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Boundaries #1
Hidden Boundaries
When slavery is for life, your only freedom is in your own mind. A young businessman is kidnapped from his own country and sold into slavery. As he fights to retain his sense of self, his sympathetic owner struggles with the role he inherited, but hates. Their relationship is marked by conflict, misunderstandings, and reconciliations.
a modern nation in everything but its centuries-old system of institutionalized slavery. Cor, once on the path to marriage and the inheritance of his father’s business, is now the property of a wealthy landowner and politician. Alcot needed a secretary, but something about the newly enslaved, still defiant man also spoke to his own painful past. Cor can’t understand his generous but strangely contradictory master. Alcot can’t find a way to help Cor adapt to the loss of his freedom. Bound together by law and custom, they must work through the pain that each of them brings to the other.
Hidden Boundaries is a dramatic look at slavery, the loss of personal freedom, and the uses and abuses of power.
a modern nation in everything but its centuries-old system of institutionalized slavery. Cor, once on the path to marriage and the inheritance of his father’s business, is now the property of a wealthy landowner and politician. Alcot needed a secretary, but something about the newly enslaved, still defiant man also spoke to his own painful past. Cor can’t understand his generous but strangely contradictory master. Alcot can’t find a way to help Cor adapt to the loss of his freedom. Bound together by law and custom, they must work through the pain that each of them brings to the other.
Hidden Boundaries is a dramatic look at slavery, the loss of personal freedom, and the uses and abuses of power.
- GenresM M RomanceBDSMRomance
287 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2011
1 person is currently reading
132 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 8, 2013
Cor is attacked and kidnapped from his own country -Trusland - and wakes to find that he is no longer a free man, but is now a slave in a neighboring country - Carhagan - where he has no right of repeal. Sold to an aristocrat, Alcot, who has his own issues with slavery, Cor has difficulties accepting his fate.
Over the course of the novel, Cor is forced to learn, sometimes the hard way (non-explicitly though) the reality of his new life, but also about the symbiotic relationship between a master and a slave. Alcot, through his dealings with Cor, also learns things about himself, as he is forced to look at slavery with an outsider's eye.
Slowly, the feelings they have for the other finally surface, but only after much confusion, pain and personal growth, and only near the very end, leaving the reader with a HFN ending, and the hope of an HEA...
Over the course of the novel, Cor is forced to learn, sometimes the hard way (non-explicitly though) the reality of his new life, but also about the symbiotic relationship between a master and a slave. Alcot, through his dealings with Cor, also learns things about himself, as he is forced to look at slavery with an outsider's eye.
Slowly, the feelings they have for the other finally surface, but only after much confusion, pain and personal growth, and only near the very end, leaving the reader with a HFN ending, and the hope of an HEA...
June 30, 2011
Great book with a setting where human beings are reduced to propriety, where slavery is a social institution supported by laws and by a disregard for basic rights. For a slave the values of freedom and free will must be replaced by submission and obedience.
On this background comes Cor, a man kidnapped and forced into slavery. We assist at his physical, psychological and emotional struggle for survival, his battle with the new identity, the steps that he must take in order to become a "good slave". It's a difficult process, under the direct influence of his master, a slave owner different than the others, but whose actions are often contradictory. The personal boundaries are tested, and the result is something that neither can ignore.
On this background comes Cor, a man kidnapped and forced into slavery. We assist at his physical, psychological and emotional struggle for survival, his battle with the new identity, the steps that he must take in order to become a "good slave". It's a difficult process, under the direct influence of his master, a slave owner different than the others, but whose actions are often contradictory. The personal boundaries are tested, and the result is something that neither can ignore.
July 5, 2011
Cor Montaigne was kidnapped from his hotel and was made slave in the only country in the world where slavery was allowed. He was sold to Jordane Alcott, a slave owner, politician, and land owner who despised the slavery but couldn't do anything but followed his role.
For many years, Cor had to serve his master. Alcott allowed him to be relatively free as long as it's still inside the parameter of slavery law. This led Cor to develop certain feelings to his master. Alcott seemed to have similar feeling, but his social position and past history prevented him to do anything. At one point, when the sexual tension between them seemed to be too thick, Alcott gifted Tomas, a bed slave to Cor, so he could satisfy the personal urges and stayed away from the master.
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A beautifully written novel that touches many subjects: slavery, personal choice, ownerships, social justice, and of course, romance between men.
For many years, Cor had to serve his master. Alcott allowed him to be relatively free as long as it's still inside the parameter of slavery law. This led Cor to develop certain feelings to his master. Alcott seemed to have similar feeling, but his social position and past history prevented him to do anything. At one point, when the sexual tension between them seemed to be too thick, Alcott gifted Tomas, a bed slave to Cor, so he could satisfy the personal urges and stayed away from the master.
.
A beautifully written novel that touches many subjects: slavery, personal choice, ownerships, social justice, and of course, romance between men.
December 3, 2012
This was pretty easy going, as slave stories go. It spans more than 5 years. Cor is the slave who was kidnapped from another country. Alcot, is the master who buys Cor because he wants to save him, even though he is against slavery, he complies with the laws. The story centers more around each of them accepting things as they are as their feelings for each other grow. This was a nice change of pace.
December 22, 2011
This is epic, spans more than 5 years, long, hard to put down, even though it is quite tame. The MCs are Cor and Alcot, slave and master. Alcot buys Cor because he wants to save him, and the whole story is about Cor's long journey to acceptance of his slavery. It's really kind of Zen. He ends up with Alcot at the end, but I think that even takes a backseat to Cor's interior processes. I was kind of expecting it to be sizzlingly hot (shame on me!) but there are no graphic descriptions of sex (even though it does occur).
January 4, 2013
With its homosexual relationships and dominant slavery theme, this powerful well-written novel seems a challenging read for those of us who are in the mainstream. Yet George Orwell’s *1984* hardly slots into the norm and we have no trouble reading about Winston Smith’s brutal torments at the hands of the virtual slave-state known as Big Brother. Most Goodreads members who have read *Hidden Boundaries* classify the novel as M/M (male on male) Romance, but that trivializes a work that may best be described as homosexual literature. The question remains as to whether we really need to make a literary sub-category based on sexual orientation.
The novel is set in an alternate universe, which technically makes the book science fiction, but it reads like SF only in the Orwellian sense. The author would have been wiser to choose, like Orwell, a near-future milieu. As it stands, the Earth-like setting plays such a minor role in the novel that it is essentially irrelevant. What matters is that one despised nation among all the others allows slavery.
Some people become slaves in much the same way as debtors once landed in prison in Victorian England. Fail to pay and you forfeit your freedom. Others are sold into slavery by those who have the right to make that decision, much like the African chiefs who once sold unpopular or unwanted tribe members to passing Arab slavers. Illegal and controversial raids on neighbouring countries garner a few more. The novel explores the fate of Cor, one such captured slave. His name is actually much longer, but slaves may not have impressive sounding identifiers.
As someone entitled to a normal life in his own land, Cor bitterly resents his status as a slave. He resists. The highly ritualized system requires that, like Winston Smith in *1984*, he be made more compliant. A large portion of the novel deals with Cor’s prolonged and painful indoctrination process, which does resemble the horrors of *1984*. Cor has no way to escape, so in some way, he must come to terms with his situation. How he does this is quite startling, yet makes perfect sense within the logic of his hopeless position. His owner is not especially keen on slavery, but an hereditary estate and his role as an elected official require him to take part in the unsavoury system. The complex relationship between Cor and his master makes up the other major aspect of the novel.
McClellan’s approach to the searing moral issues implicit in slavery is both insightful and horrific. Cor’s absolute vulnerability to exploitation of every kind, including the sexual, is appalling and illustrated with some brutal emotionally wrenching scenes. Yet this is not a novel of sadomasochism, nor is it homosexual erotica. We are looking at issues faced today by anyone victimized by human trafficking. Here lies some of the novel’s relevance as a literary work. It manages to illuminate the old historical evils of plantation slavery in the American South (and elsewhere in the New World) and the new evils of human trafficking in the present day. At the same time, it explores the kinds of intricate caring relationships that can emerge even under such inauspicious circumstances.
If you relish a thought-provoking read that will open your eyes to aspects of life you may not be familiar with, *Hidden Boundaries* is highly recommended.
The novel is set in an alternate universe, which technically makes the book science fiction, but it reads like SF only in the Orwellian sense. The author would have been wiser to choose, like Orwell, a near-future milieu. As it stands, the Earth-like setting plays such a minor role in the novel that it is essentially irrelevant. What matters is that one despised nation among all the others allows slavery.
Some people become slaves in much the same way as debtors once landed in prison in Victorian England. Fail to pay and you forfeit your freedom. Others are sold into slavery by those who have the right to make that decision, much like the African chiefs who once sold unpopular or unwanted tribe members to passing Arab slavers. Illegal and controversial raids on neighbouring countries garner a few more. The novel explores the fate of Cor, one such captured slave. His name is actually much longer, but slaves may not have impressive sounding identifiers.
As someone entitled to a normal life in his own land, Cor bitterly resents his status as a slave. He resists. The highly ritualized system requires that, like Winston Smith in *1984*, he be made more compliant. A large portion of the novel deals with Cor’s prolonged and painful indoctrination process, which does resemble the horrors of *1984*. Cor has no way to escape, so in some way, he must come to terms with his situation. How he does this is quite startling, yet makes perfect sense within the logic of his hopeless position. His owner is not especially keen on slavery, but an hereditary estate and his role as an elected official require him to take part in the unsavoury system. The complex relationship between Cor and his master makes up the other major aspect of the novel.
McClellan’s approach to the searing moral issues implicit in slavery is both insightful and horrific. Cor’s absolute vulnerability to exploitation of every kind, including the sexual, is appalling and illustrated with some brutal emotionally wrenching scenes. Yet this is not a novel of sadomasochism, nor is it homosexual erotica. We are looking at issues faced today by anyone victimized by human trafficking. Here lies some of the novel’s relevance as a literary work. It manages to illuminate the old historical evils of plantation slavery in the American South (and elsewhere in the New World) and the new evils of human trafficking in the present day. At the same time, it explores the kinds of intricate caring relationships that can emerge even under such inauspicious circumstances.
If you relish a thought-provoking read that will open your eyes to aspects of life you may not be familiar with, *Hidden Boundaries* is highly recommended.
December 5, 2015
Very good and heartbreaking but it was not easy to read. Cor is a wonderful character and I cared for him from the moment I saw him and that made all that he endured so hard to read, it was painful to see him in trapped in that situation, he had so many breaking points but he does manage to keep going. Alcot was infuriating though, I couldn't get a handle on him until the end but I suppose it makes sense since Cor is also so incredibly confused by him but I did believe he loved him for a long time.
This book was not what I was expecting, I thought is was going to be the usual story about a "nice" master trying to save his slave and instead it was very much the story of Cor, his strength and his survival and how absolutely revolting slavery is. A wonderful surprise.
This book was not what I was expecting, I thought is was going to be the usual story about a "nice" master trying to save his slave and instead it was very much the story of Cor, his strength and his survival and how absolutely revolting slavery is. A wonderful surprise.
December 29, 2014
'Hidden Boundaries' is a compelling exploration of complex issues around compliance and contemplation as Cor a man who has been kidnapped and sold into slavery with no hope of manumission attempts to come to terms with his new life as a slave.
Beautifully written the story is rich in insight of personal struggle to adapt and survive within the brutal regime of slavery (both master and slave).
Cor is purchased by Alcott who wishes to alleviate some of the indignities of slavery and prevent Cor from being 'broken' by the system. However Alcott's attempts are not always successful and he has his own demons to overcome.
Cor struggles to find his own ways of self preservation on a personal journey of anger, pain, fear and acceptance.
Beautifully written the story is rich in insight of personal struggle to adapt and survive within the brutal regime of slavery (both master and slave).
Cor is purchased by Alcott who wishes to alleviate some of the indignities of slavery and prevent Cor from being 'broken' by the system. However Alcott's attempts are not always successful and he has his own demons to overcome.
Cor struggles to find his own ways of self preservation on a personal journey of anger, pain, fear and acceptance.
June 15, 2018
Unfortunately can’t recommend
Good writing technique which is not faint praise, especially in slave fic. Avoids gratuitous and unbelievable sexuality and that is refreshing.
However the main characters and their choices are ultimately not only unlikely but also unlikeable. Both choose to continue participating in and contributing to a slave society when there are alternatives. All in the name of love even though the author attempts to dress it up in bits and snippets of sociology and cultural tolerance. Cause like most books in this trope, the byword is ‘if I get mine, screw everyone else’.
So, not worth the money I paid. Still, writing mechanics are enough that I can’t give it one star.
Good writing technique which is not faint praise, especially in slave fic. Avoids gratuitous and unbelievable sexuality and that is refreshing.
However the main characters and their choices are ultimately not only unlikely but also unlikeable. Both choose to continue participating in and contributing to a slave society when there are alternatives. All in the name of love even though the author attempts to dress it up in bits and snippets of sociology and cultural tolerance. Cause like most books in this trope, the byword is ‘if I get mine, screw everyone else’.
So, not worth the money I paid. Still, writing mechanics are enough that I can’t give it one star.
August 24, 2011
An interesting story that delves into the mindset of a slave as well as the dynamic between a slave and master who both struggle with their individual roles.
Told through Cor's point of view the story details his kidnapping from his homeland, his new life as a slave and his struggles from defiance to acceptance of his servitude and ultimately, love for his master.
A thoughtful book that often made me ache for the characters.
Definitely recommended.
Told through Cor's point of view the story details his kidnapping from his homeland, his new life as a slave and his struggles from defiance to acceptance of his servitude and ultimately, love for his master.
A thoughtful book that often made me ache for the characters.
Definitely recommended.
January 2, 2012
It was really unfomfortable read. The extent of abuse (phisical and mental) Cor had to suffer and all the absurd customs related to slavery were hard to stomack. The first half of the story I had to plough through hoping the novel redeems itself. Eventually it did and even received 4 stars from me, but I wished there were more balance between the angst and joy.
August 25, 2017
McClellan schildert spannend und beklemmend das Schicksal von Corellos Montaigne im fiktiven Carhagen, wo Sklaverei wesentlicher Bestandteil von Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft ist. Lesenswert, bis auf die letzten Kapitel in denen sich der Sklave in seinen Herrn verliebt und das Ganze melodramatische Züge annimmt.
September 5, 2013
I was actually quite confused by this. It's good, but it's definitely not a typical romance. I feel like more focus was on the world than the characters, but at the same time, I'm left with a lot of questions about the universe. Still, I enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews