by
Sensuous Sadie
I
never thought of myself as a reviewer of erotica, particularly
BDSM erotica. Maybe it’s because my approach to sex is so
orgasm-centric, or maybe it’s because as an editor myself,
I read an awful lot of, well, drek. It was only by sheer accident
that I came to be reading Laura Antoniou’s Marketplace series
of erotica. It came about because I was doing an interview
with her, and couldn’t very well say “hey, love your stuff,”
when I hadn’t actually read any, could I? So I picked up The
Marketplace, the first in the series, and am now wrapping
up with her latest, The Reunion, which at twice the size certainly
gives you a lot of bang for your erotic buck.
I
may have started out reading Laura’s stuff in order not to
embarrass myself, but I finished reading it because Laura
is one heck of a writer. I expected long, drawn out erotic
fiction detailing the usual hours of oral gratification, but
no real characters or plot (a.k.a. drek). Instead, The Reunion
is about real kinky folk, young and old; thin and fat; sometimes
fearful, sometimes confused, but always focused on their slave
natures. I soon found a character who I could relate to, and
liked the rest of them enough to get hot with them on their
various adventures.
The
beginning of her novels have a real storyline, which in this
case is a reunion of many of the former slaves who went through
the “Marketplace,” a training center of international renown.
Robin, a slave who was introduced in the second book of the
series, travels to Ireland for this reunion. She has just
been freed from her slave contract and is struggling with
living without a collar. On the way she meets up with Chris
Parker, a veteran trainer who will help her, and himself find
their way to new relationships. It is in Kaleigh castle that
Robin, Chris and many other slaves engage in some lively drama,
as well as plenty of steamy scenes!
So
thank you Laura for writing something that’s kept me warm
all though this Brrrr cold Vermont Winter. I look forward
to your next book.
Note:
Laura’s Marketplace series of books do not have to be read
in sequence, but I still recommend it for context.
ABOUT
LAURA ANTONIOU:
Laura
Antoniou's work has become well-known in the erotically alternative
community for her "Marketplace" series (The Marketplace,
The Slave, The Trainer, The Academy, and The Reunion), described
by Libido magazine as "an elite and secretive world organization,
dedicated to the auctioning and overseeing of the world's
finest lifestyle slaves... a world so vivid in sequel after
sequel, it takes on a reality of its own, one that's visually
hard to let go of once the reader has put down the book."
The fifth book in this series, The Reunion, is due out from
Mystic Rose books in February 2003.
Antoniou
has also had great success as an editor, creating the groundbreaking
Leatherwomen anthologies; as well as By Her Subdued, a collection
of stories about dominant women; and No Other Tribute, which
features submissive women. Her non-fiction anthologies include
Some Women, and an homage to author John Preston entitled
Looking for Mr. Preston. Antoniou's novels and anthologies
have been published in the United States, Germany, Japan,
and Korea, to international acclaim.
Antoniou
has been a featured speaker and presenter at the University
of Washington (where her essay "Unsafe at Any Speed"
was first presented), as well as Columbia University, the
New School, and New York University, as well as leather, s/m,
lesbian, and writers' conferences throughout the United States.
Feel
free to click on the book images to reach Amazon.com and order
your copies of her complete series today!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sensuous
Sadie is the author of It's Not About the Whip: Love, Sex,
and Spirituality in the BDSM Scene (http://www.trafford.com/robots/03-0551.html).
She is the founder and leader (1999 - 2001) of Rose &
Thorn, Vermont's first BDSM group. Comments, compliments and
complaints, as well as requests for reprinting can be addressed
to her at SensuousSadie@aol.com or visit her website at www.sensuoussadie.com
. Sadie believes the universe is abundant, and that sharing
information freely is part of this abundance, so she allows
reprints of her writing in most venues.
Copyright
2003 Sadie Sez Publications