What do you think?
Rate this book
Home #1
Going Home
When sexual slavery is outlawed, most of the rational world rejoices. Another shameful chapter of history, tucked neatly away.
Rory doesn’t want to rain on anyone’s parade, but the thing he wants most in the world is impossible: to go home, to his master, where he was safe. Life without slavery isn’t worth living. He dodges out of the “Freedom Project” with his new friend Demon, and vows to find his master, whatever it takes. He only hopes that once he does, life will go back to normal.
Geo Fairbanks doesn’t even tell people he used to own a slave. And the people who know? Think he’s deluded. “The kid was a slave, Geo. He wasn’t your boyfriend.” He switched careers, moved to a new town, and cut ties with everyone, but none of it helps. He needs Rory. When it looks like there might be a way to find him, Geo does whatever it takes.
Once they’re reunited, everything should be perfect. Shouldn’t it? Then why does Rory have more questions than answers? His friends are done with slavery, over it, moving on, but part of him? Part of him misses kneeling at Master’s feet. A very specific part of him misses being tied to Master’s bed. It would be one thing if Geo would just take over, like he did in the old days, but Geo’s just as clueless as Rory about how to live with each other as equal men.
Then the unthinkable happens and Geo finds himself searching for Rory all over again. Can he find Rory before he disappears into the new black market for slaves? And if he does, will they ever figure out how to be in a relationship not dictated by legal contracts dictating exactly what they mean to each other?
Rory doesn’t want to rain on anyone’s parade, but the thing he wants most in the world is impossible: to go home, to his master, where he was safe. Life without slavery isn’t worth living. He dodges out of the “Freedom Project” with his new friend Demon, and vows to find his master, whatever it takes. He only hopes that once he does, life will go back to normal.
Geo Fairbanks doesn’t even tell people he used to own a slave. And the people who know? Think he’s deluded. “The kid was a slave, Geo. He wasn’t your boyfriend.” He switched careers, moved to a new town, and cut ties with everyone, but none of it helps. He needs Rory. When it looks like there might be a way to find him, Geo does whatever it takes.
Once they’re reunited, everything should be perfect. Shouldn’t it? Then why does Rory have more questions than answers? His friends are done with slavery, over it, moving on, but part of him? Part of him misses kneeling at Master’s feet. A very specific part of him misses being tied to Master’s bed. It would be one thing if Geo would just take over, like he did in the old days, but Geo’s just as clueless as Rory about how to live with each other as equal men.
Then the unthinkable happens and Geo finds himself searching for Rory all over again. Can he find Rory before he disappears into the new black market for slaves? And if he does, will they ever figure out how to be in a relationship not dictated by legal contracts dictating exactly what they mean to each other?
311 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 9, 2014
172 people are currently reading
634 people want to read
About the author
Kris Ripper
89 books405 followersKris Ripper lives in the great state of California and zir pronouns are ze/zir. Kris shares a converted garage with a kid, can do two pull-ups in a row, and can write backwards. (No, really.) Ze has been writing fiction since ze learned how to write, and boring zir stuffed animals with stories long before that.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
January 5, 2024
2 stars
Told from the viewpoint of a formal sex slave.
Weird little story. Too much focus on the political and social surroundings and not on the development of the two main characters’ relationship.
Told from the viewpoint of a formal sex slave.
Weird little story. Too much focus on the political and social surroundings and not on the development of the two main characters’ relationship.
August 10, 2014
4.5
Wow...this was a wonderfully complex story. So much showing, and the emotions perfectly played out. Geo and Rory were so good together.
I liked their desperation to see each other, and their determination to do it right. When they did reunite, they struggled to adjust to new relationship dynamics, getting caught up in old habits, working to create new rituals. No easy fixes here, and the process added a lot of depth to their new relationship.
The secondary characters were wonderful. Their strong, distinct personalities added so much to the story.
This was everything I hoped for and more when I saw Breann's prompt.
The only detraction was the drama at the end. I thought it was unnecessary and too jarring. The sudden wrap up after the earlier slower build up was also disappointing.
Wow...this was a wonderfully complex story. So much showing, and the emotions perfectly played out. Geo and Rory were so good together.
I liked their desperation to see each other, and their determination to do it right. When they did reunite, they struggled to adjust to new relationship dynamics, getting caught up in old habits, working to create new rituals. No easy fixes here, and the process added a lot of depth to their new relationship.
The secondary characters were wonderful. Their strong, distinct personalities added so much to the story.
This was everything I hoped for and more when I saw Breann's prompt.
The only detraction was the drama at the end. I thought it was unnecessary and too jarring. The sudden wrap up after the earlier slower build up was also disappointing.
August 11, 2014
Not for me. I can only take so much lecturing in a book before it sucks all the fun out of my reading experience. And by that, I don't mean I need happy fun books to enjoy reading, which you can easily see from my favorites shelf (I actually prefer darker reads). The subject matter isn't the problem for me - it's the endless discussing, debating, advice from friends, and therapy that makes up 90% of the book. I feel like the conceptual difficulty of transitioning from an involuntary to a voluntary slave was being drilled into my skull the entire time. And then I never saw him become a voluntary slave, which is what I thought the prompt requested, but ah well. It wasn't badly written, but it wasn't at all what I was hoping for based on the prompt.
March 3, 2016
Four stars at least, maybe five. Plus I've been grading LL stories on a curve, so six. And another star for Teddy.
I poked suspiciously at this book a few times before starting it; master/slave is not my kink, and dub-con is too often a veneer over rape, but I could try a few pages and then toss it, right?
Nope.
It's not a master/slave kinkfest, it's a former master and slave reunited and trying to love each other as equals, exploring issues of freedom and consent with a great deal of thoughtfulness.
The characters are fleshed-out individuals, and the supporting cast is terrific, especially the gender-queer badass Teddy.
I'm not sure the fourth act [dramatic stuff] was necessary, but I'm not sure it wasn't either, and I'm feeling magnanimous.
I poked suspiciously at this book a few times before starting it; master/slave is not my kink, and dub-con is too often a veneer over rape, but I could try a few pages and then toss it, right?
Nope.
It's not a master/slave kinkfest, it's a former master and slave reunited and trying to love each other as equals, exploring issues of freedom and consent with a great deal of thoughtfulness.
The characters are fleshed-out individuals, and the supporting cast is terrific, especially the gender-queer badass Teddy.
I'm not sure the fourth act [dramatic stuff] was necessary, but I'm not sure it wasn't either, and I'm feeling magnanimous.
March 21, 2023
So I would say this book is about two people learning how to acknowledge abuse within their relationship, stand up for themselves/respect each others’ boundaries, and begin to rebuild their relationship the way they want it to be, as equals. Which… sounds ridiculous when the context is “slavery was legal-ish again for a bit and one of the MCs fully owned the other one,” but is in fact wildly relevant to many people’s lives here in reality as well. Idk, kind of a best case scenario for this premise imo (although I will admit I am not widely read here lol).
I really didn’t know what to expect when I picked this up. But as I was reading it began reminding me of something I semi-jokingly said in a review of the RJ Moray series His Boy Next Door - that it’s a story about someone realizing their relationship is kinda icky and trying to figure out how to improve it… without breaking up. And when I said it in that review, I was kind of joking because obviously the requirement in romance is that *no matter what*, the couple has to end up together. So usually the conflict in romance is… okay, basically anything lighter than straight up abuse/rape. (There is that but it’s called dark romance and it operates under uh different rules haha. And this book, and HBND, are definitely not dark romance.) And I don’t think there’s a way around it - this book is about a couple whose relationship originally involved straight up abuse, including sex under conditions in which one of the people involved was absolutely unable to meaningfully consent… aka rape. And yet they also love each other - or at least they both believe they love each other - and there were really good things about the relationship they had. So… what do you do in that situation?
I think there are a lot of people who would say that abusers are abusers and they always will be, and that it’s impossible to move on from abuse within a relationship. And I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad rule of thumb (…badum ching 😬). But I do think it’s possible for people who have engaged in what is literally domestic abuse to change their behavior - and for people who have been victim to it to acknowledge their experience and find ways to change *their* behavior - without the relationship between them being tainted forever. It does (as this book very realistically shows) take some serious therapy, as well as time and patience and work, but I think it’s possible.
And that’s really what this book is about! I think the personal growth timelines are a bit compressed (gotta fit it in one book) but in general the way Ripper depicts the emotional evolution of these characters is incredibly well done. I do think the reason it works is that when the book begins, Rory and Geo have been forcibly separated for long enough that they can begin to acknowledge the reality of the negative parts of their relationship. And one of the things that makes this story work - one of Ripper’s strengths in general - is how strong the *other* characters’ characterizations are. Because it is only through separately talking to their separate friends about their separate feelings about their shared relationship, and being confronted with those friends’ opinions, which are often very different than their own, that Rory and Geo can start to explicitly conceptualize what they actually want, as opposed to the sometimes very harmful assumptions and behaviors they defaulted to in the past.
And I will say that the gender aspect of this is really interesting as well, particularly the way this book uses the slavery premise to provide a culturally-ingrained sense of the “correctness”, the supposed “innateness” or “logic”, of a certain pattern of abusive behavior within interpersonal relationships between two “naturally” “different” people, while taking gender out of the equation altogether in terms of Geo and Rory’s relationship (they are both cis men, neither described as more masculine/feminine than the other; Geo is slightly older than Rory, but Rory is more physical fit/strong). And the kink too - although it’s a common theme in Ripper’s books so I wasn’t surprised to encounter it here, it’s a great pivot to bend the story around so that the characters, and the book itself, can unpack exactly what the difference is between healthy, consensual power dynamics in a relationship versus unhealthy, nonconsensual ones.
Basically I was pleasantly surprised, I found this book to be very insightful, and am looking forward to reading about D and Teddy next!
I really didn’t know what to expect when I picked this up. But as I was reading it began reminding me of something I semi-jokingly said in a review of the RJ Moray series His Boy Next Door - that it’s a story about someone realizing their relationship is kinda icky and trying to figure out how to improve it… without breaking up. And when I said it in that review, I was kind of joking because obviously the requirement in romance is that *no matter what*, the couple has to end up together. So usually the conflict in romance is… okay, basically anything lighter than straight up abuse/rape. (There is that but it’s called dark romance and it operates under uh different rules haha. And this book, and HBND, are definitely not dark romance.) And I don’t think there’s a way around it - this book is about a couple whose relationship originally involved straight up abuse, including sex under conditions in which one of the people involved was absolutely unable to meaningfully consent… aka rape. And yet they also love each other - or at least they both believe they love each other - and there were really good things about the relationship they had. So… what do you do in that situation?
I think there are a lot of people who would say that abusers are abusers and they always will be, and that it’s impossible to move on from abuse within a relationship. And I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad rule of thumb (…badum ching 😬). But I do think it’s possible for people who have engaged in what is literally domestic abuse to change their behavior - and for people who have been victim to it to acknowledge their experience and find ways to change *their* behavior - without the relationship between them being tainted forever. It does (as this book very realistically shows) take some serious therapy, as well as time and patience and work, but I think it’s possible.
And that’s really what this book is about! I think the personal growth timelines are a bit compressed (gotta fit it in one book) but in general the way Ripper depicts the emotional evolution of these characters is incredibly well done. I do think the reason it works is that when the book begins, Rory and Geo have been forcibly separated for long enough that they can begin to acknowledge the reality of the negative parts of their relationship. And one of the things that makes this story work - one of Ripper’s strengths in general - is how strong the *other* characters’ characterizations are. Because it is only through separately talking to their separate friends about their separate feelings about their shared relationship, and being confronted with those friends’ opinions, which are often very different than their own, that Rory and Geo can start to explicitly conceptualize what they actually want, as opposed to the sometimes very harmful assumptions and behaviors they defaulted to in the past.
And I will say that the gender aspect of this is really interesting as well, particularly the way this book uses the slavery premise to provide a culturally-ingrained sense of the “correctness”, the supposed “innateness” or “logic”, of a certain pattern of abusive behavior within interpersonal relationships between two “naturally” “different” people, while taking gender out of the equation altogether in terms of Geo and Rory’s relationship (they are both cis men, neither described as more masculine/feminine than the other; Geo is slightly older than Rory, but Rory is more physical fit/strong). And the kink too - although it’s a common theme in Ripper’s books so I wasn’t surprised to encounter it here, it’s a great pivot to bend the story around so that the characters, and the book itself, can unpack exactly what the difference is between healthy, consensual power dynamics in a relationship versus unhealthy, nonconsensual ones.
Basically I was pleasantly surprised, I found this book to be very insightful, and am looking forward to reading about D and Teddy next!
March 14, 2023
TBR rescue and Kris Ripper-backlist project!
This is an early Kris Ripper, and fascinatingly unlike zirs more recent work. A tight, observant, thought-provoking exploration of agency, consent, power, love, desire, obsession, ownership, and what it means to be free. This is the book Docile was trying, but didn't manage, to be.
Knocking off a star because the book had a twist in the end that took it from being a close study of an intimate relationship (and its embeddedness in a wider web of platonic, but also intimate, friendships), towards a more dramatic trajectory. I understand the reasoning for this, but I would have rather kept the story more internal -- although I was happy with how it all resolved.
Note that there is consistent use throughout of master-slave language, both in reference to Geo and Rory's original relationship and in a kink/ roleplay setting once Rory is free. Also pain-play and re-consideration of past sexual play through the lens of whether it was actually noncon or dubcon.
This was not what I was expecting, in a good way. Incredibly compelling, immersive stuff. Low-key bummed that Docile has gotten so much attention when this is both the earlier and better book.
ETA: as of 14 March 2023, it's free on Amazon.
This is an early Kris Ripper, and fascinatingly unlike zirs more recent work. A tight, observant, thought-provoking exploration of agency, consent, power, love, desire, obsession, ownership, and what it means to be free. This is the book Docile was trying, but didn't manage, to be.
Knocking off a star because the book had a twist in the end that took it from being a close study of an intimate relationship (and its embeddedness in a wider web of platonic, but also intimate, friendships), towards a more dramatic trajectory. I understand the reasoning for this, but I would have rather kept the story more internal -- although I was happy with how it all resolved.
Note that there is consistent use throughout of master-slave language, both in reference to Geo and Rory's original relationship and in a kink/ roleplay setting once Rory is free. Also pain-play and re-consideration of past sexual play through the lens of whether it was actually noncon or dubcon.
This was not what I was expecting, in a good way. Incredibly compelling, immersive stuff. Low-key bummed that Docile has gotten so much attention when this is both the earlier and better book.
ETA: as of 14 March 2023, it's free on Amazon.
November 25, 2014
I chose this book to read alongside another one for a bit of variety but soon left the other by the wayside as Going Home was just way too good not to plough my way through. This is a Master/Slave story with a bit of a twist. It's set in an alternative universe where slavery has recently become illegal and Rory, a former slave, has been forcibly removed from his master of 7 years Geo. This is basically the story of them trying to find each other again and learning how to adapt to their change in circumstances. I would have liked a little bit less time spent on their friends and more time with Rory and Geo but I still thoroughly enjoyed myself!
May 31, 2015
This was recommended to me and I was ready to dnf at any point because for me real slave-fic is problematic at best. From the prompt I was expecting not to like the story at all but actually I did like it very much. Now, here is why (and this is all from my perspective).
There is kink.
And then there is slavery.
For me kink is fine, actual slavery is not. To some the book may sound preachy (and it maybe is and many thanks to the author for that because I happen to think that preaching about that is a good thing) because there is the BDSM component and then there is the issue of actual slavery. In a way, this is de-constructed slave-fic. I liked how Roar and Geo had to redefine their personalities faced with a new reality (i.e. wrapping their respective minds around the idea that there are boundaries and choices, and that maybe the submissive partner might actually be the one to really call the shots).
Also, I loved all the side characters, so I think it is a well-crafted, engaging book - yes, with a message - but a message I like.
It's still hot, though, at times. Just in case you were worried ;-)
There is kink.
And then there is slavery.
For me kink is fine, actual slavery is not. To some the book may sound preachy (and it maybe is and many thanks to the author for that because I happen to think that preaching about that is a good thing) because there is the BDSM component and then there is the issue of actual slavery. In a way, this is de-constructed slave-fic. I liked how Roar and Geo had to redefine their personalities faced with a new reality (i.e. wrapping their respective minds around the idea that there are boundaries and choices, and that maybe the submissive partner might actually be the one to really call the shots).
Also, I loved all the side characters, so I think it is a well-crafted, engaging book - yes, with a message - but a message I like.
It's still hot, though, at times. Just in case you were worried ;-)
March 13, 2016
This freebie surprised the hell out of me.
Firstly, because for a Love Landscape's freebie it was exceptionally well written, the plot complex and with 208 pages, it was a relatviely long read. But more importantly, it threw me right in the middle of a scenario that I tend to avoid in my books.
I'm no fan of sexual slavery stories. I don't enjoy dub-con/non-con, falling in love with your abuser is not a trope for me - not in erotica and sure as heck not in romance. Stockholm syndrome is NOT my idea of a romantic relationship. With all that said, nobody was more surprised than me when this little one not only landed on my Kindle, but that I read it front to back. And was interested and invested the whole time. But Rory was a fascinating character. On the one hand slavery was all he's ever known. He was born into it, became his Master's property and was prepared to stay with him for the rest of his life. He thought he loved him, he was okay with how his life was going, he enjoyed the D/s relationship in the bedroom, and was alright with how the rest of his lofe was supposed to pan out. Or so he thought. But when sexual slavery was abolished, when he was taken to another location and contact to his Master isn't an option anymore, Rory's world is crumbling. Everything he thought was right, suddenly isn't anymore. Black isn't black, white isn't white and grey never looked so chaotic. He's changing, the world is changing - even his feelings are changing. It's terrifying, but through all of it there is one thought that prevails: He needs to get back to Geo.
This story sure as hell isn't a psychology handbook. It's also completely different from what I expected. And I liked it. For once, it wasn't a twist on Stockholm syndrom. There was a difference between consensual D/s relationships and the master7slave conext Rory and Geo were used to. It was very fascination to see this struggle, this journey, the psychological and physiological ramifications of their complex, shared history.
Was it preachy? Maybe a little? There were some side characters that - while layered and interesting and sometimes a pain in the ass - loved taking the roles of angels and devils. Sometimes that was frustrating, but all in all not too bad. The story is wordy, though. More so than I usually like in the "preaching and lecturing" department. But all in all, I enjoyed this one, and I liked how much it managed to surprise me again and again. Definitely recommended.
Firstly, because for a Love Landscape's freebie it was exceptionally well written, the plot complex and with 208 pages, it was a relatviely long read. But more importantly, it threw me right in the middle of a scenario that I tend to avoid in my books.
The right to own sex slaves has just been made illegal. The government is taking the slaves to a reeducation camp where we can learn to be a part of everyday society. But what they don’t understand is that I’ve been with Master for 7 years and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than kneeling at his feet, with his collar around my neck and being used in any way he needs. I’m his.
I'm no fan of sexual slavery stories. I don't enjoy dub-con/non-con, falling in love with your abuser is not a trope for me - not in erotica and sure as heck not in romance. Stockholm syndrome is NOT my idea of a romantic relationship. With all that said, nobody was more surprised than me when this little one not only landed on my Kindle, but that I read it front to back. And was interested and invested the whole time. But Rory was a fascinating character. On the one hand slavery was all he's ever known. He was born into it, became his Master's property and was prepared to stay with him for the rest of his life. He thought he loved him, he was okay with how his life was going, he enjoyed the D/s relationship in the bedroom, and was alright with how the rest of his lofe was supposed to pan out. Or so he thought. But when sexual slavery was abolished, when he was taken to another location and contact to his Master isn't an option anymore, Rory's world is crumbling. Everything he thought was right, suddenly isn't anymore. Black isn't black, white isn't white and grey never looked so chaotic. He's changing, the world is changing - even his feelings are changing. It's terrifying, but through all of it there is one thought that prevails: He needs to get back to Geo.
This story sure as hell isn't a psychology handbook. It's also completely different from what I expected. And I liked it. For once, it wasn't a twist on Stockholm syndrom. There was a difference between consensual D/s relationships and the master7slave conext Rory and Geo were used to. It was very fascination to see this struggle, this journey, the psychological and physiological ramifications of their complex, shared history.
Was it preachy? Maybe a little? There were some side characters that - while layered and interesting and sometimes a pain in the ass - loved taking the roles of angels and devils. Sometimes that was frustrating, but all in all not too bad. The story is wordy, though. More so than I usually like in the "preaching and lecturing" department. But all in all, I enjoyed this one, and I liked how much it managed to surprise me again and again. Definitely recommended.
i-own-you-so-wait-patiently
January 26, 2018Free on Amazon 01/26/2018
https://www.amazon.com/Going-Home-Boo...
https://www.amazon.com/Going-Home-Boo...
November 1, 2014
This is not your light and fluffy story. There is many layers, that make you think. I feel the author did a pretty good job at portraying everyone and watching them transform.
Rory was raised as a slave. He was sold to Geo, whom is his Master. They have lived together for seven years. They are more than just Master/Slave, they are a couple. They love one another. But they assume the roles strictly as Master and Slave too. Rory, who has loved his Master, has never thought of questioning being his slave or the role of a slave. It is the only life he has ever known(born and raised). Master has always taken care of him. What Master says, he does. On the other hand, Master had always caved and bought Rory whatever he wanted. Well some ‘owners’ treated slaves as an object, Master Geo treated Rory more like a person. Geo never truly felt lost until they took Rory away.
When slavery was abolished, they separated all the slaves and owners. Assuming a. all slaves were treated inhumanly. b. people who wanted to be a ‘slave’ were ‘brainwashed’ and ‘wrong’. Sending the slaves into a re-education camp, where they weren’t allowed to leave until they proved to the staff they were their version of ‘free’(which is a form of slavery but the government doesn’t see it that way).
Well, Rory meets Demon, and Demon takes Rory and they escape from the camp. Well Rory has been born and raised as a slave, Demon had not been. She had chosen to be an indentured servant instead of going to jail. Sadly, she was brutally raped and traumatized, fearing men, especially ‘owners’...
Demon cannot understand Rory’s love of his master. Since they both had different upbringings and Rory’s owner/Master was a kind man. Even though Demon doesn’t approve, she does help Rory when Rory is given a chance to find Geo, his Master.
Geo, lost and alone in the world, sells all his possessions and gives away all his money. He moves to a new town, but keeps his name, in case Rory every comes to look for him. He even makes a really good friend named Teddy. They both confide in one another their secrets and with Teddy’s help, Geo takes the initiative to find Rory. Since the new laws prohibit slaves and owners to connect one another for five years, Teddy knows a way and tells Geo about it.
They are reunited pretty early on in the story, maybe one-third. But that is when all the challenges happen. Rory and Geo have to reevaluate their relationship. Will they still be worthy for one another. Geo loves Rory, but he also likes to dominate in the bedroom and they are both naturally kinky. Rory, is known better by his nickname, Roar. Rory goes to therapy. He has to sort out what he wants and needs. He needs Geo. He wants some of the kinkiness and games they had before. But he no longer wants to be a slave. He wants to be able to stand equal with Geo.
This is where the story really takes place. Geo and Rory learning to live with one another, while trying to not fall completely back into their previous relationship. They realize that there were certain aspects of their previous relationship that needs to be stopped or changed. For example, safe-words.
Then we have our side, characters, Maizy, Demon and Teddy. They really help make the story also. We see how ‘slaves’ aren’t all the same. Demon, who was abused and fearful(needless to say). We have Maizy, who learned that her ‘owner’s’ truly just wanted to use her for their own good and not pay her, even though they treated her like a daughter. They had trained her in business trade, and she has to learn how to use them now that she is on her own. Since, she can’t use them as a reference, it makes it a little bit more difficult. We have Teddy, who is kind of blunt, is best friend’s with Geo. Really, Teddy is the anchor and chance for something new for all of them.
Rory was raised as a slave. He was sold to Geo, whom is his Master. They have lived together for seven years. They are more than just Master/Slave, they are a couple. They love one another. But they assume the roles strictly as Master and Slave too. Rory, who has loved his Master, has never thought of questioning being his slave or the role of a slave. It is the only life he has ever known(born and raised). Master has always taken care of him. What Master says, he does. On the other hand, Master had always caved and bought Rory whatever he wanted. Well some ‘owners’ treated slaves as an object, Master Geo treated Rory more like a person. Geo never truly felt lost until they took Rory away.
When slavery was abolished, they separated all the slaves and owners. Assuming a. all slaves were treated inhumanly. b. people who wanted to be a ‘slave’ were ‘brainwashed’ and ‘wrong’. Sending the slaves into a re-education camp, where they weren’t allowed to leave until they proved to the staff they were their version of ‘free’(which is a form of slavery but the government doesn’t see it that way).
Well, Rory meets Demon, and Demon takes Rory and they escape from the camp. Well Rory has been born and raised as a slave, Demon had not been. She had chosen to be an indentured servant instead of going to jail. Sadly, she was brutally raped and traumatized, fearing men, especially ‘owners’...
Demon cannot understand Rory’s love of his master. Since they both had different upbringings and Rory’s owner/Master was a kind man. Even though Demon doesn’t approve, she does help Rory when Rory is given a chance to find Geo, his Master.
Geo, lost and alone in the world, sells all his possessions and gives away all his money. He moves to a new town, but keeps his name, in case Rory every comes to look for him. He even makes a really good friend named Teddy. They both confide in one another their secrets and with Teddy’s help, Geo takes the initiative to find Rory. Since the new laws prohibit slaves and owners to connect one another for five years, Teddy knows a way and tells Geo about it.
They are reunited pretty early on in the story, maybe one-third. But that is when all the challenges happen. Rory and Geo have to reevaluate their relationship. Will they still be worthy for one another. Geo loves Rory, but he also likes to dominate in the bedroom and they are both naturally kinky. Rory, is known better by his nickname, Roar. Rory goes to therapy. He has to sort out what he wants and needs. He needs Geo. He wants some of the kinkiness and games they had before. But he no longer wants to be a slave. He wants to be able to stand equal with Geo.
This is where the story really takes place. Geo and Rory learning to live with one another, while trying to not fall completely back into their previous relationship. They realize that there were certain aspects of their previous relationship that needs to be stopped or changed. For example, safe-words.
Then we have our side, characters, Maizy, Demon and Teddy. They really help make the story also. We see how ‘slaves’ aren’t all the same. Demon, who was abused and fearful(needless to say). We have Maizy, who learned that her ‘owner’s’ truly just wanted to use her for their own good and not pay her, even though they treated her like a daughter. They had trained her in business trade, and she has to learn how to use them now that she is on her own. Since, she can’t use them as a reference, it makes it a little bit more difficult. We have Teddy, who is kind of blunt, is best friend’s with Geo. Really, Teddy is the anchor and chance for something new for all of them.
August 18, 2014
I'm going to go ahead and call it my favourite L/L story for 2014. (Though I can't absolutely promise that won't change.)
Definitely different to my usual preferences, I was only going to peek but I just couldn't stop reading. I didn't want it to end.
I would have happily paid to read this.
Definitely different to my usual preferences, I was only going to peek but I just couldn't stop reading. I didn't want it to end.
I would have happily paid to read this.
February 14, 2017
I liked the idea very much, and the parts about Geo and Rory were sweet and touching. But it kinda was drowned in D's problems, Teddy, Maizy, their interfering into Geo and Rory's lives, their constant presence all in all, therapy and things like that.
January 13, 2017
I hesitated to read this for the longest time, but when I finally did it, I loved it! No big shock, as Kris Ripper is a favorite author, and this book is solid work.
December 23, 2014
In an alternate universe, there are slaves and indentured servants, and now they've all been set free. This scenario is wrought with deep and intricate issues, obviously, as some former slaves and some former masters do not wish to be separated. At the other end of that spectrum are the slaves who rejoice in being freed and can't wait to get away from their abusers.
The author explores the psychological repercussions of slavery, forced servitude and sex slaves against the newly won freedom, and the damage either can inflict on a person. Rory, a former legacy slave (meaning one born into slavery and trained for it) is confused and lost without Geo, his former master and lover, and wants nothing more than to be reunited. On his journey, he meets Demon (D) in what seems to me a concentration camp for former slaves, where the brainwashing inflicted is in some cases worse than what the slaves experienced at the hands of their masters. Demon was an indentured servant in lieu of jail for a misdemeanor crime, but through some manipulations ended up being much more than that. When Rory hears from D that some slaves can be reunited with their masters through some under-the-radar program, he and D run away from the camp to do just that.
What really impressed me in this free story from the M/M Romance group was the careful and delicate way in which the author let Rory grow beyond his former life, giving him the tools and means to make choices of his own. It was also very clear from the get-go that his relationship with Geo transcended that of Master/slave, though both needed that particular kink in the bedroom. Geo too has a few things to learn now that Rory is no longer a slave, and I thought that his character's portrayal as someone who didn't know any different, but is willing to learn, willing to change, just to be with the man he loves, was well done as well.
The other two important side characters, Teddy and Maizy, provided a perfect contrast against the struggles of Rory, D, and Geo, and were ultimately responsible for the happy ending. Teddy specifically, as someone who's never owned or been a slave, asks hard questions of Geo, and is the catapult for much of Geo's growth.
There's a bit of a whodunit toward the ending, a bit of action that had me at the edge of my seat, but also showcased just how far Rory had come since being freed, how much autonomy he had gained, and how well he understood his own motives.
At the root, if one were to strip away all the surrounding layers, this is a love story of two people who are thrown together by chance and custom, but who love each other deeply, rely on each other, and are willing to learn from each other and with each other to build a future that makes them both happy.
If you missed the part where I mentioned that this is a free read, let me repeat that - FREE from the M/M Romance group's Love's Landscapes event. Highly recommended.
The author explores the psychological repercussions of slavery, forced servitude and sex slaves against the newly won freedom, and the damage either can inflict on a person. Rory, a former legacy slave (meaning one born into slavery and trained for it) is confused and lost without Geo, his former master and lover, and wants nothing more than to be reunited. On his journey, he meets Demon (D) in what seems to me a concentration camp for former slaves, where the brainwashing inflicted is in some cases worse than what the slaves experienced at the hands of their masters. Demon was an indentured servant in lieu of jail for a misdemeanor crime, but through some manipulations ended up being much more than that. When Rory hears from D that some slaves can be reunited with their masters through some under-the-radar program, he and D run away from the camp to do just that.
What really impressed me in this free story from the M/M Romance group was the careful and delicate way in which the author let Rory grow beyond his former life, giving him the tools and means to make choices of his own. It was also very clear from the get-go that his relationship with Geo transcended that of Master/slave, though both needed that particular kink in the bedroom. Geo too has a few things to learn now that Rory is no longer a slave, and I thought that his character's portrayal as someone who didn't know any different, but is willing to learn, willing to change, just to be with the man he loves, was well done as well.
The other two important side characters, Teddy and Maizy, provided a perfect contrast against the struggles of Rory, D, and Geo, and were ultimately responsible for the happy ending. Teddy specifically, as someone who's never owned or been a slave, asks hard questions of Geo, and is the catapult for much of Geo's growth.
There's a bit of a whodunit toward the ending, a bit of action that had me at the edge of my seat, but also showcased just how far Rory had come since being freed, how much autonomy he had gained, and how well he understood his own motives.
At the root, if one were to strip away all the surrounding layers, this is a love story of two people who are thrown together by chance and custom, but who love each other deeply, rely on each other, and are willing to learn from each other and with each other to build a future that makes them both happy.
If you missed the part where I mentioned that this is a free read, let me repeat that - FREE from the M/M Romance group's Love's Landscapes event. Highly recommended.
November 17, 2014
Loved it and hated it at the same time
I loved the storyline and the characters. I loved how Rory over thought stuff and how Geo suffered for his love. however the setting, themes and details did not go together in my mind. There were slaves and had just become illegal but then there was computer hackers, cellphones and department stores. I just kept getting so confused. I have read slave and master books before and I was never bothered by it because it was always based off a time before and it always showed about a change in the times.
I loved the storyline and the characters. I loved how Rory over thought stuff and how Geo suffered for his love. however the setting, themes and details did not go together in my mind. There were slaves and had just become illegal but then there was computer hackers, cellphones and department stores. I just kept getting so confused. I have read slave and master books before and I was never bothered by it because it was always based off a time before and it always showed about a change in the times.
September 11, 2014
This was so freaking good. Would have easily been a 5 star read had they spent more time together as a couple and less time with the search for each other. I was hoping we'd get to see some of the more kinky stuff or even they're first "real" sex after they found each other but even so, the story just made we want to read and read and read. The supporting characters were just all kinds of awesome and I'm so glad they each had their own support system. Thanks so much to Kris Ripper for this one!
November 28, 2014
I really, really liked this one. It was a perfect example of showing and not telling.
Even the secondary characters were brilliant.
I kind of wish we had a prologue of them together before they were separated.
I wanted more of them together.
I would so love to read an extension story with these guys.
This was a first read for is author, I'll have to look into more titles!
Even the secondary characters were brilliant.
I kind of wish we had a prologue of them together before they were separated.
I wanted more of them together.
I would so love to read an extension story with these guys.
This was a first read for is author, I'll have to look into more titles!
August 9, 2014
Sucked me in from the beginning - didn't want it to end. Wow. Thank you for your story!
February 1, 2025
Hot take, this is trash
Listen, I'll be my usual funny self in just a moment but this needs to be addressed. There is a black woman in this book and she is only depicted loud, angry, bitter, bossy, and crass. If I have to explain to you why this is incredibly offensive, you are part of the problem. I'm ashamed to say I read this book. So many people love this book and I kept thinking that this could not possibly be the entirety at Damon's character, there has to be growth. But there's none and because she is the only black character, these hurtful stereotypes are highlighted even more. I get she has her own book but I'm not picking up because I'm not reading anything but this author ever again. This is why I say I don't want to see myself in books. I don't trust yt people to do right by us. This is also why sensitive readers are so important. This isn't the only reason why I dislike this book (see below) but it is why I'm giving it one star. I don't care what year this was written. These stereotypes have followed me my entire life. It was offensive then and it's offensive now.
Now on to the debauchery.
A book where slavery is legalized and then abolished (again *smh*) is fascinating. What does the fallout look like? What about the people involved? This book attempts to answer those questions. The problem is it tries so hard, I was left wondering was this supposed to be a romance or a social critique with a love story thrown in.
Look, I was around in 2014. Romance was a very different genre with a very different audience. Especially anything queer and in the indie market. So the fact that this is trying so hard to be more than just a romance is kind of expected because that was the landscape. But this never feels romantic. Like at all. A romance would have been Rory and Geo (dumb name) doing everything in their power to reunite and once they do, they do everything in their power to stay together and live their truth despite the powers that be. Maybe along the way they think about the situation they were in and end up recontextualizing what they mean to each other but at the end of the day, what matters most is each other and that they are together. And then they bone like bunnies and someone gets whipped while tied to a chair. Sounds fun right? Well, sucks to suck buttercup because only 2% of that happens.
None of the decision the characters make, make a whole lot of sense. Why would Geo give away the money. Wouldn't it make more sense to use it to track down Rory? I wouldn't it make more sense for Rory
There is so much talking in this book, and so much talking about the same things that I was losing my mind. Forget bored (because chile this was slow and we will talk about that), I was full on annoyed. I don't need the same thing said to me three times. I don't need to hear you think it, have you say it to a friend, and have say it to Rory / Geo. I don't need that, no one needs that! I understand a certain level of communication and reassociation with each other has to happen but did so much of it need to happen for so long? I just wanted to see someone get whipped and then bone, is that so wrong?!
There is a decent amount of sexual tension in this but by the time anything happens, it does not live up to the buildup. There's too much talking, too many check-ins, it's way too realistic to be fun and sexy. I get that was the style at the time but there's a reason why it's been phased out. It sucks. Realism should be used to ground a book, it's not be the entirety of a book. No one wants a hyper realistic romance. Embrace the fantasy. Let me have my fantasy. Neel at his feet and warm his c0ck! I'm ace my guy, I shouldn't be the one telling you how this works!
This book wants to be low heat, fine. It wants to have some of the most annoying side characters I've ever had the misfortune of reading about, fine but I want it on record I'm thinking about you tard and feathered. But then you had to go and make it so slow. I've seen paint dry faster! And it's not an issue with the pacing. The book moves along at a steady rate. The problem is nothing really happens while it moves along and when you get to the end you're left wondering what just happened. I would like some more story and I think I need aftercare because that was just mean.
I can confidently say that this is one of those romances for people who don't like romance. It's for queers who think they are holier than thou and better than the rest of us because they don't watch Drag Race. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of reasons to not watch Drag Race but you're not better than me because you've never seen someone lip sync for their life. I'm getting off topic. The point is I hated this book. It was slow, it wasn't fun, and I couldn't stand the side characters. Normally this is the part where I say two stars and make a joke about how I hate the nickname Roar because I do was it stupid but after what this author chose to do with Demon? One star. I hope they are ashamed.
Listen, I'll be my usual funny self in just a moment but this needs to be addressed. There is a black woman in this book and she is only depicted loud, angry, bitter, bossy, and crass. If I have to explain to you why this is incredibly offensive, you are part of the problem. I'm ashamed to say I read this book. So many people love this book and I kept thinking that this could not possibly be the entirety at Damon's character, there has to be growth. But there's none and because she is the only black character, these hurtful stereotypes are highlighted even more. I get she has her own book but I'm not picking up because I'm not reading anything but this author ever again. This is why I say I don't want to see myself in books. I don't trust yt people to do right by us. This is also why sensitive readers are so important. This isn't the only reason why I dislike this book (see below) but it is why I'm giving it one star. I don't care what year this was written. These stereotypes have followed me my entire life. It was offensive then and it's offensive now.
Now on to the debauchery.
A book where slavery is legalized and then abolished (again *smh*) is fascinating. What does the fallout look like? What about the people involved? This book attempts to answer those questions. The problem is it tries so hard, I was left wondering was this supposed to be a romance or a social critique with a love story thrown in.
Look, I was around in 2014. Romance was a very different genre with a very different audience. Especially anything queer and in the indie market. So the fact that this is trying so hard to be more than just a romance is kind of expected because that was the landscape. But this never feels romantic. Like at all. A romance would have been Rory and Geo (dumb name) doing everything in their power to reunite and once they do, they do everything in their power to stay together and live their truth despite the powers that be. Maybe along the way they think about the situation they were in and end up recontextualizing what they mean to each other but at the end of the day, what matters most is each other and that they are together. And then they bone like bunnies and someone gets whipped while tied to a chair. Sounds fun right? Well, sucks to suck buttercup because only 2% of that happens.
None of the decision the characters make, make a whole lot of sense. Why would Geo give away the money. Wouldn't it make more sense to use it to track down Rory? I wouldn't it make more sense for Rory
There is so much talking in this book, and so much talking about the same things that I was losing my mind. Forget bored (because chile this was slow and we will talk about that), I was full on annoyed. I don't need the same thing said to me three times. I don't need to hear you think it, have you say it to a friend, and have say it to Rory / Geo. I don't need that, no one needs that! I understand a certain level of communication and reassociation with each other has to happen but did so much of it need to happen for so long? I just wanted to see someone get whipped and then bone, is that so wrong?!
There is a decent amount of sexual tension in this but by the time anything happens, it does not live up to the buildup. There's too much talking, too many check-ins, it's way too realistic to be fun and sexy. I get that was the style at the time but there's a reason why it's been phased out. It sucks. Realism should be used to ground a book, it's not be the entirety of a book. No one wants a hyper realistic romance. Embrace the fantasy. Let me have my fantasy. Neel at his feet and warm his c0ck! I'm ace my guy, I shouldn't be the one telling you how this works!
This book wants to be low heat, fine. It wants to have some of the most annoying side characters I've ever had the misfortune of reading about, fine but I want it on record I'm thinking about you tard and feathered. But then you had to go and make it so slow. I've seen paint dry faster! And it's not an issue with the pacing. The book moves along at a steady rate. The problem is nothing really happens while it moves along and when you get to the end you're left wondering what just happened. I would like some more story and I think I need aftercare because that was just mean.
I can confidently say that this is one of those romances for people who don't like romance. It's for queers who think they are holier than thou and better than the rest of us because they don't watch Drag Race. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of reasons to not watch Drag Race but you're not better than me because you've never seen someone lip sync for their life. I'm getting off topic. The point is I hated this book. It was slow, it wasn't fun, and I couldn't stand the side characters. Normally this is the part where I say two stars and make a joke about how I hate the nickname Roar because I do was it stupid but after what this author chose to do with Demon? One star. I hope they are ashamed.
December 26, 2014
The beginning was really pissing me off. So much holier-than-thou, and who gave Teddy the right to be such a morally superior self-righteous ass? His never-owned-a-slave-ness suddenly makes him (and by extension, all the other Northerners who condescend so thoroughly on Geo) a saint? Fuck no. This sort of over-simplified black/white view on morality ain't how the world works, no matter how people like to push it just because it's easier to deal with.
I suppose from a long-run view, it makes sense-ish to push Geo to the other side of the extreme so that he can know the other side, come to some sort of middle ground, and fully understand the implications of the duality of the system. But goddamn, is it annoying for me to have to see him being beaten down.
I guess this is like the Not All Men idea? But then, it bothers me that it seems like Teddy wants Geo to take responsibility and blame for the extreme ass side of the slave owner spectrum, which is not okay. Okay, trying to teach him that just because he didn't, doesn't mean the system wasn't corrupt or some shit. I mean, I get that it was for a point, and they do sort of lampshade that moment later, but I just sense an undercurrent of that throughout this. It's like the white guilt idea. Or narrative of American shame, as D'Souza touted. It just feels like they're pushing this shame narrative onto Geo and Rory, like okay, sure, your situation itself maybe wasn't bad, but it was part of this system, and that system was bad (blanket-classified, of course), and therefore your situation was by association bad. This gets onto slippery slopes of guilt/blame that I don't want to entirely generalize on because there is no real definitive answer to these sort of overarching moral quandaries, but I will say that even though I suppose I can kind of understand why, it's brutish and inelegant and I just feel like there might have been so many better ways to handle this.
They do lampshade it later on, a bit, but I dunno, I'd already gotten worked up about it by then and typed out the thing above. I do appreciate it, though. And objectively, I kind of understand why things are presented the way they are. It's the journey of the characters, and even if it seems stupidly obvious to me, I do recognize that it isn't so for the characters, and that they're coming to these realizations, too. It's easier to settle in now that they're in the exploration stage, where they've stopped trying to force an understanding and just letting it play out.
The story/characters. I did kind of like it/them, even if Demon seemed to make little sense to me except as Rory's motivator/foil, but then when , I couldn't understand why Demon was written to react the way she did. What the fucking hell happened? Did she have a psychotic break or something? I mean, sure, she never seemed really fond of Geo before, but this was like a full descent into paranoia and increasingly erratic and violent behavior and everything. It was just bizarre.
Also, did Teddy give Berry a blow job or something? Like that reaction from the "background check" thing...or was that just odd writing?
Also, speaking of Berry, I was totally one of those Phteven people. When he was first introduced as "Berry-with-an-e" I stared at it thinking "...like...Berre...?" It wasn't until Berry was brought up again, and it was spelled "Berry" still, that I sat back and kind of read it to myself and realized, "Oh. Berry, with an e. As in, not 'Barry.'"
Geo's body thrums a lot. Like he has a lot of whole-body reactions to stuff. It's kind of odd.
One question I have is: do D/s relationships exist within this universe outside of the context of legal slavery? It's not really apparent whether or not there's such a subculture in this AU. Okay, wait. Psychologist used the term "kinky." I'm going to assume...yes. And yay, this therapist sounds decent. Coolio.
Okay, BDSM is a thing.
Oh, shit, it's that thing again. Where these idiots are holding Geo's ignorance against him. Like gee, have a little empathy, take a moment to consider that this was not the society he grew up in. He didn't know these SCC rules because that was not something that would ever have crossed anyone's mind in the society he lived in. Sure, that doesn't necessarily make it right, but you also sure as hell can't blame him for what he didn't know. Goddamn Teddy. What a morally superior ass by proxy. And then goddamn Teddy for acting as if it's all Geo's fault for not knowing stuff "he should have known" because "any reasonable person would know this is what should be." That's fallacious self-centered thinking. Just because you believe it's a common knowledge thing doesn't necessarily mean the next person does, especially if he's from effectively a completely different culture.
BUT THEN APPARENTLY HE MAGICALLY DOES KNOW. So, what, then? He actually did, and is now rendered an ass, or author took a shortcut? Either way, I feel like he got shorted a lot of character development opportunity.
Nail cutting into your palms from clenching your hand.
...how. I know many people use this trope, but how the fuck is it even possible? Nails breaking skin when scratching, okay, but doing so from the force of finger strength alone? And I'm assuming this is more slow pressure, as opposed to sudden stabbing.
And man, Rory telling it like it is: "What safewords?" ... "Red and yellow. Like stop lights. Red to stop, yellow to slow down." "If they really were like stop lights, it'd be red to stop and yellow to speed up."
But then there's, like, humiliation in this, and humiliation is like NMK, so it got kind of awk and stuff. But then it's even weirder cuz they're also still trying to figure shit out, so they're fumbling their way through it, and then doing something they habitually do, but then pulling back like "Oh, shit, was that okay?"
I don't understand Rory's view on the children thing at all. I don't understand how he can profess to say - and by all appearances think - that it was fine, but then turn around and so vehemently say he'd never want that for his children. I dunno, maybe it's just the way I perceive it's being presented. It just seems like he got fed a party line and now he's repeating it religiously, perhaps by proxy. *shrug* it just seems like a viewpoint that doesn't quite seem like it's actually his.
And then when plot-y stuff starts happening towards pretty much the very end...talk about hitherto unsuspected magical skills. ...random.
The ending was like drama as deus ex machina to resolve the emotional/romantic arc. I'm not sure how I feel about that.
I suppose from a long-run view, it makes sense-ish to push Geo to the other side of the extreme so that he can know the other side, come to some sort of middle ground, and fully understand the implications of the duality of the system. But goddamn, is it annoying for me to have to see him being beaten down.
I guess this is like the Not All Men idea? But then, it bothers me that it seems like Teddy wants Geo to take responsibility and blame for the extreme ass side of the slave owner spectrum, which is not okay. Okay, trying to teach him that just because he didn't, doesn't mean the system wasn't corrupt or some shit. I mean, I get that it was for a point, and they do sort of lampshade that moment later, but I just sense an undercurrent of that throughout this. It's like the white guilt idea. Or narrative of American shame, as D'Souza touted. It just feels like they're pushing this shame narrative onto Geo and Rory, like okay, sure, your situation itself maybe wasn't bad, but it was part of this system, and that system was bad (blanket-classified, of course), and therefore your situation was by association bad. This gets onto slippery slopes of guilt/blame that I don't want to entirely generalize on because there is no real definitive answer to these sort of overarching moral quandaries, but I will say that even though I suppose I can kind of understand why, it's brutish and inelegant and I just feel like there might have been so many better ways to handle this.
They do lampshade it later on, a bit, but I dunno, I'd already gotten worked up about it by then and typed out the thing above. I do appreciate it, though. And objectively, I kind of understand why things are presented the way they are. It's the journey of the characters, and even if it seems stupidly obvious to me, I do recognize that it isn't so for the characters, and that they're coming to these realizations, too. It's easier to settle in now that they're in the exploration stage, where they've stopped trying to force an understanding and just letting it play out.
The story/characters. I did kind of like it/them, even if Demon seemed to make little sense to me except as Rory's motivator/foil, but then when , I couldn't understand why Demon was written to react the way she did. What the fucking hell happened? Did she have a psychotic break or something? I mean, sure, she never seemed really fond of Geo before, but this was like a full descent into paranoia and increasingly erratic and violent behavior and everything. It was just bizarre.
Also, did Teddy give Berry a blow job or something? Like that reaction from the "background check" thing...or was that just odd writing?
Also, speaking of Berry, I was totally one of those Phteven people. When he was first introduced as "Berry-with-an-e" I stared at it thinking "...like...Berre...?" It wasn't until Berry was brought up again, and it was spelled "Berry" still, that I sat back and kind of read it to myself and realized, "Oh. Berry, with an e. As in, not 'Barry.'"
Geo's body thrums a lot. Like he has a lot of whole-body reactions to stuff. It's kind of odd.
One question I have is: do D/s relationships exist within this universe outside of the context of legal slavery? It's not really apparent whether or not there's such a subculture in this AU. Okay, wait. Psychologist used the term "kinky." I'm going to assume...yes. And yay, this therapist sounds decent. Coolio.
Okay, BDSM is a thing.
Oh, shit, it's that thing again. Where these idiots are holding Geo's ignorance against him. Like gee, have a little empathy, take a moment to consider that this was not the society he grew up in. He didn't know these SCC rules because that was not something that would ever have crossed anyone's mind in the society he lived in. Sure, that doesn't necessarily make it right, but you also sure as hell can't blame him for what he didn't know. Goddamn Teddy. What a morally superior ass by proxy. And then goddamn Teddy for acting as if it's all Geo's fault for not knowing stuff "he should have known" because "any reasonable person would know this is what should be." That's fallacious self-centered thinking. Just because you believe it's a common knowledge thing doesn't necessarily mean the next person does, especially if he's from effectively a completely different culture.
BUT THEN APPARENTLY HE MAGICALLY DOES KNOW. So, what, then? He actually did, and is now rendered an ass, or author took a shortcut? Either way, I feel like he got shorted a lot of character development opportunity.
Nail cutting into your palms from clenching your hand.
...how. I know many people use this trope, but how the fuck is it even possible? Nails breaking skin when scratching, okay, but doing so from the force of finger strength alone? And I'm assuming this is more slow pressure, as opposed to sudden stabbing.
And man, Rory telling it like it is: "What safewords?" ... "Red and yellow. Like stop lights. Red to stop, yellow to slow down." "If they really were like stop lights, it'd be red to stop and yellow to speed up."
But then there's, like, humiliation in this, and humiliation is like NMK, so it got kind of awk and stuff. But then it's even weirder cuz they're also still trying to figure shit out, so they're fumbling their way through it, and then doing something they habitually do, but then pulling back like "Oh, shit, was that okay?"
I don't understand Rory's view on the children thing at all. I don't understand how he can profess to say - and by all appearances think - that it was fine, but then turn around and so vehemently say he'd never want that for his children. I dunno, maybe it's just the way I perceive it's being presented. It just seems like he got fed a party line and now he's repeating it religiously, perhaps by proxy. *shrug* it just seems like a viewpoint that doesn't quite seem like it's actually his.
And then when plot-y stuff starts happening towards pretty much the very end...talk about hitherto unsuspected magical skills. ...random.
The ending was like drama as deus ex machina to resolve the emotional/romantic arc. I'm not sure how I feel about that.
May 1, 2024
had some good moments
It had some good moments but I felt like it lost the plot. I was into it when it was “what’s it like not being a slave” but then it tried slice of life, then they shoehorned some random non plot driven randomness and then said “oh hey here’s a moral” then a lame “read the other books to see what happens to this other character we had plenty of time to address their situation but didn’t because we wanted more money.
Idk. Also random trans rep, I love trans rep, I’m trans but it just felt like “an I make this character trans and tell you that and it’s not even a b story and I play it for cheap tension- I’m so inclusive..”
We want more fully developed trans characters and not just for tension or drama or whatever.
It had some good moments but I felt like it lost the plot. I was into it when it was “what’s it like not being a slave” but then it tried slice of life, then they shoehorned some random non plot driven randomness and then said “oh hey here’s a moral” then a lame “read the other books to see what happens to this other character we had plenty of time to address their situation but didn’t because we wanted more money.
Idk. Also random trans rep, I love trans rep, I’m trans but it just felt like “an I make this character trans and tell you that and it’s not even a b story and I play it for cheap tension- I’m so inclusive..”
We want more fully developed trans characters and not just for tension or drama or whatever.
June 16, 2015
I loved the psychology of the slave mentality and how it looked at whether Geo and Rory's feelings were genuine, if the even could be genuine, because of the master/slave issue. It was so evident that Geo truly cared for Rory and I was glad that we were able to see them struggle to navigate Rory's freedom in the context of his desire to submit; it made what they felt real.
I also loved the supporting cast of characters and was glad they both had such wonderful friends.
I would have loved to see a scene after they got back together of Rory's willing submission as a free man.
I also loved the supporting cast of characters and was glad they both had such wonderful friends.
I would have loved to see a scene after they got back together of Rory's willing submission as a free man.
November 4, 2014
I liked how unique this story was. It's a fantastic concept to. once more, abolish slavery. I love how the author explains how slavery began again and how it's a choice for punishment in the eyes of the courts. Very clever. The characters were fantastic and it's rare that my favorite character in a book is actually a secondary character, but I adored Teddy! Absolutely my favorite in this book! I believe in certain areas he kept this book going. I do look forward in seeing where Kris Ripper takes this series.
August 10, 2014
Set in an AU of our world, where slavery and indentured servitude were once again legal, they are now illegal, and all former slaves have been removed from their owners. The story explores the consequences of owning and being owned, from both side's POV. Geo and Rory, the main characters, are engaging, as is their struggle to reconnect. The secondary characters add depth to the story, and the plot twist near the end was suspenseful and worked well for the ultimate resolution.
June 16, 2015
Going Home. I can't believe how many times I screamed at the pages of this one 'get over it.' I got that our MCs were totally connected to each other and they needed to be together but I just couldn't handle the political/social control programs that was forced upon them. I just didn't like or care for most of the secondary characters. Now don't get me wrong this is a perfectly fine read it's just not for me.
September 4, 2014
I enjoyed this short from the m/m groups event this year, but I was a little upset about the lack of time the two main characters actually spent together. If there had been more of this, I would of rated this much higher as I found much to enjoy here.
There was a great cast of characters and the world building was very interesting.
I would read more by this author.
There was a great cast of characters and the world building was very interesting.
I would read more by this author.
August 13, 2016
I like the idea behind the story, and I adored several of the characters.
Rory is my favorite, and I really like the way he handles D. Geo's kind of a wuss though and I don't quite get why Teddy, who kicks ass and takes no prisoners, is so instantly such a great friend to him.
It's not my fave Ripper, but fun. I'll get to the rest of this series later.
Rory is my favorite, and I really like the way he handles D. Geo's kind of a wuss though and I don't quite get why Teddy, who kicks ass and takes no prisoners, is so instantly such a great friend to him.
It's not my fave Ripper, but fun. I'll get to the rest of this series later.
mm-start-of-series
May 27, 2016Genre: alternate universe
Tags: established relationship, separated and reunited, master/slave, overbearing friends, dirty talk, BDSM, hurt/comfort
Content Warning: past abuse/rape of secondary character
Tags: established relationship, separated and reunited, master/slave, overbearing friends, dirty talk, BDSM, hurt/comfort
Content Warning: past abuse/rape of secondary character
August 11, 2014
The prompt captured my imagination from the beginning, and this story has definitely done it justice. Though there were some parts that I didn't quite understand (like the revelation at the end), overall, I'd say that this is a great read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews