Mastering Their Maiden

Kavari Masters #3

by Demi Lane

After fending for herself for years, Aria makes a bargain with four Kavari warriors.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, BDSM, Why Choose, Erotica

366 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 16, 2023

About the author

Demi Lane is a nerd with a fetish for filthy talking characters and dark chocolate. When she’s not dreaming up kinky stories, you can find her watching anime, playing video games, or checking out the latest in trashy sci-fi or over the top fantasy. She also keeps herself busy with three cats and a dog and a husband who knows not to ask what she’s thinking about when she spaces off.

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Reviews

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love cinnamon roll men who will do anything for their partner 😭

[Magnafeana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ooooh, loved this one until I didn’t!

This one follows Aria, Esme’s younger sister who last saw her big sis stolen away and now she lives in her heavily patriarchal and misogynistic village as the only one strong enough to stand up for the beaten down mothers, helpless children, and unclaimed women. But in her defiance to keep sneaking past the fence and bring back food and clothes for her people, four Kavari warriors—Dex, Kaiden, Zander, and Umber—have taken notice of their little Aleria and plan to master her—but not if they can’t see they’re part of the problem.

This was a lot more of a fascinating erotica because Aria had the skills of Katniss Everdeen but in an erotic setting. She had strength and skills, and she also had a compelling conflict: leaving the village meant abandoning those who needed her AND she had lingering compartmentalized resentment for the sister who hardly tried to come back for her.

And then it falls flat.

Aria is justified in her anger for many things, but the book punishes her for it or sweeps it under the rug. Dex, Zander, Kaiden, and Umber leave to meet extra forces, ignoring Aria’s words that their leave will call for a power vacuum to be filled with traitors, and, she’s right. She’s chained and tormented. By the time the men return, Aria is done, and the men realize how deeply they’ve ignored her words.

But then that goes away because sex happens.

…kay…

Esme eventually comes to visit Aria, and Aria leaves, unable to confront the sister who chose sex over her sibling. Esme says, “Don’t hate me”, and Arias…lets go of her resentment.

…kay…

????

While this is erotica, it’s still porn with plot. And the plot was compelling. Aria is one of my favorite character archetypes: the lone defender of the beaten and the broken. She and Frayne have a makeshift father-daughter relationship which should’ve been expanded upon rather than word-vomited to us. Not to mention Aria and Esme’s relationship being magically repaired with no emotional lashback. It’s 100% fair Aria has conflicted feelings about her sister. She was traumatized Esme was taken and had years to become the leader for malnourished people while Esme enjoyed her new pampered life.

Why would Aria feel comfortable?

What would’ve been great to happen if Aria didn’t fall into an easy relationship with Esme? Instead, Esme’s eager to rekindle and make up for lost time, but Aria’s standoffish. Aria asks Esme the fatal question: why didn’t you try harder to come back for me? Why did you start a new family while ignoring your current one? And I don’t think Esme would have a good answer for that because what answer can you give to that? And so, Aria would acknowledge Esme as her sister, but their relationship would need to be fractured for quite some time. Esme doesn’t deserve to get off Scott-free for choosing sex over a sibling. Aria deserves to have time to reconcile her feelings.

But this book was never about the plot.

It’s porn with plot, but the erotic discovery is at the forefront, not the general adventure of it.

So.

[Sad reader noises.]

Back to AO3 I go.

[Hannah Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is the best one yet. Really liked Aria,Kaiden,Umber,Dex, and Zander. They fit perfectly together. She was a strong fmc and her guys knew it and loved it.

I really hope Summer and her men have a book I’m very curious about how they work together.

This does sadly end on a cliffhanger but hopefully it’ll be out sooner rather than later.

Steam-4/5 breeding kink, spankings, degradation,praise, primal kink, swords do cross (thank god)

[Suzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is wonderful!

I just binged this whole series in 5 days... The story is incredible. I never want to leave this world the talented Demi Lane has crafted.

[Helena · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly this just isn't for me. I came for hot smut and plot but this was just kind of off-putting? All the women in these books are taken against their will and there's heavy emphasis on "punishment" which is basically the guys using and abusing her anytime they feel she "deserves" it. The author tries to do a "she secretly enjoyed being forced / her body responded to it" thing but it still feels like rape.

Lastly, the guys are .... kinda the worst. They super alphaholes who think women are just there to be bred, shared and punished and they treat Aria like crap. The whole thing just gave me the ick and the smut was just ok

[1kittycow · Rating 2 out of 5]

No, just no

Did not finish. Made it about a fourth of the way through and then had to stop. Too much like rape. No romance in this book. Also, there was MM sex, which is not for me (I’m not against it, but just not for me)

[Pene|ope • Reading Slump, Send Help · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a random choice when I couldn't find anything to read for the night, and ended up being a pleasant surprise. The FMC is a strong character who can not only take care of herself, but she also gives back as much as she ever gets. I enjoyed the chase (and it really was a chase) throughout the entire book just as much as the MMCs. She demands their submission just as much as they demand hers, and I love that for her. But she wasn't without her weaknesses, which they all worked through and it was a sweet little story arc. I loved seeing her readying for war at the end.

I just wish we had more of an ending. There's a war building up in the story, but it ends before we get to it, when one of her men is the adopted son of the man they're facing. If this follows the pattern, the next book will be about a different set of characters. I just wanted to either see these ones go to war, or see an epilogue with an HEA years later. Sadly we don't.

Another thing that was small was that the world wasn't explained a lot, presumably because this is the 4th book in a series of standalones. But I haven't read the previous books, and it was never explained in this one, so I have no idea where this is set. A different world? How are there humans there? Or is it earth with extras? Not super important, but I really wanted to know.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book. I appreciate that they finally started seeing/treating Aria as a warrior. She is so much stronger than the women in the first 3 books. It's a bit of a hope filled cliffhanger, so I'm not sure if there is going to be another book in this series. There really doesn't need another book because the first 3 books were basically the same but with different back stories. I was hoping this book would wrap up King Ryne's reign, but it didn't. The part that drives me crazy in each of these, and especially this book in particular, is that if they just killed the bad guy (King Ryne and the elder Hovel) most of the problems would be resolved/diminished and overall much less death would occur. This book specifically ends with Aria knocking an arrow aimed at the King, kill shot in hand, but no one acts, and he rodes away while talking shit. Then, they immediately regroup and prepare to ride out to war against him. Why not just kill him in the woods and get it over with. 1 death. Over. Instead they are going to hike a mountain to go to war with him on his home turf. It's so needlessly stupid. It makes me mad.

Otherwise I liked that this book had much more story to it, as compared to sex scenes. I like that Aria stayed a badass and the men valued that in her and didn't try to squash it.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
I haven't been in too much of a RH mood lately, so was kind of surprised when I was immediately sucked into this one. It's book 3 of a series, but I didn't have any problem following the story after picking this one up first. There were some background things that I didn't quite understand, but the story itself was fine. I loved the characters, though it was a little hard to differentiate between the 4 guys, they were pretty similar, with no strong voice. And I really loved that there was some MM in there, though that could have been developed a bit more, and maybe seen more on page. The first 2/3 of the book was kind of slow burn as far as their romance goes, but it was full of plenty of dubcon steam to keep the people happy. Unfortunately, once they finally got together and did the deed, it was like we had to make up for lost time, and the group had non-stop smexy times for like 6 chapters, and I'm not even exaggerating that. Chapters 23-28 were all about their first night together. The overarching storyline picked back up after that, but it still felt smut heavy to me for the rest of the book, and I was kind of over it by then. I enjoyed the plot, and the World these characters live in, but I'm feeling a bit torn as to whether or not I need to pick up future books to see how the kingdom turns out.

[Aaliyha Holmes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay so I will say I enjoyed this one more than the first one (I did not read the other 2) but I do have a few things to get off my chest because I was lowkey pissed.

The first thing I will say is that I loved this troop. The men and Aria are so good together and I loved all the banter they had together, but I was upset with them when I felt like Aria was punished or teased for how SHE FELT.

I would’ve loved more background on Frayne and Arias relationship too. I was very upset he died before that could happen.

The last thing I will say is that Arias anger towards her sister was justified. I felt as tho Esme got off easy and didn’t fight for her sister hard enough. She came back expecting her sister to just let things go but she needed to grovel and understand that she didn’t try hard enough.

She said she sent Kaidens team out to help her sister, but that was AFTER A YEAR. And in the letters she wrote about how happy she was and just wasn’t being all that considerate. She had a baby and expected her sister to be happy about it, but it only felt like she was pushing her sister out of the way. Idk yall it was a good read but I do not like that Esme got off so easily.

[Stacee Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I’m so in love with this story!! We finally got Aria’s story and I feel like I’ve been waiting forever for it and I’m not disappointed one bit! Aria is one of the strongest mfc’s in any story I’ve read! I love how brave she is, her big heart used yo help others, and her spunky attitude! She’s a fighter not only physically but also verbally and she would defend an innocent person at the risk of her own life! Her Masters are Kaiden, Zander, Umber and Dex!! Each of them are fiercely protective, proud, strong, and sexual just like all the other Masters but I also felt that they showed humility, a good sense of humor, and a relatability that some of the others haven’t! They make a wonderful family!!
This book left it open for the conclusion of the series however I’m not sure what it will be like! Will it be from everyone’s point of view or will their be another fmc and she will find her masters before the fight or what I’m not sure but I’m here for it no matter what! I just want Ryne’s rule to end!!

[Anne Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read
I’ve got to say this is the first book I have read in the series, and if honest I wish I started on the first book so I know what I’ll be reading soon.

Aria is a fierce, sassy young lady who has a heart of gold to help the people in her village. She knows she will be punished by the elders, but the fact that they are starving people because they don’t bow down. It’s disgusting. So Aria holds a lot of ander.
Kavari warriors Zander, Umber, Kaiden and Dex have other plans for Aria and save her from a punishment from the elders. But they want to have Aria for life . But it looks like they have a lot of work to do to gain her trust.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I did feel a little bit lost, but I think that was me not reading this series from the beginning. I like that these men have their own personalities and sweet moments with aria. It’s a good read.
Looking forward to the next book .

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bo0kSLoth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up and thinking one thing only to come to learn than the truth is really another can be hard. It's even harder when you learn your supposed allies may in fact be enemies and the enemies may have been allies all a long?!? What's a girl to do?

Well for one thing, she will stay true to her beliefs until she sees it with her own eyes no matter how much these "enemies" may make her body feel with their hands and burning to her core and lightening as they discipline her. A girl has to have standards.

Stupid body doesn't know better. But soon the heart follows as this mental fight becomes a physical one to save those she loves when she has to come to the reality that maybe the enemy was always closer than she thought and she has to let go of the past or push the chance of love away forever.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Samantha Hoch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Dothraki Smut! 🔥🔥🔥 That was HOTTER THAN HOT! 🥵 Also, the story, the characters, the depth—I loved it all so much!

One thing you’re always guaranteed when you pick up a Demi Lane book is solidly scorching smut, and the Kavari Masters series doesn’t ever disappoint in that regard 🌶️😏🌶️ But Aria’s story in Mastering (#3 in the series) kicked it up a notch by giving me character depth and complex growth that I wasn’t expecting. I loved it! Enriched the story beautifully and made the smut that much yummier. Don’t get me wrong—I thoroughly enjoyed Esme’s and Daya’s stories, but Aria might be my fave Kavari maiden FMC yet. She’s so tough and yet vulnerable in all the ways that make her instantly compelling and have you cheering for her to find her happiness with her Kavari Masters. And wooooo those Kavari boys 🥵🥵 Always such masterful dirty talkers 🤤😍 I devoured these pages! Can’t wait for the next one!

[Elisa Castro · Rating 5 out of 5]

princess

Mastering Their Maiden is book four in the series Kavari Masters by author Demi Lane. So I’m conflicted with the star rating- honestly it deserves a five. Yet, personally I felt it was missing something important- like the whole point of it. There’s all this suspense and then there’s nothing. Ok there’s anticipation but no completion. (Sound familiar ladies :) - lol) yeah I’ve decided to give it a five star because even with that bit of an issue I have with it. It was an amazing read. The MFC was feisty and sassy- I loved that she never truly surrendered (only in the bedroom- forest- tent- lol). She definitely made them work for it. The MMCs are definitely brutes but they are compassionate- loyal- and so damn big!
Anywho, this story’s journey is brilliant how the author wrote it. The strife- the betrayal- the darkness and of course the strength. I could go on and on but what good would that do. So I’ll just say READ THE BOOK!
Enjoy!!

[*-The Pink Dahlia -* · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Kavari are not Human. They’re more.
Bigger, better, faster.

They also have a different culture.
Some Magic.

But they cannot reproduce.
For that they require humans.

So they take maidens, who must submit to them, and they in return protect and provide.

All in all, this story wasn’t terrible. It was fine.
I didn’t love the whole “Master” vibe…but that’s just me.
Kinda sub/Dom in a way but not? Don’t know.

The FMC is strong and warriorish and vows not to submit but then does.
🫤

⭐️ Plot: 2/5
🌶️ Spice: 3/5
📖 Genre: Fantasy Romance
🏞️ Setting: Village
🗣️ POV: multiple
🛏️ Tropes:
- Spanking, dear lord, so much spanking…
- Master
- Submission
- Abandoned and lonely FMC
- bratty FMC
- Forced proximity
- age gap
- MM / MFM / MMFMM
- Instalove

[Kristine L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to pick which book I liked better. This one is so fresh but just as compelling as the first three books. Aria is caught sneaking into the forest. She ends up getting punished by Kaiden one of the Kavari's. His two soldier brothers Umber, and Zander, are always with Kaiden and Dex is also part of their team. After her spanking, they three take her to their home as they will master her and teach her obedience. The men will teach her by spankings and dominating her. Will they be able to tame Aria? There is action, politics, intrigue, and lots of steam. Lots of steam!!! I loved it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[thebookcritic_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

where was the battle and epilogue?

Aria was the strongest of them all! She made them earn her for real! What a warrior. My questions from Book 2 were answered. Plot holes cleared up. An explanation of magic. Finally the MM that needed to occur in this series!! I was also glad to see a woman who already had a child be claimed. Makan seemed to be against them, even showing jealousy, so I don’t understand how he became a good guy, but it was good to see that some people could change. BUT I was very confused as to why we didn’t get a battle or an epilogue. That put a damper on the series as it seems this was the final book.

[Janette Gellar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is hot with a capital H-O-T! Trigger warnings galore that come with a darker romance so be aware of the dubious consent and physical punishment that is a mainstay of this series. This why choose romance is part of a series but I saw this up as an ARC and decided to try it even though I haven't read the rest of the series. I will be shortly as this is also available in Kindle Unlimited. This book was soo naughty I almost didn't review so I didn't have to publicly acknowledge my smutty side.

[ltfrom bc · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 3 to 3.5 rating.
This is the first book by this author I have read. It was not bad but it wasn't the best either and for a couple of reasons.
1. It started really really slow and I almost gave up on it. Then at about the half way point, it picked up and became a fast paced story-line. Unfortunately, it then slowed down for the last 15 percent. The last bit just seemed to drag for me. There was a bit too much time spent in the bed than what the overall focus of the story was working too.
2. For me this was definitely not a stand-alone book. There was too much backstory alluded to from earlier books in this series that made it a bit challenging when reading.
It was not a bad book, but it did not grip me to keep reading until I finished it. In fact it was the opposite. I am not sure at this point if I will go back and read the other books.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Abbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only complaint I have about this book is that I didn’t realize the book would end with our couple having a happy ending but the book also ending on a cliffhanger. Seriously my only complaint. I hope there will be another book.

You’ll like it if:
-you like spanking for fun and discipline
-strong heroine who doesn’t need her men, but learns to want them (think Katniss Everdeen)
-strong storyline
-3.5/5 🌶️ lots of delicious smut but not anything to depraved
-you love reverse harems
-you enjoy Viking type men

[Kristen Kull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Great read. I love the Kavari masters. So hot, huge, muscular, dominant and caring. Well, most are caring.
FMC, Aria, is quite the woman. She's fierce! Fiercely loyal to women and children in her village. She learned to hunt to provide more food to them.
MMC's are a 4 male Kavari unit. Their eyes follow FMC everywhere she goes. They soon realize they want her as their maiden.
The road gets rocky between MC's. Aria is so angry all the time. But when she finally submits the males know it will be beautiful.

[Rose J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written book. There was a lot of care for the details of the era that the characters were supposedly lived in. The male characters vary in their personalities and that added levity to the story. The female character is strongheaded and stubborn so it was entriguing to see how she will deal and submit in the relationship. All in all, it was good.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like Aria. She has such a good spirit and is definitely someone I would want on my side. I like that there was so much time given to the characterizations of the men too. They aren't just a faceless harem members. And it made the romance and their care for Aria seem more believable/natural. I love how the side plots with Aria's sister and Summer pulled in too. It just made the book even better.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cat1228 · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW!! SIZZLING!! NON STOP ACTION!!!!

Aria is a brazenly stubborn, courageously bold woman! Driven by grief over the lose of her sister Esme to the Kavari, and the constant cruelty of the village Elders…. Aria continually defies thier rules in spite of the punishments! The Kavari stationed in the village add another level of intrigue and subterfuge while still bringing lots Sizzling Action! Couldn’t put this book down!
This is my honest opinion!

[Toni Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy hotness!!!

I think this was my favorite book from this series by far! I loved that we finally got to hear Aria’s story and that we got to see Esme again. Loved the characters and their chemistry too…wow it’s HOT!! I certainly can’t wait to see what’s in store for Ryne in the book or books to come!!

[Lisa A · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good…
Aria is strong because she has to be. She’s also angry. When Kavari warriors Kaiden, Zander, Dex, and Umber make promises they better be prepared to keep them, or they won’t be able to keep Aria. Trouble is coming and they’re going to have to stick together and gather their allies if they want to take back control… I received a free copy of this book. This review was posted voluntarily.

[Bunni ❤️‘S monkey&woo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I read in this series and I’m here to tell you, it’s good…. Oh so good. 🩷 and now I have my second book girlfriend! 😍
I love Aria so flipping much- she’s barely second to Celaena/Aelin. 😉.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tina Locklear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this thrilling emotional rollercoaster ride about the story of how Aria got claimed by her four protectors/ masters. These men had their hands full trying to tame the untamable and unbreakable head strong maiden. This book was filled with betrayal, lust, hate, revenge, greed and much more.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t Wait for the Next One!!!!!

🔥🔥🔥🔥 omg I absolutely love these guys!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥 this was another amazing story. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m so in love with these characters. I can’t wait for the next one to come out. Strong strong characters and storyline. Aria, Kaiden, Dex, Zander and Umber just great!!! 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰💜💜💜💜💜😊😊😊😊😊