Morbid Romantic

Book Review & Personal Blog

Title: Domination
Series: Deviations
Author(s): Owen, Chris & Jodi Payne
Genre: Fiction
Tags: erotica, sex, fiction, bdsm, bondage, discipline, domination, submission, sadomasochism, sadist, masochist, gay
Summary: Tobias works at becoming more comfortable and finding his balance as a full-time Master again. Meanwhile, his work brings out the true submissive in Noah, who faces some of his greatest fears, and his greatest secrets, confessing to Noah about a terrible time in his past. He’s not the only one who has a rough time. Tobias breaks down and shows Noah he’s not all dominance, too, which sends shockwaves through their romance, leaving them to wonder if they can keep it together.
Finished: July 24, 2008
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:

Boy was it good to be back reading about Tobias and Noah. I have to say, since the last book, I missed them. I actually craved to read this second book of the Deviations series because I HAD to know what happens with them. It didn’t disappoint. There was a lot of hot action, a lot of hot scenes, and a lot of romance. This book was definitely more romantic than the first, and emotional in a different way. In this second book, Tobias and Noah have to find balance between having a regular romantic relationship and having a relationship based on the exchange of power. In this one, Tobias examines his weaknesses as Noah comes to terms with his. Their dynamic and struggles show that not even the best Dom in the world is infallible; no matter how strong we are, we break down, we screw up. We’re not perfect. I can’t wait to read number 3.

- More can be found in my Reviews section or on my Biblio page. If you would like to see my book list for 2009, go here.

- If you would like me to review your book, send an email to me at morbidromantic@gmail.com. Read my Book Review Policy for more information.

At first, she was so desperately scared to be alone that it sent her into an instant panic. The thought of abandonment was so hurtful and so terrifying that she would do or say anything to keep people close to her. She would break down into tears and begs, plead, say frantic things no matter how pathetic or low it took her. That was a small price to pay next to the fear that she would be left all alone with nothing and no one, pointless. Existing without really being in existence.

There came a point, though, where she decided that nothing was preferable to this. In exchange, she would have to give up the desire and pleasure of human closeness. To want it would be to love it and vice versa. In order to never be hurt by it, she would have to devalue it, to lower it to the level of nothing.

After a while, this became second nature. It was no longer through any act of force or through necessary self-delusion that she had to mitigate closeness, being with someone. It got to where she preferred being alone to the tedious stress of having someone around. Being alone was no longer the worst possible end, but the best. She began to see having someone around her as a threat to her stability, to the calm and predictable world that she had built around herself.

Title: Perfume: The Story of A Murderer
Series: …
Author(s): Patrick Suskind (translated by J.E. Woods)
Genre: Fiction
Tags: fiction, historical, france, 18th century, crime, murder, erotica, obsession, insanity, serial killer, smell
Summary: Set in 18th century France, Perfume relates the story of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, “one of the most gifted and abominable personages in an era that knew no lack of gifted and abominable personages”. Born lacking a personal odour (a fact other people find disquieting) but endowed with an incomparable sense of smell, he apprentices himself to a perfumer and becomes obsessed with procuring the perfect scent that will make him fully human. In the process, he creates perfumes—presumably based on pheromones—that powerfully manipulate human emotions, murdering 25 girls to take their scent.
Finished: July 22, 2008
Rating: 3 Stars
Review:

I loved the movie and decided that I wanted to try out the book. When my reading group selected this one, I was excited to open it up. Suffice to say, I was satisfied with the book. The main character, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, was definitely… a bad person. I spent so much of the book wondering what was going on in his head, trying to diagnose just what mental illness he suffered from to be so without emotion. Cruel, perhaps not, but definitely without moral judgment or really any sense of attachment to the people around him. I found myself disgusted, asking myself, “what is wrong with this guy?!” more times that I could possibly count. Ultimately, I found all of the characters repulsive in their own way, full of their own evil and vice. I think this was intended. Chilling of all is the plot, the decision of scentless Jean-Baptiste Grenouille to possess the sweetest smell of them all: the smell of beautiful young women. He is truly a man filled only with his own strange desires and hatred. His power to map any scent, to smell everything around him, is used to this end. It’s a book about obsession, murder, mystery, mental illness, beauty… so many categories. It’s definitely a good read, too, for anyone who likes historical fiction.

- More can be found in my Reviews section or on my Biblio page. If you would like to see my book list for 2009, go here.

- If you would like me to review your book, send an email to me at morbidromantic@gmail.com. Read my Book Review Policy for more information.

You guys know that one thing I don’t do a lot of here are memes. I think a lot of the time they are just silly and I don’t have the patience to sit down and do them.� But, occasionally, I see one that does seem interesting or that I just can’t help but do.

For your sake and the front page of this blog, I will put the list under a cut.

Read the rest of this entry »

Title: Submission
Series: Deviations
Author(s): Owen, Chris & Jodi Payne
Genre: Fiction
Tags: erotica, sex, fiction, bdsm, bondage, discipline, domination, submission, sadomasochism, sadist, masochist, gay
Summary: Tobias is a Dom and Noah is a submissive with a rocky past that has made his submission all the more of a test for both him and Tobias. They draw closer together as they test Noah’s limits, working through his fears, deepening their relationship and their love for each other through Domination towards the ultimate submission.
Finished: July 4, 2008
Rating: 4 Stars
Review:

I like what this does for the BDSM scene. Submission shows that even in a BDSM relationship, there is romance and affection. So many people are under the (false) impression that BDSM is about cruelty and slavery when that’s just not so. The book moved fast but not too fast. The characters were well developed, as well; I didn’t leave the book feeling as if I lacked an understanding of the characters. What’s more, I liked them and I was rooting for it to work. Submission focuses on the submissive, Noah and how he and his new Dom, Tobias, work through Noah’s trust issues to bring him to the ultimate state of slavery. It was very hot but also very emotional. Definitely a good read for anyone who likes gay erotica with an edge. This isn’t about light spanking and handcuffs, guys.

- More can be found in my Reviews section or on my Biblio page. If you would like to see my book list for 2009, go here.

- If you would like me to review your book, send an email to me at morbidromantic@gmail.com. Read my Book Review Policy for more information.