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Dark Heart (2008)

by Thom Lane(Favorite Author)

3.68 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

1596327820 (ISBN13: 9781596327825)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Loose Id

series

Tales of Amaranth

review 1: Fascinating story once it gets going, but it’s certainly not for everyoneWarning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS. Rating: 7/10PROS: - Lane has a knack for establishing setting with just a few well-placed adjectives and descriptive nouns. His writing is clear and precise.- The fantasy aspects of this story interested me. Granted, I’m mostly unaccustomed to reading stories of this sort, but Lane describes his world in a way that makes it seem quite intriguing: “Mages are men and women of the half-world, all cobweb and shadow…”- The author does a good job of establishing Tam’s submissive craving for ruthless Dominance. The rougher Lucan is, the more Tam wants him. (see cons below also)- Many of Tam’s comments are funny in a sad sort... more of way. When describing a mean horse, for example, he muses about whether she likes the smell of blood or “wishes she were carnivorous.”CONS:- I understand Lucan’s rough treatment of Tam, but I do wish Lucan weren’t quite so careless and dismissive of his slave emotionally. Some of Tam’s thoughts are rather sad: “I would have liked to matter--to either of them, really--just a little more than the furniture, but there’s no point dreaming. Free men and women value slaves only for their usefulness.”- Some of the treatment that the slave characters endure is incredibly cruel by most modern standards. For instance: “We were fed by the house just once a day, and by evening we’d do anything for a titbit tossed to the floor.” I can read about cruel treatment of slaves fairly easily when I know they’ve CHOSEN to be slaves, like in a BDSM story. In a situation like this, it’s difficult for me to believe a person could enjoy service or submission when he has no hope of ever escaping his lot in life.Overall comments: If you’re bothered by crude treatment of submissive characters, then you’d better pass on this one. Tam is a slave not just in the sexual sense: he eats scraps when his Master deigns to feed him, performs all manner of tasks that many people would consider degrading, and is then tossed aside as though he were a dirty rag. There is sex, and a bit of an emotional attachment is formed, but for some readers, it will be difficult to view this story as a romance. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but I’ll definitely seek out more. Even though there are aspects of this story that I didn’t enjoy, I liked Lane’s writing style very much.
review 2: I really enjoyed this book, although for those looking for a HEA this probably won't really meet the standard.I really found the world interesting, and I enjoyed the characters, but the setting is rather dark and in many ways with regards to the slavery aspects of the society the slaves didn't have much hope.I think this book has really good secondary characters and I enjoyed how they interacted with Tam. I think about the only aspect I struggled with is that Tam seemed so happily resigned to his slavery, and even in a society where slavery is a main economic institution, I just struggle with the idea that any slave is that content in their station. I don't believe that lack any struggle at all with their place in society. I absolutely love the world building. less

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