Alyx

by Lolah Burford

They were enslaved in a place where lust knew no bounds-and only love was forbidden... They were two white slaves thrown together in the darkness of the breeding hut. She, Alyx de Vere, a virginal, sixteen-year-old beauty carried off to nightmare captivity on a Caribbean sugar plantation. He, Simon, handsome, young, once heir to a noble title. He felt no desire for this anonymous woman who was forced upon him. And she knew only fearful hatred for this stranger who was about to violate her youthful innocence. But as night after night of tremulous, fevered mating passed, something forbidden grew between these two desire-damned lovers-a rapturous passion that drove them to dare any peril to free each other from this savage world of bondage and brutal submission. And it was then that Alyx and Simon swore that no power-even death itself-would ever overcome their eternal bond of flaming, all-conquering love...

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Dark, Fiction, Historical

316 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Burford was the daughter of Joseph Michael Egan and Mae Rene Flanary. She was educated at Bryn Mawr (Class of 1951), and SMU Graduate School (Class of 1954). She served as a teacher at the Norfleet School of Music and Individual Studies in New York, and was an instructor in the SMU English department after receiving her master's degree. She married poet William Skell Burford, who co-founded the literary magazine The Medusa.

She died in Tarrant, Texas in 2002.

Reviews

[Meredith is a hot mess · Rating 2 out of 5]

This should probably go on my dnf shelf because I skimmed much of this story.

**Plot spoilers**

This was such a strange read. I agree with the reviews that point out problems with the writing. The writing style left much to be desired, and I probably won't be reading more by this author. What we have here is two white slaves forced together in a breeding hut. Literally the first page is the MMC going into the dark breeding hut to have sex with the heroine. The MMC, Simon, is a "stud" and he's been to the breeding hut loads of times, but for some reason he falls for this heroine because she's a virgin and cries.

Thus the story describes Simon's life for a few years. Another problem with the writing style was that it failed to make me emotionally care about the characters. I could tell the author was trying delve into the psychology of what it would be like to be subjugated like the MMC was, but the execution failed.

The strangest element was probably the master's relationship with the MMC. The master rapes him on one occasion. Later the master takes him, drugs him, and then molests him. Then proceeds to declare his love for Simon and Simon in a half drugged state declares love back. This is while the heroine Alyx, and Simon are separated.

Simon is also sleeping with the master's wife, who threatens to castrate him and at one point intends to hang him. The master ends up saving Simon only to rape him later.

My review may sound dry and matter of fact, because that's how it was written in the story. I can't describe how strangely written this book was, and made all the more strange because of the plot.

During this time Alyx is separated from Simon and ends up birthing two children. The master reveals to Simon instead of becoming slaves, he intends to raise the son as his own because he is sterile. (He says he has no interest in a girl, and if a girl is born he'll breed them again).

Here's the kicker:

The couple end up together, after the master has a change of heart and frees them. The end.

I found it particularly lame that the master ended up freeing them. Simon was not a hero, he was so subjugated, humiliated, the author made him so completely powerless, it was difficult for me to root for him. I understand the author was trying to explore what it would have been like for someone in his position...but still he could have done a bit more. Maybe actually attempted an escape with Alyx...but there was nothing.

2 stars. I'm adding an extra star because I respect that the author was trying to write a dark/taboo story. If I had read this in the 70s, before having read other dark/racy/taboo books, I might have liked it.

[Abibliophobia-the fear of running out of things to read 🥺 · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

[Love love · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well I made it to page 20 and that was enough for me. The writing was horrible , really choppy dialog. I didn't read enough to really write a review but I just couldn't take another page of this book. lol

[BRNTerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book. It's a top favorite of mine. You can read my spoiler review here. It fits the criteria of romance (hero and heroine have a relationship throughout with a happily ever after) but I don't see it as one though some do, so I'll catagorize it as one. It's the darkest and most disturbing book I've ever read. I've read it five times in exactly 18 years and it only cost $1.

Both main characters have terrible lives on the plantation. Alyx is put with a 'stud', Simon, for the sole purpose of getting pregnant. Their owner, August, wants their male offspring to raise as his own son so he can inherit everything when August dies. Simon and Alyx are put together in a breeding hut every night in total darkness never seeing what the other looks like. Though they're not to speak to each other at all, they do and form a bond. When Simon isn't on stud duty he's being raped often by August, or servicing his wife, who's name we never learn. August occasionally likes to strangle Simon until he passes out before raping him, sometimes drugging him first. He has him whipped too whenever he feels like it. August's wife is serviced too by Simon. When she sees Simon and Alyx speaking to each other outside of the hut (they somehow figure out who the other is though they've never actually seen each other), she gets incredibly jealous and wants to castrate him. They call him by the fake name he gave them, Aston:

"I hope you die hard, Aston," she whispered, viciousness in her voice over him already like the whip, and he winced under it. "Your neck is strong and I hope it will not break, and you strangle slowly. I hope you take a long time to die, and that you know all the time that it is happening, and that you pray for death before you get it, Aston. I will watch you, Aston, all the while it is happening to you, I will watch your face, Aston, and not let them cover it so that I can see you while you are suffering."

Once Alyx gets pregnant, Simon starts planning their escape but it doesn't go smoothly once the plan's set in motion. That's exciting to read, and tension-filled. I like Alyx. She's mild in personality. This should have been called "Simon" because he's the star of the show. Because they're forced to have sex with each other, they're raping each other. There's a scene near the end, page 292, when they're free and Simon does rape Alyx:

"He was angered at her too then, and he made it his affair, quickly and roughly, forcing her, then he was sorry. She was shaking with angry sobs." 

The ending isn't satisfying, it's too short, and I don't like Simon's mother at all. I doubt anyone does. I don't feel her reaction to seeing him again is a normal one, but then again this is fiction. My only complaint is that the ending needed to be expanded, the book is only 312 pages, and this book definitely needed a sequel. 

The author's note at the end of the book tells us who the character Simon was based on. It says, "In the eighteenth century, the Sixth Earl of Anglesey (uncle Phillip) "is notorious as having procured the kidnapping and bondage in America of his nephew, James Annesley, rightful Lord Altham". If you want to read more about the real event that inspired the character Simon, click here.

Alyx's character was based on a true case of a 14 year old girl who stole a horse and was 'condemned to transportation' to Australia and ended up married to the ship's captain.

Lolah died in 2002.

[Eastofoz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very dense writing. No romance in this book. Perverse violence. You feel nothing for the characters. The hero is a class A jerk and the hero is TSTL. Worth only 1/2 a star because the premise is good but the author just couldn't write it well. Number 1 in Top 10 worst books ever written for me.

[Olnega · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have no words for this one… Definitely not a romance. It would take a true connoisseur to decipher it. The hero is repeatedly raped yet asks to be whipped beforehand in order to perform 😳

[Brandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I purchased this book because of an Amazon thread/topic that caught my interest. The writing - not the story - left a lot to be desired. It may have been the era in which the book was printed that caused me so much trouble. I found I had to read a passage more than once to follow the story. Having said that, it was an okay read. Simon is an English born noble. Alyx is also English born. They each have a different story of how they came to be in a slave camp. Simon is a stud. Alyx one of the women he must impregnate. Simon has been a slave for 10 years and a stud for 5. He had settled into his life until Alyx spoke to him in his mother tongue. What transpires after that is a very strange, warped story of love gone wrong. Somon's owner is in love with him, yet he rapes him. Alyx is in love with Simon and Simon is confused and in love with them both. It wasn't a bad story but i doubt I'll buy another story by this author.

[Pamela(AllHoney) · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the few books my mom forbid me to read. I read it anyway. Of course, I was just a teenager in high school at the time. Let's just say I understood why she didn't want me to read it. There are elements that are offensive to some people.

[Kiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I noticed many reviews are from people who didn’t even read the book in entirety. If you read 20 pages of a book, or skim it, don’t write a review, it’s ridiculous and you know it.

Anywho, after really reading the book my review is this:

Weird book. Disturbing in many ways. Story line is unique for sure. Some parts are kinda hard to get thru mostly because the content is something painfully hard to contemplate, much less be immersed in.
In terms of people talking smack about the writing flow:
I will say this-the flow of the writing is actually brilliant, I feel it is purposeful and intentional, so that the reader can really feel the despair, grief, emotional anguish, and even the hopeful moments WITH the characters Simon and Alyx. I think it was beautifully written from an artist standpoint. You really are brought into this world and want to escape as badly as the main character does. You feel his overwhelming despair along with him every step of the way.

If you are disturbed by triggering content such as rape and slavery don’t read this book. If you think all stories should be a hopscotch happy time, then read something else. However if you value stories of real humanity that include pain, suffering, but mostly resilience, bravery, and courage, I suggest this book.

I found this book to be sad, angering, sickening, scary, yet made me grateful for my own pain and how it has shaped my own life. This is not a feel good story, but a story of the darker side of human emotions. I think readers that have a healthy emotional world can truly understand the ups and downs that this story will take you to, yet still leave you unscathed in your own security.
Life is sometimes painful and this story reflects that in a way that is intriguing and very real.

Negative reviews seem to be written from those who resist being fully immersed into a world that isn’t comfortable.

My advice is to jump into the icy cold waters of this story and experience discomfort. You’ll appreciate the warm sun against your drying skin in ways you’d never had before.

[Suzy Vero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alyx by Lolah Burford (1977, Signet)… what a shocking doozie of a book! Discovered it in a Sweet Savage Flame blog post about little known BR books, ordered a copy from abebooks and just now recovering from reading it.

It gets very mixed reviews on goodreads from DNF, one star to 5 stars. I really liked it… an interesting captivating story of two people on a Jamaican plantation forced into white slavery and made to have sex together for the purpose of breeding an heir for the master. Vivid descriptions of extreme cruelty including horrific whipping, rapes, sexual assaults, including sex between the master and Simon the hero, and Simon and the mistress who he also has to service. Simon, who is a young English lord is a breeding stud and that’s how he meets the English heroine, Alyx. Underlying it all is a passionate tale of enduring love against all odds.

Writing is a bit uneven at times and the ending is a bit abrupt. The book should have been called Simon as it’s really his story. However, an enthralling book for those with very strong stomachs and who are interested in reading a very dark gut wrenching HR like no other. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Mary Catherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I actually read this book many years ago! It has been well over 10 years! I was very surprised to see it listed on Good Reads (which I just joined) with romance novels! This book was no romance novel to me! So, I felt I should leave a comment for anyone thinking it is a typical romance novel. It is not!!

This book was much too dark for my liking! I would not call it a romance novel at all! The main characters (hero & heroine) who do profess their love for one another are actually enslaved! Their owners / masters / whatever cruelly and forcibly toy with and manipulate their slaves sexually! This book was actually very disturbing to me and I did not like it at all! I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a romance novel!

[Jennifer]

Ugh.....terrible. I got through 85 pages before giving up.

[Linda C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story of white slavery in the Caribbean. Simon has spent ten years in slavery after being kidnapped and sold by his uncle for his title. The first 5 years are brutal; the next 5 he has spent as a breeder. He spends his nights in a pitch black hut with a woman slave until she is impregnated; then another, etc. He never sees the women. When their babies are born they are given to another to suckle and the women are given another’s baby to suckle; then sent back to a breeding hut, but not to the same man. Alyx is 16 and a virgin when she comes to the hut, fighting and screaming. Over the time they spend together they develop a bond and then love. The story follows their lives over the next 5 years. This book was published in 1977 and typical of the romances at that time. This has a following but I really didn’t find it outstanding.

[Carmen Cantoran · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as a young teen in 1977. It was unlike anything I had ever read before. I remember bits and pieces of the plot but I recall being shocked by some of the violence and sex. I'd like to reread it now and see my reaction to it. I had a paperback edition. I wish I still had it.

[Pansy Faye]

I read this book when it first came out. It is the only book I have ever burned. I’ve read some crappy books and couldn’t believe anyone had killed a tree to print them, but this one was the worst story ever.