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Pure
She’s been taken against her will…
The Colonel, Maxim, is the ruler of the Ruins in what used to be New York. After a post-apocalyptic event nothing is and will never be the same. He rules with an iron fist and has the final say in all things. He takes what he wants when he wants. Now is the time for him to take Iolanthe. He’s watched her from afar for years, now she will belong to him.
Iolanthe has grown up homeless on the streets with her mother as her only companion. It’s been a dangerous life, to say the least. The fact that she is a Pure only complicates matters and has been her most guarded secret. Her mother’s warnings always in her mind. But, now her mother is dead and she’s been taken by the Colonel. What will happen now?
This is book one in the Colonel’s Conquest series and includes a sneak peek at book two.
Publisher’s Note: This dark dystopian romance is not a wine and flowers romance. It’s a journey of discovery by the hero and heroine with all the rough edges exposed. Take the journey if you dare, you’ll be glad you did. This sci-fi story contains elements of danger, suspense, mystery, power exchange, non-consent, adult themes and possible triggers.
The Colonel, Maxim, is the ruler of the Ruins in what used to be New York. After a post-apocalyptic event nothing is and will never be the same. He rules with an iron fist and has the final say in all things. He takes what he wants when he wants. Now is the time for him to take Iolanthe. He’s watched her from afar for years, now she will belong to him.
Iolanthe has grown up homeless on the streets with her mother as her only companion. It’s been a dangerous life, to say the least. The fact that she is a Pure only complicates matters and has been her most guarded secret. Her mother’s warnings always in her mind. But, now her mother is dead and she’s been taken by the Colonel. What will happen now?
This is book one in the Colonel’s Conquest series and includes a sneak peek at book two.
Publisher’s Note: This dark dystopian romance is not a wine and flowers romance. It’s a journey of discovery by the hero and heroine with all the rough edges exposed. Take the journey if you dare, you’ll be glad you did. This sci-fi story contains elements of danger, suspense, mystery, power exchange, non-consent, adult themes and possible triggers.
- GenresFantasy
237 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 2, 2020
93 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Julia Payton
9 books11 followersAuthor of dystopian erotic romance, laden with alpha males and feisty submissives. Hoarder of books, coffee drinker, and fan of praying to the late night Muse. Ambivert; INFP. Fan-fiction aficionado. Wanderer of the forest. Storm-spy and eternal child. Gluttonous for writing, and reading, and painting oils. Lover of all things romantic, passionate, and a bit dirty. Naughty novels are what I live for!
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 11, 2024
At just over the 30% mark I found myself losing connection with the story, rather than it increasing, as a result I skim read the remaining chapters. I then couldn't get to sleep because of my frustrations with it, and that in itself is a positive! This book had good writing, it had some great elements, decent plot ideas and some very captivating scenes, but it needs more work to pull it together into the great book it has the potential to be.
So rather than review this, which would end up being very negative, I'm going to give feedback in a similar manner to if I had beta read this. I can't do it exactly the same as I do a lot of note taking and highlighting for that purpose. I do have to wonder if it WAS beta read because some of these things should have been picked up on at that point.
The pace at the beginning was good, it was maintained because we were learning about this world and the characters in it. However we seemed to get stuck in mud and not really go anywhere, there were various scenes that didn't really move the plot along in any way. Maybe some contain information for future books (this one ends on a cliffhanger) but the gap between books means I won't recall their relevance.
Maxim was a tough, hard as nails, slit your throat leader, this was maybe told more than shown, but it WAS shown several times, so that was good. However I just couldn't understand his behaviour with Iolanthe. He was willing to kidnap her and hold her captive, he but he won't force her into having sex with him. I wasn't sure why that was? Does he have her on a pedestal? (if so surely he would regret the library incident?), is it a power thing? He wanted her so he took her, but then what? It felt as though there wasn't really a plan after that.
He wanted Iolanthe to beg him for sex, but then never seemed to make any effort/do anything to make her want him. Was he expecting his overwhelming animal magnetism to do that for him? Wining, dining, having pleasant conversations with her would have helped him AND me. I needed to see him building a connection/relationship with Iolanthe.
He also seems to know before she does that she wants to be owned and not have to make decisions etc. How? Was it books she read? If it was physical responses to him then he picked up on it far too quickly, ie immediately, to be believable. Was it that she watched Master/slave porno? I needed some evidence to back up his knowledge. I think a few scenes of him thinking about his feelings for her/how he viewed her would help.
Iolanthe gave me whiplash with her decisions on whether to trust Jonathon or not. She changed her mind too quickly, too often and with no real reason behind it. For someone desperate to escape her captivity, I also needed to see a serious escape attempt. She was passive to the point of being a doormat a lot of the time. She needs more fire and spit,it felt like she promised much and delivered little. That said, she was very consistent in her personality and I did really like her - she carried the book for me.
There were gaps in the world building too, how did Maxim get to be Colonel? If . Whilst I understood the tiny part of the world Iolanthe inhabited, the wider scope was less clear. Was there total poverty across the whole of the area Maxim ruled (a formula for disent)? Was the wealth contained to the leaders? Is it an industrialised area? What technology do they have? Had Iolanthe had any schooling? Was there still schooling? Again there may be an intention to add this in future books BUT in order to understand the world I need the information now.
So rather than review this, which would end up being very negative, I'm going to give feedback in a similar manner to if I had beta read this. I can't do it exactly the same as I do a lot of note taking and highlighting for that purpose. I do have to wonder if it WAS beta read because some of these things should have been picked up on at that point.
The pace at the beginning was good, it was maintained because we were learning about this world and the characters in it. However we seemed to get stuck in mud and not really go anywhere, there were various scenes that didn't really move the plot along in any way. Maybe some contain information for future books (this one ends on a cliffhanger) but the gap between books means I won't recall their relevance.
Maxim was a tough, hard as nails, slit your throat leader, this was maybe told more than shown, but it WAS shown several times, so that was good. However I just couldn't understand his behaviour with Iolanthe. He was willing to kidnap her and hold her captive, he but he won't force her into having sex with him. I wasn't sure why that was? Does he have her on a pedestal? (if so surely he would regret the library incident?), is it a power thing? He wanted her so he took her, but then what? It felt as though there wasn't really a plan after that.
He wanted Iolanthe to beg him for sex, but then never seemed to make any effort/do anything to make her want him. Was he expecting his overwhelming animal magnetism to do that for him? Wining, dining, having pleasant conversations with her would have helped him AND me. I needed to see him building a connection/relationship with Iolanthe.
He also seems to know before she does that she wants to be owned and not have to make decisions etc. How? Was it books she read? If it was physical responses to him then he picked up on it far too quickly, ie immediately, to be believable. Was it that she watched Master/slave porno? I needed some evidence to back up his knowledge. I think a few scenes of him thinking about his feelings for her/how he viewed her would help.
Iolanthe gave me whiplash with her decisions on whether to trust Jonathon or not. She changed her mind too quickly, too often and with no real reason behind it. For someone desperate to escape her captivity, I also needed to see a serious escape attempt. She was passive to the point of being a doormat a lot of the time. She needs more fire and spit,it felt like she promised much and delivered little. That said, she was very consistent in her personality and I did really like her - she carried the book for me.
There were gaps in the world building too, how did Maxim get to be Colonel? If . Whilst I understood the tiny part of the world Iolanthe inhabited, the wider scope was less clear. Was there total poverty across the whole of the area Maxim ruled (a formula for disent)? Was the wealth contained to the leaders? Is it an industrialised area? What technology do they have? Had Iolanthe had any schooling? Was there still schooling? Again there may be an intention to add this in future books BUT in order to understand the world I need the information now.
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June 10, 2020
I really enjoyed the universe that this story took place in I just wish we had been given a stronger foundation. More of the why's and how's. I needed something to tether me.
Maxim was a bit of conundrum IMO. He is known to be ruthless to take what he wants no matter the damage left in his wake. Iolanthe is what he wants and he finally has acquired her. The dark overlord? He has a marshmallow heart. He is so obsessed with her (there is a whole story behind this) but he wants her to come to him. To want him as much as he wants her. I admit here is where he seems to have his problem. He sorely lacks at wooing. Kidnapping he excels at. Mixed messages he is good at. Wooing No.
Iolanthe is a bit on the whiny side. The girl comes across all street smart in the beginning but then it is like she just... IDK her decisions suck!
The story starts out strong and had me engaged then it just stopped moving forward. It was like we were just repeating the same day with slight alterations over and over. I just wasn't able to connect with the characters. There was a lack of emotion almost as if the acts were scripted between them (I know it's a book you know what I mean). I almost gave up but again something kept me curious.
Suddenly much later in the story, things began to click. The story moved forward Why's and How's began appearing ...
Then it ended
Yes it ends on a cliffy but be honest it is a series and I expect that
I am actually going to move forward with this series even though this first book was only ok.
I hope that the ending development carries over into the second book
Maxim was a bit of conundrum IMO. He is known to be ruthless to take what he wants no matter the damage left in his wake. Iolanthe is what he wants and he finally has acquired her. The dark overlord? He has a marshmallow heart. He is so obsessed with her (there is a whole story behind this) but he wants her to come to him. To want him as much as he wants her. I admit here is where he seems to have his problem. He sorely lacks at wooing. Kidnapping he excels at. Mixed messages he is good at. Wooing No.
Iolanthe is a bit on the whiny side. The girl comes across all street smart in the beginning but then it is like she just... IDK her decisions suck!
The story starts out strong and had me engaged then it just stopped moving forward. It was like we were just repeating the same day with slight alterations over and over. I just wasn't able to connect with the characters. There was a lack of emotion almost as if the acts were scripted between them (I know it's a book you know what I mean). I almost gave up but again something kept me curious.
Suddenly much later in the story, things began to click. The story moved forward Why's and How's began appearing ...
Then it ended
Yes it ends on a cliffy but be honest it is a series and I expect that
I am actually going to move forward with this series even though this first book was only ok.
I hope that the ending development carries over into the second book
June 12, 2020
New author, new series, just OK for me. This seemed to have a ton of potential, post-apocalyptic world, virus that sterilized all but a few women, they are known as Pure, and big alpha man, Maxim trying to conquer one of the Pure, Iolanthe. What I found challenging was I simply didn't like either main character. She seemed strong and smart at the beginning and then made weird choices and was a bit of a whinner. Maxim kidnaped her, but then decided she needed to "come to him", but did nothing to make her want to. It was all a bit of a puzzle. The story itself was well written, had great pace and I am somewhat interested to know what happens.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 17, 2020
Utterly confusing
The story had potential but it was 200 + pages of the same thing over and over and over. She can’t trust men but she does and they betray her. Literally nothing else happens.
The story had potential but it was 200 + pages of the same thing over and over and over. She can’t trust men but she does and they betray her. Literally nothing else happens.
June 5, 2020
This is the first book in a series and it is a cliffhanger. Iolanthe is a Pure, a woman who can give birth to a child that does not have the virus that has taken over the world. The Colonel, Maxim has captured her, but for what reason? He wants her, but he doesn't take her even though he knows she is a virgin and safe. The world that this author built is complex and detailed. My only concern is that it is a cliffhanger and I don't usually read them, if I know about it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 21, 2020
Nope!
No feel of love here. The brutality and the killing of the dog turned me from the beginning. Definitely not my read.
No feel of love here. The brutality and the killing of the dog turned me from the beginning. Definitely not my read.
June 10, 2020
I enjoyed this story very much. This is a futuristic story but really very good. I started reading this story and couldn't put the book down. It grabbed me at the very beginning and I just had to finish it. Maxim, is ruling the Ruins that use to be NYC. He is very demanding and strict. He is an alpha male and what he wants he takes. He's watch Iolanthe grow up from afar and now it's time to claim her. Iolanthe grew up on the street with her mother but now her mother is dead and her mothers warning are always in her mind. This is a journey between Maxim and Iolanthe as they weave their way through their strange relationship. This book contains danger, suspense, mystery, violence, and sexy romance. Ends with a cliffhanger which I usually don't like. Will have to read the blurb for the next book. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 15, 2020
This book is absolutely AMAZING!! I wasn’t sure about it when I first started reading, but it did not take me long to get sucked in, turning the pages as fast as I could. The post-apocalyptic storyline is both unique and intriguing. Iolanthe, Maxim and Jonathan are characters that hold the reader’s attention and make the story as great as it is. The twists that are revealed as the story goes on make it impossible to put the book down. I cannot wait for book 2 to see what happens next!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 17, 2020
Pure is a post-apocalyptic read featuring Maxim/The Colonel, who is obsessed with Iolanthe, and Iolanthe, who has lived off the streets with her mother until her death when she is abducted by Maxim. There are many questions and twists in the novel. I recommend this dark dystopian sci-fi romance which ends in a cliffhanger.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 12, 2020
I could not put this awesome book down. It is emotionally charged and packed with intensity. I cannot wait for book 2! I voluntarily read and reviewed this book in exchange for a free copy.
May 19, 2021
I really wanted this book to be good. The premise was promising. I kept waiting and waiting for something to happen, but it never did.
June 5, 2020
This was an interesting start to a series. The world is one where women have few rights. And the head of this world wants a woman, Iolanthe, for his own. There are a lot of things going on in this book. Motives, backstories that you don’t fully understand for a long time, political maneuvering, and a lot of conflict. There is so much conflict between Maxim, Iolanthe, and Jonathon. There is some heat, but there is not a lot of actual action, most of the time. It is interesting that Maxim kidnapped her, but doesn’t do much with her but keep her captive. So this is more of a psychological than physical type captivity. The end is a cliffhanger. I had a lot of emotions reading this, mostly frustration and anger at the way all the men were treating Iolanthe. Also some confusion at how Maxim was treating her. The story was interesting and complex with many layers.
June 7, 2020
An absolutely fantastic gripping dark dystopian read, great start to the series, amazing storyline, well written with brilliant and interesting characters having fabulous chemistry. The story is filled with action, intrigue, twisted plots, mental games, dark themes, sexual chemistry and plenty of twists and turns. Looking forward to book two, cannot wait to find out what happens next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 9, 2020
Great start to a fast-paced intense post-apocalyptic read. Maxim is the ruler of the Ruins and takes what he wants. He has been watching Iolanthe for years and when her mother dies, he takes her. Iolanthe is guarding a secret, she is a Pure, what will happen if Maxim discovers the truth? Loads of drama, suspense and intense chemistry. Great world building and an entertaining story. I liked it.
June 20, 2020
Oh my... Pure is my first book by Julia Payton and it’s exactly to my liking. It’s dark, sexy, suspenseful and a load of power exchange and mayhem. Colonel Maxim and Iolanthe (eye-uh-lan-thee) Muntrough bring the darkness, drama all front and center. I definitely recommend this book and look forward to reading book two.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 5, 2020
this is an amazing dystopian tale, that will have you hooked in just a few pages, it is gritty and dark in places with a few steamy scenes as well as some action too. it ends on a clif and leaves you wishing the next book would come sooner!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 8, 2020
I liked this book. The story was well written and flowed beautifully. The characters were well defined within the story and they had such great chemistry. I loved the ending. If you like the works of this wonderful author, then this book is a must-read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 9, 2020
It’s a shame I didn’t know before I started reading that it’s just part of the story. Nothing is over. The end is a cliffhanger. The story is very complex and the line between good and bad is unpredictable and complicated. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 26, 2020
The Colonel wanted Iolanthe more than anything. She was a Pure. There weren’t many women left that could bear children and she was one. The lengths that the Colonel went through to get and keep her and keep his powerful position was intriguing and then we have a cliffhanger of an ending. Good read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 22, 2022
Would love to read more in this series, a great first read from Julia. Not sure where this will all end at this point though..... but it has me drooling for more!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews