Retribution

Tribute #2

by Kate Pearce

Cheated out of his exit from the Tribute program, Kai Mexr is forced to return as a trainer for one more year. His trainee, Aled Price, is an idealistic Mitan patriot who Kai struggles not to loathe on sight, and who seems up for any challenge Kai sets him. As Aled learns to give up control and endure the program’s worst, Kai is drawn into an intense sexual game that leaves him wanting more.

But then Aled must fulfill his duty as Tribute. He must endure the Ungrich — or die.

When Aled returns, it takes Kai’s ruthless presence to pull his trainee back from the brink of madness. Surviving the Ungrich makes Aled doubt his blind allegiance to his planet — and to everything else he’d never thought to question. But with Kai at his side, Aled finds a new cause to believe in. And with the help of master trainer Akran and his partner Anna Lee, Aled and Kai forge unbreakable allegiances of blood, sex, and love that could save the entire planet from the Ungrich for good.

Word 26,500; page 100

Genres: Science Fiction, Erotica, M M Romance, Romance, LGBT, Novella

100 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 3, 2015

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kate Pearce was born in England in the middle of a large family of girls and quickly found that her imagination was far more interesting than real life. After acquiring a degree in history and barely escaping from the British Civil Service alive, she moved to California and then to Hawaii with her kids and her husband and set about reinventing herself as a romance writer.

She is known for both her unconventional heroes and her joy at subverting romance clichés. In her spare time she self publishes science fiction erotic romance, historical romance, and whatever else she can imagine. You can find Kate on katepearce.com.

Reviews

[Tanja ~ KT Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

* Reader discretion advised. This title contains the following sensitive themes: Dubious Consent, Non-Consent, Explicit Violence, Heavy Kink

Beginning on the heals of Sacrifice, we are thrust back into training a set of new tributes. Again, this is a darker erotica and the training in brutal. This time a trainee has volunteered. As before it’s the later 50% of this book that seals the deal for me. Emotions crack and hearts begin to beat. Is it a Stockholm situation or much, much more? I really like how the two books are melding together to begin a much deeper storyline and are truly excited to see how this will play out in the next book, Triumph.


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[Dia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book so I think I shall give it 3 stars.

I haven't read the first book in this series, but I saw it can be read as a stand alone.

I dived into this book full force ahead, knowing about the sensitive themes: dubious consent, non-consent, heavy kink and explicit violence. And that's exactly what I was looking for, so this book didn't disappoint.
To an extent, I found it quite predictable, Aled falling for his trainer - kind of a Stockholm syndrome, even if Aled chose willingly to be trained... But it's a tough training our Aled Pierce was getting. He was a patriot but he didn't know what he was really getting into. Kai, his trainer, is rude and ruthless. He seems to enjoy the pain he inflicts but deep down he craves it too.

This is a short book, full of action and well it has A LOT of sex scenes.

I was a little surprised with the Ungrich's "treatment" and what they were really after.

I've read it in one standing and I can't say I am bothered by the cliff hanger at the end of the book. Not sure I will read the next one, but I was quite surprised by this dark story, where I haven't expected the L-word to pop up.

[Reflection · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay I put my hand up - I like angst and I completely fell for the cover design of Retribution (and the name). I had high hopes that this would be a dark and interesting sci-fi tale.

I haven't read the first book in the series, or any other books by Kate Pearce. Undaunted I was keen to try Retribution and it works quite well as a standalone book (although it ends on a cliff hanger which I find irritating).

Advisory warning is given that reader discretion applies about sensitive themes of dubious consent, non-consent, explicit violence and heavy kink none of which put me off, but I guess I had been anticipating a bit more of a story and instead it felt like a series of sex scenes linked together tenuously by a light plot and insufficient character depth for me to care greatly for either protagonist Mitan patriot Aled Price or his jaded trainer Kai Mexr.

It seems the story is pretty much a smut fest from start to almost finish. Perhaps, readers who followed the first book would have been better clued in about what was happening, but I, like Aled was somewhat shocked by unfolding events and determined to get through them.

I think this is a case of 'it's not you, it's me'. I really am not keen on unnecessary humiliation and even less keen on gratuitous sex scenes. So truthfully this book did not work for me. I think the concept is quite clever: Aled must fulfill his duty as Tribute and endure the Ungrich — or die; but I was unimpressed with how the story is constructed, and there are too many plot holes to take Retribution seriously. With hindsight I am pretty certain that the story is not intended to be anything more than an out and out kink fest. My mistake.

For those who like a story laced with hot and heavy sex scenes between fit guys with more than a frisson of humiliation in the mix, then this may well be a great way to pass a few hours, for those seeking something a little more serious, move on. Despite the cliff hanger, I have learned my lesson and will not be reading any more in the Tribute series despite its originality.

Complimentary copy supplied by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Ije the Devourer of Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book two of the tribute series and this time the story focuses on Kai Mexr who has to train a man called Aled Price.

Kai thought he would have been able to leave the programme by now, but his last trainee died and so he has to take up another trainee in order to fulfil his quota. He wants out of the programme but his new trainee piques his interest and he begins to train him with a ruthlessness that hides a deep seated desire.

Aled is a soldier, patriot and a tough guy. He volunteered for the programme out of honour and idealism, not knowing what he was letting himself in for. He holds his own during the programme despite Kai's hardness and the brutality of Palk.

And then he goes to the Ungrich. Aled's recovery from the Ungrich is easier than Anna's (book one) but his time with the Ungrich has uncovered the Ungrich's interests and this puts both Anna and Aled at risk.

I much preferred this story to book one because I prefer mm to mf but I did feel that the training part of the story was slightly repetitive. I also think a lot more could have been made of the emotions and feelings between the two men and there should have been a real struggle and battle of wills but it didn't really happen that way.

This is quite a brutal series but oddly enough not too disturbing. I think it is because it is sci-fi so the reader knows that it is all fiction but also the emotions don't really come through the story. I found this kind of boring and clinical.

There are growing questions about the Ungrich. In this book and we get to learn a bit more about them and see them in action. I think this was the most interesting part of the story and it would have been good to have more of this but I can wait for the final instalment.

All in all it was a good read. Great sci-fi. Onwards to the final part!

Copy provided by Riptide Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always admired and been secretly jealous of Kate Pearce's amazing imagination. The paranormal and alternate world stories she comes up with blow my mind, literally! These intricately weaved plots with characters who're growing and changing so much--I've learned to understand emotions from not only beings from other planets but from other times as well! This series is totally another thing entirely--I was at once repelled but still fascinated by the idea of being a sacrifice. And the things that happen...unspeakable! The first book in the series was pretty intense, but this kicks it up a notch. You've got to put on your big-girl reader pants and belly up to the bar...er, Ungrich.

Kai really got the raw end of the deal in the first book. He was hoping to get out of the training program too, but there was only room for one to leave. So he let his buddy go. This time, there's really nothing for him to lose while training these "sacrifices" for the Ungrich. However, this one trainee's got an attitude problem. And we all know what can happen to everybody if one sacrifice freaks out and screws up. Annihilation for everyone. So Kai's got to really work with Aled to get him ready. Unfortunately, sometimes spending time with someone leads to caring about them. Kai's done this for so long, is he really going to screw this up now, when he's got the chance to get out?

The thing is, even if what I'm reading makes me close my eyes and squeak, I keep reading. Because this woman can write a compelling story. After the first in the series, Sacrifice, I was clawing for the second. After this one... you're going to be trying to swim to Hawaii to her house to get #3, Triumph! Lucky for you it's already out!

Good stuff as always!

[Free_dreamer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review @Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
3.5 stars

First of all: Please do take that warning seriously. I don’t think there was a single really consensual sex scene in this book. There was even a bit of tentacle rape, though that was rather short and non-explicit. There’s also a LOT of kink here. If any of those things bother you, this is not a book for you.

I didn’t read book one of the series but I never felt like I missed vital information. So this definitely works as a stand-alone, even if the ending has a very mean cliff hanger.

Essentially, “Retribution” is 100 pages of pure sex, with a bit of combat training mixed in. The sex was really, really hot and very kinky. I decided not to read this while out in public after a few pages. It had me all hot and bothered. ;)

I didn’t realize there would be in this, so I was a little worried when I started reading and saw the tentacles at the beginning of each chapter. Tentacle rape is so not my kind of thing, but those scenes were mercifully brief and unlike everything else, also rather non-explicit.

There was no real plot here and the world-building was pretty much non-existent. Honestly, I didn’t mind that much. The occasional bit of porn is fun and this had just the right length.

If you’re looking for a quick, hot read with tons of kink and don’t mind non-/dub-con, then you’ll like “Retribution”. Just don’t expect too much plot.

I’m not sure if I want to read part 3 as well, since that seems to be M/M/F, which I’ve never tried.

The cover by Lou Harper is quite hot, just like the story. Well done.

[Ishabelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t actually go for the MM of FF types of books. The reason is because I like heterosexual couples because it’s what I can relate to. However, I recently discovered Kate Pearce’s Tribute series, and let me tell you, I really got sucked into the general plot of the series. I really enjoy Sci Fi romances, but this is the first science fiction romance I’ve read that leans into the LGBTQ subgenre.

The series is about men and women becoming Tributes and serving a week being prodded and examined in all imaginable ways by an alien race called Ungrich. The first book in the series featured a heterosexual couples, but the hero in that book had MM sex scenes with other characters. This second book focuses on two male characters, so it focuses more on an MM relationship.

I have to tell you that if you are looking for heavy kink, this is your book. This is your series. All those scenes and all the ways they had sex or were penetrated by men, alien, and machine were really out of this world. Also, almost every other page was a sex scene. Therefore, if you are looking for smut, look no further. However, there is also a bigger story than the smut. That’s the pne about the Ungrich. I’ve been dying to find out what happens next between the tributes and how they are going to completely defeat this alien race, so I cannot wait to read the final installment. I think more than the LGBTQ elements of the series, what really drew me in was the sci-fi aspect. The romance was a bonus, but it was a very good bonus for me.

[Don · Rating 1 out of 5]

There isn't a sympathetic or 'real' character in sight for the first 80% of this book and I doubt that any appeared after I finally gave up on it at that point. Since I felt no connection with any of the characters, the sex (mostly violent in nature) never felt the least bit erotic. As to the rest of it, there is a crudeness in the writing overall and it isn't only due to an absence of any aftercare between Top and bottom but rather a seeming effort on the part of the author to pack a wallop, take a breath, pack a wallop, rinse and repeat.

[Caroline Naught · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all, RETRIBUTION is part of a series. It clearly says so on Riptide’s webpage, and every other page I’ve seen advertising the book since. Even so, that detail somehow managed to elude me, and I requested RETRIBUTION without having read its predecessor. All right, I’ll admit it—I saw the eye-candy on the cover, read the blurb, and immediately thought, “Yes, please!” I definitely wasn’t thinking with my brain when I requested it, and that made me sloppy. For that, I apologize.

Sadly, the promise made by RETRIBUTION‘s cover and blurb never quite panned out. While the book contains all the plot points the blurb mentions, along with all the “sensitive themes” we readers could hope for, its cardboard characters fail to excite. By the time I’d made it half way through the novel, I knew only a handful of facts about the two main characters. Kai Mexr is a trainer. Aled Price is a patriot who agreed to be trained as part of the Tribute program. Oh, and I knew what they looked like—and that one was a jaded top and the other an inexperienced bottom, a dynamic that is almost de rigeur in Master/trainer stories. That I could have gathered all these things from the front and back cover alone means the words between the covers have to do something else. Moreover, in a story so short, every word must do double duty. Unfortunately, the first 13,000 words of RETRIBUTION were mostly porn.

The pace of the novel picked up substantially from the midpoint, but by then it was difficult for me to care about Kai and Aled, especially when new characters were thrown into the mix of their relationship. They’d just begun to develop a spark between them when the book ended—and on a cliffhanger, no less. I don’t mind those in general, when the book in question leaves me wanting more. RETRIBUTION did not.

Had I read the first book in this series, I feel that many of RETRIBUTION‘s empty holes might have been filled in for me. As it was, the Ugrich hardly cast any shadow on the plot until more than half way through the novel. That simply doesn’t work when the Ugrich is the major threat. I might have been more concerned about the Ugrich situation from the story’s beginning if I had already been immersed in the Tribute universe once. If you are to pick up this novel, definitely read SACRIFICE first.

Two out of five stars.

I received a copy of Retribution from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[ItsAboutTheBook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review can be read at It's About The Book

Kai Mexr really hates his trainee, Aled Price. Kai sort of hates everything at the moment, but Aled is particularly annoying. Aled may be thinking he’s a patriot, but he has no clue what he’s in for, and Kai can’t tell him. Yeah, it’s for the good of Mitan, but Aled really doesn’t want to end up on Commander Palk’s radar. It’s not until Kai steps in to save Aled from his own mistakes that Aled comes to the conclusion there is more going on than strictly meets the eye. When Aled returns from his time with the Ungrich he’s angry and Kai is there. Aled makes Kai the focal point of every emotion he feels, unfortunately Kai doesn’t think he’s worthy of any of them but the hate and anger.

This series has me completely riveted. I don’t think there is a huge amount of characterization for either Kai or Aled, but I don’t care. I cannot look away from them. Aled’s emotions didn’t make a whole lot of sense, and I don’t care. And that ending! Gah! In some ways I don’t really know what to say. The biggest thing to happen here is Aled’s disillusionment, and that isn’t really what he ends up angry about. Survivors of the Ungrich seem to be upset by their time with the Ungrich as opposed to being lied to for years by Palk and the Mitan government.

There is a lot of sex and it’s only vaguely consensual throughout most of the book. The plot for the series as a whole moved ahead nicely and has me thoroughly on the edge of my seat. There is a lot I don’t like about this series, but I know these will be books I re-read. They’re entertaining. If you’re looking to be entertained by a short read I would absolutely recommend this series.

[Pansy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Reader discretion advised. This title contains the following sensitive themes: Dubious Consent, Non-Consent, Explicit Violence, Heavy Kink.” Dear reader, please note this warning. You will find all of this and more in this story. You have been warned.

Now me – I read just about anything. There are some subjects that I will pass on, but this is not one of them. I like a dark, kinky story and boy howdy – does this one hit that dubious taste bud.

Where the lead couple in the first book – Sacrifice – was male/female, the featured couple in this book is male/male. Didn’t seem to make much difference in the amount or kind of sex in the story though. It was all harsh and usually dubious consent at best. But again, there was a purpose, of sorts, to it all.

There is more information about what is going on behind the scenes. Not a lot, but enough to keep my interest in the story. So many questions remain. We are not left with cliffhangers, but . . . wtf? I look forward to the next book to see if we get any kind of answer and or resolution to what is going on here.

I received an ARC copy of this title for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated in any way for this review. All conclusions are my own opinions and responsibility.

[bookaholic ge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC from Net Galley for my honest review...

And I want to start by saying WOW .. just remember this book is not for the faint of heart..I read book 1... now I have read book 2.. and boy am I hooked.

Kai Mexr was supposed to leave the Tribute program but he was tricked out of his retirement before he could step out of the building. Now Kai has one last cadet left to train...who knows maybe the teacher will become the student this time around!

My review

I don't know how Kate Pearce does it but she was not playing around when it came to this book. She created a world where the unknown is coming to take over the world and to survive the bravest of the brave must risk everything...and I mean everything...not just a little bit but EVERYTHING to keep the world safe!

While I do not condone some of the actions of some of the characters in this book I will say that this book is good. Just keep in mind that this book has some M/M action with some MFM action with lots of kink. Sooo put down the sweet cookie cutter romance novel and get ready to walk on the dark side! Great job Pearce!

[Shira Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing is clean and concise, but the book didn't wow me. As some readers have noted, this is a series, after all. Starting with this, the 2nd book, I expected I'd miss out on some of the worldbuilding. And I'm pretty sure I did, but then I was reading this more as a guilty pleasure than looking for serious sci fi, so that was fine. The book fell flat for me on a different level.

The sexy bits, and they are dark and plentiful, were promising, but I found it difficult to feel the pull between the two MCs. Not quite instalove, but the emotions just seemed lacking and then, boom, there's a love powerful enough for one of the men to risk a trip to hell and back to save the other. Perhaps a bit more time to develop the relationship between the two, and I might have been sold on it, but as it was, it felt glossed over.

This book ends on a serious cliffhanger, and I will be reading the last book. I am hopeful I'll get a bit more of that emotional connection in the last book in the series.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in the tribute series and I would recommend reading Sacrifice first it can be read as a stand-alone. Also please note this is a dark read that contains M/M with dubious consent, non-consent, explicit violence and kink. Kai is forced to return as a trainer for one more year, Aled volunteered for the brutal program and when he endures the Ungrich and comes back on the brink of insanity. This is a fast paced, action packed read with lots of kink and violence, a dark read but a good one. I really liked it looking forward to more.

[Heidi Dover]

This was good, but really seemed short. Not a lot of depth or development in the characters, so I didn't feel connected to either or really understood what they saw in each other. Because of that, this felt a little superficial. Interesting to see where the story might be heading, but this seemed like only a partial story that didn't pull me in quite like the first. Will read the last int he series to see the resolution and hope there's more to these two characters.

[Scott McQ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this boot get into it. No. that's not right, I couldn't get into it. I hadn't read the first book, so maybe that explains it. About halfway through it caught me though. Sadly. it lost me at the end though with the sudden ending. It was an OK read, but nothing that really caught me up.

[Karry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpected and totally awesome

The story in this book picks up right where the first one left off. Great continuation in storyline. Fantastic cliffhanger ending. I'm so glad November isn't that far away, cause I'm dying for book three!

[Tami Veldura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

Aaaaaaahhhh, cliffhanger beware! This series stands up well to binge reading and I'm a big fan. On to book three!

[Elke]

WARNING !!! TRIGGER !!! WOW, truly WOW !
This is a continue of book 1 and not really as intense... but still...
I want to give this a negative 5* but other than it being "rape" adjacent, it's not such a bad story. This review is hard to write. Love the authors writing style. It was a well written, compelling story that grabs the readers attention right from the start. ( ya either scream and throw your e-reader across the room ) or remember, Kate Pearce wrote it, and struggle through the (scream and throw your e-reader across the room) parts and realize KP has a wonderful and a little bit crazy mind.
Remember I warned you :P

[Lynxie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very quick read (a little more than a 90min flight up the East coast of Australia), Retribution packs in quite a lot.

Fresh from the end of book #1, we are thrust back into the tribute program but this time with two men. I’m a fan of m/m romance, smut and porn, so that aspect didn’t bother me. What did was how light on it felt.

The content was heavy with torture and dubious/non-consent, but this time I felt more a voyeur than experiencing it with the characters.

Definitely for adults only, Retribution feels like it suffers from middle child syndrome. I’ll definitely read book #3, just wanted a bit more from this one.

*I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley*

[Mysterious · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hot at times but sexual torture is not my thing.

[Erin Grigson Baylis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alien romance. Very explicit. You have been warned.
5/10

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picks up right where book one ended. We get to meet Aled and his journey through the Tribute program.