Author: J.A. Rock
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Pages/Word Count: 320 Pages
At a Glance: J.A. Rock set out to write a realistic set of BDSM novels, and the Subs Club was born…
Reviewed By: Carrie
Blurb: Honestly, I’m ready to take a step back from the Subs Club. Making the kink world a safer place for subs is the sort of bandwagon I’d have boarded as an idealist in my early twenties, but now I’m a pragmatist in my late twenties. I prefer to focus on adopting and raising a child.
But unexpected factors inevitably derail my plans. Like Drix Seger—attractive and the first genuine sadist I’ve encountered. If I were not in the process of renouncing my masochistic ways and becoming the normal, responsible potential father the adoption agency wants to see, Drix and I might do well together.
But he has a foolish name and belongs to a cult of vampyres, and I am quitting kink. So why does Drix’s infatuation with blood and biting make me so hot I can’t think straight? And why, when he looks at me, does he seem to see something beyond a basket case with a stick up my ass?
Can I start a new phase in my life without leaving part of myself behind? Please send help.
—Miles
Review: The first book in this series (The Subs Club) was written from snarky sub Dave’s POV, and covered domestic discipline. Pain Slut introduces us to Miles, a neurotic masochist. We spend a lot of time in Miles’ head in this book. Why? Because that’s where Miles stays. If you are expecting the light-bantered humor from the first book, you will be disappointed. Oh, there are snippets of it when Miles hangs with his other Subs Club buddies, but that’s not Miles’ personality—he’s strung tighter than a guide wire.
Miles is an “in control” sub. He never totally gives away his submission: he loves the pain, he craves it, but for the pain’s sake and the release it gives him, not because he wants to give over control. And, he is extreme (bit of a warning here, if you have trouble with blood, BDSM torture practices that are beyond the norm, and medical play, don’t read this book. It will take you out of your comfort zone in a hurry). If this were a book just about Miles, his neurotic personality would have ruined it for me, but it’s not, it is about Miles and Drix. Drix is Miles’ savior.
A true sadist and part of a vampire cult, Drix is the most laid back, lighthearted person in the world—a total contradiction, but an exact opposite puzzle piece kind of fit for Miles. I loved the two of these guys together. Drix has this innate need to inflict pain on others and see how they respond to it, but he is not a Dom. And Miles has a need to experience pain and see where it can take him, but he is not a true sub. A match made in heaven, right?! These two men grow together and take a journey filled with understanding and respect. There is humor, there is love, there is even romance in this book, and a relationship between two men who just want what we all want—someone to love us for who we are.
Book One of the series delves into serious issues within the fet community, of subs having a voice. When one of their friends dies during a scene, how do the men of the Subs Club deal with the feelings of guilt and remorse for what happened? This book is no different, as Miles carries a great deal of guilt for how his last interactions with his friend played out on the night he died. This book also covers the bias people in the fet world are faced with, and the discrimination they may face as a result. Miles desperately wants to adopt a son, but will he be allowed to if the adoption agency finds out about his kink? Take what we all consider “normal” and throw it out the window. Miles undergoes a tremendous transformation in this book, and it is amazing to watch. Does loving pain make him a bad person as well? In the end, he finds acceptance and love in a story that is very well written, though I have to admit there were times I had to put this story down for a day before picking it back up. It was painful at times and some scenes are intense, emotionally and physically.
I am so looking forward to the next book, which is about Kamen and Ryan, and delves into pony play with a twist of lace and panties. I know, right?! But, we have to wait until April! These books are about so much more than the BDSM aspect, and I will say that reading them in order would be your best bet. The books could stand alone, but to get the whole story, start at the beginning with The Subs Club, and go from there.
You can buy Pain Slut here:
Coming Soon to Amazon Kindle
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