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Trained #1
Taken for Training: A Dark Captive Romance
I was at the bar with friends, and the next thing I knew I was waking up in a strange room.
All they will tell me is that I'm here to be trained. That I'm being trained to obey, to follow orders, and that my life as I knew it before is over. I'm punished when I fight them, when I run.
They tell me they're going to break me.
Publisher's Taken for Training is a dark romance. It contains spanking, sexual scenes, and intense and humiliating punishments. Please see the content warning inside the book, and if such material offends you, please don't buy this book.
All they will tell me is that I'm here to be trained. That I'm being trained to obey, to follow orders, and that my life as I knew it before is over. I'm punished when I fight them, when I run.
They tell me they're going to break me.
Publisher's Taken for Training is a dark romance. It contains spanking, sexual scenes, and intense and humiliating punishments. Please see the content warning inside the book, and if such material offends you, please don't buy this book.
108 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 3, 2023
501 people are currently reading
508 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
February 26, 2024
tw: mention of sexual assualt, and some cursing throughout the review
please note that this review is not aesthetic, and is more like an unhinged, slightly more professional (and edited) diary entry that i need to get off my chest <3
*sigh*
this book was like a car crash that you see and you keep staring at even though it's disgusting and gruesome and terrible but you can't look away because it's so terrible that you can't stop looking at it.
look. i'm all for dark, morally questionable men.in fact, i prefer them. but this book is genuinely so freaking confusing. like.
okay, i'm going to try to maintain my cool and explain how i feel, but i'm very bad at articulating my thoughts (especially when i'm bewildered).
this was entirely, ENTIRELY disgusting. my jaw was on the floor the entire time i was reading this book, and NOT in a good way. the characters were so shallow and incredibly abusive towards each other, and it provides absolutely no background information as to how or why the main character finds herself in the position she's in (at least, until you're MORE THAN HALFWAY THROUGH). above all, though, i'm LIVID about the blatant disregard of consent in this book. the romanticization of sexual assault is NOT OKAY.
AT. ALL.
this woman is drugged, kidnapped, and literally sexually assaulted, but because it's not "real" sex, it's okay??? at one point, she even goes so far as to ask a character "are you going to rape me?" and they say "never," then proceed to do exactly what they just told her they WOULDN'T. this is DISGUSTING.
the thing is, in a proper dom/sub relationship, consent and limits are established. there were absolutely zero conversations about what different characters could deal with, and this poor woman isn't even given a safe word or any chance to get out of the situation she's in. there is absolutely no context in which this kind of behavior could ever be considered "loving." it's abuse.
and there are people writing reviews saying that the romance and the relationships are cute and adorable and stuff, but WHAT ROMANCE??? sure, i dnf'd, but i made it a solid 70% in, and all i saw was manipulation, abuse, and assault.
i'm not saying that the plot or the story wasn't good,yes, i am, but in order for this story to even be TWO STARS, i need CONSENT. yes, it's fiction, therefore you have to suspend some disbelief. yes, it's fiction, therefore certain things that are considered morally grey are more acceptable than they might be in real life. HOWEVER, consent is NOT optional. EVER. it's the biggest baseline for relationships and the most basic human courtesy that exists.
look, if you enjoyed this book, that's completely fine. i'm honestly happy that you were able to have a better experience than me!! but i think that if you're going to market a book as a "romance novel," even a DARK romance novel, you should at least be sure that the relationships between characters contain basic human consent and communication, and even if the latter isn't perfect (because it never is in real life), it's ADDRESSED, because modeling healthy relationships in books is how people are able to understand healthy relationships in real life. i realize that i sound like a mom right now, but it's just so confusing to me how the relationships between these characters can be seen as desireable in any way. and i know that if you want to find a model of what a good relationship looks like, you probably shouldn't search for it in a dark romance, but any person being forced to endure something like what [insert forgettable main character's name here] went through and labeling it "romance" is WRONG.
anyway.
i'm off to bleach my eyes out, and scrub them with steel wool.
please note that this review is not aesthetic, and is more like an unhinged, slightly more professional (and edited) diary entry that i need to get off my chest <3
*sigh*
look. i'm all for dark, morally questionable men.
okay, i'm going to try to maintain my cool and explain how i feel, but i'm very bad at articulating my thoughts (especially when i'm bewildered).
this was entirely, ENTIRELY disgusting. my jaw was on the floor the entire time i was reading this book, and NOT in a good way. the characters were so shallow and incredibly abusive towards each other, and it provides absolutely no background information as to how or why the main character finds herself in the position she's in (at least, until you're MORE THAN HALFWAY THROUGH). above all, though, i'm LIVID about the blatant disregard of consent in this book. the romanticization of sexual assault is NOT OKAY.
AT. ALL.
this woman is drugged, kidnapped, and literally sexually assaulted, but because it's not "real" sex, it's okay??? at one point, she even goes so far as to ask a character "are you going to rape me?" and they say "never," then proceed to do exactly what they just told her they WOULDN'T. this is DISGUSTING.
the thing is, in a proper dom/sub relationship, consent and limits are established. there were absolutely zero conversations about what different characters could deal with, and this poor woman isn't even given a safe word or any chance to get out of the situation she's in. there is absolutely no context in which this kind of behavior could ever be considered "loving." it's abuse.
and there are people writing reviews saying that the romance and the relationships are cute and adorable and stuff, but WHAT ROMANCE??? sure, i dnf'd, but i made it a solid 70% in, and all i saw was manipulation, abuse, and assault.
i'm not saying that the plot or the story wasn't good,
look, if you enjoyed this book, that's completely fine. i'm honestly happy that you were able to have a better experience than me!! but i think that if you're going to market a book as a "romance novel," even a DARK romance novel, you should at least be sure that the relationships between characters contain basic human consent and communication, and even if the latter isn't perfect (because it never is in real life), it's ADDRESSED, because modeling healthy relationships in books is how people are able to understand healthy relationships in real life. i realize that i sound like a mom right now, but it's just so confusing to me how the relationships between these characters can be seen as desireable in any way. and i know that if you want to find a model of what a good relationship looks like, you probably shouldn't search for it in a dark romance, but any person being forced to endure something like what [insert forgettable main character's name here] went through and labeling it "romance" is WRONG.
anyway.
i'm off to bleach my eyes out, and scrub them with steel wool.
March 6, 2023
This didn’t work for me. The story is extremely forced and makes no logical sense. I think the barebones of the story could’ve been really interesting but I feel like this probably should’ve been a duet. The first book her time in training and the second book her time undercover. The instalove, all of the agents or heroes are gorgeous. Why was he drawn to her? Why is he jealous. The words tell us this but it doesn’t make any sense. Even if the author expressed that he was attracted to her and maybe he hadn’t ever experienced this with a trainee before and he couldn’t understand the attraction. Just anything to explain the immediate attraction. If she was so inexperienced, why was she so aroused by them. Even some explanation like oh it’s been so long, just their attention is making me want them? Idk just anything. I am always disappointed when the story has so much potential and just never lives up to it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2024
It could have been so good. Decent plot, but there was no follow-through. No character development. No suspense. No substance. I would like to see this author try again.
Andrea has spent her entire life with one goal, becoming a CIA agent. After a yearlong interview process, her application is denied. After going out with friends to drown her sorrows, she wakes up naked in a strange room. Ryder arrives when Andrea wakes up to inform her that she's essentially been kidnapped and being sold into sexual slavery. He, along with his pals Jakes and Gavin, begin training her to be submissive, which just turns out to be a lot of beatings. Eventually she has sex with Ryder. I guess we're supposed to believe they fall in love, even though there's no conversations or real intimacy between them. They end up together in the end, but we have no clue how they get there, it just says "two months later".
First, all three men call her "baby". You know that's my favorite term of endearment, but it's used 46 times in this book. Even I was sick of it by then. I started to think maybe it was some psychological thing, but since the author never expanded on that as an option, we're just left feeling like it's unimaginative writing.
Like I said, there's no substance to this. It's very clinical. There is no training other than the beat her when she tries to escape. There's no relationship developed between her and Ryder, other than he calls her Kitten on occasion.
Like I said, it could have been good.
Andrea has spent her entire life with one goal, becoming a CIA agent. After a yearlong interview process, her application is denied. After going out with friends to drown her sorrows, she wakes up naked in a strange room. Ryder arrives when Andrea wakes up to inform her that she's essentially been kidnapped and being sold into sexual slavery. He, along with his pals Jakes and Gavin, begin training her to be submissive, which just turns out to be a lot of beatings. Eventually she has sex with Ryder. I guess we're supposed to believe they fall in love, even though there's no conversations or real intimacy between them. They end up together in the end, but we have no clue how they get there, it just says "two months later".
First, all three men call her "baby". You know that's my favorite term of endearment, but it's used 46 times in this book. Even I was sick of it by then. I started to think maybe it was some psychological thing, but since the author never expanded on that as an option, we're just left feeling like it's unimaginative writing.
Like I said, there's no substance to this. It's very clinical. There is no training other than the beat her when she tries to escape. There's no relationship developed between her and Ryder, other than he calls her Kitten on occasion.
Like I said, it could have been good.
February 4, 2023
Interesting with a twist I didn’t see coming!
August 2, 2024
This tale is perhaps a little too extreme. However, for a very, very submissive bi girl like me it was quite erotic and enjoyable. There are follow on books in the series. XOXOXOs to the author, Aspen Campbell, for the mind candy:)
July 13, 2023
A different kind of training just for you
Andrea had planned to join the CIA but was turned down so instead of having a pity party her friend convinced he to go out. She went from party to waking up in an unknown place naked. She met 3 men each with the plan to train her and ahe didn't want anything but to get away. She leaned that trying to escape had a punishment, not following commands had one and quickly made her realize this was real and she needed to comply. When andrea finds out the truth and what she has to do she goes from shock to being something that wasn't part of the plan
Andrea had planned to join the CIA but was turned down so instead of having a pity party her friend convinced he to go out. She went from party to waking up in an unknown place naked. She met 3 men each with the plan to train her and ahe didn't want anything but to get away. She leaned that trying to escape had a punishment, not following commands had one and quickly made her realize this was real and she needed to comply. When andrea finds out the truth and what she has to do she goes from shock to being something that wasn't part of the plan
September 16, 2023
It was okay
I cannot say it was fantastic, I cannot say, we even knew all that much about the characters. It was very dark, which was to be expected, but it wasn’t terribly engaging. You don’t even get a really good sense of time, nor does the main character, Andrea, and it was almost (no pun intended) anti-climatic, when we finally find out what’s going on. I’m not going to say that I recommend this book. Read it if you’ve got a few minutes to spare and want to kill some time.
I cannot say it was fantastic, I cannot say, we even knew all that much about the characters. It was very dark, which was to be expected, but it wasn’t terribly engaging. You don’t even get a really good sense of time, nor does the main character, Andrea, and it was almost (no pun intended) anti-climatic, when we finally find out what’s going on. I’m not going to say that I recommend this book. Read it if you’ve got a few minutes to spare and want to kill some time.
February 24, 2023
this was only 90 pages but I wish I could remove this entire book from my brain
August 14, 2023
This is a short story containing plenty of spankings and other sexual punishments. The premise of the story is ridiculous and pretty infuriating. I mean, the CIA training women to be sex slaves to become spies in power leaders of the underworld.....What is that? And the training is completely nonconsensual and basically just a lot of sexual torture. Although the FMC was resistant at first, she gave in immediately once she learned that she was training as an agent. I think the more logical plan of action for the FMC is to gather evidence, sue the Secret Service, collect all that money from the lawsuit, and never see any of the men she met during the training again.
However, I would say, if what you are looking for are hot sex scenes involving spanking and anal, this is a pretty nice book that cuts to the chase. I think some of these scenes are written nicely as fantasies, and we won't need to suffer much for the far-fetching storyline as the book is concise.
So I have to back up and say that with the right expectation, one might enjoy the story. However, as someone who really likes spanking scenes, I still have a problem when the FMC always surrenders (physically and emotionally!) in the given absurd situation.
However, I would say, if what you are looking for are hot sex scenes involving spanking and anal, this is a pretty nice book that cuts to the chase. I think some of these scenes are written nicely as fantasies, and we won't need to suffer much for the far-fetching storyline as the book is concise.
So I have to back up and say that with the right expectation, one might enjoy the story. However, as someone who really likes spanking scenes, I still have a problem when the FMC always surrenders (physically and emotionally!) in the given absurd situation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2024
Could have read this in just one day however, vacation got distracting lol.
For it to be a shorter book, it definitely has some decent plot, however, I really would have liked more to the storyline that involved her actually being sold. It felt like the story was lacking some critical structure at the part where she went through all that training just to have nothing happen to her.
Come on now, can't lead up to something so specific to leave out critical information. Like why did he only keep her in the cage and never let her out. Why does it say her whole time there was useless, when all of the contacts that paid for the time to use her would be people of interest as well.
Started to give 4 stars wish I could give half stars because it would be 3.5. Unfortunately the lack of those greatly desired details lowered the points. Also the epilogue is lacking as well. It would have been fine had the second book actually carried on with the story but it switched characters and only mentioned Andrea and Ryder.
For it to be a shorter book, it definitely has some decent plot, however, I really would have liked more to the storyline that involved her actually being sold. It felt like the story was lacking some critical structure at the part where she went through all that training just to have nothing happen to her.
Come on now, can't lead up to something so specific to leave out critical information. Like why did he only keep her in the cage and never let her out. Why does it say her whole time there was useless, when all of the contacts that paid for the time to use her would be people of interest as well.
Started to give 4 stars wish I could give half stars because it would be 3.5. Unfortunately the lack of those greatly desired details lowered the points. Also the epilogue is lacking as well. It would have been fine had the second book actually carried on with the story but it switched characters and only mentioned Andrea and Ryder.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2023
It's good but too short
The book feels rushed..it has a very big twist, even though it's totally not believable but that's cool because its a great surprise! It's dark and has triggers after triggers which I love! Here's why I gave it four stars, it's too rushed. It would have been excellent if it wasn't this short. It lacks character development and it lacks a build up. It has more than one trainer and the training is brutal and that is a plus..I feel its well written but needs to be longer. I'm looking forward to reading the next book however...
The book feels rushed..it has a very big twist, even though it's totally not believable but that's cool because its a great surprise! It's dark and has triggers after triggers which I love! Here's why I gave it four stars, it's too rushed. It would have been excellent if it wasn't this short. It lacks character development and it lacks a build up. It has more than one trainer and the training is brutal and that is a plus..I feel its well written but needs to be longer. I'm looking forward to reading the next book however...
March 19, 2024
So Close…
First, this is not a book, so much as a short story.
If you keep that in mind, it is much more enjoyable.
As short stories go, I liked it.
It leaves you curious as to what comes next for the protagonists.
If the author were to pair with another that can bring character development and environment descriptions, I believe that this could be a solid book that would attract more attention.
First, this is not a book, so much as a short story.
If you keep that in mind, it is much more enjoyable.
As short stories go, I liked it.
It leaves you curious as to what comes next for the protagonists.
If the author were to pair with another that can bring character development and environment descriptions, I believe that this could be a solid book that would attract more attention.
November 2, 2024
At first it felt like a cheap smutty novella, but I was a little surprised that the story was actually more thought through than I expected: Andrea gets rejected after applying to be a CIA agent. But then she gets kidnapped and “trained” by three handsome men – one of them being Ryder. They later reveal that she has been selected for a special unit. Her job is to infiltrate the Russian mafia and gather information by serving as their sex slave.
January 9, 2025
I read this for a yearly reading challenge, it was short and on ku so i figured whatever. This is not a romance, this is a rape erotica. This made me want to sew my vagina shut. The twist was one of the dumbest plot points I could have possibly imagined, and it ended up not even leading anywhere. Maybe this is just not for me, maybe I should have tried to find something else to fit the challenge. But I genuinely hope I never come across another piece of media even generally resembling this.
February 15, 2023
Twists and turns
The thing I like most about Aspens books is they deliver the unexpected. When you think you have worked out where the story is going and what the outcome will be she throws in a curve ball.
Not the easiest read as they contain some dark elements but I enjoyed it for sure.
The thing I like most about Aspens books is they deliver the unexpected. When you think you have worked out where the story is going and what the outcome will be she throws in a curve ball.
Not the easiest read as they contain some dark elements but I enjoyed it for sure.
July 27, 2023
Ridiculous
This book had a completely ridiculous, unbelievable, horribly flawed plot. Mediocre (at best) writing, and one dimensional characters. It was also desperately in need of a good editor. Thank God this was free because I'd be pissed if I'd spent money on this crap. If I was able to give less than a one-star rating, I would have!
This book had a completely ridiculous, unbelievable, horribly flawed plot. Mediocre (at best) writing, and one dimensional characters. It was also desperately in need of a good editor. Thank God this was free because I'd be pissed if I'd spent money on this crap. If I was able to give less than a one-star rating, I would have!
November 27, 2023
The author had a good premise here, but once the secret was revealed everything just wrapped up. It felt like it was secret revealed-she leaves-she gets rescued-epilogue. It was basically bullet points for what the author had planned for the second half of the book without actually writing the second half.
March 1, 2024
Very short and fast read. It was OK overall, nothing super exciting. The writing left a lot to be desired, it was not very detailed which was disappointing and the one to three sentence lines made it feel very rushed. The big reveal was kinda fun and kept me interested to see what happens but overall just very meh.
December 5, 2024
Never in my life have I read worse garbage. At one point I started counting, and the MMC says “baby” in every. Single. Sentence. To the FMC for 4 pages straight. No character development, there were thoughts and prayers of a plot that could have been good IF the author took their time to develop this book out. Forced myself to finish it, wish I didn’t waste my time.
December 15, 2024
2.5 stars. It was ok. I wish it was longer with more of a plot. I was actually interested in the twist and would have wanted the book longer with more detail. The end left me wanting. It wasn’t super clear and because of the lack of plot detail and character development, the romance was lacking and added to the confusion at the end. Not great.
December 18, 2024
Good Writing, but not really smut or plot
Seemed like the author tried to write porn with a plot, but fell short on both. The characters are engaging, but there’s no real sex scenes and the plot moves forward too fast and the story too short to really enjoy that side of it.
Will definitely try this author again, but maybe in a more traditional setting.
Seemed like the author tried to write porn with a plot, but fell short on both. The characters are engaging, but there’s no real sex scenes and the plot moves forward too fast and the story too short to really enjoy that side of it.
Will definitely try this author again, but maybe in a more traditional setting.
February 3, 2025
So, here's the thing, I really like dark books. The darker the better, most of the time. This one, by the description of it, should have been right up my alley. However, I also like a h with a little spunk. To get kidnapped, beaten and get wet in the first 10 pages, and like it, even for me that was a bit much.
DNF
DNF
February 17, 2023
A short and good read.
It starts out with the FMC drugged and abducted and forced into training. Training in obedience and sexual response. With lots of harsh punishments -- spanking and belting and caning.
There is a thorough plot twist halfway through.
Well done.
It starts out with the FMC drugged and abducted and forced into training. Training in obedience and sexual response. With lots of harsh punishments -- spanking and belting and caning.
There is a thorough plot twist halfway through.
Well done.
August 15, 2023
This out me through it…
The physical reaction to this book was unexpected. I think I might have explored a kink in me that I hadn’t thought about before. I’m just shocked and still trying to understand why it was so good. Lol.
The physical reaction to this book was unexpected. I think I might have explored a kink in me that I hadn’t thought about before. I’m just shocked and still trying to understand why it was so good. Lol.
September 9, 2023
Basic Training
Rating 2.5*. This story was a typical kidnapped, trained and sold tale. There were a few twists but nothing major. A paint by number story that wasn't really dark, romantic or erotic.
Rating 2.5*. This story was a typical kidnapped, trained and sold tale. There were a few twists but nothing major. A paint by number story that wasn't really dark, romantic or erotic.
October 6, 2023
An Interesting story
Taken for Training was a rather unique story. The overall plot was quite unexpected! I was glad to have the opportunity to read it. I recommend to readers who enjoy this type of story.
Taken for Training was a rather unique story. The overall plot was quite unexpected! I was glad to have the opportunity to read it. I recommend to readers who enjoy this type of story.
May 28, 2025
Actually terrible. Ok so first it’s like a total wannabe in his cage but then it seemed the the author realized that so there like ok well lets making her part of the CIA now and this is all some kind of fucked up training. I do not recommend it. It’s a terrible book.
Read
October 9, 2023it had potential but didn’t live up to it. it could’ve been written better that made sense, but the twist towards the end was everything, the surrounding plot just needed more pizzaz.
November 9, 2023
The Mmc raped the Fmc and it’s okay cause he’s hot WTF
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews