Author: S.A. Freeman
Publication Date: September 29, 2022
Genres: Erotic Romance
Protagonist Gender: Female
Sexuality: Lesbian
S.A. Freeman's debut novel, Kat, is a fascinating, heartfelt tale that tackles very difficult topics of institutionalized slavery, violence, and abuse, and successfully weaves a fairy tale romance out of them.
Kat is an indentured slave, a young woman caught one time too many for petty theft and sold into slavery by her government. Her last Master was a monster who abused her regularly, and it's because of him that she's on the block again. Alexa is a successful businesswoman with an ultra-charming butler and a sprawling estate. She's looking for a new slave to love, and that's what brings her to pay such an exorbitant amount for Kat.
What follows is a beautiful romance about two damaged souls looking to heal by finding love in one another. For Kat, that means accepting that not all owners are like her Master, and learning to slowly trust in her Mistress, all the while fearing that violence is inevitable. For Alexa, that means being patient and kind, and finding ways to get through to her slave, teasing her open without breaking her apart. It also means healing from the absence of her last slave, whom she loved just as dearly, but that's a mysterious subplot I'll say no more about.
Kat is a story that's tough in parts and tender in others, but where Freeman's real talent comes in is making us care about her characters. There are multiple risks and threads in the story, but it's wanting to see Kat and Alexa happy that keeps you reading. Yes, there's some kink inserted into the romance (including a bondage trust exercise that was executed to perfection!), but this is a story about feelings, not feels, and it succeeds beautifully.
Rating: ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀
My sincere thanks to the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
No comments:
Post a Comment