What do you think?
Rate this book
Storm and Lightning #1
The Perfect Whore
Being the object of everyone’s sexual fantasies ain’t all it’s cracked up to be…
On a mining colony planet a long way from Earth, bandit Jedd Lightning dreams of making enough money to get his ship spaceworthy again. During a robbery at a high-class brothel, he meets gorgeous alien rentboy Storm and is instantly smitten—but the heist goes south and Jedd has to high-tail it out of there with only half the loot.
Enslaved by a fierce Madam, Storm’s shapeshifting talents make him the most sought after whore on Talmak. He literally can’t stop himself becoming his client’s fantasy lover. Sick of enforced transformations, he wants to escape, but he’s closely guarded and has no experience of the unfamiliar city outside the brothel.
Storm is willing—and eager—to do anything to persuade Jedd to break him out of his gilded prison. Lucky for him the arrogant outlaw needs Storm’s help to free his crewmate, held as hostage by a vicious mob boss who wants Jedd to complete the theft he was hired for. Storm keeps blowing away Jedd’s expectations—but with both the law and the mob against them, they could end up with nowhere left to run.
Editor: JL Merrow
On a mining colony planet a long way from Earth, bandit Jedd Lightning dreams of making enough money to get his ship spaceworthy again. During a robbery at a high-class brothel, he meets gorgeous alien rentboy Storm and is instantly smitten—but the heist goes south and Jedd has to high-tail it out of there with only half the loot.
Enslaved by a fierce Madam, Storm’s shapeshifting talents make him the most sought after whore on Talmak. He literally can’t stop himself becoming his client’s fantasy lover. Sick of enforced transformations, he wants to escape, but he’s closely guarded and has no experience of the unfamiliar city outside the brothel.
Storm is willing—and eager—to do anything to persuade Jedd to break him out of his gilded prison. Lucky for him the arrogant outlaw needs Storm’s help to free his crewmate, held as hostage by a vicious mob boss who wants Jedd to complete the theft he was hired for. Storm keeps blowing away Jedd’s expectations—but with both the law and the mob against them, they could end up with nowhere left to run.
Editor: JL Merrow
201 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 26, 2018
35 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
About the author
Josephine Myles
66 books652 followersEnglish through and through, Josephine Myles is addicted to tea and busy cultivating a reputation for eccentricity. She writes gay erotica and romance, but finds the erotica keeps cuddling up to the romance, and the romance keeps corrupting the erotica. She blames her rebellious muse but he never listens to her anyway, no matter how much she threatens him with a big stick. She's beginning to suspect he enjoys it.
***
Note to readers: I don't read reviews of my stories on here anymore, as I think they're geared for other readers, not the writers (plus I'm chicken and would rather stick my fingers in my ears going "la-la-la"). If you'd like to let me know what you thought about any of my stories, please PM me or send me an email. I'd be very happy to hear from you :)
***
Note to readers: I don't read reviews of my stories on here anymore, as I think they're geared for other readers, not the writers (plus I'm chicken and would rather stick my fingers in my ears going "la-la-la"). If you'd like to let me know what you thought about any of my stories, please PM me or send me an email. I'd be very happy to hear from you :)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
May 14, 2018
The Perfect Whore was a fun, energetic sci-fi space romp with some fresh, new ideas. However, though I enjoyed the book thoroughly, I had a few specific issues that dropped my rating down a couple of stars.
I completely loved the concept of a shape-shifter who bends to the gender, species, and shape of the sexual desires of the the person looking at him. It introduced some cool twists to the story, and I found it to be exciting and refreshing. Storm was a well-conceived character, and I especially liked his psychic and empathetic abilities.
I also liked how the pace never let up during the whole story. It was a lot of fun banter and action, with our MCs dodging danger and getting in and out of sticky situations. I read the book very quickly, which is always a good sign for me.
However, I did have some pretty strong issues that I couldn't shake off. First of all, just know that the book ends on a cliffhanger and a weak HFN. It is very clear that you need to keep reading to find out if our guys stay safe and together. Lots of things are left unresolved at the end of the story.
Also, I had some issues with the sex in the book. Storm was a slave, forced to work in a brothel. I really, REALLY doubted that he would be feeling horny and up for sex right after escaping his imprisonment. It felt fake and borderline like exploitation, and I just didn't buy it. Storm would need some serious time to himself, or at least time to process and deal with his trauma, IMO. Also, I just hate, hate, hate when a character is in a time crunch or in danger and they stop to have sex at the MOST inappropriate times. Gah, major pet peeve. Nothing takes me out of a story like random sex while two characters are in the middle of a sticky situation.
Overall, the book was fun, but I didn't love the cliffhanger ending and most of the sex scenes, which either felt inopportune or kind of creepy. However, the banter, dynamics, and side characters kept me into the story, and will probably propel me to the next in the series.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
I completely loved the concept of a shape-shifter who bends to the gender, species, and shape of the sexual desires of the the person looking at him. It introduced some cool twists to the story, and I found it to be exciting and refreshing. Storm was a well-conceived character, and I especially liked his psychic and empathetic abilities.
I also liked how the pace never let up during the whole story. It was a lot of fun banter and action, with our MCs dodging danger and getting in and out of sticky situations. I read the book very quickly, which is always a good sign for me.
However, I did have some pretty strong issues that I couldn't shake off. First of all, just know that the book ends on a cliffhanger and a weak HFN. It is very clear that you need to keep reading to find out if our guys stay safe and together. Lots of things are left unresolved at the end of the story.
Also, I had some issues with the sex in the book. Storm was a slave, forced to work in a brothel. I really, REALLY doubted that he would be feeling horny and up for sex right after escaping his imprisonment. It felt fake and borderline like exploitation, and I just didn't buy it. Storm would need some serious time to himself, or at least time to process and deal with his trauma, IMO. Also, I just hate, hate, hate when a character is in a time crunch or in danger and they stop to have sex at the MOST inappropriate times. Gah, major pet peeve. Nothing takes me out of a story like random sex while two characters are in the middle of a sticky situation.
Overall, the book was fun, but I didn't love the cliffhanger ending and most of the sex scenes, which either felt inopportune or kind of creepy. However, the banter, dynamics, and side characters kept me into the story, and will probably propel me to the next in the series.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
January 16, 2019
This is actually unpopular opinion because unlike most of my friends, I actually enjoyed this book. 😂 For me, this one reminded me of those comedic space operas back in the days with a healthy amount of humor and sexiness. I absolutely loved the idea of Storm who can transform into any form of a person’s idea lover. ❤️ I even loved the Talmaki alien race and I hope to get a romance between the alien species and humans in the future. 😉 Also loved captain Jedd and his cockiness. This is one crazy, preposterous and ridiculous space adventure book but if you don’t mind the silliness, you would definitely find this one sexy and fun. And bonus points for smoking-hot couplings! 🔥 Loved it! 🥰
4 captain got his cherry popped stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 captain got his cherry popped stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 21, 2018
3.5*
This is different from Josephine Myles and I really liked it.
ETA My rating isn't higher because it's a novella and it ends not quite with a cliffhanger but with the obvious implication that there will be more from this pair so that's why it's not a 4* review.
It's sort of a twist on Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid meets Red Dwarf by way of Spaceballs.
It's funny, fast paced and not too confusing with the alien elements as we meet Storm, a high class hooker with a unique ability to transform into the ideal representation of a lover's desire.
Jedd is a right character, a bit Han Solo, a bit Lister from Red Dwarf, a bit Maverick from Top Gun. The pair of them have a connection which is above and beyond the obvious sexual one and each quickly finds themselves wanting to protect the other in times of danger.
There's a complex side plot involving criminals, dodgy but friendly alien justice ministers and possibly illegal trafficking but this one's mostly wrapped up with the two of them speeding off into the sand dunes together!
#ARC kindly provided by the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
This is different from Josephine Myles and I really liked it.
ETA My rating isn't higher because it's a novella and it ends not quite with a cliffhanger but with the obvious implication that there will be more from this pair so that's why it's not a 4* review.
It's sort of a twist on Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid meets Red Dwarf by way of Spaceballs.
It's funny, fast paced and not too confusing with the alien elements as we meet Storm, a high class hooker with a unique ability to transform into the ideal representation of a lover's desire.
Jedd is a right character, a bit Han Solo, a bit Lister from Red Dwarf, a bit Maverick from Top Gun. The pair of them have a connection which is above and beyond the obvious sexual one and each quickly finds themselves wanting to protect the other in times of danger.
There's a complex side plot involving criminals, dodgy but friendly alien justice ministers and possibly illegal trafficking but this one's mostly wrapped up with the two of them speeding off into the sand dunes together!
#ARC kindly provided by the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
September 19, 2018
3.5
It’s been a real long time since I’ve read book by Josephine Myles, and The Perfect Whore really isn’t the usual fare I’m use to from this author. It was almost comical but in the most entertaining way.
Jett Lightning is a man on a mission. Break into a whorehouse hold a rich politician at gun point but not a gun those sci-fi taser gun things you see in science fiction movies and can’t help going “pew pew” to. Downside, Jett is exemplary bad at the robbery thing and it goes wrong very fast. Upside, the prostitute is the most beautiful man he’s ever seen and it’s bringing all his lust to life but popping a boner isn’t ideal in such a high stress situation. When pretty rent boy named Storm asks to escape with him Jett knows he can’t do it right now but he knows damn well that he will comeback to rescue the man who is his sexiest dream personified.
Enslaved for a long time because of his shapeshifting skills, Storm is well sought after by the wealthiest of the clientele. So to even think of leaving a life on his back or all fours just seems like a shot in the dark, until Jett Lightning burst through his doors and shaking him up like no one before.
What ensues is a comical delight. It’s so cheesy in certain parts that I couldn’t help but enjoy it, like one of those badly done science fiction that you can’t help but enjoy like “Starship Troopers”. With a name like Jett Lightning, you would expect nothing less. A cross between Tangled and every cheesy B science fiction movie. What a delight!!
Storm and Jett get to the physical part of their relationship quite quickly which I wasn’t a fan of. I understand with Storms special gift, lust is pretty much his default but when you been on your back for so long, wouldn’t you enjoy the time just standing on your feet? My least fave part of their relationship.
Overall, I liked it. Not really on par with all the other greatness Ms Myles has published before, but it was alright for something new. This ends on a cliffhanger, and I’m looking forward to more adventures for Jett Lightning and his Storm.
November 15, 2019
Again, not quite 4 stars but I liked it too much to round down to only 3. And maybe I'm in a good mood or something. Actually, I am predisposed to give MM scifi a slightly higher rating - so long as it's not really bad or boring - because there is just not enough of it IMHO.
And this is definitely NOT boring. Right from the start we get dropped into the action and it feels like the fast pace never really lets up! Parts of it remind me of the great Firefly capers...only more ridiculous and slightly silly - like something out of Red Dwarf. (Which JM credits as inspiration in her Author's Notes, so go me!) And it was fun...when it wasn't breaking my heart a little bit.
I cannot even imagine what it would be like to not live in your own form, to only look the way that others see you. (Oh wait, yes I can. I'm a woman. So, yeah, that's some deeply insightful commentary on the male gaze there Josephine. Props!). But to actually morph into that fantasy image is just horrifying to me. Not only is it a drain on Storms physical resources, but it takes away his agency as he's also forced to feel the emotions of those who surround him...which means that he's also not in control of his own desire. *shudders*
(This was supposed to be a fun romp, gorramit, not a scathing social observation that makes me think so much!)
Anyway, was it perfect? No. (Ha! Title pun.) There was a section that came after Jedd and Storm escape and have already had sex, once they're on the ship, where Storm realizes he's experiencing his own sexual arousal...and it's sort of portrayed as happening for the first time. Only, there was a passing mention of it happening when they were in the tunnels. So, when Jedd and Storm had sex the first time I was thinking that it was Storm's own desire that led to them getting hot and heavy (plus the unexpected role-reversal giving Storm a level of control). Except, maybe not? Which gave me the willies, only slightly alleviated by Jedd's own horrified reaction at thinking he'd somehow coerced Storm into it against his will.
I think had the realization in the tunnels been a little more detailed, a little more explored/explained/examined before they had sex, and had the "second" realization been less of a surprise (as it felt to me, the reader) it wouldn't have seemed so icky...and would have cemented the rating fully into the 4 - 4.25 range. (I just re-read what I wrote and that's not confusing at all. *sigh*)
Still, I am 100% HERE FOR THE SEQUEL!! Only, OMG, NO...there's not one yet. I need another installment ASAP. So glad that JM mentioned there were possibly 2 more in the works because I see neither hide nor hair of them here at GR.
And this is definitely NOT boring. Right from the start we get dropped into the action and it feels like the fast pace never really lets up! Parts of it remind me of the great Firefly capers...only more ridiculous and slightly silly - like something out of Red Dwarf. (Which JM credits as inspiration in her Author's Notes, so go me!) And it was fun...when it wasn't breaking my heart a little bit.
I cannot even imagine what it would be like to not live in your own form, to only look the way that others see you. (Oh wait, yes I can. I'm a woman. So, yeah, that's some deeply insightful commentary on the male gaze there Josephine. Props!). But to actually morph into that fantasy image is just horrifying to me. Not only is it a drain on Storms physical resources, but it takes away his agency as he's also forced to feel the emotions of those who surround him...which means that he's also not in control of his own desire. *shudders*
(This was supposed to be a fun romp, gorramit, not a scathing social observation that makes me think so much!)
Anyway, was it perfect? No. (Ha! Title pun.) There was a section that came after Jedd and Storm escape and have already had sex, once they're on the ship, where Storm realizes he's experiencing his own sexual arousal...and it's sort of portrayed as happening for the first time. Only, there was a passing mention of it happening when they were in the tunnels. So, when Jedd and Storm had sex the first time I was thinking that it was Storm's own desire that led to them getting hot and heavy (plus the unexpected role-reversal giving Storm a level of control). Except, maybe not? Which gave me the willies, only slightly alleviated by Jedd's own horrified reaction at thinking he'd somehow coerced Storm into it against his will.
I think had the realization in the tunnels been a little more detailed, a little more explored/explained/examined before they had sex, and had the "second" realization been less of a surprise (as it felt to me, the reader) it wouldn't have seemed so icky...and would have cemented the rating fully into the 4 - 4.25 range. (I just re-read what I wrote and that's not confusing at all. *sigh*)
Still, I am 100% HERE FOR THE SEQUEL!! Only, OMG, NO...there's not one yet. I need another installment ASAP. So glad that JM mentioned there were possibly 2 more in the works because I see neither hide nor hair of them here at GR.
August 28, 2018
Well, this was a super fun, slightly campy, space jam of action-y goodness! I had a great time getting lost in the adventure and the world the author built. It’s an interesting premise that has a lot of room for growth and I’m hoping the niggles I have about the depth of a few plot points in The Perfect Whore will be expanded upon in future books in the series.
I’ve been a huge fan of Josephine Myles since I read First Impressions many moons ago and I’ve gotten so much more out of every book of hers than I expected. There’s generally a lot more to unpack in her stories than just the romance between the two (or three) MC’s. There’s a lot of self discovery that happens that makes her characters so fully fleshed out and satisfying to read.
The Perfect Whore is very different from past books of hers that I’ve read and I enjoyed the departure very much. And here comes my but . . . but, I did feel like I was missing the depth that I’ve gotten used to with the author’s other characters and while that may not be fair to The Perfect Whore to compare that way, I couldn’t help myself now and again. That’s why I say I hope the depth will come in future installments.
What I do know of Jedd and Storm I like very much. There is so much more I want to know about them both and by the end I felt like I had just scratched the surface.
Jedd is more loyal and upstanding than he wants to let on and his bad boy smuggler/thief persona fits well with the genre. I felt like he was a character sketched out rather than fully fleshed out and that there is more to be had from him. I know I feel that way because of the comparing thing and I’m possibly being unfair to what this story is meant to be, but I can’t help but want more from him and if following stories give me that I will be thrilled!
Storm is an amazing character. He’s a shape shifter that conforms to his client’s fantasies and the transformations are mostly out of his control. It makes him, literally, the perfect whore and an incredibly sympathetic being. He’s sexually empathic so he has just about as much fun as his clients do, but in the end it’s a lonely and sad life he leads at the brothel. It’s dangerous for him to be out in public and he’s way too valuable for the brothel to ever consider letting him go.
Jedd and Storm have an unexplainable connection. The shape shifting is there and the undeniable attraction is the same as with anyone else for Storm, but there is definitely something more. The shape Storm takes with Jedd is the closest to what he remembers his true self to be. He’s intrigued (as was I) as to what that might mean. Storm’s gotten a hint that some of his people may be out there, as in the “out there” of space, and I can’t wait to see where this goes and what it means for Jedd and Storm.
The story ends with an optimistic HFN, which is great, but there is soooooo much more to learn and this can continue on as a sexy and sassy fun space adventure or it can go a little further into the dynamics of Jedd and Storm. What is Jedd’s story, what’s he all about, how did he get here? I don’t even know where to start with Storm. Who is he, where are the rest of his people, can he ever be himself and exactly what does that mean? Regardless of which way the story progresses, I’m going to be reading it.
**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**
I’ve been a huge fan of Josephine Myles since I read First Impressions many moons ago and I’ve gotten so much more out of every book of hers than I expected. There’s generally a lot more to unpack in her stories than just the romance between the two (or three) MC’s. There’s a lot of self discovery that happens that makes her characters so fully fleshed out and satisfying to read.
The Perfect Whore is very different from past books of hers that I’ve read and I enjoyed the departure very much. And here comes my but . . . but, I did feel like I was missing the depth that I’ve gotten used to with the author’s other characters and while that may not be fair to The Perfect Whore to compare that way, I couldn’t help myself now and again. That’s why I say I hope the depth will come in future installments.
What I do know of Jedd and Storm I like very much. There is so much more I want to know about them both and by the end I felt like I had just scratched the surface.
Jedd is more loyal and upstanding than he wants to let on and his bad boy smuggler/thief persona fits well with the genre. I felt like he was a character sketched out rather than fully fleshed out and that there is more to be had from him. I know I feel that way because of the comparing thing and I’m possibly being unfair to what this story is meant to be, but I can’t help but want more from him and if following stories give me that I will be thrilled!
Storm is an amazing character. He’s a shape shifter that conforms to his client’s fantasies and the transformations are mostly out of his control. It makes him, literally, the perfect whore and an incredibly sympathetic being. He’s sexually empathic so he has just about as much fun as his clients do, but in the end it’s a lonely and sad life he leads at the brothel. It’s dangerous for him to be out in public and he’s way too valuable for the brothel to ever consider letting him go.
Jedd and Storm have an unexplainable connection. The shape shifting is there and the undeniable attraction is the same as with anyone else for Storm, but there is definitely something more. The shape Storm takes with Jedd is the closest to what he remembers his true self to be. He’s intrigued (as was I) as to what that might mean. Storm’s gotten a hint that some of his people may be out there, as in the “out there” of space, and I can’t wait to see where this goes and what it means for Jedd and Storm.
The story ends with an optimistic HFN, which is great, but there is soooooo much more to learn and this can continue on as a sexy and sassy fun space adventure or it can go a little further into the dynamics of Jedd and Storm. What is Jedd’s story, what’s he all about, how did he get here? I don’t even know where to start with Storm. Who is he, where are the rest of his people, can he ever be himself and exactly what does that mean? Regardless of which way the story progresses, I’m going to be reading it.
**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**
May 10, 2018
Rather than saying something mean about an author I love I'll just say read these:
Junk
Stuff
Scrap
Handle with Care
Barging in
Boats in the Night
I did not like The Perfect Whore.
Junk
Stuff
Scrap
Handle with Care
Barging in
Boats in the Night
I did not like The Perfect Whore.
April 24, 2018
For a dystopian, and alien stories lovers, this might be interesting. I was gambling when I requested this book. Maybe a little confused after a very great future android story I read recently, hoping this would be as good as the earlier.
Not that this wasn't a good read, I think. It's just far fetch from my expectation. In this case, it's me book, not you.
April 27, 2018
Tongue-in-the-cheek sci-fi romance is notoriously hard to manage, as it implies a huge amount of juggling mutually irreconcilable elements in a balanced whole; Mrs Myles beautifully achieved such a feat in this trope-ridden yet sleek and energetic love-story between a lovable rascal redolent of Mal from the Firefly franchise and a spunky, pithy shape-shifter who sticks to him like glue at first because the human's fantasies trigger his transformation into a persona close to his primary shape, something which had eluded since he had to embrace the mantle of harlot, and then out of attraction slash hero worship -- with a twist. The way both characters cannot help bicker every step of their journey never felt contrived; I was particularly entertained by Storm's dry humor, which comes off in the pet names he hurls at Jedd ("captain Smarmy-pants" being my favorite by far). The emotional moments, most particularly the poignant, short encounter down in the sewers with the decrepit yet memorable old crone Sara, alternate in rather clever fashion with the comedic chunks; and the prose style combines great powers of description with an effortless poise marred by only a smattering of typos and grammatical infelicities. So much so that I was not, for once, majorly bothered by that big pet peeve of mine - the book has no ending, not even an tentative HFN, and feels like a serial. I dropped a star due to the fuzzy quality of the world building (for example, both heroes keep comparing each other, and some aliens, to this or that beast native to the planet on which the book mostly takes place, which remains a complete mystery since these desert creatures are never described) and the occasional jarring infelicity of writing (Jedd's enormous endowment runs like a sort of private joke within the book) or behavior from the lead (for a self-professed pure top, Jedd sure takes very little convicing to get on all fours for Storm when they first have sex).
Read
May 9, 2018** 41% DNF **
May 21, 2018
Wellll, this was a bummer.
No one is more surprised than I am...but I found this one difficult. Honestly, I had a difficult time finishing it. I was super close to DNFing several times. It just wasn't jiving for me.
I found the blurb and concept intriguing but it couldn't hold my attention. Something felt off.
And then after I pushed myself to finish it ended with a MAJOR cliffhanger.
Arggghhh! That did it...I was grumpy.
If you decide to give this one a go, plan on hanging till the sequel.
I think I'll cut my losses here.
*2.5 unexpected stars*
No one is more surprised than I am...but I found this one difficult. Honestly, I had a difficult time finishing it. I was super close to DNFing several times. It just wasn't jiving for me.
I found the blurb and concept intriguing but it couldn't hold my attention. Something felt off.
And then after I pushed myself to finish it ended with a MAJOR cliffhanger.
Arggghhh! That did it...I was grumpy.
If you decide to give this one a go, plan on hanging till the sequel.
I think I'll cut my losses here.
*2.5 unexpected stars*
May 5, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
I enjoyed the set up for The Perfect Whore and found the premise interesting. I liked the idea of Storm as a creature who is forced to adapt to other’s desires, caught in a constant state of shifting any time someone touches him. I could feel for him never being his true self, always at the whims of what other people desire. Overall this futuristic world is an interesting one, and while there is not a great depth of world building, it felt complete enough for me to understand the basics of the various beings and what life was like for them all. The story goes in some interesting directions and the plot kept my attention.
I did have some issues, however, mostly with these characters. I didn’t find them particularly likable, especially Jedd, but even more, I didn’t really get the feeling that they much liked each other. Yes, they are attracted to one another. Though in Jedd’s case he is attracted to Storm because he has essentially created Storm to look like his ideal partner. And Storm seems to like Jedd as well, and for more than just the reflected desire he feels with other people (though why this is the case isn’t well explained). But aside from being hot for one another, they seem pretty disdainful of each other. Jedd, in particular, is frequently making rude remarks about Storm’s life as a prostitute, despite the fact that he was sold into that life (and even if he wasn’t, it’s still uncalled for). Storm comes across as a bit spoiled and annoyed at things like the lack of coffee on Jedd’s ship, while Jedd seems mostly arrogant and rude (we get numerous comments early on about how attractive Jedd finds himself). Jedd is jealous and often complicates bad situations by his annoyance that others might also see what they desire in Storm. So I didn’t particularly connect with these guys, I didn’t get much sense of them really connecting with each other aside from lust, and as a result, their relationship just never held much weight or intensity for me.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
I enjoyed the set up for The Perfect Whore and found the premise interesting. I liked the idea of Storm as a creature who is forced to adapt to other’s desires, caught in a constant state of shifting any time someone touches him. I could feel for him never being his true self, always at the whims of what other people desire. Overall this futuristic world is an interesting one, and while there is not a great depth of world building, it felt complete enough for me to understand the basics of the various beings and what life was like for them all. The story goes in some interesting directions and the plot kept my attention.
I did have some issues, however, mostly with these characters. I didn’t find them particularly likable, especially Jedd, but even more, I didn’t really get the feeling that they much liked each other. Yes, they are attracted to one another. Though in Jedd’s case he is attracted to Storm because he has essentially created Storm to look like his ideal partner. And Storm seems to like Jedd as well, and for more than just the reflected desire he feels with other people (though why this is the case isn’t well explained). But aside from being hot for one another, they seem pretty disdainful of each other. Jedd, in particular, is frequently making rude remarks about Storm’s life as a prostitute, despite the fact that he was sold into that life (and even if he wasn’t, it’s still uncalled for). Storm comes across as a bit spoiled and annoyed at things like the lack of coffee on Jedd’s ship, while Jedd seems mostly arrogant and rude (we get numerous comments early on about how attractive Jedd finds himself). Jedd is jealous and often complicates bad situations by his annoyance that others might also see what they desire in Storm. So I didn’t particularly connect with these guys, I didn’t get much sense of them really connecting with each other aside from lust, and as a result, their relationship just never held much weight or intensity for me.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
June 25, 2018
Well this was definitely different. The more I got into it, the more I wanted something…...I don't know. It was good. The plot overall was good but it was just off to me. And I felt so bad for one of the main characters. Poor 'guy’ couldn't seem to catch a break.
Jedd is on a hunt for someone. The guy is a criminal and an ass but Jedd needs the money. He's in search of a senator and a something he has, and is said to be in a brothel with a girl. But what Jedd finds is the most stunning man he's ever seen with the senator. And he's highly confused. And he's been busted. He gets out with only partially what he needs and in debt to Storm, the whore he left behind. Knowing it's dangerous he goes back for Storm, but he's got more troubles. He's got to save his other friend from the criminal for not getting all the loot, and now he's on the run with Storm for breaking him free. As Jedd and Storm work to try to free his friend, they come upon more criminal stuff than they knew of. And their lives on on the line now. Hopefully they can make it to a safe place before the criminals get to them.
Man, I felt for Storm in this book. His kind change into what someone desires when they see or touch him. Touching him especially. It causes him to constantly shift and drains him so bad. Hopefully not to the point of killing him, but dang he got close. He's been raped and held captive. Sold to the highest bidder. Treated like a whore. All he wants is to find his people and go home. With Jedd, if they don't get killed, he feels like maybe he can find it. Jedd was a good character. He tried hard to do the right thing but sometimes his macho brain got in the way lol. Men *wink*.
This book was alright. I guess what bothered me the most was all the focus on Storm and his 'curse’. Having to shift like that was definitely a curse. But there's some chasing and beating up lol. Men on the run. Give it a try and see what you think. Happy reading!
http://lovebytesreviews.com
Jedd is on a hunt for someone. The guy is a criminal and an ass but Jedd needs the money. He's in search of a senator and a something he has, and is said to be in a brothel with a girl. But what Jedd finds is the most stunning man he's ever seen with the senator. And he's highly confused. And he's been busted. He gets out with only partially what he needs and in debt to Storm, the whore he left behind. Knowing it's dangerous he goes back for Storm, but he's got more troubles. He's got to save his other friend from the criminal for not getting all the loot, and now he's on the run with Storm for breaking him free. As Jedd and Storm work to try to free his friend, they come upon more criminal stuff than they knew of. And their lives on on the line now. Hopefully they can make it to a safe place before the criminals get to them.
Man, I felt for Storm in this book. His kind change into what someone desires when they see or touch him. Touching him especially. It causes him to constantly shift and drains him so bad. Hopefully not to the point of killing him, but dang he got close. He's been raped and held captive. Sold to the highest bidder. Treated like a whore. All he wants is to find his people and go home. With Jedd, if they don't get killed, he feels like maybe he can find it. Jedd was a good character. He tried hard to do the right thing but sometimes his macho brain got in the way lol. Men *wink*.
This book was alright. I guess what bothered me the most was all the focus on Storm and his 'curse’. Having to shift like that was definitely a curse. But there's some chasing and beating up lol. Men on the run. Give it a try and see what you think. Happy reading!
http://lovebytesreviews.com
June 21, 2018
Fun romp with a smart-mouthed ex-whore (with a soft heart) and an arrogant space captain (with emotional depths) who join forces on a mission to obtain a passcode for a psychotic criminal type.
This book is so much fun. The action moves swiftly along, accompanied by some snappy sparkling dialogue. We get chases through sewers, daring escapes, dire situations for our heroes, and the added distraction that just about everyone wants to sleep with our hero, Storm (and there's a good--and creative--reason for that.)
This is obviously the first book in series for these two characters, as there are still many things they need to accomplish. But it isn't a cliffhanger and the relationship is in a HFN solidity, which is good enough for me.
The first new book from Josephine Myles in what feels like forever. Oh, how I've missed her.
This book is so much fun. The action moves swiftly along, accompanied by some snappy sparkling dialogue. We get chases through sewers, daring escapes, dire situations for our heroes, and the added distraction that just about everyone wants to sleep with our hero, Storm (and there's a good--and creative--reason for that.)
This is obviously the first book in series for these two characters, as there are still many things they need to accomplish. But it isn't a cliffhanger and the relationship is in a HFN solidity, which is good enough for me.
The first new book from Josephine Myles in what feels like forever. Oh, how I've missed her.
April 11, 2019
I enjoyed this one. 3.5 rounded up because there’s not nearly enough LGBT+ sci-fi to suit my tastes and this had a great enby theme in addition to being m/m.
Just a head’s up, at this point (April 2019) this is the first in what’s intended to be a series. The conclusion is satisfying but leaves me wanting more with Jedd and Storm on the run and many questions remaining about Storm’s people.
Just a head’s up, at this point (April 2019) this is the first in what’s intended to be a series. The conclusion is satisfying but leaves me wanting more with Jedd and Storm on the run and many questions remaining about Storm’s people.
July 10, 2018
Well....it’s very sweet, and Jedd and Storm are nice characters.
During a heist, career thief Jedd rescues Storm from a brothel where he’s being forced to service clients who can see him as what they most desire. Storm’s happy to be free, but feels an obligation to Jedd, so he sticks around to help him end a nefarious crime boss. Although he finds Storm devastatingly attractive, Jedd is reluctant to accept Storm’s overtures....after all, Storm can’t help the feelings he inspires in others....and Jedd wants Storm to be free to want him back....
So...except for very minimal background, you don’t really get to know either character. So...I found it difficult to feel engaged. Why is Jedd a thief-for-hire? Why did he accept this risky job? Why doesn’t Storm use his abilities to get himself out of the brothel? How does he feel about the abuse he’s suffered - how has it changed him?
Too many unanswered questions...And the sex is rather bland and mundane...so no extra style points for that.
During a heist, career thief Jedd rescues Storm from a brothel where he’s being forced to service clients who can see him as what they most desire. Storm’s happy to be free, but feels an obligation to Jedd, so he sticks around to help him end a nefarious crime boss. Although he finds Storm devastatingly attractive, Jedd is reluctant to accept Storm’s overtures....after all, Storm can’t help the feelings he inspires in others....and Jedd wants Storm to be free to want him back....
So...except for very minimal background, you don’t really get to know either character. So...I found it difficult to feel engaged. Why is Jedd a thief-for-hire? Why did he accept this risky job? Why doesn’t Storm use his abilities to get himself out of the brothel? How does he feel about the abuse he’s suffered - how has it changed him?
Too many unanswered questions...And the sex is rather bland and mundane...so no extra style points for that.
January 8, 2019
Nah
Ummmm. The book is really confusing and contradictory. For example storm wants to escape the brothel but likes having sex with all his clients and cares about all of them. Like wha?? Also he says he won’t “succumb to them (people’s desires), though. Not with Simone who wasn’t his client.” So he says he won’t change into anyone’s desires if they’re not his client, but the he’s always moaning about not being able to control his shift! Also this Jedd guy is a joke he’s literally nobody’s hero he can’t take care of himself or storm. This book was laughable. Do not recommend.
Ummmm. The book is really confusing and contradictory. For example storm wants to escape the brothel but likes having sex with all his clients and cares about all of them. Like wha?? Also he says he won’t “succumb to them (people’s desires), though. Not with Simone who wasn’t his client.” So he says he won’t change into anyone’s desires if they’re not his client, but the he’s always moaning about not being able to control his shift! Also this Jedd guy is a joke he’s literally nobody’s hero he can’t take care of himself or storm. This book was laughable. Do not recommend.
May 9, 2018
Didn't like the MCs enough to finish reading. DNF.
June 15, 2018
~ 3.5 Stars ~
Josephine Myles has always been an author I admire and look forward to reading. Her latest release, The Perfect Whore, is a real departure from her normal fare, set in the future with both a sci-fi and paranormal twist to it that was pretty fascinating. The story revolved around two main characters, Storm and Jedd. Storm is a Chimericon, a creature that can change shape and sex depending on how the person they touch sees them, hence making him a perfect whore. The shifting, if done too rapidly and too often, is exhausting for Storm, but other than being abducted, raped repeatedly by his captors, and then sold to a high end brothel, Storm is doing okay. Yes, that was irony.
I really felt for this creature. He basically had no control over how he was seen by his client and changed form and sex to comply with their vision. What really broke my heart was his realizing he could barely remember what his true form looked like anymore due to the constant shifting. He cannot be with more than one client at a time, something his madam seems to understand but also uses as a threat to keep him in line. Interestingly the caveat here is that sexually, Storm also receives the emotions of the person he is touching and therefore almost always reaches climax with his customer. Sadly that made his story all the more painful to read. Basically Storm was living a hell unlike any others have ever experienced.
Jedd is essentially a thief who works for some rather shady clients. He doesn’t like the idea, but his ship is in serious need of repair and in order to get back into deep space he needs money to get it fixed. He takes on a job that finds him in Storm’s boudoir and threatening the senator Storm is with for information Jedd needs. It all backfires when Jedd sees Storm as his perfect lover and promises to come back to free him after he takes his booty to his customer—an evil and violent man named Charming Charlie.
Unfortunately, Jedd failed to also get the codes to the technology he’s stolen, rendering his booty useless, so Charlie takes his partner hostage until Jedd returns with the needed passcodes. Meanwhile Storm is unsure if he can trust Jedd to do right by him, or if he will be just another in a long line of people intent on using Storm.
There were many things to like about The Perfect Whore. First the whole idea of what Storm could do and trying to discover just what kind of creature he was became fascinating from the onset. Also, the pace and action in this story was relentless in all the good ways; it was a quick read primarily because it really hooks you in immediately and never lets up. I also liked Jedd in many ways and although he definitely had a softer side, he was also a businessman and that made him a bit smarmy as well. What I really choked at, however, was the idea that despite how much Jedd grew to like, maybe even love Storm, he never saw the true form of the creature. So, I hesitate to say that a real love relationship began to develop between these two, primarily because Jedd saw what he most lusted after rather than the real Storm. Meanwhile, Storm never felt a peace with Jedd, so the HFN ending was a bit tenuous to say the least. Be forewarned, this does end on a cliffhanger of sorts but not one that will leave you gasping or tearing your hair out with frustration. Instead, it’s just a few loose ends and plot points that never got fully resolved as well as the idea of what type of future Jedd and Storm might have with each other that hangs in the balance.
The second problem I had with this story was more a personal dislike than necessarily a real plot disaster. I simply don’t get it when characters stop to have sex in the middle of tense, life-threatening situations. When this happened I just rolled my eyes and felt as though the story hit a roadblock and threw the pacing out the window. Given that it occurred during particularly intense action scenes, I found it to be rather frustrating and unnecessary. In the end, it kept me from completely enjoying what was, until that point, a rather spirited and interesting read.
I will look for the next installment in this series by Josephine Myles, primarily because I want to see what she does for Storm and whether she builds more into Jedd and Storm’s relationship, i.e., seeing the real Storm as opposed to his fantasy lover. However, I am hopeful that the author also gives Storm a much needed respite from sex and time to reflect and heal from all the emotional and physical trauma he has already managed to survive. I think that if this happens, the reader will get a more genuine idea of what a true relationship will look like between our two heroes.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach
Josephine Myles has always been an author I admire and look forward to reading. Her latest release, The Perfect Whore, is a real departure from her normal fare, set in the future with both a sci-fi and paranormal twist to it that was pretty fascinating. The story revolved around two main characters, Storm and Jedd. Storm is a Chimericon, a creature that can change shape and sex depending on how the person they touch sees them, hence making him a perfect whore. The shifting, if done too rapidly and too often, is exhausting for Storm, but other than being abducted, raped repeatedly by his captors, and then sold to a high end brothel, Storm is doing okay. Yes, that was irony.
I really felt for this creature. He basically had no control over how he was seen by his client and changed form and sex to comply with their vision. What really broke my heart was his realizing he could barely remember what his true form looked like anymore due to the constant shifting. He cannot be with more than one client at a time, something his madam seems to understand but also uses as a threat to keep him in line. Interestingly the caveat here is that sexually, Storm also receives the emotions of the person he is touching and therefore almost always reaches climax with his customer. Sadly that made his story all the more painful to read. Basically Storm was living a hell unlike any others have ever experienced.
Jedd is essentially a thief who works for some rather shady clients. He doesn’t like the idea, but his ship is in serious need of repair and in order to get back into deep space he needs money to get it fixed. He takes on a job that finds him in Storm’s boudoir and threatening the senator Storm is with for information Jedd needs. It all backfires when Jedd sees Storm as his perfect lover and promises to come back to free him after he takes his booty to his customer—an evil and violent man named Charming Charlie.
Unfortunately, Jedd failed to also get the codes to the technology he’s stolen, rendering his booty useless, so Charlie takes his partner hostage until Jedd returns with the needed passcodes. Meanwhile Storm is unsure if he can trust Jedd to do right by him, or if he will be just another in a long line of people intent on using Storm.
There were many things to like about The Perfect Whore. First the whole idea of what Storm could do and trying to discover just what kind of creature he was became fascinating from the onset. Also, the pace and action in this story was relentless in all the good ways; it was a quick read primarily because it really hooks you in immediately and never lets up. I also liked Jedd in many ways and although he definitely had a softer side, he was also a businessman and that made him a bit smarmy as well. What I really choked at, however, was the idea that despite how much Jedd grew to like, maybe even love Storm, he never saw the true form of the creature. So, I hesitate to say that a real love relationship began to develop between these two, primarily because Jedd saw what he most lusted after rather than the real Storm. Meanwhile, Storm never felt a peace with Jedd, so the HFN ending was a bit tenuous to say the least. Be forewarned, this does end on a cliffhanger of sorts but not one that will leave you gasping or tearing your hair out with frustration. Instead, it’s just a few loose ends and plot points that never got fully resolved as well as the idea of what type of future Jedd and Storm might have with each other that hangs in the balance.
The second problem I had with this story was more a personal dislike than necessarily a real plot disaster. I simply don’t get it when characters stop to have sex in the middle of tense, life-threatening situations. When this happened I just rolled my eyes and felt as though the story hit a roadblock and threw the pacing out the window. Given that it occurred during particularly intense action scenes, I found it to be rather frustrating and unnecessary. In the end, it kept me from completely enjoying what was, until that point, a rather spirited and interesting read.
I will look for the next installment in this series by Josephine Myles, primarily because I want to see what she does for Storm and whether she builds more into Jedd and Storm’s relationship, i.e., seeing the real Storm as opposed to his fantasy lover. However, I am hopeful that the author also gives Storm a much needed respite from sex and time to reflect and heal from all the emotional and physical trauma he has already managed to survive. I think that if this happens, the reader will get a more genuine idea of what a true relationship will look like between our two heroes.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach
April 26, 2018
Blurb does a pretty good job of summarizing, so I’ll go right to my thoughts...
…which are super conflicted.
Now, I do love my scifi. I love my Firefly, Star Wars (4, 5 ad 6) Star Trek (original), Picard IS the better Captain, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (I carry a towel “just in case”) and yes, I’ve seen every Red Dwarf episode.
So I enjoyed the setting of The Perfect Whore – a somewhat backwater desert planet, with two species uneasily co-existing, and scrapping out a living is Captain Smarmy-pants *cough* ah…Captain Jedd Lightning. Think Han Solo, Captain Malcolm, or Captain Jack Sparrow. He’s got swagger, ego, confidence, and a roguish charm that usually works. Except when it doesn’t. Jedd’s loyal, has his own code of ethics and morality, and doesn’t let his friends down.
And the idea of a Chimericon (sp?), a Jaili, a being that shifts into an individual’s own personal sex fantasy is new and different. I liked the allusion to there being more to Storm Divine than meets the eye. No pun intended…
But I also struggled with a couple of aspects: I stumbled over a couple of anachronisms such as “turkey and gravy” protein bars. Not so much the bar, but the flavor. If using the future as a backdrop, move the food into the future.
I would also hope that future datapads don’t break when dropped – that technology that allows a person to zip through space would solve the teeny problem of durability.
And for myself, and this comes from thirty plus years of reading scifi, poor Jedd was just too much of a cliché for me. The charming smuggler, stranded while trying to get funds to repair his ship, getting into a world of trouble with the local evil space gangster. I also couldn’t decide what I thought of Jedd’s humor. I still can’t decide.
As the title implies, this is a Storm and Lightning #1. The blurb by Ms. Myles at the end notes there will be at least a couple more. The ending, while not a cliff hanger, certainly sets up the book for the next installment.
Ultimately, my thoughts are all over the place for this book and I can’t rightly say I liked or disliked this. If you like scifi, give it a try.
Review is cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews
A copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
…which are super conflicted.
Now, I do love my scifi. I love my Firefly, Star Wars (4, 5 ad 6) Star Trek (original), Picard IS the better Captain, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (I carry a towel “just in case”) and yes, I’ve seen every Red Dwarf episode.
So I enjoyed the setting of The Perfect Whore – a somewhat backwater desert planet, with two species uneasily co-existing, and scrapping out a living is Captain Smarmy-pants *cough* ah…Captain Jedd Lightning. Think Han Solo, Captain Malcolm, or Captain Jack Sparrow. He’s got swagger, ego, confidence, and a roguish charm that usually works. Except when it doesn’t. Jedd’s loyal, has his own code of ethics and morality, and doesn’t let his friends down.
And the idea of a Chimericon (sp?), a Jaili, a being that shifts into an individual’s own personal sex fantasy is new and different. I liked the allusion to there being more to Storm Divine than meets the eye. No pun intended…
But I also struggled with a couple of aspects: I stumbled over a couple of anachronisms such as “turkey and gravy” protein bars. Not so much the bar, but the flavor. If using the future as a backdrop, move the food into the future.
I would also hope that future datapads don’t break when dropped – that technology that allows a person to zip through space would solve the teeny problem of durability.
And for myself, and this comes from thirty plus years of reading scifi, poor Jedd was just too much of a cliché for me. The charming smuggler, stranded while trying to get funds to repair his ship, getting into a world of trouble with the local evil space gangster. I also couldn’t decide what I thought of Jedd’s humor. I still can’t decide.
As the title implies, this is a Storm and Lightning #1. The blurb by Ms. Myles at the end notes there will be at least a couple more. The ending, while not a cliff hanger, certainly sets up the book for the next installment.
Ultimately, my thoughts are all over the place for this book and I can’t rightly say I liked or disliked this. If you like scifi, give it a try.
Review is cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews
A copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
April 29, 2018
I only have one question after reading this book…when will book two be out? I don’t usually read a lot of sci-fi romance (particularly M/M), not because I don’t like it (because I really, really do!) but I just don’t have much of it crossing my feeds to see what’s out there in the genre. I’m so glad this one did, because I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait for more in this series!
The setting and some characters are reminiscent of the show Firefly, with the space bandit with a conscience and not-in-great-shape ship. I very much identified Jedd’s character with Captain Mal from that show, mostly due to Jedd’s moral character and cocky attitude. The fact that I was making these associations made me even more inclined to like the story.
It made me sad to see how Storm was used by those who he’d been held by before, even more so because he seemed resigned to that fate, even once he was with Jedd. The abilities that Storm possessed were unique and put a fascinating twist on the story. I interpreted that Storm’s appearance when in the form that matched Jedd’s fantasy so closely matched what Storm believed his actual form to be to mean that Jedd was more interested and strongly attracted to WHO Storm is, not WHAT he is.
Storm and Jedd form an easy connection, and I loved that they both felt protective toward each other, especially Jedd when Storm was in trouble. I’m also looking forward to the author exploring Jedd’s seeming acquiescence to Storm when things became physically intimate.
The action and suspense fully kept my attention, and I wound up reading this straight through because I did not want to put it down. There were also some great supporting characters—some who don’t act as you might expect when you’re first introduced to them—and I hope we get to see several of them return in future books in the series. The story ends on a good note; more a happy-for-now with the promise of more stories to come, and there’s plenty of ends to be tied up so I’d probably classify it as a cliffhanger, but a satisfying one.
The Perfect Whore gets 5 stars from me, and the author has me well and truly hooked for this series. If you’re an M/M sci-fi adventure romance fan—especially if you like shows like Firefly—you’ll definitely want to pick this one up! This story is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.
The setting and some characters are reminiscent of the show Firefly, with the space bandit with a conscience and not-in-great-shape ship. I very much identified Jedd’s character with Captain Mal from that show, mostly due to Jedd’s moral character and cocky attitude. The fact that I was making these associations made me even more inclined to like the story.
It made me sad to see how Storm was used by those who he’d been held by before, even more so because he seemed resigned to that fate, even once he was with Jedd. The abilities that Storm possessed were unique and put a fascinating twist on the story. I interpreted that Storm’s appearance when in the form that matched Jedd’s fantasy so closely matched what Storm believed his actual form to be to mean that Jedd was more interested and strongly attracted to WHO Storm is, not WHAT he is.
Storm and Jedd form an easy connection, and I loved that they both felt protective toward each other, especially Jedd when Storm was in trouble. I’m also looking forward to the author exploring Jedd’s seeming acquiescence to Storm when things became physically intimate.
The action and suspense fully kept my attention, and I wound up reading this straight through because I did not want to put it down. There were also some great supporting characters—some who don’t act as you might expect when you’re first introduced to them—and I hope we get to see several of them return in future books in the series. The story ends on a good note; more a happy-for-now with the promise of more stories to come, and there’s plenty of ends to be tied up so I’d probably classify it as a cliffhanger, but a satisfying one.
The Perfect Whore gets 5 stars from me, and the author has me well and truly hooked for this series. If you’re an M/M sci-fi adventure romance fan—especially if you like shows like Firefly—you’ll definitely want to pick this one up! This story is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.
May 3, 2018
This book was a joy to read. I’ve been on a bit of a space opera/sci-fi kick lately and this was just what I was looking for. Throughout the book I kept getting Spaceballs and even some Futurama vibes. It’s a great juxtaposition of not taking itself seriously and posing some pretty thought-provoking questions of morality, gender and self-fulfillment.
We’ve got Captain Jedd Lightning (who gave me some serious Han Solo vibes) and Storm, two very different folks who find themselves thrown together by circumstance, a botched job for a criminal boss that brings Jedd to Storm’s room at an exclusive brothel. Storm is Jiali, an alien race whose body becomes that of the ideal lover of whoever sees and touches them. For Jedd, he is Storm, a human male with a body that happens to vaguely resemble that Storm remembers as his true form. Together, they escape the brothel and embark on a dangerous mission to save Jedd’s friend, and their own hides.
Like I said, most of this book you can’t take too seriously. For example, I rolled my eyes a bit at some of the “criminal activity” and the convenient ways the story came together. But it was an incredibly enjoyable read. The setting was vivid, side characters three-dimensional and great additions to the story, the humor was on point, and it raised some interesting questions on gender, consent, sex and morality. I enjoyed watching Jedd and Storm feel their way around each other, find out what they were comfortable with, what they weren’t, and the things they need to work on, together and individually.
This doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, per se, but it definitely leaves a few questions unanswered and sets up what I think will be a great series that I can’t wait to continue.
An advance copy of this book was received for review on OMGReads.
We’ve got Captain Jedd Lightning (who gave me some serious Han Solo vibes) and Storm, two very different folks who find themselves thrown together by circumstance, a botched job for a criminal boss that brings Jedd to Storm’s room at an exclusive brothel. Storm is Jiali, an alien race whose body becomes that of the ideal lover of whoever sees and touches them. For Jedd, he is Storm, a human male with a body that happens to vaguely resemble that Storm remembers as his true form. Together, they escape the brothel and embark on a dangerous mission to save Jedd’s friend, and their own hides.
Like I said, most of this book you can’t take too seriously. For example, I rolled my eyes a bit at some of the “criminal activity” and the convenient ways the story came together. But it was an incredibly enjoyable read. The setting was vivid, side characters three-dimensional and great additions to the story, the humor was on point, and it raised some interesting questions on gender, consent, sex and morality. I enjoyed watching Jedd and Storm feel their way around each other, find out what they were comfortable with, what they weren’t, and the things they need to work on, together and individually.
This doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, per se, but it definitely leaves a few questions unanswered and sets up what I think will be a great series that I can’t wait to continue.
An advance copy of this book was received for review on OMGReads.
June 16, 2018
3.5/5
As a big fan of Josephine Myles, I was so excited when I saw that she had written a sci-fi m-m romance. Could it be? One of my most favorite genres?
And so it was with this delight that I set about reading this book.
I was surprised by how difficult it was for me to read this. I don't usually think of myself as a reader with many triggers, but apparently I really can no longer read non-con in any form. I knew that I strongly disliked the title of this book and that there might be some bits that irked me, but I was willing to move beyond that given how much I've loved other JM stories (How to Train Your Dom in Five Easy Steps is one of my all-time favorites).
But the reason behind my dislike of the title (really?! 'Whore' was what worked best?), was the same reason I struggled to get into this one.
The story did continue on past the ugly bits of how and why Storm was a high end prostitute, but it was still hard for me. I found Storm to be a difficult character to like on top of all that, though I truly adored Jedd. The "Storm" and "Lightning" thing is cute. They are a good match together and I would likely enjoy future books featuring the two, as they move further away from the sexual assault and background of how Storm came to be 'Divine'.
So if you are comfortable getting past instances of forced prostitution and recounting of sexual assault (they are a fairly small part of the book), then you may really like this sci-fi m-m romance. It has some good jokes and some fun characters.
Rounding up since this is really a 'it's me, not you' kind of thing. Currently available on KU.
As a big fan of Josephine Myles, I was so excited when I saw that she had written a sci-fi m-m romance. Could it be? One of my most favorite genres?
And so it was with this delight that I set about reading this book.
I was surprised by how difficult it was for me to read this. I don't usually think of myself as a reader with many triggers, but apparently I really can no longer read non-con in any form. I knew that I strongly disliked the title of this book and that there might be some bits that irked me, but I was willing to move beyond that given how much I've loved other JM stories (How to Train Your Dom in Five Easy Steps is one of my all-time favorites).
But the reason behind my dislike of the title (really?! 'Whore' was what worked best?), was the same reason I struggled to get into this one.
The story did continue on past the ugly bits of how and why Storm was a high end prostitute, but it was still hard for me. I found Storm to be a difficult character to like on top of all that, though I truly adored Jedd. The "Storm" and "Lightning" thing is cute. They are a good match together and I would likely enjoy future books featuring the two, as they move further away from the sexual assault and background of how Storm came to be 'Divine'.
So if you are comfortable getting past instances of forced prostitution and recounting of sexual assault (they are a fairly small part of the book), then you may really like this sci-fi m-m romance. It has some good jokes and some fun characters.
Rounding up since this is really a 'it's me, not you' kind of thing. Currently available on KU.
May 3, 2018
4.5 Stars!
Storm is a shapeshifting high-end whore in Tarmak. His appearance changes depending on what his client desires the most. He wants to escape, but with as guarded as the Madam keeps him, it's not an easy feat. At least not until Jedd Lightning comes crashing into his life. Jedd elicits things in Storm that he's never experienced and he's more than willing to help Jedd out in exchange for his freedom.
I loved Jedd and Storm! They were just perfect for each other, their chemistry was out of this world and I adored their banter. It was great seeing that Jedd treated Storm differently than any of the others that Storm comes in contact with, I loved his protectiveness and that even if he wasn't too sure at first, he realized that Storm didn't need all that much coddling and allowed him to spread his wings, so to speak.
I loved Yakin, who was such a great assett to both Jedd and Storm in their quest to free Marty. And I loved Marty, too, he was a sweet guy. I hope this isn't the last we've seen of them.
This was such a fun, fast-paced, action-packed read! Since it's a serial, it has a bit of an open ending, but it has a strong HFN vibe and this book's main storyline was completed, which is always a plus for me. Now, it's just a matter of hoping the next book won't take that long to be released because I'm already looking forward to more of Jedd and Storm's adventures! Very recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Storm is a shapeshifting high-end whore in Tarmak. His appearance changes depending on what his client desires the most. He wants to escape, but with as guarded as the Madam keeps him, it's not an easy feat. At least not until Jedd Lightning comes crashing into his life. Jedd elicits things in Storm that he's never experienced and he's more than willing to help Jedd out in exchange for his freedom.
I loved Jedd and Storm! They were just perfect for each other, their chemistry was out of this world and I adored their banter. It was great seeing that Jedd treated Storm differently than any of the others that Storm comes in contact with, I loved his protectiveness and that even if he wasn't too sure at first, he realized that Storm didn't need all that much coddling and allowed him to spread his wings, so to speak.
I loved Yakin, who was such a great assett to both Jedd and Storm in their quest to free Marty. And I loved Marty, too, he was a sweet guy. I hope this isn't the last we've seen of them.
This was such a fun, fast-paced, action-packed read! Since it's a serial, it has a bit of an open ending, but it has a strong HFN vibe and this book's main storyline was completed, which is always a plus for me. Now, it's just a matter of hoping the next book won't take that long to be released because I'm already looking forward to more of Jedd and Storm's adventures! Very recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
June 11, 2018
Fanfiction is usually free. Check there first
Once upon a time, I read Star Wars slash fanfiction. That was a lot better than this. I don't quite know what the author was going for here, as the story leans too far into plot and exposition to be a "romance" novel (not a bad thing, if the plot wasn't just a vehicle for the romance), and the erotica was less than erotic. I've read female authors who could write believable gay characters, but this isn't one of them. These characters interact more like men in Japanese yaoi, which is to say, you could sub one of the men with a woman and have the same story. I would be more generous (considering one character is a shapeshifting alien with no true gender) but her author's bio specifically states she writes gay erotica. So let's be clear: this is gay erotica for women. So if you're a lady who fetishizes gay men, this is in your wheelhouse. If you're a gay man, probably avoid this one, unless you really have a thing for sci-fi and lizardmen.
Circling back around, of course the title is attention grabbing. And the story is short enough to be fun. Both characters are obnoxious, but not so much that you can't sit two or three hours with them. The story employs standard tropes, including using rape as a dramatic crutch. If that's your thing, you'll probably enjoy this and also what's wrong with you?
Once upon a time, I read Star Wars slash fanfiction. That was a lot better than this. I don't quite know what the author was going for here, as the story leans too far into plot and exposition to be a "romance" novel (not a bad thing, if the plot wasn't just a vehicle for the romance), and the erotica was less than erotic. I've read female authors who could write believable gay characters, but this isn't one of them. These characters interact more like men in Japanese yaoi, which is to say, you could sub one of the men with a woman and have the same story. I would be more generous (considering one character is a shapeshifting alien with no true gender) but her author's bio specifically states she writes gay erotica. So let's be clear: this is gay erotica for women. So if you're a lady who fetishizes gay men, this is in your wheelhouse. If you're a gay man, probably avoid this one, unless you really have a thing for sci-fi and lizardmen.
Circling back around, of course the title is attention grabbing. And the story is short enough to be fun. Both characters are obnoxious, but not so much that you can't sit two or three hours with them. The story employs standard tropes, including using rape as a dramatic crutch. If that's your thing, you'll probably enjoy this and also what's wrong with you?
April 22, 2019
I liked this book. I don’t give out five stars unless a book changes my life. This is not a life changing work. However, it is funny, campy, somewhat absurd, full of action and it left me waiting for a sequel. It’s very imaginative. Keep in mind that one of the main characters is an alien creature, a shape shifter. I couldn’t help but notice that many of the other reviews complained because this character didn’t react to his/her/its circumstances the same as a human would. Exactly, that’s what makes this story so great. The other main character is hilarious. Okay, I was hoping for some group sex scenes because he seems the type that would go for it, otherwise, it’s great to see a character who isn’t all caught up in sexual angst. This is a fun, densely packed story. Enjoy!
May 10, 2018
A good fun space romp
I admit, I knew what I was getting when I bought this. I'd read it, way back when it was a serial on the author's website. I fell in love with the characters then and reading the whole story in one hit was lovely.
The basic rough diamond good guy meets big hearted whore is kind of familiar, but the involuntary shapeshifter nature of the whore is a fascinating complication. I love that in spite of being slight and his nature makes him vulnerable, but he is no damsel in distress and is quite capable of rescuing himself.
This story is a bit cheesy but it is good fun.
I admit, I knew what I was getting when I bought this. I'd read it, way back when it was a serial on the author's website. I fell in love with the characters then and reading the whole story in one hit was lovely.
The basic rough diamond good guy meets big hearted whore is kind of familiar, but the involuntary shapeshifter nature of the whore is a fascinating complication. I love that in spite of being slight and his nature makes him vulnerable, but he is no damsel in distress and is quite capable of rescuing himself.
This story is a bit cheesy but it is good fun.
June 8, 2019
Overall, this left me rather underwhelmed. Very little world-building, very little character development, very little depth of anything, really. And not enough action and suspense. I knew there would be a lot of sex in this one, but this read like cheap porn. "Ride my flesh rocket" - really? The dirty talk made me wince. I guess it was supposed to be funny, but it really wasn't.
I'd just hoped for more SciFi and an actual plot, so I was kind of disappointed. If you're looking for a steamy romance with a SciFi backdrop, it's worth a try. It's not very dark and angsty either. But that's not my kinda thing.
I'd just hoped for more SciFi and an actual plot, so I was kind of disappointed. If you're looking for a steamy romance with a SciFi backdrop, it's worth a try. It's not very dark and angsty either. But that's not my kinda thing.
September 14, 2018
This one starts with a bang and just keeps going. In order to fix his ship Jedd has taken on a dubious job with a pretty evil guy and in the process runs into Storm. Storm has the unfortunate ability to change into the perfect duplicate of a person's deepest desires, but he is sick and tired of working as a sex worker and sees Jedd as his way out. There are many fun twists and turns and a little humor thrown in for good measure.
There were a few issues, such as Storm not having any control over his sexual desires and Jedd's struggles with those same issues. The story does end with a cliffhanger and a HFN.
There were a few issues, such as Storm not having any control over his sexual desires and Jedd's struggles with those same issues. The story does end with a cliffhanger and a HFN.
June 24, 2018
Previously reviewed on The Good, The Bad, and The Unread:
I originally read a shorter version of this story when it was serialised on the author’s blog a few years ago. Now revised and expanded, the first adventure of Jedd Lightning, his lover Storm, and their associates has recently been released as a novella. I love space opera anyway, and I particularly enjoyed the premise behind this one; of course, I had to get hold of a copy.
Jedd is a small-time crook and would-be smuggler, stranded with his best friend on an alien world until they can scrape together the funds required to repair their ship. Tempted by the possibility of earning big bucks fast, he takes on a risky job: stealing a datapod of blackmail material from a local bigwig, while the mark is otherwise distracted in a high-class brothel. What Jedd’s boss hasn’t thought to tell anyone is that the mark’s favourite whore is a telepathic shapeshifter – native to the planet, although most of his kind have been wiped out by more violent species – who will take on the physical form of whomever the person touching him most desires.
Storm remembers very little of his people or his life before he was kidnapped, abused, and sold into sex-slavery, but he knows that the handsome rogue breaking in on him and his client looks like an excellent option for escaping the exhaustive business of changing his body multiple times a day just to make money for the madam in charge.
When Jedd gets away with Storm, but without the passcode for the datapod, he has to think on his feet and evade all the people who suddenly want to kill him and his friends. Fortunately, Storm turns out to be an excellent ally, even if the pair – not to mention Jedd’s copilot – fall foul of a few misunderstandings along the way.
This story was every bit as fun as I remembered it being. The revisions mean that it’s very much the first part of a series, rather than a standalone novel, but I love all the hints of backstory we get, as well as the subtle nods to the fact that this adventure is taking place on a very alien world with plenty of characters who are far removed from humans in their appearances, mannerisms and values. I can’t wait to find out what’s in store for our heroes next.
I originally read a shorter version of this story when it was serialised on the author’s blog a few years ago. Now revised and expanded, the first adventure of Jedd Lightning, his lover Storm, and their associates has recently been released as a novella. I love space opera anyway, and I particularly enjoyed the premise behind this one; of course, I had to get hold of a copy.
Jedd is a small-time crook and would-be smuggler, stranded with his best friend on an alien world until they can scrape together the funds required to repair their ship. Tempted by the possibility of earning big bucks fast, he takes on a risky job: stealing a datapod of blackmail material from a local bigwig, while the mark is otherwise distracted in a high-class brothel. What Jedd’s boss hasn’t thought to tell anyone is that the mark’s favourite whore is a telepathic shapeshifter – native to the planet, although most of his kind have been wiped out by more violent species – who will take on the physical form of whomever the person touching him most desires.
Storm remembers very little of his people or his life before he was kidnapped, abused, and sold into sex-slavery, but he knows that the handsome rogue breaking in on him and his client looks like an excellent option for escaping the exhaustive business of changing his body multiple times a day just to make money for the madam in charge.
When Jedd gets away with Storm, but without the passcode for the datapod, he has to think on his feet and evade all the people who suddenly want to kill him and his friends. Fortunately, Storm turns out to be an excellent ally, even if the pair – not to mention Jedd’s copilot – fall foul of a few misunderstandings along the way.
This story was every bit as fun as I remembered it being. The revisions mean that it’s very much the first part of a series, rather than a standalone novel, but I love all the hints of backstory we get, as well as the subtle nods to the fact that this adventure is taking place on a very alien world with plenty of characters who are far removed from humans in their appearances, mannerisms and values. I can’t wait to find out what’s in store for our heroes next.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews