wondering if I was being too judgemental. I love to be challenged but I wasnt enjoying this book because it was too much to process. Reading, to me, is about enjoyment and shouldn't be an endurance test.
I haven't rated it because I havent finished it (yet)
I haven't rated it because I havent finished it (yet)
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January 25, 2010This was the most distasteful book I have ever read. It was so disturbing and perverse that I could not finish it. I don’t understand why anyone would want to be treated less than human. I felt there was something seriously wrong with Maia to allow Anders to treat her that way.
First of why would anybody want to be a slave, sexual or otherwise. My feeling is to round them all up ,ship them to a country where women don't have any rights or freedom and check back with them a year later. I wonder if they still would feel the same.
The humiliation, debasement, degradation and mutilation Maia endured were disgusting. Anders treated her like and animal and I never felt he cared for her at all. If you get off on treating another human being or an animal this way then there is something mentally wrong with you. The book made it sound that Maia and Anders had a relationship and I just could not see it. It seemed that Anders could not decide whether he wanted her to be his dog or his pony. He takes her for a walk like a dog and also has her pull a cart as a pony while he and his also screwed up friends were in the cart.
The book made it sound that both wanted this “relationship” this way. Well our prisons are full with people who wanted, needed and were born feeling this way.
As far as I am concerned Maia would have benefited more from psychiatric care then allowing Anders to use her for his sadistic outlet. She should have been locked up for her own safety.
First of why would anybody want to be a slave, sexual or otherwise. My feeling is to round them all up ,ship them to a country where women don't have any rights or freedom and check back with them a year later. I wonder if they still would feel the same.
The humiliation, debasement, degradation and mutilation Maia endured were disgusting. Anders treated her like and animal and I never felt he cared for her at all. If you get off on treating another human being or an animal this way then there is something mentally wrong with you. The book made it sound that Maia and Anders had a relationship and I just could not see it. It seemed that Anders could not decide whether he wanted her to be his dog or his pony. He takes her for a walk like a dog and also has her pull a cart as a pony while he and his also screwed up friends were in the cart.
The book made it sound that both wanted this “relationship” this way. Well our prisons are full with people who wanted, needed and were born feeling this way.
As far as I am concerned Maia would have benefited more from psychiatric care then allowing Anders to use her for his sadistic outlet. She should have been locked up for her own safety.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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