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Counterpunch (2011)

by Aleksandr Voinov(Favorite Author)

4.06 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

1937058174 (ISBN13: 9781937058173)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Storm Moon Press

series

Belonging

review 1: This story is fantastic. It is set in an alternate universe where slavery still exists, in contemporary London. Brooklyn is a 27 y/o slave sold to a boxing consortium, and he's burning up the heavyweight division. Brooklyn hasn't always been a slave. He was born a freeman, and was sold into slavery following a conviction. In his free days he was a married man, a policeman in fact. A chance encounter resulted in a murder conviction, when manslaughter (or no charge) would have been the ordinary course. Brooklyn is haunted by the memory of the riot where he was dispatched and a girl died. He suffers real guilt, but as a slave his feelings do not matter.He is housed in a communal living space where all his actions are controlled by armed guards, and rented out as a boy toy whe... moren he is not training or fighting. Some of his "johns" have been female, many male. He's not adjusting well to slave life, but channels his rage into his fighting, which helps.Nathaniel rents Brooklyn one night, and learns that his experience as a slave is not always about what is taken from you. In Nathaniel's sphere, Brooklyn is cherished. Allowed what little freedom a slave can be afforded.Nathaniel becomes a regular renter, and Brooklyn is able to claim a small bit of his humanity back through their encounters. Soon, Nathaniel reveals that he is interested in re-opening Brooklyn's conviction; he felt he was scapegoat--wrongfuly accused and convicted due to an abuse of power by the victim's father. Brooklyn almost can't bear to hope to escape his lot as a slave, but he does. He trains harder and harder, trying to compartmentalize his fear and mortification of slave life, and he gains even greater acclaim in his boxing.Then, there's a big problem in one of Brooklyn's fights, and he freaks out. His breakdown results in a loss of his connection with Nathaniel and abuse he had never before endured in his slavery. The climax comes fast and furious, with a chance for redemption and "freedom" offered if he throws his big title fight. Brooklyn is a steadfast man, and his HEA is just around the bend.I really enjoyed this alternate universe, legal slavery, because it served as a greater context to discuss racial relations (all Blacks in the story are slaves) and the inequality of wealth and power, and how it corrupts. Brooklyn is a good man. He is in a bad spot, and makes the absolute best of it. He does not let his situation defeat him. He does not take the "easy" way. He strives, and perseveres. He fights for his dignity, even when it is continually ripped from him. He endures unspeakable cruelty, and achieves his ultimate reward on his terms.I am a sports fan, so the boxing milieu was amenable to me, but I don't think it was too much for an average reader to absorb. It was all very well described and the context always felt appropriate. I also enjoyed the boxing history vignettes, as I grew up in the 80's watching Sugar Ray and Mike Tyson and others find their titles, so this was a little piece of home. And the writing/language was superlative. The author notes how readers will likely balk at his "British" English, but for me, an Anglophile, this story could not be authentically told any other way. It kept me up way too late because I absolutely could not stop reading once I opened it.The smexytimes aren't overdone, and pack a good balance of sensuality and heat. They take a while to develop, which was unexpected, and pleasant. It allowed me to really enjoy Nathaniel and not see him as another exploiter in a vile system. And, later, when he worked behind the scenes to help Brooklyn, I really grew to love him. I think Brooklyn did, too.I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.
review 2: My Review:This is the second book in the Belonging Alternate Universe. After reading the first book, Anchored, last week, I was a little leery about reading this one. Anchored was very violent and this one is set with the same slavery issues, but in the boxing world...so it stood to reason that it could be worse and I just wasn't sure if I was up for that much mental battering on the cusp of the last. (Although it should be noted that I absolutely loved the first book, but it just wears on me mentally after too much.) Thankfully, this one isn't quite as bad as Anchored. The same violence occurs, but most of the really bad stuff happens off the page. Brooklyn is also a really strong character and he handles that violence better mentally.This book comes from a very different place in this world where slavery is still the norm. Brooklyn was not born into slavery like most, so he isn't as mentally trained to submit as most. He was a cop before, but he made a mistake and a girl died. Instead of prison, they enslaved him. Before he had also been an amateur fighter. Now his owners use him as a professional fighter...and also pimp him out after fights. He's come to view his body as a tool...totally in every way possible.Nathaniel is seemingly the perfect guy. He rented Brooklyn one night after one of his fights. Nathaniel doesn't make Brooklyn do anything he doesn't want to do, he's well-off, and thinks that as a barrister that he can get the judgement against Brooklyn reversed. But it quickly becomes apparent that Nathaniel may not be all that he seems. I did really enjoy this book. No matter how much guilt and rage he feels, Brooklyn didn't deserve the punishment he received. I can't imagine losing all that he did. He was married and his wife annulled their marriage and then he became simply a tool to make money for others. He was so hurt by his wife's actions, he's learned not to trust anyone...which makes the whole of the events in this book so much more heartbreaking. I wanted to just cry for Brooklyn, but he is so incredibly strong in the face of all those obstacles. He stays strong and never gives up on his will to continue fighting. I can't imagine that. And the book couldn't have ended any better. There's a twist at the end that I so did not see coming...in any way, shape, or form. But wow...it was so perfect and made me so happy for the future for Brooklyn. The book ended on such a hopeful note...I loved that about it. This is not a good world, but I was happy that Brooklyn found a piece of happiness in it.I hope there is more to come in this universe. I've thoroughly enjoyed both of these books that have come out so far in the series.I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review. less

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