The Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchThe Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchange is the foundation of a fantasy-themed society fueled by the magic of gems known as sugilite. If you missed my review of the first 7 installments, you can catch up here and here.
I will do my best to avoid spoilers, but if you’re new to the series, I strongly suggest you go back and start at the beginning, episode by episode, so you can appreciate the characters and how their lives are becoming so deliciously intertwined. A lot has happened at this point.
One of the aspects I wanted to address in these latest episodes is something I teased in my last review. There’s a rather – let’s say, petulant and assertive – woman whose daughter has seemed to be in a rebellious submissive phase (scandalous for such a society), but who increasingly seems less rebellious and more genuinely submissive. When you pair that with the fact that her boyfriend experiences something of a submissive awakening in these episodes, the two-sided portrayal of the ‘natural’ power exchange becomes even more fascinating.
I talked about satyrs and nymphs in my last review, but this time I have to address the long-teased, long-awaited, long-endowed futanari whose futa shakes have caused so much trouble. Of all the magical touches to the planet of Cybele, these may be my favorite. Big, buxom, and beautiful, the very well-endowed women work in colored pairs, with the erotic mixing of their colors determining the taste and color of their creamy shakes. There’s so much delicious (pun intended) detail to their scenes, it’s just a shame that poor Geo is in no condition to enjoy them.
And that brings me to the big soap opera twists of the final episodes in this first season, which I can’t say much about, but which involve Aurora, Geo, Acacia, and Petronel. There are major OMG moments here as we get answers to certain behaviors, a challenge to the natural order, and a surprise reveal that has my genderfluid soul supremely curious! There have been a lot of characters and plot threads throughout the season, but Miss Frazier really brings them together here, even as she teases so much more to come.
The Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchThe Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchange is the foundation of a fantasy-themed society fueled by the magic of gems known as sugilite. If you missed my review of the first 7 installments, you can catch up here and here.
I will do my best to avoid spoilers, but if you’re new to the series, I strongly suggest you go back and start at the beginning, episode by episode, so you can appreciate the characters and how their lives are becoming so deliciously intertwined. A lot has happened at this point.
One of the aspects I wanted to address in these latest episodes is something I teased in my last review. There’s a rather – let’s say, petulant and assertive – woman whose daughter has seemed to be in a rebellious submissive phase (scandalous for such a society), but who increasingly seems less rebellious and more genuinely submissive. When you pair that with the fact that her boyfriend experiences something of a submissive awakening in these episodes, the two-sided portrayal of the ‘natural’ power exchange becomes even more fascinating.
I talked about satyrs and nymphs in my last review, but this time I have to address the long-teased, long-awaited, long-endowed futanari whose futa shakes have caused so much trouble. Of all the magical touches to the planet of Cybele, these may be my favorite. Big, buxom, and beautiful, the very well-endowed women work in colored pairs, with the erotic mixing of their colors determining the taste and color of their creamy shakes. There’s so much delicious (pun intended) detail to their scenes, it’s just a shame that poor Geo is in no condition to enjoy them.
And that brings me to the big soap opera twists of the final episodes in this first season, which I can’t say much about, but which involve Aurora, Geo, Acacia, and Petronel. There are major OMG moments here as we get answers to certain behaviors, a challenge to the natural order, and a surprise reveal that has my genderfluid soul supremely curious! There have been a lot of characters and plot threads throughout the season, but Miss Frazier really brings them together here, even as she teases so much more to come.
The Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchThe Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchange is the foundation of a fantasy-themed society fueled by the magic of gems known as sugilite. If you missed my review of the first 7 installments, you can catch up here and here.
I will do my best to avoid spoilers, but if you’re new to the series, I strongly suggest you go back and start at the beginning, episode by episode, so you can appreciate the characters and how their lives are becoming so deliciously intertwined. A lot has happened at this point.
One of the aspects I wanted to address in these latest episodes is something I teased in my last review. There’s a rather – let’s say, petulant and assertive – woman whose daughter has seemed to be in a rebellious submissive phase (scandalous for such a society), but who increasingly seems less rebellious and more genuinely submissive. When you pair that with the fact that her boyfriend experiences something of a submissive awakening in these episodes, the two-sided portrayal of the ‘natural’ power exchange becomes even more fascinating.
I talked about satyrs and nymphs in my last review, but this time I have to address the long-teased, long-awaited, long-endowed futanari whose futa shakes have caused so much trouble. Of all the magical touches to the planet of Cybele, these may be my favorite. Big, buxom, and beautiful, the very well-endowed women work in colored pairs, with the erotic mixing of their colors determining the taste and color of their creamy shakes. There’s so much delicious (pun intended) detail to their scenes, it’s just a shame that poor Geo is in no condition to enjoy them.
And that brings me to the big soap opera twists of the final episodes in this first season, which I can’t say much about, but which involve Aurora, Geo, Acacia, and Petronel. There are major OMG moments here as we get answers to certain behaviors, a challenge to the natural order, and a surprise reveal that has my genderfluid soul supremely curious! There have been a lot of characters and plot threads throughout the season, but Miss Frazier really brings them together here, even as she teases so much more to come.
Like its main character, What Was Meant to Be is far more than the cover blurb would have you believe: a thoughtful alternative-lifestyle romance thatLike its main character, What Was Meant to Be is far more than the cover blurb would have you believe: a thoughtful alternative-lifestyle romance that masks itself as a mainstream arranged-marriage romance. In fact, were it not for a recommendation from Miss Pearl – who also turned me on to His Secret Illuminations – I would have never given this a second glance.
Heather Guerre’s small-town romance not only features a neurodivergent (autistic) main character, but also incorporates a gentle femdom relationship, and manages to do both with absolute perfection. Three pages into meeting her, just nine pages into the book, and I knew Rain and I were going to connect.
“She wasn’t very social, and she was unavoidably weird. She didn’t like change. She didn’t like unknowns. She didn’t like upheaval.”
Boom! I felt seen and heard, right there. I saw myself on the page, and I knew that somebody out there understood. And it’s not just one thing, one token gesture towards incorporating autism, but the first of a long and lovely pattern woven throughout the entire book.
“She wasn’t very social, and she was unavoidably weird. She didn’t like change. She didn’t like unknowns. She didn’t like upheaval.”
I want this on a shirt so, when I’m forced to socialize, people know what they’re getting into!
“She liked almond croissants; she just didn’t like the texture contrast of random little stabby bits of almond mixed in with flaky pastry and soft frangipane filling.”
Personally, I don’t like almost croissants, but I do know the horror of texture. Something can look, smell, and even taste magnificent, but if the texture makes me cringe or gag, we’re done.
“The feeling of a serged edge made her want to peel her own skin off.”
Again, yes! Texture isn’t just about what’s in my mouth, but about what’s touching my skin. It’s precisely why I’d rather watch my skin turn blue on a cold, snowy day than suffer a pair of pants.
“Rain didn’t have the patience to play at being normal today.”
I could go on and on. Seriously, I have so many other examples of finding myself in the story, but show a little more patience than Rain, stop hyperfixating, and try to get back to a ‘normal’ review.
Given how much the book hinges on the arranged marriage aspect, I thought Guerre did a wonderful job of explaining it, justifying it, and exploring it. For Wes, it’s all about a land transaction, and for Rain, it’s all about giving her time and space to find her way in the world. It’s so incredibly awkward, with a major clash of personalities, that the personal conflict would normally be too much for me, but I loved Rain so much that I wanted (needed) it to work. Perhaps that’s why I got so angry and frustrated with Wes, so impatient with his ignorant assumptions and snap judgments. He was told by Rain’s father that she’s autistic, and his brothers are on the spectrum, so he should be so much better at all of this, and it upsets me that he’s not.
Fortunately, Rain develops a support system, managing to find a best friend, a new friend, a mother figure – not bad for an autistic woman, coming from a sheltered life, who admits to being horrible at making friends. I’d love to have someone like Ashlyn or Renee to lean on and confide in, and the fact that Guerre makes them so loveable is fabulous.
Getting back to the gentle femdom aspect, I was shocked by how suddenly it came on, yet delighted by why it developed. It’s almost exactly halfway through the book (give or take a few pages) where the hints we’ve seen of the steel within Rain finally come to the surface – and where Wes’s need to be confronted with that steel is revealed.
“But then Rain’s hand slid up the back of his neck to fist in his hair. She tugged, hard, and the chaos in Wes’s mind went totally quiet.”
Given I spent so much of the book not liking Wes very much, I have to give Guerre credit for exploring his need for submission with compassion and understanding. I saw something of myself in him as well, a craving to put the stresses and worries and anxieties and responsibilities of the day aside and embrace that quiet, and I can tell you it rings as true as Rain’s autism. That being said, he doesn’t deal at all well with this turning point – in fact, he’s rude, cold, and belligerent the day after – and that swings me right back to aggravation. The erotic power exchange is what ultimately leads to the realization of feelings, which is where the real challenge comes in, but getting there did try my patience at times.
What Was Meant to Be isn’t quite perfect, but it’s damned good, and for all Wes’s faults, the story is already destined for my books-to-revisit shelf when I feel the need to walk hand-in-hand with Rain all over again.
If you want to know where gynarchy (and the patriarchy) have come from, what’s at the root of feminist ideals, and how women can move forward, then MsIf you want to know where gynarchy (and the patriarchy) have come from, what’s at the root of feminist ideals, and how women can move forward, then Ms. Viola Voltairine is required reading. Her first book, 150 Years of Gynarchy, is a wonderful introduction to her philosophy, the story of why gynarchy matters, while The Pillars of Gynarchy takes that philosophy deeper and extends it into practical application, a story of how it can be lived.
The book is divided into 5 sections:
1. The Reasons explores what gynarchy is, how it’s been depicted in literature, and what’s behind men’s fears. 2. The Foundations opens with the 8 pillars of gynarchy and then goes into arguing against the gender binary before delving into the nature of the feminine. 3. Gynarchy-Aligned Education is the heart of the book, walking the reader through everything from history and biology to psychology, sociology, and religion. 4. The Devi Doctrine extends femdom as religion into spirituality. 5. Shadow and Virus acknowledges the darkness and violence in the world, but ends by praising the value of positive networking.
I won’t attempt to review everything in the book, because so much of it is interconnected, and it’s structured in such a way as to lead the reader from topic to topic, building upon the themes as it goes. What I will do is take note of just a few things that really resonated with me.
The 8 Pillars of Gynarchy are just that – pillars upon which everything else depends. We start with the individual and how women can be empowered, then move on to communities and how women can empower others.
The Gender Binary is a chapter that I wish every gender-critical TERF would read, as it’s as simple as it is powerful, talking about the transitional concepts of the thing, its opposite, that which is related but neither, that which is related but both, that which floats between, and the freedom to move between them. It also talks about how arbitrary gender classification is when we could just as easily have classified ourselves based on height or birth month. It then goes on to explore the long history of third genders like Hijra Bissu and the six genders of the Talmud, and how the anti-trans argument is “a well-disguised misogynistic trap.”
While I’ve never considered myself religious, I’ve always been fascinated by non-Judeo-Christian mythologies, so the chapters on World Religions and Femdom As Religion were utterly fascinating. Some of those mythologies were familiar, and some were excitingly new to me, but what actually intrigued me the most was learning how women have been erased and dismissed from so much of Judeo-Christian mythology. Not only does it steal from the mythologies it conquers, but does so with a patriarchal prejudice.
Finally, as someone who values yoga and meditation in dealing with my anxiety, the reapplication of familiar terms and concepts in The Devi Doctrine made its weaving of old and new into a gynarchic religion comfortably relevant. It’s not just valid and valuable, it’s absolutely beautiful. The challenges, the remedies, and the steps set it up; the behaviors of the living goddess bring it all together; and the sacred rights and practices put it all into action.
Finally, it’s worth noting that while The Pillars of Gynarchy is about women and for women, it doesn’t exclude or devalue men. In fact, it goes to great lengths to warn against fictional dystopias and show how simply flipping the gender paradigm (without changing patriarchal behavior) does more harm than good. Men have a place in gynarchy, and it can be a place of purpose and respect, should they choose to honor it.
The Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchThe Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchange is the foundation of a fantasy-themed society fueled by the magic of gems known as sugilite. If you missed my review of the first 5 installments, you can catch up here.
There’s a lot going on here – it is, after all, a soap opera – and that makes it hard to talk about without getting into spoiler territory, so I’ll keep my notes to a thematic level.
One of the things Miss Frazier does with the series (and these chapters in particular) is play with expectations of gender and gender roles within a matriarchal femdom society. For instance, there’s a storyline involving Neelam & Dayra, two women who are breaking taboos by exploring a forbidden femdom/femsub relationship. Then there’s the epic catfight between two strong-willed Dominas that leads to a submissive male being asked to restrain them. Oh, and did I mention that one of the women has a daughter in a submissive rebellious phase?
For all the subversion of femdom roles and dynamics, however, men are not exactly elevated in the narrative to compensate. Obadiah is a distasteful, dirty old man, a preacher with (gasp!) a taste for young men, and Gaius is a horny satyr (with delightfully unique speech patterns) who delights in challenging the rules of the Dominion, going so far as to coerce a submissive male into penetrating a woman.
Whether you’re bingeing the series or devouring each new episode as it is released, this is episodic erotica that moves fast, shifts quickly between scenes, and always teases with a cliffhanger. I’ve got 2 more episodes waiting for me, so watch for those reviews soon!
The Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchThe Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchange is the foundation of a fantasy-themed society fueled by the magic of gems known as sugilite. If you missed my review of the first 5 installments, you can catch up here.
There’s a lot going on here – it is, after all, a soap opera – and that makes it hard to talk about without getting into spoiler territory, so I’ll keep my notes to a thematic level.
One of the things Miss Frazier does with the series (and these chapters in particular) is play with expectations of gender and gender roles within a matriarchal femdom society. For instance, there’s a storyline involving Neelam & Dayra, two women who are breaking taboos by exploring a forbidden femdom/femsub relationship. Then there’s the epic catfight between two strong-willed Dominas that leads to a submissive male being asked to restrain them. Oh, and did I mention that one of the women has a daughter in a submissive rebellious phase?
For all the subversion of femdom roles and dynamics, however, men are not exactly elevated in the narrative to compensate. Obadiah is a distasteful, dirty old man, a preacher with (gasp!) a taste for young men, and Gaius is a horny satyr (with delightfully unique speech patterns) who delights in challenging the rules of the Dominion, going so far as to coerce a submissive male into penetrating a woman.
Whether you’re bingeing the series or devouring each new episode as it is released, this is episodic erotica that moves fast, shifts quickly between scenes, and always teases with a cliffhanger. I’ve got 2 more episodes waiting for me, so watch for those reviews soon!
The Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchThe Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchange is the foundation of a fantasy-themed society fueled by the magic of gems known as sugilite.
Over the course of the story, Frazier provides an introduction to the world, its history, and its characters, while setting up the relationship dynamics and social/political interactions. There’s a lovely mix of science fiction and fantasy to the story that reminds me of 70s pulp novels, but with a more contemporary (and explicit) FLR/femdom theme.
Like any soap opera, the series contains multiple plot threads that overlap and interact in sometimes surprising ways. There are stories of multiple generations, both young and old; humans, satyrs, and centaurs; Dommes, submissives, and those caught in between; rulers, judges, professionals, and citizens; and lovers, slaves, clients, and porn stars. Some of the connections are obvious from the start, while others take a while to develop, but in each case, they become deeper and more complicated as the series progresses.
Like anything B.J. Frazier writes, this is fun and clever, with the power-exchange elements well thought-out (especially where she subverts it). The scenes of worship, submission, and punishment are exquisite, but it’s partly because she invests the characters with such personality that you buy into the dynamics.
I cannot wait to see where the subsequent chapters take us.
The Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchThe Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchange is the foundation of a fantasy-themed society fueled by the magic of gems known as sugilite.
Over the course of the story, Frazier provides an introduction to the world, its history, and its characters, while setting up the relationship dynamics and social/political interactions. There’s a lovely mix of science fiction and fantasy to the story that reminds me of 70s pulp novels, but with a more contemporary (and explicit) FLR/femdom theme.
Like any soap opera, the series contains multiple plot threads that overlap and interact in sometimes surprising ways. There are stories of multiple generations, both young and old; humans, satyrs, and centaurs; Dommes, submissives, and those caught in between; rulers, judges, professionals, and citizens; and lovers, slaves, clients, and porn stars. Some of the connections are obvious from the start, while others take a while to develop, but in each case, they become deeper and more complicated as the series progresses.
Like anything B.J. Frazier writes, this is fun and clever, with the power-exchange elements well thought-out (especially where she subverts it). The scenes of worship, submission, and punishment are exquisite, but it’s partly because she invests the characters with such personality that you buy into the dynamics.
I cannot wait to see where the subsequent chapters take us.
The Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchThe Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchange is the foundation of a fantasy-themed society fueled by the magic of gems known as sugilite.
Over the course of the story, Frazier provides an introduction to the world, its history, and its characters, while setting up the relationship dynamics and social/political interactions. There’s a lovely mix of science fiction and fantasy to the story that reminds me of 70s pulp novels, but with a more contemporary (and explicit) FLR/femdom theme.
Like any soap opera, the series contains multiple plot threads that overlap and interact in sometimes surprising ways. There are stories of multiple generations, both young and old; humans, satyrs, and centaurs; Dommes, submissives, and those caught in between; rulers, judges, professionals, and citizens; and lovers, slaves, clients, and porn stars. Some of the connections are obvious from the start, while others take a while to develop, but in each case, they become deeper and more complicated as the series progresses.
Like anything B.J. Frazier writes, this is fun and clever, with the power-exchange elements well thought-out (especially where she subverts it). The scenes of worship, submission, and punishment are exquisite, but it’s partly because she invests the characters with such personality that you buy into the dynamics.
I cannot wait to see where the subsequent chapters take us.
Janine, part 1 of Good Neighbours, is a stellar example of what Irene Clearmont does so very, very well. This is a plot-driven erotic thriller peopledJanine, part 1 of Good Neighbours, is a stellar example of what Irene Clearmont does so very, very well. This is a plot-driven erotic thriller peopled by well-developed characters who actually change and develop throughout the story. There's some mystery to it, a great deal of suspense, and equal parts anticipation, arousal, and satisfaction.
The story centers around a small suburban community with some unusual ties between owners. There's talk of turning the whole area into a gated community, so you can imagine the quality of the homes and properties involved. An amazingly (one might say suspiciously) cheap rental property brings Olivia and Greg to the community, but unbeknownst to them, they're being manipulated from the very start. They have been chosen, and nothing that happens to them, no matter how wild or scandalous, is an accident.
Simply put, the neighbourhood has plans for them.
In a story that's built upon female domination and cuckolding, Miss Irene carefully establishes the relationship dynamic of the couple before beginning to drive a wedge between them. For Olivia, what follows is a breathless detour into a life of hedonism and debauchery that seems like freedom compared to her marriage, while Greg finds himself led astray from his narrow-minded beliefs, tempted and blackmailed into a nightmare of submission. Their neighbours, Janine and Dirk, have the couple's fates clearly planned out, and their maid, Molly, will prove to be instrumental in enabling the transformation.
I'm cautious about delving too deep into spoiler territory, but the relationship between the characters is beautifully layered, and likely not what you may expect. There's a hierarchy of domination and submission here, with characters straddling dual (almost contradictory) roles. Janine's household is an interesting one, and her talent for training and punishment is just as delicious as the erotic aspects of the story.
There was one small reveal towards the end of the story that I saw coming, but likely only because I desperately wanted it to be coming. There's also a nice twist in the final chapter that promises another layer of mystery in the next book (tentatively scheduled for mid-June). A fabulous read that demands you become deeply invested, and which will leave you desperate to find out how it all ends.
The Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchThe Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchange is the foundation of a fantasy-themed society fueled by the magic of gems known as sugilite.
Over the course of the story, Frazier provides an introduction to the world, its history, and its characters, while setting up the relationship dynamics and social/political interactions. There’s a lovely mix of science fiction and fantasy to the story that reminds me of 70s pulp novels, but with a more contemporary (and explicit) FLR/femdom theme.
Like any soap opera, the series contains multiple plot threads that overlap and interact in sometimes surprising ways. There are stories of multiple generations, both young and old; humans, satyrs, and centaurs; Dommes, submissives, and those caught in between; rulers, judges, professionals, and citizens; and lovers, slaves, clients, and porn stars. Some of the connections are obvious from the start, while others take a while to develop, but in each case, they become deeper and more complicated as the series progresses.
Like anything B.J. Frazier writes, this is fun and clever, with the power-exchange elements well thought-out (especially where she subverts it). The scenes of worship, submission, and punishment are exquisite, but it’s partly because she invests the characters with such personality that you buy into the dynamics.
I cannot wait to see where the subsequent chapters take us.
Whenever you pick up a new Donna Jay novel, you know you're in for a fantastic read. There are certain things she does very well - realistic characterWhenever you pick up a new Donna Jay novel, you know you're in for a fantastic read. There are certain things she does very well - realistic characters, convincing drama, genuine relationships, and fabulous friends - that you can always count on. Then, of course, there are the things you don't know - the erotica-to-romance ratio, the lesbian/bisexual mix, and the nature of the subtle but well-orchestrated themes - that are so much fun to discover.
Wednesday Nights is one of her lovers-to-friends romances, and I loved how proudly and confidently it moves from casual sex and exploratory BDSM kink, uncomplicated by feelings, to the first realizations of romance. The titular nights were never supposed to be about anything more than no-strings-attached intimacy, but Haylee and Angela are so perfectly paired, it's not a question of if they'll get together but when.
Tied up in all of that are a variety of themes, the most powerful of which revolve around the give-and-take of a relationship, pleasing others versus pleasing yourself, perceptions of ethical non-monogamy, and the interplay of caring for others and not wanting to be a burden. I mentioned subtle, and that's part of what Donna always does so well. The themes are there, inescapable by the end of the story, but you never feel like she's stretching to make a point.
There's also an element of storytelling and roleplaying to the story that I thought was lovely, giving it an air of romantic fantasy that plays very well against some of the more sorrowful dramas of real life. I wasn't quite sure where the story was going to end up, but I was entirely delighted with how it found its HEA.
The Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchThe Dominion and the Sugilite is a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, one set on a female-ruled planet where the power exchange is the foundation of a fantasy-themed society fueled by the magic of gems known as sugilite.
Over the course of the story, Frazier provides an introduction to the world, its history, and its characters, while setting up the relationship dynamics and social/political interactions. There’s a lovely mix of science fiction and fantasy to the story that reminds me of 70s pulp novels, but with a more contemporary (and explicit) FLR/femdom theme.
Like any soap opera, the series contains multiple plot threads that overlap and interact in sometimes surprising ways. There are stories of multiple generations, both young and old; humans, satyrs, and centaurs; Dommes, submissives, and those caught in between; rulers, judges, professionals, and citizens; and lovers, slaves, clients, and porn stars. Some of the connections are obvious from the start, while others take a while to develop, but in each case, they become deeper and more complicated as the series progresses.
Like anything B.J. Frazier writes, this is fun and clever, with the power-exchange elements well thought-out (especially where she subverts it). The scenes of worship, submission, and punishment are exquisite, but it’s partly because she invests the characters with such personality that you buy into the dynamics.
I cannot wait to see where the subsequent chapters take us.
A quick recap for those who missed my review of the first two books in the trilogy. This series is like the definitive comic book crossover/team-up ofA quick recap for those who missed my review of the first two books in the trilogy. This series is like the definitive comic book crossover/team-up of the erotica genre, with B.J. Frazier bringing in characters from A Domme for Christmas, the Eli series, Perchance to Dream, The Service Sub, Mistress Managed, and others, to explore DomCon (a very real BDSM/femdom convention) through a fictionalized story. You don’t need to be a fan to enjoy this, but regular readers will enjoy seeing what their favorite characters are up to.
While the first book was mostly an introduction, giving the characters a reason to attend and introducing them to one another, and the second delved deeper into the relationships, the kinks, the fantasies, and (oh, yes) the drama, this concluding volume brings it all together for a finale that’s both intelligent and erotic.
If you’ve been reading along, then you know the second book ended on quite the cliffhanger, with one of the Dommes being arrested on false charges. Book Three doesn’t waste any time addressing that injustice, but lest you think it’s over all too quickly, there are still two dark bits of drama still to be resolved here, and they are a driving force behind this chapter.
Before I get to them, however, I want to talk to two of the femdom subplots that I think were absolutely marvelous. One sees a fledgling Domme being trained in how to give her submissive what she wants, and that includes understanding how differently they experience pain. There’s a lot of awkwardness there, including a bad habit of confronting tension with laughter, which breaks the scene. The other sees an inexperienced couple wanting to experiment with FLR without spending heavily on toys and equipment, which leads to a wonderful trip to the kitchen aisle of a dollar store. There’s a language barrier involved, but it’s handled so beautifully well, making it a part of the story.
As for the drama I mentioned, it’s all mixed up in past abuse, social media censorship, unsanctioned cruelty, and generally reprehensible behavior. What makes this final volume so compelling is the heaviness of that drama and the breaking of protocol involved in seeking retribution, with B.J. Frazier wisely leaving it to the reader and the characters to determine whether the end can justify the means. Even as a reader who trusts B.J. implicitly, some of those actions made me uncomfortable, but I was completely satisfied with how it was handled, especially with a final comment about the difference between professional and personal betrayal.
Rest assured, This is Knot DomCon is a story with a happy ending, and there are a lot of exciting BDSM scenes to be explored here, along with some wonderful relationships between Dommes, submissives, spouses, and sometimes more. As I said earlier, it’s smart as well as sexy, and if you don’t learn something about the law, finance, or professional ethics, then you’re simply not paying attention.
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