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Bound for the Forest #1
Bound for the Forest
LGBT, Fantasy & Paranormal.
The Greenwood - titles can be read in any order. Related Lord of the Forest, Bound for the Forest, Locking Horns.
Ex-soldier Melmoth Brien returns to his ancestral home in the ancient Greenwood, intending to retrieve his family's valuables and get the hell out of there. When he's beaten to it by Scarlet, a young woodsman-turned-thief, Brien overpowers him and ties him up, demanding he help get the family fortune back by leading him deep into the forest. The flash of sexual fire between them is undeniable, but a force more powerful than rivalry or lust is ratcheting up the tension.
Brien's family are Protectors of the Greenwood, a responsibility he has discarded like every other in his life. To Scarlet, whose very life-force is bound to the Greenwood, this makes Brien a traitor. He would use anything, even his body, to drive him away. After all, a traitor may stir the fouler Spirits, who will demand blood. And Scarlet knows he is marked for sacrifice...
Lured ever deeper into a realm of ritualized sex and magic, bondage and blood, the fighting gives way to rampant lovemaking, but Scarlet needs more than just sex to survive. Can Brien admit his identity as a Protector and bind his underling forever, or will the Greenwood Spirits enslave them both?
Publisher's This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find BDSM theme and elements, dubious consent, male/male sexual practices, ritualistic sexual practices, ritualistic impalement, sex in partly shifted tree form, violence, voyeurism.
The Greenwood - titles can be read in any order. Related Lord of the Forest, Bound for the Forest, Locking Horns.
Ex-soldier Melmoth Brien returns to his ancestral home in the ancient Greenwood, intending to retrieve his family's valuables and get the hell out of there. When he's beaten to it by Scarlet, a young woodsman-turned-thief, Brien overpowers him and ties him up, demanding he help get the family fortune back by leading him deep into the forest. The flash of sexual fire between them is undeniable, but a force more powerful than rivalry or lust is ratcheting up the tension.
Brien's family are Protectors of the Greenwood, a responsibility he has discarded like every other in his life. To Scarlet, whose very life-force is bound to the Greenwood, this makes Brien a traitor. He would use anything, even his body, to drive him away. After all, a traitor may stir the fouler Spirits, who will demand blood. And Scarlet knows he is marked for sacrifice...
Lured ever deeper into a realm of ritualized sex and magic, bondage and blood, the fighting gives way to rampant lovemaking, but Scarlet needs more than just sex to survive. Can Brien admit his identity as a Protector and bind his underling forever, or will the Greenwood Spirits enslave them both?
Publisher's This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find BDSM theme and elements, dubious consent, male/male sexual practices, ritualistic sexual practices, ritualistic impalement, sex in partly shifted tree form, violence, voyeurism.
212 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 13, 2011
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October 8, 2011This BDSM romance is an intriguing romp through a fantasy alternate history of Britain, where washed-up debauched Brien turns up at his ancestral pile in the greenwood to discover fey young Scarlet, and a whole heap of trouble.
There's heaps of UST as Brien and Scarlet struggle with their antipathy and attraction, but don't worry because there's tree sex to keep you entertained while you wait for the two heroes to get it on together! Brien and Scarlet are a good match for each other, and while Scarlet might be sexually submissive, he stands up to Brien in a delightfully bratty manner.
The mythology behind this world of nature magic is never overexplained, but it all seems to make sense and fits in with pagan legends. Scarlet is a sacrificial creature and born submissive, with Brien as his destined guardian. Those elements of being fated to be together might annoy some readers, but I didn't find it overdone. Indeed, the scenes where the wise women explain things to Brien were among my favourites, as Kay had done such a good job at fleshing out those secondary characters.
I must warn, there's a graphic scene of sexual torture carried out by tree wraiths, which could disturb some readers. I found this story was so far into the realms of fantasy, though, that it didn't disturb me in the slightest.
Recommended to anyone who fancies a bit of fantasy BDSM with added tree porn!
There's heaps of UST as Brien and Scarlet struggle with their antipathy and attraction, but don't worry because there's tree sex to keep you entertained while you wait for the two heroes to get it on together! Brien and Scarlet are a good match for each other, and while Scarlet might be sexually submissive, he stands up to Brien in a delightfully bratty manner.
The mythology behind this world of nature magic is never overexplained, but it all seems to make sense and fits in with pagan legends. Scarlet is a sacrificial creature and born submissive, with Brien as his destined guardian. Those elements of being fated to be together might annoy some readers, but I didn't find it overdone. Indeed, the scenes where the wise women explain things to Brien were among my favourites, as Kay had done such a good job at fleshing out those secondary characters.
I must warn, there's a graphic scene of sexual torture carried out by tree wraiths, which could disturb some readers. I found this story was so far into the realms of fantasy, though, that it didn't disturb me in the slightest.
Recommended to anyone who fancies a bit of fantasy BDSM with added tree porn!
November 8, 2011
The best part of this book is world building - the dreamlike landscape of Greenwood, far removed from actual England of early XIX century, with deep roots in folklore was fascinating and I was spellbound by it through the entire book. There were elements of it that were left unexplained, but that wasn't enough to ruin it for me. The characters too had a certain charm - the rogue captain, sensual Scarlet, the druidesses... - and the writing was solid. These are the reasons why I gave the book 3 stars in the end. But...
It was the relationship that failed for me. I tried to tell myself over and over that this was a fantasy book, because usually I am more forgiving when it comes to this genre. But, that wasn't enough. The pull the two men feel has this supernatural element to it, that makes it unconvincing. They want each other, but what they have between them never comes across as quite consensual, as it seemed to me that they were pushed at each other. Even if you close your eyes at this, it's hard to see Brien and Scarlet as real lovers. They speak of love, yet the only thing that author managed to show us is a powerful lust between them. In the end, when all was said and done, Brien really became the protector, one who freed Scarlet of his ties with the forest and decided to show him the world. But, I just couldn't imagine their future beyond the fucking and that right there is an argument against taking their relationship seriously.
I was also bothered by the way Scarlet was used left and right (and no, the tree sex wasn't what bothered me). Everything about him was sexual, even the cleansing rituals the women performed had a strong sexual component. It was as if Scarlet didn't really exist (at least on page) as anything else than someone's toy (in a way that reminded me strongly of yaoi). Making him feisty and strongheaded didn't change the way I saw him and it definitely didn't made him a convincing submissive in my eyes. The character of Brien had the "unfinished" feel - the reasons for his rogue ways, his hatred for the forest, etc. were left unexplained (at least not in a satisfying way).
Overall, while I enjoyed parts of the book, the others left me wanting something more or different.Bear in mind that, like always, this is just my opinion. I enjoyed the writing and author's imagination though, so I'll definitely pick her other books.
It was the relationship that failed for me. I tried to tell myself over and over that this was a fantasy book, because usually I am more forgiving when it comes to this genre. But, that wasn't enough. The pull the two men feel has this supernatural element to it, that makes it unconvincing. They want each other, but what they have between them never comes across as quite consensual, as it seemed to me that they were pushed at each other. Even if you close your eyes at this, it's hard to see Brien and Scarlet as real lovers. They speak of love, yet the only thing that author managed to show us is a powerful lust between them. In the end, when all was said and done, Brien really became the protector, one who freed Scarlet of his ties with the forest and decided to show him the world. But, I just couldn't imagine their future beyond the fucking and that right there is an argument against taking their relationship seriously.
I was also bothered by the way Scarlet was used left and right (and no, the tree sex wasn't what bothered me). Everything about him was sexual, even the cleansing rituals the women performed had a strong sexual component. It was as if Scarlet didn't really exist (at least on page) as anything else than someone's toy (in a way that reminded me strongly of yaoi). Making him feisty and strongheaded didn't change the way I saw him and it definitely didn't made him a convincing submissive in my eyes. The character of Brien had the "unfinished" feel - the reasons for his rogue ways, his hatred for the forest, etc. were left unexplained (at least not in a satisfying way).
Overall, while I enjoyed parts of the book, the others left me wanting something more or different.Bear in mind that, like always, this is just my opinion. I enjoyed the writing and author's imagination though, so I'll definitely pick her other books.
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October 27, 2011Kinky! More fey than historical, or rather, it's historical regarding fey more so than historical England. Lots of bondage. Sometimes I really didn't get quite what it was going to prove, but there was definitely bondage!
Also,
(It's a pretty mild spoiler, and if you saw "kinky!" above and purred a bit, you want to click it.)
Still ruminating on how I want to describe the story. I would say that it's a fun read. I don't think it's meant to be a quick, light read, but that was what I did with it. There's a sort of high fantasy feel because of all the druid/magic/fey stuff, and it was very detailed, but I was all about seeing the two boys together and so sort of skimmed over that, which of course resulted in my being occasionally befuddled. In a perfect world I'd have wanted more relationship and less fey. But there was DEFINITELY kinky (but not weird or gross) sex, some shame/punishment stuff, mild (and titillating if that does it for you) degradation, and a lot of tying up and hitting, but it all stayed reasonably within the realm of not torturous.
I'd say give it a try based on this scale of judgment: If I said, "kinky and mild shame/degradation but it works out okay" and you leaned forward and said, "Mmm? Tell me more, Ms. Cullinan," then give it a go. If you wrinkled your nose and felt uneasy in your tummy, move on by.
Also,
(It's a pretty mild spoiler, and if you saw "kinky!" above and purred a bit, you want to click it.)
Still ruminating on how I want to describe the story. I would say that it's a fun read. I don't think it's meant to be a quick, light read, but that was what I did with it. There's a sort of high fantasy feel because of all the druid/magic/fey stuff, and it was very detailed, but I was all about seeing the two boys together and so sort of skimmed over that, which of course resulted in my being occasionally befuddled. In a perfect world I'd have wanted more relationship and less fey. But there was DEFINITELY kinky (but not weird or gross) sex, some shame/punishment stuff, mild (and titillating if that does it for you) degradation, and a lot of tying up and hitting, but it all stayed reasonably within the realm of not torturous.
I'd say give it a try based on this scale of judgment: If I said, "kinky and mild shame/degradation but it works out okay" and you leaned forward and said, "Mmm? Tell me more, Ms. Cullinan," then give it a go. If you wrinkled your nose and felt uneasy in your tummy, move on by.
March 15, 2018
yet another example of "UHHHHH why does this have such a low average rating i'm calling 999"
of course, i may be somewhat biased in favour of this book, as it contains one of my favourite things in the world: celtic mythology. not only that, but it had paranormal creatures, an interesting mystery, DRUIDS (more specifically, druidesses), tendril porn (not tentacles, per se), rough kinky sex, and angsty angst that resolves happily.
all of which is like, percy catnip.
but really, this was damn fantastic. the sexual tension between brien and scarlet was FANTASTICALLY written, not rushing into it but drawing it out in a taut line throughout the book. i hate it when the characters have sex in like the first 10 pages and continue to have sex every like 25 pages, it just isn't interesting. this, though? THIS was well done, because not only was the tension drawn out, it didn't feel artificially done like in some romances.
the fantasy elements were also really nice, pretty good world-building and explanations, and there was a mystery running throughout that was indeed rather Mysterious. sure, it wasn't like the greatest plot twist of all time but i still didn't see it coming, possibly because i was drunk on that incredibly hot sex scene like 2 chapters before.
anyways...
also, insta-lust that turns gradually ointo love? yes please. because let's be real, insta-lust exists and isn't rare and i think we should stop castigating it as a trope. insta-love, yes, but there is a difference and i think berrisford differentiates the two admirably.
of course, i may be somewhat biased in favour of this book, as it contains one of my favourite things in the world: celtic mythology. not only that, but it had paranormal creatures, an interesting mystery, DRUIDS (more specifically, druidesses), tendril porn (not tentacles, per se), rough kinky sex, and angsty angst that resolves happily.
all of which is like, percy catnip.
but really, this was damn fantastic. the sexual tension between brien and scarlet was FANTASTICALLY written, not rushing into it but drawing it out in a taut line throughout the book. i hate it when the characters have sex in like the first 10 pages and continue to have sex every like 25 pages, it just isn't interesting. this, though? THIS was well done, because not only was the tension drawn out, it didn't feel artificially done like in some romances.
the fantasy elements were also really nice, pretty good world-building and explanations, and there was a mystery running throughout that was indeed rather Mysterious. sure, it wasn't like the greatest plot twist of all time but i still didn't see it coming, possibly because i was drunk on that incredibly hot sex scene like 2 chapters before.
anyways...
also, insta-lust that turns gradually ointo love? yes please. because let's be real, insta-lust exists and isn't rare and i think we should stop castigating it as a trope. insta-love, yes, but there is a difference and i think berrisford differentiates the two admirably.
October 9, 2011
Excellent kinky gay dark historical fantasy romance about a former soldier who returns to the family manor in the Greenwood (the manor which he just sold to cover debts) to retrieve some hidden valuables before the new owner takes possession. When he finds another, very captivating thief already there, he has no idea how the course of his life has just shifted.
August 23, 2012
Reviewed on Hearts On Fire... http://heartsonfirereviews.com/
The world building in this book was absolutely excellent. The myths and lore that Ms Berrisford spun through out the story were worth reading alone. Melmoth Brien is deeply in debt so returns to his ancestral home which he hates deep in the Greenwood of England. When Brien arrives at his ruined home he finds that a young man named Scarlet has beaten him to the family jewels and other well hidden treasures and is about to set the estate ablaze. The year is 1817 yet this book does not read like a historical book but more like a fae story as almost all of it takes place in the Greenwood where time pretty much stands sill. Brien and his sister Jemima are the last of a long line of Protectors of the Greenwood but Brien does not want the duty and winds up being branded as a traitor. Scarlet and Brien have a lust/hate relationship going but Scarlet is unable to leave the Greenwood as it is his life force. The good versus evil theme runs heavily through the story and Scarlet is very caught up in it which makes his character interesting. The sex and the BDSM are hot enough to scorch your ereader and are tied to the story line. This book has it all from druid priestesses to talking spirit trees to murder. The characters are well developed and plot twists and turns abound but the HEA ending is spot on. I am looking to forward to book two in this well written series.
The world building in this book was absolutely excellent. The myths and lore that Ms Berrisford spun through out the story were worth reading alone. Melmoth Brien is deeply in debt so returns to his ancestral home which he hates deep in the Greenwood of England. When Brien arrives at his ruined home he finds that a young man named Scarlet has beaten him to the family jewels and other well hidden treasures and is about to set the estate ablaze. The year is 1817 yet this book does not read like a historical book but more like a fae story as almost all of it takes place in the Greenwood where time pretty much stands sill. Brien and his sister Jemima are the last of a long line of Protectors of the Greenwood but Brien does not want the duty and winds up being branded as a traitor. Scarlet and Brien have a lust/hate relationship going but Scarlet is unable to leave the Greenwood as it is his life force. The good versus evil theme runs heavily through the story and Scarlet is very caught up in it which makes his character interesting. The sex and the BDSM are hot enough to scorch your ereader and are tied to the story line. This book has it all from druid priestesses to talking spirit trees to murder. The characters are well developed and plot twists and turns abound but the HEA ending is spot on. I am looking to forward to book two in this well written series.
April 12, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
3 stars
I chose this book for a Paranormal Week read. While the main characters themselves feel more fantasy to me, there are some side elements—like how Scarlet copes belonging to a sort of “untouchable” caste by sexually servicing an anthropomorphic tree character—that feel paranormal. The idea of good and evil is also found in virtually everything, but the depictions of the evil forest spirits and their thirst for Scarlet’s blood and soul were described in terms that made me think more paranormal than fantasy (or paranormal fantasy? perhaps like the Hellboy series or Constantine.)
One thing you will get with seemingly every turn of the page is super-charged sexual attraction between Brien and Scarlet. From their very first encounter in the first few pages, Berrisford works hard to establish the carnal longing that seem to drive these two characters. And yet, despite the very blunt way Brien often voices his desire (most major events in the story cannot pass without him commenting about how he wants to “fuck” Scarlet), it takes rather long time to get there. Personally, I thought there was a bit too much focus on how much fornicating Brien wanted to partake in with Scarlet and too much resistance from Scarlet for me to really get into the endless way this pair dances around the actual penetration deed. Part of my disappointment rests with how shallow the characters felt—like their sexual desire is just about all that defines them apart from a few physical qualities, like how burly Brien is or how golden-brown Scarlet’s skin is. Of course, other readers may rather enjoy how little investment need be made to enjoy the way these manage their burning desire.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
3 stars
I chose this book for a Paranormal Week read. While the main characters themselves feel more fantasy to me, there are some side elements—like how Scarlet copes belonging to a sort of “untouchable” caste by sexually servicing an anthropomorphic tree character—that feel paranormal. The idea of good and evil is also found in virtually everything, but the depictions of the evil forest spirits and their thirst for Scarlet’s blood and soul were described in terms that made me think more paranormal than fantasy (or paranormal fantasy? perhaps like the Hellboy series or Constantine.)
One thing you will get with seemingly every turn of the page is super-charged sexual attraction between Brien and Scarlet. From their very first encounter in the first few pages, Berrisford works hard to establish the carnal longing that seem to drive these two characters. And yet, despite the very blunt way Brien often voices his desire (most major events in the story cannot pass without him commenting about how he wants to “fuck” Scarlet), it takes rather long time to get there. Personally, I thought there was a bit too much focus on how much fornicating Brien wanted to partake in with Scarlet and too much resistance from Scarlet for me to really get into the endless way this pair dances around the actual penetration deed. Part of my disappointment rests with how shallow the characters felt—like their sexual desire is just about all that defines them apart from a few physical qualities, like how burly Brien is or how golden-brown Scarlet’s skin is. Of course, other readers may rather enjoy how little investment need be made to enjoy the way these manage their burning desire.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
May 16, 2012
What do a former military captain and an orphan boy have in common? They are brought together by a magical force compelling them to protect the ancient Greenwood forest. Brien is the heir to his ancestral home in Greenwood. His parents are deceased and his fey sister is on a loony binge. Brien can't stand the magical talks of the Green Man and how there are forces out there he can't comprehend. He's a man in the real world and he just wants to sell his home for some money to fund his wandering travels, preferably with a woman on his arm.
Scarlet is a young woodman ransacking Brien's home. Brien accuses Scarlet for being a thief and wants to punish him. From here, we fall down a rabbit hole with Brien. He's dragged into a world with druidesses and forest spirits. They try to convince him of his power inherited through his family line. Brien doesn't want to hear any of it. His focus is on Scarlet's tasty ass. He wants to turn Scarlet's bottom into his namesake – scarlet.
I have to confess, this story was bizarre to me. Usually I'm good with stories involving the fey. I like stories with magic involved. This one was out there for me. It was a bit too convoluted for me in the world building. After a while, I gave up trying to figure out how each character related to each other in the story. There were a few too many secondary characters which didn't enhance the story for me. The conflicts were coming through on several fronts. Sometimes authors bring all the loose strings together into a cohesive threat. In this one, the sister, Hastings family and Lord of Hazel seemed to fight to be in center stage. Instead of supporting one theme, I felt pulled in multiple directions which ended in a fizzle.
What I would have liked to see, was the Lord of Hazel shown as the clear mastermind behind the Hastings taking over the ancestral home. I would have recommended more sinister acts of sabotage from Brien's sister. Her motive was sound; it just felt downplayed and showed up at the end as if to explain "this should now make sense".
The sex in this story was decent though. I enjoyed the deviance and rough quality to it. At points of the story, I felt as though I fell into a twisted version of A Midsummer Night's Dream. I think I was just as frustrated as Brien trying to understand the magic and the mythology. He didn't believe in it; I gave up trying to figure out the mythology.
I do want to state Ms. Berrisford did provide decent imagery. I could see the forest, the rundown cottage and Arden. I could also visualize the characters even if I couldn't remember their names. This book may appeal to m/m romance lovers who enjoy historical romances paired with magical fey mythology.
April 14, 2012
4 Hearts
First published at MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.co...
Melmoth Brien wants just one thing and that’s his family’s hidden treasures so he can pay his debts off before he is dragged to the debtor’s prison. His plans go awry though when he comes across a young woodsman about to set fire to his old family home. Scarlet has to drive out the intruders before they damage the forest but he never expected Melmoth to appear and ruin his plans. Now he needs to get rid of Melmoth as he is a faederswica (a traitor) before the bad spirits take over.
This has some fantastic world building and really draws you in to their world. The characters are well written and interesting and the basis for the Greenwood Lore and its protectors is a good concept. Melmoth is a strong hardy man who has a wanderer’s heart. He can’t settle anywhere and I think the explanation for this was good. Scarlet is a strong but submissive man, he will stand up for what he believes in and won’t take any crap from Melmoth. He also knows that even though he longs for Melmoth, Melmoth will leave and Scarlet has to stay. The conflict between them is good, they don’t have it easy and they both try to fight the attraction and that attraction is scorching.
The sex is hot between the MCs and you can see how their feelings change throughout the book. There is a slight BDSM theme and the scenes are light BDSM which is worked in quite well. There are also some scenes that are slightly disturbing that include Scarlet with the Green Man and then the Wild Things.
So I recommend this if you like fantasy/paranormal, light BDSM, hot sex, a sexy lithe man and a hunky ex-captain.
First published at MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.co...
Melmoth Brien wants just one thing and that’s his family’s hidden treasures so he can pay his debts off before he is dragged to the debtor’s prison. His plans go awry though when he comes across a young woodsman about to set fire to his old family home. Scarlet has to drive out the intruders before they damage the forest but he never expected Melmoth to appear and ruin his plans. Now he needs to get rid of Melmoth as he is a faederswica (a traitor) before the bad spirits take over.
This has some fantastic world building and really draws you in to their world. The characters are well written and interesting and the basis for the Greenwood Lore and its protectors is a good concept. Melmoth is a strong hardy man who has a wanderer’s heart. He can’t settle anywhere and I think the explanation for this was good. Scarlet is a strong but submissive man, he will stand up for what he believes in and won’t take any crap from Melmoth. He also knows that even though he longs for Melmoth, Melmoth will leave and Scarlet has to stay. The conflict between them is good, they don’t have it easy and they both try to fight the attraction and that attraction is scorching.
The sex is hot between the MCs and you can see how their feelings change throughout the book. There is a slight BDSM theme and the scenes are light BDSM which is worked in quite well. There are also some scenes that are slightly disturbing that include Scarlet with the Green Man and then the Wild Things.
So I recommend this if you like fantasy/paranormal, light BDSM, hot sex, a sexy lithe man and a hunky ex-captain.
February 18, 2012
You know you are in trouble when you KNOW you are reading fantasy and still have a difficult time suspending disbelief and simply letting go. This book went way over my head, so much so I don't even want to bother trying to make sense out of it. All the rituals, all the forest creatures, I think there were realms...nope, didn't get it. Liked some parts enough to finish, but most of it was a miss for me.
May 13, 2012
This is a great read. Loved the characters and the story. I can't wait to get to the second one!
April 21, 2018
This book was provided for free by the author and Love Bytes in exchange for an honest review.
This review was first posted to Love Bytes: LGBTQ Book Reviews. It has been slightly edited here for content.
This book, the first in an erotic magical fantasy series, is a mix of BDSM and enchanted fantasy storytelling that will lure readers in with sizzling chemistry between main characters Scarlet and Brien. But the erotica takes center stage for the bulk of the story, even when we want a little bit more plot and worldbuilding, and that imbalance prevented me from really immersing myself in the book.
If you’re into characters who are put through the wringer before they get their HEA, you’ll love Scarlet and all he must endure in this book before he and Brien can be happy. To age myself with old fan-fiction terms, the “whump” is strong with Scarlet—he’s stripped, battered, and humiliated in nearly every chapter, but his fiery spirit and natural defiance is never broken. Though his spitfire flightiness can fun to read about, I do think he’s a pretty thin character—he’s pretty much relegated to damsel in distress, waiting for the next time he’ll be saved by Brien, and he never gets the moment of surprise strength I was hoping he would.
The BDSM and bondage elements are very strong, and for the most part, done very well. It starts innocently with Brien tying Scarlet up to restrain him and keep him from running away, but their physical reactions betray them, bringing a new level of eroticism to their cat-and-mouse game. And even though it is an often-used trope, I love the way Brien and Scarlet’s “joining” is seen as a culmination of magic and protection for the Greenwood as well as a special act for both men. It raises the stakes and layers on the tension, especially when the druidesses tell the men they cannot have sex in order to preserve the balance of the Greenwood—only making them want each other more.
My frustrations with this book came down to lack of characterization and plotting at the expense of erotic scenes. Don’t get me wrong—the love scenes (naughty and sweet) between Brien and Scarlet are fire, and they’re very well done. But I’m left wanting more story to make those erotic elements have an even greater impact. I thought we needed more emotional build-up between Brien and Scarlet before they began falling for each other. I wanted to know more about each character and their history, parentage, friends, etc. And I thought the idea of this being an “alternate history” set in the mid 1810’s was an odd choice, since this feels like through-and-through fantasy. I was left with a lot of questions, which is never good, especially since it seems like future books in the series will focus on different characters.
Though I don’t think this would be my go-to recommendation for magical fantasy, there’s definitely enough good stuff going on that I’d say give it a shot. The kinky elements are done well enough to keep any die-hard BDSM erotica fan very happy indeed. I think I'll continue with the series as it is published by Less Than Three--three more books are already written, but they're being re-issued, so I'd rather wait to support the author's new publisher.
And lastly, be sure to heed content warnings, which are available on the publisher’s website. There are elements of attempted sexual assault, physical violence, and an instance of dubious consent involving a deal between Scarlet and the Green Man, a powerful natural being of the Greenwood. Many of these elements are included for the sake of showing Brien’s protective side and having him swoop in to save the day, but they’re still pretty dark to read about, so use discretion.
This review was first posted to Love Bytes: LGBTQ Book Reviews. It has been slightly edited here for content.
This book, the first in an erotic magical fantasy series, is a mix of BDSM and enchanted fantasy storytelling that will lure readers in with sizzling chemistry between main characters Scarlet and Brien. But the erotica takes center stage for the bulk of the story, even when we want a little bit more plot and worldbuilding, and that imbalance prevented me from really immersing myself in the book.
If you’re into characters who are put through the wringer before they get their HEA, you’ll love Scarlet and all he must endure in this book before he and Brien can be happy. To age myself with old fan-fiction terms, the “whump” is strong with Scarlet—he’s stripped, battered, and humiliated in nearly every chapter, but his fiery spirit and natural defiance is never broken. Though his spitfire flightiness can fun to read about, I do think he’s a pretty thin character—he’s pretty much relegated to damsel in distress, waiting for the next time he’ll be saved by Brien, and he never gets the moment of surprise strength I was hoping he would.
The BDSM and bondage elements are very strong, and for the most part, done very well. It starts innocently with Brien tying Scarlet up to restrain him and keep him from running away, but their physical reactions betray them, bringing a new level of eroticism to their cat-and-mouse game. And even though it is an often-used trope, I love the way Brien and Scarlet’s “joining” is seen as a culmination of magic and protection for the Greenwood as well as a special act for both men. It raises the stakes and layers on the tension, especially when the druidesses tell the men they cannot have sex in order to preserve the balance of the Greenwood—only making them want each other more.
My frustrations with this book came down to lack of characterization and plotting at the expense of erotic scenes. Don’t get me wrong—the love scenes (naughty and sweet) between Brien and Scarlet are fire, and they’re very well done. But I’m left wanting more story to make those erotic elements have an even greater impact. I thought we needed more emotional build-up between Brien and Scarlet before they began falling for each other. I wanted to know more about each character and their history, parentage, friends, etc. And I thought the idea of this being an “alternate history” set in the mid 1810’s was an odd choice, since this feels like through-and-through fantasy. I was left with a lot of questions, which is never good, especially since it seems like future books in the series will focus on different characters.
Though I don’t think this would be my go-to recommendation for magical fantasy, there’s definitely enough good stuff going on that I’d say give it a shot. The kinky elements are done well enough to keep any die-hard BDSM erotica fan very happy indeed. I think I'll continue with the series as it is published by Less Than Three--three more books are already written, but they're being re-issued, so I'd rather wait to support the author's new publisher.
And lastly, be sure to heed content warnings, which are available on the publisher’s website. There are elements of attempted sexual assault, physical violence, and an instance of dubious consent involving a deal between Scarlet and the Green Man, a powerful natural being of the Greenwood. Many of these elements are included for the sake of showing Brien’s protective side and having him swoop in to save the day, but they’re still pretty dark to read about, so use discretion.
May 1, 2015
Ok this one is an odd book and really not for everybody. Not because of the kink although some of it was pretty far out there in terms of nonhuman sex but because of the fantasy element in this. This book as a very strange world full of mysticism and at times has an otherworldly feel to it. There were times that I was engrossed but there were also times where I was scratching my head.
I didn't find the romance part of the book of this book to my taste being not really insta-love but insta-lust spiked with hate. It made an interesting sort of tension but it wasn't really up my alley. The characters where somewhat interesting and pretty well developed, but they often ended up in weird situations because of the plot. The BDSM was mainly focused various people tying Scarlett up and Brien being an alpha male. There where some whippings but not really the sexual kind and some dub or non consent stuff.
If your looking for a BDSM book this probably isn't it but this is a different kind of fantasy book that is dark and filled with lots of folk magic.
I didn't find the romance part of the book of this book to my taste being not really insta-love but insta-lust spiked with hate. It made an interesting sort of tension but it wasn't really up my alley. The characters where somewhat interesting and pretty well developed, but they often ended up in weird situations because of the plot. The BDSM was mainly focused various people tying Scarlett up and Brien being an alpha male. There where some whippings but not really the sexual kind and some dub or non consent stuff.
If your looking for a BDSM book this probably isn't it but this is a different kind of fantasy book that is dark and filled with lots of folk magic.
October 12, 2012
It...wasn't bad, I suppose, but throughout the entire thing, it just felt like all of whatever developed was for the sake of the kink...if that makes sense. Like, the developments in plot weren't because of natural progression but like means-to-and-end-ish - the end, of course, being the kink. It just felt like pwp with some excuse plot thrown it. It makes it seem like porn instead of a transgressive arthouse piece, if that makes sense. Still, the concepts are interesting, so I gave it the second star.
It was frustrating to read. There'd be a good or good-ish moment, and then would come an excuse plot moment that just would rip the passing, budding moment of awesome apart.
It was frustrating to read. There'd be a good or good-ish moment, and then would come an excuse plot moment that just would rip the passing, budding moment of awesome apart.
March 17, 2012
Very strange. I'm not quite sure how to review this one. I believe I'll think on it and return to review later.
I do, however, agree with another comment that the relationship wasn't entirely believable. Perhaps it was more that they didn't pull me in - with this story I should have been cheering for them, but instead I kind of feel I was dragged along for the ride...
I do, however, agree with another comment that the relationship wasn't entirely believable. Perhaps it was more that they didn't pull me in - with this story I should have been cheering for them, but instead I kind of feel I was dragged along for the ride...
May 14, 2018
I really enjoyed this book, although it was my opinion that there were a few extraneous scenes that drew away from the story at large.
This story sort of takes place in an alternate version of England in 1817. That's mostly not relevant within the town of Greenwood. Melmoth Brien returns in mind of getting the deed to his family home in order to see what it is worth in the wider world. What he doesn't know is that the land has recently switched hands in his absence.
That is a fact that Scarlet is more than willing to advise him of on their first meeting. The two of these gentlemen happen to meet while Scarlet is in the midst of attempting to set a fire to the manor to prevent the new owners from moving in. Understandably, Brien is not incredibly pleased with this turn of events.
The chemistry between these two characters is instant and splendid. I think that was why I disliked it so much every time we veered off towards other less important characters. We understood that Brien was bisexual from his stories about sleeping with both men and women in London, so didn't really need to see him flirting with a fairly extraneous woman within this manuscript.
Also, I kind of felt as though Scarlet's tendency to run away from Brien whenever the two of them kind of got close or their chemistry got too much was a bit repetitive before the end.
However, the ending was more than satisfying, even if the book as a whole was probably longer than it needed to be.
This story sort of takes place in an alternate version of England in 1817. That's mostly not relevant within the town of Greenwood. Melmoth Brien returns in mind of getting the deed to his family home in order to see what it is worth in the wider world. What he doesn't know is that the land has recently switched hands in his absence.
That is a fact that Scarlet is more than willing to advise him of on their first meeting. The two of these gentlemen happen to meet while Scarlet is in the midst of attempting to set a fire to the manor to prevent the new owners from moving in. Understandably, Brien is not incredibly pleased with this turn of events.
The chemistry between these two characters is instant and splendid. I think that was why I disliked it so much every time we veered off towards other less important characters. We understood that Brien was bisexual from his stories about sleeping with both men and women in London, so didn't really need to see him flirting with a fairly extraneous woman within this manuscript.
Also, I kind of felt as though Scarlet's tendency to run away from Brien whenever the two of them kind of got close or their chemistry got too much was a bit repetitive before the end.
However, the ending was more than satisfying, even if the book as a whole was probably longer than it needed to be.
November 11, 2018
This is a book with really excellent prose. As I was reading, it was almost a feeling of, "Oh that's right, this is how nice prose can be, wow!". However, I found the story fell flat. I didn't really connect with either of the two protagonists, and as intriguing as the world-building was, even by the end of the book, it seemed like it couldn't decide between dream-like erotic fantasy (which follows Rule of Sexy and doesn't really need to make sense under scrutiny) and actual strong world-building.
The D/s dynamic between the protagonists was fine, but not especially my thing. I think I've gotten a bit spoiled by internet writing; I know this would've had a few tags that would've told me it wouldn't be my cup of tea, haha.
Overall, it was a good airplane read, but I don't think I'll be checking out the other books in this series.
April 12, 2018
Qué cojones. Ni lo he acabado, pero qué hostias estaba pasando. Yo quiero de eso que se ha fumado la autora.
Ahora siendo serios. Incluso dejando a un lado lo bizarro, el argumento no tenía sentido. Hay como todo un lore aquí que no se explica. Tienes un personaje que cree que todo es mentira, otro que todo es cierto. Y aunque el segundo resulta que tenía razón es simplmente porque... si?
Mira, no se si son referencias a floklore inglés o qué coño. Sencillamente nada tenía sentido. Y eso ignorando todo lo bizarro, porque madre mia. El libro hace aguas desde el minuto uno.
Ahora siendo serios. Incluso dejando a un lado lo bizarro, el argumento no tenía sentido. Hay como todo un lore aquí que no se explica. Tienes un personaje que cree que todo es mentira, otro que todo es cierto. Y aunque el segundo resulta que tenía razón es simplmente porque... si?
Mira, no se si son referencias a floklore inglés o qué coño. Sencillamente nada tenía sentido. Y eso ignorando todo lo bizarro, porque madre mia. El libro hace aguas desde el minuto uno.
April 26, 2021
Interesting premise, a good plot with a few twist and turns, that I really enjoyed
September 19, 2011
This is a historical (England, 1817) fantasy. Or alternate history, maybe?
Cover - Good concept. I was disturbed by Scarlet's nose/face. And kept thinking that the coat worn by Brien looked more London Fog than Regency England.
MC's - Brien, an ex-soldier who tends to gamble. Scarlet, a young man who lives in the forest surrounding Brien's family estate. POV is alternating 3rd person.
The historical aspect of the book is pretty negligible. It sort of gives a bit of framework for the fantasy, but really this could have taken place in a world entirely made up. This is primarily a fantasy, taking place in a mysterious forest, which is inhabited by fantastical beings and druid priestesses and such.
Brien has basically turned his back on his family. With the estate sold, he goes searching for the hidden jewelry and deeds that will help him get out of debt. His parents are dead, but he has a sister out in the forest somewhere; he's always thought she was addled. He comes across Scarlet, a sweet young thing who wants to burn the house down. They both get a little kick out of the kink when Brien ties Scarlet up to keep him in place while he searches the house. So there you get the set-up for the BDSM.
Scarlet alternates between thinking Brien is a traitor for rejecting the forest, and claiming him as his own ("my captain"). Brien doesn't believe in the magic of the Forest, and alternates between wanting to get the hell out of the forest, to get money and property and such, and lusting after and dominating Scarlet.
There's a hellish realm beneath the woods where bad boys go, and Scarlet worries a lot that he's bound to end up there because he has a mark on his pelvis that means his blood is craved by the evil spirits, which are becoming stronger. Until late in the story, nobody seems to know just what Scarlet is.
The secondary characters of note are:
Jemima, Brien's sister, who is an enigma - faerie-like, following the pagan ways, with a bit of a feminist mind-set.
Arya, the druid priestess, tried to be an interesting character, and I kept thinking I should be equating her with a character played by Helen Mirren, except that she was being played by Julie Andrews. Another druidess, Urdhelda, was interesting in that Brien had some banter and sexual innuendo with her, reminding the reader that Brien is interested in both men and women.
Regarding sex: The sex between the main characters follows the tradition of starting with a kiss, building up to the blow job, and working its way toward penetration. It was kind of an interesting juxtaposition with the elaborate fantasy events.
To whet your appetite there is a scene of sex between Scarlet and the Green Man, in mostly tree form, which was pretty much tentacle sex.
Sexual contact with the traitor is thought to be destructive to Scarlet. There are mysterious ceremonies on the altar of the druidesses, where Scarlet is tied down and "anointed".
Scarlet believes he needs to be punished because he's so attracted to Brien. The druidesses get the idea to include a whipping in a scene they have Brien staging to scare away the people who are now in Brien's old house. This seemed a stretch to me, a way to get a BDSM scene into the story. Because the whole set up didn't make a lot of sense: Thinking that seeing a forest creature use force on a slave is going to strike fear in their enemies hearts.
Brien binds Scarlet's hands and gags him when they do get around to having sex on the forest floor. Just for fun, I think, since Scarlet likes being dominated.
There is a brutal scene when Scarlet gets taken to the underworld and is attacked and raped by the Wild Men.
The fantasy world itself was a pretty good one, a world within a world, so to speak. I think what keeps me from rating this higher is that I never really had any strong feelings for the characters. Also, there may have actually been a bit too much going on in 200 pages: The reluctant returning hero and the mysterious waif; the dark, burly bad guys (in place for convenience?); the enchanted forest and infringement by the outside world; tribe of druidesses (female power); good forest gods who aren't so good, evil forest gods, and a Mother spirit; secret birthrights; BDSM-themed romance... and more.
I think there's a lot of potential - I'd read another book by this author to find out.
Cover - Good concept. I was disturbed by Scarlet's nose/face. And kept thinking that the coat worn by Brien looked more London Fog than Regency England.
MC's - Brien, an ex-soldier who tends to gamble. Scarlet, a young man who lives in the forest surrounding Brien's family estate. POV is alternating 3rd person.
The historical aspect of the book is pretty negligible. It sort of gives a bit of framework for the fantasy, but really this could have taken place in a world entirely made up. This is primarily a fantasy, taking place in a mysterious forest, which is inhabited by fantastical beings and druid priestesses and such.
Brien has basically turned his back on his family. With the estate sold, he goes searching for the hidden jewelry and deeds that will help him get out of debt. His parents are dead, but he has a sister out in the forest somewhere; he's always thought she was addled. He comes across Scarlet, a sweet young thing who wants to burn the house down. They both get a little kick out of the kink when Brien ties Scarlet up to keep him in place while he searches the house. So there you get the set-up for the BDSM.
Scarlet alternates between thinking Brien is a traitor for rejecting the forest, and claiming him as his own ("my captain"). Brien doesn't believe in the magic of the Forest, and alternates between wanting to get the hell out of the forest, to get money and property and such, and lusting after and dominating Scarlet.
There's a hellish realm beneath the woods where bad boys go, and Scarlet worries a lot that he's bound to end up there because he has a mark on his pelvis that means his blood is craved by the evil spirits, which are becoming stronger. Until late in the story, nobody seems to know just what Scarlet is.
The secondary characters of note are:
Jemima, Brien's sister, who is an enigma - faerie-like, following the pagan ways, with a bit of a feminist mind-set.
Arya, the druid priestess, tried to be an interesting character, and I kept thinking I should be equating her with a character played by Helen Mirren, except that she was being played by Julie Andrews. Another druidess, Urdhelda, was interesting in that Brien had some banter and sexual innuendo with her, reminding the reader that Brien is interested in both men and women.
Regarding sex: The sex between the main characters follows the tradition of starting with a kiss, building up to the blow job, and working its way toward penetration. It was kind of an interesting juxtaposition with the elaborate fantasy events.
To whet your appetite there is a scene of sex between Scarlet and the Green Man, in mostly tree form, which was pretty much tentacle sex.
Sexual contact with the traitor is thought to be destructive to Scarlet. There are mysterious ceremonies on the altar of the druidesses, where Scarlet is tied down and "anointed".
Scarlet believes he needs to be punished because he's so attracted to Brien. The druidesses get the idea to include a whipping in a scene they have Brien staging to scare away the people who are now in Brien's old house. This seemed a stretch to me, a way to get a BDSM scene into the story. Because the whole set up didn't make a lot of sense: Thinking that seeing a forest creature use force on a slave is going to strike fear in their enemies hearts.
Brien binds Scarlet's hands and gags him when they do get around to having sex on the forest floor. Just for fun, I think, since Scarlet likes being dominated.
There is a brutal scene when Scarlet gets taken to the underworld and is attacked and raped by the Wild Men.
The fantasy world itself was a pretty good one, a world within a world, so to speak. I think what keeps me from rating this higher is that I never really had any strong feelings for the characters. Also, there may have actually been a bit too much going on in 200 pages: The reluctant returning hero and the mysterious waif; the dark, burly bad guys (in place for convenience?); the enchanted forest and infringement by the outside world; tribe of druidesses (female power); good forest gods who aren't so good, evil forest gods, and a Mother spirit; secret birthrights; BDSM-themed romance... and more.
I think there's a lot of potential - I'd read another book by this author to find out.
September 19, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. But I couldn't give it 5 stars... which is weird, because I read it in one day and couldn't put it down. Normally those kind of books are 5-star reads for me. I gave it a couple days to 'digest,' and here are my thoughts:
* Loved Scarlet. He seemed pretty sexy, and I imagined him being a beautiful guy. I liked when he got a little snarky, and wished he did that more often. It was fun.
* Brien was captivating. I believed his character arch throughout the book, and was excited for the two of them to get together.
* I started to wonder if it's just me who was thinking about "Evil Dead 2" during the Green Man scene... and I was laughing. Too bad. I understood what the scene meant (Scarlet literally BELONGS to the forest), but it ultimately came off as a little too goofy. Maybe I'm immature. That's possible!
* I wanted to have more scenes with the Druidesses. They were intriguing, and I wanted to know more about their society. Were there any other males living there, or was Scarlet the only one? It just seemed like a neat little world, in general. Maybe it would have brought more magic to the story somehow...?
* My favorite scene was the dancing one. The book could have used a few more scenes that demonstrated love between the two characters, not just lust. The fact that Brien, who seems very masculine and of-the-material-world, would sing to Scarlet, melted me.
* The sister, Jemima... I really didn't 'get' her. Her motivations didn't add up to me, and I don't recall ever reading a physical description of her. I'm sure it was there somewhere--right?--but I must have missed it. I kept thinking that I couldn't picture her. Hmmm. Also? Whenever she was mentioned, I had a strong craving for pancakes... :-)
But overall, wow. What a cool world Kay Berrisford created! It was rich, mysterious, dangerous, erotic and ethereal all at once. I admired her pacing and how she let the characters come together, gradually. She is an excellent storyteller overall. I will definitely read more books by her! She's very creative and I would love to read another book similar to this. (I'm hesitant about Bound to the Beast for some reason... is it the antlers?)
* Loved Scarlet. He seemed pretty sexy, and I imagined him being a beautiful guy. I liked when he got a little snarky, and wished he did that more often. It was fun.
* Brien was captivating. I believed his character arch throughout the book, and was excited for the two of them to get together.
* I started to wonder if it's just me who was thinking about "Evil Dead 2" during the Green Man scene... and I was laughing. Too bad. I understood what the scene meant (Scarlet literally BELONGS to the forest), but it ultimately came off as a little too goofy. Maybe I'm immature. That's possible!
* I wanted to have more scenes with the Druidesses. They were intriguing, and I wanted to know more about their society. Were there any other males living there, or was Scarlet the only one? It just seemed like a neat little world, in general. Maybe it would have brought more magic to the story somehow...?
* My favorite scene was the dancing one. The book could have used a few more scenes that demonstrated love between the two characters, not just lust. The fact that Brien, who seems very masculine and of-the-material-world, would sing to Scarlet, melted me.
* The sister, Jemima... I really didn't 'get' her. Her motivations didn't add up to me, and I don't recall ever reading a physical description of her. I'm sure it was there somewhere--right?--but I must have missed it. I kept thinking that I couldn't picture her. Hmmm. Also? Whenever she was mentioned, I had a strong craving for pancakes... :-)
But overall, wow. What a cool world Kay Berrisford created! It was rich, mysterious, dangerous, erotic and ethereal all at once. I admired her pacing and how she let the characters come together, gradually. She is an excellent storyteller overall. I will definitely read more books by her! She's very creative and I would love to read another book similar to this. (I'm hesitant about Bound to the Beast for some reason... is it the antlers?)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2013
This book reminded me of a recipe where you get all the ingredients perfect, but somehow the end product isn't quite right.
I love the setting. The mystical Greenwood reminded me of my favorite incarnation of Robin Hood, the BBC series Robin of Sherwood. If you haven't seen it, know that it too included a spark of magic.
The sexual content, when spelled out in the publisher warnings, seemed appealing:
BDSM theme and elements, dubious consent, male/male sexual practices, ritualistic sexual practices, ritualistic impalement, sex in partly shifted tree form, violence, voyeurism.
Given the setting, the ritualistic sexual practices and ritualistic impalement seemed especially appealing.
I love the archetypes the two main characters represented - the protector and the woodland sprite.
I enjoyed the early chemistry between the lead characters, specifically Scarlet's fascination when Brien is tying him up so he can search the house.
But somehow things never came together for me. Going back to the recipe metaphor... like everything was baked at too low a temperature, and the sweets didn't rise.
I like the formula, the recipe, the idea of the story and the rough sketch of the characters. I just want to hand that outline to another person and say "what can you do with this?"
Scarlett seemed unreal and not just because of the mystic setting and mood of the piece. Brien seemed two dimensional.
The plot to sexual content ratio seemed off, as well. Not enough sex for erotica with a good story, yet too much for a good fantasy with a tinge of erotica.
There was also a hint of the fanfic vibe. Not that this was linked to another fandom or sounded like recycled fanfic, but that it reads like that sort of amateur writing. Like the author and I share similar tastes in fiction, but I'm not sure that she's the one to write my perfect story. Of course, I see that this was her first published book.
I really want to like this series. Before reading this book I shelved the other three. Not sure if I'm up for a second try, or not. Maybe I'll look for a preview chapter.
I love the setting. The mystical Greenwood reminded me of my favorite incarnation of Robin Hood, the BBC series Robin of Sherwood. If you haven't seen it, know that it too included a spark of magic.
The sexual content, when spelled out in the publisher warnings, seemed appealing:
BDSM theme and elements, dubious consent, male/male sexual practices, ritualistic sexual practices, ritualistic impalement, sex in partly shifted tree form, violence, voyeurism.
Given the setting, the ritualistic sexual practices and ritualistic impalement seemed especially appealing.
I love the archetypes the two main characters represented - the protector and the woodland sprite.
I enjoyed the early chemistry between the lead characters, specifically Scarlet's fascination when Brien is tying him up so he can search the house.
But somehow things never came together for me. Going back to the recipe metaphor... like everything was baked at too low a temperature, and the sweets didn't rise.
I like the formula, the recipe, the idea of the story and the rough sketch of the characters. I just want to hand that outline to another person and say "what can you do with this?"
Scarlett seemed unreal and not just because of the mystic setting and mood of the piece. Brien seemed two dimensional.
The plot to sexual content ratio seemed off, as well. Not enough sex for erotica with a good story, yet too much for a good fantasy with a tinge of erotica.
There was also a hint of the fanfic vibe. Not that this was linked to another fandom or sounded like recycled fanfic, but that it reads like that sort of amateur writing. Like the author and I share similar tastes in fiction, but I'm not sure that she's the one to write my perfect story. Of course, I see that this was her first published book.
I really want to like this series. Before reading this book I shelved the other three. Not sure if I'm up for a second try, or not. Maybe I'll look for a preview chapter.
September 15, 2011
My quest as a fan of queer romance has always been to find books that combine genuinely excellent world-building, story-telling, character-development and that certain indefinable magic sparkle that makes a book swallow you up (in other words, all the things I'd want in any off the shelf book) with the one thing most books in my local bookshop lack - intense, loving, hot, queer romance.
This book delivers that and then some. Kay Berrisford has created a fantasy world steeped in English folklore, not a pastiche of every other fantasy going but her own strange and wonderful world, and into it rides Melmoth Brien, ex-solider of the Napoleonic wars, dissolute, dead-end, desparing. He doesn't want the Greenwood he's rejected anywhere near his home, let alone the beautiful young man who falls into his life who seems mysteriously bound, heart and soul, to the forest. And the Scarlet doesn't want a rough, rude, outsider who blasphemes against all he believes in anywhere near him either.
The journey they take together, deeper and deeper into the forest and all that it might mean, is wonderful for the romance that emerges between them but just as much for the places they go and the things they experience. Heat, sex, yearning, it's all there, eroticism drips from each interaction but there's character, love, background, purpose and that indefinable magic sparkling all over the place.
This book delivers that and then some. Kay Berrisford has created a fantasy world steeped in English folklore, not a pastiche of every other fantasy going but her own strange and wonderful world, and into it rides Melmoth Brien, ex-solider of the Napoleonic wars, dissolute, dead-end, desparing. He doesn't want the Greenwood he's rejected anywhere near his home, let alone the beautiful young man who falls into his life who seems mysteriously bound, heart and soul, to the forest. And the Scarlet doesn't want a rough, rude, outsider who blasphemes against all he believes in anywhere near him either.
The journey they take together, deeper and deeper into the forest and all that it might mean, is wonderful for the romance that emerges between them but just as much for the places they go and the things they experience. Heat, sex, yearning, it's all there, eroticism drips from each interaction but there's character, love, background, purpose and that indefinable magic sparkling all over the place.
September 17, 2011
Reviewed by Jamie: This book was a breath of fresh, woodland air; a sheer delight to read from start to finish.
If you are put off by 'historical' novels or settings, rest assured this is one story that does not drag or focus on 'the boring parts' in any way. While it's set just after the Napoleonic era in England and the background knowledge is evident, the story is fast paced, original and dives straight into the action. Throughout the story there are interesting and often very amusing references to the time and era, but the primary focus is the attraction between its two main characters.
Soldier, gambler, and loveable rogue Melmouth Brien returns to his family estate in desperate search for ready cash. His childhood home is in ruins being claimed by the forest, and he stumbles upon a handsome and mysterious young man, Scarlet. But Scarlet is not some mere thief as Brien first assumes, and the more he finds out the more mysteries are revealed about both their destinies.
The visuals of this story are stunning. If you like old English folklore, woodland realms, bad fairies and legends then this story will not disappoint. As well as the visual feasts dreamt up, there are many surprises in store.
It is a romantic story at heart but with a certain dash of kink which lends it a modern twist. Very original, highly recommended.
A+
http://manohmanreviews.blogspot.com/2...
If you are put off by 'historical' novels or settings, rest assured this is one story that does not drag or focus on 'the boring parts' in any way. While it's set just after the Napoleonic era in England and the background knowledge is evident, the story is fast paced, original and dives straight into the action. Throughout the story there are interesting and often very amusing references to the time and era, but the primary focus is the attraction between its two main characters.
Soldier, gambler, and loveable rogue Melmouth Brien returns to his family estate in desperate search for ready cash. His childhood home is in ruins being claimed by the forest, and he stumbles upon a handsome and mysterious young man, Scarlet. But Scarlet is not some mere thief as Brien first assumes, and the more he finds out the more mysteries are revealed about both their destinies.
The visuals of this story are stunning. If you like old English folklore, woodland realms, bad fairies and legends then this story will not disappoint. As well as the visual feasts dreamt up, there are many surprises in store.
It is a romantic story at heart but with a certain dash of kink which lends it a modern twist. Very original, highly recommended.
A+
http://manohmanreviews.blogspot.com/2...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2013
I was fortunate enough to win a print copy of this book, and I must say I really enjoyed it.
The story is intense, it gets going quickly and never lags. You're almost breathless as you read.
There is a goodly amount of rumpy-pumpy throughout, yet it was never too much, and I'm pretty quick to trigger on that subject, having read a lot of books recently that were just too much sex to plot, imo. It helps that the main characters here are both very sexy and go together very well. I loved the top, Brien, so much I envied Scarlet being on the receiving end of such a great master. *shiver*
I'm not going to give away the plot, so don't expect to read anything pertinent about it, just to say it works well and winds itself up to a thrilling climax (so to speak). I love the English setting and mourn the loss of our ancient woodland, which remains as a fragment of its once great self.
Loose ID have done a good job producing this book (and the series). Just look at that gorgeous cover by Anne Cain (of course it was her). Marvellous. Plus the quality of the print book is very good, better than many m/m titles I've received. The cover has a nice matt feel, the paper is quality and the interior formatting really nice. Well done Loose ID.
The story is intense, it gets going quickly and never lags. You're almost breathless as you read.
There is a goodly amount of rumpy-pumpy throughout, yet it was never too much, and I'm pretty quick to trigger on that subject, having read a lot of books recently that were just too much sex to plot, imo. It helps that the main characters here are both very sexy and go together very well. I loved the top, Brien, so much I envied Scarlet being on the receiving end of such a great master. *shiver*
I'm not going to give away the plot, so don't expect to read anything pertinent about it, just to say it works well and winds itself up to a thrilling climax (so to speak). I love the English setting and mourn the loss of our ancient woodland, which remains as a fragment of its once great self.
Loose ID have done a good job producing this book (and the series). Just look at that gorgeous cover by Anne Cain (of course it was her). Marvellous. Plus the quality of the print book is very good, better than many m/m titles I've received. The cover has a nice matt feel, the paper is quality and the interior formatting really nice. Well done Loose ID.
April 14, 2018
This is a fun story for fans of elven tales and kink. This book centers around the romance of Scarlet and Brien. Brien is a down on his luck nobleman that returns to his ancestral home to recoup some wealth. While there, he meets the enigmatic man of the forest Scarlet, who has an unique energy that instantly attracts him. Scarlet is constantly dealing with the push and pull of the light and dark forest gods and the presence of Brien complicates matters even more. The men try to accomplish their goals while fighting their attraction for each other.
This story is high heat and I wasn’t expecting that going in but thought it made sense in the context of the story. Bondage and servitude is closely linked with Scarlet’s devotion to the forest so I understood why those concepts would bleed into the sex that the two men had. Typically historical fantasies like this don’t approach the kinker subjects so if you are looking for a blending of the two, I think you’ll appreciate this book. There were some plot points that didn’t exactly make sense to me or flow properly in my opinion but in general, I liked this brief kinky fantasy and would recommend it.
This story is high heat and I wasn’t expecting that going in but thought it made sense in the context of the story. Bondage and servitude is closely linked with Scarlet’s devotion to the forest so I understood why those concepts would bleed into the sex that the two men had. Typically historical fantasies like this don’t approach the kinker subjects so if you are looking for a blending of the two, I think you’ll appreciate this book. There were some plot points that didn’t exactly make sense to me or flow properly in my opinion but in general, I liked this brief kinky fantasy and would recommend it.
August 19, 2013
I enjoyed this book significantly more than my other Kay Berrisford read, Catching Kit. This was set in the far history, but felt like less of a history lesson than the other book. And the sex worked much better. I thought there was something of a good dynamic between Brien and Scarlet, although part of their relationship was magical and a quick bond. I was somewhat disappointed by the ending... the problems were solved too neatly and everyone was too happy. It would have been nice to see some of the world outside the forest and actually realize the reactions a gay couple would get in 1817. Instead, the whole story was essentially set inside the Greenwood and outside of time, the world, and traditional values. Ms. Berrisford always seems like she wants to address big political issues of history, but really shies away from actually talking about them in any depth, instead just mentions them and suggests that there may be depth there.
January 8, 2019
When Brien returns to his childhood home to scrounge up something he can sell to settle his debts, he doesn't expect to find a thief named Scarlet attempting to burn the place down. Scarlet considers Brien to be a traitor to the forest as he as abandoned his birthright. But all the legends Brien has shunned or dismissed as heathen tales are suddenly very real and very dangerous, much like his attraction to Scarlet.
This book takes the heavy kink of something like Take it All and ads a hefty dose of faerie lore. Brien and Scarlet's will they/won't they does go on a tad too long but they develop good chemistry so they may have been thrown together but they work. It's when the book gets DEEP into its lore that could turn some people off. I personally loved the detailed world building around our main character's sexual relationship.
And that relationship is intense, graphic, BDSM and some dubious consent. Not for the faint of heart.
This isn't insta-love but it is insta-lust that becomes love later. If that's your jam and you enjoy historical fantasy, this is a great outing!
This book takes the heavy kink of something like Take it All and ads a hefty dose of faerie lore. Brien and Scarlet's will they/won't they does go on a tad too long but they develop good chemistry so they may have been thrown together but they work. It's when the book gets DEEP into its lore that could turn some people off. I personally loved the detailed world building around our main character's sexual relationship.
And that relationship is intense, graphic, BDSM and some dubious consent. Not for the faint of heart.
This isn't insta-love but it is insta-lust that becomes love later. If that's your jam and you enjoy historical fantasy, this is a great outing!
November 16, 2011
Reading this novel was like sinking into an epic lemony original fanfic.
Set in the Greenwood forest, where magic abounds, world-weary Brien returns to his childhood home one last time, he thinks. Instead he is irresistibly drawn to find out more about the forest and his part in it, when he meets Scarlet.
I was unsure if I was going to enjoy the book at first because Brien was huge and brawny, Scarlet, fey, slight and beautiful, whereas I prefer more evenly matched partners, but I needn't have worried, as Scarlet was more than a match for Brien in sheer determination and bravery!
I also need to mention the sex scenes because they are well written and so hot. There is lots of bondage but I have to admit my favourite was definitely the trees have their wicked way with Scarlet ;-)!
Set in the Greenwood forest, where magic abounds, world-weary Brien returns to his childhood home one last time, he thinks. Instead he is irresistibly drawn to find out more about the forest and his part in it, when he meets Scarlet.
I was unsure if I was going to enjoy the book at first because Brien was huge and brawny, Scarlet, fey, slight and beautiful, whereas I prefer more evenly matched partners, but I needn't have worried, as Scarlet was more than a match for Brien in sheer determination and bravery!
I also need to mention the sex scenes because they are well written and so hot. There is lots of bondage but I have to admit my favourite was definitely the trees have their wicked way with Scarlet ;-)!
Read
April 6, 20134/5 stars.
Review is on my non Pen-name goodreads here:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
This is a copy. :) Also, not putting stars, as I don't want to double-rate.
Interesting historical paranormal m/m. I enjoyed the world-building quite a bit, though I would like to know more about why Brien disliked his home so much... and I'm curious as to what happens with the druidesses in the future.
The sex was hot and kinky and I'm not sure I'd want to live in the Greenwood, given that things are a little...rough...around the edges. But as a fantasy, it was wonderfully squrimy at points.
I'll be reading more of Ms. Berrisford's works. She paints vivid descriptions and builds interesting worlds.
Review is on my non Pen-name goodreads here:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
This is a copy. :) Also, not putting stars, as I don't want to double-rate.
Interesting historical paranormal m/m. I enjoyed the world-building quite a bit, though I would like to know more about why Brien disliked his home so much... and I'm curious as to what happens with the druidesses in the future.
The sex was hot and kinky and I'm not sure I'd want to live in the Greenwood, given that things are a little...rough...around the edges. But as a fantasy, it was wonderfully squrimy at points.
I'll be reading more of Ms. Berrisford's works. She paints vivid descriptions and builds interesting worlds.
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