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Belonging #1
Anchored
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Network news anchor Daniel Halstrom is at the top of his field, but being at the bottom of the social ladder—being a slave—makes that hard to enjoy. Especially when NewWorld Media, the company that’s owned him since childhood, decides to lease him privately on evenings and weekends to boost their flagging profits.
Daniel’s not stupid; he knows there’s only one reason someone would pay so much for what little free time he has. But dark memories of past sexual service leave him certain he won’t survive it again with his sanity intact.
He finds himself in the home of Carl Whitman, a talk show host whose words fail him when it comes to ordering Daniel into his bed. Carl can’t seem to take what he must want, and Daniel’s not willing to give it freely. His recalcitrance costs him dearly, but with patience and some hard-won understanding, affection just might flourish over fear and pain. Carl holds the power to be an anchor in Daniel’s turbulent life, but if he isn’t careful, he’ll end up the weight that sinks his slave for good.
Network news anchor Daniel Halstrom is at the top of his field, but being at the bottom of the social ladder—being a slave—makes that hard to enjoy. Especially when NewWorld Media, the company that’s owned him since childhood, decides to lease him privately on evenings and weekends to boost their flagging profits.
Daniel’s not stupid; he knows there’s only one reason someone would pay so much for what little free time he has. But dark memories of past sexual service leave him certain he won’t survive it again with his sanity intact.
He finds himself in the home of Carl Whitman, a talk show host whose words fail him when it comes to ordering Daniel into his bed. Carl can’t seem to take what he must want, and Daniel’s not willing to give it freely. His recalcitrance costs him dearly, but with patience and some hard-won understanding, affection just might flourish over fear and pain. Carl holds the power to be an anchor in Daniel’s turbulent life, but if he isn’t careful, he’ll end up the weight that sinks his slave for good.
124 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 17, 2011
26 people are currently reading
1053 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Haimowitz
41 books722 followersM/M erotic romance author, freelance writer and editor, sadist with a pesky conscience, shamelessly silly, proudly pervish. I'm a twitter addict (@rachelhaimowitz), and I blog every M/W/F at Fantasy Unbound. To learn all about my current and upcoming projects, please stop by my website. I love to hear from folks, so feel free to drop me a line anytime at metarachel (at) gmail (dot) com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
July 13, 2012
Revised 7/13/2012
I have for some time wanted to rewrite this review. There are two books that have left me feeling so betrayed and so disgusted that I completely snapped and in my resulting review crossed a line I had drawn for myself into unnecessary harshness and capslock rage. This is one of them.
I read this book back when I was still pretty new to American commercial M/M ... I was not new to M/M itself, I was just better versed in Japanese M/M, GLBT fiction and fanfiction. What I know now is that American M/M borrows an awful lot for traditional M/F romance, much more than I was used to. At the time I bought this book I was frustrated by being unable to find what I wanted to read: a really good rape fantasy. I was confused by the endless catering to 'true love' in books that presumably were brought to market precisely because people like me wanted something darker . I had just finished three other books that didn't give me the rape fantasy I wanted and left me feeling disturbed and confused by what I felt were decidedly pedophiliac overtones (that is to say that the adult MC felt like a child and his rapist was extremely paternal). Then I read this one and I just fucking lost it.
I still do not like this book, but now that I'm a little better acquainted with American commercial M/M my thoughts on it are slightly clearer and less ragey.
This book trivializes rape and that is intolerable to me.
I know, I like rape fantasy ... but I like rape fantasy because it separates sex from the socialization. This very Puritanical idea that sex == love == HEA is nonsense. I roll my eyes at it about a thousand times a day. What I like about rape fantasy is being freed from the need that the MCs be ~in love~ in order to fuck.
That being said, I cannot stand books that treat rape as something other than what it is and that's what this book does. The turning point that brings the MC and his love interest together is a vicious, graphic, and absurdly long rape scene. Rape is used as a tool to prime the MC to accept the love of a person he doesn't really know, doesn't really like, doesn't really want, and who (in my opinion) treats him like crap. Minor characters scold and condescend the MC for that being ungrateful towards a love interest that is basically sexually abusing him. The love interest's terrible behavior is never acknowledged as abusive, indeed the book seems to suggest that the MC is being unreasonable by resisting "the good master"
Trauma from a gang rape is handled with brownies, like the MC just fell off his bike and scrapped his knee. HFN is declared in the end despite the fact that the "good master" is still leasing the MC from the people who he condemns for beating, torturing and gang raping his "beloved". So the bad guys still have control. The bad guys get exactly what they want and can still hurt the MC. Nothing has changed, but nevertheless happiness is found through empty promises of loyalty, protection and devotion.
I'm sorry, for me you either have to go one way or another: either make the character kind and considerate or make him a selfish, abusive bastard. Don't spend two hundred pages trying to convince me that abuse is really kindness. Don't give me an abuser that whines and angsts about why his victim isn't smitten by his assaults.
The weird thing is ... if this book had ended with the MC killing himself (or even better the love interest ... very Japanese 'ultimate atonement' there) I probably would have four starred it. I mean it would have been shocking, provocative and smart. A really compelling tale of the consequences of trying to force your love on someone. But the happy ending destroyed this book for me and left me completely disgusted by it.
I have for some time wanted to rewrite this review. There are two books that have left me feeling so betrayed and so disgusted that I completely snapped and in my resulting review crossed a line I had drawn for myself into unnecessary harshness and capslock rage. This is one of them.
I read this book back when I was still pretty new to American commercial M/M ... I was not new to M/M itself, I was just better versed in Japanese M/M, GLBT fiction and fanfiction. What I know now is that American M/M borrows an awful lot for traditional M/F romance, much more than I was used to. At the time I bought this book I was frustrated by being unable to find what I wanted to read: a really good rape fantasy. I was confused by the endless catering to 'true love' in books that presumably were brought to market precisely because people like me wanted something darker . I had just finished three other books that didn't give me the rape fantasy I wanted and left me feeling disturbed and confused by what I felt were decidedly pedophiliac overtones (that is to say that the adult MC felt like a child and his rapist was extremely paternal). Then I read this one and I just fucking lost it.
I still do not like this book, but now that I'm a little better acquainted with American commercial M/M my thoughts on it are slightly clearer and less ragey.
This book trivializes rape and that is intolerable to me.
I know, I like rape fantasy ... but I like rape fantasy because it separates sex from the socialization. This very Puritanical idea that sex == love == HEA is nonsense. I roll my eyes at it about a thousand times a day. What I like about rape fantasy is being freed from the need that the MCs be ~in love~ in order to fuck.
That being said, I cannot stand books that treat rape as something other than what it is and that's what this book does. The turning point that brings the MC and his love interest together is a vicious, graphic, and absurdly long rape scene. Rape is used as a tool to prime the MC to accept the love of a person he doesn't really know, doesn't really like, doesn't really want, and who (in my opinion) treats him like crap. Minor characters scold and condescend the MC for that being ungrateful towards a love interest that is basically sexually abusing him. The love interest's terrible behavior is never acknowledged as abusive, indeed the book seems to suggest that the MC is being unreasonable by resisting "the good master"
Trauma from a gang rape is handled with brownies, like the MC just fell off his bike and scrapped his knee. HFN is declared in the end despite the fact that the "good master" is still leasing the MC from the people who he condemns for beating, torturing and gang raping his "beloved". So the bad guys still have control. The bad guys get exactly what they want and can still hurt the MC. Nothing has changed, but nevertheless happiness is found through empty promises of loyalty, protection and devotion.
I'm sorry, for me you either have to go one way or another: either make the character kind and considerate or make him a selfish, abusive bastard. Don't spend two hundred pages trying to convince me that abuse is really kindness. Don't give me an abuser that whines and angsts about why his victim isn't smitten by his assaults.
The weird thing is ... if this book had ended with the MC killing himself (or even better the love interest ... very Japanese 'ultimate atonement' there) I probably would have four starred it. I mean it would have been shocking, provocative and smart. A really compelling tale of the consequences of trying to force your love on someone. But the happy ending destroyed this book for me and left me completely disgusted by it.
March 21, 2015
1.5* rounded up. Review to follow.
Oookay...
This was lame, uninspired, tropey, predictable, illogical and unbelievably boring. I was close to not finishing this several times, simply because I nearly fell asleep over it. It gets the half star exclusively *because* I finished it and because it contained few SPaG errors.
Contrary to the assumption of some of my GR friends I wasn't in any way disgusted or inconvenienced by the non-con in this book. Given that this is an AU containing slavery, why should I be so? However, and unfortunately, the slavery, the torture and the porn didn't titillate me in the slightest. This wasn't erotic, it didn't tickle the sadist in me, and it didn't put me on the edge of my seat with empathy for any of the characters.
The reasons were all these tired, much overused and awful romance tropes and I am not even talking m/m tropes, I am talking m/f tropes:
Carl is of course huge and overwhelmingly male, while Daniel is minuscule (can you tell I am sick of that?), in short we get a couple which is twin to countless regency romance marriages arranged against the will of the virginal wife.
Daniel is a wimp. Not just as a male character, if he were the Regency wifey he so clearly replaces in this sorry old plot, then he still would be a wet hanky. A whiner.
We get a fantastically healing cock as well, by the way, despite prior gangrape (or was that supposed to be a to-become-gay-rape?). Oh and yes, of course, we have the--yawn!--Big Misunderstanding, too. The one which could be solved with adult men doing some adult talking with each other. Not too much to expect from high-class professionals and journalists? No.
Also lots of plotholes. That AU wasn't thought through, the characters didn't behave anywhere close to how intelligent, adult human beings behave in such situations, and we even got us a white "Mammy" here (which I found particularly distasteful). And I didn't buy the worldbuilding. Today we have enough indicators to show us potential class systems or slavery in the near future, entirely without something as clunky as an alleged "slave gene" or religion.
I'm sorry, but how could this book make it through content editing like this? It reads like a very rushed job, not even past the first, much-needed major rewrite.
Oookay...
This was lame, uninspired, tropey, predictable, illogical and unbelievably boring. I was close to not finishing this several times, simply because I nearly fell asleep over it. It gets the half star exclusively *because* I finished it and because it contained few SPaG errors.
Contrary to the assumption of some of my GR friends I wasn't in any way disgusted or inconvenienced by the non-con in this book. Given that this is an AU containing slavery, why should I be so? However, and unfortunately, the slavery, the torture and the porn didn't titillate me in the slightest. This wasn't erotic, it didn't tickle the sadist in me, and it didn't put me on the edge of my seat with empathy for any of the characters.
The reasons were all these tired, much overused and awful romance tropes and I am not even talking m/m tropes, I am talking m/f tropes:
Carl is of course huge and overwhelmingly male, while Daniel is minuscule (can you tell I am sick of that?), in short we get a couple which is twin to countless regency romance marriages arranged against the will of the virginal wife.
Daniel is a wimp. Not just as a male character, if he were the Regency wifey he so clearly replaces in this sorry old plot, then he still would be a wet hanky. A whiner.
We get a fantastically healing cock as well, by the way, despite prior gangrape (or was that supposed to be a to-become-gay-rape?). Oh and yes, of course, we have the--yawn!--Big Misunderstanding, too. The one which could be solved with adult men doing some adult talking with each other. Not too much to expect from high-class professionals and journalists? No.
Also lots of plotholes. That AU wasn't thought through, the characters didn't behave anywhere close to how intelligent, adult human beings behave in such situations, and we even got us a white "Mammy" here (which I found particularly distasteful). And I didn't buy the worldbuilding. Today we have enough indicators to show us potential class systems or slavery in the near future, entirely without something as clunky as an alleged "slave gene" or religion.
I'm sorry, but how could this book make it through content editing like this? It reads like a very rushed job, not even past the first, much-needed major rewrite.
July 14, 2016
4.25 Kinda Fucked-Up Stars
I’ve been waiting for this book for FOR-EV-VER. Shortly after reading, and falling in love with, Power Play by Ms. Haimowitz I asked a GR friend for recs similar and she suggested this. Yeah, it was out of print. This friend went the extra mile and contacted Ms. Haimowitz who said she was reworking it and to sit tight. I’ve been sitting tight. FOR-EV-VER! Then POOF! a couple weeks ago there it was at the top of the Riptide email saying it was going to release in like a minute.
SAY WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT?!?!?
Usually Riptide promotes the becheezus out of books. For months. Apparently, their publisher doesn’t roll like that. She rolls like Radiohead. Hey, new CD (in this case book) dropping like now. Peace out! It’s the promotional version of hey-get-your-ass-in-gear. Needless to say, I got my ass in gear AND devoured this.
That being said, Anchored wasn’t entirely what I expected. It contains GRAPHIC VIOLENCE ON THE PAGE. I was expecting that, actually. This is Haimowitz we’re talking about here. It was the perpetrators of the violence that I wasn’t expecting. This is the beginning of the Belonging series with Book Two (which I’ve read previously) being Counterpunch. Slavery was never abolished in this alt reality and in modern times that has translated to various races being conscripted worldwide. Once someone has been conscripted their offspring are born slaves owing to something called “the slave gene”. All of these things I struggled to understand in Counterpunch are explained here, though I’m still not clear on how slavery is economically beneficial.
Daniel is one of the "lucky ones". He was bought from a cruel mistress at eleven for the sole purpose of grooming him for NewWorld (clever, huh?) television. Unfortunately, that mistress’ misdeeds took root in his psyche and his status in society maintains his oppression and never allows him to heal, so when he’s leased to Carl Whitman all those demons he’s kept at bay by cocooning himself in his little cubby hole of a dorm room resurface.
Carl is Daniel’s competition and has been enamored of Daniel for some time, so a six million dollar lease tag for a year is, apparently, a bargain. Anchored is told entirely through Daniel, but Carl does seem to be a good guy. A good guy who makes really stupid assumptions and fails to communicate adequately, or at all, which is the crux of their problem thereby triggering a domino effect of miscommunications. This is quite similar to Power Play and, in my opinion, what Haimowitz does best-piss poor communication between protagonists.
By putting the reader inside Daniel’s head we get a front row seat to the snowball effect of anxiety. How he perceives even simple gestures as aggressive, how even banal activities take on a sinister undertone, how he second guesses himself as well as his pain and anger with his place in society. All of which fascinates me because they’re all part of the human condition. Haimowitz’s version of the human condition is on steroids, but I think she captures human fallibility dexterously. Her characterization of Daniel is superlative. The secondary characters run the gamut from monstrous to fairy god mother all of whom advance the storyline.
Would I recommend Anchored to everyone? No. Heed the content warning tags. This will exceed the comfort zone of many. Did I enjoy it? In a depraved sense, no. The psychological aspects and the world building, yes. Absolutely. Plus, I respect, appreciate and in a very twisted way enjoy her ability to elicit emotion from me.
Reviewed for
I’ve been waiting for this book for FOR-EV-VER. Shortly after reading, and falling in love with, Power Play by Ms. Haimowitz I asked a GR friend for recs similar and she suggested this. Yeah, it was out of print. This friend went the extra mile and contacted Ms. Haimowitz who said she was reworking it and to sit tight. I’ve been sitting tight. FOR-EV-VER! Then POOF! a couple weeks ago there it was at the top of the Riptide email saying it was going to release in like a minute.
SAY WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT?!?!?
Usually Riptide promotes the becheezus out of books. For months. Apparently, their publisher doesn’t roll like that. She rolls like Radiohead. Hey, new CD (in this case book) dropping like now. Peace out! It’s the promotional version of hey-get-your-ass-in-gear. Needless to say, I got my ass in gear AND devoured this.
That being said, Anchored wasn’t entirely what I expected. It contains GRAPHIC VIOLENCE ON THE PAGE. I was expecting that, actually. This is Haimowitz we’re talking about here. It was the perpetrators of the violence that I wasn’t expecting. This is the beginning of the Belonging series with Book Two (which I’ve read previously) being Counterpunch. Slavery was never abolished in this alt reality and in modern times that has translated to various races being conscripted worldwide. Once someone has been conscripted their offspring are born slaves owing to something called “the slave gene”. All of these things I struggled to understand in Counterpunch are explained here, though I’m still not clear on how slavery is economically beneficial.
Daniel is one of the "lucky ones". He was bought from a cruel mistress at eleven for the sole purpose of grooming him for NewWorld (clever, huh?) television. Unfortunately, that mistress’ misdeeds took root in his psyche and his status in society maintains his oppression and never allows him to heal, so when he’s leased to Carl Whitman all those demons he’s kept at bay by cocooning himself in his little cubby hole of a dorm room resurface.
Carl is Daniel’s competition and has been enamored of Daniel for some time, so a six million dollar lease tag for a year is, apparently, a bargain. Anchored is told entirely through Daniel, but Carl does seem to be a good guy. A good guy who makes really stupid assumptions and fails to communicate adequately, or at all, which is the crux of their problem thereby triggering a domino effect of miscommunications. This is quite similar to Power Play and, in my opinion, what Haimowitz does best-piss poor communication between protagonists.
By putting the reader inside Daniel’s head we get a front row seat to the snowball effect of anxiety. How he perceives even simple gestures as aggressive, how even banal activities take on a sinister undertone, how he second guesses himself as well as his pain and anger with his place in society. All of which fascinates me because they’re all part of the human condition. Haimowitz’s version of the human condition is on steroids, but I think she captures human fallibility dexterously. Her characterization of Daniel is superlative. The secondary characters run the gamut from monstrous to fairy god mother all of whom advance the storyline.
Would I recommend Anchored to everyone? No. Heed the content warning tags. This will exceed the comfort zone of many. Did I enjoy it? In a depraved sense, no. The psychological aspects and the world building, yes. Absolutely. Plus, I respect, appreciate and in a very twisted way enjoy her ability to elicit emotion from me.
Reviewed for
June 12, 2012
Wow.
Compared to this, Power Play looks like putti, bunnies, and kittens.
This is a true Orwellian dystopia.
"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face — forever . . . They can't get inside you," she had said. But they could get inside you . . . There were things, your own acts, from which you could never recover. Something was killed in your breast: burnt out, cauterized out." (1984: read it)
That's the paradigm in which this book sits. Be warned.
Wow.
Compared to this, Power Play looks like putti, bunnies, and kittens.
This is a true Orwellian dystopia.
"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face — forever . . . They can't get inside you," she had said. But they could get inside you . . . There were things, your own acts, from which you could never recover. Something was killed in your breast: burnt out, cauterized out." (1984: read it)
That's the paradigm in which this book sits. Be warned.
Wow.
September 13, 2013
I would like to be able to better write in English to express correctly what I felt while reading this book (my mother language is French and my English is not very good ...). I can at least try to say what is essential.
I was unable to read the rape scene at once. I had to do as the main character and remind myself that I had to breathe. My blood pressure climbed to levels not felt for ages. One might even say that I had lost vision at some point. I just think that my mind was trying to escape from what I was reading. So we can say that this description is very awesome and successful.
I do not attach such importance to the fact that the author did not give further explanations about her strange historical context. The USA in present time, but with slaves? Why not? During the Civil War, if the Southerners had won, what would have happened? Who knows if slavery would not be legalized in America. I only questioned the absence of revolt. If Daniel is so brilliant, he should have thought about the injustice of his situation once or twice, right?
I can well understand that Daniel is terrified to be leased like that. But I had to explain it to myself because the author has not given much effort to do this for her readers. Someone who has spent his life being trained in obedience, cannot overnight change of lifestyle without any problem. That's what made me Carl detestable. How an educated and intelligent man, who has at heart the welfare of his slaves, cannot understand that Daniel simply could not move from a world where everything is dictated to him -- what and when to eat, when going to bed, how long he has to train, or if he can f...k, and so on, a world in which the only thing Daniel did for himself throughout his life was loving Victor and having his lover sent away without any consideration for his feelings -- how such a man could live without any instructions on what to do. Carl never gives him any instruction of any sort. The only thing Carl does is to complain each time Daniel tries to do something, as if the master thought Daniel should be a mind reader. This master is a stupid ass-hole. Was he not able to see how Daniel was frightened? How he was shaking? How he was tense and nervous? If Daniel were afraid as much as the author pretends, and if Carl was so concerned about the fate of the slaves she wants us to believe, then Carl should have seen these signs and tried to understand what the matter was with his new "appliance". But no, nothing like that. And the first thing that the bastard does when he does not get what he wants is to send Daniel back to his owners, making them promise not to hit Daniel. Even children know that there are as many means to hurt someone than the human imagination can invent, that is unlimited. Anyone knows that. You know, I know, the author knows, I am sure about that. So why this stupid Carl does not know? I hate him more than Daniel's owners. At least, they are honest bastards. They have no heart, but they do not try to pretend to be good guys.
Daniel's behavior changes dramatically right after he beholds the anger Carl demonstrates against those who abused Daniel for the second time because of him (yeah, the first time too, since Daniel was distracted because he was about to be leased to Carl). This behavior change is too sudden, too easy. Talk to anyone who has been raped, particularly if it was a violent rape, one does not heal of such a shock by snapping our fingers.
Still, I gave this book a three because I was unable to let it down until I finished to read it. But there would be room for a lot of improvements (historical background and a little more consistency in the characters' psychology). And as another reviewer said, we should have seen in action all the fine qualities of Daniel to really believe that he had them.
I was unable to read the rape scene at once. I had to do as the main character and remind myself that I had to breathe. My blood pressure climbed to levels not felt for ages. One might even say that I had lost vision at some point. I just think that my mind was trying to escape from what I was reading. So we can say that this description is very awesome and successful.
I do not attach such importance to the fact that the author did not give further explanations about her strange historical context. The USA in present time, but with slaves? Why not? During the Civil War, if the Southerners had won, what would have happened? Who knows if slavery would not be legalized in America. I only questioned the absence of revolt. If Daniel is so brilliant, he should have thought about the injustice of his situation once or twice, right?
I can well understand that Daniel is terrified to be leased like that. But I had to explain it to myself because the author has not given much effort to do this for her readers. Someone who has spent his life being trained in obedience, cannot overnight change of lifestyle without any problem. That's what made me Carl detestable. How an educated and intelligent man, who has at heart the welfare of his slaves, cannot understand that Daniel simply could not move from a world where everything is dictated to him -- what and when to eat, when going to bed, how long he has to train, or if he can f...k, and so on, a world in which the only thing Daniel did for himself throughout his life was loving Victor and having his lover sent away without any consideration for his feelings -- how such a man could live without any instructions on what to do. Carl never gives him any instruction of any sort. The only thing Carl does is to complain each time Daniel tries to do something, as if the master thought Daniel should be a mind reader. This master is a stupid ass-hole. Was he not able to see how Daniel was frightened? How he was shaking? How he was tense and nervous? If Daniel were afraid as much as the author pretends, and if Carl was so concerned about the fate of the slaves she wants us to believe, then Carl should have seen these signs and tried to understand what the matter was with his new "appliance". But no, nothing like that. And the first thing that the bastard does when he does not get what he wants is to send Daniel back to his owners, making them promise not to hit Daniel. Even children know that there are as many means to hurt someone than the human imagination can invent, that is unlimited. Anyone knows that. You know, I know, the author knows, I am sure about that. So why this stupid Carl does not know? I hate him more than Daniel's owners. At least, they are honest bastards. They have no heart, but they do not try to pretend to be good guys.
Daniel's behavior changes dramatically right after he beholds the anger Carl demonstrates against those who abused Daniel for the second time because of him (yeah, the first time too, since Daniel was distracted because he was about to be leased to Carl). This behavior change is too sudden, too easy. Talk to anyone who has been raped, particularly if it was a violent rape, one does not heal of such a shock by snapping our fingers.
Still, I gave this book a three because I was unable to let it down until I finished to read it. But there would be room for a lot of improvements (historical background and a little more consistency in the characters' psychology). And as another reviewer said, we should have seen in action all the fine qualities of Daniel to really believe that he had them.
January 22, 2011
The story was very interesting, out of the ordinary to what I'm used to reading and way out of the box. I would say it borders on a 4.5 rating, but I'm still stunned and a little detached from this book by the vivid cruelty and details of the multiple rape scene that poor Daniel had to endure. This story is in no way a romance if that's what you're hoping to gain here with this one. It's slavery, it's control over other human beings and I wouldn't even say this is D/S.
It makes me come to realize that it's a damn good thing the world isn't like it is in this book today. There were so many moments while reading this story I felt deflated and a little disconcerted by the treatment one character was subjected to and given the choice I couldn't have accepted it myself.
Otherwise the story held a morbid amount of intrigue apart of the detailed violence which is quite frequent throughout this story. Not for the faint of heart or true romantics but reading material for the strong and not the squirmish type.
It makes me come to realize that it's a damn good thing the world isn't like it is in this book today. There were so many moments while reading this story I felt deflated and a little disconcerted by the treatment one character was subjected to and given the choice I couldn't have accepted it myself.
Otherwise the story held a morbid amount of intrigue apart of the detailed violence which is quite frequent throughout this story. Not for the faint of heart or true romantics but reading material for the strong and not the squirmish type.
May 13, 2019
4.5 Stars
September 15, 2024
Daniel sabe que es un esclavo pero pensaba que siendo "la estrella" del canal no iba a ser "alquilado" por sus dueños (el canal de noticias) a otras personas, para sexo. Así que cuando se entera de que ahora tiene que vivir con su nuevo Maestro y "complacerlo" en todo lo que le pida, mientras sigue siendo el presentador del programa de noticias, se siente asqueado, cansado y sobre todo molesto, pero si no hace lo que le piden el castigo físico puede ser severo. Pero podrá hacerlo? Podrá dejar que su nuevo Maestro lo utilice como quiera? Cual serian las consecuencias si no lo hace?
Esperaba un libro con un poco de BDSM y mucho romance, pero en vez de eso encontré un libro fuerte sobre un sistema de esclavos diferente, (que todavía no se explica porque existe) donde los "esclavos" solo se identifican con unos brazaletes, y sufren castigos bastante severos si no cumplen con las expectativas de los dueños. Eso si, estos esclavos pueden ser técnicos, doctores, enfermeros, obreros de la construcción, cocineros, choferes, o se, pueden ser cualquier persona que camine por la calle.
El romance como tal no existe, es un Maestro que "alquila" al esclavo para su disfrute y que permite al autor mostrarnos el lado mas oscuro y el lado mas humano de los "dueños".
En fin, el universo es interesante, pero el final quedo como muy abierto y quede con ganas de saber que mas paso con esta pareja o por lo menos con el prota, así que voy a seguir con la serie.
Esperaba un libro con un poco de BDSM y mucho romance, pero en vez de eso encontré un libro fuerte sobre un sistema de esclavos diferente, (que todavía no se explica porque existe) donde los "esclavos" solo se identifican con unos brazaletes, y sufren castigos bastante severos si no cumplen con las expectativas de los dueños. Eso si, estos esclavos pueden ser técnicos, doctores, enfermeros, obreros de la construcción, cocineros, choferes, o se, pueden ser cualquier persona que camine por la calle.
El romance como tal no existe, es un Maestro que "alquila" al esclavo para su disfrute y que permite al autor mostrarnos el lado mas oscuro y el lado mas humano de los "dueños".
En fin, el universo es interesante, pero el final quedo como muy abierto y quede con ganas de saber que mas paso con esta pareja o por lo menos con el prota, así que voy a seguir con la serie.
February 7, 2013
After reading Counterpunch I decided to try reading Rachel Haimowitz’s take on the modern world with ingrained slavery.
Short version: I prefer all things British.
Long version:
Make no mistake, this is an erotic BDSM novel, and not a romance. For a moment I thought about giving this book an extra star for not romanticising the Master and slave dynamics but then I stopped to think about all the other things I found disturbing and decided not to.
Counterpunch worked, for me, because Brooklyn had been born free. He grew up making his own choices and knowing who he was. He only lost that privilege due to an unfortunate sequence of events. Brooklyn was and is an unyielding character who’s never resigned himself to slavery.
Here, Daniel has presumably been born into slavery. He may not have been groomed to be a sexual companion to anyone willing to pay for his services, but he’s been beaten and schooled to obey his Master. Daniel doesn’t know what freedom is. He doesn’t have any idea what the concept of consent means. He’s not capable of willingly submitting to his master.
What’s worse, Haimowitz writes Daniel as an overgrown child. All the aspects of his life have been carefully controlled and Daniel never experienced the joys of child’s play or eating until he’s too full to eat anymore. The only thing he does know and take pleasure in—supposedly—is his work. The tasks and chores given to him to be performed like any trained monkey. I used the word supposedly because the reader never actually sees Daniel enjoying his job or taking solace in it. The closest he comes to using the news as a crutch is reading his Master’s morning paper. And when he most needs the comfort, Daniel chooses to watch an unnamed anime instead of his precious information broadcasts.
Where Brooklyn would brace himself and face the forced assignations, Daniel seems to have grown up in a cocoon where proper sex didn’t really exist. I could maybe buy Daniel’s virginal inexperience hadn’t the author contradicted herself: We’re supposed to believe a pair of slaves wouldn’t have a five minutes for themselves while trusted slaves are left to roam free in the weekends. Also, I refuse to believe Daniel could be good at his job and have spent years reporting from the field without stumbling on people who actually enjoy sex.
Then there’s the fact that for an erotica this book isn’t very erotic. The first half is spent on explaining how inexperienced Daniel is and highlighting his unease with his uncaring and thoughtless new Master whose name I’ve forgotten. Said Master spends night after night sleeping in the same bed with Daniel without demanding anything from him. We’re supposed to believe he’s caring and kind because he doesn’t force himself on Daniel, that he’s a good Master who just never bothers to make the rules clear to his new slave. If the Master truly were such a good Master, surely he’d know what he wants from a slave and how to make his will known with words and without scaring the new toy.
Finally, when the sex happens . Then there’s the rushed magic cock cure for all and a very unsatisfying end to the whole thing.
Short version: I prefer all things British.
Long version:
Make no mistake, this is an erotic BDSM novel, and not a romance. For a moment I thought about giving this book an extra star for not romanticising the Master and slave dynamics but then I stopped to think about all the other things I found disturbing and decided not to.
Counterpunch worked, for me, because Brooklyn had been born free. He grew up making his own choices and knowing who he was. He only lost that privilege due to an unfortunate sequence of events. Brooklyn was and is an unyielding character who’s never resigned himself to slavery.
Here, Daniel has presumably been born into slavery. He may not have been groomed to be a sexual companion to anyone willing to pay for his services, but he’s been beaten and schooled to obey his Master. Daniel doesn’t know what freedom is. He doesn’t have any idea what the concept of consent means. He’s not capable of willingly submitting to his master.
What’s worse, Haimowitz writes Daniel as an overgrown child. All the aspects of his life have been carefully controlled and Daniel never experienced the joys of child’s play or eating until he’s too full to eat anymore. The only thing he does know and take pleasure in—supposedly—is his work. The tasks and chores given to him to be performed like any trained monkey. I used the word supposedly because the reader never actually sees Daniel enjoying his job or taking solace in it. The closest he comes to using the news as a crutch is reading his Master’s morning paper. And when he most needs the comfort, Daniel chooses to watch an unnamed anime instead of his precious information broadcasts.
Where Brooklyn would brace himself and face the forced assignations, Daniel seems to have grown up in a cocoon where proper sex didn’t really exist. I could maybe buy Daniel’s virginal inexperience hadn’t the author contradicted herself: We’re supposed to believe a pair of slaves wouldn’t have a five minutes for themselves while trusted slaves are left to roam free in the weekends. Also, I refuse to believe Daniel could be good at his job and have spent years reporting from the field without stumbling on people who actually enjoy sex.
Then there’s the fact that for an erotica this book isn’t very erotic. The first half is spent on explaining how inexperienced Daniel is and highlighting his unease with his uncaring and thoughtless new Master whose name I’ve forgotten. Said Master spends night after night sleeping in the same bed with Daniel without demanding anything from him. We’re supposed to believe he’s caring and kind because he doesn’t force himself on Daniel, that he’s a good Master who just never bothers to make the rules clear to his new slave. If the Master truly were such a good Master, surely he’d know what he wants from a slave and how to make his will known with words and without scaring the new toy.
Finally, when the sex happens . Then there’s the rushed magic cock cure for all and a very unsatisfying end to the whole thing.
April 18, 2019
This was… different.
Imagine a world where slavery is common and socially accepted. A world where racism and genetic superiority of white men is so ingrained in people’s heads that there simply aren’t individuals questioning the status quo and fighting to change their society.
Slaves are everywhere and they are regarded as soulless creatures far inferior to their masters who rule over them with cruelty and with God’s laws justifying their actions.
Daniel Halstrom was born into this world. The son of a slave mother who is owned by a cruel woman who runs a boutique and doesn’t shy away from renting the boy out to men who abuse him, he gets lucky one day when an older gentleman sees him in the shop and - smitten with the boy’s pretty face - buys him and takes him away to a new life at NewWorld Media, a huge news broadcasting company where he is raised to be a slave journalist and even works himself up to the position of news anchor man.
However, with the economy being tight, NewWorld Media doesn’t shy away from leasing their slaves to private donors who pay millions for the ‘companionship’ of a famous TV personality.
So Daniel finds himself having to spend his free time for the next half year with one such patron. He is confused at finding himself in the role of a high paid sex slave after having invested two decades of his life into building a serious reputation in journalism.
However, when his new master doesn’t give him any clear instructions what he expects of Daniel, leaving both Daniel and his millionaire master frustrated, the NewWorld Media board grows impatient with Daniel’s performance and punishes him to break him for his new role.
It’s cruel and mostly revolves around Daniel being in pain, scared and hurting.
The writing is insanely good, though. I absolutely loved Daniel.
Still, the main obstacle of the story was miscommunication, which frustrated me quite a lot…
I wonder where this series will take us.
4 stars!
Imagine a world where slavery is common and socially accepted. A world where racism and genetic superiority of white men is so ingrained in people’s heads that there simply aren’t individuals questioning the status quo and fighting to change their society.
Slaves are everywhere and they are regarded as soulless creatures far inferior to their masters who rule over them with cruelty and with God’s laws justifying their actions.
Daniel Halstrom was born into this world. The son of a slave mother who is owned by a cruel woman who runs a boutique and doesn’t shy away from renting the boy out to men who abuse him, he gets lucky one day when an older gentleman sees him in the shop and - smitten with the boy’s pretty face - buys him and takes him away to a new life at NewWorld Media, a huge news broadcasting company where he is raised to be a slave journalist and even works himself up to the position of news anchor man.
However, with the economy being tight, NewWorld Media doesn’t shy away from leasing their slaves to private donors who pay millions for the ‘companionship’ of a famous TV personality.
So Daniel finds himself having to spend his free time for the next half year with one such patron. He is confused at finding himself in the role of a high paid sex slave after having invested two decades of his life into building a serious reputation in journalism.
However, when his new master doesn’t give him any clear instructions what he expects of Daniel, leaving both Daniel and his millionaire master frustrated, the NewWorld Media board grows impatient with Daniel’s performance and punishes him to break him for his new role.
It’s cruel and mostly revolves around Daniel being in pain, scared and hurting.
The writing is insanely good, though. I absolutely loved Daniel.
Still, the main obstacle of the story was miscommunication, which frustrated me quite a lot…
I wonder where this series will take us.
4 stars!
September 26, 2012
I love the writing and the alternate reality setup. Then again, I like dystopian. It is a harsh world where capitalism has taken the extreme and everything has a bottom line, including people. Profits fall and need to be made up in other ways--how about leasing individuals rather than just sales?
I actually scared myself something serious before I read this, and this is not light and fluffy, but it is not the horror I thought it would be from the chatter.
Now, the characters: Daniel and Carl.
Daniel--perfect corporate employee and when he isn't he's well aware of it.
Carl--the lessor, and I'm sorry...but freakin' dumbass. See spoiler for rant and critical details, read after book.
Even with my misgivings, the setting and premise are so good I'll reread. Probably have the same reactions, but still do it.
I actually scared myself something serious before I read this, and this is not light and fluffy, but it is not the horror I thought it would be from the chatter.
Now, the characters: Daniel and Carl.
Daniel--perfect corporate employee and when he isn't he's well aware of it.
Carl--the lessor, and I'm sorry...but freakin' dumbass. See spoiler for rant and critical details, read after book.
Even with my misgivings, the setting and premise are so good I'll reread. Probably have the same reactions, but still do it.
February 25, 2017
Holy shit. That was beyond fucked up. But I do like the story. I'm amazed how they changed.
Trigger warning there's an implication of child abuse (off page). I mean, in our world would be that way. But their world is so much different than ours. It's normal for them. Ok, I know in our world slavery still exists. We just can't see it. Or refuse to see it? I don't know.
Warning : non/con, gang rape.
Trigger warning there's an implication of child abuse (off page). I mean, in our world would be that way. But their world is so much different than ours. It's normal for them. Ok, I know in our world slavery still exists. We just can't see it. Or refuse to see it? I don't know.
Warning : non/con, gang rape.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2011
Well written but so violent I couldn't stand it. I skimmed to the ending and glad I didn't finish. The pseudo happy ending isn't enough payoff for me. Great writing but not for me.
April 29, 2019
A stunning novel, this one blew me away. Once I started it I stayed up all night to finish it, couldn't put it down.
I think the best part is the world Rachel Haimowtiz builds to explain all the aspects of slavery and how it fits into society. Cleverly revealed through discussions about genetics, and the history of slavery - how it evolved and what it's like in different countries.
Daniel's journey is amazing.
I think the best part is the world Rachel Haimowtiz builds to explain all the aspects of slavery and how it fits into society. Cleverly revealed through discussions about genetics, and the history of slavery - how it evolved and what it's like in different countries.
Daniel's journey is amazing.
January 14, 2015
Ugh this book fucked with my brain. So much that I can’t think straight and I cried at the end of it. Who does that? Me, that’s who.
So this book, it’s one that I heard was a tough read, a brutal read and one folks seemed to stay away from. Having read the author before, I decided that I would see for myself what it was all about. You know what? This book was sad. It was so sad and broke my heart over and over again and I am tearing up as I write this damn review.
I admit I held my breath reading the prologue. Getting an 11yr old Daniel so afraid and his mistress telling him he was a lousy fuck made me read cautiously. I don’t usually blend my real life into books but this time it was hard as my middle son is the same age as Daniel. I was justified in my trust of the author and led through the prologue to meet Daniel, 25 years later.
In a new world with a new class system, there are slaves and freemen. Being a reader who doesn’t like the work of reading alternate universes, it was nice that the world building of this story read effortlessly. It was more than easy to settle into and get lost in the story. Lost is a good for word for what I felt, I was so lost and so caught up that last night, I fell asleep when my head hit the pillow from exhaustion yet I sat up, grabbed my Nook and had to read. I had to know what was going to happen.
Daniel, I want you to want and not second guess what a slave is supposed to want. I want you to have a voice for your wants and I want to deprogram you so you can have it all. You are a slave but you are revered. New World knows what they bought 25 years ago and the public that sees you knows how special you are too. So does Carl Whitman and that is why the man paid six million fucking dollars to simply LEASE you for a year. Lease, not buy because you are not for sale, but lease you for weeknights and weekends. How the hell does shit like this happen? Oh yeah, it’s not the world as we know it and I am okay with that.
But Carl? How could I not fall for you immediately? I tried not to like you but you were not what I expected. Really not who I thought I would get; you are compassionate, caring and likeable (you do love The Holy Grail after all) and so head over heels for Daniel that you paid out the ass for mere moments of his time. I know that in this world, you would never be able to have a relationship with him, you’re not of the same class, but to lease him? Good lord. That just hits me square in the heart and makes me adore you. Not that you are perfect, you have no idea how to ask for what you want and you won’t force it out of Daniel and good lord, man. Ugh. Just freaking fracking ugh.
I am so freaking lost from this. Talk about two men who needed to talk it out. Daniel doesn’t want to be where he is yet he knows what he is supposed to do to be a good slave. Carl doesn’t quite believe all the propaganda about slaves or the slave gene and he just wants a companion in every way and he wants it all with Daniel, but then he tries to do what’s right and it goes so terribly wrong.
I am probably not making any sense at all. My brain is toast from this. Thank goodness it did happen to end in a vast valley in the continent of where I wanted, no needed it to be. I needed to have some of that to be okay. But I am really not okay because that end made me cry. Yes, I am the girl who read this book and cried.
Anchored may not be a book for everyone but it was so a book for me.
So this book, it’s one that I heard was a tough read, a brutal read and one folks seemed to stay away from. Having read the author before, I decided that I would see for myself what it was all about. You know what? This book was sad. It was so sad and broke my heart over and over again and I am tearing up as I write this damn review.
I admit I held my breath reading the prologue. Getting an 11yr old Daniel so afraid and his mistress telling him he was a lousy fuck made me read cautiously. I don’t usually blend my real life into books but this time it was hard as my middle son is the same age as Daniel. I was justified in my trust of the author and led through the prologue to meet Daniel, 25 years later.
In a new world with a new class system, there are slaves and freemen. Being a reader who doesn’t like the work of reading alternate universes, it was nice that the world building of this story read effortlessly. It was more than easy to settle into and get lost in the story. Lost is a good for word for what I felt, I was so lost and so caught up that last night, I fell asleep when my head hit the pillow from exhaustion yet I sat up, grabbed my Nook and had to read. I had to know what was going to happen.
Daniel, I want you to want and not second guess what a slave is supposed to want. I want you to have a voice for your wants and I want to deprogram you so you can have it all. You are a slave but you are revered. New World knows what they bought 25 years ago and the public that sees you knows how special you are too. So does Carl Whitman and that is why the man paid six million fucking dollars to simply LEASE you for a year. Lease, not buy because you are not for sale, but lease you for weeknights and weekends. How the hell does shit like this happen? Oh yeah, it’s not the world as we know it and I am okay with that.
But Carl? How could I not fall for you immediately? I tried not to like you but you were not what I expected. Really not who I thought I would get; you are compassionate, caring and likeable (you do love The Holy Grail after all) and so head over heels for Daniel that you paid out the ass for mere moments of his time. I know that in this world, you would never be able to have a relationship with him, you’re not of the same class, but to lease him? Good lord. That just hits me square in the heart and makes me adore you. Not that you are perfect, you have no idea how to ask for what you want and you won’t force it out of Daniel and good lord, man. Ugh. Just freaking fracking ugh.
“Hey.” The master’s voice was light but strained, just as it had been at dinner. “So I leased this slave, guy named Daniel Halstrom? Brilliant, funny, sharp tongue, quick on his feet, puts everyone at ease in a heartbeat. You seen him? Maybe you could go get him for me; I think we’d get along great.”
I am so freaking lost from this. Talk about two men who needed to talk it out. Daniel doesn’t want to be where he is yet he knows what he is supposed to do to be a good slave. Carl doesn’t quite believe all the propaganda about slaves or the slave gene and he just wants a companion in every way and he wants it all with Daniel, but then he tries to do what’s right and it goes so terribly wrong.
Daniel would take it, endure it. But to give away freely his desire—the one single thing that was his alone to control —to taint those thoughts and feelings forever and pretend to enjoy it? No. He hadn’t been able to do that and he couldn’t make himself do it now, either.
I am probably not making any sense at all. My brain is toast from this. Thank goodness it did happen to end in a vast valley in the continent of where I wanted, no needed it to be. I needed to have some of that to be okay. But I am really not okay because that end made me cry. Yes, I am the girl who read this book and cried.
“Things are what they are.”
“Yeah. But maybe they never should’ve been, and maybe they don’t always have to be. Maybe things can change.”
Anchored may not be a book for everyone but it was so a book for me.
February 19, 2011
First you should know I generally like some non consent or dubious consent in my books, particularly BDSM. This one fit the bill to a T. The characters were rich, vibrant and full of nuances that made them stand out to me as individuals in a crowd. The prose is top notch - clear, unambigious, perfectly suited to the tone of the book.
There are several things I have noted about the author (having read and loved her Counterpoint (Song of the Fallen) ) which is more fantasy based and also a recommended read. One is that the writing is really sublime. Sometimes I am willing to give up some story for better writting or vice versa but here you get both. Also a cut above the norm is her ability to craft situations that she sticks her characters in that just really get you emotional - and those emotions span the spectrum from despair and sadness to anger and hatred. It takes some real talent to have me running through those emotions as I'm reading - in effect becoming part of the story vis a vis my reactions to it. This is why I describe it as compelling - you don't WANT to stop reading even though you might be recoiling inside at what you are reading. I also appreciate that there is never really just a simple off the cuff explanation for a characters actions - they do what they do for a variety of reasons - some told and some shown but you never feel as if their actions are coming out of left field or explained away in a paragraph that has you scratching your head going "what?"
At times this novel's world was just gut wrenching - and I wanted to shake my fist at the people who allowed it to get that way. At other times it was intriguing and seemed very similar to our own. I'm a fan of books where the book reality could fit into our reality - and this one certainly shows a potential future option.
I can say it took me some time to grow to love the Master here - and in the end I understood him better and I appreciated the small actions he took - it was not about a grand motion. If you have not read Haimowitz I really cannot recommend her highly enough - they are some of my favorite reading in the M/M genre of erotica.
There are several things I have noted about the author (having read and loved her Counterpoint (Song of the Fallen) ) which is more fantasy based and also a recommended read. One is that the writing is really sublime. Sometimes I am willing to give up some story for better writting or vice versa but here you get both. Also a cut above the norm is her ability to craft situations that she sticks her characters in that just really get you emotional - and those emotions span the spectrum from despair and sadness to anger and hatred. It takes some real talent to have me running through those emotions as I'm reading - in effect becoming part of the story vis a vis my reactions to it. This is why I describe it as compelling - you don't WANT to stop reading even though you might be recoiling inside at what you are reading. I also appreciate that there is never really just a simple off the cuff explanation for a characters actions - they do what they do for a variety of reasons - some told and some shown but you never feel as if their actions are coming out of left field or explained away in a paragraph that has you scratching your head going "what?"
At times this novel's world was just gut wrenching - and I wanted to shake my fist at the people who allowed it to get that way. At other times it was intriguing and seemed very similar to our own. I'm a fan of books where the book reality could fit into our reality - and this one certainly shows a potential future option.
I can say it took me some time to grow to love the Master here - and in the end I understood him better and I appreciated the small actions he took - it was not about a grand motion. If you have not read Haimowitz I really cannot recommend her highly enough - they are some of my favorite reading in the M/M genre of erotica.
January 22, 2011
There is absolutely nothing about Anchored that isn’t heart-pounding and gut-clenching–in the very best and very worst (which is also
the best
) ways. Daniel is a network news anchor–and a slave–owned by NewWorld Media and if you think this is play-acting? A silly game? You, my friend, are dead wrong. Rachel Haimowitz sucks us right in so that we experience every detail of Daniel’s slavery and we struggle right along with him as Daniel wrestles with who he is, what he is and the cold, often brutal world he lives in.
Daniel’s owners? If you walk away from Anchored thinking they aren’t monsters, seek therapy, pal. They are the stuff nightmares are made of. Fortunately for Daniel, when his owners lease him out during his free hours for extra profit, he ends up with Carl, though. Carl is essentially a good man, though he is very much a product of his environment. As a master, he tries to have patience and understanding with Daniel, but...A slave is a slave and he’s not paying the big bucks for Daniel to look pretty, is he? When his patience wears thin, Carl goes to NewWorld Media about Daniel’s hesitation to serve Carl sexually...Carl makes them promise not to beat Daniel again. But Daniel pays an even higher price.
Daniel is raped by his owners. Yes, plural. On-screen. And it. Is. Brutal.
Carl’s care and concern for Daniel in the aftermath is finally the one thing that reaches through all of Daniel’s fears and convinces Daniel that Carl is worth risking not just his trust, but also his heart. The end, watching these two men grow together, watching Carl work for Daniel’s trust and Daniel ultimately give it to him? Whoa.
Anchored is not a light read. Sometimes, it will make you uncomfortable. Sometimes, you will be horrified. You will share Daniel’s pain, his fear, his struggle. But you’ll also share in the healing Carl offers him and find the love that was waiting for these two men all along. Highly recommend, two thumbs way up.
Daniel’s owners? If you walk away from Anchored thinking they aren’t monsters, seek therapy, pal. They are the stuff nightmares are made of. Fortunately for Daniel, when his owners lease him out during his free hours for extra profit, he ends up with Carl, though. Carl is essentially a good man, though he is very much a product of his environment. As a master, he tries to have patience and understanding with Daniel, but...A slave is a slave and he’s not paying the big bucks for Daniel to look pretty, is he? When his patience wears thin, Carl goes to NewWorld Media about Daniel’s hesitation to serve Carl sexually...Carl makes them promise not to beat Daniel again. But Daniel pays an even higher price.
Daniel is raped by his owners. Yes, plural. On-screen. And it. Is. Brutal.
Carl’s care and concern for Daniel in the aftermath is finally the one thing that reaches through all of Daniel’s fears and convinces Daniel that Carl is worth risking not just his trust, but also his heart. The end, watching these two men grow together, watching Carl work for Daniel’s trust and Daniel ultimately give it to him? Whoa.
Anchored is not a light read. Sometimes, it will make you uncomfortable. Sometimes, you will be horrified. You will share Daniel’s pain, his fear, his struggle. But you’ll also share in the healing Carl offers him and find the love that was waiting for these two men all along. Highly recommend, two thumbs way up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2014
Well-written and moving -- my heart was pounding in my chest at 2am. But also absolutely brutal -- I was flinching away from my kindle while reading. So I'm not sure whether my physical reactions to these written words were symptomatic of the excellent writing or the horrifying subject matter (or both). This is both a denigration and glorification of slavery and rape.
All of this is to say -- I'm not sure how to rate this, so I'm going with my conscience.
All of this is to say -- I'm not sure how to rate this, so I'm going with my conscience.
July 11, 2016
**** 2.5 "HAD POTENTIAL" STARS****
..... If only Daniel wasn't afraid of his own shadow......... THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BOOK!
Actually, the storyline was rather odd, but I would have looked past it, had there been more/better smutty scenes.....yup, I own it :-)
..... If only Daniel wasn't afraid of his own shadow......... THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BOOK!
Actually, the storyline was rather odd, but I would have looked past it, had there been more/better smutty scenes.....yup, I own it :-)
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May 4, 2015
4.5stars
Second book read for the BDSM group May 2015 Orgasm Play Challenge, personal theme: non-con.
However, I definitely enjoyed this, so much that I read it all in a single sitting and didn't even allow myself to become distracted. Haimowitz's excellent writing made it difficult to look away even as I sympathized with Daniel's fear, felt myself grow tense alongside him. Which might be my favorite part of this story since typically I'm able to distance myself from the pain characters go through while I read, no matter how bad things can get, and yet in this story, without events escalating to the horrific lengths I've easily withstood before, I felt my breath quicken and muscles clench multiple times.
Daniel's world is a hard one, with hinted at past abuse - which I assume is given more depth in the prequel to this story, Where He Belongs - and full of ever-present fear of retaliation from his handlers who hold all the power in his life. I wish I could say that things get better when he is leased to Carl for evenings and weekends, but things get much worse before Daniel's world brightens and the fear slowly strips away.
Overall this was very good, quite emotional - I even teared up - and I'm so glad I read this for the challenge rather than put it off even longer as I otherwise might have. Although it has made me come to the conclusion that when I begin reading The Flesh Cartel series I'll be making sure to have all the books on hand so that I'm not left with any cliffhanger moments I have to wait a while to get past and continue through.
Second book read for the BDSM group May 2015 Orgasm Play Challenge, personal theme: non-con.
The master froze, panting slightly, soft breaths puffing across Daniel's mouth, and with the utmost care he placed another small, dry kiss upon Daniel's lips. He asked for nothing more, took nothing more. It didn't feel like being used, Daniel thought. It felt, shockingly enough, like being loved.This definitely would have been a full 5star read if there had been a bit more to it, as I kept thinking there would be, or even if there was a sequel involving Daniel and Carl, but since there doesn't appear to be and we're left instead with what feels like a few loose ends I just can't rate this higher.
However, I definitely enjoyed this, so much that I read it all in a single sitting and didn't even allow myself to become distracted. Haimowitz's excellent writing made it difficult to look away even as I sympathized with Daniel's fear, felt myself grow tense alongside him. Which might be my favorite part of this story since typically I'm able to distance myself from the pain characters go through while I read, no matter how bad things can get, and yet in this story, without events escalating to the horrific lengths I've easily withstood before, I felt my breath quicken and muscles clench multiple times.
Daniel's world is a hard one, with hinted at past abuse - which I assume is given more depth in the prequel to this story, Where He Belongs - and full of ever-present fear of retaliation from his handlers who hold all the power in his life. I wish I could say that things get better when he is leased to Carl for evenings and weekends, but things get much worse before Daniel's world brightens and the fear slowly strips away.
Overall this was very good, quite emotional - I even teared up - and I'm so glad I read this for the challenge rather than put it off even longer as I otherwise might have. Although it has made me come to the conclusion that when I begin reading The Flesh Cartel series I'll be making sure to have all the books on hand so that I'm not left with any cliffhanger moments I have to wait a while to get past and continue through.
July 10, 2011
This is one of the most intensely compelling and emotionally driven stories I have ever had the pleasure to read. Not only has the author crafted a very unique and unusal world she has taken it one step further with her equally impressive ability to draw the reader into the very heart and soul of the story in such a way that feels somewhat voyeuristic., you don't dare to even blink.
As I read this I experiened quite possibly every emotion known to man. I felt such an overwhelmingly helpless sense of empathy for both Carl and Daniel. I honestly couldn't breathe at one point until I realized I had been holding my breath with every muscle in my body tensed. At times, I could barely read the words through my tears. As hard as it often was to deal with what Daniel was going through I just couldn't stop reading, I felt I owed it to Daniel to see him through to the very end, it felt that real, that credible. I was surprised by my unwavering certainty that Carl would eventually "see" and understand Daniel. I felt devasted for him when he became fully aware of the horrendous results of his actions. In the end he more than redeems himself in Daniel's eyes and in the process, in mine as well. As I read the final chapters that same sense of empathy I felt from the very beginning stayed with me as the tension eased and I felt like it was safe to breathe again, I felt liberated.
The Happily for Now ending really works for me, it is to me atleast the most realistic ending and in keeping with the realism of this story. Most importantly it leaves the door open for an eventual Happily Ever After.
This was my first Rachel Haimowitz story and it most certainly will not be my last.
As I read this I experiened quite possibly every emotion known to man. I felt such an overwhelmingly helpless sense of empathy for both Carl and Daniel. I honestly couldn't breathe at one point until I realized I had been holding my breath with every muscle in my body tensed. At times, I could barely read the words through my tears. As hard as it often was to deal with what Daniel was going through I just couldn't stop reading, I felt I owed it to Daniel to see him through to the very end, it felt that real, that credible. I was surprised by my unwavering certainty that Carl would eventually "see" and understand Daniel. I felt devasted for him when he became fully aware of the horrendous results of his actions. In the end he more than redeems himself in Daniel's eyes and in the process, in mine as well. As I read the final chapters that same sense of empathy I felt from the very beginning stayed with me as the tension eased and I felt like it was safe to breathe again, I felt liberated.
The Happily for Now ending really works for me, it is to me atleast the most realistic ending and in keeping with the realism of this story. Most importantly it leaves the door open for an eventual Happily Ever After.
This was my first Rachel Haimowitz story and it most certainly will not be my last.
February 13, 2011
I love slave fic and the world building here is a fresh approach, but there is a major inconsistency that kept pulling me out of the story.
Daniel was supposed to have been born a slave, yet he reacts to everything from the perspective of a free person who is being subjected to a slave’s life.
For example, he complains about having a lack of privacy, but if he never had privacy, he couldn’t miss it (and it won't be on his mind all the time) because it won’t be an expectation he ever had for himself.
The plot would have made more sense if he’d been born free and became a slave as a teen or adult... but as it stand, his whole worldview just seemed contradictory to his backstory and kept me from connecting with the character.
I think the author is a good writer and has a lot of promise, and the world building was interesting, but the plot needed work.
Daniel was supposed to have been born a slave, yet he reacts to everything from the perspective of a free person who is being subjected to a slave’s life.
For example, he complains about having a lack of privacy, but if he never had privacy, he couldn’t miss it (and it won't be on his mind all the time) because it won’t be an expectation he ever had for himself.
The plot would have made more sense if he’d been born free and became a slave as a teen or adult... but as it stand, his whole worldview just seemed contradictory to his backstory and kept me from connecting with the character.
I think the author is a good writer and has a lot of promise, and the world building was interesting, but the plot needed work.
June 4, 2013
I usually find value in anything I read, but this was a painful exercise just to finish this book. It was written well, I suppose, but I could not bring myself to care about any of the characters in this world. None had any redeeming qualities, and the gratuitous rape scene left me high and dry. If the main character had found "love" it might have been bearable, but even his main relationship was still just as a purchased piece of ass. The only way I could change my mind about this would be if a sequel were to be published that left him with some kind of a happy ending. As it stands, this world and the characters in it have no soul.
Read
December 22, 2011Can't rate this.It surely was an intense read,engrossing and well-,at times even briliantly written.But too much to stomach for me.And I hate the "sex with the right partner heals rape victim fom his trauma" trope.
The world building had me totally convinced while reading; only afterwards I realized the big "huh?" of why this society needed slaves in the first place. In hindsight,it didn't make any sense at all...
The world building had me totally convinced while reading; only afterwards I realized the big "huh?" of why this society needed slaves in the first place. In hindsight,it didn't make any sense at all...
April 17, 2017
Read this compelling novella in one sitting. An alternate reality of slaves and masters set in the contemporary world. News anchorman Daniel is leased out during his off-duty hours to talk show host Carl by his owners NewWorld Media. Some dark scenes of abuse in this.
'His mind kept turning back to this morning, to what would happen when the master came home this evening. To what he'd need to do if he didn't want to end up at Mr Foster's feet again, begging for mercy that wouldn't come.'
'His mind kept turning back to this morning, to what would happen when the master came home this evening. To what he'd need to do if he didn't want to end up at Mr Foster's feet again, begging for mercy that wouldn't come.'
January 28, 2011
I know this book is a favourite with a few people - one of the reasons I picked it up - but I had quite a few problems with it.
The good stuff first. I liked how Rachel Haimowitz gets the reader completely into Daniel's head. She puts you right there with him at every single moment. You understand his confusion when he arrives late to Carl's penthouse, and doesn't know whether he's allowed to go into Carl's bedroom, will he be punished for going in or for not going in. This is the major plus of the story for me. It's also what makes the gang rape so difficult and upsetting to read - it made me cry. You're right there with Daniel as he loses the one aspect of himself that he'd protected, the decision on when to say yes or no.
I think the total focus on Daniel also contributes to how little we know the other characters, because of his position he is unable to make much of an effort to get to know them. He has to know his place.
Onto the problems I had. Now I think most of these can be traced back to the fact that the book at 124 pages isn't long enough (for me) to deal with the themes and worldbuilding here. If it had been three times, four times as long, I think we would have ended up with a much more rounded story and stronger worldbuilding. Now I don't know how the series is going to progress, it may be that each upcoming book will slot in and we essentially end up with a longer book in multiple parts. But that doesn't address the problems I have with the characters and worldbuilding in THIS particular story.
Worldbuilding, superficially strong, but I found the more I looked at it, it just wasn't working for me. I was quite happy with it up to a point. Carl reads The Washington Post, The New York Times, so this is a world like our own but NOT our own. It has a different history and at some point it became acceptable to keep slaves. But I feel like I've missed something somewhere.
Then Carl asks Daniel his opinion about Mugabe in Zimbabwe and I was thrown completely out of it. Because if Carl can comment on Mugabe and the problems in Zimbabwe - reference riots and massacres. Then as a reasonably intelligent human being why can't he see the hypocrisy in feeling able to comment on the policies of another country but not his own where gang rapes and torture are an acceptable means of dealing with people.
It's also then that I realised I didn't really understand how this world worked. Was the slave system only operating in America? Daniel mentions about wanting to run away to Scandinavia - how he'd tried to run away whilst in Denmark and how he dreams of flying away to Sweden. So presumably - at least in Scandinavia, if not Europe - there's no slave system.
If all the previous history still led to Mugabe being in power in Zimbabwe. What happened to the civil rights movement in America? I ended up feeling like the world the characters lived in, had no solidity to it.
I think if the world the characters inhabit doesn't feel real, then the characters lose believability as well. Why was Foster such a villain? Just because he can be? Presumably Carl has lived in this country all his life, why couldn't he appreciate what would happen to Daniel when he complained about his behaviour? He's a journalist with an interest in politics. How could he be so naive?
Finally, the ending, again I take problems with this back to the fact that the story is too short. The ending especially (for me) needed to take place over a much greater period of time. The gang rape and the torture which (no matter how disturbing they are*) are an incredibly powerful piece of writing, lose that impact, that sense that Daniel has totally lost any sense of self he might have had, because it is wrapped up so quickly and easily at the end. I don't believe in Daniel's recovery.
This was a flawed story for me. Some of the writing was amazing, getting us into Daniel's head and holding us there, was very well done. But it's the problems that have stayed with me.
* - I also take issue with Noble Romance's warning for the book - "M/M, forced oral and anal intercourse". I don't think this is really a strong enough warning. The one at GoodReads is better - "WARNING: This book contains potentially triggering subject matter, including a violent on-screen rape. Please take heed.)"
The good stuff first. I liked how Rachel Haimowitz gets the reader completely into Daniel's head. She puts you right there with him at every single moment. You understand his confusion when he arrives late to Carl's penthouse, and doesn't know whether he's allowed to go into Carl's bedroom, will he be punished for going in or for not going in. This is the major plus of the story for me. It's also what makes the gang rape so difficult and upsetting to read - it made me cry. You're right there with Daniel as he loses the one aspect of himself that he'd protected, the decision on when to say yes or no.
I think the total focus on Daniel also contributes to how little we know the other characters, because of his position he is unable to make much of an effort to get to know them. He has to know his place.
Onto the problems I had. Now I think most of these can be traced back to the fact that the book at 124 pages isn't long enough (for me) to deal with the themes and worldbuilding here. If it had been three times, four times as long, I think we would have ended up with a much more rounded story and stronger worldbuilding. Now I don't know how the series is going to progress, it may be that each upcoming book will slot in and we essentially end up with a longer book in multiple parts. But that doesn't address the problems I have with the characters and worldbuilding in THIS particular story.
Worldbuilding, superficially strong, but I found the more I looked at it, it just wasn't working for me. I was quite happy with it up to a point. Carl reads The Washington Post, The New York Times, so this is a world like our own but NOT our own. It has a different history and at some point it became acceptable to keep slaves. But I feel like I've missed something somewhere.
Then Carl asks Daniel his opinion about Mugabe in Zimbabwe and I was thrown completely out of it. Because if Carl can comment on Mugabe and the problems in Zimbabwe - reference riots and massacres. Then as a reasonably intelligent human being why can't he see the hypocrisy in feeling able to comment on the policies of another country but not his own where gang rapes and torture are an acceptable means of dealing with people.
It's also then that I realised I didn't really understand how this world worked. Was the slave system only operating in America? Daniel mentions about wanting to run away to Scandinavia - how he'd tried to run away whilst in Denmark and how he dreams of flying away to Sweden. So presumably - at least in Scandinavia, if not Europe - there's no slave system.
If all the previous history still led to Mugabe being in power in Zimbabwe. What happened to the civil rights movement in America? I ended up feeling like the world the characters lived in, had no solidity to it.
I think if the world the characters inhabit doesn't feel real, then the characters lose believability as well. Why was Foster such a villain? Just because he can be? Presumably Carl has lived in this country all his life, why couldn't he appreciate what would happen to Daniel when he complained about his behaviour? He's a journalist with an interest in politics. How could he be so naive?
Finally, the ending, again I take problems with this back to the fact that the story is too short. The ending especially (for me) needed to take place over a much greater period of time. The gang rape and the torture which (no matter how disturbing they are*) are an incredibly powerful piece of writing, lose that impact, that sense that Daniel has totally lost any sense of self he might have had, because it is wrapped up so quickly and easily at the end. I don't believe in Daniel's recovery.
This was a flawed story for me. Some of the writing was amazing, getting us into Daniel's head and holding us there, was very well done. But it's the problems that have stayed with me.
* - I also take issue with Noble Romance's warning for the book - "M/M, forced oral and anal intercourse". I don't think this is really a strong enough warning. The one at GoodReads is better - "WARNING: This book contains potentially triggering subject matter, including a violent on-screen rape. Please take heed.)"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2020
Overall book rating: 3.5
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 3.5
So this is a difficult one for me.
I finished it some time ago, just still don't really know how I feel
about it.
The writing is really good. The idea behind the whole thing, also
something that grabs my attention. Seeing as I'm a lover of "dark"
reads when the mood strikes.
Thing is, even if I like dark, I still like it with a little bit of 'light' at
the end of the tunnel?
If I don't make sense it's on me. Like I said. Difficult.
So I finished the story and scanned the next in line to see what
this poor man will be up to in the next installment ...
surprise to me.. Daniel isn't even IN the next book? WTF?
This is were it gets tricky to me.
So there it is. It's good writing. I could appreciate it and the skill it
takes to create something like it.
Yet. It lacked a little Hope. And without hope, there isn't a whole hell of a lot is there?
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 3.5
So this is a difficult one for me.
I finished it some time ago, just still don't really know how I feel
about it.
The writing is really good. The idea behind the whole thing, also
something that grabs my attention. Seeing as I'm a lover of "dark"
reads when the mood strikes.
Thing is, even if I like dark, I still like it with a little bit of 'light' at
the end of the tunnel?
If I don't make sense it's on me. Like I said. Difficult.
So I finished the story and scanned the next in line to see what
this poor man will be up to in the next installment ...
surprise to me.. Daniel isn't even IN the next book? WTF?
This is were it gets tricky to me.
So there it is. It's good writing. I could appreciate it and the skill it
takes to create something like it.
Yet. It lacked a little Hope. And without hope, there isn't a whole hell of a lot is there?
June 30, 2017
Anchored by Rachel Haimowitz is a story set in an alternate universe where slavery exists and is thriving throughout the world. This story is told from the POV of Daniel who is a slave; he was sold to his current owners at just 11 years old after being subjected to mental, physical, and sexual abuse his entire life. His new owners have made him a well-known slave, given him his own news show (unheard of for a slave) and have kept him subjugated to 25 years of slavery.
Now, they are going to add insult to injury and lease him out at night to be a sexual slave; essentially taking away all of his "free moments." Previously while not researching an upcoming show - Daniel was allowed downtime, where he was able to find solace in his cubbyhole living area and sneak hand jobs with fellow slaves in the restroom. Now, not even his 10-12 hours a day that was free will be his, he will be expected to serve at the pleasure of his new part-owner --- or face the severe consequences.
I found myself immediately drawn into this world. I immediately connected with Daniel, who was very well written. Then, when his new part-owner was revealed, I found myself even understanding his desires and having a respect for him as he treated his slaves as human. I only wish we had some of the story from his POV instead of only from Daniel, but Haimowitz does a good job in portraying his feelings even without him letting us in his head.
This is an intriguing story and I will be sure to check out the following books in the 'verse -- 4 stars
Now, they are going to add insult to injury and lease him out at night to be a sexual slave; essentially taking away all of his "free moments." Previously while not researching an upcoming show - Daniel was allowed downtime, where he was able to find solace in his cubbyhole living area and sneak hand jobs with fellow slaves in the restroom. Now, not even his 10-12 hours a day that was free will be his, he will be expected to serve at the pleasure of his new part-owner --- or face the severe consequences.
I found myself immediately drawn into this world. I immediately connected with Daniel, who was very well written. Then, when his new part-owner was revealed, I found myself even understanding his desires and having a respect for him as he treated his slaves as human. I only wish we had some of the story from his POV instead of only from Daniel, but Haimowitz does a good job in portraying his feelings even without him letting us in his head.
This is an intriguing story and I will be sure to check out the following books in the 'verse -- 4 stars
March 22, 2015
I may owe Rachel an apology. I read this book about a year ago and it didn't work for me then. I think I may have only skimmed it and gave it 2 stars. It came up on my feed this week and I decided to re-read it. Well, this time it really caught my attention. I especially loved the h/c with Carl and Daniel after Daniel is brutalized. I would love to give this book 5 stars but I feel like it is unfinished. Since it was written in 2011, I don't believe there is a sequel coming. I would love to read where their relationship goes. There is so much left hanging. Will Carl continue with his rental contract? Will Daniel get revenge? Will Carl and Daniel get their HEA? So many questions...
Please Rachel, write a sequel!
Please Rachel, write a sequel!
August 14, 2019
Wow! This was a really gripping, intense and emotional book, set in a very, very scary (if you're a slave) alternate universe. It sucked me in from the first few paragraphs and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I ended up reading the entire thing in one sitting...I just could not put it down. Several parts had me in tears and my stomach was all tied up in knots throughout 98% of the story.
The reason why I didn't give it a full 5 stars is because it left me with some unanswered questions and seemed to end much too quickly. After everything these two went through, all the incredible tension, abuse, miscommunication and misunderstandings, I desperately needed more of the "happy" parts (after these two finally connected) which unfortunately, we don't get to see until the very end.
I seriously hope the next book in this series will be a continuation of Daniel and Carl's story, rather than all new characters, because the ending of Anchored really just felt like their "beginning" to me. If we do get a sequel that continues on where this one left off, I'd definitely revise my rating to 5 stars.
Overall, a wonderful book and highly recommended!
The reason why I didn't give it a full 5 stars is because it left me with some unanswered questions and seemed to end much too quickly. After everything these two went through, all the incredible tension, abuse, miscommunication and misunderstandings, I desperately needed more of the "happy" parts (after these two finally connected) which unfortunately, we don't get to see until the very end.
I seriously hope the next book in this series will be a continuation of Daniel and Carl's story, rather than all new characters, because the ending of Anchored really just felt like their "beginning" to me. If we do get a sequel that continues on where this one left off, I'd definitely revise my rating to 5 stars.
Overall, a wonderful book and highly recommended!
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