Status Updates From Branded (Demon's Mark #0.5)

These differences are driving me nuts. I'm glad I bought this series in 2018 before it was delisted.

I'm still on the republished prequel Branded that is merged with this book. The republished prequel is longer and goes into Hunted.

There's a huge difference towards the end. In the original the heroine proposes to be M's mate. In the republished it's M who says he intends to mate with her because she smells so good. I like the original more b/c the heroine is more manipulative in her inner mono

Well, this is safe. He has marked 7 women before, but only slept with her 🙄

“Don’t be afraid,” he mumbled, before rubbing his cheek against the top of her head. “You are safe.”

I was afraid of this; the story turning too sweet between the mcs.

I bet another demon Lord steals her, then this demon rescues her. HEA.

"fillling the few crevices of her pussy"

“One more mention of a god of any kind and you won’t be able to walk for a week after I’m done with you, do you hear?” 😈

yep, this is definitely an omegaverse author. Not omegaverse, but that brand essentially means if the demon touches it she goes into a "haze" like an omega in heat.

ott ridiculous & sounds like a nightmare

I will admit the colder response from the mmc in the republished adds a bit more tension - is he into her? Or just preparing her for auction, his job?

The original makes it more obvious he is into her himself. I just like the way he talks here.

For context she's discovered his game plan and is asking why she's a breeder. In republished he keeps it vague and says she'll do well at auction. I like the original more because he makes it more personal by mentioning the fisting.

Look, I'm not into fisting, myself, personally, but when Nora writes it? Sure, yeah, I am 😅

All we know is that the women who can see through our human disguises are biologically compatible with us. Since our own females are..shall we say less compliable, we look for mates among your kind. And you... your body is primed for it beyond average, sweetheart. The way you took my fist—the way your pussy milked me throughout the session... you were made for a Lord.”

-from org. Mentions fisting, republished doesnt

Ah, I cannot answer that, I’m afraid. All we know is that women who can see through our human disguises are biologically compatible with us. Since our own females are... shall we say, less compliant, we look for mates among your kind. It’s my job as a procurer to find these women and prepare them for their auction.

This is from republished, diff from org

I just searched the breeder fb group, and oddly this book of Nora's hasn't been recced. I get shy with fb posts, but I might make a post. This is pretty blatant breeder kink.

It's telling how popular this kink is. I remember when that group first started and it jumped from 200 members to over 20k in like, 2 weeks. I had no idea it was that popular.

Okay she is a "breeder," officially. I'm not sure if this book has been recced in the big facebook breeding kink group, because this is older. I might check. But anyone really into breeding kink with dubcon in a pnr setting would like this.

The realization struck as a bolt of lightning, and she felt numbness spread through the fingers pressed against the little ink drawing. She didn’t know how, but he’d marked her.

lol so in the republished edition the metal hoop pinching her clit removes her illusions (she can no longer see his horns) & in the original it's being fisted.

I have no idea what that metal hoop thing is, but I'm *not* googling that. It does not sound fun.

oop, yes, the original has a fisting scene @ this part. Republished does not

Another detail is in the republished he tells the heroine to call him by his demon name, he hasn't done that yet in the original, he's still Dr. Hershey.

I'm most curious as to what the author was thinking with this name difference in the republished edition

He hasn't mentioned getting her pregnant yet either in the republished. The medical kink is way more drawn out, more dirty talk, overall longer in the original combined with strong hints to breeding kink. She has more mental gymnastics in the original- and at least a small escape attempt- the gaslighting is more drawn out

*like* for earlier. I'm on my phone.

In the republished prequel, Branded, Dr. Hershey puts some metal hoop over her clit (I actually haven't heard of this before and I thought I had read it all) and I'm not as into this as what's in the original, which has no metal hoop

I like it with the gynecology chair more simply because it helps me forgive the heroine for being tstl. She's at a mental institution, the chair makes it seem loke it might be a professional procedure. With him spreading her out on the couch and her just going with it...girl, come on.

I'm struggling to add the republished prequel to Goodreads (I think it's merged or something with this book) but omg it's different! Dr. Hershey has Selma take off her clothes and lay down on the couch. No gynecology chair

This is getting pretty dirty. Nora republished this and tamed it down. I'm gonna have to compare to the republished to see what all she took out. Apparently there's a fisting scene (not there yet) that she removed

lol this also has breeding kink

ughh I hope it doesn't get too strong in later installments, not my kink

I feel like I need to save this for late at night when I'm sleep deprived and not able to think clearly

What's sad about this is that instead of finding this hot or a turn on I'm laughing to myself.

I'm imagining all the scenes in this book as a scene out of the American Horror Story show. I'm picturing the head psychiatrist as Matt Bomer. Selma as..Kate Mara maybe? The setting is the Asylum season, Briarcliff (old manor turned mental asylum) but minus the freaks

Anyone who likes demon smut & medical kink with a gothic atmosphere should like this book (so far, at least)

I was hoping there would be a bit more coercion/psychological mindfuck before the medical kink but idk I'll see