In His Command

Don’t Tell #1

by Rie Warren

In the dystopian future, two men discover attraction isn't just dangerous, it's deadly.

Two generations ago, the world was annihilated by a series of catastrophic environmental events. The remaining survivors were driven closer and closer to big city centers-damaged but not destroyed-divvied into sixteen identical international territories ruled by the Company.

Oppressive to the core, the Company has one rule in order to recoup the world's devastated population: homosexuality and deviant sexual behaviors are hanging offenses. First time offenders are last-time offenders.

It is the year 2070. Commander Caspar Cannon has a stellar military reputation-and a life-threatening secret. When a revolution rips through the territories, Cannon is ordered to escort Company Executive Nathaniel Rice to a secure location. Leaving the besieged city behind, their journey becomes a minefield of sabotage, betrayal, secrets . . . and intense desire for one another.

Cannon's militant self-repression takes a direct hit, his suspicions warring with passion for a man who can never be his, not while the Company remains in power. True to his mission, he delivers Nathaniel to the safe bunker where a fate he never expected awaits him.

Genres: M M Romance, Dystopia, Military Fiction, Romance, LGBT, Science Fiction, Erotica

332 pages, Paperback

First published August 6, 2013

About the author

All of Rie Warren's self-published series are available to read on Kindle Unlimited, including the instant hit Bad Boys of Retribution MC, Carolina Bad Boys, Bad Boy Ballers, and many more!

Badass, sassafras Rie Warren is an OG Amazon All Star author of Bad Boy books and MC romance. She delivers five star sex, suspense, and the best banter around. Her stories are one hundred percent original, do not contain fluffy plots or virgin brides, and wring every last emotion from readers to leave them with a satisfied smile. Rie’s tough alpha males are never brought to heel, but are instead healed by the feisty femme fatale of their perfect match.

She grew up in Maine, went to college in Iowa (Iowa, what?), lived in Scotland, and married in Englishman. In true roundabout fashion, they came back to the States, settled in South Carolina’s lowcountry, putting down southern roots and pursuing their arty endeavors. Tale spinner and character diviner, Rie is a lover of sleep, wine, and rude memes often involving either Disney characters or Winnie the Pooh. She is raising two teen daughters along with an entire brain full of unruly characters.

Rough-talking alpha men? Rie has that on tap.
Stubborn sassy heroines? You bet.
Smoldering sex scenes that’ll set your Kindle on fire? Check, check, check.
Keep a fan handy, you’ll need it.

Follow the signup link below to her romance newsletter for sneak peeks, new releases, first looks, and her quirky sense of humor.
https://www.subscribepage.com/riewarr...

And, as always, happy sexy reading to you!

Reviews

[Miranda Whore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of In His Command by Rie Warren
Book provided by publisher for honest review.

Warning: This is a M/M erotic novel.

HOLYCRAP! Seriously, I was completely FLOORED by this book. I’m fairly new to reading M/M only books, I have read lots of romance and erotica that have F/M/M or M/F/M or some variation of having a chic in there… this book was H O T! I mean like fan yourself, strip your shirt off, take a cold shower, put ice in your coochie kind of HOT. Whew. The sexual tension and angst in this book kept you wanting the entire time. Rie Warren, I bow down at your feet in awe at your ability to make a fully hetero-girl feel jealous that she is not a gay man. Seriously. Wow.

The storyline itself is extremely well thought out and different from the norm. I love the whole dystopian feel throughout the story. I don’t want to really give anything away in the storyline because in this case it really is best for you to read it and “feel” it for yourself, but I quickly got sucked into the thrill of the run. The fear of capture. The adventure of the chase. It was a thrill a minute. And even when there isn’t some sort of adventure happening your Kindle is set aflame by the sexiest smut around.

The BBFs… Casper and Nathaniel. Both men are sexy alpha male types. Love the tension between the two and the way they play off of each other. No matter the situation, even when their lives are in danger I swear you can feel the sexual tension and know that if they would just rip each others clothes off and have at it everything would be better.

The secondary characters are also very well developed and well written, I am looking forward to reading book two in this series. I can’t wait to find out what happens with Casper’s right hand lady! I give the book 4.5 stars for storyline and 5 drenched panties for smut factor.. I mean WOW.

Review by the Head Whore at Mommy’s a Book Whore.
www.facebook.com/mabwreviews
http://mommysabookwhore.blogspot.com

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time)]

DNF. VERY dark and depressing, not for me.

[⚣Michaelle⚣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whooo, there sure was a LOT of sex in this one. Like, every time the MCs were intimate, we get the details. Which, the first couple of times was hot as hell...but sometimes too much is too much.

Otherwise, I loved this story. Dystopian futures scare me to death (especially when it seems like I can see where something like this could eventually happen because of current events, politics & religion laying the groundwork) but I can't help reading them - mainly because those who stand for freedom, for something better usually prevail and that gives me joy and hope.

The next installment is an MF read, but I put it on the TBR (SHOCK, I know!) mainly because Liz was a great, queer, strong, mouthy, capable character. I certainly hope that continues. (Also because #s 3&4 are MM and I don't want to skip a book that might have some important arc developments.)

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gritty, dark in places, horrific in others, but full of alpha male.

The book certainly starts off with a bang, drawing the reader into the year 2070, where after a big pandemic, humanity is corralled into sectors and told to reproduce. All of this is overseen by "The Company". Homosexuality is outlawed, and anyone found engaging in unauthorized sexual activities is tried and hanged. Young men and women are forced into first time sexual relations that are overseen by Company men. Sexy, this is not.

Of course, as with any such restrictive regime, there are those who will circumvent the rules any which way they can and seek the non-approved sexual encounters they crave, while still pretending to follow and support the oppressors.

One of them is Caspar Cannon, a Company soldier. Gay as the day is long, he's kept his secret hidden while attending clandestine parties outside of the city.

Nathaniel Rice is one of the Company men. When revolution rips into the city, Caspar is tasked with getting him to safety. Their journey takes them farther than either anticipated.

I liked the characterizations for the most part. In some instances, Caspar sounds like a whiny whiner, which doesn't gel with the tough soldier image the author created. I did appreciate the character growth, even though in came in spurts (teehee) and on occasion felt unrealistic. Caspar keeps his desire for love and a place to belong close to his heart, which is understandable due to his situation, and the dichotomy between tough, gritty, uncaring soldier and the soft, vulnerable man looking for lasting love was quite well done.

Nathaniel, whom Caspar calls Blondie, pursues him from the start, and while on route to the safe location, the two men quickly embark on a hot and heavy affair.

Nathaniel to me seemed at the same time vulnerable and secretive, which isn't helped by the fact that we spend the entire book in Casper's POV. Any character growth on Nathaniel's end is colored by that, and his motives aren't always clear (obviously).

This was neither a just great M/M romance (even though there is one) nor was it a plain dystopian tale of a new world order, but the two didn't merge well enough for me. There was almost too much time spent on world-building and sexual encounters that the actual romance felt like an afterthought.

It doesn't help that Caspar's mind is split between his lust for Nathaniel and his fear of betrayal. The back and forth, with whiplash speed, got wearing after a while. His inner voice also sounded too feminine for my taste. I don't know that a tough soldier would wax poetically about pretty flowers and scents. I'm not sure if that was because the author is female, or if that was an intentional character trait, but it made it difficult to reconcile the two in my head.

There's a big slowdown in this book while Casper and Nathaniel are on the road trip. Most of it is spent with the two having sex on numerous occasions, which is detailed to the point of erotica.

I appreciated the author's attempt at including strong female characters, none of which were cast in an evil light, as is so often the case in M/M romances. Still, the focus is on the two men and their journey, which leaves the women on the sidelines without much influence over the action until the revelations at the ending.

I had a hard time rating this. There were some really good parts and some rather bad ones. Still, a good first effort (as the author's first M/M novel), and something you'll want to look at if dystopian alpha male erotica is your thing.

This is the first in a series, and the next one appears to feature a bi-sexual character. Since F/F isn't my preferred pairing, I probably won't pick it up.

I received a free ARC from the publisher via Netgalley. A positive review was not promised in return.

[The Bursting Bookshelf of a Wallflower · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

While I really liked the dark dystopian setting and the gritty atmosphere, the story was lacking some background information that I would have needed in order to get a better understanding for the main characters and the world they are living in. I had the feeling that the pace of the story was unbalanced; the plot was moving very fast at decisive moments, but was incredibly and unnervingly slow at other moments.

I have to admit that I was at the verge of putting the book aside for good, but somehow I forced myself to keep on reading. I was waiting for a great plottwist - and I did get a plottwist, but I'm not sure if it was all that great. I was again missing some explanations and was left hanging with a number of unanswered questions.

All this might have been less tragic, if the romance and the attraction between the main characters would habe been catchy; unfortunately it wasn't! I didn't really believe in their love and I can't rate this book with more than already very generous 2.5 stars!

[Cryselle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here we have a couple of alpha males, on opposing sides of a very wide gap. Nathaniel is a Company man with a more convoluted path than his military lover and escort Caspar can imagine. In this world, the population has been depleted by war and by plague, creating a very stratified society where the major goal is to repopulate the world. If you can stomach the nonsensical worldbuilding of Divergent, you can probably buy into the Company, their complete intolerance for homosexuality, for people who don’t toe their lines, and the carnage that follows on from it. For a society that wishes to expand their numbers, they do kill off more than they breed.

Resistance is inevitable, and Nathaniel, a Company mucky-muck in IT, needs to be evacuated to a safe compound nearly 500 miles distant from the city, through what seems to be mostly wilderness, as 90% of the urbanization has disappeared between now and 2070. Tying down the date so tightly introduces reality, which doesn’t promote the suspension of disbelief this story requires. One has to take Nathaniel’s attraction to and feelings for Caspar as a given as well, because some sideways glances and a blowjob do not a relationship make.

Swallow the set-up as a bitter pill though, and get to the adventure, as they make their way to the compound in the north, which is punctuated by multiple sex scenes, most of which can be skimmed without losing anything, although I did almost blow by one that mattered to the plot and had to go back and read in detail.

The author does do a fine job of keeping her characters off balance, introducing twists and turns that distort the fragile trust they have in one another. Some of this is brutal reading, but it makes sense, and is one of the finest aspects of the book. Simple goals become complex goals, and then become as simple as “stay alive” again. In the course of this I did believe in the relationship, as Caspar had to go from bare physical attraction to love, via distrust and sometimes despair. Nathaniel’s path to Caspar is simpler, though he has to navigate all the reasons for distrust and overcome them.

The style is simple and gritty, we’re inside the head of a career soldier on the battlefield, which makes the frequent endearments Nathaniel uses kind of ludicrous, and only when he spoke them ironically did I not flinch. YMMV.

I would have been perfectly content with a brief epilog after Chapter 18, but the ending abandoned the alpha male adventure and descended into flowery romantic territory where I came close to throwing my Kindle. I was moderately prepared for it after having read the novella, but didn’t like it any better the second time. The book seems to be trying to be all things to all people, which comes across as serious breaks in characterization. Really, it’s okay to have alpha men be alpha men and express the more tender side while staying in character. And seriously, men, particularly in situations of danger or while wounded, can think with their big heads.

I am embarrassed to admit how much of this book I had to skim: I *never* skim, but the incessant sex scenes strung together with a few pages of plot, and then the smooptastic ending required some “reader editing” or the book would have been a DNF. There is some very good stuff in here, particularly after they arrive at the compound, but it has to be picked out.

Don’t show me the peen unless it advances the plot.

Copy received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I hesitated very hard between 2 stars and 3 stars here, because parts are excellent other parts are !!! 3 marbles at Cryselle's Bookshelf but the rating systems don't line up exactly.

[T.M. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC copy supplied through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

“Look, Blondie. I’m not asking you to bottom, just to navigate.”
“Jesus, Caspar. I’m not asking you to top me, just to talk.”

This is the relationship as a whole between our two ML, Caspar (Big Boy) and Nate (Blondie). They talk to each other like they talk to no one else; they have a dry, witty banter back and forth that will make you chuckle; they get on each other’s nerves like no other and they love each other fiercely.

Caspar Cannon is a Commander in the new world army that makes up the government in the world Warren has created. Sexual deviant behavior is forbidden and punishable by death, this most definitely includes homosexuality. Caspar has always known that “tits didn’t do it for him” but his safety net is his career in Alpha company, so he hides his secret well. Stolen moments in an underground club are his only outlet to his hidden desires, this is where he first see’s Blondie. Sexy and tall with blonde shoulder length hair and deep blue eyes, Blondie stirs something inside Caspar that he tries to keep hidden.

Nathaniel Rice is a technical genius, a company executive and the son of a very powerful person. When rebels breech Alpha, Caspar is charged with escorting Nate to safety, imagine his surprise when they meet and he comes face to face with the one man he wants more than anything, Blondie. Thrust together by circumstance, Caspar and Nate begin a dangerous affair that could cost them both their lives if discovered.

As the story progresses both men open up more to each other every day, begin to trust one another, and have a LOT of smoking hot sex in tents and against various trees as well as the hood of a truck! Nathaniel falls hard and quick, but Caspar is not so easily trusting. He fears that if he opens up and lets Nate in he’ll be hurt, or worse killed for his indiscretions. A group of rebels that call themselves the Freelanders offer protection and solace for the lovers on the run, and not only do they not care about their relationship, they welcome it.

Both men still hold on to a deep secret though, secrets that could destroy their yet still fragile relationship. And when a betrayal from someone they thought they could trust lands Nate back within his father’s grasp and Caspar in a cell, will their love survive the trial?

In His Command is a dark and sexy story with several twists and turns along the way. The dystopian world that Warren has created is eerily believable and strategically realistic. Caspar and Nate are protective, loyal and strong not only for each other, but for the people they call family and friends as well. Strong secondary characters round out the cast and provide a stellar story about a world that is based on homophobia and fear, and how two men that love each other change everything, including each other.

Romance, mystery, suspense and some oh my good god sex make this novel a must read for fans of the genre’s!

[Jen Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I loved the idea of a dystopian m/m romance. It promised a unique story, riddled with angst. It delivered in those respects, but it did not work for me in more ways than it did. In fact, I actually had a hard time making it though to the end.

I had several problems. The pacing was uneven. The first person POV was not engaging, nor did it make me sympathetic to the hero. Frankly, I didn’t like Casper, which made it difficult to root for the romance. I never got any perspective from his love interest, Nathanial, which left me further disconnected. And there was way too much sex. Yes, I know that may sound strange coming from me, but it was so excessive, I actually had to fight from skimming them after a time.

In this futuristic world, the human race is in dire straights after a series of cataclysmic events nearly killed them off. Now, the government rules with an iron fist. Conformity and reproduction are the top priorities. Homosexuality and any deviant sexual acts are punishable by death. It’s a terrible time to be gay.

Casper is actuallly one of the military men who enforces the law. And he knows what a hypocrite that makes him, because he goes to underground sex clubs for anonymous gay hook-ups. There is a beautiful blond man who has caught his eye. And as the story begins, they are finally about to get together, when a rebellion rocks the city and he is called back to duty.

A new assignment, escorting a high profile official out of the danger zone ends up putting the man right back in his orbit. Nathaniel is not only his assignment, but the man he was infatuated with at the club. The story follows their journey out of the city, as they leave behind a life of hiding, fall in love, and have lots and lots… and lots… of sex.

I understand Casper has had a rough life, but he was very difficult to relate to. It was nearly the end of the book before I really felt anything from him. He fights his own desires and isn’t particularly kind to Nathaniel, even as they connect physically. I hated how he called him “Blondie” and I hated how Nathaniel called him “big man” and “honey.” The sex is hot, to be sure, but it just got old with its frequency and there just wasn’t enough on page relationship building to make me believe in deeper feelings.

I liked Nathaniel from what I could learn of him in Casper’s POV, but there are things he does toward the end of the book that were hard for me to swallow, and seemingly too easy for Casper to forgive. I wanted to like it, but… I didn’t. It got better toward the very end, but it wasn’t quite enough to turn the tide for me. It needs more feelings, more emotional resonance for me to buy into it.

Rating: C/C-

*ARC provided by publisher for review

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why I read this book:
Two things really popped out at me when I considered this book. I felt really drawn in by the dystopian aspect of this book. Dystopian isn’t exactly my favorite genre yet but I’ve read a few that have engaged my attention. So I was hoping that this book would also spur me to further explore the genre.

Another thing is, it’s a m/m and you know I’m all about that!

Initial thoughts:
In the opening chapters, I found myself intrigued by the world. But also very confused. The worldbuilding turned out to be far more extensive than I expect it to me. It is the year 2070 and because of a series of environmental events, the world has changed dramatically from what we know of it today. Big cities are ruled by the Company and the most horrific aspect of this world is that all homosexuals are to be exterminated.

I found this concept to be both intriguing and horrific. I love the idea as a story, but in real life, how terrible would that be? Commander Casper Cannon must escort Nathanial Rice to a secure location, but his secrets is not only dangerous but can be deadly to him as well.

As I said earlier, it’s a lot to take in and it can be confusing at times. You’re thrown into a whole different world that is detailed and a bit scary. It definitely took me awhile to really sink into this alternate reality.

Characters:
Warren writes some great characters, but I don’t particularly know why I didn’t connect with them on a deeper level. I enjoyed reading their POVs but felt like I couldn’t really sink into their characters for some reason that I cannot pinpoint yet, even as I write this review.

I certainly felt the character’s emotions throughout the story, but again, the first person POV just didn’t grip me as much as I thought it would. So this is really where I felt there was one negative thing for me about this book.

Final thoughts:
IN HIS COMMAND has a gripping premise, but the POV lacked something for me. However, I am very glad to see more M/M novels being published traditionally.

*ARC provided by publisher

[Diana's · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Not what I was expecting ..
The Blurb grabbed my attn and since I love dystopian and m/m romance thought this would be a no brainer especially if we got some angst.. It had the world building and angst but it just didn't flow right for me. I had a hard time making it though to the end.

The flow was off in my opinion and I didn't feel a connection with the characters. I think it's more the fact that I didn’t like Casper..
A plus was that this was a seriously HOT read..

The story follows Casper and Nathaniel's journey out of the city, leave behind a life of hiding, fall in love, and have tons of sex.

If your looking for a Hot M/M Dystopian read with tons of SEX and don't really care the romantic vibe is somewhat one sided..
Then you are fine..

*Copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review

[A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol) · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @7%

Book source ~ NetGalley

In the year 2070, deviant sexual behavior including being gay, is a death sentence. Caspar Cannon, a Commander in the Company, is gay and has to keep it a closely guarded secret. Not easy to do when he meets a hot guy at an illegal party outside the territory.

I had to DNF this book at 7%. The writing style makes me grit my teeth. It’s not unlike nails on a blackboard to me. It is definitely not to my liking, but may be perfectly fine with others, so don't take my 1 bite rating as gospel. I did put it down with a tremendous amount of relief though.

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible dystopian romantic adventure! My emotions were dragged all over the place with this one and I just couldn't get enough of the heroes and their story.

Caspar Cannon is the hard, brutal face of The Company's Corps- the military arm that kept all the average citizens following the Company's Laws and came down harshly on those who broke those laws. The earth has gone through an environmental disaster and a plague leaving its resources few and humanity in danger of extinction so in walk the Company people- former big business- to save the people from themselves. Strict laws are enforced, walled cities built up and those who can't abide by the new regime are put down or deemed outlaws and nomads. The laws are extreme and the biggest goal is pro-creation even if it has to be legislated and forced. It’s a dreary existence at best. Caspar knows himself for a hypocrite for enforcing the law against those whom he is just like. It's a death sentence to be deviant in anyway and loving men is the most deviant of all. But it’s his birthday and he plans to celebrate by visiting an illegal underground club outside the walls hopefully to get lucky with the guy he has been watching and has dubbed 'Blondie'.

Caspar's birthday becomes the beginning to an adventure of a lifetime. After a club raid, a revolution started and an order to report to the head honcho of the city, Caspar learns that 'Blondie' is none other than a Company golden boy and his next assignment. With feelings fluctuating between fear, mistrust, betrayal and anger, Caspar sets out with Blondie to deliver him to a fallout shelter and safety from the revolutionaries. Their journey will be fraught with danger and may result in their deaths. He can't figure out if Blondie is on the up and up or just playing him before having him up on trial. All the while, he ponders these things and his attraction for Blondie, he must keep his charge safe in the wilderness and protect him when they encounter Nomads who are not what he was led to believe. In fact, nothing is what he was led to believe and he must take stock of everything while danger closes in on him.

The plot of this one was full of depth which captured my attention from the get-go. The story is told first person from Caspar's perspective. I enjoyed the personality of his voice and he was a good narrator, but I loved Nathaniel/Blondie too and would have loved to have gotten into his head to know what he was thinking after awhile- not at first though because I loved the mystery surrounding him. The story took many delicious twists and turns. It was raw and brutal just like the times these men lived in.

Speaking of the times, the background story behind all this was fantastic. I loved how the author made me see it all and more important- feel it: The Company compounds, the Company culture, the Wilderness, the nomadic culture and even what it did to the people in both places. It was presented in such a way that I got all the details without those same details burying the characters and their story.

Now the characters, they were just as fab as the backstory. Caspar and Nathaniel were the real thing. Both were products of their time and circumstances. Caspar was a highly trained warrior and he did what he had to do. Those around him would have only seen a cold, hard exterior that showed no emotion. It was having his thoughts and knowing that the sterile world he inhabited was slowly killing the warm, loyal man that he really was. I loved seeing Blondie come along and with patience and strength work to bring out Caspar's humanity again. Their lovemaking is rough and raw with little gentleness. Blondie's story was equally compelling as Caspar's if not more so. The author has the gift of giving an objective narration through Caspar allowing the reader to come to his/her own conclusions about Blondie or things going on that Caspar may not have. Other characters were not chintzed on. They were all colorful too.

I hope that future books will tease out some of the secondary characters' stories more and I really just want more storytelling in this world and from this talented author. Those who enjoy futuristic/dystopian romance that is on the darker, raw and grittier side should give this one a try.

My thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this story.

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a difficult book to rate. The story blurb attracted me. I enjoy dystopian stories. In His Command is a world filled with anger. This is what made the book just a 2.5 star for me. It was a little better than okay but I can't really say I liked it.

The story is written in first person which is not my favourite. Caspar Cannon is an officer in the Corps. At first, it was disorienting to read the story because I couldn't immediately tell who was narrating the story. Once I figured out it was Caspar, it helped, but it didn't pull me into the book. The dialog in this book just rubbed me wrong. Caspar is annoying with his constant anger. Being in his shoes is exhausting. He's a rebel without a cause. It isn't until half way through the book where he finds a cause, but he's still so filled with anger. It's just unpleasant. It doesn't make me feel more sympathetic towards him. I just want to get away from him. His love interest, Nate, is a bit underdeveloped. Ms. Warren does attempt character building by providing traumatic childhood history. It's really a sob story for both men, yet it fails to gel for the reader. It feels as if she's checking down the list of things to include rather than letting the characters speak for themselves. It was a lot of talking instead of showing which usually leave me feeling disconnected, especially when I don't care for the characters.

The concept with the Company breaking up the world and getting rid of sexual deviancy which includes homosexuality is not new. What I didn't fully understand is the focus on homosexuals. The hatred towards homosexuals came across like a foghorn in a 5' by 5' cell. It was overwhelming and distracted from the overall story. Yes, it's a key element to the downfall of Caspar. However, it came across a bit clunky instead of a smoothly woven tale.

Ms. Warren definitely shows potential. She needs to find a better balance between the heavy and light. What I'm trying to say is, her book comes across as preachy instead of a subtle message for change. She draws the world as black and white and clearly yells at the reader who is evil and in the wrong. For some readers, this may be fine. For me, it's not my preference.

Reading the excerpt of her next book in this series, it gives her the chance to refine her writing for a smoother read. One of her main characters is someone who is already on the evil side which she hints could turn to be one for the good. Blurring the lines and developing a character who overcomes his flaws would help with character development. Another thing to watch out for is creating the same character but assigning them a different name and gender. Based on the excerpt, the female lead comes across almost identical to Caspar. She is not an individual, she's a female clone of Caspar. This makes a character forgettable. When characters start to all blur, it makes for a difficult read as the reader is trying to distinguish between each of them. Overall, the book is copyedited well. The plot and character development needs a bit more smoothing out.

*provided by NetGalley

[Ezi Chinny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is set in 2070, where after some major earth disasters, The Purge was instituted to rebuild and repopulate the earth. The Purge was kind of like ethnic cleansing, where the factions that don’t populate the earth were to be purged. If you were caught committing a homosexual act, you were given a chance to redeem yourself and prove you can live as a heterosexual.

Commander Caspar Cannon patrolled a bar where undercover homosexuals hang out. First, he was an officer working for “The Company”, but he was also the very thing they were hunting—gay people. So Caspar had to be very careful. Everyone and everything was being watched and scrutinized, so he learned to trust no one. At the bar, he spied a man who looked like everything he could want in man, but Casper was too paranoid to chance it. So he just fantasied about the man he nicknamed Blondie. After a few months of tap dancing around each other, Blondie approaches Casper and they have an encounter. Their sexual escapade was interrupted by an attack by revolutionaries.

Imagine Casper’s surprise the next day at work, he is introduce to a new senior officer, Nathaniel Rice AKA Blondie. Casper doesn’t know if he should take a chance that Nathaniel is really into him or if he should steer clear of this man who could blow his cover sky high.

Now Casper is dealing with the stress of figuring out Nathaniel’s angle and what to do about this rebels who seek to overthrow The Company.

I thought this book was written by a man because there was something quite raw, gritty and just real about this book. Imagine my shock when I learned the author was a woman. I had expected some softness, but the writing was not flowery or fluff. It had an edge that made the book feel authentic to the time period. Towards the end, it got a little bit more emotional, but don’t expect flowers and candy in this one. It was a dog eat dog society, take no prisoners kind of novel. The storyteller kept me engaged and it wasn’t predictable. I mean, I figured the Casper and Blondie would end up together, but I just knew Nathaniel couldn’t be as perfect as he seemed. The social activist in me was pleased with the uprising. What a horrible picture of a possible future community.

This book had some intense sex scenes, like I hate you…rip of shirt and pounce. I really enjoyed the characters and like where the story is headed. I will be following this series.

***e-ARC by Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via Netgalley

[Casey · Rating 1 out of 5]

After reading the blurb for this book, I was really excited to read it. The story sounded so interesting and I liked the sound of the characters. Unfortunately for me, I just couldn't get into this one. I have tried picking the book up and trying to read several times and each time I am only able to get a few pages in before I want to put it back down again. For me, I just wasn't able to get through the author's style. I'm not sure exactly what it is about it that i dont like, but I just found it to be very choppy with almost no flow. I thought maybe after the first chapter or two once i got through the set-up that the book would sort of find its groove and i would feel differently, but it was never able to engage me and nothing changed. As much as I loved the sex scenes between Caspar and Nathaniel, and they were really hot and very well written, I just felt that that was the majority of the story. Everything in between seemed to jump around and be a matter of getting from one sex scene to the next, causing me to not even be interested in the rest of the story besides the attraction between Caspar and Nathaniel. The only connection that I felt between Caspar and Nathaniel was their physical connection, it just seemed that there were no emotions between the two of them. Unfortunately I was only about to get about 60% of the way through the story before stopping for good. I just couldn't bring myself to finish. I think that most of the reason I didn't like the story was because of the style of the author, and there is nothing wrong with it. Its just not for me.

**ARC Provided by NetGalley**

[Mara · Rating 1 out of 5]

After reading the blurb for this book, I was glad it was available to all who asked: It sounded interesting, gripping and dark.
From the backcover I expected In his Command to be an exciting dystopian/futurist romance. Well, it is futuristic and it is a romance. My problem was that the second way overcome the first.

At half the book, where I DNF'ed pretty bored, I had read a great beginning (that banged) and then and chapters after chapters of boring nothingness. The only point seemed sex (hot sex, but still..). Given the baggage both men have, and the mistrust, I would have appreciated restraint more.

As I said I expected something different than a futuristic harlequin "cabin fever" romance. Because this was the main problem for me: the half story I read was all focused on the two heroes. You barely get out of it. There are a scattering of people of the beginning and then again at midpoint but they are background noise. Nothing more. All is centered on the romance and the sex.

Nothing wrong in it. But it's not what I was looking for. All that made the blurb interesting was notably absent in the first 50%. I did try to keep reading, but when one of the heroes runs and the other follows (so to stop the soldiers from finding them) I simply stopped caring. Because rather than the outside threats and the fact that one of them is probably lying the focus was once again on sex.
You do wonder how the Commander survived in this fascist world if he can't compartmentalize his sex life.

I may come back to it, if only to know if there's betrayal, but at the moment I'm too bored to care.


DRC courtesy of publisher via Netgalley.

[Lori JG · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE GATEWAY M/M ROMANCE!

I just finished reading this, and I have to say... READ IT!! Rie reminds me of early Ward with every turn of the page. While this is a M/M love story - its just THAT - one of the best love stories I've ever read! The world she's designed is creative, unique, intriguing and suspenseful! I'm an Utopian kinda girl - and wasn't sure I could "do" M/M dystopian future, but my heart was pulled straight into this story - and the story is fantastic! I haven't cried reading a book for a very long time - but I cried 2 or 3 times in this story, and its not pointless angst, just to rip your heart out, its LOVE - its fighting for everything you want despite impossible odds, its impossible love and what that journey would be like for those not willing to ever give up! Some of you read so much erotic romance - its starting to get a bit stale...you know what I mean, you're looking for something FRESH! Reading this M/M love story serves up a different flavor, different flare of romance, whats arousing and erotic to men - real men! Not trashy, or pornographic at all in my opinion. You will be so pleasantly surprised - and so hotly anxious to read more of her work! This is a gripping, attention grabbing, debut book from a funny, talented, beautiful, down to earth, southern girl. I look forward to so much more from RIE, and you should too!

[Hubbys Subbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. WOW. WOW.

This was a beautiful read about an ugly world. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Even in an ugly world, there are pockets of beauty if you look for them.

In His Command was hotter than hot, with a great story to keep me turning pages. The post-apocalyptic world Rie Warren created worked. All of the characters had depth and were realistic. There was intrigue, sex, war, sex, suspicion, sex, politics, sex, secret plots, sex, action, and some sex too.

I have read a few m/m erotica books before, but not many. While reading this one, I was able to experience a new kind of physical relationship (for me), but I felt familiar emotions--love is love.

Though the world was fictional, the relationship between Caspar and Blondie felt real and beautiful. I loved that I could travel the emotional journey with Caspar while he was on a physical journey with Blondie. It took me awhile to flow with Caspar's slang and military speech patterns, but really that even helped to create the world and his character. Even the secondary characters had pasts, as well as futures that I hope to read about in subsequent books.

"Live in Freedom! Love at will!"

[Has · Rating 2 out of 5]

Full Review to be posted soon:

Quick thoughts and mini review.

This was a bit of a slog to get through, which was disappointing because this is a premise I would lap up and inhale. But I found the POV of the hero, Casper, pretty hard to engage and connect with because he was crude and abrupt. I also felt that the narrative and writing style disjointed which was hard to get into. I wasn't that keen with the romance because I found the sex scenes a bit too pornish.

But the story did improve towards the end when the plot focused more on the rebellion attacking the fascist like government, although some aspects of the world-building didn't make sense although I did like how oppressive the authorities were and that added a dark tone to the story. I just wished that main character's narrative was much more engaging because I found it very hard to connect to him and the story overall.

[Ilona Fenton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley . I loved this dark and dangerous story of Cannon and his rather tumultuous journey to his happy ending. Not that I didn't think at times that neither he, nor his partner in those travels, would ever survive, let alone get that happy ending. The world building in this book was outstanding and the logic of the way this dystopian world comes about is impeccable and (unfortunately) only too believable. I was on a rollercoaster of emotion from page one and it didn't let up with so many secondary characters that were equally as well written as Cannon and Rice. Book two has one of these as the heroine, and I can't wait to read all about her and her trials in this revolution fraught world that is on the cusp of changing, hopefully for the better.

[Mandy Beyers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had some really good things going for it- I like the dystopian theme, the government was really oppressive and one of the MC's was terribly brainwashed and closed off because of it. But, the writing was a little choppy in places so that I felt as confused as the characters as to what was going on. Still, once all the twists and turns played out and the truth was finally known, I was glad to see the couple get their HEA (especially since it looked really bad for them for much of the story).

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC from NetGalley.

First, a little personal background...this is not a book I would have ever expected to pick up. While I read plenty of erotica (because it's everywhere you turn right now and it provides a mindless diversion when I need one) and I have nothing at all against homosexual characters (Mercedes Lackey's Vanyel is one of my all time favorite characters EVER), I just never would have thought to pick up a M/M romance. I mean, I'm not the intended audience, right? But I caught an interview with an erotica author on EW Radio where they were discussing the growing M/M trend and how the majority of its readers are women, which was soon followed by this invitation from NetGalley, so I figured, why not? I'll read practically anything once. Even while reading, I was debating whether or not I'd ever admit to it. But I gotta tell you, this book was so good, I decided I couldn't live with myself if I didn't.

Here's the thing--most erotica is pretty mediocre. Predictable plots (and I use the word "plot" loosely), two-dimensional characters, crude language (whether it suits the characters or not); they tend to be more about the sex scenes (to varying degrees of success) and the connecting tissue is generally as thin as Kleenex. But Rie Warren has managed to compose a story that's genuinely compelling while also containing a pretty hot romance. Taking place a little over 50 years in the future, thanks to weather-based terrestrial changes and a world wide plague, the human population has been decimated. Consequently, "The Company" has taken over control of the world and concentrated the remaining population, those who weren't sure where to turn in the turmoil, in a few enclaves, with re-population as their primary directive. This means that homosexuality is punishable by death, couples are paired for the purposes of selective breeding, and "Proving Ceremonies" are commonplace, where teens' first sexual experiences are observed and monitored by a group of government officials. There are also groups of "Nomads"--those who weren't interested in living by company rules and preferred to make it on their own. Obviously, this general theme has been visited ad nauseum in the YA market recently, but there was something fresh about approaching it from an adult perspective, with its expansion of the logical progression of adult relationships that YA stops short of.

Commander Caspar Cannon decided to join the Company army because it provides exemption from the breeding requirements and has been successfully hiding his romantic inclinations for a decade. When a rebellion hits, he's given the assignment to escort an important company executive to the Outpost, a safehouse a few weeks' travel away. However, the CEO turns out to be the hunk he just met at the local underground sex club, so now he has to wonder if the man is just a mole while spending the next few weeks alone with him. While that's a pretty typical romance set-up, Warren manages to make the journey, with its revelations of internal conspiracies and outlying communities of rebels who want to live freely, complex and richly detailed with just as much weight as the romantic aspects. I can't say there was anything particularly surprising, but it was solid storytelling and was head and shoulders above the majority of its genre siblings.

An excerpt for the next book was included at the end, and because I was genuinely interested in the continuing characters, I immediately checked to find out when it would be available. I'm pretty crushed that it won't be until next April. The main character is female, and while she is involved in a relationship with another woman, it looks like the primary romantic interest will be male. I'm impressed that Warren isn't sticking with a single theme, and I'm really looking forward to the next volume.

[L.E.Olteano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted at Butterfly-o-Meter Books on November 19th 2013:

Fluttering Thoughts:
Worldbuilding: The dystopia world of In His Command is a stark and chilling place, where individual liberties are far gone and the only purpose of the Company seems to be terror and reproduction. If you like scary worlds to come, this is most definitely a scary one (though in truth, there are places now where sort of the same ‘straight only’ policy is going on, though less gun-forced…*shudders*)
Characters: Caspar Cannon (good name, lol) was a fun MC and he provided an interesting POV. The man is very army, all guns blazing sort of fellow, but he’s also fun and hides a lot of heart behind all that machismo. I liked him and more as the story evolved, and got to even close to crying two times – I won’t give the plot away, but the moments did involve mentions of Alejandro and that’s all I’m goona say about it.
Nathaniel ‘Blondie’ Rice kept me guessing almost all the way through the novel. I couldn’t figure out is he was a traitor or not, I mean if he’d betrayed Caspar or not, and I was glad to find out the answer to that question in the end. No, I will not give it away, suffice to say it could have gone either way, if you ask me. The man was slippery and smooth for sure. He was interesting and well built, just like Caspar.
The couple had super-hot chemistry and I loved their hot one on one time, but the relationship was more of a timid slow burn. I like stories that don’t feel the need to mix falling for someone with sleeping with them, ie you can sleep with someone without proclaiming them your forever beforehand. In fact, that’s the only kind of love I can trust in a story, which is probably why YA romance never does convince me. This is convincing romance, with the passion and hesitation and feeling to make it authentic.
Favorite Character: Nathaniel, actually {he’s kind of a mix between a hero and an antihero, and I do love me antiheroes}
Plot: Outside of the romance arc – which was awesome -, there’s a whole Corps like tangent including military-like discipline & structure, rebels, revolution, spying and such. Sadly, this is not the kind of story I find interesting myself, though it was well built in my opinion. It’s why I read little Dystopia, and when I do, I pray it won’t be armed forces centered – not a fan of war & such. If you are into military active duty stories, you’ll most likely totally love this one.
Writing: First person narrative, Caspar’s POV. I liked the style, Caspar had a distinctly personal voice and it made for interesting reading.
Curb Appeal: Nice cover, hooking blurb. Not compulsive buy material, but this has been my first reading experience with Rie Warren (sort of like a first reading date, lol; you can’t be totally in love with someone from the first date only, right?)

All in all, this was an interesting read and it featured fun characters and erotic romance that I highly enjoyed. Though the Corps-like action isn’t one of my favorite plots, it was well paced action and it kept me engaged all through. I enjoyed it and I would like to read the next novel in the series featuring Liz.

I recommend this if you’re into hot military types, smoking hot chemistry and dystopic scenarios that include the struggle for freedom.

[Christi Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Review:
I loved this book. It's set in a dystopian world where the Company rules and Nomads rebel. The Company world is VERY regimented. The government decides who you'll have sex with, when, how, and they also tend to watch to make sure you're doing it right. The goal is procreation. The way to escape that is to become a soldier in the Corps. That's what Caspar Cannon has done because he's gay (which is a hanging offense in this world), but he's a good soldier and has managed to climb the ranks so is fairly high up in the chain of command.

Nathaniel is also part of the Company. He's an executive in charge of the Company's intel side. When the rebellion begins, Caspar is put in charge of getting Nathaniel to the Outpost (a four week trip) safely. What Caspar doesn't realize is that Nathaniel is Blondie...the hot gay guy who he's been obsessing about from the underground club he attends. And that's just the beginning of the secrets that Nathaniel is hiding.

I'll admit straight up that the first few chapters in this book when the world and the intricacies of it were being introduced, it was a lot to take in and understand. I was REALLY confused. Honestly, I should go back and reread those first few chapters now that I've finished the book because I know I missed some of the important details and clues from that area of the book. But once I got into the book....and really that was at the part where Nathaniel and Caspar were on their trek, then I began to settle into the story and could understand more of what was going on.

Caspar doesn't trust Nathaniel one little bit. Honestly, in this world, being gay means you should die and Nathaniel is a high-ranking executive within the Company. He is sure that Nathaniel plans to frame him so they can use him as an example....something the Company loves to do with gay people. ...And the story evolves from there.

I loved these two guys. The entire book is told from Caspar's pov and you think you know Nathaniel's motives, but then something happens to keep you guessing, just the way Caspar does. This is not a pleasant society and both Nathaniel and Caspar are in a no-win situation. As their tiny world becomes bigger, you begin to see a different side to the story. I had no idea how there was going to be a happy ending, but I was riveted by them and their romance....even when I was SURE there wasn't going to be a happy ending....and I HATE books like that.

This book kept me guessing and so emotionally involved. It was gritty and beautiful....and even hopeful. I really, really loved it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.

[Kate Dirty Girls' Good Books · Rating 1 out of 5]

In His Command Review (Don't Tell #1) by Rie Warren
D-, inferno, futuristic, mid kink, m/m, 368 pages

The year is 2070 and the world has barely survived a plague that has wiped out a huge portion of the population.  Leadership has been handed to the rich (collectively referred to as the Company) and procreation is the order of the day.  To that end, any homosexual or deviant behavior is punishable by death.  Following a rebellion, Commander Casper Cannon (in the Company's military called the Corps) is put in charge of transporting Nathaniel Rice (a big wig in the Company) to a safe place.  And so we have 7 weeks of Casper and Nathaniel alone together in the wilderness.  And there is plenty of attraction between the two-enough to keep them warm on a cold night, if you catch my drift.

I have been on quite a m/m reading kick lately, and I really like the idea of a m/m with a dystopian spin to it.  Unfortunately, I felt like the idea was the only good thing about it.  It seemed to me that whenever Casper and Nathaniel appeared on the same page, it was an excuse for sex.  Casper didn't trust Nathaniel for most of he story and as a reader only hearing from Casper's side of things, we didn't trust Nathaniel either.  However, Nathaniel's sexual prowess must have been the stuff legends were made of or maybe he had one of those mythical swords of mightiness, because Casper kept going back to him.  It was kind of like "I don't trust you at all, but do you want come back to the caravan with me?"   I just didn't fall for it.  And while the sex scenes were gratuitous and descriptive (and were they), most of the time they just felt really out of place.

I also felt like the world building and the story were disjointed.  It seemed like there were pages upon pages of the author building the world (history and politics all rolled into one), and then pages of the character/plot building.  I would have liked to see them interwoven a bit more smoothly.

I think this pretty much sums up the plot for you: sex, politics, politics, sex, sex, sex, sex, politics, politics, stunning reveal, sex, sex, politics, sex, sex, jaw dropping betrayal, suspenseful rescue, sex, sex, sex, happily ever after.  Yep, there you have it.

I really felt like the best part of the book was Casper's friend Liz.  Who disappears in the very beginning of the book and we don't see again until the very end.

Unfortunately this one came no where close to joining my "best of 2013" list.  I don't think I could honestly recommend this book to anyone.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc courtesy on Net Galley and forever yours publishing.

Well done m/m romance set in a dystopian society.

In the year 2070 the world has under gone several changes it's post purge , our population suffered great losses, the governments broke down and The company has taken over, the. Company people have been relocated to selected areas and organized into different levels of populaces. The company is about repopulation so teir priority is breeding,starting as a teenager your are evaluated and matched with likely mate at 18 you're required to prove yourself sexually with a company picked female in front of company personnel. The next group is the military corp who are encouraged to practice birth control due to he high danger of their jobs. The biggest problem is if your sexual intrest lie in any direction other than what the Company expects you are eliminated, so God help you if your homosexual, bisexual or into any form of kink .

Commander Casper Cannon high ranked in the corp leads a life of lies every day , as a teenager he realized he was more intrested in the other guys than the girls he was supposed to be so after loosing his family o the purge he joined the corps for a sense of family and the safety of staying out of the breeding program. In 2070 alternate lifestyles are kept secret and for Casper even when he attends parties at the amphitheater caution on his part is aways in the forefront . Casper will let his guard down for Blondie, for he first time after seeing him more than five months before , unfortunately before the night is over they will be running from a company raid , casperbeliving he will never see the man he has been dreaming about again tries to put his mind bck to work and deal with his responsibilities since on the same night their is an attack upon the company by the freelanders and the nomads the group of people who refuse to live under the company rules and compounds . Casper is called to headquarters to escort a high ranking company officer northeast through the wilds of North America to a compound referred to asthe brier. To his suprise that person is Blondie and Casper is know wondering if this is all a set up!

This book hooked me and I could not put it down. I am not a huge dystopian Dan but the combination of the romance , the well written romance and sexual encounters along with the mysteries if Blondie ( Nathaniel ) and the dangers of the company and the wild!

[L-D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book free from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Casper Cannon is a military Commander in the Company's militia. In this futuristic dystopia, the world's population is so diminished that those in power have formed the Company and declared all non-propagating sexual acts to be illegal. People have fled the Company's rule to live in communes where they can be free to love whomever and however they choose.

Living with his secret homosexuality, Casper has nothing but the military and his duties to comfort him at night. When he is tasked to escort a Company Executive to an outpost, he unflinchingly accepts his duty to ensure Nathaniel Rice's safety. Knowing the journey will take weeks, Casper is prepared for the danger, but unprepared for how he will respond to Nathaniel's proximity.

While mutual attraction flares, both men must decide if they can trust their secrets to the other, in a world where every misstep could open you up for betrayal or execution.

This book was very heavy on the sex, maybe a bit too much because at times it overshadowed a very good plot and storyline. Sex is good, but it's not necessary for every scene. I think the story was good enough to standalone on its own merit. These men were in life-threatening situations almost every day and it might have made sense to be a little more wary based on their circumstances and surroundings. The sex scenes were well-written, just a touch heavy on the occurrences. I may have skimmed through one or two to get back to the story itself. I like sex scenes to highlight and punctuate a relationship, not be all-encompassing.

I really liked all the characters in the book and I felt everything was nicely developed. The relationship between the two men, while it did start off as insta-lust, took a long time to develop into more. I like when an author takes the time to make the emotions real by giving the readers time to invest in them. I liked the world that the author created as well, and I'm looking forward to eventually reading more books in this series.

[Literati Literature Lovers · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5 stars.
(mature content 18+)

I am a hopeless romantic and I feel blessed everyday that I am able to love and have that love celebrated. While there are still barriers to cross and stigmas to overcome, life – in most regards – allows for the freedom of choice. Caspar and Nathaniel live in a world where love is a rare commodity. The priority of this future world is that of population stability and the only way to insure that – in the Company eyes – is to punish any act that dissuades from this goal. For a man to love a man or a woman to love a woman, is punishable by death. Yet even in the height of a revolution and burdened by scars of the past, these two strong men are able to love. The love story at the heart of this novel transcends. I was lured into the sincere and honesty that Rie Warren placed in their desperate need and ultimate completion they find in each other. This is a beautiful love story full of passion and pain.

As reader, each story you embark on is subjective to your personal tastes and sensibilities. These are at heart my opinions and another might have a vastly different experience. I was enamored with the love against all odds in this story, however I felt pieces of the puzzle where missing at times. I often found myself having to go back and see if I missed a vital piece of information when the plot line moved so quickly. Parts felt rushed and underdeveloped, leaving me feeling a bit frustrated as a reader. Rie Warren’s ability to tap into the emotion between characters is powerful and resonates. I feel, in my opinion, if she can tighten up the surrounding story and create less work on the reader, she will blow the market up. At heart this is a story that transcends stereotypes and I would eagerly pick up the next piece in the series knowing that her storytelling can only grow and strengthen, not to mention you become very attached to the characters navigating this treacherous world.

[CrabbyPatty · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW ..... a solid 4.75 stars, with a 4.5 for plot and a 5 for the hot, hot, hot (did I mention hot?) man love scenes. The gritty dystopian world Warren creates is heart-breaking with a harsh regime (The Company) that controls the population by controlling resources, and regulating and glorifying reproduction, but only straight hetro missionary folks need apply. Anything else is punishable by death - no second chances.

Commander Caspar Cannon (Big Man) heads up an elite tactical squad and has spent a lifetime repressing his very soul, only to be stunned by his reaction to the tall, dirty-blond hunk he names Blondie, whom he meets at the hedonistic underground Ampitheater outside the city walls. A narrow escape from Company tanks, the beginning of a revolution led by Nomads, or Freelanders - people living outside the strict rules of the Company, and Cannon and Blondie meet again ..... only Blondie turns out to be a high-ranking Company official who must be delivered by Cannon to a tactical Outpost safe from revolutionary forces. Is the attraction Blondie feels for Cannon real, or is he setting Cannon up to be executed for "deviant" crimes against the Company?

Cannon's layers are slowly stripped away throughout the book and when you learn the "Big Secret", it is so emotional that it makes you want to start the entire book over again so you can read the clues Warren scatters along the way. The book is in Cannon's POV, but I wished for a few chapters in Blondie's POV, who has plenty of Big Secrets of his own. Also, I felt bogged down trying to figure out what was happening in the exhaustive race to the Outpost.

I've never been a huge fan of dystopian romances, but a truly interesting plot (along with a generous helping of sizzling hot sex scenes between Blondie and Big Man) puts Rie Warren on my list of authors to read (and re-read).

[rameau · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dirty talk doesn't work for me. It's unfortunate, because the narrator's voice leans on the graphic side in an overly-wordy fashion. At first I thought Warren's writing reminded me of Damon Suede's in Hot Head because despite its flaws—namely wordiness and vulgarity—the writing is compulsively readable somehow. I can't quite explain it because the story definitely didn't suck me in.

It wasn't the characters either. Neither Blondie—Nathaniel Rice—or Caspar act like men who've grown up in a world where homosexuality is illegal. Blondie is too handsy and Caspar too talkative. Sex is their shorthand for insta-trust, but it's not believable in the world the author describes. Not unless the narrator has a death wish and nothing else in his behaviour indicates that does.

I mentioned vulgarity earlier, and here it passes as erotic, which it's not. It's really not. Unless you're one of the people who finds armpit sweat sexy.

The world building is crudely done but quite solid. It's explained in lengthy infodumps by the first person voice narrator's thoughts rather than evolved naturally through plot progression and dialogue. This didn't actually bother me as much as I thought it would. In fact, it was the reason I kept reading instead of DNFing after the first chapter. Then when the Nomads are introduced it becomes clear that this book is trying to be social commentary on the current situation of the sexual minorities and no, I just don't have enough faith in the author's talent to see that train wreck through.

I DNFed at 38%.


I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.