Sphere: Androgyny 01 - Fall 2015: though... This reads like a zine or a series of blog posts. Very short, not very in depth, on a few different subjects.

Part of it is the first chapter of a planned book on androgynous appearance, it's just the introduction though, so not much on the actual subject… what I liked about that part though was that the author's view on androgyny seems very nuanced and like it would leave space for lots of different styles.

Other than that, there were some notes on nonbinary history that I was very happy about - queer history is so, so important, I can't even find words for it.

Worthy by Lia Black
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3 Stars for the effort and for being a good diversion to pass the time.

A sweet and caloric slavefic fairytale. Enjoyable at first bite, unfortunately it only makes you hunger for something more sustainable than a sugar fix. (See this? I could write short reviews too)

Dare I stop my review here? I could, couldn't I? I maybe should too. Because what comes after this is a product of my over analyzing.

Nudge me if you wish for my trademark long-ass review.


*Edits 10/12/13 @ 11.03pm:
I have just answered some fun and interesting questionnaires on this book over at the Goodreads BDSM Group . I thought maybe I should share it here as well:

 

 

1. Do you have a favorite character? Why?

 

Maybe Demetrie. His way of enjoying Sev's body excites me. Just like Sev, I am taken with Demetrie's commanding air and finding him hard to resist. That's something rare for me as I usually see myself from the perspective of the dom rather than the sub.

 

I wished I could like the protagonist better but to me, Sev is not a well developed character. For someone who has known joy of family even only an adoptive one and used to having his own freedom, Sev does seem to give up on his identity and self worth quite easily. Many times he feels much like a puppet without free will and lacks sense of self preservation. This was observed even at the early stage of Demetrie's ownership of him. He does not even question internally on Demetrie's demanding request of him. He is too naive and trusting to be a street smart boy with a nomadic tribe upbringing. This doll like quality of his is rather disturbing.

 

 

2. Does a particular scene stick in your mind? Or a quote? What resonated with you?

I like Demetrie's blindfold punishment for Sev. Very interesting way of training trust. Just like one would apply to an animal like a horse. I just read one femdom story on human pony training that applies such technique too. Fascinating. >:D

 

 

3. Homogeneity is important to Athena. What was your reaction?

A place that lacks originality and individuality. No wonder Demetrie is so bored of his life there. In real life homogeneity is also known as racism ;)

 

In the olden days, aristocrats tends to put very high standards on pure blood marriages. This might also still be true till this age and time.

 

 

4. This is a highly stratified society with roles strictly delineated. Do you think our society is similar? Maybe we don't acknowledge it, but it exists?

Yes it does exist in our real world. Look around you. The poor is still dirt poor and the rich is still filthy rich. Who will have the more power? Money makes the political world goes round. What would that means to the lower income class? We feel such oppression daily.

 

Athena seems to be a place that discourages change in order to maintain firm control over its citizen and resources. Those who refused to conform would be ousted like Demetrie as a safeguard to its system.

 

This unfortunately leads me to question the plotline whereby Demetrie gave his title and name to Sev when he decided to leave Athena as an outcast. I mean how could this possibly be done when Demetrie himself is to be stripped off his title even to the extend that his assets will be seized just because he wouldn't fulfill his obligation as an aristocrat? There is simply no reason whatsoever for Athena or its aristocratic members to honor Demetrie's transfer of his title and name to Sev a mere dreg with zero rights or even simple recognition as a human being? To me, this plotline is OTT and does not conform with the oppressive and autocratic universe created by the author.

 

 

5. What did you think of Demetrie's plan?

Childish and fanciful, borderline idiotic. It shouldn't even be successful or plausible if the plots were tight enough and if the characters are well built. Yes I am saying it IS unrealistic. It is contradictory to the strict caste system of Athena. Think politically... would Demetrie's rebellious, traitorous way of escaping the system be ignored by his autocratic government? Wouldn't it be wiser for them to curb it at its stem before it becomes a precedent?

 

This quote sums up Athena for us:

Michael nodded. “I heard that Athena cleared out another section of her ghetto last night. What are they calling it these days? Oh yes, ‘progressive beautification’.” He shook his head slowly. Soon there would be no ghettos; the dregs would be buried under swimming pools, shopping centers, and aristolitical complexes. The sign of a thriving society was its lack of a lower caste, and since raising dregs up economically, socially, and politically would create a strain on the wealthy, it made far more sense to eliminate the problem more permanently by eliminating those who suffered it.

 

 

6. Do you think the author's story answered the member's photo and prompt?

Firstly, I am excited a photo of the bookcover from one of my favorite M/M Psychological Thriller graphic novel was used In These Words by Kichiku Neko & TogaQ. TogaQ's art is to die-for. And Kichiku Neko writes awesome psychological thrillers of the erotic kind.

 

Okay back to the prompt. I think it was answered quite well. The author even incorporated the limberness of the slave in the picture into the story and the cards strewed across the floor was also applied to the story. I dig the sex scenes too. It was sensual and erotic.

 

 

7. Do you wish something different was done or incorporated into the story?

Not really. The author tried her best to deliver according to the prompt and she has succeeded in that goal alone. I hope that by reading the honest reviews of her readers, she would be able to improve her writings further, especially in terms of character development and making tighter plotlines. I could see that she has lots of potential to excel. All she needs was more experience and constructive feedbacks.

 

(spoiler show)

 

BOOK DETAILS:

Title: Worthy
Related: Love Has No Boundaries, Don't Read in the Closet Events
Author: Lia Black
Publication Date: June 15th, 2013
Type: Short Story, 47,228 words
Genre: Dystopian, Alternate Universe, M/M, Gay, Romance, Erotica, Consensual, Light BDSM
Tags/Keywords: Master/Slave, One-time Threeseome, Cross-dressing, Bondage, Dominance-Submission, BDSM, Acrobat, Contortionist, Circus Performer, Gypsy, Slave, Pleasure/Sexual Slave, Willing-slave, Chastity device/belt, Orgasm-denial, Whipping/Flogging, corporal Punishment, Rough Sex, Maledom, Interracial, Master/Pet, Menage, Threesomes, Romance, Young Man, Adored Pet/Slave, Age gap, Alpha Dominant Male, Alternate Universe, Anal Sex, Oral Sex, Hand-job,Androgyny, Bareback, Collaring & Leash, Cute Adorable Character, Effeminate Male Character, Erotica, HEA, Loving adoring partner, Piercing, Possessive Master, Twink, Restricted Freedom, Rich Wealthy MC, Rimming, Sensual, Slave Market, Slave Training, Submissive protagonist, Voyeurism, Fluffy


Description:
Dear Author,
This is a dystopian class-based society where being a slave boy is a prized position. For those not born into the wealthy class, there are few options for work. A position as a slave boy means security and safety from a life of poverty and the danger of the streets.
Dystopian - set in a world similar to ours but with a few tweaks. Usually a bit darker or a more frightening version of what our society could become.

Photo Description: (Click here to view the photo)
An agile young slave is bent backward over the knees of his doting master; his bindings are loose and their arrangement is “in the cards”.

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love Has No Boundaries" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.



WHERE TO GET THIS BOOK:

This is a FREEBIE in conjunction with the Goodreads M/M Romance group's Love Has No Boundaries event for year 2013.




* Reviewed on December 10th, 2013

View all my reviews

Worthy by Lia Black
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3 Stars for the effort and for being a good diversion to pass the time.

A sweet and caloric slavefic fairytale. Enjoyable at first bite, unfortunately it only makes you hunger for something more sustainable than a sugar fix. (See this? I could write short reviews too)

Dare I stop my review here? I could, couldn't I? I maybe should too. Because what comes after this is a product of my over analyzing.

Nudge me if you wish for my trademark long-ass review.


*Edits 10/12/13 @ 11.03pm:
I have just answered some fun and interesting questionnaires on this book over at the Goodreads BDSM Group . I thought maybe I should share it here as well:

 

 

[spoiler]

1. Do you have a favorite character? Why?

 

Maybe Demetrie. His way of enjoying Sev's body excites me. Just like Sev, I am taken with Demetrie's commanding air and finding him hard to resist. That's something rare for me as I usually see myself from the perspective of the dom rather than the sub.

 

 

 

I wished I could like the protagonist better but to me, Sev is not a well developed character. For someone who has known joy of family even only an adoptive one and used to having his own freedom, Sev does seem to give up on his identity and self worth quite easily. Many times he feels much like a puppet without free will and lacks sense of self preservation. This was observed even at the early stage of Demetrie's ownership of him. He does not even question internally on Demetrie's demanding request of him. He is too naive and trusting to be a street smart boy with a nomadic tribe upbringing. This doll like quality of his is rather disturbing.

 

 

 

 

 

2. Does a particular scene stick in your mind? Or a quote? What resonated with you?

 

I like Demetrie's blindfold punishment for Sev. Very interesting way of training trust. Just like one would apply to an animal like a horse. I just read one femdom story on human pony training that applies such technique too. Fascinating. >:D

 

 

 

 

 

3. Homogeneity is important to Athena. What was your reaction?

 

A place that lacks originality and individuality. No wonder Demetrie is so bored of his life there. In real life homogeneity is also known as racism ;)

 

 

 

In the olden days, aristocrats tends to put very high standards on pure blood marriages. This might also still be true till this age and time.

 

 

 

 

 

4. This is a highly stratified society with roles strictly delineated. Do you think our society is similar? Maybe we don't acknowledge it, but it exists?

 

Yes it does exist in our real world. Look around you. The poor is still dirt poor and the rich is still filthy rich. Who will have the more power? Money makes the political world goes round. What would that means to the lower income class? We feel such oppression daily.

 

 

 

Athena seems to be a place that discourages change in order to maintain firm control over its citizen and resources. Those who refused to conform would be ousted like Demetrie as a safeguard to its system.

 

 

 

This unfortunately leads me to question the plotline whereby Demetrie gave his title and name to Sev when he decided to leave Athena as an outcast. I mean how could this possibly be done when Demetrie himself is to be stripped off his title even to the extend that his assets will be seized just because he wouldn't fulfill his obligation as an aristocrat? There is simply no reason whatsoever for Athena or its aristocratic members to honor Demetrie's transfer of his title and name to Sev a mere dreg with zero rights or even simple recognition as a human being? To me, this plotline is OTT and does not conform with the oppressive and autocratic universe created by the author.

 

 

 

 

 

5. What did you think of Demetrie's plan?

 

Childish and fanciful, borderline idiotic. It shouldn't even be successful or plausible if the plots were tight enough and if the characters are well built. Yes I am saying it IS unrealistic. It is contradictory to the strict caste system of Athena. Think politically... would Demetrie's rebellious, traitorous way of escaping the system be ignored by his autocratic government? Wouldn't it be wiser for them to curb it at its stem before it becomes a precedent?

 

 

 

This quote sums up Athena for us:

 

Michael nodded. “I heard that Athena cleared out another section of her ghetto last night. What are they calling it these days? Oh yes, ‘progressive beautification’.” He shook his head slowly. Soon there would be no ghettos; the dregs would be buried under swimming pools, shopping centers, and aristolitical complexes. The sign of a thriving society was its lack of a lower caste, and since raising dregs up economically, socially, and politically would create a strain on the wealthy, it made far more sense to eliminate the problem more permanently by eliminating those who suffered it.

 

 

 

 

 

6. Do you think the author's story answered the member's photo and prompt?

 

Firstly, I am excited a photo of the bookcover from one of my favorite M/M Psychological Thriller graphic novel was used In These Words by Kichiku Neko & TogaQ. TogaQ's art is to die-for. And Kichiku Neko writes awesome psychological thrillers of the erotic kind.

 

 

 

Okay back to the prompt. I think it was answered quite well. The author even incorporated the limberness of the slave in the picture into the story and the cards strewed across the floor was also applied to the story. I dig the sex scenes too. It was sensual and erotic.

 

 

 

 

 

7. Do you wish something different was done or incorporated into the story?

 

Not really. The author tried her best to deliver according to the prompt and she has succeeded in that goal alone. I hope that by reading the honest reviews of her readers, she would be able to improve her writings further, especially in terms of character development and making tighter plotlines. I could see that she has lots of potential to excel. All she needs was more experience and constructive feedbacks.

[/spoiler]

BOOK DETAILS:

Title: Worthy
Related: Love Has No Boundaries, Don't Read in the Closet Events
Author: Lia Black
Publication Date: June 15th, 2013
Type: Short Story, 47,228 words
Genre: Dystopian, Alternate Universe, M/M, Gay, Romance, Erotica, Consensual, Light BDSM
Tags/Keywords: Master/Slave, One-time Threeseome, Cross-dressing, Bondage, Dominance-Submission, BDSM, Acrobat, Contortionist, Circus Performer, Gypsy, Slave, Pleasure/Sexual Slave, Willing-slave, Chastity device/belt, Orgasm-denial, Whipping/Flogging, corporal Punishment, Rough Sex, Maledom, Interracial, Master/Pet, Menage, Threesomes, Romance, Young Man, Adored Pet/Slave, Age gap, Alpha Dominant Male, Alternate Universe, Anal Sex, Oral Sex, Hand-job,Androgyny, Bareback, Collaring & Leash, Cute Adorable Character, Effeminate Male Character, Erotica, HEA, Loving adoring partner, Piercing, Possessive Master, Twink, Restricted Freedom, Rich Wealthy MC, Rimming, Sensual, Slave Market, Slave Training, Submissive protagonist, Voyeurism, Fluffy


Description:
Dear Author,
This is a dystopian class-based society where being a slave boy is a prized position. For those not born into the wealthy class, there are few options for work. A position as a slave boy means security and safety from a life of poverty and the danger of the streets.
Dystopian - set in a world similar to ours but with a few tweaks. Usually a bit darker or a more frightening version of what our society could become.

Photo Description: (Click here to view the photo)
An agile young slave is bent backward over the knees of his doting master; his bindings are loose and their arrangement is “in the cards”.

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love Has No Boundaries" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.



WHERE TO GET THIS BOOK:

This is a FREEBIE in conjunction with the Goodreads M/M Romance group's Love Has No Boundaries event for year 2013.




* Reviewed on December 10th, 2013

View all my reviews

 

STORY INFO:

Title: Wild Rock

Author: Kazusa Takashima

Genre: Drama, Historical, Yaoi, Boys-love,

Tags: Androgynous Protagonist, Cave, Collection of Inter-Linked Stories, Forbidden Love, Insecurity, Outdoor Intercourse, Prehistoric, Reunion, Strong Seme, Weak Uke, Tribal, Profound-Physical-Size-Difference

Length: 1 Volume only (Oneshot), 5-Chapters + Extra

Duration: Read from October 03 to 04, 2013

 

 

 

4 Excited-Yaoifangirl's-Hearts

 

Yuuen the second child of a tribal clan chief views himself as the weakest link in his clan and is shameful of his lacking. He is so frail he couldn't even manage to hunt for his own food without endangering others around him and needing their constant protection and care.

 

He was the total opposite of Emba who's big, strong, brave and quick, making him the best hunter in the area. His hunting prowess was unmatched even by the males of Yuuen's clan. The only similarity Emba shared with Yuuen is that he too is a child of a tribal clan chief although of an opposition clan. Both clans are in disharmony due to discord over hunting grounds.

 

Yuuen and Emba was brought together by a desperate deception devised by Yuuen's father to secure their own clan's survival. Actually, I am not very clear on the exact motive behind this awkward plan of Yuuen's father. It seems rather fanciful. *Shrugs* I guess whatever works for a Yaoi story to bring the destined Uke & Seme together for funtimes are the always excusable in the heart of a Yaoi-fangirl. *giggles*

 

 

 
What I love about this manga:

The artwork. It was mesmerizing. I mean what could go wrong with men in loincloths?

*nosebleeds*

More men in in sexy loincloths....


*dies and went to heaven*

 

 

Ahhh, how I love the sensuality of the bishie men drawn by Takashima sensei. They are such wet dreams for me. Here's a few more Takashima sensei's bishonen for our pleasure.

 

Yuuen & Emba ♥～(‘▽^人)

 

 

Yuni & Selem Ｏ(≧∇≦)Ｏ

*Yuni is Yuuen's father and Selem is the father of Emba. They both have a history together. (─‿‿─)

 

 

Another reason to love this manga is that I absolutely adore how lovey-dovey Emba & Yuuen are. The romantic things Emba would say to Yuuen makes my yaoi-fangirl-heart goes pitter patter. (｡♥‿♥｡)

 

 

Although Yuuen is pretty much of a damsel in distress most of the time all the time, I still like him very much as he is the type of Uke I am fond of; beautiful, small, frail and needs constant coddling from his strong and manly Seme.

 

Yuuen's soft look reminds me very much of Andre Pejic my favorite male supermodel. Yuuen is such a beautiful androgynous guy no wonder Emba would die for him.

 

By the way this little baby boy here is Nava, he is the nephew of both Yuuen and Emba as Yuuen's brother married Emba's sister. Nava is such a little brat but cute as hell tho.

 

 

To me, the artwork of this manga is breathtaking. I really can't stop staring at the characters beautiful body and face. And I have lost count as to how many times I have re-read this favorite manga of mine. 

 

This was written by my college film professor and assigned as required reading in her class (many years ago). That in itself was mildly iritating. I'll be honest I was prepared to hate her and hate the class, but darnit her class was good and I learned SO much about film and this book was a nice companion. It has a pretty narrow scope, but it's an interesting scope nonetheless. She basically discusses cross-dressing and gender roles in film history. I can't really recommend that anyone with out a really deep interest in this topic run out and buy this book since it is so detailed and focused on it's particular subject matter. But overall I enjoyed the book and it's really made me look at film and it's treatment of gender differently.