By Command Alone: Book 1 of the Kinky ABC Anthology

by J. De Saint

They told him to obey.
He found out he loved it.

In a world of uniforms, discipline, and unrelenting control, one recruit learns that surrendering isn’t weakness. It’s exactly what he’s been waiting for.


By Command Alone is the first book of the Kinky ABC Anthology, a collection of stand-alone stories where each letter explores a different kink. In this first book, ‘A’ is for Authority Kink.
Each book can be read on its own, but together they form an unapologetic alphabet of fun. So enjoy.


This story's intended for a mature audience.

Genres: M M Romance, BDSM, Military Fiction, Romance, Novella

144 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 10, 2025

Reviews

[Whisper Wallen]

I tried I really did but I’m calling it a day when it comes to feet 🤮 That’s a nope from me.

[briannasbooked · Rating 5 out of 5]

LANE & HALE

✨️ BOOK REVIEW 📗⁣
⁣
𝔹𝕪 ℂ𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝔸𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕖, 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟏 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐲 𝐀𝐁𝐂 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 (𝘈 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺)⁣
⁣
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘺.⁣
𝘏𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵.⁣
⁣
𝘐𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘴, 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭, 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳.⁣
⁣
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶⁣
💚💚💚💚💚⁣
⁣
This was quick and dirty - in the very best way 🔥 Lane joins the military and finds exactly what he is looking for (and needs) in Drill Sergeant Hale. This book brings all the kink and heat, but also the swooniest parts too. This is an awesome debut and I can't wait to learn my ABCs 😏⁣
⁣
⁣
*𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴!⁣
⁣
#bookstagram #gaybookstagram #mmbookstagram⁣
#romancereadersofinstagram #bookish #booklover #bookrecs #gaybooks #gaylove #mmbooks #mmromancereads #mmromancebooks #mmromancereader

[Tate Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Didn’t know I needed this in my life.
Glad I found it.

Cannot wait for more. It’s going to be a fun series!

[Amanda Banks · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t want to be rude… but please let me never read anything from this author again.

[Berenice Peltier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg, I just finished this book and I have thoughts. As a reviewer, and as a mistress,I went through a full rollercoaster of reactions. The absence of aftercare at the beginning? Honestly, a major point of contention for me. It immediately set off alarms, and from a critical standpoint, the dynamic initially reads as deeply unhealthy for any real-life BDSM framework.

That said… the author clearly leans into a dark, unapologetically filthy M/M dynamic, and wow it commits. The progression of their relationship is messy, morally gray, and definitely not meant to be aspirational, but it’s undeniably compelling from a narrative perspective.

My sub was completely hooked too, especially with the heavy emphasis on humiliation and degradation. The objectification? Intense. The way one of them is reduced to nothing but an object… it’s dark, it’s provocative, and it absolutely delivers for readers who enjoy that kind of power imbalance in fiction.

From a structural standpoint, I will say the emotional payoff hits when finally aftercare is introduced. That shift adds a layer of depth that, for me, redeemed a lot of the earlier tension.

The ending itself? Strong, satisfying, and thematically consistent. The epilogue, though… I’m still a little conflicted personally, it didn’t fully land for me.

Overall, as a review: this is a bold, divisive M/M read with a heavy focus on dark dynamics, and while it’s not a model for healthy relationships, it’s incredibly engaging within its genre. Definitely recommended just know what you’re walking into 😉

[Adrianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw there weren’t many reviews so I really wanted to write one. Firstly, a lot of the negative ones would’ve been avoided if people read full trigger and kink list! I read it and I was ready and excited. (not a fan of foot play either but the way this was done was hot because it was all about submission and degradation)

this was super short!!! i would give up everything to get a full length book where we get more of what happens to them and with them. I honestly didn’t expect the ending to be that way, where it seemed to be he got a bit softer but that’s what made me crave for more book. This is a super fun and fast paced read though, FULL SMUT with a sprinkle of plot.

I love this dynamic so much. I loved how it was done and how raw and honest Lane always was. I wish we could’ve gotten dual POV because I bet Hale’s thoughts were crazy.

This is my first book by this author and I hadn’t considered the other in the series because I chose this one specifically based on the kinks and dynamics but it was so good I’m going to read the others even if they’re not my typical reads!

[audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

dirty and depraved and everything i could ever want. so hot. i love a whore who loves being a whore.

[Trinity · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶/5

TW - military setting, homophobic slurs (incl f slur), manipulation, psychological control, religious guilt, internalised homophobia, alcohol consumption, drugs (weed, mentioned), vomit (sc, mentioned), smoking, coerced consent (involving a sc)

CW - D/s, forced submission, degradation, humiliation, objectification, cock worship, service kink, impact play, overstimulation boot worship, edging, intimacy denial, authority kink, trampling, orgasm denial, foot play, public play, felching, spitting, biting

Tropes - erotica, military

Representation - queer rep, MM

If you know me, you know I don’t give 5/5 🌶️ often yet, here we are. This was smutty in like… a what am I actually reading?? way.

Have fun

Scale:
⭐️ - would've DNF'ed / continued out of spite
⭐️⭐️ - shit, but whatever
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - meh, could've been better
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - lit 👅
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - loved it, inject this shit into my veins 🤪

🫑 - no smut
🌶 - no point
🌶🌶 - mediocre at best
🌶🌶🌶 - standard smut, hot
🌶🌶🌶🌶 - 🥵 okay, some CW
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 - fuck me 🥵🥵 CWs / filthy with a side of filth - see Poison / Room Twenty-Two: Hide and Seek/ The Naughty List / The Naughtier List / By Command Alone: Book 1 of the Kinky ABC Anthology

TW/CW not to be repurposed by authors / publishers for website / book / content use without permission

[_mykee_b · Rating 5 out of 5]

‼️Check the TW/CWs, your mental health matters‼️

Not bad for what I assume is a debut. Give it 4.5 stars. A quick sexy, smutty read in a military setting.
The author highlights quite a bit of the more _niche_ kînks, if you will. So, for that it was refreshing to see some different *taste* on page.

[Zoë Elias · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soo i read the second book first which i am so obsessed with, then i read this one
I loved the whole army vibe and the comand and control, the foot worshipping however was not my cup of tea but i mean we can’t love everything right?!
The second half of the book was my favorite and i loved how there was an hea and both guys got what they wanted in the end !

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

What.... in the foot fu.... that was new for me.... 🤣🤣🤣

If you look at this book has pure entertainment than yes it is completely that! It is down right dirty fun! A lesson in submission and control for sure... it is not a let talk about limits and safe words book... it is a you do what I say when I say it book...

[Ailee Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, concise, but still whole.

This book edged me. At a point, my eyes and my hands were twitching at how bad the book was edging me. The recruit wasn't the only one being edged. I was, but when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, it delivered. Overdelivered. Good job, Author.

[Diana Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but Effective, filthy ! hot.... Lane was put trough it man.... 🤣 this series is a genius idea! I cant wait for more!!!!!! absolutely recommend but check your TW because this aint light *eyebrow wiggles*

[Treyreadss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short dirty fun, Lane is a greedy greedy boy. This was such a good palate cleanser. You really feel the neediness of Lane in every chapter, and when he finally gets what he wants from Hale it’s well worth it.

[Tammi A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Changed my rating from 4 stars to 3 after thinking more about the content of the book. Everyone has kinks that are unique to them but I draw the line at MST. If that part wasn't in the book, I would give it a higher rating. Also, if there was a trigger warning for that, I didn't see it.

[Ema]

I like dark romances but with this one since there is no build up or explanation to how things started it delt kinda like assault to me, and yeah the MC finds it hot and all but i just missed the beggining or some kind of consent

[Gia · Rating 1 out of 5]

missing content warning

I was really enjoying this book but I’ve decided to dnf due to a missing content warning.
Chapter 0006 contains a scene where MMC2 forces someone else to perform sexual acts on MMC1, even when he says he doesn’t want to.

[Ashley Reyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved it, but minus one star because i wanted a true hea :(

[Vita · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Sir… I want a kiss.”

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

That’s one way to end a book that’s not related to the rest of the anthology 🫣🫣🫣

[Kris Eshenaur · Rating 3 out of 5]

😳

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gives a while new meaning to that show ‘Boots’.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 🌟

For what it is, this is filthy and fun. I thought that most of the “dirty talk” was repetitive, but I did still enjoy it.

[Neisha † The Poet † · Rating 5 out of 5]

S. HFN. Would I call that cheating? I mean… no, but yea. Humiliation wasn’t the word

[Crista · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book ist super long, it takes you through boot camp of a guy who joined the army because he wants someone to order him around and he falls for the drill Sargent. Why join? Why not just date someone like that? He also was a ‘gay virgin’ so it’s like he went in looking for it but didn’t as well. That parts confusing. There is a lot of, training I guess for lack of a better word. The drill Sargent is training the recruit to be his perfect boy, and that gets dark at times.

[Roy Mendes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another short, no-frills read about indulging in degradation and kink. There's no real story here beyond a toxic relationship between a basic training recruit and his drill sergeant and the escalating sexual situations they end up in. It's a good, one-handed read. but skip if you can't handle uses of the f-slur, very little respect, or extremely messed up power dynamics.

[Isabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The spice and obsession felt well done, but the kink was just a biiit too strong for me and not quite my thing in that extreme.