| Title | : | Odalisque (Comfort, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 210 |
| Publication | : | First published November 4, 2011 |
Kai Chandler has it all. A thriving tech business, movie star friends, and a mansion in the Malibu hills. But he’s lonely, nursing a broken heart and reeling from a shocking breach of trust. Then a friend tells him about a secret chateau outside Paris where they train women in the erotic traditions of the Code d’Odalisque. For a million a year, Kai can choose a sexual servant to use at will, a woman thoroughly trained in the pleasuring of men.
Kai makes the trip and, in the course of touring the facility, meets Constance, a shy and strangely quiet odalisque. He decides to acquire the beautiful woman and bring her to his home. Constance and Kai delight in their voyage of erotic exploration as he plays undisputed Master to her slave. But soon they find themselves forming an increasingly emotional connection, with the end of Constance’s term of service looming over their heads. Jealousy, fear, regret and longing threaten to tear the lovers apart, and they must choose between the safety of the Code and the risk of true love and trust.
Publisher’s Note: This book contains sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, m/f/m menage, group sex, BDSM scenes, and swinging/partner swapping.
Odalisque (Comfort, #3) Reviews
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One million dollars gets you one Odalisque for one year.
I'm gonna have to... save up!
Annabel Joseph did an awesome job in writing Odalisque. She gives all the BDSM erotic romance readers what they're looking for in this story. It's has your BDSM hot sex scenes, a few angsty developments and an ending most people will be happy with. One of my favorite things about Ms.Joseph's writings is her attention to detail. I believe she could write in any genre she chooses. We are lucky to have her writing erotica.
Before reading this book I did have an understanding of what an odalisque is but if you do not then Ms.Joseph does a good job of explaining the life style. What I did not know was how much the odalisque is embraced within our society.
There is an Odalisque ballet,
and a painting by J.A.D. Ingres.
Odalisque perfumes and scented candles,
and a painting by Henri Matisse.
An Odalisque magazine
and a painting by Francois Boucher.
Bijoux d' Odalisque Decadent Jewelry
and a painting by Peter Paul Rubens
Odalisque songs and poetry
and a painting by Eugene Delacroix.
Odalisque Furniture
and a painting by Pablo Picasso
(I have a problem seeing an Odalisque in this one)
An Odalisque Cafe
and a painting by Ferdinand Roybet
A 1914 silent movie, The Odalisque
(staring Blanche Sweet)
and a painting by Edouard Manet
Odalisque Larger Than Life Lip Gloss
and a painting by Pierre Auguste Renoir
Now some people may be thinking, Painters are Perverts.
But having an Odalisque pose for you has got to be more exciting than painting another bowl of fruit.
This piece of music received a shout out within Ms.Joseph's book. I like it.
The Engulfed Cathedral written by Debussy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEFuh... -
A mess. All around
Excellent job alienating me from every character with juvenile behavior or incredible shortsightedness that bespeaks of nothing more than each one's self-centered egoism. It is the ventures into the absurdity of ridiculousness that reminds me of a nighttime soap opera. The hypocrisy of the MC's attitude about money and how it should be used for charity. The overwhelming vilifying of female characters who are presented as duplicitous, scheming, emasculating, murderous, petty, vindictive and stupid. The only good trait is empathy. There's lip service given to a whole host of things and I honestly don't have the patience to list them all.
And finally, and this is what will take this rating from two stars to one. This book has a hearing impaired MC, tries to show that she is capable and can do anything others can--I’d make an awful mom. I can’t hear. I can’t talk.
Do NOT use your disability as an excuse because you don't want to do something. You don't want kids. DON'T fucking have them--but DO NOT state that it is a reason that a deaf person would be an awful mom.
Fuck you and the horse you rode it on.
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3,5 **Fuck the code** STARS!!
This is the third book from Comfort series and the best so far. I enjoyed it from the first moment with some bumpy roads until the end. The hero is totally new and never shown in previous books.
Kai Chandler has broken marriage and trust issue with woman and money. His best friend, Mason Cooke (You know him from
Comfort Object) try to cheer him up with some secret. Uhm... Somewhere in France, there is something carnal; Odalisque is what they called. The woman trained and serve only man for pleasure without emotionally involved. Isn't that's what Kai needs right now? Only sex for release without baggage. Based on Mason's information, he flew to the Odalisque place and quite surprised with it. Kai feels connected with one woman. She's very quickly intrigued at the first meet and Kai decide want her to be his Odalisque.The odalisque submits―always. But only sexually. She submits her body to her Master's use. Her mind, her self-respect, her personality remain her own.
The story has new world. It's quite different from the previous books. I never know the term of Odalisque before and that's why piqued my interest with this story. Kai is devastating man. He's handsome with half-Indian heritage and kinky lifestyle. Yeah, Kai is really into BDSM and I liked it. He's far different from Jeremy's sadistic nature. He's more loving and affectionate Dominant. I didn't find any negativity around Kai. He's too perfect to be true. Gorgeous, loyal, rich and kinky?She was a goddess, and he was her god. Her cunt was a portal to the mysteries of life that had so frustrated him lately. Why? It was so simple.
His Odalisque, Constance is a exquisite woman with secrets. She has awful past and wanna move on with her life after become Odalisque. Kai quickly become attracted to her because she's lovely and perfect match with his kinky side. There is not much about Constance except she's smart woman with amazing talent of writing speech. Her disability sometimes limit her but she's a quick learner. But, it's amazing to know her strong and weak moment. Everybody really has their upside down life.She was a sexual creature, tied down, held down, and bursting with the feeling of being thoroughly used by her Master.
But there is some codes that prevent them to be together even they want it. They've struggle with their feeling because that's very obvious that they like each other. I loved their chemistry in and out of bedroom. Both of them are perfect for each other but has ghost on their back. It was painful memory and become their issues. I also found Odalisque is hard to believe. Despite it's taboo and make it looks like a willing sex slave, the woman is protected by terms and get 'bonus' at the end of contract.
My only issue is the party. Yeah, partner swapping/swinger really didn't work for me. It has some chapters about it but I think it's quite important because what happened in the next. So far Kai and Constance's lifestyle is similar to Jeremy and Nell's. Overall, Odalisque is an enjoyable and easy read for me. It's predictable with light drama. Again, Kai and Constance are really an amazing couple until the end.He wanted her so badly. Out of all the things he had, all the things his money could buy, he just wanted this one thing. This one woman.
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I am one of those people for whom sadist stories make me cringe. I am both repulsed and fascinated. I read between the fingers covering my eyes. I don't want to look but can't help myself.
Comfort Object disgusted me - I could not find love in the relationship between Jeremy and Nell. To me the abuse/beatings/whippings went way over the top. Odalisque walked a more comfortable line in that regard and thus I enjoyed it more. I wasn't mentally calling an ambulance or a mental health professional for Constance while I was reading as I felt that Kai cared about her and her limits. The pain wasn't all about him but it was for her as well. She enjoyed it as much as she endured it. Yes, now that's what I am talking about. :-)
The story is wonderfuly predictable. Thankfully, because if it hadn't ended as I was expecting I would have screamed in protest and stomped my feet for quite some time. It was also nice to "visit" with characters from past books in the series and to be surprised by how some of the relationships had developed or failed. Annabel Joseph creates characters that instantly draw you in to the story and make you want to know more.
4.5 stars but I am rounding up because - I can. -
1st year 7 May 2014
2nd read 30 May 2015
Buddy read with
Maru -
I read this book in two sittings. Annabel Joseph created wonderfully intriguing characters in Kai & Constance and had me hooked with the Odalisque concept. Loved the secondary characters too - especially Mason. We do see a glimpse of characters from Annabel Joseph's earlier Comfort Series books (which I have not read). And while I am not familiar with the BDSM lifestyle, Ms. Joseph wrote about it in a way that a wide array of readers could get lost in the decadent world she created.
Kai Chandler was very sexy and you just want him to heal when you find out what happened - he had been hurt by his ex-wife and looking for comfort to get him back on track to being his old self. He purposefully finds healing from the elusive Constance, an odalisque he acquired for one year... and inadvertently falls in love with her. Constance falls for him hard as well but keeps the emotion distance, citing the code to both herself and Kai.
The sex is kinky and plentiful but it's the intense connection between Kai and Constance - and their internal struggles to adhere to the code and and resist their fledgling love - that had me speeding through the chapters. Not to mention, I definitely enjoyed Kai's mounting jealousy as the end of Constance's contract nears as she is getting better at keeping her distance. I even got teary at the end scene as it gives Kai a change to set a haunting nightmare right.
Overall, a riveting read! -
4 Stars
I’ll be honest, my original opinion of the Comfort Series, was pretty mild, BUT with each book I read, I started to like the series more. I thought Odalisque was a great read. I had no idea what the book was about, so I was kind of shocked when I started to figure out the story line, but really intrigued.
Kai is your average romance male; he’s good looking, rich, dark, yet lonely. He doesn’t want a relationship with all the baggage, so what does he do? He goes to France to “rent” a girl for $1 Million dollars for a year so she can be basically his sex “slave”. Okay, not really sex slave, but kind of really, just consider it a serious Dom/sub relationship with money exchange involved. Constance is not your average romance gal and I LOVED her! I really liked Constance’s story, she’s intriguing, sweet, yet strong and determined.
Kai and Constance’s relationship was just different, and I would say nothing like Book 1 or 2 of the Comfort Series, of course there’s still the BDSM play and many hot steamy scenes, but putting that aside, it was just a unique read.
I recommend and I’m going to move to book 4. -
What a fascinating concept an Odalisque is!! This is the story of Kai (a gazillionaire tech nerd) and his Odalisque, Constance, who just happens to be deaf. With each installment of this series, I love the Hero even more. Kai is a controlling sadist, but he's very kind. The relationship between him and Constance is so unique, because they cannot communicate in the conventional way. He is patient, loving, and kind of swoony (if you can get past the fact that he likes to dole out the corporal punishment)! As always, Ms. Joseph writes this type of kind amazingly well.
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Kai is at a standstill in his life. Moving neither forward nor backward since he was betrayed by his ex wife. As a result, he trusts no woman. What he needs is a woman he can use sexually without romantic involvements. When he learns about Odalisque women, he thinks he's found the answer to his problem. As he tours Maison Odalisque he first encounters Constance and is drawn to her. Later, even after learning of her deafness, he decides to pay the one million dollar rental fee for her year's service.
When Constance arrives at Kai'svhome to begin her service she immediately falling under his spell. He "ticks all her boxes" but she must keep reminding herself to remain emotionally detached. A series of events causes a rift between them that ever widens. As a result he sends her back to France before her contract is up. Never fear, they do get their HEA.
Odalisque is a unique concept and makes for an interesting, compelling and complex storyline. I liked both main characters and how love evolved despite both of their best efforts to avoid it. -
Far better than Caressa's Knees, Annabel Joseph's third book in the Comfort Series did not pack the punch of Comfort Object (which remains one of my favorites).
I wish there had been more heat. I wish there had been more character development from past books. I wish the ending hadn't been so predictable and abrupt. And mostly I wish that Jessamine, a character who in previous books was fun, flirtatious, and admittedly a bit shallow, hadn't turned out to be such a sour old bitch. It's much more rewarding for me as a reader to have a flawed character who still has redeeming value, and the author sucked all value out of this character who in previous books played a very tertiary role. At least she left Mason with some chance to redeem himself in a future book?
And I always wish we had more back story on what's happened with Nell and Jeremy from the first book . . .
Other than that, this was a nice, typical Annabel Joseph BDSM story. -
I really enjoyed
Comfort Object and thought this book was very similar. It was great to revisit many of the same characters from the first two books and I loved the direction Ms. Joseph took Kai and Constance's story and I especially liked how she dealt with Constance's hearing impairment. Frankly, I'm hooked on this series because the characters are so well developed and because, well...the sex is really, really, hot. Like all the books in this series, there's emotional conflict that ends in a very satisfying HEA. I'm hoping Mason's story is on her list to write next. -
I liked this better than Caressas Knees. It's a lot like Femme Chattel, in the purchasing of a slave...
Loved the use of nipple chains, but a little too painful for me to enjoy. Didn't like the sharing without jealousy. Even Caleb was furious when she slept with someone else, this guy was like, offering her up, bragging about fucking someone else,... taking a bj from someone he dislikes. All Odd.
And the wife who suddenly got jealous and angry and left...just odd, it's an open marriage, ironic for her to be so hypocritical.
I liked the sign language component of this. -
A bit sappy at the end, nevertheless a nice read. The concept of an Odalisque very mmmmmm
Read it in 2011 and retread in 2014 -
4.5 stars!
**Read for the 2019 Dark Erotica A to Z Challenge**
Let me just start off by saying that I went into this expecting hardcore fuckery, which wasn't really the case. Sure, they were kinky, and there were definitely third (and fourth and fifth) parties involved, but all in all, it was a way sweeter story than I was expecting. The kink wasn't even moderate; I would put it in the light-to-moderate category. Some whips and paddles, a nipple clamp or two, light bondage; nothing more extreme than that. And while I'm an unashamed perv that doesn't at all mind the kinky fuckery (that's a lie, I actually love it), I think the more hardcore elements would've been out of place in this particular story. It was perfect the way it was.
Kai is a very likable hero. I LOVED him! From the start, it's apparent that he's a caring, sensitive man that has unfortunately been jaded by the actions of a woman. Seeing as the story revolves around the fact that he used his copious amounts of money to procure a woman- albeit legally, but still- I thought I'd have to overcome an ick factor when it came to him. Thankfully, it was clear from page one that Kai is a genuinely good human. He's just another person that might be dominant (and a little sadistic) in the bedroom but absolutely respectful and kind to everyone outside of it. He's generous and charitable, as well as a very good friend. It helped immensely that he wasn't wrong in thinking that he wasn't in a place for an emotional attachment, which means I completely understood his desire to get his rocks off within the boundaries of a clearly delineated, contractual agreement. But, alas, love can grow where you don't expect it (or even actively discourage it).
Constance was a tough nut for me to crack at first, but I think that was the point. Her walls were there by design, so that saved me from resenting her for keeping her emotional distance from my precious Kai. I admired her independence and her insistence on being treated as an equal despite her limitations. (If you want to know what it is, PM me, but I went into without knowing and I think you should too!) Just like Kai was dominant in the bedroom but not outside of it, Constance’s submissive nature was the same. She didn’t let him walk all over her and she had plenty of self-worth. Sure, she had insecurities, but who doesn’t? She was not afraid to stand up for herself when it mattered, but she also knew when to step back and let Kai take care of her (which, more often than not, was sweet as hell).
The author did a great job of creating understandable conflict. It would’ve been weird if Kai didn’t have reservations after learning of Constance’s disability. He understood the huge responsibility he’d be taking on, and that was a big deal to me instead of just flying by the seat of his pants. Surprisingly, the Odalisque code didn’t creep me out at all. In fact, I was a lot more comfortable with it than I am the usual BDSM power exchange. Odalisques are meant to be owned in a sexual manner only. They are not to be used to do housework or any other menial activity. They are kept, treasured. Not only does this sound totally up my alley, it helped me believe that Constance existed as her own person outside of her relationship with Kai- which is sometimes a problem I struggle to overcome in traditional BDSM dom/sub relationships. Finally, the side characters were very interesting as well as relatable. Whether they were a Hollywood movie star or a human rights activist, they were still people with feelings and problems. The author does a fantastic job of creating complex characters that may be into kinky stuff and open relationships, but still love just as hard as anyone else.
Let me be clear: this story isn't for everyone. I know some people don't like the idea of sharing. Personally, I think that two people inside of a relationship can do whatever the fuck they want as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else and they're both okay with it. It was very clear that was the case here. It was also really fucking hot. Let's be honest- if my husband wanted to share me with Channing Tatum, I would not be offended. While it was obvious (especially with Kai) that they had a connection right off the bat, they tried to stay within the rules of the contract, thus their relationship was never going to be conventional. They both enjoyed everything they did and never felt animosity towards the other person, so I had zero problem with the extra people occasionally sprinkled in their smoking hot sexy times.
If you’re a person on the fence about reading this author because of her hardcore stories, this is a great one to start with! I loved it and the characters and can’t wait to read more from Annabel Joseph. -
After reading – and despising - Annabel Joseph’s first novel in her Comfort series, Comfort Object, I was ready to banish her work from my reading lists forever. My reading time is far too precious for bad books. However, something compelled me to give her a second chance… Skipping over Kyle’s story (I still wasn’t ready to forgive him for his actions in the first novel), I decided to read the series’ third installment, Odalisque, instead. And, as much as loathed Comfort Object with the force of a thousand hurricane winds, I’m not afraid to admit that I really, really enjoyed Odalisque.
The book centres on recently divorced techie millionaire and philanthropist, Kai Chandler, and Constance, a formally trained pleasure slave (odalisque) who follows the sensual Code d’Odalisque. For a cool million, Kai is told that he can rent the services of an odalisque for a year. The rules are pretty simple - as long as he keeps her in comfort and style, Kai is allowed to do any dirty, naughty thing he pleases to her whenever (and wherever) he wants. There’s only one catch: neither he nor his odalisque may form emotional attachments to one another during their year together. Still recovering from having his heart stomped on by the woman he once loved, an odalisque seems like the perfect no-strings-attached solution to Kai’s problems. Unfortunately, Kai never counted on Constance’s sweet allure…
I genuinely loved both of these characters. Kai was a strong, sensitive guy with a heart as big as his wallet, and the clear respect of his friends and family. For a supposed sadist, Kai is a bit of a fluffy bunny, but I’m okay with that. Though sexually submissive, Constance was a strong, sassy, funny, independent-minded woman with big dreams. Both embraced their sexuality wholehearted and it was lovely to come across two characters completely unconcerned with fitting into society’s narrow views of what is/is not acceptable.
The chemistry between Constance and Kai was instantaneous. And while a great deal of their early chemistry was definitely intensely sexual, Joseph also managed to project a deep, emotional connection between the two characters that I found lacking in the earlier novels in this series. It was this obvious care for the other’s well-being that allowed me to root for these two to get their HEA.
It was also really nice to see Joseph adding some diversity to the typically homogeneous genre (Kai was a sexy Indian stud and Constance had been born profoundly deaf). Though I’m not hearing impaired myself and can’t know from first-hand experience, I thought that Joseph’s portrayal of Constance was well done. She refused to create a one-dimensional character that would be defined solely by her deafness. Instead, she did an admirable job of showing her readers the beauty of deaf culture, while refusing to underplay some of the struggles and frustrations that those with hearing impairments likely face on a day-to-day basis.
In my review for Comfort Object I made no secret of how distastefully manipulative I found the premise of that novel. In it, the “hero” (Jeremy Gray) had his personal assistant (Kyle) try-out the “heroine” (Nell) before deciding that she would suit his purposes. He then proceeded to get her fired from her job, stalk her a little, and have her evicted from her apartment so that she would be desperate enough to accept his very indecent proposal. DESPICABLE.
However, even though both Nell and Constance were being paid for their sexual services (this seems to be a favourite theme of Ms. Joseph’s), the circumstances in Odalisque were nothing like that of Comfort Object. In Odalisque, Constance entered into a life of sexual subservience with her eyes wide open and many more options available to her. She CHOSE this life. She also made this decision long before meeting Kai. For me, knowing that Constance freely gave over her will to Kai's in a consensual way made this novel hot in a way that Comfort Object was most definitely not.
Verdict: A wonderful book that was both sensual and full of heart. Worth reading if for nothing else but the lesson about the importance of philanthropy and the beautiful short speech Constance gives at the end about homeless and underprivileged youth. -
Incredibly interesting premise. Great story, hero/heroine. Hot sex. Very emotional.
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Originally posted at
Bunny's Review
***Disclosure: Book was borrowed from a friend.***
When I finally started this book I was really questioning if I would enjoy. I felt the second book in the series did not live up to the first book. I wanted to read it because I had started the series and to find out about all the characters. To state that this book is the best in the whole series is an understatement.
I had never heard of an Odalisque or even knew the meaning of the word before starting this book. This book was beyond what I thought after reading the odalisque definition. From the beginning to the end of the book I was overwhelmed with everything. And I mean overwhelmed in a good way nothing bad. This book went above and beyond my expectations.
Kai is a very dominate male. He has an air about him that portrays he is a master of everything around him. After seeing how great Kai was I wished I could have him in my life. Forget the money just give me the man. The control he showed was amazing. I want him for my very own.
Constance was the perfect submissive. She showed restraint in life that some of us only dream about having. She is someone that all slaves/submissive’s can aspire to be like. To only bring pleasure to her dom/master but in the end receive the pleasure beyond what is expected.
This was a strong plot driven story. Something that will keep the readers wanting to turn pages getting maximum fulfillment. The bunnies and I highly recommend this book.
The bunnies and I give this book
carrots -
Absolutely excellently written, really interesting concept, hot and kinky love scenes, beautiful love story...what more could a girl want? Apart from Kai all to herself, of course!
I'm going to completely contradict myself here, but bear with me...I really liked that the characters in this were not perfect. Whilst I love perfectly behaved and sweet characters, sometimes I really enjoy reading about more realistic people. People who don't always make the right choices, but make mistakes like we all do in the real world, and then face whatever happens as a result. Having said that, I could not stand Jess...what a b*tch on wheels!
I know that men can be a bit more base than women sometimes, but how could they all fancy Jess so much when she was such a revolting person? I literally could not stand to touch someone that awful. How could Kai have sex with her? I guess this is where men and women differ in the way they perceive sex. -
This story is the same, yet completely different, from the first in the comfort series. Mason's best friend from childhood is completely anti-relationship since his wife screwed him over when he finds out about an opportunity to 'rent' a woman to fulfill his sexual needs. This begins his journey with Constance and Mason's decline to single life again!
The nice thing about this story is it shows that Constance is doing exactly what she wants, and while financial gain is her ultimate goal, she is in control of the situation and not a victim
Kai is so conflicted that you know from the beginning, as did Bastien, that he is a relationship guy and nothing he thinks or does is going to change that
This journey takes a mostly known path, with only a few twists, but it still is a hot journey that is taken, with a few wild times wrapped throughout! -
Rated the book 4 stars out of 5. I thought the story was so creative due to having Odalisque's which are in fact real. I had to look it up due to my curiosity about them and found that they are actually real. Wow! There were super hot scenes in this book. The scenes with Mason, Constance, and Kai were HOT!!!! The group sex scene was Wow 😰😵😎😳! I thought this book was better than book 2 in this series and comparable to book 1. Definitely read this book if you are looking for something hot. I thought it was bad ass that the female main character was deaf 😎. I will be reading book 4 in the series after reading this book. #odalisque #richman #deafgirl #annabeljoseph #bdsm #groupplay #romancebookreaders #romancebook #romancenovels #romancebooklovers #romancebookclub #romancebookaddict #romancebookreaders #hotbooks #bookonkindleunlimited
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Read more of my recent reviews and ramblings at
Ana's Attic Sexy Tales and Toys
This is a 3.5. The writing is a 4.5 but the story is very similar to the first in the series. Basically, a super-hot Pretty Woman story. I liked it a lot, couldn't put it down, but there was nothing really unique or unpredictable. I knew the story from the first chapter.
I think if it were read a few months later instead of so quickly after the previous installments I would have really loved it more. Heat was 5, And I upped it to a 4 overall. -
I have really enjoyed books I've read from Annabel Joseph, and this one didn't let me down a bit. Very hot.... different type of story than any I've read, really... the polyamory was a little more casual than I was totally comfortable with, but different strokes, I guess, so to speak (and pun intended...) I did love the attachment that developed between Kai and Constance, and loved that the author didn't , but rathere you understand how Constance dealt with things, and thus how Kai did too....
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A kinky romantic love story featuring a filthy rich hero and a sultry headstrong heroine. He was a victim of a loveless marriage to a gold digger, she was a victim of her childhood and her deafness. Together, they confront their fears and find love along the way. The concept of an odalisque is not entirely new. However, adds extra mystery and kink that eccentric readers may find appealing.
It was story told beautifully. The sex scenes were beyond steamy. The additional characters from the previous installments of the series were an added treat. I enjoyed reading this book. -
Loved it. Very addicting.
ODALISQUE was wild.
Coming from a divorce, Kai isn’t looking for love, just someone to take care of his needs. When he’s pointed to an Odalisque, a place where women are trained for pleasure. There he finds and connects with Constance and purchases her for one year.
Dedicated to serving, Constance and Kai both become emotionally involved as their time speeds by.
Everything is pushed to the limits in this one. -
another fantastic book by A Joseph..solid 4.5 rounded to 5 stars for me. i have lived all of the books of the comfort me series, this no exception
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Buddy read with Aly
I LOVE this series :))) -
I enjoyed this story, and may read it again in future. I've now read two books out of 4 I the series, and like the way in which the author entwines other characters to link all the narratives. Miss Joseph is a very skilled and clever writer; her use of humour, fear, pathos, sensuality and passion are very effective. The pace here was not as 'snappy' as my previous read 'Comfort Object' but it only slowed, never quite stopping. The characters are all very well developed; they are each complex and very real. The Alps here are all strong and intelligent, and remain so throughout. I particularly found the subject matter fascinating, and eye-opening; I had never heard of Odalisques before. I would not hesitate to recommend it to friends, or fellow lovers of erotic FANTASY. This story does get down and dirty, but if like me, you are not entirely comfortable with some aspects (sharing females leaves me feeling uneasy), it's important to approach it with an open mind; sexual preferences come in all shapes and sizes, just like people. Ultimately it is FANTASY!!
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I just really like Annabel Joseph in this erotica space. Her books break free from traditional storylines and always find interesting twists.
Here, we have an odalisque--a specific form of sexual "slavery" where the odalisque agrees to be "sold" to an owner who has agreed to follow very specific rules and pays $1 million for the year of service. There's guardrails, follow-up, checkins, etc., so we're not talking about trafficking here. This is a consensual, if unusual, arrangement.
Also, one of the main characters here is deaf. I've read very few books with a deaf main character that aren't about that character's deafness. Here, it was an important characteristic, but the book wasn't about her hearing abilities. I appreciated that aspect.
Overall, an enjoyable read. Can be easily read as a standalone without reading the other books from this loosely connected series. -
3,5 stars
