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The Marketplace #2
The Slave
The second volume in the Marketplace trilogy, the landmark series that set the standard for contemporary SM erotica. The Slave describes the experiences of Robin, an exceptionally sensitive submissive who longs to join the ranks of those who have proven themselves worthy of entry into the sexual training ground of the Marketplace. Follow Robin as she is educated in the arts of submission and service by the meticulously ethical Chris Parker, her master-by-proxy, and the person in whom she will confide her deepest sexual secrets.
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
February 26, 2012
In The Slave, the author did a very good job of expressing Robin's viewpoint and motivation. I have no personal interest in following her path, and yet I was able to understand why she would do so. In almost all the BDSM fiction I've read so far trust has been emphasized as an essential part of a healthy D/s relationship. Well, Robin's relationship with her trainer and later her masters had nothing whatsoever to do with trust IMO. They could do whatever they wanted to her short of permanently altering her body without her permission. What did it matter if she trusted them or not? That was mind boggling for me. Yet, again, I was able to understand why that was the type of relationship she wanted, at least until she got her wish.
Without spoiling the story, it was the earring incident that truly brought home to me, and to Robin as well, just how much power her masters had over her life, and what was missing. Chris (her trainer) confirms this not only to be true, but to be right as well. This incident with her two masters is really the only point of conflict in the story. The rest is just Robin's journey. She is the A student in slavery, and that doesn't make for a very exciting read. Frankly, although I admire the author's ability to convey Robin's desire to be a true slave, I had to push myself to finish the book. I became rather bored. I would have liked some other points of view, particularly the owners. Granted the title alone tells you it is about the slave, but in this day and age what type of person is that comfortable treating another human being as an object, a possession? I would have liked that insight, particularly after the "earring incident". I gave this book a 4 star rating, really 3 1/2 stars, because I thought it was better than The Marketplace (book one of the series). It did offer more insight into the system which was interesting as well. Also, I should add that the ending was very satisfying so I am happy that I pushed myself. :-)
Without spoiling the story, it was the earring incident that truly brought home to me, and to Robin as well, just how much power her masters had over her life, and what was missing. Chris (her trainer) confirms this not only to be true, but to be right as well. This incident with her two masters is really the only point of conflict in the story. The rest is just Robin's journey. She is the A student in slavery, and that doesn't make for a very exciting read. Frankly, although I admire the author's ability to convey Robin's desire to be a true slave, I had to push myself to finish the book. I became rather bored. I would have liked some other points of view, particularly the owners. Granted the title alone tells you it is about the slave, but in this day and age what type of person is that comfortable treating another human being as an object, a possession? I would have liked that insight, particularly after the "earring incident". I gave this book a 4 star rating, really 3 1/2 stars, because I thought it was better than The Marketplace (book one of the series). It did offer more insight into the system which was interesting as well. Also, I should add that the ending was very satisfying so I am happy that I pushed myself. :-)
February 5, 2008
The Marketplace series is BDSM fiction by Laura Antoniou. It is about an underground organization that operates around the world in consensual slave training, selling and buying. The books main focus is the training of slaves. And each book offers compelling characters that unfold into an extraordinary story and world.
The second volume in the Marketplace trilogy, The Slave describes the experiences of Robin, who longs to join the ranks of those of Marketplace. Follow Robin as she is educated in the arts of submission and service by the extraordinary Chris Parker.
Unlike some standard erotic fiction these books by Laura Antoniou have plots, humor and good character development. A very good read.
The second volume in the Marketplace trilogy, The Slave describes the experiences of Robin, who longs to join the ranks of those of Marketplace. Follow Robin as she is educated in the arts of submission and service by the extraordinary Chris Parker.
Unlike some standard erotic fiction these books by Laura Antoniou have plots, humor and good character development. A very good read.
April 4, 2011
Reread when I won the yet to be released ebook version of this on the author's website.
This is probably my second favorite book of the series. We finally get the chance to see the Marketplace from the eyes of a slave-in-training who is not stupid or overly stubborn, and it pays off. Robin is likeable and you want to go on her journey to becoming a slave with her instead of just wanting to smack her on the head. We also get more time with Chris, and unlike the first book, this time around his mysterious background and ease in the Marketplace is complemented by Robin's inexperience rather than being a frustrating contrast.
This is probably my second favorite book of the series. We finally get the chance to see the Marketplace from the eyes of a slave-in-training who is not stupid or overly stubborn, and it pays off. Robin is likeable and you want to go on her journey to becoming a slave with her instead of just wanting to smack her on the head. We also get more time with Chris, and unlike the first book, this time around his mysterious background and ease in the Marketplace is complemented by Robin's inexperience rather than being a frustrating contrast.
October 6, 2010
This one started off with a bang. I though it was going to surpass The Marketplace, but sadly that did not happen for me. Perhaps because I am obsessed with Chris Parker & he was not in the story very much after Robin was trained and sold.
The first half of the book is Robin's intense training time with Chris, interspersed with her back story. Although the training aspect was covered in detail in The Marketplace, this was not repetitive information here. There was a fresh take on it.
I was even interested in the story of Robin and her new owners. But the ending...I just wasn't in love with it. And the short story at the end about Robin's piercing gone bad just left me scratching me head as to why it was included.
But I will for sure be continuing the series. The next book in the series sounds very promising.
The first half of the book is Robin's intense training time with Chris, interspersed with her back story. Although the training aspect was covered in detail in The Marketplace, this was not repetitive information here. There was a fresh take on it.
I was even interested in the story of Robin and her new owners. But the ending...I just wasn't in love with it. And the short story at the end about Robin's piercing gone bad just left me scratching me head as to why it was included.
But I will for sure be continuing the series. The next book in the series sounds very promising.
September 16, 2012
Another winner from Laura. Loved Robin's story and how she became a slave but one with power and knowledge. Also liked her interaction with Chris Parker. (I still don't know what his secret is! *shakes fist*)
July 25, 2011
One of the first long novels of D/S with femdom mixed with maledom I read. It blew my mind. This is really well written. The journey of Robin was thrilling for me to watch.
September 5, 2015
This is my favorite book of the series. I've read it several times and have several copies of it.
August 2, 2011
Another must-read for anyone with more than a passing interest in D/s. I love Parker... patience!
April 30, 2024
Struggling to rate this sequel. In many ways, it is a fascinating and realistic critique of the entire BDSM sub-culture. The depth of the setting/worldbuilding suspends the reader's disbelief in The Marketplace even better than the first book. However, similar to my review of the first book, typos and prose issues took me out of the narrative. The latter half of the book thoroughly engaged me, but I struggled through the first half to get there. Maybe it was just me; for many chapters I was confused how these universes connected, as the secondary main character being named Chris didn't make up for the fact that everything about his circumstances was different than the first book. Also, the non-linear backstory and overuse of internal monologue contributed to pacing issues; one week in the first half of this sequel felt much longer than six weeks in the entire first book. Still, I'm going to continuing reading the series because there's so much that it does right and I have a hunch that it will improve.
March 8, 2018
Wow! How much I'd like to meet Chris! This is a great book full of exciting scenes.
January 4, 2013
I liked the story line of this book better than the first. We get to see more of Chris and what happened to the slaves of the first book. I laugh when I learned what happened to Sharon. I never liked her.
Robin was fast tracked into learning how to be a marketplace slave by Chris in 2 weeks. She prefers females but was sold to a household of gay men. She soon finds her footing and starts liking her new masters. But the lowest slave of the house has a grudge against her and frames her for the robbery of some emerald earrings from one of the guests. Chris is called and discovers the truth. Robin is then given as a gift to Monica. Monica is her perfect master.
There is 2 short stories staring Robin at the end of the book.
Robin was fast tracked into learning how to be a marketplace slave by Chris in 2 weeks. She prefers females but was sold to a household of gay men. She soon finds her footing and starts liking her new masters. But the lowest slave of the house has a grudge against her and frames her for the robbery of some emerald earrings from one of the guests. Chris is called and discovers the truth. Robin is then given as a gift to Monica. Monica is her perfect master.
There is 2 short stories staring Robin at the end of the book.
May 5, 2017
Some good BDSM action as Robin first undertakes to complete the specialised training she needs in order to pass the stringent standards required to be sold as a willing slave to the highest bidder, and in the process earn a sizeable sum for herself at the completion of her contract, and then her ongoing adventures as she takes her place in a wealthy household.
November 1, 2011
I wanna be Chris' furniture, officially.
Volume 2 was way hotter than volume 1.
Volume 2 was way hotter than volume 1.
February 13, 2012
I didn't enjoy the singular view during the very short training period. However, I did enjoy Robin's perspective after being sold.
October 29, 2015
This and the Marketplace are far and away the best of the series.
April 1, 2022
Better then the first book. Follow Robin, who wants to be taken in as slave to the „marketplace“ on her journey to happiness and everything she wanted.
The book has a good convincing story and somewhat of a „heroine journey“. Good steamy sex scenes.
Only four stars because, even if the story is good, the heroine stays flat and one dimensional - she almost never encounters anything such human as disgust, shame or even hesitation.
Her „training“ is quite straightforward, with no detours. And her „owners“ stay even less faceted, pure superhuman, with apparent skill in „slave ownership“ as an innate ability, no training needed here. In total there is only very little conflict in this book - basically only one episode of unjust accusation and punishment of the innocent - that is resolved almost immediately with seemingly no learning effect to any of the involved. But overall it was a nice read, even that it was lengthy at times.
The book has a good convincing story and somewhat of a „heroine journey“. Good steamy sex scenes.
Only four stars because, even if the story is good, the heroine stays flat and one dimensional - she almost never encounters anything such human as disgust, shame or even hesitation.
Her „training“ is quite straightforward, with no detours. And her „owners“ stay even less faceted, pure superhuman, with apparent skill in „slave ownership“ as an innate ability, no training needed here. In total there is only very little conflict in this book - basically only one episode of unjust accusation and punishment of the innocent - that is resolved almost immediately with seemingly no learning effect to any of the involved. But overall it was a nice read, even that it was lengthy at times.
June 12, 2020
I might have liked this one even more than the first. Rather than tell the story of slaves in training like in the first book, this one concentrates on Robin, a young woman who gets to train for the Marketplace. Centering the story to one woman's experience through training and service really focused it so that the reader can get a better handle on the experiences introduced in the first volume, and it helped to build the world more. Characters from the first book come into play here, some Like Chris Parker in a large role, but most in little cameos that reward reading the first book. That said, I think that if you read this one on it's own it would still work wonderfully. Looking forward to book three.
May 12, 2023
I throughly enjoyed the first half of this book, getting a sneak peek at how the Marketplace works on a larger scale and some more players. The main character Robin was completely charming and I’m sure a lot of readers will see a piece of her within themselves.
I didn’t enjoy the second half nor the west coast setting, I found none of the characters likeable and it all felt very cold, I wanted more New York, more familiar characters so I found it disappointing.
Having said that the writing was respectable and understanding of the lifestyle and I would easily pick this up again and read in an afternoon.
I will be continuing the series, I need more.
I didn’t enjoy the second half nor the west coast setting, I found none of the characters likeable and it all felt very cold, I wanted more New York, more familiar characters so I found it disappointing.
Having said that the writing was respectable and understanding of the lifestyle and I would easily pick this up again and read in an afternoon.
I will be continuing the series, I need more.
December 28, 2017
Love this series. I appreciate how the author makes distinctions between bondage/discipline, Dominance/submission, and Sadomasochism. While in its own way a sex-oriented urban fantasy, it creates a world of complicated, realistic characters. The myriad versions of the D/s dynamic are all given their moment, and such interactions in all of their subtle variants are convincing.
Of all of the books, this was the most memorable to me. I think it was because the main character was so identifiable, with her hopeful search to find her calling and unwillingness to settle.
Of all of the books, this was the most memorable to me. I think it was because the main character was so identifiable, with her hopeful search to find her calling and unwillingness to settle.
June 18, 2019
I had really complicated feelings about this book. I struggled to think of it as fantasy, so every time someone did something which set off a huge red flag (or would have in the real world) I felt myself pulling back.
But as I kept going, the characters pulled me in, in spite of my ongoing concern for everyone involved. It's a hugely immersive world, and I found myself going back to it again and again even when I wasn't reading it.
I suppose having complicated feelings is a good thing. At least in this case, it was.
But as I kept going, the characters pulled me in, in spite of my ongoing concern for everyone involved. It's a hugely immersive world, and I found myself going back to it again and again even when I wasn't reading it.
I suppose having complicated feelings is a good thing. At least in this case, it was.
August 31, 2020
Fewer typos than the first book of this series printed by this publisher, which is a big relief. In a small way, toward the end, one might almost consider this a kinky romance book as the slave gets exactly what she really wanted all along. It was nice to see other types of kink in action, albeit at the end in a bonus story.
January 5, 2018
More emotional and feminine than the first book in the series, more in depth regarding the slave's psyche.
January 28, 2018
Loved it, my favorite of the Marketplace series.
July 22, 2018
Well Written With lots Of Depth...
My first book to read of the series! Now going to start Book One! A wonderful first read about serious folks who indulge.
My first book to read of the series! Now going to start Book One! A wonderful first read about serious folks who indulge.
November 28, 2018
Okay read
Not as erotica as the cover suggested. This was an okay read but found myself skipping pages to seek out the erotica.
Not as erotica as the cover suggested. This was an okay read but found myself skipping pages to seek out the erotica.
April 2, 2020
I wanted to like this book because I loved the Marketplace... but I just didn't. I couldn't get into the characters and abandoned it halfway through.
November 28, 2021
This book is so hot, I loved every scene. I wish the overarching plot had more direction, but the characters are interesting and the drama felt real enough!
June 16, 2023
Amazing
This story is intense and erotic. Beautiful and wild. Something to keep on the bedside table definitely. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.
This story is intense and erotic. Beautiful and wild. Something to keep on the bedside table definitely. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.
April 19, 2020
The second book in a series of erotic novels.
There are some errors in print, or wording, that can crash the flow of reading the story -- especially for readers like myself, whose minds immediately flag such errors. As with the first book I feel these e-book errors may be the result of an OCR scan of a paper book or script.
These minor errors aside, this is a well written work and you would likely enjoy it, if you enjoyed the movie "Eyes Wide Shut" or the "Beauty" novels written by Anne Rice.
There are some errors in print, or wording, that can crash the flow of reading the story -- especially for readers like myself, whose minds immediately flag such errors. As with the first book I feel these e-book errors may be the result of an OCR scan of a paper book or script.
These minor errors aside, this is a well written work and you would likely enjoy it, if you enjoyed the movie "Eyes Wide Shut" or the "Beauty" novels written by Anne Rice.
February 7, 2018
Listened to audio narrated very well by Elizabeth Jasicki. Robin's story. During her training she recounts her sexual history, how she discovered her needs, knowing they weren't like everyone else and the various ways she found in attempt to get her needs met. We get to see Robin from her memories growing up, to what led her to Chris for training and then to sale and life as a slave. Very graphic, heavy BDSM. Well writing and very engaging.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews