9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A vivid, moving story, 14 Oct 2010
By Denise Paolucci - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Under Contract (Cascade) (Kindle Edition)
This is what I consider the very best type of romance novel: one where the focus is on the characters and their growth and development. The romance is incredibly believable (and hot!) and the pace is awesome: it hits the sweet spot between "fast-moving" and "taking its time" that allows the reader to actually believe in the characters and their budding relationship. I never felt like the story was dragging, but I also never felt like it was moving too unbelievably fast. It's really rare for me to enjoy the pacing of a romance novel that much, and for a first-time author, Saito really impressed me with her control over pacing and emotional and character development.
It was also really wonderful to see a case of multiple-person relationships treated so plausibly! There's genuine affection in all of the relationships shown in this book, both the ones that exist when the story starts and the ones that develop throughout the course of the story. Given the setup and the worldbuilding, you can't really call it 'polyamory', but it certainly would be called that in today's world, and it's really nice to see it treated so matter-of-factly. Each relationship is different, in ways that are consistent with the characters involved, and Saito really sold me on each of them.
If this book has a flaw, it's that I wanted to know a bit more about the society -- how it developed out of what we have today, and more of the sociological implications the contract slavery would have on the world the characters live in. This isn't to say there isn't any of that in the book -- I rather enjoyed that Saito did provide some examples of sociological extrapolation instead of just saying "this world is exactly like ours, only there's sex slavery too!" -- but I still wanted to see more. I got the sense that she'd put a lot of thought into her world, and then was scared to include too much of it lest it feel like an infodump. Still, I think she has the chops to pull it off.
Overall, this was a fast-paced, entertaining read, and works both as an (incredibly hot) piece of erotica and a compelling character study. I will eagerly await anything else Saito releases.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing Book, 24 July 2011
By Opinionated - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Under Contract (Cascade) (Kindle Edition)
I bought this book because it was cheap and I have a fondness for kink. I was surprised and delighted to find that Ms Saito has written an astonishingly thoughtful story. This isn't the usual mishmash of BDSM scenes and unrealistic steretypical dominants and submissives. This author has created an interesting world of legalized slavery-- slavery that appears to be entered into more or less voluntarily by the way-- with clearly distinct and well drawn characters. Her characters have conversations with each other, they evolve, and they have committed relationships (Sam and Gavin). These people discuss things! They talk about slavery, the slaves, owners, and even the ethics of the system. One of the things I found most interesting in Ms Saito's world is the apparent lack of stigma associated with being a slave. In her world, slaves are owned property, yes, but there doesn't seem to be any shame attached to that status. Some slaves maintain close friendships with their former owners.
The relationships in this book are fluid and feel real. You grow to care about the characters, particularily about Alex. He has come a bit later than most to the system, but that helps to give the story a bit more of a fresh feel. Alex has been looking a long time for that undefinable something, and hopes to find it as a slave. He is not a wide eyed twink looking for a thrill or forced by financial hardship to serve. He is refreshingly mature and determined. In fact, I loved that there is a variety of types and ages in the men in this book. Oh, and yes, there is a lot of hot sex. But the sex in this story is not "porn no plot". Every sexual interaction has a point, and they are pleasingly varied. The sex here helps drive the story in a surprisingly intelligent fashion.
I also appreciate the realism of the BDSM scenes. Rough intercourse or paddling, etc, leaves the receiving party sore and with visible bruising. Crawling in submission leaves carpet burns. I despise reading so called BDSM or slavery novels in which someone endures 50 lashes with a singletail and is good to go the next day. Really?
Ms Saito has written one of the better novels of slavery I've ever read. She's also just a darn good writer. I will be looking for more of her work, regardless of the subject matter.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A love story with pain and ownership, 11 Oct 2010
By zvi LikesTV - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Under Contract (Cascade) (Kindle Edition)
This novel is very explicitly sexual, involving a lot of really hot, really painplay-oriented sex scenes in a setting about twenty minutes into the future where contract slavery has been legalized.
Personally, I can take or leave BDSM and kink, and I don't think legalized slavery makes for awesome sexytimes in the future.
What I love about this story is how much of it surrounds the emotional relationship between the characters. It's a story about a new relationship between a dom and a sub and the changing relationship between the dom and his lover (who is also a dom.) I like that it's a story where the characters are trying really hard to be good to each other, to connect to one another, and to care for one another.
I also like that, even though this is clearly a romance between these three guys, they are very clearly set in the context of a community where they have important friendships (and enmities) with other people around them, they're not just wrapped up in each other.
Great book, highly recommended.
