What do you think?
Rate this book
Human Rights
After landing in the pound after being abandoned by yet another family, Ewan is convinced he's too old to be adopted out again. For a pet like him, the only fate left is to be put down. But when Sir Jiat—of the City Guard, no less—visits the pound, he goes straight to Ewan. Jiat prefers the more mature pets and treats Ewan better than he's ever been treated by any previous owner. Ewan sleeps at the foot of his master's bed, not on the floor or outside; he is given toys and other pets to play with and plenty of room to run; and he's fed on a schedule and eats very well. But Ewan's love for his master begins to change, to become something else, something more.Plenty of pets have been killed over the years for acting on the feelings that Sir Jiat inspires, so he dares not express the desire building inside him. And yet, Ewan can't help but notice that Sir Jiat has begun to act differently as well, more doting, treating Ewan almost as an equal. So even though the thing he wants more than anything is also their society's greatest taboo, Ewan resolves that if he must die, he will die having felt, just once, the warmth of Sir Jiat's soft fur pressed against his bare naked skin.
142 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
20 people are currently reading
384 people want to read
About the author
S.L. Armstrong
56 books132 followersSupport S.L. Armstrong & K. Piet on Patreon!
S.L. Armstrong has been writing for as long as she can remember. Art and reading have played a large part in her life since young childhood, but around fourteen, writing became her passion. Voraciously consuming every book in front of her opened up hundreds of worlds in her head, and she soon wanted to create worlds for other people as well. She has a particular fondness for gothic horror, horror, high fantasy, urban fantasy, and romance novels. The authors she turns to time and again are Stephen King, L.J. Smith, V.C. Andrews, R.L. Stine, and Anne Rice, among others. She has no shame in picking up the young adult novels she loved as a child, and she will talk your ear off about grammar and punctuation.
After she married her husband over seventeen years ago, she began to truly delve into the world of writing for public consumption. It was sheer chance that she stumbled on M/M fanfiction, and she's not looked back. Though fanfiction will always have a fond place in her heart, she soon grew tired of playing in other people's sandboxes. When she discovered M/M romance, and how it was now a legitimate branch of romance writing, she knew her course. S.L. plans to release F/F, M/M, M/F, and multiple partner books as she continues her writing career. M/M romance is where her heart lies, no matter what else she may write or read, and it's where she keeps returning to. There is something about two men passionately in love that just makes her heart melt, and she has no intention of giving that up anytime soon.
S.L. Armstrong lives in Florida with her husband, partner, two dogs, and twelve cats. She hates the heat and longs for a northern, snowy climate. She writes with K. Piet on a number of projects, but she also writes her own solitary titles as well.
S.L. Armstrong has been writing for as long as she can remember. Art and reading have played a large part in her life since young childhood, but around fourteen, writing became her passion. Voraciously consuming every book in front of her opened up hundreds of worlds in her head, and she soon wanted to create worlds for other people as well. She has a particular fondness for gothic horror, horror, high fantasy, urban fantasy, and romance novels. The authors she turns to time and again are Stephen King, L.J. Smith, V.C. Andrews, R.L. Stine, and Anne Rice, among others. She has no shame in picking up the young adult novels she loved as a child, and she will talk your ear off about grammar and punctuation.
After she married her husband over seventeen years ago, she began to truly delve into the world of writing for public consumption. It was sheer chance that she stumbled on M/M fanfiction, and she's not looked back. Though fanfiction will always have a fond place in her heart, she soon grew tired of playing in other people's sandboxes. When she discovered M/M romance, and how it was now a legitimate branch of romance writing, she knew her course. S.L. plans to release F/F, M/M, M/F, and multiple partner books as she continues her writing career. M/M romance is where her heart lies, no matter what else she may write or read, and it's where she keeps returning to. There is something about two men passionately in love that just makes her heart melt, and she has no intention of giving that up anytime soon.
S.L. Armstrong lives in Florida with her husband, partner, two dogs, and twelve cats. She hates the heat and longs for a northern, snowy climate. She writes with K. Piet on a number of projects, but she also writes her own solitary titles as well.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
November 5, 2014
FOUR HEARTS--"Human Rights" by S.L. Armstrong is an alternate universe novella featuring a society where humans are the pets and animals are the masters. My friend read this book and brought up a great point, how do our pets view their pet owners. I'm a pet owner and I'd like to think my pet would think I was a great owner.
This is a story that made me think a lot about animal rights. The author makes a message about adoption: mutts vs. purebreds, pound vs. breeders, how silly or cruel owners can be. And the best part is that the feline and canines are the rulers or Masters.
The story is told from Ewan's, a 31 year old mutt (who is past his prime), he had 3 owners who did not want him anymore and currently awaits euthanasia. The pets are kept for six months in a pound and if they aren't adopted they can look forward to death.
He's saved by a Jaguar guardsman, Sir Jiat, an official in their society. Ewan has only known abuse at the hands of his previous owners. Sir Jiat is so kind and patient to help defrag Ewan's warped mind. The guardsman has a secret agenda, hence the title.
Jiat works wonders with Ewan, so patient and kind. The Master/pet dynamic really works in this book because their bond and the romance takes time to build. Though this is a short story, it did not read like it to me. Could I have another ten chapters of life after their HEA? Sure could but I won't complain.
Yes, there is sex but this story is more about the relationship. I came to care for Ewan. I got the basics about Jiat but I do not doubt his feelings for Ewan from the start. The two become close which is forbidden in their society but Jiat has a plan. I was not expecting that twist before the end but it was a great one. I got a little nervous there.
I definitely recommend and will be reading more from this author.
What a unique idea.
A copy provided for an honest review.
August 10, 2015
Forbidden love.
If you read this literally, then there's bestiality. Sexual relations between a feline Master and his human pet are thorough and describe relevant physiological differences in genitalia. And while I read diverse materials, I took it as a symbolic difference much akin to old racial arguments wrought from colonialism.
The plot and the argument for an enslaved species' rights is in line with mainstream Western beliefs, the twist is the salacious difference in anatomy during erotic scenes and the fact they were not pushed under the covers or behind closed doors. So, would this upset a person who believed it condoned sexual congress between humans and cats and dogs--yes, but that interpretation is the most simplified one available.
The story is not complicated, but sweet in it's rendering. Ewan, a human mutt has been passed from hands to hands to shelter to hands. An older pet, and less desirable he is lucky when a new owner comes to claim him--Jiat. What happens after is both the intrigue and the romance. So, one analysis of the book is as apologist post-colonial guilt, the other an animal rights argument. By skewing the power balance, Armstrong is pushing the reader to minority/unrepresented viewpoint. Not privy to the author's personal background (and not that interested), I found the latter more compelling by using previous racial argument points.
I like the premise of the story, but I'd have preferred a more intellectually challenging execution--that's me. I agree that it is a discussion we should be having and thus, its existence makes it valuable.
3.5 Stars
Overall, a thoughtful argument made provocatively.
Favorite quote:
~~A copy was provided to me for a No Glitter Blown review~~
~~~Reviewed for Hearts On Fire Reviews~~~
If you read this literally, then there's bestiality. Sexual relations between a feline Master and his human pet are thorough and describe relevant physiological differences in genitalia. And while I read diverse materials, I took it as a symbolic difference much akin to old racial arguments wrought from colonialism.
The plot and the argument for an enslaved species' rights is in line with mainstream Western beliefs, the twist is the salacious difference in anatomy during erotic scenes and the fact they were not pushed under the covers or behind closed doors. So, would this upset a person who believed it condoned sexual congress between humans and cats and dogs--yes, but that interpretation is the most simplified one available.
The story is not complicated, but sweet in it's rendering. Ewan, a human mutt has been passed from hands to hands to shelter to hands. An older pet, and less desirable he is lucky when a new owner comes to claim him--Jiat. What happens after is both the intrigue and the romance. So, one analysis of the book is as apologist post-colonial guilt, the other an animal rights argument. By skewing the power balance, Armstrong is pushing the reader to minority/unrepresented viewpoint. Not privy to the author's personal background (and not that interested), I found the latter more compelling by using previous racial argument points.
I like the premise of the story, but I'd have preferred a more intellectually challenging execution--that's me. I agree that it is a discussion we should be having and thus, its existence makes it valuable.
3.5 Stars
Overall, a thoughtful argument made provocatively.
Favorite quote:
I was so many things, some I didn't even know yet, but the one that followed me into the darkness of sleep was the one I wanted to be most of all: special.
~~A copy was provided to me for a No Glitter Blown review~~
~~~Reviewed for Hearts On Fire Reviews~~~
August 31, 2014
5 stars for this authors ability to put me into the mind of an actual pet. I cried over that shit.
I'm shelving this as DMC because Masters/owners are not supposed to be sexing with their pets, and it kind of falls on the bestiality side of the line any way? Ah well, "Vive la Revolution!"
I'm shelving this as DMC because Masters/owners are not supposed to be sexing with their pets, and it kind of falls on the bestiality side of the line any way? Ah well, "Vive la Revolution!"
December 6, 2014
*Le Sigh*
I could understand that, if you see the cover and read the blurb, your first thought is: Oh yeah, she's reading weird shit again!
But
At least not this time!
In a world ruled by animals and humans as their pets, Ewan is only awaiting death as he is send to the pound again. He is only a mutt, had already had 3 masters and is way too old for finding a new one. This is when Lord Jiat walks in to the pound looking for a new pet.
It blooms a bond between Ewan and Jiat which eventually leads to love. Which, of course, is forbidden.
Yes, literally it's bestiality. But I looked at it as a metaphor for different races. That made it a (bitter-)sweet lovestory.
There isn't a picture perfect HEA for them but a HEA nontheless!
This is such a different and unique story, it gives me a hell of a hard time to review and I still have doubts that I gave the book the justice it deserves.
P.S.: A little warning by the side. Although it's M/M there is a M/F scene. It fits the storie's purpose. But if that's an absolute no-no for you, you should be aware of it, if you decide to read this little gem.
I could understand that, if you see the cover and read the blurb, your first thought is: Oh yeah, she's reading weird shit again!
But
At least not this time!
In a world ruled by animals and humans as their pets, Ewan is only awaiting death as he is send to the pound again. He is only a mutt, had already had 3 masters and is way too old for finding a new one. This is when Lord Jiat walks in to the pound looking for a new pet.
It blooms a bond between Ewan and Jiat which eventually leads to love. Which, of course, is forbidden.
Yes, literally it's bestiality. But I looked at it as a metaphor for different races. That made it a (bitter-)sweet lovestory.
There isn't a picture perfect HEA for them but a HEA nontheless!
This is such a different and unique story, it gives me a hell of a hard time to review and I still have doubts that I gave the book the justice it deserves.
P.S.: A little warning by the side. Although it's M/M there is a M/F scene. It fits the storie's purpose. But if that's an absolute no-no for you, you should be aware of it, if you decide to read this little gem.
August 31, 2014
Ewan's a pet and Jiat is his new owner. It's a sweet read but didn't blow me away.
Want to read
August 10, 2015...yo kinda quiero dis bük
August 24, 2016
Sweet story but nothing new.
Love between master and pet. Forbidden love, slavery....etc.
Ewan and Jiat are lovely :-)
Love between master and pet. Forbidden love, slavery....etc.
Ewan and Jiat are lovely :-)
May 15, 2019
Fun :)
Even though I really enjoyed this book, I felt that given its genre it should’ve been a bit more detailed/built up. Also, while the two MCs got their HEA, I felt like it was missing something or not quite finished. Now this could be just a “me” thing, so there.
Side note for those that this would bother: There is a brief scene between MF, but it is not due to love more to the fact for his (Jiat) pet, Ewan, to experience it.
Even though I really enjoyed this book, I felt that given its genre it should’ve been a bit more detailed/built up. Also, while the two MCs got their HEA, I felt like it was missing something or not quite finished. Now this could be just a “me” thing, so there.
Side note for those that this would bother: There is a brief scene between MF, but it is not due to love more to the fact for his (Jiat) pet, Ewan, to experience it.
September 3, 2014
When I read the blurb for this story I just had to read it ASAP! This is a story that will make you think, especially if you are a pet owner. My heart went out to Ewan. At first I wasn't sure if this was gonna be m/m, it is, but I gotta tell you that there's an m/f scene that is very hot!
Some may be skeeved but the animal sex was hot too!! I can still see Jiat's pointed cock and furry balls in my mind LOL. This books gets 5 stars because it was so ingenious and different. It made me question if my dog is happy with me. She should be. She goes to the doggy park every weekend, sometimes twice in one day. She gets 3 walks a day minimum. Now she's fixed so I wonder if she's pissed that she doesn't get any sex? Hmmmmmmmm?
Some may be skeeved but the animal sex was hot too!! I can still see Jiat's pointed cock and furry balls in my mind LOL. This books gets 5 stars because it was so ingenious and different. It made me question if my dog is happy with me. She should be. She goes to the doggy park every weekend, sometimes twice in one day. She gets 3 walks a day minimum. Now she's fixed so I wonder if she's pissed that she doesn't get any sex? Hmmmmmmmm?
September 1, 2014
I'm conflicted.... on how to rate this...
I waited so long for it and then-- it just feels so left out in the open still. Rushed...
----
Ok, so SPOILERS!!
BEWARE!!
Well, It's not that I didn't like it. I did. Heh, it's a nice world but
But again, I did like this story. I really liked the characters.
So if there is a sequel. I'd be happy to see what happens...
Because otherwise It's just so incomplete.
I waited so long for it and then-- it just feels so left out in the open still. Rushed...
----
Ok, so SPOILERS!!
BEWARE!!
Well, It's not that I didn't like it. I did. Heh, it's a nice world but
But again, I did like this story. I really liked the characters.
So if there is a sequel. I'd be happy to see what happens...
Because otherwise It's just so incomplete.
September 6, 2014
A really enjoyable story about a high ranking Guard, Jiat, and his human pet Ewan who have to try and keep their love for one another secret. It was one of those books that got me thinking, which is always good! I would definitely recommend.
September 7, 2014
This was a really enjoyable read about a sweet pet named Ewan and his loving master Jiat. It really did hit the nail in the head regarding pet owners. There are some that are really great, and some that treat them awful.
I didn't think of the sex between Ewan and Jiat so much as between human and jaguar, but more like between two souls that loved each other. And they did, completely!
I didn't think of the sex between Ewan and Jiat so much as between human and jaguar, but more like between two souls that loved each other. And they did, completely!
August 30, 2014
You know when you really want to read a book and it's not released yet, how more appealing that book is, just because it's unattainable? You tend to hype it up in your head and maybe have unrealistic expectations. Well, this was me with this book, even more as it was postponed for more than a year. So I guess my enjoyment of it dimmed considerably, taking this into account.
It's not a bad book per se ,it's just simplistic and underdeveloped.Maybe because of its 80 pages, although it did not feel short to me.The end came just right, before I became restless with it and dropped it.
The whole reversal of humans as pets for felines and canines was a bit freaky to be honest, just because I felt that the author simply changed the word cat/dog/pet with human.The humans were just like cats, they were in pounds, they played with balls, the chased each other in the sun.....I don't know about you, but I for one could have envisioned easily a human slave to a feline society, without making the human basically a cat in a human body. Or maybe that's just me.
Now for the characters, Jiat was a bit of a let down. He was ok, but kinda bland. I was expecting a larger than life figure, imposing...he was, in my eyes kinda regular. Ewan, our pet behaved exactly like you expected him to, no big surprises there. Not a striking character, but tolerable. I wasn't particularly moved by their love story, but I went along with it.
But, like I said...high expectations and reality don't make a perfect match :) That's why the 3 stars.
P.S.: If you expect this to be along the lines of The Last Pure Human, but on the serious side, don't get your hopes up(guilty)!
April 8, 2015
Despite the author's warning that she didn't think this would be a good read for a lot of people I'm firmly IN the camp of like. I'd actually be interested in seeing more from this world. It was interesting, different, and entertaining.
Some people will immediately think or associate with bestiality but I don't agree with the assessment. More like humanoid furbies with claws. Stop and think about it.. Alien sex.. Aliens that are furry, aliens that have several appendages, aliens that have weird or different genitalia? I use aliens cus that would be the most likely to fit the different bill.
As the blurb says, Humans are the pets. And the treatment... lordie.. certainly makes ya think. Humans are stupid, dumb animals.. oh wait doesn't that remind anyone of the Planet of the Apes? Speaking of reminders....
Also Brought to mind Jade Buchanan's linked series of the Felidae Series and The Pridelands. Anyone that's read this and liked it may want to consider these two series as well unless they've already read them.
I'm sure there will a lot of people on the fence for this.. not all of that will even be about the furriness of one of the MC's. I can say, however, that was worth the wait for me. Everyone else will have to make up their own mind if they are comfortable enough to even GIVE this a chance and then decide.
Some people will immediately think or associate with bestiality but I don't agree with the assessment. More like humanoid furbies with claws. Stop and think about it.. Alien sex.. Aliens that are furry, aliens that have several appendages, aliens that have weird or different genitalia? I use aliens cus that would be the most likely to fit the different bill.
As the blurb says, Humans are the pets. And the treatment... lordie.. certainly makes ya think. Humans are stupid, dumb animals.. oh wait doesn't that remind anyone of the Planet of the Apes? Speaking of reminders....
Also Brought to mind Jade Buchanan's linked series of the Felidae Series and The Pridelands. Anyone that's read this and liked it may want to consider these two series as well unless they've already read them.
I'm sure there will a lot of people on the fence for this.. not all of that will even be about the furriness of one of the MC's. I can say, however, that was worth the wait for me. Everyone else will have to make up their own mind if they are comfortable enough to even GIVE this a chance and then decide.
October 8, 2014
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
I’m going to be honest here. I wanted to like this one more than I did. There’s some really fascinating world building going on here. I loved the way the author took what we know in our reality and flipped it on its ear. The dominant races in this world are humanoid felines and canines, with humans on the lowest rung and kept as pets. Humans are thought to be unintelligent and weak, made to be pets and nothing else. I think Armstrong did a really great job of giving us a detailed and believable world. I loved the underground organization working for human rights, and thought that, overall, this story was a great social commentary.
Ewan was a heartbreaking narrator and I felt for him. He was downtrodden and resigned to his existence. And then came a ray of sunshine in the form of Master Jiat. Ewan was so earnest and determined to be a good pet for Jiat, and I did identify with his struggle. But I just didn’t feel his connection to Jiat. I couldn’t believe the love that he claimed to profess. Perhaps it was because Jiat was his savior, but it felt like hero worship to me, and nothing deeper.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
I’m going to be honest here. I wanted to like this one more than I did. There’s some really fascinating world building going on here. I loved the way the author took what we know in our reality and flipped it on its ear. The dominant races in this world are humanoid felines and canines, with humans on the lowest rung and kept as pets. Humans are thought to be unintelligent and weak, made to be pets and nothing else. I think Armstrong did a really great job of giving us a detailed and believable world. I loved the underground organization working for human rights, and thought that, overall, this story was a great social commentary.
Ewan was a heartbreaking narrator and I felt for him. He was downtrodden and resigned to his existence. And then came a ray of sunshine in the form of Master Jiat. Ewan was so earnest and determined to be a good pet for Jiat, and I did identify with his struggle. But I just didn’t feel his connection to Jiat. I couldn’t believe the love that he claimed to profess. Perhaps it was because Jiat was his savior, but it felt like hero worship to me, and nothing deeper.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
May 15, 2015
I read this book at least a year ago, but just realized I never reviewed it.
It's a good story, and well-written. Clearly, it plays to a certain bestiality-but-not-really kink -- the "animals" are basically humans in every important way, except their faces and fur, and they're able to communicate their desires. Like mpreg, I don't have any feelings one way or another about the kink, so I'm not going to give a mediocre story a pass because it satisfies the kink. I just want a good story.
Fortunately, "Human Rights" IS a good story. I rarely say a novella should have been longer, because I love novellas, but in this case I think I will. The world the author portrays is interesting (if a bit fantastical), and I would have liked a bit more detail. There were hints of heirarchies and other aspects of the culture that could have enriched the story. As it stands, it was occasionally confusing, and the ending felt as if it came out of nowhere. That's not to say I didn't LIKE the ending. I loved it. But it could have been shored up a bit in the earlier part of the story, and as other readers have pointed out, it left a bunch of questions about why Sir Jiat didn't do certain things earlier.
But that aside, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the novella, and I would be interested in reading more about this world.
It's a good story, and well-written. Clearly, it plays to a certain bestiality-but-not-really kink -- the "animals" are basically humans in every important way, except their faces and fur, and they're able to communicate their desires. Like mpreg, I don't have any feelings one way or another about the kink, so I'm not going to give a mediocre story a pass because it satisfies the kink. I just want a good story.
Fortunately, "Human Rights" IS a good story. I rarely say a novella should have been longer, because I love novellas, but in this case I think I will. The world the author portrays is interesting (if a bit fantastical), and I would have liked a bit more detail. There were hints of heirarchies and other aspects of the culture that could have enriched the story. As it stands, it was occasionally confusing, and the ending felt as if it came out of nowhere. That's not to say I didn't LIKE the ending. I loved it. But it could have been shored up a bit in the earlier part of the story, and as other readers have pointed out, it left a bunch of questions about why Sir Jiat didn't do certain things earlier.
But that aside, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the novella, and I would be interested in reading more about this world.
Want to read
September 6, 2014Finally! I've so been waiting on a release date for this book. Wanna read, wanna read.
September 3, 2014
Ok. . . this one made me curious from the photo so had to read it. I found the book to be both well-written and highly readable. It was a quick read for me. Gotta admit it also made me have some teary moments near the end. Okay, so moving on. . .
Bestiality? Zoophilia? (Generally, bestiality means sexual relations and/or rape of animals, while zoophilia means to form an emotional and/or sexual attachment to animals.) I don’t think of this book as either though since they both revolve around sex with an ANIMAL.
What's makes a creature an animal as opposed to a human? The outward form and appearance or the inward attributes? Scholars say that what sets humans apart from animals are "speech, fire, agriculture, writing, tools, imagination, and large-scale cooperation”. By that description, it would seem that Jiat was not an animal despite his outward appearance of an upright walking feline. He was clearly fully able to communicate, understand, consent, and in fact, the society/world this story occupied was created by his species rather than the humans.
So then I guess its sort of cross-species sex. . . like sex with an alien or for that matter a monster, vampire, minotaur, god, shapeshifter, etc.
Bestiality? Zoophilia? (Generally, bestiality means sexual relations and/or rape of animals, while zoophilia means to form an emotional and/or sexual attachment to animals.) I don’t think of this book as either though since they both revolve around sex with an ANIMAL.
What's makes a creature an animal as opposed to a human? The outward form and appearance or the inward attributes? Scholars say that what sets humans apart from animals are "speech, fire, agriculture, writing, tools, imagination, and large-scale cooperation”. By that description, it would seem that Jiat was not an animal despite his outward appearance of an upright walking feline. He was clearly fully able to communicate, understand, consent, and in fact, the society/world this story occupied was created by his species rather than the humans.
So then I guess its sort of cross-species sex. . . like sex with an alien or for that matter a monster, vampire, minotaur, god, shapeshifter, etc.
September 7, 2014
3.5 stars. Great story, lovely world building, very minor errors. Jiat and Ewan were wonderful together in a world turned upside down, where animals are the dominant species and humans are their pets. I was never able to tell whether this was Earth in the far future, or if it is another planet.
Tiny bit of squick factor if you expect Jiat to be endowed like a human male. My biggest problems with the story was first person POV and it's length. I would have loved seeing some of the story from Jiat's POV and a little more of the Colony. A sequel would be nice. *hint, hint*
All in all, a nice read.
Tiny bit of squick factor if you expect Jiat to be endowed like a human male. My biggest problems with the story was first person POV and it's length. I would have loved seeing some of the story from Jiat's POV and a little more of the Colony. A sequel would be nice. *hint, hint*
All in all, a nice read.
September 2, 2014
ETA: why does everyone else seem to love this story? Was there something I missed? Like, the entire plot? Or any plot? And also any sort of character development? Or real characterization, for that matter? Someone let me in on the joke, pleeeaaaase D:
soundbite review: "generic to the point of flat-lining"
I didn't hate it, but I didn't like it either, and frankly, it bored me where it didn't confuse me regarding its premise. Hence, the one-star. YMMV. Clearly, seeing as so far, I appear to be the only one who didn't like this.
The writing is interesting because at first, it tries to lead you to believe that the MC/narrator voice is of a typical animal pet (dog, perhaps? There aren't really pounds for cats) by describing others of its kind as red-furred or whatever, but once the LI's cat-ness is revealed, it abandons that charade.
I get this overwhelming sense of meh about this story because I don't quite have a feel for the MC yet. At times he seems normal and I don't notice anything amiss, but then there are moments where he just seems so belligerently dense that I don't know how to handle it. It's not even counterbalanced by any delicious angsting so my first inclination is to look upon it condescendingly (yes, I know, because I'm an ass). Just...I dunno, it doesn't quite feel genuine, like moments will come up where the MC's subconscious is like, "Oh, yeah, I'm supposed to be a sheltered child sort of figure" so it's not as fully forced-feeling as it could be, but does also feel a bit disingenuous.
Or maybe I'm just an ornery, cynical bastard.
I'm at 50-something percent and rather put upon because the only purring I've seen are references to the MC's lack of ability to do so. Also, how exactly does one kiss a cat? The head shape is completely different, and then there's the matter of the split lip, and does a cat actually have exposed lips?
OH WAIT I SEE IT. THERE'S PURRING. Final-freaking-ly.
It's...well, it's a very placid piece. Shit happens and not all of it makes sense. Like that one scene with the prejudiced Guards. How the hell does the public think Humans are dumb animals? Hasn't it been clearly demonstrated that they can speak? Why is it an "I've read that" moment that they're possible sentient? Has no one bothered to do studies and shit on whether or not Humans speak and/or understand? I mean, we do those sort of studies on rats and primates and other animals. Do Felines/Canines whatever else not have scientists? I mean, Miab seemed to speak to Ewan as if he understood, but maybe that doesn't mean anything. But seriously, I don't get it. It's not even like Humans have a separate language that would make it confusing for the other races and make them think they're dumb animals.
But then...later, these other Guards clearly speak to Ewan, and aren't weirded out when he speaks back, and they have a conversation. A less than civil one, to be sure, but a conversation nonetheless.
Huh. Maybe it's like the white elitism during slavery times. Most people do understand that African Americans were, you know, people with sentience and all that jazz, but then there would be the radical faction that saw them as sub-human and whatnot.
This entire universe makes no sense. Do the not-Humans see Humans as idiots or not? Or maybe they see them as childish by nature? Sentient to a certain extent, but not capable of full intelligence? Maybe that's why they can carry conversations with them, but then "nod at their expected lack of understanding" at the stupidest times.
But then, not really. So I guess like the public secret, the one everyone knows about but pretends doesn't exist (that Humans are fully sentient and all that jazz). ...so, like slavery, but with less physical labor...?
But yeah, the story was...placid. It could have been a big political drama thriller. It could have been more conspiracy fraught with peril and intrigue and tension. Instead it was...
...
...
...placid, is the only word that comes to mind. Even when shit started hitting the fan, it was placid. Finally some shit happens, but we're not told why, which I guess I kind of get since it's from Ewan's POV and of course, no one would bother telling him, but you know, shit from his POV is pretty damn boring. And I dunno, Ewan's very passive. He doesn't do much. The only thing he really does do is implicitly initiate intimate relations, but I still think he more implied and let Jiat take action. But then, implicitly Jiat does stuff, but all we really know he does is meet with a bunch of like-minded people and hang out rebelliously.
That's it. That's why this book was so overwhelmingly meh. The MCs don't do shit. Or we're not told about the shit they do. Or even implicltly told about it. We're told it probably happens, and I guess we have to imagine it ourselves, but as far as the text conveys, nothing really happens. At all. Ever. Which is stupid. And pointless. Gah. Man. I paid 3.99 for a whole bunch of nothing? Boo
Here's the big question, though. Can Humans and Canines/Felines interbreed?
soundbite review: "generic to the point of flat-lining"
I didn't hate it, but I didn't like it either, and frankly, it bored me where it didn't confuse me regarding its premise. Hence, the one-star. YMMV. Clearly, seeing as so far, I appear to be the only one who didn't like this.
The writing is interesting because at first, it tries to lead you to believe that the MC/narrator voice is of a typical animal pet (dog, perhaps? There aren't really pounds for cats) by describing others of its kind as red-furred or whatever, but once the LI's cat-ness is revealed, it abandons that charade.
I get this overwhelming sense of meh about this story because I don't quite have a feel for the MC yet. At times he seems normal and I don't notice anything amiss, but then there are moments where he just seems so belligerently dense that I don't know how to handle it. It's not even counterbalanced by any delicious angsting so my first inclination is to look upon it condescendingly (yes, I know, because I'm an ass). Just...I dunno, it doesn't quite feel genuine, like moments will come up where the MC's subconscious is like, "Oh, yeah, I'm supposed to be a sheltered child sort of figure" so it's not as fully forced-feeling as it could be, but does also feel a bit disingenuous.
Or maybe I'm just an ornery, cynical bastard.
I'm at 50-something percent and rather put upon because the only purring I've seen are references to the MC's lack of ability to do so. Also, how exactly does one kiss a cat? The head shape is completely different, and then there's the matter of the split lip, and does a cat actually have exposed lips?
OH WAIT I SEE IT. THERE'S PURRING. Final-freaking-ly.
It's...well, it's a very placid piece. Shit happens and not all of it makes sense. Like that one scene with the prejudiced Guards. How the hell does the public think Humans are dumb animals? Hasn't it been clearly demonstrated that they can speak? Why is it an "I've read that" moment that they're possible sentient? Has no one bothered to do studies and shit on whether or not Humans speak and/or understand? I mean, we do those sort of studies on rats and primates and other animals. Do Felines/Canines whatever else not have scientists? I mean, Miab seemed to speak to Ewan as if he understood, but maybe that doesn't mean anything. But seriously, I don't get it. It's not even like Humans have a separate language that would make it confusing for the other races and make them think they're dumb animals.
But then...later, these other Guards clearly speak to Ewan, and aren't weirded out when he speaks back, and they have a conversation. A less than civil one, to be sure, but a conversation nonetheless.
Huh. Maybe it's like the white elitism during slavery times. Most people do understand that African Americans were, you know, people with sentience and all that jazz, but then there would be the radical faction that saw them as sub-human and whatnot.
This entire universe makes no sense. Do the not-Humans see Humans as idiots or not? Or maybe they see them as childish by nature? Sentient to a certain extent, but not capable of full intelligence? Maybe that's why they can carry conversations with them, but then "nod at their expected lack of understanding" at the stupidest times.
But then, not really. So I guess like the public secret, the one everyone knows about but pretends doesn't exist (that Humans are fully sentient and all that jazz). ...so, like slavery, but with less physical labor...?
But yeah, the story was...placid. It could have been a big political drama thriller. It could have been more conspiracy fraught with peril and intrigue and tension. Instead it was...
...
...
...placid, is the only word that comes to mind. Even when shit started hitting the fan, it was placid. Finally some shit happens, but we're not told why, which I guess I kind of get since it's from Ewan's POV and of course, no one would bother telling him, but you know, shit from his POV is pretty damn boring. And I dunno, Ewan's very passive. He doesn't do much. The only thing he really does do is implicitly initiate intimate relations, but I still think he more implied and let Jiat take action. But then, implicitly Jiat does stuff, but all we really know he does is meet with a bunch of like-minded people and hang out rebelliously.
That's it. That's why this book was so overwhelmingly meh. The MCs don't do shit. Or we're not told about the shit they do. Or even implicltly told about it. We're told it probably happens, and I guess we have to imagine it ourselves, but as far as the text conveys, nothing really happens. At all. Ever. Which is stupid. And pointless. Gah. Man. I paid 3.99 for a whole bunch of nothing? Boo
Here's the big question, though. Can Humans and Canines/Felines interbreed?
January 8, 2015
I loved this. It made me feel a range of emotions, especially dealing with the treatment of the intelligent, sentient humans as dumb, oft abused pets. It made me not only reflect on animal rights, but also on the many versions of social inequality we perpetrate on each other, no matter the specific reason. This book transporting me into the eyes of the abused. And while it was sometimes sweet how innocent the pets were (the ones whose masters were part of the Human Rights movement), they (we all) are obviously not just beasts to be abused.
"I would go into that darkness loving Jiat, and that was mine, too. My love and my name, mine. The only two things I'd ever owned in my life."
I also loved the slow build of love and caring between Ewan and Jiat. It is not about zoophilia, or even the sex, but about two sentient beings falling in love and finding a way to keep that in a society that prohibits it on penalty of death.
I was drawn in from page one, and the intrigue of this world did not stop for a second. Very good story, definitely recommended.
"I would go into that darkness loving Jiat, and that was mine, too. My love and my name, mine. The only two things I'd ever owned in my life."
I also loved the slow build of love and caring between Ewan and Jiat. It is not about zoophilia, or even the sex, but about two sentient beings falling in love and finding a way to keep that in a society that prohibits it on penalty of death.
I was drawn in from page one, and the intrigue of this world did not stop for a second. Very good story, definitely recommended.
August 31, 2014
Interesting story set in a world where humans are the pets to animals. But these animals are biped and seem to be very human like. The animals in the book didn't seem to have any personality characteristics of their animals. But it was a good book and a great story. I expected some more BDSM aspects but to be honest I didn't really miss them when I realized they weren't going to be included like I thought.
The book is mainly abt a human named Ewan who is rescued from the pound by Sir Jiat. Jiat is a high ranking Guard who also happens to be a member of the secret human rights society. What you expect to happen between Jiat and Ewan does happen but it is a pretty good book.
The book is mainly abt a human named Ewan who is rescued from the pound by Sir Jiat. Jiat is a high ranking Guard who also happens to be a member of the secret human rights society. What you expect to happen between Jiat and Ewan does happen but it is a pretty good book.
September 1, 2014
Ok, it's probably nearer a 3.5 star in my opinion but there was nothing wrong with the story so I'm rounding up to a big fat 4 stars!
It was a good story in a whole new world, I have never read anything even similar to this so that was fab.
I do enjoy a romance with lots of angst and this kind of delivered. I would have liked to have seen more dark and more depth and information on the characters as I wasn't as invested in them as I normally enjoy.
Quite a short story but it did tick all of the boxes.
Great imagination and I will definitely continue to follow this author. Xx
It was a good story in a whole new world, I have never read anything even similar to this so that was fab.
I do enjoy a romance with lots of angst and this kind of delivered. I would have liked to have seen more dark and more depth and information on the characters as I wasn't as invested in them as I normally enjoy.
Quite a short story but it did tick all of the boxes.
Great imagination and I will definitely continue to follow this author. Xx
September 5, 2014
2.5 stars - The story was well written but I felt that the characters lacked true depth. I didn't feel much for them, didn't really know them in a way that's memorable. I also felt that the ending was too quick of a wrap up. So all and all, the premise was a good one, the story somewhat enjoyable, but it kind of missed its mark.
October 15, 2014
This was a very strange book and I really loved it. I liked that the humans were actually the pets. It was so different from all the other books I've read and it just pulled me in. Jiat was a great master and I just knew that he would fall in love with Ewan. I didn't expect the ending and it made it all the better.
October 2, 2015
So weird to read humans being the pets!
Want to read
June 30, 2016Now I don't see this book on the website. It looked great. Anyone know what happened?
August 30, 2014
I'm probably being giving on the rating but I thought this was cute. Nice *cough* fluffy *cough* read. 3.5 stars.
September 5, 2014
This book is a friggin' masterpiece!
September 18, 2016
So um…sure, why not. A lot more plot and less porn than I expected, and a bit cliché, but it works at what it's trying to do.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews