A short story that takes place within the time frame of The Beekeeper's Apprentice, here we get a detailed look at the conflict between Mary and her Aunt during the time her aunt was her guardian.

I'm left feeling vaguely "meh" in part because Ms. King takes a few liberties with her own story line and because of the narration.

Mary makes if very clear in The Beekeeper's Apprentice that she intends to mention her aunt as little as possible so the author certainly has quite a bit of leeway to make this plot work, but still, Mary never mentions a trip to London to see her solicitors after meeting Holmes and quite plainly tells Holmes in the first book that all the paperwork is settled very soon after meeting him. (That's all I'm going to say because I don't want to go spoilery.)  So I guess while the author still has room to create this story, she had to screw with the timeline a bit and it left me feeling discombobulated - I had to go back and re-read the pertinent sections of book 1.

Also, the narration was good - very good.  But Robert Ian Mackenzie's voice is inherently friendly - he kept reminding me of a lovely English grandfather.  Really pleasant and warm, but Holmes isn't any of those things and trying to listen to cold logic and deductive reasoning from someone who sounds like grandpa wasn't working for me.  For narration, Jenny Sterling has nailed Holmes' cold, detached voice so thoroughly I'm not sure I could listen to anyone else at this point,

Except Benedict Cuberbatch - can you imagine him narrating a Holmes story? - I think I'd swoon...

This is a novella in the Mary Russell series, of which there about a dozen books to date. In them King gives Sherlock Holmes a female counterpart and professional and, eventually, romantic partner in the unlikely person of Mary Russell, a Jewish American forty years younger. She sets all these tales after 1914, when the last of the Arthur Conan Doyle originals were penned. This particular story is set in the time frame of the first novel in the series, <i>The Beekeeper's Apprentice.</i> I don't know if someone unfamiliar with the series would be charmed, but I sure was. It was a lot of fun, particularly since the series is almost always from Mary's point of view, so it was great getting Holmes perspective for once. My only complaint was that it was all too short--only 60 pages. Especially considering that aside from seeking out the short story "Mrs Hudson's Case" I'm afraid I now have to withstand the pangs of withdrawal. No more Mary Russell for me until the new book by King due in early 2015. At least this one left me grinning.

I felt decidedly mixed about this one. This is the eleventh book in the Mary Russell series, which gives Sherlock Holmes a romantic and professional partner--and it works. Well, almost always. The series truly is a favorite of mine and usually hits the spot with its mix of Sherlock Holmes pastiche, mystery, and early 20th century historical fiction. I've grown to love Mary as a character in her own right. This one though, takes an entirely different tone than usual--in fact the first half plays as farce. It annoyed and bored me for a lot of that first half, and I considered abandoning it--at least until it regained the promise of it's subtitle: "A Novel of Suspense Featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. Because for that first half there was no suspense and almost nothing of Sherlock Holmes.

It did redeem itself for me in the second half, but this certainly wouldn't be where I'd pick up the series, and if this is where you did, and you didn't care for it, I'd try again--the first in the series, <i>The Beekeeper's Apprentice</i> is one of the best--but so are several of the other books. I'm not the only one to be disappointed in <i>The Pirate King</i>--this has the lowest rating of any book in the series on Goodreads, averaging 3.34 stars while most installments are over four. I think what I find a weakness in the series comes ironically from a source of its strength. The books are varies in tone, theme, settings--even narrative devices. And as a friend pointed out, the light-hearted nature of the book does make a welcome change of pace after the grimness of the last two books. But even though humor is a welcome element in the books, the humor here was either too broad for my tastes, or just not something King's forte.

That said, I did give it three stars because ultimately I enjoyed it, and am glad I finished it. There's only one more book in the series now for me to read, and I'm going to feel a pang when I finish it and have to wait for King to publish the next one.

Stung by K.A. Merikan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 Stars especially for that realistic ending!

Stung was set in a Victorian Dystopia world whereby a zombie plague has created an oppressed society struggling to co-exist with the undead. This story is actually part of the Zombie Gentlemen series by K.A. Merikan which consist of a pair of talented authors, Kat and Agnes Merikan. Eventhough I have yet to read the rest of the series, I did not encounter any problem following this standalone story.

Basically Stung was about Victor a pretty boy from the city latching on to Crunch a sting operative tough guy who was masquerading as a guard at a mob ran prison camp where Victor was wrongfully incarcerated due to a flash of his own stupidity. Crunch was there to carry out out a dangerous secret mission to liberate the abused captives from the camp which was actually a large farm where prisoners were forced to perform hard labour. The prisoners were cruelly worked till they wither away. Needless to say the environment was a harsh one. Best pray for a short life than to struggle each day at Honeyhill farm. Victor is smart enough to know he wouldn't survive a day without a protector.

Luckily for us and Victor himself that he isn't some air-head people might think he is due to his outward appearance. He may look like a delicate flower, beautiful, all helpless and clueless, yet he is about to prove to everyone he isn't all that simple. He is to me, quite like the alluring Venus Flytrap; unsuspecting victims would find themselves lured in by its compelling scent and once ensnared it's a road of no return. Even so, it is a road willingly traveled by Crunch to partake in the comely sweetness of this little lost lamb who had so brazenly sought him as an anchor with his honeyed lips and delectable body. Make no mistakes, this lamb bites deep and would trample bad guys mercilessly when provoked. Have no fear though because kisses and cuddles are lavished upon his saviour and protector. When Victor is sweet, he has a cat-like demeanor; he will be all affectionate, snuggly, and would sniff Crunch all over stealing his manly scents for comfort. I do suspect he has a scent fetish.

[ “But you wouldn’t ‘crunch’ my bones, would you?” muttered Victor, pressing a soft kiss to the underside of his jaw. Accompanying it were a quiet sound and a rush of air. Victor was sniffing him. For a moment, Crunch felt self conscious, but since Victor wasn’t moving away, it had to be a pleasant scent for him. ]

So what about the sex then?
I'll say it was nicely done. It was sexy and exciting and I am glad it wasn't overly done unlike many other books of this genre which tends to fail on finding the right balance between the sex and the story. There's a touch of light manhandling during the sexy times that I quite enjoy in my books. Apart from that, the romance was also very realistic. I totally buy it. What they had is a slow burn kind of romance.

I wish to share here a sample of their flirty banter...

[ “What is it, Mr. Crunch?” Victor bit his lip, slowly rubbing his calf over Crunch’s knee.

Crunch pulled down his trousers and finally set his cock free. It was dying to get between Victor’s juicy lips. “Ya ready for dessert?” he grunted, slouching over the other man.

“I thought I just ate some cake and fruit.” Victor's face was tense with attempts to stop a smile, but it wasn't working and soon, he was beaming in the semi-darkness.

“Now ya gonna get some cream,” Crunch panted and kneeled closer above Victor’s face. His stiff prick looked like it belonged there.
Victor exhaled, licking his lips with eyes focused on the cock that was now inches above him. Slowly, he spread his arms, revealing his full naked glory. With his legs slightly bent at the knees, his stomach trembling with each breath, he looked like a human sacrifice, one that Crunch was willing to devour. ]

They both flirts with each other a-lot. And I liked it very much. It's fun to read and lightens up the atmosphere.

And hey! what about those bees and the zombays?
No worries there, we certainly get a steady feed on the insects and the rotters - it was aptly peppered along the story as we read on. They even get to play more in the main parts of the story especially at the ending. All I could say was Victor was ever so glad for their assistance.

The morbid ones would be happy to know that they wouldn't be missing out on zombay nom-nommy scenes. It was very nicely done, I didn't even have any urge to spray-paint my stomach content on my desk. Truthfully Stung did have some icky parts but it wasn't over the top kind.

The unique 'gardening' everyone mentioned in their review reminds me much of... 

(HEY, DON'T 'CLICK' IT! IT'S A GODDAMN SPOILER FOR GOD'S SAKE!)

The next questions is: Will this story be alright for those faint-hearted? My answer is... GO FOR IT! Even a chicken-shit like me could survive this book without a scratch. Frankly, due to the cover, the blurb, the reviews and my past experience with Playing with Food, a bizarre and morbid book by the these two brilliant authors, I had mentally prepared myself for some sort of fright affair with this book. I really can't do gore very well so I was quite apprehensive initially to read it. But that beautiful and hyper erotic cover was screaming at me to read it. I knew I just had to, and I am glad I did. So no regrets whatsoever. It has been a wonderful experience.

Lastly, I must applaud the authors for an ending that stays true with the story and its characters. I was surprised the ending has taken such an unexpected twist than what I have imagined it would be... you know those skull numbing, boring, formulaic forced HEAs? I thought it would focus on..

Blargh, thank god that DID NOT happen and I am forever grateful for that. Disney-ish ending begone! *throws confetti in celebration* Mind you, I am not saying there is no happy ending kay. It's just a much better and believable version that's what I mean.






BOOK DETAILS:

Title: Stung
Author: K.A. Merikan
Publication Date: October 28th, 2013
Type: Novel, 50,000 words (approximate)
Genre: Dystopian homoerotic thriller, M/M, Gay, Erotica, Consensual, Romance
Tags/Keywords: zombies, prisoner/guard, beekeeping, gore, deception, undercover agent, captivity, romance, brutality, forced labour camp, murder, farm, torment, forbidden romance, Victorian, dystopian, horror, loving-adoring-partner, mafia-mobster-crime-boss, manipulative character, murder-killing, cheeky-impish-character, oral sex, prisoner, slavery, slaves, profound-physical-size-difference, realistic, restricted freedom, revenge, corporal punishment, sensual-erotic-sexy, stubborn character, thriller, violence, defenseless protagonist, whipping, willing partner, consensual, zombies, undead


Description:
--- If you want honey, prepare to get stung. ---

October 1907, Honeyhill
Twenty years into the zombie Plague

Victor is a man of delicate sensibilities, not fit to do backbreaking labour on a farm ran by the mob. Upon arrival in Honeyhill, he decides he needs an anchor, an alliance with one of the guards, if he wants to survive. That anchor comes in the form of Crunch, a hunky ex-sailor with a pair of tight leather trousers and a ruggedly handsome face.

But from day one, Victor knows he won’t last long with the hard physical work assigned to him and the torment he suffers at the hands of a sadistic guard. He needs to run, and his new alliance might prove to be a burden instead of solace.

If Crunch wants Honeyhill liberated, he needs to focus on his job, not on protecting Victor, one of many new arrivals on the farm. Distraction is the last thing he needs after months of undercover work. But it’s hard not to get seduced by Victor's big brown eyes and fingertips that don’t know work. Hundreds of people depend on Crunch keeping his identity a secret, revealing it could be fatal for both him and Victor, and a failure of his mission. Thankfully, Victor would never be dumb enough to try and escape through a forest that's swarming with zombies. Would he?

“Stung” is a standalone book and a part of the “Zombie Gentlemen” universe.

Themes (may contain SPOILERS): zombies, prisoner/guard, beekeeping, gore, deception, undercover agent, captivity, romance, brutality, forced labour camp, murder, farm, torment, forbidden romance, Victorian

Erotic content: explicit m/m sexual scenes (including dubious consent)

Genre: dystopian homoerotic thriller

Length: ~50,000words

WHERE TO BUY:


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NOTE: This is an ARC extended to me by the author.




Comment on November 22nd, 2013: (click to expand - nothing spoilerish)

* Reviewed on December 3rd, 2013


View all my reviews

Many of those who are fond of the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes novels seem to think that The Moor is the weakest in the series.

I beg to disagree.  The Pirate King is.  It is also the silliest, not that silliness is necessarily a bad thing in and of itself.  It's just a very, very light, fluffy installment in the series.

Up side: pirates and movie-making, 1920s style.  The fact that I borrowed this one from the library.

Down side: an exceptionally silly plot, and one that doesn't make sense.

However, I am told the next one, Garment of Shadows, is better.  I truly hope so.