Ellora’s Cave, $4.30, ISBN 0-9712177-2-6
Fantasy Erotica, 2001
Anyone up for a prime slice of cheesy hardcore goodness? If you ever wonder what an X-rated episode of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is like, or what is under He-Man’s skimpy loincloth, wonder no longer.
Seriously (haw haw), A Slave’s Price, a fantasy erotica, is grade A cheese. T&A stuff at its finest, because in this one, the woman rules, baby. As our slave boy Lord Mâkakao soon finds out. He is enslaved by nasty dwarves but our heroine Cassadara, on the orders of her mother, buys him from them. Cassadara is one of the Wolf Women, and she can turn into a wolf (duh). And these women ain’t no shy coquettes when it comes to doing the beastie.
When Cass looks at Mâk at first, she’s not that impressed. Sure, he’s big in every way that counts, but she’s a Wolf Woman, you know, and her attentions are strictly for the proud and mighty. Then Mâk shows her exactly how proud and mighty he can be (and he even offers to cook) and Cass reaches for the money pouch faster than you can say “Sold!”
Lots of hot sex ensue. Interesting sex, interesting positions, and lots of mighty outpouring of passion (oh yes indeed) and heavy breathing. Yummy. And best of all, no purple prose – if you get wet, you get wet, damn the umbrellas, baby.
Of course, there’s also some subplot involving overthrowing the slavers and freeing the people, et cetera, and the non-sexual stuff are actually pretty good. These scenes actually blend in well with the sex, not just in a “tacked on for plot’s sake” manner, and it gives A Slave’s Price a semblance of substance beyond the usual joystick marathon fun.
Sure, this one wouldn’t satisfy those seeking spiritual enlightenment via teacups and tea in their romances. Spiritual enlightenment here starts from the groin and shoots upwards from there. But this is not necessarily a bad thing. This is a cheesy T&A fantasy, make no mistake, with lots of gratuitous sex (alas, no senseless violence), but it’s a relationship between two mates who are equals when it comes to the holding their own.
My complaint is that the annoying attempt at using what seemed like a bizarre Scots accent (“ken” and “ye” interspersed with modern English), which is jarring, could be done without. More boinking, less “ken”ing please.
Forget He-Man – Mâk rules. Phwoar, baby, take it off!
