SCORCH - Nage Archer

Samhain Publishing - http://samhainpublishing.com

ISBN: 1-59998-306-0

January 2007
Erotica Sci-Fi
 
Ballista, a frontier world – The Future

Frank Aston works as a guard on the frontier world of Ballista. The setting of SCORCH reminded me somewhat of Dune in that, despite being futuristic, the world operates on relatively feudal terms. There is an emperor who oversees the empire, and Baron Ceston rules Ballista. His spoiled daughter, Lady Jacqueline, chooses Frank to replace the bodyguard who tried to rape her, and Frank spends two weeks being tortured inside a machine that programs him to be utterly loyal, and utterly incapable of harming the Heiress.

Lady Jacqueline enjoys absolute power over her bodyguards, and from the very beginning, she torments Frank sexually. She wants to break him so that he serves her as a slave, and not just a bodyguard. At first Frank resists, but he finds his will weakening, day by day, until he cannot refuse even the most degrading requests. When she is sure of his utter fealty, she reveals her plan to murder her father and take the throne herself.  Frank is horrified to realize he cannot tell anyone because she would certainly come to harm if her treasonous activities were uncovered, and yet his silence amounts to treason itself. I felt sorry for Frank over the course of the book, being pushed and pulled at Lady Jacqueline's will. Any further discussion would spoil the plot because there were a number of twists, and lots of political intrigue.

SCORCH is a dark story that pushes the bounds of human sexuality and not for the faint of heart, or those looking for a more traditionally romantic tale. It includes scenes of bondage, ménage a trois and female sexual interaction. Though Frank does eventually regain some personal control over the course of the book, his relationship with Jacqueline never quite gels and many of the plot devices relied on unexplained technology. If the reader can accept these devices work as stated, then the book works. Otherwise, it simply comes off as contrived. If you're looking for something dark, dirty, exotic and sexy, SCORCH might be just what you want.

Ann Aguirre