My apologies for my lack of blogging lately, but I'm here and excited to talk about Commander's Slave by Sue Lyndon.
Blurb: Only the fiercest alien warrior can tame her human heart…
After the destruction of the peace treaty between Earth and the invading Kall, First Daughter of the United States Betsy Carson is convicted for crimes she did not commit in an act of political revenge. Sentenced to a lifetime of slavery on the Kall homeworld, she expects the rest of her days to be a constant struggle for survival, and when she finds herself naked on the auction block, staring into the eyes of a disgusting Kall who’s made the opening bid, she prays for anything but the misery and despair of being his. Fortunately, he’s outbid by a gentle, older man, who brings her to his mountain home as a gift for his brother, a fierce Kall warrior who loathes humans and blames them for the deaths of his wife and sons in the war with Earth. Her hopes to be left alone by her new master are dashed when he orders her to sleep in his bed, and she soon discovers disobedience will earn her a firm, bare-bottom spanking from the strong warrior. Commander Edek enjoys disciplining the spirited Betsy, who grows more eager to submit to his dominance and obey his demands. And he finds owning a petite human slave has other benefits as well. Her silken red hair, sparkling blue eyes, and soft curves entice him to forget the past, and her sweet presence calms the storm of grief raging in his heart. But his new world is shattered when he arrives home one day to find her missing, and Edek’s skills as a Kall warrior are put to the ultimate test…
I keep saying that I'm not a Sci-Fi fan but then I read Cara Bristol's Breeder (and loved it) and now Commander's Slave has got me all hot and bothered too. Look at me, expanding my horizons!
Thoughts for Discussion:
1. Though I don't have vast experience reading Sci-Fi (is this distopian? What does that mean?) it seems like in the future Earth is pretty weak and people are rather cruel. Do you really think this is what the future holds or is it just hard to get into a story about peace, love and harmony?
2. Betsy, the daughter of the president of the US, is sentenced to a life of slavery. What is it about the slavery fantasy/trope that is so appealing?
3. At the slave auction, Besty is bought by Lanzo as a gift for his younger brother. Lanzo is older, gentle, kind and wise. Commander Edek shares some of his older brother's characteristics, but he's also a fierce warrior (and a rather ardent lover). Seems like Betsy has the best of both worlds (though there is no romance with Lanzo). If you had to choose only one of the brothers, who would you choose?
4. Cara Bristol, in her review on Amazon, said that she thought this book had a bit of an age-play tone. What do you think?
5. Betsy is 26 and a virgin. Did that surprise you?
6. If Commander Edek had actually seen battle against the humand and taken human lives, would you have liked him less? Do you think this would have made his relationship with Betsy more difficult?
Any other thoughts on this book?
Coming Up:
May 9--- La Forge by Rollin Hand with discussion leader
Ken Charles
May 16--- Playing With Fire by Ruth Staunton with
discussion leader Adaline Raine
May 23--- The Second Notebook of Emily Orne Wilkes by Emily Tilton. You can read my review of this book on Spanking Romance Reviews here.
Be sure to check out the Spanking Stories Book Club
FAQ tab at the top of the page.
Great questions, Celeste. Sue, I really enjoyed your book.
ReplyDeleteTo address some of the questions, I personally did not consider Commander's Slave to be dystopian, because although there are some less than attractive elements (the slavery for example), I did not feel that there was a statement being made about the society/element.
The definition of dystopia from Wikipedia: " is a community or society that is in some important way undesirable or frightening. It is the opposite of a utopia. Such societies appear in many artistic works, particularly in stories set in a future. Dystopias are often characterized by dehumanization,[2] totalitarian governments, environmental disaster,[3] or other characteristics associated with a cataclysmic decline in society. Dystopian societies appear in many sub-genres of fiction and are often used to draw attention to real-world issues regarding society, environment, politics, economics, religion, psychology, ethics, science, and/or technology, which if unaddressed could potentially lead to such a dystopia-like condition."
I have a hard time predicting what's going to happen next Tuesday, let alone 100 or 1000 years from now. I think there is has been a wax and wane of positive and negative throughout history, but I am, in general, positive. We've made tremendous strides and attitudes are changing, but we are not "there" yet, and anything can happen.
I think maybe dystopia is a mini trend that sells well. I've certainly read sci-f invasion books that did not involve that (e.g. The Krinar Chronicles by Anna Zaires - loved it!).
I am curious about how others will respond to the age play issue and hope Sue will weigh in and tell us her thoughts.
Thanks for stopping by, Cara!
DeleteI don't think Commander's Slave is a dystopian book either, and I didn't intend for it to be one. I consider it futuristic sci fi romance. Well, naughty romance.
I did not intend for Commander's Slave to be an age play book, or even have age play undertones, but I do think it happened anyway and I can see how some readers might perceive it that way, especially readers who have read age play books before. Betsy was betrayed by her father and she's pretty broken up about it, and then she finds a new father figure in Lanzo, but he gives her to Edek and she feels betrayed all over again. She's lonely and knows her only chance for happiness rests on Edek, and when he's kind to her and coddles her, she latches onto him like a lifeline.
By the way, I just finished the second Krinar Chronicles book and I'm about to dive into the third one. I'm loving that series!
Thanks so much for choosing Commander's Slave for book club, Celeste! I'm excited to hear what people think and I love your questions. :)
ReplyDeleteI have not gotten to read this one yet, but it is next up in my queue!
ReplyDeleteI also am not a sci fi fan, but then these talented authors all have to come along and entice me with their sexy spanking stories with aliens and futuristic themes- and suddenly Casey McKay is not just into the Historical Romances anymore.
I must say I am hoping to get some time this weekend after reading your questions about the book. I don't know what it is about the slavery fantasy but it gets me going every time. It has something to do with the non-con I think.
Casey--hope you'll come back after you finish the book and let us know what you think.
DeleteI agree about the slavery fantasy. As I'm reading it I think "I should be angry about this" but my reaction is just the opposite. LOL
Thanks for stopping by, Casey! I hope you enjoy the book!
DeleteGood morning everyone. I didn't necessarily think of age play when I read this, but I can see Cara's point and Sue's explanation makes sense. I did notice how Betsy was described as small/little particularly compared to the massive (sigh) Edek.
ReplyDeleteIt was also the way he cuddled her, and held her between his knees, and how she was so adoring of him. When she called him Master, the tone of it felt like "Daddy." And the fact that was still a virgin at age 26 also made her seem childlike.
DeleteCara---did this affect your feelings about the story, or just something you observed?
DeleteIn all honesty, I don't read age play stories. They make me uncomfortable. I've read enough excerpts on blogs though to be able to identify the feel and tone. In Commander's Slave, because the hero was an alien warrior and Betsy was a weaker human slave, it made it less obvious and more tolerable. I did truly enjoy the story, and want to emphasize that, but I personally wish Betsy had been less childlike. However, I know that that will enhance the story's appeal to many readers.
DeleteThanks, Cara.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on age play, but in this story it was subtle and more of an undertone that some might catch and others might not.
Which reminds me of another point I wanted to mention. When Edek orders Betsy to share his bed, she complies, but she's clear about no sex (sure, we all know that won't last, but still..) and he respected that for several days until they both couldn't stand it. I thought that was a really nice part of the story.
Although I have not read the book, I have a thought on the appeal of the slavery trope. I think it's a variation of the fish-out-of-water story. We all wonder how we would cope if pour world were turned upside down and we had to live a completely different life, typically one much harder than what we are used to. In addition there is the element of losing complete control in the sexual arena. How many of us would gladly play slave for a day in a safe environment? We might, but it's a pale imitation. By reading a book where the environment is not safe we can experience some of those feelings vicariously.
ReplyDeleteExellent points, Rollin! It is all about living vicariously, isn't it? And I agree about the complete loss of control. It's both frightening and exciting (depending on the partner).
DeleteThanks for stopping by, Rollin. I love the slavery trope, but wouldn't want to personally explore it aside for a little roleplaying. Real life, no thank you. But I enjoy reading about it.
DeleteGreat questions, Celeste. This book is on my TBR list as well. I'm intrigued by the concept of a slave being allowed to "demand" no sex. Usually, for slaves, saying "no" is not permitted, and as Rollin said, I think that's part of the slave/master fantasy that intrigues many readers. Reduced options and decisions. You do what you are told. Period. No discussion. The fact that Edek honors Betsy's request says a lot about him as a person. (Makes me like him, too, even though we've never met.) Also the very things Cara mentioned " the way he cuddled her, and held her between his knees, and how she was so adoring of him. When she called him Master, the tone of it felt like "Daddy." And the fact that was still a virgin at age 26 also made her seem childlike" appeal to me as a reader, and make me want to read the book even more.
ReplyDeleteI don't care for true age-play stories. Like Cara, they make me uncomfortable. But I do enjoy stories that dance on the edge of age-play. Where the male isn't afraid to cuddle and comfort his female, and is willing to stand in as a father figure when she needs him to. I also enjoy science fiction, and though dystopian stories often depress me, the "what if" aspect of them intrigues me, too. "Commander's Slave" sounds like a book I will really enjoy, Sue, and I can't wait to read it.
Thanks for coming by, Kathryn! When I started writing this story, Edek was actually pretty harsh in the beginning and he did "take what was his" on her first night in his bed. But then I set the story aside for a while, went back and read, and didn't like Edek at all. So I had to basically rewrite the first three chapters. Hope you like the story!
DeleteKathryn--I like your description of books that dance on the edge of age-play.
DeleteSue---interesting that you didn't like Edek after a few months away. Now that I think about it, his waiting for sex but still cuddling w/her in bed was probably one of my favorite things about this book. :)
I am not a Sci-Fi reader. This is only my 2nd one to ever read. I really enjoyed it and want to thank Celeste and Sue both for giving me my copy. I really appreciate it:)
ReplyDelete1) I think that if things keep going the way they are, that this is exactly how it's gonna be. Thank God I won't be around. Some of the people in this world scare me now. I can't even imagine how it will be in 2070. So for me, I think if I read a Sci-Fi book that was all about peace,love, & harmony, it would be hard for me to believe. However, It's kinda hard for me to know that since I've only read 2. I do LOVE the way that the Alien people treat the humans though:)
2) I have tried to figure out what it is about the whole Slave/Master thing for me that I like. Maybe it's the domination, taking control. Just being dominated by a loving Master who only has your best interest at heart and wants to protect you at all cost. All I know is, in SOME books I read, It's very hot to me. I think that Sue did an awesome job with it:):)
3) I really like Lanzo. He was so caring and kind to his Heslla, but I would want Edek. Oh my, to have the protection that he gave her. I also think that Betsy really did get the best of both worlds with Edek. He loved her, he was fierce and caring, and he would do anything to have her by his side even give up his homeland if he had to. Yep, my pick is Edek:)
4) I absolutely dislike age play books. I think they are degrading. I've only read one and that was plenty for me. YUCK!!! In the "Commander's Slave" I don't think I even thought age play until I read the Q&A's for this blog. It sure wasn't like the one and only age play book I read. So, I agree with you Celeste, if there was age play in this book it was very subtle and done very tasteful in my opinion.
5) Oh My Goodness, for some reason I have fallen in love with books that the girl is several years younger and is a virgin. How hot is it that the girl finds her one true love and gives him that part of her. Now when I read books, I always secretly hope the girl is a virgin, so when it turns out that she is, I'm pleasantly surprised and very happy. It's kinda like the Slave/Master thing, it's very hot to let that man that you love with all your heart, to have that part of you. It's very romantic and rarely heard of in todays time for a women to be 26 and still waiting on that one man. HOT!!!
6) I think if Edek had taken some human lives, that yes, it would have been harder for Betsy to finally put all her trust in him. She had already had trust issues and thought that he'd hurt her if he found out who her dad was. She was so scared that she didn't even want him to know her first name.
Sue, I thought you did an awesome job on this book. It was not only well written but it was also a very easy read and hard to put down. Job well done.
Celeste, Thank you! Thank you! for picking me to give "Commander's Slave" to. Like I said I'm not a big fan of Sci-Fi books, so therefore it wasn't on my
radar to read. The only Sci-Fi series I follow is Cara's "Breeder". Now I'm going to have to buy Sue's 1st book in the Alien Warriors Series " Surrender".
Thanks again Ladies for the great read and the fun Q&A. I am so glad that readers get to join in:)
HAPPY WRITING:)
I'm so glad you liked the book, Rhonda! Yay! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. I also like books with a virgin heroine and a hero who is several years older. I think that's one of the reasons I like reading historical romances so much because that set up is pretty much guaranteed. :)
DeleteRhonda---so glad you enjoyed the book and kudos to you for getting the assignment of reading the book done! Glad I could share this great book with you. I agree, it might not have been something that I would have picked out on my own, but I'm glad I read it because it was an awesome story.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad readers can join in too. I wish more of them would *hint* *hint*. There have been about 200 pvs of this post but only a few people commenting. Don't be shy!
I love your description of virgin who "gives him that part of herself". It is romantic, but also rare in real life these days. I don't want to be a prude, but I can see the romantic appeal of it.
ooh, I haven't read this yet, but it sounds delicious. I don't know what it is about the slave scenario, but it is a massive turn-on. The objectification, the humiliation, the power differential... mmmmmm
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by, Renee! I don't think I'll ever grow tired of the slave scenario, LOL. It's one of my favorites.
Delete