The Violet and the Tom

First off thank you Moony for “nudging” me to read this. You know me well. xoxo

I started reading this, was 40% in, and in love, however RL intervened, which means I had time to dwell on some things that didn't quite work for me, but overall I'm happy this exists, and it's leagues better than lots of the published stuff out there.

This story is told from Sylvan's P.O.V. He's a pleasure slave in a universe where the Greek Empire of antiquity is still thriving along with Northern Kingdoms, akin to Anglo/Celtic/Saxon/Vandal reigns of yore, with a touch of Medieval Times thrown in for color. Slavery is just another part of this society along with polytheism. Sylvan is gifted by King Orgud, to his bastard son and commander of the army, Lord Nygell. Nygell is not happy, and not for the reasons you might think.

I like the subversion of the expected roles between Sylvan and Nygell. I very much enjoyed the subtle world building, recognizable, but different enough to afford some credible distance. What didn't work for me is more on the personal taste level so I'll hide it under a spoiler tag. You can and should best ignore. The BDSM in this story focuses on impact play, humiliation, and servitude. Basically this a list of the things that least appeal to me in BDSM. I passionately hate sadists, even when a willing masochist is on the receiving end. However a well told story can make me, albeit begrudgingly, accept any kind of relationship. My issue here was that I didn't quite believe that the Dom in the relationship was as into dominating, punishment, or owning a "slave" as much as purported. He's really doing it to please his sub, which is fine, but it's the sub who ultimately seems to still be in charge. Given their stations in life, even with later developments, it can't be any other way. As for the couple falling in love it seemed that, at least for the sub, a relationship was off the table until the other person acquiesced to being his Dom. Understandable. But a conditional love is ... unromantic? Perversely I did like the fact that it wasn't an anachronistic treatise on actual slavery. Slavery is only an obstacle for MCs given their social standings, but it's not something that's objected to on a moral basis. It's end is alluded to in the same fashion as the inevitable death of polytheism due to the rise of barbarian monotheists. It works for the universe created.
Happy Reading! :D

I've been going through a phase the past few weeks where I've been scouring online for any good free fiction to read, and this was one of the ones that I found that I did more than glance at. By the time I'd finished the second chapter, I was hooked. The author's grasp of characters and setting are amazing, and she really makes you care about these characters.

Slyvan and his master are both very unique characters. Finding m/m fiction is difficult enough. Finding m/m fiction with true BDSM elements that aren't rape fantasies are even more difficult. But this story goes even further in creating a real situation with characters whose dilemmas are real and imperfect and she makes you feel for them.

I would say I am amazed that this hasn't been published, but as you can see, this isn't the sort of story that you see a lot of. Whether that be because publishers don't want to take a chance on these subjects, or because the author feels uncomfortable about sharing them and doesn't think she could sell them–whatever the reason, I can see why this one would be a hard sell. But I hope it does, someday, because if anything there needs to be more like this out there.

Definitely the best of the stories I've read, and some have been quite good, so that is saying a lot.

ETA: I have posted another review here, for those wanting a bit more detail.