Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Review: The Vampire Queen's Servant

The Vampire Queen's Servant (Vampire Queen - Book 1) by Joey W. Hill

Published: July 2007
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Imprint: Berkley Heat
Genre: Paranormal Erotica
Pages: 384
ISBN 13: 978-0425215906
ISBN 10: 0425215903

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound

Joey W. Hill on the Web: Webpage, Blog, Twitter, Facebook

Excerpt from The Vampire Queen's Servant 

WARNING: This excerpt may not be appropriate for readers under 18 years of age.

Books in the series




Synopsis: 


Paranormal erotica from an award-winning author who stands out in a genre known for its out-of-the-ordinary love play." (Romance Studio)

Lady Elyssa Yamato Amaterasu Wentworth is a centuries-old vampire who's been given a new servant-Jacob, a total alpha male unaccustomed to submitting to any woman's wishes. What really binds Jacob to her are not her sensual midnight hungers, but something far more provocative. It stirs her blood, renews her life, and awakens her soul like only true love can. The passion between Elyssa and Jacob yields something else unexpected-a shared history that reaches back through the centuries and is fated to challenge their destiny like nothing ever will again.



Thoughts

The first book in the Vampire Queen series, by famed author Joey W. Hill is a feast for the senses. The Vampire Queen's Servant is an erotic romance that will tilt everything you thought you knew about vampire stories on it's ear. Hill creates an atmosphere that is charged with sexual energy as well as a healthy dose of fear. Her vampire characters are languid and sensual, yet powerful and unyielding. The humans that populate Hill's world are nothing short of intriguing. Their role in the vampire society is full of surprises and lessons in both submission and loyalty. This book is begins a long-lived series that shows no signs of ending, much to the delight of Hill's many fans.

I will be the first to say that this is not a book for the faint of heart. There are not many fight scenes or any kind of gore in this novel, but the erotic themes and graphic sexual content will not suit every reader. There is quite a bit of submission play and exhibitionism, some light bondage and other sexual activities played out in this novel, set against the back drop of a vampire society which thrives on the sexual aspects of it's inhabitants. There was nothing in the novel that scared me or made me feel uncomfortable as happens with some erotic romances. I thought that Hill used the sexual themes in a way that enhanced the story, but did not take away from it. The theme of the book was not sex. There was a definite story being told here. Sexuality being a part of it, but not the main focus. 

That being said I really enjoyed this book. Lady Lyssa the vampire queen was such an interesting character. She is an ancient vampire, the last of the royal line. She has endured much cruelty in her life as well as love. In this book we see both a soft and hard side to her. She is a creature of habit, used to life going according to her own plans, until she meets Jacob Green. Jacob defies all the rules. He is a human, who wants to be her servant, yet he does not exactly understand what all that entails. As Lyssa teaches him the ins and outs of being a servant, she is also dealing with the fact that though vampires are said to be immortal, that is not necessarily always the case. 

This book is full of romance as well as erotica. From Jacob's very sensual treatment of Lyssa, to the links he is willing to go to protect her. Lyssa is desperate to fight her feelings for Jacob. She is relentless in training him, but unable to control her growing attachment to him. Hill does a wonderful job of showing the torture that is going on inside of Jacob and Lyssa as they realize the depth of their feelings and what it means if Jacob continues in Lyssa's service. Hill provides the reader with a very strong back story for both characters but allows the reader to wonder about some things. She gives the reader a hint of something more that will keep them reading and leave them wanting more in the end. Setting up the series with a deft hand, Hill creates the kind of urgency needed to propel the series forward while containing the story to each book as well. Almost making the reader feel like this book is but a chapter in a bigger story.

I can't really find anything to pick on with this one. The descriptions were vivid and made the reader feel like they were with Lyssa and Jacob frolicking in the fountain, in the deeper regions of Lyssa's home while she slept, watching Jacob play with Bran and the other dogs. The reader could see in their minds eye, the glint off of Lyssa's lip gloss, smell the earth as Jacob lay in the forest. Feel the tension when Carnal approached them. It was truly a feast for the senses. A book that I won't soon forget.

If you are vampire fan, or an erotica fan or just a romance lover, this is a great book!

The Vampire Queen's Servant is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!






Joey W. Hill writes contemporary and paranormal erotic romance. Her characters include everything from vampires, mermaids, witches and angels, to boardroom executives, cops and simple housemaids. With four series and almost thirty titles available, she has been nominated three consecutive years for a Career Achievement award in Erotica by Romantic Times.

Free excerpts from all her works are available at www.storywitch.com, and additional vignettes, character interviews and graphics inspired by the work are at the fan forum site, www.jwhconnection.com. Subscribe to her newsletter from her home page and receive the latest info about appearances and releases. 

Though much of her work is BDSM, she has built her reputation on award-winning romances with absorbing characters who not only attract fans of the genre, but readers who would "never" read BDSM romance. "Whatever genre you're writing, if the characters are compelling and sympathetic, the readers are going to want to see what happens to them. It can be the coolest storyline ever, but if the reader could care less whether the hero or heroine survive (in fact, in some cases they may be rooting for their destruction just so they can be done with the darn thing), then it's not a story worth reading."

1 comment:

Lexi said...

Well put. I have read some of Hill's work, not this series though, and you described her wirting well.
Wow I have to get around to checking out this series! I will keep it in mind when I am in the mood for a hot read.