BevQB’s review of Raine (Lords of Satyr, Book 2) by Elizabeth Amber
Fantasy Historical Erotic Romance published by Aphrodisia 1 Mar 08
Original review posted 29 Mar 08
It wasn’t until a few of you honorary duckies started quacking about how grossed out turned off you were by this book that my interest was piqued. You see, in Nicholas: The Lords of Satyr (Book 1), Raine was a bit of a prig and I wasn’t sure I was going to bother reading this book. What a mistake that would have been!
While Raine may not be for the faint of heart, for someone looking for a truly different and original erotic romance, I highly recommend this book.
This fantasy historical series set in 1820’s Italy centers around three brothers, Nicholas, Raine and Lyon, who are neither human nor fey, but Satyr/shifters who guard the passage between Elseworld and the human world. The King of the Fey is dying and confesses that he fathered daughters on three human women twenty years earlier, but they have no idea they are half fey. He commands the three Satyr brothers to find his daughters and marry them to protect them from the upheaval that will occur upon his death.
In book 1, Nicholas, we learned that the brothers grow an extra peen when in Satyr form and that their mate’s nipples glow when aroused by them. So how does Elizabeth Amber top all that? By giving the heroine of this book a little extra sumpin’ sumpin’ of her own!
WARNING: SPOILER AHEAD (although it’s revealed at the beginning of the book).
Jordan has been raised as a boy to protect the family inheritance, but has always privately felt s/he had a female identity. Why the confusion? Jordan is a hermaphrodite. S/he has breasts and all the other female “cooter mints,” but instead of a clitoris s/he’s got herself a fully functional penis. Yep, yep, you read that right… the heroine is a chick with a dick!
And, oh, the erotic permutations with three peens and the abundance of orifices this couple possesses! Good God, what will Amber come up with for Lyon’s story? Can she possibly top Raine and Jordan’s story?
I’ve often said that for a book to really work for me, I expect to meet engaging characters I’ve never met before, fresh. new world building, and/or an edge-of-my-seat storyline. A book has to have at least one of those traits to rise above the thousands of other books, and this book possesses the first TWO. Totally outrageous, yet Amber pulls back and UNDERplays the character of Jordan by gaining our sympathy for her right from the beginning. We’re horrified at the callous way she is treated and soon find that we want Raine to accept her for herself and for him to be the one person who doesn’t make her feel like a freak. I enjoyed watching Jordan’s delight in being treated like a female for the first time in her life.
Although, I should warn those of you with delicate sensibilities that you might have a tough time reading the beginning chapters of this book. The medical community refers to and handles Jordan as an “it,” something less than human. And it IS cringe worthy and uncomfortable to read.
Kudos to the folks at Kensington Aphrodisia for having the cojones to let Elizabeth Amber push the envelope with this highly imaginative story. And further kudos for the Fine Art covers in this series. Yep, that’s some Fine, FINE art.
BTW, It really isn’t necessary to read Nicholas in order to read this book. Amber does an admirable job of making Raine a standalone story.
Grade: A-
Summary:
The last in a fabled line of otherworldly aristocracy, the Lords of Satyr are born to wealth, power, and a talent for sensual delight that mere mortals only dream of. Commanded to marry, these passionate men will travel to Rome, Venice, and Paris—and along the way will explore desires both shamelessly wicked and blissfully divine…
AS A LOVER, HIS SKILLS ARE LEGENDARY . . . Middle brother Raine is both sensual and stoic. Scarred by a former wife who could not accept his carnal needs, he wants no part in another marriage. But duty commands that he fulfill his promise to wed King Feydon’s second daughter, Jordan…
IN MATTERS OF THE HEART, HE HAS MUCH TO LEARN . . . This loyal satyr begins a search that leads him from Tuscany to romantic Venice, where his beautiful bride awaits, unaware of what passionate delights fate has planned for her. Raine is careful not to reveal his powerful satyr sexuality, for fear of driving yet another woman away. But unbeknownst to him, Jordan is no ordinary woman and was born with an insatiable appetite for love. And as Raine’s heart begins to melt for her, how long will he be able to hide his true nature when Jordan seems to want him so fiercely?
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
