Sold

Rich Men #1

by Ace Fawn

Sold. Collared. Owned.

Michael

Michael Kreed is a wealthy man with the world in the palm of his hand, and he’s looking for a new pet. What he craves comes in the form of Hunter, a young man with a gorgeous, lean body, an attitude, and a determination not to yield. Michael wants to keep Hunter unbroken, but is it worth pursuing a relationship with his new obsession?

Hunter

Hunter’s life changes forever when he is sold at an auction to a sophisticated, handsome billionaire named Michael. Collared and made into his pet, Hunter resists his owner and craves to have his freedom and old life back. But is the new life that Michael is offering him better than the only one he’s ever known?

Sold is book 1 in the Rich Men series. This steamy M/M captive romance features a billionaire and his pet, collars, sexual awakening, spanking, the forced proximity trope and the opposites attract trope. It can be read as a standalone.
Content warnings are in the front matter of the book. Reader discretion is advised.

Genres: M M Romance, BDSM, Contemporary, Dark Romance, LGBT, Gay, Romance

234 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 24, 2023

About the author

Ace Fawn writes dark and steamy contemporary M/M romance.

Website: www.acefawn.com
Newsletter: https://acefawn.eo.page/rq17j
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ace-fawn

Reviews

[Brooke]

DNF 46%

I’m sorry in advance for the ranting, this book just pushed all the wrong buttons apparently.

Intriguing premise, disappointing execution.
The characters felt very one-dimensional, zero personality and no palpable tension.

The TWs fail to mention it, but this book contains dub-con/non-con.
Granted, it’s sort of implied in a human auction based book and don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind a little dubiousness in my romance, but I expect there to be some level of tension and chemistry between the characters that raises the heat. Too bad the smut between these two was so cold I got frostbite.

Talking about lady-boner killers, at the top of the list we have the overuse of the same nickname over and over again. Literally every time Michael talks to Hunter he uses the word pet at the end of each sentence. It was used so much the word has lost all meaning to me now.

Sold ultimately felt very porn-what-plot and, unfortunately, not in the good way.

[Mr.Rainbow.Pages · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hello everyone, I'm Mr. C Reviewer, and tonight we're discussing (She/Her) Ace Fawn's book, Sold, which is the first book in The Rich Men Series.

I'd like to extend a huge thank you to booksirens for providing a copy of 'Sold' as an E-ARC in exchange for an optional honest review.

The book was first Published October 24, 2023. The narrative, told using third person perspective following Hunter's and Michael's point of view and spans 30 chapters and 246 pages.



Summary: Hunter’s life takes a dramatic turn when he is sold at an auction to the sophisticated and handsome billionaire, Michael. As Michael takes ownership of Hunter, he collars him and begins to shape him into his pet. However, Hunter is not one to simply submit to Michael’s will, as he remains defiant and yearns for his old life back.



Review:
-I was pleased to find that the book included Content Warnings within its pages, The use of Content Warnings was a valuable addition, providing readers with an opportunity to prepare for sensitive topics. The book had some good character and place detail that contributed to an engaging story, but the inconsistency in writing quality and the presence of unnecessary descriptions impacted the overall reading experience.

The pacing within the story didn’t resonate with me, as I found the time jumps to be jarring. The narrative moved quickly, and I was surprised by the significant passage of time throughout the book. To enhance my reading experience, I would have appreciated deeper emotional depth, along with more realistic actions and reactions from the characters. Additionally, it would have been helpful if each chapter had indicated whose point of view we were following from the beginning, rather than having to discover it while reading.

While the book did touch upon BDSM themes, I feel like it could have benefited from a more immersive and detailed portrayal of the lifestyle. This would have allowed readers to better understand and appreciate the complexities of BDSM relationships and dynamics.

-I was disappointed to discover that this book does not have an audiobook version available. As someone who enjoys listening and following along while reading, I hope that an audiobook will be produced in the future. However, I was pleased to find that I could use the read out loud option on my E-reader.

-I don't feel like we were provided with enough information about the events leading up to Hunter’s abduction or the circumstances surrounding his sale, which makes it difficult to fully understand and empathize with his experiences. This lack of detail was particularly disappointing as it detracts from the overall impact of the story. I did appreciate the glimpses we got into the characters’ family history, but I craved a deeper understanding of their motivations and a more thorough exploration of their personalities.

The inclusion of Michael’s perspective within the story seems misplaced and lessens the focus on the central character, Hunter. Instead of following some of Michael’s story, I feel that it would have been more engaging to me to have explored this one in a dystopian like setting instead, when following his story where Michael’s views on the world and his situation were in stark contrast to those around him. I feel that this would have allowed for a more immersive experience as we follow Michael’s journey to challenge the status quo and fight against the injustice of the auction system that affects people like Hunter.

-The book, while containing an engaging story, lost some of its momentum as it progressed through several chapters. I found myself feeling a bit disappointed by the missing events that took place between the final chapter and the epilogue.

The book would have been more enjoyable for me if I knew that the next instalment in the series continued with the same characters. Sometimes in series like this one, it shifts to another character’s story that was previously in the background, possibly Michael's sibling or even Ivan. Although the ending felt rushed, it was still satisfying and tied up loose ends. However, there is a 0.5 book in the series that focuses on different characters, while this book is a full-fledged instalment. We will have to wait and see what happens next.

I rate each story I read out of 10, and for this one, I give it an 6. Remember this was what I thought about the book personally and I suggest that you give it a go for yourself.

[deniz · Rating 3 out of 5]

| 3 stars |

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I finished the book in two days. Even though reading the 3rd person pov is not my favorite, the author's writing style did not bother me. If you like to empathize while reading books and are interested in the inner world of the characters rather than the plot, the book may please you, but such things are not the qualities I look for in a book. The problem was that I didn't feel close to the characters. The characters had no personal traits that were appealing or interesting. I couldn't feel the attraction between the characters. They had no chemistry. The ending felt a little rushed, but if you like the tropes in the book, I recommend you read it.

[m]

Well that was disappointing. I really like captor/captive stories but like another reviewer said for such a dark theme this felt like it was aiming for fluffy and totally missed the mark.

For one, Hunter doesn’t have an awful life so this isn’t a rescue fantasy. He’s just an average guy who gets abducted and sold into slavery. Of course the guy who buys him could be worse but that’s not exactly endearing and Michael does immediately drug Hunter and fly him across the country. Somehow we’re supposed to be sympathetic towards the hot billionaire though..

Michael says he needed to buy someone rather than just date because most men don’t give him what he needs or something like that but for the majority of the book he’s just acting like Hunter is his boyfriend/pet and threatening spankings that mostly never happen. There are a few “intimate” scenes throughout but penetrative sex doesn’t happen until the very, very end.

No chemistry, no passion, and no plot really. Michael almost has a redeeming moment where he thinks maybe he shouldn’t have bought a person but decides nah, I didn’t do anything wrong. 🤷🏼‍♀️

I received an advanced copy for review and this is my honest opinion.

[Dani (Daniiireads)]

Sold shot for dark but didn't quite hit the mark. It's kinda dark adjacent, given that Michael purchases Hunter, who has been trafficked, at auction because he wants a companion and pet.

Despite buying a whole human, we're supposed to believe that Michael is great and that we should like him, and root for the fact that he wants to 'woo' Hunter into falling for him... I just couldn't. I didn't connect with Michael or Hunter's characters, and everything felt so surface level between them.

I'm a big fan of captor/captive and owner/pet type romances, but this just didn't work for me.

[Nuno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC in exchange for my review.

Summary

Michael Kreed, a wealthy billionaire, seeks a new pet, Hunter. After being sold to Michael, Hunter resists his owner and seeks freedom and his old life back, transforming his life forever.

------

Review

Let me start by mentioning that this is not the genre I read, but weirdly I really enjoyed it.

The storyline was decent and spicy but nothing special about it. In fact, I’m not sure if I will remember I read this book.

I suppose reading this book was a pleasant diversion my from regular reading genres.

It’s a quick, short and easy read 🙂

P.S. Where can I find me a Michael? I’m ready to be take cared of and spoiled 🤭

[Erica Chilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of the title to read and review for Wicked Reads

3.5 Stars

SOLD is the first novel in the Rich Men series. Ace Fawn is a new-to-me author.

Keep in mind, this novel is set in today's time frame. It is not a dark fantasy world where those born into the darker society are mentally prepared for their fate. Hunter was taken off the street, trafficked, then sold at an auction. Michael is a wealthy man who purchased a person as a companion, more than in a moral gray area.

There was just something about the writing style that didn't hook me, where I struggled to remain interested. As someone who enjoys reading dark romance, I need deep emotions that are dictated by the human condition. While I appreciated the slow "breaking" of Hunter through psychological means, some spark was missing for me, where I found zero chemistry between them. For me, as maybe it was just a mood I was in.

There was an oddly warm and fuzzy vibe to what should be such a dark book. Michael was just too much, like he couldn't figure out why Hunter would be upset. Michael was just a great guy who wanted to love his pet.

The author was nonstop selling how amazing Michael was as a person. Since it wasn't written on the pages but played out nonstop in my head, Michael purchased a person in today's society, I had a hard time falling into the story, buying what was selling, when that is reprehensible behavior that was never once brought up in the novel itself. This created a divide for me, as I couldn't ship the romance between Michael & Hunter with such a huge gap in power. Michael showed such a deep denial in the fact that what he did was wrong. Not a single word of monologue that would explain this.

As I sit here, typing this up, I keep side-eyeing my Boston Terriers. Pet. With all the implications. The only difference, Hunter was a human being. Not a softening of the novel, as it was bizarrely warm and fuzzy, but some type of explanation as to why Michael validated his own actions. When Michael suggested freeing Hunter, he meant as to sell him to another. Offering to release someone who is a functioning human being back into society after such an autonomy-stealing traumatic event would have helped paint Michael in a better light, where Hunter had a real choice in staying with Michael. Hard to find the romance when one of the characters doesn't unabashedly see themselves as evil as his creator kept hammering how lovely Michael was.

Surface level emotions. A sentence here or there of backstory with no real foundation laid. It was hard to know the characters, hard to see why they would love each other, when they had zero personality traits and no chemistry.

While I did read SOLD quickly, where I applauded some of the cerebral twisting, I won't be continuing further with this series because I needed more realistic, deeper emotions, along with realistic actions and reactions.

[MM Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a hard time making a decision to give Sold by Ace Fawn a 4 or 5. I really wanted to give it a 4.5 stars but this is not possible. The reason for this is because I enjoyed the genre and the trope of kidnapping and enslavement. But I hated where Hunter acted like a spoiled child about 88% into the story. Before this scene, I was in love with the story. I was devouring it and couldn't put it down. Then Hunter acted like a child and I almost didn't finish. But I did and I was glad I did. Again, I love the premise of the story but I wished the characters were more realistic and acted their age.

[rzells · Rating 2 out of 5]

idk

I hated the first mc, the billionaire Michael. He came across as so patronizing and annoying. Like, he's honestly punchable. And Hunter was ok and realistic but I didnt fall in love with him. good thing was that his character development was complex and not straightforward. And it's still a quick fun read I guess.

[WycEd Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Check out our full post for SOLD on Wicked Reads, which includes an excerpt.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆
3.5 stars

SOLD is the first novel in the Rich Men series. Ace Fawn is a new-to-me author.

Keep in mind, this novel is set in today's time frame. It is not a dark fantasy world where those born into the darker society are mentally prepared for their fate. Hunter was taken off the street, trafficked, then sold at an auction. Michael is a wealthy man who purchased a person as a companion, more than in a moral gray area.

There was just something about the writing style that didn't hook me, where I struggled to remain interested. As someone who enjoys reading dark romance, I need deep emotions that are dictated by the human condition. While I appreciated the slow "breaking" of Hunter through psychological means, some spark was missing for me, where I found zero chemistry between them. For me, as maybe it was just a mood I was in.

There was an oddly warm and fuzzy vibe to what should be such a dark book. Michael was just too much, like he couldn't figure out why Hunter would be upset. Michael was just a great guy who wanted to love his pet.

The author was nonstop selling how amazing Michael was as a person. Since it wasn't written on the pages but played out nonstop in my head, Michael purchased a person in today's society, I had a hard time falling into the story, buying what was selling, when that is reprehensible behavior that was never once brought up in the novel itself. This created a divide for me, as I couldn't ship the romance between Michael and Hunter with such a huge gap in power. Michael showed such a deep denial in the fact that what he did was wrong. Not a single word of monologue that would explain this.

As I sit here, typing this up, I keep side-eyeing my Boston Terriers. Pet. With all the implications. The only difference, Hunter was a human being. Not a softening of the novel, as it was bizarrely warm and fuzzy, but some type of explanation as to why Michael validated his own actions. When Michael suggested freeing Hunter, he meant as to sell him to another. Offering to release someone who is a functioning human being back into society after such an autonomy-stealing traumatic event would have helped paint Michael in a better light, where Hunter had a real choice in staying with Michael. Hard to find the romance when one of the characters doesn't unabashedly see themselves as evil as his creator kept hammering how lovely Michael was.

Surface level emotions. A sentence here or there of backstory with no real foundation laid. It was hard to know the characters, hard to see why they would love each other, when they had zero personality traits and no chemistry.

While I did read SOLD quickly, where I applauded some of the cerebral twisting, I won't be continuing further with this series because I needed more realistic, deeper emotions, along with realistic actions and reactions.


Angie – ☆☆☆
I have read several books with similar plots and really enjoyed them. This book fell short for me. I didn't connect with any of the characters. I felt zero chemistry between Michael and Hunter. If I ever read the word pet again, it'll be too soon, overusage on that word big time.

Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

[Mc Chanster · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up to 3

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. The plot and premise were promising and I was intrigued.

I have to say that this book is full of spice and steam. The sexual tension between Hunter and Michael was palpable, and I really liked that, for the most part, Michael was respectful of Hunter’s wishes (with some gray areas between). I also liked that the sex scenes weren’t vulgar, but well-written – sometimes a difficult thing to do in romance. That being said, there were also points where I felt disappointed.

The overall presentation of Michael and Hunter felt very surface level. Yes, there is the romance and they do end up caring for each other, but in the end, I knew basically nothing about either one of them. There aren’t any details of Michael’s past life, and barely anything about Hunter – it would’ve helped me connect with the characters much more if I had more information about them. Furthermore, the random other characters mentioned felt odd. We’re introduced to Chloe (maid / housekeeper?), Skyler (Michael’s brother), and Ivan (business / colleague?), but what is the significance of these people? They make a limited time appearance, and there’s nothing to keep from remembering why they’re really there in the first place. I also found the overall pacing of the book was also awkward. At first, it seemed to go day-by-day and then in the last few chapters, it was jumping weeks and months. It felt as if the author was rushed to wrap up the novel and didn’t completely plan out the ending.

Overall, I liked the book. I just wish there was more to it. I’m a fairly character driven reader so I appreciate some history and background to help connecting with the personalities. A quick, steamy read for me.

Thank you Voracious Readers and Ace Fawn for my copy! I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All above thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Hunter is purchased at auction by billionaire Micheal Kreed as his new pet, Hunter has no idea what his new life will hold. Micheal wants him to bend to his will, but Hunter is resentful at the loss of his freedom and of the designation as pet, and resists in any way he can, despite punishments. Michael is persistent, and over months Hunter gradually adjusts to his new life, for the most part. Michael wanted Hunter as a companion, but the physical intimacy Michael craves is not developing as he hoped. Will it come down to who has the strongest resolve for the way the relationship is eventually decided to go? Only time and perseverance, as well as the realization of some self truths on both parts, will decide the outcome.

Two very strong willed men, with different backgrounds, expectations, and sexual orientations, neither willing to back down when at all possible, even though Michael ultimately has the power over Hunter through punishments. The question comes down to can the two work out a power exchange where both can have what they want.

An interesting situation which made me think of Stockholm Syndrome at times. Knowing human trafficking goes on, and people are bought and sold, if you had someone as rich, controlled and strong-willed as Michael, could this be a somewhat realistic scenario if the situation was similar? (I wouldn’t expect anything like this for 95%+ of trafficking victims.)

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[trice (semi ia) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read some really well-written slavefics recently so I wanted to give this a try. But the novel didn't really hit the mark. The characters themselves didn't have much depth to them, so it was hard to see why they liked each other since the chemistry wasn't great either. Besides, Hunter's change from hate to love was really sudden; Michael hadn't done anything special or memorable in particular except from stopping his escape attempt which Hunter shouldn't be happy about to make Hunter like him more imo. So the whole romance part fell flat for me.

Also, after finishing Sold I still have no clue about Michael or Hunter's family and friends except for some vague bits. Side characters could have been included for fresher content, instead of just having Michael and Hunter snipe and hold hands the whole book.

My last peeve is that Michael, at the latter part of the book, was reflecting on his reasons for wanting a slave, and he seemed to be doubting if his choice was right. But he never acted upon these thoughts and the matter was dropped entirely. The author probably wanted to show that Michael still had some morality there, but unfortunately it wasn't wrapped up well.

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

[Nina Diab · Rating 4 out of 5]

'“My name is Michael,” he said calmly. “And I am your owner.” Owner.
Ice spread in Hunter’s veins. But he wouldn’t show that he was afraid. “You don’t own me.” “I paid a lot of money for you,” Michael said.'

'Just the state he was in— sold against his will, wearing a straitjacket, and forced into a collar— made Hunter realize that he was at the mercy of a complete stranger. Michael clearly was a wealthy man, and if he had money, then he surely had power.'

I was glued to the page with this book. It was well written and captivating all at once. We begin with Michael at an auction to buy another human being as a pet and companion. When he catches sight of an attractive young man "unbroken," he's up for the challenge and buys him. Hunter is horrified to find he was sold and collared to a rich and powerful man.

I can't imagine what people in this situation must feel and live through. But this is a romance, and suspending what my feelings for this situation would be in real life, I enjoyed seeing their relationship progress. The dynamic between these two men and how Hunter handled his new life.

'It almost seemed like Hunter had a power that kept Michael on edge, and he liked that Michael wasn’t always in charge.'

This is the first book I've read by this author and I will definitely be reading more. 4 stars.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, this is a morally-grey book, you have to get over the way Hunter came to be in Michael's possession. It's a novel, so it is absolutely acceptable; not at all in real life! Once over this you can start to watch the relationship unfold. Who is the real one in charge. Lots of dynamics, lead by control but overidden by desire and want. Hunter is confused why his body reacts to Michael. Michael is like the all knowing eye, he reads Hunter well; knows him better, almost. All the way through both men are on edge, not quite getting what they really want, it's sexy and a real turn on. There is some intimacy throughout, along with spanking and it is sensual. Michael is a gentleman and is very patient, I wanted them to fully connect sooner, but it would not have been believable. The author kept it feeling authentic and honest. The epilogue jumps and gives us a glimpse of how life has changed for both men. A spin off book would be welcomed so we get a HEA, which wasn't really possible with this story, due to the nature of the relationship and how long it takes for Hunter to adjust. I really enjoyed this book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of this new series is really hot and promising. Hunter is abducted off the street and sold to Michael, a hot billionaire with a need to control his environment. He wants to own Hunter so he knows what to expect from their relationship, but he also wants to spoil him and give him a better life. I know a lot of readers will see this as cover-to-cover noncon, but for those who are able to find nuance in their non/dubcon reads, consent between Michael and Hunter is emphasized throughout the book. I'd call this more forced proximity than noncon, personally, because Hunter is given the choice to be intimate (or not) with Michael for 90% of the book.

I have to say that the thing that disappointed me a little about the book was due to my own expectation, rather than anything the book lacks. I expected Sold to be super smutty and basically erotica, and instead we get a romance told within the framework of a noncon story. It was refreshing to read but I think my expectations were so strong initially that I spoiled the story for myself. If you like slow burn books where the MCs learn to trust each other over time, you will love this book.

The author introduces 2 characters that may be next to buy a boy for themselves: Michael's brother and a business colleague. I would definitely check those books out as well once they're available. I hope his brother is next because 🔥🥵🔥🥵.

Rating: 3.75
Angst: 3.5/5
Steam: 2.5/5

I received an ARC from BookSirens and this is my honest review.

[Anne Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, let me say I got this book from gay romance reviews, and this is me leaving my honest reviews
This book hooked me for all the wrong reasons to begin with because the storyline of a billionaire just buy a human to keep as a pet I found revolting. But I was intrigued how the storyline would go. And I’ve got to say I really disliked Michael at the beginning, but I did change my opinion of him About 3/4 of the way through this book because for all the money he has it can’t bring him happiness. Then you’ve got Hunter who was just stolen off the road taken to Auction house and sold to the highest bidder. The good thing about Hunter was he had sass, he had a backbone and He would tell him exactly what he thought of him, even if that meant a punishment, and I honestly thought Michael bitten off more than he can chew with Hunter, if you’re after a book that is full of passion, this is not the book for you. This is the long story about then finding a connection and about them finding each other.
Don’t get me wrong I hate the idea of this book because we know it happens out there but this book had me hooked and I so wished for good things for Hunter and you know what I think he got that.

[Janice Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was dark, but oh so steamy. It was hard to wrap my head around the darkness behind the desire to literally own someone. The rich man Michael went specifically to the auction to purchase another person and he happened to become enamored of Hunter simply because he knew Hunter would challenge him. But Michael wanted Hunter’s complete and utter submission. This book is more than D/s; it goes beyond that dynamic because ultimately, the power lies with the submissive. But Hunter has no power in this relationship. However, Michael does want Hunter to consent to a physical relationship. But when Hunter finally consented, it was him saying yes within a prison that was not of his own choosing, which is what I had a problem with. Hunter is free to come and go, but he will never be free of Michael. The story was well written and the reader may sympathize with Michael, but you must realize that this story is a fantasy, and nothing is worth the irreparable harm to an individual who becomes the victim of sex trafficking. With that said, I did enjoy reading this story, but I would have preferred the scenario of an owner/slave within the realm of BDSM because there is a contract and no one is truly owned.

I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had so much potential, but I don’t think it quite lived up to it. There was an interesting premise with Hunter being bought by Michael, but that was where it ended.

The whole book revolved around the growing relationship between Hunter and Michael, but other than watching their dynamics change, nothing much really happened. Maybe it’s because I’ve been spoiled by dark romances and their third act twist before the end, but this just didn’t have that. Don’t get me wrong, I liked what I read, but I wanted something a bit more than what we got. There wasn’t really a plot beyond the pair’s relationship, and even that was stretched.

For me, it took too long for Hunter’s opinion of Michael to change and I felt that when we got to the epilogue, we flew forward in time and they were much more settled. We missed all the stuff that happened between the final chapter and the epilogue that led them to that point, and I was a bit sad about that. However, if everything went the same way the rest of the book did, we probably didn’t miss out on much. It just felt a bit disjointed - certainly not a conventional HEA.

I will say that the spice was decent, even if we had to wait until right at the end for the main event. But even so, it was decent and I can’t deny that Ace Fawn can write some steamy scenes with lots of tension. Unfortunately, the rest of the book was just a bit lacking for me.

[Theresa Derwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not completely sold on the D/s dynamic

SOLD
RICH MEN BOOK ONE
ACE FAWN

Michael Kreed - rich, arrogant and entitled - is looking for the perfect pet.
He attends an illegal auction and bids, then wins, young Hunter who was kidnapped off the streets by the sellers.
He's angry, rebellious but Michael believes he's a natural submissive.
I'll be honest, I wasn't a hundred percent sold on 'Sold'.
I've read a few kink books around captivity and D/s dynamics but despite technically getting some areas right, I felt an emotional disconnect through reading.
Yes there are steamy scenes and kink scenes however it was much more of a tell than show
We never quite understand Michael's motivations.
However when we meet a character called Skyler half way through, that person felt more 'real' and solid as a protagonist.
It's not a bad book and I'm sure many readers will enjoy it, but I didn't feel invested in these characters.
It's got some heated scenes, a little action and morally grey main character in Michael, but for me it reaches about a three star rating.

[Kesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooh, this book is intense! Sold is so different from what I've ever read, in a good way. Michael buys Hunter in an auction to be his pet. He loves his feistiness, that he's not easy to tame. Hunter's past is a mystery, and Michael's an enigma also.
The way we gradually get to know the truth and their true personalities is so satisfying. There are many masterfully written aspects to their dynamics. I like that there is room for interpretation: did Hunter really discover his true sexuality, or did he cave in and just accept his new life? It is an intense, spicy story with multi-dimensional characters. But the writing seems off, with strange word choices. It feels like two authors are writing the book. The writing flows smoothly for paragraphs, and then suddenly, it's like English isn't the author's first language. That's why I have to reduce my rating to 4 stars.
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Andrea Smedley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is billed as a dark romance but didn't really read like one. I felt perhaps the author got scared of going too far into dark territory. The premise is dark - Hunter is kidnapped off the streets and sold at auction to Michael, who wants a pet. But then Michael basically decides to woo Hunter to fall in love with him, so this turns into a fairly slow burn romance. Michael and Hunter are quite one dimensional so it was hard to get involved in the story. The author doesn't go into detail of Hunter's kidnapping or what happens to him before he's sold, so the opportunity to understand what he's been through and empathise with him is lost. I didn't really understand what the author was trying to achieve here.

[Ida Umphers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is dark, intense and thought provoking. We have one character who has been kidnapped and sold at an auction and one who has purchased a human being and this is the story of what happens between them. There are stories which use this trope that completely envelop you in the world and you feel for both characters despite how strange that sounds and at some point, the dynamic changes from captor/captive to something else. This one never did that for me, so it was incredibly interesting to be able to stand back and analyze how the story was organized and what Michael in particular used as his rationale. That rationale and Hunter's fierce struggles to regain his freedom made the ending one I'll think about for a long time. This one changed the way I think about this trope.

[Joy Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of us know that sex trafficking exists, but most of us pretend it is a problem that would never affect us. This story explores a highly sanitized but nevertheless frightening idea of a handsome young man being snatched off the street and sold across the country as a sex slave. Now our boy was an extremely fortunate victim who landed with a man who wanted to "tame" him rather than break him. He was not abused or mistreated. Apart from the lack of freedom, he undoubtedly eventually led a far more comfortable life in captivity than he would have if left on his own. Still, the story is disturbing. How many of us are living lives so disconnected from others that we could disappear without people noticing until it is much too late to be traced?

[Rannveig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes I crave a book on the darker side and this book had elements I like in these, especially kidnapping and forced proximity. There’s parts that’s a little disturbing, but the overall story is well told and I liked it.

The character development are mostly good for both MCs in the story and it stays true to the storyline. There’s however elements in the book that could have been better for me, and made it a 5 star and not 4, and that is how the power dynamic between the MCs develop in the story. I’d liked it done differently, but that’s my personal taste as a reader.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kirsty McCracken · Rating 3 out of 5]

4.57 on CAWPILE
2.5*
Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC in exchange for my review.

Honest opinion? This was fine. I didn't love the writing style but that's a personal preference so somewhat irrelevant. All in all, it just wasn't overly engaging for me - I just didn't connect to the characters. However, I liked that this didn't take the traditional dark romance, Stockholm syndrome route, it wasn't outright abuse either.
I'd have liked the plot better if one of the main characters didn't come across so childish (at least to me) and that kept pulling me out of any moments the story managed to pull me into.

[Kathreadsall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this non-consent m/m romance from author Ace Fawn!

This is definitely non-con, with Hunter being sold as a slave to super-rich Michael as a "pet". However, except for one time with a taser, this steps away from using violence to force things, and more towards Stockholm syndrome/emotionally manipulating someone into a relationship. I preferred this to violence, and I enjoyed this book, but it's definitely not for everyone. Michael basically tries to spoil Hunter into liking him...and it works? I had a good time, though!

The steam is mostly at the end, so it's kind of a slow burn non-con, but it was a quick read and I enjoyed the ride.

[Casey H · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very different than a lot of human auction books. You typically get human slavery and torture but this book has a different vibe. Hunter is kidnapped and sold at auction to Michael which sounds horrific but as you get into the book you get the story inbetween. Hunter had a terrible and lonely life. Few friends, no family, and little money. He had no one to miss him and not a good life to lwave behind. Michael offered companionship and a relationship and not something more sinister. He wanted an equal partner. At first it felt a little Stockholm Syndrome to me but I'm glad I stuck with it and ended up really enjoying the book.

[Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a different human trafficking story. Michael buys Hunter at an auction. Michael is beyond wealthy and really wants a relationship more than a slave.
Hunter wants his freedom but the more he is around Michael the more he considers what freedom might be. Maybe he isn’t so sure what he wants.
I’m not sure that this hit me as a really dark story other than the trafficking part. I thought the author did a good job of making this story more out of the box with a different take on what being bought entails. I’m not sure that in this case Michael might be the one suffering more.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars for me. If you are looking for a lighter dark book this could be it. While I enjoyed the story it needed to be a little darker for my taste. Hunter was kidnapped & drugged than sold in an auction. Michael is the rich man who bought him. Michael is looking for someone to take home & be a companion. Hunter was his choice. The story had a lot of potential & the author is new to me. What fell flat for me was that Michael had Dom characteristics but when he used them IMO he didn't go far enough with them. I am voluntarily leaving this review.