This is a short prequel to Burkhart’s Blood and Shadow series. At first, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this story. Mainly because the Queen has undergone a terrible ordeal, she was kidnapped and abused by her captor. Her closest councilors have tried to help her heal, namely by trying to replicate the sexual sadism her captor subjected her to. I know, when I got to that point I was very much thinking Nope, flouncey, flounce.

I was concerned this was going to be a rape/exploitation story disguised as consensual BDSM erotica, but I decided to take a chance and keep reading to see if the author could pull this off. I'm happy to say she totally did. In fact, she not only makes this a very respectful representation of BDSM in a fantasy erotica, it had me gasping in shock and horniness.

This is a lush fantasy world filled with court intrigue, pulse pounding sensuality and an exotic man, who harbor the blood of dragons in their veins. Jake uses the mindset of a horse master when he dominates his beautiful tortured queen. While this approach might prove extra sexy for fans of pony play, which I am not. It will not turn off those who aren’t into that kink. I found it very believable and clever way to explain the philosphy of modern BDSM play without shattering the fantasy of the world.

Not gonna lie, I thought of the character Kahl Dorgo, from the tv show Game of Thrones while reading this sexy book. It worked for me. Yum! ( )

The first part was rather touching...but then it all happened too quickly. O_o

For someone so damaged to have done a 180 so quickly wasn't...believable. But I really enjoyed the set up in the beginning. ( )

The first part was rather touching...but then it all happened too quickly. O_o

For someone so damaged to have done a 180 so quickly wasn't...believable. But I really enjoyed the set up in the beginning. ( )