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Power #1-2
Dark Needs
Two bestselling novellas by two Phaze favorites, together in one volume! The Power of Two: As a vampire Master, Dominic has been eyeing his old friend, Griffith for quite a while. But being a Master in his own right, Grif resisted the notion of Dominic controlling him in any way. With startling skill, Dominic sets out to change that refusal. He has his own deep interest in him, born of watching Grif's submission at the hand of another Master. Even though Dominic can't help but toy with his old friend, in truth, he wants him only as an equal. But how to convince Grif without letting his guard down is Dominic's biggest issue. Aware of some of that interest but not the reason for it, Grif has his own secret. His trust had been violated by his own vampire Master, and since that night, he's refused to let another dominate him. And he'd swore to himself that no one ever would. Dominion: Still dealing with the aftershocks of his ordeal at Tristan's hands, Griffith St. James is fighting the urge to withdraw completely. He feels guilty for what happened, less than a man. The nightmares of his torture at his former master's hands are worse than ever. Dominic Marcellus struggles to draw Grif back into their life before Tristan, but fate has other plans. Finding himself back in the clutches of his abusive former master, Grif is terrified and can only pray Dominic comes for him in time.
187 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2007
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34 people want to read
About the author
Mychael Black
329 books113 followersFormerly known as Kay Derwydd
Myc has been writing professionally since 2005, solo and with Shayne Carmichael. Genres include pretty much anything (no steampunk yet), though Myc is well known for paranormal stories. When not writing, Myc is usually playing PC games, reading, editing, watching movies and shows on Netflix and Amazon, or spending way too much time on Facebook.
Myc has been writing professionally since 2005, solo and with Shayne Carmichael. Genres include pretty much anything (no steampunk yet), though Myc is well known for paranormal stories. When not writing, Myc is usually playing PC games, reading, editing, watching movies and shows on Netflix and Amazon, or spending way too much time on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 3, 2011
I have reviewed each novella separately:
POWER OF TWO - A very intense tale of BDSM, and healing love. The two concepts may seem contradictory, but the authors have skillfully married them. Grif and Dominic are vampires. They are also Dominant masters living and working together to train their two subs. A teasing test of wills has been growing between them, and is ready to blossom into much more. But Grif is hiding deep emotional wounds. He wasn't always a master; he was once a submissive. And he was cruelly betrayed; his master went beyond Grif's safe limits, allowing others to violate him. But the need to submit is still within. As he struggles with this, Dominic takes in a new sub - Tristan. Grif knows Tristan. Tristan was one of those that hurt him. And he's here to hurt Grif again if he can.
Unlike some BDSM-themed novellas which charge in with the whipping and handcuffs, but lack true emotion, "The Power of Two" has a surprising depth. There is good character development, and a deeper look at what dominants and submissives gain from such relationships. What I liked in particular was the subtle emphasis on touching. At one point Grif allows Dominic to whip him, and he enjoys it. But, he needs Dominic to hold him afterward to keep their relationship grounded outside of the pain. Since these are vampires the S&M takes on the darker aspect of blood, but that is expected. The interplay between Dominic and Grif swings between intensity and playfulness, with thoughtful dialog and erotic bondage/sex scenes. Having the vampires communicate telepathically enhances the romance and the sex. Vampires and BDSM are often bed partners in fiction, but here it has a more specific purpose. The authors don't chicken out on the reader - Dominic and Grif will embrace their love, but disaster will strike before that happens. When the situation with Tristan reaches a climax, the scene is brutal. Only a vampire could heal extreme physical damage. Their nature allows the authors to go to a darker place with the story, but it makes the love and romance that much brighter.
I would say this novella is as well done as the Deviations novels by Chris Owen and Jodi Payne. BDSM becomes more than a kink, and is examined as a way of life that fulfills someone's needs. Despite not practicing such a way of life myself, I could identify with the characters, and feel for them. Highly recommended.
DOMINION - This sequel more than lives up to its predecessor. Grif hasn't accepted his need to submit as well as dominate, nor faced the horror in his past. The past is about to become his present again when his sire petitions the vampire ruling council to take him back. Can Dominic save him before he is broken permanently?
The first novel unsettled readers with a rather brutal scene that left Grif terribly wounded before he and Dominic finally found some happiness. "Dominion" takes the reader down an even darker path, delving into emotional as well as physical pain. The sex scenes are still hot enough to singe the page, but more intense as the men have embraced their love for one another this time around. The BDSM is also taken to a new level. Readers are drawn into the characters as the line between pain and pleasure is blurred.
The writing here is excellent, and the story much more developed. The vampire world only hinted at in the first novel is fleshed out to be much more than a backdrop. Happily, the role of the secondary characters is greatly expanded as well. Jason and Tage become three-dimensional, and as interesting as Dom and Grif. The stage is clearly set for another novella giving us more of them vís a vís their vampire masters. "Dominion" will surprise readers, heat them up, take them to the edge of tears, and keep them utterly enthralled. Highly recommended!
POWER OF TWO - A very intense tale of BDSM, and healing love. The two concepts may seem contradictory, but the authors have skillfully married them. Grif and Dominic are vampires. They are also Dominant masters living and working together to train their two subs. A teasing test of wills has been growing between them, and is ready to blossom into much more. But Grif is hiding deep emotional wounds. He wasn't always a master; he was once a submissive. And he was cruelly betrayed; his master went beyond Grif's safe limits, allowing others to violate him. But the need to submit is still within. As he struggles with this, Dominic takes in a new sub - Tristan. Grif knows Tristan. Tristan was one of those that hurt him. And he's here to hurt Grif again if he can.
Unlike some BDSM-themed novellas which charge in with the whipping and handcuffs, but lack true emotion, "The Power of Two" has a surprising depth. There is good character development, and a deeper look at what dominants and submissives gain from such relationships. What I liked in particular was the subtle emphasis on touching. At one point Grif allows Dominic to whip him, and he enjoys it. But, he needs Dominic to hold him afterward to keep their relationship grounded outside of the pain. Since these are vampires the S&M takes on the darker aspect of blood, but that is expected. The interplay between Dominic and Grif swings between intensity and playfulness, with thoughtful dialog and erotic bondage/sex scenes. Having the vampires communicate telepathically enhances the romance and the sex. Vampires and BDSM are often bed partners in fiction, but here it has a more specific purpose. The authors don't chicken out on the reader - Dominic and Grif will embrace their love, but disaster will strike before that happens. When the situation with Tristan reaches a climax, the scene is brutal. Only a vampire could heal extreme physical damage. Their nature allows the authors to go to a darker place with the story, but it makes the love and romance that much brighter.
I would say this novella is as well done as the Deviations novels by Chris Owen and Jodi Payne. BDSM becomes more than a kink, and is examined as a way of life that fulfills someone's needs. Despite not practicing such a way of life myself, I could identify with the characters, and feel for them. Highly recommended.
DOMINION - This sequel more than lives up to its predecessor. Grif hasn't accepted his need to submit as well as dominate, nor faced the horror in his past. The past is about to become his present again when his sire petitions the vampire ruling council to take him back. Can Dominic save him before he is broken permanently?
The first novel unsettled readers with a rather brutal scene that left Grif terribly wounded before he and Dominic finally found some happiness. "Dominion" takes the reader down an even darker path, delving into emotional as well as physical pain. The sex scenes are still hot enough to singe the page, but more intense as the men have embraced their love for one another this time around. The BDSM is also taken to a new level. Readers are drawn into the characters as the line between pain and pleasure is blurred.
The writing here is excellent, and the story much more developed. The vampire world only hinted at in the first novel is fleshed out to be much more than a backdrop. Happily, the role of the secondary characters is greatly expanded as well. Jason and Tage become three-dimensional, and as interesting as Dom and Grif. The stage is clearly set for another novella giving us more of them vís a vís their vampire masters. "Dominion" will surprise readers, heat them up, take them to the edge of tears, and keep them utterly enthralled. Highly recommended!
Displaying 1 of 1 review