The Lion's Hunt

by Magnus Thorne

As a submissive concierge, Roman’s duty is to please his clients—dominants too committed to their careers to take on a full time submissive into their lives. With a decade of experience and an even temper, Roman has encountered every manner of dominant to please—until he meets the cold, disinterested Lionel Compton, who did not personally request Roman’s services but ends up as his client all the same. Still spurned and confused from their encounter, Roman later crosses paths with the frigid executive in the wild—except now, Compton has a proposal for him, requesting a private session in which Roman will spend a weekend at Lionel’s island estate, submitting to his desires in ways Roman is normally restricted from by his concierge agency. Intrigued by Lionel’s shift in interest and his blunt, observant nature, Roman agrees, and quickly finds that the true extent of his submissive desires has been suppressed for far too long.
THE LION'S HUNT is a m/m D/s-verse erotic novella featuring a transmasc submissive who undergoes a masochistic awakening and a surly, workaholic cis dominant who discovers an outlet for his darkest desires. Full content notes are available in the front matter.

Genres: Transgender, BDSM, M M Romance, Romance, Dark Romance, Queer, Smut

152 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 3, 2023

Reviews

[Jenny (Nyxie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was *excellent* erotic romance. Dangit, I had things to do this afternoon and instead I’ve sat and read this cover to cover. So glad I made that choice Bc this was thoroughly enjoyable!

Biokink (the author calls it a D/s-verse), professional escort submissive transmasc MC, the other MC is a wealthy businessman dominant. Full of negotiated kink, masochist awakening, subspace, moments of tenderness (“sweetheart” pet name), toys, bondage, clamps, and really excellent primal play.

It ends in a really sweet HFN with a strong suggestion of a HEA. I could have done with an epilogue showing them together and happy years later, but this ending felt complete and satisfying to me.

CW for mentions of hunting as a thematic element and tied in to the primal play, but no descriptions of animal hunting.

[Smutty Sully · Rating 4 out of 5]

On KU and perfect for anyone doing the Trans Rights Readathon – there's a trans MC by a trans author.

Lionel held up a third clothespin. “Where do you suppose this one goes, hm?”

4 little rabbit stars.

Sometimes I feel bad for the authors I love because often my ratings are based on their other work, instead of based on all of my reading. Meaning, this is a very solid 4-star read that should probably be higher but it can't be because I already have my 5-star ratings for Thorne's books. It makes sense to me.

“Seems you’re more of a... mental masochist,” Lionel continued, a hint of a smile in his voice. “Your mind has to be spanked a bit, too, I think.” Yes to more mind spanking!

“Watch those teeth,” he heard Lionel say above him. “You won’t enjoy the punishment for biting.” Uh...yes we will enjoy that. More biting!

“Is giving up control something that interests you?” Pfft, yes, obviously!

“You may sit at the table,” he said, then cocked a brow. “Unless you’d rather eat between my legs.”

Yes to all of that, and primal play, and forced piss kink, cute degradation, and self edging. So much fun.

“I assumed it would be a delight to edge you,” Lionel said. “But making you do it to yourself is truly exquisite.”

MC Names: Roman & Lionel

Tags: erotic novella, transmasc MC, trans author, biokink, D/s, sex work, kink-awakening/masochist-awakening, pain play, spanking, fingernail scraping, clothespins, BDSM, dubcon, consent check-ins/care, aftercare, gentle Dom, power dynamics (sex worker/client), facial, finger sucking, feeding, kneeling, yes, sir, bareback, vaginal sex, anal sex, oral sex, cockwarming, face-fucking, forced piss kink, video call sex, self edging, praise, lite consensual degradation, gender play, sexual roleplay (maid outfit), primal play/predator prey, bathing/washing, written instructions, bondage/restraints, begging, first time in subspace, cold softie, crying, crawling, blindfold, lite humiliation, sex toys, pantyhose, shoe-licking (laces, sex juice cleanup), consensual inebriated sex play, pet names: sweetheart, good girl, little rabbit, pet.

[Mx. T *Chaotic Reader* · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will worship at the feet of Magnus Thorne for all the boyp*ssy we get from him. Masochistic awakening, D/s dynamics, coming on a shoe, all the good stuff. 10/ 10 would recommend. Also, trans rep gets extra stars always.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written bio-kink and sub/masochist exploration with clearly negotiated kink and a nice variety of scenes.

Not much character development but the world was intriguing and the ending was hopeful enough to be satisfying to romance readers.

[ancientreader]

lost me at the poly-cotton briefs

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was so good that i spent the next three days reading every one of thorne’s works that I could get my hands on

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

March 2024. Very behind on posting but posting some recent reads that fit the Trans Right Readathon. I had already bought this one but hadn’t read it yet, so this week was a great chance to.

Really enjoyed this MM erotic romance novella between a transmasc main character and a cisgender love interest, and will be checking out more by them in the future.
Genuinely engaging and spicy, it handles kink, power exchange, and consent well without it taking away from the flow and sexual tension of the story.

“The Lion’s Hunt” by Magnus Thorne.
Bought the ebook on Amazon.

[Adaline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a delightful surprise.
A sub discovering his masochist tendencies and a dom that treats him exactly right. With a really sweet HFN.

Very recommended.

[TeeReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

Super hot and spicy romance with a cis Dom and a trans sub. I loved this so much. Did it do things to me I didn't expect? Maybe. I really love how the trans experience was written here, and it made me feel valid and seen. That's not always something I'm expecting when reading erotica, but I so appreciate that pleasant surpise. Easy 5 stars for a fun story, great writing, hot smut, and it unexpectedly made me emotional.

[X]

DNF @ 40%. ….Neutral. Not far enough in any particular direction to be interesting enough to finish.

[Terry L. Estep · Rating 3 out of 5]

I stuffed my Kindle with hardcore BDSM transmasc smut, which was a little out of my comfort zone but educational.

[thosemeddlingkids · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kept going back and forth between "aww" and "ouch" while reading this.

Erotic romance, kink awakening in the masochism flavor, biokink world, role play and some bratttiness. This was really great and I love the nonchalance with gender and transness!

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very fun, sexy concept. I enjoyed it!

[on storygraph (macclown) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now I want to first say I think after reading this one I've now read everything I can from Thorne and I've loved every moment of it. There's just something about the way they write, the scenarios they explore, that really scratches that itch, ya know?

This being the longest of their works so far I was so excited to read it, and while there's a lot of it that really grabbed me I have to say it just wasn't for me. I've just never been into the whole dom/sub scenario in this way. I also just felt like the emotional aspect of the relationship between Roman and Lionel was lost amongst all the smut. Which is fine of course! I mean it's obviously the main focus of the story so I wasn't really expecting the emotional side to be at the forefront, but it sort of lost it's edge after a while. I got quite excited when I reached the angsty, will-they-won't-they part, but it was at the very end and was too quickly resolved for me to get any emotional satisfaction out of it.

Of course this is all very personal, and the smut was pretty great, but just didn't hit the mark. Still, it was gorgeous as always and I will be ready and waiting for whatever Thorne comes up with next!

[Taylor Milligan-Csemez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute perfection from start to finish! The writing style was so good definitely on par with my favorites like Freydis Moon, Saint Harlowe & Harley Laroux.

Dom/sub dynamic is very hard to do well I feel, but Magnus did a superb job at making it feel real and not over the top.

This had amazing representation, I feel the trans community who reads this would feel seen & comfortable.

Lionel was definitely dominant but never aggressive towards Roman which I loved.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

This was such a delightful read. Short and sweet (and spicyyy), it packs a punch: a lot of character and relational development, which still felt well paced and appropriate for its length.

The ending was a little abrupt and I would’ve loved a short epilogue, but I’ll be keeping my eyes out for more of these two, and meanwhile digging in to more of this author’s work!

[Sol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely fantastic short erotic novella between a concierge and a dominant that finds all the right buttons to push. I loved how the relationship developed between Roman and Lionel and the communication between them.
This was super spicy and kinky. Check TW
There is a second book coming in this series and can’t wait!

[Achilles King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the distinct joy of being able to read this in advance to its publication, and I could not possibly recommend it more than I already do unless I were to have the cover physically tattooed onto my body.

Sensual, dirty, pleasurably perverse, and all tied up in a pretty ribbon with an older man physically hunting another man down in order to devour him.

[Lyn Solomon-Linville · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author has such a unique way of writing, it had me entranced the whole way through. The smut carried me perfectly in a way that just made sense and was very beautifully written until that part in the book that just made you realize why Roman became what Lionel needed. I could not put this one down till I finished it.

[Eli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow…just WOW. It’s hard to find words just how much I loved reading this. I can’t wait to read more about Lionel and Roman. I honestly didn’t expect to be this obsessed with this book and yet here I am.

[Alicia (Locsnliterature) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t have some well thought out review, I’m just here to tell you this shit was GOODT! Beginning to end, no complaints, I enjoyed every second of it.

[Kaye N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

HELLLOOOOOOOOOO

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always love Magnus' stories. Interesting characters, good plots, hot sex. Not a single complaint 🙏

[Littlebookterror · Rating 5 out of 5]

delicious

[Kirei · Rating 5 out of 5]

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH this was so fucking sexy.

[MunWolfieSNM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot and sweet

[Book Fae · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was fun, it was horny, i read it in one sitting and i will be back for more from this author <3

[sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

obsessed

[Sebby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually far more cute than I was expecting and we love to see it as well as some great D/s dynamics as well.

[Smut Report]

The Smut Report team is participating in Wendy the Super Librarian's #TBRChallenge 2025. Our goal: to dust off our TBRs once a month and talk about the book we read.

Read our full TBR Challenge update at The Smut Report

Well, this is an erotic romance with a very hinty HFN that is all about kinks I am not particularly interested in, so I am not the primary/intended audience of this book. That said, I do find reading books about not-my-kinks interesting because I always wonder if the author can convince me what’s sexy about them or just tell me an engaging romance between the characters who are into them.

In this case, Thorne has created a low fantasy world in which people are sorted biologically into dominant or submissive personalities. Roman is a concierge, which is a submissive job catering to dominants who are basically more interested in being married to their jobs than in a relationship with another person. It’s basically a limited escort job with the role being confined to, like, service submission and roleplay, and the sex being confined to blowjobs and handjobs. On a day like any other day, Roman goes to his appointment and a posh office building, purchased for the recipient by a colleague, and is humiliated by the client. The thing is, the fact that Roman didn’t flee as intended intrigues the dominant, Lionel, and the two put together a contract for some private, off-the-books play. Thus commences all. the. kink.

I am usually made deeply uncomfortable about pain, degradation, TPE and similar kinks rather than being turned on or pleased by them, so I was a little uncertain going into this book, and that was fair because I can’t say I particularly enjoyed Roman’s venture into masochism. HOWEVER, what this book does better than many I have read is to narrate from Roman’s POV, so we’re getting all of the sub’s enjoyment as he explores his new kinks, and also it includes the gentle aftercare from Lionel, so we’re not getting only the dominant/sadist of perspective of him, but a more rounded Dom. I think what turned me off to picking up BDSM erotic romance in the past is that it’s frequently written like one giant scene, and while that might bring joy to some readers, I need the downtime between scenes to feel like the relationship is balanced and satisfying. Even though this book is a slow trickle from a professional relationship to catching feelings, almost every moment is focused on the pleasure these two bring each other. It’s especially striking from Lionel to Roman because in Roman’s job the Dom is paying for a service and therefore doesn’t care for the submissive as they’re done.

So anyway, I’m not sure I’d say I liked it, exactly, but there were certainly themes for me to chew on, and I did like the characters. I’m rooting for their HEA.

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