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176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 23, 2018
“Look, I’m going to be that dick for a minute. You have been living the life your grandmother wanted you to have, whatever her reason might be. Have you stop to consider why you’re here? I don’t mean because it’s a great school either.” — Taichi Goto
I have one word to describe my feels about Radio Sass conflicted.
The men are hot, the smut is hot, Natasha is a relatable protagonist but it's half baked on the framing and has some serious flaws on the consent. I cannot abide by flaws in consent in polyandry and reverse harem. While it is dubcon not noncon, Natasha is fine with what happens to her, she had no idea the consequences of the whole moment. The fact that Keiji had to ask the next morning is confirmation that no one asked if she was okay with 1, the sex going that rough and 2, Tanchi bonding with her. To me these genre/s should be about female strength and empowerment this fails on that. At least to me.
The main four characters are Natasha Nemescu, Keiji Nomura, Taichi Goto and Maël Darius. Natasha is a Romanian-American human damphir (half-human, half-vampire), Keiji and Taichi are demons of Japanese decent and Maël a vampire of Balkan descent. It's worth noting that Keiji and Taichi use Japanese endearments and phrases occasionally without explanations. Particularly "“Amaimono no tame no amaimono.” He bowed low, then produced a piece of candy out of thin air. “Anata no tame ni watashi no kawaī hachidori.”" this is said at a pivotal point in a way, it's in front of a crowd, in a way he's claiming her. As both Keiji and his demon form the Red Demon. According to Google translate it translates as "Sweet things for sweet things" and "For you my sweet hummingbird". Hachidori or Hummingbird is never translated and is Keiji's personal nickname for Natasha. Maël's is Princess, both a nickname and an honorific (she's a queen if you don't mind). Taichi really doesn't use one only really kawaī. I have a whole lot of other issues with that whole exchange. Taichi explains the meaning to her, it's patronising and disrespectful to the knowledge Natasha should have as an anime fan (subculture knowledge). The plot such as it is about Natasha coming into who she is and accepting her relationship. But it's shaky, there is clearly lore there that is transposed from the main series that hasn't come across properly. The framing for the relationship itself falls apart about a chapter in, it's a focus on how they meet while promising to be more.
As usual I have a favourite man, easily. Taichi. Taichi is linguistically odd in a way. His demon form defaults to Japanese (again whole other set of issues), but then he goes even quieter. He's the techy nerdy one. With a sense of inner peace, sweet intelligence, control and a serious flirtatious side. He's so intense. While being semi submissive to Kaiji in particular, the use of shujin (master but I think in a sexual specific context) was a fantastic choice. And I have a thing for Japanese men (maybe who knows my head is an odd place). He reminds me in a bizarre way of Tenchi from Pleasured by her Guardsmen, it's the intensity.
But I do like that it doesn't back off on the guys. The first time we see sexual it's between two of the guys, Keiji and Taichi. They have a brilliant relationship, both sexual and symbiotic relationship well before they meet Natasha. Keiji uses Taichi as an outlet of a form and enjoys nothing more than watching them put together Tanchi fall apart under him. Having that play is brilliant, it's something that a lot of books back off on letting happen, having the guys play and touch each other for our pleasure and enjoyment. And in Radio Sass it largely feels natural.
As a stupid side issue that really did annoy me by the end. The spacing on the kindle version is all over the place. Like print version page gaps haven't been properly removed. There are designed markers for a switch in perspective and the passing of time but I've seen these gaps mark time skip. I'm going to be honest I was a tad confused at first.
He wasn’t her type normally, but both he and Keiji were delicious.
Hussy. — Natasha Nemescu (I feel this quote, except they are my type)
A representative gif: