The Orchid and the Lion

Orchid and the Lion #1

by Gabriel Hargrave

Dorian Vidales left his cushy but constrictive life on Earth behind to become the star femme Dom at a space station brothel. Convinced that love makes people stupid and will ruin everything he’s worked so hard for, Dorian remains happily married to his career. But when Laith Ritter, a gorgeous trans man, is hired at the brothel and Dorian gets roped into training him as a sub, he’ll find it hard to follow his own “don’t get attached” rule.

At first, having a bratty, inexperienced live-in sub is more chaos than he expects, but it soon becomes everything he could never admit he needed. As he trains Laith, Laith helps Dorian find himself outside of his high-strung, overly controlled work persona. With their relationship growing more and more serious, Dorian realizes this is what was missing in his otherwise glamorous life.

But amidst the glitz and glamour of the space station—a haven for people otherwise disenfranchised by Earth’s Purity Laws—trouble is brewing. When a pro-Purity politician gains power and begins pushing her political agenda, Dorian and the man he’s falling in love with will be thrust into a dangerous fight to keep the station free. The trials they face will test their burgeoning romance and change their lives forever.

The Orchid and the Lion is a kinky, sensual novel about love, self-acceptance, and fighting for what you believe in.

Genres: Romance, Queer, BDSM, Science Fiction, M M Romance, LGBT, Transgender

ebook

First published October 12, 2021

About the author

Gabriel Hargrave is a disaster queer and trans man who lives in Omaha, NE, with his cat, Regina Dentata. Despite saying he'd never write erotic fiction, he discovered that he loves it and is surprisingly good at it.

When not writing about fellow disaster queers, he's either reading, playing TTRPGs, or on Twitter. He has, as you can tell, a rather exciting life.

Reviews

[M.E. Aster · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Orchid and the Lion is a genre bending book that I truly can’t compare to anything else.

When I first picked this up, I thought it was going to be an erotic romance, which it was, but it was also so much more than that. Hargrave has created a universe all his own with this story, mixing elements of politics, murder mysteries, sci-fi, and yes there is a lot of romance as well.

I was so impressed with the setting. Having the plot take place on a space station instantly had my attention and I was interested in seeing how Dorian and Laith lived in this futuristic world.

Also the incredible way Hargrave portrayed sex workers was such a breath of fresh air. It was wonderful seeing happy, healthy sex workers both at work and also outside of their job.

The characters were also spot on. Dorian and Laith were fully-fledged people that I loved (where can I get a Laith?) and sometimes wanted to shake (DORIAN!) And it’s always a plus seeing a trans character in any story and I really adored Laith.

Overall I loved this book. It was very unique and well written. Hargrave has a great voice and I can’t wait for the sequel!

[Maxime Jaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been a joy to read from start to finish. Sex workers presented in a positive light, safe and consensual sex and BDSM scenes, characters who breathe life and love evolving in a heart-throbbing plot. Gabriel's book is like a box of chocolate you eat without looking, always surprised by the next delicious flavor which bursts in your mouth.
Hot, sexy, horny, and endearing, it was a binge read for me.
A particular soft spot for Kenny amidst all the great characters.
I can hardly wait for the sequel!

[Jun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have so many things to say about this BUT I JUST FINISHED AND WHERES THE REST OF IT????!!!!! I won’t be able to sleep after that ending, what the fuck

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sex work and kink meets political intrigue? Going into this book I was nervous because neither of these are genres I typically read much of, but really wanted to give this a try after seeing so many glowing reviews for OatL and the new sequel novel! Hargrave's writing did not disappoint! I adored reading about all of the workers of La Vie Boheme and seeing the political plot unfold alongside the relationship development of the main characters. Speaking as someone entirely uneducated in the world of bdsm, the d/s elements were so well-negotiated and beautifully written and therefore felt safe yet so sexy throughout the entire novel. This served as great introduction into reading about this type of dynamic for me. The most impressive aspect of this book is, in my opinion, the magnificent representation and portrayal of queer people and sex-work.

I fell in love with Dorian, Laith, and Kenny and cannot wait to read more of them in the sequel, The Lion and the Dahlia. This debut novel from Gabriel Hargrave was one of the best debuts I've ever read and I will absolutely be reading more of his works in the future.

[Chris Zable · Rating 4 out of 5]

11 pm: Spouse: "Don't stay up too late!" Me: "Yeah, I'll come soon."
Midnight: Oh, I'll just read one more chapter.
1 am: Puts book down to brush teeth, run dishwasher and go to bed.
1:15 am Picks up book again
2:00 am finally goes to bed.

Yeah. It was like that.

It's an indeterminate time in the future and the Purity Laws have made Earth a crappy place to be other than cis/het/allo/monogamous -- but freedom prevails on the James Baldwin space station. Our POV character is Dorian, a femme cis male dominant sex worker; he gets assigned to train novice sub Laith (trans male).

Laith and Dorian both catch FeELinGs and there's a lot of political intrigue and a mystery to detect. It's a whole lot going on, and I did occasionally get confused about what was happening or who someone was. But the whole thing is quite compulsively readable and I definitely enjoyed it.

Because of the sex work framing, it contains a wide variety of sex acts practiced by people of all kinds of genders, in duos, trios, and quads -- more sexual variety than I can remember seeing in any other novel.

Recommended for sure.

[Corinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounding up to four stars. The first 70% of this book was quite good for an indie debut. It was noticeably indie though - almost fanfic-like. And it became more obvious in that last 30%, almost like the author and his betas ran out of steam for editing. But ultimately, so much of this worked for me even though it has a lot of stuff I don't normally read (i.e., fantasy/sci-fi, erotic romance, BDSM). The author's character work is great and he created a very cool sense of place. And the way sex work was centred and portrayed was really good. Ultimately, this was a compelling story with interesting characters that kept me engaged despite lacking polish. I will definitely read the next one when it come out.

[X]

This started so strong! But around halfway through, the stakes just dropped out of the romance plot, and the mystery/political plotline took an unrealistic turn.

DNF @ 57% so I’ll be talking about the book through that point.

I loved the worldbuilding - a perfect balance between gritty dystopian and fun. Earth countries have all passed Purity Laws that are the kind of TERFy, homophobic stuff we’re sadly already familiar with, but Dorian, the protagonist, lives on a space station which is a neutral ground where queerness is totally accepted and sex work is legal. Dorian is loving his life as a semi-celebrity sex worker at a lucrative brothel with great coworkers, but he’s totally career-focused. Enter Laith, someone Dorian meets and flirt-argues with who then (of course!) gets hired at the brothel. At first, they have a fun, bickering chemistry. At the same time, Dorian’s longtime client dies under mysterious circumstances which may be linked to efforts by a local politician who wants to get Purity Laws imposed on the space station as well. The client’s daughter asks Dorian to investigate, setting up an interesting mystery plotline which Laith might just be connected to as well…

Unfortunately after a strong start, things went downhill.

First of all, at 50% or so Dorian is suddenly ready to commit after being totally against it for the entire book up until this point. He goes from would-never to let’s-put-a-label-on-it in half a chapter? It just doesn’t make any sense for the character. And once Dorian and Laith have officially gotten together, there is no longer any tension to the romance plotline. Since that, there have already been multiple scenes where Dorian’s friend says “I know it’s hard for you to admit but you’ve got something real there” and as the reader I’m just confused because… it’s not hard for Dorian to admit? At least not post-50% Dorian. Pre-50% Dorian sure, but that guy has had a slight personality transplant.

And on top of that, the gritty dystopian sci fi setting from the first half turns almost slapstick-y? Dorian and Laith decide to do a heist while at the evil politician’s office for a campaign event. Despite an earlier scene which seemed to imply the person who attended the event at the office would need to blend in, Dorian (who is very recognizable as a celebrity who has clashed with this politician before!) and Laith easily sneak in and find a magic evidence laptop. And then Dorian FULLY strips down so they can have loud sex on the evil politician’s desk. And then they get caught. I’m sorry, but if you are so dumb you take off your entire bodysuit to have very conspicuous sex with your bf WHILE breaking and entering… well, let me just put it this way - incompetence is not sexy! After all this stuff in the first half of the book about the trauma these characters have gone through on Earth and the stakes of what this conservative politician is trying to do at the space station, this whole sequence is basically treated as a joke. A very odd shift in tone.

And then the cop is so chill and queer/kink-friendly - and magically old friends with both of them from unrelated things - that he tells them they’re free to go and he’ll lie and say they escaped AFTER they’ve already been apprehended, taken to the station, and the laptop they found has been booked as evidence?? You just can’t have ALL of those things be true at once. It goes beyond the point of believability.

Look, if this cop is a good guy and cops are chill here on this space station then you can’t have the cop casually say he’ll lie on record to cover up what is, literally speaking, a crime. You’ve just written yourself into a situation where you’re pro-unethical/criminal cops as long as it personally benefits you or people you like. That’s… bad, and totally unnecessary from a story perspective. And if you wanted some kind of noir thing where the cop’s like “I’ll look the other way because it’s you, kid” and corruption is endemic… sure, I guess go for it but then this space station isn’t exactly the paradise you’ve made it out to be. You really can’t have it both ways.

But ultimately I DNFed because the book committed a cardinal sin - writing a boring sex scene. :( Because the stakes are gone from the romance plotline, the sex scenes started to feel more about checking off items on a list (not helped by the fact that the sex plotline’s premise is technically… checking off items on a list).

Basically I think this book falters in the execution once you start the second half. Ultimately a pacing/tonal consistency issue, and per Goodreads it seems like this is the first full-length book by this author so having those types of issues isn’t surprising.

But hey, what I liked, I really liked! I would try something else from this author for sure. I just have no desire to finish this one.

[Denise Ruttan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review also on http://dnruttan.com

Since writing more of my own fiction, I find it difficult to read for pleasure anymore. I’m constantly analyzing books like a writer, studying their literary qualities and what I can learn from them for my own writing, and I’m often hyper-critical. As a result it is rare these days for me to fall head over heels for a book anymore. I miss those innocent, halcyon days.

Enter “The Orchid and The Lion” by Gabriel Hargrave. I am absolutely, positively smitten with this book. I devoured it from beginning to end. I loved everything about it, even the present tense narration, which is one of those literary elements that people love to hate (for some reason I’ve never understood. If it serves the story, and it’s edited well, why not?). This book is a writer’s pleasure read. What’s more, I rarely read erotica. I certainly don’t seek it out. I’ve even had it on my list of taboo genres for years; you know, stuff you just don’t care to read, you don’t enjoy it, you don’t get it.

I didn’t seek out this self-published book but I’ve enjoyed interactions with the author on Twitter. I find a lot of my favorite self-published books on Twitter; not because I think tweets are fiction, or representative of anyone’s writing; but you learn a lot about an author’s sensibilities, what details they notice and think are important to include in their documentation of their day, how they see the world. From the excerpts I read I knew it would be my kind of book. Literary erotica set in space. Queer sex workers. Political intrigue. Reading this book felt like every chapter was a treasure. I even enjoyed the sex. Believe me, there’s a lot of it, and it’s explicit. Usually that’s something I glaze over, and often find cornily done, but in this case, I loved it.

“The Orchid” is the stage name for Dorian Vidales, the most fabulous femme gay man working at a brothel on a space station. Back on Earth, Purity Laws have restricted the freedom of LGBTQ and marginalized people to express themselves as they are, so people escaped to this space station and built the world they wanted to live in. Dorian isn’t looking for a relationship; he is married to his job and boyfriends inevitably become jealous and want him to give it up. One day Dorian meets Laith Ritter, a gorgeous, bratty trans man who becomes “The Lion,” the newest sex worker at the brothel. Dorian’s assigned to train Laith in the ways of being a sub. But Dorian never expected to fall for him so hard. Neither did I.

This book is just beautiful from front to back. I loved the power of the present tense; it dropped you with immediacy into the worlds of Laith and Dorian. So often self-published books are full of typos and grammatical inconsistencies, but there was absolutely no tense switching in this book; it was seamless. Usually people don’t like present tense, I feel, because it is usually poorly done. Not so here.

But it was the characters I really fell in love with. I enjoyed the sex scenes because I loved the respectful, inclusive and loving depictions of queer love. I obviously need to read more queer erotica, but like I said, I’m extremely picky. I don’t like being this way but it is what it is. I suppose if I were to have any criticism of this book I would say sometimes it was so respectful that I want Dorian to, ahem, abuse Laith a bit more without asking permission first, although I know that is a stereotypical perception of BDSM relationships. He was just so dang courteous. Eventually that settled into the comfort of knowing someone well and the awkwardness fell away.

All in all, this hidden gem of a book was a hot, kinky, gorgeous celebration of queer love, sex work and people who just want to be accepted for who they are, with a dash of literary veneer. Highly recommend.

[Estella Mirai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dorian, aka the Orchid, leads a pretty good life as a sex worker on a space station, far from Earth’s Purity Laws—or so he thinks. When his boss asks him to train new employee Laith, aka the Lion, Dorian finds himself caught up not only in a murder mystery and a political upheaval, but also, and perhaps most unexpectedly, love.

This book is genuinely the very, very best of what indie should be. It combines genres flawlessly—part romance, part erotica, part mystery, part drama. It walks a beautifully fine line between giving the reader into an escape where all forms of sexuality and gender expression are welcomed and celebrated, while also addressing some very real issues of intolerance. It gives us a brilliantly developed sci-fi world, while following a plot that’s more erotic suspense. And I genuinely adored every word of it.

Both Dorian and Laith are well-developed, complicated characters, and so are the many other clients and friends and lovers and enemies that populate their world. As someone who often has trouble remembering who is who with a cast of characters this size, the fleshing out of each member of the larger ensemble was definitely appreciated. I really felt like I knew each of them—especially the main couple—and was rooting for their happiness (with the obvious exception of a few undesirables!).

I want to say that I especially enjoyed the erotic aspect of this, and I enjoyed it as someone who... does not particularly enjoy sex? Now obviously, you might be coming at it from a different perspective, but these sex scenes were just EXQUISITELY written in that they manage to both titillate and to develop the characters through their interactions with one another. This is especially true for Dorian and Laith as their relationship grows along with Laith’s sexual experience, but also for Dorian’s encounters with various clients who later develop into friends and allies. This is probably the best example I’ve ever read of sex scenes that ARE hot, but that don’t exist solely for the PURPOSE of being hot. They’re very much a part of the story, and also just a fascinating window for me into the world of kink.... which is something I support, but am not personally into. I actually really, really enjoyed sort of getting to learn about it, not only in the technical sense but also to gain an understanding as to why and how certain things were enjoyable to other people, even if they might not be to me, through the eyes of the incredibly diverse cast of characters.

This was also an extremely well written and well edited book. The story flowed smoothly, and I enjoyed seeing the characters grow on the page.

I might gripe JUST A LITTLE about the way it ended (not REALLY a cliffhanger but very much a TO BE CONTINUED).... but honestly, I know there’s at least one more book on the way, and I’m excited to read it, so the author probably achieved exactly what he was going for there as well. I’m definitely hooked on these characters and this world, and am excited to continue on their journey!

[Oleander Plume · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabriel Hargrave wrote a story that grabbed me from the first paragraph and kept me hooked until the end, which is no easy task these days.

Allow me to explain:

I had a brainstem stroke a year and a half ago, and reading has turned from a joy to a struggle, and a painful one at that. Because of this, a book needs to be HELLA DAMN GOOD to keep me turning pages.

The Orchid and the Lion is HELLA DAMN GOOD.

The characters are written with the care and respect they deserve. The story is unique and well told. Some sci-fi/fantasy authors go overboard with the world building and the plot gets lost. Not here. Gabriel Hargrave kept the plot tight.

Speaking of tight, I need to mention the sex scenes. (Oh boy, that sounded a lot funnier in my head.) The erotic moments in this book are HOT. Now, I don’t usually read sub/Dom erotica, because for me it can be triggering. But the author treated the characters with such love, such care, such RESPECT, well, for me, it just made each sexy interlude that much steamier. (Fellow erotica authors – never forget: CONSENT IS SEXY!)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the sequel! (Write faster, Gabe!!)

[Jasper H · Rating 1 out of 5]

i really cannot understand why this book has so many five star reviews. i had to stop at 80% because the sexual assault content was too triggering, it sickened me. no one seemed to acknowledge the multiple sexual assaults that happened in this book, and the MC's trauma was brushed off as him being unreasonable. the scenes where he felt pressured to have sex that made him miserable for the sake of his new partner were nauseating. this book did NOT show good consent and i'm frankly disgusted that people have overlooked the abuse rampant in this narrative under the veneer of sex positivity. this book was not sex-pos, at all. as a former sex worker i am extremely disappointed in everything that happened after the 50% mark

[Rory Michaelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things I don't usually read:, erotica, romance, dystopian, sci-fi, and mysteries. The Orchid & The Lion uses colours of all of those palettes in varying degrees, so when I first started reading, I was unsure if I'd connect fully with it. How quickly I was proven wrong.

This wonderfully genre blending story works so well because Hargrave is absolutely writing all of those elements, but the heart of the story is people. Every theme and plot thread plucked on is carefully attached to a human and their experiences, their desires, or their trauma--often all three at once. The sex is graphic and includes kinks aplenty, but even that is anchored and compelled by trust and interpersonal connection at every juncture, giving a literary style that makes everything feel smooth and attached to the bigger picture. Rarely is a couples power dynamic so well demonstrated, but the sex scenes between main characters in contrast with the conflict from the main plot--an almost noir style politically motivated dystopian murder--does this beautifully, making me wonder why more authors don't include sex scenes to expand on not only the intimate but complex dynamics of characters relationships. The romance (yes, seperate and different from the sex) is excellent, balancing doubt, trust, communication, and monogamy issues into everything else is quite an achievement, but it's done so adroitly it feels light and obvious. The pacing is excellent, the plot propulsive, the dialogue natural, and character development clear. Characterisation is brilliant and the representation of diverse identities absolutely laid bare, making it easy for anyone to relate to but also absolutely the home of comfort characters for people who share identities with those in the story.

This story is fun, interesting, and very accessible. You don't have to be an erotica/romance/sci-fi/dystopian/mystery reader to love it, because those elements here create a more complete and deeper piece of art in a story brought to life by the vivid, relatable, and beautifully disastrous souls inhabiting it, so what's not to love?

[✨Meli the bookworm✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book basically went like this: Meli reads the CW thoroughly. Meli is cool with them. Meli is having a MARVELOUS time with book. Meli gets to the 80ish% mark, and because Meli has the attention span of a goldfish and had completely forgotten the very detailed CW list she had read, Meli stops in her tracks...
"Excuse me, kudos to the chef, but I would like to return this serving of extremely well done character's PTSD I don't recall ordering with my steamy pro sex workers and kink celebration erotica plate"😅

Jokes aside, I came for the sexy times and got that and so much more. This is way wittier, funnier and, pleasantly, packed with so much more social critique and depth than I had anticipated. Excited to read what's next for Dorian, Laith, Kenny, Peter and entire gang from La Vie Boheme.

[A.E. Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book! Dorian and Laith are both well-developed, realistic characters and their relationship was entirely believable. I laughed with them, got angry with them, and feared for them as the story unfolded. The political intrigue woven into this romantic story kept me wanting more and I was truly sad when I reached the end. I'm very happy there's a sequel in the works. Truly looking forward to reading more from this author!

[Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger warning: Sex work, sexual assault, PTSD, anti-sex work ideologies, kink, Dom/sub, mentions of transphobia, mentions of homophobia, mentions of whorephobia, brief violence, death, mentions of suicide, and off-page sexual assault

This work was the first erotica novel I've read and it was very good! I loved the idea of a world where all kink and sexual identities are accepted, at least by some people.

[Melinda Heyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous!

This wonderful book pulled me in from the start and kept me hooked to the final word. There was just so much to love about this book. Sex positive, kink positive, sex worker positive, body positive - just amazing. The full cast of characters and their relationships were beautifully drawn, flaws and all, and the political sub-plot kept me guessing all the way through. Just an all round great read. I am greatly looking forward to the sequels!

[Ellen V · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up to 5

This book feels especially important right now with everything going on with the anti-trans legislation in the US as the main characters are literally fighting purity laws. The characters also felt so real in that they were complex and flawed, even if they sometimes made me want to chuck my kindle across the room. 💕

[ila · Rating 5 out of 5]

rating: 4.5 stars rounded up
everyone say thank you to this book for getting me out of my reading slump!! anyways i really enjoyed this book. the characters and plot were >> the authors writing left me wanting more after every page which made binge reading this very easy. definitely will be looking forward to the next one!

[Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS??? THIS BOOK??????? MY BRAIN IS SWIRLING RN THIS WAS SO???

[Rune Rivers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew politics could be so sexy?

As my personal first introduction to erotic fiction (leave my Wattpad out of this), I could not have been more impressed! Hargrave’s debut novel The Orchid and the Lion is ground-breaking, topical, and - at many times - emotionally stirring.

From page one, Dorian Vidales will steal your heart! His narrative voice is strong, consistent, and he has a huge personality that is magnetic. We learn so much in little pieces about the space station, how work gets done, what kind of people live there, and what’s dealt with on a daily basis at La Vie Boheme. The pacing is amazing and exposition delved into with care so one doesn’t feel suffocated.

Then on, I must admit, it’s really difficult not to fall in love with every character, at least a little bit, because Hargrave does an amazing job of keeping them three-dimensional. A lot of love is put into even side characters and no names feel wasted.

For readers of the queer community like myself, I certainly recommend this. Identities and sexualities are treated with care and respect, right down to non-binary characters. I found the use and discussion of kink to be both eye-opening and educational while also serving its purpose in the erotic portions of this story.

As an individual with family members who suffer from PTSD, there was a bit of realness to one of the characters having a flashback that created some anxiety, but I do feel Hargrave handled this well for story-telling.

All in all, I’d say the only downside is waiting for the sequel!

[S. Rodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

I don't normally read stuff that isn't paranormal but I loved this. It pulled me in and took me away. The sex scenes where hot and the kinky stuff felt real and genuine.
Personally I wasn't interested in what to me was a sub (lol, no pun intended) plot. Politics and baddies and stuff. I just wanted to see the MC's get together and grow their relationship.
But it was all beautifully written.

[Sinnamon Carnelian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a bit of everything. It's kinky, sappy romance, friendships, humor, and has an alien! I loved it and can't wait for the second book.

The way the D/s relationship is explained and handled is worlds better than most books I've read with that aspect. Honestly, I usually steer clear of books with the D/s or BDSM in general after dealing with a fake dom. Most books don't have the details on how the relationship is supposed to work, communication being key, or that it can stop at any moment. Too many books have the 'Dom' ignoring their partner's boundaries or don't stop when safewords are used. That includes a certain popular 'BDSM' trilogy. This book, though, is wonderful and gives a warm fuzzy feeling even through the kinky stuff.

A special shout out to Clinton, the best side character and comic relief.

[hairaimo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, really really well done.
This was my first book that went that deep into kinky intercourse and i was not sure whether or not I would like it but the way it was handled, especially consent wise was incredibly beautiful and made me as a reader also feel safe.
Considering how little representation we have in media and how harmful a lot of it is, I think it is super important to promote books that represent and educate.
This also includes the sex positivity in this book, incredible.

When I say this book not only taught me about kinks but also awakened something in me i M E A N it.

Besides that, this is also a really touching love story and a story about discovering yourself.
Characters that while flawed make you fall in love with them while watching them fall in love and evolve. And not despite their flaws but also because of their flaws. Really well rounded.

All of this spiced up with a little bit of fighting the government and maybe a bit of murder? Sign me up.

[winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars. “Enemies to lovers trans and fem sex workers solve mysteries in a space station” is the coolest premise I’ve heard in a while. And it was both educational and riveting! I wish we could erase all the hype 50 Shades of Gray got, and point it at this book instead. It was written responsibly and beautifully.

I can’t believe this is Hargrave’s debut book! Book 2 can’t come soon enough.

I love so much about the book—the sci fi background, the trans love interest, the kaleidoscope of LGBTQ representation, the short fem Dorian Gray type being the dominant one, the plus size king, the sex work positivity—ugh! it’s just all exactly what I want more of in literature!

Spice: 5/5, seeing as it’s largely set in a space station brothel

[Katherine Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a spicier book than I'd usually read, but it's SO much more than an erotic sci-fi story. The plot is powerful and gripping, covering topics which are not only engaging but hugely relevant to the LGBTQ+ community and beyond right now. The characterisation is excellent - I am in love with Laith - and the enemies to lovers romantic subplot is *chef's kiss*. Go in with your eyes wide open, as it's a very adult book with fairly graphic sexual content, but it is handled extremely well, is relevant to the plot (they are sex workers after all), and doesn't slow the progression of the larger story. Great book - I can't wait for the sequel!

[Shane Blackheart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad I decided to pick this book up! I knew I was into erotic stories already, and while I'm not usually into the other genre this crosses into, I actually really enjoyed it. There may be light spoilers in my review, but nothing too revealing.

The story takes place on a space station that is free from the purity laws enacted on Earth. At the station, life is a utopia for queer people and sex workers, and the brothel La Vie Boheme is one of the most respected, including the face of it, Dorian. Although he's detached and has no room for love in his life, he happens to meet a particularly handsome trans man, Laith, one night at a party, and everything begins to fall apart.

Unfortunately, there is a threat to paradise. There's a candidate looking to gain power and bring the purity laws to the station, and she's got some dark and underhanded methods to make sure this happens...

I fell in love with Dorian, and my heart ached for him for so much of the book. I know he can be cold and mean sometimes, but he has a good heart and I just feel like I could connect with him in some way. He has a lot of walls up, which I can relate to. 'Keep yourself closed off to avoid being hurt,' and sometimes, that can make you into someone not so nice. Underneath though, he just wants to be happy.

I admittedly got so frustrated with Laith sometimes, but that's solely on me. He's definitely a brat, which is just part of his character. Just like Dorian, he was so well-written and I felt like I really got to know the both of them well. Gabriel did such an awesome job of making them unique and keeping them in character, even in some of the most difficult moments that challenged who they both were.

It was so refreshing to read about healthy sex work and kink play. It's so sad to realize, but I've rarely come across a book involving kink play that was written with such care, especially with how the characters emphasized the importance of consent in everything. Safewords, checking up on partners and aftercare, strict rules at the brothel to keep everything safe and well, just so many important things that should be in more books involving this kind of thing. I also learned a lot, myself!

There was a part of the book that left me a little frustrated when it came to a later point in the plot with Dorian and Laith's relationship, and the aftermath of some big drama, but that may just be a case of personal preference. There are just certain things that I'm not a fan of reading when it comes to complications in relationships, but I just simply put the book down for a few to clear my head, and then I dove right back into it.

The book really picks up in action at the end, and I couldn't stop reading it. I just binged the rest of it in one sitting, and I really want to know what happens after all of this!

Gabriel is such an amazing writer, and the mystery that unfolds beneath the evolving relationships of the characters, and the sweet and spicy scenes, really had me intrigued the whole time. It was just so well done, and I look forward to spending more time with Dorian, Laith, and everyone else. I definitely recommend this book if you're into queer erotica, a good mystery, a sprinkling of sci-fi, and some good, healthy views of sex work and kink.

[M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars but I ultimately decided to round down after a few days thinking on it.

This started out really good! It has a great premise that I wish had come on as strong the whole book.

First off, by the time the romance really gets going, it feels like Dorian is way more into Laith than Laith is into him.

There's a specific scene that I want to talk about that really pushed this book down for me.

Eventually, for plot reasons, Dorian decides he needs to make Laith and all his friends hate him (a trope I'm generally not fond of anyway). He does this by "sabotaging" a session with a client that involves himself, Laith, and a coworker of theirs. His "sabotage" is to have a real meltdown over seeing Laith be dommed in front of him by their coworker, something he's struggled with before in the book (even wondering "can doms call red?" to end a scene that becomes too much for them, and, yes, of course they can!! It's not just the sub!). He runs out of the room, sobbing, and this is treated as him being irresponsible and unreasonable. And frankly, that hurt to read. No one thought to check up on him? No one asked him if he was okay? Everyone condemns him for it - he's fired from his job and Laith breaks up with him.

Which begs the question... is this really a good brothel to work at, like it's portrayed? If a worker becomes upset, they can't back out and just refund the client? We see a sex worker abused previously and everyone comes to her aid, so why does no one come to Dorian's? Because he's a dom? It doesn't make sense.

The second thing that bothered me was that Dorian had made it a point that he wanted to be exclusive with Laith; the second Laith breaks up with him, he gets with a woman, and Dorian sees them out in public and has another break down... straight into the arms of a client he mentioned once to really like. Suddenly, he loves this man too. When he and Laith get back together, he insists this man also be part of his life, just as Laith will continue to see this woman he 'really likes'.

I like poly romances, but this felt like it came out of nowhere, almost like the author thought Laith and Dorian weren't kinky enough on their own, so let's add more lovers? Especially when Dorian had made a point to ask Laith that they be exclusive? And because it felt like it came out of nowhere, I had no attachment to Dorian's other lover. It felt more like it cheapened Dorian and Laith's love story.

Lastly, Dorian and Laith have to be on a shuttle together for 2 weeks, and by the second weak, Dorian feels like Laith hates him. Yes, you can get frustrated with being around your lover 24/7, but it didn't really ring true, especially to those of us quarantined together for months during a pandemic who managed not to hate each other, lol... anyway, although it was realistic, it just contributed more to the feeling that Dorian was a lot more into Laith than Laith was into Dorian.

Also, the cool atmosphere and plot got cheapened by an antagonist who turned cartoonishly evil about 70% into the book, but it was the things I described above that really soured the story for me.

I probably won't be reading the second book, which is a shame because this one had so much promise.

[Margaret Adelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always up for a queer sci-fi, so when the author was looking for reviewers, I was happy to offer my services!

Dorian as a character was endlessly amusing to me. The sassy femme gay, while it could be misconstrued into an unkind stereotype in lesser hands, is such a fun character archetype when done correctly. And Dorian is definitely all of that. Laith as the newcomer is also very intriguing and multi-faceted, with some big twists coming out about his mental health the last 30 pages of the book that puts so much of his arc into perspective. The two of them have an intriguing chemistry that translates easily into the sex scenes.

As for the steamy scenes, there are a TON of them at what I would classify a higher level than the average spicy book. That is not to say that it's bad or "too much." But if you're used to more simple romances with only a couple steamy scenes between a cis m/f couple, this may take some getting used to. However, if you're all about that spicy book life, go with the gods. You're bound to have fun.

The one issue that I struggled with, and the reason I took off a star, was the narrative's knack for eschewing showing the reader to tell them. I know the "show don't tell" advice can't get a little extreme and obvious an author can't show everything. That would be tedious. But this book had a knack for setting up a scene that would have shown the reader something, then skipping it and telling the reader the info directly. The reader doesn't see the sleazy politician giving a speech at a funeral, you're just told she's sleazy. You don't see the secret documents showing the political collusion, the characters just summarize what they found. Actions and visual details were regularly skipped in favor of giving summaries in the dialogue that took away a lot of the gravitas.

The ending was incredibly giant and definitely upped the stakes considerably. Part of me wishes things had turned to that more quickly. Not that I necessarily like it when crap hits the fan, but it was more tense than any other part of the narrative and I hope it carries into the next book. Seeing as there's a ton of things in the plot to tackle moving forward.

For any queer readers looking into this, I would definitely go in prepared for a lot of discussion on bigotry and homophobia. But all in all, it's a great pick for anyone that loves spicy sci-fi.

[TK Farias · Rating 5 out of 5]

While erotica and romance aren't my usual genres to read, the book hooked me in immediately and I couldn't put it down once I'd started. The world-building is fun and expertly woven into the story so you aren't lost nor overwhelmed as you go; the cast is diverse, memorable, and just so fun to read about (none of that side characters being more interesting or shoehorned in business! Everyone here has a story you'll want to hear about); and the plot is suspenseful with twists at every corner.

There are a couple of times where the Big Plot is mentioned feels a little sudden, but it all ties back in by the end and falls together perfectly, and with a perfect lead-in to the next novel. Hargrave writes characters that are real, respected, and explores dynamics that are impossible not to love. This is a story about perseverance, love, found family, and the very real struggle of the sex work and LGBTQ+ community within a fun new setting.

Impactful characterizations are one of my favorite things to see as a reader, and Hargrave accomplishes making unforgettable characters the are each so unique and individual from each other. Dorian's voice is powerful and convincing; so much so that I found myself wishing I could have a conversation with him at times, to console him or argue with him, or even just tell him he's doing a good job.

I can't wait for the next books, both in this world to get to learn more about it (and see where that end will lead them!), and from Hargrave.

[Meag · Rating 5 out of 5]

A steamy tale with intriguing plot. The MC is Dorian/ Orchid a hardened sex worker/ former Earthian who’s only plan to mix love and work gets messed up when introduced to Laith (a gorgeous name for a gorgeous character) a bratty trans man ex veteran who needs training if they’re going to make it in Space Station Sex Work. The book starts as a steamy-romance with a plethora of sex scenes to this political thriller with murder, crime, conspiracies, and purity laws reminiscent of life in modern Earth. Unique Characters abound from the main characters to the fellow brothel workers to sketchy politicians to the diverse array of customers who give them money (but more often more problems) restaurant-owning humanoids named Frank that look like dildos and have inexplicable NY accents. This book is not what I expected but in a good way.

This book is detailed and breathes life into the characters. One scene I loved was Dorian saluting a statue to the first brothel owner in the space station. Little details like that delivered the most humor in my opinion.

That being said I did find myself struggling during scenes involving the ruthless purity councilperson Wiggins. I found them 2 dimensional at times. I also found the scene *****SPOILER ALERT*****Wiggins shot at Laith to be anti-climatic.

Overall a worthy read.

My favorite line: don’t let others make your their reality.

Well said❤️