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First Watch
Do you want to live? In the darkness of a WWI battlefield, young Legionnaire Edouard Montreuil lies dying. As teeth nibble his flesh, a voice whispers, Do you want to live? Frightened and desperate, Edouard bargains his freedom for a second chance.
Aboard the Flèche, a grim submarine captained by the nightmare who granted Edouard new life, Edouard pays the price for his survival. Each night, he gives his body to his captain as the bells sound first watch. But surviving is not living, and as the days stretch into months beneath the waves, Edouard grows desperate for escape.
Can Edouard’s old comrade Farid Ruiz help him break this devil's bargain, or will Ruiz fall to the same fate, trapped beneath the waves at the mercy of a monster whose hunger knows no bounds? Edouard and Ruiz served together once before, and slept together too, but courage and passion failed to save them from the eldritch beasts who roamed the night. This time, the cost of failure is nothing so clean or simple as death, and the spoils of victory are not just life, but love.
Aboard the Flèche, a grim submarine captained by the nightmare who granted Edouard new life, Edouard pays the price for his survival. Each night, he gives his body to his captain as the bells sound first watch. But surviving is not living, and as the days stretch into months beneath the waves, Edouard grows desperate for escape.
Can Edouard’s old comrade Farid Ruiz help him break this devil's bargain, or will Ruiz fall to the same fate, trapped beneath the waves at the mercy of a monster whose hunger knows no bounds? Edouard and Ruiz served together once before, and slept together too, but courage and passion failed to save them from the eldritch beasts who roamed the night. This time, the cost of failure is nothing so clean or simple as death, and the spoils of victory are not just life, but love.
56 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
June 9, 2015
Bam! A head-on collision of kink and sweetly constructed narrative.
Kink lost.
This is a great book: it's well-written, with complex characters and an interesting world. Four stars for Hansen's craft.
But here's the thing. I like tentacles a whole bunch and this isn't the story I wanted to read. I wanted to read the story where the Captain saves Edouard and introduces him to the delights of needle-sharp teeth and forceful suckers. I wanted burgeoning depravity and pain, forced orgasms and prostate milking. I wanted to read Edouard's slow realization that there is no escape. A story where the captain shares him with the crew in a giant, glutinous gangbang.
So for me, this is like . . . anti-kink? And gave me a whole bucket of sad.
So those stars up there are stars of frustration. And not because this isn't a good book.
Kink lost.
This is a great book: it's well-written, with complex characters and an interesting world. Four stars for Hansen's craft.
But here's the thing. I like tentacles a whole bunch and this isn't the story I wanted to read. I wanted to read the story where the Captain saves Edouard and introduces him to the delights of needle-sharp teeth and forceful suckers. I wanted burgeoning depravity and pain, forced orgasms and prostate milking. I wanted to read Edouard's slow realization that there is no escape. A story where the captain shares him with the crew in a giant, glutinous gangbang.
So for me, this is like . . . anti-kink? And gave me a whole bucket of sad.
So those stars up there are stars of frustration. And not because this isn't a good book.
June 19, 2015
Historical love story with non-con monster sex? Implied, perhaps.
I liked the plot a lot. I guess going into to it I had different expectations of what was going to happen. The ideas, progression, and pace were spot on. Yet, I didn't feel compelled while reading this. I could put it down and walk away then wander back and away again.
Big win was the lovely descriptives.
3.5 Stars
Favorite quote:
I liked the plot a lot. I guess going into to it I had different expectations of what was going to happen. The ideas, progression, and pace were spot on. Yet, I didn't feel compelled while reading this. I could put it down and walk away then wander back and away again.
Big win was the lovely descriptives.
3.5 Stars
Favorite quote:
“I thought I could kill all of the bastards, and then the good men would rise to the top. But all I got were more bastards.”
November 3, 2011
CAUTION: Spoilers
First Watch is really more of a horror story than a romance because the romance was slim. I felt little chemistry between Edouard and Ruiz. Actually, even the horror part failed to horrify me. FW tried to retain an air of mystery, but instead retained a fog of confusion.
It wasn't the writing that confused me — the writing was decent, it was the plot that confused me. At the end, I was left thinking "What? Is this all there is? Bummer."
FW is told in the 3rd POV from Edouard's perspective. The story starts with Edouard writing a letter to Ruiz before Edouard meets the Captain with the tentacles for some dubious consented sex. The story ended at best a HFN, and overall left me baffled. I don't recommend FW for readers who like their stories straightforward or have a HEA.
If you're hoping to read this for sex scenes with the tentacles, there's none. Well, there is foreplay, but for the actual sex, it's fade to black. As for the sex between Edouard and Ruiz, it's near the end but only the BJ part is in graphic detail. My point? Freaky erotica, this story is definitely not. Yeah, bummer, I know. Not recommending FW for the hot sex either.
BTW, it's Edouard that is on the cover-art. On the bright side, the cover-art looks awesome (even though my friend think it's horrible). He he he. =P
SPOILERS!
I had a hard time deciding whether it was rape or dubcon-sex that was going on between Edouard and Captain Tentacle (this is what I'm going to call him from here on out, we never knows his name because he was always referred to as "the captain"). Ultimately I decide it was dubcon-sex and not rape because Edouard could have escape or said no or whatever, instead Edouard came to Captain Tentacle for the sex without being psychically forced and psychologically abused — at least none that I could see or read between the lines.
I'm still confused as to why Edouard couldn't just leave the cursed submarine. Was there a spell or would Captain Tentacle just stalk and kidnap him back? It seem like Edouard could easily leave the submarine as he did when he went to meet Ruiz. I don't know why Edouard couldn't just leave, if only temporarily, to find a magician or some sort of supernatural expert to help him deal with his Captain Tentacle problem.
Actually, near the end Captain Tentacle did allowed Edouard to leave.
I was sorely disappointed when I read Ruiz trying stab Captain Tentacle to dispel the "curse" was the gay couple's plan. Really? I expected some scheming and subterfuge to be involved, you know, like an actual plan. But no no, all they (or Ruiz actually) did was got a knife and try to go stabby-stabby on the Captain.
Figures that the plan would failed and they had to go with plan B, i.e. bombing the place. Don't ask me why they didn't just bomb the place in the first place. Ugg.
Actually, I ended up sympathizing the "villain," i.e. Captain Tentacle. Poor guy just wanted some freaky-tentacley sex from the hot French man that he saved from the battlefield. Sure, the Captain did it in a way that wasn't morally right but, dude, Edouard got a spell on his body *points to the green letters on Edouard's body on the cover-art* that makes him near immortal. And I'll say it again, the Captain did allowed Edouard to leave. I got the impression that Captain Tentacle sincerely did love Edouard.
If the author was trying to villanize the tentacle people, he failed. Seems to me that the tentacle people was just trying to become human or human-like to live on land. (I think.) Not sure why the tentacle-people used such an unethical way to do so, but they didn't seem evil to me.
Overall, I was mostly indifferent to Edouard and Ruiz, and I pitied Captain Tentacle.
First Watch is really more of a horror story than a romance because the romance was slim. I felt little chemistry between Edouard and Ruiz. Actually, even the horror part failed to horrify me. FW tried to retain an air of mystery, but instead retained a fog of confusion.
It wasn't the writing that confused me — the writing was decent, it was the plot that confused me. At the end, I was left thinking "What? Is this all there is? Bummer."
FW is told in the 3rd POV from Edouard's perspective. The story starts with Edouard writing a letter to Ruiz before Edouard meets the Captain with the tentacles for some dubious consented sex. The story ended at best a HFN, and overall left me baffled. I don't recommend FW for readers who like their stories straightforward or have a HEA.
If you're hoping to read this for sex scenes with the tentacles, there's none. Well, there is foreplay, but for the actual sex, it's fade to black. As for the sex between Edouard and Ruiz, it's near the end but only the BJ part is in graphic detail. My point? Freaky erotica, this story is definitely not. Yeah, bummer, I know. Not recommending FW for the hot sex either.
BTW, it's Edouard that is on the cover-art. On the bright side, the cover-art looks awesome (even though my friend think it's horrible). He he he. =P
SPOILERS!
I had a hard time deciding whether it was rape or dubcon-sex that was going on between Edouard and Captain Tentacle (this is what I'm going to call him from here on out, we never knows his name because he was always referred to as "the captain"). Ultimately I decide it was dubcon-sex and not rape because Edouard could have escape or said no or whatever, instead Edouard came to Captain Tentacle for the sex without being psychically forced and psychologically abused — at least none that I could see or read between the lines.
I'm still confused as to why Edouard couldn't just leave the cursed submarine. Was there a spell or would Captain Tentacle just stalk and kidnap him back? It seem like Edouard could easily leave the submarine as he did when he went to meet Ruiz. I don't know why Edouard couldn't just leave, if only temporarily, to find a magician or some sort of supernatural expert to help him deal with his Captain Tentacle problem.
Actually, near the end Captain Tentacle did allowed Edouard to leave.
"Go ashore at Sardinia. No more promises of staying under the water with me."But Edouard didn't... Well, Ruiz was imprisoned, but I think Edouard could have pleaded for Ruiz. Hell, Edouard could have asked to leave at the start of the story. >.>"
"No more," Edouard agree. "But I'll come back to you."
I was sorely disappointed when I read Ruiz trying stab Captain Tentacle to dispel the "curse" was the gay couple's plan. Really? I expected some scheming and subterfuge to be involved, you know, like an actual plan. But no no, all they (or Ruiz actually) did was got a knife and try to go stabby-stabby on the Captain.
Figures that the plan would failed and they had to go with plan B, i.e. bombing the place. Don't ask me why they didn't just bomb the place in the first place. Ugg.
Actually, I ended up sympathizing the "villain," i.e. Captain Tentacle. Poor guy just wanted some freaky-tentacley sex from the hot French man that he saved from the battlefield. Sure, the Captain did it in a way that wasn't morally right but, dude, Edouard got a spell on his body *points to the green letters on Edouard's body on the cover-art* that makes him near immortal. And I'll say it again, the Captain did allowed Edouard to leave. I got the impression that Captain Tentacle sincerely did love Edouard.
If the author was trying to villanize the tentacle people, he failed. Seems to me that the tentacle people was just trying to become human or human-like to live on land. (I think.) Not sure why the tentacle-people used such an unethical way to do so, but they didn't seem evil to me.
Overall, I was mostly indifferent to Edouard and Ruiz, and I pitied Captain Tentacle.
October 28, 2011
4.5 stars.
Peter Hansen is a new writer in this genre, yet it is immediately apparent that he is not a new author (Peter Hansen is a pseudonym for an un-named established sci-fi/fantasy author) as his writing is smooth, and evenly paced, with snippets of information dropped here and there, luring the reader in as the story unfolds. There is much to admire in this gritty dark story, but I feel that this story is merely the opening salvo for what is to come.
Edouard Montreuil lies dying on a WWI battlefield when an offer is made in exchange for saving his life. Desperate and determined to live, he accepts the offer, little knowing what the future would entail.
After a year of serving his nightmare of a 'savior' on the submarine Flèche, he sends an urgent message to his friend and former lover Farid, with the aim of asking him for help to break the contract of his service, knowing full well that it may cost him his life.
With Farid's arrival on the scene, we learn a little more about Edouard's shared past with Farid, and also how he came to be in this position. We also gain more background of Hansen's world in the 1920's. However, it really is only a few fragments that the reader must piece together, while much remains a mystery.
The novel ends without a clear conclusion with many details left to the reader to decide what had happened. This will no doubt frustrate many, including me to some extent. That said though, I cannot help but feel this is merely an introduction to Hansen's diesel-steampunk world and I can only hope that more novels will soon be following this novel. (I also hope that they will have a higher word count too, as it took me less than 30 minutes to read it through.)
Peter Hansen is a new writer in this genre, yet it is immediately apparent that he is not a new author (Peter Hansen is a pseudonym for an un-named established sci-fi/fantasy author) as his writing is smooth, and evenly paced, with snippets of information dropped here and there, luring the reader in as the story unfolds. There is much to admire in this gritty dark story, but I feel that this story is merely the opening salvo for what is to come.
Edouard Montreuil lies dying on a WWI battlefield when an offer is made in exchange for saving his life. Desperate and determined to live, he accepts the offer, little knowing what the future would entail.
After a year of serving his nightmare of a 'savior' on the submarine Flèche, he sends an urgent message to his friend and former lover Farid, with the aim of asking him for help to break the contract of his service, knowing full well that it may cost him his life.
With Farid's arrival on the scene, we learn a little more about Edouard's shared past with Farid, and also how he came to be in this position. We also gain more background of Hansen's world in the 1920's. However, it really is only a few fragments that the reader must piece together, while much remains a mystery.
The novel ends without a clear conclusion with many details left to the reader to decide what had happened. This will no doubt frustrate many, including me to some extent. That said though, I cannot help but feel this is merely an introduction to Hansen's diesel-steampunk world and I can only hope that more novels will soon be following this novel. (I also hope that they will have a higher word count too, as it took me less than 30 minutes to read it through.)
October 23, 2011
Review posted at Brief Encounters Reviews
“My dear Farid Ruiz,” Edouard Montreuil writes, “…I beseech you plainly…Come to Tarifa with all speed.” Locked for a year in a dark and stifling submarine, Edouard continues to suffer the bargain he made to a creature of shadow as he lay in pieces on a battlefield. When the whisper asked if he wanted to live, he agreed that he’d do anything not to die. That wish comes back to haunt him as he serves his life sentence, to give of his body nightly until his death. He barely hides his revulsion as tentacles slither over and in him nightly. His master splits his skin at any displeasure to show the places he was stitched back together after the battlefield. He has tried to run before, but the creature has time and the desire to search anywhere for him. So Edouard calls on Ruiz, the man who once served at his side and shared his bed, hoping not only for a plan to kill his master, but for a return of Ruiz to his life.
I was very satisfied with the writing in this story, which is dynamic, inventive, plays quite a bit with tone and mood, and really makes you work for the story. Not only are we dropped into a story that seems to be a complex new world that only somewhat mirrors our own (and in the 1920s no less), but there is a breadth of history between Ruiz and Edouard, and even between the two and the creature(s). I like that I was forced to work the put the pieces together — it keeps me from becoming a lazy reader. I was also very happy to see just how much of this story relies on perception in reference to the mood. The tone of the writing is incredibly dark, almost hopeless, yet always seen from the POV of Edouard. Until Ruiz is too far into the plan to turn back, he seems almost happy-go-lucky, only partially touched by the terrible things they’ve seen at war. I thought it was done very well, and along with many other things (i.e. the creature only ever barely being described physically) it certainly made the story suspenseful.
I didn’t feel like I got to know very much about Ruiz and Edouard. Their history is mostly shrouded in mystery, as well as their relationship and personalities, as there isn’t much time during or after the (I will say) somewhat-partial resolution of the story to get to know them well. Some readers might not be satisfied without a tidy ending and with several unanswered questions, but I didn’t mind. I suspect room is being left open for more, which I will be more than happy to read. However, I would probably be more satisfied with a longer story next time around. There is so much detail here that little bits here and there might get tedious and feel like pieces of a long story (that is, of course, if this doesn’t remain a standalone, as it is now).
All in all, a very good story from an author who is new to me. For creep factor alone, I’ll give it a B!
“My dear Farid Ruiz,” Edouard Montreuil writes, “…I beseech you plainly…Come to Tarifa with all speed.” Locked for a year in a dark and stifling submarine, Edouard continues to suffer the bargain he made to a creature of shadow as he lay in pieces on a battlefield. When the whisper asked if he wanted to live, he agreed that he’d do anything not to die. That wish comes back to haunt him as he serves his life sentence, to give of his body nightly until his death. He barely hides his revulsion as tentacles slither over and in him nightly. His master splits his skin at any displeasure to show the places he was stitched back together after the battlefield. He has tried to run before, but the creature has time and the desire to search anywhere for him. So Edouard calls on Ruiz, the man who once served at his side and shared his bed, hoping not only for a plan to kill his master, but for a return of Ruiz to his life.
I was very satisfied with the writing in this story, which is dynamic, inventive, plays quite a bit with tone and mood, and really makes you work for the story. Not only are we dropped into a story that seems to be a complex new world that only somewhat mirrors our own (and in the 1920s no less), but there is a breadth of history between Ruiz and Edouard, and even between the two and the creature(s). I like that I was forced to work the put the pieces together — it keeps me from becoming a lazy reader. I was also very happy to see just how much of this story relies on perception in reference to the mood. The tone of the writing is incredibly dark, almost hopeless, yet always seen from the POV of Edouard. Until Ruiz is too far into the plan to turn back, he seems almost happy-go-lucky, only partially touched by the terrible things they’ve seen at war. I thought it was done very well, and along with many other things (i.e. the creature only ever barely being described physically) it certainly made the story suspenseful.
I didn’t feel like I got to know very much about Ruiz and Edouard. Their history is mostly shrouded in mystery, as well as their relationship and personalities, as there isn’t much time during or after the (I will say) somewhat-partial resolution of the story to get to know them well. Some readers might not be satisfied without a tidy ending and with several unanswered questions, but I didn’t mind. I suspect room is being left open for more, which I will be more than happy to read. However, I would probably be more satisfied with a longer story next time around. There is so much detail here that little bits here and there might get tedious and feel like pieces of a long story (that is, of course, if this doesn’t remain a standalone, as it is now).
All in all, a very good story from an author who is new to me. For creep factor alone, I’ll give it a B!
December 21, 2014
When the one you want to win loses, it becomes a disappointing ending. This is a 3.5 star for me. Edouard is a bad boy. He signed his soul away and needs to pay for his bargain. Rather than graciously submitting to the "monster" with tentacles, he tries to find a way to kill the monster.
I felt bad for the monster. The forces sexual violation of Edouard is delicious. YAY for tentacle sex and unwanted anal probing. Woot! I only wished Mr. Hansen wrote it more graphic and more whimpering from Edouard.
This story is well written in a tight manner. It flowed smoothly. The characters were well developed. Just the wrong ones succeeded in my personal opinion. I like my stories which start out in this manner to be darker. I want the monster with the tentacles to really punish the badly behaving boys. I want sounding. I lust for screams of mercy whilst the bad boy ejaculates with unwilling pleasure. Where is the public humiliation? Hmmm, I guess I'm a bit too depraved.
For those who enjoy m/m tentacle sex with a hint of darkness, this is the story for you.
I felt bad for the monster. The forces sexual violation of Edouard is delicious. YAY for tentacle sex and unwanted anal probing. Woot! I only wished Mr. Hansen wrote it more graphic and more whimpering from Edouard.
This story is well written in a tight manner. It flowed smoothly. The characters were well developed. Just the wrong ones succeeded in my personal opinion. I like my stories which start out in this manner to be darker. I want the monster with the tentacles to really punish the badly behaving boys. I want sounding. I lust for screams of mercy whilst the bad boy ejaculates with unwilling pleasure. Where is the public humiliation? Hmmm, I guess I'm a bit too depraved.
For those who enjoy m/m tentacle sex with a hint of darkness, this is the story for you.
November 17, 2011
Originally posted at Romance Around the Corner
Confession time! I totally judged this book by its cover and that's the only reason I read it. I mean, how can you look at that and not want to read what’s inside? So I got it and I was ready for a parade of tentacle-sex WTFckery. Instead, I got a very interesting and well written horror story that kept me on the edge of my seat and only freaked me out a bit. Yes, there’s tentacle-sex, but the craziness level is surprisingly low once you get used to the monster.
Edouard Montreuil was mortally wounded during battle when a voice asked him if he wanted to live. He said yes without knowing that the voice belonged to a monster who wanted something in exchange. Ever since then he’s been part of the crew of the Flèche, a submarine captained by the same monster that saved his life, cured his wounds and now demands that Edouard surrenders his body every night. The Captain is an otherworldly creature that disguises itself as human by hiding his tentacles and real appearance under human flesh.
After living like this for over a year, Edouard decides to do something about it. While on shore he calls his old friend, Farid Ruiz, and asks him for help. Ruiz and Edouard used to be Legionnaires and served together under another kind of monster, a human one. They care for each other and even though Edouard doesn’t tell Ruiz exactly what they are about to face, Ruiz decides to help him. But will they succeed? The Captain isn’t the only monster on board of the Flèche and he isn’t the only one who wants a piece of Edouard, so their escape depends on a very weak plan and whole bunch of luck.
As you can probably tell this novella is full of suspense and horror. The whole story is interesting and gripping, once I started I couldn’t stop reading and it was impossible for me to tell whether this was going to end well or not. It isn’t a nice and light read, though, there are uncomfortable subjects like dubious-consent sex and child abuse, they take place off camera but just the fact that they are mentioned was enough to make me feel bad. I don’t think that the violence was gratuitous, but I understand how this isn’t a book for everyone.
The relationship between Edouard and the Captain was complex to say the least. There was something the Captain needed from Edouard, but I’m not so sure exactly what that was. Some things are hinted at but never explained and this became annoying. I’m not sure if the sexual aspect of their relationship was dub-con sex or just plain rape (although, honestly, I don’t particularly get the difference between the two). Edouard was more bothered by the fact that he wasn’t free than by the actual sex, in fact, at times he seemed to enjoy it. Perhaps the dubious nature of their relationship was because Edouard had no choice and after one year he was used to it and was able to tune it out. I’m defining it as rape, because rape isn’t about sex as much as it is about control and power, and that’s exactly what was going on in the book. But again, I’m not sure if the Captain was getting sexual pleasure from the encounters or something more vital to him, maybe he was getting both.
There’s an air of mystery surrounding the book and the author never tells, always shows, so you need to read the whole thing to get the overall picture, and even then, there were things left unexplained. This made the story slightly confusing although by the end of it I had a pretty clear picture of what was going on. So pay attention to the book because you don’t want to miss anything.
My main issue with the story was that I never quite understood what was keeping Edouard from escaping. There’s some contract/spell written on his body that binds him to the monster, at least that’s what it seemed to me, but how does it work? The Captain kept talking about how he will always find Edouard, no matter where he hides, so that’s why I think the contract plays some important part into that, but it’s never explained. So by the end of the book I wasn’t sure how I should feel about the resolution. I don’t want to spoil the ending, but it’s more of a happy-for-now story.
The book is dark, and it reads more like a horror story than a romance, in fact, the romance is so scarce that I wasn’t even sure if Edouard and Ruiz had some type of romantic involvement in the past or if they had feelings for each other now. The sex isn’t particularly explicit but I’m giving this one a McBurning just because of the nature of the scenes. I loved both Edouard and Ruiz, there was a lot of chemistry between them, and even though their relationship isn’t really clear (nothing in the book is) by the end of the book I was sure that they truly cared for each other.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It wasn’t what I expected and I’m glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and read it. If you can see past the ick factor of the tentacle sex (and this happens off-camera so don’t worry about having to deal with a graphic scene) then I think you should go for it. I enjoyed it a lot and I can’t wait to read more from this talented author. I also hope there’s a sequel because I have a lot of questions left and I want some answers. As long as you know what you’re getting into then you should enjoy it as well.
Confession time! I totally judged this book by its cover and that's the only reason I read it. I mean, how can you look at that and not want to read what’s inside? So I got it and I was ready for a parade of tentacle-sex WTFckery. Instead, I got a very interesting and well written horror story that kept me on the edge of my seat and only freaked me out a bit. Yes, there’s tentacle-sex, but the craziness level is surprisingly low once you get used to the monster.
Edouard Montreuil was mortally wounded during battle when a voice asked him if he wanted to live. He said yes without knowing that the voice belonged to a monster who wanted something in exchange. Ever since then he’s been part of the crew of the Flèche, a submarine captained by the same monster that saved his life, cured his wounds and now demands that Edouard surrenders his body every night. The Captain is an otherworldly creature that disguises itself as human by hiding his tentacles and real appearance under human flesh.
After living like this for over a year, Edouard decides to do something about it. While on shore he calls his old friend, Farid Ruiz, and asks him for help. Ruiz and Edouard used to be Legionnaires and served together under another kind of monster, a human one. They care for each other and even though Edouard doesn’t tell Ruiz exactly what they are about to face, Ruiz decides to help him. But will they succeed? The Captain isn’t the only monster on board of the Flèche and he isn’t the only one who wants a piece of Edouard, so their escape depends on a very weak plan and whole bunch of luck.
As you can probably tell this novella is full of suspense and horror. The whole story is interesting and gripping, once I started I couldn’t stop reading and it was impossible for me to tell whether this was going to end well or not. It isn’t a nice and light read, though, there are uncomfortable subjects like dubious-consent sex and child abuse, they take place off camera but just the fact that they are mentioned was enough to make me feel bad. I don’t think that the violence was gratuitous, but I understand how this isn’t a book for everyone.
The relationship between Edouard and the Captain was complex to say the least. There was something the Captain needed from Edouard, but I’m not so sure exactly what that was. Some things are hinted at but never explained and this became annoying. I’m not sure if the sexual aspect of their relationship was dub-con sex or just plain rape (although, honestly, I don’t particularly get the difference between the two). Edouard was more bothered by the fact that he wasn’t free than by the actual sex, in fact, at times he seemed to enjoy it. Perhaps the dubious nature of their relationship was because Edouard had no choice and after one year he was used to it and was able to tune it out. I’m defining it as rape, because rape isn’t about sex as much as it is about control and power, and that’s exactly what was going on in the book. But again, I’m not sure if the Captain was getting sexual pleasure from the encounters or something more vital to him, maybe he was getting both.
There’s an air of mystery surrounding the book and the author never tells, always shows, so you need to read the whole thing to get the overall picture, and even then, there were things left unexplained. This made the story slightly confusing although by the end of it I had a pretty clear picture of what was going on. So pay attention to the book because you don’t want to miss anything.
My main issue with the story was that I never quite understood what was keeping Edouard from escaping. There’s some contract/spell written on his body that binds him to the monster, at least that’s what it seemed to me, but how does it work? The Captain kept talking about how he will always find Edouard, no matter where he hides, so that’s why I think the contract plays some important part into that, but it’s never explained. So by the end of the book I wasn’t sure how I should feel about the resolution. I don’t want to spoil the ending, but it’s more of a happy-for-now story.
The book is dark, and it reads more like a horror story than a romance, in fact, the romance is so scarce that I wasn’t even sure if Edouard and Ruiz had some type of romantic involvement in the past or if they had feelings for each other now. The sex isn’t particularly explicit but I’m giving this one a McBurning just because of the nature of the scenes. I loved both Edouard and Ruiz, there was a lot of chemistry between them, and even though their relationship isn’t really clear (nothing in the book is) by the end of the book I was sure that they truly cared for each other.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It wasn’t what I expected and I’m glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and read it. If you can see past the ick factor of the tentacle sex (and this happens off-camera so don’t worry about having to deal with a graphic scene) then I think you should go for it. I enjoyed it a lot and I can’t wait to read more from this talented author. I also hope there’s a sequel because I have a lot of questions left and I want some answers. As long as you know what you’re getting into then you should enjoy it as well.
November 14, 2011
I’m not really sure what category First Watch falls into, more sci-fi than anything else with a somewhat vague romantic thread and ending. I quite like the writing and the sci-fi bent with Edouard endebted to some sea creature for his life but the ending feels too easy and the romance feels thrown in and rushed. Despite these stumbles, I think First Watch stands out as unique, captivating, and worth reading. I’m interested to see what else the author has to offer but I’m leery about anything with a pseudo romance attached. I think the sci-fi elements are considerably stronger and better executed than the romantic additions.
The story starts with Edouard on his way to report to the captain for “duty.” This of course involves submitting to the many tentacles of the captain with all the various mouths and teeth. It’s immediately creepy, fascinating, and I couldn’t look away. Thankfully the story doesn’t go into too much detail but what it does offer is really well done. From there we eventually learn that Edouard was saved from death by this creature and therefore bound to him for eternal life. The creature uses Edouard for sex (I think) and Edouard calls upon his old friend Ruiz to help him kill the creature.
First off the creature is so creepy and well done that I immediately loved it. The story offers just enough details without giving too many so the captain is shrouded in mystery. It’s the writing equivalent of a dark, scary movie where there is almost never any light but the shadows move enough to scare you and get your imagination going. It’s not gruesome or horrific so much as simply ominous. We never learn exactly what kind of creature the captain is but probably some kind of mutant octopus with a thing for human men.
The plot is pretty basic with a few too stupid to live moments, such as Ruiz’s botched assassination attempt, but for the most part the writing helps make up for any stumbles in logic. The characters are pretty thin and flat as the story doesn’t really waste much time or energy trying to flesh them out. The main focus of the short story is definitely the captain and the situation Edouard is in. There are brief mental forays into the past to explain how Edouard and Ruiz met, but other than that the story stays firmly on showing their actions without a lot of explanation of their character.
Part of this is why the pseudo romance doesn’t really work for me. Because the characters are so thin and not really brought to life, their connection feels more of old time friends helping each other than old lovers trying to reconnect. Edouard and Ruiz supposedly have a romantic past but this is told to the reader and only the last sex scene shows any emotion between the two. This last scene feels tacked on and artificial. I didn’t really feel any chemistry between Edouard and Ruiz and in fact felt more confused emotion between Edouard and the captain.
Overall I liked reading First Watch but definitely more for the science fiction angle than for the romance. The first is well done with some really inspired writing and imagination while the second feels manipulated and added in rather than natural and fitting with the story. I’d be interested to read what the author does next as long as it has a sci-fi bent.
The story starts with Edouard on his way to report to the captain for “duty.” This of course involves submitting to the many tentacles of the captain with all the various mouths and teeth. It’s immediately creepy, fascinating, and I couldn’t look away. Thankfully the story doesn’t go into too much detail but what it does offer is really well done. From there we eventually learn that Edouard was saved from death by this creature and therefore bound to him for eternal life. The creature uses Edouard for sex (I think) and Edouard calls upon his old friend Ruiz to help him kill the creature.
First off the creature is so creepy and well done that I immediately loved it. The story offers just enough details without giving too many so the captain is shrouded in mystery. It’s the writing equivalent of a dark, scary movie where there is almost never any light but the shadows move enough to scare you and get your imagination going. It’s not gruesome or horrific so much as simply ominous. We never learn exactly what kind of creature the captain is but probably some kind of mutant octopus with a thing for human men.
The plot is pretty basic with a few too stupid to live moments, such as Ruiz’s botched assassination attempt, but for the most part the writing helps make up for any stumbles in logic. The characters are pretty thin and flat as the story doesn’t really waste much time or energy trying to flesh them out. The main focus of the short story is definitely the captain and the situation Edouard is in. There are brief mental forays into the past to explain how Edouard and Ruiz met, but other than that the story stays firmly on showing their actions without a lot of explanation of their character.
Part of this is why the pseudo romance doesn’t really work for me. Because the characters are so thin and not really brought to life, their connection feels more of old time friends helping each other than old lovers trying to reconnect. Edouard and Ruiz supposedly have a romantic past but this is told to the reader and only the last sex scene shows any emotion between the two. This last scene feels tacked on and artificial. I didn’t really feel any chemistry between Edouard and Ruiz and in fact felt more confused emotion between Edouard and the captain.
Overall I liked reading First Watch but definitely more for the science fiction angle than for the romance. The first is well done with some really inspired writing and imagination while the second feels manipulated and added in rather than natural and fitting with the story. I’d be interested to read what the author does next as long as it has a sci-fi bent.
Read
November 25, 2011A strange mix of fantasy and gothic and historical, First Watch was probably not really a romance but more the story of a very special friendship. Edouard made a big mistake when he accepted to “sell” his soul to a monster; he is now paying with his life, and his body, his debt and he is searching in every way to find a way to escape. Farid is his last chance.
The strange thing is that, first of all I feel a little of selfishness in Edouard, true, he is in a very bad situation and alone he has no chance to escape, but he practically dragged Farid in his own nightmare, with very little chance to success. And if I understood correctly, Farid was not even Edouard first choice, but more or less the only one who answered Edouard’s plea for help. Edouard and Farid were lovers when they were together as Legionnaire, but that is not the reason why Edouard contacted Farid, I didn’t have the feeling they were lost lovers hoping to meet again, I think it’s more that Edouard considers Farid crazy enough to embark in a desperate mission.
The fact that Edouard and Farid were not your usual perfect romance heroes made this novella even more interesting, it had a strange dryness and a feeling of crazy men without future and right for that reason willing to risk their life for little more than the thrill of adventure. The dryness was given by their attitude, to give you an example, Edouard is repeatedly raped by the monster (even if you don’t directly read about that, it’s only referred), but he is not a chaos of emotions, he has more a cold hate and a desire of find a way out. Strange is that I had no the feeling Edouard or Fard were cold or without heart, but more that they were able to control their emotions.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0060OIM00/?...
The strange thing is that, first of all I feel a little of selfishness in Edouard, true, he is in a very bad situation and alone he has no chance to escape, but he practically dragged Farid in his own nightmare, with very little chance to success. And if I understood correctly, Farid was not even Edouard first choice, but more or less the only one who answered Edouard’s plea for help. Edouard and Farid were lovers when they were together as Legionnaire, but that is not the reason why Edouard contacted Farid, I didn’t have the feeling they were lost lovers hoping to meet again, I think it’s more that Edouard considers Farid crazy enough to embark in a desperate mission.
The fact that Edouard and Farid were not your usual perfect romance heroes made this novella even more interesting, it had a strange dryness and a feeling of crazy men without future and right for that reason willing to risk their life for little more than the thrill of adventure. The dryness was given by their attitude, to give you an example, Edouard is repeatedly raped by the monster (even if you don’t directly read about that, it’s only referred), but he is not a chaos of emotions, he has more a cold hate and a desire of find a way out. Strange is that I had no the feeling Edouard or Fard were cold or without heart, but more that they were able to control their emotions.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0060OIM00/?...
December 21, 2014
WARNING: No actual tentacle sex.
Quite a bit is left unsaid in this story. I see it as a positive thing, it adds to the mystery.
Warning: Possible Spoilers!!!
*
The ending fails to spell out not only MCs future but their immediate future as well. Like "5 seconds from now" future. No one had seen the captain die. The boys step outside the room and - who knows? They see the captain?
*
Drop dead?
*
Their dead zombie body parts start falling off?
Omg I need a bucket for this one!!!! Tom ♥.♥ =)~~~~ *turns into a pile of goo*
*
At one point I felt sorry for the captain. He seemed like a very lonely creature with a major crush on an alien (to him) being. Such a big crush, indeed, that the poor dear made himself so trusting, so blind, accepting all the BS Edouard fed him. All the way to the very end.
"Betrayal. Misery. Edouard Montreuil... ...Stay beneath the water with me, Edouard Montreuil. I’ll wrap myself around you in the trenches, and I’ll make you a god of the deep..."
****
This is A Happy For Just F*ckin Now Ending. Somehow it worked for me.
Surprisingly, I don't want a sequel, but another book set in the same universe would be great.
Quite a bit is left unsaid in this story. I see it as a positive thing, it adds to the mystery.
Warning: Possible Spoilers!!!
*
The ending fails to spell out not only MCs future but their immediate future as well. Like "5 seconds from now" future. No one had seen the captain die. The boys step outside the room and - who knows? They see the captain?
*
Drop dead?
*
Their dead zombie body parts start falling off?
Omg I need a bucket for this one!!!! Tom ♥.♥ =)~~~~ *turns into a pile of goo*
*
At one point I felt sorry for the captain. He seemed like a very lonely creature with a major crush on an alien (to him) being. Such a big crush, indeed, that the poor dear made himself so trusting, so blind, accepting all the BS Edouard fed him. All the way to the very end.
"Betrayal. Misery. Edouard Montreuil... ...Stay beneath the water with me, Edouard Montreuil. I’ll wrap myself around you in the trenches, and I’ll make you a god of the deep..."
****
This is A Happy For Just F*ckin Now Ending. Somehow it worked for me.
Surprisingly, I don't want a sequel, but another book set in the same universe would be great.
December 23, 2011
I enjoyed this story very much because it mingles the historical genre, that I love, and a horror taste, that I used to read a few years ago, and I think I should begin to re-read again. It reminded me also of Jules Verne's stories. I think if you're looking for romance, this story might not be exactly for you, because the bond between Edouard and Farid is sketched, but not really explored.
I am still curious about a lot of details in the book, because it seems as if there is a popular mythology in the world created by the author that many people know and accept. Edouard's life before the point where the book begins would be interested to read. Edouard is a prisoner of his contract and a tool in the tentacles of the captain, but there is something much more complicated in his relationship with him and since I couldn't bring myself to really dislike the captain, it all added to an unsettling feeling. The dub-con aspect is there, but the author skipped the most didascalic aspects, adding to the duplicity of the symbiotic relationship between Edouard and the captain.
I wish the book had been a little bit longer though in order to accomodate a longer resolution, because the last pages passed in a blur and I would have expanded them instead of the very end with the Italian revolutionary and the political talk.
It's the first Peter Hansen's book I read and it was a very nice discovery.
I am still curious about a lot of details in the book, because it seems as if there is a popular mythology in the world created by the author that many people know and accept. Edouard's life before the point where the book begins would be interested to read. Edouard is a prisoner of his contract and a tool in the tentacles of the captain, but there is something much more complicated in his relationship with him and since I couldn't bring myself to really dislike the captain, it all added to an unsettling feeling. The dub-con aspect is there, but the author skipped the most didascalic aspects, adding to the duplicity of the symbiotic relationship between Edouard and the captain.
I wish the book had been a little bit longer though in order to accomodate a longer resolution, because the last pages passed in a blur and I would have expanded them instead of the very end with the Italian revolutionary and the political talk.
It's the first Peter Hansen's book I read and it was a very nice discovery.
November 2, 2011
Yay for tentacles! This was an awesome read. I wish it could've been a longer story, but it really didn't need to be. I like the world that he created, but I wish that we knew more about how the world came to be that way - where the monsters came from. The attention to detail was amazing, also. I look forward to more stories in this universe.
October 28, 2011
Review to come later today...
June 4, 2015
Great little fantasy horror with some light erotica.
Loved the plot. Would have loved to know more about the Captain and third mate.
Good read for an extended coffee break.
Loved the plot. Would have loved to know more about the Captain and third mate.
Good read for an extended coffee break.
December 24, 2011
For those of you that know me... and those that don't this is my little statement about short books.... I do not judge short stories on the rush of their relationships, because they are just that - short stories. So, yes the relationships always could have been drawn out more, yea it seems like they fall in love to fast and of course the story could have been made longer... but it is a short story. So with that said.... here is my review... I was given this book for my honest thoughts... So let's go..
I will start off by saying that Peter Hansen is a new to me author. I have not read any of his work. This book was on the side of sci-fi for me; which, I normally do not read. So, I will say that I am stepping out of my comfort zone to read this one. I do not believe in giving a low review because of that fact... So, I will keep my review short as it was not my cup of reading.
The story itself was intriguing. Edouard made a deal with the devil, or should I say Sea-Devil. The deal cost Edouard more that just his life.... Trying to escape hell is never easy, and sometimes the weak just don't cut it. Edouard knew he could not face hell alone... So, he recruited Ruiz... A friend, lover of pasts long ago... It was nice to see the relationship between Edouard and Ruiz came alive again. But at what price did they have to pay to achieve it.
I will not give away the story, but it was the sci-fi that left me feeling a bit out of odds with the story. But again, I will state that this was just not for me. It was a very good story though.
I will start off by saying that Peter Hansen is a new to me author. I have not read any of his work. This book was on the side of sci-fi for me; which, I normally do not read. So, I will say that I am stepping out of my comfort zone to read this one. I do not believe in giving a low review because of that fact... So, I will keep my review short as it was not my cup of reading.
The story itself was intriguing. Edouard made a deal with the devil, or should I say Sea-Devil. The deal cost Edouard more that just his life.... Trying to escape hell is never easy, and sometimes the weak just don't cut it. Edouard knew he could not face hell alone... So, he recruited Ruiz... A friend, lover of pasts long ago... It was nice to see the relationship between Edouard and Ruiz came alive again. But at what price did they have to pay to achieve it.
I will not give away the story, but it was the sci-fi that left me feeling a bit out of odds with the story. But again, I will state that this was just not for me. It was a very good story though.
March 28, 2012
This little novella by Peter Hansen moves so quickly that by the time you finish it you are hoping the he has plans for a sequel, a prequel and a First Watch.5. It is a taut, action packed story with a creepy and horrifying twist.
Somewhere during World War 1 creatures surfaced from the deep to scour the battlefields of Algiers and make contracts with dying soldiers. These Octopus-like monstrosities carve their contracts onto the chests of the dying soldiers and then begin a sexual, symbiotic relationship that literally made my skin crawl. Punishment consisted of reminding the soldiers where these creatures had healed them by ripping open the wounds and then screwing them while they bled. The physical abuse aspect to this novel made my heart and stomach lurch on more than one occasion BUT despite that I could not put this book down. I needed to know that Edouard was going to get free of this monster. When he brings his sometime lover and friend Ruiz on board they hatch a plan to kill both the captain and the third mate--also a creature like the captain. The plan fails---and your heart sinks to your knees. But all is not lost, however to learn the rest you must read this little gem.
Peter Hansen writes a gripping tale that thrusts you into the bowels of a submarine and straight into the horror movie he has created on the page. My only hesitation in giving this a 5 star rating was that is simply was too short. So I hope that we get to see a bit more of these two men and their story!
Somewhere during World War 1 creatures surfaced from the deep to scour the battlefields of Algiers and make contracts with dying soldiers. These Octopus-like monstrosities carve their contracts onto the chests of the dying soldiers and then begin a sexual, symbiotic relationship that literally made my skin crawl. Punishment consisted of reminding the soldiers where these creatures had healed them by ripping open the wounds and then screwing them while they bled. The physical abuse aspect to this novel made my heart and stomach lurch on more than one occasion BUT despite that I could not put this book down. I needed to know that Edouard was going to get free of this monster. When he brings his sometime lover and friend Ruiz on board they hatch a plan to kill both the captain and the third mate--also a creature like the captain. The plan fails---and your heart sinks to your knees. But all is not lost, however to learn the rest you must read this little gem.
Peter Hansen writes a gripping tale that thrusts you into the bowels of a submarine and straight into the horror movie he has created on the page. My only hesitation in giving this a 5 star rating was that is simply was too short. So I hope that we get to see a bit more of these two men and their story!
October 1, 2011
5+/5
I’m not even sure what to say about this one. Since I finished it, I have been stuck on… OMG THIS BOOK IS AWESOME! A review, this does not make. Honestly, I really had no intention of reading First Watch; tentacles are so vera much not my thing. But I stared at that beautiful cover, and it began to intrigue me. When I finally saw the blurb… it flew to the top of my TBR pile. I’m so glad I didn’t let the tentacles scare me off, I’d have missed out on a fabulous book by an amazing writer.
Peter’s writing is beyond fantastic. He weaves a beautifully crafted tale like a tapestry. Vivid descriptions that painted a world I could see, strong, deep characters I could feel, and fabulous world building. It grabbed me page one and wrapped me up in Edouard’s world so thoroughly that it wouldn’t let me go until the end.
There is not a lot of sex in this one, there is some, but this is not a hot and steamy read. For those of you who are like me and want to know… is there tentacle sex?… yes, there is. However it’s not onscreen and it’s handled beautifully, yet oh so horrifying at the same time.
Everything about this one was beautifully crafted. Amazing read. Peter Hansen is definitely an author I want to see more from and I totally see him now as one of my autobuy authors.
Bottom line: I cannot recommend this one highly enough. I need a higher rating system, 5 stars is not enough.
Reviews on my blog Amara's Place
I’m not even sure what to say about this one. Since I finished it, I have been stuck on… OMG THIS BOOK IS AWESOME! A review, this does not make. Honestly, I really had no intention of reading First Watch; tentacles are so vera much not my thing. But I stared at that beautiful cover, and it began to intrigue me. When I finally saw the blurb… it flew to the top of my TBR pile. I’m so glad I didn’t let the tentacles scare me off, I’d have missed out on a fabulous book by an amazing writer.
Peter’s writing is beyond fantastic. He weaves a beautifully crafted tale like a tapestry. Vivid descriptions that painted a world I could see, strong, deep characters I could feel, and fabulous world building. It grabbed me page one and wrapped me up in Edouard’s world so thoroughly that it wouldn’t let me go until the end.
There is not a lot of sex in this one, there is some, but this is not a hot and steamy read. For those of you who are like me and want to know… is there tentacle sex?… yes, there is. However it’s not onscreen and it’s handled beautifully, yet oh so horrifying at the same time.
Everything about this one was beautifully crafted. Amazing read. Peter Hansen is definitely an author I want to see more from and I totally see him now as one of my autobuy authors.
Bottom line: I cannot recommend this one highly enough. I need a higher rating system, 5 stars is not enough.
Reviews on my blog Amara's Place
July 21, 2016
This was an interesting little read. Unusual and yet, oddly familiar. There were hints of The Pirates of the Caribbean about it, while also hints of old war stories and Davy Jones Locker type stories.
I liked Eduard and Farid, the two main characters, and I really liked the way the story was explored from the middle of the story. From the blurb, I assumed it would start on the battlefield and show us Eduard getting roped into service on the Fleshe, but starting in the middle of his service felt much more natural and allowed for flashbacks and character history to fill in the blanks.
A few niggles were that there were no chapter headings, only scene cuts. This meant that there really wasn't anywhere to put it down when I needed to (despite it being only 50+ pages). There were also no translations of the various languages littered throughout the story - namely French and Spanish. This got a little annoying, eventually. The only thing I did recognise was the French for Beauty and the Beast.
Still, the story had a great adventure, some off-page dub-con, non-con sex that we, thankfully, never had to read in full (only hints of kisses and vague touches) as well as all the drama you'd expect with submarine sailors, unpaid debts and rekindled friendship between old lovers.
A very interesting read that I'd be happy to follow into another story, as it did end on a bit of an HFN, rather than a final resolution.
I liked Eduard and Farid, the two main characters, and I really liked the way the story was explored from the middle of the story. From the blurb, I assumed it would start on the battlefield and show us Eduard getting roped into service on the Fleshe, but starting in the middle of his service felt much more natural and allowed for flashbacks and character history to fill in the blanks.
A few niggles were that there were no chapter headings, only scene cuts. This meant that there really wasn't anywhere to put it down when I needed to (despite it being only 50+ pages). There were also no translations of the various languages littered throughout the story - namely French and Spanish. This got a little annoying, eventually. The only thing I did recognise was the French for Beauty and the Beast.
Still, the story had a great adventure, some off-page dub-con, non-con sex that we, thankfully, never had to read in full (only hints of kisses and vague touches) as well as all the drama you'd expect with submarine sailors, unpaid debts and rekindled friendship between old lovers.
A very interesting read that I'd be happy to follow into another story, as it did end on a bit of an HFN, rather than a final resolution.
November 3, 2011
This book is hard to review because what was happening was so awful, so gruesome and creepy that it rather affected my enjoyment of the story. That said, the writing was great, with concise, meaningful sentences. There're sufficient allusions and clues to the backstory without much exposition on it. The glimpses into the nature of the creatures was plenty. Somehow, the author managed to imbue the encounters between Edouard and the captain with a fair amount of eroticism, even though I was horror-stricken.
I will have to think on this and come back to my review, because the writing style seems familiar but I can't think of who it reminds me of. Too brief for Stephen King. Insufficient introspection for Hemingway.
Anyway, 3.5 stars
I will have to think on this and come back to my review, because the writing style seems familiar but I can't think of who it reminds me of. Too brief for Stephen King. Insufficient introspection for Hemingway.
Anyway, 3.5 stars
April 6, 2013
This is squarely in the middle for me, because some things I really loved and others I kinda hated.
Love: the tension, the air of something horrible lurking right around the corner. The desolation of a choice made in agony and living with the consequences. The horror of existing like that. The acceptance of those things that live in the dark places and haunt us.
Hated: The general lack of emotional connection. I didn't really feel the connection between Edouard and Ruiz, so the final scene felt...forced. And in some places, I didn't really understand what was going on. A few things felt..glossed over. It's hard to explain.
Great idea, great atmosphere and world. Not so great execution, in my opinion.
Love: the tension, the air of something horrible lurking right around the corner. The desolation of a choice made in agony and living with the consequences. The horror of existing like that. The acceptance of those things that live in the dark places and haunt us.
Hated: The general lack of emotional connection. I didn't really feel the connection between Edouard and Ruiz, so the final scene felt...forced. And in some places, I didn't really understand what was going on. A few things felt..glossed over. It's hard to explain.
Great idea, great atmosphere and world. Not so great execution, in my opinion.
September 29, 2014
3.5 stars.
Like others mentioned before, there isn't much romance in First Watch, but I didn't mind! The contract between Edouard and the captain, Edouard's past, his friend and lover Farid – the whole story was fascinating. But I would have liked it more if it was longer.
Oh, and strangely enough, at the end of the story I felt sorry for the captain...
Like others mentioned before, there isn't much romance in First Watch, but I didn't mind! The contract between Edouard and the captain, Edouard's past, his friend and lover Farid – the whole story was fascinating. But I would have liked it more if it was longer.
Oh, and strangely enough, at the end of the story I felt sorry for the captain...
November 1, 2011
Who knew tentacles could be sexy? Vivid imagery and a creative plot let Peter's suck you in. I am not much of a Sci-Fi fan, but enjoyed this story. Like most stories I complain about, this one was too short!
July 28, 2014
Ok from the cover I had a preconceived notion of what this book was like in my mind and what I read just blew my mind...Not what I though at all... This is my first book by this author I was very pleased.
January 22, 2012
A peculiar read that draws you in in the strangest way.
If you like creepy, you will love this! (I did.) :D
If you like creepy, you will love this! (I did.) :D
December 13, 2011
Weird and satisfying and a must for those into "tentacle sex".
May 1, 2021
Very short, only an hour long. The horror part could have been longer. The ending came a bit abrupt and felt rather odd. Would like to see more of the world-building. Dont expect tentacle-porn, the normal one is way more detailed. The cover is more gorey than the book.
July 21, 2012
I think it took me longer to figure out if I liked First Watch than to read it. This book was a fantastic quick read that held my attention chapter to chapter. It’s a fairly odd book that I think a niche audience will enjoy and the rest of the world will shun. If you like creepy situations with light sex with a sprinkling of romance in an all male cast, then this book is for you. For everyone else, including me, I don’t know. I feel like this book was missing something. But I must say:
An open mind and high tolerance are required to read this story, because squid sex is weird no matter what books you like.
The captain was an addicting character – my favorite scenes involved him. He’s a unique villain , since he is actually some sort of octopus or squid. Every time he gains a life-time servant, he grows another suction-cup limb. His submarine acted like Davy Jones’ ship in the Pirates of the Caribbean, only the crew members are still mortal in First Watch. Edouard has it especially bad. Not only is he stuck for life serving on a submarine, he is forced to be the Captain’s sex slave. Understandably depressed, Edouard asks his friend (ex lover?), Ruiz to help him escape by killing the Captain.
I wasn’t convinced if there was romance between Edouard and Ruiz or they were bros that needed sexual relief. It didn’t feel as if the romance was given enough time to develop properly. The rest of the story was good. I’ll definitely read more by this author.
An open mind and high tolerance are required to read this story, because squid sex is weird no matter what books you like.
The captain was an addicting character – my favorite scenes involved him. He’s a unique villain , since he is actually some sort of octopus or squid. Every time he gains a life-time servant, he grows another suction-cup limb. His submarine acted like Davy Jones’ ship in the Pirates of the Caribbean, only the crew members are still mortal in First Watch. Edouard has it especially bad. Not only is he stuck for life serving on a submarine, he is forced to be the Captain’s sex slave. Understandably depressed, Edouard asks his friend (ex lover?), Ruiz to help him escape by killing the Captain.
I wasn’t convinced if there was romance between Edouard and Ruiz or they were bros that needed sexual relief. It didn’t feel as if the romance was given enough time to develop properly. The rest of the story was good. I’ll definitely read more by this author.
June 21, 2015
Full review at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
Here at the Bitchery, we’re dedicated to finding you the best tentacle butt sex book available, and I’m sad to say we haven’t been doing a great job of it. What we’ve found is that there are a wealth of covers that imply “t in b” action (I’m looking at you, Someone to Cuttle) but so far none have really followed through with the money shot.
I regret to report that First Watch by Peter Hansen comes close to fulfilling the tentacle-in-butt promise, but then drops the ball.
First Watch is a short story set post WWI about a Swiss Legionnaire named Edouard who is cursed into serving as the sexual slave of a tentacle monster aboard a submarine. I sort of wish that was the weirdest sentence I’ve ever typed for Smart Bitches, but it’s not.
In any case, First Watch is just another post WWI undersea tentacle monster story that fails to deliver on the sexxytimes or a sufficient explanation as to why The Captain is on the sub in the first place. I personally am hoping for a prequel where we learn how The Captain came to be, why he got a U-boat versus a vast undersea chasm filled with sulfuric hell-fumes, but I’m not holding my breath. With more depth and more penetration this could have been a stellar book, but sadly it wasn’t to be.
- Elyse
Here at the Bitchery, we’re dedicated to finding you the best tentacle butt sex book available, and I’m sad to say we haven’t been doing a great job of it. What we’ve found is that there are a wealth of covers that imply “t in b” action (I’m looking at you, Someone to Cuttle) but so far none have really followed through with the money shot.
I regret to report that First Watch by Peter Hansen comes close to fulfilling the tentacle-in-butt promise, but then drops the ball.
First Watch is a short story set post WWI about a Swiss Legionnaire named Edouard who is cursed into serving as the sexual slave of a tentacle monster aboard a submarine. I sort of wish that was the weirdest sentence I’ve ever typed for Smart Bitches, but it’s not.
In any case, First Watch is just another post WWI undersea tentacle monster story that fails to deliver on the sexxytimes or a sufficient explanation as to why The Captain is on the sub in the first place. I personally am hoping for a prequel where we learn how The Captain came to be, why he got a U-boat versus a vast undersea chasm filled with sulfuric hell-fumes, but I’m not holding my breath. With more depth and more penetration this could have been a stellar book, but sadly it wasn’t to be.
- Elyse
April 29, 2013
The book was great. Very interesting short read. The reviews were a bit misleading for me. I was expecting a gory horror story. Or some ghastly uncomfortable situations. I had none of that.
The tentacle scenes weren't very graphic (in my opinion). I felt no discomfort at the story content. I was left wondering what caused that reaction in other readers of this book. Than I reminded myself this is the reason I don't read reviews on books or movies often. Everyone has their own opinion and sensitivity levels. Different strokes and all that. None of that took away from my enjoyment of the book. I would enjoy more stories about this world or the characters.
The tentacle scenes weren't very graphic (in my opinion). I felt no discomfort at the story content. I was left wondering what caused that reaction in other readers of this book. Than I reminded myself this is the reason I don't read reviews on books or movies often. Everyone has their own opinion and sensitivity levels. Different strokes and all that. None of that took away from my enjoyment of the book. I would enjoy more stories about this world or the characters.
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