Title: In the Flesh Author: Livia Dare (a.k.a. Sylvia Day)
Read copy: Mass Market Paperback
Published: June 2, 2009
Publisher: Zebra
ISBN: 1420100904
ISBN-13: 9781420100907
An Infamous Beauty. A Daring Warrior...
For five years, Sapphire has been the king of Sari's most treasured concubine. Independent at last, she refuses to put herself in anyone's control again. But now another's meddling has led her into the path of proud, arrogant Wulfric, Crown Prince of the rival kingdom of D'Ashier...a man who is dangerous to her in every way.
And A Seduction That Could Destroy Them Both
The daughter of Wulfric's fiercest opponent, Sapphire is a prized warrior in her own right and highly skilled in the sensual arts—in short, Wulfric's perfect match. A lasting union is unthinkable, but the bargain they strike—to spend one night together, and then part—proves impossible in the face of a desire powerful enough to bring two countries to the brink of war, and two hearts to the point of surrender...
My rating:
***book won through the GoodReads FirstReads Giveaway Program***
King of Sari's favorite concubine (and by the same king's proclamation his karisette, his one true love), Sapphire is released after five years of service with a great retirement plan. A house of her own, no need to search for a new protector, and fourteen men at her every beck and call.
Unfortunately, one of those men is none other than the crown prince of D'Ashier, Wulfric, who's been tortured almost to death and suddenly finds himself a captive of the beguiling beauty. A beguiling beauty who also happens to be the ex-mistress of his greatest enemy and the daughter of Sari's national hero.
The thing is, fate seldom chooses wisely, and these two people, supposed to be enemies, soon finds themselves battling an attraction and passion so strong it's impossible to be denied, knowing full well, their union is doomed from the very start...
I have rather mixed feelings about this book. I absolutely adored Sapphire. This concubine/warrior woman literally stole my heart. She was strong, determined, stubborn to just the right degree, and fiercely protective of the people she regarded as hers. Even of a man who was a complete stranger, and her enemy to boot. Even when she didn't know Wulfric, she went with her instincts (which were never wrong) and put her very life, and the life of her family, on the line...It was a great portent of things to come.
So here you have this fierce warrior and seasoned courtesan, trained in the arts of the senses, trained to keep her body and mind detached, yet she could melt at the merest "right" touch.
This duality was beautifully portrayed, both in dialog and description.
I was a bit disappointed in Wulfric, to be honest. I felt there was quite a few things left out, but I guess that's to be expected—this is the first book in the trilogy (R/N: that never happened).
I just wasn't convinced about his change of mind and his "true" feelings. The description he gave his father was heartwarming indeed (he needed her to feel), and he was thankfully rather quick in voicing the three important words that are supposed to soothe all woes in Romancelandia, but there was still something off. Unfortunately, the sex (this story had plenty of it—whopping 11 scenes crammed into 300 pages) didn't reflect the change in the guy. He still seemed more like a beast in rut than a man in love.
Also, the whole obsession thing went a bit too far for my tastes. Not only it started to get a bit silly with two members of royalty obsessed with one tiny woman—did she sweat drugs or something?—but also it dragged on for too long.
The story, crammed in between the sex scenes (which in my opinion contributed too little to the plot and were getting a bit repetitive toward the end) was wonderful. I loved the futuristic spin on the Romeo and Juliette theme. The action-y climax was wonderfully executed and it was great to finally see Sapphire kick some ass (you go girl!).
This book doesn't have your standard HEA, but more of a HEA tied in with a nice cliffy leading into the next book. There are so many loose ends left after this book, that it's almost imperative to read the second...And of course to make certain the HEA stays a HEA.
4 stars, bodyguard/military/merc/gov/cop/spy, erotica, freebie, sci-fi/futuristic, Sylvia Day/Livia Dare
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