Scenes from the Marketplace

The Marketplace

by Laura Antoniou

The Marketplace and the other books in the series by Laura Antoniou have become some of the best-known and best-loved BDSM-themed books since Anne Rice's Sleeping Beauty. With their subtle wit, complex moral codes, and hot sex and submission, the books have created a full world in readers' heads, populated with a vast cast of characters. Over the years, Antoniou has filled in the background details on many of these characters and her world through short stories. Sometimes appearing in anthologies here and there, other times as "DVD" extras in ebooks, these stories give insights into the history of The Marketplace, the motivations behind the characters, and sometimes their fates after they were last seen in the Will Be BoysKaleigh LadMandarin StyleCalifornia DreamingFor Want of a NailA Leash Has Two EndsBrian on the FarmThat's Harsh!A Familiar RingThe Man with the Phoenix TattooInside StraightZoom In

Genres: BDSM, Erotica, Menage

321 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 21, 2013

Reviews

[Danny Tyran · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seems that the author gathered in this collection of short stories texts removed from her previous novels by her editors. For example, we learn a little more about Michael's life (The Trainer, Marketplace, book 3) at Geoff Negel's training house in California. There is also a short story about Robin, which could have been extracted from Book 2: The Slave. We also discover how Chris lived in Kaleigh, the British school for slaves wanting to become butlers, for example.

As always, I preferred the stories about Chris. ;) The others seemed to me much less interesting, even those concerning Robin, even though it’s a character that I really like.

Anyway, Ms. Antoniou remains true to herself and presents us with a vision of the D/s that is not everyone's and that I love.

[Diane Hughes]

Having already read well over half of the stories in Scenes from the Marketplace, it was both a delight to reread most of the ones already read and to experience the new ones. "Clocking" is one of my favorite parts of Academy. One learns so much about Anderson as handles the "drowned feral kitten" in her front hallway and in the way she interacts with Vicente, Ron, and Ali. The ways Anderson handles Chris's "situation" shows a depth of character, honor, and integrity that is truly impressive. The depiction of Ron also gives him depth and dimension, Love the way he throws his clothes all over the floor and furniture. The growth, development, and changes in Chris throughout the story is fascinating. And, omg, the final scene in Anderson's study is one of the hottest, most erotic vignettes I've ever read.

"Boys will be Boys" is fun and interesting in its twists and turns, and Ron is hot (as he usually is). "Kaleigh Lad" is unsentimentally honest glimpse into the mind heart, and circumstances of a young person who believes that "no one wants to [actual word deleted] the fat, ugly, four-eyed sex freak." Harry "Stan" Piggot was all as a character for which I could have hoped, irreverent, funny, mischievous, and as loyal and stout a friend and mate as I imagine Damon was to Pythias. Dalton is simply wonderful from the moment he calls Quentin "luv" to the speech in which he states, "You are in Great Britain, the very birthplace of masculine women and feminine men." And the scene between Chris and Mr. Blake is bittersweet, and touching without being cloying in the least-not to mention that Mr. Blake comes across as being the kind of sexy that is quintessentially both masculine and British.

"Mandarin Style" is fun. Ken Mandarin has always been one of the sexiest and most intriguing of Marketplace characters. "California Dreaming" is sad, intentionally sad. This story is an illustration of all that was just totally wrong with Michael's training as a trainer, along with his growing reservations, qualms, and realizations that many things were totally wrong. Geoff's photo could be right beside the definition of a narcissistic ass in any dictionary, as could Michael's for much of the stories. But Michael, at least, suspected something was not at all well in the state of Denmark and had the good sense to (slowly-oh, so agonizingly slowly) develop some self-awareness and good sense.

"For Want of a Nail" is funny and fun. The never-ending chain of catastrophes and unexpected demands of guests is not outside the realm of possibility. The scenes between Jack and the dog and the later scene between dog and owner are hilarious. The final moments between Chris and Rachel are sweet and lovely.

"A Leash has Two Ends" offers intense and interesting insights into the relationships between Chris and Grendel, Chris and Rachel, and Grendel and Alex. The story offers a valuable insight into where the state of character and relationship development stand between the end of The Marketplace and the beginning of The Slave.

"Brian on the Farm" was, for me, one of the least interesting stories in the book. But, then I would have said the same thing several months ago about "That's Harsh" which I found much more interesting on re-reading it. The moments in which Robin starts to get off on her boot-blacking build and build and build-and then just a little later, to quote, "It was hot. It was amazingly hot." Harsh and hot.

"A Familiar Ring" was a familiar story for me, read several times before. This time round, I essentially skipped the sex scenes because I found the character and relationship development much more interesting. I enjoyed Judy and Khim and greatly enjoyed the slow build up to the moment when Robin discovers who and what the other two women are and have been.

"Inside Straight" is delightful in many ways. Learning more about who Stuart is and what he thinks and feels was very satisfying. And Master Trainer Walther Kurgan is a fascinating, intriguing, and very hot character. I really hope to learn more about what seems about to happen to these two "very straight" guys.

I'm not sure what I think of "Zoom In." It seemed to mostly be what we call in fanfic a PWP (Plot? What plot?), mainly a description of someone watching a lot of hot and kinky sex. There is a framework around the hot and kinky, but not one that does any character or relationship development.

"The Man with the Phoenix Tattoo" is my favorite new story. It gives an intense and astonishing new depth and meaning to the relationship between Chris and Rachel. The story is told from Rachel's POV, and one discovers that this profane, sexy, seemingly indomitable woman is vulnerable, human, and deeply in love. It is so moving to read what Rachel thinking especially the passage that ends with, ". . . I knew the real you before any of them did." It is also fascinating to catch glimpses of what Chris allows Rachel to see and experience that he shares with no one else. A truly touching moment is Chris saying, "You're the first to see it. . . Any of it. I swear." The description of the tattoo, itself is brilliant. And the last line of the entire story could almost be an epigram for all of Antoniou's work, "Time only adds to the flame."

[TinaMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to audio narrated well by Elizabeth Jasicki. Heavy BDSM

A Leash Has Two Ends - Grendel, Alex and Rachel take Chris away with them on vacation to use him as they will.

For Want of a Nail -

California Dreaming -

Clocking -

Boys will be Boys -

Kaleigh Lad -

Mandarin Style -

Brian on the Farm -

That's Harsh! -

A Familiar Ring -
-
The Man with the Phoenix Tattoo -

Inside Straight -

Zoom in -

[Boho Beannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always fun!